GB2160001A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device suitable for use in association with a central boss of a wheel comprises a first optically transparent disc 1 which masks a second disc 3 which is adjacent said first disc, is rotatable relative thereto and is adapted to display artwork, the second rotatable disc being eccentrically weighted at 6 such that when suspended in a substantially vertical plane in a chamber 2 and allowed to equilibrate, it will always adopt substantially the same position relative to the vertical axis. The chamber 2 is filled with damping fluid such as liquid paraffin. The device is of particular application to the motor vehicle industry for displaying a manufacturer's trademark at the centre of the vehicle wheels in a way in which the trademark will always appear the right way up. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device This invention relates to a device suitable for use in the automobile industry. More particularly it relates to a device which allows trademark or other identification of an automobile always to be displayed in the correct mode when a car is stationary.

A large number of makes of automobile these days bear on the central boss of their travelling wheels artwork, e.g. a logo, trademark or other means of identification (hereinafter termed 'artwork'). However, little of this artwork is sufficiently symmetrical for it always to appear the "right way up" when the car is stationary for any period of time. It is most frequently the case that the artwork is in a different position on each of the vehicle's wheels.

I have now devised a simple device which allows artwork being displayed on the central boss of a car wheel always to attain the correct position for display when the car is stationary. Such a device would, I believe, be of great value to, for example, car manufacturers in advertising or otherwise drawing attention to their products.

According to the invention, therefore I provide a device suitable for use in association with a central boss of a wheel which comprises a first, optically transparent member which masks a second member which is generally adjacent said first member, is rotatable relative thereto and is adapted to display artwork, the second, rotatable, member being eccentrically weighted such that when suspended in a substantially vertical plane and allowed to equilibrate, it will always adopt substantially the same position relative to the vertical axis.

The first and second members will each preferably be disc-shaped and the planes thereof will desirably be parallel. The members may in fact be any generally planar shape suitable to fit on or in a recess in a central boss of wheel and provided that the second member is rotatable relative to the first.

The first member generally provides protection for the second member and usually provides the pivotal support for it.

In order to keep the artwork as clean as possible, it is preferred if the second, rotatable member is a narrow disc and is pivoted in a chamber within the first disc-shaped member, desirably coaxially. Appropriate lubricant or damping fluid, also optically transparent, such as liquid paraffin or other clear mineral oil, will desirably also be present to fill up the remainder of the chamber and helps make the device quite silent in operation.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are by way of example only and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section along the line A-A of Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2 a transparent hollow plastic disc 1 approx. 10 cm in diameter surrounds a chamber 2. The disc is approximately 13 mm thick and the walls approximately 3 mm thick. The chamber contains a second disc 3, approximately 2 mm thick rotatably and coaxially pivoted at 4 on a pin 5 secured to or integrally formed with the wall of the disc 1. A face of the second disc bears artwork e.g. the arrow as shown it is desired to display. Substantially all of the remainder of the volume of chamber 2 is filled with a transparent damping fluid such as liquid paraffin.

The second disc 3 further bears an extra eccentrically situated weight 6 on the opposite face to that bearing the artwork. This weight will be of narrow profile so as not to impede rotation of the second disc 3 within the chamber 2.

In operation, the device is generally mounted at the centre of a vehicle wheel in a vertical plane.

When the wheel is stationary the weight 6 will descend to the lowest point and will cause the second disc 3 to rotate within the first disc so that when equilibrium is established, the artwork will always adopt same position.

1. A device suitable for use in association with a central boss of a wheel which comprises a first, optically transparent member which masks a second member which is generally adjacent said first member, is rotatable relative thereto and is adapted to display artwork, the second, rotatable, member being eccentrically weighted such that when suspended in a substantially vertical plane and allowed to equilibrate, it will always adopt substantially the same position relative to the vertical axis.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second members are disc-shaped and their planes are parallel.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said second member is a disc pivoted for rotation within a chamber within said first member.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein movement of said second member relative to said first member is damped or lubricated.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A vehicle wheel bearing a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device This invention relates to a device suitable for use in the automobile industry. More particularly it relates to a device which allows trademark or other identification of an automobile always to be displayed in the correct mode when a car is stationary. A large number of makes of automobile these days bear on the central boss of their travelling wheels artwork, e.g. a logo, trademark or other means of identification (hereinafter termed 'artwork'). However, little of this artwork is sufficiently symmetrical for it always to appear the "right way up" when the car is stationary for any period of time. It is most frequently the case that the artwork is in a different position on each of the vehicle's wheels. I have now devised a simple device which allows artwork being displayed on the central boss of a car wheel always to attain the correct position for display when the car is stationary. Such a device would, I believe, be of great value to, for example, car manufacturers in advertising or otherwise drawing attention to their products. According to the invention, therefore I provide a device suitable for use in association with a central boss of a wheel which comprises a first, optically transparent member which masks a second member which is generally adjacent said first member, is rotatable relative thereto and is adapted to display artwork, the second, rotatable, member being eccentrically weighted such that when suspended in a substantially vertical plane and allowed to equilibrate, it will always adopt substantially the same position relative to the vertical axis. The first and second members will each preferably be disc-shaped and the planes thereof will desirably be parallel. The members may in fact be any generally planar shape suitable to fit on or in a recess in a central boss of wheel and provided that the second member is rotatable relative to the first. The first member generally provides protection for the second member and usually provides the pivotal support for it. In order to keep the artwork as clean as possible, it is preferred if the second, rotatable member is a narrow disc and is pivoted in a chamber within the first disc-shaped member, desirably coaxially. Appropriate lubricant or damping fluid, also optically transparent, such as liquid paraffin or other clear mineral oil, will desirably also be present to fill up the remainder of the chamber and helps make the device quite silent in operation. The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are by way of example only and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section along the line A-A of Figure 1. In Figures 1 and 2 a transparent hollow plastic disc 1 approx. 10 cm in diameter surrounds a chamber 2. The disc is approximately 13 mm thick and the walls approximately 3 mm thick. The chamber contains a second disc 3, approximately 2 mm thick rotatably and coaxially pivoted at 4 on a pin 5 secured to or integrally formed with the wall of the disc 1. A face of the second disc bears artwork e.g. the arrow as shown it is desired to display. Substantially all of the remainder of the volume of chamber 2 is filled with a transparent damping fluid such as liquid paraffin. The second disc 3 further bears an extra eccentrically situated weight 6 on the opposite face to that bearing the artwork. This weight will be of narrow profile so as not to impede rotation of the second disc 3 within the chamber 2. In operation, the device is generally mounted at the centre of a vehicle wheel in a vertical plane. When the wheel is stationary the weight 6 will descend to the lowest point and will cause the second disc 3 to rotate within the first disc so that when equilibrium is established, the artwork will always adopt same position. CLAIMS

1. A device suitable for use in association with a central boss of a wheel which comprises a first, optically transparent member which masks a second member which is generally adjacent said first member, is rotatable relative thereto and is adapted to display artwork, the second, rotatable, member being eccentrically weighted such that when suspended in a substantially vertical plane and allowed to equilibrate, it will always adopt substantially the same position relative to the vertical axis.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second members are disc-shaped and their planes are parallel.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said second member is a disc pivoted for rotation within a chamber within said first member.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein movement of said second member relative to said first member is damped or lubricated.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A vehicle wheel bearing a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5.