Abstract:
A thin, graphic support assembly comprising an elongated base rail and an elongated cover rail which come together around a board to form four sides of a frame. A spring mechanism is fully captured after the base rail and cover rail are assembled together, and the angle and position of the spring channel allows the hinge location to be at the top/outer edge of the frame. The elongated base rail and elongated cover rail can be oriented in a parallel relationship when closed for capturing a display panel or a perpendicular relationship when open for inserting or removing a display panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present convention comprises a display arrangement constructed from a set of extruded rails which when assembled provide a thin rectangular frame which may be loaded from its front side, after it is completely assembled. 
         [0003]    2. Prior art 
         [0004]    In the retail industry it is often necessary to display a graphic surface in close proximity to other graphic displays. Further, those graphic displays need to be neat, presentable and readily changeable. Additionally, those display fixtures themselves may need to be a relatively unobtrusive by themselves being minimalist. Such display fixtures would ideally be a perimeter capture frame of minimum thickness. This would permit such a display fixture or frame next to or within other fixed objects such as walls or fixtures. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention, to provide a display fixture arrangement which is minimized in its dimensions so as not to be obtrusive. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display fixture arrangement which may be loaded with a graphic from the front. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a low profile display fixture arrangement with a perimeter portion which, when opened, will not interfere with any other immediately adjacent fixture arrangements. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a low profile display fixture arrangement that contains a spring mechanism that is fully contained in a minimal, angled relationship with respect to the display piece and its peripheral display biasing cover rail. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention comprises a graphic display fixture which in its most preferred embodiment would comprise a full perimeter frame for that graphic. Each side of the frame is comprised of an elongated extruded cover rail and an elongated extruded base rail of generally equal length to the cover rail. The cover rail has an elongated edge portion which pivotably mates with an elongated channel on one long edge of the base rail. 
         [0010]    The cover rail comprises an elongated planar portion having one elongated flat side/edge thereon generally tangent to an elongated generally “J” shaped hinge portion defining the other elongated edge thereof. The hinge portion of the cover rail comprises an elongated cover-rail toe consisting of the distalmost portion of the hinge of the cover rail. An elongated pivot arm extends from a segment of the cover-rail toe at a preferably slightly obtuse angle with respect thereto. An elongated slot is formed between the elongated total and the “J” shaped hinge portion of the cover rail. An elongated shoulder extends along the length of the elongated cover rail at a portion of the underside of the elongated plane portion immediately adjacent to the “J” shaped hinge portion, to define an elongated gap between the distal end of the cover-rail toe and the elongated shoulder thereon. The cover rail itself may have decorative surface options, however, only a relatively flat shape as consistent with the present invention, prevents interference of the cover rail with adjacent objects or other neighboring frames. 
         [0011]    The elongated base rail comprises an elongated planar portion having an “L” shaped corner bracket capture flange integral to and generally adjacent a first elongated edge thereof forming a corner bracket capture channel. The elongated base rail has an elongated upstanding flange extending along a second elongated edge thereof. An angled wall extends away from the planar portion of the base rail at a location intermediate the elongated flange on the second end of the base rail and the L-shaped corner bracket-capture flange thereon. The angled wall and the elongated flange on the second edge of the base rail define an open elongated channel therebetween. A base rail support flange or lip extends off of the angled wall and is arranged parallel to the planar portion of the base rail. A generally “J” shaped cover-rail-engagement flange extends off of the other side of the angled wall from which the base rail lip or support flange extends. 
         [0012]    In the assembly of one side of a graphic display fixture, such as a rectilinear frame, the generally “J” shaped hinge portion of the elongated cover rail is slid into the elongated channel which extends along the second edge of the elongated base rail. The cover-rail-engagement flange is shaped so as to slide into and be received in the elongated slot between the pivot arm of the cover rail and the “J” shaped portion of that cover rail. 
         [0013]    An elongated wave-shaped spring is inserted between the outer edge of the cover rail shoulder and the inner surface of the elongated open channel and the base rail. The elongated wave spring comprises a thin alternating form of waves having an alternating series of crests and troughs. A ridge is arranged across the midpoint on the upper edge side of the crest along the length of the elongated wave spring. The outer edge of the cover rail toe is in frictional, biased engagement with those series of ridges spaced along the length of the wavy spring. 
         [0014]    A backer board may be placed within the assembly of the cover rail and the base rail, wherein the backer board is placed adjacent the corner bracket capture flange and beneath the base rail lip. A display panel is intended to be supportively arranged on the outermost surface of the base rail lip. Pivoted movement of the elongated planar portion of the cover rail, from an orientation perpendicular to the base rail, into a contacting or at least a retaining relationship with the display panel on the base rail, establishes the holding of that display panel within the fixture device of the frame assembly. 
         [0015]    Four of these assemblies of cover rails and base rails, which each supports an edge of the backer board, may be joined together at the corners by a corner bracket. The corner bracket has a pair of arms which extend perpendicularly from each other. In one embodiment, the rails are cut shorter and an additional “corner block” may be used to soften the sharp edges of the miter cut with a central corner piece. Thus the use of four side assemblies of graphic support fixtures permit a graphic display panel to be installed within that assembly from the front without having to remove that assembly from a wall or a crowded support position. 
         [0016]    The invention thus comprises a thin, graphic support assembly comprising; an elongated base rail having an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge; an elongated cover rail having an elongated planar portion arranged along one edge thereof, and an elongated “J” shaped portion tangentially arranged along a second edge thereof; an elongated receiving channel arranged in the elongated second edge of the base rail, with a biasing member arranged therein, the elongated “J” shaped portion of the cover rail hingedly arranged also with the elongated receiving channel, to permit the cover rail to be pivoted about its “J” shaped portion so as to enable the graphic support assembly to retain a display panel between the cover rail and the base rail. Thus, the two “J”-shaped elongated, slidingly engaged “flanges” comprises the elongated pivot axis relationship between the cover rail and the base rail. 
         [0017]    The invention also comprises a method of supporting a graphic display in a graphic support assembly, comprising one or more of the following steps, including: extruding an elongated base rail having an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge; extruding an elongated cover rail having an elongated planar portion arranged along one edge thereof, and an elongated “J” shaped portion arranged along a second edge thereof; forming an elongated receiving channel arranged in the elongated second edge of the extruded base rail; inserting a biasing member into the elongated receiving channel; inserting the elongated “J” shaped portion of the cover rail into the elongated receiving channel, to permit the cover rail to be hingedly pivoted about its “J” shaped portion; placing a display panel onto a support lip or flange of the base rail; and pivoting the cover rail about its biased-member-engaged elongated “J” shaped portion and into close relationship with the support lip or flange of the base rail, so as to enable the graphic support assembly to retain the display panel between the cover rail and the base rail. 
         [0018]    The invention thus comprises a thin, graphic support assembly comprising; an elongated base rail having an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge; an elongated cover rail having an elongated planar portion arranged along one edge thereof, and a tangentially adjacent elongated “J” shaped portion arranged along a second edge thereof, the elongated cover rail pivotable between an open orientation and a closed graphic or panel restraining position; an elongated receiving channel arranged in the elongated second edge of the base rail, with a biasing member arranged therein, the elongated “J” shaped portion of the cover rail hingedly arranged also with the elongated receiving channel, to permit the cover rail to be pivoted about its “J” shaped portion so as to enable the graphic support assembly to retain a display panel between the cover rail and the base rail; the pivot axis located between the “J” shaped portion of the cover rail and the “J” shaped upper edge of the receiving channel in the base rail. The elongated receiving channel is preferably arranged obliquely with respect to the base of the base rail. The biasing member preferably comprises an elongated sinusoidally shaped spring. The elongated sinusoidally shaped spring preferably lies beneath the cover rail. The elongated base rail has an elongated lip or flange for support of a graphic or panel thereon. The graphic or panel supported on the elongated lip of the base rail may in one embodiment have a free space between it and the cover rail when the cover rail is in the closed graphic or panel restraining orientation, depending however, upon the thickness of the graphic or panel. The assembly may also include a backer board supported by a lip of the base rail and a corner bracket capture flange of the base rail. A free space may also be arranged between the graphic or panel and the backer board. The “J” shaped portion of the cover rail preferably includes an elongated rail toe and an elongated pivot arm. The elongated cover rail toe and the elongated pivot arm are preferably arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to one another on the distalmost portion of the “J” shaped portion of the cover rail. The elongated cover rail toe is in biased, frictional contact with the biasing member in the elongated receiving channel. The frictional contact of the elongated rail toe and the biasing member is preferably against a plurality of spaced apart ridges on the biasing member. The upper “J” shaped engagement flange of the base rail mates, in the elongated chamber, with an inner side of the “J” shaped edge of the cover rail, as a opening-movement-limiting member for the cover rail. 
         [0019]    The invention also comprises a method of supporting a graphic display in a graphic support assembly, comprising one or more of the following steps which include: extruding an elongated base rail having an elongated first edge and an elongated second edge; extruding an elongated cover rail having an elongated planar portion arranged along one edge thereof, and an elongated “J” shaped portion tangentially arranged along a second edge thereof; forming an elongated receiving channel arranged in the elongated second edge of the extruded base rail; inserting a biasing member into the elongated receiving channel; inserting the elongated “J” shaped portion of the cover rail into the elongated receiving channel, to permit the cover rail to be hingedly pivoted about its “J” shaped portion; placing a display panel onto a support lip of the base rail; and pivoting the cover rail about its biased-member-engaged elongated “J” shaped portion and into close relationship with the support lip of the base rail, so as to enable the graphic support assembly to retain the display panel between the cover rail and the base rail, wherein the biased member is widthwise-arranged at an oblique angle (with respect to the plane of the graphic and the lowermost surface of the base rail) within the elongated receiving channel, wherein a free space is may be maintained between the cover flange and the graphic or panel being restrained thereby, (depending upon the thickness of the graphic or panel), and wherein a free space is preferably maintained however, between the graphic or panel supported on the base rail and a backer board supported by the base rail, 
         [0020]    The invention also comprises an elongated graphic support assembly, for supporting a planar graphic in a crowded space, comprising: an elongated base rail having an elongated support flange for supporting an edge of a graphic, the elongated base rail having an upper “J” shaped edge in planar alignment with the elongated support flange; an elongated cover rail having a “J” shaped edge in pivotable co-axial alignment with the upper “J” shaped edge of the base rail to provide a pivotable retaining member for a graphic supported on the elongated support flange. The upper “J” shaped flange of the base rail and an elongated flange on a second edge of the base rail define an elongated channel therebetween which preferably encloses the pivot axis of the assembly. The elongated channel preferably has an elongated, curvilinearly shaped bias spring therein, to provide frictional engagement with the elongated “J” shaped edge of the cover rail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an elongated cover rail, an elongated base rail and an elongated wave spring assembled together with one side of a backer board and a display panel with the elongated cover rail fully opened in its graphic-receiving orientation; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the elongated cover rail pivoted partially towards the elongated rail lip on the base rail; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the elongated cover rail pivoted down into graphic-display-panel-engaging relationship relative to the base rail lip; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the elongated base rail; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the elongated cover rail; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a frame assembly enclosing a display panel; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of an elongated wave spring utilized with the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the elongated wave spring shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a corner block utilized to soften sharp corners of the miter cut cover rail and the miter cut base rail; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10A  is a side elevation view of a pair of base and cover rails back-to-back in the fully open display receiving orientation; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10B  is a side elevation of view of the pair of base and cover rails shown in  FIG. 10A , with the cover rail in a partially closed orientation; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10C  is a side elevation view of the pair of base and cover rails back to back, with their respective cover rails fully capturing a display sheet against the base rail lip; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11A  is an edge view of the base rail shown in  FIG. 4  receiving a biasing spring therewithin; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11B  is a plan view of the base rail shown in  FIG. 4  receiving a biasing spring therewithin; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11C  is a plan view of the base rail and the cover rail being slid thereover; 
           [0037]      FIG. 11D  is a plan view of the base rail and cover rail assembled, with a pair of corner securement brackets being slid into their respective slots at the ends of the base rail; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 11E  is a plan view of the base rail and cover rail and corner securement brackets assembled, with a pair of corner softening corner blocks being slid into their respective ends of the base rail. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , there is shown the present invention which comprises a graphic display fixture  20  which in its most preferred embodiment would comprise a full perimeter frame  22  for a graphic display  24 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Each side portion of the frame  22  is comprised of an elongated extruded cover rail  28  and an elongated extruded base rail  30 , which is preferably of equal length to the cover rail  28 , as represented in  FIGS. 1-3 . The cover rail  28  has an elongated “J” shaped edge  36  which pivotably mates within an elongated, oblique channel  34  on one long edge of the base rail  30 , as is represented in end views, by  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
         [0040]    The cover rail  28  also comprises an elongated planar side portion  32  which defines one elongated edge thereof, and it appears “tangentially” to its elongated generally “J” shaped hinge portion  36 , which defines the other elongated edge or side thereof. The hinge portion  36  of the cover rail  28  includes an elongated cover-rail toe  38  consisting of the distalmost portion of the hinge of the cover rail  28 . An elongated pivot arm  40  extends from a segment of the cover rail toe  38  at a slightly obtuse angle “A” with respect thereto, as best represented in  FIG. 5 . An elongated slot  42  is formed between the elongated pivot arm  40  and the “J” shaped hinge portion  36  of the cover rail  28 , as also shown in  FIG. 5 . An elongated shoulder  44  extends along the length of the elongated cover rail  28  at a portion of the underside of the elongated plane portion  32  immediately adjacent to the “J” shaped hinge portion  36 . 
         [0041]    The elongated base rail  30  comprises an elongated planar portion having an “L” shaped corner bracket-capture flange  46  integral to and generally adjacent a first elongated edge  48  thereof, the capture flange  46  partially defining an elongated bracket channel  82 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The elongated base rail  30  has an elongated upstanding flange  50  extending along a second elongated edge thereof. The surface  51  of the flange  50 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is in co-planar alignment with the planar side portion  32  of the cover rail  28 , when the cover rail  28  is in its full open orientation, as represented in  FIG. 1  and in  FIG. 10A . An angled wall  52  extends away from the planar portion of the base rail  30  at a location intermediate the elongated flange  50  on the second elongated end of the base rail  30  and the L-shaped corner bracket capture flange  46  thereon, as best represented in  FIG. 4 . The angled wall  52  and the elongated flange  50  on the second edge of the base rail  30 , and an oblique spring support base  53 , best represented in  FIG. 4 , defines the open, elongated, oblique channel  34  therebetween. The spring support base  53  lies in a plane which is oblique to the plane “P” of the base rail  30 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . A base rail support flange or lip  54 , for peripherally supporting a graphic or panel  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , extends off of the angled wall  52 , and is also arranged parallel to the plane “P” of the base rail  30 , as represented in  FIG. 4 . A somewhat “J” shaped cover engagement upper flange  56  extends off of the other side of the angled wall  52  of elongated base rail  30 , in generally co-planar alignment with, and from which the base rail lip  54  extends, as may be seen in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0042]    In the assembly of one side of a graphic display fixture  20 , such as a rectilinear frame  22 , as is shown in  FIG. 6 , the generally “J” shaped hinge portion  36  of the elongated cover rail  28  is slid into the elongated, oblique channel  34  which extends along the second edge of the elongated base rail  30 . The upper “J” shaped cover engagement flange  56  is shaped so as to slide into and be received in the elongated slot  42  between the pivot arm  40  of the cover rail  28  and the “J” shaped portion  36  of that cover rail  28 , as may be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  to define an elongated pivot axis relationship therewithin. 
         [0043]    An elongated wave shaped spring  60 , as represented in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , is inserted between the outer edge of the cover rail toe  38  and the oblique inner surface spring support base  53  of the elongated, oblique, open channel  34  of the base rail  30 , as represented in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . The elongated wave spring  60 , which itself is thus widthwise enclosed in an oblique orientation with respect to the plane “P”, supported “beneath” the graphic or panel  24 , and comprises a thin alternating form of waves having an alternating series of crests  62  and troughs  64 . A ridge  66  is arranged transversely across the midpoint on the upper edge of the crest  62  along the length of the elongated wave spring  60 , as may be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The outer edge of the cover rail toe  38  is in frictional biased engagement with those series of ridges  66  spaced along the length of the wavy spring  60 , as is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
         [0044]    A backer board  68  may be placed within the assembly of the cover rail  28  and the base rail  30  wherein the backer board  68  is placed adjacent the corner bracket capture flange  46  and beneath the base rail lip  54  parallel thereto, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . A display graphic or panel  24  is intended to be arranged on the outermost surface of the base rail lip  54 . Pivoted movement, (as indicated by the arrow “M” in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), of the elongated planar side portion  32  of the cover rail  28 , from an orientation perpendicular to the base rail  30 , as represented in  FIG. 1 , moving through the orientation shown in  FIG. 2 , and into a restraining, preferably slightly spaced apart (as defined by thin space “S” represented in  FIG. 3 ) relationship, with (and depending upon the thickness of) the display piece panel  24  on the base rail lip  54 , establishing the holding of that display piece panel  24  within the fixture device  20  of the frame assembly  22 . A further planar space S 2  is also shown in an edge view, in  FIG. 3 , may be provided between the panel/graphic  24  and a backer board  68 , so as to provide a limited flexibility to the panel  24  when it is necessary to get easy access to the inner edge of the cover rail  28 , for replacement of that graphic/panel  24 . 
         [0045]    Four of these assemblies  20  of cover rails  28  and base rails  30  which each supports a common backer board  68 , may be joined together at the corners by a corner bracket  80 , as shown in  FIGS. 11D and 11E , and by the “corner softening” corner block  70 . The “corner softening” corner block  70 , as represented in  FIG. 9 , has arms  72  and  74  which extend perpendicularly from each other, and extend into their respective end of the elongated oblique channel  34 , (nesting adjacent the spring member  60 , shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ). The corner bracket  80  on the other hand, is represented in  FIGS. 11D and 11E  and described further hereinbelow. In one embodiment, the rails are cut shorter and the corner block  70 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , may be used to soften the edges of miter cut rails, by a central corner piece  76 , shaped so as to be inserted into the open ends of the channels  34  of the base rail  30 . Thus the use of four side assemblies of graphic support fixtures  20  permit a graphic display panel  24  to be installed within that assembly from the front, as represented in  FIG. 10A , and supported therein, as represented in  FIGS. 10B and 10C , without having to remove that assembly  20  or frame  22  from a wall or a crowded support position. Also, adjacent cover rails  28  of adjacent frame assemblies  22  may be opened simultaneously as represented in  FIGS. 10A-10C , without interfering with one another because of the oblique nesting of the spring  60  within the oblique channel  34  disposed beneath the plane “Z” of the base rail lip  54 , represented in  FIG. 4 , which allows the elongated pivot axis to be located within the “J” shaped portion  36  of the cover rail  28  and the outer edge of the receiving channel  34  in the base rail  30 , as represented in  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  10 C. 
         [0046]    The steps in the assembly of a graphic display fixture  20  is presented in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B,  11 C,  11 D, and  11 E. Initially, the elongated spring  60  is inserted into its respective elongated channel  34 , as indicated by arrow “U”, into one of the base rails  30 , as represented in a side view of  FIG. 11A . The same is shown in a plan view represented by  FIG. 11B . The cover rail  28  is shown being slid onto the edge of the base rail  30  in  FIG. 11C , as indicated by arrow “SL”. Assembled base rail  30  and the cover rail  28  are shown in  FIG. 11D , as receiving a pair of “L” shaped corner brackets  80 . 
         [0047]    The respect of legs on those corner brackets  80  are being inserted into the elongated slots  82  in the base rail  30 , as indicated by arrows “ 2 P”. Those elongated slots  82  may be seen in an edge view in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . The pair of corner blocks  70  are shown in  FIG. 11E  as being inserted into their respective ends of the elongated channel  34  as indicated by arrow “T” to complete one side of a rectangular graphic display fixture  20 , as represented earlier in  FIG. 6 , thus providing the thin, easily openable, front loadable graphic display, usable even in crowded, side by side presentations as represented in the side views thereof in  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  10 C.