NZ239134A - Display stand or kiosk with differing roofing products rotatable relative to differing wall cladding products - Google Patents

Description

23 913 4 NEW ZEALAND AFTER PROVISIONAL NO: 239134 DATED: 25 JULY 1991 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PATENTS ACT 1953 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DISPLAY UNITS WE, MONIER BRICKMAKERS LIMITED, of Westpac Building, 3053 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand, a New Zealand company, hereby declare the invention, for which I/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 23 9 1 3 4 This invention relates to improvements in and relating to display units.

In various situations there can be a need for a display unit to be able to show what contrasts there may be between different items, surfaces, colours, etc. when used.

In the context of the use of different coloured paints on different surfaces on a building, computer systems are now available whereby a customer can try out different coloured paints on different surfaces in a simulated building to see what visual effect is obtained, prior to the purchase of the paint and its use.

A wrongly chosen selection of paint may result in a not inconsiderable wastage of time and expense, depending of course on the amount of the purchase and the surface painted.

In other instances however a wrong choice m mean that the wrongly chosen materials have to be lived with until they wear out unless the time and expense of replacing them is to be met. 239134 Such situations can readily arise where the products involved are difficult to install and/or are expensive to purchase.

A situation of the latter type could readily exist where the selection is between different styles and/or colours of roof tiles and wall surfaces, particularly brick surfaces.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a display unit where roofing products and wall cladding (which terms includes by way of example for the purposes of this specification, their surfaces, including their shape, configuration, pattern, ornamentation and/or colour) can be positioned together in order to view the resultant effect.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a display unit comprising at least first and second sets of building cladding products to be selectively juxtaposed adjacent one another, rotatable means being provided to enable said first and second sets to be rotated relative to one another so that 239134 respective items of said sets can be juxtaposed so as to be displayed adjacent one another to view the resultant effect and wherein said first set of building cladding products comprises different types of like roofing products and said second set of building cladding products comprises different types of like wall cladding products, said first set being mounted on said rotatable means the rotation of which enables a display of a selected roofing product adjacent a selected wall cladding product.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments thereof and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1: Shows diagrammatically a perspective view of a display unit according to one possible embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: Shows diagrammatically the display unit of figure 1 with the roof rotated through approximately 3 0°; Figure 3: Shows a plan view of the base of figure 1 with the roof removed; Figure 4: Shows a side view of the base of figure 3 with sets of bricks omitted; Figure 5: Shows the base of figures 3 and 4 23 9 13 but with the sets of bricks included; Figure 6: Shows a part cut-away plan view of the display unit of figures 1 and 2; Figure 7: Shows a part cut-away side view of the display unit of figures 1 and 2; Figures 8a and 8b; Show respectively diagrammatic plan and side views of vertical wheel assemblies for use in the display unit of the preceding figures; Figures 9a and 9b; Respectively show diagrammatic plan and side views of the horizontal wheel assemblies for use in the display unit of the preceding figures.

In the description of one possible embodiment of the invention as given below, a particular application of the present invention is described in respect of the display of different types of building cladding products.

The word "type" is used in this specification to cover differences in the items themselves and/or their appearance. Thus in the context of different "types" of wall cladding, this could refer to different coloured bricks and/or different shapes of bricks and/or a different pattern of bricks and/or a wall cladding other than bricks. 23 9 Referring to the accompanying drawings a display unit is referenced generally by arrow 1. It is seen to comprise a roof assembly 3 with a top 4 and inclined display areas 4a, 4b ... each featuring different types of roof tiles, being of different finishes, shapes and/or colours for example.

Below the display areas 4a... is a base with respective display areas 2a, 2b ... featuring sets of types of wall construction which as shown may be different types of bricks insofar as shapes, colours and/or layout.

As indicated by the arrows A-A in figure 2, the roof 3 can be rotated relative to the base so that a particular type of roofing product can be displayed above a particular type of wall cladding and so that a prospective customer can see what the resultant appearance on a building would be.

The different types of roofing products and wall cladding are shown in Figure 2 respectively separated by dividers 5a and 5b, the dividers 5a in one embodiment also enabling a viewer to hold on to them in order to rotate the roof 3 in a required direction. In this regard it will be appreciated that the display unit 1 may in this embodiment be slightly higher than the height of a normal person 239134 who can then grab hold of the dividers 5a towards their lower end to rotate the roof 3 in a required direction.

Referring to figures 3 to 9 particularly, the base, as shown in figures 3 to 5, has a support framework referenced generally by arrow 13 and including a circular track 12 about its upper end.

A suitable base bottom 14 provides the bottom support for the assembly and the various types of sets of bricks or the like 2 are shown in figure 5 mounted between the respective dividers 5b which define the separate display areas.

In figures 6 and 7, a right hand portion of the roof 3 is shown cut away exposing the underneath roof framework including angled support members 9, horizontal support members 19 and an upper framework member 8. A circular track 7 provides a base portion of the roof framework and depending downwardly therefrom are wheel assemblies 15. Each includes a wheel 16 which is able to run on an inner flange of the track 12 as is seen in figure 8a particularly. Further horizontal wheel assemblies 11 each have an horizontal wheel 10 which can engage on an upstanding inner flange of the track 12, as shown particularly in figure 9b. 23 9 134 It is thus seen that as the roof 3 is rotated relative to the base the horizontal and vertical wheels 10 and 16 respectively maintain the rotational relationship between the roof and the base, the horizontal wheels 10 providing the alignment in the horizontal plane while the vertical wheels 16 providing for the vertical support and the alignment about the vertical plane.

The relationship of the horizontal and vertical wheels with the framework members is particularly shown in figures 8 and 9 respectively.

In the illustrated embodiment, six vertical wheels 16 may for example be provided for the hexagonal display means shown but only three horizontal wheels 10.

While in the embodiment of the invention as described above a manual rotation of the roof 3 can be achieved, it is envisaged that mechanical, hydraulic and/or electrical drive or drive enhancement may be provided for example.

It is also envisaged that the wall and roof bays 2,4 may also include other building cladding products or other items such as guttering, cladding- r<-\ l,t * c.V 23 etc. which may be hooked or otherwise secured onto an appropriate place or places on the display unit 1.

In mounting the roof tiles in the bay areas 4, the tiles may suitably be mounted on transverse battens or the like. Similarly the bricks or other wall cladding in the bays 2 may be mounted by any suitable means for example on panels or support members positioned between the dividers 5 for example.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as described in the appended claims. 239134

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A display unit comprising at least first and second sets of building cladding products to be selectively juxtaposed adjacent one another, rotatable means being provided to enable said first and second sets to be rotated relative to one another so that respective items of said sets can be juxtaposed so as to be displayed adjacent one another to view the resultant effect and wherein said first set of building cladding products comprises different types of like roofing products and said second set of building cladding products comprises different types of like wall cladding products, said first set being mounted on said rotatable means the rotation of which enables a display of a selected roofing product adjacent a selected wall cladding product.

2. A display unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said roofing products comprise different types of roofing tiles and said wall cladding products comprises different types of bricks. O F

3. A display unit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim I 2 wherein said first set is divided into ft \ -A v - separate display areas provided on a roof 'V «*■ - assembly rotatable relative to a base assembly.

A display unit as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said roof assembly includes a plurality of wheel assemblies engagable with said base assembly.

A display unit as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said wheel assemblies include a plurality of horizontally directed wheel assemblies and a plurality of vertically directed wheel assemblies, each of said wheel assemblies being engagable with a track means provided with said base assembly.

A display unit as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said track means comprises a substantially circular member having a horizontal flange engagable by said vertical wheel assemblies and an upstanding flange engagable by said horizontal wheel assemblies.

A display unit as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said separate display areas are divided by respective dividing means which are able to be grasped to enable the manual rotation of said rotatable means. - 12 - 2^9 13 4

8. A display unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ERS LIMITED EY File: 682508(Id) PT0547456