GB2549247A

GB2549247A - Asymmetric interference fit fastener system for mounting panels onto frameworks of slotted longitudinal members

Info

Publication number: GB2549247A
Application number: GB1600118.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Uttley Richard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-05
Filing date: 2016-01-05
Publication date: 2017-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-05
Also published as: GB2549247B; GB201600118D0

Abstract

An asymmetric fastener and frame system that provides a mounting surface for panels (fig.10, item 11) and display pieces for use in exhibition 'shell scheme' frame systems. The system comprises a framework structure 4 which includes at least one longitudinal slot 3 and an asymmetric T fastener 1 configured to fit into the slot. The slot may include a lip (fig.3, item 5) to help retain the fastener in the slot. The T fastener shape can be configured to provide a mounting surface 2 integral with the fastener or configured with a connection means 6, 7 to be able to detach the mounting surface. The mounting surface may be of different profiles such as planar 2 or angled 9, 10.

Description

ASYMMETRIC INTERFERENCE FIT FASTENER SYSTEM FOR MOUNTING PANELS ONTO FRAMEWORKS OF SLOTTED LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS Background

This invention relates to a device that facilitates the mounting of panels e.g. graphics or display screens or decoration to structures built from frameworks including prefabricated long structural members having longitudinal slots. By way of example only, "Shell Scheme" exhibition stands.

Currently there is no available easy method of mounting conventional graphics panels to a framework structure hired from or owned by some third party. The third party normally refuses permission for the use of screw fixings or conventional adhesive products to attach to their frame components because these unavoidably mark, damage or degrade the frame components or leave adhesive residues. "Low-Tack" adhesives are sometimes permitted but generally lack sufficient strength to secure large panels. A system of flexible clips has been patented GB 2425566 but it appears to be marketed only for the securing of rigid or semi-rigid flat panels or "rollable" corrugated panels not conventional i.e. non-corrugated panels that can be rolled up for transport or storage.

Other solutions include construction of an independent wooden or metal frame to support the panels or printing the graphics onto fabric which is then tensioned and secured to the edges of the framework and/or to independent mounting points. These solutions are costly in terms of materials and/or set-up time and/or because they require tools and skilled labour and/or because they require graphics to be printed in one very large continuous piece on a printer capable of handling fabric.

What is required is a means to provide an independent or user-owned surface to which graphics displays or decorative panels can be mounted by any method known in the art plus a practical means of mounting, attaching or securing this independent surface to the framework without marking damaging or degrading the framework or leaving unacceptable adhesive residues on the framework.

Statement of invention

According to the present invention there is provided a substantially flat mounting surface for panels which is either integral with or attached to an asymmetric fastener that engages with the longitudinal slots found in many members of modular framework systems of the type often used for assembling exhibition stands point of sale displays and similar structures and in particular 'shell scheme' exhibition stands.

Advantages

The advantage of this invention is that it has been designed to be easily and quickly inserted into and removed from the slots in the members of framework structures providing an independent surface on which to mount panels and graphics. This is achieved without any damage to the framework or its components and without the need for any adhesives or tapes to come in contact with the framework or its components. Furthermore there is no need for tools or skilled tradesmen. The mounting fastener can be supplied in various lengths depending upon the preference of the customer and what type of transport is available to them. Customers assembling large numbers of frame structures or doing so frequently may prefer a mounting fastener with a length approximately the same as the length of the framework members as this will reduce fitting time but at the cost of requiring a van or similar for transport. Customers working with small numbers of frame structures or doing so infrequently may prefer shorter lengths for easier transportation including as hand luggage or in a small car but at the cost of having to fit more than one mounting fastener along the length of the longer frame members.

ASYMMETRIC INTERFERENCE FIT FASTENER SYSTEM FOR MOUNTING PANELS ONTO FRAMEWORKS OF SLOTTED LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS

Examples of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows the invention in single form.

Figure 2 shows the invention positioned for insertion into a frame member.

Figure 3 shows the invention at a later point in the insertion procedure.

Figure 4 shows the invention fully inserted.

Figure 5 shows the invention in its functional position.

Figure 6 shows the invention in a two part embodiment with the parts separate.

Figure 7 shows the invention with the two parts together.

Figure 8 shows the invention with the inside corner.

Figure 9 shows the invention with the outside corner.

Detailed description

Preferably, the asymmetric fastener device comprises an interference-fit fastener in the form of an asymmetric T 1 that can enter or leave the slot 3 in the framework member 4 when at some angle to the framework member but which becomes captive in the slot because it cannot pass through the slot when aligned with the frame in the alignment that will be used for the mounting of panels because the 'cross stroke' of the T is as wide or wider than the slot. Figure 1 shows the asymmetric T 1 and flat panel mounting surface 2. Figure 2 shows the invention at the point of insertion into the slot 3 of the frame member 4. Figure 3 shows the invention positioned to pass the lip 5 of the frame member 4. Figure 4 shows the invention fully inside the slot 3 of the frame member 4. Figure 5 shows the invention in its final position within the slot 3 of the frame member 4. The inventors have found that little force is required to keep the fastener in its proper alignment i.e. to prevent the Ί' fastener from rotating from its 'locked/in use' position to its 'insert/remove' position. For example it has been found that the necessary restraint can be provided by panels of plastic encapsulated paper that are mounted to the device by means of magnetic tape. The fastening device does not rely upon flexibility to pass through the slot for mounting and de-mounting and so can be made of any material that is rigid, semi-rigid or semi-flexible provided only that the material is not so flexible that it can be easily pulled out of the slot when aligned for panel mounting. However some degree of flexibility will ease fitting and removal.

Preferably, the asymmetric T fastening device comprises an elongate strip.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a substantially flat panel mounting surface integral with an asymmetric T fastener that engages with a slot in a framework member. See figure 1.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a two component system comprising a substantially flat panel mounting surface to which can be attached one of various asymmetric T fastening components according to the present invention in a selection of widths to suit the variety of slot widths encountered in modular framework systems. Figure 6 shows the asymmetric T 1 in a form that will receive, in this embodiment, a barb 8 that is part of an attachable substantially flat panel mounting surface 7. Figure 7 shows the two elements 6 and 7 joined. In the accompanying drawings a barb is shown by way of example only as a convenient method by which the panel mounting surface component and the asymmetric T component may be fastened together to produce the finished mounting component but any joining or fastening method known in the art may be used.

Preferably, the substantially flat panel mounting surface is replaced with two substantially flat mounting surfaces at right angles for use at corners of the framework structure. See Figure 8, which shows the two parts for the inside corner 9 embodiment and Figure 9, which shows the two parts forming the outside corner 10 embodiment. Preferably, the panel mounting surface is arranged to provide a panel mounting surface that is independent of the framework.

Preferably, the panel mounting surface is arranged such that panels mounted to the surface may substantially or completely conceal the framework.

The invention also extends to an exhibition stand or display system comprising: a modular framework; an asymmetric T fastener device according to the present invention engaged with a slot in the framework of the stand or display; and at least one panel mounted on the panel mounting surface of the fastener device.

In a preferred embodiment two panels 11 are mounted side-by-side to the panel mounting surface of the mounting fastener device to form a seamless graphic display or decoration hiding the framework. See figure 10.

In a preferred embodiment the major framework members comprise a substantially cylindrical extrusion having a substantially octagonal outer periphery with eight slots disposed substantially equally about the outer periphery to receive other components of the framework system but also suitable for receiving the asymmetric fastener device. By way of example only such a system is marketed under the name 'Octanorm'.

In a preferred embodiment the major framework members comprise a substantially cylindrical extrusion having a substantially square outer periphery with right angled or rounded corners with four slots disposed substantially equally about the outer periphery to receive other components of the framework system but also suitable for receiving the asymmetric fastener device.

In a preferred embodiment the major framework members comprise a substantially cylindrical extrusion having a substantially circular outer periphery with four or eight slots disposed substantially equally about the outer periphery to receive other components of the framework system but also suitable for receiving the asymmetric fastener device.

In a preferred embodiment the major framework members comprise any of the above substantially cylindrical extrusions having a substantially circular square or octagonal outer periphery normally having four or eight slots disposed substantially equally about the outer periphery where one of more of the slots is absent so as to present an unbroken surface to a viewer looking from that side.

In a preferred embodiment the major framework members comprise a substantially cylindrical extrusion having a substantially square outer periphery with eight slots disposed substantially equally across the faces in a pattern of 3-1-3-1 to receive other components of the framework system but also suitable for receiving the asymmetric fastener device. By way of example only such a system is marketed under the name 'Unibox'.

In a preferred embodiment the major framework members comprise a substantially cylindrical member having a substantially square or rectangular periphery with a slot along one side and fastened to some supporting structure or a wall.

The design, manufacture and simplicity of this invention can be best understood by referring to the accompanying drawings:-

Claims

ASYMMETRIC INTERFERENCE FIT FASTENER SYSTEM FOR MOUNTING PANELS ONTO FRAMEWORKS OF SLOTTED LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS Claims

1. An asymmetric fastener system for non-destructively and without adhesives mounting panels, displays or graphics to a modular framework structure comprising: A framework including members with longitudinal slots; An asymmetric T fastener configured to enter or leave the slot at an angle but be held captive in the slot when aligned ready for mounting panels; A substantially flat panel mounting surface either integral with the asymmetric T fastener or attached or joined to the asymmetric fastener by some means.

2. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the asymmetric T fastener can be detached from the panel mounting surface and replaced with other asymmetric Ύ fasteners of different sizes to suit any given modular framework system having longitudinal slots.

3. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the panel mounting surface can be detached from the asymmetric T fastener and replaced with right-angled mounting surfaces to mount panels to the corners of the framework.

4. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the framework is an exhibition stand.

5. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the framework is a 'Shell-Scheme' exhibition stand.

6. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the framework is a wall or partition.

7. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the framework is a billboard.

8. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the framework is a point-of-sale display.

9. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the slotted framework is attached to a wall or supporting structure.

10. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is an advertising exhibition or promotional graphic.

11. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is part of an advertising exhibition or promotional graphic.

12. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is decorative.

13. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is part of a larger decoration.

14. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is a flat electronic display panel.

15. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is part of a larger system of flat electronic display panels.

16. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is a flexible electronic display panel.

17. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the attached panel is part of a larger system of flexible electronic display panels.

18. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the asymmetric T fastener is sized to suit nominally 8mm wide slots.

19. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the asymmetric T fastener is sized to suit nominally 4mm wide slots.

20. The asymmetric fastener system as claimed in any preceding claim where the asymmetric T fastener is sized to suit nominally 8mm wide slots and is prescored to facilitate removal of material to transform it into an asymmetric Ύ fastener sized to suit nominally 4mm slots.