Room divider system for an exhibition booth
A portable, freestanding room divider system comprises first and second sidewall partitions extending from one or more rear wall partitions to define exhibition booths. Each rear wall and side wall partition has a plurality of wall panels hinged together in a series. The rear wall partition includes first and last wall panels with end panels that have keyholes on opposites sides and an end support with wheels. An end wall panel of each sidewall partition has studs that engage the keyholes to secure the sidewall partition to the rear wall partition. At least some of the wall panels of the rear and sidewall partitions have feet projecting outward therefrom with wheels. A foot on each sidewall has a stand which raises and lowers the wheels with respect to the floor to control movement of the sidewall.
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable, freestanding room dividers, more particularly, to such room dividers for use in defining exhibition booths in large meeting halls.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trade shows and exhibitions are commonly held in a multipurpose meeting hall which often has a floor area in excess of 150,000 square feet. Although the hall is used undivided for some events, for trade shows and exhibitions it is subdivided into individual exhibit booths in which different companies display goods and services. The smallest standard exhibition booth is ten feet by ten feet, however exhibitors requiring more space can rent larger areas in ten foot by ten foot increments.
Regardless of its size, each exhibit booth is separated from the adjacent booths by pipe and drape staging. Specifically, the rear and side walls of the booth are defined by a frame of vertical and horizontal pipes from which drapes are hung to provide some degree of privacy for each exhibitor. The vertical pipes for the rear wall extend upward approximately eight feet from a movable metal plate on the hall floor, while the side wall pipes may extend the same height or be waist high from movable metal plates. The horizontal pipes have hooks at the ends which fit into brackets on the vertical pipes thereby forming the frame of the wall. The top horizontal pipe for each wall extends through a hemmed sleeve along the upper edge of the respective drape which then hangs downward from the pipe. Although the pipe and drape staging defines the exhibit booth area, it provides minimal sound insulation between booths and does not provide a surface on which exhibitors can hang displays.
The staging system for a single wall comprises many individual pieces: metal floor plates, two or more vertical pipes selected from several sizes, one or more horizontal pipes, and the fabric drape material. All of which must be stored in an organized manner between events. Wheeled carts typically are used to transport the staging materials between the storeroom and the exhibition hall. This erecting and dismantling of conventional pipe and drape staging is a labor intensive, time consuming and thus an expensive process. In addition, the nature of the use often requires that the fabric drape material be cleaned after each use.
Therefore, there is a need for a more convenient and efficient system for defining exhibition booths of various size increments of the standard ten by ten foot floor area.
Large rooms of schools and churches can be divided into smaller classrooms by portable freestanding dividers, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,848. This room divider has a plurality of hinged wall panels positioned between a pair of end members. The wall panels are supported by casters mounted on feet which project laterally from the bottom of the wall panels. The end members also are supported by casters. The combination of wall panels and end members can be folded into a compact configuration for easy movement and storage. The wall panels of the divider can be open at angles to subdivide areas for a classrooms or other uses.
Heretofore, such prior room dividers for schools and churches did not meet the needs of exhibition halls for a number of reasons. The previous dividers did not conform to the ten foot by ten foot size of the conventional exhibit booth. Dividers of different heights could not easily be attached to each other to create a sturdy standard booth. The rear and side walls of the booth have to be secured to each other not only to prevent separation during use, but for added stability when exhibitors hang heavy displays on the walls. The side walls have to be immobilized during use to withstand people pushing against the walls. Furthermore conventional room dividers do not have handles for easy gripping in order to move the units and do not have a self contained means to lock adjacent room dividers in a 180° position needed to create the perimeter of an exhibit booth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA portable, freestanding room divider system is provided to break up a large hall into one or more exhibition booths. In its basic form, this system comprises first and second sidewall partitions extending from a rear wall partition.
The rear wall partition is formed by a plurality of wall panels connected together in a series by hinges at their vertical edges. A first wall panel and a last wall panel in the series both have a section along an outer edge that has two opposing sides with a first connector element on each of those sides. A first plurality of feet project outward from at least some of the plurality of wall panels and have wheels thereon to support the rear wall partition on a floor. A first end support extends transversely outward from each side of the first wall panel and a second end support extends transversely outward from each side of the last wall panel. Both of the first and second end supports have a pair of wheels for engaging the floor.
The first sidewall partition is connected to the first wall panel and the second sidewall partition is connected to the last wall panel, thereby defining three sides of the exhibition booth. Each of the first and second sidewall partitions includes a plurality of sidewall panels connected together in a series by hinges. A first sidewall panel in the series has second connector element that releasably engages one of the first connector elements on the rear wall partition. A second plurality of feet project outward from at least some of the plurality of sidewall panels with at least one wheel thereon for supporting the respective sidewall partition on the floor.
In a preferred embodiment, a last sidewall panel in the series has a support stand that in a first position engages the floor to resist movement of the sidewall and in a second position allows the sidewall to move on the floor. Preferably, the first connector element on the rear wall partition comprises a pair of keyholes and the second connector element on the sidewall partition comprises a pair of studs that are releasably captivated in the pair of keyholes to secure the sidewall partition to the rear wall partition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference to
Three of the three wall panels 17, 18 and 19 have a separate foot 32 extending transversely across their bottom edges so as to project outward from both sides of the respective wall panel. A swivel caster 34 is mounted at each end of the foot 32. The swivel caster 34 are self leveling in that each comprises a wheel held in a mounting bracket from which a rod extends upward through the foot 32. A spring around the rod biases the mounting bracket downward with respect to the foot 32.
The first and last wall panels 16 and 20 in the series that forms the rear wall partition 12 are wider than the other wall panels because the first and last wall panels include a narrower metal end plate 21 or 22 rigidly attached to the outer vertical edge of the respective wall panel. Alternatively the fabric or vinyl covered portion of the first and last wall panels 16 and 20 themselves may be wider than the intermediate wall panels 17, 18 and 19. As will be described, the end plates 21 and 22 have elements of connecting mechanisms which enable the side wall partitions 14 and 15 to be securely fastened to the rear wall partition 12. An end support 24 or 26 extends transversely to each end plate 21 and 22, respectively, and has a rectangular frame that is attached to the adjacent end plate 21 or 22. The details of that attachment are shown in
With reference to
Referring again to
The foot 56, attached to the side wall end plate 52 at the remote end of the side wall 14 or 15 from the rear wall 12, has a support stand 66 pivotally attached thereto. As depicted in
The end plate 54 at the opposite end of each sidewall 14 and 15 is coupled to an end plate 21 or 22 of the rear wall partition 12. As shown in
As also shown in
When the present room divider system is used to subdivide a large hall into a plurality of exhibition booths as shown in
Referring to the configuration 100 of a plurality of exhibition booths shown in
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present room divider system with the unique fastening mechanism can be interlocked in a large variety of configurations to provide exhibition booths that are customized to the needs of a particular exhibitor. Those configurations include sidewall or rear wall partitions positioned in a continuous straight line, partitions interlocked at 90° or 270° orientations, and any curvilinear configurations as allowed by such positioning of the hinged panels
The foregoing description was primarily directed to preferred embodiments of the invention. Although some attention was given to various alternatives within the scope of the invention, it is anticipated that one skilled in the art will likely realize additional alternatives that are now apparent from disclosure of embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims and not limited by the above disclosure.
Claims
1. A portable, freestanding room divider system for defining an exhibition booth comprising:
- a rear wall partition having a plurality of wall panels connected in a first series by hinges, a first wall panel and a last wall panel in the first series each having a first side with a first pair of keyholes and an opposite second side with a second pair of keyholes, a plurality of feet projecting outward from at least some of the plurality of wall panels wherein the plurality of feet have wheels thereon for supporting the rear wall partition on a floor, a first end support attached transversely to the first wall panel, and a second end support attached transversely to the last wall panel, the first and second end support each having two wheels for engaging the floor; and
- a pair of sidewall partitions which are shorter than the rear wall partition and releasably connected to different ones of the first wall panel and the last wall panel thereby defining three sides of the exhibition booth, wherein each sidewall partition includes a plurality of sidewall panels connected in a second series by hinges, a first sidewall panel in the second series has a first vertical edge from which a pair of studs project and releasably engage two of the keyholes in the rear wall partition, and a plurality of feet projecting outward from at least some of the plurality of sidewall panels with a wheel thereon for supporting the respective sidewall partition on the floor.
2. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first wall panel and the last wall panel each has another pair of keyholes in an outer edge.
3. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second pairs of keyholes in the first wall panel are on a remote side of the end support from an adjacent wall panel in the series; and the first and second pairs of keyholes in the last wall panel are on a remote side of the end support from an adjacent wall panel in the series.
4. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 the first wall panel and the last wall panel each has an end plate fixedly attached to a vertical edge and the keyholes are located in the end plate and one of the first end support and the second end support that is attached to the end plate.
5. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first wall panel has at least one slot for receiving a connector on a pipe for pipe and drape staging; and the last wall panel has at least one slot for receiving a connector on a pipe for pipe and drape staging.
6. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein a last sidewall panel in the series further comprises a surface with a pair of keyholes in an exposed edge.
7. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein a last sidewall panel in the series of each sidewall partition further comprises a support stand which in a first position engages the floor to raise the wheels of a foot connected to the last sidewall panel above the floor, and in a second position the support stand enables the wheels to engage the floor.
8. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein first wall panel further comprises a first connector for interlocking with an adjacent rear wall partition; and the last wall panel each has a second connector for interlocking with another adjacent rear wall partition.
9. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein first wall panel has a handle attached thereto.
10. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 1 wherein first sidewall panel has a handle attached thereto.
11. A portable, freestanding room divider system for defining an exhibition booth comprising:
- a first rear wall partition having a plurality of wall panels connected in a series by hinges, a first wall panel and a last wall panel in the series each having a section along an outer edge that has two opposing sides each with a first connector element, a plurality of feet projecting outward from at least some of the plurality of wall panels and having wheels thereon for supporting the rear wall partition on a floor, and a first end support extending transversely outward from the first wall panel and a second end support extending transversely outward the last wall panel, wherein each of the first end support and second end support has a pair of wheels for engaging the floor; and
- a first sidewall partition connected to the first wall panel and a second sidewall partition connected to the last wall panel thereby defining three sides of the exhibition booth, wherein the first and second sidewall partitions each includes a plurality of sidewall panels connected in a series by hinges, a first sidewall panel in the series has second connector element that releasably engages one of the first connector elements on the rear wall partition, and a plurality of feet projecting outward from at least some of the plurality of sidewall panels with at least one wheel thereon for supporting the respective sidewall partition on the floor, wherein a last sidewall panel in the series has a support stand that in a first position engages the floor to resist movement of the sidewall and in a second position allows the sidewall to move on the floor.
12. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 11 wherein the support stand in the first position raises wheels, on a foot attached to the last sidewall panel, above off the floor and in the second position allows those wheels to engage the floor.
13. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 11 wherein the first sidewall partition and the second sidewall partition are less than half the height of the rear wall partition.
14. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 11 wherein the section along an outer edge of each of the first wall panel and the last wall panel is formed by an end plate fixedly attached to the respective wall panel.
15. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 11 wherein the first connector element comprises a pair of keyholes; and the second connector element comprises a pair of studs that are releasably received in a pair of keyholes.
16. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 11 wherein the first wall panel and the last wall panel each has a surface with two keyholes.
17. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 11 wherein the section along an outer edge of the first wall panel has at least one slot for receiving a connector of a pipe used in pipe and drape staging; and the section along an outer edge of the last wall panel has at least one slot for receiving a connector of a pipe used in pipe and drape staging.
18. The portable, freestanding room divider system recited in claim 11 wherein a last sidewall panel in the series further comprises a pair of keyholes in an exposed edge.
19. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 11 wherein first wall panel further comprises a first component of connector for interlocking to an adjacent rear wall partition; and the last wall panel each has a second component of connector for interlocking to another adjacent rear wall partition.
20. A portable, freestanding room divider system for defining a plurality of exhibition booths in a room comprising:
- a plurality of rear wall partitions extending end to end in a line, each rear wall partition having a plurality of wall panels connected in a series by hinges, a first wall panel and a last wall panel in the series each having a pair of keyholes on opposite sides of a section along an outer edge, a plurality of feet projecting outward from at least some of the plurality of wall panels and having wheels thereon for engaging a floor of the room, and a separate end support extending transversely outward from the first wall panel and the last wall panel with and having a pair of wheels for engaging the floor; and
- a plurality of pairs of sidewall partitions extending transversely from opposite sides of the plurality of rear wall partitions, each sidewall partition including a plurality of sidewall panels connected in a series by hinges, a first sidewall panel in the series has a first vertical edge from which a pair of studs project and engage two of the keyholes in a rear wall partition, and a plurality of feet projecting outward from at least some of the plurality of sidewall panels with a wheel thereon for supporting the respective sidewall partition on the floor.
21. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 20 wherein a last sidewall panel in the series of each sidewall partition further comprises a support stand which in a first position engages the floor to raise the wheels of the foot connected to the last sidewall panel above the floor, and in a second position the support stand enables the wheels to engage the floor.
22. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 20 wherein a last sidewall panel in the series of each further comprises a pair of keyholes in an exposed edge.
23. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a connector for interlocking adjacent rear wall partitions together.
24. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 20 wherein first wall panel of each rear wall partition has a handle attached thereto.
25. The portable, freestanding room divider system as recited in claim 20 wherein each first sidewall panel has a handle attached thereto.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2004
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2005
Inventor: Paul Maas (Riverwoods, IL)
Application Number: 10/799,082