US3949392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-element display apparatus for displaying different patterns or information
Assignee: CARITATO Ltd
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Filing: 1974-10-29
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1994-10-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a display apparatus having a display surface formed by an array of contiguous elements which are rotatable about vertical shafts to display a surface of contrasting appearance to the background appearance of the display surface thereby forming a mosaic displaying information. A column of solenoid operated actuator devices is driven along the back of the display surface and selected devices operate to rotate selected ones of the elements in each vertical shaft. The elements have a generally cubic overall shape with their vertical surfaces being cylindrically concave to allow rotation of an element without causing movement of a contiguous element. The bottom surfaces of the elements are grooved and arranged so as to co-operate with fixed horizontal members to provide an indexing arrangement. In addition, vertically extending channels communicate with the bore of each element to allow rain water to flow freely down the display surface. To assist the flow the top of the elements can have a frusto-conical recess.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Caritato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:46
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F11/00; G09F11/23; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
Display apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically mounted parallel shafts, a plurality of elements rotatably mounted on each of said shafts, an array of contiguous elements arranged in a formation of intersecting rows and columns to form a display surface, each element having a rectangular vertical cross-section, the horizontal cross-section being that of a regular four-sided figure with concave sides to form four display surfaces each lying in a plane parallel to said column axes and each display surface being cylindrically concave in the direction of said axes, each pair of opposite display surfaces presenting a visual effect which is contrastingly different from that presented by the other pair of opposite surfaces lying in planes parallel to said column axes, actuating means for rotating a given element to position a selected surface of said given element so as to contribute to said display surface, indexing means for retaining said given element in a rotated position, and drive means for moving said actuating means with respect to the array of elements to enable sequential rotation of selected elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
Display apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically mounted parallel shafts, a plurality of elements rotatably mounted on each of said shafts, an array of contiguous elements arranged in a formation of intersecting rows and columns to form a display surface, each element having a rectangular vertical cross-section, the horizontal cross-section being that of a regular four-sided figure with concave sides to form four display surfaces each lying in a plane parallel to said column axes and each display surface being cylindrically concave in the direction of said axes, each pair of opposite display surfaces presenting a visual effect which is contrastingly different from that presented by the other pair of opposite surfaces lying in planes parallel to said column axes, actuating means for rotating a given element to position a selected surface of said given element so as to contribute to said display surface, indexing means for retaining said given element in a rotated position, and drive means for moving said actuating means with respect to the array of elements to enable sequential rotation of selected elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for retaining the elements in rotated positions displaying the selected surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said retaining means comprises recesses in the bottom surfaces of the elements which are arranged to receive projections extending transversely from the shafts when the element is in a rotated position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recesses are inverted V-shaped recesses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said projections are constituted by rods extending between said shafts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each element is provided a bore for receiving a shaft with at least one channel extending parallel to the axis of the bore in the element and opening into said bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
Display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the top of the bore of each element is provided with a portion of larger diameter than the bore to form an inwardly converging frusto-conical portion whereby fluid on the top of the element tends to flow into the bore and thence into at least one channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the array of elements forms a rectangular matrix, and wherein the actuating means comprises a plurality of actuator units, one for each element on a shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each actuator unit comprises a solenoid, energisation of which causes movement of an actuator member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each actuator unit further comprises resilient means arranged to control the free rotation of an element immediately preceding an element to be rotated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input means for supplying to the actuating means signals indicative of information to be displayed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said information supplying means comprises means for scanning information to be displayed in a number of steps equal to the number of rows or columns in the array of elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
Display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said scanning means comprises a plurality of photoelectric devices, the number of which corresponds to the number of actuator units.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Display apparatus according to claim 12, further including means for synchronising operation of said drive means with operation of said scanning means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means mounted on said actuating means for identifying the visual effect of the surface displayed by an element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Display apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said identifying means comprises an optical device adapted to produce an output indicative of the surface displayed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a display apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically mounted parallel shafts, a plurality of elements rotatably mounted on each of said shafts, a display surface formed by an array of contiguous elements arranged in a formation of intersecting rows and columns, actuating means for rotating a given element to position a selected surface of said given element so as to contribute to said display surface and drive means for moving said actuating means with respect to the array of elements to enable sequential rotation of selected elements, the improvement comprising each element having a rectangular vertical cross-section, the horizontal cross-section being that of a regular four-sided figure, and each pair of opposite surfaces of the element lying in planes parallel to said column axes presenting a visual effect which is contrastingly different from that presented by the other pair of opposite surfaces lying in planes parallel to said column axes, and indexing means for retaining said given element in a rotated position, said indexing means comprising projecting means extending transversely from said shafts and means defining recesses in the bottom surface of each element for receiving said projecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a display apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically mounted parallel shafts, a plurality of elements rotatably mounted on each of said shafts, a display surface formed by an array of contiguous elements arranged in a formation of intersecting rows and columns, actuating means for rotating a given element to position a selected surface of said given element so as to contribute to said display surface and drive means for moving said actuating means with respect to the array of elements to enable sequential rotation of selected elements, the improvement comprising each element having a rectangular vertical cross-section, the horizontal cross-section being that of a regular four-sided figure, and each pair of opposite surfaces of the element lying in planes parallel to said column axes presenting a visual effect which is contrastingly different from that presented by the other pair of opposite surfaces lying in planes parallel to said column axes, and indexing means for retaining said given element in a rotated position, said indexing means comprising projecting means extending transversely from said shafts and means defining recesses in the bottom surface of each element for receiving said projecting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
Display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the recess defining means defines a recess of inverted V-shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
Display apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the included angle of the inverted V-shaped recesses is between 115° and 125°.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
Display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said included angle is 118° .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
Display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said projecting means are constituted by wires extending between said shafts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
Display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said element surfaces lying in planes parallel to the column axes are cylindrically concave in the direction of said axes, whereby any element can be rotated without interacting with any contiguous element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
Display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each element has a central bore for mounting the element on a shaft, and at least one channel extending parallel to the bore and opening into the bore.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
Display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the top of the bore of each element is provided with a portion of larger diameter than the bore to form an inwardly converging frusto-conical portion whereby fluid on the top of the element tends to flow into the bore and thence into at least one channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |