DK178261B1

DK178261B1 - Display Apparatus

Info

Publication number: DK178261B1
Application number: DK201400595A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Erik Tovdal Gregersen; Søren Gammelmark
Original assignee: Modulex As
Priority date: 2014-10-21
Filing date: 2014-10-21
Publication date: 2015-10-19

Abstract

Disclosed is a display apparatus comprising a base member comprising a pair of base clamp members, the base member for securing a base panel between the pair of base clamp members, the base panel held between a pair of opposite edges thereof, the base section adapted to be mounted to a wall, and a front member comprising a pair of front clamp members, the front member for securing a transparent front panel between the pair of front clamp members, the front panel held between a pair of opposite edges thereof, the front panel hingedly secured to the base panel such that, the front member is movable between an open and a closed position wherein, in the open position, the angle between the front and base panels is acute and wherein, in the closed position, the planar surfaces of the front and base panels abut one another. A planar display article is placed between the front and the base panel whereby, in the closed position, the article is locked in place to be displayed as a sign, notification, etc.

Description

DISPLAY APPARATUS

BACKGROUND

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to display devices and more particularly to a wall-mountable display apparatus for displaying planar display articles including signage, notifications, photos, etc., without needing to dismount the apparatus when changing the display articles.

Planar display articles such as, pictures, art, signage, notifications, etc., imprinted on a sheet of paper, plastic, fabric, etc., are usually inserted within a bordered frame, which is either placed on a horizontal surface, such as upon a table, etc., or mounted to a vertical structure such as, a wall, etc. Usually, in order to change the display article within the frame, mostly, the rear of the frame needs to be accessed to remove and replace the display articles. This might be convenient for the frames placed on horizontal surfaces as one only needs to flip frame to carry out the changing, but the same cannot be said for wall-mountable frames. In order to change a display article within wall-mounted frame, which is usually heavier and larger than a table-top frame, one needs to first remove the frame off the wall by physically carrying the weight thereof, set it somewhere suitable in case the frame is inconveniently heavy, change the display article, and again, by carrying the weight of the frame, remount the frame to the wall. Once remounted, one also needs to make sure that the frame is properly aligned. A device that enables a user to change display article from the front without needing to dismount the frame every time would be a welcome addition to the art.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a display apparatus comprising a display device and a frame device. The display device comprises a transparent front panel, a fixed base panel, and an elongate elastic joint member attached to bottom edges of the front and base panels as the surfaces of the front and base panels abut one another such that, the bottom edges of the front and base panels are flush with one another whereby, the front and the base panels hinge with respect to one another about the bottom edges thereof. The display device is operable between display device open and closed positions wherein, in the display device open position, the angle between the front and base panels ranges between 5 to 45 degrees and wherein, in the display device closed position, the angle between the front and base panels is substantially 0 degrees.

The display device in the display device open position is adapted to receive one or more planar display articles between the front and base panels wherein, the position of the one or more display articles is fixed in the display device closed position.

The frame device comprises a fixed base member comprising a base section and a pair of opposingly-disposed base clamp members, each of which extending from the base section, the base member for securing the display device between the pair of base clamp members, viz., a top base clamp member and a bottom base clamp member, such that, the top base clamp member abuts the top edge of the base panel, and the bottom base clamp member abuts a bottom surface of the joint member. Notably, the base section is adapted to be mounted to a mounting surface. The frame device further comprises a front member comprising a front section and a pair of opposingly-disposed front clamp members, each of which extending from the elongate front section, the front member for securing the display device between the pair of front clamp members, viz., a top front clamp member and a bottom front clamp member, such that, the top front clamp member abuts the top edge of the front panel, and the bottom front clamp member abuts a bottom surface of the joint member.

The front member is hingedly secured to the base member such that, the front member is movable between frame device open and a closed positions wherein, in the frame device open position, the angle between the front and base panels is equivalent to the angle therebetween in the display device open position and wherein, in the frame device closed position, the angle between the front and base panels is equivalent to the angle therebetween in the display device closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the display apparatus in closed position.

FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a side view of the display apparatus in closed position.

FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the display apparatus in open position.

FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a side view of the display apparatus in open position.

FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the display device in open position.

FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the display device in closed position.

FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of closer view of the front and base panels extending from the joint member.

FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the frame device in open position.

FIG. 9, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the frame device in closed position.

FIG. 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the base member.

FIG. 11, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the front member.

FIGs. 12 through 15, according to an embodiment of the present invention, are the sequential illustrations of the display apparatus being used to display a display article.

FIGURES - REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 - Display Apparatus 12 - Display Article 14 - Display Device 16 - Frame Device 18B - Base Panel 18F - Front Panel 20 - Joint Member 22B - Base Member 22F - Front Member 24 - Mounting Surface 26 - Base Section 28T-Top Base Clamp Member 28B - Bottom Base Clamp Member 30 - Clamp Opening 32 - Front Section 34T-Top Front Clamp Member 34B - Bottom Front Clamp Member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Referring to FIGs. 1 through 4, the present invention comprises a wall-mountable display apparatus 10 for removably displaying one or more planar display articles 12 (ref. FIGs. 13 and 14) such as, signage, notifications, photos, etc. The display apparatus 10, which is simple in construction, is basically an assemblage of a display device 14 and a wall mountable frame device 16.

Referring to FIGs. 1 through 6, the display device 14 comprises a pair of identical, rectangular, and transparent front and base panels 18F and 18B that are connected together at the bottom edges thereof such that, the front and base panels 18F and 18B are enabled to hinge about each other. More particularly, the display device 14 comprises an elongate elastic joint member 20, which is of uniform cross-section, and which comprises a planar, top surface that sealingly abuts the bottom edges of the front and base panels 18F and 18B as planar surfaces of the front and base panels 18F

and 18B abut one another. More particularly, the width of the top surface (of the joint member 20) is substantially equivalent to the combined width of the top and base panels 18F and 18B. The joint member 20 is preferably made of silicone. Preferably, the edges of the front and base panels 18F and 18B are chamfered to avoid chances of incurring an injury while handling the display device 14. The front and base panels 18F and 18B are made of glass, plastic, or any other suitable material. Notably, the base panel 18B need not necessarily be transparent as the one or more display articles 12 (ref. FIGs. 13 and 14) are viewed through the front panel 18F.

Still referring to FIGs. 1 through 6, the display device 14 is operable between a display device open position (FIG. 5) and a display device closed position (FIG. 6) wherein, in the display device open position (FIG. 5), the angle between the front and the base panels 18F and 18B is around 15 degrees and wherein, in the display device closed position (FIG. 6), the angle between the front and the base panels 18F and 18B is 0 degrees. The display device 14 is adapted to removably receive one or more display articles 12 between the front and base panels 18F and 18B in the display device open position (FIG. 5). Once the one or more display articles 12 are received within the display device 14, the display device 14 is moved to the display device closed position (FIG. 6) so as to lock the position of the one or more display articles 12 between the front and the base panelsl8F and 18B. Further, the joint member 20 not only hingedly couples the front and base panels 18F and 18B, but also prevents the one or more display articles 12 from slipping from between the front and base panels 18F and 18B in the absence thereof.

Referring to FIGs. 1 through 4, and 7 and 8, the frame device 16 comprises a base member 22B, which is adapted to be vertically mounted to a vertical mounting surface 24 (ref. FIGs. 11 to 14).

The frame device 16 further comprises a front member 22F, which is dimensionally substantially equivalent to the base member 22B wherein, the front member 22F is hingedly coupled to the base member 22B at the bottom such that, the front member 22F, about the hinge joint, is rotably movable between a frame device open position (FIG. 7) and a frame device closed position (FIG.

8).

Referring to FIGs. 7 through 9, the base member 22B comprises an elongate, substantially rectangular base section 26, and a pair of opposingly-disposed base clamp members, viz., a top base clamp member 28T and a bottom base clamp member 28B, each of which extending integrally and perpendicularly from an extremity of the base section 26. The base member 22B, about a rear planar surface thereof, is adapted to be mounted to a mounting surface 24 such as, a wall, a stud, etc. The top base clamp member 28T comprises a clamp opening 30, the axis of which is perpendicular to the base section 26. The utility of the clamp opening 30 will become apparent from the following body of text. In one embodiment (not shown), the length of the base section 26 is adapted to be adjustable.

Referring to FIGs. 7, 8, and 10, the front member 22F, which is structurally similar to the base member 22B, comprises an elongate, substantially rectangular front section 32, and a pair of opposingly-disposed front clamp members, viz., a top front clamp member 34T and a bottom front clamp member 34B, each of which extending integrally and perpendicularly from an extremity of the front section 32. Notably, bottom inner edges of the bottom front and base clamp members 28B and 34B are hingedly coupled together so as to allow the base and front members 22B and 22F to hinge with respect to one another. In the frame device closed position (FIG. 8), the top front clamp member 34T is adapted to be received within the clamp opening 30 so as to snap-lock the top front clamp member 34T therewithin. In one embodiment, the top front clamp member 34T, instead of being snap-locked into the clamp opening 30, may be magnetically secured within the clamp opening 30. In one embodiment, the length of the front section 32 is adapted to be adjustable.

Referring to FIGs. 1 through 10, the display device 14 as intended is set within the frame device 16 as the base and front panels 18B and 18F are snugly received between the base and front clamp members 28 and 34 respectively. More particularly, as the display device 14 is set into the frame device 16, the top and bottom base clamp members 28T and 28B abut the top edge of the base panel 18B and the bottom surface of the joint member 20 and the top and bottom front clamp members 34T and 34B abut the top edge of the front panel 18F and the bottom surface of the joint member 20. The surfaces of the front and base panels 18B and 18F abut the surfaces of the front and base sections 26 and 32 respectively as the display device 14 is secured within the frame device 16. The front and base clamp members 28 and 34 are dimensionally configured such that, as the frame device 16 is moved to the frame device closed position (FIG. 8), the surfaces of the front and base panels 18B and 18F abut one another. In the frame device open position (FIG. 7), the angle between the front and the base panels 18B and 18F is equivalent to the angle therebetween in the display device open position (FIG. 5). Similarly, in the frame device closed position (FIG. 8), the angle between the front and the base panels 18B and 18F is equivalent to the angle therebetween in the display device closed position (FIG. 6). As can be appreciated from the referred drawings, the display device 14 is set into the frame device 16 such that, the display device 14 is asymmetrical with respect to the frame device 16 so that, the front section 32 doesn't block the view of one or more display articles 12 as they are disposed between the front and base panels 18B and 18F.

Referring to FIGs. 11 through 14, in order use the display apparatus 10, the display apparatus 10 is mounted to the mounting surface 24 in the aforementioned manner after which, the frame device 16, and thereby the display device 14 is operated to the respective open positions (FIG. 12). In the open position, as seen in FIG. 13, a planar display article 12 is introduced between the front and base panels 18B and 18F after which, the frame device 16, and thereby the display device 14 are operated to the respective closed positions (FIG. 14) so as to secure the display article 12 between the front and base panels 18F and 18B. The display article 12 may comprise a sheet of paper, plastic, fabric, etc.

The display apparatus of the present invention differs from existing prior art display apparatuses. For example, Japanese Patent Publication no. 11-249611 to ORIGIN KOGYO KK, published on 17 September 1999 relates to a frame-shaped bulletin board for laterally inserting and extracting new bulletin object, without omitting an old bulletin to fall out of the frame. The bulletin board employs a pair of slide stays configured to slide through dovetail grooves for holding a window frame opened at an angle from the base frame. Whereas the panels of a display device of the proposed apparatus are hingedly coupled by an elastic joining member. The proposed apparatus further comprises a frame device with a front member hingedly secured to a base member to move between open and closed positions, wherein the display device is secured there between using front clamp members and base clamp members. The prior art bulletin board further comprises hook and hook holder which is difficult to operate by a user while placing or removing bulletin materials and slide receiving part with angle shaped recess to receive a bulletin. Whereas the proposed display apparatus allows adding or removing display materials by accessing both laterally and from the top direction, by releasing the snap lock of the clamp members. Further the proposed apparatus does not require a slide receiving channel for introducing new display materials or a hook part to secure the panels together.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. For example, the protective case assembly can be adapted to accommodate a tablet PC by simply altering the dimensions thereof.

Claims

An information media holder (10) comprising: (a) a media holder (14) consisting of: (i) a transparent front panel (18F); (ii) a fixed base panel (18B); and (iii) an elastic elastic hinge joint (20) attached to the lower edges of the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B), the surfaces of the front panel (18F) and of the base panel (18B) abutting one another so that the lower edges of the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) flush with each other, whereby the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) are hinged around the lower edges, the media holder (14) is operable when the media holder is between open and closed position when the media holder (14 ) is in the open position, the angle between the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) is between 5 and 45 degrees. When the media holder (14) is in the closed position, the angle between the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) is substantially 0 the media holder (14), when the media holder (14) is in the open position, is suitable for receiving one or more planar information media (12) between the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B), one or more information media (12) is attached, when the media holder ( 14) is in the locked position, the hinge joint (20) prevents one or more information media (12) from slipping out if the joint is not there; and (b) a frame (16) comprising: (i) a fixed suspension rail (22B) consisting of a base section (26) and a set of oppositely placed base brackets (28T, 28B), each extending from the base section (26) ), the mounting rail (22B) secures the media holder (14) between the brackets, namely a top bracket (28T) and a bottom bracket (28B) such that the top bracket (28T) is adjacent to the base panel (18B) and the bottom panel (28B) is adjacent to it. the bottom surface of the hinge joint (20), the base section (26) to be mounted on the mounting surface (24); and (ii) a front (22F) consisting of a front section (32) and a set of oppositely placed front brackets (34T, 34B), each extending from the extended front section (32), the front (22F) securing the media holder (14 ) between the set of front brackets, namely a top front bracket (34T) and a bottom front bracket (34B) such that the top front bracket (34T) abuts the upper top of the front panel (18F) and the bottom front bracket (34B) abuts the bottom surface of the hinge joint. (20), the front (22F) is secured with a hinge to the suspension rail (22B) such that the front is movable between the frame (16) in the open and closed position, when the frame (16) is in the open position, the angle between the front panel (18F) ) and the base panel (18B) equal to the angle when the media holder (14) is in the open position, when the frame (16) is in the closed position, the angle between the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) is equal to the angle when the media holder (14 ) is in the closed position.

2. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, wherein the base section (26) consists of an elongated, substantially rectangular rail.

3. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 2, wherein the base section (26) is mounted vertically on the mounting surface.

4. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. 1, where the lower edge of the front (22F) is connected to the lower edge of the suspension rail (22B) so that the front (22F) can be hinged around the suspension rail (22B).

5. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, wherein each of the lower fittings (28B, 28T) integrates from an extreme point on the base section (26).

6. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, wherein the length of the base section (26) is adjustable.

7. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, wherein the base section (26) consists of a flat front and a flat rear; the front of the base section (26) abuts the surface of the base panel (18B), holding the base panel (18B) between the hinge set (28B, 28T).

8. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, where each bracket (28B, 28T) extends perpendicularly from the base section (26).

9. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. 1, where the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) are rectangular.

10. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, wherein the front section (32) consists of an extended, substantially rectangular rail.

11. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, wherein each front bracket (34T, 34B) integrally extends from an extremity of the front section (32).

12. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, where the length of the front section (32) is adjustable.

13. Information media holder (10) according to Point 1, wherein the front section (32) consists of a flat back side adjacent to the surface of the front panel (18F), holding the front panel (18F) between the hinge set (34T, 34B).

14. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, where each front bracket (34T, 34B) extends perpendicularly from the base section (32).

15. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, wherein the front (22F) is locked by the suspension rail (22B) when the frame (16) is in the locked position.

16. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, where the angle between the base panel (18B) and the front panel (18F) is 15 degrees when the media holder (14) is in the open position).

17. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. Point 1, wherein the hinge joint (20) consists of a flat upper surface adjacent to the lower edges of the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B), the hinge joint (20) being attached to the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) ; the width of the upper surface of the hinge joint (20) extends over the total width of the lower edges of the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B).

18. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. 1, wherein the hinge joint (20) is a uniform cross-section of an upper planar surface, the upper planar surface adjacent to the lower edges of the front panel (18F) and the base panel, the hinge joint (20) being attached to the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B).

19. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. 1, where the front panel (18F) and the base panel (18B) are identical in size.

20. Information media holder (10) i.h.t. point 1, where the hinge joint (20) is of silicone.