POSITION ADJUSTMENT ASSEMBLY FOR ADVERTISING OR DISPLAY UNITS Technical Field

The present invention relates to an adjustment assembly for positioning and fixation of a frame of an advertising or a display unit at a certain position. Background of Invention

An advertising unit typically comprises a frame whereon an advertisement, promotion etc. poster to be displayed is positioned, a post connected underside of the frame and a base to support this post on the ground.

In practice, rotating the frame as desired in three-dimensional space and fixing it to a desired position is an expected functionality with respect to having a displayed poster to access to a boarder visual space. Frames of the known type of advertising units are generally rotated around a single axis, typically around the horizontal or vertical axis, such applications providing limited opportunities only with respect to functionality. In patent application EP 0798687, for instance, an assembly is disclosed, of which one end is attached to the feet of the advertising unit, and the other end to the frame in order to rotate the latter between at least two points on the horizontal axis.

Patent application GB 2270188 discloses a frame coupled to two vertically-extending legs in a rotatable manner. The frame is also displaceable upwardly and downwardly in slots provided along the legs.

Summary of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an efficient use of advertising units, by positioning and fixing the frame unit of the unit at a desirable position in the three- dimensional space. In order to achieve this object, the present invention comprises an adjustment assembly provided between the frame and the post of an advertising unit to adjust the position of the frame, characterized in that said adjustment assembly comprises a

spherical element connected to said frame and having at least one recess or protrusion thereon, and a spherical bearing element bearing said spherical element and having at least one protrusion or recess thereon, in order to fix said frame at a desired position in the three-dimensional space. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said spherical element in the adjustment assembly is provided with a group of slots sequentially extending on the sphere of 90°, and with a second group of slots sequentially extending on the sphere of 90° and the second group extending perpendicularly to the first group of slots.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a protrusion is formed preferably at the lower-most point of the spherical bearing element, so that once said protrusion engages to one slot on the sphere, the frame is fixed on a desired position.

Brief Description of Figures

The present invention is to be evaluated together with the annexed figures briefly described hereunder to make clear the subject embodiment and the advantages thereof.

Figure 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the subject frame-position adjustment assembly with the advertising unit.

Figure 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the subject frame-position adjustment assembly. Figure 3 illustrates an assembled perspective view of the subject frame-position adjustment assembly.

Figure 4A illustrates a perspective view of the spherical element of the subject frame- position adjustment assembly.

Figure 4B illustrates a perspective view of the spherical bearing element of the subject frame-position adjustment assembly.

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of altering positions of the spherical element of the subject frame-position adjustment assembly.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the spherical element and the corresponding bearing element formed according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the spherical element and the corresponding bearing element formed according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the spherical element and the corresponding bearing element formed according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description of Invention

Figure 1 provides an exploded perspective view of the subject frame-position adjustment assembly within the advertising unit. Accordingly, the poster-carrying frame (1) is connected to a base (4) by means of a post (3) attached to the underside of the frame (1). An adjustment assembly (2) is provided between said frame (1) and post (3) in order to alter i.e. rotate the position of the frame (1) with respect to the post (3).

The adjustment assembly (2) comprises a spherical element (2.1) with one end connected to the frame (1), a partially sphere-shaped sphere holding piece (2.2) accommodating said spherical element (2.1), a bearing element (2.4) bearing from below the spherical element (2.1), a body (2.7) positioned under the sphere holding piece (2.2) and the bearing element (2.4), a nut member (2.3) surrounding this body (2.7), and a spring (2.5) provided between the bearing element (2.4) and the body (2.7). The body (2.7) is fastened to the post (3) by means of screws (2.6).

As can be seen in Figure 4A, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention slots (5) are formed on the spherical element (2.1), said slots being perpendicular to each other and extending with 90° degrees on the sphere. As seen in Figure 4B, a protrusion (6) is formed preferably at the lowermost point of the bearing element (2.4) having a spherical form compatible with the spherical surface of the spherical element (2.1), the protrusion (6) engaging into a desired slot (5) and providing an interlocking

effect so that the position of the frame (1) is fixed at a desired position in the three- dimensional space.

As illustrated in Figure 3, a spring (2.5) is provided between the bearing element (2.4) and the body (2.7). Screw threads are formed on the internal wall of the nut (2.3) so that a contact is provided between the threads and the threads formed on the external wall of the body (2.7). The position illustrated in Figure 3 corresponds to a fixed position of the spherical element (2.1) and in turn the frame (1). In this case, the spring (2.5) is in compressed.

The nut (2.3) is loosened, i.e. is displaced upwardly, to change the position of the spherical element (2.1) and thus the frame (1), such that under the effect of the pre- tensioned spring (2.5), the bearing element (2.4), the holding piece (2.2) being in contact with said bearing element, and the spherical element (2.1) are displaced in upward direction. Meanwhile, the spring (2.5) keeps its contact with the body (2.7) —from one end — and with the bearing element (2.4) —from the other end— and becomes compressed again to a certain level, even lesser than before. In this position, a user exerts force on the frame (1) to surpass the tightening force of the spring (2.5) to rotate the frame (1), engaging the protrusion (6) on any of the slots (5) formed on the spherical element (1). When the user wishing to fix the frame at this position, tightens the nut (2.3), moves it downwards, and since a pressure surface (8) on the nut (2.3) is in contact with a holding protrusion (7), the holding piece (2.2), the spherical element (2.1) in contact with the holding piece (2.2), and the bearing element (2.4) perform a downward displacement. The downward displacement of these members can be continued until the base (9) of the bearing element settles on the upper surface (2.7.1) of the body in order to lock the adjustment assembly. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an angle of 15° is provided between the slots (5) arranged in succession on the spherical element (1); this angle, however, can be lowered with increasing the number of slots, or be increased with decreasing the number of slots.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, openings (12) are formed on the holding piece (2.2) and through these openings (12) is passed a connecting member in connection with the spherical element (1).

As illustrated in Figure 6 and Figure 7 and according to a variation of the present invention the spherical element (2.1) comprises a first group of slots (10) wherein slots (5) on this element (2/I) extend 180° along the sphere's periphery, and a second group of slots (11) extending perpendicularly to the first group. Thus, it becomes possible to adjust the frame (1) on more angular positions. In Figure 7, the first group of slots (10) and the second group of slots (11) are arranged to extend 180° slots along the sphere's periphery. In both variations, the holding piece (2.2) is formed so as to comprise proper openings (12).

Therefore, with the present invention, it is possible to form at least one slot on any point on the surface of the spherical element (1), and the frame is fixed at a desired position in the three-dimensional space so as to correspond to such slot. Another variation of the present invention is shown in Figure 8. In this variation, the spherical element (1) comprises the protrusions (6) and the bearing element (2.4) the slot (5).