CA2585729C - Flexible frame and mutually engageable fastening means - Google Patents

Abstract

An advertising system comprises a flexible frame for releasably engaging an advertising panel (21, 121) on a structure (55), such as a vehicle or fixed structure. The frame comprises a frame member (10) and a fastening means comprising mutually engageable first and second fasteners (20, 50). The first fastener (20) is provided on a flexible part of the frame. The second fastener (50) is affixable to the structure (55). The flexibility of the frame and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners is such that the frame and the first fastener may be separated from the second fastener by peeling action. The advertising panel (121) may include an advertising sheet (123) and at least one edge strip (100). The edge strip has a flange (103) bonded to the sheet and a protrusion (104) which engages with the frame member.

Description

1 Flexible frame and mutually engageable fastening 2 means 4 This invention relates to a flexible frame for an advertising panel, the frame having a mutually 6 engageable fastening means, especially, but not 7 exclusively for attachment to a vehicle. This 8 invention also relates to an edge strip for an 9 advertising sheet.

11 It is known to make an advertising panel by 12 permanently bonding a printed vinyl panel to a 13 mounting board. In the case of vehicles, the 14 mounting board typically comprises a reinforced cardboard board (e.g. a corex board), which is slid 16 into a frame mounted on the vehicle. When the 17 advert needs to be changed, the vinyl panel must 18 first be removed. In cold weather, the vinyl 19 becomes brittle and breaks up, which makes removal both difficult and time consuming.

1 In the case of long vehicles (e.g. buses), the 2 advertising panels span a large proportion of the 3 length of the vehicle and are of the order of five 4 to ten metres in length. It is not practical to make such long advertising panel/supporting boards, 6 so these are typically made in five or more 7 portions. This means that unwanted vertical lines 8 are visible between neighbouring portions, which 9 break up the image. Between neighbouring portions, plastic T-covers are affixed to cover any gaps and 11 to space the portions correctly. However, when 12 these T-covers break, they become discoloured, which 13 is detrimental to the appearance of the advertising 14 panel.
16 According to a first aspect of the invention there 17 is provided an advertising system comprising:
18 a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a 19 structure, the frame comprising at least one frame member; and 21 a mutually engageable fastening means 22 comprising first and second fasteners, the second 23 fastener being affixable to the structure;
24 wherein the first fastener is provided on a flexible part of the frame, the flexibility of the 26 frame and the mutual engagement strength of the 27 first and second fasteners being such that the frame 28 and first fastener may be separated from the second 29 fastener by peeling action; and wherein the frame is adapted to releaseably 31 engage an advertising panel.

1 The frame being adapted to "releaseably engage" an 2 advertising panel means that the advertising panel 3 and the frame can be repeatedly engaged and 4 disengaged, in contrast to a frame that is permanently fixed to the advertising panel, or a 6 frame that comprises a part of the advertising 7 panel.

9 Optionally, more than one frame member is provided.
Optionally, a respective frame member is provided 11 for each edge of the advertising panel, the frame 12 members typically having substantially the same 13 length as their respective edges.

Preferably, the flexible part of the frame comprises 16 a flange.

18 In some embodiments, the whole of the frame has at 19 least some flexibility. Such embodiments can be mounted on non-flat surfaces, for example on the 21 curved exterior surface of a tanker, e.g. an oil 22 tanker, or on other cylindrical/curved surfaces.

24 Preferably, the or each frame member has a panel-receiving portion, which is adapted to receive an 26 edge of an advertising panel, and which is more 27 rigid than the flexible part of the frame member.
28 Typically, the flexible part of the frame and the 29 panel-receiving portion comprise different materials. The panel-receiving portion being more 31 rigid can help prevent the panel from becoming 32 accidentally detached from the frame member.

1 Preferably, the panel-receiving portion is not 2 completely rigid and has some flexibility, so that 3 it can bend to some extent with the flexing of the 4 fastener part of the frame member. If the entire frame has some flexibility, this enables it to be 6 mounted on a curved surface, for example on the 7 convex surface of a tanker. Mounting on a concave 8 surface is also possible.

Optionally, the frame comprises PVC.

12 Optionally, the frame comprises a thermoplastic 13 elastomer.

Optionally, the frame comprises SunpreneTM, which is 16 a thermoplastic elastomer based on a high molecular 17 weight PVC resin.

19 Optionally, the frame comprises a thermal plastic, or a material having similar properties to a thermal 21 plastic.

23 Preferably, the frame comprises two different 24 portions with different flexibilities, which are bonded together; a comparatively more flexible type 26 for the fastener part of the frame and a less 27 flexible type for the panel-receiving portion.

29 Optionally, the frame member has a recess to receive a protrusion on an advertising panel edge.

31 Preferably, the frame member has an elongate slot 32 that is small enough to retain the protrusion in the 1 slot, but which is large enough to allow a planar 2 part of the advertising panel to extend through the 3 slot. Preferably, the frame member has at least one 4 open end, so that the protrusion can be inserted 5 into the recess.

7 Preferably, the frame members comprise track 8 members.

Preferably, the mutually engageable fastening means 11 comprises a mechanical fastener. Preferably, the 12 mechanical fastener is releasably engageable, as 13 opposed to providing a permanent engagement.

14 Preferably, the mechanical fastener is engaged by pushing the first and second fasteners together and 16 disengaged by pulling them apart.

18 In such embodiments, because the first fastener is 19 provided on a flexible part of the frame, the frame can bend as the first and second fasteners are 21 engaged and disengaged. This provides the advantage 22 that the force does not have to be applied 23 simultaneously along the entire length of the 24 fasteners. Instead, the fasteners can be engaged at a first location by the application of a force on a 26 relatively small area. As the force can act on a 27 small area due to the flexing of the frame, a 28 relatively small force can be used to create the 29 threshold engagement pressure. In preferred embodiments, this force can be provided manually by 31 a single person, without needing complex apparatus.
32 The force can then be transferred along the length 1 of the fasteners to successively engage more of the 2 fasteners until eventually, preferably the entire 3 length of the fasteners are engaged. On 4 disengagement of the first and second fasteners, the flexibility of the frame allows the frame and first 6 fastener to be separated from the second fastener by 7 peeling action.

9 Preferably, the first and second fasteners have mushroom-shaped barbs, which interlock when the 11 first and second fasteners are pressed into 12 engagement. Preferably, the mushroom-shaped barbs 13 are arranged in rows and columns, and in one of the 14 first and second fasteners, the rows and columns form straight lines, and in the other fastener, the 16 mushroom-shaped barbs in each row and column are 17 offset relative to their neighbours. Preferably, 18 the mutually engageable fastening means comprises a 19 3MTM Dual LockTM system.

21 According to a second aspect of the present 22 invention, there is provided a method of mounting a 23 frame on a structure, the frame being suitable for 24 releasably engaging an advertising panel, the method comprising the steps of:
26 affixing a first elongate fastener to a 27 flexible part of the frame;
28 affixing a second elongate fastener to the 29 structure, the second fastener being engageable with the first fastener;

31 applying pressure at a first location to engage 32 the first and second fasteners at that location, and 1 transferring the pressure along the length of the 2 fasteners to successively engage a larger proportion 3 of the fasteners.

Typically, the pressure is transferred using a 6 roller.

8 Such embodiments have the advantage that the frame 9 can be mounted on the structure by a single person.

Preferably, the frame is releasably mounted on the 11 structure such that it can be dismounted when 12 desired. In some embodiments, the frame can be 13 easily mounted and removed with ease, as often as 14 necessary. Using such a frame to mount an advertising panel can make it very easy to replace 16 the advertising panel with another panel to change 17 the advert.

19 Preferably, the frame members include panel-receiving portions, and the method includes the 21 further step of installing an advertising panel in 22 the frame.

24 Typically, the advertising panel comprises an advertising sheet and a protrusion attached to an 26 edge of the advertising sheet, and the frame 27 comprises at least one frame member having an 28 elongate recess and an open end, and the method 29 includes the step of threading the protrusion through the open end into the recess, to attach the 31 frame member to the advertising panel.

1 optionally, the frame comprises a plurality of frame 2 members and a respective frame member is provided 3 for attachment to each edge of the advertising 4 panel.

6 Optionally, the frame comprises a plurality of frame 7 members, and at least one frame member is mounted on 8 the structure before being attached to its 9 advertising panel edge. Alternatively, the frame comprises a plurality of frame members and at least 11 one frame member is attached to the advertising 12 panel before that frame member is mounted on the 13 structure. A combination of both these methods can 14 be used to mount all edges of the panel to the structure, even when the advertising panel edges 16 have to be threaded through the frame members from 17 one end.

19 Optionally, the method includes the successive steps of mounting one or more of the frame members on the 21 structure and attaching the rest of the frame 22 members to the advertising panel, attaching the 23 advertising panel to the mounted frame member(s), 24 and subsequently mounting the rest of the frame members on the structure. Alternatively, all of the 26 frame members are attached to the advertising panel 27 before mounting any of the frame members on the 28 structure.

optionally, only a first frame member is mounted on 31 the structure before being attached to the 32 advertising panel.

2 Typically, the method includes the successive steps 3 of:
4 mounting the first frame member on the structure;
6 attaching an edge of the advertising panel to 7 the first frame member and attaching an opposite 8 edge of the advertising panel to a second frame 9 member; and mounting the second frame member on the 11 structure.

13 Typically, the method includes the further step of 14 tensioning the advertising panel before mounting the second frame member on the structure.

17 Alternatively, the advertising panel further 18 comprises a tensioning means arranged between the 19 protrusion and the edge of the advertising sheet, and the method includes the step of activating the 21 tensioning means to reduce the distance between the 22 protrusion and the edge of the advertising sheet, 23 after the advertising panel has been attached to the 24 frame member, thereby tensioning the advertising sheet. Optionally, the tensioning means comprises a 26 releasable closure strip having inter-engaging 27 formations and the method includes the step of 28 closing the releasable closure strip.

Tensioning the advertising panel ensures that the 31 mounted advertising panel does not sag. These 32 methods enable an easier mounting of the advertising 1 panel, as they do not require any simultaneous 2 engagement with more than one already-mounted frame 3 members, and they do not require the advertising 4 panel to be pulled taut at the same time as 5 simultaneously engaging two already-mounted frame 6 members.

8 Optionally, the method includes the further steps of 9 attaching a respective further frame member to each 10 remaining edge of the advertising panel and then 11 mounting these further frame members on the 12 structure.

14 Optionally, the structure comprises a vehicle, e.g.
a bus, a lorry, a car, a van, a bike, a tanker;

16 however these are simply examples and the invention 17 is not limited to a vehicle, or to any particular 18 type of vehicle.

optionally, the frame is mounted on a curved surface 21 of the structure, e.g. the curved exterior surface 22 of an oil tanker.

24 optionally, the advertising panel is rectangular, but the invention is not limited to any particular 26 shape of advertising panel.

28 Alternatively, the advertising panel is T-shaped, 29 and one frame member is provided for each edge of the T-shape.

1 According to a third aspect of the present 2 invention, there is provided a method of mounting an 3 advertising panel on a structure, comprising the 4 steps of:
engaging a first edge of the advertising panel 6 with a slotted track of a first frame member 7 attached to a structure;
8 engaging a second edge of the advertising panel 9 with a slotted track of a second frame member not attached to the structure;
11 engaging a first elongate fastener affixed to a 12 flexible part of the second frame member with a 13 second elongate fastener affixed to the structure;
14 applying pressure at a first location to engage the first and second fasteners at that location, and 16 transferring the pressure along the length of the 17 fasteners to successively engage a larger proportion 18 of the fasteners.

The frame having a flexible part means that in 21 preferred embodiments, the fasteners can be engaged 22 and disengaged upon application of relatively small 23 forces (e.g. by hand). This is a significant 24 advantage over rigid frames with mechanical fastening means, which often need to be hammered 26 into engagement and which require use of a crow-bar 27 to disengage.

29 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of replacing an 31 advertising panel attached to a structure by a 32 frame, the frame comprising a plurality of frame 1 members with attached'first fasteners, the method 2 including the steps of:
3 peeling at least one frame member and attached 4' first fastener from a second fastener attached to the structure;
6 disengaging all frame members from the original 7 advertising panel;
8 re-engaging the frame members with the 9 replacement advertising panel; and re-attaching the peeled-off frame members to 11 the structure by applying pressure at a first 12 location to engage the first and second fasteners at 13 that location, and transferring the pressure along 14 the length of the fasteners to successively engage a larger proportion of the fasteners.

17 Typically, at least one frame member remains 18 attached to the structure during the method.

Preferably, only one frame member remains attached 21 to the structure during the method.

23 According to a fifth aspect of the present 24 invention, there is provided an advertising system comprising:
26 an advertising panel;
27 a frame for mounting the advertising panel on a 28 structure, the frame being releaseably engagable 29 with the advertising panel and comprising at least one frame member;

1 a mutually engageable fastening means 2 comprising first and second fasteners, the second 3 fastener being affixable to the structure;
4 wherein the first fastener is provided on a flexible part of the frame, the flexibility of the 6 frame and the mutual engagement strength of the 7 first and second fasteners being such that the frame 8 and first fastener may be separated from the second 9 fastener by peeling action.

11 Preferably, the frame is a frame according to the 12 first aspect of the invention.

14 Preferably, the advertising panel is flexible, such that it can be rolled up and easily transported.

17 Preferably, the advertising panel comprises a sheet 18 of synthetic paper. Preferably, the advertising 19 panel comprises a sheet of vinyl on a polyester mat.
Such embodiments can be robust, cheap to create, and 21 can be printed on easily, e.g. by screen printing.
22 Alternatively, the advertising panel comprises a 23 sheet of mesh. In some cases, where the advertising 24 panel is very large, or is transported at high speed and may be subject to considerable air flow, a mesh 26 may be advantageous to allow pressure equalisation 27 on both sides of the panel. However, in most cases, 28 a non-perforated (non-mesh) panel is adequate. The 29 invention is not limited to any particular type of panel.

1 Preferably, at least a part of the advertising panel 2 is translucent. Such embodiments can be back-lit.

4 Typically, the advertising panel has attachment means provided along at least one or each of its 6 edges. Typically, the attachment means comprises a 7 protrusion, which is engageable with a corresponding 8 recess in the frame.

Preferably, the advertising panel comprises an 11 advertising sheet and a protrusion along at least 12 one edge. Most preferably, the advertising panel 13 has a protrusion on each edge. Preferably, a 14 respective frame member is provided to engage each panel edge.

17 Preferably, the advertising panel is mounted in the 18 frame by engaging the protrusion on the advertising 19 panel edge in a recess of the frame member. The frame member may comprise a slotted track member.
21 Preferably, the frame member has an elongate slot 22 small enough to retain the protrusion, but large 23 enough to allow a planar part of the advertising 24 panel to extend through the slot. Preferably, the frame member has at least one open end, so that the 26 protrusion can be inserted into the recess.

28 In embodiments in which the advertising panel is 29 flexible, and which is used in conjunction with a slotted track/frame member, the advertising panel 31 can be bent to enable threading through the slots, 1 whilst part of the advertising panel is already 2 attached to the structure.

4 Optionally, the advertising panel comprises an edge 5 strip of the ninth or tenth aspects of the invention 6 and an advertising sheet, the edge strip being 7 bonded to the advertising sheet.

9 According to a sixth aspect of the present invention 10 there is provided an advertising system comprising:
11 a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a 12 structure, the frame comprising at least one track 13 member; and 14 a mutually engageable fastening means 15 comprising first and second fasteners, the second 16 fastener being affixable to the structure, 17 wherein the first fastener is provided on a 18 flexible part of the track member, the flexibility 19 of the track member and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners being 21 such that the track member and first fastener may be 22 separated from the second fastener by peeling 23 action; and 24 wherein the track member is adapted to receive an edge of an advertising panel to mount the 26 advertising panel.

28 According to a seventh aspect of the present 29 invention there is provided an advertising system comprising:

1 a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a 2 structure, the frame comprising at least one frame 3 member; and 4 a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second interlocking 6 fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to 7 the structure;
8 wherein the frame member comprises a first 9 portion adapted to engage an advertising panel and a second portion that is flexible and to which the 11 first fastener is affixable, the flexibility of the 12 frame and the mutual engagement strength of the 13 first and second fasteners being such that the frame 14 and first fastener may be separated from the second fastener by peeling action.

17 According to an eighth aspect of the present 18 invention there is provided an advertising system 19 comprising:
a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a 21 structure, the frame comprising at least one frame 22 member; and 23 a mutually engageable fastening means 24 comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure;
26 wherein the frame comprises a flexible portion 27 and a panel-receiving portion, the flexible portion 28 comprising a first material and the panel-receiving 29 portion comprising a second, less flexible material;
wherein the first fastener is provided on a 31 flexible part of the frame, the flexibility of the 32 frame and the mutual engagement strength of the 1 first and second fasteners being such that the frame 2 and first fastener may be separated from the second 3 fastener by peeling action.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention 6 there is provided an edge strip for an advertising 7 sheet, the strip comprising:
8 a frame-engagement portion for engaging a frame 9 member comprising an elongate slotted track member, the frame-engagement portion comprising a 11 protrusion; and 12 a flange for bonding to the advertising sheet;
13 wherein the frame-engagement portion has a 14 lower friction coefficient than the flange.
16 The lower friction coefficient of the frame-17 engagement portion enables the frame-engagement 18 portion to slide easily relative to the slotted 19 track member, whilst the relatively higher friction of the flange enables the flange to be readily 21 fastened to the advertising sheet.

23 Optionally, the frame-engagement portion and the 24 flange comprise two different materials, the material of the frame-engagement portion having a 26 lower co-efficient of friction than the material of 27 the flange. The frame-engagement portion may 28 comprise a low friction plastic and the flange may 29 comprise a higher friction plastic. Optionally, the frame-engagement portion comprises low friction 31 polyvinyl chloride.

1 Alternatively, the frame-engagement portion and the 2 flange comprise the same material, the frame-3 engagement portion being provided with a low 4 friction coating, e.g. of PTFE.

6 Optionally, the edge strip also includes a 7 tensioning means and optionally also any further 8 features of the tensioning means, as described with 9 reference to the tenth aspect of the invention.

11 According to a tenth aspect of the invention there 12 is provided an edge strip for an advertising sheet, 13 the strip comprising:
14 a frame-engagement portion for engaging a frame member comprising an elongate slotted track member, 16 the frame-engagement portion comprising a 17 protrusion;
18 a flange for bonding to the advertising sheet;
19 and a tensioning means provided between the frame-21 engagement portion and the flange.

23 The tensioning means enables the advertising sheet 24 to be held taut when the protrusion is held within the slotted track member and the advertising sheet 26 is fixed at an opposite edge.

28 The tensioning means may comprise a resilient 29 portion. Typically, the resilient portion comprises substantially a hollow cylinder, which, if 31 stretched, urges a return to its original shape.

1 Alternatively, the tensioning means comprises means 2 to reduce the distance between the frame-engagement 3 portion and the flange. The means to reduce the 4 distance between the frame-engagement portion and the flange may comprise a releasable closure strip 6 arranged between the frame-engagement portion and 7 the flange. Optionally, the releasable closure 8 strip comprises two strip members having inter-9 engaging formations.

11 Edge strips may optionally be provided on two 12 opposite edges.of the advertising sheet.
13 Optionally, each edge strip is provided with a 14 respective tensioning means. Optionally, a respective edge strip may be provided on additional 16 edges of the advertising panel, any number of which 17 may, or may not, include a tensioning means.

19 Optionally, the frame-engagement portion has a lower friction coefficient than the flange and, 21 optionally, also any further features as described 22 with reference to the ninth aspect of the invention.

24 The following optional features may be incorporated with both the ninth or the tenth aspects of the 26 invention.

28 Typically, the frame-engagement portion and the 29 flange are formed as a single extrusion.

31 Typically, the edge strip comprises a plastics 32 material.

2 Typically, the frame-engagement portion also 3 includes a planar portion that is narrower than the 4 protrusion. Such embodiments can be used with a 5 slotted track member if the protrusion is wider than 6 the slot, the protrusion being held in the track and 7 the planar portion extending through the slot.

9 According to an eleventh aspect of the present 10 invention there is provided an advertising panel 11 assembly comprising:
12 an advertising panel comprising an advertising 13 sheet and an edge strip according to the ninth or 14 tenth aspect of the invention bonded to at least one 15 edge of said sheet; and 16 a frame member comprising an elongate slotted 17 track member;
18 wherein the frame-engagement portion of the 19 edge strip is shaped to co-operate with the frame 20 member such that the protrusion of the frame-21 engagement portion is slidable within the frame 22 member.

24 Optionally, the frame member comprises a frame member of the first aspect of the invention.

27 Optionally, the frame member has a fixing means for 28 removably attaching the frame member to a structure.

Optionally, the frame member is flexible such that 31 the frame member may be separated from a structure 32 to which it is attached by peeling action.

2 The elongate slotted track member may comprise a 3 flexible frame according to the first, fifth, sixth, 4 seventh or eighth aspects of the invention.

6 Any parts of the ninth, tenth and eleventh aspects 7 of the present invention can be combined with any of 8 the other aspects of the invention, and vice versa.
9 Thus, the protrusion of the edge strip of the ninth, tenth and eleventh aspects may comprise the 11 protrusion attached to the edge of the advertising 12 sheet/the protrusion on the panel edge of the 13 embodiments of the earlier aspects.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention there 16 is provided a method of mounting an advertising 17 sheet on a structure, including the steps of:
18 attaching a frame member comprising an elongate 19 slotted track member to the structure;
bonding an edge strip of the ninth or tenth 21 aspect of the invention to an advertising sheet; and 22 inserting the protrusion of the edge strip into 23 a recess in the frame member.

optionally, the edge strip includes a tensioning 26 means as described with reference to the ninth and 27 tenth aspects of the invention, and the method 28 includes the step of activating the tensioning means 29 to reduce the distance between the frame-engagement portion and the flange, thereby tensioning the 31 advertising panel, after the protrusion of the edge 1 strip has been engaged in the recess in the frame 2 member.

4 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with 6 reference to the following drawings, in which:

8 Fig 1 shows an end view of a frame according to the 9 present invention;

11 Fig 2 shows a plan view of the frame of Fig 1;

13 Fig 3 shows an end view of the frame of Fig 1 having 14 an advertising panel coupled thereto (only part of the advertising panel shown);

17 Fig 4 shows a perspective front view of the frame 18 and part of advertising panel of Fig 3;

Fig 5 shows a rear view of two frames of Fig 1 and a 21 connector;

23 Fig 6 shows a side view the Fig 5 arrangement, the 24 view having certain parts of the connector removed for clarity;

27 Fig 7 shows an enlarged view of part of Fig 6, the 28 part designated by the circle A;

Fig 8 shows an enlarged view of a first frame 31 overhang of Fig 7;

1 Fig 9 shows an enlarged view of a second frame 2 overhang of Fig 7;

4 Fig 10 shows a front view of the connector of Fig 5;
6 Fig 11 shows a rear view of the connector of Fig 5;

8 Figs 12 and 13 show perspective views of the 9 connector of Fig 5;

11 Figs 14 and 15 show side views of the connector of 12 Fig 5;

14 Fig 16 shows a plan view of a structure with four attached base fasteners, two of which are attached 16 to respective frame members;

18 Fig 17 shows a plan view of an advertising panel and 19 two attached frame members;

21 Fig 18 shows a side view of a frame member being 22 engaged with a base fastener;

24 Fig 19 shows a side view of a bus having an attached T-shaped advertising panel;

27 Fig 20 shows a side view of an edge strip engaged 28 with a frame member of Fig 1;

Fig 21 shows a side view of an alternative 31 embodiment of edge strip in a non-tensioned state;

1 Fig 22 shows a side view of the edge strip of Fig 21 2 engaged with a frame member of Fig 1, the edge strip 3 being in a tensioned state;

Fig 23 shows a side view of a further alternative 6 embodiment of edge strip in a non-tensioned state;
7 and 9 Fig 24 shows a side view of the edge strip of Fig 23 in a tensioned state.

12 Referring now to the drawings, Fig 1 shows a frame 13 member 10 comprising a panel-receiving portion 12 14 and a flange 14. The upper surfaces of Fig 1 comprise the rear of the frame member 10 and the 16 lower surfaces of Fig 1 comprise the front of the 17 frame member 10.

19 The panel-receiving portion 12 is c-shaped in cross-section, having a bore 16 with a circular cross-21 section and a slot 18. As can be seen in Fig 2, the 22 frame member 10 is elongate. The ends of the bore 23 16 are open. The panel-receiving portion 12 is 24 relatively stiff but not totally rigid, and is typically made from high stiffness PVC or another 26 plastics material. The invention is not limited to 27 any particular material.

29 The flange 14 comprises low stiffness PVC, although other materials, e.g. flexible plastics, may also be 31 used. It is preferable that the flange 14 is formed 32 from a more flexible material than that used for the 1 panel-receiving portion 12, for reasons which will 2 be explained later. The flange 14 has a fastener 20 3 adhered or otherwise fixed to its rear surface (the 4 upper surface in the Fig 1 view). The fastener 20 5 is part of a mutually engageable fastening means;
6 its co-operating fastener is not shown here, but may 7 be a base fastener fixed to a structure such as the 8 side of a vehicle, as will be later described. In 9 this embodiment, the mutually engageable fastening 10 means comprises a 3MTM Dual LockTM fastening system, 11 but any other suitable fastening means can be used.
12 The flange 14 generally has a constant depth, except 13 for a groove 19 cut out of the flange end farthest 14 from the panel-receiving portion 12. The groove is 15 in the surface of the flange 14 that carries the 16 fastener 20 (the upper surface of the flange 14 in 17 Fig 1).

19 The fastener 20 and its co-operating fastener 20 provide a mechanical fastening system. The fastener 21 20 and its co-operating fastener both comprise 22 strips having mushroom-shaped barbs. When the 23 fastener 20 and its co-operating fastener are pushed 24 together, the heads of the barbs interlock and 25 prevent the fasteners from coming apart, as shown in 26 Fig 18. The barbs on each fastener are arranged in 27 rows and columns. On one of the fasteners, the 28 barbs in each row and column are aligned, and on the 29 other fastener, each barb is offset relative to its neighbours. This creates an even firmer bond when 31 the barbs interlock.

1 The invention is not limited to this type of 2 fastening means.

4 Figs 3 and 4 show the frame member 10 and a part of an advertising panel 21.

7 The advertising panel 21 typically comprises an 8 advertising sheet, e.g. of plastic material. The 9 advertising sheet may be perforated (i.e. a mesh) or non-perforated. The advertising sheet is capable of 11 being printed on, to provide an advertising image on 12 one side. Any suitable printing process may be 13 used, such as laser printing or screen printing.
14 Non-perforated embodiments can be cheaper to make, as they do not require digital printing.

17 Typically, the panel 21 comprises a sheet of 18 synthetic paper, e.g. vinyl on a polyester mat.
19 Such advertising sheets can be cheap to make, robust, and translucent, such that they can be 21 backlit when mounted in a frame. Alternatively, the 22 panel 21 comprises a sheet of mesh, such as 23 described in WO 03/069592.

Reinforcing strips of reinforced PVC or similar 26 material may be bonded to any or all of the edges of 27 the advertising sheet to prevent the advertising 28 sheet from tearing or stretching in use. The 29 reinforcing strips may be bonded by adhesive or by ultrasonic welding. The strips may be of 31 polypropylene or polyester scrim coated with PVC for 32 easy joining to the advertising sheet. The 1 thickness of the strips is chosen so that the panel 2 21 can be subject to the chosen printing process 3 even with the strips attached. Typically the 4 reinforcing strips are between 5 and 15cm wide, and extend to the perimeter of the panel 21.

7 The advertising panel 21 (only a part of which is 8 shown) has a respective protrusion 22 along the 9 length of each of its edges.
11 The protrusion 22 has a circular cross-section and, 12 in use, is received within the bore 16 (see Fig 3).
13 The diameter of the protrusion 22 is greater than 14 the width of the slot 18, so the protrusion 22 cannot be removed from the bore 16 through the slot 16 18 without considerably deforming the slot 18. The 17 protrusion 22 is insertable into, and removable 18 from, the bore 16 via the open ends of the bore 16.

Preferably, a suitable stiff material is selected 21 for the panel-receiving portion 12 so that it is 22 stiff enough to prevent the slot 18 deforming 23 sufficiently to allow the protrusion to pass through 24 the slot 18. However, preferably the panel-receiving portion 12 has some degree of flexibility, 26 to allow the panel-receiving portion 12 to flex in 27 response to the flexing of the flange 14.

29 The protrusions 22 are bonded to the edges of the panel 21 with or without reinforcing strips, by 31 wrapping the edge of the advertising panel 21 around 32 the protrusion 22 and stitching with thread or 1 bonding to form a hem, or by attaching and bonding 2 an edge strip of any suitable plastic material.
3 Thermal or adhesive bonding may be used. The 4 protrusion 22 comprises a cord or rope, or extruded flexible plastic or rubber, held in the hem or edge 6 strip. The cord or rope may be free to slide in the 7 hem or edge strip, or may be restrained or bonded to 8 the hem or edge strip. The edge strip may be of the 9 same material as the reinforcing strips. The protrusion 22 and reinforcing strip may together 11 comprise keder. A typical keder is a heavy duty 12 coated polyester fabric welded to a cord of solid 13 PVC material.

In alternative embodiments, the edge of the panel 21 16 does not have to be wrapped around a protrusion 22.
17 Instead, the protrusion could comprise an extruded 18 strip that is bonded to the panel 21. This 19 protrusion could have a V-shaped'extension in which the edge of the panel 21 is received. In these 21 embodiments, the protrusion typically comprises 22 SunpreneTM, which is described and defined above.

24 Preferred embodiments of protrusion 22 provide a strong flexible and slippery track welting that 26 slides easily and can bend around corners.

28 In alternative embodiments, the reinforcing strip 29 and protrusion 22 may be replaced by keder in the form of an edge strip described below with reference 31 to Figs 20 to 22.

1 Fig 5 shows the ends of two frame members 10, each 2 of which is attached to a respective arm of an L-3 shaped connector 35, so that the frame members 10 4 are mutually perpendicular.

6 Various view of the connector 35 are shown in Figs 7 11 to 15. The connector's rear surface (see Figs 11 8 and 13) is shaped to match the front surface of the 9 frame members (the upper surface in the Fig 4 view).
The rear surface of the connector 35 has a flat, 11 planar portion 36 on the outer sides of the L-shape, 12 the flat portion 36 being adapted to receive the 13 front of the flange portion 14. The rear surface 14 can optionally have a fastener, e.g. 3MTM Dual LockTM
attached thereto (not shown), which could engage 16 with a further fastener on a surface to which the 17 connector 35 will be attached.

19 The connector 35 also has a curved semi-circular channel 37 along the inner sides of the L-shape, 21 adapted to receive the front half of the panel-22 receiving portion 12 (the upper half in the Fig 4 23 view).

Figs 5 to 7 show the frame members 10 coupled to the 26 connector 35. The frame members 10 are slid into 27 engagement with the arms of the connector, with the 28 panel-receiving portions in the channel 37, and the 29 flanges abutting the flat portions 36.

31 The inside edge of the channel 37 and the outside 32 edge of the flat portion 36 are provided with 1 respective overhanging lips 42, 44, to retain the 2 frame members in position, "inside" and "outside"
3 being defined relative to the inner and outer 4 corners of the L-shape. The lip 44 is best shown in 5 Fig 8; the lip 44 engages the groove 19 in the 6 flange 14. Fig 9 shows the lip 42, which overhangs 7 the end of the front half of the c-shaped panel-8 receiving portion 12.

10 It should be noted that the connector 35 is not an 11 essential element of the invention, as the frame 12 members 10 are not necessarily connected to each 13 other at all, and if they are, an alternative way of 14 connecting the frame members 10 could be used.

16 The mounting of an advertising panel 21 on a 17 structure 55 will now be explained with reference to 18 Figs 16 to 18. The structure 55 may be a stationary 19 structure, or it may form part of a vehicle. Fig 17 shows an embodiment of an advertising panel 21 to be 21 mounted; the panel 21 is rectangular and comprises 22 an advertising sheet 23 and a respective protrusion 23 22 attached to each edge of the advertising sheet 24 23.
26 Referring to Fig 16, a respective "base" fastener is 27 adhered to the structure 55 for each edge of the 28 panel 21; two base fasteners 50, 52 horizontally, 29 and two further base fasteners 54, 56 vertically, at locations defined by the height and width of the 31 panel. The term "base fastener" is used to mean a 32 fastener with which the fastener 20 on the flange 14 1 can engage. The base fastener and the fastener 20 2 together comprise a mutually engageable fastening 3 means.

Next, two frame members 10 are attached to the 6 horizontal fasteners 50, 52; this stage is shown in 7 Fig 16. Because the flanges 14 are flexible, only 8 one person is needed to engage the fasteners 20 with 9 the base fasteners 50, 52, as will now be explained.
11 As shown in Fig 18, the fasteners 20, 50 are pushed 12 together at one end of the flange 14 first, causing 13 the mushroom-shaped barbs at that end to interlock.
14 The flange 14 bends so that the part of the fastener 20 to which pressure is applied is pushed downwards 16 to engage the fastener 50, whilst the rest of the 17 fastener 20 is still not engaged.

19 Next, the pressure is transferred from the end of the flange 14 along the flange 14, to engage 21 successively more of the barbs. This is typically 22 done by pushing a roller along the length of the 23 flange 14, whilst applying downwards pressure to the 24 roller. This causes successive barbs of the fastener 20 to engage with the barbs of the fastener 26 50, as these are pushed downwards in turn by the 27 roller. The movement of the roller is indicated by 28 the arrow F in Fig 18. It should be noted that this 29 step does not require a roller; manually pushing the fasteners 20, 50 together also achieves a good 31 result.

1 The flange 14 being flexible allows a specific part 2 of the fasteners 20, 50 to be engaged, even when the 3 rest of the fasteners are not engaged. Therefore, a 4 single person pushing on a specific location of the flange 14, can cause the barbs at that location to 6 engage, regardless of the other barbs. If the 7 flange 14 was rigid, the fasteners 20, 50 would need 8 simultaneous pressure along the entire length of the 9 flange 14, to engage the fasteners 20, 50. This could not be done simply by one person, and would 11 need either a complex mechanical aid, or many people 12 working together.

14 The flexibility of the frame and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second 16 fasteners 20, 50 is such that the fasteners 20, 50 17 can be disengaged by peeling action. The end of the 18 frame member 10 is pulled at an angle relative to 19 the plane of the fastener 50, causing the frame member 10 to bend, and the barbs of the fastener 20 21 to disengage from the barbs of the fastener 50.

23 Although Fig 18 shows deformation of the frame 24 member 10 in a longitudinal direction along the frame member 10, the frame member 10 is also 26 deformable in a lateral direction (or in a 27 combination of longitudinal and lateral directions), 28 to attach and detach the fasteners 20, 50.

Although the above refers specifically to the 31 fastener 50, the fastener 52 is engaged in exactly 32 the same way.

2 Next, two further frame members 10 are attached to 3 the vertical protrusions 22 of the panel 21, by 4 aligning the slot 18 with the advertising sheet 23 and threading the protrusion 22 into the bore 16 6 starting from one end of the frame member 10. The 7 result of this is shown in Fig 17.

9 Next, the advertising panel 21 is attached to the structure 55, by threading the horizontal 11 protrusions 22 of the panel 21 through the c-shaped 12 panel-receiving portions 12 of the horizontal frame 13 members 10 already attached to the structure 55.

14 This aligns the flanges 14 of the vertical frame members 10 attached to the panel 21 with the 16 vertical base fasteners 50, 52 attached to the 17 structure 55. Finally, the vertical frame members 18 10 are attached to the vertical fasteners 54, 56, in 19 the same way as the horizontal fasteners 50, 52 were attached to their respective frame members 10 (see 21 Fig 18 ) .

23 The connectors 35 may be attached to adjacent frame 24 members 10 as a final step, or may be attached to one frame member 10 before attaching that frame 26 member 10 to the structure 55. Optionally, a 27 fastener on a rear surface of the connector 35 can 28 be engaged with a fastener attached to the structure 29 55, in addition to the attachment to the frame members 10 provided by the over-hanging lips 42, 44.

1 To change the advertising panel, the above steps can 2 be reversed; (i.e. the vertical frame members 10 can 3 be pulled apart from their base fasteners 54, 56, 4 and the horizontal protrusions can be then slid out of their panel-receiving portions 12, etc.). Since 6 the protrusions of the advertising panel 21 can be 7 slid into and out of the panel-receiving portions 8 12, the advertising panel 21 can be said to be 9 releasably engageable with the frame members 10.

The horizontal frame members 10 may also be detached 11 from their base fasteners 50, 52, if desired.

13 In this way, the advertising panel 21 can be mounted 14 and removed very easily by a single person. The c-shaped panel-receiving portions provide a secure 16 mounting.

18 The mutually engageable fastening means 20, 50, 19 provides a number of options regarding what stage each of the frame members 10 is attached to the 21 structure 55.

23 In an alternative method, all four of the frame 24 members 10 are slid into engagement with their respective protrusions before any of the frame 26 members 10 are attached to the structure 55. In 27 this method, the connectors 35 can be connected to 28 the frame members 10 at this stage, before the frame 29 members 10 are attached to the structure 55.

31 The detachable mechanical fastening of the frame 32 members 10 to the structure 55 enables each edge of 1 the panel 21 to be attached securely in a track of a 2 frame member, which could not be done if the frame 3 members 10 were permanently welded to the structure 4 55.

6 It should be noted that the order of the steps shown 7 in Figs 16 and 17 could be reversed. Furthermore, 8 it is not necessarily the horizontal frame members 9 10 that are attached to the structure 55 first, 10 (although this is preferable, as it allows the 11 advertising panel to be supported by the upper frame 12 member 10 whilst the vertical frame members 10 are 13 being attached). Alternatively, the vertical frame 14 members 10 could be attached to the structure 55 15 before being attached to the panel 21, and the 16 horizontal frame members 10 could be attached to the 17 advertising panel 21 before being attached to the 18 structure 55.

20 In a further alternative method, only one frame 21 member 10 (e.g. the upper frame member) is initially 22 attached to its respective base fastener. Then, the 23 advertising panel 21 is attached to the mounted 24 frame member 10, and the other edges of the 25 advertising panel 21 are attached to further frame 26 members 10; these steps could occur in either order.
27 Next, the advertising panel 21 can optionally be 28 tensioned, before mounting the frame member 10 that 29 is opposite the initially-attached frame member 10 30 (e.g. the lower frame member) to the structure 55 by 31 its base fastener. Finally, the remaining frame 32 members 10 (e.g. side frame members) are attached to 1 their respective base members, so that the frame is 2 complete on all sides. In this way, it can be 3 ensured that the mounted advertising panel 21 is 4 correctly tensioned and does not sag.

