Patent Publication Number: US-6988695-B2

Title: Adjustable and collapsible display stand

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of the earlier patent application entitled “Collapsible Display Stand”, Ser. No. 10/235,108, filed Sep. 4, 2002, now pending, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

   1. Technical Field 
   This invention generally relates to a collapsible, free-standing, display stand for displaying panels, which may have designs thereon, such as banners. It relates more particularly to adjustable display stands. 
   2. Background 
   Display stands are used extensively at trade shows, conventions, and other gatherings to present images for advertising and informational purposes. The images are usually printed on flexible panels, such as reinforced paper, and are held in the desired display position by the display stand. 
   Users of display stands often travel from trade show to trade show to advertise their goods and services. Users must carry their display stands from place to place and set up and tear down their displays frequently. Different trade show locations may offer different limitations on available floor space and best viewing angle. Consequently, users want lightweight, easy-to-assemble, adjustable, inexpensive, display stands. 
   The collapsible display stand of U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,705 to LaMotte uses bowed, telescopically connected cross struts to hold a banner in tension. Telescopic connections involve sliding a narrowed end of a first tube into an end of a second tube. Tubes are placed in end sleeves of a banner or similar display, and specially designed pin ends of the cross struts are inserted in specially designed end caps at the ends of the tubes, thus holding the banner in tension. The design is similar to tents using exterior telescopically connected crossed struts to hold up the tent, but with the tent removed and a banner in place of the tent floor. To erect the banner, a vertical support member connects at a top end to a strap around the crossing point of the struts. The bottom end of the vertical support member connects to the first ends of two base support members. The second ends of the two base support members connect to the end caps at the ends of the bottom tube. This forms a rigid triangular base that rests flat on the ground to support the banner stand. The tilt of the banner off vertical is adjusted by sliding the crossing-point strap on the struts. The first ends of the base support members and the bottom end of the vertical support member remain directly connected to each other and the second ends of the base support members and the end caps at the ends of the bottom tube remain directly connected to each other throughout adjustment of the tilt without any relative positional movement. 
   The detailed design of the connectors between the struts and the tubes adds to the cost of the LaMotte device. Also, the fixed triangular base prevents adjusting the base for horizontal display of a banner. Finally, for placement, the configuration of the flat triangular base requires that all of the base pieces be coupled at their respective ends and that the second ends of the base support members and the end caps at the ends of the bottom tube remain directly connected to each other throughout adjustment of the tilt without any relative positional movement. This means that in order for the stand to stay erect, the floor must be substantially clear of obstacles (cabling, hoses, other equipment) in the area of the base. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a collapsible display stand that is inexpensive to construct, has adjustable display angles, is adaptable to vertical or horizontal use with the same structural members, and can be placed in a stable configuration on an uneven surface. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A collapsible display stand with a foot-and-bar base is disclosed. The foot-and bar base provides improved adaptability to uneven surfaces. The foot provides a flexible connection between a vertical support member and two adjustable strut braces. The strut braces have controllable sliding connections to two flexed struts. The point of closest approach of the struts may be constrained by a grommet, clamp, or sleeve and maintained a predetermined distance from the foot by a vertical support member. Also disclosed is a simplified, inexpensive apparatus for connecting strut ends to mounting tubes. The simplified apparatus comprises a hole drilled in one side of the mounting tube near each mounting tube end, into which an unadorned strut end may be inserted. The foot, slidable strut brace connectors, and the point-of-closest-approach constraint may be economically made of hard rubber, such as that used in making mud flaps for trucks. The collapsible display stand may be adjusted by hand or, especially for very large embodiments, by motorized point-of-closest-approach and strut brace constraints. The motorized constraints may be remotely controlled. A variation of the display stand, adapted to being mounted on a wall, is also disclosed. 
   An alternative strut brace and vertical support configuration provides additional support adjustability and design flexibility. In an example of the alternative design, the vertical support member is coupled at or near its top end to the point of closest approach of the struts, and coupled to its middle region to first ends of each of the two strut braces. The bottom end of the vertical support member rests on the ground and may include a slip-resistant foot thereon. By raising the connection point of the strut braces to the vertical support member up and away from the bottom end of the vertical support member, the stand may be used even more easily on uneven ground and may be more easily adjusted from a standing position. 
   The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  shows an example of an embodiment of the collapsible display stand erected vertically; 
       FIG. 1A-1  shows an enlargement of the connecting ends of two telescopically connecting vertical support member sections. 
       FIG. 1B  shows an example of an embodiment of the collapsible display stand erected vertically with the strut braces adjusted downward; 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of an embodiment of the collapsible display stand erected horizontally; 
       FIG. 3A  shows an example of a strut inserted into a mounting tube through a hole in the banner sleeve; 
       FIG. 3B  shows an example of a strut inserted into a mounting tube through a hole in a portion of tube extended beyond the sleeve; 
       FIG. 4  shows three examples of devices used for maintaining strut relationships; 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show two views of an example of an alternate banner-mounting device; and 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show two examples of strut placement for a collapsible display stand where the first ends of the strut braces are coupled to the middle rather than the bottom of the vertical support member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1A  shows an example of an embodiment of a collapsible display stand  100 . Two bowed struts  150  maintain the panel  101 , or banner  101 , in tension. The panel  101  is conventionally flexible but may be rigid or resilient. Mounting tubes  102  and  104 , conventionally inserted through sleeves  103  and  105 , respectively, in the banner  101  ends, may receive a strut  150  end in a hole  160  through the side of the mounting tube  102  and  104  near each end of the mounting tube  102  and  104 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , the strut-receiving holes  160  in the tube  102  and  104  side are aligned with holes  103  and  105 , respectively, in the sleeve. (See also  FIG. 3A ). 
   In an alternate embodiment, the mounting tube  102  and  104  extends beyond the ends of the banner sleeves  103  and  105 , the strut-receiving hole  160  is in the portion of the tube  102  and  104  extending outside the banner sleeve  103  and  105 , and the banner sleeve  103  and  105  requires no holes. (See also  FIG. 3B ). The mounting tubes  102  and  104  may be made of polyvinylchloride (“PVC”) pipe. In variants, there is no banner sleeve  103  and  105 , and the banner  101  is attached to the mounting tubes  102  and  104  by other means, such as loops, adhesives or clamps. In a particular embodiment, the banner  101  is mounted, not by tubes, but by bars  500  ( FIGS. 5A and 5B ) with integral clamps. The struts  150  may be flexible tubes comprised of telescopically connecting sections, as are often used for supporting umbrella tents. An example of a telescopic connection is shown in  FIG. 1A-1 . An end  173  of section  171  has a portion with a narrowed outside diameter that is slidingly received into a widened inside diameter of an end  174  of section  172 , thereby making a telescopic connection. The tube sections may be threaded like beads on an elastic cord so that the connecting ends remain in proximity to each other when the sections of the struts  150  are pulled apart for transport or storage. Other types of struts  150  may also be used. For example, flexible rods, struts with polygonal, oval, or irregular cross-sections, I-beams, H-beams, and, in a particular embodiment, rigid, curved struts. 
   The struts  150  meet at a point of closest approach, shown in  FIG. 1  as a crossing point, defined by a controllably slidable constraint  110 , or restrictive device  110 , such as a grommet, a sleeve, channel, clamp or a motorized restrictive device. The restrictive device  110  comprises engagement mechanisms for engaging struts  150  and vertical support member  170 . In  FIG. 1 , a point-of-closest-approach grommet  110 , or crossing-point grommet  110 , is shown as an exemplary restrictive device. The grommet  110  may be preferably made of hard rubber, but may be of any tough, resilient, material with a high coefficient of friction. For example, a plastic, a softer rubber, or a silicone elastomer may be used. In the embodiment shown, the point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  has an engagement mechanism, a hole  404  ( FIG. 4 ), of adequate size to slidingly engage both struts  150 . In an alternate version, the point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  has two holes, one for slidingly engaging each strut  150 . The point-of-closest-approach grommet also has a hole  402  for tightly engaging the neck of an end pin of a vertical support member  170 . The end pin has a head tapered to a wider diameter than the engaging hole, and a neck sized to be tightly held by the engaging hole  402  ( FIG. 4 ). The end pins may be custom made or purchased commercially. For example, Deirin Tips, manufactured by Frank Tehan Corporation of Berkeley, Calif. are suitable. In a particular embodiment, the vertical support member  170  may be machined to have a head and neck end. Because the grommet  110  is flexible, the attachment of the vertical support member  170  is a flexible attachment to the strut crossing point. For slidable constraints other than hard rubber grommets, the method of attaching the vertical support member  170  may be appropriately adapted. 
   A motorized point-of-closest-approach restrictive device may be used in embodiments that are too large to be adjusted by hand, or remotely located (near a ceiling in a convention hall, for example), or where animated tilting of the display  100  may be desired. A motorized restrictive device rides upon each strut  150  in the manner of a monorail using friction wheels, the motorized restrictive devices connected to each other to maintain a close distance and up to three degrees of rotational freedom between the struts  150 . For example, a ball and socket connector may be used. For such an embodiment, struts having an “I-beam” cross sectional shape may be preferred. The motors may be controlled independently or in concert. The motors may be reversible. The engagement mechanisms for the motorized point-of-closest-approach restrictive device may comprise biased wheels or similar rollers. 
   Vertical support member  170  may be erected from two telescopically connecting tubes,  171  and  172 . One tube  171  has a narrowed end  173  that is slidingly received in end  174  of tube  172 . In most embodiments, the tubes  171  and  172  are threaded like strung beads on an axial elastic cord, as has long been known in the art of umbrella tents. Likewise, each strut  150  may be comprised of a plurality of telescopically connecting tube sections, with or without elastic cords. In an embodiment, the vertical support member may be mounted to or may be part of a vertical structure or wall, to enable wall mounting of panels. The mounting may be accomplished by means of additional engagement mechanisms on the foot  120  and point-of-closest-approach restrictive device. 
   In a particular embodiment, each strut  150  is made of sections that are each shorter than the strut braces  180 . When the strut brace  180  is adjusted to a position near a strut section connection point and the display stand is disassembled, the struts  150 , vertical support  170 , and strut braces  180  may all collapse into a package no longer than the strut braces  180 . In particular embodiments, tube sections are sized to be nearly as long as the mounting tubes  102  and  104 . The mounting tubes  102  and  104  often define the long dimension of a carrying case for the display stand  100 . In some embodiments, even the mounting tubes may be made of telescopically connecting sections. 
   The bottom of the vertical support member  170  may be connected to the foot  120 . The foot is shown as a hard rubber grommet  120  with three engagement mechanisms: end-pin-engaging holes  402  ( FIG. 4 ). The bottom end of the vertical support member  170  has an end pin that may be engaged in a hole  402  in the foot  120 . The end pins of the strut braces  180  may engage the other two holes  402 . The end pins of the strut braces  180  and the end pin of the vertical support members may all be inserted through the same side of the foot  120 . The foot  120  twists in operation to adapt to the different positions of the strut braces  180  and the vertical support member  170 . The pin head of the vertical support member  170  may rest on the floor or ground when the display stand  100  is erected. As an alternative to end pins, the vertical support member  170  may have machined ends. 
   Each end of each strut brace  180  that is not attached to the foot  120  is attached to a type of restrictive device: a strut brace slider  130 . Slider  130  may be a grommet made of hard rubber, plastic, softer rubber, silicone, or similar flexible elastomeric material with a high coefficient of friction. The attachment to the strut brace slider grommet  130  may be by end pin, as above. The strut brace slider grommet  130  also has a hole  406  ( FIG. 4 ) for slidingly engaging a strut  150 . The strut brace slider  130  may be a motorized restrictive device, in a manner analogous to the point-of-closest-approach restrictive device. 
   With the strut braces  180  positioned as shown in  FIG. 1A , the base is a bar-and-foot base  105 ,  104 , and  120 . This base needs only two generally level high points on the ground to support the bar  105  and  104  near the ends, and a small space, of greater or lesser elevation, for the foot  120 . In a convention hall, for example, cables, junction boxes, and plumbing can run between the bar,  140  and  105 , and the foot  120 . In an outdoor setting, the bar-and-foot base can adapt easily to uneven terrain. 
   The struts  150 , strut braces  180 , and vertical support member  170  may all be of adjustable length. The adjustment may be manual. The simplest length adjustment is to add or subtract telescopically connected sections. Other length-adjusting mechanisms may be used. For example, the mechanisms known in the art for adjusting photographers&#39; tripod legs may be used for the vertical support and the strut braces. Alternatively, the adjustment may be motorized. For example, mechanisms known in the art of telescoping ladders may be adapted to the purpose. The mounting supports  102  and  104  may also be of adjustable length. 
     FIG. 1B  shows the display stand  100  with the strut braces  180  adjusted downward. This reduces the base area, while still allowing for some obstacles underneath the display stand  100 . The lower adjustment brings the foot  120  closer to the bar  104  and  105 . Differentially adjusting the strut supports  180  moves the foot  120  sideways. Thus, a variety of foundation problems can be adapted to with this collapsible display stand. For example, where a particular presentation angle for a displayed banner  101  is desired, but a floor obstacle interferes with the placement of the foot  120  at the desired presentation angle, a differential adjustment of the strut braces  180  may move the foot to avoid the obstacle, while preserving the presentation angle. Likewise, concurrent adjustment of the strut braces  180  may establish an obstacle-avoiding distance between the bar,  104  and  105 , and the foot  120 . 
   Sliding struts  150  concurrently through point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  changes the tilt of the display panel  101 . Differentially sliding the struts  150  causes differential sliding of the strut braces  180  and will change the tilt and angle of the banner  101  and the relative position of the foot  120  and the bar  104  and  105 . Good flexibility for tilting and angling is obtained with struts  150  that are about 10 percent longer than the diagonal distance between strut-receiving holes  160 . When the struts  150  are the same length as the diagonal distance between strut-receiving holes  160 , the display stand  100  is tilted and angled only by the strut braces  180 . 
   The crossing point of the struts  150  used in an “X” configuration is one example of a point of closest approach. In an alternate embodiment, the struts  150  do not cross, but have a point of closest approach in an “H” configuration. In this embodiment, the point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  still operates to maintain the struts  150  in proximity at points between the strut ends. Improved stability in the “H” configuration may be obtained by using a restrictive device  110  with two separate strut holes and further by using two such restrictive devices  110  spaced a few inches apart, only one of which needs to be connected to the vertical support  170 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the display stand used to display a horizontal banner  101 . Notice that the same strut braces  180  are used for horizontal displays as for vertical displays ( FIG. 1A–B ). In this variation of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1A–1B , the mounting tubes  102  and  104  are on each side of the banner  101 , rather than on the top and the bottom. Sliding strut braces  180  on the struts  150  and sliding the struts  150  through point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  have the same effects as for the vertical display, as discussed above. Thus, the same components work to create a stable, adaptable base for both vertical and horizontal displays. 
     FIG. 3A  shows an enlargement of a mounting tube  104  in a sleeve  105  of banner  101 , with a strut  150  inserted in a hole  160  in the mounting tube  104  through a hole  161  in the sleeve  105 . Because storage and carrying cases for banners  101  conventionally have a longest dimension defined by the banner width, a mounting tube  104  that is no wider then the banner  101  imposes no new requirements on storage and carrying cases. Thus, the mounting tube  104  may be one piece of tubing. For example, mounting tube  104  may be a single piece of PVC pipe. In a particular embodiment, mounting tube  104  may be a solid rod with axial bores in each end. Strut  150  is shown with strut brace  180  adjusted downward. The strut brace slider grommet  130  is shown to slidingly engage strut  150  and fixedly engage strut brace  180 . 
     FIG. 3B  shows an example of an alternate connection between strut  150  and mounting tube  105 . Mounting tube  104  extends beyond the edge of sleeve  105  of banner  101 . The hole  160  is in the extended portion of the mounting tube  104 . Hole  160  may be drilled radially inward or may be at a deflection angle to a radial ray. Hole  160  may be a fraction larger than the outside diameter of the strut  150 . For example, a hole  160  diameter of 1.25 times the outside diameter of the strut  150  works well. The flexed strut  150  engages inner and outer edges of the hole  160  with a prying force that holds the strut  150  in the hole  160 . 
     FIG. 4  shows details of examples of restrictive devices for placing and maintaining struts  150 , braces  180 , and a vertical support member  170  in a desired relationship. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the devices are a point-of-closest-approach grommet  110 , a strut brace slider grommet  130 , and a foot grommet, or foot,  120 . The grommets  110 ,  120 , and  130  are shown as round, but the exterior shape may be varied. For example, the shape may be a rectangle, triangle, other polygon, oval, irregular shape, or may contain resilient notches for holding folded strut sections for transport. Grommets  110 ,  120 , and  130  may be made of a resilient material. For example, the hard rubber used to make mud flaps for trucks works well. Alternatively, softer materials such as plastic, softer rubber, or silicone may be used. It is advantageous to make the grommet of a material that has a high coefficient of friction for holding the smooth struts  150 . Again, hard rubber works well. In many embodiments, the thickness of the grommet may correlate to the length of the pin necks. In some embodiments, the thickness of grommet is sized to provide sufficient friction to hold a strut brace  180  or vertical support member  170  without any end treatment. 
   Hole  404  in point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  has a diameter slightly less than twice the diameter of the struts  150 . The struts  150  cross in the hole  404  and slightly deform the resilient grommet  110 , causing the struts  150  to be held by the resilient force of the deformed material. Hole  402  in point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  receives the neck of an end pin of the vertical support member  170 . The diameter of the hole  402  may be slightly less than the diameter of the pin neck so that the pin is resiliently held. Holes  402  in the strut brace slider grommet  130 , the foot  120 , and the point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  may be the same size, and the thickness of the grommets  110 ,  120 , and  130  may be defined to be the length of the pin neck of the pins used. Pins may be those commercially available at camping supply stores. In variations of the exemplary embodiment, holes  402  may be of different sizes. Hole  404  and  402  are shown as aligned on a diameter, but the pattern may vary. The only requirement is that the deformation of one hole in use does not prevent use of the other hole. 
   In an alternate embodiment, the point-of-closest-approach restrictive device  110  has an additional engagement mechanism, distal the panel, for engaging a stabilizing object. For example, the apparatus may be mounted on a wall or other building structure by attaching the point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  and the foot  120  to the building structure. For further example, a portion of existing structure may serve as the vertical support member  170 , wherein the foot  120  and the point-of-closest-approach grommet  110  may be attached to a wall, ceiling, column, wall strut, or the like, spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of a vertical support member  170 , and the apparatus otherwise assembled as in embodiment  100 . 
   Other restrictive devices for maintaining a point-of-closest-approach relationship may be used. The point-of-closest-approach relationship comprises crossing struts  150  that slide only when adjusted through a restriction (i.e., hole  404 ), the restriction maintains a user-determinable distance (i.e., by vertical support  170 ) from the foot  120 . In an alternate embodiment, the vertical support member  170  may be of adjustable length. For example, a telescoping rod of fixable length may be used. Examples of other restrictive devices that may be used, alone or in combination, include clamps, sleeves, collars, channels (incomplete sleeves), and adherents. In a particular alternate embodiment, the point-of-closest-approach relationship may be maintained with at least one adapted restrictive device comprising dynamic engagement mechanisms, (i.e., friction wheels) and motors configured to adjust the point-of-closest-approach relationship by remote control. In a variant of the particular alternate embodiment, the length of vertical support  170  may be varied by remote control. In another particular embodiment, the lower mounting bar  104  may have one or more castors or other low-friction devices, the foot  120  may be anchored to the floor, and motorized restrictive devices may be controlled to animate the azimuth angle and tilt angle of the panel. 
   Strut brace slider grommet  130  may have a hole  406  and a hole  402 . Hole  406  may have a diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of a strut  150 . The strut  150  engages the hole  406  at an angle and deforms the grommet  130 , which then holds the strut  150  by resilient force. Hole  402  in strut brace slider grommet  130  holds the neck of an end pin of a strut brace  180 . 
   Other restrictive devices for maintaining a strut brace relationship may be used. The strut brace relationship comprises maintaining a user-selectable point on a strut  150  a user-determinable distance (i.e., by  180 ) from the foot  120 . In an alternate embodiment, strut braces  180  may be of adjustable length. For example, fixable telescoping tubes may be used. For most embodiments, the length may be adjusted manually. In some larger embodiments, the adjustment may be motorized, using mechanical linkages or pneumatics. Examples of other restrictive devices that may be used, alone or in combination, include clamps, sleeves, collars, channels (incomplete sleeves), and adhesives. In a particular embodiment, the strut brace relationship may be maintained with adapted restrictive devices comprising dynamic engagement means, (i.e., friction wheels) and motors configured to adjust the strut brace relationship by remote control. 
   Foot  120  flexibly maintains lower ends of the vertical support  170  and the strut braces  180  in proximity. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the foot  120  comprises a hard rubber grommet having three engagement mechanisms  402 , or holes  402 , for receiving ends of the strut braces  180  and the vertical support  170 , which ends may be end pins. The foot  120  deforms in use. All three end pins may be inserted from the same side. Other restrictive devices for maintaining the lower ends in a functional relationship may be used. For example, a block with drilled holes, wherein the block may be a block of resilient material. Various combinations of clamps, pivots, sleeves, and channels may also be used. In particular embodiments, a perforated tennis ball or tire may be a foot  120 . The foot  120  may have additional engagement mechanisms (not shown) for receiving a tent peg or other stabilizing object to hold the foot  120  to a fixed spot on a surface. 
   Refer now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B . Other varieties of mounting hardware may be used. In an embodiment for banners  101  without sleeves  103  or  105 , exemplary clamping bar  500  may be used in place of a mounting tube  104  and sleeve  105 . The clamping bar  500  comprises a clamp anvil  504 , a moveable clamp hammer  506 , and means  505  for moving the clamp hammer  506  to fixedly and releasably engage an edge of a banner  101  between the clamp hammer  506  and clamp anvil  504 . The clamping bar  500  further comprises a substantially rigid panel  508  having holes  160  near each end for receiving ends of struts  150 . The means for moving the clamp hammer  506  may be a plurality of screws or bolts  505 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5A , a square nut  510  slides into a channel  514  until nut  510  aligns with a screw hole (not shown). The channel  514  prevents rotation of the nut  510 , and flanges  512  prevent the nut  510  from moving upward. The screw or bolt  505  engages the threads of the nut  510  and, screwed downward, engages the clamp hammer  506  and pushes it against the clamp anvil  504 . With the banner edge between the clamp hammer  506  and the clamp anvil  504 , the banner  101  ( FIG. 1A ) will maintain its relationship with the clamping bar  502 . 
   A second panel  516  acts as a stop for strut  150  ends inserted into holes  160  in panel  508 . In a particular embodiment, panel  516  exists only proximate to holes  160 . In another particular embodiment, the clamping bar  502  may be made of extruded aluminum. In a variant of the particular embodiment, extruded channel, such as U-channel, may be adapted to make a clamping bar  500 . Two advantages of the clamping bar  500  over the mounting tube  102  and  104  are 1) less banner paper may be used and 2) the mounting bar  500  may have fixtures for mounting lamps to illuminate the banner  101 . A lamp mount  520  is shown in  FIG. 5B .  FIG. 5B  shows a rear view of the clamp bar  500 . 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  show an alternate embodiment for placement of the struts of the collapsible display stands shown and described with reference to the earlier Figures. Of particular interest among the differences between  FIGS. 6A and 6B  and the earlier Figures is the connection of the strut braces  180  away from the bottom end of the vertical support member  170  into a middle region  175  of the member  170 . By coupling the strut braces  180  between the middle region  175  of the vertical support member  170  and a middle region of the flexible struts  150 , stability is obtained without requiring a flat base on the ground, or even any supporting cross members to touch the ground. This is particularly advantageous because often times the floor of a display area has power cords or other materials on it that interfere with a flat base. Reducing the floor support required increases the areas in which this display stand may be used. Adjustably positioning the first ends of the strut braces  180  in the middle region  175  of the vertical support member  170  also allows the person raising the banner stand  100  to pick the most stable orientation and position for the strut braces  180  along both the vertical support member  170  and the flexible struts  150  for the size, shape, display angle, and position of the particular banner being used. Conventional display stands that are limited to coupling only at the ends may not have optimal weight distribution or balance for particular display environments or for larger display sizes due to the limited functionality of the flat base and the inability to adjust the components for optimal use. 
     FIG. 6A  shows grommet  120  and the first ends of the strut braces  180  coupled to the vertical support member  170  within the middle region  175  of the member  170  at or below the horizontal plane of where the second ends of the strut braces  180  couple to the flexible struts  150 .  FIG. 6B  shows grommet  120  and the first ends of the strut braces  180  coupled to the vertical support member  170  within the middle region  175  of the member  170  at or above the horizontal plane of where the second ends of the strut braces  180  couple to the flexible struts  150 . For particular sizes and weights of banners, and at particular display angles, adjusting the grommet  120  within the middle region  175  of the vertical support member  170  and the grommets  130  within the middle region of the flexible struts  150  to adjust the relative positioning and angles of the strut braces  180  with respect to the horizontal improves the stability of the display stand  100 . 
   The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims. For example, collapsible display stands  100  may be adapted to be vertically stacked or placed on pedestals. For yet another example, the collapsible display stands  100  may be used for erecting non-flexible and/or non-image bearing panels, such as sunlight reflecting panels used in outdoor photography. Other embodiments may be adapted to erecting picture frames, flat-panel television sets, or solar-voltaic power arrays. Variation of materials is contemplated in the invention. For example, strips of bamboo may be used for making a picture frame support, and larger bamboo sections may be used for larger display stands. Any material with adequate strength and resiliency may be used.