AU2005202184B2 - Rotating Message Display Sign - Google Patents

Description

P20123AU01 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: ROADS & TRAFFIC AUTHORITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Actual Inventors: STEVICA SVIRCEV RONALD JOSEPH CARNEY Address for Service: HODGKINSON McINNES PAPPAS Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Level 3, 20 Alfred Street MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 Invention Title: "Rotating Message Display Sign" Details of Associated Provisional Application: 2004902704 filed 20 May 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 ROTATING MESSAGE DISPLAY SIGN TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to message display signs and, in particular, to rotating picturn-type 5 message display signs. The invention has been developed primarily with respect to outdoor rotating message display signs and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of 10 use. BACKGROUND Rotating or picturn-type message display signs are a common sight throughout the world in places ranging from airports and sporting arenas to roadsides. In essence, the rotating 15 picturn-type message display signs include a plurality of rectangular strips disposed in a side-by-side arrangement. The strips, or blades as they are also known, include three longitudinally extending rectangular display portions for containing a portion of a display sign or message. 20 A plurality of the blades are disposed in a line wherein each of the blades is rotatably mounted to allow selective rotation of the blades. In use, a plurality of the blades are disposed in a line and a given corresponding face of each strip includes a predetermined part of a corresponding message or sign where to display the entire message or sign, all of the blades carrying the predetermined parts of the message or sign are disposed adjacent 25 with their faces substantially parallel so as to form a plane containing the display message or sign. When the blades are rotated by equal amounts with respect to each other, the second or third corresponding faces can be aligned so as to form a substantially planar surface to 30 display other signs or messages. In such rotating picturn-type signs, a first message is displayed by rotating the blades such that all corresponding faces carrying a predetermined part of the message or sign are 3 aligned to provide the planar display surface. When each of the blades are rotated by predetermined amount with respect to each other, the second or third set of corresponding faces are aligned in a substantially planar side-by-side arrangement to display a different sign or message. 5 It can be seen that when the corresponding faces of the blades are disposed in a side-by side arrangement, that a display sign having an area the length of each blade times the width of each blade times the number of blades is provided. In this way, large signs can be relatively easily provided. Each blade has three corresponding faces, then each face can 10 contain a different message or sign whereby rotation of the blades allows alignment of the portions of the sign or display that is to be displayed. The rotating or picturn-type message display signs can be obtained from various manufacturers. For example, the RotapanelTM triple image display provides remote or local 15 control of the movement of the three sided blades that comprise the Rotapanel display via conventional electric motor and control electronics. The Rotapanel displays include a drive mechanism employing a central shaft with a separate parallel drive for each blade. In the mechanism, PTFE materials are used to provide a self-lubricating mechanism in which friction is reduced over known systems. A pair of stainless steel bearings is provided for 20 each blade wherein a gear arrangement in communication with the electric motor is employed. Although the mechanism of the Rotapanel display advantageously minimises friction in the mechanism that controls the rotation of the rotating sign blades, the existence of dirt or 25 other undesirable contaminants on the blade driving mechanism will severely limit the efficiency of the Rotapanel displays. Furthermore, the arrangement used to drive the blades of the Rotapanel displays is relatively complex and expensive to produce whilst still providing relatively precise coupling of the sign blades when they have been rotated to allow a satisfactory alignment of the corresponding blade faces to display the 30 predetermined message or sign. As another example, Visiontron Corp. are also known to provide rotating picturn-type display signs, especially for airline and retail sales applications. The Visiontron rotating 4 display signs hold up to four different messages, that is the blades of the rotating sign include four corresponding faces wherein each face can be aligned with a corresponding face on another blade to display a message being a combination of all the corresponding faces. 5 The Visiontron rotating display signs are typically rotated about a horizontal axis via a roller mechanism in combination with an indexing mechanism to allow accurate rotation of the sign blades to thereby provide an accurately aligned rotating sign message. Unfortunately, the mechanism used to rotate the blades in the Visiontron rotating signs is 10 disposed substantially vertically and, as with the Rotapanel displays, is prone to failure or efficiency loss when dirt or other contaminants are introduced into the mechanism that rotates the blades. US Patent No. 5,255,463 provides a rotating sign assembly in which each of the rotatable 15 sign segments (or blades) are driven by a rotatable shaft operatively connected to each blade in a rotating display sign. The drive shaft includes a multi-armed drive cam fitted to each drive shaft wherein rotation of the drive cam is driven by a driving arm assembly including a driving pin plate and a driven arm to stop the plate. In the rotating sign of this patent, the driving pin plate alternatively interacts with an outer slope surface of the cam 20 for rotation of the blades where the rotation ceases by interaction of the pin plate with peaked extremities in the stop plate. In use, the rotating sign assembly of this US patent is susceptible to dirt or other contaminants affecting the efficiency of the rotating sign assembly and, furthermore, the 25 assembly is disposed at a lower end of the rotating display sign leaving it vulnerable to contamination by dirt and the like which falls within a housing of the rotating sign onto the rotating sign assembly. Furthermore, the assembly of this patent is known to disadvantageously wear through use and from engaging and disengaging the rotation mechanism of the sign blades. It is noted that US Patent No. 6,128,841 provides a display 30 sign being an improvement of that of the above US patent, however, it is still vulnerable to the deficiencies of the display sign of that patent 5 The patentee of the above US patent also published a torque limiting device for rotating display signs, as disclosed in US Patent No. 6,052,931. In this patent, a torque limiting device is used to prevent over rotation of the blades of the rotating display sign. When a torque is applied to each rotating sign blade that exceeds a predetermined torque, the motor 5 driving means is disconnected from the blade thereby disengaging it from rotation. This patent provides a useful device in limiting the torque applied to blades in cases where the rotation mechanism is jammed or otherwise partially or fully dysfunctional. However, it does not assist in the prevention of such problems nor does it provide a cost effective economic solution. 10 The problems of contamination and dirt affecting the drive mechanisms of these prior art signs makes them less reliable when used in outdoor applications, such as by the roadside. From the above, it can be seen that many mechanisms for rotating the blades of a rotating 15 picturn-type display sign are provided, however, most of the mechanisms are relatively expensive and cumbersome to implement in a practical sign and still provide the most efficient and low maintenance use of the rotating display signs in the longer term. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rotating message display sign 20 that overcomes or substantially ameliorates one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a rotating message display 25 sign including: a plurality of elongate display sign blades each having a predetermined width and extending between an upper end and a lower end, and each including three sign blade faces; a blade pinion gear extending longitudinally from the upper end of each sign blade; 30 and an elongate gear rack configured to be disposed adjacent the top of each sign blade and configured for continual engagement with each blade pinion gear; 6 wherein the sign blades are configured to be disposed vertically or horizontally and in a side-by-side arrangement such that corresponding faces on each blade are rotatable so as to display indicia being a combination of indicia disposed on each corresponding blade face, and linear movement of the blade pinion gear rack causes each sign blade to rotate by 5 a same predetermined amount. Preferably, each blade is substantially hollow and includes an end cap disposed intermediate the sign blade upper end and the blade pinion gear. 10 In preferred embodiments, the sign blades extend vertically in the side-by-side arrangement and the blade pinion gear rack is disposed horizontally. More preferably, the sign is modularly configurable to accommodate the side-by-side arrangement of additional display blades, each additional sign blade having a blade pinion gear extending from an upper end and configured for continual engagement with the gear rack. 15 Preferably, the display sign includes a weather resistant housing having a transparent transmission window through which the corresponding faces are observable. In preferred embodiments, the display sign includes an electric motor coupled to the gear 20 rack and configured to horizontally move the gear rack a predetermined amount to align any of the corresponding faces on the side-by-side blades. Preferably, the display sign includes one or more input sensors in communication with the display sign such that receipt of a signal from a sensor causes the linear movement of the 25 blade pinion gear a pre-determined amount to display one of the three sign blade faces to display a message in response to the sensed condition. It can therefore be seen that there is advantageously provided a rotating message display sign which is reliably operated and which can relatively quickly change a displayed sign or 30 message. Further, it can be seen that the gear rack and blade pinion gears can be disposed within a housing such that the ingress of foreign matter into the mechanism of the display sign is minimised.

7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 5 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a rotating message display sign according to the preferred embodiment; and FIG. 2 is a side view of the display sign of FIG. 1. MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION 10 Referring to the drawings generally, there is shown a part view of a rotatable message display sign 1 and it is noted that like reference numerals refer to like elements. The display sign 1 is shown in part and in perspective in FIG. 1. The sign includes a plurality of elongate display sign blades 2. Each sign blade 2 longitudinally extends 15 between an upper end 3 and a lower edge (not illustrated). The sign blades 2 are substantially hollow and include three faces 4 such that the blades are triangular in cross section. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the blades are disposed in a side-by-side arrangement. Each sign blade 2 includes an end cap 5 disposed at the upper end 3. A pinion gear 6 20 mounted about a substantially vertical shaft 7 extends longitudinally from the top of each sign blade 2. The pinion gear 6 is configured for continual engagement with an elongate gear rack 8 that is disposed adjacent the pinion gear 6 extending from the upper edge of the sign blade 2. That is, the pinion gear 6 of each sign blade 2 is continually engaged with the gear rack 8. 25 It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the display sign 1 is configured such that movement of the gear rack 8 horizontally causes the sign blades 2 to rotate about the shaft 7. Corresponding faces on each display sign blade 2 are aligned so that rotation of the sign blades simultaneously by the same amount results in each blade being rotated the same amount 30 and corresponding faces forming a side-by-side arrangement. It can therefore be seen that when corresponding faces 4 of the blades 2 are aligned, a message can be displayed being formed from two or more of the blades 2, with three being 8 shown in the part view, such that each corresponding blade face 4 includes indicia that is used in combination with adjacent blades to provide a sign. In the present case, as there are three sides to each sign blade 2, it can be seen that three 5 different, or even the same, messages can be applied to respective corresponding faces of the blades 2 whereby movement of the horizontal gear rack rotates the blades by a same amount so as to allow alignment of corresponding faces 4. Furthermore, in the blade pinion gear and gear rack engagement of the display sign 1, the blades 2 can be reliably, accurately and quickly rotated. In the sign of FIG. 1, it has been found that the blades 2 10 can be rotated between corresponding messages in approximately 0.5 seconds. It is noted that it can be seen from FIG. 1 that any preferred number of display sign blades 2 can be disposed in a side-by-side arrangement to thereby provide a rotating message display that can be of any preferred area. That is, a message being the size of the length of 15 the blades 2 by the width of each blade 2 by the number of blades 2 will provide the total message area. Thus, if a wider or narrower roadside display sign is required, display sign blades 2 can be added or removed accordingly. Turning to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of the display sign of FIG. 1. It can be seen 20 that the display sign includes a housing 10 which is preferably weather resistant. The housing 10 further includes a transmission window to observe the blades 2 and is preferably formed of polycarbonate. A motor 11 is disposed adjacent the gear rack 8 and pinion gear 6 wherein the output of the motor 11 is coupled to the gear rack 8 such that actuation of the motor 11 moves the gear rack horizontally by predetermined amounts. 25 Although not shown, it is noted that the motor can be remotely actuatable, for example, via GSM modem or other conventional mechanism. As also shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 includes a source of illumination 12 for the display sign blades 2 to be observed at night. Further, a hydraulically mounted door (not 30 illustrated) is included in the housing 10 to allow access to both the blades 2, pinion gear 6, gear rack 8, the motor 11 and the illumination source 12.

9 It can therefore be seen that there is provided a rotating display sign in which the plurality of display sign blades 2 are constantly engaged with a horizontally movable gear rack thereby allowing relatively quick sign changeover times when displaying messages on different corresponding faces 4, as well as providing a more reliable sign. Furthermore, it 5 can be seen that the rack gear 8, and pinion gear 6, and the motor 11, will not easily be contaminated by dirt or the like due to these elements being disposed at the upper end of the display sign 1. As such the display sign 1 is particularly suited to outdoor and roadside use. It is further noted that the rotatable display sign 1 can be configured to mount to existing signposts, bridges or other architectural structure or to vehicles or other mobile 10 environments where portable display signs are used. For vertically extending sign blades 2, such as shown in FIG. 1, the pinion gear extending longitudinally from each blade 2can be disposed to extend from the top or bottom of the blades 2 and be configured for engagement with a horizontally disposed gear rack disposed 15 along a top or bottom of the display sign 1. Likewise in the case where the blades 2 are horizontally disposed, the gear rack is disposed vertically on a side of the sign 1 to engage with each pinion gear 6 extending from the blades 2. Although not illustrated, it is noted that one or more sensors can be disposed remotely from 20 and in communication with the display sign 1. In such embodiments, a signal sent by a sensor to the display sign 1 causes the sign to display a message disposed on a corresponding face. Similarly, each sensor can be use to display a specific one of the three display sign 1 messages. 25 The foregoing describes only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. A rotating message display sign including: a plurality of elongate display sign blades each having a predetermined width and extending between an upper end and a lower end, and each including three sign blade faces; a blade pinion gear extending longitudinally from the upper end of each sign blade; and an elongate gear rack configured to be disposed adjacent the top of each sign blade and configured for continual engagement with each blade pinion gear; wherein the sign blades are configured to be disposed vertically or horizontally and in a side-by-side arrangement such that corresponding faces on each blade are rotatable so as to display indicia being a combination of indicia disposed on each corresponding blade face, and linear movement of the blade pinion gear rack causes each sign blade to rotate by a same predetermined amount.

2. A display sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein each blade is substantially hollow and includes an end cap disposed intermediate the sign blade upper end and the blade pinion gear.

3. A display sign as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the sign blades extend vertically in the side-by-side arrangement and the blade pinion gear rack is disposed horizontally.

4. A display sign as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sign being modularly configurable to accommodate the side-by-side arrangement of additional display blades, each additional sign blade having a blade pinion gear extending from an upper end and configured for continual engagement with the gear rack.

5. A display sign as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a weather resistant housing having a transparent transmission window through which the corresponding faces are observable. 11

6. A display sign as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an electric motor coupled to the gear rack and configured to horizontally move the gear rack a predetermined amount to align any of the corresponding faces on the side-by-side blades.

7. A display sign as claimed in claim 6 wherein the motor is remotely actuatable.

8. A display sign as claimed in claim 6 or 7 including one or more input sensors in communication with the display sign such that receipt of a signal from a sensor causes the linear movement of the blade pinion gear a pre-determined amount to display one of the three sign blade faces to display a message in response to the sensed condition.

9. A display sign being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 19* day of May 2005 ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES HODGKINSON McINNES PAPPAS Patent Attorneys for the Applicant