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US 9,173,485 B2Granted
Self-expanding, load-bearing mechanism for display units
AssigneeKFR Enterprises LLC
InventorsRobert Fischer, Fredrik Karlehag
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with some embodiments, a self-expanding, collapsible mechanism (e.g., for expanding an outer substrate or substrates of a display unit) and a display unit comprising at least one self-expanding, collapsible mechanism are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a self-expanding mechanism is load-bearing. In one embodiment, a display unit may be configured to have at least one load-bearing surface (e.g., supported by one or more load-bearing inserts).
Claims21
A self-expanding mechanism comprising:
- a first side connected to a second side at a first corner;
- the first side and the second side further being connected by a first contracting element;
- a third side connected to a fourth side at a second corner opposite the first corner;
- the third side further being connected to the fourth side by a second contracting element,
- the first side further being connected to the third side at a third corner, and
- the second side further being connected to the fourth side at a fourth corner;
- and
- the first contracting element acting on the first side and the second side to pull the first side and the second side toward each other, and the second contracting element acting on the third side and the fourth side to pull the third side and the fourth side toward each other, thereby allowing the mechanism to self-expand.
5 more elements
A display unit comprising:
- an outer substrate comprising a first side of the outer substrate connected along a first edge to a second side of the outer substrate opposite the first side of the outer substrate, the first side of the outer substrate further being connected along a second edge to the second side of the outer substrate;
- and
- a self-expanding mechanism, affixed to an interior of the outer substrate by a first connection to the first edge and by a second connection to the second edge, the self-expanding mechanism comprising:
- a first mechanism side connected to a second mechanism side at a first corner;
- the first mechanism side and the second mechanism side further being connected by a first contracting element;
- a third mechanism side connected to a fourth mechanism side at a second corner opposite the first corner;
- the third mechanism side further being connected to the fourth mechanism side by a second contracting element,
- the first mechanism side further being connected to the third mechanism side at a third corner, and
- the second mechanism side further being connected to the fourth mechanism side at a fourth corner;
- and
- the first contracting element acting on the first mechanism side and the second mechanism side to push the first corner against the first side of the outer substrate, and the second contracting element acting on the third mechanism side and the fourth mechanism side to push the second corner against the second side of the outer substrate, thereby causing the display unit to expand.
8 more elements
A self-expanding mechanism comprising:
- a first side and a second side connected by a first contracting element, the first side and the second side further being connected at a first edge,
- the first contracting element being configured with the first side and the second side to pull the first side and the second side toward each other to form a first corner at the first edge;
- a third side and a fourth side connected by a second contracting element, the third side and the fourth side further being connected at a second edge,
- the second contracting element being configured with the third side and the fourth side to pull the third side and the fourth side toward each other to form a second corner at the second edge, opposite the first corner,
- the first side further being connected to the third side, and
- the second side further being connected to the fourth side;
- and
- wherein the forming of the first corner at the first edge and the forming of the second corner at the second edge cause the first corner and the second corner to move away from each other.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.