It is known to provide signs which may be attached to vehicle sun visors but which are visible only in good daylight and at fairly close distance. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sign for attachment to a vehicle sun visor, which provides enhanced visibility, both at night and in daylight, but which is portable and thus removable when not required.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable illuminated sign for removable attachment to, for example, a vehicle sun visor, the sign comprising a first part having a translucent panel bearing an alphabetical and/or numerical legend, and a second part having means for removable attachment to a vehicle sun visor such that the sign may be mounted thereon with the characters facing forwardly or rearwardly within the vehicle; the first and second parts defining an enclosure having an array of LEDs connected to a circuit board; and a power supply lead connected to the circuit board and having means for connection to the vehicle battery; such than when the sign is illuminated the legend is visible through the vehicle windscreen or rear or side windows.

An outer or inner surface of the first part may be adapted to receive the legend by way of a self-adhesive sheet, which may be removable for replacement of the legend.

The second part may have an internal surface of enhanced reflectivity, for example, by way of a reflective sheet, thus uniformly to distribute the light emitted by the LEDs across the translucent panel thereby ensuring substantially uniform illumination thereof.

The power supply lead may terminate in a plug for connection to the so-called cigar lighter socket of the vehicle. The plug may include an on/off switch and/or an intermittent switch to illuminate the LEDs in a flashing mode.

The LEDs may be of the type issuing white light or alternatively a coloured light, or a mixture of colours.

A tilt switch may be incorporated in the enclosure such that the LEDs are illuminated when the sign (attached the visor) is in a substantially vertical attitude.

The enclosure may be of tapering cross-section away from the LEDs thus to maximise uniformity of reflection of light throughout the housing, and to minimise material usage and reduce weight and overall thickness of the sign.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portable illuminated sign made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an end view; Fig. 4 is an internal view of a first part of the sign; and Fig. 5 is a plug which may be used to connect the sign to a vehicle battery.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a portable illuminated sign 10 for attachment to a vehicle sun visor and bearing an alphabetical and/or numerical legend 11, in this example displaying the word RESCUE and representing a sign which may be used, for example, by emergency services such as mountain or marine rescue personnel.

Fig. 1 illustrates a first part of the sign 10 and is in the form of a translucent housing 12 which, as will be seen, is adapted to contain illumination means whereby the legend 11 may be clearly visible at night.

Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation of the sign in the form of a backing plate 13 of an opaque plastics material having an integral attachment clip 14 which has a certain resilience thus to attach the sign by a friction fit to a vehicle sun visor. The first and second parts 12 and 13 are removably attached together and form an enclosure which houses an array of LEDs 15 connected to a circuit board 16 within the first part 12.

The two parts are connected together by means of a lip 17 integral with the first part beneath which is fitted the upper edge of the second part 13 where upon the two parts are attached together by means of screws attachable at 18, and passing through respective portions of the two parts.

The internal surface of the second part 13 has attached thereto a reflective sheet such as aluminium foil in order to reflect forwardly through the first part 12 the light emitted by the LEDs 15.

Fig. 3 illustrates the general shape of the housing and particularly the first part 12 thereof such that the cross-section of the housing is tapered towards its upper edge.

This serves to maximise reflectivity from the reflective sheet within the second part 13 thus to optimise the uniform illumination of the legend 11 and also minimises the weight and thickness of the sign as a whole and, of course, the material used in production thereof.

The legend 11 is provided on a removable self-adhesive sheet which attaches to the inner or outer surface of the first part 12 thus to be removable for replacement. If attached to the outer surface, the legend may be provided on a reflective sheet thus to be clearly visible in daylight even when the LEDs are not illuminated.

Fig. 5 shows a plug 19 of the kind connectable to a so-called cigar lighter socket in a vehicle and is attached to the power lead 20 from the circuit board 16 of the sign. The power lead may be connected to either end of the circuit board 16 and exit the housing at the adjacent end thus to depend from the sign at the most convenient position for connection to the socket.

The plug 19 may incorporate an LED 21 which is illuminated when power is received by the plug, and an on/off switch 22 whereby the user may selectively illuminate and extinguish the LEDs 15. The switch 22 may incorporate flashing unit so that an intermittent power supply is fed to the circuit board 16 enabling the LEDs to assume a flashing mode. Thus, a third position may be included on the switch 22 for this purpose.

The sign may incorporate a tilt switch 23 housed within the first part 12 and which serves to switch power to the LEDs, for example, when the sun visor with the sign attached thereto is tilted downwardly into a vertical attitude. Thus, the sign is illuminated automatically when the visor is lowered. It will be appreciated that the sign may be attached to a visor so that the legend is visible forwardly or rearwardly through the vehicle windscreen or rear window respectively and if the visor is turned through 90° to lie against a side window, so the sign may be visible from one or other side of the vehicle through the side windows thereof.

It will be appreciated that an illuminated sign made in accordance with the invention is lightweight, portable and readily removable and attachable to a sun visor when required. Thus it is envisaged that the sign will be carried by, for example, rescue personnel, in the vehicle and deployed when necessary with the vehicle moving or stationary.

The sign may be used for advertising or for information as well as by personnel in an emergency situation.