Abstract: An animated display having a case defining an internal display chamber that is visible from externally of the case. A plurality of discrete particles are provided within the display chamber. Structure is provided on the case for propelling the discrete particles in a continuous circular path with the particles suspended in a fluid within the display chamber.

Abstract: An animated display having a case defining a display chamber with a top and bottom. An object is provided within the display chamber so as to be visible from externally of the case. Structure is provided for continuously circulating a plurality of discrete particles through the display chamber in a pattern that extends through in excess of 180.degree. around a vertical axis extending through the object.

Abstract: A sign board having a message portion and a display portion. The message portion has horizontal, evenly spaced grooves intersected by evenly spaced, vertically oriented grooves, the horizontal and vertical grooves being perpendicular to each other. Selected letter blocks are assembled in the grooves to convey a message. Adjacent the message portion is a display portion where a scene usually associated with the message is displayed. The board is rectangular in shape and can be mounted horizontally or vertically with the appropriate set of parallel grooves being used to compose the message. Optionally, the display portion can be backlighted.

Abstract: The device consists of a frame defining a receptacle for an article to be normally displayed in a first position, structure on the frame for inhibiting grasping by a purchaser of an article in the first position, a trigger movable relative to the frame between a normal position and a release position for moving an article from the first position relative to the frame to a removal position as an incident of movement of the trigger from the normal position to the release position, and structure responsive to movement of the trigger from the normal position to the release position for giving a sensory indication that the trigger has been moved from the normal position to the release position and that resultingly an article has been situated in the removal position. With an article in the removal position, the article can be readily grasped by a purchaser for withdrawal of that article from the receptacle.

Abstract: A display assembly for eyeglass frames, each having a bridge and spaced temples. A plurality of upright modules are arranged edge-to-edge to define a multi-sided geometrical configuration. Each module includes a forwardly projecting mid-portion defining a vertical front face. A plurality of upwardly opening hooks, having downwardly opening hook portions, project forwardly of the front face and each serve as a cradle for the bridge of an eyeglass frame. Horizontally spaced, generally planar side portions extend rearwardly of the vertical front face, and vertically extending convex edge portions are formed at the rear of the side portions. Spaced apertures are provided at the base of each convex edge portion through which the temples of the eyeglass frames can be extended, with the convex configurations of the edge portions serving to guide the temples into the apertures.

Abstract: A display assembly comprising a plurality of modules each having a display area particularly suitable for mounting eyeglass frames. Each module has spaced vertical edges having male and female hinge portions permitting successive mating of adjacent modules. The male hinge portion has an elongate vertical member which is received in a vertically extending opening defined in the female hinge portion. The adjacent modules are joined by aligning the male portion with the opening in an adjacent panel and advancing the modules vertically, each toward the other. The female hinge portion defining the opening has a plurality of tabs which are extendable through cutouts in the wall of the adjacent module with the male hinge portion. The passage of the tabs through the cut outs extends the range of relative pivoting between adjacent modules and permits arrangement of the modules in configurations from flat to continuous interconnection with the use of three modules.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting display devices on retail store modular shelving of the type that has hollow steel upright supporting posts each having a line of spaced longitudinal slots; with posts of laterally adjacent modules abutting one another or with adjacent modules hung on a single post. The mounting apparatus has a pair of fittings which engage vertically spaced post slots, a bracket which has an upright mounting arm is fastened to the fittings by two screws and has a display device supporting arm at right angles to the mounting arm, and a leveling screw goes through a threaded hole near the bottom of the mounting arm so as to bear against the post for leveling the bracket and fixing it firmly relative to the post. The fittings are constructed so two of them may be placed in coplanar slots of abutting posts in order to mount abutting display devices on laterally adjacent modules.

Abstract: A modular retail counter display apparatus for merchandise, such as cigarettes, which is displayed and sold in small packages. Two identical trays may be connected to a column, either with a separate means supporting the column or with one or both trays supporting the column. A sign holder slides onto the top of the column and a ratchet engagement between the sign holder and the column permits a sign to be mounted at any desired height on the column. The trays may be connected to the column in vertically spaced relationship, or the trays may be secured together in end abutting relationship and connect to the column in a horizontal arrangement. Alternatively, the trays and column may be supported by means of a clamp assembly either upon a horizontal rail or upon a vertical pole.

Abstract: A modular display device for articles of merchandise which are sold at retail in small packages includes a display tray, an advertising sign frame adapted to receive and hold an advertising sign, a support member to which the advertising sign frame is detachably connected by resilient tongues on the frame which interengage with slots in a front wall of the support member, and a laterally extending web which is an extension of a bottom wall of the support member that enters a laterally open slideway on a bottom wall of the tray adjacent a tray end wall and has a hooked finger engaging a recess in the slideway so the advertising sign frame is immediately adjacent said tray end wall.

Abstract: A multiplanar device has at least one component that consists of two rigid plastic wall members that have major areas of substantially uniform thickness, strips of considerably greater thickness along the side portions of said wall members, and a miter joint between the two wall members. A continuous thin film of flexible plastic is bonded to the two wall members and around the outside of the miter joint.The method of making the component is to mold it as a flat intermediate piece with a V-notch between the strips of greater thickness and to simultaneously bond the film to the surface at the apex of the V; and to thereafter apply adhesive to the sides of the V and bend the piece to bring the sides of the notch together and bond them together.Several such components may be connected with the similar or dissimilar components at miter joints to form a complete multiplanar device.

Abstract: A multiplanar device has at least one component that consists of two rigid plastic wall members that have major areas of substantially uniform thickness, strips of considerably greater thickness along the side portions of said wall members, and a miter joint between the two wall members. A continuous thin film of flexible plastic is bonded to the two wall members and around the outside of the miter joint.The method of making the component is to mold it as a flat intermediate piece with a V-notch between the strips of greater thickness and to simultaneously bond the film to the surface at the apex of the V; and to thereafter apply adhesive to the sides of the V and bend the piece to bring the sides of the notch together and bond them together.Several such components may be connected with other similar or dissimilar components at miter joints to form a complete multiplanar device.

Abstract: A point of purchase advertising display device has a front element and a rear element which are spaced a short distance apart and back illuminated. Primary copy is transparent or translucent on the front element and is repeated on the rear element in translucent form in register with that on the front element. A front fine pattern of transparent and opaque areas occupies the rest of the front element and defines the margins of each character in the primary copy. Translucent secondary copy on the rear element is viewed through parts of the front pattern, and the rest of the rear element consists of a rear fine pattern of translucent and opaque areas which is dissimilar from the front pattern but cooperates with the front pattern to produce a field of changing visual effects as a person moves relative to the display device. The rear fine pattern defines the margins of each character in the copy on the rear element.

Abstract: An illuminated advertising display device produces changing visual effects by placing a panel having a pattern of holes at the front of a light box with some of the holes defining alpha-numeric characters, and reciprocating behind the panel a shutter which has a pattern of transparent spots each of which registers with a hole in the panel at some point in the reciprocation of the shutter, with some of the spots registered simultaneously with all the holes that define the alpha-numeric characters. The panel has a forwardly facing reflective surface, and spaced forwardly of the panel is a light transmitting reflective sheet. If desired, the transparent spots may be tinted in several different colors.

Abstract: A gravity feed can dispenser for use in a commercial cooler is provided with integral means permitting two or more dispensers to be stacked in interlocked relationship, and further integral means permitting two dispensers to be connected side by side. The racks in most coolers are formed of parallel wires extending from front to rear; and in order that a dispenser may be stably supported on such a rack there must be transversely extending feet that rest upon several rack wires. In the present structure there is a fixed foot at the front which is vertically small enough that on an upper dispenser of a stack it does not interfere with removal of a can from the dispenser beneath it; and there is a hinged panel toward the rear which selectively occupies a non-interference position if the dispenser is an upper one, or a supporting position if the dispenser rests directly upon the rack.

Abstract: A device for selectively displaying alphabetic or numeric characters has a housing which contains several stacked prefabricated subassemblies of any required number of units, each unit having an opaque front plate with a rectangular layout of light permeable spots; and there are film receiving slots with guides at both sides of each unit so that a selected part of a film member associated with a unit may abut the front plate while the rest of the film member is curved rearwardly through the slots. One type of film member has a geometric pattern of matching and contrasting elements which cooperate with light permeable spots forming a block number 8 to define any desired arabic numeral from 0 to 9; while another type of film member has a similar geometric pattern that cooperates with light permeable spots in several parallel vertical columns to define any letter of the alphabet.

Abstract: An animated display device having illuminating means for projecting uniformly diffused light toward a viewer and means between said illuminating means and the viewer for providing an animated display including a rigid platen having a convex surface with sections of transparent and opaque character, a flexible sheet of film in contact with the convex surface and having translucent images thereon, resilient means tensioning the film over and in full surface contact with the convex platen surface, and a drive mechanism for shifting said film and said platen relative to one another. An adjustment mechanism is associated with the drive mechanism to facilitate angular alignment of the film relative to the platen.

Abstract: A display device is provided with a plurality of flip display cards which are pivotally carried by a rotatable card holder. A release tab is positioned above the card holder so as to engage the edge of one card whereby the information on the front of said one card can be viewed. The preceding card is supported on abutments on the card holder so that information on the back of said preceding card can be viewed simultaneously with the information on the front of said one card. The card holder is turned step-by-step so as to urge the one card past a first viewing position whereupon the card falls down onto the abutments for viewing in the second viewing position as the next card is moved into said first viewing position. The card holder has structure for pivotally carrying display cards, abutments for supporting display cards and indexing detents for providing the step-by-step advance of the display cards.