Patents by Inventor Thomas Ranftl

Thomas Ranftl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5416996
    Abstract: A display apparatus for showing a number of different display images. The apparatus includes a housing and a plurality of triangular display elements mounted therein. Each of the display elements includes a first, second and third major sides, and is suspended for rotation about an axis, the axes of rotation of the elements arranged in a plane. Each of the first, second and third major sides each have a first and second edge, the first and second edge including a slide panel for inserting a display segment therein. The apparatus also includes a vertical blind track for mounting the plurality of elements, and a motor coupled to the vertical blind track for powering rotation of the elements. Also provided is a plurality of illumination sources, one of said plurality associated with each of said plurality of display elements, mounted at the base of each of said elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventors: Richard Clemens, Thomas Ranftl, Kevin Lee