More particularly, the invention relates to display devices of the type of flag or banner devices.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Various types of flag or banner display devices are known. Some of these devices are in the form of permanent structures, whereas others are moveable and can be erected for display purposes as may be required. Many banners are used for advertising purposes and as such are normally relatively large so that they are easily visible from far away for attracting attention.

One disadvantage encountered with many large banners is that they are difficult to transport, especially if they are manufactured as single units. Thus many banners and their supporting poles are made in sections that can be broken down into a compact form for transport. This in turn has led to another problem in that the banners now have to be erected at each location before use. This is cumbersome and time consuming. Also if a section of the support rod is mislaid or forgotten, then the banner is not usable.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a display device in the form of a flag or banner assembly, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the invention, a display device includes a) an elongated pole member having a base end, adapted to be supported relative to a surface, and a distal end;

b) a elongated resilient member supported by the pole member at or near its distal end; and c) a flexible sheet fixedly and removably supported by the pole member and resilient member, the sheet being at least partially tensioned by the resilient member relative to the pole member.

The pole member may be of telescopic construction.

The pole member may be constructed from a plurality of elongated sections to be connected together.

The elongated sections may be tubular.

The display device may include a tension cable passing through the elongated sections for holding these together.

The tension cable may be elastic.

Also according to the invention, a display device includes a) an elongated pole member having a base end, adapted to be supported relative to a surface, and a distal end, the elongated pole member including a plurality of substantially hollow elongated sections, each section having first and second ends, the first end of a section being adapted to releasably engage with the second end of an adjacent section; b) a tension cable extending through the plurality of elongated sections, the tension cable being joined at its one end to the pole member relatively near to the base end and the tension cable being joined at its other end to the pole member relatively near to the distal end;

c) a resilient elongated member supported by the pole member at or near its distal end; and d) a flexible sheet fixedly and removably supported by the pole member and resilient member, the sheet being tensioned by the resilient member relative to the pole member.

The elongated sections may be tubular.

The tension cable may be elastic.

The elongated resilient member may be a steel rod.

The elongated resilient member may be supported by a hollow plug inserted into the distal end of the pole member.

The plug may be made of plastics material.

The plug may include two substantially similar halves having inter-engaging socket and spigot formations.

The sheet may be in the form of a banner or flag.

The sheet may be made of any suitable flexible material such as a plastics sheet, textile material or any suitable lamination of materials in sheet form.

The base end of the pole member may have a sharpened end for insertion into soil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1 a pictorial view of a flag-banner device in accordance with the invention ; Figure 2 a side view of the device seen along arrow II in Figure 1 but without its support member; Figure 3 an end view of the device seen along arrow III in Figure 2; Figure 4 a plan view of the device seen along arrow IV in Figure 2; Figure 5 on an enlarged scale a detail indicated by arrow V in Figure 1; Figure 6 on an enlarged scale a sectional detail indicated by arrow VI in Figure 2 but without the flexible sheet; Figure 7 on an enlarged scale, a sectional detail indicated by arrow VII in Figure 2 but without the flexible sheet; Figure 8 on an enlarged scale, a sectional plan view seen along arrows VIII- VIII in Figure 6; Figure 9 on an enlarged scale, a detail of the support of the display device indicated by arrow IX in Figure 2; Figure 10 on an enlarged scale, a sectional detail showing two engaging tubular sections; and Figure 11 on an enlarged scale, a perspective view of an insert for a tubular section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, a banner-flag display device in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The display device 10 includes an elongated pole 12 having a first lower end 14 and an

opposite upper end 16. A spring steel rod 18 extends from the pole 12 at its upper end 16, so as to support a flexible sheet 20 joined to the spring steel rod 18 and the pole 12 and being attached at the lower end 14 as will be described below.

The pole 12 is constituted by various tubular sections 12.1, 12.2... 12. n, which are engageable with adjacent tubular sections 12.1, 12.2... 12. n, as shown in particular in Figure 6. The bottom end 22 of the tubular section 12.3 fits into the upper end 24 of the lower tubular section 12.2 and abuts against a stopping pin 26 provided in the lower tubular section 12.2. The same fitting applies mutadis mutandis to all other tubular sections 12.1... 12. n.

An elastic string or cable 28 is threaded through all the tubular sections 12.1, 12.2 ... 12. n of the rod 12 to hold these together. This is particularly useful on disassembly of the rod 12 into its individual tubular section components for transportation or storage.

Referring now to Figure 7, the spring steel rod 18 is fitted into a blind hole 30 provided in a plug 32 provided at the upper end 16 of the last tubular section 12. n of the rod 12. The plug 32 abuts against a stopping pin 34 provided in the tubular section 12. n. The plug 32 can be manufactured by injection moulding.

The flexible sheet 20 is provided with a channel 36 as indicated in Figure 8 for receiving the rod 12 as well as the spring steel rod 18.

The sheet 20 is tensioned by attachment to a clip 37 some distance above the lower end 14 of the rod 12. Thereby, when drawn taught and the clip 37 secured to the rod 12, the spring steel rod 18 is curved as shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that a tension line extends along the dotted line 38 indicated in Figures 1 and 2. This means that the part 20.1 of the sheet 20 between the dotted line 38 and the pole 20 as well as the rod 18 will be tensioned and be flat whereas the part 20.2 between the free-end 20.3 and the bottom curved section 20.4 of the sheet 20 and

the dotted line 38 will be"loose"and can flap or move in the wind. The curved section 20.4 also can be straight.

Referring to Figure 9 the bottom end 14 of the lowest tubular section 12.1 of the pole 12 is inserted over a peg 40 having a pointed end 42 for insertion into soil 44. The lower end 14 of the tubular section 12.1 abuts against a stopping collar 46 provided on the peg 40. The pole 12 can be rotated on the peg 40 if required.

The pole 12 can be made of suitable aluminium tubing in tubular sections 12.1, 12.2... 12. n as described above.

The flag or banner 20 may be provided with advertising or informative material.

Referring now to Figure 10, each of the tubular section 12.1, 12.2... 12. n can be provided with an inner tube 50.1, 50.2... 50. n in place of providing stopping pins such as the stopping pins 26,34. The inner tubes 50.1, 50.2... 50. n provide the tubular sections 12.1, 12.2... 12. n with additional strength to resist bending and also provide a larger surface area for supporting engaging ends of other tubular section 12.1, 12.2... 12. n, as indicated by arrow 52.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the plug 32 can be made of two interconnecting halves 54,56 that are joined together by socket and spigot connections 58. The plug 32 can also have a flange 60 adapted to abut against an edge of a tubular section 12. n when located therein.