WO2008050353A2

WO2008050353A2 - Improved suspended cable display systems

Info

Publication number: WO2008050353A2
Application number: PCT/IN2007/000203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rajan Kapoor
Original assignee: Golden Peakock Overseas Limited
Priority date: 2006-10-25
Filing date: 2007-05-21
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: WO2008050353A3

Abstract

Improved suspended cable display systems comprising the compact two piece design of Cable Tensioner wherein the Bottom or the Fixing Plate is anchored to the floor, Wall or Ceiling and the Tensioner Body Assembly after insertion, the cable is then simply screwed on the Bottom /Fixing Plate for tensioning the cable; after insertion of the Cable in the Body Assembly through the top opening, the Cable is either automatically locked in the inbuilt cable gripper, or manually screwed to a thimble/cable grippe; further on screwing the Tensioner Body Assembly on the Bottom /Fixing Plate, cable tensioning is effected to remove any slackness in the cable or making the cable taught, without any twisting movement of the Cable due to the in-built anti- friction ball bearing in the Body Assembly.

Description

IMPROVED SUSPENDED CABLE DISPLAY SYSTEMS

Improved Suspended Cable Display Systems

Field of the Invention :

The present invention relates to a new concept of building up of improved suspended Cable Display Systems, more specifically new way of Wall to Wall Display System as well as Slat Wall Display Systems which lends itself to be fitted in quick, easy, convenient and cost-effective way of erecting this Suspended Cable and other Display Systems, thus saving the time in assembly.

Background of the Invention :

The suspended cable display system comes in the range of (a) Wall to Wall, (b) Ceiling to Floor, (c) Slat Wall, (d) Ceiling to Wall, (e) Wall to Floor Display Systems etc. for display/storage of articles at exhibitation stalls, shops, industrial undertakings, homes and other establishments etc. and also (f) for display of Poster/Signages etc. in various forms. In all these display systems the main elements involved are (i) Cable Tensioner, (ii) Shelf Holders of sorts, and (iii) Cable gripping arrangements. The present art known for a typical wall-to-wall display system is where a single cable runs through a fixed Pulley at the top anchor point. The two cable ends are being fixed to two different Cable Tensioners fixed at the bottom anchor point. This known arrangement suffers from following disadvantages:

1) Single Cable takes full load of all shelves at each shelf end; 2) Full load of all the shelves are taken by the single top anchor point at each shelf end;

3) Two Cable Tensioners need to be tightened for cable tensioning;

4) Differential tensioning may tilt the balance of the shelves along with inconvenience in operation of the Cable Tensioner for design insufficiencies.

In general the known art for building up of Cable Tensioners mostly of the spring type does not have either anti-twisting feature while tensioning the cable or do not have quick fixing facility for fixing the cable to the Tensioner. Often the spring and other components are required to be dismantled from the Tensioner Body for fixing the cable, which is time consuming and cumbersome process.

The known art of shelf holder, more specifically the swivelling shelf holder, the swivelling head is secured with the body of the shelf holder through tapered screw, consequently it gets seized with the body, thus defeating the purpose of swivelling movement.

In the known art for cable gripping involve cable grippers and alternately screwed thimble require different sizes of these components for the range of cable of 1.5 mm to 3mm diameter steel flexible cables, which is not cost effective, as large inventory of different sizes ware required to be stored.

In the known art of Slat-wall Display system one end of the cable is fixed at the Slat-wall end, while the other end is fitted to an in-built cable gripper in the shelf holder. The tensioning /shelf leveling arrangement is provided at the shelf holder end, which makes it difficult and inconvenient in adjusting the level of loaded shelves.

Summary of the invention

To solve the above-described problems, it is an objective of the present invention to make the present invention more advantageous and technically sound. The present Invention of the Improved suspended cable display systems provides the users quick, convenient and cost- effective way of building up Display Systems etc., compared to the present practices of doing so. The present Invention obviates the above disadvantages by providing

(i) An innovative compact two-piece design of spring/spring less Cable Tensioner with ball-bearing for anti-twisting facility and different constructions to suit the complete range of Display Systems.

(ii) Improved swivelling Shelf Holder, with the swivelling head secured to the shelf body through inter-locking spring washer and a pan-head screw thus providing smooth swivelling operation. (iii) An improved cable gripper designed to grip full range of cables from 1.5 to 3 mm diameter flexible steel cable and a thimble with two fixing screws for securing the cable ends, (iv) Innovative Wall to Wall Display System with improved performance and cost effective means. (v) Innovative Slat-wall Display System, wherein the tensioning/shelf levelling facility is provided at the Slat-wall end thus providing convenient, easy and flexible way of fixing the cable as well as tensioning/shelf levelling facility.

