U.S. patent number 3,702,033 [Application Number 05/155,770] was granted by the patent office on 1972-11-07 for display device.
Invention is credited to Kelly R. Coleman.
United States Patent |
3,702,033 |
Coleman |
November 7, 1972 |
DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
A portable display device having a base comprising running gear
which includes a plurality of wheels and a pulling tongue wherein
the wheels may be detachably secured to the base such that the base
may be permanently affixed to a given location. A sign is
reciprocally mounted on the base by means of a supporting frame
such that the sign may be raised or lowered to any desired position
through the operation of a lifting mechanism in the form of a power
or manually operated winch connected to the sign by a pulley and
cable arrangement. Lights may be arranged on both the interior and
exterior of the sign and operated by a power supply, in the form of
a battery or generator which also may be carried on the base of the
sign.
Inventors: |
Coleman; Kelly R. (Clearwater,
FL) |
Family
ID: |
22556723 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/155,770 |
Filed: |
June 23, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/541; 40/590;
280/415.1; 340/908 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
21/04 (20130101); G09F 13/0463 (20210501) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
21/00 (20060101); G09F 21/04 (20060101); G09F
13/04 (20060101); G09f 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/129R,129C,130,125H
;280/415,43,63 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display device comprising: a base, a running assembly
removably attached to said base, such that said display device may
be portable or permanently installed on a predetermined location, a
support frame mounted on said base, sign means movably mounted on
said frame, positioning means connected to said sign means so as to
selectively position it relative to said base, whereby said sign
means may be raised or lowered on said frame relative to said base
by activation of said positioning means.
2. A display device as in claim 1 wherein said running assembly
further comprises wheel means on which said device is transported,
pulling means arranged on said base so as to interconnect said
device to a towing vehicle.
3. A display device as in claim 2 further comprising wheel
connecting means including a bar connected to said wheel means and
removably connected to said base, bracket means fixedly attached to
said base and arranged to attach a portion of each of said bars to
said base.
4. A display device as in claim 3 wherein said bracket is arranged
relative to said base such that said bar is positionable in
supported fashion between said bracket and said device.
5. A display device as in claim 2 wherein said pulling means
comprises a tongue movably mounted on said base such that it may be
positioned in either an operative or inoperative position.
6. A display device as in claim 5 wherein said tongue is
telescopically arranged relative to a portion of said base whereby
it may be selectively arranged in and out of operative
position.
7. A display device as in claim 5 wherein said tongue is pivotally
attached to said base such that it may be pivoted into an extended
operative position or nonextended, inoperative position.
8. A display device as in claim 5 wherein said movably mounted
tongue is removably attached to said base whereby said tongue is
attached when permanently positioned at a desired location.
9. A display device as in claim 1 further including base support
means movably connected to said base such that said base support
means may be moved into and out of operative position, whereby
proper orientation of said device is maintained when arranged in a
desired position.
10. A display device as in claim 9 wherein said base support means
comprises a plurality of outrigger assembly each of which are
telescopically and rotationally connected to said base and arranged
in spaced relation to one another.
11. A display device as in claim 10 wherein each of said outrigger
assemblies comprise first and second portions movably connected to
one another such that said portions can be extended or retracted
into and out of operative supporting relation to one another.
12. A display device as in claim 1 further including guide means
arranged relative to said sign means to interconnect said sign
means and said frame such that said sign means is guided to move in
a reciprocal fashion relative to said frame.
13. A display device as in claim 12 wherein said guide means
comprise at least one collar fixedly attached to each side of said
sign means and arranged to movably interconnect said sign means to
said frame, such that said sign means is capable of moving in a
reciprocal fashion relative to said frame and in a plane
substantially common to said frame.
14. A display device as in claim 1 wherein said lift means
comprises a winch, a cable means interconnecting said winch and
said sign means, at least one pulley means positioned on said
device between said winch and said sign means in cooperative
working engagement with said cable.
15. A display device as in claim 14 further comprising power means
including an electric motor to operate said winch.
16. A display device as in claim 14 wherein said cable means and
said one pulley is positioned on an interior portion of said
frame.
17. A display device as in claim 1 further comprising light means
mounted on said device so as to illuminate said side means.
18. A display device as in claim 17 further comprising said light
means arranged on said interior of said sign means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display device including an illuminated
sign movably mounted on a frame so as to move in a vertical
direction and including a base having running gear removably
attached thereto, in order that the display device to be either
portable or permanently attached at a given location.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the advertising industry the use of display devices in the form
of signs is of course extremely well known. The particular
configuration or construction of the sign utilized in any given
advertising application depends upon such things as types of
business, goods or services being advertised, locations at which
the sign or display device is to be located and the particular
segment of the public to which the advertisement is directed.
Because of the many diverse ways in which display devices of this
type can be used, mass production of a generally standard type
sign, which is to be effective for various applications, has been
relatively unknown in the advertising industry.
Large scale production of a substantially standard display device
is of course highly desirable in that this type of production
serves to lower the cost of production. Maintenance of a standard
type sign would also be less expensive since repair or servicing of
such a sign could be done on a replacement part type basis.
In addition to the high cost of producing essentially custom-made
signs, the cost involved in installing these signs often times
equal or exceeds the cost of building the sign. This is due to the
fact that up to the present time no one single sign structure has
had the versatility to satisfy a wide variety of advertising
applications. Accordingly, a custom built sign had to be produced
which adapted to a particular location or business to be
advertised. Consequently those involved in installing prior art
signs would often times be dealing with completely different
structures with which they had no general knowledge or experience.
Because of the above factors the time and expense involved in the
installation of conventional signs is relatively great.
Because of these and other problems prevalent in the advertising
and sign making industry, there has been a long felt need for a
display device which is versatile enough to be adapted to a number
of varied advertising situations while at the same time having a
relatively simple, low cost construction capable of being easily
maintained and transported to any given location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards a portable display device
of relatively simple and inexpensive construction having sufficient
versatility to be adapted to a number of varied advertising
applications and eliminating the problems of transportation and
installation associated with conventional prior art display
devices.
More specifically, this invention comprises a base which is made
portable by virtue of a running gear assembly attached thereto and
comprising a plurality of detachable wheels. The running gear
further includes a towing tongue adapted to connect the base to any
type of conventional pulling vehicle. In that the wheels are
detachably mounted to the base, the device may be towed to a
desired location and permanently positioned thereat by removal of
all the running gear. Base support means are provided in the form
of retractable outrigger members which may extend outwardly from
the front and rear cross beam members of the base, a sufficient
space therefrom so as to anchor the device. This support means
additionally guards against upsetting of the device during adverse
weather conditions. While the running gear connected to the base
may be removed, it may also remain in place on the base in
supporting relation thereto if the device is intended to be
positioned at a given location for only a relatively short time. In
this event the pulling tongue is movably attached to the base in
such a manner as to be positioned in an out-of-the-way, inoperative
position. In addition, the wheels of the running gear includes
locking means which prevents the wheels from rotating and, along
with the outrigger members, serve to maintain the device in any
given location.
This invention comprises another embodiment including structural
modifications of the running gear assembly, from that described
above. More specifically, the present invention is intended to
include the structure wherein all of the elements of the running
gear are fixedly attached to one another and removable as a unit
from the base of the sign. This particular structure lends great
versatility to the present invention in that the basis of the
display device may be constructed to temporarily fit on a trailer
comprising the permanently attached elements of the running gear.
This will allow the various display devices to be towed to a
location whereat the display device may be permanently positioned.
Once delivered at that location, the trailer is merely detached
from the base of the display device and of course may be usable to
tow other display devices. In positioning or installing this type
of display device at a given location, any conventional
installation structure and procedure may be utilized such as
embedding the display device in a permanent concrete or like base
or installing the display device on an already existing structure
such as a building or the like. The trailer comprising the elements
of the running gear includes a frame like structure as its
supporting base wherein a U-shaped angle iron is located at the
rear of the trailer and extends across its width. This angle iron
has welded thereto in spaced relation to one another a plurality of
L-shaped brackets. Each of these brackets define a finger or hook
like extension directed towards the front of the trailer and spaced
above transverse angle iron to which they are attached to form a
space in which a portion of the base of the sign is positioned.
MOre particularly, an angle iron is correspondingly positioned
across the width of the base such that a rearwardly extending ledge
of the angle iron is arranged to fit in supported fashion of the
top surface of the transverse angle iron of the platform by
extending into the space between the bracket and the angle iron of
the platform. When the base and the platform are in assembled
position this structure prohibits the trailer from moving forwardly
relative to the base. The base and trailer are secured together by
additional means comprising a bracket mounted on the outrigger
housing at the front portion of the base. This bracket includes a
spring loaded pin extending forwardly of the bracket and designed
to engage an aperture formed in a plate correspondingly mounted and
positioned on the tongue of the trailer. When the base and the
trailer are assembled the pin is biased forwardly into the aperture
of the plate thereby preventing rearward movement of the trailer
relative to the base. It should be further pointed out that lateral
movement of the trailer relative to the base is prevented by the
hook-like brackets being mounted on the rear transverse channel
member of the platform in contiguous relation to the lateral
support beams of the base.
The display device further comprises an illuminated sign which is
mounted on an inverted U-shaped frame which itself is connected
directly to the base. The sign itself is movable relative to both
the frame and the base and is movably attached to the frame by
means of one or more collar members fixedly attached to the
periphery of the sign and surrounding correspondingly positioned
legs of the frame. By being mounted in this manner, the sign is
designed to move in a reciprocal fashion in a substantially
vertical plane defined by the frame itself.
The sign is positioned, relative to the frame, through the use of a
lifting means, including a winch, which may be operated either
manually or by power through the use of an electric motor or the
like. The winch may be positioned anywhere on the base in operative
relation to the frame and sign. The handling means further includes
a cable and pulley arrangement interconnecting the sign and the
winch. This cable and pulley arrangement may be substantially
mounted on the interior of the frame since ideally the frame is
made from a tubular metallic construction having sufficient room on
the interior of the legs of the frame to allow the positioning of
such a pulley and cable arrangement. Alternatively the pulley and
cable arrangement may run along the exterior of the frame and be
supported from the top and legs thereof. The location of the pulley
and cable arrangement is of course dependent upon location of the
winch. Accordingly if the winch was located in the approximate
center of the base, beneath the sign, the cable could be directed
through the interior of the sign itself by means of a conduit or
the like.
Lighting means in the form of a bank of incandescent or fluorescent
lights may be arranged around the interior periphery of the sign.
These lights may be powered by any conventional electrical power
source such as a storage battery secured to the base or from any
applicable source of electric current.
The invention accordingly comprises features of construction,
combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be
exemplifed in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope
of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a front plane view of the display device showing the sign
thereof in a raised position relative to the frame.
FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1 showing the base means and support
means therefor.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the base means showing the running gear
detached.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an end view of FIG. 4 taken along line 5--5.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is an end view of FIG. 6 taken along line 7--7.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the positioning means taken along
line 8--8 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG.
8.
FIG. 10 is a partial top view showing one embodiment of the towing
tongue and its relation to the base.
FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing the trailer and running gear
removable as a unit from the base and its relation thereto when
assembled.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the relation of the engaging
brackets and transverse angle beam of the platform and base
respectively.
FIG. 13 is a top sectional view of the spring loaded bracket
attached to the front of the base.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the
several views of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This invention is directed to a display device generally indicated
as 10 in FIG. 1 and 2. The device comprises a base at 12 which may
be portable and which includes a support frame 14 having a sign 16
removably mounted thereon.
The base 12 may be either portable or permanently positioned at a
given location by virtue of removably attachable running gear
comprising pulling tongue 18 and wheel assemblies generally
indicated as 20. When the display device is positioned in a desired
location, the tongue 18 may be arranged in an inoperative position
in that it is telescopically mounted within sleeve 22 (FIG. 3). As
shown by directional arrows 24, tongue 18 may be extended or
retracted into and out of operative position relative to base 12.
Alternatively the tongue 18 may be pivotally or rotatably mounted
to base 12 by means of outwardly extending flange 26. In this
embodiment, the tongue may be swung into inoperative position, as
indicated by arrows 28 about pivot point 30. When arranged in its
operative position as shown in FIG. 10 its rearward extremity is
located in locking means 32 as shown. As mentioned above the
running gear may be completely removed from the base 12 in which
case tongue 18 is detached from sleeve 22 by removing pin 34. This
pin is designed to extend through aperture 36 in sleeve 22 and
through a portion of the tongue 18 so as to maintain it in extended
position as shown in FIG. 2.
To add versatility to the present structure this invention includes
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-13. In this embodiment the
elements of the running gear including tongue 18 and wheel
assemblies 20 are all fixedly attached to one another to form a
single unit generally indicated at 21. This unit is removably
attached to the base of the display device and is designed to
transport this base to various locations whereat the display device
may be permanently affixed or installed by any conventional or
desirable installation structure or technique which is available.
The trailer unit 21 comprises tongue 18 being fixedly attached to
the under carriage of the trailer which itself includes frame-like
structure comprising front and rear transverse support beams 23 and
25. The trailer frame further includes longitudinally extending
side beams 27 and 29. This trailer is designed to have mounted
thereon the frame of the base of the display device which includes
side beam 52 and 54 and outrigger housing 92 and 94. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 11, standing platform 31 and 33 are also
provided to extend along the length of the base of the display
device. The display device base further includes a transverse angle
iron 35. This angle iron 35 is designed to cooperate with
transverse angle iron 25 of the platform and more specifically with
brackets 37 and 39 welded to transverse beam 25. It will be noted
that the upper flange 41 of bracket 39 is spaced from and extended
forwardly of beam 25 to provide space in which the angle iron 35
may be secured. FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the bracket 39
when the trailer and base are positioned in assembled relation to
one another. In this position the weight of the base of the display
device is carried by angle iron 25 by means of the supporting
engagement between lower flange 43 and angle iron 35 of the base.
This assembly further prohibits the forward movement of the trailer
relative to the base when the sign is being transported.
Referring to FIG. 13, a bracket generally indicated at 47 is
affixed to the front, substantially center portion of the housing
92 of the front outrigger of the base. This bracket includes a
lever 49 designed to operate a pin 51 which is biased by spring 45
to extend forwardly of the bracket 47 as shown in FIG. 13. An angle
plate 53 (FIG. 12) is fixedly secured to tongue 18 in corresponding
relation to bracket 47 such that pin 51 will engage aperture 55
formed in the plate 53. By this arrangement rearward movement of
the trailer relative to the base is prohibited. It should further
be noted that lateral movement between the base and trailer is
prohibited in that the width of the base is dimensioned to be
correspondingly positioned relative to beams 27 and 29 of the base.
This construction is clearly shown in FIG. 11.
Regardless of the embodiments utilized, locking shaft 38 and 40
cooperate with wheel assemblies 20 to secure them in an immovable
position thereby maintaining the sign in the desired location. This
is accomplished by merely securing together handles 42 and 44 of
shafts 38 and 40 respectively as shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines.
The shafts are movably connected to cross bar 46 by means of
brackets 48. Each of the wheel assemblies 20 are themselves
removable from the base by means of connecting bar 50 being
removably attached to the correspondingly positioned,
longitudinally extending side beam 52 or 54. Wheel 56 is connected
to bar 50 by means of axle 58 being attached to spring means 60
which in turn are connected to fixtures 62 and 64 located at each
end of spring means. As shown the fixtures 62 and 64 are connected
directly to bar 50. Fender member 66 is also connected to bar 50.
As stated above support bar 50 may be removed from beam 52 simply
by removal of the screw and nut assembled 68 which extends through
the rear end of bar 50 and into beam 52 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.
The opposite end of bar 50 is movably secured to beam 52 by means
of a U-shaped bracket 70 (FIG. 4). Bracket 70 is secured to beam 52
by a weld or other conventional means in such a manner as to allow
space for the correspondingly shaped bar 50 as clearly shown in
FIG. 4. This arrangement allows bar 50 to move relative to both
beam 52 and bracket 70 as shown by directional arrow 72 in FIG. 5.
Accordingly, upon removal of the screw and nut assembly 68 the
entire wheel assembly 20 may be detached from base 12 simply by
sliding support bar 50 out of engagement between beam 52 and
bracket 70.
It should be noted that when the display device 10 is positioned
with the wheel assembly still attached to base 12, an additional
wheeled support means is provided as indicated generally at 74.
This auxiliary wheel support comprises a vertically arranged shaft
76, as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, affixed to beams 78 by means of
bracket 80 so as to be movable relative to the beam 78. Wheel 82 is
arranged at the lower extremity of shaft 76 to engage the ground or
other support surface on which the device is positioned. Crank
handle 84 may be utilized to properly position the shaft 76
relative to base 12.
Irrespective of whether or not the running gear, and in particular
the wheel assembly, remains attached to the base when the device is
in position, base support means comprising a plurality of outrigger
members 88 are movably attached to the base by means of shafts 90.
These shafts are telescopically positioned within end beams 92 and
94. Accordingly, when arranged in inoperative position shafts 90
may be housed within their corresponding beams 92 and 94. FIG. 3
shows the outrigger members in their operative position wherein
shafts 90 extend outwardly from the base a sufficient distance to
maintain stability of the device during adverse whether conditions.
When in operative position support disc 96 of each outrigger member
is extendible to a ground engaging position by virtue of its being
connected to shaft 98 arranged within sleeve 100 forming the upper
portion of the outrigger member 88. Vertical adjustment of base 96
can be accomplished by the manual operation of crank handle 102.
Each of the outrigger members 88 is capable of moving in a
horizontal and vertical direction relative to base 12 in order to
properly support the display device 10 at any given location.
As stated above frame member 14 is securely attached to base 12 by
means of cross beams 104 and 105 arranged in a braced relation on
the frame 14 and the remaining portion of the base respectively.
Frame 14 has a generally inverted U-shaped configuration and may be
formed from hollow metallic beams or like material having
sufficient strength to support a sign means generally indicated at
16. The sign means is movably connected to frame 14 by means of a
plurality of collars 108 fixedly attached to the peripheral edges
of sign 16 and arranged to surround the correspondingly positioned
leg of frame 14 as shown in FIG. 1. By this arrangement the sign is
capable of moving in a vertical plane substantially defined by the
frame itself in a reciprocal fashion by operation of positioning
means which will be described hereinafter. Therefore, it can be
seen that sign 16 can be arranged in any one of various positions
along the height of frame 14. This positioning feature of sign 16
greatly enhances the versatility of the subject display device in
that it can be located at a number of diverse locations.
The sign itself comprises a peripherial, rectangularly shaped frame
110 designed to support display panels 112 on each side thereof.
The sign means 106 is arranged such that there is sufficient space
on the interior of the sign, between display panels 112 to arrange
a bank 114 of lights 116. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 lights
116 are represented as being fluorescent. However, any applicable
type light means could be substituted therefore. These lights may
be powered from any conventional electrical power source such as a
battery generator or which be located directly on or independent
from the rest of the display device 10. A bank of lights 107 is
also mounted on the top exterior portion of the sign. These lights
may be colored, flashing or arranged to form any desired
configuration which will add to the attractiveness of the display
device.
Sign 16 is positioned relative to frame 14 by means of positioning
means as mentioned above. This positioning means comprises a winch
generally indicated at 118 which may be operated either manual or
by power such as an electric motor or the like. The winch 118 is
connected to the sign 16 by means of a pulley and cable assembly
including cable 120 and a plurality of pulleys 122. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 8 the pulley and cable arrangement may be arranged on
the interior of frame 14 such that pulley 120 connects to winch 118
through aperture 124 (FIG. 8). The other end of cable 120 connects
to the top of sign 16 by means of bracket 126 as shown in FIG. 1.
Alternatively the cable and pulley arrangement may be arranged on
the exterior of frame 14 (FIG. 11). In this embodiment, cable 120
extends up through the interior of the sign to cable 122 mounted
within sign frame 10.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8 and
shows a means for attaching the legs of frame 14 to the base. This
means comprises bolt and nut assembly 130 extending through the leg
of frame 14 and through a cross beam 78 on the base.
It will thus be seen that the objects made apparent from the
preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain
changes may be made in the above construction without departing
from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter
contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying
drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting
sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended
to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention
herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention
which, as a matter of language might be said to fall
therebetween.
Now that the invention has been described,
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