A display device

Abstract: A display device comprises a cylindrical drum 10 which is manufactured from two identical mouldings 11 and rotatably mounted on two nylon bearings 14 each of which is secured to post A. One moulding 11 is orientatable in a frist direction and a second moulding 11 is orientatable in a second opposite direction so as to enable the mouldings to engage. The male rim section 50 of one moulding 11 engages in the female rim section 60 of the second moulding. Each side of the female rim section 60 has ten supporting lugs 70 which support the male rim section 50 of the other moulding when engaged.

Description: The present invention relates to a display device, particularly a display device for mounting on a pole such as at a bus stop. It has been noted by many bus companies that where a bus stop is provided with a timetable which indicates the time it is estimated that a bus will pass that particular stop, then bus usage and therefore fares generated increase. However, the actual displaying of a timetable at a bus stop does present problems. The signs or display located at bus stops are such as would be likely to cause injury to pedestrians and also are susceptible to being vandalized. Our published United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2214691A discloses a display device having means for attachment to a support such as a pole, the display device being cylindrical in shape and having a surface adapted to support and display an information bearing sheet such as a timetable, the display device being co-axial with the pole when attached thereto. The subject matter disclosed in the specification of GB 2 214 691 was known before the priority date of the present application as the specification of corresponding Irish Patent Application No. 230/88 was laid open to public inspection at the Irish Patents Office on 28th July 1989. The display device is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and is provided with a domed top and a domed end, whereby no sharp corners or edges are provided on the device. The present invention provides a display device of the type described, characterized in that each moulding having a female rim section and a male rim section, the male and female rim sections of one moulding being engageable with the corresponding female and male rim sections respectively of the second moulding when orientated in mutually opposite directions, the inner surface of the female rim section having means for support the male rim section of the other moulding whereby when the two mouldings are engaged at the respective rims, the support means prevent the mouldings from engaging beyond the rim sections. Conveniently, the support means comprise a plurality of lugs integrally formed in the moulding. Advantageously, one side of the female rim section is provided with a longitudinal bead member whereby when two mouldings are engaged, the two longitudinal bead members are aligned to form a single longitudinal strip which covers the engagement line between the two mouldings at one side and which divides the outer surface area of the display device. Preferably, each moulding is provided with at least one continuous longitudinal strip on its outer surface whereby when two mouldings are engaged, the outer surface area of the display device is divided into regions by the longitudinal bead members and the continuous longitudinal strips, each region being adapted to accommodate a poster or other display material. Advantageously, the moulding are secured in engagement by fastening elements which are locatable in mountings provided on the inner surface of the moulding, each moulding having an orifice opening onto the outer surface of the moulding, with plugs being provided to seal the orifices after the insertion into the mountings of the fastening elements. Advantageously, the mountings are located in a region of the moulding which allows the plugs to be covered by display material. Preferably, each plug is provided with a key and each orifice is provided with a corresponding key-way. Advantageously, the display device includes two dome shaped bearings about which the device may be rotatably mounted, each bearing having means for securing it to a post or pole, with each bearing comprising two identical mouldings, each provided with means for engaging to a like moulding. Conveniently, the engaging means comprises a dowel and orifice arrangement and at least two pairs of corresponding holes for retaining fastening means. The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of a display device according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the display device mounted on a pole; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the display device; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the display device and showing how the display device is attached to a pole; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of two mouldings prior to engagement. Referring to the drawings, the display device comprises a cylindrical drum 10 which is manufactured from two identical mouldings 11. The drum 10 is rotatably mounted on two nylon dome-shaped bearings 14 each of which is secured to the pole A by bolts engaging the pole through holes 40. Mounted within the drum 10 and between the bearings 14 are four fluorescent tubes 17 and associated circuitry. The circumference of the drum 10 is divided into three recess panels 12 measuring 375 mm x 250 mm by two integrally formed longitudinal strips 18 and a single longitudinal strip 19 formed by two longitudinal bead members 20 one of each provided on each moulding. Four mountings 21 are provided on each moulding 11 and in which screws 22 and interengaging inserts 23 may be placed. The screws 22 are provided with allen-key heads 24. The holes 26 on the drum are plugged over by means of plugs 27 each having a key 28 which engages in keyway 29. The mouldings 11, which are identical, are injection moulded in a polycarbonate derivative and the ends of the drum 10, may be painted as required. The polycarbonate derivative is not susceptible to attack by fluorocarbons as used in aerosols and thus improves the vandal resistance of the display device. The rim of each moulding 11 is provided with a male rim section 50 and a female rim section 60. When a pair of mouldings 11 are aligned in mutually opposite directions, the male rim section 50 of one moulding 11 engages in the female rim section 60 of the second moulding. Each side of the female rim section 60 has ten supporting lugs 70 which support the male rim section 50 of the other moulding when engaged. Each of the dome-shaped bearings 14 comprises a pair of identical mouldings 30 which are engaged about the pole. A dowel 32 on each moulding fits into a corresponding hole 34. Bolts (not shown) are fitted through mutually aligned holes 35 to tighten the bearing to the pole. Other bolts secure the bearing to the pole A through holes 40. The bearing 14 is manufactured from a nylon material which is self-lubricating and the dome shape corresponds to the dome shape inside the moulding 11. The dome shape is provided on the upper surface 36 of the bearing and is supported by webs 37. Information sheets or advertising materials may be secured in the recess panels 12. The informations sheets which can have timetables for that particular stop are printed on a matt finish vinyl. The printing is effected by a laser printer. Reflective vinyl strips can be placed in the circumferential panels 25 and cover the plugs 27 from view. As the stop is provided with internal illumination, the bus stop also includes a fuse board, trip switch, control unit, time switch or a solar operated switch, etc. These elements would usually be provided at a base of the pole and a service door is also required. The bus stop can include an illuminated sign on top of the pole which can be illuminated so that the bus stop will be clearly visible. A specific number is allocated to each bus stop, so that a unique timetable may be generated for that bus stop. The identification number may be affixed in a bar coding, so that the number can be read by a bar code reader, for maintenance etc.

Claims: A display device having means for attachment to a support such as a pole (A), the display device being cylindrical in shape and having a surface (12) adapted to support and display an information bearing sheet such as a timetable, the display device being co-axial with the pole (A) when attached thereto, the display device being rotatable about its longitudinal axis and being provided with a domed top and a domed end, whereby no sharp corners or edges are provided on the device, the device comprises two identical mouldings (11), one moulding being orientatable in a first direction and the second moulding being orientatable in a second opposite direction so as to enable the mouldings (11) to engage; characterized in that each moulding (11) having a female rim section (60) and a male rim section (50), the male and female rim sections (50,60) of one moulding (11) being engageable with the corresponding female and male rim sections (50,60) respectively of the second moulding (11) when orientated in mutually opposite directions, the inner surface of the female rim section (60) having means (70) for supporting the male rim section (50) of the other moulding whereby when the two mouldings are engaged at their respective rims, the support means prevent the mouldings from engaging beyond the rim sections. A display device as claimed in Claim 1 in which one side of the female rim section (60) is provided with a longitudinal bead member whereby when two mouldings are engaged, the two longitudinal bead members (20) are aligned to form a single longitudinal strip (19) which covers the engagement line between the two mouldings at one side and which divides the outer surface area of the display device. A display device as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each moulding is provided with at least one continuous longitudinal strip (18) on its outer surface whereby when two mouldings are engaged, the outer surface area of the display device is divided into regions by the longitudinal bead members (20) and the continuous longitudinal strips (18), each region being adapted to accommodate a poster or other display material. A display device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the mouldings are secured in engagement by fastening elements (22) which are locatable in mountings (21) provided on the inner surface of the moulding, each moulding having an orifice (26) opening onto the outer surface of the moulding, with plugs (27) being provided to seal the orifices (26) after the insertion into the mountings of the fastening elements. A display device as claimed in Claim 4 in which the mountings (21) are located in a region of the moulding (11) which allows the plugs (27) to be covered by display material. A display device as claimed in Claim 5 in which each plug (27) is provided with a key (28) and each orifice (26) is provided with a corresponding key-way (29). A display device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the display device includes two dome shaped bearings (14) about which the device may be rotatably mounted, each bearing (14) having means (40) for securing it to a post or pole, with each bearing (14) comprising two identical mouldings (30), each provided with means (32,34) for engaging to a like moulding. A display device as claimed in Claim 7 in which the engaging means comprises a dowel (32) and orifice (34) arrangement and at least two pairs of corresponding holes (40) for retaining fastening means. A display device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support means comprise a plurality of lugs (70) integrally formed in the moulding. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the identical mouldings (11) is transparent or translucent.

Inventors: CONLON EMER ROSE, POWER ADRIAN PAUL, POWER JULIAN MARK, POWER PETER ANDREW, CONLON, DAVID, POWER, ADRIAN PAUL, POWER, JULIAN MARK, POWER, PETER ANDREW
Applicants: CONLON EMER ROSE, POWER ADRIAN PAUL, POWER JULIAN MARK, POWER PETER ANDREW, CONLON, EMER ROSE, POWER, ADRIAN PAUL, POWER, JULIAN MARK, POWER, PETER ANDREW
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G09F11
IPC codes: G09F11, G09F13