GB2281652A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device comprises a display arrangement for a plurality of images to be shown consecutively, and actuating means to cause the images of the display arrangement to be shown consecutively, which means is connected to and operated by the swinging of a pendulum. The pendulum 16 may be swung by the motion of an object such as a vehicle, to which the display device is attached; alternatively the pendulum may be swung by the force of air currents. The actuating means includes a gear arrangement to convert the swinging movement of the pendulum to rotational movement, to alter the displayed images 12. The pendulum may comprise a plurality of pivotally interconnected members (Figures 3, 6A and 6B), for increased sensitivity. <IMAGE>

Description

ADVERTISING DEVICE This invention relates to a display device, and in particular an advertising display device for use for example in vehicles or on buildings.

There are a number of known advertising devices which can show a plurality of adverts consecutively. These arrangements, however, are provided with a power source, and in consequence are relatively expensive to run and are prone to breakdown.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a display device comprising a display arrangement for a plurality of images to be shown consecutively, and actuating means to cause the images of the display arrangement to be shown consecutively, which means is connected to and operated by the swinging of a pendulum. Preferably the pendulum is swung by the motion of an object to which the display device is mounted; or by force of an air current; or both.

Such an arrangement is useful in that no power source within or in conjunction with the device is required in order to run the device.

Suitably, the means to cause the images of the device to be displayed includes a pendulum arrangement, which pendulum moves back and forth in response to the motion of the vehicle or object to which the display device is mounted or in response to air currents. The pendulum is connected to display members which have the images to be displayed arranged upon them, by a series of gear arrangements which transfer the swing movement of the pendulum into rotational movement to rotate display members.

Suitably, the series of gear arrangements are arranged such that the gear arrangements are rotated in one direction irrespective of the back and forth motion of the pendulum.

Suitably, the series of gear arrangements are connected by a drive member which causes small increments of movement from a first series of gear arrangements to be "stored" until a large increment of movement is obtained, at which point the drive member activates to rotate a second series of gear arrangement connected to the display members in one instance. Such an arrangement causes the display members to rotate in large increments, rather than in a series of small increments of movement provided by the pendulum.

Suitably, the display members are either arranged horizontally or vertically.

Suitably, the pendulum is formed from a plurality of pivotally interconnected members in order to increase the sensitivity of the pendulum to the movement of the vehicle or object to which the display device is mounted, or to air currents.

Advantageously, spring means are provided on either side of the pendulum such that during back and forth motion of the pendulum, the spring means act to increase the swing movement of the pendulum, and thereby increase the sensitivity of the whole display device.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a front view of a display device in accordance with the invention; Figures 2A and 2B are enlarged front views of part of the gearing arrangement of the display device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a first embodiment of a pendulum suitable for use in the display device shown in Figure 1; Figures 4A and 4B are front views of the display member rotating device used in the display device shown in Figure 1; Figures SA and 5B are side views of the display member rotating device of the display device shown in Figure 1; and Figures 6A and 6B are front views of a second embodiment of a pendulum suitable for use in the display device shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 1, a display device 10 is shown having a number of horizontal display members 12, each of which have at least two and preferably three faces on which different adverts, messages, or warnings are placed.

The display device comprises a mechanism 14 to rotate the display members 12 such that the faces of the display members are consecutively viewed. The mechanism for rotating the devices comprises a pendulum arrangement 16 which co-operates with a set of primary gears 18 which move an intermediary "drive" member 20, which thereafter interconnects with a second set of gears 22 which are connected to the display members 12.

The pendulum arrangement 16 (see Figure 3) is split into two components firstly a stem component 24, and secondly an outer end component 26 which is pivotally mounted (see 25) to the outer end of the stem component. The end component 26 is in the form of a container in which a weight 28 (e.g. a body of metal or liquid) is placed. The pendulum arrangement is such that the pendulum moves back and forth due to the movement of a vehicle or object to which the display device 10 is mounted. The pendulum device is split into two components (i.e. 24 and 26) such that it will be more sensitive to the movement of the vehicle or object to which the display device is mounted or to air currents, whereby the pendulum has increased sensitivity and increased swing movement.

An alternative pendulum arrangement is shown in Figures 6A and 6B. This type of pendulum is particularly suitable for actuation by air currents. For added sensitivity two outer end components 26 are provided on a lever arrangement 50 supported at and pivotable about point 59 where the lever arrangement 50 is attached to stem 25. The movement of the lever arrangement 50 is limited by the shape of aperture 54 in stem 24, to avoid complete rotation of the components 26 about point 52. The lever arrangement 50 provides a suitable side-to-side motion which results in a side-to-side movement of the stem 24, and consequent actuation of the display members 12.

Figure 6B shows the pendulum in a rest position. Figure 6A shows the position of the pendulum, at the limit of its movement, when an air current is flowing past the pendulum in a direction indicated by arrow 56.

