GB2219684A - Apparatus for displaying and selling posters and the like with frames - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for displaying and selling posters, pictures, prints and the like, together with frames, comprises a display unit 1, a plurality of sheets 4 pivotally mounted on the display unit, the sheets bearing high quality miniature reproductions of the posters and a plurality of framing templates 7 bearing representations of various frames. The dimensions of the frame borders 10 correspond to the dimensions of the poster reproductions, whereby a customer on selection of a poster, overlays a template of choice on the reproduction so as to give an impression of how a particular poster is likely to look within a chosen frame. A rolled, full-size poster may be located in an elongate box which, together with framing material, is located in a second elongate box having end closures (figures 7 and 8). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AND SELLING POSTERS AND THE LIKE WITH FRAMES The present invention relates to apparatus for displaying and selling posters and the like with frames.

Customers wishing to have a poster, print, photograph or other item framed may choose a frame from selections of lengths of framing available in shops. It is necessary to lay the strips of framing alongside the item to be framed and visualise mentally what the finished piece will look like. A disadvantage of this is that it can be very difficult to imagine if a particular frame type will look attractive as a full surround, when only a small portion of the item to be framed can be seen against the proposed frame. A further disadvantage is that a large, flat counter space is required for the customer to lay the picture down on, and this may quickly become covered with many different types of framing as the customer tries to select a particular material.Thus, unless a number of counters are available, only one customer may be served at a time and other clients may have to wait a lengthy period for attention.

The present invention provides apparatus for displaying and selling posters, pictures, prints and the like, together with frames, the apparatus comprising a display unit, a plurality of sheets pivotally mounted on the display unit, the sheets bearing high quality miniature reproductions of the posters and a plurality 6f framing templates bearing representations of various frames, the dimensions of the frame representations corresponding to the dimensions of the poster reproductions, whereby a customer on selection of a poster, overlays a framing template of choice on the reproduction so as to give an impression of how a particular poster is likely to look within a chosen frame.

Advantageously, the display unit includes retaining means for the templates.

Preferably, the apparatus includes means for mounting it on a wall.

Conveniently, the mounting means includes a pair of split battens, one batten being adapted to be mounted on a vertical supporting surface, the other batten being fixed to the display device.

Advantageously, the apparatus includes one or more background templates, the or each template having a portion through which a reproduction of a poster may be viewed with the region of the background template about said portion being a representation of a wall covering, whereby a customer, on selection of a poster, overlays a' background template of choice on the poster reproduction and then overlays a framing template of choice on the background template, so as to give an impression of how a particular poster is likely to look within a chosen frame against a particular wall covering.

Preferably, the framing template is provided with a template region surrounding the representation of the frame.

Conveniently, the representation of the frame of the framing template comprises scaled down, three dimensional framing.

The invention also provides packaging for a poster and lengths of framing material comprising an inner elongate box for the poster and an outer elongate box for the inner box and lengths of framing material.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus from the front showing a stack of sheets with miniature reproductions of posters and a plurality of framing templates in a holder; Figure 2 is a partly cut away perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with a framing template shown being superimposed over a miniature poster; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus from the rear; Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus, on a smaller scale, mounted on a wall; Figure 5 is a simplified representation of a sheet with four miniature reproductions of posters;; Figure 6 is a simplified representation of a further sheet showing relative sizes of posters in a conventional room setting; Figure 7 is a perspective view of packaging used to dispatch the actual poster and elements of the frame; and Figure 8 is a partly cut away, partly exploded perspective view of the packaging.

With reference to the drawings, the apparatus includes a display unit 1, which is roughly triangular in crosssection, and has an upwardly inclined face 2 over which may be laid, by means of ring binding elements 3, a series of sheets 4 on which miniature reproductions of posters S are mounted. The posters 5 are provided with a washable, glossy plastics covering, which serves the dual purposes of rendering them durable and strong, and providing a surface which simulates a glazing effect. The ring binding elements 3 are lockable to prevent removal of the sheets 4 from the unit 1. The apparatus also includes a holder 6 with a plurality of framing templates 7 and an advertisement panel 12. The posters 5 may be selected from the range most popular at any one time.Each framing template 7 comprises a transparent acrylic sheet 9 on which is provided an inner border 10. The border 10 on each framing template 7 is different, thus representing the various choices of colours and/or textures of the framing materials available. Each framing template 7 also includes a tab 11 to facilitate choice and removal of a chosen framing template 7 from the container 6, the tabs 11 of different framing templates 7 being offset with respect to one another.

