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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A display arrangement for illuminating planar artwork having both width
and height comprising:
an item of artwork affixed to an essentially transparent mounting member,
with at least some portions of the artwork having color,
a plurality of precisely configured neon light tubes mounted in a
non-parallel array behind said item of artwork, said light tubes being
arranged in a predetermined pattern consonant with the subject matter of
the artwork, with each of said light tubes being positioned behind a
selected portion of the artwork, to illuminate and enhance such selected
portions of the artwork,
said item of artwork involving at least two different portions, with a
first of said portions to be illuminated by a neon tube of a first color,
and a second of said portions to be illuminated by a neon tube of a second
color,
at least one of said neon tubes being in sloped relation to said item of
artwork and extending for a substantial portion of the width of said
artwork,
and means for selectively applying electric power to each of said light
tubes, to cause the illumination thereof and the projection of light
through the respective portion of the item of artwork.
2. The display arrangement for illuminating posters and other planar
artwork as recited in claim 1 in which said artwork has a front side and a
back side, and said transparent mounting member is affixed to the front
side of said artwork.
3. The display arrangement for illuminating posters and other planar
artwork as recited in claim 1 in which said artwork has a front side and a
back side, and said transparent mounting member is affixed to the back
side of said artwork.
4. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 1
in which at least one of said light tubes is clear glass, with color being
determined by the particular inert gas utilized in the tube.
5. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 1
in which at least one of said light tubes is made of colored glass, with
color being determined by the particular glass color used and the inert
gas utilized in the tube.
6. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 1
in which the interior of at least one of said light tubes is coated with a
powder designed to emit light of a particular color when the tube is
energized.
7. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 1
in which color is determined by a mixture of an inert gas with mercury.
8. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 1
in which color is achieved by wrapping the external surface of at least
one of said light tubes with a non-opaque covering of selected color.
9. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 1
in which the illuminated portion of at least one of said light tubes is
modified by applying opaque material to the outer surface of the tube.
10. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 1
in which said light tubes are placed at varying distances from said
artwork, in the interests of moderating the intensity of light projected
through the artwork.
11. The display arrangement for illuminating planar artwork as recited in
claim 1 in which opaque material is utilized on portions of certain of the
neon tubes, to avoid a dissemination of color that is too wide for the
particular application.
12. 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.
13. The display arrangement for illuminating posters and other planar
artwork as recited in claim 12 in which said item of artwork has a front
side and a back side, and said transparent mounting member is affixed to
the front side of said item of artwork.
14. The display arrangement for illuminating posters and other planar
artwork as recited in claim 12 in which said item of artwork has a front
side and a back side, and said transparent mounting member is affixed to
the back side of said item of artwork.
15. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which at least some of said light tubes are configured to carefully
coincide with a particular segment of the item of artwork to be
illuminated and enhanced.
16. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which the interior of at least one of said light tubes is coated with a
powder designed to emit light of a particular color when the tube is
energized.
17. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which at least one of said light tubes is clear glass, with color being
determined by the particular inert gas used in the tube.
18. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which at least one of said light tubes is made of colored glass, with
color being determined by the particular glass color used.
19. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which the color of at least one of said light tubes is at least
partially determined by the particular inert gas used in the tube.
20. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which color is determined by a mixture of an inert gas with mercury.
21. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which color is achieved by wrapping the external surface of at least
one of said light tubes with a non-opaque covering of selected color.
22. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which the illuminated portion of the light tube is limited by the
application of opaque material to the outer surface of the tube.
23. The display arrangement for illuminating posters as defined in claim 12
in which said light tubes are placed at varying distances from said
artwork.
24. The display arrangement for illuminating planar artwork as recited in
claim 12 in which opaque material is utilized on portions of the neon
tubes, to avoid a dissemination of color that is too wide for the
particular application.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. The method of providing illumination for selected portions of an item
of artwork by the use of neon light tubes as recited in claim 27 in which
the mounting the artwork to the transparent mounting member involves the
step of mounting the face of the artwork to the transparent mounting
member.
29. The method of providing illumination for selected portions of an item
of artwork by the use of neon light tubes as recited in claim 27 in which
the mounting the artwork to the transparent mounting member involves the
step of mounting the rear side of the artwork to the transparent mounting
member. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to display means and more particularly to a frame
structure and method that uses neon lighting to illuminate and enhance
artwork such as photographs and similar items representing artistic
creativity.
Illuminated display means, such as art boxes, billboards and other frame
structures, are common in the prior art, but most such structures use
light generated from incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs.
Unfortunately, light generated from the latter sources is generally
uniform and not sufficiently intense to enhance a display or selected
portions thereof, whether the display be a painting, lithograph, poster or
photograph.
On the other hand, neon light is more intense than incandescent or
fluorescent light, and the neon tubes can be shaped by the use of
concentrated heat to desired configurations. By the utilization of
different colors, selected portions of the artwork can be emphasized in a
most attractive manner.
The prior patented and commercialized art contains display boxes, but none
having a similar structure and using neon lights. For instance, Great
Britain Patent No. 2,183,387 by Kaisha, dated Jun. 3, 1987, teaches a
display light box that illuminates artwork which uses fluorescent lighting
and has a different structure than the present invention. U.S. Pat. No.
4,185,407 by Lamb, dated Jan. 29, 1980, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,211 by
Pratt, dated Jun. 23, 1987, shows a lighted display box for displaying
stained glass, but neither of these use neon lights.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,125 by Rappaport, dated Apr. 14, 1981, teaches an
illuminated display box for transparencies which does not use neon. U.S.
Pat. No. 3,707,792 by Mabrey, et al, dated Jan. 2, 1973, teaches an
illuminated display cabinet for a building directory. U.S. Pat. No.
4,796,170 by Pedersen, et al, dated Jan. 3, 1989, teaches a display unit
for refractive letters which results in a 3-dimensional effect. French
Patent No. 2,335,899 published in July 1977 teaches an illuminated box for
the public display of posters, but it does not use neon lights. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,242,821 by McNeil, Jan. 6, 1981, teaches a lighted display box for
inserting pictorials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,492, by Rush, dated Aug. 4,
1992, teaches the creation of unusual visual effects by a light display
consisting of a neon light tube mounted between two transparent sheets and
a box, but this patent involves a significantly different purpose and
different structure from the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,765 by
Vargish II, dated Aug. 24, 1993, teaches a neon tube containing a sign for
display within the tube, but it is concerned with flash rate, and has a
significantly different structure than the present invention.
The Allison Patent No. 1,939,288 entitled "Indirect Luminous Tube
Illumination," which issued Dec. 12, 1933, teaches a display device
involving a plurality of parallel contiguous glass bars or rods disposed
between front and rear glass plates, with these glass rods being known as
canes. A neon tube is disposed behind the glass bar array. A sign carrying
a desired message is obtained by designing portions of Allison's front
plate to be opaque and other portions to be pervious to light. The
patentee mentions that a fiery red color may be obtained by the use of
neon, but that the color may be varied by providing tubes filled with
other gases; by the use of colored glass rods or canes; or by the use of
colored glass in either front or the rear plate. Allison is obviously
entirely silent as to the configuring a plurality of neon light tubes into
various shapes, in order that particular portions of selected artwork can
be illuminated by a neon tube of chosen color.
In addition to the prior patented art, a commercialized sign using neon
exists which is sold under the name "New Neon." However, the latter sign
differs in many ways from the present invention. The commercial art
requires a special stocked face and thus it would not be usable to display
famous artwork, lithographs and posters. Furthermore, the sign being
displayed is external to the box and thus, not protected from the
elements, which is necessary in order to preserve artwork. Thus, the
current commercialized art is considerably different in structure and
thus, could not be utilized in a manner as can the present invention.
The present invention solves the above problems in a highly advantageous
manner, and provides objects summarized and described in detail
hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary goal of the present invention to provide a display
arrangement that utilizes carefully selected neon light components for
enhancing non-opaque artwork such as photographic prints, paintings,
lithographs, posters, and other such items capable of being illuminated
from behind.
As will be described in detail hereinafter, my novel display arrangement
for illuminating posters and other planar artwork may, in accordance with
this invention, comprise a frame having dimensions to appropriately
surround the artwork to be displayed. A transparent face plate may be
mounted in a front portion of the frame, behind which the artwork is to be
mounted. A plurality of support members are positioned in the frame,
disposed behind and relatively close to the artwork.
