Advertisement hoarding

Abstract

 A method for installing a display sheet (18) such as an advertisement on a hoarding (10) comprises the steps of providing a reel (16) on which is rolled a display sheet (18), the display sheet having an elongate fastener (20) provided on the top longitudinal edge; mounting the reel (16) vertically next to the hoarding (10); engaging one end (60) of the elongate fastener with a corresponding track (12) provided on the hoarding; and sliding the elongate fastener (20) along the track (12) while unrolling the display sheet until the display sheet (18) substantially covers the hoarding. The bottom longitudinal edge (68) and transverse edges (66) of the display sheet may then be secured to the hoarding using a hinged clamping strip (14). The invention allows an advertisement to be installed by one person working from the ground without the need for ladders, since the elongate fastener may be engaged in the track by means of a suitable tool operated from the ground, and the display sheet (18) then pulled across the hoarding like a curtain.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus and method for installing an advertisement on a hoarding, and in particular to an apparatus and method for installing a pre-prepared printed banner or poster on a fixed hoarding.

[0002] Conventional advertisement hoardings comprise an advertisement pre-printed on a number of sheets of paper which are glued to the substrate of a hoarding structure. The sheets must be installed in the correct position relative to each other, so that installation is a complex procedure requiring a skilled person. Moreover because the top of the hoarding is usually at least 3 or 4 metres above ground level, installation requires the use of ladders, with attendant safety risks.

[0003] It is known to provide large advertisement hoardings comprising a plastic sheet secured to a structure such as a building or formwork. The plastic sheet is secured by providing ties which engage in eyelets in the sheet and are used to tie the sheet to the structure. However this a time consuming procedure and requires secure access at height for the persons installing the advertisement.

[0004] International Patent Application WO 03/069592 discloses an advertising panel comprising a sheet of plastic material bearing a printed image. The panel can be mounted on a structure by engaging an elongate fastener provided on the top edge of the sheet with a corresponding slot provided on the structure. The elongate fastener is in the form of a rope or cord held in a hem or edge strip of the sheet. The side edges of the sheet are also provided with similar elongate fasteners which engage with clamping members provided on the structure. However the panel is relatively complex, requiring elongate fasteners on each side, and requires secure access at height for the persons installing the panel.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for installing an advertisement on a hoarding which overcomes one or more of the above disadvantages.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for installing a display sheet on a hoarding comprising the steps of:

providing a reel on which is rolled a display sheet, the display sheet having an elongate fastener provided on one longitudinal edge,

mounting the reel on at least one attachment means fixed to a hoarding,

engaging the elongate fastener with a corresponding track provided on the hoarding, and

sliding the elongate fastener along the track while unrolling the display sheet until the display sheet covers at least a portion of the hoarding.

[0007] Preferably the display sheet is an advertisement.

[0008] Preferably the track is a horizontal track fixed to the hoarding.

[0009] Preferably the method includes the further step of securing one or more of the other longitudinal edge and transverse edges of the display sheet to the hoarding. Preferably the securing step comprises engaging the edge of the display sheet in a clamping means fixed to the hoarding. Preferably the clamping means comprises a hinged clamping strip according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a display sheet system comprising:

a hoarding,

an elongate track provided on the hoarding,

a reel, and

a display sheet rolled on said reel,

wherein the display sheet has an elongate fastener which is provided on one longitudinal edge of the display sheet and adapted to engage with the elongate track.

[0011] Preferably the track comprises a slot. Preferably the elongate fastener comprises a portion of the display sheet having a thickness greater than the remainder of the sheet. The elongate fastener may be a Keder™ strip or other similar connector. Preferably the track is horizontal and is fixed at or near the upper edge of the hoarding so that in use the display sheet hangs from the track when the elongate fastener is fully engaged with the slot.

[0012] Preferably the system further includes an attachment means fixed to the hoarding, the reel being removably mountable to the attachment means.

[0013] Preferably the system includes a threading means adapted to facilitate engagement of a leading end of the elongate fastener with the adjacent end of the track when the reel is mounted on the attachment means. The threaded means may be a tapered slot or the like which serves to funnel the leading end into the track.

[0014] Preferably the attachment means comprises a bracket provided at or near the upper edge of the hoarding. The attachment means may comprise a second bracket at or near the lower edge of the hoarding.

