WO2004021320A1

WO2004021320A1 - A portable display unit

Info

Publication number: WO2004021320A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/003792
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sean Henry
Original assignee: Lastolite Limited
Priority date: 2002-08-31
Filing date: 2003-08-28
Publication date: 2004-03-11
Also published as: GB0320092D0; GB0220302D0; AU2003263299A1; GB2393559A

Abstract

A portable display unit (10,20,30,40) is disclosed comprising two or more panels (11, 17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) connected at their edges in such a way that the panels (11, 17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) are foldable into an arrangement where the panels (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) overlie one another. Each panel (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) comprises a sheet of flexible material that is supported in tension by a flexible hoop. A display medium (16,25,35,45) is releasably attached to at least one of said panels (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) and/or at least one of said panels (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) is provided with means by which a display medium (16,25,35,45) can be releasably attached thereto. TITLE: A PORTABLE DISPLAY UNIT ABSTRACT: A portable display unit (10,20,30,40) is disclosed comprising two or more panels (11, 17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) connected at their edges in such a way that the panels (11, 17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) are foldable into an arrangement where the panels (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) overlie one another. Each panel (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) comprises a sheet of flexible material that is supported in tension by a flexible hoop. A display medium (16,25,35,45) is releasably attached to at least one of said panels (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) and/or at least one of said panels (11,17,21,22,23,24,31,32,33,34,41,42,43) is provided with means by which a display medium (16,25,35,45) can be releasably attached thereto.

Description

Title - A Portable Display Unit

This invention relates to display units and in particular display units which are portable.

Portable display units may be used to display a wide variety of information such as advertising material or general information at trade fairs, outdoor stalls, conferences or any place where it is necessary for the display unit to be temporarily stationed. Generally, such units are constructed such that they can be disassembled after use for ease of transportation

Conventionally such portable display units comprise several panels supported and connected by a framework that can be disassembled for transportation. The framework typically comprises many connecting poles. Display information is then attached to the framework.

Such display units can be difficult and time consuming to erect and disassemble, and even when disassembled they are not easily portable, particularly if the poles are heavy and the panels are of a rigid form.

There has now been devised an improved portable display unit which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above-mentioned and/or other disadvantages associated with the prior art.

According to the invention, there is provided a portable display unit comprising two or more panels connected at their edges in such a way that the panels are foldable into an arrangement where the panels overlie one another, wherein each panel comprises a sheet of flexible material that is supported in tension by a flexible hoop, and wherein a display medium is releasably attached to at least one of said panels and/or at least one of said panels is provided with means by which a display medium can be releasably attached thereto. The portable display unit according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that the releasable attachment of the display medium to the unit means that the display medium can be rapidly and easily attached to the unit. Changes of display medium can easily be brought about, the same display unit thus being able to be used with different display media. In addition, the display unit can be very rapidly and easily collapsed and re-erected. In order to collapse the display unit, it is firstly folded so that the panels overlie one another. By relative twisting of opposite sides of the panels and folding, the display unit can be reduced to a much smaller effective size and stowed in a compartment or bag provided for the purpose.

The panels are preferably formed of an elastic material, most preferably a fabric such as a knitted fabric. Most preferably, the fabric of each panel is provided with a peripheral tube within which the flexible hoop is accommodated, the hoop serving to tension and slightly stretch the fabric of the panel.

The flexible hoop is most preferably formed of a band of resilient material, ie a flat strip of resilient material. The band is most preferably formed in a metal such as steel. The band preferably has a width of between 5mm and 15mm.

It is particularly preferred that the panels should not be connected directly together, but should be separated by a flexible web or gusset interposed between adjacent edges of the panels. Such a connecting web, which may extend along substantially the whole length of the edges of the panels that it connects or may take the form of one or more smaller webs spaced apart along those edges, will generally be narrow in relation to the size of the panels. The provision of such connecting webs facilitates folding of the panels when it is desired to collapse the apparatus for storage or transportation.

