WO2009072158A2

WO2009072158A2 - Graphics-carrying device

Info

Publication number: WO2009072158A2
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000733
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca Pavani; Henry Chemin
Original assignee: Alu S.P.A.
Priority date: 2007-12-05
Filing date: 2008-11-28
Publication date: 2009-06-11
Also published as: ITPD20070402A1; WO2009072158A8; WO2009072158A3

Abstract

A graphics-carrying device (1) comprises a support (2) having a front surface (8) and a rear surface (9) which are arranged opposite each other and between which a seat (5) for holding a panel (3) is defined, in such a manner that the front surface is exposed to view, in order to show the panel, in at least one condition of use of the device. The device also comprises a structure (10) for mounting the first support, to which the first support is articulated in such a manner as to be movable between a first operative position in which it is arranged close to the structure with the front surface exposed to view, and a second operative position in which it projects from the structure and is supported thereon in the manner of an angle bracket.

Description

GRAPHICS-CARRYING DEVICE DESCRIPTION Technical field

The present invention relates to a graphics-carrying device of the type including the features mentioned in the preambfe of the main claim. Technological background

Devices of the above-mentioned type are widely used to display graphic elements, placards, posters and similar panels of advertising graphics. In their simplest form, they comprise two superposed sheets, one of which is transparent and between which the seat for accommodating the panel to be displayed is defined. The great simplicity of these devices is nevertheless associated with a low functionality thereof which is why they are not normally designed to perform any other auxiliary function beyond that of merely displaying the panel contained between the sheets. An example of these devices is described in US2005/0057125. This device, too, has the disadvantages indicated above. Description of the invention

The principal technical task of the present invention is to produce a graphics-carrying device which is devised structurally and functionally to overcome the technical disadvantages discussed with reference to the mentioned prior art.

In the context of this task, a principal object of the invention is to produce a device having greater functionality and also a pleasing appearance. A further object of the invention is to produce such a device which, at the same time, is compact and can be put together with similar devices in a multiplicity of configurations.

This task and these objects are achieved by the invention by means of a graphics-carrying device produced in accordance with the claims which follow. Brief description of the drawings

The features and advantages of the invention will emerge^" more clearly from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment thereof illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a graphics-carrying device produced in accordance with the present invention, in a first operative position thereof,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in a second operative position thereof, - Figures Ia and 2a are views analogous to Figures 1 and 2 in which an example of a graphic image has been inserted into the device,

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the device of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a view on an enlarged scale of a detail of Figure 3, Figure 5 is an exploded view of the device of Figure 1, - Figure 6 is a perspective view of an assembly of graphics-carrying devices in one example of the application thereof.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

In the drawings, 1 generally indicates a graphics-carrying device produced in accordance with the present invention. The device 1 comprises a first support 2 for a panel 3, such as an advertising-graphics panel. The first support 2 may advantageously be produced in the form of a peripheral frame 4 which surrounds a seat 5 for holding the panel 3, if the panel is sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting, or may have one or two sheets at the front and rear, respectively, which are held by the frame 4 and between which the panel 3 can be inserted if it is not self-supporting and therefore requires suitable mechanical support.

In any case, opposite front 8 and rear 9 surfaces are defined on the first support; the front surface 8 is to be exposed to view when the device is in a first operative position illustrated in Figure 1. The first support 2 is mounted on a structure 10 to which it is hinged at a lower side 11 thereof by means of hinge members which are all marked 12. The structure 10 comprises two uprights 13, which are optionally provided with removable finishing flanks 13a, and is closed at the top by an upper side 14 in accordance with a quadrilateral shape. Formed in the uprights 13 are slide seats 15a for a first end of respective arms 15, the opposite end of which is pivoted in a respective slot 16 formed in corresponding flanks 4a of the frame 4. Thus, and owing to the hinging to the lower side 11, the first support 2 is articulated in such a manner that it can be moved between the above-mentioned first operative position, in which the support is accommodated close to the structure 10 with the front surface 8 exposed to view, and a second operative position in which the first support 2 projects from the structure 10 and is supported thereon in the manner of an angle bracket, as illustrated in Figure 2. According to a further feature of the invention, the structure 10 frames and defines a second support 17 arranged facing the first support 2 and masked thereby when the first support 2 is in the first operative position; the second support 17 comprises a second seat for a second panel 18 so that the second panel is in view when the first support 2 is in the second operative position of Figure 2. In this position, the first support 2 is held up by the arms 15, the opposite ends of which, by arriving at a stop in the respective slide seats 15a and slots 16, act as stays.

In order to mount the structure 10, the device 1 comprises mounting plates 20 comprising a plate-shaped support 21 on which are formed four pairs of hooks 22 which are superposed in pairs and arranged side-by-side in two rows of hooks. These hooks are removably engaged by respective counter- hooks 23 projecting from the rear of the structure 10 in the region of the two upper and lower sides 14, 11. The hooks and counter-hooks are preferably spaced at regular intervals in order to permit the mounting of a minimum of one and a maximum of four structures 10 coupled to the same, shared, mounting plate.

The ability to mount two or more devices side-by-side, in both horizontal and vertical rows, advantageously permits the production of structural compositions of these graphics-carrying devices which would not otherwise be obtainable.

It is therefore possible, as shown more clearly in Figure 6, to fit, for example, to a wall, an assembly 100 of devices 1 in a side-by-side arrangement, producing multiple or complex figures in which graphics- carrying devices that are closed in the first operative position are combined with devices that are open in the second operative position and on which any objects 101 to be displayed may or may not be placed in their turn.

The invention thus solves the problems posed, obtaining numerous advantages, including that of being able to use a wall, or a portion thereof, intended principally as a graphics surface, as a display space for articles. In addition, owing to the invention, it is possible to modulate the display function and the purely graphics function in accordance with the quantity of articles to be displayed, which in some commodities sectors can be very variable over the course of the year.

A further advantage is provided by the fact that the above-mentioned graphics-carrying devices can be mounted one next to the other at a short distance one from the other and can be readily and rapidly mounted on and dismounted from the wall.

Claims

1. A graphics-carrying device comprising a first support (2) having a front surface (8) and a rear surface (9) which are arranged opposite each other and between which a seat (5) for holding a panel (3) is defined, in such a manner that the front surface is exposed to view, in order to show the panel, in at least one condition of use of the device, characterized in that it comprises a structure (10) for mounting the first support (2), to which the first support is articulated in such a manner as to be movable between a first operative position in which the first support is arranged close to the structure (10) with the front surface exposed to view, and a second operative position in which the first support projects from the structure and is supported thereon in the manner of an angle bracket.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the structure (10) includes a second support (17) arranged facing the rear surface (9) of the first support (2) and masked thereby when the first support is in the first operative position, the second support including a second seat for a second panel (18) so that the second panel is in view when the first support is in the second operative position.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the structure (10) is quadrilateral and extends in the manner of a frame around the second support (17).

4. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first support is articulated to the structure at a lower side (11) thereof and is secured thereto by means of at least one arm (15) extending between a flank (4a) of the first support and a corresponding upright (13) of the structure.

5. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one mounting plate (20) for the structure, which plate comprises a plate-shaped support (21) on which are formed four pairs of hooks (22) superposed in pairs and arranged side-by-side in two rows of hooks.

6. An assembly (100) of graphics-carrying devices, placed in a side-by- side arrangement, characterized in that at least one of the devices (1) is produced in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims.

7. An assembly of devices according to claim 6, wherein at least one pair of the graphics-carrying devices, arranged side-by-side, is coupled to the same mounting plate (20).