6 This method also has the advantage that the 7 advertising panel 21 is easier to mount, in 8 comparison to methods in which two opposite frame 9 members 10 are already/permanently attached to the structure 55. There are two reasons for this.

11 Firstly, the advertising panel 21 can be engaged 12 with each frame member 10 sequentially, instead of 13 requiring any simultaneous engagement with two 14 already-mountec7.frame members 10. Secondly, the advertising panel 21 does not have to be pulled taut 16 to enable simultaneous engagement with two already-17 mounted frame members 10. Instead, a first edge of 18 the advertising panel 21 can be engaged with the 19 mounted frame member 10 without any tension needing to be applied to the advertising panel 21 at this 21 time. Hence, the above method enables an easy 22 mounting of the advertising panel 21, which can be 23 accomplished by a single person.

To remove the advertising panel 21 from the 26 structure 55, typically all of the frame members 10 27 are peeled away from their respective base members.
28 Alternatively, one or two of the frame members 10 29 are left mounted on the structure 55, and the advertising panel 21 is slid out of engagement with 31 these mounted frame members 10.

1 In a preferred method, only one frame member 10 2 remains mounted on the structure 55, whilst the 3 other frame members 10 are peeled away. The 4 advertising panel 21 to be removed is slid out of engagement with the peeled-away frame members 10, 6 which are now put onto three edges of the 7 replacement advertising panel 21. The remaining 8 edge of the replacement advertising panel 21 is then =9 slid into engagement with the mounted frame member 10. The replacement advertising panel 21 is 11 typically tensioned, and the frame member 10 12 opposite the frame member 10 that remained mounted 13 on the structure 55 is then attached to its 14 respective base member so that the replacement advertising panel 21 is pulled taut. The rest of 16 the method is as described above.

18 The invention is not limited to rectangular 19 advertising panels. For example, in the case of buses, advertising panels are typically t-shaped, as 21 shown in Fig 19.

23 Fig 19 shows a bus 60 having a T-shaped advertising 24 panel 62. Preferred embodiments of the panel 62 are flexible and can be rolled up when not in use. The 26 advertising panel 62 comprises a vertical trunk 63 27 and a horizontal branch 65. The horizontal brahch 28 65 has three horizontal edges 64, 66A, 66B; a fourth 29 horizontal edge is provided at the bottom of the vertical trunk 63. The horizontal branch has two 31 vertical edges 70, 72, and the vertical trunk 63 has 32 a further two vertical edges 74, 76.

2 Other than the different shape, the advertising 3 panel 62 is the same as the panel 21, also 4 comprising an advertising sheet having a protrusion on each edge.

7 The t-shaped advertising panel 62 is attached to a 8 structure (in this example, the bus 60) in the same 9 way as the rectangular advertising panel 21 is attached. One frame member 10 is again provided for 11 each edge of the advertising panel 62.

13 First, base fasteners are attached (e.g. adhered to 14 the bus) at locations corresponding to the desired mounted locations of the edges of the panel 62.

16 Then, frame members 10 are engaged with the base 17 fasteners corresponding to the edges 64, 66A, 66B, 18 74, 76 (pressing the barbs into engagement along the 19 entire length of the frame members, e.g. manually or using a roller) as shown in Fig 18. Optionally, the 21 remaining frame members 10 are threaded over their 22 respective protrusions at edges 68, 70, 72 of the 23 panel 62 at this stage, although this could also be 24 done later.

26 The protrusions of the horizontal edges 64, 66A, 66B
27 of the horizontal branch 65 are then threaded into 28 the bores in their corresponding frame members 29 attached to the bus 60. Next, the vertical trunk 63 is lifted up and bent to align the protrusions of 31 the vertical edges 74, 76 of the trunk with the bore 32 ends in their corresponding frame members 10. The 1 protrusions are threaded through the bores, so that 2 the vertical trunk 63 eventually lies flat against 3 the bus. If the protrusions at edges 68, 70, 72 4 have not yet been engaged with their respective frame members 10, this can be done at this stage.
6 The final step is to engage the frame members of 7 edges 68, 70, 72 (attached to the advertising panel 8 62) with their respective base fasteners.

The above method uses the flexibility of the frame 11 to engage the fasteners, and also the flexibility of 12 the advertising panel 62, so that the vertical trunk 13 63 can be bent to thread the vertical edges 74, 76 14 into their respective frame members 10.

16 Some embodiments of the invention provide an 17 advertising system in which advertising panels can 18 be easily installed, removed and changed. In 19 preferred embodiments, the frame is removable from the structure. In some embodiments, the frame is 21 attachable to the structure using a relatively thin, 22 unobtrusive fastener attached to the structure.

23 These embodiments do not require any substantial 24 modification to the structure itself, as opposed to the known way of welding a large bulky frame/track 26 system to the structure.

28 A further embodiment of the invention is shown in 29 Fig 20, which shows an edge strip 100 for an advertising sheet. The edge strip 100 is bonded to 31 an edge of an advertising sheet 123 and is engaged 32 with a frame member comprising an elongate slotted 1 track member. In this embodiment, the frame member 2 comprises the frame member 10 of Fig 1; however, in 3 other embodiments, the frame member could be any 4 elongate slotted track member. The advertising 5 sheet 123 and at least one edge strip 100 form an 6 advertising panel 121.

8 The edge strip 100 comprises a frame-engagement 9 portion 102 and a flange 103. The frame-engagement 10 portion 102 comprises a protrusion 104 and a planar 11 portion 106. The frame-engagement portion 102 co-12 operates with the frame member 10; the protrusion 13 104 is substantially cylindrical and is dimensioned 14 to fit within the bore 16 of the frame member 10.
15 The planar portion 106 extends through the slot 18 16 of the frame member 10.

18 The frame-engagement portion 102 comprises a low 19 friction plastic, whilst the flange 103 comprises a 20 plastic of relatively higher friction. The low 21 friction coefficient of the frame-engagement portion 22 102 enables the frame-engagement portion 102 to 23 slide easily relative to the frame member 10. Both 24 the protrusion 104 and the planar portion 106 are 25 formed from the low friction material, which enables 26 easy sliding within the bore 16 and the slot 18, 27 respectively. The relatively higher friction of the 28 flange 103 enables the flange 103 to be readily 29 fastened to the advertising sheet 123.
31 In alternative embodiments, the frame-engagement 32 portion 102 comprises a low friction material in the 1 form of a low-friction coating (e.g. a PTFE

2 coating), whilst the flange 103 does not have such a 3 coating.

The frame-engagement portion 102 and flange 103 are 6 typically formed together in a single extrusion.

8 The edge strip 100 is bonded to the advertising 9 sheet 123 at the flange 103. The bonding typically comprises welding, e.g. high-frequency welding or 11 heat welding. However, the edge strip 100 may be 12 welded, bonded or fixed by any other means to the 13 advertising sheet 123.

In use, the frame member 10 is attached to a 16 structure, an edge strip 100 is bonded to an edge of 17 an advertising sheet 123, and the protrusion 104 of 18 the edge strip 100 is inserted into the bore 16 of 19 the frame member 10. The opposite edge of the-advertising sheet 123 may have a further bonded edge 21 strip 100 and may optionally be inserted into a 22 further frame member 10 before attaching that 23 further frame member 10 to the structure. The 24 method typically includes the steps of securing the remaining edges of the advertising sheet 123 to the 26 structure, optionally in the same way as the first 27 edge, using further frame members and edge strips.

29 A further embodiment of an edge strip 150 is shown in Figs 21 and 22.

1 Like the Fig 20 embodiment, the edge strip 150 2 comprises a frame-engagement portion 152 and a 3 flange 153, and the frame-engagement portion 152 4 comprises a protrusion 154. These components are similar to the components of the Fig 20 embodiment, 6 and serve the same purposes, and any of the features 7 of the Fig 20 embodiment may or may not be 8 incorporated in the edge strip 150. In particular, 9 the frame-engagement portion 152 may comprise a low-friction material, and any optional features 11 relating to this, as described with reference to the 12 Fig 20 embodiment.

14 However, the Fig 21 embodiment differs in that it also includes a tensioning means 158 provided 16 between the frame-engagement portion 152 and the 17 flange 153. The tensioning means 158 comprises a 18 resilient portion 160.

In its non-tensioned state shown in Fig 21, the 21 resilient portion 160 comprises a hollow, 22 substantially cylindrical portion.

24 In use, a frame member comprising an elongate slotted track member (which in this example 26 comprises a frame member 10) is attached to a 27 structure. An edge strip 150 is bonded at its 28 flange 153 to an advertising sheet 163 to form an 29 advertising panel 161. The protrusion 154 is then inserted into the bore 16 of the frame member 10.

1 To tension the advertising sheet 163, the 2 advertising sheet 163 is pulled, causing the 3 protrusion 154 to abut against the edges of the slot 4 18, and causing the resilient portion 160 to deform from the circular cross-section shown in Fig 21 to 6 the oval cross-section of the tensioned state shown 7 in Fig 22.

9 The resilient portion 160 optionally has a maximum stretch of 10mm; but alternative embodiments may 11 have a different maximum stretch.

13 The opposite edge of the advertising sheet 163 is 14 then secured to the structure, whilst the advertising sheet 163 is held in tension.

17 optionally, the opposite edge of the advertising 18 sheet 163 is secured to the structure using a 19 further edge strip 150 and a second frame member 10, in the same way as the first edge. In such a case, 21 the further resilient portion will provide a further 22 maximum stretch of 10mm. The further edge strip 150 23 is typically engaged with the further frame member 24 10 before attaching that further frame member 10 to the structure. Alternatively, the opposite edge of 26 the advertising sheet 163 may be attached to the 27 structure by any other means, which might not 28 comprise any resilient means.

After the opposite edge of the advertising sheet 163 31 has been attached to the structure, the resilient 32 portion 160 attempts to return to its original shape 1 shown in Fig 21, thereby maintaining tension in the 2 advertising sheet 163. Hence, the tensioning means 3 158 serves to tension the advertising sheet 163.

Optionally, all remaining edges of the advertising 6 sheet 163 are also secured to the structure in a 7 similar way. Any further frame members 10 would 8 typically be engaged with the advertising panel 161 9 before being attached to the structure.

11 A further embodiment of an edge strip 170 is shown 12 in Figs 23 and 24.

14 Like the embodiments of Figs 20 to 22, the edge strip 170 comprises a frame-engagement portion 172 16 and a flange 173, and the frame-engagement portion 17 172 comprises a protrusion 174. In Figs 23 and 24, 18 the protrusion 174 comprises a solid cylinder, but 19 it could alternatively comprise a hollow cylinder as shown in Figs 20 to 22. These components are 21 similar to the components of the embodiments of Figs 22 20 to 22, and serve the same purposes, and any of 23 the features of the embodiments of Figs 20 to 22 may 24 or may not be incorporated in the edge strip 170.

In particular, optionally the frame-engagement 26 portion 172 comprises a low-friction material, and 27 any optional features relating to this, as described 28 with reference to the Fig 20 embodiment.

Like the embodiment of Figs 21 and 22, the edge 31 strip 170 comprises a tensioning means 178 provided 1 between the frame-engagement portion 172 and the 2 flange 173.

4 However, the edge strip 170 differs in that the 5 tensioning means 178 comprises means to reduce the 6 distance between the frame-engagement portion 172 7 and the flange 173. The means to reduce said 8 distance comprises a releasable closure strip. The 9 releasable closure strip comprises two elongate 10 strip members 180, 182, arranged parallel to the 11 protrusion 174, the strip member 180 being directly 12 connected to the frame-engagement portion 172 and 13 the other strip member 182 being directly connected 14 to the flange 173. The strip members 180, 182 are 15 provided with co-operating inter-engaging formations 16 180f, 182f. The formation 180f comprises a 17 protrusion whilst the formation 182f comprises a 18 corresponding recess. The recess formation 182f has 19 a neck that is narrower than the widest part of the 20 protrusion formation 180f.

22 The tensioning means also includes a flexible 23 linkage portion 184, which connects the strip 24 members 180, 182 together. The flexible linkage 25 portion 184 is flexible such that it can bend and 26 fold.

28 In the non-tensioned state shown in Fig 23, the 29 strip members 180, 182 are in an open position, with 30 their formations 180f, 182f not being engaged. The 31 flexible linkage portion 184 allows the strip 32 members 180, 182 to approach and move apart from 1 each other to the extent allowed by the length of 2 the flexible linkage portion 184, which is typically 3 around 10mm.

In use, at least one edge strip 170 is attached to 6 an edge of an advertising sheet 183, and is engaged 7 with a respective frame member on a structure, as 8 described above with reference to the edge strips 9 100, 150. The edge strip 170 should be engaged with the frame member whilst being in the non-tensioned 11 state of Fig 23. Typically, a further edge strip 12 170 is attached to an opposite edge of the 13 advertising sheet 183, and the further edge strip 14 170 is also engaged with a respective frame member on the structure. This further edge strip 170 16 should also be in the non-tensioned state of Fig 23 17 whilst being engaged with its frame member.

19 If edge strips 170 are used on both opposite edges of the advertising sheet 183, the dimensions of the 21 advertising panel formed by the advertising sheet 22 183 and the edge strips 170 and the relative spacing 23 of the frame members are arranged such that the 24 mounted advertising sheet 183 now has around 20mm of slack (10mm provided by each flexible linkage 26 portion 184).

28 To tension the advertising sheet 183, the strip 29 members 180, 182 of one of the edge strips 170 are pressed together at one end of that edge strip 170, 31 so that the formation 180f (a protrusion) engages in 32 the formation 182f (a recess). The co-operating 1 shape of the formations 180f, 182f,'in particular 2 the narrow neck of the formation 182f, holds the 3 formation 180f within the formation 182f. The 4 pressure can then be transferred along the length of that edge strip, until the entire (protrusion) 6 formation 180f is trapped within the (recess) 7 formation 182f; this entrapment holds the strip 8 members 180, 182 closely together in a closed 9 position, as shown in Fig 24: the tensioned state.
The same process is repeated with the other edge 11 strip 170 (on the opposite edge of the advertising 12 sheet 183).

14 As shown in the tensioned state of Fig 24, the flexible linkage portion 184 has bent and folded up 16 to allow the strip members 180, 182 to come 17 together. The overall height of each edge strip 170 18 has reduced, by approximately the length of the 19 flexible linkage portion 184 (e.g. approximately 10mm). Thus, since there was 20mm of slack in the 21 advertising sheet 183 before tensioning, after 22 tensioning, the advertising sheet 183 is held taut 23 and tensioned in the frame members.

It will be understood that the distance between the 26 frame-engagement portion 172 and the flange 173 has 27 been reduced by the closing of the releasable 28 closure strip.

The method typically includes the steps of securing 31 the remaining edges of the advertising sheet 183 to 1 the structure, optionally by means of further edge 2 strips 100, 150, 170.

4 The edge strips 100, 150, 170 may be, but are not necessarily, used with respective frame members 10;
6 the edge strips 100, 150, 170 can be used with any 7 elongate slotted track members. The method may 8 include any of the method steps described and 9 claimed herein with respect to any embodiment of the invention.

12 The edge strips 100, 150, 170 optionally comprise 13 keder.

Modifications and improvements can be incorporated 16 without departing from the scope of the invention.

18 For example, not all of these method steps relating 19 to Figs 1 to 19 need to be done in the above order.
For example, in an alternative method, more, or all 21 of the frame members are engaged with all of the 22 edges of the panel 62 before any frame member is 23 attached to its respective base member. In this 24 case, the advertising panel 62 would not need to be flexible.

27 The frame members corresponding to the panel edges 28 74, 76, are not necessarily attached to the bus 29 before the horizontal protrusions are threaded into the frame members of edges 64, 66A, 66B. In this 31 case, the frame members 74, 76 could be attached to 32 the bus immediately after this step, and the rest of 1 the method could be as described above.

2 Alternatively, at this point, the panel edges 74, 3 76, 68 could be attached to their frame members 10 4 and then engaged with their base fasteners.

6 In one method, only the frame member corresponding 7 to the top edge 64 is attached to its base member 8 before the uppermost protrusion of the panel 62 is 9 received in this frame member. The top frame member can support the weight of the panel 62, whilst the 11 remaining fasteners are secured to their respective 12 base fasteners and to the panel 62, in any suitable 13 order. This allows the advertising panel 62 to be 14 optionally tensioned if desired, before mounting the remaining frame members on the bus 60; thus, the 16 advertising panel 62 can be pulled taut so that it 17 will not sag. In this method, typically, the frame 18 members of panel edges 66A, 66B would be mounted 19 second, as these edges are opposite to the top edge 64.

22 The above modifications also apply to the 23 rectangular embodiment of Figs 16 and 17.

The invention allows the panel 62 to be made as an 26 integral single-piece item, instead of the 27 conventional five or more bus panel portions.

29 The advertising panel may be flexible or rigid.
31 In some embodiments, the frame is attachable to the 32 structure by means of a protrusion provided on the 1 frame engaging a recess in the structure; for 2 example, the structure may be provided with an 3 elongate slot adjacent the recess, the slot having 4 an open end, so that the protrusion on the frame can 5 be threaded through the open end of the slot. The 6 slot is narrower than the protrusion so that the 7 protrusion is held within the slot.

9 As stated above, in the illustrated embodiment, the 10 mutually engageable fastening means comprises a 3MTM
11 Dual LockTM fastening system, but any other suitable 12 fastening means can be used. For example, the 13 fastening means could be any "hook and loop" type 14 fastener, or any mushroom-type fastener, e.g. where 15 both first and second fasteners have protruding 16 mushroom heads.

18 An advantage of using the 3MTM Dual LockTM, or a 19 similar interlocking mechanical fastener, is that 20 the frame does not need to be riveted or screwed 21 into the structure. Instead, a part of the fastener 22 is adhered or bonded to the structure.

24 In some embodiments, the first fastener and the 25 frame may be integrally formed (i.e. formed as one 26 piece).

28 The embodiments of Figs 20 to 22 need not be used 29 with a frame member 10; these embodiments can be 30 used with any elongate slotted track member, whether 31 or not already fixed or fixable to a structure.

32 Hence, the releasable fastener 20 on the frame 1 member 10 is not an essential element of these 2 embodiments.

4 Furthermore, the elongate slotted track member need not have a circular cross-section, as shown in Figs 6 20 and 22; oval, square, triangular embodiments 7 could also work. The shape of the protrusion 104, 8 154, 174 need not correspond to the shape of the 9 bore 16. The protrusion 104, 154, 174 merely needs to be able to fit within the bore 16 and be wide 11 enough not to fall through the slot 18.

13 In some embodiments, it is not necessary to attach 14 all edges of the advertising panel to a structure;, and if attached, not all edges are necessarily 16 attached in ways described herein. The invention 17 includes where only one edge of an advertising panel 18 is attached to a structure.

In the embodiment of Figs 23 and 24, it is not 21 necessary for opposite edges of the advertising 22 sheet both to have edge strips 170 with tensioning 23 means 178. Alternatively, only one of a pair of 24 opposite edges comprises an edge strip 170; the other edge could have no tensioning means. In this 26 case, the advertising panel could still be engaged 27 with respective frame members, whilst being in a 28 non-tensioned state, due to the slack provided by 29 the single tensioning means 178, and the advertising panel could be tensioned, in the same way as if two 31 edge strips 170 had been present.

1 The flexible linkage portion 184 is not necessarily 2 10mm in length; it can be any suitable length, 3 depending on the amount of slack in the advertising 4 panel that is desired in the non-tensioned state, .5 and depending on whether it is intended to use an 6 edge strip 170 on one, or both, of opposite sides of 7 an advertising sheet. Clearly, twice as much slack 8 can be gained, if an edge strip 170 is used on both 9 of sides.

11 Other modifications have also been described 12 throughout the specification.

Claims (23)

1. An advertising system comprising: a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a structure, the frame comprising at least one frame member having a flexible flange and a panel-receiving portion, the panel-receiving portion being adapted to releasably engage the advertising panel; and a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure; wherein the first fastener is provided on an attachment face of the flange and is adapted to attach the frame in an attachment direction to the second fastener; wherein the flexibility of the flange and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners are such that the frame and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action; wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a strip fastener having a plurality of mushroom-shaped interlocking barbs arranged in rows and columns; and wherein a part of the panel-receiving portion extends beyond the attachment face of the flange in the attachment direction.

2. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel-receiving portion is adapted to receive an edge of the advertising panel.

3. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible flange and the panel-receiving portion comprise different materials.

4. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel-receiving portion is more rigid than the flexible flange.

5. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel-receiving portion comprises a recess for receiving a protrusion on an advertising panel edge.

6. An advertising system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recess comprises an elongate slot for retaining the protrusion in the slot whilst allowing a planar part of the advertising panel to extend through the slot.

7. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are releasably engageable.

8. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are engaged by pushing the first and second fasteners together and disengaged by pulling them apart.

9. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in one of the first and second fasteners, the rows and columns form straight lines, and in the other fastener, the mushroom-shaped barbs are arranged in non-straight lines.

10. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mutually engageable fastening means includes two interlocking fastener components, each component having a series of stems with mushroom heads, the stems and mushroom heads on one component are adapted to interlock with the stems and mushroom heads on the other component to form a fastening engagement.

11. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plastics material.

12. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one frame member comprises a track member.

13. An advertising system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an advertising panel.

14. An advertising system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the advertising panel is flexible.

15. An advertising system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the advertising panel comprises synthetic paper.

16. An advertising system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the advertising panel comprises vinyl on a polyester mat.

17. An advertising system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the advertising panel comprises a mesh.

18. An advertising system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the advertisement panel is translucent.

19. An advertising system as claimed in claim 13, wherein one frame member is provided for each edge of the advertising panel.

20. An advertising system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the advertising panel is T-shaped, and wherein one frame member is provided for each edge of the T-shape.

21. An advertising system comprising: an advertising panel; a frame for mounting the advertising panel on a structure, the frame being releaseably engagable with the advertising panel and comprising at least one frame member having a flexible flange and a panel-receiving portion; a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure; wherein the first fastener is provided on an attachment face of the flange and is adapted to attach the frame in an attachment direction to the second fastener; wherein the flexibility of the flange and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners are such that the frame and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action; wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a strip fastener having a plurality of mushroom-shaped interlocking barbs arranged in rows and columns; and wherein a part of the panel-receiving portion extends 56 beyond the attachment face of the flange in the attachment direction.

22. An advertising system comprising: a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a structure, the frame comprising at least one track member having a flexible flange and a panel-receiving portion, the panel-receiving portion being adapted to releasably engage the advertising panel; and a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure, wherein the first fastener is provided on an attachment face of the flange and is adapted to attach the frame in an attachment direction to the second fastener, wherein the flexibility of the flange and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners are such that the track member and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action; wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a strip fastener having a plurality of mushroom-shaped interlocking barbs arranged in rows and columns; and wherein a part of the panel-receiving portion extends beyond the attachment face of the flange in the attachment direction.

23. An advertising system comprising: a frame for mounting an advertising panel on a structure, the frame comprising at least one frame member; and a mutually engageable fastening means comprising first and second fasteners, the second fastener being affixable to the structure; wherein the frame member comprises a flexible portion and a panel-receiving portion, the flexible portion comprising a first material and the panel-receiving portion comprising a second, less flexible material; wherein the first fastener is provided on a flexible part of the frame, the flexibility of the frame and the mutual engagement strength of the first and second fasteners being such that the frame and first fastener are separable from the second fastener by peeling action.