Patent Publication Number: US-7895781-B2

Title: Indicia display device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many activities, such as, but not limited to sports, a plurality of events, such as balls, runs, downs, goals, and the like, occur. In general, these events are tracked, and indicia related to the events are displayed to participants and spectators. For example, in basketball, it is important to keep track of and display the number of fouls of each player. In baseball, it is important to keep track of and display the balls, strikes and outs as well as the runs of the game. In each of these sports, the indicia (e.g., numbers) are typically displayed on an electronic scoreboard that is visible to everyone, including spectators and participants. 
     Football presents a similar yet distinct problem. In football, an important event that must consistently be visible to players, officials, and spectators is what down it is. Although the current down is often kept on an electronic scoreboard, it is also necessary for the down to be maintained on the field along the sidelines at a location visible to the players and officials. Not only must the players and officials be able to quickly see what down it is by referring to the down marker on the field, in many situations, especially high school and junior football, the down marker on the field may be the only indicator of the downs for the spectator. 
     One type of numerical down marker that is used in football consists of a flip card device mounted on a stake. This flip card device normally has a set of four cards. Each card has a single number painted thereon (either 1, 2, 3 and 4), and the cards are joined together by two rings so that the cards can be flipped forward or backward to display the proper down. One of the problems with this type of down marker is that it is hazardous to the players in the game. The individual cards have sharp edges and are in no way provided with any protective padding. Since the down marker must be kept on the sidelines of the playing field at the line of scrimmage, a player will often run into, or be tackled into, the down marker. This can cause serious injuries to the players and to others in the immediate vicinity. An increasing number of players are injured in football, and any form of safety or protection to the player is desirous and needed for the game. 
     Another problem with the flip card device is that the rings on which the numbers are mounted are easily broken. When a ring breaks or when a number breaks off of the ring, the number becomes crooked and difficult for the players, officials and spectators to see. The flip card device is also bulky and slow to operate. 
     It is also possible to display numbers, such as prices in the retail situation or downs in the game of football, by means of an electronic number indicator. However, an electronic device to display numbers is often too expensive to be practical in many applications. The cost of continuously running an electric price board in a retail store would be prohibitive in most cases. In many sports, and especially in football, it is impractical to use an electronic number device as a sideline down marker, particularly in high school and junior league football. Providing an AC operated device would be impractical if not impossible, and it would also be costly and impractical to employ a battery operated device. 
     Other mechanical types of devices have been developed for the purpose of keeping track of downs. As noted above, the players sometimes run into the devices during the playing of games, oftentimes with substantial force. The prior art devices of this type have an internal structure that floats within an external frame and, because it is subject to significant forces when struck by one or more player, is often shook violently. Further, the prior art used a significant number of interior parts, especially sliding elements, so that the prior art was significantly subject to damage and failure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiments, a system of movable slats configured and arranged for visual display of a plurality of numbers, wherein each of the numbers is associated with a down in a football game, is provided, wherein the system includes a housing having first and second sides, wherein the first and second sides each has a generally rigid frame and a transparent display window, wherein the first and second sides are configured to cooperatively provide an enclosed interior, and wherein the frame has at least three pivot pin receptacles, and further wherein the frame has a plurality of support leg receiving members; a non-movable support located in the enclosed interior and comprising a plurality of support legs configured and arranged for coupling with the support leg receiving members, wherein the non-movable support is mounted on the frame and substantially stabilized when the support legs are coupled with the support leg receiving members; a non-movable set of slats attached to the non-movable support and configured to cooperatively respectively display a number associated with a fourth down in a football game; three movable supports located in the enclosed interior, wherein each movable support is slidably attached to the non-movable support and configured and arranged to be moved between a first position and a second position; three movable sets of slats, wherein each set is attached to a movable support, wherein each set comprises a plurality of slats, configured to cooperatively display a number associated with a first down, a second down or third down in a football game, and wherein the number is selectively displayable through the transparent window when the associated movable support is in the first position and the number is not displayed when the movable support is in the second position; three arms, wherein each arm has an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the exterior portion of the arm is configured to extend out of the housing, such that the arm exterior portion is accessible to a user, wherein each arm interior portion includes a pivot pin configured to be received in and rotatably engaged by a pivot pin receptacle, and wherein the arm interior portion is movably coupled to a respective movable support, whereby movement of the arm exterior portion to a first position cooperatively moves the movable support to the first position, and movement of the arm exterior portion to a second position cooperatively moves the movable support to the second position, whereby the user is allowed to select to display any one of the four numbers associated with the downs of the football game. 
     In one aspect of the first embodiment, the device includes a friction ridge located between the arms and the frame. The friction ridge is configured and arranged to frictionally engage the arms, whereby the arms are stabilized in the first position, but moveable by application of force by the hand of a user on the respective exterior portion to the second position. 
     In a second aspect of the first embodiment, the movable and non-movables sets of slats are configured and arranged to display the numbers associated with the downs in opposing directions via the transparent windows. 
     In a second aspect, a numerical-display system for sequential display in opposed directions of a plurality of numbers associated with a plurality of downs in a football game, is provided, including first and second matable rectangular housing panels, wherein each housing panel has a rigid frame including two side portions, a top portion and a bottom portion, a transparent window, at least three pivot pin cups located in at least one side portion, and a plurality of leg locks located in the frame, wherein when mated the first and second matable rectangular housing panels cooperatively provide a housing interior and a housing exterior; an immobile slat support located within the housing interior and comprising a plurality of support legs configured and arranged to immovably engage the leg locks, whereby the immobile slat support is mounted on the frame and substantially immobilized within the housing interior; an immobile set of slats attached to the immobile slat support, and configured and arranged to cooperatively display a number associated with a fourth down in a game of football; three movable slat supports located within the housing interior and slidably attached to the immobile slat support, and configured and arranged to be sequentially and selectively moved between a first position and a second position, wherein each of the movable slat supports includes: a pair of vertical beams; a horizontal beam connecting the vertical beams; and a detent guide located in the horizontal beam; three sets of mobile slats, wherein each of the sets of mobile slats is attached to one of the three movable slat supports, wherein each of the sets of mobile slats is configured and arranged to cooperatively display a number associated with a first, second or third down in a football game when the movable support to which the set is attached is in the first position and to not display the number when the movable support is in the second position; at least three lever arms, wherein each of the at least three lever arms is associated with one of the movable slat supports, wherein each lever arm includes: a handle configured to protrude from the housing interior to the housing exterior, wherein the handle includes an up position and a down position; a central portion comprising a detent operably coupled with the detent guide, wherein the detent is configured for sliding rotational movement within the detent guide when the handle is moved between the up and down positions; and a linkage end comprising a pivot pin configured to pivotally couple with one of the at least three pivot cups, wherein movement of the handle between the up and down positions is associated with pivoting the associated pivot pin within a coupled pivot pin cup. 
     In one aspect of the second embodiment, the fourth down number is displayed when the three movable supports are in the second position. 
     In a second aspect of the second embodiment, each lever arm is configured and arranged for operation by a user, whereby each of the four numbers is sequentially selectable and displayable. 
     In a second aspect of the second embodiment, the movable slat supports are substantially supported within the enclosed portion of the housing by the immobile slat support. 
     In a third aspect, an indicia display device for sequential selection and display of a plurality of indicia associated with events in an activity is provided, the device including: a housing comprising an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a plurality of sockets; a stationary support comprising a plurality of legs configured and arranged to couple with the sockets, whereby the stationary support is substantially immobilized within the interior portion of the housing; a plurality of slidable supports slidably coupled with the stationary support, wherein each of the slidable supports is configured and arranged for display of an indication associated with an event in an activity, wherein each slidable support has a display position, for display of the indication associated therewith, and non-display position; and a plurality lever arms, wherein each of the lever arms is operatively coupled with one of the slidable supports, wherein the lever arms are configured and arranged for movement of the slidable supports between the display position and the non-display position. 
     In a first embodiment of the third aspect, an the stationary support is configured and arranged for display of an indication associated with an event in the activity. 
     In another embodiment, the indicia are displayed on opposing sides of the device. 
     In another embodiment, the slidable supports are configured for sequential selection and display of the indicia. 
     In another embodiment, the indicia are numbers. 
     In another embodiment, the numbers are the numbers 1 through 4. 
     In another embodiment, the indicia are letters. 
     In another embodiment a plurality of sets of slats with each slat associated with a different respective indicia are mounted on moveable supports that are slidably mounted on a non moveable support and the non moveable has a plurality of legs with each leg positionally secured in a receiver of a fixed and rigid exterior frame and furthermore, wherein lever arms for selectively positioning the sets are pivotally secured to the fixed frame on one end and pivotally joined to the moveable support to allow a user to position the sets to select a particular indicia. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration an example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an indicia display device in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the indicia display device with portions broken away to illustrate certain internal parts. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the indicia display device. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the indicia display device with portions broken away to illustrate some internal parts, shown in a different configuration as compared to  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the internal mechanism of an indicia display device within one side frame with the slats removed in a first configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the internal mechanism of an indicia display device, with the slats removed in a second configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the internal mechanism of the indicia display device of similar to  FIG. 6 , in a third configuration. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of the internal mechanism of the indicia display device, of the device of in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the indicia display device, taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a device  110  for display (e.g., visual display) of indicia  114  is provided, wherein the indicia are displayed via a system of slats  112 . In some embodiments, the indica are numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, . . . ), letters (e.g., A, B, C, . . . ) or other symbols (e.g., @, †, &amp;, . . . ). In some embodiments, the indicia are associated with certain events of an activity, wherein the events are tracked, and the device is configured and arranged to display the indicia to event participants and/or spectators. In a further embodiment, the device is configured and arranged such that the indicia can be sequentially selected and displayed. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a numerical-display system for sequential display in opposed directions of a plurality of numbers associated with a plurality of downs in a football game. In the latter embodiment, each of indicia (e.g., indications) is a number. For example, the numeral “1” is associated with a first down. The numeral “2” is associated with a second down. The numeral “3” is associated with a third down. The numeral “4” is associated with a fourth down. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , the device  110  includes a housing  116  that includes first and second sides ( 118  and  120 , respectively), also referred to herein as side portions. The first and second sides  118  and  120  are mirror images of each other and each includes a generally rigid frame  122  and a transparent display window  124 . The sides  118 ,  120  are formed of at least one impact-resistant plastic using manufacturing methods known in the art, such as but not limited to injection molding and machining. The first and second sides  118 ,  120  are preferably identical for ease of production and assembly. At least a portion of the window  124  is coated with an anti-glare (e.g., non-reflective) coating, such as to prevent glare caused by sunlight impinging upon the window, so that visibility of the indicia by a viewer is not hampered thereby. 
     The device  110  includes foam padding  126  attached to at least a portion of the frame  122  and optionally at least a portion of the window  124 . In the illustrated embodiment that is shown in  FIG. 1 , the padding  126  is configured and arrange to cover substantially all of the exterior of the housing  116 , except for the portion of the window(s)  124  through which the indicia  114  are displayed (e.g., viewable, viewed) to provide protection to players and other persons who may run into the device  110  during a game and also to insulate an interior of the device  110  from shock. In the illustrated embodiment, the padding  126  is configured and arranged to cover substantially less of the housing exterior. In some embodiments, the padding  126  is formed of impact-resistant foam or other protective material, such as is known in the art, so as to protect a person impacting (e.g., running into, crashing into) the device  110  from substantial injury. The device  110  is generally carried on a support  128 , such as, but not limited to, a pole or stake, so as to lift the device to a convenient height (e.g., off of the ground) for viewing by activity participants and/or spectators during use. The padding  126  covers a portion of the support, such as but not limited to hardware used for connecting the device  110  to an upper end of the support  128 . 
     The first and second sides  118 ,  120  are configured and arranged to cooperatively provide (e.g., via coupling or mating) an enclosed housing interior  130  that in this embodiment are secured together by bolts and nuts, not shown. It is foreseen that one skilled in the art understands that the sides can include a plurality of coupling members, for coupling the first and second sides together, and that a plurality of coupling methods, either alone or in combination, can be used to couple the sides together. Exemplary methods and/or devices include but are not limited to lugs or bosses with openings for nuts and bolts, or screws, pins, clamps, adhesives, and welding. 
     The plurality of indica  114  resides within the housing interior  130 . A plurality of arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  (e.g., lever arms, handles) protrudes from the housing interior to the exterior through a slot  134  (e.g., opening) formed between spaced portions of the sides  118  and  120 . The internal mechanism (e.g., for support and movement of the indicia  114 ) and the arms are described in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic of the internal mechanism of the indicia display device (e.g., numerical-display device), with the slats  112  removed. The internal mechanism includes a plurality of supports, for the support and optional movement of the indicia. A non-movable support  136  is located in the enclosed interior  130  of the housing  116 . The non-movable support  136  (e.g., an immobile slat support) that includes at least two vertical members  138   a ,  138   b  (e.g., vertical beams) and at least one horizontal member  140  (e.g., horizontal beam) securely and rigidly attached to, and thereby linking, the at least two vertical members. The non-movable support  136  includes a plurality of support legs  142   a - 142   f  (e.g., members, tabs) that are configured and arranged to couple with (e.g., mate with, be received by) a plurality of support leg receiving members  144   a - 144   f  (e.g., leg locks, sockets) located in the frame  122  of the housing  116 , such that the non-movable support  136  is mounted on the frame  122  and substantially stabilized (e.g., stationary, immobilized) and rigidly held within and relative to the sides  118  and  120  and further with respect to the housing interior  130  when the support legs  142   a - 142   f  are coupled with the support leg receiving members  144   a - 144   f . The legs  142   a - 142   f  of this embodiment are frictionally held in the receiving members  144   a - 144   f  and are also positioned therein and prevented from moving relative to the receivers  144   a - 144   f  by the geometry of the elements and an interference fit between the support legs  142   a - 142   f  and the sides  118  and  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the first and second sides  118 ,  120  (e.g., matable rectangular housing panels) of the housing  116  includes two frame sides  146  (e.g., a side portion), a frame top  148  (e.g., top portion), a frame bottom  150  (e.g., bottom portion), and the transparent window  124 . The sides  118  and  120  are generally rectangular, such as having a generally greater height than width. However, it is foreseen that the frame can be square, or its height can be smaller than its width. 
     Each of the first and second sides includes two support leg receiving members  144   a - 144   f  (e.g., leg locks) located on each of the two frame sides and on the frame bottom  150 . Each of the vertical members  138   a ,  138   b  of the non-movable support  136  includes a plurality of support legs configured and arranged to couple with corresponding support leg receiving members on the frame. For example, vertical member  138   a  includes a top end  151   a , a bottom end  151   b  and a middle portion  151   c . A first leg  142   a , which is located at (e.g., adjacent to, near) the top end  151   a  of the vertical member  138   a  extends laterally (e.g., horizontally) therefrom and engages support leg receiving member  142   a . Alternatively, vertical member  138   a  can include a vertical support leg (e.g., leg  142   a ) that extends vertically to engage a support leg receiving member  144   a  located in the frame top  148 . Another leg  142   b  extends laterally from the middle portion  151   c  of vertical member  138   a  and engages another support leg receiving member  144   b  located in the side portion  146  of the frame  122 . A third leg  142   c  extends from the bottom end  151   b  of vertical member  138   a , and is engaged by support leg receiving member  144   c , which is located in the frame bottom  150 . Alternatively, leg  142   c  can extend laterally from the bottom end  151   b  of vertical member  138   a , similar to the manner of leg  142   a . Vertical member  138   b  of the non-movable support includes a similar configuration of legs ( 142   d ,  142   e ,  142   f ) that are engaged by support leg receiving members ( 144   d ,  144   e , and  144   f , respectively) located on the frame  122 . 
     It is foreseen that the vertical members can include 1, 2, 3, 4, or more support legs. The non-movable support  136  is substantially stabilized (e.g., immobilized) within the housing interior  130  and does not slide about therein because the support legs  142  (e.g.,  142   a - 142   f ) are secured in the receiving members  144  (e.g.,  144   a - 144   f ). The non-movable support  136  is sufficiently stabilized by the cooperative action of the coupled legs and receiving members  144  (e.g.,  144   a - 144   f ) within the rigid frame  122  that the non-movable support  136  is not substantially moved or otherwise affected by one or more blows (e.g., impacts) to the device exterior, such as by a person running into or a ball hitting the device  110 . The non-movable support  136  includes additional legs  142  (e.g.,  142   a - 142   f ), each of which is configured and arranged to couple with an additional support leg receiving member  144  (e.g.,  144   a - 144   f ) located in at least one of the two frame sides  146 , a frame top  148 , and a frame bottom  150 . 
     The frame bottom  150  includes a neck portion  152  configured and arranged to cooperatively form a cylindrical housing neck when the first and second sides  118  and  120  are mated (e.g., coupled, attached together), whereby the housing can be attached to (e.g., mounted on) the support  128 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , a non-movable (e.g., immobile) set of slats  112  (also referred to herein as a set of non-movable slats or immobile slats) is attached to the non-movable support  136 . The slats  112  of the non-movable set are configured and arranged to cooperatively display an indication  114  (e.g., one of the indicia), such as a number, letter or symbol, as described elsewhere herein. In  FIG. 4 , the indication  114  is a number associated with a fourth down in a football game (e.g., the number “4”). Generally, the colors of the slats  112  and the indica  114  are selected to ensure visibility of the indicia by viewers at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or more yards away from the device. For example, it is foreseen that in some embodiments, the indicia are applied to (e.g., painted on, adhered to) white slats using fluorescent paint(s) known in the art. In another example, the indica include black or metallic borders configured to improve discernment of the indica by a viewer, such as a viewer located a distance (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or more yards) from the device. In yet another example, the slat color (e.g., the background color) is clear, cream, beige, grey, yellow, blue, green, purple, black or metallic. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5-8 , a plurality of movable slat supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  (e.g., mobile slat supports) are located in the enclosed interior  130 . Each movable support  154  includes at least two vertical members  155  (e.g., vertical beams) and at least one horizontal member  156  (e.g., horizontal beam). For example, movable support  154   a  includes two vertical members  155   a - 1 ,  155   a - 2  and one horizontal member  156   a . Movable support  154   b  includes vertical members  155   b - 1  and  155   b - 2 , and horizontal member  156   b . Similarly, movable support  154   c  includes vertical members  155   c - 1  and  155   c - 2 , and horizontal member  156   c . The movable supports  154   a - 154   c  are slidably attached to the non-movable support  136  and configured and arranged to be moved between (e.g., placed in) a first position and a second position. For example,  FIGS. 5 and 8  illustrate three movable supports  154   a - 154   c , wherein all of the movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  are in the first position. In  FIG. 6 , a first movable support  154   a  is in the second position while the second and third movable supports  154   b ,  154   c  are in the first position. And,  FIG. 7  shows all three of the movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  of this exemplary embodiment, in the second position. It is foreseen that in other embodiments, the device  110  includes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 10 or more movable supports  154 . Normally, the number of movable supports  154  is one fewer than the total number of indicia  114  that the device  110  is configured and arranged to display. The first position, also referred to herein as a display position, is generally upward with respect to the device  110 , while the second position, also referred to herein as a non-display position, is generally downward with respect to the device  110 . 
     Each of the movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  is configured and arranged to be supported by the non-movable support  138  and to be moved between a first (e.g., up, display) position and a second (e.g., down, non-display) position. The movable supports are configured and arranged to be moved sequentially from the first position to the second position (e.g., a first movable support  154   a , then a second movable support  154   b , and then a third movable support  154   c  is moved from the first position to the second position). 
     An arm  132  is associated with each of the movable supports  154 . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the device includes three arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c , each of which is associated with one of the three movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c , respectively. Each arm  132  has an exterior portion  157  (e.g., handle) and an interior portion  158  (e.g., see  FIGS. 5-6 ). The exterior portion  157  of the arm is configured to extend out of the housing  116 , such that the exterior portion  157  is accessible to a user. For example, a user can grasp and optionally manipulate the exterior portion  157 . The interior portion  158  of each arm  132  includes a pivot pin  160 . For example, in  FIG. 8 , arm  132   a  includes pivot pin  160   a , arm  132   b  includes pivot pin  160   b , and arm  132   c  includes pivot pin  160   c . The pivot pins  160  are configured and arranged to be received in and rotatably engaged by a pivot pin receptacles  162  located on the frame  122  (e.g., the frame side  146 , see  FIG. 5 ). For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , at least three pivot pin receptacles  162  are located in each of the frame sides  146 . It is foreseen that in other embodiments, the frame may include 4, 5, 6, 7 or more pivot pin receptacles  162  (e.g., located in a frame side  146 ). In some embodiments, the device includes more pivot pin receptacles  162  than pivot pins  160 . The frame  122  includes at least one pivot pin receptacle  162  for each arm  132  (e.g., each pivot pin  160 ) of the device  110  such that each arm  132  is securely attached to but pivotally joined with the frame  122 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the device  110  includes pairs of movable slat supports  154  (e.g., a pair of movable slat supports  154   a , a pair of movable slat supports  154   b , and a pair of movable slat supports  154   c ), wherein each pair of movable slat supports  154  is attached to an associated with a particular indicia on a set of slats  112  configured and arranged for display of a respective indicia  114  (e.g., via attached sets of slats) in opposing directions (e.g., back-to-back), so as to show through both transparent windows  124  (e.g., simultaneously, at the same time). The pairs of movable slat supports  154  include a first position and a second position and are pivotally joined to a respective arm  132  at a location spaced from an associated pivot pin. 
     In particular, the pivot pin  160  of each arm  132  is located on the end (e.g., interior portion  158 ) of the arm that is farthest away from the exterior portion  157  (e.g., see  FIG. 8 ). The arm interior portion  158  is thereby movably coupled to (e.g., engaged by) a respective pivot pin receptacle  162  (e.g., pivot pin cup), so as to be pivotally coupled to the frame  122  (e.g., a frame side  146 ). Thus, the pivot pin  160  rotates (e.g., pivots) within its associated (coupled, engaged) pivot pin receptacle  162  in response to movement (e.g., placement) of the arm exterior portion  157  associated with a user pushing upward or downward on a respective arm  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c , which simultaneously and cooperatively moves the associated movable support (e.g.,  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c ). 
     The interior portion of each arm ( 132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c ) includes a detent (e.g., finger, pin)  168   a ,  168   b ,  168   c  configured and arranged to engage a detent guide  170   a ,  170   b ,  170   c  located on the movable support  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  associated with that arm. The detents  168  and their associated detent guides  170  (e.g., detent  168   a  and detent guide  170   a , detent  168   b  and detent guide  170   b , detent  168   c  and detent guide  170   c ) are configured and arranged such that each detent  168  rotates and optionally slides within its associated detent guide  170  when the arm  132  is moved between the first and second positions. Simultaneously, movement of the detent  168  within the detent guide  170  causes the associated movable support  154  to be moved by the arm  132 . For example, movement (e.g., placement) of the arm  132   a  exterior portion  157  to (e.g., in) a first position (e.g., by a user) cooperatively rotates (e.g., in a first direction, such as clock-wise) the arm&#39;s pivot pin  160   a  within its associated (e.g., coupled, mated) pivot pin receptacle  162   a ; the detent  168   a  slides within the detent guide  170   a , and the movable support  154   a  is moved (e.g., placed) to (e.g., in) the first position. Similarly, movement (e.g., placement) of the arm  132   a  exterior portion  157  to (e.g., in) a second position cooperatively rotates (e.g., in a second direction, such as counter clock-wise) the arm&#39;s pivot pin  160   a  within its associated (e.g., coupled, mated) pivot pin receptacle  162   a ; the detent  168   a  moves in the opposite direction within the detent guide  170   a , and the movable support  154   a  moves (e.g., places) to (e.g., in) the second position. Moveable supports  154  have vertical portions  155  that are spaced by connecting webs  156  (e.g., horizontal members, beams) to maintain a fixed spacing. The moveable slat supports  154  are spaced and positioned to abut against the vertical non-mobile support members  138  (e.g., legs) and/or adjacent moveable supports  154 , so as to be held between the non-mobile support members  138  (e.g., legs) to prevent relative sideways or horizontal movements, but so as to show slidable vertical or up and down movement of the mobile supports  154  relative to the non-mobile supports legs  138 . 
     Accordingly, the user can (e.g., is allowed to) select to display any one of the plurality of indicia which the device is configured and arranged to display. For example, a device configured and arranged for display of the numerals “1” through four “4”, which are associated with the four downs of a football game, the user can move the exterior portions  157  of the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  to select and display each of the four numbers, so as but not limited to, select and display the numbers, and further, so as but not limited to, select and display the numbers sequentially. 
     The arm  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  is a lever arm associated with a movable slat supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c , and including a handle  157 , a central portion  158  and a linkage end  163   a ,  163   b ,  163   c . The handle protrudes from the housing  116  interior to the housing exterior, and has an up position and a down position. The central portion  158  includes the detent  168   a ,  168   b ,  168   c  that is operably coupled with the detent guide  170   a ,  170   b ,  170   c  and configured for sliding rotational movement therein when the handle is moved between the up and down positions. The linkage end  163   a ,  163   b ,  163   c  includes the pivot pin  160   a ,  160   b ,  160   c  configured to pivotally couple with a responsive pivot cup  162  located in the frame  122  of the device housing  116 , wherein movement of the handle between the up and down positions is associated with pivoting the associated pivot pin  160   a ,  160   b ,  160   c  within a coupled pivot pin cup  162 . The illustrated device  110  includes at least three lever arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c , wherein each of the at least three lever arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  is associated with one of the movable slat supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c.    
     The device  110  further includes a friction ridge  164  (e.g., friction strip, stabilization strip) located between the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  and the frame  122  (see  FIG. 5 ). The friction ridge  164  is configured and arranged to interferingly or frictionally engage the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c , whereby the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  are stabilized in the first position, so as to require a user to physically touch a selected arm  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  and urge or bias the selected arm  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  to a new position. For example, the friction ridge  164  is located on the frame side  146  and adjacent to the slot  134  through which the exterior portions  156  of the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  protrude. The arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  are bowed such that the portion of each arm that is in contact with the friction ridge firmly presses against the friction ridge  164 . The device  110  includes a single friction ridge  164 . The device  110  could include two friction ridges  164  (e.g., attached to each of the frame side of each of the first and second sides  118 ,  120  of the housing  116 ), such that at least a portion of each of the of the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  is sandwiched between the two friction ridges  164  and the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  are thereby stabilized when in the first position. Thus, when the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  are in the first position (e.g., up) the friction between the friction ridge  164  and a selected arm  132   a ,  132   b , or  132   c  counteracts the action of gravity upon the arm  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c , such that the arm  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c  is substantially unlikely to inadvertently move to the second position (e.g., fall down) and cause the device  110  to inadvertently display a different indica  114  than was selected (e.g., by a user). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 - 4  and  9 , the device  110  includes a plurality of movable sets of slats  112 . The slats  112  of each set are configured and arranged to cooperatively display one of a plurality of indicia  114  (e.g., an indication) and are attached to one of the movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  (see  FIG. 5 ). The movable sets of slats are configured and arranged such that each of the indicia  114  associated therewith is selectively displayable through the transparent window  124 . For example, each of the movable sets of slats  112  can be moved between a first position (e.g., generally upward, display) and a second position (e.g., a generally downward, non-display) position by moving the connected movable frame  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  between the first and second positions. For example, each movable frame  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  can be moved between the first and second positions via an associated arm  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c , which, simultaneously moves the movable set of slats that are attached to the movable frame. 
     The movable sets of slats  112  are configured and arranged such that the each of indicia  114  are selectively displayable through the windows  124  of the first and second sides  118 ,  120  of the housing  116  simultaneously (e.g., on opposing sides of the device). The movable sets of slats  112  are configured and arranged such that the indicia  114  are selectively and sequentially displayable through the windows  124  of the first and second sides  118  and  120  of the housing  110  simultaneously. 
     By way of example, the change in display of a first indica  114  to display of a second indica  114  can be discerned by the comparison of  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Both of these figures illustrate the front of the device  110 , in one configuration, wherein the device  110  includes the non-movable support  136  and an attached set of non-movable slats  112  configured and arranged to display the numeral “4”; three movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c , wherein each movable support  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  has an attached movable set of slats  112  (e.g., each set configured and arranged for display of a different numeral, such as the numerals “1,” “2,” and “3”). In  FIG. 2 , all three of the arms  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c , and thus the corresponding attached movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c , are in the first position, and the numeral “1” is visible through the transparent window. Accordingly, all of the indicia  114  are in the first (e.g., up, display) position. In  FIG. 4 , all of the movable supports  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  are in the second (e.g., down, non-display) position, and the numeral “4” is displayed (e.g., visible) through the transparent window  124 . In preferred embodiments, the device  110  is configured and arranged such that the indicia  114  are shown (e.g., displayed, visible) through the window  124  of each of the first and second sides  118 ,  120  of the housing  116  (e.g., displayed on opposing sides of the device  110 ). 
     As shown, the indicia  114  are numbers associated with the downs of a football game. For example, the first down is associated with the numeral “1.” The second down is associated with the numeral “2.” And so on. In this embodiment, each of the three movable sets of slats  112  is configured and arranged to cooperatively display a number associated with a first down, a second down or a third down, wherein each of the numbers is selectively displayable through the transparent window  124  when an associated movable support  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c  is in the first position (e.g., up position, display position) and the number is not displayed when the movable support is in the second position (e.g., down position, non-display position). Further more, a number associated with a fourth down (e.g., the numeral “4”) is displayed (e.g., via the non-movable slats  136 ) when the movable sets of slats (e.g., supports attached thereto) are in the second position. In a further configuration, the movable and non-movables sets of slats  112  are configured and arranged to display the numbers associated with the downs in opposing directions via the transparent windows  124 . 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.