AU2005100803B4 - A three-sided rotatable display sign - Google Patents

Description

-1- Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: RODIER ADVERTISING (1986) LIMITED Actual Inventors: GRAHAM RODIER GIBBS, PAUL MCARTHUR GRIEVE, BRUCE JAY WALLACE BROWNLEY and HUGO RODIER GIBBS Address for service A J PARK, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601, in Australia: Australia Invention Title: A.THREE-SIDED ROTATABLE SIGNAGE DISPLAY DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION N The present invention relates to a three-sided rotatable signage display device and in particular although not solely to a display sign which can present multiple menu information for a fast food outlet.

0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 00 Fast food outlets utilise various forms of apparatus for displaying menu _information. Normally such menu information is printed on a substrate which by Smeans of such apparatus receive back lighting to illuminate the menu. Many chain N fast food outlets are providing different menus at different times of the day.

McDonalds and Burger King for example provide both a main menu as well as a breakfast menu which are available at certain different periods during the day.

Replacement of menu information is hence required in order to ensure that the menu which is available at a certain time is appropriately displayed to the customers.

It will be appreciated that whilst menus may stay the same for a certain period, many of the fast food outlets do make reasonably frequent changes to their menus.

Such changing of information can be time consuming.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a three-sided rotatable menu information display device which addresses the abovementioned issues and/or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention consists in a three sided rotatable menu information display device comprising or including: an elongate hollow structure of substantially uniform triangular cross section along its length (hereinafter "triangular structure") which defines three face sides at each of which a menu information carrying substrate can be removably affixed, said triangular structure rotatably supportable from a fixed structure by a mounting bracket or brackets, the triangular structure being rotatable about an axis which is parallel to said elongate direction of said triangular structure and which extends through said triangular section to permit each of said three face sides to be -3separately and sequentially presented for viewing by a viewer located from the device when mounted to the fixed structure wherein means to illuminate are provided within said triangular structure to backlight the information carrying substrate presented for viewing, when energised, and to illuminate the information on said menu information carrying substrate so that the viewer can read the information, allow each said menu information carrying 0 0substrate to be backlit, and wherein said means to illuminate is supported to in use remain stationary to said Ofixed structure yet allow said triangular structure to rotate thereabout.

Preferably wherein a reflector is located within said triangular structure, said reflector is supported to remain stationary to said fixed structure yet allow said triangular structure to rotate thereabout, said reflector is positioned to reflect light from said means to illuminate in a direction towards said menu information carrying substrate that is presented for viewing.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a fast food outlet including a customer serving counter and a three sided rotatable menu information display device as hereinbefore described, carrying three menu information carrying substrates, one each affixed to a respective face side of said triangular structure, said three sided rotatable menu information display device mounted to a fixed structure of said fast food outlet to permit each of said face sides to be separately and sequentially presented for viewing by a viewer standing at said customer serving counter.