In the present invention, the compact two piece design of Cable Tensioner wherein the Bottom /Fixing Plate is anchored to the floor/Wall or Ceiling and the Tensioner Body Assembly after insertion, the cable is simply screwed on the Bottom /Fixing Plate for tensioning the cable. On insertion of the Cable in the Body Assembly through the top opening, the Cable is either automatically locked in the inbuilt cable gripper, or manually screwed to a thimble/cable gripper.

Thereafter on screwing the Tensioner Body Assembly on the Bottom /Fixing Plate, cable tensioning is effected to remove any slackness in the cable or making the cable taught, without any twisting movement of the Cable due to the in-built anti-friction ball bearing in the Body

Assembly.

This principle of cable tensioning arrangement could equally be used in Ceiling to Floor, WaIl- to-Wall, Slat wall Display Systems etc. along with other matching components.

The Cable Tensioner of the present invention could be any of the four types, shape and sizes mentioned in Fig 4, Fig4A & Fig 4B, retaining the above mentioned features of easy cable gripping and anti-twisting features while cable tensioning. Further objectives and advantages of this Invention for building up especially a new innovative Wall to Wall Display System (Fig. 6) as well as improved Slat-wall Display System (Fig 7) will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings :

Fig. 1. Shows the exploded view of different components of the Cable Tensioner Type-A, (with auto gripper assembly) explaining the way of assembly of the complete Cable Tensioner.

Fig. 2. Shows the construction/sub-assembly of the Cable Tensioner Type-A,Body Assembly prior to cable insertion. Fig. 3. Shows construction/features of the Cable Tensioner Type-A, with the cable inserted and during Cable tensioning stage.

Fig. 4, 4A & 4B. shows construction details of 4-types (B,C,D&E) of Cable Tensioners, all with built-in ball-bearing anti-twisting features for the Suspended Cable Display Systems and Slat Wall Display System.

Fig.5 shows general arrangement for Ceiling to Floor Display System.

Fig.6 shows the new innovative Wall-to-Wall Display System as embodied in this present Invention.

Fig 7. Shows the general arrangement of improved Slat Wall Display System.

Fig. 8. shows the general arrangement of Swivelling Shelf Holders, specially for Ceiling to Floor, Wall to Wall and Poster/Signage Display Systems.

Fig. 9 shows the general arrangement of Swivelling Shelf Holders for improved Slatwall Display Systems.

Fig.10 shows the general arrangement for Poster/Sinage Display Systems.

Brief Description :

The readers of this document should understand that the embodiments described herein may rely on terminology used in any section of this document and other terms readily apparent from the drawings and language common for such components or operations. This document is premised upon using one or more terms with one embodiment that will in general apply to other embodiments for similar structures, functions, features and aspects of the invention. Wording used in the claims as filed is also descriptive of the invention. Terminology used with one, some or all embodiments may be used for describing and defining the technology and exclusive rights associated herewith.

The above objective and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings. Referring to Fig.l, the Cable Tensioner (Type-A) Body has a housing (figl-a) to accommodate an improved cable gripper assembly (fig-l-d) along with other components i.e. Spring-(fig.l-e), Washer (fϊg.l-c), Cage (fig.l-j) with four Balls (figl-b), in the order of washer,ball with cage, washer,spring and gripper assembly. The Nipple of the Cable Gripper (fig.l-d) passes through the small hole of the Tensioner Body (figl-a). In the Cable Tensioner (Type-A) Body assembly (fig2-a) the Nut (figl-f) is screwed in the Body thread (figl-a) up to end of thread of the Body to hold the Ball Bearing and Washers against the spring (figl-e) pressure. The cable may have one end with Zn-Die-cast barrel end or the ends being prepared as pin or simple cut & unprepared. Depending upon the nature of Cable end finish, the appropriate Cable Tensioner and cable gripping arrangements are used.

In the Ceiling to Floor Display System (Fig. 5), the Bottom Plate (fig2-d) is anchored to the floor either through the central Screw (fig2-c) or/in addition through three peripheral screw holes

(fig2-e).

The Cable (fig3-b) is first secured in the Top Ceiling Plate Assembly (fig3-c), separately fixed to the ceiling.

The Tensioner Body Assembly Type-A (Fig.2-a) is just engaged by one or two threads on the Threaded Stud of the Bottom Plate (fig2-d). Alternatively Cable Tensioner of Type-E without cable gripper can also be used by securing the cable end in a nipple. The cable with measured length up to approx. middle of the Tensioner Body is then inserted in the Cable Gripper Assembly of the Tensioner Body Assembly (Fig.2-a). The Cable gets automatically locked in the Gripper Assembly (Fig-l-d).

The Tensioner Body (Fig.2-a) is then gradually screwed on the threaded Stud of the Bottom Plate(Fig.2-d) till proper tensioning of the cable is achieved. In this screwing operation the cable is prevented from any twisting movement due to slippage of the Cable Gripper assembly over the Ball Bearing.

The Spring (figl-e) gets compressed, which in the event of any slackness of the cable during usage, expands and maintain the cable tension automatically.

The Shelves then can be positioned on the cables of the Display System through improved Swivel Shelf Holders (Fig5-2) & (Fig.8)-another innovative swivelling system, as shown in fig-8. In the new innovative Wall-to-Wall Display System (Fig.6), the embodiment of the present, invention, the Pulley Cable Tensioner-Type-D (Fig.4-A) is used with a single cable running through the Pulley (Fig.4-A), one cable end being fixed to the Top Gripper (Fig.6-2), through a Cable Tensioner of Type B & C, the other Zn-die cast end of the cable having fixed through a nipple at the rear end of the top Pipe. The shelves are placed through the improved Swivelling Shelf Holders (Fig.6-3)& (Fig 8), between the top and bottom Pipes. Then tightening the Cable Tensioner Type-D (Fig.6-4) both the segments of the cable get tensioned simultaneously without any anti-twisting movement of the cables. Both the segments of the cable act as independent cables for load carrying purpose. Further the total shelf-loads are transferred two different anchor points of the cable ends, thus distributing the total load. The fixing arrangements of the cable ends to top Pipes and Top Grippers may differ depending upon the nature of cable ends.

This innovative wall-to-Wall Display System is far superior to the present art, where the single cable runs through a fixed Pulley at the top anchor point. The two cable ends being fixed to two different Cable Tensioners fixed at the bottom anchor point thus suffering following disadvantages:

1) Single Cable takes full loads of all shelves at each shelf end.

2) Full loads of all the shelves are taken by the single top anchor point at each shelf end. 3) Two Cable Tensioners need to be tightened for cable tensioning.

4) Differential tensioning may tilt the balance of the shelves.

In the improved Slat Wall Display System (Fig.7) the improved Cable Tensioner of the Type-B or C (Fig.4) are used at the Slat wall end for adjusting the shelves, as on load, the cable would be always in tension. In this system the improved swivelling shelf holders of the Type of Fig.9 are used for rigid fixing of the cable at the shelf end. In this system, balancing the shelves by the Tensioner of the Type B or C (Fig 4) becomes easier.

Improved suspended cable display systems comprising the compact two piece design of Cable Tensioner wherein the Bottom or the Fixing Plate is anchored to the floor, Wall or Ceiling and the Tensioner Body Assembly after insertion, the cable is then simply screwed on the Bottom /Fixing Plate for tensioning the cable; after insertion of the Cable in the Body Assembly through the top opening, the Cable is either automatically locked in the inbuilt cable gripper, or manually screwed to a thimble/cable grippe; further on screwing the Tensioner Body Assembly on the Bottom /Fixing Plate, cable tensioning is effected to remove any slackness in the cable or making the cable taught, without any twisting movement of the Cable due to the in-built antifriction ball bearing in the Body Assembly.

While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Improved suspended cable display systems comprising the compact two piece design of Cable Tensioner wherein the Bottom or the Fixing Plate is anchored to the floor, Wall or Ceiling and the Tensioner Body Assembly after insertion, the cable is then simply screwed on the Bottom /Fixing Plate for tensioning the cable; after insertion of the Cable in the Body Assembly through the top opening, the Cable is either automatically locked in the inbuilt cable gripper, or manually screwed to a thimble/cable grippe; further on screwing the Tensioner Body Assembly on the Bottom /Fixing Plate, cable tensioning is effected to remove any slackness in the cable or making the cable taught, without any twisting movement of the Cable due to the in-built anti-friction ball bearing in the Body

Assembly.

2. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are five types of improved cable tensioners for various suspended cable display systems i.e. use of especially Type-A or Type-E for Ceiling to floor, Type- A and Type B or C for wall to wall and Type-B or C for Slat wall or other variants of display systems, including for Poster/Signages etc.

3. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Improved Cable Tensioner can be made of different materials & finishes and can be of different outward shapes depending on various fitments/usage.

4. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein the anti- twisting features with the incorporation of Ball bearings in the Cable Tensioners.

5. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein the innovative wall-to-wall display system as explained above with incorporation of a single Pulley type Cable Tensioner at the bottom.

6. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein an swivelling shelf holder with the incorporation of inter-locked spring washer and Pan-head screw is provided for fixing the swivelling head for smooth operation of the swivelling head.

7. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein an innovative swivelling shelf holder is provided for Slat wall Display System.

8. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spring less Tensioner of Type-C or the variant of Type-B with spring at the back is for Slat wall or other display systems.

9. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein an improved design of cable gripper and screwed thimble for gripping different sizes of cables is of the range 1.5 to 3 mm diameter.

10. Improved suspended cable display systems as claimed in any of the above claims substantially as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings..