GB2249857A - Display assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A display assembly 1 comprises six spaced-apart rails 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 attached to a backing panel 8. Upper and lower transverse rails 9, 10, 16, 17 define tracks for display panels 15, 19. Each pair of rails such as 2, 3 slidably engage display elements 20. Each display element comprises a housing 30 having front viewing windows 40 through which a numeral displayed on a coil 45 of a self coiling sheet material may be viewed. The coils 45 are mounted on an insert (37, Fig. 6) having projections (47) which engage with engagement holes (46) at each end of the coil 45. The coils 45 may be turned manually to change a display. <IMAGE>

Description

ZA Display Assembly" The invention relates to a display assembly and in particular to a display assembly for displaying information such as currency exchange rates offered by financial institutions and the like.

According to the invention there is provided a display assembly comprising: at least two spaced-apart rails defining tracks for reception of a plurality of display elements, each display element having engagement means for slidably engaging the tracks, each display element comprising a housing having a plurality of spaced-apart viewing windows, each of which is for display of a character, and a plurality of self-coiling display coils, one associated with each window, at least some of the coils having a plurality of display characters thereon, the coils being mounted in the housing for manual movement of the coils to change the display as desired.

In one embodiment of the invention each display element includes a mounting means for mounting the coils in the display housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each coil has engagement means for engagement with the mounting means, in use.

In one embodiment of the invention the mounting means comprises at least two projections, one associated with each end of a coil and the engagement means comprises a hole adjacent each end of each coil for engagement with an associated mounting projection.

In a preferred arrangement there are at least two laterally spaced-apart mounting projections and coil holes associated with each end of each coil.

In one embodiment of the invention a coil mounting insert is provided in each display housing and the coil mounting means is provided on the insert.

Preferably, the mounting insert is spaced-apart from the viewing window for insertion of a coil, on assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the assembly comprises at least three longitudinal rails which are arranged substantially parallel and are spaced-apart to define therebetween tracks for reception of adjacent banks of display elements.

In one embodiment of the invention the display board includes a transverse rail extending across the top or bottom longitudinal rails.

Preferably there are two upper transverse rails which are spaced-apart to define therebetween an upper track for receiving a display panel.

Ideally there are also two lower transverse rails which are spaced-apart to define therebetween a lower track for receiving a further display panel.

In a preferred arrangement the assembly includes a backing panel on which the rail(s) is (are) mounted.

Preferably the or each rail is of generally channel configuration and includes an extension leg for mounting to the backing panel.

The invention also provides a display element for use with the display assembly according to the invention.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a display element comprising a housing having a plurality of spacedapart viewing windows, each of which is for display of a character, and a plurality of self-coiling display coils, are associated with each window at least some of the coils having a plurality of display characters thereon, the coils being mounted in the housing for manual movement of the coils to change the display, as desired.

Preferably, the display element includes a mounting means for mounting the coils in the display housing. Ideally, each coil has engagement means for engagement with the mounting means, in use. Preferably, the mounting means comprises at least two projections, one associated with each end of a coil and the engagement means comprises a hole adjacent each end of each coil for engagement with an associated mounting projection.

Ideally, there are two laterally spaced-apart mounting projections and coil holes associated with each end of each coil.

In one embodiment of the invention, a coil mounting insert is provided in each display housing and the coil mounting means is provided on the insert. Preferably, the mounting insert is spaced-apart from the viewing window for insertion of the coil, on assembly.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display board according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the lines II-II of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a rail arrangement forming part of the display board, Fig. 4 is an end view of the rail arrangement of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one display element forming part of the display board, Fig. 6 is a front view of the display element of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the display element, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a self-coiling display coil, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another display element, and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the display element of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof there is illustrated a display assembly according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, the display assembly in this case comprises six spaced-apart longitudinally extending rails 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which are attached to a backing panel 8. An upper transverse rail 9 extends across the top of the longitudinal rails 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and a second upper transverse rail 10 is spaced-apart from the faces the first transverse rail 9 and defines therewith a track for slidable mounting of an upper display panel 15. Similarly, a lower transverse rail 16 extends across the lower ends of the longitudinal rails, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and a second transverse rail 17 faces the first lower transverse rail 16 and defines therewith a track for reception of a lower display panel 19.The mounting of the display panels will be particularly apparent from Fig. 4.

Each adjacent pair of longitudinal rails such as rails 2, 3 are arranged for sliding engagement of a plurality of display elements which are indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. It will be noted that in this case there are five vertical banks of display elements 20, the uppermost of which in each bank is marked with an indication of the display elements in that column. In this case the display board is particularly for use by financial institutions in displaying currency exchange rates. There are five columns of display elements, one for displaying the particular currency, the next two for displaying the selling and buying rates for cash in that currency and the last two for displaying the buying and selling rates for cheques and drafts in that currency.

