Reusable display sign or card having alphanumeric information

Claim 1

In a card for exhibiting and displaying alphanumeric information, which information may be changed form time to time, where the card has a face of which at least a portion thereof has permanently placed thereon a background field of a first, dark colour; where there are a plurality of multi-segmented alphanumeric presentation display digits on said background filed; where each display digit comprises at least seven bar segments which are so arranged as to form the digit "8", having at least a top, a middle and bottom bar segment each of which is substantially horizontally directed; and further having two pairs of side bar segments, one pair extending form near each end of the top bar segment to near each end of the middle bar segment, and the other pair extending from near each end of the middle bar segment to near each end of the bottom bar segment; and where each bar segment of each display digit is of a second contrasting, lighter colour than said first colour; the improvement wherein said face is substantially planar and smooth, and is adapted for receiving removable pigmentation applied thereto substantially on the plane of the face and in an evaporable liquid base, to effectively obscure selected bar segment portions of selected ones of said digits, said pigmentation being selectively removable therefrom by wiping with a suitable solvent to restore said digits; whereby specific alphanumeric data may be displayed in readable manner by changing the colour of none or some of the bar segments of each display digit form said second colour to said first colour, in order that only the unchanged bar segments are readily visible and distinguished from the background field.

Claim 8

A method of exhibiting, displaying, and changing alphanumeric information which comprises the steps of: providing a card and marker; where said card has a visually unobstructed face which is substantially planar or smooth; at least a portion of said face having permanently placed thereon a background filed of a first, dark colour; there being a plurality of multi-segmented alphanumeric presentation display digits on said background field; where each display digit comprises at least seven bar segments which are so arranged as to form the digit "8", having at least a top, a middle and a bottom bar segment each of which is substantially horizontally directed; and further having two pairs of side bar segments, one pair extending from near each end of the top bar segment to near each end of the middle bar segment, and the other pair extending from near each end of the middle bar segment to near each end of the bottom bar segment; each bar segment of each display digit being of a second contrasting, lighter colour than said first color; said marker having an erasable ink therein which is substantially of the same colour as said first colour of said background field, said ink being erasable with the said of a solvent therefor to reinstate a previously obscured digit; whereby specific alphanumeric data may be display in readable manner by reinstating, where necessary said obscured digit, and by changing the colour of none or some of the bar segments of each display digit from said second colour to said first colour, by marking each segment to be changed using said marker, so that only the unchanged bar segments are thereafter readily visible and distinguished from said background field; and using said marker to change said bar segments as required.

Claim 9

A method of exhibiting, displaying, and changing alphanumeric information which comprises the steps of: providing a card and marker; where said card has a visually unobstructed face which is substantially planar or smooth; at least a portion of said face having permanently placed thereon a background filed of a first, dark colour; there being a plurality of multi-segmented alphanumeric presentation display digits on said background field; where each display digit comprises at least seven bar segments which are so arranged as to form the digit "8", having at least a top, a middle and a bottom bar segment each of which is substantially horizontally directed; and further having two pairs of side bar segments, one pair extending from near each end of the top bar segment to near each end of the middle bar segment, and the other pair extending from near each end of the middle bar segment to near each end of the bottom bar segment; each bar segment of each display digit being of a second contrasting, lighter colour than said first color; said marker having an erasable ink therein which is substantially of the same colour as said first colour of said background field, said ink being erasable with the said of a solvent therefor to reinstate a previously obscured digit; whereby specific alphanumeric data may be display in readable manner by reinstating, where necessary said obscured digit, and by changing the colour of none or some of the bar segments of each display digit from said second colour to said first colour, by marking each segment to be changed using said marker, so that only the unchanged bar segments are thereafter readily visible and distinguished from said background field; and using said marker to change said bar segments as required.