WO2007129057A2

WO2007129057A2 - Display hanger

Info

Publication number: WO2007129057A2
Application number: PCT/GB2007/001633
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Henry Strevens Evitt; Chris Howsam
Original assignee: Tecna Display Limited
Priority date: 2006-05-06
Filing date: 2007-05-03
Publication date: 2007-11-15
Also published as: GB0609032D0; GB2437762A; GB2437762B; WO2007129057A3

Abstract

A two-part display hanger for attachment to the rear face of a display panel has a body component (7) and a hook element (33). The body has adhesive pads (23, 24) for attachment to the display panel and a socket portion (13) for releasably receiving the hook element. Positive location of the body component is achieved by frangible arms (25, 26) which engage the edge of the panel by means of locating lips (27, 28). When the hook element (33) is engaged with the body component a flange (35) projects from the rear of the display panel to assist in quickly and accurately attaching the panel to a display frame.

Description

DISPLAY HANGER

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to displays of the kind which comprise one or more display panels which are releasably secured to a display frame. More particularly, the invention concerns a hanger for positively locating the display panels on the display frame.

BACKGROUND

A known form of graphic display uses display panels which are mounted on a display frame comprising horizontal rails and uprights. The display panels may be formed from rigid or flexible sheets, which may be secured to the display frame by means of magnetic strips which are attached to the rear of the display panels to releasably engage metal components of the display frame. Other releasable means of attachment may be used such as strips of hook and loop material. When flexible display panels are used the attachment strips may all be positioned horizontally on the display panels to allow the display panels to be rolled up when they are not being used.

In the existing system there is a problem with quickly and accurately positioning the display panels on the display frame, particularly where the display panels are to be mounted in an elevated position. This often requires the installer to stand on ladders or other means of support to ensure that the panels are not skewed or mis-aligned, which would spoil the appearance of the display. Often it is also important that the display should be capable of being set up quickly without taking up more time than is necessary.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of display hanger which increases the speed and accuracy with which the display panels (rigid or flexible) can be engaged with the frame without detracting from the visual appearance of the display, and ideally without interfering with the ability of flexible display panels to be rolled up when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a display hanger for attachment to the rear face of a display panel, the display hanger having at least one locating projection which extends away from the rear of the display panel in use.

The display hanger preferably has a planar body portion for attachment to the display panel and at least one hook portion which incorporates the locating projection.

The hook portion is preferably formed by a hook element which releasably engages a body component which provides the planar body portion. Such an arrangement allows the hook elements to be disengaged from the display panels during storage and, in the case of flexible display panels, increases the ability of the display panels to be rolled up when not in use. The body component preferably incorporates a socket to receive the hook element.

The hook element preferably includes a substantially planar stem with the locating projection projecting from one end. The stem preferably incorporates a locking tongue which is disposed at an acute angle to the plane of the stem for reception in an aperture in the body component.

In order to accurately locate the body component relative to an edge of the display panel the body component is preferably formed with at least one spacer arm which projects in the plane of the body portion. The, or each, spacer arm may have a lip for contact with an edge of the display panel. The, or each, spacer arm is preferably joined to the remainder of the body component by a frangible connection such that the arm, or arms, can be removed prior to engagement of the hook element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general view of part of a display system which incorporates a display panel and a hanger in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a general view of a body component of the hanger as viewed from the rear of a display; Fiqure 3 is another general view of the body component as viewed from the opposite front surface;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the body component;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the body component;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the body component;

Figure 7 is a section through the body component on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a general view of the body component, which has been attached to the display panel;

Figure 9 is a general view of the display panel prior to attachment of hook elements to the body components;

Figure 10 is a general view of one of the hook elements as viewed from the rear of the display;

Figure 11 is a rear elevational view of the hook element;

Figure 12 is a front elevational view of the hook element;

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the hook element; and

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section through the bottom part of the hook element taken on the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 , the drawing shows part of a display system in which display panels 1 are secured to a display frame 2. The display panels may be rigid or flexible, and could be formed of card or plastic sheet for example. The display frame is formed of plastic and/or metal members 3 connected by corner fittings 4.

The display panel 1 is secured to the display frame 2 by horizontal magnetic strips 5 which are adhesively secured to the rear face of the display panel. At least some of the members 3 incorporate ferrous metal so that the magnetic strips 5 can be magnetically attached thereto, thereby releasably attaching the panels to the frame. Strips of hook and loop material or similar releasable means could alternatively be used to releasably secure the display panel to the frame.

Accurate location of the display panels 1 on the frame 2 is achieved by means of display hangers 6, which allow accurate positioning of the panels even if the adjacent edges are out of direct sight, e.g. above head height. One of the hangers 6 will now be described in detail with reference to Fig.s 2 to 6. Each display hanger includes a main body component 7, which may be moulded of ABS or a similar thermoplastic. The component 7 includes a substantially planar back wall 8 of elongate rectangular shape with longitudinally extending top and bottom edges 9 and 10 and shorter end edges 11 and 12. The front surface of the back wall 8 includes a central socket portion 13 defined by shallow ribs 14, 15 and 16 arranged in a U-configuration, with the bottom rib 16 extending along a mid portion of the bottom edge 12 and substantially parallel transverse ribs 14 and 15 extending between the top and bottom edges 9 and 10. The back wall 8 contains a rectangular aperture 17 located within the socket portion 13. In addition, the bottom rib 16 is provided with a short upstanding lip 18, spaced from the back wall 8 and projecting towards the upper edge 9.

A pair of top ribs 19 and 20 extend along the top edge 9 in opposite directions away from the transverse ribs 14 and 15 such that adjoining pairs of ribs 14, 19 and 15, 20 define attachment areas 21 and 22 on opposite sides of the socket portion 13. Respective self-adhesive pads 23 and 24 are secured to the back wall 8 within the attachment areas 21 and 22, positively located by the respective pairs of bounding ribs 14, 19 and 15, 20. The thickness of the pads 23 and 24 is such that they are substantially coplanar with, or protrude slightly above, the adjacent ribs 14-16, 19 and 20. The pads may be protected by a peelable backing which, when removed, enables the body component to be adhesively secured to the rear surface of the display panel 1.

A pair of substantially parallel integral spacer arms 25 and 26 project from the respective top ribs 19 and 20, co-planar with the back wall 8. The arms 25 and 26 are used for accurately positioning the body component relative to an adjacent edge of the display panel 1 during attachment thereto. The arms 25 and 26 are of flat strip-like form, each being slightly longer than the width of the magnetic strip 5. The free ends of the arms are each formed with a locating lip 27, 28 which projects beyond the ribs 14-16, 19 and 20 to positively locate against an edge of the display panel 1. The arms 25 and 26 are each joined to the respective rib 19 or 20 by a pair of spaced bridges 29 and 30 (Fig. 4) which provide fracture points enabling the arms to be removed once the body component is adhered to the display panel 1. Removal of the arms may be assisted by providing the bridges with notches 31 adjacent to the back wall 8 (Fig.s 6 and 7) which aids pivoting of the arms away from the display panel to initiate the formation of stress fractures in the bridges 29 and 30.

When adhesively securing the body component 7 to the rear of the display panel 1 , as shown in Fig. 8, the locating lips 27 and 28 at the free ends of the arms 25 and 26 positively locate against an edge of the display panel 1 , thereby accurately determining the distance between the back wall 8 and the edge of the display panel. The socket portion 13 forms a narrow slot-like socket 32 (indicated in Fig. 7) between the back wall 8 and the display panel 1 , bounded on three sides by the ribs 14, 15 and 16 and opening towards the adjacent edge of the display panel. The magnetic strip 5 is adhesively secured to the rear of the display panel 1 between the body component 7 and the adjacent edge of the panel. The magnetic strip 5 is cut to permit access to the socket 32 allowing the insertion of a hook element 33, which will be described shortly. It should, however, be noted that prior to insertion of the hook elements flexible display panels 1 can be rolled up, as shown in Fig. 9, for ease of storage and transportation.

Referring to Fig.s 10 to 13, the hook elements 33 may again be moulded of ABS or a similar thermoplastic. Each hook element comprises a flat strip-like stem 34 with a perpendicularly-projecting flange 35 at its upper end. The opposite lower end of the stem 34 is formed with a three-sided slot 36 defining a flat tongue 37 which projects towards the flange 35 and is inclined out of the plane of the stem 34 by an amount which is less than the thickness of the stem. (See Fig. 13). As shown in the sectional view of Fig. 14, the free end of the tongue 37 is formed with a small step 38 on the projecting side, and in addition, flexing of the tongue may be assisted by a shallow groove 39 extending transversely across the root of the tongue. It will further be noted in Fig.s 12 and 14 that the bottom end of the stem 33 has a transversely-extending chamfer 39 on the opposite side from the flange 35.

When the display panel 1 is unrolled ready for magnetic attachment to the display frame 2 one of the hook elements 33 is engaged with each of the body components 7. The bottom end of the element 33 is slid into the socket 32 through the gap in the magnetic strip 15, with the flange 35 projecting rearwards away from the back of the display panel 1. The tongue 37 snaps into the aperture 17 in the back wall 8, thereby locking the hook element to the body component. The chamfered bottom end 40 of the hook element 33 locates between the lip 18 and the back wall 8 preventing deflection of the bottom end of the hook element towards the display panel 1. In addition, the stepped end 38 of the tongue 37 limits the amount by which the tongue can deflect into the aperture 17, thus ensuring a firm positive lock. When the display panel 1 is magnetically engaged with the display frame the flanges 35 provide positive location against the display members 3 ensuring quick and accurate positioning of the display panels.

If desired, the hook elements 33 can be disengaged from the body components, for example, to allow the display panels to be rolled up again after use or to prevent damage to the hook elements during storage and transportation. Such removal is achieved by depressing the tongue 37 through the aperture 17 in the back wall 8 so that the tongue is deformed into the plane of the stem 34, thus enabling the hook element to be withdrawn from the socket 32.

It should be noted that the display hangers do not increase the depth of the display or cause surface irregularities on the front face of the display panel.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any embodiment of the invention in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description places emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is sought for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A display hanger for attachment to the rear face of a display panel, the display hanger including :

- a body component (7) having a planar body portion (8) for attachment to the display panel (1 ); and

- at least one hook element (33) which releasably engages the body component and incorporates a locating projection (35) which extends away from the rear of the display panel in use; characterised in that the body component is formed with a locating lip (27, 28) for contact with an edge of the display panel to which the body component is secured.

2. A display hanger according to Claim 1 in which the locating lip (27, 28) is carried by at least one spacer arm (25, 26) which projects in the plane of the body portion (8).

3. A display hanger according to Claim 1 in which the, or each, spacer arm (25, 26) is joined to the remainder of the body component by a frangible connection (29, 30) such that the arm, or arms, can be removed prior to engagement of the hook element (33).

4. A display hanger according to Claim 1 in which the planar body portion (8) is provided with an adhesive layer (23, 24) for attaching the body component to a display panel.

5. A display hanger according to Claim 1 in which the body component incorporates a socket (13) to receive the hook element (33).

6. A display hanger according to Claim 4 in which the body component incorporates a socket (13) to receive the hook element (33) and the adhesive layer (23, 24) is disposed on opposite sides of the socket.

7. A display hanger according to Claim 5 in which, in use, the socket (13) is bounded on one side by the display panel (1 ).

8. A display hanger according to Claim 5 in which the hook element (33) includes a substantially planar stem (34) with the locating projection (35) projecting from one end.

9. A display hanger according to Claim 8 in which the stem (34) incorporates a locking tongue (37) which is disposed at an acute angle to the plane of the stem for reception in an aperture (17) in the socket (13).