GB2085212A

GB2085212A - Segmental display device

Info

Publication number: GB2085212A
Application number: GB8124210A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Acme Signs & Displays Ltd
Current assignee: Acme Signs & Displays Ltd
Priority date: 1980-10-08
Filing date: 1981-08-07
Publication date: 1982-04-21

Abstract

A segmental visual display device comprises segments (a to g), each mounted on a base plate (1) by means of a two position spring mounting (2), and having its top a different colour from the base plate (1) which is the same as that of at least one edge and the underside. Manual actuation of a spring mounting rotates its segment through substantially 90 DEG from a position with the top visible to an observer and distinguished from the base plate (1) to a position where said edge and underside are visible and indistinguishable from the base plate. Selective actuation of the spring mountings allows any numeral from 0 to 9 to be indicated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Segmental display device This invention relates to a visual display device and particularly but not exclusively to a digital visual display device having a plurality of horizontal and vertical segments arranged in a numeral 8 configuration for indicating numerals from 0 to 9.

Visual display devices are known comprising a plurality of segments each arranged to be rendered selectively visible or non-visible in order to indicate by a particular combination of visible and nonvisible segments any required numeral from 0 to 9.

An object of the present invention is to provide a visual display device employing a plurality of segments and which has no electrical, electronic, electro-mechanical or other such means to render the segments selectively visible and non-visible thereby enabling the device to be easily operated and easily and economically manufactured.

Thus, according to one aspect of the invention there is provided a visual display device comprising a plurality of discrete segments, each segment being individually manually operable from a visible to a non-visible position and vice versa to indicate by any selected combination of visible and non-visible segments, any required numeric or alphabetic character.

According to a more specific aspect of the invention, a visual display device comprises a plurality of horizontal and vertical segments arranged in a numeral 8 configuration for indicating numerals from 0 to 9, each of said segments being manually movable from a visible to a non-visible position, or vice versa, to indicate by a selected combination of visible and non-visible segments any required numeral from 0 to 9.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with particular reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of the visual display device for illustrating any numeral from 0 to 9 and with all the segments in the visible position to indicate the numeral 8; Figure 2 is a front view of the visual display device with some of the segments in the visible position and the remainder in the non-visible position to indicate the numeral 7; and Figures 3 and 4 are side elevational views of a spring mounting showing how a segment attached thereto is movable from a visible to a non-visible position respectively in response to actuation of the spring mounting.

The visual display device comprises a base plate 1 preferably treated such as to provide a dark or black background for the seven digital segments a tog mounted thereon. The segments are arranged in a numeral 8 configuration with four vertical segments a, b, d, e and three horizontal segments c, f, g.

Segment g is of substantially rectangular shape in plan but the vertical segments a, b, d and e are mitred at the ends adjacent the horizontal segments c, f, which themselves are mitred at both ends adjacent the mitred ends of the vertical segments.

The segments a tog are treated on the top surface thereof such as to be clearly visible and distinguished from the dark background provided by the base plate 1, but at least the inner edges of each segment and the underside of each segment is preferably of the same colour as the background in order to blend therewith and be non-distinguishable therefrom. Thus, when the upper surfaces are presented as shown in Figure 1, each of the segments are clearly visible against the dark background and the numeral 8 is indicated.

In order to enable each segment to be moved from a visible to a non-visible position or vice versa, a spring mounting 2 is provided for each segment. The spring mounting 2 comprises a pair of channel section members 3,4 pivoted together at 5, one within the other and having a coil spring 6 extending between the two channel section members 3, 4, with the ends of the spring anchored respectively in tangs 7,8 formed in the two channel members 3,4 respectively. The arrangement is such that when relative pivotal movement in one direction occurs between the two channel section members, the spring 6 is extended as shown in Figure 3, but relative pivotal movement of the two channel members 3, 4, in the opposite direction as shown in Figure 4 causes the spring 6 to return to its normal position with a snap action.

The inner channel section member 4 is secured to a respective segment as shown for segment g in Figures 3 and 4 whilst the associated outer channel section member 3 is mounted on the base plate 1.

With such an arrangement, each segment may be manually actuated from a position shown in Figure 3 where the top surface of the segment is visible against the background as shown for all the segments in Figure 1, to a position shown in Figure 4 where only the inner edge of the segment is presented to an observer, and since as previously indicated, the inner edges blend with the background, these will not be seen by the observer. Thus, in Figure 2, segments a, b, c and g have been moved from the positions shown in Figure 1 against the bias of each associated spring 6 to the position shown in Figure 2, leaving only the non-visible edges of the segments presented to an observer whilst the remaining segments d, e and fpresentthe clearly distinguishable top surfaces thereof to the observer, thereby indicating the numeral 7. The spring mountings 2 for all the segments are obscured when the respective segment is visible as shown in Figure 1, only those associated with the non-visible segments being shown in Figure 2.

Although the invention has been particularly described with reference to a numerical segmental display device, it will be appreciated that by including additional segments any combination of segments may be rendered visible to indicate any required alphabetic character.

The display device of the invention is extremely simple to operate and has particular application to fuel dispensing stations where it is required to indicate the current price of fuel. However the device is applicable to any field where prices or information are subject to change or fluctuation and where an easily operable indicator device is required.

Claims

1. A visual display device comprising a plurality of discrete segments, each segment being individually manually operable from a visible to a non-visible position and vice versa to indicate by any selected combination of visible and non-visible segments, any required numeric or alphabetic character.

2. A visual display device comprising a plurality of horizontal and vertical segments arranged in a numeral 8 configuration for indicating numerals from 0 to 9, each of said segments being manually movable from a visible to a non-visible position, or vice versa, to indicate by a selected combination of visible and non-visible segments any required numeral from 0 to 9.

3. Avisual display device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each segment is provided with a spring mounting each consisting of a pair of relatively movable members, one of which is secured to the base plate and the other of which is secured to a respective segment with a spring extending between the two relatively movable members, such that actuation of the spring mounting from a first position to a second position causes the associated segment to be rotated through substantially 90".

4. A visual display device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each segment has at least the inner edges thereof and the underside thereof of the same colour as the base plate, with the top surface of each segment of a different colour from that of the base plate such as to be clearly distinguishable therefrom, actuation of a spring mounting from the first position to the second position causing the associated segmentto be turned from a position wherethetop surface is presented to an observer and is distinguishable from the base plate, to a position where the said at least the inner edges and the underside is presented to the observer and is indistinguishable therefrom.

5. A visual display device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein each spring mounting comprises a pair of channel section members pivoted together one within the other with a coil spring extending therebetween, one channel section member being secured to the base plate and the other member being secured to a respective segment.

6. A visual display device as claimed in claim 2 comprising a base plate having seven segments mounted thereon and arranged in a numeral 8 configuration, with four vertical segments and three horizontal segments, each segment being mounted on the base plate by means of a respective spring mounting arranged such that each segment is movable from a position where the top surface thereof is presented to an observer to a position where an edge of the segment is presented to the observer, the top surface of each segment being of a colour clearly distinguished from the colour of the base plate which is the same as that of the said edge and underside of the segment, whereby actuation of a spring mounting moves the respective segment from a visible to a non-visible position or vice versa with respect to the base plate.

7. A visual display device substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figure 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.