CA2599604A1 - Modular display device and tool for removing display modules - Google Patents

Abstract

The modular display device for optical signals comprises a supporting frame (3) and a plurality of display modules (4), each comprising a module housing (8) and a plurality of light emitting diodes integrated therein, wherein the module housings (8) are inserted into the supporting frame (3) and are releasable attached thereto. The attachment of the module housings (8) in the supporting frame (3) is implemented by movable snap-in locking means (28) which can engage respective holding elements (16) arranged on at least two opposing side walls (14) of each module housing (8), wherein the snap-in locking means (28) of adjacent side walls (14) of different module housings (8).are arranged offset with respect to each other.

Description

Modular display device and tool for removing display modules Field of the invention The present invention refers to a modular display unit for optical signals according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a tool for removing display modules from the supporting frame of a modular display device.

State of the Art A display device of this type is described in DE 199 51 348 Al. This display device comprises a display field formed of several identical display modules, wherein the pixels are arranged line-wise and column-wise and are controlled by a control means.
The attachment of the individual module housings in the supporting structure is implemented by means of screwing an angular holding means, which engages at the front side of the module housing, to the supporting structure. The disadvantage of such an attachment is particularly that the individual module housings can on the one hand not be arranged directly adjacent to each other and thus a uniform display field, which is also suitable for all types of module-overlapping signal displays, is not created. Secondly, the attachment by means of screws requires a lot of time and is complicated, as it is necessary, particularly when removing modules, to also hold the module housings besides releasing the screws so that these module housings do not fall out of the supporting structure. This further creates a risk to the worker in the case of display devices attached at a high aftitude, e.g. across a motorway.

Summary of the invention Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide a modular display device for optical signals, which is capable of displaying all possible types of large-area signal display motives even across the borders of the individual modules and at the same time of enabling an especially simple and safe exchange of the individual modules.

According to the invention, the attachment of the module housings in the supporting frame is realized by means of movable snap-in locking means, which can engage respective holding elements arranged at least on two opposing side walls of each module housing, wherein the snap-in locking means for adjacent side walls of different module housings are arranged offset with respect to each other.

With this construction it is ensured that a safe support of the individual modules within the supporting frame is achieved, wherein the assembly can be carried out without the aid of mechanical tools and the disassembly is also particularly simple when using a suitable tool. Moreover, it is possible to let the display surfaces of the individual module housings directly adjoin one another so that a continuous display unit is generated, in which large signal display motives can be displayed also across the boundaries of the modules without irregularities being produced in the overall picture.

The holding elements are preferably holding studs projecting from the side walls of the module housing, and the snap-in locking means are snap-in tongues with recesses for receiving the holding elements, wherein a simple and safe attachment of the module housing in the supporting frame is implemented when inserting a module housing.

The front portion of the snap-in tongues is preferably angled and projects from the side wall of the module housing to be fixed, which on the one hand ensures a guide effect for the release tool and on the other hand increases the leverage of same.

In a preferred embodiment, three snap-in locking means are provided for each module housing. Two snap-in locking means engage at one side wall of the module housing, and one snap- in locking means engages on the opposing side wall. Due to this asymmetric arrangement, an especially safe clasping of the module housing by the snap- in locking means is possible.

In a preferred embodiment, the front sides of the module housings, which are formed by front plates slightly projecting over the side walls, directly adjoin one another so that a uniform, module-overlapping signal display is enabled, in which irregularities in the boundaries do not occur.

In this case it is especially preferred that oblong recesses are provided in the front plates on the level of the holding elements in parallel to the respective outer edge of the front plate. Thus, a suitable release tool can easily be inserted in the oblong recesses from outside without damaging the front plates.

Preferably, flexible tongues to support the module housing are provided on the supporting frame, which are formed integral with the snap-in tongues so that after releasing the snap-in tongues an outwardly directed force is exerted onto the module housing.

The tool according to the invention for removing a module housing from the supporting frame of a modular display device according to the invention comprises a base plate with a handle attached thereto as well as a plurality of release means arranged on two opposing sides of the tool and extending perpendicular to the base plate for releasing the movable snap-in locking means from the respective holding elements. The release means are arranged on a side of the tool in offset fashion with respect to the release means on the other side of the tool so that the advantage of a simple exchange of modules is realized by this tool.

In a preferred embodiment, a shoe for engagement into a holding stud is provided on the front end of each release means, which creates a guided movement of the tool in the inner portion between two module housings that is not viewable from outside.

The release means are preferably inwardly crammed in a first, front central portion, so that a lever ramp is formed on which the snap-in locking means are pressed outwardly when inserting the tool and are thus released from the holding elements.

The tool preferably comprises three release means, wherein two release means are arranged on one side of the tool and one release means is arranged on the opposite side, which ensures a safe connection between the tool inserted and the module housing.

Furthermore, a leaf spring is arranged preferably on an inwardly directed surface arranged in a second, rear central portion of the release means, said leaf spring being directed towards the inside and towards the base plate and serving for engagement with the rear side of the front plate of the module housing, which ensures a catch of the module housing due to the barb effect of the leaf spring when pulling out the tool.

The release means are preferably formed as thin sheet metal strips so that the recesses formed in the front plate take as few space as possible.

A lever for releasing a removed module housing from the tool is preferably arranged in the area of the handle to further facilitate handling of the module housing after disassembly.

Short description of the drawings Further details, features and advantages of the present invention can be derived from the following description with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a module display device according to the invention with four modules;

Fig. 2 shows a top view onto a module housing according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a front view of a front plate of a module housing according to Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional view of a display device with two module housings inserted into the supporting frame;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a partial portion of a display device according to the invention with an empty insertion compartment for receiving a module housing; and Fig. 6 shows a tool according to the invention for releasing and removing a module housing from the display device.

Description of preferred embodiments Fig. 1 shows a modular display device 1 according to the invention, which has a supporting frame 3 as well as display modules 4 inserted into this supporting frame 3. In the embodiment shown, four display modules 4 are assembled to form a rectangular display field. However, definitely more display modules 4 can be stringed together. Each display module 4 has a rectangular display field, in which thirty-five signal fields are arranged in five columns and seven lines. Of course, a variation of the number and distribution of the signal fields 6 in the individual display modules 4 is also possible. The display device 1 is usually attached via the supporting frame 3 to a supporting device that is not shown, such as a pole, a signboard supporting bridge structure or another suitable carrying means known.

Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a display module 4. The display module consists of a module housing 8, which has a front plate 10 with integrated signal fields 6 as well as a rear base body 12 with four side walls 14 and a rear wall 15. The front plate and the base body 12 are preferably connected to one another by adhesion, and the electrical/electronic units, which are not shown, including the light-emitting units, which are controlled by a central control unit (also not shown) in a manner known per se, are arranged in the interior of the base body 12. Holding elements 16 are arranged on at least two opposing side walls 14, said holding elements being formed in the embodiment shown as holding studs projecting from the respective side wall 14 of the module housing 8. These holding studs 16 are arranged on the side walls 14 at approximately one third of the depth of the module housing 8, wherein preferably on one side wall two holding elements 16, which are spaced apart from one another, are attached, while only one central holding element 16 exists on the opposing side wall.

The base body 12 is bevelled on the side walls 14 in its rear portion preferably towards the inside, which facilitates insertion of the module housing 8 into the insertion compartment provided for this purpose in the supporting frame 3. Moreover, preferably four insertion pins 18 are arranged as further guide and support aids on the rear wall 15 of the module housing 8, said insertion pins engaging in respective recesses of the supporting frame 3, as will be explained later on. The front plate 10 projects on the sides preferably slightly outwardly over the base body 12 so that the front plates 10 of adjacent module housings 8 in the inserted condition almost directly adjoin one another.

Fig. 3 shows a respective front plate 10. The front plate 10 comprises several signal .fields 6, which are arranged in lines and columns. The signal fields 6 are each formed as integral cover units and are inserted into the openings of the front plate 10 provided for this purpose. A signal field 6 usually consists of several, in this case four, lens elements 20, which are integrated into the cover unit and which serve for bundling the light, which is irradiated by a light source, preferably a light emitting diode arranged behind the front plate 10 in the interior of the base body 12. The arrangement described causes the light from four LEDs to be bundled to one signal point, which leads to an especially high intensity of light.

Oblong recesses 22 are formed near the side edges of the front plate 10, said recesses being located on the level of the holding elements 16. These recesses 22 usually extend directly from the edge of the front plate.

Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional view of two module housings 8 inserted into the supporting frame 3 and attached there. It can be seen that the two front plates 10 directly adjoin one another and the supporting frame 3 has a V-shaped section 23 between two insertion compartments, said section being adapted to the bevelled shape of the side walls 14 of the module housings 8.

Fig. 5 shows in detail a portion of a display device 1 with several inserted module housings 8, the front plate 10 with the indicated signal fields 6 being visible. In the central portion of the drawing, an empty insertion compartment for a module housing 8 is shown to explain the attachment mechanism of the module housing 8 on the supporting frame 3. The vertically arranged V-shaped sections 23 of the supporting frame 3 can be seen, which get into contact with the bevelled side wall portions of the module housing 8 when the module housing 8 is inserted into the insertion compartment. The four passage holes 24 for receiving the insertion pins 18 of the module housing 8 can also be seen, which are arranged in rails 26 of the supporting frame oriented in parallel to the display surface.
Three snap-in locking means 28 serve for attaching an inserted module housing 8, said snap-in locking means being formed in the present example as snap-in tongues attached at the V-shaped section of the supporting frame 3, said snap-in tongues having recesses 30 for receiving the holding studs 16 and being angled on their front edge section 32, i.e.
they project from the side wall of the module housing to be fixed. The attachment of the snap-in tongues 28 on the supporting frame 3 is implemented usually by means of screwing or riveting. The snap-in tongues 28 substantially extend perpendicularly with respect to the display surface, and the distance between snap-in tongues of opposing sides basically corresponds to the width of the base body 12 of a module housing 8.

In the embodiment shown, one snap-in tongue is provided for attaching the left side wall of the module housing 8, which is basically located on half of the level of the insertion compartment. To attach the opposing, right side wall of the module housing 8, two snap-in tongues are provided, which are located in the area of the upper or lower end of the insertion compartment. This three-point geometry using a minimum constructive effort is especially suitable for a safe attachment of the module housing 8. Many other different arrangements with three or more snap-in tongues 28 per module housing 8 are also conceivable. However, it must be noted that the snap-in tongues of side walls facing each other are arranged asymmetrically, i.e. in a manner offset with respect to each other, since otherwise a direct stringing together of the module housings 8 would not be possible. Although the snap-in tongues 28 are arranged left and right in the insertion compartment, it is also conceivable to arrange them in the top or bottom of the insertion compartment or also on all four sides of the insertion compartment.

The dimensioning of the module housing is almost freely selectable. Module housings with display fields of 210 x 150 mm, 320 x 230 mm or 455 x 325 mm are for instance suitable. Flexible spring tongues 34 to support the module housing 8 inserted can be provided in the rear portion of the insertion compartment, said spring tongues being formed in this case integrally with the snap-in tongues.

Fig. 6 shows a tool 40 according to the invention for releasing and removing a module housing 8 from a supporting frame 3 of a modular display device 1. The tool 40 has a substantially triangular base plate 42, to which a handle 44 is attached. In the area of the three corners, means 46 for releasing the movable snap-in locking means 28 from the respective holding elements 16 of the module housing 8 are arranged extending substantially perpendicular to the base plate 42. The release means 46 are formed in the preferred embodiment as thin sheet metal strips, which project from the base plate 42 at a substantially right angle and which extend inwardly bent in a front central portion while being inwardly crammed. On the front end of the release means 46, a shoe 50 for engagement into the holding stud 16 of a module housing 8 is provided. The shoe usually comprises two tongues, which define a notch arranged between the tongues, said notch preferably enlarging from the inside towards the outer edge of the shoe. In the oblong section between the front central portion 48 and the base plate 42 the release means 46 comprise a rear central portion 52. In this portion, a leaf spring 54 is arranged on an inwardly directed surface, said leaf spring projecting towards the inside at a small angle and extending in the rear direction towards the base plate 42. Moreover, at least one rubber stopper is provided on the front side of the base plate 42 that cannot be seen in Fig. 6, to prevent damage of the holding studs 16 when inserting the tool 40.

