Apparatus pertaining to physically-discrete sign components
A physically-discrete sign component comprises an internally-electrically-illuminated alphabetic character having a front-facing profile and at least one connecting bar disposed at least substantially horizontally with respect to the front-facing profile of the alphabetic character and at least partially within the front-facing profile of that alphabetic character. By one approach the physically-discrete sign component includes two of the connecting bars. If desired, these two connecting bars are disposed at least substantially parallel to one another. By one approach, a first one of the connecting bars extends partially, but not wholly, above an upper periphery of the aforementioned front-facing profile while the second connecting bar extends partially, but not wholly, below a lower periphery of the front-facing profile. The connecting bars can include a connecting-bar interface configured to physically and electrically interconnect to an adjacent sign component.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a physically-discrete sign component including:
an internally-electrically-illuminated alphabetic character having a front-facing profile;
at least one connecting bar disposed horizontally with respect to the front-facing profile of the alphabetic character, the connecting bar being configured:
to attach directly to the connecting bar of an adjacent one of the physically-discrete sign components to thereby form a multi-component sign; and
to remain externally exposed when the connecting bar is fully attached directly to the connecting bar of the adjacent one of the physically-discrete sign components to thereby form the multi-component sign.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alphabetic character comprises, at least in part, a light diffuser having a form factor that conforms to the alphabetic character, the apparatus further comprising:
a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed behind the light diffuser.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least some of the physically-discrete sign components have a front-facing profile having a proportional font-based width.
4. An apparatus comprising:
a physically-discrete sign component including:
an internally-electrically-illuminated alphabetic character having a front-facing profile;
at least two connecting bars disposed parallel to one another and horizontally with respect to the front-facing profile of the alphabetic character, the connecting bars each being configured to attach directly to a corresponding one of the connecting bars of an adjacent one of the physically-discrete sign components to thereby form a multi-component sign, wherein a first one of the connecting bars extends partially, but not wholly, above an upper periphery of the front-facing profile while a second one of the connecting bars extends partially, but not wholly, below a lower periphery of the front-facing profile.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the two connecting bars each include a bridging electrical conductor.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a first one of the bridging electrical conductors comprises a positive electrical power rail and a second one of the bridging electrical conductors comprises a negative electrical power rail.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein both the first and second connecting bars each include a connecting-bar interface configured to physically and electrically interconnect to another such connecting bar of another physically-discrete sign component.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the connecting-bar interfaces for the first connecting bar are a mirror image of the connecting-bar interfaces for the second connecting bar to thereby discourage connecting the first connecting bar to a second connecting bar of another of the physically-discrete sign components.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the connecting-bar interfaces include at least one of an electrically-conductive blade and an electrically-conductive blade receiver.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the connecting-bar interfaces include at least one of a threaded-engagement member and a threaded-engagement member receiver.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:
at least one end cap configured and arranged to connect to at least one of the connecting-bar interfaces.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the end cap includes, at least in part:
a power-input interface;
a power-output interface;
a power on/off switch.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the power-input interface, the power-output interface, and the power on/off switch are disposed on a side edge of the end cap.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising another end cap that does not include a power-input interface, a power-output interface, and a power on/off switch.