GB2355570A

GB2355570A - Display unit

Info

Publication number: GB2355570A
Application number: GB9924913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Michael Hutchings; Nabil Hajjar; Patrick David Kennedy
Original assignee: Siemens PLC
Current assignee: Siemens PLC
Priority date: 1999-10-22
Filing date: 1999-10-22
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Also published as: GB9924913D0

Abstract

A display unit (10) for mounting on an item such as a traffic control enclosure (1). The unit comprises of a sleeve or cover made up of two panels and a lid, at least one of the panels has a display attached. Each panel comprises a rear reflector and support member (18) which houses a rectangular display panel. Lamps (22,24) are located along two edges of the display panel to illuminate the display. The display panel and lamps are covered by a water seal and a mounting frame assembly (28). A display medium (30), for example a poster or a digital display, is located within the frame assembly. The display unit is attached by a bracket (36).

Description

DISPLAY UNITS The present invention relates to display units, and is more

particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with display units for 5 advertising.

It is well known to advertise by mounting or posting posters on billboards or other fixed surfaces - the posters being supported on the billboards or fixed surfaces by adhesive. Posters can also be mounted on buses, taxis and other moving vehicles. Each poster advertises a single item, product or service.

Modular bill boards are also known wherein each modular bill board comprises a frame in which a plurality of rotatable three-faced slats are mounted and which are simultaneously rotated by a motor to display three different advertising posters.

It is also known to utilise neon signage and dot matrix type screens to provide advertisements which change with time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display unit which can be used for advertising purposes.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display unit for mounting on an item comprising a sleeve for fitting over the item, the sleeve having at least one display face, and fixing means for fixing the sleeve to the item.

Preferably, the sleeve comprises first and second elements arranged to be parallel to and spaced from one another, and a member for connecting the first and second elements to form the sleeve. The first and second elements may each have a display face.

Each display face may comprise a display panel, a support assembly for supporting the display panel, a frame assembly for locating the display element relative to the support assembly, and a display panel assembly mountable within the frame assembly for protecting the display panel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the display panel comprises a mount for a display medium. In an alternate embodiment, the display panel comprises a digital display device. Preferably, the digital display device comprises a flat screen digital display device.

In the alternate embodiment, programming means are provided for programming the digital display device together with first control means for controlling the digital display device. The programming means may comprise a local programming means or may comprise a remote programming means connected to the first control means by means of a communications link. The communications link includes second control means associated with the remote programming means, the communications link extending between the first and second control means.

The display unit of the present invention provides a means for displaying static and dynamic advertising and other messages on 'street furniture', for example, a traffic controller enclosure or cabinet. The display unit can be added to existing enclosures or cabinets or can be fitted to new enclosures or cabinets as they are installed. The display unit comprises an attractive 'sleeve' which fits over the traffic controller enclosure.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure I is a perspective view of a display unit in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the unit of Figure 1; Figures 3 to 6 are views of the faces of the display unit shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a plan view of the top of the display unit of Figure 1; and Figure 8 is a block diagram of a control system for a flat screen digital display panel which can be utilised in the display unit of Figure 1.

Although the display unit of the present invention will be described as having two display faces, it will readily be appreciated that the unit may have one display face or more than two display faces as desired.

The display unit of the present invention will be described as a unit for mounting on a traffic control enclosure, but it will be appreciated that the display unit is not limited to such use, and can be mounted on any other suitable box, for example, telephone exchange enclosures.

Figures 1 and 2 show a display unit 10 in accordance with the present invention. The unit 10 comprises a sleeve which is mountable over a traffic control enclosure 1. The unit 10 comprises two side elements or panels 12, 14, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, which are parallel to and spaced from one another and a lid or roof panel 16 which comiects the two side panels 12, 14 to fonn the sleeve.

Each side panel 12, 14 comprises a rear reflector and support member or assembly 18 which houses a rectangular display panel 20. Located along two edges of the display panel 20 are respective lamps 22, 24 for illuminating the display panel 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the lamps 22, 24 are arranged to have their longitudinal axes substantially vertical and substantially parallel with the longer edges of the rectangular display panel 20. It will, however, be appreciated that the lamps 22, 24 could be arranged to have their longitudinal axes substantially horizontal parallel to the shorter edges of the rectangular display panel 20.

Moreover, the shape of the display panel 20 is not limited to being rectangular and may be of any other suitable shape. Naturally, the lamps 22, 24 would be located in a suitable location for the chosen shape of the display panel 20. Furthermore, depending on the particular application, any suitable number of lamps or types of lamps can be utilised.

A water seal 26 is provided to lie over the display panel 20 and lamps 22!P 24 and seals with a mounting frame assembly 28. A display medium 30, for example, a poster for advertising, media and publicity images is located within the mounting frame assembly 28 and a further water seal 32 is laid over the top of the display media 30 and is held in place by a display panel assembly 34. It will readily be appreciated that more than one poster may be located within the mounting frame assembly 28.

The display unit 10 also comprises a lower support bracket 36 and a lower buffer box 38.

The rear reflector and support tray 18 comprises fabricated metal which is coated with a polyester powder and has an integral water seal. It will readily be appreciated that each rear reflector and support tray 18 is made to a predetermined size in accordance with the traffic control enclosure I to which the display unit 10 is to be fitted.

Each lamp 22, 24 comprises an ultra-safe low voltage fluorescent lamp with 8650K colour temperature, and is driven by high frequency driver circuits, an AC/DC converter and a 150VA transformer which are housed within the traffic control enclosure 1. The lamps 22, 24 provide edge lighting for the display panel 20 so that the images on the display media 30 are readily visible. The display panel 20 is made from a suitable polymeric material.

