GB2218248A

GB2218248A - Visual display arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2218248A
Application number: GB8903794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Lynch; Wendy Lynch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-18
Filing date: 1989-02-20
Publication date: 1989-11-08
Also published as: GB8803779D0; GB8903794D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a visual display arrangement, particularly suitable for displaying property numbers. The arrangement generally comprises a weathertight enclosure 12, intended to afford a visual display, with means for fixing the enclosure to a surface to present the visual display in substantially vertical plane. The enclosure includes a register defining digits from 0 to 9 and means 13 for manually adjusting the register to place a selected one of said digits in a position for display. The enclosure may include a plurality of registers, each adjustable to display a selected digit. In a preferred embodiment the digit(s) selected for display is illuminated via an illuminating source, conveniently a light emitting diode, powered from mains supply or a battery, most preferably a rechargeable battery, and in a most preferred embodiment the device includes solar cells arranged to charge the battery during daylight hours. <IMAGE>

Description

"VISUAL DISPLAY ARRANGEMENT" The present invention relates to a visual display arrangement, more particularly to a numerical visual display arrangement for use in displaying property and more especially house lumbers.

Visual display units are in themselves well known in the art and visual display units such as digital watches and various meters are known for displaying numerals.

However, none of these known devices is in any way suitable for use in displaying property numbers and it is an object to provide visual display arrangement which is effaceably suitable for this purpose.

According to the present invention there is provided a visual display arrangement comprising at least one self contained unit; the, or each, said unit comprising a numerical register which can be adjusted under manual control and a power supply, or means for connecting to a power supply; the register comprising a visual display indicating the arrangement of the register and the, or each, unit being housed in a weather tight enclosure having means for fixing it to a surface to present the visual display in a substantially vertical plane.

Preferably the visual display arrangement is characterised in that said means for fixing the enclosure are arranged to fix the enclosure to a vertical surface.

In one embodiment the visual display arrangement is characterised in that the register defines a plurality of digits and the said manual control allows a single digit selected from the register to be visually displayed.

Preferably the visual display arrangement is characterised in that each self contained unit is arranged to display a single digit.

In another embodiment the visual display arrangement is characterised in that each said enclosure includes a register individual thereto and is arranged to display a single digit from said register.

In another embodiment a visual arrangement is characterised in that each enclosure includes a plurality of registers and said manual control means allows a single digit selected from each register to be located for visual display.

Preferably each enclosure includes a see-through panel in its forward regions, when mounted and the digit(s) to be displayed are located in the field of view through said panel.

In one embodiment each register comprises a roll with each digit represented by a transparent area on a roll, said digits being spaced apart in the length direction of said roll. With such an arrangement said manual adjustment means includes a winding mechanism for winding the roll to bring any desired digit on the roll into a display position.

In another arrangement the register comprises a panel defined by a plurality of rectangles arranged in side by side horizontal rows and vertically stacked rows, each of said rectangles being initially opaque and wherein selected rectangles are manually rendered distinctive to display a desired digit.

In one such arrangement the said rectangles comprise light emitting diodes and are rendered distinctive by being selectively illuminated.

In another arrangement selected rectangles are transparent, and each such rectangle is initially covered with an opaque material individual thereto and said selected rectangles are rendered distinctive by manually removing the said opaque material.

Preferably the, or each, enclosure includes an illuminating source.

In one embodiment said illuminating source comprises one or a plurality of diodes.

Preferably the, or each, enclosure includes light focussing means. One advantage of using a plurality of units with a single digit read-out register is that it could make resetting to display a different number simpler for the unit and, from the supply and warehousing position, a settable unit affords substantial advantages over a fixed digit.

The power source for each or the register may be constituted by any conventional electrical power means and, by way of example may comprise batteries, solar cells or mains supply.

In a preferred embodiment solar cells are used to charge a battery or batteries. The visual display of numbers may be in the form of any small current device, e.g. liquid crystals, but since illumination of the number to be displayed is considered to be important light emitting diodes are presently preferred.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagramnatic drawing of a first embodiment of an arrangement according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic drawing of a second embodiment and, Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic front view of one digital display arrangement.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the first embodiment employs a multiple digit read-out register, in this instance a three digit read-out, the display of which is indicated at 11. The single unit employed is housed in a water proof enclosure 12 giving access therethrough for a manually operated reset device 13, by which the count of the register can be set. The enclosure 12 includes brackets 14 and 15 by which the enclosure 12 can be secured to a vertical plane.

The second embodiment as shown in Fig. 2, employs three identical units 21, 22 and 23, separately housed in weathertight enclosures 24, 25 and 26 respectively. The enclosures 24, 25 and 26 each presents two fixing brackets, 24a 24b, 25a, 25b and 26a and 26b respectively by which the units can be secured to a vertical surface in side by side relationship. Each of the units 21, 22 and 23 include a reset device 27, 28 and 29 respectively.

Each unit 21, 22 and 23 comprises a single digit readout register.

In a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Fig.

2 the three units 21, 22 and 23 may be carried in a common carrier with the latter being provided with fixing brackets and the three units 21, 22 and 23 may be powered from a single battery source.

In one form of register the digits in the Figs. 1 and 2 embodiments may comprise digits 0 to 9 defined by transparent areas on an opaque roll the end regions of which are supported on two spaced apart rollers so that the region of the roll between the rollers is exposed for display.

In the Fig. 2 embodimnt each enclosure includes a roll and the manual operating devices 27, 28 and 29 simply wind the roll individual thereto until the desired digit is displayed.

Th the Fig. 1 embodiment the single manual control operating device 13 winds a first roll (that displaying the digit 3 in Fig. 1,) the first roll is arranged to step the second roll one digit for each complete winding of the first roll and the third roll (displaying digit 1 in Fig. 1) is stepped one digit for each complete winding of the second roll. Alternatively, the single manual operating device 13 may be axially displaceable between three positions and effective to wind a digit roll individual to each of said positions.

With such arrangements the front of the enclosure 12 or enclosures 24, 25 and 26 will comprise a see-through panel, such as a glass panel.

The see-through digit display illustrated in Fig. 1 is illuminated by two diodes 16 and 17 behind the rolls so that the light from the said diodes 16 and 17 shines through the transparent digital display. In the Fig. 2 embodiment each of the digits is illuminated by a diode 30 individual thereto and located behind the respective roll.

When the digit display includes a light source or light sources, such as the diodes 16, 17 and 30, shining through a transparent digit form on a roll the enclosures 12, 24, 25 and 26 may include reflectors, prisms and the like light focussing means for directing the light emitted from the illuminating source(s) through the displayed digit form(s) In another embodiment the digit forms may be opaque and the supporting roll material may be transparent.

An alternative arrangement in accordance with the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 and wherein digits from 0 to 11 may be displayed by a single panel 31 in-the forward regions of an enclosure 32. The panel 31 is divided into 15 rectangular regions 33 to 47, of which the regions 37 and 43 are opaque.

The regions 33 to 36, 38 to 42 and 44 to 47 may comprise diodes and with such a construction the control means will comprise a selecting means for selecting the diodes to be illuminated.

Thus, and by way of examples To display numeral 1 the diodes 33, 36, 39, 42 and 45 or the diodes 35, 38, 41, 44 and 47 will be activated, To display numeral 2 the diodes 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 40, 39 42, 45, 46 and 47 will be activated, to display numeral 3 the diodes 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 40, 39, 44, 45, 46 and 47 will be activated, and by selecting combinations of the diodes to be actuated all the digits from 0 to 11 can be displayed.

In an alternative and cheaper arrangement the regions 33 to 36, 38 to 42 and 44 to 47 comprise transparent panels initially covered with removable opaque material such as tearoff film or tape, and the said material is manually removed from those regions defining the regions to be illuminated to display a desired digit. With such an arrangement the digit display is illuminated by a light source, such as a diode 48, within the enclosure 32.

As stated hereinbefore, the illuminating source for example the diodes 16, 17, 30 or 48, is or are preferably powered by mains supply or by a battery and, when powered by a battery, the battery is preferably of the re-chargeable type.

More preferably, when the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery, the battery is chargeable by solar energy and, with such an arrangement, an area, or areas, of the enclosure 12, 24, 25, 26 or 32 may include or support solar cells arranged to re-charge the battery during daylight hours.

Whilst the present invention has been described by way of example with reference to specific embodiments the invention is not restricted thereto and many modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A visual display arrangement comprising at least one self contained unit; the, or each, said unit comprising a numerical register which can be adjusted under manual control and a power supply, or means for connecting to a power supply; the register comprising a visual display indicating the arrangement of the register and the, or each, unit being housed in a weather tight enclosure having means for fixing it to a surface to present the visual display in a substantially vertical plane.

2. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that said means for fixing the enclosure are arranged to fix the enclosure to a vertical surface.

3. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the register defines a plurality of digits and the said manual control allows a single digit selected from the register to be visually displayed.

4. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which each said enclosure includes a register individual thereto and is arranged to display a single digit from said register.

5. A visual arrangement as claimed in claims 1 or 2 characterised in that each enclosure includes a plurality of registers and said manual control means allows a single digit selected from each register to be located for visual display.

6. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claims 3, 4 or 5 in which each enclosure includes a see-through panel in its forward regions, when mounted, and the digit(s) to be displayed are located in the field of view through said panel.

7. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claims 3, 4, 5 or 6 in which each register comprises a roll with each digit represented by a transparent area on a roll, said digits being spaced apart in the length direction of said roll.

8. A display arrangement as claimed in claim 7 characterised in that said manual adjustment means includes a winding mechanism for winding the roll to bring any desired digit on the roll into a display position.

9. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claims 1 or 2 claims 3, 4 or 5 characterised in that the register comprises a panel defined by a plurality of rectangles arranged in side by side horizontal rows and vertically stocked rows, each of said rectangles being initially opaque and wherein selected rectangles are manually rendered distinctive to display a desired digit.

10. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claim 9 characterised in that said rectangles comprise light emitting diodes and are rendered distinctive by being selectively illuminated.

11. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claim 9 characterised in that selected rectangles is transparent, each such rectangle is initially covered with an opaque material individual thereto and said selected rectangles are rendered distinctive by manually removing the said opaque material.

12. A visual display arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 inclusive or claim 11, characterised in that the, or each, enclosure includes an illuminating source.

13. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claim 12 characterised in that said illuminating source comprises one or a plurality of diodes.

14 A visual display arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 inclusive or claims 11, 12, or 13 characterised in that the, or each, enclosure includes light focussing means.

15 A visual display arrangement as claimed in claims 10, 12 or 13 characterised in that the illuminating source is powered by said power supply.

16. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claim 15 characterised in that said power supply comprises mains supply.

17. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claim 15 characterised in that said power supply comprises a rechargeable battery, or plurality of rechargeable batteries.

18. A visual display arrangement as claimed in claim 17 characterised in that said enclosure includes or supportssolar cells and the electrical power generated by said solar cells is arranged to effect recharging of the battery(s).

19. A visual display arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to an as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.