GB2312313A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A display apparatus comprises an at least partially light-transmissive panel having an illuminating unit (2,3, Figure 1) secured to at least one edge thereof, the illuminating unit (2,3) comprising a bridge element including an elongate light source, and a pair of end elements which support between them the bridge element. The bridge element 25 may include a reflector 29. The bridge element may be easily fabricated to any desired length and used with end elements to accommodate different sizes of panel. The apparatus is thus versatile and can accommodate various sizes of panel without the need for the manufacture of a correspondingly large range of components.

Description

Title - Display Apparatus This invention relates to display apparatus, and in particular to apparatus comprising an edge-lit display panel for illuminated display purposes.

Apparatus comprising edge-lit panels for the illumination of, for instance, posters or transparencies affixed to the panel are known. Typically, such apparatus comprises a lighting unit containing a fluorescent light tube arranged to direct light into the edge of the panel.

A disadvantage of known apparatus of this kind is that different lighting units are required for panels of differing sizes. Also, the illumination of the panel may be less than optimal. A further disadvantage may be that the apparatus may be difficult to install and/or the lighting unit may be difficult to service and maintain.

There has now been devised a display apparatus which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention, a display apparatus comprises an at least partially lighttransmissive panel having an illuminating unit secured to at least one edge thereof, the illuminating unit comprising a bridge element including an elongate light source, and a pair of end elements which support between them the bridge element.

The apparatus according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that the bridge element may be easily fabricated to any desired length and used with end elements to accommodate different sizes of panel. The apparatus is thus versatile and can accommodate various sizes of panel without the need for the manufacture of a correspondingly large range of components.

The end elements are preferably formed with suitable ledges on which the ends of the bridge element rest.

The ends of the bridge element may overlie the end elements in such a manner that it is possible for the separation of the end elements to be adjusted to a certain degree.

As well as permitting adjustment of the separation of the end elements, the position of the bridge element is also preferably adjustable relative to the panel. This enables optimisation of the input of light into the edge of the panel. The bridge element way, for example, locate at each of its ends on a threaded spigot upstanding from the end element. A nut engaged with the spigot supports the bridge element, rotation of the nut enabling adjustment of the position of the bridge element relative to the spigot.

The elongate light source is most preferably a fluorescent lamp. Appropriate sockets for the lamp are preferably provided on the bridge element, together with appropriate connections to an electrical power supply. The power supply may be mains supply at, for example, 240V, or may be a 12V supply, in which case a transformer may be housed within the illuminating unit.

The bridge element preferably includes a reflector positioned to direct light from the elongate light source to the edge of the panel. The reflector may be of concave, e.g. parabolic, crosssection and may be formed integrally with the bridge element. The reflector may have a reflective surface or may be fitted with a reflective lining.

The end sections are preferably formed with channels to receive the edge portions of the panel.

The channels are preferably provided with slots or holes to receive fixing bolts or pins passed through corresponding holes in the panel.

Most preferably, the bridge element is enclosed within cladding, eg formed by a pair of cladding sections which can be fixed, eg by means of screws, to the end sections. In such a case, the cladding sections may also serve to clamp the panel between them.

The panel is preferably a sheet of transparent or translucent plastics material. Most preferably, the panel is of acrylic material, eg polymethylmethacrylate. One suitable material is that supplied by Rohm GmbH of Darmstadt, Germany under the trade name PLEXIGLAS GS Clear 1001.

This is supplied as a cast polymethylmethacrylate sheet which is said to contain embedded particles of different refractive index, resulting in diffusion of light entering an edge of the sheet.

Typically, the panel will have a thickness of several millimetres, e.g. about 8mm.

The bridge element and cladding sections may be formed as extrusions, e.g. of steel or aluminium. Any necessary openings etc. may be formed subsequently. The end elements, since they are commonly the load-bearing components of the apparatus, are most preferably formed of steel.

The display apparatus of the invention may be wall-mounted, or may be suspended or mounted on a stand. Material to be displayed may be provided on only one side of the panel (eg in the case of a wall-mounted display) or on both sides.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is an exploded view of an upper portion of the display apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, a display apparatus comprises a rectangular panel 1 of acrylic polymer, to the upper and lower edges of which (as viewed in Figure 1) edge-lighting units 2,3 are attached. The edge-lighting units 2,3 are described in greater detail below. In the arrangement illustrated, a poster is shown which can be secured to the panel 1 for backillumination by means of a non-reflective acrylic lens 4 having a magnetic edging 5 which attaches to a corresponding edging 6 on the panel 1. This arrangement permits rapid and easy changing of the poster.

