FOLDABLE DISPLAY

Abstract: This invention relates to foldable display such as the type used at exhibition and conferences. The display (10) comprises panels (11 to 14) which are arranged in an edge to edge row with support post (16) located between the butting edges. The panels can be hinged about the posts. The panels bear ferro-magnetic strips (18) for locating graphic overlays (19 to 21). These overlays have hook-like extrusions or hanging strips (22) which enable them to be laterally adjusted with respect to the panels. The arrangement enables a continuous image to be displayed using the overlays without any visible join.

Description: FOLDABLE DISPLAY This invention relates to displays such as the type used at exhibitions and conferences. Foldable display stands (ie stands in which the relative position of individual panels can be altered when the display is erected) made of non-metallic material are well-known and generally comprise a number of panels, which are either hinged directly one to the other or are hinged, clipped/hooked or otherwise mechanically ηoin onto posts. These have surfaces to which graphics and the like can be attached by velcro, but the attachment portion lies within a frame and hence precludes the display of continuous images larger than the panel. Such large images can be displayed using devices known as pop-ups, which are stands made in the form of lazy tongs that can be drawn up and locked. They are then provided with metallic location elements so that when the graphics are attached to the stands, they can be located by the location elements engaging magnets on the reverse of the graphics. In this way graphic overlays can be butted up one to the other to form a large image. However, such pop-ups only really fulfil this single function and do not allow much variety m the nature of the display, because they are either straight or formed m a fixed arc. The overlay locations are also fixed relative to the display. From one aspect the invention consists m a foldable display comprising a plurality of hinged non-metallic panels characterised in that at least one panel carries or retains ferro-magnetic metallic elements or magnetic elements extending adjacent at least a pair of edges to locate graphic overlays, which incorporate co-operating magnetic elements or ferro-magnetic metallic elements. The elements on the panels may be in the form of strips and preferably these extend substantially the full height and/or the full width of the respective panel. In a particularly preferred embodiment only alternate panels include the elements and it is preferred in that case the elements on the panels are wider than the elements on the overlay to be located so that a single element can locate two abutting overlays. Conveniently, the panel elements may be at least three times as wide as the overlay elements. Thus, the invention includes a display as defined above and graphic overlays having magnetic or ferro-magnetic metallic locating elements. In this case it is preferred that the graphic overlays further comprise mounting means, such as hooks or the like, for slidingly engaging the panel so that lateral adjustment can take place. In a particularly preferred embodiment at least one overlay is wider than the panel over which it extends so that it locates on the strips of adjacent panels to cover hinges or support posts. In such a case, the overlays on the adjacent panels may be offset so that they too cover the other post or hinges . If the overlays are flexible, the panels may be arranged in a number of configurations in which they lie at angles to each other. From another aspect the invention consists in a foldable display comprising a plurality of hinged non- metallic panels arranged to form a wall; at least some of the panel having a magnetic or ferro-magnetic extending vertically substantially the height of the panel adjacent a respective vertical edge; a set of graphic overlays having hook-like formations for slidably engaging the upper edge of the wall and having magnetic or ferro-magnetic elements for locating on the strips, those overlays positioned over the non-strip bearing panels being over-sized to locate on the nearest strip on the respective adjacent panels to form a butt joint with the respective overlays on those panels. From another aspect the invention consists in a display comprising a wall and a plurality of overlays having hook like formations for slidably engaging on the upper edge of the wall and releasable means for engaging the overlays to the face of the wall. The wall may be in the form of a pop-up display. Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description. The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general front view of a display; Figure 2 is a view from above; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the upper part of three panels of the display with the graphic overlays mounted thereon; Figure 4 is a rear view of the graphic overlays of Figure 3 with the panels removed; and Figure 5 is a side view of one graphic overlay. A foldable display, generally indicated at 10, com- prises panels 11 to 14 and headers 15. The panels 11 to 14 are arranged edge-to-edge in a row with support posts 16 located between the abutting edges. The panels are hinged to the post, for example at 17. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, this arrangement enables the panels 11 to 14 to be positioned at a variety of angles so that a portion of any display may be visible from a number of different viewing points. As is shown m Figure 3 panels 11 and 13 carry vertical ferromagnetic strips 18, (for example, steel strips) which extend their full height and along each vertical edge. These may either be fixed permanently or may be attached temporarily to the front of the panels, when the display 10 is to be used with graphic overlays to display a large image . Graphic overlays 19 to 21 are indicated m broken line and carry magnets on their reverse. It will be seen that the central overlay 20, which lies over panel 12 has a greater width than the panel 12 so that magnetic carried on its rear face can engage on the strips 18 located on the adjacent edges of panels 11 and 13. These strips also locate narrow overlays 19 and 21, which are offset so as to cover the posts 16 at the remote edges. As has been mentioned above the overlays can be provided with hook-like extrusions along part of their upper edge and these can slidingly engage on the top of their respective panels to support the overlays. The magnet strip engagement merely serves to locate the overlays to hold them against the panels over the full length of the abutting edges so that almost no join is visible. If, for example, it was desired to have an overlay on panel 14, then overlay 21 might be narrowed so that the panel 14 overlay could extend over the adjacent post and located on the strip of panel 13. In this case panel 14 might need to have a single strip at its free edge. It will be appreciated that indeed the display can be extended over many panels and may have more than one vertical panel, m which case transverse strips 18 may be provided at the abutting horizontal edges of the panels. Figures 4 and 5 illustrated are embodiment of the graphic overlays 19 to 21. As can be seen the overlays are provided with hanging strips 22, which form the hook-like extrusions, and bottom strips 23 which give a little rigidity to the bottom edge of the overlay. These strips are attached by double-sided self adhesive tape 24. The hanging strips 22 allow lateral adjustment of the overlays, so that their position can readily be adjusted to overcome any gaps which might appear due to minor adjust¬ ments in the relative position of the panels, or if the overlays are deflected. The hanging strips 22 are also advantageous if used with a pop-up display on which current¬ ly fixed locations are used. It will be understood that the strips 18 could be magnetic in which case the overlays could carry ferro- magnetic strips or plates.

