GB2103002A

GB2103002A - Information display apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2103002A
Application number: GB08221188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Mervyn Cooper; Marguerite Elizabeth Pat Eliot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-07-23
Filing date: 1982-07-22
Publication date: 1983-02-09
Also published as: GB2103002B

Abstract

Information such as stages of a route recorded on a tape 14, may be viewed through an aperture 5, the tape being indexed by turning knobs 8 each of which is operatively connected with a spool 8 and 9 between which the tape moves. Alternatively, the information may be projected via a mirror onto a screen (102) or on to a wall or a chart table. The information may be on a cassette or presented as audio-visual. The display may be stepped manually or electrically. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Information display apparatus Technical field of the invention The invention relates to information display apparatus, particularly apparatus for providing display of a set of related items of information carried by a tape.

Background art Information is often carried on a tape, but in general it is often not possible to wind on the tape easily so that, where the information is a set of related items of information such as a route, there is a readily viewable display of a selected item of information, but without creating a hazard to a user of the apparatus, when he or she is a driver, or to other road users.

Disclosure of the invention It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for providing a display of a set of related items of information carried by carrier means, comprising a housing, means of the housing by which a particular item of the information is displayed, and a mechanism for indexing the carrier means as desired so that a particular item of information can be viewed.

Using the invention it is possible to provide simple apparatus for fixing on a fascia of a vehicle a tape for providing a visual display of information concerning a particular route to be followed.

The carrier means may be a tape or a film and the means for display may comprise an aperture or screen.

The mechanism may be reversible. This provides a simple construction for rewinding the tape.

The mechanism may comprise two spools rotatable about their longitudinal axis and which are mounted in the housing so that the longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, and means to rotate the spools about other respective longitudinal axes. This provides a relatively simple construction where the spools are permanently mounted in the housing.

The spools may be mounted for rotation in a resilient mounting within the housing. This construction provides for a relatively smooth rotation of the spools in use.

The tape and spools may alternatively be mounted in a separate cassette which is removably mountable in the housing and which may have means for engagement with the indexing mechanism so that when a cassette is mounted in the housing the tape can be indexed by the mechanism. This construction enables a variety of different sets of information to be provided, the cassettes being loaded as desired individually in the one housing.

The apparatus may include a light which is operable to illuminate the tape so that an item of information is visible in dark conditions. This construction provides for virtually universal applicability of the apparatus.

The light maybe a battery-operated bulb on a holder which may be positioned between the spools and below the tape, as considered in use.

This arrangement provides a relatively neat construction of the apparatus.

The aperture may be closed by a transparent panel of material, which panel may be magnifying.

The tape may be translucent and the information may be a set of instructions for following a particular route. This enable the apparatus to enhance direction-finding on a particular route, whether by land, water or air.

The housing may include means whereby it may be affixed to part of the driving or navigation compartment of a vehicle.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing the housing open; and Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus 1 shown is for providing a set of related items of information in the form of consecutive instructions for providing or following a continuous route on a journey by motor vehicle.

The apparatus includes a housing 2 including a base plate 3 to which is hinged along one edge a cover 4 which has a viewing aperture 5 through it.

The base plate 3 supports a resilient bearing 6 from which posts 7 extend and through which spindles or shafts 8 of two spools 9 and 10 project any by which those spools are mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axes. Each shaft 8 has a handle or knob 8' mounted at one end so that in the closed position of the cover 4 the knobs 8' are outside the housing 4, the shafts 8 being received in a respective curved blind slot 11 in one wall 12 of the housing. The curved slots 11 enable the cover 4 to be pivoted to the Fig. 2 position without fouling the shafts 8.

Between the spools 9 and 10 there is a holder 1 3 for a battery-operated light bulb (not shown) which is situated below (as viewed) a paper tape 14 bearing information concerning the route to be followed. The holder 1 3 is a channel shape, which is upwardly open as viewed, the free edges of the iimbs 1 5 of the channel being flanged outwardly and providing a bearing surface or guide over which the tape 14 passes.

The tape 14 has items of information set out on it for example consecutive stages of a route to be followed, each item being viewable through the aperture 5.

In use, the tape 14 is wound on one spool, say spool 9 and is started on the other 10, so that when the other spool 10 is wound on its knob 8', the tape 14 unwinds from the one spool 9 onto the other spool 10. The user winds the other spool 10 so that the tape 14 moves on or is indexed sufficiently for the next item of information to be viewed through the aperture or window 5. (The cover 4 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow X from the Fig. 1 to the Fig. 2 position.) The spools 9 and 10 are rotatable in both clockwise and anti-clockwise senses so that the tape 14 is reversible in its direction of movement between the spools. This is useful for checking the route taken.

The base plate 3 may include means such as a magnetic section, an adhesive layer, a suction pad or a material like "Velcro" (Registered Trade Mark) whereby it can be mounted in a desired position in the driving or navigation compartment of a vehicle in which it is to be used.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the tape 14 and spools 9 and 10 may be mounted in a separate cassette which is mountable in the housing 4 for operative connection with a respective knob and shaft for rotating the spools and thus moving the tape. In each embodiment, the spools and knobs comprise a mechanism for indexing the tape.

It will be understood that the apparatus above described and illustrated in the drawings may be modified. Thus the aperture 5 may be closed by a transparent panel of material such as plastics.

This panel may be magnifying. Further, the knobs 8' may be replaced by press buttons which operate a lever system to wind on the tape a distance corresponding to the width of the aperture. Furthermore, the press buttons may operate a battery-operated motor for motor indexing of the tape. The motor would be reversible. The housing may preferably be of plastics, of dimenisons 6 inches x42 inches x 1- inches. The corners may be reinforced with metal.

The tape 14 which may be of paper, plastic or any other suitable material may be blank so that a user can work out his or her own route and can then insert the tape with that route in the apparatus. Also, tapes or cassettes with standard routes can be made and sold separately for insertion in the housing. The routes may be applied to the tape by a word processor.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the apparatus 100 shown comprises a housing with a hinged lid 101 in which is mounted a daylight screen, such as a ground glass screen 102, which can be folded into the lid 101 for storage and which is movable to the position shown for viewing, and a base 104. The base 104 of the housing includes a tape in the form of film 105 mounted on spools 106, a lamp 107 for illuminating the film 105, motor 108 for indexing the film 105 from one spool 106 to the other and a mirror 109 for projecting via a lens 120 the illuminated image from the film onto the daylight screen 102, which is allowed to fold away by a sloping surface 110 in the base 104.The top 111 (as viewed) of the base 1 04 has a pivotable cover 112, which is pivotable in the direction of the arrow "X" to provide access for the film 105.

There is also a tape deck and pulse control console 1 13 for providing audio-visual projector controls, and means in the form of a set of keys or fascia 114 which is electronically connected with a memory storage such as a silicon chip with sufficient memory to provide a built-in series of frame members (on the film) for pre-programming for planning map/instructions as required. The fascia 114 includes a simple press-on ONE button for bringing up the next frame, in the correct sequence.

The housing also includes a space 11 5 for a transformer for example a 1 2V transformer from mains 240/1 10 A.C. and a calculator battery for the electronic storage means.

There is also a 1 2V external socket 1 16 and a space 11 7 for cord storage. It will also be understood that the housing provides space for film storage.

In use, with a suitable film in position, when the lid 101 is raised the daylight ground glass screen 102 folds out and when the electrical illumination system 108, 120, 109 is switched on and the electric motor 108 is activated by the memory fascia 1 14 a predetermined route can be viewed in the correct sequence, frame by frame on the screen. Preferably the film 105 is a 35 mm film with 36 frames which is wound to the correct position for "start", which is housed in a housing 1 18 in the film plane. The electric motor 108 is completely reversible for moving the film 105 between the spools 106 as desired.

In a modification the lid 101 is removable so that the base of the housing 104 becomes a projector for throwing the image onto a bigger, external screen, or wall. If the apparatus was used under a ground glass chart table, the projected image would be received directly onto the glass so allowing navigation using markers such as Chinagraph pencils directly on the glass. This would provide for far less space being required for charts.

In a further modification a tape recorder/player incorporated in the housing would enable the apparatus to provide lecture/instruction/map route details on a second track on the tape each time a frame is to be changed, therefore providing a correct timing sequence because the tape has a fixed speed, so providing synchronisation between the sound and the vision.

The apparatus could also be computerised, for example using video discs controlled by a RAM (Random Access Memory) control.

In a modification of the apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 3, slides (not shown) showing map/instructions could be used. Again, the electronic memory/fascia 114, would be used to move the slide tray to any desired given position for illumination of any given slide.

The embodiment of Fig. 3 and the modification thereof are portable, like that of Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be understood that apparatus embodying the invention may be used by international commercial road hauliers, coach and tour operators, and private motorists. Also, the apparatus may be used as a nevigational aid at sea and when flying, for example in light aircraft.

Finally, although a route finder kind of apparatus has been described, the apparatus could be used as a general teaching aid where progressive stage by stage teaching and assimilation of information is undertaken or required.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a display of a set of related items of information carried by carrier means, comprising a housing, means of the housing by which a particular item of the information is displayed, and a mechanism for indexing the carrier means as desired so that a particular item of information can be viewed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, the carrier means comprising a tape or film.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, the means for display comprising an aperture.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the mechanism is reversible.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, the mechanism comprising two spools rotatable about their longitudinal axes and which are mounted in the housing so that the longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, and means to rotate the spools about their respective longitudinal axes.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the means to rotate the spools comprising a manually turnable knob externally of the housing secured to a shaft projecting from the respective spool.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, the spools being mounted for rotation in a resilient mounting within the housing.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, the tape or film and spools being mounted in a separate cassette which is removably mountable in the housing and which has means for engagement with the indexing mechanism so that when a cassette is mounted in the housing, the tape can be indexed by the mechanism.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a light which is operable to illuminate the tape or film so that an item of information is visible in dark conditions.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, the light being a battery-operated bulb in a holder positioned between the spools and below the tape, as considered in use.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 10, the aperture being closed by a transparent panel of material.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, the material being a magnifying panel.

1 3. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the tape being translucent.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the information being a set of instructions for following a particular route.

1 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, the carrier means comprising an elongate film and the display means comprising a screen.

1 6. Apparatus according to claim 15, the screen being a ground glass screen.

1 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, the housing including means means whereby it may be affixed to part of the driving or navigational compartment of a vehicle.

18. Apparatus for providing a display of a set of related items of information carried by a tape, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A cassette or cartridge for use in apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a housing, two spools in the housing and rollable tape or strip of material which is movable from one spool to the other on rotation of at least one of the spools.