This invention relates to display means and to combined display means and holder means.

The invention has been conceived in connection with the displaying of menus for cafes, restaurants, bars, etc and will, in the main, be discussed in relation thereto.

However, it is to be understood that the invention has wider application.

It is known for cafes, restaurants, bars, etc to use self-standing menu display means which normally can accommodate only a single menu, and to use self-standing display means for advertising material, or to highlight certain items on a menu, for example. These display means are sometimes double-sided, whereby the information being displayed can be read from opposed sides of the display means. In the context of cafes, restaurants, bars, etc., self-standing menu displays can be borrowed from one table and not returned, and they are constantly being handled so that they can become dirty and/or defaced. Furthermore, when such display means are used with alfresco tables, windy weather conditions can be such as to blow the display means off the tables.

It is an object of the present invention to provide display means which overcome or obviate these disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided display means comprising first and second portions each of which is provided with means for receiving an information-bearing member, the display means further comprising fastening means for releasably attaching the first and second portions to a generally upright member.

The fastening means may comprise one or more apertures adapted to receive the generally upright member as a sliding fit. The first and second portions of the display means may be formed integrally and with this arrangement, the display means may be slid over the upright member or vice versa. Preferably, the first and second portions are formed separately with releasable connecting means provided, whereby the first and second portions can be offered around the generally upright member and then connected together by the connecting means.

Each of the first and second portions of the display means may be provided with upper and lower means, such as pockets, for holding respective ends of the information- bearing member. In the case of pockets, for example, these may be formed separately and adapted to be connected to the first and second portions. The pockets may have side walls so that the information-bearing member is insertable by flexing the same and engaging the ends thereof in respective pockets. Alternatively, one or both side walls of the pockets can be omitted, v/hereby the information-

bearing member can be slid into the pockets from one or other side although conveniently, the information-bearing member is arranged to be slid from one side, with retaining means being provided at the opposite side of the display means which act as a stop for the information-bearing member.

Instead of pockets, or the like, the first and second portions may be provided with information-bearing member retaining means in the form of extensions, for example tabs, generally parallel to, but spaced from, the plane of the first and second portions.

In order to reduce the possibility of defacement, it is preferable for the information-bearing members to be protected and to this end, it may be mounted on the inside of the first and second portions, whereby the latter are composed of a transparent or translucent material. Alternatively, the information-bearing members may be mounted on the outside of the first and second portions and protected by transparent or translucent sheets.

The invention finds particular, but not exclusive, application in cafes, restaurants, bars, etc which employ tables fitted with an umbrella, the supporting pole of which engages a central aperture in the table. The display means of the present invention can be releasably fastened to the umbrella pole so that the menu or other information-

bearing member can be read from at least two sides without having to be handled although it can be rotated relative to the pole for better visibility. The display means may comprise a third portion, or third and fourth portions, also adapted to receive information-bearing members. Instead of, or in addition to, these further information- bearing members, the third and/or fourth portions of the display means may be provided with means for holding a condiment set and/or cutlery and/or food dressings, for example.

Preferably, the display means are composed of a substantially rigid material so that they are self-standing when not required for use in association with an upright member, for example for use with normal indoor tables when alfresco tables are abandoned during winter months. When used with an upright member, such as an umbrella pole, the display means may rest on the table or the pole may be provided with means for retaining the display means above the table so as to maximise available space on the latter.

In order to stabilise the display means on an upright member, two spaced apertures may be provided which sliaingly receive the upright member and a first aperture may be provided in the top of the display means and a second aperture intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. Conveniently, the second aperture is formed by tv/o semi-circular cut outs provided in two halves of

stabilising means associated with respective first and second portions of the display means. Conveniently, the stabilising means are formed integrally with the first and second portions and are hingedly connected thereto so that they can be folded from an inoperative position, generally planar with the first and second portions, to an operative position in which they extend at an angle from the first and second portions, in which operative position the two halves overlap each other to form a strut and are provided with means for releasably connecting them together. Inasmuch as with this arrangement the first and second portions have apertures left therein when the stabilising means are in the operative position, it is convenient to provide information-bearing member retaining means which allow the latter to be slid into position from one side of the display means and having a transparent or translucent sheet of material which is also slid into the display means, along with the information-bearing member, with the latter disposed behind the former.

The first and/or second portion may be provided v/ith a pocket or other holder and adapted to receive a plurality of articles such as leaflets, for example. Also, the first and/or second portion may be provided with one or more apertures adapted to receive a medallion or the like which may bear a trade mark and/or table number and/or a no-smoking sign, for example.

The display means may be provided with an aperture or other means for receiving secondary display means, for example a tag indicating the number of the table in the case of a menu holder.

Display means constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an erected embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further component of the embodiment of Figure 1, and

Figures 7 and 8 are similar to Figures 1 and 2, respectively, but in respect of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, this embodiment of the present invention is a menu holder for use in

association with the pole of an umbrella and is made up of two identical first and second portions 1 and 2 each in the form of a simple-piece polypropylene moulding having a thickness of approximately 2 mm. Each portion 1 and 2 is of a general L-shape with the two shorter limbs 3 complementing each other to form a top 4 of the erected display means. Each limb 3 has a semi-circular cut-out 5 at its free edge. Each limb 3 has opposed side pieces 6, one of which is formed with a socket 7 and the other with a tongue 8 which form part of an overall connecting means by which the portions 1 and 2 are connected together, the tongue 8 of the side piece 6 of one portion engaging the socket 7 of the opposed side piece of the other portion, and vice versa. The tongues 8 are shown as having gripper ribs but these may be omitted.

Each portion 1 and 2 is formed with first and second pockets 11 and 12 which are conveniently moulded integrally with the portions but may be provided separately and connected thereto. The pockets 11 and 12 have side walls 13.

Stabilising means are provided in the form of a strut formed by co-operating, hinged flaps 14, these flaps being provided with semi-circular cut outs 15 which complement each other, in the erected display, to provide a second aperture to accommodate the generally upright member to which the display may be attached. The flaps 14 overlap

s and are interconnected by snap fasteners in the form of headed studs 9 and co-operating apertures 10.

In-turned side edges 20 of the portions 1 and 2 are each provided with a closed track or channel 16 operable to receive an edge of a trapezoidal side panel 17 (Figure 6) which is slidable from below into a pair of associated tracks in the erected display means. With the use of closed channels 16, the panel 17 will not drop out if the display is lifted but channels open at the lower end may be more convenient as regards the insertion and removal of the panel. If such channels are used, pips or other means may be provided within the channels to act as retaining means. The side panels 17 may be printed with information such as advertising material for example, or the information may be provided separately and releasably attached to the side panels. In addition to, or instead of, displaying information, the side panels 17 may be provided with holder means which may be releasably attachable to the side panels or formed integrally therewith. The holder means may be arranged to hold beer mats, and/or serviettes and/or cutlery and/or condiments and/or food dressings, for example.

Each portion 1 and 2 is provided v/ith a panel 22 which may be printed with advertising material, for example, or receive a separately printed label.

A medallion 23 is accommodated on a stand 24 (shown only in Figure 1) , the base of which may be a snap fit, for example, in an aperture provided in the top panel or limb 3 of the portion 1 or 2. The medallion 23 may indicate a table number in the case of a menu holder and/or may involve advertising material, for example.

In order to erect the display means of Figures l to 5, the portions l and 2 are taken and may first be offered around an umbrella pole, or other generally upright member (not shown) , and then the connecting means 7 and 8 engaged so that the two portions are releasably secured together. When the portions 1 and 2 are connected, the two semi¬ circular cut outs 5 complement each other to provide an aperture 21 which receives the upright member as a sliding fit and serves to fasten the display means to that member. A menu or other information-bearing member 22, together with front and rear protective plastic transparent sheets 25, may be mounted in each of the first and second portions 1 and 2 by flexing and engaging the upper and lower edges in the respective pockets 11 and 12. This mounting of the information-bearing member 21 can take place before the portions 1 and 2 are assembled together, or afterwards. The connecting means 7 and 8 are, as already mentioned, releasable so that the display means can be dismounted from the upright member by releasing the connecting means or, alternatively, the display means can be slid from the upright member, or vice versa. It will be appreciated that

the pockets 11 and 12 positively hold the lower and upper edges of the menu so that the latter is not readily displaced, for example by side winds.

Turning now to Figures 7 and 8, these illustrate a preferred embodiment which is very similar to that of Figures 1 to 6, the principal exception being that .the strut made up of the flaps 14 are dispensed with.

The pockets 11 and 12 are moulded integrally with the portions 1 and 2 as before and the bottom pockets 11 have their bases defined by the bottom edges 25 of the portions 1 and 2, which bottom edges are formed, towards each end, with a transverse rib 26, the four ribs providing feet for the display means if it is required to sit on a surface-

As in the embodiment of Figure 1 to 6, the in-turned side edges 20 are formed with tracks or channels 16 to receive side panels 17 as and when required and as described in connection with the first embodiment. The preferred embodiment may be provided with a medallion 23 as in the first embodiment.

Both of the illustrated embodiments are moulded from a substantially rigid material, as previously mentioned, and are of conveniently of a thickness of the order of 2.0 mm and thus are self-supporting on a table or other support member when connected to the umbrella pole or other

upright member and/or the display means. In order to maximise the available space on the table or other support member, the display means may be suspended thereabove by providing suitable means on the upright member to prevent downward sliding movement of the display means.

Each of the illustrated embodiments may be provided with one or two pockets releasably attachable to the portions 1 and/or 2 to provide a holder for leaflets or other articles. The attachment of these pockets may be by way of any suitable means, for example by apertures in the portions 1 and 2, and hooks on the pockets, or vice versa, or by snap fastening means.

It will be appreciated that the separate first and second portions have been designed so as not to be handed which reduces significantly production costs and avoids the need to ensure that they are kept in pairs. It will also be appreciated that the generally upright member may be of any cross-sectional shape although circular is convenient so that the display may be rotated with respect thereto.

It is possible to form the portions 1 and 2 in the flat, with the various edge portions being hingedly connected to the main body portion. It will be understood that two sets of tongues 7 and sockets 8 may be provided on each portion 1 and 2 if required and that these may be a snap fit one with the other.

The pockets 11 and 12 may be open at one side to permit the menu holder and any protective sheets(s) to be slid into the pockets, with the closed ends of the pockets acting as stops.

The portions 1 and 2 may be composed of transparent or translucent material, whereby the information-bearing members can be mounted behind the portions, the latter protecting the former.

When the display means are not required to be mounted on a generally upright member, then it will be appreciated that they can be self-standing if still required to display information, or may be collapsed for storage. If used as self-standing display means, then the aperture 21 in the top 4 of the display means may be used to accommodate an alternative upright member in the form of a plant or flower holder, for example.

Furthermore, the portions 1 and 2 may be adapted to carry, in addition to, or instead of, the medallion 23, one or more medallions which may carry a trade mark and/or other matter such as a table number or "no-smoking" sign, for example. The medallions are preferably releasably attached to the portions 1 and 2.