Display device

Abstract

To provide a display device which can be used even when turned upside down and in that case, enables a solar panel to be easily oriented in an optimal direction. [Solution] The display device 1 can be used with either the top or bottom of the display unit 2 facing up, and is equipped with a solar panel mounting portion 9 to which a solar panel 8 is attached, and an arm 10 having the solar panel mounting portion 9 at one end and the other end attached to the back of the display unit 2 so as to be rotatable in the top-bottom direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device that is installed on a road or the like to provide directional guidance and warnings to drivers of moving vehicles and pedestrians. [Background technology]

[0002] During road construction or accident response, it is necessary to install indicators such as arrows on the road to show drivers of vehicles and pedestrians the way forward. In this case, light-emitting devices such as LEDs are sometimes placed on the indicators to attract attention. Since such display devices are used outdoors, it is convenient to use a solar power generation device as the power source for the light emitters.

[0003] However, due to construction or accident conditions, the route to follow is not fixed, and the direction indicated by the arrow or the like is often reversed. Since it is not economical to prepare a display device facing left and a display device facing right, one type of display device is usually used upside down. However, the solar panel of the solar power generation device that supplies power to the light-emitting body must have its light-receiving surface facing the sun, so if the display device is turned upside down, the light-receiving surface will face downwards and power generation will be impossible.

[0004] Patent document 1 discloses a display device that can be installed on roads, etc. and can be used upside down. The display has a panel attached to a frame, an arrow is displayed on one side of the panel, a light-emitting unit is installed in the display, and a solar unit supplies power to the light-emitting unit. This display device has unit mounting brackets on each of the two long sides of the frame, and the solar unit can be attached to either of these unit mounting brackets. Regardless of which long side of the frame is on top, the solar panel can be attached so that the light-receiving surface faces upwards. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-27058 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Display devices such as that described in Patent Document 1 above have the disadvantage that replacing the solar unit is time-consuming, as the solar unit can be attached and detached by engaging a mounting member protruding from the back of the solar unit with a slit formed in the unit mounting bracket and loosening and tightening screws on the mounting member. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a display device that can be used even when upside down, and in that case, the solar panel can be oriented in the optimal direction with a simple operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The device of claim 1 of the present application is a display device that can be used with either the top or bottom of the display unit facing up, and is characterized by comprising a solar panel mounting portion to which a solar panel is attached, and an arm having the solar panel mounting portion at one end and the other end attached to the back of the display unit so as to be rotatable in the top-bottom direction.

[0008] The device according to claim 2 of the present application is the display device described in claim 1, characterized in that the arm is attached so that the solar panel mounting portion can rotate in the top-to-bottom direction and is extendable and contractible.

[0009] The device according to claim 3 of the present application is the display device described in claim 2, characterized in that the arm retracts until the solar panel is contained inside the top and bottom directions of the display unit when viewed from the front.

[0010] The device of claim 4 of the present application is a display device as described in claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the solar panel mounting portion is rotatably attached to the arm from a position where the solar panel faces the front when the arm is rotated toward the top to a position where the solar panel faces the front when the arm is rotated toward the bottom.

[0011] The device of claim 5 of the present application is a display device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the solar panel mounting portion has a regulating portion that engages with the top or bottom of the display portion to regulate the rotation of the arm.

[0012] The device of claim 6 of the present application is a display device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the display unit has a cavity into which the solar panel can be inserted when facing forward, and a plurality of support legs that support the display unit in a tilted position, and the length of the support legs is longer than the thickness of the solar panel. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to this invention, depending on the direction that the display unit is to show, regardless of whether the top or bottom of the display device is facing up, the arm can be rotated relative to the display unit and the light-receiving surface of the solar panel attached to the solar panel mounting part can be directed toward the sun, without the need for the troublesome task of changing the solar panel.

[0014] In addition, since the arm is attached so that the solar panel mounting portion can rotate from top to bottom and is extendable and contractible, the light receiving surface of the solar panel can be directed toward the sun even more efficiently.

[0015] In addition, if the arm is retracted until the solar panel fits inside the top and bottom of the display unit when viewed from the front, it can be folded up compactly for easy storage and the solar panel protruding from the display unit can be prevented from colliding with people or objects and being damaged.

[0016] In addition, the solar mounting portion is rotatably attached to the arm from a position where the solar panel faces the front when the arm is rotated toward the top to a position where the solar panel faces the front when the arm is rotated toward the bottom, so that the light receiving surface of the solar panel can be reliably faced toward the sun regardless of whether the display device is installed with the top or bottom side facing up.

[0017] In addition, the solar panel mounting portion has a regulating portion that engages with the top or bottom of the display portion to regulate the rotation of the arm, so that the solar panel can be stably supported in a position with the light receiving surface facing the sun.

[0018] In addition, if the display unit is provided with a cavity into which the solar panel can fit, and multiple support legs that support the display unit in a tilted position, and the length of the support legs is made longer than the thickness of the solar panel, then when the solar panel is fitted into the cavity and folded, and the display unit is tilted down for storage, the solar panel will be supported in a floating position above the installation surface, preventing damage to the solar panel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention in use; [Diagram 2] 1 is a front view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention in use; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a stored state; [Figure 4] 1 is a side view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention in use; [Diagram 5] 1 is a side view of a display device in a stored state according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a solar unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a solar unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a display device according to an embodiment in a used state, FIG. 2 is a front view of the display device in a used state, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the display device in a stored state, FIG. 4 is a side view of the display device in a used state, FIG. 5 is a side view of the display device in a stored state, FIG. 6 is an oblique view of a solar unit according to an embodiment as viewed from the front, and FIG. 7 is an oblique view of the solar unit as viewed from the back.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in this embodiment, the display device 1 is a sign installed on a road to inform traveling cars and pedestrians of the direction of travel.

[0022] The display unit 2 includes a frame 4, a display panel 5, a plurality of light-emitting elements 6, and a dry cell mounting portion 7. The frame 4 is formed by assembling four round pipes into a substantially rectangular shape, with one of the two long sides forming the top part T and the other forming the bottom part B.

[0023] Support legs 40 are attached to the four corners of the front surface of the frame 4 so as to protrude toward the front side at approximately right angles to the surface including the frame 4. Further, at both ends of each side of the frame 4, corner guards 41 for protecting the corners of the frame 4 are provided so as to protrude outward.

[0024] A roughly U-shaped opening / closing frame 42 is installed between the two long sides on the rear side of the frame body 4. Mounting brackets 43 are fixed to both ends of the opening / closing frame 42, and the mounting brackets 43 are rotatably attached to the center of the two long sides via screw shafts 44 parallel to the short sides of the frame body 4. As a result, the opening / closing frame 42 can rotate between a folded state parallel to the frame body 4 (FIGS. 3 and 5) and a state in which it protrudes at a right angle from the rear side of the frame body 4 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The sides of the opening / closing frame 42 in the direction toward the top and bottom are slightly shorter than the length of the short sides of the frame body 4, and the lengths of both sides that intersect with this are slightly shorter than half the length of the long sides of the frame body 4. Since the sides of the opening / closing frame 42 in the direction toward the top and bottom are slightly shorter than the length of the short sides of the frame body 4, when the opening / closing frame 42 is folded parallel to the frame body 4, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening / closing frame 42 is stored compactly without protruding above the frame body 4.

[0025] 1 and 2, the display panel 5 is formed by attaching an arrow-shaped panel 51, which is slightly smaller than the base panel 50, to one surface of a substantially arrow-shaped base panel 50. It is desirable to paint the front surface of the arrow-shaped panel 51 in a highly visible color such as red.

[0026] The length and height of the base panel 50 are approximately the same as the length (distance between the short sides) and height (distance between the long sides) of the frame body 4, and the base panel 50 is attached to the frame body 4 with its longitudinal direction aligned and the arrow-shaped panel 51 facing forward. The base panel 50 is formed in a substantially arrow shape, and a space S is formed between the long side of the frame 4 and the base portion (rod-shaped portion) of the base panel 50 .

[0027] The light emitters 6 are LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and are arranged on the surface of the arrow-shaped panel 51 along its contour. The light emitter 6 emits light using power supplied from a dry battery attached to the dry battery attachment section 7 or from the solar unit 3. Also, instead of dry batteries, a storage battery may be attached to the dry battery attachment section 7 and charged from the solar unit 3, and the light emitter 6 may be made to emit light using power from the storage battery.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the dry battery attachment section 7 is box-shaped with an opening on the rear side and is provided in the center of the rear side of the base panel 50. The dry battery can be inserted and removed by opening the openable lid 70.

[0029] The solar unit 3 is connected to the dry battery mounting portion 7 via a lead wire 30 . As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the solar unit 3 comprises a solar panel 8, a solar panel mounting portion 9 to which the solar panel 8 is attached, two parallel arms 10 supporting the solar panel mounting portion 9, and a main body portion 11 having a control unit that controls the light emission of the light-emitting body 6.

[0030] The solar panel 8 is formed in the shape of a panel by housing a solar cell that converts solar energy into electricity and / or a storage unit (not shown) that stores the electricity converted by the solar cell inside a box body 80 with an open surface, and covering the surface of the box body 80 with a transparent cover 81 to form a light-receiving surface. The planar area of ​​the solar panel 8 is sized to fit into the space S formed between the long side of the frame 4 and the base panel 50 (FIGS. 3 and 5).

[0031] The solar panel mounting portion 9 is made of a flat plate, and the back surface of the box 80 of the solar panel 8 is attached to its front surface. Furthermore, a pair of parallel protrusions 90 are provided on both sides of the rear surface of the solar panel mounting portion 9 with a gap slightly wider than the width of the main body portion 11 . At the center of the front and rear end faces of the solar panel mounting portion 9, a claw-shaped restricting portion 91 is formed which protrudes at a right angle toward the rear surface side.

[0032] The arm 10 has a solar panel mounting portion 9 at one end, and the other end is attached to the back surface of the display unit 2 so as to be rotatable in the top-to-bottom direction.

[0033] The arm 10 is formed by stacking a band-shaped base-side arm 100 and a tip-side arm 101 on top of each other and slidably inserting them into a flat cylinder 102. The base-side arm 100 and the tip-side arm 101 are respectively formed with long holes 100', 101' along the longitudinal direction, and a fixing screw 103 is inserted into the cylinder 102 and the long holes 100', 101'. The fixing screw 103 functions to prevent the base end arm 100 and the tip end arm 101 from coming loose, and also functions as a guide for extension and retraction in cooperation with the cylindrical body 102.

[0034] By loosening the fixing screw 103, the base end arm 100 and the tip end arm 101 can be slid to extend or retract the arm 10, and by tightening the fixing screw 103, the arm 10 can be fixed at that length. It is also possible to manually extend and retract arm 10 and adjust the tightness of fixing screw 103 so that the arm will stay in position even if you let go of it.

[0035] A protrusion 90 provided on the back surface of the solar panel mounting portion 9 is attached to the tip of each of the two tip-side arms 101 so as to be rotatable about a first axis 104 perpendicular to the axis of the two arms 10. The base ends of the two base-side arms 100 are inserted between both side surfaces of the main body 11 and upright plates 106 arranged on both sides of the main body 11, and are attached to the upright plates 106 so as to be rotatable around a second axis 105 parallel to the first axis 104. Furthermore, the rotation of the solar panel mounting portion 9 relative to the arm 10 and the rotation of the arm 10 relative to the standing plate 106 can be stopped at each predetermined angle and then further rotated from the stopped state by forcibly applying a force, allowing the arm 10 and solar panel 8 to be maintained stably at various angles.

[0036] In Figure 4, the solid lines show the state in which the arm 10 has rotated to the top and extended to the maximum extent, with the solar panel mounting portion 9 facing the solar panel 8 upward, and the dashed lines show the state in which the arm 10 has rotated to the bottom and retracted, with the solar panel mounting portion 9 facing the solar panel 8 forward.

[0037] The control unit of the main body 11 switches the light emitter 6 on and off, blinks the light emitter 6, etc., by manually operating a switch. A flange 110 projects from the periphery of the main body 11, and the solar unit 3 is attached to the rear surface of the base of the display panel 5 via this flange 110, as shown in FIG.

[0038] The solar unit 3 is attached so that the first axis 104, which is the rotation center of the solar panel mounting part 9, and the second axis 105, which is the rotation center of the arm 10, are perpendicular to the top-bottom direction of the display device 1 and the front-back direction of the display part 2. This allows the arm 10 and the solar panel 8 to rotate in the top-bottom direction.

[0039] The arm 10 can be retracted until the solar panel 8 is accommodated inside the top and bottom directions of the display unit 2 when viewed from the front, regardless of the position of the solar panel 8 and the arm 10. The rotation range of the arm 10 in the top-bottom direction is a range in which the tip of the arm 10 abuts against the rear surface of the display unit 2 at the top T and bottom B, respectively.

[0040] The rotation range of the solar panel mounting part 9 in the top-bottom direction is from a position where the back surface of the solar panel mounting part 9 abuts against one surface of the arm 10 (the surface that faces the front when the arm 10 is rotated to its limit in the top direction) to a position where it abuts against the other surface of the arm 10 (the surface that faces the front when the arm 10 is rotated to its limit in the bottom direction). Therefore, the solar panel 8 mounted on the solar panel mounting part 9 can be rotated from a position that faces the front when the arm 10 is rotated in the top direction to a position where it can face the front even when the arm 10 is rotated in the bottom direction.

[0041] When using the display device 1, either the top part T or the bottom part B is placed up, depending on the direction indicated by the arrow on the display panel 5. When the top portion T is to be placed upward, the arm 10 is rotated toward the top portion.

[0042] 4, the length of the arm 10 is adjusted to match the distance from the mounting portion of the arm 10 to the standing board 106 to the top T, and further, the solar panel mounting portion 9 is rotated so that the light receiving surface of the solar panel 8 faces upward, the angle between the solar panel 8 and the display panel 5 is set to a substantially right angle, and one of the restricting portions 91 of the solar panel mounting portion 9 is engaged with the surface of the long side of the top side of the frame body 4. Then, the rotation of the solar panel mounting portion 9 and the arm 10 is restricted, and they are stably maintained in that position.

[0043] Next, the opening / closing frame 42 is rotated to extend perpendicularly to the plane including the frame body 4, the top part T and the light receiving surface of the solar panel 8 are placed facing up, and the corner guards 41 of the frame body 4 protruding from the lower end of the opening / closing frame 42 and the bottom B are placed on the road, and the display device 1 is installed upright. Although the angle between the solar panel 8 and the display panel 5 is approximately a right angle, since the display panel 5 is installed at an angle due to the opening and closing frame 42, the solar panel 8 may be adjusted to face in the direction of the sun, such as directly upward, taking this into consideration.

[0044] When bottom B is placed on top, although not shown in the figure, bottom B is placed on the upper side, and the arm 10 is rotated toward the bottom in the same manner, and the solar panel mounting portion 9 is rotated so that the light receiving surface of the solar panel 8 is on the upper side, and the other regulating portion 91 of the solar panel mounting portion 9 is engaged with the surface of the bottom long side of the frame body 4. In addition, the opening / closing frame 42 is extended at a right angle from the frame body 4, and the bottom B and the light receiving surface of the solar panel are placed on the road with the opening / closing frame 42 and the corner guard 41 protruding from the top T, and the display device 1 is erected.

[0045] When storing the display device 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the restricting portion 91 is removed from the frame body 4, the solar panel mounting portion 9 is rotated so that the light receiving surface of the solar panel 8 faces forward, and the arm 10 is retracted to fit the solar panel 8 into the space S of the display portion 2. In addition, the opening and closing frame 42 is folded so as to be parallel to the four sides of the frame body 4. Then, the opening and closing frame 42 is stored inside the frame body 4.

[0046] In this state, the surface of the display unit 2 and the light receiving surface of the solar panel 8 are laid down, and the support legs 40 provided on the four corners of the surface of the frame body 4 are placed on an installation surface such as a floor. Since the support legs 40 are longer than the thickness of the solar panel 8, the solar panel 8 is raised above the installation surface, and there is no need to worry about the solar panel 8 being scratched or damaged. In this state, if the light receiving surface of the solar panel 8 is placed facing upwards instead of downwards, it is also possible to store electricity.

[0047] [Other Modifications] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may also include the following, for example.

[0048] In this embodiment, the display panel is shaped like an arrow, but it may be shaped in other ways, such as a human figure.

[0049] The light emission pattern of the light emitter can be changed as appropriate. In this embodiment, the light emitter is caused to blink, but it is also possible to cause the light emitter to emit light sequentially from the base end of the arrow to the tip end.

[0050] In this embodiment, the U-shaped opening and closing frame is rotatably attached between the two long sides of the frame body, but this is not limited as long as it supports the display unit in an upright position. For example, a rod-shaped stand may be rotatably attached to the two short sides.

[0051] In this embodiment, the band-shaped base end arm and the tip end arm are slidably passed through the cylinder, the length of the arms are adjusted, and the arms are fixed with a fixing screw, but other structures are also possible, for example, the tip end arm is slidably fitted into the base end arm having a U-shaped cross section, the position of the tip end arm is adjusted, and the arm is fixed with a screw, etc. Also, although there are two arms, the number of arms can be set appropriately.

[0052] In this embodiment, the display device is used by rotating the arm to its top or bottom limit and rotating the solar panel mounting part so that the solar panel is perpendicular to the display panel; however, the angle of the arm and the angle of the solar panel mounting part can be changed so that the light receiving surface of the solar panel faces in the optimal direction depending on the position of the sun.

[0053] The light emitter can be manually switched between emitting light using electricity generated by the solar panel or using electricity from a dry cell stored in the dry cell mounting section, but it may also be designed to automatically be powered by the dry cell when the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel is insufficient. Although the power from the dry cell is sent to the main body of the solar unit through the lead wire, a storage type dry cell may be stored in the dry cell attachment section and the power generated by the solar panel may be stored in this dry cell. Also, the power stored in the storage battery of the solar panel may be sent to the main body of the solar unit through the dry cell attachment section.

[0054] In this embodiment, the power generated by the solar panel is power for emitting light to the display device, but this is not limited to this, and the solar panel may generate power for driving the display device, for example, when the display device has a movable part.

[0055] In this embodiment, the solar panel mounting portion provided at one end of the arm is rotatably mounted, and the arm is extendable and retractable, but this is not limited thereto. The solar panel mounting portion provided at one end of the arm may not rotate, the arm may not extend and retract, and the other end of the arm may be provided at the back of the display unit rotatably in the top and bottom directions. Even in this case, by rotating one end around the other end as the rotation axis regardless of whether the top or bottom of the display unit is on the upper side, the solar panel can be faced upward without the need for troublesome work such as replacing the solar panel, and the light receiving surface of the solar panel can be faced toward the sun.

[0056] In this embodiment, the support legs are provided facing the front side of the display unit, but this is not limited to this. They may be provided facing the rear side. In this case, if the display device is placed on the support legs with the front side of the display unit and the light receiving surface of the solar panel facing up and the rear side facing down, electricity can be stored.

[0057] Each technical aspect of the embodiment may be applied to other modified examples to serve as examples. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Display device 2 Display section 3 Solar Unit 30 Lead Wire 4 Frame 40 Support legs 41 Corner Guard 42 Opening and closing frame 43 Mounting bracket 44 Screw shaft 5 Display Panel 50 Base Panel 51 Arrow-shaped panel 6. Luminous Object 7 Battery attachment section 70 Lid 8. Solar Panels 80 box body 81 Transparent cover 9 Solar panel mounting section 90 Projection piece 91 Regulatory Department 10 Arm 100 Base end arm 101 Tip arm 100',101' long hole 102 Cylinder 103 Fixing screw 104 First Axis 105 Second Axis 106 Standing board 11 Main body 110 Flange T Heaven B Bottom S Blank space

Claims

1. A display device that can be used with either the top or bottom of the display unit facing up, a solar panel mounting portion on which a solar panel is mounted; An arm having one end provided with the solar panel mounting portion and the other end attached to the back surface of the display unit so as to be rotatable in a top-to-bottom direction; A display device comprising:

2. The arm is attached so that the solar panel mounting portion can rotate in the top-bottom direction and is extendable and contractible. The display device according to claim 1 ,

3. The display device according to claim 2 , wherein the arm is retracted until the solar panel is accommodated inside the top and bottom of the display unit when viewed from the front.

4. The display device described in claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the solar panel mounting portion is rotatably attached to the arm from a position where the solar panel faces the front when the arm is rotated toward the top to a position where the solar panel faces the front when the arm is rotated toward the bottom.

5. 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the solar panel mounting portion has a restricting portion that engages with a top or bottom of the display portion to restrict rotation of the arm.

6. The display unit has a cavity into which the solar panel can be inserted with the solar panel facing forward; and a plurality of support legs for supporting the display unit in a tilted state.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the support legs is longer than a thickness of the solar panel.

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