US3022594A - Display device - Google Patents

Description

F b, 27, 1962 P. F. WENDELL 3,022,594

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PHILIP 1 WENDELL ATTORNEY,

Feb. 27, 1962 P. F. WENDELL 5 25 DISPLAY DEVICE Filed 001;. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Pl-UMP F. WENDELL 4 TT'O RN EY.

nited States atent 3,022,594 DISPLAY DEVICE Philip F. Wendell, Acorn Studios, 251 N. Colon Road, Burr Oak, Mich. Filed Oct. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 766,013 9 Claims. (Ci. 40-319) This invention relates to improvement in display devices. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an animated display device adapted for coaction with a cash register so that the opening of the cash drawer of the register causes the display or advertisement to have moving parts placed in motion to attract the attention of observers.

Second, to provide an animated display device which is inexpensive and which requires no power or drive means other than the movement of the cash drawer of the cash register with which it is associated.

Third, to provide an animated display device having a pendant weight connected to actuate the moving animating part of the device for prolonged movement and having actuating mechanism connectable to the cash drawer of the cash register for initiating motion of the pendant weight.

Fourth, to provide an animated display device which includes a support and a movable display element with a fixed display element relatively connected to the support so that various forms of fixed displays can be interchanged on the support for varying the visual efiect or" the display.

Fifth, to provide an animated display device for coaction with a cash register which is inexpensive and foldable into a relatively thin fiat package for ease in shipment yet which is easily erected and connected for operation without special skill or tools.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of the display actuating structure and two variau'ons of the visible portion of the display.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cash regIster mounted on the supporting and movable portions of the display device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the supporting and actuating element of the display device with parts broken away to illustrate details of construction.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the base and actuating parts of the display device with parts broken away to illustrate the interior arrangement thereof.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the supporting upright and visible portions of the display device.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the visible part of one form of the display device as viewed by the observer.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the visible part of a modified form of the display device as viewed by the observer.

The general structure and theory of operation of th display device is shown in FIG. 1 in which a cash register 1 is supported upon a base 2 and in turn holds the base in position. An upright 3 secured to the back of the base projects upwardly along the rear side of the cash register and swingably supports an animating lever or pendulum 4. The animating lever 4 carries or is connected to a movable part and visible element of the display device such as the visible panel 5. The visible panel may take various forms and include various visible elements such as the spots 6 which form the eyes of a fixed display as will be described. The base 2 carries and engages an actuating mechanism to be described so that opening motion of the cash drawer 7 of the cash register actuates the animating lever 4.

As appears more clearly in FIG. 2 the base 2 consists of a flat panel which is conveniently made up of three layers or plys S, 9 and 10. The top ply 8 is broken away in the view to illustrate that the middle ply 9 is cut away to form the recess 91 at the back of the base. Swingably mounted within the recess 91 is the angle shaped actuating or drive member 11 pivotally mounted on a pin 12. The actuating member has a driving hammer end 13 and a driven trigger end 14. The hammer end 13 is swingable rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the base but is normally biased forwardly into the recess 91 by a tension device such as the spring 15.

The upright 3 is also conveniently formed as a three ply panel having a center ply 16 and outer plies 17. The center ply 16 is cut away within the upright to form a recess or chamber 171 within which the lower end of the animating lever 4 swings. A pendant weight 18 is secured to the lever 4 within the upright to sustain motion of the animating lever. The upper edges of the outer plies 17 are notched as at 19 to form pivot bearings for the pivot pin 29 that swingably supports the animating lever 4 on the upright. The lower end 21 of the animating ever projects into the path of movement of the hammer end 13 of the actuating lever. For ease in shipment and erection of the display device the upright 3 i desirably hingedly connected to the rear edge of the base 2 as by the hinges 22.

In order to actuate the actuating lever 11 the center ply 9 of the base 2 is further cut away longitudinally to form the channel or opening 23 extending from the recess 91 to the forward edge of the base. The channel houses a pull rod 24 that is longitudinally adjustably connected at its rear end to the angle shaped actuating pawl or drive member 25 positioned fiatwise in the reces 91. The actuating pawl 25 has a nose portion 26 that is engageable with the trigger end 14 of the actuating lever. The left edge of the recess 91 is transversely cammed or curved as at 27 to move the pawl 25 and its nose 26 laterally to behind the trigger end 14 as the pawl is moved rearwardly by the pull rod 24. The forward end of the pull rod 24 is turned upwardly and secured to a connecting plate 28 which constitutes an attaching element adapted to be seoured to the front face of the cash drawer as by an adhesive coating 29 on the plate.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated.

that when the cash register 1 is supported upon the base 2 and the plate 23 is connected to tie cash drawer 7,,

forward or opening motion of the cash drawer will pull the actuating pawl forward in the recess 91 the nose will in turn engage the trigger end 14 and swing the actuating lever 11 against the tension of spring 15 until the hammer end 13 engages and displaces the lower end 21 of the animating lever from its vertical position. In the fully open position of the cash drawer the nose 26 will slip by the trigger end 14 permitting the spring 15 to pull the hammer end 13 into the recess and the pendant weight 18 on the animating lever will then cause the lever to oscillate for a considerable period of time.

The swinging animating lever 4 may actuate various forms and styles of visible display, devices. 3 is provided with notches 3% on each side which form upwardly facing support surfaces adapted to be engageable with and support the cross pins 31 that connect the outer panel 32 and inner panel 33 of a fixed display device. One or both of the panels 32 and 33 project upwardly along the side of the upper end of the animating lever 4 in overlapping relation to the movable visible display panel 5 which may also be designated as an animating piece.

FIG. 5 show one possible form of display arrangement The upright aoaassa tioned behind the head with openings 35 so that the spots 6 represent the eyes of the owl. and 'move from side to side asthe animating lever 4 moves.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further variation of the visible portion of the display device in which the outer panel 328 is shaped and pictured to represent the human figure of a grocer boy 36 having an upright arm 37 pivoted at 33. The animating lever 4 projects upwardly behind the panel 323 and is connected by the connecting rod 32 to the arm 37 so that actuation of the animating lever causes the grocer boys arm to swing in salute to the observer.

The same basic base 2, upright 3 and the animating lever 4 can be adapted to support and actuate a wide variety of visible display panels by simply lifting one set of panels from the supporting notches 3t} and sub stitutinganother and making any necessary connections to the animating lever 4.

What is claimed as new is:

'l. A display device comprising a base adapted to rest on a counter and support a cash register thereon, an upright hingedly connected to the rear edge of said base to project upwardly behind a cash register on said base, a

pivot bearing at the top of said upright, notches in the sides of said upright forming upwardly facing support seats on each edge of the upright below said pivot hearing; a pendulum swingably supported in said bearing and projecting thereabove and therebelow into a recess provided therefor in said upright, the lower end of said pendulum being swingable along the rear edge of said base, a fixed display element having front and rear' panels removably supported in front and in back of said up.- ri'ght by' cross pins connecting the panels, and'engaged on said support sea-ts and projecting upwardly alongside the pendulum above said pivot bearing, a movable display element on the swinging upper end of'said pendulum coac'ting' visually with said fixed display element, a cutout portion in the rear of said base forming a recess, an actuating member horizontally swingably mounted in said recess and having a hammer end engageable with the" lower end of said pendulum, a spring connected between said base and said actuating member and biasing said hammer end forwardly out of the path of said' pendulum, a trigger end on said actuating member; an

actuating pawl reciprocably mounted'insaid recess in said base and engageable with said trigger end on advancing motion of the pawl, said base having an opening eitending from said recess in said base to the front of said base, a pull rod longitudinally adjustably connected to said actuating pawl and projecting forwardly through said opening, and an upwardlyte'xtending attaching element on the forward end of said rod adapted to be secured to the front of the cash drawer of a cash register mounted on said base, the edge of said recess in said base having a cam surface guiding said actuating pawl laterally behind said trigger end on retracting motion of the actuating pawl.

'2. A display device comprising a base adapted to rest a on a counter and support a cash register thereon, an upright connected to the rear of said base to project upwardly behind a cash register on said base, a pivot bearing at the top of said upright,- notches in the sides of said ,upright forming upwardly facing support seats on each edge of the upright, a pendulum swingably supported in said bearing and projecting tthereabove and therebelow into a recess provided therefor in said upright, the lower end of said pendulum being swingable along the rear edge of said base, a fixed display element having front and rear panels removably supported in front and in back of said upright and engaged on said support seats and projecting upwardly alongside the pendulum above said pivot bearing, a movable display element on the swinging upper end of said pendulum coasting visually with said fixed display element, a cut-out portion inth'e rear of said base forming a recess, an actuating member horizontally swing ably mounted in said'recess and having a hammer end engageable. with the lower end of said pendulum, a

opening extending from said recess in said base to the front of said base, a pull rod longitudinally adjustably connected to said actuating pawl and projecting forwardly through said opening, and an upwardly extending attaching element on the forward cnd'of said rod adapted to be secured to the front of the cash drawer of a cash register mounted on said base. 7

3. A display device comprising a base adapted to rest on a counter and support a cash register thereon, an upright hingedly connected to the rear edgeof said base to project upwardly behind a cash register on said base, 'a pivot bearing at the top of said upright, upwardly facing support seats on the upright below said pivot bearing, a pendulum swingably supported in said bearing and projecting thereabove and therebelow into a recess provided therefor in said'upright, the lower end of said pendulum being swingable along the rear edge of said base, a fixed display element having a panel removably supported on said upright and engaged on said support seats and projecting upwardly alongside the pendulum above said pivot bearing, a movable display element on the swinging upper end of said pendulum coacting visually with said fixed display element, the rear of saidbas e having "a recess, an actuating member horizontally 'swingably mounted in said recess and having a hammer end engageab-le with the lower end of said'pendulum, a spring connected between said base and said actuating member and biasing said hammer end forwardly out of the path of said pendulum, a trigger end on said actuating member, an actuating pawl reciprocably mounted in said recess in said base and engageable with said trigger end on advancing motion of the pawl, said base having an opening extending from said recess in said base to the front of said base, a pull rod longitudinally adjus'tably connected to said'ac-tuating pawl and projecting forwardly through said opening, and an upwardly extending attaching element on the forward end of said r'od adapted to be secured to the cash drawer of a cash register mounted on said base, the edge of said recess in said base defining a cam surface guiding said actuating pawl laterally behind said trigger end on retracting motion of the actuating pawl.

4. A display device comprising a base adapted to rest on a counter and support a cash register thereon, an upright hingedly connected to the rear edge of said base to project upwardly behind a cash-registeron said base, a pivot hearing atthe top {of said upright, upwardly facing support seats on the upright, a pendulum swingably supported in said bearing and projecting thereabove and therebelow int'oa recess provided therefor in said upright, the lower end of said pendulum being swingable along the rear edge of said base, a fixeddisplay element having a panel removably supported on said upright, and engaged on said support seats and projecting upwardly alongside the pendulum above said pivot bearing, a movable display element on the swinging upper end of said pendulum coacting visually with said fixed display element, the rear of said base having a recess, an actuating member movably mounted in said recess in said base and having a hammer end engagea'ble with the lower end of said penhaving an open ng extending from said recess in said base to the front of said base, a pull rod connected to said actuating pawl and projecting forwardly through said opening, and an upwardly extending attaching element on the forward end of said rod adapted to be secured to the cash drawer of a cash register mounted on said base.

5. A display device comprising a base adapted to rest on a counter and support a cash register thereon, an upright connected to the rear of said base to project upwardly behind a cash register on said base, a pivot bearing in the upper portion of said upright, a pendulum swingably supported in said bearing and projecting thereabove and therebelow, the lower end of said pendulum being swingable along the rear edge of said base, a fixed display element having a panel removably supported on said upright and projecting upwardly alongside the pendulum above said pivot bearing, a movable display element on said fixed display element and connected to the swinging upper end of said pendulum coacting visually with said fixed display element, a recess in said base, an actuating member movably mounted in said recess in said base and having a hammer end engageable with the lower end of said pendulum, spring means connected between said base and said actuating member and biasing said hammer end out of the path of said pendulum, 'a trigger on said actuating member, an actuating pawl reciprocably mounted in said recess in said base and engageable with said trigger on advancing motion of the pawl, said base having an opening extending from said recess in said base to the front of said base, a pull rod connected to said actuating pawl and projecting forwardly through said opening, and an attaching element on the forward end of said rod adapted to be secured to the cash drawer of a cash register mounted on said base.

6. A display device comprising a base adapted to rest on a counter and support a cash register thereon, an upright connected to the rear of said base to project upwardly behind a cash register on said base, a pivot bearing in the upper portion of said upright, a pendulum swingably supported in said bearing and projecting thereabove and therebelow, the lower end of said pendulum being swingable along the rear edge of said base, a fixed display element having a panel removably supported in overlapping relation of said upright and projecting upwardly alongside the pendulum above said pivot bearing, a movable display element connected to the swinging upper end of said pendulum and coacting visually with said fixed display element, the rear of said base having a recess, an actuating member movably mounted in said recess and having a hammer end engageable with the lower end of said pendulum, spring means connected between said base and said actuating member and biasing said hammer end out of the path of said pendulum, a trigger on said actuating member, an actuating pawl reciprocably mounted in said recess and engageable with said trigger on motion of the pawl, said base having an opening extending from said recess to the front of said base, a pull rod longitudinally adjustably connected to said actuating pawl and projecting forwardly through said opening, and an attaching element on the forward end of said rod adapted to be secured to the cash drawer of a cash register mounted on said base.

7. A display device comprising a base adapted to rest on a counter and support a cash register thereon, an upright connected to the rear of said base to project upwardly behind a cash register on said base, a pivot heating in the upper portion of said upright, a pendulum swingably supported in said bearing and projecting thereabove and therebelow, the lower end of said pendulum being swingable along the rear edge of said base, a fixed display element having a panel'supported in Overlapping relation of said upright and projecting upwardly alongside the pendulum, a movable display element connected to the swinging end or said pendulum and coacting visually with said fixed display element, the rear of said base having a recess, an actuating member movably mounted in said recess and having a hammer end engageable with the lower end of said pendulum, spring means connected between said base and said actuating member and biasing said hammer end out of the path of said pendulum, a trigger on said actuating member, an actuating pawl reciprocably mounted in said recess and engageable with said trigger on motion of the pawl, said base having an opening extending from said recess to the front of said base, a pull rod longitudinally adjustably connected to said actuating pawl and projecting forwardly through said opening, and an attaching element on the forward end of said rod adapted to be secured to the cash drawer of a cash register mounted on said base.

8. An animated display device for coaction with a cash register comprising a base on which the register may rest, an upright on the rear of said base, an animating lever pivotally supported on said upright and extending to adjacent the rear edge of said base, a fixed display panel removably mounted on said upright, a movable display part mounted for visible animating coaction with said fixed panel and connected to said lever and moved thereby, a pendant weight connected to said lever to sustain motion of the lever, an actuating member movably mounted on said base and engageable with said animating lever to drive said lever, means biasing said actuating member out of the path of movement of said lever, and a drive member supported by said base and connectable to the cash drawer of a register supported on the base for movement by the drawer, said drive member having a one way driving engagement with said actuating member to move the actuating member against the action of said biasing means.

9. An animated display device for coaction with a cash register comprising a base on which the register may test, an upright on the rear of said base, an-animating lever pivotally supported on said upright and extending to adjacent the rear edge of said base, a fixed display panel mounted on said upright, a movable display part mounted for visible animating coaction with said fixed panel and connected to said lever and moved thereby, an actuating member movably mounted on said base and engagea'ole with said animating lever to drive said lever, means biasing said actuating member out of the path of movement of said lever, and a drive member supported by said base and connectable to the cash drawer of a register supported on the base for movement by the drawer, said drive member having a one way driving engagement with said actuating member to move the actuating member against the action of said biasing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 509,658 Gibbs Nov. 28, 1893 615,023 Holt Nov. 29, 1898 1,082,608 Peterson Dec. 30, 1913 1,363,121 Jones Dec. 21, 1920 1,430,093 Mathews Sept. 26, 1922 1,838,774 Long Dec. 29, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 907,249 France June 18, 1945

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