Abstract:
What is disclosed herein are display devices, especially graphic display devices, which are economical to manufacture, are convenient to assemble and disassemble for creating multiple display systems, for example, for creating a tradeshow back wall or background.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention disclosed herein deals with display devices, especially graphic display devices, which are economical to manufacture, are convenient to assemble and disassemble, are aesthetically appealing, have convenient and low cost shipping capabilities, have the capability of easy interchange of graphics used therewith, have the capability of creating multiple systems, for example, for creating a tradeshow back wall or background, have no moving parts, are lightweight and compact such that they can be easily stored in a storage bag or case.  
           [0002]    Applicants are aware of several commercially available display devices, but none of them have the configuration or utility of the displays of the instant invention.  
         THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The invention disclosed and claimed herein deals with display devices, such devices comprising a base to support the display, and display support rods, at least two support rods, an upper holder rod and, a lower holder rod, wherein the base is comprised of two parallel and spaced-apart side rails and at least one connecting rail.  
           [0004]    Each side rail has a middle zone, a back end, a front end, an inside surface and a top surface, wherein each side rail has mounted on its top surface, and near the back end, a support rod connector. Also, each side rail has mounted on the top surface and near the front end, a lower holder rod connector.  
           [0005]    Each side rail has mounted in the middle zone on the inside surface thereof, a side rail connector for the attachment of a common connector rail for connection to each of the side rails for connecting the two side rails together,  
           [0006]    Each support rod connector is capable of and holds a support rod, each support rod has an upper end and each upper end is connected by an upper holder rod connector to the upper holder rod to support the upper holder rod.  
           [0007]    In another embodiment of this invention, there is a device in which there is only one support rod for supporting the upper holder rod.  
           [0008]    Thus, there is disclosed and claimed a display device comprising a base, a support rod, an upper holder rod and, a lower holder rod, wherein the base is comprised of two parallel and spaced-apart side rails wherein each of the side rails has a middle zone, a back end, a front end, an inside surface and a top surface.  
           [0009]    Each side rail has mounted on the top surface and near the front end, a lower holder rod connector and each side rail has mounted in the middle zone on the inside surface, a first side rail connector for the attachment of a first common connector rail for connection to each of the side rails for connecting the two side rails together.  
           [0010]    Each side rail has mounted at the respective back ends thereof a second side rail connector for the attachment of a second common connector rail for connection to each of the side rails for connecting the two side rails together, wherein the second common connector rail has a middle zone and a top surface. The second common connector rail has mounted on the top surface, and in the middle zone, a support rod connector.  
           [0011]    The support rod connector is capable of and holds a support rod. The support rod has an upper end; the upper end is connected by an upper holder rod connector to the upper holder rod to support the upper holder rod. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a full front view of a display device of this invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a side view of the display device of FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a full top view of the base of the device of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a full top view of a side rail of the base of FIG. 3.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a view of the forward end of a side rail showing the lower holding rod connector.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a full front view of the upper holder bar of this invention, showing the connector mechanisms for the support bars of the inventive device.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of the rearward portion of a side rail showing a support rod connector for a support rod of this invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a view in front perspective of a device of this invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a full top view of a device of this invention with the support rods under tension.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a full front view in perspective of a graphic display device of this invention, with the graphic display piece in place.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a full top view of another embodiment of this invention in which only one support rod is used.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a front view of a system of this invention using a combination of the display devices of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a full front view of a display device  1  of this invention in which there is shown the base  2 , having two parallel, spaced-apart side rails  3  and  4 , and a connector rail  5 .  
         [0025]    There is further shown two support rods  6  and  7 , and an upper holder rod  8 , a lower holder rod  9 , connectors  11  and  11 ′ for the upper rod  8 . The connectors  11  and  11 ′ are unitary structures comprised of two components, namely, connector components  12  and  12 ′, and the tubes  13  and  13 ′, wherein each of the connector components  12  and  12 ′ and each of the tubes  13  and  13 ′, respectively, are an integral unit to form the connectors  11  and  11 ′. Finally, there is shown the lower support rod connectors  14  and  14 ′ for holding and stabilizing the support rods  6  and  7 . FIG. 2 shows a clearer and full view of the component  14 ′, the lower support rod connector.  
         [0026]    Turning now to FIG. 2, which is a full side view of the display device of FIG. 1, wherein like numbers have like meanings as set forth above, there is further shown lower holder rod connector  15 ′, which holds the lower holder rod  9  in place while the display device  1  is functioning in the manner intended. Obviously, lower holder rod connector  15  functions in a similar manner to hold the opposite end of the lower holder rod  9 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 also shows the angle θ, the significance of which will be described infra.  
         [0028]    Although not required by this invention, there is shown end caps  16  for the side rails  3  and  4 . The end caps  16  add to the aesthetic appearance of the display device  1 , but are not required for operation of the display device  1 .  
         [0029]    Now, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4,  5 ,  6 , and  7 , and with specificity, there is shown in FIG. 3, a full top view of the base  2  of the invention. There is shown the lower support rod connectors  14  and  14 ′ and end caps  16 .  
         [0030]    In addition, there is shown side rail  3  and side rail  4 , and  15  and  15 ′, the lower rod connectors, respectively. The side rails  3  and  4  are connected at their middle zones  10 , by the middle connector rail  5 . For purposes of connecting the middle connector rail  5 , there is shown in phantom, connector inserts  17 , which insert into the hollow ends  23  of the middle connector rail  5 . The middle connector rail  5  can be easily disassembled from the side rails  3  and  4 , by pulling the connector insert  17  (by pulling the respective side rails  3  and  4 , from the middle rail  5 ). It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to use means to solidly connect the middle connector rail  5  and the side rails  3  and  4 , such as by using screws, or gluing the components together. This of course, means that disassembly requires an additional step and in the case of the glued parts, no disassembly at all.  
         [0031]    The connector insert  7  can be more easily seen in FIG. 4, which Figure is a top view of side rail  3 , again, showing end caps  16 , lower support rod connector  14 , lower rod connector  15 , and middle zone  10 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the forward end of the side rail  4 , showing the lower rod connector  15 ′ in detail. It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to use any means for connecting the graphic display banner to the base, but this particular type of connector, known as the graphic latch connector, lends itself well to easy connect and disconnect of the apparatus and is preferred herein. Cabinet door type latches would also work for a connector. This preferred type of connector, i.e. the graphic latch, is comprised of housings  18 , for each end of the connector  15 ′, each such housing  18  containing a spring  19 , shown in phantom in FIG. 5, and, a compressible button  20 , slidably retained in each housing  18  and forward of the spring  19  in the housing  18 . When the lower holder rod  9  is pressed between the buttons  20 , the buttons  20  are forced back and the rod  9  inserts to the top surface of the side rail  4 , and the buttons  20  are then forced to return to their resting positions by the compressed springs  19 , and the buttons retain the rod  9  against the top surface of the side rail  4 .  
         [0033]    Turning now to FIG. 6, which is a full front view of the upper holder rod  8 , and the mechanism  11  and  11 ′ for connecting the support rods  6  and  7 . As indicated supra, the connectors  11  and  11 ′ for the rod  8  are integral units and are comprised of connector components  12  and  12 ′, and tube components  13  and  13 ′. The components  12  and  13  are an integral piece and work together, as well as components  12 ′ and  13 ′, in that the tube components  13  and  13 ′ are configured to spin around the rod  8 , such that the ends  21  of such connectors  11  and  11 ′ can be moved to accommodate the support rod  6  and  7  insertions into retaining wells  22 .  
         [0034]    Reference should now be made to FIG. 7, which is the rearward end of the side rail  4 , showing the lower support rod connector  14 ′, it being understood that the side rail  3  and its like components have the same configuration as discussed herein for side rail  4 . FIG. 7 therefore shows the side rail  4 , the end cap  16 , and the lower support rod connector  14 ′, with the angle theta (0) being shown between the lower support rod connector  14 ′ and the horizontal configuration of the side rail  4 . This angle should be on the order of about  8 ° to  12 ′ from the vertical. The device herein cannot adequately function unless the approximate angle of the components  14  and  14 ′ are maintained, that is, a more vertical angle of the components  14  and  14 ′ results in a less than desirable effect in the graphics display  25  ultimately displayed on the device  1 . It should be obvious to those with ordinary skill in the art and a reading of this specification, and with reference to the Figures, that the tilt of the connectors  14  and  14 ′ from the vertical is towards the rear of the side rails  3  and  4 , and not towards the forward end.  
         [0035]    Going forward to FIG. 1, which is a full front view of the device  1  of this invention, but without a graphic display banner  25 , there is shown the side rails  3  and  4 , the middle connector rail  5 , the support rods  6  and  7 , the connecting mechanism  11  and  11 ′, and the upper holder rod  8 , to show the configuration of the device  1  without a graphic display banner  25 , attached. Note that the support rods  6  and  7  are essentially vertical, having a backward leaning position owing to the angle theta of the lower support rod connectors  14  and  14 ′, and then, turning to FIG. 8, which is a view in perspective from the front of a device  1  of this invention wherein the configuration of the device  1  is shown as it would appear with a graphic display banner  25  in place, showing the arc of the flexible support rods  6 , and  7 , it being noted that the graphic display banner  25  is not shown in this Figure, for clarity.  
         [0036]    It should be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that in this configuration, the support rods  6  and  7 , by being bent through this arc, provide tension in the graphic display banner  25  and thus, provide a uniform surface to the graphic display banner  25  which lends itself to the overall aesthetics of the device  1  and the display. For purposes of this Figure, like reference numbers have like meanings as set forth supra.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is a full top view of the device of FIG. 8, wherein the support rods  6  and  7  are under tension, and the graphic display banner  25  is not shown. Therein, like reference numerals have like meanings.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of a device  1  of this invention with the graphic display banner  25  in place. Thus, there is shown the device  1 , the base  2 , wherein the side rail  3 , is shown partially in phantom, the support rod  6  and the lower support rod connector  14  are shown in phantom, the upper connectors for the upper holder rod  8 , the rod  8  not being shown, and, the middle connector rail  5 .  
         [0039]    To assemble the device  1  with a display banner  25 , one connects the side rails  3  and  4  to the middle connector rail  5  by inserting the connector insert  17 , located at the middle zone  10  of each rail, into each of the hollow ends  23  of the middle connector rail  5 . Thereafter, the lower ends of the support rods  6  and  7  are inserted into the lower support rod connectors  14  and  14 ′ . The graphic display banner  25  is then fitted with the upper holder rod  8 , and the lower holder rod  9 . Thereafter, the upper ends of the support rods  6  and  7  are inserted, respectively, into the connector components  11  and  11 ′. Finally, the holder rod  9  is pulled down and inserted in the lower rod connectors  15  and  15 ′ to anchor the graphic display banner  25  and create tension in the support rods  6  and  7 , which in turn, provides a smooth, uniform surface on the graphic display banner  25 .  
         [0040]    The steps provided above are essentially reversed to disassemble the device  1 .  
         [0041]    There is also contemplated within the scope of this invention, a device  24 , similar to device  1 , except, there is an additional connector rod  26 , which not only connects the back end of the side rails  3  and  4 , but also helps stabilize the base  2 , and there is only one support rod  27 .  
         [0042]    Thus, with regard to FIG. 11, there is shown a display device  24  with one support rod  27 , one support rod holder  28 , side rails  3  and  4 , back connector rail  26 , middle connector rail  5 , the upper support rod holder  29 , and the upper holder bar  8 . The connectors for the support rod are configured the same as those of the device  1 , and like reference numerals have like meanings as set forth in FIG. 1 and the specification.  
         [0043]    Assembly and disassembly of the device  24  is similar to that of device  1 .  
         [0044]    The systems of this invention encompass the use of one or more of the display devices of this invention in a combination as a backdrop or a display wall for a commercial display. Thus, it is contemplated that a combination could be, for example, as shown in FIG. 12 wherein there is shown displays  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 , and  33 , having various configurations. It is further contemplated within the scope of this invention to vary the height and width of the devices  1  and  24 , in order to vary the display and the display systems.  
         [0045]    As shown in FIG. 12, there are two, tall, vertical displays, and three wide, horizontal displays, wherein the devices vary in width and height. Such combinations are fully contemplated within the scope of this invention.  
         [0046]    The components of the inventive device are manufactured from metals and/or plastics. For example, the entire apparatus can be manufactured from lightweight metals such as aluminum, or the apparatus can be manufactured from plastics, or the apparatus can be manufactured from a combination of metal and plastics. Preferred for the instant invention is a device manufactured primarily from aluminum metal.  
         [0047]    Preferred plastics useful for manufacturing the invention include polypropylene, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, styrene, and fiberglass. Preferred plastics are polypropylene and polyethylene, and most preferred is polypropylene.  
         [0048]    The graphics banners useful in this invention include, for example, those manufactured from fabrics, papers, plastics, and it is contemplated within the scope of this invention to provide banners that are made up of one or more than one layer such that special effects can be obtained.