GB2523147A - A device for displaying a graphic - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (1) for displaying a graphic between two cover sheets. The device (1) comprises: a holder (2), a first protective sheet (3), and a second protective sheet (4). The holder (2) has an elongated slot (7) and at least one aperture (8, 9) to receive at least one wedge (5, 6). The thin sheets (3, 4) are positioned within the slot (7) and each has a cooperative protrusion (10, 25) that extends into the apertures (8, 9). These panels are held in place by the wedges (5, 6), which are positioned between the protrusions (10, 25) and may have interlocking projections (22) that fit into notches (21) on the protrusions. The sheets may be made of a resilient transparent polymer. The holder may be mounted onto a screw member (16) fixed to a lower clamping portion and is able to rotate.

Description

TITLFi A Deviec for Dispiaying..o, Grapiç DESCREP I iON Eid4s'Jikchpqlpgy.

The device tcthtes to the dtspiay'ing of graphics, f'orexample' in a retail environment.

The device is advantageous in that t has a sirpl,e and resijienit construction that may be sigitificantly cheaper than conwarabie devices that are currently iii USC B ackgtouncl is often desirable or necessary to piommently display a granhic or example in many sbop. giaphics containing details about the products that ate being sold are often pocitoned near those products for the benefit ot shoppers The graphics often con$st of a.sip.pie piece of card or paper v4th details thout the products printed n one or both sides In order to display grapluLs a number of diffeient apparatus nie used I he type ol appdi atu used dcp.nds on the size ol the graphic and tile iva in which the relevant products are displayed I or examole, the pioducts may be clothes that are displayed on a ciothing.'rad and it may be denirabie t mount a graphic above that rail A1teinattelv, the products ma\ be simph arranged on 4 shelf and it may be desirab1e to mrunt a graphic either on the end of the shelt or abo\ e the shell 1 here are many other ways in which products arc dbplayed and m whuh it m deirabIe to display associated graphic In light 01 this there are curiently many different devices aailable for displayilig graphids.

One. importaifi consideration for many devices for diaptaying the rélatilvely fragile graphics is that it is desirable to protect the graphic irom damage or 50th g during use 1 his s often done hi reniovably positioinng the graphe *itIvi a protective easing iortned of a.transparcnt materitd through which the:grapliie: can still be seen it is advantageo'a that the.gmphic can be rerooved from the casing as it allows the aD graphic to be:hanged w itholit the riced for a new de ice foi di spias ing the graph1c Typicaiiy the clear casings ara made of. a transparent resilient polymer. A cotnnioft construc.tIan. fir clear casings is to Thnn the. casing from a rectangular sheet: of polymer that is approximately twict. the Si/C f the grapFnc and s folded in half along a ctnral lineal the sheeL This fontis a ptoecnse en elope that is open on thret. sides and in which the graphic can be held Generally, such c2suigs are tormed of polyctiviene trehtha1ate glycdh-modifi'ed (PElt) that is appruximately 2mm thick; 5. although other material's can: he: used, ft ls di'fiHduh, if trot üiipa$siIble, to form a suitable strong casing inthis aanner with a polytneric m-aterial. that is less. than 2mm thick Addtionall\ç the step of folüing the ca&ng in haIl re4uires picclsion and spectalised equipment As a result, casings formed n this ay are relatnely cxpenswe. ..A coristtuctiim that is similarly sfrong but that could be formed ush,g thinner material without any folding step would he cheaper ard hqiefore advantageous.

G.CnCrál [y, all' devices for di,'p1,ayihg mtphics will have a.mothitibg that allows the device to be physically mounted to a fitting The mounting is iormally attached to the casing of the device at the midpoint of one edge. The mounting of any device will generally be formed Lu fit a speific titling:. That:'is, ,fox: every type of fitting' there are devices that anspeeiiaTiy' designed to be mounted on that, fitting. In a shop with many different ty pe, bhapes, oi sties of fittings tJii can necessitate the use ot many dilhrcnt devices Lbt dispia lug graphic Bccause of ibis it may he dv1i abk ro a device for csisp!aying a giaphic to have a mounting that earl lit many ddlerent fttting This wotiki enable a single device to be used 1.th marry different fittings thereby reducing the number of ditlerent types ot devices that a singie stiop wattle require Sutnmarv 1' invention The present invention provides a de\ ice to1 displaying a graphic comprising a holder' ha*'ihg an' outer side c''ith an elongated, slot' fbrntod iii therein', an inner' side, arid, an aperture: funned from the inner side to an inner end of the elongated slot; a first protcCtiv& sheet and a tcond:proteetive sheet formed to hold a graphic erehetween eat shaped to have un. iniier edge:pos'i(i.onec. within the &oh,and,'each 3Q:j,jfl a cooperalive protrusion extending. from their inner edge that is formed to extend into the apeitu'ic when the inner edge of the sheet is positioned within the slot, and.

a wøge.: h sba:d: to: W:4du!=:Lt, :tg;qS bew:: t$.

Ø:fl nn: t taS sbeennd: the ioptmM pt**utM ç: tte:eti sntraybWTh. $t1t;ittS Tie P$ lnven, cn hçid w*$btvent alk* protective sheet and a second: PP!! sheet, U:csc artiiiWkto W$$kt t like the'prkot avt *: 4 notie, Ire vag *: soem are: mpId1t shut 11w s' Gf th,::',:,,:'wt,ttssbt, ,.,zbl h) *dt hi pSSs*it At: øt' st'*. prodve sb', :øe: 4: in' pøsUot j:j'S"4' triiot:t": :j j: Mft* The *dgt f pos&S tw" th'e :coopStivó pt'S ott:tSi' ihs" to pastS i"se' flo.

protecUve Sheets and thereby securely hold the protective sheets witht the slot. By pusbin'g apart the inner ed9es M the ptotectxve sheets jhe wedge and the sht acts to p: etItawopt t4e øts. h...& Thnøi..:. ø,,4,,.:*ther*,: 11 s$ e.ottS s" .cW' ssw'4y " .: *St:S',.d' bes t *n wfll *ütØ. SM S iltet pMettWc t::,a"' the secondpctt:. Cet This would not "be jtibte itt S edgos tt'to rou'th.t:j'' s4np'y 4Ip'ed pv' cftppe "together;: That the device: cite present' itwentibn uses t:&st, nd: ,, p4 pz. 1, *, , sbet$ The: grapMt*hi'IS * ci,,,'Ahc,L' bo$e øfl,,"*a$ p,'y:*,* nflId$S' oft dnge ttttML In:order th xedte cost t ttt"á": sco''j:"tiS s", a:cQ,,?tøW P$P! a*t d*!, a11yt d::m4Y be pref' 1" tbaLboth'e first TTMtSsbeet:.Ufl4I th0U, vwsi,cct: ae Icss:*,,,, U:i,,. Thick w4 even :stfS':t, tmm thitL " tt Mc t compie ut k i* pti*St that S:Thst protet' sbe,,t, S thu second. p,'kc sS tne: subs"'ia"y Uflz(otm,:.thlI*ltest Thc' i4flç,n4'pmttctiveátets are tebIyt"ed:MA.S tk"t rn"pa''t: ::4yn:,,' although!S melth" may b used.. SiF'b1e pol mess. -4.-

indlude, btik are not limited to pOlyethylene tdre.lithalate glyeohrnodified (PEIG), polys.lyrene, acrylic, and pOlycarhonate.