Claims: Claims 1. A foldable display comprising a plurality of hinged non-metallic panels characterised in that at least one panel carries or retains ferromagnetic or magnetic elements extending adjacent at least a pair of edges to locate graphic overlays which incorporate co-operating magnetic or ferro-magnetic elements. 2. A display as claimed in claim 1 wherein the metallic elements are in the form of strips. 3. A display as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strips extend substantially the full height and/or full width of the respective panel . 4. A display as claimed m any one of the preceding claims wherein only alternate panels include metallic elements and wherein the panel elements are wider than the magnetic elements . 5. A display as claimed in claim 4 wherein the panel elements are at least three times wider than the panel elements. 6. A display as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including graphic overlays having magnetic or ferro¬ magnetic locating elements wherein the graphic means further comprise mounting means for slidably engaging the overlay on a panel . 7. A display as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one overlay is wider than the panel over which it extends so that it locates on the elements of adjacent panels to cover the hinges or support parts . 8. A display as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein at least one graphic overlay is offset with respect to its associated panel . 9. A non-metallic display panel carrying ferromagnetic or magnetic metallic elements for magnetically locating an overlay. 10. A foldable display comprising a plurality of hinged non-metallic panels arranged to form a wall; at least some of the panels having a magnetic or ferromagnetic strip extending vertically substantially the height of the panel adjacent a respective vertical edge, a set a graphic overlays having hook-like formations for slidably engaging the upper edge of the wall and having magnetic or ferromagnetic elements for locating on the strips, those overlays positioned over a non-slip bearing panel being oversized to locate on the nearest strip on the respective adjacent panels to form a butt joint with the respective overlays on those panels. 11. A display comprising a wall and a plurality of overlays having hook like formations for slidably engaging on the upper edge of the wall and releasable means for engaging the overlays to the face of the wall.

Inventors: GUTHRIE RAYMOND, GUTHRIE, RAYMOND
Applicants: GUTHRIE RAYMOND, GUTHRIE, RAYMOND
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G09F15
IPC codes: G09F15