Illuminable sign for displaying a message in an automobile window

An illuminable sign, comprising:

• a translucent panel having an edge and a surface that is engraved with a message;
• an electrically powered light source positioned directly adjacent the edge of the translucent panel and oriented to direct light from the light source into the translucent panel from the edge of the translucent panel;
• a first battery;
• an electrical switch having a first connection to the first battery and a second connection to the electrically powered light source, wherein the electrical switch is operable to selectively control the supply of electricity from the first battery to the electrically powered light source;
• a wireless receiver electrically connected to the electrical switch, wherein the wireless receiver generates an output signal that controls the operation of the electrical switch in response to receiving a wireless control signal;
• a frame member secured to the translucent panel along the edge of the translucent panel, wherein the frame member secures the electrically-power light source in position directly adjacent the edge of the translucent panel and orients the electrically powered light source to direct light into the translucent panel from the edge of the translucent panel, wherein the frame member further secures the first battery, the electrical switch and the wireless receiver, wherein the frame member comprises a front frame piece and a back frame piece that is secured to the front frame piece, wherein the front frame piece includes a front lip that extends along a front face of the translucent panel and the back frame piece includes a back lip that extends along a back face of the translucent panel, wherein the edge of the translucent panel is linear and the frame member extends along an entire length of the linear edge of the translucent panel, wherein the frame member includes a compartment, and wherein the compartment contains the first battery, the electrical switch and the wireless receiver;
• a first suction cup having a first head secured to the frame member and a first suction flange directed in a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the translucent panel;
• a second suction cup having a second head secured to the frame member and a second suction flange directed in the first direction;
• and
• a wireless transmitter unit including a housing, a second battery disposed within the housing, a wireless transmitter circuit disposed within the housing, and a button connected to the wireless transmitter circuit and accessible for manual actuation by a person, wherein manual actuation of the button causes the wireless transmitter circuit to transmit the wireless control signal to the wireless receiver, and wherein the engraved message is illuminated by the electrically-powered light source in response to manual actuation of the button, wherein the front lip of the front frame piece is adhesively secured to the front face of the translucent panel along the linear edge of the translucent panel and/or the back lip of the back frame piece is adhesively secured to the back face of the translucent panel along the linear edge of the translucent panel.

A method of messaging a person in an adjacent automobile, comprising:

• installing an illuminable sign into a first automobile, wherein the illuminable sign comprises:
• a translucent panel having an edge and a surface that is engraved with a message;
• an electrically powered light source positioned directly adjacent the edge of the translucent panel and oriented to direct light from the light source into the translucent panel from the edge of the translucent panel;
• a first battery;
• an electrical switch having a first connection to the first battery and a second connection to the electrically powered light source, wherein the electrical switch is operable to selectively control the supply of electricity from the first battery to the electrically powered light source;
• a wireless receiver electrically connected to the electrical switch, wherein the wireless receiver generates an output signal that controls the operation of the electrical switch in response to receiving a wireless control signal;
• a frame member secured to the translucent panel along the edge of the translucent panel, wherein the frame member secures the electrically-power light source in position directly adjacent the edge of the translucent panel and orients the electrically powered light source to direct light into the translucent panel from the edge of the translucent panel, and wherein the frame member further secures the first battery, the electrical switch and the wireless receiver;
• a first suction cup having a first head secured to the frame member and a first suction flange directed in a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the translucent panel;
• a second suction cup having a second head secured to the frame member and a second suction flange directed in the first direction;
• and
• a wireless transmitter unit including a housing, a second battery disposed within the housing, a wireless transmitter circuit disposed within the housing, and a button connected to the wireless transmitter circuit and accessible for manual actuation by a person, wherein manual actuation of the button causes the wireless transmitter circuit to transmit the wireless control signal to the wireless receiver, wherein the engraved message is illuminated by the electrically-powered light source in response to manual actuation of the button, and wherein the illuminable sign is installed into the first automobile so that the suction flanges are secured to a window of the first automobile and the wireless transmitter unit is secured to the interior dash of the first automobile;
• driving the first automobile on a roadway with other automobiles including the adjacent automobile;
• and
• manually actuating the button of the wireless transmitter to cause the engraved message to be illuminated as the first automobile is positioned to display the message to a person in the adjacent automobile.