ZA201002747B

ZA201002747B - A collapsible support frame for a flexible sheet and a display embodying same

Info

Publication number: ZA201002747B
Application number: ZA2010/02747A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Steven English
Original assignee: Shelter Trust
Priority date: 2009-04-14
Filing date: 2010-04-20
Publication date: 2011-03-30

Description

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A COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FRAME FOR A FLEXIBLE SHEET AND A

DISPLAY EMBODYING SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a collapsible support frame for a flexible sheet, especially, but not necessarily exclusively, a flexible sheet that is to be used as a display typically by having promotional material applied to an operatively exposed surface or by virtue of it being of one or more particular colours, such as corporate colours, or colours having some other particular significance.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Considerable effort has gone into creating easily collapsible support frames for a flexible sheet that is typically used for display purposes. The flexible sheet may vary considerably in size but is most commonly of the order of 1 to 3 m long and about a half to 2 m high. One common arrangement is to support two oppositely directed sheets in a generally A-frame configuration with the sheets joined or being continuous at the operatively upper edge.

Numerous different constructions have been proposed and are available ranging from spring frames that support the periphery of a sheet in a taut condition, in use, to fairly complicated hinged frames.

Whilst a variety of different peripheral shapes of frames are available, preference is usually in favour of a generally rectangular display.

The simplicity and speed with which a collapsible support frame, preferably with a flexible sheet already attached to it, can be deployed and collapsed varies widely with the more effective ones generally being rather costly.

P1976ZA00/Compl (Collapsible Support Structure)

SE 2010702747

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible support frame for a flexible sheet that is extremely simple to deploy for use and collapse for transport and storage purposes and that can, depending on the design, be inexpensively manufactured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a collapsible support : frame for a flexible sheet of generally rectangular shape, the collapsible support frame comprising an elongate stem having a fixed hub at one end and a movable hub slidable along its length, a pair of arms each having one free end and the other end pivotally secured to the fixed hub so as to be pivotally movable from a clustered collapsed position generally parallel to the stem to an erected position wherein the two arms extend substantially collinearly in opposite directions from the fixed hub at generally right angles to the stem, and at least two first oblique legs also each having a free end and the other end pivotally secured to the fixed hub so as to be pivotally movable from a clustered collapsed position generally parallel to the stem to an erected position in which the two oblique legs diverge from the fixed hub generally in a first plane such that the free ends of the arms and the free ends of the first oblique legs define a rectangle in the erected position such that a generally rectangular flexible sheet can be supported by said free ends, and a stay for each of the arms and first oblique legs with one end of each stay being pivotally attached to the movable hub and the other end being pivotally attached to the respective rail or arm intermediate its ends so that the arms and legs move in unison from their clustered collapsed position to the erected position as the movable hub is moved towards the fixed hub.

Further features of the invention provide for two second oblique legs to each : have a free end and the other end pivotally attached to the fixed hub so that

P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

they are movable in unison with the arms and first oblique legs between a clustered collapsed position to an erected position in which their free ends lie in a second plane containing also the free ends of the arms; for the first and second planes to intersect at an acute angle at the arms so that a generally

A-frame type of erected frame is provided, or alternatively, for the first and second planes to be coincident in which instance a flexible sheet can be supported from the free ends of the first and second oblique legs and a double sized area of the sheet is visible from one direction; and for the flexible sheet to be attached to the free ends of the first oblique legs, and where present the second oblique legs, and the arms, as may be appropriate so as to be collapsible and erectable simultaneously with the frame.

It will be understood that when the structure is used in an A-frame configuration, the stem will generally have its free end engaging or immediately adjacent the horizontal support surface. However, the A-frame can also be used in an orientation at right angles to that wherein the stem is elevated and generally horizontal with the A-frame configuration having the

A shape in plan view. In such an instance the stem is preferably attached to an upright post for purposes of enhanced support.

Similarly, if the first and second planes are coincident so as to provide a single rectangular support frame for a flexible sheet, and depending on the rigidity of the oblique legs, it may be suitable for the elevated rail to be supported by a pair of spaced posts first and second posts generally vertically oriented. It may also be appropriate in such an instance to provide a support post for the elevated stem.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood, different embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:- 5 Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of collapsed A- frame type of collapsible frame;

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof in a partially erected condition;

Figure 3 is an elevation thereof in a fully erected condition;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the fully erected frame;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fully erected frame;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the fully erected frame having a flexible sheet supported by same;

Figure 7 is a perspective illustration of the frame illustrated in Figure 6 in a vertically extending orientation; and,

Figure 8 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention in which the first and second planes are coincident and a double sized area of the flexible sheet is visible from one direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, a collapsible support frame (1) for a flexible sheet (2) of generally rectangular shape has an elongate stem (3) having a fixed hub (4) at one end and a movable hub (5) slidable along the length of the elongate stem. A pair of relatively rigid

P1976ZA00/Compl (Collapsible Support Structure)

arms (6) each has one free end (7) and the other end (8) pivotally secured to the fixed hub so as to be pivotally movable from a clustered collapsed position generally parallel to the stem, as illustrated in Figure 1, to an erected position wherein the two arms extend substantially collinearly in opposite directions from the fixed hub at generally right angles to the stem, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5.

Two first oblique legs (9) that need not be quite as rigid as the arms, also each have a free end (10) and the other end (11) pivotally secured to the fixed hub so as to be pivotally movable from a clustered collapsed position generally parallel to the stem, as illustrated in Figure 1, to an erected position in which the two oblique legs diverge from the fixed hub generally in a first plane (12) (see Figure 4) such that the free ends (7) of the arms and the free ends (10) of the first oblique legs define a planar rectangle in the erected position, as will be most apparent from Figures 3 and 6.

A stay (13) for each of the arms has one end pivotally attached to the movable hub and the other end pivotally attached to the respective rail intermediate its ends, as indicated by numeral (14), so that the arms move in unison from their clustered collapsed position to the erected position as the movable hub is moved towards the fixed hub.

A stay (15) is also provided for each of the first oblique legs (9) with one end being pivotally attached to the movable hub and the other end being pivotally : 25 attached to the respective first oblique arm intermediate its ends, as indicated by numeral (16).

In the instance of an A-frame arrangement, as is the instance in this embodiment of the invention, two second oblique legs (9a) are arranged in exactly the same manner on the opposite side of the arms so that the free ends (7) of the arms (6) and free ends (10a) of the second oblique legs (9a) define a second rectangle located in a second plane (17) (as shown in Figure

P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

4) that intersects the first plane at an acute angle with the arms forming the

A-frame apex. It will be noted that, because of the identical but mirror image arrangement of the second oblique legs, the same reference numerals have been given to the first and second oblique legs with the addition of the letter "a"in respect of the second oblique legs.

It will be understood that with an A-frame configuration, the angular movements of the arms and oblique legs between the collapsed and erected conditions is different with the arms needing to move angularly through about 90° whilst the oblique legs need only to move through an angle of about 42°.

This difference is achieved by selecting the length of the stays appropriately and pivotally attaching the one end of the stay to the oblique arm intermediate its length at a position corresponding to the collapsed condition of the frame. As will be quite apparent from a reference to Figure 1 the stays (13) associated with the arms are appreciably longer than the stays (15) associated with each of the oblique legs.

The erected frame is suitable for supporting a generally rectangular flexible sheet (2) extending between the free ends of the first and second oblique legs and over the arms, as illustrated in Figure 6. Conveniently, the free end of each of the arms and oblique legs can be received within a pocket such as that indicated by numeral (18) in Figure 6 stitched or otherwise formed at the appropriate positions on the fixable sheet so that the flexible sheet can be semi-permanently associated with the frame. Thus the sheet will automatically fold and collapse when the frame is collapsed and straighten out when the frame is erected.

Obviously any required anchorage tabs (not shown) can be associated with the edges of the flexible sheet so that the erected structure can be suitably anchored to the ground, for example, using tent pegs or the like in outdoor applications in generally known manner.

P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

Any required promotional material can be applied to the flexible sheet that would typically be a lightweight synthetic fabric or nonwoven plastics sheet and the flexible sheet can be of any colour such as, for example, a corporate colour.

