Abstract:
A demonstration case having an eccentric tilt panel display assembly is provided for safely securing, transporting, and demonstrating industrial products or equipment. The demonstration case may reduce damage to display products that may occur from dropping the demonstration case or from joggling of display products during transport. The demonstration case may also help stably maintain the display product in a display or demonstration mode.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/691,759 filed on Aug. 21, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to demonstration cases used for transporting and demonstrating specialized industrial products. More specifically, the present invention relates to a travel case used for transporting and demonstrating a burner management system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Travel cases are commonly used for transporting and storing apparel and other personal items. Travel cases have also been used for transporting and storing portable electronic work stations, such as a portable computer work station or computer field kits. 
         [0004]    Travel cases have also been used by businesses and sales persons for transporting items or products to be demonstrated to potential customers or to consumers. Such travel cases have often used brackets, fixed levers or basic barrel or folding arm hinges to open and close the travel case. 
         [0005]    In the past, some travel cases have included a display assembly for displaying a product. A display assembly may have included an item to be displayed and basic hinges or fixed levers for securing the product to the travel case so that the display product could be stored in the travel case and then be folded out after the travel case was opened. In other instances, a manual lift with a stand has been used in a travel case for displaying an item or product. 
         [0006]    One concern when displaying or demonstrating certain specialized products, such as heavy industrial equipment or components, is how to keep the product stable or in a fixed position while conducting a demonstration. Another concern is protecting the display product from damage during storage and transportation that can be caused from dropping the travel case or joggling the product inside the case—especially if the display product is costly or fragile. Protecting a display item can be particularly difficult when the item is heavy or comprised of a number of complex parts. 
         [0007]    Various attempts have been used in the past to address such concerns. For example, some travel cases in the past have included a display assembly comprising a manual lift with a stand that could be used to display a product. Also, some travel cases in the past have included foam blocks in the travel case to provide shock resistance to protect against impact to display items stored in the travel case. Securing and pivoting of display assemblies was sometimes accomplished using brackets, fixed levers or basic barrel or folding arm hinges. 
         [0008]    However, there are a number of problems and disadvantages to travel cases that have been used in the past for storing, transporting, or demonstrating products. For example, heavy specialized industrial products, such as burner management systems, are more difficult to portably secure in a travel case for demonstration purposes. Preventing such specialized display products from moving, bouncing, or being damaged while in transit poses challenges and could require additional measures to protect them, such as specially fitted foam blocks or securing straps. Such additional protection measures may increase the cost and personnel time required to safely store and transport the display products. 
         [0009]    Also, industrial products such as burner management systems may be more difficult to configure for demonstration purposes. Likewise, disassembling and repacking industrial products such as a burner management system after conducting a demonstration can be time intensive and increases the risk of damage to the product each time it is disassembled and reassembled. 
         [0010]    Thus it is desirable to have a travel case for demonstrating specialized industrial products such as burner management systems which allows the product to be portably stored, transported, and demonstrated without requiring the display product to be assembled and disassembled before and after each demonstration respectively. It is also desirable to have a travel case for demonstrating specialized industrial products that allows for the stable and secure storage, transport, and display of the display product without requiring substantial time to safely setup or secure the display product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved travel case for display and demonstration of a product, such as industrial equipment. It is another object of the present invention to provide for an improved product display assembly for use in a demonstration case. 
         [0012]    According to one aspect of the invention, a travel case is provided having a display assembly disposed therein, said display assembly comprising a display product configured on a display panel. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display product is a burner management system. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the burner management system is configured for demonstration purposes. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a simulation switch box is provided to provide signals to a burner management system control box simulating conditions which may occur in a combustion system at an oil and gas well site. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the travel case has wheels and an extendable handle, so as to be easily transported. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the display assembly includes a tilt panel or a display unit that is secured along a first side to the inside of a travel case using one or more hinges. The one or more hinges for securing the first side of the tilt piano or display unit may comprise one or more piano hinges. 
         [0015]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display panel is secured to the travel case using at least two different types of hinges. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, at least one of the hinges is an eccentrically actuated hinge. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the tilt panel or display unit may be a hideaway eccentric tilt panel or hide away eccentric display unit. The tilt panel or display unit may be bi-stable and configured with a toggle point so that the tilt panel or display unit is stable in both the closed or “folded” position and in the open or “display” position. 
         [0016]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the eccentrically actuated hinge provides inertia that helps prevent the display assembly from moving in the travel case during transport so that the display assembly remains in the closed or “folded” position. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the eccentric hinge allows the unit to be stabilized and maintained in the “demonstration” or “display” position after it is pulled up into the demonstration or display position. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the hinges is configured with a pneumatic lift support. According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the hinges is configured with a hydraulic lift support. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the pneumatic lift support is a gas-assist, a gas charged lift support, or a gas spring. 
         [0018]    These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a demonstration case as shown and described in the following figures and related description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view of a demonstration case in accordance with the present invention with the travel case lid in the open position and the eccentric tilt panel in the “closed” or “folded” position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of a demonstration case in accordance with the present invention with the travel case lid in the open position and the eccentric tilt panel in the “open” or “display” position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a cutaway side view of a demonstration case in accordance with the present invention showing the travel case in the “open” position and showing the eccentric tilt panel in both the “closed” position and in the “open” position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a top perspective view of a demonstration case including a product display assembly in accordance with the present invention having the travel case lid in the “open” position and the eccentric display unit in the “closed” or “folded” position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a front perspective view of a demonstration case including a product display assembly in accordance with the present invention having the eccentric display unit in the “open” or “display” position and burner management system configured in a demonstration mode; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a rear side-angle perspective view of a demonstration case including a product display assembly in accordance with the present invention having the eccentric display unit in the “open” or “display” position and a burner management system configured in a demonstration mode. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a top perspective view, a front perspective view and a side cutaway view of a demonstration case  10  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention are respectively shown. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the demonstration case  10  may be comprised of a travel case  12  and a product display panel  14 . The travel case  12  should be durable and made of a sturdy material, such as a polymer or composite material or of aluminum or a metal alloy that may be waterproof, flame retardant, or tear-resistant. The travel case may also be made of any other material commonly used by those skilled in the art for making durable travel cases. 
         [0029]    The travel case  12  may include a lid  13  also made of a durable material in which foam padding  15 , such as an egg carton shaped foam padding, may be disposed. The foam padding  15  may provide shock resistance to assist in protecting display products or equipment stored or transported in the demonstration case  10 . The foam padding  15  may also be disposed on one or more of the other interior sides of the travel case  12  to help protect the display panel  14  and any display product configured thereon and being stored or transported. 
         [0030]    The travel case  12  may also have an extendible handle for carrying or towing the demonstration case. The travel case may also have one or more wheels or rollers to facilitate towing the demonstration case when transporting a display product. 
         [0031]    The display panel  14  may be made of a light weight but sturdy material, such as a composite or a metal, such as aluminum or metal alloy, which may provide strong support for heavy industrial products being demonstrated or displayed on the display panel  14 . The display panel  14  may also be configured for securing or mounting a display product thereon. The display product may be assembled on or mounted to the display panel  14  for demonstration purposes. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the display panel  14  may be pivotally connected at a first side of the display panel  14  to at least one interior side of the travel case  12  using a hinge  18 . Preferably, the hinge  18  connecting the front side of the display panel  14  to the travel case is a piano hinge, which may provide strong support for heavy industrial products being displayed on the product display panel  14 . If desired, more than one hinge  18  may be used for securing the first side of the product display panel  14  to the travel case  12 . 
         [0033]    The display panel  14  may also be bi-stably configured with one or more gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  eccentrically disposed at a first end to the product display panel  14  using one or more eccentrically actuated hinges  16   a,    16   b  with the gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  being pivotally disposed at a second end to the travel case  12  using one or more pivot hinges  20   a,    20   b.    
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , inertia from the eccentrically actuated hinges  16   a,    16   b  and the gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  provides inertia that may stably maintain the display panel  14  in one of two positions on either side of a toggle point so that the display panel  14  is stable in both the closed or “folded” position and in the open or “display” position. 
         [0035]    The inertia from the eccentrically actuated hinges  16   a,    16   b  and the gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  may also help prevent the display panel and any display product configured thereon from moving in the demonstration case  10  during transport so that the display panel  14  remains in the closed or “folded” position. The inertia from the eccentrically actuated hinges  16   a,    16   b  and the gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  also helps support the display panel when it is configure with a display product to stably be maintained in the “demonstration” or “display” position. 
         [0036]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , a top perspective view, a front perspective view, and a rear side-angle view of a demonstration case  10  having a product display assembly  24  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention are respectively shown. As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the product display assembly  24  may be comprised of a burner management demonstration system mounted to or configured on a product display panel  14  for the purpose of providing demonstrations of the burner management system. The burner management demonstration system may include a burner management system control box  26  for controlling at least one element of combustion, a simulation switch box  28 , a valve train, a combustion assembly, and one or more sensors for measuring various combustion elements. 
         [0037]    The valve train may comprise a high flow regulator and pressure gauge  44 , a low flow regulator and pressure gauge  46 , a pilot regulator and pressure gauge  48 , a high flow solenoid control valve  50 , a low flow solenoid control valve  52 , and a pilot solenoid control valve  54  all connected using fuel conduits. 
         [0038]    The combustion assembly may comprise a mixer  58 , a fuel nipple pipe  60 , a pilot or burner nozzle  62 , and a flame ignition electrode  56  and one or more flame sensor electrodes  64 . Gas or other fuel for combustion may be stored in a fuel tank  66 , such as a propane tank. The fuel tank  66  may be connected to a first end of the valve train using a fuel conduit such as rubber tubing; and, the mixer  58  end of the combustion assembly may be connected to a second end of the valve train. Fuel can then be channeled from the fuel tank  66  through the valve train and then to the burner assembly for delivery of fuel to the burner to provide fuel for combustion. Gas flow and combustion may be controlled by the combustion management control box  26 . 
         [0039]    The combustion assembly unit may be folded and stored behind the product display assembly  24  and unfolded and extended when the product display assembly  24  is in the open and full demonstration position as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0040]    Switches on the simulation switch box  28  may be used to initiate signals that are sent to the burner management system control box  26  simulating various conditions which can occur in a burner management system at an oil and gas well site. The simulation switches on the simulation switch box  28  may include a process temperature slide switch  30 , an auxiliary temperature slide switch  32 , a flame simulation switch  34 , a low pressure simulation switch  36 , a high pressure simulations switch  38 , an emergency shutdown (ESD) simulation switch  40 , and a start switch  42 . 
         [0041]    The start switch  42  may be used to power on the burner management demonstration system. The means for delivering power to the burner management system control box  26  and the simulation switch box  28  may include a power cord with a standard AC plug, such as a standard male electrical plug for connecting with a standard 110 volt female electrical socket. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the electrical cord and plug may be stored behind the product display assembly  24  in a power cord retractor  68  for dispensing and rewinding the electrical cord. The power cord retractor  68  may be a spring powered power cord retractor or an automatic retractor. 
         [0042]    Of course, one may use any other means commonly used by those skilled in the art for delivering power from a power source to an electrically operated device. 
         [0043]    When the start switch  42  is in the “on” position and the power is on, the switches on the simulated switch box  28  may be used to send signals to the burner management system control box  23  simulating various onsite conditions. Depending on the conditions simulated, the burner management system control box  23  may then send responsive signals to various components of the burner management demonstration system, such as, for example, to solenoid control valves for adjusting gas flow in response to the simulated conditions. 
         [0044]    As with the display panel  14 , the product display assembly  24  is bi-stable when the burner management demonstration system is configured therewith. Pressure from the one or more gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  help maintain the product display assembly  24  in the closed position once it has been tilted into the travel case, helping to hold the product display assembly  24  down. Pivot hinges  20   a,    20   b  connected to the gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  may facilitate opening and closing of the product display assembly  24 . 
         [0045]    The eccentrically actuated hinges  16   a,    16   b  provide an eccentric arc that provides outward pressure from the gas charged lift supports  22   a,    22   b  when the product display assembly  24  is in the closed position to keep the product display assembly  24  down unless pressure is applied to overcome the eccentric arc. When such pressure is applied and the apex of the eccentric arc is overcome, the outward pressure from the gas charged lift support  22   a,    22   b  biases the product display assembly  24  along the eccentric arc into the “open” position. 
         [0046]    The piano hinge  18  facilitates folding of product display assembly  24  into and out of the travel case  12 . Thus, a user may move the product display assembly  24  from the closed to the open position by pulling up on the product display assembly  24 , including the burner management demonstration system, to overcome the initial inertia of the eccentric hinge in the “folded” or closed position. After the inertia is overcome, the product display assembly  24 , including the burner management demonstration system, should easily move to the “display” or demonstration position. Similarly, a user may bias the product display assembly  24  into the closed position by folding the product display assembly  24  down until the initial inertia from the eccentric arc is overcome and upon which the eccentric forces will help hold the product display assembly  24  in the closed or storing position. 
         [0047]    There is thus disclosed an improved demonstration travel case having an eccentric tilt display panel. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.