Abstract:
Articulated continuous electronic display providing for an electronic display panel bridging between adjacent non-coplanar electronic display sections to provide for continuous non-interrupted alphanumeric or graphic informational display.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is for an articulated continuous electronic display, and more particularly is for an electronic display which includes an intermediate electronic display panel articulatingly aligned between electronic displays mounted on surfaces which are not co-planar. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Often, electronic displays, such as those utilizing LEDs (light emitting diodes) or other electrical or electronic display media are incorporated and mounted on adjoining surfaces which are not coplanar. The primary example of this is where the electronic displays are mounted on the fascia at the front of seating levels or in other alocations at arenas and stadiums or other locations where often the fascia members are not coplanar. Such installations included locating of side-by-side display cabinets having alphanumeric or graphic electronic displays on adjacent intersecting fascia, whereby a gap between the sections would visually appear as a black line or jump in the content of the display. Such an effect is unacceptable to the persons viewing the display. Additionally, if the angle of angular juxtaposition of the electronic display sections were lessened, an abrupt visual aberration imparting an illusion of non-linear and interrupted viewing would be perceived by the viewer. Clearly what is needed is a multiple section electronic display that can wrap seamlessly and continuously along non-coplanar fascia so that the content of the display will flow clearly and smoothly without interruption along the entire length. Such is provided for by an articulated continuous electronic display, the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is to provide an articulated continuous electronic display. The articulated continuous electronic display includes groups of one or more electronic display sections mounted on adjacent surfaces which are not co-planar which are joined by an articulated electronic display section bridging across the fascia intersection and between the electronic display sections to form an articulated continuous electronic display. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an articulated continuous electronic display including an articulated electronic display section having variable geometry for mounting to groups of flanking and adjacent cabinetized electronic display sections. The variable geometry consists of hinged mounting plates which are slotted for attachment and suitable alignment to the near ends of the adjacent electronic display sections. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an articulated continuous electronic display providing for continuous uninterrupted viewing along non-coplanar mounted electronic display sections. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an articulated electronic display section having hinged mounting plates which facilitate mounting to adjacent electronic display sections. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a range of angular adjustability between a centrally located articulated electronic display section and adjacent electronic display sections. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is lateral adjustability of an electronic display panel of an articulated electronic display section with respect to adjacent electronic display panels of adjacent electronic display sections. 
     Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an articulated continuous electronic display which obviates a black line or jumps between electronic display sections mounted on non-coplanar surfaces. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an articulated continuous electronic display which obviates an abrupt visual aberration imparting an illusion of non-linear and interrupted viewing as would otherwise be perceived by the viewer. 
     Having thus set forth significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an articulated continuous electronic display. 
    
    
     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 illustrates a perspective view of an articulated continuous electronic display, the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a semi-exploded perspective view of the articulated continuous electronic display; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded isometric view of an articulated electronic display section; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a cutaway top view of the articulated continuous electronic display secured to planar surfaces of a fascia; and, 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a section view along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4 of the mating of the articulated electronic display section to an electronic display section by hinges. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an articulated continuous electronic display  10 , the present invention. The continuous articulated electronic display  10  includes, in part, an electronic display section  12  of suitable length having a plurality of electronic display panels  14   a - 14   n  secured and mounted in a cabinet  16  having, as best shown in FIG. 2, a top  16   a , opposing sides  16   b  and  16   c , a bottom  16   d  and a back  16   e . The articulated continuous electronic display  10  also includes, in part, an electronic display section  18  of suitable length having a plurality of electronic display panels  20   a - 20   n  secured and mounted in a cabinet  22  having, as best shown in FIG. 2, a top  22   a , opposing sides  22   b  and  22   c , a bottom  22   d  and a back  22   e . An articulated electronic display section  24  including an electronic display panel  26  aligns between and articulatingly connects cabinet  16  of the electronic display section  12  and cabinet  22  of the electronic display section  18 . Configured top and bottom panels  28  and  30  (FIG. 2) mate with the articulated electronic display section  24 , the top  16   a  of the cabinet  16 , the top  22   a  of the cabinet  22 , the bottom  16   d  of the cabinet  16  and the bottom  22   d  of the cabinet  22 , respectively. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a semi-exploded perspective view of the articulated continuous electronic display  10 . Illustrated in particular are a plurality of hinges  32   a - 32   n  secured to one side of the articulated electronic display section  24  and a plurality of like hinges  34   a - 34   n  opposingly secured to another side of the articulated electronic display section  24 . The hinges  32   a - 32   n  secure by appropriate fasteners to side  16   c  of the cabinet  16  and the hinges  34   a - 34   n  secure by appropriate fasteners to side  22   c  of the cabinet  22  to form an articulated continuous electronic display  10 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded isometric view of the articulated electronic display section  24 . Illustrated in particular is a framework  36  central to and being part of the articulated electronic display section  24  to which a plurality of components secure and attach, thereby completing the articulated electronic display section  24 . The framework  36  includes opposing vertically oriented sides  36   a  and  36   b , opposing horizontally oriented angled sides  36   c  and  36   d  extending between the vertically oriented sides  36   a  and  36   b , and a horizontally oriented mid-framework member  36   e  the members of which describe upper and lower cutout areas  38  and  40 . A plurality of horizontally and rearwardly extending stud mounts  42  secured to the left side  36   a  and the right side  36   b  accommodate a plurality of like hinges  32   a - 32   n  and  34   a - 34   n , such as illustrated at the upper regions of the sides  36   a  and  36   b . Each of the plurality of hinges  32   a - 32   n  and  34   a - 34   n  includes a horizontally oriented slot  44  which aligns over and about a stud mount  42  to allow horizontal positional alignment of the hinges  32   a - 32   n  and  34   a - 34   n  with respect to the framework  36  which substantially allows horizontal positioning of the articulated electronic display section  24  to adjacent electronic display sections  12  and  18 . Vertically aligned angled rails  46   a - 46   n  align to the frame  36  and extend through the cutouts  38  and  40 , respectively. A plurality of horizontally aligned spacers  45  secure between the electronic display panel  26  and the frame  36 . Angled rails  48   a - 48   n  secure to and extend from the upper and lower regions of the electronic display panel  26  to connect to a panel  50  shown to the rear of the framework  36 . The electronic display panel  26  includes a circuit board  52 , shown in dashed lines, a face plate  54 , and a plurality of LEDs  56   a - 56   n , for example, extending through the face plate  54 . Although a plurality of LEDs  56   a - 56   n  is illustrated for purposes of illustration and example, any other suitable display media, such as, but not limited to, liquid crystal display (LCD), incandescent lights, flat panel video screens or the like, could be incorporated for informational displays. Other display panels incorporating the principles of the invention can be utilized by dimensional adaptation. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a cutaway top view of the articulated continuous electronic display  10  secured by a plurality of fasteners  57   a - 57   n  to the planar surfaces  58   a  and  58   b  of fascia  58  which are angled with respect to one another. The backs  16   e  and  22   e  of cabinets  16  and  22  are directly secured to the planar surfaces  58   a  and  58   b  of the fascia  58 , thereby securing the cabinets  16  and  22  to the fascia  58 . The pluralities of hinges  32   a - 32   n  and hinges  34   a - 34   n  secure the articulated electronic display section  24  to the sides  16   c  and  22   c  of the cabinets  16  and  22 , respectively, thereby supporting the articulated electronic display section  24  between the cabinets  16  and  22 . The pluralities of hinges  32   a - 32   n  and hinges  34   a - 34   n  allow flexibility of the angular relationship of the centrally located articulated electronic display section  24  to the adjoining electronic display sections  12  and  18  located in cabinets  16  and  22 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a section view along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4 of the mating of the articulated electronic display section  24  to the electronic display section  12  by the hinges  32   a - 32   n . A plurality of suitable fasteners  60  extend through a portion of the hinges  32   a - 32   n  and through the side  16   c  of the cabinet  16 , thereby securing the articulated electronic display section  24  to the cabinet  16 . The relationship of the articulated electronic display section  24  to the electronic display section  12  can be adjusted in several fashions to provide for best alignment thereof. One such adjustment is provided about the hinges  32   a - 32   n , whereby the angular relationship of the articulated electronic display section  24  can be adaptively varied to provide perpendicular alignment of the articulated electronic display section  24  to a line bisecting the intersection of the fascia surfaces  58   a  and  58   b , thereby best determining an angular relationship between the electronic display section  12  and the articulated electronic display section  24  which should substantially be the same as the angular relationship between the electronic display section  18  and the articulated electronic display section  24 . Longitudinal left and right adjustment of the articulated electronic display section  24  in order to bring the edge of the electronic display panel  26  into close proximity with one edge of the adjoining edge of the electronic display panel  14 a is provided by the positionable relationship of the stud mount(s)  42  extending from the framework  36  through the slot(s)  44  in the hinges  32   a - 32   n . Rearward or forward positioning of the electronic display panel  26  with relationship to the framework  36  can be accomplished, if desired, by providing differently dimensioned spacers  45 , if required. Hinges  34   a - 34   n  provide for similar relationships and adjustability of like components, as previously described for hinges  32   a - 32   n.    
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof.