AU784706B2 - Advertising system - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

C

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "ADVERTISING SYSTEM" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: _J~e 2

TITLE

ADVERTISING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with graphical advertising media and particularly although not exclusively is concerned with a system for advertising display on the vertical faces or "risers" of stairways, steps and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The positioning of advertising signs on stairway risers is well *.*known and commonly is referred to as "step" advertising.

United States Patent No. 6041533 describes a step advertising system having printed substrates of sheet material such as plastics, S. metal, fabric or paper releasably secured to stair risers by adhesives or by mechanical anchors such as screws or bolts. The substrate is printed by, "4.i for example, screen printing, lithographic printing, digital printing or the like with weather and abrasion resistant inks. A particularly preferred substrate comprises a clear plastics laminate bonded to the printed substrate and a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the opposite side of the substrate.

Another type of step advertising system employs a fused ceramic or porcelain printed indicia layer on a metal substrate. The metal substrate is secured to concrete step risers by four or more masonry anchors. The fused ceramic or porcelain signage is claimed to be 3 completely weatherproof and scuff resistant for periods in excess of five years.

Yet another known type of step advertising system comprises a steel substrate which is screen printed with a weather resistant ink.

Each substrate is secured to a stairway riser by a common adhesive such as "Liquid Nails" (TM) by means of caulking gun.

Although each of the known step advertising systems is generally effective for its intended purpose, the application and removal processes are highly labour intensive and thus do not warrant a display period of less than, say, six to twelve months.

The fused ceramic/porcelain signage system is also highly labour intensive and, where mechanical fixings are concerned, require enlarged "":apertures in the substrates to accommodate spacing variations when installing masonry anchors. As such this system justifies only lengthy installation periods of up to five years on economic grounds.

Although the adhesively mounted printed metal or plastics sheet substrates have been designed to reduce material costs and otherwise permit lesser installation periods,' the economics of these systems prohibits short term display periods of, say, a week or so and otherwise preclude multi-stage advertising campaigns which require new signage at predetermined intervals.

Adhesively mounted substrates can be particularly difficult to remove after the adhesive has aged and hardened. In outdoor 4 applications, the adhesive may be adversely affected by prolonged exposure to moisture or where metal substrates are concerned, exposure to direct sunlight can give rise to extreme temperatures which can soften the adhesive. Where the integrity of the adhesive is affected, the display signage can be dislodged giving rise to personal injury claims, an unsightly display appearance and a high maintenance overhead in replacing signage.

Once used, printed metal signage having a layer of adhesive on the rear face thereof cannot be reused in any way, particularly as they are severely bent during the stripping process.

None of the above systems realistically lends itself to "event" advertising at a sporting arena where the advertising signage is required to be changed daily or at least at short intervals.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a more cost effective step advertising system which is capable of rapid change and is short advertising periods.

oi SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a step advertising system including:a mounting frame adapted for securing removably to a stair riser surface, said mounting frame including an upper locating channel and a lower locating channel, said upper locating channel having a depth greater than said lower locating channel; and, an indicia bearing sheet like substrate, said substrate being secured in said mounting frame between said upper and lower locating channels by alignment of said substrate with said mounting frame and insertion from the front of said mounting frame of an upper edge of said substrate into said upper locating channel sufficiently to permit entry of a lower edge of said substrate into said lower locating channel, said substrate being removably and reusably secured therein by fastening means adapted therefor.

Suitably said mounting frame comprises a unitary member having integrally formed upper and lower channels.

Alternatively, said mounting frame may comprise separate upper and lower mounting channels.

The mounting frame may be securable to said stair riser surface by a durable adhesive for permanent or semi-permanent mounting.

Alternatively the mounting frame may be securable to said stair riser by mechanical fasteners extending through mounting apertures therein for permanent or semi-permanent mounting.

15 If required, the mounting frame may include at least one fixed end loll wall.

The mounting frame may include at least one removable end wall.

If required, the mounting frame may comprise a clear plastics protective cover for said substrate.

20 The substrate is adapted to receive indicia on a single face or opposite faces to permit re-use if required.

Preferably the substrate comprises a durable sheet plastics material.

The substrate may be removably and reusably secured in said mounting frame by Velcro type fastenings.

Alternatively the substrate may embody a magnetic material adapted 6 for magnetic attraction to a ferromagnetic mounting frame element.

If required, the at least an upper locating channel may incorporate an upwardly converging taper to wedgingly engage an upper portion of said substrate.

The substrate may be removably and reusably secured in said mounting frame by mechanical fastening means.

The fastening means may comprise one or more mechanical fasteners extending through aligned apertures in said mounting frame and said substrate.

Preferably the fastening means comprises a threaded screw extending through at least one of said upper and lower locating channels.

Alternatively the fastening means may comprise a frangible, adhesive compound extending between said substrate and said mounting frame.

-BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment described in the accompanying drawings in which:- FIG 1 shows a part perspective view of the system according to the invention.

20 FIG 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the system of FIG 1.

to••O= ll* 7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In FIG 1 a staircase 1 is shown schematically as steps 2 in horizontal planes and risers 3 in vertical planes.

Attached to each riser 3 is a metal mounting frame 4 having upper and lower locating channels 5, 6. As shown, upper channel 5 is deeper than lower channel 6, the purpose of which will be described later.

Frame 4 is removably secured to riser 3 by screws 7 which extend through apertures 8 in the frame into masonry plugs or anchors (not shown).

sheet-like plastics, metal or paperboard substrate 9 is removably located in frame 4 by means of channels 5, 6 and the substrate 9 is a..

secured within frame 4 by means of one or more screws 10 located in upper channel 5. Alternatively screw (or screws) 10 may be located in lower channel 6.

