GB2280533A

GB2280533A - Display device

Info

Publication number: GB2280533A
Application number: GB9414816A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guenter Frick
Original assignee: Franken Plastik GmbH
Current assignee: Franken Plastik GmbH
Priority date: 1993-07-23
Filing date: 1994-07-22
Publication date: 1995-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-22
Also published as: PL174676B1; HUT76595A; SK87394A3; GB9414816D0; SK279722B6; CZ282577B6; GB2280533B; HU9401959D0; DE4324736C1; CZ3871U1; PL304390A1; HU215341B; CZ175894A3

Description

f 2280533 1 DISPLAY DEVICE This invention relates to a display device, in

particular comprising a support and a panel.

A device of the above type is known, wherein the support is a support plate comprising an opening and a transverse bar extending across this opening, and two slits are provided, one between each opening edge piece and one edge of the transverse bar, in which a slit-bordering ledge is formed on the edge piece of the opening and on the edge of the transverse bar, wherein a panel in the f orm. of a basically flat plate is set into the opening, which (panel) possesses two resiliently flexible flanges, each of which engages through one of the slits and engages with a detent nose behind one of the adjacent ledges, and wherein a locking device is associated with each slit and flange, which secures the flange in respect of mobility transversely to the length of the flange in the direction of its width.

In one known device (EP-OS 0 278 067) of this type, both ledges are intrinsically rigid structures,, which extend parallel to each other across the depth of the slit and are at a constant distance from each other. The slit is sufficiently wide for the detent nose to pas's through and the flange to have sufficient space for movements in the slit across the width of the slit. If the locking device is not present, the panel can be relatively easily removed from the support plate without damage, by bending the f lang4k_gut of the detent position, operating from the front side, the flange being moved in the direction of the width of the slit. As locking device, a slender, elongate rib is provided, which is afterwards pushed into the slit between the one ledge and the flange and which is provided with a --- plurality of identical ribs on a back plate, which is placed against the rear face of the support plate. The back plate together with the locking ribs represents a 2 considerable additional expense, amounting to about 30-40% of the total costs of the known display board.

The objective of the present invention therefore is to create a device of the initially named type, in which the locking device is provided on the support plate itself thus dispensing with an additional back plate.

According to the present invention, we provide a display device comprising a support and a panel, wherein the support comprises an opening and a transverse bar crossing the opening, two slots being provided between respective opposed edges of the opening and the transverse bar, wherein a slot-bordering ledge is formed on each of said edges of the opening and the transverse bar, wherein said panel is in the form of a substantially flat plate mounted to the support, the panel comprising two resiliently flexible flanges, each of which penetrates towards the rear of the display device through a respective one of the slots, each flange having a detent nose which engages behind the respective one of the adjacent ledges, wherein the slot-bordering ledge remote from the detent nose is formed as an arresting tongue resiliently movable transverse to the longitudinal extent of the slot, said tongue being disposed obliquely with its free end pressing against the flange and causing the slot to taper inwardly towards the rear of the display device, and wherein the arresting tongue secures the flange in respect of mobility transverse to the length of the flange in the direction of its width.

The one slot-bordering ledge, in any case present, is formed and used as an arresting tongue movable with elastic bending, with the result that the arresting or locking device is quite considerably simplified. By the oblique setting of the arresting tongue, the slot tapers in its -- width from the front side of the support plate towards its 35 rear side. When the detent nose is pushed in and pushed through, the arresting tongue is displaced. and after the detent nose has passed through the tongue bears tightly 3 against the flange. If the flexibility associated with the arresting tongue is correspondingly heavy, the panel cannot be removed out of the support from the front side of the display device without destruction.

It is especially favourable and advantageous if the arresting tongue - as viewed along its length parallel to the slot - terminates f ree at both ends, at a distance from other regions of the support. In this way the elastic flexibility of the arresting tongue is improved.

It is also especially favourable and advantageous if the edge of the transverse bar carrying the arresting tongue - as viewed along its length parallel to the slot - terminates freely at both ends. at a distance from other regions of the support plate. In this way, the edge of the transverse bar is incorporated into the elastic flexibility of the arresting tongue.

It is furthermore especially favourable and advantageous if the inclination of the arresting tongue is at an angle of 1511-4511, preferably of 200-400, to a perpendicular to the support. An angle of less than 450 facilitates sliding of the detent nose during pushing-in.

An angle greater than 150 is chosen, in order not to make the transverse bar too slender.

It is conceivable to provide the arresting tongue at the edge of the opening. It is,, however, especially favourable and advantageous if the arresting tongue is provided on the edge of the transverse bar. This makes it possible for the transverse bar to participate in the elastic flexibility and to keep it away from the opening-bounding regions of the support.

It is possible to cause the detent nose to engage behind the arresting tongue. As a rule, the detent nose will engage behind the remaining, rigid ledge and is orientated outwardly, away from the two flanges. The stiffness of the flexibility for the arresting tongue is set by the thickness of the transition region between arresting tongue and edge strip.

4 Typically the panel carries indicia on its front surface. For instance the diplay device may comprise a sign which indicates the location of pipes under the ground, using the position of the sign as a reference point. In this case, the panel carries words and numerals which indicate the location (eg depth) of the pipes. However, the panel may carry any required information. For instance the device may comprise a road sign, or may display an advertisement or other information.

In a preferable embodiment of the invention, we provide a device for panel locking of a display board, in which a support plate comprises an opening and a transverse bar crossing this opening, and two slits are provided. one each between an opening edge piece and an edge of the transverse bar, in which a slit-bordering ledge is formed on each opening edge piece and on each edge of the transverse bar, wherein a panel in the form of a substantially flat plate is set into the opening. which (panel) possesses two resiliently flexible flanges, each of which penetrates through one of the slits and engages, with a detent nose, behind one of the adjacent ledges, and wherein an arresting device is associated with each slit and flange, which secures the flange in respect of mobility transversely to the length of the flange in the direction of its width, characterized in that, the slit- bordering ledge remote from the detent nose is formed as an arresting tongue movable transversely to the longitudinal extent of the slit with elastic bending, which (tongue) is disposed obliquely with its free end pressing against the flange and causing the s lit to taper in its depth towards the rear. In the drawing, the preferred form of embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and the figures show: Fig. 1 a plan on a device for panel locking of a display board with apertures, 35 Fig. 2 a view from below of the device according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a section along line III-III in Fig. 1.

1 The device according to this drawing forms part of a display board of plastics, which comprises a support plate 1, which is provided with several rectangular openings 2, of which only one is shown in the drawing, and each of which is equipped with one or more rectangular panels 3, of which only one is indicated in the drawing. The panel 3 is basically a rectangular small plate, from which two flanges 4 project perpendicularly, each of which carries, at the free end, a detent nose 5, these noses pointing away from the two flanges, i.e. laterally outwards.

In each opening 2 there is a single transverse bar 6, which is in one piece across the width and the front face of which is set back relative to the front f ace of the support plate 1 towards the rear, so that the opening 2 forms a recess, into which the panel 3 fits, which panel bears against and is supported by the transverse bar. Between the transverse bar 6 and each of the two edge pieces of the opening parallel thereto. there is a slit 7. which at the rear side of the support plate is bounded.

along the edge pieces of the opening, also by a ledge 8, which is rigid, i.e. basically is not flexible. The flanges 4 are pushed into the slit 7 and the detent nose 5 is pushed through the slit 7, so that it engages behind the ledge 8 at its free end, towards the rear face.

Each slit 7 is bounded, at the other side, by an arresting tongue 9, extending along the slit, which (tongue) is inclined with its free end obliquely towards the rear. towards the associated ledge 8, and bears against the flange 4. Because of the inclination of the arresting tongue 9, the slit 7 widens in its width towards the front. At the two lateral ends, the arresting tongue 9 is at a distance 10 from the adjacent edge zone of the opening. The gap thus formed continues into the adjoining edge strip 11 of the transverse bar, so that the lateral ends of the edge strip 11 also are at a distance from the adjacent edge region of the opening.

6

Claims

1. A display device comprising a support and a panel, wherein the support comprises an opening and a transverse bar crossing the opening, two slots being provided between respective opposed edges of the opening and the transverse bar, wherein a slot- bordering ledge is formed on each of said edges of the opening and the transverse bar, wherein said panel is in the form of a substantially flat plate mounted to the support, the panel comprising two resiliently flexible flanges, each of which penetrates towards the rear of the display device through a respective one of the slots, each flange having a detent nose which engages behind the respective one of the adjacent ledges, wherein the slot-bordering ledge remote from the detent nose is formed as an arresting tongue resiliently movable transverse to the longitudinal extent of the slot, said tongue being disposed obliquely with its free end pressing against the flange and causing the slot to taper inwardly towards the rear of the display device, and wherein the arresting tongue secures the flange in respect of mobility transverse to the length of the flange in the direction of its width.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the arresting tongue as viewed along its length parallel to the slot - terminates freely at both ends at a distance from other regions of the support.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge strip of the transverse bar carrying the arresting tongue - as viewed along its length parallel to the slot - terminates freely at both ends, at a distance from other regions of the support.

4. A device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the slope of the arresting tongue is at an angle of 150-450, preferably 200-400, to a perpendicular to the support.

7 5. A device according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein the arresting tongue is provided on the edge of the transverse bar.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, 5 wherein the slots comprise slits,, and the support comprises a support plate.

7. A display device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.