Abstract: A display element comprises a stator housing with a front aperture and a rotor electromagnetically rotatable to assume three or four rotary positions. At each rotary position a different area of the rotor is seen through the aperture. Two or three of the areas of the rotor are translucent. Apertures in the stator housing and registering apertures in the rotor allow the translucent areas to be illuminated by lighting placed to the rear of the stator housing.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for storing a plurality of signs and automatically displaying them at timed intervals of the type that has a pair of discs, each disc affixed to opposite ends of an elongated shaft, a plurality of panels, each panel has a copy placed on each side, pivotally mounted off center at each end, around periphery of the discs so they can be displayed when they reach a front display area in a rectangular box-like housing is provided. The improvement consists of a pair of damping devices and a plurality of elongated pins. Each damping device is mounted within the housing adjacent one disc. Each pin is placed on each side of each panel. When the discs turn, each pin will engage one damping device as each panel falls over to prevent each panel from bouncing up.

Abstract: A rotating display element which is provided with a display surface member having a plurality of display surfaces which are selected by rotating the display surface member, and a display unit which uses the display element. The display surface member of the rotating display element has incorporated therein a permanent magnet type motor mechanism and is driven by the permanent magnet type motor mechanism. The rotor of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism has first and second double-pole permanent magnet members, and its stator has first and second magnetic members having wound thereon first and second exciting windings, respectively. The display unit has first and second power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism and third and fourth power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting winding.

Abstract: An assembly for the merchandizing of products utilizing a solar cell mounted directly onto an incandescent or florescent light bulb so that the cell receives the light directly from the light bulb. A d.c. motor is electrically and physically connected to the solar cell, the motor shaft extending downwardly. A substantially planar sign member having word indicia formed thereon is operatively interconnected to the motor shaft so that it rotates in response to motor shaft rotation. The interconnection preferably is provided by a piece of metal foil extending vertically and attached to the motor shaft, and a slip swivel connector between the metal foil and the sign member which allows some slippage between the foil and the sign member so that the sign member rotates more slowly than the foil--slow enough for appropriate normal recognition of the word indicia thereon. A plurality of flexible clips may be provided for mounting the solar cell directly to the light bulb, or globe for the light bulb.

Abstract: A rotatable globe has a drive motor supported by a stationary shaft, the drive motor being positioned entirely within the globe and having switching means actuated by manual rotation of the globe.

Abstract: An exhibiting device in the form of a cabinet having a base, side walls and a top wall extending across the side walls thereof above the base, the side walls thus forming compartments between the top wall and the base with open fronts for the compartment. Rotors are centrally and vertically disposed in the compartments and have at one end a conic termination for the rotor in the base and engage supporting means in the base receiving the conic termination, the rotors having at the other end a drive termination and a supporting member engaging the top wall. A panel configured as a regular polygon and constructed of rigid material is supported proximate the drive means on the rotor. A hanger is disposed centrally along each side of the polygon for hanging displaying panel members or advertising elements and located in such relationship that the displaying panel members occupy different planes spaced longitudinally of the rotor. A hinged convex curved member overlies the top wall.

Abstract: A power assembly for rotating a display is simple, inexpensive, has long life, and can rotate even heavy displays. A housing mounts a d.c. motor having an output shaft, and has a support structure. A ball bearing assembly, having a second shaft, is stationarily held by the support structure, and a flexible tubular connector interconnects the motor output shaft and the second shaft. The display is attached to the second shaft by a flexible band of elastomeric material. An electronic circuit provides power pulses from a substantially constant d.c. power source (such as a bank of solar cells) to operate the d.c. motor.

Abstract: A device for storing and delivering rotational energy for rotation of a mobile is used in combination with a source of rotational energy and a control device adapted for intermittent actuation of the energy source for a predetermined period at predetermined intervals. The energy storage device has at least one multi-filament non-braided cords connected between first and second cap members. The first cap member is detachably connected to the energy source and the second cap member is detachably connected to the mobile. The cords are wound by and in response to actuation of the energy source, and urge the mobile to rotate following deactivation of the source. A method of constructing a plurality of the energy storage devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: An energy converting assembly is provided for parasiting of light from a fluorescent light bulb utilizing a solar cell. The solar cell is mounted on a base member elongated in the dimension of elongation of the fluorescent bulb, and electrical interconnections to the cell are provided. A flexible sheet of opaque material having a flat white interior reflective surface surrounds the fluorescent bulb and reflects light emitted from the bulb back toward the bulb and the solar cell. The reflective sheet is tightly held in contact with the bottom of the bulb by adhesive, a tie strap, an external clip, or the like.

