Apparatus for displaying road number for a locomotive

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying a road number for a locomotive includes a bracket, a polyhedral housing, an LED-based illumination source, and a display plate. The bracket is configured to be rigidly affixed to a nose portion of the locomotive. The polyhedral housing includes a first side and a second side. The first side is disposed within the bracket. The second side is disposed in a spaced-apart relation to the first side. The second side is configured to releasably engage with the bracket and receive a transparent cover thereon. The LED-based illumination source is disposed between the first side and the transparent cover. The display plate is disposed between the LED-based illumination source and the transparent cover. The display plate includes one or more alpha-numerals scripted thereon, wherein the alpha-numerals are representative of the road number.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for displaying a road number for a locomotive, the apparatus comprising:
 a bracket configured to be rigidly affixed to a nose portion of the locomotive;   a polyhedral housing including:
 a first side disposed within the bracket; and 
 a second side disposed in a spaced-apart relation to the first side, the second side configured to releasably engage with the bracket and receive a transparent cover thereon; and 
   an LED-based illumination source disposed between the first side and the transparent cover provided on the second side of the housing; and   a display plate disposed between the LED-based illumination source and the transparent cover, the display plate comprising one or more alpha-numerals scripted thereon, wherein the alpha-numerals are representative of the road number.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display plate is at least one of transparent, translucent, and opaque. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the alpha-numeral script is formed in visual contrast to a remainder of the display plate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes:
 a first portion configured to be rigidly affixed with the nose portion of the locomotive;   a pair of second portions laterally extending from the first portion; and   a pair of third portions laterally extending from the pair of second portions respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of third portions are disposed parallel to the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of third portions define threaded receptacles therethrough, the threaded receptacles configured to receive fasteners therein for releasably coupling the housing to the bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first side defines an aperture configured to allow passage of an electrical lead therethrough, the electrical lead associated with the LED-based illumination source. 
     
     
         8 . A locomotive including:
 a cab having a nose portion, a cabin portion, and a tail portion; and   employing the apparatus of  claim 1  for fitment onto at least one of the nose portion and the tail portion.   
     
     
         9 . The locomotive of  claim 8 , wherein the bracket is positioned partway along a height of the nose portion. 
     
     
         10 . The locomotive of  claim 8 , wherein the bracket is positioned partway along a height of the tail portion. 
     
     
         11 . The locomotive of  claim 1 , wherein the polyhedral housing is box-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . A method of displaying a road number for a locomotive, the method comprising:
 rigidly affixing a bracket to at least one of a nose portion and a tail portion of the locomotive;   providing a polyhedral housing having a first side and a second side in spaced apart relation to each other, the first side being positioned within the housing and the second side disposed in releasable engagement with the bracket;   providing a transparent cover to the second side of the polyhedral housing;   positioning an LED-based illumination source within the housing; and   providing a display plate between the LED-based illumination source and the transparent cover, wherein the display plate comprises one or more alpha-numerals scripted thereon.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polyhedral housing is box-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising switching ON the LED-based illumination source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further defining threaded receptacles in the housing to receive fasteners therein, the fasteners configured to releasably couple the housing to the bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further defining an aperture in the first side of the housing to allow passage of an electrical lead therethrough, the electrical lead associated with the LED-based illumination source.