ANIMATED DISPLAY SIGNS

Abstract: A sign comprising at least one belt (5) for carrying display material and at least one roller means (9) which is adapted for movement across the face (2) of said sign wherein the belt (5) is disposed to wind over the roller means (9) as it moves across said face so that said display material is progressively exhibited for view or concealed in accordance with the direction of travel of said roller means.

Description: ANIMATED DISPLAY SIGNS This • invention relates to sign displays and more particularl although not exclusively to animated exhibits for advertisin or other information disseminating purposes. While there are many known types of animated display signs these normally require the extensive use of electronic gadgetry. The capital cost of such signs is therefore high as are the running expenses due to their considerable energy consumption. It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly this . invention discloses sign comprising at least one belt for carrying display material and at least one roller means whic is adapted for movement across the face of said sign wherein the belt is disposed to wind over the roller means as it moves across said face so that said display material is progressively exhibited for view or concealed in accordance with the direction of travel of said rollers. The currently preferred forms of this invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of one form of sign according to this invention, Figure 2 shows an example of the type of animation which may be obtained from the aforementioned sign, Figure 3 shows a modification of the sign of figure 1, Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention, an Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention. Referring first to figure 1 the sign may comprise a frame 1 with an open display area or face 2 on one side. Preferably the display face is sealed against the ingress of dust or moisture by a sheet of transparent plastic or glass 3 which sits between flanges 4 at each end. Immediately behind the sheet 3 a pair of belts 5 and 6 are extended across the display area. Although it is not apparent from the sectional views the belts have a sufficient width in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing to allow the exhibition of graphic material. Each of the belts are secured to a respective frame section of th sign at one end 7 and 8, and at the other end they wind arou rollers 9 and 10. These rollers are spring loaded to maintai the belts in a substantially taut and crease free configura¬ tion so that the display is presented to best advantage. The rollers are mounted on a carriage 11 which in turn is adapte to travel back and forth along a rail 12 from one side of th display face to the other. Although not shown in the drawing the carriage may for example be propelled by a small onboard motor or by a system of pulleys and cables from a stationary motor To illuminate the sign face the belt material may at least in part be translucent and a light tube 13 is mounted along the back face of the sign frame. An example of the effect produced by the sign is shown in figure 2. When the roller carriage is adjacent one side 14 of the display face the graphics carried by the unwound belt are clearly displayed. However as the carriage moves towards the other side 15 this material is progressively concealed from view as it winds onto its respective roller and is replaced by the graphics on the second unwinding bel The result of this arrangement is that two completely independent images can be displayed on the same sign face. Each in turn is displayed in it's entirety and then smoothly merged into the other as the carriage is moved across the sign face. A modification of this particular embodiment is shown in figure 3. The basic mechanism here is smilar to the device of figure 1 except that additional rollers 15 and 16 are provided at each side of the display area to increase the length of the belts and thus the amount of material that c be displayed thereon. By changing the segment of each belt that is unwound across the sign face between the carriage rollers 9 and 10, and the respective outer rollers 15 and 1 the combination of images displayed can be readily varied. With this particular example stationary motors 17 are show at each end of the sign frame which drive the rollers 15 a 16 to move the carriage across the sign face. Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention in whic the sign is adapted to use only one continuous belt 18 to display on two opposite faces 19 and 20. Both ends 21 and 2 of the belt are affixed to the top endi of the sign frame an the section therebetween extends around two horizontal rollers 22 and 23, and a central drive roller 24. The sign is intended to operated in the vertical orientation shown s that the weight of rollers 22 and 23 serves to tension the display area of the belt without the assistance of springs. Any suitable type of reversible motor drive 23A and 23B may be used to rotate roller 24 so that lengths of belt 18 with suitable graphic thereon are displayed alternatively on eac of the sign faces 19 and 20. Transparent background display 25 are also located on each side of a central light fixture 26 which are alternatively overlayed by the graphics on the belt to produce an effect similar to that described earlier with reference to figure 2. A modification of the sign of figure 4 is shown in figure 5 In this case two separate belts 27 and 28 are used so that the background display can be omitted. The belts are arrange in a similar manner to that of figure 4 with the ends 29 and 30 being secured to the top and bottom respectively of the sign frame and the mid-sections extending around pairs of horizontal rollers 31, 32, 33, 34 and central rollers 35 and 36. The upper roller 35 is rotated by a reversible motor drive 37 and 38, and it thereby displaces belt 27 in an identical manner to the device of figure 3. Each pair of adjacent horizontal rollers 31-32 and 33 - 34 are mechanicall linked so that the displacement of the upper belt 27 causes a corresponding movement in lower belt 28. Roller 36 is also preferably mounted in a slotted aperture 37 so that it's weight serves to tension the belts and prevent creasing of the display. The effect of this arrangement is that an animated exhibit is produced on each side of the sign which is similar to that of figure 2. It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiments described provides a novel, unique and low cost construction for animated signs. Clearly however the examples disclosed are only the currently preferred forms of this invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a man skilled in the art. For example the apparatus for driving the rollers may comprise any suitable kind of electrical, mechanical or hydraulic arrangement. Further, the invention is not limited to any particular material for constructing the belts or the other components of the sign.

Claims: The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A sign comprising at least one belt for carrying display material and at least one roller means which is adapted for movement across the face of said sign wherein the belt is disposed to wind over the roller means as it moves across said face so that said display material is progressively exhibited for view or concealed in accordance with the direction of travel of said rollers. 2. The sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair of belts a disposed across the sign face, each of said belts being secured at one end to a frame section of the sign and at th other winding around respective ones of a pair of said roll means. 3. The sign as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pair of rolle means are mounted on a carriage which is adapted to travel back and forth along a rail across said face. 4. The sign as claimed in claim 3 wherein said one end of each of the belts is also wound onto an additional roller at the side of the sign face to increase the amount of material which can be carried on said belts. 5. The sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one belt is disposed to display material on two opposite faces of said sign. 6. The sign as claimed in claim 5 wherein one belt is used t display material alternatively on said opposite faces, each end of said belt being affixed to the top of the sign frame and the section therebetween extending around respective horizontal rollers on each face and a central drive roller. 7. The sign as claimed in claim 6 wherein background exhibits are located on said faces which are alternatively concealed by said belt display. 8. The sign as claimed in claim 5 wherein two belts are used to simultaneously display material on said opposite faces. 9. A sign substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 or 3, 4 or 5.

Inventors: BORKERT CHESTMIR, BORKERT, CHESTMIR
Applicants: BORKERT CHESTMIR, BORKERT, CHESTMIR
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G09F11
IPC codes: G09F11