GB2311887A

GB2311887A - Advertising panel

Info

Publication number: GB2311887A
Application number: GB9714794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samantha Bhalla
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-14
Filing date: 1997-07-14
Publication date: 1997-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-14
Also published as: GB2311887B; GB9714794D0

Abstract

Advertising display panels for passenger vehicles interiors are described wherein display panels are fixed to seat backs 2. To preserve neatness of cabin decor, the panels are positioned so as to be concealed by tray tables 3 attached to the seats 1 and foldable to overlie an area of the seat back, when the tables are folded. The display panel (Figure 2) suitably made up of a base plate (7) and a transparent cover sheet (12), defines a cavity into which display material (13) may be inserted, for viewing through the cover sheet. The base plate may be secured to the rear of the seat back by means of burr-type fasteners (11). The seat back may be covered with a flexible fabric material (16, Figure 4) provided with an opening for the display material. Alternatively, a removable seat cover may be used (12, Figure 5) with the display panel being removably mounted on the fabric material, by burr-type fasteners (24, Figure 6) or zip-type fasteners (Figure 9).

Description

ADVERTISING PANEL The present invention relates to display panels, and is particularly concerned with panels for displaying advertisements etc. in the interior of passenger vehicles such as aircraft, trains, coaches or the like.

US patent 5,010,668 describes an advertising device for displaying advertising material in the back of an airliner seat so that the material is visible at all times. There is also described a structure for the customary folding tray tables provided in airliners, wherein advertising material is displayed from the underside of the tray table so as to be visible when the tray table is in a stowed condition lying adjacent to the seat back.

The devices proposed in the prior art are thus permanently visible to the rear of the seat. Such arrangements have not found favour with vehicle operators, particularly with airlines, and thus there remains the problem of providing a form of cabin interior advertising which effectively delivers the advertiser's message and is acceptable to vehicle operators, and to airline operators in particular.

An objective of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage of the prior art by providing a passenger seat having a generally planar tray table mounted for movement between a deployed position wherein the table occupies a generally horizontal position behind the seat back, and a folded position wherein the tray table lies adjacent the rear surface of the seat back, an advertising display panel being provided on the seat back so as to be visible when the tray table is in the deployed position, and concealed when the tray table is in the folded position.

Where the seat has a detachable fabric covering, the display panel may be mounted to the fabric covering material.

The present invention stems from the realisation that an important consideration for airlines as regards their cabin decor is the initial impression which the passenger receives on entering the aircraft cabin. When considering interior decoration schemes, aircraft operators tend to favour an "uncluttered" look in order to give an impression of business-like competence to the passenger. It is for this reason that overt advertising material has not found favour amongst airline operators, since it detracts from the neatness of the cabin interior.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aircraft seat; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of an advertising display device; Figure 3 is a rear view of the device of Figure 2 attached to a seat back; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines IV to IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing an alternative method of fixing the display device to the seat; Figure 6 is a view of the reverse side of the embodiment shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a partial section taken along the line VII to VII of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a partial section taken along the line VIII to VIII of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3 of yet another embodiment of the display device; Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X to X of Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a perspective view in partial section of yet another embodiment of the display device.

Referring now to the Figures, Figure 1 shows an aircraft seat 1 with a back 2. A tray table 3 is attached to the seat 1 by means of support arms 4.

Pivoting joints at the ends of the support arms 4 allow the tray table 3 to assume a deployed position shown in solid lines in Figure 1, wherein the tray table 3 occupies a generally horizontal position behind the seat back 2. To facilitate cabin access, the tray table 3 has a stowed position, shown in chain lines in Figure 1, where the tray table 3 is in contact with the rear surface of the seat back 2. The tray table 3 is securable in the retracted position by means of a clip or fastener 5. In the retracted position, the tray table 3 overlies and obscures from view an area of the rear surface of the seat back 2.

A display panel 6, substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is fixed to the area of the seat back which is obscured by the tray table in its retracted position.

In Figure 2, an embodiment of the display panel 6 is illustrated in perspective view. The display panel 6 comprises a back plate 7 which is generally planar and rectangular in form, and has a thickened edge region 8 extending along three sides. The fourth side is formed with a finger recess 9. The back plate 7 may be a continuous sheet of material, or it may be perforated to form a lattice, as illustrated at 10. The perimeter of the back plate 7 is provided with a fixing strip 11, which in the illustrated embodiment is a burr-type fastener. A transparent cover sheet 12, whose dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the back plate 7, is fixed to the back plate 7 at the thickened edge regions 8. The thickening at the edge regions 8 thus provides a clearance between the transparent cover sheet and the back plate 7 at the central areas of the back plate 7, enabling a sheet of printed material 13 to be inserted between the back plate 7 and cover sheet 12. Access to this interior space is afforded via the edge of the back plate 7 which is not thickened. The finger recess 9 permits easy removal of the printed sheet 13 for replacement.

The rear surface of the seat back 2 may be formed by a substantially rigid panel of, for example, plastics material. Alteratively, the seat back 2 may be covered with a woven fabric, either in the form of a fixed or removable cover.

When the rear surface of the seat back 2 is of a rigid material, then the display panel 6 can be fixed to the seat back 2 by bonding or otherwise fastening strips of burr-type fastener to the seat back to correspond to the burr-type fastener strips attached to the back plate 7 of the display panel 6. The position of the display panel on the seat back 2 is such that the entire display panel is covered by the tray table 3, when the tray table 3 is in its retracted position.

If the seat back 2 is covered in a woven fabric material, then strips of burr-type fastener may be sewn to the covering fabric, for attachment of the display panel 6 to the covering fabric.

Alternatively, as shown in section in Figure 4, a woven fabric seat cover may be formed with an opening to correspond to the dimensions of the display panel 6, so that the display panel 6 may be fastened to an underlying seat back panel. In the embodiments shown in Figure 4, strips of burr-type fastener 14 are attached to a rigid seat back panel 15, and an opening formed in a fabric seat cover 16 allows the back plate 7 of the displayed panel to be fixed to the seat back panel 15. The edges of the opening in the fabric seat cover 16 are also provided with strips of burr-type fastener 17, to secure the edges of the opening to the seat back panel 15 round the display panel 6. This arrangement provides a neat appearance to the seat back, and can conceal the open side of the display panel to deter unauthorised removal of the advertising material 13.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 5 to 8. This embodiment is intended for use with fabric seat covers which are removable from the seat for cleaning, but can also be used in seat designs wherein the rear surface of the seat back 2 is covered by a panel of fabric material separate from the remainder of the seat covering materials.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 8, the cover sheet 12 is extended upwardly and downwardly beyond the back plate 7 as seen in Figures 5 and 6. Slots 21 are formed adjacent the upper and lower edges of the cover sheet 12, to form fixing bars 20 attached at their respective ends to the cover sheet 12 by bridges 22.

As can be seen in Figure 7, slots 21 are positioned outside the boundaries of the back plate 7. Extending horizontally in the central area of the back plate 7 is a strip of burr-type fastener 23, whose purpose will be described later.

Figure 6 is a view of the interior of the seat back fabric cover panel. To accommodate the display panel 6, the seat back fabric is formed with a horizontal slit corresponding in length to the lengths of the slots 21, and two vertical slits are formed at the ends of the horizontal slit. The lengths of the vertical slits correspond to the spacing between the slots 21 and the slits define generally rectangular upper and lower flaps 27 and 28. Strips of burr-type fastener 24 are attached to the exterior surface of the seat back panel fabric adjacent the horizontal edges of the flaps 27 and 28, and vertically extending strips 25 of burr-type fastener are fixed to the exterior surface of the fabric panel adjacent the vertical edges of the flaps 27 and 28.

To attach the display panel 6 to the seat back cover fabric, the horizontal edges of the flaps 27 and 28 of the seat back cover fabric are passed through the slots 21, so that the fabric underlies the base plate 7. Burrtype fasteners 24 are then fixed to the burr-type fastener strip 23 extending horizontally across the central region of the base plate 7. The base plate 7 is also provided with vertically extending areas of burrtype fastener 26, to which the fastener strips 25 adjacent the vertical edges of flaps 27 and 28 of the seat back cover fabric are attached.

As is clear from Figure 5, the bars 20 underlie the seat back cover fabric and the display material 13 is visible through the cover sheet 12. The position of the slits in the seat back cover fabric is such that the display panel occupies an area of the seat back which is concealed by the tray table 3 when the tray table 3 is in its stowed position.

A further alternative embodiment of the display panel is shown in Figures 9 and 10. In this embodiment, the display panel is attached to a fabric seat cover by means of zip-type fasteners.

The display panel in this embodiment has the cover sheet 12 extended beyond the base plate 7 in all four directions, with slots 21 formed adjacent the edges of the cover sheet 12 along each side. Bridges at the corner regions of the cover sheet 12 serve to attach edge bars 20 to the remainder of the cover sheet.

Along each edge of the display panel 6, one half of a separable zip fastener is attached to the edge bar 20.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 9 and 10, a cover strip 31 is passed round each edge strip 20, and half of a zip fastener 32a is attached to the cover strip 31 by sewing, so that the cover strip 31 extends over the zip fastener and attaches the zip fastener to the edge bar 20.

A corresponding reinforcing strip 33 is attached to the seat back cover fabric 30, and a second cover strip 34 and a complimentary zip fastener component 32b are attached to the seat back cover fabric 30 and the reinforcing strip 33.

As is clear from Figure 10, when the two halves 32a and 32b of the zip fastener are fastened together, the cover strips 31 and 34 substantially conceal the zip fastener from view.

As can be seen from Figure 9, the zip fasteners are so arranged that when the four zip fasteners are closed, the sliders 35 of the zip fasteners are grouped together in pairs. In this position, the sliders may be fixed together so that opening of the zips is deterred.

Preferably, light weight snap-fasteners may be used to fix the sliders together. The fasteners may be broken to free the sliders 35 to enable advertising material to be replaced in the display panel.

The cover sheet 12 and back plate 7 are preferably formed from light weight material such as plastics. The components of the display panel may be fixed together by any suitable fixing means, such as by adhesive bonding, by ultrasonic welding, by snap-engagement, or by any other suitable fastening means.

In Figure 11 an alternative structure for the display panel is shown, wherein the back plate 7 has raised edge regions of substantially constant thickness.

By displacing the edge regions forward of the central part of the back plate 7, rebates 40 are created in the rear face of the back plate 7. The rebates 40 may accommodate burr-type fasteners for fixing the display panel to the seat back. The back plate 7 shown in Figure 11 may be formed for example from pressed aluminium sheeting.

In an alternative embodiment of the display device, not illustrated, dispensing means for leaflets etc may be incorporated in the display device so that promotional material may be distributed from the display panel, either in addition to or instead of a static advertising display.

Although the display panels described herein are rectangular in shape, it is to be understood that circular, elliptical, polygonal or any other suitable shapes may be used, provided that the display panel may be concealed by the tray table when retracted.

Although burr-type fasteners are described in relation to the above embodiments, any other suitable fastening means may be used. The display panel may be permanently fixed to the aircraft seat back, for example by rivetting or other suitable fasteners.

Where the display panel is fixed to a fabric seat cover, it is preferable that the display panel be removable from the seat cover to facilitate cleaning of the seat cover material. While burr-type fasteners and zip-type fasteners have been described for fixing the display panel to the seat back cover fabric, any other preferably releasable fastening may be employed.

The materials used in the construction of the display panels should be suitable to meet any fire resistance or other requirements made in relation to the materials of the seat back.

While the display panel is primarily intended for use in airline environments, seats equipped with display panels according to the invention may be used in any passenger vehicle to provide a neat and attractive initial impression to the passenger while simultaneously enabling advertising material to be displayed to the passenger during his or her journey.

Claims

1. A passenger vehicle seat having a seat back and a tray table mounted to the seat for movement between a deployed position wherein the table occupies a generally horizontal position behind the seat back, and a folded position wherein the tray table lies adjacent the rear surface of the seat back, an advertising display panel being provided on the seat back so as to be visible when the tray table is in the deployed position, and concealed when the tray table is in the folded position.

2. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a baseplate and a transparent cover sheet fixed thereto to define a cavity therebetween into which display material may be inserted for viewing through the cover sheet, the baseplate being fixed to a panel forming the rear surface of the seat back.

3. A seat according to claim 2, wherein the fixing of the baseplate to the seat back is releasable.

4. A seat according to claim 3, wherein the releasable fixing is effected by complementary parts of a burr-type fastener fixed to the baseplate and to the seat back, respectively.

5. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the rear surface of the seat back is covered by a flexible fabric material, and an opening is formed in the fabric material to correspond in position and size with the display panel.

6. A seat according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the seat back is covered by a panel of fabric material, and the display panel is mounted to the fabric material.

7. A seat according to claim 6, wherein the display panel is removably mounted to the fabric panel.

8. A seat according to claim 7, wherein the removable mounting is effected by complementary parts of a burrtype fastener fixed to the fabric panel and to the display panel, respectively.

9. A seat according to claim 7, wherein the display panel is removably attached to the fabric material by means of separable zip-type fasteners.

10. A seat cover for a vehicle seat to which a tray table is mounted for movement between a displayed position wherein the table occupies a generally horizontal position behind the seat back and a folded position wherein the tray table lies adjacent the rear surface of the seat back, the seat cover having a back panel covering the rear surface of the seat back, and a display panel being fixed to the back panel in such a position that when the seat cover is fitted to the seat, the display panel is concealed by the tray table when in its folded position.

11. A back panel for a seat cover according to claim 10.

12. A passenger seat substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 to 8, Figures 9 and 10, or Figure 11, of the accompanying drawings.