AU1188495A - Arthropoda mounting method and means - Google Patents

Description

ARTHROPODA MOUNTING METHOD AND MEANS Technical Field

This invention relates to a method and means for mounting and displaying specimens of the animal phylum Arthropoda, that is animals which have jointed limbs and a hard exoskeleton, for example arachnida, Crustacea, myriapoda and insecta. Background Art

Specimens of the animal phylum Arthropoda for display purposes are generally mounted on a backing board with the aid of a pin which pierces the body of the Arthropoda and holds the specimen to the board. Such methods are commonly used for displaying, for example butterflies or insects. In such displays, the backing board is usually provided within a display case or cabinet having a panel of transparent material such as glass through which the specimen can be viewed. A disadvantage of this arrangement however, is that only one side of the specimen can be viewed. Where for example the rear of a specimen is desired to be viewed along with the front of the specimen, usually two specimens are required to be provided and arranged side by side in opposite orientations. Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide a method for mounting a specimen of the animal phylum Arthropoda in such a manner as to provide extended visual access to the specimen. The present invention also aims to provide a specimen display unit in which a specimen may be mounted in accordance with the above described method. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides in a preferred aspect a method for mounting and displaying a specimen of the animal phylum Arthropoda, said method including the steps of providing at least one transparent panel, affixing a mounting member to said panel at the desired mounting position of said specimen_^ and pinning said specimen to said mounting member whereby said specimen is supported to said mounting member and panel.

The present invention in a further aspect provides a specimen display unit for mounting a specimen of the animal phylum Arthropoda, said display unit including a first transparent panel and a mounting member affixed to said panel at the desired mounting location of said specimen, said mounting member being adapted to receive a securing pin by which said specimen may be supported to said member and said panel.

Preferably the mounting member is formed of a material which permits a piercing pin to be forced into the member with light pressure, which may be applied by hand or with the aid of tools such as pliers. A typical material for the member may comprise natural or synthetic rubber, silicon, wood, moulded plastic resin or other relatively soft material. As an alternative, the material for the member may comprise a deposit of adhesive or resin or portion of a glue stick, the end of which may be melted to adhere to the panel.

In one preferred configuration, the mounting member may be in the form of a half sphere, however, it may be of any other alternative shape which will provide visual access to the specimen. The display unit may incorporate a plurality of such mounting members to allow for the mounting, and the display of, a plurality of specimens.

The display unit suitably also includes a further transparent panel spaced from and arranged substantially parallel to the first panel such that the specimen when mounted to the first panel is arranged between the first and further panels. The display suitably also includes a peripheral mounting frame for supporting the respective panels in a spaced apart attitude. The frame or members which form the frame may be wood, metal, plastics or glass. The frame or members may be transparent or translucent.

The panels of the display unit are preferably formed of glass but may be formed of other transparent materials such as plastic. The panels are affixed to opposite sides of the peripheral frame by any suitable means such as adhesives or fasteners. Alternatively, the panels may be affixed to the frame by an adhesive tape or tapes. The peripheral frame may include means to enable the unit to be hung, say from a wall or may include means whereby the unit may be supported in an upstanding attitude. A display unit of the above described type permits a specimen mounted therein to be viewed from opposite sides.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:-

Fig. 1 illustrates in exploded view the method for mounting specimens according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating the manner in which the specimen is mounted;

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate from opposite sides a display unit supporting a specimen mounted within the display unit using the method of the present invention; Figs. 5(a) and (b) illustrate further display units according to the present invention from one side; and

Figs. 6(a) and (b) illustrate further display units according to the present invention from the opposite side.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated the method according to the present invention for mounting a specimen of the animal phylum Arthropoda, in this instance a butterfly 10. The method of the invention involves the provision of a panel 11 of transparent material and most suitably glass which in this instance is of substantially rectangular form. Arranged to be affixed to the panel 11 is a specimen mount 12 which in this instance comprises a half spherical member formed of a translucent or transparent material and being formed such as to enable a headed specimen pin 13 to be forced and held therein. A particularly useful material for the mount 12 comprises a silicon rubber.

The mount 12 is affixed to the panel 11 at the desired position where the specimen 10 is to be displayed. For this purpose the mount 12 may be secured in position by an adhesive, such as a contact adhesive.

