GB2217501A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A display comprises a vertical support 1 element which carries a plurality of spaced-apart horizontal bars 7. Each bar defines as upwardly extending recess and a downwardly extending recess. The facing recesses of adjacent bars receive, in a sliding manner, the opposed edges of a panel 12. At least some of the bars are removably mounted in position. The display may be rotated by brackets 4,5 to face the general traffic flow outside a shop window. Panels could be mounted on both sides and carry items for sale instead of information. <IMAGE>

Description

Description of the invention "Improvements in or relating to a display device" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a display device and more particularly to a display device which can be utilised at, for example, a point of sale or by an Estate Agent.

It is often necessary to have display devices, for example at points of sale or for use in displaying certain items such as, for example, details of houses offered for sale by an Estate Agent. Often the display has to be up-dated from time-to-time and it is desirable for this up-dating to be accomplished in a speedy manner, so that the display can be operative for as great a proportion of the time as possible.

Sometimes displays of this type have to display relatively smail items, and at other times it is desirable for such displays to be able to display relatively large items. The present invention therefore seeks to provide a display which can be utilised to display items of different sizes, and in which the items displayed can be changed relatively rapidly.

According to this invention there is provided a display, said display comprising a vertical support element, a plurality of spaced-apart substantially horizontal elements defining upwardly and downwardly extending recesses adapted to receive the opposed edges of a panel or the like, at least some of the panel engaging members being removably mounted in position.

Preferably each panel supporting member is slidably received within a channel member mounted on the support.

Conveniently each channel member is of substantially "C" cross-section, and each panel engaging member is of substantially "H" cross-section, each panel supporting member defining an upwardly extending and a downwardly extending recess adapted to receive the edge of a panel or the like between the arms of the said "H" cross-section.

The display may be in combination with a plurality of panels slidably engaged between the panel engaging members.

Preferably an element which is adapted to contain items is slidably engaged by two panel receiving members.

In one embodiment the display is in the form of a double-sided display, the display having panel engaging members located on two opposed sides thereof.

The display may be rotatable about a vertical axis.

Preferably the upper and lower ends of the display are connected respectively to the ceiling and to the floor by means of connections each comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to the floor or ceiling and a second housing, rotatably connected to the first housing, adapted to engage the vertical support.

Conveniently the two housings of each connection are of the same non-circular configuration, the housings being rotatable from a position in which they are aligned, to a position in which they are not aligned, the fixed housing then having part of a surface exposed provided with a bore to receive fixing screws.

Preferably the housings are of oval configuration.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a view of part of the display of Figure 1 illustrating a channel, FIGURE 3 illustrates a channel with a panel supporting member being inserted therein, FIGURE 4 illustrates a panel being mounted in position, FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of an alternate arrangement, and FIGURE 6 illustrates a fixing bracket.

A display in accordance with the present invention comprises a vertical support 1. In the described embodiment of the invention the vertical support comprises two parallel tubular members 2,3 which are slightly spaced apart, but other forms of support could alternatively be utilised.

The upper end and the lower ends of the support 1 are received in rotatable brackets 4,5 connected, respectively, to the ceiling and to the floor.

The vertical support is thus rotatably mounted in position, but is secured to the ceiling and the floor.

Connected to one side of the vertical support, in the described embodiment, are a plurality of channel members 6 of "C" configuration, which are bolted to the vertical support. Each channel member extends horizontally. The channel members are substantially evenly spaced. One channel member is shown in Figure 2.

It is intended that a panel engaging member 7 will be received within each "C" sectioned channel member. Each panel engaging member is of substantially "H" cross-section. One side face 8 cf the panel er.gag- ing member is provided with an axially extending arcuate slot 9. It is this face of the member which is slidably received within the "C" section channel, the groove being provided to accommodate the head of the bolts utilised to secure the channel to the vertical support.

Figure 3 illustrates a panel supporting member 7 being located in position.

When the "H" section panel engaging member 7 has been inserted in the "C" section channel 6, the "H" section panel engaging member presents an upwardly directed recess 10 and a downwardly directed recess 11 which are defined between the arms of the "H" section.

Panels 12 are provided for mounting on the display which are dimensioned to be slidingly received within the recesses of two adjacent panel engaging members 7 received in adjacent "C" sectioned channel mebers. Since the panels are slidingly insertable into position, it will be readily understood that a panel may rapidly be replaced with an alternative panel. Figure 14 illustrates a panel being mounted in position.

Each panel 7 may carry information that is to be displayed relating, for example, to goods offered for sale at the point of sale, or houses being offered for sale by an Estate Agent.

It is to be appreciated that the recesses formed by the panel engaging members are located in a plane which is in front of the "C"-sectioned channel members. It is thus possible for the "H" sectioned panel engaging member located in one of the intermediate "C"-sectioned channel members to be removed, and then a large panel, having a significant vertical extent, may be located in position, with the top edge engaging the remaining upper panel engaging member and the lower edge engaging the remaining lower panel engaging member. Of course, as will be readily appreciated, even larger panels can be accommodated if desired, by removing an appropriate number of the panel engaging members. However, there must always be a panel engaging member to engage the top of the panel and a panel engaging member to locate the bottom of the panel.

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment similar to Figure 1 in which two channels 6A,6B do not have penel engaging members. A large panel 13, having a height slightly greater than the height of three panels 12, is provided to be mounted on the display.

Whilst the invention has been described above with reference to panels, it is to be appreciated that many other items may be incorporated in the display in accordance with the invention. For example, instead of inserting a panel merely carrying information into the display, the panel may carry actual items for sale, or the panel may form the rear wall of a container which can contain goods for sale, or which can contain items such as plants. Alternatively, an element having a vertically extending upper lip and a vertically extending lower lip dimensioned to be received by two spacedapart panel engaging members may comprise a construction forming a holder for leaflets or the like. It will thus be appreciated that a display in accordance with the invention can incorporate more than simple panels.

It is envisaged that panels may be mounted on both sides of the display, instead of just on one side as described, thus making the display a double-sided display.

As was mentioned above, the upper and lower ends of the support are received in appropriate brackets 4,5. The lower bracket 5, as can be seen from Figure 6 comprises a fixed housing 14 screwed to the floor of oval configuration, and an upper housing 1,, pivotally connected to the first housing, also of oval configuration, rotatable about a central vertical axis between a position in which the two oval housings are aligned, and a position in which the axes of the two oval housings are off-set by 900. When in this condition, parts of the upper surface 16 of the lower housing 14 are exposed, and these exposed parts of the upper surface of the lower housing are provided with recesses 17 leading to through-bores to accommodate screws to enable the lower housing to be secured in position. The upper housing 15 receives the ends of the tubes 2,3.

The upper bracket 4 is of a similar design, and it is to be appreciated that it is not essential for the two tubular members which form the vertical support structure to be cut precisely to a desired length, since any short-fall in the length of the vertical tubular members will be concealed by the housing 15 of the upper bracket which receives the ends of the tubular members.

The upper bracket may be secured to a ceiling fabricated from ceiling tiles or the like by locating on top of a ceiling tile an element of plywood or chipboard, and screwing through the ceiling panel into that plywood or chipboard element.

It is envisaged that displays, as described above may be rotated slightly during use. For example, if such displays are present in a shop window, and traffic passes that window in a generally "tidal" manner, with the traffic flowing in one direction in the morning, and in the opposite direction in the evening, the display may be partly rotated so that it is directed towards to the flow of traffic in the morning and may then be further rotated so that it is directed towards the flow of traffic in the evening. Thus the display may have a maximum impact.

Whilst one example of the invention, with various modifications, has been described it is to be appreciated that many further modificatcns may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a support in accordance with the invention may be mounted on a wall, in a non-rotatable manner, the upper and lower ends of the vertical support being secured, by appropriate brackets, directly to the wall.

Claims (13)

1. A display, said display comprising a vertical support element, a plurality of spaced-apart substantially horizontal elements defining upwardly and downwardly extending recesses adapted to receive the opposed edges of a panel or the like, at least some of the panel engaging members being removably mounted in position.

2. A display according to Claim 1 wherein each panel supporting member is slidably received within a channel member mounted on the support.

3. r. display according to Claim 2 whereon each channel member is of substantially "C" cross-section, and each panel engaging member is of substantially "H" cross-section, each panel supporting member defining an upwardly extending and a downwardly extending recess adapted to receive the edge of a panel or the like between the arms of the said "H" crcss-section.

14. A display according to any one of the preceding Claims in combination with a plurality of panels slidably engaged between the panel engaging members.

5. A display according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein an element which is adapted to contain items is slidably engaged by two panel receiving members.

6. A display according to any one of the preceding Claims in the form of a double-sided display, the display having panel engaging members located on two opposed sides thereof.

7. A display according to any one of the preceding Claims which is rotatable about a vertical axis.

8. A display according to Claim 7 wherein the upper and lower ends of the display are connected respectively to the ceiling and to the floor by means of connections each comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to the floor or ceiling and a second housing, rotatably connected to the first housing, adapted to engage the vertical support.

9. A display according to Claim 8 wherein the two housings of each connection are of the same non-circular configuration, the housings being rotatable from a position in which they are aligned, to a position in which they are not aligned, the fixed housing then having part of a surface exposed provided with a bore to receive fixing screws.

10. A display according to Claim 9 wherein the housings are of oval configuration.

11. A display according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 which is non-rotatably mounted on a wall.

12. A display substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.