Retractable display system and method of use

• US 9,655,267 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanolumens Aquisition, Inc. (NanoLumens, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nanolumens Aquisition, Inc. (NanoLumens, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cope, Richard Craig, Price, Douglas Andrew, Meincke, Drew Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUL, STEPHEN SANGJIN
• Application Number:
  US13/915,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20130271940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 312310, 36167904, 36167901, 36167902, 36167905, 361725, 361724, 361729, 361730
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack

Abstract

A retractable display configured as a plurality of interlinked display subassemblies or panels, a transport box having a lid configured to enclose the display system, the box or subassemblies having a rack system configured to support the plurality of linked display subassemblies in the transport box, a lift mechanism configured to assemble and disassemble the plurality of releasably interlinked display subassemblies into a seamless display, and an alignment system configured to align one display subassembly with a neighboring display subassembly and thus, functions as a rugged self-contained transport box of a plurality of interlinked display subassemblies capable of automated assembly into a seamless display larger than its transport box.

Claims

1. A retractable display system comprising:

two or more interlinked display panels, said display panels having one or more display sub-assemblies, each display sub-assembly comprising a plurality of light emitters arranged in a matrix pattern having a uniform pixel gap between adjacent light emitters, each display panel further characterized in that a uniform sub-assembly gap is provided between adjacent display sub-assemblies, said sub-assembly gap being substantially equal to said pixel gap;

a transport box configured to enclose the display system, said transport box configured with a moveable support structure configured to support said two or more interlinked display panel;

a lift system configured to lift said interlinked display panels; and

,

an alignment system comprising an alignment protrusion and an aperture configured to align said two or more interlinked display panels to form a substantially seamless display system, wherein said two or more interlinked display panels is greater in height than said transport box, said alignment protrusion and aperture providing a uniform assembly gap between adjacent display panels such that said assembly gap and said pixel gap are substantially equal.

2. The retractable display system of claim 1, wherein said two or more interlinked display panels are configured as a single sided display.

3. The retractable display system of claim 1, wherein said two or more interlinked display panels are configured as a two sided display having a front display and a back display.

4. The retractable display system of claim 1, wherein said transport box further comprises a first guide support surface and a second guide support surface for each of said two or more interlinked display panels.

5. The retractable display system of claim 4, wherein said two or more interlinked display panels further comprises a first interlinked display panel linked to a second interlinked display panel.

6. The retractable display system of claim 5, wherein said first guide support surface and said second guide support surface of said first interlinked display panel is offset from another said first guide support surface and said second guide support surface of said second interlinked display panel.

7. The retractable display system of claim 6, wherein said two or more interlinked display panels further comprises a display panel bracket assembly.

8. The retractable display system of claim 7, wherein said display panel bracket assembly further comprises a first bracket end and a second bracket end affixed on opposite ends of each display panel of said two or more interlinked display panels.

9. The retractable display system of claim 8, wherein said first bracket end further comprises a first protruding device affixed thereto and said second bracket end further comprise comprises a second protruding device affixed thereto.

10. The retractable display system of claim 9, wherein said first protruding device is configured to contact said first guide support surface and said second protruding device is configured to contact said second guide support surface.

11. The retractable display system of claim 10, wherein said moveable support structure further comprises a first moveable support structure configured with a first lift system and a second moveable support structure configured with a second lift system.

12. The retractable display system of claim 11, wherein said first lift system is configured having a first lift hook and said second lift system is configured having a second lift hook.

13. The retractable display system of claim 12, wherein said first lift hook engages said first protruding device and said second lift system engages said second protruding device to lift said first interlinked display panel.

14. The retractable display system of claim 13, wherein said first interlinked display panel is lifted from an angled lateral storage position to a vertical display position.

15. The retractable display system of claim 14, wherein said first interlinked display panel lifts said second interlinked display panel.

16. The retractable display system of claim 15, wherein said first interlinked display panel lifts said second interlinked display panel above a stop assembly positioned on said moveable support structure.

17. The retractable display system of claim 16, wherein said alignment system is disposed between said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel.

18. The retractable display system of claim 17, wherein said first lift system and said second lift system lower said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel until said second interlinked display panel seats on said stop assembly.

19. The retractable display system of claim 18, wherein said first lift system and said second lift system lower said first interlinked display panel until said alignment pin inserts therein said aperture between said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel.

20. A method of deploying a foldable display system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing two or more interlinked display panels, said two or more interlinked display panels including a first interlinked display panel linked to a second interlinked display panel, said display panels having one or more display sub-assemblies, each display sub-assembly comprising a plurality of light emitters arranged in a matrix pattern having a uniform pixel gap between adjacent light emitters, each display panel further characterized in that a uniform sub-assembly gap is provided between adjacent display sub-assemblies, said sub-assembly gap being substantially equal to said pixel gap;

a portable transport box configured to enclose the display system, said portable transport box configured with a moveable support structure configured to support said two or more interlinked display panel, a lift system configured to lift said interlinked display panels, a stop assembly positioned on said moveable support structure, and an alignment system, said alignment system comprising;

an alignment protrusion and an aperture disposed between said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel, and configured to align said two or more interlinked display panels to form a substantially seamless display system, wherein said two or more interlinked display panels is greater in height than said transport box;

positioning said portable transport box;

elevating said moveable support structure from within said portable transport box;

lifting said first interlinked display panel from a storage position within said portable transport box to a vertical display position;

lifting said second interlinked display panel, interlinked to said first interlinked display panel, from a storage position within said portable transport box to a vertical display position above said stop assembly;

lowering said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel until said second interlinked display panel seats on said stop assembly; and

lowering said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel until said alignment system aligns said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel to form a substantially seamless display system, said alignment protrusion and aperture providing a uniform assembly gap between adjacent display panels and further characterized in that said assembly gap and said pixel gap are substantially equal.

21. A method of storing a foldable display system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing two or more interlinked display panels, said two or more interlinked display panels including a first interlinked display panel linked to a second interlinked display panel, said display panels having one or more display sub-assemblies, each display sub-assembly comprising a plurality of light emitters arranged in a matrix pattern having a uniform pixel gap between adjacent light emitters, each display panel further characterized in that a uniform sub-assembly gap is provided between adjacent display sub-assemblies, said sub-assembly gap being substantially equal to said pixel gap;

a portable transport box configured to enclose the display system, said portable transport box configured with a moveable support structure configured to support said two or more interlinked display panel, a lift system configured to lift said interlinked display panels, a stop assembly positioned on said moveable support structure, and an alignment system, said alignment system comprising;

an alignment protrusion and aperture disposed between said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel, and configured to align said two or more interlinked display panels to form a substantially seamless display system, wherein said two or more interlinked display panels is greater in height than said transport box, said alignment protrusion and aperture providing a uniform assembly gap between adjacent display panels and further characterized in that said assembly gap and said pixel gap are substantially equal;

lifting said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel above said stop assembly and separating said first interlinked display panel from said second interlinked display panel;

retracting said stop assembly;

lowering said first interlinked display panel and said second interlinked display panel until said second interlinked display panel transitions from a vertical display position to a storage position within said portable transport box;

lowering said first interlinked display panel until said first interlinked display panel transitions from a vertical display position to a storage position within said portable transport box; and

retracting said moveable support structure into said portable transport box.