GB2363891A

GB2363891A - Cable supported display apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2363891A
Application number: GB0008415A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey David Fairfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-05
Filing date: 2000-04-05
Publication date: 2002-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-05
Also published as: GB0008415D0; GB2363891B

Abstract

A display device for use with cable display apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically extending and electrically energized cables. The device comprises a substantially rectangular casing 13, an electronically energized screen 25 forming substantially one face of the casing. Electronic storage means 27 store information, and control means 28 display the stored information on the display screen. There is at least one electrically conductive support element on each side of the casing and insulated therefrom for attachment to the cables, and power supply means 26 connected to the support elements for energizing the screen, the storage means, and the control means.

Description

2363891 The present invention relates to display apparatus, and more

specifically to such apparatus incorporating information display means.

Display apparatus generally is apparatus which supports display material, such as merchandise and descriptive placards, in an attractive way It is often desirable or essential for such apparatus to be free-standing and unobtrusive - that is, not supported by a wall or panel One known form of such apparatus is the cable or rod system, in which a plurality of thin rkeel cables or rods extend vertically, with shelves and/or display panels attached to them The cables may be mounted on a free-standing frame or may be attached to the struc- ture of the building, eg wall-mounted, between floor and ceiling, or between floor or ceiling and a wall The shelves and panels themselves are generally of glass or clear plastic (For brevity, the term "cable" alone will be used, but it will be understood that rods are included within the scope of this term) Various forms and aspects of such display apparatus are described in my earlier patent applica- tions nos 2 208 425 A, 2 246 069 A, 2 262 765 A, 2 287 307 A, 2 314 962 A,

and GB 99 26082 0.

It is well known for such display apparatus to incorporate lighting elements.

For this purpose, a low voltage is normally used for safety reasons The normal mains voltage is transformed down to, typically, 12 V and applied between adjacent cables, and 12 V lighting elements are connected between the cables.

It has also been proposed to include a TV set or the like as an item of the display material A typical arrangement would be to support the TV set on a rectangular horizontal shelf attached at its corners to four cables, and to energize the TV set from the cables via a transformer which is connected to two of the cables and transforms the 12 V back up to the mains voltage Such a TV set may be used to display ordinary broadcast programmes, but is more likely to be used to display closed circuit TV signals.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a more effective way of displaying information in cable display apparatus.

According to the invention there is pruvided, in cable display appardltus comprising a plurality of vertically extending and electrically energized cables, a display device comprising a substantially rectangular casing, an electronically energized screen forming substantially one face of the casing, electronic storage means for storing information, control means for displaying the stored informa- tion on the display screen, at least one electrically conductive support element on each side of the casing and insulated therefrom for attachment to the cables, and power supply means connected to the support elements for energizing the screen, the storage means, and the control means.

Cable display apparatus including a display screen embodying the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, which is a general view of a cable display apparatus with the dis- play device.

The drawing is a general view of a cable display apparatus, with two verti- cal cables 10 and 11 Each cable is stretched between a floor fixing and a simi- lar ceiling fixing (not shown) There may be further such cables (not shown) extending in a linear or rectangular array, and various display shelves, panels, lighting units, and the like may be attached to the cables.

The cables are energized with an AC supply voltage, obtained from a mains transformer (not shown) A voltage of 12 V is convenient, being low enough to be safe but high enough to energize lighting units which may be attached to the cable display apparatus without excessive resistance loss in the cables and other connections (though other voltages, eg 24 V, may be used if desired) The system is preferably fused for relatively low power, less than 100 W, particularly if flexible cables rather than rigid rods are used This is because if higher power is allowed, the system cannot discriminate reliably against a short circuit between points at the other ends of two cables from the ends to which the power is connected If the lighting units are substantially closer to one end of the cables, it is also desirable, all other things being equal, to feed the cables at that end.

A display device 12 is attached to and suspended between the two cables 10 and 11 The device 12 comprises a generally rectangular casing 13 of insula- ting material, of a depth which is relatively shallow but sufficient to accommodate the electronic circuitry discussed below The casing has attached to it four support elements 14-17 of generally cylindrical shape, two on each side as shown.

Support element 14 comprises a stub 20 with a threaded portion (not visible) extending from it, and a cap 21 which screws onto that threaded portion The threaded portion of stub 20 has a vertical slot in it extending to its outer end so that the cable 10 can be placed in the slot; screwing on the cap 21 then grips the cable and so attaches the support element firmly to the cable The other support elements 15-17 are similar.

The display device has inset into its face a display screen 25, and includes within it a power supply unit 26, a control unit 27, and a storage unit 28 The power supply unit 26 is connected to two of the support elements, one on each side of the device, eg support elements 15 and 17; it receives the 12 V AC power from the two cables 10 and 11 and rectifies, regulates, and if necessary trans- forms it up to suitable voltages for the other units and the display screen.

The storage device 29 stores data, and is preferably connected to a data entry device such as a jack point 29 The control unit 27 reads the data stored in device 28 and drives the screen 25 to display the data.

The display screen 25 may be of any convenient type, such as LCD, LED, or,

either monochrome or coloured The storage unit 28 may be a semiconductor storage unit or may be a disc storage unit The data entry device is shown as a jack point, but may be an infra-red or ultrasonic device, or may be a key-pad; alternatively, it may comprise means for detecting data suitably modulated onto the cables 10 and 11 If the storage device uses a floppy disc, then data entry may be effected by changing the disc he control unit 27 may simply display the data in a static manner, or it may be programmed to generate a moving or chang- ing display.

Claims

Claims s 1 In cable display apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically

extending and electrically energized cables, a display device comprising a substantially rectangular casing, an electronically energized screen forming substantially one face of the casing, electronic storage means for storing information, control means for displaying the stored information on the display screen, at least one electrically lo conductive support element on each side of the casing and insulated therefrom for attachment to the cables, and power supply means connected to the support elements for energizing the screen, the storage means, and the control means.
2 In cable display apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically extending and electrically energized cables, a display device substantially as herein described.
3 Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article 411 of the International Convention (Paris Convention).