(19)
(11)EP 0 258 420 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
22.07.1992 Bulletin 1992/30

(21)Application number: 87901982.6

(22)Date of filing:  02.03.1987
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC)5G09F 7/00
(86)International application number:
PCT/US8700/461
(87)International publication number:
WO 8705/427 (11.09.1987 Gazette  1987/20)

(54)

PORTABLE DISPLAY PANEL APPARATUS

TRAGBARES ANZEIGEPANEEL

APPAREIL A PANNEAUX D'AFFICHAGE PORTATIF


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

(30)Priority: 04.03.1986 US 836002

(43)Date of publication of application:
09.03.1988 Bulletin 1988/10

(73)Proprietor: KEMENY, Matthias D.
Portland, OR 97201 (US)

(72)Inventor:
  • KEMENY, Matthias D.
    Portland, OR 97201 (US)

(74)Representative: Skerrett, John Norton Haigh et al
H.N. & W.S. SKERRETT Charles House 148/9 Great Charles Street
Birmingham B3 3HT
Birmingham B3 3HT (GB)


(56)References cited: : 
AU-A- 544 224
GB-A- 2 069 212
US-A- 2 734 789
US-A- 3 592 289
US-A- 3 862 523
US-A- 4 030 219
US-A- 4 338 754
DE-A- 2 034 117
US-A- 2 709 290
US-A- 3 233 503
US-A- 3 695 330
US-A- 3 889 736
US-A- 4 060 294
US-A- 4 566 211
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD



    [0001] The present invention relates to vertical display panel units and particularly to a portable folding display unit having improved frame construction, hinges, and fastening devices for interconnecting adjacent panel units.

    BACKGROUND ART



    [0002] Vertical display panels are used by educators, for displaying course materials and the like, and by manufacturers and other businessmen to display their materials at trade shows, sales meetings and the like, and are generally useful in many similar or related situations. Particularly in the case of displays to be used by manufacturers, educators, and salesmen to disclose and display the same materials at several successive exhibitions it is desirable for display panel units to be quickly and easily erected or disassembled and packed for shipping. Displays which are difficult to set up require longer lead time. Added costs are incurred when displays must be shipped ahead to be erected in advance of the scheduled opening of an exhibition, instead of merely being carried as baggage accompanied by the personnel who will be making presentations illustrated by the displays.

    [0003] Preferably, such display devices are sturdy enough to support not only printed material but small samples or models. Nevertheless the display devices should be as light in weight as possible consistent with the required strength, so that the costs of shipping displays by air carrier are minimized, and so that the displays may be carried and set up easily by people of ordinary size and strength.

    [0004] It is highly desirable that a display unit have no loose connecting parts or pieces which might be lost during travel or the process of erection or disassembly of a display. Nevertheless, a display unit should be capable of being packed in containers small enough to be carried in passenger vehicles, when possible, in order to minimize transportation difficulties.

    [0005] Ideally, the above-described desirable features could be provided in an inexpensive display unit. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a display device which permits exchange of panels including permanently affixed display material, and which permits internal illumination of a display unit.

    [0006] In the past, sturdy, lightweight panel display units have been constructed with wooden frames surrounding lightweight synthetic plastic foam core material. Protective metal frame members are attached to the wooden frame-by wood screws and similar fasteners, because no better or more economical construction has been generally known to the industry, although use of such fasteners is undesirably time-consuming and expensive. For displays of significant height, upper panel sections have been connected to lower panel sections by pin-and-socket arrangements which are only marginally satisfactory, as they are difficult to align for assembly and may be difficult to disassemble because of the tendency of the pin-and-socket arrangements to become jammed because of misalignment.

    [0007] Laterally adjacent individual panel members have previously been interconnected by hinges which must be pinned together during erection of the display unit assembly. Separation of the hinged members upon disassembly of a display has presented the risk of loss of hinge pins and related fasteners. As a result, the previously known display units for portable displays have been less than satisfactory in their cost, their weight, and their convenience for assembly and disassembly.

    [0008] What is desired, then, is an improved vertical panel display device which is sturdy, yet light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to assemble during manufacture, and which permits repeated interconnection and separation of upper and lower panel units without difficulty, and which permits displays to be folded and packed for transportation without disassembly and potential loss of parts of hinges or other interconnecting devices.
    GB-A-2 069 212 discloses a display device in which a fixed member 34 engages an outer member 36 and both receive two parallel panel cores 20, 21.
    US-A-4 338 754 discloses an edge protective structure 10, interlockingly received by a panel core 41. This is essentially a one- part structure.
    According to the invention, in particular, a connector member is interlockingly received by an essentially single panel core and engages a U- shaped channel member.

    DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION



    [0009] The present invention provides a display unit which may overcome the aforementioned shortcomings and disadvantages of the previously available display units. The display unit of the present invention may be inexpensive to construct, in comparison with previously available display units of this type, light in weight, and easier to erect or to disassemble and pack for transportation than the previously available display units of this type.

    [0010] The present invention provides a multi-panel display unit, in which each panel, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a core of lightweight synthetic foam covered by a stiff, relatively hard sheet material, which, in turn, may be covered with a suitable fabric layer. All of these layers are assembled to provide a predetermined total thickness which corresponds to the size of a standard frame assembly. The frame assembly is of a uniform size, regardless of whether the panel faces are of hard material or are cover by fabric.

    [0011] The frame assembly includes a connector member, and the peripheral surfaces of the panel core are machined specially, providing a groove to accept the connector member in a lockingly mating relationship. The connector member provides a reinforcement of the margins of the panel units, making the previously used wooden fram unnecessary, and connects a protective and supporting metal channel outer frame to the panel units. A bead on one edge of the connector fits in the groove in the core, while edges of face portions of the connector lockingly fit in grooves defined within the channel members of the frame.

    [0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a latching plunger mechanism is provided to connect a removable portion of the channel frame to the connector members in a releasable manner permitting disassembly and exchange of individual display panels as desired or required in preparation of a particular exhibit. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, fabric hinges connect the frames of adjacent panel units and facilitate pivoting movement of each panel unit in either direction relative to the adjacent panel, permitting the several panels of a display unit to be folded compactly for transportation without limiting the ability of the display unit to be erected with the panels in a desired angular relationship to one another.

    [0013] The following statements including object/advantage clauses apply to an embodiment or embodiments of the present invention.

    [0014] The invention also provides a fastening device for fastening the frames of upper and lower panel units securely to one another. The fastening device is easily fastened or separated and is self-aligning.

    [0015] It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved folding portable display panel assembly which is economical to produce, and which is sturdy, yet light in weight.

    [0016] In is another important object of the present invention to provide an improved display panel frame permitting convenient exchangability of individual panel faces of a display unit.

    [0017] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a portable display unit which can be folded into a conveniently portable configuration without removal and potential loss of hinge parts, and which includes a fastener for removably interlocking upper and lower display panel sections with one another.

    [0018] An important feature of the present invention is a frame assembly including a connector member, which may be a plastic extrusion, and which serves to strengthen the panels of the display unit by being matingly connecting with them, and which also matingly connects an outer frame of metal channel configuration to the panels.

    [0019] Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of a panel constructed of light, yet strong synthetic plastic foam material covered by a backing layer of strong durable sheet material attached to the core by a pressure sensitive adhesive.

    [0020] A further important feature of the present invention is the provision of a fabric hinge assembly which permits a panel section to be pivoted through an angle of 360° with respect to an adjacent panel and to lie flat against such adjacent panel regardless of which direction it is pivoted.

    [0021] Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a self-aligning, locking, yet easily releasable, fastener for interconnecting adjacent panel sections, particularly upper and lower sections of a display unit.

    [0022] It is an important advantage of the present invention that it may be produced at a lower expense than previously available comparable display units.

    [0023] It is another important advantage of the present invention that it provides a display unit which may be set up or disassembled and packed for shipment without use or removal of any small loose parts.

    [0024] It is another important advantage of the present invention that it provides a display unit which is more versatile than previously available display units for this purpose.

    [0025] The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0026] FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a display unit embodying the present invention.

    [0027] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a panel unit shown in FIG. 1, with the frame channel in place.

    [0028] FIG. 3 is a section view of a portion of a partially assembled one of the panels of the display unit shown in FIG. 2, showing the relationship of the connector member to the core of the panel.

    [0029] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the portion of a panel shown in FIG. 3, with the connector member in place and the outer channel member of the frame being put in place.

    [0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper corner portion of one panel unit of the display unit shown in FIG. 1, showing attachment of the upper portion of the frame to the remainder of the frame of the panel unit.

    [0031] FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing the retainer used to keep the upper portion of the frame channel attached to the vertical side portions of the frame channel members.

    [0032] FIG. 7 is a view of a pair of panel units side by side, showing one of the fabric hinges interconnecting the panels.

    [0033] FIG. 8a is a sectional view, taken on an enlarged scale along line 8a-8a of FIG. 1, showing the construction of the fabric hinges of the display unit of the present invention.

    [0034] FIG. 8b is a sectional view, taken on an enlarged scale along line 8b-8b of FIG. 1 showing another portion of the hinge construction of the display unit.

    [0035] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fastener for interconnecting upper and lower panels of a two-tier display unit according to the present invention.

    [0036] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the fastener shown in FIG. 9, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

    [0037] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the fastener shown in FIG. 9, at an enlarged scale.

    BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION



    [0038] Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1, an exemplary display unit 10, shown partially cut away, includes an upper display unit portion 12 and a lower display unit portion 14. A lamp 16 is mounted on the upper display unit 12, which is removably attached to the lower display unit 14 by a plurality of fasteners 18, one of the fasteners 18 being located atop each of the panel units 20 of the lower display unit 14, and fitting matingly into the bottom of each panel unit of the upper display unit 12. The panel units 20 each include a frame assembly 22, and hinges 24 interconnect the panel units 20 of each of the upper and lower display units 12 and 14, permitting the display panel units 20 to be rotated about the hingedly interconnected edges of adjacent ones of the panel units, through an angle of up to 360°, Each of the upper and lower display units 12, 14 can be folded to a transport configuration (not shown) in which the panel units 20 lie closely side by side, in a zig-zag configuration. Although only three panel units 20 are shown interconnected side by side in FIG. 1, a typical display unit would include five such panel units 20 in each of the upper and lower portions 12, 14.

    [0039] Referring now to FIG. 2, a marginal portion of one of the display panel units 20 is shown in section view. The frame assembly 22 may be seen to include a U-shaped channel member 26 including a pair of opposite, generally parallel side portions 28, extending generally perpendicularly inwardly of the frame 22, and a peripheral face portion 30. A pair of inwardly-facing base grooves 32 are defined within the interior angles formed between the side portions 28 and the peripheral face portion 30 of the channel member 26.

    [0040] Each of the parallel sides 28 has what will herein be called beveled edges 34. These beveled edges 34 preferably are actually arcuate as seen in end view as in FIG. 2.

    [0041] The panel within the frame assembly 22 includes a light, stiff core 36 of material such as a polystyrene foam plastic, which may be as light as two pounds per cubic foot density. The material of the core 36 is cut precisely to the required thickness 38 so that the core 36 plus a pair of backing sheets 40, 42 and an optional layer of fabric 44 supported on one or each of the backing sheets 40, 42 have a total thickness 46 equal to the interior distance between the opposite parallel sides 28 of the U-shaped channel member 26.

    [0042] Preferably, the backing sheets 40, 42 are of a strong, rigid plastics material such as melamine, available in sheet form from Pioneer Plastics of Auburn, Maine. The backing sheets 40, 42 of such material are 0.020 inch thick, for example, and are attached to the core 36 by a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive which is sprayed on the backing sheets 40, 42, after which they are pressed against the core 36.

    [0043] The fabric covering 44 is preferably a nylon fabric having a loop pile face, and may include a thin resilient foam layer (not shown). The fabric 44 is provided so that resilient plastic hook fastening material, such as that manufactured under the trademark Velcro, may be used to attach display materials to the faces of the panel unit 20. The layer of fabric 44 is, however, optional, and the thickness 38 of the core 36 is adjusted so that the display panel fits within the channel 26 members of the frame assembly 22, depending upon whether either or both of the backing sheets 40, 42 are covered by a layer of such fabric 44. Where the layer of fabric 44 is used, it may also be attached to the backing sheet 40, 42 by a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive sprayed on the backing sheet. Although the adhesives are not shown as separate layers in the figures of the drawings, it will be understood that an adhesive is present between the core 36 and other layers of the display panel unit 20.

    [0044] The channel member 26 is attached to the marginal portions of the display panel by a connector 50, which is preferably an extruded elongate resilient plastic member having a spacer body portion 52 which has a pair of laterally apart-spaced faces 54 and a pair of coplanar inner faces 56. A web 58 extends generally inwardly of the frame assembly 22, perpendicular to the inner faces 56, and a bead 60 extends along an inner edge of the web 58. A pair of outer face members 62, 64 are aligned in a single plane perpendicular to the web 58. Each outer face member 62, 64 includes a beveled outer edge 66 or 68, which, as in the case of the beveled edges 34, is preferably of an arcuate configuration.

    [0045] The dimensions of the outer face members 62, 64 are such that the beveled edges 66, 68 fit snugly within the base grooves 32. The beveled edges 66, 68 thus normally protrude slightly beyond the thickness 46 of the panel unit 20.

    [0046] As may be seen in FIG. 3, the margins of the core 36, and the edges of the backing sheets 40, 42 coincide, defining generally a peripheral surface 69 along each margin of the panel. A groove 70 defined by a pair of parallel, marginal ribs 71 is formed extending along each of the peripheral surfaces 69 of the panel core 36 and includes a slot 72 and a tubular cavity 74 extending parallel with the peripheral surface 69 of the core 36. The sides of the slot 72 are moved apart slightly when the connector 50 is inserted and then resiliently resume their shape to receive the web 58 and bead 60 of the connector 50 and retain it with the spacer body portion 52 located within the groove 70. The material of the core 36 resiliently grips the bead 60 and web 58, although, for the sake of clarity, this resiliently gripping close contact is not shown in FIGS. 2-4.

    [0047] With the connector 50 extending along the marginal portions of a panel unit 20, the beveled edges 66, 68 protrude slightly beyond the faces of the panel unit, as shown most clearly in FIG. 4, but the outer face members 62, 64 are separated by a space 76. The hollow construction of the spacer body portion 52 permits the face members 62, 64 to be moved resiliently toward one another, as indicated by the arrows 78 in FIG. 4, as the respective beveled edges 34 of the opposite parallel sides 28 of the channel 26 interact with the beveled edges 66 and 68 of the outer face members 62 and 64. This permits the U-shaped channel member 26 to be pushed onto the marginal portion of the display unit panel 20 as indicated in FIG. 4. When the U-shaped channel member 26 is fully in place the margins of the outer face members 62 and 64 are resiliently mated within the base grooves 32, retaining the U-shaped channel members 26 of the frame assembly 22, respectively, in place about the margins of the panel unit 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, respective connector members 50 extend along each of the vertical edges and along the bottom of each of the panel units 20, with the connectors 50 either being cut off at a bevel or ending far enough from each corner of the frame assembly 22 to avoid interference. A bottom frame member 79 of U-shaped channel 26 has corner sections of its side walls cut away and has the peripheral face 30 bent upwardly at 90° angles to define end portions 81 which fit over the lower ends of the vertical sections of connectors 50 installed along the vertical margins of the panel units 20.

    [0048] As shown in FIG. 2, a locking pin 80, which may be a countersunk resilient plastic hollow rivet with a conical core plug which expands an inner end of the locking pin during installation, prevents the outer face members 62 and 64 from moving toward each other as indicated by the arrows 78 in FIG. 4, thus locking the U-shaped channel members 26 in place, mated with the connector members 50 along each margin of the panel unit 20. This fastening also helps maintain alignment of the end portions 81 with the channel members 26 situated along the vertical margins of the panel units 20.

    [0049] Referring now also to FIGS. 5 and 6, the display panel units 20 may be made as are those of the upper display unit 12, shown in FIG. 1, in which an upper frame member 82 which is of U-shaped channel like that of the channel members 26 extends along an upper marginal portion of each of the panel units 20 of the display unit 10. A short downwardly-extending portion 84 is formed at each end of the upper frame member 82 by removing portions of the opposite sides 28 and bending the peripheral face portion 30 downwardly at a 90° angle. A locking plunger detent 86 extends outwardly through a plunger hole 88, holding the upper frame member 82 in place atop the panel unit 20 yet facilitating its removal and replacement. The connector 50 of each vertical side of the panel unit 20 extends upwardly within the downwardly-extending leg 84. The margins of the outer face members 62 and 64 of the connectors 50 extend upwardly within the base grooves 32 of the downwardly-extending leg portions 84, holding the upper frame member 82 properly aligned with the two U-shaped channels 26 extending along the vertical margins of the panel unit 20.

    [0050] The plunger detent 86 is formed of wire, as an extension of a spring coiled about a transversely extending pin 90 mounted within the spacer body portion 52 of the connector 50, and is biased outwardly thereby to extend through the hole 88.

    [0051] The display panel unit 20 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the panel units 20 shown in FIG. 2, except that instead of having a foam core 36 it has a pair of removable opposite display panels 92 and 94, whose margin portions 93, 95 fit in the space between a respective side portion 28 of a channel member 26 and the spacer body portion 52 of the connector 50. The display panel 92, for example, is of a transparent or translucent material, while the display panel 94 includes a hard plastic backing sheet 96, and a fabric cover layer 98, and a core 100 which may be of a light-weight foam material such as that of the core 36. An interior space 102 between the panels 92 and 94 may be illuminated electrically as back lighting for the display panel 92. By releasing the detents 86 and removing the upper frame member 82 the display panels 92 and 94 are released to be exchanged as desired, with the connectors 50 and channel members 26 being kept together by the bottom frame channel member 79.

    [0052] Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, horizontally adjacent ones of the panel units 20 are interconnected with one another by the hinges 24. The hinges 24 include flexible ribbons 110 and 112 which extend crossingly between opposite faces of the adjacent panel units 20, with slack being kept out of the ribbons as well as possible during assembly. At least three of the flexible ribbons, including at least one of each of the ribbons 110 and 112, are necessary to provide a stable hinged connection between adjacent display panel units 20, as will be appreciated presently. Preferably, at least two hinges 24, each having one of the ribbons 110 and one of the ribbons 112, are provided along each hingedly connected side of a display panel unit 20.

    [0053] Referring to the U-shaped channel members of a hinge 24 as channel 26a and channel 26b, shown in FIGS. 7, 8a, and 8b, a first ribbon retaining plate 114 is engaged in the base grooves 32 of channel member 26a, and a pair of ribbon retaining plates 116 (FIG. 8a) and 118 (FIG. 8b) are similarly engaged in the base grooves 32 of the channel member 26b, holding the ribbons 110 and 112 securely attached to the channel members 26a and 26b. Preferably, the hinge retaining plates 112, 116, 118, are made of a resilient synthetic plastic material, while the flexible ribbons 110 and 112 are of a sturdy woven cloth, such as a heavy satin weave nylon cloth approximately 2 inches wide. As may be seen in FIG. 8a, with the panel units 20 in the position shown in FIG. 1, the flexible ribbon member 110 extends around the one of the side portions 28 of the channel 26a which is farther from the channel member 26b, thence along and in contact with the peripheral face 30 of the channel member 26a, and thence along and in contact with the adjacent side portion 28 of the channel member 26b. When the panels 20 are rotated with respect to one another from one side to the other of a coplanar alignment, to the position in which the frame member 26b is shown in broken line in FIG. 8a, the ribbon member 110 is displaced away from the peripheral face portion 30 of the channel member 26a and extends instead along the peripheral face 30 of the channel member 26b.

    [0054] Referring now to FIG. 8b, the ribbon member 112 is wrapped similarly about the retaining plate 114 within the channel member 26a, but extends along the side portion 28 of the channel member 26a which is immediately adjacent the channel member 26b, extending thence between the channel member 26a and the channel member 26b, thence along the peripheral face 30 of the channel 26b, around the distant side portion 28 of the channel member 26b. The ribbon member 112 is retained within the channel member 26b by a retaining plate member 118.

    [0055] The connector 50 is interrupted along the portions of the margins of the panel units 20 where the hinges 24 are located, but it is unnecessary to machine the U-shaped channel member 26 of the frame assembly 22 to receive metal hinges, as is necessary when mounting metal hinges as has been done in the past, and it is unnecessary to disconnect the hinges 24 to fold the display units 20 for storage or shipment.

    [0056] To interconnect the upper and lower panel units 20 of a panel display device 10 according to the present invention, the horizontal U-shaped channel member 26 at the top of each of the lower display units 14 is provided with an oval aperture 130, and the horizontal U-shaped channel member 26 at the bottom of each of the upper panel units 20 is a socket comprising an essentially identical oval aperture 132, located to be opposite the oval aperture 130 when the upper and lower display units are mated together. The connector member 50 is interrupted within the U-shaped channel member 26 in the vicinity of the oval apertures 130 and 132 on both of the frame assemblies 22 to be connected by the fastener 18.

    [0057] The fastener 18 includes a base plate portion 134 whose width corresponds to the distance between the base grooves 32 of the U-shaped channel member 26. Centrally located on the base plate 134 and extending from the base plate outwardly through the oval aperture 130 is a bubble-like hollow body 138 of the fastener 18. The entire fastener 18, including the base plate portion 134, is made of a plastic material which is flexible enough for the base plate 134 to snap into place with its lateral edges 136 engaged in the base grooves 32, when the body 138 of the fastener 18 is pushed through the aperture 130 from within the channel member. The body 138 can be formed within an appropriate die by well known methods, and preferably has a greater wall thickness along a central ridge portion 140 than along the convex lateral faces 142. The hollow body 138, seen in end view along the U-shaped channel members 26 (FIG. 10) resembles slightly more than half of an ellipse. When the body 138 is in a relaxed shape, it has its greatest width 144 at a location shaped a distance above the base plate 134, so that when the body 138 extends through the oval aperture 130 and into the oval aperture 132 the side walls 142 exert an outward pressure against the interior of the oval aperture 132 and extend to a width greater than that of the oval aperture 132 at a location beyond the U-shaped channel member 26 of the upper frame assembly 22, providing a wedgelike grip against removal of the frame assembly 22 of the upper display unit panels 20 from engagement with the corresponding lower panel units 20.

    [0058] Nevertheless, the shape of the fastener 18 is such that it is self-aligning, since the profile of the hollow body 138, as seen when directly facing the panel 20 is approximately semi-elliptical, while the plan shape is generally elliptical, as may be seen in FIG. 11, where the elliptical base line 145 coincides closely with the shape of the oval aperture 130 and is narrower than the maximum width 144. An exemplary fastener 18 has a body 138 whose length 146 is 1-7/16 inch, with a height 148 of 1/2 inch, and a width 144 of 3/8 inch.

    [0059] The two U-shaped channel members 26, respectively, of the top of a lower panel unit and bottom of an upper panel unit 20, are mated together, pushing the hollow body 138 of the fastener 18 upwardly into the oval aperture 132. The walls 142 thereupon resiliently return, as closely as the shape of the oval aperture 132 permits, to their relaxed state, exerting outward pressure against the interior of the oval aperture 132. The part of the body 138 located within the channel 26 of the upper panel unit 20 is free to bulge outwardly somewhat beyond the confines of the oval aperture 132, to lock the two frame assemblies together securely enough to maintain the integrity of the display unit 10 until it is desired to disassemble the display unit 10. The hollow body 138 is preferably of an ABS plastic, with wall and base thicknesses of, for example, about 1/16 inch.

    [0060] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.


    Claims

    1. A display device (10) of the the including at least one flat display panel for display of information thereon and having a frame assembly (22) for holding each said flat display panel, comprising:

    (a) a plurality of elongate generally U-shaped channel members (26) each having a pair of generally parallel side portions (28) spaced apart from each other and interconnected with each other by a peripheral face portion (30);

    (b) at least one elongate member located inwardly of and extending parallel with a respective one of said U-shaped channel members;

    (c) retaining means (32) defined within each of said U-shaped channel members for receiving said elongate member in mating relationship with said U-shaped channel member (26) and preventing said U-shaped channel member (26) from moving outwardly away from said elongate member; and

    (d) a spacer body (52) included in said elongate member, extending inwardly of said frame assembly, said spacer body including a pair of opposite faces (54) spaced laterally apart from each other, each of said opposite faces being spaced a predetermined distance apart from a respective one of said side portions of said U-shaped channel; and

    (e) means (86, 88) for interconnecting ones of said U-shaped channel members (26) to one another to define said frame assembly (22), the display device characterised in that said elongate member is a connector member (50) including an outwardly facing mating portion having a pair of coplanar outer face members (62, 64) extending parallel with said peripheral face portion (30), each of said outer face members (62, 64) of said mating portion extending laterally outwardly beyond a respective one of said opposite faces (54) of said spacer body (52) toward a respective one of said side portions (28) of said U-shaped channel (26) and said retaining means (32) holding said elongate member in mating relationship with said U-shaped channel member (26) by receiving said outwardly facing mating portion, and said at least one panel including a panel core (36) having a peripheral margin (69) surrounded by said frame assembly (22) and defining means (70, 72) for interlockingly receiving said connector member (50) and retaining said connector member (50) in mating relationship with said panel core (36).


     
    2. The display device (10) of claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a base groove (32) defined in at least one of said side portions of said U-shaped channel member (26), said outwardly facing mating portion including a laterally protruding marginal portion (66, 68) of a respective one of said face members (62, 64) located matingly within said base groove (32).
     
    3. The display device of claim 2, wherein said marginal portion (66, 68) of said face member of said outwardly facing mating portion includes an outwardly facing beveled edge surface, and wherein at least one of said side portions (28) includes an inwardly facing beveled edge surface (34).
     
    4. The display device of claim 1, said means for interlockingly receiving said connector member (50) including a pair of opposite marginal ribs (71) included in said peripheral margin (69) of said panel core (36) and defining a marginal groove (70) in which said spacer body (52) is located, each of said marginal ribs (71) being located between one of said faces (54) of said spacer body (52) and one of said side portions (28) of said U-shaped channel (26).
     
    5. The display device of claim 1, said display panel (20) having a panel margin portion held by said frame assembly (22) and extending between said spacer body (52) and a respective one of said side portions (28) of said U-shaped channel member (26).
     
    6. A display device as defined by claim 1, further characterised by including a plurality of said flat panels for display of information thereon and having a plurality of said frame assemblies (22) for holding said flat panels located inwardly of and extending parallel with a respective one of said U-shaped channel members and including a plurality of hinge assemblies (24) interconnecting respective ones of said frame assemblies (22), at least one of said hinge assemblies (24) comprising hinge retaining means for attaching said hinge assemblies to said frame assemblies, said plurality of hinge assemblies including:

    (i) a pair of opposite base grooves (32) defined in said side portions (28) of said U-shaped channel members (26a, 26b);

    (ii) at least three ribbon members (110, 112);

    (iii) a first ribbon retainer (119) located matingly engaged in said base grooves (32) of a U-shaped channel member (26a) of a first one of said frame assemblies (22);

    (iv) second and third ribbon retainers (116, 118) each engaged matingly in said base grooves (32) of an adjacent U-shaped channel member (26b) of a second one of said frame assemblies (22);

    (v) a fourth ribbon retainer (114) matingly engaged in said base grooves (32) of said U-shaped channel member (26a) of said first frame assembly (22);

    (vi) a fifth ribbon retainer (116) matingly engaged in said base grooves (32) of said channel member (26b) of said second frame assembly (22); and

    (vii) each of said ribbons (110, 112) extending between said channel members (26a, 26b) with said channel members located closely adjacent and parallel with one another, said first and second ribbons (110, 112) being connected to said channel member (26a) of said first frame assembly by said first ribbon retainer (114) and extending from within said first channel member (26a) with one of said first and second ribbons (110, 112) lying alongside each of the opposite ones of said side portions (28) of said first channel (26a) of said first frame assembly, (22), said first ribbon (110) being connected to said channel member (26b) of said second frame assembly (22) by said second ribbon retainer (116) and said second ribbon being attached to said channel (26b) of said second frame assembly (22) by said third ribbon retainer (118), and said third ribbon (110) being connected to said channel member (26a) of said first frame assembly (22) by said fourth ribbon retainer (114) and being attached to said channel member (26b) of said second frame assembly (22) by said fifth ribbon retainer (116), each of said ribbons extending along the respective peripheral face portion (30) of only a respective one of said channel members (26a, 26b) at any time when said peripheral face portions of said first and second channel members (26a, 26b) are in any position other than in directly adjacent confrontation with each other.


     
    7. The display device of claim 6 wherein said ribbon retainers (114, 116, 118) are of flat, resilient sheet material, each of said ribbons (110, 112) extending around respective ones of said ribbon retainers (114, 116, 118) between said ribbon retainers and the interior of the respective U-shaped channel member (26a, 26b) with which the respective ones of said ribbon retainers are matingly engaged, each of said ribbon retainers (114, 116, 118) resiliently grasping a respective one of said ribbons (110, 112) in cooperation with the interior of the respective U-shaped channel member (26a, 26b).
     
    8. The display device of claim 1, including a translucent display panel (92) disposed within said frame assembly (22), and further comprising means located adjacent said panel (92) for illuminating the interior of said display device within said frame assembly (22).
     
    9. A display device of the type defined in claim 1, further characterized by a plurality of said elongate connector members (50) each located inwardly of and extending parallel with a respective one of said U-shaped channel members (26) and each including an outwardly facing mating portion, at least one of said connector members (50) being matingly engaged with a least a portion of each of at least two of said U-shaped channel members (26).
     
    10. The display device of claim 9, including plunger means (86) located within said spacer body (52) of at least one of said connector member (50), for releasably fastening the respective connector member to a respective one of said U-shaped channel members (26).
     
    11. The display device of claim 10 wherein said plunger means includes a depressable detent (86) extending outwardly through said outwardly facing mating portion (62, 64) of said connector member (50) and wherein said peripheral face portion (30) of said respective one of said U-shaped channel members (26) defines a plunger hole (88) for receiving said detent (86) for locking said respective one of said U-shaped channel members (26) to said connector member (50).
     
    12. A display device as defined by claim 1, further characterised by comprising:

    (a) a lower display unit (14) including a first plurality of display panel units (20) defined by claim 1, hingedly connected to one another;

    (b) an upper display unit (12) including a second plurality of display panel units (20) as defined by claim 1, hingedly connected to one another;

    (c) fastener means (18) for removably connecting the ones of said first plurality of display panel units (20) to respective ones of said second plurality of display panel units (20), each said fastener means including a resilient locking body (138) protruding outwardly from one of said first plurality of panel units (20) toward a corresponding one of said second plurality of panel units (20), said locking body (138) having a convexly arcuate shape including a central ridge (140) and a pair of opposite convex side portions (142) which are resiliently compressible toward one another and which include a zone of maximum separation (144) which is spaced apart from said one of said first plurality of panel units; and

    (d) said respective one of said second plurality of panel units (20) including socket means for matingly receiving said locking body (138), said socket means including an aperture (132) in a peripheral member (30) of said respective one of said second plurality of display panel units, said aperture (132) of said socket means corresponding to the shape of said locking body (138) and said aperture (132) having opposite sides between which said locking body can pass only by said opposite convex side portions (142) of said locking body (132) being temporarily compressed toward one another with said locking body in a predetermined orientation with respect to said aperture (132), and said socket means having room therein for said opposite convex side portions (142) of said locking body to move elastically apart from one another to a distance greater than the separation between said opposite sides of said aperture (132), thereby requiring recompression of said side portions of said locking body toward one another in order for said locking body (138) to be withdrawn from said socket means, and said locking body (138) and said aperture (132) having respective predetermined orientations with respect to said panel units so as to provide a predetermined alignment of said panel units to one another.


     
    13. The display device of claim 12, including one of said projecting bodies located on each of said first plurality of panel units (20) and a corresponding socket means defined in each of said second plurality of panel units (20).
     
    14. The display device of claim 12 wherein each of said locking bodies (138) is centrally located on a top marginal surface of a respective one of said first plurality of panel units and projects upwardly and has a substantially elliptical shape as seen from above and a substantially semicircular shape as seen in side view and a generally semielliptical shape as seen in end view.
     
    15. A display device as defined in claim 1, further characterised by a locking device (18) for interconnecting a pair of adjacent panel units (20) of said display device, said frame assembly (22) of each of said panel units (20) having a respective generally planar marginal surface (30), said locking device (18) holding said panel units together with respective ones of said marginal surfaces (30) confronting each other substantially in contact with each other, the locking device comprising:

    (a) a base plate (134);

    (b) a resiliently compressible body (138) projecting from said base plate and intersecting with said base plate in a substantially elliptical base line;

    (c) means for holding said base plate with said resiliently compressible body extending outwardly from said marginal surface (30) of a first one of said adjacent display panel units;

    (d) receptacle means defined in said marginal surface (30) of a second one of said adjacent display panel units for matingly receiving said resiliently compressible body (138), said receptacle means defining an opening (132) through said marginal surface (30), said opening (132) having a shape corresponding closely with said substantially elliptical base line;

    (e) said body (138) including opposite convexly arcuate side surfaces (142) defining a zone of maximum separation (144) from each other, said zone being spaced apart from said base plate (134) a distance greater than the distance from said base plate to said opening (132), and said receptacle means including room for said body (138) to expand within said receptacle to a size larger than that of said opening (132) and said body being generally semielliptical as seen in side view and generally semielliptical, beyond said zone of maximum separation of said side surfaces, as seen in end view.


     
    16. A display device as defined in claim 1, further characterised by a locking device (18) for interconnecting a pair of adjacent panel units (20) of said display device, each of said panel units (20) including a frame assembly (22) having a respective generally planar marginal surface (30) and said locking device holding said panels together with the respective marginal surfaces (30) confronting each other substantially in contact with each other, the locking device comprising:

    (a) a base plate (134);

    (b) a resiliently compressible body (138) projecting from said base plate (134) and intersecting with said base plate in a substantially elliptical base line;

    (c) means for holding said base plate with said body extending outwardly from said marginal surface (30) of a first one of said adjacent display panel units (20);

    (d) receptacle means defined in said marginal surface (30) of a second one of said adjacent display panel units for matingly receiving said resilient body, said receptacle means defining an opening (132) through said marginal surface, said opening (132) having a shape corresponding closely with said substantially elliptical base line;

    (e) said body (138) including opposite convexly arcuate side surfaces (142) defining a zone of maximum separation (144) from each other spaced apart from said base plate a distance greater than the distance from said base plate (134) to said opening (132), and said receptacle means including room for said compressible body to expand to a size larger than that of said opening (132); and

    (f) said marginal surface (30) of said first one of said display panel units (20) being defined by a frame member (26) of said display panel unit (20), said frame member including a pair of parallel side portions (28) and an interconnecting peripheral face portion (30), each of said side portions (28) defining a base groove (32), and said base plate having opposite lateral margins (136) matingly engaged in said base grooves and holding said base plate inwardly adjacent said peripheral face portion (30), said peripheral face portion defining a frame opening (130) corresponding in shape to said base line, and said hollow body extending outwardly through said frame opening.


     
    17. A display panel assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterised by:

    (a) said panel core (36) being of rigid yet resilient synthetic plastic foam material having a predetermined thickness (38);

    (b) a relatively thin backing layer (40, 42) of a relatively hard material located on each of a pair of parallel opposed major surfaces of said core (36) and attached to said core layer by an adhesive;

    (c) said core and said backing layers having corresponding dimensions and defining a plurality of said peripheral margins (69); at least one of said peripheral margins including a substantially centrally located groove (70) defined by said core;

    (d) said core defining a tubular cavity (74) extending parallel with said at least one of said peripheral margins (69) and said groove (70) defined therein;

    (e) a generally planar slot (72) interconnecting the interior of said tubular cavity (74) with a generally centrally located portion of said groove (70), said planar slot (72) extending parallel with said tubular cavity (74), said groove (70) and said peripheral surface; and

    (f) means (58, 60) interlockingly mated with said tubular cavity and extending through said slot into said groove, for reinforcing a marginal portion of said panel.


     
    18. The panel assembly of claim 17 wherein said means for reinforcing said marginal portion of said panel is included as part of said connector member (50) for attaching a frame member (26) to said panel.
     
    19. The panel assembly of claim 17 further having a connector member (50) which includes a spacer body (52) which fits within said groove (70), a web (58) extending from said spacer body within and along said slot (72), a bead (60) attached to said web (58) and extending along and located within said tubular cavity (74), and an outwardly facing peripheral mating portion including marginal portions (62, 64) extending laterally away from said spacer body beyond said peripheral margin (69).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Ein Anzeigegerät (10) mit mindestens einem flachen Anzeigefeld zur Anzeige einer Information und mit einem Gestell (22) für die Halterung jedes Anzeigefeldes, enthaltend:

    (a) mehrere längliche, im wesentlichen U-förmige Profile (26), von denen jedes zwei im Abstand voneinendertiegende, im wesentlichen parallale Seitenwände (28) hat, die durch einen peripheren Wandabschnitt (30) miteinander verbunden sind;

    (b) mindestens ein längliches Element, das innerhalb von und parellel zu jeweils einem dieser U-förmigen Profile angeordnet ist;

    (c) innerhalb jedes U-förmigen Profils befindliche Halteorgane (32), um das längliche Element passend in dem U-förgigen Profil aufzunehmen und zu verhindern, daß sich das U-förmige Profil (26) nach außen von den länglichen Element wegverlagert;

    (d) einen Abstandkörper (52), der in das sich innerhalb des Gestells erstreckende längliche Element mit einbezogen ist und zwei sich im seitlichen Abstand gegenüberliegende Seitenflächen (54) aufweist, von denen jede in einem bestimmten Abstand von einer zugeordneten Seitenwand des U-förmigen Profils; liegt; und

    (e) Einrichtung (86, 88), um mehrere U-förmige Profile (26) zur Bildung des Gestells (22) miteinander zu verbinden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das längliche Element ein Verbindungsstück (50) ist, das einen nach außen gerichteten Anschlußabschnitt mit zwei koplanaren, äußeren Stirnorganen (62, 64) aufweist, die parallel zu dem peripheren Wandabschnitt (30) liegen, daß jedes dieser äußeren Stirnorgane (62, 64) des Anschlußabschnitts sich seitlich nach außen über die jeweils zugeordnete der sich gegenüberliegenden Seitenflächen (54) des Abstandskörpers (52) in Richtung der jeweils zugeordneten der beiden Seitenwände (28) des U-förmigen Profils (26) erstreckt, daß die Halteorgane (32) das längliche Element ineinanderpassend mit dem U-förmigen Profil (26) zusammenhalten, indem sie den nach außen gerichteten Anschlußabschnitt erfassen, und daß mindestens ein Anzeigefeld einen Plattenkern (36) mit einem von dem Gestell (32) umgebenen peripheren Rand (69) und Aufnahmen (70, 72) umfaßt, um das Verbindungsstück (50) festhaltend aufzunehmen und es ineinandergreifend mit dem Plattenkern (36) festzuhalten.


     
    2. Das Anzeigegerät (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, bei dem die Halteorgane eine Basisnut (32) umfassen, die in mindestens einer der Seitenwände des U-förmigen Profils (26) angeordnent ist, während der nach außen gerichtete Anschlußabschnitt einen seitlich vorspringenden und passend in die Basisnut (32) greifenden Randabschnitt (66, 68) des jeweils zugeordneten Stirnorgans (62, 64) umfaßt.
     
    3. Das Anzeigegerät (10) gemäß Anspruch 2, bei dem dieser Randstreifen (66, 68) des Stirnorgans des nach außen gerichteten Anschlußabschnitts eine nach außen gerichtete angefaste Kantenfläche hat, und bei dem mindestens eine dieser Seitenwände (28) eine nach innengerichtete, angefaste Kantenfläche (34) aufweist.
     
    4. Das Anzeigegerät gemäß Anspruch 1, bei dem die Aufnahmen zum festhaltenden Aufnehmen des Verbindungsstücks (50) zwei eich gegenüberliegende, den peripheren Rand (69) des Plattenkerns (36) umfassende Randrippen (71) aufweisen, die einan Randkanal (70) begrenzen, in den der Abstandskörper (52) untergebracht ist, wobei jede dieser Randrippen (71) zwischen einer der Seitenflächen (34) des Abstandskörpers (52) und einer der Seitenwände (28) des U-förmigen Profils (26) liegt.
     
    5. Das Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 1, bei dem des Anzeigefeld (20) einen von dem Gestell (22) festgehaltenen Feldrandstreifen aufweist und sich zwischen dem Abstandskörper (52) und einer jeweils zugeordneten Seitenwead (28) des U-förmigen Profils (26) erstreckt.
     
    6. Ein Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 1, weiterhin dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es mehrere dieser flachen Felder zur Darstellung von Informationen aufweist und mehrere dieser Gestelle (22) enthält, um diese flachen Felder innerhalb von und parallel zu jeweils einem dieser U-förmigen Profile festzuhalten, und daß es mehrere Gelenke (22) zum jeweiligen Anschließen eines der Gestelle (22) enthält, wobei mindestens eines dieser Gelenke (24) zum Befestigen dieser Gelenke an den Gestellen Gelenkhalterungen aufweist, und daß diese Vielzahl von Gelenken enthält:

    (i) zwei gegenüberliegenden Basisnuten (32), die in den Seitenwänden (28) der U-förmigen Profile (26a, 26b) angeornet sind;

    (ii) mindestens drei Bänder (110, 112),

    (iii) einen ersten Bandhalter (114), der in diese Basisnuten (32) eines U-förmigen Profils (26a) eines ersten dieser Gestells (22) eingepaßt ist;

    (iv) zweite und dritte Bandhalter (116, 118), von denen jeder in die Basisnuten (32) eines benachbarten U-förmigen Profils (26b) eines zweiten Gestells (22) eingreift;

    (v) einen vierten Bandhalter (114), der in diese Basisnuten (32) des U-förmigen Profils (26a) des ersten Gestells (22) eingreift;

    (vi) einer fünften Bandhalter (116), der in diese Basisnuten (32) des Profils (26b) des zweiten Gestells (22) eingreift; und wobei

    (vii) jedes dieser Bänder (110, 112) sich zwischen diesen Profilen (26b, 26b) erstreckt, die dicht nebeneinander und parallel zueinander angeordnet sind, wobei die ersten und zweiten Bänder (110, 112) mittels des ersten Bandhalters (114) an diesem ersten Profil (26a) des ersten Gestells angeschlossen sind und sich aus diesem ersten Profil (26a) heraus erstrecken, wobei eines dieser ersten und zweiten Bänder (110, 112) entlang einer der gegenüberliegenden Seitenwände (28) dieses ersten Profis (26a) des ersten Gestells (22) verläuft, wobei das erste Band (110) mittels des zweiten Bandhalters (116) an das Profil (26a) des zweiten Gestells (22) angeschlossen ist, während das zweite Band mittels des dritten Bandhalters (118) an diesem Profil (26b) des zweiten Gestells (22) befestigt ist, und wobei dieses dritte Band (110) mittels des vierten Bandhalters (114) an dem Profil (26a) dieses ersten Gestells (22) angeschlossen und mittels des fünften Bandhalters (116) an dem Profil (26b) dieses zweiten Gestells befestigt ist, wobei jedes dieser Bänder sich entlang des jeweiligen peripheren Wandabschnitts (30) von nur einem der zugeordneten Profile (26a, 26b) erstreckt jederzeit, wenn diese peripheren Wandabschnitte dieser ersten und zweiten Profile (26a, 26b) sich in jeder beliebigen Position befinden, ausgenommen in einer direkten benachbarten Konfrontation zueinander.


     
    7. Das Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 6, bei dem diese Rippenhalter (114, 116, 118) aus flachem, nachgibigem Plattenmaterial bestehen, wobei jedes Band (110, 112) sich um die ihnen jeweils zugeordneten Bandhalter (114, 116, 118) zwischen diesen Bandhaltern und dem inneren der jeweiligen U-förmigen Profile (26a, 26b) erstreckt, mit welchem die jeweiligen Bandhalter in Eingriff stehen, wobei jeder Bandhalter (114, 116, 118) in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Inneren des jeweiligen U-förmigen Profils (26a, 26b) ein zugeordnetes Band (110, 112) elastisch festhält.
     
    8. Das Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 1, enthaltend ein in diesem Gestell (22) angebrachtes, lichtdurchlässiges Anzeigefeld (92), und zusätzlich enthaltend Einrichtungen, die benachbart zu diesem Feld (92) angeordnet sind, um das Innere dieses Anzeigegerätes innerhalb des Gestells (22) zu erleuchten.
     
    9. Ein Anzeigegerät gemäß Anspruch 1, weiterhin gekennzeichnet durch mehrere dieser länglichen Verbindungsstücke (50), von denen jedes in einem zugeordneten dieser U-förmigen Profile (26) angeordnet ist und sich parallel zu dem jeweiligen U-Profil (26) erstreckt und jeweils einen nach außen gerichteten Anschlußabschnitt aufweist, wobei mindestens eines dieser Verbindungsstücke (50) mit mindestens einem Abschnitt von jedem von mindestens zwei dieser U-förmigen Profile (26) in Eingriff steht.
     
    10. Das Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 9, enthalten eine Verriegelungseinrichtung (86), die innerhalb des Abstandekörpers (52) mindestens eines dieser Verbindungsstücke (50) angeordnet ist, un das jeweilige Verbindungsstück lösar an einem jeweils zugeordneten U-förmigen Profils (26) zu befestigen.
     
    11. Das Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 10, bei dem diese Verriegelungseinrichtung eine nach unten drückbare Rastklinke (86) umfaßt, die sich nach unten durch diese nach auswärts gerichtetem Stirnorgane (62,64) des Verbindungsstücks (50) erstreckt, und wobei dieser periphere Wandsbschnitt (30) des jeweiligen U-förmigen Profils (26) eine Verriegelungselementöffnung (88) zur Aufnahme dieser Rastklinke (86) aufweist, um das jeweilige U-förmige Profil (26) mit diesem Verbindungsstück (50) zu verriegeln.
     
    12. Ein Anzeigegerät gemäß Anspruch 1, welches weiterhin dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß es enthält:

    (a) eine untere Anzeigeeinheit (14), bestehend aus einer ersten Anzahl von Anzeigefeldeinheiten (20) gemäß Anspruch 1, die gelenkig miteinander verbunden sind;

    (b) eine obere Anzeigeeinheit (12), bestehend aus einer zweiten Anzahl von Anzeigefeldeinheiten (20) gemäß Anspruch 1, die gelenkig miteinander verbunden sind;

    (c) Befestigungselemente (18), um einige dieser ersten Anzahl von Anzeigefeldeinheiten (20) mit jeweils einigen dieser zweiten Anzahl von Anzeigefeldeinheiten (20) zu verbinden, wobei jedes Befestigungselement einen elastischen Verriegelungskörper (138) aufweist, der nach außen von dieser ersten Anzahl von Fesdeinheiten (20) in Richtung auf eine zugeordnete Feldeinheit der zweiten Anzahl von Feldeinheiten (20) vorspringt, wobei dieser Verriegelungskörper (138) eine konvex gekrümmte Form mit einem zentralen Grat (140) und zwei gegenüberliegenden, konvexen Seitenabschnitten (142) umfaßt, die eleastisch aufeinander zu zusammendrückbar sind und eine Zone mit einem maximalen Abstand (144) voneinander haven, welche Zone von dieser einen der ersten Anzahl von Feldeinheiten weggerichtet ist; und

    (d) wobei die jeweils zugeordneten Feldeinheiten dieser zweiten Anzahl von Feldeinheiten zur passenden Aufnahme eines Verriegelungskörpers (138) Kupplungselemente aufweisen, die eine Öffnung (132) in einen peripheren Wandabschnitt (30) der jeweils zugeordneten Anzeigefeldeinheit dieser zweiten Anzahl von Anzeigefeldeinheiten umfaßt, wobei diese Öffnung (132) der Kupplungseirichtung der Form des Verriegelungskörpers (138) entspricht und gegenüberliegende Seiten aufweist, zwischen denen dieser Verriegelungskörper nur denn hindurchgeführt werden kann, wenn die gegenüberliegenden konvexen Seitenabschnitte (142) dieses Verriegelungskörpers (132) kurzseitig aufeinander zu zusammengedrückt werden, während sich dieser Verriegelungskörper in einer vorgegebenen Ausrichtung relativ zu dieser Öffnung (132) befindet, und wobei diese Kupplungseinrichtungen einen Raum für diese gegenüberliegenden konvexen Seitenabschnitte (142) des Verriegelungskörpers beinhalten, um sich elastich voneinander wegzubewegen auf einen Abstand der größer ist als der Abstand zwischen den gegenüberliegenden Seiten dieser Öffnung (132), so daß es erforderlich ist, diese Seitenabschnitte des Verriegelungskörpers aufeinander zu zurückzudrücken, um diesen Verriegelungskörper (138) wieder aus der Kupplungseinrichtung herauszuziehen, und wobei dieser Verriegelungskörper (138) und dieses Öffnung (132) jeweils vorgegebene Ausrichtungen relativ zu den Feldeinheiten haben, um eine bestimmte Ausrichtung dieser Feldeinheiten relativ zueinander zu erreichen.


     
    13. Das Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 12, bei dem an jeder dieser ersten Anzahl von Feldeinheiten (20) einer dieser vorstehenden Körper angeordnet ist, während eine zugeordnete Kupplungseinrichtung in jeder Feldeinheit der zweiten Anzahl von Feldeinheiten (20) vorgesehen ist.
     
    14. Das Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 12, bei dem jeder dieser Verriegelungskörper (138) zentral an einer oberen Randfläche jeweils einer aus der ersten Anzahl von Feldeinheiten angeordnet ist und nach oben ragt, wobei jeder Verriegelungskörper in der Draufsicht eine im wesentlichen elliptische Form, in der Seitenansicht eine im wesentlichen halbkreisförmige Form und in der Stirnansicht eine im wesentlichen halbelliptische Form hat.
     
    15. Ein Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 1, welches weiterhin gekennzeichnet ist durch eine Verriegelungseinrichtung (18) zum Verbinden von zwei benachbarten Feldeinheiten (20) dieses Anzeigegerätes, wobei das Gestell jeder dieser Feldeinheiten (20) eine im wesentlichen planare Randfläche (30) hat, wobei die Verriegelungseinrichtung (18) diese Feldeinheiten zusammen mit jeweils zugeordnet Randflächen (30) zusammenhält, die sich im wesentlichen in Kontakt miteinander gegenüberstehen, wobei die Verriegelungseinrichtung im wesentlichen enthält:

    (a) eine Basisplatte (134);

    (b) einen elastich zusammendrückbaren Körpers (138), der von dieser Basisplatte vorspringt und diese Basisplatte entlang einer im wesentlichen elliptischen Grundlinie schneidet;

    (c) Einrichtungen, im diese Basisplatte mit dem elastich zusammendrückbaren Körper zusammenzuhalten, der sich nach außen von dieser Randfläche (30) einer ersten dieser benachbarten Anzeigefeldeinheiten erstreckt;

    (d) eine in dieser Randfläche (30) einer zweiten dieser benachbarten Anzeigeeinheiten angebrachte Aufnahme zum passenden Aufnehmen dieses elastisch zusammendrückbaren Körpers (138), wobei diese Aufnahme eine Öffnung (132) durch diese Randfläche (30) begrenzt und diese Öffnung (132) eine Form hat, die eng an die im wesentlichen elliptische Basislinie angepaßt ist;

    (e) wobei dieser Körper (138) sich gegenüberliegende, konvex gekrümmte Seitenflächen (142) hat, die eine einen maximalen Abstand voneinander aufweisende Zone haben, welche von dieser Basisplatte in einem Abstand liegt, der größer ist als der Abstand von dieser Basisplatte bis zu der Öffnung (132), und wobei die Aufnahme einem Raum für diesen Körper (138) umfaßt, damit dieser sich innerhalb dieser Aufnahme auf eine Größe größer als diejenige dieser Öffnung (132) aufweiten kann, und wobei dieser Körper in der Seitenansicht eine im wesentlichen halbelliptische Form und in der Endansicht hinter dieser Zone des maximalen Abstandes der beiden Seitenflächen eine im wesentlichen halbelliptische Form hat.


     
    16. Ein Anzeigegerät nach Anspruch 1, welches weiter gekennzeichnet ist durch eine Verriegelungseinrichtung (18), um zwei benachbarte Feldeinheiten (20) dieses Anzeigegerätes miteinander zu verbinden, wobei jede Feldeinheit (20) ein Gestell (22) mit einer jeweiligen im wesentlichen planaren Randfläche (30) hat, und wobei diese Verriegelungseinrichtung diese Feldeinheiten zusammen mit jeweils zugeordneten Randflächen (30) zusammenhält, die sich im wesentlichen in Kontakt miteinander gegenüberstehen, wobei die Verriegelungseinrichtung im wesentlichen enthält:

    (a) eine Basisplatte (134),

    (b) einen elastich zusammendrückbaren Körper (138), der von dieser Basisplatte vorspringt und diese Basisplatte entlang einer im wesentlichen elliptischen Grundlinie schneidet;

    (c) Einrichtungen, um diese Basisplatte mit dem elastich zusammendrückbaren Körper zusammenzuhalten, der sich nach außen von dieser Randfläche (30) einer ersten dieser benachbarten Anzeigefeldeinheiten erstreckt;

    (d) eine in dieser Randfläche (30) einer zweiten dieser benachbarten Anzeigeeinheiten angebrachte Aufnahme zum passenden Aufnehmen dieses elastischen Körpers (138), wobei diese Aufnahme eine Öffnung (132) durch diese Randfläche (30) begrenzt und diese Öffnung (132) eine Form hat, die eng an die im wesentlichen elliptische Basislinie angepaßt ist;

    (e) wobei dieser Körper (138) sich gegenüberliegende, konvex gekrümmte Seitenflächen (142) hat, die eine einen maximalen Abstand voneinander aufweisende Zone haben, welche von dieser Basisplatte in einem Abstand liegt, der größer ist als der Abstand von dieser Basisplatte bis zu der Öffnung (132), und wobei die Aufnahme einen Raum für diesen zusammendrückbaren Körper (138) umfaßt, damit dieser sich inerhalb dieser Aufnahme auf eine Größe größer als diejenige dieser Öffnung (132) aufweisten kann;

    (f) wobei diese Randfläche (30) dieser ersten von Anzeigefeldeinheiten (30) begrenzt wird durch ein Gestellelement (26) dieser Anzeigefeldeinheit (20), wobei dieses Gestellelement zwei parallele Seitenwände (28) und einen diese beiden verbindenden, peripheren Wandabschnit (30) umfaßt, wobei jede dieser Seitenwände (28) eine Basisnut (32) aufweist, und wobei diese Basisplatte gegenüberliegende Seitenwände (136) enthält, die passend in diese Basisnuten eingreifen und diese Basisplatte innen benachbart zu diesem peripheren Wandabschnitt (30) festhalten, der eine Rahmenöffnung (130) begrenzt, deren Form derjenigen der Basislinie entspricht, während sich dieser Hohlkörper nach außen durch diese Rahmenöffnung erstreckt.


     
    17. Eine Anzeigenfeldanordnung gemäß Anspruch 1, die weiterhin dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß

    (a) dieser Plattenkern (36) aus steifem, jedoch elastichem Kunstsoff-Schaummaterial mit einer vorgegebenen Dicke (38) besteht;

    (b) daß eine relativ dünne Verstärkungsschicht (40, 42) aus einem relativ harten Material auf jeder von zwei parallelen und sich gegenüberliegenden Hauptflächen dieses Kerns angeordnet und an dieser Kernschicht mittels eines Klebstoffs befestigt ist;

    (c) daß dieser Kern und diese Verstärkungsschichten einander entsprechende Dimensionen haben und mehrere dieser peripheren Ränder (69) bilden, wobei mindestens einer dieser peripheren Ränder eine im wesentlichen zentral angeordnete Nut (70) enthält, die durch diesen Kern begrenzt wird;

    (d) daß dieser Kern einen rohrförmigen Hohlraum (74) begrenzt, der sich parallel zu mindestens einem dieser peripheren Ränder (69) und der darin gebildeten Nut (70) erstreckt;

    (e) daß ein im wesentlichen planarer Schlitz (72) das Innere dieses rohrförmigen Hohlraums (74) mit einem im wesentlichen zentral liegenden Abschnitt dieser Nut (70) verbindet, wobei dieser planare Schlitz (32) sich parallel zu diesem rohrförmigen Hohlraum (74), der Nut (70) und diesen peripheren Flächen erstreckt; und

    (f) daß Einrichtung (58, 60) vorgesehen sind, die verriegelnd in diesen rohrförmigen Hohlraum einpassen und sich durch diesen Schlitz in diese Nut erstrecken, um einen Randbereich dieses Feldes zu verstärken.


     
    18. Die Feldanordnung gemäß Anspruch 7, bei der diese Einrichtungen zur Verstärkung dieses Randbereiches dieses Feldes einen Teil des Verbindungsstückes (50) für die Befestigung eines Gestellelementes (26) an diesem Feld bilden.
     
    19. Die Feldanordnung nach Anspruch 17, weiterhin enthaltend ein Verbindungsstück (50), das einen Abstandskörper (52) umfaßt, der in diese Nut (70) paßt, einen Steg (58), der sich von diesem Abstandskörper in und entlang dieses Schlitzes (52) erstreckt, einen Wulst (60), der an diesem Steg (58) befestigt ist und sich innerhalb dieses rohrförmigen Hohlraums (84) in Längsrichtung desselben erstreckt, und einen nach außen gerichteten, peripheren Anschlußabschnitt, der Randabschnitte (62, 64) aufweist, die sich seitlich von diesem Abstandskörper über diesen peripheren Rand (69) hinweg erstrecken.
     


    Revendications

    1. Dispositif d'affichage (10) du type comprenant au moins un panneau d'affichage plat pour l'affichage d'informations et possédant un ensemble d'encadrement (22) portant chacun desdits panneaux d'affichage plats, comprenant :

    a) plusieurs pièces allongées de canal (26) de forme globale en U possédant chacune une paire de parties latérales (28) globalement parallèles, espacées l'une de l'autre et raccordées l'une à l'autre par une partie périphérique avant (30);

    b) au moins une pièce allongée située à l'intérieur et s'étendant parallèlement à une pièce respective desdites pièces de canal en forme de U;

    c) un moyen de retenue (32) défini dans chacune desdites pièces de canal en forme de U pour la réception de ladite pièce allongée de façon adaptée avec ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26) et pour empêcher ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26) de se déplacer vers l'extérieur à l'écart de ladite pièce allongée;

    d) un corps d'espacement (52) inclus dans ladite pièce allongée et s'étendant vers l'intérieur dudit ensemble d'encadrement, ledit corps d'espacement comprenant une paire de faces opposées (54) espacées latéralement l'une de l'autre, chacune desdites faces opposées étant espacée d'une distance prédéterminée d'une face respective desdites parties latérales dudit canal en forme de U et

    e) des moyens (86, 88) pour raccorder une desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26) l'une à l'autre pour définir ledit ensemble d'encadrement (22), dispositif d'affichage caractérisé en ce que ladite pièce allongée est une pièce de raccordement (50) comprenant une partie d'adaptation tournée vers l'extérieur et possédant une paire de pièces avant (62, 64), extérieures et coplanaires, s'étendant parallèlement à ladite partie avant périphérique (30), chacune desdites pièces avant extérieures (62, 64) de ladite partie d'adaptation s'étendant latéralement vers l'extérieur au delà d'une face respective desdites faces opposées (54) dudit corps d'espacement (52) vers une face respective desdites parties latérales (28) de la pièce de canal en forme de U (26) et ledit moyen de retenue (32) maintenant ladite pièce allongée en concordance avec ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26) par réception de ladite partie d'adaptation tournée vers l'extérieur et au moins ledit panneau comprenant un noyau de panneau (36) possédant un bord périphérique (69) entourant ledit ensemble d'encadrement (22) et définissant des moyens (70, 72) pour recevoir, de façon verrouillable, ladite pièce de raccordement (50) et retenir ladite pièce de raccordement (50), de façon adaptée, avec ledit noyau de panneau (36).


     
    2. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit moyen de retenue comprend une gorge de base (32) définie dans au moins une desdites parties latérales de la pièce de canal en forme de U (26), ladite partie d'adaptation tournée vers l'extérieur comprenant une partie en protubérance latérale (66, 68) d'une pièce respective desdites pièces avant (62, 64) située, de façon adaptée, dans ladite gorge de base (32).
     
    3. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 2, dans lequel ladite partie marginale (66, 68) de ladite pièce avant de ladite partie d'adaptation tournée vers l'extérieur comprend un bord incliné tourné vers l'extérieur et dans lequel au moins une desdites parties latérales (28) comprend un bord incliné tourné vers l'intérieur (34).
     
    4. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit moyen de blocage reçoit ladite pièce de raccordement (50) comprenant une paire de nervures marginales opposées (71) comprises dans ledit bord périphérique (69) dudit noyau de panneau (36) et définissant une gorge marginale (70) dans laquelle ledit corps d'espacement (52) est situé, chacune desdites nervures marginales (71) étant située entre une desdites faces (54) dudit corps d'espacement (52) et une desdites parties latérales (28) de ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26).
     
    5. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit panneau d'affichage (20) comprend une partie marginale de panneau maintenue par ledit ensemble d'encadrement (22) et s'étendant entre ledit corps d'espacement (52) et une partie respective desdites parties latérales (28) de ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26).
     
    6. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend plusieurs desdits panneaux plats pour l'affichage d'informations, en ce qu'il comprend plusieurs desdits ensembles d'encadrement (22) pour maintenir lesdits panneaux plats situés vers l'intérieur et s'étendant parallèlement à une pièce respective desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26) et en ce qu'il comprend plusieurs ensembles d'articulation (24) raccordant des ensembles respectifs desdits ensembles d'encadrement (22), au moins un desdits ensembles d'articulation (24) comprenant un moyen de retenue d'articulation pour fixer lesdits ensembles d'articulation auxdits ensembles d'encadrement, lesdits ensembles d'articulation comprenant :

    a) une paire de gorges de base opposées (32) définies dans lesdites parties latérales (28) desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26a, 26b);

    b) au moins trois pièces de ruban (110, 112);

    c) une première retenue de ruban (119) située, de façon adaptée, dans lesdites gorges de base (32) d'une pièce de canal en forme de U (26a) d'un premier ensemble desdits ensembles d'encadrement (22);

    d) des second et troisième retenues de ruban (116, 118) engagées, de façon adaptée, dans lesdites gorges de base (32) d'une pièce de canal en forme de U adjacente (26b) d'un second ensemble desdits ensembles d'encadrement (22);

    e) une quatrième retenue de ruban (114) engagée, de façon adaptée, dans lesdites gorges de base (32) de ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26a) dudit premier ensemble d'encadrement (22);

    f) une cinquième retenue de ruban (116) engagée, de façon adaptée, dans lesdites gorges de base (32) de ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26b) dudit second ensemble d'encadrement (22) et

    g) chacun desdits rubans (110, 112) s'étendant entre lesdites pièces de canal (26a, 26b) situées chacune adjacentes et parallèles l'une à l'autre, lesdits premier et second rubans (110, 112) étant raccordés à ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26a) dudit premier ensemble d'encadrement par ladite première retenue de ruban (114) et s'étendant à partir de ladite première pièce de canal en forme de U (26a), un desdits premier et second rubans (110, 112) s'étendant le long de chacune des parties opposées desdites parties latérales (28) dudit premier canal (26a) dudit premier ensemble d'encadrement (22), ledit premier ruban (110) étant raccordé à ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26b) dudit second ensemble d'encadrement (22) par ladite seconde retenue de ruban (116) et ledit second ruban étant fixé audit canal (26b) dudit second ensemble d'encadrement (22) par ladite troisième retenue de ruban (118) et ledit troisième ruban (110) étant raccordé à ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26a) dudit premier ensemble d'encadrement (22) par ladite quatrième retenue de ruban (114) et étant fixé à ladite pièce de canal en forme de U (26b) dudit second ensemble d'encadrement (22) par ladite cinquième retenue de ruban (116), chacun desdites rubans s'étendant le long d'une partie avant périphérique respective (30) d'une seule pièce respective desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26a, 26b) à tout moment lorsque lesdites parties périphériques avant desdites première et seconde pièces de canal en forme de U (26a, 26b) se trouvent dans une position quelconque autre qu'en confrontation directement adjacente l'une avec l'autre.


     
    7. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 6, dans lequel lesdites retenues de ruban (114, 116, 118) sont plates, en un matériau élastique en feuille, chacun desdits rubans (110, 112) s'étendant autour d'une retenue respective desdites retenues de ruban (114, 116, 118) entre lesdites retenues de ruban et l'intérieur de la pièce de canal en forme de U respective (26a, 26b) avec laquelle la retenue respective desdites retenues de ruban est engagée, de façon adaptée, chacune desdites retenues de ruban (114, 116, 118) enserrant, de façon élastique, un ruban respectif desdits rubans (110, 112) en coopération avec l'intérieur de la pièce de canal en forme de U respective (26a, 26b).
     
    8. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, comprenant un panneau d'affichage translucide (92) placé dans ledit ensemble d'encadrement (22) et comprenant, de plus, un moyen situé près dudit panneau (92) pour illuminer l'intérieur dudit dispositif d'affichage dans ledit ensemble d'encadrement (22).
     
    9. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé, de plus, par plusieurs desdites pièces de raccordement allongées (50), située chacune vers l'intérieur et s'étendant parallèlement à une pièce respective desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26) et comprenant chacune une partie d'adaptation tournée vers l'extérieur, au moins une desdites pièces de raccordement (50) coopérant, de façon adaptée, avec au moins une partie de chacune d'au moins deux desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26).
     
    10. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 9, comprenant un plongeur (86) situé à l'intérieur dudit corps d'espacement (52) d'au moins une desdites pièces de raccordement (50) pour fixer, de façon amovible, la pièce de raccordement respective à une pièce respective desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26).
     
    11. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 10, dans lequel ledit plongeur comprend une détente par poussée (86) s'étendant vers l'extérieur à travers ladite partie d'adaptation tournée vers l'extérieur (62, 64) de ladite pièce de raccordement (50) et dans lequel ladite partie avant périphérique (30) de ladite pièce respective desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26) définit un trou de plongeur (88) pour la réception de ladite dét.ente (86) afin de bloquer ladite pièce respective desdites pièces de canal en forme de U (26) sur ladite pièce de raccordement (50).
     
    12. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé, de plus, en ce qu'il comprend :

    a) une unité inférieure d'affichage (14) comprenant un premier ensemble d'unités de panneau d'affichage (20) défini selon la revendication 1, raccordées par articulation l'une à l'autre;

    b) une unité supérieure d'affichage (12) comprenant un second ensemble d'unités de panneau d'affichage (20) défini selon la revendication 1, raccordées par articulation l'une à l'autre;

    c) des moyens de fixation (18) pour raccorder, de façon amovible ledit premier ensemble d'unités de panneau d'affichage (20) audit second ensemble respectif d'unités de panneau d'affichage (20), chacun desdits moyens de fixation comprenant un corps élastique de blocage (138) en protubérance vers l'extérieur à partir dudit premier ensemble d'unités de panneau (20) vers ledit second ensemble d'unités de panneau (20), ledit corps de blocage (138) présentant une forme convexe comprenant une nervure centrale (140) et une paire de parties latérales opposées convexes (142) pouvant être comprimées, de façon élastique, l'une vers l'autre et comprenant une zone de séparation maximale (144) espacée de ladite unité de panneau dudit premier ensemble et ladite unité respective dudit second ensemble d'unités de panneau (20) comprenant un manchon pour recevoir, de façon adaptée, ledit corps de blocage (138), ledit manchon comprenant une ouverture (132) dans une pièce périphérique (30) de ladite unité respective dudit second ensemble d'unités de panneau d'affichage, ladite ouverture (132) dudit manchon correspondant à la forme dudit corps de blocage (138) et ladite ouverture (132) possédant des côtés opposés entre lesquels ne peut passer ledit corps de blocage que par lesdites parties latérales convexes opposées (142) dudit corps de blocage (132), temporairement comprimées l'une vers l'autre, ledit corps de blocage étant dans une orientation prédéterminée par rapport à ladite ouverture (132) et ledit manchon possédant une chambre pour lesdites parties latérales convexes opposées (142) dudit corps de blocage pour se déplacer élastiquement à l'écart l'une de l'autre d'une distance supérieure à la séparation entre lesdits côtés opposés de ladite ouverture (132), nécessitant ainsi une recompression desdites parties latérales dudit corps de blocage l'une vers l'autre de façon à ce que ledit corps de blocage (138) soit extrait dudit manchon et ledit corps de blocage (138) et ladite ouverture (132) possédant des orientations respectives prédéterminées par rapport auxdites unités de panneau de façon à assurer un alignement prédéterminé desdites unités de panneau l'une par rapport à l'autre.


     
    13. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 12, comprenant un desdits corps de projection situé sur chaque unité dudit premier ensemble d'unités de panneau (20) et un manchon correspondant défini dans chaque unité dudit second ensemble d'unités de panneau (20).
     
    14. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 12, dans lequel chacun desdits corps de blocage (138) est centré sur la surface marginale supérieure d'une unité respective dudit premier ensemble d'unité de panneau et se projette vers le haut avec une forme globale elliptique vue par en dessus et une forme globale semi-circulaire en vue de côté ainsi qu'une forme globale semi-elliptique en vue d'extrémité.
     
    15. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé, de plus, par un dispositif de verrouillage (18) pour raccorder une paire d'unités adjacentes de panneau (20) dudit dispositif d'affichage, ledit ensemble d'encadrement (22) de chacune desdites unités de panneau (20) possédant une surface marginale plane respective (30), ledit dispositif de verrouillage (18) solidarisant lesdites unités de panneau avec des surfaces respectives desdites surfaces marginales (30) se faisant face et étant en contact, le dispositif de verrouillage comprenant :

    a) une plaque de base (134);

    b) un corps compressible élastiquement (138) se projetant de ladite plaque de base et coupant ladite plaque de base selon une ligne de base globalement elliptique;

    c) un moyen de maintien de ladite plaque de base avec ledit corps compressible élastiquement s'étendant vers l'extérieur à partir de ladite surface marginale (30) d'une première unité desdites unités adjacentes de panneau d'affichage;

    d) un réceptacle défini dans ladite surface marginale (30) d'une seconde unité desdites unités adjacentes de panneau d'affichage pour y recevoir, de façon adaptée, ledit corps compressible élastiquement (138), ledit réceptacle définissant une ouverture (132) à travers ladite surface marginale (30), ladite ouverture (132) possédant une forme correspondant de façon proche à ladite ligne de base globalement elliptique;

    e) ledit corps (138) comprenant des surfaces latérales arquées (142), opposées et convexes, définissant une zone de séparation maximale (144), ladite zone étant espacée de ladite plaque de base (134) d'une distance supérieure à celle allant de ladite plaque de base à ladite ouverture (132) et ledit réceptacle comprenant une chambre de dilatation pour ledit corps (138) dans ledit réceptacle à une taille supérieure à celle de ladite ouverture (132) et ledit corps étant globalement semi-elliptique en vue de dessus et globalement semi-elliptique, au delà de ladite zone de séparation maximale desdites surfaces latérales, en vue d'extrémité.


     
    16. Dispositif d'affichage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé, de plus, par un dispositif de verrouillage (18) pour raccorder une paire d'unités adjacentes de panneau (20) dudit dispositif d'affichage, chacune desdites unités de panneau (20) comprenant un ensemble d'encadrement (22) possédant une surface marginale respective (30), globalement plane, et ledit dispositif de verrouillage maintenant lesdits panneaux sur les surfaces marginales respectives (30) se faisant face et en contact, le dispositif de verrouillage comprenant :

    a) une plaque de base (134);

    b) un corps compressible élastiquement (138) se projetant de ladite plaque de base et coupant ladite plaque de base selon une ligne de base globalement elliptique;

    c) un moyen de maintien de ladite plaque de base avec ledit corps compressible élastiquement s'étendant vers l'extérieur à partir de ladite surface marginale (30) d'une première unité desdites unités adjacentes de panneau d'affichage;

    d) un réceptacle défini dans ladite surface marginale (30) d'une seconde unité desdites unités adjacentes de panneau d'affichage pour y recevoir, de façon adaptée, ledit corps compressible élastiquement (138), ledit réceptacle définissant une ouverture (132) à travers ladite surface marginale (30), ladite ouverture (132) possédant une forme correspondant de façon proche à ladite ligne de base globalement elliptique;

    e) ledit corps (138) comprenant des surfaces latérales arquées (142), opposées et convexes, définissant une zone de séparation maximale (144), ladite zone étant espacée de ladite plaque de base (134) d'une distance supérieure à celle allant de ladite plaque de base à ladite ouverture (132) et ledit réceptacle comprenant une chambre de dilatation pour ledit corps (138) dans ledit réceptacle à une taille supérieure à celle de ladite ouverture (132) et

    f) ladite surface marginale (30) de ladite première unité desdites unités de panneau d'affichage (20) étant définie par une pièce de cadre (26) de ladite unité de panneau d'affichage (20), ladite pièce de cadre comprenant une paire de parties latérales parallèles (28) et une partie avant périphérique de connexion (30), chacune desdites parties latérales (28) définissant une gorge de base (32) et ladite plaque de base possédant des bordures latérales opposées (136) coopérant, de façon adaptée, avec lesdites gorges de base et maintenant ladite plaque de base adjacente, vers l'intérieur, à ladite partie avant périphérique (30), ladite partie avant périphérique définissant une ouverture de cadre (130) de forme correspondante à celle de la ligne de base et ledit corps creux s'étendant vers l'extérieur à travers ladite ouverture de cadre.


     
    17. Ensemble de panneau d'affichage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé, de plus, en ce que :

    a) ledit noyau de panneau (36) est constitué d'une mousse de matière plastique synthétique rigide bien qu'élastique possédant une épaisseur prédéterminée (38);

    b) une couche de support relativement fine (40, 42) en un matériau relativement dur est située sur chacune d'une paire de surfaces principales, opposées et parallèles, dudit noyau (36) et fixée audit noyau par un adhésif;

    c) ledit noyau et lesdites couches de support possédent des dimensions correspondantes et définissent un ensemble desdites bordures périphériques (69), au moins une desdites bordures périphériques comprenant une gorge pratiquement centrale (70) définie par ledit noyau;

    d) ledit noyau définit une cavité tubulaire (74) s'étendant parallèlement à au moins une desdites bordures périphériques (69) et ladite gorge (70) étant définie à l'intérieur;

    e) une fente globalement plane (72) raccorde l'intérieur de ladite cavité tubulaire (74) avec une partie globalement centrale de ladite gorge (70), ladite fente plane (72) s'étendant parallèlement à ladite cavité tubulaire (74), à ladite gorge (70) et à ladite surface périphérique et

    f) des moyens (58, 60) sont adaptés, de façon verrouillable, à ladite cavité tubulaire et s'étendent à travers de ladite fente dans ladite gorge pour renforcer une partie marginale dudit panneau.


     
    18. Ensemble de panneau selon la revendication 17, dans lequel lesdits moyens de renforcement de ladite partie marginale dudit panneau sont inclus en tant que partie de ladite pièce de raccordement (50) pour la fixation d'une pièce de cadre (26) audit panneau.
     
    19. Ensemble de panneau selon la revendication 17, comprenant, de plus, une pièce de raccordement (50) comprenant un corps d'espacement (52) s'adaptant dans ladite gorge (70), un voile (58) s'étendant dudit corps d'espacement à l'intérieur et le long de ladite fente (72), un cordon (60) fixé audit voile (58) s'étendant le long et situé à l'intérieur de ladite cavité tubulaire (74) et une partie périphérique d'adaptation, faisant face à l'extérieur, comprenant des parties marginales (62, 64) s'étendant latéralement à l'écart dudit corps d'espacement au delà de ladite partie marginale périphérique (69).
     




    Drawing