Patent Grant
7494196
The present invention is related to a dismountable ultra light stations system to exhibit commercial items and attend customers, according to which finished station structure to exhibit is supplied so that no interlocking mechanical elements participate during its construction, so that parts of each station may be assembled and dismounted manually, without the need to use special tools. According to the system of the invention, it can be constructed exhibit stations and attend customers including a number of individual universal modules that may be different or with the same configuration and/or size, so that it is possible to associate in a given station a number of said modules to provide exhibit station of higher surface area, of different and diverse external decorative aspects. In any of their modes, each model of article exhibition station and attend customers, according to the present invention is light, very solid, easy to assemble and dismount to be comfortably piled up, which condition makes transport and storage easy.
Exhibitors usually in commercial use have been constituted by a structure, generally metallic, suitable to support horizontally on it a flat board to satisfy basically functions of a table. On that board there are disposed portable exhibitors such as trestles, to exhibit newspapers and magazines. In other way, for support, the commerce has used enlarged metallic structures having slopping support surfaces converging to a central axis, or structures having an upper flat surface directed in circle arc or in ellipsoidal way. Although it can be said that among such designs from the previous art, there are some ones which offer decorative structures, their mechanical characteristics, such as those related to their weight, and specially related to their properties regarding handling operations as those related with their assembling and dismounting, and with their feasibility to be stored and transported, do not result satisfactory at all, mainly because to carry out said operations, it is necessary to keep in mind weight of the structure and also the use of tools. Also, for the user of this type of exhibitors from the previous art, their design is not beyond than that offered by the manufacturer, impeding him to “create” new arrangements and configuration of exhibitor, than under criteria of the user, would highlight more his product to exhibit, and to be more attractive for the public.
Keeping in mind the previous description, a purpose of the present invention consists on providing a dismountable, ultra light stations system to exhibit commercial products and attend customers surpassing above mentioned disadvantages.
According to the present invention, here it is supplied a dismountable, ultra light stations system to exhibit items and attend customers, comprising:
The universal module which makes part of the dismountable, ultra light stations system to exhibit items and attend customers of the present invention is formed by a vertical body of cross section deposit in general elliptical way, which is provided of a cover or lid plate, rigid, e.g., from Formica, which provided in its margin edge zone of the inferior surface of a projected ring or ledge parallel to the edge, and around the wall projected vertically down of said ledge, it is fixed attached to one of the two strips of a hook and loop type fastener, e.g., Velcro (registered brand from Velcro USA®), being the other strip of the hook and loop fastener attached along the internal surface of the upper cross section edge of a laminar flat body, formed by a series of elongated elements of wood joined each other in relation side to side by a glue able to form a flexible union between said two contiguous elements, so that by executing pressure on said strips facing the Velcro closing, a stable and firm union will be formed between the upper horizontal external edge of said laminar flat body, formed by the series of elongated wood elements, mentioned before, and the lid or cover member of said universal module.
For purposes of the description, the flexible flat structure formed by the series of elongated wood elements attached each other in relation to the side to side by a binding able to form a flexible union between contiguous elongated elements, and with its major base adhered to a textile material cloth, will be named along the present description with the designation “Tensaflex”. Wood elongated elements forming said flat unit have a trapezoidal cross section, of parallel bases, with their lower base directed to the interior of the room formed, and they are attached each other in side to side relation by an adhesive able to form a flexible union; through the higher base of each said elongated wood element, they are attached by an adhesive to a clothing or rug of textile material. It will be observed that given the trapezoidal shape of the cross section of said elongated elements, along them, it is defined between each pair of them, an empty space in angular shape, which allows a turn degree to close them each other from the lateral walls oblique to the adjacent elongated elements. As a consequence of the above, the Tensaflex material mentioned previously may be adapted to form constructions of curved walls and be adapted to form different curvature arches.
The vertical body of the universal module deposit, which has a cross section generally in elliptic form, may include a variety of objects that are adapted to the shape of said vertical body of deposit, such as in example a polystyrene refrigerator of cross section in general elliptic form. However, in the construction of the universal module that makes part of the dismountable, ultra light stations system to exhibit items and attend customers with the present invention, it may be included one or more internal cross section partition walls of shelves, which are attached fixedly to the internal wall of the vertical layer of Tensaflex by a Velcro joint formed mediating the cooperation of a Velcro joint band, attached around the external body of the shelves, with a respective Velcro strip fixed at the height considered as convenient, around the curved internal surface of the layer of Tensaflex forming the side wall of the universal module. The layer of Tensaflex forming the side wall of the universal module is provided of a rectangular opening along its height, through which provides access to the interior space of storage of said universal mode. In said rectangular opening, it is normally installed a door by conventional means. Shelves installed cross sectionally to different levels along the height of the universal mode have an edge section cut in a straight line of length substantially equal than the width of said opening of the door to which cited shelves edge is facing.
Dismountable, ultra light stations system to exhibit items and attend customers of the present invention may comprise only the universal module; or it may comprise only or the universal module and multiple applications of exhibition, or several application of exhibitions implying the vertical growth of the system; or it may comprise the universal modules, and/or connecting modules and/or era modules, and/or multiple exhibition applications, and attend customers implying the horizontal growth of the system or the vertical growth of the system, of a mixture thereof.
The lid or cover making part of the universal module described before, is in general of elliptic form. However, said lid or cover may be also n different shapes or configurations. Thus, in example, the lid or cover may be elliptic or rectangular.
The lid or cover of the universal module, or connector module, or ear module may be essentially flat, or be modified to receive multiple exhibition applications requiring said modification. Such modification of the lid or cover of the universal module, or connector module, or ear module, may consist on being adapted to act as a reception tray of objects, or it may have in its upper surface, a coat rack type structure to hang clothing. The lid or cover of the universal mode, or connector module, or ear module may also include an opening to receive envelopes or similar objects, or has an upper access door turning freely by the use of a hinge.
In a particularly preferred mode, the lid or cover of the universal mode, or connector module, or ear module making part of the system of the present invention, includes one or more openings intended to receive a parasol or the beams to place advertisement, an advertisement pennant or similar objects. Also, the lid or cover of the universal mode, or connector module, or ear module may include one or more openings intended to receive cabling of electronic equipment, such as in example, a computer.
In order to provide an exhibiting structure and attend customers, the system of the present invention envisages to install one or more specially configured connecting modules, between the universal modules described above, or between ear modules, or between mixtures thereof. The present invention comprises several types of connecting modules allowing to join two, three or more universal modules or ear modules, so that the system may grow in horizontal way. For purposes of the description of the present invention, said modules are designated as two-way connecting, three-way connecting modules or more.
For the case of two-way connecting modules, straight or curved ones, each one of said connecting modules is formed by a board of cover lid in elongated shape that may be straight or that may be extended along a curvature arch which is formed, and follows the same curvature in which universal modules or ear modules are formed and included in a exhibition station arranged in way of circle.
Base board of the two-way connecting module used between two universal modules or between two ear modules or between mixtures thereof, arranged in a station, is of elongated shape that extends longitudinally in straight line, or along a curvature arch formed to the curvature of the opposite parallel sides of the board of cover lid, when the exhibiting station has a configuration in mode of circle. Along the exterior longitudinal edges opposite to the base board of the two way connecting module there is a rabbet, which is used to the purpose indicated below.
In case of three-way connecting modules, allowing to join three universal modules or three ear modules of mixtures thereof, each of said connecting modules is formed by a board of cover lid in irregular shape in way of triangle that instead of vertices or tips, it has curvature arches which are formed and follow the same curvature than the side wall of the universal modules, or the ear modules included in the exhibiting station.
The base board of the three-way connector module used between three universal modules or between three ear modules or mixtures thereof, arranged in a station, has irregular shape in way of triangle that instead of vertices or ends, it has curvature arches which are formed, and follow the same curvature than the side wall of the universal modules, or the ear modules included in the exhibiting station. Along the exterior opposite longitudinal edges opposite of the base board of the three-way connector module, there is a rabbet, which is used to the purpose indicated below.
In case of both two-way connecting modules and three-way connecting modules, or more way modules, vertical side walls of the connecting module—which are two in case of two-way connecting module and three for three-way connecting module—are formed, each by a vertical layer of material designated as Tensaflex, described here, which upper and lower horizontal edges are joined by a Velcro union formed between the cooperative Velcro strips arranged both along said internal horizontal edges, upper an lower, of the layer of Tensaflex, and along the rabbets arranged in said external longitudinal edges of the cover lid board, as well as along each rabbet disposed along the before mentioned opposite external longitudinal edges, of the base board of the connecting module.
To form the exhibiting stations and to attend customers, the system of the present invention uses as basic elements above described universal modules, and/or above mentioned connecting modules, and/or ear modules, and/or multiple exhibiting applications. To achieve this objective, side walls of connecting modules have a vertical band of Velcro in their side ends, which allow to join in detachable way, connecting modules to the textile cloth that are in the exterior surface of the side wall of the universal modules or the ear module. By alternating connecting modules between the universal modules or between ear modules, an user may create a plurality of designs and shapes of exhibiting station which goes from a simple set composed by two universal modules and a two-way connecting modules joining said universal modules, to much more complex exhibiting stations that use several universal modules joined by straight or curved, two-way or three-way connecting modules, forming stations circular, oval, rectangular with curved vertices, in Y, and any other type of exhibiting station that the user desires.
The system according to the present invention also envisages the provision of means to extend, either in straight line, arched line or any other arrangement, the installation of universal modules integrating said exhibiting stations, and to attend customers. This way, to provide an exhibiting station with their modules installed in straight line, curved, in Y, or any other arrangement, the present invention envisages to install along one or both sides of the symmetry longitudinal axis of any of the universal modules in the exhibiting station formed, one or a series of ear forming modules in straight line, which heights reduces as the installation places is far from any of the universal modules of the formed exhibiting station.
Ear modules consist of units formed by a cover lid board which has its external contour line of posterior end formed along a portion of the curvature arch of the end of an ellipse, and its contour line of frontal opposite end formed at the exterior surface of the vertical side wall of the universal module. The cover lid board may present a contour in general elliptic way, or un general rectangular or square shape.
Side vertical wall of each ear module is formed by a continuous section of the material designated as Tensaflex, described above. As indicated before, height of the ear module diminishes progressively as said module, in its installation place, is far form said universal module. Bottom wall of each ear module is formed by a rigid material plate, i.e., pressed wood. Said bottom wall presents in one of its ends, a grooved area along a curvature arch, that under installed condition, is adapted and adjusted to the curvature arch of the end exterior surface of the vertical side wall of the universal module.
An exhibiting station may include a plurality of ear modules with progressively diminishing heights as said modules, in their installation place, are far from said universal module.
Side ends of the side wall of ear forming modules have a vertical strip of Velcro, which allows to join in detachable form, the ear forming modules to the textile cloth that is in the exterior surface of the side walls of universal modules giving higher stability to the exhibiting station formed by said ear modules.
Universal modules, or connecting modules or ear forming modules may use in their assembling signals or guide points on the cover boards, base boards and side walls indicating the user the most appropriate way to join different pieces of modules integrating the system of the present invention.
Another element making part of the present invention consist in multiple exhibiting applications that may be used in the dismountable, ultra light stations system to exhibit items and attend customers of the present invention. Said multiple exhibiting applications may be selected from the group consisting of showcase modules, light modules to place advertisement or similar objects that may be lighted, parasols, advertisement pennants, CD exhibitors, book exhibitors, diverse items exhibitors, perforated and non perforated trays holding each other or slopping by a supporting element joined to the tray by a hinge. These multiple exhibiting applications are generally placed on the flat cover of the universal module, or the connector module of ear module, or on the cover to another multiple application module, without the cover suffering from any modification. Nevertheless, it is also envisaged that these multiple exhibiting applications are supported on a modified cover of the universal module, of the connecting module or ear module, or on the modified cover of another multiple exhibiting application, which may exhibit grooves, have Velcro strips or similar adaptations.
One of the preferred multiple exhibiting applications consists on a showcase module in elliptical general form, which is provided of a cover lid and, vertically far from it, of a base board, having in the upper surface of said base board, toward inside and around their external edges, a grooves receiving two side beams in way of posts, which also have grooves adapted to receive one, two or more boards of shelves of transparent material, each with its respective separator, and an upper beams joining both beams to give stability to the structure and to support the cover lid of the showcase module to which it is attached by a Velcro type union or any other type of union, having said showcase module a frontal panel or transparent material and two posterior panels of transparent material matching the groove of the base board, being said posterior panels separated each other to define a door opening.
Above described showcase module includes also a door installed by conventional means in the door opening giving access to the inside space of storage of the showcase module.
Another of the preferred multiple exhibiting applications consists on a light advertisement to place advertisement with a vertical body of deposit of cross section in general elliptic form, which is provided of a cover lid and, vertically separated from it, of a base board, having in the upper surface of said base board, toward the center and around their external edges, a groove receiving two side beams in way of posts, united in the upper part by a beams giving stability to the structure and supporting the cover lid of the light module to which it is attached by a Velcro type union or any other type of union. The base board is also adapted to install one or more bulbs or similar objects, and having said light modules a frontal panel and a posterior panel, both or only one of transparent material matching in the groove of the base board. Said panels allow to place any type of advertisement or similar object that may be lighted.
Another of the preferred multiple exhibiting applications consist on a CD exhibitor having a structure that may match in a groove or that may be adhered to the lid or cover of rectangular type of a universal module as that described before, by a Velcro union strip. Said CD exhibitor generally comprises a frontal panel and a posterior panel that are supported either by pressure each other or they join in their upper part by a Velcro union strip. This exhibitor also includes two side panels with form of triangle held by frontal and posterior panels by pressure executed on them, or attached to said posterior and frontal panels by a Velcro type union. These posterior and frontal panels generally have shelves that allow them to support CD's or similar objects.
Another of the preferred multiple exhibiting applications consist on a book or similar objects exhibitors having a structure that may match in a groove or that may be adhered to the lid or cover of rectangular type of a universal module as that described before, by a Velcro union strip. Said book or similar object exhibitor generally comprises a frontal panel and a posterior panel that are supported either by pressure each other or they join in their upper part by a Velcro union strip. This exhibitor also includes two side panels with form of triangle held by frontal and posterior panels by pressure executed on them, or attached to said posterior and frontal panels by a Velcro type union. These posterior and frontal panels generally have shelves that allow them to support books or similar objects.
Another of the preferred multiple exhibiting applications consist on a diverse items exhibitor having a structure that may match in a groove or that may be adhered to the lid or cover of rectangular type of a universal module as that described before, by a Velcro union strip. This exhibitor comprises a central panel matching central vertical groove of two side panels, forming a “H” shape structure from a upper view, and a plurality of shelves matching in horizontal way, in corresponding grooves specially arranged in the internal part of side panels to form a series of racks to receive any type of items which adapt to the size of said racks.
Another of the preferred multiple exhibiting applications consist on perforated and no perforated trays, being said multiple exhibiting application, a structure composed by frontal, posterior and side trays which are supported either by pressure each other or they join in their upper part by a Velcro union strip, or being said multiple exhibiting application, a structure composed by a single tray which is slopped by a supporting element attached to said tray by a hinge that can be supported in a groove or that may be adhered to a Velcro strip specially arranged on the rectangular lid or cover of the universal module.
Other purposes characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become evident according to the following detailed description regarding the accompanying drawings, wherein:
According to the present invention, here it is provided a dismountable, ultra light stations system to exhibit items and attend customers, which comprises at least one light, easy to assemble universal module, without mechanical interlocking elements and very solid, which may optionally be attached to a connecting module, or optionally be attached to an ear module, or optionally be attached to multiple exhibiting applications; all above act as basic pieces to create a plurality of forms of exhibit stations, that may grow in horizontal and/or vertical direction according t the needs and preferences of the user.
The universal module of the present invention is illustrated in
Elongated wood members 33 forming said flexible partition wall 30 have a cross section of regular trapezoidal shape with its lower base directed toward the inside of the room to be formed, and with its higher base joined by an adhesive, to a layer of cloth of textile material 29 (
Continuing with the construction of the universal module 10′, its vertical side wall 10 is formed by a partition wall 30 (
Additionally, since the structure of the universal module 10′ comprises also a bottom board or partition wall 14 (
Universal module 10′ of the system of the present invention, may have its vertical body for deposit without any other additional element adhered to the interior of its structure, or may also include along its height, one or more internal cross sectional shelves or partition walls 16 (
Side wall 10 of the universal module 10′ formed with the partition wall of Tensaflex 30, may form a vertical body for totally closed deposit, or may define a rectangular opening along its height, through which these is access to the interior space of said universal module 10′. In said rectangular opening it is normally installed a door 8 (
Lid or cover 12 making part of the universal module illustrated in
As indicated before, the system of the present invention comprises not only the use of at least one universal mode, described before, but also it comprises the installation of one or more specially configured connecting modules, between universal modules described above. Said connecting modules comprise several types allowing to join two, three or more universal modules, and which are designated in the present invention as two-way, three-way or more connecting modules, as explained before.
In the case of two-way connecting modules, they may be curved as that indicated in the reference numeral 17 in
Against the inferior surface of the cover lid board 18 (
Curvature arch formed in the opposite ends of the cover boards 18 and of bottom boards 18′(
Two-way connecting modules 17 illustrated in
Two-way connecting modules 17 (
A three-way connecting module 40 as that illustrated in
Along the opposite exterior longitudinal edges of the cover boars 42 of the three-way connecting module 40, there is a rabbet, on the vertical surface from which one of the Velcro strips is joined, that will cooperate with the other of the Velcro strips joined along the upper cross sectional edge of the partition wall of vertical side wall 41, constituted by the material designated, and already described as Tensaflex. In similar way, along the three higher sides of the board 43 there is a rabbet on the vertical surface from which one of the Velcro strips is joined, that cooperate with a Velcro strip arranged along the inferior cross sectional edge of the board of material Tensaflex, forming the vertical side wall 41 of said three-way connecting module 40.
