AU2002363485B2

AU2002363485B2 - Display device

Info

Publication number: AU2002363485B2
Application number: AU2002363485A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Edward Stam
Original assignee: Bowhead Int Pty Ltd; Bowhead International Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Bowhead International Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-08
Filing date: 2002-11-07
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-07
Also published as: WO2003041037A1; ZA200404505B; EP1451793A1; EP1451793A4

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to banners.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Banners are widely used for display and advertising purposes. They have the 00 advantage of being attractive and colourful and, as the sheet material itself moves in the M"3 breeze, eye catching which appeals to the advertiser. One problem with some banners

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C¢ is that, in the absence of any breeze, the sheet material hangs limply and the printed matter on it is thus not visible. If this problem is overcome by stretching the sheet material on a frame then the banner looks unnatural and does not flutter in the breeze.

The present invention seeks to provide a banner which is so constructed that it cannot hang limply but which at the same time is not stiff and unmoving when a breeze blows over it.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a) an elongate pole member having a base end, by means of which the display device is supported and a distal end; b) an elongate resilient member supported by the pole at or near its distal end and protruding beyond the pole; and c) a flexible sheet having portions which define passages through which the pole and the resilient member pass thereby releasably to attach the sheet to the pole and to the resilient member, the sheet having a side edge which is releasably attached to the pole and a curving top edge which is releasably attached to the resilient member, the configuration of the curving top edge of the flexible sheet bending the resilient member to a curved configuration whereby the banner is tensioned by the resilient member.

Said pole can comprise a plurality of section ends of which form spigots and sockets by means of which the sections are fitted together to form the pole. Preferably the pole comprises a plurality of tubular sections connected together end-to-end.

An elastic cord fastened to end sections of the pole and passing through those sections can be provided to pull the end sections towards one another.

In the preferred form the pole comprises said end sections and at least one intermediate section, the cord passing through the intermediate section.

Said sheet is preferably of elongate form and have a further side edge and a lower edge, the further side edge being generally parallel to the first mentioned side edge, said lower edge spanning between the lower ends of said side edges and said curving top edge joining upper ends of said side edges.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a banner comprising: an elongate supporting pole having a first end and a second end, 00 an elongate resilient member supported by said pole and protruding beyond said Sfirst end of the pole; Sa flexible sheet including formations for connecting the sheet to said pole and to said resilient member, the sheet having a first side edge along which it is connected to said pole and a curving top edge along which it is connected to said resilient member, said member being bent to a curved shape to conform to the shape of said top edge and exerting a tensioning force on said sheet, a second side edge generally parallel to and spaced from the first side edge, the curving top edge of the sheet spanning between upper ends of the two side edges, and a lower edge which spans between lower ends of the two side edges.

Said lower edge can be straight and skew to both said side edges, or of concavely curved configuration with the lower end of said first edge below the lower end of said second edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a banner in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the banner seen along arrow II in Figure 1 Figure 3 is an edge view of the banner seen along arrow III in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of the banner seen along arrow IV in Figure 2; Figure 5 is, on an enlarged scale, the detail indicated by arrow V in Figure 1; Figure 6 is on an enlarged scale, the sectional detail indicated by arrow VI in Figure 2 but without the flexible sheet; Figure 7 is on an enlarged scale, a sectional detail indicated by arrow VII in Figure 2 but without the flexible sheet; Figure 8 is on an enlarged scale, a sectional plan view along line VIII-VIII in Figure 6; Figure 9 is, on an enlarged scale, a detail of the support of the display device indicated by arrow IX in Figure 2; Figure 10 is on an enlarged scale, a sectional detail showing two engaging tubular sections; and Figure 11 is on an enlarged scale, a perspective view of an insert for a tubular section.

00 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS M€3 Referring to the drawings, a banner in accordance with the invention, generally

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M€3 indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The banner 10 includes an elongate pole 12 having a lower end 14 and an opposite upper end 16. A resilient member in the form O 10 of a spring steel rod 18 extends from the pole 12 at its upper end 16, so as to support a flexible sheet 20 which is joined to the spring steel rod 18 and the pole 12.

The sheet 20 has two parallel, vertical side edges. One of the side edges is designated 20.3 in Figure 2 and free. The other side edge is connected to the pole 12 as will be described.

The upper ends of the side edges are joined by a curved upper edge. The lower ends of the side edges are joined by a concavely curved edge 20.4. Instead of being curved the edge 20.4 can be straight and skew to both vertically extending side edges of the sheet The pole 12 is constituted by various tubular sections 12.1, 12.2 12.n, which are engageable with adjacent tubular sections 12.1, 12.2 12.n, as shown in particular in Figure 6. The bottom end 22 of the tubular section 12.3 fits into the upper end 24 of the lower tubular section 12.2 and abuts a stop pin 26 provided in the lower tubular section 12.2. The same fitting applies to all other tubular sections 12.1 12.n.

An elastic string or cable 28 is threaded through all the tubular sections 12.1, 12.2 12.n of the rod 12 to hold these together. This is particularly useful on disassembly of the rod 12 into its individual tubular section components for transportation or storage.

It will be understood that the cord is anchored to the sections 12.1, 12.n and passes through the intermediate sections 12.2, 12.3 etc.

Referring now to Figure 7, the spring steel rod 18 is fitted into a blind bore provided in a plug 32 provided at the upper end 16 of the uppermost tubular section 12.n of the pole 12. The plug 32 abuts against a stop pin 34 provided in the tubular section 12.n. The plug 32 can be manufactured by injection moulding.

The flexible sheet 20 is provided with a passage 36 as indicated in Figure 8 for receiving the pole 12 as well as the spring steel rod 18.

As the rod 18 is pushed through the passage 36 it is bent by the sheet to the Scurved shape illustrated.

C* The sheet 20 is tensioned by attachment to a clip 37 (Figure 5) some distance above the lower end 14 of the pole 12. Thereby, when the sheet is drawn taut and the clip 37 secured to the pole 12, the sheet has the curved configuration as shown in 00oO Figures 1 and 2 The rod 18, in tending to return to its undeformed condition, tensions Cc the sheet 20 along the dotted line 38 indicated in Figures 1 and 2. This means that the INDpart 20.1 of the sheet 20 between the dotted line 38 and the pole 12 and the rod 18 is tensioned and this part of the sheet is flat whereas the part 20.2 between the free-edge 20.3 and the bottom curved edge 20.4 of the sheet 20 and the dotted line 38 will be "loose" and can flap or move in the wind.

Referring now to Figure 9 the bottom end 14 of the lowest tubular section 12.1 of the pole 12 is fitted over a peg 40 having a pointed end 42 for insertion into soil 44.

The lower end 14 of the tubular section 12.1 abuts against a collar 46 provided on the peg 40. The pole 12 can be rotated on the peg 40 if required.

The pole 12 can be made of suitable aluminium tubing in tubular sections 12.1, 12.2 12.n as described above.

The sheet 20 may be provided with advertising or informative material.

Referring now to Figure 10, each of the tubular sections 12.1,12.2...12.n can be provided with an inner tube 50.1,50.2...50.n to provide the tubular sections 12.1,12.2...12.n with additional strength to resist bending and also provide a larger surface area for supporting engaging ends of other tubular sections 12.1,12.2... 12.n, as indicated by arrow 52.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the plug 32 can be made of two interconnecting halves 54,56 that are joined together by socket and spigot connections 58. The plug 32 can also have a flange 60 adapted to abut against an edge of a tubular section 12.n when located therein.

Claims

2. A banner according to claim 1, in which the pole comprises a plurality of sections, ends of which form spigots and sockets by means of which the sections are fitted together to form the pole.
3. A banner according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the pole comprises a plurality of tubular sections connected together end-to-end.
4. A banner according to claims 2 or 3, and including an elastic cord fastened to end sections of the pole and passing through those sections to pull the end sections towards one another.
5. A banner according to claim 4, and including said end sections and at least one intermediate section, the cord passing through the intermediate section.
6. A banner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sheet is of elongate form and has a further side edge and a lower edge, the further side edge being generally parallel to the first mentioned side edge, said lower edge spanning between the lower ends of said side edges and said curving top edge joining upper ends of said side edges.
7. A banner comprising: an elongate supporting pole having a first end and a second end, an elongate resilient member supported by said pole and protruding beyond said first end of the pole; a flexible sheet including formations for connecting the sheet to said pole and to 00 said resilient member, the sheet having a first side edge along which it is connected to Cc said pole and a curving top edge along which it is connected to said resilient member, INO said member being bent to a curved shaped to conform to the shape of said top edge and exerting a tensioning force on said sheet, a second side edge generally parallel to and spaced from the first side edge, the curving top edge of the sheet spanning between upper ends of the two side edges, and a lower edge which spans between lower ends of the two side edges.
8. A banner according to claim 7, wherein said lower edge is straight and skew to both said side edges.
9. A banner according to claim 7, wherein said lower edge is of concavely curved configuration and the lower end of said first edge is below the lower end of said second edge. A banner according to any one of claims 7, 8 or 9, and including tensioning means which attaches the lower end of said first side edge to the pole and which pulls the sheet taut.
11. A banner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this nineteenth day of July 2005 BTI Branding Solutions (Pty) Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO