Pricing sign with changeable numbers

This invention relates to a display device having a self storing changeable message appearing on a display element that may be folded for insertion into a mounting member having two opposing flanges defining a channel and when the display element is engaged with the channel a selected portion of message printed thereon is displayed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The field of this invention is display signs and in particular, signs 
having a channel mount that conceals a substantial portion of cooperating 
removable information panels. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Signs having changeable elements, eg. panels, tags, etc. that cooperate 
with a mounting member by engaging the periphery of the element with 
flanges that define the channel are well known. For example, see U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 3,081,568; 4,179,138. Such devices are particularly useful for 
displaying information that is subject to periodic change, eg. prices and 
the like. 
A long standing problem with such signs is that a separate element for each 
piece of information must be provided and separately stored when not in 
use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a display device having a self-storing 
changeable message which comprises a mounting member having two opposing 
flanges defining a channel therebetween and a cooperating display element 
having information thereon. The display element is adapted to engagement 
with said flanges and at least one said flange covers a selected portion 
of the information on said display element. In one embodiment the display 
element is a foldable resilient sheet preferably having three segments 
each segment having two sides provided with information thereon. When this 
element is inserted in the channel member only about one half of the 
information on one side of a segment is visible and the remaining 
information on that segment is concealed by an extended portion of a 
flange. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device having 
easily changeable self-storing information elements. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, 
easily manufactured display device. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display device 
which at all times is entirely self-contained eliminating need for 
separate indexed or compartmented box of extra display elements, eg. 
numerals and tabs, to make up price changes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The element of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1,2,3 and 5 
comprises a display element 10 formed from a sheet, preferably resilient 
sheet, having three foldable segments 12, 14, and 16 each provided with 
information, ie. numerals, printed on both sides thereof. The two creases 
18 and 20 that divide segments 12, 14, and 16 bend when the resilient 
sheet 10 is folded as shown in FIG. 2 and openings 22 and 24 are 
optionally provided along the creases 18 and 20 to add flexibility to the 
hinge formed by bending and render a flatter folded form 28. Many modern 
plastic materials may be bent or folded, as contemplated, many thousands 
of times without cracking or breaking. It will be appreciated that the 
number of segments per display element can be varied from one up to 
several depending on the thickness of the resilient sheet 10 and 
dimensions of the mounting member 30. The mounting member 30 defines a 
channel 31 boarded by first and second flanges 32 and 34, respectively. 
The flange members 32 and 34 engage portions of the periphery of folded 
display element 28 when it is seated in the channel 31. The outer extended 
portion 36 of first flange 32 extends downwardly covering approximately 
one-half of the exposed surface 17 of segment 16 so that only the single 
numeral six of the seated display element 10 is visible. If the display 
element 10 is inverted only the numeral five will be seen; if reversed, 
either the numerals seven or eight appear on the reverse side, shown in 
FIG. 5, and so on so that each numeral may be individually displayed. It 
will be appreciated that other information including any symbol or 
pictorial, eg. letters of the alphabet, words, dollar & cents signs etc. 
may be substituted for the numerals, in the above example, and that a 
plurality of display elements in a single mounting member may cooperate to 
display any desired message. It will be appreciated that the entire 
alphabet and the numerals zero thru nine can be put on three reversible 
strips having three segments each. Moreover, a blank portion of one or 
more segments may be provided so that the display element may be stored in 
channel 31 without displaying any information. It will be appreciated that 
the display elements may be easily modified to fit in a cooperating 
channel with its creases orientated vertically rather than the horizontal 
orientation shown in the drawings. 
Preferably, each of the exterior surfaces of the flanges 32 and 34 are 
provided with a pair of cooperating flanges 40 40' and 42, 42' defining a 
simple channel that is adapted to accommodate in any known manner, 
conventional type display elements 41 and 43 having a message or portion 
thereof on at least one side. 
The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 utilizes the same type display 
elements described above and the structure of the mounting element 50 is 
modified so that two or more such modified elements 50 cooperate with each 
other to form a structure that otherwise functions in the same manner as 
the previously described embodiment. Mounting element 50 is provided with 
a flange 52 on its forward surface for receiving the periphery 29 of the 
display element 64 seated therein. The opposite or rearward side of the 
modified mounting element 50 is provided with a specially adapted shoulder 
54 the lower portion of which defines a seat for the upper rearwardly 
inclined portion 58 of a second element 50'. The rearwardly inclined upper 
portion 58 of first element 50 and the lower portion 60 of a second 
cooperating element 50' define a flange-like pocket 62 that functions in 
substantially the same manner as the extended portion 36 of flange 32, 
described above. That is, it secures portions of the periphery of the 
folded display element 64 and conceals approximately half of its exposed 
surface so that only a selected portion of the information thereon is 
visible. 
From the above description, it will be apparent that there is thus provided 
a device of the character described possessing the particular features and 
advantages described herein, but which obviously is susceptible of 
modification in its form, proportions, details of construction and 
arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or 
sacrificing any of its advantages. 
While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described 
in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features 
shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but a 
few of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the 
invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within 
the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.