1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to display panels and, in particular, the present invention relates to devices for connecting display panels.
2. Background of the Invention
Display panel systems are widely used in reception areas, trade shows, museums, art exhibits, academic and research society meetings, and the like where displays or visual information is temporarily displayed or where physical space barriers are desired. The faces of these panels may be rigid or may incorporate soft materials (e.g., cork) or magnetic materials for temporarily attaching the visual information to the panels. It is desirable that panel systems may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled to accommodate a variety of display sizes and configurations, for storage, and for transportation to another site. It is also desirable that these display panels be securely connected so that the panels do not separate during use and so that they form a stable structure. It is further desireable that such panels are “full-bleed” panels where the panel connectors and/or framework intermediate panels are not exposed and the decorative or informational surfaces extend over the entire visual surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,720, issued Aug. 20, 1996 to LaBruzza, discloses a panel assembly system in which adjacent panels are removably joined at their edges and includes the panels and substantially identical clips for joining the panels. The panel edges define a channel with flat walls extending parallel to their respective panel from a channel bottom to the panel edge. The panels are joined by the clips. Each clip includes a base portion and a body portion. The clip body portion extends upwardly from the base portion in a generally perpendicular disposition with respect to the base portion. At least two linear members extend parallel to the base along the body portion. These linear members define slots which also extend parallel to the base. The clip body portion further includes a substantially flat, outwardly facing portion opposite the linear members. The base of each clip is designed to be affixed to the channel bottom. When the clip base is mounted in place, at least one of the linear members and at least one of the slots is disposed within the channel and at least one of the linear members and at least one of the slots extend out of the channel beyond the panel edge. The flat outwardly facing portion of the body of each clip extends in substantial contact with its adjacent channel wall when the clip is affixed in the channel. The clips and their associated panels can be mounted to one another by sliding the linear members of one of the clips into complementary slots in the other clips with the channel walls preventing the two clips from being disengaged. To disassemble the panels, they are vertically slid apart.
The engaging surfaces of the cooperating LaBruzza connectors are at an angle offset from vertical at approximately 45°. This results in one force component that urge the cooperating panel connectors and their connectors together and a second force component acting to push the flat walls of the channel outwardly. To the extent that two adjoined panels are urged apart, the principal members resisting the separation are the channel walls. This can result in deformation and damage to the channel walls. Once such damage occurs the connection is compromised visually in that a gap may be visible, and also compromised form a structural perspective, that is, the connection may be loose and insecure.
While the LaBruzza clips reversibly connect display panels, these clips depend on the rigid channel walls to remain connected. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide panel connectors with features retaining the connectors in a mated position substantially independent of the rigidity of the channel walls and where the tolerances and sizing were not as critical. It would also be advantageous to provide channel connectors with features which would seat when the connected panels and connectors were vertically aligned. It would also be advantageous to provide a display panel system that utilizes resilience in the connectors to secure the panels together
U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,435, issued Dec. 11, 1973 to Perina, discloses an attachment assembly for releasably joining panels or partitions along their edges. The attachment assembly includes two channel members, each channel member secured along the edge portions of the panels to be joined. Separable fastening members are secured in each channel member in a manner permitting the fastening members to slide along each channel member. The panels or partitions are secured together by engaging the fastening members of each channel member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,196, issued Jul. 31, 1984 to Freiberg, discloses means for interconnecting panels including a flanged member adapted to be secured to, or formed integral with, the vertical edges of each panel. Each flanged member is provided with one or more flanges which mate with corresponding flanges of the flanged member of an adjacent panel to prevent separation of the adjacent. Each flanged member is provided with an open longitudinal channel. The open longitudinal channel is disposed on the flanged member on the adjacent panel to define a closed channel when in a mating position. Each flanged member also includes a locking strip adapted for engagement in the closed channel to prevent separation of the flanged members in a direction substantially at right angles to the line of the panels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,560, issued Sep. 9, 1986 to Miller, discloses a panel display connector. The connector allows adjoining panels of a display device to be joined to each other and be moved in pivotal relationship with each other. The connector includes a male member and a connector plate. The male member is secured to an integral channel of the displayed device. The connector plate joins two or more channels together. When the channels are joined using the connector of this invention, the channels and their associated display panels may be pivotally disposed in relationship to each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,336, issued Dec. 15, 1987 to Backer, discloses an interconnecting “full bleed” modular panel and connective hardware system to form a variety of exhibit and office interior enclosures. The modular “full bleed” panel system includes interchangeable, interconnecting elements for creating display booths, room divides and the like. The system includes a series of modular panels of different shape, construction, and function, together with a series of modular connector elements adapted to interconnect each of the panels to form a variety of stable structures presenting a visually unitary appearance and in which the connector elements are not significantly visible.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,385, issued Mar. 3, 1992 to Beaulieu and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses an interlocking panel system including individual, thin-walled sections. Each section is supported by a rectangular frame formed from an edge strip material. Each edge strip is constructed with an outwardly facing interlocking channel to permit interlocking engagement of hinges and other connectors. The system further includes a flexible hinge assembly and locking levers. The hinge assembly has outer edges shaped to slidably engage into the edge strips. The locking levers index and affix the respective flexible hinges in a locked relationship to the panel sections. The edge strips have selectively positioned holes and a slidable bar. The slidable bar is movable into position along the edge strips to permit the attachment of locating pins and feet for the various panel sections.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,643, issued Mar. 24, 1992 to Wittier, discloses interlocking structural members with edge connectors. The edge connectors connect structural members at adjacent edges. Each edge connector includes a base, a support wall, and a tongue. The base extends transversely between its edges. The Support wall is integral with the base and extends away from the base on one side. The support wall further extends generally parallel to the base edges and is positioned between the transverse center of the base and one edge thereof. The tongue is integrally connected at one end to the support wall and extends from the support wall to a free end. The tongue is further spaced away from the base and positioned between the transverse center of the base and the other edge of the base on the side of the center opposite the one base edge. The tongue and the base define a recess therebetween to receive the tongue of a mating connector. The Wittier system does not provide for panel faces of adjacent panels that directly adjoin to provide a substantially continuous facing.
U.S. Pat. No. Re. 34,738, reissued Sep. 27, 1994 to Brady, discloses a concealed portable display device fastener, which includes a channel interlocking means and a flexible clip. The channel interlocking means projects outwardly at one end and includes a barb web attachment means at an opposite end. The flexible clip has a plurality of semi-circular open edge tubes joined perpendicularly to a rectangular plate interlocking means. When interlocked, these components form a single fastener conjointly matable with another fastener by a horizontal, then vertical movement of clips through interlocking means for assembly and disassembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,557, issued Jul. 1, 1997 to Clews, discloses a panel display system relating to a clip for releasably connecting a panel edge to a rod. The clip includes a first jaw for releasable connection to the panel edge and an opposed, substantially arcuate second jaw for releasable connection to the rod. The first jaw includes a locking means for engaging a complementary part of the panel edge. The first and second jaws are integrally formed of a resilient material. The clip joins display panels together about a common connecting rod. Once connected or joined, the display panels are free to move with respect to each other about the common connecting rod, which acts as a hinge. This system does not allow adjacent panels to directly adjoin one another to form a continuous facing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,304, issued Jan. 12, 1999 to Karten et al., discloses a slidable locking system for disengagable panels. The system connects a first panel to a second panel in a manner aligning the first and second panels at the same vertical level. The first panel has a female connecting member along its vertical edge and a channel disposed transverse to the vertical edge. The second panel has a male connecting member provided along its vertical edge and a slot provided in the male connecting member. A sliding pin block is retained for sliding movement inside the channel of the first panel. The sliding pin block has a pin normally biased to extend through the female connecting member. The pin is fitted inside the slot of the male connecting member where the first and second panels are interconnected along their vertical edges. This system has several moving parts and generally requires metal components and assembly time. Such increases the cost of such systems compared to injection molded plastic connectors. Moreover, this system does not have a resiliency feature to urge the adjoined adjacent panels together.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,675, issued Oct. 26, 1999 to Schray, discloses a modular panel assembly. The modular panel assembly includes a connector which attaches panel elements to assemble modular structures. The connector frictionally engages the surfaces of elongated channels at the edge of the panels to be joined. The connector includes a contoured base section complementary with the channel of a first panel, to which the connector can be optionally screwed. A deformable cam section is carried on an intermediate section for receipt in the channel of the second panel. The cam section preferably has opposite cantilever arms which engage flanges of the anchor channels and the arms are tapered to deform inwardly of the channel for friction and inwardly from the joint so as to draw the panels together. The above patents are all hereby incorporated by reference.
