WO2000070589A1

WO2000070589A1 - Large-picture frame and a method for arranging a picture sheet in such a frame

Info

Publication number: WO2000070589A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/000985
Authority: WO
Inventors: Håkan Pär-Ola BRUHN; Gösta Ronnie Conrad NILSSON
Original assignee: Front Frame Ab
Priority date: 1999-05-18
Filing date: 2000-05-18
Publication date: 2000-11-23
Also published as: SE9901795L; SE9901795D0; SE514095C2; AU4967900A

Abstract

A device for supporting a large-picture sheet (9) comprises a first frame (1) and a large-picture sheet supporting means (2, 3, 11), which is displaceable in relation to the frame (1) along the rails (1a, 1b) of said frame. The large-picture sheet supporting means comprises a second frame (2) which is displaceable along the first frame, a large-picture sheet extending means (3) which is supported by the second frame and which is displaceable along the second frame, and an abutment means (11) which is fixedly arranged on the second frame and which in cooperation with the large-picture sheet extending means extends a large-picture sheet. A large-picture sheet is arranged in said device by securing one edge (5) of the large-picture sheet to the large-picture sheet extending means. Then the large-picture sheet extending means is displaced in relation to the second frame until the other edge (6) of the large-picture sheet engages the abutment means, and finally the second frame and the extended large-picture sheet are displaced in relation to the first frame until the large-picture sheet is placed in the correct position.

Description

LARGE-PICTURE FRAME AND A METHOD FOR ARRANGING A PICTURE SHEET IN SUCH A FRAME

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for supporting a large-picture sheet of the type stated in the preamble to claim 1. The invention also relates to a method of arranging a large-picture sheet in said device. Technical Background

Today, outdoor advertising in the form of large pictures (larger than about 5 ²) is common. These large pictures are usually made of strips, which are pasted to large boards placed at strategic places in the cities. The method is comparable to putting wallpaper onto a wall. The work is time-consuming and involves uncomfortable working positions and more often than not it is necessary to climb ladders or simple scaffolding structures relatively high up in order to reach the place where the advertising picture is to be placed. For the advertising to be reasonably economical, the advertising pictures must in most cases be produced in many copies.

In some cases, the advertising picture is intended to be more or less permanent. In these cases, so-called prism signs may be used, which are composed of a number of uniformly prismatic, (often trilateral) elongated, rotating elements which are juxtaposed, their axes of rotation being mutually parallel. Each element supports a part of the picture which is to be shown, and since the elements rotate the sign shows the various pictures at a desired time interval.

It has recently become more and more common to produce large pictures which are pressed or printed on plas- tic sheet or sheets made of other materials. They can be made in a small number of copies while still being reasonably economical. The picture sheets are then extended temporarily (like a tarpaulin) on walls, fences, between posts or on some other fixed object by means of ropes. There are also simpler extending frames, in which the large-picture sheet is extended by means of a rope and winch system. When extending a large-picture sheet in such a frame, a number of ropes, which run over one or more rollers at the upper cross bar of the frame, are secured in a number of holes or loops in the upper edge of the large-picture sheet. By means of a manually driven winch, these ropes are wound up and the large-picture sheet is hauled to the correct position in the frame. The lower edge of the large-picture sheet is also secured. Since many ropes are required and the lower edge of the frame is often situated relatively high up, it is a time- consuming and risky operation to put up or take down a large-picture sheet from the frame.

Lately, the interest in such large-picture sheets has increased very much. There is, however, not yet any satisfactory method of positioning these sheets. As concerns relatively small posters, there are various solutions to the extending of ready-made pictures. For instance, DE-U1-297 09 280 discloses a sign for posters in which the poster is placed behind glass in a frame. In order to facilitate the mounting, the upper edge of the poster is adapted to be secured to a poster holder which is displaceable in the vertical direction. When changing posters, the poster holder is pulled down manually to a suitable working height, the posters are changed and the poster holder is returned to its position. Finally, the sign is closed by means of the plexiglass, which protects the poster against weather effects and prevents the poster from moving due to the action of the wind. This solution only functions in connection with relatively small advertising posters, where the person who changes posters can reach the upper edge of the poster and the poster can be handled and extended by one person. Thus, this solution does not work in connection with a large-picture sheet of a larger size. Summary of the Invention

One object of the invention is to obviate the above- mentioned problems associated with the mounting of large- picture sheets.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the device, which is stated by way of introduction, being provided with the features stated in appended claim 1, and by a method comprising the steps stated in claim 9. Preferred embodiments are stated in the dependent claims .

The device for supporting a large-picture sheet comprises a first frame provided with two elongated, paral- lei rails and a large-picture sheet supporting means, which is displaceable in relation to the frame along the rails of the frame. The large-picture sheet supporting means comprises a second frame which is provided with at least two elongated, parallel rails and which is dis- placeable along the rails of the first frame, a large- picture sheet extending means which is supported by the second frame and which is displaceable along the rails of the second frame, and an abutment means which is fixedly arranged on the second frame and which, in cooperation with the large-picture sheet extending means, is adapted to extend a large-picture sheet, the second frame, the large-picture sheet extending means and the abutment means being adapted to be displaceable in relation to the first frame, with a large-picture sheet extended between the large-picture sheet extending means and the abutment means .

By this construction involving a number of elements which are displaceable relative to one other, a device is provided which makes it possible to change large-picture sheets in a suitable working position on the ground, at the same time as the large-picture sheet can be placed high up in its showing position. Above all, this con- struction is suitable to use in connection with large, heavy large-picture sheets where it is important to have a correct working position and which in most cases are intended to be placed very high up in order to be seen at a relatively long distance.

Since the large-picture sheet can be extended between the large-picture sheet extending means and the abutment means even at a low height, before it is pushed up to the showing position, the device is not as sensi- tive to wind as if a slack large-picture sheet were hauled and subsequently extended. The wind is more likely to get hold of a slack large-picture sheet, resulting in a risk of great impact on the large-picture sheet and the extending device as the large-picture sheet is spread out like a sail.

Advantageously, the displaceable large-picture sheet extending means comprises an elongated cross bar, which extends between the rails of the second frame and which is substantially perpendicular to said rails. By this construction, a relatively uniform distribution of forces may be achieved between the large-picture sheet and the large-picture sheet extending means, which reduces the risk of tearing apart of the large-picture sheet.

Preferably, the large-picture sheet extending means comprises a slotted pipe section which is adapted to accommodate an elongated cross bar arranged on the large- picture sheet. This makes the distribution of forces acting on the large-picture sheet completely uniform, which considerably reduces the risk of tearing apart of the large-picture sheet.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second frame supports the large-picture sheet extending means so that the second frame and the large-picture sheet extending means are displaceable in the same direction of motion in relation to the first frame. This makes it possible to obtain a great distance between the mounting position and the showing position while still maintaining a relatively compact construction.

Advantageously, the second frame supports the large- picture sheet extending means so that the large-picture sheet extending means is displaceable in a vertical direction of motion, the extending means and the abutment means stretching the large-picture sheet between them and imparting vertically directed tensile stress to the large-picture sheet in its extended state. As a result, the tensile stress in combination with gravity ensures that uhe large-picture sheet will be extended straight and neat, without any folds or wrinkles.

Preferably, the second frame is adapted to be displaced by means of a first transmission, and the large- picture sheet extending means is adapted to be displaced by means of a second transmission, the first and the second transmission being separated from each other and operable individually. As a result, the forces that extend and move the large-picture sheet are separated from each other, which reduces the risk of damaging the large- picture sheet when displacing the large-picture sheet to its showing position, which could otherwise be the case if some movable part jams or gets stuck.

To facilitate the operation, the second frame is advantageously driven by a transmission which is operable in the lower portion of the first frame.

To facilitate the operation, the large-picture sheet extending means is advantageously driven by a transmission which is operable in the lower portion of the second frame.

The method of arranging a large-picture sheet in a device for supporting a large-picture sheet comprises the steps of securing the front edge of the large-picture sheet, which is the front edge in the intended direction of motion when extending the large-picture sheet, to the large^'-picture sheet extending means, displacing the large-picture sheet extending means in relation to the second frame until the rear edge of the large-picture sheet, which is the rear edge in the intended direction of motion when extending the large-picture sheet, engages the abutment means, and displacing the second frame and the extended large-picture sheet in relation to the first frame until the large-picture sheet is placed in the correct position.

By mounting a large-picture sheet according to this method, it is considerably easier to change large-picture sheets, unsuitable and risky working positions are a- voided, there is no need for climbing ladders and ropes or other fixing means are not required. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which for the purpose of exemplification show a currently preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the inventive device and a large- picture sheet. Fig. 2 shows the inventive device when the sheet is mounted in the showing position.

Fig. 3 shows the device when the large-picture sheet is in an extended and lowered position.

Fig. 4 shows the device when the large-picture sheet extending means is near its lowermost position. Description of a Preferred Embodiment

As appears from Fig. 1, the large-picture frame comprises a first frame 1 having two vertical, elongated, parallel rails la, lb, along which a large-picture sup- porting second frame 2 is displaceable. The second frame

2 is adapted to support and extend a large-picture sheet 9, which may be made of plastic sheet, plastic fabric or some other material, on which it is possible to print information and which is sufficiently strong. The second frame 2 has two vertical, elongated, parallel rails 2a, 2b, along which a large-picture extending cross bar 3 is displaceable. The cross bar 3 is perpendicular to the rails 2a, 2b and supports a pipe section 4 in which a longitudinal slot 10 is made. The pipe section 4 has at least one open end and is adapted to accommodate an elongated, upper bar 5, which is se- cured to the upper end of the large-picture sheet 9. The bar 5 has such a dimension as to be insertable into the pipe section 4 from the side through the open end, but it is not extractable from the pipe section 4 in the radial direction through the slot 10. At its lower edge, the large-picture sheet 9 has a second, lower bar 6 similar to the upper bar 5. The lower bar 6 is adapted to engage an abutment 11 at the lower part of the second frame 2. The lower bar 6 is somewhat longer than the width of the large-picture sheet 9 so as to project a short distance 12a, 12b on both sides of the large-picture sheet. The projecting portions 12a, 12b abut against the underside of the second frame 2 when the large-picture sheet 9 is extended in the showing position, which is shown in Fig. 2. As appears from Figs 2-4, the first frame 1 is suitably fixedly anchored to the wall of a house or the like. It may also be fixedly anchored to a large separate advertising pillar.

A large-picture sheet 9 is arranged in the large- picture frame by inserting, when the displaceable parts (the second frame 2 and the cross bar 3) are located in their lower position, the upper bar 5 of the rolled-up large-picture sheet 9 from the side into the pipe section 4. The cross bar 3 is displaced upwards and the large- picture sheet 9 is unrolled little by little, until the lower bar 6 of the large-picture sheet 9 contacts the abutment 11 of the second frame 2. It is possible to displace the cross bar 3 yet another short distance upwards if it is desirable to have a tensile stress in the large- picture sheet 9. When the large-picture sheet 9 has been extended in the second frame 2, the second frame 2 is displaced upwards along the rails la, lb of the first frame 1 to the showing position.

The driving of the second frame 2 relative to the first frame, and the driving of the cross bar 3 relative to the second frame 2, are separated and can be of an optional kind, e.g. chain drive or rope drive. The driving of the second frame 2 is accessible from the ground via a turning bar 13 which via a coupling 14 converts the moment applied to the turning bar 13 to a displacement of the second frame 2. The driving of the cross bar 3 is also performed via a turning bar 15 and a coupling 16. This turning bar 15 can be of a kind that is accessible only when the second frame 2 has been displaced downwards. To prevent unauthorised people from operating the large-picture frame, the turning bar 13 can be detachable or lockable. This reduces the risk that children get hurt or that anybody gets the opportunity to vandalise the large-picture sheet and the frame.

It will be appreciated that a number of modifica- tions of the above-described embodiment of the invention are possible within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

It is, for instance, possible in some applications to displace the large-picture sheet extending means and the second frame at the same time, which may somewhat reduce the time of mounting. The device risks, however, to get more sensitive to wind, since the large-picture sheet is not properly extended from the beginning.

Furthermore, the abutment means can engage the lower bar of the large-picture sheet since the abutment means is a pipe section provided with a slot, in which the bar runs in a manner corresponding to that in the upper edge of the large-picture sheet.

Claims

1. A device for supporting a large-picture sheet (9) , comprising a first frame (1) provided with two elongated, parallel rails (la, lb) , and a large-picture sheet supporting means (2, 3, 11), which is displaceable in relation to the frame (1) along the rails (la, lb) of the frame (1), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the large-picture sheet supporting means (2, 3, 11) comprises a second frame (2) which is provided with at least two elongated, parallel rails (2a, 2b) and which is dis- placeable along the rails (la, lb) of the first frame

(1⁾, a large-picture sheet extending means (3) which is supported by the second frame (2) and which is displaceable along the rails (2a, 2b) of the second frame (2) , and an abutment means (11) which is fixedly arranged on the second frame (2) and which, in cooperation with the large-picture sheet extending means (3), is adapted to extend a large-picture sheet (9), the second frame (2) , the large-picture sheet extending means (3) and the abutment means (11) being adapted to be displaceable in relation to the first frame (1) , with a large-picture sheet (9) extended between the large-picture sheet extending means (3) and the abutment means (11) .

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displaceable large-picture sheet extending means comprises an elongated cross bar (3), which extends between the rails (2a, 2b) of the second frame and which is substan- tially perpendicular to said rails.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the large-picture sheet extending means (3) comprises a slot- ted pipe section (4) which is adapted to accommodate an elongated cross bar (5) arranged on the large-picture sheet (9) .

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second frame (2) supports the large- picture sheet extending means (3) so that the second frame (2) and the large-picture sheet extending means (3) are displaceable m the same direction of motion m relation to the first frame (1) .

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second frame (2) supports the large- picture sheet extending means (3) so that the large- picture sheet extending means (3) is displaceable in a vertical direction of motion, the extending means (3) and the abutment means (11) stretching the large-picture sheet (9) between them and imparting vertically directed tensile stress to the large-picture sheet (9) m its extended state.

6. A device as claimed m any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second frame (2) is adapted to be displaced by means of a first transmission (13, 14), and the large-picture sheet extending means (3) is adapted to be displaced by means of a second transmission (15, 16), the first (13, 14) and the second (15, 16) transmission being separated from each other and operable individually.

7. A device as claimed m any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second frame (2) is driven by a transmission (13, 14) which is operable m the lower por- tion of the first frame (1) .

8. A device as claimed m any one of the preceding claims, wherein the large-picture sheet extending means (3) is driven by a transmission (15, 16) which is operable m the lower portion of the second frame (2) .

9. A method of arranging a large-picture sheet in a device for supporting a large-picture sheet as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: securing the front edge (5) of the large-picture sheet (9) , which is the front edge in the intended direction of motion when extending the large-picture sheet (9) , to the large-picture sheet extending means (3) , displacing the large-picture sheet extending means (3) in relation to the second frame (2) until the rear edge (6) of the large-picture sheet (9) , which is the rear edge in the intended direction of motion when extending the large-picture sheet (9) , engages the abutment means (11) , and displacing the second frame (2) and the extended large-picture sheet (9) in relation to the first frame (1) until the large-picture sheet (9) is placed in the correct position.