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.

Abstract: A display having mechanically changeable characters and a support for the display are disclosed. The display comprises an array of mechanical flip-flop elements which can each be rotated between two orientations exposing one of two visually different sides. The flip-flop elements are bars secured resiliently by springs to a frame in such a manner that each flip-flop element can be manually pulled away from the frame, rotated to change its orientation, and released to snap back against the frame. The flip-flop elements are arranged in groups of seven, each group having its seven flip-flop elements arranged into two adjacent quadrilaterals of equal size, one flip-flop element being common to both quadrilaterals. Channels are provided on the rear side of the frame to receive the springs. Various lengths for the flip-flop elements are disclosed. The support maintains the display in an elevated position and draws up the display by means of a retractable cable. A securement device holds the display up.

Abstract: A toy cash register for young children and the like includes a housing having an indicia display window formed on a portion thereof with an indicia display disc mounted behind the window having a plurality of different indicia thereon for selective display through the window. An electric motor is provided for driving the display disc and a plurality of push button controlled, momentary contact switches are provided for connecting the motor with an electric power source for rotating the display disc for random periods of time when the contacts are closed. The cash register includes an indexing system for automatically indexing the nearest set of indicia on the disc with the window after the disc drive motor is deenergized. A sound generator is activated by rotation of the display disc and the cash register also includes a weighing scale, a credit card facility and a manually controllable cash drawer along with a remote, hand held implement simulating an electronic tag reader.

Abstract: Display elements of an electrochromic display device are formed of two lines of electrochromic material separated by a zone devoid of such material. The areas of the lines of every element are equal to produce equal contrast effects in response to equal activation charges applied thereto.

Abstract: A contact lens disinfector unit (10) includes a housing, heating means arranged to heat the contact lenses and the associated lens case (21) to a disinfecting temperature and for thereafter terminating the application of heat to allow the contact lenses to cool, and temperature indicating means (30) for indicating if the lens case is cool enough for safe handling. The temperature indicating means includes a viewing window (17) having opaque portions (38) and transparent portions (37). The transparent portions are arranged to define a temperature indicia. The temperature indicator also includes a plate (35) which has indicia thereon corresponding to the temperature indicia and a surrounding opaque background. The plate is slidable with respect to the viewing window between two positions, one of which indicates that the lens case is too hot to handle, and the other of which indicates that the lens case is cool enough to handle.

Abstract: A display element is mounted on a base to rotate less than 180.degree. between two limiting positions and to create mutually contrasting effects in the two positions. A magnetizable element mounted on the base extends parallel to the axis of rotation and exerts rotational torque at each of its free ends on one of two permanent magnets mounted on the display element to rotate outside of the free ends.

Abstract: Sign having self-storing characters which are quickly changeable. The face of the sign has a patterned array of openings juxtaposed against a contrasting background. The background may be supplied by color contrast and/or by illumination.