GB2302436A

GB2302436A - Display assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2302436A
Application number: GB9512669A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lionel Roger Jose Balzano
Original assignee: EUROSIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: EUROSIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 1995-06-21
Filing date: 1995-06-21
Publication date: 1997-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-21
Also published as: GB2302436B; GB9512669D0

Abstract

An illuminated display assembly (10) includes a housing (12) for one or more light sources and a frame (22). The frame (22) includes a first frame section (24) coupled to the housing (12) in pivotal fashion and is designed so as not to extend substantially beyond the side (14) of the housing (12) during pivoting of the frame (22). The display assembly (10) can thus be placed close to a wall (52) without interference between the frame (22) and the wall (52). The frame (22) supports a display canopy (20) by means of a securing assembly (40-50) which includes a screw (50) receiving slot (40) extending substantially perpendicular to the display canopy (20) so as not to cause interference with the wall (52) on fixing the canopy (20) to the frame. A frame cover (76) slides over the frame sections (24,26) without requiring much space during fitting and is a snap fit so as not to require fixing screws.

Description

DISPLAY ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a display assembly and to components thereof.

It is known to have display assemblies for displaying company logos or other messages in which the logo or message is produced on a translucent canopy. The assembly typically includes a housing of cuboid shape within which one or more light sources are provided and a frame which lies over an open side of the housing and which supports the canopy over this open side. Suitable stretching means are provided within the frame to stretch the canopy across the area within the frame.

The frame is also commonly designed so as to be readily movable to gain access to the interior of the housing, for example to change light bulbs. This is conventionally achieved by providing a hinge on one side of the frame. Some prior art display assemblies are also provided with a frame cover which overlies the frame and the ends of the canopy.

Although the above type of display assembly can provide a striking and efficient illuminated display, it can in some instances suffer from inconveniences, particularly at the display site. For example, the pivotal movement of the frame requires a certain amount of space at the hinge side of the assembly. It can also be difficult to fit and tighten the canopy to the frame when the frame is secured to the housing and to then fit the frame cover.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved display assembly and component parts thereof.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display assembly comprising a support, a frame supportable on the support, a display panel securable to the frame, hinge means provided on the support and adjacent a first side of the display assembly, the frame being coupled to the hinge means so as to be pivotable relative to the support, wherein the display assembly is designed to be located with its first side adjacent a wall and the frame is designed such that it does not interfere with the wall on pivoting thereof.

Preferably, the frame remains substantially within a plane of the first side of the display assembly during pivoting of the frame.

The support may include a housing for illumination means, the housing including a side wall providing the first side of the display assembly.

In the preferred embodiment, the display panel includes a flexible canopy securable to the frame.

Advantageously, the frame includes one or more display panel holding assemblies, the or each assembly including a fixing structure accessible from a direction substantially parallel to or away from the plane of the first side of the display assembly.

The or each display panel holding assembly may include one or more screw receiving means disposed at an angle substantially parallel to or away from the plane of the first side of the display assembly.

Preferably, the display assembly comprises one or more covers disposable over the frame, a cover adjacent the first side being slidable over the frame close to the plane of the first side of the display assembly.

The or each cover may be a snap or interference fit onto the frame.

In the preferred embodiment, the frame includes a cover support flange extending towards the support and located adjacent the pivot, the cover support flange moving into the display assembly on pivoting of the frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display assembly comprising a support, a frame supportable on the support, a display panel securable to the frame, the frame including a display panel holding assembly located adjacent a first side of the display assembly, the holding assembly including a fixing structure accessible from a direction substantially parallel to or away from a plane of the first side.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display assembly comprising a support, a frame supportable on the support, a display panel securable to the frame, and one or more covers disposable over the frame, a cover adjacent a first side of the display assembly being slidable over the frame close to the plane of the first side.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display assembly comprising a support, a frame supportable on the support, a display panel securable to the frame, hinge means provided on the support, the frame being coupled to the hinge means so as to be pivotable relative to the support and lying within a first side of the display assembly, the frame remaining substantially within a plane of the first side of the assembly during pivoting of the frame.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of display assembly taken along a longitudinal extent of the principal portions of a frame of the assembly; and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 1, showing a section of the frame of the display assembly.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the display assembly 10 shown extends into and out of the plane of the paper and includes a housing 12 of substantially rectangular cuboid shape. The housing 12 includes five side walls 14 (only three being visible in Figure 1) and an open side delimited by first and second flanges 16,18. Additional flanges may be provided at the two walls of the housing 12 not shown in the Figures.

Within the housing 12 there is provided one or more lamps (not shown) of conventional type for illuminating the open side of the housing 12. To this end, the walls 14 of the housing may or may not be translucent, in dependence upon the display effect sought.

A canopy 20 (shown schematically in dotted outline), preferably formed of translucent or partially translucent material, extends across the open side of the housing 12, supported by a frame 22 described in further detail below. The canopy 20 may include a logo or other message for display or may simply be decorative. In some applications, the canopy 20 may be opaque, in which case illumination within the housing 12 may be omitted.

The canopy 20 is of any suitable material for the chosen application and is preferably a sheet of relatively thin flexible material so as to be easily fitted to the frame 22 but not such as to stretch over time. It is held in tension across the open side of the housing 12 so at to act as a cover to the housing 12.

The frame 22 includes first and second elongate frame sections 24,26, each of which extends along the length of a respective side wall 14 of the housing 12. The frame sections are, in this embodiment, of extruded metal, although could be made from any suitable material including plastics, fibreglass and the like, and by any suitable method.

Additional frame sections (not shown) are provided transverse to the sections 24,26 and located adjacent the side walls of the housing 12 not visible in the Figures. Thus, in this embodiment, the frame sections form a rectangular frame.

The two frame sections 24,26 are very similar to one another and include C-shaped frame support channels 28 within each of which is located in use a foot 30 of a frame support 32. The frame support 32 may be of conventional form, consisting of a plurality of struts extending from a base member. Any suitable frame support may be provided for this embodiment, its purpose being to support the frame sections 24,26 against the contracting force produced by the canopy 20.

At a housing side of each frame section 24,26 there is provided a second C-shaped channel 34 (see Figure 2) which receives an elastomeric seal 36, in this example of hollow tubular form integral with a support strip received within the channel 34.

At an outer side of the frame sections, opposite the housing side, each frame section 24,26 includes a curved support flange 38 which supports edges of the canopy 20. These flanges 38 may be of any suitable form.

Within each frame section 24,26 there is provided an elongate slot 40 extending along the length of each frame section. Each slot 40 is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the open side of the housing 12. These slots 40 form part of canopy support assemblies within the frame section 24, only one of which is shown in Figure 1. A similar canopy support assembly is also provided in the other frame section 26.

Each canopy support assembly includes a plurality of holding members 42 each comprising a flange 44 coupled to a channel 46 of rectangular cross-section. A respective end of the canopy 20 is folded within the channel 46 and held therein by an elongate rod 48 of rectangular transverse cross-section which fits within the canopy 20 as shown. The holding members 42 are spaced at regular intervals along the end of the canopy 20.

Each flange 44 is provided with a bore therein (not shown) for receiving a fixing screw 50. The screws 50 are in use driven into the slot 40 so as to urge the holding member 42 towards the slot 40. By ensuring that the width of canopy between the respective canopy support assemblies of the two frame sect ions 24,26 is slightly short, the canopy will be tensed on driving the screws 50 into the slot 40. The orientation of the slots 40 of each frame section 24,26 ensures that a screwdriver used for driving the screws 50 into the slots 40 will be disposed in the direction of the display, in practice always an "open" side of the display, and will not be hampered by any part of a structure to which the display assembly 10 is fitted.This can be particularly important for replacement of the canopy 20 when the display assembly 10 is located in a corner or recess of a support structure 52 (shown in dotted outline in Figure 1).

Similar slots 40 may be provided in the frame sections adjacent the side walls 14 of the housing 12 not shown in the Figures.

In an alternative example, a single holding member is provided for each frame section 24,26, and includes a plurality of bores therein at regular intervals along its flange.

Each frame section 24,26 also includes a support flange 54 extending, in this embodiment, from the elongate slot 40. The support flange 54 of the frame section 24 includes a hinge axle 56 which in this example is, in axial cross-section, approximately three quarters of a circle. The pivot axle 56 fits within an elongate rounded channel 58 at the end of a hinge flange 60 extending from the housing flange 16.

The shape of the hinge axle 56 facilitates the fitting of the channel 58 thereonto. However, when the frame assembly 22 is in a pivoted position, a full diameter portion of the hinge axle 56 fits within the rounded channel 58 and is not able to be removed from the channel 58 until the frame 22 is moved back to a position closer to its closed position. This features provides support for the frame 22 when in an open position.

The support flange 54 of the frame section 54 includes a fixing strip 62 in place of the pivot axle 56. The housing flange 18 has a similar hinge flange 60 and rounded channel 58 to that of the housing flange 16 for manufacturing efficiency. In use, one or more screws are secured through the fixing strip 62 and into the channel 58 so as to lock the frame 22 in a closed position. It will be immediately apparent that the flange 60 and channel 58 could be replaced by any suitable fixing structure.

Beyond the support flange 54 of the pivoting frame section 24 there is provided a cover support strip 70 which extends in use towards the housing 12 and substantially parallel with the adjacent side wall 14. The free end of the support strip 70 includes an elongate receiving cup 72 for supporting an elongate bead 74 of a cover strip 76.

The cover support strip 70 of the frame section 26 is provided with an aperture 80 through which a fixing screw can pass to lock the frame section 26 to the support flange 60.

Each cover 76 is preferably made of a resilient material and is shaped so as to extend over the interior of its respective frame section 24,26 and over the curved canopy support flange 38. The cover 76 is also provided with an internal strut 78 which has at its free end a bead 80 received within an elongate recess 82 in the frame member 24,26. On fitting of the cover 76 onto its respective frame section 24,26 the cover 76 flexes and is then retained in position by the beads 74,82 and respective receiving cup 72 and recess 82.

As will be apparent from the Figures, the cover support strip 70 and cover 76 are able to pivot about the pivot axle 56 in such a manner that they move into a space provided between the side wall 14 of the housing 12 and the flange 60, that is, so as to move within the perimeter of the display assembly 10.

This allows the frame 22 to be pivoted open even when the display assembly 10 is located close to a support structure 52 of the type shown in Figure 1. This is not possible with some prior art display assemblies.

Since the covers 76 can be fitted merely by sliding them onto their respective frame section 24,26, they can be fitted even when space is confined. This is not always possible with some designs of cover which are secured by screws or the like.

The Figures show the display assembly having a pivot point at the top of the assembly. The hinge 56,58 may be located on any side of the assembly. If it is located along a vertically extending side, the hinge 56,58 may be provided with one or more stops of suitable form for preventing sliding of the hinge axle 56 within the cup 58.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A display assembly comprising a support, a frame supportable on the support, a display panel securable to the frame, hinge means provided on the support and adjacent a first side of the display assembly, the frame being coupled to the hinge means so as to be pivotable relative to the support, wherein the display assembly is designed to be located with its first side adjacent a wall and the frame is designed such that it does not interfere with the wall on pivoting thereof.

2. A display assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame remains substantially within a plane of the first side of the display assembly during pivoting of the- frame.

3. A display assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support includes a housing for illumination means, the housing including a side wall providing the first side of the display assembly.

4. A display assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the display panel includes a flexible canopy securable to the frame.

5. A display assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame includes one or more display panel holding assemblies, the or each assembly including a fixing structure accessible from a direction substantially parallel to or away from the plane of the first side of the display assembly.

6. A display assembly according to claim 5, wherein the or each display panel holding assembly includes one or more screw receiving means disposed at an angle substantially parallel to or away from the plane of the first side of the display assembly.

7. A display assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more covers disposable over the frame, a cover adjacent the first side being slidable over the frame close to the plane of the first side of the display assembly.

8. A display assembly according to claim 7, wherein the or each cover is a snap or interference fit onto the frame.

9. A display assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the frame includes a cover support flange extending towards the support and located adjacent the pivot, the cover support flange moving into the display assembly on pivoting of the frame.

10. A display assembly comprising a support, a frame supportable on the support, a display panel securable to the frame, the frame including a display panel holding assembly located adjacent a first side of the display assembly, the holding assembly including a fixing structure accessible from a direction substantially parallel to or away from a plane of the first side.

11. A display assembly comprising a support, a frame supportable on the support, a display panel securable to the frame, and one or more covers disposable over the frame, a cover adjacent a first side of the display assembly being slidable over the frame close to the plane of the first side.

12. A display assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.