GB2490474A

GB2490474A - Display plinth or display pedestal for displaying posters.

Info

Publication number: GB2490474A
Application number: GB201102204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chris Coker
Original assignee: COKER EXHIBITION SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: COKER EXHIBITION SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-09
Filing date: 2011-02-09
Publication date: 2012-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-09
Also published as: GB201102204D0; GB2490474B

Abstract

A display system, generally in the form of a display plinth, pedestal, counter or table, for supporting and displaying posters comprises a top T supported by legs 2a-2d and a first band B1 formed by an elongate flexible former encircling an upper part of the legs. A second band B2 may be formed on a base part. A poster P is mounted to the bands, preferably by means of cooperating hook and loop fastener provided on the bands and poster respectively. The bands may be continuous or intermittent and are preferably formed of steel or aluminium wire strip encased in a plastic or elastomer such that they can be flexed into any required configuration and then maintain that configuration. The first band B1 is preferably installed on the underside of the top T and the second band on the upper surface of a base panel, such that define a lip or flange onto which the poster is mounted.

Description

Display System

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a poster support and display system and includes both a method and apparatus. In a particularly preferred aspect s the system is designed to suit use as a portable display system.

Background to the Invention

Display systems for support and display of posters come in a wide range of forms and configurations but in most cases they comprise assemblies of rigid elongate frame components often of steel and rigid backing panels and many of these assemblies are of complex construction, costly to make, awkward to install and relatively bulky. Even many of the systems for temporary exhibits share many of these negative attributes.

A few systems for support and display of posters are, however, designed to be more effectively collapsible and light-weight for portability and better suited for use in temporary exhibits for trade-fairs or other temporary display environments. These include apparatus such as disclosed in GB 2363992A and US 5778581. In the former case the system has a special framework of slim struts and resilient bowed clamping stays to which a display surface is detachably mounted. In the latter case the system has an inflatable envelope to which display surfaces are detachably mounted.

It is a general objective of the present invention to provide a more economical system for support and display of posters than hitherto available. In one aspect it is an objective to provide a portable display system for posters that is extremely economical, having few dedicated component parts and which is quick and easy to install, greatly facilitating set up of temporary exhibits for trade-fairs or use in other awkward display environments, such as where space is at a premium.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a display system for support and display of posters and which comprises a one or more elongate flexible formers that is! are in use bended to form a first band encircling around an upper part of a table upright support! leg(s) or column(s) of a desk! table, plinth or other furniture item as a frame-work around which a poster or series of posters is mounted attached to the band encircling!enwrapping the upright support! leg(s) or column(s). The first band defines a lip! flange to which the poster attaches.

Preferably the system further comprises at least a second band of flexible former(s) that encircles around a lower part of said table upright support! leg(s) or column(s). Suitably the second band is at the foot of the table upright support! leg(s) or column(s).

The bands detachably mount the poster and support the poster upright and hold the poster in a chosen configuration. Preferably the or each band has a fastener means to releasably engage complementary fastener means on the rear of a poster. In one embodiment such means may comprise a VELCRO ® tab on the band and corresponding tab on the rear of the poster. Preferably the fastener means on the band extends continuously or intermittently around the full length (circumference) of the band. Similarly it is preferred that the band extends continuously or intermittently around the full area (circumference) of the base of the furniture.

For a small three or four-legged table the poster may adopt an upright substantially circular cylindrical configuration encircling!enwrapping the set of legs of the table. The present invention avoids need for a dedicated supportive frame-work or inflatable construction. It also avoids the need for complicated engineering of special shapes in solid materials. It achieves its objective by using a wrap-around approach fitting around an item of furniture and the installer may even himself conform the bands to the contour of a particular item of furniture for optimal fit.

The flexible formers may, for example, be of steel or aluminium wire strip encased in plastics polymer or an elastomer. They are able to be flexed to adopt a chosen configuration and then substantially stay in that configuration. They suitably readily adopt an arcuate form and especially a circular band form when bended around an upright or a set of uprights. In some embodiments of the invention the flexible formers may, however, be more sharply bended to conform more closely to a rectangular or polygonal form rather than a rounded (oval, circular or the like form. The shape defined by the band(s) in use suitably reflects! mimics the shape of the table top! plinth top! work surface of the furniture item or otherwise follows the contour of the table top or the overall area shape of the leg or set of legs.

In one preferred embodiment the first band may be pre-installed to the underside of a table or plinth. It suitably is be adhered to the underside of the table or plinth. The second band may be installed onto a rigid platform sheet, eg a flat plate or disc, which mounts under the table and with the band arranged to closely embrace the legs of the table. On curving the former(s) to the required band shape an adhesive tape may be used to secure it in that shape.

The item of furniture on which the bands are mounted is suitably a portable item of furniture such as a portable table or plinth and having a horizontal surface for displaying articles and can thus serve for displaying articles and posters. In preferred embodiments the portable item of furniture is compact and light enough to be carried by one man.

Furthermore, by the term poster we include sheets bearing graphic information whether as text, images or a combination and whether of paper! card or textile or of plastics or other suitable material or combination, eg laminate, of materials. In many cases this will be a laminate comprising a printed card or paper sheet that is then encased in a plastics sheath. In some embodiments, however, it may be a canvas or sheet of cloth printed! marked with graphics.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a display system for support and display of posters and which comprises providing one or more elongate flexible formers and bending to encircle or enwrap an upright support! leg, column or set of legs of a desk! table, piinth or other furniture item as a band defining a lip! flange to which a poster may be detachably mounted. The method suitably further entails fixing a first said band to the underside of the table! plinth or other upper end horizontal support surface of the furniture item to provide an attachment region for the top of the poster. The method suitably further entails providing a second said band and bending to encircle or enwrap a lower end of the upright support! leg, column or set of legs as a band defining a lower lip! flange to which a poster may be detachably mounted to provide an attachment region for the lower end of the poster.

The method suitably further comprises the step of then mounting a poster or series of posters by attachment to the band. The bands detachably mount the poster and support the poster upright and hold the poster in the chosen configuration around the item of furniture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled system; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the system showing a final stage of assembly of the poster to the table by progressively attaching the top and bottom of the poster to the upper and lower mounting bands; Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the system showing the lower part of the table legs encircled by the lower mounting band; and Figure 4 is a close-up of the detail of the lower part of the table legs showing the lower mounting band as fitted to curve closely encircling around the set of table legs.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, the illustrated system comprises a small free- standing one-man portable four-legged circular table I around the legs 2a-d of which a poster P is wrapped as an upright circular cylinder and held in place top and bottom by the upper and lower mounting bands Bi, B2 to which the top and bottom of the poster P are attached respectively.

The upper mounting band Bi is bent! curved into the required circular shape to closely encircle the upper end of the legs 2a-d of the table 1 and is bonded to the underside of the table top T by a strong adhesive.

Conversely the lower mounting band B2 is bent! curved to closely encircle the lower end of the legs 2a-d of the table 1. It may be fastened in shape by bonding!fastening it end-to-end or it may be fixed by nails or other fixtures or bonded to a lightweight portable circular disk board D of chipboard or MDF placed beneath the table legs 2a-d.

Each of the upper and lower mounting bands BI, B2 defines a flange or lip that has a respective VELCRO ® tab VI and which engages with a corresponding complementary! mating upper or lower VELCRO ® tab V2 on the rear of the poster P. Each tab VI on the band BI, B2 extends continuously or intermittently around the full length (circumference) of the band BI, B2. Each of the mounting bands BI, B2 comprises an elongate flexible former F, suitably of rectangular profile or otherwise providing an upstanding wall surface to define the lip bearing the VELCRO ® tab VI. It may, for example, be of steel or aluminium wire strip encased in plastics polymer or an elastomer. It is able to be flexed to adopt the chosen configuration and here has an arcuate!circular band form when bended to encircle the legs 2a-2d. The shape defined by the bands Bl, B2 in use conforms to the contour of the table top.

Claims

Claims 1. A display system for support and display of posters and which comprises a one or more elongate flexible formers that is! are in use bended to form a first band encircling!enwrapping around an upper part of an upright support! leg, column or set of legs of a desk! table, plinth or other furniture item as a frame-work around which a poster or series of posters is mounted attached to the band encircling!enwrapping the upright support! leg, column or set of legs.
2. A display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least a second band of flexible former that encircles!enwraps around a lower part of said upright support! leg, column or set of legs.
3. A display system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second band is at the foot of the upright support! leg, column or set of legs.
4. A display system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the band(s) detachably mount the poster and support the poster upright and hold the poster in a chosen configuration.
5. A display system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the, or each, band has a fastener means to releasably engage complementary fastener means on the rear of a poster.
6. A display system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fastener means comprise a hook or loop (eg VELCRO ® ) tab on the band and corresponding complementary tab on the rear of the poster.
7. A display system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the fastener means on the band extends continuously or intermittently around the full length (circumference) of the band.
8. A display system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the band extends continuously or intermittently around the full area (circumference) of the base (eg bottom of the leg (s) )of the furniture item.
9. A display system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the, or each, flexible former is of steel or aluminium wire or strip encased in plastics polymer or an elastomer.
10. A display system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the, or each, flexible former is able to be flexed to adopt a chosen configuration and then substantially stay in that configuration.
11. A display system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the, or each, flexible former is able to be flexed to readily adopt an arcuate form to follow the contour of a rounded table or plinth.
12. A display system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first band is installed to the underside of a table or plinth.
13. A display system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second band is installed onto a rigid platform sheet, eg a flat plate or disc, which mounts below the item of furniture.
14. A display system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A method of forming a display system for support and display of posters and which comprises providing one or more elongate flexible formers and bending to encircle or enwrap an upright support! leg, column or set of legs of a desk! table, plinth or other furniture item as a band defining a lip! flange to which a poster may be detachably mounted.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises fixing a first said band to the underside of the table! plinth or other upper end horizontal support surface of the furniture item to provide an attachment region for the top of the poster.
17. A method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the method further comprises providing a second said band and bending to encircle or enwrap a lower end of the upright support! leg, column or set of legs as aSband defining a lower lip! flange to which a poster may be detachably mounted to provide an attachment region for the lower end of the poster.
18. A method as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein method further comprises the step of then mounting a poster or series of posters by attachment to the band.