Display window aperture advertising medium

• US 4,739,567 A
• Filed: 03/04/1986
• Issued: 04/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Cardin
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Cardin
• Inventors: Cardin, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murtagh, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/835,975
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 40/560, 40/471, 40/518, 40/541, 40/611, 40/619, 40/624, 160/253, 160/310, 350/117, 350/123, 353/28
• US Class Current: 40/471
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

An image projection system is provided for projecting and displaying images at billboard or signboard scale in which a building display window defines the display aperture or viewing aperture of the image projection system for viewing projected images from outside the building. A deployable and retractible rear projection screen is positioned for deployment in the display aperture adjacent to the display window. A first timer is adjusted to actuate a screen motor and deploy the screen after daylight hours and actuate an image projector. Optical elements establish the focal plane of the projector at the display window aperture. A second timer sequentially advances the image projector for projection of sequential still images on the rear projection screen during selected time intervals of sufficient duration to avoid objectionable or distracting motion effects to viewers outside the building. The screen is retracted prior to daylight hours so that the display window functions again as a building display window during the daylight hours.

Claims

1. A new billboard scale outdoor advertising medium comprising:

a display window of a building, said display window defining the display aperture of a projection system for viewing projected images from outside the building;

a deployable and retractable rear projection screen having a size area sufficient for substatially covering the display window display aperture, said screen being positioned for deployment in the display aperture adjacent to the display window of a building inside the and for retraction from the display aperture away from the display window so that the display window is unobstructed when the screen is retracted;

screen motor means positioned inside the building and operatively coupled to the deployable and retractable screen for deployment of the screen in the display aperture adjacent to the display window and for retraction from the display aperture;

first timer means operatively coupled to the screen motor means, said first timer means being adjusted and arranged for generating a first timing signal to actuate the screen motor means for deployment of the screen at a selected first time of the delay and for generating a second timing signal to actuate the screen motor means for retraction of the screen at a selection second time of the day, whereby the display window functions as the display aperture of a projection system for viewing images from outside the building during a first time period of the day and whereby the display window functions as a building display window during a second time period of the day;

image projector means operatively positioned inside the building for projecting still images along an optical path onto the rear projection screen when the screen is deployed in the display aperture, said image projector means being constructed and arranged for sequentially projecting a plurality of still images;

optical means defining the optical path so that the focal plane of projected images falls substantially at the display aperture on the deployed screen;

second timer means operatively coupled to the image projector means, said second timer means being adjustable for generating sequential timing signals for advancing the image projector means for projection of sequential still images for time intervals of sufficient duration selected to preclude objectionable or distracting motion effects to viewers outside the building;

thereby providing at the building display window the display aperture of a billboard scale outdoor advertising medium with all equipment housed inside the building and with changeable advertising messages at the display aperture during the first time period of the day.

2. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the rear projection screen is stored in the configuration of a roll at an edge of the display window and, wherein said screen motor means is reversible and is operatively coupled for unrolling the screen across the window for deploying the screen and for rolling up and retracting the screen.

3. The projection system of claim 2, wherein the rear projection screen is stored in a roll at the edge of the display window and further comprising belt means operatively coupling the screen motor means and rear projection screen for unrolling and drawing the screen across the display window for deploying the screen and for rolling up and withdrawing the screen from the window for retracting the screen.

4. The projection system of claim 3, wherein the belt means comprises first and second belts positioned respectively at opposite boundaries of the display window so that the belts do not obstruct the display window when the screen is rolled up and retracted.

5. The projection system of claim 4, wherein the first and second belts comprise endless loops driven by the screen motor means, said screen comprising a leading end for deploying and retracting the screen on the roll and wherein the leading end of the screen is coupled to said first and second belts for deploying and retracting the screen.

6. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the image projector means comprises a slide transparency projector.

7. The projection system of claim 5 wherein the endless loop first and second belts are mounted on pulleys, said pulleys comprising a pair of pulleys mounted on a shaft on each side of the screen, said rear projection screen roll being formed on one shaft, said screen motor means being operatively coupled for rotation of said pulleys and shafts and translation of the leading edge of the screen in synchronism.

8. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the optical means comprises a mirror spaced from the display window inside the building, wherein the image projector means is directed at the mirror, and wherein the mirror angle is adjustable for directing a projected image onto the deployed screen at the display window display aperture.

9. The projection system of claim 8, wherein the mirror comprises a plane mirror hinge mounted at the bottom of the plane mirror for adjusting the vertical angle of the mirror and the optical path.

10. The projection system of claim 5, wherein the first timer means is adjusted and arranged for generating a first timing signal to actuate the screen motor means for deployment of the screen after daylight hours.

11. The projector system of claim 10, wherein the first timer means is adjusted and arranged for generating a second timing signal to actuate the screen motor means for retracting the screen before daylight hours.

12. The projection system of claim 11, wherein the second timer means is adjusted for generating sequential timing signals for projection of sequential still images during time intervals of at least fifteen seconds duration.

13. The projection system of claim 8, further comprising bracket mounting means for supporting said mirror, said bracket mounting means being adjustable in two dimensions for orienting the mirror in two planes.

14. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the rear projection screen comprises a sheet of translucent polymer film.

15. A new billboard scale outdoor advertising medium comprising:

a building display window, said display window defining the image display aperture of a projection system for viewing of projected images from outside the building;

a deployable and retractable rear projection screen having size area sufficient for substantially covering the display window display aperture, said screen being positioned for deployment in the display aperture adjacent to the display window inside the building and for retraction from the display aperture away from the display window so that the display window is unobstructed when the screen is retracted, said screen being stored in a vertically oriented canister at the side of the display window;

screen motor means positioned inside the building and belt means operatively coupling the screen motor means to the deployable and retractable screen for deployment of the screen by unrolling and drawing the screen from the canister across the display aperture adjacent to the display window and for retraction of the screen by withdrawing the screen from the display aperture and rolling up the screen in the canister;

first timer means operatively coupled to the screen motor means, said first timer means being adjusted and arranged for generating a first timing signal to actuate the screen motor means for deployment of the screen after daylight hours of the day and for generating a second timing signal to actuate the screen motor means for retraction of the screen prior to daylight hours of the day, whereby the display window functions as the display aperture of a projection system during selected hours of substantial darkness for viewing images from outside the building and, whereby the display window functions as a building display window during daylight hours of the day;

slide transparency projector means operatively positioned inside the building for projecting still images along an optical path onto the rear projection screen when the screen is deployed in the display aperture, said slide transparency projector means comprising a slide cartridge mounting constructed and arranged for sequentially projecting a plurality of still images;

a mirror spaced from the display window inside the building, said slide transparency projector means being directed at the mirror, and wherein the angular orientation of the mirror is adjustable for directing a projected image on the deployed screen at the display window display aperture, said mirror being adjusted and arranged to define the optical path so that the focal plane of projected images falls substantially at the display aperture on the deployed screen;

second timer means operatively coupled to said slide transparency projector means, said second timer means being adjustable for generating sequential timing signals for advancing the slide transparency projector means for projection of sequential images during time intervals of sufficient duration selected to preclude objectionable or distracting motion effects to viewers outside the building;

thereby providing at the building display window the display aperture of a billboard scale outdoor advertising medium with all equipment housed inside the building and with changeable advertising messages at the display aperture during the first time period of the day.

16. The projection system of claim 15, wherein the mirror comprises a plane mirror and further comprising adjustable bracket mounting means for mounting said mirror, said mounting bracket means being adjustable in two independent dimensions for adjusting the angular orientation of the mirror in two planes.

17. The projection system of claim 15, wherein the belt means comprises first and second belts positioned respectively at the upper and lower boundaries of the display window so that the belts do not obstruct or obscure the display window when the screen is rolled up and retracted.

18. The projection system of claim 17, wherein the first and second belts are endless loops driven by the screen motor means, said screen comprising a leading end for deploying and retracting the screen on the roll and wherein the leading end of the screen is coupled to said first and second belts for deploying and retracting the screen.

19. The projection system of claim 18 wherein the endless loop first and second belts are mounted on pulleys, said pulleys comprising a pair of pulleys mounted on a shaft on each side of the screen, said rear projection screen roll being formed on one shaft, said screen motor means being operatively coupled for rotation of said pulleys and shafts and translation of the leading edge of the screen in synchronism.

20. A method of displaying outdoor advertising messages and other communications on a billboard scale comprising:

mounting a deployable and retractible rear projection screen adjacent to a display window of a building;

assembling elements of an image projection system including an image projector and optical path defining optical elements inside the building with reference to the display window of the building so that the display window constitutes and defines the display aperture or viewing aperture substantially at the focal plane of the image projection system;

deploying the rear projection screen across the display window aperture of the image projection system at a first selected time after the daylight hours of the day and actuating the image projector;

periodically advancing the image projector so that different still images are sequentially projected on the rear projection screen during time intervals of sufficient duration to preclude objectionable or distracting motion effects on viewers outside the building;

turning off the image projector at a second selected time prior to daylight hours of the day and retracting the screen from the display window aperture so that the display window functions as the display aperture of the projection system during selected hours of substantial darkness for viewing images from outside the building and so that the display window functions as a building display window during daylight hours of the day.

21. A method of displaying outdoor advertising messages and other communications on a billboard scale comprising:

providing a rear projection screen adjacent to a display window of a building on the inside of the building;

assembling elements of an image projection system including an image projector and optical path defining optical elements inside the building with reference to the display window of the building so that the display window constitutes and defines the display aperture or viewing aperture substantially at the focal plane of the image projection system;

deploying the rear projection screen across the display window aperture of the image projection system at a first selected time after the daylight hours of the day and actuating the image projector;

periodically advancing the image projector so that different still images are sequentially projected on the rear projection screen during time intervals of sufficient duration to preclude objectionable or distracting motion effects on viewers outside the building;

turning off the image projector at a second selected time prior to daylight hours of the day and removing the screen from the display window aperture so that the display window functions as the display aperture of the projection system during selected hours of substantial darkness for viewing images from outside the building and so that the display window may function as a building display window during daylight hours of the day.