TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an elongated bendable device or hinge strip and then particularly to such a device or hinge strip which functions to form a hinge between two mutually adjacent elements, normally bet- ween two mutually adjacent panels.

Each of the two outer margins of the hinge strip device is coated with an adhesive layer, or alterna¬ tively an adhesive layer is applied over the whole.of the hinge strip, so as to enable the strip to be bonded firmly to an edge region and/or an edge surface of a respective element or panel.

Alternatively, the edge region and/or the edge surface of respective elements or panels may be coated with an adhesive, so as to enable the outer margins of the hinge strip to be affixed to said region or said surface.

The present invention finds particular use as a hinge means for portable and/or temporary display systems or the like, where said hinge means is intended to provide a connection between an edge part of a first panel and an adjacent edge part of a second panel adjacent said first panel, with a minimum visible joint therebetween.

More particularly, the present invention provides a hinge means which can be used in portable display systems of the kind which include a plurality of panels which are positioned edge-to-edge in side-by-side

relationship and which are mutually joined by means of one or more hinges, said panels consisting of or at least substantially consisting of a plate.

Other types of panels can also be used, such as panels which are made of particle board, plexiglass**, standard glass and like materials.

Portable display systems of this nature are used exten- sively to expose text and pictures, particularly large pictures, which requires the provision of a plurality of panels positioned side-by-side with only a narrow join therebetween, so as to enable the complete picture to be shown.

A panel of this nature normally comprises lightweight plate or sheet of sandwich-construction, for example a plate retailed by Schneidler under the tradename "KAPA- skivan".

BACKGROUND ART

The use of a pliable strip as a hinge means is known from many mutually different applications. By way of example, reference can be made to U.S. Patent Specifi¬ cation No. 1,196,244 which teaches one such hinge means in which the mutually opposing edge surfaces intended for respective sections have a V-shape and are provided with longitudinally extending tape-accommodating aper- tures or recesses.

A hinge means which can be considered to closely approach the inventive device is illustrated and described in the German published specification No. 1,202,526.

With regard to the significant features of the present invention, the construction which lies nearest the inventive hinge strip is a piece of adhesive tape which has been applied to the edge surfaces of two mutually adjacent panels with the panels positioned so that their edge surfaces are located in one and the same plane.

In this case, the adhesive layer on the tape will not cover solely the mutually opposing edge regions of the two elements but will alsu cover mutually adjacent edge surfaces and the adhesive tape used will thus form a hinge means having one single pivot axis, which is located at the edge between edge surface and edge region and in the vicinity of that edge region which is not caused to coact with the adhesive tape, and there¬ with provides a hinge means which will allow the panels to be rotated solely through 180°.

Further examples of earlier known hinge means are found illustrated and described in Swedish Patent Specification No. 333 523, U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,731,760 and International Patent Application, publication No. W088/08186, which teaches a hinge means that consists of at least three tape-like components or segments. These tape-like components are attached to a lightmetal frame belonging to a first plate or sheet and to an adjacent lightmetal frame belonging to an adjacent second plate or sheet.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

When considering the known prior art as described above, it will be seen that a technical problem resides in the provision of an adhesive tape which has selected adhesive regions and selected non-adhesive regions and which can be readily affixed to the edge surfaces and the edge regions of two mutually adjacent elements or panels and with which adhesion of the tape to said elements or panels is effected in a manner such that the rotational axis and rotational line of the hinge is either located within or adjacent to one or the other edge region of said element, depending on the bending direction of said hinge and with which the bending principle will conform with the principle illustrated and described in the earlier mentioned German published specification No. 2,101,526, so as to obtain a hinge which will enable the panels to be rotated through an angle of up to 360".

Another technical problem resides in the provision of an elongated bendable device or hinge strip with which certain selected surface areas will lack adhesion and therewith not fasten to adjacent elements, and to realize the significance of this in constructing a simple hinge means.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability to realize the significance of providing the elongated, bendable device or hinge strip with transversely extending, segment-forming weakenings which will not only facilitate application of the device to the edge surfaces and edge regions of a

respective element but will also provide a nine _ that enables said elements to be swung through an angle of 360°.

Another technical problem is one of realizing the significance of forming said weakenings in a predeter¬ mined spaced relationship.

Still another technical problem is one of realizing the significance of allowing a first adhesive or non- adhesive region belonging to one segment to be posi¬ tioned adjacent a first element and to allow a second adhesive or non-adhesive region belonging to an ad¬ jacent segment to be positioned adjacent a second element and therewith provide conditions for a hinge function which will resist lateral forces that act on the panels adjacent the hinge.

Another technical problem in the present context is one of realizing the significance of the shape given to the segment-separating weakenings whether or not these weakenings shall have the form of recesses, slots, perforations or the like, while, at the same time, realizing the significance of dimensioning the trans- verse extension of respective weakenings in relation to the total width of the tape.

A further technical problem is one of realizing the significance of spacing adjacent weakenings so far apart and of making the segment so long as to at least correspond to more than three times the thickness of the element, thereby to obtain a sufiiciently large ad¬ hesive surface, and to adapt the number of weakenings to the panel material and to the surface structure of the panel material.

It will also be seen from the aforementioned earlier standpoint of techniques that a technical problem resides in the provision of a specially prepared hinge strip which, similar to earlier known devices, can be applied to two flat elements or panels which are posi¬ tioned closely adjacent one another with the edge surfaces of said elements located in one and the same plane.

When studying the earlier known art, as described above, it will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the provision of a simpler portable or temporary display system which will not require the presence of a lightmetal frame in order to secure a thin pliable panel to a similar panel.

A further technical problem is one of realizing the significance of using a (rectangular) sheet having along one short side thereof sufficient rigidity to form part of a portable display system without needing to be supported to any appreciable extent and which has along one long side thereof, or the hinge side thereof, a rigidity which is scarcely sufficient for a portable display system and which therefore requires to be stiffened through the intermediary of the hinge means.

It will also be seen that a technical problem is one of being able to provide a portable display system whose weight is considerably less than the weight of a dis¬ play system that comprises panels provided with light¬ metal frames.

It will also be seen that a technical problem lies in realizing the significance of constructing a hinge

device which will function to stiffen mutually adjacent panels and thereby afford a flexurally rigid connection at different angles between the mutually adjacent panels, with an invisible or at least minimum join therebetween.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in realizing the advantages that are afforded when nor¬ mally, but not necessarily, choosing a panel thickness which is slightly larger than the thickness required for panels enclosed in lightmetal frames and by realiz¬ ing the significance of choosing a panel which is so thin as to require additional stiffening along its longer edge part, by utilizing a hinge in the form of tape, preferably transparent adhesive tape, so as to provide a collapsible display system comprising more than two panels with a minimum join therebetween.

Finally, it will be seen that a technical problem resides in the provision of conditions which will prevent the hinge from being seen on the front side of the panels and which can scarcely be seen on the rear side of said panels, when the hinge means is produced from transparent adhesive plastic tape.

SOLUTION

The present invention is based on the ability to con¬ struct an elongated bendable device or hinge strip capable of forming a hinge between two mutually ad¬ jacent elements, normally two flat panels, where at least the outer partsof said hinge are each coated with an adhesive layer intended to be fastened to an edge region and/or edge surface of a respective element.

Alternatively, the edge region and/or edge surface of a respective element can be provided with an adhesive coating for bonding to the outer parts of the device.

According to the present invention, the bendable device or strip is divided into segments. For each segment, a first surface area which lacks adhesive properties is positioned between two adjacent second and third sur¬ face areas which have adhesive properties. A first surface area of a segment is positioned on one side of a hinge rotational line while a first surface area of an adjacent segment is positioned on the other side of said rotational line.

According to further embodiments, the second and third surface areas of a segment are integrated with second and third surface areas of adjacent segments.

According to another embodiment, the elongated device or hinge strip is provided with segment-separating weakenings which extend transversely to the longitudi¬ nal centre line or rotational line, for instance weak¬ enings in the form of recesses, slots, perforations or the like. The weakenings are spaced mutually apart and a non-adhesive region intended for a first element and extending along the centre line or rotational line on one side of said line and located between two weaken¬ ings is displaced laterally in relation to a second non-adhesive region which is intended for a second element and which extends along said centre line or rotational line on the other side of said line.

As further embodiments which lie within the scope of the invention, it is also suggested that the weakenings are mutually equidistant along the whole of the edge

surface of said element.

With regard to said weakenings, it is suggested, in accordance with the invention, that the extension of the weakenings across the tape or band is equal to or slightly greater than the total thickness of the two elements.

Preferably, the weakenings will have an extension which covers the width of the tape or band to 80% or less.

The distance between mutually adjacent weakenings will preferably be more than three times the thickness of the element.

ADVANTAGES

Those advantages primarily afforded by the inventive hinge strip reside in the ability to apply the strip to two flat elements when the elements are located close together with the edge surfaces thereof located in one and the same plane, in the same manner as a convention¬ al adhesive tape can be applied to the edge surfaces or edge regions of two flat elements, although with the advantage that the hinge means will provide a hinge function which conforms to the hinge function described and illustrated in the aforesaid German published specification No. 2,101,526 with straight edge surfaces for the two elements.

Furthermore, the invention enables a display system comprising a plurality of panels, more than two panels, to be folded together with the aid of simple 360"-hinges and transported away and subsequently readily erected to provide a display system on which a

picture or pictures can be presented without the dis¬ play stand showing any joins between the adjacent panels, or said joins only being slightly discernible.

A further advantage is that the ability of the hinge means to rotate through 360 ^* enables the mutually connected panels to be collapsed together in a zig-zag fashion and because only the edge region of one side is covered by the hinge strip enables text to be presented on the other side without the presence of disturbing, discernible joins.

The inventive elongated bendable device or hinge strip is mainly characterized by the characteristic features set forth in the characterizing clause of the following Claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplifying embodiment of the invention at present preferred will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an erected display system which comprises six panels and where the edge surface of one panel, or one ele¬ ment, coacts with an adjacent edge surface of an adjacent panel or element through the intermediary of an elongated bendable device which functions as a hinge means in accor- dance with the present invention and which

includes a number of segments;

Figure 2a is a perspective view of a part of an elon¬ gated bendable device having minimized adhesive surface areas and coacting with two panels rotated through about 90°;

Figure 2b illustrates in perspective a part of an elongated bendable device which is more appropriate from the aspect of manufacture and which coacts with two mutually adjacent panels, which are shown rotated to a mutual angle of about 90°;

Figure 3 illustrates in different sequences, A- a number of rotational positions of a 360 - hinge according to the invention;

Figure 4 illustrates the principle of applying an elongated bendable device according to Figure 2b in the form of an adhesive tape to two mutually adjacent panels or elements with the edge surfaces positioned in one and the samp plane;

Figure 5 is a top view of the non-adhesive ide of an elongated bendable device according to Figure 2b, in which weakenings, such as recesses or slots have been formed;

Figure 6 is a top view of the adhesive side of the elongated benαable device according to Figure 5 and illustrates a sequence of manufacturing steps immediately prior to forming the slots;

Figure 7 illustrates a short section of a elongated bendable device in which a rotational hinge line is laterally displaced in relation to a central line; and

Figure 8 illustrates a portable display system com¬ prising ten rectangular panels and shows the system collapsed and extended in a zig-zag fashion.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AT PRESENT PREFERRED

Shown in Figure 1 is a portable display system which comprises six panels arranged in rows and columns.

The panels, or elements, are mutually identical and it will be understood that, in practice, the display system need not be restricted to six panels but may comprise any number of panels of any desired outer shape. (See for instance Figure 8).

Since the panels are mutually identical, the following description will be made solely with reference to the coaction between panels 1 and 2.

Thus, there is shown in Figure 1 a panel 1 which is intended for a portable display system and then par¬ ticularly for a display system of the kind which in¬ cludes a plurality of panels or elements positioned side-by-side and edge-to-edge and mutually jointed by means of one or more hinges.

Each panel 1 consists of a sheet or plate 10, 10' and the panels are mutually joined by means of an elon- gated, bendable device or hinge strip 3 which, in the

present case, consists of a transparent adhesive tape, although other forms of tape and bands can be used.

It is proposed that one and the same length of adhesive tape 3 extends from the upper part la of the panel 1 to its lower part lb and forms a number of segments 31, 32, 33 therebetween.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge strip 3 com- prises a strip of transparent adhesive tape 3 which is sufficiently strong to form a hinge between two mutual¬ ly adjacent, flat panels 10, 10'.

Figure 2a illustrates the principle of dividing the hinge strip 3 into a plurality of segments, although only three such segments 31, 32 and 33 are shown in the Figure.

Each segment 31 has a non-adhesive first surface region 3A which is positioned between two adjacent adhesive second and third surface regions 31a and 31b, wherein a first surface region 3A of a segment 31 is positioned on one side, the left-hand side, of a rotational hinge line "V", whereas a first surface region 3B of an adjacent segment 32 is positioned .on the other side, the right-hand side, of said hinge line "V" and is defined by second and third surface regions 32a and 32b respectively.

In the Figure 2b illustration, the respective second and third surface regions 31a and 31b of a segment 31 are integrated with respective second and third surfa.-- regions 32a and 32b of an adjacent segment 32.

Each of the two parallel outer margins 3a, 3b of the tape 3 shown in Figure 2b are coated with an adhesive layer 3a', 3b' on the surfaces that face towards the panels 10, 10', these adhesive layers being intended to fasten to the edge region of a respective panel 10, 10'. Figure 2b shows one such edge region 10a of the panel 10.

A defined or limited part 3c having an adhesive layer 3c' is intended to fasten against the edge surface 10b of the panel 10.

It will be obvious to the person skilled in this art that it also lies within the scope of the invention to coat the edge region 10a and/or the edge surface 10b of respective elements or panels with an adhesive layer and to fasten thereto a non-adhesive tape or like strip, and then particularly its outer extremities.

The hinge strip or tape 3 has formed thereon a number of segment-separating weakenings 4, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d which extend transversely to the longitudinal centre line or hinge line 3d of the tape.

In the case of the illustrated embodiment, these weak¬ enings consist of apertures, such as narrow slots, although it lies within the scope of the invention to perforate the tape or strip with apertures of other configurations.

The weakenings are spaced apart at a predetermined distance "a". In the case of the illustrated embodi¬ ment, the weakenings are mutually equidistant and are spaced apart at a distance equal to seven times the thickness of the panel 10.

It is assumed in the following that the end surface of the tape or strip 3 represents a weakening (4b).

A first, non-adhesive region 3A is positioned along the centre line 3d, or hinge line 3d, on one side of said line and extends between two weakenings 4b and 4c, said first region being intended to face towards the edge surface 10b of the first panel 10.

This region 3A is displaced laterally relative to the rotational hinge line 3d and is followed by a second region 3B which is located between two weakenings 4c and 4d and which also extends along the centre line or hinge 3d but is offset relative to said line on the other side thereof. This second region 3B also lacks adhesive and is intended to face towards the edge surface 10b' of the second panel 10'.

As will best be seen from Figure 5, the weakenings 4c and 4d have an extension "b" across the tape 3 which is equal to or slightly greater than the total thickness of the two panels 10, 10'.

The weakenings have also been given a transverse dimen¬ sion which extends over 80% or less of the total width "c" of the tape.

The distance between mutually adjacent weakenings 4c, 4d corresponds to more than three times the thick¬ ness of the panel 10.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the tape 3 is applied simultaneously to two flat panels 10, 10' with said panels being located or positioned close together and

with the edge surfaces 10b, 10b' located in one and the same plane P.

It is suggested, in accordance with the invention, that a line 3d' is imprinted on the tape 3 and that when affixing the tape, said line is positioned in the defining surface between the panels 10 and 10' such as to form said rotational hinge line.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the elongated, bendable device or hinge strip can be given an asymmetric con¬ struction, such that a centre line "C" will be located on one side of the hinge line "V".

Figure 3 is a section view of the hinge strip, with

Figure 3C showing the panels 10, 10' slightly displaced from one another, so as to show the features of the inventive hinge more clearly.

It will be seen that the tape 3 is affixed to only one side of the panels and that when an adhesive part is fastened to one edge surface, an opposite part is not fastened to an opposing edge surface.

Certain circumstances relating to .the invention should be explained more clearly.

It is well known that the adhesive tape used may in¬ clude different adhesive layers, from layers of strong adhesive to layers of weak adhesive.

It is also known that different materials and different surface structures will provide different degrees of tape adhesion.

It is also known that the adhesion of adhesive tape is more readily released at the tape edges.

These circumstances are taken into account when choos- ing the number of segments having the length or dis¬ tance "a" for a hinge means working under selected conditions.

If this distance is too small and if too many segments are provided, more edge regions will be obtained, whereas if said distance is too large, the hinge -.ll become unstable.

With regard to the distance "b", it should be under- stood that when this tape distance is equal to twice the thickness of the panel or unit, the tape can be used effectively for thinner panels.

When using a prefabricated tape for thinner panels, the regions 3A and 3B will extend along the edge region of the panels, such as the region 3A which extends soise distance over the edge region 10a.

If there are used two panels which have mutually dif- ferent tape-adhering properties, it is proposed that the tape is configured in accordance with Figure 7, such that the panel surface of lower adhesion is covered with a broader adhesive layer 3b".

It should be mentioned that the invent- ⁵ ve hinge is highly stable to forces which act in ti. Λ directions F and F'in Figure 3C.

Figure 3 illustrates the hinge which can be pivoted or rotated through more than 360°, and Figure 3A shows a

tape 3 applied to two panels 10, 10' of equal thickness and positioned in accordance with Figure 4.

Figure 3B shows the panel 10 rotated through 135" around a rotational axis "E" or "V".

Figure 3C shows the panels 10 and 10' in one and the same plane, although slightly separated for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 3D illustrates the panel 10 rotated through a further 45° about a new further rotational axis "G" located on the rear side of the panels or on the side to which the tape is affixed.

It will be seen that the panel 10 can be rotated fur¬ ther around the axis "G", to a position in which the panel is rotated through 360° in relation to the panel position shown in Figure 3A.

Finally, Figure 8 illustrates a portable display system collapsed to form a package 20 and carrried by a person "M", the panels of said system having a slightly dif¬ ferent shape from the panels illustrated in Figure 1.

The collapsed system 20 can be extended to enable a picture or text to be shown on the ten panels included in the system, with said picture or text covering the panel joins.

Some of the panels, 21-22, are positioned in a straight line, whereas the panels 23 and 24 are positioned in a convex, curved line. The panels 25 and 26 are posi¬ tioned in a concave, curved line, whereas the panels 27, 28, 29 and 30 are positioned in a straight line.

Each panel is joined to an adjacent panel by means of a hinge strip 3 and the panel joins are therewith practi¬ cally unnoticeable.

The panel joins are more noticeable in the case of those panels that are positioned along a convex, curved line.

As illustrated in the Figure, the panels 21-30 can be folded together in a zig-zag fashion to form the pack¬ age 20.

Although different tapes having different backing mate¬ rials and different types of adhesive layers can be used, it is preferred to use an adhesi 2 layer havinq an adhesion corresponding to the adhesive retailed under the tradename • Tesafix 4965". The backing or substrate material should be sufficiently thin, how¬ ever, so as to give a distinctive fold and there ^r th form a hinge line.

It will be understood that the invention is not res- tricted to the aforedescribed exemplifying embodiment thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following Claims.

It is to be noted that although the embodiments shown hav an end surface directed perpendicular to the planar surface of the panel it is obvious that said end surface can be formed with an other angle. Thus the panels may be arranged in a curved pattern with end surfaces arranged adjacent each other and parallel to each other.