Illuminated display systems

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG.
1 there is shown an isometric view of a display system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Display system 1 comprises an acrylic sheet 2 of a predetermined thickness having outer surfaces 3 and 4 onto which is arranged a matrix of half tone translucent arrays which act in evenly distributing light across the surface of the sheet on which the matrix is placed.
Sheet 2 which is a transparent acrylic material is accommodated in a channel shape member 6 of a support member 7.
Support member 7 also houses the light source which may, according to one embodiment, comprise power source 8 linked via electrical wires 9 and 10 to a light emitting bulb 11.
When the display assembly is fixed together it is preferred that the light source and in particular bulb 11 transmits its light from edge to edge of transparent sheet 2.
According to the preferred embodiment, the display system incorporates additional panels which preferably comprise smokey translucent opal acrylic material.
The outer layers 12 and 13 may comprise signage which will be illuminated when light emanates via surfaces 3 and 4.
Layer 12 for instance, may have a sign printed on its outer exposed surface.
Likewise, layer 13 may have a sign printed on its outer surface 13a such that it can be read depending upon which direction the viewer is coming from.
FIG.
1 indicates a gap between layers 12 and sheet material 2 for the purpose of showing the matrix 5 disposed on outer surface 3 of the acrylic material 2.
Whereas in the prior art the refraction and reflection of the light passing through the thickness of the acrylic material was controlled by means of dots and in particular varying the density thereof, according to the present invention outer surfaces 3 and/or 4 include a matrix of half tone arrays.
The density of the half tones increases as the distance from the light source increases in order to facilitate increased refraction through the surface of the acrylic material to the outside of the sheet and to reduce or eliminate internal reflection