An illuminated advertisement type display comprising an open front housing that is
closed by a transparent panel of plastic or the like which has a display printed thereon simulating a neon sign. Within the housing, there is a fluorescent light bulb that provides illumination for the printed display. The printing is by "transparent" pigment that may have incorporated therein translucent substances in small amounts, but sufficient to occlude the vision of the fluorescent light bulb to a viewer of the display. Surrounding the printed display is a coating of opaque material, so that the areas surrounding the printed matter is black. This coating may be a high reflecting aluminum foil which also reflects light produced by the fluorescent light to increase the light transmited through the panel.
This invention, in its best embodiment, provides a simulated neon sign display that is illuminated by fluorescent lamp light transmitted through a flat front panel that is transparent (as distinguished from translucent) to visible light (butopaque to ultra-violet light) at those areas where the neon sign tube simulation is printed. The printing is by "transparent" pigment. The color along the edges of the tube printing may, be somewhat diminishing intensity of hue towards the center where thecolor may drop to zero at a pinstripe width that follows the longitudinal center line of the printed simulating tube through which a higher intensity of white light is emitted. To avoid visibility of the fluorescent tube, which would be a "give away"that the "neon tube effect" is simulated, small amounts of dispersed opaque substances may be included in the otherwise "transparent" printing pigment.
The term "neon sign" is herein used in the conventional manner to cover small diameter tubing that is bent to the desired shade, evacuated and filled to a low pressure with a gas that produces a desired color of light emission in response to anelectric discharge therethrough. Neon gas produces a characteristic red light. Other gasses produce light of different characteristic colors.