Hub assembly for collapsible display panel

• US 20020059770A1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyline Displays Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyline Displays Incorporated
• Inventors: Fritsche, Mark A., Savoie, Troy S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,591,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/645
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0062 collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0068 Modular articulated structures, e.g. stands, and articulation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/341 Three or more radiating members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/44 Three or more members connected at single locus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/443 All encompassed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/65 Scarf
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/655 Mirror images

Abstract

A hub assembly for pivotally connecting the ends of support rods of a portable self-supporting display structure configured for a collapsed storage position and an expanded display position. The hub assembly may include first and second members and a connector. The first and second members are mated to provide bearing surfaces and to accommodate pivot pins affixed to the support rods. The connector secures the mated first and second members together by being extended through bores in the mated first and second members.

Claims

1. A collapsible display comprising a plurality of rods each with a pair of rod ends and a plurality of hub assemblies interconnecting the rods, each hub assembly comprising:

a first base portion, having an axis and a plurality of integral first socket forming extensions extending axially forward, the socket forming portions circumferentially spaced on the base portion around the axis,

a second portion having an axis and comprising a plurality of integral second socket forming extensions extending rearwardly, the second portion coaxially joinable with the first base portion, whereby the first socket forming extensions are interlaced with, and cooperate with, the second socket forming extensions to form a plurality of sockets for receiving the rod ends.

2. The collapsible display of claim 1, wherein a pair of shaft portions on each rod end engage and pivot at a juncture between the first and second base portions.

3. The collapsible display of claim 1, wherein each rod end in each socket has a axis of rotation and wherein at Least one axis of rotation is axially displaced from another axis of rotation.

4. The collapsible display of claim 1, in which the assembly defines four sockets, a first two of said sockets axially displaced with respect a second two of said sockets.

5. The collapsible display of claim 1, in which the first and second base portions are secured together by friction.

6. The collapsible display of claim 1, in which the first and second base portions are secured together by a pin portion extending through both the first and second base portions.

7. A hub assembly for connecting a plurality of rod ends for a collapsible display, each rod end having a pair of shaft portions perpendicular to the rod axis, and extending outwardly from the respective rod end, the hub assembly comprising:

a first base portion, having a axis,

a second portion having an axis, the second portion coaxially joinable with the first base portion into a fully engaged position to form a plurality of sockets circumferentially spaced around a coaxis, the sockets each sized for receiving a rod end, whereby when the first base portion and second portion are in their fully engaged position with rod ends inserted in the sockets, each pair of shaft portions of each rod end are captured in the hub assembly and wherein each of the shaft portions of each rod are removable from the hub assembly when the first base portion is separated from the second portion.

8. The hub assembly of claim 7, wherein the base portion comprises first socket forming extensions and the second portion comprises integral second socket forming extensions and wherein when the first base portion is fully engaged with the second portion, the first socket forming extensions are interleaved with the second socket forming extensions.

9. A hub assembly for connecting a plurality of rod ends of a collapsible display, each rod end having a pair of shaft portions perpendicular to the rod axis, and extending outwardly from the respective rod end, the hub assembly comprising:

a first base portion, having an axis;

a second portion having an axis, the second portion coaxially joinable with the first base portion into a fully engaged position to form a plurality of socket pairs circumferentially spaced around a coaxis, the sockets each sized for releasably receiving a rod end, each socket pair having axis of rotations of their respective rods at the same axial position, whereby when the first base portion and second portion are in their fully engaged position with rod ends inserted in the sockets, each rod end is captured in the hub assembly and at least one of the axial positions of one of the socket pairs is axially displaced from the axial position of at least one other socket pair, and wherein each of the rod ends are removable from the hub assembly when the first base portion is separated from the second portion.

17. A portable collapsible display comprising a plurality of hub assemblies connected together by a plurality of pairs of rods which each rod having a pair of ends and a mid section, a plurality of pairs of the rods connected at their mid section, each connected pair crisscrossing when the display is expanded, the display comprising a plurality of rod bearings inserted intermediate each crisscrossed pair.

18. The rod bearing comprised of a pair of opposing portions with each portion having a recess shaped to receive one of the crisscrossed rods and a flat face to engage the flat face of the opposing portion.

19. A hub assembly for connecting a plurality of rod ends of a collapsible display, each rod end having a pair of shaft portions perpendicular to the rod axis, and extending outwardly from the respective rod end, the hub assembly comprising:

a first base portion, having an axis;

a second portion having an axis, the second portion coaxially joinable with the first base portion into a fully engaged position to form a plurality of socket pairs circumferentially spaced around a coaxis, the sockets each sized for releasably receiving a rod end, each socket pair having axis of rotations of their respective rods at the same axial position, whereby when the first base portion and second portion are in their fully engaged position with rod ends inserted in the sockets, each rod end is captured in the hub assembly and at least one of the axial positions of one of the socket pairs is axially displaced from the axial position of at least one other socket pair, and wherein each of the rod ends are removable from the hub assembly when the first base portion is separated from the second portion.