Patent Publication Number: US-6712118-B2

Title: Portable exhibition frame assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     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. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     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, side rails, 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. 
     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. It is a further feature of this present invention to utilize different sizes and configurations depending upon the customer requirements. 
    
    
     In order that the invention be more clearly understood, it will be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basic portable exhibition frame assembly in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the components detached from its completed assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is the plan view of the assembled unit. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed partial sectional end view, reference 
     FIG. 5 is partial plan view in wire form showing the top channel connecting with support tube 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side view in wire form showing how the top channel connects with support tube 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing how the fabric attaches to the bottom rail with separable fasteners. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of top channel connected to the support tube. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     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 rail  18  is generic and is used at the top and bottom. Once bottom channel rail  18  and base plates  16  are in place, the vertical support tubes  11  are slipped over the extension section of channel base plates  16  and the inverted “L” tab 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, FIG.  6  and FIG. 8,  22  slip into positioning holes into the top channel “L” tab  18 B through positioning holes in support tubes  11 . 
     With the basic components assembled as described herein before, the fabric backdrop  17  has enclosed portion (FIG. 8) which is slipped into the top channel rail conduit flange FIG. 8,  18 A spanning the length of the channel rail  18 . Once backdrop fabric  17  is securely hanging from channel rail conduit flange  18 A, you grasp the center bottom of backdrop fabric  17  pulling in a downwardly direction and when taut, attach the  17 A to the vertical face side of the bottom channel  18  with corresponding pressure engaged separable fasteners  18 C. The fabric backdrop bottom  17  continues to be pulled taut and pressed to the back continuing left and right along the bottom channel  18  until the entire fabric  17  is secured by a pressure engaged separable fastener  18 C, providing a flat taut display backdrop. 
     The holes  19  and  20  indicated in FIGS. 4,  5 ,  6  and  8  are for various mounting locators for selective options i.e. light bars, gridwall, light boxes, monitors and other display enhancing items that can be attached to the 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 channel rails  18  where various typical bolts can be attached for mounting of customer products and/or additional accessories. 
     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.