GB2321331A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Display apparatus for displaying information such as the names of sponsors, supporters or advertising media at sporting events comprises a host panel 1 and a plurality of display panels (15, Figures 5 to 7) of a size which when assembled together completely fill the host panel. The host panel is capable of simultaneously displaying multiples of display panels in a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows, and means are provided for selectively and manually attaching and detaching each said panel to and from the host panel. In one arrangement, the panels are assembled to present the appearance of a brick wall. The host panel is suitably provided with re-entrant slots (4, Figure 3) and the display panels provided with complementary fixings in the form of headed studs (16 Figure 7). The slots may widen at one or more locations (6, Figure 2) through which the stud heads can pass for the purpose of removal. In an alternative arrangement, hook and loop fibrous material may be used to attach the display panels to the host panels.

Description

DISPLAY APPARATUS This invention relates to display apparatus and more especially, but not exclusively, to apparatus for displaying information such as the names of sponsors, supporters or advertising media at sporting and other events.

It is of course well known for companies or individuals to advertise their goods or services by posters adhered or otherwise permanently fixed to hoardings or the like. To remove and/or replace such posters is both expensive and time consuming.

In one aspect, the present invention sets out to provide alternative display apparatus capable of displaying advertising media and other forms of information which does not suffer from the disadvantages referred to above.

In the context of sports clubs, for example football clubs, advertising panels are generally displayed around the respective pitch. These panels are relatively few in number and are generally expensive to purchase or rent.

Presently, no facilities exist for club supporters and members to display their support or membership publicly other than by renting or purchasing one of the few available advertising panels at a cost which is beyond the pockets of most members or supporters. The Applicants have recognised that many supporters and members of sports clubs would like publicly to display their support for the club and, in one aspect, the present invention sets out to provide display apparatus by which such public display of support can be made at a reasonable cost.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided display apparatus which comprises a host panel and a plurality of display panels of a size which when assembled together completely fill the host panel, the host panel being capable of simultaneously displaying multiples of display panels in a plurality of horizontal and vertical rowsr and means for selectively and manually attaching and detaching each said panel to and from the host panel.

The host panel may comprise a plurality of generally parallel lengthwise extending re-entrant slots for receiving complementary fixings secured to the rear face of each display panel. The fixings may comprise headed studs of a size which enables the neck of each stud to protrude through the respective slot with its head trapped behind the re-entrant portions of the slots to prevent removal therefrom. The slots may widen at one or more locations to define openings through which the stud heads can pass for purposes of removal. Alternatively, the display panels may be formed with re-entrant slots and the host panel may then include fixings in the form of studs.

The slots may be routed into the surface of the host panel.

The host panel may comprise a plurality of abutting individual elongate panels each of which includes one or more re-entrant slots. The edges of the individual panels include tongues or grooves for assembly respectively to grooves or tongues of neighbouring individual panels.

The sides of each display panel may be bevelled.

The display apparatus may include a header panel which extends over and runs parallel to the upper edge of the host panel. The material of the host panel may comprise a plastics material such as PVC or ABS and may typically be of 1 Omm thickness. One typical size of a host panel is 3000mm x 1000mm x 10mm.

The display panels may also be produced from a plastics or ABS material typically of thickness 3mm. A typical size of display panel is 1 OOmm x 225mm x 3mm. The display panels may be produced by injection moulding.

The header panel is again preferably produced from a plastics or ABS material of typically iOmm thickness. A typical size for header panel is 3000mm x 150mm x lOmm.

The attachment means may additionally or alternatively comprise hook and loop tape (typically that known as Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) attached to the rear face of each display panel and to the front face of the host panel. Manually operated attachment devices other than those described above may be employed. An important feature of all suitable attachment devices is that they require no special tools or materials to operate and that the display panels can be removed from the host panel speedily by a simple manual operation.

All display panels may be of the same size or the sizes of some panels may differ from those of other panels.

In one arrangement the panels are assembled to present the appearance of a brick wall. Thus the panels of one row are displaced sideways with respect to the panels of the neighbouring rows. In this case panels having a size typically of 1 OOmm by 112mum x 3mm will be necessary completely to fill the host panel.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a host panel and header panel of apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of an individual elongate panel of the host panel shown in Figure 1 to an enlarged scale; Figure 3 is an end view of a section of the panel illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the host panel of Figure 1 and a capping rail; Figures 5 to 7 are respectively front, rear and side views of display panels in accordance with the invention; Figure 8 is a rear view of an escape panel of the display apparatus; Figure 9 is a front view of the host panel illustrated in Figure 1 with all display panels in place; Figure 10 is a side view in section of alternative apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figures 11 and 1 2 show additional apparatus for use with the display panels illustrated in Figures 5 to 7.

The display apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises a host panel 1 of plastics material such as PVC or ABS and a header panel 2 positioned above and extending lengthwise of the upper margin of the host panel. The host panel is typically 3000mm x 1000mm x lOmm and the header panel is typically 3000mm x 150mm x 1 Omm. The host panel shown in Figure 1 comprises eight elongate abutting individual panels 3.

The edges of the individual panels 3 are either tongued or grooved and cooperate with the grooves or tongues of neighbouring panels 3 to produce a relatively compact assembly.

Each individual panel 3 is formed with two lengthwise extending generally parallel re-entrant slots 4, the slots of neighbouring side-by-side panels aligning one with the other. The re-entrant margins 5 of the slots 4 are shown in Figure 3. Each slot is enlarged towards one of its ends to define an opening 6. Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) pads 7 are adhered or otherwise attached to the surface of each individual panel 3.

The sides 8 and bottom 9 of the host panel 1 are bordered by capping rails 11. As will be seen from Figure 4, these rails include a step 1 2 which seats over the adjoining edge 14 of the host panel. The capping rails are typically 1 Omm high and 17mm deep and extend over the entire length of the host panel edge to be capped. The step may, for example, be 3mm deep and be set 5mm from the front face of the capping rail.

Display panels 1 5 are illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. As will be seen from Figure 5, the side edges of each display panel are bevelled and abut the side edges of neighbouring panels. The rear face of each display panel 1 5 carries a pair of studs 1 6 each including a neck 1 7 and head 1 8. The studs 1 6 are dimensioned such that the necks 1 7 protrude through the slots 4 with the heads 1 8 trapped behind the re-entrant margins 5 of the slots.

The openings 6 are slightly larger than the heads 1 8 to enable removal of one or more display panels from the host panel. Thus, the display panel 1 5 positioned in line with the openings 6 is first removed and neighbouring panels 1 5 are then slid along the slots until one stud of that panel is aligned with the opening.

The panel in line with the respective opening includes, as shown in Figure 8, a pad 1 9 of Velcro (RTM) which overlies one of the pads 7. Thus, these "escape" panels are retained in position until they are to be manually removed.

As will be seen from Figure 9, the display panels are dimensioned to fill the host panel completely. Typically, 1 20 display panels of size 225mm x 100mm and six infill panels of size 112mum x 1 OOmm are provided. In the preferred arrangement illustrated, the display panels are positioned on the host panel to give the appearance of a brick wall. In an alternative arrangement, several larger display panels may be interspersed with the panels illustrated to give the impression of a York stone or other wall structure.

Figure 10 illustrates an alternative host panel 21. In this embodiment, the surface of the host panel carries strips 22 of Velcro (RTM) material to which are attached display panels 23 whose rear surface have strips 24 of complementary Velcro (RTM) material, the strips 22, 24 co-operating to secure the display panels to the host panel.

The display apparatus may be designed to raise revenue for sporting organisations. This is achieved through the sale to supporters, members or sponsors of the several display panels 1 5 which are printed with, for example, the name of the purchaser. These panels are then displayed on the host panel 1 for an agreed rental period for which the panel owner pays.

Each panel may, for example, display the name, image or message of the supporter or member who purchased the display panel in question.

To avoid unwanted graffiti or dishonest use, the panels are coated with a removabie pre-printed film carrying a preliminary message designed to promote their purchase by a potential sponsor.

After the end of rental period, the display panels are removed from the host panel and returned to their owners. As will be seen from Figures 11 and 12, each panel 1 5 may subsequently be attached to a backing panel 28 by inverted 'V' shaped clips 25 formed with slots 26 which pass over the headed studs 1 6 on the rear face of the display panel 1 5 and over studs 27 on the rear face of the backing panel 28. The backing panel 28 is the same shape and dimensions as the display panel 15.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of display apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. Display apparatus which comprises a host panel and a plurality of display panels of a size which when assembled together completely fill the host panel, the host panel being capable of simultaneously displaying multiples of display panels in a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows, and means for selectively and manually attaching and detaching each said panel to and from the host panel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the host panel comprises a plurality of generally parallel lengthwise extending re-entrant slots for receiving complementary fixings secured to the rear face of each display panel.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the fixings comprise headed studs of a size which enables the neck of each stud to protrude through the respective slot with its head trapped behind the re-entrant portions of the slots to prevent removal therefrom.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the slots widen at one or more locations to define openings through which the stud heads can pass for purposes of removal.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the display panels are formed with re-entrant slots and the host panel includes fixings in the form of studs.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the slots are routed into the surface of the host panel.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the host panel comprises a plurality of abutting individual elongate panels each of which includes one or more re-entrant slots.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the edges of the individual panels include tongues or grooves for assembly respectively to grooves or tongues of neighbouring individual panels.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the sides of each display panel are bevelled.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims further comprising a header panel which extends over and runs parallel to the upper edge of the host panel.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the material of the host panel comprises a plastics material.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the thickness of the host panel is lOmm.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the size of the host panel is 3000mm x 1000mm x 1 Omm.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the display panels are produced from a plastics or ABS material.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the thickness of each panel is 3mm.

1 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the size of display panel is 100mm x 225mm x 3mm.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the panels are assembled to present the appearance of a brick wall, the panels of one row being displaced sideways with respect to the panels of the neighbouring rows.

1 8. Display apparatus substantially as herein described and as described in Figures 1 to 1 2 of the accompanying drawings.