2. Description of Related Art Upon a visit to nearly any art store in the country one will find prints exhibited in large bins or on rotating racks. In order for customers to locate the print they desire, they will have to thumb through these bins. This process can be extremely inconvenient in that the bins are often full making it difficult to view the prints near the middle of the stack. Further, persons with physical disabilities may find it very difficult to negotiate their way through these bins due to the weight of the stack.

Attempts have been made to remedy this problem by providing devices which place posters on a continuous roll and allow viewers to scroll through the stack or by re-circulating a stack of posters from front to back. The problem with these methods, however, is that the viewer is required to wait through the sequence of posters on the roll or stack until the one desired is displayed.

Another method of displaying posters, used primarily in advertising is illustrated by U. S. Patent No. 5,255,465 (Perez). This method utilizes a plurality of elongated triangular members (each elongated face of a single member containing a portion of a separate image to be displayed) which rotate to reveal three separate display surfaces, thus three separate images. The inherent problem with this method is simply the number of viewable displays is limited to three.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention improves on the prior art by providing a poster display device which enables a user to randomly select a desired poster from a basket holding several posters and then automatically place that poster on an illuminated screen for optimal viewing. This poster display may also be programmed to allow repetitive viewing of timed poster sequences. The device comprises a base adapted to receive a poster hanger which is moveable along a generally horizontal plane, a viewing window, means for lifting the selected poster from the hanger and placing it in a position to be viewed in the viewing window, and a controller for allowing the user to designate the desired poster.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding or like components.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 2a is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention (with the external housing removed); FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the controller of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 3a is a perspective view inside the base revealing the hanger of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG 3b is a perspective view of the hanger of the apparatus of the present invention (removed from the base); FIG. 4a-c are views of the hanger of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the poster sleeve of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 6a is a front view of the lifter of the apparatus of the present invention positioned to engage the selected poster; FIG. 6b is a perspective view of the lifter of the apparatus of the present invention showing the relative movement of a poster in the hanger and the lifter; FIG. 7 is a front view of the apparatus of the present invention adapted to utilize a text display and audio; and FIG. 8 is a front view of multiple apparatuses of the present invention shown in series to display a single tripartite image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the apparatus 10 of the present invention. The apparatus 10 comprises a base 12, and a viewer 14 including an optional back light 16. Also optionally provided is a text display 18 for displaying descriptive messages regarding the posters shown on the viewer 14 of the apparatus 10. The viewer 14 is removable from the base 12 to allow ease of poster placement in the base 12 and ease of maintenance. The viewer 14 and base 12 are secured to one another by suitable clamps. The apparatus 10 is approximately 77 inches tall, 28 1/2 inches wide, 8 3/4 inches in depth at the base 12 and 5 inches in depth at the viewer 14. Of the total height of the apparatus 10, the viewer 14 is approximately 38 inches and the base 12 is approximately 33 inches (the remaining 6 inches include an optional stand below the base).

FIG. 2a shows an exploded view of the apparatus 10 without the outer housing of the apparatus 10. Shown within the basal portion of the apparatus 10 is the hanger 20 in which the posters 22 are housed. These posters 22 are stored in transparent sleeves 24 (preferably plastic) which preserve the posters 22 from the wear and tear of continued lifting from the hanger 20 and placement in the viewer 14.

The viewer 14 includes a view window 26, a lifter 28 and an optional back light 16. The view window 26 is attached to the outer housing of the apparatus (FIG.

1). The lifter 28 includes a motor 32, lifting belts 34 (partially shown), and a lift hand 36. The dual directional motor 32 is electrically coupled to the controller 38 by electric lines (not shown) that receive signals from the controller 38. The lifting belts 34 are slideably connected to vertical tracks (attached proximate the sides of the viewer 14-not shown) to facilitate smooth vertical movement of the lifter 28. The belts 34 are slideably connected to pulleys 30 (additional pulleys proximate the bottom of the viewer 14 are not shown). Attached to the tracks are magnetic holding latches 40 which catch and hold the lift hand 36 as the lifter 28 is raised to viewing position (top of the lift cycle). These holding latches 40 allow the controller 38 to turn off the lifter motor 32 to conserve power and reduce heating while the poster 22 is in viewing position.

Also connected to one of the vertical tracks is a bar code scanner 42. This scanner 42 reads the barcode 44 affixed to each poster sleeve 24 as they are removed from the hanger 20. This allows the controller 38 to identify each poster 22 to keep track of individual poster 22 positions in the hanger 20.

The lift hand 36 includes fingers 46 thereon to catch the poster sleeve 24 and lift the poster 22 into viewing position. The optional back light 16 is provided to illuminate the posters when placed in viewing position. This back light 16 (preferably a florescent light box) is affixed to an internal bracket (not shown) which also supports the lifter 28.

When the back light 16 is utilized the view window 26 of the present invention is adapted to dampen the direct light of the back light 16 during poster 22 exchange.

Several methods may be utilized to achieve this dampening effect. In one embodiment, the dampening mechanism is an electronic shutter unit which appears as a solid dark window while the poster 22 is being changed. The electronic shutter therefore hides from the individual viewing the apparatus 10 the brightness of the back light 16 between posters 22. The electronic shutter also prevents persons viewing the apparatus 10 from seeing the mechanical nature of the change operation.

The electronic shutter functions by sending an electric charge to the polarizer of the

shutter once the poster 22 is in viewing position. This causes the shutter to become clear thereby allowing the poster to be visible by one observing the apparatus 10.

In another embodiment, the method of dampening out the brightness of the back light 16 is by use of a roll shade 48. In this embodiment the roll shade 48 goes down either with the lifter 28 (being attached thereto) or before it (utilizing a separate motor-not shown). The roll shade 48 therefore shields anyone viewing the apparatus 10 from the brightness of the back light 16 during the change operation. The mechanical function of the change operation, however, is exposed to the observer.

In yet another embodiment, the back light 16 itself is dimmed. This is achieved by providing an electronic dimmer switch (not shown), electrically connected to the controller 38 and the back light 16. When the poster 22 is lifted into viewing position, the controller 38 sends a signal to the dimmer switch to gradually illuminate the back light 16. After a preset period of time, the controller 38 then signals the dimmer switch to gradually dim the light box 30 prior to signaling the lift motor 32 to lower the poster 22 back into the hanger 20.

FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of the controller 38 of the apparatus of the present invention 10. The base 12 supports a controller 38 for designating the poster 22 to be displayed. This controller 38 may either be programmed to run the apparatus 10 automatically to exhibit a sequence of timed poster displays ("shows"at designated times and dates) or the controller 38 may be run manually. The controller 38 can randomly or programmably select posters 22 in any sequence and display an individual poster 22 for a user definable time period. The controller 38 includes a clock and a calendar which allows a show to be scheduled to run at specific times during the day or merely once on a specific date and time. The program can be entered locally via a keypad 50, remotely via a computer link 52, or by barcode.

Referring now to Figs. 3a-b and 4a-c, there is shown several views inside the base 12 revealing the hanger 20 of apparatus 10 of the present invention. The hanger 20 is moved in a horizontal plane alone tracks 54 affixed along the sides of the base 12. The hanger 20 is moved by a belt 56 and pulleys 58a, 58b that function as part of a motorized drive unit. The dual directional motor 32 is electrically coupled to the controller 38 by electric lines (not shown) that receive signals from the controller 38.

Pulley 58b is fixedly attached to a worm 62 (spirally grooved cylinder) on which rests a matingly engaged carrier drive nut 64. The worm 62 is rotatably attached to a bracket 66 proximate the ends thereof which is in turn fixedly attached to the side wall of the base 12. When the controller 38 actuates the motor 32 the pulleys 58a, 58b and the belt 56 are rotated thereby rotating the worm 62. An exterior surface of the drive nut 64 abuts the side of the base 12 and prevents the drive nut 64 from rotating along

with the worm 62 thereby causing the drive nut 64 to travel horizontally along the worm 62. The hanger 20 is releasably attached to the drive nut 64 at an indentation 68 in the hanger 20 designed to matingly engage the drive nut 64. Therefore, as the drive nut 64 moves back and forth horizontally along the worm 62 so to does the hanger 20.

Not shown in FIG. 3a is the second worm mechanism along the opposite side of the base also connected to the motor 60 by a belt. The two worm mechanisms are synchronized to move the hanger 20 horizontally along the tracks 54. While this motorized drive unit is preferred, other equivalent motorized drive mechanisms such as chain or gear drives are also permissible.

The hanger 20 includes two horizontally disposed rods 70 connected by two carrier combs 72 and rollers 74 proximate the ends thereof. The rollers 74 are preferably arranged as oppositely disposed pairs, although additional rollers are also permissible. These rollers 74 travel along the tracks 54 affixed to the interior side of the base 12. The oppositely disposed carrier combs 72 include a plurality of partitions (or teeth) which allow the posters 22 to be stored in the hanger 20 in individual slots.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of the poster sleeve 24 and poster 22. The poster sleeve 24 is constructed as an envelop of two sheets of thin plastic 76,78. The top sheet 76 is made of a suitable transparent plastic and the bottom sheet 78 may be either transparent or opaque. These sheets 76,78 are attached at the top end to a lift bar 80 and at the bottom end to a weight bar 82. The weight bar 82 ensures that the poster 22 hangs straight without wrinkles. A bar code 84 is affixed to the sleeve 24 to be read by the scanner 42 when the poster is lifted from the hanger 20. This ensures that the controller accurately tracks the carrier comb 72 position of each poster 22. The barcode 44 may additionally contain other information such as valid display dates and times. Further, the barcode 44 may be used instead of the keypad 50 to program poster shows. Even further, the barcode 44 may also contain other relevant information which may in turn be fed to the audio- visual link 86 to sound generators for back ground music, the optional text display unit 18 (e. g. LED text line displays). Therefore, the audio-visual link 86 may be used to customize information to be tailored for each poster show. For example, the poster displayed on the apparatus 10 could be an advertisement and the audio-visual link 86 could be used to display a special price for the advertised product.

Yet another use of the barcode unit is to create a display date and time trail.

The barcode unit will scan each poster displayed therefore creating a display audit trail. This audit trail can then be read back through the keypad display unit 50 or remotely through the computer link 52.

FIG. 6a-b shows the manner in which the lifter 28 interacts with the posters 22 stored in the hanger 20. Arrow A reflects the horizontal movement of the posters 22 stored in the hanger 20. The lift bar 80 of the poster sleeves 24 move unrestricted through the space between the hand 36 and finger 46 of the lifter 28 when a desired poster is selected (if the selected poster is not already immediately below the lifter 28). The controller 38 positions the selected poster 22 immediately below the hand 36 and a signal from the controller starts the motor 32 thereby raising the lifter 28 vertically as shown by arrow B. The lift finger 46 engages the lift bar 80 and carries the poster 22 upward into viewing position. After a preset time period has elapsed, the controller 38 signals the motor 32 to reverse and the lifter 28 is lowered, thereby placing the poster back in the hanger 20 in a discreet carrier comb slot.

FIGs. 7 and 8 show additional applications of the apparatus 10 of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 7, the apparatus 10 may be used for training or sales expeditions. The user can take manual control of the unit with the keypad 50, or with an infra red or radio frequency link 88 to the controller 38. The infra red and radio frequency link 88 can also be used to remotely control or reprogram the apparatus 10 without the use of a computer. FIG. 8 shows how the apparatus 10 may be used to synchronize multiple units to create a panoramic poster show.

Use of the Poster Display Device To use the poster display apparatus 10 an operator indicates which one or which series of posters 22 are desired, either by way of the key pad 50, infra red/radio frequency link 88, computer link 52 or stored program.

The signal is relayed to the controller 38. The controller 38 signals the hanger motor 60 to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the location of the selected poster in the hanger 20. The lift bars 80 of the poster sleeves 24 pass unobstructed through space between the hand 36 and the fingers 46 of the lifter 28.

When the correct carrier comb 72 slot containing the selected poster 22 is positioned directly beneath the hand 36 the controller 38 signals the motor 60 to shut off.

The controller 38 then signals the lift motor 32 to rotate. The rotation of the lift motor 32 causes the lifter 28 to begin to move upward. The finger 46 of the lifter 28 then contacts the lift bar 80 of the poster sleeve 24. The lifter 28 and the poster 22 are thereby conveyed upward until the poster is placed in viewing position (top of the cycle). The controller 38 turns off the lift motor 32 to conserve power and reduce heating. When power to the motor 32 is turned off, the magnetic holding latch 40 then catches the lifter 28 to hold the poster in place.

The controller 38 then sends a signal to the electronic shutter view window 26.

An electric charge is applied to the polarizer of the shutter and the dark window is turned clear. The operator is then allowed to view the selected poster.

After a preprogrammed period of time has elapsed, the shutter is darkened once again. The controller 38 then turns on the lift motor 32. When power is fed to the motor 32 the magnetic holding latch 40 is released and the motor 32 revolves in the opposite direction causing the lifter 28 to move downward thereby replacing the poster 22 in its carrier comb 72 slot of the hanger 20. This process is repeated to select the subsequent posters 22.

The above specification provides a complete description of the apparatus of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.