Dashboard-mounted automatic route information display device

Claim 2

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise in a plane between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongated slot which extends in a plane below the cover on a parallel to the plane of the strip, means on the case defining openings to the outside thereof adjacent the opposite ends of the slot and the carrier means and spool, respectively drive means operative to advance the strip in the longitudinal direction thereof relatively from the carrier means toward the spool and to wind the strip on the spool, a second elongated, free-ended route information strip disposed in the slot and the opening adjacent the carrier means, and engaged with the drive means to be driven lengthwise in the plane of the slot in unison and co-directional with the windable strip, and means for guiding the free end of the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after said second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 3

The roadway route information display device according to claim 1 wherein the second strip is superposed on the windable strip, and the windable strip is also engaged with the sprocket adjacent the slot.

Claim 4

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongnated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot and having the windable strip engaged therewith to be driven by the sprocket, means for advancing the strip including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprOcket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case and engaged with the sprocket so that it is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after said second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 5

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongnated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot and having the windable strip engaged therewith to be driven by the sprocket, means for advancing the strip including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprOcket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case and engaged with the sprocket so that it is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after said second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 6

The roadway route information display device according to claim 3 wherein the drive means is adapted to be driven by a variable gear-reduction drive unit, the windable strip has electromagnetically detectable signals recorded thereon, and there are electromagnetic pick-up means adjacent the strip to detect and transmit the signals to the drive unit for gear changes therein.

Claim 7

The roadway route information display device according to claim 3 wherein the sprocket is mounted on a drive shaft and the shaft has means thereon for coupling a flexible rotary drive cable to one end thereof.

Claim 8

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot, drive means for rotating the spool and the sprocket in unison with one another, and a second elongated route information strip disposed in the slot in engagement with the sprocket, to be driven by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, through and between the openings in the case, while the windable strip is wound up on the spool, said slot being defined by the windable strip and the cover, said second strip being superposed on the windable strip, and said windable strip also being engaged with the sprocket.

Claim 9

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot, drive means for rotating the spool and the sprocket in unison with one another, and a second elongated route information strip disposed in the slot in engagement with the sprocket, to be driven by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, through and between the openings in the case, while the windable strip is wound up on the spool, said slot being defined by the windable strip and the cover, said second strip being superposed on the windable strip, and said windable strip also being engaged with the sprocket.

Claim 10

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot, drive means for rotating the spool and the sprocket in unison with one another, and a second elongated route information strip disposed in the slot in engagement with the sprocket, to be driven by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, through and between the openings in the case, while the windable strip is wound up on the spool, the carrier means and the spool being spaced apart from one another, the sprocket being interposed in the space between the spool and the carrier means, there being tooth engaging means on the second strip in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket, and the windable strip also having tooth engaging means thereon which are in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket.

Claim 11

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot, drive means for rotating the spool and the sprocket in unison with one another, and a second elongated route information strip disposed in the slot in engagement with the sprocket, to be driven by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, through and between the openings in the case, while the windable strip is wound up on the spool, the carrier means and the spool being spaced apart from one another, the sprocket being interposed in the space between the spool and the carrier means, there being tooth engaging means on the second strip in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket, and the windable strip also having tooth engaging means thereon which are in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket.

Claim 12

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably-mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, defining with the strip an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot and having the windable strip engaged therewith, meaNs for advancing the strip, including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprocket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case, in superposition on the windable strip, and engaged with the sprocket, so that the second strip is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after said second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 13

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably-mounted takeup spool in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, defining with the strip an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted adjacent the slot and having the windable strip engaged therewith, meaNs for advancing the strip, including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprocket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case, in superposition on the windable strip, and engaged with the sprocket, so that the second strip is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after said second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 14

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool spaced apart from one another in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted in the space between the spool and the carrier means adjacent the slot means for advancing the strip, including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprocket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case, said windable strip and said second strip having tooth-engaging means thereon which are in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket, so that the second strip is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after said second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 15

In a roadway route information display device, a case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool spaced apart from one another in the case, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool, a transparent cover on the case above the strip, means defining an elongated slot which extends below the cover on a parallel to the strip, means defining openings in the case adjacent the opposite ends of the slot, a sprocket rotatably mounted in the space between the spool and the carrier means adjacent the slot means for advancing the strip, including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprocket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case, said windable strip and said second strip having tooth-engaging means thereon which are in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket, so that the second strip is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after said second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 16

In a roadway route information display device, a case comprising an elongated strip of plastic material, the end portions of which are folded into spaced, parallel superposition with one another and with the center portion of the plastic strip on one side thereof, to form a transparent cover and a support, and a slot therebetween, one end of which slot opens to the outside of the case along the end edge of the upper of the end portions of the plastic strip, there being a slot-like opening in the fold between the upper end portion and the center portion of the case, through which the other end of the slot opens to the outside of the case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool spaced apart from one another in the case, with the support interposed in the space therebetween, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool and the support so that the support guides and maintains tension in the windable strip against the pull of the spool, a sprocket rotatably mounted in the space between the spool and the carrier means adjacent the slot, means for advancing the strip, including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprocket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case, said windable strip and said second strip having tooth-engaging means thereon in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket, so that the second strip is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after the second strip has traversed the length of the slot.

Claim 17

In a roadway route information display device, a case comprising an elongated strip of plastic material, the end portions of which are folded into spaced, parallel superposition with one another and with the center portion of the plastic strip on one side thereof, to form a transparent cover and a support, and a slot therebetween, one end of which slot opens to the outside of the case along the end edge of the upper of the end portions of the plastic strip, there being a slot-like opening in the fold between the upper end portion and the center portion of the case, through which the other end of the slot opens to the outside of the case, carrier means and a rotatably mounted takeup spool spaced apart from one another in the case, with the support interposed in the space therebetween, an elongated, windable roadway route information strip disposed on the carrier means and extending lengthwise between the spool and the carrier means in engagement with the spool and the support so that the support guides and maintains tension in the windable strip against the pull of the spool, a sprocket rotatably mounted in the space between the spool and the carrier means adjacent the slot, means for advancing the strip, including drive means for rotating the spool to wind the strip thereon, means for rotating the sprocket in unison with the spool, a second elongated route information strip inserted into the slot through the opening adjacent one end of the case, said windable strip and said second strip having tooth-engaging means thereon in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket, so that the second strip is driven lengthwise of the slot by the sprocket in unison with the windable strip, and means for guiding the second strip relatively out of the opening adjacent the other end of the case, after the second strip has traversed the length of the slot.