ROTARY DISPLAY DEVICE

Technical field

The present invention relates to rotary devices for displaying an item while it is simultaneously rotated about two axes, for promotional purposes such as merchandising and the like.

Background of the Invention

WO 82/04469 describes a rotary display device with three rings mounted one within the other, to the innermost one of which a product may be mounted for display while it is rotated simultaneously about three axes. The outermost and middle rings are mounted to rotate together, their axes of rotation being mutually perpendicular. A drawback of this device is that it is relatively complex and costly to produce. Moreover, rotation of the outermost ring about an axis parallel to the plane of the ring, sweeps a relatively large spherical volume, thus necessitating a relatively large space for the display, regardless of the size of the item being displayed.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved rotary display device for displaying an item while it is simultaneously rotated about two axes.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a rotary display device including: a rotationally stationary mounting; a rotary ring mounted to the mounting to rotate about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rotary ring; first drive means for rotating the rotary ring; a second rotary member mounted to the rotary ring for rotation relative thereto about a second axis, and second drive means to rotate the second rotary member about the second axis.

Preferably the first drive means comprises a first annular gear mounted to the rotary ring, and a first pinion driven by a motor for rotation thereof.

The second drive means preferably cooperates with the mounting to rotate the second rotary member about the second axis. Preferably the second drive means comprises a second annular gear fixed to the mounting ring and a second pinion engaging the annular gear, the second pinion being drivingly engaged with the second rotary member for rotation thereof. It will be understood that this cooperation may be achieved in a number of other ways. In an alternative embodiment, for instance, the pinion may be replaced by a wheel which is rotated by direct engagement with the mounting ring. Preferably the second rotary member is fixed in journals mounted to diametrically opposed portions of the rotary ring. While the second rotary member may be fixed directly to the second pinion, in a preferred embodiment a drive gear is fixed to the second rotary member and drivingly engaged by an idler gear with the second pinion. The second rotary member preferably comprises an elongate shaft. Preferably the mounting includes a mounting ring within which the rotary ring is mounted. This invention provides a display device which is effective and efficient in operational use, having an overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs. The rotary ring mounted to rotate in this manner provides a frame within which a displayed item, mounted to the second rotary member, is received. With this mounting the diameter of the rotary ring does not define the space required for the display, which is determined instead by the size of the item displayed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a is a side view of the rotary display device of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Fig. 1 ;

Figure 3 is a partially cut away detail of the first drive means of the device of Fig. 1 ;

Figure 4 is a partially cut away detail of the second drive means of the device of Fig. 1;

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figs 1 and 2, a rotary display device 1 includes a rotationally stationary mounting 2 to which a rotary ring 8 is fixed. The mounting 2 includes a base portion 4, a pair of stanchion portions 5a, 5b and a mounting ring portion 3. The base portion 4 supports the display upright upon a horizontal surface, with the stanchion portions 5a, 5b connecting the base portion 4 to the mounting ring 3 such that the plane of the rotary ring 8 mounted thereto is substantially upright, a first axis 7 of the ring 8 extending horizontally, perpendicular to the plane 6. The rotary ring 8 is mounted adjacent to and inside the mounting ring 3 to rotate about the first axis 7. A second rotary member in the form of shaft 10 is mounted, generally at its opposing ends, to the rotary ring 8 for rotation therewith, while rotating about its longitudinal axis 18. An item 11 to be displayed in the device 1 is generally framed by the mounting ring 3 and rotary ring 8. The item 11 is preferably fixed at a central position on the shaft 10. As shown in Fig. 3, both the mounting ring 3 and rotary ring 8 are formed of a channel- shaped section having a pair of parallel flanges 12a, 12b which lie in a radially extending plane, being joined by a circumferentially extending web 13. The rotary ring 8 is supported on a plurality of circumferentially spaced roller assemblies 28. Each roller assembly 28 includes a U-shaped bracket 31 , the legs 32a, 32b of which are fixed to the web of the rotary ring 8. Mounted on each of the legs 32a, 32b are a pair of rollers 30a, 30b for engaging the inner faces of the flanges 12a, 12b of the mounting ring 2 while a third roller

30c is mounted between them for engaging an inner face of the web 12c of the mounting ring 2. A first annular gear 14 is mounted to an outer face 17 of the flange 12a of the rotary ring 8, and engages a first pinion 15 driven by a motor 16, such that the motor rotates the rotary ring 8. Referring to Fig. 4, the generally opposing ends of the shaft 10 are fixed in journals 19a, 19b secured to diametrically opposed portions 20a, 20b of a radially extending face 21 of the rotary ring 3. A second annular gear 22 is fixed to the adjacent radially extending face 23 of the mounting ring 8. A second pinion 24 and an idler gear 26 are both mounted to the journal 19b and enclosed by a cover 27. A drive gear 25 is fixed to the shaft 10 and drivingly engaged by the idler gear 26 with the second pinion 24 for rotating the shaft 10 about its

longitudinal axis 18 as the rotary ring 8 is rotated by the motor 16. In this manner the product 11 is simultaneously rotated about the orthogonal axes 7 and 18. Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.