A deuce according to the present inventior may have ony a slng]c v edge iLme' Cr, S it.is pte.feinhle th.dt the devict has two wedgCs and an assohtted aperrturO fGr Chc.h wedge, That is* it is advantage that a device acecrding ut the present invention is formed. such that the holier has a first aperture thrmcd from an inner side tO an inner end of the elongated slot and a second aperture that is spaced apart from the first aperture and also formed from an iflnOr side to an innet end cf the elongated slm; the first and second prorectse sheets each have a firs: cooperative protiusson and a second cooperative protrusion extending from their inner edge, each toimed such that, when the iiinCr edge of the s.het is poitiorted within the slOt, th.e first prOtrusion extends into the first aperture and the second protrusion extends into the second apcrture and the des ice comprises a fIrst wedge shtped to be positioned in thc first aperture and a second wedge shaped to be pocitoned 1n the second apertute each wedge shaped to be positioned betneen a coopenative pic'trusion of the first piotective sheet arid a eoopeiatie piotuision of die second piotectise sheet to thereb; hold the sheets n pitLn within thc.:hoider. Forming the device Ira this mariner: 15 preferable to a single wedge as it ailows.the first and secOnd protectivC sheets to be.heid.:in position at moi e than position along an edge This both holch the first protective sheet agamsi the second prnt&tne sheet marc firmly and also holds the first Protective sheet second piotective sheet dna any graphic held therebetween in the holder more Securely.

Although. it is curreittly envisaged thattwo WCdges Will be the best nhmber ut hold the first and second prOtective sheets inr the ho:ldei, a deviCe according to thC present invention may have more than two apertures, cooperative protrusions, and wedges. In such, embodiments it wilt generally be preferable. that number of aperturcs.

cooperative protrusions of each sheet' and wedges is' the same. For example, a device so according to the present ins eution may base thre apertures, three coopei aLive ptotrusioils on each sheet and three wedges The holder may hc stantliy any length as* long the slat is lopg em*gh* to *seirel hold the fitsti 24 eoottd ptotcctivo sboet thotem Ip Soie epiboditnents the holder ay t lougex than. the.. itmOt edge of the fiist and. sectmd protective sheet Horvcr. i1 is generally pieferabie for me slot to exteid along an nnre ength of the holder and the length of the hOlder to be Jess. than the length. of the inner edge of the first and second protective sheets. For example the inner edge of the first and second protective sheets ens * be held within the slot of the hOlder along a central part of their *nmei-edge and may extend put. of ends of the slot. :Jhis allows a. reiativeh small folder to hold.re&Uvly lOng first and seond pzoteotivC sheeta at-id thereby hold a te1.utivi' iãtge graphie.. In an ethbhdiitent of the: pretht invention th& holdet th aproximatdly half the length of the first and second protective sheets and the slot extends tornp1etely along this length..

It wil he generail> preferable that the that piotective sheet and the second protective Th sheet:&e. t Sate SizO and shape, This, is preferbie as it will, provide greatest protection, to a graphic held between the shecis and *11] allow the sheets. to be held together in the strongest rammer. hi a preferred embodiment' the first OrdtOctive. sheet and the second protectfve sheet, wdl be substantially the same Se and shape as a graphic to he positioned therehetween:. For example the first and second protective 20. sheets may have the same rectangular shape.

If the' first and second protective sheets rn:e the same size aM shape it may le preferable that the ft st protective sheet has a cuta ay portion at an outer edge to allow a. graphic placed theichetween to be posit.Ofted For ehmple,the first protective het may ha\ e a cenaat cuLna portion formed at an outer edge, opposite ns mnnet edge, aithernaliveiy a cutaway.potion. may be noneeritral and/dr may be formed on any other edge of the sheet. ire.trahiy the cutaway portion will he semicircular, although it niav be army other suitable shape [he cutaMa\ portion will allow a ucr to easily separate the first protective sheet from the second protective sheet in order to sllde. a graphic between the sheets. ft will disc allow auserto remove a graphic that iS positioned between the sheets,

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In simpe en'ooct merN of itre deic the wcdge or vcdges of tire devieL wiE h?\e shrOc 1anar ding swfas and th cotprath' p:rotrus.iIoti.of the first and sedhnd ptotëctive theets Will be tt.betantialiy flat. In these embodiments the Wtdgs mityboki the first and seeofld prOtectiVe heet iir position within the holder simply by pressing thtcooperathe protrusions against the wafls. of the aperture.

Although devices according to the present invention can he. fOnned in the manner set put ittutiediately above, this i t ptefOi Ted. It Will he generally advantageous that the cñe or tore cooperative protrtision.s has a notdh and the One or morC ges ha an interlocking protection that is formed to fit into the notch when the first and econd pinttive. sheet and the one or more wedges. are positioned ih the holder to theteby lock the protective: sheets and the one or more wedges in position. Alternatively, the notches may he fonyied en we4ging surfaces of tile one or more wedges the initrlocking projections nav be formed on the appropriate surtaces of the cooperative I piotrustoa(s) The use of notches and interlocking plojections iii piovide a degree of 1king to thetebs' better hoid the first and. second protective sheets within the. holder: if the device does cOmprise notches and:jnteocki:prceCtcitt5 is preferable that:the projections can he removed: from the. notches by hand, without. sing excessive, force.

2d A* device according to the present invention will comprise means for attaching the dcice to a fitting in ordei that a gr4phle can be displayed appropriately I iris attaching means rra be any means apparent to a pci son skilled in the art In some embodirnent of the invention the att4ching means ma be a clamp I he clamp may he a vIce that is formed by a clamping portion of thd holden "if the. deviOc' comprises' a vice that is fanned by a clamping portion of the 11014cr it may be orcteiahh. that the clamping portion of the holdet coinpn-cs a body haing an upper end and a lower end,. a screw member toy tablv'm.ounted between the upper end arid lo'kei end ot the body, a fheu aw tonned on the hod, and a movable jas threaded on the screw member such. that rotating the screw member ttiiYVeS' the moah1e ja along the screw membci That rs, the clamping pot twit is loimed such that the deiee can be clamped onto a fitting between a fxed.jaw and a.movable. Jaw., if the iee i. fottied in the manner set out ahoe it maybe. pteferahle that the bed jaw is formed.t a lower end of the body and the movable jaw i movable along the CTeWmibeT between the pper end of the be dy and the fixed jaw. :ihf i generali a more resilient constru&tiod than having the fixed jaw formed at qt near the upper end of the body.

In order to prevent damage to** the jaws bra itting bit which the device is nountet, eiTher or both of the fixed jaw may have a. soft pad.or example a neojrene pad 10. formed on a clam ping face.

In ordt to move a movable aw relative to the fixed jaw.the device may further comprise a.thtptib Wheel rbtatably mounted at th lower end. :( the: body portion and fixed to the sen'sv member to allow the sctew te he totaled. Altotnathe[y., the devke 15. thay compilse an ot her means for moVih the mdable jaw, sudh as a mOtor or other mechanical actuator if a device according to the present inventIon comprises a clamp Ici.' attacbiiig the device to a fitting ft maybe.I,refdrablc that the the holder comprises: an apper pot Lion.

coinprmrng the. elongated tiot the inner side, the or each apermres and a. lower jOrtion comprising the clamp; wherein: the.1 wer portion is rotatable relative to the upper portion, That. is,Ht may *be preferable. that. when a graphic is held within the device that the graphic and the first and second protective sheets are rotatable relative to the clamp. This is advantageous as it allows the graphic th he positioned in many tn0rb orientations than would be possible if the grabhic were in fIxed otjnItation reiatne to the clamp The rotation of the upper portion relatne to the lowet portion may be achieve it any manner app ent to a person. skilled in.theait lithe lower potion is rotatable retativeto the upper portion it may be preferable that it 15 totatable between a pluiafttv of defined posittons in lviLch the lowei portion can be 1ocNed relatne to the upper portion Ihic can he dLhlC\Ld in any marknel appaient to the peison skilled in the art Ihiving a phii aliti of defined posItions in which the -a'-lower portioh can 1* ibckC:d:s preferable to allciwiha'free rdtation of th lowerpothon.

as, when the d:evi iS itt use, it WiU allow a. graphic to bC fixed in S preferred orientation relative to a fitting on which it is mounted,.

a The Iotiig of the retati. portions can** he achieved using friction fitting, mechanical' locks or aiw other means apparent to the skilled parson. FOr example, thi may be achieyed vising i'piuraiity otrtdge.s'cttnc:tclies britied otud a røtating sirfne of the vppCt pOrtion. Ottd a plitthty of 4oOpratiV' notches or ticigcs f*rmed around a rotating A'uEface. of the loWer portIon, wherein when the lower. portiott is a one of S I O defined positions the ridges and.notdhes cooperat.é to lock the lower portion. relative to the upper portion. This csn he achieved, by having the rotating surface o'f'the. upper port on in onracl wi'h the rotating surface ot the lower portion Although tin", will lock the. lower Ottttit relative to, the upper,port.i.èn, e.[cwcr port a. Owl be still b.c nitated...relat.ive to the tippet potti:Cn: by appdng' sutTJC'ic.flt force to tnove the tidges 15'' out of cooperation ith the notdhes.

The clamp discussed'. above an.d its v'arious"possible Ititures' is preferably used with a device aeccrding to claim' 1 of the present. invention. However, according to an al'Lerhative.aspect''.of fh preem inventior,t, the clamp discussed Shove and, defined in claims 12 to 16 may be used with any other means toi displaym a graphic I hat is, according to an SItertiStivC aspect o:f tile presettt ihverttkh thete i' fiIo'id.ed. .:a device for displaying a graphic comprising a bolder including means br holding a grapric, wherein the holder comprises 4 clamp for atacFing the device to a flthng and the clamp i's a vice formed by a. clamping portion of the holder.

Further feature's and advantages of the present invention will, ho apparent" from the embodiment of the i'nventidn that.is shown in the drawings and i's discussedbelow.

Dawirg Figure 1 is. an exploded diagram showing, the components of an embodiment ottht present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of' the embodiment of Figure L;

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Figure 3 is t see-through front view of the emhodimeni.of Figures 1 and 2.

the coitiponents. of a devirie I ecdr4htg t n embodiment of the present bivetition: are shtht hi Figote 1,. The device doniprisestiholdet 2. a first potctivt sheet 3. a second proteetNe sheet 4. a first wtEdge 5 and a secotid wedge:6. The holder 2 has dii elongated slot. 7 formed in an outer side; a first aper'ture 8. formed between. an inner side and an inner end of the elongated, slot. and a second aperture 9i rmed between an inner side and an inner end of the tic ngaied slot Each of the first and second protective sheets 3, 4 hate a. frst'cooperafive protrusion 10, formed such that, when to an. inier edge if of the sheets are positioned within the slot 7. the first ccioperativc ptttnsion5 1 0 ddend into the rsIt perthte 8. Eäh of the first and seccind prOtective sheets 3'. 4 also have a. secotid ëoperati.ve pro trUsion 25, formed such that.vhen an inner edge l.t of the sheets are positioned' v.ithin the slot 7, the second cooperative protrusions:25 extend into the second aperture -.

