초록 ▼

A display system and structure is disclosed generally comprising a vertical post assembly and a horizontal beam assembly coupled thereto, wherein the beam assembly includes a beam, a housing, and a plate assembly extractable from the housing, which plate assembly has at least two plates, which, when

A display system and structure is disclosed generally comprising a vertical post assembly and a horizontal beam assembly coupled thereto, wherein the beam assembly includes a beam, a housing, and a plate assembly extractable from the housing, which plate assembly has at least two plates, which, when separated, secure the beam assembly to the post assembly. In some embodiments, the plates have ridges that fit into a channel in the post assembly. In some embodiments, the post assembly includes a spline with a slot, and the plates have tongues which fit into the slot.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A display structure, comprising: at least one vertical post assembly having a cavity therein, said cavity having two opposing walls; and at least one beam assembly including: a beam; a connector housing; and a plate assembly disposed in, and extractable from, said connector h

What is claimed is: 1. A display structure, comprising: at least one vertical post assembly having a cavity therein, said cavity having two opposing walls; and at least one beam assembly including: a beam; a connector housing; and a plate assembly disposed in, and extractable from, said connector housing such that said plate assembly forms an extension of said housing when extracted therefrom, which extension is insertable into said cavity, said plate assembly comprising a plurality of parallel connector plates; and wherein at least one of said plates is displaceable away from at least one other of said plates when said plate assembly is extracted from said housing and inserted into said cavity such that said plates remain parallel and abut said opposing walls of said cavity, whereby said plate assembly is secured to said vertical post assembly. 2. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a spline having at least one connection slot therein, wherein: said cavity includes at least one spline channel; said spline is disposed in said spline channel; at least one of said plates includes a tongue extending longitudinally therefrom; and said tongue is insertable into said at least one connection slot. 3. The display system of claim 2, wherein said tongue has at least one ridge on at least one face thereof, which at least one ridge abuts a face of said spline when said plate assembly is inserted in said cavity and said at least one plate is displaced away from said at least one other plate, thereby preventing retraction of said plate assembly. 4. The display system of claim 2, wherein: said spline includes a tongue-locking channel defined by at least one groove in said spline, which groove faces said connection slot; and said tongue has at least one ridge on at least one face thereof, which at least one ridge is disposed in said at least one groove in said spline when said plate assembly is inserted in said cavity and said at least one plate is displaced away from said at least one other plate. 5. The display system of claim 2, wherein said spline further has at least one threaded aperture therein for attaching peripheral objects. 6. The display system of claim 1, wherein: said cavity includes a plate-locking channel defined by at least one furrow in at least one of said opposing walls; and at least one of said plates has at least one ridge on at least one face thereof, which at least one ridge is disposed in said at least one furrow when said plate assembly is inserted in said cavity and said at least one plate is displaced away from said at least one other plate. 7. The display system of claim 6, further comprising a spline having at least one connection slot therein, wherein: said cavity further includes at least one spline channel; said spline is disposed in said spline channel; at least one of said plates includes a tongue extending longitudinally therefrom; and said tongue is insertable into said at least one connection slot. 8. The display system of claim 7, wherein said tongue has at least one ridge on at least one face thereof, which at least one ridge abuts a face of said spline when said plate assembly is inserted in said cavity and said at least one plate is displaced away from said at least one other plate, thereby preventing retraction of said plate assembly. 9. The display system of claim 7, wherein: said spline includes a tongue-locking channel defined by at least one groove in said spline, which groove faces said connection slot; and said tongue has at least one ridge on at least one face thereof, which at least one ridge is disposed in said at least one groove in said spline when said plate assembly is inserted in said cavity and said at least one plate is displaced away from said at least one other plate. 10. The display system of claim 7, wherein said spline further has at least one threaded aperture therein for attaching peripheral objects. 11. The display structure of claim 1, wherein: said plate assembly further comprises at least one separation screw; at least one of said plates has a threaded aperture therein; and said separation screw is threaded through said aperture, such that said screw may be rotated to displace said plate having said aperture further away from said at least one other plate. 12. The display structure of claim 1, wherein: said housing has an extraction slot therein; and said beam assembly further comprises a pin coupled to at least one of said plates and extending laterally therefrom and through said extraction slot, by which pin said plate assembly may be extracted from, and retracted into, said housing. 13. The display structure of claim 12, wherein said pin is a screw that can be tightened such that said plate assembly can be secured in either an extracted or retracted position. 14. The display structure of claim 1, wherein said vertical post assembly further comprises an adjustable base. 15. The display structure of claim 14, wherein said adjustable base comprises: an internally threaded bottom post cap; a base support member having a top side and a bottom side; and a jackscrew secured to said base support member by a nut at said bottom side thereof and extending vertically from said top side thereof and screwed into said cap. 16. A display structure, comprising: at least two vertical post assemblies and at least two horizontal beam assemblies coupled thereto defining a plane having a perimeter and four corners; wherein at least one of said vertical post assemblies has a cavity therein, said cavity having two opposing walls; and wherein at least one of said horizontal beam assemblies includes: a beam; a connector housing; and a plate assembly disposed in, and extractable from, said connector housing such that said plate assembly forms an extension of said housing when extracted therefrom, which extension is insertable into said cavity, said plate assembly comprising a plurality of connector plates; wherein at least one of said plates is displaceable away from at least one other of said plates when said plate assembly is extracted from said housing and inserted into said cavity such that said plates abut said opposing walls of said cavity, whereby said plate assembly is secured to said vertical post assembly; at least one corner tensioning device coupled to at least one of said vertical post assemblies at least one of said corners, including: two guide wheels connected by a center member; a threaded rod connected to said center member and extending laterally therefrom; a worm wheel disposed on said threaded rod; a guide rail connected to said center member and extending laterally therefrom; and a biasing wheel disposed on said guide rail and coupled to said worm wheel; and a cable extending around said perimeter and disposed on said tensioning device such that said cable loops down around the bottom of one of said guide wheels, up around the top of said biasing wheel, and then down around the bottom of said other guide wheel; wherein turning the worm wheel in one direction moves said biasing wheel along said guide rail away from said guide wheels, thereby tensioning said cable. 17. A display structure, comprising: at least two vertical post assemblies and at least two horizontal beam assemblies coupled thereto defining a plane having a perimeter and four corners; a cable guide member coupled to said vertical post assembly at each said corner; a cable extending around said perimeter and disposed on said cable guide members; and an in-line tensioning device, including: a top portion having an internally protruding center portion; and a bottom portion having an internally protruding right portion and an internally protruding left portion; wherein, when said bottom portion is displaced under said cable, said top portion can be clamped over said cable and to said bottom portion, thereby forcing said cable up over said protruding right portion, down under said protruding center portion, and up over said protruding left portion, thereby increasing the tension in said cable. 18. The display structure of claim 17, wherein: said top portion has a plurality of teeth; and said bottom portion has a plurality of notches into which said teeth fit, such that the tension in said cable may be further increased by further squeezing said top portion and said bottom portion together over successive numbers of said teeth. 19. A method of assembling display systems, comprising: providing a vertical post assembly including a cavity with a channel therein; providing a beam assembly including a connector housing and a plate assembly having two parallel plates with ridges on the outer faces thereof disposed in the housing; moving the plate assembly into the cavity; and exerting a force to separate the plates when the ridges are coplanar with the channel so that the plates remain parallel and the ridges enter the channel, thereby retaining the plate assembly in the cavity. 20. A display structure, comprising: at least one vertical post assembly having a cavity therein, said cavity having two opposing walls and at least one spline channel; and at least one beam assembly including: a beam; a connector housing; and a plate assembly disposed in, and extractable from, said connector housing such that said plate assembly forms an extension of said housing when extracted therefrom, which extension is insertable into said cavity, said plate assembly comprising a plurality of connector plates, at least one of said plates having a tongue extending longitudinally therefrom; and a spline disposed in said spline channel, said spline comprising a support member having at least one connection slot into which said tongue is inserted when said extension is inserted into said cavity; wherein at least one of said plates is displaceable away from at least one other of said plates when said plate assembly is extracted from said housing and inserted into said cavity such that said plates abut said opposing walls of said cavity, whereby said plate assembly is secured to said vertical post assembly.