Four-sided tabletop media display device

Abstract

A four-sided tabletop media display device with a case that has an upper case portion and a lower case portion, four electronic displays in the case and configured to display media outwardly in four directions around the device, wireless connectivity configured to receive media to be displayed, a user-operable device that is configured to allow a user to modify the media that is being displayed, and a power on / off switch.

Description

Four-Sided Tabletop Media Display DeviceCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of the following Provisional Patent Application, the disclosure of which being incorporated by reference herein, and for all purposes: Application 63 / 549,014, filed on February 2, 2024.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In some games it is desirable to display game pieces or other images that need to be visible to the players.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Featured in this disclosure is a four-sided tabletop media display device, sometimes called the “device.” In one aspect the four-sided tabletop display device includes a case comprising an upper case portion and a lower case portion, four electronic displays in the case and configured to display media outwardly in four directions around the device, wireless connectivity configured to receive media to be displayed, a user- operable device that is configured to allow a user modify the media that is being displayed, and a power on / off switch. The media is an external input that is selectable by the user via a control such as a push button that can cycle through multiple different external media inputs.

[0004] In some examples the device includes a decorative color ring proximate the bottom of the lower case portion. In an example the four displays are oriented at right angles to each other. In an example the device also includes lens / protector that is located in the case and over the four displays.

[0005] In an example the four displays are separate. In an example two or more of the displays are parts of a single flexible display assembly. In an example all four displays are parts of a single flexible display assembly.

[0006] In an example the lower case portion has four posts, each of which is configured to seat one of four legs of the upper case portion. In an example the device also includes a charging pad configured to be removably coupled to the case. In an example the chargingpad comprises a charging pad outer case with openings for power input connectors, and a male power output connector that is configured to be coupled to a mating female power input connector held in the lower case portion of the display device. In an example the charging pad includes magnetic connectors that allow the charging pad to be electrically coupled to one or more other charging pads, so that power to recharge batteries of the connected devices can be provided into one device and distributed to the other connected devices.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a four-sided tabletop media display device.

[0008] Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

[0009] Figure 3 is an exploded view of only the display portion of the device of Fig. 1.

[0010] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the device of Fig. 1.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Figures 1-4 are drawings and exploded views of the device 10. System 30 includes device 10 that is configured to sit on / be electrically coupled to charging pad 20.

[0012] Device 10 has four LCD displays to display media in four directions around the device. Each display can display something different, or not. Device 10 includes wireless connectivity (e.g., using Wi-Fi) to receive media to be displayed. This is located on PCB 44. Device 10 also has a sliding power switch 43 and a push button 52 located over switch 43. Button 52 is an "external input" that allows the user modify / change what is being displayed. Switch 43 and button 52 are connected to PCB 44. Battery 70 sits on PCB 44.

[0013] There is a decorative color square ring 54 at the bottom of the device.

[0014] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of just the device 10, and Fig. 4 is an exploded view with the device 10 and its charging pad 20.

[0015] Display assembly 40 includes four displays (e.g., LCD screens) oriented at right angles to each other, so that one display can be seen at each of the four sides, by four different people. Displays 41 and 42 are shown in Fig. 3. Top cover or case portion 68 is a molded plastic piece that fits over the displays, to protect them. Lower case portion 50 has four posts (e.g., post 53) each of which being configured to seat one of the four legsof upper case portion 68 (legs 60, 61 and 62 shown in Fig. 3), e.g., leg 62 seats in post 53, and fills cavity 51. Each leg is made up of two planar portions that are at right angles to each other such that they fit over the two adjacent portions of a post. For example, post 55 comprises portions 56 and 57. Framed window openings 64 and 66 are located near and around displays 41 and 42, respectively. These openings can be left open, or they can carry a clear lens or protective covering for the display located just behind the lens.

[0016] Charging pad 20 includes charging pad outer case 21 with openings 26 and 28. PCB 22 is seated / supported by internal structure 24, which fits inside of case 21. Male and female power input connectors 25 and 27 are accessible via openings 26 and 28. Power output connector 23 is configured to be coupled to a mating female power input connector (not shown) of PCB 44, Fig. 3, located in lower case portion 50, in order to charge battery 70. The lower side of PCB 44 has a magnetic connector (not shown) that connects it to the charging pad

[0017] The charging pad encloses a PCB 22 that allows it to take power in from a powered USB Type-C cable via a USB type-c female connector 29. The charging pad also has magnetic connectors (in one example consisting of one male and three female magnetic connectors) that allow the charging pad to connect to other charging pads of the same type, to power other charging pads or themselves. Once more than one charging pad is connected together and one is connected to a powered USB type-C cable, all connected devices to the connected charging pads can be charged using the single cable, to the limitations of the power provided and the requirement of the number of devices connected.

[0018] The four displays can be separate, or two or more of them can be parts of a display assembly. In one example the four displays can all be parts of a single display assembly.

[0019] The device is preferably small enough to sit on a tabletop or the like and can be used to display images from a game.

[0020] An example of how the device can be used is as a digital miniature display device, where it is used to display small figurines, like representations of people, places, or things, for tabletop games that can be moved around or changed to whatever the game requires. Or similarly like a game or player token that represents the placement of aplayer or character on a game board. The type of images that would be displayed would be player or enemy portraits that are used to represent game pieces, or in a non-gaming scenario it could be media of a person’s family, religion figure or iconography, favorite sports team, or any art that is favorable.

[0021] Due to how the device is enabled in one example, it requires the use of additional software to load media into the device’s memory storage via its wireless communication. This software (like a mobile or desktop application) can format media from an external source to a format readable / usable by the device (image file format, size, etc.), connect with the display device, and send it to the display device. This software is often hosted on an auxiliary computational device that has the required communication electronics to connect to the display device, such as a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. This software that interfaces with the display device also allows for remote control of the display device, for example, to select which media is being displayed and update the firmware of the device.

[0022] Having described above several aspects of at least one example, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only, and the scope of the invention should be determined from proper construction of the appended claims, and their equivalents.

Claims

Claims1. A four-sided tabletop media display device, comprising: a case comprising an upper case portion and a lower case portion; four electronic displays in the case and configured to display media outwardly in four directions around the device; wireless connectivity configured to receive media to be displayed; a user-operable device that is configured to allow a user to modify the media that is being displayed; and a power on / off switch.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a decorative color ring proximate the bottom of the lower case portion.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the four displays are oriented at right angles to each other.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lens / protector that is located in the case and over the four displays.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the lower case portion has four posts, each of which is configured to seat one of four legs of the upper case portion.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a charging pad configured to be removably coupled to the case.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the charging pad comprises a charging pad outer case with openings for power input connectors, and a male power output connector that is configured to be coupled to a mating female power input connector held in the lower case portion of the display device.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the charging pad further comprises one or more magnetic connectors that allow the charging pad to be electrically coupled to one or more other charging pads, so that power to recharge batteries of the connected devices can be provided into the charging pad of one device and distributed to the other magnetically connected devices.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the four displays are separate.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein two or more of the displays are parts of a single flexible display assembly.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein all four displays are parts of a single flexible display assembly.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the user-operable device that is configured to allow a user to modify the media that is being displayed comprises an external push button.

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