GB2374518A

GB2374518A - Display panel

Info

Publication number: GB2374518A
Application number: GB0114516A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beaugie John Mcnicholl
Original assignee: NEAT CONCEPTS Ltd
Current assignee: NEAT CONCEPTS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-20
Filing date: 2001-06-14
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-14
Also published as: GB2374518B; GB0109767D0; GB0114516D0

Abstract

A hole or slot 2 extends into a board 1 from its front surface 3. The rear end of the slot 2 is covered by an inlay 6 inserted in a recess or groove 7 in the rear surface 8 of the board 1. The slot 2 is undercut and receives a fixing 12 for suspending an article. The inlay 7, which is visible through the slot 2, may be opaque, translucent, or transparent, and may be coloured.

Description

DISPLAY PANEL This invention relates to a display panel having at least one hole, in particular a slot, in its front surface.

Such a display panel is suitable for accepting various interchangeable fittings for holding articles. Articles are displayed for various purposes, in particular for sale in retail shops.

The present invention provides a display panel comprising a board having a front surface and a rear surface. At least one hole extends into the board from the front surface. The rear end of the hole is covered by an inlay inserted in a recess in the rear surface of the board.

The inlay is visible from the front of the display panel, through the hole. It can be made of any suitable material. It may be coloured. It may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. It may comprise several parts which can be inserted successively.

The recess in the rear surface may be undercut, preferably obliquely, the inlay preferably being bevelled to match the undercut.

The hole may be of any suitable size, shape, and orientation. Preferably, the hole is in the form of a slot. The vertical dimension of the hole or slot preferably increases in the rearward direction; in particular, the hole or slot is preferably undercut.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a display panel; Figure 2 is a front view of the display panel with articles displayed on it;

Figures 3 and 4 are front views of alternative embodiments of the display panel; Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through part of the display panel; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a fixing attached to the display panel; Figures 7 to 11 are views similar to Figure 5, showing alternative embodiments of the display panel; and Figure 12 is a rear view corresponding to Figure 11.

The display panel shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a board 1 made of a wood-based material such as medium density fibreboard. The board illustrated by way of example has dimensions of 2440 mm x 1220 mm x 18 mm. Sixteen horizontal slots 2 extend into the board 1 from its front surface 3, the height of each slot at its front entrance being 10 mm, for example. Each slot 2 has a front portion 2a and a rear portion 2b of greater vertical width, so that a flange 4 is defined above and below the entrance of the slot.

The rear end of each slot 2 is covered by an inlay in the form of a strip 6 of plastics material (or other suitable material) accommodated in a recess in the form of a groove 7 in the rear surface 8 of the board 1. The slots 2 and grooves 7 are formed by milling, and one groove 7 (and associated strip 6) can cover two slots 2 aligned end-to-end. The strip 6 is attached to the base and/or sidewalls of the groove 7 by an adhesive.

The strip 6 is preferably coloured, incorporating a pigment or being coated on its front surface, for example, and may be opaque; however, it may instead be transparent or translucent, in which case the display panel could be advantageously illuminated from behind. The primary purposes of the strip 6 are to obscure objects behind the display panel and to be a decorative feature, being visible through the slot 2.

Figures 2 and 6 show how an article 9, in this case a garment on a hanger 11, is displayed by being hung on a fixing 12 which rests on the lower flange 4 at the entrance of the slot 2 and engages behind the upper flange 4. The slot 2 is suitable for use with standard interchangeable fixings for conventional slotted display panels.

Figures 3 and 4 show display panels with 4 slots and 56 slots respectively, the panels being otherwise as described above.

Figures 7 to 11 show examples of alternative configurations of the slot 2 and groove 7.

A preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 11 and 12, in which the groove 7 is obliquely undercut and the strip consists of portions 6a to 6c which are bevelled at each upper and lower edge surface to match the oblique undercutting of the groove 7. A portion 7a of the groove 7 (at least equal in length to each strip portion 6a-c) has an edge which is not undercut. The strip portions 6a, 6c are successively inserted into the groove portion 7a and slid sideways to the positions shown in Figure 12. Then the strip portion 6b is fitted into the groove portion 7a and secured by adhesive. (The rounded ends of the groove 7, which is formed by a circular cutting tool, are not filled by the strip portions 6a, 6c. ) A hole 12 can be drilled at any place in any of the strip portions so that a screw (or other fixing) can penetrate it, for fixing the display panel to any support placed behind it.

The skilled reader will appreciate that other configurations are practicable. Various other modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. The strip 6 may be made of any suitable plastics material or other material. It may be a friction fit in the groove 7, i. e. without adhesive. The board I may be of any suitable material. Its front surface 3 may have a covering or coating; for example, it may be painted or have a plastics coating.

Claims

Claims:

1. A display panel comprising a board having a front surface and a rear surface, at least one hole extending into the board from the front surface, the rear end of the hole being covered by an inlay inserted in a recess in the rear surface of the board.

2. A display panel as claimed in claim 1, in which the vertical dimension of the hole increases in the rearward direction.

3. A display panel as claimed in claim 2, in which the hole is undercut.

4. A display panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the hole is a slot.

5. A display panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the recess is undercut.

6. A display panel as claimed in claim 5, in which the recess is obliquely undercut.

7. A display panel as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the recess is elongate and the insert comprises several parts successively inserted into the recess.

8. A display panel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which two said holes communicate with a common recess in the rear surface of the board.

9. A display panel as claimed in claim 8, in which the common recess contains a single insert covering the respective rear ends of both holes.

10. A display panel as claimed in any preceding claim, including at least one fixing engaged in the at least one hole, for hanging an article on the front of the display panel.

11. A display panel substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10, or Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.