Transportable sign

Abstract

A transportable sign for temporary advertising is provided comprising a display portion configured to carry a flexible display medium (10) to display an image, wherein the display portion comprises a frame (9) at least partly surrounding the display portion and having sets of adjacent first and second grooves (35, 37) around the display portion, the second groove (37) being outward from the first groove (35) relative to the display portion, the first groove having opposing first groove walls (35A, 35B). The sign further comprises a clamp (39) having a clamp body (41) to be received in the first groove (35) and having a flange (43). The first groove (35) and the clamp (39) are arranged to clamp the flexible display medium (10) between the clamp body (41) and at least one first groove wall on insertion of the clamp body (41) into the first groove (35), and the first and second grooves (35, 37) and the clamp (39) are arrangeable such that on insertion of the clamp body (41) into the first groove (35) for clamping the display medium (10), the flange (43) of the clamp (39) covers the second groove (37).

Claims

1. A transportable sign for temporary outdoor advertising comprising a base portion, a support portion, a clamp, a display portion configured to carry a flexible display medium to display an image and cooperating connectors, wherein the base portion positions the sign by supporting the support portion and the display portion and the support portion supports the display portion, when mounted to or on the base portion; the display portion includes a self-supporting frame at least partly surrounding the display portion and having sets of adjacent first and second grooves around the display portion, the second groove being outward from the first groove relative to the display portion, and the first groove having opposing first groove walls, the clamp having a C-shaped clamp body received in the first groove and having a flange, the first groove having an open shape, in transverse cross-section, being substantially C-shaped with a relatively narrower entrance and a relatively wider portion behind the entrance, wherein the first groove and the clamp fix the flexible display medium to the frame by clamping the flexible display medium between the clamp body and at least one of the opposing first groove walls on insertion of the clamp body into the first groove, the first and second grooves and the clamp are arranged such that on insertion of the clamp body with its C-shaped opening outward into the first groove, the clamp body engages and comes to urge the display medium against the entrance and/or a wall portion of the first groove and the flange of the clamp covers the second groove, and the cooperating connectors are configured to attach the flexible display medium to the sign prior to fixing the flexible display medium to the frame with the first groove and the clamp.

2. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the display portion has a front side for displaying the image and the first and second grooves are recessed into the frame and are open generally towards the front side.

3. The sign according to claim 2, wherein the first groove has one of the opposing first groove walls on an inward side relative to the display portion, said one first groove wall extending into the frame at an angle that is at least perpendicular to the front side, has and having a rim portion protruding into the groove.

4. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the first groove has one of the opposing first groove walls on an inward side relative to the display portion, said one first groove wall extending into the frame at an angle that is at least perpendicular to the front side, and having a rim portion protruding into the groove.

5. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the clamp body has one or more portions with toothed ribs for engaging and/or gripping a portion of the flexible display medium.

6. The sign according to claim 1, wherein at least an entrance of the second groove is relatively wider than the entrance of the first groove.

7. The sign according to claim 6, wherein the display portion envelops the support portion and is slidable over the support portion and fixable to the support portion in at least two different relative positions.

8. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the base portion and the support portion comprise a first connector and a mated second connector for releasably coupling the base portion and the support portion, and the first connector and the second connector comprise guiding features to guide the base portion and the support portion into predetermined relative orientations.

9. The sign according to claim 8, wherein the base portion comprises the first connector and a mated third connector, such that two generally similar or identical base portions are connectable to each other via their first and third connectors, respectively.

10. The sign according to claim 9, wherein the third connector is substantially identical to the second connector of the support portion.

11. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a levelling prop which is height-adjustable with respect to the base portion.

12. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the sign comprises a hoisting connection, comprising an eye or a hook that is movably connected to the sign in a recess on top of the sign.

13. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the connectors are configured to tension the display member.

14. The sign according to claim 13, wherein the connectors or at least one of the cooperating connectors comprises an elastic element.

15. The sign according to claim 14, wherein the connectors or at least one of the cooperating connectors comprises an elastic band or cord.

16. The sign of claim 1, wherein the sign is configured such that the connectors are hidden from view, from the elements and/or from access, at least upon fixation of the display medium to the frame by the first groove and clamp.

17. The sign according to claim 16, comprising a cavity and wherein the connectors are received in the cavity and covered by at least part of the clamp and/or the display member when installed for displaying the display member.

18. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the display portion is mounted or mountable to the support portion to form a transformable assembly such that, when mounted to the base portion, the display portion is positionable in and movable over the support portion between at least a first, relatively high position and a second, relatively low position with respect to the base portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.

(2) FIGS. 1-4 are perspective, perspective front and top views, respectively, of a sign;

(3) FIGS. 5-7 are top, cross section (B-B) and bottom views, respectively, of the display portion of the sign of FIGS. 1-3;

(4) FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway view of the display portion of the sign of FIGS. 1-3, provided with a flexible display medium;

(5) FIGS. 9-12 are front, side and perspective views, respectively, of a corner block for the sign frame of FIGS. 1-8;

(6) FIG. 13A is a side view of a hook and a display medium for attaching the display medium to the display portion;

(7) FIG. 13B is a side view of an elastic hook arrangement and a display medium for attaching the display medium to the display portion;

(8) FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a display medium;

(9) FIGS. 15-16 are perspective views of corner blocks with connectors;

(10) FIG. 17 is a side view of a connector for attaching a display medium to an connectors, e.g. according to FIG. 16;

(11) FIG. 18 is a bottom view of a base portion of the sign of FIGS. 1-3;

(12) FIG. 19 is a side view of stacked base portions;

(13) FIGS. 20-23 are perspective, top side and cross section (A-A) views, respectively, of a carrier for a plurality of display assemblies;

(14) FIGS. 24-26 show parts of a connector for the carrier of FIGS. 20-23;

(15) FIG. 27 shows a locking pin for the carrier of FIGS. 20-23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(16) It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms upward, downward, below, above, and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral.

(17) FIGS. 1-3 show a sign 1 comprising a base portion 3, a support portion 5, and a display portion 7. The display portion 7 comprises a frame 9 surrounding the display portion 7 and thereby defining a centre portion in which a display D on a display medium 10 may be shown as generally indicated in FIG. 4. FIGS. 5-7 show the display portion in different views, with FIG. 6 showing cross section B-B indicated in FIG. 5.

(18) FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 show that the frame 9 here is generally hollow to save weight. The frame 9 comprises a top side 9A, left and right sides 9B and bottom side 9C, joined with corner blocks 9D. Inside the frame 9, a mounting structure 11 is provided, comprising opposing guide rails 13, here being generally U-shaped (FIG. 7), a bottom ring 15 and a top cap 17. In the bottom side 9C an opening 18 is provided granting access to (the rails 13 of) the mounting structure 11 (FIG. 7). The bottom ring 15 is provided with opposing cheek plates 19 having a hole 21 and extending from the frame 9 (FIGS. 2, 6). Further, optional light sources 23 are provided to illuminate (the display D on) the display medium 10 from within (FIGS. 1, 2, 6).

(19) An eye shackle 25 is movably connected to the sign in a recess 27 on top side of the frame 9 providing a hoisting connection. When lying in the recess 27, the eye 25 is largely hidden from view from a normal view point if (the top side 9A of) the sign 1 is about 2.5 meters high or more.

(20) The support portion 5 comprises an inner post 29 and a mantle 31 provided with through holes 33. The inner post 29 is provided with guides 33 that, when assembled, are slidably received in the guide rails 13 of the display portion 7 (FIG. 2). The mantle 31 surrounds and covers the inner post 29, improving aesthetics and protecting the inner post 29 from environmental factors. The mantle 31 is generally elliptical in transverse cross sectional shape, and fits inside the bottom ring 15 of the display portion. Thus, the display portion 7 is slidable over the support portion 5, enveloping the top end of the support portion 5. The oval or at least non-circular shape of the mantle 31, the opening 18 and the bottom ring 15 assists in preventing rotation of the display portion 7 with respect to the support portion.

(21) The display portion 7 is arrangeable to the support portion 5 in a relatively high position (FIGS. 1, 2, 4), an intermediate position and a relatively low position (not shown) wherein the display portion 7 is slid downward over the support portion 5 so that the latter is received in the former and the sign 1 has minimum height. In the lowest configuration, the top cap 17 may rest on (the top end of) the support portion 5. To fix the display portion 7 to the support portion 5 in a desired relative position, a lock, e.g. a bolt or a pin, may be inserted through the holes 21 and 33. Other locking mechanisms may also be employed.

(22) FIG. 8 shows a part of the frame 9, in cut-away view. The frame 9 preferably has a constant shape around the display portion 7, although segments with different shape may be provided as well. The frame 9 has sets of adjacent first and second grooves 35, 37 around the display portion, recessed into the frame 9. The second groove 37 is outward from the first groove 35 relative to the display medium 10 in the centre portion of the display portion 7. The first and second grooves 35, 37 have respective opposing first and second groove walls 35A, 35B; 37A, 37B. From FIG. 8 will be appreciated that the first groove 35 has an open shape, in transverse cross-section, being generally C-shaped with a relatively narrower entrance (width W1) and a relatively wider (width W2>W1) portion behind the entrance. Here, the second groove 37 is wider than the first groove 35, and the second groove 37 has an outwards flaring width giving it a general V-shape in transverse cross-section.

(23) The sign 1 further comprises a clamp 39. The clamp 39 is an elongated object having a clamp body 41, a narrow flange 42 and a wide flange 43. In FIG. 8 the clamp body 41 is resiliently received in the first groove 35 and the flange 43 covers the second groove 37. The clamp 39 may be removed, e.g. by inserting a tool underneath a flange 42, 43.

(24) The sign 1 comprises, in use as shown, a flexible display medium 10, e.g. a coated textile sheet carrying a printed image. The display medium 10 is arranged over and in the grooves 35, 37, thereafter the clamp 39 is inserted into the grooves 35, 37 with the display medium 10 in between. Thus, the clamp engages and comes to urge the display medium 10 against the entrance and/or a wall portion 35A, 35B of the first groove 35 and the display medium 10 is fixed to the frame 9. Any excess edge portion 10A of material of the display medium 10 can be stored in the second groove 37 and be neatly covered by the flange 43 of the clamp 39, hiding the edge portion 10A from view and environmental influences.

(25) Visible in FIG. 8 is that the clamp body 41 has on its outer surface a number of toothed ribs 45 for engaging and/or gripping a portion of the flexible display medium 10 to increase the holding force onto the display medium 10. To increase the resiliency and therewith the holding force (and reliability) of the clamp 39, the clamp body 41 is hollow and is provided with an optional additional a spring portion 47. It is noted that a massive clamp 39 may be provided as well. Here, the frame 9 comprises a profiled plate, which may be provided by forming, e.g. milling, pressing, bending, rolling, etc. plate material and/or extrusion forming, and it is generally rigid. Thus, the resiliency for clamping must be provided by the clamp 39. In other embodiments, at least part of (the groove 35 of) the frame 9 may be formed resilient.

(26) It is further noted that in FIG. 8, frame 9 comprises an edge 49 inward of the first groove 35 with respect to the centre portion of the display portion 7, so that the display medium 10 is bent over the edge 49 of the frame. This increases friction and reduces pulling forces of the display medium 10 on the clamp 39. Yet, the edge 49 being provided by a relatively small bend angle of about 30 degrees relative to an unbent frame portion, the groove 35 is still readily open towards and accessible from the front side of the display portion, being the side on which the display message D is to be shown. Further edges, ridges, protrusions, sticky material portions and/or other friction increasing structures may be provided on the frame 9 and/or the display medium 10.

(27) The frame 9 (or rather, the frame sides 9A-9C) may be formed with self supporting structures or be connected with an interior structure, e.g. an interior plate so that a tubular frame is provided. This increases robustness of the display portion. Tubular frame parts may also be provided as unitary parts.

(28) FIGS. 9-12 are different views of corner blocks 9D for use with the frame portion of FIG. 8. The corner blocks 9D may be inserted into the frame sides 9A-9C and fixed in any suitable manner, e.g. clamping, screwing, bolting, riveting, welding, gluing, etc. The corner blocks close the frame against environmental influences and they provide a pleasing appearance.

(29) In the corner blocks 9D, grooves and ribs 51, 53 and holes 55 are provided. The grooves and ribs 51, 53 facilitate slight deformation for clamping of the corner block 9D into the frame 9. The holes 55 facilitate attachment of corners of a display medium 10, e.g. for initial phases of mounting a display medium before a clamp 39 is applied.

(30) In an embodiment, the holes 55 in the corner blocks 9D form connectors for attaching corners of a display medium 10 to the display portion 7 in initial phases of mounting a display medium before a clamp 39 is applied to fix the display medium 10 to the frame 9. For that, connectors such as one or more hooks, shackles or the like may be used to connect (one or more corners of) the display medium 10 to (the corresponding ones of) the holes 55. A suitable hook 82 is shown in FIG. 13A and comprises a relatively flat portion F for penetrating the display medium 10 and holding it and a relatively wide portion W for engaging the corner block hole 55. Also or alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 13B, a connector 101 comprising an elastic band or cord 103 with hooks 105 on opposite ends for engaging the display medium and the frame, respectively, may be employed.

(31) In an embodiment, the display medium 10 is not attached to (the corner block material surrounding and defining) a hole 55 itself, but it is attached through the hole 55 to an connectors, e.g. an eye, a cable, a hook, etc. received within the cavity of the display portion 7 or the frame 9.

(32) An exemplary design of a suitable display medium 10 is shown in FIG. 14. The display medium 10 is of flexible material bearing an image D, e.g. a printed piece of cloth. In the corners, slits 83 are provided, like button holes, for being engaged by a hook (e.g. hook 82 of FIG. 13) or a button of suitable connectors of the sign 1. The display medium 10 may also or alternatively be provided with one or more pre-fabricated holes, rivets, hooks, loops, buttons etc.

(33) In the rim of the display image 10 of FIG. 14, near the corners, cutouts 85 are provided resulting in separated edge portions 10A and strip-shaped attachment portions 87 comprising the slits 83. Cutouts at or near the corner facilitate forming the display medium about (the first grooves 35 of) the frame 9. Forming such attachment portion strips 87 facilitates fitting (the strips 87 of) the display medium material through the holes 55 into (the interior of) the display portion 7 and hiding the attachment portions 87 from view and direct access.

(34) FIG. 15 indicates a corner block 9D of a particular embodiment of the sign 1, configured for attaching a display medium 10, e.g. a display medium according to FIG. 13. In the embodiment, an elastic cord 89 is attached to the frame 9 within the display portion 7 (here, being attached to the corner block 9D). The cord 89 is provided with a connector in the form of a button 91 to fit through a slit 83 and engage the display medium 10. In another embodiment (FIG. 16) a cord 89 may comprise a loop 93 and a hook, tie-ribbon, dumbbell-shaped button 95 (FIG. 17) and/or knot (not shown) may be used to attach the display member 10 to the cord 89.

(35) Upon attachment of the display medium 10 to (the frame 9 of) the display portion 7 of the sign, the display medium 10 can be accurately positioned with respect to the frame 9 and fixed in place by insertion of the clamps 39 into the first grooves 35 as described above. The corners of the display medium 10 with the cooperating connectors 83, 87, 89, 91 may be covered by dedicated corner clamps of similar construction to the clamps 39 but being generally rectangular or L-shaped, and/or by appropriately forming the clamps 39 with diagonally shaped ends (e.g. cut 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction) so that they are hidden from view and from the elements, as well as from direct access by passers-by, improving aesthetics of the sign and reducing chances of vandalism.

(36) The display medium edge portions 10A may be left free from details of the image D and/or be coloured to match the colour of the clamps 39 and/or (the frame 9 of) the display portion 7, so that a certain tolerance in the relative position of the display medium 10 with respect to the clamps 39 is provided, at least at first glance. Also or alternatively one or more markings Dm may be provided to assist aligning the display medium and the frame 9.

(37) FIG. 18 shows a bottom view of the base portion 3 of the sign 1. FIG. 19 shows a number of such base portions 3 being substantially identical stacked on each other. The base portion 3 comprises a shell 57 filled with concrete (not shown) in which a stand frame 59 is partly embedded. A reinforcement structure, e.g. a grid 61, may be provided as well within the concrete. The stand frame 59 comprises a connector 63 for connecting to a support portion or another base portion, and an optional mated counterconnector 65. Further, optional adjustable levelling props 67 are provided, e.g. disks with a screw connection through the base portion, as shown here.

(38) The shown support portion connector 63 comprises an inner wall 69 and an outer wall 71 surrounding the inner wall 69. The inner wall 69 is cylindrical with a tapered top 73 and the outer wall 71 has a profiled upper edge, here being undulating with four tips and four troughs but more, less and/or different guiding structures may be provided and the connector may be formed as an integral object. The inner post 29 of the support portion 5 comprises a complementary shape, e.g. here being a hollow cylinder with a complementary undulating bottom edge (not shown). Thus, the inner post 29 of the support portion 5 may be placed over the inner wall 69 of the connector 63 and arranged so that the respective undulations interengage and guide (the inner post 29 of) the support portion 5 into a predetermined relative position. There, (the inner post 29 of) the support portion 5 and (the connector 63 of) the base portion 3 may be locked by inserting a bolt or other device through (then) aligned holes through the respective parts 29, 63. The mantle 31 of the support portion may similarly also be locked in place or be attached differently.

(39) The bottom connector of each base portion 3 is substantially similar to that of (the inner post 29 of) the support portion 5 and for transport and/or storage plural base portions 3 may be connected and stacked as shown in FIG. 19. For increased stability, the levelling props may be suitably adjusted so that one or more, e.g. each, base portions are supported on each other also by their levelling props (not shown).

(40) FIGS. 20-23 show a carrier 75 for carrying plural support portions 5, with or without display portions 7 attached. The carrier comprises a frame 77 and a plurality, here five, connectors 63 for connecting support portions 5, being substantially identical to the connector 63 of the base portion 3 discussed before. The frame 77 comprises optional channels 79 for engagement by a fork lift.

(41) Here, the connectors 63 are arranged on crossing beams of the frame 77, being formed with an inner wall 69A (FIG. 24) and a crown-shaped outer wall 71A having four peaks and four troughs (FIGS. 25-26). Also these connectors 63 are provided with optional tapered tops 73 that help guide the support portion 5 onto the connector 63. A lock, e.g. a long skewer 81 (FIG. 27), may be inserted through the carrier 75 and the connectors 63 (FIG. 20) to lock any support structure arranged thereon to the carrier 75, preventing that they could fall off during transport.

(42) The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiments which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. For instance the display portion may have a different size or shape, e.g. square, upright rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal etc, using appropriate corner blocks. The term corner block does not mean that the blocks are unitary and/or solid although that may be the case in an embodiment. Hollow blocks reduce weight compared to massive blocks.

(43) Clamps may extend continuously along entire frame portions or plural adjacent short clamps may be provided.

(44) With some modifications, one skilled in the art may extend the embodiments described herein to other architectures, networks, or technologies.

(45) The sign may be provided with an electrical power supply such as one or more solar power panels and/or a battery, etc.

(46) Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise.