Patent Publication Number: US-2007107282-A1

Title: Advertising device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The invention relates to an advertising device, which can be implemented in the field of advertising through exposing on public places of big format full colour images (as posters, billboards etc) of goods and/or services being advertised.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      An advertising device is known [1], for a consecutive exposure of images on an observing window. The images are reproduced in a sequence on a flexible tape, the first end of which is fixed to a feeding roll whilst the other end is fixed to an accepting roll. The distance between the roll axes is relevant to the visible height of the single image. The rolls are driven by means of an electric motor where the tape is being rolled from the feeding to the accepting roll. In a strictly preset moments the rolls are positioned thus allowing the images to consecutively be exposed on the observing window. After all images of the sequence are exposed the electric motor is reversed, the accepting roll renders feeding and vice versa. Now the images are exposed in an adverse sequence. Then the motor is reversed again and the cycle is endless repeated.  
      Said device has the disadvantage of an uneven appearance of the images of the sequence due to reversed motion of the rolls. For example, when the sequence contains three images, their appearance will be in an order 1,2,3,2,1,2,3 . . . etc. It is obvious that the frequency of appearance of image No 2 is twice as much as that of images No 1 and No 3. This leads to the necessity different prices to be contracted for each image being advertised due to the non-equivalent advertising effect. A disadvantage is also the impossibility to expose conceptual connected images, consequently developing the advertising idea where the reverse of the sequence is inadmissible.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention seeks to provide an advertising device which can enable the sequent appearance of the images printed on a durable tape carrier on the observing window, where the possibility of direct observation is provided without the necessity of an additional enlargement or projecting system and where also the appearance of the images to be independent of the reversal of the sequence in a full operating cycle. It is aimed also to enlarge the observing area and the observing angles to be increased up to a full circle as well as to eliminate the necessity of fixing the device to a constant place thus decreasing the number of the consumers of the advertising effect.  
      In accordance with the invention, this object is accomplished in an advertising device having a form of a vertical regular n-angular prism, n being freely optional number, rotating around its longitudinal axis of symmetry by means of electric motors where a possibility is also provided for mounting the whole device on a lorry platform. The vertical rectangular walls of the prism are performed as observing windows whereon can be watched the consecutive appearance of independent images, printed on a flexible tape. The both ends of the tape are fixed so as to enable a contact between the first and last image of the sequence thus providing the consecutive exposure of the images on the observing windows without a necessity of a reversal of the order of their appearance.  
      Each of the tapes bearing the images is lengthwise double-sided fixed to spiral springs, spaced apart from one another and working under tension. The ends of the springs are formed as hooks, attached to openings spaced apart from one another double-sided lengthwise of the tape, said openings being strengthened by means of pressed metal rings, while the opposite ends of springs are attached to plates provided with openings. The opposite sides of said plates are attached by means of spot welds to the outer sides of the outer links of a standard gearing chain in the zone between the axes of the rolls. Said plates are spaced apart from one another lengthwise of the chain at a distance of an even number of links. To the opposite sides of the chain links by means of spot welds are attached another plates where each plate bears a module of two rolling bearings mounted to a common axis whilst the plate itself is placed between the bearings. The bearings are rolling in hollow rectangular profiles elaborated of metal sheets, said profiles being provided with longitudinal slots enabling the plates supporting the bearings to freely move whilst the chain remains out of the profile. The profiles are fixed by means of bolts to a rigid supporting frame which forms the internal structure of the device. Vertically and parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the prism are mounted rolls each of them consisting of a longitudinal axis and a hollow shaft mounted double-sided thereon by means of bearings as well as two chain gears mounted on said axis by means of bearings. The chain gears are arranged symmetrically about the both ends of the hollow shaft at distances relevant to the lengths of the spiral springs carrying the tape in operating mode. Each of the tapes in the independent contours (modules) forming the device is provided with two rolls arranged on the left and right sides out of the visible area of the observing window, the distance between the axes being chosen to be in excess of the length of the single image so that this section of the tape to be evenly strained. The rest of the full length of the tape is compensated by other rolls arranged inside the structure of the relevant module wherein the tape consecutively contacts bilaterally with their cylindrical surfaces thus forming a closed curved contour. For at least one of the rolls in each module a possibility is provided said roll to be moved parallel to its own axis which is realized by means of a hinge connection with the supporting frame thus enabling synchronous tightening of both chains, respectively of the tape: Another of the rolls in the module is intended to driving and positioning of the chains and the tape. The axes of these rolls are mounted on the rigid frame by means of bearings whilst the chain gears are fixed to the axes whereto also an additional gear wheel or belted wheel is attached coupled to an electric motor intended for driving and positioning of the chains and the tape. Thus are created two independent sets each of them consisting of two chains forming symmetrical closed curved contours synchronously driven and positioned by means of electric motors, monitoring devices and electronic control devices performing the turning in/off and the reversing of the electric motors when necessary according to exactly preset programs. The tapes with the images printed thereon remain evenly tightened between both chains due to the springs mounted double-sided lengthwise of the tape and effecting the tightening upon the vertical rolls. The outside circle diameter of the chain gears equals to the outside diameter of the hollow shafts of the rolls whilst the length of the chains is equal to the length of the tape with the images printed thereon. Due to the fact that the hollow shafts are freely rolling on the axes and the tapes are moving only due to their attachment by means of springs to the chains which on their part are moving synchronously in pairs, lengthwise of the closed contours which results in the easy even movement of the tapes while the springs have also the additional function to damp the inertial forces arisen at starting/stopping.  
      In its entirety the advertising device is carried out as a set of several kinematically independent contours (modules) mounted on a common internal frame where the observing windows of the particular modules form the outside visible walls of the device while a possibility is also provided said walls to be protected of the atmospheric influence by means of dismountable transparent screens of a glass or polymer. The upper and the lower horizontal bases as well as the vertical outside edges of the device are covered by metal sheets or similar kind of sheet material resistant to the atmospheric influence. Thus the internal structure of the device is hermetically closed which results in a protection of the driving elements of a dust and corrosion as well as it contributes the aesthetic appearance of the device. Behind the visible useful surface of tape positioned in the observing windows are arranged electrical illuminants providing an even light stream part of which penetrates through the tape material with the images printed thereon thus enabling the images to be observed also during the night. Lengthwise of the vertical axis of symmetry of the entire device leads a hollow shaft rigidly fixed to the internal structure of the supporting frame, said hollow shaft being double-sided mounted by means of bearings on an axis the lower end of which is rigidly fixed to the foundation plate. Coaxially to the shaft is fixed a gear wheel or a belted wheel enabling a coupling to an electric motor rotating the whole device around its vertical axis of symmetry. Thus a possibility is provided the observing windows to evenly be exposed at all possible angles until a full circle.  
      Through mounting of the device upon a lorry platform a possibility is provided the device to be transported to any wished place as well as the device to be used under transportation.  
      The advertising device in accordance with the invention has a number of advantages, as follows: 
          A possibility is realized for a consecutive appearance of the images on the observing window without a necessity of a reversal of the direction of the movement of the tape with the images printed thereon in order to accomplish a full cycle. Thus a complete equality is achieved in term of frequency of appearance within the cycle of the images on the observing windows;     A possibility is realized for a consecutive representation of interconnected images representing an advertising idea;     In the event of a failure to renew a contract for anyone of the images of the sequence already printed on the tape the operation can be carried out with the rest two images without a necessity of a dismantling and rearrangement of the images on the tape;     Due to the fact that the tapes are lengthwise double-sided elastically fixed to the synchronously driven chains providing the possibility for an even transportation of the parallel parts of the tape, there is no need of mounting of complex monitoring devices for permanent adjustment of the angle between the axes of the feeding and the accepting rolls what the technical solution belonging to the background art is aiming to ensure the even reeling of the tape upon the accepting roll;     Due to the forming of the device as a set of several independent contours of tapes bearing the images, each contour having a separate observing window an enlargement of the useful surface is achieved as well as an increase of the general number of the images shown;     Due to the rotating of the whole device around its vertical axis of symmetry a possibility is provided for an equal exposure at all possible observing angles, including a full circle observation, for anyone of the observing windows;     The mounting of the device upon the lorry platform enables the advertising to be performed at any freely chosen place as well as under transportation.       

    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention will now be described by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a variant embodiment of the advertising device in accordance with the invention, formed as a regular triangle prism mounted on the platform of a lorry;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the kinematic coupling scheme of the upper and lower driving chains for one of the independent contours;  
       FIG. 3  is a front view accompanied by a partial cross sectional view at the upper end of one of the outside leading rolls showing a part of the chain and the fixing thereto by means of springs and plates of the tape-carrier;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the arrangements of the mechanisms on the driving roll;  
       FIG. 5  is A-A cross-sectional view of the one of the links of the driving chain with the plates mounted thereon;  
       FIG. 6  is top view of the kinematic coupling scheme of the upper of the both driving chains in a variant embodiment where the device is formed as a regular rectangular prism;  
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the kinematic coupling scheme of the upper of the both driving chains in a variant embodiment of the device having two vertical observation planes with back to back arrangement. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      In accordance with the examples shown one preferable embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 . The advertising device represents a regular triangle prism wherein the outside vertical rectangular walls are formed as observing windows  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 , wherein can be observed the consecutive appearance and positioning in the visible area of each of the windows of a sequence of three separate images A. 1 , A. 2 , A. 3 , B. 1 , B. 2 , B. 3 , C. 1 , C. 2  and C. 3  each of them bearing a concrete advertising message.  FIG. 1  illustrates the change in an observing window  1 . 1  of an image A. 1  by image A. 2  while in an observing window  1 . 2  is shown an image B. 2  already positioned. The windows  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3  are protected of the atmospheric influence by means of screens  2  made of a transparent plastic material, for example plexyglas. The rest outside surfaces of the prism form the shell  3  made of stainless metal sheets. The device is mounted by means of bearings about its vertical axis of symmetry on the foundation  4  while said foundation  4  is rigidly fixed to the platform  5  of a lorry. The internal supporting frame  6  of the device represents a spatial welded structure of a bar steel, whereto by means of the fixing nuts are rigidly fixed the axes of rolls  7 . The rolls are arranged vertically parallel each to other as shown in  FIG. 2 . The axes of rolls  9  on their part can be moved where they are sliding upon the slots (not shown in the figures) specially cut in the frame  6  whilst said rolls  9  remain parallel to rolls  7  and  14 . This is achieved by means of the spring  10  effecting a force on the both ends of the axis of a roll  9 . Thus is achieved the necessary strain of the chains  11  coupled to the chain gears  12  mounted by means of bearing assemblies  13  on the axes of rolls  7  and  9 . The axes of rolls  14  are mounted on the frame  6  in their both ends by means of bearing assemblies  15  fixed rigidly to the frame  6 . Also rigidly to the axes of rolls  14  are coaxially fixed chain gears  16  whereto are coupled the chains  11 . To the axes of rolls  14  are also rigidly and coaxially fixed belted wheels  17  providing the driving moment of the electric motors  18  through reducers  19  and belts  20  to be transmitted to the chains  11  synchronized by gear wheels  16 . The full length of the chains  11  is equal to the sum of the breaths of the three images in each module i.e. it is identical to the full perimeter of the closed curved contour which are following the tapes  21  bearing the images. On their part the tapes  21  are elaborated of a lasting fabric covered bilaterally by a layer of a polyvynilchloride, on the front side of said tapes  21  being printed the advertising messages. Lengthwise of the tape, bilaterally are spaced apart from one another the openings  23  strengthened by means of pressed metal rings. To the openings  23  are attached springs  22  which opposite ends are formed as hooks and are attached to the plates  24  provided with openings. The opposite sides the plates  24  are attached by means of spot welds to the outer sides of the outer links of a standard gearing chains  11  in the zone between the axes of the rolls. The plates are spaced apart from one another lengthwise of the chain  11  at a distance of an even number of links as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . To the opposite sides of the chain links by means of spot welds are attached steel plates  25  provided with openings wherein are fixed the axes  26 . To each of said axes  26  from the both sides of plates  25  are rigidly attached two rolling bearings  27 . The bearings  27  are rolling longitudinally inside the hollow rectangular profiles  29  made of metal sheets whilst the profiles are provided with longitudinal slots enabling the plates  25  supporting the bearings  27  to freely move whilst the chain  11  remains outside of the profile. The profiles  28  are rigidly fixed to the rigid supporting frame  6  by means of bolts  29  and nuts  30  so that the chains  11  to be supported while the axis of symmetry of the cross section of profiles  28  exactly follows the closed contour done by the chains  11 , respectively the cross parallel parts of tapes  21  when moving in the horizontal plane. On each of axes  7 ,  9 ,  14  are mounted double-sided by means of bearings hollow shafts  31  elaborated of polished hollow bars of stainless steel—their total number is 18 for the whole device. The hollow shafts  31  are supporting the tapes  21  strained at the straight line parts of the contours when driven by chains  11  through springs  23  thus the images being changed in the observing windows  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3  when performing the operating cycles. For the independent in accordance with a preset program, transportation and positioning of the tapes  21 , a program control-supply block  32  is provided, said block  32  turning in the power supply of the electric motor  18  and the tape  21  is moved until the relay  33  receives a command to turn off one of the three, for each of the three separate contours, fingers  34  spaced apart from one another lengthwise of the lower chain  11  taking into consideration the necessary advance so that the positioning of the tapes to be realized in way enabling the centering, respectively the representation of the images in the observing windows  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3 . After a stay of the electric motor in turn off position for a strictly preset, by means of time-relay, period of time, during which the advertising message is realized, the electric motor  18  is again turned in, the tape  21  being moved and positioned to the next image of the sequence etc. The rotation of the whole device around its vertical axis of symmetry is performed by the electric motor with reducer  35  and belt transmission, consisting of a wheel  36  coupled to the output shaft of the reducer  35 , a belt  37  and a wheel  38 , rigidly attached to the frame  6 , coaxially to the vertical axis of symmetry of the device, said wheel  38  being arranged in the zone of the lower end, close to the foundation  4 . The frame  6  on its part is mounted at both the upper and the lower end by means of bearings coaxially to its vertical axis of symmetry on a steel axis, said axis being rigidly fixed to foundation  4 . In order to reduce the stresses arisen at the fixing point during the transportation on the lorry platform  5 , due to the shake and the wind forces, under the lower triangle base of the device, respectively close to each of the angles are mounted three subsidiary rolls acting as an additional support, said rolls freely rolling on the platform  5  of the lorry. Behind the visible useful field tapes  21  bearing the images are arranged electrical illuminants  39  providing an even light stream part of which penetrates through the partially translucent material of the tapes with the images printed thereon thus enabling the images to be observed on the observing windows  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3  also during the night.  
      In  FIG. 6  is shown a variant embodiment of the advertising device formed as a regular rectangular prism. Said device has four operating walls, respectively four observing windows and four separate driving contours. The kinematic scheme of drive of each contour is the same as described above for the basic variant performed as a triangular prism. A possibility is also provided for a rotation of the device around its vertical axis of symmetry.  
      In  FIG. 7  is shown a variant embodiment of the device having two vertical observing planes with back to back arrangement. The device is provided with two identical driving contours having driving schemes analogous to the already described for the basic variant with a triangle prism. A possibility is also provided for a rotation of the device round its vertical axis of symmetry.  
      [1]—Patent of France No 7617326, Int. Cl. G09 F 11/24