GB2204979A

GB2204979A - Display panel or sheet

Info

Publication number: GB2204979A
Application number: GB08712065A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chan Leung Tam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-05-21
Filing date: 1987-05-21
Publication date: 1988-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-21
Also published as: GB2204979B; GB8712065D0; HK90091A

Abstract

A display panel or sheet 10 comprises a first formation (20) arranged for selective engagement and disengagement with a complementary second formation (30) of a like said panel or sheet 10, a further one of said formations (30) being provided at a further side of the panel for selective engagement or disengagement with a complementary said formation (20) of a further said like panel 10. The first and second formations preferably comprise an array of engagable zip teeth which are fastened by a lockable slider 25. The fabric sheet 10 shown is folded to accommodate hanging tapes 80, 81. A stronger connection between sheets may be had by the addition of spring clips 100 which may also be fastened to the tapes. <IMAGE>

Description

A DISPLAY PANEL OR SHEET This invention relates to a display panel or sheet.

It is known to construct signs by stringing sheets of material upon a fly wire strung, at its ends, from supports, e.g across a street.

However, it is a disadvantage of such known prior art that the sign thus formed is not robust or durable and gaps which appear between the sheets are unsightly.

According to the invention there is provided a display panel or sheet having a first formation arranged for selective engagement and disengagement with a complementary second formation of a like said panel or sheet and wherein a further one of said formations is provided at a further side of said panel for selective engagement or disengagement with a complementary said formation of a further said like panel. Preferably the first and second formations comprise arrays of engagable zip teeth and one of the formations is provided with a zip fastener head.

Furthermore, the panel or sheet is preferably provided with a character or symbol which may include an alphabet or number character, with a plurality of said panels or sheets including different said characters, which when connected together may form a word or other identifiable sign. The panel or sheet also preferably includes means for connection of an elongate flexible member from which the panel or sheet may be hung.

The panel or sheet also preferably includes means for receiving a clip so that like panels when joined via the first and second formations may be additionally joined via the clip. The elongate flexible member is also preferably provided with means for engagement with a said clip.

According to the invention in a second aspect there is provided a zip fastener head comprising a handle movable between a locked and an unlocked position, the handle when in the locked position being arranged to lock the zip fastener head against movement relative to engaged zip teeth. The handle, when in the locked position is preferably disposed in a direction pointing away from the engaged teeth.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 illustrates a plurality of sheets of which each is an embodiment of the invention, joined together Fig 2 is a rear view of the sheets shown in figure 1 Figs 3a is an enlarged view of the area labelled 3a in figure 2 and figure 3b is a side view thereof Fig 4 is a general perspective view of a zip fastener head Fig 5 is a partial sectional view of the head shown in figure 5, in use Fig 6a and 6b are sectional views of the zip head shown in figure 5 in alternative positions.

With reference to the figures, an embodiment of the invention is shown which comprises a sheet or panel 11, formed, preferably, from fabric. The panel 11 is provided, along one edge, with a first array of teeth 20 of a zip fastener 15, the array 20 being arranged to engage with a second, complementary array of teeth 30 provided on an opposed edge of a similar said sheet 12.

A zip fastener head 25 is also provided, for connecting the first and second arrays together in the usual manner.

The sheet 11 is also provided with a said second complementary array of teeth on a parallel spaced second edge, to enable the panel 11 to be connected to another like panel 10, as shown in figures 1 and 2.

Each sheet 10 as printed thereon alphabet or numerical characters, or other symbols 50. By connecting the panels in a desired order, a user may compose signs to carry a message or the like by simply selecting and zipping together the correct combination of panels of characters and/or symbols to form the required sign. After the sign has served its purpose, the sheet may easily be dismantled by undoing the zips.

A preferred set of English language characters would be: letters A-Z, numerals 0-9 and associated signs "-", "%","%"," ii , t11 and Each panel 10, 11, 12 is further provided with sections of fabric 60, 61 which are folded over and stitched at opposed non-connected edges 70, 71. The folded over sections 60, 6%1 are arranged to be of sufficient width to accomodate elongate woven tapes 80, 81 which may be threaded through the sections 60, 61 of adjacent sheets 10, 11, 12 and from which the connected sheets forming the sign may be hung for outside use.

Each section 60, 61 is also provided with two grommets 90 for receiving a spring steel clip 100, shown in more detail in figure 3 which may be used in addition to the zip fastener 15 to provide a stronger connection between the panels 10.

Each clip 100 may, optionally, be provided with first and second rivets 110 which are connected to the tapes 80 through grommets 120. Each spring clip 100 is provided with two hook sections 130, 140 for engagement with the grommets 90 provided in the portions 60, 61 of the sheets 10, 11, 12.

Figures 5 to 7 show an embodiment of a zip fastener head 25, forming another part of the present invention.

With reference to figures 6 and 7, the zip fastener head has a movable locking handle 160 for pulling the head in a desired direction and a casing 170. The handle 160 is pivotably movable relative to the casing 170 and is provided with a cam portion 165 at one end thereof. The casing 170 also houses a resilient steel hook 180 which has one end portion 185 thereof held in planar tension between two portions 190, 200 of the casing 170.

The opposed end 210 of the hook 180 tapers to an edge for engagement with interlocked zip teeth.

In use, when the handle 160 is pressed to the position shown in figure 7b the cam portion 165 of the handle 160 presses the steel spring hook 180 towards the zip teeth, as shown in figure 6. This results in the tapered end 210 of the hook 180 resting firmly on an interlocking crevice 200 between adjacent zip teeth 210, 220 thus preventing the zip head 25 from moving in any direction unless the handle 160 is moved to the open position shown in figure 7a.

The zip head 25 shown in figures 5 to 7 has the particular advantage that the locking handle 160 when in the locking position is disposed in the direction opposite to the closed zip teeth (see figure 6).

Conventional zip heads have the locking handle pointing towards the closed teeth. The zip head 25 as described allows the zip teeth to be engaged by pulling the zip head 25 from an upper position to a lower position (for example) and to be locked at a lower end by placing the handle in a downward direction. This has the advantage over known prior handles, which lock pointing in an upward direction, in that the handle 160 conforms with the general practice of having a handle pointing downwards in a locked position when the zip fastener is engaged by a downward movement of the head. The handle 25 is also not easily moved in the opposite, opening direction by gravity or accidental touch.

Claims

1. A display panel or sheet having a first formation arranged for selective engagement and disengagement with a complementary second formation of a like said panel or sheet and wherein a further one of said formations is provided at a further side of said panel for selective engagement or disengagement with a complementary said formation of a further said like panel.

2. A display panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second formations comprise an array of engagable zip teeth and one of the formations is provided with a zip fastener head.

3. A panel or sheet as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including a character or symbol provided thereon.

4. A panel or sheet as claimed in claim 3 wherein said character or symbol comprises an alphabet or number character, with a plurality of said panels or sheets including different said characters.

5. A panel or sheet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising means of connection of an elongate flexible member from which the panel sheet may be suspended.

6. A panel or sheet further comprising means for receiving a clip for connecting like panels together.

7. A panel or sheet as claimed in claim 6 as dependent on claim 5 wherein the elongate flexible member is provided with means for engagement with a said clip.

8. A zip fastener head comprising a handle moveable between a locked and an unlocked position. a handle when in the locked position being arranged to lock the zip fastener head against movement relative to engaged zip teeth.

9. A zip fastener head as claimed in claim 8 wherein the handle, when in the locked position is disposed in a direction pointing away from the engaged teeth.

10. A zip fastener head as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 where further comprising a resilient hook, the handle when in the closed position biasing the hook into locking engagement with engaged zip teeth.

11. A zip fastener head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A display panel or sheet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.