GB2435540A

GB2435540A - Adjustable display surface.

Info

Publication number: GB2435540A
Application number: GB0603809A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rachael Ann Carrington
Original assignee: SPATIAL SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: SPATIAL SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-27
Filing date: 2006-02-27
Publication date: 2007-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-27
Also published as: GB2435540B; GB0603809D0

Abstract

A vertical display system, in particular an advertising hoarding, is provided with an adjustable display surface. The system comprises an array of display elements each having a element display surface wherein the display elements are movable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the display surface. The sides of the display elements may also be used as further display surfaces. Means for moving the display elements may be provided in the form of an electric motor or hydraulic system and this may be remotely operated to alter the configuration of the display surface. A light may be associated with each display element.

Description

DISPLAY ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing a variable surface, in particular an apparatus for providing a variable vertical surface of particular use in advertising and the like. The assembly find particular use, but not limited to, vertical advertising hoardings, for example as in place in many towns and cities and visible from the road.

Structures for supporting advertising displays are well known in the art. Much use has been made of a simple vertically oriented board, onto which advertising material in the form of printed paper sheets is applied. For larger displays, a plurality of separate printed sheets are employed, which, when combined in the correct positions, make up a complete picture or poster. Such display systems are commonly seen in towns and cites, secured to the sides of buildings or as free-standing assemblies. The systems are often sited where they can be visible from passing vehicles, such as automobiles and trains. Other sites for such systems include locations where people regularly gather, such as bus stations, railway stations, and the like.

In addition to the fixed form of display, certain moving display systems are also known. For example, it is known to form a display from a plurality of, generally vertical, sub-assemblies. Each sub-assembly has two or more surfaces which may be oriented by rotation to align and!hrm the display. A particular image or picture is distributed across corresponding surfaces of the sub-assemblies, such that can be moved into and out of view. While this system allows the image being displayed to:. . vary, it is still limited in terms of the complexity of the display that can be presented to viewers.

There is a need!hr a means for providing an assembly with shape and configurations in three dimensions that is capable of providing a complex surface for * displaying complex images, preferably dynamic images, in particular for use in advertising, It would be most advantageous if the system could be readily installed in existing advertising locations with little or no modification and without the need to accommodate more space than is already allocated.

According to the present invention there is provided a vertical display system for the display of information, the system comprising a plurality of surface assemblies arranged in a display matrix, each surface assembly comprising a surface element having a display surface, the surface element of each surface module being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the display surface, the system comprising the plurality of surface assemblies such that each surface element has a first position and a second position, whereby in the first position the surface elements of the plurality of surface assemblies form a substantially vertical contiguous display surface and in the second position the surface elements are displaced from the plane of the contiguous display surface to form one or more secondary display surfaces.

The surface assembly of the present invention is particular advantageous in that it can be modular. That is, the assembly may comprise a plurality of individual surface assemblies each in the form of a module, which combine to form an extensive surface of the desired proportions. It is a significant advantage of the present invention that each module may be substantially self contained, thus providing total flexibility in the manner in which the modules can be combined to accommodate the needs and constraints of a given situation.

In one preferred embodiment, the surface elements in the second position are oriented such that the display surface is parallel to the contiguous surface when the * * surface elements are in the first position.

In a given assembly, the surface elements may all have a second position at the same distance from the first position. However, it is also possible to provide the system with a variety of different surface assemblies, in which different assemblies have second positions at different distances from the first position. This provides an additional degree of freedom when designing and operating a display, such as an advertising hoarding.

It is preferred that the surface element of each surface assembly of the system of this invention is movable to a plurality of positions between the first and second positions, in particular may be arranged to lie at any position between the first and second positions. In such a case, the first and second positions represent the extremes of movement of the surface element of the given surface assembly.

The surface element of each surface assembly may be positioned manually, by hand, for example when the display is being set up and installed. In such a case, the surface assembly will be used to provide a static display, for example a static 1 5 advertising display. However, it is a particular advantage of the display system of the present invention that the surface elements may be moved so as to create a dynamic display. In this way, the display may change over a period of time, for example according to a predetermined display routine. Accordingly, it is preferred to provide each surface assembly with a drive means for moving the surface element between the first and second positions. Examples of suitable means include electric motors, linear actuators and/or hydraulic systems.

Each surface assembly may be provided with a control system for controlling the movement of the surface element. However, for a complex display routine, it is necessary to provide a central control system with a suitable processor able to control the position and movement of the surface elements to provide the required display.

Accordingly, the display system preferably comprises a control system having a * processor for controlling the movement of each surface element between the first and second positions. The processor may be provided with a data storage device, such as a hard drive, ROM or RAM, which may be used to store display routines. The processor then retrieves display data from the central data storage device. sats I * It S

In one advantageous embodiment, the control system comprises an interface for receiving programming data for the display routines. Most conveniently, the interlace allows data and controls to be input remotely. For example, several display systems may be linked to a network and programmed and controlled from a central location. Alternatively, the display system may comprise a RF or infrared interface, whereby data may be exchanged with the control system locally to the display. This is particularly useful when the display system is located in a position that is generally inaccessible.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, one or more surface assemblies may comprise an intermediate surface element extending from the surface element, such that when the first surface element is in the second position, the intermediate surface element extends partially or completely between the surface element and the position occupied by the surface element when in the first position. The intermediate surface element may extend from each of one or more edges of the first surface element. In this way, the intermediate surface element provides a further display surface on which information, such as a portion of the advertising display, may be provided.

i'he intermediate surface element may be in the form of rigid or elastic sheets extending from the respective edge of the first surface element. In one preferred arrangement, the intermediate surface element is in the form of a flexible sheet that is arranged in a compact condition, such as a concertina maimer or on a roll, when the surface element is in the first position, and extended when the surface element is in the second position. In an alternative arrangement, the intermediate surface element is arranged as a set of surface element portions arranged to move telescopically:. . between an extended and a retracted position.

Information to be displayed is disposed on the exposed surface of the surface element. In addition, a display may utilize the exposed surface of the intermediate 1:' surface element. The surface assemblies may be provided with a range of light 4 4 assemblies and projectors, allowing particular lighting effects to be achieved. In one preferred arrangement, each surface assembly has key components, such as the surface element and, if present, the intermediate surface element, of a transparent or translucent material, allowing light and images emitted from the light assembly within the surface assembly to radiate outwards. In this way, images may be projected onto inner surfaces of the display system, to be viewed from outside the display system. In addition, or as an alternative, the surface element and/or the intermediate surface elements of one or more modules in the system may be provided with screens, such as liquid crystal displays (LCD) and the like, for showing images. The screens may be operated via the central control unit, as described hereinbefore. Alternatively, each screen may have its own processor for operating and controlling the display of images and information.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a plurality of surface assemblies as hereinbefore described. The kit preferably also comprises a means for remotely adjusting the position of individual surface assemblies. The means for remote control may comprise a computer or control panel, connected to the individual surface assemblies by way of cables or by infrared. A particular advantageous kit includes software for allowing the user to experiment with arrangements and visualize the surface assembly orientations, before adjustment of the assembly takes place.

The present invention also provides a modular surface assembly for use in a modular assembly as hereinbefore described.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of -.

example only, having reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display system according to one embodiment S. * of the present invention; 5l$*

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Figure 2 is a sectional view of a modular surface system of the display assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the display system shown in Figure 1, with a column of surface assemblies in a first position; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the display system shown in Figure 1, with a column of surface assemblies in a second position; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the display system shown in Figure 1, with a column of surface assemblies in a third position; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the display system shown in Figure 1, with a column of surface assemblies in a fourth position; Figure 7 is a plan view of the display assembly shown in Figure 1 with two columns of surface assemblies in different positions; Figure 8 is a view of the front of the display assembly of Figure 7 along the line of sight represented by arrow B; Figure 9 is a view of the front of the display assembly of Figure 7 along the line of sight represented by arrow C; Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a display system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and *:*:* Figure 11 is a perspective view of the display system of Figure 10. *0 S * * * * SS

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a vertical display assembly, generally indicated as 2. The assembly comprises a pair of vertically extending, generally cylindrical support columns 4. However, it will be understood that the assembly may be mounted to a different support structure, or support by a pre-existing structure, such as the wall of a building. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the assembly comprises a plurality of modular surface assemblies 10. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the display assembly 2 is formed by 35 modules arranged in a 7 by 5 matrix of modular surface assemblies 10. It will be appreciated that the modules 10 may be arranged in other patterns or matrices utilizing different numbers of modular surface assemblies, as the demands of the display dictate.

The assembly shown in Figure 1 has the display surface formed solely by surface assemblies as hereinbefore and hereinafter described. It will be appreciated that the display surface may be formed from a combination of fixed surface elements, in combination with surface assemblies having moveable surface elements.

A single modular surface assembly 10 is shown in greater detail in Figure 2.

The surface assembly 10 comprises a support structure, generally indicated as 14, having a plurality of struts 16, arranged in a square pattern. Support members 18 extend between adjacent struts 16. A surface element 20 extends parallel to the support members 18 and substantially vertically oriented. l'he surface element 20 is supported by a plurality of support struts 24, which cooperate to provide a support structure for the surface element 20. An extendable intermediate surface element, generally indicated as 26, extends from the surface element 20 to the support members 1 8. The intermediate surface element 26 comprises three surface portions 28a, 28b and 28 c, arranged telescopically, such that the surface portions 28b and 28c may be accommodated wholly within the surface portion 28a. The surface assembly.

may comprise a single intermediate surface element 26 extending from the surface * element 20 to the support structure. The arrangement shown in Figure 2 comprises two such intermediate surface elements. It is preferred that sufficient intermediate surface elements 26 are provided to enclose the space defined between the surface: * ..

element 20 and the support structure 14. In this way, the maximum amount of surface * * S...

area is available for the display of' information. *: : : : As an alternative to the arrangement of surface portions 28a to 28c shown in Figure 2, the intermediate surface element 26 may comprise a single surface portion, which may be folded, for example as a concertina, and allowed to unfold as the surface element 20 is displaced from the support structure 14. A further alternative is to arrange the intermediate surface element 26 as a sheet of suitable material that may be stored on a roll, from where it may be unwound as the surface element 20 moves.

An electric motor 30 provides drive to move the surface element 20 by way of' the support struts 24.

The modular surface assembly 10 in Figure 2 is shown with the surface element 20 in the second position displaced from the support structure 14.

In use, the modular surface assembly 10 may be operated so as to move the surface element 20 from a first position, which the surface element 20 is in contact with or adjacent the support members, to the second position shown in Figure 2. In a preferred arrangement, the suriace element 20 may be moved to any position between the first position and the second position shown in Figure 2. A means for locking the surface element in place at the desired position is preferably provided (not shown).

As an alternative to the arrangement of support struts 24 shown in Figure 2, the surface clement 20 may be supported and moved by way of' one or more hydraulic systems of known configuration. Again, such a mechanism preferably includes a means for locking the surface element 20 at the desired position. *

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Referring again to Figure 1, it can be seen that the 35 modular surface assemblies 10 combine, such that the surface of the surface element 20 of each module 10 provides a portion of a contiguous display surface. In use, a display, in: * particular an advertising display, is provided on the display surface. This may be * *. * S...

moved in whole or in portions by the operation of the respective modular surface *: :: : assembly 10. In addition, the intermediate surface elements of the modular surface assemblies 10 may also be employed to display information. Examples of positions for the modular surface assemblies of the display system of Figure 1 will now be described.

Referring to Figure 1, the overall display is comprised of a major portion 100, in which the information being displayed is set out on a first display surface formed of modular surface assemblies with their surface elements in the first position. A portion of the display is set out on a second display surface formed by a column of modular surface assemblies 110 with their surface elements displaced horizontally from the plane of the first display surface. A third display surface 120 is shown in Figure 1 and is formed by the intermediate surface elements of the modular surface assemblies in the column 110.

This third display surface is shown in more detail in Figure 3, where the third display surface 120 is clearly visible from the side of the display assembly. This provides the advantage that the display system can be used to show information, such as advertising material, to viewers who are in a position relative to the display such that a conventional two-dimensional advertising display could not be seen fully or at all. This effect is increased by the arrangement shown in Figure 4, where the modular surface assemblies 10 in the column 110 have been extended to displace the surface elements 20 further from the support structures 14, revealing a larger third display surface on the intermediate surface elements. Following the same principle, still larger third display surfaces are shown in Figures 5 and 6, achieved by having the surface elements 20 of the modular surface assemblies in the column 110 displaced still further from the support structure 14.

Referring to Figure 7, the display assembly 2 of Figure 1 is shown, in plan view, with the surface assemblies 10 arranged in a further pattern. In particular, two: * columns of surface assemblies, 11 Oa and 11 Ob have been positioned with their * * ** respective surface elements displaced from the major portion 100 of the display surface. The surface assemblies in column 11 Oa have been extended to a position to form a second display surface 200 on the surface elements 20 and third display surfaces 210 on each of the intermediate surface assemblies. The surface assemblies in column liOb have been extended to a position, different to that of column 1 l0a, to form a fourth display surface 220 on the respective surface elements 20 and fifth display surfaces 230 on the respective intermediate surface assemblies.

The versatility of the display system arranged as shown in Figure 7 can be appreciated by considering a viewer standing at various positions with respect to the display. A first viewer 250 standing centrally in front of the display with a line of sight represented by the arrow A in Figure 7 would see the display as a single surface, comprising display surfaces 100, 200 and 220, all of which would be viewed from directly in front. This view is the front elevation shown in Figure 1. It will be noted that only the surface of each surface element 20 can be seen, regardless of the position of each module 10 within the system.

A second viewer 260 standing in front and to one side of the display would have a line of sight represented by the arrow B in Figure 7. The second viewer in this position would see a display made up of display surfaces 100, 200, 210, 220 and possibly 230. As will be appreciated, this viewer would see a significantly different, but not necessarily totally unrelated, display to that of the first viewer. This view is shown in Figure 8. In particular, it will be noted that in the view shown in Figure 8, the display surfaces 210 and 230 become visible, with portions of the display surface being occluded. A third viewer 270 standing further to one side of the display would have a line of sight represented by the arrow C in Figure 7, giving a different view again of the display on display surfaces 100, 200, 210, 220 and 230. This view * would be different again to that seen by the first and second viewers. The image seen by the third viewer is as shown in Figure 9. In particular, in the view shown in Figure 9, a better view of the display surfaces 210 and 230 is obtained, with more of the display surface 100 being obscured. In this way, a viewer moving in relation to the I,'. *000 S...

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display 2 can be presented with a wide variety of different images and displays, that change with the movement of the viewer.

Referring to Figure 10, there is shown a second embodiment of the display system of the present invention. The display system of this embodiment, generally indicated as 302, is of the same general construction as that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, with the difference that the columns of individual modules have each been replaced by a single columnar module 310 extending the full height of the display. Each columnar module 310 comprises an elongate rectangular surface element 304 having a corresponding display surface 306. A side perspective view of the display system of Figure 10 is shown in Figure 11. As will be seen, two columnar modules 31 Oa and 31 Ob have been extended to provide additional display surfaces 320a and 320b.

It will be understood that the modules 10 of the first embodiment and the columnar modules 310 of the second embodiment may be combined in a single display system, as required for the particular display.

The overall effect of the display system of the present invention is to provide a display that is three dimensional in form and that can change from the perspective of the viewer, as the viewer moves with respect to the display. Further effects can be achieved by having the surface assemblies active and moving, to hide and reveal intermediate surface elements. It will be readily appreciated that these effects can be achieved by the assembly of the present invention while occupying the same position and area as conventional, two-dimensional advertising boards and hoardings. S. S

In addition, the display system of the present invention, by utilizing the intermediate surface elements, allows information to be viewed by a viewer from a much wider field of view than with conventional signs and boards. In particular, the: present invention allows information to be seen and understand by a viewer standing. . I...

in a position where the line of sight is at an acute angle to the main display surface. In * : :: : particular, the system allows the view to see information at any position within an arc of 1800 in front of the display, the view varying between solely a plan view of the information on the display surface of the surface elements to solely a plan view of the information contained on one or more intermediate surface elements. This aspect is particularly advantageous for advertising purposes, as it allows a considerably larger audience to be reached with a single installation. I. * * . S * ** * S * * S. *

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Claims

CLAIMS

1. A vertical display system for the display of information, the system comprising a plurality of surface assemblies arranged in a display matrix, each surface assembly comprising a surface element having a display surface, the surface element of each surface module being movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the display surface, the system comprising the plurality of surface assemblies such that each surface element has a first position and a second position, whereby in the first position the surface elements of the plurality of surface assemblies form a substantially vertical contiguous display surface and in the second position the surface elements are displaced from the plane of the contiguous display surface to form one or more secondary display surfaces.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein one or more surface assemblies comprises an intermediate surface element extendable upon movement of the surface element from the first to the second position, the intermediate surface element when extended forming a tertiary display surface.

3. The display system of claim 2, wherein the intermediate surface element is perpendicular to the plane of the vertical contiguous display surface.

4. The display system of claim 2 or 3, wherein the intermediate surface element is flexible and stored in a compact state when the surface element is in the first * position.

5. The display system of claim 4, wherein the intermediate surface element is stored on a roll or in a folded arrangement. : . 6. The display system of claim 2 or 3, wherein the intermediate surface element comprises one or more rigid surface portions.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the intermediate surface element comprises a plurality of rigid surface portions that extend and contract telescopically.

8. The display system of any preceding claim, wherein the surface element is movable to any position between the first and second positions.

9. The display system of any preceding claim, wherein each surface assembly comprises a means for locking the surface element in the second position.

10. The display system of any preceding claim, wherein each surface assembly comprises a means for moving the surface element between the first and second positions.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the means for moving the surface element is operable remotely.

12. The display system of claim 10 or 11, wherein the means for moving the surface element comprises a hydraulic system or an electric motor.

13. The display system of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the surface assemblies comprises one or more light assemblies.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein the light one or more light assemblies directs light through the surface element and/or, if present, the intermediate surface element. I. *

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15. A display system substantially as hereinbefore described having reference to the accompanying figures. * ::: .