WO2002065435A1

WO2002065435A1 - A signage display apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2002065435A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter James Colan
Original assignee: Korbond Services Pty. Limited
Priority date: 2001-02-09
Filing date: 2002-02-06
Publication date: 2002-08-22
Also published as: AUPR300001A0

Abstract

A signage display apparatus (10) includes a hollow body with a longitudinal opening, a torsion mechanism within the body, storage member (70) having a flexible signage display sheet (16) wrapped therearound. The storage member (70) is adapted for releasable, non-rotatable, engagement with the torsion mechanism. The signage display sheet (16) is adapted to travel through the longitudinal opening when the storage member (70) is installed in the body. A selectively engageable clutch (34,36) is deployed between the torsion mechanism and the body. Engaging the clutch (34,36) prevents relative rotation between the torsion mechanism, and thus storage member (70), and the body to facilitate longitudinal withdrawal/installation of the display sheet member (16) from/into the body. Disengaging the clutch (34,36) permits relative rotation between the torsion mechanism and the body to permit the display sheet (16), when installed, to be extended/retracted against/with the torque of the torsion mechanism from/into the body through the longitudinal opening.

Description

A SIGNAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a signage display apparatus and in particular to a signage display apparatus with an extendable/retractable flexible signage display sheet. The invention has been developed primarily for use with portable advertising display banners and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application.

Background of the Invention

Signage display apparatus with an extendable/retractable signage display sheet generally comprise a hollow body able to store a retracted sheet and a torsion mechanism within the body which applies a retracting force to an extended sheet. The sheet is held in the full extended position by rods between the body and a rail affixed the top of the sheet.

A known signage display apparatus has a tail permanently fixed to the torsion mechanism. The display sheet is attached to the tail by clips. To change a display sheet, the sheet must first be fully extended against the torsion mechanism to expose the tail. A locking pin is then inserted into the body to lock the torsion mechanism against rotation. The existing sheet can then be undipped from the tail and a new sheet attached. The locking pin is then removed to allow the torsion mechanism to rotate. This is a time consuming and complicated procedure and, if the locking key is lost, the tail must be manually held in the exposed position against the force of the torsion mechanism which is difficult. Further, if the tail is inadvertently allowed to retract into the device without attachment of a sheet, then the apparatus must be dismantled to retrieve the tail and re- torque the torsion mechanism.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the above disadvantages of the known apparatus.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a signage display apparatus; the apparatus including: a hollow body with a longitudinal opening: a torsion mechanism within the body; a signage display sheet storage member having a flexible signage display sheet wrapped there around, the storage member being adapted for releasable, non-rotatable, engagement with the torsion mechanism, the signage display sheet being adapted to travel through the longitudinal opening when the storage member is installed in the body; and a selectively engageable clutch between the torsion mechanism and the body, wherein engaging the clutch prevents relative rotation between the torsion mechanism, and thus the display sheet storage member, and the body to facilitate longitudinal withdrawal/installation of the signage display sheet member from/into the body, and wherein dis-engaging the clutch permits relative rotation between the torsion mechanism and the body to permit the signage display sheet, when installed, to be extended/retracted against/with the torque of the torsion mechanism from/into the body through the longitudinal opening.

The torsion mechanism preferably includes a tube with a torsion spring therein, the spring having one end fixed relative to the tube and another end adapted to engage the clutch.

The clutch preferably has a first part longitudinally fixed relative to the body and a second part longitudinally moveable relative to the body, the second part being biased towards engagement with the first part by a compression spring. The clutch preferably also includes a ratchet device adapted, when the clutch is engaged, to allow relative rotation between the body and the torsion mechanism in a direction torquing the torsion spring only. The ratchet device is preferably in the form of complementary saw-tooth teeth on the first and second clutch parts.