The inner end of the stem component 24 of the pendulum is fixedly connected to a semi-circular gear member 30 which is arranged (see Figures 2A and 2B) to contact at any one time two gears (34 and 36) of the set of primary gears 18. In particular, the primary gears are arranged such that when the pendulum is swinging in one direction the gear 34 of the primary gears is in contact with the rest of the primary gears, and when the pendulum is moving the opposite direction the other gear 36 of the primary gears is in contact with the rest of the primary gears. This is achieved by providing these gears 34 and 36 with a central slot 38 in which the gears are supported by a pin 40 and about which the gears 34 and 36 move within their slot. When for example the gear 34 is engaged with the rest of the primary gear, the other gear 36 is disengaged (see Figure 2B), while when the pendulum is moving the other way the gear 36 is engaged with the rest of the primary gears and the other gear 34 is disengaged (see Figure 2A). In particular, the gear 36 is mounted for clockwise motion to engage the anti-clockwise moving second gear 37 of the rest of the primary gears, while the other gear 34 is mounted for anti-clockwise motion to engage the clockwise moving first gear 39 of the rest of the primary gears.

The result is that the rest of the primary gears are rotated in the same direction irrespective of the direction of movement of the pendulum.

The final gear 42 of the set of primary gears is provided with an engaging member 44 with three projections which engage a shoulder 46 (see Figures 4A and 4B) provided on the drive member 20, the engaging member 44 raising this shoulder 45 in increments until a position is reached where the shoulder slips off the projections of the engagement member. At this position, the drive member 20 drops in one major increment due to the action of a return spring 47, the total of the distances of the short increments transferred thereto by the primary gears due to the pendulum, whereafter a toothed portion 46 of the drive member 20 engages a first gear 48 of the secondary set of gears 22 to cause the secondary set of gears to rotate in unison, and cause the display members 12 to which they are connected to rotate also in unison and thereby show the next advertising/message/warning face of the device. The gear 48 is provided with a central slot 51 such that when the drive member 20 is being raised, the gear 48 disengages from the first gear 50 (see Figure 5B) of the secondary set of gears 22. In contrast, when the gear member 20 drops, the gear 48 immediately engages the gear 50 (see Figure SA) to rotate the display members 12.

Suitably, the arrangement is provided with a set of spring members (not shown) which are mounted either side of the outer end 26 of the pendulum 16, such that at the outer ends of its swing the pendulum is given increased speed by the action of the spring members. The arrangement is such that at least 150 swing each side of the vertical is provided for the pendulum.

The above describes preferred embodiments of the invention, variations and modifications in which may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

For example, in Figure 1, the display members 12 are shown horizontal, however, the arrangement could be such that the display panels are vertically arranged.

Further, it is envisaged that other gear arrangements could be used to effect the required movement of the panels as would be clear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates.

In one embodiment, the faces of the display members 12 could be provided with say three different adverts which are shown in sequence, for use on trains, boats, or the like, or alternatively the faces of the display members 12 may be provided with different warnings and/or messages which can be used say in a car.

Such an arrangement is extremely simple in function and design, since the arrangement acts on the inherent movement of the vehicle or object to which the device is mounted or on the force of air currents, and there is no need for a power source such as a battery or electricity.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. A display device comprising a display arrangement for a plurality of images to be shown consecutively, and actuating means to cause the images of the display arrangement to be shown consecutively, which means is connected to and operated by the swinging of a pendulum.

2. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pendulum is swung by the motion of an object to which the display device is attached.

3. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pendulum is swung by the force of air currents.

4. A display device as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the actuating means includes a gear arrangement which converts the swinging movement of the pendulum to rotational movement, which rotational movement rotates the display arrangement.

5. A display device as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the pendulum swings substantially in one plane.

6. A display device as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, wherein the actuating means further comprises a drive member and wherein the cooperating gears are arranged in first and second gear systems, the drive member being positioned between the two gear systems to transmit movement from the first gear system to the second; the second gear system being attached to the display arrangement.

7. A display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gears in the first system are arranged such that they rotate in one direction only.

8. A display device as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the drive means is configured such that it transmits movement from the first to the second gear systems only after the first gear system has moved through a pre-determined number of incremental movements caused by the swinging of the pendulum.

9. A display device as claimed in any one of claims 6-8, wherein the drive member is moveable between a first and a second position, and wherein when the drive member moves from the first to the second position, the display arrangement rotates; and when the drive member moves from the second position to the first position the display arrangement is stationary.

10. A display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drive means is biased towards the first position such that after being moved to the second position after a pre-determined number of incremental movements in the first gear system, it immediately returns to the first position until a further pre-determined number of incremental movements in the first gear system cause it to be moved again to the second position.

11. A display device as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, wherein the pendulum comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected members.

12. A display device as claimed in any one of claims 1-11, wherein the pendulum is biased toward the centre of its swinging motion.

13. A display device substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.