DISPLAY DEVICE
United States Patent 3805432
The display device has a clock, thermometer, hygrometer, and a motor-driven continuous belt containing advertisements mounted within a housing behind a mirror. A plurality of lights are mounted behind the mirror. When the lights are energized, the mirror is transparent to display the clock, thermometer, hygrometer and moving advertisements; and when de-energized, the mirror is reflective.
US Patent References:
Combination clock and calendar
Morris - November 1937 - 2098302
TEMPERATURE-HUMIDITY INDEX INSTRUMENT
Preiser et al. - July 1970 - 3521488
Advertising device
Kuczorra - June 1930 - 1768409
Flasher
Hollins - December 1959 - 2919424
Combination scale and advertising announcer
Daroff - May 1957 - 2791417
Combination clock and calendar
Morris - November 1937 - 2098302
TEMPERATURE-HUMIDITY INDEX INSTRUMENT
Preiser et al. - July 1970 - 3521488
Advertising device
Kuczorra - June 1930 - 1768409
Flasher
Hollins - December 1959 - 2919424
Combination scale and advertising announcer
Daroff - May 1957 - 2791417
Inventors:
Davis, Oliver Thurston (Dunlap, IN)
Jones, Norman R. (Dunlap, IN)
Jones, Norman R. (Dunlap, IN)
Application Number:
05/278802
Publication Date:
04/23/1974
Filing Date:
08/08/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
40/573, 40/438, 968/398
International Classes:
G04B47/00; G09F23/16; G09F23/00; G09F13/12
Field of Search:
40/219,106.53,106.52,132R,13R 58/152A 73/344,336 337/92
Primary Examiner:
Michell, Robert W.
Assistant Examiner:
Pitrelli, John F.
Claims:
What we claim is
1. A display device comprising:
2. A display device comprising:
1. A display device comprising:
2. A display device comprising:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display devices for attracting the attention of the public at large to normally concealed advertising messages and other current information.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many devices have been conceived for arousing the curiosity and holding the attention of the public to advertisements. However, the prior art fails to disclose, insofar as applicants are aware, a device such as the one presently disclosed which functions either as a mirror to reflect images when de-energized or provides useful information and at the same time holds the attention of the observer to continually changing advertisements when energized either manually or automatically.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The display device of the present invention is in the form of a casing having a plurality of lights mounted therein adjacent a continuous belt which is motor driven and has advertising or other printed messages thereon. Adjacent the continuous belt and lights are mounted a clock, and a thermometer and hygrometer for indicating the temperature and humidity, respectively, of the atmosphere outside the casing. A specially constructed screen is mounted on the casing and covers the contents of the casing in its closed position. The screen is transparent when the lights are energized to thereby reveal only the continually moving advertisements, the clock, the thermometer, and the hygrometer within the casing. The entire screen acts to reflect images in front of it when the lights are de-energized. A source of music is also energized when the lights are energized to both entertain as well as arouse and hold the attention and curiosity of the general public in the vicinity of the display device.
The display device can be energized by means of a pushbutton switch and de-energized after a predetermined time by means of a thermostatic switch responsive to the heat generated by one or more of the lights or the display device can be energized and de-energized by means of a timer at predetermined intervals for predetermined lengths of time.
Additional features, objects and advantages of the invention as well as the means for accomplishing them will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the display device in its operational mode.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is one embodiment of a wiring diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a second embodiment of a wiring diagram of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings where like numerals indicate like elements, reference numeral 10 refers generally to the display device of the present invention. The display device 10 comprises a casing 11 of any suitable material, as metal, wood, or fiberglass, which can be readily positioned in the most advantageous place for displaying a series of advertisements in succession.
The casing 11 is provided comprises side portions 12, a back portion 14 and a front 16 having a window or screen 18 mounted within an opening 19. The screen 18 consists of non-opaqued silvered glass plate that normally acts as a mirror to reflect the image of an observer stand before it but which, when illuminated from behind, permits the observer to view the interior of the casing 11 without reflecting the image of the observer.
Within the casing 10 is mounted a pair of parallel, spaced apart guide plates 20 which are secured to the back portion 14 by means of brackets 22 and screws 24. A substantially cylindrical drive roller 26 having a drive shaft 28 is journaled between the guide plates 20 at the upper end thereof. The drive shaft 28 is connected to an electric motor 30 which when energized will rotate the drive roller 26 at a constant speed. A first idler roller 32 is journaled between two bearing blocks 34 which are movably mounted on the guide plates 20 at the lower end thereof by means of bolts 36. When the bolts 36 are loosened, the second roller 32 can be moved vertically toward or away from drive roller 26. Second, third and fourth idle rollers 38, 40, 42, respectively, are similar to idler roller 32 and are journaled between the guide plates 20 parallel to, but spaced apart from, the drive roller 26 and first idler roller 32. It will be readily seen upon reference to FIGS. 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings that rollers 26, 32, 38, 40 and 42 are, thus, positioned and maintained in vertically spaced relation in substantially horizontal parallel alignment.
The present invention further provides a substantially endless belt 44 preferably formed of a resilient pliable material, such as plastic, rubber or the like mounted upon the rollers 26, 32, 38, 40 as shown in FIG. 3 and rotated by means of electric motor 30 and drive roller 26. The belt 44 has secured to one side thereof a plurality of advertisements 47 in substantially end to end abutment. The advertisements 47 can be secured to the outside surface of the belt 44 or they can be formed integrally therewith. If insufficient friction exits between the drive roller 26 and belt 44 to insure proper rotation of the belt 44, the first idler roller 32 can be moved away from the drive roller 26 to tighten the belt and secured in that position by bolts 36.
Each guide plate 20 has secured to it a belt support 45 which extends inwardly a distance behind the belt 44. The belt supports 45 act to keep the surface of the belt 44 behind the screen 18 smooth and wrinkle free as the belt rotates.
A plurality of lights 46, preferably florescent, are secured to the side portions 12 by means of light brackets 48 and screws 24. The lights 46 are positioned behind the screen 18 and in front of the belt 44 to thereby illuminate both the front of the belt 44 as it rotates and the back of the screen 18 to render it transparent. The florescent lights 46 each have starter transformers 50 connected thereto.
The present invention also provides instruments which indicate the time and the current temperature and humidity in the vicinity of the display device. The clock 52, the thermometer 54 and hygrometer 56 are mounted within casing 11 above the drive roller 26 and lights 46. The clock 52, thermometer 54 and hygrometer 56 have indicators 58, 60, 62, respectively, which face the back of screen 18. When the lights 46 are energized, they illuminate the indicators 58, 60 and 62 as well as render the portion of the screen 18 in front of the indicators transparent. A strip of opaque material 63 is positioned behind the screen 18 and in front of the light 46 to render that portion of the screen 18 always reflective and thereby conceal the light 46.
A source of music 64 such as a tape recorder, radio or the like having a speaker 66 is mounted on the inside of the casing 11 below the belt 44. The source of music 64 is energized whenever the lights 46 and electric motor 30 are energized to thereby draw the attention and arouse the curiosity of passerbyers in the vicinity of the display device.
The front 16 is secured to the casing 11 by means of screws 68 which screw into the triangular-shaped corner supports 70 located where the side portions 12 meet. The front 16 also has mounted thereon a pushbutton switch 72 which can be a normally-open switch or a conventional on-off switch as will be fully described in conjuction with FIGS. 6 and 7. The front 16 also has the legend PUSHBUTTON printed adjacent the pushbutton switch 72 and TEMP., TIME, HUMIDITY printed directly above the location of the indicators 58, 60 and 62, respectively.
Referring now to FIG. 6, one embodiment of a wiring diagram for the display device 10 is shown having a source of current fed to supply lines 74, 76. The clock 52 is connected across the supply lines 74, 76 to maintain energization thereof at all times. The normally open pushbutton switch is connected in series with the supply line 74, the parallel connection of the motor 30, lights 46 and music box 64, a thermostatic switch 78 and the supply line 76. The thermostatic switch 78 is secured in proximity to one of the lights 46 and is opened after a predetermined time by the heat generated by the light 46 to which it is secured. A relay 80 has its coil connected in parallel with the electric motor 30 and its normally open contacts 82, 84 connected across the terminals of the pushbutton switch 72. In this embodiment of the wiring diagram, whenever an observer wishes the current time, temperature and humidity, he pushes the pushbutton switch 72 which energizes the motor 30, lights 46, music box 64 and relay 80. Upon energization of the relay 80, relay contacts 82, 84 are made, thus, keeping current flowing through the circuit even though the pushbutton switch 72 returns to its normally open position. After a predetermined time, the thermostatic switch 78 opens due to the heat generated by light 46, thus, interrupting the current flow and de-energizing the relay 80, opening contacts 82, 84. The circuit remains de-energized even though the thermostatic switch 78 eventually cools and closes. The duration that the thermostatic switch 78 stays closed after the lights 46 are energized can be easily and precisely determined by choosing the proximity of the thermostatic switch 78 to the light 46.
The wiring diagram of FIG. 7 is another embodiment wherein the display device 10 can be turned on by on-off switch 72 and then started and stopped automatically at different times or for predetermined lengths of time. The on-off switch 72 is connected in series with supply line 74, the parallel connection of the motor 30, lights 46 and music box 64, a timer 86, and the supply line 76. The timer 86 can be a clock timer (not shown) which closes the circuit at different times of the day or it can be a timer which employs a thermostatic strip 88 having normally closed contacts 90, 92. When the on-off switch 78 is closed, the circuit is energized until the current flowing through the shunt line 94 warms the thermostatic strip 88, thus, opening the contacts 90, 92. After a predetermined time, the thermostatic strip 88 cools to close contacts 90, 92 again energizing the circuit.
Whereas we have described our invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display devices for attracting the attention of the public at large to normally concealed advertising messages and other current information.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many devices have been conceived for arousing the curiosity and holding the attention of the public to advertisements. However, the prior art fails to disclose, insofar as applicants are aware, a device such as the one presently disclosed which functions either as a mirror to reflect images when de-energized or provides useful information and at the same time holds the attention of the observer to continually changing advertisements when energized either manually or automatically.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The display device of the present invention is in the form of a casing having a plurality of lights mounted therein adjacent a continuous belt which is motor driven and has advertising or other printed messages thereon. Adjacent the continuous belt and lights are mounted a clock, and a thermometer and hygrometer for indicating the temperature and humidity, respectively, of the atmosphere outside the casing. A specially constructed screen is mounted on the casing and covers the contents of the casing in its closed position. The screen is transparent when the lights are energized to thereby reveal only the continually moving advertisements, the clock, the thermometer, and the hygrometer within the casing. The entire screen acts to reflect images in front of it when the lights are de-energized. A source of music is also energized when the lights are energized to both entertain as well as arouse and hold the attention and curiosity of the general public in the vicinity of the display device.
The display device can be energized by means of a pushbutton switch and de-energized after a predetermined time by means of a thermostatic switch responsive to the heat generated by one or more of the lights or the display device can be energized and de-energized by means of a timer at predetermined intervals for predetermined lengths of time.
Additional features, objects and advantages of the invention as well as the means for accomplishing them will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the display device in its operational mode.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is one embodiment of a wiring diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a second embodiment of a wiring diagram of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings where like numerals indicate like elements, reference numeral 10 refers generally to the display device of the present invention. The display device 10 comprises a casing 11 of any suitable material, as metal, wood, or fiberglass, which can be readily positioned in the most advantageous place for displaying a series of advertisements in succession.
The casing 11 is provided comprises side portions 12, a back portion 14 and a front 16 having a window or screen 18 mounted within an opening 19. The screen 18 consists of non-opaqued silvered glass plate that normally acts as a mirror to reflect the image of an observer stand before it but which, when illuminated from behind, permits the observer to view the interior of the casing 11 without reflecting the image of the observer.
Within the casing 10 is mounted a pair of parallel, spaced apart guide plates 20 which are secured to the back portion 14 by means of brackets 22 and screws 24. A substantially cylindrical drive roller 26 having a drive shaft 28 is journaled between the guide plates 20 at the upper end thereof. The drive shaft 28 is connected to an electric motor 30 which when energized will rotate the drive roller 26 at a constant speed. A first idler roller 32 is journaled between two bearing blocks 34 which are movably mounted on the guide plates 20 at the lower end thereof by means of bolts 36. When the bolts 36 are loosened, the second roller 32 can be moved vertically toward or away from drive roller 26. Second, third and fourth idle rollers 38, 40, 42, respectively, are similar to idler roller 32 and are journaled between the guide plates 20 parallel to, but spaced apart from, the drive roller 26 and first idler roller 32. It will be readily seen upon reference to FIGS. 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings that rollers 26, 32, 38, 40 and 42 are, thus, positioned and maintained in vertically spaced relation in substantially horizontal parallel alignment.
The present invention further provides a substantially endless belt 44 preferably formed of a resilient pliable material, such as plastic, rubber or the like mounted upon the rollers 26, 32, 38, 40 as shown in FIG. 3 and rotated by means of electric motor 30 and drive roller 26. The belt 44 has secured to one side thereof a plurality of advertisements 47 in substantially end to end abutment. The advertisements 47 can be secured to the outside surface of the belt 44 or they can be formed integrally therewith. If insufficient friction exits between the drive roller 26 and belt 44 to insure proper rotation of the belt 44, the first idler roller 32 can be moved away from the drive roller 26 to tighten the belt and secured in that position by bolts 36.
Each guide plate 20 has secured to it a belt support 45 which extends inwardly a distance behind the belt 44. The belt supports 45 act to keep the surface of the belt 44 behind the screen 18 smooth and wrinkle free as the belt rotates.
A plurality of lights 46, preferably florescent, are secured to the side portions 12 by means of light brackets 48 and screws 24. The lights 46 are positioned behind the screen 18 and in front of the belt 44 to thereby illuminate both the front of the belt 44 as it rotates and the back of the screen 18 to render it transparent. The florescent lights 46 each have starter transformers 50 connected thereto.
The present invention also provides instruments which indicate the time and the current temperature and humidity in the vicinity of the display device. The clock 52, the thermometer 54 and hygrometer 56 are mounted within casing 11 above the drive roller 26 and lights 46. The clock 52, thermometer 54 and hygrometer 56 have indicators 58, 60, 62, respectively, which face the back of screen 18. When the lights 46 are energized, they illuminate the indicators 58, 60 and 62 as well as render the portion of the screen 18 in front of the indicators transparent. A strip of opaque material 63 is positioned behind the screen 18 and in front of the light 46 to render that portion of the screen 18 always reflective and thereby conceal the light 46.
A source of music 64 such as a tape recorder, radio or the like having a speaker 66 is mounted on the inside of the casing 11 below the belt 44. The source of music 64 is energized whenever the lights 46 and electric motor 30 are energized to thereby draw the attention and arouse the curiosity of passerbyers in the vicinity of the display device.
The front 16 is secured to the casing 11 by means of screws 68 which screw into the triangular-shaped corner supports 70 located where the side portions 12 meet. The front 16 also has mounted thereon a pushbutton switch 72 which can be a normally-open switch or a conventional on-off switch as will be fully described in conjuction with FIGS. 6 and 7. The front 16 also has the legend PUSHBUTTON printed adjacent the pushbutton switch 72 and TEMP., TIME, HUMIDITY printed directly above the location of the indicators 58, 60 and 62, respectively.
Referring now to FIG. 6, one embodiment of a wiring diagram for the display device 10 is shown having a source of current fed to supply lines 74, 76. The clock 52 is connected across the supply lines 74, 76 to maintain energization thereof at all times. The normally open pushbutton switch is connected in series with the supply line 74, the parallel connection of the motor 30, lights 46 and music box 64, a thermostatic switch 78 and the supply line 76. The thermostatic switch 78 is secured in proximity to one of the lights 46 and is opened after a predetermined time by the heat generated by the light 46 to which it is secured. A relay 80 has its coil connected in parallel with the electric motor 30 and its normally open contacts 82, 84 connected across the terminals of the pushbutton switch 72. In this embodiment of the wiring diagram, whenever an observer wishes the current time, temperature and humidity, he pushes the pushbutton switch 72 which energizes the motor 30, lights 46, music box 64 and relay 80. Upon energization of the relay 80, relay contacts 82, 84 are made, thus, keeping current flowing through the circuit even though the pushbutton switch 72 returns to its normally open position. After a predetermined time, the thermostatic switch 78 opens due to the heat generated by light 46, thus, interrupting the current flow and de-energizing the relay 80, opening contacts 82, 84. The circuit remains de-energized even though the thermostatic switch 78 eventually cools and closes. The duration that the thermostatic switch 78 stays closed after the lights 46 are energized can be easily and precisely determined by choosing the proximity of the thermostatic switch 78 to the light 46.
The wiring diagram of FIG. 7 is another embodiment wherein the display device 10 can be turned on by on-off switch 72 and then started and stopped automatically at different times or for predetermined lengths of time. The on-off switch 72 is connected in series with supply line 74, the parallel connection of the motor 30, lights 46 and music box 64, a timer 86, and the supply line 76. The timer 86 can be a clock timer (not shown) which closes the circuit at different times of the day or it can be a timer which employs a thermostatic strip 88 having normally closed contacts 90, 92. When the on-off switch 78 is closed, the circuit is energized until the current flowing through the shunt line 94 warms the thermostatic strip 88, thus, opening the contacts 90, 92. After a predetermined time, the thermostatic strip 88 cools to close contacts 90, 92 again energizing the circuit.
Whereas we have described our invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.