GB2440395A

GB2440395A - DIsplay stand assembly with lockable and pivotable connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2440395A
Application number: GB0614697A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Neil Butcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-25
Filing date: 2006-07-25
Publication date: 2008-01-30
Also published as: GB0614697D0

Abstract

A stand assembly comprising a plurality of panel members 10 interconnected at adjacent corners by connector members 11, each connector 11 being selectively engageable with respective adjacent panel members 10 in either a first orientation, which locks the adjacent panel members 10 in a planar configuration, or a second orientation, which permits the adjacent panel members to pivot relative to one another. The connectors may be received in recesses formed in the panel corners. They may be rotated through a 90 degree angle to change from the first to the second configuration. The recesses may comprise bottom and side walls and means for engaging the connector which preferably comprises projections extending from the bottom walls. The connectors are preferably rotatably mounted on the projections in both 1<st> and 2<nd> orientations. In the 1<st> configuration the connector preferably locks through abutment with the sidewall. The connector preferably may be generally square in shape incorporating pairs of apertures to enable engagement with the projections in both orientations. An additional aperture may be provided to enable the mounting of peripheral elements to the stand such as brackets and shelves. The panel members may incorporate a magnet.

Description

STAND ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a stand assembly for erecting at exhibitions, displays and the like.

Temporary stands are often used at exhibitions, displays and the like to provide an aesthetically pleasing background for an exhibitor. Such stands generally comprise a plurality of interconnected panels forming a wall-structure. The panels maybe decorated, perhaps with details of the products or services of the exhibiting company or individual.

International Patent application W099140277 discloses one such temporary stand comprising a plurality of identical square panel members, which can be interconnected side-by-side and end-to-end in an array by respective connector members, which engage the corners of adjacent panel members.

In one embodiment, the connector locks the panels in a planar figuration. In an alternative embodiment, the connector comprises a hinge, which allows adjacent panel members to be set in respective intersecting planes. Feet members are also provided for attaching along the bottom edge of the lower most panel members, for supporting the display stand in an upright configuration.

A disadvantage of the above-mentioned arrangement is that the way in which the connector engages the panels is complicated and accordingly, both the connector and the panels are expensive in construction.

Another disadvantage of the above-mentioned arrangement is that the provision of two different types of connector member as well as feet members is expensive from a point of view of tooling. Furthermore, a large number of each different type of member will need to be stocked in order to enable stands to be set up in a variety of different configurations.

I have now devised a stand assembly which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a stand assembly comprising an array of panel members interconnected at their respective adjacent corners by respective connector members, each connector being selectively engagable with respective adjacent panel members either in a first orientation, which locks said adjacent panel members in a planar configuration, or a second orientation, which permits said adjacent panel members to pivot relative to one another.

In this manner only one type of connector is needed and hence the number of components that need to be produced and carried is reduced.

Preferably the panel members are square or rectangular, a recess being formed in the corners of each panel member for receiving a respective portion of a connector, wherein the connectors are rotatably mounted in said recesses in said second configuration for rotation about respective parallel axes, and are locked against rotation in said first configuration.

Preferably the connectors are selectively changeable between said first and second configurations by rotating them through an angle of preferably 900, prior to fitting to the panel members.

Preferably each recess comprises a bottom wall and a side wall, means being provided on said bottom wall for rotatably engaging a portion of said connector in both said first and said second configurations, the connector being arranged to abut said side wall of the recess in said first configuration, so as the lock of the connector against rotation.

Preferably each connector comprises a block having a generaJly square front face, a generally square back face, and first and second pairs of opposite side faces, lying perpendicular to each other.

Preferably said first pair of side faces are generally flat and extend perpendicular to said front and back faces, said second pair of side faces extending to respective apexes intermediate said front and back faces, a said first face of the connector preferably being arranged to abut said side wall of the recess in said first configuration.

Preferably each connector comprises a first and a second pair of apertures, said first pair of apertures being rotatably engaged with projections on respective adjacent panel members in said first configuration and said second pair being rotatably engaged with said projections on said respective adjacent panel members in said second configuration.

Preferably said first pair of apertures are provided at respective opposite ends of both of said first side walls, said second pair of apertures being provided at respective opposite ends of both of said second side walls.

Preferably said projections extend from said bottom walls of said recesses.

Preferably an aperture is provided in the front and/or rear face of the connector for mounting elements such as lights, brackets, shelves and hooks to the stand.

Preferably the panel members comprise a flat body portion having opposite major faces formed of a plastics material, a magnet or a magnetic element being contained between said major faces, such that a poster or other image can be mounted to the panel by attaching a complementary magnet or magnetic element to the image. In this manner, display stands can easily be decorated without the need to adhere images to the panels. Also, the images can easily be removed, so that the stand can be reused.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only, and with reference o the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a stand in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a front view of a panel of the stand of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the panel of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view of the panel of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of a connector of the stand of Figure 1, in a second configuration; Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the connector of Figure 5, in a first configuration; Figure 7 is a front view of a portion of the stand of Figure 1 showing a pair of panels thereof interconnected by a connector in the first configuration; and Figure 8 is a front view of the portion of the stand of Figure 1, showing a pair of panels thereof interconnected by a connector in the second configuration.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a temporary stand for erecting at exhibitions, displays and the like. The stand comprises an array of panel members 10 interconnected at their respective adjacent corners by respective connector members 11.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the panel members 10 comprise a body portion 14 formed of two square panel halves of plastics material, which are interconnected around their edges. The hollow Interior space defined by the panel halves preferably contains one or more magnet members or one or more magnetic members (not shown), to which a complementary member on an image or poster may be adhered.

The body portion 14 of the panel members 10 is formed with a square recess 12 at each of its four corners. A pair of elongate metal rods 13 extend along respective side edges of the body portion 14, the elongate rods 13 extend through the hollow interior of the body portion 14 and are positioned such that their opposite ends extend into respective recesses 12 of the corner of the panel member 10.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the connectors 11 comprise a body of plastics material having generally square front and back faces 15,16 and first and second pairs of opposite side faces 17,18 and 19,20 lying perpendicular to each other. The first pair of side faces 17,18 are generally flat and lie in respective planes which extend normal to the planes of the front and back faces 15,16 of the connector 11. The second pair of side faces 19,20 curve outwardly to respective apexes lying intermediate the front and back faces 15,16 of the connector 11.

Each side face 17,18,19,20 of the connector is provided with a pair of apertures 27,28,29,30 at their respective opposite ends. The apertures 27,28,29,30 are preferably formed by forming two pairs of parallel bores at 90 to each other between the first and second pairs of side faces 17,18 and 19,20 respectively. A square aperture 21 extends through the centre of the connector 10 between the front and the back 16 faces of the connector 11.

Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, adjacent panel members 10 in the display can be locked in a planar configuration relative to each other by attaching connectors 11 in a first configuration. In this configuration, a connector 11 is inserted into the opposing recesses 12 of the adjacent panel members 10, such that the projecting ends of the rods 13 extend into respective apertures 29 or 30 in the second pair of faces 19,20. The first pair of side faces 17,18 lie in face-to-face registration with the respective opposed faces of the recesses 12: it will be appreciated that the connectors 11 are thus locked in position by virtue of engagement with each panel member 10 at two points. In this manner, relative pivoting of adjacent panel members 10 is prevented.

Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, adjacent panel members 10 can be pivotally interconnected by rotating the connectors 10 through 90 from the first configuration into a second configuration, wherein the projecting ends of the rods 13 engage into the apertures 27 or 28 formed in the first pair of side faces 17, 18. The second pair of side faces 19,20 are curved and as such do not register with the flat side faces of the recesses 12. In this manner, the panels 10 are able to pivot relative to each other about respective axes extending through the connector 10. Preferably, the side edges of each panel member 10 are chamfered to facilitate pivoting.

A stand in accordance with the present invention are simple and inexpensive in construction and can provide an aesthetically pleasing backdrop to displays at exhibitions and the like. The stand is also straight forward to dismantle following use.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A stand assembly comprising an array of panel members interconnected at their respective adjacent corners by respective connector members, each connector being selectively engagable with respective adjacent panel members either in a first orientation, which locks said adjacent panel members in a planar configuration, or a second orientation, which permits said adjacent panel members to pivot relative to one another.

2. A stand assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the panel members are square or rectangular, a recess being formed in the corners of each panel member for receiving a respective portion of a said connector, wherein the connectors are rotatably mounted in said recesses in said second configuration for rotation about respective parallel axes, and are locked against rotation in said first configuration.

3. A stand assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the connectors are selectively changeable between said first and second configurations by rotating them through an angle prior to fitting to the panel members.

4. A stand assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the connectors are selectively changeable between said first and second configurations by rotating them through an angle of 90 , prior to fitting to the panel members.

5. A stand assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, in which each recess comprises a bottom wall and a side wall, means being provided on said bottom wall for rotatably engaging a portion of said connector in both said first and said second configurations, the connector being arranged to abut said side wall of the recess in said first configuration, so as the lock of the connector against rotation.

6. A stand assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, in which each connector comprises a block having a generally square front face, a generally square back face, and first and second pairs of opposite side faces, lying perpendicular to each other. figurations by rotating them through an angle prior to fitting to the panel members.

7. A stand assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which said first pair of side faces are generally flat and extend perpendicular to said front and back faces, said second pair of side faces extending to respective apexes intermediate said front and back faces.

8. A stand assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which a said first face of the connector is arranged to abut said side wall of the recess in said first configuration.

9. A stand assembly as claimed in claims 7 or 8, in which each connector comprises a first and a second pair of apertures, said first pair of apertures being rotatably engaged with projections on respective adjacent panel members in said first configuration and said second pair being rotatably engaged with said projections on said respective adjacent panel members in said second configuration.

10. A stand assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which said first pair of apertures are provided at respective opposite ends of both of said first side faces of the connector, said second pair of apertures being provided at respective opposite ends of both of said second side faces of the connector.

11. A stand assembly as claimed in claims 9 or 10, in which said projections extend from said bottom walls of said recesses.

12. A stand assembly as claimed in any of claims 6 to 11, in which an aperture is provided in the front and/or rear face of the connector for mounting elements such as lights, brackets, shelves and hooks to the stand.

13. A stand assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the panel members comprise a flat body portion having opposite major faces formed of a plastics material, a magnet or a magnetic element being contained between said major faces, such that a poster or other image can be mounted to the panel by attaching a complementary magnet or magnetic element to the image.

14. A stand assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.