GB2136623A - Water resistant display frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A display frame comprises a framework having a transparent screen to allow viewing of printed matter contained in a compartment within the framework. The framework is for use in situations where water tightness is required and accordingly the compartment has a watertight surround. The parts 2a, 2b and 2c may be made of hard plastics (eg acrylics, polycarbonates, glass reinforced plastics) or glass. A door piece 3 with a gasket is removably-held by screws 4 and the whole may be fixed to a wall by screws 5. Photo-illuminescent matter may be displayed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water resistant frame This invention relates to water resistant frames for notice-boards, plans and the like.

Plans and notices which are to be displayed outdoors require to be provided with protection against the effects of the weather. Hitherto this protection has generally been in the form of wooden framed and glass fronted cabinets. These cabinets, however, are often inadequate as they suffer from condensation. Also, ill-fitting panels allow the gradual ingress of moisture.

According to the present invention there is provided a plastics material framework having a transparent screen to allow viewing of items contained in a compartment within the framework, the framework providing a watertight surround for said compartment.

Preferably, said framework is in the form of a plastics material surround secured to a pair of spaced glass or plastics material screens at least one of which is transparent.

Preferably also, part of the surround is removable to allow access to the compartment, said removable part of the surround being sealed against the fixed part of the surround, when in position, by a wateright gasket.

Preferably also, the items to be contained within the framework are plans, safety instructions and the like all manufactured in a manner so as to be photoluminescent.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a water resistant frame in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the frame of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a water resistant frame comprises a pair of spaced screens 1 a and 1 b having a surround 2. The front screen 1a consists of a transparent sheet of glass or plastics material. The rear screen 1 b is also a sheet of glass or plastics material but it need only be transparent if it is desirable for an item placed between the sheets to be viewable from both front and rear. The surround 2 of a front section 2a and a rear section 2b. The front and rear screens 1 a and 1 bare fixably mounted to one face of the front section 2a and rear section 2b of the surround respectively. The space between the screens 1 a and 1 b is defined by the front and rear surround and screen sections being separated by a spacer 2c which extends around three sides of the frame. The fourth side of the frame has an opening to allow access to the space within.A door piece 3 serves to ciose the opening when the frame is in use, a waterproof gasket provides a seal between the door piece 3 and the front section 2a and rear section 2b of the surround 2. The door piece 3 is fixed in position by locking screws 4. The complete frame is attached to a wall by fixing screws 5.

The surround sections 2a and 2b and the spacer 2c can be manufactured from any hard plastics or glass material. Suitable examples of these are acrylics, polyca rbonates, glass reinforced plastics and glass.

When these frames are used to display safety notices it is preferable that these notes can be seen in the dark and the illumination should be independent of the lighting in the building or other structure in which the notices are being displayed. For this reason suitable signs for displaying in the frames are signs which are photo-luminescent. A number of examples of plans which can advantageously be presented in this manner are:- safety plans; safety routing plans; safety route escape plans; fire fighting equipment plans; safety appliance location plans; safety equipment fixed location plans; public routing and instruction plan signs in such locations as railway stations, hospitals, hotels, schools, factories and other industrial locations. The frames can, of course, be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate different examples of the above.

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

1. A plastics material framework having a transparent screen to allow viewing of items contained in a compartment within the framework, the framework providing a watertight surround for said compartment.

2. A framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the framework is in the form of a plastics material surround secured to a pair of spaced glass or plastics material screens at least one of which is transparent.

3. A framework as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein part of the surround is removable to allow access to the compartment, said removable part of the surround being sealed against the fixed part of the surround, when in position, by a watertight gasket.

4. A framework substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Water resistant frame This invention relates to water resistant frames for notice-boards, plans and the like. Plans and notices which are to be displayed outdoors require to be provided with protection against the effects of the weather. Hitherto this protection has generally been in the form of wooden framed and glass fronted cabinets. These cabinets, however, are often inadequate as they suffer from condensation. Also, ill-fitting panels allow the gradual ingress of moisture. According to the present invention there is provided a plastics material framework having a transparent screen to allow viewing of items contained in a compartment within the framework, the framework providing a watertight surround for said compartment. Preferably, said framework is in the form of a plastics material surround secured to a pair of spaced glass or plastics material screens at least one of which is transparent. Preferably also, part of the surround is removable to allow access to the compartment, said removable part of the surround being sealed against the fixed part of the surround, when in position, by a wateright gasket. Preferably also, the items to be contained within the framework are plans, safety instructions and the like all manufactured in a manner so as to be photoluminescent. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a water resistant frame in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the frame of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, a water resistant frame comprises a pair of spaced screens 1 a and 1 b having a surround 2. The front screen 1a consists of a transparent sheet of glass or plastics material. The rear screen 1 b is also a sheet of glass or plastics material but it need only be transparent if it is desirable for an item placed between the sheets to be viewable from both front and rear. The surround 2 of a front section 2a and a rear section 2b. The front and rear screens 1 a and 1 bare fixably mounted to one face of the front section 2a and rear section 2b of the surround respectively. The space between the screens 1 a and 1 b is defined by the front and rear surround and screen sections being separated by a spacer 2c which extends around three sides of the frame. The fourth side of the frame has an opening to allow access to the space within.A door piece 3 serves to ciose the opening when the frame is in use, a waterproof gasket provides a seal between the door piece 3 and the front section 2a and rear section 2b of the surround 2. The door piece 3 is fixed in position by locking screws 4. The complete frame is attached to a wall by fixing screws 5. The surround sections 2a and 2b and the spacer 2c can be manufactured from any hard plastics or glass material. Suitable examples of these are acrylics, polyca rbonates, glass reinforced plastics and glass. When these frames are used to display safety notices it is preferable that these notes can be seen in the dark and the illumination should be independent of the lighting in the building or other structure in which the notices are being displayed. For this reason suitable signs for displaying in the frames are signs which are photo-luminescent. A number of examples of plans which can advantageously be presented in this manner are:- safety plans; safety routing plans; safety route escape plans; fire fighting equipment plans; safety appliance location plans; safety equipment fixed location plans; public routing and instruction plan signs in such locations as railway stations, hospitals, hotels, schools, factories and other industrial locations. The frames can, of course, be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate different examples of the above. Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A plastics material framework having a transparent screen to allow viewing of items contained in a compartment within the framework, the framework providing a watertight surround for said compartment.

2. A framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the framework is in the form of a plastics material surround secured to a pair of spaced glass or plastics material screens at least one of which is transparent.

3. A framework as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein part of the surround is removable to allow access to the compartment, said removable part of the surround being sealed against the fixed part of the surround, when in position, by a watertight gasket.

4. A framework substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.