WO2020074064A1

WO2020074064A1 - Frame system for an array of display tiles

Info

Publication number: WO2020074064A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/077368
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel SALMONSSON; Jonas HÅKANSSON; Darko DELIC; Mikael JARVIN
Original assignee: Sms Smart Media Solutions Ab
Priority date: 2018-10-08
Filing date: 2018-10-08
Publication date: 2020-04-16
Also published as: EP3864333A1

Abstract

A frame system (1) comprising a plurality of elongate frame members (2) adapted to be positioned around the circumference of an array (3) of display tiles (23) such that the frame members (2) together form a frame around the circumference of the array (3), and a plurality of support brackets (4) attachable to a wall or sub-structure (5) for supporting the frame members (2), wherein each support bracket (4) comprises an outer support portion (5), and wherein opposite end portions (6) of each frame member (2) are releasably attachable to the outer support portion (6) of a respective support bracket (4) by means of a releasable outer connector (7) configured to provide a resilient connection between the frame member (2) and the support bracket (4).

Description

Frame system for an array of display tiles

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to large format display of digital content using an array of display tiles. A common example of display tiles used are LCD-displays, such as TV:s. Mass production of displays are made in standard sizes with common sizes today being about 55-65 inch. In order to provide a larger image, arrays of standard display tiles are formed by mounting a plurality of displays adjacent each other on a wall or other sub- structure. The image to be displayed is then split such that a portion of the image is displayed on each display tile wherein the display tiles of the array of display tiles together display the whole image.

Background

An array of display tiles is normally suspended on dedicated mounting structures. An example of a mounting structure is the one of the SMS Multi Display Wall by Smart Media Solutions. Another example is the UniSee Mount by Barco. Common for many current mounting structures is that outer edge portions of the display tiles of the array are freely exposed to the surroundings and thus to some degree subject to interference by dust and foreign objects.

Summary

An object of the present disclosure is thus to provide a frame system which can be mounted around the outer circumference of an array of display tiles. A specific object is to provide such a frame system capable of withstanding movements of the display tiles without damaging the frame or the display tiles.

These and other objects are fulfilled by a frame system according to a first aspect. The frame system comprises a plurality of elongate frame members adapted to be positioned around the circumference of an array of display tiles such that the frame members together form a frame around the circumference of the array. The frame system further comprises a plurality of support brackets attachable to a wall or sub-structure for supporting the frame members. Each support bracket comprises an outer support portion. Opposite end portions of each frame member are releasably attachable to the outer support portion of a respective support bracket by means of a releasable outer connector configured to provide a resilient connection between the frame member and the support bracket.

Upon mounting of the frame system around the array of display tiles, the support brackets are distributed around the circumference of the array and attached to the wall or sub-structure in suitable positions for securing the frame members. The opposite end portions of each frame member are then attached to corresponding support brackets by joining the respective end portions of the frame member to the outer support portion of the respective corresponding support bracket whilst keeping the frame member tilted away from the display tile. Tilting the inner portion away from the display tile ensures that the display tile is not scratched or otherwise damaged by the frame member. The attachment is achieved by moving the outer connector from its released position to its to its connected position, typically by aligning parts of the outer connector and applying some force although that varies by connector type. The frame member is subsequently rotated to its use position adjacent the display tile.

The resilient nature of the outer connector enables the frame member to be connected to the support bracket whilst being tilted, thereby reducing risk of damages to the frame member and display tile, as mentioned above. Further, the resiliency enables the frame member to be tilted to its use position and back again, thereby enabling easy and secure mounting and removal whilst also enabling a tight fit to the display tile. Also, the resiliency and outer positioning of the outer connector enables the frame member to move slightly upon being forced by the display tile, thus reducing risk of scratching, cracking or otherwise damaging the display tile upon movement of the display. This makes the frame system very useful for vibrating or otherwise moving environments such as in vehicles or heavy industries, and for use together with arrays of self-levelling display tiles. Further, the frame system is advantageous since no tools are needed for assembly.

Opposite end portions of each frame member may be releasably attachable to an inner support portion of a respective support bracket by means of a releasable inner connector. The inner connector holds the frame member when the frame member is tilted to its use position adjacent the display tile.

The inner connector may comprise a magnet provided on one of the support bracket and the frame member, wherein the other one of the support bracket and the frame member is provided with a magnetic portion positioned to cooperate with the magnet to releasably hold the frame member to the support bracket.

The use of a magnet provides for a connection that is reliable and sideways flexible since the magnet may move relative to the magnetic portion without loosing hold, thus allowing the frame member to be moved by the display tile.

The frame member may comprise an elongate cover profile, wherein each opposite end portion of the cover profile is provided with a respective frame bracket comprising an outer frame bracket portion on which the respective outer connector is provided, and an inner frame bracket portion on which the inner connector is provided.

By using a combination of a cover profile and brackets provided at each respective end portion of the cover profile, a lightweight design is achieved which is still able to provide a large surface area for protecting the sides of the display tiles.

The outer connector may comprise a male member and a corresponding female member configured to releasably hold the male member. The outer connector is attachable by moving the male member into the female member. This provides for tool-free assembly of the frame system.

The male member may comprise a stem the outer end of which is provided with a protrusion, wherein the female member is provided with a socket provided with resilient wall portions defining an inner space for receiving the protrusion. The stem is insertable into the socket which due to its resilient wall portions is able to grab the outer end of the stem by its protrusion. This provides a snap-fit connection and the stem and the resilient wall portions together provide the required resiliency.

The female member may comprise a plurality of resilient lips forming the resilient wall portions. The resilient lips provide a high degree of flexibility of the resilient wall portion whilst allowing use of a relatively stiff and durable material.

The male and female member may be thermoplastic parts. Thermoplastic parts are inexpensive and not sensitive to moisture.

The elongate cover profile may be provided with an inner flange on which one or more pieces of a fabric, rubber or an elastomer are provided for facing an adjacent display tile. The pieces of fabric, rubber or elastomer facing the adjacent display tile reduces the risk of abrasion and scratches forming between the frame member and the display tile.

Each support bracket may comprise two outer connectors positioned so as to join two frame members. The provision of two outer connectors on one bracket makes is possible to use few support brackets whilst still connecting both opposite end portions of the frame members to a respective support bracket. Also, by connecting two frame members to each support bracket, adjacent frame members are aligned.

The frame system may further comprise a plurality of sub-structures in the form of wall brackets, wherein each wall bracket is provided with attachment portions for mounting of a respective support bracket to the wall bracket, and wherein each wall bracket is also provided with attachment portions for attachment of at least one display tile to said wall bracket.

By providing a wall bracket to which both the display tile and the support bracket is attached, the correct position of each support bracket is more easily determined. Further, by providing for attachment of the support bracket directly to the wall bracket, no separate hole has to be drilled in the underlying wall or other structure. Brief description of drawings

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a prior art multi display wall comprising an array of display tiles mounted on cross-shaped feet/brackets.

Fig. 2 shows a front view of the frame system according to the invention mounted around the circumference of the array of display tiles of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3-6 show a right-hand view, a left-hand view, a bottom view and a top view respectively, of the frame system shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a corner embodiment of a support bracket.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a side embodiment of a support bracket.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the array of display tiles of Fig. 1 , however with the support brackets of the present invention mounted in positions for receiving the frame members of the invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view A as indicated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view B as indicated in Fig. 9.

Figs. 12-14 show side views of of consecutive steps of assembly of a frame member to two support brackets (only one support bracket is visible due to the perspective).

Fig. 15 shows a side view of a display tile having moved slightly to the left wherein the frame member has rotated slightly to accommodate for the movement of the display tile.

Fig. 16 shows an enlarged view C as indicated in Fig. 15. The grey area represents the position of the display tile after movement to the left.

Figs. 17-21 show various views of a (corner) frame member of the invention attached to a (side) support bracket and to a (corner) support bracket.

Fig. 22 show a female member of the outer connector and Fig. 23 shows a corresponding male member of the outer connector.

Figs. 2-23 all relate to the same embodiment of the frame system and hence a specific item may be provided with reference numeral in only one or a few figures and not in all figures, in order not to clutter the figures with an excessive amount of reference numerals.

Detailed description

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a prior art multi-display wall comprising an array of two times two display tiles 23 mounted on cross-shaped feet/brackets 22 which are bolted to a wall. The wall brackets/feet 22 are clearly visible around the outer circumference of the array of display tiles. All four corners of each display panel is attached to a respective wall bracket 22. One wall bracket 22 may support up to four display tiles 23. For example, one wall bracket 22 is provided at the intersection of the four display tiles 23 for supporting the corresponding corners of all four display tiles 23.

A first embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the appended figs. 2-23.

As shown in fig.2, the frame system 1 of the invention comprises a plurality of elongate frame members 2 adapted to be positioned around the circumference of an array of display tiles 3 such that the frame members 2 together form a frame around the circumference of the array 3.

The length of each frame member 2 is adapted to the height or width of the display tile 3 by which it is to be mounted. Flence, each side of the array of display tiles 3 is covered by a plurality of frame members 2. In other embodiments, a frame member 2 may be longer such that it covers more than one display tile 3.

The frame system 1 further comprises a plurality of support brackets 4 attachable to a wall or sub-structure 22 for supporting the frame members 2. Here, the support brackets come in two versions, a corner version and a side version. The corner version is shown in fig. 10 attached to a sub- structure 23 using two screws screwed directly into matching holes in the sub- structure. Fig. 11 shows the side version of the support bracket 4 when attached to a sub-structure using one screw through a hole in the center portion of the support bracket 4 and into a hole in the sub-structure 22. In the given example, the sub-structures are the cross-shaped wall brackets 22. In some embodiments, other suitable sub-structures, such as spacers, may be used and screwed directly into a wall or other support. As shown if figs. 7-8, each support bracket 4 comprises an outer support portion 5. As shown in figs. 12-14 and 18, opposite end portions 6 of each frame member 2 are releasably attachable to the outer support portion 5 (see figs. 7-8) of a respective support bracket 4 by means of a releasable outer connector 7 configured to provide a resilient connection between the frame member 2 and the support bracket 4.

The opposite end portions 6 of each frame member 2 are releasably attachable to an inner support portion 8 of a respective support bracket 4 by means of a releasable inner connector 9. The releasability of the inner connector makes the frame system 1 easy to assemble and disassemble.

The inner connector 1 comprises a magnet 10 provided on the support bracket 4. The frame member 2 is made from steel, since it is magnetic and therefore functions to attract the magnet 10. In other embodiments, some other suitable material could alternatively be used for the bracket, as long as the bracket is provided with a magnetic portion 11 , for example by provision of another magnet or piece of magnetic metal positioned to cooperate with the magnet 10 to releasably hold the frame member 2 to the support bracket 4. The magnetic connection is advantageous since it provides a biasing force over a range of different tilted positions of the frame member 2 and as such is able to pull the frame member 2 back to the use position, should the frame member 2 have been slightly displaced.

The frame member 2 comprises an elongate cover profile 12. The cover profile 12 is made of sheet metal but could alternatively be made of any suitable material, such as extruded metal or a plastic material. Each opposite end portion 6 of the cover profile 12 is provided with a respective frame bracket 13. Each frame bracket 13 comprises an outer frame bracket portion 14 on which the outer connector 7 is provided. Each frame bracket 13 also comprises an inner frame bracket portion 15 on which the inner connector 9 is provided. This design comprising a thin cover member and a bracket uses little material and is both light and strong and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. In another embodiment, the frame member 2 may instead comprise a solid body shaped to provide corresponding outer and inner frame bracket portions. The ends of the frame members 2 or their cover profiles 2 are shaped as needed to either provide an end-to-end straight joint (typically perpendicular ends), or to provide a miter-joint (typically suitable 45 degree cut ends (see Figs. 18-21 ).

The outer connector 7 comprises a male member 16 and a corresponding female member 17 configured to releasably hold the male member 16. The male member 16 comprises a stem the outer end of which is provided with a protrusion, wherein the female member 17 is provided with a plurality of resilient lips 19 forming a socket provided with resilient wall portions defining an inner space 18 for receiving the protrusion. The male 16 and female 17 member are thermoplastic parts but could in other embodiments be made of any other suitable material. The stem and the resilient wall portions provided by the lips 19 provide a resilient connection between the frame member 2 and the support bracket 4 such that the frame member 2 is attachable and detachable to/from the support brackets 4 when tilted away from the use position adjacent. Yet, the resiliency allows for the frame member 2 to be tilted to its use position after having connected the frame member 2 and the support bracket 4. Attachment of a frame member 2 to the support members 2 is shown in consecutive steps in figs. 12-14. Specifically, Fig. 12 shows the frame member 2 in a tilted position, tilted away from the display tile 23. The two parts of the outer connector 7 are joined by forcing them together until they snap-lock. In Fig. 13 the frame is shown still tilted away from the display tile 23 but here after connection of the outer connector 7. In Fig. 14, the frame member 2 is shown tilted to its use position adjacent the display tile 23. Flere, the magnet 10 abuts the frame bracket 13 and as such the frame member 2 does not necessarily touch the display tile 23. Flowever, the magnet could in some other embodiment alternatively bias the frame member 2 against the display tile 23 in the normal use position of the frame member 2. The movement of the display tile 23 after assembly, could be caused by vibrations or by adjustment of the array of display tiles, such as by an automatic position adjustment system possibly integrated in the array of display tiles.

Instead of a male/female connector, some other suitable connector could be used, such as a connector providing resilient press-fit between complimentary members, or a hook-and-loop connector or a hinge. Flowever, the illustrated connectors provide for simple tool-free connection of the frame member 2 and the support bracket 4. Also, the illustrated outer connector 7 provides a translational stability preventing sideways translational movement whilst allowing the frame member 2 to be tilted/rotated along a rotational axis extending through both outer connectors 7 connected to a frame member 2. The resilient outer connector keeps an outer portion of the frame member 2 securely fastened to the support brackets 4, whilst enabling an inner portion of the frame member 2 to be more free to move and thus able to accommodate movements when being forced by a vibrating or otherwise moving adjacent display tile 23 as illustrated in Figs. 15-16. Further, by providing the inner connector raised with respect to the outer connector 7, the separation between the magnet and the frame bracket required to accommodate a given sideways movement of a panel is lower than what it would have been if the outer and inner connectors would have been provided at the same level. This is illustrated by the direction of the arrow showing the travel path of the frame bracket away from the magnet 10 in the enlarged view of Fig. 16. In Fig. 16, the sideways movement of the display tile 23 is shown by the grey area to the to the left of the black area.

As shown in Fig. 17, the elongate cover profile 12 is provided with an inner flange on which one or more pieces of a fabric, rubber or an elastomer 21 are provided for facing an adjacent display tile. In other embodiments, the one or more pieces of a fabric, rubber or an elastomer 21 may be omitted. Also, in some embodiments, the inner flange 20 could be omitted. The inner flange 20 functions to provide an attachment portion for the frame bracket 13. Each support bracket 4 comprises two outer connectors 7 positioned so as to join two frame members 2. Thus, two adjacent frame members 2 are easily aligned to jointly form a frame.

The frame system 1 is suitable for being retrofitted to existing arrays

3 of display tiles 23 but could also comprise sub-structures 22, such as wall brackets, for mounting of a display pane 23 to the frame system 1. Therefore, the frame system 1 may according to a second embodiment also comprise a plurality of sub-structures 22 in the form of wall brackets, wherein the wall brackets 22 are provided with attachment portions for mounting of a respective support bracket 4, and wherein the wall brackets 22 are also provided with attachment portions for attachment of a display tile 23 to said wall bracket, directly or indirectly.

Claims

1. A frame system (1 ) comprising:

a plurality of elongate frame members (2) adapted to be positioned around the circumference of an array (3) of display tiles (23) such that the frame members (2) together form a frame around the circumference of the array (3), and

a plurality of support brackets (4) attachable to a wall or sub-structure (5) for supporting the frame members (2),

wherein each support bracket (4) comprises an outer support portion (5), and

wherein opposite end portions (6) of each frame member (2) are releasably attachable to the outer support portion (6) of a respective support bracket (4) by means of a releasable outer connector (7) configured to provide a resilient connection between the frame member (2) and the support bracket (4).

2. The frame system (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the opposite end portions (6) of each frame member (2) are releasably attachable to an inner support portion (8) of a respective support bracket (4) by means of a releasable inner connector (9).

3. The frame system (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the inner connector (1 ) comprises a magnet (10) provided on one of the support bracket (4) and the frame member (2) and wherein the other one of the support bracket (4) and the frame member (2) is provided with a magnetic portion (11 ) positioned to cooperate with the magnet to releasably hold the frame member (2) to the support bracket (4).

4. The frame system (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the frame member (2) comprises an elongate cover profile (12), wherein each opposite end portion (6) of the cover profile (12) is provided with a respective frame bracket (13) comprising an outer frame bracket portion (14) on which the respective outer connector (7) is provided, and an inner frame bracket portion (15) on which the inner connector (9) is provided.

5. The frame system (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the outer connector (7) comprises a male member (16) and a corresponding female member (17) configured to releasably hold the male member (16).

6. The frame system (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the male member (16) comprises a stem the outer end of which is provided with a protrusion and wherein the female member (17) is provided with a socket provided with resilient wall portions defining an inner space (18) for receiving the protrusion.

7. The frame system (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the female member comprises a plurality of resilient lips (19) forming the resilient wall portions.

8. The frame system (1 ) according to any one of claims 5-7, wherein the male (16) and female (17) member are thermoplastic parts.

9. The frame system (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 -8, wherein the elongate cover profile (12) is provided with an inner flange on which one or more pieces of a fabric, rubber or an elastomer (21 ) are provided for facing an adjacent display tile.

10. The frame system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each support bracket comprises two outer connectors positioned so as to join two frame members (2).

11. The frame system (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of sub-structures (22) in the form of wall brackets, wherein the wall brackets (22) are provided with attachment portions for mounting of a respective support bracket (4), and wherein the wall brackets (22) are also provided with attachment portions for attachment of at least one display tile (23) to said wall bracket (22).