US3774330A — Programmed display device or the like

Claim 1

Independent Claim 417 words

In a programmed display device, the combination comprising: a. a chassis; b. a multiplicity of first generally planar image elements spaced across said chassis; c. a plurality of additional generally planar image elements movably mounted on said chassis, each of said additional image elements being superposed over at least one of said first image elements in a first position in which said additional image element is exposed to provide, in cooperation with other exposed image elements, a first graphic presentation and in which said one image element is substantially concealed thereunder; d. means for moving each of said additional image elements between said first position thereof and a second position in which said additional image element is concealed under another of said first image elements and said one image element concealed thereunder in said first position is exposed to provide, in cooperation with other exposed image elements, an additional graphic presentation, the moving means for at least one of said additional image elements operating independently of moving means for at least a second one thereof; and e. a programming mechanism on said chassis for sequentially and independently operating said moving means to move said additional image elements between said first and second positions thereof, said mechanism comprising a motor and transmission means for transferring drive motion from said motor to each of said moving means in sequence according to a predetermined mechanical program to effect such operation thereof, said mechanism automatically displacing said additional image elements in accordance with said program during operation of said motor to selectively provide different presentations therewith,said transmission means including, for each of said moving means, a pair of gear members having coacting portions thereon, the coacting portion of one of said gear members comprising a substantially uninterrupted array of teeth and the coacting portion of the other of said gear members including at least a first cluster of teeth disposed for meshing engagement with the teeth of said one gear member, said other gear member having a non-meshing zone adjacent said first cluster of teeth, said other gear members for each of said moving means being mounted upon a common drive shaft and being driven simultaneously By said motor to transmit power to said one gear members during only a portion of the operating cycle of said other gear members, said transmission means further including means coupling said one gear member to one of said moving means to translate the intermittent rotary motion thereof to motion of the cooperating image element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 417 words

In a programmed display device, the combination comprising: a. a chassis; b. a multiplicity of first generally planar image elements spaced across said chassis; c. a plurality of additional generally planar image elements movably mounted on said chassis, each of said additional image elements being superposed over at least one of said first image elements in a first position in which said additional image element is exposed to provide, in cooperation with other exposed image elements, a first graphic presentation and in which said one image element is substantially concealed thereunder; d. means for moving each of said additional image elements between said first position thereof and a second position in which said additional image element is concealed under another of said first image elements and said one image element concealed thereunder in said first position is exposed to provide, in cooperation with other exposed image elements, an additional graphic presentation, the moving means for at least one of said additional image elements operating independently of moving means for at least a second one thereof; and e. a programming mechanism on said chassis for sequentially and independently operating said moving means to move said additional image elements between said first and second positions thereof, said mechanism comprising a motor and transmission means for transferring drive motion from said motor to each of said moving means in sequence according to a predetermined mechanical program to effect such operation thereof, said mechanism automatically displacing said additional image elements in accordance with said program during operation of said motor to selectively provide different presentations therewith,said transmission means including, for each of said moving means, a pair of gear members having coacting portions thereon, the coacting portion of one of said gear members comprising a substantially uninterrupted array of teeth and the coacting portion of the other of said gear members including at least a first cluster of teeth disposed for meshing engagement with the teeth of said one gear member, said other gear member having a non-meshing zone adjacent said first cluster of teeth, said other gear members for each of said moving means being mounted upon a common drive shaft and being driven simultaneously By said motor to transmit power to said one gear members during only a portion of the operating cycle of said other gear members, said transmission means further including means coupling said one gear member to one of said moving means to translate the intermittent rotary motion thereof to motion of the cooperating image element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 73 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said image elements provide a multiplicity of display sets, each set being comprised of a plurality of said image elements spaced across said device for simultaneous exposure to cooperatively provide a graphic presentation, the image elements of each of said sets which include one of said additional image elements being simultaneously movable therewith by the associated moving means between first and second positions of exposure and concealment.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 2 wherein image elements of different ones of said display sets are superposed upon one another to provide a multiplicity of adjacent, multi-ply arrays thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 3 wherein adjacent arrays of image elements overlap one another.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 76 words

The device of claim 4 wherein said image elements are normally generally horizontally disposed and are supported from above with their lower edges free, said arrays of elements being disposed in shingle-like fashion with movement of each of said additional elements displacing it from an exposed position at the front of a first array to a concealed position behind at least one image element directly thereabove, thereby exposing the underlying image element in said first array.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

The device of claim 1 wherein each of said moving means includes at least one of a multiplicity of parallel, elongated support bars carrying at least one of said additional image elements, and wherein said image elements are thin, elongated strips extending perpendicularly across said support bars, said support bars being substantially constrained to axial movement.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The device of claim 6 wherein each of said additional image elements is carried on at least two spaced support bars to substantially prevent angular disorientation of said elements during movement thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 54 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said other gear members of said pairs are fixedly mounted in axial alignment upon said common drive shaft, with said first cluster of teeth of at least some of said other gear members being angularly offset from one another about said drive shaft to provide said predetermined program.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 8 wherein eaid first cluster of teeth of said other gear member of each of said pairs is adapted to rotate said one gear member thereof through one complete revolution.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 118 words

The device of claim 9 wherein said device includes at least three of said additional image elements and independently operable moving means for each, and wherein said first clusters of teeth of said other gear members are disposed for operation of said independently operable moving means to return first of said additional image elements from said second position to said first position thereof while simultaneously moving second of said additional image elements from said first position to said second position thereof, and to thereafter return second of said additional image elements from said second position to said first position thereof while simultaneously moving third of said additional image elenents from said first position to said second position thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 51 words

The device of claim 8 wherein said coacting portion of at least some of said other gear members includes a second cluster of teeth disposed for meshing engagement with said teeth of said one gear member at a location circumferentially spaced from said first cluster and with a non-meshing zone therebetween.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device of claim 11 wherein each of said first and second clusters is adapted to rotate said one gear member through half a revolution.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The device of claim 11 wherein said second clusters of teeth of said other gear members are in axial alignment.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 92 words

The device of claim 11 wherein said device includes at least three of said additional image elements and independently operable moving means for each, and wherein said first clusters of teeth of said other gear members are disposed for operation of said independently operable moving means to sequentially move first, second and third of said additional image elements from said first positions to said second positions thereof, and wherein said second clusters of teeth are disposed to thereafter simultaneously return said first, second and third image elements to said first positions thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 8 wherein said transmission means includes means for intermittently transferring power from said motor to said common drive shaft.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 100 words

The device of claim 15 wherein said transferring means comprises at least one rotatably driven transfer member and at least one transfer pinion rotatably supported adjacent thereto for coaction therewith, said transfer member and said transfer pinion having coacting portions thereon, the coacting portion of said transfer member comprising at least one toothed segment and one non-meshing segment adjacent thereto, and the coacting portion of said transfer pinion comprising an array of teeth, said toothed segment meshing with the teeth of said transfer pinion to transfer power thereto during a portion of the cycle of operation of said transfer member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 223 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said other gear member is of generally circular cross section with the teeth of said first cluster and with said non-meshing zone extending to a common arc circumscribing said other gear member, said non-meshing zone comprising an edge surface portion of said other gear member and providing a locking surface thereon, said teeth extending radially and being offset axially from said locking surface and said gear member having a recessed portion adjacent said first cluster radially aligned with said locking surface and extending inwardly therefrom, and wherein said teeth of said one gear member extend radially thereof with at least one of said teeth being a short tooth of lesser axial length than the other teeth thereof to provide a gap axially adjacent thereto, said one and other gear members being disposed with said short tooth radially aligned with said first cluster and with said gap radially aligned with said locking surface, said other teeth of said one gear member passing through said recessed portion of said other gear member during said power transmitting portion of said operating cycle and two of said other teeth adjacent said short tooth tending to bear upon said locking surface as it passes through said gap during other portions of said operating cycle to prevent rotation of said one gear member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said coupling means of said transmission means includes a multiplicity of pivotally mounted lever members each connected to one of said moving means and to the cooperating one of said one gear members.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 76 words

The device of claim 18 wherein said transmission means additionally includes an action modifying linkage for each of said lever members, said linkage having an element supported on said chassis for pivotal movement about a fixed point and having said lever member and said movable mounting means pivotally connected thereto at different points spaced from said fixed point, said lever member thereby acting upon said moving means through said linkage element to modify the effect thereof.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 63 words

The device of claim 19 wherein the point of connection of said lever member to said linkage element is spaced from a fixed point a distance greater than the spacing of said moving means therefrom, thereby increasing the distance through which said moving means moves, as compared to the distance which direct connection of said moving means and said lever member would produce.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 90 words

The device of claim 18 wherein said one gear member has an axially projecting eccentric cam element disposed thereon and wherein said lever meMber comprises a yoke member mounted adjacent said one gear member for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis thereof, said yoke member having an elongated slot in which said cam element is engaged, and said slot being dimensioned and configured to cooperate with said cam element so as to convert rotary movement of said one gear member to oscillatory movement of said yoke member.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The device of Claim 1 wherein said chassis has two sides, and wherein a multiplicity of said image elements are spaced across each of said sides of said chassis for exposure thereon.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-11-26	1977-05-28	1977-11-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-11-26	1981-05-28	1981-11-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-11-26	1985-05-28	1985-11-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Programmed display device or the like

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