US4774792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exhibition display apparatus
Assignee: BALLANCE DESIGN Ltd
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Filing: 1986-08-25
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Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2006-08-25
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed apparatus comprises an outfit of frames of tubular steel, display boards, and securing clips. Some of the clips are frame-to-frame clips, which have symmetrical snap-on C-shaped profiles. Others of the clips are frame-to-board clips, which have one snap-on profile, and one channel shaped profile to grip the board. Still others of the clips are frame to flat surface clips which have one snap on profile, and one flat surface. The resulting modular exhibition display panels are versatile as to their design, and readily adjustable if it should turn out that some changes are needed. The panels are markedly light in weight yet can be strong enough to survive being erected, dismantled, transported, and rebuilt many times.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Ballance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:22
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7416; E04B2/7422; E04B2/7427; E04B2/7431; E04H; E04H1/00; E04H1/12; E04H1/1272; F; F16; F16B; F16B2/00; F16B2/20; F16B2/22; F16B5/00; F16B5/06; F16B5/0685; F16B7/00; F16B7/04; F16B7/0433; G; G09; G09F; G09F15/00; G09F15/0068; E04B2002/7483; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/71; Y10T403/7129; Y10T403/7141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
A modular exhibition display apparatus, characerized by comprising a plurality of frames, fully planar boards, frame-to-frame clips, and frame-to-board clips; where each frame comprises left and right uprights, a top rail, and a bottom rail, respective ones of said uprights and said rails being joined together to form an open rectangle; where each frame is in itself sturdy and capable of maintaining the said rectangular shape substantially without support; where the boards are sized to fit within said frames, with at least one board inside a respective one of the frames; where the boards are adapted to carry display materials; where the clips, each having a length many times less than the length of said uprights and said rails, are provided each with a snap-on profile, which is so dimensioned that the snap-on profile may be assembled laterally onto one of said uprights, and when assembled onto said upright grips the upright tightly, and where the profile may be removed laterally from said upright; where the frame-to-frame clips are formed each with a respective pair of said snap-on profiles arranged in back to back relationship on said frame-to-frame clip; where the frame-to-board clips are formed each with a respective one of said snap-on profiles which is arranged in back to back relationship on the frame-to-board clip with a respective channel shaped profile; and where the channel shaped profile is so dimensioned as to accept the lateral insertion of a said board therein, to grip the thickness of one of said boards when the board is placed in the channel shaped profile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
A modular exhibition display apparatus, characerized by comprising a plurality of frames, fully planar boards, frame-to-frame clips, and frame-to-board clips; where each frame comprises left and right uprights, a top rail, and a bottom rail, respective ones of said uprights and said rails being joined together to form an open rectangle; where each frame is in itself sturdy and capable of maintaining the said rectangular shape substantially without support; where the boards are sized to fit within said frames, with at least one board inside a respective one of the frames; where the boards are adapted to carry display materials; where the clips, each having a length many times less than the length of said uprights and said rails, are provided each with a snap-on profile, which is so dimensioned that the snap-on profile may be assembled laterally onto one of said uprights, and when assembled onto said upright grips the upright tightly, and where the profile may be removed laterally from said upright; where the frame-to-frame clips are formed each with a respective pair of said snap-on profiles arranged in back to back relationship on said frame-to-frame clip; where the frame-to-board clips are formed each with a respective one of said snap-on profiles which is arranged in back to back relationship on the frame-to-board clip with a respective channel shaped profile; and where the channel shaped profile is so dimensioned as to accept the lateral insertion of a said board therein, to grip the thickness of one of said boards when the board is placed in the channel shaped profile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, where the clips are formed of extruded plastic, and said profiles are the extruded profiles of that plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2, where the plastic material is tough and resilient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, where the uprights and rails are of tubular material, and are joined together by spigots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, where at least some of the boards are relatively thin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5, where the thin boards are rigid and sturdy enough to support the display materials, but are not sturdy enough in themselves to structurally support themselves when separated from the respective frames.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, where the snap-on profile is substantially C-shaped, having an internal diameter generally equal to the diameter of the uprights.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said C-shaped snap-on profile of said frame-to-frame clips permitting adjacent ones of said frames to be secured one to the other at a selected mutually inclined angle, in stable secured relation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, where the outfit also includes frame to flat surface clips, formed each with a respective one of the said snap-on profiles, which is arranged in back to back relationship on the frame to flat surface clip with a flat face.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |