Patent ID: 6009647
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: G09F

Abstract:
A planetary display device comprising in combination:a) three plates comprising a first plate, an intermediate plate, and a last plate located parallel to one another, approximately equally spaced, one in front of each other; said first plate being positioned behind said intermediate plate and said last plate; each plate being of predetermined length and having a front side and a back side; said first plate having a primary hole located at its center longitudinally, perpendicular to said front side of said first plate; said intermediate plate having one primary hole located at its approximate center longitudinally, perpendicular to its front side; said last plate having a primary hole at its approximate center longitudinally perpendicular to its front side; said intermediate plate having one secondary hole located at a predetermined distance from its primary hole, perpendicular to its front side;b) a motor fixed to said back side of said first plate; said motor having a motor shaft attached by means of a coupling to a main drive shaft projecting perpendicular to each plate; said main drive shaft going through and rotating freely within said primary hole of said first plate; said main drive shaft is fastened to and rotates said intermediate plate at a predetermined speed and direction of rotation; said main drive shaft is contained by a retainer fastened to said last plate, said retainer aligning said main drive shaft with said center of said last plate, and allowing said main drive shaft to rotate freely relative to said last plate;c) a planetary system, said planetary system consisting of a fixed mechanical element, a driver, a driven mechanical element and a transfer assembly acting as an idler, selected and functionally assembled to attain predetermined speed ratios and directions of rotation; said first plate has said fixed mechanical element attached to its front side concentric to its primary hole; said intermediate plate is fastened to said main drive shaft located at its primary hole, rotating with said main drive shaft; said last plate has said driven mechanical element fastened to its back side concentric to its primary hole; the transfer assembly consists of two idler mechanical elements attached and concentric to each end of an idler shaft which rotates freely in said secondary hole of said intermediate plate, said transfer assembly transfers relative motion from said fixed mechanical element to said driven mechanical element;d) three segments, each segment being of a predetermined size and shape, each segment being fastened by means of a set of brackets to a different one of said three plates; each bracket of said set of brackets being of predetermined length; during motion generated by said motor and said planetary system, predetermined spatial relationships of said segments, to each other, are attained without interference; each segment being rotated; ande) three partial messages, each partial message being displayed on a front, exposed surface of a different one of said three segments; in one predetermined position of all of said three segments, said three partial messages transmit an unscrambled and readable message; in any other position of said three segments, said three partial messages transmits a scrambled and unreadable message; said three partial messages being scrambled and unscrambled in a cyclical manner.