GB2066546A - Planning display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A planning display board has an exposed face divided into a number of areas in rows 10 and columns 12. Each area is provided with a shutter 16 which can be moved between one position where it covers a respective area and a second position where it exposes the area. Indicia 20 which signify for example different types of appointment or deadline are arranged within the areas so that they can either be concealed or exposed on movement of the shutter 16 from left to right by means of a handle 18. At the edges of the board, spaces are provided for indicating dates, times or other information, this being achieved by advancing an endless strip (28) by a wheel (30). The board may be operated manually or electronically by remote control or computer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Planning display device ,Field of the Invention This invention relates to planning display devices used for visually displaying time intervals or periods for selected occurrences as well as for displaying particular points of time, such as appointments.

Background to the Invention The Academic, Professional, Industrial and Commercial worlds revolve around time, deadlines, appointments, meetings, etc. Normally these events are recorded either in a diary, on homemade or standard types of boards (available commercially), and the like. However, such conventional recordal systems have a rather limited application and fiexibility and are usually incapable of accommodating all the required information.

This invention seeks to provide a planning device suitable for the user to display all his commitments either on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis using suitable indicia whereby the user can observe all his commitments at a glance.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a planning display device comprising means defining a plurality of separate areas arranged in columns and rows, shutters associated with at least some of the areas which can be moved to reveal or conceal the areas, means for mounting indicia at each area, and a plurality of indicia adapted to be mounted in the areas by said mounting means.

The device may be in the form of a board.

The indicia may be coloured signs, symbols, letters and/or numerals. The indicia may be separate or, preferably, arranged in strips. In the latter event the mounting means for the indicia are channels on the board behind the shutters.

Preferably the board has recessed channels which form the indicia mounting means and into which the indicia can be fed. Shutters are also fed into the recessed channels so as to cover the indicia.

Preferably at least one column or row at an edge of the board is provided for displaying a date, such as a day, week, month or year, with a plurality of dates being provided on a strip or bar that is movable to display a desired period.

Preferably the dates are provided on a bar that is rotatable.

In use a desired date is displayed along an edge of the board, such as a day of the week and date and the board is divided into a plurality of time periods, functions such as appointments, or activities such as production deadlines, and the user then opens a shutter in line with a particular date and desired activity. This is done for all dates and activities.

Consequently the user will readily be able to see his commitments at a glance. As will be appreciated use of the planning board will also be very quick and simple and time consuming activities, such as preparing strips or writing out details are avoided.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description made with reference to the attached schematic drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a face view of a planning board of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of one corner of a part of the planning board of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a bar provided with a date for use with the planning board of Figures 1 and 2.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings a planning board comprises a front panel, shown in Figure 1, provided with a plurality of areas arranged in rows 10 and columns 12. Two rows 14 along the upper edge of the board are always open and are provided for indicating a day and date. The remainder of the areas are each provided with a shutter 1 6 having a handle 1 8. As shown in Figure 1 the shutters 1 6 can be moved from left to right. In the left position the areas associated with the shutter is open and an indicia 20 behind the shutter is exposed. When the shutters are moved to the right the areas are concealed. As shown in Figure 1 the planning device can be divided into a succession of time or other intervals indicated down the left hand column thereof.These intervals can alternatively be depicted across the top of the board or down the right hand side. Of course, instead of time intervals names of an individual or organisation may be inserted or particular activities may be inserted as desired.

However in this particular example each time interval is divided into four sections each of which has indicia provided with a distinctive coloured backing; the sections may for example respectively represent board meetings, production meetings, visits to the factory, deadline dates for specific productions and so on.

Referring specifically to Figure 2 it can be seen that there is a panel 22 formed of vertically stacked strips 24 and 26 with recessed channels of which the strips 26 are adapted to receive a date unit in the form of a strip 28 passed around a frame of the type shown in Figure 3, and the strips 24 are adapted each to receive a strip 32 of indicia with a distinctive coloured backing. The panel 22 is made of any suitable material, for example plastics, aluminium or wood.

In use the indicia strips 32 are fed into the recessed channels of the panel. The indicia strips contain the required information. Shutters 1 6 are placed over the indicia strips 32 and selected shutters are opened to expose indicia in required columns and rows. When it is desired to change the date, for example, then the appropriate strip 28 is advanced by means of a wheel 30 or by other method of moving the indicia mounting means in the recessed channel to indicate the next desired time period.

It is envisaged that the board will be operated either manually or electronically, by remote control or by a computer.

Claims (9)

1. A planning display device comprising means defining a plurality of separate areas arranged in columns and rows, shutters associated with at least some of the areas, which can be moved to reveal or conceal the areas, means for mounting indicia at each area, and a plurality of indicia adapted to be mounted in the areas by said mounting means.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprise channels arranged to coincide either with the columns or the rows of the device.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the indicia are arranged in strips.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in the form of a board.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the board comprises a panel with recessed channels for mounting the indicia.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one column or row at an edge Qf the board has no shutters and is adapted to display a date.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, including a strip of material insertable in said at least one column or row and movable in said column or row to display a desired period.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the strip of material is a continuous strip mounted on a frame and is provided with means for moving the strip around the frame to alter the period displayed.

9. A planning display device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.