WO2001080206A1

WO2001080206A1 - A stand with visual information

Info

Publication number: WO2001080206A1
Application number: PCT/DK2001/000272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Thostrup
Original assignee: Tech View A/S
Priority date: 2000-04-17
Filing date: 2001-04-17
Publication date: 2001-10-25
Also published as: AU2001250290A1

Abstract

A stand for visually informing an audience of for example a product or service offered at the place where the stand is located, for example a shop. The stand comprises at least one mainly horizontal rod (4a, b; 14a, b), at least one cloth (3; 13) of fabric or paper with visual information (22) on at least one side, means (5) for attaching the cloth (3; 13) on the rod (4a, b; 14a, b), a mainly vertical bar (1) for carrying the rod (4a, b; 14a, b) with the attached cloth (3; 13), a first clamp (7) for being clamped around the carrier bar (1), a second clamp (8) for being clamped around the rod (4a, b; 14a, b), and a connecting crossbar (9) between the first and the second clamp (7; 8). The connecting crossbar (9) has a first spacing from a seen in assembled state upper end on the first clamp (7), and a second spacing from the other end of the clamp. The first spacing is smaller than the second spacing. Thereby, the advantage with regard to strength is obtained in that the first clamp (7) can have a great length and thereby obtain a secure engagement with the carrier bar (1) at the same time as the aesthetic advantage is obtained in that the upper end of the carrier bar (1) avoids projecting up over the upper rod (4a; 14a) of the mounted cloth (3).

Description

A stand with visual information

The invention relates to a stand with visual information. The stand comprises at least one mainly horizontal rod, at least one cloth with visual information on at least one side, means for attaching the cloth on the rod, a mainly vertical bar for carrying the rod with the attached cloth, a first clamp for being clamped around the carrier bar, a second clamp for being clamped around the rod, and a connecting crossbar between the first and the second clamp.

Such stands are used for banners, flags, or posters of fabric or paper provided with a printed information in form of illustrations and/or text. The stands, which each is provided with a base, are set up in places that are visited by an audience who are desired informed of the activities taking place in that particular place. In many cases, the information will be in form of an advertisement for a company, a product, or a service.

The stand according to the invention is of the kind that has a fitting for being detachably mounted at the top of the carrier bar. The fitting is fitted on the middle of the rod, and the cloth which is hanging down from the rod is usually also provided with a lower rod attached to the carrier bar in the same way as the upper rod.

The fitting for a known stand consists of a C-shaped, seen in cross section, clamp for being clamped on the carrier bar at assembly and a U-shaped, seen in cross section, second clam for being clamped in the middle of the rod.

The two clamps are interconnected by a connecting crossbar extending from the centre of one of the clamps to the centre of the other clamp. The stand appeals to the aesthetic sense of the audience and therefore has to have a design that falls beautifully and naturally in with the surroundings.

However, it has turned out that the design is somewhat disfigured when the carrier bar projects up over the upper rod. The C-shaped first clamp therefore has to be placed as high up on the carrier bar as possible or in other words so high up that the upper end of the clamp will be flush with or near the upper end of the carrier bar. For the first clamp cannot be placed any higher if its engagement with the carrier bar still is to be strong enough to prevent the first clamp from being detached from the carrier bar.

As the connecting crossbar connects the first and the second clamp at their centre, the upper end of the carrier bar will still project more or less up over the upper rod if the first clamp is very much longer than the second clamp is wide.

In practice, this means that the first clamp has to be designed with a relatively short length resulting in the disadvantage that the strength of the engagement of the clamp with the carrier bar is reduced.

In some cases, the known stand may have two cloths hung on each their side of the carrier bar. The first cloth is then hung in the way described above whereas the upper rod of the second cloth is hung on the upper rod of the first cloth by means of two separate fittings fitted on each their side of the fitting that serves for hanging the first rod up on the carrier bar.