The arrangement of the release means 46 corresponds to the spatial arrangement of the snap-in tongues 28 on the supporting frame 3 so that in the present example two release means are arranged on one side of the tool 40 and one release means 46 is arranged on the opposing side. Of course, it is also possible to select other geometries which correspond to the arrangement of the snap-in pins 28.

A lever 56 is arranged on the individual release means 46 to release the tool 40 from a module housing 8 removed in that the lever is pressed and the thin sheet metal strip slightly bends upwards which causes the leaf spring 54 to be lifted over the front plate 10 and thus, the module housing 8 is no longer engaged with the tool 40.

The insertion process of a module housing 8 into the modular display device 1 as well as the removal process will now be explained. The module housing 8 is inserted into the associated insertion compartment of the supporting frame 3, wherein the front sections 32 of the three snap-in tongues 28 are slightly pressed outwardly by the holding studs 16. The bevelled portions of the side walls 14 of the module housing 8, which come into contact with the V-shaped sections 23 of the supporting frame 3, as well as the insertion pins 18, which penetrate through the passage holes 24, additionally serve as guides and thus enable an exact arrangement of the module housing 8. If the module housing 8 is completely inserted into the insertion compartment, the holding studs 16 latch into the recesses 30 of the snap-in tongues 28 so that the module housing 8 is safely anchored.
Subsequently, the required electrical/electronic connections to the module housing 8 can be produced.

To remove a module housing 8 from the supporting frame 3, the release means 46 of the tool 40 are plugged and inserted into the recesses 22 of the front plate 10 provided for this purpose, wherein the leaf springs 54 are compressed. In the interior, the shoes 50 engage into the holding studs 16, and the snap-in tongues 28 are bent outwardly as a result of the cramming of the front central portion 48 of the release means 46 so that they are no longer engaged with the holding studs 16. At the same time, the leaf springs 54 when fully penetrating through the recesses 22 engage on the rear side of the front plate and therefore serve as a barb for the outwardly directed removal movement of the tool. Thus, the module housing 8 is safely gripped by the tool 40 when removing it and it can be pulled out without any further aid. The spring tongues 34 with their outwardly directed spring force support the removal of the module housing 8.

As soon as the module housing 8 is removed from the supporting frame 3, the tool 40 can be released from the module housing by pressing the lever 56. Thus, a particularly simple installation and exchange of module housings 8 is possible.

Claims (6)

Claims

1. A tool for removing a module housing (8) from a supporting frame (3) of a modular display device, comprising a base plate (42), a handle (44) attached thereto, and a plurality of means (46) for releasing movable snap-in locking means (28) from respective holding elements (16), said means being arranged on two opposing sides of the tool and extending perpendicular to the base plate (42), wherein the release means (46) on one side of the tool are arranged offset to the release means (46) on the other side of the tool.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shoe (50) for engagement with a holding stud ~16) is provided on a front end of said release means (46) which are crammed in a first, front central section (48) towards the inside.

3. A tool as claimed in claims 1 or 2, comprising three release means (46), wherein two release means are arranged on one side of the tool and one release means is arranged on the opposing side.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein leaf springs (54) are attached on an inwardly directed surface, which is arranged in a second, rear central portion (52) of said release means (46), said leaf springs projecting inwardly and towards said base plate (42).

5. A tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said release means (46) are formed as thin sheet metal strips.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lever (56) for releasing a module housing (8) removed from said tool is arranged in the area of said handle (44).