Snap panel display unit

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention generally relates to display systems More specifically, the present invention is drawn to portable, light-weight, display panels which may be easily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a snap panel display unit according to the present invention.

#FIGS. 2A-2C are views showing details of the panels and straight connector arrangement according to the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a partial view of panels and a corner connector according to the present invention.

#Attention is directed to FIG. 1 wherein the snap panel display unit of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10. Display unit 10 comprises an array of individual panels 12, which panels are aligned and stacked to form a display area. Panels 12 are flat, hollow and fabricated from plastic material. As presently contemplated, each panel 12 is a two-foot square although other sizes may function equally as well. The front and rear flat faces of the panels are generally smooth so that material to be displayed may be easily attached thereto. However, some of the panels are provided with at least one slotted face 14. The slots allow shelves or trays to be inserted therein, thereby adding versatility to the type of material that can be displayed on the unit.

#As best illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C and 3, a pair of panels 12 is assembled by employing at least one straight locking member 16 or corner locking member 16′. Straight locking member 16 is of a cruciform configuration having mirror image front and rear sections 16a, 16b. An open tubular member 16c functions to attach section 16a to section 16b such that a narrow opening 16d is formed between the sections. The edges 16e of member 16 are partially curved for purposes as will be explained below. Each corner of a panel 12 is contoured to form a thin, flat insert portion 12a and a curved profile portion 12b. Insert portion 12a is dimensioned to be slightly thicker than the width of opening 16d. Curved profile portion 12b is designed to be complimentary with the curve of edge 16e. This arrangement allows each corner insert portion 12a o adjacent panels to be snap-fitted into opening 16d of a connector member, thereby assembling the panels to form a display unit. Since the curved edges of the connectors are complimentary with the curved portions of the panel, an aesthetically pleasing display unit will be presented. Besides functioning as an attachment member, open tubular member 16c will also allow easy installation of lighting fixtures on the unit. Corner connector 16′ is fabricated exactly as is straight connector 16 with the exception that a hinge 18 is disposed along the central axis thereof. Hinge 18 will allow the panels utilizing the corner connector to be assembled at angles ranging from ninety to one hundred degrees.

#FIG. 4 is illustrative of a panel 20 having a curved configuration. Curved panel 20 will utilize the same straight connectors 16 as discussed above. The employment of curved panels will add even more versatility in that a user may employ a combination of flat and curved panels to create unusual display units.