US3537198A - Shopping reminder - Google Patents

Description

Nv' 3' 1970 D. c. BARRETT y y 3,537,198l

SHOPPING REMINDER Filed Jan. 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Shezet 1 26 zo ,60 ,6 5g BY 00N C. BARRETT mi( ATTORNEYS .y 1

NOV. 3, 1970 D C, BARRETT 3,537,198

SHOPPING REMINDER Filed Jan 5, 196e s sheets-sheet a z5 d F*- 7 /Nvf/vm/z 50 5,2 /6 50 5)/ 00N c.' E Y @m/fm ATTORNEYS Nov. 3;-1970 D. c. BARRETT 3,537,198

SHOPPING REMINDER n Filed Jan. 5, v1966 s sheets-.sheet s /73 l /94 ya 200 /92 1 E V96] INVENTOR .D0/v C. BARRETT United States Patent Olce 3,537,198 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 3,537,198 SHOPPING REMINDER Don C. Barrett, 838 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington, Va. 22204 Filed Jan. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 518,825 Int. Cl. G09f 11/10 U.S. Cl. 40-77 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shopping reminder having an intermittently rotatable drum with a series of illuminatable product signs thereon. The drum is mounted in a housing having a viewing opening and having above such opening, a stationary sign to be illuminated. A toothed member is rotatable with the drum, step-by-step, and is actuated by a crank mounted on a driven cam to present successive signs at the viewing opening. The cam actuates switch means in timed sequence to the movement of the drum by the crank to alternately illuminate the stationary sign while the drum is being rotated and to illuminate the sign on the drum opposite the viewing opening while the drum is stationary.

This invention relates generally to a device for displaying and illuminating signs. The device may be generally characterized as a shopping reminder, although its use is by no means limited to such category.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improved sign display device especially designed for use in retail stores to remind shoppers of items which they might have overlooked purchasing and/or to suggest purchasing such items. The device includes an intermittently-rotated drum having mounted thereon a series of signs which are individually displayed, step by step, to the viewer, preferably in combination with a stationary sign that flashes on-andoff to attract attention to the successively displayed signs. The device further includes lighting means for automatically illuminating, in alternation, the stationary sign, and the movable sign which has been brought into display position.

The on-and-oif stationary sign is purposely designed to attract a shoppers attention, and for this purpose carries a legend such as DID YOU FORGET. The individual movable signs each carry the name of a particular product stocked by the store, or any other desired legend. The illuminating means is designed to light up the stationary sign to attract the buyers attention thereto during the period that the drum is in motion changing the display from one movable sign to the next, and to interrupt illumination during the transition period. After a movable sign has been moved into display position, the illuminating means functions so that the stationary sign ceases to be lit, and instead, the individual movable sign in display position is illuminated. The device is designed to automatic-ally repeat this operating cycle until it is shutt off.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a shopping reminder intended to increase sales of merchandise in establishments where it is displayed.

Another object is to provide a display device incorporating a stationary sign, and a series of movable signs arranged to be individually displayed in sequence, step by step, and including means for alternately illuminating the stationary sign and the movable sign as they are successively displayed.

Another object is to provide means foi use in a display device for automatically and alternately effecting illumination of a stationary sign, and one sign of a series of movable signs which is displayed for view.

A further object is to provide a simple drum mechanism for individually displaying, step by step, a series of readily replaceable signs.

A still further object is to provide a simple means for intermittently rotating a sign display drum by a continuously running motor and simultaneously controlling the illumination of the drum, in alternation with the illumination of a stationary sign associated with the drum.

Still another object is to provide a display device of the type described which is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture and substantially troublefree in service.

Other objections and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front perspective view of the sign display device of the invention showing the stationary reminder and one of the drum-mounted moveable signs;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the display device of FIG. l with the housing cover removed, showing the means within the housing for illuminating the stationary sign and for successively displaying the movable signs;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken generally along the line 3 3 in FIG. 2, showing the intermittent drive mechanism for the drum and the switch arrangement associated therewith for effecting alternate operation of the two illumination systems;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2, showing the interior of the drum;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line 5 5 in FIG. 3 through the drum support shaft, particaularly showing a friction retarding means associated therewith for preventing over-running of the drum;

FIG. 6 is a enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken along the line 6 6 in FIG. 4, showing a supporting means for the end of the drum remote from the drum support shaft;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional perspective view, looking downwardly generally along the line 7 7 of FIG. 3, showing the construction of a bracket for holding the illuminating means for the stationary sign; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit of the present sign display device.

Referring now to the drawings, the sign display device is indicated generally at 2, and includes a rectangular housing 4 having a front wall 6, and a pair of side walls 8 and 10 formed integrally with the front wall, and which terminate along their rear edge in inturned flanges 12 and 14, respectively. The housing 4 is closed at its lower end by a bottom wall 16, including upwardly extending flanges 18 along the edges thereof which are received within the front wall 6 and the side walls 8 and 10 and secured thereto by screws 19. A similarly formed top wall 20, having downwardly directed flanges 22 thereon, closes the upper end of the housing 4, said top wall being spaced below the upper edge of the front wall 6 and the side walls 8 and 10, and being secured in place by screws 24. The rear of the housing is closed by a plate 26, secured to the flanges 12 and 14 by screws 28.

The front wall -6 of the housing 4 has a horizontal, elongated, generally rectangular opening 30 near the upper end thereof. A stationary translucent sign 32 is secured by adhesive to the inner surface of the front wall 6 about the opening 30, and is backed by a glass plate 34 also secured in position by adhesive. The stationary sign 32 includes a translucent background portion which when illuminated is of a color to attract attention, say yellow, and which has the words DID YOU FORGET, or some other suitable legend, lettered thereon. The lettering on the sign 32 can be either opaque or translucent, and the colors and material of the sign are chosen so that the legend will be'fully visbile when the sign is illuminated from the rear thereof. lf desired, only the lettered portions of the sign 32 need be translucent, in which instance only the legend would appear lighted when the sign is illuminated.

The front wall 6 of the housing 4 also has a second and much larger rectangular opening 36 therein, positioned directly below the stationary sign 32. A fully transparent sheet of glass 38 is secured by adhesive to the inner face of the wall 6 to cover the opening 36, and the inner face of the glass sheet 38 has an opaque mask 40 l secured thereto. The mask 40 has a centrally disposed,

horizontally extending display opening 42 therein, through which the signs (to be described later) on the drum are successively displayed. The colors of the stationary sign 32 and of the mask 40 are preferably such as to contrast sharply with the color of the exterior of the housing 4, so that attention will be drawn thereto.

The display means for the movable signs is indicated generally at 44, and is mounted upon a platform 46 resting upon the bottom wall 16 between the front and rear anges 18 thereof, FIG. 3. The display means is an insertable sub-assembly and comprises a platform 46 including a at plate 48 having a plurality of parallel angle irons 50 Welded to its undersurface, the vertical legs 52 of the angle irons 50 extending downwardly to rest on the bottom wall 16 between the anges 18. Secured to project upwardly from the platform 46 is a pair of aligned drum supports 54 and 5-6. The support 54 includes a sheet metal bracket 58 comprising a rectangular vertical wall 60 and a pair of triangular side walls 62, the latter having outwardly directed base flanges 64 on their lower end, which are secured to the platform 46 by bolts 66. The support 56 includes a sheet metal bracket 68 comprising a vertical rectangular panel 70, a pair of side flanges 72, and an outwardly directed base flange 74 at the bottom of the panel 70, the flange 74 being secured to the platform 46 by bolts 76.

The outer side of the wall 60 of the bracket 58 has a relatively thick rectangular plate 78 secured thereto by rivets 80, the upper end of the plate 78 and the wall 60 having aligned openings l82 and 84, respectively, extending therethrough. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 in particular, a drum shaft 86 is mounted in a bushing 88 press-fitted in the openings 82 and 84 and has a flange 90 at its inner end engaged with the wall 60. A similar bushing 92 is received on the inner end of the shaft 86, and includes a flange 94 confronting the ange'90. The inner and outer ends of the shaft 86 have annular grooves 96 and 98 therein, within which are received snap rings 100 and 102, respectively, to maintain the shaft 86 assembled with the bushings 88 and 92.

A Washer 104 is mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 86 inwardly of the snap ring 100, and a coil spring 106 is compressed between said snap ring and said washer, thereby urging the washer 104 against the adjacent end of the bushing 88 and holding the snap ring 102 against the end of the other bushing 92. A nylon friction washer 108 is positioned between the bushing flanges 90 and 94, and the spring 106 functions to maintain the anges 90 and 94 in tight frictioned engagement with the opposite faces of the washer 108 to form a brake for retarding the rotation of a drum 110 arranged to rotate with the bushing 92, as will be explained hereinafter.

The drum 110, FIG. 4, includes radial end walls comprising a circular disc 112 and an annular ring 114, said disc and ring being connected together by longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced metallic channel strips 116. The drum disc 112 and ring 114 may be made of wood, plastic, or any other suitable material. The channel strips 116 are preferably made of extruded aluminum, but can be made of hard plastic or any other equivalent material. Referring particularly to FIG. 6, each channel strip 116 includes a head 117 having an I-shaped crosssection and a ange 128 extending from the base of the l. The head 117 comprises a base web 118, a top web 120,

and an integrally formed spacing rib 122 which connects said base and top webs. Thus, the laterally extending portions of the base web 118 and the top web 120 deline oppositely facing grooves 124, 124 for slidably receiving the side edges of translucent, plastic signs 126 to be mounted on the drum 110. The signs 126 can be bowed slightly transversely to provide a good friction t with grooves 124 (FIG. 3).

Returning again to FIG. 6, the downwardly projecting flange 128 runs along the length of each channel strip 116 and has triangularly-shaped ridges 130 on the opposite sides thereof and terminates in a wedge-shaped bottom edge 132. The channel, strips 116 are secured to the disc 112 and ring 114 by driving the flanges 128 into evenly spaced radial slots 129 preformed in the periphery of the disc and ring. The channel strips 116 are firmly anchored to the disc 112 and ring 114 by the ridges 130, which lock the strips in place. The channel strips 116 cooperate with the disc 112 and ring 114 to form the side wall of the drum 110. In addition, the confronting grooves 124 on adjacent channel strips 116 receive the side edges of the translucent signs 126 so that nearly the entire inner surface of each sign is exposed to the interior of the drum 110.

The disc 112 has an axial bore 134 to receive the busing 92. A toothed nylon disc 136 is secured to the outer face of the disc 112 by one or more screws 138, and has a central opening 140 in which the bushing 92 is pressfitted.

The upper end of the vertical portion of the bracket 68 has an opening in which -a stove bolt 142, FIG. 4, 1s secured at its threaded end by nuts 144. The head of the bolt 142 lies within the drum 110. A loosely tted cylindrical sleeve 148 is rotatably mounted on the bolt 142 between its head and one of the nuts 144. The sleeve 148 and bolt 142 function to steady or support the ring-end of the drum 110 for rotation about the axis of the shaft 86, the vertical height of the bolt 142 -above the platform 46 being such that, when the inner periphery '150 of the ring 1l14 is resting on the sleeve 148, the center of the disc 112 and ring 114 will be axially aligned and disposed on a common horizontal axis parallel with the front wall 6 of the housing 4. The axis of the drum 110 is also disposed in a horizontal plane passing approximately through the center of the elongated sign display opening 42. The bracket 68 can be omitted, if desired, in which event the drum 110 will be supported in cantilever fashion by the drum shaft 86 and bracket 58.

A spacer 152 is disposed between the toothed disc 136 and the bushing ilange 94, and because of the tight fit between the toothed disc 136 and the bushing 92, the disc will rotate with the bushing. The spring 106 urges the bushing flanges and 92 into frictional engagement with the opposite faces of the nylon washer 108, the resultant brake action being designed to preventthe drum from inertial rotation while allowing it tok be easily rotated from one position of rest to another. This assures accurate successive indexing of the movable signs 126 with the display opening 42, as in FIG. 3.

The drum '110 has sucient channel strips 1'16 to mount a desired number of signs 126 on the cylindrical surface thereof. The drum `110 may be designed to carry any desired number of signs 126, but in the embodiment shown, the number of signs is twenty. Each of the signs 126 carries a legend, for example, the name of one or more items, such as, BEER, BOOKS, SOAP, TOYS, etc., which can be purchased in the establishment where the device is installed, the lettered and/or the background portions of the signs 126 preferably being translucent. The display apparatus 44 is designed to present the signs 126 one at a time and in succession to the opening 42. As` each sign 126 is positioned to be viewed through the opening 42, light from an illuminating means within the drum is directed through the translucent portions of the signs to illuminate the legend thereon.

The toothed disc 136, as is best shown in FIG. 3, has saw-tooth like teeth 154 around the entire periphery thereof, there being one tooth 154 corresponding to each movable sign 126 on the drum 110. Each tooth 154 includes a radial trailing edge 156 and an inclined leading edge 158, which extends inwardly at an angle of about relative to the trailing edge 156.

Mounted upon the platform 46 by bolts 160, rearfwardly of the drum support 54, is an electric motor 162 having a drive shaft 164. The shaft 164 extends parallel to, and is disposed below the axis of rotation of the drum 110, the shaft 164 being positioned with its axis in line with the cylindrical surface of the drum 110; A cam 166 is mounted on the shaft 164 by a screw 168. The cam 166 carries a crank pin with a roller driving element 170 thereon, which engages with one of the teeth 154 during each revolution of the cam 166 to rotate the drum 110 through an angle corresponding to the circumferential distance between the centers of adjacent channel strips 116. This automatic rotation of the drum 110 results in the movable signs 126 being indexed in sequence and one at a time, for viewing through the opening 42.

Positioned rearwardly of the stationary sign 32 is a preassembled insertable illuminating apparatus 172, FIG. 3, including a forwardly facing, channel-shaped reflector 174 made from sheet metal, and comprising a horizontal bottom wall 176, a vertical rear wall 178, and an upwardly inclined top wall 180, the bottom wall 176 terminating at its forward end in a downtumed lip 182. The housing side walls 8 and 10 have horizontal angle irons 184 attached thereto above the drum 110. The angle irons 184 include inwardly directed top flanges 186 and lying in a common horizontal plan upon which the reflector 174 rests. As is best shown in FIG. 7, the forward end of the top flanges 186 of the angle irons 184 is cut away at 187 to enable the lip 182 to be hooked thereover, whereby the assembly is mounted in proper relation to the sign 32. The rear wall 178 of the reflector 174 has three electric lamp sockets 190 secured thereto, each containing a light bulb 192, which when energized illuminate the stationary sign 32.

The drum 110 also has illuminating means 194 extending therein, including an upwardly facing channel 196 secured at one end to the bracket 68, and arranged to extend horizontally through the ring 114. In a device in lwhich the stove bolt 142 and sleeve 148 are omitted, a shorter bracket could be substituted for the bracket 68, or the channel 196 could be designed with a downwardly bent end and directly mounted upon the plate 48, as a part of the sub-assembly. The channel 196 has three lamp sockets 198 attached thereto, each containing a light bulb 200. Thus, rwhen the light bulbs 200 are energized, light will be directed through the translucent signs 126 carried by the drum 110, and whichever sign 126 is in registration with the opening 42 will be viewed illuminated.

The illuminating means 172 and 194 are interconnected in an electrical control circuit, shown schematically in FIG. 8. This circuit is designed so that the illuminating means 172 will be energized to light up the stationary sign 32, while the display apparatus 44 is being moved to change one movable sign 126 for another at the opening 42. When a sign 126 has been indexed with the opening 42, the circuit functions to deenergize the illuminating means 172, and to energize the illuminating means 194 to light up the drum and movable sign 126 on display.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, the control circuit is supplied with electrical current from an outlet 202 through a conventional two-prong plug 204 carried on the end of a cord 206. The cord 206 is connected with a junction box 209 attached to a flange'205 on the plate 48 by bolts 207, thus forming part of the display assembly 44. Secured to the platform 46 by bolts 208 is a bracket 210, to which is attached by screws 211 a two-position microswitch 212, including a reslient switch blade 214 and a pair of contacts 216 and 218, the contact 216 being Normally Open (N O.) and the contact 218 bein-g Normally Closed (N.C.). A lead 220 extends from one side of the junction box 209 to a terminal 222 associated with the blade 214, and a second lead 224 extends frorn the terminal 222 to one side of the motor 162. A lead 226 extends from the junction box 209 to the other side of the motor 162. Thus, when the plug 204 is inserted into the outlet 202, the motor 162 will be energized and the drum will operate.

A conductor 228 is connected with the lead 226 and with one side of each of the groups of lamp sockets 190 and 19S, respectively. A conductor 230 is connected to the Normally Open switch contact 216, and to the other side of each of the lamp sockets 198, whereby the lamp bulbs 200 are connected in parallel between the leads 230 and 228. Similarly, a conductor 232 extends from the Normally Closed switch contact 218 to the other side of the lamp sockets 190, so that the lamp bulbs 192 are connected in parallel between the conductors 232 and 228. It is thus evident that when the switch blade 214 is in its Normal position, in engagement with the contact 218, the lamp bulbs 192 will be lit, and the lamp bulbs 200 will be without current; the blade 214 being spring biased so that when in its Normal position it contacts the terminal 218. When the switch blade 214 is moved from the contact 218 to the contact 216, the lamp bulbs 192 will be deenergized, and the lamp bulbs 200 will receive electrical current, causing the same to light up. Thus, the illuminating means 172 and 194 are alternately operated.

The switch 212 includes a resilient operating arm 234 attached at one end to the switch body, and arranged to operate a sliding pin 236 engaged at one end with the blade 214. The arm 234 carries a roller 238 on the tip thereof, and when said arm is depressed the pin 236 will move the spring biased blade 214 from the Normally Closed contact 214 to the Normally Open contact 216. When the arm 234 is released, the spring blade 214 is automatically returned to its Normal position.

The switch 212 is mounted to have its operating arm 234 actuated by the cam 166, FIG. 3, which is mounted upon the shaft 164 so that it will rotate continuously while current is supplied to the motor 162. The cam 166 is made from a disc having a section thereof cut away over an arc length of about degrees to provide a flat side 240, and an arcuate cam surface 242, which extends over an angle of about 240 degrees. The axis ofthe crank roller is positioned on a radius about 125 degrees from the leading edge 244 of the arcuate cam surface 242, and the cam 166 and the switch 212 are arranged so that the arcuate cam surface 242 will be out of engagement with the switch roller 238 while the crank roller 170 is engaged with any one of the teeth 154.

It is thus seen that while the crank roller 170 is in engagement with a tooth 154 to rotate the drum 110, the switch roller y128 on the operating arm 234 will be free, and the switch blade 214 will be positioned to engage the Normally Closed contact 218, whereby the stationary sign 32 will be illuminated by the lamp bulbs 192. After the crank roller 170 disengages the toothed disc 136, the leading edge 244 of the arcuate cam surface 242 will engage the switch roller 238, with the result that the operating arm 234 will be depressed, thus moving the blade 214 from the Normally Closed contact 218 to the Normally Open contact 216. When this occurs, the lamp bulbs 192 will be de-energized and the stationary sign 32 will be darkened, while at the same time, the lamp bulbs 200 will be lighted to illuminate a sign 126 which is on display through the opening 42. The lamp bulbs 200 will remain illuminated for a predetermined period of time while the arcuate cam surface 242 is in engagement with the switch roller 238, which period will terminate just before the cam 166 s rotated suiciently to again engage the crank roller 170 with One of the teeth y154. T'he operating arm 234 will then be released and will return to its original position, whereupon the lamp bulbs 192 will be again energized to i1- luminate the stationary sign 32, and the lamp bulbs 200 will be darkened. The display apparatus 44 then functions to change to the next successive movable sign 126, completing an operating cycle.

It is thus seen that a display device has been provided which fulfills all of the objects above set forth. If desired, the device can be designed to broadcast music or other sound, such as, store announcements, page personnel, etc., to further enhance the value thereof. Referring to FIG. l, the front panel 6 is shown to be equipped with -grills 246 on one side of openings 30 and 36, underneath which loudspeakers and controls, respectively, can be mounted, if desired.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically shown and described.

I claim:

1. Sign display apparatus, comprising: a housing including a front wall having a viewing opening through which a sign can be displayed; display means within said housing; a series of movable signs associated with said display means; an element mounted to move only with said display means; means including a rotating member for intermittently engaging and actuating said element, moving said dispaly means to sequentially display said signs one at a time at said viewing opening; illuminating means arranged so that when energized it will direct light to the movable sign being displayed at said viewing opening; and control means connected with said illuminating means, including a switch connected in circuit with said illuminating means, said rotating member being arranged to intermittently, directly engage and also actuate said switch in timed relation to the operation of said display means to alternately: (l) de-energize said illuminating means while said display means operates to effect change of one movable sign for another movable sign at said viewing opening; and (2) energize said illuminating means during the interval between successive sign changes while the newly displayed sign is stationary and is being displayed at said viewing opening.

2. In combination: a rotatable body; means supporting said rotatable body for intermittent rotation about an axis passing through said body; means for imparting intermittent rotary movement to said rotatable body comprising: a toothed member connected for rotation with said rotatable body, a driven shaft, and a cam driven by said shaft and carrying a crank element engageable with suecessive teeth on said toothed member one tooth at a time, and switch means arranged to be actuated by said cam independently of said crank element in alternation with the intermittent rotary movement of said body by said crank element.

