GB2456920A - Hanging bar having a pair of bar suspension artifacts and two substrate engagement artifacts for supporting a substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

A hanging bar is disclosed which comprises an elongate, stabiliser bar 20 which incorporates as integral parts of the bar a pair of mutually spaced bar suspension artifacts 26,28 (e.g. dome-shaped deformations), and two substrate engagement artifacts (21 ,Fig.1) (e.g. hooks) mutually spaced longitudinally of the stabiliser bar and integral therewith, wherein the substrate engagement hooks engage with apertures 18,19 in a substrate 12. Alternatively, in another arrangement (Fig.6) the substrate has a fixed first distance between its said apertures, and the hanging aid comprises an elongate, stabiliser bar (222) with a modulus of elasticity permitting it to be manually bowed, at least one suspension artifact (226) for use in supporting the bar, and two substrate engagement artifacts 223,224 (e.g. hooks) mutually spaced longitudinally of the unstressed bar by a fixed second distance that is marginally greater than the said fixed first distance between the substrate's said apertures. The stabilizer bar is arcuately bendable manually to permit engagement of the engagement hooks into the substrate apertures and, upon release, to engage resiliently the substrate without tearing the apertures.

Description

HANGING OF DISPLAY MATTER

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the hanging of display matter from a ceiling, beam or other overhead structure, and to devices to assist in such hanging. In particular the present invention is concerned with a hanging arrangement (hereinafter referred to as of the kind defined') comprising a hanging aid serving in use to hang a substrate bearing printed indicia to be displayed, he substrate having a pair of apertures spaced laterally adjacent an upper edge of the substrate, and the hanging aid including engagement artifacts to engage the mutually spaced apertures of the substrate. S...

: Background *...

In the past, the substrate employed has been a rigid component hung directly from the ceiling, beam or other overhead structure by lengths of hanging filament attached directly to the substrate's mutually spaced apertures. If the lengths of hanging filament extend vertically, there is no undue lateral tension component in *: : : the substrate and the substrate readily hangs flat in the vertical plane. Unfortunately * * the lengths of hanging filament rarely hang vertically. This is of little consequence with a rigid substrate, since if the filament lengths are directed either towards or away from one another as they extend away from the apertures, the lateral tension component created in the substrate is usually absorbed by the rigidity of the substrate which therefore remains undeformed.

However, more recently and for reasons of economy, it has become desirable to provide the substrate as a thin, lightweight, more flexible, biodegradable component, e.g. of paper or thin card (for example having a thickness less than 2000 micron). Such a flexible substrate can bend and distort -spoiling the AUG/i.UK o2/o/oo9 appearance of the display -if the lengths of hanging filament are directed towards one another as they extend upwardly away from the apertures. In such a case, the filament lengths create a tendency for the thin flexible structure to bow and adopt a shape other than the usually desired wholly flat planar shape. Alternatively with such a flexible substrate, if the filament lengths are directed away from one another as they extend away from the apertures, an undue lateral tension can then be exerted on the thin flexible substrate which can be damaged by the filament lengths tearing open the substrate's apertures.

The above-mentioned and/or other disadvantages are not solved by adapting to these needs the prior art arrangements for the hanging of display material.

For example, hangers for hanging fabric products (as disclosed in US-4193504 and US 2007/0145085) are not at all relevant to the above-identified requirements since the hung fabric is to be located near to the ground for ease of manipulation by, say prospective customers, (e.g. to judge quality, feel' or fabric weight), and there is : no need for the fabric product to be kept taut. Indeed it would be counter to the objective of such hangers if the hung product were at all taut as retention of product : flexibility is all important.

* * 20 Although the hanging arrangement disclosed in US-2002/0l 16850 is concerned with *:::: displaying and storing printed sheets, it is solely concerned with hanging printed rigid sheets from a wall, the hanging aid employed being a composite structure * attached fixedly to the wall and wholly unsuited to the requirements of hanging flexible sheets from an overhead structure in an unobtrusive manner.

Whereas, in EP-1736952, it has been proposed to hang posters and prints from an overhead structure, the hanger disclosed is an unwieldy and unduly over-engineered product lacking the simplicity whereby different pre-printed substrates can be readily interchanged with little effort or skill.

AUG/i25.UK 02/02/2009 It therefore remains desirable to provide a hanging arrangement of the kind defined which can be visually unobtrusive, inexpensive to produce and utilised for hanging flexible substrates (as well as rigid substrates) from a ceiling, beam or other overhead structure, and facilitating ready replacement of the flexible substrates.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly and with a view to overcoming the above-mentioned and/or other disadvantages of the prior art, one aspect of the present invention provides a hanging aid for a hanging arrangement of the kind defined, the said hanging aid comprising an elongate, stabiliser bar incorporating as integral parts of the bar (a) a pair of mutually spaced bar suspension artifacts, and (b) two substrate engagement artifacts mutually spaced (e.g. by a fixed distance) longitudinally of the stabiliser bar and integral therewith, the substrate engagement artifacts being of hook-like form to engage with the apertures in the substrate.

The stabiliser bar may be of metal or plastics material, and preferably is a substantially rigid bar, e.g. of rod-like form. S. *

. .: 20 The pair of bar suspension artifacts may be mutually spaced longitudinally of the :" stabiliser bar by a fixed, invariable distance. S... * I S

In one preferred arrangement, the bar suspension artifacts serve in use for SSS* * suspending the bar directly from a ceiling, beam or other overhead structure.

Advantageously in such an arrangement the bar suspension artifacts are elongate projections from the bar, the ends of the elongate projections distal from the bar being of hook-like or eyelet-like form for direct engagement of eyelets or hooks dependingly attached to said overhead structure. Desirably in such an arrangement the bar suspension artifacts may extend from the ends of the stabilizer bar, and the two substrate engagement artifacts may be located inwardly of the stabilizer bar with a fixed mutual spacing between them that is less than the mutual spacing between bar suspension artifacts.

A!JG/i5UK o/o2/oo9 In another preferred arrangement, the bar suspension artifacts comprise deformations of the elongate stabiliser bar. Each said deformation may have substantially the form of a V or may be substantially a dome-like or D-shaped deformation. Desirably in such an arrangement the two-substrate engagement artifacts may be provided at the opposite ends of the elongate stabiliser bar and the bar suspension artifacts may be located inwardly of the stabilizer bar with a fixed mutual spacing less than that of the two-substrate engagement artifacts, The elongate bar may be substantially linear, or may have a bowed profile.

Preferably the distance between the two mutually spaced substrate engagement artifacts is marginally greater than the spacing between the apertures in the substrate, and resilient means are provided to effect a resilient reduction of said distance for enabling interengagement between the substrate engagement artifacts and the substrate apertures.

Advantageously the elongate stabiliser bar incorporates resilient means permitting * *.* : said first fixed distance to be altered marginally to facilitate inter-engagement of S...

* * said substrate engagement artifacts and the said mutually spaced apertures of a substrate. I. S * * * * 20

For this, the elongate stabilizer bar may comprise an inherently resilient rod such that a bowing deformation thereof will permit said distance reduction. **

* Alternatively the elongate stabilizer bar may comprise a compression spring mechanism to permit said distance reduction.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hanging display of the kind defined wherein the substrate is a flexible structure, said hanging display being characterised by the provision of a hanging aid according to said one aspect of the invention.

AUG/r25.IjK o2/o2/oo9 According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a hanging arrangement of the said kind defined comprising a said hanging aid and a said substrate, wherein the substrate has a fixed first distance between its said apertures, the hanging aid comprises an elongate, stabiliser bar with a modulus of elasticity permitting it to be manually bowed, one or more bar-associated suspension artifacts for use in supporting the bar, and two substrate engagement artifacts mutually spaced longitudinally of the unstressed stabiliser bar by a fixed second distance that is marginally greater than the said fixed first distance between the substrate's said apertures, the stabilizer bar being arcuately bendable manually to permit engagement of said engagement artifacts into said substrate apertures and, upon release, to engage resiliently the substrate bounding said apertures without tearing the apertures.

Advantageously the substrate engagement artifacts are of hook-like form to engage with the apertures in the substrate. S... * . . * .

* * Preferably the stabiliser bar comprises pair of mutually spaced bar suspension artifacts, provided as integral parts of the bar.

* ** 20 * Advantageously the two substrate engagement artifacts are provided as integral parts of the bar. * S *

S

S

* S....

* The stabiliser bar may be of metal or plastics material, and preferably is a substantially rigid bar.

Preferably, in the vicinity of said apertures, the substrate has a determinable shear strength or resistance to tearing by the substrate engagement artifacts of the stabilizer bar, and the resilient force of the substrate engagement artifacts upon the apertures when the stabilizer bar is released is no greater than 85%, preferably no greater than 75%, of said shear strength or resistance to tearing.

AUG/a25.IJK O2/o2/oo9

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 1 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging aid according to a first embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging arrangement including the hanging aid of Fig 1; Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of a modification of the hanging arrangement of Fig 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of the hanging aid employed in the hanging arrangement of Fig 3; Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the hanging aid employed in the hanging arrangement of Fig 3; Figure 6 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging arrangement with a hanging aid according to a second embodiment of this invention; Figure 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a hanging arrangement . according to a third embodiment of this invention; * * Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the hanging aid employed in the hanging arrangement of Fig 7 (in slightly modified form); Figure 9 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging aid according to a fourth : embodiment of this invention; Figure 10 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging aid according to a fifth embodiment of this invention; * 1 Figure 11 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging aid according to a sixth embodiment of this invention; Figure 12 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging aid according to a seventh embodiment of this invention; Figure 13 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging aid according to an eighth embodiment of this invention; Figure 14 is a schematic elevational view of a hanging aid according to a ninth embodiment of this invention; and AUG/i5.UK o/o2f2o Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view illustrating how a pair of hanging aids according to this invention may be used to carry a cylindrical display unit Detailed Description of Example(s) of the Invention The hanging arrangement 10 of Fig 2 comprises a flexible substrate 12 of paper, thin card or plastics sheet material having a thickness less than 2000 micron hung by a hanging aid 20 from an overhead structure 30, e.g. a ceiling beam or the like, by substantially rigid or flexible hanging means A or B or 25a or 25b. The flexible substrate 12 of this embodiment is generally rectangular and printed on one or both faces with indicia 14 to be displayed. The substrate 12 is provided adjacent its upper edge 16 with a pair of mutually spaced apertures 18,19 preferably having the form of circular holes. The distance of each of the apertures 18,19 from the adjacent side edge 8,9 of the substrate 12 may be approximately one-quarter of the total distance between those side edges, i.e. approximately one-quarter of the length of edge 16.

The hanging aid 20 (better illustrated in Fig I) comprises an elongate, substantially S...

. : linear, rigid stabiliser bar 22 of metal or plastic rod-like form and having a length *::::* commensurate with the spacing D' between the apertures 18,19 in the flexible substrate 12. This elongate stabiliser bar 22 is provided at its ends with hook-like formations 23,24 for engagement of the apertures 18,19. These hook-like formations 23,24 have their openings 21 likewise directed substantially upwardly.

Intermediate its ends, the stabiliser bar 22 is provided with generally dome-shaped deformations 26,28 spaced apart a distance d'. The narrowest portion or apex of * each of the dome-shaped deformations 26,28 is directed upwardly.

Two methods may be adopted to assemble the hanging arrangement 10. In the first method, the elongate stabiliser bar 22 is threaded through the apertures 18,19 in the flexible substrate 12, and each of the hook-like formations 23,24 is engaged with the boundary edge of its associated aperture 18,19. In the second (and preferred) method, the flexible substrate 12 is simply hung from the upwardly-open hook-like formations 23,24. Either method leaves the flexible substrate 12 hanging as a substantially flat planar sheet that is retained in that form by the stabiliser bar 22 AUG/,25,EJK o'2/o2/oo9 which, in effect, serves as a reinforcement for the flexible substrate 12 and positionally stabilises the flexible substrate 12.

Either flexible or substantially rigid hanging means may be provided to suspend the hanging arrangement 10 from the overhead structure 30.

Where the hanging means are substantially rigid, they may comprise a pair of substantially rigid hanging filaments such as wire stays 25a,25b having their lowest ends formed into upwardly-open hooks (not shown). These lowermost hooks are hooked into the dome-shaped deformations 26,28 of the stabiliser bar 22. The two wire stays 25a,25b may be directed vertically or may diverge away from one another as they extend upwardly away from the stabiliser bar 22 -the general position indicated at A in Fig 2 -or may approach one another as they extend upwardly away from stabiliser bar 22 -the general position indicated at B in Fig 2.

Where flexible hanging means are employed to suspend the hanging arrangements : 10, they may be provided by a length of flexible filament 25a,25b -e.g. cord, wire *... or the like -which is tied or otherwise attached to each of the dome-shaped S...

. : deformations 26,28. These flexible lengths 25a,25b may be provided by the opposite * ** 20 end portions of a single filament 25 that is centrally hung from a single hook (not * shown) mounted on the overhead structure 30. Alternatively, and as illustrated, the *: : : two lengths 25a,25b may be two independent flexible filaments each having its distal end secured to a dedicated hook or other part depending from the overhead structure ***...

* 30. The two lengths 25a,25b may diverge away from one another as they extend upwardly away from the stabiliser bar 22 and the substrate edge 16 -the positions shown at A in Fig 2 in which the two lengths 25a,25b extend at an obtuse angle to the central section d' of the substrate edge 16. Alternatively the two lengths 25a,25b may approach one another as they extend upwardly away from the stabiliser bar 22 and the substrate edge 16 -the positions shown at B in Fig 2 in which the two lengths 25a,25b extend at an acute angle to the central section d' of the substrate edge 16.

AU/d5UK 02/02/2009 In each of above-mentioned hanging arrangements, the stabiliser bar 22 provides a reinforcement function and absorbs the lateral component of tension thus preventing or at least minimising its transmission to and distortion of the flexible substrate 12.

Thus, with the elongate stabiliser bar 22 in position, the thin flexible display substrate 12 will remain flat in a vertical plane whatever angle (acute or obtuse) is taken by the rigid or flexible hanging means (e.g. the two lengths 25a,25b) as they extend upwardly away from the stabiliser bar 22 and upper edge 16 of the substrate.

It will therefore be appreciated that the hanging means -exemplified by the two lengths 25a,25b of flexible filament -can be poorly located, and even with a thin flexible substrate, the shape of the substrate 12 will not be distorted.

It will also be appreciated that the hanging aid's hook-like formations 23,24 permit simple changing of the display. Such change can be readily effected since it is only necessary to un-hook one substrate 12 from off the hook-like formations 23,24 and in its place hook on a replacement substrate 12. This operation can be easily and safely achieved since it is only necessary for an operative to hold steady the elongate : stabiliser bar 22 with one hand whilst performing the un-hooking and hooking-on operations with the other hand. This avoids the operative being concerned with any swaying lengths of hanging filament, the display substrate 12 being stabilised by the : 20 elongate stabiliser bar 22. S..

In a modification of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the deformations * 26,28 may be of a generally inverted V-shaped form instead of being a generally S.....

* S dome-shaped deformation.

In another modification, illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, the hanging aid 120 comprises a stabiliser bar 122 that has its deformations 126,128 located closer to its hook-like ends 123,124 than is the case for the stabiliser bar 22 of Figures 1 and 2. In a further modification, and as apparent from Fig. 3, these hook-like ends 123,124 are provided on short linbs 118,119 that are directed in a return direction towards one another. This aids in mildly stretching the substrate 12 that is hooked on to the AUG/,25.UI( o/o2floo9 -10 stabiliser bar 122 by the substrate's apertures 18,19 and thus ensuring it remains flat and taut.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the hanging aid 220 comprises a stabiliser bar 222 of somewhat bowed form instead of being substantially linear. This allows the bar 222 to have a small degree of resiliency such that, although in use the bar 222 is to all intents and purposes generally rigid (and certainly far more rigid than the thin substrate 12), the stabiliser bar 222 can be resiliently manipulated to feed the hook-like ends 223,224 (that terminate the angled short limbs 218,219 of the bar 222) into the substrate's circular apertures 18,19. In this regard it will be appreciated that in this embodiment the spacing between the substrate's circular apertures 18,19 is slightly less than the distance between the hook-like ends 223,224 of the bar 222 in its rest or unstressed condition. This arrangement ensures that when the substrate 12 is hooked onto the bar 222, any small tension force that arises between the apertures 18,19 will be tolerable (i.e. less than the force required to tear the substrate 12) and serve to stretch mildly the hung substrate 12 and thus ensure that it remains flat and taut. * . S...

In a specific test experiment, an SBS board substrate 12 of 1160 micron thickness (approx 800 gsm) had circular holes 18,19 adjacent its upper edge 16 of 5mm ** diameter that were spaced 68cm apart between centres. This substrate was found *:::: capable of sustaining a tear-tolerable tension force of 34.3 Newtons due to a steel rod stabiliser bar having a distance of 72cm between its engagement ends which S.....

* . were of 3mm diameter.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the hanging arrangement 310 comprises a substrate 12 and a hanging aid 320. The substrate 12 has a pair of circular apertures 18,19 spaced apart laterally of the substrate by a distance Di adjacent the upper edge 16 of the substrate. The hanging aid 320 comprises a stabiliser bar 322 of rod-like form (metal or plastic) and provided adjacent to its ends with integral deformations 326,328 of generally inverted-V shape serving in use for attachment to the suspension means 25 (not shown in Figs. 7 and 8). The AUG/s25.UK o/o2/2oo9 -11 -actual ends of the rod-like stabiliser bar 322 are defined by a hook-like or L-shaped formations 323,324 extending normally to the line of bar 322 and for accommodation fittingly into the apertures 18,19 of the substrate 12. In this unstressed state the distance 1)2 between the formations 323,324 is marginally greater than the distance Di between the substrate's apertures 18,19. Although essentially rigid (compared to the relatively flexible substrate 12), the stabiliser bar 322 has a modulus of elasticity which permits it to be manually bowed to the arcuate form shown by broken lines in Fig. 7 to effectively shorten to a distance Di the linear distance between the formations 323,324 and permit their mterengagement with the substrate's apertures 18,19.

Upon release of the operator's manual bowing or bending action, the stabiliser bar returns under its inherent resiliency towards the linear state (illustrated in full lines in Fig. 7) and urges the outer edges of the end formations 323,324 against the outward bounding portions of the apertures 18,19. The materials and dimensions employed for the hanging aid 320 and the substrate 12 are selected to ensure that the * restoring forces engendered upon release of the manually bowed stabiliser bar are not so great as to cause tearing of the substrate about the apertures 18,19.

For example, in the vicinity of the apertures, the substrate may have a determinable * shear strength or resistance to tearing by the end formations 323 and 324, and the resilient force of these end formations upon the apertures when the stabiliser bar 322 is released can be arranged to be no greater than 85%, preferably no greater than S....

* 75%, of that shear strength or tear resistance.

In a specific test experiment it was found that with 5mm diameter substrate holes 18, 19 spaced apart 68cm and with a 3mm diameter for the unitary steel rod stabiliser bar's end formations 323,324 spaced apart 72cm, the distance 1)2 -Di would exert an outward force no greater than 34.3 Newton on the substrate 12.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement results in a firm engagement between the end formations 323,324 and the apertures 18,19 when the manually bowed stabiliser AUG/r25.UK o2/O2/2oo9 -12 -bar is released in the substrate-engaged condition. Because of this it is deemed sufficient for those end formations 323,324 to be of generally L-shape as illustrated in the modification of Figure 8 (and need not be fully-formed hooks as suggested in Figure 7).

Further embodiments and modifications, illustrated schematically in Figures 9 to 14, are described below.

In the embodiment of Fig 9, the stabiliser bar 420 is provided integrally with a pair of mutually spaced, spirally formed, eyelets 426,428 to which the hanging means 25 (not shown) may be connected. These eyelets may be provided instead of, or (as illustrated) in addition to the deformations 26,28. When provided in addition the stabiliser bar can be readily used for suspension via rigid suspension stays engaging the deformations 26,28 or used for suspension via lengths of flexible suspension filaments (e.g. wire or cord) engaging the eyelets 426,428. It will be appreciated that the end formations (referenced 423,424) may be of a form as described above in relation to the other illustrated embodiments of this invention. * .

In the embodiment of Fig 10 a single, central eyelet 526 is provided for the 20 attachment thereto of a single length of hanging stay or filament. This single eyelet 526 is formed as a spiral integral interconnection of two mutually inclined rods 528a, 528b that are connected by their lower ends to the main stabilising bar 522 of * the hanging aid 520. The end formations 523,524 are in accord with the end formations of any one of the above-described and illustrated embodiments of this invention and/or the stated modifications thereto.

In the embodiment of Fig 11 the main length of the stabilising bar 622 is a sinuous formation whereby, strictly speaking, it is not linear' even though it will generally function as a linear component. This arrangement may provide a measure of inherent resiliency which may permit longitudinal compression of the stabilising bar 622 (rather than bowing as in the embodiment of Figs 7 and 8) thereby to shorten its effective length (D2) between end formations 623,624 to the spacing distance Di AUG/i5 UK o2/oV2oc -13 -between the apertures in the substrate 12 (not shown). Here too, the substrate may have a determinable shear strength or resistance to tearing by the end formations 623 and 624, and the resilient force of these end formations upon the apertures when the stabiljser bar 322 is released can be arranged to be no greater than 85%, preferably no greater than 75%, of that shear strength or tear resistance.

In the embodiment of Fig 12, the formations to engage the substrate's apertures are not shown but they are located intermediate the ends of the stabilising bar 722. The integral formations 726,728 that are to be attached to the hanging means (for use in supporting the harthing aid 720 from a ceiling 30 or the like) are provided as hooked ends of the stabilising bar 722 which is of generally bowed form in its unstressed state.

A somewhat similar arrangement is provided by the embodiment of Fig 13 where attachment of the hanging means 25 is to hooked ends 826,828 of a substantially linear stabilising bar 822 provided intermediate its ends with hook-shaped or L- * : shaped formations 823,824 that are to engage with the apertures in the substrate. * S * *.*

The embodiment of Fig 14 is similar to that of Fig 13 save that the hooked ends *:. 20 926,928 for attachment to the hanging means (25) are located at the ends of inclined * limbs extending beyond the hook-shaped or L-shaped formations 923,924 that are to engage with the substrate's apertures.

S.....

* Figure 15 illustrates schematically how a pair of hanging aids, each according structurally to any one of the above-described and illustrated embodiments and/or the stated modifications thereto, can be placed in a somewhat cruciform array and be utilised to engage and support a 3-dimensional, preferably cylindrical, display unit by engaging with apertures in the substrate forming the display unit. The hanging means used for supporting the pair of hanging aids is shown in broken lines in Fig 15.

AUG/i5.UK o2/o/oo9 -14 -It will be appreciated that a 3-dimensional display unit of different shape can be hung in a similar fashion by at least one, and preferably a plurality of such hanging aids arranged in a suitable array and engaging with apertures in the substrate forming the display unit.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemed within the ambit 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 features of each, without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought. * * * ** I I... * I I.-. I. * * I I * I.

I I.. I... * I S

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AUG/i25.UK o/o2/2oo9

Claims (27)

- CLAIMS

1. A hanging aid for a hanging arrangement of the kind defined, the said hanging aid comprising an elongate, stabiliser bar incorporating as integral parts of thebar a pair of mutually spaced bar suspension artifacts, and two substrate engagement artifacts mutually spaced [e.g. by a fixed distance] longitudinally of the stabiliser bar and integral therewith, the substrate engagement artifacts being of hook-like form to engage with the apertures in the substrate.

2. A hanging aid according to Claim 1, wherein the stabiliser bar is of metal or plastics material.

3. A hanging aid according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the stabiliser bar is a substantially rigid rod.

4. A hanging aid according to any one of Claims I to 3, wherein the bar suspension artifacts serve in use for suspending the bar directly from a ceiling, beam or other overhead structure. * S S * .*

5. A hanging aid according to Claim 4, wherein the bar suspension artifacts are elongate projections from the bar, the ends of the elongate projections distal from * the bar being of hook-like or eyelet-like form for direct engagement of eyelets or S.....

* hooks dependingly attached to said overhead structure.

6. A hanging aid according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the bar suspension artifacts extend from the ends of the stabilizer bar, and the two substrate engagement artifacts are located inwardly of the stabilizer bar with a fixed mutual spacing less than that of the bar suspension artifacts.

7. A hanging aid according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the bar suspension artifacts comprise deformations of the elongate stabiliser bar.

AUG/r25 UK o/o2/oo9 -16 -

8. A hanging aid according to Claim 7, wherein each said deformation has substantially the form of a V.

9. A hanging aid according to Claim 7, wherein each said deformation is substantially a dome-like or D-shaped deformation.

10. A hanging aid according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the two substrate engagement artifacts are provided at the opposite ends of the elongate stabiliser bar and the bar suspension artifacts are located inwardly of the stabilizer bar with a fixed mutual spacing between them less than that of the two-substrate engagement artifacts.

11. A hanging aid according to any one of Claims I to 10, wherein the elongate bar is substantially linear.

12. A hanging aid according to anyone of Claims Ito 10, wherein the elongate bar hasa bowed profile. * *I. * * **..

:*: 20

13. A hanging aid according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the distance between the two mutually spaced substrate engagement artifacts is marginally greater than the spacing between the apertures in the substrate, and resilient means *: : are provided to effect a resilient reduction of said distance for enabling inter-engagement between substrate engagement artifacts and the substrate apertures.

14. A hanging aid according to any preceding Claim wherein the elongate stabiliser bar incorporates resilient means permitting said first fixed distance to be altered marginally to facilitate inter-engagement of said substrate engagement artifacts and the said mutually spaced apertures of a substrate.

15. A hanging aid according to Claim 14, wherein the elongate stabilizer bar comprises an inherently resilient rod such that a bowing deformation thereof will permit said distance reduction.

AUGh25.UK /o2/o.,9 -17 -

16. A hanging aid according to Claim 14, wherein the elongate stabilizer bar comprises a compression spring mechanism to permit said distance reduction.

17. A hanging arrangement of the kind defined wherein the substrate is a flexible structure, said arrangement being characterised by the provision of a hanging aid according to any one of the preceding Claims.

18. A hanging arrangement of the kind defined comprising a said hanging aid and a said substrate, wherein the substrate has a fixed first distance between its said apertures, the hanging aid comprises an elongate, stabiliser bar with a modulus of elasticity permitting it to be manually bowed, one or more bar-associated suspension artifacts for use in supporting the bar, and two substrate engagement artifacts mutually spaced longitudinally of the unstressed stabiliser bar by a fixed second distance that is marginally greater than the said fixed first distance between the substrate's said apertures, the stabilizer bar being arcuately bendable manually to permit engagement of said engagement artifacts into said substrate apertures and, upon release, to engage resiliently the substrate bounding said apertures without tearing the apertures.

S

19. A hanging arrangement according to Claim 18, wherein the substrate engagement artifacts are of hook-like form to engage with the apertures in the *..S..

* substrate.

20. A hanging arrangement according to Claim 18 or Claim 19, wherein the stabiliser bar comprises a pair of mutually spaced bar suspension artifacts, provided as integral parts of the bar.

21. A hanging arrangement according to any one of Claims 18 to 20, wherein the two substrate engagement artifacts are provided as integral parts of the bar.

AUG/i5.UK 02/02/2009 -18 -

22. A hanging arrangement according to any one of Claims 18 to 21, wherein the stabiliser bar is of metal or plastics material.

23. A hanging arrangement according to any one of Claims 18 to 22, wherein the stabiliser bar comprises a substantially rigid rod.

24. A hanging arrangement according to any one of Claims 18 to 23, wherein, in the vicinity of said apertures, the substrate has a determinable shear strength or resistance to tearing by the substrate engagement artifacts of the stabilizer bar, and the resilient force of the substrate engagement artifacts upon the apertures when the stabilizer bar is released is no greater than 85%, preferably no greater than 75%, of said shear strength or resistance to tearing. **1*

25. A hanging arrangement according to Claim 24 wherein the substrate engagement artifacts engage fittingly into the apertures in the substrate. S. S * S *

:.

26. A hanging arrangement according to any one of Claims 18 to 25, wherein the substrate engagement artifacts are of circular cross-section and engage apertures S...

* : of circular cross-section in the substrate.

27. A hanging arrangement of the kind defined and substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in one or more of the accompanying drawings.

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