WO1992002919A1

WO1992002919A1 - Display apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1992002919A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isabel Greta O'dell
Original assignee: Locke, Christina, Joyce
Priority date: 1990-08-02
Filing date: 1991-08-01
Publication date: 1992-02-20

Abstract

A display device for award ribbons comprising a pair of parallel support members (20) spaced so as to accommodate stretched between them and normal thereto the centre portion of each of a plurality of award ribbons (23), and means (26) fixing the ribbons relative to the support members.

Description

DISPLAY APPARATUS

This invention relates to display devices for award ribbons, of the kind issued to prizewinners in competitive activities including animal shows and equestrian competition.

In one broad form the invention resides in a display device for award ribbons of the kind comprising a centre portion carrying award indicia and end portions, the device comprising a pair of parallel support members spaced so as to accommodate stretched between them and normal thereto said centre portion of each of a plurality of parallel award ribbons, and means fixing said ribbons relative to the support members.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in

Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a clip suitable for use in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative fastening system; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a further alternative fastening^"system; Fig. 7 illustrates a further alternative fastening system; and Fig. 8 illustrates a further alternative fastening system.

The display device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a pair of upright members 20 which may be of tubular metal, and a pair of horizontal members 21 which may be of wood. The members 20 are fixed to the members 21 by means of threaded rods 22 which pass through the ends of the members 21 and are screwed into the ends of the members 20 which are tapped for that purpose.

Awards ribbons 23, of which for simplicity only one is shown, are placed in the device by being stretched across between the members 20, with the central portion of the ribbon bearing the award information (shown in Fig. 1 by the hatched area 24) extending between the members 20, the spacing of which, set by the length of the members 21, is chosen so that the area 24 will be displayed. The end portions 25 of the ribbons pass around the members 20 and are fastened thereto by means of clips 26.

As shown in Fig. 3, the clips 26 comprise a portion

27 which is shaped to conform to the cross-section of the members 20 (in this case circular), and a portion

28 which, when the clip is in place on the member 20, extends behind the ribbon and towards the opposite side of the device, encouraging the end portion of the ribbon to fall neatly behind the device.

It will be appreciated that the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 can easily be assembled by the purchaser, and can therefore be sold and transported in disassembled condition.

Any suitable means may be provided for mounting the device on a wall or suspending it in the manner of a picture frame.

Illustrated in Fig.4 is an alternative approach to the fixing of the ribbons on a device otherwise similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. A length of elastic material 29 is provided at each end with a fastener 30, in this case provided with a pair of angled teeth 31 capable of penetrating the ribbon and gripping its end. As will be appreciated, the ribbon is held in place by the tension applied to it by the elastic 29, when the fasteners are attached to the ribbon ends after these have been passed around the members 20. If desired, a length of adhesive foam may be applied to the members 20 to inhibit vertical movement of the ribbons.

It is not necessary that the fastener 30 be attached to the ribbon ends, but instead these may be attached at a point along the length of the end portion 25, chosen to apply the correct tension to the ribbon.

Another approach to the fixing of ribbons is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Here the tubular members 20 of Fig. 1 are substituted by members 32 of rectangular cross- section and which are provided with parallel slots 33 and 34, through which the ribbon 23 may be passed as shown in Fig. 6.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the members 20 are mounted for rotation in the members 21. The ribbon 23 is attached by winding it on the members 20 with the aid of knobs 35.

In the last embodiment to be described here, shown in Fig. 8, the ribbon 23 is attached to the member 20 by means of a fastening member 36 which engages within a groove 37 in the member 20. The width of the member 36 is slightly less than that of the groove 37, so that the ribbon 23 can be pressed into the groove and locked therein as the member 36 is pressed home.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 8 may be used in substitution for the fixing techniques described above, or in conjunction with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, where the fastening member 36 and the groove 27 can be used to achieve initial fastening of the ribbon with the member 20 before its rotation.

Other approaches to the mounting of ribbons within the scope of the claims which follow, will occur to the skilled reader, and the above embodiments of the invention are given by way of example only.

Claims

C AIMS : -

1. A display device for award ribbons of the kind comprising a centre portion carrying award indicia and end portions, the device comprising a pair of parallel support members spaced so as to accommodate stretched between them and normal thereto said centre portion of each of a plurality of parallel award ribbons, and means fixing said ribbons relative to the support members.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises a clip engaging a ribbon against a support member, said clip comprising a first portion engaging said ribbon and partially surrounding said support member, and a portion extending behind the support member and towards the other support member so as to guide the adjacent ribbon end portion to fall behind said centre portion.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said first portion is shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the support members, and said second portion extends linearly from said first portion.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the support members are substantially cylindrical in cross-section, said first portion of each clip being substantially circular.

5. A device according to any preceding claim further comprising a pair of frame members extending between said support members, said frame members maintaining said support members in their spaced relationship.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises a length of elastic material, fastening means at each end of said length for attachment to the respective end portions of a ribbon such that said material is in tension when said ribbon is in place on said device with the end portions of the ribbon passing around said support members to lie behind the centre portion of the ribbon.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises a pair of slots in each of said support members.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises the mounting of said support members for rotation about their own axes.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises a groove in said support members, and a fastening member dimensioned to fit firmly within said groove when a ribbon lies between said fastening member and the walls of said groove.

10. An award ribbon display device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 4, Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.