WO2010054412A2

WO2010054412A2 - An advertising device

Info

Publication number: WO2010054412A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2009/000097
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alistair Richard Abell
Original assignee: Alistair Richard Abell
Priority date: 2008-11-10
Filing date: 2009-11-04
Publication date: 2010-05-14
Also published as: WO2010054412A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for advertising. The device includes a shaft (2) to be vertically mounted, in use; an upper connection means (4.1 ) proximate the upper end of the shaft (2) for connecting the shaft (2) to one end of each of at least two resiliently flexible rods (7); and a lower connection means (4.2) proximate the lower end of the shaft (2) for connecting the shaft (2) to each other end of the resiliently flexible rods (7). The shaft (2) and resiliently flexible rods (7) are each telescopically extendable and retractable between an extended and retracted state.

Description

Title: AN ADVERTISING DEVICE

Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to a device for advertising.

Background to the invention

The applicant is aware that one dimensional advertising devices such as flags and banners are not visible from all angles. One way of making such one dimensional flags or banners visible is by causing them to rotate. Such a device is described in South African Patent 2003/8904 by the same applicant. It is an object of this invention to provide a further device for advertising, which addresses the problem of visibility.

The applicant is also an applicant and patentee for and invention, as described in PCT/ZA06/00098, a device for advertising, which device includes: a shaft to be vertically mounted, in use; an upper connection means proximate the upper end of the shaft for connecting the shaft to one end of each of at least two resiliently flexible rods; and a lower connection means proximate the lower end of the shaft for connecting the shaft to each other end of the resiliently flexible rods, such that with each rod being longer than the distance between the upper and lower connection means a banner of flexible material can, in use, be spanned by each rod in a plane defined by the rod and shaft.

The shaft is configured to be rotatable to form an elongate spindle defining an upright axis for rotation.

The warp caused by non-aligned attachment points, predetermined shape, or tortional pre-stressing, or a combination thereof, can be predetermined so that a desired shape of the plane can be achieved. Typically the spanned banners, in use, can be shaped such that wind would rotate the device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact and user friendly improved advertising device.

General description of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for advertising, which device includes: a shaft to be vertically mounted, in use; an upper connection means proximate the upper end of the shaft for connecting the shaft to one end of each of at least two resiliently flexible rods; a lower connection means proximate the lower end of the shaft for connecting the shaft to each other end of the resiliently flexible rods; at least two resiliently flexible rods; and wherein the resiliently flexible rods are each telescopically extendable and retractable between an extended and retracted state.

The shaft may also be telescopically extendable and retractable between an extended and retracted state.

The resiliently flexible rods should preferably be connected to the attachment means by means of a swivel joint to allow the rods to move in a vertical plane to accommodate outward expansion of the resiliently rods to erect the device, in use, in order that with each expanded rod being longer than the distance between the upper and lower connection means a banner of flexible material can, in use, be spanned by each rod in a plane defined by the rod and shaft.

The resiliently flexible rod may comprise an inner rod receivable in an outer tube to together define a resiliently flexible rod. The device may be configured to prevent or discourage separation of the inner rod and outer tube. The resiliently flexible fod may also be provided with a catch mechanism to catch the inner rod and outer tube together in the predetermined optimum expanded, or extended, position relative to each other.

The resiliently flexible rods may be expandable in different ways. In one embodiment, the inner rod and outer tube of the resiliently flexible rods may simply be pulled outwardly out of each other, in a generally vertical plane, after the shaft has been extended, until the catch mechanism or an indicator is reached. Alternatively the resiliently flexible rods may be expandable by the retraction of the shaft, or the upward movement of the lower attachment means, after the rods has been extended.

The resiliently flexible rods may be configured to be expandable to a greater extent than the shaft and the plane may be pre warp when the shaft is expanded fully and the resiliently flexible rods are expanded fully, preferably by means of non-aligned attachment points.

The telescopic shaft and/ or resiliently flexible rods may include stopper or snap fit formations between the extendable parts to indicate the correct expansion position of the parts relative to each other or to prevent over expansion or separation of the parts.

Each resiliently flexible rod may be provided with a double layered banner connected at its edges and having the shape of a dart or arrow fletching and of which the curved edge is shaped to accommodate the resiliently flexible shaft trapped within the two layers of the dart in such a way to tension the banner. The straight edge of the banner may be provided with attachment means for attaching to the shaft and/ or the other banners. In addition, the lower and/ or the upper ends of the banners may be provided with attachment means for attachment to the shaft or connection means. The upper and lower swivel 'joints may be oppositely threaded so that a complementary threaded rod can be screwed in or out should it be required to add or remove a banner.

The upper connection means may include two parts, an upper and lower, rotatable relative to each other in a horizontal plane. The resiliently flexible rod may be swivelably attachable to the upper part and the lower part by be provided with a groove for receiving each of the rods when in the non expanded state. Each groove may further be provide with a cam type ramp in one direction so that by rotating the upper part the rod is moved out of the groove and captured into a generally horizontal orientation near the top of the rod. The rotation may be limited by means of stop or catch. It will be appreciated that this action will warp the plane defined by the rod and shaft to assist rotational movement of the device in a breeze while changing the projected shape of the device to resemble the aesthetically pleasing fletching of a dart or arrow.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an advertising device in a retracted state, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of an advertising device in a retracted state;

Figure 3 shows a side view of an advertising device being extended;

Figure 4 shows a side view of an advertising device in a partly expanded state; Figure 5 shows a side view of an advertising device in an expanded state;

Figure 6 shows a bottom perspective view of a top attachment means of an advertising device, in accordance with the invention;

Figures 7 and 8 shows a side view of an advertising device in an expanded state with flexible banner being installed; Figure 9 shows a top perspectivef view of a top attachment means of an advertising device, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 10 shows a top perspective view of a lower attachment means of an advertising device, in accordance with the invention; and Figure 11 shows the steps required to erect a further, preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 12.

The device 12 device for advertising includes a shaft 2 to be vertically mounted, in use over a pole. The device 12 further includes an upper connection means 4.1 proximate the upper end of the shaft 2 for connecting to one end of each of three resiliently flexible composite rods 7, and a lower connection means 4.2 proximate the lower end of the shaft 2 for connecting to each other end of the resiliently flexible rods 7.

The shaft comprises of two parts, 2.1 and 2.2, the part 2.2 being slidably receivable in part 2.1. The resiliently flexible rods also comprises of two parts, 7.1 and 7.2, the part 7.1 being slidably receivable in part 7.2. The shaft 2 and rods 7 are each telescopically extendable and retractable between an extended and retracted state.

Each rod 7 can further be expanded to be longer than the distance between the upper 4.1 and lower 4.2 connection means and a banner 8 of a printable canvas can, in use, be spanned by each rod 7 in a plane 14 defined by the rod 7 and shaft 2 to form a three dimensional projection view.

The upper 4.1 and lower 4.2 connection means are configured to have pairs of aligned matching attachment points for attaching the resiliently flexible rods 7.

The shaft 2 is configured to be rotatable to form an elongate spindle defining an upright axis for rotation. The shaft is rotatably mounted on a mounting in the form of a pole. The mounting can be selected from a Ground spike 9; brackets 10for mounting to a fixed pole, a wall or fence or a base in combination with a spike or brackets 10 or mountable on a pole or base.

The resiliently flexible rods 7 are connected to the attachment means 4 by means of a swivel joint to allow the rods to move in a vertical plane to accommodate outward expansion of the resiliently rods to erect the device 12, in use, in order that with each expanded rod being longer than the distance between the upper and lower connection means a banner of flexible material 8 can, in use, be spanned by each rod in a plane defined by the rod and shaft 2.

Each resiliently flexible rod comprises an inner rod 7.1 receivable in an outer tube 7.2 to together define a resiliently flexible rod. The rods 7 are provided with a catch mechanism (not shown) to catch the inner rod 7.1 and outer tube 7.2 together in the predetermined optimum expanded, or extended, position relative to each other. In this example, the inner rod 7.1 and outer tube 7.2 of the resiliently flexible rods can simply be pulled outwardly out of each other, in a generally vertical plane, after the shaft 2 has been extended, until the catch mechanism engages.

The upper connection means 4.1 includes two parts, an upper 26 and lower 28, rotatable relative to each other in a horizontal plane. The resiliently flexible rods 7 are swivelably attachable to the upper part 26 and the lower part is provided with a groove 30 for receiving each of the rods 7 when in the non expanded state. Each groove is further be provide with a cam type ramp 32 in one direction so that by rotating the upper part 26 anti clockwise the rod 7 is moved out of the groove and captured into a generally horizontal orientation near the top of the rod. The rotation is limited by means of stop (not shown). It will be appreciated that this action will warp the plane defined by the rod 7 and shaft 2 to assist rotational movement of the device 12 in a breeze while changing the projected shape of the device to resemble the aesthetically pleasing fletching of a dart or arrow. Figure 11 shows the preferred embodiment, wherein both the shaft and resiliency flexible rods are telescopically extendable and wherein the top and bottom attachment points are angularly off set, which eliminates the need to have a complex upper connection means with two parts rotatable relative to each other and allowing a quick set up of the device.

It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for advertising, which device includes: a shaft to be vertically mounted, in use; an upper connection means proximate the upper end of the shaft for connecting the shaft to one end of each of at least two resiliently flexible rods; a lower connection means proximate the lower end of the shaft for connecting the shaft to each other end of the resiliently flexible rods; at least two resiliently flexible rods; and wherein the resiliently flexible rods are each telescopically extendable and retractable between an extended and retracted state.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the shaft is also telescopically extendable and retractable between an extended and retracted state.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the resiliently flexible rods are connected to the attachment means by means of a swivel joint.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein each resiliently flexible rod includes an inner rod slidably receivable in outer tube and wherein each flexible rod is configured to prevent or discourage separation of the inner rod and outer tube.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each resiliently flexible rod is provided with a catch mechanism to catch the inner rod and outer tube together in the predetermined optimum expanded, or extended, position relative to each other.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the resiliently flexible rods are configured to be expandable to a greater extent than the shaft and the plane defined between the flexible rod and the shaft is pre warped, when the shaft is expanded fully and the resiliently flexible rods are expanded fully, by means of non-aligned attachment points.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the previous claims 2 to 6, wherein the shaft includes stopper or snap fit formations between the extendable parts to indicate the correct expansion position of the parts relative to each other or to prevent over expansion or separation of the parts.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein each resiliently flexible rod is provided with a double layered banner.

9. A device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.