GB2276028A - Matrix display - Google Patents

Abstract

A display comprises a plurality of members each having faces 14 of different appearance and each mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis 22. The display members are mounted on an endless belt and are provided with at least one formation 24 which causes the display member to pivot where the endless belt reverses direction. Each display member is further provided with a magnetisable disc 26 which when energised by an electromagnetic 38 has the effect of preventing the pivot causing formation to operate. In an alternative embodiment the display is changed by hand. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT SIGNS This invention relates to apparatus for displaying a plurality of different signs.

Apparatus for displaying different signs is well known. Such apparatus in the form of electronic score boards is used at sports venues such as football clubs and cricket clubs for displaying match scores.

Destination boards and message indicator boards are widely used at railways stations, bus stations and airports.

Furthermore, display apparatus is widely used in advertising.

There are various types of known apparatus for displaying different signs. Some types of known apparatus have a lightbulb display. The lightbulbs are able to change displays quickly but electrical power always has to be present in order to sustain a display. Also, the display apparatus has to be sealed from the effects of rain and moisture. Display apparatus is also known in which displays are formed by small discs. The dics are movable through 900 so that they can be arranged to be face on to be viewable and to form part of a message, or they can be end on to be substantially non-viewable and thus do not form part of a message. With such apparatus, electrical power is not usually required to sustain a display. However, the mechanism for moving the individual discs can be expensive and also heavy. Still further, extra expense is usually required in protecting the apparatus from the effects of rain and moisture.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus for displaying a plurality of different signs, which apparatus does not require electrical power to sustain a display, which apparatus can be produced to be less heavy than the above mentioned rotating disc display apparatus, and which apparatus can operate outside without requiring complicated and expensive sealing-from the effects of rain and moisture.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for displaying a plurality of different signs, which apparatus comprises a plurality of separate sign members which together are able to form a sign, a first face on each sign member, a second face on each sign member, support means for the sign members, and pivot means for pivotally supporting the sign members with respect to the support means such that the sign members are able to be pivoted to display different combinations of the first and the second faces in order to form different signs, and the apparatus being such that the pivot means is for pivotally supporting the sign members in a horizontal manner such that the sign members each pivot about a horizontal axis.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used for displaying any suitable and appropriate types of signs so that, for example, the signs may be formed by a word or words and/or a number or numbers and/or a picture or pictures. Generally, the sign members are changeable to form a required sign, with the sign members not interferring with each other as they are individually set.

The sign members can be constructed such that they can be exposed to the effects of weather sO that there is no need to provide expensive and often heavy covers or weather seals.

Preferably, the sign members are automatically pivotable.

Preferably, the support means is an endless rotatable device. With such an endless rotatable device, a required sign is able to be changed such that the old sign rolls off the top of the endless rotatable device, and a new sign rolls up from the bottom of the endless rotatable device. The changing of the sign is advantageously able to be made using gravity.

The endless rotatable device may be an endless belt or other suitable and appropriate device.

The endless rotatable device may be mounted over a first roller member positioned at a top part of the endless rotatable device, whereby the endless rotatable device has a front face and a rear face.

Usually the endless rotatable device will then be rectangular in end view but other shapes may be employed if desired.

The endless rotatable device will usually be mounted over a second roller member positioned at a bottom part of the endless rotatable device.

The first roller member may be a drive member for driving the endless rotatable device. Other types of drive means may be employed, for example drive means for driving the second roller member or for driving the endless rotatable device by some other means. Usually, the drive means will engage the inner surface of the endless rotatable device in order to leave the outer surface of the endless rotatable device free for the mounting of the sign members on the pivot means.

Preferably, the sign members are hollow sign members which are rectangular in end view. The sign members will usually have curved ends. The sign members will usually be made of a rigid construction. The sign members may be made of a plastics or a metal material by moulding or casting as may be desired.

The sign members may each have an interior which is plain. In this case, with an endless rotatable device, the sign members present a different one of the first and the second faces for each 3600 revolution of the endless rotatable device, when the sign members are viewed from the front. With this construction, the sign members can be arranged to slide at the top of the endless rotatable device so that there is no change of the outwardly presented face at the top of the endless rotatable device. A change in the outwardly presented face occurs at the bottom of the endless rotatable device. Thus, with sign members having differently coloured first and second faces, one colour will roll over the top of the endless rotatable device and the other colour will roll up from the bottom of the endless rotatable device.

In another embodiment of the invention, the sign members each have an interior which has one pivotcausing formation for causing its sign member to pivot at the top of the endless rotatable device. In this case, with an endless rotatable device, the sign members present the same first or the second face for each 3600 revolution of the endless rotatable device. More specifically, the pivot-causing formation causes its sign member to pivot or rotate through 1800 at the top portion of the endless rotatable device, and a further 1800 turn of the sign member occurs at the bottom portion of the endless rotatable device.

Usually, the said one pivot-causing formation will be positioned at a first end of the sign member.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the sign members each have an interior which has two pivotcausing formations, each pivot-causing formation being for causing its sign member to pivot at the top of the endless rotatable device. With two such pivot-causing formations, the action of the sign member is the same as with one pivot-causing formation, except that pivoting can be caused at.the top of the rotatable endless device when either end of the sign member is leading. The use of two pivot-causing formations is advantageous for forming continuous messages as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

When there are two of the pivot-causing formations, then one of the pivot-causing formations is preferably positioned at a first end of the sign member and the other pivot-causing formation is preferably positioned at a second end of the sign member.

When the sign members each include one or more pivot-causing formations, then the apparatus of the invention advantageously includes bypass means for bypassing the action of the or each pivot-causing member The bypass means is preferably an electro magnetic arrangement. Other types of bypass means may however be employed.

The electro-magnetic arrangement may comprise magnetisable material provided on each one of the sign members. The magnetisable material when energised and acted upon by an electro-magnet, causes movement of the sign member such that its pivot-causing formation is bypassed and does not function. The magnetisable material will usually be positioned against the or each pivotcausing formation but it can be positioned elsewhere if desired on the sign members. Usually, after activation, the magnetisable material will not remain magnetised in order to avoid unwanted movement. The magnetisable material may be a soft iron material.

With the use of an electro-magnetic arrangement for affecting the movement of the sign members, the entire apparatus of the invention can be computer controlled so that signs such for example as messages or other displays can easily and remotely be altered at will. Signs, for example messages, can be altered line by line starting at the bottom and working towards the top of the sign.

Persons reading the sign will read it from the front of the apparatus and the computer or other control means employed will set the new message at the back of the apparatus, by moving appropriate sign members using the electro-magnet, whereby the required message will then roll up from the bottom of the endless rotatable device.

Other means can be employed to electro-magnets for altering the sign members. Thus, for example, the sign members may be altered using air jets, or by means of a wave form created on a linear motor.

In a simplified version of the apparatus of the invention, the sign members may be manually pivotable.

In this case, the support means may be a display board.

The display board may be a fixed display board, a freestanding display board or a hand-holdable display board.

Such display boards with manual pivoting of the sign members enable the apparatus quickly and easily to be changed and such apparatus is often required at exhibitions, for example by exhibitors and by organisers.

The sign members are preferably square in plan view. Other shapes for the sign members such for example as rectangular or circular shapes may be employed if desired. Generally, the sign members can be of any suitable and appropriate shape and size. Their simplicity of construction makes it cost effective to have many more sign members making up a display than in existing apparatus.

As indicated above, the first face of the sign members is preferably a different colour from the second face of the sign members. For example, the sign members may have yellow and black faces or white and black faces. The faces of the sign members may be provided with a fluorescent material for night-time viewing. Alternatively, the apparatus may be arranged to be illuminated from outside or from inside in order to enable night-time viewing.

The sign members may be made to be aerodynamic in order to reduce any tendency of the sign members to flap in the wind, and in order to allow faster rotation and message changing. Alternatively or in addition, the sign members may be arranged to interlock at the front viewing side of the apparatus, whereby the sign members will not flap and or be able easily to be tampered with by vandals.

The sign members can be made of any suitable and appropriate material such for example as plastics materials and metals. The sign members can be made by moulding, casting or any other suitable and appropriate manufacturing methods.

The pivot means may be a single pivot rod for each sign member, or a single pivot rod for each row of sign members. Alternatively, the pivot means may be a pair of inwardly extending pivot arms for each sign member. Generally, any suitable and appropriate pivot means may be employed so long as the sign members can be moved independently of each other. Advantageously, the pivot means will be constructed to facilitate repair and maintenance, for example the repair of a single sign member which may need to be removed from the pivot means.

The apparatus of the invention may be arranged to be collapsible for ease of transport, storage and erection on site. Such collapsible apparatus may be especially advantageous where the apparatus is to be moved to different venues, for example to different horse racing tracks.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a known sign and illustrates in detail a part of the sign; Figures 2, 3 and 4 are front, end and side views of one disc sign member forming part of the sign shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 illustrates how the disc sign members are moved from viewable to non-viewable positions; Figure 6 is a perspective view of first apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a side view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is an enlarged view of a top portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a perspective view of one sign member; Figure 10 illustrates the pivoting action of the sign member as it turns through 1800; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a second sign member; Figure 12 is an end view of the sign member shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 shows second apparatus in accordance with the invention, the apparatus using sign members as shown in Figure 12; Figure 14 shows an enlarged part of the apparatus shown in Figure 13 and illustrates the pivoting rotational movement of the sign members; Figure 15 illustrates how the use of bypass means may be employed to prevent the pivoting rotational movement of the sign members as shown in Figure 14; Figure 16 is a perspective view of a third sign member; Figure 17 is an end view of the sign member shown in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a perspective view of a sign member as shown in Figure 16 but with a different type of pivot means to that shown in previous figures; Figure 19 is a front view of the sign member as shown in Figure 19 and additionally shows the use of a ball bearing; Figure 20 is a perspective view of a sign member and illustrates how the sign member may allow back lighting; Figure 21 shows the sign member of Figure 20 in a light blocked mode; and Figure 22 shows the sign member of Figure 20 in a light passing mode.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown apparatus 2 for displaying a plurality of different signs. The apparatus 2 shows the sign in the form of a footballer together with the words GREAT GOAL! The sign on the apparatus 2 is made up of a plurality of separate sign members in the form of discs 4. The discs 4 are pivotable from a face on position in which they are viewable to an end on position in which they are not viewable, as shown in the enlarged scrap view portion in Figure 1 and also as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Figure 5 shows a device for moving the discs 4. The device comprises an electrically operated electro-magnet 6 which is connected to the disc 4 by a swivel joint 8. The electro-magnet 6 has terminal pins 10 for enabling connection to be made to a source of electric power. In Figure 5, the front viewable position of the disc 4 is shown in solid lines and the retracted end on position of the disc 4 is shown in broken lines.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 10, there is shown apparatus 12 which is in accordance with the invention and which is for displaying a plurality of different signs.

In Figure 6, it will be seen that the sign 1 is displayed.

The apparatus 12 comprises a plurality of separate sign members 14 which together are able to form the sign. The sign members have a first face 16 which is coloured white and a second face 18 which is coloured black. Thus the sign 1 shown in Figure 6 appears as a white sign on a black background.

The apparatus 12 is such that it has support means in the form of an endless rotatable device 20 for supporting the sign members 14 as shown. The apparatus 12 also has pivot means in the form of a rod 22 for pivotally supporting the sign members 14 with respect to the endless rotatable device 20 such that the sign members 14 are able to be pivoted to display different combinations of the first and the second faces in order to form different signs. As can be seen from Figures 6 to 10, the apparatus 12 is such that the rod 22 is for pivotally supporting the sign members 14 in a horizontal manner such that the sign members 14 each pivot about a horizontal axis. This enables the apparatus 12 to take advantage of gravity in causing sign members 14 to change their relative positions.

The apparatus 22 shown in Figures 6 to 10 is such that the individual sign members 14 can be moved by hand or by some mechanical or electrical arrangement, which is not shown. Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, there is shown a sign member 14 which is similar to the sign member 14 shown in Figures 9 and 10 except that it is provided with a pivot causing formation in the form of a ramp 24 and a bypass means in the form of a magnetisable disc 26. As shown, the ramp 24 is positioned inside the otherwise plain interior of the sign member 14. The upper part of the ramp 24 has a curved portion 28 which receives the rod 24 as the sign member 14 pivots over the rod 22. Also, a space 30 is arranged to be larger than the diameter of the rod 22 so that the rod 22 can slide between the ramp 24 and the inside of the sign member 14 when it is not desired for the rod 14 to locate in the curved portion 28 and for the sign member 14 to pivot about the rod 22.

Figures 13 and 14 show the sign members 14 of Figures 11 and 12 provided on apparatus 12 like that shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals. Thus it will be seen that the endless device 20 is rotating around a pair of rollers 32, 34 and the endless rotatable device 20 is supporting a matrix of the sign members 14, for example to give a message as shown in Figure 6. The pivoting action of the sign member 14 at the bottom of the endless rotatable device 20 is as described above for Figures 6 to 10.

At the top of the endless rotatable device 20 as shown in Figures 13 and 14, it will be seen that the sign members 14 do not just slide as shown in Figure 8 but pivot about their rods 22 through 180O. Thus, it will be seen that the ramp 24 is effective to cause 1800 rotation at the top of the endless rotatable device 20 and no rotation but a change of outwardly presented face at the bottom of the endless rotatable device 20. This means that the sign members 14 present the same first face for each 3600 revolution of the endless rotatable device 20.

As can best be seen from Figure 14, the ramp 24 is positioned at a first end 36 of the sign member 14.

The sign members 14 shown in Figures 13 and 14 do not have the magnetisable disc 26. Sign members 14 having the magnetisable disc are shown in Figure 15, and the way in which the discs 26 operate is also shown in Figure 15.

More specifically, in Figure 15 it will be seen that as the sign members 14 are at the top part of the endless rotatable device 20 the action that would normally take place without the presence of the disc 26 would be as shown in Figure 14. However, with the presence of the disc 6, the disc of each sign member 12 is able to be attracted to an electro-magnet 38 when it is appropriately energised via leads 40. The electro-magnet 38 and its adjacent magnetisable disc 26 form an electro-magnetic arrangement.

It will be seen that as the disc 26 is attracted to the electro-magnet 38, the sign member 14 moves to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 15. This has the effect of lifting the ramp 24 over the top of the rod 22 so that the sign member 14 does not pivot about the rod 22. Instead, the sign member 14 slides past the rod 22 and thus does not pivot through 1800. In other words, the outwardly presented first face 16 remains outwardly presented.

Figures 16 and 17 are perspective and side views of a sign member 14 having two of the ramps 24 and two of the magnetic discs 26. Thus this sign member 14 can be arranged to pivot at its first end 36 or at its second end 42 if the ramps 24 are used, or the ramps 24 can be bypassed if the appropriate magnetic disc 24 is attracted by a solenoid 38. The sign members 14 of the type shown in Figures 16 and 17 are useful for writing continuous messages.

Figure 18 shows a sign member 14 like that shown in Figures 16 and 17 supported on pivot means in the form of a pair of short pivot rods 44 instead of the single rod 22. The pivot rods 44 are mounted by brackets 46 to a base member 48 which provides the correct spacing for the sign members 14 with respect to adjacent sign members 14. Thus the base member 48 acts as a spacing device. The use of the two pivot rods 44 enables the space between these pivot rods 44 to be solid in the sign member 14.

Figure 19 shows an alternative bypass means to the disc 26. More specifically, in Figure 19, the sign member 14 is provided with a ball bearing 50 which moves in a sealed chamber 52. The use of the ball bearing 50 gives a lower centre of gravity for better stability.

