US3221666A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, 1965 s. M. WENGEL DISPLAY APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 INVENTOR.

SHELDON M. WENGEL Dec. 7, 1965 s. M. WENGEL DISPLAY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 INVENTOR.

SHELDON M. WENGEL ATTYS.

Dec. 7, 1965 DI SP-LAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1'7, 1964 5 Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTOR.

SHELDON M. WENGEL BY g K/ A ML ATTYS.

s. M. WENGEL 3,221,666 v United States Patent 3,221,666 DISPLAY APPARATUS Sheldon M. Wengel, Reedsburg, Wis., assignor to Hankscraft Company, Reedsburg, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Feb. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,140 2 Claims. (Cl. 1041'73) This invention relates to apparatus for a moving display, and particularly, to display apparatus which is well adapted for use in stores, service establishments, exhibitions, and other places where mobile displays are used to attract attention.

Various mobile displays are frequently used for displaying pictorial and descriptive matter, merchandise or models thereof, and other materials. An important object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for a display which moves back and forth.

Another object is to provide apparatus which functions reliably in continuous operation and yet is very simple.

A further object is to provide apparatus having operating parts of low visibility or which are readily obscured from view so as not to distract from the display.

An additional object is to provide apparatus which is versatile and adaptable to various display requirements.

Another object is to provide display apparatus which is simple and economical in construction, assembly, and operation.

These and other objects, advantages and functions of the invention will be apparent on reference to the specification and to the attached drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in which like parts are identified by like reference symbols in each of the views, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the new display apparatus mounted on a pair of standards;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of another embodiment of the display carriage in the new display apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational and sectional view with parts broken away, of one end of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional and elevational view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1, illustrating the manner of mounting the display carriage; and

FIG. 7 is a similar view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken on line 77 thereof, and also illustrating the connections to the drive unit for the carriage.

The new display apparatus includes a track extending between spaced-apart locations, a display unit movable on the track, driven conveyor means extending between the said locations, and means connecting the display unit to the conveyor means for moving the display unit on the track between the locations.

Referring to the drawings, the new display apparatus is generally indicated by the number 10 in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The apparatus is illustrated as being mounted on a pair of standards or posts 12 and 14, illustrated in phantom. As will become apparent, the apparatus is adaptable to mounting in diverse positions on various supporting structures to fit the requirements of the situation.

The display apparatus 10 includes two generally parallel horizontal frame units 16 and 18 which are mounted at spaced apart locations on vertical standards such as the posts 12 and 14. The respective frame units include horizontal support arms 20 and 22 in the form of angle bars, each of which has a row of spaced-apart perforations or holes 24 on one side thereof and a like row of perforations 26 on the other side thereof in alignment with the former perforations. The perforations provide means for adjusting the horizontal positions of the arms and of the parts attached thereto.

A pair of perforated brackets 28, 28 is secured to the upright side of each support 20 and 22 by suitable means, such as by bolts or rivets 29 extending through the perforations thereof and through the perforations 26 of the support arms. The brackets are clamped together around the posts 12 and 14 by means of bolts 30 extending through end perforations in the brackets, to support the display apparatus. If desired, additional fastening means may be inserted through other perforations in the brackets 28 and into engagement with the posts 12 and 14 or with fastening means thereon. The frame units 16 and 18 and thereby the display apparatus 10 thus may be mounted at any suitable elevation on the posts, and their positions are vertically adjustable.

Connecting bars 32 and 34 are mounted at one end of each of the support arms 20 and 22, by suitable means such as bolts 33 extending through the perforations 24 on the horizontal sides of the support arms and through registering openings in the connecting bars. The connecting bars include respective flanges 36 and 38 which extend upwardly at right angles on the outer ends of the bars. Pulley mounts 40 and 42 are mounted on the support arms 20 and 22. The pulley mounts include respective bars 44 and 46 secured to the connecting bar flanges 36 and 38 by suitable means, such as bolts or screws. The pulley mount bars extend horizontally from the flanges towards each other. The pulley mounts include respective idler pulley brackets 48 and 50 mounted on the inner ends of the bar 44 and 46, and the brackets extend laterally from the bars.

A drive unit for the display apparatus is carried by the pulley mounts 40 and 42. The drive unit includes a drive pulley 52 mounted in fixed position on one mounting bar 44, and an idler pulley 54 adjustably mounted in a horizontal slot 56 in the other mounting bar 46. As seen in FIG. 3, the idler pulley is mounted on a screw 58 which extends through a tubular spacer 60 and then through the slot 56, and engages a wing nut 62 on the opposite side of the bar for securing the pulley in its adjusted position. Small idler pulleys 64 and 66 are mounted on the respective idler pulley brackets 48 and 50, in vertically offset positions with respect to the large drive and idler pulleys 52 and 54 and on the inner side thereof.

The drive unit includes a small motor 68 having a shaft 70 (FIG. 3) which extends through the mounting bar 44 and drivingly engages and supports the drive pulley 52. An electrical cord 72 extends through an appropriate opening in the mounting bar 44 and may be connected to a source of electrical power, not shown. The drive unit is completed by an endless conveyor line 74 which is trained on the drive pulley 52 and the large idler pulley 54. As seen in FIG. 4, the conveyor line is trained under the small idler pulleys and 66 which depress the line thereat, and thereby serve to hold the line on the large pulleys. This construction resists the tendency for the conveyor line to be pulled off the large pulleys by the connecting line to the display apparatus, subsequently described. It is preferred to employ a very fine line having low visibility and sufiicient strength as the conveyor line 74, such for example as a fish line. After the ends of the line are joined together in a suitable manner and trained on the pulleys as described to provide an endless conveyor, the line is tightened by adjusting the position of the large idler pulley 54.

The display apparatus 10 includes a display unit mounted on the support arms 20 and 22 for movement or travel of a display therebetween, back and forth and parallel to the conveyor line 74. The display unit includes a track 76 in the form of a narrow or small diameter cable 76, which may be constructed of steel wire or the like. One end of the cable extends through one of the perforations 26 in the support arm 20 and is secured to the arm. The opposite end of the cable is secured to a tension adjusting bracket 78, as shown most clearly in FIG. 5. The bracket is in turn secured to an adjusting screw 80, which extends through one of the openings 26 in the support arm 22 and is engaged by a wing nut 82 on the opposite side of the arm. The tension on the cable may be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw and nut. The cable thus extends horizontally in parallel to and slightly below the conveyor line 74, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cable and the conveyor line are spaced apart, and the spacing may be adjusted by securing the cable in other perforations 26 of the support arms. Alternatively, the positions of the connecting bars 32 and 34 on the respective arms 20 and 22 may be changed by using other perforations 24 on the arms for mounting the connecting bars.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a display carriage 84 is supported by the cable 76 for back and forth movement thereon. The carriage includes a pair of spaced apart grooved wheels 86 which travel on the cable. The wheels are mounted by screws or bolts 88 on a crossbar 90 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The crossbar is provided with a row of perforations 92, and the bolts 88 extend through the terminal perforations in the row. The carriage includes a display holder 94 in the form of a bar having a row of perforations 96 therein. The bar is mounted in upright position by a screw and wing nut connection 98 at one of the crossbar perforations 92. In this manner, the holder bar is vertically adjustable on the carriage, and it also may be adjusted horizontally by employing other crossbar openings 92. Any suitable display may be mounted on the holder bar 94, such as a card or board 100 illustrated in phantom. Fastening means may be extended through the perforations 96 to connect the display to the holder, and the display may be shifted vertically on the holder by engaging the fastening means in different perforations 96.

The display carriage 84 thus is suspended from the cable 76 by the wheels 86 thereon. The weight of the display 100, with additional weighting if desired, provides a stable suspension. As seen best in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, slotted keepers 102 insure that the wheels 86 will remain on the cable 76. The keepers are mounted on the crossbar 90 by means of the wheel mounting bolts 88 extending through the slots of the keepers. Upper inturned flanges 104 (FIG. 6) lie on the upper edge of the crossbar 90 and hold the keepers in position. Lower inturned flanges 106 extend under the wheels across the grooves thereof, to prevent the cable 76 from leaving the grooves.

The embodiment of the display carriage 84 shown in FIG. 1 is preferred for its stability. A simpler form of display carriage 108 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. It includes a single grooved wheel 110 which travels on the cable 76. A display holder bar 112 is connected to the wheel. The bar is provided with a row of perforations 114, and the wheel is connected to the bar by a screw 116 extending through the upper perforation. A keeper 118 is mounted on the bar below the wheel, by means of screws 120 mounted in lower perforations 114. The keeper includes an inturned flange 122 which extends beneath the wheel 110 and retains the cable 76 in the same manner as in the preceding form of keeper 102. The holder bar 112 is vertically adjustable relative to the wheel 110 and the keeper 118, by varying the perforations 114 which are used for mounting the screws 116 and 120.

Each of the display carriages 84 and 108 is connected to the conveyor line 74 and movable therewith for moving the carriage back and forth between the frame units 16 and 18. As seen most clearly in FIG. 7, two slightly spaced beads 124 are secured in position on the conveyor line 74 for making the connection. The beads are engaged by a connector or tow line 126 which extends between the conveyor line 74 and the carriage. A small hook 128 is secured on one end of the connector, and it is hooked onto the conveyor line 74 between the beads 124. The connector also includes a fine line 130 such as a fish line or leader, and one or more swivel joints 132. The end of the connector opposite to the hook is joined to the carriage in any suitable manner. In the embodiment of the carriage 108 illustrated in FIG. 7, the end is connected to the wheel mounting screw 116. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the end is connected to a cotter pin 134 mounted in one of the crossbar perforations 92 (see also FIG. 4).

The display carriages 84 and 108 may be driven back and forth continuously by a unidirectional drive motor 68. As the conveyor line 74 is driven by the pulleys in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, the connector 126 moves therewith and pulls or tows the display carriage in the direction of movement of the beads 124. When the beads reach the large idler pulley 54, they and the connector hook 128 travel therearound and proceed in the opposite direction. Due to the construction, the vertical mounting of the pulleys, and the extension of the connector 126 angularly with respect to the plane of the conveyor line 74, the connector travels around the pulleys and changes direction of movement without interference. The swivel joints 132 in the connectors prevent twisting of the connector line 130. In this manner, the display carriage 84 or 108 is moved to a position adjacent the frame unit 18 and then is returned to a position adjacent the frame unit 16. The directions once more are reversed as the beads 124 and the connector 126 travel around the drive pulley 52, and the display carriage is again moved in the reverse direction. The display continues to travel back and forth so long as the drive motor 68 is energized.

The display apparatus 10 is well adapted for mounting in a desirable location without detracting from the appearance of the display. The frame units 16 and 18 may be mounted as widely spaced as desired, and they may be adjusted vertically and horizontally. They can be mounted on various standards, frames, walls or other supports, and they are readily concealed. The fine line construction of the conveyor 74 and the connector 126 renders them scarely visible from a distance. The visibility of the cable 76 supporting the display also may be very low. The effect may be created of a display moving back and forth with little or no visible support, and where visible, only the cable 76 is apparent. The visibility of the apparatus may be reduced further if desired by employing a valance extending across the assembly above the display.

The invention thus provides display apparatus which is adaptable, versatile, and well suited for many display purposes. The apparatus is simple and economical while being capable of long continued reliable operation. It is readily assembled, moved about, and dismantled. The apparatus occupies relatively little space when assembled, and very little space for storage.

It will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for continuously moving a visual display device back and forth along a predetermined path between two spaced-apart locations, comprising fixed track means extending between said spaced-apart locations, a display carriage movably mounted upon said track means and adapted to ride therealong, a pair of pulleys respectively mounted adjacent said spaced-apart locations with the space between said pulleys and said track means being unobstructed at said locations, an endless conveyor line eX- tending between and entrained about said pulleys, motor means for continuously driving said endless conveyor line in a single direction about said pulleys, a flexible tow line having one of its ends fixed to said display carriage, connecting means securing the other end of said tow line to said conveyor line, said connecting means being adapted to pass around said pulleys without interference, and swivel means in said tow line to prevent twisting of said tow line as said connecting means passes around said pulleys during the continuous movement of said endless conveyor line, said continuous movement of said endless conveyor line in a single direction serving continuously to tow said display carriage back and forth along said track means between said spaced-apart locations, thereby to attract attention to visual material which may be mounted on said display carriage.

2. Apparatus for continuously moving a visual display device back and forth along a predetermined path between two spaced-apart locations, comprising a fixed taut cable extending bet-ween said spaced-apart locations, a display carriage movably mounted upon said cable and adapted to ride therealong, a pair of pulleys respectively mounted adjacent said spaced-apart locations with the space between said pulleys and said cable being unobstructed at said locations, an endless conveyor line extending between and entrained about said pulleys, an electric motor connected to one of said pulleys for continuously rotating that pulley and thereby continuously driving said endless conveyor line in a single direction about said pulleys, a flexible tow line having one of its ends fixed to said display carriage, connecting means securing the other end of said tow line to said conveyor line, said connecting means being adapted to pass around said pulleys without interference, and swivel means in said tow line to prevent twisting of said tow line as said connecting means passes around said pulleys during the continuous movement of said endless conveyor line, said continuous movement of said endless conveyor line in a single direction serving continuously to tow said display carriage back and forth along said cable between said spaced-apart locations, thereby to attract attention to visual material which may be mounted on said display carriage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,192 5/1907 Baughman 104-177 986,011 3/1911 Kinney 104-177 1,225,020 5/1917 Ellard 104200 2,244,650 6/1941 Curran et a1. 2,592,898 4/1952 Helberg 104-178 2,978,991 4/1961 Oswald 10515l ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING A VISUAL DISPLAY DEVICE BACK FOURTH ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH BETWEEN TWO SPACED-APART LOCATIONS, COMPRISING FIXED TRACK MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SPACED-APART LOCATIONS, A DISPLAY CARRIAGE MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID TRACK MEANS AND ADAPTED TO RIDGE THEREALONG, A PAIR OF PULLEYS RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID SPACED-APART LOCATIONS WITH THE SPACE BETWEDEN SAID PULLEYS AND SAID TRACK MEANS BEING UNOBSTRUCTED AT SAID LOCATIONS, AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR LINE EXTENDING BETWEEN AND ENTRAINED ABOUT SAID PULLEYS, MOTOR MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY DRIVING SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR LINE IN A SINGLE DIRECTION ABOUT SAID PULLEYS, A FLEXIBLE TOW LINE HAVING ONE OF ITS END FIXED TO SAID DISPLAY CARRIAGE, CONNECTING MEANS SECURING THE OTHER END OF SAID TOW LINE TO SAID CONVEYOR LINE, SAID CONNECTING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO PASS AROUND SAID PULLEYS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE, AND SWIVEL MEANS IN SAID TOW LINE TO PREVENT TWISTING OF SAID TOW LINE AS SAID CONNECTING MEANS PASSES AROUND SAID PULLEYS DURING THE CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR LINE, SAID CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF SAID ENDLESS

Images