GB2309901A

GB2309901A - Suspending display items

Info

Publication number: GB2309901A
Application number: GB9701737A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard David Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-12
Filing date: 1997-01-27
Publication date: 1997-08-13
Also published as: GB9701737D0

Abstract

Greeting cards, post cards, photographs etc. are displayed by suspending them using a device comprising a thread or ligament 12A, 12B suspended at its midpoint from hooked ring 14. Items are passed between lengths 12A, 12B and engaged by slidable stops 16, 17, 18 positioned against the underside of the items. The stops, which may be spherical, frictionally grip both lengths which pass through a common aperture in each stop.

Description

SUSPENSION DEVICE This invention relates to a suspension device. It is particularly concerned with a suspension device for use with greeting cards or other generally flat items for display. At times of anniversaries such as birthdays or Christmas it is a common practice for greetings cards to be sent to individuals, groups or organisations bearing an appropriate message. Such cards are generally displayed for a short period. However the ability to display any numbers of such cards can create difficulties involving as it does the need to provide a temporary location for a stable array of cards. Typically an array can be located on a mantle piece over a fire place but if the array is disturbed such as by a gust of wind and the fireplace contains a burning fire the falling cards can ignite to generate a fire hazard.

According to the present invention there is provided a suspension device for a displaying a plurality of generally flat objects such as cards comprising: a suspension member in the form of a pair of parallel juxtaposed ligaments; a mounting for one end of the parallel ligaments; and a sliding stop on the parallel ligament providing for the two parts of the ligament to be held together with the flat object between co-extensive parts of the parallel ligaments, the sliding stop serving as a locating point for an edge of the generally flat object so that the sliding stop can be driven along the parallel ligaments to maintain the flat object lying between the co extensive parts of the ligament and jammed between the locating point and the mounting or between the locating point and another sliding stop; the sliding stop being adapted for frictional engagement with the ligaments.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention there is provided a suspension device incorporating a plurality of sliding stops on the parallel ligaments.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof the or each stop is in the form of a substantially spherical member with a common passage there through which the two parts of the ligament extend.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof the or each stop is in the form of a substantially longitudinal member whose length measured in the direction of the two parts of the ligament is at least twice as long as the width of the member measured at right angles to the direction as aforesaid.

According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof there are provided means for causing at least a portion of the length of the two parts of the ligature to pass along a non vertical path at least when the device is freely suspended.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of a suspension device for greetings cards of which: Figure 1 is a front elevation; and Figure 2 is a cross section on section II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a suspension device 11 comprising a length of thread 12 which is suspended at its mid-point 13 from a ring 14 to provide a pair of parallel, juxtaposed ligaments 12A, 12B. The ring 14 is formed with an extending hook 15 by means of which the device is suspended from a mounting.

On the parallel ligaments 12A, 12B there is provided a sequence of bead like stops 16, 17, 18 which can be slid up and down the ligaments 12A, 12B which are normally held against movement by frictional engagement between the stop and the ligaments.

Figure 2 show a section of the stop 16. In this case the stop 16, like stops 17, 18, is of substantially spherical form with a central channel 19 through which the ligaments 12A, 12B extend. The cross section of the channel 19 and of the ligaments 12A, 13A are selected so that the stop 16 is a frictional fit on the ligaments 12A, 12B and movement of the stop 16 requires the application of a degree of force. The stops 16, 17, 18 are in this case of spherical form with a similar outside diameter However they can be of any shape.

The suspension device 11 serves to readily locate three cards 20, 21, 22 by means of the clamping action provide by the stops 16, 17, 18. Card 20 is placed so as to lie with its lateral mid point 20A between the ligaments 12A, 12B. The stop 16 is then slid up the ligaments 12A, 12B to jam card 20 is jammed between the stop 16 and the ring 14. Likewise card 21 is jammed between stop 17 and stop 16; and card 22 between stop 18 and stop 17. Further cards can be added as required to provide a vertical array of cards on the device 11. The device 11 complete with its mounted cards is hung to provide a stable card array to which cards can be readily added or removed.

If desired a weight can be added to the lower part of the device 11 to reduce the effect of transient displacement draughts.

The device/array combination is readily mounted in a given location along with one or more similar arrays.

A plurality of devices like device 11 can be suspended from a common suspension point.

Apart from greeting cards the suspension device of the present invention can be used device to display any planar members including post cards, photographs, tickets, brochures or decorative shapes. The frictional engagement provided by the stops The embodiment shows a suspension device or generally vertical form. However it is also envisaged that the parallel ligaments of a given device could be caused to follow non-vertical path such as by passing causing the ligatures over a given length to follow a non-vertical path such as by passing them through a non-straight tube, which could serve as a stop.

Claims

1A suspension device for a displaying a plurality of generally flat objects such as cards comprising: a suspension member in the form of a pair of parallel juxtaposed ligaments; a mounting for one end of the parallel ligaments; and a sliding stop on the parallel ligament providing for the two parts of the ligament to be held together with the flat object between co-extensive parts of the parallel ligaments, the sliding stop serving as a locating point for an edge of the generally flat object so that the sliding stop can be driven along the parallel ligaments to maintain the flat object lying between the co extensive parts of the ligament and jammed between the locating point and the mounting or between the locating point,and another sliding stop; the sliding stop being adapted for frictional engagement with the ligaments.

2 A suspension device as claimed in Claim 1 incorporating a plurality of sliding stops on the parallel ligaments.

3 A suspension device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the or each stop is in the form of a substantially spherical member with a common passage there tthroughwhich the two parts of the ligament extend.

4 A suspension device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the or each stop is in the form of a substantially longitudinal member whose length measured in the direction of the two parts of the ligament is at least twice times as long as the width of the member measured at right angles to the direction as aforesaid.

5 A suspension device as claimed in any preceding claim incorporating means for causing at least a portion of the length of the two parts of the ligature to pass along a non vertical path at least when the device is freely suspended.

6 A suspension device as hhereinbeforedescribed with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.