GB2131218A - Variable display sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A display sign for petrol prices or messages comprises at least one unit with two display blinds 32,34 each wound on and extending between two rollers. The display blinds face in opposite directions, and one roller of one of the blinds is geared to a roller of the other of the blinds whereby the blinds will be moved simultaneously. The other roller of each blind and roller pair is spring loaded tending to assist unrolling of the blind from the geared roller. The sign may be illuminated and as the belt 44 is moved manually or remotely by a motor 66 tension springs 4,50 wind from one pulley to another. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Variable display sign This invention relates to variable display signs, for example those of the type which are used on garage forecourts to display petrol prices. Although the invention has main application to such forecourt signs, it is mentioned at this time that the invention is not to be considered as strictly limited to these signs, as the material displayed by the sign need not be petrol prices, but could be other information or advertising material of a variable nature. Forthe sake of convenience, specific reference is made hereinafter and in the claims only to forecourt display signs.

It is the case that frequently the price of petrol changes with fluctuations in oil price and due to the general fluctuations of the national economies of the countries selling petrol, so much so that frequent changing of display signs showing petrol prices on forecourts must be made.

At present, price changing is done manually, is time consuming, and in many instances is difficult to perform, quite apart from the fact that the person who must change the sign must frequently do so in inclement weather.

Quite clearly, it is desirable to provide a display sign which is adapted to be changed readily, and also it is desirable that the sign should be constructed so as to be capable of adjustment from a remote location and indeed some display signs have been proposed which meet these requirements.

However, these signs tend to be expensive and complicated, and there is a need for a variable display sign which is inexpensive, yet permits of simple adjustment of the display.

It is also desirable that display signs at least on garage forecourts should face in two directions, so that the material displayed can be viewed from anywhere within a wide angle range. Typically, the displays are arranged to face in opposite directions.

The present invention is concerned with variable displays which face in two directions and which provide it is believed, a mechanism whereby variation of the display facing in each direction may be varied, the mechanism being a low cost design and being capable of operation manually, or under power from adjacent the sign or from a remote location.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a display sign which is variable and which faces in two directions comprising two display blinds each of which is wound on and extends between two rollers, the display material of the blinds facing in the respective directions, a roller of one of the blinds being geared to a roller of the other of said blinds whereby the blinds will be moved simultaneously, the other of said rollers of each blind and roller pair assembly being spring loaded tending to assist unrolling of the blind from the geared roller.

Naming the geared rollers herein and in the claims as the first rollers and the spring loaded rollers as the second rollers, the mechanism works in that if one of the geared rollers is turned in either direction, the blind wound on such roller will be displaced accord tingly to vary the display, and the other blind will be similarly displaced to vary the display, in a similar or different fashion as appropriate, and the spring loaded rollers will each maintain the associated blind under tension.

In a specific embodiment, the blinds face in opposite directions, and the first rollers are located at the lower end of supporting framework, whilst the second rollers are located at the upper end of such framework, the blinds extending vertically between the roller pairs. In such an arrangement, the first rollers rotate in the same direction, but the blinds will be wound thereon in opposite directions so that as one blind is wound on to its appropriate first roller, the other blind is unwound from that roller.

It is preferred that TENSATOR (trade mark) springs be used for the spring loading of the second rollers, as such springs are designed to maintain a constant tension torque on the roller which is loaded.

The display sign is capable of being operated manually involving the turning of one or other of the said first rollers, or in the alternative, a motor can be arranged to drive one or other of the said rollers, such motor being a reversible drive motor in order that each blind can be displaced in either direction.

The driving of the motor may be controlled by a simple on/off switch device or the sign may be provided with a remote control device which is button operated and will stop automatically at any of the displays selected. Where the blinds are for displaying digits, each blind may carry the numerals 0 to 9. In a complete sign, there may be a plurality of the display units according to the invention so that multiple digit displays may be created.

The sign may also embody suitable illumination means whereby the material displayed by the blinds can be illuminated, and the sign may also include a suitable weather-proof casing for housing the mechanisms.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, and by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a price change sign of the type used in a garage forecourt, and also embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the mechanism for each of the blind units in accordance with this embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, in Figure 1 a price change display sign is indicated generally by numeral 10, and it is carried by a stanchion 12. The face 14 of the sign is visible in Figure 1, and the face 16 which is not visible in Figure 1 but which faces in the opposite direction to face 14 is in fact identical to face 14 and displays the same material. As shown, the face 14 has seven display areas 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, the display areas 18, 20, and 22 displaying the numerals 36.5 being the indicated price per litre of 4 star petrol whose price is displayed by the sign.

The areas 24 to 30 are for displaying the price per gallon.

In accordance with this embodiment of the inven tion, the display in each of the said areas 18 to 30 can be changed to indicate any numeral from 0 to 9, (or a blank space) in that the numerals are carried by a displaceable blind which can be moved, depending upon the specific embodiment of the invention adopted, either manually or by a power means.

Each of the display areas 18 to 30 is associated with the corresponding display area 18 to 30 in the face 16 in that a common mechanism according to the invention arranges for the changing of the display in the pairs of areas, simultaneously.

The mechanism for achieving this is illustrated in Figure 2 to which reference is now made. The display area 18 is considered when describing Figure 2, but it is to be mentioned that the arrangement of Figure 2 exists at each of the areas 18 to 30.

In Figure 2 two display blinds 32 and 34 are shown, these display blinds being arranged to display numerals in the appropriate display areas 18 of the respective faces 14 and 16, and of each display blind 32 it is wound between a pair of rollers, namely a lower first roller 36 and an upper second roller 38.

The rollers 36 and 38 are arranged in vertical alignment so that the display area of the blind 32 lies in a vertical plane.

The blind 34 is similarly would on rollers 40 and 42. The said rollers 36 to 40 are mounted on a suitable framework (not shown in Figure 2) via spindles 36A, 38A, 40A and 42A. The first rollers 36 and 40 are geared together by means of a drive belt 44 which is trained round a pair of sprocket wheels 46 and 48 secured to the rollers 36 and 40. The sprockets and belt 44 may be a MIN-E-PITCH drive transmission as sold by the Reliance Gear Company Limited. As such system is of low inertia it is extremely suitable for this application. Any appropriate gearing arrangement can however be used.

Each of the rollers 38 and 42 is tensioned by means of a TENSATOR spring 48 and 50 respectively, which springs are wound round pulleys 52 and 54 attached to the rollers 38 and 42, and take up pulleys 56 and 58 secured to the said frame. The TENSATOR springs 48 are arranged so as to load the rollers 38 and 42 in such a fashion that each roller 38 and 42 tries to wind the associated belt 32 and 34 thereon.

The assembly shown in Figure 2 operates as follows. If either roller 36 or 40 is turned, the blinds 32 and 34 will be displaced, but one will be unwound from its first roller whilst the other will be wound onto its first roller. Thus, assume that roller 36 is turned clockwise. The blind 32 is unwound from the roller 36 as indicated by arrow 60. Belt 44 moves as indicated by arrow 62, blind 34 is wound onto roller 40 as indicated by arrow 64, the spring 48 winds from pulley 52 to pulley 56 taking up the slack in blind 32, whilst the spring 50 unwinds from pulley 58 onto pulley 54. The blinds move in synchronism, and the display of the respective blinds in the areas 18 of the sign is changed. If the movement of the roller 36 as described results in the change in display from the numeral 3 to the numeral 4, both displays will be changed in a similar fashion simultaneously.This means that the numbering arrangement on blind 34 has to be in the opposite direction from that of blind 32.

The mechanism described is extremely simple and inexpensive. There is a positive drive between the two blinds ensuring that they move simultaneouly to effect simultaneous alteration of the display. The system further more lends itself to a power drive arrangement which may be controlled in the vicinity of the sign or may be remotely controlled. Figure 2 illustrates for example a drive motor 66 to which are connected control wires 68 leading from a control console 70, which may be located in the reception area at the garage and may be controllable from such area. The control consul 70 will also have other control wires 72 for controlling the other areas of the sign which must be varied. Appropriate automatic means may be provided for ensuring that the blinds will stop in the correct position.

The sign will be provided with the necessary fabricated framework for supporting the various rollers and other components, and will also be provided with a suitable external cladding for weather-proofing the sign and for housing the framework and components.

Display signs embodying the present invention can be produced for a fraction of the price of other display signs having two-directional viewing and variability.

Modifications of the layout indicated in Figure 2 are possible. For example, a pair of diagonal rollers could be geared together instead of the two corner rollers 36 and 40 as illustrated. The blinds may be made of any suitable material, and internally of the sign and between the blinds of each display may be arranged suitable illuminations for illuminating the signs during the hours of darkness.

The invention can be adapted to signs of any nature, and it is not to be considered as being restricted to price change signs for garage forecourts.

For example the blind could display advertising material, or messages at airports or other public places.

Claims (7)

1. A display sign which is variable and which faces in two directions comprising two display blinds each of which is wound on and extends between two rollers, the display material of the blinds facing in the respective directions, a roller of one of the blinds being geared to a roller of the other of said blinds whereby the blinds will be moved simultaneouly, the other of said rollers of each blind and roller pair assembly being spring loaded tending to assist unrolling ofthe blind from the geared roller.

2. A display sign according to Claim 1, wherein the blinds face in opposite directions, and the first rollers are located at the lower end of supporting framework, whilst the second rollers are located at the upper end of such framework, the blinds extending vertically between the roller pairs.

3. A display sign according to Claim 2, wherein the first rollers rotate in the same direction, but the blinds are wound thereon in opposite directions so that as one blind is wound onto its appropriate first roller, the other blind is unwound from that roller.

4. A display sign according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the spring loading on the rollers is such as to maintain a constant tension torque on the roller which is loaded.

5. A display sign according to any preceding claim, made up of a plurality of the display signs according to any preceding claim.

6. A display sign according to any preceding claim, including illumination means for illumination of the material displayed by the blinds.

7. A display sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.