Illuminated sign and method of assembly
AssigneeI.D. Lite, Inc.
InventorPeter Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved illuminated sign for adhesive bonding to the inner surface of a pane of transparent material such as the glass of an automotive window comprises a backing panel, a planar electroluminescent lamp, and an indicia-bearing member. The indicia-bearing member is smaller in planar extent than an assembly of the backing panel and the lamp. Strips of double-sided adhesive tape are applied to the border of the backing panel. The second adhesive surface of the tape is used to bond the assembly of the backing panel, the lamp and the indicia-bearing member to the inner surface of an automobile window or the like.
Claims9
A method of assembling a planar luminous sign to a pane of transparent material comprising the steps of
- providing a planar electroluminescent lamp having a periphery and a thickness, a planar indicia-bearing member having a periphery and a thickness, a planar backing panel having a periphery, and one or more strips of double-faced adhesive tape extending at least partially along the periphery of the backing panel and having a thickness at least as great as the thickness of the lamp and the thickness of the indicia-bearing member combined, a first adhesive face covered by a release sheet and a second adhesive face secured to the backing panel such that the one or more strips of double-faced adhesive tape forms an upstanding border extending at least partially along the periphery of the backing panel;
- arranging the electroluminescent lamp over the backing panel such that the periphery of the lamp is disposed within the border;
- arranging the indicia-bearing member over the electroluminescent lamp such that the periphery of the indicia-bearing member is disposed within the border;
- removing the release sheet from the first adhesive face of the one or more strips of double-faced adhesive tape;
- and
- contacting the pane of transparent material with the thusly exposed first adhesive face to secure the backing panel on the pane of transparent material and to retain the indicia-bearing member between the backing panel and the pane of transparent material by confinement of the indicia-bearing member by the one or more strips of tape, the backing panel and the pane of transparent material.
A method of assembling a planar luminous sign to a pane of transparent material comprising the steps of:
- bonding a planar indicia-bearing member of the sign to the inside surface of a pane of transparent material;
- bonding a receptacle, comprising at least two elongate members generally C-shaped in cross-section to define elongated grooves, to the pane such that the at least two elongate members are substantially parallel and the grooves in the at least two elongate members face one another on opposite sides of the indicia-bearing member;
- inserting opposed edges of a planar electroluminescent lamp into the grooves such that the lamp is juxtaposed to the indicia-bearing member;
- and
- electrically connecting an electrical connector of the receptacle with an electrical connector of the lamp.
A method of assembling a planar luminous sign for being secured on a pane of transparent material, said method including the steps of
- providing a backing panel having a periphery and a raised border extending at least partially along the periphery of the backing panel and having a thickness, a planar electroluminescent lamp having a periphery and a thickness, a planar indicia-bearing member having a periphery and a thickness, and one or more strips of double-faced adhesive tape having a thickness, a first, exposed adhesive face and a second adhesive face covered by a release sheet with the thickness of the border and the thickness of the one or more strips of tape combined being at least as great as the thickness of the lamp and the thickness of the indicia-bearing member combined;
- assembling the lamp over the backing panel such that the periphery of the lamp is disposed within the border;
- arranging the indicia-bearing member over the lamp such that a periphery of the indicia-bearing member is disposed within the border;
- securing the first, exposed adhesive face of the one or more strips of tape to the border;
- removing the release sheet to expose the second adhesive face;
- and
- contacting the pane of transparent material with the second adhesive face to secure the backing panel thereto such that the indicia-bearing member is held between the backing panel and the pane of transparent material by confinement by the one or more strips of tape when the second adhesive face is secured to the pane of transparent material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.