[0015] Preferably the display sheet is an advertisement.

[0016] Preferably the system includes clamping means fixed to the hoarding and adapted to secure one or more of the other longitudinal edge and transverse edges of the display sheet to the hoarding. Preferably the clamping means comprises a hinged clamping strip according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a hinged clamping strip comprising a lower plate, an upper plate hinged to the lower plate, mutually engaging gripping means and mutually engaging locking means adapted to lock the upper plate to the lower plate in a closed position such that the gripping means grip a sheet inserted therebetween.

[0018] Preferably the locking means is a push fit mechanism. Preferably the locking means is reversible such that the upper plate and lower plate may be opened from the closed position.

[0019] Preferably the upper and lower plates are formed by extrusion, preferably of plastic. Preferably the hinge is a waist portion of the extrusion.

[0020] Preferably the hinged clamping strip further comprises a resilient channel adapted to receive a locking peg in a snap fit manner. Preferably the resilient channel is provided on the lower plate.

[0021] Preferably the channel is provided with resilient engaging lips which hold the peg in the channel.

[0022] Preferably the gripping means comprises resilient webs provided on one or both of the upper and lower plates and extending towards the other of the upper and lower plates. Preferably the resilient webs are arranged at an acute angle to the plane of the upper and/or lower plates. Preferably they slope towards the hinge. Preferably the resilient webs are arranged such that when the clamping strip is closed the webs on the upper plate are urged into contact with the webs on the lower plate.

[0023] Preferably the upper and lower plates are provided with mutually shaped portions which in the closed position of the hinged clamping strip form a slot adapted to engage an elongate fastener of a display sheet having a thickness greater than the remainder of the sheet, such as a Keder™ strip or other similar connector. In use the elongate fastener may be threaded in from one end of the hinged clamping strip in the closed position. Alternatively the edge of the display sheet may be placed on the lower plate and the elongate fastener located on the corresponding shaped portion when the hinged clamping strip is in the open position, and the upper plate subsequently closed on top of the lower plate, thereby holding the elongate fastener in the channel.

[0024] Preferably the lower plate is provided with fixing means adapted to fix the lower plate to a substrate, such as a hoarding.

[0025] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig 1 is an elevation on a hoarding of a display sheet system according to the invention;

Fig 2 is a transverse section through a hinged clamping strip according to the invention;

Fig 3 is a transverse section through a hinged clamping strip according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig 4 is a view on a bottom portion of the reel of the system of Fig 1;

Fig 5 is sectional view of the reel portion of Fig 4;

Fig 6 is a view on a top portion of the reel of the system of Fig 1;

Fig 7 is sectional view of the reel portion of Fig 6;

Fig 8 is an elevation on the top hanging bracket of the system of Fig 1;

Fig 9 is an elevation on the bottom plate bracket of the system of Fig 1;

Fig 10 is a transverse section through a hinged clamping strip according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig 11 is an elevation on the arrangement of the clamping strips of Fig 11 on a hoarding.

[0026] Fig 1 shows an advertisement hoarding 10 adapted to receive an advertisement. The hoarding 10 may be any suitable structure, such as timber, metal, plastic or a combination thereof, and is usually mounted at or close to ground level. Typically the hoarding may have a length of six metres or more and a height of three metres or more. Provided on the hoarding is a track 12 near the upper edge and clamping strips 14 near the lower edge and side edges. The track 12 and clamping strips 14 are secured to the hoarding 10 by screws, bolts or other suitable fasteners. Alternatively, they can be secured by adhesives or welding or similar.

[0027] On the left hand side of the hoarding there is mounted a reel 16 on which is rolled a display sheet 18. Typically the display sheet is an advertisement.

[0028] On the upper longitudinal edge 22 of the display sheet 18 there is provided an elongate fastener 20 such as a Keder™ strip or other similar connector, of the sort described in WO 03/069592, which can engage with the track 12, as will be described later.

[0029] The reel 16 is rotatably supported by attachment means 24, 26. The attachment means and reel may be seen more clearly in Figs 4 to 9. The upper attachment means 24 is a U-shaped channel bracket 24 which is secured to the hoarding 10. An engaging rod 38 attached to the reel 16 is hooked into the channel bracket 24 so that the reel 16 is suspended from the channel bracket 24. A second U-shaped channel bracket 26 may be provided as a lower attachment means, but is not essential, although if it is omitted, some form of guidance means which restrains the reel 16 from swinging may be provided. For example a slotted support plate (not shown) may be fixed to the hoarding 10, so that the vertical shaft of the tensioning handle 48 may be engaged in the slot to prevent lateral motion of the reel 16 while the display sheet 18 is unrolled. However, it is to be understood that the attachment means 24, 26 are not limited to the particular shapes described above, and any suitable means for supporting the reel 16 at the side of the hoarding 10 may be used.

[0030] Referring to Figs 4 to 7, the reel comprises a hollow tube 32 held on an upper core tube plug 34 and a lower core tube plug 36. The upper core tube plug 34 includes an engaging rod 38 which engages with the upper bracket 24, as seen in Fig 8, a slotted cylinder 40 through which the engaging rod 38 extends, and a wedge 42 which engages with the slotted cylinder 40 to expand the cylinder and thereby frictionally engage the hollow tube 32.

[0031] The lower core tube plug 36 comprises a circular plate 44 which supports the weight of the hollow tube 32 and the display sheet 18 rolled onto the hollow tube 32. The plate 44 has a sleeve in the form of a grip 46 fixed to it, while a tensioning handle 48 extends through the sleeve 46 and is secured to a wedge 50 which engages with a slotted cylinder 52.

[0032] The tube 32 is supplied to the installer with a display sheet 18 pre-rolled onto the tube 32. One end of the display sheet 18 is secured to the tube 32 by a readily removable means such as adhesive tape (not shown). To prepare the reel 16 ready for installation the installer attaches the upper core tube plug 34 to the upper end of the tube 32 by inserting the slotted cylinder 40 in the tube 32. Rotation of the engaging rod 38 draws the wedge 42 into the slotted cylinder 40 so that the cylinder becomes frictionally engaged fixed in the tube 32. The lower core tube plug 36 is attached to the lower end of the tube 32 in a similar way.

[0033] The reel 16 is then lifted by the installer so that the engaging rod 38 is hooked into the upper bracket 24. The lower end of the reel 16 is optionally engaged with the lower bracket 26 or other engaging means. Using a long-handled tool, which can be operated from the ground and which has an engaging means such as a hook or spike at the upper end, the installer guides the leading end 60 of the elongate fastener 20 into the adjacent end 62 of the track 12. The portion of the track 12 adjacent to the end 62 can be tapered or opened (as shown in Fig. 8) to serve as a threading means 64 which aids the insertion of the leading end 60 into the track 20.

[0034] Once the elongate fastener 20 is engaged in the track 12, the display sheet 18 can be pulled across readily by the installer from the ground, simply by gripping and pulling the transverse edge 66 of the sheet. The elongate fastener 20 slides readily along the track 12 until the display sheet 18 covers the hoarding, and the transverse edges 66 and lower longitudinal edge 68 of the display sheet 18 at least partially cover the clamping strips 14.

[0035] An embodiment of the clamping strip will now be described with reference to Fig 2, which shows a hinged clamping strip 14 comprising a lower plate 70, an upper plate 72 hinged to the lower plate 70, mutually engaging gripping means 74 and mutually engaging locking means 76 adapted to lock the upper plate 72 to the lower plate 74 in the closed position illustrated in Fig 2.

[0036] The locking means 76 is a push fit mechanism comprising a rib 78 engaging in a slot 80. The slot has a waist 82 so that the rib 78 engages positively in the slot 80, but the locking means is reversible such that the upper plate and lower plate may be opened from the closed position by pulling the rib 78 out of the slot 80.

[0037] The upper and lower plates 70, 72 are formed from extruded plastic, and are provided in pre-cut lengths which butt together to form continuous clamping strips 14. The hinge 84 is a waist portion of the extrusion. To facilitate construction the upper and lower plates 70, 72 are formed as separate extrusions connected by a one way push fit connector 86, but they may instead be formed as one extrusion.

[0038] The lower plate 70 includes a channel 88 with resilient engaging lips 90 adapted to receive a locking peg 92 in a snap fit manner. The edge 66, 68 of the display sheet 18 is wrapped around the peg 92 before it is locked in the channel 88, so that the display sheet 18 is firmly held in the clamping strip 14.

[0039] The gripping means 74 includes one or more resilient webs 94 provided on one or both of the upper and lower plates 70, 72 and extending towards the other of the upper and lower plates. The webs 94 are arranged at an acute angle to the plane of the upper and lower plates 70, 72, so that they slope towards the hinge 84. They are arranged such that when the clamping strip is closed the webs 96 on the upper plate 72 are urged into contact with the webs 98 on the lower plate 70 and grip the display sheet 18 held in between. The webs 94 can be sticky or coated with a frictional coating to aid the gripping.

[0040] Each of the upper and lower plates is provided with a recess 100 which in the closed position of the hinged clamping strip mutually engages with the other recess to form a slotted recess 102. This recess can serve as a track to engage the elongate fastener 20 of the display sheet 18, since in the closed position the clamping strip 4 includes a slot or gap 104a, 104b. In this manner the clamping strip 14 of Fig 2 can be used on all 4 sides of the hoarding, where it serves as a hinged clamping strip 14 on the transverse sides and the lower edge, and in its closed position as a track 12 on the upper edge. Although the clamping strip 14 of Fig 2 shows both a peg 93 and an elongate fastener 20, it is to be understood that only one of the peg and fastener will usually be used in one clamping strip.

[0041] In use the elongate fastener 20 may be threaded in from one end of the hinged clamping strip 14 in the closed position. This is the preferred method when installing an advertisement on the hoarding shown in Fig 1. Alternatively the edge of the display sheet 18 may be placed on the lower plate 70 and the elongate fastener 20 located on the corresponding shaped portion when the hinged clamping strip 14 is in the open position, and the upper plate 72 subsequently closed on top of the lower plate 70, thereby holding the elongate fastener 20 in the slot 102. This method of fixing the display sheet can be used where access is provided to the top track 12 of a hoarding; the method can also be used to fix another side of the display sheet in cases where an elongate fastener is also provided on this side.

[0042] The lower plate is fixed to the hoarding 10 by screws 106 or any other suitable fixing means.

[0043] Fig 3 shows another embodiment of a clamping strip 114 according to the invention, with the same features indicated by the same reference numerals. A recess 110 enables the lower plate 70 to be fixed over a retaining strip, electrical wiring or other element on the surface of the hoarding 10. The number of webs 94 is reduced, but otherwise it functions in the same way as the clamping strip 14 of Fig 2.

[0044] Fig 10 shows another embodiment of a clamping strip 214 according to the invention, with the same features indicated by the same reference numerals. This embodiment uses a conventional hinge 286, and locking means 276 is a screw (not shown) which is inserted through both the lower and upper plates 70, 72. The gripping means 74 is omitted.

[0045] Installation of a display sheet is as follows. Once the display sheet 18 is hanging from the track 12, as described above, a first lateral side 66 of the sheet is secured to the clamping strip, either by use of locking pegs 92, as described above, or by clamping the edge of the sheet between the webs 94 as the upper plate 72 is closed on the lower plate 70. The installer then pulls down on the display sheet to tension it vertically and secures the lower edge 68 in the same way, before finally pulling the second lateral side 66 sideways to tension the display sheet horizontally and securing the second lateral side 66 in the same way. If the clamping strips are provided in short sections 14', as shown in Fig 11, they can be opened and closed sequentially to adjust the tension in the display sheet 18.

[0046] The display sheet 18 may be a plastic mesh, of the sort described in WO 03/069592, or a solid vinyl or other plastic or reinforced paper.

[0047] The invention offers the advantage of a system in which a large display sheet can be fixed to a hoarding by a single person from the ground. The weight of a reel 16 with a display sheet 18 rolled on it is such that it can be lifted by a single person, and no ladders are required for access to the top of the hoarding 10. The upper plates 72 of the clamping strips 14 on the side and lower edges can be reached from the ground, making tensioning and clamping straightforward. Because the display sheet is a single sheet, the installation does not require skilled matching of separate "mosaic" sheets, as in a conventional glued paper advertisement hoarding. Illumination can be provided from the front or the rear of the display sheet, since no fixings are required immediately behind the display sheet.

Claims

1. A method for installing a static display sheet (18) on a hoarding (10) comprising the steps of:

providing a reel (16) on which is rolled a display sheet (18), the display sheet having an elongate fastener (20) provided on one longitudinal edge,

positioning the reel (16) adjacent to a hoarding (10),

engaging the elongate fastener (20) with a corresponding track (12) provided on the hoarding,

sliding the elongate fastener (20) along the track (12) while unrolling the display sheet (18) until the display sheet covers at least a portion of the hoarding, and

removing the display sheet (18) from the reel (16) .

2. The method according to Claim 1 wherein the elongate fastener (20) comprises a portion of enlarged width and the corresponding track includes a recess (102) along which the portion of enlarged width can slide and a narrow continuous slot (104) opening into the recess through which display sheet (18) can extend and which retains the portion of enlarged width.

3. The method according to any preceding Claim, wherein the track (12) is a horizontal track fixed to the hoarding (10).

4. The method according to any preceding Claim, including the further step of securing one or more of the other longitudinal edge and transverse edges of the display sheet (18) to the hoarding, wherein the securing step comprises engaging the edge of the display sheet (18) in a clamping means (14) fixed to the hoarding.

5. The method according to Claim 4, wherein the clamping means comprises a hinged clamping strip (14).

6. The method according to Claim 5, wherein the hinged clamping strip comprises a lower plate (70), an upper plate (72) hinged to the lower plate, mutually engaging gripping means (74) and mutually engaging locking means (76) adapted to lock the upper plate to the lower plate in a closed position such that the gripping means engages the edge of the display sheet therebetween.

7. The method according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the track (12) also comprises a hinged clamping strip and the upper (72) and lower (70) plates are provided with mutually shaped portions which in the closed position of the hinged clamping strip form a recess (102) adapted to engage the elongate fastener (20) of the display sheet.

8. A display sheet system comprising:

a hoarding (10),

an elongate track (12) provided on the hoarding,

a reel (16), and

a display sheet (18) rolled on said reel, wherein the display sheet has an elongate fastener (20) which is provided on one longitudinal edge of the display sheet (18) and adapted to engage with the elongate track (12).

9. A display sheet system according to Claim 8, wherein the track (12) includes a recess (102) and a narrow continuous slot (104) opening into the recess, and the elongate fastener (20) comprises a portion of the display sheet (18) having a thickness greater than the adjacent sheet and adapted to be retained by the slot (104) while permitting the display sheet to pass through the slot.

10. A display sheet system according to any of Claims 8 to 9, wherein the track (12) is horizontal and is fixed at or near the upper edge of the hoarding (10) so that in use the display sheet hangs from the track (12) when the elongate fastener (20) is fully engaged with the track.

11. A display sheet system according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the system includes clamping means (14) fixed to the hoarding and adapted to secure one or more of the other longitudinal edge and transverse edges of the display sheet (18) to the hoarding (10).

12. A display sheet system according to Claim 11, wherein the clamping means comprises a hinged clamping strip (14), the hinged clamping strip comprising a lower plate (70), an upper plate (72) hinged to the lower plate, mutually engaging gripping means (74) and mutually engaging locking means (76) adapted to lock the upper plate to the lower plate in a closed position such that the gripping means can thereby grip the display sheet (18) therebetween.

13. A display sheet system according to Claim 12, wherein the upper and lower plates are provided with mutually shaped portions which in the closed position of the hinged clamping strip form a recess (102) adapted to engage the elongate fastener of the display sheet.

14. A hinged clamping strip (14) for use with the display sheet system according to any one of Claims 8 to 13, comprising a lower plate (70), an upper plate (72) hinged to the lower plate, mutually engaging gripping means (74) and mutually engaging locking means (76) adapted to lock the upper plate to the lower plate in a closed position such that the gripping means can thereby grip the display sheet therebetween.

15. A hinged clamping strip according to Claim 14, further comprising a resilient channel (88) adapted to receive a locking peg (92) in a snap fit manner.

16. A hinged clamping strip according to any of Claims 14 to 15, wherein the gripping means (74) comprises resilient webs (94) provided on one or both of the upper and lower plates and extending towards the other of the upper and lower plates.

17. A hinged clamping strip according to any of Claims 14 to 16, wherein the upper and lower plates are provided with mutually shaped portions which in the closed position of the hinged clamping strip form a recess (102) adapted to engage the elongate fastener of the display sheet.

Drawing