EP1919736A2

EP1919736A2 - Method and system for displaying information in a highly visible location

Info

Publication number: EP1919736A2
Application number: EP06783903A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Willibrordus Theodorus Jeroen Gerritsma; Willem Wouter Christinus Van Holten; Theodorus Hermanus Klaassen; Alexander Richardus Maria Hubers
Original assignee: Media Services International (msi) Bv
Current assignee: Media Services International (msi) Bv
Priority date: 2005-08-31
Filing date: 2006-08-29
Publication date: 2008-05-14
Also published as: WO2007027085A2; WO2007027085A3; NL1029845C2; NL1029845A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for displaying information in a highly visible location, comprising of mounting a holder at the visible location and releasably arranging in the holder a carrier with an information content. The information carrier is here form-retaining and is arranged by being clamped or snapped into the holder. There can be a plurality of information carriers with differing information content which are arranged in alternating manner in the holder. These information carriers can be printed with their information content, but can' also be provided with a transfer on which the information content is arranged. The visible location can be stationary, so on a building, barrier, advertising column or light mast, but can also be mobile, such as on a vehicle. The invention further relates to a system for performing this method.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION IN A HIGHLY VISIBLE LOCATION

The invention relates to a method for displaying information in a highly visible location, comprising of mounting at least one holder at the visible location and releasably arranging in the holder at least one carrier with an information content. Such a method is generally known. Holders in the form of panels which are covered with glass plates and in which advertising posters are hung are for instance often mounted on street furniture such as bus shelters and the like. These posters are replaced periodically, for instance once a week.

The known method is quite labour-intensive and the replacement of the posters takes a relatively long time. For this purpose every panel must after all be opened by removing the glass plate, whereafter the poster must be detached, another poster put up and the panel reclosed. This is often made more difficult by the fact that the posers - with a view to visibility - are hung at high locations which are difficult to access. This method is therefore mainly suitable for relatively small numbers of posters of a large size. The invention now has for its object to provide a method of the above described type which is simpler to perform and is thereby also suitable for smaller-scale applications. According to the invention this is achieved in such a method in that the information carrier is form- retaining and is arranged by being clamped or snapped into the holder. Because the form-retaining information carrier can be simply clamped or snapped into the holder, it can be placed or removed again quickly and with little effort.

In order to be able to display varying advertising messages using this method, there is a plurality of information carriers with differing information content which are preferably arranged in alternating manner in the holder.

The or each information carrier can simply be printed with its information content. In that case the or 5 each information carrier can be made suitable for re-use after removal thereof from the holder by printing a cover layer over the information content, whereafter printing of this cover layer can once again take place.

Conversely, it is also possible for the or each

10 information carrier to be provided with at least one transfer on which the information content is arranged. The information content can then be modified in simple manner by replacing the transfers.

When the information content of the or each

15. information- carrier forms an advertising message, the method can be applied in an advertising campaign.

As stated above, the holder can be mounted at a stationary visible location, in particular a building, barrier, advertising column or light mast, just as 20 conventional holders with posters.

The holder can also be mounted at a mobile visible location, in particular a vehicle. The message on the information carrier can thus be spread over a large area. In the case the vehicle is a truck, the holder is preferably 25 mounted close to the underside of the truck in a space between the front and rear wheels thereof. Effective use is thus made on the one hand of this - normally wasted - space, while the holder and information carrier can in addition function as a safety element for the purpose of preventing 0 other road users, in particular cyclists and moped riders, from accidentally falling under the truck.

The invention also relates to a system for performing the above described method. Such a system, which comprises at least one holder for mounting at the visible location and at least one carrier with an information content for arranging releasably in the holder, is characterized according to the invention in that the information carrier is form-retaining and the holder and the information carrier have co-acting clamp or snap connecting means.

A structurally simple embodiment of the system is obtained when the holder has a space for accommodating the information carrier close-fittingly, and the clamp or snap connecting means are arranged along a peripheral edge of the receiving space and a peripheral edge of the information carrier. The clamp or snap connecting means can herein comprise a number of recesses formed in the peripheral edge of the receiving space and a corresponding number of projections protruding from the peripheral edge of the information carrier, although it is also possible to envisage the clamp or snap connecting means comprising a number of projections protruding inward from the peripheral edge of the receiving space and engaging on the peripheral edge of the information carrier.

