Patent Application
20200312202
Backlit displays are widely used for signage, advertising and, increasingly, trade show displays. In general, a backlit display include a light-permeable, image-bearing substrate including an image to be selectively illuminated, a framework for supporting the image-bearing substrate, and a light source situated behind the substrate such that, when the light source is energized, light emitted therefrom impinges upon a rear side of the image-bearing substrate and passes therethrough, thereby illuminating the image for viewing by persons situated forward of a front side of the image-bearing substrate.
One issue with existing backlit displays including light sources aimed directly at the rear side of the image-bearing substrate is that the lighting is uneven. More specifically, so-called “hot spots” representing illumination of relatively greater intensity are readily discernable from the viewing side of the substrate. An unwanted distraction, uneven image illumination detracts from the message-sending power of the displayed image and is therefore a source of frustration for those employing backlit displays for messaging.
Another difficulty associated with backlit displays relates to the inability to break them down for storage and transport in a relatively small volume of space. This is particularly so relative to light sources used to illuminate the image-bearing substrate.
Accordingly, a need exists for a backlit display system that that can be deployed simply and rapidly, evenly illuminates a displayed image, and can be stored in a relatively limited amount of space.
Alternative embodiments of a backlit display system (alternatively, “backlit display”) have in common a display fabric and a display framework configured for selectively supporting the display fabric. The display framework includes frame front and rear sides and an outer perimeter and inner perimeter, with the inner perimeter defining a central open space. The display fabric has mutually distinct back and image-display panels and is configured such that, when the display fabric is being supported by and about the display framework, (i) the back panel is adjacent and rearward of the frame rear side, (ii) the image-display panel is adjacent and forward of the frame front side, and (iii) at least a portion of the central open space is situated between the back-lighting and image-display panels.
In addition to removably supporting the display fabric, the display framework also removably supports an illumination panel fabricated from a flexible, tear-resistant material. The illumination panel has opposed rear-facing and front-facing surfaces defined such that, when the illumination panel is supported by the display framework between the back and image-display panels of the display fabric, (a) the front-facing surface faces forwardly toward the image-display panel of the display fabric and (b) the rear-facing surface faces rearwardly toward the back panel of the display fabric. In various alternative versions, a plurality of light-emitting elements is carried by the illumination panel such that, when selectively energized, the light-emitting elements emit light from the front-facing surface of the illumination panel toward the image-display panel of the display fabric. Although the particular form or type of the light-emitting elements is not regarded as central to the novelty of the invention, illustrative examples nevertheless include (i) incandescent bulbs, (ii) light-emitting diodes (i.e., LEDs), and (iii) fluorescent bulbs.
When the display fabric is supported by and about the display framework, the image-display panel has an inside surface facing the central open space and an outside surface facing forwardly of the display framework. The back panel has an interior surface that faces the central open space and an exterior surface facing rearwardly of the display framework. The image-display panel is at least partially light-permeable such that light that is emitted from the light-emitting elements impinges upon the inside surface of the image-display panel and exits through the outside surface of the image-display panel, thereby illuminating an image defined by the image-display panel. In each of various versions, the front-facing surface of the illumination panel is at least partially reflective in order to (i) maximize the proportion of emitted light that impinges upon the image-display panel and (ii) facilitate light mixing and “evening” within the central open space between the illumination panel and the image-display panel before impingement upon the image-display panel.
In an exemplary embodiment, the light-emitting elements are arranged along the front-facing surface of the illumination panel in a manner defining an illumination array. Moreover, the illumination panel includes an illumination panel periphery defined by a first set of mutually opposed edges designated as lateral edges and a second set of mutually opposed edges extending between the lateral edges and designated as top and bottom edges. In at least one version including top, bottom, and lateral edges, the illumination panel is of substantially rectangular configuration and dimensioned to fit within and fill most of the central open space defined by the inner perimeter of the display framework. The illumination array defines at least in part a plurality of lighting-element rows that are mutually spaced apart and parallel, with each lighting-element row including at least two lighting-emitting elements and having a lengthwise extent extending between the lateral edges of the illumination panel.
In each of an illustrative set of alternative versions, the manner in which the light-emitting elements are carried by the illumination panel differs. In some versions, the light-emitting elements are mounted directly to the illumination panel individually. However, in at least one version, the light-emitting elements of each lighting-element row are carried by a lighting-element bar that is rigid relative to the illumination panel. In turn, the lighting-element bars, which define lighting-element rows, are affixed to the illumination panel in a mutually parallel configuration. The use of lighting-element bars provides two readily appreciable advantages: (i) facilitating mounting of a plurality of light-emitting elements to the illumination panel simultaneously during fabrication of the illumination panel and (ii) a backbone or electrical “bus” to which the plural light-emitting elements of a single row defined by a lighting-element bar can be readily electrically connected, thereby obviating the need to provide electrical connection to each light-emitting element individually on the illumination panel.
The use of lighting-element bars in certain back-lighting environments is known (e.g. permanent backlit, rigid “light box” signage). However, the affixation of arrays of light-emitting elements to a flexible, tear-resistant substrate, with or without the inclusion of lighting-element bars, provides advantages not previously realized or realizable. Advantageously, a flexible and tear-resistant illumination panel as defined in association with various embodiments of the present invention is readily and repeatably deployable in environments calling for temporary backlit displays, such as tradeshow exhibits. An illumination panel within the scope of the present invention can be rolled for storage and movement between tradeshow events and unrolled for deployment at site setup. The affixation of the light-emitting elements to the flexible substrate maintains the orderly spacing of the light-emitting elements defining an illumination array, maintains the orientation of the light-emitting elements relative to one another and to the illumination panel, and obviates tangled masses of wire used to selectively energize the light-emitting elements. In various embodiments, at least one of the back panel of the image-display fabric and the substrate of the illumination panel is opaque sufficiently to minimize the visibility of the light-emitting elements, wires, and/or lighting element bars, or shadows of the same, through the back panel.
In each of an illustrative set of embodiments, the display framework is modular. More specifically, the display framework is comprised of a plurality of selectively and mutually joinable frame segments. Each frame segment may include longitudinally opposed segment male and female ends such that longitudinally adjacent first and second frame segments are joined by fitting the segment male end of the first frame segment into the segment female end of the adjoining second frame segment. In at least one version, an assembled frame segment comprises at least two selectively decoupleable frame sub-segments. In still an additional version, the frame sub-segments of a frame segment are mutually linked by a tether which is at least one of flexible and elastic. Although the frame segments and, where applicable, frame sub-segments may be variably configured, in at least some versions, they are of tubular configuration. Moreover, it will be readily appreciated that the frame segments can be fabricated from various alternative materials, metal and plastic being illustrative examples.
Representative embodiments are more completely described and depicted in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The following description of variously embodied backlit display systems is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or its application of uses. Accordingly, the various implementations, aspects, versions and embodiments described in the summary and detailed description are in the nature of non-limiting examples falling within the scope of the appended claims and do not serve to restrict the maximum scope of the claims. Moreover, among the various depicted embodiments, like reference numbers are used to refer to similar or analogous components.
Referring initially to
The display fabric 50—cutaway views of which are depicted in
As shown in each of
Although
With the backlit display system 10 thusly assembled, the image-display panel 52 has an inside surface 52SI facing the central open space SO and an outside surface 52SO facing away from the central open space SO and forwardly of the display framework 20. The back panel 54 has an interior surface 54SI that faces the central open space SO. The image-display panel 52 is at least partially light-permeable such that light L that is emitted from the light-emitting elements 160 impinges upon the inside surface 52SI of the image-display panel 52 and exits through the outside surface 52SO of the image-display panel 52. The displayed image ID is thusly illuminated (i.e., backlit) by the passage of light L through the fabric image-display panel 52.
In each of the illustrative embodiments of
In each of an illustrative set of alternative versions, the manner in which the light-emitting elements 160 are carried by (i.e., secured to) the substrate 110 of the illumination panel 100 differs. In the version of
The securement of light-emitting elements 160 to a flexible, tear-resistant substrate 110, with or without the inclusion of lighting-element bars 180, provides various advantages, at least some of which were discussed in the summary section of the present disclosure. One such advantage is discussed in greater detail with reference to
In various embodiments, the display fabric 50 is comprised of “tension fabric.” Tension fabric is somewhat stretchable and exhibits a memory property. Accordingly, a display fabric 50 that is properly sized and configured relative to the display framework 20 is such that—when supported by the display framework 20 in a display-operative mode—at least the image-display panel 52 is taut (e.g., stretched under tension). It will be appreciated that configuring the display fabric 50 and display framework 20 in observance of such parameters facilitates a displayed image ID that is smooth and free of creases and wrinkles. Still additional embodiments are such that both the back and image-display panels 54 and 52 are taut when the display fabric 50 is supported by the display framework 20 in a display-operative mode.
In still more specific versions, the image-display and back panels 52 and 54 are mutually joined along their peripheries so as to define a “slip-cover” having an opening 56 through which the display framework 20 can be introduced. With reference to the illustrative version of
In various embodiments discussed with principal reference to the illustrative version of
Referring to
It will be readily appreciated that, when at least two frame sub-segments 40 are cooperatively coupled to form an assembled frame segment 30 (top portion of
The foregoing is considered to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since modifications and changes to various aspects and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing does not limit the invention as expressed in the appended claims to the exact constructions, implementations and versions shown and described.
Priority based on Provisional Application, Ser. No. 62/809,972 filed Feb. 25, 2019, and titled “BACKLIT DISPLAY WITH A FLEXIBLE ARRAY OF LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENTS” is claimed. Moreover, the entirety of the previous provisional application, including the drawings, is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully in the present application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62809972 | Feb 2019 | US |
