GB2464773A - Display pockets and/or self-standing display units - Google Patents

Abstract

A display pocket 1 comprises front and rear panels 2, 3, one or both being flexible; a space being provided between said front and rear panels for receiving a sheet or object for display; said pocket incorporating first attachment means 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36 at an upper portion of said panels which are releasable to allow a panel portion to be peeled away for access to said space; and second attachment means 39 for permanently securing said panels together at a lower portion of said pocket to prevent said sheet or object from escaping through a lower portion of said pocket; characterised in that a third attachment means 21, 22, 23, 24 is configured to hold lateral portions of said panels together as the panel portion is peeled away and is located in a position so that a peeled away portion of a panel is biased to return to its closed position. The first and third attachment means may incorporate magnetically attracted portions and further, the first attachment means may comprise magnets of different strengths.

Description

�SPLAY POKE3 AND/ORSELF-STANDING DISPLAY UNITS

Field of the invention

The invention relates to display pockets and/or self-standing display units incorporating such display pockets.

Background to the invention and prior art known to the applicant The closest prior art known to the Applicant is the Applicant's prior designs which are schematically shown Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

Before examining in detaiL these two prior art designs such display units are designed for advertising products or brands on the retail high street or in any other point of sale with the ability of displaying an interchangeable poster. An interchangeable poster is more versatile in terms of communication than the alternative permanently printed sign panel.

Interchangeable poster designs can be arranged for example to provide seasonal, weather, event, or tactical related promotions. Interchangeable poster designs allow businesses to change posters more frequently for example a morning promotion which differs from an afternoon promotion. A further example can be found in outside menus for cafés, pubs or restaurants. Furthermore, an interchangeable poster de5ign would allow the newspaper industry to change headlines display wherever a display is inserted in the sign to promote a particular edition of a paper. In this landscape any technical advance facilitating the ease of use of the poster pocket is significant. Any technical improvement to the ease and speed of entry into the display pocket, the ease and speed of poster removal and the ease and speed of fitting the next poster by a single person is particularly significant.

The first display pocket design manufactured by the Applicant is shown in Figure 1. This comprises a printed plastics pocket with a clear poster display area. The pocket has access and closure enabled by the use of magnetic tape components around the perimeter of the pocket assembly. It incorporates no metal mesh in front of the poster. Instead it incorporates a clear plastic panel which ensures good protection of the poster particularly in terms of the elements and roadside splashes.

The display pocket of Figure 1 obliges the person accessing posters to bend or kneel to effect a poster changeover. This has a further drawback of causing the person accessing the bottom opening pocket to be exposed to ground level dirt residues or dog urine.

Furthermore, the bottom opening pocket has a potential to release the poster if disturbed beyond its expected mode of performance when for example if the panel is kicked violently or if the panel is exposed to extreme high winds wherein the flapping of the panel and the strong horizontal airflow can cause the magnetic closure to release and allow the poster to escape.

In addition, the bottom opening display pocket requires increased care to ensure that the poster is contained above the magnetic edging along the bottom of the panel. This can only be done by securing the panel and poster near the top using the finger and thumb of one hand to ensure that the poster does not drop under gravity before the pocket closes at the bottom. A poster that i5 not quite contained and ends up sandwiched between the magnetic tape along the bottom edge isn't always noticeable but immediately has increased its risk of loss due to magnetism along the bottom edge of the panel being reduced which leads to the poster gradually sliding out under gravity as the sign panel swings.

Figure 2 shows a further design which addresses a number of the problems encountered in the prior art of Figure 1. It achieves an ergonomic access to the pocket whilst exposure to dirt and dog urine is at worst greatly reduced and at best totally eliminated. Due to its top opening the prior art embodiment of Figure 2 had problems of ingress of water during poster change in wet conditions. Once water 15 present on the inside of the pocket of Figure 2 it becomes difficult to slide the poster into place as it sticks to the surface. A further problem of the top opening pocket is that it has a tendency of hanging open if the panels are not correctly secured at the time of poster fitting.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a substantially self-closing dispLay pocket.

A further object of the invention is to improve the poster retention whilst dealing with the issues arising from water ingress. A further object of the invention is to provide a configuration which virtually eliminates any risk of misalignment of posters in the pocket.

Summary of the Invention

In its broadest independent aspect, the invention provides a display pocket comprising a front panel and a rear panel; a space being provided between said front and rear panel for receiving a sheet or object for display; said pocket incorporating a first attachment means at an upper portion of said panels which are releasable to allow a panel portion to be peeled away for access to said space; and second attachment means for permanently securing said panels together at a lower portion of said pocket to prevent said sheet or object from escaping through a lower portion of said pocket; characterised in that a third attachment means is configured to hold lateral portions of said panels together as the panel portion is peeled away; and said panel or said panels is or are selected to be of sufficient flexibility and said third attachment means is located in a position so that a peeled away portion of a panel is biased to tend to return to its closed position after having been peeled away.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it achieves a cleaner and ergonomic access to the pocket to facilitate the insertion, the removal and/or the adjustment of a sheet or object which is to be displayed. It avoids the drawback of the prior art of Figure 1 by avoiding access via the so-called dog-urine zone. Since it includes a secure lower portion the potential to lose posters as in the prior art example in Figure 1 is also avoided. It also avoids the pocket unduly °hanging open" if the panel is not correctly secured closed at the time of poster fitting. Therefore, even if the upper portion releasable attachment means opens due to weather conditions or a poster having been misplaced n the opening portion, the panels will tend to hold together. It also virtually eliminates any risk of rnisaligning posters or sheets. it also overcomes the prior art problems arising from water ingress.

a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect, said first attachment means incorporates magnetically attracted portions; a first pair of portions being of relatively low attraction per area whilst a second pair of portions are of a relatively high attraction area. This improves the closure strength of panels without affecting the ease of access. For example, the operator may simpLy overcome the relatively high attraction portions and then overcome the low attraction portions in sequence to access the space provided between the front and rear panels.

In a further subsidiary aspect, pairs of magnetically attracted portions are located in opposite upper corners only. This allows improved security of the closure whilst allowing straightforward access to facilitate the replacement of a di5play sheet.

In a further subsidiary aspect, magnetically attracted portions are formed as strips extending in a lateral portion of the panels from the upper portion to the lower portion of the pocket and ending in the lower portion in a position adjacent to the edge of said pocket This improves the closure of the panels at their Lower portions.

In a further subsidiary aspect, said pocket incorporates lower corners; said second attachment means extends over a middle lower portion of said pocket; whereby a lower corner of said pocket is openable by peeling away a panel portion; whereby said second attachment means and said third attachment means together with the flexibility of said panel are biased to tend to return said peeled away portion to its closed position after having been peeled away.

In a further broad independent aspect, the invention provides a self-standing display unit incorporating a display pocket according to any of the preceding aspects. The advantages of accessibility and closure highlighted in the previous aspects are further emphasised when said display pocket is part of a self-standing display unit. Furthermore, further advantages are brought to light when the display pocket is held to allow swinging motion relative to a self-standing display unit since despite the swinging motion the closure facility tends to maintain its self-closing characteristics.

Brief Description of theEigiir

Figures 1 and 2 ilLustrate the Applicants own prior art configurations which have been described in detail in the section entitled "Background to the Invention".

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a dispLay pocket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a display pocket of the preferred embodiment of the invention in an alternative mode of use.

Figures 5 show a plurality of views of the front and rear panels in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5A shows the rear panel in detail in a plan view.

Figure SB shows a front panel in detail.

Figure SC shows a plan view of the assembly of front and rear panels.

Figure 5D shows a magnified view of an upper corner of a rear panel.

Detailed Descniptiorrofi1gis 3 to 5 Figure 3 shows a display pocket 1 with a front paneL 2 and a rear panel 3. The rear panel incorporates two upper cut-outs 4 and 5 which facilitate the threading through of an attachment loop or the receipt of a hook. In use, the display pocket may be attached to a self-standing display unit of the kind shown in Figures 1 and 2. These display units allow the display pocket to swing about its frame in use. Front panel 2 incorporates upper indents 6 and 7 which provide a clearance to allow the front panel to be peeled away from the rear panel. Both the front and rear panel incorporate windows B and 9 to facilitate the viewing of a sheet or poster when located inside the pocket. Alternatively, only one of the panels may incorporate a window. ri addition, each panel incorporates a perimeter 10 and 11 which would generally not be see-through and may incorporate graphics. These perimeters act as a frame for the inserted poster or sheet.

At least one of the panels is of an inherently flexible material so that when the upper portion of the panel is peeled away from the other paneL it tends to return to its closed position. A plastics material is preferred to allow a parie[ to return to its closed position. In addition, as shown in Figure 3, securing means 12 and 13 are provided to allow the front panel to remain attached to the rear panel in use. In the upper portion of the panels it is envisaged that a number of magnets are provided to tend to retain the front panel against the rear panel. A further securing means 14 is provided at a lower portion of the display pocket to act as a barrier to retain posters within the pocket.