Three-way connecting modules 40 illustrated in
Alternatively, universal modules, as well as connecting modules, and in general any element making part of the system of the present invention, may use for assembling signals or guide points, as those indicated with the reference number 44 in
As indicated before, to form the exhibit stations of the stations system of the present invention, there are used as basic elements, above mentioned universal modules and connecting modules. To achieve this objective, side walls of two, three or more ways connecting modules have a vertical band of Velcro in their ends, which allow to join in detachable way, connecting modules to the textile cloth that is in the exterior surface of the side walls of the universal modules. By alternating connecting modules between the universal modules, an user may create a plurality of designs and shapes of exhibit stations which goes from a simple set composed by two universal modules and a two-way connecting modules joining said universal modules, to much more complex exhibit stations that use several universal modules joined by straight or curved, two-way or three-way or more ways connecting modules, forming circular, elliptical, rectangular and Y stations, and any other type of exhibit station that the user desires, including stations with ear modules as those described below.
The exhibit stations system of the present invention also envisages, in one of their modes, the provision of means to extend, either in straight line or arched line, universal modules 10′ in the formed exhibit stations, as observed in example in
Vertical wall 11 of the ear module 11′ is joined, both to the cover board 9 and the bottom board 14′, by Velcro unions made by cooperating Velcro strips 32 installed in faced way as well in regions of cross sectional, upper and inferior edge, of the partition wall of material Tensaflex 30 forming the vertical wall 11, as in appropriate places of both cover 9 and bottom 14′ boards.
Ear modules 11′ may be used in any type of exhibit station formed with the system of the present invention, including those using two-way, straight or curved connecting modules or three-way or more way modules.
As indicated before, the dismountable, ultra light stations systems to exhibit items and attend customers of the present invention, also comprises multiple exhibiting applications, which are selected from the group consisting of showcase modules; light modules to place advertisement or similar objects that may be lighted; parasols; advertisement pennants; CD exhibitors; books exhibitors; diverse item exhibitors; perforated and non perforated trays holding each other or that are slopped by a supporting element joined to the tray by a hinge; being these multiple exhibiting applications placed only on the flat cover of the universal module, of the connector module or the ear module, or being these multiple exhibiting applications supported on the modified cover of the universal module, from the connecting module or the ear module, or on the cover of another multiple exhibiting application, that may exhibit grooves, Velcro strips or similar adaptations.
One of the multiple exhibiting applications making part of the system of the present invention, consists on a showcase module indicated with the reference number 45 in
Showcase module 45 illustrated in
Another of the multiple exhibiting applications making part of the system of the present invention consists on a light module as those illustrated in
Another mode of before described light. module is appreciated in
An item exhibitor constitutes another of the multiple applications making part of the system of the present invention. An item exhibitor 63 such as CD's, illustrated in
Another multiple exhibiting application making part of the system of the present invention consists on a diverse items exhibitor 68 illustrated in FIG. 43 which has a structure that may be matched in a groove, or that may be adhered to the lid or cover 12 of rectangular type of a before described universal module 10′, by a Velcro union strip. Said exhibitor 68 comprises a central panel 69 matching in the central vertical grooves of two side panels 70, forming a “H” shape structure from an upper view, and a plurality of shelves, matching in horizontal way corresponding grooves specially arranged in the interior part of side panels 70 to form a series of shelves to receive any type of items which adapt to the size of said shelves, having also, side panels a plurality of shelves 72 in their external part.
Another mode of diverse items exhibitors is illustrated in
Another multiple exhibiting application making part of the present invention consists on exhibitors composed by perforated or non perforated trays as those illustrated in
This type of exhibitors composed by trays may also be a structure as that described in
This type of exhibitors composed by trays may also be a structure (
Another multiple exhibiting application making part of the system of the present invention consists on a clothing exhibitor 82 illustrated in
Other multiple exhibiting applications making part of the system of the present invention comprise the modification of the storage space of the above described universal module 10′. Thus, in a preferred mode illustrated in
Several modifications may be done regarding the structural arrangement described in specific way previously, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02-054774 | Jun 2002 | CO | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB03/02837 | 5/29/2003 | WO | 00 | 7/12/2005 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO04/000077 | 12/31/2003 | WO | A |
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| 20050242050 A1 | Nov 2005 | US |
