Portable wordsign arrangement

ABSTRACT

A portable wordsign arrangement includes a wordsign supporter, a power supply supported by the wordsign supporter, a word character arrangement, which is formed by a plurality of illuminating characters, comprising at least a rope light having an electric connector end electrically connected to the power supply, wherein the rope light is shaped into the illuminating characters for increasing a visibility of the word character arrangement at a low light condition, and a plurality of mounting elements securely mounting the illuminating characters of the word character arrangement on the wordsign supporter. Therefore, the word character arrangement enables the user to customize each of the illuminating characters via the rope light to form as an indication sign.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a portable wordsign arrangement according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the portable wordsign arrangement comprises a wordsign supporter and a power supply supported by the wordsign supporter .

The portable wordsign arrangement further comprises a word character arrangement , which is formed by a plurality of illuminating characters , comprising at least a rope light having an electric connector end electrically connected to the power supply , wherein the rope light is shaped into the illuminating characters for increasing a visibility of the word character arrangement at a low light condition, and means for securely mounting the word character arrangement on the wordsign supporter .

According to the preferred embodiment, the wordsign supporter , which is embodied as a signboard, has a front side , a rear side , and at least a rope outlet formed on the wordsign supporter to communicate the front side of the wordsign supporter with the rear side thereof wherein the rope light is adapted to slidably pass from the front side of the wordsign supporter to the rear side thereof through the rope outlet , as shown in FIG. .

The power supply is preferred to be mounted on the rear side of the wordsign supporter in such a manner that when the rope light is mounted on the front side of the wordsign supporter , the electric connecter end of the rope light is extended to the rear side of the wordsign supporter through the rope outlet to electrically connect to the power supply . Accordingly, the power supply comprises a power socket electrically extended from an AC power source to electrically connect to the electric connecter end of the rope light . Alternatively, the power supply can be embodied as a battery housing for receiving a replaceable battery as a power source to electrically connect to the rope light . In other words, the wordsign arrangement of the present invention is capable of using both AC and DC power to enhance the portability of the present invention.

The word character arrangement are formed by bending the rope light into each of the illuminating characters in such a manner that the illuminating characters are electrically connected with each other through the rope light . Accordingly, the illuminating characters are shaped as alphabets, A to Z, and numbers, 0 to 9.

The rope light has a character shaping portion bent to form the respective illuminating character and an extension portion extended between each two illuminating characters such that the illuminating characters are integrally linked by the rope light , wherein the character shaping portion of the rope light is mounted on the front side of the wordsign supporter via the mounting means and the extension portion of the rope light is slidably extended to the rear side of the wordsign supporter through the respective rope outlet , as shown in FIG. .

In other words, the user is able to customize each of the illuminating characters by using the character shaping portion of the rope light on the front side of the wordsign supporter while the extension portion of the rope light is hidden behind the wordsign supporter .

As shown in FIG. 3, the rope light , such as a flexilight, is constructed by a flexible tubular shelter and at least an illuminating element , such as a LED, disposed in the tubular shelter in such a manner that when the illuminating element is electrically connected to the power supply , the illuminating element generates a light passing through the tubular shelter to outside. Accordingly, the tubular shelter is a PVC coating such that the illuminating element is protected in the tubular shelter so as to ensure the electric connection of the illuminating element . In addition, the illuminating arrangement of the rope light can be either the horizontal bulb or the vertical bulb wherein the illuminating element is electrically connected to the electric connecter end of the rope light through a tin-wire.

It is worth to mention that since the extension portion of the rope light is positioned behind the wordsign supporter at the rear side thereof, the light from the extension portion of the rope light is blocked by the wordsign supporter , so that only the character shaping portion of the rope light indicates the illuminating character of the word character arrangement .

The mounting means comprises a plurality of mounting elements spacedly and detachably attached to the wordsign supporter to retain the character shaping portion of the rope light on the front side of the wordsign supporter . According to the preferred embodiment, the mounting elements are mounting clips and the mounting means further has a plurality of mounting holes formed on the wordsign supporter from the front side to rear side and wherein each of the mounting elements has two ends slidably passing through the two respective mounting holes and locked at the rear side of the wordsign supporter so as to securely mount the rope light on the wordsign supporter .

In order to use the present invention, the user must use the rope light to shape each of the illuminating characters in such a manner that the illuminating characters are electrically connected with each other through the rope light . Then, the user is able to mount the character shaping portion of the rope light on the front side of the wordsign supporter via the mounting elements , wherein the extension portion of the rope light is positioned at the rear side of the wordsign supporter through the rope outlet . Therefore, when the electric connector end of the rope light is electrically connected to the power supply , the illuminating element of the rope light generates the light to lighten the illuminating character so as to enhance the visibility of the word at the low light condition. It is worth to mention that the rope light is capable of providing different colors and/or light effect to enhance the appearance of the word character arrangement .

For example, when the illuminating characters of the word character arrangement are embodied as “O”, “P”, “E”, and “N”, respectively, the user is able to shape the character shaping portions of the rope light to form the “O”, “P”, “E”, and “N” shapes of the illuminating characters in a continuous manner and mount the illuminating characters on the front side of the wordsign supporter via the mounting means while each extension portion of rope light between each two illuminating characters is extended on the rear side of the wordsign supporter .

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the configuration of the rope light A wherein the rope light A is shaped to form the illuminating characters A of the word character arrangement A. The rope light A has a character shaping portion A bent to form the respective illuminating character A and an extension portion A extended between each two illuminating characters A wherein the rope light A is securely mounted on the front side A of the wordsign supporter A via the mounting means A.

As shown in FIG. 4, the word character arrangement A further comprises a light blocking element A affixed to the extension portion A of the rope light A for blocking the light from the illuminating element A to outside such that when the rope light A is mounted on the front side A of the wordsign supporter A, only the character shaping portion A of the rope light A generates light to outside to indicate the respective illuminating character A. In other words, the wordsign supporter A only requires one rope outlet A for the electric connector end A of the rope light A passing through.

Accordingly, the light blocking element A can be embodied as a black color paint coated on the extension portion A of the rope light A or a non-transparent tape affixed thereto for blocking the light from the extension portion A of the rope light A passing to outside.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative mode of the wordsign supporter B which is constructed as a universal wordsign supporter B for the user to customize the illuminating characters B. The wordsign supporter B has a plurality of rope outlets B formed thereon for each of the illuminating characters B in such a manner that the extension portion B of the rope light B is selectively extended to the rear side B of the wordsign supporter B through one of the rope outlets B while the character shaping portion B of the rope light B is mounted on the front side B of the wordsign supporter B via the mounting means B. In other words, the rope outlets B are pre-formed on the wordsign supporter B at predetermined locations so that the user is able to shape the rope light B into any illuminating character B on the wordsign supporter B.

As shown in FIG. 6, a portable wordsign arrangement of a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the word character arrangement ′ comprises a plurality of rope lights ′ shaped into the illuminating characters ′ respectively.

It is worth to mention that each of the illuminating characters ′ is formed by an individual rope light ′ to mount on the front side ′ of the wordsign supporter ′ such that no extension portion of the rope light is required to extend at the rear side ′ of the wordsign supporter ′.

The word character arrangement ′ further comprises a rope light connecter ′ electrically connecting each two illuminating characters ′ in such a manner that the illuminating characters ′ are electrically connected to the power supply ′. Therefore, the rope lights ′ are electrically connected with each other ends to ends via the rope light connecter ′. As shown in FIG. 6, the wordsign supporter ′ has an outlet ′ formed thereon at a position of each of the illuminating character ′ such that the rope light connecter ′ is extended at the rear side ′ of the wordsign supporter ′ through the respective two outlets ′ to electrically connect between two illuminating characters ′.

The mounting means ′, according to the second embodiment, comprises a plurality of character shelters ′ each having a character shape and a character chamber ′ wherein the rope lights ′ are respectively disposed in the character chambers ′ of the character shelters ′ so as to protect the illuminating characters ′.

Accordingly, each of the character shelters ′ is mounted on the front side ′ of the wordsign supporter ′ wherein each of the character shelters ′ is constructed as a character cover to enclose the respective illuminating character ′ in the character chamber ′ when the character shelter ′ is sealedly mounted on the wordsign supporter ′.

Alternatively, each of the character shelters ″ is protruded from the front side ″ of the wordsign supporter ″ wherein the character chamber ″ is embodied as a character channel formed on the wordsign supporter ″ in such a manner that the rope light ″ of the illuminating character ″ is disposed in the respective character chamber ″ so as to hold the illuminating character ″ on the wordsign supporter ″ in position, as shown in FIG. .

As shown in FIG. 8, the wordsign supporter C is constructed by a plurality of supporting bars C spacedly extending wherein the rope outlet C is formed at a gap between the supporting bars C in such a manner that the rope light C is supported at the front sides of the supporting bars C and extended to the rear sides thereof through the rope outlet C.

Accordingly, the rope light C has a character shaping portion C bent to form the respective illuminating character C and an extension portion C extended between each two illuminating characters C wherein the rope light C is securely mounted on the front sides C of the supporting bars C of the wordsign supporter C via the mounting means C.

The word character arrangement C further comprises a light blocking element C affixed to the extension portion C of the rope light C for blocking the light from the illuminating element C to outside such that when the rope light C is mounted on the front side C of the wordsign supporter C, only the character shaping portion C of the rope light C generates light to outside to indicate the respective illuminating character C.

FIGS. 9A through 9E illustrates alternative modes of the mounting means . As shown in FIG. 9A, the mounting elements are mounting wires each having two end portions extended to the rear side of the wordsign supporter through the mounting holes respectively in such a manner that the rope light is securely mounted on the wordsign supporter by twisting the two end portions of the mounting wire of the mounting element at the rear side of the wordsign supporter , as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 9B illustrates that the mounting elements are mounting clips each having two end portions extended to the rear side of the wordsign supporter through the mounting holes respectively, in such a manner that the rope light is securely mounted on the wordsign supporter by bending two end portions of the mounting clip of the mounting element at the rear side of the wordsign supporter , as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 9C illustrates that the mounting elements are elongated zip lockers each having a locker head and an elongated zipper body arranged to slidably pass through the mounting holes and locked by the locker head to form a zipper loop for securely mounting the rope light on the wordsign supporter .

FIG. 9D illustrates that the mounting elements are U-shaped elastic clips mounted on the wordsign supporter wherein each elastic clip of the mounting elements has two side walls and a mounting channel formed therebetween in such a manner that the rope light is capable of mounting on the wordsign supporter by receiving the rope light in the mounting channel while the side walls are bent inwardly to hold the rope light in the mounting channel , as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 9E illustrates that the mounting elements are U-shaped mounting clips mounted on the wordsign supporter wherein each mounting clip of the mounting elements has a mounting channel for receiving the rope light therein and a plurality of elastic tips spacedly extended from two outer edges of the mounting clip and arranged to be bent inwardly to securely hold the rope light in the mounting channel .

In view of above, the illuminating characters of the word character arrangement are shaped by the rope light since the rope light having the flexible ability can be bent into any shape of the alphabets and numbers to increase the visibility of the word character arrangement at the low light condition. Since the rope light can provide different light effect while being cost effective, the user is able to easily customize the illuminating characters of the word character arrangement of the present invention as a sign of the street number or street name, an individual door sign, or an advertisement sign.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure form such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims. For example, the mounting means can be any attachment element adapted to securely mount the rope light on the wordsign supporter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable wordsign arrangement according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the portable wordsign arrangement according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rope light of the illuminating character of the portable wordsign arrangement according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the illuminating character of the portable wordsign arrangement according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative mode of the wordsign supporter of the portable wordsign arrangement according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portable wordsign arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative mode of the character shelter of the portable wordsign arrangement according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative mode of the wordsign supporter of the portable wordsign arrangement according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A to E illustrate alternative modes of the mounting means of the portable wordsign arrangement according to the above first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention.

CLAIMS

1. A portable wordsign arrangement, comprising: a power supply; a wordsign supporter having a front side and a rear side; a word character arrangement electrically connected to said power supply and comprising: one or more rope light made illuminating characters disposed on said front side of said wordsign supporter, and one or more extension portions extended between said illuminating characters and disposed on said rear side of said wordsign supporter; and means for mounting said illuminating characters on said front side of said wordsign supporter while said extension portions of said rope light are extended at said rear side of said wordsign supporter.

2. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said illuminating characters and said extension portions are made from an elongated rope light which has one end electrically connected to said power supply, wherein said wordsign supporter has a plurality of rope outlets spacedly formed therein with respect to said illuminating characters, wherein said extension portions of said rope light are selectively extended to said rear side of said wordsign supporter through said rope outlets respectively.

3. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said illuminating characters is made from an elongated rope light and comprises two rope light connecters at two ends thereof respectively, wherein said wordsign supporter has a plurality of rope outlets spacedly formed therein with respect to said illuminating characters and said rope light connecters of said illuminating characters are extended to said rear side of said wordsign supporter through said rope outlets, wherein said extension portions are electric cords connected said rope light connecters together respectively so as to electrically connecting illuminating characters with each other.

4. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said mounting means has a plurality of mounting holes formed in said wordsign supporter and comprises a plurality of mounting elements spacedly and detachably attached to said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said mounting elements has two ends slidably passed through said mounting holes respectively and fastened on said wordsign supporter from behind so as to mount said illuminating characters on said wordsign supporter.

5. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein said mounting means has a plurality of mounting holes formed in said wordsign supporter and comprises a plurality of mounting elements spacedly and detachably attached to said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said mounting elements has two ends slidably passed through said mounting holes respectively and fastened on said wordsign supporter from behind so as to mount said illuminating characters on said wordsign supporter.

6. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of character shelters mounted on said front side of said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said character shelters has a character shape and a character chamber and said illuminating characters are respectively disposed in said character chambers of said character shelters.

7. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of character shelters mounted on said front side of said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said character shelters has a character shape and a character chamber and said illuminating characters are respectively disposed in said character chambers of said character shelters.

8. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said character shelters, which is sealedly mounted on said front side of said wordsign supporter, is constructed as a character cover to enclose said respective illuminating character in said character chamber.

9. A portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said character shelters, which is sealedly mounted on said front side of said wordsign supporter, is constructed as a character cover to enclose said respective illuminating character in said character chamber.

10. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said character shelters is protruded from said front side of said wordsign supporter, wherein said character chamber is embodied as a character channel to receive said respective illuminating character therein so as to hold said illuminating characters on said wordsign supporter.

11. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said character shelters is protruded from said front side of said wordsign supporter, wherein said character chamber is embodied as a character channel to receive said respective illuminating character therein so as to hold said illuminating characters on said wordsign supporter.

12. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of U-shape elastic clips mounted on said front side of said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said elastic clips has two side walls to define a mounting channel therebetween, wherein said illuminating characters of said rope light are received in said mounting channels respectively and said side walls are bent inwardly to hold said rope light in said mounting channels respectively so as to securely mount said illuminating characters of said rope light on said front side of said wordsign supporter.

13. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of U-shape elastic clips mounted on said front side of said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said elastic clips has two side walls to define a mounting channel therebetween, wherein said rope lights are received in said mounting channels respectively and said side walls are bent inwardly to hold said rope light in said mounting channels respectively so as to securely mount said illuminating characters on said front side of said wordsign supporters.

14. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of U-shape mounting clips mounted on said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said mounting clips has a mounting channel to receive said respective illuminating character therein and a plurality of elastic tips spacedly extended from two outer edges of each of said mounting clips and arranged to be bent inwardly to securely hold said respectively illuminating character in said mounting channel.

15. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of U-shape mounting clips mounted on said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said mounting clips has a mounting channel to receive said respective rope light therein and a plurality of elastic tips spacedly extended from two outer edges of each of said mounting clips and arranged to be bent inwardly to securely hold said respectively rope light in said mounting channel.

16. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said illuminating characters are shaped as alphabets and numbers.

17. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said rope light comprises a flexible tubular shelter and a plurality of LEDs spacedly disposed in said tubular shelter, wherein each of said LEDs generates light passing through said tubular shelter to outside when said LEDs are electrically connected to said power supply.

18. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said rope lights comprises a flexible tubular shelter and a plurality of LEDs spacedly disposed in said tubular shelter in such a manner that when said LEDs are electrically connected to said power supply, each of said LEDs generates light passing through said tubular shelter to outside.

19. A portable wordsign arrangement, comprising: a power supply; a wordsign supporter; a word character arrangement comprising an elongated rope light having one end connected to said power supply, wherein said rope light has a character shaping portion shaped into one or more illuminating characters mounted on said wordsign supporter and an extension portion having one or more segments extended between said illuminating characters, wherein said rope light comprises a flexible tubular shelter and a plurality of LEDs spacedly disposed in said tubular shelter and electrically connected to said power supply to generate light passing through said tubular shelter to outside; and means for mounting said word character arrangement on said wordsign supporter.

20. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 19, wherein said word character arrangement further comprises a light blocking element provided along said extension portion of said rope light for blocking light projecting therefrom such that when said rope light is mounted on said wordsign supporter, only said character shaping portion of said rope light generates light to outside to show said illuminating characters.

21. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 19, wherein said character shaping portion of said rope light is mounted on a front side of said wordsign supporter and said extension portion of said rope light is extended at a rear side of said wordsign supporter.

22. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 20, wherein said character shaping portion of said rope light is mounted on a front side of said wordsign supporter while said extension portion of said rope light is extended at a rear side of said wordsign supporter.

23. The portable wordsign arrangement, as recited in claim 22, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of U-shape elastic clips mounted on said front side of said wordsign supporter, wherein each of said elastic clips has two side walls to define a mounting channel therebetween, wherein said rope lights are received in said mounting channels respectively and said side walls are bent inwardly to hold said rope light in said mounting channels respectively so as to securely mount said illuminating characters on said front side of said wordsign supporter.

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