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AssigneeDaktronics, Inc.
InventorsNathan L. Nearman, Ryan J. Nielsen, Kent S. Miller, Mark D. Dennis, Bradley D. Rinschen, Douglas P. Tvedt, Lenny A. Sik, Kurt L. Peters, Brian W. Kroll, Derek J. Heronimus, David G. Philips
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The present invention provides a multiple seal electronic display module having displacement springs for distributed use as major components of an electronic sign. Displacement springs are provided to displace the electronic display module from the front of an electronic sign mounting panel until latching mechanisms are properly actuated in order to secure the electronic display module to the electronic sign mounting panel and thus provide a visual clue indicating proper or improper securing. A configured front edge seal provides for multiple surface sealing of multiple components consisting of, but not limited to, a louver panel, an LED circuit board, and a housing. A rear seal is also provided to seal the rear of the electronic display module to the electronic sign mounting panel. Input and output signal jack base seals and a power jack base seal provide effective seals between the housing and the signal and power jacks.
A latch assembly for an electronic display module comprising an elongated latch housing, said housing having a rear side being substantially closed and an open front side, a support hole in the center of said rear side, an actuator gear secured within said support hole, said actuator gear being substantially cylindrical with spaced teeth attached thereto, a pair of elongated actuator arms supported within said latch housing, each of said actuator arms having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of each of said actuator arms having a toothed rack oppositely spaced from each other and inter-engaged with said teeth of said actuator gear, a movable latch attached at said distal end of each of said actuator arms, each of said movable latches having a pair of spaced arcuate arms, each of said movable latches being positioned substantially within said latch housing, a pair of elongated displacement springs, each of said elongated displacement springs having a pair of parallely spaced segments, each of said pair of spaced segments being fixed within opposite ends of latch housing, each of said pair of displacement springs having a continuous elongated segment attached to each said pair of parallely spaced segments and extending through said rear side of said latch housing and whereby said continuous elongated segment of each of said displacement springs extends at an angle to said rear side of said latch housing.
A latch assembly for an electronic display module comprising an elongated latch housing, said latch housing having a substantially hollow, elongated base with a flat extension at opposite ends thereof, said elongated base having a rear side and a front side, a support hole in the center of said elongated base, an actuator gear secured within said support hole, said actuator gear being substantially cylindrical with spaced teeth attached thereto, a pair of elongated actuator arms supported within said hollow elongated base, each of elongated arms having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of each of said actuator arms having a toothed rack oppositely spaced from each other and inter-engaged with said teeth of said actuator gear, a latch movably attached at said distal end of each of said actuator arms, each of said latches having a pair of spaced arcuate arms, each of said latches being positioned substantially within said hollow elongated base, a pair of elongated displacement springs, each of said elongated displacement springs having a pair of parallely spaced segments, and each of said pair of displacement springs having a continuous elongated segment attached to said pair of parallely spaced segments and extending through said hollow elongated base whereby said continuous elongated segment of each of said displacement springs extends at an angle to said rear side of said elongated base.
A multiple seal electronic display module comprising a substantially rectangular louver panel, said louver panel having a front side and a rear side, a substantially rectangular LED circuit board, a substantially rectangular housing, said rectangular housing having a front side and a rear side, said LED circuit board, and said louver panel being secured together by a plurality of peripheral spaced fasteners, a pair of latch assemblies being attached by fasteners to said top and bottom of said rear side of said rectangular housing, a substantially peripheral front seal sandwiched between said rear side of said louver panel and said front side of said rectangular housing, said substantially peripheral front seal being spaced outside of said plurality of peripheral spaced fasteners, each of said latch assemblies comprising an elongated latch housing, said latch housing having a substantially hollow, elongated base with a flat extension at opposite ends thereof, said elongated base having a rear side and a front side, a support hole in the center of said elongated base and a support hole in the center of said rectangular housing, an actuator gear secured between and within said support holes, said actuator gear being substantially cylindrical with spaced teeth attached thereto, a pair of elongated actuator arms being supported within said hollow elongated base, each of said pair of elongated arms having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of each of said actuator arms having a toothed rack oppositely spaced from each other and inter-engaged with said teeth of said actuator gear, a latch movably attached at said distal end of each of said actuator arms, each of said latches having a pair of spaced arcuate arms, each of said latches being positioned substantially within said hollow elongated base, a pair of elongated displacement springs, each of said elongated displacement springs having a pair of parallely spaced segments supported within said hollow elongated base, and each of said pair of displacement springs having a continuous elongated segment attached to said pair of parallely spaced segments and extending through said hollow elongated base whereby said continuous elongated segment of each of said displacement springs extends at an angle to said rear of said elongated base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.