GB2253733A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A display apparatus comprising a casing (2, Figure 1) with a window (16) and containing an endless train of panels 21 which are releasably secured together end to end. The train is entrained around rollers (38, 48, Figure 2) so as extend to and fro in an overlapping relationship. A pair of chains (61) extends along, and is releasable connected to, respective edges of the train 21 and is entrained around sprockets (62) adjacent to the rollers (38, 48). A microprocessor is provided for advancing the train 21 intermittently to bring the panels, in turn, into alignment with the window (16) for a dwell period. The apparatus may further comprise an audio-playback system and an aroma dispenser (82 Figures 11A and 11B) which operate in synchronism with the advance of the train. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY APPARATUS This invention relates to a display apparatus, e.g.

for displaying advertising posters, and housing several changeable panels.

Indoor or outdoor, wall hung or free standing, advertising signs or display boxes, either internally or externally illuminated, have hitherto been limited to the static and inanimate display of a single advertisement poster which is not only an ineffective way of promoting the product advertised but also an uneconomical method of utilising prime display space for example, in a shopping mall or trade exhibition to draw and maintain the interest of the onlooker. It is also known to provide a town plan on a web which is scrolled from one roll to another past a window for presenting information an different parts of the web.

According to the invention, a display apparatus comprising a casing with a window and containing rollers on which there is entrained a length of panelling, different parts of which can brought successively into alignment with the window; is characterised in that the panelling comprises an endless train of replaceable panels, which are releasably secured together end to end, the train being entrained around the rollers so as to extend to and fro in an overlapping relationship; a pair of chains extending along, and releasable connected to, respective edges of the train and entrained around sprockets adjacent to the ends of the rollers; and control means for advancing the train intermittently to bring the panels in turn into alignment with the window for a dwell period.

The releasable connection between the chain and the train may consist of triple ball hinges; and the ends of the panels may be releasably secured together by tiestrings tying the panel ends to a transverse rocker-pin, the ends of which are connected to respective ones of the chains.

With this arrangement, a plurality of, say, eight advertisement panels of equal size can be provided in the endless train permitting any one of the panels to be substituted independently without any need to remove the casing from the site location, or to dismantle or readjust any other parts. Apart from the ease in mounting and substituting the panels, the mounting adopted will also create a constant linear and lateral tension preventing the appearance of any slack or crease on a panel.

In particular the triple ball hinges serve as a bridge to connect the edges of the panels to the chains. The triple ball hinges, apart from offsetting any misalignment which may occur between the panels and the chains, will also allow adjustments to be made to reduce the possibility of any slack occurring when each individual panel is mounted.

The rollers may be in two groups arranged near opposite ends of the window, with the endless train wound to and fro forming layers behind the window. The rollers may be encircled adjacent to their ends by the sprockets which support the chain, and bearings may be provided outwardly of the sprockets for rotatably supporting the rollers.

The train may be driven via a single driven roller on which the respective chain sprockets are fixed and another roller may be spring loaded to tension the train longitudinally. All of the rollers may be of a standard design with a hollow neoprene rubber-coated main body.

The number of posters in the endless train can be varied by changing the configuration of rollers.

There may be a back lighting system for a panel at the window, the system consisting of two elongate, transversely convex, edge reflectors which extend substantially fully along respective ones of two opposite sides of the window and flank a transversely convex central reflector; and two fluorescent tubes located each adjacent to a respective one of the reflectors. The edge reflectors may be adjustable by swivelling about a longitudinal axis. This illumination system is not only efficient and economical in the utilisation of energy but will also expose the panels to a lower concentration of colour fading ultra violet rays compared with panels which are back-lit by multiple fluorescent tubes.

The control means may be provided by a microprocessor to control the movement of the interlocked panels and to synchronise the operation of any other components of the system which may be present. The microprocessor will thus produce an output manifesting a "hold-advance-hold-advance" sequence for the train. This makes any alteration of the programme relatively simple.

There may be an audio playback means, including a speaker, and controlled by the control means, e.g. to broadcast a pre-recorded message, song or music, in synchronism with the advance of the train.

Alternatively, or in addition, at least one aroma dispenser can be provided and controlled by the control means to operate in synchronism with the advance of the train, e.g. intermittently to release in fine spray form, liquefied aroma concentrate related in some way to the image displayed on the panel. Thus, if a panel displays instant coffee, then coffee aroma concentrate will be released intermittently in fine spray form into the atmosphere while the relevant panel is held stationary at the window. The use of several such aroma dispensers, controlled by the microprocessor, allows different aromas to be dispensed, corresponding to the panel on view at any time.There may be a passive infra-red sensor with responds to local traffic conditions, and influences a programme of the microprocessor accordingly, e.g. in a no traffic situation, the panels in the window can be changed on say, half hourly intervals, without the operation of the audio playback system or aroma dispensers, but in response to any traffic movement, the frequency of the change of panel will be increased to say, fifteen second intervals or to the duration of a broadcast by the audio playback means, synchronised with the operation of the aroma dispensers.

