The present invention is related generally to exhibits. More particularly, the invention relates to exhibits for tradeshows and the like having support members and banners that can be selectively included with the support members utilizing a banner connection system and member.
Tradeshow exhibits often include a plurality of support members, such as tubular components, and graphic banners or sheets. The banners can be included to add functionality to the exhibits or incorporate graphics to attract or inform tradeshow attendees.
Banners on conventional tradeshow exhibits generally include a sheet of material with a pocket or loop created at the ends thereof. The pockets are created by overlapping or looping the banner upon itself and adding a stitch thereto. To place the banners on the tubular components, those assembling exhibits slide the pockets onto tubular components prior to or during assembly.
Because the graphical banners generally must be placed on the tubular components prior to or during assembly, assembly can require a substantial amount of pre-planning to determine the order in which the exhibit is to be assembled. Such order often can not be deviated from to make sure that the banners are placed onto the tubular components at the appropriate time. For example, during assembly, if a tubular component is selectively fixed at both ends to other tubular components before a banner is placed thereon, then the components generally has to be at least partially disassembled and the banner placed on the components. This can add further assembly time to the exhibit set-up. Further, because the banners generally have fixed dimensions, the tubular components have to be placed on the exhibit accordingly and often can not be adjusted after the banners have been placed thereon.
Also, if an exhibitor desires to place any components at an intermediate location of the tubular components having a banner already disposed thereon, such as a light fixture or additional tubular component, it might be necessary to cut open a portion of the pocket and/or banner to enable access to the tubular component. This can damage or destroy the banners.
To remove or change the banners from the framework, the exhibit usually must be at least partially disassembled to free an end of the tubular component, such that the banner can be slid off of an end thereof. However, if an exhibitor desires to remove or change a banner during the tradeshow, such disassembly might not be feasible given the requisite tools, timeframe, or the limited space available.
There is therefore a need for an improved exhibit and graphic banner overcoming the deficiencies of conventional designs.
The exhibits according to the various embodiments overcome the deficiencies of conventional designs. A banner includes an elongate attachment member attached thereto that can be used to selectively operably couple the banner with a channel portion in one of the plurality of support members. The graphical banners can be placed on the tubular components prior to, during, or after assembly manually without requiring tools. As a result, assembly does not require as much pre-planning, tools, or labor as can be required with conventional designs.
Further, because the graphic banners extend from a channel included on the support members, if an exhibitor desires to place any components at an intermediate location of the tubular components having a banner placed thereon, it is not necessary to cut open the banner to enable access to the tubular component as can be required with conventional designs. Also, to remove or change the graphic banners from the framework, the exhibit does not have to be disassembled. Rather, the graphic banners can be removed, adjusted, or changed while the framework remains assembled.
A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that the banners may be easily installed and removed by unskilled personnel without the use of tools. The banner may be installed by inserting on end of the elongate attachment member in a slot defined in a channel portion of a frame member and continually urging balance of the attachment member in the slot progressively pressing in the attachment member down the length of the attachment member towards and to the opposite end. Insertion may be facilitated by pushing inwardly on the tab portion that extends out of the recess.
A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that polymer members providing channel portions having slots may be inserted into channels in tubular support members to provide a defined slot size for receiving elongate attachment members of banners. Thus, existing frameworks for comprising support members of existing tradeshow displays may be modified to utilize the banners of the invention herein. Moreover, tubular support members having elongate channels extending axially on a plurality of sides of said support members can utilize the banners of the invention to connect the banner from any of the elongate channels.
A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that the banners of certain embodiments of the invention may be attached without separate fasteners, without tools, and without rigid fasteners.
A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that a flexible handle portion of an attachment member extends outwardly from the channel in which the connection portion of the attachment member is captured thereby providing an easily accessible portion of the attachment member to grasp to remove the attachment member from a slot or channel in a support member.
A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that the attachment member of the banner has a constant cross section permitting extrusion of the component. The component may have a configuration in the cross section of three protrusions which may present a simple y-shaped configuration.
A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that a support member having multiple elongate channels may be provided and attachment of the banner can be positioned to wrap the flexible sheet portion of the banner around the outer surface of the elongate support member.
A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is a banner with an attachment member extending the length of a linear edge of a flexible sheet portion, the attachment member configured as a strip with oppositely extending edge portions and edge portion tips and a tab extending outwardly from the strip intermediate the edge portion tips.
a is a cross-sectional view of the support members of
b is a cross-sectional view of the support members of
a is an end view of the channel portion member of
b is an end view of the channel portion member of
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Tubular components 22, 24 can be extruded metal, such as aluminum, but those skilled in the art will recognize that other materials, such as extruded thermoplastics, can be used. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that other support member shapes and configurations can be used. Banners 26 include sheet portion 27 that can be cloth, such as polypoplin, but those skilled in the art will recognize that other materials, such as polymer sheets, can be used. Graphics 27.2 may be on the sheet portion and can be indicia, photos, art work, etc. Banners 26 can include one or more elongate attachment members or graphic banner strips thereon or therewith for ease of coupling banner 26 with the support members 22, 24. Elongate attachment members 32 can be a flexible thermoplastic, such as semi-rigid poly vinyl chloride (“PVC”), but those skilled in the art will recognize that other materials can be used.
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The insert or channel member 36 illustrated further includes a pair of outwardly projecting flanges 50 and lip recesses 52 extending inwardly therebelow generally corresponding with channel lips 42 included on channel 34. As depicted by
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Once a portion of elongate attachment member 32 is pressed into channel member, such that it generally snaps or fits into place, a user can slide along the length of elongate attachment member 32, such as tab 68 on elongate attachment member 32, until the entire length of elongate attachment member 32 is coupled and retained in channel member 36. In this position, elongate attachment member 32 and banner 26 are locked into channel member 36 and therefore tubular component 24. Elongate attachment member 32 and banner 26 can remain locked into channel member 36 regardless of forces being placed on banner 26 in directions away from channel member 36. For example, when banner 26 is pulled in a direction generally away from channel member 36, first end 62 is deep enough in first groove 46, such that it will not be pulled out of first groove 46. The forces on banner 26 are such that they will generally not be on second end 64, thus second end 64 also remains retained in second groove 48. When banner 26 is pulled in a direction generally away from support member 24, forces generated on connection portion 60 are focused primarily on first end 62 and are absorbed primarily at first groove 46 without releasing said first end. Further, because forces generated on connection portion 60 are focused primarily on first end 62, the tape or adhesive junction between elongate attachment member 32 and the end of banner 26 can be less affected by the forces. The forces on second end are in the direction of the width of the engagement portion and therefore do not dislodge or displace the second end from the upper concave portion.
To remove elongate attachment member 32 from channel member 36, a portion of tab 68 of elongate attachment member 32 can be pulled away from flange 50 of channel member 36 to remove banner connection portion 60 of elongate attachment member 32 from elongate attachment member recess 44. By so doing, second end 64 will be deflected just enough to slide out of second groove 48. Once this is done, elongate attachment member 32 can removed from channel member 36. This can be done along the length of elongate attachment member 32 from one end of elongate attachment member 32 to another until entire length of banner connection portion 60 of elongate attachment member 32 is removed from elongate attachment member recess 44 and from channel member 36. The attachment member, peels away from the channel.
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Elongate attachment member 32 and banner 26 can remain locked into channel 34 regardless of forces being placed on banner 26 in directions away from channel 34. For example, when banner 26 is pulled in a direction generally away from channel 34, first end 62 is retained enough in first groove 46, such that it will not be pulled out of first groove 46. The forces on banner 26 are such that they will also not be placed on second end 64, thus second end 64 also remains retained in second groove 48. When banner 26 is pulled in a direction generally away from support member 24, forces generated on connection portion 60 are focused primarily on first end 62 at least partially captured by first groove 46.
Banner 26 can be coupled at any position along the length of the elongate attachment member 32. However, as the banner/member connection point 27 moves away from the first end 62 captured by the deeper first groove 46 towards the shallower second groove 48, forces on the banner 26 in a direction generally away from the support member 24 can cause the second end 64 to disengage from the second groove 48. Further, when the elongate attachment member 32 is constructed of a generally flexible material, when the banner/member connection point 27 is proximate the center of the length of the elongate attachment member 32, forces on the banner 26 in a direction generally away from the support member 24 can cause the elongate attachment member 32 to flex or bend, thus removing the second end 64 and/or first end 62 from the second or first grooves 46, 48, respectively. Thus, it can be desirable for the banner/member connection point 27 to be proximate the first end 62 captured by the deeper first groove 46.
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The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are within the claims. In addition, although the display and banner magnets have been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/878,477, filed Jan. 3, 2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60878477 | Jan 2007 | US |