GB2230637A - Display board - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic rate display board has a plurality of similar horizontally elongate recesses 2 in the front surface of the board, the recesses being vertically aligned to form a first column, and a plurality of similar horizontally elongate windows 3 in the front surface of the board, the windows being vertically aligned to form a second column and each window being aligned horizontally next to a respective recess. A detachable panel is accommodated in each recess 2, and a respective row of electronic digits 4 is located behind and exposed through each window 3. The display board may be used in a bank, and will display country names and corresponding exchange rates. <IMAGE>

Description

An electronic Rate Display Board This invention relates to an electronic rate display board.

Electronic rate display boards are used in banks and other financial institutions to show various monetary rates and/or prices to their customers and to the general public. More commonly exchange rates for foreign currencies are displayed, but also deposit and loan interest rates and stock market prices may be displayed. For the purpose of clarity, the present invention will be described with particular reference to exchange rates for foreign currencies which description is to be considered to embrace collectively all financial rates and prices commonly displayed in banks and other financial institutions.

An exchange rate board typcially contains a single vertical column of about 20 country names (often with national flag) down the left hand side. Provided to the right of the country column may be from two to four vertical columns of electronic digits for displaying the relevant exchange rates. Each electronic column may have the heading "we buy 1 ,note", "wesell note", etc. The electronic digits are typically controlled by a localised bank computer and the rates may be changed periodically by the bank as exchange rates vary on the international money markets. The country names usually remain unchanged for long periods, but as the tourist business develops and as the bank modifies its foreign exchange market, there is a growing need to add or remove country names on a more frequent basis than hithertofore.Depending on the bank or the branch, the number of rates per country (number of vertical columns) may be two, three or four.

Since exchange rate boards are usually also used as an advertising tool of the bank, they must have an attractive appearance. They must also be economically priced. Known low cost exchange rate boards are inflexible in that the country names are printed directly onto the front surface and so cannot be changed. Putting the country names onto adhesive paper labels has not been common because the result looks unattractive and is recognised as a solution which is unacceptable as not properly reflecting the status of a bank or financial institution. Rate boards may have the country names in electronic characters but this has proved too expensive for general use.

The present invention relates to a rate board that allows simple changing of country names, can display two, three or four columns of rates and maintain the attractive appearance required for that function.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an electronic rate display board having a plurality of similar horizontally elongate recesses in the front surface of the board, the recesses being vertically aligned to form a first column, a plurality of similar horizontally elongate windows in the front surface of the board, the windows being vertically aligned to form a second column and each window being aligned horizontally next to a respective recess, a detachable panel accommodated in each recess, and a respective row of electronic digits located behind and exposed through each window.

For the purposes of this specification, an electronic digit is a device selectively capable of displaying different digits, or no digit, in response to electrical control signals supplied thereto.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the front perspective view of the exchange rate board (the positioning of country names and the columns of electronic displays); Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a method of fixing the country names onto the exchange rate board; and Figure 3 is a front view of an operational exchange rate board according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a front perspective view of an exchange rate board which comprises a single plastics moulding 1.

The board has a plurality of similar horizontally elongate recesses 2 in the front surface of the board, the recesses being vertically aligned to form a first column. The board also has a plurality of similar horizontally elongate (slit) windows 3 in the front surface of the board, the windows 3 likewise being vertically aligned to form a second column and each window being aligned horizontally next to a respective recess.

The electronic rate display board includes further horizontal elongate recesses 5 and 6 extending across substantially the full width of the first and second columns and each also containing a panel, the recess 5 being above the columns and the recess 6 below the columns.

The rectangular recesses 5 and 6 are provided primarily to accdmmodate panels giving for example the name of the bank, additional financial information and/or instructions and appropriate advertising material.

The country names for use on the exchange rate board are printed onto individual rectangular plastics panels 7, each having an adhesive backing. These panels 7 are adapted to fit into the set of rectangular recesses 2 in such a manner that they do not appear to be additions to the board. This objective is achieved first by ensuring that the panels 7 are of the exact same colour as the exchange rate board and second by prividing that each recess 2 has a configuration adapted to accommodate and support a panel 7 such that when the panel is inserted into the recess 2 with the rear of the panel 7 adhesively, but demountably, secured to the base 8 of the recess 2, the panel 7 appears to a viewer as forming an intregal part of the moulded plastics exchange board 1.In order to achieve this result each recess 2 has inclined faces 9 and 10 leading to a panel bed formed by the base 8 and two side walls 11 and 12 at right angles to the base 8 and connecting the base 8 to the inclined faces 9 and 10 respectively. The depth of the panel bed as defined by the length of the side walls 11 and 12 is the same as the thickness of each panel 7. In this way each panel 7 fits exactly into a panel bed to give a board configuration with the front face of each panel 7 exactly flush with the inner end of the inclined faces 9 and 10. These country panels 7 may be removed and new ones substituted as required.

To summarise, each panel 7 has a thickness less than the depth of the corresponding recess 2 so as to present an exposed surface which is below the front surface of the board, the edges 9 and 10 of the recess being inclined outwardly in the direction from the exposed surface of the panel to the front surface of the board.

In particular, the inclined edges 9 and 10 lead inwardly to a panel bed formed by the base 8 of the recess and side walls 11 and 12 substantially at right angles to the front surface of the board, the depth of the panel 7 being substantially equal to the height of the side walls 11 and 12.

A respective row of electronic digits 4 is mounted on a back plate inside the board 1 and is located directly behind and exposed through each slit window 3.

By altering the positions of the display digits, the same board may be configured to display two, three or four columns of rates. Flexibility of display is essential since the information considered as basic display information varies from country to country. In Continental Europe two columns of rates is adequate, in the United Kingdom three columns of rates are necessary, while in the Republic of Ireland four columns of rates are considered essential. The use of a single slit window 3 for each row of electronic digits 4 allows complete flexibility of the number of columns and their positioning within the windows 3, e.g. centralising the columns of digits, and whether two, three or four columns are to be displayed.

The bank name, etc. and headings describing the vertical column of electronic digits are printed on further adhesive panels that fit into the top rectangular recess 5 and the bottom rectangular recess 6.

Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrates an electronic exchange rate display board according to the present invention. The board illustrated is typical of the construction of board which would be required for display by a bank in the Republic of Ireland. The country is both named and the relevant national flag shown alongside the name. The "buy and sell" information is given in four columns of electronic digits appropriately aligned behind the slit windows. The recesses at each free end of the board each carry a large panel carrying on one advertising material and column headings and on the other additional financial information relating to commission rates and the like charges.

The electronic rate display board may be mounted on an interior wall of the public area of the bank or other financial institution. Also the board may be displayed in a window of the bank building.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. An electronic rate display board having a plurality of similar horizontally elongate recesses in the front surface of the board, the recesses being vertically aligned to form a first column, a plurality of similar horizontally elongate windows in the front surface of the board, the windows being vertically aligned to form a second column and each window being aligned horizontally next to a respective recess, a detachable panel accommodated in each recess, and a respective row of electronic digits located behind and exposed through each window.

2. An electronic rate display board as claimed in claim 1, wherein each panel has a thickness less than the depth of the corresponding recess so as to present an exposed surface which is below the front surface of the board, the edges of the recess being inclined outwardly in the direction from the exposed surface of the panel to the front surface of the board.

3. An electronic rate display board as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inclined edges lead inwardly to a panel bed formed by the base of the recess and side walls substantially at right angles to the front surface of the board, the depth of the panel being substantially equal to the height of the side walls.

4. An electronic rate display board as claimed in any preceding claim, including a further recess extending above and across substantially the full width of the tops of the first and second columns and also containing a panel.

5. An electronic rate display board as claimed in any preceding claim, including a further recess extending below and across substantially the full width of the bottoms of the first and second columns and also containing a panel.

6. An electronic rate display board substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.