Each display element 20 comprises a generally elongated rectilinear box-shaped housing 30. The front side edges of the housing 30 are cut-away to define rebates 35 which engage with the front edge of the associated longitudinal rails as illustrated in Fig. 2 for sliding engagement of the display elements 20 between an adjacent pair of rails 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Display elements 20 for displaying numeric displays in columns 2 to 4 of the display board illustrated in Fig. 1 are shown in detail in Figs. 5 to 8. Each of the display elements 20 in this case has seven front viewing windows 40 through which a numeral displayed on a front face of a coil 45 of a selfcoiling sheet material may be viewed. Mounting means for mounting the coils in the display housing comprises an insert 37 extending between the side walls of the housing 30 and having mounting projections 47 extending therefrom. The ends of each coil 45 are provided with engagement holes 46 which engage over the associated projections 47 as illustrated in Fig. 7 to locate and mount the coils 45 in a desired position.

Each of the coils 45 is of self-coiling sheet material and is preferably manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate sheet material sold under the registered Trade Mark Mylar. The display elements 20 associated with the first column are numeric displays and these display elements are illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 10. In this case each display element housing 30 has a front recess 31 into which is fitted a front display panel 32 on which a desired display is printed, for example "US$" or "it".

In use, the Mylar material is first printed with the desired numeric characters and is then formed into the coils illustrated. The coils 45 are mounted in the display elements 20 as follows. One end of a coil 45 is fed through the slot defined between a viewing window 40 and the insert 37. The rest of the coil 45 is fed through the slot until the other end of the coil 45 is reached. The engagement hole 46 at that end of the coil 45 is then mounted on the associated projection. With the upper rails 9, 10 removed, the display board is assembled by slidably engaging the display elements 20 in the tracks defined by the rails 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. To change the numeric display the portion of the coil displayed through the viewing window of a display element is manually turned by finger pressure to display the, next numeral, hence currency exchange rates, for example, can be readily and quickly changed.

It will be appreciated that there may be two or more mounting projections and two or more associated engagement holes provided for each end of each coil.

Many variations and modifications on the display board and display elements of the invention described above will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (23)

1. A display assembly comprising: at least two spaced-apart rails defining tracks for reception of a plurality of display elements, each display element having engagement means for slidably engaging the tracks, each display element comprising a housing having a plurality of spaced-apart viewing windows, each of which is for display of a character, and a plurality of self-coiling display coils, one associated with each window, at least some of the coils having a plurality of display characters thereon, the coils being mounted in the housing for manual movement of the coils to change the display as desired.

2. A display assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each display element includes a mounting means for mounting the coils in the display housing.

3. A display assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein each coil has engagement means for engagement with the mounting means, in use.

4. A display assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mounting means comprises at least two projections, one associated with each end of a coil and the engagement means comprises a hole adjacent each end of each coil for engagement with an associated mounting projection.

5. A display assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein there are at least two laterally spaced-apart mounting projections and coil holes associated with each end of each coil.

6. A display assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 wherein a coil mounting insert is provided in each display housing and the coil mounting means is provided on the insert.

7. A display assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the mounting insert is spaced-apart from the viewing window for insertion of the coil, on assembly.

8. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the assembly comprises at least three longitudinal rails which are arranged substantially parallel and are spaced-apart to define therebetween two tracks for reception of adjacent banks of display elements.

9. A display assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the display assembly includes a transverse rail extending across the top or bottom longitudinal rails.

10. A display assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein there are two upper transverse rails which are spaced-apart to define therebetween an upper track for receiving a display panel.

11. A display assembly as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein there are two lower transverse rails which are spaced apart to define therebetween a lower track for receiving a further display panel.

12. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim including a backing panel on which the rail(s) is (are) mounted.

13. A display assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein, the or each rail is of generally channel configuration and includes an extension leg for mounting to the backing panel.

14. A display assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A display element for use with a display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

16. A display element for a display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, the display element comprising a housing having a plurality of spaced-apart viewing windows, each of which is for display of a character, and a plurality of self-coiling display coils, are associated with each window at least some of the coils having a plurality of display characters thereon, the coils being mounted in the housing for manual movement of the coils to change the display, as desired.

17. A display element as claimed in claim 16 wherein the display element includes a mounting means for mounting the coils in the display housing.

18. A display element as claimed in claim 17 wherein each coil has engagement means for engagement with the mounting means, in use.

19. A display element as claimed in claim 18 wherein the mounting means comprises at least two projections, one associated with each end of a coil and the engagement means comprises a hole adjacent each end of each coil for engagement with an associated mounting projection.

20. A display element as claimed in claim 19 wherein there are at least two laterally spaced-apart mounting projections and coil holes associated with each end of each coil.

21. A display element as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20 wherein a coil mounting insert is provided in each display housing and the coil mounting means is provided on the insert.

22. A display element as claimed in claim 21 wherein the mounting insert is spaced-apart from the viewing window for insertion of the coil, on assembly.

23. A display element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.