GB2416064A

GB2416064A - Tension mounted frame display

Info

Publication number: GB2416064A
Application number: GB0422952A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Day
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: DAY, STEVEN
Priority date: 2004-10-15
Filing date: 2004-10-15
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-15
Also published as: GB2416064B; GB2421348B; WO2006040561A2; GB2436023B; GB2421348A; GB0607505D0; WO2006040561A3; GB0706691D0; GB2436023A; GB0422952D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a graphic display system for supporting a display panel/ banner (13) having an elongate stiffening element (3b) along each of two opposed edges. The system comprises first and second support elements (16), each provided with a recess (30) for receiving a stiffening element (3b). The system further comprises third (1) and fourth (2) support elements, each for locating on an underlying surface/ wall and attaching to a respective first or second support element (16). Attachment is by means of an edge (34) of one element locating in a recess (22) in the other element, the attached elements being then pivotable with respect to each other so as to tension the panel/ banner (13) between each pair of attached elements. It is desired that, when the system is in use, the attached elements lie between the panel/ banner and the underlying surface/ wall, so as to be hidden when the panel (13) is viewed from the front. A method of mounting such a system is also described.

Description

24 1 6064

GRAPHIC DISPLAY SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to systems for mounting flexible display panels. The display panels may be in the form of, for instance, vinyl, fabric or paper displays carrying advertising or other display material. The display panels are for attachment to a suitable surface which may be the internal or external surface of the wall of a building or it may be the side of a vehicle such as a goods transporter.

Background to the Invention

So-called tension mounted frame display systems are known in which opposed edges of the display panel arc secured within channels of two wall mounted sub-frames.

EP-A-1099208 discloses such a system in which a first elongate mounting element is secured to an underlying surface, the element defining an elongate recess. A second elongate mounting element is secured to the surface at a position spaced from the first element and the second element also has an elongate recess, the two recesses facing away from each other. A third mounting element also has an elongate recess.

The second element has an edge which is located in the recess of the third element.

A flexible display panel is releasably attached by one edge to the first elongate mounting element. The opposed edge of the panel is releasably attached to the third elongate mounting element which is then pivoted in an arc about a fixed axis extending in the direction of elongation of the elements in such manner as to displace said opposed edge of the panel away from the one edge thereby to tension the panel.

The third element is then secured to the underlying surface.

The operation of this system is relatively complicated, involving the location of the.. . panel edges within the recesses of the first and third elements and then, after tensioning has been effected, the securing of the third element to the underlying 2'.

surface using, tor instance, a row of latches, each of which need adjusting to engage .

the third element. Furthermore, when assembled, the first and third mounting A ae.. :

elements extend beyond the edges of the display panel, together with the latches, so that they are visible, thereby detracting from the appearance of the display panel itself.

In order to secure the opposed edges of the display panel in corresponding channels of the two wall mounted sub-frames, the display panels are provided with pockets which are formed by turning over the edges of the panels and sewing, gluing or welding the end edges to the body of the panel. These pockets accommodate rigid or semi-rigid poles which allow the panel to be mounted within the two wall mounted sub- frames. Such an arrangement requires high accuracy in the positioning of the pocket. If it is positioned such that the size of the panel is more than a few mm different from the optimum size, then there will be too little tension when the panel is mounted in the sub-frame system. Furthermore, the pockets are relatively expensive to produce, both in terms of the machinery required and the time taken in making 1 5 them.

Statements of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a graphic display system for supporting a display panel having an elongate stiffening element along each of two opposed edges thereof, the system comprising first and second support elements, each provided with a recess for receiving a stiffening element, and third and fourth support elements, each for location to an underlying surface and attachment to a respective first and second support element, wherein each said attachment is by means of an edge of one element locating in a recess in the other element, the attached elements being then pivotable with respect to each other so as to tension the panel between each pair of attached elements.

Preferably the system includes means for securely connecting together the attached elements. 30. : . ë . . . Preferably, when the system is in use, the attached elements lie between the panel and the underlying surface so as to be substantially hidden when the panel is viewed from the front.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an end stiffening element for a graphic display panel comprising an elongate plastics strip, means for securing said strip to an end of a display panel, said strip being foldable longitudinally to trap the secured end of the display panel between folds of said strip, and means for securing together overlapping folds of said strip.

Preferably the strip is provided with at least one fold line, formed by a crease, or groove in the strip, allowing easy folding of the strip. More preferably the strip is provided with fold lines partitioning the strip into three sections. More preferably each section is separated from an adjacent section by means of a pair of closely spaced fold lines. Preferably each fold line is formed by aligned creases on opposite sides ol'the plastics strip. More preferably the crease on one side of the strip is of greater depth than its opposed crease.

Preferably the means for securing the strip to an end of the display panel is double sided adhesive tape, one side of which is secured to the plastics strip and the other side of which is protected with a backing which may be peeled ol'i'.

Brief description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings are as follows: Figure la illustrates, in diagrammatic end view, a graphic display system according to a first aspect of the present invention; .... :.

Figure lb shows the graphic display system of Figure la with the display panel fully tensioned; . Figure lc illustrates an element connecting clip forming part of the display.

system of Figure la; . . . Figure 2a is an end view of a stiffening element for use in a graphic display system and in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention; Figure 2b is a perspective view on one end and along one side of the stiffening element of Figure 2a; Figure 3a illustrates the first stage of attachment of the stiffening element of Figure 2a to a display panel; and Figure 3b illustrates both the first stage of attachment of the stiffening element as in Figure 3a and also the completed attachment (right-hand diagram).

Detailed description of the Invention

The invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures la to lc of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a graphic display system for mounting a display panel 13 under tension.

Display panel 13 is provided with stiffening elements 3b which in this case are stiffening elements in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, as will be described below, but which may be other types of stiffening elements, such as pockets accommodating rigid or semirigid poles or rods.

The graphic display system shown in Figures la and lb includes two wall mounted sub-frames 1 and 2 each comprising a support element 14, for attachment to an underlying surface by means of, for instance, screws (not shown), and a further support element 16 for attachment to support element 14 and to the panel 13.

Each support element 14 is an elongate plastics extrusion whose crosssection is as illustrated in Figure la. The support element]4 includes a relatively thin central portion 18, through which the screws attaching the element to an underlying surface such as a wall, will pass. Central portion 18 is flanked by an inner portion 20 which includes an outwardly and upwardly extending recess 22 as well as an inwardly and upwardly extending recess 24. Outer portion 26 is provided with an outwardly facing recess 28.

Support element 16 is also an elongate plastics extrusion having a deep outwardly facing recess 30, for accommodating the stiffening clement 3b of panel 13. At the opposite side of element 16 to recess 30, support element 16 is provided with a broadly hook-shaped edge 32 whose outer surface matches that of the inner surface of recess 22 so that when edge 32 is inserted in recess 22 the end edge 34 catches under the upper lip 36 of recess 22. This allows support element 16 to be pivoted about its corresponding support element 18.

In order to mount a panel 13 on the system, the stil'fening elements 3b are located within respective recesses 30 of support element 16, with these support elements being pivoted relatively away from their respective support elements 18, as illustrated in Figure la. When so positioned, the support elements 16 may then be pivoted towards their respective support elements 18 to achieve the position illustrated in Figure lb when the panel 13 is tensioned. To firmly secure the support elements together, clips 38 (illustrated in Figure lo) are positioned as shown in Figure lb. Several clips may be located along each of the sub- frames and each one will locate about arm 40 of support element 16, which forms the lower portion of recess SO, and arm 42 of support element 14, which forms the upper part of recess 28. The clip 38 has a lower leg 44 which is barbed at 46 and which has an enlarged end 48. End 48 locates in a channel 50 positioned at the lower part of the blind end of recess 28, thereby enabling the clip 38 to hold the two support elements firmly together.

Recesses 24 of support elements 14 may be used to mount, below the display panel 13, a panel of a light box (not shown). This will typically be a sheet of Perspex which, at least when mounted, is maintained in a curved conformation and beneath which is located a source of light. The curved surface of the Perspex panel may impinge on the display panel 13 to create a curved graphic display .. ..

. ..

Referring now to Figures 2a to 3b, there is illustrated a stiffening element for a graphic display panel, the stiffening element being in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention. The stiffening element may be used in conjunction with graphic display systems such as that described above or with another system of the type in which the graphic is mounted between opposing channels of two wall mounted sub-frames.

The stiffening element 10 is in the form of an elongate strip 10 of plastics material.

Strip 10 is divided into three longitudinally separated sections, these being outer sections 10a and 10c of the same width and inner section 10b of somewhat greater width. The sections of strip 10 are separated by two sets of grooves 11. Each set of grooves 11 comprises a first pair 1 la or 1 lb which are closely spaced and relatively shallow. Grooves I la are provided on the opposite side of the strip to grooves 1 lb. On the opposite side of the strip to each pair of shallow grooves 11a or 1 lb there is provided an aligned pair of grooves 1 lc and 1 id respectively. These further grooves are relatively deep compared to grooves 1 la and I lb. Strip 10 is provided with two bands 12 of double-sided adhesive tape. These bands 12 extend from opposite edges of strip 10 to the centre thereof and on opposite sides of strip 10, each band 12 overlying a pair of shallow grooves lla or lib. The adhesive tape 12 is provided with a backing layer on its side opposite that of the plastics strip 10.

Referring now to Figure 3a, strip 10 is attached to a display panel 13 by first removing the backing layer from one of the tapes 12 so that the strip 10 can be affixed to panel 13 with the edge of strip 10 lying adjacent the edge of panel 13 or, at most, protruding slightly beyond. As shown in Figure 3a, the body of strip 10 then.. . lies alongside panel 13 with the other band 12 of adhesive tape facing away from panel 13. .... :. :. .e ë . . .

The strip 10, having panel 13 attached thereto is then folded so as to achieve the conformation illustrated in the right-hand diagram of Figure 3b. The relative depths of channels 1 lc and 1 Id, compared with 11a and 1 lb, ensure that the folding takes place in the correct direction, that is to say, so as to encloses the deeper grooves 1 lc and I Id within the folds.

In order to proceed from the position illustrated in the left-hand diagram of Figure 3b to that of the right-hand diagram, the backing layer is first removed from the upper adhesive tape 12. The lower part of strip 10 is then folded upwardly about grooves 1 I d until the free surface of section I Oc of strip 10 comes into contact with the upper adhesive tape 12. The f nal step is to fold the upper section 1 Oa of strip 12 about the lower section lOc so that adhesive tape 12 comes into contact with the folded over edge of panel 13. In this way there is formed the equivalent of a semi-rigid pole with the sections lea and lOc of strip 10 being folded over the central section lOb and thereby trapping the display panel.

P 1 07726G B c --.e. . e - .e e.-. . . .

Claims

Claims 1. A graphic display system for supporting a display panel having

an elongate stiffening element along each of two opposed edges thereof, the system comprising first and second support elements, each provided with a recess for receiving a stiffening element, and third and fourth support elements, each for location to an underlying surface and attachment to a respective first and second support element, wherein each said attachment is by means of an edge of one element locating in a recess in the other element, the attached elements being then pivotable with respect to each other so as to tension the panel between each pair of attached elements.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system includes means for securely connecting together the attached elements.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the means for attachment is at least one clip which hooks over at least part of each of the attached elements.
4. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the system is in use, the attached elements lie between the panel and the underlying surface so as to be substantially hidden when the panel is viewed from the front.
5. An end stiffening element for a graphic display panel comprising an elongate plastics strip, means for securing said strip to an end of the display panel, said strip being foldable longitudinally to trap the secured end of the display panel between folds of said strip, and means for securing together overlapping folds of said strip.
6. An end stiffening element according to claim 5, wherein the strip is provided with at least one fold line allowing easy folding of the strip.
7. An end stiffening element according to claim 6, wherein the fold line is formed by a crease, or groove in the strip.
8. An end stiffening element according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the strip is provided with fold lines partitioning the strip into three sections.
9. An end stiffening element according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein each section is separated from an adjacent section by means of a pair of closely spaced fold lines.
10. An end stiffening element according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein each fold line is formed by aligned creases on opposite sides of the plastics strip.
11. An end stiffening element according to claim 10, wherein the crease on one side of the strip is of greater depth than its opposed crease.
12. An end stiffening element according to claim 11, wherein the means for securing the strip to an end of the display panel is double sided adhesive tape, one side of which is secured to the plastics strip and the other side of which is protected with a backing which may be peeled off.
13. A method of mounting a flexible display panel under tension, said method comprising the steps of; (i) providing a graphic display system as described in claim 1 and a display panel to be mounted in said system, said display panel having an elongate stiffening element along each of two opposed edges thereof; (ii) inserting one of said stiffening elements into the recess provided on the first support member and inserting the opposing stiffening element into the recess provided on the second support member; (iii) pivoting the first and second support members towards their respective third and fourth support elements.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first and second support members are securely connected to their respective members.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said connection is by means of a clip.
16. A method according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the third and fourth support elements are fixed to an underlying surface prior to the display panel being mounted in the system.
17. A graphic display system or an end stiffening element as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures.
18. A graphic display system according to claim 1 or an end stiffening element according to claim 5 or a method according to claim 13 as substantially described l O herein.