Patent Abstract:
A display roller is driven in bidirectional rotation to deploy a plurality of commercial sheets which are coiled around the roller. Each one of the sheets is fixed to an outer surface of the display roller with the sheets coiled about the display roller such that the distal ends of the sheets are spaced apart. A pressure contactor applies pressure in contact with the coiled sheets and is positioned on the coiled sheets such that as the display roller rotates, each distal end of each one of the sheets that passes the pressure contactor in turn, is free to partially unwrap the corresponding sheet, so as to fall from the display roller thereby assuming a vertical deployment as an unwrapped sheet and may be further extended by counter rotation of the display roller.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of a prior filed Provisional Patent application having Ser. No. 60/667,811 and filing date Apr. 1, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Present Disclosure  
         [0003]     This disclosure relates generally to commercial displays and signs and more particularly to such a display having plural screens that may be interchangeably viewed, viewed in sequence or viewed randomly with automated functionality.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Graphic art works are used as backgrounds in photography studios and theatre, and also in static or moving commercial signs, billboards and presentation boxes. Pull-down art sheets may depict a particular scene or provide a particular colorful background, and such sheets are wound on a roller and deployed like a window shade. When a particular background is to be used, the background is unrolled to give the desired effect. Portrait studios must have a variety of such sheets to meet a wide range of needs. Likewise, displayed commercial sheets such as billboards and signs must be changed frequently to maintain commercial interest.  
         [0006]     It is known to provide a series of backgrounds employed end-to-end to form a continuous web which is moved in sequence past a display aperture. As indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,688 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,993, such webs are wound between two shafts to form a scroll. When a new background or artwork is desired, the web is scrolled from one shaft to the other until the desired background is in position. This is an inconvenient and impractical approach because of the need to attach the various scenes to each other, and the inability to display a selected scene without rolling through others of the scenes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,993 teaches the inclusion of a stabilizing roller weight disposed on a web positioned between the shafts. By adding an optical detection system and computer, this system is capable of accurate automatic positioning. While such systems perform adequately under optimal conditions, initial setup and continued operation may be labor intensive. U.S. Pat. No. 624,111 teaches a rotating carrier with journals holding a plurality of reels wound with pictorial screens. A ratchet system enables the carrier to position any one of the reels for unwinding and display.  
         [0007]     These and other forms of changeable pictorial display are well known in the art, as for instance my prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,213 which teaches a background support system which includes a single-roller assembly upon which a number of backgrounds are mounted and from which any specific background may be rapidly deployed.  
         [0008]     The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below and which distinguish over the prior art, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,213, by providing a cabinet within which a multi-sheet mounted roller is housed with side and bottom frames for concealing the edges of any one of the displayed sheets, and in which, in one embodiment, light is projected frontally onto a displayed sheet, and in which a press roller is situated so as to select a sheet that is to be displayed, and in which, in a further embodiment, illumination is rear projected to illuminate a translucent sheet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE AND OBJECTIVES  
       [0009]     This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.  
         [0010]     The present apparatus is a display roller driven in bidirectional rotation to deploy a plurality of commercial sheets which are coiled around the roller. Each one of the sheets is fixed to an outer surface of the display roller with the sheets coiled around it such that the distal ends of the sheets are spaced apart. A pressure contactor applies pressure in contact with the coiled sheets and is positioned on the coiled sheets such that as the display roller rotates, each distal end of each one of the sheets that passes the pressure contactor in turn, is free to partially unwrap the corresponding sheet, so as to fall from the display roller thereby assuming a vertical deployment as an unwrapped sheet and may be further extended by counter rotation of the display roller. In this manner, the sheets may be displayed to a viewer at one side of the sheets and any one of the sheets may be deployed by merely sensing the ends of the sheets as the roller rotates.  
         [0011]     A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art.  
         [0012]     Another objective of the invention is to provide a means for displaying plural sheets commercial messages that may be viewed in alternating or sequential manner.  
         [0013]     A further objective of the invention is to provide such a means capable of selecting an ordered sequence differing from the physical sequence of the plural sheets which are wound on a single roll.  
         [0014]     A still further objective of the invention is to enable such a means capable of displaying opaque, transparent and translucent sheets.  
