GB2260015A - Display system - Google Patents

Abstract

A display system for mounting to a structure includes a base portion 10 mounted to the structure and having a pivot formation 15 at its top edge. A fascia panel 20 has a main face 21 and a pivot formation 25' at its top edge thereof, the pivot formations 15, 25 being co-operable to enable the fascia panel to be assembled with the base portion by locating and fitting together the respective pivot formations. A bottom edge of the fascia panel is securable either to the base portion 10 or to the structure. In an alternative arrangement (Figure 2), the fascia panel may be pivotally attached to an upper elongate frame member (41). A lower frame member (42) defines a retaining flange to which the back edge of the fascia panel (20) can be secured. The display system may include light fittings 13. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY SYSTEM This invention relates to display systems for providing information, advertising or other text or graphic displays.

One known display system provides a linear display in an overhead position, e.g. in retail stores, service stations and the like. The system is arranged to provide a display face extending around the building either internally or externally, the display face providing an area for text and/or graphic displays. In the case of service stations for example, the display panel can extend along and around the outside of a shelter canopy or deck under which the fuel dispensing pumps are provided. The display system therefore forms a fascia or pelmet for the structure. Similar display systems can be provided internally of a building, e.g. extending along or around the walls of a supermarket, convenience store or the like so as to provide an information and/or advertising display.The display panel can be transparent or translucent so that back lighting can enable the text and/or graphics matter to be illuminated.

One known display system in the form of a fascia comprises a base plate which is mounted to the building structure, upper and lower mounting pieces which are mounted to the upper and lower edges of the base plate and which project outwardly away from the building structure so as to form an open mouth at the front of the system. Mounted across the open mouth is a display panel which provides the surface for the text and/or graphic matter to be displayed. This system is relatively costly to manufacture and install, principally because of the number of components needed and the installation time required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display system which is relatively simple to erect.

According to the present invention there is provided a display system for mounting to a structure, the system including: a base portion arranged to be mounted to the structure, the base portion having a pivot formation at one edge thereof; and a fascia panel for bearing or providing a display area, the fascia panel having a main face for providing an area for the display of text and/or graphic matter, the fascia panel having a first edge and including a pivot formation at the first edge thereof, the pivot formation of the fascia panel being co-operable with the pivot formation of the base portion to enable the fascia panel to be assembled with the base portion by locating and fitting together the respective pivot formations of the fascia panel and the base portion to thereby make a pivot connection, the fascia panel further including a second edge remote from the first edge provided with the pivot formation, the fascia panel being movable by pivoting about the pivot connection to its final desired position and the second edge of the fascia panel being securable either to the base portion or to the structure.

With this arrangement, the display system can be readily erected by mounting the base portion to a building structure in the desired position. The base portion can be readily levelled to be horizontal. After mounting of the base portion, the fascia panel can be simply and quickly erected by being fitted to the base portion by means of the co-operating pivot formations and can be simply pivoted into position and secured to the base portion or building structure.

In the display system of the invention, the base portion preferably comprises an elongated portion having top and bottom edges, the pivot formation of the base portion comprising a stepped formation at one of the top and bottom edges and defining a channel, the pivot formation of the fascia panel comprising the first edge of the fascia panel which is turned so as to define a hook formation to engage in the channel, the pivot formation of the fascia panel being generally complementary in shape to the channel defining the pivot formation of the base portion but without being a tight fit therein whereby the fascia panel can be fitted by its hook formation to the channel of the base portion and moved with a pivoting movement to its final desired position.

Preferably the fascia panel is generally C-shaped in cross-section, the fascia panel including a main front face providing an area for the display of text and/or graphic matter, a top face extending rearwardly from the main front face towards the base portion and terminating in an edge which is formed so as to co-operate with a top edge of the base portion, and a bottom face extending rearwardly from the main front face towards the base portion and terminating in an edge arranged to co-operate with a bottom edge of the base portion.

The channel is preferably provided at the top edge of the base portion and the hook formation at the first edge of the fascia panel is preferably provided at the top of the fascia panel so that the fascia panel is engaged with the base portion and pivoted about the top edge downwardly and inwardly to its final desired position.

The base portion preferably provides a step formation at its edge remote from the edge having the pivot formation, the second edge of the fascia panel comprising a hook which engages with the step formation with a snap fit so as to resist disengagement thereof.

The base portion may be provided with a light fitting and the fascia panel has transparent or translucent properties or areas for display of the text and/or graphic matter by back lighting from the light fitting.

A number of fins are preferably spaced in use along the fascia panel, the fins projecting outwardly from the base portion and providing means for locating and supporting at least the main face of the fascia panel.

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a sectional perspective view of a fascia display system according to the present invention in use, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an alternative construction of the base section, Fig. 3 shows a detail of the mounting formation for the base section-shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 shows a cross section through the assembled display system utilising the base section of Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the system includes a base portion 10 in the form of an elongated plate 11 which is mounted directly to a building structure. The elongated base plate 11 is provided with a recessed section 12 which in use is located over a levelling plate or the like (not shown) which is provided extending along the building structure. The base plate 11 also provides a mounting for light fittings 13, such as fluorescent tubes, to enable back lighting of the display provided by the system.

Extending along the top edge of the base plate 11 is a pivot formation 15 shown as a simple upwardly opening channel.

Extending along the lower edge of the base plate 11 is a mounting flange 16.

The display system also includes a pelmet or fascia panel 20 which is generally C shaped in cross-section. The fascia panel 20 includes a main face 21 which provides an area for mounting or for providing a display of text and/or graphic matter. The top and bottom faces 22, 23 of the fascia panel are formed integral with the main face 21 and extend rearwardly to co-operate with the base portion.

The top face 22 has at its rear edge a pivot formation 25 which is co-operable with the pivot formation 15 of the base portion to enable the fascia panel 20 to be fitted to the base portion by locating the pivot formation 25 of the fascia panel within the pivot formation 15 of the base portion 10 without a tight fitting engagement. The pivot formations 25, 15 can be fitted together with the fascia panel extending downwardly and outwardly from the base portion 10 so that the bottom face 23 is spaced outwardly from the flange 16. The fascia panel can then be hinged inwardly and the lower face 23 can be secured in position, e.g. by means of the retaining formation 26 co-operating with the retaining flange 16.In particular, in the illustrated arrangement, a self-tapping screw or other fastener can be passed upwardly through both the mounting flange 16 and the co-operating retaining formation 26 to retain the lower edge of the fascia panel.

The main face 21 of the fascia panel 20 can provide a large surface area to which display matter can be mounted.

Alternatively, the main face 21 can be apertured so as to form lettering or the like as shown at 30, the lettering being illuminated from inside by the light fittings 13 or by a light box (not shown). As a further alternative, the main face can have a large rectangular or other shaped cut out area 31 and a transparent or translucent panel 32 bearing display text or graphics can be mounted either internally or externally of the main face 21 so that the panel 32 is back lit through the cut out area 31 by the lights 13.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 2 to 4 includes a base portion 10 having an upper elongated frame member 41 which defines the pivot formation 15 generally the same as in Fig. 1.

A lower frame member 42 provides a retaining flange 16 to which the back edge of the bottom face 23 of the fascia panel 20 can be secured. The upper and lower elongated frame members 41, 42 are two part constructions, e.g. as shown in Fig. 3 which illustrates the lower frame member 42. In particular, there is provided an angle member 44 which is arranged to be mounted to the adjacent structure or wall, the flange 45 which extends outwardly from the structure having slots 46 which are elongated in the direction away from the structure. The other part of the elongated frame member 42 is also an L shaped angle member 48 which is secured to the flange 45 by means of bolts 47 extending through the slots 46.The provision of elongated slots 46 enables the L shaped angle member 48 to be erected in an accurate straight line in spite of variations in the line of the structure, i.e. the line of the wall to which the L shape member 44 is first connected. The upper frame member 41 is generally the same as the lower frame member 16 except that the L shaped members 44 and 48 shown in Fig. 3 would be inverted.

