Portable display stand having multiple configurations and is capable of tool-free assembly

A portable display stand comprising:

• (1) a hollow tubular central post supported by a central base, the central base having a central aperture sized for receiving a lower end portion of the central post, the central post having a plurality of support disks integral therewith and spaced thereon, wherein the plurality of support disks are substantially flat, circular rings integral with the central post and extending horizontally therefrom;
• (2) at least one support panel subassembly wherein each support panel subassembly includes a top panel segment and a bottom panel segment, wherein the top panel segment has a first side edge and a second side edge, and wherein the bottom panel segment has a first side edge and a second side edge, and wherein each support panel subassembly further includes:
• (A) a first top brace that is permanently attached to the first side edge of the top panel segment, and a first bottom brace that is permanently attached to the first side edge of the bottom panel segment, with a first gap located between the first top brace and the first bottom brace;
• (B) a second top brace that is permanently attached to the second side edge of the top panel segment, and a second bottom brace that is permanently attached to the second side edge of the bottom panel segment, with a second gap located between the second top brace and the second bottom brace;
• (C) a first hinge that is located adjacent to the first gap and forms a connection between the first top brace and the first bottom brace, and a second hinge that is located adjacent to the second gap and that forms a connection between the second top brace and the second bottom brace, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge permit the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly to rotate at the first hinge and second hinge between an open position and a closed position;
• (D) a hollow tubular portion in the first top brace proximate to the first gap, and a hollow tubular portion in the first bottom brace proximate to the first gap;
• (E) a hollow tubular portion in the second top brace proximate to the second gap, and a hollow tubular portion in the second bottom brace proximate to the second gap;
• (F) a first slideable pin lock located adjacent to the first gap that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position which:
• (i) when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly are in the closed position, and the first slideable pin lock is in the disengaged position;
• and
• (ii) when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel sub assembly are in the open position, the first slideable pin lock may be moved into the engaged position;
• (G) a second slideable pin lock located adjacent to the second gap that is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position which:
• (i) when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly are in the closed position, and the second slideable pin lock is in the disengaged position;
• and
• (ii) when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly are in the open position, the second slideable pin lock may be moved into the engaged position;
• (H) a first locking mechanism for the first slideable pin lock which is movable between a locked position, wherein the first locking mechanism prevents the first slideable pin lock from moving between the engaged position and the disengaged position, and an unlocked position;
• (I) a second locking mechanism for the second slideable pin lock which is movable between a locked position, wherein the second locking mechanism prevents the second slideable pin lock from moving between the engaged position and the disengaged position, and an unlocked position;
• (J) when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly are in the closed position, the first locking mechanism of the first slideable pin lock may be moved to a locked position with the first slideable pin lock in the disengaged position, and when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly are in the open position, the first locking mechanism of the first slideable pin lock may be moved to a locked position with the first slideable pin lock in the engaged position;
• (K) when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly are in the closed position, the second locking mechanism of the second slideable pin lock may be moved to a locked position with the second slideable pin lock in the disengaged position, and when the top panel segment and the bottom panel segment of the support panel subassembly are in the open position, the second locking mechanism of the second slideable pin lock may be moved to a locked position with the second slideable pin lock in the engaged position;
• (L) a hollow tubular portion in the second bottom brace that is distal from the second gap;
• (M) one or more brace apertures located in the hollow tubular portion of the second bottom brace, wherein one or more spring plungers are attached adjacent the brace apertures;
• (N) the spring plungers of the second bottom brace further including a plunger biased by a spring in a direction so as to extend through the brace apertures of the second brace, and wherein each of the spring plungers of the second bottom brace has an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein:
• (i) in the disengaged position, the plunger is retracted against the bias of the spring, and the plunger does not extend substantially through the brace apertures of the second brace;
• and
• (ii) in the engaged position, the plunger is not retracted and is biased by the spring so that it may extend substantially through the brace apertures of the second brace;
• (O) a plurality of attachment knuckles and attachment pins located on the first side edge, each attachment knuckle of the plurality of attachment knuckles having an axial continuous passage for receiving an attachment pin;
• (P) a leg subassembly attached to the second side edge, wherein the leg subassembly includes a horizontal leg support and a vertical leg support permanently attached to the horizontal leg support, wherein:
• (i) the vertical leg support includes one or more leg apertures;
• (ii) the outer cross-sectional dimensions of the vertical leg support are smaller than the inner cross-sectional dimensions of the bottom hollow tubular portion of the second bottom brace;
• and
• (iii) the vertical leg support is insertable into the bottom hollow tubular portion of the second bottom brace, and then:
• (a) one or more of the brace apertures of the second bottom brace may become located and aligned adjacent to the leg apertures of the vertical leg support when the spring plungers of the second bottom brace are in the disengaged position;
• and
• (b) when the spring plungers of the second bottom brace are in the engaged positions, the springs of the spring plungers may bias the plungers of the spring plungers to extend through the brace apertures of the second bottom brace and through the adjacent and aligned leg apertures of the vertical leg support, resulting in a removable attachment of the leg subassembly to the second bottom brace;
• and
• (3) an attachment ring on each support disk, each attachment ring having a plurality of attachment apertures spaced around the circumference of the ring for receiving the attachment pins disposed through the axial continuous passages of the attachment knuckles.