Visual display arrangement

• US 4,402,151 A
• Filed: 10/05/1981
• Issued: 09/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Medow
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Medow
• Inventors: Medow, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foycik, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US06/308,097
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 40/568, 40/569, 40/553, 40/579, 40/124.5, 40/427, 40/152, 40/541, 40/571, 40/605, 428/7, 428/8, 428/9, 339/96, 339/97 R, 339/17 E, 339/17 M, 339/17 N, 339/17 LM, 46/25, 46/28, 46/30, 46/227
• US Class Current: 40/569
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0025 the fastening means engaging the conductors of the light source, i.e. providing simultaneous fastening of the light sources and their electric connections
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/28 Signs formed by filament-type lamp by selective lighting G09F9/00

Abstract

The present visual display arrangement has a display panel with two electrically conductive layers separated by a dielectric support panel, and a visual display layer on the front of the display panel. One or more lamps have prongs of different lengths for contact respectively with the conductive layers in the display panel. Each lamp completes an electrical circuit for the conductive layers which also includes a power source and a switch for turning the inserted lamp or lamps on and off.

Claims

1. A visual display arrangement comprising a plurality of substantially rigid display panels interconnected along adjoining edges in substantially edge-to-edge engagement by tongue-and-groove joints to form a single continuous substantially rigid display panel assembly, each of said display panels comprising:

first and second electrically conductive layers separated by a thickness of dielectric material, and a visual display layer on the side of said display panel closer to said first electrically conductive layer than to said second electrically conductive layer;

a set of one or more lamps each having a pair of electrically conductive rigid terminals which are manually insertable into said display panel to mount the lamp in front of said visual display layer;

one of said pair of lamp terminals being long enough to penetrate said first electrically conductive layer and to extend into said dielectric material without contacting said second electrically conductive layer when the lamp is mounted in front of said visual display layer;

the other of said lamp terminals being long enough to extend through said dielectric material into contact with said second electrically conductive layer when the lamp is mounted in front of said visual display layer, a dielectric sheath on said other terminal insulating it from said first electrically conductive layer;

and circuit means for connecting said electrically conductive layers across an electrical power source, said circuit means including selectively operable switch means for controlling the energization of the lamps mounted on the display panel.

2. A visual display arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said electrically conductive layers in each display panel is folded over the edge of that panel at each tongue-and-groove joint in the panel assembly to contact the corresponding electrically conductive layer in each adjoining display panel.

3. A visual display arrangement according to claim 2, wherein each display panel comprises:

first and second dielectric support panel members;

a first electrically conductive layer sandwiched between said first and second support panel members;

a third dielectric support panel member located on the opposite side of said second support panel member from said first support panel member;

a second electrically conductive layer sandwiched between said second and third support panel members;

said second support panel member being offset from said first and third support panel members to form an outwardly projecting tongue and groove at opposite edges of the display panel;

and a display layer extending across the opposite side of said first support panel member from said second support panel member.

4. A visual display arrangement comprising a plurality of display panels interconnected along adjoining edges by tongue-and-groove joints to form a single continuous display panel assembly, each of said display panels comprising:

first and second dielectric support panel members;

a first electrically conductive layer sandwiched between said first and second support panel members;

a third dielectric support panel member located on the opposite side of said second support panel member from said first support panel member;

a second electrically conductive layer sandwiched between said second and third support panel members;

said second support panel member being offset from said first and third support panel members to form an outwardly projecting tongue and groove at opposite edges of the display panel;

a display layer extending across the opposite side of said first support panel member from said second support panel member;

each of said electrically conductive layers in each display panel being folded over the edge of that panel at each tongue-and-groove joint in the panel assembly to contact the corresponding electrically conductive layer in each adjoining display panel;

and circuit means for connecting said electrically conductive layers across an electrical power source, said circuit means including selectively operable switch means for controlling the energization of lamps mounted on the display panel and having terminals which respectively engage said first and second electrically conductive layers.