ILLUMINATED DISPLAYS

Abstract: An internally illuminated display having a display panel (10) made of a transparent or translucent material is disclosed, for example acrylic, and an edge unit provided along at least one edge of the display panel, the edge unit comprising a lighting arrangement (34, 36, 37, 40, 42) with means for mounting a light source (40) such that light from the light source (40) is projected through the display panel (10) for the back-illumination of a display sheet placed against the surface of the display panel, an openable cover panel (30) for access to the lighting arrangement and a framing member (20) extending along the edge of the display panel (10) for releasably gripping a display sheet (12) against a counterabutment - for example the display panel - in a closed condition, the framing member (20) being openable without opening the cover panel (30). Kits for making these displays are also described.

Description: ILLUMINATED DISPLAYS Field of the Invention This invention relates to displays, in particular to internally illuminated displays for the back-illumination of display sheets such as posters, pictures or diffusive sheets bearing indicia, to kits for making the displays, to a method of making illuminated displays and to the use of these displays to grip and/or illuminate display sheets. Background of the Invention It is known to make internally illuminated displays which have a display panel made of acrylic or some other similar transparent or translucent material through which light from an internal light source to the display is projected. The known types of internally illuminated displays generally have a framing member extending along at least one edge of the display, the framing member having for example a hinge, and a clamping extension for gripping a display sheet against a counterabutment, such as that provided by the display panel. To permit an interchange of display sheets, the framing member has an open condition and a closed condition achieved by opening and closing of the hinge. In the open condition, a display sheet, possibly together with a protective cover sheet, may be inserted into a receiving portion of the framing member or removed therefrom. In the closed condition, a display sheet inserted in the receiving portion is gripped by the clamping extension against the counterabutment. Examples of prior art illuminated displays are shown in GB- A-2030750, US 4697365 and EP-A-0414201. These references show illuminated displays having framing members for fitting along one or more edges of a display panel, the framing members having removable covers, the covers serving both to clamp display sheets against the display panel and to cover the electrical light source. Summary of the Invention In one aspect, the present invention provides an internally illuminated display having a display panel made of a transparent or translucent material, for example acrylic, and an edge unit provided along at least one edge of the display panel, the edge unit comprising a lighting arrangement with means for mounting a light source such that light from the light source is projected through the display panel for the back-illumination of a display sheet placed against the surface of the display panel, an openable cover panel for access to the lighting arrangement and a framing member extending along the edge of the display panel for releasably gripping a display sheet against a counterabutment - for example the display panel - in a closed condition, the framing member being openable without opening the cover panel. The cover panel and framing member may be on the same side of the display panel. They may hinge open, for example along parallel axes. The framing member may be mounted on the cover panel. In known types of internally illuminated displays, opening of the framing member also exposes the internal light source and/or a part of the power supply for the light source of the display. This is appropriate only when it is desirable to have access to the light source or power supply, such as when the light source needs replacement or the power supply needs checking for faults. Exposure of the light source and/or the power supply at other times during the more frequently required interchange of display sheets could be dangerous, particularly to a person only charged with the interchange of display sheets. It is advantageous, therefore, to provide an internally illuminated display for the back-illumination of display sheets in which the opening of the framing member does not simultaneously require exposure of either the light source and/or a part of the power supply, and/or access to the light source and/or power supply may be provided independently of a mechanism for the interchange of display sheets. Preferably, the framing member has a hinge, a clamping extension for gripping a display sheet against a counterabutment, such as that provided by the display panel, and a first catch mechanism for holding the framing member in the closed condition. The framing member may be provided along just the top edge of a face of the display panel, or it may additionally be provided on one or more of the other edges of the same face, for example to frame the display sheet completely. Preferably, framing members may be provided along an edge of each of the two faces of the display panel for gripping at least two display sheets, at least one display sheet on each of the two faces of the display panel. More preferably still, framing members are provided along all of the edges of the two faces of the display panel. A protective transparent cover sheet may also be clamped with the display sheet. The framing member may be manuf ctured from a plastics material, for example by extrusion. Preferably also, the clamping extension has an element which is at least partially flexible and resilient, arranged to contact the front surface of the display sheet to provide part or all of the clamping action and/or to form a seal with the sheet when the framing member is in the closed condition, in order to prevent the entry of water, dust or other pollutants which might damage the edge of the sheet or cause the framing member to perish if they were otherwise able to accumulate in the interior of the closed framing member. Preferably, the openable cover panel for access to the light source and/or a part of the power supply for the' light source is a part of a support member to which the framing member and the display panel are both attached. The display panel may be attached to the support member by a screw, nut and bolt or similar fastener, which is preferably also exposed by opening of the cover panel to permit easy replacement of the display panel if necessary. The cover panel may be configured as a door hinged on a complementary part of the support member and be held in the closed condition by means of a second catch mechanism. The cover panel may extend along the full length of the support member or may alternatively only occupy a part of the length of the support member. In either case, there may additionally be a locking mechanism between the cover panel and either the complementary part of the support member or another cover panel of a similar support member to prevent unwanted opening of the cover panel. The support member may also have a sensor to detect opening of the cover panel, the sensor possibly being connected to a cut-off for the power supply. Preferably the support member incorporates a chamber for the light source and/or part of the power supply for the light source. Preferably, around the light source there is a reflector for directing the light from the light source into the display panel. Preferably, the reflector is composed of two parts, one attached to the cover panel and the other attached to the complementary part of the support member so that when the cover panel is in the closed condition, the two parts of the reflector combine to form a unified whole and when the cover panel is in the open condition, the two parts of the reflector are separated to provide easy access to the light source. The light source may be powered from an external source, such as the mains, or an internal source, such as a battery. In the case where the light source is powered from an external source, an entry point for input of a power line for connection to the light source and/or part of the power supply may be provided at any point on the support member convenient to siting of the display in use. The support member may be manufactured from a relatively strong material, such as aluminium, for example by extrusion. Preferably, the support member incorporates a resilient flange proximal the hinge joining the cover panel with the complementary part of the support member to act as a brake to prevent overly violent opening of the cover panel and/or unwanted closing of the cover panel from the open condition under its own weight. Two or more support members may be joined at a corner, for example by being mitre-cut and connected with a corner fixing, which mates with a mating portion of the support member. Alteratively, two or more square-cut support members may be joined at a corner by being inserted into a corner knuckle, made for example by molding a plastics material and shaping the corner knuckle to receive two or more support members. Such an alternative may be preferable in the case where the openable cover panel only occupies a part of the length of the support members. In another aspect, the invention provides a kit for the construction of an internally illuminated display comprising at least some of the components disclosed above, for example one display panel, and four lengths of support member each having two lengths of framing member attached thereto, together with four corner fixings or four corner knuckles, all for the construction of a double-sided internally illuminated display able to display two display sheets, one on either side of the display panel. The edge unit itself is another independent aspect of the invention. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of making an internally illuminated display comprising providing an edge unit as set out above along at least one edge of a display panel. In a further aspect, the present invention includes the use of an illuminated display as set out above for gripping and/or illuminating a display sheet. Brief Description of the Drawings Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrams, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a length of one embodiment of edge unit which has two framing members and a support member attached to a display panel, the framing members and the cover panel of the support member all being shown in the closed condition; Figure 2 shows similarly the same edge unit with both framing members shown in the open condition; Figure 3 shows similarly the same edge unit with the cover panel in the open condition; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a part of an internally illuminated display in which two edge units have been mitre-cut and joined at a corner of a display panel by means of a corner fixing, the framing members on the edge units being shown in the open condition; and, Figure 5 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a complete display. Detailed Description In Figure 1, two framing members 20 and a display panel 10 are attached to a support member 30,32. The framing members 20 here are plastic extrusions each having a hinge 22 and a first catch mechanism 26, comprising a bead that interlocks with counterpoised jaws when each framing member 20 is closed. The hinges 22 are both shown in the closed condition so that the two first catch mechanisms 26 are clicked shut. The framing members 20 also each have a clamping extension 24, upon each of which is a resilient element 28 that holds a display sheet 12 and a cover sheet 14 in place on either side of the display panel 10, whicn in this case is made of acrylic. The support member 30,32 comprises a cover panel 30 and a complementary part 32, both of which are aluminium extrusions in this instance. Together they provide a chamber 34 for the light source 40 (here a fluorescent tube light) and for a part of the power supply 42, such as wires connecting to the fluorescent tube. The light source 40 is surrounded by a reflector 36,37 which directs the light from the light source 40 into the edge of the display panel 10. The complementary part 32 of the support member is attached to the display panel 10 by means of a bolt 38. The bolt also holds a protruding part of a second catch mechanism 39 which clicks into place with a receiving part of the second catch mechanism 39 on the cover panel 30 when the cover panel is in the closed condition. The cover panel 30 is further held in the closed condition by the locking mechanism 44 which comprises a locking nut and slide which can be better seen in Figure 4. Also shown in section are parts of a corner fixing 48, which in this case comprises two L-shaped brackets that mate with a mating portion 50 of the complementary part 32 of the support member by sliding into the mating portion 50 and being screwed in place. In Figure 2, the two framing members 20 and the display panel 10 are attached to the support member 30,32 as before. This time, however, the framing members 20 are both shown in the open condition so that the two first catch mechanisms 26 are unclicked. In Figure 3, the cover panel 30 is shown in the open condition. In this condition, the locking mechanism 44 has been undone and the reflector can be seen to divide into two pieces 36,37, one attached to the complementary part 32 of the support member and one attached to the cover panel 30, permitting easy access to the fluorescent tube. In this figure, the resilient flange 46, which in this case is made of nylon and which acts as a brake to hold the cover panel 30 in the open condition, may be seen to provide resistance against the closing of the cover panel. It may also be seen how the interior surface of the cover panel 30 is shaped to form the part of the second catch mechanism 39 for receiving the protruding part of the second catch mechanism 39 when the cover panel is in the closed condition. One framing member 20 is shown in the open condition, whilst the other is shown in the closed condition, although whether either is open or closed is, of course, independent of the condition of the cover panel 30. In Figure 4, two edge units each having a cover panel 30 and a framing member 20 (both shown here in the open condition), and both attached to a display panel 10, have been mitre-cut to form a corner. The two edge units are joined internally by mating each with a corner fixing (not shown) in the manner of Figures 1 to 3. The cover panels 30 of the support members in this instance extend along the full length of both support members and may be seen to be held closed by a locking nut and slide of the locking mechanism 44 located at the corner. The slide, which for example may be made from aluminium, is held by one cover panel 30 and slides across the corner join to retain the cover panel 30 of the other support member and the cover panel 30 on which it is held, being prevented from sliding back away from over the corner join by the locking nut. In the alternative case, where the cover panels 30 only occupy a part of the length of each support member (case not shown) , the slide of the locking mechanism 44 instead slides across the join between the cover panel and the complementary part of the same support member. In Figure 4, a display sheet 12 and a transparent cover sheet 14 are also shown being laid over the display panel 10 prior to their clamping by the framing members 20. In Figure 5, a complete display composed of four edge units, each having a support member 30,32 and a framing member 20, is shown. Two of the edge units (here being the ones shown at the top and bottom edges of the display panel 10) have support members 30,32 housing power supplies 42. The other two edge units (here being the vertical ones to either side of the display panel 10) have support members 30,32 housing internal light sources 40. In this way, the light sources 40 provide a full and even illumination of the display panel 10. It will be apparent that the foregoing embodiments merely exemplify some of the many possibilities and combinations within the scope of the present invention.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. An internally illuminated display having a display panel made of transparent or translucent material and an edge unit extending along at least one edge of said display panel, the edge unit comprising: means for mounting a light source such that light from the light source is projected through the display panel for the back-illumination of a display sheet placed against the surface of the display panel; an openable cover panel for allowing access to said light source; and, a framing member extending along at least one edge of said display panel for releasably gripping the display sheet, wherein the framing member is openable without opening the cover panel. 2. The internally illuminated display of claim 1 wherein the framing member comprises a hinge for opening and closing the framing member, a clamping extension for gripping the display sheet against the display panel, and a catch mechanism for holding the framing member in a closed position. 3. The internally illuminated display of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the clamping extension forms a seal with the front of the display sheet when said framing member is in the closed position. 4. The internally illuminated display of any one of the preceding claims wherein framing members are present along each edge of the display panel. 5. The internally illuminated display of any one of the preceding claims wherein the framing member is mounted on the cover panel. 6. The internally illuminated display of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover panel is part of a support member to which the display panel and framing member are attached. 7. The internally illuminated display of claims wherein the support member includes a sensor to detect opening of the cover panel, the sensor being connected to a cut-off for a power supply for the light source. 8. The internally illuminated display of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the cover panel is configured as a door hinged on a complementary part of the support member and is holdable in the closed condition by a second catch mechanism. 9. The internally illuminated display of claim 8 comprising a locking mechanism between the cover panel and either the complementary support member, or another cover panel of a similar support member. 10. The internally illuminated display of any of the preceding claims having incorporated within said edge unit a reflector for directing light from the light source into the display panel. 11. A kit for the construction of an internally illuminated display, the kit comprising an edge unit for attachment along at least one edge of a display panel, the edge unit comprising: means for mounting a light source such that light from the light source is projected through the display panel for the back-illumination of a display sheet placed against the surface of the display panel; an openable cover panel for allowing access to said light source; and, a framing member extending along at least one edge of said display panel for releasably gripping the display sheet, wherein the framing member is openable without opening the cover panel. 12. The kit of claim 11 further comprising a display panel and/or one or more support members, the edge units and the display panel being attachable to the support member(s) . 13. A method of making an internally illuminated display comprising providing an edge unit along at least one edge of a display panel, the edge unit comprising: means for mounting a light source such that light from the light source is projected through the display panel for the back-illumination of a display sheet placed against the surface of the display panel; an openable cover panel for allowing access to said light source; and, a framing member extending along at least one edge of said display panel for releasably gripping the display sheet, wherein the framing member is openable without opening the cover panel. 14. The use of an internally illuminated display of any one of claims 1 to 10 for gripping and/or illuminating a display sheet.

Inventors: DOBSON CHARLES EDWARD, DOBSON, CHARLES, EDWARD
Applicants: DOBSON CHARLES EDWARD, SPANDEX PLC, DOBSON, CHARLES, EDWARD
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G09F13
IPC codes: F21V8, G02B6, G09F13