Method and apparatus for illuminating artwork by a neon tube arrangement of selected configuration

A display arrangement for illuminating planar artwork comprising:

• an item of artwork affixed to an essentially transparent mounting member,
• a frame having width and height and being dimensioned to surround said item of artwork,
• a plurality of support members mounted in said frame, disposed behind and relatively close to the item of artwork,
• and a plurality precisely-configured light tubes supported in said frame in a close relationship to said artwork, with said light tubes arranged in a configuration consonant with the subject matter of said artwork,
• said item of artwork having at least two different portions, with a first of said portions to be illuminated by a neon tube of a first color that is supported closely adjacent said first portion, and a second of said portions to be illuminated by a neon tube of a second color supported closely adjacent said second portion,
• at least one of said neon tubes sloping with respect to said frame for at least a portion of the width of the item of artwork,
• said light tubes thus being arranged in a predetermined pattern to illuminate and enhance such selected portions of the item of artwork, and
• means for selectively applying electric power at an appropriate voltage to said light tubes, to cause the illumination thereof and the projection of light of selected color through said first and second portions of the item of artwork.

The method of providing illumination for selected portions of an item of color artwork by the use of neon light tubes comprising the steps of:

• a. mounting non-opaque artwork in a frame;
• b. creating a plurality of neon light tubes of selected color and configuration in an essentially non-parallel array, with such light tubes being configured to be consonant with particular segments of the artwork to be illuminated, and of a color desirable for the enhancement of the segments;
• c. supporting said light tubes on one side of said artwork, in a carefully established relationship to the artwork, keeping such tubes at selected positional relationships with respect to the segments of the artwork to be illuminated;
• d. applying opaque material to certain locations on said light tubes, as necessary to prevent a dissemination of color too wide for the particular location, and
• e. selectively energizing said light tubes by the use of electric power of the appropriate voltage, to bring about the illumination thereof, and the illumination of the segments of the artwork.

The method of providing illumination for selected portions of an item of color artwork by the use of neon light tubes projecting light through the artwork, comprising the steps of:

• a. mounting non-opaque artwork in a frame;
• b. creating a plurality of neon light tubes of selected configuration and color for the illumination of the artwork, with each of such light tubes being configured to be consonant with the shape of a particular segment of the artwork, and arranged to emit an intended color for the illumination of such segment of the artwork;
• c. supporting said light tubes in carefully established, essentially non-parallel relationships on the back side of the artwork, with each tube maintained in an appropriate positional relationship with a respective segment of the color artwork to be illuminated;
• d. applying opaque material to certain locations on said light tubes, as necessary to prevent a dissemination of color too wide for the particular location, and
• e. providing electric power to said light tubes at the appropriate voltage, to bring about the energization of said tubes as well as the illumination of the selected segments of the color artwork.

The method of providing illumination for selected portions of an item of color artwork by the use of neon light tubes projecting light through the artwork, comprising the steps of:

• a. mounting non-opaque artwork on a transparent mounting member;
• b. installing said artwork on its mounting member in a frame;
• c. creating a plurality of neon light tubes of selected configuration and color for the illumination of said artwork, with each of such light tubes being configured to be consonant with the shape of a particular segment of the artwork, and arranged to emit an intended color for the illumination of such segment of the artwork;
• c. supporting said light tubes in carefully established, essentially non-parallel relationships on the back side of the artwork, with each tube maintained in an appropriate positional relationship with a respective segment of the color artwork to be illuminated;
• d. applying opaque material to certain locations on said light tubes, as necessary to prevent a dissemination of color too wide for the particular location, and
• e. providing electric power to said light tubes at the appropriate voltage, to bring about the energization of said tubes as well as the illumination of the selected segments of the color artwork.