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US4707938A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Remote control price changing sign

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-06-13
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Granted: 1987-11-24
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Expires: 2006-06-13
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Abstract

Abstract A large sign mounted high on a supporting pole, tower or building is provided with changeable figure sections. Each changeable figure section includes an upper motor driven roller and a lower motor driven roller and an elongate panel of flexible material having digits 0 to 9 thereon with opposite ends of the panel fixed to and rollable on the respective rollers. A three wire motor control system is provided for each changeable figure section that extends therefrom to the ground and on to a remote location with a two way switch where the operator can watch the sign changes he is making. This makes it easier and safer for a person to change letters and numbers on billboards that are dangerous and/or inaccessable to climb up on and work on particularly with a sign high in the air facing the elements.

Inventors

  • 👤 John F. Carssow

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 19:09
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F11/00; G09F11/24; G09F11/29; G09F11/295

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 279 words
A changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location comprising: a changeable figure section in a rectangular box structure having a transparent front window; an upper roller and a lower roller rotatably mounted in the top and the bottom of said rectangular box structure; an upper and a lower motor in said box structure drive connected to said upper and lower rollers respectively; an elongate panel of flexible material having a series of figures along the forward face thereof and upper and lower ends fastened to said upper and lower rollers, respectively, and windable on said upper and lower rollers to varying degrees in advancing the panel up and down to different figure displaying positions with the upper roller driven to draw the panel up when the upper roller is power driven by said upper motor and to draw the panel down when the lower roller is power driven by said lower motor; power supply means for said upper motor and power supply means for said lower motor; control means line connected for individually controlling power fed to said upper and lower motors from a remote location; wherein mounting means is connected to said rectangular box structure for the mounting of said box structure on an elevated sign, such as a tower mounted billboard; said mounting means is in the form of criss-cross frame members fastened to the back of said rectangular box structure by fastening means; and with said criss-cross frame members formed with hooks at the top for support from a sign transverse frame member, and bottom ends extended beyond the bottom of said box structure for additional mount fastening to the sign.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 279 words
A changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location comprising: a changeable figure section in a rectangular box structure having a transparent front window; an upper roller and a lower roller rotatably mounted in the top and the bottom of said rectangular box structure; an upper and a lower motor in said box structure drive connected to said upper and lower rollers respectively; an elongate panel of flexible material having a series of figures along the forward face thereof and upper and lower ends fastened to said upper and lower rollers, respectively, and windable on said upper and lower rollers to varying degrees in advancing the panel up and down to different figure displaying positions with the upper roller driven to draw the panel up when the upper roller is power driven by said upper motor and to draw the panel down when the lower roller is power driven by said lower motor; power supply means for said upper motor and power supply means for said lower motor; control means line connected for individually controlling power fed to said upper and lower motors from a remote location; wherein mounting means is connected to said rectangular box structure for the mounting of said box structure on an elevated sign, such as a tower mounted billboard; said mounting means is in the form of criss-cross frame members fastened to the back of said rectangular box structure by fastening means; and with said criss-cross frame members formed with hooks at the top for support from a sign transverse frame member, and bottom ends extended beyond the bottom of said box structure for additional mount fastening to the sign.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 1, wherein said figure section box structure is inserted in an opening in the sign sized to receive said box structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 1, wherein said figure section box structure is mounted on the front face of said elevated sign.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote section of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said figure section box structures is mounted on the front face of said elevated sign.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 345 words
A changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location comprising: a changeable figure section in a rectangular box structure having a transparent front window; an upper roller and a lower roller rotatably mounted in the top and the bottom of said rectangular box structure; an upper motor and a lower motor in said box structure drive connected to said upper and lower rollers respectively; an elongate panel of flexible material having a series of figures along the forward face thereof and upper and lower ends fastened to said upper and lower rollers, respectively, and windable on said upper and lower rollers to varying degrees in advancing the panel up and down to different figure displaying positions with the upper roller driven to draw the panel up when the upper roller is power driven by said upper motor and to draw the panel down when the lower roller is power driven by said lower motor; power supply means for said upper motor and power supply means for said lower motor; and control means line connected for individually controlling power fed to said upper and lower motors from a remote location; wherein said box structure includes top and bottom opposite side box defining members; a baffle member spanning the box structure from top to bottom and from side to side within said top and bottom and opposite side box defining members with forward opening upper and lower roller containing chambers and an interim forward flexible panel backing forward projection positioned for the panel to slide along in figure changing movement thereover; said interim forward projection of said baffle member defining a rear enclosure of said changeable figure section encloses heating element means used to defrost any frozen moisture on the baffle member tending to freeze said flexible panel to said baffle member; and wherein said baffle member is provided with surface deformations to counter baffle surface fluid condensate adhesion sticking of said flexible panel to the forward surface of said baffle member as an aid to free movement of said flexible panel thereover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 345 words
A changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location comprising: a changeable figure section in a rectangular box structure having a transparent front window; an upper roller and a lower roller rotatably mounted in the top and the bottom of said rectangular box structure; an upper motor and a lower motor in said box structure drive connected to said upper and lower rollers respectively; an elongate panel of flexible material having a series of figures along the forward face thereof and upper and lower ends fastened to said upper and lower rollers, respectively, and windable on said upper and lower rollers to varying degrees in advancing the panel up and down to different figure displaying positions with the upper roller driven to draw the panel up when the upper roller is power driven by said upper motor and to draw the panel down when the lower roller is power driven by said lower motor; power supply means for said upper motor and power supply means for said lower motor; and control means line connected for individually controlling power fed to said upper and lower motors from a remote location; wherein said box structure includes top and bottom opposite side box defining members; a baffle member spanning the box structure from top to bottom and from side to side within said top and bottom and opposite side box defining members with forward opening upper and lower roller containing chambers and an interim forward flexible panel backing forward projection positioned for the panel to slide along in figure changing movement thereover; said interim forward projection of said baffle member defining a rear enclosure of said changeable figure section encloses heating element means used to defrost any frozen moisture on the baffle member tending to freeze said flexible panel to said baffle member; and wherein said baffle member is provided with surface deformations to counter baffle surface fluid condensate adhesion sticking of said flexible panel to the forward surface of said baffle member as an aid to free movement of said flexible panel thereover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 5, wherein said surface deformations in said baffle member are transverse grooves extending from side to side thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 5, wherein said heating element means is in the form of light bulbs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 5, wherein said heating element means is circuit connected to ground location turn off turn on control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 8, wherein said heating element means turn off turn on control means includes automatic timer turn off means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 5, wherein said flexible panel is formed with opposite end tabs that are fastened to said upper and lower rollers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 39 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 10, wherein said opposite end tabs of said flexible panel are insert fastened between said roller halves of said split upper and lower rollers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 76 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 5, wherein said control means for individually controlling power fed to said upper and lower motors from a remote location includes a return to off switch that is manually thrown and held to apply power to upper motor power line means and to lower motor power line means with only one of the two motors being power driven at a time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 61 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 12, wherein the line connections from said return to off switch is a three line remote location to said changeable figure section; with one line on AC power supply line and the other two lines individual switch connected lines to said upper and lower drive motors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 78 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 13, wherein first on indicator light means is connected from the control switch power line to the upper roller drive motor to ground; and second on indicator light means is connected from the control switch power line to the lower roller drive motor to ground; and with said first and second on indicator light means located for viewing at the control switch location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 59 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 12, wherein drag imposing means is included with each of said upper and lower rollers in addition to the drag imposed on a roller by the motor of that roller when the other roller is being power driven by the motor of that roller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 48 words
The changeable figure section for an elevated sign controllable from a remote location of claim 15, wherein said drag imposing means is a coil spring and a spring compression adjustment nut threaded on a roller shaft end with the coil spring adjusted against a box side frame member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2563580A Cited
US1067483A Cited
US1283165A Cited
FR530961A Cited
US1547033A Cited
FR723601A Cited
US2095401A Cited
US2935806A Cited
US3009275A Cited
US3582937A Cited
US3616554A Cited
US4373279A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-11-23 1991-05-25 1991-11-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-11-23 1995-05-25 1995-11-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-11-23 1999-05-25 1999-11-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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