Abstract:
A portable exhibition frame assembly as an alternative delineation system used for display purposes at trade shows and special events. Fabric sheet material with tubing sewn into the hem is slipped into a horizontal channel at the top and attached to the bottom channel providing a flat taut wall providing a partially enclosed area for display of graphics and products.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    Basic standards and rails [known in the exhibition industry as pipe and drape] are supplied by exhibition decorating firms, contracted by exhibition management, to delineate space providing various companies an area to display their goods or services. In many cases, companies will provide their own exhibition display that is erected within the space provided. At most exhibition halls in the United States, professional labor to install and dismantle these displays is required by exhibition management or union regulations. This procedure becomes expensive and time consuming to the exhibiting company. Their option is to ship their own display to fit in the space or to utilize the pipe and drape delineator provided. If they attempt to utilize the pipe and drape to display graphic signs and/or products, it ends up looking unprofessional and stresses the structure, which was not designed for this purpose. A new system has been devised to provide an alternative delineator that exhibition management can offer the exhibiting companies upon which products and accessories can be affixed to.  
         DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is the basic feature of this present invention to provide a structural frame assembly that has a taut fabric wall as a display area allowing light weight graphics and products to be affixed to. It is a further feature of this present invention to complement the basic frame assembly with selective options, such as lighting, headers, product mounting systems and varied configurations permitting expanded display areas for double-side presentation. The options are specifically designed to allow the exhibiting company to customize the invention to meet their specific requirements.  
           [0003]    The invention features generic top and bottom channels that fit into vertical support tubes allowing the assembly to connect in a continuous row providing multiple booth spaces. Also, there are generically designed side rails that provide delineation between booths, attached perpendicularly from main frame assembly.  
           [0004]    It is a further feature of this present invention to utilize different sizes and configurations depending upon the customer requirements.  
           [0005]    In order that the invention be more clearly understood, it will be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basic portable exhibition frame assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the components detached from its completed assembly.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is the plan view of the assembled unit.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a detailed partial sectional end view reference FIG. 7  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is partial plan view showing how the top channel  18  connects with support tube  11 .  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a side view in wire form showing how the top channel  18  connects with support tube  11 .  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is the overall side view in wire form showing the side rail components attaching to the support tube  11 .  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is the plan view in wire form showing the elements of the side rail. 
     
    
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1, the portable exhibition frame assembly referred to generally by the numeral  10 , is shown as single-sided unit, however; it should be understood that the configuration may be in the alternative, a single-sided fabric backdrop, double-sided backdrop, or a series of interconnected joining booths or back to back booths, as well as other configurations.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2, shows the basic components in a separated format indicating the locations of attachment. The base plates  16  are placed on the floor delineating space in a single booth format with the bottom channel  18  determining the exact spacing between base plates  16  however; if continued in an interconnecting format, one of the base plates would be common to the next booth. The connecting channel  18  is generic and is used at the top and bottom. Once bottom channel  18  and base plates  16  are in place, the vertical support tubes  11  are slipped over the extension section of base plates  16  and the inverted “L” section of  18  being positioned in place by a gravity fit. The top channel  18  is positioned over both support tubes  11  by a gravity fit. Once in place, two support pins FIG. 5, 22 slip into positioning holes into the top channel “L” tab  18 B through positioning holes in support tubes  11   
         [0016]    With the basic components assembled as described herein before, the fabric backdrop  17  is slipped into the top channel rail FIG. 4, 18A spanning the length of the channel  18 . While backdrop fabric  17  is hanging from channel rail  18 A and by grasping the center bottom of backdrop fabric  17  attach it to the vertical side of the bottom channel  18  with pressure engaged separable fasteners. The fabric backdrop  17  bottom continues to be pulled taut to the left and right along the bottom channel  18  until the entire fabric  17  is secured by a pressure engaged separable fastener, providing a flat taut display backdrop.  
         [0017]    With the main exhibition frame assembly completed with the backdrop fabric  17  secured, the side rail components, FIGS. 2, 12,  13 ,  14  and  15  can be attached providing a delineation between other interconnected booths or as a finishing delineator for an individual display booth. The side rail fabric  15  slips into the channel rail FIG. 7, 14A in the same method described herein before with the backdrop fabric  17 . Once attached, the side rail  14  and the side rail fabric  15  combined are positioned to allow the “L” tab  14 B at one end to slip into the support tubes  11  attachment cutout with a gravity fit. Arranging the the base plate  13  with the support tube  12  positioned over it, gravity fits in place. The end with the “X” extension gravity fits into the top of support tub  12 . The pressure engaged separable fastening straps  15 A located at the bottom corners of side rail fabric  15 , wrap around the bottom of the support tubes  12  providing a secure taut attachment of side rail fabric  15 .  
         [0018]    The holes indicated in FIGS. 4, 5 and  6  are for various mounting locators for light bars, gridwall, light boxes, monitors and other display enhancing items that can be attached to said locators. The mounting locators  20  have threaded inserts providing for easy attachment of accessories as required. Mounting locator holes  19  do not have threaded inserts and are positioned in the center of the top/bottom channels  18  where various typical bolts can be attached for mounting of customer products and/or additional accessories.  
         [0019]    Although one embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed and described, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. What is claimed is as follows: