GB2499631A

GB2499631A - A portable collapsible sign having a housing for storage which also forms in part a frame for the sign

Info

Publication number: GB2499631A
Application number: GB1203148.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Suzanne Barry
Original assignee: LEPIDUS Ltd
Current assignee: LEPIDUS Ltd
Priority date: 2012-02-23
Filing date: 2012-02-23
Publication date: 2013-08-28
Also published as: WO2013124611A1; GB201203148D0

Abstract

A portable temporary sign comprises a deformable sheet material banner and a collapsible frame. The frame includes a pair of spaced apart support elements 13, 14 for the banner. The support elements comprise cooperating elongate half shells 13, 14 which together form a hollow container for storing the sign. The frame is formed with a lower half shell 14 having a socket 19 supporting a vertical pole 15 upon which a socket 21 of an upper half shell 13 is mounted. The sockets 19, 21 fit together when the half shells are formed into the container. The pole is preferably telescopic and may include biasing means to bias the half shells apart to tension the banner.

Description

1

A Collapsible Sign

Field

This invention relates to signs and in particular to signs which are formed from a frame which can be assembled and disassembled and which supports a deformable sheet banner.

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Background of Invention

Signs comprising a deformable banner which are supported on collapsible or demountable frames are known and such signs may typically be used where the sign is intended to be erected in a temporary location for example in an exhibition, lecture hall, or as a sales 10 device outside a commercial premises. The banner may be wound onto a horizontal roller held in a container as is shown in W02011045069, with the free end of roll being supported on a cross-member which is held in a location vertically spaced from the roller. In another example shown in CZ 12699 Ul, a deformable sheet material is held top and bottom on horizontal cross-members mounted to a vertical support, the cross members being 15 adjustable spaced on vertical support so at to tension the sheet.

GB2277340 discloses a collapsible sign in which the sheet material sign element extends horizontally between a pair of vertical limbs forming part of a demountable frame with the parts of the frame when disassembled, being stored inside a rigid hollow container forming 20 part of the support frame for the two limbs. A disadvantage of this sign is that spacing between the vertical supports is set by the container length.

Object of the present Invention

The present invention provides for a temporary sign comprising a deformable sheet material 25 banner mounted on a demountable frame and which seeks to overcome the above problems.

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Statements of Invention

According to the present Invention there is provided a temporary sign comprising a deformable sheet material banner and a demountable frame including a pair of spaced apart support elements for the banner characterised in that the support elements are cooperating 5 elongate half shells which when assembled together form a hollow container into which the disassembled frame and banner can be stored.

Preferably, one of said half shells forms a lower support element for the banner and the other form an upper support element and the two support elements are spaced apart by at least one 10 vertical pole. The vertical pole(s) may comprise a plurality of interconnecting lengths. The pole(s) may be adjustable in length and preferably at least one length of pole is telescopically mounted in another length of pole. The two support elements of the frame may be biased away from each other to hold the banner under tension around the frame so as to present substantially flat surfaces in each direction. Alternatively the banner is 15 tensioned around the support elements on fitting.

The lower half shell may be provided with apertures for the location of supports on which the sign is mounted, each support engaging with a respective aperture to secure the support in position. The support may be held in the aperture by any suitable means such as a screw 20 threaded engagement or a turn and lock means. The supports may comprise feet or wall brackets, or eye-rings in the event that the sign is suspended from overhead.

Sockets for receiving the end portions of the pole(s) may be provided on the insides of the respective half shells.

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The display banner may comprise a band of a readily deformable material extending around the two support elements of the frame and presenting two oppositely directed display surfaces. The banner is preferably formed from a mesh fabric material which allows air to pass through the material in windy conditions thereby reducing side loads on the sign. The 5 preferred material is polymeric fabric such as a PVC mesh material some times called banner material and preferably a 355 gms/m2 mesh material. The band of material may be formed from a strip of material having end fastened together to form the band, alternatively the ends of the banner may be releasably fastened to one of said support elements using any suitable means such as hooks and elastic cords.

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Description of the Drawings

The Invention will be described by way of Example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a sign according to the present invention

15 showing the disassembled sign stored within the two half shells,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the assembled frame,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the sign and banner in an assembled condition,

Fig. 4 is a view of a dismountable foot,

Fig. 5 is a view of a dismountable wall bracket,

20 Fig. 6 is a view of a dismountable eye ring and

Fig. 7 is a view of one half shell showing a packing arrangement.

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Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to Figs 1-3, there is shown a temporary sign comprising a deformable sheet material banner 11 mounted on a demountable frame 12 including a pair of spaced apart

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support elements 13 & 14 for the banner 11. The two support elements 13 & 14 for the banner are spaced apart by at least one vertical pole 15. The vertical pole 15 comprises a plurality of lengths, preferably three lengths 16,17 & 18. The lengths 16-18 are hollow and are preferably telescopic, one within the other. The smaller section length 16 being slidable 5 within the length 17 which is in turn is slidable within the length 18. The pole 15 may be formed from cylindrical tube as shown in Fig. 2 or square section tube as shown in Fig. 7 for the socket 19B.

The support elements 13 & 14 comprise co-operating elongate half shells which when 10 assembled together form a hollow container into which the disassembled frame and banner can be stored. The half shell 14, designated the lower half shell has an internal socket 19 which in use receives the larger section telescopic length 18. A similar socket 21 within the upper half shell 13 receives the smaller section telescopic length 16. The socket 21 is accommodated within the socket 19 when the two half shells are assembled together and 15 serves to locate the two halves relative to each other. The lengths 16-18 may be secured together by spring-loaded balls or buttons 23 as is well known. The two half shells 13 & 14 and the pole 15 support the banner 11. In another arrangement, not shown, the telescopic lengths may be adjustably interconnected by friction collars as is well known.

20 The two half shells 13 & 14 are provided with respective spaced apart apertures 24,25

passing through the respective apices of the half shells. The apertures 24,25 serve to locate and secure in place feet 26 as shown in Fig 4, wall brackets 27 as shown in Fig.5 or eye rings 28 as shown in Fig 6. The apertures 24,25 , in this example, are in the form of rectangular holes and the feet 26 etc. are provided with close fitting rectangular detents 31 which can 25 pass through the holes 24,25 and are then turned through 90° of arc to lock the respective

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foot in location. Raised bosses (not shown) may be formed on the inside of the shell to lock the detents in position. Each foot 26, bracket 27 and Eye-ring 28 is provided with an abutment 32 having a resilient rubber cushion 33 thereon. In use, the cushion 33 presses against the outside of the respective half shell to lock the detent 31 against the inside of the 5 half shell.

The feet 26 allow the sign to be free standing on a supporting surface. The wall brackets provide for attachment to a supporting wall and the eye rings allow for suspension from a ceiling or other support.

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The display banner 11 may comprise a band of a readily deformable material extending around the two support elements 13 & 14 of the frame and presenting two oppositely directed display surfaces . The banner is preferably formed from a mesh fabric material which allows air to pass through the material in windy conditions thereby reducing side loads 15 on the sign. The preferred material is polymeric fabric such as a PVC mesh material some times called banner material and preferably a 355 gms/m2 mesh material. The band of material may be formed from a strip of material having ends fastened together perhaps by the use of a hook & loop fastener such as Velcro ™ to form the band. Alternatively the ends of the banner may be releasably fastened to the lower support element 14 using elastic 20 cord threaded through eyelets at one end of the band engaging hooks on the other end the band. The band may be pulled taut by the elastic cord.

In an alternative arrangement the lengths 16-18 of the pole may be of the same size and be interconnected by telescopic end portions. In another arrangement the section 16-18 of pole 25 may be biased apart by internal spring means to tension the banner .

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When not in use, the banner 11 is removed from the frame 12. The frame 12 is disassembled by removal of the feet or brackets or eye rings, which ever is being utilised, and dismounting the support elements 13 & 14 from the pole 15. The pole 15 is collapsed or dismantled. The lower support element 14 becomes a half shell of a storage container. The collapse pole 15 5 may be located in clips 35 within the half shell 14 and the feet 26 in clips 36. The folded/rolled banner 11 is placed in the hollow half shell 14 together with any eye rings 28 and brackets 27 and the upper half shell 13 is secured on the lower half shell 13 together forming a hollow container into which the disassembled frame and banner are stored.

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Claims

Claims

1. A temporary sign comprising a deformable sheet material banner and a demountable frame including a pair of spaced apart support elements for the banner characterised in that the support elements comprise cooperating elongate half shells which when assembled

5 together form a hollow container into which the disassembled frame and banner can be stored.

2. A sign as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one of said half shells forms a lower support element for the banner and the other form an upper support element and the two support

10 elements are spaced apart by at least one vertical pole.

3. A sign as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the vertical pole(s) comprise a plurality of interconnecting lengths.

15 4. A sign as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the pole(s) are adjustable in length .

5. A sign as claimed in Claim 3 Or Claim 4, wherein at least one length of pole is telescopically mounted in another length of pole.

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6. A sign as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the two support elements of the frame are biased away from the each other to hold the banner under tension around the frame so as to present substantially flat surfaces in each direction.

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7. A sign as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the lower half shell is provided with apertures for the location of supports on which the sign is mounted , each support engaging with a respective aperture to secure the support in position.

5 8. A sign as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the supports are held in the apertures by a turn and lock means.

9) A sign as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the turn and lock means is resiliently biased against the inner surface of the respective shell.

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10. A sign as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the supports comprise at least one of a pair of feet, wall brackets or eye rings.

11. A sign as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein sockets for receiving the end 15 portions of the pole (s) may be provided on the insides of the respective half shells.

12. A sign as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the banner comprises a band of a readily deformable material extending around two support elements of the frame and presenting two oppositely directed display surfaces .

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13. A sign as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the band of material is formed from a strip of material the ends of the banner may be releasably fastened to one of said support elements.