Abstract: A thermally-protected display includes at least one display panel, a cover panel, a manifold and a blower mechanism. The display panel has a front panel surface and a rear panel surface and supports at least one signal element on the front panel surface. The cover panel is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship forwardly of the front panel surface to form a plenum chamber therebetween. The manifold is in fluid communication with the plenum chamber. The blower mechanism is in fluid communication with the manifold and supplies an airflow to the plenum chamber. The airflow enters an air inlet disposed at one end of the display panel and into the plenum chamber so that the airflow moves across the display panel and the signal element between the front panel surface and the cover panel thereby anticipating heat therefrom before the airflow exits the plenum chamber through an exhaust outlet disposed at an opposite end of the display panel.

Abstract: A scroll apparatus formed as a box-like framework with a front view area which houses a pair of rollers upon which a message web is wound in a scroll manner such that an exposed portion of the web extends between the rollers along the view area. A drive strap has each of its opposite ends fixed to a respective roller with its respective end portions each wrapped about itself in a circumferential direction opposite the direction that the message web is wound about the associated roller. The drive strap and web thus form a loop drive assembly for the rollers. Tensioning structure is provided for the drive assembly to keep the web taut and to remove slack due to variations in winding diameters. A color panel is positioned adjacent the message web on a side thereof opposite the view area, and the apparatus is internally lit so that the message web is illuminated by light passing through the color panel. Several apparatus, in modular form, may be used to construct a larger display sign.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating a display including a novel shuttering assembly and drive mechanism therefor. The shuttering assembly alternately presents first and second shutter panels to a window forming an element of the display. The panels are connected to cams on a rotatable axle positioned in spaced relation to the opening and alternately mask the opening on reciprocal rotation of the axle. A drive rod is connected at a first end to a dog on the axle to rotate the axle. The drive mechanism moves the drive rod which has its second end connected to a movable drive member. Preferably a plurality of shutter assemblies are provided, and a reciprocally rotatable drive disc carries solenoids having plungers to selectively engage the drive members. A single cycle motor rotates the drive disc, and logic circuitry permits selected activation of the solenoids. The method includes the step of moving all shutter assemblies into a no display mode at mid-cycle during the reciprocal movement of the drive disc.