A DISPLAY BOARD

Abstract: A display board, especially for paint sample cards, and which comprises a support unit (12), and at least one cartridge (16) for detachably mounting on the support unit, each cartridge (16) having a frame (17) into which a paint sample card (18) can be loaded. The frame (17) is curved in at least one direction to present a curved paint surface which can mimic a curved car body panel.

Description: A Display Boarα This invention relates to a display board for displaying of two dimensional objects, in particular paint sample cards. Motor vehicle dealers when dealing with customer enquiries regarding the colour range of a vehicle model or models either have a brochure in which the various colours are displayed, or a book of individual cards or pages each of which coated in a different colour Daint. A problem with the brochures is that the colours disclosed are not accurate being colour printed representations of the vehicle paints, and the books of individual cards do not allow for display of all the colours simultaneously to customers for comparison, but must be examined page by page. The present invention provides a display board in which a number of samples can be simultaneously displayed. Accordingly there is provided a display board comprising a support unit, and at least one cartridge for detachably mounting on the support unit each cartridge having a frame into which a two dimensional object can be loaded. Since the cartridges are detachably mounted the display can be easily cnanged. Preferably each cartridge comprises a body having a back fa which in use is adjacent the support unit, and a front face the opposite side thereof, the back face including a det means for detachably engaging the support unit and the fr face defining a frame. Preferably, the sample is slidable into each frame, which preferably rectangular, through an open slot in a portion the frame. Conveniently the frame holds the sample in curved condition which provides an ideal display condit for a sample card having car body paint thereon. The card be a paper based card or a thin sheet of metal foil. Preferably the support unit has a plurality of sets apertures therein, and the or each cartridge has at least projection on its back face adjacent the support unit, projection being detachably engagable in a set of apertu for mounting the cartridge on the support unit. Conveniently the two dimensional object is a card having display surface coated in a paint whose colour and texture to be displayed. Also according to the invention there is provided a method displaying paint sample cards by loading the sample card i curved frame detachably mounted on a support unit. The invention will be described by way of example and w reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge for a display board according to the invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of the cartridge in the direction of arrow A, Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2 , Fig 4 is a back view of the cartridge of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a support unit for a board according to the invention, and Fig. 6 is a section through showing a joint between two support units. Now with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, there is shown a support 11 comprising a plurality of support units 12 each of which is moulded from a suitable plastics material such as high impact polystyrene, or polyacrylonitrilebutadienestyrene (ABS). The units 12 are each detachably linked to one another through mutually joints 13 on adjacent edges, preferably dove tail joints. Other suitable interlocking devices could also be used such as clips, fasteners, etc. The units each have a plurality of apertures 14 therein that are arranged in pairs 15. Each pair 15 of apertures 14 can be utilised for detachably mounting a display cartridge 16 onto the support unit 12. Now with reference also to figures 1 - 4, each displ cartridge 16 provides a rectangular frame 17 into which a t dimensional object 18 (see Fig. 1) in the form of a card c be loaded. Each cartridge 16 is a moulded plastic component and compris a body 21 having a substantially flat back face 22 with curved front face 23 on its opposite side which in use fac away from the support unit 12. The front face 23 preferably curved out of one plane only. The body 21 may present a completely open frame at both t front and back faces or the back face 22 could be solid. The rectangular frame 17 is formed on the front face 22 a a slot 24 is provided behind the front curved surface 23 the sides of the frame to accommodate the card 18. The sl 24 is curved in the shorter side portions of the frame 17 be substantially parallel to the front face 23 and is op through a portion 25 in one of the longer sides of the fram The card 18 is insertable in the open portion 25 of the sl 24 and is sufficiently flexible to take up a curved sha dictated by the form of the curved slot in the sides of t frame. The back face 22 of the cartridge has a pair of detents extending therefrom. Each detent 28 can be accommodated 5 a hole 14 in the support unit 12. The detents 28 on each cartridge 16 can be accorn odated in a pair 15 of holes 14 so as to detachably mount the cartridge 16 to the support unit. The detents 28 are formed from resilient heads that can contract diametrically under an axial load to allow for mounting and dismounting of each cartridge 16 from a support unit 12. The cartridge 16 is preferably moulded from a resilient material such as polypropylene, ABS, or nylon. The card 18 is preferably a paint sample card, that is a card made of Cromulux 300 micron card which has been sprayed with a paint of the colour to be displayed. Othersuitable materials for the sample card are metal foils, and plastic sheet materials e.g. cellulose acetate sheet or polyethyleneterepthallate sheet. Preferably the paint is a car body paint such as an alkyd based paint, cellulose based paint or a two pack acrylic paint. The curved card displays the colour in a more realistic manner than a flat card because it mimics a car body curved panel and the curved surface catches the light. The cartridge may also be utilised in conjunction with a transparent overlay having say the outline shape of a car or truck thereon which may also be inserted into the slot 24, so that an image of the painted vehicle may be ootained. Further two cards of different colours could be inserted int the cartridge side by side so that an impression of a two ton vehicle may be obtained. It will be appreciated that there are many variations of t basic invention, for example the support units and cartridg may utilise other detent means for detachably securing t cartridges in place. Further the support may be a single un and not a plurality of units. Also the support unit can held together by any other suitable means.

Claims: 7 Claims 1. A display board comprising a support unit, and at least one cartridge for detachably mounting on the support unit each cartridge having a frame into which a two dimensional object 5 can be loaded. 2. A display board as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each cartridge further comprises a body having a back face which in use is adjacent the support unit, and a front face on the 10 opposite side thereof, the back face including a detent means for detachably engaging the support unit, and the front face including the frame. 3. A display board as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein 15 the sample slides into the frame through an open slot in a portion of the frame. 4. A display board as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame is curved in at least one direction. 20 5. A display board as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the support unit has a plurality of sets of apertures therein, and the or each cartridge has at least one projection on its back face adjacent the support unit, the projection 25 being detachably engagable in a set of apertures for mounting the cartridge on the support unit. 6. A display board as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, 8 wherein the support unit comprises a first unit which releasably attachable to a second like unit. 7. A display board as claimed in Claim 6, wherein adjace units are linked together by mutual dove-tail joints whi slide one into the other. 8. A display board as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to wherein the two dimensional object is a card having i display surface coated in paint whose colour is to displayed. 9. A display board as claimed in Claim 8, wherein t cartridge can receive a second card over the painted samp card, the second card being transparent and having an outli of an object to be painted thereon, so that object can viewed in the respective sample colour. 10. A method of displaying paint sample cards in which pai sample cards are held in a curved condition in a frame mount on a support unit. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 11 March 1996 (11.03.96); original claims 1-10 replaced by amended claims 1-10 ( 2 pages )]. 1. A paint sample display comprising a display board having a support unit, and at least one cartridge for detachably mounting on the support unit, each cartridge having a frame into which a paint sample card can be loaded, and which holds the paint sample card in a curved condition. 2. A display as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each cartridge further comprises a body having a back face which in use is adjacent the support unit, and a front face on the opposite side thereof, the back face including a detent means for detachably engaging the support unit, and the front face including the frame. 3. A display as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the sample card slides into the frame through an open slot in a portion of the frame. 4. A display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame is curved in one direction only. 5. A display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the support unit has a plurality of sets of apertures therein, and the or each cartridge has at least one projection on its back face adjacent the support unit, the projection being detachably engagable in a set of apertures for mounting the cartridge on the support unit. 6. A display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherei the support unit comprises a first unit which is releasabl attachable to a second like unit. 7. A display as claimed in Claim 6 , wherein adjacent unit are linked together by mutual dove-tail joints which slide on into the other. 8. A display as claimed in any of Claims 1-8, wherein th cartridge can receive a second card over the paint sampl card, the second card being transparent and having an outlin of an object to be painted thereon, so that object can b viewed in the respective sample colour. 9. A method of displaying paint sample cards in which pain sample cards are each held in a curved condition in respective frame mounted on a support unit. 10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 wherein each respectiv frame is detachably mounted on the support unit allowing th display to be easily changed.

Inventors: GRAY RICHARD JOHN, GRAY, RICHARD, JOHN
Applicants: GRAY RICHARD JOHN, KEYMITE LTD, GRAY, RICHARD, JOHN, KEYMITE LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G09F5
IPC codes: G09F5