FIG 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the system illustrated in FIG 1. For the sake of clarity, like reference numerals have been S. employed for like features.

a.

As shown, the frame 4 is secured to riser 3 by a screw 7 which engages in a masonry plug 11 secured into the stairway riser.

To install or remove a substrate sheet 9, screw 10 is first removed and then the upper edge of sheet 9 is secured under the lip of channel and the substrate sheet is pushed up until its upper edge engages in the top of the channel. At this point the lower edge of the substrate is I -1_~LY- 8 positioned just above the free edge of lower channel 6 whereby the substrate sheet 9 can be inserted or removed. After inserting a substrate sheet, screw 10 is inserted to secure the substrate sheet in the frame and to prevent unauthorised removal. If required, the head of screw may be located within the channel recess to make it less obtrusive.

Alternatively, the printed substrate may be removably secured in the frame by a small blob or smear of a frangible adhesive sufficient to prevent dislodgement of the substrate sheet under normal traffic and weather conditions but otherwise permitting easy removal of the substrate from the frame. The substrate may be secured by a blob or smear of adhesive on the face in contact with the stair riser, or on a top or bottom edge of the substrate located in a respective frame channel. If required, a blob of low tear strength silicone adhesive or the like may be injected via the aperture(s) for screw(s) 10 to secure an edge region of the substrate in a respective channel.

The advertising indicia is screen printed or otherwise applied by any convenient process to the substrate to produce a repeating image on each step riser. This provides a repeating single image as a pedestrian climbs the stairway.

The indicia printed on the substrates may represent portions or "slices" of a large image which can be viewed from afar eg. from the opposite side of a sporting arena or the like. By careful selection of the individual indicia images, the indicia may present at a relatively short -e I- I 1 9 focal distance separate messages to a person climbing the stairs but, from a distance, these individual images may combine at the greater focal distance to form a large image.

The particular advantage of the present invention is that the system permits economic short term advertising due to the rapidity with which the printed substrates may be changed. For example the substrates may bear one set of advertising indicia for a sporting function one day and a totally different set of images for the next day. This may be effected by pre-printing the opposite face of the substrate with the rr* alternative indicia so that a change of image is effected simply and economically by reversing the substrate sheet 9 in the frame 4.

It readily will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

.i For example at least the upper locating channel may be painted or covered in a bright fluorescent material to emphasize the edge of the steps. A flourescent material would be advantageous in limited light conditions to safely indicate the edge of each step.

As an alternative, the upper locating channel may be translucent or transparent and include a strip lighting element similar to that employed in commercial aircraft aisles. The strip lighting elements may be powered by low voltage mains power from sockets secured to one side of the stairway or by means of dry cells coupled to one or more lighting

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elements.

In yet another embodiment, the mounting frame may be constructed from a light transmitting plastics material such as an acrylic polymer with a source of light being introduced into said frame along at least on free edge. The substrate has indicia formed as apertures in the sheet like material to permit an illuminated signage system. If required the source of light may comprise several light sources of differing colour, the light sources being selectively switchable as a whole or in parts to obtain differing images.

The indicia bearing substrate may be formed as a laminate

L.

with a clear plastics outer film to provide resistance to weathering and mechanical damage. As an alternative to a protective plastics laminate, a sheet of clear plastics material may be located in front of the substrate se material.

Des

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Claims (17)

1. A step advertising system including:- a mounting frame adapted for securing removably to a stair riser surface, said mounting frame including an upper locating channel and a lower locating channel, said upper locating channel having a depth greater than said lower locating channel; and, an indicia bearing sheet like substrate, said substrate being secured in said mounting frame between said upper and lower locating channels by alignment of said substrate with said mounting frame and insertion from the front of said mounting frame of an upper edge of said substrate into said upper locating channel sufficiently to permit entry of a lower edge of said i: :substrate into said lower locating channel, said substrate being removably and reusably secured therein by a fastening system adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of said substrate within said mounting frame and accidental dislodgement by contact with a shoe of a pedestrian.

2. A step advertising system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said leo• mounting frame comprises a unitary member having integrally formed upper and lower channels.

3. A step advertising system as claim in claim 1 wherein said mounting frame comprises separate upper and lower mounting channels.

4. A step advertising system as claim in any preceding claim wherein the mounting frame is securable to said stair riser surface by a durable adhesive for permanent or.semi-permanent mounting.

A step advertising system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 12 wherein the mounting frame is securable to said stair riser by mechanical fasteners extending through mounting apertures therein for permanent or semi-permanent mounting.

6. A step advertising system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting frame includes at least one fixed end wall.

7. A step advertising system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting frame includes at least one removable end wall.

8. A step advertising system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting frame comprises a clear plastics cover for said substrate.

9. A step advertising system as claim in any preceding claim wherein the substrate is adapted to receive indicia on a single face or opposite faces to :permit re-use if required.

A step advertising system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the substrate comprises a durable sheet plastics material.

11. A step advertising system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said fastening system comprises Velcro type fastenings.

12. A step advertising system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to *.wherein the substrate embodies a magnetic material adapted for magnetic attraction to a ferromagnetic mounting frame element.

13. A step advertising system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to wherein the substrate is removably and reusably secured in said mounting frame by mechanical fasteners.

14. A step advertising system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fasteners comprise one or more mechanical fasteners extending through 13 aligned apertures in said mounting frame and said substrate.

A step advertising system as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the fasteners comprise a threaded screw extending through at least one of said upper and lower locating channels.

16. A step advertising system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to wherein the fastening system comprises a frangible adhesive compound extending between said substrate and said mounting frame.

17. A step advertising system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Thirteenth day of March 2006. RICHARD STAFFORD-SMITH By His Patent Attorneys S FISHER ADAMS KELLY 0 00 0o 0**0