As shown in Figure 4, securing means 12 and 14 do not extend into the corner region 15 of the display pocket which allows the bottom corner of front panel 2 to be peeled back for is access to allow an adjustment of the poster or sheet from below, to allow cleaning of the lower portion and if necessary forced removal through the lower corner portion of the poster should it have crumpled down into a lower portion of the pocket.

Figure 5A shows a rear panel 16 in detail. The panel is of between 0.5mm and 2mm thick.

It is preferably of 0.75mm thick. The preferred plastics material is polycarbonate with a transparent window 17. A perimeter portion is shown by a hatched portion 18. Two lateral magnetic strips 19 and 20 extend from upper corners to lower corners adjacent to edges 21 and 22. These strips are configured to be magnetically attracted to corresponding strips 23 and 24 provided on the front paneL. The magnetic strips 19 and 20 are of a magnetic 1'A" type on a foam tape. The magnetic strips 23 and 24 are of a magnetic type "B" on a foam tape. Furthermore, strips 23 and 24 are UV coated.

In the upper portion of the rear panel, there are provided two further strips 25 and 26 which are configured to be magnetically attracted to strips 27 and 28 of the corresponding front panel. Strips 25 and 27 extend substantially across the entire upper portion so as to create a barrier for the ingress of water into the poster receiving space of the pocket.

Strips 26 and 28 extend across a middle and upper portion of the pocket between cut-outs 29 and 30. Corresponding indents 31 and 32 are provided in the front panel. Strips 25 and 26 are of magnetic type "A" and on a foam tape. Strips 27 and 28 are of magnetic type B" and on a foam tape. Strips 27 and 28 are ako UV coated. The lateral and upper magnetic strips substantially form an enclosure which acts as a barrier to water ingress.

The upper right and left corners of the display pocket incorporate a second kind of magnet portion5 33, 34, 35 and 36. The magnetic attraction between these portions is of greater strength than of the previously described strips. In order to achieve this, portions of neodymium magnets are employed.

In order to secure the rear and front panels together in a relatively non-releasable manner, silicone sealant strips 37, 38 and 39 are provided. Strips 37 and 38 are located within the panel's lateral edges on the outside of strips 19 and 20. Similarly, strip 39 is located adjacent to the lower edge of the panel and the outside of a spacer 40 against which in use the lower portion of a poster or sheet would rest. Strips 37 and 38 are located just above halfway up the panel. Strip 39 extends across the lower middle portion of the panel but covers a width of only a third of the panel's width. No permanent attachment means are provided in the lower corners of the pocket to allow the access described in Figure 4.

Furthermore, no permanent attachment is envisaged in the upper portion to allow the peeling away of the front panel as shown in Figure 3. The combination of the magnetic strips and portions in the upper portion form the releasable attachment means.

Figure 5C shows the closed assembly of front and rear panels. A poster of an A2 size is shown. The periphery of the panels is sized to overhang the edge of the poster to disguise it.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS1. A display pocket comprising a front panel and a rear panel; a space being provided between said front and rear panels for receiving a sheet or object for display; said pocket incorporating first attachment means at an upper portion of said panels which are releasable to allow a panel portion to be peeled away for access to said space; and 5econd attachment means for permanently securing said panels together at a lower portion of said pocket to prevent said sheet or object from escaping through a lower portion of said pocket; characterised in that a third attachment means is configured to hold lateral.portions of said panels together as the panel portion is peeled away; and said panel or said panels is or are seLected to be of sufficient flexibility and said third attachment means is located in a position so that a peeled away portion of a panel is biased to tend to return to its closed position after having been peeled away.
2. 2. A display pocket according to claim 1, wherein said first attachment means incorporate magnetically attracted portion5; a first pair of portions being of a relatively low attraction per area whilst a second pair of portions are of a relatively high attraction per area.
3. 3. A display pocket according to either of the preceding claims, wherein pairs of magnetically attracted portion5 are located in opposite upper corners only.
4. 4. A display pocket according to any of the preceding claims, wherein magnetically attracted portions are formed as strips extending in a lateral. portion of the panels from the upper portion to the lower portion of the pocket and ending in the lower portion in a position adjacent to the edge of said pocket.
5. S. A display pocket according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said pocket incorporates lower corner5; said second attachment means extends over a middle lower portion of said pocket; whereby a tower corner of said pocket is openable by peeling away a panel portion; whereby said second attachment means and said third attachment means together with the flexibility of said panel are biased to tend to return said peeled away portion to its closed position after having been peeled away.
6. 6. A disptay pocket substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.
7. 7. A self-standing display unit incorporating a display pocket according to any of the preceding claims.