GB2414331A

GB2414331A - Sign hanging arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2414331A
Application number: GB0507768A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lascelles Augustus Barrow; Dakshesh Shashikant Patel; Daniel Pattison; Glyn Stokes
Original assignee: Augustus Martin Ltd
Current assignee: Augustus Martin Ltd
Priority date: 2004-04-22
Filing date: 2005-04-18
Publication date: 2005-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-18
Also published as: GB0507768D0; GB2414331B

Abstract

Disclosed is an arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display, in which the sheet (12) is printed on at least a front face (14). The sheet (12) has an upper selvedge (135) bounded by an edge of the sheet (18) and at least one score line (37). The edge (18) is contoured so as to define one or more tabs (128), and a corresponding number of tab-receiving slots (127) are provided in or adjacent to the selvedge or said score line. An aperture (26) is provided in the, or each, tab (128), and the tab/s (128) are inserted into the, or each, associated tab-receiving (127) slot to protrude upwardly therefrom. The upper selvedge (135) enhances the rigidity of the sheet and the aperture (26), or apertures, in the protruding tabs (128) provide means for use in hanging the sheet (128). The selvedge may consist of four strip-like portions (135a-d) which form a tunnel of triangular cross-section. A flexible element (e.g. a cord) may be passed through the tunnel, providing an alternative means of hanging the sheet (12).

Description

MOUNT1NG ARRANGEMENTS

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to mounting arrangements and in particular to such arrangements for mounting printed sheet material for display.

Background

It is known to mount printed sheet material for display by affixing it to a support member such as rigid backing board, or to print directly onto a sheet of thick rigid board, that is either hung In elevated position (e.g. from a ceiling), or is itself supported by a base-mounted stand (e.g. a tripod, shelf, table, counter, or the ground or floor). To provide for viewing of the display material from opposite sides, it is also known to provide a printed sheet of display material affixed or mounted to' each side of a common support member-e.g. as disclosed in our co-pendng UK Patent Application No. 032()826.1. Production of such hanging displays can be expensive, especially where it is necessary to provide, for each printed display, a backing card that will provide the requisite rigidity for the standing or hanging structure. This expense is exacerbated where there Is a requirement frequently to change the printed sheet material being displayed.

Merely hanging a flexible substrate (e.g. a paper, flexible thin card or film sheet) bearing the printed image to be displayed provides no solution because it is not usually of sul'ficient rigidity to provide a good quality display.

Other display mounting arrangements are known, for example, from US 2()03/()217685AI, US 4177750, US 4813369, GB 2282695 and GB 19195 of 1909 These To present disadvantages and cannot readily be used for hanging a flexible substrate.

Al'C/I 14.,( ()2005 - 2

Summary of the Invention

With a view to overcoming the above-mentioned and/or other disadvantages of display mounting arrangements known hcrctofore, one aspect of the present invention provides an arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display wherein: said sheet is printed on at least a front face; said sheet has an upper selvedge bounded by an edge of the sheet and at least one score line; said edge Is contoured to defied one or more tabs; a corresponding number of tab-reccivng slots are provided in or adjacent to the sclvedge or said score line, and an aperture is provided in the or each tab such that, with the upper selvedge folded over and the or each tab inserted into the or each associated tab-receiving slot to protrude upwardly therefrom, the upper selvedge enhances the rigidity of the sheet and aperture or the apertures iT1 the protruding tab or tabs provide means for use in hanging the sheet.

Preferably, said selvedge is provided with a plurality of additional score lines along which the selvedge may be folded over such that a tunnel is provided along the length of the sclvedge. Optionally, a cord, wire or like flexible element may be passed through said tunnel to provide alternative means for hanging of the sheet.

For forming a tunnel of generally triangular cross-section, the selvedge may comprise four strp-like portions ol'which the first Is generally coplanarwith the remainder ofthc sheet (and, optionally, bears some of the printed matter to the displayed by the sheet), the second projects Prom the first rearwardly at angle (c.g. t)0 ) to the first, the third projects forwardly from the second towards the rear face of the remainder of the sheet and the fourth is provided with said tab or tabs. It will be apparent that boundarcs between the stnp-lkc portions may be defined by lines scored into the sheet, e.g during printing of the matter to be displayed, and that the fielded over rclatonship of the several stup-Jikc portions provides Increased rigidity to the top of the sheet.

A l:G/11 4..L 1)4/20115 - 3 Advantageously, one or more of the aforesaid score hnes may include a plurality of slit- like perforations directed longitudinally of that score Imc. This can improve flexibility or bendmg of the sheet about that score line.

Preferably, the length of the or each tab is of sufficient extent as to permit it to protrude through its associated tab-receiving slot when the second and third portions are substantially co-planar. This permits the mounting to be provided as a substantially flat pack or package but nonetheless in an effectively pre-assembled form with the or each tab preextending into the or each associated slot.

Optionally, two laterally spaced hoop staples (or loop staples) may be attached to the sheet at or adjacent to the fold between the sclvedge and the remainder of the sheet, thereby to provide alternative means for hanging the sheet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure I is a partly broken away perspective rear view Illustrating amounting arrangement according to a first embodiment of this invention, Fgurc2 is a partly broken away perspective rear view illustrating amounting arrangement according to a second embodiment of this mventon, Figure 3 is a schematic end view of a modifcatoTl to the mounting arrangement shown m Figure 2, Fgurc4 is a schematic end view of the structure shown in Figure 3 when in a substantially pre-asscmbled but generally flat form with all the portions co planar or m parallel planes, Figure 5 Is a front view of the mounting of Figs 3 and 4 as in the generally flat state illustrated m Figure 4, Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the mounting of Figs 3 to 5 as in the fully erectecl state of Figure 3, At'G/] 14..L 2nos - 4 Figure 7 is a front view of a blank for forming a mounting arrangement according to a third embodiment of this invention, Figure 8 is a similar view to that of Figure 7 but of a fourth embodiment of the invention, and Figure 9 shows the embodiment of Figure 8 in a partly- assembled, preformed flat-pack form suitable for storage/mailing to an end user.

Detailed Description of Example(s! of the Invention The mounting arrangement 10 shown in Fig 1 comprises a sheet 12 of paper or card printed on at least one (front) face 14 (not visible in Fig 1). 'I'he print area extends at least up to the edge ol'an upper selvcdge 135 adjacent to the peripheral edge 18 of the sheet.

The selvedge 135 Is bent over along the scored fold line 37 rearwardly of the sheet 12.

In the embodiment of Figure I the selvedge 135 comprises four strip-like portions 135_, 135_,135_ and 135d. The first portion 135_ is generally co-planar with the remainder of the sheet 12. The second portion 135b is bent rearwardly of portion 135_ along the first score lme 37 to extend at an angle (e g. right angles) to the first portion 135_. The third portion 135_ is bent downwardly and forwardly along a second score hne 38 (and in a similar told direction to that about the first scored line 37) to extend at an angle (e.g. of approximately 45 ) to the second portion]35 b. The fourth portion 135d is bent upwardly, in the same fold direction, along a third score line 39 to extend at an angle to the third portion 135_ and substantially parallel to the remainder of sheet 12. This fourth portion Is provided at its Free edge with one or more tab-lkc extensions] 28 that protrude fittingly into and through slots 127 provided in the second strip-like portion 135_. The tab-like extensions 128 may be prcfomled with stamped-out apertures 126 for use In hanging of the sheet 12. The second strip-like portion 135b may be provided with staples or other eyelets (not shown) for use as an alternative hanging means to the apctured tab-like extensions 128. In yet another option the apertures 26 (and the staples or other eyelets, if provided) may be Ignored and hanging of the mount may be effected by putting a cord or similar clement through the tunnel 25 formed by the folded-over sclvcclge portions. This flexible element - like the apetured tabs or the staples-can ARC/] 14.,( IS - 5 then be used to hang the printed sheet 12 from a fixed support to provide a hanging display.

In the emb<-'climent of Fig], two slots 1 27 for two tabs 1 28 are provided equidistant from the centre of the width of strip-like portion 135b. In the embodiment of Fig 2, the two slots 127 for tabs 128 are provided in strip-like portion 135 _ nearer to, i.e. closely adjacent to (preferably In the line of) the first score line 37.

A Iurther modification of this last-mentioned embodiment is illustrated schematically in Figs 3-(. As shown in these figures, the length of each of the tab-like extensions 128 is of an extent sufficient to permit the tab-like extensions 128 to protrude through the slots 127 provided therefor and to affect this even when the second and third selvedge portions are substantially co-planar. This is achieved by having the aggregate of(a) 'height' ofthe tab-like extensions 128 and (b) the 'width' of the strip-like fourth portion 135d to be 1 5 greater than the aggregate of (c) the'height' or the 'width' of the strip-like second portion 135b and (d) the 'width' ofthe strip-take third portion 135_. Such an arrangement permits the mouTItTng to be provided as a flat-pack package but in a substantially pre-assembled form with the tab-take extensions 128 already extending partially into said slots 127. This r emoves the need for the end user to effect such tab-'nto-slot insertion and permits of the arrangement being ahllost''ready lor use".

I he "flat pack" state of this modeled arrangement --Which additionally suits it for stoT-agc and/-'r transportation--- is shown In Figs 4 and 5 which illustrate how, although In a flattened state with portions 135a and 135d parallel to one another and with portions 135_ and 135c m substantially the same plane as One another (and parallel to portions 135_ and 135d), the tabs 128 sti 1I project through the slots 127. The latter are provided m, or closely adjacent to, the crease OT score line 37 providing the boundary between the first anal second portions] 35T aTl:l 135b. It TS CoTISiderCd pOSSTblC to improve ttlC arrangement still further by providing for this crease to be provided by two closely ad jacent and mutually parallel score lines 37_ and 37b with the slots 127 provided in the space between the two mutually parallel score lines 37_ and 37b.

Al'C/114 uL ()4/2()0S - 6 Conversion to the fully-erect state shown in Figs 3 and 6 is readily accomplished by pulling the tabs 128 further through the slots, i.e. to protrude further upwards away from the second portion 135 k This results in portions 135b and 135c folding laterally outwards about score line 38 such as to adopt the mutually-angled position shown.

It will beapprcciated that with each illustrated embodiment, the primed face 140fshcet 12 can extend to the top of the visible face of the display.

In modified fon-ns of any one of the illustrated embodiments, the printed image may be I O applied not only to face 14 but either additionally or alternatively to 'rear' face 24. Where a printed image is applied to 'rear' face 24, a mating extension of that image or a banner headline to be associated therewith, may be printed on the 'front' face but such as to appear on selvedge strip-lke portion 135_ of Fig I or of Fig 2 or of Figs 3 to 6.

In the embodiment of Fig 7, the arrangement 210 comprises a sheet of card 212 printed on its front surface 214 and pre-cut to provide a single central tab 228 projecting from the selvedge 235. The latter has only three Identifiable strip-like portions of which the one nearest the main body of sheet 212 is referenced 235k. The boundary between this strip hke portion 2355 and the main body of sheet 212 Is provided by a central elongate tab receiving slot 227 (shown m full lines) that at each end Is continued by a score line 237 (shown in dashed lines) to the nearest edge of the sheet 212. This permits bending of strip-like portion 235k rearwardly Ot't}lC sheet.

The intermediate strip-like portion 235_ is bounded by a score line 238 from strip-like portiol1 235_ and by another score brie 239 fi-om the selvedgc portion 235d from which central tab 228 extends and with which it is co-planar (and not divided therefrom by any score hue) The tab 28 Is provided centrally of its length with an aperture 226 for use in hangnail ot'thc sheet 212.

The width D ot'selvedge port-'n 235 with its tab 228 is greater than the aggregate width d of strip-like portions 235b and 235_. This means that the mounting can be partially pre Al,G/] 14., 04/2005 - 7 assembled or pre-forrned into an almost ready-for-use form by folding the selvedge portion 235_ofeard 212 rearwardly about score line239 and inserting thetip or bending part of tab 228 into the tab-receiving slot 227. This allows the end user of the mounting to simply pull that protruding part of tab 228 further through the slot 227 and reveal the previously obscured (and protected) aperture 226. Consonant with this pulling further through oftab 228, the strip-like portions 235_ and 235_ fold backwards and inwardly towards one another from their previously generally co-planar state.

The blank and mounting arrangement 310 of Figs 8 and 9 is similar to that of Fig 7 except for the following main features. The single, central tab 328 is differently shaped and is bounded by a score line 328_ (shown by a short-dashed line) where it adjoins the remainder of end selvedge portion 335d. The tab 328 is provided with undercut portions 328b adjacent its base and leading to the Ime of score line 328_.

There is a score lme 339 between selvedge portions 335d and 335e, and a score line 338 between selvedge portions 335_ and the main body of the arrangement's card 312. Each ol the score lines 338,339 includes a series of cut through slits. These are shown by the long-dashed lines in Figs 7 and 8, and are provided to facilitate bending of the card 312 about these score lines.

The line of tab-receiving slot 327 is spaced slightly from the line of the score hne 337 (that provides the boundary between the strp-like selvedge portion 335b and the main body of card 312), and also has short slit-like extensions 327_ directed at an acute angle to the main One oftab-receiving slot 327 that assist in forming a locking tab 327b for the main tab 328. 'I he top edge of selvedge portion 325_ -- Irom which tab 328 extends- is referenced 335_.

When the blank or card 312 is folded over about score line 339 (Fig 8), main tab 328 is inserted Into the tab-receivng slot 327 (net beneath the locking tab 327b). The resultant arrangement is of"flat-paek" form suiting it for storage, stacking and mailing to an end user. For use, the protruding tip 328_ of tab 328 (see Fig 8) is pulled further through the A l'G/I 4..L 02005 - 8 slot 327 until the small slit-like extensions 327_ marry up with the similarly angled, undercut portions 328_ at the base oftab 328 and assist in locking oftab 328 in position.

It will be appreciated that, as in the embodiment of Fig 7, the pulling through of the tab reveals the previously obscured (and protected) aperture 226 and results in a concomitant hinge-like folding of striplike portions 335b and 335_ to form, with strip-like portlion 335d, a tunnel of generally triangular cross-section. It will be appreciated that the tunnel sides-provided by the several selvedge portions-enhance the rigidity of the sheet and permit it to be hung via the aperture 226. Intercngagemcnts of tab undercuts 328b and slit extcnsons 327_ keep the tunnel under tension when the mounting arrangement is hung and thus maintains the integrity of the display.

Although the above-described and illustrated embodiments of the invention provide a tunnel of generally triangular cross-sccton, it will be appreciated that, by altering the number of selvedge portions, the general cross-sectional shape of the tunnel can be altered. For example, mstead of the 3 selvedge portions folded about 3 score lines ofthe Illustrated embodiments, mounting arrangements can be provided having 4, 5 or more selvedge portions folded about 4, 5 or more score lines. Very many narrow selvedge portions can be formed mto a generally semicircular Connation with a wider selvedge portion -- terminating in a tab (such as 28, 128, 228 or 328)-extending across the "diameter" of the generally semi-circular formation. As an alternative to this last modification, a mounting arrangement may comprise just two selvedge portions folded about just two score lines, the selvedge portion extending from the main body of the sheet bemg bent manually to generally sem-crcular fond (without any pre-ordained scorch lines) and the other selvedge portion (with its tab termination) extending "diametrically" to the generally scm-crcular selvcdgc portion formation.

It will furthermore be appreciated that the above-described and illustrated embodiments lend themselves to good quality display of punt material printed not only on the front face 14, 214, 314 of the blank 12, 212, 312, but also printed on the rear face 24, 324, of the blank. In such a case the rear face (24,324) is printed normally with the whole ofthe main body's area being safely available for the print material (e.g. print copy and design) APING/] 14..L 25 to be displayed. Optionally, all the selvedge portions can bear decoration matching the matter printed on the main area and thus appear as an extension of the design. Meanwhile the front face (14, 314) may be printed with a similar or different image to that on the front face. Again the main body area is sat'ely available for the print matter to be displayed. The next adjacent selvedge portion (135b, 235b, 335b) will only be visible from above and ideally therefore should provide for bleeding of the image between these two areas. The print material on the next selvedge portion (135 _, 235_, 335_) should ideally be created from the corresponding areas on the rear face but be rotated through 180 . Optionally, a similar image-rotation arrangement may be provided for the last, tab-adjacent selvedge portion (135d, 235d, 335d). By means of such image rotation, the image areas on the front and rear faces can match and be in substantial alignment at the top when the selvedge portions are folded into the tunnel formation 25.

It will also be appreciated that the substrate for the display can be paper, card, board or of synthetic material; and that printing may be effected by a lithographic, silkscreen, or digital printing process. Ideally the substrate used is selected to give a good colour and nnagc reproduction whilst rnaintammg a level of' opacity sufficient to prevent image show-through from one side to the other.

In another modification the or each aperture 26, 226 may be formed as an undercut in a lateral edge of'the tab to shape the tab into a hook-like formation.

Other rnodiEcations and embociiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in tiers art, arc to be deemed within the albeit and scope of the invention, and the particular embodiment(s) hereinbefore described may be varied in construction and detail, e.g. Interchanging (where appropriate or desired) different t'eatures of each, without dcpartmg ii-om the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

At.ti/] li I, 42S - 10

Claims

1. An arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display wherein: said sheet is printed on at least a front face; said sheet has an upper selvedge bounded by an edge ofthe sheet and at least one score line; said edge is contoured to define one or more tabs; a corresponding number of tab-receiving slots are provided in or adjacent to the selvedge or said score lme, and an aperture Is provided In the or each tab such that, with the upper selvedge folded over and the or each tab inserted into the or each associated tab-reeeivng slot to protrude upwardly therefrom, the upper selvedge enhances the rigidity of the sheet and the aperture or apertures in the protruding tab or tabs provide means for use in hanging the sheet.

2. An arrangement according to Claim l, wherein said selvedge is provided with a plurality ol additional score lines along which the selvedge may be folded over such that a tunnel is provided along the length of the selvedge.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2, and further comprising a cord, wire or like flexible element that may be passed through said tunnel to provide alternative means for hangmg ol the sheet.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein for fowling a tunnel Cal generally triangular cr-oss-secton, the selvedge may comprise four strp-like portions ' I which the f rst is general ly co- planar- with the remainder of the sheet (arid, optionally, hears some of the printed matter to the displayed by the sheet), the second projects fiom talc first rearwardly at angle (c.g. 9() ) to the first, the third projects forwardly fi-om the second towards the rear face ofthe remainder ofthe sheet and the tcuth Is provrciecl with said tab or tabs.

A/,G/] 14..L tW200S - 11 5. An arrangement according to any preceding Claim, wherein the length of the or each tab is of sufficient extent as to pennant or each tab to protrude through the said slots when the second and third portions are substantially co-planar.

6. An arrangement according to any preceding Claims and further comprising two laterally spaced hoop staples (or loop staples) attached to the sheet at or adjacent to the fold between the selvedge and the remainder of the sheet, thereby to provide altcnnative means for hanging the sheet.

7. An arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display, said arrangement being substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figs I to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display, said arrangement being substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Fig 7 or loins to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

)420()s Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

l. An arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display wherein: said sheet is printed on at least a front face; said sheet has an upper selvedge bounded by an edge of the sheet and at least one score line; said edge is contoured to define one or more tabs; a corresponding number of tab-receiving slots are provided in or adjacent to the selvedge or said score line, and an aperture is provided in the or each tab such that, with the upper selvedge folded over and the or each tab inserted into the or each associated tab-receiving slot to protrude upwardly therefrom, the upper selvedge enhances the rigidity of the sheet and the aperture or apertures in the protruding tab or tabs provide means for use in hanging the sheet.

2. An arrangement according to Claim l, wherein said selvedge is provided with a plurality of additional score lines along which the selvedge may be folded over such that a tunnel is provided along the length of the selvedge.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2, and further comprising a cord, wire or like flexible element that may be passed through said tunnel to provide alternative means for hanging of the sheet.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein, for forming a tunnel of substantially triangular cross-section, the selvedge comprises four strip-like portions of which the first is substantially co- planar with the remainder of the sheet, the second projects from the first rearwardly at angle to the first, the third projects forwardly from the second towards the rear face of the remainder of the sheet, and the fourth is provided with said tab or tabs.

Al.G/114..L 08/2005

5. An arrangement according to Claim 4 wherein the said first of the strp- like portions bears some of the printed matter to the displayed by the sheet.

6. An arrangement according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein said second of the strip-like portions projects from the first rearwardly at angle of 90 to the first.

7. An arrangement according to any preceding Claim, wherein the length of the or each tab is of sufficient extent as to permit the or each tab to protrude through the said slots when the second and third portions are substantially co-planar.

8. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims and further comprising two laterally spaced hoop staples (or loop staples) attached to the sheet at or adjacent to the fold between the selvedge and the remainder of the sheet, thereby to provide alternative means for hangmg the sheet.

9. An arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display, said arrangement being substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figs I to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

I O. An arrangement for mounting printed sheet material for display, said arrangement being substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Fig 7 or Figs 8 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

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