 |
Claims  |
|
|
What is claimed is:
1. A collapsible frame comprising one or more frame-like compartments
movable to an open, expanded position forming a structurally stable open
framework for a long, narrow column structure of a portable display frame,
in which the frame-like compartment is foldable in a single direction to a
compact closed form for storage of the frame in a transportable form, each
compartment of the display frame in its open, expanded position having a
front and a rear side, a pair of opposite sides defining the width of the
compartment, and a pair of opposite ends, the ends being formed within
planes defining corners at each end of the compartment, at least one end
of each compartment being shared with a common end of an adjoining
compartment in a multi-compartment open frame structure,
the opposite sides of the compartment comprising a pair of elongated rigid
rods pivotally joined to each other at an intermediate point to form
scissor members along the opposite sides of the compartment, the scissor
members the on opposite sides of the compartment being substantially
parallel to one another,
a plurality of hubs at the corners of the compartment, the respective ends
of the scissor members being pivotally connected to a corresponding one of
the hubs,
rigid end brace members at both ends of the compartment secured to and
movable relative to the scissor members to an end-bracing position forming
a rigid connection between the hubs at the corners of the compartment at
each end of the compartment to thereby hold the scissor members at the
same corners of the compartment in fixed positions rigidly spaced apart
from one another by the joined end brace members, said end-bracing
position being formed by the end brace members at each end of the
compartment extending rigidly between the pair of hubs at the front
corners and the pair of hubs at the rear corners of the compartment, and
means for releasably disconnecting the end brace members from their
end-bracing position so that the ends of the scissor members at front
corners of the compartment are freely movable away from the ends of the
scissor members at the rear corners of the compartment,
the disconnection of the end brace members permitting the frame to be
collapsed into a compact form by folding the scissor members of the
compartment in unison about their pivot points so the compartment is
collapsed in a single direction along the length of the column and into a
compact form in which the scissor members at the sides of the compartment
are folded generally parallel to each other, and with the folded scissor
members on one side of the frame being rigidly spaced apart by a fixed
distance defined by the lengths of the end brace members.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the end brace members comprise a
pair of opposed U-shaped members having the legs of each U rigidly affixed
to corresponding hubs at the corners of the compartment with the base
portions of each U lying adjacent to one another, and releasable
interlocking means on the respective base members of each U-frame for
releasably but rigidly joining the base members of the adjacent U-frames
to each other to rigidly form the end brace at each end of the
compartment.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the releasable interlocking
means comprises a receptacle on the base of one U-frame and a rigid pin on
the other U-frame adapted for releasable interconnection to the
receptacle.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the end brace members are rigid
members extending between the scissor members on opposite sides of the
compartment, perpendicular to the opposite scissor members, and rigid but
releasable lateral brace members extending between the ends of the scissor
members on each side of the frame.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including an elongated diagonal
cross-brace rigidly connected and extending from one side of the
compartment to the opposite side of the compartment and extending
diagonally from a front side of the compartment past the intermediate
pivot point of the scissor members to a rear side of the compartment, and
in which the ends of the diagonal brace member are rigidly affixed to
respective end portions of scissor members on opposite sides of the frame.
6. A collapsible portable display frame for being expanded to a fixed open
frame position to form a structurally stable, elongated, narrow column
structure for a display frame and for being folded to a compact form for
storage in a transportable form, the display frame in its open expanded
position comprising a plurality of rod members pivotally joined to hubs at
their ends to form frame-like compartments aligned in series end-to-end
and pivotally joined to each other at common ends of the compartments,
each compartment defining generally parallel first and second sides,
generally parallel front and rear sides, and generally parallel top and
bottom ends, with separate hubs being located at the corners of each
compartment,
the first and second sides of the compartment comprising a pair of
elongated rigid rods pivotally joined to each other at an intermediate
point to form first and second scissor members extending along the first
and second sides of the compartment, the respective upper ends of the
scissor members each being pivotally joined to corresponding hubs at the
upper corners of the compartment, the respective lower ends of the scissor
members each being pivotally joined to corresponding ones of the hubs at
the lower corners of the compartment,
end brace members movable to and releasably secured in a fixed position for
rigidly bracing the hubs at the corners of each end of the compartment in
a rigid box-like frame structure, the end brace members being releasable
to disconnect the box-frame structure so the scissor member ends at the
front side of the compartment are movable relative to the scissor member
ends at the rear side of the compartment,
a first rigid cross-brace rigidly affixed at its ends and extending
diagonally from the juncture of the hub and scissor member near the lower
front corner of the compartment across the central region of the
compartment to the juncture of the hub and scissor member near the upper
rear corner of the compartment, and
a second rigid cross-brace rigidly affixed at its ends and extending
diagonally from the juncture of the hub and scissor member near the upper
front corner of the compartment across the central region of the
compartment to the juncture of the hub and scissor member near the lower
rear corner of the compartment, the first and second diagonal cross-braces
bypassing one another in the central region of the expanded frame,
the connection of the end brace members in said fixed positions at the
upper and lower ends of the compartment maintaining the display frame in a
rigid column-like frame structure,
the disconnection of the end brace members at each end of each compartment
permitting the frame to be collapsed into a compact form by folding the
scissor members about their pivot points so the compartments are collapsed
into a compact side-by-side form in which the scissor members at the sides
of each compartment are folded generally parallel to each other, with the
first and second diagonal cross-braces being movable in unison with the
scissor members to collapse into a plane defined generally by the
collapsed form of the scissor members.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the end brace members are
rigidly affixed to the hubs at the corners of each end of the receptacle
and are movable upon pivoting of the hub relative to its corresponding
scissor member.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the ends of the diagonal
cross-braces are rigidly affixed to respective end portions of the scissor
members.
9. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the end frame members at each
end of the compartment comprise a pair of opposed U-shaped members having
the legs of each U rigidly affixed to corresponding hubs at the corners of
the compartment, with the base portions of each U lying adjacent to one
another, and releasable interlocking means on the respective base members
of each U-frame for releasably but rigidly joining the base members of the
adjacent U-frames to each other to rigidly form the box frame structure at
each end of the compartment.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the releasable interlocking
means comprise a receptacle on the base of one U and a rigid pin on the
other U adapted for releasable interconnection to the receptacle.
11. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the box-frame structure at each
end of the compartment comprises rigid front and rear end braces extending
rigidly between respective pairs of hubs at the front and at the rear of
the compartment, and rigid left and right side end braces rigidly but
releasably connected between respective pairs of hubs at the left and
right sides of the compartments.
12. A folding display frame movable to an open expanded position forming a
series of pivotally interconnected and generally rectangular compartments
attached in the shape of a long, narrow column, the frame being movable to
a compact closed form for storage in a transportable form, the framework
formed by rod members joined at their ends to hubs to form six sides of
each compartment and having a separate hub at each of the eight corners of
each compartment, each compartment having left and right sides, front and
rear sides, and top and bottom ends, the compartments in the column-like
frame being joined end-to-end with the width of the column having the
width of one compartment, with the ends of adjoining compartments sharing
common hubs at the four corners of the adjoining ends of the compartments,
the left and right exterior sides of each compartment being formed by rigid
rods in the form of left and right scissor members each pivotally joined
at an intermediate point, with the ends of the scissor members being
pivotally joined to corresponding ones of the hubs at the corners of the
upper and lower ends of the compartment, the scissor members in adjoining
compartments being on the same opposite sides of the compartments so that
adjacent pairs of scissor members in adjacent compartments are aligned
end-to-end along opposite left and right exterior sides of the adjoining
compartments,
end brace members releasably movable between a fixed bracing position at
the ends of each compartment and a disconnected position, the end brace
members comprising rigid rods supporting the hubs at four corners of each
end of the compartment in fixed spaced-apart positions thereby rigidly
supporting the four ends of the scissor members in fixed spaced-apart
positions between the left and right sides and between the front and rear
sides of each compartment,
means for disconnecting the end brace means from said hub supporting
position to permit the ends of the scissor members and their corresponding
hubs at the front side of the frame to be movable relative to the ends of
the scissor members and their corresponding hubs at the rear side of the
frame, and
diagonal cross-brace means comprising one or more rigid rod members in the
form of a diagonal brace having one end rigidly affixed near a scissor
member and its corresponding hub on a front side of each compartment and
an opposite end rigidly affixed near a scissor member and its
corresponding hub on a rear side of the same compartment, the diagonal
brace extending from the left side to the right side of the compartment,
the resulting frame comprised of the multiple compartments being foldable
by disconnecting the end brace members in all compartments and folding the
frame in a single direction along the length of the column by pivoting the
scissor members so the hubs on the front and rear sides of the column
frame move away from each other, allowing the sets of scissor members to
each move to relatively parallel positions with the pairs of scissor
members in adjacent compartments folded adjacent one another in the
compact form of the frame, and with the diagonal brace of each compartment
being movable in unison with the scissor members of the same cubicle to
collapse into a plane defined generally by the collapsed form of the
scissor members.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the end brace members are
rigidly affixed to the hubs at the corners of each end of the receptacle
and are movable upon pivoting of the hub relative to its corresponding
scissor member.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the ends of each diagonal
brace are rigidly affixed to respective end portions of the scissor
members on opposite sides of the compartment.
15. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the end frame members at each
end of the compartment comprise a pair of opposed U-shaped members having
the legs of each U rigidly affixed to corresponding hubs at the corners of
the compartment with the base portions of each U lying adjacent to one
another, and releasable interlocking means on the respective base members
of each U-frame for releasably but rigidly joining the base members of the
adjacent U-frames to each other to rigidly form the box frame structure at
each end of the compartment.
16. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which each compartment is shaped as
a cubicle.
17. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the releasable interlocking
means comprise a receptacle on the base of one U-frame and a rigid pin on
the other U-frame adapted for releasable interconnection to the
receptacle.
18. A folding display frame for forming a long column-shaped structure
having a plurality of rods joined together in an open display-supporting
framework, in which a first pair of scissor members on one exterior side
of the open frame are joined with a second pair of scissor members on an
opposite exterior side of the frame in a rigid compartment-like frame
structure, the first and second pairs of scissor members extending along
the length of the compartment on opposite sides of the compartment and
defining between them the width of the compartment, the ends of the first
and second scissor members terminating at first and second ends of the
compartment;
a plurality of hubs, a separate one of the hubs pivotally joined to an end
of each scissor member;
a corresponding first rigid end frame member of fixed length affixed to the
hubs on the ends of the first scissor members and on the ends of the
second scissor members at the first end of the compartment;
a corresponding second rigid end frame member of fixed length affixed to
the hubs on the ends of the first scissor members at the first end of the
compartment and on the ends of the second scissor members at the second
end of the compartment, the first and second end frame members rigidly
supporting the ends of the first and second pairs of scissor members
laterally in spaced-apart positions at the first and second ends of the
compartment, respectively; and
rigid end support means with cooperating releasable attachments for
pivoting with the hubs at the ends of the scissor members and for
cooperating with the first and second end frame members for releasably
interconnecting the ends of the first and second scissor members in a
rigid bracing structure at the first and second ends of the
compartment-like frame structure, the end support means being releasable
to permit folding of the end support means away from one another to
release the rigid bracing structure and thereby permit folding of the
scissor members so the column-like compartment can be collapsed in a
single direction along the length of the compartment to a compact form.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the first and second end frame
members comprise separate U-shaped frames, with the legs of each U-frame
being rigidly affixed to corresponding hubs and the base of each U-frame
being positioned adjacent the base of the other U-frame in said rigid
bracing structure, the end support means comprising the legs of each
U-frame, and including a releasable attachment carried on the base of each
U-frame, the base of each U-frame providing said means of lateral
rigidity.
20. A collapsible display frame which expands to an open position forming a
structurally stable column structure comprising open frame cubicles
pivotally joined end-to-end along the length of the column structure,
comprising:
a pair of rigid scissor members extending generally parallel to each other
along opposite sides of the cubicle, the scissor members having ends
pivotally joined to corresponding hubs at four upper and four lower
corners of the cubicle;
end frame members rigidly supporting the ends of the scissor members as a
rigid box frame structure at the upper and lower ends of the cubicle;
a first diagonal cross-brace member rigidly affixing a lower front end of a
scissor member on one side of the cubicle with respect to an upper rear
end of a scissor member on an opposite side of the cubicle;
a second diagonal cross-brace member rigidly affixing an upper front end of
a scissor member on one side of the cubicle and a lower rear end of a
scissor member on an opposite side of the cubicle, the first and second
diagonal cross-brace members bypassing one another in a central region of
the cubicle; and
means releasably disconnecting the end frame means from their rigid
box-frame supporting position to permit the ends of the scissor members at
the front side of the cubicle to move away from the ends of the scissor
members at the rear side of the cubicle so that the scissor members of the
adjacent cubicles in the column frame structure can be folded in a single
direction along the length of the column to a compact position in which
the scissor members are parallel to each other with the folded cubicles
adjacent one another in the compact form of the display frame structure.
21. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the end frame members comprise
rigid front and rear frame members extending across front and rear sides
of the cubicle between corresponding ends of the scissor members that
extend to the front and rear sides of the cubicle, respectively, to resist
folding of the frame from front to rear, and rigid left and right frame
members extending across left and right sides of the cubicle between
corresponding ends of the scissor members that extend to the left and
right sides of the cubicle, respectively, to resist folding of the frame
from left to right.
22. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the crossbar members at each
end of the cubicle comprise a pair of opposed U-shaped members having the
legs of each U-frame rigidly affixed to corresponding hubs at the corners
of the cubicle with the base portions of each U-frame lying adjacent to
one another, and releasable interlocking means on the respective base
members of each U-frame for releasably but rigidly joining the base
members of the adjacent U-frames to each other to rigidly form the end
brace at the end of the cubicle.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22 in which the releasable interlocking
means comprises a receptacle on the base of one U and a removable rigid
pin on the other U-frame adapted for releasable interconnection to the
receptacle.
24. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the ends of each diagonal
brace member are rigidly affixed to respective end portions of the scissor
members.
25. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the column structure, in its
expanded configuration is essentially straight.
26. A collapsible frame comprising one or more frame-like compartments
movable to an open, expanded position forming a structurally stable open
framework for a long, narrow column structure of a portable display frame,
in which the frame is foldable to a compact closed form for storage in a
transportable form, each compartment of the display frame in its open,
expanded position having a front and a rear side, a pair of opposite sides
defining the width of the compartment, and a pair of opposite ends, the
ends being formed within planes defining corners at each end of the
compartment, at least one end of each compartment being shared with an end
of an adjoining compartment in a multi-compartment open frame structure,
the opposite sides of the compartment comprising a pair of elongated rigid
rods pivotally joined to each other at an intermediate point to form
scissor members along the opposite sides of the compartment, the scissor
members on the opposite sides of the compartment being substantially
parallel to one another,
a plurality of hubs at the corners of the compartment, the respective ends
of the scissor members being pivotally connected to a corresponding one of
the hubs,
rigid end brace members at each end of the compartment secured to and
movable relative to the scissor members to an end-bracing position forming
a rigid connection between the hubs at the corners of the compartment to
thereby hold the scissor members at the same corners of the compartment in
fixed positions rigidly spaced apart from one another by the joined end
brace members, and
means for releasably disconnecting the end brace members from their
end-bracing position so that the ends of the scissor members at front
corners of the compartment are freely movable away from the ends of the
scissor members at the rear corners of the compartment,
the disconnection of the end brace members permitting the frame to be
collapsed into a compact form by folding the scissor members of the
compartment in unison about their pivot points so the compartment is
collapsed along the length of the column and into a compact form in which
the scissor members at the sides of the compartment are folded generally
parallel to each other, and with the fold scissor members on one side of
the frame being rigidily spaced apart by a fixed distance defined by the
lengths of the end brace members,
in which the end brace members comprise a pair of opposed U-shaped members
having the legs of each U rigidly affixed to corresponding hubs at the
corners of the compartment with the base portions of each U lying adjacent
to one another, and releasable interlocking means on the respective base
members of each U-frame for releasably but rigidly joining the base
members of the adjacent U-frames to each other to rigidly form the end
brace at each end of the compartment.
27. Apparatus according to claim 26 in which the releasable interlocking
means comprises a receptacle on the base of one U-frame and a rigid pin on
the other U-frame adapted for releasable interconnection to the
receptacle.
28. A collapsible frame comprising one or more frame-like compartments
movable to an open, expanded position forming a structurally stable open
framework for a long, narrow column structure of a portable display frame,
in which the frame is foldable to a compact closed form for storage in a
transportable form, each compartment of the display frame in its open,
expanded position having a front and a rear side, a pair of opposite sides
defining the width of the compartment, and a pair of opposite ends, the
ends being formed within planes defining corners at each end of the
compartment, at least one end of each compartment being shared with a
common end of an adjoining compartment in a multi-compartment open frame
structure,
the opposite sides of the compartment comprising a pair of elongated rigid
rods pivotally joined to each other at an intermediate point to form
scissor members along the opposite sides of the compartment, the scissor
members on the opposite sides of the compartment being substantially
parallel to one another, the frame having the width of one compartment,
a plurality of hubs at the corners of the compartment, the respective ends
of the scissor members being pivotally connected to a corresponding one of
the hubs,
rigid end brace members at each end of the compartment secured to and
movable relative to the scissor members to an end-bracing position forming
a rigid connection between the hubs at the corners of the compartment to
thereby hold the scissor members at the same corners of the compartment in
fixed positions rigidly spaced apart from one another by the joined end
brace members, and
means for releasably disconnecting the end brace members from their
end-bracing position so that the ends of the scissor members at front
corners of the compartment are freely movable away from the ends of the
scissor members at the rear corners of the compartment,
the disconnection of the end brace members permitting the frame to be
collapsed into a compact form by folding the scissor members of the
compartment in unison about their pivot points so the compartment is
collapsed along the length of the column and into a compact form in which
the scissor members at the sides of the compartment are folded generally
parallel to each other, and with the folded scissor members on one side of
the frame being rigidly spaced apart by a fixed distance defined by the
lengths of the end brace members,
in which the end brace members comprise rigid longitudinal members
extending between the scissor members on opposite sides of the
compartment, generally perpendicular to the opposite scissor members, and
rigid but releasable lateral brace members extending between the ends of
the scissors members on each side of the frame.
29. A collapsible frame comprising one or more frame-like compartments
movable to an open, expanded position forming a structurally stable open
framework for a long, narrow column structure of a portable display frame,
in which the frame is foldable to a compact closed form for storage in a
transportable form, each compartment of the display frame in its open,
expanded position having a front and a rear side, a pair of opposite sides
defining the width of the compartment, and a pair of opposite ends, the
ends being formed within planes defining corners at each end of the
compartment, at least one end of each compartment being shared with a
common end of an adjoining compartment in a multi-compartment open frame
structure,
the opposite sides of the compartment comprising a pair of elongated rigid
rods pivotally joined to each other at an intermediate point to form
scissor members along the opposite sides of the compartment, the scissor
members on the opposite sides of the compartment being substantially
parallel to one another, the frame having the width of one compartment,
a plurality of hubs at the corners of the compartment, the respective ends
of the scissor members being pivotally connected to a corresponding one of
the hubs,
rigid end brace members at each end of the compartment secured to and
movable relative to the scissor members to an end-bracing position forming
a rigid connection between the hubs at the corners of the compartment to
thereby hold the scissor members at the same corners of the compartment in
fixed positions rigidly spaced apart from one another by the joined end
brace members,
means for releasably disconnecting the end brace members from their
end-bracing position so that the ends of the scissor members at front
corners of the compartment are freely movable away from the ends of the
scissor members at the rear corners of the compartment,
the disconnection of the end brace members permitting the frame to be
collapsed into a compact form by folding the scissor members of the
compartment in unison about their pivot points so the compartment is
collapsed along the length of the column and into a compact form in which
the scissor members at the sides of the compartment are folded generally
parallel to each other, and with the folded scissor members on one side of
the frame being rigidly spaced apart by a fixed distance defined by the
lengths of the end brace members, and
an elongated diagonal cross-brace rigidly connected and extending from one
side of the compartment to the opposite side of the compartment and
extending diagonally from a front side of the compartment past the
intermediate pivot point of the scissor members to a rear side of the
compartment, in which the ends of the diagonal brace member are affixed to
respective end portions of scissor members on opposite sides of the frame.
30. A folding display frame for forming a long column-shaped structure
having a plurality of rods joined together in an open display-supporting
framework, in which a first pair of scissor members on one exterior side
of the open frame are joined with a second pair of scissor members on an
opposite exterior side of the frame in a rigid compartment-like frame
structure;
a plurality of hubs, a separate one of the hubs pivotally joined to an end
of each scissor member;
a corresponding first rigid end frame member of fixed length affixed to the
hubs on the ends of the first scissor members and on the ends of the
second scissor members at the first end of the compartment;
a corresponding second rigid end frame member of fixed length affixed to
the hubs on the ends of the first scissor members at the first end of the
compartment and on the ends of the second scissor members at the second
end of the compartment, respectively, the first and second end frame
members rigidly supporting the ends of the first and second pairs of
scissor members laterally in spaced-apart positions; and
rigid end support means with cooperating releasable attachments for
pivoting with the hubs at the ends of the scissor members and for
cooperating with the first and second end frame members for releasably
interconnecting the ends of the first and second scissor members in a
rigid bracing structure at the ends of each compartment-like frame
structure, the end support means being releasable to permit folding of the
end support means away from one another to release the rigid bracing
structure and thereby permit folding of the scissor members so the
column-like frame can be collapsed to a compact form;
the first and second end frame members comprising separate U-shaped frames,
with the legs of each U-frame being rigidly affixed to corresponding hubs
and the base of each U-frame being positioned adjacent the base of the
other U-frame in said rigid bracing structure, with the end support means
comprising the legs of each U-frame and including a releasable attachment
carried on the base of each U-frame, the base of each U-frame providing
said means of lateral rigidity. |
|
 |
|
 |
Claims |
|
|
|
Description |
|
|
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to folding display frames, and more particularly, to
a foldable display-supporting frame useful in forming long, narrow column
or bridge-like structures for folding display frames.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Folding display frames are commonly used at trade shows for holding display
panels assembled into a temporary display stand. Photomural displays and
other graphics, projection screens, product display shelves, and the like
are commonly mounted on the portable display stands.
Folding display frames typically comprise a number of rigid frame members
pivotally connected together at their ends in a collapsible and portable
form. The framework, in its expanded or open form, commonly consists of a
grid of horizontal and vertical rod members forming an array of frame-like
compartments or cubicles. The frame is carried to the exhibition hall in
its collapsed form and is then erected to form the rigid structural
framework for the display stand. Display panels which are mounted to the
display frame, and other structural members of the supporting frame, also
are carried to the trade show in a compact form. The entire folding
display system is then assembled into the finished display unit. When the
trade show is completed, the display frame is collapsed, and the display
system is carried away in its portable form.
In a typical three-dimensional framework, a plurality of rod members are
pivotally joined together to permit collapsing of the framework into a
compact form in which the rod members lie substantially parallel to each
other. Except where the framework is assembled in a substantially
permanent structure, the rod members are pivotally joined at their ends to
some type of hub, on which the rods can pivot relative to each other as
the framework is adjusted between its open, expanded configuration and its
closed compact storage configuration. An example of a foldable display
frame that opens into an array of pivotally interconnected cubicles is
disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,016, which is incorporated herein by
this reference. In the display frame shown in that patent, the expanded
display frame is collapsed by folding the pivotally joined rod members
along two perpendicular axes until all rod members are substantially
parallel to each other, with the hubs at the ends of the folded structure
being nested closely to one another in a compact form.
One of the objectives in designing folding display frames is to make the
structure light in weight and compact in its folded form to enhance ease
of transportation and storage when the frame is not in use. At the same
time, the framework, when fully expanded into its useful configuration,
must be strong and fairly rigid. The framework not only must be strong
enough to give adequate support to the display panels and the items
mounted on them, but it also must withstand abuse, particularly when being
constantly folded and unfolded.
The folding display frame shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,016 is useful in
forming large main display frame structures which span a long side-to-side
dimension of say ten to twenty feet and which also extend to a height of
about eight to nine feet across the width of the main display frame. This
display frame, comprising horizontal rows and vertical columns of
interconnected cubicles, provides a stable supporting structure for large
display stands.
In recent years, the display frame industry has seen a trend toward the
development and use of more creative designs for display stands. This has
resulted in use of display frames which are long and of narrow width, to
be used as a column (pylon, post, pillar) or a bridge structure in the
finished design. Most often these columns are used to support bridges or
header frames which attach to other columns or to the main display frame
with a span of about five to about sixteen to twenty feet. The column
frame in these designs must be capable of handling vertical loads on one
or two sides only without undue distortion or flexing.
Display frame columns have been made for many years of rigid, non-folding
frameworks, generally of welded truss sections of steel rod and tubing.
The frameworks sold under the mark "Interlock TransForm8" are an example.
Display frame columns made of fixed truss sections fit into carrying cases
only after the time-consuming effort of separating them into convenient
lengths. The resulting parts are heavy, bulky, and quite expensive.
Although they make a strong and attractive column, they do not contain
means of attaching panels or art work in addition to the disadvantages of
not being conveniently foldable.
It would be desirable to provide a column-like display frame in a
conveniently foldable configuration. The previously known folding display
frames, such as that shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,016, do not readily
perform well in a column-like configuration. The preferred plan view size
of a column is approximately ten or twelve inches square, whereas the plan
view dimension of a single cubicle of a standard display frame is either
eight or twelve inches in thickness but about twenty-eight to thirty-two
inches in height and width. In order to have a small width, to form a
column, it is possible to make many small cubicles so that a frame could
be made with seven or ten hubs in height to produce a small cross-section.
However, this arrangement makes a column that is otherwise of appropriate
size too flexible in the left and right side directions. Additional
bracing can be added, but the completed assembly would contain many more
parts than a single cubicle of a standard display frame and is, therefore,
too expensive to produce.
The objectives in designing a folding display frame, which can serve as a
useful column structure, include the frame structure being collapsible
into a small, transportable size; availability in various lengths to meet
customer needs; light in weight while supporting heavy vertical loads,
especially eccentric loading, without undue deflection or w | | |