The display unit is preferably arranged so that the unit is self-supporting in an upright position. The display unit may include a stabilising member disposed between two of the panels in order to improve the stability of the unit. Such a stabilising member may simply be a web of flexible material that connects two panels, eg the lower edges thereof, and limits the extent to which those panels can be separated. More preferably, however, the stabilising member is rigid.

A rigid stabilising member preferably comprises two rigid arms one end of each of which is attached to the lower edge of a pair of juxtaposed panels. The other ends of the rigid arms preferably overlap and are connected together such that they are hingedly attached to one another. The member preferably further includes means of fixing the position of the arms relative to one another when the display unit is erect. Such fixing means is preferably provided by strips of touch-and-close material. In a preferred arrangement, the rigid arms are accommodated within fabric sleeves, the sleeves being connectable by touch-and-close fasteners such that the two rigid arms together form a single rigid member. By "rigid" in this context is meant simply that the stabilising member retains its configuration during normal conditions of use.

The display unit may comprise panels of any suitable shape, such as square, rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular panels, and the panels may all be the same shape or be a mixture of shapes.

The panels of the display unit are arranged and connected in such a way that the display unit is foldable into an arrangement where the panels overlie one another, thereby forming a stack of panels. The connecting webs (where present) between the panels must therefore be of sufficient width for this arrangement to be possible. From such an arrangement, it is preferably possible to twist and then fold the stack of panels so that each flexible hoop becomes doubled over and generally circular in form, thereby reducing the size of the display unit considerably for storage or transportation.

The two or more panels may be arranged in a chain, with each panel being able to fold relative to its adjacent panel into an arrangement where these adjacent panels overlie one another. In this way, such a chain of panels may be folded to form a stack of panels. A chain of square or rectangular panels may form an erect display unit with vertically orientated panels, and a chain of trapezoidal or triangular panels may form an erect display unit which is pyramidal and has an open base and angled panels. The chain of panels may also include means for securing the two ends of the chain together when the display unit is erect.

The display unit most preferably comprises an even number of square, rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular panels which are arranged in a loop so that, when erect, the display unit forms a cuboidal or pyramidal enclosure. Such display units are preferably arranged so that the panels can be pushed together so that the display unit folds along two lines into an arrangement where each panel overlies another panel. Each pair of overlying panels is then preferably able to fold relative to its adjacent pair of panels into an arrangement where these adjacent pairs of panels overlie one another. In this way, the pairs of panels may be folded in turn to form a stack of panels.

Particularly preferred display units comprise: two generally rectangular panels with a stabilising member; four square or rectangular panels which together form a cuboidal enclosure; or four trapezoidal or triangular panels which together form a four-sided pyramidal enclosure.

Particularly in the case of an upright display unit, eg of cubic or cuboidal form, comprising a plurality (most commonly four, but alternatively three or a greater number) of panels, the upper and/or lower end of the unit may be closed by a flexible web, eg of fabric. To enable the unit to be disassembled and folded up as described above, such webs are releasable, at least at two sides thereof. The webs may therefore be connected to the panels by means of touch-and- close fasteners, zip fasteners or the like.

The display medium attached to the display unit may be rigid or flexible in form. In either case, however, the display medium is preferably of fixed dimensions, ie it is substantially inelastic. The display medium may take the form of a sheet, eg of fabric or rigid plastic material.

The display medium may be releasably attached to the panel by any suitable means, preferably by means of touch-and-close (VELCRO-type) material on the panel cooperating with mating touch-and-close material on the display medium. Most preferably, strips of touch-and-close material are attached to the panel and corresponding material is attached to the reverse side of the display medium. Such strips preferably form a substantially continuous band of fastening material, disposed substantially at the periphery of the display medium. Alternatively, the reverse side of the display medium may itself be formed with a loop pile that functions as the female element of a touch-and- close fastener.

Most preferably, the display material comprises a sheet of flexible, inelastic and crease-proof material. In preferred embodiments however, the sheet has an elastic border that carries the fastening elements and which may be stretched to tension the sheet.

The panels of the display unit may be opaque or transparent or translucent. If the panels are transparent or translucent, the display unit may also include means for mounting a light source behind the display unit or within the enclosure formed by the display unit so as to illuminate the display unit.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows stages in the collapse of the display unit of Figure 1 for storage; Figure 3 shows perspective views of a retaining member forming part of the display unit of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows stages in the collapse of the display unit of Figure 3 for storage;

Figure 6 is a perspective view, from above, of a third embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the display unit of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 , a first embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention is shown and generally designated 10. The display unit 10 comprises two generally rectangular panels 11,17 connected at a major edge by a narrow gusset of approximate width 2cm. The panels 11,17 and gusset are made of a similar flexible fabric material, the gusset thereby allowing the opening and folding of the display unit 10.

Each panel 11 ,17 comprises a sheet of elastic fabric, most preferably a knitted fabric. A fabric tube 12,18 is stitched to the periphery of the sheet and contains a continuous, resilient hoop. The hoop is typically formed from a band of carbon spring steel, most preferably having a width of about 10mm and the ends of which are riveted, welded or clipped together to form the hoop. The effect of the hoop is to maintain the sheet of fabric in a tensioned and slightly stretched state. The display unit 10 includes a stabilising member 13 at either end of the display unit 10 (only one member 13 being visible in Figure 1). These stabilising members 13 are disposed between the lower edges of the two panels 11,17 (as viewed in Figure 1) and aid the stability of the display unit 10 when the unit 10 is erect. The stabilising members 13 are stitched at each end to the lower edge of the respective panel 11,17 and are hinged at their centre, as described in more detail below, so as to allow the panels 11 ,17 to be folded together after use.

A flexible display sheet 16, having printed information (not shown in Figure 1) on its external face, is secured to the panel 11. This display sheet 16 is made from an inelastic and crease-proof fabric so that the printed information is clear and undistorted when the display unit 10 is erect. The display sheet 16 is secured to the panel 11 by means of a continuous band of touch-and-close fastener 19 (indicated by broken line in Figure 1) close to the periphery of the sheet 16 and panel 11.

Figure 3a shows a retaining member 13 in more detail. Each retaining member 13 comprises a band of strong, inelastic fabric having an elongate pocket 14 extending longitudinally along each half of the member 13. These pockets 14 extend from opposing ends of the member 13 to positions beyond the centre of the member 13. Each pocket 14 encapsulates a rigid rod (not visible in Figures 1 and 3), eg a metal or rigid plastics rod, within its length.

The pockets 14 are stitched to the upper surface of the member 13 (as viewed in Figures 1 and 3) along their length as far as the centre of the member 13. The portion of the pocket 14 extending beyond the centre of the member 13 has a strip of touch-and-close material 15a (VELCRO-type material) fastened to its underside, and the member 13 has a corresponding strip of touch-and- close material 15b fastened to its upper surface, as shown in Figure 3b. The strips of touch-and-close material 15a, 15b maintain the member 13 in the position shown in Figure 3a when the display unit 10 is erect. When it is desired to collapse the display unit 10, the strips of touch-and-close material 15a, 15b are urged apart and the retaining member 13 is folded about the centre of the member 13, as shown in Figures 3b and 3c.

When it is desired to collapse the display unit 10, the display sheet 16 may be removed if desired and the panels 11 ,17 are folded together (Figure 2a), whilst simultaneously folding the retaining members 13 so that they lie between the panels 11,17, orientated parallel to the minor edges of the display unit 10. The folded panels 11 ,17 are reduced further in size by grasping opposite sides of the panels 11,17 and twisting to form loops which can then be folded over (Figures 2b and 2c). The folded display unit 10 can then be stowed in a pouch or other receptacle until it is next required.

Turning now to Figure 4, a second embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention is shown and generally designated 20. The second embodiment 20 is similar to the first embodiment 10 save that it comprises four generally triangular panels 21 ,22,23,24, which are connected at their major edges so as to form a generally pyramidal enclosure with an opening at the apex. Stabilising members akin to those described above are therefore not required because the second embodiment 20 has a square base which maintains the unit 20 in an upright position when in use.