Significantly, a plurality of precisely configured neon light tubes are
mounted on these support members, with each of the light tubes being
positioned behind a selected portion of the artwork, and with the tubes
arranged in a predetermined pattern to illuminate and enhance such
selected portions of the artwork by projecting light therethrough. At
least some of the light tubes are configured to carefully coincide with
particular segments of the artwork to be illuminated and enhanced, and in
most instances the light tubes represent at least two different colors. It
is important to note that some of the illuminated tubes of the display
arrangement may be spaced further from the artwork than others of the
illuminated tubes.
As one option, at least one light tube of the illumination arrangement may
be of clear glass, with color being determined by the particular inert gas
or gases used in the tube. Another option is to make the light tube of
colored glass, with the color output being largely determined by the
particular glass color used.
Still another option is for color to be determined by the particular
fluorescent coating used inside the light tube.
It is well known that when an electric current is passed though a glass
tube containing neon gas, a red glow is produced. The color may be varied
by changing the composition of the tube; the pressure of the gas; the
quantity of mercury used, if any; the use of fluorescent materials, such
as phosphors on the interior of the tubes; and the admixture of other
gases. Fluorescent light tubes may contain neon, neon & argon, or neon,
argon and mercury as the conducting vapors, and by coating the interior of
such tubes with selected phosphors, these tubes can be caused to glow with
desired pastel colors when the light from within strikes them.
It is thus to be seen that certain chemical compounds have the property of
becoming luminous when acted upon by ultra violet radiation. This property
is called "fluorescence," and tubing whose interior is coated with these
chemicals is called fluorescent tubing. Those skilled in this art know
that ultra violet rays are produced when mercury is used in luminous
tubing. For example, when a clear glass tube is filled to a low pressure
with a neon and argon mixture to which a drop of mercury has been added,
the tube glows with a blue color. Compounds of zinc produce various shades
of white, whereas compounds of zinc and silicon fluoresce as brilliant
greens.
Any time argon alone is being used as the inert gas, it is necessary to add
an appropriate amount of mercury to increase the intensity of the light
being emitted. During very low temperature conditions, it is desirable to
add neon gas to the argon. Other colors are readily obtainable by those
skilled in the art.
Not to be confused with the foregoing are fluorescent lamps, widely used in
offices, garages, industrial areas and the like, which involve a glass
bulb having at its ends, current-emitting devices such as tungsten
filament or iron-tube cathodes. Mercury vapor and argon gas are used in a
fluorescent lamp, and a phosphor coating on the inside of the glass bulb
serves to convert ultraviolet radiation into light. Those familiar with
fluorescent lamps know they are divided into hot-cathode lamps and
cold-cathode lamps, with the hot-cathode lamp being used in conjunction
with a current limiting ballast. I do not use fluorescent lamps as
illumination means for my device, for the fluorescent lamps cannot be
shaped to the precise contour of a print to be illuminated, and only a
very narrow range of colors are available.
With regard to the light tubes of the type I may utilize in the practice of
my invention, such tubes are commercially available in which the interiors
of the tubes have been coated with any of a wide variety of powders able
to cause a tube to emit light of a certain hue or color when the tube has
been filled with an appropriate inert gas and then energized with
electrical power provided at an appropriate voltage level. The EGL
Company, Inc. of 730 South 13th Street, Newark, N.J. 07103 is a well known
supplier of clear and coated colored sign tubing, and I have found the
neon light tubing supplied by this company to be satisfactory for many
purposes.
Selected color can also be achieved for a light tube by wrapping the
external surface of the tube with a non-opaque covering of a preferred
color, whereas a modification of the extent of the illuminated portion of
the tube may be achieved by applying opaque material to the outer surface
of the tube.
In order to achieve a desired intensity of the colored light being
projected through the artwork, I have found it desirable to mount the
light tubes at specified distances behind selected portions of the
artwork, rather than mounting all of the light tubes equidistant from the
rear side of the art work.
As will be described in some detail hereinafter, it is a principal goal of
this invention to configure the illuminating tubes so as to take into
close consideration, the subject matter of the artwork to be illuminated,
so that when the tubes have been energized at a proper voltage level,
selected components or aspects of the artwork will be enhanced with a
color or hue most appropriate to the artwork.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a
light display device utilizing luminous tubing, such as neon tubing, for
displaying posters and other planar artwork capable of being illuminated
from behind. This novel device may utilize a hollow frame having the
general dimensions of the artwork into which the artwork is to be
inserted, in certain instances to be disposed behind a transparent face
plate. My novel device preferably contains a plurality of holding pieces
or support members, pref | | |
