GB2316602A

GB2316602A - Display apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2316602A
Application number: GB9617741A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Surtees
Original assignee: GENWORK Ltd
Current assignee: GENWORK Ltd
Priority date: 1996-08-30
Filing date: 1996-08-30
Publication date: 1998-03-04
Also published as: GB9617741D0

Abstract

A display apparatus 10 for plants comprises a mesh 11 of (eg) polyester coated steel mounted by spacers 14 on a wall. Support elements 15-19 are attached to horizontal elements of the mesh using hooks 20, so shaped that moving them upwards disengages the upper hook part 20 b allowing the whole hook to pivot on the lower hook part 20 c and be lifted off. The supports may be shaped for holding (eg) a plant pot or trough.

Description

Title: DISPLAY APPARATUS Description of Invention This invention relates to a display apparatus and in particular, although not exclusively, to a display apparatus for use on an external wall to display plants and the like.

Inner city dwellings, and in some cases those elsewhere, often have very small or not existent gardens. Hence, in many situations it is desirable to be able to display plants and the like on exterior walls, either within small gardens or yards, or on balconies. Display apparatus for such purposes currently available, is often rather unsightly, and not very adaptable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved display apparatus for such a situations.

According to the present invention there is provided a display apparatus comprising a backing member adapted in use to be mounted on a wall and comprising meshwork, and at least one support element comprising a bracket adapted in use to engage with the meshwork and a protruding portion adapted in use to support an item to be displayed.

The display apparatus according to the invention provides the advantage that once the backing member is mounted on a wall, the support element or elements may be moved about on the backing member or substituted as required at any time.

Preferably the backing member further comprises mounting elements by means of which it is adapted to be mounted on the wall such that the meshwork is spaced from the wall.

The meshwork may comprise in use substantially horizontal and vertical mesh lines.

Preferably the backing mernber is formed from steel with a protective coating thereon.

Preferably the bracket comprises an in use forward face to which the protruding portion is attach and an upper hook portion adapted to engage over a first substantially horizontal mesh line. The bracket may further comprise a lower hook portion adapted to engage under a second substantially horizontal mesh line located below the first substantially horizontal mesh line. Preferably the upper and lower hook portions are shaped such that to remove the bracket from the meshwork, the bracket is moved upwards until the upper hook portion is above and disengaged from the first horizontal mesh line, the bracket is pivoted about the second horizontal mesh line to bring the upper hook portion clear of the meshwork and the bracket is moved downwards until the lower hook portion is below and disengaged from the second horizontal mesh line.

The protruding portion of the bracket may comprise an in use substantially horizontal ring portion adapted to support a plant pot. Alternatively, the protruding portion of the bracket may comprise an in use forwardly extending arm with a hook formation at or towards the free end thereof. In another alternative the protruding portion may comprise an in use upwardly angled hook.

In yet another alternative the protruding portion may comprise an in use forwardly extending shank with an enlarged head on the free end thereof.

The support element may in yet another alternative comprise two brackets and the protruding portion may comprise a cradle adapted to support a planter trough.

Preferably, the support element or elements are formed from steel with a protective coating thereon.

An embodiment of a display apparatus according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with a reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of the display apparatus.

A display apparatus 10 comprises a backing member 11 adapted in use to be mounted on a wall. The backing member 11 comprises a frame 12 with meshwork 13 therein and a plurality of mounting elements 14 attached thereto.

The meshwork 13 comprises substantially horizontal and vertical mesh lines 13a,13b. The mounting elements 14 are "L" shaped, arranged such that a first portion of the "L" 14a extends rearwardly from the frame 12, and a second portion of the "L" 14h extends substantially parallel to the backing member 11 and has a hole 14e therein for receipt of a screw (not shown) or other fixing means.

In use the backing member 11 is mounted on a wall by means of the mounting elements 14, and screws or other fixing means, such that it is spaced therefrom.

The display apparatus 10 further comprises at least one support element 15,16,17,18,19. Each support element 15 to 19 comprises a bracket 20 by means of which it is affixed in use to the backing member 11 and a protruding portion 15a to 19a adapted to support an item to be displayed, and which will be described below.

Each bracket 20 comprises an in use front face 20a to which the protruding portion 15a to 19a is attached, and an upper hook portion 20b adapted in use to engage with a first substantially horizontal mesh line 13a. The brackets 20 may further comprise a lower hook portion 20e adapted in use to engage with a second substantially horizontal mesh line 13a below the first substantially horizontal mesh line 13a.

The upper and lower hook portions 20b,20e are shaped such that to remove the bracket 20 from the meshwork 13, the bracket 20 is moved upwards until the upper hook portion 20b is above and disengaged from the first horizontal mesh line 13a, the bracket 20 is then pivoted about the second horizontal mesh line 13a to bring the upper hook portion 20b clear of the meshwork 13. Finally, the bracket 20 is moved downwards until the lower hook portion 20c is below and disengaged from the second horizontal mesh line 13a To engage the bracket 20 on the meshwork 13 the above steps are reversed.

The various forms of support element 15 to 19 illustrated in the figure will now be described.

Support element 15 comprises, attached to the front face 20a of bracket 20 a protruding portion 15a comprising a ring adapted to support a plant pot. Clearly, the protruding portion 15a may be of any appropriate dimension and a range may be produced to support a range of sizes of plant pots.

The support element 16 comprises a protruding portion 16a affixed to the front face 20a of the bracket 20, which comprises an outwardly extending arm with a hook formation adjacent to the free end thereof. Such a support element 16 may be used to support a wide range of articles, for example a hanging basket, a lantern or a bird feeder.

The support element 17 comprises a protruding portion 17a attached to the front face 20a of the bracket 20, comprises an upwardly angled hook.

Again, this may be used to support a wide range of articles.

The support element 18 comprises a protruding portion 18a attached to the front face 20a of the bracket 20, comprising an outwardly extending shank with an enlarged head on the free end thereof. The support element 18 is again intended to support a wide range of articles. For example, any article which is intended to be mounted on a screw previously inserted into a wall may be mounted on one of these support elements 18. Likewise, any article which is intended to be mounted over a plurality of screws previously fixed in a wall, may be mounted on a plurality of the support elements 18. For example, some kinds of planter trough have such mountings, also bird boxes, and bird feeders.

The support element 19 comprises two brackets 20, with a protruding portion 19a in the form of a cradle attached to the front face 20a of the spaced apart brackets 20. The cradle 19a is adapted to support a planter trough.

Clearly a wide range of alternative support elements not described above but falling within the scope of the invention, may be designed for alternative uses.

The display apparatus according to the invention may be constructed from any appropriate materials. However, it may preferably be constructed from steel with a protective coating, such as polyester powder coating, thereon.

The backing member 11 may be of any appropriate dimensions and shape as required as may each of the support elements.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising a backing member adapted in use to be mounted on a wall and comprising meshwork, and at least one supporting element comprising a bracket adapted in use to engage with the meshwork and a protruding portion adapted in use to support an item to be displayed.

2. A display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the backing member further comprises mounting elements by. means of which it is adapted to be mounted on a wall such that the meshwork is spaced from the wall.

3. A display apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the meshwork comprises in use substantially horizontal and vertical mesh lines.

4 A display apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the backing member is formed from steel with a protective coating thereon.

5 A display apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracket comprises an in use forward face to which the protruding portion is attached and an upper hook portion adapted to engage over a first substantially horizontal mesh line.

6. A display apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the bracket further comprises a lower hook portion adapted to engage under a second substantially horizontal mesh line.

7. A display apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the upper and lower hook portions are shaped such that to remove the bracket from the meshwork the bracket is moved upwards until the upper hook portion is above and disengaged from the first substantially horizontal mesh line, the bracket is then pivoted about the second substantially horizontal mesh line to bring the upper hook portion clear of the meshwork, the bracket is then moved downwards until the lower hook portion is below and disengaged from the second substantially horizontal mesh line.

8. A display apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protruding portion comprises an in use substantially horizontal ring portion adapted to support a plant pot.

9. A display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the protruding portion comprises an in use forwardly extending arm with a hook formation towards the free end thereof.

10. A display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the protruding portion comprises an in use upwardly angled hook.

11. A display apparatus according to any one 1 to 7 wherein the protruding portion comprises an in use forwardly extending shank with an enlarged head on the free end thereof.

12. A display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the support element comprises two brackets and the protruding portion comprises a cradle adapted to support a planter trough.

13. A display apparatus according substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.