Substantially continuous bands of touch-and-close material 26 are fastened to the external surfaces of each panel 21 ,22,23,24. These bands 26 are spaced slightly away from, and disposed parallel to, the edges of each panel 21 ,22,23,24. A triangular display sheet 25 is fixed to each panel 21 ,22,23,24 by engagement of the bands 26 of the panel 21 ,22,23,24 with strips of mating touch-and-close material provided at the edges of the display sheet 25. The display sheets 25 have printed information (not shown in Figure 4) on their external faces and are of rigid form.

When it is desired to collapse the display unit 20, the display sheets 25 are removed and the panels 21,22,23,24 are collapsed and folded (Figures 5a and 5b) until the four panels 21 ,22,23,24 lie on top of each other (Figure 5c). The presence of a slightly wider gusset between the panels 21,22,23,24 than the gusset of the first embodiment 10, facilitates this folding operation. In a similar way to the first embodiment 10, the folded panels 21,22,23,24 are then reduced further in size by grasping opposite sides of the panels 21,22,23,24 and twisting to form loops which can then be folded over (Figures 5d and 5e). The folded display unit 20 can then be stowed in a pouch or other receptacle until it is next required.

Turning now to Figures 6 and 7, a third embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention is shown and generally designated 30. The third embodiment 30 has a similar configuration to the second embodiment 10 save that it comprises four generally rectangular panels 31 ,32,33,34, which are connected at their major edges so as to form a generally cuboidal enclosure. In addition, the third embodiment includes a number of additional features over the first and second embodiments 10,20, which are described below.

Continuous bands of touch-and-close material 36 (indicated by broken lines in Figure 6) are fastened to the external surfaces of each panel 31 ,32,33,34. These bands 36 are spaced slightly away from, and disposed parallel to, the edges of each panel 31 ,32,33,34. A rectangular display sheet 35 is fixed to each panel 31 ,32,33,34 by engagement of the bands 36 of the panel 31,32,33,34 with strips of mating touch-and-close material provided at the edges of the display sheet 35. The display sheets 35 have printed information (not shown in Figure 7) on their external faces and are of rigid form.

One of the additional features of the third embodiment 30 is a fabric web 37 that closes the upper end of the display unit 30 so as to increase the stability thereof. The fabric web 37 extends across the entire upper end of the display unit 30 and is stitched to the upper edges of the panels 31,32,33,34. To enable the collapse of the display unit 30, the fabric web 37 includes an

L-shaped opening 38 that extends along two sides of the fabric web 37 and is closed by means of a zip fastener. In order to collapse the display unit 30, the display sheets 35 are removed from the display unit 30 and the L-shaped opening 38 is opened by releasing the zip fastener. The panels 31 ,32,33,34 are then folded so as to lie on top of one another in a similar manner to the second embodiment 20. The folded panels 31 ,32,33,34 are then reduced further in size by grasping opposite sides of the folded panels 31,32,33,34 and twisting to form loops which can then be folded over. The folded display unit 30 can then be stowed in a pouch or other receptacle until it is next required.

The other additional feature of the third embodiment 30 is the pouch 39 formed in one of the panels 31. As in the first and second embodiments 10,20, each panel 31 ,32,33,34 comprises a first sheet of elastic fabric, and a fabric tube fastened to the periphery of the first sheet of elastic fabric. The fabric tube contains a continuous resilient hoop that maintains the first sheet of fabric in a tensioned state. The pouch 39 is formed by a second sheet of elastic fabric that is fastened to the fabric tube so as to overlie the external surface of the first sheet of fabric. An opening that extends along three sides of the second sheet of fabric allows access to the pouch 39. A zip fastener releasably closes the opening, thereby allowing the pouch 39 to be opened and closed as desired.

Turning now to Figure 8, a fourth embodiment of a portable display unit according to the invention is shown and generally designated 40. The third embodiment 40 has a similar configuration to the earlier embodiments 10,20,30 save that it comprises three generally rectangular panels 41 ,42,43 which are connected at their major edges so as to form a chain arrangement. The display unit 40 has an upright position, as shown in Figure 8, in which the display unit 40 rests upon the minor edges of the panels 41 ,42,43 at one end of the display unit 40.

As for the earlier embodiments 10,20,30, each panel 41,42,43 is able to fold relative to its adjacent panel 41 ,42,43 into an arrangement where these adjacent panels 41 ,42,43 overlie one another. The display unit 40 is collapsed further in a similar manner to the earlier embodiments 10,20,30, as described above.

Continuous bands of touch-and-close material 46 are fastened to both sides of each panel 41 ,42,43. These bands 46 are spaced slightly away from, and disposed parallel to, the edges of each panel 41 ,42,43. Rectangular display sheets 45 may therefore be fixed to both sides of each panel 41 ,42,43 by engagement of the bands 46 of the panel 41 ,42,43 with strips of mating touch- and-close material provided at the edges of the display sheet 45.

Claims

1. A portable display unit comprising two or more panels connected at their edges in such a way that the panels are foldable into an arrangement where the panels overlie one another, wherein each panel comprises a sheet of flexible material that is supported in tension by a flexible hoop, and wherein a display medium is releasably attached to at least one of said panels and/or at least one of said panels is provided with means by which a display medium can be releasably attached thereto.

2. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the panels are formed of an elastic material.

3. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the panels are formed of fabric.

4. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the fabric of each panel is provided with a peripheral tube within which the flexible hoop is accommodated.

5. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible hoop is formed of a band of resilient material.

6. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panels are separated by a flexible web or gusset interposed between adjacent edges of the panels.

7. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the display unit includes a stabilising member disposed between two of the panels.

8. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the stabilising member comprises two rigid arms, one end of each rigid arm being attached to the lower edge of a pair of juxtaposed panels, and the other ends of the rigid arms overlapping and being connected together such that they are hingedly attached to one another.

9. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the stabilising member includes means of fixing the position of the arms relative to one another when the display unit is erect.

10. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panels of the display unit are arranged and connected in such a way that the display unit is foldable into an arrangement where the panels overlie one another, thereby forming a stack of panels.

11. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the display unit is arranged such that the stack of panels can be twisted and then folded so that each flexible hoop becomes doubled over and generally circular in form.

12. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two or more panels are arranged in a chain, with each panel being able to fold relative to its adjacent panel into an arrangement where these adjacent panels overlie one another.

13. A portable display unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 , wherein the display unit comprises an even number of square, rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular panels which are arranged in a loop so that, when erect, the display unit forms a cuboidal or pyramidal enclosure.

14. A portable display unit as claimed in any one of Claim 13, wherein the display unit is arranged so that the panels can be pushed together so that the display unit folds along two lines into an arrangement where each panel overlies another panel, and each pair of overlying panels is then able to fold relative to its adjacent pair of panels into an arrangement where these adjacent pairs of panels overlie one another, thereby forming a stack of panels.

15. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the upper and/or lower end of the unit is closed by a flexible web of fabric.

16. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the flexible web of fabric is releasable, at least at two sides thereof.

17. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the display medium is of fixed dimensions, ie it is substantially inelastic.

18. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the display medium takes the form of a sheet.

19. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the display medium is releasably attached to the panel by means of touch-and- close material on the panel cooperating with mating touch-and-close material on the display medium.

20. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 19, wherein strips of touch- and-close material are attached to the panel and corresponding material is attached to the reverse side of the display medium, such strips forming a substantially continuous band of fastening material that is disposed substantially at the periphery of the display medium.

21. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the reverse side of the display medium may itself be formed with a loop pile that functions as the female element of a touch-and-close fastener.

22. A portable display unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panels of the display unit are transparent or translucent.

23. A portable display unit as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the display unit includes means for mounting a light source behind the display unit, or within the enclosure formed by the display unit, so as to illuminate the display unit.