Abstract: A lightweight attachment for a solar cell array in combination with spacing means for spacing the array consisting of a plurality of solar cells on a support next to a fluorescent tube to provide thereby a power package which is fitted with conductors to connect the solar cells in series to a remote motor adapted for the rotation of a remote display. A holding means is provided for the support to hold it close to the tube, which holding means may be a magnetic tape. The holding means may be a flexible strap having a tooth portion at the sides of the strap, the tooth sides being adapted to holding the support in closely spaced relation with the plurality of solar cells directly below the fluorescent tube. Spacing means is provided to fix the spacing between the surface of the cells on the support and the tube. Since there is no tension from the conductors and no substantial weight to dislodge the fluorescent tube due to the cells or support, the power package overcomes the safety hazards of the prior art.

Abstract: A mobile is rotated by an energy storage device to which energy is periodically transferred by a motor which is in turn controlled by an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit simultaneously controls a loudspeaker to produce a wide variety of music with variations in tune, tonal quality, key, tempo, and loudness.

Abstract: A solar powered toy has a plurality of legs each with angularly related sections connected together. Certain of the sections are mounted for relative turning movement, and electric motors powered by solar cells are mounted to turn adjacent sections of the legs, so that movements of the legs of the device change the degree of exposure of the solar cells to the light source.

Abstract: A horizontal fluid-driven device for rotary motion comprised of a planar support surface upon which is assembled a radially spaced array of counterbalanced stop-lock pivot vanes operable by impingement thereon of a fluid current force to cycle, automatically and sequentially, the pivot vanes thereof unidirectionally through rotary displacement maximum drive to minimum resistance to maximum drive configurations within the fluid current, irrespective of the fluid current direction, with use of the device herein taught for landscape ornamentation and commercial display attention attracting applications.

Abstract: A display assembly is provided including a base, a d.c. motor mounted completely within the base, a solar cell operatively mounted to the base, and a sign member rotated by the motor. A sleeve is provided on an elongated shaft connected to the sign member, and that sleeve slips over the motor shaft to provide an interference fit, but not a press fit. The sign has sufficient cross-sectional area to provide enough air-resistance so that, in combination with the interference fit between the shafts, the sign will turn at an appropriate speed for easy reading even though the motor shaft is turning much more quickly.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a mobile. The apparatus has a drive means and a sound activated switch, operatively connected to the drive means for activating the latter in response to sound.

Abstract: A device for producing multidirectional visual displays in which a refracting member having a plurality of elongated lens elements and a design member generally parallel thereto are rotated with respect to each other to provide multidirectional visual displays. The refracting member may be flat or arcuate to form spheres or cylinders so long as the design member is complementary in shape. Rotation is generally provided to the design member.

Abstract: A display device having a base, a first display, and a rotary drive for rotating the first display about a preselected rotation axis. Second and third displays are connected to the drive through a suitable connecting structure so as to be moved reciprocably relative to each other while being rotated about the preselected axis concurrently with the first display. The connecting structure may include a control lever which is pivotally mounted with portions at opposite sides of the pivot connected to the second and third displays, respectively, for effecting reciprocal movement thereof toward and from each other. The connecting structure may include a motion translating structure effecting operation of the reciprocating structure as the result of the rotation of the first display about the preselected rotation axis.

Abstract: The specification describes a device adapted to rotate in both directions about a vertical axis for displaying patterns or carpets or rugs. The patterns are carried on telescoping rings which can be moved vertically between a position in which substantially all rings lie one inside the other and an upper display position.

Abstract: An improved mobile display apparatus is provided for advertising, decorative, or other purposes, which is made up of a series of solid geometrical polygons linked to one another by hinges or universal joints, such that the movement of one polygon is transmitted to the others. The polygons may be tetrahedrons or other four-sided solid geometrical elements whose triangular sides have edges of unequal length. An even number of six or more tetrahedrons, for example, may be joined together in accordance with the invention in a continuous configuration. Odd or even numbers of three-dimensional polygons constructed from triangular elements with edges of unequal lengths may also be linked to form continuous chains, and folded together to form a display apparatus incorporating the concepts of the invention.

Abstract: A vertical clock which indicates the time of day from the vertical position of colored cubes rather than from conventional hands on a numbered face. A power source, as an electric clock, has the minute hand removed, and through a gear, movement of the hour hand turns a plate from which there are suspended twelve strings of paper cubes, there being 12 cubes per string. Certain ones of the cubes are appropriately colored to indicate time at a designated position. A pendulum cube, dangling in the center of the others, is driven by the second hand, and it revolves accordingly.

Abstract: An indicator for a taxi-cab, the indicator having a plurality of different displays to be shown through a window, there being control means in the vehicle to control which display is visible through the window.