The effect of a metal frame is simulated by providing a framing template comprised of a sheet of anodised aluminium or other metal, with a central area corresponding to the dimensions of the miniature posters cut away, to expose the poster upon superimposition of the template.

The border 10 is produced by hot foil printing, silk screen printing or any other printing process which can simulate a particular type or texture of frame.

When a customer has chosen a poster from the miniature reproductions of the posters among the ring bound sheets, he may then visualise the poster in different frames by selecting framing templates from those in the container and superimposing these on the miniature reproduction.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the apparatus may be mounted on a wall A by wall mounting means 40. In the present embodiment, the wall mounting means 40 comprises a spacer batten 42 and two split battens 44 and 45. The spacer batten 42 and the split batten 44 are secured to the display unit 1 by screws 46. The second split batten 45 is attached to the wall A by screws (not shown). To mount the display unit on the wall A, the display unit is lifted up until the angled surface of the split batten 44 engages and mates with the angled surface of the split batten 45.

Figure 5 illustrates a typical layout of a sheet 4 which has four miniature posters 5. Below each poster 5 is a legend Z which typically gives the name and reference number of the poster, the actual dimensions of the poster and a recommended or suggestion for a type of frame to be used.

At the back of the stack of sheets 4 is a sheet 80 (see Figure 6) which shows the relative sizes of the common sized posters in a conventional room setting. The sheet 80 allows a customer to visualize the scale of a particular poster.

When a customer has selected the poster which he or she requires and the appropriate framing, the actual poster and framing material is dispatched to the frame maker in packaging 100. The packaging 100 comprises an innerelongate box 102 into which the rolled up poster is placed, an outer elongate box 104 into which the inner box 102 and the lengths of framing material are placed, and two end closures 105. An address panel 106 is provided on the outer surface of the outer elongate box 104. The lengths of material contained within the outer box 104 provide support for the poster contained within the inner box 102 and thus protect the poster during transit.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a second series.

of templates is provided, each of which bears on its surface a background colour or pattern corresponding to particular wall coverings, whereby a background template and a framing template may be superimposed about a poster reproduction, so as to give an enhanced impression of how a particular poster within a chosen frame is likely to look on a particular background. In this embodiment (not shown in drawings), the background template, which comprises a coloured sheet with a central cut-away portion corresponding to the dimensions of the miniature poster, is placed over the poster so that the poster is exposed in the cut-away area. The framing template is then placed on top of the background template to imitate the final effect of the framed combination with a particular decor. The region of the framing template between the border 10 and the outer edge of the template is transparent, to enable one to see the border juxtaposed to the background colour.

Three-dimensional framing may be simulated by provision of an additional set of templates in which a perspex sheet of the size cf the miniature posters is surrounded by scaled down samples of actual framing.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for displaying and selling posters, pictures, prints and the like, together with frames, the apparatus comprising a display unit, a plurality of sheets pivotally mounted on the display unit, the sheets bearing high quality miniature reproductions of the posters and Va plurality of framing templates bearing representations of various frames, the dimensions of the frame representations corresponding to the dimensions of the poster reproductions, whereby a customer on selection of a poster, overlays a framing template of choice on the reproduction so as to give an impression of how a particular poster is likely to look within a chosen frame.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, including retaining means for the framing templates.

3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including means for mounting the apparatus on a wall.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the mounting means includes a pair of split battens, one batten being adapted to be mounted on a vertical supporting surface, the other batten being fixed to the display device.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including one or more background templates, the or each template having a portion through which a reproduction cf a poster may be viewed with the region of the background template about said portion being a representation of a wall covering, whereby a customer, on selection of a poster, overlays a background template of choice on the poster reproduction and then overlays a framing template of choice on the background template, so as to give an impression of how a particular poster is likely to look within a chosen frame against a particular wall covering.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, in which each framing template is provided with a template region surrounding the representation of the frame.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the representation of the frame of the framing template comprises scaled down, three dimensional, framing.

8. Packaging for a poster and lengths of framing material comprising an inner elongate box for the poster and an outer elongate box for the inner box and the lengths of framing material.

9. Apparatus for displaying and selling posters substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

10. Packaging for a poster and lengths of framing material substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.