Posters

Abstract

 A poster and a poster alignment system. An alignment element has a plurality of lugs. A poster provided in a plurality of sections (20-23) has a plurality of openings (30-38) adjacent an edge of the poster, so as to achieve correct alignment of the poster in a viewing position by placing at least some of the openings (30-38) around at least some of the lugs. Each section (20-23) has some of the openings (30-38), and the openings of each section are configured differently from the openings of the other section(s).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a poster and a poster positioning system.

[0002] Large outdoor posters are often formed from multiple sections, e.g. 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 or 24 sections, dependent on the intended size of the finished poster, each section being printed individually. Traditionally, each section has been about 1.5 m tall and about 1 m wide.

[0003] A typical billboard poster, roughly 3 m tall by 6 m wide, would then have 12 sections arranged in 2 rows with 6 sections on each row. A larger billboard, which is twice as long, would have 24 sections arranged in 2 rows of 12 sections.

[0004] These multi-sheet posters are installed or pasted to a poster hoarding to create one large single poster with a single large image. The alignment of the sections is difficult to achieve manually. Also, sections of the poster are sometimes placed in an incorrect location, totally spoiling the poster, and wasting both printing cost and very expensive costs for the hire of the site.

[0005] The present invention provides a poster system comprising: an alignment element having a plurality of lugs, and a poster having a plurality of openings adjacent an edge of the poster, so as to achieve correct alignment of the poster in a viewing position by placing at least some of the openings around at least some of the lugs, the poster being provided in a plurality of sections, each having some of the openings, and the openings of each section being configured differently from the openings of the other section(s).

[0006] The alignment element can be in the form of a rigid, e.g. straight, strip of metallic or plastics material, fixable to a backing surface for the poster. The system may include a substantially vertical backing surface, the element being fixed along a top edge of the surface.

[0007] At least one clip may be provided for holding the top of the poster on the lugs.

[0008] The openings may comprise holes in the poster, the holes being arranged to be placed over the lugs. Alternatively, the openings may comprise recesses in a top edge of the poster, arranged to be slid up around the lugs. If so, a cover plate may be provided, attached to the backing surface above the lugs and forming a slot into which the top edge of the poster is insertable.

[0009] Spacings between adjacent lugs of the element and spacings between adjacent openings of the poster may be unequal to ensure the openings and lugs are matched correctly.

[0010] The different openings or spacings between openings are to ensure the sections are placed in the correct order.

[0011] At least one of the openings may be approximately equal in shape and size to a corresponding cross-section of a corresponding lug. For example, the at least one opening, and said corresponding cross-section, can be round. However, if it is desirable to allow for stretching of the poster, one or more of the openings may have a dimension, in a stretching direction, greater than a corresponding dimension of a corresponding lug. In particular, the poster can be provided with at least one of said openings of shape and size approximately equal to its intended lug as well as at least one of said openings of greater dimension than its intended lug.

[0012] The invention also provides a poster, specially configured for use in the poster system defined above. The poster may comprise individual sections each having an area of at least 3 m².

[0013] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 shows a hoarding with an alignment element according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0015] Figure 2 schematically shows poster sections for fixing to the hoarding of Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 3 schematically shows the assembled poster in place on the hoarding;

[0017] Figure 4 is a schematic fragmentary view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

[0018] Figure 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0019] Figure 1 shows an alignment element in the form of a rail 1, fixed to the top edge of a vertical hoarding 2 by means of clips, screws, rivets or other fasteners (not shown). In this example the hoarding is approximately 6 m long and 3 m tall.

[0020] The rail 1 may be of metallic or plastics material. It is formed with a plurality of forwardly-projecting lugs 10 to 18, and arranged in a straight line. Generally, the spacings between the lugs are not equal. However there are four leading lugs 10 to 13 of circular cross-section that are at an equal mutual spacing, e.g of about 1.5 m. Adjacent each leading lug 10 to 13 is a secondary circular cross-section lug 14 to 17 respectively. In this example the spacings between the leading and secondary lugs increase in the left-to-right direction, so that the centre-to-centre spacings are 4 cm for lugs 10 and 14; 8 cm for lugs 11 and 15; 12 cm for lugs 12 and 16; and 16 cm for lugs 13 and 17.

[0021] In this example further lugs 18 have an elongate cross section with sides parallel to the line of lugs and semicircular ends. They arranged in a repeating pattern, with three such lugs 18 between each pair of leading and secondary lugs 10, 14; 11, 15; 12, 16 and 13, 17.

[0022] Figure 2 shows four poster sections 20 to 23, each measuring about 1.5 m wide and about 3 m tall, i.e. with an area three times that of the sections currently used. The sections are to be arranged in a single row. Each section has a row of holes at its top edge, corresponding in position to the lugs for positioning that section. Holes 30 to 37 are round in cross-section and correspond in position to the leading and secondary lugs 10 to 17 respectively. Holes 38 are elongate, with upper and lower sides parallel to the line of holes and semicircular ends. They correspond in position to the elongate lugs 18, but are slightly longer.

[0023] The holes can be formed by punching, for example using the same machine that trims the poster sections to the correct size.

[0024] When fixing the poster to the hoarding 2, for example by pasting, or use of a self-adhesive treatment to the hoarding, the holes of each section are placed over the corresponding lugs. There can desirably be a clip system to hold the top of the poster in place and stop it from lifting.

[0025] The lugs ensure both accurate positioning of the left hand edge of the poster and of the top edge and hence the entire section. Also, it is impossible to fix the sections in the wrong order. For example the primary and secondary lugs, e.g. 10, 13 ensure that only section 20 can be placed at the left-hand end of the hoarding, as only that section has two holes spaced 4 cm apart. The primary and secondary lugs 10 to 17 and the circular holes 30 to 37 ensure correct alignment of the top and left-hand edges of each section 20 to 23. The slight extra length of the holes 38 allows for any stretching in a horizontal direction arising during printing to be accommodated, ensuring a straight top edge. The accurate alignment of the top edge then aligns the entire section.

[0026] Figure 3 shows the assembled poster in place on the hoarding 2. In this example the poster sections 20-23 are butt aligned, but they could alternatively overlap at respective vertical edges, e.g. by about 2.5 cm.

[0027] Figure 4 shows an alternative version in which "holes" 50, 51, 54, 55, 58 are punched in the top edge of the poster sections 60, 61 with their centres aligned with the top edge, so that they are actually formed as semicircular or semi-elliptical recesses. The poster sections 60, 61 are slid up to the lugs 10,11 etc.

[0028] Figure 5 shows a cover strip 70, not shown in Figure 4, that extends over the lugs 10, 11 etc and prevents the top edge of the poster from lifting.

[0029] In view of the better alignment of poster sections, the invention allows the use of poster sections that are both longer and wider than standard prior art sections, e.g. 100% longer and 50% wider. This reduces the number of joints between sections, in the present example from 10 vertical joints and 6 horizontal joints to just 3 long vertical joints, speeding up the installation and improving the quality of the finished image.

[0030] The posters or sections used in the invention may be rolled up for transportation and not folded.

[0031] Whilst a particular sequence of lugs and a corresponding sequence of holes have been described above, other sequences are possible within the scope of the claims. The invention is applicable to multi-sheet posters of different sizes and numbers of sections to that specifically described.

[0032] The invention achieves more precise, rapid and convenient installation of posters, even in difficult locations and/or weather. The correct order of sections is guaranteed, and the aesthetic result is improved.

Claims

1. A poster system comprising: an alignment element (1) having a plurality of lugs (10-18); and a poster having a plurality of openings (30-37; 50-58) adjacent an edge of the poster, so as to achieve correct alignment of the poster in a viewing position by placing at least some of the openings (30-38; 50-58) around at least some of the lugs (10-18), the poster being provided in a plurality of sections (20-23, 60, 61), each having some of the openings, and the openings (30-38; 50-58) of each section being configured differently from the openings of the other section(s).

2. A poster system according to claim 1, wherein the alignment element (1) is in the form of straight strip of material, fixable to a backing surface (2) for the poster.

3. A poster system according to claim 1, including a substantially vertical backing surface (2), the element (1) being fixed along a top edge of the backing surface.

4. A poster system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, including at least one clip for holding the poster on the lugs.

5. A poster system according to any preceding claim, wherein the openings comprise holes (30-38) in the poster, the holes being arranged to be placed over the lugs (10-18).

6. A poster system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the openings comprise recesses (50-58) in a top edge of the poster, arranged to be slid up around the lugs (10,11,18).

7. A poster system according to claim 6, when dependent on claim 3, including a cover (70) attached to the backing surface (2) above the lugs and forming a slot into which the top edge of the poster is insertable.

8. A poster system according to any preceding claim, wherein spacings between adjacent lugs (10-18) of the element (1) are not equal to each other, but are each substantially equal to corresponding spacings between the openings (30-38; 50-58).

9. A poster system according to any preceding claim, wherein the openings (30-38; 50-58) of each section (20-23; 60, 61) are different in at least one spacing therebetween.

10. A poster system according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the openings (30-38; 50-58) is approximately equal in shape and size to a corresponding cross-section of a corresponding lug (10-18).

11. A poster system according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the openings (30-37; 50-58) has a periphery that is at least partially circular.

12. A poster system according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the openings (38) is elongate.

13. A poster system according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the openings (38) has a dimension, in a stretching direction of the poster, greater than a corresponding dimension of a corresponding lug (18).

14. A poster provided in a plurality of sections (20-23; 60, 61), and specially configured for use in the poster system according to any preceding claim.

15. A poster according to claim 14, wherein the sections each have an area of at least 3 m².

Drawing