Transportable electronic sign display system
AssigneeDaktronics, Inc.
InventorsNathan L. Nearman, Mark D. Dennis, Kent S. Miller, John Hage
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transportable electronic sign display system having modular cabinets which support electronic display modules and electronics having male and female latching assemblies connecting adjacent electronic display modules. Robust male and female latching assemblies at the top and bottom of electronic display modules provide for forcible positive action latching between vertically situated electronic display modules to provide a minimally visible horizontally oriented seam therebetween. Side latches between horizontally situated electronic display modules assemblies provide for latching to provide a minimally visible vertically oriented seam therebetween.
Claims36
A transportable electronic sign display system comprising:
- a first modular cabinet;
- second modular cabinet;
- and
- a mating latch assembly for connecting the first modular cabinet to the second modular cabinet, the mating latch assembly including:
- a male latch assembly including a male latch shaft secured to the first cabinet, one or more pins project away from the male latch shaft, and,
- a female latch assembly including a rotary ramp rotatably coupled to the second cabinet, the rotary ramp includes:
- a keyed bore extending through the rotary ramp, and the male latch shaft including the one or more pins extends through the female latch rotary ramp and is positioned within the keyed bore, and
- one or more inclined ramps on a face of the female latch rotary ramp opposed to the first modular cabinet, the one or more pins of the male latch shaft are movably engaged along the one or more inclined ramps.
A mating latch assembly comprising:
- a male latch assembly coupled to a first cabinet the male latch assembly includes a male latch shaft having one or more pins protruding therefrom,
- a female latch assembly coupled to a second cabinet, the female latch assembly includes:
- a rotary ramp for engaging the male latch shaft, the rotary ramp is rotatably coupled with the second cabinet and includes one or more inclined ramps, and
- a keyed bore extending through the rotary ramp, and the male latch shaft extends through the rotary ramp and is received within the keyed bore of the rotary ramp;
- and wherein the rotary ramp is rotated between an unlocked position and a locked position,
- in the unlocked position one or more of the pins on the male latch shaft are positioned adjacent to bases of the one or more inclined ramps, and the first cabinet is spaced from the second cabinet, and
- in the locked position one or more of the pins are moved up the inclined ramp and positioned away from the inclined ramp bases, the male latch shaft moves with the pins through the keyed bore and pulls the first cabinet adjacent to the second cabinet.
A method of assembling a transportable electronic sign, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first modular cabinet and a second modular cabinet, each of the modular cabinets including a plurality of electronic display modules, the first modular cabinet having paired opposed male latching assemblies at the top thereof, the male latching assemblies each include a male latch shaft, and the second modular cabinet having paired opposed female latching assemblies at the bottom thereof, the female latching assemblies each include a rotary ramp with an inclined ramp and a handle actuator;
- aligning the second modular cabinet above the first modular cabinet such that the male latch shafts of the male latching assemblies insert into the rotary ramps of the female latching assemblies, and the male latch shafts extend through the rotary ramps, and the first modular cabinet is spaced from the second modular cabinet;
- and
- rotating the rotary ramps of the female latching assemblies by use of the handle actuators, and rotation of the rotary ramps draws the male latch shafts through the rotary ramps and moves the first modular cabinet adjacent to the second modular cabinet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.