The combined features of sight, sound and smell of the advertised product is intended to act as stimuli to create a lasting impact on the passing onlooker.

One example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of the casing; which contains a synchronised audio playback system and aroma dispenser; Figure 2 is an isometric view demonstrating the connection between a motor and roller shafts interlinked at opposite ends by drive chains; Figure 3 is an isometric view showing eight changeable panels interlocked horizontally end-to-end in an endless train and connected on opposite edges to the drive chains by triple ball hinges; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of how the panels are interlocked end-to-end by nylon tie-strings and to the drive chains by the triple ball hinges; Figures 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the casing showing the position of rollers interlinked by a drive chain; ; Figures 6A and 6B are an axial section, and an elevation, respectively, of a drive roller and its connection to a motor; Figures 7A and 7B are on an axial section, and an elevation respectively, of a guide roller; Figures 8A, 8B and 8C are an end elevation; an axial section, and a side elevation, respectively, of a tension roller, showing a tension spring in a no-load condition; Figure 9 is an isometric view of an internal illumination system employing convex reflectors; Figure 10 is an isometric view showing the position of a microprocessor in relation to the position of the motor, speakers, an aroma dispenser and passive infrared movement sensor; and, Figures llA and llB are a plan and a sectional view, respectively of an aroma dispenser.

As shown in figure 1, a display box which, in the illustrated embodiment, is of the free standing type, and is formed basically in two parts, namely an internal structure frame (1) housing a panel and its integrated and outer casing (2) with four downwardly extending post members (3) bolted to right angle base corners of the internal structural frame (1) with the post members (3) embedded into concrete piers (4). it will be understood that the display box, may be mounted on a high pedestal or plural post structure to make it visible from significant distances along a road or similar location, or may be mounted on a mobile support structure such as a leg substituted for one of the post members which merely bears gravitationally against the ground or flat supporting surface and having a heel or trolley assembly adjacent to the other site.It is further understood that the display box may also be mounted with supporting brackets (5) on pillars or walls off the ground to make it visible at eye level, in a shopping mall or similar location.

As will be apparent from Figure 2, the internal structural frame (1) of the display box is formed by two vertical side plates (6a and 6b), four horizontally extending right angle members (7a and 7b) at the top thereof and (7c and 7d) at the bottom thereof, together with cross-bracing plates (8) extending across the top and bottom corners of the side plates (6a and 6b) between the horizontally extending members (7a and 7c) and two horizontally extending rectangular tubes with bracket plates at opposite ends (9 and 10), functioning as structural beams, in addition to being used as wire raceways for wiring connections to the various electronic and electrical fittings in the display box.

In the illustrated embodiment Figure 1, the outer casing (2) is designed to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the display box. The outer casing (2) is formed by a top cover member (11), a bottom cover member (12), a rear cover member (13) and two semi-circular shaped side cover members (14 and 15), having a flat base cover terminating at opposite front and rear flanged edges and over similar flanged edges of the top and bottom cover members (11) and (12). Connected to this outer casing is a plastic perspex face (16) tamper proof, rubber lined and metal framed front cover (17) with detachable right hand spring loaded clip-on hinge (18) running the entire height of the outer casing (2) secured by a three step key-lock (19) on the centre left hand edge of the front cover.The three step key-lock apart from its locking mechanism, also serves as master and test switch for an electronic microprocessor. The transparent plastic perspex face (16) which forms the entire poster display window is supported on its perimeter against the metal frame front cover (17) by extruded metal tracks lined continuously with a moulded all-weather thermoplastic rubber strip (20).

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the eight changeable advertising poster panels (21) are interlocked end-to-end to form an endless train. Thus a strip of single sided, adhesive-backed, polyethylene-coated, cloth tape is (22) affixed to strengthen each horizontal edge of a panel. A nylon tie-string (23) is looped through U-shaped flaps (25), die-cut in series on the edge of the panel and threaded into eyes (26) drilled along the length of a rocker pin (27) and there back-knotted as at (24) to create a successive pattern of horizontal V-shaped links (28), further secured and strengthened by affixing a strip of single sided, adhesive-backed, polyethylene-coated cloth tape (29) over the V-shaped links (28).

