Display structure and system

A display system and structure is disclosed generally comprising a vertical post assembly and a horizontal beam assembly coupled thereto, wherein the beam assembly includes a beam, a housing, and a plate assembly extractable from the housing, which plate assembly has at least two plates, which, when separated, secure the beam assembly to the post assembly. In some embodiments, the plates have ridges that fit into a channel in the post assembly. In some embodiments, the post assembly includes a spline with a slot, and the plates have tongues which fit into the slot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for constructing display systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a mechanism for attaching and detaching individual frame members of the display systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Systems similar to the present invention, known as display systems, construction systems, exhibition systems, or shop systems, provide an efficient manner of constructing temporary exhibits, showcases, booths, graphical displays, demonstration spaces, decks, and rooms that are quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. Such systems are commonly used for trade shows, symposiums, conventions, corporate centers, and museum exhibits.

It is known to use an arrangement of individual frame members as vertical posts and horizontal beams that connect together in order to create a skeletal framework. Such frameworks are often assembled for their own aesthetic qualities, which are often enhanced with various colors, coverings, lighting, and accessories. Additionally, such frameworks are often assembled to provide the support structure for temporary walls, decks, ceilings, and graphic surfaces and screens.

These systems often utilize beams having attachment elements protruding from their ends. These attachment elements typically correspond to a mating channel or hole in the vertical post. Thus, when one desires to connect a beam to a vertical post, one typically either laterally inserts the attachment member into the hole or inserts the attachment member into the channel at the top of the post and slides the beam down.

However, one disadvantage of these systems is that, because the beam has the added length of the attachment member, a horizontal beam that has not yet been connected to a pair of vertical posts already connected by a different horizontal beam is longer than the space between the two vertical posts. Accordingly, if a framework is already assembled, one desiring to add an additional beam must first disassemble the framework before the beam can be added. This disadvantage is exacerbated by the fact that the business of assembling such display systems is labor intensive, and the price of such labor is often high. Therefore, time wasted disassembling and reassembling proves to be very costly.

Another disadvantage of these systems is that the attachment members tend to be small, have little or no support once connected to the vertical post, and have minimal surface contact with the post, and thus, these frameworks are not capable of bearing great weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system for attaching and detaching beams to a vertical post assembly that permits one to add and remove individual beams to an existing display structure without having to disassemble portions of the structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system for attaching and detaching individual beams that increases the surface area against which the attachment mechanism abuts, thereby increasing the amount of weight the display assembly can bear.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a system for attaching and detaching individual beams that provides a bottom support for the attachment mechanism, thereby increasing the amount of weight the display assembly can bear.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a system where the height of the beams may be adjusted without having to remove or add beams.

To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to achieve at least some of the objects and advantages listed, the invention comprises a display structure, comprising at least one vertical post assembly having a cavity therein, said cavity having two opposing walls, and at least one beam assembly coupled to the at least one vertical post assembly, the beam assembly including a beam, a connector housing, and a plate assembly disposed in, and extractable from, the connector housing, such that the plate assembly forms an extension of the housing when extracted therefrom, which extension is insertable into the cavity. The plate assembly comprises a plurality of connector plates, and at least one of the plates is displaceable away from at least one other of the plates when the plate assembly is extracted from the housing and inserted into the cavity such that the plate assembly is secured to the vertical post assembly.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling display systems, comprising the steps of providing a vertical post assembly including a cavity with a channel therein, providing a beam assembly including a connector housing and a plate assembly having two plates with ridges on the outer faces thereof disposed in the housing, moving the plate assembly from within the housing into the cavity, and exerting a force to separate the plates when the ridges are coplanar with the channel so that the ridges enter the channel, thereby retaining the plate assembly in the cavity.

The invention and its particular features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when considered with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The basic components of one embodiment of a display system20in accordance with the invention are illustrated inFIG. 1. As used in this description, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” “left,” and “right” refer to the objects referenced in the drawings, which orientation is not necessary for achieving the objects of the invention.

In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, a plurality of beam assemblies22having connector assemblies26are coupled to a plurality of vertical post assemblies24via the connector assemblies26. While the beam assemblies22are typically horizontal, in certain embodiments, the beam assemblies may include a mechanism, such as, for example, a hinge (not shown), that permits the beam assemblies22to be positioned diagonally to the vertical post assemblies24at any of various angles. In certain embodiments, multiple vertical post assemblies24are coupled to each other in vertical succession to permit increased heights. In certain embodiments, multiple beam assemblies22may be coupled to a single vertical post assembly24to provide for additional levels or support.

The horizontal beam assemblies22and vertical post assemblies24may be comprised of any material or combination of materials capable of satisfying a desired balance between weight and strength, including, for example, metals, plastics, fiberglass, or polymers. In certain advantageous embodiments, extremely lightweight materials are used, such as, for example, aluminum. These assemblies may be extruded, molded, or formed by any other known method.

The basic components of one embodiment of the vertical post assembly24are illustrated inFIG. 2. A post30is formed to include a plurality of radially projecting members32. The bottom of the post30is secured to a base34, the top of the post30is covered with a top post cap36, and the spaces between the radially projecting members32are covered with post covers38.

As shown inFIGS. 3A through 3E, but not limited to the arrangements shown therein, the post30may be formed from any of various numbers of radially projecting members32. In certain embodiments, where it is desired that beam assemblies22extend from the vertical post assemblies24in only one direction, the post30may have only one radially projecting member32.

As shown inFIGS. 4A–B, the radially projecting member32has an inner wall120that defines a cavity122therein. In certain advantageous embodiments, the cavity122includes a plate-locking channel124defined by furrows126in the inner wall120.

As shown in FIGS.5and6A–D, the base34includes a base support member40. In certain embodiments, the base support member40has a plurality of apertures42by which the base support member40is secured to a surface. A nut46is attached to a threaded rod48, which nut is retained on the bottom of the base support member40by a cup44disposed in a well45of the base support member40. The threaded rod48is screwed into an internally threaded bottom post cap50, and thus, acts as a jackscrew for raising and lowering the post30when the nut46is rotated.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, in certain advantageous embodiments, a spline70is disposed in a spline channel72of the radially projecting member32. The spline channel is typically defined by two opposing grooves74in the inner wall of the radially projecting member32. In certain embodiments, however, a single, larger groove74is employed.

As shown inFIG. 9, the spline70has least one connection slot76for receiving a tongue100of the connector assembly26, further explained below. In certain advantageous embodiments, the spline70has a plurality of connection slots76to permit maximum versatility with respect to selecting the height at which to insert a beam assembly22into the display system20. In certain embodiments, the connection slots76, shown in phantom inFIGS. 4A–B, will themselves contain a tongue-locking channel77defined by grooves78.

In certain advantageous embodiments, the spline70will include at least one threaded aperture79, as illustrated inFIG. 2, for receiving screws or bolts55in order to attach peripheral objects56, such as, for example, brackets, clamps, additional support members, lights, cable or fabric fastening, guiding, or supporting devices, or any other tool or accessory that one may desire to affix to the display system20.

In certain embodiments, an aperture79will be located at a fixed distance from each connection slot76in the spline70in order to allow for maximum versatility with respect to attaching peripheral objects to different display systems20employing connection slots76at differing heights.

In certain other embodiments, instead of a spline70, a fastener57is disposed in an radially projecting member58, and peripheral objects59are attached to the fastener57(seeFIG. 2).

Referring again toFIG. 2, the basic components of one embodiment of the beam assembly22are illustrated therein. A beam80is attached to a connector assembly26. The connector assembly26includes connector housing82and plate assembly84. The plate assembly84can be extracted from said housing and retracted back thereinto.

As shown inFIGS. 10A–B and 11, in certain advantageous embodiments, the housing82has an extraction slot85. A pin86is coupled to the plate assembly84and extends out through the extraction slot85such that the plate assembly84may be extracted from, and retracted into, said connector housing82by moving the pin86. In certain advantageous embodiments, the pin86is a screw that can be turned once the desired position of the plate assembly84is achieved in order to secure the plate assembly84in a desired position.

The plate assembly includes at least two adjacent plates90and92that can be separated from each other. In certain advantageous embodiments, the plate90has a threaded aperture94with a screw96screwed therein, such that one may turn the screw96in one direction to separate the plates90and92and in another direction to draw together the plates90and92. For example, the base of the screw96may abut the inner face98of the plate92, such that turning the screw clockwise will separate the plates90and92.

In some embodiments, the plate assembly84may include a center plate, from which each of the plates90and92are separable.

In certain advantageous embodiments, at least one of the plates90and92includes a tongue100.

In certain advantageous embodiments, at least one of the plates90and92has at least one plate-locking ridge110. As illustrated inFIG. 12, the ridge110fits into the furrow126that defines the plate-locking channel124. While the ridge110will typically be located on a non-tongue portion of the plate90,92whether or not the plate90,92has a tongue100, in other embodiments, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the ridge110can be located on a tongue100. The ridge110may be formed by at least one depression112in the outer face99of the plate90,92next to the ridge110. In other embodiments, the ridge110may be a raised portion of the outer face99of the plate90,92

In certain advantageous embodiments, the tongue100includes at least one tongue-locking ridge102for locking the tongue100into the spline70, irrespective of whether the plate90,92also has a ridge110for locking the plate assembly84in the plate-locking channel124. In some embodiments, the ridge102fits into a groove78, shown in phantom inFIGS. 4A–B, of the connection slot76of the spline70. In other embodiments, the ridge102becomes wedged against the rear face of the spline70when the plates90,92are separated.

As illustrated inFIG. 13, in some embodiments, when a two-dimensional frame is assembled, a panel of soft goods, such as, for example, fabric, scrim, paper, or tyvek, is stretched over the frame in order to create a wall or screen, which may, for example, serve as a divider or a screen for graphic displays. These panels of soft goods typically have a cable130hemmed along their outer edge.

In some of these embodiments, a corner tensioning device131is coupled to each vertical post assembly30. The cable tensioning device131has guide wheels134and136connected by a center member135. A threaded rod142with a worm wheel144disposed thereon extends laterally from the center member135. Similarly, a guide rail146extends laterally from center member135. A biasing wheel140is disposed on the guide rail146and is coupled to the worm wheel144, such that the worm wheel144can be rotated in order to move the biasing wheel140along the guide rail146and away from the center member135and guide wheels134and136.

The cable130is disposed on these corner tensioning devices131, which cable wraps around the bottom of the guide wheel134, up over the top of biasing wheel140, and then back down around the bottom of the guide wheel136. Thus, when the worm wheel144is rotated and the biasing wheel140is moved further away from the guide wheels134and136, the tension in the cable is increased.

As illustrated inFIG. 14, in certain other embodiments, the cable130is disposed on a simple cable guide member150having a valley152in which said cable is disposed. In some of these embodiments, an inline tensioning device160is employed by clamping the tensioning device160on the cable130in a cut-out section156of the hem132.

As illustrated inFIGS. 15–16, the in-line tensioning device160includes a top portion162and a bottom portion164that are clamped together over the cable130. The top portion162has an internally protruding center portion170and the bottom portion164has an internally protruding left portion172and an internally protruding right portion174. Thus, when the top portion162and bottom portion164are squeezed together, the cable130is forced up over the left portion172, down around the bottom of the center portion170, and back up over the right portion174, thereby tensioning the cable130.

As illustrated inFIG. 17, in some embodiments, the bottom portion164includes a plurality of teeth166, and the top portion162includes a plurality of notches167into which said teeth166fit, for securing the top portion162to the bottom portion164. The tension in the cable130may be further increased by further squeezing the top portion162and bottom portion164together over successive teeth166.

It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, and that obvious modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the accompanying claims, rather than the foregoing specification, to determine the scope of the invention.