Abstract: A Rollout Greeting Card comprises a flat body of pliable, coiled material whereon artwork and wording can be inscribed which when uncoiled gradually reveals the artwork and wording thereon.

Abstract: There is provided a visual display device that has a holding member, a cassette that can be removably inserted into and removed from the holding member and an arrangement for displaying a banner, photomural display panel or other display media. There is also provided a mechanism in the cassette for holding the banner, photomural display panel or other visual display media.

Abstract: In combination with a merchandise display cabinet having a front face with a display field therein, an apparatus for selectively placing a graphics region in the display field may include a graphics sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge and a plurality of graphics regions between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The apparatus also includes a spool assembly including a first spool disposed on one side of the display field and a second spool disposed on an opposite side of the display field. The graphics sheet may be windable on the first spool and the second spool to extend across the display field. The apparatus also includes a drive mechanism configured to rotate at least one of the first spool and the second spool to selectively position a selected one of the plurality of graphics regions into registry with the display field and a controller configured to selectively activate the drive mechanism to position the selected one of the plurality of graphics regions in the display field.

Abstract: A sound emitting advertising and information display device which has a roller housing which has an internal chamber. A sheet member is wound on a roller and is contained within the internal chamber. The sheet member is to be manually extendable from the housing with advertising indicia that is located on the sheet member to then be capable of being read by a human. During the time of extending of the sheet member, a sound is emitted that is to correspond with the advertising indicia. The advertising display device is to be attached to the front end of a product supporting shelf in a store.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies are described for displaying interchangeable graphics sheets on a display face of a merchandise cabinet such as a vending machine. The interchangeable sheets are stored on spool assemblies disposed within the cabinet and may be either manually or automatically manipulated in order to selectively register different graphics sheets within the display face of the vending machine. In a first embodiment, the graphics sheets have adhesive areas thereon in order to attach an old graphic sheet to a new graphic sheet to unwind the new graphic sheet from the spool assembly and position it into the display field on the face of the vending machine. The old graphics sheet functions as a leader for the new graphics sheet. In a second embodiment, the graphics sheets are provided with tear-off flexible leaders which are utilized to unwind the sheets from the storage spool assemblies and to position the graphics sheet into registry with the display fields on the face of the vending machine.

Abstract: A holder for construction plans having a cylindrical rod rotatably mounted between a first perpendicular segment attached to the first end of a base and a second perpendicular segment attached to the second end of the base. A first end of the cylindrical rod passes through the first perpendicular segment and can be used to rotate the cylindrical rod. One end of the construction plans can be folded and inserted into a longitudinal groove that exists in the cylindrical rod. Optionally, a peg removably fits into an opening transversely located in the rod to prevent the rod from slipping from its intended position; and magnets may be attached to the bottom of the base to hold it releasably on a motor vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a visual display device that has a holding member, a cassette that can be removably inserted into and removed from the holding member and an arrangement for displaying a banner, photomural display panel or other display media. There is also provided a mechanism in the cassette for holding the banner, photomural display panel or other visual display media.

Abstract: A combination gift container and photo album includes a housing defining a chamber therein and having a slot-shaped opening in an outer surface thereof and in communication with the chamber. An inner spindle is carried by the housing in the chamber, and a medium is connected to the inner spindle to be wound around the inner spindle and withdrawn from the chamber via the slot-shaped opening in the outer surface of the housing. The medium includes a greeting card, and a plurality of pockets, preferably transparent pockets, connected together lengthwise. Each of the pockets has an appropriate size to selectively receive a monetary gift and a photograph. The monetary gift preferably comprises paper money, checks or gift certificates. The recipient of the gift would withdraw the medium while reading the greeting card and seeing the money contained in the pockets.

Abstract: A printing composition that is adapted for printing on computer printers and the like. The printing composition includes a backing sheet and a printing sheet. The printing sheet includes an electret which is reversibly bound to the backing sheet. In one embodiment of the invention, the printing sheet is coated with an ink absorbing coating. The electret can be constructed from materials such as polypropylene or polyethylene that have been subjected to electrostatic fields.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies are described for displaying interchangeable graphics sheets on a display face of a merchandise cabinet such as a vending machine. The interchangeable sheets are stored on spool assemblies disposed within the cabinet and may be either manually or automatically manipulated in order to selectively register different graphics sheets within the display face of the vending machine. In a first embodiment, the graphics sheets have adhesive areas thereon in order to attach an old graphic sheet to a new graphic sheet to unwind the new graphic sheet from the spool assembly and position it into the display field on the face of the vending machine. The old graphics sheet functions as a leader for the new graphics sheet. In a second embodiment, the graphics sheets are provided with tear-off flexible leaders which are utilized to unwind the sheets from the storage spool assemblies and to position the graphics sheet into registry with the display fields on the face of the vending machine.

Abstract: A pull-down display that can be mounted, for example, in the price strip on a shelf, or on a shopping cart is a two piece plastic material that is self coiling so that the display media will roll itself up after being pulled down and then released. One of the two pieces of display media is securely fastened to a mounting bracket at one end and is attached to a tube at the other end. The other piece of display media is loosely or slidably attached to the mounting bracket and is attached to the tube at the other end. A display or advertisement is placed between the two pieces of self-coiling display media and prevented from upward movement by a retainer strip when the display media is coiling upward.

Abstract: A chart holding arrangement is provided for nautical charts, wherein one end of the chart is secured to an elongated, hollow support and the other end is secured to a rigid strip. This allows the chart to be easily viewed in extended (flat) form in the absence of a flat surface to spread out the chart. After use, the chart is rolled around the support for safe storage.

Abstract: A forklift truck which includes a chassis (10) and a housing (12). Two parallel spaced wheel arms are attached to the chassis. The housing includes a battery-operated driving motor as well as a hydraulic lift. A pole (16) including control means for the control of said motor and said hydraulic lift is connected to a stand (203), the stand being rotatably mounted about a vertical axis and connected to a driving wheel (202). A monomast (20) is arranged centrally between the wheel arms and integral with the housing, the monomast have front and back sides, the back side facing the pole. A carriage (22) for a load fork is attached to the hydraulic lift. A box-shaped cover is attached to the back side of the monomast, and the pole is arranged asymmetrically with respect to the monomast.

Abstract: A large poster mounting frame is provided for displaying a poster along the wall of a building structure. The poster mounting frame comprises a pair of vertical side guide rails and a support rail extending between and connecting the two side guide rails. The frame can be mounted directly on the side of the building structure. The rails have a U-shaped cross-section with the open portion facing inwardly to form a continuous channel. A pair of grooved wheels are rotatably mounted on the support rail and hoist lines are directed over the grooved wheels and are connected to an upper poster carrying rail attached to the upper edge of a large poster. The lower edge of the poster includes a lower carrying rail. The hoist lines are used to raise the poster along with the upper and lower carrying rail into sliding contact with the side guide rails of the frame until the poster is securely mounted and displayed within the frame.

Abstract: An advertising display device and method of manufacturing such which takes the form of a cylindrical housing which has an internal chamber. A sheet member is wound on a roller and is contained within the internal chamber. This sheet member is to be manually extendable from the housing with advertising indicia that is located on the sheet member to then being capable of being read by a human. The housing is to be attached to the front end of a product supporting shelf within a store. During manufacturing of the device, a mechanical tool is to be attachable to the roller for the purpose of winding the sheet member on the roller producing bias in a windup spring.

Abstract: A selective information display device having a self-supporting frame comprising an upper magazine and a lower magazine adapted to store rolls containing rolled up informational posters, each poster equipped at one of its ends with an elastic return which ensures the rolling up of the poster inside its roll without any external action, and on the other end with an outer extract assembly allowing an opposing force of the elastic return to be counteracted, and the unrolling of the posters out of their rolls. The device also comprising at least one display window allowing the display of information on the poster unrolled behind it and at least one unwinder equipped with a pair of hooks arranged facing each other and acting to hook the outer extracting assembly for extracting the posters from their rolls, thus, ensuring the unrolling of one poster behind the window at the same time as the rolling up of another poster having just been displayed.

Abstract: An information and advertising display uses a self-coiling display media that can be mounted, for example, in the price strip on a shelf, or on a shopping cart. The display media is a plastic material that is self coiling, coiling from bottom to top of the display, so that the display media will roll itself up after being pulled down and then released. The display media is securely fastened to a mounting bracket at one end and is attached to a tube at the other end. A pull-down handle is loosely mounted in the tube so that the display media will coil around the tube when released.

Abstract: A new novelty greeting card for providing an amusing illustration therein. The inventive device includes front and back panels pivotally coupled together. The inner side of the back panel has a primary illustration with a plurality of images depicted in a first pose. An animation sheet is positioned on the inner side of the back panel such that the animation sheet covers the primary illustration. One end edge of the animation sheet is coupled to the inner side of the back panel. The animation sheet has a secondary illustration with a plurality of images depicting the images of the primary illustration in a second pose. The other end edge of the animation sheet is coupled to an elongate rod and then rolled about the rod towards the front panel into a cylindrical roll.

Abstract: In a data carrier (10) suitable for always taking along with oneself, personal data of the user such as name, date of birth, blood group, size, particular traits such as permanent medication needs, allergies or the like, are recorded on a spring steel strip (11) that may be wound into a flat, can-like case (12) like that of a measuring tape. The letters and numbers of which the information (14) recorded on the spring steel strip (11) is composed are cut into the strip as recesses with the contour of the letters and numbers by a laser cutting process. The case (12) may be designed as the head of the ignition key of a vehicle, the key bit (23) being fixedly inserted into a block-like extension (22) of the case (12).

Abstract: A road sign having a message displayed on a soft reflective plastics material which is attached to a net fabric, preferable a PVC plastics. The net material is attached to a frame structure including a first bar connected at one end of the net and a second bar connected at an opposite end of the net. The net is wound around a roller proximate one of the bars. The bars are biased apart by spring biased folding arms. The device thereby can be raised to an open position by the spring force. Further, a hand crank, or a motor, and also a remote control, can be included for manipulation of the sign, such as to a closed position.

Abstract: A Portable signaling device comprises a housing having a first face and a second face, the housing being provided with a first opening in the first face and a second opening in the second face. The first opening is smaller than the second opening. A lamp is mounted to the housing for motion between a first position in which the lamp is oriented towards the first opening and a second position in which the lamp is oriented towards an interior of the housing. A shifting component is movably mounted to the housing and engageable with a lamp mount for operating on the mount to move the lamp between the first position and the second position. An electric power supply is provided in the housing. Contacts are provided in the housing for operatively connecting the power supply to the lamp at the first position and the second position only. At other positions of the lamp, the lamp is disconnected from the power supply and is therefore de-energized.

Abstract: A display supported on the roof comprising a case and a flexible panel. House number indicia is on the panel. The case is connected to the roof of a house structure and the panel is movable from a storage position wherein the panel is disposed in the case to a display position wherein the panel extends a distance from the space so that the house number indicia is observable or visible from a position above the roof.

Abstract: A display supported on the roof comprising a case and a flexible panel. House number indicia is on the panel. The case is connected to the roof of a house structure and the panel is movable from a storage position wherein the panel is disposed in the case to a display position wherein the panel extends a distance from the space so that the house number indicia is observable or visible from a position above the roof.

Abstract: Writing apparatus includes flexible electret film, capable of being erasably written upon with dry erase markers, as a writing medium. The apparatus includes a roll of electret film in a receptacle, brackets for mounting the receptacle to a wall or a conventional flip chart stand, and a cutter to separate the material into sheets.

Abstract: An advertising and information display includes a mounting bracket for attaching the display to a conventional retail shelving unit or other structural support, a fixed carrier for holding a relatively small, continuously displayed information medium, and a flexible, user-operable, automatically-retracting carrier for holding a substantially larger, intermittently displayed information medium. The fixed carrier holds a removable user-enticing placard that does not interfere visually or physically with nearby exhibits or products located on that or adjacent shelves. The flexible carrier is preferably a plastic, cloth, or paper sheet which is mounted behind the fixed carrier on a spring-loaded roller or other automatically retracting storage device. A brake preferably controls retraction speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a flexible, rollable document comprises a pair of tubular members each of which has an axially extending slot therein which communicates with a cylindrical bore open at both of its ends and into which such document may be introduced in rolled form. The slot communicates with the bore along a line which is tangential to the inner surface of the bore.

Abstract: A card display apparatus (10) for mounting greeting cards (11) is disclosed which comprises a mounting member (12) and an adjustable strip (14) having perforations (16) therein. The strip (14) is mountable on and is extendable from and retractable into the mounting member (12). A fastener (18) fastens a card (11) to one of the perforations (16) in the strip (14) to display the card.

Abstract: A clip-carrying bookmarker the clip of which is adapted to be held on a cover of a book and extends downward from a strap storage box having a strap withdrawal port from which a strap provided in a wound state in the box and having a tag at the free end portion thereof can be drawn out to a desired length. After the strap has been drawn out to an arbitrary length, the tag is released from the fingers of a user, a pair of ratchets provided in the strap storage box are engaged to prevent a strap feed and take-up drum provided in the same box from being turned. Accordingly, the strap drawn out to a desired length is maintained as it is, the strap being then inserted between pages of an object book. When an operating shaft member projecting outward from a side wall of the strap storage box is pressed, the ratchets are disengaged from each other, so that the strap feed and take-up drum is rendered rotatable to enable the length of the strap drawn out to be reduced, and the strap to be rewound.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as a calendar comprising: a flexible member on which is located a calendar element including calendar information on a plurality of dates; a spool associated with the flexible member and around which the flexible member is capable of being wound; and an activator associated with the spool and capable of being activated to wind and unwind the flexible member around the spool.

Abstract: A demountable road sign intended primarily for transient utilization includes a collapsible ground engaging support, a pivoted pantograph-type frame and a rolled, self-storing sign. The support preferably includes an elongate rod or similar structure which may be maintained in a vertical orientation by a plurality of attached legs. The legs are movable from a stored position generally adjacent the elongate rod to a deployed position in which they extend uniformly and obliquely away from the rod and engage the ground. Suitable structures for receiving the elongate rod support and securing the frame thereto form a portion of the frame. The frame includes a pair of preferably equal length arms pivotally interconnected at their mid points and a sign receiving device disposed on one end of each arm. The ends of the arms are interconnected by a pair of shorter pivoted arms.

Abstract: A roller-type map or shade holder is provided which is operated by an electric motor. In one embodiment, a simple drive clutch arrangement decouples the motor drive shaft from the map roller when the map is fully unwound or rewound.

Abstract: An information device comprises a relatively rigid support portion suitable for attachment to a person, animal or object, and a relatively flexible information label secured to the relatively rigid support portion. The secured label is extendable in use into an open state and also storable into a closed state either adjacent to or around the support portion. A cover member is provided to contain said secured label when stored relative the support portion.

Abstract: A dynamic display system in which a visual display is changeable in accordance with the vertical movement of an elevator. The display system is adapted for use in combination with a conventional elevator assembly having an elevator shaft, an elevator cab which is moveable within the shaft, and an elevator well at the bottom of the shaft. A display banner or the like is coupled at one end thereof to the underside of the elevator cab and at the other end thereof to a drum within the elevator well. As the elevator cab rises within the shaft, the display banner is pulled out from the elevator well so that the information printed on the display banner is gradually exposed as the banner ascends from the well. As the elevator cab descends, the banner retracts into the elevator well. In another embodiment, a bank of light generating devices, such as lasers or the like, housed within the elevator well, emits light beams into the elevator shaft.

Abstract: A roller apparatus is provided for a flexible web such as a map, chart, window shade or the like which is provided on at least one free margin thereof with a rigid, elongated holder element of predetermined cross-sectional dimensions which are substantially greater than the thickness of the flexible webbing material. The roller apparatus comprises a rigid, elongated tubular roll of substantially greater dimensions than the predetermined cross-sectional dimensions of the holder element and including a longitudinal through slot of a cross-sectional dimension smaller than that of the holder element and greater than the thickness of the web. An end cap is non-rotatably attached to either end of the tubular roll.

Abstract: This invention relates to a simple, inexpensive calendar sheet and holder, intended as an appointment type where notations may be made in each day box, that has as its feature a continuous week by week display covering several, say 5, weeks at a time. Preferably one plus calendar years are printed on a continuous roll of paper so that as each week ends it is pulled so that successive weeks, one per line, are exposed and the used portion may be torn-off. The flat calendar holder is of simple, preferably one piece, construction, which has a unitary chamber to hold the calendar roll and an aperture to expose the calendar sheet.

Abstract: A combination building permit display device and rolled blueprint holder is provided. The permit and the blueprints are protected from the elements and yet are readily accessible by authorized persons, such as the building inspectors. The base member of the device is formed by a single sheet of plastic and the translucent cover sheet for the permit is mounted by slots cut in a raised frame on the base member. A holder tube stores the rolled blueprints adjacent the permit and the tube is closed at the top for protection from the weather. Ring brackets or, in the alternative, hook brackets mount the tube for quick removal and replacement. A raised reinforcement rail is provided along the side of the base member adjacent the tube.