The clutch is preferably engaged/dis-engaged by movement of the second part in response to movement of the tube relative to the body. The clutch is desirably mounted adjacent an end of the body. The display sheet storage member is desirably adapted for slidable, non-rotatable engagement with the tube. The tube is preferably moved to disengage the clutch by pushing the display sheet storage member towards the clutch. The display sheet storage member is preferably pushed and moved by a cap adapted to releasably engage the other end of the body. The cap desirably has a handle on its outer side and a protuberance adapted to abut and push the display sheet storage member on its inner side. The body preferably has feet, most preferably moveable feet, attached thereto. The body preferably also has recesses and/or clips for storing one or more signage display sheet support devices, which are most preferably collapsible rods.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a signage display apparatus according to the invention with the display sheet retracted; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the display sheet extended;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the main sub-assemblies of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the clutch/torsion mechanism sub-assembly shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the display sheet sub-assembly shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a partial exploded view of the body sub-assembly shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an underside perspective view of the device of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the clutch disengaged and the display sheet retracted;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the clutch disengaged and the display sheet sub-assembly partially extended; Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the display sheet partially extended;

Fig. 11 is a partial respective view of the device shown in Fig. 10 after removal of the end cap;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the end cap shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a partial perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 11 after partial removal of the display sheet sub-assembly. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an embodiment of a signage display apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a cylindrical hollow body 12 with a flared base 14, which are formed from extruded aluminium. A flexible, nylon signage display sheet 16 extends from (see Fig. 2) and retracts into (see Fig. 1) the body 12. The sheet 16 has a rigid end rail 18 and is held in the extended position shown in Fig. 2 by placing one or more rods 20 (only one shown) between the rail 18 and the body 12.

Fig. 3 shows the three major sub-assemblies of the apparatus 10, namely: the base sub-assembly 22, the clutch/torsion mechanism sub-assembly 24; and the display sheet sub-assembly 26. As is also best seen in Fig. 3, the body 12 has a front part 12a and a rear part 12b which, when assembled, leave a longitudinal slit 12c therebetween along the length of the body 12.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the clutch/torsion mechanism sub-assembly 24 and shows a hexagonal torque tube 28 with resilient centering fingers 29, a torsion spring end cap 30, a torsion spring 32, a first clutch part 34, a second clutch part 36, a first washer 38, a compression spring 40, a second washer 42, and a clutch housing 44. The tube 28 is preferably an aluminium extrusion. The cap 30, first and second clutch parts 34 and 36, and clutch housing 44 are preferably injection moulded plastic. The springs 32 and 40 are formed from spring steel and the washers 38 and 42 are formed from nylon.

One end of the end cap 30 contains exterior hexagonal locking formations 46 which are adapted to non rotationally key into the interior of the tube 28. The other end 48 of the cap 30 has a slotted cylinder adapted to non rotationally engage the adjacent end 32a of the spring 32. The first clutch part 34 contains a similar first end 50 which engages the other end 32b of the spring 32. The other end of the first clutch part 34 contains sawtooth teeth 54 which are adapted to engage in a unidirectional ratchet type fashion with complementary teeth 55 provided on the second clutch part 36, as will be described in more detail below, and torsion tube locating legs 57.

The first and second clutch parts 34 and 36, the washers 38 and 42, and the spring 40 are assembled with the clutch housing 44 by virtue of a screw 56 which engages the threaded stub shaft 58 in the clutch housing 44. A washer 60 is positioned on the screw 56 between the first clutch part 34 and the stub shaft 58 to allow the first clutch part 34 to rotate relative to the clutch housing 44. Fig. 5 shows the signage display sheet sub-assembly 26, which basically comprises a signage display sheet storage member, in the form of extruded aluminium tube 70, and the signage display sheet 16. The sheet 16 has a looped openings 16a and 16b on its ends into which slide a pair of rods 74 and 76 respectively. The display sheet sub-assembly 26 also includes the end rail 18 and an end flange 80. Assembly of the sub-assembly 26 involves inserting the rods 74 and 76 within the openings 16a and 16b. The looped end 16b is then longitudinally slid into a recess 70a provided in the tube 70. The looped end 16a is longitudinally slid into a recess 18a provided in the end rail 18. A piece of adhesive tape 82 retains the looped end 16b within the recess 70. The display sheet 16 is then wrapped around the tube 70 and the end flange 80 is affixed to the end of the tube by fastening screws 84 into the two remaining recesses 70b and 70c.

Fig. 6 shows the front part of the body 12a and a front part of the base 14a. Also shown is a pair of rod retaining clips 92 and a pair of pivotable feet 94. The clips 92 and feet 94 are attached to the underside of the body 12a. The feet 94 can be rotated forward (as shown in Fig. 2), backward or one in each direction to provide a stable base for the apparatus 10.

The storage of the aforementioned components in the underside of the lower body member 90 is shown in Fig. 7. The rear part of the body 12b also includes recesses 95 for receiving the lower ends of the support rods 20, as is also shown in Fig. 7. The body assembly 22 also includes an end cap 96 (see Figs. 11 and 12) which has a handle 97, a central protuberance 98 and bayonets tabs 100. The latter are adapted for twisting engagement with bayonet slots 102 provided in end plate 104 of the body 12. The end plate is attached to the body by screws 106. The end plate 104 and the clutch housing 44 are used to retain the front and rear parts 12a, 12b of the body 12 adjacent one another, as best seen in Fig. 3.

The assembly of the apparatus 10 will now be described. Firstly, the feet 94 are fastened to the front body part 12a. The sub-assemblies described above are then assembled as shown in Fig. 3. The clutch sub-assembly 24 is then inserted into the right hand end of the body assembly 22 and fastened thereto by screws 108. The torsion tube 28 is then slid through the other (left hand end) of the body 12 and its interior slides into non-rotational engagement with the torsion spring end cap 30. The signage display sheet assembly is then slid through the left hand end over the tube 28 with a small exposed section of the sheet 16 passing through the longitudinal slit 12c in the body 12 until its rightmost end abuts the locating legs 57 on the second clutch part 36. The end cap 96 can then be engaged with the body 12 at the open end, as will be described in more detail below. The support rod 20 can then be clipped to the underside of the body 12.

The operation of the apparatus 10 will now be described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 and also Figs. 10 to 13. Fig. 8 shows the assembled apparatus 10 with the end cap 96 and signage display sheet sub-assembly 26 fitted. With the end cap 96 fitted, its central protuberance 98 pushes the signage display sheet sub-assembly 24 assembly to the right with reference to Fig. 8 which depresses the second clutch part 36 against the spring 40. This results in the teeth 54, 55 of the first and second clutch parts 34, 36 moving out of engagement with one another, thereby dis-engaging the clutch action. This allows the signage sheet 16 to be extended against the torque of the torsion spring 32 from the storage/transport configuration shown in Fig. 1 to the display configuration shown in Fig. 2. Placing the rods 20 between the body 10 and the end rail 18 maintains the sheet 26 in the extended position. When the signage sheet 26 is no longer needed for display, the rods 20 are removed and the torque of the torsion spring 32 rotates the display sheet sub-assembly 22 and retracts the display sheet 26 into the body 10 for storage/transport.

Fig. 9 shows the end cap 96 removed and the signage display sheet sub-assembly 26 partially withdrawn to the left such that it is no longer in contact with the second clutch part 36. The spring 40 is then able to force the second clutch part 36 to the left until the teeth 54, 55 of the first and second clutch parts 34, 36 engage. This engages the clutch action and prevents the torque tube 28 from rotating relative to the body 12 and thus releasing the stored torsional energy of the spring 32. This allows the display sheet sub- assembly 26 to be completely withdrawn from the body 12. A fresh display sheet sub- assembly can then be easily installed by inserting it in the body 12, as previously described. Both of the actions can occur without the need to physically restrain the torque tube 28 against rotation or locate and install a key to do same. This represents a significant commercial improvement over the operation of the known apparatus.

Further, when the display sheet sub-assembly 26 is fully removed the left hand end of the torque tube 28 can be easily gripped and rotated to add additional torsional energy to the torsion spring 32 by virtue of the unidirectional ratcheting action of the first and second clutch part's teeth 54, 55. Again, this represents a significant commercial improvement over the known apparatus as the apparatus 10 can be re-torqued without significant disassembly. The signage display sheet assembly 28 changing process will now be more fully described with reference to Figs. 10 to 13. Fig. 10 shows the apparatus 10 with the end cap 96 locked to the body 10 to disengage the clutch, as described with reference to Fig. 8. This allows a portion of the display sheet 26 to be extended through the slot 12c by pulling on the end rail 18. Fig. 11 shows the apparatus 10 after the end cap 96 has been twisted and removed to engage the clutch, as described with reference to Fig. 9. Importantly, no torsional force is now being applied to the torsion tube 28 and thus display sheet sub-assembly 22 and it can now be easily fully withdrawn from the body 10, as is shown in Fig. 13. The installation of a fresh signage display sheet assembly 22 is a reverse of the above procedure.

It should also be noted that the movement of the second clutch part 36 in disengaging the clutch action is less than the thickness of the torsion tube end flange 80. Accordingly, if the end cap 96 is fitted to the body 12 without the display sheet sub- assembly in the body 12, then the clutch will not be disengaged and the torsion in the torsion spring 32 will not be released. This conveniently allows the end cap 96 to be left on the body 12 when the body 12 is empty.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in may other forms.

Claims

Claims:

1. A signage display apparatus; the apparatus including: a hollow body with a longitudinal opening: a torsion mechanism within the body; a signage display sheet storage member having a flexible signage display sheet wrapped therearound, the storage member being adapted for releaseable, non-rotatable, engagement with the torsion mechanism, the signage display sheet being adapted to travel through the longitudinal opening when the storage member is installed in the body; and a selectively engageable clutch between the torsion mechanism and the body, wherein engaging the clutch prevents relative rotation between the torsion mechanism, and thus the display sheet storage member, and the body to facilitate longitudinal withdrawal/installation of the signage display sheet member from/into the body, and wherein dis-engaging the clutch permits relative rotation between the torsion mechanism and the body to permit the signage display sheet, when installed, to be extended/retracted against/with the torque of the torsion mechanism from/into the body through the longitudinal opening.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the torsion mechanism includes a tube with a torsion spring therein, the spring having one end fixed relative to the tube and another end adapted to engage the clutch.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the clutch has a first part longitudinally fixed relative to the body and a second part longitudinally moveable relative to the body, the second part being biased towards engagement with the first part by a spring.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein the clutch also includes a ratchet device adapted, when the clutch is engaged, to allow relative rotation between the body and the torsion mechanism in a direction torquing the torsion spring only.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 4, wherein the ratchet device is in the form of complementary saw-tooth teeth on the first and second clutch parts.

6. The apparatus claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the clutch is engaged/disengaged by movement of the second part in response to movement of the tube relative to the body.

7. The apparatus claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clutch is mounted adjacent an end of the body.

8. The apparatus claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display sheet storage member is adapted for slidable, non-rotatable engagement with the tube.

9. The apparatus claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tube is moved to disengage the clutch by pushing the display sheet storage member towards the clutch.

10. The apparatus claimed in claim 9, wherein the display sheet storage member is pushed and moved by a cap adapted to releasably engage the other end of the body.

11. The apparatus claimed in claim 10, wherein the cap has a handle on its outer side and a protuberance adapted to abut and push the display sheet storage member on its inner side.

12. The apparatus claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body has feet attached thereto.

13. The apparatus claimed in claim 13, wherein the feet are moveable.

14. The apparatus claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body also has recesses and/or clips for storing one or more signage display sheet support devices.

15. The apparatus claimed in claim 14, wherein the support device(s) are collapsible rods.