GB2397161A

GB2397161A - A display unit eg for maps

Info

Publication number: GB2397161A
Application number: GB0300443A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Thomas Park Purcell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-09
Filing date: 2003-01-09
Publication date: 2004-07-14
Also published as: GB0300443D0

Abstract

A display unit comprises a location framework 20 having retaining front wall portions 21 and upstanding partitions 25 or dividers which create a series of open-fronted wells 22. At least two sets of substantially flat pieces 23, 24, which differ from each other in colour, shading, patterning and/or bear different indicia are shaped to fit within the wells 22 or depressions which are capable of holding both pieces 23, 24, one behind the other, the selected piece 23 nearest the front. There is means 15 to hold the pieces 23, 24 in their respective wells 22 which can be in the form of a base member 15 located at the rear of the framework 20. The front wall portion 21 may depict an outline of regions on a geographic map, the flat pieces 23, 24 being in the shape of corresponding regions. The display unit may have a transparent cover sheet 14 located at the front.

Description

23971 6 1 1 - DISPLAY UNIT, E. G. FOR MAPS This invention concerns a

display which is sub-divided into a plurality of discrete regions, which may all be of substantially the same shape, or which may be of a wide range of different shapes.

An object of the invention is to provide means for selectively changing the appearance of at least some of these regions.

For example, the display may comprise a chart of a child's record of achievement, such as attendance at certain lessons, or acquisition of skills e.g. in swimming. There may then be respective regions labelled numerically or with details of the skill and once these are accomplished it is desired to change the appearance of the respective region in some way, e.g. its colour, pattern or the indicia thereon. Of course, one known way is simply to colour in regions or add indicia by pens, pencils, crayons or stickers. However, the invention provides an alternative to this.

Another example is where the display comprises a map of a district, a country, a continent or the entire world. - 2 -

Respective regions may then be sub-districts, counties, countries, or particular town or city areas which are delimited by boundary lines. It may be desired, again, selectively to change the appearance of certain of these regions to indicate some attribute, for example that the user has visited the respective country or city, or that only certain countries or cities or districts have something in common while others do not e.g. hosting a particular type of event, adherence to a treaty, or particular laws in force. These attributes may change over time so the display needs to be capable of correspondingly being changed.

According to the invention a display unit is provided comprising a location framework having retaining front wall portions and upstanding partitions providing a series of shaped wells, at least two sets of substantially flat pieces, the respective sets comprising correspondingly shaped pieces, but of different surface colouring, shading, and/or patterning and/or bearing different indicia to each other, these pieces being of corresponding shape to the wells in the framework and the upstanding partitions being of sufficient depth that the pieces of both or all sets can be received in the well with a selected piece nearest to the front wall portions thereof, and means to hold the pieces in their respective wells.

Thus the respective wells in the framework correspond generally to respective regions in the display and the flat pieces - 3 - located or locatable in these wells represent these regions and can be interchanged between those in the first and those in the second or further sets which are of different appearance.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a diagrammatical partial cross-section of a practical embodiment of the display unit of the invention.

In this particular embodiment the display is of a map of the The unit comprises a rectangular frame 10, similar to a conventional picture frame, having a rearward ledge 12, supporting a sheet 14 of transparent glass or plastics material. This serves as a cover to the underlying display.

The display is sandwiched between the cover sheet 14 and a base sheet 15, e.g. of Cardboard or other suitable material, which is secured across the rear of the frame 10 by a series of swivel pins 16, or other known styles of clips or retainers, only one of which is shown in the drawing.

The display consists of a framework 20, a plurality of flat pieces 23, 24 and a masking sheet 36. The framework 20 has front wall portions 21 with relatively large open areas 22 therebetween, these open areas 22 being shaped to represent the countries of the world. The framework 20 also has upstanding - 4 - partitions 25 projecting rearwards from the front wall portions 21, but spaced from the edge thereof so as to leave a retaining lip 26 around each of the open areas 22. Therefore, in cross- section, where the front wall portions 21 and partitions 25 are depicting land boundaries between respective countries, the retaining lips 26 and the intermediate partition 25 together are of T shape.

The front wall portions 21 and partitions 25 around the open areas 22 define respective wells 28 in which flat pieces 23, 24 of matching shape may be accommodated.

Two sets of pieces are provided in this embodiment, a first set 23 which of course correspond to the shapes of the countries of the world so as to fit into the respective wells 28 and which are of a first colour or pattern, and a second set 24, which again correspond to the shapes of the countries of the world, so as also to fit into the wells 28, but which are of a second, contrasting colour or surface pattern. Both sets are located in the wells 28, but it is a matter of choice for the user as to whether the piece from set 23 or the piece from set 24 should be uppermost, in any particular well 28. In other words it is a matter of choice which piece, 23 or 24, is directly below the lips 26 adjacent the cover sheet 14, and therefore on display when the unit is hung or affixed to a wall or other upright surface. Therefore the user may select, for example, those countries which he/she has visited, to have the pieces 23 - 5 - of the first colour/pattern uppermost and those which he/she has not visited to have the other pieces 24 uppermost. Over time, as he/she visits more countries the display can be changed by removing the base sheet 15 and switching around the pieces 23, 24 in the relevant well(s) 28 for the additional visited countries, then replacing the base sheet and re-hanging or re-affixing the display.

Some front wall portions 21 are more extensive, between land masses, and these are overlaid by the masking sheet 35, which depicts oceans and is sandwiched directly between the relevant front wall portions 21 of the framework 20 and the cover sheet The foregoing is only illustrative of the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that the general idea and the principles of construction of the display unit can be applied to many other types of display, the shape and size of the wells and the pieces being constructed accordingly. For example, at one extreme the pieces and wells could be square or rectangular, the framework then being generally in the form of a grid, with similar front wall portions/lips retaining the pieces and upstanding partitions therebetween. However, the pieces and the front wall portions of the framework can be made of any desired shape. The use of a cover sheet and base sheet is of course optional, although means must be provided to the rear to hold the pieces in the wells. The frame is also - 6 optional as clips could be used in its place to hold together the cover and base sheet, in known manner. Also, there could be more than two sets of pieces in other embodiments to provide a greater choice of what attributes are to be indicated in the various wells of the unit and regions of the display. 7 -

Claims

1. A display unit comprising a location framework having retaining front wall portions and upstanding partitions providing a series of open fronted wells, at least two sets of substantially flat pieces, the respective sets comprising correspondingly shaped pieces, but of different surface colouring, shading, and/or patterning and/or bearing different indicia to each other, these pieces being of corresponding shape to the wells in the framework and the upstanding partitions being of sufficient depth that the pieces of both or all sets can be received in the wells with a selected piece nearest to the front wall portions thereof, and means to hold the pieces in their respective wells.

2. A display unit according to claim 1 wherein the front wall portions of the framework depict at least an outline of regions on a geographic map and the flat pieces are in the shape of corresponding regions.

3. A display unit according to claim 1 or further comprising a transparent cover sheet mounted in front of the location framework. - 8

4. A display unit according to claim 3 including a further sheet partially overlying the front wall portions of the framework and disposed between same and the transparent cover.

5. A display unit according to any preceding claim further comprising a base member located to the rear of the framework and holding the pieces in their respective wells.

6. A display unit according to claim 3 and 5 further comprising a frame surrounding the cover sheet and the base member and means for connecting the frame to the cover sheet and/or the base member so as to retain the framework and flat pieces therebetween.

7. A display unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.