The mounting frame assembly 28 comprises purpose made aluminium extruded sections which are machined, fabricated and welded to the correct sizes to fit the traffic control enclosure 1. The assembly 28 is made to be waterproof and has a polyester powder coated finish.

Water seals 26, 32 comprise protective water sealing strips or sheets for the display panel 20 and the display media 30.

The display panel assembly 34 comprises an aluminium frame structure 34a in which is mounted a transparent ultraviolet stable polycarbonate front panel 34b. The frame structure 34a includes an integral water seal (not shown).

The lower support bracket 36 is mounted to the traffic control enclosure and provides a quick release yet tamper proof docking area for the rear reflector and support tray 18, the mounting frame assembly 28 and the display panel assembly 34.

The lower buffer box 38 has a polyester powder coated finish and offers protection from pedestrians, prams, pushchairs etc.

The lid or roof panel 16 comprises a robust fabricated metal lid with an attractive architectural grade polyester powder coated finish and tamper proof locks 16a.

In another embodiment of the display unit according to the present invention, the display panel 20 and display media 30 may be replaced with a flat screen digital display device (not shown) which is capable of high resolution real time display of advertising, media and publicity images. The flat screen digital display device is connected to an internal communications port via which data can be input as will be described in detail later. It will be appreciated that if the flat screen digital display device is utilised only one of the water seals 26, 32 may be required.

Naturally, it will be appreciated that any digital display device can be utilised.

Turning now to Figures 3 to 7, views of each face 12, 14 and the lid or roof unit 16 of a display unit 10 in accordance with the present invention as assembled on a traffic control enclosure 1 are shown. As can be seen more clearly in Figures 4 and 6, the display unit 10 illustrated and described only has two side elements or panels 12, 14. This means that it is possible to gain easy access to access panel I a (Figure 6) of the traffic control enclosure 1.

However, depending on the location of the traffic control enclosure I (or other suitable mounting on which the display unit is to be mounted), it may be desirable to have more than two side elements or panels.

Figure 8 illustrates a block diagram for controlling a flat screen digital display device 40 mounted on a traffic control enclosure (not shown).

The device 40 is controlled by local communication means 42 connected to it by means of a link 44. The local communication means 42 is connected to local programming means 46 by means of a link 48. As shown, the device 40, local communication means 42, local programming means 46 and links 44, 48 form a system 50 within the traffic control enclosure. The local communication means 42 is also connected to remote communication means 54 via a communication link 58. The remote communication means 54 is connected to remote programming means 52 via link 56.

The image to be displayed on the device 40 can be input locally via the local programming means 46 or can be input remotely via remote programming means 52 and passed via link 56, remote communication means 54 and communications link 58 to the local communication means 42.

The display unit of the present invention is inexpensive and simple to install. Access to the traffic control enclosure can readily be maintained by allowing parts of the 'sleeve' forming the housing to be opened or removed.

The advertising or messages may be static (not changing) or variable (changing). Naturally, it will be appreciated that variable advertising or messages are only possible with a digital display device.

Additionally, the advertising may take the form of moving images with or without the accompaniment of audio. The advertising may also be interactive allowing members of the public to influence the information displayed, for example, to show particular products, services or messages from a menu which are of particular interest to them.

The advertising text and images can be changed when required, either locally (for the display panel and display media embodiment and the flat screen digital display device embodiment) and remotely (for the flat screen digital display device embodiment only).

Additionally, the communications network used to control the flat screen digital display device may be the same network used to communicate with the traffic control and monitoring equipment within the same enclosure.

The overall design of the described display unit includes a shaped lid or roof unit which repels litter and aids self cleaning, and chainfered top and bottom sections which help to guide eye contact to the display area whether it comprises a display medium, such as a poster, or a digital display. It is robust as a tough polycarbonate display panel is utilised on each display face, and requires minimum maintenance.

It will readily be appreciated that, as an alternative to the display unit comprising a sleeve which fits over an existing enclosure or structure, the display unit may be such that one or more panels of an enclosure or structure may have the function of both forming a housing and providing a display panel as described above.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A display unit for mounting on an item comprising a sleeve for fitting over the item, the sleeve having at least one display face, and fixing means for fixing the sleeve to the item.

2. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises first and second elements arranged to be parallel to and spaced from one another, and a member for connecting the first and second elements to form the sleeve.

3. A display unit according to claim 2, wherein the first and second elements each have a display face.

4. A display unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each display face comprises a display panel, a support assembly for supporting the display panel, a frame assembly for locating the display element relative to the support assembly, and a display panel assembly mountable within the frame assembly for protecting the display panel.

5. A display unit according to claim 4, wherein the display panel comprises a mount for a display medium.

6. A display unit according to claim 4, wherein the display panel comprises a digital display device.

7. A display unit according to claim 6, wherein the digital display device comprises a flat screen digital display device.

8. A display unit according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising programming means for programming the digital display device and first control means for controlling the digital display device.

9. A display unit according to claim 8, wherein the programming means comprises a local programming means.

10. A display unit according to claim 8, wherein the programming means comprises a remote programming means connected to the first control means by means of a communications link.

11. A display unit according to claim 10, wherein the communications link includes second control means associated with the remote programming means, the communications link extending between the first and second control means.

12. A display unit according to any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the display panel assembly comprises a frame structure and a transparent front panel.

13. A display unit according to any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein each display face includes at least one sealing element.

14. A display unit according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the sleeve includes four elements connected together.

15. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the item comprises a traffic control enclosure.

16. A display unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.