Collapsible Display System

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improved display system for holding display panels, photomurals, banners, signs or the like in tension and in a generally upright, but angularly adjustable, position and particularly to a collapsible lightweight system that is easily assembled with the item to be displayed or collapsed for transport or storage. The display system can be used indoors as a stand alone support or outdoors with a stake-down system or stabilizing counter weights.

II. Related Art

There often exists a need to provide a temporary or portable device for displaying a photomural or other information carrying banner or sign that is readily deployed to support and display a relatively large sign and yet can be collapsed into a lightweight, easily carried compact form for transport and storage. Such a device would find advantageous use in retail sales displays, trade shows, fairs, lawn signs or the like to provide a variety of information to those in view of it. Certain types of signs have been devised that are portable and at least to some extent collapsible. One such device is disclosed by Dicke et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4 694 601) in which a sign panel is secured to a frame having four arms pivotally attached to a rigid central web. The four arms extend to form a cross bracing structure to hold the sign and are designed to fold down in one direction when collapsed.

Other folding signs are shown in Noffsinger (U.S. Pat. No. 4 875 302) and Brown (U.S. Pat. No. 5 362 020). Noffsinger discloses a portable, collapsible display sign in which hinged leg supports carry legs adjustable from a collapsed mode to a fully extended spread or open position by means of a slidable frame member. The sign is in the form of a stretchable elastic fabric secured to the frame and to each respective leg support such that tension in the fabric maintains the display in the open position in a two-sided system.

In Brown, pairs of pivotal legs are attached to a common cross member and adapted to swing in two directions between fully folded and fully deployed positions.

While these and other existing devices have certain attributes and provide a degree of flexibility and portability in successful display signs, there remains a need for a lightweight, durable, fully collapsible system that readily deploys from a knock-down transport or storage state to a fully expanded assembled display mode readily. There also exists a need for such a system in which many different banners or murals can be interchangeably displayed using the same frame or two-sided graphics reversed on the spot. In addition, an adjustable sign posture would provide an added desirable feature.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a versable, lightweight, durable, readily deployed, readily collapsible display support system for a banner or photomural display panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lightweight, durable, readily deployed, readily collapsible display support system for a banner or photomural display panel in which the banner or photomural can readily be reversed or exchanged relative to the support structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a display support system in which the posture of the display panel is variable and easily adjusted.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a display panel support system that is relatively rugged and economical.

Other objects and advantages associated with the display panel support system of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon further consideration of this specification, drawings and appended claims.

The present invention provides a compact, lightweight, self-contained support system that is easily deployed to carry and support a photomural, banner, sign or the like under tension and that readily collapses to a rather small size for transport and storage. As used therein, the term "banner" is defined to include all possible types of display articles susceptible of mounting using the support system of the invention. The system may be constructed of segments of strong, light weight aluminum alloy tube connected using slip fittings. Other materials including other metals and polymeric materials or fiberglass may also be used for the rod segments. The support system is made up of a plurality of hollow tube segments connected by an internal resilient cord system that allows easy assembly and disassembly for transport or storage in a relatively small container. The support can be sized to carry a rectangular banner of any size or shape or a banner of any other configuration capable of being tensioned between such spaced parallel tubes. The system is very light weight and, for example, a 4'.times.8' banner support of aluminum alloy may weigh less than a pound.

The preferred embodiment incorporates a pair of spaced hollow mounting tubes which carry opposite edge loops of the banner threaded over the tubes. In an assembled system, the banner is carried on and between the mounting rods, spaced apart, the banner held in tension by a pair of hollow strut members crossed to form an X-bracing arrangement. The struts are made up from a plurality of slip-fit sections which combine to form elongated flexible tubular members which, when assembled in place, cross behind the banner and hold the mounting tubes in spaced parallel relation the flexible rods being somewhat longer than the transversal distance of the assembled structure and so assuming a bowed shape when connected to the mounting tubes. Both ends of each of the flexible struts of the X-bracing include terminal pins which are designed to be accommodated in openings in corresponding resiliently held hub members slip fitted into the ends of the spaced hollow mounting rod members. The openings in the hubs are elongated toward the surface to accommodate the struts over a range of angles between hub and strut. The X-bracing flexible strut members themselves are adjustably constrained at the intersection where they cross behind the banner by a central strap or loop member which allows relative displacement of the intersection along the X-bracing strut members.

Each hub end of one hollow mounting tube member, i.e., the one which carries the lower edge loop of the banner, and becomes the lower hollow mounting rod member in the combined structure, is also resiliently connected to one end of one of a pair of hollow base tube members, the other ends of which converge to intersect and form the legs of an isosceles triangle support base with the lower mounting tube member. The intersection of the base legs is connected by a hollow stabilizing tube member, of one or a plurality of slip fit sections, with the strap surrounding the intersection of the X-bracing strut members to complete and stabilize the mounting structure. Adjustment of the posture of the connecting rod relative to the base triangle correspondingly adjusts the posture of the banner.

The X-bracing tubular struts, particularly in larger models, are preferably made up of plurality of sequentially connected slip jointed tube segments tensioned by a resilient internal cord member of the type commonly referred to as "bungee" cords connected between end pins that are fit into the ends of each of the X-bracing struts as assembled. As stated, the converging base tube members and connecting strut member are also connected together utilizing a loop of resilient cord material which passes in a loop around the strap connecting the X-bracing intersection and extends through the stabilizing tube member segments as a pair of resilient cords, each of which is thereafter separately threaded through one of the base tube members to a terminal eyelet larger than the internal diameter of the base tube member and designed to be captured by the corresponding pin of the X-bracing strut tube when it is assembled in the hub opening in the corresponding hub in the lower mounting tube member.

In this manner, the system can easily be disassembled and assembled by applying tension to pull the connections apart at the hub or along the resilient connecting cords. As with the pins terminating the strut members of the X-bracing, the hubs at the ends of the upper and lower mounting rods may also be held in place by a common connecting resilient cord member attached to inside eyelets provided therein. The network of cords provides sufficient tension to stabilize the assembled unit and enough resistance to allow easy disassembly. The multiple segments of the X-bracing tubular struts readily fold when pulled apart and the connecting rod member segments readily fold with the base members. The banner or mural may be folded while still on the mounting rods or separately and the whole assembly readily stored in a carrying case or tube.

In the drawings wherein like numerals characteristicaly identify like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of an assembled display system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 s a generally blown apart view of the display system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a typical mounting tube end and mounting tube hub member;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a typical slip fit end utilized in the, segmented tube assembly of the system;

FIG. 5. is a schematic perspective view from behind an assembled display system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the adjustability of the banner display system of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear schematic perspective view showing a tie-down system in conjunction with the display system of the invention;

FIG. 8A and 8B are schematic views showing connected back-to-back banner systems used in a more complex display;

FIG. 9A is a plan view of a right triangle shaped water bladder hold-down device for stabilizing the stand base of the invention;

FIG. 9B is a side elevational view of the water bladder of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 is a plan view detail showing connection of a water Dladder in accordance with FIG. 9A over a base tube member of the stand base of the invention; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 depict various patterns of water bladders usable with various sized displaced ends in accordance with the invention.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a compact, light weight, self-contained support system that comes apart quite easily for storage and transport and that readily assembles without tools into a resilient versatile banner display system with many applications. This system represents an excellent mode for displaying a banner, photomural, sign or other flexible information conveying display device capable of being carried between spaced mounting rods in an adjustably, generally vertical setup. The embodiments shown in the drawings illustrate the concept of the system but are not intended to be limiting in any way with respect to other, similar versions which might occur to those skilled in the art. The system can be utilized indoors or outdoors and several devices for holding the displaced end in place are also illustrated below.

FIGS. 1-3 show the general concept in assembly of the banner display system of the invention in which a banner, generally at 10, and having at its ends mounting loop segments 12 and 14. The loop segments 12 and 14 are designed to slip over respective hollow mounting tubes 16 and 18. The hollow mounting tube 16 is provided with end hubs 20 and 22 and, likewise, rod 18 is provided with the mounting hubs 24 and 26. The mounting tubes are held spaced apart by a pair of elongate segmented flexible hollow strut members 28 and 30 with strut member 28 being made up of individual segments 32, 34 and 36 and strut member 30 being assembled from segments 38, 40 and 42. The strut members 28 and 30 are assembled using slip joint members as at 44 which fit the inside diameter of the adjacent hollow strut section as at 46 (FIG. 2). The hollow flexible strut members 28 and 30 are further provided with terminal pins 48, 50, 52 and 54, respectively. The terminal pins are designed to be accommodated in corresponded angled openings in the hub members of the hollow mounting tubes such as 20 which is featured in the enlarged perspective view of FIG. 3.

Hub 20 is machined from an aluminum alloy such as 211T3 aluminum and is provided with a necked-down (shank) section 61 designed to fit into the hollow mounting tube 16. The remaining portion of the hub protrudes out of the tube and is provided with a recess 60 designed to accommodate the pin 48 as illustrated in the blown apart view of FIG. 2. The opening of the recess 60 is laterally wider than the diameter of the terminal pins so that the terminal pin may be accommodated despite variations in the addressing angle along in the direction of the elongation with respect to the hub member 20. The hubs 20, 22, and 24, 26, are, in turn, held in the ends of the respective upper and lower mounting tubes 16 and 18 by cords connected through inner openings in section of further reduced diameter 62 the hub such as illustrated in at 63 is countersunk to prevent cord damage.

The segmented flexible hollow strut members 28 and 30 are respectively held together by internal resilient cord members 64 and 65 which are connected between the terminal pins as at 48 and 50 in the case of strut 28. The terminal pins 48 and 50 contain cord connection openings (not shown), but which are similar to opening 61 in the hub member 20 for attachment of the resilient cord.

The composite flexible hollow struts or braces 28 and cross behind the banner 10 to cross brace the structure when each of the ends is inserted in the respective proper opening in the hub as at 60 in hub 20 illustrated in FIG. 3. The crossing position is provided with a retaining strap member as at 66 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and, as also evident from the figures, the flexible hollow struts become somewhat bowed as they support the banner 10 in tension forcing the upper and lower mounting tubes 16 and 18 apart.

The system is further provided with an integral connected triangular-shaped stable support base that includes a pair of hollow tube base members of equal length 70 and 72 which form an isosoles triangle with the lower hollow mounting rod 18 connected by respective eyelets 74 and 76 which are designed to accommodate terminal pins 54 and 50, respectively, prior to those terminal pins being inserted in the respective hubs 20 and 26 of the lower mounting tube member 18. In this manner, one end each of the members 70 and 72 are attached to the lower hollow mounting tube 18. The remaining ends converge and are further connected with a segmented stabilizing tube member 78 having segmented portions 80 and 82 and which connects between the strap 66 and the converging free ends of the members 70 and 72 at 84 assuming thereby a generally vertical posture. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the entire supporting structure including members 70, 72 and 78, together with eyelets 74 and 76, are interconnected and also connected to the strap 66 via a continuous common resilient cord loop as at 86.

Once assembled, the banner support system can be moved about and picked up by grasping the back in the vicinity of the strap 66 and it remains quite stable. As shown in FIG. 5, assembled member 78 becomes a vertical stabilizer between the intersection of the flexible struts 28 and 30 and the corner of the triangular base at 84. This provides a stable structure which geometrically includes at the same time many triangles which create a very stable structure.

FIG. 6 depicts that the posture of the whole structure can be tilted forward and backward simply by changing the angle between the member 78 and the vertical pull that whole structure back or push it forward and it will remain stable in the extreme positions or in any position therebetween because of the elastic nature of the assembly. FIG. 6, though not limiting, illustrates a 30.degree. range which includes tilting the banner forward 15.degree. at 90 and back 15.degree. at 92. The vertical position being shown at 94. The elastic nature of the assembly utilizing a plurality of resilient cord members results in a structure which is stable and supportive, yet can be shifted or distorted and one which will remain in the shifted position.

FIG. 7 shows the same structure in a staked or outdoor application. Whereas the normal application is indoors where the banner system is not subjected to wind or other disturbances which may cause it to blow down, it can be readily staked outdoors as by cords 100 and 102 as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, the members of the base triangle may also be staked to the ground as shown at 104, 106, 108 and 110.

Another outdoor or indoor stabilization system is shown on FIGS. 9A-12, triangular sand bags, water bladders or other such shapes, or the like, can be connected to hold down one or more of the lower base members to retain the system in place, if desired. FIG. 9A depicts a plan view of a water bladder generally at 120. A triangular outline depicting the full equivalent right triangle at 122 and a solid line depicting the actual shape at 124. A hook and loop attaching system may be utilized with the water bladders and hook patches are represented as at 126, 128 and 130 with loop patches illustrated at 132, 134 and 136, respectively. The side elevational view of FIG. 9 illustrates a similar bladder with a filler cap at 138 for the addition of water as the weighting material.

FIG. 10 illustrates use of a hook and loop connecting system in which a hold-down connecting member 140 is looped about a base tube member as at 70 and also connected by a second hook and loop connection at 142 to a bladder as at 120.

FIGS. 11 and 12 further illustrate the placement of single and multiple water bladders relative to smaller and larger triangular bases at 150 and 152. In this manner, a variety of such weighted water bladders can be combined to hold down large or small triangular bases in any configuration and simply hook together utilizing hook and loop connecting systems thereby providing the necessary additional weight to stabilize the base without interfering with the display.

FIGS. 8 and 8A depict the placements of the banner support or display stand systems of the invention back to back to display banners in opposite directions somewhat like the concept of the tradition sandwich board. Thus, two system 160 and 162 mounted back to back can further be connected by top and bottom members as at 164, 166, 168 and 170 to form a composite box structure for added stability.

It will further be appreciated that such a box structure can accommodate 4 individual units at 90.degree. to produce a 4banner, 4-sided display.

To assemble the banner display support system of the invention, the terminal pins of the flexible X-bracing struts 28 and 30 can readily be pulled out of the hubs on the upper and lower mounting rods and thereafter the system simply can be collapsed into its elemental states by tensioning the cords in the members 28, 30, 78 thereby reducing them to their segmental size. These, along with the two banner mounting tubes, possibly with the banner still attached or with the banner removed and rolled up, can easily be stowed within a rather small container. such as a rounded canister for storage and transport. The system, thus, is a knock-down or collapsible, readily assembled banner stand which has flexibility and versatility realizing that the banner can be displayed at any of many angles forward and back of the vertical and can be staked or otherwise held for outdoor applications. The system simple of construction requiring only elastic cord elements and segmentally slip jointed tubing with terminal pins, together with a pair of banner mounting tubes having resiliently connected end hubs designed to adjustably accommodate the terminal pins. It will be appreciated that any flexible fabric can be used for the banner including flag nylon, velvet loop, wall carpet, vinyl, other polymers and even some papers. Graphics can be one or two sided and the banner may be reversible. Many patterns can be described using multiple units and, of course, any number of banners can be interchanged using the same structure. It will further be appreciated that the structure can be made any desirable size and utilize fewer or more interconnected segments at the discretion of those skilled in the art and remain within the confines of the scope of the invention.

This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the Patent Statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the example as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.