WO2012114314A1

WO2012114314A1 - A support for the exhibition of advertising and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2012114314A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/050865
Authority: WO
Inventors: Monica D'AMATO
Original assignee: D Amato Monica
Priority date: 2011-02-24
Filing date: 2012-02-24
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: ITMI20110069U1

Abstract

It is provided a support (1) for displaying posters and the like, adapted to keep at least one poster (1a) to a raised position relative to the ground and comprising at least one aerostatic element (3) containing gas adapted to maintain the support (1) to a given height relative to the ground; and a stiff structure (2) suitable to enable fastening of at least one poster (1a) to the support (1) and defining a holding volume inside which the aerostatic element (3) is housed.

Description

A SUPPORT FOR THE EXHIBITION OF ADVERTISING AND THE LIKE

The present invention relates to a support for the exhibition of advertising and the like, of the type pointed out in the preamble of the first claim.

This support is usable for displaying advertising posters, placards or any other type of information so as to enable easy and practical reading of same.

In particular, the support can be used for putting up advertising posters or placards enabling reading thereof also when the observer is to a great distance from the support and therefore from the poster, or when said user is inside a car and therefore is moving relative to the poster.

It is known that presently, advertising posters are affixed, using glues, to suitable devices consisting of panels for example, conveniently fastened to a suitable supporting structure, such as a wall or a pole, adapted to enable the support and therefore the advertising poster to be maintained to the correct position.

In detail, in order to enable easy reading also to an observer placed to an important distance, said panels are usually disposed at a raised position and have big sizes so as to enable affixing of advertising posters with particularly large inscriptions and/or images that therefore can be easily read.

Said supporting structure consists of a series of section bars adapted to fasten the support to the ground maintaining said panels to a raised position or, alternatively, to an outer wall or a building wall.

The above mentioned known art has some important drawbacks.

A first problem is represented by the aesthetic decay due to the presence of the support. In particular, said problem is particularly important when an advertising poster is put up on a building because the presence of said advertising poster disfigures the building facade or wall to which the poster is affixed.

Said aesthetic decay is such felt by the inhabitants of the building, that they often are hostile to the advertisement, in spite of the fact that said affixing brings profit to them.

Notwithstanding the above problem, the aforesaid solution is presently very utilised due to the large placarding surfaces typical of a building wall.

In order to solve the mentioned drawbacks, often the advertising poster is affixed to the scaffolding used during renovation or construction of a building. In any case this solution involves important problems.

In fact, in order to be able to take advantage of the scaffolding for advertising purposes for a period as long as possible, works are often prolonged by important periods of time, with all disadvantages resulting therefrom.

Another problem belonging to supports fastened to the ground resides in that said devices represent fixed locations that cannot be displaced.

In fact, it is almost impossible to displace said devices, usually placed to the sides of a road or on a building roof. In detail, should works have to be executed on the road or on the roof where the supports are disposed, it is often necessary to remove and sometimes even destroy said devices as they would constitute an obstacle to said works.

Another problem belonging to said devices for poster affixing that are fastened to the ground is the reduced extension of the panels and consequently the limited sizes of the posters that can be affixed thereto.

These problems have been partly solved by the support for poster display and the like described in the patent application MI2007A 000977 in the name of the same Applicant. Said support however has important drawbacks too. In particular, it is characterised by high instability and by the possibility of being dragged away due to sudden wind gusts.

Under this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to conceive a support for the exhibition of advertising and the like capable of substantially obviating the mentioned drawbacks.

Within the scope of this technical task, it is an important aim of the invention to provide a support enabling posters of big sizes to be affixed without being it necessary to occupy the walls of a building.

Another important aim of the invention is to make available a support for affixing posters and the like that does not constitute an obstacle or hindrance to execution of possible works in the vicinity of the support itself.

The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are achieved by a support for the exhibition of advertising and the like as claimed in the appended claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are highlighted in the sub-claims.

The features and advantages of the invention are hereinafter clarified by the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the support for the exhibition of advertising according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the support connections.

With reference to the mentioned drawings, the support for the exhibition of advertising and the like according to the invention is generally identified by reference numeral 1. It is preferably adapted to show any type of information placing said information at a raised position relative to the ground so as to ensure it to be seen and therefore read to great distances. Support 1 is therefore usable for displaying posters 1a of any kind, advertising or political placards for example, useful information such as that indicating possible road yards, or other posters and similar placards.

Support 1 briefly comprises a stiff structure 2 adapted to enable at least one poster 1a to be fastened to support 1 ; at least one aerostatic element 3 containing a gas for maintaining the stiff structure 2 to a raised position; and at least one displaying membrane 4 reproducing at least one of posters 1 a.

The stiff structure 2 preferably consists of section bars 2a connected to each other in an unseparable manner, by welding for example, or preferably in a separable manner. In detail, in case of separable connections, section bars 2a are connected to each other by friction fits, threaded connections or other similar solutions adapted to enable quick assembling and disassembling of structure 2.

The section bars 2a are such arranged as to define a structure 2 having a framework characterised by a preferred extension direction substantially perpendicular to the ground. In particular, arrangement of section bars 2a defines a hollow framework, i.e. adapted to confine a holding volume 2b inside which the aerostatic element 3 is housed.

On the upper part of the stiff structure 2 positioning of the section bars 2a is adapted to prevent the aerostatic element 3 from coming out of support 1 , i.e. to prevent the thrust given by element 3 may lead the. element itself to come out of the stiff structure 2. For instance, said arrangement of the section bars is cross-wise and can also define a pyramidal structure.

The lower part, constituting the housing of element 3 has a polygonal shape defining a plurality of side surfaces preferably having the perpendicular almost parallel to the ground, on each of which a membrane 4 can be mounted. Alternatively, a circular shape, cylindrical for example, can be adopted which defines a single side surface which therefore can be covered using either a single membrane 4 or a plurality of membranes 4.

In particular, on the lower part, positioning of the section bars 2a is such as to prevent the aerostatic element 3 from coming into contact with the membranes 4 and deforming them.

At each side surface, the support has the membrane 4 suitably fastened to the stiff structure 2. In detail it can be provided with eyelets or other similar elements suitable for engagement with the section bars defining a motion- admitting connection between the membrane and structure 2.

The membrane 4 can directly constitute the poster 1 a and therefore reproduce the information, advertisements for example, or it can be used as a support enabling printed matter or a painting to be secured thereto. In the last-mentioned case the same membrane 4 can be used several times for application of different posters 1a or paintings.

It can consist of flexible material and more specifically of composite material of aramidic fibre, a material known under the name "Kevlar^®", a registered trademark from the United States DuPont^®, which is accepted as the description of the type of material and used in the engineering and commercial field.

More particularly, membrane 4 is made of honeycomb microperforated Kevlar , suitably elasticised so that it has an optimal resistance and allows passage of air and wind through the membrane itself, without the force thereof intervening heavily.

Membrane 4 has sides of sizes preferably in the order of dozens of metres. At the stiff structure 2, support 1 has at least one actuating apparatus 5 adapted to enable movement of at least one membrane 4 relative to the stiff structure 2.

The actuating apparatus 5 can consist, in known manner, of two rollers 5a on which a membrane 4 showing one or more posters 1 a is wound. In detail, the two rollers 5b consist of an idler roller and a drive roller so that they control running of membrane 4 along the side surface of the stiff structure 2, causing the poster 1a in sight to change at predetermined intervals.

In particular, should the stiff structure 2 have a polygonal profile, support 1 can contemplate, for each side face, an actuating apparatus 5 adapted to move the membrane 4 and therefore posters 1 a only along said side surface. On the contrary, should structure 2 have circular profile, only one apparatus 5 can be provided which is adapted to move one or more posters 1 a along the side surface of at least the lower portion 2d.

Support 1 comprises a fastening system 6 adapted to ensure the correct position of posters 1 a relative to the ground.

The fastening system 6 is adapted to oppose the action of external agents, such as the wind and, in some cases, the thrust of the aerostatic element 3 enabling a maximum height of support 1 relative to the ground to be defined. It therefore comprises at least one base 6a rigidly connected to the ground, at least one cable 6b adapted to secure the base to the stiff structure and at least one winch 6c adapted to move cable 6b so as to change the maximum height. In particular, the length of cable 6a allows a maximum height substantially included between 20 m and 50 m to be defined and, more specifically, said maximum height substantially corresponds to 30 m.

The aerostatic element 3 is housed inside the holding volume 2b and exerts a thrust on the stiff structure 2 that is adapted to maintain poster 1 a substantially to a given height relative to the ground.

It can consist of a vessel inside which a light gas is admitted, i.e. a gas that, having smaller density than air, creates an upward thrust adapted to lift the support. Said gas can consist of hot air, i.e. heated to a temperature higher than the room temperature so that it has lower density than the atmospheric air, or it can be an appropriate gas (hydrogen, helium, ammonia, etc.) of lower density than air so that it is able to perform said function.

Preferably the utilised gas is helium.

The aerostatic element 3 can be of the zero-pressure type, being therefore made of an elastic material that is filled with light gas and is able to expand so that it always has its inner pressure at values similar to those of the surrounding pressure thereby ensuring, due to the lower density of the gas, lifting of support 1 , irrespective of the outside atmospheric conditions.

Alternatively, the aerostatic element 3 is of the hyperbaric type, i.e. it consists of a stiffer and inelastic material as compared with the preceding one, but capable of constituting an almost airtight element which therefore has no losses.

Support 1 comprises adjusting members that, by changing pressure, temperature and/or gas amounts inside element 3, are able to adjust and control the thrust exerted by the aerostatic element 3 on the stiff structure 2. Said adjusting members comprise a detecting device 7 adapted to detect a variation in height of support 1 relative to the ground, and means adapted to adjust the support's height.

The detecting device 7 is suitable to control the height of support 1 keeping it to a predetermined range of allowable heights, preferably substantially of 5 m. It preferably consists of a device adapted to enable changes of said height in the order of 1 m to be detected, and therefore said detecting device 7 can contemplate the presence of a precision altimeter.

The means belonging to the adjusting members can include first adjusting means 8 adapted to adjust the gas temperature, and/or second adjusting means 9 adapted to adjust the gas amount inside the aerostatic element 3. The first adjusting means 8 acts on the stimulus of element 3 by varying the gas density contained therein. In particular, said means 8 is adapted to maintain under control or vary the gas density by acting on the gas temperature and therefore consists of one or more Peltier cells, resistors or other similar elements enabling the temperature to be varied.

The second adjusting means 9 is adapted to vary said thrust by varying the gas amount contained in the aerostatic element 3 and, therefore, it comprises a pump 9a adapted to vary the gas contents in the aerostatic element 3, a container 9b adapted to contain the gas and in particular helium, and pipelines 9c consisting of one or more pipes or ducts bringing pump 9a into connection for fluid passage with element 3 and container 9b.

The adjusting means 9 may comprise, as an alternative or in addition to the aforesaid components of means 9, a valve 9d adapted to bring the aerostatic element 3 directly into connection for fluid passage with the external environment enabling the gas to get in and out of element 3, adapting the pressure to the desired value.

Finally, support 1 can be provided with a powering system 10 for supplying energy to the different components, and a control card 11 , suitably connectable to the adjusting members for data passage.

The powering system 10 is adapted to enable connection of support 1 with an external network and/or to enable said support to be powered, by means of photovoltaic panels or a battery, for example.

The control card 1 1 is suitably brought into connection for data passage both with means 8, 9 and with device 7 and, in addition, it allows means 8, 9 to be controlled. It is therefore preferably provided with an antenna 11a suitable to enable the control card 1 1 to be brought into connection for data passage with an external unit 11 b that may consist of a remote control, a PC or other unit enabling the adjusting members and therefore support 1 to be operated. In particular, said connection for data passage takes place in the air, such as a connection of the "wireless" type.

Preparation and mounting of a support for displaying posters and the like described above as regards its structure, is the following.

At the beginning, support 1 is disassembled, i.e. the different components are separated from each other so as to facilitate storage and handling of same. In detail, it has a stiff structure 2 divided into the different section bars 2a constituting it.

The disassembled support 1 is then taken to the site designed to receive it and assemble it. Once the provided site has been reached, the different section bars 2a are joined together so as to constitute the stiff structure 2 and, simultaneously with said assembling operation, one or more membranes 4 are secured to the section bars 2a at the side surfaces of structure 2. In particular, if support 1 contemplates the possibility of moving the membrane 4, one or more actuating apparatus 5 are fastened to the stiff structure 2 and they are adapted to move each membrane 4 and therefore to change the poster 1a in sight.

When the stiff structure 2 is completed, it is secured to the fastening system 6. In detail, each cable 6b is connected to a section bar 2a and to a winch 6c integral with base 6a.

Preparation of support 1 is terminated when the aerostatic element 3 is inserted into the stiff structure 2 and the aerostatic element 3 is connected to the adjusting means 8 and 9.

In particular, the aerostatic element 3 is connected, through the pipelines 9c, to pump 9a and therefore to container 9b so as to bring the aerostatic element 3 into connection for fluid passage with said container 9b.

When said connection has been created, gas is admitted into element 3 until it generates an upward thrust capable of lifting support 1 and positioning it to the desired height, imposed by the operator through an external unit 11 b put into connection for data passage with the control card 11.

Operation of support 1 for poster display is the following.

Once support 1 is mounted and lifted from the ground, as above described, through the control card 11 activation occurs both of the actuating apparatus 5 moving membrane 4 and therefore changing the poster 1 a in view, and of the adjusting members enabling the height of support 1 from the ground to be stabilised by adjusting the thrust exerted by element 3.

This adjustment takes place automatically, through the adjusting means 8 and 9 and device 7 communicating with each other by means of the control card 11. In detail, the detecting device 7, measuring the height of support 1 , determines a possible height variation of support 1 and, if said height takes a value not included within the predetermined range of allowable heights, operates actuation of means 8 and/or 9, through card 11.

In detail, if the height of support is too much, the adjusting means 8 and 9 impose a reduction in the thrust of the aerostatic element 3 on the stiff structure 2, whereas if the height is lower than said range, means 8 and 9 operate an increase in the thrust of element 3.

The invention achieves important advantages.

In fact, by virtue of structure 1 big surfaces are available for display of posters and the like, even in the absence of supports such as walls and buildings. Said advantage is due to the presence of the aerostatic element 3 enabling support 1 to be maintained to an optimal position, therefore making the different posters 1a easily observable by passers-by and vehicles.

This advantage also exists towards the above mentioned patent in the name of the same Applicant because the surface usable for display of posters 1a appears to be particularly increased.

A further advantage, still with reference to said patent, is represented by the fact that the aerostatic element 3, being enclosed in the holding structure 2 by the section bars 2a, cannot become detached from the rest of the support causing the structure to fall to the ground.

Another advantage resides in that both the membranes 4, being made of microperforated Kevlar , and the stiff structure 2, being made of section bars, prevent the wind from impressing high forces to support 1 and therefore correct holding of support 1 also in the presence of strong winds is achieved. Also advantageous is the fact that almost the whole of the stresses are discharged on element 3, while system 6 must only resist possible reduced forces produced by the wind.

This advantage enables the fastening system 6 and in particular base 6a to be of reduced sizes, so that an easier movement and removal of support 1 can be obtained, as compared with known supports.

Claims

1. A support for the exhibition of advertising and the like adapted to keep at least one poster (1a) at a raised position relative to the ground and comprising a stiff structure (2) adapted to enable fastening of said at least one poster (1a) to said support (1), and at least one aerostatic element (3) containing gas, adapted to maintain said stiff structure (2) to said raised position; characterised in that said stiff structure (2) defines a holding volume inside which said at least one aerostatic element (3) is housed; and in that said aerostatic element (3) is adapted to exert a thrust on said stiff structure (2) that is suitable to keep said support (1) substantially to a give height relative to said ground.

2. A support (1) as claimed in claim 1 , comprising adjusting members adapted to enable said thrust exerted by said aerostatic element (3) on said stiff structure (2) to be adjusted, so as to control said given height.

3. A support (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said adjusting members are adapted to keep said support (1) within a predetermined range of allowable heights.

4. A support (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said adjusting members comprise first adjusting means (8) adapted to adjust the temperature of said gas.

5. A support (1) as claimed in one or more of claims 2-4, wherein said adjusting members comprise second adjusting means (9) adapted to adjust the amount of said gas inside said aerostatic element (3).

6. A support (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said second adjusting means (9) comprises a pump (9a) suitable to vary the content of said gas in said aerostatic element (3), a container (9b) for holding said gas, pipelines to bring said pump (9a) into connection for fluid passage with said aerostatic element (3) and said container (9b).

7. A support (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said container (9b) contains helium.

8. A support (1 ) as claimed in one or more of claims 5-7, wherein said second adjusting means (9) comprises a valve (9d) adapted to bring said aerostatic element (3) into connection for fluid passage with the external environment.

9. A support (1 ) as claimed in one or more of claims 2-8, wherein said adjusting members comprise a detecting device (7) adapted to detect a variation in height of said support (1 ) relative to said ground.

10. A support (1 ) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a fastening system (6) adapted to ensure correct positioning of said support (1 ) relative to the ground.

11. A support (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said fastening system (6) comprises a base (6a) rigidly connected to said ground and at least one cable (6b) for securing said base to said stiff structure (2) so as to define a maximum height of said support.

12. A support (1) as claimed in one or more of claims 10-11 , wherein said fastening system (6) comprises at least one winch (6c) adapted to move said at least one cable (6a) relative to said base thus varying said maximum height.

13. A support (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one membrane (4) reproducing at least one of said posters (1 a) and connected to said base structure.

14. A support (1 ) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said membrane (4) for display is made of honeycomb microperforated Kevlar^® material.

15. A support (1 ) as claimed in one or more of claims 12-14, comprising at least one actuating apparatus (5) adapted to enable movement of said at least one membrane (4) relative to said stiff structure (2).