Display system for use on horizontal or non-horizontal surfaces

• US 7,145,469 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Collin Peel
• Original Assignee: Intellimats LLC (Intellimat, Inc.)
• Inventors: Greenburg, Kobby, Blum, Ronald D., Kokonaski, William, Harari, Boaz, Katzman, Youval
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/002,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/691.6, 361/681, 345/30, 404/46, 404/63, 407/68, 407/75, 407/76, 407/90, 362/362, 362/382, 362/418, 362/430
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/228 Ground signs, i.e. display signs fixed on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to display system comprising an electronic display device housed within a supporting fixture, where the supporting fixture may be capable of being arranged on a substantially horizontal surface such as a floor and walked over, or of being mounted on a non-horizontal surface, including a substantially vertical surface such as a wall. To this end, the electronic display device and supporting fixture may be thin and lightweight, while also being durable and shock resistant. Control electronics for the display device may be arranged in such a way that space is conserved.

Claims

1. A display system comprising an electronic display device housed within a supporting fixture, wherein the supporting fixture is adapted to be arranged on a substantially horizontal surface and walked over while protecting the electronic display device from damage, and further comprises a mounting device to mount the supporting fixture and electronic display device to a non-horizontal surface.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the non-horizontal surface is substantially vertical.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the electronic display device is capable of displaying static or dynamic images.

4. A display system comprising:

an electronic display device; and

a supporting fixture to house the electronic display device, the supporting fixture including;

a protective covering to cover the electronic display device;

a support framework to support the protective covering;

an outer shell bordering the protective covering; and

a base;

wherein the base, the protective covering and the outer shell substantially enclose the electronic display device therein; and

wherein the supporting fixture is adapted to be arranged on a substantially horizontal surface and walked over while protecting the electronic display device from damage, and further comprises a mounting device to mount the supporting fixture and electronic display device to a non-horizontal surface.

5. The display system of claim 4, further comprising control electronics laterally arranged with respect to the electronic display device.

6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the control electronics are disposed to lie in substantially the same plane as the electronic display device.

7. The display system of claim 4, wherein the mounting device comprises a structure to engage a projection from the non-horizontal surface.

8. The display system of claim 7, wherein the mounting device includes a loop.

9. The display system of claim 7, wherein the mounting device includes a recess formed in the support structure.

10. The display system of claim 4, wherein the mounting device is coupled to or formed on the base.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the mounting device is coupled to or formed on an outer edge of the base.

12. The display system of claim 4, wherein a bordering surface of the outer shell has a slope.

13. The display system of claim 12, wherein the slope extends over a distance of between 6 and 12 inches.

14. The display system of claim 12, wherein the slope extends over a distance of between 8 and 10 inches.

15. The display system of claim 4, wherein a thickness of an outer edge of a bordering surface is less than 0.1 inch.

16. The display system of claim 4, wherein a thickness of an outer edge of a bordering surface is between 0.02 and 0.08 inches.

17. The display system of claim 4, wherein a thickest part of the display system is from 0.3 to 1 inch thick.

18. The display system of claim 4, wherein a thickest part of the display system is from 0.5 to 0.7 inches thick.

19. The display system of claim 4, wherein the electronic display device comprises a plurality of display panels.

20. The display system of claim 19, wherein the support framework comprises members arranged between the plurality of display panels.

21. The display system of claim 19, wherein an inner edge of the outer shell forms a perimeter of the display panels.

22. A thin display system for placement on a floor, the display system comprising an electronic display device substantially enclosed within a protective covering and a thin outer shell and base, the electronic display device being substantially centrally located with respect to the outer shell, control electronics for the electronic display device being arranged about a periphery of the electronic display device and housed within the outer shell and base.