Display panel spreader tool

Abstract

Embodiments include display panel spreader tool assemblies and display panel systems including display panel spreader tool assemblies. Alternative embodiments include methods of assembling a display panel system using display panel spreader tool assemblies. Display panel spreader tool assemblies may include a base and a first leg coupled to a first side of the base and a second leg coupled to a second side opposite the first side of the base. The display panel spreader tool may further include a fastener coupled to the base and located between the first leg and the second leg, the fastener configured to engage with the first leg and the second leg and cause a first end of the first leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved and a second end of the second leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display system comprising:
 a slatwall display comprising:
 a first slat, 
 a second slat removably connected to the first slat; 
 a third slat removably connected to the second slat; 
 a first engagement region defined by the interconnected first and second slats; 
 a second engagement region defined by the interconnected second slat and third slat; and 
 an opening defined by the interconnected first slat, second slat, and third slat such that the first engagement region and the second engagement region are positioned within the opening; and 
   an assembly tool positioned within the opening, said assembly tool comprising:
 a base; 
 a first leg coupled to a first side of the base and configured to engage with the first engagement region and a second leg coupled to a second side opposite the first side of the base and configured to engage with the second engagement region; and 
 a fastener coupled to the base and located between the first leg and the second leg, the fastener configured to engage with the first leg and the second leg and to cause a first end of the first leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved and engage with the first engagement region and a second end of the second leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved and engage with the second engagement region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg includes one or more first leg notches facing away from the base and configured to engage with the first engagement region and the second leg includes one or more second leg notches facing away from the base and configured to engage with the second engagement region. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg is coupled to the first side of the base by a first hinged connection and the second leg is coupled to the second side of the base by a second hinged connection, wherein the fastener is configured to cause the first leg and the second leg to pivot away from the base as the fastener is moved. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg includes a first leverage bar at a first top portion of the first leg and the second leg includes a second leverage bar at a second top portion of the second leg, wherein the fastener is configured to engage with the first leverage bar and the second leverage bar to cause the first end of the first leg to move away from the base and engage with the first engagement region and the second end of the second leg to move away from the base and engage with the second engagement region. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly tool comprising:
 a base;   a first leg coupled to a first side of the base and a second leg coupled to a second side opposite the first side of the base; and   a fastener coupled to the base and located between the first leg and the second leg, the fastener configured to engage with the first leg and the second leg and cause a first end of the first leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved and a second end of the second leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly tool of  claim 5 , wherein the first leg is coupled to the first side of the base by a first hinged connection and the second leg is coupled to the second side of the base by a second hinged connection, wherein the fastener is configured to cause the first leg and the second leg to pivot away from the base as the fastener is moved. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly tool of  claim 6 , wherein the first leg includes a first leverage bar at a first top portion of the first leg and the second leg includes a second leverage bar at a second top portion of the second leg. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly tool of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener is configured to engage with a first top surface of the first leverage bar and a second top surface of the second leverage bar. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly tool of  claim 8 , wherein the fastener includes a shoulder and wherein the shoulder of the fastener is configured to engage with a top surface of the first leverage bar and the second leverage bar. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly tool of  claim 9 , wherein the first leg includes one or more first leg notches opposite the first leverage bar and facing away from the base and the second leg includes one or more second leg notches opposite the second leverage bar and facing away from the base. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly tool of  claim 5 , wherein as the fastener moves toward the base, the first end of the first leg moves away from the base and the second end of the second leg to move away from the base. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly tool of  claim 5 , wherein as the fastener moves toward the base, the fastener engages with a first leverage bar of the first leg and a second leverage bar of the second leg and causes the first end of the first leg to move away from the base and the second end of the second leg to move away from the base. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly tool of  claim 5 , wherein the first leg includes a first leverage bar, the first leverage bar coupled to a first sidewall extending downward from the first leverage bar and coupled to a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall and extending downward from the first leverage bar and wherein the second leg includes a second leverage bar, the second leverage bar coupled to a third sidewall extending downward from the second leverage bar and coupled to a fourth sidewall opposite the third sidewall and extending downward from the second leverage bar. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly tool of  claim 13 , wherein the first leg includes one or more first leg notches opposite the first leverage bar and facing away from the base and the second leg includes one or more second leg notches opposite the second leverage bar and facing away from the base. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly tool of  claim 14 , wherein the first leverage bar extends partially down the first sidewall and the second sidewall and wherein the second leverage bar extends partially down the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly tool of  claim 14 , wherein an opening extends between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly tool of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener is a bolt, and wherein threading the bolt in the base causes the first end of the first leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved and the second end of the second leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly tool of  claim 5 , wherein the fastener includes at least one of a ring, a hook, or an attachment point opposite the base. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a display panel system comprising:
 providing a display panel assembly tool including:
 a base; 
 a first leg coupled to a first side of the base and a second leg coupled to a second side opposite the first side of the base; 
 a fastener coupled to the base and located between the first leg and the second leg, the fastener configured to engage with the first leg and the second leg and cause a first end of the first leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved and a second end of the second leg to move away from the base as the fastener is moved; 
   engaging a first engagement region of a slatwall display with the first leg; and   engaging a second engagement region of the slatwall display with the second leg.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising sliding the display panel assembly tool along an opening of the slatwall display while the first engagement region of the slatwall display is engaged with the first leg and the second engagement region of the slatwall display is engaged with the second leg.