Graphic Arts Light Box

The invention relates generally to light boxes, and more particularly, to an improved light box construction providing what may be referred to as a portable graphic arts work center.

In the past, light boxes contained a lamp and a glass or plastic sheet providing an illuminated work viewing area. There is need for an improved light box construction providing additional functions, as are described herein.

It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved light box construction, as referred to, and which defines a graphic arts center. Basically, the apparatus comprises:

a) a box having a bottom wall, upright side walls, and an associated frame,

b) a translucent light diffuser plate carried by the frame to overlie the bottom wall and define therewith an illumination space,

c) illumination means in that space to illuminate the underside of the diffuser plate,

d) and a cover carried by the box to overlie the diffuser plate and to be upwardly removable to expose the plate for transmitting light to work placed over the plate,

e) the box having auxiliary receptacle means for storage of equipment usable in conjunction with use of the work placed over the plate.

It is another object to provide a structure, as referred to, having a rectangular frame defining first grooving facing laterally for receiving rectangular peripheral portions of the plate, the frame also defining second grooving facing upwardly for compressively and removably receiving peripheral edge portions of the cover.

An additional object is to provide illumination means in the form of elongated fluorescent bulb means extending in the illumination space, and a light reflector extending in that space in proximity to the bottom wall to face the diffuser plate for reflecting light from the bulb means toward that plate. The improved reflector typically has reflecting surfaces facing laterally toward opposite sides of the bulb means as well as facing upwardly toward the underside of the plate, to provide uniform or near uniform illumination of the plate.

Yet another object is the provision of a U-shaped handle having parallel arms extending adjacent opposite ends of the box, and a cross-piece extending at a side of the box, the handle forming with the box an open grip space. The arms may have pivotal attachment to opposite ends of the box, with adjustable means to position the handle at a pivot angle relative to the box to support the box at a selected tilt angle relative to a support surface.

Additionally, the light box means may include at least one of the following:

x.sub.1) a tool receptacle at one side of the box,

x.sub.2) an electrical power cord receptacle at one side of the box.

All of such receptacles may be located at one side of the box, and a handle provided to be movably attached to the box and protectively extending over at least one of the x.sub.1) and x.sub.2) receptacles. The handle may also form a hand grip zone between the receptacles.

Finally, the frame may be removably attached to support structure on the box to allow frame and plate upward removal, thereby providing access to the illumination means in the illuminating space for adjustment or replacement of the illumination means.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a graphic arts work center apparatus incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an edge view taken on lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an edge view taken on lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3 showing the handle swiveled to provide a box support, the box tilted at a selected angle for use;

FIG. 5 is an edge view taken on lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom view taken on lines 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on lines 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken on lines 8--8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on lines 9--9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged section taken on lines 10--10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal section taken on lines 11--11 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on lines 12--12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of corner structure indicated by lines 13--13 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view of a corner portion of the frame and box structure;

FIG. 15 is a section taken on lines 15--15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing frame and box construction, in elevation;

FIG. 17 is a section taken on lines 17--17 of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a section taken on lines 18--18 of FIG. 1, and a view like FIG. 16, but also showing the cover releasable connection to the frame.

In the drawings, the graphic arts work center equipment 10, FIG. 1, includes a shallow box 11 having a bottom wall 12, upright side walls 13 and 14, and upright end walls 15 and 16. Support bottoms 17 are carried by the bottom wall 12 and by the side wall 13, whereby the box can be supported on its side, in the manner of a briefcase, as during transport, or on its bottom, as during use. A U-shaped handle 18 has parallel arms 19 and 20 extending adjacent opposite end walls, and a cross-piece 21 extending at a side of the box, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 11. The cross-piece is narrowed in width at 21a and forms, with the box, a through opening 22 defining a grip zone midway between box end walls 15 and 16. Thus, the narrowed mid-portion 21a of the cross-piece and mid-portion 14a of wall 14 may be hand gripped allowing lifting and transport of the box. Note box walls 23-25 adjacent opening 22.

As seen in FIG. 11, the two arms 19 and 20 have pivotal attachment at 28 and 29 to the opposite end walls 15 and 16 allowing adjustable pivoting of the handle about axis 30 parallel to side wall 13. FIG. 12 shows a pivot in the form of a threaded stem 32 attached to rotary adjustment knob 33. When the knob is tightened, the arm 20 is clamped against the support 34 into which stem 32 is threaded. Support 34 is carried by wall 16. Similar elements 32-34 are associated with arm 19 and end wall 15.

FIG. 4 shows the handle 1B rotated to a selected pivot angle .alpha. relative to the box to support the box at a selected tilt angle .beta. relative to a support surface 36. Note the box support buttons 17 supporting the box on surface 36, and the handle edge 18a engaging that surface. Knobs 33 are tightened with the arm 20 in the position shown.

When the arm 20 is in FIG. 3 position, the arm cross-piece 21 extends protectively over recessed receptacles 40 and 41 at the side of the box associated with wall 14. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, receptacle 40 may carry graphic arts tools or other implements 40a; and as seen in FIGS. 8 and 11, receptacle 41 may carry or receive an electrical power cord 42 in coiled condition, to be extended to plug into an electrical socket when the light box is in use. Receptacles 40 and 41 open outwardly toward the protective covering cross-piece 21 in FIG. 11. Note receptacle walls 44-46 and 47-49.

The box 11 has an associated frame which is typically removably carried by the box. See for example frame 51 having four elongated stretches 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d. The latter may be connected at intersection corners, as by L-shaped brackets 52 seen in FIGS. 16 and 17. The brackets fit into recesses 53 formed in the frame stretches, and beneath frame struts 54. The frame in section is generally H-shaped, as seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, with lower legs 55 and 56 seating on ledge 60 integral with the box wall 13, and offset downwardly from the box top wall 250, and inwardly from box walls 13-16. Ledge 60 is re-entrant into box peripheral interior space 61. Fasteners 57 extend through the struts 54 on the frame stretches and threadably attach to the ledges, as at 58. See FIG. 15. Thus, the rectangular frame is attached to the box to be removable, along with a diffuser plate 63 carried by the frame to provide access to the box interior 64.

The diffuser plate 63 consists of glass or plastic or other material and is translucent. Its peripheral edges 63a are received in laterally facing grooves 65 formed by upper and lower flanges 66 and 67 integral with the frame stretches. See FIG. 16. Separability of the frame stretches from plate 63, allows plate replacement, after the frame is itself removed from the box.

Plate 63 overlies the box bottom wall 12, and defines therewith the illumination space 64 under the plate. Illumination means is provided in that space to illuminate the underside of the diffuser plate 63. That illumination means typically includes elongated fluorescent bulb means, such as bulbs 70 and 71 extending in parallel relation in space 64. See FIGS. 8, 10 and 11. The opposite terminal ends of the bulbs are received in electrical socket bodies 72, from which wiring extends at 73 to ballast means 75 or other circuitry 74, the ballast 75 supplying the required voltage to the bulbs for operation thereof.

The illumination means may also be considered to include a reflector plate 80 extending in the space between wall 12 and plate 63 to face the diffuser plate 63 for reflecting light from the bulbs 70 and 71 toward plate 63. That plate sub-tends the major areal dimensions of bottom wall 12 (see FIG. 11), as well as of plate 63, and substantially completely underlies the two bulbs. FIG. 10 shows the reflector plate as having angled surfaces 86 and 87 facing laterally oppositely toward opposite sides of the bulb 71, as well as facing upwardly toward the underside extent of plate 63 to right of an upright plane 88. Surfaces 86 and 87 reflect laterally emitted bulb light toward plate 63. See also reflector surfaces 89 extending parallel to plate 63 and beneath the level of bulb 71 to reflect bulb downwardly emitted light toward the plate 63 to the right of plane 88.

Likewise, the reflector has angled surfaces 90 and 91 facing laterally oppositely toward apparatus sides of bulb 70, as well as facing upwardly toward the underside extent of plate 63 to the left of plane 88. Surfaces 90 and 91 reflect laterally emitted bulb light toward plate 63. See also the reflector surfaces 92 extending parallel to plate 63 and beneath the level of bulb 70, to reflect bulb downwardly emitted light toward the plate 63. Opposite ends of the reflector plate 80 are turned upwardly at 100 and 101, and pass the bulbs at 102. The plate 80 may be removably attached to bottom wall 12, as via an auxiliary subplate 80a attached by fasteners 104 to the wall 12. Those fasteners also retain the support buttons 17 to that wall. See FIG. 10.

Also provided is a protective cover 110 carried by the box 10 to overlie the diffuser plate 63, to be upwardly removable to expose that plate for viewing while light back-illuminates the plate and work, such as drafting paper applied over plate 63. See for example cover 110 in FIGS. 8 and 18 removably supported by frame 51. The latter is shown to have upwardly opening grooving 111 to receive an compressively removably grip edge portions 112 of the cover. Those edge portions typically project downwardly, as on a skirt 112a formed by the cover and depending from a cover wall 112b extending parallel to plate 63. The edge portions 112 may be bifurcated to form cantilevered sections 112c and 112d, (see FIG. 18) with convex cam surfaces allowing the sections to resiliently deflect toward one another as the sections 112c and 112d are pushed into the neck 111a of groove 111, the sections 112c and 112d then springing apart to seat in groove enlargement 111b. The cover 110 is thereby firmly gripped by the frame 51, but yet is forcibly upwardly removable, as required. Space 114 beneath raised wall 112b and above plate 63 is adapted to receive and store work, such as sheets of paper, booklets, etc., indicated at 116 in FIG. 18. After removal of the cover 110, the frame 51 and diffuser 63 may be detached as a unit from the box, to gain access to underspace (illumination) 64, as for changing the bulbs 70 and 71, or to gain access to ballast 75. Cover 110 may be corrugated at 110a (see FIGS. 1 and 8) for increased stiffness. The box and its cover may consist of a plastic material, such as high density polyethylene. The frame and reflector may consist of aluminum.

The graphic arts work center may also include grooves 118 in box top wall 120, for storage of pencils 121, as during use of the device. See FIG. 8. A well 123 may also be formed in wall 120, for storage of paper clips, erasers, etc., as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows switches 135 and 136 to turn on the bulbs, individually.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show provision of means for mounting the light box on a wall. See openings 130 in back (bottom) wall 12, to receive hangers, shown as pins 131 having heads 131a, and shanks 131b passing through the openings 130 and into the wall 132.