WO2010125383A1

WO2010125383A1 - A display arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2010125383A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/050688
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary Gillot
Original assignee: Imaging Business Beaconsfield Limited
Priority date: 2009-04-28
Filing date: 2010-04-28
Publication date: 2010-11-04
Also published as: GB2469817A; DE202010017592U1; GB0907267D0

Abstract

A display arrangement, comprising: a support element having a generally planar, substantially smooth support face, a plurality of first magnets, having a first polarity, being provided beneath the support face; and a plurality of display panels, each having opposing major surfaces, one of which is a substantially planar display surface and the other of which is a generally planar, substantially smooth attachment surface having a plurality of second magnets, having second polarity which is opposite to the first polarity, provided beneath the attachment surface, the display panels being adapted that any of the display panels may be removably attached to the support element through magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets, with each of the first magnets being in close proximity to a respective one of the second magnets.

Description

Title: A Display Arrangement

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a display arrangement, and in particular concerns a display arrangement for use in a commercial premises.

Many commercial premises have displays which can be used to show customers images and/or details of the goods or services that are offered. Particularly in premises where products cannot be physically shown to visitors, such as those of estate agents, displays of this type are crucial in generating business.

Variation in displays is crucial, however. A typical commercial premises will have limited space for displays, and will need to alter the information that is shown on the displays regularly. This helps to keep attracting customers' interest, and also allows the displays to be updated to reflect changes in buying trends, the seasons, and so on.

Updating displays can, however, be relatively time-consuming, and the ways in which information can be displayed are limited. It is an object of the present invention to seek to provide a display arrangement which ameliorates some of the above problems.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a display arrangement, comprising: a support element having a generally planar, substantially smooth support face, a plurality of first magnets, having a first polarity, being provided beneath the support face; and a plurality of display panels, each having opposing major surfaces, one of which is a substantially planar d isplay surface and the other of wh ich is a generally planar, substantially smooth attachment surface having a plurality of second magnets, having second polarity which is opposite to the first polarity, provided beneath the attachment surface, the display panels being adapted that any of the display panels may be removably attached to the support element through magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets, with each of the first magnets being in close proximity to a respective one of the second magnets.

Advantageously, the coefficient of friction between the support surface and the attachment surface of a display panel is sufficiently low that, if the attachment surface of a display panel is placed against the support surface so that the second magnets of the display panel are mis-aligned by a small amount with respective first magnets of the display panel, the display panel will be pulled across the support surface by the attractive forces between the first and second magnets until each of the first magnets is in close proximity to a respective one of the second magnets.

Preferably, when two panels are removably attached to the support surface, so that second magnets of one of the display panels are in close proximity to a first group of respective first magnets, and second magnets of the other of the panels are in close proximity to a second group of respective first magnets, which are adjacent to the first group of first magnets, the two display panels are spaced apart from one another.

Conveniently, when a plurality of display panels are attached to the support surface, the display surfaces are substantially parallel with one another.

In order that the present invention may be more read ily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a display arrangement embodying the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 show portions of a backing board for use with the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a rear surface of a display panel for use with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 , a display arrangement 1 embodying the present invention is shown. The display arrangement 1 comprises a support element in the form of a backing board 2, in the form of a rigid, planar sheet. The front surface 5 of the backing board 2 presents a substantially planar forward- facing support face. In embodiments of the invention, the backing board 2 may be made from MDF, plastics, or any other suitable material.

A plurality of display panels 3 are attached to a front surface 5 of the backing board 2. Each display panel 3 has a substantially planar rear attachment surface 4.

The display panels 3 are each of square or rectangular shape, and are attached to the front surface 5 of the backing board 2 in a grid pattern, so that the display panels 3 are side-by-side and end-to-end, but with spaces being present between the edges of the panels 3. Preferably, front surfaces 6 of the display panels 3 are substantially parallel with one another.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the display panels 3 are attached to the front surface 5 of the backing board 2 so that relatively thin gaps are left between the edges of the display panels 3, through which the backing board 2 can be seen. This improves the aesthetic quality of the display as a whole. The display panels 3 are each individually removably attachable to the backing board 2 at any one of a plurality of attachment sites. In order to achieve this, as shown in figures 2 and 3, first magnets 7, having a first polarity, are provided within the front surface 5 of the backing board 2. Similarly, as shown in figure 4, second magnets 8, having second polarity, opposite to the first polarity, within the rear surfaces 4 of the display panels 3. The first magnets 7 are embedded within the backing board 2 so that they are behind the front surface 5 thereof, so that the front surface 5 is smooth and uninterrupted. Similarly, the second magnets 8 are embedded within the display panels 3, behind the rear surfaces 4 thereof, so that the rear surfaces 4 are smooth and uninterrupted.

In preferred embodiments, the first magnets 7 are arranged in a regular grid pattern, for instance a regular square or rectangular grid pattern.

In addition, the spacing between the second magnets 8 corresponds to the spacing of the first magnets 7. Therefore, a display panel 3 may be placed against the backing board 2 so that each of the second magnets 8 that are embedded within the display board 3 are aligned with one of the first magnets 7 that is embedded within the backing board 2. If the first magnets are arranged in a regular square pattern, then a display panel 3 may be square (having a second magnet 8 at or near each corner), or rectangular (having a second magnet 8 at or near each corner, and a further second magnet 8 substantially halfway along each of its longer sides), or of any other convenient shape.

It will be appreciated that a display panel 3 may be placed against the backing board 2, with the second magnets 8 of the display panel 3 being approximately aligned with the first magnets 7 of the backing board 2, there will be an attractive force between the first and second magnets 7, 8. This will hold the display panel 3 against the backing board 2, and will also pull the display panel 3 across the front surface 5 of the backing board 2 so that the first and second magnets 7, 8 are aligned. Preferably, the coefficient of friction between the front surface 5 of the backing board 2 and the rear surface 5 of the display panel 3 is relatively low, so that the display panel 3 may slide relatively easily across the front surface 5.

It will therefore be appreciated that display panels 3 may be placed on the backing board 2, in positions which are approximate to the correct positions, and the display panels 3 will simply "snap" into the correct positions, as a result of the attractive forces acting between the first and second magnets 7, 8, so that each of the second magnets 8 is in close proximity to a respective one of the first magnets 7, to create an aesthetically pleasing display.

Preferably, the first and second magnets 7, 8 are provided a short distance beneath the front surface 5 of the backing board 2, and beneath the rear surface 4 of each display panel 3. This will increase the strength of the attraction between the backing board 2 and the display panels 3, as the strength of the attractive forces will be inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the first and second magnets 7, 8. In advantageous embodiments, the first and second magnets 7, 8 are provided no more than a few millimetres beneath the respective surfaces 2, 5.

In preferred embodiments the first and second magnets 7, 8 are small magnets, for instance "stud" magnets. The first and second magnets 7, 8 may, for instance, be around 5mm to 1 cm across. Having magnets of a relatively small size allows the positions of the display panels 3 with respect to the backing board 2 to be determined with a high level of precision.

It is envisaged that display arrangements embodying the present invention will be of great utility in many commercial premises. It will be understood that this will allow displays presented in premises to be changed at short notice, and also allows great flexibility in the presentation of displays. For instance, the display panels 3 may be attached to a backing board 2 to present an image representing a particular scene, for instance a tree in part, with each display panel 3 making up a part of the image. Moreover, the display panels 3 can be swiftly and easily be replaced with alternative display panels, for instance showing a product of service that is offered by the business, or another message to potential customers.

Alternatively, the entire image can be changed swiftly and easily. Display panels that are not used in a particular display can be stored for later use.

In the above, square or rectangular panels are described. It should, however, be appreciated that panels of any suitable shape may be used.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1 A display arrangement, comprising: a support element having a generally planar, substantially smooth support face, a plurality of first magnets, having a first polarity, being provided beneath the support face; and a plurality of display panels, each having opposing major surfaces, one of which is a substantially planar display surface and the other of which is a generally planar, substantially smooth attachment surface having a plurality of second magnets, having second polarity which is opposite to the first polarity, provided beneath the attachment surface, the display panels being adapted that any of the display panels may be removably attached to the support element through magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets, with each of the first magnets being in close proximity to a respective one of the second magnets.

2. A display arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the coefficient of friction between the support surface and the attachment surface of a display panel is sufficiently low that, if the attachment surface of a display panel is placed against the support surface so that the second magnets of the display panel are mis-aligned by a small amount with respective first magnets of the display panel, the display panel will be pulled across the support surface by the attractive forces between the first and second magnets until each of the first magnets is in close proximity to a respective one of the second magnets.

3. A display arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, when two panels are removably attached to the support surface, so that second magnets of one of the display panels are in close proximity to a first group of respective first magnets, and second magnets of the other of the panels are in close proximity to a second group of respective first magnets, which are adjacent to the first group of first magnets, the two display panels are spaced apart from one another.

4. A display arrangement according to any preceding claims wherein, when a plurality of display panels are attached to the support surface, the display surfaces are substantially parallel with one another.

5. A d isplay arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.