Illumination device for a menu and method therefor

Abstract

An illuminated menu book has a menu book having at least one cover. At least one flexible electroluminescent lighting sheet is coupled to the menu book. The electroluminescent lighting sheet will illuminate when excited with a voltage at a set frequency. A lighting circuit is coupled to the electroluminescent lighting sheet and positioned in an interior of the menu book. The lighting circuit is used for controlling illumination of the electroluminescent lighting sheet. A power supply is coupled to the lighting circuit and the electroluminescent lighting sheet for powering the lighting circuit and the electroluminescent lighting sheet.

1 . An illuminated menu book comprising:
 a menu book having at least one cover;   at least one flexible electroluminescent lighting sheet coupled to the menu book, the electroluminescent lighting sheet illuminating when excited with a voltage at a set frequency;   a lighting circuit coupled to the electroluminescent lighting sheet and positioned in an interior of the menu book for controlling illumination of the electroluminescent lighting sheet; and   a power supply coupled to the lighting circuit and the electroluminescent lighting sheet.   
   
   
       2 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the menu book has a front and back cover. 
   
   
       3 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising a switching device coupled to the lighting circuit and to the menu book wherein opening the menu book closes the switching device and causes the electroluminescent lighting sheet to illuminate. 
   
   
       4 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the power supply is rechargeable. 
   
   
       5 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 4  further comprising leads coupled to the power supply for coupling the power supply to a recharging device. 
   
   
       6 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet has text formed on the surface of the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet. 
   
   
       7 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising at least one translucent sheet having text formed on a surface thereof, the at least one translucent sheet coupled to the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet. 
   
   
       8 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the lighting circuit comprises a processor, the processor controlling illumination of the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet. 
   
   
       9 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the processor is programmed to automatically turn off the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet after a predetermined amount of time. 
   
   
       10 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the processor is programmed to animate the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet by flashing certain sections or individual lighting the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet. 
   
   
       11 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the processor is programmed to excited the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet so the at least one electroluminescent lighting sheet changes color. 
   
   
       12 . An illuminated menu book comprising:
 a menu book having a front and back cover;   a plurality of flexible electroluminescent lighting sheets coupled to an interior surface of the front and back cover of the menu book, the electroluminescent lighting sheets illuminating when excited with a voltage at a set frequency;   a lighting circuit coupled to the electroluminescent lighting sheets and positioned in an interior section of the menu book for controlling illumination of the electroluminescent lighting sheets;   a power supply coupled to the lighting circuit and the electroluminescent lighting sheet; and   a switching device coupled to the lighting circuit and to the menu book wherein opening the menu book closes the switching device and causes the electroluminescent lighting sheet to illuminate.   
   
   
       13 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the power supply is rechargeable. 
   
   
       14 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising leads coupled to the power supply for coupling the power supply to a recharging device. 
   
   
       15 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the plurality of electroluminescent lighting sheets have text formed on the surface thereof. 
   
   
       16 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 12  further comprising at least one translucent sheet having text formed on a surface thereof, the at least one translucent sheet coupled to one of the plurality of electroluminescent lighting sheets. 
   
   
       17 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the lighting circuit comprises a processor, the processor controlling illumination of the plurality of electroluminescent lighting sheets. 
   
   
       18 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the processor is programmed to automatically turn off the plurality of electroluminescent lighting sheets after a predetermined amount of time. 
   
   
       19 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the processor is programmed to animate at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent lighting sheets by flashing certain sections or individual lighting at least one of the electroluminescent lighting sheets. 
   
   
       20 . An illuminated menu book in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the processor is programmed to excited at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent lighting sheets so the at least one of the plurality of electroluminescent lighting sheets changes color.