AU660462B2 - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1 "DISPLAY APPARATUS" This invention relates to display apparatus.

Many forms of display apparatus have been provided and/or suggested for the purposes of providing a display which will catch the public's eye. Flags and banners and the like hereinafter encompassed generally by the term flags are often used for this purpose, however, they have the disadvantage that the material displayed thereon is only visible when the flag is held outstretched by a suitable wind flow which at best is inconsistent or mechanical supporting means.

It is generally considered that a naturally supported flag fluttering in the breeze is more eye-catching than a flag or flag-like display which is rigid and held out-stretched by a suitable supporting frame. However, in many instances, such as in indoor installations, it is not practical to utilize naturally supported flags as the lack of an appropriate or sufficient air flow across the flags may prevent the information thereon from S being displayed to the public. Furthermore, use of fans and other external air-flow inducing means is not always practical 20 due to lack of space or potential danger or discomfort to the S• public.

*i eThe present invention aims to alleviate the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide display apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a display assembly including:air sunply means having an air outlet; tubular support means connected to the air supply means whereby air may be supplied to the interior thereof; holding means on the tubular support means for holding the leading edge'of a flag adjacent the tubular housing and substantially parallel thereto, and air discharge means disposed in the wall of the tubular support means adjacent the holding means and to one side thereof whereby an air flow may be created across one face of the flag supported by the holding means. The air supply preferably forms a mounting base which operatively supports the tubular support means. Alternatively, the tubular support means may pass through a bench or the like, and the bench may be used to assist the supporting of the tubular support means.

The tubular support means preferably has air outlets longitudinally spaced along the side wall of the tubular Support means and the air flow is operatively conducted through the tubular support means. The tubular support means may be a post o: 20 or stem or pole or the like or alternatively the tubular support means may be a wall adapted to be disposed in any suitable orientation such as vertical or horizontal.

The air supply means may be a fan positioned to induce or create a flow past the holding means. Alternatively, the air supply means is in the form of an air pump or blower disposed remote from the holding means and an air supply conduit extending from the air pump to air outlet means adjacent the tubular 3 support means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the air supply means includes an air pump adapted to deliver air under pressure to the interior of the hollow post or pole. Preferably, the holding means holds the connected end of the flag stretched forwardly and longitudinally along the post and the outlets are disposed adjacent to and to one side of the operative position of the connected end of the flag. Suitably, the air pump is an air pump of the type commonly used for supplying air to spas and the like.

If desired, the display apparatus may include a plurality of flags supported by one or more tubular support means and adapted to be held out-stretched in different directions. For example, a pair of flags may be supported by spaced tubular 15 support means and be adapted to be held out-stretched by a respective air flows directed from each tubular support means towards or away from the other whereby flags supported thereby may fly in opposite directions. Alternatively, a plurality of flags may be supported on a single pole provided with sets of i 20 circumferentially spaced outlets associated with respective a*41 circumferentially spaced holding means whereby a plurality of flags may be supported out-stretched, radiating from a common support axis.

The air supply means may provide a base support for the post or it may be disposed remote from the post and be provided with silencing means to mask its operating noise.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompany drawing which illustrates a typical embodiment of the invention.

The display apparatus 10 illustrated in the drawings includes an air pump 11 and suitably being of the type illustrated in my Australian Patent Application No. 49857/90 whereby continuous operation over long period will not cause overheating and connected to a tubular upstanding post 12, suitably formed of plastic tube and closed at its upper end 13.

The upper portion of the post 12 is provided with a wire mounting frame 14 which supports the connected end 15 of a flag 16 and connects to the post 12 at upper and lower locations 17 and 18 respectively.

The post 12 is provided with a plurality of air outlets intermediate the upper and lower mountings 17 and 18 and arranged at one side of the wire mounting shaft 14 which extends substantially parallel the axis of the tube 12.

In a typical installation the air pump 11 may be mounted below a counter 21 through which the hollow tube 12 extends so that no apparent air supply means is visible to the public.

In use, an air flow such as illustrated by the arrows 22 is created by pumping air from the pump 11 through the outlets and across one face of the flag 16. The arrangement is such that the air flow created across the one face of the flag 16 is sufficient to hold the flag fluttering in a substantially outstretched position such that material on the flag is visible S to the public, It will of course be realised that while the above has S. been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is defined in the appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. A display assembly including:- air supply means having an air outlet; tubular support means connected to said air supply means whereby air may be supplied to the interior thereof; holding means on said tubular support means for holding the leading edge of a flag adjacent said tubular housing and substantially parallel thereto, and air discharge means disposed in the wall of said tubular support adjacent said holding means and to one side thereof whereby an air flow may be created across one face of the flag supported by said holding means.

2. A display assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air supply forms a mounting base which operatively supports said tubular support means.

3. A display assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said tubular support has air outlets longitudinally spaced along the side wall of said tubular support and said air "6 flow is operatively conducted through said tubular support. 6

4. Display apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Second DAY OF February, 1995. PETER JOHN KING by PIZZEY AND COMPANY PATENT ATTORNEYS i* i u *4 4 S* S ABSTRACT Display apparatus [10] is provided for displaying indoor flags. The display apparatus [10] has flag holding means [17/18] on the upper end portion of a hollow pole [12] which is connected to an air pump [11] at the base of the pole Air outlets [20] are provided between the holding means [17/18] for creating an air flow away from the pole [12] and over at least one side of the flag [16] so as to cause it to flutter. t V i