Signage equipment

Abstract

To provide a signage device that eliminates blank space in the display area, allowing for efficient use of materials, and offers excellent flexibility as the display content can be easily changed. [Solution] A sign device 1 having a main body 2 having a surface wall material 3 and a display item 4 that is detachably attached to the surface wall material 3 by magnetic attraction, wherein both the surface wall material 3 and the display item 4 are made of ferromagnetic material, and at least one of the surface wall material 3 and the display item 4 is a permanent magnet body made by magnetizing a mixture of hard magnetic material powder and elastomer, and the display item 4 is configured to be flexible and shape-retaining in the direction normal to any surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sign device. More specifically, it relates to a sign device having a display item detachably provided on a main body portion having a surface wall material, and is suitable for use in various places such as stores, counters, exhibition halls, museums, facilities, and roads as POP advertisements, displays, guides, or safety signs.

Background Art

[0002] As an example of the sign device as described above, there is a traffic cone disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this traffic cone, it has a cover that detachably covers the surface of the conical portion. The shape of the cover is a cylindrical body having openings of different sizes at both ends, and the material is flexible polyvinyl chloride. By covering the traffic cone with this cover, the conical portion except for its tip portion will be covered. Indications such as "No Entry" and "No Parking" serving as guiding information are described on this cover, and it is only necessary to select a cover with a guiding indication according to the purpose and use and cover the conical portion. Therefore, without directly describing the guiding indication on the traffic cone itself (the conical portion), only one type of traffic cone is required.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since the above cover is to be covered and fixed on the conical portion, the required area is large, there are many unnecessary portions, that is, blank portions other than the display content, and the effective use of materials is not achieved. Also, since there is only one cover to be covered, in order to change the display content, it is necessary to replace the entire cover with a new one, etc., and it lacks flexibility.

[0005] This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a signage device that has no blank space in the display area, allows for efficient use of materials, and offers excellent flexibility by allowing for easy changes to the display content. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention takes the following measures to solve the above problems. The symbols in parentheses attached to each component in this section ("Means for Solving the Problems") are for reference purposes only to indicate the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments later, and the present invention is not limited to these.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, a sign device (1) comprises a main body (2) having a surface wall material (3) and a display item (4) detachably attached to the surface wall material (3) by magnetic attraction, wherein both the surface wall material (3) and the display item (4) are made of a ferromagnetic material, at least one of the surface wall material (3) and the display item (4) is a permanent magnet body obtained by magnetizing a mixture of hard magnetic material powder and elastomer, and the display item (4) is characterized by having flexibility and shape retention in the direction normal to any surface thereof.

[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, the display item (4) comprises a long core material (41) that is flexible and shape-retaining in the direction normal to any surface, and a long ferromagnetic layer (42) that extends continuously in the longitudinal direction of the core material (41) with a constant thickness, surrounding the core material (41) from all sides.

[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the surface wall material (3) has a curved surface, and a plurality of display items (4) that are molded to a shape corresponding to the desired sign information (40) and to a shape that follows the curved surface are combined and magnetically attached to the surface wall material (3). [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a sign device is provided that has no margins other than the display area, allows for efficient use of materials, and is highly flexible as the display content can be easily changed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the popcorn according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing the laminated structure of the base sheet. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the base sheet, with (a) being an unfolded view, (b) being a perspective view when rolled up, and (c) being a perspective view when rolled up and both ends connected. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the structure of the displayed item, with (a) showing a straight state and (b) showing a curved state. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart showing the assembly procedure for popcorn. [Figure 6] This diagram shows display items magnetically attached to a base sheet; (a) is a perspective view, and (b) is a view of (a) in direction A1. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the structure of a modified version of the displayed item, with (a) showing a straight state and (b) showing a curved state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the scale and angles of the components shown in the attached drawings do not necessarily correspond to the actual objects, but have been adjusted to a size that is easy to illustrate. In this specification, "~" is used to include the values ​​before and after it as the lower and upper limits, respectively. Furthermore, in the following description, magnetic adsorption may be simply referred to as magnetic attachment.

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the POP cone according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a side view showing the laminated structure of the base sheet. Figure 3 shows the base sheet, where (a) is an unfolded view, (b) is a perspective view when wound, and (c) is a perspective view when wound and both ends are connected. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the display item, where (a) is a straight state and (b) is a curved state.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the POP cone 1 has a main body 2, a base sheet 3, and a display item 4, and is placed, for example, in front of a store. The main body 2 comprises a base 21 and a roughly conical body 22. The base 21 consists of an annular plate with an open center. The roughly conical body 22 consists of a tapering hollow cone integrally provided above the base 21 so as to be concentric with the base. Both the base 21 and the roughly conical body 22 are made of hard materials such as plastic or other synthetic resin.

[0015] The base sheet 3 is a single, roughly fan-shaped ferromagnetic sheet that can be wound around the roughly conical body 22 of the main body 2. As shown in Figure 2, it is constructed by laminating a surface film 32 onto a flexible soft magnetic sheet 31 via, for example, a urethane-based adhesive. The total thickness is, for example, about 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm. As shown in Figure 3(a), one end of the roughly fan-shaped circumferential surface has three elongated holes 33 drilled at equal intervals in the radial direction, and the other end has three hook portions 34 that are arranged at equal intervals in the radial direction and protrude outward in the circumferential direction.

[0016] The soft magnetic sheet 31 does not possess the properties of a permanent magnet itself, but it is a sheet to which permanent magnets can be attracted. It is formed into a sheet by a molding method such as rolling or extrusion from a mixture of fine powder of a soft magnetic material and a small amount of organic polymer elastomer that acts as a binder.

[0017] As the soft magnetic material powder, ferromagnetic materials with low coercive force and high permeability (hereinafter referred to as "ferromagnetic powder"), ferrimagnetic materials with low coercive force and high permeability (referred to as "ferrimagnetic powder"), or a mixture of ferromagnetic powder and ferrimagnetic powder can be used. As the ferromagnetic powder, iron powder, magnetic stainless powder, sendust powder, etc. can be used. As the ferrimagnetic powder, manganese zinc ferrite powder, nickel zinc ferrite powder, magnetite powder = iron sesquioxide powder, etc., which are soft ferrites, can be used.

[0018] As the small amount of organic polymer elastomer serving as the binder, for example, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene propylene rubber, nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, chloroprene rubber, etc. can be used.

[0019] The surface film 32 is a film-shaped decorative wall material, and includes an ink-receiving layer 322 on which a pattern or design is printed on the upper surface of the base film 321. As the base film 321, a thermoplastic resin such as a polyvinyl chloride-based resin or a polyethylene-based resin having an ink-receiving layer formed on the surface, or thin coated paper, etc. can be used. Ink is fixed to this ink-receiving layer 322 by printing according to the application. Examples of the printing method include offset printing, letterpress printing, inkjet printing, thermal transfer printing, etc.

[0020] If the thickness of the display film 32 having such a configuration is too thick, the degree of flexibility (flexibility) in a state combined with the soft magnetic sheet 31 deteriorates, and when the display item 4 is magnetically attached to the surface, the transmittance of the magnetic flux lines J2 (see Fig. 6(c)) from the ferromagnetic layer 42 of the display item 4 becomes small, and the magnetic adsorption ability deteriorates. On the other hand, if it is too thin, an appropriate tensile strength and the concealing ability of the lower soft magnetic sheet 31 cannot be ensured. Note that the soft magnetic sheet 31 is generally black, and if the purpose is only to conceal it, the ink-receiving layer and printing may not be performed.

[0021] The three elongated holes 33 and three hook portions 34 in the base sheet 3 function as connecting parts for the ends. That is, as shown in Figure 3(b), the base sheet 3 is wound around a predetermined central axis J1, and then each hook portion 34 is inserted into each elongated hole 33 and dropped downwards to connect the ends. This forms a cylindrical body with openings of different sizes at both the upper and lower ends, as shown in Figure 3(c). This cylindrical body is sized to cover the approximately cone-shaped body 22 in the main body 2, leaving a portion of the upper part of the approximately cone-shaped body 22 exposed. Preferably, this size is such that it can cover 70 percent or more of the surface area of ​​the approximately cone-shaped body 22.

[0022] Display item 4 is a string-like body that has the properties of a permanent magnet, as well as flexibility and shape retention. Its basic structure consists of a core material 41 and a ferromagnetic layer 42, as shown in Figure 4. Display item 4 is designed to function as a sign device by shaping multiple elements of the same or different lengths into a desired form, and then magnetically attaching them to a base sheet 3 mounted on the main body 2 so that the desired sign information 40 is displayed on it.

[0023] The core material 41 is a flexible and shape-retaining linear body, consisting of a metal wire with a diameter of 1 mm to 5 mm, for example, made of a metal such as aluminum. The ferromagnetic layer 42 is a long, approximately circular cross-section body that surrounds the core material 41 from all sides and extends continuously in the longitudinal direction of the core material 41 with a constant diameter, and its diameter is 3 mm to 20 mm. Here, the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer 42 has a positive correlation with the thickness of the core material 41.

[0024] The ferromagnetic layer 42 is made of a mixture of fine powder of a hard magnetic material and a small amount of organic polymer elastomer that acts as a binder. As hard magnetic materials, ferrite-based magnetic materials such as barium ferrite and strontium ferrite, or rare earth magnetic materials such as samarium-cobalt-based magnets, neodymium-iron-boron-based magnets, etc. can be used. As with the soft magnetic sheet 31, the organic polymer elastomer can be chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-propylene rubber, nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, chloroprene rubber, etc.

[0025] The ferromagnetic layer 42 is magnetized. This magnetization is performed so that a magnetic polarity boundary surface 43 is formed in a planar shape along the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the string-like body. The polarity boundary surface 43 is a virtual boundary surface between magnetic poles of different polarities, and is formed so that the different magnetic poles are bisected radially. In other words, the magnetization is such that the semi-cylindrical portion 42a on one side of the polarity boundary surface 43 becomes the north pole, and the semi-cylindrical portion 42b on the other side becomes the south pole. With the above configuration, magnetic field lines J2 (see Figure 6(c)) generated from the north pole semi-cylindrical portion 42a reach the south pole semi-cylindrical portion 42b.

[0026] Furthermore, it is preferable that the ferromagnetic layer 42 be composed of an anisotropic material rather than an isotropic material. This is because anisotropic materials exhibit stronger magnetization upon magnetization compared to isotropic materials, allowing for maximum utilization of the magnetic attraction effect.

[0027] The ferromagnetic layer 42 is manufactured by forming a mixture of the fine powder of the hard magnetic material described above and a small amount of organic polymer elastomer acting as a binder into a string shape by a molding method such as extrusion, with the core material 41 placed in the center, and then magnetizing both sides. A colored paint (not shown) may be applied to its surface.

[0028] The display item 4 described above can be easily cut to the desired length with a cutting tool such as pliers, and each cut display item 4 also possesses flexibility and shape retention. This flexibility and shape retention property is present around the entire perimeter of the display item 4. In other words, it can be freely bent in any direction normal to the surface of the ferromagnetic layer 42 and maintain that state. The above normal direction is, in other words, perpendicular to the entire surface of the cylindrical core material 41.

[0029] Next, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the assembly procedure for POPcorn 1 will be explained. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the assembly procedure for the POP cone. Figure 6 shows some of the display items magnetically attached to the base sheet, where (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a view of (a) in direction A1, and (c) is a view of (a) in direction A2.

[0030] In this embodiment, the sign information 40 is "SALE", and to represent these characters, a total of seven linear display items 4, each divided into predetermined lengths as shown below, are prepared in advance. (a) 40cm in length, 2 pieces (i) 2 pieces, 26 cm in length (c) 10cm in length, 2 pieces (e) 6cm in length, 1 piece The main body 2 of POPcorn 1 has a height of 75 cm and a base diameter of 30 cm.

[0031] The assembly of POP cone 1 is carried out in the following steps, as shown in Figure 5: base sheet attachment S1, display item molding S2, and magnetic attachment of the display item S3.

[0032] [Underlay sheet installation S1] [Procedure S1-1] First, assemble the base sheet 3. Specifically, the base sheet 3 shown in Figure 3(a) is wound around a predetermined central axis J1 so that the upper and lower ends on both sides coincide, as shown in Figure 3(b). [Procedure S1-2] Next, the hook portions 34 at both ends are inserted into the elongated holes 33 at the same height and dropped downward to connect the ends, forming the cylindrical body shown in Figure 3(c). [Procedure S1-3] Next, with the larger diameter opening of the cylindrical body facing downwards, it is attached by placing it over the roughly conical body 22 of the erected main body 2 (see Figure 1).

[0033] [Display item model S2] Each of the multiple display items 4 is shaped to form the "SALE" sign information 40. Specifically, this is done using the following procedure. [Procedure S2-1] Display item 4, which is 40 cm long, is curved so that an arc 3 / 4 the length of the circumference is formed vertically and horizontally, creating an "S" shape that is approximately 16 cm high and 10 cm wide. [Procedure S2-2] Another display item 4, which is 40 cm long, is bent at its midpoint so that a roughly acute angle is formed in the center and the width of both ends is approximately 10 cm, thereby creating the shape of the part of "A" excluding the horizontal bar. This shape is approximately 16 cm high and 10 cm wide.

[0034] [Procedure S2-3] An "L" shape is created by bending a 26cm long display item 4 at a right angle 10cm from one end. This shape is approximately 16cm high and 10cm wide. This molding process is performed for two display items 4. The curvature or bending described in [Procedure S2-1] to [Procedure S2-3] is performed so that each item is on the same plane, i.e., a two-dimensional shape. Furthermore, the two 10cm long display items 4 and the one 6cm long display item 4 will remain straight without any special molding.

[0035] [Display item magnetic attachment S3] The display items 4, which have been modeled in the above steps [S2-1] to [S2-3], are attached to the base sheet 3 mounted on the main body 2 by magnetism, either individually or in combination with the linear display items 4, starting from the top. [Procedure S3-1] First, the "S" shaped display item 4, which was modeled in [Procedure S2-1], is magnetically attached to the upper position of the main body 2. [Procedure S3-2] Next, a display item 4 molded to the shape of the part of the "A" molded in [Procedure S2-2] excluding the horizontal bar is magnetically attached directly below the above "S" shaped display item 4. Then, a display item 4 with a length of 6 cm and no special molding is magnetically attached horizontally to the position corresponding to the horizontal bar in the "A" to form the "A" shape.

[0036] [Procedure S3-3] Next, magnetically attach the first "L" shaped display item 4, which was modeled in [Step 2-3], directly below the "A" shaped display item 4. Next, a second "L" shaped display item 4, molded in [Procedure S2-3], is magnetically attached directly below the first "L" shaped display item 4. Then, two 10cm long display items 4, which have not been specially molded, are magnetically attached horizontally to the positions corresponding to the upper and central horizontal bars of the "E," forming the "E" shape.

[0037] During magnetic attachment, the display item 4 is curved into a three-dimensional shape, as shown in Figure 6, so that the plane formed by the display item 4 aligns with the curved surface of the main body 2. In other words, the two-dimensional display item 4 is curved around an axis parallel to the plane. As a result, the display item 4 can continuously contact the surface of the base sheet 3 in the longitudinal direction, and is magnetically attached to the surface of the base sheet 3 without lifting off, achieving a firm fixation.

[0038] Here, if you want to change the sign information 40, "SALE," to, for example, "SAFE," you would flip the "L" shaped display item 4 over and invert it to create an "F" shape without the central horizontal bar. Then, you would magnetically attach another display item 4, similar to the one used in [Procedure S3-3], to the center to create an "F" shape. This shape is approximately 16 cm high and 10 cm wide.

[0039] In this way, with POPCone 1, multiple display items 4, each shaped according to the sign information 40, can be magnetically attached and fixed independently to any desired position on the base sheet 3. Since the display items 4 only need to have an area corresponding to the shape of the sign information 40, there is no blank space in the display area, and the material can be used efficiently. Furthermore, if you want to change the content of part of the sign information 40, you only need to remove the display item 4 of the part you want to change and replace it with one of the desired shape, without changing the whole thing. Therefore, it is easy to add or change the display content, and it is highly flexible.

[0040] [Examples of displayed items] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a modified display item, where (a) shows a straight state and (b) shows a curved state. In the modified display item 4A, the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is approximately rectangular compared to the display item 4 described above. The other configurations are the same as those of display item 4. That is, the magnetization configuration is such that one half-prism portion 420a on one side of the polarity interface 430 becomes the N pole, and the other half-prism portion 420b becomes the S pole. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of the cross-section are set to 3 mm to 20 mm, respectively. For display item 4A as well, the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer 42A has a positive correlation with the thickness of the core material 41. In the case of display item 4A, a large contact area with the base sheet 3 is secured, allowing for strong magnetic attachment.

[0041] While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments disclosed above are merely illustrative, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0042] For example, in the above-described embodiment, a soft magnetic material was used for the base sheet 3 and permanent magnets were used for the display items 4 and 4A. However, a permanent magnet may be used for the base sheet 3 and a soft magnetic material for the display items 4 and 4A. Alternatively, permanent magnets may be used for both the base sheet 3 and the display items 4 and 4A.

[0043] Furthermore, while specific characters were shown as signature information 40, symbols, pictures, patterns, or combinations thereof may also be used. Furthermore, although the base sheet 3 is a laminate of a soft magnetic sheet 31 and a surface film 32, a surface film 32 coated with soft magnetic powder may also be used. Furthermore, the soft magnetic sheet 31 in the base sheet 3 may be made of steel foil with a thickness of 80 μm to 200 μm or magnetic stainless steel (such as SUS430). Furthermore, the composition, structure, shape, dimensions, number, arrangement, and material of each part or the entirety of POP Cone 1 can be appropriately modified in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0044] This signage device can be widely used as a point-of-purchase (POP) advertisement, display, guide, or safety sign, and is suitable for use in various locations such as stores, counters, exhibition halls, museums, facilities, and streets. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1. Popcorn (signage device) 2 Main body 3. Base sheet 4 Display Items 40 Sign Information 41 Core material 42 Ferromagnetic layer

Claims

1. A sign device comprising a main body having a surface wall material and a display item that is detachably attached to the surface wall material by magnetic attraction, Both the surface wall material and the display item are made of ferromagnetic material, and at least one of the surface wall material and the display item is a permanent magnet body made by magnetizing a mixture of hard magnetic material powder and elastomer. A signage device characterized in that the display item has flexibility and shape retention in the direction normal to any of its surfaces.

2. The sign device according to claim 1, wherein the display item comprises a long core material having flexibility and shape retention in the direction normal to any surface, and a long ferromagnetic layer extending continuously in the longitudinal direction of the core material with a constant thickness, surrounding the core material from all sides.

3. The surface wall material has a curved surface, A sign device according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a combination of multiple display items, each molded to a shape corresponding to the intended sign information and also molded to conform to the curved surface, which are magnetically attached to a surface wall material.

Images