Referring now to Figure 2, the edge-lighting unit 2 comprises front and back cladding sections 21,22 which, together with left and right end sections 23,24 form an enclosure. Housed within the enclosure is a bridge element 25 which is supported at its ends by the end sections 23,24. The cladding sections 21,22 and the bridge element 25 are formed from aluminium extrusions, various openings etc. subsequently being formed by machining. The end sections 23,24 are of steel.

The end sections 23,24 are formed with channels 33, 34 which receive the upper edge of the panel 1. The channels 33,34 are formed with slots 35,36 which receive fastening pins or bolts 37 which pass through holes near the edge of the panel 1. In figure 2, the bolts 37 are shown passing through the panel 1. In actual use, the panel 1 would be located in the channels 33,34 and the bolts 37 then passed through the slots 35,36.

A pair of electrical connectors 26,27 are fitted to, and depend downwardly from, the bridge element 25 and receive the end connectors of a fluorescent lighting tube 28. A polished aluminium reflector 29 is received within a suitably shaped support 30 formed integrally with the bridge element 25 and partially surrounds the lighting tube 28 so as to direct light from the tube 28 downwards to the edge of the panel 1. The connectors 26,27 are in electrical connection with a power pack 31 which is mounted above the bridge element 25. The requisite cables etc are omitted from the drawing for clarity. Electrical power may be supplied to the edge-lighting unit 2 via support rods or tubes 38. These may be solid conductors carrying a low voltage supply or hollow tubes through which a cable is fed. Alternatively, the rods or tubes 38 may serve only to support the apparatus, e.g. by suspension from a ceiling, a power cable being fed separately to the edge-lighting unit 2.

The lower edge-lighting unit 3 is identical in form to the upper edge-lighting unit 2, except, of course, that is inverted, effectively being separated from the lower edge of the panel 1.

In use, with the lighting tube 28 switched on, light from the tube 28 is directed by the reflector 29 to the upper edge of the panel 1 and is guided through the panel 1 by internal reflection processes. Light escaping from the front face of the panel 1 illuminates the poster affixed to the panel 1. Similarly, light from the lower edge-lighting unit 3 is fed into the panel 1 from the lower edge of the panel 1.

For use with very wide panels, the edge-lighting units may contain several bridge elements each fitted with a fluorescent tube. To support such bridge elements intermediate piers may be provided, the bridge elements spanning an end section and a pier, or two successive piers as the case may be.

The apparatus may, as described above, be suspended by means of the rods or tubes 38.

Alternatively, the apparatus may be free-standing or may be wall-mounted, e.g. by fixing screws passing through the end sections 23,24 and the back cladding section 22. In all cases, the apparatus may easily be serviced, e.g. for replacement of a fluorescent tube, by removal of the front cladding section and then removal of the bridge element 25.

Claims (15)

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising an at least partially light-transmissive panel having an illuminating unit secured to at least one edge thereof, the illuminating unit comprising a bridge element including an elongate light source, and a pair of end elements which support between them the bridge element.

2. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end elements are formed with ledges on which the ends of the bridge element rest.

3. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ends of the bridge element overlie the end elements in such a manner that it is possible for the separation of the end elements to be adjusted.

4. A display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the position of the bridge element is adjustable relative to the panel.

5. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bridge element locates at each of its ends on a threaded spigot upstanding from the end element, and a nut engaged with the spigot supports the bridge element, rotation of the nut enabling adjustment of the position of the bridge element relative to the spigot.

6. A display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the elongate light source is a fluorescent lamp, appropriate sockets for the lamp being provided on the bridge element, together with appropriate connections to an electrical power supply.

7. A display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bridge element includes a reflector positioned to direct light from the elongate light source to the edge of the panel.

8. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reflector is of concave cross section and is formed integrally with the bridge element.

9. A display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the end sections are formed with channels to receive the edge portions of the panel.

10. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the channels are provided with slots or holes to receive fixing bolts or pins passed through corresponding holes in the panel.

11. A display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bridge element is enclosed within a pair of cladding sections fixed to the end sections.

12. A display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel is a sheet of transparent or translucent plastics material.

13. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the panel is of polymethylmethacrylate.

14. A display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bridge element and cladding sections are formed as extrusions.

15. A display apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.