US3614727A — Changeable highway sign and motorist aid system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 339 words

A changeable sign for displaying a selected one of several predetermined messages comprising a housing defining an encLosure and having means defining a window through which any one of several predetermined messages displayed in alignment with the window can be observed; sign indicia means within said housing for providing the messages and for rapidly changing the visible message on demand and including a first roller positioned within said enclosure near said window, a second roller positioned within said enclosure near said window and spaced from said first roller to support a message area in alignment with and adjacent said window, and a web of light transmissive material having a plurality of predetermined message areas each with a message imaged thereon in a programmed sequence, said web being supported by said first and second rollers and movable upon rotation thereof to align a said predetermined message with said window; actuating means operatively coupled to said sign indicia means for driving said sign indicia means to transport said web of imaged material in a direction to position different selected messages in alignment with said window; a stationary retroreflective member positioned in parallelspaced aligned relation with said window to permit said web of light transmissive material to pass therebetween, said retroreflective member forming a retroreflective background for each message bearing area of said web to display said predetermined message, said member having retroreflective areas interspersed with diffuse reflective areas; sign position logic means operatively coupled to said sign indicia means for determining which of said predetermined messages is positioned in alignment with said window; and a sign control means operatively connected to said actuating means and said sign position logic means and responsive to a command signal designating a selected predetermined message to be displayed by said sign for programming said actuating means to drive said sign indicia means in a direction determined in response to said sign position logic means to transport said web until a selected predetermined message designated by said command signal is positioned in alignment with said window.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 339 words

A changeable sign for displaying a selected one of several predetermined messages comprising a housing defining an encLosure and having means defining a window through which any one of several predetermined messages displayed in alignment with the window can be observed; sign indicia means within said housing for providing the messages and for rapidly changing the visible message on demand and including a first roller positioned within said enclosure near said window, a second roller positioned within said enclosure near said window and spaced from said first roller to support a message area in alignment with and adjacent said window, and a web of light transmissive material having a plurality of predetermined message areas each with a message imaged thereon in a programmed sequence, said web being supported by said first and second rollers and movable upon rotation thereof to align a said predetermined message with said window; actuating means operatively coupled to said sign indicia means for driving said sign indicia means to transport said web of imaged material in a direction to position different selected messages in alignment with said window; a stationary retroreflective member positioned in parallelspaced aligned relation with said window to permit said web of light transmissive material to pass therebetween, said retroreflective member forming a retroreflective background for each message bearing area of said web to display said predetermined message, said member having retroreflective areas interspersed with diffuse reflective areas; sign position logic means operatively coupled to said sign indicia means for determining which of said predetermined messages is positioned in alignment with said window; and a sign control means operatively connected to said actuating means and said sign position logic means and responsive to a command signal designating a selected predetermined message to be displayed by said sign for programming said actuating means to drive said sign indicia means in a direction determined in response to said sign position logic means to transport said web until a selected predetermined message designated by said command signal is positioned in alignment with said window.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 130 words

The changeable sign of claim 1 wherein said sign position logic means is coupled to said sign indicia means for producing a position signal designating which of said predetermined messages is positioned within said window; direction logic means operatively connected to said sign position logic means and said actuating means for comparing said command signal with said position signal to determine in which direction said web must be transported to display the predetermined message designated by said command signal in said opening and for controlling said actuating means to drive said sign indicia means to transport said web in a determined direction until said sign position logic means produces a position signal indicating said selected one of said predetermined messages indicated by said command signal is positioned in said window.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 66 words

The changeable sign of claim 1 further comprising a communication means operatively coupled to said sign control means adapted to receive a control signal having an address signal and a command signal transmitted from a remote station and apply said received control signal to said sign control means; and wherein said sign control means includes decoding means for separating said address signal from said command signal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 112 words

The changeable sign of claim 1 wherein said sign control means includes control logic means operatively connected to said decoding logic means for responding to said command signal to program said actuating means; and translating logic means including means for storing a preassigned address code operatively coupled to said decoding logic means for receiving said address signal and comparing said received address signal to said preassigned address signal, said translating logic means upon determining said received address signal equals said preassigned address signal being operative to enable said control logic means to actuate said actuating means in the direction determined by said direction logic means and as programmed by said command signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 330 words

A changeable sign for displaying a selected one of several predetermined messages and adapted to be mounted along a highway and capable of visually informing a motorist by current driving messages upon said sign receiving and responding to command signals from a remote control station, said sign comprising a housing defining an enclosure having means defining a window through which a message positioned in alignment therewith may be observed, sign indicia means within said housing for visually displaying information in the form of sign indicia and including a light transmissive web having a plurality of message bearing sections which may be displayed by alignment with said window; a stationary retroreflective member positioned in spaced-parallel alignment with said window to permit said web of transparent material to pass therebetween, said retroreflective member forming a retroreflective background for each message bearing section of said transparent material to display said predetermined message, said member having retroreflective areas interspersed with diffuse reflective areas; actuating means operatively coupled to said sign indicia means for positioning a selected one of said message bearing sections in a position to be visually displayed; a sign control means operatively coupled to said actuating means and responsive to a said command signal for programming said actuating means to position a selected one of said sections bearing sign indicia for visually displaying the sign indicia; a thermoelectric generator operated by the use of a vaporized propane fuel; a fuel tank located adjacent said sign and beneath the ground for storing liquid propane which may be vaporized for use by said generator, said fuel tank including connecting means to said generator for transporting said vaporized propane fuel between said fuel tank and said generator, said fuel tank further including a fuel-filling port readily accessible for filling of said tank; and means connecting said generator to said sign control means for powering said sign control means and said actuating means and for supplying heat generated by consumption of said fuel to said sign.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 330 words

A changeable sign for displaying a selected one of several predetermined messages and adapted to be mounted along a highway and capable of visually informing a motorist by current driving messages upon said sign receiving and responding to command signals from a remote control station, said sign comprising a housing defining an enclosure having means defining a window through which a message positioned in alignment therewith may be observed, sign indicia means within said housing for visually displaying information in the form of sign indicia and including a light transmissive web having a plurality of message bearing sections which may be displayed by alignment with said window; a stationary retroreflective member positioned in spaced-parallel alignment with said window to permit said web of transparent material to pass therebetween, said retroreflective member forming a retroreflective background for each message bearing section of said transparent material to display said predetermined message, said member having retroreflective areas interspersed with diffuse reflective areas; actuating means operatively coupled to said sign indicia means for positioning a selected one of said message bearing sections in a position to be visually displayed; a sign control means operatively coupled to said actuating means and responsive to a said command signal for programming said actuating means to position a selected one of said sections bearing sign indicia for visually displaying the sign indicia; a thermoelectric generator operated by the use of a vaporized propane fuel; a fuel tank located adjacent said sign and beneath the ground for storing liquid propane which may be vaporized for use by said generator, said fuel tank including connecting means to said generator for transporting said vaporized propane fuel between said fuel tank and said generator, said fuel tank further including a fuel-filling port readily accessible for filling of said tank; and means connecting said generator to said sign control means for powering said sign control means and said actuating means and for supplying heat generated by consumption of said fuel to said sign.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

The changeable highway sign of claim 5 further including a storage battery located within said housing and connected to said thermoelectric generator in an arrangement whereby said storage battery may be charged by said generator, said storage battery being connected to said sign control means and said actuating means to supply power thereto.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 57 words

The changeable highway sign of claim 5 wherein said means for supplying heat to said sign includes heat-exchanging means connected to said sign to cooperate with said thermoelectric generator to transfer heat produced by the exhaust gases of said generator to other components located within said sign to improve the performance of said components in cold temperatures.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 130 words

The changeable highway sign of claim 7 wherein said heat-exchanging means includes a first duct capable of being selectively connected to said generator when the ambient temperature drops below a predetermined value to vent said exhaust gases through the interior of said sign to the exterior thereby warming the components within said sign; a second duct capable of being selectively connected to said generator when the ambient temperature rises above said predetermined value to vent said exhaust gases from said generator directly to the exterior of said sign; and a temperature sensitive switching means capable of selectively connecting said first duct with and disconnecting said second duct from said generator when the ambient temperature drops below said predetermined value and vice versa when said temperature rises above said predetermined value.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-10-18	1975-04-19	1975-10-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-10-18	1979-04-19	1979-10-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-10-18	1983-04-19	1983-10-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Changeable highway sign and motorist aid system

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