GB2382212A

GB2382212A - An edge-lit display

Info

Publication number: GB2382212A
Application number: GB0124974A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Boney
Original assignee: East Coast Nursery Products Ltd
Current assignee: East Coast Nursery Products Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-17
Filing date: 2001-10-17
Publication date: 2003-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-17
Also published as: GB2410601A; GB2382212B; GB0503329D0; GB0124974D0

Abstract

A display which comprised a generally plate like transmitting body 2 is edge-lit so that light that is received from the edge is transmitted perpendicular to the plane of the body 2. The display body 2 may have an image in the form of a picture 4 cut into the surface of the body 2. The body 2 is lighted from the edge by at least one and preferably a plurality of light sources 6 which may be light emitting diodes (LEDs) and may be coloured. The light sources 6 may be inserted into apertures 10 in the body 2. The light sources 6 may be controlled by a timer which may further comprise a dissolve unit. A musical unit may also be incorporated. The display may be adapted to fit or be inserted into a cot, so forming or replacing a wall thereof.

Description

A Display The present invention relates to a display, and in particular to a display for incorporation into a cot.

In order to aid the sleeping patterns of young babies, it is often preferable to have some sort of soothing night time entertainment located on or around the babies cot. Such entertainment includes, for example, a dimly lit picture or pattern located on, or in the immediate vicinity of the cot, such that the picture or pattern is clearly visible by the baby when the baby is lying in the cot. Soothing music is also useful to help the baby to sleep.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a display comprising a generally plate like light transmitting body, shaped such that at least part of light received in a direction in the plane of the body is directed perpendicular to the plane of the body to form a light image for a person in that position.

The body may be made of any suitable translucent or transparent material and in a preferred embodiment, the body is made of acrylic.

The body preferably has a flat front surface with shaping to redirect light received into it.

Using acrylic shaped in such a way produces a lit image that is clear and visible.

Preferably, the light image is formed by a shape cut into the surface of the body. This ensures suitable re-direction and spread of light to provide a clear visible image. The shape may also be engraved onto the surface of the body.

It is also preferable that the light image is a picture, as a recognisable image will aid the baby viewing the picture to sleep.

Advantageously, the display further includes at least one light source to shine light in a direction in the plane of the body. The or each light source may be an LED. This ensures that a suitable amount of light is transmitted through the image.

The or each light source may be coloured. This allows for a multicoloured image to be produced where a plurality of light images of different colours are provided.

Preferably, the or each light source is located within a respective aperture formed in the body. This allows the body to stand alone as a display rather than requiring a separate light source otherwise connected to the display.

Preferably the or each light source is controlled by a control unit having a timer and a dissolve unit. This enables the display may be automatically turned on or off at various times during the night to aid the baby to sleep.

The display may preferably have a plurality of light sources, where the light sources are in different colours. The dissolve unit may enable the colours to appear to be faded into one another to gradually change the colour of the pattern.

Preferably, the control unit further comprises an integral music circuit, and switching means to switch between music and light.

The presence of the music as well as light aids the sleeping pattern of a baby.

The display may further include means to hang it on a wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cot including a display according to the first aspect of the invention.

The display may form at least part of one wall of the cot and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the display forms one end wall of the cot.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a display in the embodiment the invention, having a picture thereon; Figure 2 is the side view of the display of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cot having the display of Figures 1 and 2 located thereon.

With reference to Figure 1, the present invention comprises a light transmitting body 2 made of acrylic material. The body 2 has a picture 4 engraved in one of its faces which in this case is a picture of a dove. A plurality of apertures 6 are drilled into the four edges 8 of the body.

Within each aperture 6 is provided an LED 10 (see Figure 2). The LEDs 10 are provided in various colours.

The LEDs 10 are connected to a controller (not shown). The controller includes a timer, a resolve unit and an integral music circuit. The control unit has independent switching means so as to switch between music or light. The dissolve circuit is able to give the appearance of fading one or more colours from the LEDs 10 into other colours so that the picture appears slowly to change colour. The controller may be run from the mains, or by standard batteries.

When emitting light, the LEDs 10 provide light through and across the acrylic body 2 and, due to the angle on which the picture 4 is engraved into the face of the body, lights up the picture. The overall resulting appearance to a viewer at right angles to the plane of the display is of a picture"suspended"in mid air as the picture will be much

brighter than the rest of the body 2. As shown in Figure 3, the body 2 can form a cot wall.

The applicant has found that the angle of the engraving cut should be in the region of 450 to provide the optimum visibility when the picture or pattern is viewed at 900 to the light path through the body 2. The depth of the cut is ultimately dependent on the detail required in the picture.

In an alternative embodiment, where the display stands alone or is hung up on a wall, a picture or pattern is simply suspended in mid air.

The light emitted from the picture has the benefit of acting as a night light for the baby.

The configuration of the apertures 6 and LEDs 10 therein can be adapted to suit the picture 4 engraved or cut into onto the body 2.

Although Figure 1 shows each edge 8 having 4 apertures 6, it is clearly envisaged that any number of apertures can be provided in any combination of the 4 edges. Furthermore, it is clearly envisaged that the body may be made of a suitable similar material to acrylic, such as any translucent polycarbonate.

Claims

1. A display comprising a generally plate like light transmitting body, shaped such that at least part of light received in the direction in the plane of the body is directed perpendicular to the plane of the body to form a light image for a person in that position.

2. A display according to claim 1, wherein the body is made of acrylic.

3. A display according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the body has a predominantly flat front surface with shaping to redirect light received into it.

4. A display according to claims I to 4, wherein the light image is formed by a shape cut into the surface of the body.

5. A display according to claim 4, wherein the light image is a picture.

6. A display according to claims I to 5, further including at least one light source to direct light in the direction in the plane of the body.

7. A display according to claim 6, wherein the light source is an LED.

8. A display according to claim 6 or claim 7, having a plurality of light sources.

9. A display according to claims 6 to 8, wherein the or each light source is located within an aperture or apertures formed in the body.

10. A display according to claims 6 to 9, wherein the or each light source is coloured.

11. A display according to claims 6 to 10, wherein the or each light source is controlled by a control unit having a timer.

12. A display according to claim 11, wherein the control unit further comprises a dissolve unit.

I n.

13. A display according to claim 13, wherein the dissolve unit is able to fade colours of at least two light sources into each other.

14. A display according to claims 11 to 13, wherein the control unit further comprises an integral music circuit, and switching means to switch between music and light.

15. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the display further includes means to hang it on a wall.

16. A display as substantially hereinbefore described and referred to in the Figures.

17. A cot including a display as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

18. A cot according to claim 16. wherein the display forms at least part of one side of the cot.

19. A cot according to claim 16, wherein the display forms one end wall of the cot.

20. A cot as substantially hereinbefore described and referred to in Figure 3.