Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Changing exhibitor – Sliding plate
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-12-25
Davis, Cassandra H. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Changing exhibitor
Sliding plate
C040S601000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332283
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to indicating mechanisms for price display devices and in particular, but not exclusively to the devices known as price totems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An indicating mechanism is described in our British Patent No. 2289156, the disclosure of which is incorporated into this Specification. The system described in that Patent has been particularly successful in the United Kingdom, although there are some existing price totems for which retro-fitting is not an option, because there is insufficient vertical space between the lowermost price window and the ground. Further, continental garages tend to offer at least five different fuels giving rise to the need for longer carriages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention consists in an indicating mechanism for a price display device comprising, a frame defining a vertical slide way, a carriage mounted in the slide way for movement between a display position and a storage position, the carriage defining a plurality of vertically spaced number locations such that the locations can be successfully disposed adjacent a number changing station as the carriage moves between its display and storage positions, characterised in that the carriage comprises upper and lower portions each bearing at least one number location, the portions being interconnected for relative vertical sliding movement whereby the carriage can be contracted when its lower portion is in the storage position.
In a preferred embodiment, the lower portion slides behind the upper portion to effect contraction. Conveniently the mechanism may include a stop or abutment for engaging the lower portion to initiate contraction and most simply that abutment may be constituted by the ground on which the mechanism or the device stands. The weight of the lower portion is preferably sufficient to re-extend the carriage when the carriage is raised to the display position, but means for urging the carriage into its extended position may be provided, or, alternatively, a temporary latch may be provided for briefly restraining the lower portion as the carriage is raised to the display position, so that the lower portion is braked relative to the upper portion causing the re-extension.
From a further aspect the present invention consists in an indicating mechanism comprising an indicating mechanism for a price display device comprising a frame defining a vertical slide way, a carriage mounted in the slideway for movement between a display position and a number change position, the carriage defining a number location and counterbalance means for counterbalancing the weight of the carriage, including a pulley mounted on the frame above the carriage and a counterbalance weight connected to an upper part of the carriage by a flexible elongate member which passes over the pulley characterised in that the mechanism includes a further pulley located below the number change station and a further flexible member connected to the weight, extending around the further pulley to the lower part of the carriage to form, with the carriage, a closed loop with the counterbalance means, whereby the carriage can be moved vertically in the desired direction by pulling on the further flexible member.
The mechanism of this aspect can include any of the features of our British Patent No. 2 289 156 or the other modifications described in this Application. The arrangement enables the system described in these cases to be used, however high the display locations are.
Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3673720 (1972-07-01), Thornton
patent: 4827644 (1989-05-01), Trame
patent: 169306 (1934-08-01), None
patent: 14881 (1910-06-01), None
patent: 2061588 (1979-05-01), None
patent: 2289156 (1995-08-01), None
Bribex Limited
Davis Cassandra H.
King and Schickli PLLC
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