US3277597A

US3277597A - Animated display devices

Info

Publication number: US3277597A
Application number: US346012A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Trame
Original assignee: NEON PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: NEON PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1964-02-19
Filing date: 1964-02-19
Publication date: 1966-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-11

Description

Oct. 11, 1966 c. E. TRAME ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1964 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. CHARLES E. TRAME QEE YJW FIG. IO

FIG. u

Attorneys Oct. 11, 1966 c. E. TRAME ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 19, 1964 INVENTOR CHARLES E. TRAME l/fl' 4 FIG.

Attorneys United States Fatent O 3,277,597 ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICES Charles E. Trame, Shawnee Township, Ohio, assignor to Neon Products Inc., Lima, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 346,012 11 Claims. (Cl. 40106.53)

This invention relates to animated display devices and particularly to those in which two-dimensional and threedirnensional materials may be simultaneously displayed under illumination.

An object of this invention is to provide a display of the above character in which a plurality of components forming a single display may be displayed under illumination to give the illusion of depth or third dimension.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display of the above character in which one or more components are moved relative to other components to give an illusion of realism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display of the above character in which the components of the display may be easily removed and inserted to conveniently change the display.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display of the above character having both animated and nonanimated portions displayed in relation to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display in which an indicia carrying member is supported at one point which is moved in a circular path while said member is also supported on spaced fixed guides remote from said point and for reciprocative and swinging movement relative to said guides in the plane of said circular path.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display in which a plurality of indicia carrying members are supported in parallel spaced relation to each other, each such panel being supported on two spaced fixed guides for reciprocative and swinging movement relative to said guides and being supported in cooperating relation to driving support means moving the cooperating portion of said panel in a circular path remote from said spaced fixed guides.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character in which a plurality of indicia carrying members are driven by driving support means so that corresponding portions of each of said driven indicia carrying members move in similar circular paths and each such member is out of phase with each other said member.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will in part be obvious and in part will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

In the accompanying drawings and following description of the embodiment disclosed therein, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an animated display which presently appears to be a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

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

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 illustrating structural details thereof;

FIG. 5 is a front view in elevation, partly broken away, showing structural details and relationships existing between parts thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section taken generally along line 66 in FIG. 5 and showing :a cooperating mounting bracket for the device;

ice

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the device in association with the supporting bracket shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view in elevation, partly broken away to show the details of construction and showing a suspension mounting of the device;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 9 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating relative motion of certain parts of the device;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of related cam motion;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of a composite cam and associated cooperating parts;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 1313 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a transparent member; and

FIG. 15 is an end view in elevation of a flanged cam member.

The illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings has a metal back or frame 18 of generally horizontally extending channel form with the trough facing forwardly and with its ends partially closed by end plates 19. The frame 18 has a generally horizontal top flange 20, a display panel portion 21, back section 22, bottom section 23 and horizontal lower flange 24. The frame 18 may be fabricated from a single sheet of metal and a metal raceway 25 extends between end plates 19 and is secured by screws 26 to back portion 22 and lower portion 23 so as to with those parts of the frame 18 form an enclosed duct. A hanger may be secured to frame 18 by welding or otherwise attaching it to top flange 20.

As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an electric motor 27 is mounted upon the vertical wall of raceway 25 by means of fasteners 28 with its shaft 37 projecting out of the duct. A ballast 29 is also secured to the raceway wall by fasteners 30 and a starter socket 31 is similarly secured to the wall of raceway 25 by fasteners 32 to receive and support a starter 33. An elongate light source such as a conventional fluorescent tube 34 is supported adjacent the upwardly facing surface of raceway 25 by sockets 35 which are secured to the raceway by fasteners 36. Motor 27 as well as fluorescent tube 34, ballast 29 and starter 33 are connected together in conventional manner by wiring not shown so that fluorescent tube 34 will produce light and the shaft 37 of motor 27 will be rotated simultaneously when electric current is supplied to the device. As shown in FIG. 6, an insulating grommet 38 is provided extending through the bottom section of the frame and conventional electric lead-in wiring (not shown) may extend into the raceway through grommet 38. Suitable service access apertures 36a may be provided in the back section 22 of frame 18 for servicing of the contents of the enclosed duct area. Each access aperture 36a is covered by a cover plate 360.

As shown generally in FIGS. 5 and 6 and in detail in FIG. 9, two pairs of similar guides are supported on flange 20, one pair is denoted by the reference character 40, the other pair by the reference character 41. The guides are substantially identical and one guide 40 is shown in FIG. 9 to illustrate the details of said guide. Each guide 40 has a threaded shank 42 which extends through an aperture in top flange 20 and is threadedly engaged by nuts 43 and 44 which abuttingly cooperate with top flange 20 as well. Guide 40 has an arm portion 45 extending from threaded shank portion 42 in a downwardly narrowing taper to a substantially spherical enlarged head 46. Head 46 is thus rigidly supported in fixed spaced relation to top flange 20 and display panel portion 21 of frame 18.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, guides 40 are positioned 'rearwardly of but not directly behind corresponding guides 41.

Three substantially duplicate flat

transparent panels

50, 6t and 70 are provided and supported in substantially parallel, close-spaced relation, as shown in FIG. 6.

The

panel members

50, 60 and 70 may be flat plates of transparent material of the form shown in FIG. 14. The main portion 51 of which is of generally rectangular shape and from the lower edge of which an integral arm or tab portion 52 extends. A round aperture 53 is provided in tab portion 52 and pairs of notches 54, 55 of generally rectangular form extend into the upper edge of main portion 51. A pair of guide sleeve fittings 47 are frictionally mounted in a pair of notches 54 or 55, as shown in FIGS. and 6. As shown in detail in FIG. 9, each sleeve 47 has external notchlike slots extending from adjacent the lower end thereof to the shoulder portion 48 thereof for snugly receiving portions 51a of the main panel portion 51. Extending vertically through sleeve 47 is a cylindrical bore 49 of a size to receive spherical head 46 of a guide 40. Each of the

plates

50 and 60 thus supports a respective pair of sleeves 47 in symmetrically spaced relation to the vertical centerline of the plate as illustrated in FIG. 5. A sleeve 47 is provided in each of the notches 54 of plate 50 and in each of the notches 64 of plate 60 and each cooperatively receives a spherical head 46 of a respective guide in the sleeve aperture 49. The frictional engagement between sleeve 47 and the respective plate portions 51a, or corresponding portions of plate 60, is such that the sleeve 47 remains in fixed relation to the cooperating

plate

50 or 60 as the case may be. The bores 49 in the sleeves 47 are preferably slightly larger in diameter than spherical heads 46 received therein, so that the plate Stl or the plate 6% may move in the generally parallel planes in which they are respectively supported (FIG. 6) and which coincide with the axes of guides and 41, without any binding occurring, even though the plates and are rocked slightly from side to side, as viewed in FIG. 5, during such reciprocating movements as is hereinafter explained.

The

panels

50 and 60 with the guide sleeve fittings 47 frictionally secured thereto are thus supported adjacent their upper edges by

guides

40 and 41. The panels are supported adjacent their lower ends, remote from the edge supported in relation to

guides

40 and 41, on cam members 56, 66 mounted on shaft 37 of motor 27. Plate 50 is supported in cooperating relation with cam 56 which has a round or circular boss 57 substantially filling aperture 53 and in concentric relation to a radially, outwardly extending retaining flange 58. The round boss 57 is disposed in eccentric relation to an aperture 59 adapted to receive motor shaft 37. Cam 66 is similar to cam 56 and the corresponding parts thereof are designated by reference numerals one decade higher than those applied to cam 56. A cam spacer 81 is disposed on shaft 37 between earns 56 and 66 and determines the minimum spacing of the

arm portions

52 and 62 of

plates

50 and 60. Spacer 81 has a portion which functions as a radially extending flange 82 adjacent the end of boss portion 57 remote from the flange 58 of cam 56 and a similar radially extending flange portion 83 disposed in concentric relation to boss portion 57 of cam 66 adjacent the free end of boss 67 so that a portion of plate 60 substantially fills the space annularly of the boss 67 between flanges 68 and 83.

As shown in FIG. 6, motor shaft 37 has a shoulder portion 39 against which cam 56 abuts. Spacer 81 and cam 66 are in succession placed on shaft 37 after cam 56 and nut 84 clamps the abutting radial faces of shoulder 39, cam 56, cam spacer 81, and cam 66 tightly together. The space between the flanges of the cams and spacer thus corresponds to the width of the cylindrical face of the bosses of the cams. The cams are preferably secured in predetermined relation to each other, that is, with the high point of boss 57, the point thereof farthest from the shaft 37 being disposed in its lowermost position when the high point of boss 67, the point thereof farthest from shaft 37 is in its highest position. Thus, the two similar cams are retained in positions substantially 180 out of phase. The earns 56, 66 may be held in predetermined phased relation in any desired manner such as by keying them to shaft 37 or providing alignment means by which the cams are held in predetermined relation to spacer 81. The cams 56, 66, cam spacer 81, and fragments of

arm portions

52 and 62 of the

plates

50 and 60 are illustrated in assembled relation in FIG. 12, that is, with cam 56 in its lowermost position and cam 66 in its uppermost position.

When motor 27 operates, shaft 37 rotates and the cams 56 and 66 and spacer 81 mounted thereon move in unison with the shaft. As is indicated in the schematic view, FIG. 11, each of the cams 56 (boss portion 57 of which is shown by dash-dot-dot line) and cam 66 (boss portion 67 of which is shown by an unbroken line) thus swing so that the high point of each cam follows a circular path 85 shown by a dash-dot-dot-dot line, and the low point of each cam follows a circular path 86 shown by a dotted line.

The motion of the cams, as illustrated in FIG. 11, produces a corresponding motion of

plates

50 and 60 which is partially illustrated schematically in FIG. 10. It should be remembered that the motion of the plate adjacent its top edge where supported by

guides

40 or 41 is essentially a linear motion along a vertical line but with slight tilting. Adjacent the upper edge there is very little lateral motion as the fixed guides 40 or 41 substantially support the plate against such movement. However, a point on the plate adjacent aperture 53 or 63, which aperture is substantially filled by a

cam boss

57 or 67, will move in a substantially circular path represented by the circle 87 in FIG. 10. If a horizontal line 88 is drawn through the point moving along line 87 when that point is at the top of its circular path 87, as the shaft 37 rotates in unison with the earns 56, 66 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 10, the line 88 will increasingly tilt as it moves to the right and downwardly to a tilted attitude indicated by line 89 and then returns to a horizontal position 90 when the point has moved farther downward and leftward to its low point on circle 87. Thereafter, as the point continues in its clockwise traverse of circle 87 from its low point to its high point, the line through that point shifts leftward and tilts increasingly from the horizontal position 90 as it rises to an attitude indicated by the line 91 from which it continues rightward and upward back toward the horizontal position 88.

As the point which moves along circle 87 in FIG. 10 moves from the low point thereon to the high point thereon, the upper portions of plate 50 and its associated guide sleeves 47 move substantially as shown in FIG. 9, that is, from the low, full line position, shown in FIG. 9, to the high position in which its upper edge coincides with that indicated by the dash-dot line 74 in FIG. 9. It should be noted, however, that in moving from the full line to the dash-dot line position of FIG. 9, spherical head 46 of guide 40 is stationary and substantially precludes lateral movement of the upper edge portion of the plate. However, the plate may rock with reference to the center of sphere 46, the motion of a point on the plate '50 adjacent the spherical head 46 will move more nearly in a straight line path and not in a round or circular path such as is represented by circle 87 in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 5 it may be seen that line -LL intersects the axis of shaft 37 and passes through the center of head 46 of guide 40 which cooperates with guide sleeve 47a and the line RR intersects the axis of shaft 37 and passes through the center of head 46 of guide 40 which cooperates with guide sleeve 47b. The lines L-L and RR shown in FIG. 5 meet at an acute angle, of approximately 39, which is bisected by the vertical centerline which coincides with section line 66 and also intersects the axis of shaft 37. Thus, when the high point of cam 56 is on line LL below shaft 37, guide sleeve 47a will be at its lowest position and then start to ascend while guide sleeve 4712 continues downwardly and reaches its lowest position when the high point of cam 56 lies on line RR below shaft 37. As the high point of cam 56 proceeds clockwise toward line LL above shaft 37, both guide

sleeves

47a and 47b ascend, sleeve 47a reaching its highest position when the high point of cam 55 lies on line L L and then commences descending while sleeve 47b continues rising to its highest position when the high point of cam 56 lies on line R R above shaft 37. Both guide

sleeves

47a and 47b then descend as the high point of cam 56 returns to the position in which it lies upon line LL below shaft 37.

The relative movements of cam 66, plate 60, guide sleeves 47c and 47d, to guides 41, and lines M- M and SS are similar to those just described, in fact, in the foregoing description the above mentioned reference terms may be respectively substituted for cam 56, plate 50, guide

sleeves

47a, 47b, guide-s 40, and lines L L and R-R. It may be noted that the guides 41 are spaced farther apart than the guides 40, so the acute angle included between the lines MM and SS in FIG. 5 is approximately 44 while the corresponding angle between lines LL and RR is approximately 39 as previously mentioned.

The relative movements of

plates

50 and 60 with the associated members, are substantially 180 out of phase due to the fact that earns 56 and 66 are positioned and move 180 out of phase.

A cover or case 92 may be provided to close the front of frame 1 8 and preferably overlappingly enclosing the end plates 19 thereof as well. Cover 92 may be made of polystyrene or other suitable material and secured in hinged relation to frame 18 by hinges 93. The hinges 93 may be secured to the frame in any suitable fashion as by welding or mechanical fasteners and may be secured to case 92 by any suitable means such as screws 94 (shown in FIG. 7). As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, binding screws 95 may extend through apertures or notches in case 92 and into threaded engagement with lower flange 24 of frame 18 so as, in conjunction with hinges 93, to secure the case in fixed relation to the frame. Each of the hinges 93 may have a horizontal extension 93a having aperture 96a to cooperatively receive hook 96 of suspending means 97, shown in FIG. 8. A substantially trapezoidal opening or window is provided in case 92. Plate 70 spans and covers that opening, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, plate 70 is removably secured in position by push plugs 98 having resilient fingers which may be forced in apertures provided in case 92 at predetermined locations corresponding to the locations of apertures 103 when plate 70 is in the position desired. It may be noted that plate 70 substantially duplicates

plates

50 and 60, and the aperture 73 therein (corresponding to aperture 53 of plate 50) functions as a clearance hole into which the outer end of motor shaft 37 and nut 84 may extend. Case 92 supports plate 70 in parallel, close spaced relation to plate 60. The

plates

50, 60 and 70, as well as display panel 21, may support two dimensional elements forming a composite three-dimensional display.

When screws 95 are released, case 92 may be swung into its open limit position, indicated by dot-dash line 920 in FIG. 4 and predetermined by stop 921 which engages hanger 75 when case 92 is in said open limit position. Plate 70 may be removed therefrom by pushing same away from case 92 to disengage the push plugs 98 therefrom. Nut 84 and cam 66 may be removed from shaft 37 so lower portion of plate 60 may be swung forward or outwardly and then the entire plate 60 lowered to disengage the associated sleeve fittings 47 from guides 41. Cam spacer 81 may then be removed from shaft 37 and plate 50 swung forward or outwardly from the position of (FIG. 6) engagement with cam 56 until its lower end is free of shaft 37, and then plate 50 can be lowered to 6 disengage the guide sleeves 47 mounted thereon from cooperation with guides 40.

Plates

50, 60 and '70 are thus removed and display panel 21 is exposed.

Where the three-dimensional display is in the form of a scene such as shown generally in FIG. 1, the background portion thereof, including sky features, the distant shore and the body of water, is produced in the form of a picture on a sheet 99 of thin material. Sheet 99 is secured in predetermined position on display panel 21 by suitable adhesive or the like. If desired, indicia of proper positioning of sheet 99 in proper correlation to the other portions of the display, may be provided, for example, position lines, abutments or locating lugs may be provided on panel 21, to facilitate the proper location of member 99 thereon.

A second portion of the display which may be in the form of a cutout or preferably in the form of a transparency 100, is mounted upon plate 50. .As shown in FIG. 5, transparency 100 may be a separate member and to facilitate correct correlated positioning of member 100 in relation to plate 50, by which it will be supported in relation to member 99, the transparency 100 may be provided with a plurality of apertures adapted to register with indexing lugs 101 and with additional apertures registering with apertures 103 and adapted to receive the shank portions of push plugs 102 which will also extend into apertures 10 3 and cooperate with plate 50. The transparency 100 is held against plate 50 by the heads of push plugs 102. The relationship of transparency 100, plate 50 and a push plug 102 is illustrated in FIG. 13.

A third portion of the display is a cutout or transparency 105 mounted on plate 60 in the same way as transparency 100 is mounted on plate 50.

The fourth portion of the display is a cutout or transparency 110 which is similarly mounted upon plate 70, and, in this case, the push plugs 102 securing the transparency to the plate may also secure the plate 70 to case 92.

After sheet or member 99 is mounted on panel 21 and the

transparencies

100, 105, and 110 are respectively may be raised into cooperating relation with guides 40 mounted on

panels

50, 60, and 70, the guide sleeves 47 and the lower portion of plate 50 swung inwardly until the boss 57 of cam 56 is disposed in aperture 53. Thereafter, cam spacer 81 is placed on shaft 37 and advanced into engagement with cam 56 so that its flange 82 is in concentric opposed spaced relation to flange 58 of cam 56. Thereafter, plate 60 is installed by advancing its guide sleeves 47 upwardly into cooperating relation with guides 41 and thereafter swinging the plate into parallel relation to plate 50, a position in which it is indexed by cam spacer 81, particularly flange 83 thereof. Cam 66 is then placed on shaft 37 and advanced until its boss portion 67 abuts spacer 81 and is disposed in aperture 63 with its flange 68 in concentric spaced opposed relation to flange 83 of cam spacer 81. Nut 84 may be then advanced in threaded cooperation with shaft 37 to clamp cam 56, spacer 81 and cam 66 together with cam 56 abutting shoulder 39. Plate '70 may then be secured to case 92 by means of push plugs 102. Thereafter, the case 92 may be closed and thumb screws 95 tightened to secure it in that position.

When electrical energy is supplied to the motor 27 and lighting apparatus including fluorescent tube 34, display sheet 99 and transparency 110 remain in fixed relation to the case while the transparencies 100 and move as they are carried by

plates

50 and 60, motion of which has been previously described. The moving

portions

100, 105 and the stationary portions 99, of the display are illuminated by light emitted from tube 34. With regard to a scene such as is shown in FIG. 1, the tree in the foreground would remain substantially stationary except that some of its leaves form part of transparency 110 while others thereof form part of transparency 105 and illusion of leaf motion is created. Further the boat in the right foreground is included in transparency 105 and thus moves in relation to the stationary foreground portions appearing on transparency 110', the particular motion being as previously described with reference to plate 60. The boat in the middle distance is part of transparency 100 and it rises, falls, and rocks in unison with the motion of plate 50 which carries transparency 100 and which motion is 180 out of phase with the motion of the boat in the foreground which moves with plate 60. The background, the distant shore, the sky and the basic appearance of the body of water are stationary, being supported by back panel 21. As is shown in FIG. 5, crest and trough lines of ripples in the water extending from both of the boats into the foreground appear both in transparency 1G5 and transparency 100. Since these two transparencies are carried by

respective plates

60 and 50 which move out of phase with each other as previously described, an illusion of traveling ripples and waves is created by the relative movement of the

transparencies

105 and 109. Also, the motion of the two boats appears to be related to such water movements as well.

At times it may be desirable to associate indicia with the display. Since the display may be changed from time to time,

elements

99, 106, 1%, 110 may be replaced by other elements 99, 191), 105, lltl bearing different display portions, the associated indicia may also require changing. An upper indicia panel 76 having lower flange 77 and upper flange 73 embraces the upper central portion of case 92, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7. As shown in FIGS. and 6, case 92 has an aperture or window 104 through which light from tube 34 may illuminate translucent panel 76 and translucent indicia 79 thereon. Panel 76 fits in a recess provided in case 92 to which it is secured by the root or stud 197 of, ring 106. Stud 107 extends through registering apertures in flange 7 8 and the top of case 92, into cooperating relation with a fastener such as nut 108.

