GB2336610A - A display arrangement with columns and beams secured by inter-engaging formations - Google Patents

Abstract

A display arrangement which includes a supporting framework formed from a plurality of spaced vertically extending columns 10 and a plurality of spaced horizontally extending beams 38, 40, the columns and beams including inter-engaging formations 22, 42. The columns 10 may comprise two tubular members 10A, 10B and a joining element 26. The beams 38, 40 may be curved to allow construction of a curved display arrangement (figures 3, 4, 8). Sheet material is attached to the framework and may be secured by magnetic strips.

Description

2336610 ,- 1 DISPLAY ARRANGEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a display arrangement which has a modular type construction and which can be used for the erection of curved, linear or rectangular structures suitable for display purposes.

A display arrangement of the aforementioned type is well suited for use at exhibitions, trade fairs and the like for defining pavilions and exhibition stands and platforms, and for providing a structure which can be used with a wide range of display material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a display arrangement which includes a supporting framework formed from a plurality of spaced vertically extending columns and a plurality of spaced horizontally extending beams, the columns and beams including interengaging formations which enable the columns to be secured to the beams, and sheet material attached to the framework.

The columns may be formed in any suitable way from any appropriate material. In one example of the invention the columns are tubular and, preferably, are P. 1 81721gb Page 2 four-sided. The columns may be substantially square in cross section.

The columns may be formed from a plastics or a metallic material.

The columns may be formed with a plurality of the aforementioned formations. In one form of the invention the columns are formed with a plurality of spaced slots.

The slots may extend along each column in a row or in a plurality of rows with the slots in each row being spaced from one another by a predetermined amount.

The columns may be formed from sections which are engageable with each other. The sections may be of a predetermined length or lengths.

The sections may be joined to one another in any appropriate way. Use may for example be made of joining components which engage with opposing ends of co-linear adjacent sections thereby to secure the sections to each other in a colinear relationship.

In one example of the invention use is made of a joining component which is substantially cross shaped in cross section and opposed ends of the joining component are insertable into opposed ends of two aligned tubular column P.1817219b Page 3 sections.

The beams may be formed in any appropriate way from any suitable material. The beams may for example be formed from channel shaped members or they may be tubular in cross section.

The beams may be formed from a plastics material or from metal.

Depending on the nature of the formations on a column each beam may be formed with suitable complementary formations which are engageable with the formations on the column. Each beam may for example be formed with hookshaped formations, e.g. at opposing ends of the beam, which are engageable with respective slots in a column.

Preferably each beam is formed with at least two hook-shaped formations at each respective end of the beam and the hook-shaped formations are respectively engageable with complementary slots in a column.

Each beam may be of a predetermined length and may be curved along a predetermined path or may be straight.

The beams may be provided at least in two thicknesses, viewed in plan. One thickness may be substantially twice the thickness of the other.

P.181721gb Page 4 The display arrangement may include lateral support members which may be attached to the framework in any appropriate manner. The lateral support members which may for example be in the nature of brackets or shelf supports or the like may extend laterally i.e. transversely to the sheet material. The support members may for example include hooks which are engageable with the slots in the columns.

The sheet material which is used may be of any appropriate kind. The sheet material may be formed from wood or plastic and may be substantially rigid or flexible. The sheet material may be provided in the form of sections, rectangular or square, which are attached to the framework using any appropriate technique. For example the sheet material may include hooks which are engageable with the slots in the columns, magnetic strips which are magnetically attachable to the columns and beams, when these components are formed from metal, or use may be made of any other appropriate fasteners or securing devices. The magnetic strips may be adhesively attached to the sections.

An important feature of the invention is the construction of the framework from a plurality of column and beam components of predetermined lengths. This makes it possible to adopt a modular approach wherein the components are interengaged with each other on site to provide a supporting framework of a desired shape and size to which sheet material suitable for display purposes, and support members which are also suitable for display purposes, can be P.1817219b Page 5 attached, according to requirement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWNGS

The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of two column sections according to the invention illustrating the manner in which a column is formed, and the way in which beams are engageable with the column, Figure 2 illustrates a column with two sheets of material secured to the column, Figure 3 illustrates a complex framework according to the invention, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the framework practically totally obscured by sheet material, Figure 5 illustrates a support member attached to a display arrangement of the invention, Figure 6 is an exploded view of an arrangement, similar to that shown in Figure 5, showing the use of flexible sheet material, Figure 7 illustrates, in plan, the construction of a corner arrangement in a display according to the invention, and Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of a plurality of interconnected beams.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

P. 1 81721gb Page 6 The invention is based on the use of vertically extending columns and transversally or horizontally extending beams, which are interengaged to form a supporting framework to which display material such as sheet material, supporting brackets and the like, can be secured.

Figure 1 is an exploded view illustrating the construction of a supporting framework. Each column 10 is formed from sections designated 1 OA, 1 OB, etc. Each column section is preformed to a predetermined length. The column sections may have any suitable cross sectional profile and, in the illustrated example, are tubular and square in cross section. The column sections are formed using any suitable technique e.g. by means of a metal rolling process which is known in the art and which is therefore not further described herein, or by laser cutting and robot welding metal sections to each other, or in any other appropriate way.

Each column section has four sides 12, 14, 16, 18 of equal width W and each side is formed with row 20 of slots 22. The slots are spaced from one another, within each row, by a predetermined distance S. The size and shape of each slot are determined by factors which are described hereinafter. Each section, at each end, has three slots 24.

The column sections 1 OA, 1 OB etc may be joined to one another in a longitudinal sense using any appropriate technique. Figure 1 illustrates the use of a joining P.181721gb Page 7 component 26 which is cross-shaped in cross section and which is formed from two interengaged metal plates 28 and 30 respectively. The plates have bevelled leading edges 32 and small stop formations 34 at central locations on their outer edges.

The plates are dimensioned so that the edges of the plates nestle closely inside the internal corners 36 of the tubular column sections. The bevelled edges 32 facilitate the insertion of the joining component into the interiors of the sections 10. The stop formations 34 ensure that, on the one hand, the component 26 is engaged to an equal extent with each section 10 and, on the other hand, assist in maintaining the component engaged with the sections.

Figure 1 illustrates two beams 38 and 40, according to one form of the invention. Each beam may be tubular or channel shaped in cross section and it has a width B which equals the dimension W of the column sections although, as is described hereinafter with reference to Figures 3 and 4, other beams may be formed with a width.which is of the order of B12. The beam may be formed from any suitable material but preferably is formed from sheet metal. Each beam has hook shaped formations 42 at each end. The beams may be formed in a similar manner to the column sections e.g. by laser cutting metal sections which are then welded together.

The beams are formed straight or with a predefined degree of curvature, P.1817219b Page 8 according to requirement. The beams are formed to predetermined lengths.

The formations 42 are engageable with the slots 24 at ends of the respective column sections. In this example the lower beam 38 is engaged with the column with an action which is oppositely directed to the action with which the upper beam 40 is engaged with the column. This is because the hook formations 42 on the beams face in opposite directions. The beams can however be made with the hook formations extending in the same direction.

Figure 2 depicts two sheets 44A and 44B with hooks 52 which are engageable with respective slots 22 in a column 10. The slots are wider than normal so that each slot can accept two hooks, side by side, when required. The hooks can also be displaced laterally so that a small gap is formed between adjacent sheets to expose the remaining slots, if required for other purposes. The sheets are therefore direcdy attachable to correctly spaced vertically extending columns 10. Each sheet 44 is of any appropriate nature and may be formed from particle board, metal, plastic or the like. This aspect is not important to an understanding of the invention. The technique shown in Figure 2 is generally applicable if the sheets 44 are rigid or fairly heavy.

Figure 3 illustrates a framework 70 which is formed from columns 10 and beams 38. Adjacent columns 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 etc are spaced apart by a distance 72. The height of each column is marked with the reference numeral "74".

P.1817219b Page 9 The framework 70 is complex and includes a planar section 70A and a curved section 70B which incorporate beams which have a width B/2 which is half the width of a standard beam as is shown in Figure 1. Consequently two beams can be engaged side by side with each column, as illustrated, and still be aligned (in plan) with a standard beam of full width.

Figure 4 illustrates the framework 70 with flexible display sheets 80A, 80B and 80C attached to it. It is apparent that a smooth and continuous display surface is achieved for the sheets 80, being of a flexible nature, are able to follow the curvature of the beams to provide an attractive display surface or backdrop.

Each sheet 80 has flexible magnetic strips 86 which are adhesively attached to the periphery of the sheet 80 along, what in use, is its rear surface. The sheet 80 is then magnetically attached directly to the metallic beams and columns in the framework 70. This aspect is shown in more detail in Figure 6.

The display sheets 80 can be preprinted with display material or posters or similar sheet m a-terial can be attached to the display sheets once erection is completed.

The height 74 of each column (in this example of the invention) is substantially equal to the length 82 of each sheet, and the width 84 of each sheet is slightly less than the distance 72.

P.1817219b Page 10 The components of the invention can be connected to one another substantially in any appropriate way to provide a supporting framework of practically any type or size. The sheet material may be of any suitable kind and may be attached to the framework using any appropriate technique. The various components embodied in the display arrangement can be recovered when required for reuse. It is evident that components of the display arrangement can be assembled on site without using highly skilled labour and substantially without using any tools. Beams can be connected to adjacent columns with a vertical spacing which defines a doorway, window opening, or the like, when required.

Figure 5 illustrates a section of a display arrangement 88 which has display panels 90 and 92 attached to a number of columns 10. The panels are spaced from one another and each panel is attached to the columns and beams by means of magnetic strips 86 so that the row 20 of slots, in the respective surface of the column, is positioned between opposing edges 94 and 96 of the panels. A gap 98 between the edges enables a support member 100, of any appropriate kind, to extend laterally from the plane of the panels. In this instance the support member 100 is in the nature of a shelf bracket and is secured by means of hooks, each of which is similar to the hook-shaped formations 42 shown in Figure 1, to the respective slots 22 in the row 20.

Figure 6 is an exploded view illustrating a flexible display sheet 80, which carries on its rear surface magnetic strips 86 by means of which the sheet can be P.1817219b v Page 11 attached to columns 10 and beams 38. Each beam 38, in this case, has two hook formations 42 which engage with two of the slots 24 at an end of a column section. A shelf bracket 100 has one or more hooks 42A which are engageable with respective slots 22 in a column.

It is apparent that care must be taken to ensure that an attractive finish is obtained at each corner of a supporting framework. Figure 7 illustrates one possible corner construction 108. Sheets 80E and 8OF are attached to a vertical column 10 using the technique shown in Figure 2. Small corner strips 8OG and 80H are then attached to the column 10 to bring the covering of the sheet material substantially to the vertical corner 110 between the sides 14 and 16 of the column. A similar technique can be used if the sheets are attached to the column using magnetic strips, instead of the hooks.

The beams 38 and 40 when curved, have a predefined degree of curvature chosen so that a plurality of curved beams can be interconnected, when required, to form a structure of circular outline. Figure 8 depicts in plan a plurality of beams 38, which are identical in length and curvature, and which are connected end to end with intermediate columns 10, to form a closed circular structure 112, of a chosen height. This is an alternative arrangement which holds appeal for display stands or exhibitions and the like.

It is evident that by using the techniques and components described P.181721gb Page 12 hereinbefore is possible to construct display arrangements with a wide variety of shapes and sizes, substantially according to requirement, using minimal skilled labour and in such a way that the components are available for re-use when required.

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Claims (11)

1. A display arrangement which includes a supporting framework formed from a plurality of spaced vertically extending columns and a plurality of spaced horizontally extending beams, the coiumns and beams including interengaging formations which enable the columns to be secured to the beams, and sheet material attached to the framework.

2. are tubular.

A display arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the columns

3. A display arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each of the columns is formed with a plurality of spaced slots, and each beam is formed with hook-shaped formations which are engageable with respective slots in a column.

4. A display arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each column is formed from at least two sections and which includes a joining component, opposed ends of which are insertable into opposed respective ends of the two sections thereby to secure the sections to each other in a co-linear relationship.

5.

A display arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4 P.181721gb Page 14 wherein at least some of the beams, viewed in plan, are curved.

6. A display arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sheet material is in the form of sections which are attached to the framework using magnetic strips.

7. A display arrangement which includes a plurality of tubular sections, a plurality of joining components which respectively engage with opposing ends of co-linear adjacent sections to form a plurality of spaced vertically extending columns, a plurality of spaced horizontally extending beams, opposed ends of each beam being located between and respectively engaged with adjacent columns, a plurality of flexible sheet material sections, and magnetic strips, attached to the sheet material sections, which magnetically secure the sheet material sections to the columns and beams.

8. A tubular column section, for use in the display arrangement of claim 1, which is square or rectangular in cross-section and which is formed with a plurality of spaced slots.

9. A beam for use in the display arrangement of claim 1 which includes a channel member with hook formations at opposed ends of the member.

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10. A column for use in the display arrangement of claim 1 which includes at least two co-linear tubular sections and a joining component which is engaged with opposed ends of the sections thereby to secure the sections to each other.

11. A display arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

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