Visual display with magnetic overlay

• US 4,101,884 A
• Filed: 02/03/1977
• Issued: 07/18/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence M. Benton Jr
• Original Assignee: Lawrence M. Benton Jr
• Inventors: Benton, Lawrence M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/765,354
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 340/366 B, 340/381, 340/378 A, 40/142 A, 40/133 R
• US Class Current: 340/815.75
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/04 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by magnetic means

Abstract

An imperforate display membrane is backlit by placing an apertured support between a light source and the display membrane so that light travels through the support and forms a spot on the membrane at a desired position having display indicia in registration therewith. One or more overlay members are provided and with said members having revised indicia thereon which either up-dates, corrects or otherwise revises the indicia on the original membrane. The membrane support and each overlay member are constructed to provide mutual magnetic attraction therebetween. Furthermore, each overlay member is provided with an opening which is adapted to register with the light aperture in the membrane support when the overlay member is magnetically held in place to the support and over the old indicia.

Claims

1. A visual display device comprising, in combination:

(a) a planular support wall having a plurality of apertures therein,

(b) a light source disposed behind said support wall,

(c) a removable flexible light transmissive imperforate membrane disposed on the front of said support wall, and with said membrane having a plurality of discrete spaced display indicia portions thereon,

(d) said indicia portions being disposed over said apertures,

(e) at least one planular overlay member adapted to be removably disposed over one of said indicia portions and with said overlay member having a revised indicia thereon different from said first-named indicia,

(f) means for securing said overlay member in place so that said membrane is confined between said overlay member and said support wall,

(g) and an opening in said overlay member and adapted to register with the respective aperture so that light passing through said aperture onto said membrane is visible through said overlay member.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said overlay member and said support wall are mutually magnetically attractive to thereby provide said securing means (f).

3. The device of claim 2 in which:

(a) said overlay member comprises a laminated wafer having a sheet of metallic material and a membrane-like surface sheet with the latter sheet having said revised indicia thereon,

(b) said support wall is metallic,

(c) and said first-named sheet is magnetic.

4. The device of claim 2 in which:

(a) said overlay member comprises a laminated wafer having a sheet of metallic material and a membrane-like surface sheet with the latter sheet having said revised indicia thereon,

(b) at least a portion of said support wall being metallic and magnetic.

5. The device of claim 2 which includes means for securing said membrane to said support wall.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein:

(a) at least a portion of said support wall is metallic,

(b) and said membrane securing means comprises magnets holding said membrane to said support wall.