WO2011044623A1

WO2011044623A1 - A method and apparatus for mounting an advertising skin

Info

Publication number: WO2011044623A1
Application number: PCT/AU2010/001348
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Van Der Zijpp
Original assignee: Market Avenues Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Market Avenues Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-10-13
Filing date: 2010-10-13
Publication date: 2011-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-13

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting an advertising skin including a mounting frame of at least one shaped member mounted relative to a support to define a rectangular opening, at least one substrate shaped to be at least temporarily removably attached relative to the support, and an attachment mechanism including a stiffening member provided adjacent at least one side edge of the at least one substrate and insertable into the rectangular opening and removably retained therein by tension in the substrate.

Description

A Method and Apparatus for Mounting an Advertising Skin

Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to generally to advertising media and particularly to a method and apparatus for mounting an advertising skin.

Background Art.

The closest known device to that of the present invention is likely to be the inventor's pervious media display system disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2007/000696. That document contains a description of the conventional techniques of the time as the following extract from the Background Art section states.

"A breeze barrier is a descriptive term used to describe freestanding barrier formed of a rigid support frame which is normally substantially rectangular with a substrate or "skin " stretched between the members of the frame. The substrate is normally manufactured of a resilient plastic and is effective at blocking wind and also allows the breeze barrier to be used as a divider.

Breeze barriers are most commonly found in use on sidewalk cafes to separate the patrons sitting at tables or chairs on the sidewalk from the sidewalk area used by pedestrians.

The breeze barrier substrates typically carry advertising material whether for the owner of the barrier or on behalf of a third party who normally pays a fee for their advertising material to be printed onto the substrate.

Currently the use of breeze barriers as media display units is cost prohibitive due to the various substrates and fastening systems used to attach the substrate to the breeze barrier frame. In a media application, changing the image or advertising in a breeze barrier (which involves changing the substrate) must occur in the cheapest manner and shortest possible time. This allows the breeze barrier to be redisplayed with the new substrate as quickly as possible and also decreases labour costs in relation to the time taken to actually change the substrate.

Most importantly, the new substrate should be aesthetically pleasing, that is having no wrinkles or creases in the substrate and ensuring that the image substrate is securely fastened to the frame so that it cannot be easily or accidentally dislodged.

The main methods currently used to attach the substrate to the breeze barrier frame included amongst others using a rope and eyelet system with eyelets spaced around the edge of the substrate and a rope threaded through the eyelets and about the frame to secure the substrate relative to the frame. The system is not aesthetically pleasing.

An alternative system includes a rope attached to the substrate with a rope track system provided on the frame. The system, whilst more aesthetically pleasing than the rope and eyelet system, is far more complex and much more difficult to change the substrates.

Still further alternative systems involved the use of polycarbonate or acrylic panels which are far more expensive than flexible plastic substrates, or the use of core flute panels which are flimsy and cheap in appearance.

The skins of the conventional breeze barriers cannot be changed without expert knowledge and typically equipment that is not available to an owner of the breeze barrier thus requiring the entire breeze barrier to be transported back to the manufacturer if the skin is to be changed."

The International Patent Application then provided a media display system including a support frame, at least one substrate, the at least one substrate shaped to be at least temporarily removably attached to the support frame, and an attachment mechanism including a stiffening member provided adjacent at least one side edge of the at least one substrate and an least partially U-shaped member mounted relative to the support frame, the stiffening member insertable into the at least partially U-shaped member and removably retained therein by tension in the substrate.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Summary of the Invention.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for mounting an advertising skin, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in an apparatus for mounting an advertising skin including a mounting frame of at least one shaped member mounted relative to a support to define a rectangular opening, at least one substrate shaped to be at least temporarily removably attached relative to the support, and an attachment mechanism including a stiffening member provided adjacent at least one side edge of the at least one substrate and insertable into the rectangular opening and removably retained therein by tension in the substrate.

The advantages of the above described system are primarily saving on labour when exchanging the substrates/skins, a visually pleasing, wrinkle-free substrate/skin as well as the simplicity of manufacture of the skins and the printing thereon. It has also been found that the U-shaped member of the previous device allowed a skin under tension to work itself free of the U-shaped member and a more secure method was required that was still simple and fast.

The mounting frame of the invention is typically mounted relative to a support. Whilst there are a number of possible embodiments, the support will normally be or include means to which the at least one shaped member is attached. The skin will normally be mounted relative to a surface or device in order to be displayed and this surface or device will normally be the support for the skin.

Depending upon the configuration of apparatus, the support may differ in configuration. For example, when the apparatus supporting the skin is a breeze barrier, the support may be configured as a freestanding, moveable frame.

The support for a breeze barrier is normally manufactured from metal or plastic, however the material is not particularly important provided that the support is substantially rigid and strong enough to withstand the tension applied to the support by the substrate/skin when attached to the support.

The support for a breeze barrier is normally manufactured of a plurality of members attached together. The members typically include a pair of upright members, and a pair of transverse members, namely normally an upper transverse member and a lower transverse member. Normally, the ends of each upright member and the respective end of the upper transverse member are attached together using an arcuate corner connector formed of a member having the same cross-sectional shape as the members connected and being bent to form an arcuate member with ends directed substantially perpendicularly to one another.

The members of the breeze barrier support frame are normally circular in cross-sectional shape but members of any cross-sectional shape may be used. Additionally, the members are normally hollow and/or tubular in order to provide sufficient strength but be light weight. The members of the support normally define an opening within a fully enclosed frame.

The breeze barrier support is normally further provided with at least 1 foot member but normally a pair of feet will be provided, one to engage a lower end of each of the upright members. Each foot will typically have the same configuration, namely a substantially planar ground bearing plate and an elongate upstand adapted to receive, or be received by, a lower end of each respective upright member.

When the display is configured as a light box, the support may be one or more frame members which form the light box. The support will typically be the side members of the light box. These members are normally planar members connected together at the corners or by attachment to the rear of the light box.

Where the display is a vending machine or similar, the support will normally be or include the exterior walls of the vending machine. Vending machines typically have a clear display on the front side of the machine in order that purchasers can see the goods contained within. The sides of the vending machine are typically plate metal or similar to define the enclosure into which the mechanism of the vending machine is located. These walls or any other portion of the vending machine may form the support for the apparatus of the invention.

Therefore it can be seen that any style of support may be used with frame members appropriately configured depending upon the type of display unit intended.

The invention also includes at least one substrate, the at least one substrate shaped to be at least temporarily removably attached relative to the mounting frame. Normally the substrate will have media displayed thereon such as advertising material or one or more images, but it is to be appreciated that the substrate may be used without any media printed thereon such as when used as a light difiuser for example.

The substrate is typically an elastic or resilient skin. The substrate is typically manufactured of vinyl or similar plastic material but may alternatively be a woven fabric skin reinforced or otherwise coated, with a coating, normally plastic or similar, on at least one surface. The skin will preferably be adapted to be printed thereon and therefore be configured to facilitate printing thereon. Any printing method may be used to print onto the substrate including but not limited to screen printing, sublimation printing, inkjet or spray jet printing.

The material used to form the substrate may preferably have a limited elastic deformation in any one or more directions. This limited deformation may be provided by reinforcing the material in particular directions in order to control the amount of deformation capable in that direction.

The printing on the substrate will normally be or include advertising material. The advertising material may be in relation to one or more businesses and will normally involve the printing or display of trademarks upon the skin or substrate.

As stated previously, the substrate will typically be shaped to fit the shape of the opening defined by the mounting frame. For example, if the opening defined by the mounting frame is rectangular and the substrate will typically be rectangular as well, having four side edges. However, if the opening defined by the mounting frame is hexagonal for example, the substrate will also be hexagonal.

Typically, prior to application of the substrate to the mounting frame, the substrate will be in un-stretched condition and typically whilst in this condition the substrate will be slightly smaller in dimension than an opening defined between the shaped members of the mounting frame. The important dimension in relation to the relative sizes of the substrate and the mounting frame is the dimension between shaped members and normally the dimension between opposite shaped members.

