AU427449B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

2 .703/70 This invention relates to improved display

devices of the type adapted to display a plurality of

different messages, commercial or otherwise, in sequence.

Mechanised display devices which operate to

display two or three different messages are known. These comprise flat strips or triangular rods which are arranged

side by side and rotated to display the two or three

composite messages on the strips or rods. Whilst such arrangements work quite well they are limited to two or

three different messages.

It is the object of this invention to provide

an improved display device in which up to six different

messages can be displayed in sequence.

In one form the invention provides a display device

for displaying up to six composite messages comprising at

least four plate-like members of the same size and shape

mounted for rotation about axes perpendicular to their

planes behind a screening device having a viewing aperture

which exposes part of one face of each plate-like member,

each plate-like member being capable of being driven so

that it rotates by part of a revolution so as to bring an

adjacent part of each plate-like member within the viewing

aperture, each plate-like member overlapping or being

overlapped by another plate-like member at least when

rotated from one position to another and having the different

parts of a composite message formed on the parts of the

plate-like members which are exposed when aligned with the aperture. 2 427449

2 37 0 3170 The configuration of each disc is selected

according to the number of discs used and each disc

is constructed from any suitable material, preferably

a stiff plastics material.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will

now be described with reference to the accompanying

drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus

embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the viewing

aperture of the apparatus showing the composition of

the display;

Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation taken

along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevation taken along line

4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation taken

along line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The display device according to the embodiment

shown comprises a casing 1 enclosing six circular

discs 2 of stiff plastics material, or other suitable

material, each mounted for rotation about an axis

2 7 03 positioned on a circle C of the same diameter as each

disc 2 (see Figure This circle C is centred on a

viewing aperture 3 in the front face F of the casing 1

and it will be seen that an arcuate sided segment S

of one sixth of the area of each disc 2 is exposed by

the aperture 3 (see Figure Five of the discs 2

are mounted in slightly spaced parallel planes, the

sixth disc being bent slightlyto overlap the first disc.

However, there is little or no contact between the

discs 2 in operation.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3 to

it will be seen that each disc 2 is supported by an

axle 4 passing through a bearing or aperture in a

mounting wall 5 secured to the side walls 6 of the

casing 1. On the opposite side of the wall 5 to the

discs, each axle 4 has a gear wheel 7 fixed rigidly

thereto. Each gear wheel 7 meshes with a driving gear

wheel 8 secured to an axle 5 mounted for rotation in a

bearing in the wall 5. The axis of axle 9 of course

passes through the centre of circle C. The axle 9 is

connected through a coupling 10 to the output shaft of

an electric motor M suitably mounted in the casing C.

The electric circuit to the motor is interrupted

by timer controlled switch which is in turn actuated

by a microswitch S. This s-itch S has an arm A arranged

in the path.of six equally spaced pegs 11 secured to one

of the gear wheels 7 so tha' as each peg 11 passes the

4 427449

2 1 7 03/70

arm A the switch S is actuated to actuate the timer

operated switch T to turn off the motor M. Thus,

depending on the time delay of the timer operated switch

T, the drive gear wheel 8 is rotated one sixth of a

turn after each time delay period to therefore rotate

each disc one sixth of a turn to expose a different

segment S of each disc 2 for the time delay period.

Each segment S of the discs 2 bears a different

part of a composite display formed by the six segments

S exposed by the viewing aperture 2 each time the discs 2 are rotated. Therefore, there are six composite

displays shown by the device described above, that is,

three more displays than the most commonly used display

device, the triangular rod arrangement.

It will be appreciated, that many more discs,

circular or otherwise, may be used to form a larger

composite message. In such cases the viewing aperture

must be diffe-r-ntlv shaped depending on the number of

discs used. Less discs may be used: for example four square discs mounted at each corner of a

square viewing aperture will give four composite displays

when thek are rotated.

It appears that six displays is the maximum

constructionally feasible although applicant does not

S7 03/70

wish to be limited in this regard. Of course each

display may include more than one message if this is

desired.

In the above described embodiment, the display aperture 3 may be square or of any other suitable shape, the shape of the segments and display component being

changed to suit the aperture.

It is to be appreciated that the described

timing arrangement may be replaced by some form of

Geneva drive which provides the necessary advancement

by one sixth of a turn followed by a desired time delay.

Alternatively, the output shaft of the motor may be

provided with a pin adapted to engage one of six vanes on one of the gears such that the pin engages a vane

at one position and disengages it after one sixth of a turn of the output shaft. When the pin arrives at the said one position again it engages the next vane to turn the gear wheel by one sixth of a turn. With this arrangement the motor is driven continuously and timers

and switches are not required.

6 427449

Claims (4)

2 3,7 03/70 The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A display device for displaying up to six

composite messages comprising at least four plate-like

members of the same size and shape mounted for rotation

about axes perpendicular to their planes behind a screening-

device having a viewing aperture which exposes part of one

face of each plate-like member, each.plate-like member being

capable of being driven so that it rotates by part of a

revolution so as to bring an adjacent part of each plate-

like member within the viewing aperture, each plate-like

member overlapping or being overlapped by another plate-

like member at least, when rotated from one position to"

another and having the different parts of a composite

message formed on the parts of the plate-like members which

are exposed when aligned with the aperture.

2. A display 'device comprising six or more discs

of the same circular configuration each mounted for

rotation about equally spaced axles positioned on the

periphery of a viewing aperture in a screening device,

each disc overlapping one or more adjacent discs to

expose a segment corresponding to one sixth of the

area of each disc, said discs being driven to rotate

one sixth of a revolution at predetermined spaced intervals

in time to expose different segments of the discs bearing

different parts of six composite messages formed when said

segments are exposed in the viewing aperture.

a27449

2 7 033

3. A display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein

there are six discs arranged in equally spaced relation

about the circumference of a circle of the same

diameter as said discs, and means for rotating said

discs one sixth of--a revolution at predetermined time

intervals.

2 2

4. A display device as claimed in claim 3, wherein

said viewing aperture is circular and is coincident

with said circle.

A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said discs are square and are rotatably mounted at the

corners of a square aperture of the same size as said

discs, each quarter of said discs bearing part of a

composite display defined by a quarter of each disc

appearing in said aperture.

A display device substantially as described

with reference to the accompanying drawings.

S A display device according to claim 3, wherein

said rotating means includes a motor having a pin

arranged on its output shaft and adapted to engage one

of six vanes mounted on a driving gear for said discs,

said vanes and pin being arranged so that a vane is

engaged by the pin at one position and disengaged one

sixth of a revolution later, the next vane being

engaged after the pin has completed its revolution.

DATED THIS 14th DAY OF December 1970.

N R C LIMITED and FRANK CHARLES CAMILLER By their Patent Attorneys:

CLEMENT HACK CO.

Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. 4274 9

2 3.7 0 3 170

413, -031