U.S. patent number 3,854,259 [Application Number 05/313,397] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-17 for arrangement of panels for constituting display units and similar.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Glory Impression Cartonnage. Invention is credited to Bernard Louis Lechene.
United States Patent |
3,854,259 |
Lechene |
December 17, 1974 |
ARRANGEMENT OF PANELS FOR CONSTITUTING DISPLAY UNITS AND
SIMILAR
Abstract
The arrangement comprises panels which are constituted of a
front sheet and of a back sheet having in each angle a cut
delimiting a small tongue for introduction of a locking device
comprising at least two arms placed at right angle.
Inventors: |
Lechene; Bernard Louis (Clichy,
FR) |
Assignee: |
Glory Impression Cartonnage
(Asnieres, Hauts-de-Seine, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
23215538 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/313,397 |
Filed: |
December 8, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/704; 52/98;
248/460; 403/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
1/6112 (20130101); G09F 1/10 (20130101); G09F
1/02 (20130101); F16B 5/0004 (20130101); Y10T
403/344 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
1/00 (20060101); G09F 1/10 (20060101); E04B
1/61 (20060101); F16B 5/00 (20060101); G09F
1/02 (20060101); E04c 001/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;403/173
;52/293,483,582,585,520,596,753D,758D ;160/184 ;248/174,460
;403/173 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schultz; William H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Browdy and Neimark
Claims
I claim:
1. A panel arrangement comprising:
at least two rectangular panels each including a cut formed near at
least one angle of said panel, said cut extending along a direction
substantially perpendicular to the bisectrix of said angle,
a connector comprising:
at least two right-angled arms and protruding means including a
hook member between each of said two right-angled arms for
insertion in one of said cuts of said panels,
whereby a self-locked connection is provided between said
protruding means and said cut in which said protruding means is
inserted; and
first and second elongated members connected to and substantially
parallel to said right angled arms and spaced apart from each other
by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said panel,
whereby a lateral groove is formed for receiving the angled portion
of said panels.
2. Arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein each panel
comprises a first sheet forming a front side and a second sheet
forming a back side, said first and second sheets being assembled
together with interposition of a separating piece to form a
substantially hollow body, said cut being provided in said second
sheet.
3. Arrangement as set forth in claim 2, characterized is that the
edge of at least one of the first and second sheets is bent and
forms said distance piece.
4. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that it
further comprises removable supporting means.
5. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connector
comprises two right angled members connected by a web, each of said
members forming a lateral groove for encasing two angles of two
adjacent panels.
6. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connector
comprises four right angled members delimiting a cross with two
webs crossing each other and on each side of which are laterally
protruding wings delimiting grooves, whereby said component makes
possible connection of four adjacent panels.
7. The arrangement set forth in claim 1, further comprising a
support plate; and
wherein said connector further comprises right angled elongated
members substantially perpendicular to said angled arms and space
apart therefrom by a distance substantially equal to the thickness
of said support plate, whereby a groove perpendicular to the plane
of the connector is formed for receiving said support plate.
8. Arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the web thickness
of the connector comprises anchorage means connectable to the
support plate for ensuring a base for panels assembled by the
connector.
9. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said at least
two right angled arms of said connector are joined by a web
comprising hinging, means, whereby adjacent panels connected by the
connector can be placed in the arrangement with a variable angle
therebetween.
10. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said hinging
means are constituted by a thinner portion in the web.
11. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the anchorage
means comprise apertures designed in the web thickness for
engagement of fingers provided on the supports and other elements
ensuring a base for the panels assembled by the connector.
12. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 8, further comprising
connecting pins; and
wherein the anchorage means comprise protuberances with apertures
for engagement of the connecting pins.
13. Arrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a
support and
wherein at least one of the panels has a small tongue provided on
the back side thereof for receiving said support to ensure a base
for the panels assembled by the connector.
14. Arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said support
comprises a pole consisting of a rectangular sheet folded along a
plurality of pre-formed lengthwise folds, such that each of said
poles delimit in cross-section a polygon having angles thereof
being formed by said pre-formed folds, said pole being inserted in
said small tongue.
15. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said rectangular
sheet is further provided with transverse oblique folds delimiting
at least three segments which can be flat folded on each other in a
space delimited by the polygon formed by one of said panels.
16. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 14, wherein a base is fixed
at one end of said pole.
17. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said base is
substantially in the shape of a reversed T, having a bar portion
and a free branch portion said bar portion of the T bearing on a
supporting surface and said free branch portion of the T being
fixed to one end of said pole.
18. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said base has a
slot for engagement of an edge of one of said panels.
19. Arrangement, as set forth in claim 14, further including an
extension, constructed in the same manner as said pole, containing
small tabs cut near one end of said extension to form stops
limiting engagement of said extension into said pole.
20. The arrangement set forth in claim 1, wherein said panels
further comprise a pair of cuts extending from said perpendicular
cut along a direction substantially parallel to the bisectrix of
said angle, whereby a flexible flap is formed by said parallel cuts
and said perpendicular cut.
Description
The present invention relates to a new arrangement for fitting
together panels designed to constitute advertising display units,
decorative elements for shop windows and similar; and arrangement
may be easily assembled or taken apart and when taken apart may be
packed in a flat condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The arrangement of panels designed to constitute display units and
similar devices is characterized in that each panel is constituted
by a square angled plate, said plate being provided on one side
thereof and near such square angle with a cut, said cut delimiting
a flap for introducing a connecting component comprising at least
two right angled arms delimiting in thickness thereof a lateral
groove encasing corresponding angle of the panel, whereby several
panels are joined together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the panels
utilized in the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the
connecting component of the invention.
FIGS. 3 to 5 are sectional views taken along line III--III of FIG.
2 and showing different variants of embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an arrangement made according to
the invention.
FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a rear side of a particular
panel.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a realization of a
supporting pole.
FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively a perspective view and an elevation
view showing two characteristic positions into which can be placed
the supporting pole of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a detail of embodiment of a
supporting pole.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an additional
characteristic of the invention.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line
XIII--XIII of FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an arrangement of panels made
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows how are realized the panels utilized according to the
invention. Each of said panels comprises a first sheet 1 made of
cardboard or similar, eventually having graphic signs, particularly
advertising information; and the four edges 1a are folded on the
rear of the first sheet forming the front side of the panel. On the
folded edges 1a, which are preferably surrounding the whole panel,
there is placed, for example through glueing, a second sheet 2
constituting the back side of the panel. Thus the assembly forms a
kind of resisting body though the sheets 1 and 2 can be thin.
Besides, a hollow space 3 is delimited between said sheets 1 and
2.
For constructing the arrangement of the invention, a cut 4 is
formed in the vicinity of each of the angles of the constituted
panel, in the back side 2 thereof, said cut 4 delimiting a small
tongue 5 which can slightly bend into the space 3.
In view of assembling together any number of the panels of FIG. 1,
connecting components are utilized. FIG. 2 shows a component
providing the connection of four adjacent panels. As explained in
the following disclosure the connecting component can be easily
designed to assemble only two panels or even to be simply fixed to
only one panel in view of constituting a protective
mitre-joint.
The connecting component is constituted in one-piece from a part
made of synthetic resin, for example of polyethylene, or
polystyrene, said part being advantageously manufactured through
moulding and delimiting arms 6, 6a, 6b, 6c respectively placed at
right angles. In the embodiment in FIG. 2 a cross-brace is thus
formed.
Each arm comprises, in the median portion thereof, a solid web 7
which can be easily seen in FIG. 3, on each side of said web is
delimited a groove or hollow portion 8 formed by two wings 9, 9a.
The wings 9a of two successive arms delimit further a blade 10
provided, at the end thereof, with a protuberance 11 forming a
hook.
It is advantageous, as shown in FIG. 3, that the web 7 presents a
small groove 12 on at least one of its two sides.
When referring to FIG. 6, connecting components similar to the
component shown in FIG. 2 are shown at A and B, and in their hollow
portions are placed the angles of a first row of panels a, b, c
which are thus connected between each other and also connected to a
second row of panels d, e, and to a panel f which will be placed as
shown by an arrow directed towards the connecting component B. When
the angles of the above mentioned panels are introduced into the
hollow portions 8, the hook 11 formed at the end of each blade 10
slightly raises the small tongue 5 of the back side of each panel
and gets locked on the bottom 4a of the cut 4, thus ensuring
immobilization of the panels.
In order to give a base seat to the panels, supports 13 are
utilized, the edge of said supports directed towards the panels
being advantageously engaged into one of small grooves 12 designed
into the web 7.
To provide a good locking of the supports 13, it is possible as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to design holes 14 are placed at some
distance into the web 7 for introducing fingers formed by the
supports. It is also possible, as shown in FIG. 4, to design
protuberances 15 on one side or on the two sides of the web 7, said
protuberances 15 being provided with holes 16 for hooking the
supports or other components.
FIG. 5 shows that the web 7 can also have a thinner portion 17,
thus providing to fold the connecting component to cause some of
the successive panels to extend in a different plane and, in such a
case, it is of course possible to assemble them without being
necessary to utilize a support 13.
Of course, it would not be departing from the scope of the present
invention in replacing the thinner portion 17 enabling to fold the
connecting component by a joint of a different realization.
FIG. 6 shows that it is possible that the connecting component be
not provided with four arms; actually at the upper portion of FIG.
6, connecting components C and D are constituted by a half portion
of the connecting component of FIG. 2. Moreover, on the right hand
side of FIG. 6, another component designated by E is constituted by
a quarter part of the component of FIG. 2 and thus constitutes only
a protective mitre for the edge of the panel f.
FIG. 7 shows a modified panel in which the sheet 2 constituting the
back side has a cut 20 and a small tongue 21 that is folded away to
delimit an opening 22, preferably triangular.
FIG. 14 shows how to use the panels of FIG. 7 to give a seat to
panels otherwise assembled by means of connecting components 23
with two, three or four arms. In this Figure supporting poles 24
are designed, said poles 24 being constituted by a rectangular
sheet made of thick cardboard in which are pre-formed, as shown in
FIG. 8, three parallel longitudinal folds 25 and, for example, two
transverse folds 26 and 27 delimiting three segments 28, 28a, and
28b.
The two transverse folds 26, 27 are not parallel and diverge from a
distance which is determined in relation with the width of the
cardboard in order that the end segments 28 and 28b be entirely
folded back on the median segment 28a, as shown on FIGS. 9 and
10.
It is important that the total length of the cardboard forming each
pole 24, and also the width of the same, be selected in order that
this cardboard, when it is folded and when its three segments are
bearing flat the one against each other, be entirely comprised into
the quadrilateral delimited by a panel, as the one represented in
mixed lines in FIG. 10. Thus, the panels and the poles provided for
supporting them can be piled-up on each other and placed in only
one package, for example in a cardboard box, thus facilitating
considerably their storage and their handling.
With further reference to FIG. 8, it is to be noticed that a base
29 can be easily placed at one end of the poles 24, said base 29
having a substantially T-shape and being placed, through glueing or
hooking, by means of its arm 29a, between two pre-formed folds 25,
preferably near one of the lateral sides of the vertical support.
In the example represented in said FIG. 8, the supporting pole has
three folds 25 and thus said folds delimit four elements, the two
lateral elements overlapping each other upon the folding step along
the pre-formed folds 25. The pole 24 thus forms an element having a
triangular cross-section and which is rigid since the folds 26, 27
are not placed in a same plane when the supporting pole is folded
back along the pre-formed folds 25.
It is further advantageous, as shown in FIG. 11, that a slot 30 be
made in the base 29 to enable engagement of the lower edge of a
panel into said slot, thus ensuring a good locking of the base,
which means a good locking of the pole with the assembled
panels.
The cardboard forming the supporting poles 24 can be provided
(FIGS. 12 and 13), near the one end thereof, with cut tongues 31
which can be slightly folded outwards. Pole units having an
important height may then be made by engaging the end of pole, as
that designated by 24a in FIG. 12, into another pole 24, the
tongues 31 forming kind of stops limiting the engagement of the
pole 24a. To make said engagement, it is not necessary to design
vertical support having different widths; especially when made of
cardboard, the engaged portion of the pole 24a can be slightly
bent, as shown in FIG. 13. In such a way, it is no more necessary
to design small tongues 21 of different sizes into the panels to be
assembled.
It is obvious that the cardboard forming the vertical pole 24 can
have more than three preformed folds, thus providing if -- four
folds are designed -- to give to the poles a rectangular
cross-section and -- if five folds are designed -- to give to the
poles a pentagonal cross-section, etc. It is obvious that the shape
of the small tongues 21 must be adapted and that said tongues 21
could also delimit a passage of circular shape.
The panels such as described in the above disclosure can, if
required, be constituted with covers for housing cords or other
objects for displaying the same.
* * * * *