For mounting of the specimen 10, the pin 13 is used to pierce the specimen 10 through the body 14 thereof and additionally is forced into the mount 12 to a suitable depth so as to securely support the specimen 10. The depth of the mount 12 relative to the length of the pin 13 is preferably such that when the pin 13 is fully inserted the body 14 of the specimen 10 is constrained between the pin bead 15 and mount 12 so as to be held non-rotatably. The specimen 10 may be further held in a secure position by the application of a suitable adhesive where the specimen 10 contacts the mount 12.

The panel 11 carrying the mounted specimen 10 may then form part of a display unit 16 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The unit 16 which includes an external perimeter frame 17 comprised of timber, metal, plastics or glass. The frame 17 may also be formed of a translucent or transparent material. Affixed to one side of the frame 17 is the panel 11 carrying or adapted to carry the specimen 10 and a further transparent panel 18 suitably of glass is affixed to the other side of the frame 17 to thereby be spaced from the panel 11 such that the specimen 10 is located between the panels 11 and 18.

The panels 11 and 17 may be held to the frame by any suitable arrangement such as by adhesives about the periphery thereof or by tape. A preferred ^~fixing arrangement however comprises a strip of adhesive tape 19 which extends about the perimeter of the frame 17 and which is folded over the edges of the panels 11 and 18 as at 20 on opposite sides of the frame 17 to hold the panels 11 and 18 to the frame 17. The folded over portions 20 of the tape 19 may overlap at the corners of the frame 17 as shown or one or both folded over portions may be mitre cut at the corners of the frame 17.

The display unit 16 thus provides opposite views of the specimen 10 and gives an almost uninterrupted view of the specimen 10. The display unit 16 may be arranged in any orientation, depending upon the side of the specimen 10 required to be viewed and the specimen 10 may be arranged in any orientation within the unit 16 depending upon its size.

The present invention thus provides an arrangement which enables viewing of both sides of a specimen and therefore eliminates the necessity of having two specimens mounted side by side with one reversed to show the underside of the specimen. This will thus enable spaee—in a display cabinet to be optimised.

Whilst the specimen 10 shown in the preferred embodiment comprises a butterfly, it will be apparent that any specimen may be mounted using the method described above. Further examples of display units 16 are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 5(a), the display unit 16 which is of substantially the same form as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 houses a beetle 21 which is held to the panel 11 in the same manner to that previously described via a pin 13 formed into the mounting member 12. The reverse side of the display unit 16 of Fig. 5(a) is shown in Fig. 6(a).

In Fig. 5(b), the display unit 16 is shown carrying a spider 22 again held to the panel via a pin 13 into a mounting member 12. The reverse side of the unit of Fig. 5(b) is shown in Fig. 6(b).

Whilst the panel 11 and display unit 16 is of substantially rectangular form, it may also be of any other geometrical configuration. Additionally, as referred to above, the mount 12 may be formed of many different materials and may be differing shapes and sizes.

Claims (10)

1. A method for mounting and displaying a specimen of the animal phylum Arthropoda, said method including the steps of providing at least one transparent panel, affixing a mounting member to said panel at the desired mounting position of said specimen and pinning said specimen to said mounting member whereby said specimen is supported to said mounting member and panel.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein said mounting member is secured to said panel by adhesives and wherein said specimen is secured to said mounting member by inserting a pin through the body thereof into said mounting member.

3. A specimen display unit for mounting a specimen of the animal phylum Arthropoda, said display unit including a first transparent panel and a mounting member affixed to said panel at the desired mounting location of said specimen, said mounting member being adapted to receive a securing pin by which said specimen may be supported to said member and said panel.

4. A specimen display unit according to Claim 3 wherein said mounting member is selected from a material from the group of natural or synthetic rubber, silicon, wood, moulded plastic resin or an adhesive.

5. A specimen display unit according to Claim 4 wherein said mounting member comprises a solid member in the shape of a half sphere.

6. A specimen display unit according to Claim 3 wherein said mounting member is transparent or translucent material.

7. A specimen display unit according to Claim 3 and including a further transparent panel spaced from and arranged substantially parallel to the first panel such that the specimen when mounted to the first panel is arranged between said first and further panels.

8. A specimen display unit according to Claim 7 and including a peripheral mounting frame for supporting the respective said panels in a spaced apart attitude.

9. A specimen display unit according to Claim 7 wherein the or each said panel is formed of glass.

10. A specimen display unit according to Claim 8 wherein said frame is formed of a translucent or transparent material.