         [0015]     In summary, the objective of the present apparatus is to provide a system which: utilizes a single roller assembly upon which a plurality of sheets are stored and selectively displayed; obviates the need for multiple support rollers and excessive front-to-back studio space; eliminates the mounting problems associated with a two-shaft continuous web scrolling configuration; has a minimum number of components, thus assuring increased reliability and low maintenance; allows rapid acquisition and display of any desired background in inventory on the roll; repeatedly locates the plane of the displayed background to within plus or minus a few centimeters thereby eliminating the need to reposition background lighting equipment or to refocus a camera when backgrounds are changed; and which eliminates the need for optical-electronics background positioning equipment, recalibration requirements and need for skilled labor management of the system.  
         [0016]     Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the several embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode embodiments of the present invention. In such drawings:  
         [0018]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of one embodiment of the disclosure showing placement of a front illumination source;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment thereof;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A-4E  are end elevational views of a winding of sheets of the invention about a roll of the invention; and  
         [0021]      FIGS. 5A-5E  are end elevational views of a further winding of sheets about a roll of the invention with placement of a rear illumination source. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     The above described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may make alterations and modifications what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use.  
         [0023]     In a best mode embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a roller set  10 , i.e., a plurality of sheets  20  are mounted at their proximal ends  20 ′ ( FIG. 4B ) on a outer surface  15 ′ ( FIG. 4A ) of a display roller  15  which is rotationally mounted in a cabinet or frame  30 . The display roller  15  is driven bidirectionally (clockwise and counterclockwise) by an electric motor or other drive  40 ′ in such a manner as to enable the unrolling and re-rolling of the sheets  20  with a selected one of the sheets  20  facing in a preferred direction, i.e., so as to be able to be seen by a viewer positioned to see the front face  32  of door  36 .  
         [0024]     When the front face  32  of the door  36  is visible to the viewer, then, when deployed, a selected one of the sheets  20  is in view while the other sheets  20  are hidden from view because they are positioned behind the deployed one of the sheets  20 . Such a display cabinets  30  may be constructed as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as for instance, with a window  34  in a door  36  so that a viewer sees only the front surface  20 ′ of front sheet  20  (the sheet nearest to the door) as will be described presently. Such a display cabinet  30  preferably has first light source  40  and electronic controls  50  which may be programmable. Typically a shadow frame  60  may be used to conceal the non-central portions of the sheets  20  when they are displayed through the window  34 .  
         [0025]     Thus, the individual sheets  20  may be displayed, one at a time, in any sequence desired. It is routine for those of skill in motor drive techniques to mechanically enable the display roller  15  to rotate under the control of a computer program, as for instance using a stepping motor (drive  40 ′) for rotational accuracy. However, a simple DC motor is also capable of providing the rotational forces and positional accuracy necessary for using the instant apparatus appropriately.  
         [0026]     The sheets  20  may be displayed in sequence with the last sheet of the roller set  10  followed once again by the first sheet  20 , in continuing cycles. Alternately, a subset of the sheets  20  which are pictorially, or thematically related may be sequentially displayed, ignoring the non-related other sheets  20  of the roller set  10 . More generally, any selected number of the sheets  20  may be displayed in any order desired. A large number of display sequences are possible.  
         [0027]     In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a single display roller  15  preferably has mounted on it, not just one, but plural roller sets  10  in side-by-side positions, as for instance sets A, B, C and D. Each roller set  10  may contain, for example, five sheets ( 20 )  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , in ordered sequence, i.e., all of the roller sets  10  have their sheets  20  arranged in the same order and like numbered sheets  20  are preferably pictorially related. Now, when it is desired to unfurl, for instance, sheet # 3  in each of the roller sets  10  simultaneously, it may be done by directing the other sheets, i.e., numbers  1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  5  to be positioned behind sheet  3  in each set  10 . Then sheets  3 A,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D may be deployed together in side-by-side positions to create a continuous enlarged pictorial display as shown in  FIG. 3 , as for a billboard presentation  70 .  
         [0028]     The detailed mechanics for deploying a particular sheet  20  and for hiding the other sheets  20  behind the sheet  20  elected for viewing will be discussed now. In  FIGS. 4A-4E  and  5 A- 5 E we show the manner of manipulation of the sheets  20  for display. In  FIG. 4A  we see a roll  15  with  3  sheets  20 , for illustration purposes, wound around it and depending downwardly with the bottoms  22  of the sheets  20  arranged in terminal spaced apart positions,  24 . The bottom edges of the sheets  20  are weighted by rods  26 , but may be weighted in alternate ways. In  FIG. 4A  we see that the inner most sheet  20  on the roll  15  is visible to a viewer sighting along a directed shown by arrow “A”. Alternately, if the sighting direction of the viewer were to be opposite that of arrow “A” the outermost sheet  20  would be displayed.  
         [0029]     When it is desired to display any one of sheets  20 , the roll  15  is rotated as shown by the arrow “B” in  FIG. 4B  until all of the sheets  20  are rolled up onto the roll  15 . Next, the roll  15  is continued to rotate in this same counterclockwise direction until one or more of the sheets  20  has moved free of a pressure contactor  80  which is preferably a press roller as shown in  FIG. 4C , the last of the sheets  20  to move free of press roller  80  being the selected sheet  20  for display, and then roll  15  is halted. In  FIG. 4C , the outermost sheet  20  has been released, but the roll  15  could have continued to rotated until the middle sheet  20  was released. Sensing of the passing of the bottom edge of the sheets between roll  15  and press roller  80  is easily accomplished by optical, magnetic or mechanical sensing means, among others, and is well within the capability of those of skill in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the weighting rod  26  is metal and the press roller has a metal sensor  82  such as a pair of electrical contacts with a magnet positioned to open the contacts when a ferromagnetic rod  26  passes the press roller  80 . This sensor is thereby able to trigger a stop to rotation of roll  15  when the electrical contacts are opened by magnetic action thereby allowing the sheet  20  that has immediately passed the press roller  80  to fall, by its own weight, into position; see  FIGS. 4C and 4D .  FIG. 4D  shows the position of the selected sheet  20  after it has unwrapped itself from the roll  15  and wherein its terminal portion has fallen into a vertical orientation. Roll  15  is then driven to rotate in the opposite direction (clockwise in  FIG. 4D ) as shown by arrow “C” until the selected sheet is fully unwrapped or deployed. One should not let the fact that the middle and inner sheets  20  appear to be wrapped outside of the outer sheet  20  be an indicator that somehow the outer sheet has moved to the inside wrap position; rather all of the sheets  20  are still in their respective positions, but now the outer sheet  20  is covered by the other sheets  20 . In  FIG. 4E  we see that roll  15  has rotated so that the outer sheet  20  is fully deployed and the other two sheets  20  are hidden from view, assuming now that the viewing direction is as shown by arrow “A.” Likewise by selectively allowing any one of the sheets  20  to pass from right to left across the top of roll  15  so that it is free to fall into the vertical attitude, one may determine which of the sheets  20  are to be displayed. Preferably, an optical sensor  85  is used to sense when a sheet has fully deployed, as in  FIG. 4E , and to send a signal to the motor operating circuit to enable a halt to rotation of roll  15 . Alternately, a magnetic or mechanical sensor may be used to detect when a sheet  20  has reached full deployment. Such position sensors are well known in the art and such deployment is also well known to those of skill.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 5A-5E  show the same arrangement and deployment scheme as for  FIGS. 4A-4E , with one addition. A light source  90  is positioned below roll  15  in such a position as to enable the one sheet  20  that is freed to uncurl around the left side of the roll  15 , as shown in  FIG. 5C , to move in front of the left side of the light source  90  while the remaining sheets  20  are naturally segregated onto the other side of the light source  90  as shown in  FIG. 5E . To accomplish this, the light source is positioned below the roll  15  in such a position as to enable a deployed sheet  20  to fall to the left of the light source  90  and to enable the remaining sheets  20  to fall to the right of the light source  90 . In this case, the sheets  20  may be translucent art that is illuminated by the second light source  90  from behind; still assuming that the viewing direction is from the left. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first light source  40  is preferably placed in front of sheets  20  to illuminate the front surfaces  20 ′ of such deployed sheets  20 , preferably from each side, while the second light source  90  is able to illuminate the rear surface  20 ″ of such deployed sheets  20 . In this manner one has a choice of illumination depending upon whether a sheet  20  is opaque or translucent. Clearly, one may attach both types of sheets to the roll  15  and program lighting to correspond to which type of sheet is deployed.  
         [0031]     The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element.  
         [0032]     The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.  
         [0033]     Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.  
         [0034]     The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1