MXPA97002522A - Frame piece for display holder - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved frame piece (300) for a display holder (334) including a pair of inner ridges (320) extending along the outer edges of center rails (316') of flanges (304, 306). Frame piece (300) works in conjunction with an elongated opening (326) in the upper region of center panel (324), wherein ridges (320) project into opening (326) to securely hold frame piece (300) to center panel (324).

Description

IMPROVED STRUCTURAL PIECE FOR SCREEN SUPPORT Technical Field This invention relates to screen supports of the type for displaying sign boards and, more particularly, to an improved structural piece for screen supports, to provide facilitated access to, and for the replacement of sign boards, with an inter- Secure jacidn, still removable, between the structural part and the screen support.

Background Information The co-pending patent application of the same applicant, Serial No. 08 / 023,694, filed on February 26, 1993, and entitled "Display Holder", describes a vertical screen board having structural sections that they support the area of the sign board retained by the screen support. Either the upper structural section or the lower structural section is removable from the screen support in order to have access to the sign board. In use, the upper structural section can be removed to insert a sign board Ref. 24462 into the screen holder, and then replaced to assemble the sign board. The replacement of the sign board is achieved in a similar way. The present invention is an improvement over the upper structural section of the U.S. patent application. copendiente, mentioned above, of the same applicant. The upper structural section described in the previous application of the same applicant was fastened or fixed to the screen support by a chemical bonding cement, by friction and by gravity. The present invention improves this design to provide a positive, positive interfijation of the structural section superior to the screen support.

Description of the invention Briefly described, the present invention comprises a screen support that includes a central panel and structural parts around the outer edges of the central panel to hold a screen sign against the central panel. The central panel includes an elongated opening in its upper region. An upper section of the structural parts is detachable from the central panel and includes a pair of projections spaced apart that form a slot receiving a central panel.

The projections include projections projecting inward, sized to fit the elongated opening in the center panel. During the placement of the removable top structural part on the center panel, the flanges are retained in the elongated opening of the central panel and by means of this fix or secure the structural section superior to the central panel. According to one aspect of the invention, the ridges are provided in the external projections of the projections and the height of the projections is approximately equal to the distance from the opening of the central panel to an external projection of the central panel. In this way, the flanges securely secure the structural section superior to the central panel without any loose parts between the two components. According to another aspect of the invention, the upper structural section includes an elongated opening extending along its length roughly aligned with the ridges and placed between the projections. This elongated opening is used in the injection molding process to fabricate the ridges on the projections. Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims, all of which are incorporated in the description of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings Similar letters and numerals are used to designate similar parts in all the various views of the drawings, and: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a screen holder embodying the invention, shown in its vertical position, and taken from above and towards "the top, one side and the back highlight; Figure 2 is an elevation view of the rear projection of the screen support shown by Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation view of the front projection of the display support shown by Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a first side elevational view of the screen support shown by Figures 1-3; Figure 5 is a second side elevation view of the display support shown by the Figures 1-4; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the screen support shown by Figures 1-5; Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the screen support shown by Figures 1-6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8--8 of Figure 4; Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 9--9 of Figure 4; Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 10--1CT of Figure 4; Figure 11 is a top plan view of the cap of the lower extremity taken substantially from the position of line 11-11 of Figure 10; Figure 12 is an end view of the end cap shown by Figure 11, such view is generally taken from an aspect indicated by line 12-12 in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 13-13 of Figure 11; Figure 14 is a sectional view through an extrusion die used to form the assembly element by a coextrusion process; Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the display support of Figures 1-7, shown with a modified mounting structure; Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken through the rear projection of the screen holder and a mounting element adapted to mount the screen holder in the manner shown by the Figure 15; Figure 17 is a fragmentary elevation view showing the upper and lower ends of the screen support and the mounting structure shown by Figure 15; Figure 18 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 18-18 of Figure 19, showing a mounting bracket that can be used to connect the screen support to a horizontal beam, such view shows a beam with interrupted or dotted lines; Figure 19 is an elevation view taken toward the left side of Figure 18; and Figure 20 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 20-20 of Figure 19. Figure 21 is a bottom side view of an alternative embodiment for the upper stringer or the structural portion shown. in Figure 11; Figure 22 is a top plan view of the strip of the cap or stringer of Figure 21; Figure 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23-23 of Figure 21; Figure 24 is a partial side view of an alternative embodiment for the upper portion of the central panel shown in Figures 4,5, which operates in conjunction with the part of the lid or stringer of Figure 21; Figure 25 is a partial schematic diagram showing an interconnection between the stringer of Figure 21 and the center panel of Figure 24.

Best Mode to carry out the Invention Referring to Figures 1-6, in the preferred form, the screen holder of the present invention comprises a main element 10 which is preferably an extruded piece. The cross-sectional shape of this extruded piece is shown by Figure 8. The main element 10 includes a central panel 12 having a first side face 14 and a second side face 16. The central panel 12 also includes a first lateral shoulder 18 , a second lateral projection 20, a third projection 22 on its upper part (Fig. 9) and a fourth projection 24 on its lower part (Figure 10). The projections 18, 20 are sometimes referred to as the first and second opposing projections. This is because they are at the boundaries of the opposite lateral projection of the central panel 12. The projections 22 and 24 are sometimes referred to as third and fourth opposing protrusions. This is because they are at the opposite extreme limits of the central panel 12. Referring again to Figure 8, the extruded piece which includes the central panel 12 also includes first and second structural portions 28, 30. The structural portion 28 includes a base strip 32 which extends perpendicular to the central panel 12. In the preferred form, the base strip 32 projects outwards, an equal amount on each side of the central panel 12. A first projection 34 is connected to a first projection of the base strip 32. A second projection 36 is connected to the second projection of the base strip 32 The projections 34, 36 are parallel to each other and both extend from the base strip 32 in an opposite direction from the central panel 12. A first edge 38 is connected to the projection 34. A second edge 40 is connected to the projection 36 The edges 38, 40 are coplanar to each other and are parallelised laterally spaced with the base strip 32. The base strip 32, the projections 34, 36 and the edges 38, 40 together form a channel with edges on the base. A projection 42 of a mounting element 44 is received. The edged channel opens longitudinally outward of the central panel 12. The structural portion 28 includes a pair of structural protrusions 46, 48 which project from the base strip 32, in a laterally spaced relationship with the center panel 12. The structural projections 46, 48 extend parallel to each other and to the central panel 12. A channel 50 is formed by and between the central panel 12 and the structural projection 46. A channel 52 is formed by and between the central panel 12 and the projection Structural 48. Structural portion 30 comprises a stringer 54 and a pair of structural protrusions 56, 58. Stringer 54 is generally semi-annular in its cross-sectional shape. The structural protrusion 56 extends from the stringer 54 in a laterally spaced relationship with the central panel 12. The structural protrusion 58 also extends from the stringer 54 in a laterally spaced relationship from the central panel 12, but on the opposite side of the panel central 12 from the structural protrusion 56. The structural protrusions 56, 58 extend parallel to each other and with respect to the central panel 12. A channel 60 is formed by and between the central panel and the structural protrusion 56. On the opposite side of the panel 12, a channel 62 is formed by and between the central panel 12 and the structural projection 58. As shown by Figure 8, the channel 60 confronts the channel 50 on a first side of the central panel 12. The channel 62 confronts the channel 52 on the opposite side of the central panel 12. The channels 50, 60 and 52, 62 receive portions of lateral projection of an article or articles that are to be displayed. For example, a cardboard or plastic sign board may be slid longitudinally onto the screen holder, with its opposite edge portions within channels 50, 60. A duplicate of this screen board may be located in the channels 52, 62 on the opposite side of the support 10 of the screen. 0, for example, a plurality of wooden strips, each carrying a different paint sample, can be slid into channels 50, 60 and / or 52, 62. Structural portions 64, 66 can be molded by injection from a suitable structural plastic. As shown by Figures 9 and 10, the structural portions 64, 66 comprise the lengths 68, 70 which are similar to item 54, in their cross-sectional configuration. However, they include projections 72, 74 and 76, 78 - Il ¬ which are parallel to each other and spaced apart laterally a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the central panel 12. As shown by Figure 9, the upper edge portion of the central panel 12 is fitted snugly in a channel formed by and between the projections 72, 76. As shown by Figure 10, a lower end portion of the central panel 12 is snugly fitted within a channel formed by and between the projections 56, 78. Figure 11 is a top plan view of the structural portion 66. It is also a bottom plan view of the structural portion 64 because the structural portions 64, 66 are identical in construction, In Figure 11, the channel in which the end portion bottom of the central panel 12 is received, is designated 80. As shown by Figure 11, the end of the structural portion 66 which meets the end of the structural element 30, in a lower corner r of the screen support, is rounded at 82. This rounded corner region is substantially in the shape of a quarter of a sphere. The structural portion 64 includes a similar end region 84. Referring to Figure 11, the opposite end of the structural portion 66 includes a tab 86 which extends downwardly toward the edged channel formed by the base strip 32, the projections 34, 36 and the edges 38, 40. The same it also includes a space 88 in which a central end portion of the base strip 32 is received, when the structural portion 66 is connected to the lower protrusion portion of the center panel 12. The mounting element 44 is shorter in length than the base strip 32. The opposite ends of the mounting element 44 are spaced apart longitudinally inward from the structural portions 64, 66, to allow entry of the end portions of the mounting strip 32 into the space 88 in the structural portion 66, and in a similar space "" in the structural element 66. The end portions of the central panel 12 are received in a snug manner between the projections 72, 74 in the upper part and 76, 78 in the lower part. r. In this way, the structural portions 64, 66 are frictionally connected to the ends of the main element 10. As can be seen from the various figures of the drawings, when the structural portions 64, 66 are in place, the same shapes end closures for the channels 50, 60 and 52, 62. The mounting element 74 includes the projection 42, a base projection 90 and a reinforcement 92. The base projection 90 includes a base wall 94 that is in parallel spaced with the projection 42 The wall 94 extends perpendicular to the reinforcement 92. The projections 96, 98 extend from the wall 94 in a direction opposite the reinforcement 92. The projections 96, 98 are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the wall 94. The edges 100 , 102 extend inward from the projections 96, 98. The edges 100, 102 are in coplanar parallelism. They are also in spaced parallelism with the wall 94. The wall 94, the projections 96, 98 and the edges 100, 108 together form a channel 104 with edges, which extends over the entire length of the mounting element 44. According to one aspect of the invention, the mounting element 44 is manufactured by a co-extrusion process. Referring to Figure 14, the cavities 42c, 90c, 92c of the die are formed in an ED extrusion die. A first structural plastic "A" is introduced into the cavities 42c and 90c while a second plastic "B" is introduced into the cavity 92c. The two plastics "A" and "B" are joined together when they move through the ED die. Plastic "A" is a rigid and relatively strong structural plastic, for example rigid PVC. Plastic "B" is a strong but flexible plastic, for example flexible PVC. It can bend but returns to its resting form when the bending or bending force is removed from it.

Referring to Figure 6, for example, when a force "F" is applied against the support 10 of the screen, it will cause the reinforcement 92, which can also be referred to as an "articulation strip", to bend. When the force F is removed, the articulation strip 92 returns to its rest position, shown in Figure 8. Accordingly, the articulation strip 96 is of the nature of a spring. It can bend but when it is doubled it stores elastic energy. When the bending or bending force is removed, the elastic energy moves the articulation strip 96 back to its rest position. Preferably, in the rest position, it has the support 10 of the screen extending generally perpendicular with respect to the element to which the mounting projection 90 is connected. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4-7, an elongated tab portion 106 of a connector 108 can fit snugly within the channel 104 with edges. A set screw 110 can be threaded into a threaded opening in the tab 106. The set screw 110 can be turned clockwise to exert a clamping force against the wall 94 of the channel 104 with edges. In this way the set screw 110 holds the connector 108 firmly against the mounting element 44. The connector 108 extends up and back from the tab 106 and then downwards as a back leg 112. It then extends horizontally as a leg 114. Mounting leg 114 can be placed downwardly on a shelf or shelf and screw fasteners (not shown) can be inserted through openings 116 and used to securely connect connector 108 to the shelf or shelf. Of course, other methods of attaching the screen support 10 to a shelf or shelf or to another support element may be employed. Figures 15-17 refer to a modified embodiment of the invention in which the mounting member 44 is replaced by a different style of the mounting element 118. The mounting element 118 has a uniform cross section throughout its entirety. length (Figure 16) The same is of a length equal to the mounting element 44. The mounting element 118 includes a protrusion 120 which is similar to the protrusion 42. The protrusion 120 fits snugly within the channel with edges in the structural portion 28 formed by the base strip 32, the projections 34, 36 and the edges 38, 40 (Figure 16) The mounting member 118 also includes a slotted tubular flange 130. The flange 130 is substantially annular in cross section , but includes a slot 132 which extends over the entire length of the flange 130. It also includes a central opening 134. The flange 130 provides a strong back support for the mounting element 118. The same ta Also provides cavities or mounting receptacles for a pair of trunnions 136, 138. Each trunnion 136, 138 includes an enlargement 140, 142 which divides it into internal and external portions. Each internal part 144, 146 fits snugly within the opening 134 at one end of the flange 130. The enlargements 140, 142 fit against the end surface of the flange 130 and prevent movement of the stump 136, 138 in the opening 134 beyond the location of the enlargement 140, 142. The outer or outer parts 148, 150 of the trunnions 136, 138 each extend coaxially to each other. The outer end portion 148 of the stump 136 extends through an opening 152 in an upper mounting bracket 154. Specifically, the opening 152 is in a horizontal leg of the bracket 154. The outer end portion 150 of the journal 138 fits within of an opening 156 in a second bracket 158. As shown by Figure 15, the opening 156 is in a horizontal leg of the bracket 158. The brackets 154, 156 are fixed or secured to a structural element 160, by means of fastening assemblies or fasteners that include bolts 162, washers 164, and nuts 166, as shown in Figure 15.

The opening 134 is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the end portions 144, 146 of the trunnions 136, 138. Accordingly, it is necessary to force the end portions 144, 146 towards the ends of the openings 134. This is allowed by the slot 132. It allows the side portions of the rim 130, on the opposite sides of the slot 132, to disperse slightly apart when the trunnions are forced inward. This causes side portions to act as springs or clamps. They hold and firmly hold the end portions 144, 146 of the trunnions 136, 138. The lower enlargement 142 also acts as a final support, where it abuts against the opening 146 surrounding the metal. As shown in Figure 15, the horizontal legs of the brackets 154, 158 may be provided with a plurality of openings spaced apart laterally. In the illustrative example, five openings are shown. This allows the mounting of five screen supports 10, as a group, between the two brackets 154, 158. Other forms of mounting the screen support can be used. Also, the configuration of the screen support may vary from that which is illustrated. The corners 82, 84 are rounded and the structural portions 30, 64, 66 are rounded in the lateral direction. This provides a surface which is not apt to cause any damage if it collides with any person or any damage to an object that can be accidentally moved in contact with the bracket 10 of the screen. The illustrated screen supports are vertically elongated. However, certain aspects of the invention could be advantageously used within a screen support that is horizontally elongated. For example, the construction of the screen support from a single main extrusion element, including a central panel and structural portions of the opposing protrusion, together with disengaging structural elements for the other pair of opposing protrusions. Figures 18-20 illustrate the mounting bracket that can be used to secure or secure the first embodiment (Figures 1-13) to a horizontal structural element or beam 170. The beam 170 can be similar to the structural element 160 shown in the Figure 15. The mounting bracket 172 could be used in place of the connector 108. The mounting bracket 172 comprises a first part 174 and a second part 177. The part 174 has a vertical wall 176, an upper wall 178 and a projection 180. The protrusion 180 depends on the upper wall 178 and is parallel to the wall 176. The second part 177 includes a vertical wall 182 and a lower wall 184. The walls 182, 184 are perpendicular to each other. The walls 176, 178 are perpendicular to each other and the projection 180 is perpendicular to the wall 178. As illustrated, the wall 176 translates laterally on the wall 182. The wall 176 includes a vertical slot 186 and the wall 182 includes a slot vertical 188. Each slot 186, 188 is closed at both ends thereof. The slots 186, 188 are in alignment between, yes, as best shown by Figure 19. A screw fastener 190 extends through the two slots 186, 188. The screw fasteners 190 include a head 200 that it is larger in diameter than the width of the slots 186, 188. The screw 190 is screwed into a nut 202. The screw holder 190 is screwed tightly into the nut 202 so that it fastens together the two elements 176 , 182. The provision of the slots 186, 188 and the screw fastener 190 allows adjustment of the mounting bracket 172 to beams of different depth. The element 182 may include a pair of side protrusions 206, 208 between which the vertical leg of the element 176 is received. The protrusions 206, 208 make contact with the opposing shoulders 210., 212 of the vertical wall 176, to prevent the bracket 172 from rotating in its position relative to the element 176, about the axis of the fastening screw or fastener 190. A spacer rod 214 is fixed or secured to the element 177. The rod 214 includes a horizontal leg 216 and a vertical leg 218. These legs 214, 216 are welded in points to the element 177, in 220, 224 and 226. A flat bar is welded to the parts 216, 218 of the rod in 222 and 230 The flat bar 228 forms a projection which is sized and shaped to fit snugly within the channel 104 with edges, instead of the tab 106. The bar 228 includes a threaded opening 232 which receives a set screw, similar to the screw fastener 110. This fastener screw is used to firmly anchor the bar 228"in position relative to the channel element 90, of the mounting element 44. The parts 174, 177 are brought together around the beam 170. Then, the screw fastener 190 is tightened or screwed into the nut 202 to firmly secure the elements 174, 177 together. The square nature of the four corners of the beam 170, the two corners of the element 174 and the lower left corner (as shown) of the element 177, lead to the bracket 172 being fixed or firmly secured to the beam 170, and restrained against movement essentially in all directions. This securing of the elements 174, 177 together, and to the beam 170, provides a defined vertical positioning of the element 228. The portion 218 of the bar provides an appropriate lateral spacing of the flat bar 228 from the vertical walls 176, 182. The element 218 is also sized to fit or fit within the open region of the channel 104, between the two edges 100, 102. Figures 21-25 illustrate an alternative embodiment for an upper structural part 300. As shown in FIGS. Figures 21, 22, and 23, the structural part 300 is substantially the same as the structural part 64 of Figures 4 and 5, and includes a curved stringer 302, a pair of vertical parallel projections 304, 306, "" a rectangular end 308, and a rounded end 310. The rectangular end 308 includes a short projection tab 312, similar to the tab 86 of Figure 11. The projections 304, 306 include rails 316 aligned along the length of the projections. us external edges. The center rails 316 'include internal projections or shoulders 320, which project towards each other and narrow the gap at the outer edges of the projections 304, 306. The projections 304, 306 are spaced apart at a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the central panel of the screen support. The shoulders 320 reduce the spacing between the projections 304, 306 for the purpose of interfixing the structural part 300 to the central panel of the screen. The stringer 302 includes an elongated slot-like opening 322 which is longitudinally aligned with the central projections 316 '. The opening 322 is formed by a plated projection used in the injection molding process for the manufacture of the structural part 300. The plated projection is necessary for the formation of the projections 320. Once the projections 304, 306 and the projections 320 are formed, the opening 322 no longer serves any purpose. In Figure 24, the central panel 324 is shown slightly modified from the central panel 12 of Figure 1. The upper region of the central panel 324 includes an elongated opening 326, which is aligned with the upper edge 328 of the central panel 324. As shown in Figure 25, the opening 326 receives the projections 320 to securely hold the structural part 300 against the central panel 324. The structural part 300 is preferably made of a material having sufficient flexibility to allow outgoing 304, 306 are flexed away from each other when the structural piece 300 is snapped or snapped onto the upper shoulder 328 of the center panel 324. The shoulders 320 should be sufficiently round or smooth to minimize the effort required to pull out the structural part 300 of the central panel 324. The ridges 320 and the opening 326 act as a stop means or detent for releasably fixing or securing the structural part 300 to the central panel 324. The height of the projections 304, 306 from its base on the stringer 302 until the projections 320, is approximately equal to the distance between the opening 326 and the projection 328 in the central panel 324. With the structural part 300 snapped onto the central panel 324, there is no loose part between the two components because of that the beads 320 securely retain the central panel 324 between the projections 304, 306. The alternative embodiment shown for the structural part 300 and the central panel 324 provides a secure interlock connection between the two components, still allowing a facilitated removal of the structural part 300 so that the sign board held or retained by the screen support can be changed, cleaned, modified , or otherwise removed from the screen support. The scope of protection will not be limited by the illustrated examples. Rather, instead, it will be determined by a construction of the patent claims that follows, in accordance with the established rules of the construction of patent claims, including the use of the doctrine of equivalents.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, "property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (9)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A screen holder, characterized in that it comprises: a central panel, structural parts around the edges of the central panel for retaining a screen against the central panel, wherein the central panel includes an opening, and a section of the structural parts is detachable of the central panel and includes a pair of projections spaced "" away that form a slot receiving a central panel, and wherein the projections include projections projecting inward, so that during the placement of the removable section of the structural piece on the central panel, the projections are diverted towards the opening of the central panel and fix or secure the removable section of the workpiece to the central panel.

2. The screen support according to claim 1, characterized in that the projections are provided on the external lips of the projections and the height of the projections is approximately equal to the distance from the opening of the central panel to an outer edge of the central panel.

3. The screen support according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable section of the structural part includes an elongated opening extending along its length roughly aligned with the projections and placed between the projections.

4. The screen support according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable section of the workpiece forms an upper structural section of the screen support, and the opening of the central panel is formed in the upper region of the central panel in close proximity with respect to an upper edge of the central panel.

5. A screen support, vertically elongated, characterized in that it comprises: a central panel having two side faces, two side edges, an upper edge and a lower edge; a first structural part in the first lateral edge; a second structural piece in the second lateral edge; a third structural piece on the third lateral edge; a fourth structural piece on the lower edge; the first and second structural parts that form with the central panel a pair of channels that extend vertically on the first and second side edges of the central panel, to receive the mounting parts of a screen; at least one of the third and fourth structural parts is removable to allow the insertion of a screen in, or the removal of a screen, from the channels; the third or fourth removable structural part includes a pair of spaced apart projections having projections projecting inwardly, and the central panel includes an opening for receiving projections, whereby the projections are diverted toward the opening in the central panel during the placement of the removable structural part on the edge of the central panel with the edge received between the projections.

6. The support of the screen according to claim 5, characterized in that the height of the projections is approximately equal to the distance between the opening of the central panel and the edge of the central panel.

7. A screen holder, characterized in that it comprises: a central panel, structural parts around the edges of the central panel, for holding or retaining a screen against the central panel, wherein a section of the structural parts is separable from the central panel and includes a pair of projections spaced apart that form a slot receiving a central panel, and stop means or retainer for securing or securing the projections of the structural part separable to the central panel, still providing removal of the separable structural part to gain or obtain access to the screen.

8. The screen support according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop means includes projections on the projections and a recess in the central panel.

9. The screen support according to claim 8, characterized in that the projections have a sufficient flexibility to bend and allow the projections to pass over the projections around the central panel and towards the recess of the central panel.