GB2199178A - Variable display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible strip 54 (32) bears indicia for display sequentially along its length. An intermediate portion is displayed at a display position of a housing 50 (10, 34). End portions are coiled within the housing, preferably in respective separate chambers 68 shaped to facilitate winding and unwinding of the coils. At the display position, the strip is contactable by the forefinger to displace it so that another portion is displayed. Preferably it is supported by a guide surface 72 (30), adjacent which it is retained by a frame 52 (36, 38, 40, 42) so that the displayed portion is nearly planar and runs for most of the height of the device. The frame (36-42) may be provided by a cover (34) which closes the housing, the core (10) being removable for removal of the strip (32). Alternatively, the frame 52 may be part of the housing member 50. Members 50 may engage together by spigots and apertures (60, 62), with the edges of each strip 54 being guided by the frame portions 52 of adjacent members 50. Transparent cover plates (100) may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

VARIABLE DISPLAY DEVICE The present invention relates to a variable display device of mechanical type, e.g. for use in advertising.

Many forms of advertising display have a basic display which may remain unchanged for a long time, and small portions which may require changing quite frequently.

For example, banks and building societies often have advertisements which quote interest rates for various schemes. It may be impracticable to replace a whole advertisement whenever interest rates change. Some existing displays allow just the interest rate figures to be altered, but none is ideal. The simplest form has the rates hand-written on detachable cards. This is certainly cheap in terms of materials, but is likely to be of poor appearance. An aesthetically preferable display has a set of display elements, from which appropriate ones are selected and removably mounted to the main display This requires a relatively large outlay for components, and there is always a risk that there will be insufficient copies of a particular character.Another type of variable display member has a set of characters on a carrier (such as a drum or disc) which can be indexed to move different characters to a display position. However, such devices tend to be bulky and elaborate, and hence expensive and prone to failure.

The present invention provides a variable display device wherein a flexible strip bearing a multiplicity of indicia is displaceable so that successive portions are displayed at a display position, the portion of the strip at the display position being contactable to effect said displacement of the strip.

Preferably the device has first and second volumes for containing respective coiled portions of the strip, the volumes being separated by a barrier; and guide means for guiding the strip from one volume to the other, and maintaining the portion at the display position in a desired configuration. Thus there may be a guide surface over which the strip is slidable, and a frame or edge guide member which defines the display position and holds the strip substantially flush with the guide surface at that position.

In such a device, the strip is generally in the form of a respective coiled portion in each of the two volumes, connected by a portion passing through the display position.

There is no need for spools for the coils, particularly if the volumes are bounded by appropriately shaped curved walls. The strip can be indexed by finger pressure at the display portion, pressing it against the support surface.

There is no need for sprockets, cogs or other paraphernalia.

Thus the device can be very cheap to produce, and also very reliable. Preferably the strip has means at either end to prevent it from being accidentally drawn completely out of either volume. For example, there may be a curled-over portion at each end, which cannot easily pass through a narrow gap between the support surface and the frame. The frame may be provided by a casing which generally surrounds the volumes, and which can be slid away to allow access to them, e.g. for replacement of a strip. Alternatively, particularly for a one-piece construction, edge guide means may be integral with the casing. Casings may be connectable side by side, with an individual casing having at one side a guide means for guiding one edge of its own strip and the adjacent opposed edge of the strip of an adjacent casing. In another aspect the invention provide an assembly of such casings.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of å double core unit providing two pairs of volumes; Fig. 2 is a like view ofa double casing member; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment showing one side; Fig. 4 is a second perspective view of that embodiment showing the other side; Fig. 5 is a front view of a composite display assembly; and Fig. 6 is a section on VI-VI in Fig. 5 on a larger scale, showing a display device carrier.

The embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 has a double core member 10 which is a plastics injection moulding whose external form is substantially a cuboid, whose front face is a double square. It has planar upper and lower walls 12,14 of uniform thickness, connected at the rear by a rear wall 16. A central wall 18 divides'the space between the upper and lower walls 12,14 into two chambers which are identical, so only that on the left in the figure will be described. A partition 20 extends from the rear wall 16 generally parallel to the upper and lower walls 12,14 and divides the chamber into lower and upper volumes 24,26. At the front, the partition 20 extends upwardly and downwardly to form a front piece 22, which terminates just short of the upper and lower walls 12,14, leaving gaps 28. The partition 20 and front piece 22 are integral with the central wall 18.

The volumes 24,26 are elongate, with rounded end portions at front and rear, defined by thickened portions of the partition 20,.-thf.frant piece 22 and the rear wall 16. The front piece 22 has a smoothly curved profile over all of its surface, extending through each gap 28 and around its front surface 30. This front surface 30 has only a small curvature, so that it is quite near to being planar, adjacent the plane in which the upper, lower and central walls 12,14,18 terminate.

The core member 10 has no outer side walls. Thus a length of strip 32 can be slid in from the side, with end portions coiled within the volumes 24,26, and an intermediate portion extending through one gap 28, over the front surface 30, and through the other gap 28. Suitable materials for the strip 32 are semirigid plastics, and include acetate film, PVC and polyester. It may be preprinted with characters. The strip may be pre-coiled.

The intermediate portion extending over the surface 30 lies fairly close to that surface, but is likely to bulge forwardly somewhat if not restrained.

The cover 34 shown in Fig. 2 is a rectangular injection moulded plastics tube into which the core member 10 can be slid from the rear. The cover 34 is generally open at the front, except for a central bar 36 which is somewhat wider than the central wall 18; and frame portions 38,40,42 which narrow the mouth of the tube somewhat.

Consequently when the core member (containing strips 32) is pushed into the cover 34, small portions of the strips 32 are contacted by the bar 36 and the frame portions 38,40,42 (or at least by the bar 36 and the opposed portions.4n!, This holds the portions of the strips 32 in close contact with the support surfaces 30, resisting the tendency to bowing. At least those inner surface portions of the bar 36 and the side frame members 40 which contact the strip 32 have a curvature corresponding to that of the surface member 30.

At the rear, the cover 34 has upper and lower mounting flanges 44.

For use, strips 32 are prepared with desired sets of characters. They are then inserted into the core member 10, which is passed into the cover 34. This may then be mounted in a composite display member, by means of the flanges 44. For example, these may be used to secure it to a backboard, thus trapping the core member 10 within the cover 34. A character or character group on a strip 32 is printed on a length of strip 32 similar to the height of the opening at the front of the cover 34 defined by the upper and lower frame members 32, 38. The displayed portion of a strip 32 is substantially planar, so that a character represented on it is clearly legible from the front. It will be noted that the maximum height of a character is only slightly less than the height of the display member.If it is desired to change the character displayed, this is done by pushing the strip where it is exposed at the front, e.g. with the forefinger. The support surface 30 allows the strip to slide smoothly; and the curved wall portion defining the volumes 26,24 allow the coiled end portions of the strip 32 to wind and unwind.

Since the two coil portions are in separate volumes, isolated by the partition 20, there is practically no risk of jamming. At either end of each strip there is a curledover portion 46 which resists withdrawal through a gap 28.

Thus the user knows when he has come to the end of a strip 32.

Thus it is a very simple matter to change the characters displayed. Furthermore, if a character not available on a strip is required, it is easy to remove that strip and insert another. The strips are the only moving parts, so there is hardly anything to wear out or to foul-up.

Of course, much variation is possible. For example, although the drawings show a double core member and a corresponding double cover, these could each be single, corresponding to one half of those shown, and accommodating a single strip. Irrespective of whether the core member is double or single, covers may be produced that accommodate a multiplicity thereof. Thus a display with many variable characters can be produced. (Core members with more than two sets of chambers could be produced, but if they were side-by-side, the ease of removal of the strips of the illustrated embodiment, which is due to the absence of outer side walls, would be lost.) In a practical embodiment, a double core member was 50mm wide and 50mm deep. The strips were 300mm long. The cover was 52mm deep, 54mm wide, and 38mm high.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a unit with a single-core member 50 with a somewhat different design. Thus the member 50 provide both the casing and an edge guide 52 for the coiled strip 54. Its unitary construction is suitable for injection moulding. The opposed side faces 56,58 have complementary formations (e.g. spigots 60 and apertures 62) so that like members can be releasably coupled side by side.

Each member has a side wall 58, a rear wall 64, and top and bottom walls 66. The top wall has a recess 67 in one edge so that coupled members can be prised apart.

Two tear-shaped chambers 68 for holding coiled portions of the strip 54 are defined by the inner surfaces of the rear, top and bottom walls, and a shaped web 70 that projects from the middle of the rear wall 64. At the front the web 70 provides a guide surface 72. The side wall 58 has a flange 74 extending on either side, slightly forwardly of the guide surface 72. One side of the flange extends over a margin of the guide surface. The other side will similarly extend over the opposite margin of a guide surface of another member 50 coupled at that side. Thus the flanges serve as edge guides for strips 54, like the portions 36,40 of the cover of the first embodiment. At the right hand end of an array of members 50, an empty member 50 may be coupled just to provide the final edge guide.Alternatively there may be a special end member corresponding to a side wall 58 with a flange projecting to only one side.

In another type of embodiment (not illustrated) the housing defines a single chamber which contains the strip in a single coil. An intermediate length or display run of the coil passes out of the chamber, past a display position, and back into the chamber. The housing may resemble that of Fig. 1 with the partition 20 omitted. This construction is easy to produce, but the movement of the strip is less reliable.

Display devices can form part of a composite display assembly, e.g. as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The illustrated assembly has a frame including a pair of opposed side channel members 80 connected by struts 82 at the rear.

Display device carriers 84 are slidably received in the frame. Each carrier provides one or more compartments 86,88 that extend for'the full width of the assembly. Fig.

6 shows a carrier 84 that provides two identical compartments. Each is approximately square in section, with an open mouth 90 that faces the front of the assembly.

The mouth is narrowed by bead formations 92 that provide inner abutment faces 94 and opposed channels 96. The channels 96 receive plastics strips 98,100. That (98) of the upper compartment 86 may be opaque and bear a legend that may require changing only occasionally. The upper compartment 86 may be empty.

The lower compartment 88 contains, over most of its length, a multiplicity of disRlaS isuices 89 .shown in phantom in Fig. 5). These are dimensioned to fit snugly in the compartment, with the display portions of their strips closely adjacent the plastics cover strips 100. At the left hand end region, the lower compartment 88 contains a resiliently compressible element, suitably a block of plastics foam 10-2. In front of this is a cover plate 104 which has marginal portions 106 that are resiliently urged against the abutment faces 94 of the compartment. Flanges 108 project forwardly adjacent the beads 92 so as to obstruct the channels 96. The cover plate 104 is opaque, and bears a legend that may require changing only occasionally. Apart from the region of the cover plate 104, the compartment mouth is covered by a plurality of transparent cover strips~rO6,~ wnicW*prevent access-to the display devices 89. When it is desired to change the display by advancing the display strip of a device 89, the cover plate 104 is pushed inwardly (compressing the foam 102), allowing the adjacent cover strip 100 to be slid along the channels 96 to overlie the plate 104. This exposes some of the devices 89, and others can be exposed by moving the other cover strips.

For more major adjustments (e.g. to replace damaged display strips), carriers can be slid upwardly out of the frame 80,82, and display devices, the foam block 86, or the covers can then be removed longitudinally.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A variable display device comprising a flexible strip bearing a multiplicity of indicia, and a housing for the strip; the strip being dispLacëåble so that successive portions are displayed at a display position of the housing, the portion of the strip at the display position being contactable to effect said displacement.

   2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing provides a guide surface over which the strip is slidable adjacent the display position.

   3. A device according to claim 2 including a frame or edge guide member which defines the display position and holds the strip substantially flush with the guide surface at that position.

   4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the housing defines first and second chambers for containing respective coiled portions of the strip linked by an intermediate portion; the chambers being separated by a barrier; and the intermediate portion of the strip extending from one chamber to the other via the display position.

   5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the housing defines a single chamber which contains the strip in coiled form, except for a display run of the strip which extends from the chamber past the display position and back into the chamber.

   6. A device according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the strip has means at either end to prevent it from being accidentally drawn completely out of the or a respective chamber.

   8. A device according to any preceding claims wherein the housing has complementary engagement formations on opposite sides so that a plurality of like devices can be engaged together to form a composite display.

   9. A variable display device substantially as any herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

   10. A composite display assembly comprising a plurality of display devices according to any preceding claim.

   11. An assembly according to claim 10 including means for holding a plurality of display devices so that their display positions face the same way; the holding means having one or more transparent covers which shield the display positions to prevent displacement of the strips; the covers being displaceable to permit displacement of the strips.

   12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein the holding means defines a narrow-mouthed channel within which display devices are retained, and at least one cover strip is engaged across the narrow mouth so as to be slidable longitudinally of the channel.

   13. An assembly according to claim 12 including a locking plate which normally obstructs sliding of the cover strip but is resiliently displaceable towards the channel interior to permit sliding.

   14. A composite display assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.