DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 3,798,855 A
• Filed: 09/15/1972
• Issued: 03/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald W. Walker
• Original Assignee: Ronald W. Walker
• Inventors: Walker, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murtagh, John E.
• Application Number:
  US05/289,375
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 52/103,104,64,66,67,29,169,126,30 404/11 49/360,445,348 40/124.5,145A
• US Class Current: 52/103
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 13/003 Funeral monuments, grave sites curbing or markers not making part of vaults E04H13/008 takes precedence

Abstract

A display device that may function as a tombstone or grave marker. The device includes operating mechanism which is adapted to be located under ground for raising and lowering a marker assembly which may be disposed substantially at ground level to function as a grave marker or raised to an elevated position and thereby function as a tombstone. The operating mechanism for effecting the raising and lowering movement includes a wheel mounted for rotation and connected by flexible devices to the marker assembly and with counterweights substantially to balance the weight of the marker assembly. Movement in opposite directions is effected by shifting of counterweights so that upon release of a control, the marker assembly can be raised or lowered to alternate positions.

Claims

1. A display device adapted to be mounted underground, comprising a marker panel, means operatively connected with the marker panel for raising and lowering the same, counterweight means for effecting the operation of said raising and lowering means, and means for translating said counterweight means relative to said raising and lowering means thereby changing the direction of the action of said counterweight means.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the operating means includes a rotary member actuated by the counterweight means.

3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the means for raising and lowering the marker panel includes a rotary member having the counterweight means connected therewith in position for shifting the position of the marker panel upon turning of the rotary member.

4. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the raising and lowering means includes a rotary member having flexible devices connected from the rotary member to the marker panel for moving the latter as a result of turning the rotary member.

5. A display device adapted to be mounted underground, comprising a marker panel, a rotary member operatively connected with the marker panel for raising and lowering the same, counterweights operatively connected with the rotary member for counterbalancing said marker panel, locking means for holding the rotary member in predetermined set positions, and additional counterweight means for initiating movement of the rotary member upon release of the locking means.

6. A display device according to claim 5, including flexible devices operatively connecting the counterweights with the rotary member and additional flexible devices operatively connecting the rotary member with the marker panel for effecting movement of the marker panel in response to turning movement of the Rotary member.

7. A display device according to claim 5, wherein the rotary member comprises a wheel having peripheral grooves therein, cords fixed at one end to the wheel, and extending through certain of the grooves to the marker panel and additional cords fixed at one end to the wheel and extending through the grooves to the counterweights for transmitting motion from the rotary member to the marker panel.

8. A display device according to claim 5, wherein the additional counterweight means is operatively connected with the rotary member for movement therewith and is constructed for shifting movement transversely with respect to the axis of the rotary member.

9. A display device according to claim 5, wherein the additional counterweight means is bodily movable transversely of the axis of the rotary member and acts on the rotary member to effect turning movement thereof in respective extreme positions.

10. A display device according to claim 9, including means in position for shifting the action of the additional counterweight means during turning movement of the rotary member.

11. A display device adapted to be mounted under ground comprising a marker panel assembly, a cross shaft mounted for rotary movement, a wheel mounted on the cross shaft and having guiding grooves on the peripheral surface thereof, flexible devices connected at one end with the wheel and extending therefrom to the marker panel assembly for effecting raising and lowering movements of the assembly upon turning movement of the wheel, counterweight means, means mounting the counterweight means for shifting movement transversely with respect to the axis of the cross shaft, said counterweight means acting on the wheel to effect turning movement thereof, and means in the path of movement of the wheel for shifting the counterweight means to different positions with respect to the axis thereof during said turning movement.

12. A display device according to claim 11, including locking means for limiting the turning movement of the cross shaft and wheel to different circumferential positions.

13. A display device according to claim 11, including a housing adapted to be mounted under ground and to enclose the marker panel and operating mechanism therefor.

14. A display device adapted to be mounted under ground comprising a marker panel adapted to be mounted substantially at ground level and to be raised to an elevated position with respect to ground level, side and end plates connected with the panel and depending therefrom, a stationary frame beneath the marker panel having end plates spaced from the first mentioned end plates, a cross shaft extending transversely of the stationary frame and mounted thereon, a wheel mounted on the cross shaft for turning movement, said wheel having peripheral grooves therein, counterweights in guided relation with the stationary frame for raising and lowering movements with respect thereto, flexible devices fixed at one end to the wheel and extending through the grooves and to the end plates of the marker panel for raising and lowering the latter, additional flexible devices fixed at one end to the wheel and extending through the grooves therein and to the counterweights for turning the wheel in response to movement of the counterweights, a carriage mounted on the cross shaft and including roller means, a pair of counterweights disposed on opposite sides of the axis of the shaft and having means in guided relation with the rollers of the carriage for slidable movement of the counterweights to different positions with respect to the axis of the shaft, and means for effecting shifting movement of the counterweights upon turning of the wheel to a predetermined extent.

15. A display device according to claim 14, wherein the shifting means for the last mentioned counterweights includes a frame segment connected at one end with one of the counterweights, a sprocket wheel assembly mounted on the cross shaft and connected with the frame segment to effeCt shifting movement of the second mentioned counterweights upon turning of the sprocket wheel assembly, and means in the path of the turning movement of the sprocket wheel assembly for effecting actuation of said assembly to shift the positions of the second mentioned counterweights to different positions relative to the axis of the shaft.

16. A display according to claim 14, including locking means for holding the cross shaft and wheel in predetermined set positions.