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Components for assembling a modular exhibit structure are provided. These components include: frames, connectors (for connecting together frames), panels (for mounting within frames), cover plates (for mounting over sides of frames), and dust covers (for mounting over top of connected frames). These

Components for assembling a modular exhibit structure are provided. These components include: frames, connectors (for connecting together frames), panels (for mounting within frames), cover plates (for mounting over sides of frames), and dust covers (for mounting over top of connected frames). These components are configured to allow a single person to assemble an exhibit structure without any specialized tools or mechanical skills.

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1. A modular exhibit structure comprising: a plurality of upright open frames, each frame comprising an upper rail, a lower rail, and two side members extending perpendicularly between the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein an inner face of each side member has an indentation in a direction away

1. A modular exhibit structure comprising: a plurality of upright open frames, each frame comprising an upper rail, a lower rail, and two side members extending perpendicularly between the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein an inner face of each side member has an indentation in a direction away from the other side member of the frame;a plurality of elongate integrally formed connectors connecting together one of the side members of each of the frames with one of the side members of an adjacent frame, wherein each connector is independently slidable along a length of each of the adjacent side members of connected frames, and wherein each side member comprises a plurality of elongate hooks spaced apart along the side member and extending outward from the side member in a direction away from the other side member of its frame, and each connector comprises two or more connecting faces each having an elongate slot configured to engage one of the hooks;a rectangular panel removably mounted within each frame, the panel configured to fit between the two side members of the frame; andone or more cover plates removably mounted over the adjacent side members of connected frames wherein each of the cover plates has an inward face comprising one or more tabs, and the adjacent side members of connected frames comprise one or more corresponding tabs, and wherein each of the cover plates is removably mounted over the adjacent side members of connected frames by engaging the tabs of the cover plate with the corresponding tabs of the side members;wherein the indentations in the side members of each frame are configured to provide a gap between the side members of the frame and sides of the panel sufficient to allow a person to grip the sides of the panel when the panel is mounted within the frame. 2. A modular exhibit structure according to claim 1 wherein each panel comprises a first groove along a first end face, the first groove configured to directly engage the upper rail of the frame in which it is mounted, and a second groove along a second end face, the first and second end faces located at opposite ends of the panel, the second groove configured to directly engage the lower rail of the frame in which it is mounted. 3. A modular exhibit structure according to claim 1 wherein one or more holes are defined through each side member, and the panel mounted within each frame is fastened to the frame by fasteners through one or more of the holes. 4. A modular exhibit structure according to claim 1 wherein the connecting faces of one or more of the connectors comprise outer and inner walls having aligned outer and inner slots respectively, the outer slot configured to engage a base portion of one of the hooks and the inner slot configured to engage an outwardly-extending portion of the hook. 5. A modular exhibit structure according to claim 1 wherein each of the cover plates has an outward face extending between adjacent edges of adjacent panels mounted within connected frames such that the panels are visible but the connectors between connected frames and the adjacent side members are concealed. 6. A modular exhibit structure according to claim 1 comprising one or more shelves within the exhibit structure, each shelf attached to an inside face of one or more of the panels. 7. A frame component of a modular exhibit structure, the frame component configured to receive a correspondingly-sized rectangular panel, the frame component comprising: an upper rail;a lower rail;two side members extending perpendicularly between the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein an inner face of each side member has an indentation in a direction away from the other side member of the frame component, wherein the frame component is an open frame component having an opening configured to receive a panel defined between the upper rail, the lower rail and the two side members; andone or more cover plates removably mounted over the adjacent side members of connected frames wherein each of the cover plates has an inward face comprising one or more tabs, and the adjacent side members of connected frames comprise one or more corresponding tabs, and wherein each of the cover plates is removably mounted over the adjacent side members of connected frames by engaging the tabs of the cover plate with the corresponding tabs of the side members;wherein each side member comprises at least one elongate hook extending outward from the side member in a direction away from the other side member of the frame component, wherein the at least one hook is adapted to be received in a corresponding elongate slot of an elongate integrally formed connector for connecting the side member to one of the side members of an adjacent frame wherein the connector is slidable along a length of the side member and is independently slidable of other connectors; andwherein the indentations in the side members of the frame are configured to provide a gap between the side members of the frame and sides of the panel sufficient to allow a person to grip the sides of the panel when the panel is mounted within the frame. 8. A frame component according to claim 7 wherein one or more holes are defined through each of the side members, each hole configured to receive a fastener for fastening the frame component to a panel mounted between the side members. 9. A frame component according to claim 7 wherein each side member comprises a plurality of connecting tabs along front and back faces of the side member. 10. A method for assembling a modular exhibit structure, the method comprising: connecting together a plurality of upright open frames, each frame comprising an upper rail, a lower rail, and two side members extending perpendicularly between the upper rail and the lower rail and wherein an inner face of each side member has an indentation in a direction away from the other side member of the frame, by connecting together one of the side members of each of the frames to one of the side members of an adjacent frame using an elongate integrally formed connector, wherein the connector has an elongate slot for receiving a corresponding elongate hook of the side member and the connector is slidable along a length of each of the adjacent side members of connected frames and is independently slidable of other connectors;removably mounting one or more cover plates over the adjacent side members of connected frames wherein each of the cover plates has an inward face comprising one or more tabs, and the adjacent side members of connected frames comprise one or more corresponding tabs, and wherein each of the cover plates is removably mounted over the adjacent side members of connected frames by engaging the tabs of the cover plate with the corresponding tabs of the side members; andmounting a panel within each frame, the panel configured to fit between the side members of the frame;wherein the indentations in the side members of each frame are configured to provide a gap between the side members of the frame and sides of the panel sufficient to allow a person to grip the sides of the panel when the panel is mounted within the frame. 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein mounting the panel within each frame comprises lifting the panel such that a first groove along a first end face of the panel directly engages the upper rail of the frame and then lowering the panel such that a second groove along a second end face of the panel directly engages the lower rail of the frame. 12. A method according to claim 10 wherein mounting the panel within each frame comprises gripping sides of the panel at a height corresponding to the indentations in the side members of the frame. 13. A method according to claim 10 comprising fastening the panel to the frame. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein one or more holes are defined through each of the side members of each frame, and wherein fastening the panel to the frame comprises inserting hand operated fasteners through one or more of the holes to fasten the panel within the frame. 15. A method according to claim 10 wherein each side member comprises a plurality of hooks spaced apart along the side member and extending outward from the side member in a direction away from the other side member of its frame, and wherein connecting together the upright frames comprises sliding one or more connectors between adjacent side members of adjacent frames such that slots in the connectors engage the plurality of hooks. 16. A modular exhibit structure kit comprising: a plurality of open frames, each frame comprising an upper rail, a lower rail, and two side members extending perpendicularly between the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein an inner face of each side member has an indentation in a direction away from the other side member of the frame;a plurality of elongate integrally formed connectors configured to connect together one of the side members of each of the frames with one of the side members of an adjacent frame, wherein each one of the connectors has an elongate slot for receiving a corresponding elongate hook of the one of the side members of an adjacent frame and the connectors are independently slidable along a length of each of the adjacent side members of connected frames;a plurality of panels, each panel configured to fit between the two side members of one of the frames; andone or more cover plates removably mounted over the adjacent side members of connected frames wherein each of the cover plates has an inward face comprising one or more tabs, and the adjacent side members of connected frames comprise one or more corresponding tabs, and wherein each of the cover plates is removably mounted over the adjacent side members of connected frames by engaging the tabs of the cover plate with the corresponding tabs of the side members;wherein the indentations in the side members of each frame are configured to provide a gap between the side members of the frame and sides of one of the plurality of panels sufficient to allow a person to grip the sides of the panel when the panel is mounted in the frame.