AU705665B2 - Device for individually and selectively displaying a set of posters - Google Patents

Abstract

A series of posters or similar panels (4) are attached to individual support sheets (1,2) of flexible material wound at least partly around a drum (5). A control system allows unwinding of the sheets from the drum such that the poster appears in a selected position, e.g. behind a display aperture or window (9). A series of posters may be mounted in slightly varying positions, such that their display positions are in planes (a-e) slightly differently spaced relative to the window. Movement of the support sheets and posters is controlled by traction cords wound around drive pulleys (7), and the posters are secured by transverse bars and lateral fastening strips of the support sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR INDIVIDUALLY AND SELECTIVELY DISPLAYING A SET OF POSTERS The present invention concerns a system for selective, individual display of posters from a set of posters by successively positioning them behind a display window.

Applications for this system notably include the advertising field, or that of road signs and information.

It can be used in a stationary fixture, for changing message (or other views) billboards.

It can also be used on board vehicles, in which case the display windows for advertising messages are provided on the sides and/or rear of a van-type vehicle.

In this type of system, posters are generally put end to end on a flexible support in order to constitute a single long strip.

It can be an endless strip, as provided for in documents FR-A-1 051 852, FR-A-2 579 810 and US-A-I 530 888, for example.

According to other possible implementations, such as those described in FR-A-2 692 395, FR-A-2 152 012 and W019203813, a relatively short strip is provided, wound on drums at each end.

The long strip scrolls down in front of the display window. Strip position is controlled and driven so as to bring the selected poster immediately behind the display window, thereby making it visible to viewers, the public in the case of advertising.

In the first four documents mentioned above, the display system is fitted on an advertising vehicle.

The display sequence control can be easily piloted by a programmable controller or a computer. Appropriate control means such as opto-electronic detector cells and/or mechanical detectors connected to the system ensure its correct operation.

In existing devices, the posters are in single file, in a pre-determined order, meaning that they will be displayed in that order through the display window.

This raises a problem when the display sequence does not correspond to that order.

Therefore, if two non-neighbouring posters are to be displayed successively, the one or those between them must be scrolled as blank views behind the viewing window. This creates unsatisfactory viewing conditions when the posters are in motion.

Moreover, the blank displays take up part of the total viewing time.

In this respect, it should be noted that an advertising contract between an advertising contractor and the client, can specify varying display cycles for the different posters. Thus each poster can be assigned a frequency and display time, which can be modified over time.

The order in which given posters pass can also be determined, especially when the ideas of two or more posters are linked, as in the case of "progressive" advertising campaigns.

These successive display requirements are difficult to accomodate with a set of posters secured end-to-end, as in the current state of the art.

Document FR-A-388 854, titled luminous advertising equipment, corresponds to a display device containing a set of screens (bearing advertisements) hanging in vertical, parallel planes which can be possibly and successively displayed in the same space. The posters are stowed by winding onto a roller located in the upper part of the device. The set of rollers is driven by a single drive shaft, via a motion transmitting mechanism ensuring that while one screen is being wound, the next screen begins to descend, and so on for the entire set, in a determined order.

Thus, in the existing device the various advertisements are shown in an unchanging, predetermined order.

The invention aims at resolving this difficulty by proposing a displaying device of the type mentioned above, in which display of a selected poster can be freely chosen, not only in terms of frequency and duration, but also for the order in which it will be displayed.

o• •The equipment covered in the present invention provides an individually, selectively displaying of various posters of a set, by positioning them successively in front of a display window.

9* As in device described in document FR-A-388 854, each of the posters is S 25 secured to a flexible backing at least partially windable onto a rotary receiving drum, a control assembly being provided for selectively positioning said poster in a stowed position in which it cannot be seen through the display window, and in a operative position in which it is aligned with said window, and the various posters lie in separate slightly spaced apart parallel planes.

30 The above objectives are achieved, according the invention, by the fact that of the receiver drums is driven by an electric gear motor, a programmable controllcr or a micro-processor piloting the set of these motors, in order to display the posters selectivey.

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00 0 0S 0 0 0 0000 0 0 0 2B According to the invention there is provided a device for individually and selectively displaying a poster from a plurality of posters by positioning them in front of a display window, in which each poster is removably attached to a flexible backing respectively, each poster and flexible backing is at least partially windable onto a rotary receiving drum, a control assembly being provided for selectively positioning the poster in a stowed position in which it cannot be seen through the display window, or in an operative position in which it is aligned with said window, and in which, in the operative positions, the various posters lie in separate slightly spaced apart parallel planes wherein each of the receiving drums is driven by an electric gear motor, a programmable controller or a microprocessor piloting the set of those motors, in order to display the posters selectively.

Of course, the device is designed so that when a poster is in a stowed 15 position, neither the elements making up its support, nor the poster itself will hamper the display of other posters in operation.

Moreover, according to a number of additional, advantageous, nonrestrictive features of the invention: the flexible support includes a flexible strip wound round the receiver drum and extended at display window height, by a pair of lateral straps; the two straps are connected by a crossbar used to secure the poster; 00 0 S: 25 the poster is attached both to this crossbar, remaining removable, and to the transversal edge of the flexible strip; the device contains means of tensioning the flexible strip; the bar is attached to a pair of stretcher cables wound onto automatic return pulleys.

at the exit of the receiver drum, the flexible strip passes over a countershaft roller; this countershaft roller is tapered at both ends, with its diameter slightly larger in its middle, so that the strip is kept well-centred; C:\WINWORD\TONIA\BF\SPECi\2984295.DOC 2C the display window is vertical, while the horizontal axes of the drums and the countershaft roller, as applicable, are set parallel to the window's main plane, a.

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a a a a *a C:\WINWORD\MARL)JODELETE\OTHERS284295.DOC located in a box at the top of the window in this case, the return pulleys have advantageously a horizontal axis and are located in a box at the bottom of the window.

The invention also cover advertising vehicle equipped with at least one such device, as defined above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be clear from the attached description and drawings showing a preferable implementation.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective diagram of the flexible support receiving a poster (represented partially pulled out) as well as guide and drive means, the poster being in displayed position facing the viewing window (not shown); Figure 2 shows a detail of the crossbar used to secure the poster, shown in cross-section; Figure 3 is a similar view to that of figure 1, corresponding to the stowed position, poster assumed to be removed Figure 4 is a top view of a receiver drum and its associated guide roller; Figure 5 shows a diagram of the entire device in a vertical cross-sectional view, perpendicular to the posters and the viewing window; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of that seen in figure 5, showing only two supports for neighbouring posters, one of which is in stowed position, the other in displayed position; Figure 7 is a side view of a set of return pulleys which ensure the traction of the stretcher cables located on one side of the device; Figure 8 is a smaller scale, side view of the lower part of figure 6; Figure 9 shows a sketch of an advertising vehicle fitted with several devices from the invention; Figure 10 is a similar view to figure 1, showing two supports of neighbouring posters, both posters are lowered and the front poster contains a framed opening; Figure 11 is a similar view to figure 10, in which the rear poster is partially raised.

In the implementation presented hereinafter, shown in the drawings, the display window has a vertical layout and the device contains a set of five posters which can be selectively positioned in turn behing this window.

Obviously, the choice of five is simply taken as an example, and there could be any number of posters.

Figure 1 shows the flexible support receiving one of the posters.

This support is made up of a flexible strip 1, such as thin oil cloth, a pair of lateral straps 2 and a pair of lateral cables 3.

The strip 1 forming the top of the support, is wound around a rotating cylindrical drum 5, whose axis 50 is horizontal. The latter is parallel to the display window's general vertical plane, not shown here.

Driving means, described below, can turn the drum 5 in one or another direction, as indicated by the double arrow F in figure 1.

The strip 1 passes over a countershaft roller 6, whose horizontal axis is parallel to that of the drum 5. The counter-motion occurs at approximately 450 and the part of the strip linking the roller 6 to the drum is approximately horizontal. The roller 6 has a slightly tapered shape of low conicity, with its largest diameter at the middle, as shown more accurately in figure 4.

At its ends, which correspond to the little diameters of tapered shape, guide plates 60 are provided as stops for the side edges of the strip. These plates 60 are also tapered toward the inside, to prevent the strip from slipping out sideways. The slightly tapered shape of the roller 6 ensures automatic aligment, and good centering of the strip 1, both when unrolled and rolled up.

The tip of the strip 1 is extended from the side not wound round the drum by lateral straps 2, which are made of non-stretch fabric. The straps 2 can be attached to the strip 1 by any appropriate means, such as gluing or riveting. The free tips of the straps 2 are connected by a crossbar As seen in figure 2, the bar 24 is made up of a set of two small, thin plates 21, 22, with rounded edges, between which the two straps 2 are inserted and which secured by rivets 23 which go through elements 21 and 22 and the strap 2.

The cables 3 are linked to the crossbar 20, then run downwards to each pulley 7 where each cable is wound. These pulleys each have two lateral discoid guide plates which form a groove for the cable (see figure 7).

The pulleys 7 are standard, automatic return pulleys containing an internal coiled spring tending to constantly turn in the same direction as the cable winds in the groove, thus exerting traction on the cable, as shown by arrows T in figure 1.

This support holds a poster 4 which can be easily removed.

In the implementation illustrated here, widely distributed "Velcro" (registered trademark) looped and burred fabric fastener is used to secure the poster.

To this end, the transversal edge of the flexible strip's 1 tip referenced as 10, and the crossbar 20 are, on the side facing the display window, attached to one of the two fabric fastener elements, for instance the burred fabric.

The posters 4 are then backed with the other fabric fastener element in corresponding locations for instance the looped fabric Thus, the poster is easily affixed to the support by simply pressing the strips together. Once secured, the poster fills the space corresponding to the rectangle formed by the two straps 2, the strip edge 10 and the crossbar The printing 40 on the posters is centered so as to appear properly through the display window (not shown in figure whose dimensions are slightly smaller than those of the poster.

By simply comparing figures 1 and 3, it can be seen that if the drum turns in the same direction as the strip unrolls, the poster will displayed in the vertical plane the poster is streched out during deployment, as a result of the cable 3 traction exerted by the return pulleys 7.

If the drum 5 is rotated in the opposite direction, the strip 1 will wind almost completely around the drum, as the bar 20 moves into its upper position, above the display window's level. The poster is in stowed position, folded back on the countershaft roller 6. II can be seen that in the upper position, the straps 2 are retained laterally by the guide plates 60 of roller 6.

Figure 5 shows how a set of five poster supports are set up in a device such as thatjust described.

In this figure, reference 9 designates the display window, including its frame 91 and a transparent panel 90, for example a pane of glass.

The device includes a chassis 8, essentially containing a front panel 82 holding the display window 9, an upper box 80 and a lower box 81.

In the top box 80 are contained the assembled set of drums 5 and guide rollers 6. In the bottom box 81 are contained the set of return pulleys 7.

These various elements are positioned so that each of the five flexible supports, has an operative position in one of the vertical planes a, b, c, d, or e, which are parallel to the pane of glass 90. These different planes are regularly spaced, separated by a small gap marked j. Likewise, the first poster's plane a (that closest to the window) is only a short distance k from the pane of glass The various countershaft rollers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e and the various drums la, lb, Ic, id and le inside the box 80 are located so as to take up as little space as possible and avoid any contact between the poster supports or the posters themselves.

Similarly, the positions of the different pulleys 7a, 7b, 7c and 7 in the lower box 81 are offset to avoid interference from the different cables, with maximal compactness.

In the implementation shown here, particularly in figures 5 and 7, the five pulleys provided on each side of the device are divided into two groups.

The axes of pulleys 7a, 7b, 7c, associated with the first three posters, are located in the same horizontal plane but are staggered both transversally and from front to back in order to ensure the spacing j mentioned above The other two pulleys 7d and 7e are arranged in the same way, at a higher lever than pulleys 7a, 7b, and 7c.

Each pulley is assembled idle on a T-bracket 70 fixed to the chassis 8.

The transversal staggering of the pulleys, is compensated by the fact that the cables 3 have different latching points on the crossbar This particularity stands out clearly in figure 8, showing that respective spacing of cables 3a is greater than that of cables 3b.

Each drum 5 is driven by an electric gear motor 51 fixed to the chassis 8, whose output shaft provides coaxial drive for the drum shaft All five motors driving drums 5a to 5b are piloted by a programmable controller or a computer, not shown here, containing the data relative to the desired display cycle, the order of scrolling and viewing and the frequency and display time for each poster.

Of course, some posters will be of displayed longer and/or more frequently than others, depending on the program.

In the figure 6, only those systems related to the first two posters, conrresponding to references a and b, are shown.

The first poster 4a is in stowed position, the strip la being wound onto its receiving drum 5a, and the poster in its upper position, not visible through the pane of glass 90 to a viewer situated on the left of the figure.

On the contrary, the poster 4b is in operative position, facing the pane of glass 90. Therefore, it is visible to the viewer.

The window 9 size ensures that the various control system parts, the straps, cables and crossbars of the system currently not in operation cannot be seen through the window.

In figure 8, it can be noted that the size of the poster 4, contoured here by lines and dashes, is much larger than that of the window.

Figure 6 shows a diagram of detectors 92, 93 for the correct deployment or respective stowage for each poster.

The detectors 92a, 92b are located in the lower part of the window and detectors 93a, 93b its the upper part.

These are standard detectors opto-electronic types or photo-electric cells.

The deployment status of each poster can be controlled at all times by these detectors, which transmit the appropriate signals to the micro-processor or the electronic progammable controller piloting the motor, thus ensuring correct display operation.

As mentioned above, the posters and their supports are constantly streched flat thanks to the return pulleys acting on the stretcher cables.

In another implementation, the posters and supports could be stretched tight by simply adjusting the weight of the crossbar 20, with additional weights if required.

One poster can quickly replace another because the stowage of the previous poster and the deployment of the new poster can be done simultaneously, in masked time.

The device lends itself remarkably well to progressive campaigns, where one poster's message elicits information to be discovered on one or several of the following posters.

The posters used are made of thin, flexible material which resists ripping and wrinkling, paper or plastic film.

Securing systems other than fabric fasteners can of course be used, e.g., clips, snaps or adhesive tape.

To facilitate the changing of posters, a display window which can be opened, or an easily removable pane of glass allowing access to various poster supports, should be provided.

Obviously, the device size will be adapted to the size of posters to be used.

As an indication, the width of the strip 1 will range from 1 to several meters, the drum 5 and countershaft roller 6 having adapted lengths.

The drums 5 could be made of aluminium, with a diameter of about millimeters.

The rollers 6 should preferably be made of surface-treated aluminium to avoid leaving marks on the back of the posters, and should be about 30 to 40 millimeters in diameter.

The spacing j between posters will be from about 15 to 30 millimeters.

The return pulleys 7 diameter will be from about 80 to 100 millimeters.

This kind of device can be used in stationary fixture, built into a building's facade, or housed in a panel mounted on any type of support.

It can be also assembled on an advertising vehicle, as illustrated in figure 9.

This figure shows a van-type vehicle 100 with driver's cab 103. The vehicle has side 101 and rear 102 panels, equipped with display windows 9 respectively of posters. As provided for in the invention, there are three display devices inside the vehicle, each of them associated with one of the windows.

In the implementation illustrated in figures 10 and 11, the poster 4 shows a frame 400 enabling the poster located behind it to be seen. This can be a simple opening across the poster, or a transparent area. Thus depending on how far the strip 1 bearing the poster to be placed behing the frame poster 4 is unwound, different parts of this poster will be seen through this window 400. Consequently, if drawings, messages, are printed on the rear poster, so that they selectively appear in the window 400, one can modify progressively the scene displayed as viewed on the front poster.

In the example given for figures 10 and 11, the window is a "speech balloon" expressing what an advertising character is thinking.

On the rear (hidden) poster there are two messages provided, i.e. "OUI" and "NON", placed at two different heights, and both suitable to appear in the speech balloon when the rear poster is lowered (figure 10) or partially raised (arrow H, figure 11).

Naturally, several windows could be provided on the former poster with two or more messages assigned to them on the rear poster. Moreover, messages can also be affixed on one (or more) poster(s) located well behind and becoming visible when the poster(s) between them is (are) raised completely.

In an other implementation of the device, a single plastic strip makes up both the poster and its flexible support. This one contains a blank leader area wound onto the receiver drum. The rest of the strip has the printing, drawings, or other messages to display. These can be applied to the strip as appropriate, being glued on or directly printed. A weighted bar attached to the free tip of the strip ensures its tensioning and its return to an operative position. The ends of the bar remain well guided in vertical runners on the sides.

Claims (12)

1. A device for individually and selectively displaying a poster from a plurality of posters by positioning them in front of a display window, in which each poster is removably attached to a flexible backing respectively, each poster and flexible backing is at least partially windable onto a rotary receiving drum, a control assembly being provided for selectively positioning the poster in a stowed position in which it cannot be seen through the display window, or in an operative position in which it is aligned with said window, and in which, in the operative positions, the various posters lie in separate slightly spaced apart parallel planes wherein each of the receiving drums is driven by an electric gear motor, a programmable controller or a micro-processor piloting the set of those motors, in order to display the posters selectively.

S°2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible backing contains a 15 flexible strip wound onto the receiving drum then continuing up close to the display window by a pair of lateral straps.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the two straps are linked by a crossbar used to secure the poster.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the poster is both removably 20 attached onto said bar, and to a free edge of the strip which is perpendicular to said lateral straps.

A device according to one of claims 2 to 4, including means for tensioning the flexible strip.

6. A device according to claim 3 wherein the crossbar is attached to a pair of 25 stretcher cables automatically wound onto return pulleys.

7. A device according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the flexible strip passes on a countershaft roller after exiting the receiving drum.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the countershaft roller is tapered, with a slightly larger diameter at the middle, in order to better centre the strip.

9. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the display window is arranged in a vertical plane while the drums have horizontal axes which are SC:\WINWORD\TONIA\BF\SPECI2984295.DOC parallel to the plane of the display window and are located in a box at the top of the window.

A device according to claim 6 wherein the said return pulleys have horizontal axes and are placed in a box at the bottom of the window.

11. An advertising vehicle equipped with at least one device according with one of the previous claims.

12. A device for individually and selectively displaying a poster substantially as herein before described with reference to the illustrations. DATED: 4 March, 1999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: MOBIL' AFFICHE g S° 09 0 C:\WINWORD\TONIA\BF\SPECI\2984295.DOC