GB2120744A - Framework joints - Google Patents

Abstract

An exhibition stand framework includes horizontal cross-members connected at their ends to vertical posts by a hook assembly. Each post has a longitudinal slot (16) therein and an opening (17) formed in the bottom of the slot (16); the opening (17) and the slot (16) being of the same width. The hook assembly is mounted at each end of the cross-members, and each hook assembly comprises a hook (18) which is located on a planar tongue (20). Each hook (18) engages through an appropriate opening (17) of a vertical post, and the width of the planar tongue (20) is substantially the same as the width of the slot (16) and the opening (17). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Exhibition stand framework The present invention relates to a framework for an exhibition stand.

Previously proposed frameworks and a framework of the invention will be described herein with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic partial perspective view of an exhibition stand framework, Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of known post-cross-member assemblies using expansion cores and traction cores, Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a known hook assembly, Figure 5 is a vertical section of an assembly of the invention, Figure 6 is a section along A-A of Fig. 5, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the hook core of the assemblies of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, exhibition stand frameworks may comprise uprights or posts 1 positioned vertically in an exhibition hall and cross-members or traverses 2, which connect said posts, normally in the upper part thereof, in order to form a grid defining the stands within the hall. The thus assembled crossmembers and posts then serve to support screens or other partitioning elements used for separating the stands The assembly of the posts and cross-members takes place in a detachable manner, either by means of an expansion core link (Fig. 2), a traction core link (Fig. 3), or a hook link (Fig. 4). These cores and hooks are located at the ends of the cross-members 2 and are housed in recesses or openings made in posts 1.

Thus, in the embodiment of Fig. 2, the expansion core 3 is formed from two parts 3,, 32, which are articulated to one another at 33 and which in each case are provided with lateral flanges 34. Parts 3" 32 can move away from one another under the action of a screw 4 and counter to the action of a spring 5.

These lateral flanges 34 are housed in one of the longitudinal slots 6,, made on the four faces of the square extruded section 7, in such a way that by tightening screw 4, locking is ensured by the moving apart of the two parts 3" 32 within section 8, which forms a cross-member. Due to their spacing, the two flanges 34 are also positioned within one of the longitudinal slots 61 of the extruded section 7.

In the case of a traction core (of Fig. 3), the latter is placed within a central recess 10, of a section 10 and has a head 9, and a notch 92.

Head 9, is passed into one of the slots 14, of an extruded section 11 whilst a screw 1 2 cooperates with one of the sides of notch 92 so that, during the tightening of said screw, traction occurs on core 9, so that sections 10 and 11 are secured.

In the case of an assembly by hooks, one of the elements to be assembled is constituted by a section 12, provided on its faces with openings 12, for receiving hooks 13,, formed at the end of a member 13, which is itself fixed to the end of a section 14.

However, in these constructions, the posts of the frameworks cannot generally be rigidly fixed to the ground, so that they slope to a greater or lesser extent under the action of the weight of the partitioning members or the various lateral forces to which they are exposed. This can lead to the destruction of the framework, or at least to the deterioration to the links between the posts and the crossmembers.

Thus, particularly in the case of the constructional embodiment of Fig. 4, if sections 1 2 and 1 3 slope with respect to one another, this leads to an outward deformation of the wall of section 1 2 over the circumference of opening 12,. This deformation then makes--it impossible to successively perform a reassembly operation or at least only permits assemblies having a limited rigidity, in view of the clearance necessarily existing between sections 12 and 14.

It is an aim of the invention to alleviate these difficulties, and according to the invention there is provided a framework for an exhibition stand comprising horizontal crossmembers connected at their ends to vertical posts by a hook assembly characterised in that each hook formed at the ends of crossmembers engages through an opening of a post, said opening being formed in the bottom of a longitudinal slot of said post, and in that said hook is formed on the edge of a planar tongue, whose width substantiaily corresponds to the width of said slot and to the width of said opening.

As previously mentioned the hook is formed on the edge of a planar tongue, and the said planar tongue may be located in a recess-like opening in the post.

The width of the opening in the post may substantially correspond to the width of the hook and to the width of the recess.

The recess may be shaped like a dovetail.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the aforementioned Figs. 5 to 7.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is concerned with providing an exhibition stand framework whose post-cross-member assembly can be realised either by expansion or traction cores, or by hook cores, said assembly also being sufficiently rigid to compensate the absence or weakness of the fixture of the bottom of the posts to the ground.

According to the invention the posts 1 of the assembly (of Fig. 5) comprises extruded metallic sections 15, e.g. of aluminium, which have longitudinal slots 16, in the bottom of which are formed openings 17, which serve to receive the hook 18, provided at the end of a cross-member 1 9.

Opening 1 7 is in the form of a recess, whereas slot 1 6 is in the form of a dovetail slot, provided with two lateral flanges 161, 162.

Hook 1 8 is formed on the edge of a planar tongue 20, whose width corresponds to that of recess 1 7 and to that of the openings 1 63 in the dovetail slot.

This arrangement makes it possible to achieve the results sought by the invention by preventing the cross-member 19, assembled to post 1 5, from rotating horizontally about its longitudinal axis, in such a way that said cross-member constitutes a means assisting in the vertical securing of the posts.

Thus, as can be seen in Fig. 7, tongue 20 engages on the lower edge of recess 17, in such a way that the lateral faces of said tongue are applied on the one hand to the lateral edges of the recess and on the other to the lateral edges of openings 1 63 of the dovetail slot 1 6. Thus, slot 1 6 and recess 1 7 constitute a double securing system preventing the rotation of the cross-member relative to the post.

Thus, the post receives four cross-members perpendicular to one another and to the post, said four cross-members cooperating then with the post to maintain its verticality, when a lateral slope-provoking force is exerted thereon.

The recesses 1 7 formed in the bottom of slots 16, facing openings 1 63, are preferably distributed at regular intervals along the post in.order to permit the attachment of crossmembers 1 9 at several different levels.

Cross-members 1 9 are constructed in the form of hollow sections and detachably receive at their ends cores 21, on which are formed tongues 20.

In the represented embodiment, the crossmember 1 9 receives at each of its ends two openings 19,, 192, each of which receives a core 21.

Each core 21 is formed by two parts 211, 212, which are positioned relative to one another by a spindle portion 22. These two parts are moved towards or away from one another by a screw 23, screwed to part 212 and bearing by its end on part 211. Screw 23 is positioned through a recess 1 7 in the lower slot 1 6 of the cross-member.

In the represented embodiment, the walls of the slots 1 6 having parallel edges form, in the angles of the sections (of Fig. 6), slots 24 arranged in cross-like manner, so as to make it possible to receive a brace ensuring the end-to-end assembly of the two sections.

Bearing in mind the detachable fixing of the core 21 with hook 18 and the nature of slots 16, it can, if desired, be rapidly replaced by an expansion or traction core engaging in each of the flanges of the dovetail slot, locking being ensured by the action of the spacing screw.

The framework according to the invention, whereof the assembly of posts and crossmembers in the bottom of slots has a double lateral securing function in the presence of torsion, also has the advantage of permitting rapid assembly, in view of the fact that during assembly tongue 20 is guided by slots 1 6 until it is positioned through recess 1 7.

In addition, the location of the recess 4 in the bottom of slots 1 6 makes it possible to hide the scratches necessarily formed during assembly and disassembly due to the rubbing of the end of tongue 20 against adjacent areas.

Moreover, if there is any deformation of the bottom of slots 1 6 on the periphery of a recess 17, the clearance-free installation of hook 18 of a core 21 will always be possible, in view of the possibility of the longitudinal adjustment of the core by displacing screw 23 in recess 1 7 and in view of the fact that the outer face of the post does not directly cooperate with the hook 18 and is consequently not subject to deformation.

Claims (5)

1. Framework for an exhibition stand comprising horizontal cross-members connected at their ends to vertical posts by a hook assembly, characterised in that each hook (18) formed at the ends of cross-members (19) engages through an opening (17) of a post (15), said opening being formed in the bottom of a longitudinal slot (16) of said post, and in that said hook (18) is formed on the edge of a planar tongue (20), whose width substantially corresponds to the width of said slot (16) and to the width of said opening (1 7).

2. Framework according to Claim 1, characterised in that the slot (16) is in dovetail form.

3. Framework according to Claim 2, characterised in that the dovetail slots (16) of a post define between them, in the angles of the post, recesses (24) for receiving a brace for the end-to-end assembly of the two posts.

4. Framework according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the planar tongue of the hook (18) is constructed at the end of a two-part expansion core (211, 212), whereby said parts can be moved apart by a screw (23), one of these parts being provided with the hook-forming tongue (18).

5. Framework for an exhibition stand substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.