IES84258Y1 - Display assembly - Google Patents

Description

A Display Assembly The present invention relates to a display assembly, in particular an assembly for displaying information, such as vehicle tax information or the like, through a window.

The display of various pieces of information (for example vehicle tax, insurance or testing information) for inspection is required by law in many jurisdictions. Traditionally this is accomplished through locating a document on which the information is printed in a paper or thin plastics document pouch adhered to the inside surface of a vehicle window.

However, these pouches do not provide easy access to the documents inside, and their repeated use can result in tearing of the pouches or loss of adhesiveness.

The invention seeks to facilitate secure attachment of and easy access to documents to be displayed through a window.

According to the present invention there is provided a display assembly comprising a display portion, having a window, and a cover portion movable relative to one another from an open state in which one or other of said portions is capable of receiving a document to be displayed to a closed state in which said document is securely retained between said display and cover portion and visible through said window, said display portion having an external surface which is in use affixed to a display surface.

Preferably, said assembly comprises an adhesive layer applied to said display portion external surface. ob4258 Preferably, said assembly comprises a temporary cover applied to said adhesive layer.

Preferably, said display assembly is formed from a plastics material.

Preferably, said display assembly comprises an integral body with said display and cover portions being linked by one or more live hinges.

Preferably, said adhesive layer comprises a transparent plastics sheet extending across the display portion external surface.

Preferably one of said cover and said display portion comprises means for engaging the other of said cover and display portion to secure said assembly in said closed state.

Preferably, said display portion comprises a frame having said window defined therein.

Further preferably, the frame comprises one or more arms arranged to hold said document in said frame when said assembly is in said open state.

Preferred embodiments of the invention can securely accommodate documents, which can be easily accessed as required.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a display assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a preferred embodiment of a display assembly according to the invention comprises a generally rectangular main body 10 divided into a display portion 12 and a cover portion 14. These portions are joined by two spaced apart live hinge joints 16. The body 10 is made of a material sufficiently flexible enough to allow for the two portions 12 & 14 to be folded over onto each other with one surface of the cover portion 14 juxtaposed with a surface of the display portion 12.

Because the main body comprises a solid structure, it can be fabricated with more durable materials than used in conventional pouches.

The outside of the display portion 12 (when the assembly is in a folded state) is covered with a transparent plastics film 18. The outward surface of this film 18 is covered with an adhesive which allows the display assembly to be attached to an inside surface of a window. When produced, the adhesive film is temporarily covered with a non-adhesive layer which is removed prior to attaching the assembly to the window.

The display portion 12 comprises a frame in which a generally rectangular window 20 is defined. In the preferred embodiment, two arms 22 extend from the frame into the window 20, and are flush with the surfaces of the body 10. In use, the arms 22 act to hold documents in place against the film 18 (so that they can be read from the opposite side of the assembly through the transparent film 18) before the cover is closed.

The display portion frame includes a plurality of holes 24 or alternatively recesses. The cover portion 14 includes a corresponding plurality of plugs 26 located in register with the holes 24. In use, when the display assembly is closed, the holes 24 positively engage the plugs 26 to secure the assembly in a closed state.

The cover portion 14 includes a semi—circular tab 28 extending from the edge of the cover portion 14 remote from the hinges 16. The tab 28 can be gripped by a user to facilitate opening and closing of the display assembly.

In variations of the preferred embodiment, the transparent film 18 does not extend across the entire area of the window . In other variations, an adhesive layer is applied by spraying or rolling or any other applicable technique to the external surface of the display portion before covering the layer with a temporary non—adhesive layer.

It will be seen that while the preferred embodiment has been described in terms of an assembly suitable for displaying vehicle related documents, the invention could equally be adapted for displaying other documents which are to be viewed through a window.

It will also be seen that the assembly and folded assembly need not be rectangular. For example, each of the portions 12 and 14 could be generally circular in shape and linked by a single hinge, so enabling the assembly to more closely accommodate a circular document.

In the preferred embodiment, the in use external surface of the cover portion is assumed to be flat. It will be seem that this surface could in fact be used to display information which is to be viewed from inside a window. So for example, this surface could be used to display advertising material.

Alternatively, the cover portion need not cover all of the display portion, for example, to save material and as such one or more holes or recesses may be defined in the cover.

It will also be seen that methods other than the plugs/holes of the preferred embodiment can be used to secure the assembly in a closed state.

Claims (5)

Claims:

1. A display assembly comprising a display portion, having a window, and a cover portion movable relative to one another from an open state in which one or other of said portions is capable of receiving a document to be displayed to a closed state in which said document is securely retained between said display and cover portion and visible through said window, said display portion having an external surface which is in use affixed to a display surface.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising an adhesive layer applied to said display portion external surface.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 comprising a temporary cover applied to said adhesive layer.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising an integral body with said display and cover portions being linked by one or more live hinges.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said cover and said display portion comprises means for engaging the other of said cover and display portion to secure said assembly in said closed state.