GB2029996A - Modular display structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular display structure is made up of several display panels 10. The side edges of the panels have flanges 34 which are received in channels of connecting strips 42. Each connecting strip has two channels which may be at an angle to each other so as to connect panels 10 side by side desired angular relationship. The strips 42 may extend vertically beyond one panel so as to connect it to a panel above. The panels 10 have depending skirts 24 at their bottom edge which receive the top edge 26 of a panel 10 below, and which also house electrical lighting projecting onto the panel beneath. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Modular display structure This invention relates to display structures which are modular in character; that is to say they are made up from an indeterminate number of prefabricated units which can be interconnected in a variety of different ways to produce different display structures.

The present invention provides a modular display structure comprising a pair of display panels each having a flange along a side edge thereof, the panels being joined together by a separate vertical connecting strip, said flange of each of the panels being received and secured in a channel extending lengthwise of the connecting strip whereby the strip maintains a substantially fixed angular relationship between the planes of the panels. The material of the strip (for exampie plastics) may allow some small degree of resilient flexing of the planes of the panels about their normal angular relationship, but the angle is substantially fixed.The angle between the panels may be 1800, i.e. the panels are essentially coplanar and in edge-to-edge relationship on opposite sides of the connecting strip; orthe angle may be zero, i.e the panels are essentially coplanar on the same side of the connecting strip. Frequently there will be an obtuse angle between the panels. The structure may include a series of panels joined side-by-side one to the next by connecting strips, which may provide the same or different angular relationships between adjacent panels. Also, two panels may be connected one above another to the same channel of a common strip, either abutting one another or spaced apart lengthwise of the strip. The top and bottom edges of the panels may be shaped so as to interfit when two panels are mounted edge-to-edge in the same channel of a common connecting strip.For example, a panel may have complementary formations along its top and bottom edges so that the top edge of one such panel interfits with a complementary formation at the bottom edge of a similar panel. The panels are preferably secured to the strip by means of studs which pass through aligned holes in the strip and flanges of the panels.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, preferred embodiments will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a modular panel, Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view on the line X-X of Figure 1, showing part of an adjacent modular panal located immediately below it, Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view through the flanges of adjacent panels joined by a connecting strip, Figure 4 shows a transparent cover panel for fitting to the modular panel, Figure 5shows a transparent display box for fitting to a modular panel, and Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a display structure using the modular panels.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figures 1 and 2; a modular panel 10 is thermoformed from sheet plastics material, and comprises a planar front surface 12, in which is a rectangular recess 14 defined by side walls 16, top wall 18, back wall 19 and bottom wall 20. At the lower edge of the front surface 12 is an outwardly projecting step 22 and a skirt 24 depending therefrom. The panel is also formed with a top wall 26 which slopes downwardly towards the front surface, and side walls 28 which converge towards the front surface. Atop portion 30 of the side walls is slightly inwardly stepped to provide shoulders 32. Coplanarflanges 34 project from the edges of the side walls 28 below the shoulders 32.In the corners between the back wall 19 and the top and bottom walls 18, 20 of the recess 14 are formed slots; two slots 21 at the top and a single central slot 23 at the bottom.

These slots 21, 23 can receive upper tabs 25 and lower tab 27 of a transparent plastics cover panel 29, as shown in Figure 4. This cover panel can be provided with finger recesses 31 in its lower edge alongside the lower tab 27 so that the panel can be lifted to insert and remove the tab 27 from the lower slot 23 when mounting or dismounting the cover panel 29. The cover panel is intended to retain printed sheet material or other essentially planar material which is being displayed within the recess 14.

Alternatively, other devices can be fitted to the recess 14 using the slots 21,23. One such device is shown in Figure 5, which takes the form of a display box 33 of transparent plastics material, open at the rear, and having a pair of tabs 35 along its rear top edge to engage in the slots 21, and a shallow rib 37 projecting below its rear bottom edge for a snap engagement in the slot 23. This display box can receive more elaborate three-dimensional goods or articles to be displayed.

Figure 2 shows how two modular panels 10 can be arranged one above the other, with the top portion of the lower modular panel received within the skirt atthe bottom of the upper modular panel, the lower edges of the side of the skirt of the upper panel resting on the shoulders 32 at the top of the lower panel. The skirt of the upper panel projects for some distance beyond the front surface 12 of the lower panel. This provides a suitable horizontal surface 22 on which can be stood various articles, and also provides a space 39 within which electric lighting 40 can be mounted so as to project light downwardly over the lower display panel. It will be apparent that any number of such modular display panels can be arranged thus one above another.

The modular display panels are interconnected by means of connecting strips, suitably of extruded plastics, having a cross-section as shown in Figure 3.

The strip 42 has a central spine 44 from two sides of which project pairs of flanges 46, each pair defining a channel in which can be received a flange 34 of a display panel 10. Preferably, the connecting strip is extruded so that normally the mouths of the channels are slightly narrower than the interior of the channels, the channels thereby effecting a resilient gripping action on the flanges of the display panels, which aids construction of the display structure by holding the display panels in position prior to securing them to the connecting strips.This securing is conveniently performed by means of studs 48, each stud having a flat head 50 and a stem 52 in the form of a loop which is somewhat bulbous at its end remote from the head, so that the stem can be resiliently pressed into aligned apertures drilled through the flanges of the assembled connecting strips and display panels.

The connecting strip shown in Figure 3 provides an angle of 1200 between the flanges 34 of adjacent display panels. Thus, six such panels could be interconnected in a closed array to form a hexagonal structure. However, connecting strips with different angles could be provided as desired. Also, the connecting strip need not have only two such channels, but three or more channels could be provided if desired. Connecting strips with only a single channel may be provided where it is desired only to interconnect display panels one above another rather than side-by-side. However, even in such cases a free channel on a connecting strip may be useful in securing the edge of the structure to a fixed support such as a wall.

The display structure shown in Figure 6 comprises a number of display panels 10 interconnected by connecting strips as shown in Figure 3. This structure comprises a lower row of display panels and an upper row mounted immediately above the lower row, the panels of the upper row interfitting with the panels ofthe lower row in the manner indicated in Figure 2. The connecting strips are thus used to connect laterally adjacent display panels, and also to connect vertically adjacent display panels.

Claims (17)

1. A modular display structure comprising a pair of display panels each having a flange along a side edge thereof, the panels being joined together by a separate vertical connecting strip, said flange of each of the panels being received and secured in a channel extending lengthwise of the connecting strip whereby the strip maintains a substantially fixed angular relationship between the planes of the panels.

2. A display structure according to claim 1 wherein the panels each have flanges along two opposing side edges.

3. A display structure according to claim 2 which has a series of three or more said panels joined side by side one to the next by said connecting strips.

4. A display structure according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the angle between adjacent panels is obtuse.

5. A display structure according to claim 4 wherein the angle is substantially 1200.

6. A display structure according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the angle between adjacent panels is substantially 1800 and the panels are coplanar and in edge-to-edge relationship on opposite side of the connecting strips.

7. A display structure according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the angle between adjacent panels is substantially zero so that the panels are substantially coplanar on the same side of the connecting strip.

8. A display structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein two said panels are connected one above another to the same channel of a common strip.

9. A display structure according to claim 8 wherein the top and bottom edges of the panels have complementary formations so that the top edge of one panel interfits with the bottom edge of the panel above.

10. A display structure according to claim 9 wherein said formation at the bottom edge of the panel above includes a depending skirt within which is received the top edge of the panel beneath, electric lighting being mounted within the skirt so as to project light onto the panel beneath.

11. A display structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the surface of a panel has a recess formed therein to receive material to be displayed.

12. A display structure according to claim 11 including a transparent cover panel fitting over the back wall of the recess to retain planar material to be displayed, the transparent panel having tabs projecting from opposing edges thereof which are received in corresponding slots in opposing walls of the recess to locate the transparent panel.

13. A display structure according to claim 11 including a transparent display box for receiving three dimensional material to be displayed, the box fitting into the recess and having tabs or ribs projecting from opposing rear edges thereof which are received in corresponding slots in opposing walls of the recess to locate the box.

14. A display structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panels are secured to the strip by means of studs which pass through aligned holes in the strip and the flanges of the panels.

15. A display structure according to claim 14 wherein the stud has a head and a stem which is bulbous at its end remote from the head, so that the stem can be resiliently pressed into and retained in the aligned holes.

16. A display structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mouth of the channel connecting strip is narrower than the interior of the channel, so that the channel effects a resilient gripping action on the flange of the display panel.

17. A modular display structure substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.