Patent Application
20120036755
The present invention relates generally to the field of portable static display systems. More particularly, the invention concerns portable static display systems comprising a segmented framework to which flexible display panels are attached, such as those commonly used for decoration and advertising in retail establishments, trade shows, and the like.
Frame and panel interface systems are commonly used to construct displays in homes, museums, retail stores, airport terminals, trade show exhibits and the like. Some of these systems are made up of standard-sized frame units configured to releasably support a flexible display substrate in tension by way of engagement between a continuous closed-loop groove running along the periphery of the frame unit, and gaskets disposed along the periphery of the display substrate. These wall systems may be referred to as “groove-mount” wall systems, and are frequently used in the trade show and retail environment due to their relative light weight, low cost and portability.
An advantage of producing wall frame units in standard sizes is that they can be manufactured in volume, resulting in economies of scale which benefit the manufacturer and purchaser alike. It is frequently desirable to create larger displays by joining multiple standard-sized wall systems together. It is important in the art that, regardless of the nature and organization of its supporting framework, the entire display wall remains visually appealing and not present features which might distract the attention of prospective customers away from the information and designs being displayed. Exposed framework and discontinuities within the wall surface or graphic design are examples of such potentially distracting features.
In a typical groove-mount frame unit, the linear segments of the continuous closed-loop groove effectively terminate within the periphery of the frame unit. Consequently, in conventional groove-mount style wall systems, the size and shape of the flexible display substrate has historically been closely matched to the outer dimensions of an individual frame unit to which it is designed to be attached. Joining such frame units together therefore commonly results in a larger wall system which presents the appearance multiple substrates arranged in series, with portions of the frame structure being visibly exposed therebetween. The resulting segmented appearance of the wall surface and any graphic design printed thereon are examples of the kind of distracting features which are known to be undesirable in the art.
Those in the art have long recognized the need for an improved, low-cost, portable display wall system which leverages the use of multiple standard-sized frame units designed to support flexible display substrates, while presenting the appearance of a larger, custom, smooth and continuous display wall surface.
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided by a multi-frame groove-mount wall system comprising a multiplicity of closed frame sections and a panel element.
Each of the closed frame sections has a plurality of frame members, typically three or more in number, disposed about a frame axis in interconnected fashion. The frame members are typically made substantially of an extruded metal, such as aluminum. Each of the closed frame sections has a frame opening. Each of the frame members is elongated and has a groove segment that opens generally parallel to its respective frame axis. Each of the groove segments is typically substantially linear. The frame members each generally include an outer groove wall. The outer groove wall of each of the frame members generally longitudinally terminates the groove segment of the adjacent frame members of the same closed frame section. The closed frame sections are configured to be releasably coupled to one another to form a multi-frame structure having an outer perimeter.
The panel element has a substrate portion, a periphery and a multiplicity of edge gasket segments disposed about the periphery. The substrate portion is flexible and typically made substantially of a textile. The panel element is configured to be removably and tensionally affixed to the multi-frame structure such that the substrate portion is simultaneously disposed across the frame opening of each of the closed frame sections by interengagement between a plurality of the edge gasket segments and a plurality of the groove segments that are proximate the outer perimeter, and none of the edge gasket segments are shared between one of the groove segments of one of the closed frame sections and one of the groove segments of another of the closed frame sections.
In embodiments, the closed frame sections are releasably and rigidly coupled in generally planar fashion or generally angular fashion. Embodiments may also comprise one or more intermediate members, such as accessory columns or corner columns. Each intermediate member is configured to be disposed substantially between two of the closed frame sections of the multi-frame structure.
Further advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding features throughout the several views.
Throughout the several figures, embodiments of a multi-frame groove-mount wall system are shown generally at 20, and typically comprise a multiplicity of closed frame sections 22 and a panel element 34. Referring to
Referring to
In certain embodiments, the closed frame sections 22 are configured to be releasably and rigidly coupled to one another, typically by way of conventional joining hardware.
In the embodiments shown throughout the several figures, each closed frame section 22 has four frame members 24. However, depending on the particular embodiment, closed frame sections 22 may each have three or more frame members 24, allowing the individual closed frame sections 22 to generally form any polygonal shape, symmetrical or otherwise. It is further understood that one or more frame members 24 of certain embodiments may be curved. In general, as illustrated for example in
In embodiments, frame members 24 may be made substantially of an extruded metal, such as, for example, an extruded aluminum. Such extrusions are typically hollow, to produce a sufficiently strong, but lighter-weight and more cost-effective framework. As illustrated for example in
Referring to
Referring to
In certain embodiments, the length of each of the edge gasket segments 40 is approximately equal to the length of a respective one of the groove segments 30 that are proximate the outer perimeter 42. In embodiments, the groove segments 30 of the frame members 24 of each of the closed frame sections 22 collectively form a perimeter groove within their respective closed frame section 22, each perimeter groove being substantially continuous. As illustrated in
Referring to
Referring again to
In one preferred process for custom-designing a multi-frame groove-mount wall system 20 according to the present invention, the desired size and shape of the substrate portion 36 largely drive the design of the size and shape of the multi-frame structure 32. The size and shape of the multi-frame structure, along with cost and portability considerations, largely drive the selection of the number, size, shape and arrangement of each of the multiplicity of standard-sized closed frame sections 22. The resulting locations and lengths of the groove segments 30 proximate the outer perimeter 42 of the multi-frame structure 32 largely drive the placement locations and lengths of the edge gasket segments 40 and gaps 48 along the periphery 38 of the panel element 34. It is understood that the particular process and respective design drivers used to custom-design a multi-frame groove-mount wall system will vary depending on considerations such as the dimensions of the available display space, the preferences of the customer, and the immediate availability of certain standard-sized closed frame sections 22 and related hardware.
Once a custom panel element 34 has been manufactured, the manufacturer may sell it with instructions as to which standard-sized closed-frame sections 22 to acquire and how they should be arranged or coupled to support the panel element 34. Alternatively, the manufacture may package the panel element 34 along with the appropriate closed-frame sections 22, and the necessary hardware and instructions to complete the setup of the custom display solution.
As illustrated by way of the particular embodiments discussed herein, a multi-frame groove-mount wall system in accordance with the present invention provides a mechanism whereby a single flexible substrate with edge gasket segments around its periphery can cover multiple closed frame sections and still give the appearance of a larger continuous wall solution. This is achieved without each of the individual closed frame sections needing to be matched in size with a separate flexible substrate portion. This is particularly useful in the art because it allows the end-user to purchase or rent the lower-cost standard-sized groove-mount wall system frames, couple the frames together to form a custom-sized frame solution, and cover the resulting framework with one continuous substrate, thereby achieving the highly desirable appearance of a continuous wall surface much more cost-effectively.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