A second panel 80 which may bear indicia 801' in associated relation to the multielement display may be provided. The element 80 may be of shallow pan form with its flanges 80; extending toward the plane of plate 76 and rest against a support flange 109 (FIG. 6) of case 92. Panel 80 may be secured to case 92 in any desired manner, for example, one or more lugs 111 (FIG. 6) or other suitable fastening means may cooperate with case 92. Panel 80 and indicia Stli thereon are illuminated by light emanating from tube 34. To facilitate mounting of the display device on a vertical wall, an angle form mountting bracket 115 having a wall plate portion and a projecting portion 117 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the bracket may be adapted to hang upon a screw 118 with resilient contact pads 119 attached to wall plate portion 116 in contact with the surface wall 120 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Hanger 75 which is secured in fixed relation to frame 18 has a depending tongue 112 adapted to extend downwardly through an aperture 121 provided in portion 117 of the bracket 115.

Having thus described what presently appears to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, that various modifications and changes may be made in the illustrative embodiment without de parting from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Therefore, what is claimed as new, and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an animated display the combination comprising a first display element, a pair of spaced guides, a second display element cooperating with said guides by which it is supported for movement relative to said guides, driving means spaced from said guides and cooperating with said second display element to move the portion thereof adjacent said driving means in a generally circular fashion while portions thereof adjacent said guides are moved in a generally reciprocating manner.

2. In an animated display the combination comprising a first display element, a pair of spaced guides, a second display element cooperating with said guides by which it is supported for movement relative to said guides, driving means spaced from said guides and cooperating with said second display element to move the portion thereof adjacent said driving means in a generally circular fashion while portions thereof adjacent said guides are moved in a generally reciprocating manner and the second display element is supported in generally parallel spaced relation to said first display element.

3. In an animated display the combination comprising a first display element, a second display element in spaced generally parallel relation thereto, a pair of spaced guides, a third display element cooperating with said guides by which it is supported for movement relative to said guides, driving means spaced from said guides and cooperating with said third display element to move the portion thereof adjacent said driving means in a generally circular fashion while portions thereof adjacent said guides are moved in a generally reciprocating manner and the third display element is supported in generally parallel spaced relation to and between said first and second display elements.

4. In an animated display the combination comprising a first display element, a plurality of pairs of spaced guides, driving means spaced from said guides, a plurality of display elements each cooperating with and sup ported in parallel relation to said first display element by a respective pair of said guides and said driving means, said driving means being operative to move each of said plurality of display elements so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move on generally circular paths and portion thereof adjacent said guides move on generally linear paths.

5. In an animated display the combination comprising a first display element, a plurality of pairs of spaced guides, driving means spaced from said guides, a plurality of display elements each cooperating with and supported in parallel relation to said first display element by a respective pair of said guides and said driving means, said driving means being operative to move each of said plurality of display elements in out-of-phase relation to each other and so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move on generally circular paths and portions thereof adjacent said guides move on generally linear paths.

6. In an animated display the combination comprising a first display element, a plurality of pairs of spaced guides, driving means spaced from said guides, a second display element cooperating with and supported in parellel rela tion to said first display element by a respective pair of said guides and said driving means, a third display element cooperating with and supported in parallel relation to said first and second display elements by a respective pair of said guides and said driving means, said driving means being operative to move each of said second and third display elements in out-of-phase relation to each other and so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move on generally circular paths and portions thereof adjacent said guides move on generally linear paths 7. In an animated display device, the combination comprising a frame, a first display element supported in fixed relation thereto, a plurality of pairs of spaced guides secured to said frame, driving means spaced from said guides, a plurality of display element carriers, a first one of said display element carriers supported in fixed spaced relation to and in front of said first display element carriers cooperating with a respective pair of spaced guides and with said driving means, said guides and driving means supporting the other said display element carriers in close spaced relation to each other and in parallel relation to said first one of said display element carriers and between said first display element carrier and said first display element, a plurality of display elements each supported by a respective one of said display element carriers in predetermined relation to said first display element, said driving means being operative to move each of said display element carriers supported by it in related out-fphase relation so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move on generally circular paths and portions thereof adjacent said guides move on generally linear paths.

8. In an animated display device, the combination comprising a frame, a first display element supported in fixed relation thereto, 'a plurality of pairs of spaced guides sccured to said frame, driving means spaced from said guides, a plurality of display element carriers, a first one of said display element carriers supported in fixed spaced relation to and in front of said first display element, each of the other said display element carriers cooperating with a respective pair of spaced guides and with said driving means, said guides and driving support means supporting the other said display element carriers in close spaced relation to each other and in parallel relation to said first one of said display element carrires and between said first display element carrier and said first display element, a plurality of display elements each supported by a respective one of said display element carriers in predetermined superimposed relation to said first display element, said driving means being operative to move each of said display element carriers supported by it in related out-of-phase relation so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move on generally circular paths and portions thereof adjacent said guides move on generally linear paths.

9. In an animated display device, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of display elements, two of said display elements respectively supported in fixed relation to said frame with one thereof spaced behind the other, a plurality of pairs of spaced guides secured -to said frame, driving means mounted on said frame and spaced from said guides, a plurality of display element carriers, each carrying a respective one of said display elements and cooperating with a respective pair of spaced guides and with said driving means which support it in close spaced parallel relation to the other display element carriers and between said fixed display elements, said display elements being supported in predetermined superimposed relation, and means illuminating said display elements, said driving means being operative to simultaneously move said display element carriers in predetermined outof-phase relation so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move with a generally circular motion and portions thereof adjacent said guides move with a generally linear motion whereby the display elements cooperate to create a three-dimensional display with the quality of realism.

10. In an animated display device, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of display elements, two of said display elements respectively supported in fixed relation to said frame with one thereof spaced behind the other, a plurality of pairs of spaced guides secured to said frame, driving means mounted on said frame and spaced from said guides, a plurality of display element carriers, each carrying a respective one of said display elements and cooperating with a respective pair of spaced guides and with said driving means which support it in close spaced parallel relation to the other display element carriers and between said fixed display elements, said display elements being supported in predetermined superimposed relation, means illuminating said display elements, said driving means being operative to simultaneously move said display element carriers in predetermined out-of-phase relation so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move with a generally circular motion and portions thereof adjacent said guides move with a generally linear motion, and a case for said frame and associated elements, said case having an aperture registering with and through which said display may be viewed, whereby the display elements cooperate to create a three-dimensional display with the quality of realism.

11. In an animated display device, the combination comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs of spaced guides secured to said frame, driving means spaced from said guides and supported by said frame, a plurality of display elements each cooperating with and supported in close spaced parallel relation to the others thereof by a respective pair of said guides and said driving means, each said guide having an enlarged spherical head, each said display element having a pair of spaced parallelly oriented guide head receiving cylindrical bores and a round aperture spaced from said bores, said driving means including a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly to the general planes of said display elements, at least two round cams each receivable in the round aperture in a respective display element and mounted eccentrically on said shaft, spacing means mounted on said shaft between said cams to predeterminedly space same and means securing said cams and spacing means in fixed relation on and for rotation in unison with said shaft, said driving means being operative to rotate said shaft and move each of said plurality of display elements so that portions thereof adjacent the driving means move with generally circular motion and portions thereof adjacent said guides move with generally linear motion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,658 7/193'7 Shively 40-10653 2,132,474 10/1938 En Holm u 40132 2,203,244 6/1940 White 40132 X 2,265,355 12/1941 David 40-132 X 2,814,895 12/ 1957 Flam 40-126 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,277,597 October 11, 1966 Charles E. Trame Column 8, line 69, after "element" insert each of the other said display element column 9, line 19, strike out "support".

Signed and sealed this 29th day of August 1967.

( AL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SW'IDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. IN AN ANIMATED DISPLAY TO COMBINATION COMPRISING A FIRST DISPLAY ELEMENT, A PAIR OF SPACED GUIDES, A SECOND DISPLY ELEMENT COOPERATING WITH SAID GUIDES BY WHICH IT IS SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID GUIDES, DRIVING MEANS SPACED FROM SAID GUIDES AND COOPERATING WITH SAID SECOND DISPLAY ELEMENT TO MOVE THE PORTION THEREOF ADJACENT SAID DRIVING MEANS IN A GENERALLY CIRCULAR FASHION WHILE PORTIONS THEREOF ADJACENT SAID GUIDES ARE MOVED IN A GENERALLY RECIPROCATING MANNER.