EP0881620B1 - Sign display assembly with extensible structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The display unit consists of a series of flexible (11, 12) and rigid (3, 5) tubular components articulated to a central support (24) and engaging with the upper and lower edges of display panels made from sheet material so they can be rolled up when not in use. The rigid tubular components (3, 5) form tripod supporting feet for the central support (24) and holders for the lower ends of the panels, while the flexible tubular components are in sections joined by connecting sleeves (29) and have inner elastic cords. The free ends of the flexible components hold the upper ends of the display panels.

Description

The present invention relates to a display deployable structure, intended for displaying panels of information, of the type used in particular for set up stands that can be quickly assembled and dismantled, which are light and easy to transport from an event or exposure to another.

We already know displays that can be stored easily in light and space-saving suitcases by the that they have a deployable structure made up articulated rods that can be mounted and assembled to support the ground and receive panels flexible display winding on themselves.

An example of such a display is illustrated by the document EP-A-0 768 634.

In a display model prior to this invention, the deployable structure thus formed comprises four rods which, once rigidly fitted together in the others, define a rectangular framework resting on the ground by its four sides. It also includes other rods which are assembled to the previous ones for form a support from which you can hang a panel unique information by holding it taut in position display. So that the frame forming the base remains hidden behind the panel, it is necessary to ensure a carryover of its weight towards the center of the support polygon materialized by the rectangular frame of seat on the ground, this which singularly complicates the implementation of the display and forces the panel to take an orientation correctly tilted back from the vertical.

Although the base and the support are made of light tubular elements which are mounted by nesting into each other, while remaining articulated and foldable together by an elastic cord internally connecting them permanently, these displays have the disadvantage of being very limited in their possibilities of use. Not only do they not know receive only one single panel at a time, fixed stretched between its extreme edges, but also they lack stability, and they demand to be built with great precision and to be handled with care both during assembly and disassembly.

For. panels which are naturally intended for be displayed in turn in numerous events, it therefore appeared highly desirable to have a display with a deployable structure that does not have the aforementioned drawbacks, and whose bulk in the state folded may be low enough to fit in a small box or suitcase that can be carried with one hand.

The invention satisfies these various needs of the industrial practice, thanks to a specific design of the deployable structure which also has various advantages, including its capacity to receive a plurality of panels, preferably in a modular manner, and thanks to a combination of its effects with the panels it supports to drive by mounting to a stable display occupying a volume closed.

To do this, it provides advantageously to realize the deployable structure for receiving panels from rods made, in a way in itself known in other fields (such as tents camping), of tubular elements nestable one in the other in end-to-end solidarity, which are connected by a common elastic cord internal to said elements which allows the stems to be folded back on themselves while now their elements assembled by the cords elastic. It also provides that the panels to display by the display stand can be easily separated from the structure itself and stored wrapped on themselves as it is known per se.

In such a context, the invention has mainly for object a display with deployable structure made tubular elements with internal elastic cord which are nestable and articulated foldable between themselves and on a central assembly support for mounting a share such relatively rigid elements deviating from it obliquely to form the feet of a base with seat at ground in regular polygon, and on the other hand such elements forming as many relatively flexible arches to support each a panel suspended by its upper edge in bending under the effect of traction that said panel exercise on it.

According to a secondary characteristic of the invention, the panels consist of a canvas rollable on itself, which has two opposite edges a crossbar provided in the middle with a connection removable fixing by hanging at the upper end free of a hoop, and preferably also, at the end of support on the ground of one of the elements of the base of such that the panel is stretched between said edges.

The elements of the base, which therefore constitute the feet of the deployable structure, are advantageously regularly angularly distributed at the same inclination relative to the vertical defined by the axis of the part assembly. They are preferably grouped 3 in number in distribution with ternary symmetry of revolution, of in such a way that the base constitutes a tripod with seat on the ground in an equilateral triangle.

With a display thus constructed, it is not difficult to ensure its stability during assembly and to avoid untimely disruption of balance which would cause the fall of the whole. As we use panels that are in general at least neighbors, if not identical, in weight and dimensions, they advantageously participate in this stability.

In practice, the panels place themselves in trihedron perpendicular to the planes of the feet. Yes their width is suitably chosen in correspondence with the base, they are arranged vertically and joined by hiding the structure deployed in a volume closed in right trihedron. The assembly is all the easier that the balance brought by the ground support from the start is not broken at any time, provided that, if necessary, start by hanging the panels one by one in part high before stretching them by hanging them on the base lower part.

During disassembly, we start by unhooking the structure panels to store them rolled up on themselves, so especially around one of the crossbars which stiffen the extreme edges. Then we pulls on each of the constituent elements of the structure, and by extension of the internal elastic cord, they are released of their interlocking assemblies. They nevertheless remain connected to each other by elastic cords internal, however that they are brought back in the folded position against each other around the central support. The cords elastic again play their role during assembly, exerting an effort of recall which triggers the assemblies immediately by fitting into the correct position. This allows mounting and dismounting which are easy and fast without risk of error.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the central support is configured to ensure that the feet are ascend inclined to the vertical by an angle between 25 and 70 degrees, and preferably between 30 and 60 degrees. In this range, it is advantageous to provide the possibility of two complementary legs including feet are mounted in the same central assembly support, but in planes offset angularly and according to a different inclination.

The deployable structure can thus be presented under at least two interchangeable versions depending on the game feet that we use. In particular, the invention provides preferably that the same central support can be combined alternatively with a small tripod or a large tripod, differing from each other by the size of the seat triangle on the ground, which leads to a modular display according to the floor space to be occupied by the trihedral volume limited by panels.

In general, it will be advantageous if the support central, in its main room, be constructed in such a way so that, during assembly, the legs of a base are automatically position in bisector planes by compared to the feet of the other base. This provision allows, for example, to be able to display panels of different dimensions by choosing one or the other of two tripods, the feet of which are suitable for carrying sol respectively at the vertices of an equilateral triangle and in the middle of his sides.

Depending on the length and orientation of the feet of the two legs, we can also make that they all carry on the ground from a single piece main of the central support when the two legs are used together. If in parallel the basic structure is composed with six arches for two tripod legs, we will be able to make a display to display simultaneously six vertical panels placed parallel to the sides of a regular hexagon. In that case, the stability of the display according to the invention is still improved.

By retaining the same functions with the same characteristics of the invention, we can also extend these forms more than two tripods, as well as legs other than tripods.

In accordance with one of the embodiments of the invention, the poles are assembled directly to the central support in a main assembly part receiving the feet, and when mounting the structure, they are fixed on this piece by fitting their end lower in a receiving bore for this purpose in said part, parallel to its main axis. The assembly part then preferably comprises, in its upper part, six bores in angular distribution regular around its axis. It therefore constitutes a barrel, advantageously of cylindrical geometry.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a vertical rod is provided to attach to one of its ends, in the main assembly part, and for in this way form a central upright which brings, to its other end, a secondary assembly part receiving the hoops. The amount is made up like the feet of the base, by a tubular element with elastic cord internal, and the assemblies and fixings of the elements tubular or rods are made on the assembly part secondary in the same way that we already have described for the main assembly part.

To allow the fixing of such an intermediate amount between the base and the suspension arches of panels, the main assembly part has a axial bore for receiving a rod end opening onto its upper side. Because the connecting piece secondary does not need to receive feet made of inclined rods, it is preferably made as a simple barrel, by a cylindrical piece pierced with a central bore (for the rod forming the central upright) and of six bores distributed at equal angular intervals over an annular crown for fixing arches.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the assembly part is made of plastic by molding. It may be advantageous to set it up with two or more three separate parts secured by screwing and / or clip-on in a removable manner. It will be in particular of a cylindrical upper part, with bores vertical for the poles and any central upright, and two lower parts with oblique bores, each for one of the tripod rods.

The lower parts are preferably consisting of two rings of different outside diameter, with the widest fitting over the least wide by a external bayonet system, determining their positioning relative both in rotation and in translation longitudinal. This arrangement can be combined with a screwing the narrower ring into the cylindrical part in the center and with a larger screwing of the ring in the narrower ring in the center. Both rings can be perfectly interchangeable, or be combined and used together.

However according to a form of implementation preferred of the invention, the main part of the support central assembly includes, like the secondary part a barrel with longitudinal cells, each provided with an internal crown in narrowing section to retain by a knot the cord of the rod which fits in. To this barrel is then added fittings individual feet, which are bent at an open angle and thus present a branch engaging forcibly or clipping in a lower part of a cell and a branch having an internal cord retaining crown elastic of a foot fixing there by interlocking. The oblique orientation of the foot is advantageously ensured, in the right plan at the level of the second branch, by a longitudinal keying between the first branch and the cell that receives it.

It should be noted that in the practical implementation of the invention, it is often possible, and even advantageous, if only for reasons of manufacturing economy, just use the same internal elastic cord to connect a foot and an arch through one holes in the assembly part. Such a bore is then crossing at least over the diameter necessary for the cord passage. To liaise by the cord, it is sufficient to form knots at its ends at the end of the foot and at the end of the headband. These nodes can be simply retained on the wall of the tubular element.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, it is intended that in the disassembled state, the assembly legs and hoops folded over the assembly support and panels rolled up on one of their end bars fits in a suitcase box of associated cylindrical shape, advantageously provided with a handle or a strap shoulder.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble d'un présentoir selon l'invention une fois monté et assemblé, les panneaux étant fixés suspendus à la structure déployée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus correspondant à la figure 1 qui illustre des variantes de montage du présentoir, avec deux piétements différents ;
• la figure 3 représente un arceau replié sur la pièce d'assemblage ;
• la figure 4 illustre la partie supérieure d'un panneau accroché en suspension à un arceau de la structure déployable ;
• la figure 5 montre schématiquement une forme de réalisation du raccord en T équipant chaque barre transversale aux bords extrêmes des panneaux ;
• la figure 6 montre à plus grande échelle une pièce d'assemblage principale partiellement en coupe, ainsi qu'un raccord de fixation d'un pied du piétement ;
• et la figure 7 montre un panneau d'information à l'état rangé enroulé sur lui-même.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figure 1 is an overview of a display according to the invention once mounted and assembled, the panels being fixed suspended from the deployed structure;
• Figure 2 is a top view corresponding to Figure 1 which illustrates mounting variants of the display, with two different legs;
• Figure 3 shows a hoop folded over the assembly piece;
• FIG. 4 illustrates the upper part of a panel hung in suspension on a hoop of the deployable structure;
• FIG. 5 schematically shows an embodiment of the T-fitting fitted to each crossbar at the extreme edges of the panels;
• FIG. 6 shows on a larger scale a main assembly part partially in section, as well as a fitting for fixing a foot of the base;
• and Figure 7 shows an information panel in the stored state rolled up on itself.

The display with deployable structure according to the invention consists of elements which are fixed to each other to others in a determined solidarity relationship when the structure is deployed, but which also remain linked flexibly foldable on top of each other when storage of the display unit in a small footprint.

For this, this structure is formed from tubular elements of a type known per se, which are are in the form of hollow rods receiving a cord elastic inside. This cord 10 provides a connection permanent between the stems, which it crosses all along, however the elastic effect facilitates a connection fast and safe by fitting successive rods end to end end.

In the example considered the elastic cords internals consist of a bundle of longitudinal wires made of elastic material wrapped in a sheath made of trellis not hampering elasticity.

This is how flexible hoops 8, 12 are formed, for example, by butt connection of two elements in line, 2 and 11, always remaining connected by a elastic cord 10 which is common to them, while an element of the structure, when it is formed by a single rod of suitable dimensions, is capable of forming a rigid foot 3, 5. The elastic cords are attached to a free end of the element (hoop or foot). At the other end, they can fix in an assembly part carrying out the assembly of the assembly which is part of the central support 1.

It is however preferred, as illustrated by the Figure 3, that the same cord 10 is used through the part 24 for a hoop 8 and a foot 3 placed in the extension of each other at this part. The fastening the cord 10 at the end of the arch on the one hand, foot on the other hand is ensured here simply by forming at end of the cord a knot 9, 9 'which is retained by pressing on the tubular wall of the element when the cord retracts by the effect of its elasticity.

The relative stiffness and flexibility of the feet and poles can be adjusted in various ways, depending on dimensions, lengths of elements and weight of the panels, in particular by the choice of materials, such as carbon fiber-based materials or based on glass fibers, or the thicknesses of the walls tubular rods.

In accordance with the invention, the deployable structure of the display unit comprises a main assembly part 24 between a plurality of feet forming the support base at ground and a plurality of arches to which are connected panels hanging from them.

The figures show that this part 24 has at this effect, in its lower part, of the oblique connections 31 with cylindrical bores 26 (Figure 6), in which engage three feet 3. They are oriented to constitute thus a rigid tripod. The three feet 3 having the same length, the bores 26 have the same inclination, here 30 degrees from the vertical represented by the axis of the part 24 (which is that of the central support 1). Around this axis, they are distributed regularly according to a ternary symmetry of revolution, so according to angular deviations of 120 degrees, such that the free lower ends 4 of feet 3 determine on the ground a equilateral lift triangle.

In the example described, the part 24 has three other fittings with mounting holes for a tripod. These are distributed around the axis along the bisectors between the previous ones and oriented differently, here at 60 degrees by relative to the vertical axis. They are intended to receive three other feet 5, inclined at 60 degrees, which together form a second tripod, leading to an equilateral triangle of lift angularly offset from the previous one by 60 degrees.

5 feet can be used in place of feet 3 of the small tripod or in combination with these last, in the case where the length of legs 3 and 5 is calculated so that their respective lower tips line up in the same horizontal plane at ground level.

In its right part, Figure 2 illustrates the assembly of panels 23 of great width in connection with a larger base compared to panels 13 minus large in correspondence with a small tripod. She shows also an alternative embodiment according to which feet 5 'shorter for the second base can be used with 23 'panels to close a regular hexahedron if the panels are of suitable width.

The main part of the central support, such that it is seen in detail in Figure 6, is presented under the shape of a barrel. It is hollowed out of cells vertical cylindrical 7, in each of which, in part upper, accommodates the rigid lower end of the rod 2 of one of three poles, until it hits a shoulder internal in annular ring 28. Where appropriate this crown can be used to hold behind a knot formed at the end of the corresponding internal elastic cord 10. These hoops are relatively flexible, so that from from their fixed lower end, they can be bent manually by the user to hang a panel on it, and then stay so bent under weight and tension said panel.

Each of the poles consists of two rods aligned fittings, therefore of a lower tubular element 2 and an upper tubular element 11 which are engaged by nesting end to end one inside the other in the assembled state. In practical, the rods have the same outside diameter and a wider sleeve 29 (FIG. 3) is fixed integral with the upper rod 11 to receive the upper rod 2.

If two tripods are provided, possibly interchangeable, it is advantageous for modularity issues, that room 24 has six bores 7 distributed annularly, which are suitable for receiving respectively six arches 8,12 during assembly.

Display panels such as 13 are attached hanging from the end of an associated arch. They are made of a flexible rectangular fabric 14 comprising its two extreme edges, lower and upper, a bar rigid transverse 15.

Each of the bars 15 is equipped in the middle with a T-connector freely orientable relative to bar 15 and the panel itself. This connection 16 is made up, in the example described, not with a slot in its part longitudinal for mounting by elastic snap on bar 15, but rather by a tube 17 (FIG. 5) which is slides on the bar 15 until bringing it into sound middle, where a notch 22 is cleared in the canvas 14. In the perpendicular part 25 of the fitting 16 comes engage in mounting the upper end of the rod 11 a hoop as illustrated in the figure, or symmetrically the lower end of a foot 3.

Thanks to the flexibility of the arches, the panels can thus be stretched vertically between the feet and the hoops, which ensures both a good appearance and a good display stand. If applicable, and subject that the width of the panels be established to close completely a straight trihedron, the layout can be improved by adding removable fittings to the display two or three branches to assemble the ends of upper bars 15 of contiguous panels and / or the ends of their lower bars 15 with one of the feet 3.

As shown in Figure 6 and already indicated, the main assembly part 24 is generally in the form of cylindrical barrel, comprising vertical cells 7 for fixing the lower part of the hoops by its upper side. Beyond the annular crown 28 which serves as a stop for the arch rod 2 while allowing passage the internal elastic cord 10, the same cells constitute cylindrical cells for fixing the upper ends of the feet inclined by through fittings 31.

We see in this figure 6 that the oblique connection in which the foot 3 is fitted is in practice a elbow fitting which is hollow from end to end to deliver passage to the cord 10. It actually has a branch oblique into which engages the end of foot 3 up to abut on an internal shoulder 32. The second branch 33 it engages in socket 7. It has a rib longitudinal 34 which, being housed in a groove cooperating 35 of the cell, requires the fitting to be placed in a determined orientation such as his first branch diverges radially from the axis of symmetry of the piece 24. In the longitudinal direction, the correct position is ensured by a stop at the bottom of the groove 35 or on the crown 28 (its lower face in FIG. 6).

Figures 3 and 6 show how the cord connects from one end to the other a foot with a hoop, thanks to the fact that the crown 28 partially closing the cell at mid-height leave enough space in the center to leave freely extend the cord 10.

When the display is dismantled, the different components are folded substantially parallel alongside each other while remaining linked to the assembly piece 24 by the cord 10. The panels are released from the feet and hoops and are wrapped around one of their bars 15. The assembly is housed in a box small cylindrical case, transportable to the hand.

On an exhibition site, we take out the structure folded and the box panels, and you can easily mount the display by aligning and engaging each in the others the tubular elements constituting the feet and hoops. Then simply unroll the panels and fix them between a leg and a hoop.

The assembly and disassembly operations are therefore very easy and fast. We obtain a rigid set of which the panels are well positioned, which avoids all imbalance. We therefore obtain a particularly stable which is not likely to tip over.

Although the display described is rather intended for be used in a display with three panels defining a straight trihedron, it can also be used to present a single panel. It is recommended in this case to bring together together the three arches by means of an intermediate link surrounding them. In the storage case, there is this effect a strip of a material adhering on itself of the type known commercially under the Velcro brand.

Claims (10)

1. A panel display (13, 23) having a stretchable structure made of articulated tubular elements collapsible together with an internal elastic cord, wherein said elements are articulated on a central assembling support (1) for their mounting, whereas on the one hand some such relatively rigid elements (3, 5) are fixed with such support while obliquely diverging away from it so as to form a foot base with a ground seating shaped as a regular polygon, and whereas on the other hand some such elements form as many bows (8, 12) which are relatively flexible to support a suspendible panel which hangs from the middle of its upper edge at the free end of the corresponding bow.
2. A display according to claim 1, wherein said panels (13, 23) are made of a fabric (14) which can be wrapped around itself and has at each of two opposite end edges thereof a transverse bar (15) with a connection in its middle for its dismountable fixation at either the upper free end of a bow or the free end of a foot, respectively.
3. A display according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said central support includes a main assembling piece (24) for the mounting of three slanting regularly angularly distributed feet (3, 5) so as to constitute a tripod with a ground seating shaped as an equilateral triangle, and wherein three panels (13, 23) are associated with it, each of said pannels consisting of a flexible rectangular fabric (14) with a width adapted so as to close a right trihedron When the display is mounted.
4. A display according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein said central support is shaped for mounting two similar foot bases, the feet of which are angularly displaced from one another.
5. A display according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said bows (8, 12) are directly mounted in a main assembling piece (24) of said central support which contains a cylindrical barrel with longitudinal cells for mounting said bows to which oblique connections are joined for mounting the feet.
6. A display according to claim 5, wherein said connections (31) for mounting the feet (3) are bent connections engaged under a longitudinal keying in cells of said barrel.
7. A display according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said main assembling piece (24) includes a central cell for receiving a vertical axial pole, to be fixed at one of its ends by being inserted into said main, foot mounting, assembling piece (24) and at its other end into a secondary assembling piece receiving the bows (8, 12).
8. A display according to anyone of claims 5 to 7, wherein the continuous internal cord (10) freely crosses a cell (7) of said barrel and wherein it links, from one end to the other, a bow (8) with a foot (3) which are insertedly mounted into said cell.
9. A display according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bows (8, 12) are built by butt inserting at least two collapsible tubular elements (11, 12) linked together by means of an internal elastic cord (10).
10. A display according to anyone of the preceding claims, whereby, in the dismounted state, the set made up of the feet (3, 5) and bows (8, 12), folded on the assembling piece (24), and the panels (13, 23) wrapped around one of their transverse bars (15), is housed inside an associated, cylindrically shaped box.

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