CN116390676A

CN116390676A - Display device

Info

Publication number: CN116390676A
Application number: CN202180069802.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 安德鲁·尼古拉斯·希普; 伊恩·韦伯
Original assignee: Uk Memory Box Ltd
Current assignee: Uk Memory Box Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-02
Filing date: 2021-08-31
Publication date: 2023-07-04
Also published as: EP4208068A1; WO2022049369A1; AU2021336746A9; CA3193596A1; MX2023002641A; US20230263318A1; GB202013785D0; AU2021336746A1

Abstract

A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a back panel hingably mounted to a front panel by one or more hinge elements such that the front panel is pivotable along a first edge between a closed display position and an open position allowing insertion/removal of display items. The front plate has a border section and a transparent viewing section, the viewing section and the border section being secured together to form the front plate. In addition, a latch is included for releasably securing the front panel to the back panel, the latch including an actuator movable within the back panel and in a direction through the body of the back panel to respectively engage and release the front panel, whereby movement of the actuator raises and lowers the retaining element into and out of engagement with a retaining element flap mounted on the front panel, respectively, the engagement preventing the front panel from pivoting from the closed position.

Description

Display device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display device intended for displaying flat articles, such as letters, certificates, magazines, etc., and in particular allowing such articles to be displayed on, for example, a wall or independently.

Background

It is often desirable to display generally flat items (such as magazines, letters, etc.) on, for example, a wall surface. The reasons for the presentation may vary. For example, certificates of recorded achievements or events, magazines commemorating specific events or having specific ornamental properties, letters having personal or celebrity relationships, or pleasant artwork may be hung at home or office.

Frames and display units are known in the art that can hold items flat and have a clear front screen that allows the item or a portion of the item to be viewed. The screen also serves to protect the items therein from damage. Frames and display units are also known that allow items to be inserted or removed to allow close viewing of the items or replacement of the items. However, the units known in the prior art are not easily adjustable between a longitudinal and a transverse direction, especially in cases where it is desired to maintain the open top orientation. In addition, the U.S. and other national markets often require frames of different sizes due to the use of different sizes of paper.

The prior art units also include means to fasten the components of the frame together (such as by rivets). For aesthetic purposes, these require that the frame be sprayed with a covering, such as paint. This increases both the production costs and the risk of breaking or wearing the cover over time. In addition, the components of the prior art frames need to be clamped together, so the required elements are often prone to breakage.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a display device comprising a back panel hingably mounted to a front panel by one or more hinge elements such that the front panel is pivotable along a first edge between a closed display position and an open position allowing insertion/removal of display items, the front panel having a border section and a transparent viewing section, the viewing section and the border section being fixed together to form the front panel,

a catch releasably securing the front panel to the back panel, the catch comprising an actuator movable within the back panel and in a direction through the body of the back panel to engage and release the front panel, respectively, movement of the actuator raising and lowering a retaining element to engage and disengage, respectively, a retaining element flap mounted on the front panel, the engagement preventing the front panel from pivoting from the closed position.

Preferably, the retaining element baffle has an arch defining a passage through which the retaining element can pass when engaged and disengaged.

Optionally, the retaining element has a wedge shape and is pivotally mounted along a wedge end, operation of the actuator moving a wedge about a pivotal engagement of the base of the wedge in the raised position with the arch to prevent relative movement of the front and rear plates.

The front plate preferably comprises one or more first support elements, and furthermore the or each first support element preferably has an "L" shaped cross section, the or each hinge element being slidably engageable (preferably slidably removable) with the or each first support element to secure the or each hinge element in position. Conveniently, the front panel further comprises a support element having a different orientation relative to the front panel to enable attachment of the hinge, and the different orientations of the support element allow the rear panel to pivot along different edges between the closed and open positions. Furthermore, the or each hinge element preferably has surfaces which are inclined to each other internally, the surfaces extending along the or each hinge element to guide the or each hinge element to the correct position and to maintain the or each hinge element in push-fit engagement with the support element.

Optionally, the viewing section has walls to define a rectangular area for holding articles. Furthermore, the viewing section optionally includes channel elements on opposing wall portions that cooperate to retain an elongate spacer, including a spacer that reduces the area in which the article is retained. Still further, the spacer optionally includes a ridge along one side to reduce the mass of the spacer required to create a given area reduction, the ridge holding the spacer in spaced relation to the wall and preventing the spacer from bending.

Preferably, the hinge element comprises a pivot mount engageable with a mounting element located on the back plate, the engagement enabling the hinge and the front plate to pivot relative to the back plate. Furthermore, the stop element preferably prevents pivoting beyond a preset angle. Still further, the pivot mount preferably has a cylindrical outer surface.

Advantageously, the mounting element comprises a cylindrical surface having a curvature complementary to the curvature of the pivot mount to provide a smooth pivoting action.

Preferably, the back panel comprises one or more resilient supports having article engaging surfaces to engage the surface of the displayed article. The resilience enables articles of different thickness to be displayed without the need to change the or each support. Furthermore, the article-engaging surface is preferably covered with a material or a sponge material. Still further, the resilient support preferably comprises an arm secured at one end to the back plate and supported on a free end of the arm, in a spaced arrangement with the back plate, and a head engaged with the displayed item.

Optionally, the catch engages the back plate by a push fit arrangement to enable the catch to be moved between different positions on the back plate, allowing the device to be easily used in different orientations.

Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only (showing one embodiment of the device). In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open display device displaying items in a longitudinal orientation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with the front frame removed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4a, 4b illustrate a hinge mechanism;

fig. 5a, 5b show the assembly of the hinge; and is also provided with

Fig. 6 shows an example of using the device for different sized display items.

Detailed Description

The display units shown herein are suitable for wall-mounted display of a range of items (e.g., magazines, letters, etc.) that are thin in one dimension. In its broadest aspect, the display unit provides a support or back panel on which the front cover is mounted, the support or back panel being movable between an open position in which items may be inserted into or removed from the display unit and a closed position in which items remain within the display unit and are viewable through a viewing area of the front cover. In the following description, the described embodiments are of a type suitable for attachment to a wall or the like, but this should not be construed as limiting the invention to this type of device, and this also relates to stand alone devices. The display unit is optionally mounted to the wall or may be freestanding such that the unit opens around the hinge mount and along the line of juncture between the support and the front cover, along their lower edge in use. This reduces the risk of the display article falling off the device and being damaged. In some embodiments, the display unit allows for simple insertion of a new item in front of an already displayed item. In addition, the orientation of the openings may be changed, allowing the unit to be used with articles that are oriented longitudinally or transversely. The display unit may be adapted to hold different sizes of items, allowing frames of different markets to be made of the same tool.

Referring initially to fig. 1-3, there is shown a display device or unit, generally designated 10, according to the present invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the components are typically capable of being clamped together when desired. To achieve this, small pawls that engage the undercuts may be utilized. This simplifies production and reduces costs. In addition, the assembly is self-tinting and does not require additional surface coating, again reducing cost. The device 10 has a backplate 11 which in use can be secured to a wall or other vertical surface. The bezel or frame 13/viewing screen 14 assembly is attached thereto along one edge 12, the assembly being referred to as a front panel 15. The frame 13 serves firstly to strengthen the viewing screen 14 and secondly to delineate an area to highlight a significant portion of the presentation document. For the longer edge, the typical size of the device is about 30cm, but the size may be chosen to suit the purpose.

In more detail, the back plate 11 has (see fig. 6)

slots

16a, 16b to accommodate securing features to secure the device 10 to a surface. In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the back plate is provided with two

slots

16a, 16b to allow the device 10 to be used with shorter or longer edge levels or, if desired, to actually secure the device at an oblique angle. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, an adhesive pad secured to the back of the back plate may be used to secure the device to a surface. The back plate may also have a cushion pad secured thereto to cushion the device against the wall. The cushion pad as well as the adhesive pad may comprise a through hole enabling a screw to pass through it, preferably centrally located in the pad. For example, screws may be used to more securely fix the device 10 to a wall to prevent theft and/or to prevent movement of the device 10 when the device 10 is accidentally bumped. Four flexible fingers 17 (see fig. 4 b) extend from the back plate 11. Each of the fingers 17 includes a rod 18, one end of the rod 18 being fixed to the back plate 11 and the other end supporting a head 19. The stem 18 is preferably formed of a resilient material that biases the head 19 of the finger 17 toward the screen 14. The head 19 is preferably formed of a soft or sponge material to minimize damage that may occur to the display article with which it is in contact. The flexible fingers 17 act with the inner surface of the viewing screen 14 to stably support the article in the correct orientation because the article is compressed between the fingers 17 and the screen 14 when the device 10 is closed. The flexibility of the fingers 17 enables articles of different thickness to be easily held without having to make changes to the device 10. The device 10 may be supplied to a user with the fingers 17 positioned and retained within correspondingly shaped apertures 17a to minimize the risk of damage prior to use.

To secure the viewing screen 14 to the frame 13, an integral tab (not shown) is provided on the screen 14 which engages with a corresponding recess (also not shown) formed in the frame 13. If desired, lugs may be formed in the frame 13 to engage grooves formed in the screen 14. The lugs allow the frame 13 and screen 14 to operate as a front panel unit.

Since the device 10 is intended to be usable with display articles of different sizes, the spacer 9 may be included within the device. The spacer 9 is suitable for, for example, converting the device 10 from a device capable of holding pages of the letter size in the united states to a device for holding articles of the size A4 and vice versa. In use, the spacer 9 is held in place by the

channel elements

20a, 20b formed in the screen 14. The spacer 9 has a plurality of ridges 21 along one side, these ridges 21 maintaining the spacer in spaced relation to the wall 22 of the screen 14 but minimizing the weight of the spacer for a given thickness of spacer. Also, if desired, a corresponding pair of channels is provided adjacent wall 23 along a shorter edge to allow for adjustment of the effective longer length of the device to be changed. As shown, the positioning of the spacer 9 allows the spacer 9 to remain hidden in use. The purchased device will include two spacers, one positionable along the shorter edge and the other positionable along the longer edge.

Inner wall members

24a, 24b are provided to hold the article in place.

The design of the hinge 30 allows the device 10 to be opened and closed such that the front panel 15 pivots away from the rear panel 11 along a selected common edge (but not joined). The hinge 30 may be placed such that the device 10 opens along a shorter edge and if desired, the hinge 30 may be removed and replaced to allow articulation along a different edge as a different item will be displayed in a different orientation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge 30, which may be formed of a plastics material, includes a bracket engagement body 31 to engage, in use, a support 40 located on the screen 14 and integral with the screen 14. The body 31 is connected by an arm 32 to a pivot mount 33, the pivot mount 33 having a cylindrical outer surface and comprising a cylindrical aperture 34 into which an optional pin (not shown) extending from the wall of the backplate 11 can engage, allowing the hinge 30 to pivot thereabout. Alternatively or additionally, the pivot mount 33 is held in place and allowed to roll within the pivot cover 35. The pivot cover 35 is fixed to the back plate 11 along both edges. The pivoting cover 35 has a curved profile when viewed along the free edge 35a, approximately matching the curvature of the pivoting seat 33, which facilitates the pivoting action and prevents unwanted movement of the hinge 30 away from the back plate 11. A stop element, not shown, prevents pivoting between the back plate and the front plate beyond a preset angle.

Referring to fig. 4b, the support 40 has an "L" shape in cross section and is fixed to the screen along a short side of the "L". Accordingly, the body 31 of the hinge 30 is hollow and the base 41 has an aperture 42 sized to allow the support 40 to pass therethrough. Additionally and with reference also to fig. 5a, the body 31 has a ramp 36, the ramp 36 being inclined upwardly away from the pivot mount 33 and extending partially through the body 31. As can be seen in fig. 5a, the ramp 36 widens away from the pivot mount 33, so that the elongated gap 37 gradually narrows. The shelf 38 extends into the body 31 in a vertically spaced relationship that narrows relative to the ramp 36.

Thus, to secure the hinge 30 to the screen 14, the body 31 of the hinge 30 slides on the support 40, the support 40 enters the end of the body 31 closest to the pivot 233 and slides along the ramp 36. As the support 40 slides into the body 31, it progressively engages the ramp 36 with the shelf 38 to hold the body 31 firmly in place.

Turning now to the closure mechanism, the closure mechanism is composed of two main parts: a closure member 51 engaged with the catch 61. The closure member 51 is preferably detachably mounted to the back plate 11. The back plate 11 has a closure member receiving recess 53 with channels 54 in both side walls of the recess 53. The closure member 51 has a corresponding fitting edge 55, the fitting edge 55 having upper and lower surfaces which engage the wall of the channel 54 to allow the closure member 51 to be push fit rather than fitted.

The closure member 51 also has a depressible button 56, the button 56 having a lever 57 and a cross plate 58, allowing the user to push the button 56 downwardly from its normal position to a depressed position in which the cross plate 58 is flush with the upper edge of the back plate 11. The button 56 is coupled to the wedge 59 such that depression of the button 56 causes the wedge 59 to be parallel with its inclined surface 60 to the upper edge of the backplate 11. When the button 56 is biased to the normal position, release of pressure on the button 56 causes the button 56 to rise and the wedge 59 pivots about the wedge end 59a, bringing the inclined surface 60 to its normal inclined orientation.

Actuation of the closure member 51 serves to close the device 10 by engagement of the wedge 59 with the catch 61 on the screen 14. The catch 61 has a channel 62 to receive the wedge 59 and the mounting edge 55 of the closure member 51. Along the way of the channel 62, the arch 63 forms an aperture 64 through which the wedge 59 and the fitting edge 55 pass during opening and closing, the wedge 59 lying due to the pressing of the button 56. Once the wedge 59 has passed through the aperture, pressure is released from the button 56, the button 56 returns to the normal position, and the wedge 59 pivots to the tilted position. In this position, the base 59b of the wedge 59 holds the front plate 15 on the rear plate 11, since the bottom is too high to pass through the channel 62, but engages the arch 63. Thus, the item to be displayed is held in a position visible through the screen 14.

In addition, along the short sides of the screen 14, the screen 14 has two other hinge supports. In addition, the screen 14 also has a latch along one of its longer edges. These allow the device 10 to be switched to orient the display article in both the landscape and portrait orientations without requiring additional devices to be obtained. In addition, the device 10 still opens along the bottom edge in use when turned to the desired orientation, with the top of the front panel being curved downwardly away from the rear panel, thus maintaining support for the contained items even when opened. Thus providing the user with flexibility to display items.

The hinge 30 may be removable from the support along one edge and secured along the other edge.

Thus, in use, the user selects the orientation of the desired device. The frame and viewing screen are secured together using lugs and complementary grooves. The hinge slides onto the hinge support on the screen in a push-fit engagement. Any required spaces are correctly located. The closure members fit into corresponding grooves in the back plate 11. The back plate is secured to a wall or other surface with

slots

16a, 16 b. In the alternative, this step may be omitted if the device is free-standing. The screen-in-frame (front panel) assembly is then slid into place relative to the rear panel such that the pivot mount of the hinge is positioned below and partially surrounded by the pivot cover on the rear panel. The device so formed is ready to receive an item to be displayed.

The article is positioned within the

wall members

24a, 24 b. The front panel is then pivoted about the hinge such that the top edge of the front panel moves in a generally upward arc toward the top edge of the rear panel until the latch engages the channel. The pivoting action causes the article to be held firmly between the screen and the flexible fingers 17. When the device is closed, the slope of the ramp that engages the arch is used to press the ramp and the button allows the wedge to pass through the channel. Once the wedge has passed through the channel, the push button and the biasing force on the wedge raise the wedge to the inclined position. To open the device, the button is pressed so that the bevel of the wedge is flush with the upper edge of the back plate. This causes the front panel to pivot forward away from the rear panel, allowing the article to be removed.

Claims

1. A display device (10), the display device (10) comprising a back panel (11) hingably mounted to a front panel (15) by one or more hinge elements (30) such that the front panel (15) is pivotable along a first edge between a closed display position and an open position allowing insertion/removal of display items, the front panel (15) having a border section (13) and a transparent viewing section (14), the viewing section (14) and the border section (13) being fixed together to form the front panel (15),

a catch (61) releasably securing the front plate (15) to the back plate (11), the catch (61) comprising an actuator (51) movable within the back plate (11) and in a direction through the body of the back plate (11) to engage and release the front plate (15) respectively, movement of the actuator (51) raising and lowering a retaining element (59) to engage and disengage, respectively, a retaining element (59) flap mounted on the front plate (15), the engagement preventing the front plate (15) from pivoting from the closed position.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element flap has an arch (63) defining a channel (62) through which the retaining element can pass when engaged and disengaged.

3. A display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining element has a wedge shape and is pivotally mounted along a wedge end, operation of the actuator moving a wedge about a pivotal engagement of a base of the wedge in a raised position with the arch to prevent relative movement of the front and rear panels.

4. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel comprises one or more first support elements.

5. A display device according to claim 4, wherein the or each first support element (40) has an "L" shaped cross section, the or each hinge element (30) being slidably engageable with the or each first support element to secure the or each hinge element in position.

6. A display device according to claim 5, wherein the hinge element (30) is slidably engageable in a movable manner.

7. The display of claims 4-6, wherein the front panel further comprises a support element having a different orientation relative to the front panel to enable attachment and manipulation of the hinge in different orientations.

8. A display device according to claims 4 to 7, wherein the or each hinge element has surfaces (36) which are inclined to each other internally, the surfaces extending along the or each hinge element to guide the or each hinge element to the correct position and to maintain the or each hinge element in push-fit engagement with the support element.

9. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the viewing section has walls to define a rectangular area for holding items.

10. A display device according to claim 9, wherein the viewing section comprises channel elements (20 a) on opposite walls, the opposite channel elements cooperating to hold an elongate spacer (9), including the spacer reducing the area where the item is held.

11. A display according to claim 10, wherein the spacer includes a ridge (21) along one side to reduce the mass of the spacer required to produce a given area reduction, the ridge holding the spacer in spaced relation to the wall and preventing the spacer from flexing.

12. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge element comprises a pivot mount (33) engageable with a mounting element located on the back panel, the engagement enabling the hinge and front panel to pivot relative to the back panel.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the stop element prevents pivoting beyond a preset angle.

14. A display device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the pivot mount has a cylindrical outer surface.

15. A display device according to claims 12 to 14, wherein the mounting element comprises a cylindrical surface having a curvature complementary to that of the pivot mount.

16. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein the back panel comprises one or more resilient supports having an item engagement surface to engage a surface of an item being displayed.

17. A display device according to claim 16, wherein the article-engaging surface is covered with a material or a sponge material.

18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the resilient support comprises an arm portion in a spaced arrangement from the back plate and a head portion secured at one end to the back plate and supported on a free end of the arm portion, the head portion engaging the displayed item.

19. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the catch engages the back panel by a push-fit arrangement to enable the catch to be moved between different positions on the back panel.