The substrate may have scalloped corners where edges of different directions meet which may be prefen-ed for applications such as breeze barriers but a continuous substrate is preferred for other applications such as for advertising on vending machines or the like.

The present invention also includes an attachment mechanism including a stiffening member provided adjacent at least one side edge of the at least one substrate. The attachment mechanism engages with the at least one shaped member of eth mounting frame mounted relative to the support to define a rectangular opening, the stiffening member insertable into the rectangular opening and removably retained therein by tension in the substrate.

The stiffening member is typically provided to stiffen the edge of the skin and/or to provide a locking member to lock the edge of the substrate into the rectangular opening defined by the shaped member. The stiffening member may effectively lock the substrate into the rectangular opening defined by the shaped member when the substrate is not under tension but the locking effect will typically be far more effective when the substrate is under tension. The stiffening member may be flexible but is preferably less flexible than the substrate itself.

The stiffening member is typically a strip formed from ABS or PVC type plastic materials. The strip is typically elongate and between approximately 0.5 cm to 2 cm in width depending upon the dimensions of the breeze barrier. Typically, a stiffening strip will be provided on at least two and normally all side edges of the substrate.

The stiffening strips are preferably attached so that the strips finish flush with the edge of the substrate adjacent which the strips are attached. The width of the strips extends inwardly towards the centre of the substrate and together provide a border around the periphery of the substrate, on one side.

The strips may be attached to the substrate using any method but will typically be fastened using an adhesive, by sewing or using a welding method. In this manner, the skins may preferably be mass produced and retained for printing and/or distribution as needed.

Typically, mounting frame of the apparatus will be defined by at least one and typically a number of the shaped members each having at least a pair of spaced apart arms. Each arm typically has a free end. Preferably, the rectangular opening is defined in such a way that it faces or is oriented away from the centre of the substrate.

The rectangular opening defined at least partially by the shaped member into which the stiffening strips are removably insertable should not be confused with the possibly rectangular opening defined by a number of shaped members ad across which the skin extends.

The arms may be of the same of different lengths. There are two main embodiments.

The first embodiment is one in which the arms extend in the same direction with a linking wall therebetween. The arm members are typically parallel to one another. In this embodiment there will normally be one longer arm and one shorted arm, with the free end of the longer arm preferably attached, normally permanently, to the support, and the free end of the shorter arm is spaced from the longer arm. The rectangular opening is defined between the two arms and the linking arm.

The other of the two main embodiments is one in which the shaped member has the arm members extending in opposite directions with the linking wall therebetween. Again, the arm members are typically parallel to one another. In this embodiment, one of the arm members will preferably be attached to the support and the other will define the rectangular opening between itself and the support.

The direction in which the rectangular opening faces will depend upon the embodiment. In the breeze barrier embodiment, each shaped member will typically extended perpendicularly to the frame member towards the centre of the opening defined by the frame. Normally, the longer arm extends away from the frame member and the shorter arm extends substantially parallel to the longer arm but back towards the frame member. This defines the rectangular opening facing outwardly from the centre of the frame.

The shaped members do not have to extend perpendicularly to the support frame. For example, the shaped member of a light box media display unit may be attached to the support along the length of the longer arm of the shaped member with the shorter arm spaced from the longer arm.

Normally, there will be a shaped member provided on each frame member and the shaped member will typically extend most of the length of the frame member.

The shaped members are preferably rigid and strong. The longer and shorter arms of the shaped member are preferably spaced from one another a small distance, generally approximately 5 mm, but this distance will depend on the width of the stiffening strip attached to the substrate. The shaped members provided on different frame members are typically all oriented in the same direction, that is all of the shorter arms of respective shaped members are on the same side of the frame.

When tension is applied to the skin, the tension has a camming effect the stiffening strips located a rectangular opening, which act to hold the strip abutting the walls defining the rectangular opening, retaining the stiffening strips in the rectangular opening. ^;

In a most preferred form, the shaped member may be a portion or sheet of transparent material applied to the vending machine such that portion of the edge of the portion or sheet extends laterally slightly outside the vending machine in order to define a rectangular opening between the portion or sheet of transparent material and a part of the vending machine. In this embodiment, a frame is provided about the periphery of at least one side of the support in the form of a planar strip or sheet such that at least one edge of the planar strip defines a rectangular opening between an edge of the sheet and a portion of the support, usually the body of the support. The sheet may be shaped or provided with features which allow the formation of the rectangular opening.

The substrate is removably attached to the support. When attaching the substrate to a breeze barrier support frame, the feet of the frame are removed and the frame laid on a surface such that all of the shorter arms of the shaped members face upwardly. A skin is then laid over the support frame with the stiffening strips of the substrate oriented downwardly.

When attaching the substrate to a light box support frame, the frame may be oriented in any manner providing access to the shaped members and the skin is then laid over the frame with the stiffening strips of the substrate oriented downwardly.

Beginning with one edge of substrate, a user then folds the substrate such that the stiffening strip adjacent that edge is forced into the rectangular opening at that edge of the frame. The user then inserts the stiffening strip at a second edge opposite the first edge into the rectangular opening at the second edge of the frame.

Due to the relative sizes of the substrate and the opening of the frame, insertion of opposite edges will tension the skin in that direction.

The user then repeats the insertion of the stiffening strip into the rectangular opening at the remaining edges of the substrate. Once all edges have been secured, the user can then adjust the position of the skin by small amounts in order to centralise the skin on the frame and smooth any creases in the skin.

Insertion of some edges may required the use of the tool given that the amount of tension may be quite large. In these cases, once an outmost edge of the skin and stiffening strip abuts a portion defining the rectangular opening, a tool can be used to force the strip into the rectangular opening whilst the skin is forced towards the frame member under tension. A preferred insertion tool will preferably include a planar blade with a projection such that the edge of the stiffening strip can abut the projection to apply force thereto.

In order to remove a skin from the frame, a tool is typically forced between the skin and a portion defining the rectangular opening and then forced outwardly towards the frame member, stretching the skin until the stiffening strip is removed from the rectangular opening. Preferably, the removal tool will be configured as a planar blade (similar to a paint scraper) with a hook shaped projection at the free end. Typically the hook shaped projection extends across the width of the blade.

The preferred form of tool is an elongate, substantially planar member with a portion angled relative to a gripping portion. The angled portion is typically the portion used to manipulate the skin and stiffening strip.

One or more snap fasteners may be used to further secure the stiffening strip in the rectangular opening but typically the tension in the skin will be sufficient to prevent accidental removal or dislodgement of the skin.

Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional schematic view from the top of a vending machine with an advertising skin according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention applied thereto along line B-B in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a schematic view from the front of an application of the advertising skin of the present invention, namely on a drink dispensing machine.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of one corner of an advertising skin of the preferred embodiment from the portion identified as "A" in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of part of the process of insertion of the advertising skin into the mounting assembly of the preferred embodiment.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of part of the process of insertion of the advertising skin into the mounting assembly of the preferred embodiment.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of part of the process of insertion of the advertising skin into the mounting assembly of the preferred embodiment.

Figure 7 is an axonometric view from a first side of a tool used to insert and remove the advertising skin from the mounting assembly illustrated in Figures 4 to 6.

Figure 8 is a side view of a tool used to insert and remove the advertising skin from the mounting assembly illustrated in Figures 4 to 6.

Figure 9 is an axonometric view from a second side of a tool used to insert and remove the advertising skin from the mounting assembly illustrated in Figures 4 to 6.

Figure 10 is an axonometric view of a breeze barrier including the mounting apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of an illuminated display including the mounting apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a detailed sectional view showing one possible embodiment of the present invention applied to a support.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment.

According to a first particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for mounting an advertising skin 13 relative to a vending machine 10 is provided.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 includes a generally rectangular mounting frame 11 formed from four shaped members 12 mounted relative to a vending machine 10 to define a rectangular opening between each shaped member 12 and a sidewall of the vending machine 10.

The apparatus includes a skin 13 or substrate shaped to be at least temporarily removably attached relative to the vending machine 10. The skin 13 has an attachment mechanism in the form of a stiffening member 14 provided adjacent at least one side edge of the skin 13 and insertable into the rectangular opening 15 and removably retained therein by tension in the skin.

In situations where the display is on a vending machine 10, the support will normally include the exterior walls of the vending machine 10. Vending machines typically have a clear display on the front side of the machine in order that purchasers can see the goods contained within. The sides of the vending machine are typically plate metal or similar to define the enclosure into which the mechanism of the vending machine is located.

In a most preferred form such as is illustrated in Figure 12, applied to a vending machine, the side of the machine 30 has a face sheet 31 which does not extend all the way to the edge of the machine 30. The shaped member in the form of a strip portion 32 is applied to the edge of the face sheet 31 such that portion of the strip 32 extends laterally slightly outside the face sheet 31 in order to define a rectangular opening between the strip 32 and the body 30 of the vending machine. In this form, the substrate or skin 13 can be mounted effectively on the sidewall of the support separately only by a minimal gap equal to the thickness of the strip 32.

The invention also includes a skin 13 or substrate shaped to be at least temporarily removably attached relative to the mounting frame. The skin 13 substrate is typically an elastic or resilient skin.

The material used to form the skin 13 or substrate may preferably have a limited elastic deformation in any one or more directions. This limited deformation may be provided by reinforcing the material in particular directions in order to control the amount of deformation capable in that direction.

The stiffening member 14 is provided to stiffen the edge of the skin 13 and/or to provide a locking member to lock the edge of the skin 13 into the rectangular opening 15 defined by the shaped member.

The stiffening strips 14 are attached so that the strips finish flush with the edge of the skin 13 adjacent which the strips are attached. The width of the strips extends inwardly towards the centre of the substrate and together provide a border around the periphery of the substrate, on one side.

The rectangular opening 15 is defined in such a way that it faces or is oriented away from the centre of the skin 13. The rectangular opening 15 is defined at least partially by the shaped member 12 into which the stiffening strips Hare removably insertable should not be confused with the possibly rectangular opening defined between a number of shaped members and across which the skin extends.

As illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, the preferred embodiment of shaped member 12 has a pair of arms 16' and 16" extending in opposite directions with a linking wall 17 therebetween. The arm members are typically parallel to one another. One of the arm members 16' is attached to the vending machine 10 and the other arm 16" defines the rectangular opening 15 between itself and the sidewall of vending machine 10.

The direction in which the rectangular opening 15 faces will depend upon the embodiment. In the breeze barrier embodiment illustrated in Figure 10, each shaped member 12 will typically extended perpendicularly to the frame member 17 towards the centre of the opening defined by the frame.

When tension is applied to the skin 13, the tension has a camming effect on the stiffening strips 14 located in a rectangular opening 15, which act to hold the strip 14 abutting the walls defining the rectangular opening 15, retaining the stiffening strips 14 in the rectangular opening 15.

The skin 13 or substrate is removably attached to the vending machine 10. When attaching the skin 13 or substrate A skin 13 is then laid over the support frame with the stiffening strips 14 of the substrate oriented downwardly.

Beginning with one edge of skin 13 or substrate, a user then folds the skin 13 or substrate such that the stiffening strip 14 adjacent that edge is forced into the rectangular opening 15 at that edge of the frame. The user then inserts the stiffening strip 14 at a second edge opposite the first edge into the rectangular opening 15 at the second edge of the frame. Due to the relative sizes of the skin 13 or substrate and the opening of the frame, insertion of opposite edges will tension the skin 13 in that direction.

The user then repeats the insertion of the stiffening strip 14 into the rectangular opening 15 at the remaining edges of the skin 13 or substrate. Once all edges have been secured, the user can then adjust the position of the skin 13 or substrate by small amounts in order to centralise the skin 13 or substrate on the frame and smooth any creases in the skin 13 or substrate. Insertion of some edges may required the use of a tool given that the amount of tension may be quite large. In these cases, once an outermost edge of the skin 13 or substrate and stiffening strip 14 abuts a portion defining the rectangular opening 15, a tool such as that illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 can be used to force the skin 13 or substrate into the rectangular opening 15 whilst the skin 13 or substrate is forced towards the frame member under tension.

A preferred insertion tool 19 is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 and includes a pair of planar blades extending from either end of a gripping portion 20. The tool will normally have one end provided with an insertion aid 21 and the other with a removal aid 22. The insertion aid 21 illustrated is a planar blade 23 with a projection 24 such that the edge of the stiffening strip 14 can abut the projection 24 to apply force thereto.

In order to remove a skin 13 from the frame, a tool is typically forced between the skin and portion defining the rectangular opening and then forced outwardly towards the frame member, stretching the skin until the stiffening strip is removed from the rectangular opening. The illustrated removal aid 22 is configured as a planar blade 25 with a hook shaped projection 26 at the free end. As illustrated, the hook shaped projection 26 extends across the width of the blade 25.

Depending upon the configuration of apparatus, the support relative to which the skin is mounted may differ in configuration. For example, when the apparatus supporting the skin is a breeze barrier such as that illustrated in Figure 10, the support may be configured as a freestanding, moveable frame formed from a plurality of frame members 18.

When the display is configured as a light box such as that illustrated in Figure 11, the support may be one or more side panel members 26 which form the light box. These members are normally planar members connected together at the corners or by attachment to the rear wall 27 of the light box. The light box of course typically contains a light source 28 to illuminate the skin 13.

In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting an advertising skin including a mounting frame of at least one shaped member mounted relative to a support to define a rectangular opening, at least one substrate shaped to be at least temporarily removably attached relative to the support, and an attachment mechanism including a stiffening member provided adjacent at least one side edge of the at least one substrate and insertable into the rectangular opening and removably retained therein by tension in the substrate.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support is manufactured of a plurality of members attached together.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the support defines a display opening within a mounting frame.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the mounting frame is further provided with at least 1 foot member to form a freestanding frame which is also movable.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the substrate is an elastic or resilient skin member.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the material used to form the substrate has a limited elastic deformation in at least one direction.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is shaped to match the shape of an opening defined by the mounting frame.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein prior to application of the substrate to the mounting frame, the substrate is in un-stretched condition and whilst in this condition the substrate is smaller in dimension than the dimension between the shaped members of the mounting frame.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a stiffening strip is provided adjacent all side edges of the substrate.

10. A media system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one stiffening strip is attached so that the stiffening strip finishes flush with the edge of the substrate adjacent which the stiffening strip is attached.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one shaped member is provided with a pair of spaced apart arms parallel to one another, with one longer arm and one shorter arm.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each arm has a free end, with the free end of the longer arm attached to the support, and the free end of the shorter arm spaced from the support.

13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the at least one shaped member is provided with a pair of spaced apart arms parallel to one another but extending in opposite direction to one another.

14. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support frame is formed from a plurality of frame members and a shaped member is provided on each frame member.

15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the arms of the at least one shaped member are spaced from one another a distance based on the width of the stiffening strip attached to the substrate.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12 to 15 wherein a plurality of shaped members are provided to define a display opening and are oriented in the same direction with the rectangular openings directed away from one another.

17. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein due to the relative sizes of the substrate and the display opening defined, insertion of opposite edges of the substrate into the respective rectangular openings tensions the substrate in that direction, due to a locking action of the stiffening strip located in the rectangular opening and abutting portions of the shaped member or support.

18. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further including a tool to assist with insertion of the substrate from the mounting frame, the tool having a gripping portion and an elongate, substantially planar portion with an abutment projection.

19. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further including a tool to assist with removal of the substrate from the mounting frame, the tool having a gripping portion and an elongate, substantially planar portion with a hook at a free end thereof.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shaped member is a planar edge member attached relative to the support in order to define a rectangular opening.