However, it is difficult to hang the upper rod of the second cloth in this way, and the assembly of the two rods is furthermore not very stable. The object of the invention is to provide a stand of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, that can be put up and taken down quickly and easily and that has a greater stability in assembled state than hitherto known. 5

The novel and unique features according to the invention, whereby this is achieved, is the fact that the connecting crossbar has a first spacing from a first end on the first clamp and a second spacing from the second end on the first L0 clamp, and that the first spacing is smaller than the second spacing.

When the first clamp is clamped on the carrier bar with its first end level with or nearly level with the upper end of the

L5 carrier bar, the stand can now be put up in such a way that the upper end of the carrier bar does not project up over or does not project considerably up over the upper rod of the cloth at the same time as the first clamp can be made with such a great length that it will be securely and stably fixed

20 on the carrier bar.

In the cases where the stand has a first and a second cloth hung on each their side of the carrier bar, there can, in an advantageous embodiment, be two ribs projecting out from each

25 their side of the first clamp, a third clamp having two ribs extending in from each their side of the third clamp and arranged to engage the projecting ribs of the first clamp at assembly, a fourth clamp for being clamped around the rod of the second cloth, and a connecting crossbar between the third 50 and the fourth clamp.

The first cloth is then mounted in the way described above, the first clamp being clamped at the top of the carrier bar and the second clamp connected with the first clamp being

35 clamped on the upper rod of the first cloth. Then, the second cloth is mounted quickly and easily, the fourth clamp being clamped on the upper rod of the second cloth and the third clamp being pushed down over the first clamp so that the ribs projecting in and out respectively of 5 the two clamps are engaging each other.

Alternatively, the last-mentioned operation can take place in a way where the third clamp is first pushed down over the first clamp so that the ribs projecting in and out LO respectively of the two clamps are engaging each other after which the upper rod of the second cloth is clamped in the fourth clamp.

The second cloth has now been securely and stably connected by .5 means of its upper rod with the carrier bar via the first clamp. In this position, the first and the third clamp are locking each other securely around the carrier bar by means of the mutual engagement .

!0 The mutual vertical position of the first and the second clamp can furthermore be fixed by means of a stop made on the end of the third clamp and extending in over the upper end of the carrier bar in the mounted position of the third clamp.

!5 Normally, a cloth will also have a lower rod which can be connected with the carrier bar in the same way as the upper rod. If the stand has a first and a second cloth, the second cloth is connected with the carrier bar in the same way as the upper rod of the second cloth.

0

The invention will be explained in greater detail below, describing further advantageous features according to the invention by means of only exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stand according to the invention,

fig. 2 is on a larger scale a fractional, perspective view of 5 an upper fitting for mounting on a carrier bar for the stand in fig. 1,

fig. 3 is a view of the fitting in fig. 3 now mounted with a hanging information cloth which is retained in the fitting by LO means of an upper rod,

fig. 4 is a fractional, perspective and exploded view of the fitting in fig. 2 and also of a second fitting for mounting of a second information cloth, L5 fig. 5 is a view of the fitting in fig. 4 but with the two fittings joined in mutual engagement around the carrier bar, and

.0 fig. 6 is a view of the fitting in fig. 4 but with a hanging information cloth mounted with each of the two fittings by means of an upper rod belonging to each of the two cloths.

The stand according to the invention serves to inform of for !5 example goods and services offered at the place where the stand is located, for example a shop.

The stand is composed of a few separate components which take up very little space in the packed state of the stand, in 10 which state the stand therefore is easy to store and inexpensive to dispatch.

The stand can be assembled quickly and easily. In assembled state, the stand forms a strong and stable structure. The mentioned components are a carrier bar 1 with a base 2, a cloth 3 of fabric or paper, an upper and a lower rod 4a, b which are connected with the cloth by means of e.g. VE CRO® 5, and an upper and a lower fitting 6a, b for detachably connecting the rods and thus the cloth with the carrier bar.

The rods which are extending horizontally out to each their side of the respective fitting are keeping the cloth stretched. In this case, the information is located on the side of the cloth facing in the opposite direction of the carrier bar and can therefore not be seen in fig. 1.

