WO2009022285A2

WO2009022285A2 - A display device

Info

Publication number: WO2009022285A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/053211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roy Neville Mann
Original assignee: Roy Neville Mann
Priority date: 2007-08-10
Filing date: 2008-08-11
Publication date: 2009-02-19
Also published as: WO2009022285A3; ES2597817T3; EP2188801B1; EP2188801A2; ZA201001695B

Abstract

A display device 10 for displaying advertising or other material. The display device 10 includes a support pole 12, a first display structure 14 including a flexible display sheet 16 and a second display structure 20 including a flexible display sheet 22, the display sheets each being supported in a tensioned flag configuration. The display structures 14, 20 are rotatable about an axis defined by the longitudinal axis of the support pole 12. When used as a display device along a roadside, the orientation of the display sheet 16 will coincide essentially with the wind direction. The arrangement of the first and second display structures 14, 20 allows for at least one of the display faces of the display device, defined by the internal and external surfaces of the display sheets 16, 22 to be visible to oncoming traffic, regardless of the wind direction.

Description

A DISPLAY DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a display device.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

The invention relates particularly to a display device for displaying advertising matter. A known form of a display device for displaying advertising matter is a display flag, such a flag generally comprising a display sheet that is attached to a flag pole. Particularly when used outdoors, wind determines the orientation of the display sheet with respect to the flag pole and also the general visibility of matter applied thereto. In order to enhance visibility of matter applied to the display sheet, it is known to hold the display sheet under tension by the location of elongate elements, secured to and projecting from the flag pole, in seams provided therefor along the operative top and bottom edges of the display sheet. The display flag is secured to or mounted on the flag pole either in a configuration wherein the flag pole is supported for rotation about its axis, or in a configuration wherein the display flag is rotatable about the axis defined by the flag pole while the flag pole is not rotating about its own axis, thereby, in both configurations, providing for the tensioned flag to project from the flag pole in a direction determined by the wind. Insofar as wind direction thus determines the orientation of the display sheet of a flag of the type at any particular time, it will be understood that in certain orientations, the display sheet will only be partially visible or possibly not visible at all from certain spaced locations with respect thereto. Typically, with a flag of the type positioned along a roadside for displaying matter to oncoming traffic, there will be times, due to wind direction, that the orientation of the display sheet of the flag is such that the display matter applied to the display sheet is only partially visible or not visible at all to oncoming traffic. Although fixing the orientation of the display sheets of flags of the above general type has been considered, this has not proven practical insofar as wind strength often can be such that flags are damaged, either through damage to associated flag poles or display sheets.

It is thus an object of this invention to at least ameliorate the abovementioned problems associated with display flags of the general type.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a display device, which includes:

a support pole defining a longitudinal axis along its length;

a first display structure including a first display sheet and a support arrangement supporting the display sheet on the support pole; and a second display structure including a second display sheet and a support arrangement supporting the display sheet on the support pole in a substantially fixed, angularly spaced configuration with respect to the first display sheet,

the display structures, when used outdoors, being rotatably displaceable by wind acting thereon about the longitudinal axis of the support pole, and the orientation of the display sheets, at any particular time, being such that the first display sheet extends generally in a downwind orientation with respect to the support pole.

The first and second display sheets may be flexible, with the respective support arrangements of the first and second display structures, being configured to support the relevant display sheets in a tensioned flag configuration on the support pole.

The support pole may be an elongate pole which, in the operative configuration of the display device, can itself be supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis defined along the length of the pole.

The support arrangements of the first and second display structures may be mounted to the support pole.

The support arrangements of the first and second display structures may be mounted to the support pole in a configuration wherein the display structures are rotatable about the longitudinal axis defined by the support pole while the support pole is not rotating about its own axis.

The support arrangement of each display structure may include at least one resiliently flexible slender element located in a seam defined therefor by the display sheet for holding the display sheet, in a tensioned flag configuration. The display sheet of at least the first display structure may have a conventional rectangular perimeter configuration.

The support arrangement of the rectangular display sheet may include two elongate resiliently flexible slender elements located in seams defined therefor respectively along the operative top and bottom edges of the display sheet, one end of each slender element being secured to the support pole so that the elements project from the pole in a substantially parallel, spaced configuration in which they hold the display sheet in a tensioned flag configuration.

The second display structure may include a substantially rectangular display sheet, with the general plane defined by the first display sheet being perpendicular to and intersecting the second display sheet along a substantially vertical line midway between opposite sides of the second display sheet.

The display sheets of the display structures may have a substantially equal vertical height, whereas the horizontal width of the second display sheet may be substantially less than the horizontal width of the first display sheet.

The support arrangement of the second display structure may provide for the second display sheet to be curved about an operatively vertical axis defined between opposite sides of this display sheet, wherein the second display sheet defines a convex outer display face.

Clearly, for different perimeter profile display sheets, different support arrangements may be provided, such arrangements being adapted particularly for their support on the support pole of the display device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features of a display device, in accordance with the invention, are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to an example of such a display device, which is illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a display device, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective rear view of the display device of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 shows a perspective front view of the display device of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, a display device, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The display device 10 includes a support pole 12, the pole 12 comprising a conventional-type flag pole of any suitable material that can be supported in an operative upright position with respect to the ground, in a configuration in which it is rotatable about a longitudinal axis along its length. Insofar as the configuration and mode of support with respect to the ground of the flag pole 12 are essentially equivalent to that of any conventional flag pole, this is not described in any further detail herein.

The display device 10 includes also a first display structure 14, the display structure 14 including a flexible display sheet 16 and a support arrangement that supports the display sheet in a tensioned flag configuration on the support pole 12. The support arrangement particularly includes two resiliency flexible L- shaped support rods 18 of which the short sections are secured within sockets 19 fixedly attached to the support pole and the long sections project from the pole 12, the long sections being located within seams defined therefor along the respective operative top and bottom edges of the display sheet 16, the location of the support rods 18 with respect to the pole 12 being such that the display sheet 16 is held under tension by the support rods 18, as shown.

The display device 10 includes still further a second display structure 20, the display structure 20 again including a flexible display sheet 22 which is held under tension in the configuration shown by a support arrangement. The support arrangement includes two slender elements 24 that are located within seams defined therefor along the respective operative top and bottom edges of the display sheet 22, the elements 24 being curved as shown and are each secured to the flag pole 12 by two resiliently flexible L-shaped support rods 26, the short sections of the support rods being secured with sockets 28 fixedly attached to the support pole and the long sections of the support rods being secured to the two slender elements 24.

As is clear from the drawings, the location of the second display structure 20 with respect to the first display structure 14 is such that the general plane defined by the display sheet 22 of the second display structure 20 is intersected by the general plane of the display sheet 16 of the first display structure 14 along an operatively vertical line disposed between opposite side edges of the display sheet 22. As is also clearly apparent, the width of the display sheet 16, as defined by the operative top and bottom edges of the display sheet 16, is between two and three times wider than that of the display sheet 22, as defined between its opposite side edges, the significance of this width relationship being explained in more detail hereafter. As is also clearly apparent from the drawings, the display device 10 essentially includes five separate display faces to which printed matter can be applied for advertising or other purposes, two of these display faces being defined by the respective opposite faces of the display sheet 16, a third display face being defined by the external display face of the display sheet 22 and two further display faces being defined by the respective internal faces of the display sheet 22 on opposite sides of the flag pole 12.

For use of the display device 10, all the display faces can have required advertising, or other matter, applied thereto as determined by the requirements of the display device. As such, and typically when used as a display device along a roadside, where display matter must be displayed to oncoming traffic, with the flag pole 12 supported in a configuration in which it is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, the orientation of the display device 10 will be determined by the direction of wind acting thereon, the particular configuration of the first display structure 14 and second display structure 20 being such that the orientation of the display sheet 16 will coincide essentially with the wind direction. Also, insofar as wind will thus impinge directly onto the display sheet 22, it will be appreciated that the curved configuration of the display sheet 22 will deflect airflow around the display sheet, thus ensuring that excessive wind forces do not act on this display sheet, which could otherwise result in the display device being damaged by wind forces. Because of wind inconsistencies, rotational movement of the display device about the axis of the support pole 12 will continuously occur, the dimensional parameters of the display sheet 16, however, continuously determining the general orientation of the display device, which provides for the display sheet 16 of the display structure 14 to be effectively aligned with the wind direction.

In the display configuration of the display device 10 along a roadside, it will be understood that if the wind direction is perpendicular to the road direction, either display face defined by the display sheet 16 will be clearly visible to oncoming traffic. If the wind direction coincides with the road direction, the external display face of the display sheet 22 will be clearly visible to traffic travelling along the road in the same direction as the wind. If the wind direction is opposite to the direction of travel along the road, either one or both the display faces defined on the internal side of the display sheet 22 will be clearly visible to such oncoming traffic. Any other wind directions will thus for at least some of the display faces to be sufficiently visible in order to ensure that the display device still fulfils its desired display function. The known problems relating to the visibility of matter applied to conventional flag-type display devices where wind determines the orientation of the display sheet of such devices is thus largely alleviated.

Although the display device 10 illustrates two display structures that each have a substantially rectangular display sheet associated therewith, it must be appreciated that the respective configurations of the display structures and, particularly, of the display sheets thereof, are greatly variable, while still providing for a display device that incorporates the general principles of the device 10 as described. Display sheets of different perimeter profiles may be associated with different support arrangements for holding the display sheets in a tensioned flag configuration and support arrangements clearly may be secured to a support pole in different configurations.

It is envisaged also that instead of the flag pole of the display device being supported in a configuration in which it can rotate about its axis, a suitable flag pole for the device also can comprise a pole which is configured to allow the respective display structures to be rotatable about the axis defined by the flag pole while the flag pole is not rotating about its own axis, in order to provide for the required rotational displacement of the display device as herein envisaged.

It is also anticipated that the display device of the invention can be associated with one or more additional display structures including a display sheet and a support arrangement that can be supported either on the support pole thereof or on any other display structure, while still providing for the orientation of the display device to be determined by wind direction and by the configuration of the first display structure of the device which incorporates the display sheet that defines the dominant display faces of the display device.

The invention extends to all such different configurations display devices which are envisaged and which still incorporate the essential principles of the invention as herein defined and described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A display device, which includes

a support pole defining a longitudinal axis along its length;

a first display structure including a first display sheet and a support arrangement supporting the display sheet on the support pole; and

a second display structure including a second display sheet and a support arrangement supporting the display sheet on the support pole in a substantially fixed, angularly spaced configuration with respect to the first display sheet,

2. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second display sheets are flexible and wherein the respective support arrangements of the first and second display structures, are configured to support the relevant display sheets in a tensioned flag configuration on the support pole.

3. The display device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support pole is an elongate pole which, in the operative configuration of the display device, can itself be supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis defined along the length of the pole.

4. The display device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support arrangements of the first and second display structures are mounted to the support pole.

5. The display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support arrangements of the first and second display structures are mounted to the support pole in a configuration wherein the display structures are rotatable about the longitudinal axis defined by the support pole while the support pole is not rotating about its own axis.

6. The display device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the support arrangement of each display structure includes at least one resiliently flexible slender element located in a seam defined therefor by the display sheet for holding the display sheet, in a tensioned flag configuration.

7. The display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the display sheet of at least the first display structure has a conventional rectangular perimeter configuration.

8. The display sheet of claim 7, wherein the support arrangement of the rectangular display sheet includes two elongate resiliently flexible slender elements located in seams defined therefor respectively along the operative top and bottom edges of the display sheet, one end of each slender element being secured to the support pole so that the elements project from the pole in a substantially parallel, spaced configuration in which they hold the display sheet in a tensioned flag configuration.

9. The display device of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second display structure includes a substantially rectangular display sheet, with the general plane defined by the first display sheet being perpendicular to and intersecting the second display sheet along a substantially vertical line midway between opposite sides of the second display sheet.

10. The display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display sheets of the display structures have a substantially equal vertical height, whereas the horizontal width of the second display sheet is substantially less than the horizontal width of the first display sheet.

11. The display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support arrangement of the second display structure provides for the second display sheet to be curved about an operatively vertical axis defined between opposite sides of this display sheet, wherein the second display sheet defines a convex outer display face.