Hub and spoke panel connector

Abstract

A connector for connecting panels includes a center and a plurality of fingers that are joined by the center that extend away from the center. Channels dimensioned to receive panels are defined between adjacent fingers. Fingers include generally planar surfaces for abutting engagement with generally planar surfaces of panels. An outer periphery of the connector being substantially circular or polygonal is interrupted by the channels. A structure includes panels connected edgewise by one or more connectors.

1 . A connector for connecting panels comprising: 
 (a) a center, and    (b) a plurality of fingers joined by said center, each of said fingers extending away from said center,    (c) wherein each pair of adjacent fingers defines there between a channel dimensioned to receive a panel, each said finger of said pair including a generally planar surface for abutting engagement with a generally planar surface of a panel when received within said channel of said pair.    
   
   
       2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein said adjacent pairs of said fingers define other than four of said channels.  
   
   
       3 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein said center and said fingers define a sunburst configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein said connector consists of said center and eight of said fingers uniformly spaced about said center to define eight channels between adjacent said fingers.  
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein an opening extends generally axially through said center.  
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein an opening extends generally axially through at least one said finger.  
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein each said finger comprises a lobe having a proximal end attached to the center and a distal end, said distal end being broader than said proximal end.  
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein said fingers each includes an arcuate distal edge, and wherein said distal edges of said fingers define an overall substantially circular outer periphery of said connector, said circular outer periphery being interrupted by said channels.  
   
   
       9 . A connector for connecting panels comprising: 
 (a) a hub, and    (b) a plurality of spoke members joined by said hub, each of said spoke members extending away from said hub,    (c) wherein each pair of adjacent spoke members defines there between a channel dimensioned to receive a panel, each said spoke member of said pair including a generally planar surface for abutting engagement with a generally planar surface of a panel when received within said channel of said pair.    
   
   
       10 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein a channel defined by a said pair of adjacent spoke members extends in a non-radial direction with respect to a center of said hub.  
   
   
       11 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said adjacent pairs of said spoke members define other than four of said channels.  
   
   
       12 . he connector of  claim 9 , wherein said spoke members are substantially rigid and inflexible.  
   
   
       13 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said connector is substantially planar, wherein a first channel is dimensioned to receive a first panel when orthogonally disposed to a plane of said connector and a second channel is dimensioned to receive a second panel when orthogonally disposed to the plane of said connector.  
   
   
       14 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said spoke members are substantially identical in shape.  
   
   
       15 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said spoke members are uniformly spaced about said hub.  
   
   
       16 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein each said spoke member comprises a lobe having a proximal end attached to the hub and a distal end, said distal end being broader than said proximal end.  
   
   
       17 . The connector of  claim 16 , wherein each lobe of a said pair of adjacent lobes broadens with increasing distance from said hub such that said channel defined there between has a uniform width along a substantial length thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said generally planar surfaces of a said pair of spoke members oppose one another for abutting engagement directly there between of a panel received within said channel of said pair.  
   
   
       19 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said spoke members each includes an arcuate distal edge, and wherein said distal edges of said spoke members define an overall substantially circular outer periphery of said connector, said circular outer periphery being interrupted by said channels.  
   
   
       20 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said spoke members each includes a distal edge, and wherein said distal edges of said spoke members define an overall substantially polygonal outer periphery of said connector, said polygonal outer periphery being interrupted by said channels.  
   
   
       21 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein the number of sides of said polygonal outer periphery is the same as the number of said spoke members of said connector.  
   
   
       22 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein the number of sides of said polygonal outer periphery is different from the number of said spoke members of said connector.  
   
   
       23 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein said polygonal outer periphery is pentagonal.  
   
   
       24 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein said polygonal outer periphery is hexagonal.  
   
   
       25 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein said polygonal outer periphery is heptagonal.  
   
   
       26 . The connector of  claim 20 , wherein said polygonal outer periphery is octagonal.  
   
   
       27 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said hub and said spoke members are integrally formed.  
   
   
       28 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said connector consists of said hub and eight of said spoke members uniformly spaced about said hub to define eight channels between adjacent said spoke members.  
   
   
       29 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said members are mutually identical in configuration and said channels are mutually identical in configuration.  
   
   
       30 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said connector consists of said hub and five of said spoke members uniformly spaced about said hub to define five channels between adjacent said spoke members.  
   
   
       31 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said connector consists of said hub and six of said spoke members uniformly spaced about said hub to define six channels between adjacent said spoke members.  
   
   
       32 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said connector consists of said hub and seven of said spoke members uniformly spaced about said hub to define seven channels between adjacent said spoke members.  
   
   
       33 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein each said channel is substantially linear in extent and has a uniform width along such extent.  
   
   
       34 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein an opening extends generally axially through said hub.  
   
   
       35 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein an opening extends generally axially through at least one spoke member.  
   
   
       36 . The connector of  claim 9 , wherein said hub comprises a circular annulus having an opening extending generally axially there through, wherein said spoke members extend radially from an outer circular edge of said annulus, and wherein outer edges of said spoke members define a substantially circular outer periphery of said connector, said circular outer periphery being interrupted by said channels.  
   
   
       37 . A connector for receiving and retaining one or more panels, the connector comprising, 
 (a) a circular disk having a circumference, and    (b) multiple channels extending through said circular disk, each said channel extending radially from an inner hub of said circular disk to said circumference,    (c) wherein each said channel has at least a longitudinal extent thereof that is substantially straight and that is dimensioned to receive a panel disposed orthogonally to a plane of said circular disk.    
   
   
       38 . The connector of  claim 37 , wherein each said channel has a generally uniform width along said longitudinal extent for abutting engagement with a panel when received therein.  
   
   
       39 . An apparatus comprising a structure, said structure comprising, 
 (a) a plurality of panels; and    (b) one or more connectors connecting together said panels, each said connector comprising, 
 (i) a hub, and  
 (ii) a plurality of spoke members joined by said hub, each of said spoke members extending away from said hub,  
 (iii) wherein, 
 (A) a first pair of adjacent spoke members of said connector defines there between a channel in which is received one of said panels, each said spoke member of said first pair including a generally planar surface disposed in abutting engagement with a generally planar surface of said one panel received within said channel of said first pair, and  
 (B) a second pair of adjacent spoke members of said connector defines there between a channel in which is received another of said panels, each said spoke member of said second pair including a generally planar surface disposed in abutting engagement with a generally planar surface of said other panel received within said channel of said second pair.  
 
   
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein each said panel includes an uninterrupted edge and wherein each said panel is received within a said channel of a said connector along said uninterrupted edge.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein each said panel of said structure is connected edgewise to another said panel of said structure by a said connector.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein a said panel includes media printed on a surface thereof for display.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein at least one of said panels displays informational content on a surface thereof.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein a portion of each said panel that is received within a said channel of a said connector is compressed by a said pair of spoke members defining said channel.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said connector has a substantially circular outer periphery that is interrupted by said channels.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein a series of said connectors of said structure is coaxially arranged about an axis, wherein each hub of each said connector of said series includes an axial opening extending there through along the axis, and wherein an elongate member extends through each said axial opening of each said connector of said series.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein a series of said connectors of said structure is coaxially arranged about an axis, wherein a spoke member of each said connector of said series includes an axial opening extending there through parallel to the axis, and wherein an elongate member extends through each said axial opening of each said connector of said series.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said structure comprises a three-dimensional arrangement of said panels.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said structure comprises an enclosure of panels.  
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein one of said channels of a said connector receives a said panel which has a first thickness, and wherein another of said channels of said connector receives another said panel which has a second thickness different from said first thickness, whereby panels of differing thicknesses are joined together by said connector of said structure.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said channels in which are received said panels are dimensioned such that a longitudinal extent of each said channel has a uniform width that is slightly less than a thickness of said respective panel received therein.  
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein an area of said panel received within a said channel is compressed by said generally planar surfaces of said spoke members defining said channel.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said generally planar surfaces of said spoke members oppose one another.