Abstract:
A transportable electronic sign display system and process where electronic display modules are encased in castered protective cases which are broken down on site and assembled in rows of desired length and stackably elevated and maneuvered by a lifting truss. Electronic display modules are lifted from protective case bases with minimal effort or labor. Various numbers of rows of desired length of electronic display modules can be stacked to form a desired display size.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to an electronic display, and more particularly to a transportable electronic sign display system and process. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Electronic sign displays often are incorporated at venues where components of an electronic sign display are moved temporarily to the site and assembled by personnel to display electronically generated alphanumeric information, graphic information, or video information, and then disassembled and removed after use. Such electronic sign displays have included, but have not been limited to, arrays of video monitors or LED displays or the like which were stacked to achieve a desired size. The arrays often include a number of side-by-side connected electronic display modules depending on the length of the array required. The arrays, especially those containing a larger number of electronic display modules, are of a weight and dimension that requires a larger number of personnel than is sometimes readily available to handle and position the array. Such electronic sign displays include graphic displays of a delicate nature and are thus transported in a variety of protective containers and the like. Personnel must then manually lift the weighty and often unwieldy electronic display modules from the protective containers and physically position the electronic display modules for erection at a position which is usually elevated. Clearly what is needed is a method of protection and an efficient shipping and handling process, which includes assembly and disassembly, for an electronic sign display where a minimum of personnel and minimum labor is required. Such is provided by a transportable electronic sign display system and process, the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a transportable electronic sign display system and process. The transportable electronic sign display system includes stackable electronic display modules which are contained in easily transportable castered cases and a lifting truss which supports arrays of electronic display modules. Electronic display modules are lifted directly from case halves with a minimum of effort and labor. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a transportable electronic sign display system, including electronic display modules aligned to a protective case base, removable case halves secured to the protective case base encompassing and protecting the electronic display modules, and a lifting truss to which a plurality of electronic display modules in rows or in an array attach and secure. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an electronic sign display system which is transportable and which can be handled by a process whereby arrays of electronic display modules in various sizes can be easily and readily assembled and erected using a minimal assembly crew and minimal effort. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a transportable electronic sign display system including electronic display modules transported in and protectively contained in protective cases. 
     Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a transportable electronic sign display system in which electronic display modules are aligningly juxtaposed to form rows and arrays of electronic display modules. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a transportable electronic sign display system having protective cases each of which includes case halves latchingly secured together and to a protective case base which is castered. 
     A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a transportable electronic sign display system having a protective case including a case base which is castered to provide for alignment and realignment with an overhead lifting truss. 
     Having thus set forth significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a transportable electronic sign display system and process. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the transportable electronic sign display system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the case halves being removed from a case base upon which electronic display modules are supported; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of an electronic display module supported on a case base, and also one of the case halves which has been removed from the case base; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of case halves removed from a case base to reveal electronic display modules supported on the case base; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the first steps of the process of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the lifting of a first row of aligned and mated electronic display modules from case bases to a position above adjacently positioned aligned and mated electronic display modules supported on the case bases; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the lowering of the lifting truss and the mated and aligned electronic display modules of the first row to meet and attach to the mated and aligned electronic display modules of the second row; and, 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the upward positioning of the lifting truss to remove the array of connected and mated electronic display modules from the adjacent case bases to raise such array to a viewable elevated position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the transportable electronic sign display system  10  of the present invention. The view illustrates a plurality of identically constructed protective cases  12   a - 12   n,  each of which protectively encompasses and surrounds two of a plurality of electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n,  such as the two electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b  illustrated in FIG. 2, and a lifting truss  16 . 
     Protective case  12   a  includes separable case halves  18   a  and  18   b  mutually secured to each other and to a case base  20 . Case halves  18   a  and  18   b  are substantially similar in construction and each differs from the other only by the latch orientation. Case half  18   a  includes a top  22   a,  opposing sides  22   b  and  22   c,  and a front  22   d  having a cutout  24 . Case half  18   b  includes a top  23   a,  opposing sides  23   b  and  23   c,  and a front  23   d  having a cutout  25  (FIG.  2 ). A plurality of latch actuators  26   a - 26   n  are distributed along and about the inner edges of the top  22   a  and sides  22   b - 22   c  of the case half  18   a.  A plurality of latch receivers  28   a - 28   n  are distributed along and about the inner edges of the top  23   a  and sides  23   b - 23   c  of the case half  18   b.  Corresponding latch actuators  26   a - 26   n  and latch receivers  28   a - 28   n  secure the aligned case halves  18   a  and  18   b  to one another. Another plurality of latch receivers  30   a - 30   n  align along and about the cutout  24  of the front  22   d  of case half  18   a  to mate with latch actuators  32   a - 32   n  located at the edge of a panel  34 , such panel  34  being part of the case base  20 . Another panel  36  (FIG.  2 ), being part of the case base  20  and opposing panel  34 , includes a similar latch arrangement for fastening of the panel  36  to the front  23   d  of the case half  18   b  at the cutout  25 , but is not shown for purposes of brevity. A plurality of handhold fixtures  38   a - 38   n  are distributed along each of the case halves  18   a  and  18   b.  A plurality of stacking dishes  40   a - 40   n  are distributed along the tops  22   a  and  23   a  of the case halves  18   a  and  18   b.  A plurality of casters  42   a - 42   n  secure to the bottom of the case base  20 . As stated previously, all of the protective cases  12   a - 12   n  are identical. Therefore, the foregoing description of protective case  12   a  applies to all of the other protective cases as well. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the case halves  18   a  and  18   b  being removed from the case base  20 . Shown in particular are electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b  which align to and are supported on the case base  20 . The electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b  can incorporate, for example, delicate light sources such as, but not limited to, light emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays, incandescent lights, and the like. The case base  20  is composed of case base halves  20   a  and  20   b  permanently secured to one another, each half  20   a  and  20   b  having a substantially U-shaped profile into which the electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b  align. Half  20   a  includes a horizontally aligned bottom  44 , a vertically aligned outwardly located panel  34 , and an opposing vertically aligned inwardly located panel  46 . Protective sculptured shock absorbent and anti-static foam panel  48  secures to the inwardly facing surface of the panel  34  to offer protection for the outwardly facing portion of the electronic display module  14   a,  and another shock absorbent and anti-static foam panel  50  aligns to the outwardly facing portion of the panel  46  to offer protection for the inwardly facing portion of the electronic display module  14   a  having delicate light sources. Half  20   b  is fashioned in the same manner as half  20   a  including a horizontally aligned bottom  52 , a vertically aligned outwardly located panel  36 , and an opposing vertically aligned inwardly located panel  54 . Protective sculptured shock absorbent and anti-static foam panel  56  secures to the inwardly facing surface of the panel  36  to offer protection for the outwardly facing portion of the electronic display module  14   b,  and another shock absorbent and anti-static foam panel  58  aligns to the outwardly facing portion of the panel  54  to offer protection for the inwardly facing portion of the electronic display module  14   b  having delicate light sources. Shock absorbent and anti-static foam panels  50  and  58  normally do not contact the inwardly facing portions of the electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b.  The shock absorbent and anti-static foam panels  50  and  58  offer protection against inadvertent positioning during removal of or placement of the electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b  from and into the case base halves  20   a  and  20   b.  For transport, the electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b  are secured to the case base halves  20   a  and  20   b,  respectively, by a plurality of like securing straps  59  which are permanently fastened at one end to the upper region of each of panel  34  and panel  36  (FIG.  4 ). The other end of each of the securing straps  59  secures to like handle fixtures  63  located on the outwardly facing portions of the electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b.  Straps  59  are disengaged from the handle fixtures  63  during the assembly process. Electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n  include male or female alignment fixtures  60   a - 60   n  appropriately gendered and located along and about the periphery of each electronic display module to provide for mated alignment of electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n  along vertical and horizontal axes to form arrays of electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n,  as shown later in detail. Electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n  include lifting lugs  64 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the electronic display module  14   a  supported on the case base  20 , and also the case half  18   a  which has been removed from the case base  20 . Shown in particular is the relationship of the length of the electronic display module  14   a  to the length of the case base  20 . The length of each of the electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n  exceeds that of an associated case base  20  such that the ends  68  and  70  of the electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n  extend over the edges of the associated case base  20  slightly, thereby allowing unobstructed close alignment and coupling of adjacently aligned electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n,  such as indicated in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of case halves  18   a  and  18   b  removed from the case base  20  to reveal the electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b  residing in the case base halves  20   a  and  20   b,  respectively. Shown especially are the foam panels  48  and  50  in the case base half  20   a  and the foam panels  56  and  58  in the case base half  20   b  protectively juxtaposing electronic display modules  14   a  and  14   b,  respectively. 
     Mode of Operation 
     FIGS. 5,  6 ,  7  and  8  illustrate the mode of operation of the transportable electronic sign display system  10  including the process of protectively encasing electronic display modules in protective cases, removing case halves of the protective cases, aligning and mating electronic display modules from a rear position of adjacently positioned case bases in end-to-end relationship to form a first row of electronic display modules while on adjacently positioned maneuverable case bases, lowering a lifting truss to meet and attach to the aligned and mated electronic display modules in the first row, raising the lifting truss to remove the first row of aligned and mated electronic display modules from the case bases to a position above the adjacently positioned case bases, maneuveringly rotating the case bases 180 degrees to place remaining electronic display modules into a second row of electronic display modules beneath and in alignment with the suspended first row of electronic display modules, lowering the lifting truss and attached first row of electronic display modules to meet and attach to the second row of electronic display modules in adjacent case bases, thus forming an array of electronic display modules, and, again raising the lifting truss to remove the second row of electronic display modules from adjacent case bases and to elevate such array to a viewable elevated position. In such a process, minimal handling of the electronic display modules is required. The electronic display modules remain in the case bases and are mechanically lifted directly therefrom without a laborious first manual unloading of the electronic display modules from the case bases. Manual unloading of the often heavy and cumbersome electronic display modules is not required. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the first steps of the process of the invention. The case halves  18   a  and  18   b  of the protective cases  12   a  and  12   n,  each encasing and surrounding two electronic display module, are separated and removed after disengagement of latch actuators  26   a - 26   n  from latch receivers  28   a - 28   n  and disengagement of latch actuators  32   a - 32   n  from latch receivers  30   a - 30   n.  The castered case bases  20  of each of the protective cases  12   a  and  12   n  are easily maneuvered to adjacent positions to closely align and juxtapose the rearwardly located electronic display modules in the case bases  20  to form a first row A of aligned and mated electronic display modules that includes electronic display module  14   n  and to closely align and juxtapose the forwardly located electronic display modules in the case bases  20  to form a second row B of aligned and mated electronic display modules that includes electronic display module  14   a.  The lifting truss  16  is then lowered to meet and attach by suitable means to the lifting lugs  64  extending from the upper regions of the aligned and mated electronic display modules in the first row A. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the lifting of the first row A of aligned and mated electronic display modules from the case bases  20  to a position above the second row B of adjacently positioned aligned and mated electronic display modules supported on the case bases  20 . Subsequent to such lifting of the first row A of aligned and mated electronic display modules, the case bases  20  are rotated 180 degrees, as shown by arrows  72  and  74 , to a position as shown in FIG. 7, whereby the aligned and mated electronic display modules of the second row B, which are still resting in the case bases  20 , become aligned and mated to the electronic display modules of the first row A. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the lowering of the lifting truss  16  and the mated and aligned electronic display modules of the first row A to meet and attach to the mated and aligned electronic display modules of the second row B which are still resting in the case bases  20 , thereby forming an array of electronic display modules composed of the electronic display modules in rows A and B. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the upward positioning of the lifting truss  16  to remove the array of connected and mated electronic display modules which are in row form, from the adjacent case bases  20  to raise such array to a viewable elevated position. Although just four electronic display modules  14   a - 14   n  are shown, it is to be appreciated that various numbers of electronic display modules may be incorporated. For example, just one row of electronic display modules could be used in a 1×2 configuration (one row with two electronic display modules), or more combinations could be incorporated, such as 2×3 (two rows each with three electronic display modules), 2×4, 3×3, 4×4 and the like, to create a suitably sized array. Of course, removal and breaking down of the transportable electronic sign display system  10  would incorporate the reversal of the steps required for erection of such a system. 
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope thereof. 
     TRANSPORTABLE ELECTRONIC SIGN DISPLAY SYSTEM AND PROCESS 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 transportable 
                 32a-n 
                 latch actuators 
               
               
                   
                   
                 electronic sign 
                 34 
                 panel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 display system 
                 36 
                 panel 
               
               
                   
                 12a-n 
                 protective cases 
                 38a-n 
                 handhold 
               
               
                   
                 14a-n 
                 electronic 
                   
                 fixtures 
               
               
                   
                   
                 display modules 
                 40a-n 
                 stacking dishes 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 lifting truss 
                 42a-n 
                 casters 
               
               
                   
                 18a-b 
                 case halves 
                 44 
                 bottom 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 case base 
                 46 
                 panel 
               
               
                   
                 20a-b 
                 case base halves 
                 48 
                 foam panel 
               
               
                   
                 22a 
                 top 
                 50 
                 foam panel 
               
               
                   
                 22b 
                 side 
                 52 
                 bottom 
               
               
                   
                 22c 
                 side 
                 54 
                 panel 
               
               
                   
                 22d 
                 front 
                 56 
                 foam panel 
               
               
                   
                 23a 
                 top 
                 58 
                 foam panel 
               
               
                   
                 23b 
                 side 
                 59 
                 securing straps 
               
               
                   
                 23c 
                 side 
                 60a-n 
                 alignment fixtures 
               
               
                   
                 23d 
                 front 
                 63 
                 handle fixtures 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 cutout 
                 64 
                 lifting lug 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 cutout 
                 68 
                 end 
               
               
                   
                 26a-n 
                 latch actuators 
                 70 
                 end 
               
               
                   
                 28a-n 
                 latch receivers 
                 72 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 30a-n 
                 latch receivers 
                 74 
                 arrow