GB2385262A

GB2385262A - Self-supporting display device

Info

Publication number: GB2385262A
Application number: GB0200504A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Wild
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-10
Filing date: 2002-01-10
Publication date: 2003-08-20
Also published as: GB0200504D0

Abstract

A display device for supporting items between opposed fixed surfaces such as two walls or a floor and ceiling comprises bearing members 1 with joining members 3, fixed to end plates 4 and biassed against the fixed surfaces. The bias may be provided by a spring or screw (Figs 4,5) or, as shown, by the members being capable of taking a bowed configuration. Restraining means 2 may limit the amount of bending of the members. The device may support a picture, shelves (Figs 6,7) or lighting (Figs 8,9). In the latter case, two members 1 may be used to supply current to the lighting.

Description

SELF-SUPPORTING UNIVERSAL DISPLAY DEVICE This invention relates to a self-supporting universal display device of the type that requires no invasive fixings to wall, floor or ceiling.

Display devices such as picture hooks or hanging rails, wall mounting brackets or adhesive are well known, however they require invasive fixings in the form of nails or screws, moreover a solid wall is often needed for a supporting a significant weight.

It is often the case that the making of invasive fixings cannot be undertaken due to time, cost and skill based constraints or even lack of tools for the job. There may also exist limitations on the allowed use of the room housing the display item, such as is common in agreements relating to rented accommodation where no invasive fixings are allowed, in temporary exhibitions where fixings cannot be made and where the historical value of the building itself makes it subject to such restrictions.

The invention seeks to overcome at least some of these problems.

Accordingly, this invention provides a universal display device for supporting items between two opposing fixed spaced apart support surfaces, the device comprises of : i) at least two bearing members for contacting the opposing surfaces, ii) means for urging apart the at least two bearing members such that the device may be urged against the opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces, and iii) means for supporting items In one embodiment of the invention the means for urging apart the at least two bearing members is a biasing means. In this embodiment the distance between fully biased apart bearing members, or at least the bearing surfaces thereof, is greater than the distance between the opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces. Thus a force to oppose the bias must be provided to bring the bearing members toward each other and so to allow the display device of the invention to be brought into place. The opposing surfaces may commonly be a floor and ceiling or a pair of facing walls. In use the display device is secured between the opposing surfaces by removing the force opposing the natural bias.

One preferred embodiment of the invention uses plates as the bearing members and a pair of elongate rods, each capable of taking a bowed configuration, as the means for urging apart the bearing members. The embodiment comprises: elongate bowed rods that bias apart the plates to provide an opposing force against the two opposing surfaces. The rods and plates may be made of stiff wood, plastic, metal or any suitable combination thereof. The rods may be formed from a number of elongate strips built up as a laminate and may be provided in a'pre-bowed'form. end plates restrain the ends of the elongate biasing members, or urging means, restricting relative lateral movement of the urging means. The end plates may

have a flat or an angled bearing surface to suit the angle of the fixed spaced apart support surfaces to the bearing members. Furthermore, the contact surface of the end plates may be abrasive to suit polished surfaces such as polished wood floors, or may be provided with a resiliently deformable bearing surface, for instance a rubberised layer, to allow an even contact against pitted or decorated opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces. limiting means in the form of restraining members may be attached simultaneously to each of the rods to transfer the load of the display item through the rods to the end plates by restricting further deformation under load of the bowed rods and hence maintaining the urged contact with the opposed surfaces.

A restraining member provided with a spring between its attachment points would allow easy relocation of the device after removing the display item. crosspieces mounted on the rods may provide the support for the display item, these crosspieces may also act as restraining members, the number of crosspieces suits the number of items to be displayed on the one display device. The crosspiece enables easy adjustment of the displayed item on the display device to be made. in a further preferred embodiment, jointing elements allow the bearing members to be packaged and transported in lengths short than the room height, these elements also allow adjustment for varying room heights using spacers, for instance lengthening rods that may be added to one or both ends of the rods comprising the biasing means, or screwed threads.

The preferred embodiment with additional embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 : shows the front elevation of the picture hanging device FIGURE 2: shows the side elevation of the picture hanging device FIGURE 3: shows the picture hanging device in perspective FIGURE 4: shows the concealed spring bearing member embodiment FIGURE 5: shows the screw adjusted bearing member embodiment FIGURE 6: shows the shelving system in perspective FIGURE 7: shows a detail of the shelving system FIGURE 8: shows the lighting track device in elevation FIGURE 9: shows the lighting track device in section

As shown in figure 1, the device comprises of a pair of elongate rods 1 in bowed configuration being held by the upper and lower end plates 4 providing the urged contact with the opposing surfaces. The deformation, or bow, of the rods is sufficient enough to provide a steady fixing through the natural spring within the rod, but being'straight' enough to accept the weight of the display item. Limiting means in the form of restraining members 2 may clip on to the jointing bars 3 or the bearing members 1, these restraining members providing resistance to further bending, when weight of the displayed item is applied, by transferring the load through to the supporting surfaces.

The crosspieces 5 are attached to the elongate rods to suit the desired mounting height and size of item to be displayed. A picture hook 6 of known design or similar provides the hanging point for the picture.

Additional attachments maybe used such as a picture light 7 of known design attached via support bars 5 attached to the bowed elongate rods 1.

Figure 4 shows an elongate rod provided with a concealed spring that can act as biasing means for urging apart the two end plates that act as bearing members. The illustrated embodiment uses a coiled spring to provide urged contact with the opposing surfaces, the outer member provides the transfer of the display item load to the supporting surface of the opposing surfaces.

Figure 5 shows a screw bearing member and an internally threaded member that cooperate to cause the bearing members to be urged apart in opposing directions to provide urged contact with the opposing surfaces, the outer member provides the transfer of the display item load to the supporting surface.

Figures 6 & 7 show a second embodiment of this invention where the bowed members and support bars are used to support a series of shelves for the display of a number of items. Allowing the shelving to be used in any position next to or away from walls.

Figures 8 & 9show a third embodiment of this invention where the bowed members are used to span between two walls that constitute the opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces.

The lower two members replace the wire used to transmit low voltage electricity; lighting devices of known type are suspended from the lower two members.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A universal display device for supporting items between two opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces, the device comprising: i) at least two bearing members for contacting the opposing surfaces, ii) means for urging apart the at least two bearing members such that the device may be retained between the opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces, and iii) means for supporting items
2 A universal display device according to claim 1 wherein the means for urging apart the bearing members comprises biasing means
3 A universal display device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein biasing means comprises at least two of elongate members, each member being capable of taking up a bowed configuration
4 A universal display device according to claim 3 further comprising limiting means affixale to each of the elongate members simultaneously
5 A universal display device according to claim 4 wherein the means for supporting items is at least one crosspiece mounted on the two elongate members for removably retaining/holding items
6 A universal display device according to claim 5 wherein the crosspiece acts as limiting means
7 A universal display device according to claim 2 wherein the at least two elongate members is three, four, five or six elongate members
8 A device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces are floor and ceiling
9 A device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the means for supporting items is one or more shelves
10 A device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the opposing fixed spaced apart surfaces are facing walls
11 A device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the device is made from metal, plastics material or wood, or a combination of these materials.
12 Use of device according to any one of the claims 1- 11 for supporting or displaying items