Wall and display systems and components

Abstract

A wall system capable of rapid and easy transport and storage, wherein the wall panels are locked in place but are capable of easy removal without disturbing the supporting framework, and further, the horizontal members interact with and are capable of being locked to vertical supports of a variety of configurations and yet are replaceable without the necessity of disassembly. The wall panels for the current system may selectively be uniform and decorative or alternatively serve as a support for brackets, shelves or the like.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device allowing the rapid change of panels in a wall system utilizing at least two vertical supports including vertical slots with opposing lips, said device comprising: 
 an elongated u-shaped main body portion, including a base and flexible leg members adapted to snap fit into the vertical slot; and    a pair of opposing wing members extending outwardly from the base, said wing members including an elongated hinge member having memory urging the member to the closed position abutting a panel extending between the at least two supports and holding the panel in place.    
     
     
         2 . An elongated locking device for securing removable panels adjacent to vertical posts, including longitudinal slots comprising, in profile: 
 a U-shaped locking section including a base and opposing legs, wherein the legs of the U are inserted into and temporarily locked into the longitudinal slot; and    at least one hinged wing element movable from an open to a closed position extending outwardly from the base opposite the legs at an angle thereto and returning inwardly at its extremity to contact the panel when in its closed position and allowing removal of the panel when in its open position.    
     
     
         3 . A support system for portable wall panels, including a pair of opposing vertical frame elements and a joining panel wherein the frame elements comprise an elongated member which when seen in profile includes a substantially hollow member wherein one portion of the exterior shell is substantially semicircular and includes radially outwardly extending teeth and inwardly extending walls terminating in an open bore at the center of the semicircle, the remainder of the shell being substantially rectangular in outline, including at least one outwardly facing slot and wherein the joining panel is locked into said outwardly facing slot.  
     
     
         4 . A support system as in  claim 3 , wherein adjoining panels may be interconnected by a bar rigidly secured to a pin inserted into each of the bores, wherein the bar is of a length that the teeth mesh enabling the relative angle between the panels to be infinitely varied.  
     
     
         5 . A lock for securing a wall panel to a channeled upright, comprising: 
 a pair of elongated mating elements, each of which includes an outwardly projecting lip at one end thereof;    the male member including a bulbous protrusion extending in the opposite direction of the lip at the end opposite the lip;    the female member including a groove complementary to the bulbous portion of the male member at the opposite end and side from the lip such that when the members are mated the pair of elements may be pivoted about the interconnection spreading the lips and locking them within a channel; and    means for spreading the lips.    
     
     
         6 . A lock as in  claim 5 , wherein the lock is secured within a rail which frames the wall panel.  
     
     
         7 . A lock as in  claim 6 , wherein the lock is axially movable within the rail.  
     
     
         8 . A portable wall unit comprising two or more sections, wherein the sections may be collapsed against each other for storage or transportation, and wherein easily removable panels are supported by horizontal structural units which are locked in place between a pair of vertical elements by locks which are retractable to a position within the horizontal unit, allowing removal of the unit without displacing the vertical elements.