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US4763234A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Illuminated devices

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-05-28
•
Granted: 1988-08-09
•
Expires: 2007-05-28
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Abstract

Abstract A signal lamp having a housing in which a source of light is mounted, with the support surface being mounted in front of the light source. The support surface comprises the face plate of the signal lamp and has mounted thereon a pattern, symbol, or indicia which is displayed for the attention of an observer when the light source is inoperative. The pattern, symbol or indicia is of such a thickness that it reflects ambient light so as to be readable when the light source is inoperative, but thin enough to transmit the light field of the lamp so that the pattern, symbol or indicia is obscured when the light source is activated.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter S. Scott

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 05:42
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/30; B60Q1/302; F; F21; F21S; F21S43/00; F21S43/20; F21S43/255

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
A signal lamp comprising: (a) a housing, (b) a source of light mounted in said housing and by means of which a light field may be selectively generated through activation of a switching mechanism operable to switch a supply of power to the light source, and (c) a support surface mounted in front of said light source, said support surface comprising the face plate of the signal lamp and having mounted thereon a pattern, symbol, or indicia which is displayed for the attention of an observer when said light source is inoperative, and wherein the pattern, symbol, or indicia is provided in a thickness such as to reflect ambient light while being thin enough to transmit the light field of the signal lamp whereby the pattern, symbol, or indicia is visible when the light source is inoperative and obscured when the light source is activated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
A signal lamp comprising: (a) a housing, (b) a source of light mounted in said housing and by means of which a light field may be selectively generated through activation of a switching mechanism operable to switch a supply of power to the light source, and (c) a support surface mounted in front of said light source, said support surface comprising the face plate of the signal lamp and having mounted thereon a pattern, symbol, or indicia which is displayed for the attention of an observer when said light source is inoperative, and wherein the pattern, symbol, or indicia is provided in a thickness such as to reflect ambient light while being thin enough to transmit the light field of the signal lamp whereby the pattern, symbol, or indicia is visible when the light source is inoperative and obscured when the light source is activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A signal lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said face plate is translucent to enable back-lighting, and said pattern, symbol or indicia comprises a silk screened image thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
a signal lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing and face plate form part of a motor vehicle signal lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
A signal lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said face plate is red tinted and forms part of a vehicle stop light, and said pattern, symbol or indicia is a silk screened, white colored image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
A signal lamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pattern, symbol or indicia is provided upon a transparent, adhesive backed material which is adhered to said face plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 56 words
A signal lamp as claimed in claim 1, further including a shroud extending around and supporting said face plate, said shroud being formed with a rim having an angular orientation corresponding to the orientation of the rear window of a vehicle, and adhesive contact means provided on said rim for bonding said rim to said window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The signal lamp of claim 6, wherein said housing and said shroud are integrally molded in one piece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The signal lamp of claim 6, wherein said housing is opaque and said face plate is mounted by press fitting behind lips formed on said shroud at the front of said housing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2230262A Cited
US3905017A Cited
US4067128A Cited
US4214683A Cited
US4297675A Cited
US4607444A Cited
US4602320A Cited
US4660128A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-08-09 1992-02-08 1992-08-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-08-09 1996-02-08 1996-08-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-08-09 2000-02-08 2000-08-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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