GB2267596A - Illuminated rotary display apparatus. - Google Patents

Abstract

A display unit comprises a number of vanes 10 of triangular cross-section rotatably mounted in parallel. Each vane 10 has an inner axially extending tube 12 of transparent material from which extend three radial fins 16, 18, 20 between the ends of which transparent external wall members 30, 32, 34 are attached to provide the display areas. An elongate fluorescent lamp 14 is mounted in the tube 12 to backlight the display areas 30, 32, 34. To prevent light from emerging from the outer ends 22, 24, 26 of the fins, each fin 16, 18, 20 is made of opaque material. The outer ends 22, 24, 26 of the fins project beyond the display surfaces 36, 38, 40 and the vane 10 is wrapped in a clear shrink-wrap film 42 to form pockets 44 for receiving the display material 50. <IMAGE>

Description

Illuminated Rotary Display ApparatUs And Vane Therefor This invention relates to an illuminated vane assembly for displaying poster or other display material.

It has particular application to vanes for rotary display apparatus of the kind employing parallel multi-faceted vanes, rotation of which about their longitudinal axes, presents a plurality of display surfaces. The most common form of rotary display employs vanes of triangular crosssection providing three different display surfaces.

Examples of rotary display apparatus are described in specifications GB 2134301 and EP-A 0249396. However, the display disclosed in each of these patent specifications is not what is called an illuminated display. In this context an illuminated display is one which allows the display material mounted to the vanes to be back-lit. This in turn requires the vane walls, to which the display material is mounted, to be at least translucent to allow transmission of light from a source within the vane to back-light display material attached to the external vane surfaces.

Two disadvantages have been noted in the illuminated rotary displays marketed to date. To explain the first it is necessary to explain the general structure of the vanes by which the back-lighting is obtained. Each vane has a central, axially - extending, tube of transparent material in which is housed the lighting source, for example an axially-mounted fluorescent tube. From the central tube three fins extend radially from the axis and mutually at 1200 to one another. The fins are of the same transparent material as the central tube, for example a transparent acrylic plastic. Between the outer ends of the fins are mounted the three external walls of a translucent or diffusing material which allows back-lighting of the display material attached to them.

It is found that the transparent fins act as light guides which allow light to escape through their outer ends.

Because the fins extend the length of the display, the existing vanes provide a strip or line of light bordering edge of each vane display surface. Consequently in a complete display area constituted by a number of parallel vane areas, the overall display is broken by these lines of light. Advertisers do not like this effect.

Another disadvantage problem with illuminated displays is that it is often generally undesirable to adhesively mount display material to the vanes, especially transparency types of material.

There will be described hereinafter a vane assembly for a rotary display apparatus which in our view substantially mitigates the disadvantages discussed above.

Aspects and features of this invention are set out in the claims following this description.

In order that the invention and its preferred practice may be better understood, an embodiment of it will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a vane; and Fig. 2 is a detail of one end of the outer covering of the vane.

The vane 10 comprises a tubular core 12 of clear material, for example a clear acrylic plastic, in which is received a fluorescent tube 14 extending lengthwise of the vane along its axis X. The fluorescent tube is normally fixedly mounted and the vane assembly rotates around it.

Extending radially from the tube 14 are three fins 16, 18, 20 of equal size and each extending the length of the core tube 12. The fins extend radially with respect to the vane axis X and are mutually at 1200 to one another. In contrast to prior practice these tubes are of an opaque material, such an opaque acrylic or aluminium. A translucent material may suffice provided that it absorbs sufficient light to prevent a strip or line of light being seen at the outer ends 22, 24 and 26 respectively of the fins.

It will be appreciated that if the vane shown is one of a plurality of similarly oriented, parallel vanes providing a complete display area viewed from the direction of arrow V, then any light emerging from the fin ends 22 and 24 extending the length of the vane will be seen by the viewer as lines of light intruding on the overall display.

Closely adjacent the fin ends 22 and 24 of the vane shown will be the similar ends of the next adjacent vanes so the effect is quite pronounced and unwelcome to the advertiser.

The fin structure now proposed to prevent this light leakage from the fin ends obviates this problem.

Between the outer end portions of the fins, the external walls 30,32 and 34 of the vane are mounted to provide the triangular external shape of the vane. The respective external surfaces 36, 38 and 40 of the walls provide the display surfaces for receiving poster, graphic or other display material. These vane walls are made of a translucent material, such as a translucent acrylic, so as to provide a diffuse back-lighting of display material affixed thereto when the source 14 is energised.

It will be noted that the outer ends of 22, 24 and 26 of the fins stand, slightly proud of the vane surfaces 36, 38 and 40. Around the exterior of the vane extends a transparent outer covering 42. This is conveniently of a heat shrink film, for example a clear, self-adhesive polyester film such as that available from the 3M Company, that on being heated forms a shrink wrap of the vane structure, the film seating on the outer ends - the vane edges - of the fins to leave a small space or gap 44 between the film and the display surfaces of the vane. At least the covering film should not adhere to the surfaces. The pocket thus formed between the shrink wrap material and each display surface enables a poster strip, such as is exemplified at 50, to be slid down between the outer vane surface, e.g. 36, and the adjacent portion of the outer film 42. The slightly projecting ends 22, 24, and 26 of the fins also act as a guide for positioning the poster strip which is held in place without the need for adhesive or the like.

The film also acts as protection for the display material.

The use of the outer covering or sleeve 42 to maintain the display material in position is particularly beneficial for illuminated rotary displays where transparency type display material is used and the use of adhesives is undesirable.

The edges of the film past which the display material is inserted and removed may be reinforced for protection against damage by securing, e.g. adhering, thereto an overlapping strip of a plastic material. Fig. 2 shows an edge portion 56 of the heat shrink film, at one end of the vane, to which an additional reinforcing plastic strip 58 has been adhered. The display material can be inserted between it and the facing portion 60 of a vane with less risk of tearing the film edge. An overlap of say 50 mm is suitable. This reinforcement can be provided at one or both ends of the vane or where there is an exposed film edge.

The opaque fins 16, 18, 20 divide the interior of the vane into three separate compartments each receiving light through a portion of the core tube 12. The fins may be of a white or other light coloured material, or have their surfaces so painted, in order to aid efficient distribution of light to back-light the vane walls.

It will be appreciated that the use of the heat shrink wrap film could be applied to vanes for a nonilluminated rotary display apparatus, such as disclosed in EP-A 0249396. The covering or sleeve 42 could be provided in other ways using clear plastic materials shaped to a close fit on the vane structure. In particular the material can form an enclosing sleeve, as does the shrink wrap material described above, that is supported in engagement with the outer ends of the fins.

Claims (11)

1. A vane for an illuminated display comprising a plurality of fins radiating from a central support member, a plurality of external vane walls extending between the outer end portions of said fins to provide a plurality of external surfaces for receiving display material, the vane walls allowing the transmission of light generated within the vane of back-light the display material, wherein means are provided to prevent the escape of light through the outer ends of the fins.

2. A vane as claimed in Claim 1 in which each fin is of opaque material.

3. A vane is claimed in Claim 1 in which the central support member is a transparent tube for receiving a light source therein, and said fins extend radially away from said transparent tube and are of an opaque material thereby dividing the interior of the vane into compartments each adapted to receive light through a portion of the transparent tube.

4. A vane is claimed in any preceding claim in which the vane walls are of a translucent material.

5. A vane as claimed in any preceding claim in which the outer ends of the fins stand proud of the external display surfaces and wherein a transparent shrink wrap material extends about the vane display surfaces engaging the outer ends of the fins to cover the display surfaces while allowing display material to be inserted between each display surface and the adjacent portion of the shrink wrap material.

6. A vane as claimed in Claim 5 in which at least a free end portion of the shrink wrap material where display material is to be inserted is provided with reinforcement to prevent damage.

7. A van as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4 in which a outer covering of a transparent material is supported adjacent each display surface in a manner such that display material can be inserted and held in position between each display surface and the adjacent outer covering.

8. A van is claimed in Claim 7 in which the outer ends of the fins stand proud of the external display surfaces and the outer coverings are provided by a sleeve of transparent material extending about the vane walls and supported in engagement with outer ends of the fins.

9. A vane is claimed in Claim 8 in which said sleeve comprises a material heat shrunk into close engagement with the outer ends of the fins.

10. A vane as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9 which at least a free and portion of each outer covering where the display material is to be inserted is provided with reinforcement to prevent damage.

11. A vane for a rotary display unit and heaving a plurality of surfaces for receiving display material wherein an outer covering of transparent material is supported adjacent each display surface such that display material can be inserted and maintained in position between each display surface and the adjacent outer covering.