With this arrangement, the display system can be erected along walls which have some variation or deviation from a straight line without interfering with the effective and aesthetically satisfactory mounting of the display system.

The angle member 48 of the base portion provides a step formation and the lower edge of the fascia panel, i.e. the edge of the bottom face 23, comprises a hook which engages with the step formation 48 with a snap fit so as to resist disengagement thereof.

The base portion 10 in Fig. 2 also includes a number of spaced fins 50 which project outwardly from the structure. The fins 50 provide locating and supporting means for the fascia panel 20.

Fig. 4 shows the display system in sectional view with the fascia panel 20 having its pivot formation 25 at its upper edge co-operating with the pivot formation 15 provided by the upper elongated frame member 41. The bottom face 23 of the fascia panel 20 is secured to the lower elongated frame member 42.

It will be seen that the fascia display system can be readily mounted to a building structure and can provide an aesthetically satisfactory means for mounting text and/or other graphic display material.

The base plate and fascia panel can be made of any suitable material and by any suitable manufacturing method. For example, these components can be roll formed or extruded metal.

Claims (8)

1. A display system for mounting to a structure, the system including: a base portion arranged to be mounted to the structure, the base portion having a pivot formation at one edge thereof; and a fascia panel for bearing or providing a display area, the fascia panel having a main face for providing an area for the display of text and/or graphic matter, the fascia panel having a first edge and including a pivot formation at the first edge thereof, the pivot formation of the fascia panel being co-operable with the pivot formation of the base portion to enable the fascia panel to be assembled with the base portion by locating and fitting together the respective pivot formations of the fascia panel and the base portion to thereby make a pivot connection, the fascia panel further including a second edge remote from the first edge provided with the pivot formation, the fascia panel being movable by pivoting about the pivot connection to its final desired position and the second edge of the fascia panel being securable either to the base portion or to the structure.

2. A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the base portion comprises an elongated portion having top and bottom edges, the pivot formation of the base portion comprising a stepped formation at one of the top and bottom edges and defining a channel, the pivot formation of the fascia panel comprising the first edge of the fascia panel which is turned so as to define a hook formation to engage in the channel, the pivot formation of the fascia panel being generally complementary in shape to the channel defining the pivot formation of the base portion but without being a tight fit therein whereby the fascia panel can be fitted by its hook formation to the channel of the base portion and moved with a pivoting movement to its final desired position.

3. A display system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the fascia panel is generally C-shaped in cross-section, the fascia panel including a main front face providing an area for the display of text and/or graphic matter, a top face extending rearwardly from the main front face towards the base portion and terminating in an edge which is formed so as to co-operate with a top edge of the base portion, and a bottom face extending rearwardly from the main front face towards the base portion and terminating in an edge arranged to co-operate with a bottom edge of the base portion.

4. A display system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the channel is provided at the top edge of the base portion and the hook formation at the first edge of the fascia panel is provided at the top of the fascia panel so that the fascia panel is engaged with the base portion and pivoted about the top edge downwardly and inwardly to its final desired position.

5. A display system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base portion provides a step formation at its edge remote from the edge having the pivot formation, the second edge of the fascia panel comprising a hook which engages with the step formation with a snap fit so as to resist disengagement thereof.

6. A display system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base portion is provided with a light fitting and the fascia panel has transparent or translucent properties or areas for display of the text and/or graphic matter by back lighting from the light fitting.

7. A display system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including a number of fins spaced in use along the fascia panel, the fins projecting outwardly from the base portion and providing means for locating and supporting at least the main face of the fascia panel.

8. A display system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.