In the conventional orientation when the structure is used as a horizontally extending A-frame, the stem will generally have its free end engaging or immediately adjacent the horizontal support surface. In such an orientation it is envisaged that no additional support will be required in most applications.

However, and as illustrated in Figure 7, the A-frame can also be used in an upright orientation at right angles to the conventional orientation described above. In this instance the stem is elevated and generally horizontal. In this orientation the A-frame configuration is therefore visible as the “A” shape in plan view. In such an instance the stem is optionally attached to an upright post (19) for purposes of enhanced support.

In an alternative arrangement that is illustrated in Figure 8, the first and second planes are coincident in which instance a flexible sheet (20) can be supported in a single plane from the free ends of the first and second oblique legs (21). A double sized area of the sheet is then visible from one direction that is indicated by arrow "A". In this arrangement it may be suitable for the stem (22) to be supported by a post (24). The arms (23) can be orientated vertically so that their additional strength is used to assist in supporting the frame.

In a further alternative arrangement according to the invention that is not illustrated in the drawings, a collapsible frame comprises only two arms and two oblique legs in which instance the stem could form a type of foot for an upwardly extending rectangular flexible sheet that could be supported at its upper corners by the free ends of two oblique legs.

P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

Numerous other variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

Claims

Villy CLAIMS:

1. A collapsible support frame for a flexible sheet of generally rectangular shape, the collapsible support frame comprising an elongate stem having a fixed hub at one end and a movable hub slidable along its length, a pair of arms each having one free end and the other end pivotally secured to the fixed hub so as to be pivotally movable from a clustered collapsed position generally parallel to the stem to an erected position wherein the two arms extend substantially collinearly in opposite directions from the fixed hub at generally right angles to the stem, and at least two first oblique legs also each having a free end and the other end pivotally secured to the fixed hub so as to be pivotally movable from a clustered collapsed position generally parallel to the stem to an erected position in which the two oblique legs diverge from the fixed hub generally in a first plane such that the free ends of the arms and the free ends of the first oblique legs define a rectangle in the erected position such that a generally rectangular flexible sheet can be supported by said free ends, and a stay for each of the arms and first oblique legs with one end of each stay being pivotally attached to the movable hub and the other end being pivotally attached to the respective rail or arm intermediate its ends so that the arms and legs move in unison from their clustered collapsed position to the erected position as the movable hub is moved towards the fixed hub.

2. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 1 in which two second oblique legs are provided with each having a free end and the other end pivotally attached to the fixed hub so that they are movable in unison with the arms and first oblique legs between a clustered collapsed position and an erected position in which their free ends lie in a second plane containing also the free ends of the arms. P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

3. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 2 in which the first and second planes intersect at an acute angle at the arms so that a generally A-frame type of erected frame is provided in the erected position.

4, A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 2 in which the first and second planes are coincident in which instance a flexible sheet can be supported from the free ends of the first and second oblique legs and a double sized area of the sheet is visible from one direction.

5. A collapsible support frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the flexible sheet is attached to the free ends of the first oblique legs, and where present the second oblique legs, and the arms, as may be appropriate, so as to be collapsible and erectable simultaneously with the frame.

6. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 3 in the erected position in which the stem has its free end engaging or immediately adjacent the horizontal supporting surface.

7. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 3 in the erected position in which, the A-frame is in an orientation in which the stem is elevated and generally horizontal with the A-frame configuration having the relevant A-shape in plan view.

8. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 7 in which the stem is attached to an upright post for purposes of enhanced support.

9. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 4 in the erected position in which the stem is attached to an upright post for purposes of enhanced support. P1976ZA00/Compl(Collapsible Support Structure)

10. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 9 in which the rail is generally vertically orientated.

11. A collapsible support frame as claimed in claim 3 in the erected position in which, the A-frame is in a conventional horizontal orientation and the elevated rail is supported by a pair of spaced first and second posts generally vertically oriented.

12. A collapsible support frame substantially as herein described and exemplified with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings; or with reference to either one of Figures 7 and 8. Dated this 11" day of April 2010 yn VON SEIDELS Intellectual Property Attorneys for the applicant P1976 ZA00/Compl (Collapsible Support Structure)