GB1601810A

GB1601810A - Display devices

Info

Publication number: GB1601810A
Application number: GB5255177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wearing R G
Current assignee: Wearing R G
Priority date: 1978-05-26
Filing date: 1978-05-26
Publication date: 1981-11-04

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DISPLAY DEVICES (71) I, RONALD GEORGE WEARING, a British subject, of c/o R. G. Wearing Ltd., 3, Manor Way Industrial Estate, Old Woking, Surrey QU22 9LA, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to display devices and, more particularly, to such devices for displaying information, such as, the price and terms of sale of motor vehicles and other articles.

Hitherto, some such display devices have involved the use of separate cards, bearing single numbers, which are assembled in a holder to display, for example, a total price figure. These cards are mounted in individual slots in the back of the holder in side-byside relation and the total price can be viewed from the front of the holder. The disadvantages of this prior display device are that it is a tedious operation to assemble the individual price cards in the holder and the loose cards can easily be mislaid.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus comprising a display device which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of such prior devices. To this end, the invention consists in apparatus for displaying a price of an article or other information comprising at least one display device having a plurality of sets of cards, sheets or the like bearing numbers, characters or other information on at least one face, and a holder comprising a facia behind which the or each display device is removably mounted and through which the information displayed by the cards, sheets or the like can be viewed, the or each display device including support means connecting the sets together in such a manner that each card, sheet or the like can be selectively manually swung from a position in which it is disposed at the front of its associated set, with the information on its face displayed, to a position at or adjacent the back of the set.

The function of the device is to enable the individual cards, sheets or the like of each set to be turned over until the ones bearing the desired information are disposed at the front of each set and, collectively, present a complete piece of information, such as, the price of a a motor vehicle or other article for sale.

The sets of cards may be connected in sideby-side relationship by a spine about which the individual cards of each set may be swung from the front of its associated set, with the information thereon displayed, to a position at or adjacent the back of the set.

Conveniently, this spine comprises a helical wire coil and each card has a series of holes through which the turns of the coil pass to support the card.

A backing board, sheet or the like may be attached to the spine so that cards which are swung to the back of the sets are disposed at the rear of this backing board. The latter may, itself, bear information which can, for example, be displayed when all the cards of one or more of the sets have been turned to the rear of the backing board.

The cards may be made of plastics material, stiff paper or other suitable material.

The holder, which presents the information on the cards, may be made, for example, of moulded plastics material and may comprise one or more slots in which the or each display device is removably mounted. The facia conveniently has windows through which the information displayed by the cards can be viewed. These windows may simply comprise openings in the facia or they may be transparent windows.

In one embodiment the holder may be constructed to stand on a vehicle or other generally flat surface.

The holder may be constructed to hold either one display device, so that a single piece of information, such as the price of a vehicle, is displayed or, alternatively, may hold two or more display devices mounted side-by-side or above one another so that a plurality of separate pieces of information indicating, for example, 'deposit', 'months' and 'payment' are presented.

It will be appreciated that the facia itself may carry information which may supplement the information presented by the display device.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of display device, Figure 2 is a front view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention comprising the display device as shown in Figure l and a holder with the display device mounted behind the facia of the holder, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of apparatus in which a plurality of display devices are mounted in the holder.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a display device 1 comprises a plurality of sets of rectangular cards 2, 2a and 2b made of stiff paper which are supported side-by-side on a support spine 3 connecting the sets together. The or each card of each set bears on one face a number, a pounds sterling symbol or other information as shown. The spine is formed of a helical wire coil and each card has a row of holes near its upper edge through which the turns of the coil pass to support the card. This arrangement enables each card of each set selectively to be manually swung about the coil from a position in which it is disposed at the front of its set with the information on its face displayed to a position at or adjacent the back of the set.

In this embodiment a backing board 4, made, for example, of cardboard, is also attached to the helical coil spine in the same manner as the cards. The backing board 4 extends along the length of the spine so that cards which are swung to the back of their associated sets are disposed at the rear of the backing board.

It will be appreciated from Fig 1. that the first card in the sets 2 may bear a pounds sterling symbol whilst each of the remaining cards in each of these sets, successively, bear a different one of the number 1 to 10 or the figure 0. At the left hand end of the display device, as viewed in Fig. 1, the set 2b comprises a single card bearing the pounds sterling symbol while at the right hand end the set 2a comprises a plurality of cards shorter than the rearmost card of the set so that information on the rearmost card is always visible independent of which shorter card is disposed at the front of the set. It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the cards of the sets can be arranged so as, collectively, to display a desired price.

In Figs 2 and 3 the display device 1 is mounted in a holder or stand, made for example of moulded plastics material, comprising a facia 5 which inclines upwardly and rearwardly from the front of a base 6 for standing the holder on a vehicle or other generally flat surface via rubber feet 13. The facia 5 has a row of transparent windows 7.

An elongate element 8 is secured at its ends to the back of the facia to define with the facia a slot which is open at the top and which extends along the back of the holder.

In use the cards and backing board of the display device 1 are slid together into the slot, with the helical coil remaining outside of the slot, so that the information on the cards is displayed through the windows 7 in the facia 5. When it is desired to present a different price the display device can easily be removed from the slot by gripping the helical coil and fresh cards can then be disposed at the front of the sets. The display device can then be remounted in the holder. Thus the price displayed can be changed without any risk of the cards becoming detached from the display device.

Figure 4 shows a holder 9 similar to the one described above but for mounting two display devices one above the other behind the facia 10. The holder 9 has two elongate elements 8 (not shown) defining two slots with the rear of the facia, one above the other, for holding the two display devices and the facia comprises two corresponding rows of transparent windows 11, 12. The information displayed on the upper one of the devices is presented through windows 11 whilst the information displayed on the lower device is presented through windows 12. The headings 'deposit', 'months', 'payments' and 'price' under which the information appears is provided on the facia itself.

Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for displaying a price of an article or other information comprising at least one display device having a plurality of sets of cards, sheets or the like bearing numbers, characters or other information on at least one face, and a holder comprising a facia behind which the or each display device is removably mounted and through which the information displayed by the cards, sheets or the like can be viewed, the or each display device including support means connecting the sets together in such a manner that each card, sheet or the like can be selectively manually swung from a position in which it is disposed at the front of its associated set, with the information on its face displayed, to a position at or adjacent the back of the set.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the sets of cards, sheets or the like are connected in side-by-side relationship by a spine about which the individual cards, sheets

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of display device, Figure 2 is a front view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention comprising the display device as shown in Figure l and a holder with the display device mounted behind the facia of the holder, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of apparatus in which a plurality of display devices are mounted in the holder. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a display device 1 comprises a plurality of sets of rectangular cards 2, 2a and 2b made of stiff paper which are supported side-by-side on a support spine 3 connecting the sets together. The or each card of each set bears on one face a number, a pounds sterling symbol or other information as shown. The spine is formed of a helical wire coil and each card has a row of holes near its upper edge through which the turns of the coil pass to support the card. This arrangement enables each card of each set selectively to be manually swung about the coil from a position in which it is disposed at the front of its set with the information on its face displayed to a position at or adjacent the back of the set. In this embodiment a backing board 4, made, for example, of cardboard, is also attached to the helical coil spine in the same manner as the cards. The backing board 4 extends along the length of the spine so that cards which are swung to the back of their associated sets are disposed at the rear of the backing board. It will be appreciated from Fig 1. that the first card in the sets 2 may bear a pounds sterling symbol whilst each of the remaining cards in each of these sets, successively, bear a different one of the number 1 to 10 or the figure 0. At the left hand end of the display device, as viewed in Fig. 1, the set 2b comprises a single card bearing the pounds sterling symbol while at the right hand end the set 2a comprises a plurality of cards shorter than the rearmost card of the set so that information on the rearmost card is always visible independent of which shorter card is disposed at the front of the set. It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the cards of the sets can be arranged so as, collectively, to display a desired price. In Figs 2 and 3 the display device 1 is mounted in a holder or stand, made for example of moulded plastics material, comprising a facia 5 which inclines upwardly and rearwardly from the front of a base 6 for standing the holder on a vehicle or other generally flat surface via rubber feet 13. The facia 5 has a row of transparent windows 7. An elongate element 8 is secured at its ends to the back of the facia to define with the facia a slot which is open at the top and which extends along the back of the holder. In use the cards and backing board of the display device 1 are slid together into the slot, with the helical coil remaining outside of the slot, so that the information on the cards is displayed through the windows 7 in the facia 5. When it is desired to present a different price the display device can easily be removed from the slot by gripping the helical coil and fresh cards can then be disposed at the front of the sets. The display device can then be remounted in the holder. Thus the price displayed can be changed without any risk of the cards becoming detached from the display device. Figure 4 shows a holder 9 similar to the one described above but for mounting two display devices one above the other behind the facia 10. The holder 9 has two elongate elements 8 (not shown) defining two slots with the rear of the facia, one above the other, for holding the two display devices and the facia comprises two corresponding rows of transparent windows 11, 12. The information displayed on the upper one of the devices is presented through windows 11 whilst the information displayed on the lower device is presented through windows 12. The headings 'deposit', 'months', 'payments' and 'price' under which the information appears is provided on the facia itself. Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for displaying a price of an article or other information comprising at least one display device having a plurality of sets of cards, sheets or the like bearing numbers, characters or other information on at least one face, and a holder comprising a facia behind which the or each display device is removably mounted and through which the information displayed by the cards, sheets or the like can be viewed, the or each display device including support means connecting the sets together in such a manner that each card, sheet or the like can be selectively manually swung from a position in which it is disposed at the front of its associated set, with the information on its face displayed, to a position at or adjacent the back of the set.

or the like of each set can be swung.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the spine comprises a helical wire coil and each card, sheet or the like has a series of holes through which the turns of the coil pass to support the cards, sheets or the like.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the or each display device includes a backing board, sheets or the like can be swung behind the backing board.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claims 3 and 4, in which the backing board, sheet or the like also has a series of holes through which the turns of the coil pass to support the backing board, sheet or the like from the spine.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cards, sheets or the like are made of plastics material or stiff paper.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the holder comprises one or more slots in which the or each display device is removably mounted, and the facia has windows through which the information displayed by the cards, sheets or the like can be viewed.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the facia of the holder extends upwardly from a base and one or more elongated elements are secured to the back of the facia so as to define the slot or slots, the or each slot being open at the top and extending along the back of the holder.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which two or more display devices are mounted side-by-side or above one another in the holder.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7, 8 or 9, in which the holder is made of moulded plastics material.

11. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.