(19)
(11) EP 0 786 128 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
29.03.2000 Bulletin 2000/13

(21) Application number: 95933508.4

(22) Date of filing: 09.10.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7G09F 5/00
(86) International application number:
PCT/GB9502/381
(87) International publication number:
WO 9611/460 (18.04.1996 Gazette 1996/17)

(54)

A DISPLAY BOARD

ANZEIGETAFEL

PANNEAU D'EXPOSITION


(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR IT SE

(30) Priority: 11.10.1994 GB 9420464

(43) Date of publication of application:
30.07.1997 Bulletin 1997/31

(73) Proprietor: KEYMITE LTD.
Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 5ST (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • GRAY, Richard, John
    Oxfordshire OX15 5HT (GB)

(74) Representative: Stanley, Michael Gordon 
P.O. Box 270
Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 5SD
Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 5SD (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A- 0 329 561
FR-A- 2 533 810
DE-U- 9 417 076
US-A- 5 267 405
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] This invention relates to a vehicle body paint sample display board.

    [0002] Motor vehicle dealers when dealing with customer enquiries regarding the colour range of a vehicle model or models either have a brochure in which the various colours are displayed, or a book of individual cards or pages each of which coated in a different colour paint.

    [0003] A problem with the brochures is that the colours disclosed are not accurate being colour printed representations of the vehicle paints, and the books of individual cards do not allow for display of all the colours simultaneously to customers for comparison, but must be examined page by page.

    [0004] The present invention provides a display board in which a number of samples can be simultaneously displayed.

    [0005] Accordingly there is provided a display board as specified in claim 1.

    [0006] Since the cartridges are detachably mounted the display can be easily changed.

    [0007] Preferably each cartridge comprises a body having a back face which in use is adjacent the support unit, and a front face on the opposite side thereof, the back face including a detent means for detachably engaging the support unit and the front face defining a frame.

    [0008] Preferably, the sample is slidable into each frame, which is preferably rectangular, through an open slot in a portion of the frame. Conveniently the frame holds the sample in a curved condition which provides an ideal display condition for a sample card having car body paint thereon. The card can be a paper based card or a thin sheet of metal foil.

    [0009] Preferably the support unit has a plurality of sets of apertures therein, and the or each cartridge has at least one projection on its back face adjacent the support unit, the projection being detachably engagable in a set of apertures for mounting the cartridge on the support unit.

    [0010] Also according to the invention there is provided a method of displaying a plurality of vehicle body paint samples, as specified in claim 9.

    [0011] The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

    Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge for a display board according to the invention,

    Fig. 2 is an end view of the cartridge in the direction of arrow A,

    Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line III-III of Fig. 2,

    Fig 4 is a back view of the cartridge of Fig. 1,

    Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a support unit for a board according to the invention, and

    Fig. 6 is a section through showing a joint between two support units.



    [0012] Now with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, there is shown a support 11 comprising a plurality of support units 12 each of which is moulded from a suitable plastics material such as high impact polystyrene, or polyacrylonitrilebutadienestyrene (ABS). The units 12 are each detachably linked to one another through mutually joints 13 on adjacent edges, preferably dove tail joints.

    [0013] Other suitable interlocking devices could also be used such as clips, fasteners, etc.

    [0014] The units each have a plurality of apertures 14 therein that are arranged in pairs 15. Each pair 15 of apertures 14 can be utilised for detachably mounting a display cartridge 16 onto the support unit 12.

    [0015] Now with reference also to figures 1 - 4, each display cartridge 16 provides a rectangular frame 17 into which a two dimensional object 18 (see Fig. 1) in the form of a card can be loaded.

    [0016] Each cartridge 16 is a moulded plastic component and comprises a body 21 having a substantially flat back face 22 with a curved front face 23 on its opposite side which in use faces away from the support unit 12. The front face 23 is preferably curved out of one plane only.

    [0017] The body 21 may present a completely open frame at both the front and back faces or the back face 22 could be solid.

    [0018] The rectangular frame 17 is formed on the front face 22 and a slot 24 is provided behind the front curved surface 23 in the sides of the frame to accommodate the card 18. The slot 24 is curved in the shorter side portions of the frame 17 to be substantially parallel to the front face 23 and is open through a portion 25 in one of the longer sides of the frame.

    [0019] The card 18 is insertable in the open portion 25 of the slot 24 and is sufficiently flexible to take up a curved shape dictated by the form of the curved slot in the sides of the frame.

    [0020] The back face 22 of the cartridge has a pair of detents 27 extending therefrom. Each detent 28 can be accommodated in a hole 14 in the support unit 12. The detents 28 on each cartridge 16 can be accommodated in a pair 15 of holes 14 so as to detachably mount the cartridge 16 to the support unit.

    [0021] The detents 28 are formed from resilient heads that can contract diametrically under an axial load to allow for mounting and dismounting of each cartridge 16 from a support unit 12.

    [0022] The cartridge 16 is preferably moulded from a resilient material such as polypropylene, ABS, or nylon.

    [0023] The card 18 is preferably a paint sample card, that is a card made of Cromulux 300 micron card which has been sprayed with a paint of the colour to be displayed. Othersuitable materials for the sample card are metal foils, and plastic sheet materials e.g. cellulose acetate sheet or polyethyleneterepthallate sheet. Preferably the paint is a car body paint such as an alkyd based paint, cellulose based paint or a two pack acrylic paint.

    [0024] The curved card displays the colour in a more realistic manner than a flat card because it mimics a car body curved panel and the curved surface catches the light.

    [0025] The cartridge may also be utilised in conjunction with a transparent overlay having say the outline shape of a car or truck thereon which may also be inserted into the slot 24, so that an image of the painted vehicle may be obtained.

    [0026] Further two cards of different colours could be inserted into the cartridge side by side so that an impression of a two tone vehicle may be obtained.

    [0027] It will be appreciated that there are many variations of the basic invention, for example the support units and cartridges may utilise other detent means for detachably securing the cartridges in place. Further the support may be a single unit and not a plurality of units. Also the support unit can be held together by any other suitable means.


    Claims

    1. A vehicle body paint sample display comprising a display board having a support unit (12), characterised in that there is further provided a plurality of sample cartridges(16) each being detachably mounted on the support unit (16), each sample cartridge comprising an open fronted frame (17) and a paint sample card (18) having vehicle body paint sprayed on an display surface thereof, the frame (17) holding the paint sample card (18) in a curved condition so that the painted display surface is held in a convex condition.
     
    2. A display as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each cartridge (16) further comprises a body (21) having a back face (22) which in use is adjacent the support unit (12), and a front face (23) on the opposite side thereof, the back face (22) including a detent means (28) for detachably engaging the support unit (12), and the front face (23) including the frame (17).
     
    3. A display as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the sample card (18) slides into the frame (17) through an open slot in a portion of the frame.
     
    4. A display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame (17) is curved in one direction only.
     
    5. A display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the support unit (12) has a plurality of sets of apertures (14) therein, and the or each cartridge (16) has at least one projection (28) on its back face (22) adjacent the support unit (12), the or each projections being detachably engagable in an aperture (14) for mounting the cartridge (16) on the support unit (12).
     
    6. A display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the support unit (12) comprises a first unit which is releasably attachable to a second like unit.
     
    7. A display as claimed in Claim 6, wherein adjacent units (12) are linked together by mutual dove-tail joints (13) which slide one into the other.
     
    8. A display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the cartridge further includes a second card over the paint sample card, the second card being transparent and having an outline of an object to be painted thereon, so that object can be viewed in the respective sample colour.
     
    9. A method of displaying a plurality of vehicle body paint samples (18) in which method sample cards each having a display surface thereon are sprayed on said display surface with a respective vehicle body paint to be displayed, each card is held in a curved condition with the painted display surface thereon in a convex condition, the cards being held in a respective open fronted frame (17) which detachably mounted on a support unit (12), allowing a number of paint samples to be displayed simultaneously and facilitating a change of display samples.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Farbmuster-Wiedergabeeinheit für Fahrzeugkarosserien, die eine Wiedergabetafel mit einer Auflageeinheit (12) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß außerdem eine Vielzahl von Musterkassetten (16) bereitgestellt wird, die jeweils abnehmbar auf der Auflageeinheit (12) befestigt werden, wobei jede Musterkassette einen an der Vorderseite offenen Rahmen (17) und eine Farbmusterkarte (18) umfaßt, bei der die Farbe der Fahrzeugkarosserie auf eine Wiedergabefläche aufgesprüht worden ist, wobei der Rahmen (17) die Farbmusterkarte (18) in einem gewölbten Zustand hält, so daß die farbige Wiedergabefläche in einem konvexen Zustand gehalten wird.
     
    2. Wiedergabeeinheit nach Anspruch 1, bei der jede Kassette (16) außerdem einen Körper (21) umfaßt, der eine Rückenfläche (22), die beim Gebrauch an die Auflageeinheit (12) angrenzt, und eine Vorderfläche (23) auf deren gegenüberliegenden Seite hat, wobei die Rückenfläche (22) ein Einrastmittel (28) zum lösbaren Eingriff in die Auflageeinheit (12) einschließt und die Vorderfläche (23) den Rahmen (17) einschließt.
     
    3. Wiedergabeeinheit nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, bei der die Musterkarte (18) durch einen offenen Schlitz in einem Abschnitt des Rahmens in den Rahmen (17) geschoben wird.
     
    4. Wiedergabeeinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei welcher der Rahmen (17) in nur einer Richtung gewölbt ist.
     
    5. Wiedergabeeinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, bei der sich in der Auflageeinheit (12) eine Vielzahl von Sets von Öffnungen (14) befindet und die oder jede Kassette (16) auf ihrer Rückenfläche (22) angrenzend an die Auflageeinheit (12) wenigstens einen Vorsprung (28) hat, wobei der oder jeder Vorsprung lösbar in eine Öffnung (14) eingreifen kann, um die Kassette (16) auf der Auflageeinheit (12) zu befestigen.
     
    6. Wiedergabeeinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, bei der die Auflageeinheit (12) eine erste Einheit umfaßt, die lösbar an einer gleichen zweiten Einheit befestigt werden kann.
     
    7. Wiedergabeeinheit nach Anspruch 6, bei der nebeneinanderliegende Einheiten (12) durch gegenseitige Schwalbenschwanz-Verbindungsstellen (13), die ineinander geschoben werden, miteinander verbunden werden.
     
    8. Wiedergabeeinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, bei der die Kassette außerdem eine zweite Karte über der Farbmusterkarte einschließt, wobei die zweite Karte transparent ist und einen Umriß eines Gegenstandes trägt, dessen Farbe gewählt werden soll, so daß der Gegenstand in der entsprechenden Musterfarbe betrachtet werden kann.
     
    9. Verfahren zur Wiedergabe einer Vielzahl von Farbmustern (18) für Fahrzeugkarosserien, bei welchem Verfahren sich auf den Musterkarten jeweils eine Wiedergabefläche befindet, wobei auf die Wiedergabefläche eine entsprechende wiederzugebende Farbe für Fahrzeugkarosserien gesprüht worden ist, jede Karte in einem gewölbten Zustand gehalten wird, wobei sich die farbige Wiedergabefläche in einem konvexen Zustand befindet, wobei die Karten in einem entsprechenden, an der Vorderseite offenen Rahmen (17) gehalten werden, der abnehmbar auf einer Auflageeinheit (12) befestigt ist, was die gleichzeitige Wiedergabe einer Reihe von Farbmustern ermöglicht und den Wechsel der Wiedergabemuster erleichtert.
     


    Revendications

    1. Présentoir d'échantillons de peinture pour la carrosserie d'une voiture comprenant un panneau de présentation comportant une unité de support (12), caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre plusieurs cartouches d'échantillon (16), chacune étant montée de façon amovible sur l'unité de support (16), chaque cartouche d'échantillon comprenant un châssis à face avant ouverte (17) et une carte échantillon de peinture (18) sur une face de présentation de laquelle a été appliquée par pulvérisation une peinture pour carrosserie de voiture, le châssis (17) retenant la carte échantillon de peinture (18) dans un état courbé, de sorte que la surface de présentation munie de peinture est retenue dans un état convexe.
     
    2. Présentoir selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque cartouche (16) comprend en outre un corps (21) comportant une face arrière (22), adjacente en service à l'unité de support (12), et une face avant (23) sur le côté opposé correspondant, la face arrière (22) englobant un moyen de cliquet (28), destiné à s'engager de façon amovible dans l'unité de support (12), la face avant (23) englobant le châssis (17).
     
    3. Présentoir selon les revendications 1 ou 2, dans lequel la carte échantillon (18) glisse dans le châssis (17) à travers une fente ouverte dans une partie du châssis.
     
    4. Présentoir selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le châssis (17) est courbé dans une seule direction.
     
    5. Présentoir selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel l'unité de support (12) comprend plusieurs groupes d'ouvertures (14), la ou chaque cartouche (16) comportant au moins une saillie (28) sur sa face arrière (22), adjacente à l'unité de support (12), la ou chaque saillie pouvant être engagée de façon amovible dans une ouverture (14) pour monter la cartouche (16) sur l'unité de support (12).
     
    6. Présentoir selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel l'unité de support (12) comprend une première unité pouvant être fixée de façon amovible à une deuxième unité similaire.
     
    7. Présentoir selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les unités adjacentes (12) sont reliées par des assemblages à queue d'aronde mutuels (13) glissant l'un dans l'autre.
     
    8. Présentoir selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel la cartouche englobe en outre une deuxième carte au-dessus de la carte échantillon des peinture, la deuxième carte étant transparente et comportant le contour d'un objet devant y être peint, de sorte que l'objet peut être vu dans la couleur échantillon respective.
     
    9. Procédé de présentation de plusieurs échantillons de peinture pour carrosserie de voiture (18), dans lequel des cartes échantillons comportant chacune une surface de présentation sont pourvues sur ladite surface de présentation d'une peinture pour carrosserie de voiture respective devant être présentée, chaque carte état retenue dans un état courbé, la surface de présentation peinte correspondante se trouvant dans un état convexe, les cartes étant retenues dans un châssis respectif à face avant ouverte (17), monté de façon amovible sur une unité de support (12), permettant la présentation simultanée d'un certain nombre d'échantillons de peinture et facilitant un changement des échantillons présentés,
     




    Drawing