3. Sign display apparatus, comprising: a housing including a front wall having a viewing opening through which a sign can be displayed; display means within said housing; a series of movable signs associated with said display means, said display means being operable to sequentially display said signs one at a time at said viewing opening; a stationary sign spaced from said viewing opening; -first illuminating means arranged so that when energized it will direct light to the movable sign being displayed at said viewing opening; second illuminating means arranged so that when energized it will direct light to said stationary sign; and control means connected with said first and said second illuminating means, and operable in timed relation to the operation of said display means to alternately: (l) energize said second illuminating means and de-energize said first illuminating means for a first predetermined period of time, while said display means operates to effect change of one movable sign for another 8 v movable sign at said viewing opening; and (2) de-energize said second illuminating means and energize said first illuminating means for a second predetermined period of time, while said display means is not operating and a movable sign is being displayed at said viewing opening.

4. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the stationary sign is located on the front wall above the viewing opening.

5. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the display means includes: a cylindrical drum; means mounting said drum for rotation about the axis thereof, said drum being arranged so that a portion of the periphery thereof confronts the viewing opening; means on said drum mounting said movable signs on the periphery thereof; and means, including a motor having a shaft for rotating said drum step by lstep to sequentially display said movable signs at said viewing opening.

6. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the first illuminating means includes at least one lamp bulb disposed within the drum, and wherein the signs mounted upon said drum are translucent so that at least a portion of the inner surface of each is exposed to light from said lamp bulb.

7. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the control means includes: a two-position switch; an electrical circuit including said two-position switch and said first and said second illuminating means; and a cam mounted upon the shaft of the motor and arranged to move said two-positionv switch from one position to the other position thereof during each revolution of said shaft, only said lfirst illuminating means being energized when said switch is in said other position, and only said second illuminating means being energized when said switch is in said one position.

8. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, including additionally: friction brake means connected with said drum to retard free rotation thereof.

9. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the drum includes a pair of spaced, circular end walls, and wherein the means for detachably mounting the movable signs on said drum includes a plurality of parallel, circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending, channel strips secured to said end walls and extending therebetween, the confronting portions of adjacent channel strips having grooves therein for slidably receiving opposite lateral edges of the movable signs.

-10. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 9, Wherein one of the drum end walls comprises a circular disc, and wherein the means for mounting said drumfor rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof includes: a support mounted within the housing; and shaft means on said support, the center of said disc end Wall being supported on said shaft means.

11. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the other end wall of the drum is an annular ring, and wherein roller means is mounted on a support and engages With the inner surface of said annular ring.

12. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the means for revolving the drum step by step includes: a toothed member connected coaxially with the drum and being provided with teeth corresponding in number to the number of movable signs that can be mounted upon said drum; and wherein a crank element is mounted eccentrically relative to the shaft of the motor, and is engageable with one of said teeth during each revolution of said shaft to revolve said drum a distance equal to the circumferential lwidth of one of the movable signs.

13. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 12, including a cam mounted upon the motor shaft, and wherein the crank element is mounted upon said cam, and wherein the control means includes: an electrical control circuit containing the first and second illuminating means, a switch connected in said circuit and being movable from a first position, wherein said second illuminating means is energized and said rlirst illuminating means is de-energized,

to a second position, wherein said first illuminating means is energized and said second illuminating means is deenergized; biasing means for urging said `switch into said first position; and actuating means carried by said switch and engageable by said cam while the motor shaft is rtating to move said switch into said second position, said cam being shaped so that said switch is in said first position while the drum is eiecting a change of one sign for another at the viewing opening.

14. Sign display apparatus comprising: a housing including a front wall having a viewing opening through which a sign can be displayed; a rotatable body lwithin said housing intermittently rotatable about an axis passing through said body; a series of movable signs associated with said body; a toothed member connected with said body; a driven shaft; a cam driven by said shaft and carrying a crank element engageable with successive teeth on said toothed member, one at a time, for intermittently operating said body to sequentially display said signs one at a time at said viewing opening; illuminating means arranged so that when energized it will direct light to the movable sign being displayed at said viewing opening; and control means connected with said illuminating means including a switch connected in circuit with said illuminating means, said cam being arranged to also actuate said switch in timed relation to the operation of said body to alternate- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,929 8/ 1936 Schlachman 40-77 2,593,331 4/ 1952 Morton 40-77 2,535,490 12/1950 Emrick 74-820 X 2,863,239 12/ 1958 Glukes.

2,917,733 12/1959 `ustus 340-334 OTHER REFERENCES Atherton, C. A.: Electrical Advertising, Ohio, Signs of the Times, 1925, pp. 13S-148.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. -33; 74-820

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