GB2323203A

GB2323203A - Sequential display unit

Info

Publication number: GB2323203A
Application number: GB9704969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Harbin
Original assignee: Heather Reid
Current assignee: Heather Reid
Priority date: 1997-03-11
Filing date: 1997-03-11
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Also published as: GB9704969D0

Abstract

A sequential display unit comprises a base board 11; a sequence of sites on the base board each site being defined by a pocket or other object housing means secured to the base board; the pocket or other object housing means being transparent so as to reveal the base board or a display mounted on, or supported by way of, the base board; each pocket or other object housing means serving to retain an object bearing an identifier whereby the location of the pocket or object housing means in the sequence of sites is identified relative to the remaining sites. The display unit may be an advent calender and the object may be a card bearing a day number. Sequential removal of the card will reveal the underlying picture 12.

Description

SEQUENTIAL DISPLAY UNIT This invention relates to a sequential display unit. A typical example of such a unit is an advent calendar where a base unit is provided with twenty five sites, representing the first twenty five days of December, on a pictorial or decorative background. The content of each site is concealed from view by a representation, such as of a door, bearing the day number. The calendar is set up on display with all site contents concealed. On the first day of December the first site is opened to reveal its content which can be a picture or a statement or a separate item such as a piece of confectionary. This daily opening of the appropriately numbered site is repeated and concludes on Christmas Day with the opening of the site numbered 25 which is usually of more significance than the remaining sites.

According to the present invention there is provided a sequential display unit comprising: a base board; a sequence of sites on the base board each site being defined by a pocket or other object housing means secured to the base board; the pocket or other object housing means being transparent so as to reveal the base board or a display mounted on, or supported by way of, the base board; each pocket or other object housing means serving to retain an object bearing an identifier whereby the location of the pocket or object housing means in the sequence of sites is identified relative to the remaining sites.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the base board incorporates a main pocket with a transparent front on which sequence of sites are mounted so that a picture or representation in the main pocket forming the display can be readily replaced.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention the display carried by the base board is disposed so that details of the display are progressively revealed as the contents of each pocket or object housing is removed and it is not until the contents of most, if not all, the contents of each pocket or object housing has been removed that the main picture is substantially revealed.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the contents of each pocket or object housing are initially displayed with a first part visible and subsequent to a pre-determined event are replaced in the pocket with a second part visible differing to a greater or lesser extent from the first part.

According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof at least one pocket or object containing means is in the form of transparent rigid container able to receive and retain three dimensional objects.

According to a fifth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the base board incorporates or serves to support lighting or additional display means.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of an advent calendar of which the sole figure is a front elevation.

The drawing shows advent calendar 10 made up of a base unit 11 having mounted on it a picture 12. The base unit 11 serves to locate 24 sites in four columns (I to IV) and six rows (1 to 6) together with a prominent 25th site X representing Christmas Day. Each site is in the form of a transparent pocket of plastics material. As the pockets are transparent if nothing is located in the pocket that part of the picture 12 covered by the pocket is revealed. However each pocket by the beginning of December has placed in it an object such as a card or flat object which bears a day number and which is disposed in the pocket so that the day number can be viewed through the pocket from the front. The calendar is then used in the conventional way from the beginning of December. That is to say on a given day with the contents of the pocket numbered to correspond with that day is withdrawn and viewed. The drawing shows the position at the end of the twelfth day with pockets 61 to 6IV, 51 to 5IV and 41 to 4IV empty but with pockets 31 to 3IV and 21 to 2IV and 1I to 11V and X filled with (opaque) cards. The cards in the occupied pockets display a date number and contain a message concealed until the card is withdrawn from its associated pocket. The displayed part of the content of each pocket in addition to bearing a day number has a decoration or finish common to or otherwise complementing the content of the remaining pockets.

The exemplary embodiment is described in terms of an advent calendar. However the calendar can be used in connection with any sort of anniversary or celebration where a number of days leading up to a particular one can be identified by a discrete item such as a message, forfeit, gift, promise or whatever provided in each pocket leading up to the particular day.

The base 11 described above has a picture mounted on it. However the base can be provided with a main pocket with a transparent front on which the day pockets are mounted so that a picture or other content of the main pocket can be readily replaced for commemorating different events.

In an alternative embodiment the main picture carried by the base can be disposed so that the content of the main picture is progressively revealed as the contents of each day pocket is removed and it is not until the contents of most, if not all, the day pockets have been removed that the content or message of the main picture is revealed. In yet a further version the contents of each pocket can be replaced in the pocket with a different side to that showing the day number is shown outwardly. This different side can be a part of a further picture so that as the month progresses the further picture can be built up as the pocket contents are viewed and then replaced.

In another embodiment the pockets for each day can be in the form of transparent rigid containers able to receive three dimensional objects.

In yet a further embodiment the base can incorporate or serve to support lighting or additional display means.

Claims

1A sequential display unit comprising: a base board; a sequence of sites on the base board each site being defined by a pocket or other object housing means secured to the base board or an extension thereof; the pocket or other object housing means being transparent so as to reveal the base board or a display mounted on, or supported by way of, the base board; each pocket or other object housing means serving to retain an object bearing an identifier whereby the location of the pocket or object housing means in the sequence of sites is identified relative to at least some of the remaining sites.

2 A sequential display unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the base incorporates a main pocket with a transparent front on which sequence of sites are mounted so that a picture or representation in the main pocket forming the display can be readily replaced.

3 A sequential display unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the display carried by the base can be disposed so that details of the display are progressively revealed as the contents of each pocket or object housing is removed and it is not until the contents of most, if not all, the contents of each pocket or object housing has been removed that the main picture is substantially revealed.

4 A sequential display unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the contents of each pocket or object housing have been displayed with a first part visible can be replaced in the pocket with a second part visible differing to a greater or lesser extent from the first part.

5 A sequential display as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the second part is of a further representation so that when all or a majority of the pockets each contain contents displaying the second part.

6 A sequential display as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one pocket or object containing means is in the form of transparent rigid container able to receive and retain three dimensional objects.

7 A sequential display as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base board incorporates or serves to support lighting or additional display means.

8 A sequential display as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.