US 4,995,183 AGranted

Scrolling sign with improved web guide

OwnerRobert B. Aiken, Sr.inventor

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Abstract

An improved guide means suitable for use in a scrolling sign having an internal frame work and a sign face with a window in which indicia may appear. A web containing serial indicia is wound on web rolls. The web extends along a path between the web rolls and across the window for selectively displaying indicia on the window as the web is unwound and rewound on the rolls by a motor. The guide means includes a pair of plate-like guide members lying normal to the path of the web and spaced along the path. The guide members receive the web, at least along their edges so that the web extends between the guide members and across the window in the sign face and may contain baffles to eliminate light leaks. The guide members may be formed of translucent or transparent material to avoid shadows on the sign face. A brace member and adjustment bar may extend between the guide members. The guide members are fastened to plates lying at either end of the guide members having mounts for mounting the plates to the frame work of the sign. The web rolls may also be mounted in the plates so that the guide members, web rolls and plates form a module that can be installed in, and removed from, the sign as a unit.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An improved guide means for a scrolling sign having a framework and a sign face with a window in which indicia may appear, a pair of rotatable web rolls with a web containing serially arranged indicia wound thereon, said web extending along a path between the web rolls and across the window for selectively displaying indicia in the window, said guide means comprising:

a pair of plate-like members, said members lying along the path of the web and spaced from each other along the path, said members receiving the web, at least along an edge of each of said members, said web extending between said members from one member of said pair to the other member of said pair, said members lying parallel to each other and generally normal to the portion of the web extending between said members;
brace means mounted to and extending between said plate-like members for joining said members into a unitary structure, said brace means extending between said plate-like members at a location removed from said edges of said plate-like members receiving the web so that the portions of said members containing said edges receiving said web are cantilevered beyond said brace means,
adjustable length means extending between said cantilevered portions of said plate-like members, said adjustable length means establishing the distance between said plate-like members in a direction parallel to the path of the web;
and
means suitable for mounting said unitary structure containing said plate-like members on said framework so that said guide means positions the portion of the web extending between said members across the window.

2 more elements

In combination, a scrolling sign having a framework and a sign face with a window in which indicia may appear, a pair of rotatable web rolls with a web containing serially arranged indicia wound thereon, said web extending along a path between the web rolls and across the window for selectively displaying indicia in the window, and a guide means for said web, said guide means comprising:

a pair of plate-like members, said members lying along the path of the web and spaced from each other along the path, said members receiving the web, at least along an edge of each of said members, said web extending between said members from one member of said pair to the other member of said pair, said members lying parallel to each other and generally normal to the portion of the web extending between said members;
brace means mounted to and extending between said plate-like members for joining said members into a unitary structure, said brace means extending between said plate-like members at a location removed from said edges of said plate-like members receiving the web so that the portions of said members containing said edges receiving said web are cantilevered beyond said brace means, adjustable length means extending between said cantilevered portions of said plate-like members, said adjustable length means establishing the distance between said plate-like members in a direction parallel to the path of the web;
and means suitable for mounting said unitary structure containing said plate-like members on said framework so that said guide means positions the portion of the web extending between said members across the window.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.