Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for mounting a display sheet and to a display stand including such an apparatus. The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to the field of banner stands .

Background of the Invention

In a known banner stand a display sheet which may present a graphics display is housed on a roll in a

cassette and the display is created by unrolling the banner stand from the cassette and supporting the top of the display on an upright rod. In order to support the top of the display sheet across its entire width the top of the sheet may be fixed to a horizontal frame that is then supported on the stand, typically just in the centre. The display sheet may be fastened in a number of different ways to the horizontal top frame. For example the top portion of the display sheet may be fixed by adhesive to a bar which is fixed by fasteners distributed along the sheet edge to the top frame; another possibility is for the top portion of the sheet to be clamped along its length by a clamp that extends along the length of the rail. Whilst both these techniques have proved workable in various applications, they are not ideal. A particular problem in each case is that the tensioning of the sheet between its top and bottom is often not consistent across the sheet and ripples or the like may form. Even slight rippling can significantly spoil the effect of a graphics display.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above- mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides an apparatus for mounting a display sheet, the apparatus comprising an elongate mounting plate for mounting on an edge region of a display sheet, and a support rail assembly, wherein the support rail assembly comprises a first part defining a channel for receiving the elongate mounting plate and a second part movably mounted on the first part for movement between a first position for insertion of the elongate mounting plate into the channel between opposite sides of the channel and a second position for applying a

compressive load to the mounting plate, the load being applied by the support rail assembly along at least the majority of the length of the mounting plate.

The arrangement described above may be viewed as employing two fastening systems in parallel, one being the fixing of the display sheet to the mounting plate with adhesive, and the other being the clamping of the mounting plate, rather than just the display sheet itself, and we have found that such apparent redundancy is actually very helpful in ensuring that a display sheet is held along its top edge without distortions. Preferably the compressive load applied by the support rail assembly is applied to the combination of the mounting plate and the display sheet to which it is bonded.

The term "display sheet" is used herein in a broad sense. Whilst the display sheet may present certain graphics and that will be the most common case, it may be a plain sheet, for example a projection screen. The display sheet may be made of a wide variety of materials including paper, fabric and plastics materials.

Whilst it is possible for the display sheet to be fixed to the mounting plate at intervals, it is preferable that it is fixed along at least the majority of the length of the edge region of the display sheet and usually it will be preferred that the display sheet is fixed to the

mounting plate along the whole of the edge region of the display sheet. Similarly, whilst it is within the scope of the invention for the compressive load to be applied to a face of the mounting plate by the support rail assembly along only a majority of the length of the mounting plate, usually it will be preferred that the compressive load is applied to a face of the mounting plate along the whole of the length of the mounting plate.

The elongate mounting plate may include an elongate lug configured for engaging an elongate formation

projecting into the channel for retaining the mounting plate and the display sheet in the channel. The elongate lug may be of substantially hook-like cross-section. It may extend along the mounting plate as a single continuous lug or it may take the form of a series of lugs arranged in a row. The elongate formation projecting into the channel may be of a complementary hook-like cross-section and may define an upstanding lip over which the elongate lug is disposed. It may similarly be one continuous formation or may take the form of a series of formations arranged in a row.

The channel may have an elongate opening formed along its length. The support rail assembly may be arranged to apply the compressive load in the region of the elongate opening. In use, the display sheet may pass out from the channel through the elongate opening.

The elongate mounting plate is preferably adhesively secured to the display sheet. Usually it will be preferred that the elongate mounting plate is adhesively secured to the display sheet along an edge region of the display sheet. Preferably the adhesive securing is along

substantially the whole of the length of the interface of the display sheet and the elongate mounting plate.

It is preferred that a surface of the support rail assembly that, in use, applies the compressive load to the mounting plate is serrated. That can improve the grip of the support rail assembly on the mounting plate, to which in use the display sheet is attached. The serrated surface of the support rail assembly may be a static surface formed on the first part of the support rail assembly. The display sheet itself preferably engages the serrated surface when, in use, the second part of the support rail assembly is moved from the first position to the second position.

The second part of the support rail assembly is preferably rotatably mounted on the first part for movement between the first position for insertion of the elongate mounting plate into the channel between opposite sides of the channel and the second position for applying a

compressive load to the mounting plate.

The compressive load may be applied via the action of a cam.

An end of the support rail assembly is preferably provided with an end cap. The end cap may be arranged to be movable along the channel between a capping position in which the end of the channel is closed off by the end cap and an uncapping position in which the elongate mounting plate is able to be slid into or out of the channel. The end cap may comprise a tongue portion that is substantially fully received within the support rail assembly when the end cap is in a capping position and only partially

received within the support rail assembly when the end cap is in an uncapping position.

The end cap may be retained in the uncapping position by interengaging parts of the tongue portion and the first part of the support rail assembly. Similarly, the end cap may be retained in the capping position by interengaging parts of the tongue portion and the first part of the support rail assembly. One or both of the interengaging parts of the tongue portion and the first part of the support rail assembly may be resiliently deformable to allow the retention to be overcome.

The present invention further provides a display stand comprising an apparatus as defined above. The invention may be applied to a variety of display stands but is of particular advantage when applied to a banner stand.

Accordingly, the display stand may comprise a cassette for holding a rolled-up display sheet, a pole for extending upwardly from the cassette to support the display sheet when it is unrolled from the cassette and an apparatus as defined above for mounting along the top and/or bottom of the display sheet.

The present invention further provides a method of mounting a display sheet, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus as defined above;

adhesively bonding the elongate mounting plate to the display sheet in the region of an edge thereof;

inserting the elongate mounting plate with the display sheet bonded thereto into the channel of the apparatus with the second part of the rail assembly in the first position; moving the second part of the rail assembly into the second position to apply a compressive load to the mounting plate, the load being applied by the support rail assembly along at least the majority of the length of the mounting plate .

The step of inserting the elongate mounting plate with the display sheet bonded thereto into the channel of the apparatus preferably comprises sliding the elongate

mounting plate with the display sheet bonded thereto into the channel from one end. The plate and sheet may be able to be inserted from one end only or from either end.

The method may further include the step of placing an end cap over said one end of the channel after insertion of the elongate mounting plate and display sheet. The end cap may be substantially fully received within the support rail assembly when the end cap is in a capping position. The end cap may be movable to an uncapping position in which it is only partially received within the support rail assembly and the elongate mounting plate with the display sheet bonded thereto can be slid out of or into the channel from said one end.

It will of course be appreciated that features

described in relation to the apparatus of the present invention may be incorporated into the method of the invention and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an example of a floor-standing display system;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a distal end of a support rail assembly of the display system in the clamped position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the support rail assembly in a clamped position;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support rail assembly in an undamped position; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of an end cap of the support rail assembly.

Detailed Description Fig. 1 shows a floor-standing display system 1

comprising a cassette 9 forming the base of the stand, an upright pole 5 detachably mounted at its lower end in the cassette 9 and a graphic sheet support rail assembly 3 that is mounted at a central point along its axis on the pole 5. The upper edge of a graphic sheet 7 is mounted in the support rail assembly 3 and the lower edge of the graphic sheet 7 is mounted in the cassette 9, and arranged such that the graphic sheet 7 is suspended from the support rail assembly 3 and subjected to a tensile loading that ensures that the graphic sheet 7 remains tensioned. A display stand of this kind is commonly referred to as a "banner stand" . The support rail assembly 3 is generally of an

extruded aluminium construction with a cross-sectional profile that is substantially constant along its length. One end of the support rail assembly 3 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2 and a corresponding cross-sectional view is shown in Fig. 3. It can be seen that the graphic sheet 7 is mounted in the support rail assembly 3 together with an elongate mounting plate 13 that is adhesively bonded to the top edge 11 of the graphic sheet 7. In order to mount the graphic sheet 7, the user must insert the bonded mounting plate 13 and graphic sheet 7 from one end into a mounting plate receiving channel 15 situated within the support rail assembly 3.

The uppermost edge of the mounting plate 13 is formed with a hook 17 that engages over a corresponding lip 19 that partially defines the channel 15. During the mounting process, the mounting plate 13 with the graphic sheet 7 bonded thereto is inserted into one end of the support rail assembly 3 and slid along an axis parallel to that of the support rail assembly 3 until the whole of the mounting plate 13 is received within the channel 15. Engagement of the hook 17 and lip 19 during this process guides the movement of the mounting plate 13 along the axis of the support rail assembly 3, thereby ensuring that the mounting plate remains parallel with the support rail assembly 3.

The adhesive bonding of the graphic sheet 7 to the mounting plate 13 provides a first system of mounting of the graphic sheet 7. In addition, the mounting plate 13 and the sheet 7 are clamped along their entire length within the support rail assembly 3 between a pair of aws 16A and 16B that define the exit point of the graphic sheet 7 from the support rail assembly 3 and provide a second system of mounting of the graphic sheet 7.

In order to achieve the clamping effect, the support rail assembly 3 comprises a two part-construction; a first main part 3A defines most of the channel 15 and includes the aw 16A and a second part 3B is rotatably mounted on the first part 3A and includes the jaw 16B. The jaw 16B has an arcuate, non-circular, outer face that in the position shown in Fig. 3 exerts a compressive load on the mounting plate 13 and the graphic sheet 7. Clamping of the jaws 16A and 16B can be effected by rotation of the second part 3B, relative to the first part 3A about an axis parallel to the axis of the support rail assembly 3.

In the clamped position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the jaw 16B is rotated (anti-clockwise as shown in Figs. 2 and 3) about its fixed axis to minimise the distance between the opposing faces of the jaws 16A and 16B; in this configuration the clamping action of the jaws subjects the mounting plate 13 and the graphic sheet 7 to a compressive load, retaining them by friction. Also, the pressure exerted by the jaws 16A and 16B on the graphic sheet 7 and the mounting plate 13 is enhanced by the serrated surface 25 of the flat jaw 16A engaging the graphic sheet 7.

In the undamped position, as shown in Fig. 4, the jaw 16B is rotated (clockwise as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) about its fixed axis from the position shown in Fig.3 to maximise the distance between the aws 16A and 16B such that there is no compressive load on the mounting plate 13 or graphic sheet 7, and the mounting plate with the graphic sheet 7 is free to slide parallel to the axis of the support rail assembly 3.

When the graphic sheet 7 and the mounting plate 13 are located within the support rail assembly 3, the support rail assembly 3 is capped at a first end by a first end cap 29A and at a second end by a second end cap 29B, as shown in Fig. 1. The first end cap 29A is shown in detail in Fig. 5, the second end cap 29B (not shown in detail) has

identical features to the first cap 29A, but it is arranged to engage with the other end of the support rail assembly 3. The end caps 29A and 29B employed in this particular embodiment of the invention are designed to remain attached to the support rail assembly 3 when in the uncapped

position so that dropping them or losing them during the graphic mounting process can be avoided. The end cap 29A comprises a cap section 31, shaped to engage with the first end of the support rail assembly 3 and a tongue or

protruding member 33 arranged to be fully received within an auxiliary channel 35 located within the support rail assembly 3 when in the capped position; the auxiliary channel 35 is adjacent to the mounting plate receiving channel 15 and is defined in the part 3A of the support rail assembly 3. At a first root end 38, the protruding member 33 is attached to the cap section 31 and at a second distal end 39 the protruding member 33 is arranged with a projection in the form of a shoulder 37 for the purpose of preventing the end cap 29A from falling out of the support rail assembly 3 when in the uncapped position; retaining

features 40 are located at each end of the support rail assembly 3 and abut the shoulder 37 when the end cap 29A is in the uncapped position. Thus in the uncapped position, the end cap 29A remains attached to the support rail assembly 3 via the protruding member 33. Flanges 41 run along the length of the protruding member 33 and serve to stiffen the protruding member to some degree as well as locating it within the auxiliary channel 35 for movement parallel to the support rail assembly 3. Cut-away sections 42 of the locating flanges 41 enhance the flexibility of the section of the protruding member 33 that lies outside the auxiliary channel 35 when the end cap 29A is in the uncapped position such that the user is able easily to flex the cap section 31 to a position clear of the path of the mounting plate 13 and the graphics sheet 7 when

inserting/removing those parts. If it is desired to remove the end cap completely, a user can press the shoulder 13 inwardly and then withdraw the protruding member 33

entirely from the channel 35.

The use of the mounting plate 13 and the mounting arrangement described ensures that the graphic sheet 7 is fully extended and free of ripples when mounted in the support rail assembly 3.

If desired, the channel 35 may have another widened opening (not shown) for receiving the shoulder 37 when the end cap is fully inserted into the support rail assembly 3. That serves to lock the end cap in its fully inserted position and prevent movement of the mounting plate and display sheet out of the support rail assembly. In order to move the end cap into its uncapped position, it is merely necessary to press the shoulder 37 inwardly, and then withdraw the end cap to its uncapped position.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to one particular embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different

variations not specifically illustrated herein. For example, whilst the invention has been described with respect to a roller banner stand, it may be employed in a wide variety of other applications. Those other

applications include not only applications on display stands, but other applications too, where it is desired to mount a display sheet of some kind. The invention is of particular relevance in a case where the display sheet is under tension to some extent, but the tension may be generated solely by gravitational force.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or

foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be

appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments .