Portable display

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable exhibit display and to a kit for assembling the same. The portable display comprises a plurality of panels made from a sheet material and assembled to one another through a locking system. The locking system includes a plurality of tabs projecting from one panel and a corresponding plurality of locking slots defined in an adjoining panel, the slots being adapted to receive the tabs therein. The display of the present invention can carry a plurality of shelves or display members such as hook grids. The present invention also relates to panels for assembling a display.

1 . A kit for a display, the kit comprising a first and a second panel:
 the first panel having a first and second edge, the first edge having at least one set of connection tabs extending therefrom;   the second panel having a first and second edge, the first edge having a set of locking slots; the locking slots adapted to receive the set of connection tabs of the first panel when the first panel is oriented generally perpendicular to the second panel.   
   
   
       2 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the set of locking slots of the second panel comprises first and second, spaced apart, locking slots. 
   
   
       3 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the set of locking slots of the second panel comprises first and second pairs of locking slots, the first pair of locking slots being spaced apart from the second pair of locking slots. 
   
   
       4 . The kit of  claim 3  wherein each of the connection tabs comprises a head portion extending from the first edge of the first panel and at least one elongated finger portion extending from the head portion. 
   
   
       5 . The kit of  claim 4  wherein each member of the pair of locking slots comprises at least one finger-receiving portion sized to allow the passage of the at least one elongated finger portion and the head portion of one connection tab therethrough and a head-receiving portion adapted to receive the head portion of the connection tab. 
   
   
       6 . The kit of  claim 5  wherein the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots are aligned along a vertical axis extending generally parallel to the first and second edges of the second panel and the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis; and wherein the head-receiving portions of the first and second pairs of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving portions of the first and second pair of locking slots are offset along the vertical axis. 
   
   
       7 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein the second edge of the first panel comprises a second set of connection tabs extending therefrom. 
   
   
       8 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein each of the first and second set of connection tabs comprises a pair of connection tabs, each pair including a first member and a second, spaced apart, member. 
   
   
       9 . The kit of  claim 8  wherein the elongated fingers of each first member of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is oriented in a first direction and each second member of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is oriented in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite to one another. 
   
   
       10 . The kit of  claim 9  wherein the first direction of the first members of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is the same. 
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 9  wherein the first direction of the first members of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is opposite. 
   
   
       12 . The kit of  claim 9  wherein the first and second edges of the first panel further comprises a first pair of spaced apart recesses proximal to the first pair of connection tabs and a second pair of spaced apart recesses proximal to the second pair of connection tabs, each recess being adapted to receive a connection tab therein, the first and second members of the first pair of recesses being aligned along a horizontal axis extending generally perpendicularly to the first and second edges of the first panel with the first and second members of the second pair of connection tabs, the first and second members of the second pair of recesses being aligned along the horizontal axis with the first and second members of the first pair of connection tabs. 
   
   
       13 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein the second edge of the second panel comprises a set of connection tabs extending therefrom. 
   
   
       14 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein the kit further comprises a third panel, the third panel having a first and second edge, the first edge having at least one set of locking slots adapted to receive the connection tabs of the first panel or the second panel when the third panel is generally perpendicular to the first panel or the second panel. 
   
   
       15 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein the set of locking slots of the third panel comprise a first and second pair of locking slots, the first pair of locking slots being spaced apart from the second pair of locking slots. 
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 15  wherein each member of the pair of the locking slots of the third panel comprises a finger-receiving portion sized to allow the passage of the at least one finger portion and the head portion of the connection tab therethrough and a head-receiving portion adapted to receive the head portion of the connection tab. 
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 16  wherein the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots of the third panel are aligned along a vertical axis extending generally parallel to the first and second edges of the third panel and the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis; and wherein the head-receiving portions of the first and second pairs of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving portions of the first and second pairs of locking slots are offset along the vertical axis. 
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 16  wherein the head-receiving and the finger receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots of the third panel are aligned along a vertical axis of the third panel and the head-receiving and the finger receiving portions of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis, the head-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots and the head-receiving portion of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots and the finger-receiving portion of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis. 
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 17  wherein the third panel further comprises a third and fourth spaced apart edges extending between the first and second edges thereof, wherein the width of the third edge along a horizontal axis extending generally perpendicularly to the first and second edges of the third panel is greater than the width of the fourth edge along the horizontal axis. 
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 19  wherein the kit further comprises a fourth panel, the fourth panel having a first and second edge and one set of locking slots adapted to receive the connection tabs of the first or second panel when the fourth panel is generally perpendicular to the first panel or the second panel, the set of locking slots being located between the first and second edge. 
   
   
       21 . The kit of  claim 20  wherein each member of the pair of the locking slots of the fourth panel comprises a finger-receiving portion sized to allow the passage of the finger portion and the head portion of the connection tab therethrough and a head-receiving portion adapted to receive the head portion of the connection tab. 
   
   
       22 . The kit of  claim 21  wherein the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots of the fourth panel are aligned along a vertical axis extending generally parallel to the first and second edges of the fourth panel and the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis; and wherein the head-receiving portions of the first and second pairs of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving portions of the first and second pairs of locking slots are offset along the vertical axis. 
   
   
       23 . The kit of  claim 21  wherein the head-receiving and the finger receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots of the fourth panel are aligned along a vertical axis of the fourth panel and the head-receiving and the finger receiving portions of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis, the head-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots and the head-receiving portion of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots and the finger-receiving portion of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis. 
   
   
       24 . A display comprising first and second, generally vertical, panels:
 the first panel having a first and second edge, the first edge having at least one set of connection tabs extending therefrom; each of the connection tabs including a head portion extending from the first edge of the first panel and at least one elongated finger portion extending from the head portion,   the second panel being oriented generally perpendicular to the first panel and having a first and second edge, the first edge having at least two spaced apart locking slots for receiving the set of connection tabs of the first panel therein, each locking slot including at least one finger-receiving portion sized to allow the passage of the at least one elongated finger portion and the head portion of one connection tab therethrough and a head-receiving portion receiving the head portion of the connection tab, wherein the head-receiving portion of the at least two locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving thereof are offset along the vertical axis.   
   
   
       25 . An expandable display comprising first and second, generally vertical, panels:
 the first panel having a first and second edge, the first edge having at least one set of connection tabs extending therefrom; each of the connection tabs including a head portion extending from the first edge of the first panel and at least one elongated finger portion extending from the head portion,   the second panel being oriented generally perpendicular to the first panel and having a first and second edge, the first edge having a set of locking slots; the locking slots receiving the set of connection tabs of the first panel and including first and second pairs of locking slots, the first pair of locking slots being spaced apart from the second pair of locking slots and including at least one finger-receiving portion sized to allow the passage of the at least one elongated finger portion and the head portion of one connection tab therethrough and a head-receiving portion receiving the head portion of the connection tab,   wherein the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the first pair of locking slots are aligned along a vertical axis of the second panel and the head-receiving and the finger-receiving portions of the second pair of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis; and wherein the head-receiving portions of the first and second pairs of locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving portions of the first and second pair of locking slots are offset along the vertical axis.   
   
   
       26 . The expandable display of  claim 25  wherein the second edge of the first panel comprises a second set of connection tabs extending therefrom. 
   
   
       27 . The expandable display of  claim 26  wherein each of the first and second set of connection tabs comprises a pair of connection tabs, each pair including a first member and a second, spaced apart, member. 
   
   
       28 . The expandable display of  claim 25  wherein the elongated fingers of each first member of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is oriented in a first direction and each second member of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is oriented in a second direction, the first and second directions of the first and second members of one pair of connection tabs being opposite to one another. 
   
   
       29 . The expandable display of  claim 28  wherein the first direction of the first members of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is the same. 
   
   
       30 . The expandable display of  claim 28  wherein the first direction of the first members of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is opposite. 
   
   
       31 . The expandable display of  claim 28  wherein the first and second edges of the first panel further comprises a first pair of spaced apart recesses proximal to the first pair of connection tabs and a second pair of spaced apart recesses proximal to the second pair of connection tabs, each recess being adapted to receive a connection tab therein, the first and second members of the first pair of recesses being aligned along a horizontal axis extending generally perpendicularly to the first and second edges of the first panel with the first and second members of the second pair of connection tabs, the first and second members of the second pair of recesses being aligned along the horizontal axis with the first and second members of the first pair of connection tabs. 
   
   
       32 . The expandable display of  claim 31  wherein the second edge of the second panel comprises a set of connection tabs extending therefrom. 
   
   
       33 . The expandable display of  claim 32  wherein the display further comprises a third panel mounted to one of the first and second panel, the third panel having a first and second edge, the first edge having at least one set of locking slots receiving the connection tabs of the first panel or the second panel when the third panel mounted thereto. 
   
   
       34 . The expandable display of  claim 33  wherein the third panel further comprises a third and fourth spaced apart edges extending between the first and second edges thereof, wherein the width of the third edge along a horizontal axis extending generally perpendicularly to the first and second edges of the third panel is greater than the width of the fourth edge along the horizontal axis. 
   
   
       35 . The expandable display of  claim 34  wherein the display further comprises a fourth panel mounted to the other of first and second panel, the fourth panel having a first and second edge and one set of locking slots adapted to receive the connection tabs of the other of first or second panel when the fourth panel is mounted thereto. 
   
   
       36 . The expandable display of  claim 25  further comprising a shelf mounted to at least one of the first and second panel. 
   
   
       37 . A panel for a display, the panel comprising a first and second edge, the first edge having a set of connection tabs extending therefrom; each of the connection tabs including a head portion extending from the first edge of the first panel and at least one elongated finger portion extending from the head portion. 
   
   
       38 . The panel of  claim 37  wherein the second edge of the first panel comprises a second set of connection tabs extending therefrom. 
   
   
       39 . The panel of  claim 38  wherein each of the first and second set of connection tabs comprises a pair of connection tabs, each pair including a first member and a second, spaced apart, member. 
   
   
       40 . The panel of  claim 39  wherein the elongated fingers of each first member of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is oriented in a first direction and each second member of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is oriented in a second direction, the first and second directions of the first and second members of one pair of connection tabs being opposite to one another. 
   
   
       41 . The panel of  claim 40  wherein the first direction of the first members of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is the same. 
   
   
       42 . The panel of  claim 40  wherein the first direction of the first members of the first and second pairs of connection tabs is opposite. 
   
   
       43 . A panel for a display, the panel comprising a first and second edge, the first edge having at least two locking slots for receiving the set of connection tabs of the first panel therein, each locking slot including at least one finger-receiving portion sized to allow the passage of the at least one elongated finger portion and the head portion of one connection tab therethrough and a head-receiving portion receiving the head portion of the connection tab, wherein the head-receiving portion of the at least two locking slots are aligned along the vertical axis and the finger-receiving portions are offset along the vertical axis.