The base consists of two arc-shaped bars which form a cross in the position of use. The carrier bar and the base are joined by means of a screw connection (not shown) allowing the bars of the base to be turned in over each other. In this state, the base takes up very little space just as the rest of the components of the stand.

Base, carrier bar and rods can be made of any kind of appropriate material, for example extruded aluminium.

Fig. 2 shows the upper fitting 6a of the stand mounted at the top of the carrier bar 1. The fitting is made of an elastic material which for example can be a plastic material.

The fitting consists of a C-shaped first clamp 7 adapted to being clamped on the round carrier bar 1, a U-shaped second clamp 8 adapted to being clamped on the mainly rectangular upper rod 6a, and a connecting crossbar 9 connecting the backs of the two clamps.

The connecting crossbar can be rigid and connect the two clamps in a position in which they are perpendicular to each other. Alternatively, the connecting crossbar can be rotatable about an axis perpendicular on the two clamps. In the last- named case, the advantage is obtained in that the rods freely are allowed to be put in positions that exactly fit the configuration of the actual cloth.

5 The inside face of the C-shaped first clamp 7 has to - seen in cross section - extend over an arch angle which is greater than 180° in order for the clamp to be able to obtain a secure engagement with the carrier bar at all. The strength of the engagement can be increased by rising arch angle but on the LO other hand the extent of the arc angle is limited by the physical properties of the applied material, especially its elasticity. In practice, it has proven that an arch angle of between 185° and 190° fulfils the above requirements.

.5 The engagement between a given first clamp and the carrier bar is safest when the clamp on either side of the opening 10 of the C has a small inwardly directed rib 11 which, due to the elasticity of the clamp, is clamped in firm abutment against the carrier bar.

!0

The strength of the engagement between the first clamp and the carrier bar will furthermore increase with the length of the first clamp but at the same time the upper rod 6a and thus the cloth 3 have to be so high up on the carrier bar 1 for

:5 aesthetic reasons that the end of this carrier bar will not project up over the upper rod.

The last-named requirement is fulfilled, as shown in fig. 2, by the fact that the connecting crossbar 9 is located at 0 approximately the same distance from the upper end of the first clamp as half the width of the second clamp.

The first-named requirement is fulfilled by the fact that the lower end of the first clamp has a larger spacing from the 5 connecting crossbar 9 than the upper end. The size of the spacing between the connecting crossbar and the upper end of the first clamp can advantageously be between 10% and 95%, preferably between 30% and 70% and especially between 40% and 60% the size of the spacing between the connecting crossbar and the lower end of the first clamp.

In fig. 3, the upper rod is now clamped in the second clamp 8. Only a fraction of the rod and the cloth is shown in the figure. As can be seen, the rod consists, in this case, of a rectangular pipe which advantageously can be extruded of e.g. aluminium.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show a second embodiment of the stand according to the invention. In this case, the stand has two cloths, a first 3 and a second 13.

The first cloth 3 is mounted on the carrier bar 1 by means of the first fitting 6a in the way shown in figs. 1-3 whereas the second cloth 13 with an upper rod 14a is mounted by means of a second fitting 15.

The second fitting consists of a third clamp 16 and a fourth clamp 17 interconnected by a connecting crossbar (not shown) which can be designed in the same way as the connecting crossbar between the first and the second clamp 7 and 8.

The fourth clamp 17 is identical to the second clamp 8 and serves for mounting of the upper rod 14a of the second cloth 13.

The third clamp 16 is U-shaped. On either side of the opening 18 of the U, the clamp is designed with a inwardly directed rib 19. At the bottom of the U there is at the top - seen in the figure - a stop 20 extending a distance towards the opening 18 of the third clamp 16. An outwardly directed rib 21 is furthermore designed at either side of the opening 10 of the first clamp 7.

With their ribs, 19 and 21 respectively, the first clamp 7 and the third clamp 16 are designed in such a way that the third clamp 16 slidably can be pushed down over the first clamp 7 and thereby brought in secure engagement with this clamp.

The beginning of this operation is seen in fig. 4 in which the third clamp 16 is guided down towards the first clamp 7 in the direction of the arrow.

In fig. 5, the operation has been completed, the stop 20 of the third clamp 16 having hit the top of the carrier bar 1. In this final position, the first and the third clamp 7; 16 are locking each other in a secure engagement around the upper rods 4a; 14a which are carrying the cloths 3,-13.

In fig. 6 which only is a fractional view of the stand according to the invention, the stand is ready-assembled with the upper rods 4a; 14a clamped in the respective clamps, 6 and 17 respectively, and with the cloths 3 and 13 hanging down from the rods .

Some information 22 can be seen on the second cloth 13. The first cloth 3 is also provided with information which however cannot be seen in fig. 6 as this information is located on the side of the first cloth 3 that is facing in the opposite direction of the carrier bar 1.

Each cloth 3; 13 is provided with a lower rod 4b; 14b (not shown) for tightening up the respective cloth. The lower rods 4b; 14b are preferably attached on the carrier bar 1 in the same way as the upper rods 4a; 14a. The stand according to the invention can easily be made in sizes that are suited for the respective tasks.

As means of advertising, the stand is flexible as the cloth can be replaced quickly and easily by another cloth disclosing another message.

Several stands can furthermore be put up next to each other to increase the advertising area.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A stand with visual information and comprising: at least one mainly horizontal rod (4a, b; 14a, b) , at least one cloth (3; 13) with visual information (22) on at least one side, means (5) for attaching the cloth (3; 13) on the rod (4a,b;14a,b), a mainly vertical bar (1) for carrying the rod (4a,b;14a,b) with the attached cloth (3;13), a first clamp (7) for being clamped around the carrier bar (1) , a second clamp (8) for being clamped around the rod (4a,b;14a,b) , and a connecting crossbar (9) between the first and the second clamp (7;8), characterised in that the connecting crossbar (9) has a first spacing from a first end on the first clamp (7) and a second spacing from the second end on the first clamp (7), and that the first spacing is smaller than the second spacing.

2. A stand according to claim 1, characterised in that the first end of the first clamp (7) is the uppermost one of the two ends of the clamps when the clamp is clamped on the carrier bar (1) .

3. A stand according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the size of the first spacing is between 10% and 95%, preferably between 30% and 70% and especially between 40% and 60% the size of the second spacing.

4. A stand according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , characterised in that the connecting crossbar (9) between the two clamps (7; 8) consists of a pin fitted on one of the clamps and journaled in a bearing on the second clamp.

5. A stand according to claim 4, characterised in that the size of the first spacing is between V- and 2 times, preferably between ³A and IV. times the size of the diameter of the connecting crossbar (9).

6. A stand according to any of the claims 1 - 5, characterised in that the size of the first spacing is between V* and 2 times, preferably between V_* and 1 time the width of the second clamp (8) .

7. A stand according to any of the claim 1 - 6, characterised in that the cross section of the first clamp (7) is mainly C-shaped with an inside face which - seen in cross section - is extending over at least 185°.

8. A stand according to any of the claim 1-7 and of the kind that is provided with a first and a second cloth (3,-13) hanged on each their side of the carrier bar (1) by means of each their rod (4a,b; 14a, b) , characterised in that the stand comprises two ribs (21) projecting from each their side of the first clamp (7) , a third clamp (16) having two ribs (19) extending in from each their side of the third clamp (16) and arranged to engage the projecting ribs (21) of the first clamp (7) at mounting, a fourth clamp (17) for being clamped around the rod

(14a, b) of the second cloth (13), and a connecting crossbar between the third and the fourth clamp (16; 17).

9. A stand according to any of the claims 1 - 8, characterised in that a stop (20) is made on one end of the third clamp (16) , said stop is extending in over the upper end of the carrier bar (1) when the third clamp (16) is clamped on the carrier bar (1) .

10. A stand according to any of the claims 1 - 9, characterised in that a cloth (3,-13) has an upper and lower rod (4a,b;14a,b) in hanged state.