GB2122011A

GB2122011A - Indicator boards

Info

Publication number: GB2122011A
Application number: GB08216596A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Peter Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-08
Filing date: 1982-06-08
Publication date: 1984-01-04
Also published as: GB2122011B

Abstract

A manually operated indicator board comprises a front panel 1 with an elongate aperture 7 and a cassette unit (10) removably mounted behind the front panel. The unit (10) houses a number of blocks (13, 14) having different indicia on different faces, some of which are visible through the aperture. The positions of the blocks can be changed at will when the cassette unit is removed from the panel. The units (10) are of U-shaped section and are slid in place on rails 11 upon removal of a side wall 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Indicator boards This invention relates to manually operated indicator boards for displaying variable information.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to indicator boards displaying numerical information requiring frequent adjustment, one particularly advantageous example being indicator boards for use in banks, building societies and the like for the display of current interest rates.

In the case of banks, in particular, various forms of interest rates for borrowers and for lenders are subject to change on short notice. This can easily be done using electronic controls and displays but such arrangements are expensive.

The present invention provides a manually operated indicator board which is of relatively simple and cheap construction and in which the numerical display can be changed by hand in a simple manner.

In a particularly simple form, the invention includes an indicator board having an aperture and a cassette unit removably mounted behind the aperture, the cassette unit having a plurality of individual cubes (or cuboid blocks) each having individual numerals inscribed, printed on different faces, the cubes being held in fixed position when the unit is mounted behind the board but removable for turning and re-positioning when the unit is removed from the board.

Preferably the blocks are not strictly cubes but have two square end faces and eiongate side faces on which the numerals are displayed.

One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the indicator board; Figure 2 is a side view; Figure 3 is a part section on the line AA of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a scrap detail on an enlarged scale taken from Figure 3.

The board shown in the drawings includes a board in the form of a hollow housing comprising a front display panel 1, a back panel 2, fixed top, bottom and side walls 3, 4, 5 respectively and a removable side wall or closure 6.

The front display panel 1 has a number of rectangular display apertures 7, aligned with each of which is an indented region 8 in which an insert can be mounted to display permanent information. Typically, the front panel is coloured and the inserts, not shown, are of clear plastics material printed with wording in a contrasting colour. The wording is, of course, related to the numerical information displayed in the corresponding aperture e.g. "Deposit Account Rate".

For each aperture, a cassette unit 10 is removably mounted behind the front panel. Each unit takes the form of an open topped box having at its right hand end an extension or tab (not shown) to facilitate its removal. The unit is mounted within the housing by simple slide rails 11 projecting inwardly from the front and back panels and a continuous vertical rib 12 formed on the back panel limits inward (leftward) movement of all the units, which are normally retained in their illustrated position by the closure 6, which is simply clipped into the open side of the housing.

Each unit is filled with a series of blocks 13 having square top and bottom faces, and vertically elongated side faces which carry numerals. In the event, as in the illustrated example, where a decimal point is required, one of the blocks, 14, is relatively narrow.

In the specific example illustrated, a four digit display is required, and three groups of four blocks each are provided; in one group the faces of each block are numbered "6", "7", "8" and "9"; in the second group the faces are numbered "3", "4" and "5" with one face blank; and in the third group, the faces are numbered "0", "1" and "2" with one face blank.

Thus the user can set up any desired combination of four or fewer numerals.

To facilitate removal of the blocks prior to repositioning, the base of the cassette unit may be provided with an elongate slot along most of its length to permit individual blocks to be poked out from below by a finger or suitable implement, such as a pen or pencil.

As illustrated, the blocks are preferably slightly shallower than the unit and are engaged, when positioned behind the board by narrow ribs 1 6 to either side of the slide rails 11, which engage the blocks above and below their visible portions and hold them slightly set back from the windows so as to reduce the risk of the faces of the blocks being damaged by scuffing, etc.

Many variations and modifications will, of course, be possible within the scope of the invention. For example the main board could be of single wall construction, with suitable modification of the slide connection between the units and the rear of the single wall. Conversely the board could be double sided with each main face of the board having its own set of apertures and co-operating cassette units and blocks.

Claims

1. An indicator board comprising a panel having an aperture, and a cassette unit removably mounted on the panel behind the aperture, the cassette unit holding a plurality of blocks each having individual indicia printed or inscribed on different faces, the said blocks being held in fixed positions when the unit is mounted behind the panel but removable for turning and repositioning when the unit is removed from the board.

2. An indicator board according to claim 1 wherein the blocks are arranged in a single row within the cassette unit and the length of the aperture (measured in a direction parallel with the row) is substantially less than the length of the row.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Indicator boards This invention relates to manually operated indicator boards for displaying variable information. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to indicator boards displaying numerical information requiring frequent adjustment, one particularly advantageous example being indicator boards for use in banks, building societies and the like for the display of current interest rates. In the case of banks, in particular, various forms of interest rates for borrowers and for lenders are subject to change on short notice. This can easily be done using electronic controls and displays but such arrangements are expensive. The present invention provides a manually operated indicator board which is of relatively simple and cheap construction and in which the numerical display can be changed by hand in a simple manner. In a particularly simple form, the invention includes an indicator board having an aperture and a cassette unit removably mounted behind the aperture, the cassette unit having a plurality of individual cubes (or cuboid blocks) each having individual numerals inscribed, printed on different faces, the cubes being held in fixed position when the unit is mounted behind the board but removable for turning and re-positioning when the unit is removed from the board. Preferably the blocks are not strictly cubes but have two square end faces and eiongate side faces on which the numerals are displayed. One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the indicator board; Figure 2 is a side view; Figure 3 is a part section on the line AA of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a scrap detail on an enlarged scale taken from Figure 3. The board shown in the drawings includes a board in the form of a hollow housing comprising a front display panel 1, a back panel 2, fixed top, bottom and side walls 3, 4, 5 respectively and a removable side wall or closure 6. The front display panel 1 has a number of rectangular display apertures 7, aligned with each of which is an indented region 8 in which an insert can be mounted to display permanent information. Typically, the front panel is coloured and the inserts, not shown, are of clear plastics material printed with wording in a contrasting colour. The wording is, of course, related to the numerical information displayed in the corresponding aperture e.g. "Deposit Account Rate". For each aperture, a cassette unit 10 is removably mounted behind the front panel. Each unit takes the form of an open topped box having at its right hand end an extension or tab (not shown) to facilitate its removal. The unit is mounted within the housing by simple slide rails 11 projecting inwardly from the front and back panels and a continuous vertical rib 12 formed on the back panel limits inward (leftward) movement of all the units, which are normally retained in their illustrated position by the closure 6, which is simply clipped into the open side of the housing. Each unit is filled with a series of blocks 13 having square top and bottom faces, and vertically elongated side faces which carry numerals. In the event, as in the illustrated example, where a decimal point is required, one of the blocks, 14, is relatively narrow. In the specific example illustrated, a four digit display is required, and three groups of four blocks each are provided; in one group the faces of each block are numbered "6", "7", "8" and "9"; in the second group the faces are numbered "3", "4" and "5" with one face blank; and in the third group, the faces are numbered "0", "1" and "2" with one face blank. Thus the user can set up any desired combination of four or fewer numerals. To facilitate removal of the blocks prior to repositioning, the base of the cassette unit may be provided with an elongate slot along most of its length to permit individual blocks to be poked out from below by a finger or suitable implement, such as a pen or pencil. As illustrated, the blocks are preferably slightly shallower than the unit and are engaged, when positioned behind the board by narrow ribs 1 6 to either side of the slide rails 11, which engage the blocks above and below their visible portions and hold them slightly set back from the windows so as to reduce the risk of the faces of the blocks being damaged by scuffing, etc. Many variations and modifications will, of course, be possible within the scope of the invention. For example the main board could be of single wall construction, with suitable modification of the slide connection between the units and the rear of the single wall. Conversely the board could be double sided with each main face of the board having its own set of apertures and co-operating cassette units and blocks. Claims

3. An indicator board according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the said cassette unit takes the form of an open topped box, and is mounted on the panel with its open side opposite the aperture to expose the blocks to view through the aperture.

4. An indicator board according to claim 3, wherein the cassette unit is located behind the panel by slide rails parallel with the aperture, by a rib limiting inward sliding movement of the cassette unit, and by a removable closure member preventing outward sliding movement of the cassette unit.

5. An indicator board according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of aperture and an plurality of corresponding cassette units as aforesaid are provided.

6. An indicator board according to any preceding claim wherein the said panel constitutes one main wall of a hollow housing in which the (or each) cassette unit is housed.

7. An indicator board in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the (or each) cassette unit is constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. An indicator board substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.