GB2198275A - Notice board - Google Patents

Abstract

A notice board has a body (1), and rotatably mounted on this body (1), a plurality of appropriately arranged segments (2). These segments (2), have faces of different colours, such that one face may be the same colour as the body (1), whilst the other face is of a colour that contrasts to that of the body (1). Rotation of a segment (2) thereby allows the selective presentation of either face, depending on whether that segment (2) is to present a visual contrast to, or to merge with the body (1) of the board. The body (1) and its segments (2) are preferably mounted on a supporting board (4) via an upper hinge (5) and a lower magnet (6) or other attachment. By appropriate positioning of the segments on the bodies and the visual presentation of these segments, (and possibly by having several such bodies and corresponding segments) the formation of selected groups of letters, numbers and other data is possible. <IMAGE>

Description

NOTICE BOARD The present invention relates to a notice board.

The present invention proposes that segments with faces of contrasting colours are movably mounted on a body.

Pivoting of each segment then permits one or other face of the segment to be presented selectively, and suitable positioning of the segments then enables a display to be formed. One face of each segment will normally be of the same colour as the body of the notice board.

The segments are preferably formed by cutting corresponding apertures in the body (the material cut out normally forming the segment), then mounting the segments on those apertures using pivots so that the segments are freely rotatable. In one preferred arrangement the segments are hexagonal, and are mounted on the body by pivots at diametrically opposite corners of the hexagon.

A larger supporting board may receive one or more bodies each with corresponding segments juxtaposed or arranged to form selected symbols or group of symbols.

The notice board may also be provided with a lighting system for illuminating the display.

The boards and segments are advantageously made of a plastics material but of course any other suitable material may be used.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a notice board according to the present invention, with segments of the board partly turned relative to the plane of the body of the board; and Fig. 2 shows a plan view on a larger scale of part of the board of Fig. 1.

A notice board (forming a display panel) according to the present invention) has a body 1 supporting segments 2 in the form of elongated hexagons, the segments being in a figure-of-eight arrangement. The segments, cut from the full thickness of the body 1, are connected to the body body 1, by pivots 3, two for each segment 2, the pivots 3 being situated in diametrically opposite corners of the hexagonal segments 2. The pivots 3 allow each segment 2 to rotate on itself.

Each segment 2 has one face whose colour (for example white) differs from the colour (for example blue) of the body 1. In this way, the pivoting of a segment permits presentation of one or other face as desired, depending on whether the segment 2 is to present a visual contrast, or to merge with the body 1 of the board.

The body 1, carrying the segments 2, is itself mounted on a supporting board 4 of larger size which may accommodate one or more other bodies 1, which may be similar or different. In this way appropriate juxtaposition of the boards 1 and appropriate positioning of the segments 2 on each body 1 allow the formation of selected groups of letters, numbers or other data.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the body 1 is hingedly connected at its top portion 5 to the supporting board 4, and is held against the latter by means of a magnet 6.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 2, the magnet may be replaced by a clip 7 or any other equivalent fixing means.

In yet another variant, the hinge 5 may also be replaced by a clip or any other equivalent fixing means.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A notice board having a body and a plurality of segments rotatably mounted on the body, the segments having one face of a colour different from that of the body and an opposite face of the same colour, as the body, whereby rotation of each segment permits selective presentation of one or other face of the segment to form a display by suitable positioning of the segments.

2. A notice board according to claim 1, wherein the segments are mounted in corresponding apertures in the body, and the segments are freely rotatable in the apertures.

3. A notice board according to claim 2, wherein the segments are hexagonal and have a pair of diametrically oppositely situated pivots for rotation of the segments.

4. A notice board according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in that the body is mounted on a supporting board.

5. A notice board according to claim 4, having a plurality of the bodies, each with corresponding segments, mounted on the supporting board.

6. A notice board according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the segments are arranged to form selected symbols, letters or numbers.

7. A notice board according to any one of the preceding claims having means for illuminating the body and the segments.

8. A notice board substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.