US4381616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internally illuminated rotatable pictorial menu display
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-09-11
•
Granted: 1983-05-03
•
Expires: 2001-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A menu display is provided having a plurality of independent, rotatable exhibitor units. The exhibitor units are placed edge to edge to form an exhibiting surface. Each exhibitor unit includes a plurality of pictorial display panels which form a prism-like housing in which is contained a light source. The light source is preferably coaxial with the axis of rotation of the exhibitor unit. The exhibitor units may rotate upon a tongue and groove structure or upon roller bearings. Display panels not in the exhibiting surface are stored in the exhibitor unit. A pictorial display may be fixed to the display panel housing using electrostatic attraction provided by plastic sheets having electrostatic properties. An elevated embodiment of the menu display is provided with a recessed, elevated base. The recessed base allows changing of insertable exhibitor sheets from below a display assembly without the use of a ladder. Opaque flanges may be attached to the edges of adjacent exhibitor units to prevent stray light from emerging from behind the exhibitor surface between a clearance between adjacent exhibitor units.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman K. Saxer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:20
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F11/00; G09F11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An internally illuminated changeable exhibitor apparatus, comprising: a plurality of independent exhibitor units, each of said units having a plurality of display panels forming a housing, one of said display panels in an exhibiting orientation providing an exhibiting panel, the plurality of said exhibiting panels being edge to edge forming an exhibiting surface, said exhibiting panels having overlapping opaque flange means connected to the adjacent edges of said exhibiting panels for blocking stray light from being transmitted from the rear of said exhibiting surface between said independent exhibitor units; a light source within each exhibitor unit for internally illuminating said exhibiting panels; and means for rotating each exhibitor unit for selecting a display panel to be an exhibiting panel in said exhibiting surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An internally illuminated changeable exhibitor apparatus, comprising: a plurality of independent exhibitor units, each of said units having a plurality of display panels forming a housing, one of said display panels in an exhibiting orientation providing an exhibiting panel, the plurality of said exhibiting panels being edge to edge forming an exhibiting surface, said exhibiting panels having overlapping opaque flange means connected to the adjacent edges of said exhibiting panels for blocking stray light from being transmitted from the rear of said exhibiting surface between said independent exhibitor units; a light source within each exhibitor unit for internally illuminating said exhibiting panels; and means for rotating each exhibitor unit for selecting a display panel to be an exhibiting panel in said exhibiting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said light source coincides with the axis of rotation of said rotatable exhibitor unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said exhibitor unit is rotatable around said light source which is stationary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein three of said display panels form a hollow, prism-like housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An internally illuminated changeable exhibitor apparatus, comprising: a plurality of independent exhibitor units, each of said units having a plurality of display panels forming a housing, one of said display panels in an exhibiting orientation providing an exhibiting panel, the plurality of said exhibiting panels being edge to edge forming an exhibiting surface; a light source within each exhibitor unit for internally illuminating said exhibiting panels; and means for rotating each exhibitor unit for selecting a display panel to be an exhibiting panel in said exhibiting surface; wherein a display panel is comprised of: a translucent support sheet; and a laminate of a transparent electrostatic sheet and a translucent picture sheet wherein said electrostatic sheet fixes said laminate to said support sheet by electrostatic attraction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
An internally illuminated changeable exhibitor apparatus, comprising: a plurality of independent exhibitor units, each of said units having a plurality of display panels forming a housing, one of said display panels in an exhibiting orientation providing an exhibiting panel, the plurality of said exhibiting panels being edge to edge forming an exhibiting surface; a light source within each exhibitor unit for internally illuminating said exhibiting panels; and means for rotating each exhibitor unit for selecting a display panel to be an exhibiting panel in said exhibiting surface; wherein a display panel is comprised of: a translucent support sheet; and a laminate of a transparent electrostatic sheet and a translucent picture sheet wherein said electrostatic sheet fixes said laminate to said support sheet by electrostatic attraction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein: said transparent support sheet is made from Plexiglas; and in said laminate, said transparent electrostatic sheet is made from Mylar; and said translucent picture sheet is a printparency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said exhibitor units are roller bearings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said exhibitor units are complementary tongue and groove means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 having an exhibiting panel assembly, comprising: a rear translucent panel; a front transparent panel spaced from said rear panel; and a removable translucent exhibiting sheet insert which is slid between said rear panel and said front panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as described in claim 9 further including an elevated base having an edge recessed with respect to said exhibiting panel assembly allowing slidable removal and replacement of said exhibiting sheet insert from below the level of said base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US613538A
Cited
US1706386A
Cited
US3273271A
Cited
US3345766A
Cited
US3383785A
Cited
US4002022A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-02 | 1986-11-01 | 1987-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-02 | 1990-11-01 | 1991-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-02 | 1994-11-01 | 1995-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |