GB2114353A - Variable illuminated display sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A variable illuminated display comprises a fibre optic harness 14 with the common end adjacent a light source 28. The tail ends 18 are selectively and variably positionable in relation to a screen 10, from one side of which the illuminated ends in the arrangement of the display are visible. The tail ends may be received in selected ones of a matrix of sockets or holes 12 in the screen, or they may have suction pads (154) enabling the ends to be removably attached to the screen. Artwork on paper may be placed on the rear of the screen and the tail ends pushed through the paper. Colour changes may be effected by a rotary filter disc 24. In another embodiment, a display is created by placing artwork over a screen, drilling holes along the lines of the artwork, and inserting the tail ends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Variable illuminated display sign This invention relates to the utilisation of fibre optics in display signs.

It is known to use fibre optics for the purposes of creating an illuminated display sign, and fibre optics are used for example in illuminated motorway display signs. These motorway display signs are capable of being varied; that is to say, the information displayed in a particular area can be changed by selective illumination of common ends of fibre optic bundles used in the sign. These signs however, are not capable of infinite variation, because they are fabricated to display only particular symbols or letters.

Other display signs not using fibre optics are capble of infinite variation, but the variation is achieved through electronic programming and by the selective illumination of light sources rather than by optical fibre ends. When a sign is variable to this extent, it is said to be "addressable".

The present invention however, seeks to provide a display sign which is capable of infinite variation in a simple manner, not requiring sophisticated electronics, and which in the preferred case can be made in the form of a simple unit capable of being made operational quickly and by unskilled labour.

The invention in a first aspect comprises an illuminated display apparatus comprising a fibre optic harness having a common end and a plurality of tail ends, and a display screen in relation to which the ends can be fitted selectively and variably so that the tail ends, when illuminated by a light source falling on the common end can be viewed from one side of the screen.

It will be recognised by that this means that any desired message, symbol, sign or the like can be displayed on the display screen, such message symbol or the like being defined by the illuminated ends of appropriately positioned fibre optic tails. The degree of complexity of the display material will be determined by the number of possible positions for the tail ends on the screen, and the number of fibre optic tail ends used to make the display. There are of course physical limitations on tail end sizes, but the invention can produce an extremely clear and efficient illuminated display.

The principle advantage of the invention described is the ease with which the display can be varied.

When it is desired to vary the display, it is simply a matter of removing and repositioning the fibre optic end in the screen to form the new display.

As many fibre optic bundles as are necessary, depending upon the material to be displayed, can be included, but in one example there may be three fibre optic bundles or harnesses, defining three common ends, and each bundle having approximately 50 tails. Thereby a 150 light spots can be arranged to define the particular message symbol or the like.

In a preferred unit, a casing has an electric motor which drives a colour filter disc, and the casing has sockets for receiving the common ends so as to align with the filter disc and a light source located to the other side of said disc. The casing may also include a cooling fan which is driven by the motor along with the filter disc, and the casing may furthermore be provided with vent slots to allow the fiow of air into and out of the casing to keep the interior thereof, and the motor in particular, cool.

The inventive concept recognises the flexibility of being able to position fibre optic tail ends to provide a variable display, and the preferred case recites that the display has apertures or sockets or recesses in the display screen, but it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the said tail ends with means whereby the ends can be adhered by suitable means to a display screen surface. Such means may comprise suction pads or pressure sensitive adhesive discs and theoscreen in such a case will be of a transluscent or transparent material enabling the viewing of the illuminated tail ends from the side of the screen opposite to that to which the tail ends are adhered.The disadvantage of this arrangement is of course that the person who positions the tail ends must exercise extra care in locating the tail ends effectively in relation to another in order to create a visually pleasing display. Such arrangement is however included within the scope of the present invention.

In the use of apparatus of this invention, it can be seen that displays can be created by first of all preparing artwork for example in outline on paper or other film material, by applying the paper or film material over the screen and then by locating the tail ends along the lines defined by the artwork. When the fibre optic tail ends carry light, then the artwork will be reproduced on the display screen, but in an illuminated display defined by a plurality of light dots provided by the illuminated tail ends.

To thus end a second aspect of the present invention comprises a method of creating an illuminated display predetermined composition wherein a representation of the composition is applied to a screen and the tail ends of at least one fibre optic harness are located in position held relationship in relation to the screen in accordance with the composition, the common end being subsequently illuminated to illuminate the tail ends, the illuminated tail ends being viewable from one side of the screen.

The unit of the invention may be of a size capable of being manually handable and will be extremely effective for locations such as supermarkets, discos, bingo halls and the like.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and thoe examples will not be described with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating apparatus according to the invention; Figure2 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation illustrating the motor and colour filter details; Figures 3 and4 show how artwork may be used in accordance with the invention; and Figure 5shows, in a view similar to Figure 4, a modification according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown includes a screen 10 which may be of a rigid plastics material or the like which is provided with drilled holes 12 arranged in a matrix pattern over all or substantially all of the screen surface. In this exam ple, if the screen is of opaque material, then the holes will pass completely therethrough. The size of the screen will be related to the material to be displayed thereby, and the spacing between the holes will be related to the resolution required in finai display.

The apparatus in this example includes fibre optic bundles or harnesses 14 defining a plurality of tail ends 18. Each tail end 18 is provided with a metal ferrule 16 adapting it for insertion into a metal bush 17, the bush 17 being locatable in one of the drilled holes 12, and the common end is connected to a light source casing 20 in which is contained an electric motor 22 (Figure 2), coupled to drive a filter disc 24, having segments of different coloured filters, and also to drive a cooling fan 26. A light source 28 is arranged to one side of the filter disc 24, and the common end of the fibre optic tail is surrounded at the other side of said filter disc so that when the light souce is illuminated, the common end will also be illuminated, but through the said filter disc 24.Rotation of the filter disc 24 will result in the sequential transmission of different coloured light through the fibre optic bundles and changing of the colour illumination at the tail ends 18.

To create a display on the display screen it is simply a matter of the user positioning the bushes 17 in the selected holes 12 of the screen in the shape of the display desired and then the tail ends are engaged in the so positioned bushes 17. In the example illustrated, the letters OOP will be displayed as the respective tail ends are arranged in the screen in the patter of O, 0 and P. When the display material has to be changed, it is simply a matter of removing the trail ends 18 from the screen and repositioning of said ends in appropriate holes 12 to construct the required display. A special tool may be required for inserting the bushes 17 and for inserting the ferrules 16 in bushes 17. Tail ends which are not used in the display should be taped away from the screen 10.

The apparatus has a housing 30 of which one side is defined by the display screen, and a rear panel of the housing is removable to enable changing of the positions of the tail ends 18.

An advantage of the arrangement described is that it is possible to prepare the artwork for the display on paper or other sheet material, related to the size of the screen, and to position the artwork on the screen in orderto determine the positioning of the tail ends. Thus, the artwork would simply be placed on the rear of the screen and then the tail ends could be pushed through the paper into the respective holes in the shape of the artwork desired to be displayed. The result will be the display of the artwork on the screen when the light cables transmit light from the source. The display will of course be a changing colour display when the filter disc(s) is/are rotated.

The size of the apparatus will be dictated by the information which is displayed, and it is possible to use two or more similar pieces of apparatus in conjunction for the display of more extensive signs.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 in this modification of the invention, the screen is not provided initially with a matrix of holes but may be simply in the form of a board 100. To create the illuminated display, a sheet carrying artwork is placed on one side of the board 100 and in the example, the sheet is illustrated by numeral 102 and is attached to the front of the board.

The fibre optic harness 104 as in the earlier embodiment is provided and the common end 106 is illuminated buy a bulb 108 through rotatable multicoloured filter wheel or disk 110 which is driven by a motor 112. To create the illuminated display holes are drilled from the front of the screen along the lines 114 of the relevant artwork and then the ends of the fibre optic bundles 116 are inserted in such holes as shown in detail by reference 118 as shown in Figure 4 and similar to that already described in relation to Figures 1 and 2, By this arrangement, illustrated displays of any selected shape may be provided although in this embodiment variation of the display cannot be performed as easily as in the Figures 1 and 2 embodiment and this embodiment is therefore more suitable for use in fixed displays.

This embodiment may also include a plurality of fibre optic harness depending upon the extent of the illuminated display required.

The embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 may be used for display enhancement as well as display creation.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, the screen 150 is a plain translucent or transparent screen and the tail ends 152 have mounting devices in the form of suction pads 154 enabling the ends 152 to be attached to and disconnected from the screen at will to vary the display. Artwork 156 as described, may be used in connection with this embodiment for forming the display.

Claims (13)

1. An illuminated display apparatus comprising a fibre optic harness having a common end and a plurality of tail ends, and a display screen in relation to which the ends can be fitted selectively and variably so thatthe tail ends, when illuminated bya light source falling on the common end can be viewed from one side of the screen.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the screen has a matrix of holes or recesses for receiving the said tail ends in selected ones of said holes or recesses to provide a predetermined illuminated display at the screen.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the tail ends having mounting means, such as suction pads enabling the tail ends to be held removably to the screen.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein there are three of said fibre optic harnesses, whereby more extensive displays can be created at the screen.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claims, including a light source for the or each harness, the light sources or the respectie light sources, being located to direct light on the common end of the harness or the respective ends of the harneses.

6. An apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein there is a rotatable multi-colour fitter located between the light source and the common end or respective said filters between the respective common ends.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes a casing of which one side is defined by the screen, and the casing has a removable panel to enable the changing of the prositions of the tail ends to vary the display.

8. An illuminated display apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of creating an illuminated display of predetermined composition wherein a representation of the composition is applied to a screen and the tail ends of at least one, fibre optic harness are located in position held relationship in relation to the screen in accordance with the composition, the common end being subsequently illuminated to illuminate the tail ends, the illumibated tail ends being viewable from one side of the screen.

10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the screen is drilled to provide holes in accordance with the composition and the tail ends are inserted in said holes.

11. A method according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the composition is a transparent film with line artwork thereon forming the composition.

12. A method of creating an illuminated display substantially as hereinbefore described.

13. An illuminated display created bythe method according to any preceding claim.