WO2009103763A1

WO2009103763A1 - Modular support element for a display structure

Info

Publication number: WO2009103763A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/051978
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca Pavani; Abramo Manfrotto
Original assignee: Alu S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-02-21
Filing date: 2009-02-19
Publication date: 2009-08-27
Also published as: ITPD20080053A1

Abstract

A modular support element (1) for a display structure (100) can be secured to at least one other element (1a) identical thereto by securing means (11) and complementary securing means (12) respectively provided on one and the other of the support elements. The means and complementary means can be coupled to each other so as to slide between a first coupling position in which the respective support elements are rigidly secured to each other and a second coupling position in which the respective support elements are secured to each other with the facility for relative rotation about an axis of rotation (X).

Description

MODULAR SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR A DISPLAY STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION

Technical field of the invention

The subject of the present invention is a modular support element for a display structure of the type including the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of the main claim. Background art

In this technical field it is known to produce and assemble temporary display fitments by producing ready-equipped walls for fitting out premises for commercial use, for example for shops or exhibition stands, or private use. Such ready-equipped walls, provided with suitable display elements, such as for example shelves, containers or others, are typically set against the existing walls of the premises so as to allow effective exploitation thereof. The main drawback of such a display fitment solution lies in the fact that it is difficult to adapt to applications on non-planar walls, for example walls that are curved, or have angles, re-entrants or niches. In these cases the ready- equipped walls must be configured in such a way as to follow such irregularities, thus proving difficult to fit out and hard to manage. Disclosure of the invention The main aim of the present invention is that of providing a modular support element for a display structure, structurally and functionally designed to remedy the limitations stated above with reference to the prior art cited. This aim and others which will become clearer hereinafter are confronted and achieved by the invention by means of a modular support element produced according to the following claims. Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded axonometric view of a detail of a display structure comprising a support element produced according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a partially sectional front view of the display structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view analogous to Figure 2, in a different operating configuration;

Figure 4 is a view in section along the line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in section along the line V-V of Figure 3. Best mode for carrying out the invention

With reference to the drawings indicated above, the reference 1 indicates as a whole a modular support element produced according to the present invention. The support element 1 may be secured to other support elements Ia, identical to the element 1, in order to produce a display structure 100. The following description of the support element 1 is similarly valid for the support element Ia.

The support element 1 can be fixed to a wall 3 of premises for commercial or private use, by means of a pair of screws, not shown, engaged in respective holes 2a, 2b. The modular support element 1 is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane Z, orthogonal to the wall 3, and comprises a domed central body 4, having two sides 4a, 4b, respectively concave and convex, respectively facing towards the wall 3 and opposed. The central body 4 comprises a first and a second end 4c, 4d, having an edge substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal plane Z.

On the central body 4, on the side 4b and in a central position, securing means 5 are provided to which can be coupled a series of display components, for example shelves, panels, containers or others. The securing means 5 comprise a circular opening 6, closable by means of a corresponding cap 7, when no display component is coupled to the securing means 5. Since they are not a subject of the present invention, the securing means 5 are not further described in detail.

On the side 4b of the central body 4, two openings 8a, 8b, are further provided, symmetrical with the plane Z, respectively at the holes 2a, 2b, to permit the passage and the screwing of the fixing screws to the wall 3. The openings 8a, 8b are closed by means of respective caps 9a, 9b. From the side 4a of the body 4, at the opposite ends with respect to the plane Z, two wings 10a, 10b protrude substantially parallel to the plane Z. From each of the wings 10a, 10b there extend in opposite directions, parallel to the wall 3, respective securing means 11 and complementary securing means 12, by means of which the support element 1 and the support element Ia can be secured to each other, in particular by means of coupling of the means 11 of the support element 1 to the complementary means 12 of the support element Ia. The means 11 and the complementary means 12 respectively provided on the support elements 1 and Ia can be coupled to each other so as to slide between a first coupling position (see Figure 2), in which the support elements 1 and Ia are rigidly secured to each other, and a second coupling position (see Figure 3) in which the support elements 1 and Ia are secured to each other with the facility for relative rotation about an axis of rotation X. The securing means 11 comprise: a first flange 13 protruding from the first end 4c of the central body 4 of the support element 1, Ia; the end of the first flange 13 has a circular profile, - a cylindrical through hole 14 provided in the flange 13, coaxial with the axis of rotation X; a pin 15 that can be coupled to the hole 14, the axis of which coincides with the axis of rotation X.

The complementary securing means 12 comprise: - a second flange 16 protruding with respect to the second end 4d of the central body 4 of the support element 1, Ia; a slot-like through hole 17, provided in the second flange 16. The slot-like hole 17 can be aligned with the cylindrical hole 14 of the first flange 13, such that the pin 15 passes simultaneously through the holes 14 and 17.

The pin 15 comprises snap-coupling means 21, placed at an axial end 22 of the pin 15, provided with a frustoconical profile.

The axial end 22 partially protrudes with respect to the lateral surface of the pin

15. The snap-coupling means 21 comprise an axial, through notch 23, parallel to the axis of rotation X, by means of which the end 22 is made radially compressible. This configuration facilitates the insertion of the pin 15 into the holes 14 and 17 and its coupling thereto. This configuration further facilitates the removal of the pin 15 from the holes 14 and 17, subject to compression of the end 22. The flanges 13, 16 comprise respective mating profiles 18a, 18b, configured so that in the first coupling position (Fig. 2) the profiles are engaged with each other to prevent relative rotation between the support elements 1 and Ia about the axis of rotation X. In the second coupling position (Fig. 3) the profiles are disengaged from each other to permit relative rotation between the support elements 1 and Ia about the axis of rotation X.

The mating profiles 18a, 18b respectively comprise a protuberance 19 on the flange 13, facing towards the plane Z, and a guide channel 20 on the flange 16, on which the protuberance 19 can slide. At the end facing towards the support element Ia, the lateral walls of the channel 20 are connected to two respective divergent portions 25a, 25b, having a circular profile corresponding to the profile of the flange 13. The coupling of the elements 1 and Ia takes place in the manner described hereinafter. The elements 1 and Ia are brought close to each other so that the holes 14 on the flanges 13 of the support element Ia are superposed on the slot-like holes 17 on the flanges 16 of the support element 1. The pins 15 are inserted into the respective holes 14.

The configuration of the end 22 of the pin 15, capable of contracting radially in a direction orthogonal to the axis X, facilitates the insertion of the pin 15 into the holes 14 and 17. On completion of the insertion of the pin 15 into the holes 14 and 17, the end expands into the undeformed configuration, so as to block axial sliding of the pin 15.

The sliding of the pin 15 in the slot-like hole 17 and of the protuberance 19 in the channel 20 allows the elements 1 and Ia to slide mutually in order to pass from the first to the second coupling position and vice versa.

In the first coupling position the pin 15 is alongside the end of the slot-like hole 17 furthest from the divergent portions 25a, 25b, so that the interference between the protuberance 19 and the lateral walls of the channel 20 prevents the relative rotation of the elements 1 and Ia, thus connecting them rigidly to each other. In the second coupling position the pin 15 is alongside the end of the slot-like hole 17 closest to the divergent portions 25a, 25b, so that the protuberance 19 is outside the channel 20 and the circular configuration of the divergent portions 25a, 25b and of the end of the flange 13 permits the relative rotation of elements 1 and Ia about the axis X. A display structure 100 may comprise any number of support elements 1, Ia, secured one after the other in series. The structure may comprise, as indicated in Figure 1, two terminal elements 30, 31 placed at the respective ends of the series of support elements and secured, by means of an interlocking coupling, to the flanges 13 and 16, respectively. The coupling described above allows the display structure 100 to adapt to the configuration of any wall, even having angles, re-entrants or niches. In such cases, by suitably rotating with respect to each other the support elements placed at the irregularities mentioned above, it is possible to fit out a display structure easily installed in any shop or exhibition stand. The invention therefore solves the problem mentioned with reference to the prior art cited, at the same time providing many advantages. These include being characterized by reduced overall dimensions compared with a conventional ready-equipped wall, therefore having a reduced visual impact. For this reason it is possible to provide for not removing the support elements 1, Ia previously secured to the wall 3, even when display components such as shelves, panels or containers are not fitted thereto.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A modular support element (1) for a display structure (100), said support element being able to be secured to at least one other element (Ia) identical thereto by securing means (11) and complementary securing means (12) respectively provided on one and the other of said support elements, characterized in that said means and complementary means can be coupled to each other so as to slide between a first coupling position in which the respective support elements are rigidly secured to each other and a second coupling position in which the respective support elements are secured to each other with the facility for relative rotation about an axis of rotation (X).

2. A support element according to claim 1, wherein said securing means (11) comprise: at least one first flange (13) protruding with respect to a first end (4c) of said support element, at least one cylindrical through hole (14) in said at least one first flange, coaxial with said axis of rotation (X), a pin (15) that can be coupled to said cylindrical hole.

3. A support element according to claim 2, wherein said complementary securing means (12) comprise: at least one second flange (16) protruding with respect to a second end (4d) of said support element, engageable with said first flange of said other support element; a slot-like through hole (17) that can be aligned with said cylindrical hole (14) of said first flange, such that said pin (15) passes simultaneously through said slot-like hole and said cylindrical hole.

4. A support element according to claim 3, wherein said first and said second flange comprise respective mating profiles (18a, 18b), configured so that in said first coupling position said profiles are engaged with each other to prevent relative rotation between said respective support elements, and in said second coupling position said mating profiles are disengaged from each other to permit said rotation.

5. A support element according to claim 4, wherein said mating profiles on said first and said second flange respectively comprise a protuberance (19) and a guide channel (20), said protuberance being slidable in said channel.

6. A support element according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said pin (15) comprises snap-coupling means (21), placed at an axial end (22) of said pin and radially compressible.

7. A support element according to claim 6, wherein said snap-coupling means comprise an axial through notch (23) extending parallel to said axis of rotation.

8. A support element according to claim 7, wherein the end of said pin provided with said snap-coupling means has a conical or frustoconical profile.

9. A terminal element (30,31) that can be secured to said first or said second end of a support element according to one or more of the preceding claims.

10. A display structure (100) comprising a plurality of support elements (1,1a) that can be secured to one another, each of which is produced according to one or more of claims 1 to 8.