DE20102999U1 - Framework for information spaces - Google Patents

Description

MEISSNER7B*OLT£ STARTOER

Law firm GbR

PO Box 860624
81633 Munich

Tüchler GmbH
Abelegasse 10
A-1160 Vienna
Austria

Image Concepts 20.02.2001

Bildkommunikations AG M/IMA-025-DE

Weiherweg 1 MB/PO/RB/kl

A-6372 Oberndorf/Kitzbühel
Austria

Frame for information areas Description

The invention relates to a frame for flexible information surfaces, in particular for advertising posters, according to claim 1.

Poster stands or walls are known as frames for information surfaces. These usually consist of a metal frame that is used to hold a rigid surface, for example made of wood, onto which advertising posters can be stuck. The frame can either be anchored in the ground or mounted on a house wall. It is simple to construct and therefore inexpensive to produce. To attach a new advertising poster, the old poster is simply stuck over. The new poster remains stuck to the rigid surface until it is covered by a new advertising poster. However, the advertising message displayed is static. Changing advertising messages quickly is very time-consuming, as the old advertising poster has to be stuck over with a new one.

Changing advertising messages are used, for example, at sporting events. In football stadiums, so-called perimeter advertising uses flexible information surfaces for advertising messages that are displayed on the perimeters at predetermined intervals . ·**··* .**..** . .'. .". """ ·· · · ·

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This allows the advertising messages displayed to be changed quickly and adapted to the respective situation. These changing advertising boards are not suitable for use outside of sports stadiums.

The object of the present invention is to create a frame for information surfaces which, on the one hand, can replace the poster frames previously used in public and in which the information surfaces, which can be used in particular for advertising messages, can be easily replaced within short intervals of time.

This object is achieved by a frame for information surfaces with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the frame arise from the dependent patent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of creating a generic frame for at least two information surfaces, whereby the flexible information surfaces can be rolled up and down again independently of one another, similar to a roller blind, using rolling up and unrolling devices provided in and/or on the frame. This enables a quick change of information. In particular, the information surfaces can be stored in the frame by rolling them up and displayed for as long as desired by rolling them down. Flexible information surfaces can be made of, for example, material strips made of cloth, plastic or other materials. The frame according to the invention creates a dynamic advertising poster, so to speak, which enables the information displayed, in particular advertising messages, to change.

Preferably, the winding and unwinding devices are housed in an upper cross member of the frame. This enables

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Information surface can be rolled out essentially under the influence of gravity. Additional devices for rolling out an information surface that pull it down from the winding and unwinding device are not required. It would also be conceivable to mount a winding and unwinding device in a vertical support of the frame; for this, the additional devices mentioned would be required to roll out an information surface from the winding and unwinding device.

If several rolling up and unrolling devices are provided, these should preferably be arranged in the upper cross member so that the information surfaces are on different levels when unrolled. This means that an information surface can be unrolled on a level that is behind another unrolled information surface. As soon as one information surface has been unrolled, the other information surface can be rolled up so that the one information surface appears. This enables a kind of "on-the-fly" change of the visible information surfaces.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rolling up and down devices are program-controlled. For example, a timer circuit in the form of a computer can be provided for this, which is programmed in such a way that different information panels are shown, i.e. are rolled up, at certain times. For example, on a busy road with a high volume of traffic, an information panel with traffic information can be rolled up and thus be visible. At a certain point in time, the information panel with the traffic information is then rolled up program-controlled and another information panel with advertising messages is rolled up.

For winding up an information surface, the winding and unwinding device preferably comprises a winding shaft, which is e.g. a steel tube, which at a length of 6 m has a deflection

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of at most about 6 to 9 mm, in particular 8 mm. This requirement arises from the weight of the information surface, which typically consists of a weather-resistant material, for example a resilient cloth or a plastic film, and with an area of about 6 x 6 m represents a considerable load for the winding shaft both in the unrolled and rolled up state.

To make it easier to replace information panels, a cloth or belts are attached to each winding shaft as so-called precursors. An information panel can be attached to the free end(s) of the cloth or belts. To replace an information panel, it is completely unrolled from the corresponding winding shaft together with the precursor. The precursor should be long enough so that when the end(s) are completely unrolled, the information panel can be easily replaced by maintenance personnel and they do not have to climb up onto the frame to replace the information panels or even the entire winding shafts.

The unrolling of the leader is made easier by the fact that a piping is attached to its free end(s). The piping forms a weight that makes unrolling quicker and easier. In addition, the upper edge of an information surface can be more easily attached to the piping. The piping can preferably be a double piping rail.

Another way to improve the unwinding behavior of an information surface from a winding shaft is to provide the information surface with a pocket for holding a load. Plate- or rod-shaped loads, for example, or a lead cord or the like can be placed in the pocket.
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An additional improvement in the rolling up and down of an information surface can be achieved by using side guides. These guide an information surface laterally in the frame. The side guides are preferably designed as profiles, in particular C-profiles. Guide elements attached to the sides of an information surface can engage in these profiles, for example. In a preferred embodiment, these guide elements are carriages that are accommodated in specially designed side guides. The carriages can be guided on four levels and have, for example, wheels or balls for particularly smooth guidance. The carriages are preferably frost and heat resistant, as well as ice-proof, since they are exposed to a wide range of environmental influences when the frame is preferably set up outdoors.

When unrolled, the information surface should be well taut so that it does not flap in the wind. This can be achieved with a tensioning device that is provided for this purpose on the frame. The tensioning device is designed for the purposes mentioned in such a way that it tensions an unrolled information surface. A "dynamic" tensioning device would be conceivable, which increases or decreases its tension depending on the forces acting on the information surface, for example wind forces.

In order to avoid having to completely replace an information surface, it can also have mounting and/or holding devices for posters or similar advertising media. To change a poster, it is then not necessary to change the corresponding information surface, but rather simply remove the poster from it and attach a new poster to the information surface using the mounting and/or holding devices.

Meissner, Bolte & Partner m/ima-025-de

Damage to the information surfaces due to strong wind can be prevented in a preferred form of frame and by a wind measuring device provided for this purpose. The wind measuring device is preferably connected to a control system that can control the rolling up of information surfaces. From a certain wind strength, an electronic version of the wind measuring device sends a signal to the control system, which immediately controls the drives for rolling up the information surfaces.

The lighting provided in and/or on the frame can be used to illuminate or darken rolled-out information areas, which is very advantageous in poor lighting conditions. Visual information can also be effectively presented in twilight or at night.

A very flexible use is made possible by a design of the frame in which an information surface is designed as a projection surface, in particular as a white cloth. Visual information can then be projected onto this. This is preferably done using a high-intensity slide projector in which, for example, slides with advertising messages are inserted. Of course, other types of projector, such as computer-controlled ones, are also conceivable. As a further development, for example, remote control of the aforementioned projector would be possible, so that the sequence of projected information can be adjusted. For a viewer of the information surface, a projection of visual information from the side opposite the viewing side is more visible. In this case, the viewer sees direct light, only weakened by the projection surface, instead of indirect light in a front-light projection.

Finally, loudspeakers for acoustic messages can be provided in and/or on the frame. The frame is then transformed into

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a multimedia framework in which both visual and acoustic effects are used to convey messages, especially advertising messages.

The frame is preferably designed for outdoor installation and is therefore exposed to many environmental influences. A particularly stable and robust frame design is achieved by a steel tube construction. This is self-supporting and designed in such a way that vertical frame supports can be walked on or climbed on. This is particularly important when winding and unwinding devices are housed in the upper cross member of the frame so that they can be reached by maintenance personnel without the use of a ladder or crane.

Further advantages and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. These show in

Fig. 1 an embodiment of a frame for three flexible information surfaces,

Fig. 2A is a section through a lower cross member of the frame shown in Fig. 1 along the line A-A, 25

Fig. 2B is a section through the upper cross member of the frame shown in Fig. 1 along the line B-B,

Fig. 2C is a section through the left side support of the frame shown in Fig. 1 along the line C-C,

Fig. 2D is a section along the line DD through the lower cross member of the frame of Fig. 1 shown in section in Fig. 2A,
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Fig. 3 an embodiment of a rolling up and unrolling device for mounting in the upper cross member of the frame shown in Fig. 1 with partially rolled out information surface and attached piping as well as carriage for lateral guidance of the information surface,

Fig. 4 is a section through the upper cross member of the frame shown in Fig. 1, showing the three winding and unwinding devices housed there,

Fig. 5 is a section through the frame shown in Figure 1 along the line EE through the two side supports of the frame,
15

Fig. 6 is a partial side view of the left side support of the frame shown in Fig. 1 from the direction indicated by arrow B in Figure 5,

Fig. 7 is a partial side view of the right side support of the frame shown in Fig. 1 from the direction indicated by arrow A and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the right side support sectioned in Fig. 5 of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1.

provided framework.

In the following, elements with the same effect are provided with the same reference symbols.

The frame 10 shown in Fig. 1 for flexible information surfaces, such as advertising posters or the like, is a steel construction with a left and a right side, hereinafter referred to as side supports 14 and 16 (vertical frame parts). The two side supports 14 and 16 are connected by an upper and

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a lower cross member 18 and 19 to form a rectangular frame. The entire frame 10 is anchored to the floor 12 by means of screws (not visible in Fig. 1).

Winding and unwinding devices 20 are housed in the upper cross member 18 of the frame 10. The winding and unwinding devices 20 each comprise a winding shaft 22, 24 onto which a flexible information surface can be wound. In the unrolled state, an information surface fills the area spanned by the two side supports 14 and 16 and the two cross members 18 and 19, as shown by the information surface designated by the reference numeral 30.

In Fig. 2A to 2D, various sections through supports of the frame 10 from Fig. 1 are shown. Fig. 2A shows a section along the line A-A in Fig. 1 through the lower cross member 19 of the frame 10. The left side support 14 of the frame 10 can also be seen. At the lower end of the left side support 14, frame feet 34 are provided for fastening the frame 10 to the floor 12 indicated in Fig. 1. The frame 10 is screwed to the floor 12 by means of screws 32.

Fig. 2B shows a section along the line B-B in Fig. 1 through the upper cross member 18 of the frame 10. The inside of the right side support 16 of the frame 10 can also be seen. On the inside of the right side support 16, fastening plates 40 are provided, to which C-profiles 36 can be mounted for lateral guidance of information surfaces.

The C-profiles 36 are shown in the attached state in Fig. 2C. Fig. 2C shows a section through the left side support 14 of the frame 10 along the line C-C in Fig. 1. A recess 38 serves to accommodate the C-profiles 36 provided as side guides. In the recess 38, exactly three profiles 36 are fastened by means of the fastening elements shown in Fig. 2B.

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The frame 10 can therefore span three information surfaces simultaneously.

Fig. 2D shows a section along the line D-D in Fig. 2A. Four frame feet 34 are provided for each side support of the frame 10, each of which is arranged at the corners of a dashed square 35, which approximately indicates the footprint of a side support of the frame.

As already mentioned, the information surfaces are either stored invisibly in the frame 10 in the rolled-up state by means of winding and unwinding devices 20, or are used as an information surface 30 in the unrolled state. Fig. 3 shows a partially unrolled information surface 30 (a cloth printed with stars). The information surface 30 is unrolled from a winding roll 22 with a steel tube as a core, which is mounted in the winding and unwinding device 20. A piping 42 is attached to the lower edge of the information surface 30, which tensions the information surface 30 in the unrolled state. Carriages 44 are mounted laterally on the piping 42, which are guided and held laterally within a left or right longitudinal guide 26 or 28, respectively, and the carriages 44 have wheels or rollers in order to be able to move easily in the longitudinal guides 26 and 28. The longitudinal guides 26 and 28 are fastened by means of fastening plates 40 to the left and right side supports of the frame (not shown here).

An arrangement of three winding and unwinding devices 20 in the upper cross member 18 of the frame 10 shown in Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 4. The upper cross member 18 accommodates three box-shaped winding and unwinding devices 20', 20'' and 20' ¹ ', each in the manner of a roller shutter box, each having a slot-shaped opening on its underside for the passage of a web-shaped information surface 29 to 31. The winding and unwinding devices

• φ ·♦ ·· ««

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The winding shafts 22, 24 and 25 are each used to accommodate a winding shaft 22, 24 and 25 onto which an information surface 29 to 31 can be wound up. They are arranged in such a way that when unrolled, the information surfaces 29 to 31 are in successive planes. The winding shafts 22, 24 and 25 are each driven by so-called tubular motors. Drive via gears or chains is of course also possible. An axle plug-on motor enables particularly fast winding and unwinding. If one of the information surfaces 29 to 31 is unrolled, it is guided sideways by lateral guides 26 or 28 (only guides 26 visible here) and tensioned in a direction transverse to the winding or unwinding direction. Three longitudinal guides 26 arranged approximately parallel to one another and opposite longitudinal guide 28 are provided for the three information surfaces 29 to 31.

The fastening of the lateral longitudinal guides designed as U- or C-profiles 36 for receiving carriages 44 is shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows a section along the line E-E in Fig. 1 through the two side supports 14 and 16 of the frame 10. To fasten the lateral guide profiles 36, fastening plates 46, 48 and 50 arranged offset to one another are provided on the left side support 14 and fastening plates 52, 54 and 56 arranged offset to one another on the right side support 16. Figs. 6 and 7 show the arrangement of the fastening plates on the two side supports. Fig. 6 shows a partial side view of the left side support 14 of the frame 10 in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows a partial side view of the right side support 16 of the frame 10 in the direction of arrow A in Fig. The fastening plates 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56 can either be attached to the side supports 14 and 16 by means of screws or welded to them. The side guides are screwed or welded to the fastening plates by means of angle brackets (not shown).

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Finally, Fig. 8 shows the right side support 16 shown in section in Fig. 5 in an enlarged view, from which the U- or C-shaped guide profiles 36 can be clearly seen.

It should also be mentioned that lamps can be provided in and/or on the frame 10 as means of lighting for rolled-out information surfaces. The tubular steel construction of the frame 10 also makes it possible to attach a large number of additional devices. For example, loudspeakers that can reproduce acoustic advertising messages can be mentioned here. In a typical embodiment, the frame spans an area of approximately 6 m x 6 m. In order to easily access the rolling-up and unrolling devices 20 housed in the upper cross member 18 of the frame 10, aids (not shown) for climbing the frame are attached to the two side supports 14 and 16. In one embodiment, the outside of each side support 14 and 16 is designed in the form of a ladder.

Another important feature is the control 58 of the winding and unwinding devices 20, which has not yet been explained and is shown schematically in Fig. 1, as well as a wind measuring device 60 coupled to it. The wind measuring device 60 comprises a wind wheel which is mounted on the top of the upper cross member 18 of the frame 10. It measures the wind strength via the wind wheel. When a predetermined, in particular programmable, threshold value is exceeded, the wind measuring device 60 sends an electrical signal, shown by an arrow, to the control 58. After receiving the signal, the control 58 controls the motors of the winding and unwinding devices 20 in such a way that unrolled information surfaces are rolled back onto the winding shafts 22, 24. This prevents damage to the information surfaces due to excessive wind. In addition, this enables the anchoring of the frame in the

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Build floor 12 somewhat lighter. The control 58 is designed as a process computer that runs a program. This program also controls the rolling up and down of individual information areas depending on the time. Programming can be done by an externally connected personal computer.

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Reference symbol

10 Frame 12 Floor 14 left side carrier 16 right side carrier 18 upper cross member 19 lower cross member 20 Winding and unwinding devices 20' Winding and unwinding devices 20'' Winding and unwinding devices 20'' 'Rolling and unrolling devices 22 Winding shaft 24 Winding shaft 25 Winding shaft 26 lateral guidance 28 lateral guidance 29 Information area 30 Information area 31 Information area 32 Screws 34 Frame foot 36 U or C profile (guide profile) 38 Recess 4.0 Mounting plate 42 Piping 44 Carriage 46 Mounting plate 48 Mounting plate 50 Mounting plate 52 Mounting plate 54 Mounting plate 56 Mounting plate 58 steering 60 Wind measuring device

Claims (24)

1. Frame ( 10 ) for information surfaces ( 30 ), in particular for advertising posters, consisting of a rectangular frame with an upper and lower cross member ( 18 , 19 ) and two side supports ( 14 , 16 ), this frame spanning a plane for the information surfaces, characterized in that at least two respectively flexible information surfaces ( 30 ) can be individually rolled up or unrolled within the frame ( 10 ) by means of separately assigned rolling up and unrolling devices ( 20 ). 2. Frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the winding and unwinding devices ( 20 ', 20 ", 20 ''') are mounted on the upper cross member ( 18 ) of the frame ( 10 ) 3. Frame according to claim 2, characterized in that the rolling-up and unrolling devices ( 20 ', 20 ", 20 ''') or their connecting gaps for the respectively assigned information surfaces in the upper cross member ( 18 ) are arranged in such a way that the information surfaces ( 29-31 ) that can be rolled out by the rolling-up and unrolling devices ( 20 ', 20 ", 20 ''') are located in different planes or are offset from one another in a direction perpendicular to the information surfaces. 4. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling up and unrolling devices ( 20 ; 20 ', 20 ", 20 ''') are program-controlled in order to control rolling up and unrolling of the individual information surfaces ( 29-31 ) independently of one another. 5. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each winding and unwinding device ( 20 ; 20 ', 20 ", 20 ''') comprises a winding shaft ( 22 , 24 , 25 ) for winding up an information surface ( 29-31 ), in particular in the form of a steel tube which, with a length of approximately 6 m, has a maximum deflection of approximately 6-9 mm, in particular approximately 8 mm. 6. Frame according to claim 5, characterized in that the winding shaft ( 22 , 24 , 25 ) is driven by an electric motor. 7. Frame according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that a cloth or belts is or are attached to the winding shaft ( 22 , 24 , 25 ) as a precursor, to the free end(s) of which an information surface ( 29-31 ) can be fastened. 8. Frame according to claim 7, characterized in that the precursor is provided at its free end(s) with a piping to which the upper edge of an information surface can be fastened. 9. Frame according to claim 8, characterized in that the piping is a double piping rail. 10. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower edge of an information surface ( 30 ) has a pocket for receiving a load, in particular a lead cord, land load or the like. 11. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information surfaces ( 29-31 ) are each guided laterally on the frame ( 10 ) by means of guides ( 26 ) and are stretched laterally. 12. Frame according to claim 11, characterized in that the lateral guides ( 26 ) are designed as profiles ( 36 ), in particular U- or C-profiles. 13. Frame according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the lateral guides ( 26 ) are designed to accommodate carriages ( 44 ) which are fastened to the side edges of the information surface ( 30 ). 14. Frame according to claim 13, characterized in that the carriages ( 44 ) are each guided in four planes, ie are held on all sides and are only movable in the direction of the associated longitudinal guides. 15. Frame according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the carriages ( 44 ) are designed to be frost- and heat-resistant as well as ice-proof and are held within the associated guide profiles ( 36 ). 16. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each information surface ( 30 ) is assigned a pulling device which serves to tension the unrolled information surface ( 30 ) in the rolling-up or unrolling direction. 17. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information surfaces ( 30 ) have receiving and/or holding devices for separate posters or similar advertising or information media. 18. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a wind measuring device ( 60 ). 19. Frame according to claim 18, characterized in that the wind measuring device ( 60 ) is connected to a control ( 58 ) such that, from a predetermined wind strength, the wind measuring device ( 60 ) emits a signal to the control ( 58 ) in order to roll up unrolled information surfaces ( 30 ). 20. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that lighting means for illuminating a rolled-out information surface ( 30 ) are provided in and/or on the frame ( 10 ). 21. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an information surface ( 29 ) is designed as a projection surface, in particular as a white cloth, onto which visual information can be projected. 22. A frame according to claim 21, characterized in that the visual information is projected from the side opposite the viewing side. 23. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that loudspeakers for acoustic messages are provided in and/or on the frame ( 10 ). 24. Frame according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame ( 10 ) comprises a steel tube construction which is self-supporting and designed such that vertical frame supports ( 14 , 16 ) can be walked on or climbed on.