GB2193367A - Display assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A self supporting, dismantleable display assembly comprises a base portion 10, a top portion 41 and display panels 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 19, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 extending between the base and top portions. The base and top portions are tubular and polygonal and locating plates (13), 40 are provided for holding the display panels by means of pins 20, 43 such that free edges of the panels engage within the tubular base and top portions at corners formed at meeting faces of the base and top portions. The display panels may be in 'X' or chevron configuration, Figs 1 & 4 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display assembly The invention relates to display assemblies which have a multitude of uses in displaying material or information.

Hitherto, portable display assemblies and systems have generally involved hanging panels on a series of poles, the panels being hinged to facilitate differing angles to achieve stability. The alternative has been to provide large feet requiring fastening to the poles.

Such existing systems are unsatisfactory from a stability point of view and tend also to be expensive and, in some cases, complicated to erect and dismantle.

According to the invention, there is provided a self supporting, dismantleable display assembly comprising a base portion, a top portion and display panel means extending between the base and top portions, the base and top portions each being tubular and polygonal and the display panel means comprising a plurality of panels and means for holding the panels such that free edges of the panels engage within the tubular base and top portions at corners formed at the meeting faces of said polygonal base and top portions.

At least a pair of said plurality of panels preferably intersect at a central region of the assembly when considered in plan.

One pair of panels may intersect at a central region of the assembly and a second pair of panels may lie parallel to said one pair but spaced apart therefrom to lie adjacent, when viewed in plan, the periphery of the base and top portions.

Further display panels may extend between outer free edges of the panels of said two pairs to complete a chevron shape when viewed in plan.

The invention further provides a self supporting, dismantleable display assembly comprising a base portion, a top portion and display panel means extending between the base and top portions, the base and top portions each being tubular and polygonal and the display panel means comprising a plurality of panels and means for holding the panels in an X-configuration, free edges of the panels engaging within the tubular base and top portions at corners formed at meeting faces of said polygonal base and top portions.

The assembly may further comprise a pair of parallel, spaced apart display panels extending between free ends of the panels in the Xconfiguration.

The base portion is preferably hexagonal and the top portion is preferably hexagonal when viewed in plan.

An engagement plate may be included in the base portion, the plate and the base portion being mutually engageable to locate the one relative to the other.

An engagement plate may be included in the top portion, the plate and the top portion being mutually engageable to locate the one relative to the other.

The base plate may include peripheral holes or recesses and the base portion pins for engaging the holes or recesses in the base engagement plate.

The top engagement plate may include peripheral holes or recesses and the top portion may include pins for engaging the holes or recesses in the top engagement plate.

The display panel means and the engagement plates are preferably mutually engageable to provide additional location, engagement being provided preferably by pins on the display panel means and holes or recesses in the plates.

The display panel means may comprise a lower panel assembly and an upper panel assembly and secondary locating plate means may be positioned between the upper and lower panel assemblies.

Infill panel means may be provided for filling in between the base portion and the display panel means and shelving means may be associated with the display panel means.

Additional polygonal elements may be provided intermediate the base and top portions.

The invention further provides a plurality of display assemblies according to the invention and means for linking the assemblies together to provide a combination unit.

By way of example, two embodiments of a display assembly according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a lower part of a display assembly; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing elements of the assembly of Figure 1 assembled and, exploded, an upper portion of the display assembly; Figure 3 is an exploded view of a lower part of a second embodiment of a display assembly; and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing elements of the Figure 3 assembly assembled and, exploded, an upper portion of the display assembly.

As shown in Figure 1, a tubular, hexagonal base portion 10 of a display assembly in cludes six wall members hingedly connected together to allow flat packing of the base portion 10. There is shown on one wall 11 pins 12 extending downwardly and adapted to engage holes or recesses in a locating plate 13 shaped to fit within the tubular base portion 10.

In the exploded view of Figure 1, there are shown above the base portion 10 six display panels 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. The panels 14, 15, 16 and 17 have one planar vertical edge and one flanged vertical edge, the flanged vertical edge being adapted to meet one another to allow arrangement of the four panels in a X-configuration. The two panels 18 and 19 both have two flanged vertical edges to engage free edges of the four panels 14 to 17.

The panels 14 to 19 are provided with outwardly extending pins, for example dowels 20. The lower dowels 20 of the panels 14 to 19 engage holes or recesses in the plate 13 and the upper dowels 20 are for engaging an upper portion of the display assembly to be described with reference to Figure 2.

It will be appreciated that this configuration of panels, base portion 10 and the plate 18 provide a readily erectable and dismantleable assembly yet one which is stable and rigid.

In Figure 2, the elements of Figure 1 are shown assembled and the upper portion of the display assembly is also shown in exploded view.

Above the assembled lower portion are located triangular secondary locating plates 21 and 22, holes being formed in the plates 21 and 22 to engage the dowels 20 previously described.

Upper display panels 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 are similar in their edge profiles to the panels 14 to 19 respectively but, in this embodiment, stands slightly taller. The four panels in the X-configuration, namely panel numbers 30, 31, 32 and 33 are formed with base holes for engagement by the dowels 20 on the lower assembly, one hole 36 being visible on panel 30.

Above the panels 30 to 35 is located an upper locating plate 40 similar in configuration to the plate 13 but with additional peripheral holes adapted to be engaged by pins in a top portion 41, several pins 42 being shown.

The plate 40 locates stably on upwardly extending pins 43 in the panels 30 to 35 and the tubular top portion 41 provides additional stability.

It will be appreciated that one embodiment only has been described and that many variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. Some examples of modifications which could be made are that four vertical panels only might be used without the intermediate, secondary, locating plates 21 and 22. The base and top plates 18 and 40 might be centrally hinged to provide added portability. Shelves could be included between the display panels and a complete shelf system could be incorporated. Infill panels, for example diamond shaped or pairs of triangular panels could be included to blank off exposed parts of the base portion 10. Alternatively, the base portion 10 is readily usable as a plant trough. The display panels could be slotted to take links with adjacent display assemblies.The height of the base and top portions 10, 41 respectively could be different from that shown.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, a tubular hexagonal base portion 110 includes six wall members 111 connected together by brackets 112 and screws 118. The wall members 111 carry additional base brackets 114 which enable the wall members 111 to be secured to a base engagement plate 115 by further screws 116. In this way, a rigid, hexagonal base portion is provided.

On four of the wall members 111 not shown attached to the base plate 115, holes are provided to allow the passage of screws 116 therethrough to secure positively respective display panels 117, 118, 119 and 120 to respective wall members. In addition, two further display panels 121 and 122 are located by means of dowels 123 engaging in holes in the base locating plate 115. All the display panels 117 to 122 have lower dowels 123 for engagement in this way.

Drop-on hinges 125 engageable with similar hinges on adjacent wall members 111 provide additional location.

The base assembly of Figure 3 is shown in an assembled state in Figure 4. The display panels 11 7 to 122 have a chevron configuration when viewed in pian. Display panels 119 and 120 have upwardly extending dowels 130 but the panels 117, 118, 121 and 122 have captive bolts 131 extending upwardly therefrom. intermediate plate 132 is located over the dowels 130 and bolts 131 and a set of upper display panels is likewise located, the upper display panels being allocated reference numerals 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 and 145.

The upper panels are held securely in place by wing nuts 146 engaging the bolts 131.

Each of the panels 140 to 145 has dowels extending upwardly therefrom on which is located an upper engagement plate 150 having holes therethrough. An upper hexagonal casing of wall members 152 engages the plate 150 by means of downwardly extending dowels 154.

Figure 4 also illustrates a lamp 160 and associated cable 161 to provide concealed lighting.

As has been described with respect to Figures 1 and 2, modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. Four vertical panels only may be used without intermediate, secondary plate 132. The base and top engagement plate 115 and 150 may be centrally hinged to provide added portability. Shelves could be included between the display panels and a complete shelf system could be incorporated. Infill panels, for example diamond shaped or pairs of triangular panels could be included to blank off exposed parts of the base portion 110. Alternatively, the base portion 110 could be used as a plant trough. The display panels could be slotted to take links with adjacent display assemblies. The height of the base and top portions could be different from that shown in Figure 3 and 4.

In none of the drawings have links between adjacent display panels been shown but it will be appreciated that a variety of different links could be used, for example with shelves, desk tops or indeed a series of display panels could be directly linked together to provide a multiple unit. Linking could also be achieved simply by vertical panels attached to the display assemblies according to the invention.

This is one of the advantages of these embodiments of the invention allowing adaptability of the system.

It will be appreciated that the two arrangement of these embodiments of a display assembly according to the invention is rigid and stable when assembled but yet readily dismantleable for good portability.

Claims (21)

1. A self supporting, dismantleable display assembly comprising a base portion, a top portion and display panel means extending between the base and top portions, the base and top portions each being tubular and polygonal and the display panel means comprising a plurality of panels and means for holding the panels such that free edges of the panels engage within the tubular base and top portions at corners formed at meeting faces of said polygonal base and top portions.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein at least a pair of said plurality of panels intersect at a central region of the assembly when considered in plan.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein one pair of panels intersect at a central region of the assembly and a second pair of panels lie parallel to said one pair but spaced apart therefrom to lie adjacent, when viewed in plan, the base and top portions peripheries.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 comprising further display panels extending between outer free edges of the panels of said two pairs to complete a chevron shape when viewed in plan.

5. A self supporting, dismantleable display assembly comprising a base portion, a top portion and display panel means extending between the base and top portions, the base and top portions each being tubular and polygonal and the display panel means comprising a plurality of panels and means for holding the panels in an X-conflguration, free edges of the panels engaging within the tubular base and top portions at corners formed at meeting faces of said polygonal base and top portions.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5 comprising a pair of parallel, spaced apart display panels extending between free ends of the panels in the X-configuration.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the base portion is hexagonal.

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the top portion is hexagonal.

9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein an engagement plate is included in the base portion, the plate and the base portion being mutually engageable to locate the one relative to the other.

10. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein an engagement plate is included in the top portion, the plate and the top portion being mutually engageable to locate the one relative to the other.

11. An assembly as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the base plate includes peripheral holes or recesses and the base portion includes pins for engaging the holes or recesses in the base engagement plate.

12. An assembly as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the top engagement plate includes peripheral holes or recesses and the top portion includes pins for engaging the holes or recesses in the top engagement plate.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein the plate and display panel means are mutually engageable to provide additional location.

14. An assembly as claimed in Claim 13 wherein engagement is provided by pins on the display panel means and holes or recesses in the plates.

1 5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the display panels means comprise a lower panel assembly and an upper panel assembly.

16. An assembly as claimed in Claim 15 comprising secondary locating plate means positioned between the upper and lower panel assemblies.

17. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim including infill panel means for filling in between the base portion and the display panel means.

18. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim including shelving means associated with the display panel means.

19. An assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising additional polygonal elements intermediate the base and top portions.

20. A display assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 2 or in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A plurality of display assemblies as claimed in any preceding Claim and means for linking said display assemblies together to provide a combination unit.