AU672407B2 - Display devices - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 -1-

AUSTRALIA

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APPLICANT:

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FILING DATE: FRANCIS RICHARD FORREST PL 3287/92 2/ 7/92 Invention Title: DISPLAY DEVICES The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 This invention relates to display devices and in particular to display devices having moving components.

The invention is particularly applicable to display devices of the type made of plastic materials sold under the trade mark Corflute (and other trade marks), which is an extruded sheet having two spaced face members and parallel divisions which divide the area of the sheet into a number of parallel cells.

Whilst the invention is particularly applicable to use with such sheets, it will be appreciated that it will also be used with other materials, such as corrugated cardboard.

It is desirable on many signs to illustrate the cost of particular articles and, conventionally, there have been a number of ways of doing this.

oeoo oooeo: In the simplest form, there is simply a space left on the sign ooeo onto which the price can be placed by the use of a felt pen, marker or the like and, in some applications, the space could be in the form of a blackboard upon which a chalk or other type of writing implement could be used.

In another form there have been provided numerals made up of seven components which normally made up the numeral 8 but from which any other required numeral can be made simply by blanking WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993 3 out one or more of the components. The numerals displayed are in a form similar to those displayed from a LED.

The major disadvantage with this form of sign is that normally, and particularly where the sign is used outside, the blanking has to be done with a permanent marker so is generally not possible to re-use the sign if there is any price change. Because of this, such signs have usually been made of relatively flimsy S material as they must be thrown away after a single use.

Further it is normally difficult to match the marker with the background so that whilst, from a distance, the sign can give a good effect, when examined from a closer range it can have an uneven appearance.

A further form of sign, which practically is not dissimilar to *Cee the one described above, the numerals can be provided on the sign by a die cutting and various selected components can be removed to provide the required display.

In this case, again, it is usually found that the removed portions of material are lost so it is effectively not possible to re-use the sign in applications were the price varies.

A first object of the invention is to provide a sign which enables the price to be readily changed and thus gives the sign a good long term life.

WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993 4 Another disadvantage with signs of this general type is that it is often desirable to change certain of the information which appears on the sign and a second object of the invention is to provide a sign whereby this can readily be done.

The invention in its broadest sense comprises a sign formed of a sheet of material from which there is cut out a number of components, which are so located as to be able to be inverted to present their second face, which is contrasting in appearance to the front face, whereby on correct selection of the components, a letter or numeral may be displayed, characterised by the two faces of the sheet of material being spaced by webs of material and a pivotal member passing between the faces both of the body 44 of the sheet material and at least one of the components, the pivotal member being on an axis of symmetry of the said OV component.

Preferably, where numerals are to be provided, the cutouts are in the forms of elongated diamonds and in respect of each of ot o these, there is a pivotal member passing through a central

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portion whereby the sign can adopt its reguired positions by rotation and without removal of any of the components.

The numerals are normally provided in a display having seven bars, which, when all exposed show a numeral 8, when the central horizontal bar is not exposed shows a numeral 0, and the other numerals are all attainable, in a matter similar to that in which they would appear on an LED or other device.

"/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/14 June, 1996 Where letters are to be formed there may be additional members which are cut out or able to be removed, which are located basically diagonally in the sign.

In its second sense, the invention provides a sign having changeable material including a pair of spaced slits or the like in the sign body, the variable material being on a flat sheet which can pass through the slits and be located so the required information is displayed and means to hold the material relative to the body.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I shall describe, in relation to the accompanying drawings, .embodiments of each part of the invention.

In these drawings: Fig 1 shows a portion of a sign which can display any numeral with all of the components rotated to illustrate the ).umeral 8; Fig 2 is a view similar to that of Fig 1 with one of the components rotated to illustrate the numeral 6; Fig 3 is a view of portion of the sign showing in dashed line, the method of location of two of the components; Fig 4 is a front view of the second form of sign; and WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993 6 Fig 5 is a side elevation of the sign of Fig 4.

In the first aspect, illustrated in Figs 1 to 3, I preferably use a plastics board 10 of the type sold under the trade mark Corflute but, as previously indicated, I could use corrugated cardboard or some other material.

I die cut from the board, at the required positions, seven components 11 each of which is in the form of an elongated diamond shape and which are so located as to form the numeral 8.

These components are so formed that any required numeral can be achieved by selecting a certain number of the components and, as can be seen from the figures, are shaped in a manner of the components of an LED.

In the sign of the invention, the two sides of the board are of o contrasting colours, such as black and white, so that when any .00000 of the components 11 are rotated, there is a contrast on each face of the sign.

I provide passing through each of the components 11 a rod or the like 15 which extends downwardly through the passage 16 in the board which is closest to central as far as the components is concerned.

To provide the single numeral illustrated I have three such rods the two outer rods passing through the two side components WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993 7 so that these are adapted to rotate about their longitudinal axis and the centre rod passing through the three cross components so that these are adapted to rotate about their transverse axis.

The diameter of the rod used is each case smaller than the width of the passage 16. Practically, in standard Corflute, the passage is approximately one and a half to twice as wide as the height of the divider and the use of small diameter rod enables sufficient freedom so that, no matter where the components are formed relative to the body of the Corflute backing, there will be sufficient movement of the component relative to the rod to permit the component to be located in the aperture from which it S was removed but with its opposite face being outwardly directed.

That is, it is not essential for the tradesman making the sign .ee.

to ensure that each component is centred on a passage through the Corflute.

oo e This, it will be appreciated, saves very substantial time when signs are being made.

The rods may be preferably of a hollow plastic extrusion and may be formed at least at one end to either return into the same passage in the board so as to firmly locate therein or, alternatively, and as illustrated, to return into an adjacent passage in the board.

WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993 8 It will be seen then that for a user to set a price it is only necessary to decide which of the components are necessary to form the particular numeral, or generally which of the components in four of five numerals are necessary to set up the required price and to rotate these components so that the contrasting colour is directed outwardly from the sign.

If the price is to vary, or the sign is to be used in respect of a different product, then it is only necessary to reset the components to provide the new required amounts.

Whilst I have described herein before one particular form of sign, it will be appreciated that variations can be made in this.

For example, the sign could be provided with a backing sheet and the removable sections could be physically removed, reversed and reinserted and these can either be held against a backing sheet o o or alternatively, the backing sheet could have a ready release adhesive thereon so that the cutout portions are held there against although they can be readily removed or replaced.

An arrangement such as this does provide means whereby a wider range of shapes can readily be provided.

For example, components on an angle to the remainder to the sign can be provided and as these do not need to be pivoted, any required position can be used.

WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993 9 In this way an arrangement can be set up whereby not only numerals but also letters can be displayed.

In an even simpler version it may be possible to simply provide the components so they can be inverted and replaced.

In such an arrangement the components could be provided with slightly non-parallel sides so that on replacement there is a certain deformation which will act to keep the portion in place.

There could of course be other variations of the arrangement.

*44 In the second aspect of the invention, I provide means whereby certain information can be displayed on signs of this type.

For example, if the sign was to be used for several different products, I provide a sheet or strip of material 20 which has 4*44*4 each individual product marked thereon and in the required position on the body of the sign, I can provide two spaced split lines 21a 21b so that the strip of material 20 can be passed through one of the lines 21a from behind, over the face 24 of the sign between the two lines and through the other split line 21b so that a portion of the strip of material 20 extends outwardly from the face of the sign.

WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993 The back of the sign and the strip can be provided with locating means 22, which could be Velcro or similar material so that the strip can be located in the required position.

If it is subsequently required to change what is on the sign, then the strip is simply released, moved until the other position is reached and then again locked into position or removed and replaced with another strip.

.6 It can be seen that by the use of the two aspects of the invention a very flexible sign can be achieved. The sign also provides a professional appearance.

It can readily be used indoors or outdoors and it can have a relatively substantial life.

WP51/SPEC/FORREST2.SPC/28 June 1993

Claims (10)

1. A sign formed of a sheet of material from which -here is cut out a number of components, which are so located as to be able to be inverted to present their second face, which is contrasting in appearance to the front face, whereby on co::-ect selection of the components, a letter or numeral may be displayed, characterised by the two faces of the sheet of material being spaced by webs of material and a pivotal member passing between the faces both of the body of the sheet material and at least one of the components, the pivotal member being on an axis of symmetry of the said component.

2. A sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein the webs and the face form a plurality of parallel channels and wherein the pivotal members pass along selected channels.

3. A sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pivotal member passes through some of the webs.

4. A sign as claimed in anyone of claims 1 3 in which there is a plurality of pivotal members and in which each member is a rod of a durable material. 2 July, 1996 12 A sign as claimed in claim 4 in which each pivotal member is a wire.

6. A sign as claimed in claim 5 when appended through claim 2 in which the pivotal member is formed at one end, to return into the same channel in the sheet of material so as to firmly locate therein.

7. A sign as claimed in claim 6 in which the pivotal member can return into an adjacent channel in the sheet matprial so as to firmly locate therein.

8. A sign as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 8 when appended through claim 2, claim wherein the components are in the form of elongated diamonds of which there are seven, four components comprising two sets of two vertical components which are adjacent with respect to each other and three components which are equally spaced and lie horizontal, so that when all the components are exposc., a numeral 8 is illustrated, when the central horizontal component is not exposed a numeral 0 is illustrated and the other numerals are all attainable by the selective exposure of certain of the components, a pivotal member passes through faces both of the body of the sheet material and a component on a axis of symmetry of said component, whereby the component can be inverted independently of another .SPC/14 June, 1996 13 component to adopt its required sition without the repositioning of any other component.

9. A sign as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 8 when appended through claim 2, in which the pivotal member passes along selected channels and through the centre of the vertical lying components so that the components are adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis and a pivotal member passing along a selected channel and through the centre of the horizontal lying components so that the components are adapted to rotate about their transverse axis.

10. A sign as claimed in any previous claim in which the pivotal member passes through some of the webs and through .the centre of the horizontal lying components so that the components are adapted to rotate about the transverse axis and through selected webs and the centre of vertical components which are adjacent with respect to each other so o that the components are adapted to rotate about their longitudinal axis.

11. A sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. .SPC/12 July, 1996 14 DATED this 14th day of JUNE, 1996. FRANCIS RICHARD FORREST By His Patent Attorneys A. TATLOCK ASSOCIATES a 4 4 a a a a 4a*a a 4 a a 4 a a a. a. a a a 4a aa a a 4 June, 1996 ABSTRACT A sign formed of a sheet of material from which there is cut out a number of components, which are so located as to be able to be inverted to present their second face, which is contrasting in appearance to the front face, whereby on correct selection of the components, a letter or numeral may be displayed, characterised by the two faces of the sheet of material being spaced by webs of material and a pivotal member passing between the faces both of the body of the sheet material and at least one of the components, the pivotal member being on an axis of symmetry of the said component. r I