Field of the Invention

The invention relates to display holders. The invention has particular applications in the field of snap frame display holders.

Background to the Invention

Front access display frames are common for use in wall mounted locations. Previous frames, such as CA900167, feature four separately hinged frame perimeters, each comprising an upper and a lower profile. The configuration of the prior art provides the facility to open the frame, allowing access for a display change, and to close the frame to retain the display. Biased spring clips within the hinged frame perimeters provide a clamping force to hold the frame closed. A back panel is provided in each prior art frame. A clear display cover is also provided to protect the inserted display. Advances in display frames are disclosed in the Applicant's own prior publications such as GB2286773 and more recently in GB2464696. The introduction of alternative manufacturing methodologies offering the potential for faster production of components is disclosed in EP2016574. Poster frames of this nature are manufactured in large quantities, most frequently for display sizes ranging from A4 size (210mm x 297mm) to A1 size (594mm x 841 mm).

Production of large quantities of display frames presents an opportunity to consider both the material content of display frames and the assembly labour involved in the

manufacture of display frames. The problem associated with large scale production of display frames, as is the case with many large scale production items, is the consideration of saving materials whilst maintaining or even improving functionality.

Summary of the Invention

In a first broad independent aspect, the invention provides a display holder comprising a plurality of frame portions which conjointly surround a display; a number of support portions; and biasing means allowing said frame portions to snap between an open configuration in which the display can be inserted or removed and a closed configuration where a display is held between said frame portions and said support portions; wherein at least two distinct support portions are provided; said distinct support portions being spaced apart by frame portions.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows the spacing between distinct support portions to be dependent upon the spacing provided by the frame portions. In particular embodiments, the support portions may be employed with a plurality of frame portion sizes which allows the support portions to be versatile across the range of standard frame sizes. In further particular embodiments, the invention avoids the requirement for support portions being provided across the entire surface of the frame and display holder. Instead, a space may be provided between distinct support portions. This latter configuration leads to a reduction in the material required to form adequate support for the display.

In preferred embodiments, a display holder does not require a centrally disposed back portion to support an inserted display. The reduction in back portion reduces the amount of material needed to produce the display holder. In preferred embodiments, sufficient support for the display is entirely provided by the distinct support portions.

Preferably, said distinct support portions are L-shaped, each extension of an L-shaped distinct support portion being connected to a frame portion. This configuration allows frame portions to separate each of the distinct support portions. Two frame portions can cooperate with a single distinct support portion, one with each extension of the L-shaped support portion. Preferably, each extension of said distinct support portions incorporates a trough to receive said biasing means. By incorporating a trough along each of the L-shaped extensions a biasing means can be inserted between the distinct support region and a frame portion. This configuration allows the frame portions of the display holder to be snapped between open and closed configurations because of the biasing influence of the connection between a distinct support portion and frame portion.

Preferably, each trough is sized and configured to receive an extremity of said biasing means. This configuration allows the biasing means to be securely located within the trough of a distinct support portion. The clear configuration of each trough also allows simple assembly of the display holder should it be supplied in its separate component parts.

Preferably, said distinct support portions incorporate a lip which creates a defined region for aligning said display centrally within said display holder. This configuration allows a display to be accurately placed within the display holder so that it does not rest at an undesirable angle when the display holder is closed. By incorporating a defined region, the process of inserting a display into the display holder is also made quicker. This is especially advantageous when many display holders are to be deployed. The lip also serves to enhance the clamping engagement of the frame portions on the display when the display holder is closed.

Preferably, only the defined region of each distinct support portion provides a base for said display. This configuration avoids the need for a back portion to support an inserted display. Each of the distinct support portions supports a corner of the inserted display and when the display holder is closed, is sufficient to hold the display in place. Support may also be provided by the flat surface upon which the display holder may be mounted, such as a wall.

Preferably, said biasing means incorporate a folded edge for cooperating with a trough of said distinct support portions. This configuration provides a secure fitting between the distinct support portions and biasing means and therefore between the distinct support portions and frame portions. The folded edge also presents a smooth edge for insertion into the support portion which is particularly advantageous in preventing wear and tear of the support portions particularly if these are formed of moulded plastics material.

Preferably, each support portion is formed as a single piece moulding of plastics material. Preferably, the display holder incorporates 4 identical pieces of moulded plastics material.

In an alternative embodiment, said support portions are C-shaped. Where each of the support portions is C-shaped the display holder is given extra strength compared to when there are multiple L-shaped support portions whilst retaining at least in part the support portions ability to be used with frames of various sizes. Preferably, each C-shaped support portion is equivalent to an extension of two adjacent L-shaped distinct support portions being joined by a cross-member. In this alternative embodiment, two frame portions separate the C-shaped distinct support portions from each other and two further frame portions are located on the cross-member of each C-shaped support. Preferably, said distinct support portions consist of a single piece of plastics material. This configuration provides the advantage of requiring fewer components to produce the display holder. As each of the distinct support portions consists of a single piece of plastics material it is made stronger than if each distinct support portion consisted of multiple components.

Preferably, at least one of said distinct support portions comprises a number of apertures for mounting said display holder. This is particularly advantageous because it allows the display holder to be mounted to a surface such as a wall. Brief Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a distinct support portion in connection with two frame portions.

Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of a distinct support portion.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a display holder generally referenced 1, in its disassembled configuration. The display holder 1 incorporates four frame portions 2, 3, 4 and 5, four distinct support portions 6, 7, 8 and 9 and biasing means, such as 10, 1 1 and 15 which extend between the frame portions and distinct support portions. The frame portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 incorporate protruding lips, such as lip 13, which cooperate with channels, such as channel 14 (see figure 2), on the bottom surface of a distinct support portion. This interaction forms a hinge 21 which facilitates movement of the frame portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 between a closed configuration where the frame portions are in clamping engagement with a display (not shown) and an open configuration where a display can be inserted or removed. Cooperation between each of the frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 and the distinct support portions 6, 7, 8, 9 is also facilitated by biasing means such as spring plates 10, 1 1 and 15. In this preferred embodiment, two spring plates, 10 and 15, extend between one frame portion 4 and two separate support portions 7 and 8; spring plate 10 extending between frame portion 4 and distinct support portion 7, and spring plate 15 extending between frame portion 4 and distinct support portion 8. Each of the frame portions 2, 3, 4 and 5 is connected to two separate support portions in this manner, creating a display holder.

In this preferred embodiment, the display holder also incorporates a transparent cover 12 for placing on top of a display when the display is inserted into the holder 1. The transparent cover 12 offers protection to the display when the display holder 1 is closed. The transparent cover 12 consists of a clear plastics material.

In use, each of the frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 are snapped open to release the transparent cover 12 and remove any pre-existing display (not shown) from the display holder 1. A display is then inserted into the open frame and the transparent cover 12 is placed over the top of the display. Each of the frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 is then snapped closed to clamp the display and transparent cover 12 into place. The display holder 1 may then be fixed to a wall or other structure.

The snapping motion of the frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 is enabled by the bowed spring plates, such as 10, 1 1 and 15 composed of a resilient metal. Opposite ends of the spring plate are located in respective channels or troughs in each of the frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 and distinct support portions 6, 7, 8, 9. The bowed shape of the spring plates 10, 11, 15 allow each to flex when a user pulls or pushes on each of the frame portions 2, 3, 4 5. The flexing of the resilient spring plates 10, 11 , and 15 creates the snapping motion from an open configuration to a closed configuration of the display holder 1 and vice versa.

Each of the spring plates, such as 10, 11 and 15, incorporates a thick folded edge, such as 16 which cooperates with the trough 17 of support portions 6, 7, 8, 9. This folded edge provides each of the spring plates with additional resilience to enhance the snapping motion. This folded edge 16 also securely fits into an augmented section 27 of the trough 17 of one of the distinct support portions preventing said spring plate from being improperly dismantled from the display holder 1.

In one embodiment, the display holder 1 incorporates a stand (not shown) which is fixable to either one of said frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 or distinct support portions 6, 7, 8, 9 or both in order for the display holder 1 to be deployed in an upright position on a flat surface. In another embodiment, the display holder 1 incorporates a bracket (not shown) which is fixable to either one of said frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 or distinct support portion 6, 7, 8, 9 or both in order to fix the display holder 1 to another static structure. Figure 2 shows the connection of a distinct support portion 6 and two frame portions 2 and 3. The distinct support portion 6 is connected to each of the frame portions 2, 3 by a hinge 21 and spring plates 22, 23. Each of the frame portions 2, 3 incorporates a downwardly curved lip, such as 24 to clamp a display (not shown) and a transparent cover (also not shown) when the display holder 1 is closed. The shape of the downwardly curved lip 24 also serves to hold each of the spring plates 22, 23 in place and allows the edges of the spring plates 22, 23 to pivot when the frame portions 2, 3 are moved and the spring plates 22, 23 flex.

The frame portions 2, 3 also incorporate a gripping surface, such as 25, to aid a user in pulling open each of the frame portions 2, 3 when a display is to be removed.

Each of the distinct support portions, such as 6, consists of a single piece of moulded plastics material. Each distinct support portion 6 incorporates a flat surface 26 which acts as a base for a display. When a display holder 1 is assembled, it is the flat surfaces 26 only of the distinct support portions that provide a base for the display. There is no additional base member for a display to be placed on. Each of the distinct support portions 6 also incorporate a trough 17 with an augmented section 27. In use biasing means, connecting the distinct support portions such as 6 to the frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5, are located in the augmented sections such as 27 of the trough 17. Each distinct support portion 6 also incorporates upwardly projecting walls, such as 29 and 30 to limit the area in which a display is to be placed. The difference in height between the flat surface 26 and the top surface 31 of the distinct support portion facilitates the clamping engagement of the frame portions when the display holder 1 is closed as the flex of the biasing means is increased.

In the preferred embodiment, each distinct support portion 6 incorporates a lip 28 which creates a defined region for aligning an inserted display centrally within the display holder 1. This lip also facilitates the clamping engagement of the frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 on the display and transparent cover 12 when the display holder 1 is closed.

Each of the distinct support portions also incorporates apertures such as 32 and 33 in order for the display holder 1 to be mounted to a wall or other flat surface. In the preferred embodiment, where four frame portions 2, 3, 4, 5 and four distinct support portions 6, 7, 8, 9 form a square or rectangular display holder 1, apertures such as 32 and 33 in each of the distinct support portions allow the display holder 1 to be mounted in any orientation. It is however recognised that a greater or fewer number of apertures may be used to the same effect.

In the preferred embodiment, the distinct support portions 18 are L-shaped with two equal parts 34 and 35. However, it can be envisaged that each distinct support portion can be substantially C-shaped, comprising two parallel portions linked by a perpendicular cross- member.