Information display panel

Presentation and display panel for miscellaneous informations of the type comprising a plate covered by a matrix carrying information disposed parallel to slots made in the matrix and serving for the passage of gripping members carried by identification elements displaceable between the plate and the matrix, wherein the panel has on its face covered by the matrix a given aspect or appearance, the matrix is transparent and has at least one partly flexible segment separated from matrix by at least one slot and held on the matrix by an attachment support, the matrix carries on flexible segment information with the same appearance as the face of the panel and the identification elements have a contrasting appearance compared with that of the face and the information. Display panels for displaying the results of games, forecasts and competitions, also usable as a didactic or calendar panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to panels used for displaying to the public 
various types of information of a momentary or temporary nature which has 
to be rapidly visually appraised with no risk of change or error of 
interpretation. 
In many fields display panels are used to display symbols or information 
which must be read without any danger of misinterpretation. This is the 
case of display panels in general which supply the results of games, 
forecasts and information of a utalitarian, industrial or didactic nature. 
Hitherto, the panels used have generally visualized and selected the 
sought information from a collection permanently carried by such a panel. 
Selection and visualization take place by means of removable 
identification means such as disks, rings or similar elements fixed, 
connected, mounted or associated in some other way with one or more 
informations so as to make them stand out and facilitate their visual 
distinction compared with the general collection carried by the panel. 
In general, such means only prove to be moderately satisfactory because 
they do not make it possible to select in a rapid and practical manner 
information having to be retained and moreover they do not identify such 
information in a sufficiently clear and precise manner to make it stand 
out compared with the other information carried on the panel. 
To obviate this disadvantage, information carrying panels are used on which 
the information is selectively visualized by independent illumination or 
lighting controlled by a control board. Such means certainly make it 
possible to solve the problem of identifying the symbols retained but, in 
view of their high price, they cannot be used for all possible 
applications of display panels. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention aims at obviating this disadvantage by proposing a 
novel, simple and practical display and presentation panel able to show 
selected information in a clear and precise manner with no risk of any 
misinterpretation on the part of the public which is to be informed. 
The object of the invention has the supplementary advantage of having an 
uncomplicated construction making its use possible in a large number of 
applications, even in the case where the information from which the 
selection has to be made is relatively large. 
Another advantage of the object of the invention is that of permitting the 
rapid visualization and easy identification change of the information 
carried so as to facilitate the changing, replacing or modification of 
those items of information having to be selected as a function of the 
identification criteria used. 
The invention therefore relates to a panel for the presentation and display 
of miscellaneous information, wherein it comprises on the one hand a panel 
having on its front face a given aspect or appearance and on the other at 
least one adaptable transparent matrix on the panel and defining at least 
one flexible segment carrying information having the same aspect as the 
front face of the panel and, in addition, identification elements which 
can be moved between the front face and at least the flexible segment and 
having in the direction of the latter a surface having a contrasted 
appearance compared with that of the front face and the information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
According to FIGS, 1 and 2, the presentation and display panel means for 
miscellaneous information comprises the actual panel 1 having any desired 
shape, for example rectangular as illustrated in the drawings and which 
can have openings 2 for its suspension on a random support by any 
appropriate means. Although not shown, it is obvious that different 
support means can be envisaged and in particular panel 1 may be provided, 
for example, with sleeves or flanges for the fitting of a mounting support 
on the ground. 
Panel 1 may be made from any appropriate material and is shaped so as to 
have, beginning at its front face, an impression 3 for example indented 
with respect to the surface and whose base is also retracted in the same 
direction so as to define a peripheral region 5. All the front face, the 
region 5 and the base 4 has a covering of the same general appearance and 
designated by the overall reference numeral 6 and illustrated in FIG. 1 
with a grey tint. Covering 6 can be of any appropriate type and preferably 
has the appearance of a uniform matt or bright color shade or tint 
provided so as to be connected or optionally incorporated into the 
material mass constituting panel 1, more particularly when the latter is 
made from a thermally shaped plastics material. 
Panel 1 is associated with a matrix 7 in the precise form of the impression 
3 in which it can be mounted so as to rest on the raised edge 5. Matrix 7 
is maintained in impression 3 by any appropriate means, preferably 
selected so as to permit an optional retraction and the replacement by a 
matrix having different characteristics. For example, matrix 7 can be held 
in place by not shown adhesive means or by introducing deformable studs 8 
carried by the matrix and which pass through complimentary holes made in 
the peripheral raised edge 5. Although not shown, the reverse arrangement 
would also be possible. 
The fitting of matrix 7 into impression 3 thus makes it possible to define 
between the rear face of the matrix and the base 4 a recess 9, whose 
special function can be gathered from the subsequent description. 
Matrix 7, which is made from a transparent material, is shaped so as to 
define flexible segments 10 which in the present embodiment of FIG. 1 are 
realized in the form of horizontally disposed parallel strips or bands 
separated by slots 11. The flexible strips or bands are also preferably 
initially provided in such a way that their free transverse edge 10a is 
retracted with respect to the corresponding edge of the important 
impression 3, so as to define with the latter a gap 10b whose function 
will be shown hereinafter. In the present embodiment, the edges 10a of the 
different strips or bands 10 are aligned and positioned on the same side 
of matrix 7, i.e. the different strips have, with respect to the latter, 
an attachment support 12 located on the same side of panel 1. Obviously, a 
different arrangement is also possible and in particular the extreme free 
transverse edges 10a could be alternately staggered or positioned in some 
other way with respect to one another. 
Each flexible segment 10 carries information 13 of any type, i.e. symbols 
representing combined or independent visual information and which is 
carried in the form of locally relativey separated characters. Each item 
of information 13 is carried in any appropriate way to offer the same 
appearance as covering 6 of the front face of panel 1. In other words, 
each item of information 13 has the same appearance as the front face of 
panel 1, both as regards color, texture, brightness, etc in such a way 
that when matrix 7 occupies impression 3, the information 13 coincides 
with the covering 6 so that when viewed from a moderate distance such 
information cannot be visually discerned. The information 13 is preferably 
also carried by the flexible segments 10 in such a way that it is not 
revealed by reflections or incident rays striking the matrix 7. Thus, 
preferably information 13 is carried on the rear face of segments 10 and, 
if appropriate, the outer face thereof is given a matt surface state. 
The panel according to the invention also comprises movable identification 
elements respectively constituted, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, by a 
flap 14 whose height H is approximately equal to the height of a flexible 
segment 10 plus the width of a slot 11. Flap 14 has a length L which is 
approximately equal or slightly in excess of the maximum local area which 
can be occupied by an item of information 13. Flap 14 is associated with a 
pin 15, for example a cylindrical pin, constituting a gripping and 
guidance member, whose cross section is compatable with a practical and 
easy introduction into a slot 11. The surface of flap 14 corresponding to 
pin 15 is provided with a covering 16, whose appearance fundamentally 
differs from that of covering 6 and information 13. Covering 16 is also 
chosen in such a way that a certain contrast is obtained with covering 6 
and information 13. 
Thus, for use purposes, each identification element 14 is manually seized 
by pin 15 in such a way as to permit the engagement of the flap in gap 10b 
in order to bring about by bending the raising of the corresponding strip 
10 so as to permit the engagement of the flap in recess 9 and at the same 
time the introduction of pin 15 into the corresponding slot 11. Thus, 
identification element 14 can be moved freely in recess 9 and can be 
positioned, behind the corresponding flexible strip 10, facing the sought 
information 13 and which is to be made visible compard with the mass or 
collection carried by the matrix. The covering 16 of the flap of 
identification element 14 makes it possible to select an item of 
information by constituting a color mask contrasted for the corresponding 
part of covering 6 and permitting the distinct visualization of the sought 
information, which thus clearly stands out from the uniform coloring of 
matrix 7 and panel 1. 
By means of the necessary number of identification elements 14, it 
therefore becomes possible to visualize the sought information and to 
easily make the selected information disappear by moving or withdrawing 
the identification elements 14. These operations can be performed rapidly 
and reliably in view of the fact that the displacement of each 
identification element 14 can be obtained with a high degree of precision 
via pin 15 traversing the corresponding slot 11 so as to be permanently 
accessible from the front face of the display panel. 
FIG. 1 shows that the upper edge of each flexible segment 10 can optionally 
be associated for each selectable piece of information 13 with a raised 
portion 17 such as for example a notch able to receive the pin 15, thus 
constituting a relative immobilisation member able to oppose any untimely 
sliding of each identification element after seeking and selecting a piece 
of information which is to be visualized. Although not shown, it is 
obvious that any equivalent means able to assume the same function can be 
used. 
In order to optionally improve the immobilisation of each identification 
element, the flexible segments 10 can be especially shaped in such a way 
that each acts in the manner of an elastic member pressing the flap 14 
against base 4 so as to cause friction which, either alone or in 
association with the immobilisation action of raised portion 17, is able 
to contribute to maintaining each identification element 14 in the 
selected position. 
The panel according to the invention is shown in a simplified embodiment, 
but it should be noted that more complex configurations are possible as a 
function of the number of informations carried by matrix 7, the particular 
application envisaged and the existance of selection criteria common to 
several selected informations and determining different groups which may 
also be subject to a preselection process. 
FIG. 4 illustrates such an embodiment according to which matrix 7 has two 
rows of articulated segments 10.sub.1 and 10.sub.2, which are parallel to 
one another for each row and opposite in pairwise manner for two distinct 
rows, extending on either side of a common support 12. In such a case, the 
opposite transverse edges of segments 10.sub.1 and 10.sub.2 each define 
with the corresponding edges of impression 3, the gaps 10 necessary for 
the engagement of identification elements 14. 
FIG. 5 shows a variant according to which the arrangement of segments 
10.sub.1 and 10.sub.2 is reversed in such a way that the transverse edges 
face on another and together define gaps 10b. 
FIG. 6 shows a variant according to which it is possible to give the 
articulated segments 10 different relative widths according to the 
information having to be carried. In the same way, matrix 7 can be 
constructed so that it has articulated segments extending vertically with 
respect to the partial or complete reading direction of the 
information-carrying surface, whilst it is also possible to combine such a 
relative arrangement with a conventional horizontal arrangement when, for 
example, vertically directed articulated segments 10.sub.3 make it 
possible to effect a first selection, for example, of groups of 
informations within which there is to be a subsequent selection by 
displacing an indentification element 14 along a generally horizontally 
oriented segment 10. In addition, matrix 7 can be formed by means of 
independent flexible strips and not separated from a common plate and in 
such a case one of the terminal portions and the panel can be connected to 
form an attachment support. 
Although not shown, it is also possible to construct panel 1 in the form of 
a flat plate and to shape matrix 7 so that its application and maintaining 
in place by any appropriate means on the front face of said plate make it 
possible to define the recess 9 necessary for engagement, the fitting and 
the sliding of the identification element or elements used. 
The object of the invention is particularly suitable for forming a display 
or presentation panel for results of competitions, forecasts, various 
games, as well as for use as a didactic or calendar panel. 
The invention is not limited to the embodients described and represented 
hereinbefore and various modifications can be made thereto without passing 
beyond the scope of the invention.