DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 3,726,032 A
• Filed: 03/05/1971
• Issued: 04/10/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry M. Atkins
• Original Assignee: Henry M. Atkins
• Inventors: Atkins, Henry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/121,486
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 40/33,36,35,61,62,67,65,139,53A,52A,53B
• US Class Current: 40/473
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/00 Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position showcases or showcabinets with arrangements for continuously or intermittently moving the merchandise A47F3/08; using static means to present variable information G09F9/00

Abstract

An active display device which varies between recognizable geometric shapes and presents continuously moving, unrecognizable shapes intermediate of the two recognizable shapes. The device may also carry indicia which is alternately covered by the recognizable shapes, and/or is alternately electrically actuated by the moving portions of the display and indicia may be carried directly on the moving portions.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

an indicia member having states commensurate with at least two recognizable shapes, said member being comprised of four elements interconnected by hinge means, said recognizable shapes being a square and a triangle;

means for transmitting motion to one of said elements of said member whereby said member may be caused to alternately assume said shapes, said motion transmitting means including a drive shaft connected to the smaller of the two elements which define the base of the triangle with the display in the triangle state;

means for producing and coupling oscillatory motion to said drive shaft whereby said shaft alternately rotates in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions; and

a pair of spaced platform means for at least partly supporting said indicia member in the triangular and square states.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia member defines a pair of planar surfaces and wherein said device further comprises:

an indicia display affixed to a first of said planar surfaces, said display changing as the state of said member is varied.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a backing member positioned adjacent a first of said planar surfaces; and

indiCia applied to said backing member in the vicinity of said indicia member, a first portion of said indicia applied to said backing member being exposed with said member in the triangular state and a second portion of said indicia being exposed with said member being in the square state.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a backing member positioned adjacent a first of said indicia member planar surfaces;

supplemental message transmitting means mounted on said backing member; and

means operatively connected to said oscillatory motion producing means for periodically energizing said supplemental message transmitting means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia member defines a pair of planar surfaces and wherein said device further comprises:

a backing member positioned adjacent a first of said planar surfaces; and

indicia applied to said backing member in the vicinity of said indicia member, a first portion of said indicia applied to said backing member being exposed with said member in the triangular state and a second portion of said indicia being exposed with said member in the square state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia member defines a pair of planar surfaces and wherein said device further comprises:

a backing member positioned adjacent a first of said indicia member planar surfaces;

supplemental message transmitting means mounted on said backing member; and

means operatively connected to said oscillatory motion producing means for periodically energizing said supplemental message transmitting means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a third platform positioned between said pair of platforms, said indicia member falling off a first of said pair of platforms onto said third platform in the course of changing from a first to a second state whereby said indicia member elements are caused to assume a serial intermittent arrangement supported by said first platform.