Figurative advertising manufactured article with three-dimensional image produced by compressed air

Abstract

 The object of the invention is a figurative advertising manufactured article with three-dimensional image comprising virtually one or more superimposed flexible plastic sheets (1,2) capable of forming figures in relief under the effect of compressed air applied internally and produced between two contiguous sheets (1,2) or between a sheet (1) and a rigid back panel (7), the outer edges of said sheets being fixed and sealed in a gas-proof manner together or in a frame or framework or on the back panel (7).

Description

[0001] The object of the present invention is an advertising manufactured article such as a placard or banner displaying a three-dimensional view of the advertising image and offering depth or perspective effects and a low-relief scenic representation even in several planes, i.e. with successive side scenes.

[0002] The object of the invention is embodied by one or more superimposed flexible plastic sheets bearing the imprint of the various figures making up the advertising image and which are shaped by permanent air pressure created for the purpose at the time of installation of the advertising manufactured article, i.e. a placard or a banner.

[0003] Said sheets are designed to be inflated in the parts corresponding to a design and thus cause the individual figures to appear in relief. The sheets in question if made of at least partly transparent or semitransparent material make visible the figures appearing on the different underlying sheets and also permit inside lighting if installed in frames made for this purpose such as placards.

[0004] In a first embodiment of the invention with reference to advertising placards, the plastic sheets are arranged in a framework or frame or box in which the edges of the sheets are fixed and sealed in a gas-­tight manner by glueing, heat welding or other equivalent system. The panel comprises a gas-tight stiff back which can also be used as a figurative surface and comprising in this case the back-drop of the advertising image.

[0005] The spaces between the plastic sheet and the stiff back and between adjacent plastic sheets are slightly pressurized to create a form by inflation with air or other gas through a check valve, provided for this purpose. and are optionally provided with pressure limiting devices to avoid excessive inflation.

[0006] The plastic sheets can also be bound together by heat welding at individual points or along traces to contribute to the formation of the three-dimensional figures.

[0007] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic and purely illustrative manner this kind of embodiment of the invention. Reference number 1 therein indicates the first external flexible sheet which, under internal air pressure, is fashioned in the centre in the form of a drinking glass 4, reference number 2 indicates the underlying flexible sheet which is fashioned under internal air pressure in a limited area in the shape of an umbrella 3, reference number 5 indicates an opening equipped with a valve (not shown) for inflation, reference number 6 indicates a rod supporting the placard, reference number 9 indicates slots for insertion of the supporting rod, reference number 8 indicates a rod for fixing the sides and reference number 7 indicates a gas-tight rigid back.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the advertising placard described above the rigid back wall is missing and is replaced by a flexible plastic sheet the function of which is to support a sheet or sheets which can be given forms by air pressure (see FIG. 2). The assemblage consisting of the supporting sheet and of the sheet or sheets shapable by air pressure, can be installed in a box of the type commonly used for placards of known type and specifically there can be used a lighted box equipped with lamps arranged on the back.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is the one of an advertising banner consisting of two or more flexible plastic sheets at least one of which is designed to be shaped by permanent air pressure and thus forming the three-dimensional image.

[0010] The sheets are appropriately glued or heat welded to the profile to create the sealed areas capable of being formed by air pressure. Relief figures can be embodied on one or both faces of the banner, the figures on the two faces can be symmetrical with each other or not.

[0011] The advertising manufactured article according to the invention provides a specific and considerable advantage consisting of the fact that the starting material, i.e. prefabricated elements, consists of virtually flat plastic sheets which, during transport, can be arranged one upon the other and even folded with minimal packing costs and space occupied.

[0012] Transport of the material to the place of installation of the advertising manufactured is thus much more economical than, transporting prefabricated three-dimensional figurative elements, which occupy much more space and require adequate and costly packing.

[0013] Another advantage of the advertising manufactured article according to the invention is that, after the period of display in one place, the components can be reduced to a small volume and overall dimensions by deflating the shapes formed by compressed air and thus transported easily to the next place of use.

[0014] As a non-limiting example a practical embodiment of the present invention is described below.

POSTER STRUCTURE 6 × 3 METRES

[0015] Rectangular pneumatic panelling with a 6-metre base and 3 metres in height.

[0016] Rigid back of white or coloured PVC suited for four-colour silk-screen printing.

[0017] Transparent anti-UV Kristal PVC front which can be silk-screened or printed by other techniques.

[0018] Possible insertion of intermediate side scenes made of transparent PVC which can be silk-screened or printed by other techniques.

[0019] Flanging with a slotted band 10cm to 20cm wide made of tough polyester coated with PVC on the four sides.

[0020] The panels may be printed inside with four colours on the entire surface or a part thereof using a silk screen process or other suitable process.

[0021] The panels are inflated at the place of display using a special movable inflation device, e.g. a compressed gas bottle, small compressor or hand pump, and then mounted using the special anchoring kit.

[0022] The panels can be illuminated internally thanks to a metal structure incorporating neon tubes inserted inside the panelling.

[0023] The transparent PVC sheet, either printed or not, and placed in a front position can present any three-dimensional shape, even by using heat welding, to represent any object in low relief.

[0024] Inside the panelling there can be provided fixed or moving structures or shapes, transparent and/or printed, solid or inflatable, to obtain moving effects optionally operated by mechanisms designed for the purpose.

[0025] Inflation pressure is regulated by a valve designed for the purpose.

Anchoring device

[0026] Anchoring consists of pipes of diameter up to one inch, made of aluminium or other suitable material jointed with screws, by the bayonet method or any other suitable method, connected with curved joints or expansion pipes, i.e. for the two sides of the rectangle of the framework. The expansion pipes were selected to ensure adequate tension for the structure.

[0027] The frame of metal or any other suitable material, thus obtained, is inserted in the slots located around the perimeter of the panelling. In this manner said frame can be connected by the use of special "S" hooks to the normal and existing structures designed for posting advertising placards with no need for additions, modifications or special intervention.

Claims

1. Figurative advertising manufactured article with three-dimensional image comprising substantially one or more superimposed flexible plastic sheets (1,2) capable of assuming shapes in relief under the effect of permanent air pressure created at the time of installation of the advertising manufactured article by inflation with air or other gas in the space between two adjacent plastic sheets (1,2) or between a plastic sheet (1) and a rigid back panel (7), the outer edges of said sheets and the profiles of the shape in relief being fixed and sealed in a gas-tight manner together or in a frame or framework or on the back panel (7).

2. Advertising manufactured article according to claim 1, wherein the parts in relief are inflated through a check valve, provided for the purpose, and are optionally provided with a pressure limiting device.

3. Advertising manufactured article according to claim 1, in the form of an advertising placard consisting of a rigid sealed gas-proof back (7) and one or more transparent, semitransparent or nontransparent flexible plastic sheets (1,2) bearing the various impressed figures making up the advertising image.

4. Advertising manufactured article according to claim 1, in the form of a banner consisting of two or more flexible plastic sheets (1,2) at least one of which being designed to be shaped by compressed air.

5. Advertising manufactured article according to claim 4, comprising images in relief created by permanent air pressure on both faces of the banner.

Drawing