This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/SE2007/050299, filed 2May 2007, which designated the U.S. and claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 0600991-4, filed 2May 2006, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates generally to a display means and, for instance, more particularly to a display means that includes a readily collapsed and readily erected stand, where the stand used can be adapted to secure a flexible information-presenting screen when in its erected state, and by flexible being meant that the screen can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a bobbin or a rod, normally in the form of a hollow-cylindrical body.
A roll-up/retractable bannerstand generally uses some kind of pole or pin holding the printed graphics. To use this type of product outdoors, when windy conditions, creates rather large force on the graphics and the pole. This force increases to dramatic levels even when the wind speed is relatively moderate. The result is that either something breaks or the complete product trips over to the ground. Therefore it is not possible to use this type of product outdoors whenever there is a risk for windy conditions.
The patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,268 discloses a sign stand 10 (see
The patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,719 discloses a sign stand assembly 10 (see e.g.
The patent document U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,536 discloses a poster display device 10 (see
The patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,951 discloses a portable retroreflective sign system 10 (see e.g.
Although, the above listed documents in different ways addresses the problem of using different types of sign stands outdoors, when windy conditions, no one of the solutions given in these documents do present a solution suitable for implementing in a portable and compact roll-up/retractable bannerstand, i.e. the solution should be compact and light and in the same time having the function that it will work when windy conditions.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above mentioned problems. This is achieved with a display means according to claim 1. The display means is adapted for use both indoors and outdoors and comprises a stand 30: adapted to secure a first screen. The stand comprises a first part which support against an underlying supportive surface and comprises a first bobbin enclosed in a cavity in the first part. The first screen can be wounded onto and withdrawn from the first bobbin. The stand also comprises at least one support means which in a support mode supports against the surface. The support means Is/are arranged to provide a turning moment (Mt) which is ant-twisting in relation to the turning moment (Mp) created by a wind pressure (P) acting on said first screen (201), wherein Mt≧Mp. The stand also comprises at least one foldable pole means or a telescopic pole means. The stand also comprises a means arranged in connection to said at least one pole means, and operable to make said display means bendable in windy conditions, and to withstand twisting of the means in windy conditions. The means comprises n number of coil springs, wherein n is an integer and n≧2.
This solution is adapted for implementing in a portable and compact roll-up/retractable bannerstand. With this solution the pole and the screen/graphics will bend when the conditions are windy. When the wind increases to a certain speed the screen/graphics starts to bend. Increasing wind speed causes the screen/graphics to bend more, and at a given wind speed it will oscillate in a state of equilibrium, substantially parallel to the ground. When the wind speed decreases, the means will start to raise the pole and the screen/graphics to a more upright position, and if no wind it raises to a full vertical position. The use of at least two springs enables the size vs. spring force to be optimized which leads to a product that is portable and slimmed in size. The use of at least two springs also give a controlled motion in two directions, i.e. forwards and backwards relatively to the screen/graphics. This gives the advantage of no twisting of the screen/graphics, with the result that the message of the screen/graphics is visible too a high extent and reduced risk of damage on the screen/graphics material.
A further advantage in this context is achieved if the springs are coil springs and/or leaf springs. A further advantage in this context is achieved if said means is arranged in the vicinity of said first part, and comprises two stiffening means arranged in parallel with one of said at least one pole means and opposite to each other in relation to said one of said at least one pole means, and in that said means also comprises three coil springs, wherein one coil spring at one end is secured at a first part of said pole means, said first part being arranged in the vicinity of said first part, and at the other end is secured at a second part of said pole means, wherein said first and second part are arranged with a distance from each other and partly being encircled by said coil spring, wherein the other two coil springs are arranged opposite to each other in relation to said pole means, and at one end is secured to one of said stiffening means, and at the other end is secured to a pin arranged perpendicular in relation to said pole means.
Furthermore, it is an advantage in this context if said stiffening means each is U-shaped with the open ends arranged in the vicinity of said first part.
According to another embodiment, it is an advantage if said stand comprises at least two pole means, wherein one pole means is arranged in the vicinity of one end of said first part, and the other pole means is arranged in the vicinity of the other end of said first part, and in that said means comprises a resilient member for each pole means which resilient member is arranged in the vicinity of said first part and defining a longitudinal axis which is parallel with said pole means, wherein each resilient member comprises n number of springs, wherein n is an integer and n≧1.
A further advantage in this context is achieved if n is an even number, and in that said stand also comprises a first mounting means and a second mounting means, each of which is fixed to each of said pole means in a perpendicular relation to the lengthwise direction of each of said pole means, wherein said n coil springs are fixed to said first and second mounting means in such a way that n/2 number of said coil springs is/are arranged on a first side in relation to each of said pole means, and n/2 number of said coil springs is/are arranged on a second side in relation to each of said pole means, wherein said second side is opposite to said first side in relation to each of said pole means.
According to another embodiment, it is an advantage if n is an odd number, and in that said stand also comprises a first mounting means and a second mounting means, each of which is fixed to each of said pole means in a perpendicular relation to the lengthwise direction of each of said pole means, wherein said n coil springs are fixed to said first and second mounting means in such a way that one coil spring is in line with each of said pole means and
number of said coil springs is/are arranged on a first side in relation to each of said pole means (121, . . . , 12m), and
number of said coil springs is/are arranged on a second side in relation to each of said pole means, wherein said second side is opposite to said first side in relation each of said pole means.
Furthermore, it is an advantage in this context if said n coil springs are fixed to said first and second mounting means with the aid of threaded fastening means.
A further advantage in this context is achieved if each of said first and second mounting means is fixed to each of said pole means with the aid of a threaded fastening means.
Furthermore, it is an advantage in this context if each of said first and second mounting means also comprises a tubular part perpendicular to a part of said first and second mounting means to which said n coil springs are fixed, which tubular part has an inner diameter fitting to the outer diameter of each of said pole means.
A further advantage in this context if achieved if each of said tubular parts is fixed to each of said pole means with the aid of threaded fastening means.
Furthermore, it is an advantage in this context if said stand also is adapted to secure a second screen, wherein said stand also comprises a second part which support against said underlying supportive surface (u) and comprises a second bobbin enclosed in a cavity in said second part, wherein said second screen can be wounded onto and withdrawn from said second bobbin.
A further advantage in this context is achieved if each of said first part and said second part correspond to each other, but are fixed in relation to each other in a reversed relationship.
It will be noted that the term “comprises/comprising” as used in this description is intended to denote the presence of a given characteristic, step or component, without excluding the presence of one or more other characteristics features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
a-c shows schematically the relationship between the wind force and the force of the resilient member of the display means according to the present invention; and
In
According to step A, the display means 1 comprises a stand 10, which in a fully erected state (steps F, G) firmly supports a screen 20, wherein the stand 10 comprises a first part 11 which supports against an underlying supportive surface U (step D), and further includes a foldable part 12 which, when the stand 10 is erected, extends upwardly from the first part 11.
One upwardly extending end part 12a of the second part 12 (step E) has a first coupling element 31 included in a two-part coupling arrangement 30, where-with the other coupling element 32 of the coupling arrangement is joined to the screen 20 either directly or indirectly, and orientated in connection with the upper edge part 20a of the screen 20.
The screen 20 can be wound onto and unwound from a bobbin 40 enclosed in a cavity (not shown) located in the first part 11, wherein the bobbin 40 can be actuated by a spring arrangement 50 that includes an associated spring unit.
The spring arrangement 50 is designed to act on the screen 20 with a decreasing force during a screen wind-up phase (the steps from F to E) with the aid of a spring unit consisting of helically twisted or wound metal wire, wherewith the screen 20 is acted upon at an increasing force during an unwinding phase (the steps from E to F).
The spring arrangement 50 is also adapted to act on the screen 20 with a chosen initial power when the screen 20 has been fully wound around the bobbin 40 (in accordance with the step D).
The first part 11 includes a slot 11a through which the screen 20 passes so as to be unwound from or wound onto the bobbin 40 present in the cavity.
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It is pointed out that the number of pole means can be varied in a great extent. The use of the different means 131/the resilient member 132 can also be varied/combined in a great extent.
It will be understood that the present invention is not restricted to be above mentioned embodiments, and that a person skilled in the art will be aware of the fact that many modifications are possible within the scope of the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0600991 | May 2006 | SE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/SE2007/050299 | 5/2/2007 | WO | 00 | 6/26/2008 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2007/126387 | 11/8/2007 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090007474 A1 | Jan 2009 | US |