In its most general aspect, the present invention refers to a supporting structure for posters in general, and in particular to a free-standing, movable, easily transportable structure and which may be set in selected localities and logistical positions.

More in particular, the present invention refers to a structure of the above considered type comprising a reticulated, free-standing frame, mounted on a base with which it substantially defines a space accessible from outside the frame itself.

Still more in particular, the present invention refers to a supporting structure of the aforesaid type, wherein at least part of said frame is equipped with means for removably constraining a poster preferably comprising translucent advertising panels.

In the field of advertising, in particular that based on the display of posters, which are highly diversified by dimensions, overall size and weight of the respective used advertising panels, the most important need to be satisfied is that of the "visibility" of such panels and their messages by the greatest possible number of people; and therefore there is the need to not only display the advertising panels in the most frequented places, but also and above all at the times when these places are most frequented, including the evening and the night times.

In order to satisfy such a need, in order to take into account the costs involved in setting up such a advertisement, and, not lastly, for the bureaucratic difficulties tied to the obtaining of the necessary public spaces for the aforesaid installation, there has been a considerable, advantageous and well-known diffusion of lorries/delivery tricars, on whose load bed a frame is mounted, equipped for an appropriate support of the desired advertising panels.

A vehicle supporting advertising arrangement is disclosed in WO 86/01925.

Advantageous as it is from diverse standpoints, an advertising lorry/delivery tricar, structured in the manner described schematically above, has drawbacks including, for example, a recognized arduousness, if not actual difficulty, of mounting the poster on the supporting structure (frame) provided for such purpose; movement and parking possibilities limited to the areas in which motor vehicles are permitted, which frequently exclude for example the cities' historical centers, or areas, places, rooms where the discharge of polluting gases and the like is not permitted; agility and rapidity of movements strictly correlated to the dimensions of the lorry/delivery tricar and to those of the frame which it transports.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of devising and providing a supporting structure for posters in general and for advertising posters in particular, having characteristics capable of satisfying the above-described needs and simultaneously overcoming, in a simple and effective manner, the limitations and drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.

This problem is solved; according to the present invention, by a structure according to claim 1.

Further characteristics and advantages of the supporting structure for posters in general according to the present invention will be more evident from the following description of one of its preferred embodiments, given as indicative and not limiting purpose with reference to the attached figures.

• Figure 1 schematically represents a perspective view of a supporting structure for posters in general according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 schematically represents a side elevation view of the supporting structure of figure 1.
• Figure 3 schematically represents a further side elevation view of the supporting structure of figure 1.
• Figure 4 schematically represents a perspective view of a first embodiment of the supporting structure of figure 1, lacking in translucent advertising panels.
• Figure 5 schematically represents an enlarged scale perspective view of a first detail of the supporting structure of figure 4, wherein translucent advertising panels are mounted, such as plastic material sheets.
• Figure 6 schematically represents an enlarged scale perspective view of a second detail of the supporting structure of figure 4, wherein translucent advertising panels are mounted, such as plastic material sheets.
• Figure 7 schematically represents an enlarged scale perspective view of a third detail of the supporting structure of figure 4.
• Figure 8 schematically represents a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of the supporting structure of figure 1, wherein translucent advertising panels are mounted, such as rigid plates in plastic material.
• Figure 9 schematically represents an enlarged scale perspective view of a first detail of the supporting structure of figure 8.
• Figure 10 schematically represents an enlarged scale perspective view of a second detail of the supporting structure of figure 8.

With initial reference to the figures 1-7, a supporting structure for posters in general is shown in accordance with the present invention, globally indicated with 10.

The supporting structure 10 comprises a reticulated, free-standing frame 12, mounted on a base 14, for example of parallelepiped shape, with which it substantially defines a space 16 accessible from outside the frame 12 itself.

The reticule of the frame 12 is formed by substantially vertical uprights 12a and substantially horizontal crossbars 12b connected with each other. In the not limiting example illustrated in figure 4, the frame 12 has hexahedron shape, having four side faces, two larger 13a, 13b and two smaller 13c, 13d, defined by four substantially vertical uprights 12a which rise from the base 14, at four substantially vertical edges of the hexahedron, and by four substantially horizontal crossbars 12b, which connect the adjoining upper ends of said substantially vertical uprights 12a. In order to improve the visibility of the poster, as illustrated in the figures, the surface area of the bottom face of the hexahedron is less than the surface area of the upper face of the hexahedron, so that the hexahedron assumes an upside-down frusto-pyramid shape.

Preferably, the uprights 12a and the crossbars 12b are section bars made in steel or aluminium.

Said frame 12 is equipped with means 18 for removably constraining a poster, comprising translucent advertising panels 20. Alternatively, as illustrated in the example in the figures, at least one part of said frame 12 is equipped with the aforesaid means 18, i.e. only the two larger side faces 13a and 13b are equipped with such means 18.

In the example illustrated in figure 1-7, the translucent advertising panels 20 are plastic material sheets, for example translucent PVC, on which advertising messages and/or images are printed.

In figures 5 and 6, an exemplifying and not limiting embodiment of the means 18 is shown, arranged at the two larger side faces 13a and 13b. More precisely, on each side face 13a and 13b, a respective plastic material sheet, of substantially rectangular shape, is removably constrained.

The means 18 comprise a plurality of holes 30, arranged aligned at an upper end of each sheet, each hole being perimetrically equipped with a stiffener ring, and a respective plurality of elastic ropes 32 which connect said stiffener rings with a horizontal crossbar 34 of the frame 12.

The means 18 moreover comprise a cylindrical bar 36 which is for example heat-welded at a lower end of each sheet.

The cylindrical bar 36 is sliding, by gravity, into an appropriate hollow space 38, of substantially vertical extension, which is made in the base 14. In such a manner, the sheets are put under strain at the two side faces 13a and 13b in a practical and effective manner.

One or more light sources 22 are provided in said space 16 for the backlighting of said advertising panels 20.

Preferably, the light sources 22 are fluorescent or neon tubes. In the not limiting example illustrated in figure 4, the fluorescent or neon tubes are mounted at the median plane which is substantially parallel to the two larger faces 13a and 13b of the hexahedron of the frame 12, on both sides of a plurality of vertical uprights 22a which rise from said base 14 at said median plane. In the figure example, five fluorescent or neon tubes are provided, which are in a mutual spaced relationship, on each side of the three uprights 22a.

In particular, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, such base 14 is transported by means of a respective plurality of wheels 24, of which one pair are directional wheels. In the example illustrated in the figures, four wheels 24 are shown, mounted on two axles.

Moreover, the structure 10 comprises a motor, with substantially zero or minimal polluting emissions, for driving at least one pair of driving wheels of said plurality of wheels 24, and an energy source for feeding said motor.

The motor with substantially zero or minimal polluting emissions is chosen among a electric type motor, a hydrogen motor and a methane motor.

The energy source for feeding the electric type motor comprises electric energy sources such as for example electric batteries.

The energy source for feeding the hydrogen motor may comprise combustible cells, in turn fed by a hydrogen tank.

The energy source for feeding the methane motor comprises a methane tank.

The motor with substantially zero or minimal polluting emissions and the energy source are not represented in the figures and are not described, since they are of per se conventional type.

Preferably, said motor and the energy source are positioned on said base 14 in the space 16 inside said frame 12.

In the case of an electric type motor, the energy source may also advantageously feed the backlighting light sources 22 of said advertising panels 20. Alternatively, a suitable battery 26 may be provided for feeding said light sources 22 (figure 7). Of course, appropriate current transformers 28 may be provided between the battery 26 and the fluorescent or neon tubes.

In addition, it should be noted that the pair of directional wheels are controlled by a per se conventional steering device.

In practice, the transported base 14 substantially constitutes a trolley equipped with a motor with substantially zero or minimal polluting emissions.

A place for the trolley driver may also be advantageously defined on the base 14, from where he may operate the steering device, control the driving wheels and turn on the backlighting light sources of said advertising panels.

In figures 8-10, a second preferred embodiment is shown of a supporting structure for posters in general according to the present invention, globally indicated with 110. In figures 8-10, structural elements which are identical or equivalent from the functional standpoint to those of the supporting structure for posters in general 10 of figures 1-7 described above are given the same reference numbers and are not further described.

The supporting structure 110 substantially differs from the supporting structure 10 for the fact that the translucent advertising panels 120 are plates that are rigid (or are substantially such), in translucent plastic material, for example polycarbonate (which advantageously has sufficient stiffness properties and low costs), on which appropriate translucent adhesives are attached, for example in vinyl material, bearing advertising messages and/or images.

In the example shown in figure 8, the light sources 22 provided inside the frame 12 for the backlighting of the advertising panels 120 are fluorescent or neon tubes arranged vertically and mounted, in a mutual spaced relationship, at the median plane of the frame 12.

In the figures, an exemplifying and not limiting embodiment of means 118 is shown for removably constraining a poster, set at the two larger side faces 13a and 13b. More precisely, on each side face 13a and 13b, a respective rigid plate in plastic material, of substantially rectangular form, is removably constrained.

The means 118 comprise a first section bar 140, having a substantially upside-down "U"-shaped section, set at the upper end of each side face 13a and 13b, in a substantially horizontal direction. On one leg 140a of the "U" of the first section bar 140, that which remains towards the exterior of the frame 12, a plurality of threaded holes is provided, on which respective bolts or screws 144 are mounted.

The means 118 moreover comprise a second section bar 142, having a substantially "U"-shaped section, set at the lower end of each side face 13a and 13b, in a substantially horizontal direction. Preferably, the second section bar 142 is placed within a longitudinal hollow space 146 set above said base 14.

The rigid plate has dimensions suitable for being positioned between the respective bottoms of the second section bar 142 and the first section bar 140, i.e. between the respective bases of the "U" of the second section bar 142 and the first section bar 140, said first and second section bar (140, 142) constituting a frame for said plate. Such plate is mounted on the aforesaid frame by inserting it laterally with respect to said side faces 13a and 13b, i.e. inserting it orthogonally with respect to the side faces 13c and 13d.

Once the plate is positioned, the bolts or screws 144 are screwed and advance towards an upper end of the rigid plate, until it is locked against the leg 140b of the first section bar 140, opposite the leg 140a. In the example of figure 9, a bar 145 is interposed between the ends of the bolts or screws 144 and the upper end of the rigid plate.

Preferably, on at least one of the smaller side faces 13c and 13d of the hexahedron of the frame 12, a substantially planar quadrilateral cover 150 is removably positioned which at the two larger sides is equipped with borders 152 orthogonal to the cover 150 plane, which cover the two lower sides of the rigid plates mounted on the frame 12. For the substitution of the rigid plates, the cover 150 is first removed.

It should finally be noted that the supporting structure for posters in general according to the invention may be equipped with a satellite navigation equipment (for example, with GPS or Galileo technology).

The equipment may advantageously comprise a memorization unit for recording the course, with related time schedule, carried out by the supporting structure. Such setting may be provided to the customer for his controlling/checking, in case for example a predetermined course of travel was agreed upon, so to confirm the service just carried out.

Additionally or alternatively, the equipment may comprise a transmission unit for transmitting information, related to a course of travel carried out, to a control operating centre. In the control operating centre, such information is memorized and may be provided to the customer for his controlling/checking.

Additionally or alternatively, the equipment may comprise a visualization unit for the driver of the supporting structure, wherein he may visualize his position, comparing it with the course of travel possibly agreed upon with the customer. By integrating the equipment with a wireless telephone communication unit, it will be possible - in addition to calling - to send/receive text messages and visualize them, for example on the visualization unit itself.

From the preceding description, it clearly results that the supporting structure for posters in general according to the invention solves the technical problem and achieves numerous advantageous, the first of which lies in the fact that the mounting, and substitution, of the advertising panels is unusually easy.

In particular, the second embodiment described has shown to be particularly advantageous in terms of rapidity of substitution of the advertising panels. Moreover, the supporting structure according to the invention may be easily transported and placed in selected localities and logistical positions, even in the historical centers of the cities and in places where vehicles driven by internal combustion motors, with their related polluting emissions, are not allowed.

Additionally, it should be noted that the supporting structure according to the invention may also be used in perpetual movement, along pre-established courses of travel, possibly providing brief stops, at predetermined times, in predetermined positions wherein there is a great crowd of people (for example, in front of a school or cinema). The aforesaid pre-established courses of travel may advantageously be traced in historical centers where vehicles driven by motors of high polluting emissions are not allowed (for example, petrol or diesel motors), and the supporting structure according to the invention thus constitutes an important advertising instrument, moving through said historical centers.

A further advantage is the lighting uniformity of the plastic material sheets with which the advertising panels are made, for which an optimal nocturnal visibility of the advertising messages and/or images is ensured, even at great distances.

Additionally, it should be noted that the sheets with which the advertising panels are made may be easily transported by simply winding them around the cylindrical bar.

A man skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variants to the supporting structure for posters which are covered by the scope of protection of the present invention as defined by the following claims.