GB2101385A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A display apparatus comprises cards 11, 12, 13 and 14 and a mounting board or sheet having pockets 1, 2, 3 and 4, the arrangement being such that the cards can be inserted into the pockets to vary a scene. A picture effect may be created to show different interior design schemes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATIONS Display apparatus This invention relates to display apparatus and is more particularly concerned with display apparatus in which various effects can be produced from the same apparatus.

Display apparatus according to the present invention comprises cards, and a mounting board or sheet having pockets, the arrangement being such that cards can be inserted into the pockets to vary a scene.

Preferably a frame is provided which can be placed over the cards in the pockets, so as to produce a picture effect.

Conveniently the pockets are arranged so that they abut or substantially abut one another so that the cards, when inserted in the pockets can be seen without joining lines.

The cards and the pockets are respectively shaped so that the cards can be fitted into different pockets. In one arrangement the cards can be inserted by their ends into some pockets and by their sides into others.

Preferably there are four pockets with their edges abutting and arranged so that when the cards are inserted it provides or contributes to the perspective of a scene, for example a room.

The display apparatus is preferably formed by transparent pockets, conveniently formed of plastics material and the mounting board or sheet is also conveniently of plastics material. In this case the mounting board or sheet and the transparent sheet may be welded to one another to form the pockets, with the top sheet being appropriately cut to form openings into the pockets. Thumb cuts may be provided at the openings to the pockets to assist removal of the cards.

Preferably the mounting board or sheet, transparent pockets, and frame are mounted in a holder such as a ring binder. The apparatus may also include a picture or scene which can be overlaid on the cards between the frame and the pockets.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the display apparatus according to the present invention with the frame removed.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill of fig. 1.

and Fig. 4 is a similar elevation to fig. 1 but showing the device in operation.

As shown in figures 1-3 in particular the device comprises a rectangular backing sheet of clear plastics material having in it an upper pocket 1 and a lower pocket 2, and side pockets 3 and 4.

The pockets 1 and 2 are formed by superposing a sheet of clear plastics material on to the backing sheet 1 and welding this to the backing sheet 1 along the lines indicated by 5 and 6. The pocket is shaped to have portions 5a, 6a running parallel to the sides of the rectangular sheet 1 and inclined portions 5b and 6b inclined away therefrom, it will be more apparent subsequently why these angles are so chosen.

The pocket 2 at the other end of the sheet is similarly shaped and the same reference numerals have been used. Both the pockets 1 and 2 have openings shown by the references 1 a and 2a. In manufacture, as will be seen from figure 2, two sheets of clear plastics material are superposed one on the other and welded along the lines referred to above, and the openings 1 a and 2a are obtained by cutting the top sheet.

Arranged between the pockets 1 and 2 are two further pockets 3 and 4 welded at 7 and 8 along the lines 7a and 7b, 8a and 8b and to which access can be gained by straight sided entrances 3a and 4a on opposite sides of the sheet, with straight sided entrances running parallel to the sides of the back sheet 1, and being formed by cutting the top sheet as before.

The pockets 3 and 4 have their sides 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b tapering inwardly to a centre line 10, the angle of inclination of taper being the same but in the opposite direction to the angle of inclination of the sides 5b and 6b of pockets 1 and 2.

It will be seen in figure 1 in particular there are inserted into each of the pockets cards 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the cards are so shaped that when inserted into the pockets 1 and 2 edges of the cards abut against each of the sides 5b and 6b respectively at the base of the pocket and the other side lies slightly over the edge to the pockets 3 and 4 as is clearly shown in figure 2. The other two cards 13 and 14 are inserted so that half the card lies within the pocket and its sides also lie parallel to the tapered sides of the pockets 3 and 4. The arrangement is so chosen as can be seen in figures 2 and 3 that when the cards 1 3 and 14 are inserted into the pockets 3 and 4 the overlapping edges of the cards 11 and 12 in fact form in effect an abutting join, at least when viewed from the front.

A number of cards such as 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided with the apparatus and these may be of varying colours or scenes. The apparatus is particularly useful for deciding on the colourscheme of a room to be painted and such an arrangement is more clearly shown in figure 4. It will thus be seen that card 11 in pocket 1 will give the colour of the ceiling, the cards 1 3 and 14 in pockets 3 and 4 the colour of the walls and the cards 12 in pocket 2 the colour of the floor. The figure is shown as a boardroom but the scenes can be changed as required. It will be appreciated that the angles chosen are such as to give the perspective of a room in this particular example. In this figure a frame 1 5 is shown surrounding the backing sheet 1 so as to give the effect of a picture.

It will be seen from this that by changing the colours a different colour-scheme can be readily shown to a prospective purchaser of paint, wallpapers, carpets, light fittings and the like and simply changing cards can produce a totally different effect.

The lower and/or upper card be moved downwards or upwards as the case may be and provide a border around the ceiling or floor such as to give the effect of a pelmet or a skirting board, or a second card may be inserted behind it and projecting beyond it to give a contrasting colour for the pelmet or skirting board.

The frame 15, is of cardboard or plastics and the picture depicted may be mounted in the frame or separate. The backing sheet 1 and the frame 1 5 are conveniently pierced at 1 6 and 1 7 respectively by holes so as to be moveable in a ring binder (not shown) which may have holders for cards of varying colours or patterns.

Moreover, thumb cuts 20 may be provided in the pockets to assist removal of the cards.

Claims (10)

1. Display apparatus comprising cards, and a mounting board or sheet having pockets, the arrangement being such that the cards can be inserted into the pockets to vary a scene.

2. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a frame is provided which can be placed over the cards in the pockets, so as to produce a picture effect.

3. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the pockets are arranged so that they abut or substantially abut one another so that the cards, when inserted into the pockets can be seen without joining lines.

4. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the cards and the pockets are respectively shaped so that the cards can be fitted into different pockets.

5. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the cards can be inserted by their ends into some pockets and by their sides into others.

6. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which four pockets are provided with their edges abutting and arranged so that when cards are inserted it provides or contributes to the perspective of a scene.

7. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is formed with transparent pockets.

8. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the mounting board or sheet and the transparent sheet are welded to one another to form the pockets, with the top sheet being appropriately cut to form openings into the pockets.

9. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting board or sheet, transparent pocket, and frame are mounted in a holder.

10. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a picture or scene which can be overlaid on the card between the frame and pockets.

'11. Display apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.