The first protective sheet:3 has a senn'cireu1ar cutaway portion 20 fdrmed. centrally along an ooter edge 1 he first and second coOpertoe protrusions tO, 25 eauh hac e a notch 21: formed therein The. fir:st'and' second wedges 5, 6 each have an:thter!ocking pn,ject.ion 22 formed on each of Their wedging surfaces. The. projections 22 are shaped to fit intO the notches 21 when the cooperative protrusions 10, 25 and the' wedge 5, 6 arc approprlateiy posnoned vuhm the apertuies 8 9 The hodet 2 has an upper pottiofl 12 and a lower peiiion 13. rhe uppet pc:ttiott 12 1nelujes the elongated sLot 7 and the apertuies 8, 9 lEe tippet portion 12 is rotatably mounted to,an upper end of the lowet portiofi 13' The rotatable mounting is formed such that the pei portion 12 cdn he rotatul Niative to thìe lou-cr portion Ii betwien a. plurality of fixed posit-ions. his is' achieved using a plurality of ridges (not shown) formed around an inner surface of the upper' portion 12 and c.o:operittive notches 24 tonned atomic an ouLur surlace ot the aiwer portion ii Wucu c upper portion 12 is 30.rotatahl'v mounted on. the Lower portion 1.3' thIs inner.surfbce. l's dfrectiy around this outer sudae of the lowu puition 13, as thou-n in the Fguies I d The lower portion 1 3: of the holder 2 includes a vice between the upper end and a loer end The tce is rormed of a fixed iav ia fotmed near the 1over end and a movabie jaw 15 that is movable befvten the fixed jw and th ttppe end. Th :mbvab jaw 15 smaunted an a screw ntctnber 6 that i rotatable mnnttd within the idwefpbrti0nl 3. The. screw niethber 16 is rOtatahk bytettns of A.thurhb* wheel 17 that Is fixed 10 a lower end of the screw member.1.5 and IS thereby itatably mountS. atthe lower end of the lower portion 13, below the fixed jaw 14, An upper end of the screw meutber 15 is mourned within the upper portion 112 of the holder by means of a washer IS.. The screw inenibeti 6 and the vitisher 18 aetto hold the upper i P portion 12 to the lower portion 13 and to font tie retatablt tnourtdng lherebetwe.en, loth the thed jaW 1 4 td. the movable jav 15 have ii frene p3d.19 dhcred to a clamping thee therof The firt and second protective sheets 3, 4 are fonned of transparent P1110 that is 1mm thick. The holder 2. other than the. screw 16 and the neoprene pads 19.. is subslantiay Jonned Y nI,ja I he srev 16 Is Lonncd of dud The devIce I operates li he follow rig manner. The inner edges IJ of Ehe first protective hcet 3 and the second cooperative sheet 4 ate incrted kilo the slot 7 sock that the first cooperstive protrusiOns 10 are.pcsitioned in th first aperture 8 and the second cooperative protrusions 25 are posit'med in the second aperture 9. A graphic ( shown) is then posiipnçl between the first and second proteetivesheets i. The first, and 5eond prt)teiiw. cheets 3 4 ar4 the graphic are then secured within the hoder 2 h\ inserting the first scdge into the first aperture S and inserting the second edge 6 into the second aperture 6 1 he wedges are rnseited into the apertures 8, 9 flout the oppoite side df the holder I front: the Slot 7. When the wedges.5 4 inserted into thu apertures 8, 9, the proicenoris 22 of the vudges i rterloek with the riOtCtlL.S 21 at the coopemative pron usmons 1 U 25 to them ehy lotk thu s edges and the first and secoiat joLeuti*e,htets 3, 4 in positiai. Speetticall), the swdges 5, 6 an.

positioned between the first and second protective sheet& .3, 4 to thereby force apart the cooperative protrusions 10, 25 and the inner tdges. II of the first and second P,P,',C*1,,.' *ew'Thb:bø* sc*s,fl hø4. *prS.S:øceis. 1 4: wit: ,,ct$ttt 7 and s':':u1Z Stk''t $ctwc,:.: W The S" i: s'r' it"n ib" . j pjj 8:ciUniphtg the dev' 1 ottó a fit " (hit tho" S ti±i"4E slit :fiUg is. elatnpS between 4j: ms jaw 14. s yh,: 17 *4vtc,.:$ya$$1W$i thdftti:" ThtA*: an:. Øjq 445 stepn:c: Th'.,.',,,.:,IFbye i.:,'' $I it Th tt"er"d*n i2' *tft* ft*I4* tk','fl:. r,ttø':th,: sh,,.,,, 3. 4 add S g#ajbit i"a b" t*td" tSdVe t t'. AUMg ti" t"t Xtt' IlL & ilisptaythe: grapiktnte'hSOñentätiot 1/1 --iL