US1955674A - Display device - Google Patents

Description

April 17, 1934. 3 GlLL AL 1,955,674

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 11, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 17, 1934. s. c. GILL ET AL DISPLAY DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11. 1932 April 17, 1934.

s. c. GILL ET AL ,955,674

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 11, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 17, 1-934. s.v c. GILL El AL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 11, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 17, 1934 DISPLAY DEVICE Sydney Charles Gill and Sydney Dallaway, London, England Application June 11, 1932, Serial No. 616,728

In Great Britain 11 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved display device embodying the illusion known as Peppers Ghost, and has for its object to provide an article which shall be readily portable, adaptable to a variety of different displays and economical both in operation and manufacture.

According to the present invention, a substantially transparent screen, suitably inclined with relation to the observer, is associated with cabinet or similar containing means, in which two objects or series of objects are housed in such manner that they are only visible to the observer through the medium of the aforesaid screen, each object or one object of each series being illuminated alternately by lighting means.

In a simple and readily portable form of construction, the transparent sheet is adapted to be contained within a collapsible cabinet, on top of which is attached a mechanical unit comprising lighting and obturating means whereby two positions in the cabinet (at which will be stationed the objects for display) are alternately illuminated.

The two units comprising the collapsible cabinet and the mechanical head unit may conveniently be adapted to pack into a suitable partitioned case. I

In a further form according to the invention, a magazine machine may be constructed having a magazine or magazines so disposed relative to a transparent screen, that instead of two objects only, a succession of objects may be alternatively presented.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a part sectional side elevation of a simple constructional form according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view corresponding to Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a part sectional side elevation of a slightly more elaborate form than that previously shown.

Figure 4 shows a plan according to Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows details of the obturator sleeve.

Figure 6 shows a magazine type machine in sectional elevation.

Figure '7 shows a sectional plan corresponding to Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows details of the magazine movement.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a transparent screen 1 is mounted in an inclined position in a collapsible casing 2 which is fitted with a front February 20, 1932 display board 3 having a viewing aperture 4 formed therein. A platform member 5 and the transparent screen 1 are hinged together, and to the casing 2 at the lower line 6, an additional platform 7 is hinged to the back of the casing 2 as shown. As a result of this hinging together of the members a collapsible unit is obtained. In a casing 8 is mounted an electric bulb 9, Whilst in the bottom of the casing is provided an obturator disc 10, carried by a pivot 11, secured to the bottom of the casing 8. The obturator disc 10 as shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 2, has a semicircular aperture 12 and blades 13 in annular formation round its outer edge. Apertures 1e and 15 in the bottom of the casing 8 serve both for the passage of light rays and to admit air to the casing 8, which latter escapes through the roof of the casing at 8. In use two objects for display are mounted respectively upon the platforms 7 and 5,whilst air passing upwardly through the casing 8 causes the obturator disc 10 to rotate, thus causing the lamp 9 to illuminate alternately the platforms '7 and 5 situated on opposite sides of the transparent screen 1.

Figures 3 and 4 show a more elaborate construction than that previously described. The lamp 9 is in this case fitted within an oscillating obturator cylinder 16, which is shown in detail in Figure 5.

A blade wheel 17 driven by hot air currents passing from the lamp 9 is provided with pins 18 which engage with a gear wheel 19 connected by a rod 20 to the pivoted rod 21. The rod 21 has a fork end 22 which engages with an arm 23 attached to a spindle 24 which carries the obturator 16. To one end of the spindle 24 is also secured one end of a frame 25 carrying a curtain 26, the other end of the frame being pivotally connected to the lamp casing 8 and 25. Adjustable balance weights 27, 28 and 29 are provided on the frame 25, arm 23 and rod 21, so that the minimum power is necessary to drive the mechanism.

On rotation the blade wheel 17 causes the gear wheel 19 to drive the connecting rod 20 which in turn through the rod 21 rocks spindle 24, thus raising and lowering the curtain 26 and rocking the obturator 16 so as to illuminate the spaces on opposite sides of the transparent screen 1, through apertures 30 and 31 in an internal casing 32 which surrounds the obturator 1.

In this form of construction the objects for display are located in the same manner as in the previous example, the chief diiference between the two forms being the provision of the black curtain 26 which serves to obscure the display object located behind the screen 11 when the other display object is being seen by reflection.

With reference now to Figures 6 and 7, in this case a vertical magazine containing three different display objects is arranged to be presented through the transparent screen 1. The magazine consists as shown dotted in Figure 8 of a rotary platform 33 divided by vertical arcuate partitions 34, 35 and 36. The platform 33 is mounted coaxially with a spindle 37 carrying a cam 38 and driven by a motor device 39.

Vertical shutters 40 and 41 serve to obscure the vertical objects upon the platform 33, and horizontal shutters 42 and 43serve to obscure the horizontal object. The shutters 40 and 41 are mounted as shown at the ends of pairs of parallel rods 44, 45 and 46, 47 of which the other ends are pivotally mounted at fixed points for imparting a parallel movement to the shutters. A roller 50 mounted on a lever 66 is pressed against the cam 38 by the action of the spring 65 pulling on the lever 66. The roller 50 is also connected by link rods 48 and 49 to the rods 45 and 46 for the purpose of causing the shutters 46 and 41 to open and close in accordance with the cam contour. The shutters 41 and 40 are operatively connected with the shutters 42 and 43 respectively by bars 42 and 43 so that as the vertical shutters close the horizontal ones open and vice versa.

A horizontal display object is positioned beneath an aperture 51 and is illuminated by a lamp 52 while a vertical object is illuminated by a lamp 53. Shutter extensions 54 are provided upon the vertical shutters 40, 41 to cut off light from the lamp 52 when the horizontal object is being presented, while extension shutters 55 and 56 are provided upon the horizontal shutters 42 and 43 to shut off the light from lamp 52.

Rods 57 and 58 are provided as shown to support the weight of the horizontal shutter 42, 43. These rods are of the same length as the rods 44 and 47 and as they are parallel to the latter they will remain so in all positions. For the purpose of imparting an intermittent rotary movement to the magazine, the mechanism shown in plan in Figure 8 and in elevation in Figure 6 is provided. This mechanism consists of a stationary cam surface 59, fixed to the casing, with which engages a roller 60 carried upon an arm 61, pressed outward by a spring 62, disposed between the arm 61 and a further arm 63, to which the arm 61 is hinged and which is mounted upon the spindle 3'7. Regularly spaced stops 64 are provided under the rotary platform 33. These stops are adapted to be engaged by a pin 65 mounted upon the roller 66, where this roller is brought into engagement with the cam surface of larger diameter and released when the roller leaves this surface.

The action of the complete mechanism will now be readily understood. The vertical and horizontal shutters open and close respectively simultaneously, thus presenting the horizontal display object alternately with one of the vertical display objects, which will be changed during the intermittent rotation of the platform 33. As will be seen any suitable number of vertical objects may be disposed on the platform according to the construction of the cam surface 59 and the number of stops 64.

It will be understood that instead of surrounding the transparent screen by a casing as shown in Figure 6, this casing may be omitted and the screen 1, which may preferably be made shorter, may be incorporated in an ornamental awning.

What we claim is:-

l. A display device comprising a transparent screen arranged in an inclined position, a source of light for illuminating the space below said screen, a source of light behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting oif the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, a timing device, link mechanism connecting the shutter members to said timing device whereby said members are caused to open and close and to remain in a position of rest for a predetermined period of time, shutter mechanism behind said screen, said shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter mechanism for the light source behind the screen so as to move therewith, and a motor for driving said timing device.

2. A display device comprising a transparent screen arranged in an inclined position, a source of light for illuminating the space below said screen, a source of light behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting 01f the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, a timing device said timing device including a cam surface, lever mechanism, a roller carried by said lever mechanism engaging said cam, a spring included in said lever mechanism and normally holding said roller in engagement with said cam, and stops carried by the first mentioned shutter mechanism, said cam being so arranged that the roller by engaging therewith is periodically brought into and out of engagement with said stops, link mechanism connecting the shutter members to said timing device whereby said members are caused to open and close and to remain in a position of rest for a predetermined period of time, shutter mechanism behind said screen, said shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter mechanism for the light source behind the screen so as to move therewith, and a motor for driving said timing device.

3. A display device comprising a transparent inclined screen, a source of light for illuminating the space in front of said screen, a second source of light for illuminating the space behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting ofi the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, one pair being associated with each source of light, a timing device, links connecting the separate shutter members together and to said timing device, said timing device controlling the opening and closing movements of said shutters, and further shutter mechanism behind said screen, said further shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter members for the source of light behind said screen so as to move in synchronism therewith.

4. A display device comprising a transparent screen arranged in an inclined position, a source of light for illuminating the space below said screen, a source of light behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting off the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, a timing device, said timing device including a cam, a spring actuated lever, a roller carried by said lever and engaging said cam, and links connected tosaid roller and to said link mechanism, link mechanism connecting the shutter members to said timing device whereby said members are caused to open and close and to remain in a position of rest for a predetermined period of time, shutter mechanism behind said screen, said shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter mechanism for the light source behind the screen so as to move therewith and a motor for driving said timing device.

5. A display device comprising a transparent inclined screen, a source of light for illuminating the space in front of said screen, a second source of light for illuminating the space behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting off the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light fully illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, one pair being associated with each source of light, a timing device, links connecting the separate shutter members together and to said timing device, said timing device controlling the opening and closing movements of said shutters, and further shutter mechanism behind said screen, said further shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter members for the source of light behind said screen so as to move in synchronism therewith, a platform associated with said timing device, said platform being divided into separate sections each of which is adapted to receive an object to be exhibited, the arrangement being such that whilst both the shutter mechanisms behind the screen are closed the platform is rotated through a predetermined amount.

6. A display device comprising a transparent screen arranged in an inclined position, a source of light for illuminating the space below said screen, a source of light behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting off the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light fully illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, a timing device, link mechanism connecting the shutter members moving in different planes to said timing device whereby said members are caused to open and close and to remain in a position of rest for a predetermined period of time, said link mechanism being so arranged that when one pair of shutter members move apart the other pair of shutter members move towards one another so as to close shutter mechanism behind said screen, said shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter mechanism for the light source behind the screen so as to move therewith, and a motor for driving said timing device.

7. A display device comprising a transparent inclined screen, a source of light for illuminating the space in front of said screen, a second source of light for illuminating the space behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting oil" the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light fully illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, one pair being associated with each source of light, a timing device, links connecting the separate shutter members together and to said timing device, said timing device controlling the opening and closing movements of said shutters, and further shutter mechanism behind said screen, said further shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter members for the source of light behind said screen so as to move in synchronism therewith, and additional shutter mechanism positively connected to the shutter mechanism for illuminating the space in front of said screen.

8. A display device comprising a transparent inclined screen, a source of light for illuminating the space in front of said screen, a second source of light for illuminating the space behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately 90 shutting off the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light fully illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, one pair being associated with each source of light, a timing device, links connecting the saparate shutter members together and to said timing device, said timing device controlling the opening and closing movements of said shutters, and further shutter mechanism behind said 10 screen, said further shutter mechanism being operatively connected to the shutter members for the source of light behind said screen so as to move in synchronism therewith, and additional shutter mechanism positively connected to the 1 5 shutter mechanism for illuminating the space in front of said screen, and a casing enclosing the whole of said mechanism, said casing having an aperture therein through which the screen can be viewed.

9. A display device comprising a transparent inclined screen, a source of light for illuminating the space in front of said screen, a second source of light for illuminating the space behind said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting off the light from said sources of light so that only one of said sources of light fully illuminates the screen at one time, said shutter mechanism including two pairs of shutter members, one pair being associated with each source 120 of light, a timing device, links connecting the separate shutter members together and to said timing device, said timing device controlling the opening and closing movements of said shutters, and further shutter mechanism behind said 125 screen, said further shutter mechanism being op eratively connected to the shutter members for the source of light behind said screen so as to move in synchronism therewith, and additional shutter mechanism positively connected to the shutter mechanism for illuminating the space in front of said screen, and a casing enclosing the whole of said mechanism, said mechanism being substantially of L-shape, and having the screen forming a portion of the front wall of the substantially vertical part thereof.

10. A display device comprising a transparent screen arranged in an inclined position, a source of light for illuminating the space below said screen, shutter mechanism for alternately shutting off and exposing the light from. said source of light, said shutter mechanism including a pair of shutter members, a timing device, link mechanism connecting the shutter members to said timing device whereby said members are caused 145 to open and close and to remain in a position of rest for a predetermined period of time, and a motor for driving said timing device.

11. A display device comprising a transparent inclined screen, a source of light for illuminat- 150 nected to said timing device, a platform associated with said timing device, said platform being divided into separate sections each of which is adapted to receive an object to be exhibited, the arrangement being such that Whilst the, shutter mechanism is closed the platform is rotated through a predetermined amount.

SYDNEY CHARLES GILL. SYDNEY DALLAWAY.

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