None of these display panel systems have connectors fixed to the panels which may be reversibly connected and which provide resiliency to urge the panels together to facilitate a continuous full bleed panel facing and which function without relying on the rigidity of the channel wall at the edges of the panels.
The present panel system meets the aforementioned needs of the industry by providing panels and connectors which enable the panels to be easily assembled and disassembled to provide a continuous “full-bleed” panelar facing suitable for displaying visual information, decoration, or for providing space separation. The panels can be assembled into any desired configuration and dimension and are easily disassembled for storage or transportation. In preferred embodiments, each panel include a pair of (first and second) sidewalls and a cross-wall extending between the sidewalls. The sidewalls extend beyond the cross-wall, each sidewall extension terminating in a lip. The sidewall extensions, lips, and cross-wall form an edge channel at lateral edges of the panel.
The connectors are used to join with minimal gaps or cracks at the panel junctures. One preferred embodiment of the present connector includes a base and a member extending generally transversely from the base. The base includes a base plate and a contact element. The base plate mounts to the panel cross-wall using connectors such as a pair of bolts. The arm portion defines a generally axial slot, an axial ledge, and a resilient biasing element or spring portion extending from the ledge. A male seating surface extends from a central location of the biasing element and a female seating surface is present on a central location of the biasing element. The male and female seating surfaces are located so as to mate when a pair of connectors is slidably joined during panel assembly. When the connector is mounted in the panel edge channel, one of the lips is disposed in an inboard portion of the slot.
When the panels are being reversibly joined, one of the panels is raised such that the connectors are vertically aligned and such that an inboard surface of each biasing element will slidingly contact an outboard surface of the base contact element of the other connector. The raised panel is then lowered, displacing a portion of the biasing element of each connector toward its corresponding ledge. When the panels are vertically aligned, the male seating surface of one connector will be seated in the female seating surface of the other connector and both adjacent lips of adjoined panels will be disposed in the same connector slot.
One feature of this invention is that, when a pair of the present connectors are installed within edge channels portions of panels to be reversibly connected, the joined connectors are held together by the rigid panel cross-walls and sidewall extensions, by the biased biasing elements, by the mated seating surfaces present on the connectors, and by adjacent lips of connected panels disposed in the same connector slot.
Another feature of this invention is that the present connector is easily and inexpensively manufactured by known methods.
Another feature and advantage of the invention is that the cooperating seating surfaces of the connectors that provide the forces to secure the abutted panels together are normal to the planes of the panels thereby minimizing lateral stresses on sidewalls of the channel portions.
Another feature and advantage of the invention is that apertures or cutaway portions are utilized to create plastic spring members that provide bias to urge cooperating connectors and the attached panels together.
Yet another feature of this invention is that the present panel system may be set up and taken down without the use of tools.
Still another feature of this invention is that the present connector may be easily and quickly replaced in the edge channels by using simply and widely available tools, e.g., screwdrivers and pliers.
Still yet another feature of this invention is that the present connectors are totally enclosed within the channels of connected panels, thereby eliminating any spaces or gaps therebetween providing a full-bleed display.
Yet still another feature of this invention is that the symmetrical design of the present connector allows either panel to be raised and lowered into place when a pair of panels is being reversibly joined.
These and other advantages will become apparent as this invention is more fully described hereinbelow.
Referring to
Referring to
The wall elements may extend across the panelar sides of the panels or may provide a framework for the panel. In such a case the wall elements may be H-shaped and utilize a foam interior and laminate extending over the wall elements and encasing the foam interior. The laminate forms the display surface 138. Exemplary details of construction of panels are disclosed in the following applications also assigned to the assignee of this application:
These two applications are incorporated herein by reference.
The panels of this invention may be reversibly interconnected by using the connector 112 operably disposed within the channel 136. The present connector may be formed by injection molding polycarbonate or other suitable materials. Additives, such as polytetrafluoroethylene may be added to the polycarbonate to lower the plastic to plastic resistance and make the assembly of panels easier. Other plastics, for example, acetals, acrylics, polyethylenes, fluoropolymers, and other thermoplastics may also be suitable. The connector 112 is unitary in this embodiment, preferably injected molded, and includes base member 150 and grasping arm portion 152 configured as an upright elongate projection. The base member 150 includes plate 156 and contact element 158. Plate 156 displays inboard and outboard surfaces 160 and 162 and the contact element 158 displays outboard surface 164. One or more bolt holes 166 may be present in the plate 156. The arm portion 152 displays respective first and second surfaces 168 and 169 and may be considered to include an arm extension portion 170, a resilient biasing element configured as an arcuate spring element 172 with an arcuate slot 173 and a generally axially extending with respect to the channel portion axial ledge 174. The arcuate spring portion has two ends 175 and that are integrally connected with the arm portion 152 at said ends. A generally axial slot 176 is defined proximate second surface 169 and extends generally parallel to the base plate 156 along the transverse extension 170 in this embodiment. A plurality of ribs 178 may be defined in transverse extension 170. These ribs may extend generally perpendicularly, or otherwise transversely, from the base plate 156. The spring portion 172 is disposed proximate first surface 168 of arm portion 152. Both lateral ends of the spring portion may extend from the laterally and axially extending cantilever portion configured as a ledge 174. Said cantilever portion is configured as a protruding portion with respect to the arm portion. A gap 180 is defined between central portions of the biasing element 172 and the ledge 174. A seating surface, such as a notch 182, is generally centrally defined proximate an inboard surface 184 of the biasing element 172. The ledge 174 displays respective inboard and outboard surfaces 184 and 186 and has a seating surface, such as on projection 188, extending from the inboard surface 184. The present seating surfaces are disposed such that extensions 188 will simultaneously seat in notches 182 of two connectors 112 being mated when adjoining panels are vertically aligned. Of course, the positions of these seating surfaces could be reversed. Moreover, these seating surfaces may be located at other sites on the present connector (see below). A seating surface pair is considered to encompass complementary surfaces in which a first surface at least partially conforms or accommodates a second surface and function secures the connectors and thus the panel together.
Note that in the preferred embodiments, the cooperative seating surfaces are oriented substantially normal to the plane of the panels, that is the panel plane is the z-x plane, and the surfaces are normal to the z-y plane and extend substantially in the “y” direction.
Referring to
As seen in
The arm portion 216 displays respective first and second surfaces 232 and 234 and may be considered to include a transverse extension 236, a biasing element 238, and an axial ledge 240. A generally longitudinal (axial) slot 242 and a plurality of ribs 244 are defined from second surface 234. The biasing element 238 extends arcuately from peripheral connection points to the ledge 240 and cooperates with a central portion of the ledge 240 to define a gap 246 therebetween. The biasing element 238 displays an inboard (contact) surface 248 and the ledge 240 displays an outboard (contact) surface 250. Seating surfaces, such as an extension 252 and a notch 254 are present side by side on a central location of the biasing element 238. The extension 252 extends from the inboard surface 248 and the notch 254 extends into the biasing element 238 from the inboard surface 248.
As best seen in
Continuing to refer to
The connector 312 is disposed in a panel channel such that the inboard surface 324 of the base member 314 is disposed against the outboard surface 134 of the cross-wall 120 and such that the second surface 334 is against the inner surface 130 of the wall extension 122 and secured in place by a connector such as the bolt 200 and nut 202. When thusly secured, the lip 126 will extend into and occupy about one-half of the slot 342. When reversibly connecting panels using the connectors 312 the panels are aligned such that inboard surfaces 348 of the connectors to be mated will contact. The panel 104 is then lowered until extensions 252 are seated in notches 354. At this point, the panels 102 and 104 should be generally vertically aligned and the lips 128 should contact the lips 126 and extend into the notch 354.
Referring to
Referring to
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCTUS01/03386 | 2/2/2001 | WO | 00 | 12/18/2002 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO0157332 | 8/9/2001 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4967531 | Giles et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
5179810 | Gename et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5295341 | Kajiwara | Mar 1994 | A |
RE34738 | Brady | Sep 1994 | E |
5412918 | Wendel et al. | May 1995 | A |
5546720 | LaBruzza | Aug 1996 | A |
5857304 | Karten et al. | Jan 1999 | A |
5970675 | Schray | Oct 1999 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040123548 A1 | Jul 2004 | US |