Preferably each face side has affixed thereto at least one menu information carrying substrate, wherein said menu information carrying substrate of a first face side includes menu information for food available to be ordered during a first time frame, and wherein said menu information carrying substrate of a second face side includes menu information for food available to be ordered during a second time frame, and wherein said menu information carrying substrate of a thirst face side includes menu information for food available to be ordered during a third time frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame structure of a three-sided rotatable sign, Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1, Cc Figure 3 is a front view of a three-sided rotatable sign of the present invention, 0 Figure 4 is a plan view of a mounting arrangement for the frame structure of the three-sided rotatable sign, Figure 5 is a sectional view through part of a building illustrating the threesided rotatable sign mounted to the building, Figure 6 is a perspective view wherein one face side of the frame has been removed, Figure 7 is an end view of a frame of the three-sided rotatable display device of the present invention being manipulated to move to a lie flat condition, Figure 8 illustrates a three-sided rotatable display sign in a layflat condition ready for transport, Figure 9 is a front view of a mounting bracket of the three-sided rotational display sign, Figure 10 is an end view of the frame structure of the present invention illustrating the rotation limiting axle mounting region, Figure 11 shows in A the tenon part of the hinge joint and B the mortise part of the hinge joint and together in C they are shown with the tenon inside the mortise to form a hinge structure, all shown in a cross section perpendicular to the horizontal axis of rotation, and Figure 12 is a sectional view through a frame of the three sided rotatable display device, Figure 13 illustrates a perspective view of part of the display device of the present invention showing back lighting means, biasing means and part of the frame, Figure 14 is a sectional view through section A-A of figure 13 but wherein the clamping portions of the frame and the clamping means are illustrated, Figure 15 is a sectional view at section A-A of figure 13 but wherein the display means is double sided and wherein the clamping region, clamping means and the indicia carrying substrate is provided, Figure 16 is a sectional view through section A-A of figure 13 but wherein the display means includes the clamping region of said frame, the clamping means and Cc partially inserted, for clamping, indica carrying means, and 00 Figure 17 is a sectional view through section A-A of figure 13 but wherein the display means includes the clamping region of said frame, the clamping means and partially inserted for clamping, indicia carrying means, but illustrates a different CI location of support of the biasing means 110.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a substantially elongate triangular section frame or body 1 which forms part of the three-sided rotatable display device of the present invention. The frame is preferably made up of three quadrilateral frame structures which are generally planar and engaged to each other to provide the face sides of the elongate triangular section frame. The quadrilateral frames preferably have their major sides extending substantially parallel to the elongate direction of the elongate triangular section frame. End or capping members 4 are provided and are of a triangular perimeter shape such as for example shown in Figures 1 and 2. The quadrilateral frames are engaged to each other at each apex of the triangular cross section to define in part the elongate triangular section frame which defines a cavity within which back lighting 5 as for example shown in Figure 6 can be provided. The cavity is substantially enclosed by the quadrilateral frames and the end or capping members 4 and signage substrates. Light radiated by the illumination means 5 such as for example fluorescent tubes may only escape the cavity through the illuminating openings 6 which may be open or may be of a translucent or transparent sheet material.

Each quadrilateral frame structure may itself provide the sheet material on which the menu information is printed.

-6- Each quadrilateral frame member 2 may provide one or more regions 7 for displaying menu information. In for example Figure 1, two regions 7 for displaying menu information are provided by the facing quadrilateral frame member.

The quadrilateral frame sections 2 are preferably of an equal height so as to form an equally sided elongate triangular section frame.

The elongate triangular section frame is rotatably mounted to a fixed structure 0such as for example a wall or a ceiling of a building. Mounting means such as brackets 9 are preferably provided at the distal ends of the elongate triangular section 0 frame. The mounting brackets 9 include an axle 10 which has an axis which is C, substantially coaxial with the central elongate axis extending through the elongate triangular section frame. A single axle 10 may extend through the triangular section frame or alternatively two axles may be provided to engage with axle mounts 11 provided at each end of the triangular section frame. Such axle mounts may be engaged to the exterior or interior of the end or capping members 4 of the triangular section frame.

The mounting brackets 9 may be mountable directly to a wall structure by way of a mounting pad 12 or similar or alternatively the mounting brackets 9 may be engaged to a stringer 13 which extends between the mounting brackets 9. The stringer 13 may hold the mounting brackets 9 in a secure disposition relative to each other so that when the three-sided rotational display sign is to be mounted to a wall or other fixed structure the mounting brackets are held in a fixed relationship thereby holding the axles 10 in a fixed relationship. This will ensure that the axes remain aligned relative to each other making for convenient mounting. Were the mounting brackets 9 provided independent from each other problems may arise where the mounting of each mounting bracket may not adequately align the axes of each of the axles 10 thereby potentially causing problems with the operation and rotation of the three-sided rotatable display sign.

Located within the cavity of the elongate triangular section frame are the means to illuminate which consists preferably of at least one fluorescent light tube Alternatively a plurality of such tubes may be provided. The illumination means provide backlighting to the menu information to be displayed by the three-sided rotational display sign of the present invention. The means to illuminate preferably remain stationary relative to the fixed structure. Accordingly the elongate triangular section frame will rotate about the means to illuminate. Additional electrics or electronics such as capacitors or starters may need to be provided and these can also be mounted within the cavity and remain stationary relative to the fixed structure. A reflective device 101 is preferably provided interior of the triangular section and is 0 provided to remain stationary relative to the lighting means 5 and the preferred 0 2stationary axle 10 extending through the triangular frame section. The reflective Smeans 101 preferably extends to the same extent as the lighting tubes 5 which are the (Ni preferred form of the illumination means of the device. The reflector 101 may preferably extend the full length of the interior cavity of the triangular section frame.

Brackets 102 may be provided for supporting the reflector 101 from the axle 10 or from the brackets 20. The reflector is positioned so as to reflect light in the viewing direction and will cast the light from the illumination means 5 in that direction which when a face of the triangular section frame is disposed within the line of sight from a consumer with the sign, will direct the light towards the image substrate thereby providing all of the illumination energy in that direction.

The means to illuminate may hence be mounted from or at least dependent from the stationary axles 10 which mount the elongate triangular section frame. The means to illuminate may be supported by a bracket or other like mounting 20 which is engaged to the axles 10 for example at each end of the elongate triangular section frame. An electrical cable can be fed via a conduit or passageway provided through the axles 10 and through the mounting brackets 9 into the cavity to provide for energisation to the fluorescent tubes. Alternatively such wiring can be provided from external of the axle Where wiring is provided external from the axle 10 and into the cavity, it may become an issue that the cabling is prevented from being wound about the axle Rotation of the elongate triangular section frame may need to be limited to ensure that the cable does not wind itself up and thereby cause electrical problems. Accordingly a stopper 21 is disposed from the mounting bracket 9 on at least one of the mounting brackets 9. The stopper 21 is offset from the axis of rotation provided by the axle An upstand 22 is also provided dependent from the end or capping members 4. The Nupstand 22 is also offset from the axis of rotation and provides stopping surfaces 23 and 24 beyond which rotation of the triangular section frame member cannot rotate as a result of the engagement between the upstand 21 and the upstand 22. In this manner rotation of the rotatable display sign can be limited to within less than 360 degrees.

Preferably the rotation is not limited to anything less than 260 degrees.

0 With reference to Figures 7 and 8, each of the quadrilateral frame sections defining and providing a face side of the elongate triangular section frame can Carticulate relative to an adjacent quadrilateral section. Provided at at least two of the C, apex of the triangular section frame are pivot providing members 26. The pivot providing members 26 provide an axis of rotation of a quadrilateral frame relative to an adjacent quadrilateral frame which is substantially parallel to the general elongate direction of the triangular section frame. The pivot providing members 26 are preferably hinges which will allow for the movement of two of the quadrilateral frames relative to a middle quadrilateral frame from at least the triangular formation as shown in Figure 1 to a layflat formation as for example shown in Figure 8.

With reference to Figure 11 an example of an extrusion which can provide for the hinge at the apex of the panels is shown. Such will allow for the adjacent quadrilateral frames to articulate to allow for them to assume a layflat condition. The corresponding halves of the frame top and/or bottom are shown as 30 and 31.

Projecting from one member (in this example 30) is a tenon 32 which is slidingly engaged with a complimentary shaped mortise 33 shown in Figure 11 C. The engagement is such that the members comprising the frame allow rotation about the centre 34 to allow the frames to be laid flat or assembled into the constructed triangular form. Other forms of mortise and tenon joint are also possible whereby the engagement is not necessarily sliding but merely requires a rotation by a certain angle for engagement of the mortise and tenon. In situations where rotational engagement is not required then the engagement between the frame members 30 and 31 may be any form of complimentary engaging members.

In a broad sense the present invention consists of a frame with which an indicia carrying substrate can be selectively located. The display means preferably provides -9one frame region for selectively receiving and displaying a single sheet of removable indicia however there is provided at least one and preferably three, and preferably in a side by side relationship, frame providing means to allow for three separate indicia carrying substrates to be separately and selectively removable and/or clampable by the said frames. The frame includes top and bottom and side components.

Some fast food outlets cater for different menus at different times of the day 0 and to allow for convenient removal and replacement of product information to display the products which are appropriately for sale at certain times of the day, the devise of athe present invention allows for easy removal and replacement of such information Cl carried on indicia carrying substrates.

The indica carrying substrates may for example be a screen printed sheet material or otherwise printed sheet material and may preferably have a laminated or some other form of structure which provides some degree of rigidity to the substrate.

In a single sided (simplified for convenient illustration) explanatory drawing of Figures 12, 14, 16, 17 the display device consists of a frame 113. With reference to Figure 14, the frame 113 provides a clamping region 112 which in conjunction with a clamping means which is biased by a biasing means 110 towards the clamping region, a region where at least one area of the indicia carrying substrate can be clamped to the frame is provided. The clamping region 112 is preferably a flange or rim which has a surface directed towards and preferably normal towards the clamping force direction of the biasing means 110.

The clamping region 112 is preferably provided so as to provide a clamping force to substantially the entire perimeter of the indicia carrying substrate. The clamping means 111 may be of a sheet material which is of substantially the same or similar size to the indicia carrying substrate, or may alternatively be merely of a shape which provides sufficient area between the biasing means and the clamping region 112. Where in the preferred form the clamping force is provided to substantially the entire perimeter region of the indicia carrying substrate, the shape of the clamping means 111 is preferably at least of a continuous rim shaped member substantially complementary with the perimeter shape of the indicia carrying substrate.

In the preferred form, the clamping means 111 is of a surface area which extends substantially and entirely behind the preferred endless flange providing member 116 of the clamping region 112 and covers the area defined within the frame and it acts also as a backing member for the substrate. The insertion, for clamping, of the indicia carrying substrate, and with reference to Figure 16, can hence be achieved by depressing the clamping means 111 so as it moves away from an engaged condition 0 with the clamping region 112 and to allow for the indicia carrying substrate 114 to be O inserted for clamping between the clamping region and the clamping means. For O convenient operation, it is preferable that the clamping means is of a single sheet for

O

each of the regions of the device to receive an indica carrying substrate. With the suitable location of a sufficient number of biasing means 110 to bias the clamping means 111 towards the clamping region, it can be appreciated that insertion of an indica carrying substrate with the frame can be conveniently and easily achieved.

The biasing means 110 are preferably leaf springs which are provided from the frame on the other side of the clamping means to where the indicia carrying substrate is to be provided. The biasing means are preferably presented from the frame in a suitable manner and with reference to Figure 13, these are preferably presented from the frame on a flange which extends inwardly from the frame defining means.

The location providing means which is preferably a flange 115, for the biasing means 110 may, however, be provided in an alternative configuration. Indeed the biasing means 110 may be provided directly onto the internal perimeter of the frame, and this is as for example shown in figure 17.

The frame may be made in a sheet material such as a metal which is preferably powder coated or otherwise coloured. That portion of the frame defining the clamping region, may be separate from that portion of the frame which provides the lighting means and means of securing the biasing means and, as for example in Figure 16, the portion of the frame defining the clamping region may be secured and bolted to the other portion of the frame which provides for example the lighting box and lighting means.

-11- That portion of the frame which provides the clamping region may be made of an aluminium or other metal which is extruded to an appropriate shape to provide the Sflanged region 116 and other features which are desired or necessary.

The term 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interpreting independent claims mc including that term, the features prefaced by that term in each claim all need to be 00 present but other features can also be present.

0-^ i",

Claims (1)

12- CLAIMS: 0 N 1. A three sided rotatable menu information display device comprising or Sincluding: an elongate hollow structure of substantially uniform triangular cross section along its length (hereinafter "triangular structure") which defines three face sides at on each of which a menu information carrying substrate can be removably affixed, 0 o00 said triangular structure rotatably supportable from a fixed structure by a _mounting bracket or brackets, the triangular structure being rotatable about an axis which is parallel to said elongate direction of said triangular structure and which extends through said triangular section to permit each of said three face sides to be separately and sequentially presented for viewing by a viewer located from the device when mounted to the fixed structure wherein means to illuminate are provided within said triangular structure to backlight the information carrying substrate presented for viewing, when energised, and to illuminate the information on said menu information carrying substrate so that the viewer can read the information, allow each said menu information carrying substrate to be backlit, and wherein said means to illuminate is supported to in use remain stationary to said fixed structure yet allow said triangular structure to rotate thereabout. 2. A three sided rotatable menu information display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a reflector is located within said triangular structure, said reflector is supported to remain stationary to said fixed structure yet allow said triangular structure to rotate thereabout, said reflector is positioned to reflect light from said means to illuminate in a direction towards said menu information carrying substrate that is presented for viewing. 3. A fast food outlet including a customer serving counter and a three sided rotatable menu information display device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, carrying three menu information carrying substrates, one each affixed to a respective face side of said triangular structure, said three sided rotatable menu information display device mounted to a fixed structure of said fast food outlet to permit each of said face sides to -13- be separately and sequentially presented for viewing by a viewer standing at said customer serving counter. 4. A fast food outlet as claimed in claim 3 wherein each face side has affixed thereto at least one menu information carrying substrate, wherein said menu information carrying substrate of a first face side includes Cc menu information for food available to be ordered during a first time frame, and 00 wherein said menu information carrying substrate of a second face side includes menu information for food available to be ordered during a second time frame, and wherein said menu information carrying substrate of a thirst face side includes CI menu information for food available to be ordered during a third time frame.