GB2299269A - Advertising frame - Google Patents

Abstract

An advertising frame for securing to the roof of a vehicle is moulded from polystyrene foam, is tubular, and is mountable on the vehicle, e.g. by using suction pads, there being resilient clamp jaws to clamp the frame.

Description

Title - FRAMING The present invention relates generally to framing more particularly, but not exclusively, to a frame for removably securing to the roof of a vehicle for sale to display for example the name of the dealer or vehicle main dealership.

Hitherto, framing of the above type has been manufactured from mild steel tubing which, after a period of use, especially out of doors, has tended to rust and become unsightly. The frame is used to support a display, normally in planar form, which is secured to the sides of the framing or is hinged to its upper longitudinal side.

In accordance with the broadest aspect of the present invention there is provided framing moulded from a mouldable foam.

Preferably the mouldable foam is polystyrene in combination with a foaming agent.

The framing can be available in any desired width, but two widths of 36" and 44" are envisaged currently. The framing is generally rectangular in appearance but the sides, particularly the side edges, can be curved or otherwise shaped to customer preference.

Preferably the framing is moulded in a single piece so that the tubing is of uniform section throughout. Preferably also the tubing is of square cross-section.

The mouldable foam may have a smooth external surface and a cellular core.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a framing assembly for removably securing to the roof of a vehicle, the assembly comprising a mounting for placing on the roof of the vehicle and having at least one clamp the or each of which comprises a pair of resilient jaws which are loadable apart to removably receive a section of a moulded tubular frame between them.

Preferably two mountings are provided one for each side of the vehicle roof. The tubular frame is conveniently of square cross section to prevent the frame from twisting, for example under the influence of wind, when located and held in the clamps.

A profiled collar may be placed around the section of frame which is to be received between the clamp jaws to assist positive, nontwisting location of the frame within the mounting.

The frame may be anchored to the vehicle roof by limpet suction pads, known per se. Preferably two limpet pads are provided one adjacent each mounting.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates rectangular framing in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating framing having curved side edges, and Figure 3 is an exploded view of a framing assembly in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

The framing 10 illustrated in the drawings is in the form of a solid tube and is rectangular in section throughout. The framing is moulded from a mouldable foam such as polystyrene in combination with a blowing agent. The core of the tubing is cellular but the exterior surface is smooth.

In each of Figures 1 and 2 the framing is generally rectangular in shape and consists of four lengths of tubing, the top and bottom edges of the rectangle being designated 12, 14 and the side edges 16, 18 respectively. The positions marked 20 correspond to hinge pins for receipt of a mounting for a display panel located within the framing.

Joints between the component lengths of tubing are designated 22, Once the two sections 14, 16 have been received together they may be bonded by the action of heat.

Referring now to Figure 3, a moulded, rectangular, tubular, frame is designated 24. Unlike in the earlier embodiment, the frame 24 is moulded in a single piece but includes portions 20 at locations from where a display panel (not shown) is to be hingedly suspended. Four collars 26 are placed on the lower longitudinal side of the frame at spaced apart locations. As viewed, the two outer collars are to be received into the jaws 28 of a roof top mounting 30 (to be described) whereas the inner collars are to be received between similar jaws of respective limpet suction pads (not shown) by means of which the framing assembly can be secured onto a vehicle roof.

Each mounting is moulded from plastics material and has a pair of identical limbs 32, which, in use, project towards the front and rear ends of a vehicle. A rubber stop 34 is provided on the under the outer tip of each limb to prevent damage to the roof of the vehicle on which the mounting is placed. A stabiliser 36 is moulded onto one side of the mounting to prevent it from falling over sideways. At the centre of the mounting, above the stabiliser 36 a clamp is provided, the jaws 28 of which project in a vertically upwards direction. The jaws have a length which is slightly greater than the depth of a collar 26 and their extremities include inwardly projecting ribs 38.

In use, the frame 24 is lowered, as viewed, towards the two mountings 30 with the two outer collars 26 in alignment with the respective jaws 28. As the frame continues to be lowered, the jaws are forced apart to accommodate the collar width. Once each collar has been fully received within its associated jaws, the rims on the outer edges of the collar are engaged firmly against the two outer edges of the jaws and the ribs 38 locate firmly against the top surface of the collar. In this way the frame is securely fastened to the mountings and there is little or no flexing movement between them, for example under windy conditions.

Thus assembled, the frame and its two mountings are lowered onto the roof of a vehicle to be sold for example. The stops 34 and stabilisers 36 make contact with the vehicle roof. The two limpet suction pads (not shown) removably secure the assembled frame to the vehicle roof.

A display panel (not shown) is rotatably secured to the hinge positions 20.

Advantages of framing in accordance with the invention over the prior art are that the framing is lighter in weight and not subject to deterioration by rusting.

Experiments have been devised on the polystyrene framing. For smaller framing, the polystyrene preferred in High Impact Polystyrene with 1% blowing agent. For larger framing High Impact Polystyrene is again used but with 30% glass filled nylon.

Claims (13)

1 Framing moulded from a mouldable foam.

2 Framing as claimed in claim 1 in which the mouldable foam is polystyrene in combination with a foaming agent.

3 Framing as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which is generally rectangular in appearance.

4 Framing as claimed in claim 3 in which the sides, particularly the side edges, are curved or otherwise shaped.

5 Framing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 which is moulded in a single piece so that the tubing is of uniform section throughout.

6 Framing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the mouldable foam has a smooth external surface and a cellular core.

7 A framing assembly moulded from a mouldable foam for removably securing to the roof of a vehicle, the assembly comprising a mounting for placing on the roof of the vehicle and having at least one clamp the or each of which comprises a pair of resilient jaws which are loadable apart to removably receive a section of a moulded tubular frame between them.

8 A framing assembly as claimed in claim 7 in which two mountings are provided one for each side of the vehicle roof.

9 A framing assembly as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which the tubular frame is of square cross section to prevent the frame from twisting.

10 A framing assembly as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9 in which a profiled collar is placed around the section of frame which is to be received between the clamp jaws to assist positive, non-twisting location of the frame within the mounting.

11 A framing assembly whenever anchored to the vehicle roof by limpet suction pads, known per se.

12 Framing substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13 A framing assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.