GB2571084A

GB2571084A - Apparatus for mounting a display sheet

Info

Publication number: GB2571084A
Application number: GB1802400.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ziegler Jean-Marc
Original assignee: ULTIMA DISPLAYS Ltd
Current assignee: ULTIMA DISPLAYS Ltd
Priority date: 2018-02-14
Filing date: 2018-02-14
Publication date: 2019-08-21
Also published as: GB201802400D0

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a display sheet comprises a support rail assembly 3 having clamping means formed by movable clamping part 3B and an adhesive mounting surface 40. The clamping means comprises a fixed first part 3A defining a channel 15 for receiving the display sheet 7, and the clamping part 3B movably mounted on the first part 3A for movement between an open position allowing the display sheet to be inserted / removed and a closed position in which jaws 16A, 16B grip the display sheet. The support rail may form the upper support for a tensioned floor standing roller banner, the banner being unwound from a cassette and fixed at its upper end to the support rail.

Description

Apparatus for mounting a display sheet

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a display sheet and to a display stand including such an apparatus. The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to the field of banner stands.

Background of the Invention

In a known banner stand a display sheet which may present a graphics display is housed on a roll in a cassette and the display is created by unrolling the banner stand from the cassette and supporting the top of the display on an upright rod. In order to support the top of the display sheet across its entire width the top of the sheet may be fixed to a horizontal frame that is then supported on the stand, typically just in the centre. The display sheet may be fastened in a number of different ways to the horizontal top frame. For example the top portion of the display sheet may be fixed by adhesive to the top frame; another possibility is for the top portion of the sheet to be clamped along its length by a clamp that extends along the length of the rail. Known banner stands provide the consumer with a single means for mounting a display sheet. This leaves the consumer with a lack of flexibility. Furthermore, from a commercial perspective, because known banner stands comprise a single means of mounting a display sheet, separate banner stands must be manufactured and stocked for each type of mounting means desired by the consumer.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the abovementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, an apparatus for mounting a display sheet, the apparatus comprising a support rail assembly, wherein the support rail assembly comprises a first part defining a channel for receiving a display sheet, a second part movably mounted on the first part for movement between a first position for insertion of a display sheet into the channel between opposite sides of the channel and a second position for applying a compressive load to a display sheet within the channel, the first part and the second part thereby defining a first display sheet mounting means, and an adhesive mounting surface, the adhesive mounting surface thereby defining a second display sheet mounting means.

The adhesive mounting surface may be provided on the first part or the second part or on a separate third part fixed to the first part or the second part. In an embodiment of the invention the adhesive mounting surface is provided on the first part.

The term display sheet is used herein in a broad sense. Whilst the display sheet may present certain graphics and that will be the most common case, it may be a plain sheet, for example a projection screen. The display sheet may be made of a wide variety of materials including paper, fabric and plastics materials.

The apparatus of the invention therefore provides a support rail assembly comprising two independent means of mounting a display sheet. A display sheet can be mounted upon the support rail assembly by placing the display sheet within the channel and applying a compressive load to the display sheet, thereby mounting the display sheet by clamping. Or, alternatively, the display sheet can be mounted upon the support rail assembly via an adhesive, without the need for clamping. The user is therefore free to select a mounting means according to personal choice, desired speed of mounting the display sheet, or location of use. From a commercial perspective, the support rail assembly of the invention replaces the need for separate support rail assemblies for clamping and adhesive mounting, this means that a single product can be manufactured and stocked in place of multiple prior art products.

Preferably the adhesive mounting surface comprises an adhesive layer for adhesively mounting a display sheet to the adhesive mounting surface. The support rail assembly may therefore be supplied to the end user with an adhesive layer in place upon the adhesive mounting surface. A backing-layer may be provided over the adhesive layer for protection, the backing-layer being removable from the adhesive layer prior to mounting a display sheet upon the adhesive mounting surface.

Preferably the adhesive mounting surface is located adjacent the entrance to the channel. When the adhesive mounting surface is located adjacent the entrance to the channel, a display sheet can be adhesively mounted to the adhesive mounting surface in such a way that it gives a similar appearance to that of a display sheet clamped within the channel via the first mounting means.

Preferably the adhesive mounting surface is located externally of the channel defined by the first part. The adhesive mounting surface may be positioned so that a display sheet can be adhesively mounted to the adhesive mounting surface with substantially none of the display sheet being located within the channel.

Optionally, the first part comprises a first arm and a second arm which define the channel and the adhesive mounting surface extends from the first or second arm away from the channel. The adhesive mounting surface may comprise a substantially planar surface that extends away from the channel. The adhesive mounting surface may be substantially equal in length to the support rail assembly. Preferably an adhesive layer extends along substantially the whole of the length of the adhesive mounting surface.

Preferably the channel has an elongate opening formed along its length and the support rail assembly is arranged to apply the compressive load in the region of the elongate opening. In use, a display sheet clamped via the first mounting means may pass out from the channel through the elongate opening. The display sheet may pass out from the channel through the elongate opening parallel to the adhesive mounting surface.

Preferably the second part is rotatably mounted on the first part for movement between the first position for insertion of a display sheet into the channel between opposite sides of the channel and the second position for applying a compressive load to the display sheet. Optionally, the second part is rotatably mounted upon the second arm of the channel and the adhesive mounting surface extends from the first arm away from the channel.

Preferably a surface of the support rail assembly that, in use, applies the compressive load to the display sheet is serrated. A serrated surface can improve the grip of the support rail assembly on the display sheet when clamped via the first mounting means. Optionally, the serrated surface of the support rail assembly is a static surface formed on the first arm of the channel.

Preferably the compressive load is applied via the action of a cam.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a display sheet positioned within the channel and subjected to a compressive load by the first and second parts, the display sheet thereby being mounted upon the support rail assembly via the first mounting means.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a display sheet adhesively mounted upon the adhesive mounting surface, the display sheet thereby being mounted upon the support rail assembly via the second mounting means. The display sheet may be mounted upon the adhesive mounting surface along an edge region of the display sheet.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a display stand comprising an apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a display stand comprising a cassette for holding a rolled-up display sheet, a pole for extending upwardly from the cassette to support the display sheet when it is unrolled from the cassette and an apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention for mounting along the top and/or bottom of the display sheet.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an example of a floor-standing display system;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a distal end of a support rail assembly of the display system in the unclamped position;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a distal end of the support rail assembly of the display system in the clamped position;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support rail assembly in an unclamped position;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the support rail assembly in a clamped position; and

Fig. 6 corresponds to the view of Fig. 3, but with a display sheet clamped in the support rail assembly; and

Fig. 7 corresponds to the view of Fig. 3, but with a display sheet adhesively bonded to the support rail assembly.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a floor-standing display system 1 comprising a cassette 9 forming the base of the stand, an upright pole 5 detachably mounted at its lower end in the cassette 9 and a graphic sheet support rail assembly 3 that is mounted at a central point along its axis on the pole 5. The upper edge of a graphic sheet 7 is mounted in the support rail assembly 3 and the lower edge of the graphic sheet 7 is mounted in the cassette 9, and arranged such that the graphic sheet 7 is suspended from the support rail assembly 3 and subjected to a tensile loading that ensures that the graphic sheet 7 remains tensioned. A display stand of this kind is commonly referred to as a banner stand.

The support rail assembly 3 is generally of an extruded aluminium construction with a cross-sectional profile that is substantially constant along its length. One end of the support rail assembly 3 is shown, without a graphic sheet, in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3, and corresponding cross-sectional views are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

The support rail assembly of the present invention provides two separate means of mounting the display sheet. The display sheet can either be clamped in position via a first mounting means, as shown in Fig. 6, or it can be adhesively bonded to the support rail assembly, without clamping, via a second mounting means as shown in Fig. 7.

In order to achieve the clamping effect, the support rail assembly 3 comprises a two part-construction; a first main part 3A comprises a first arm 31A and a second arm 32A. The first and second arms 31A, 32A define a channel 15 into which the graphic sheet 7 can be inserted. The main part 3A also includes a jaw 16A formed upon the first arm 31A. A second part 3B is rotatably mounted upon the second arm 32A of the first part 3A and includes a jaw 16B. The jaw 16B has an arcuate, non-circular, outer face that in the position shown in Fig. 6 exerts a compressive load on the graphic sheet 7. The jaw 16B is shown in the same position in Figs. 3 and 5 but with no display sheet 7 mounted upon the support rail assembly. Clamping of the jaws 16A and 16B can be effected by rotation of the second part 3B, relative to the first part 3A about an axis parallel to the axis of the support rail assembly 3.

In the clamped position, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6, the jaw 16B is rotated (anti-clockwise as shown in Figs. 2 to 7) about its fixed axis to minimise the distance between the opposing faces of the jaws 16A and 16B; in this configuration the clamping action of the jaws will subject the graphic sheet 7 to a compressive load, retaining it by friction, as shown in Fig. 6. Also, the pressure exerted by the jaws 16A and 16B on the graphic sheet 7 is enhanced by the serrated surface 25 of the flat jaw 16A engaging the graphic sheet 7. As can be seen from Fig. 6, in use, when the graphic sheet 7 is clamped in the support rail assembly 3, the graphic sheet 7 hangs vertically and substantially parallel to the adhesive mounting surface 40, which is described in more detail below.

In the unclamped position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the jaw 16B is rotated (clockwise as shown in Figs. 2 to 7) about its fixed axis from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 to maximise the distance between the jaws 16A and 16B such that there is no compressive load on the graphic sheet 7, and the graphic sheet 7 is free to slide into and out of the channel 15 of the support rail assembly 3.

The support rail assembly further comprises an adhesive mounting surface 40 that is formed by a part 42 that extends from the first arm 31A of the first part 3A, away from the channel 15. The adhesive mounting surface 40 is substantially planar and extends along the length of the support rail assembly 3, as can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The adhesive mounting surface 40 comprises an adhesive layer 44 so a display sheet 7 can be adhesively bonded to the adhesive mounting surface 40 via the adhesive layer 44, as shown in Fig. 7. The support rail assembly therefore provides adhesive mounting as a second means of mounting a display sheet that can be used independently of the clamping means described above.

Typically, when adhesively mounting a display sheet 7, the display sheet 7 will be bonded to the adhesive mounting surface 40 along an edge of the display sheet 7 so that the edge of the display sheet 7 is positioned adjacent the jaw 16A at the entrance to the channel 15A, as shown in Fig. 7. Arranged as such, there will be no significant visual difference between an adhesively mounted display sheet and a display sheet clamped between the jaws 16A, 16B.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to one particular embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. For example, whilst the invention has been described with respect to a roller banner stand, it may be employed in a wide variety of other applications. Those other applications include not only applications on display stands, but other applications too, where it is desired to mount a display sheet of some kind.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other 15 embodiments.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a display sheet, the apparatus comprising a support rail assembly, wherein the support rail assembly comprises a first part defining a channel for receiving a display sheet, a second part movably mounted on the first part for movement between a first position for insertion of a display sheet into the channel between opposite sides of the channel and a second position for applying a compressive load to a display sheet within the channel, the first part and the second part thereby defining a first display sheet mounting means, and an adhesive mounting surface, the adhesive mounting surface thereby defining a second display sheet mounting means .

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive mounting surface comprises an adhesive layer for adhesively mounting a display sheet to the adhesive mounting surface.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adhesive mounting surface is located adjacent the entrance to the channel.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive mounting surface is located externally of the channel.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first part comprises a first arm and a second arm which define the channel and the adhesive mounting surface extends from the first or second arm away from the channel.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the channel has an elongate opening formed along its length and the support rail assembly is arranged to apply the compressive load in the region of the elongate opening.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the second part is rotatably mounted on the first part for movement between the first position for insertion of a display sheet into the channel between opposite sides of the channel and the second position for applying a compressive load to the display sheet.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein the second part is rotatably mounted upon the second arm of the channel and the adhesive mounting surface extends from the first arm away from the channel.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a surface of the support rail assembly that, in use, applies the compressive load to the display sheet is serrated.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 when dependent upon claim 8, wherein the serrated surface of the support rail assembly is a static surface formed on the first arm of the channel.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressive load is applied via the action of a cam.

12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a display sheet positioned within the channel and subjected to a compressive load by the first and second parts, the display sheet thereby being mounted upon the support rail assembly via the first mounting means.

13. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a display sheet adhesively mounted upon the adhesive mounting surface, the display sheet thereby being mounted upon the support rail assembly via the second mounting means.

14. A display stand comprising an apparatus according to any preceding claim.

15. A display stand comprising a cassette for holding a rolled-up display sheet, a pole for extending upwardly from the cassette to support the display sheet when it is unrolled from the cassette and an apparatus according to

5 any of claims 1 to 11 for mounting along the top and/or bottom of the display sheet.