# US 10,373,534 B2 · Exit sign with multi-directional lighting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,373,534 B2 - Document ID: US10373534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/866,854 - Filed: 2018-01-10 - Published: 2019-07-11 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-10 - Assignees: Best Lighting Products, Inc. - Applicants: Best Lighting Products, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Katz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373534B2 ## CPC - G09F 13/0413: {Frames or casing structures therefor} - G09F 13/42: with light sources activated by non-visible radiation (cathode ray image or pattern display tubes H01J31/10; lamps with luminescent screens excited by cathode rays H01J63/06) - G09F 13/0436: {Signs, boards or panels attached to ceilings} - G09F 2013/05: {indicating exit way or orientation} - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract An exit sign includes a main body, a front panel and at least one light source. The main body includes a rear portion, a peripheral side portion and an opening. The peripheral side portion has a first translucent area which is U-shaped. The front panel is received in the opening and includes a symbol indicating a location of a building exit, with the symbol establishing a second translucent area. The at least one light source emits light through the first and second translucent areas, with the first translucent area providing lighting directly in front of the exit sign, directly below the exit sign and directly on either side of the exit sign. The exit sign is particularly configured to be mounted low on a hallway wall to enable a person crawling below a level of smoke in the hallway to be visually guided to an exit door. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exit sign comprising: a main body including a rear portion and a peripheral side portion, wherein the peripheral side portion has a first translucent area and a non-translucent area, with the first translucent area, as a whole, being U-shaped; a front panel including a symbol indicating a building exit, wherein the symbol has a second translucent area; and at least one light source configured to emit light through the first and second translucent areas. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes a first light source configured to light up the first translucent area and a second light source configured to light up the second translucent area, and the first light source comprises a flexible strip of light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The exit sign of claim 2, wherein the peripheral side portion has a lower side portion, a first lateral side portion and a second lateral side portion, and the first translucent area forms at least part of the lower side portion, the first lateral side portion and the second lateral side portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The exit sign of claim 3, wherein the flexible strip is U-shaped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The exit sign of claim 4, wherein the flexible strip extends across the lower side portion and up at least 25% of each of the first and second lateral side portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The exit sign of claim 3, wherein the main body includes an interior wall spaced from the first translucent area of the peripheral side wall, said flexible strip being mounted directly to the interior wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the peripheral side portion is beveled, and the first translucent area is beveled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the front panel includes a front portion and a peripheral flange portion, the peripheral flange portion has an outer face, and the outer face contacts the main body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein an opening is established by the peripheral side portion and the front panel is snap-fittingly received in the opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the first translucent area is configured to be visible from directly in front of the exit sign, while the second translucent area is configured to be visible from directly in front of the exit sign, directly below the exit sign and directly on either side of the exit sign. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The exit sign of claim 10, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit a substantially uniform and continuous lighting pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the front panel is flush with the front portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a unitary structure including the front portion, peripheral side portion and rear portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The exit sign of claim 13, wherein the front panel is surrounded by the peripheral side portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The exit sign of claim 13, wherein the first translucent area is established by a unitary, U-shaped lens cover attached to the main body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the front panel is configured to indicate a direction to or location of the building exit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The exit sign of claim 1, wherein the symbol comprises the word “EXIT”. ### Claim 18 A method of directing a person down a hallway to an exit in a building comprising: providing an exit sign mounted on a wall of the hallway no more than three feet above a floor of the hallway, with the exit sign including a front panel having illuminated exit indicia configured to indicate a direction to or location of the exit, as well as a peripheral side portion having a non-translucent area and a translucent area configured to illuminate the hallway before, at and after the exit sign, wherein the translucent area, as a whole, is U-shaped. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the exit sign is mounted no more than two feet above the floor of the hallway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the exit sign is configured to visually guide the person while the person is crawling below a level of smoke in the hallway. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the exit sign is illuminated with a first light source configured to light up the exit indicia and a second light source defined by a flexible strip of light-emitting diodes configured to light up the hallway before, at and after the exit sign. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the second light source emits light through the translucent area in providing a uniform and continuous lighting pattern from before to after the exit sign.