Scrolling Backlit Display with Superimposed Background & Foregoing Graphics, Multi-Color LED Backlit Panel, and Illuminated Housing

• US 20150059219A1
• Filed: 08/19/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tobin Remenda
• Original Assignee: Tobin Remenda
• Inventors: Remenda, Tobin
• Granted Patent: US 9,135,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/518
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/02 the display elements being secured to rotating members, e.g. drums, spindles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/21 the elements being flexible sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs

Abstract

A unique scrolling backlit display used for advertising or the like features two sets of spools carrying separate webs thereon that respectively contain background and foreground imagery, whereby scrolling of one web relative the other increases the number of distinct visuals that can be attained with the device, and also allows dynamic animation-like displays in which foreground images change over a maintained background, or vice-versa. Multi-color LED light sources in the backlighting device are operable to create vibrant, dynamic lighting effects, while illumination of the display housing further increases the visual appeal of the display.

Claims

1. A scroll type display device comprising:

a frame;

a first pair of spools supported on the frame and spaced apart from one another;

a second pair of spools supported on the frame and spaced apart from one another;

a flexible background web having background graphics thereon and being entrained about the first pair of spools to span therebetween for scrolling of said flexible background web between said first pair of spools under rotation of at least one of said first pair of spools;

a flexible foreground web having foreground graphics thereon and being entrained about the second pair of spools for scrolling of said flexible foreground web between said second pair of spools in a position overlying the span of the flexible background web between the first pair of spools under rotation of at least one of said second pair of spools;

a first drive mechanism operable to drive rotation of said at least one of said first pair of spools;

a second drive mechanism operable to drive rotation of said at least one of said second pair of spools; and

a backlight device supported on the frame to underlie the span of the flexible background web between the first pair of spools on a side of said flexible background web opposite the flexible foreground web.

2. The scroll type display device of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a display border delimiting a viewing window through which the foreground web is viewable, each pair of spools being spaced apart across said viewing window so that each web spans fully across said viewing window.

3. The scroll type display device of claim 2 wherein the display border comprises at least one translucent portion, and there is provided an illumination source positioned on the frame to illuminate said translucent portion of the viewing border.

4. The scroll type display device of claim 2 wherein the backlight device comprises an illumination panel spanning an area of the viewing window, and the frame further comprises an auxiliary window positioned opposite the viewing window and through which the light from the illumination panel is visible.

5. The scroll type display device of claim 4 wherein the display border comprises front and rear shells coupled together with a hollow space therebetween in which the scrolls and the drive mechanisms are supported, wherein the front shell defines the viewing window and the rear shell defines the auxiliary window.

6. The scroll type display device of claim 1 wherein the backlight device comprises an edge-lit panel illuminated by multiple light sources disposed around a perimeter of said edge-lit panel to emit light into said panel from perimeter edges thereof.

7. The scroll type display device of claim 6 wherein said multiple light sources comprise LED light sources.

8. The scroll type display device of claim 7 wherein said LED light sources are multi-color LED light sources operable to emit different colors of light, and an LED controller operable to control said colors of light.

9. The scroll type display device of claim 8 wherein the LED controller is operable to control said multi-color LED light sources in a manner simultaneously illuminating different areas of the edge-lit panel in different colors.

10. The scroll type display device of claim 9 wherein the multi-color LED light sources comprise LED strips spanning different portions of the perimeter of the edge-lit panel.

11. The scroll type display device of claim 8 wherein the LED controller is operable to flip at least one of said multi-color LED'"'"'s back and forth between two different colors.

12. A scroll type display device comprising:

a frame;

a pair of spools supported on the frame and spaced apart from one another;

a flexible web having graphics thereon and being entrained about the pair of spools to span therebetween for scrolling of said flexible web between said first pair of spools under rotation of at least one of said pair of spools;

a drive mechanism operable to drive rotation of said at least one of said pair of spools;

an illumination panel supported on the frame to underlie the span of the flexible web between the pair of spools, the illumination panel comprising a plurality of multi-color light sources distributed at different positions to illuminate different portions of said illumination panel; and

an illumination controller operable to vary an illumination pattern of the illumination panel by switching a color of light at one or more said different positions.

13. The scroll type display device of claim 12 wherein said illumination controller is linked to a drive controller operable to control the drive mechanism, and the controllers are arranged so that scrolling of flexible web from one position to another to change a display shown at the span of the flexible web between the spools corresponds to a respective automatic change of the illumination pattern of the illumination panel.

14. A scroll type display device comprising:

a frame;

a pair of spools supported on the frame and spaced apart from one another;

a flexible web having graphics thereon and being entrained about the pair of spools to span therebetween for scrolling of said flexible web between said first pair of spools under rotation of at least one of said pair of spools;

a drive mechanism operable to drive rotation of said at least one of said pair of spools;

an illumination panel supported on the frame to underlie the span of the flexible web between the pair of spools, the illumination panel comprising a plurality of multi-color light sources each operable to emit different colors of light to change an illuminated state of the illumination panel;

a control system operable to control the multi-color light sources and the drive mechanism, the control mechanism being configured such that scrolling of flexible web from one position to another to change a display shown at the span of the flexible web between the spools corresponds to a respective automatic change in the illuminated state of the illumination panel.

15. A method of varying a display shown by a scrolling type display device having a pair of spools, a flexible web having graphics thereon and being entrained about the pair of spools to span and scroll therebetween, a drive mechanism and an illumination panel underlying the span of the flexible web between the pair of spools, the method comprising automatically changing an illuminated state of the illumination panel in concert with operation of the drive mechanism scroll of flexible web from one position to another to change a graphic shown at the span of the flexible web.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein changing the illuminated state of the illumination panel comprises changing a color in which the entire panel is illuminated.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein changing the illuminated state of the illumination panel comprises changing an illumination pattern of the illumination panel by changing a color emitted by at least one of a plurality a multi-color light sources each arranged to illuminate a different respective portion of the illumination panel.

18. A backlit display device comprising a frame supporting a backlight panel, a sheet or web supported in a position overlying the backlight panel and having one or more graphics on the sheet or web for illumination by the backlight panel, and a housing closing around the backlight panel and the sheet or web and delimiting a viewing window through which the sheet or web is visible, wherein the housing comprises at least one translucent portion and contains an additional illumination source arranged to illuminate said translucent portion of the housing.

19. A method of producing a housing for a backlit display, the method comprising forming one or more housing elements of a transparent or translucent material, and surface treating at least a partial area of the one or more housing elements to reduce transparency of said area for concealment of internal components of the backlit display while retaining a degree of transparency or translucency greater than said area of reduced transparency at one or more other areas to allow light transmission through said one or more other areas for provide a glowing effect to said housing.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of forming one or more housing elements comprises molding said one or more housing elements from a plastic material.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of forming one or more housing elements comprises molding said one or more housing elements from polycarbonate.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of surface treating the area of the one or more housing elements comprises sandblasting said area.