The ball bearing 50 is approximately one half of the weight of two of the discs 26. Thus the ball bearing 50 is used to replace two of the discs 26 where they are used with two of the ramps 24.

Figure 20 shows a sign member 14 like that shown in Figure 18 except that the sign member 14 is provided with a plurality of apertures 54, only some of which are shown in Figure 20. As shown in Figures 21 and 22, these apertures 54 can be blocked (Figure 21) or can be unblocked (Figure 22). In order for the apertures 54 to be blocked and unblocked as shown, it will be seen that the sign member 14 has a top part 56 which slides with respect to a bottom part 58. In the unblocked condition, light is able to pass through the apertures 54 in order to give a back-lighting effect.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the sign members 14 may be of other shapes than those illustrated. The sign members may be produced to have any suitable and appropriate coloured signs.

Required signs may be produced using computers to control the electro-magnets 38 and the required discs 26. The signs can be changed line by line moving from the bottom to the top, or the signs may be changed in other ways as may be desired and appropriate. The signs are changed by moving the sign members and the sign members will normally be constructed such that they occupy the same space when they are moved to and away from their desired facing position.

If desired, the bypass means may pull the pivot rod or rods inwardly, for example inwardly as shown in Figure 15, as the pivot rod or rods pass over the top.

The pulling may be effected by electromagnetic means or by other means.

Each sign member may comprise two similar halves which may be snapped or otherwise fixed together. This may be advantageous when changing a defective individual sign member on a display constructed such that each line of sign members shares the same rod 22. If desired, each half of the sign members could be moulded or cast in a different colour in order to effect desired colour changes.

Claims (25)

1. Apparatus for displaying a plurality of different signs, which apparatus comprises a plurality of separate sign members which together are able to form a sign, a first face on each sign member, a second face on each sign member, support means for the sign members, and pivot means for pivotally supporting the sign members with respect to the support means such that the sign members are able to be pivoted to display different combinations of the first and the second faces in order to form different signs, and the apparatus being such that the pivot means is for pivotally supporting the sign members in a horizontal manner such that the sign members each pivot about a horizontal axis.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sign members are automatically pivotable.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the support means is an endless rotatable device.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the endless rotatable device is an endless belt.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the endless rotatable device is mounted over a first roller member positioned at a top part of the endless rotatable device whereby the endless rotatable device has a front face and a rear face.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the endless rotatable device is mounted over a second roller positioned at a bottom part of the endless rotatable device.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the first roller member is a drive member for driving the endless rotatable device.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7 in which the sign members are hollow sign members which are rectangular in end view.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the sign members have curved ends.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the sign members are of a rigid construction.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10 in which the sign members each have an interior which is plain.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10 in which the sign members each have an interior which has one pivot-causing formation for causing its sign member to pivot at the top of the endless rotatable device.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the said one pivot-causing formation is positioned at a first end of the sign member.

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10 in which the sign members each have an interior which has two pivot-causing formations, each pivot-causing formation being for causing its sign member to pivot at the top of the endless rotatable device.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the pivot-causing formations are positioned one at a first end of the sign member and one at a second end of the sign member.

16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15 and including bypass means for bypassing the action of the or each pivot-causing formation.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which the bypass means is an electro-magnetic arrangement.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the electro-magnetic arrangement comprises a magnetisable material provided on each one of the sign members, which magnetisable material when energised causes movement of the sign member such that its pivot-causing formation is bypassed and does not function.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the electro-magnetic arrangement includes at least one electromagnet for the magnetisable material of the sign members0

20. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sign members are manually pivotable.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the support means is a display board.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which the display board is a fixed display board, a free-standing di-splay board, or a hand-holdable display board.

23. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first face of the sign members is of a different colour from the second face of the sign members.

24. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pivot means is a single pivot rod for each sign member, or a single pivot rod for each row of sign members, or a pair of inwardly projecting pivot arms for each sign member.

25. Apparatus for displaying a plurality of different signs, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.