Outdoor menu display device

• US 6,125,565 A
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marketing Displays Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marketing Displays Incorporated
• Inventors: Hillstrom, David U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US09/283,069
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 40/574, 40/576, 40/564, 40/568, 40/585, 40/605, 40/607, 40/611, 312/139, 362/362, 362/812
• US Class Current: 40/574
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/00 Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0413 Frames or casing structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/045 Signs, boards or panels specially adapted for doors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0454 Slidable panels or parts
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An improved outdoor illuminated display device. The device generally comprises a modular housing, a base member and a plurality of lights positioned in the housing--either horizontally or vertically. A plurality of display modules are positioned on the housing and backlit by the lights. A door member is pivotally connected along its upper edge to the housing covering the modules. A pair of gas-assisted spring members are provided between the door member and the housing. Air gaps or air vents are provided in order to allow air circulation in the housing. A second member above the door member is provided for holding and displaying posters and other advertising and promotional materials. A plurality of clamping members hold the display materials in place. The second member can be illuminated or non-illuminated. Various modular units can be provided to increase the size and display space provided by the device. The display modules include a plurality of horizontal divider members removably secured to retainer members. Menu strips, pricing units and display members can be positioned between channels in the divider members and/or the frame members forming the display modules. The pricing units are adapted to be backlit by lights in the display device.

Claims

1. In an illuminated display device having a housing, a source of illumination positioned inside the housing, at least one display module positioned in said housing for holding and displaying display members, and at least one transparent door member hingedly attached to the housing for allowing access to the interior of the housing and changing of said display members in said at least one display module, the improvement comprising:

said display module having a generally rectangular frame with first and second opposed generally vertically disposed frame members and third and fourth opposed generally horizontally disposed frame members, a plurality of retention members positioned along said first and second vertically disposed frame members, a plurality of horizontally disposed divider members positioned on said frame, said divider members being individually removably held in place by opposed pairs of retention members, first channel means in said divider members for securing portions of display members, and second channel means in said third and fourth horizontally disposed frame members, said second channel means for securing portions of display members, wherein when display members are positioned between opposed sets of channel means, light from said source of illumination can be projected therethrough.

2. The illuminated display device as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least two display modules are positioned in said housing.

3. The illuminated display device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retention members have projecting portions thereon and said divider members have recesses therein, and when said divider members are positioned on said frame, said recesses mate with said projection portions.

4. The illuminated display device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of display members positioned between opposed sets of channel means, said display members having translucent portions thereon.

5. In a display device having a housing member and at least one adjustable menu board positioned inside said housing, said adjustable menu board comprising:

an assembled frame having a top member, a bottom member, and a pair of side members generally defining a plane, and a space defined between said top, bottom, and side members;

said side members including a plurality of horizontally spaced divider member support members disposed vertically along said side members;

a plurality of generally parallel divider members selectively engageable and disengageable at their opposite ends with different one of said divider member support members, said divider members thereby being selectively positionable at regularly and variably spaced locations vertically along said side members in a direction intersecting the plane defined by said frame to provide the same and different spacing between adjacent pairs of said divider members; and

a plurality of elongated menu strips having descriptive indicia thereon;

said divider members having first channel means therein for securing portions of said menu strip;

said top member and bottom member having second channel means therein for securing portions of said menu strip;

wherein each of said menu strips are disposed between opposed sets of channel means.

6. The adjustable menu board of claim 5 wherein said end of said divider members are releasably engageable with said support elements.

7. The adjustable menu board of claim 5 wherein at least one of said menu strips has a height measured in a direction parallel to the length of said side members that is different than the height of said at least one other menu strip.

8. The adjustable menu board of claim 5 wherein said support elements are disposed at predetermined equally spaced intervals along the length of said side members.

9. The adjustable menu board of claim 5 wherein each of said menu strips has a height measured in a direction parallel to the length of said side members that is substantially a multiple of said predetermined intervals.

10. The adjustable menu board of claim 5 further comprising a light transmitting source positioned rearwardly of said menu board and operable to back light said plurality of elongated menu strips.

11. A displaying device comprising:

a first portion having a first housing member, a source of illumination positioned inside said housing, a plurality of display members, at least two display modules positioned in said housing for holding and displaying said display members, and at least one door member on said housing for allowing access for changing of said display members; and

a second portion having a second housing member, said second portion secured to said first housing member for displaying display members;

each of said display modules having a frame assembly with a top member, a bottom member and a pair of side members, a plurality of retention members, a plurality of divider members, and a plurality of display members, said plurality of retention members being positioned along said side members, said divider members being selectively engageable and disengageable with said retention members, and said display members being dispersed between and supported by pairs of retention members;

each of said divider members having first channel means therein for holding portions of one of said display members, and said top member and said bottom member having second channel means therein for holding portions of one of said display members, wherein said display members are positioned between opposed sets of channel means.