US2563329A

US2563329A - Display device

Info

Publication number: US2563329A
Application number: US148783A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fox Eldon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-03-10
Filing date: 1950-03-10
Publication date: 1951-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1968-08-07

Description

Aug. 7, 1951 E. FOX v 2,563,329

' DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 10, 1950 A 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ELDON FOX Patented Aug. 7, 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Eldon Fax, Winchester, Ky.

Application March 10, 1950, Serial N0. 148,783

3 Claims. 1

This inven'tion rela'tes to displa;y devi'c'es and more particularly to a p'ower operated display device for continuously e;ihibiting display objects, such as wallpaper or fabric samples, photographs, diagrams and documents.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a power actuated, continuously oper-ating display device which Will present display objects, one at a time, for Observation and will progressive1y change the Objects in a predeterrnined order which is of light weight and wel1 adapted to be p1aced in -the show windw of a store or similar establishment and will operate without attention, whioh provides no hazard of fire or overheating and is smooth and quiet in operation, in which the display objects may be easily interchanged when desired, and which is simple and durable in construction, eco'nomical to manufacture, and not subject to malfunctioning in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent fr0m a consideration of the f0110Wing description and the appended claims in conjunction With the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a display device illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view on an enl9rged scale of the disp1ay device illustrated in Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is an elevati0nal view of a fragmentary portion of the device looking froin the 1ine 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross seoonal VieW 'on the line '44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the device looking from the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on th'e 1ine '66 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on the line "I'I of Figure 6.

With continued reference 130 the dr-ayvings, the display device illustrated comprises a tubular cer'1ter post I0 received at one end in a hub or boss II extending centrally from one side of a. base flange I2, the arrangement being such that when the base flange is supported on a generally horizontal supporting surface, such as a fioor, the post I0 will extend. vertically upward from the base flange.

A base plate I3, preferably of rectangular shape, is secured on the upper end of the post I0 and is substantially horizontal when the post is substantially vertically supported. An electric motor I4 is mounted on the base plate I3 and carries a1: one end a reduction gear unit I5 from which a drive shaft I 6 projects substantieilly vertically upward.

An ann'lar, preferably circular, track I'I surrounds fhe base platze I'3 substantially coxial w'ith the post I0 and co1nf rises a pair of rings of L-shaped cross section. The outer1ing I8 has a bottom flange extending toward the bottom fl'ange of I3he inner ring I3, and the inner ri'ng has a bottom flange extending toward the bottom flange of the outer fing, the annular portions of the two rings being spaced apart and substantially parallel and the adjacent edg'es of the bottoxn flanges being spaced apart a dist'ahce 1ess than the distance between the annular portions o'f 'the two opposed rings.

The inner ring I9 is suppor'ted fr0m the base plate I3 by four arms, as indicated at 20, '2I, '22 and. 23 which are secured. at their inher ends to the base plate I3 and pr0ject radially of the annular traok to the inn9r track ring I9, the outer ende of these arms or spoke5 being rigidly secured the inner ring by welding or other suitable means. The ou'ter rihg I'3 is Supported from the inner ring I'9 by U-shaped

brackets

24, 25 and 26 each of which has one leg secured to the inner ring and its other leg sec'ured 130 th'e outer fing and its intermediat'e portion arching over the Space betweian the annnlar portions of the inner and o1'1ter rings I9 and I8.

A plurality of rectangul'ar ca1ri'er bl'o'oks 21 are carried in the space between the out'e'r and inner rings I8 and I9 and res't oh the inw'ardly directed bottom fia.nges of these rings for m'ovement around the circular or annular traok I I. A rectangular display card or plate '28 is Slipported from eacbh block 27 by a connecting assembly, generally indica'ted a1, 29 and illustrated in detai1 in Figure 6.

Eaoh of the c0nneoting ass'emblies Comprises a stem 30 extending thr0ugh and secured in an aperture which extends through the corresponding block 2I, the upper end of the pin or stem 30 extending above the upper surface of 'the block for a purpose to be presently drscribed, and the lower end of the Stein or pin extending from the lower surface of the block through the s'pace be- I;ween the bottom fianges of th'e outer and inner rings I8 and I9. The stem 30 is sorew threaded ab 'its lower end and a uni0n nut 31 has a tapped hole therein which receiVes the screw threaded. end of the stem 30 to secure the union -nut on the lower end of ohe stem. An internally screw threaded recess 32 is pr0vided in the lower end of the union nut 3I and a pin 33 is provided a1: one end With a flat, circular head 30 disposed in the recess 32 and bearing at its upper side against the inner surface of the recess. A gland nut 35 is provided with a bore extendingtherethrough and receiving the pin 33 and fhis g'1andnut is threaded into the recess 32 of the union nut 3I to secure the head 34 of the pin in the recess. The pin 33 is rotatable relative to the union nut 31 and the frictional resistance to rotation of the pin 33 relative to the union nut can be varied by adjusting the gland nut 35 relative to the union nut.

Ab its lower end, opposite the head 34, the pin 33 is bifurcated as by having a saw cut provided diametrically therethrough, and the upper edge of the corresponcling display card 28 is received in the slot or saw cut provided in the lower end of the pin 33 and is secured to the pin by suitable means such as the rivets 36 which extend through registering apertures in the bifurcated end portion of the pin and in the portion of the display card 28 received in the slot of the pin. The pin 33 is secured to be display card 28 substantially ab the mid-length location of the top edge of the rectangular display card so that the card is symmetrically suspended from the block 21 by the assembly 29, the display cards being movable around the circular or annular track I1 in a manner 130 be presently described.

A nut or hub 31 is secured on the vertical drive shaft I6 near the upper end of the latter and two

arms

38 and 39 are secured at their inner ends 120 the hub 31 and project radially therefrom across the top 0f the track I1. The

arms

38 and 39 are spaced apart an angular interval somewhat less than 90 .degrees and each of the two arms is provided in two parts pivotally connected together at their adjoining ends, the two parts of the arm 38 being pivotally interconnected by the pivot holt 40 and the two parts of the arm 39 being pivotally interconnected by the pivot holt 4I. These pivotal connections and 4I permit the outer ends of the

arms

38 and 39 to move upwardly and downwardly as the outer ends of these arms are moved around the track I1 by the motor drive shaft I6.

A first arcuately curved cam member 42 is supported on the

brackets

24, 25 and 26 above the track 11 and extends from the bracket 26 past the

brackets

25 and 24 to a location somewhat beyond the bracket 24. This cam member is provided at its end nearest the bracket 24 with an inclined ramp 43 and has its daher end cut ofi substantially at right angles with the upper curner preferably rounded to a slight extent. The bracket 26 .defines a positiou A around the track I1, and the ramp 43 defines a second position B.

A housing or casing extends across the front side of the device. and has a flat Wall provided with a rectangular window opening 45. The flat Wall 0f the casing is disposed substantiall perpendicular to a plane which includes the axis of post I0 and is disposed a short -distance outwardly of the track I1. The window opening 45 is so located that its area is substantially vertically bisected by the plane including the axis of post 10 and disposed perpendicular to the flat Wall of the casing in which the opening 45 is provided. The mid-width location of the window opening 45 constitutes a third position C around the track. A fourth operative position around the track is located substantially midway between the positions C and B and indicated a1; D. The two

arms

38 and 39 rotate in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow on Figure 2.

A short cam member 46 is supported on the t.raok I1 with its mid-length 1ocation at the position C on ehe track and is provided als each end with an inclined ramp, as indicated a1; 41 and 48.

The arm 38 has a length such that its outer end rides on the two

cam members

42 and 46, these cam members occupying portions of a circ1e which is concentric with the axis cf rotation of the drive shaft I6.

Assuming the hub 31 and the two

arms

38 and 39 to be rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow on Figure 2, and the arm 38 to be supported ab its outer end on the cam member 42 intermediate the length cf this cam member, when the arm 38 reaches the end of cam membe 42 at position A it will drop off of the end of the cam member and engage behind the upwardly projecting end of the pin 30 of a display carcl supporting assembly 29 located ab position A. As the drive shaft I6 continues to rotate the arm 38 will sweep the pin 30 with the associated block 21, supporting assembly 29 and display card 28, around the track to position C ab which position the cam member 41 Will raise the outer end of arm 38 releasing the arm from the upper end of pin 30 and leaving the display card at position C in which it is in registry with the window opening 45.

An arcuately curved cam member 49 is disposed within the track I1 and occupies a portion of a circle concentric with ehe axis of rotation of the drive shaft I6. This cam member has one end provided with an inclined ramp 50 positioned between operative positions A and C on the track and has at its other end an inolined ramp 5l located als position D. Arm 39 rides on the top edge of cam member 49 and this cam member holds arm 39 out of contact with the upper ends of pins 30 as long as the arm rides on the cam momber 49. Arm 38 has an upwardly projecting portion which arches over cam member 49 so that this cam member does not interfere with the operation of arm 38.

When the arm 39 rides off 015 ehe cam 49 at the ramp 50 it drops to a position at which it will engage the upper end of a pin 30 at position C. After engaging the pin at position C the arm 39 will move the pin to position D where it will ride up on the ramp 5I of the cam member 49 and leave the pin With the associated block, suspension assembly and display card at position D.

After the arm 39 has ridden up the ramp 5I and. released the assembly ab position D, arm 38, following arm 39, Will pick up the pin ab this location and move it to position B. The extent of the track from position B to position A in a counterclockwise direction is filled with blocks 21 so that when the arm 38 moves a block from position C to position B, the entire group of blocks between position B and position A, will be moved sufiiciently to force another block beyond bracket 26 in a counterolockwise direction where it can be pioked up by arm 38 during the succeeding rotation of the arms.

The cam m6mbers thug control the arms so that the arm 39 will pick up a block and associated elements ab position C and move this block position D. During the Same rotation arm 38 will pick up a block and its associated elements at position A and move such block to position C, leaving it at position C and then picking up the first block at position D and moving it to position B where it contacts the adjacent end of the group of blocks between positions B and A, Iorcing another block to position A to be picked up by arm 38 during the subsequent rotation.

An arcuately curved guide member 52 is disposed within the flat wall of the casing 44 at the top of the WindW opening 55 and is mounted 011 the casing by suitable means such as the struts or iianges 53 and 5G. This guide memb8r coutacts the edges 01 a display card as the card is brought to position C anc1 bringe the card to a position at whioh it is substantiaily parallel t0 the flat wall of c2ising i and in registry with the window opening 5.

The arms Will thus bring the display oards, one at a time, into registry with the window opening, leave each card for a predetermined interval in registry with the window opening, and will then subsequently move the card away from the Window opening anal bring a subsequent card to the window op-ening, the cards being moved to the window opening in a predetermined order.

In order to change the dispiay objeots it is mecessary only to remove the gland nuts 35 from the union nut5 31 and substitute new assernblies inoluding display cards, headed pins ana gland nuts for those removed.

In order to dampen objectionable swinging or vibration of the cards when in position at the window opening, a streng permanent magnet 55, mounted in a sleeve 56, 1's secured to the outer end of a support arm SE the inner end of which is secured to the base flange 12 with the support arm extending radiaily outward irom the base flange. The magnet 55 is positionad directiy below position C on the track: and a stern er armature 58 of magnetio materiai is secured to each display card 28 at the bottom edge of the carcl anal depends from the card to a location closely adjacent to the upper end of the magnet. The magnetic attraction between the magnet 55 and the armatures 58 provideg a damping or stabilizing force which eliminates vibration and other undesirable movements of the display card.s Whi1e at the window opening.

The display cards are rectangular pieces of sheet material, preierably 01" an inexpensive character such as .fibre board, and may be treated as dispensabie elements if it is found to be more ex pensive to remove the display material from them than to provide new cards for new materiai. The display material may be mo-unted an one or both sides oi the carrying car:is or piates anti, as explained above, may be of any suitable character, such as wailpaper or iabric samp1es, photographs, et cetera.

As the power requirement-s of. the device are extremeiy sma11, the electric motor IG may be a fractional horsepower motor which operates 011 a negligibie amount of electrical energy and does not generate any important quantity of heat.

The display deviee may be provided with suitab1e illuminating apparatus, suitable lampg being preferably disposed Within the casing 4%:2 and at the opposite sides of the window opening 45 to illuminate the display objects while at the win- (W opening.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forrns without departing from the sDirit or essential characteristics thereoi". The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and. not restrictive, the soope of the invention being indicated by the appended o1aims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range of equivalency cf the claims are, therefore, intendeoi to be embraced therein.

What is claimed ist 1. A display device comprising a post adapted to sei; in substantially vertical position on a horizontal supporting surface, a suostantially horizontally disposed base platze secured oh the upper end of said post, a motor mounted on said base platze and having a substantially vertical drive shaft, an annular track surrounding said base plate anc1 supported from said post, a piurality of display Obj0ts suspended from said track and movable therearound, a housing spaced from said post and having a display window opening therein, curVed cam members extending along said track, anti two arms secured to and extending gutwardly irom said motor shaft to ride an said cam members, one of said arms being controlled by said eam members to move the display objects away from said display window opening to a first predeterminecl position aiong said track, anal the other of said arms being COIlti'0ll6d by said cam mernbers to move the display objeots irom saic1 first position to a second pssition 011 said track and from a third position 011 said track to a position in which they register with said window opemng.

2. A display device comprising a support, an annular track mounted 011 said support, a plurality of display plates, means suspending each of said piates from said track for rotational movements about the longitudinal center lines of the plates, a motor carried by said support, arms driven around said track by said motor, cam members mounted adjacent said track and controlling said arms to move said plates, one at a time, from a first position to a, second position along said track and from said second position to a third position anal subsequently to a fourth position with an interval of no movement at said second position, 'means providing a display opening below said track at said second position, and a curved guide supported adjacent said track and above said display opening to engage said p1ates and bring them into alignment with said display opening.

3. A display device comprising a, support, an annular traek mounted on said support, a plurality of display plates, means suspending each of said plates from said track for rotational movements about the longitudinal center lines of the plates, a motor carried by said support, arms driven around said track by said motor, cam members mountecl adjacent said track and eontrolling said. arms to move said plates, one at a time, from a first position t0 a second position along said track and from said second position to a third position and subsequently to a fourth position with an interval cf no movement at said second position, and magnetic means carried. by said support and each of said display plates and operative at a location in vertical aiignment with said second position to restrain said plates against movement while at said second position.

ELDON F'OX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 503129 Elliott Aug. 15, 1893 938,895 Richards Nov. 2, 1909 14013'79 Van Vechten Dec. 27. 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 96098 Sweden June 2'7 1939