| JP2002196679 | EXCISE TAX PAID DISPLAY BOARD AND STORE DISPLAYING THE SAME |
| JPS57102678 | MANUFACTURE OF DISPLAY PANEL |
| US4222181A | 1980-09-16 | |||
| US3944691A | 1976-03-16 | |||
| US5183429A | 1993-02-02 | |||
| US1727234A | 1929-09-03 | |||
| US2168490A | 1939-08-08 | |||
| US3105315A | 1963-10-01 | |||
| US0513281A | 1894-01-23 | |||
| US1349670A | 1920-08-17 | |||
| US3531884A | 1970-10-06 | |||
| US4427390A | 1984-01-24 | |||
| US5581922A | 1996-12-10 | |||
| US5702105A | 1997-12-30 |
| 1. | Characters having a horizontal center line, the characters being legible at approximately the horizontal center line for more than one hundred and fifty degrees. |
| 2. | The characters of claim 1, wherein the characters are legible for a range of three hundred and sixty degrees. |
| 3. | The characters of claim 1, wherein the characters are comprised of a first material and a second material, the first material and the second material have contrasting visual characteristics. |
| 4. | Threedimensional multidirectional characters having a range of recognition of three hundred and sixty degrees and a horizontal axis. |
| 5. | The characters of claim 4, wherein each character is comprised of material having uniform visual characteristics. |
| 6. | The alphabet of claim 4, wherein each character is comprised of at least two. materials having visually contrasting characteristics.". |
| 7. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the characters include letters, numbers, symbols, shapes, punctuation, and logos. |
| 8. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the capital letter"A"is comprised of an external conical body having an outer surface. |
| 9. | The letter of claim 8, further comprising an internal conical body having an outer surface being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external conical body. |
| 10. | The letter of claim 8, further comprising a top internal conical body and a bottom internal conical body, the top internal conical body having an outer surface being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external conical body, the bottom internal conical body being truncated and having an outer surface, the outer surface of the bottom internal conical body being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external conical body. |
| 11. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the letter "H"comprises : an external cylindrical body having an outer surface ; a first internal cylindrical body having an outer surface, the first iateraal cylindrical body being located inside the external cylindrical body, the outer surface of the first internal cylindrical body being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external cylindrical body; and a second internal cylindrical body having an outer surface, the second internal cylindrical body being located inside the external cylindrical body and below the first internal cylindrical body, the outer surface of the second internal cylindrical body being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external cylindrical body; wherein the first and second internal cylindrical bodies are separated by a space within the external cylindrical body. |
| 12. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the capital letter"I"comprises: a cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end; a first disk having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a circumference, the first disk being displaced at the top end of the cylindrical body whereby the top end of the cylindrical body and the bottom surface of the first disk are contacting each other; and a second disk having an upper surface and a lower surface, the second disk being displaced at the bottom end of the cylindrical body whereby the bottom end of the cylindrical body and the top surface of the second disk are contacting each other. |
| 13. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the lower case letter"i"comprises : a cylindrical body; and a spherical body located above the cylindrical body. |
| 14. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the lower case °1"and the number"1"comprises a cylindrical body. |
| 15. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the letter "0"and zero"0"comprises: an external spheroid body having an outer surface; and an internal spheroid body having an outer surface, the internal spheroid body being located inside the external spheroid body, wherein the outer surface of the internal spheroid body is approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external spheroid body. |
| 16. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the capital letter"T"comprises : a cylindrical body having a top end; a disk shaped body having a bottom surface, the bottom surface of disk shaped body being attached to the top end of the cylindrical body thereby creating the capital letter"T"which is legible for three hundred and sixty degrees about the letter. |
| 17. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the lower case letter"t", the symbol of the Christian cross"t" and the plus sign"+"comprises : a cylindrical body having a midpoint ; and a disk shaped body having a center, the center of the disk shaped body being perpendicularly displaced approximately at the midpoint of the cylindrical body. |
| 18. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the letter "U"comprises : an external cylindrical body having an outer surface and a top end and a bottom end; and an internal cylindrical body having an outer surface and a bottom end, the internal cylindrical body being located inside the external cylindrical body and near the top end of the external cylindrical body. |
| 19. | The letter"U"of claim 18, wherein the bottom end of the external and internal cylindrical bodies is rounded. |
| 20. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the letter "V"comprises : an external inverted conical body having an outer surface and a top end ; and an internal inverted conical body having an outer surface, the internal inverted conical. body being located inside the external inverted conical body and near the top end of the external inverted conical body. |
| 21. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the letter "X"and the multiplication symbol"x"comprises : an inverted truncated conical body having a bottom and an outer surface; and a truncated conical body having a top and an outer surface, the bottom of the inverted truncated conical body being attached to the top of the truncated conical body thereby creating the letter"X"and the multiplication symbol"x. |
| 22. | The letter and symbol of claim 21, further comprising: an internal inverted truncated conical body located inside the external inverted truncated conical body, the internal inverted truncated conical body having an outer surface being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external inverted truncated conical body; and an internal truncated conical body each located inside the external truncated conical body, the internal truncated conical body having an outer surface being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external truncated conical body. |
| 23. | The characters of claim 4, wherein the letter ^ytw comprises : a cylindrical body having a top end; and an external inverted truncated conical body having a bottom end and an outer surface, the bottom end of the external inverted truncated conical body being attached to the top end of the cylindrical body. |
| 24. | The letter"Y"of claim 23, further comprising an internal inverted truncated conical body having an outer surface, the internal inverted truncated conical body being located inside the external inverted truncated conical body, the outer surface of the internal inverted truncated conical body being approximately parallel to the outer surface of the external inverted truncated conical body. |
1. Related Art There is currently a wide range of methods of advertising all around the world. Signs advertising and announcing a place of business can be seen everywhere. The goal of the signs is to inform the public of the business and the location of the business. It cannot be argued that advertising the location of a business is very important to the success of that business.
The importance of the advertising sign can be inferred from the large number of signs throughout the world. Thus another important aspect of advertising signs is that they attract the consumer's attention so that the signs are read by the consumers. As a result, businesses are constantly searching for flashier and more unusual signs to grab the consumer's attention.
Many different variations on the same theme have been utilized in generating signs. However, all of them have been limited in the sense that they can only be read for a range of approximately one hundred degrees. Therefore, this art remains amenable to useful refinement.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
This invention introduces such refinement. My invention includes characters which are three dimensional and can be read for a range of three hundred and sixty degrees. These characters can be arranged horizontally or vertically to create an advertising sign for a company or an informative sign for a hospital and such.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"A" ; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"H" ; Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"I" ; Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"i" Fig. 3C is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"I","i","1", and the number Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"O"and the number"0" ; Fig. 5a is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"T" Fig. 5b is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"t" ; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"U" ; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"V" ; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"X" ; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the letter"Y" ;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a vertical sign; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a vertical sign; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a horizontal sign.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although I am discussing in detail English letters, some numbers, and punctuation, this is only to convey the invention. The invention can be used for many letters, numbers, symbols, shapes and punctuation, therefore, this description is intended to teach the invention which can be applied to more characters than specifically discussed in this detailed description.
The letter"A"10 (Fig. 1) includes an external truncated conical body 11, a top internal conical body 12 and a bottom truncated internal conical body 13.
The outer surface 14 of the top internal conical body and the outer surface 15 of the bottom truncated internal conical body are parallel to the outer surface 16 of the external truncated conical body. The base 17 of the external truncated conical body is shared by the base 18 of the bottom internal truncated conical body.
The letter"H"20 (Fig. 2) includes an external cylindrical body 21, a top internal cylindrical body 22 and a bottom internal cylindrical body 23. The outer surface 24 of the top iateraal cylindrical body and the outer surface 25 of the bottom cylindrical body are parallel to the outer surface 26 of the external cylindrical body. The top 29a of the external cylindrical body is shared by the top 29 of the top internal cylindrical body. The base 27 of the external
cylindrical body is shared by the base 28 of the bottom internal cylindrical body.
The letter"I" (Figs. 3a through 3c) can be generated several ways. The capital letter"I"30 (Fig. 3a) includes a cylindrical body 31, a top circular disk 32, and a bottom circular disk 33. The center of the bottom surface 35 of the top circular disk is attached to the top (not shown) of the cylindrical body 31. The center of the top surface 34 of the bottom circular disk is attached to the bottom 36 of the cylindrical body 31. The lower case"i"40 (Fig. 3b) includes a cylindrical body 41 and a sphere 42 located directly above the top 43 of the cylindrical body. The lower case"i"45 (Fig. 3c), the lower case "1"45, and the number 1° 45 includes a cylindrical body 46.
The letter"O"50 (Fig. 4), the punctuation"." 50, and the number"0"50, includes an external spherical body 51. It can also include an internal spherical body 52.
The capital letter"T"60 (Fig. 5a) includes a cylindrical body 62 and a circular disk 61. The center of the bottom surface 63 of the circular disk is attached to the top (not shown) of the cylindrical body. The lower case"t"65 (Fig. 5b), the symbol of the Christian cross"t"65, and the plus sign"+"65 include a cylindrical body 67 and a circular disk 66.
The circular disk is attached to the cylindrical body about its center.
The letter"U"70 (Fig. 6) includes an external cylindrical body 71 and an internal cylindrical body 72. The bottom of the cylindrical bodies being rounded. The top 74 of the external cylindrical body
is shared by the top 73 of the internal cylindrical body.
The letter"V"75 (Fig. 7) includes and external inverted truncated conical body 76 and an internal inverted truncated conical body 77. The top 79 of the external inverted truncated conical body is shared with the top 78 of the internal inverted truncated conical body.
The letter"X"80 (Fig. 8) includes an inverted truncated conical body 81 and a truncated conical body 82. The inverted truncated conical body includes an internal inverted truncated conical body 83. The truncated conical body includes an internal truncated conical body 84. The inverted truncated conical body 81 and the truncated conical body are attached 85 to form the letter"X".
The letter"Y"90 (Fig. 9) includes and inverted truncated conical body 91 and a cylindrical body 92.
The inverted truncated conical body includes an internal inverted truncated conical body 93. The inverted truncated conical body is attached 94 to the top of the cylindrical body.
Each character can be made of one type of material, thus creating a solid uniform character.
This material can be translucent, opaque, or completely solid. Also, the characters made of only one type of material can be given more detail by carving out portions of the material. Further, each letter can also be made of two or more materials to create a more detailed character. More detailed characters can be created with materials with visually contrasting characteristics, such as, color, light, fiber optics, or an empty space.
Many different variations in configuration can be used to generate a character, and my invention includes all the possible variations of each character.
The characters can be arranged to generate a word in a sign. The characters can be arranged vertically (Figs. 10 and 11) and the characters can be arranged horizontally (Fig. 12).
The foregoing detailed description is intended as merely exemplary, and not to limit the scope of the invention - which scope is to be determined by reference to the appended claims.