Portable display system

Abstract

A portable display system having a plurality of hollow panel assemblies with each comprising two parallel and facing wall boards secured within a border strip device. Eight panel assemblies are hinged together to fold and unfold between a folded position in which all eight panel assemblies are in parallel stacked relation and an unfolded position in which the panels are opened in a continuous wall configuration.

I claim: 
     
       1. A portable display system comprising: a plurality of panels each having a detachable front wallboard and detachable rear wallboard;   a first and second peripheral support means to support and position said detachable front and rear wallboard in a substantially parallel and confronting relationship so as to form a panel assembly; said first peripheral support means removably positioned along at least one outer edge of said detachable front and rear wallboard, said second peripheral support means positioned along the remaining edges of said detachable front and rear wallboard so that said detachable front and rear wallboard is removable from said first and second peripheral support means in a direction perpendicular to the edge along which said first peripheral support means is positioned,   hinging means for connecting a plurality of said panel assemblies to each other so that said panel assemblies are divided into a first and second group;   said hinging means comprising a plurality of corner hinges greater than two and a plurality of double hinges greater than two so that said corner hinges are connected to a plurality of said panel assemblies movable in a vertical direction and said double hinges connected to a plurality of said panel assemblies movable in a horizontal direction,   said first and second group comprising a number of connected panel assemblies such that said number of connected panel assemblies are hinged in the said two directions so that in the extended position the number of panel assemblies extending in the vertical direction equals the number of panel assemblies extending in the horizontal direction,   said first group being extended to said position independent of said second group.   
     
     
       2. A portable display system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of panel assemblies comprises eight rectangularly shaped panel assemblies. 
     
     
       3. A portable display system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second peripheral support means comprises an elongated border strip device having two elongated substantially parallel channels which extend substantially the entire length of said border strip device, so that an outer edge of said detachable front wallboard and said detachable rear wallboard is positioned within said channels, said channels having substantially parallel and confronting interior walls which are connected at their upper and lower ends to form a center support structure; said center support structure defining means to receive a locking device for securing a first border strip device to a second border strip device; an elongated slot extending the entire length of said border strip device formed along a surface opposite from said channel surfaces and said center support structure, said slot being positioned opposite said center support structure.   
     
     
       4. A portable display system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said corner hinge is connected to a first and second slot insert device, said first and second slot insert devices being positioned within the elongated slots of their respective second peripheral support means devices. 
     
     
       5. A portable display system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said double hinge device is connected to a first and second slot insert device, said first and second slot insert devices being positioned within the elongated slots of their respective second peripheral support means devices. 
     
     
       6. A portable display system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second peripheral support means comprises an elongated border strip device having two elongated, substantially parallel channels extending substantially the entire length of said border strip device, so that an outer edge of said detachable front wallboard and said detachable rear wallboard is positioned within said channels, said channels having substantially parallel and confronting interior walls which are connected at its upper and lower ends to form a center support structure, said center support structure defining means to receive a locking device for securing a first border strip device to a second border strip device. 
     
     
       7. A portable display system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first peripheral support means comprises an elongated border strip device having a first portion comprising two elongated, substantially parallel channels extending substantially the entire length of said border strip device so that an outer edge of said detachable front wallboard and said detachable rear wallboard is positioned within said channels, a second portion having four elongated walls joined to form a hollow tubular center support structure, said four elongated walls further comprising two confronting interior walls of said channels and two horizontal walls connected at the upper and lower ends of said confronting interior walls, said center support structure defining means to receive a locking device for securing a first border strip device to a second border strip device, said first portion and second portion having detachable means so that said first portion can be detached from said second portion. 
     
     
       8. A portable display system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said detachable means comprises a plurality of protruding elongated lips which are parallel and confronting on said first portion, a plurality of elongated recesses on said second portion which confronts said elongated lips on said first portion to provide a detachable support mechanism. 
     
     
       9. A portable display system comprising a plurality of panel assemblies, each panel assembly comprising two parallel and confronting detachable wallboards, and a first and second border strip device along the perimeter edges of said detachable wallboards; said first border strip device positioned along at least one perimeter edge of said detachable wallboards and having a first portion comprising two parallel grooves extending substantially the entire length of the device separated by a second portion being a hollow tubular structure said first portion being the entire outer surface of said first border strip device and being detachable from said second portion, said second portion remaining fixed in said display system so that said detachable wallboards are removable from said first and second border strip devices in a direction perpendicular to the edge along which said first border strip is positioned,   said second border strip device positioned along the remaining perimeter edges of said detachable wallboards and having two parallel grooves extending substantially the entire length of the device separated by a hollow tubular structure;   hinging means for connecting a plurality of said panel assemblies to each other so that said panel assemblies are divided into a first and second group;   said hinging means comprising a plurality of corner hinges greater than two and a plurality of double hinges greater than two so that said corner hinges are connected to a plurality of said panel assemblies movable in a vertical direction and said double hinges connected to a plurality of said panel assemblies movable in a horizontal direction,   said first and second group comprising a number of connected panel assemblies such that said number of connected panel assemblies are hinged in the said two directions so that in the extended position the number of panel assemblies extending in the vertical direction equals the number of panel assemblies extending in the horizontal direction,   said first group being extended to said position independent of said second group. .Iadd. 10. A lightweight portable display system comprising, a plurality of lightweight planar panels each comprising slideably removable front board and a slideably removable rear board, a first and second peripheral support means to support and position said removable front and rear boards in a substantially parallel and confronting relationship so as to form a panel assembly said first peripheral support means removably positioned along at least one outer edge of said removable front and rear boards, said second peripheral support means positioned along the remaining edges of said removable front and rear boards so that said removable front and rear boards are removable from said second peripheral support means by detachment of said first peripheral support means, and by sliding said front and rear boards along said second peripheral support means, hinging means for connecting the panel assemblies to each other so that the panel assemblies can be folded between open and closed positions, wherein in said closed position all panel assemblies are compactly folded in a parallel array for ease of portability, said second peripheral support means comprising an elongated border strip member having two elongated substantially parallel channels which extend substantially the entire length of said border strip member, so that an outer edge of said removable front board and rear board is positioned respectively within said channels, said channels forming guides to enable the slideably removal of the front and rear boards, said channels having substantially parallel and confronting wall surfaces forming a center support structure, said center support structure having means to receive a locking device for securing adjacent border strip members, said border strip member having an elongated slot extending the length of said member formed along a surface opposite from said channels and said center support structure, said slot for receiving at least part of said hinging means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. A portable display system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said hinging means comprise a plurality of corner hinges and a plurality of double hinges. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A portable display system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said hinging means comprises a hinge and a slot insert, said slot insert accommodated in said slot and means for securing the slot insert in the slot. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A portable display system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the center support structure is hollow. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A portable display system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first peripheral support means also comprises an elongated border strip member having a first portion comprising means defining two elongated parallel channels for receiving the boards and a second portion mateable with the first portion but detachable therefrom to permit removal of the boards. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A portable display system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first peripheral support means comprises an elongated border strip member having a first portion comprising two parallel channels extending substantially the entire length of said border strip member for receiving the boards, and a second portion having walls joined to form a hollow center support structure, said structure further having locking means for locking the first and second portions of the border strip member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. A lightweight portable display system comprising, a plurality of lightweight planar panels each comprising a slideably removable front board and slideably removable rear board, first and second peripheral support means to support and position said removable front and rear boards in a substantially parallel and confronting relationship so as to form a panel assembly said first peripheral support means removably positioned along at least one outer edge of said removable front and rear boards, said second peripheral support means positioned along the remaining edges of said removable front and rear boards so that said removable front and rear boards are removable from said second peripheral support means by detachment of said first peripheral support means, and by sliding said front and rear boards along said second peripheral support means, hinging means for connecting the panel assemblies to each other so that the panel assemblies can be folded between open and closed positions, wherein in said closed position all panel assemblies are compactly folded in a parallel array for ease of portability, said second peripheral support means comprising an elongated border strip member having two elongated substantially parallel channels which extend along the length of said border strip member whereby an edge of said removable boards is positioned in respective channels, said channels forming guides to enable the slideable removal of the front and rear boards, said channels formed at least in part by a center support section for spacing the boards from each other, said elongated border strip member also having means for receiving at least a part of said hinging means, said first peripheral support means comprising an elongated border strip member having a first portion at least in part forming elongated parallel channels for the board edges and a second portion normally detachable from the first portion, whereby when the second portion is detached the front and rear boards are readily slideably removable along said channels of the border strip of said second peripheral support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. A portable display system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said first portion comprises a center support structure defining on opposite sides thereof a wall of each channel, the opposite wall of each channel being defined by a wall of the second portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. A portable display system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the second portion has a U-shaped cross-section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. A portable display system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said first and second portions have mating sections enabling the second portion to be detached from the first portion for removal of the boards. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 20. A lightweight portable display comprising, at least one panel assembly comprising a slideably removable front board and a slideably removable rear board, first and second peripheral support means to support and position said removable front and rear boards in a substantially parallel and confronting relationship so as to form the panel assembly, said first peripheral support means removably positioned along at least one outer edge of said removable front and rear boards, said second peripheral support means positioned along the remaining edges of said removable front and rear boards so that said removable front and rear boards are removable from said second peripheral support means by detachment of said first peripheral support means, and by sliding said front and rear boards along said second peripheral support means, said second peripheral support means comprising an elongated border strip member having two elongated substantially parallel channels which extend substantially the entire length of said border strip member, so that an outer edge of said removable front board and rear board is positioned respectively within said channels, said channels formed at least in part by a center support section for spacing the boards from each other, said first peripheral support means comprising an elongated border strip member having a first portion at least in part forming elongated parallel channels for the board edges and a second portion detachable from the first portion whereby when the second portion is detached, front and rear boards are readily slideably removable along said channels of the border strip of said second peripheral support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. A portable display in accordance with claim 20 wherein the first portion comprises a center support structure defining on opposite sides thereof a wall of each channel, the opposite wall of each channel being defined by a wall of second portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A portable display in accordance with claim 21 wherein the second portion has a U-shaped cross-section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A portable display in accordance with claim 21 wherein the first and second portions have mating sections enabling the second portion to be detached from the first portion for removal of the boards. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 24. A portable display system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the front and rear boards are individually removable. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. A portable display system in accordance with claim 24 wherein the front board may be removed without disturbing the rear board and vice versa. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 26. A portable display system in accordance with claim 25 wherein there is provided a void space between the front and rear boards so as to make the panel assembly as light in weight as possible. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 27. A portable display system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the channel is U-shaped so as to provide a guideway for the slideable boards. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. A portable display system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said border strip means of the second peripheral support means is an integral single piece member having the center support structure on one edge and having the elongated slot along an opposite edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 29. A portable display system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said border strip means of the first peripheral support means has the first portion on one side forming the center support section and a part of the channel and on the other side having means for receiving the second portion, said second portion forming another part of the channel. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. A portable display system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the front and rear boards are easily removed and replaced with new wallboard containing new display information. .Iaddend.