Linear prism display

Claim 2

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an image surface, a reflecting surface having a pair of generally symmetrical convergent sides and object surfaces outside of and generally coextensive with said reflecting surface sides, indicia positioned outside of said object surfaces, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a plurality of similar reflecting prisms each having object surfaces, an image surface and a reflecting surface, each reflecting surface having convergent generally symmetrical sides, with each object surface being outside of its reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of and generally uniformly spaced from each object surface, with each indicia and its associated prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of each reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to each image surface.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that each of said axes are parallel such that said prisms move in generally parallel paths.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said prism is generally rectangular in configuration.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including pressure-responsive means urging said prism in one direction along its path of movement.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 5 further characterized by and including a plurality of different indicia positioned outside of and generally uniformly spaced from said object surface, said indicia being axially positioned along the path of movement defined by said object surface, such that different indicIa will be visible at the image surface at different positions of the object surface, which positions are at least in part controlled by said pressure-responsive means.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that said pressure-responsive means includes a spring.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 7 further characterized by and including a housing enclosing said prism and spring, said prism being movable in said housing and being urged in one direction by said spring, the position of said prism, in the housing, relative to the different indicia positioned along the path of said object surface being determined by a force applied opposite to the spring.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said indicia is movable and said prism is stationary.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of different indicia, spaced along the path of movement.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 10 further characterized in that said different indicia are generally uniformly spaced, one from another, such than only one indicia is positioned adjacent the object surface at a time.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including additional indicia, positioned outside of the path of movement of said first-named indicia, and fixed in position relative to the object surface.

Claim 14

The structure of claim 12 further characterized in that said fixed indicia is visible at the image surface when the first-named indicia is not between the fixed indicia and the object surface.

Claim 15

The structure of claim 13 further characterized in that said first-named indicia is rotatable relative to the object surface.

Claim 16

The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including additional indicia, positioned outside of said object surface and along the path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface, movement of said prism along said path changing the indicia visible at the image surface.

Claim 17

The structure of claim 15 further characterized by and including a second reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, the reflecting surface of said second prism being generally symmetrical with its object surface being outside of its reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of the object surface of said second prism, with movement of said second prism along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of its reflecting surface changing the indicia reflected to its image surface.

Claim 18

The structure of claim 16 further characterized in that said first and second prisms have a common axis of symmetry and are arranged for simultaneous movement.

Claim 19

The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including means for moving said indicia relative to said prism.

Claim 20

The structure of claim 18 further characterized in that said indicia is both rotatably and linearly movable relative to said prism.

Claim 21

The structure of claim 19 further characterized in that said prism is movable relative to said indicia.

Claim 22

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface, and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and fluid pressure-responsive means urging said prism in one direction along its path of movement.

Claim 23

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface, and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and fluid pressure-responsive means urging said prism in one direction along its path of movement.

Claim 24

The structure of claim 21 further characterized by and including a collapsible annulus positioned about said prism, a plunger connected to said prism, said plunger being adapted to be moved by fluid pressure.

Claim 25

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of saId reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and a solenoid for moving said prism relative to said indicia.

Claim 26

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of saId reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and a solenoid for moving said prism relative to said indicia.

Claim 27

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and means for moving said prism relative to said indicia including a spring, and means for periodically compressing said spring to change the position of the prism relative to said indicia.

Claim 28

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and means for moving said prism relative to said indicia including a spring, and means for periodically compressing said spring to change the position of the prism relative to said indicia.

Claim 29

The structure of claim 24 further characterized in that the means for periodically moving said spring includes a rotating cam, a shaft connected to said prism, said cam being positioned to periodically move said shaft and prism against the force of said spring.

Claim 30

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and a second prism, extending about said first prism and having a conical reflecting surface, a cylindrical object surface and an image surface, movable indicia positioned adjacent said cylindrical object surface for viewing at said image surface.

Claim 31

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface, and a second prism, extending about said first prism and having a conical reflecting surface, a cylindrical object surface and an image surface, movable indicia positioned adjacent said cylindrical object surface for viewing at said image surface.

Claim 32

The structure of claim 26 further characterized by and including fixed indicia positioned adjacent said cylindrical object surface and visible at said image surface, said movable indicia being positioned to move in a path generally uniformly spaced from said cylindrical object surface.

Claim 33

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being flexible and expandable along its axis of symmetry, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface.

Claim 34

In a display device, a reflecting prism having an object surface, an image surface and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being generally symmetrical and said object surface being outside of said reflecting surface, said reflecting surface being flexible and expandable along its axis of symmetry, indicia positioned outside of said object surface, said indicia and prism being relatively movable along a path defined by the axis of symmetry of said reflecting surface to change the indicia reflected to said image surface.

Claim 35

In a display device, a plurality of concentric conical reflecting prisms, each having conical reflecting surfaces, cylindrical object surfaces and a common image surface, each of said reflecting surfaces being generally symmetrical with said object surfaces being outside of said reflecting surfaces, movable indicia arranged for simultaneous movement in a path adjacent the cylindrical object surfaces, and fixed indicia, positioned adjacent the cylindrical object surface, said movable indicia moving in a path between the fixed indicia and the cylindrical object surfaces.

Claim 36

In a display device, a plurality of concentric conical reflecting prisms, each having conical reflecting surfaces, cylindrical object surfaces and a common image surface, each of said reflecting surfaces being generally symmetrical with said object surfaces being outside of said reflecting surfaces, movable indicia arranged for simultaneous movement in a path adjacent the cylindrical object surfaces, and fixed indicia, positioned adjacent the cylindrical object surface, said movable indicia moving in a path between the fixed indicia and the cylindrical object surfaces.

Claim 37

The structure of claim 29 further characterized by and including spring means normally urging said movable indicia toward the cylindrical object surfaces.

Claim 38

The structure of claim 29 further characterized by and including a plunger, said movable indicia being attached to said plunger, with said spring means being positioned against said plunger.