GB2203583A - Visual display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a visual display apparatus and a kit of parts for producing a picture. The visual display apparatus and kit of parts includes a frame 10 and a plurality of display members (42). The display members (42) are transparent or translucent at least in part. Frame 10 receives a plurality of the display members (42) in grooves 20, 22, 24 and 26 so as to retain them in a substantially face-to-face spaced apart relationship with each other. The assembled visual display apparatus or kit of parts thus provides a picture having a three-dimensional aspect. The frame is preferably of knock-down snap-fit construction. A light is optional. <IMAGE>

Description

VISUAL DISPLAY APPARATUS The present invention relates to a visual display apparatus and to a kit.of parts for producing a picture.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a visual display apparatus comprising a frame and a plurality of display members which are transparent or translucent at least in part, the frame holding the display members in a substantially face-to-face spaced part relationship with each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for producing a picture, the kit comprising a frame and a plurality of display members which are transparent or translucent at least in part, the frame being adapted to receive a plurality of said display members so as to retain them in a substantially face-to-face spaced apart relationship with each other.

Preferably, the frame is of a knock-down snap-fit construction.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a frame forming part of an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of display panel for use with the frame shown in Figure 1 and further indicating the use of a stencil and drawing, and Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a fully assembled display incorporating the components shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a kit of parts for producing a picture. The main components of the kit are a frame and a plurality of transparent display panels or members in the form of acetate sheets. Various representations are printed or drawn on the acetate sheets. The frame retains a plurality of the acetate sheets in a substantially face-to-face spaced apart relationship with each other whereby, when looking at the assembled arrangement from the front, a three-dimensional picture is viewed.

Representations carried by the acetate sheets can be purely abstract whereby a picture of purely aesthetic appeal may be produced. The representations can alternatively be prepared to provide an educational aid. For example, the acetate sheets could be used to demonstrate the effect of combining various patterns and/or colours or could be used to reinforce interest in learning the names of common objects. A further alternative is for the representations carried by the acetate sheets to incorporate sophisticated technical drawings whereby the three dimensional layout of an object might be more readily appreciated and more attractively presented. The invention may also be used in commerical applications such as displays for exhibitions, offices, shops, lectures and the like As best seen from figure 1, a preferred form of the frame is a knock-down snap-fit structure.The illustrated frame 10 incorporates two side walls 12, a back panel 14, a front panel 16, a top panel 18 and a bottom panel 19. Each side wall 12 includes four recessed channels 20, 22, 24 and 26. The recessed channels 20-26 extend vertically and are open to the inner face 28 and top edge 30 of the side wall 12. The channels 20-26 stop short of the bottom edge of the wall 12 and thus terminate in respective horizontal ledges 32. For a reason to be explained later, channel 20 is located closely adjacent the rear edge of wall 12 whereas channels 22, 24 and 26 are approximately equally spaced across the remaining width of wall 12.

Inside face 28 of side wall 12 also carries four blind recesses 34, one adjacent each corner of the rectangular face 28. Two blind recesses 36 are provided in the top edge 30 of side wall 12, one adjacent the front and rear extremes of the edge respectively.

Corresponding recesses 36 are also provided in the bottom edge of side wall 12. Recesses 34 and 36 locate and retain appropriately shaped pegs 38 provided on the rear panel 14, front panel 16, top panel 18 and bottom panel 19. The pegs 38 together with their respective locating recesses 34, 36 provide for a snap-fit assembly of the frame. It will be appreciated that the detailed configuration of pegs 38-and recesses 34, 36 are to be in accordance with conventional snap-fit techniques.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side walls 12 and bottom panel 19 are -assembled with the rear and front panels so as to form in effect an open-top box arrangement. It will be appreciated that., in this assembled form, respective channels in the side walls 12 face each other so as to form pairs constituting four guides for receiving and retaining respective rectangular display panels. In this manner the display panels are, of course, held in face-to-face spaced apart relationship with each other.

Front panel 16 has a central portion 40 formed of transparent perspex -(RTM).- The display panels to be retained in respective pairs of channels 22, 24 and 26 are transparent with translucent or opaque representations carried thereon. The display panel to be received in channels 20 may be of a different form.

Channels 20 are located adjacent the rear edge of their respective end wall so that a panel sheet formed as a generally opaque background may be located therein. It will of course be readily appreciated that alternatively the inner face of the rear panel 14 may itself form the background for the final picture. However, if an opaque background display panel is provided, the rear panel 14 may be replaced by separate upper and lower cross-bar members.

Once respective display panels have been located in the four pairs of channels 20-26, the top panel 18 snap-fits onto side walls 12 and thus completes the display apparatus, providing a picture as indicated by figure 3.

In the preferred arrangement each display panel is of the form illustrated figure 2. The display panel comprises a sheet of transparent acetate 42 which is provided with a cardboard border 44, the cardboard border being more rigid than the acetate sheet.

Attached to border 44 at one end of the display panel is a paper backing sheet 46, the backing sheet being readily detachable from border 44. The detachable paper backing sheet 46 is provided to assist a person when drawing representations on the acetate 42. Suitable marker pens for use in preparing representations on the acetate are preferably included in the kit of parts.

A further preferred addition to the kit of parts is a plurality of ready formed stencils,--an illustrative example being indicated by reference numeral 48 in figure 2. As shown, stencil 48 is in the form of a rectangular sheet of card having a cut-out shape in the stylised form of a fish. Stencil 48 is placed above acetate 42 and backing sheet 46, as indicated by arrow A in figure 2. A person using the kit subsequently traces on the acetate the outline of the fish giving by the stencil, adding further embellishments or outlines from other stencils as desired. When the desired representations on the acetate have been completed, backing sheet 46 is removed and the display panel inserted in one of the pair of channels 22, 24 or 26.

As an alternative or addition to use of the stencil, use can also be made of a pre-prepared drawing. Such a drawing is indicated by reference numeral 49 in figure 2. The drawing 49 is placed between acetate 42 and backing sheet 46, as indicated by arrow B. After tracing the drawing onto the acetate, backing sheet 46 is removed, as described above.

Additional display panels are produced in the manner described above and the overall picture assembled. In the example shown in figure 3, representations of aquatic plants 50 are provided on the display panel retained in channels 26. The representation of the large fish 52 is provided on the display panel retained in channels 24. Representations of small fish 54 are provided on a display panel retained in channels 22.

The display panel located in channels 20 carries representations of rocks 56 with either this final display panel or the inner face of rear panel 14 being coloured dark blue.

One attraction of the above described embodiment is the facility to change the picture by replacing the display panels. Of course, the same display panels may be re-used if the marker pens used to prepare the representations employ an erasable ink. If the marker pens use a more permanent form of ink then gloves can be included in the kit, for use when preparing the representations.

The display panels may carry pre-printed representations, as an alternative to the above described production of the representations. A combination of the two could also be used.

Further additions to the described arrangement include fixing means provided on rear panel 14 or the rear edges of side walls 12, to enable the final picture to be hung, secured or attached on a wall. A further optional addition is the provision of a light, preferably in the rear panel 14 or top panel 18. If a light is provided suitable precautions should, of course, be taken to ensure that there is no risk associated with heat generated by the light.

Many variations in the detail of the illustrated embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, In particular, it is to be understood that the arrangement for receiving and retaining the display panels is capable of many variations. Indeed, an arrangement is easily conceived in which the side walls are themselves formed of a plurality of interlocking members each of which provides one half of a guide and support for a display panel. In this manner, the number of display panels held in the frame could readily be varied. The frame could be fored as an integral structure, even for use in the kit of parts. It is also to be understood that the frame need not be of cuboid form and that while the display panels are to be held in a substantially face-to-face relationship with each other, the display panels need not be flat. There may well be aesthetic attractions in providing convex and/or concave display panels and while their curvatures may even be in a different sense to each other, the display panels will still be retained in a generally face-to-face mutual relationship.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS:

1. A visual display apparatus comprising a frame and a plurality of display members which are transparent or translucent at least in part, the frame holding the display members in a substantially face-to-face spaced part relationship with respect to each other.

2. A visual display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has side walls with the inner surface thereof being configured so as to provide channels for receiving the display members.

3. A visual display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame is constructed of a plurality of separate components which are releasably secured together.

4. A visual display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the components of the frame snap-fit together.

5. A visual display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises a transparent front panel.

6. A visual display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame includes a top panel and a bottom panel.

7. A visual display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame is provided with means for securing or attaching the frame to a wall.

8. A visual display apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each display member carries a different representation.

9. A kit of parts for producing a picture, the kit comprising a frame and a plurality of display members which are transparent or translucent at least in part, the frame being adapted to receive a plurality of said display members so as to retain them in a substantially face-to-face spaced apart relationship with each other.

10. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 9, wherein the frame has side walls with the inner surface thereof being configured so as to provide channels for receiving the display members.

11. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the frame is constructed of a plurality of separate components which are releasably secured together.

12. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 11, wherein the components of the frame snap-fit together.

13. A kit of parts as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the frame comprises a transparent front panel.

14. A kit of parts as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the frame includes a top panel and a bottom panel.

15. A kit of parts as claimed in any of claims 9 to 14, wherein the frame is provided with means for securing or attaching the frame to a wall.

16. A kit of parts as claimed in any of claims 9 to 15, wherein the display members comprise acetate sheets.

17. A kit of parts as claimed in the of claims 9 to 16, wherein each display member comprises an acetate sheet provided with a border of more rigid material.

18. A kit of parts as claimed in the of claims 9 to 17, wherein a paper backing sheet is removably attached to the border along one edge of the display panel.

19. A kit of parts as claimed in any of claims 9 to 18, further comprising a plurality of stencils.

20. A kit of parts as claimed in any of claims 9 to 19, further comprising a plurality of pre-prepared drawings.

21. A visual display apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. A kit of parts for producing a picture, substantially as herinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompaying drawings.