When the information carrier has the form of a plate it is easy to handle, and the information content can also be readily printed thereon or adhered thereto.

The holder can take the form of a panel with a base and an upright peripheral edge which together define the receiving space, and can be further provided with elements standing from the base for supporting the information carrier.

The latter can be realized in simple manner when the base is profiled and the support elements are formed by upright profile parts.

In order to enable use of the system on vehicles, it is recommended that the holder and the information carrier are manufactured from a material permitted for use in transport means, in particular a plastic or (light) metal. A suitable material is for instance the plastic ABS.

The invention further relates to a holder and an information carrier for use in a system as described above.

The invention is now elucidated on the basis of a number of embodiments, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a truck with a system according to the invention arranged thereon,

Fig. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the holder and the information carrier of the system according to fig. 1 to be arranged therein,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the mounted system as according to arrows III-III in fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the mounted system as according to arrows IV-IV in fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the holder as according to arrows V-V in fig. 2, Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the holder as according to arrows VI-VI in fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the system according to the invention in use at a stationary visible location, mounted on a light mast. A system 1 for temporarily displaying information at a visible location 2 comprises a holder 3 for mounting at the visible location and a plurality of carriers 4, each with their own information content 5, for arranging releasably in holders 3. According to the invention these information carriers 5 are form-retaining, and holder 3 and each information carrier 4 therefore have co-acting clamp or snap connecting means 6, 7.

In the shown embodiment holder 3 takes the form of a flat panel with a base 8 and an upright peripheral edge 9, which together define a receiving space (fig. 2). The different information carriers 4, which are all embodied in the form of a plate, can accommodated close-fittingly in this receiving space. In the shown embodiment the clamp or snap connecting means 6, 7 are arranged along peripheral edge 9 of the receiving space and peripheral edge 10 of information carrier 4. These clamp or snap connecting means are here formed by a number of recesses 6 formed in peripheral edge 9 of the receiving space and a corresponding number of projections 7 protruding from peripheral edge 10 of information carrier 4.

Information carrier 4 can thus be mounted in holder

3 in simple manner by first placing projections 7 into the corresponding recesses 6 along one of the edges and then slightly deforming, for instance bending, information carrier 4, whereafter the rest of the projections 7 can snap into the remaining recesses 6. In order to remove information carrier

4 from holder 3 it suffices to insert a slender object, for instance a screwdriver, between peripheral edge 10 of information carrier 4 and peripheral edge 9 of holder 3 and to use this as a lever. Projections 7 can thus be levered out of the recesses along the relevant edge, whereafter the other projections 7 can also be released quickly. In order to hold the plate-like information carrier

4 flat in holder 3, thereby improving the legibility of information content 5, and in order to ensure a firm engagement of projections 7 in recesses 6, holder 3 is further provided in the shown embodiment with support elements 11 which stand upward from base 8. This is realized here in simple manner in that support elements 11 are formed by upright parts of a profile formed in base 8, which provides further strengthening of the thin-walled holder 3 itself. Support elements 11 do not otherwise extend over the full length of holder 3, and lie everywhere at a distance from peripheral edge 9 thereof, so that sufficient space remains for local deforming of information carrier 4 during placing of projections 7 into recesses 6.

The material of holder 3 and information carrier 4 can in principle be chosen freely as long as information carrier 4 is form-retaining and the materials are suitable for forming clamp connections or snap connections. If the system is intended for application at a mobile visible location, so a vehicle 12, holder 3 and information carrier 4 must however be manufactured from a material permitted for use in transport means, in particular a non-splintering plastic such as ABS or a (light) metal. The information content 5 on each information

^' .carrier 4 can be printed thereon, but it is also possible to envisage use being made of transfers with the information content 5 thereon. What is in any case important is that information content 5 can be quickly and easily arranged on and once again removed from information carrier 4, so that information carrier 4 is suitable for re-use. If the information content 5 is printed on carrier 4, it does not have to be removed as such, since it suffices to print a uniform cover layer thereover which can then in turn function as surface for a subsequent printing.

The system according to the invention is particularly suitable for displaying regularly changing messages, in particular advertisements, at prominent visible locations. Because information carriers 4 can be exchanged quickly and easily, the system according to the invention can readily support varying advertising campaigns. For placing of the system it is possible to envisage stationary locations such as light masts 13 along roads or on large car parks (fig. 7), or walls of buildings. In addition, the system can also be arranged on barriers, for instance crush barriers used during events.

An important application, is however foreseen for mobile locations such as trucks 12, which travel great distances every day and are thus noticed by many people. In the latter case the system according to the invention can moreover be advantageously arranged close to the underside of truck 12, in a space between front wheels 14 and rear wheels 15 thereof (fig. 1) . In this manner the system also functions as safety means against other road users, in particular cyclists and moped riders, falling under the truck when the truck negotiates a bend.

Although the invention is elucidated above on the basis of a number of embodiments, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto. The shape and dimensions of the holder and information carrier can for instance be varied as required, wherein non-flat, and thus three-dimensional shapes can be chosen. It is further possible for a plurality of information carriers to be accommodated in a holder adjacently of each other or one above another.- The embodiment of the connecting means can also be varied. Instead of the shown projections on the information carrier and recesses in the holder, it is also possible to opt for a system with projections on the holder under which the information carrier is snapped. Finally, the system can also be applied at visible locations other than those shown and described. It is here also possible to envisage the use of the information carriers as temporary traffic signs which are arranged for instance on closed roads in order to indicate a detour.

The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.

Claims

1. Method for displaying information in a highly visible location, comprising of mounting at least one holder at the visible location and releasably arranging in the holder at least one carrier with an information content, characterized in that the information carrier is form- retaining and is arranged by being clamped or snapped into the holder.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that there is a plurality of information carriers with differing information content which are arranged in alternating manner in the holder.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the or each information carrier is printed with its information content.

4. Method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the or each information carrier is made suitable for reuse after removal thereof from the holder by printing a cover layer over the information content.

5. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the or each information carrier is provided with at least one transfer on which the information content is arranged.

6. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the information content of the or each information carrier forms an advertising message.

7. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the holder is mounted at a stationary visible location, in particular a building, barrier, advertising column or light mast.

8. Method as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, characterized in that the holder is mounted at a mobile visible location, in particular a vehicle.

9. Method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the vehicle is a truck, and the holder is mounted close to the underside of the truck in a space between the front and rear wheels thereof.

10. System for displaying information in a highly visible location, comprising at least one holder for mounting at the visible location and at least one carrier with an information content for arranging releasably in the holder, characterized in that the information carrier is form- retaining and the holder and the information carrier have co- acting clamp or snap connecting means.

11. System as claimed in claim 10, characterized by a plurality of information carriers with differing information content.

12. System as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the information content is printed on the or each information carrier.

13. System as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the or each information carrier is provided with at least one transfer with the information content thereon.

14. System as claimed in any of the claims 10-13, characterized in that the holder has a space for accommodating the information carrier close-fittingly, and the clamp or snap connecting means are arranged along a peripheral edge of the receiving space and a peripheral edge of the information carrier.

15. System as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the clamp or snap connecting means comprise a number of recesses formed in the peripheral edge of the receiving space and a corresponding number of projections protruding from the peripheral edge of the information carrier.

16. System as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the clamp or snap connecting means comprise a number of projections protruding inward from the peripheral edge of the receiving space and engaging on the peripheral edge of the information carrier.

17. System as claimed in any of the claims 10-16, characterized in that the information carrier has the form of a plate.

18. System as claimed in claims 14 and 17, characterized in that the holder takes the form of a panel with a base and an upright peripheral edge which together define the receiving space.

19. System as claimed in claim 18, characterized by elements standing from the base for supporting the information carrier.

20. System as. claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the base is profiled and the support elements are formed by upright profile parts.

21. System as claimed in any of the claims 10-20, characterized in that the holder and the information carrier are manufactured from a material permitted for use in transport means, in particular a plastic or (light) metal.

22. System as claimed in any of the claims 10-21, characterized in that the holder is configured and dimensioned for mounting on the underside of a truck between the front and rear wheels thereof.

23. Holder evidently intended for use in a system as claimed in any of the claims 10-22.

24. Information carrier evidently intended for use in a system as claimed in any of the claims 10-22.