As will also be apparent from Figure 4, the vertical panel edges are strengthened by affixing a strip of single sided, adhesive-backed, polyethylene-coated cloth tape to provide a firm base to rivet mount as at (30) onto the panel, a series of triple ball hinges (31). Each hinge is made up of three interlocked balls (32) establishing a swivel bridge between two hinge leaves. Each leaf is precisely die-cut to overwrap the two free end balls with a leaf (33) double riveted to the panel (21) and the another leaf (34) mounting frame (35) by means of a spring loaded bolt (36) housed in a U-shaped channel (37) and secured in position by a ring nut (38).The triple ball hinge, apart from allowing the interlocked balls to offset any misalignment which may occur between the panel and the drive chain, will also permit adjustment of the male screw joint (35) to correct any lateral slack on the panel. The method adopted to mount the panels in the manner described will ensure that any one of the panels can be detached independently by cutting the back knots (26) from the rocker pin (27) and unfastening the male screw joint from the drive chain pin attachment (37), without the need to remove the display box from the site location, dismantle, or readjust any other part of the display box.

The interlocked panels are advanced in endless train around the drive chain circuit shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5 by two groups of rollers with one group at the top end of the vertical side plates (6a and 6b) made up of a main drive roller (38) and auxiliary guide rollers (39, 40, 41 and 42); and the other group at the bottom end made up of auxiliary guide rollers (43, 44, 45, 46 and 47) and a tension roller (48).

Figure 6 shows the main roller (38) and its link to the motor (54). The parts of the main roller (38) consist of a long neck shaft (51) with a lock-pin (55) lodged between a keyway (56) of a spring-loaded insert collar (52) which is jam screwed to the motor (54) end of a hollow, neoprene-coated roller (57). Completing the main roller assembly is a hammer head shaft (53) jam screwed to the opposite end of the hollow, neoprene-coated roller (57) and coupled by its lock-pin (58) to a keyway (59) of a springloaded sleeve shaft (50) complete with a circlip groove (60).

Also shown in Figures 7 and 8 are the auxiliary rollers (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47) and the tension roller (48). While the aforementioned rollers have parts of common design with those of the main roller (38), they are however, varied to suit the functions of the respective rollers. The opposite ends of the main and auxiliary rollers are ringed with sprockets (62) and with flange roller bearings (49) outwardly of the sprockets and secured onto side plates (6a and 6b) with flange covers (64) as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

As will be apparent from Figure 2, the top and bottom groups of rollers are interlinked by drive chains (61) fitted onto the sprockets (62) at opposite ends of the respective main, auxiliary and tension rollers. When a panel change occurs, the motor (54) in turning its shaft anti-clockwise could cause the drive chains (61) to drive the respective rollers in both the upper and lower groups so that they rotate in the following directions: Main roller (38) at anti-clockwise; Auxiliary roller (39) anti-clockwise; Auxiliary roller (43) clockwise; Auxiliary roller (40) anti-clockwise; Auxiliary roller (44) clockwise; Auxiliary roller (41) anti-clockwise; Auxiliary roller (45) clockwise; Auxiliary roller (42) anti-clockwise; Auxiliary roller (46) anti-clockwise; Tension Roller (48) clockwise; Auxiliary roller (47) anti-clockwise.

The formation of any ripples in the interlocked panels (21) when the drive chain (61) is in motion, in particular the panel exposed for display and held between main roller (38) and the auxiliary roller (47), is obviated by incorporating jockey guides or dummy sprockets (63a, 63b, 63c, 63d, 63e, 63f, 63g, 63h, 63i and 63j) for engaging alternate faces of the drive chain (61). To prevent cumulation of any slack within the drive chain circuit, a manually adjustable tensioner (65) is installed at the opposite ends of the tension roller (48) as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 10 with details outlined in Figure 8.

As shown in Figure 8, the tensioner (65) comprises a flanged roller bearing (66) and a housing plate (67), with the top end secured by a spring hook (68) to a mounting block (69) and at the bottom end to the housing plate (67).

The adjustable swivel head screw arm (70) is secured by a U-shaped cradle (71) fastened on the roller housing plate (67) at the top end and at the bottom end to an anti-slip lock nut (72) which is housed in a receiving L-shaped bracket (73) on the side plates (6a and 6b). The centrally placed flanged roller bearing (66 in the housing plate (67) is secured to the tension roller (48) by a circlip (74). A tensioner of similar design is also coupled to the opposite end of the tension roller to maintain the alignment of both the interlocked panels and the drive chains.

As will be apparent in Figure 3, the internal illumination of the display box is served by two vertically installed swivel base, manually adjustable, electroplated mirror-finish, convex reflectors (76a and 76b) running substantially the length of the panel on display on the opposite flanks of a wide mirror-finish convex reflector (77) mounted on brackets (78a, 78b, 78c, 78d, 78e, 78f, 78g and 78h) to deflect light evenly from a pair of fluorescent tubes (75a and 75b). The lighting assembly as described above is recessed behind the panel on display, within an area bounded by the main roller (38) and auxiliary rollers (39, 43 and 47).

As shown in Figure 4, bracketed to the top end of the two side plates (6a and 6b), are horizontally extending angle irons (79 and 80) forming the supporting frame for an L-shaped metal support (81) to house the motor (54), aroma dispenser (82), microprocessor (83) and waterproof speaker (84a and 84b). The top end of the front cover (17) is diecut with two sets of horizontal track slots (85a and 85b) and one vertical vent slot (86) to match the position of the aroma dispenser (82) which is secured by an L-shaped metal support (81). At the bottom end of the front cover is a peep-hole (87) to match the position of a passive infrared sensor (88) which is secured by an L-shaped metal lug (89) to the horizontally extending right angle member (7d).

Shown in Figure 5(A) and 5(B) is an aroma dispenser (82) with its base (90) bolted on to the support (81).

Connected to the socket head drive shaft (91) of a fractional motor (92) is a detachable drive rod (93) carrying an off-centre notch edge, circular disc (94) with its circumference acting as a continuous shoulder for a roller pin end (95) of split arms (96) pivoted on a supporting hinge (97a) which is anchored to side walls (98a and 98b). Each spray cycle originates with a signal from the microprocessor (83) to the fractional motor (92) causing its drive shaft (91) to rotate the off-centre circular disc (94) anti-clockwise, gradually lifting the free end of spring loaded lever (99), pivoted on a supporting hinge (97b) anchored to the side walls (98a and 98b) causing an atomising head (100) to rise to its prime position for release of aroma concentrate (102) when the roller pin end (95) of split arms (96) reaches the notched perpendicular edge of circular disc (94).When the roller pin end (95) rides over the perpendicular edge of the circular disc (94) the instantaneous downward propulsion of the split arms (96) caused by the recoil of a tension spring (101) depresses the free end of the spring loaded lever (99) against an atomising head (100) to release the aroma concentrate (102) in fine spray form in the atmosphere. To ensure a consistent spray release pressure, the lift and drop height of the atomising head (100) is maintained by guide pins (103a and 103b) protruding from the inside face of the split arms (96), sliding between hooked-end bus-ways (104a and 104b) located on the opposite flanks of the spring loaded lever (99).

Figure 5(B) shows the relative position of the offcentre notched edge circular disc (93), roller pin (95) of split arms (96), spring loaded lever (99) and tension spring (101) when the atomising head (100) is in its position just before the instantaneous release of the aroma concentrate (102). The aroma concentrate (102) is replenished by removing a concentrate bottle (105) housed between the sidewalls (98a and 98b) and unscrewing the atomising head (100) from the concentrate bottle (105) together with a suction tube (106) before pouring the refill down the neck of the concentrate bottle (105). To introduce a new aroma to match a new product displayed on the panel would, however, require the complete replacement of the atomising head (100), concentrate bottle (105) and suction tube (106). Once replaced, the atomising head (100), concentrate bottle (105) and suction tube (106) are not recycled for future use as a precaution against tainting of the aroma concentrate (102).

Claims (12)

1. A display apparatus comprising a casing with a window and containing rollers on which there is entrained a length of panelling, different parts of which can be brought successively into alignment with the window; characterised in that the panelling comprises an endless train of replaceable panels, which are releasably secured together end to end, the train being entrained around the rollers so as extend to and fro in an overlapping relationship; a pair of chains extending along, and releasably connected to, respective edges of the train and entrained around sprockets adjacent to the ends of the rollers; and control means for advancing the train intermittently to bring the panels in turn into alignment with the window for a dwell period.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the releasable connection between the chain and the train consists of triple ball hinges.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ends of the panels are releasably secured together by tie-strings tying the panel ends to a transverse rockerpin, the ends of which are connected to respective ones of the chains.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the train is driven via one drive roller on which the respective chain sprockets are fixed.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one roller is spring loaded to tension the train longitudinally.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a back lighting system for the window, the system including two elongate, transversely convex edge reflectors, which extend substantially fully along the respective ones of two opposite sides of the window and flank a transversely convex central reflector; and two fluorescent tubes located each adjacent to a respective one of the edge reflectors.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the edge reflectors are each adjustable by swivelling about a longitudinal axis.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is a microprocessor.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a passive infra-red sensor which responds to local traffic conditions, and influences a programme of the microprocessor accordingly.

10. An apparatus according to any of one of the preceding claims, further comprising an audio playback system, which includes a speaker and which is controlled by the control means to operate in synchronism with the advance of the train.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one aroma dispenser which is/are controlled by the control means to operate in synchronism with the advance of the train.

12. An apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.