GB2113886A

GB2113886A - Adjustable display device

Info

Publication number: GB2113886A
Application number: GB08302224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Carl Reilly
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1982-01-29
Filing date: 1983-01-27
Publication date: 1983-08-10
Also published as: GB8302224D0

Abstract

A carrier for a display device comprises a hollow tile element 10 having a display face 12 including at least one display area 26 defined by a pair of spaced apertures 24 formed in said face, at least one self-coiling information bearing strip 28 having thereon a series of characters and located on the carrier so that one strip passes through each pair of apertures to render visible in each display area an uncoiled portion of that strip, wherein each strip has its coiled ends located behind the display face and is mounted for slidable adjustment with respect to the tile so that the characters may be sequentially displayed in the display area, and wherein said tile element includes depending portions 14 for cooperation with projections 22 on a support facia 20 or with push or snap connections (35) on an adaptor (32) provided with spikes (38) or magnets to fix it to a facia. Alternatively, the depending portions 14 could be extended to engage grooves in a facia. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable display device and components therefor This invention relates to a carrier for a display device and to a display device of the type comprising a support facia on which information is presented by means of detachable carriers accommodating one or more self-coiling information strips.

A known information device of a similar type comprises a support facia having an array of projections detachably to receive carriers consisting of hollow "tiles" which are a push or snap fit over a group of such projections. Each "tile" includes a front display face bearing a character such as a letter or numeral. By grouping together a series of such "tiles" in side-by-side relationship on the support facia a word, message or other information can be displayed. One disadvantage of this known arrangement becomes evident when it is necessary to change the displayed information since it is then necessary to remove one or more of the "tiles" and substitute others bearing different characters.

The present invention seeks to overcome this disadvantage by providing an information carrier for holding an adjustable information strip whereby the format of the displayed information can be altered without substituting different carriers on the support facia.

One aspect of the invention provides a carrier for a display device which carrier comprises a hollow tile element having a display face including at least one display area defined by a pair of spaced apertures formed in said face, at least one self-coiling information-bearing strip having thereon a series of characters and located on the carrier so that one strip passes through each pair of apertures to render visible in each display area an uncoiled portion of that strip, wherein each strip has its coiled ends located behind the display face and is mounted for slidable adjustment with respect to the tile so that the characters may be sequentially displayed in the display area, and wherein said tile element includes depending portions for cooperation with a support facia.

Another aspect of the invention provides a display device comprising the combination of a support facia and a carrier as defined in the immediately preceding paragraph, the support facia having a support face including an array of spaced projections or. recesses including an array of spaced projections or recesses and the depending portions of said tile element being dimensioned so as to provide a push or snap fit between the tile and one or more of said projections or recesses.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support facia and a hollow tile carrier with the carrier detached from the facia, Figure 2 is a cross section through a portion of the support facia and hollow tile carrier with the carrier attached to the facia, Figure 3 shows another form of hollow tile carrier having a plurality of display areas, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a back plate for use in combination with the hollow tile carrier shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a carrier comprising a hollow open backed tile 10 made from a plastics or other suitable material and having a display face 12 and peripheral flanges 14 together providing a storage cavity 1 6 (Figure 2). The tile 10 is adapted to be located on a support facia 18 having a support face 20 on which is provided an array of short cylindrical projections 22. The tile is dimensioned so as to engage one projection in each of the corners of the open back of the tile so as to provide a push or snap fit between the tile 10 and the support facia 1 8. In this particular embodiment the projections 22 which actually are engaged by the tile are marked 'x' (Figures 1 and 2).It also is envisaged that the tile 10 could be provided with projections on its peripheral flanges to be received in complementary apertures provided a support facia.

The display face 12 of the tile 10 is formed with a pair of spaced elongate slots 24 defining between them a display area 26. The material between the slots is raised and outwardly curved in a direction extending between the slots.

The tile holds a self-coiling information strip 28 which is made from a material having a tendency to form coils and its opposite ends when unrestrained. Such a material is known in the art, e.g. the heat treated polyethelene terephtalate disclosed in U.S. patent No. 3,426,11 5. One such material is sold under the trade mark "Spring Roll." The ends of the strip 28 are passed through the slots 24 so that the coiled ends 28a, 28b are accommodated within the cavity 1 6 thus leaving an uncoiled portion 28c of the strip extending across the curved display area of the tile. The strip 28 is provided with a series of indicia or other information generally referred to by the term "characters" (not shown).The strip 28 can be adjusted so that the characters sequentially are displayed in the display area 26 merely by applying finger pressure and moving the strip in a manner which transfers a length of the strip from one coiled end to the other. In order to prevent the strip becoming dislodged from the tile during adjustment the strip is formed with a cut out zone (not shown) adjacent each of its ends. These zones are sized and positioned so as to engage on projections 30 upstanding from the adjacent edges of each of the apertures 24 whereby sliding movement of the strip when close to its extremities is arrested. In normal operation the strip passes over the projections 30 which do not interfere with the normal sliding movement of the strip.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, there is shown a modified tile construction comprising a hollow tile 1 Oa which is elongate in comparison with tile 10 and includes a display face 1 2a having a plurality of display areas 26a, 26b, and 26c each including individual strips 28', 28" and 28"' located in series. In other respects the construction and arrangement of the tiles is similar to that described.

It is envisaged that the tiles may have any suitable shape and it is to be understood that the rectangular tiles shown are merely by way of example.

Moreover, it also is envisaged that the tiles need not have full side flanges 14 as shown, it being necessary only to provide suitable portions depending from the display face 1 2 by which the push or snap fit engagement with the support facia can be effected. To this end the depending portions may comprise recesses to cooperate with projections provided by the suport facia or may comprise projections to cooperate with apertures provided in the support facia.

In a modified construction, the tile 10 may be adapted for use with other types of support facias by means of a detachable back plate 32 shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. Back plate 32 preferably is formed from a plastics material and comprises a rectangular base element 33 sized to correspond to the maximum dimensions across the peripheral flanges 14 of the tile 10. Base element 33 includes an integral central raised platform 34 sized such that the platform is a push or snap fit into the open back of tile 10.In order to facilitate the push or snap fit, small projections 35 are provided along each peripheral edge of the platform so that the platform is an interference fit with respect to the open back of tile 1 0. The platform 34 includes a circular recess 3.6 to receive the head of a thumb-tack (not shown) or similar fastener and an aperture 37 passes through base element 33 to receive the pointed shank of the thumb-tack.

A small spike 38 is formed at each corner of the base element 33 which extends in a direction opposite to that of the raised platform 34. In order to use tile 10 in combination with a support facia such as a 'Sundela' board or any other type of display panel which is able to be penetrated by the spikes and thumb-tack carried by back plate 32, the back plate is first offered up to such a display panel and secured thereto by pushing a thumb tack into the recess 36. Thus, the pointed shank of the tack passes through aperture 37 and penetrates the display panel to secure the back plate with the head of the tack accommodated within the recess 36. Simultaneously, pressure is applied to the back plate 32 so that the spikes 38 also penetrate the display panel. These assist in securing the back plate and provide stability to the attachment.

Once the back plate has been secured the tile can be pushed or snap-fitted thereto so that the raised platform 34 is received within the open back of the tile. It also is envisaged that the tile 10 could be attached to a suitable display panel by means of a magnet. To this end back plate 32 may be provided with a magnetised material carried on the base element 33. In this arrangement, the magnetised material, such as a magnetic strip, would project beyond the spikes 38 to facilitate attachment of the back plate. The thumb-tack fastener would be discarded. Attachment of the tile 10 to the back plate 32 would be as previously described. In a still further modified arrangement it is envisaged that the tile 10 could be used in cooperation with a supportfacia having a plurality of horizontai grooves. To this end the top and/or base peripheral flanges 14 of the tile 10 could be extended further than the side peripheral flanges to be received in the grooves of the support facia.

It will be appreciated that by this invention a series of tiles can be located on the support facia to display information whose format can be altered readily without the necessity of removing the tiles from their iocations.

Claims

1. A carrier for a display device which carrier comprises a hollow tile element having a display face including at least one display area defined by a pair of spaced apertures formed in said face, at least one self-coiling information-bearing strip having thereon a series of characters and located on the carrier so that one strip passes through each pair of apertures to render visible in each display area an uncoiled portion of that strip, wherein each strip has its coiled ends located behind the display face and is mounted for slidable adjustment with respect to the tile so that the characters may be sequentially displayed in the display area, and wherein said tile element includes depending portions for cooperation with a support facia.

2. A carrier for a display device according to Claim 1 in which each display area has an outwardly curved configurations on which the uncoiled portion of said strip is supported.

3. A carrier for a display device according-to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each aperture includes a projection for engagement with a cutout zone formed adjacent each end of said strip.

4. A carrier for a display device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said depending portions comprise a peripheral flanges extending from said display face so as to provide a hollow open-back tile.

5. A display device comprising the combination of a support facia and a carrier as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the support facia having a support face including an array of spaced projections or recesses and the depending portions of said tile element being dimensioned so as to provide a push or snap fit between the tile and one or more of said projections or recesses.

6. A carrier for a display device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A display device comprising the combination of a support facia and a carrier, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.