SHELL STRUCTURE FOR ADVERTISING AND DECORATING PURPOSES

Abstract: A shell construction in the form of a geodesic globe for advertising and decorative purposes built up from identical rhombic plates of transparent or translucent material, easily removable, which are fitted on a frame of sections joined together by alternately three-point and five-point junctions. The globe is suspended on a collar rotatably journalled on a cylinder either suspended or on a stand, allowing it to be rotated slowly. The construction includes a stand for one or more projectors for projection onto the rhombic plates. Rotation can be effected by a small motor, applied on the cylinder and driving the collar which is provided with ball-bearings.

Description: Shell Structure for Advertising and Decorating Purposes The present invention relates to a shell construction in the form of a geodesic globe for advertising and decorative purpo¬ ses. Through my previous patent EP 58 654 it is already known to con¬ struct a geodesic dome for buildings, consisting of identical struts joined together at junctions to form a framework, and co¬ vered by identical rhombic plates. However, the use of such constructions need not be limited to buildings, greenhouses and the like. Such a structure can also be used for advertising purposes. If a closed construction of this type, a geodesic globe (tricontahedrons) is viewed from the side or from below, parti¬ cularly if it is caused to rotate slowly, it appears to be built up of cubes or cubic recesses. Most diverse and interesting effects can be achieved by projecting pictures or colours from inside, towards the shell of glass or other transparent or translucent material. The pictures can also be projected from outside, through an aperture in the shell, and directed by mirrors towards the side surfaces. Contrary to my earlier patent, this construction need not be di¬ mensioned for the same stresses as a building outdoors, which will be subjected to snow, wind, rain, etc. The interior must also be easily accessible to facilitate altering the setting of a projection means, alternating pictures, colours and the like, or replacing a clear plate in the shell by a translucent or co¬ loured plate. According to my earlier patent the geodesic dome is constructed from rhombic plates on aluminium sections joined together by al¬ ternately three-point and five-point junctions. Since the con¬ struction must withstand all the strain which a greenhouse may be subjected to - rain, wind, snow, etc. - it must be extremely stable. However, the present invention preferably relates to in¬ door use in exhibition halls and the like. Naturally it can also be used for outdoor advertising and decoration. The construction according to the present invention is in prin¬ ciple built up in the same way from struts or supports joined together by three-point or five-point junctions, but can. be made considerably more slender than the above-mentioned greenhouse, using struts of slimmer sections or tubes, clad with thinner and lighter plates. The struts of sections or tubes may be inserted into the junctions and locked by a simple grub screw, for in¬ stance, and the plates can be secured by clips, brackets or springs on the struts. The globe is suitably suspended on a cylinder through its top, with power and control cables drawn through the cylinder. Stands for projectors and spotlights, etc. may also be attached to the cylinder. The globe can thus be rotated at the same or different speeds. Embodiments by way of example Example 1 A show-case with a height of about 2 m is erected in an exhibi¬ tion hall with a height of 6 m to the ceiling. Abov.e the show¬ case is a space of about 4 m to the ceiling which is usually not used for anything. A globe according to the invention is now suspended in this empty space, the globe having a diameter of- 2.5 to 3.5 m and suspended on a cylindrical pendulum. The diame¬ ter of the cylinder is optional but is suitable 50 to 100 mm, and the globe is suspended on a rotating collar, possibly provi¬ ded with ball-bearings, on the cylinder which is also provided with a small electric motor. Inside the globe is a stand for one or more projectors with magazines capable of changing colour- slides in the usual manner. Power leads and cables for operating and setting the projector and drawn through the cylinder if the stand is connected to the tubular pendulum. If the stand is caused to rotate in relation to the pendulum, the power will be transmitted via slip rings. Control impulses can also be produced by time relays or trans¬ mitted without wires. The pictures are suitably projected on vertical or inclined rhombic surfaces in order to give the best and most suggestive effect on each occasion, but they may also be directed in directions especially likely to attract atten- tion, such as out towards corridors or between the show-cases. The embodiment can be varied in may ways within the scope of the invention. The pictures can be projected from outside, for in¬ stance, using projectors located outside and at a distance from the globe, just coloured light or combinations of coloured light and pictures may be projected, the rhombs may be the same or different colours and some or all the rhombs may be provided with text and/or pictures, etc. Interesting effects can also be obtained using rhombic mirror surfaces. The impression of cubes which appear to be standing out or re¬ cessed enables visionary and suggestive effects previously un- envisaged. Example 2 Smaller globes having a size of 500 to 1000 mm can be used in similar manner for street decorations, e.g. for street signs. The projectors here are suitably arranged outside the globes, better protected and less subject to damage, so that pictures or the like can be projected on the outside of the globe. It is also possible to have only illumination arranged inside the glo¬ bes, together with drive means for rotation, the effects being achieved by decoration of the rhombic plates or variation of their colours. Monotony can be avoided by giving one or more of the rhombic plates a mirroring surface and/or projecting pic ¬ tures from the outside gives a particularly spectacular effect. Ex mple 3 Small globes having diameters of 50 to 150 mm- can:be used, for' , indoor advertising in shops and other premises and .can- be sus¬ pended where they will be set in movement by draughts of air in the premises. They can be illuminated with different coloured ..; light in the same way as in the previous examples.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. A shell construction for advertising and decorative purposes consisting of uniform plates, easy to remove and exchange, secu- red on a frame of sections with projectors arranged outside and/or inside the construction, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plates are rhombic in shape, transparent or translucent and possibly decorated with pictures and/or text, and in that the sections are identical and held together by three-point and five-point junctions alternately to form a globe in the shape of a rhombic tricontahedron. 2. A method of manufacturing a shell construction for adver¬ tising and decorative purposes, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said shell construction is built up as a globe in the form of a rhombic tricontahedron, from identical rhombic plates, easily exchangeable, which are fitted on a frame of identical struts joined together by alternately three-point and five-point junctions and suspended on a rotating collar on a cylinder, said cylinder possibly terminating at the bottom in a stand for a projector, the operating and power cables being drawn through the cylinder. 3. The use of a shell construction in the form of a globe as claimed in claim 1 for advertising purposes, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i s e d in that the globe, fitted on a stand or suspended on a cord, is caused to rotate slowly by means of a small motor, with pictures and text on the surfaces of the globe and/or pro ¬ jected on the globe surfaces.

Inventors: HEDEN CARL-GOERAN, HEDEN, CARL-GOERAN
Applicants: HEDEN CARL GOERAN, HEDEN, CARL-GOERAN
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A47F11
IPC codes: A47F11, G09F15