Trade show booth

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to trade show booths and more particularly, to a trade show booth that is capable of being quickly and easily assembled and disassembled without the need for tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trade shows provide opportunities for businesses, industries and other organizations to exchange information as well as promote and sell their respective goods or services. At these events, exhibitors offer promotional literature and goods to potential customers in an attempt to induce customers to purchase their goods or services. Exhibitors at these events compete with one another for the attention of potential customers for potential sales. Having a well designed booth that effectively catches the attention of potential customers is important to exhibitors and can have a direct impact on an exhibitor's sales at such events.

Many exhibitors attend several events throughout the year. Because many exhibitors travel to multiple events each year, many purchase their own display materials and move them from one event to another. Some exhibitors own their own display booths which must be assembled and disassembled at each event. Such booths enable the exhibitor to design the display ahead of time. Most booths or display materials must be placed in separate shipping containers and shipped to the location of a particular event. Once the containers arrive, the event personnel typically deliver the containers to the exhibitor at an assigned display area. Then, the exhibitors must assemble the display booth, which is extremely time consuming.

As such, a need exists for a display booth that is capable of being easily assembled and disassembled while at the same time having the capability of catching the attention of potential customers.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a trade show booth that is capable of quickly and easily being assembled and disassembled while at the same time providing an eye catching look and feel to attract the attention of potential customers. In addition, the unique design provides a 360° exposure and ample counter space. In this embodiment, a plurality of base members are connected together to form a predetermined geometric shape. A plurality of inner base members are connected to the base members. The inner base members extend within the geometric shape thereby forming a plurality of countertop frames. Countertops are connected to each countertop frame. A plurality of vertical support members extend upwardly from each countertop and a plurality of top members are connected to each vertical support member.

In the preferred embodiment, the base members are removably connected to each other using a Velcro connection that is formed using a plurality of Velcro strips. The inner base members are also connected to the base members using a Velcro connection that is formed by the Velcro strips. A first support bracket is also preferentially used to connect respective ends of the inner base members to one another to provide further support for the countertops. A second support bracket is connected to the top edge of the inner base members such that the base members, the first support bracket and the second support brackets form countertop frames. The countertops are then connected to the countertop frames.

Each vertical support member is preferably removably connected to the second support brace. The vertical support members are connected to the second support brace using a Velcro connection that is formed by a female portion of Velcro on the vertical support members and a male or hook portion of Velcro on the second support bracket. Preferentially, a plurality of lighting devices are positioned within apertures located in the top member of the trade show booth. A plurality of signage pieces are also connected between each of the vertical support members.

Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of creating trade show booth that includes a plurality of base members that are removably fastened together in a predetermined geometric shape. A plurality of inner base members are removably fastened to the base members. A countertop is removably fastened with the base members and the inner base members. A plurality of vertical support members are fastened with the inner base members and extend upwardly from the countertops to provide support for a plurality of top members that are removably fastened to the vertical support members in a shape that preferentially matches the geometric shape of the base members.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are clearly illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the preferred trade show booth.

FIG. 2

is a top view of the preferred trade show booth.

FIG. 3

is a bottom view of the preferred trade show booth.

FIG. 4

is a side view of the preferred trade show booth.

FIG. 5

is another side view of the preferred trade show booth illustrating the entrance of the preferred trade show booth.

FIG. 6

illustrates the preferred countertop frames of the trade show booth.

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view of a support bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring to

FIGS. 1-5

, the present invention discloses a trade show booth

10

that includes a plurality of rectangular shaped base members

12

that are interconnected or arranged to form a predetermined geometric shape. The preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in

FIG. 1

discloses a trade show booth

10

that is formed in the geometric shape of an octagon. Although an octagon geometric shape is disclosed in the various figures, those skilled in the art should realize that other geometric shapes and configurations could be used such as a pentagon, for example. Therefore, the disclosure of an octagon trade show booth configuration should be viewed in an illustrative sense and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

Although not specifically illustrated in

FIGS. 1-5

, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the base members

12

are removably fastened together on the inside using a Velcro strip when the trade show booth

10

is assembled. A Velcro strip is used because of the ease and speed in which it may be applied and removed from the base members

12

. The preferred base members

12

are made using a corrugated plastic sheet that has been covered with an aluminum skin that is sold under the Econolite trademark. This material is strong and light weight thereby minimizing the weight of the trade show booth

10

.

In the preferred embodiment, a thin piece of carpet is adhered to the sheets of Econolite to allow Velcro pieces to readily stick to the base members

12

. The base members

12

are preferentially held together by placing Velcro strips along a connection point

14

that is formed by the mating of the edges of respective base members

12

. Approximately half of the width of the Velcro strip is placed on one edge of a respective base member

12

and the other half is placed on an edge of a respective second base member

12

. The edges of the base members

12

are preferentially designed to appear flush when they are placed together at the connection point

14

. An entrance

16

is preferably formed in the trade show booth

10

by removing one of the respective sides or base members

12

of the geometric shape.

Referring to

FIGS. 1 and 3

, a plurality of rectangular-shaped inner base members

18

are also connected to the connection point

14

of the base members

12

. The inner base members

18

extend inwardly from the outer portion of the geometric shape formed by the base members

12

as illustrated. The inner base members

18

are constructed similarly to the base members

12

. Preferentially, the Velcro strips that are used to connect the base members

12

together are also used to secure the inner base members

18

to the base members

12

. The backside of the Velcro strip is provided with the female or loop portion of Velcro and a male or hook portion of the Velcro is placed on the edge of the inner base members

18

. This is actually done by having the male or hook portion on the backside of the Velcro strip. The base unit

18

has carpet that extends from one side to the other, thus covering the end. Therefore, this could be achieved either way. As such, when the edge of the inner base members

18

are placed against the back side of the Velcro strip it causes the inner base members

18

to become fastened to the base members

12

at the connection points

14

.

Referring once again to

FIGS. 1-5

, a plurality of countertops

20

are connected to a countertop frame

22

(see

FIG. 6

) that is formed in part by an upper edge of the base member

12

and an upper edge of the inner base member

18

. Referring to

FIG. 6

, the countertop frames

22

of the trade show booth

10

are illustrated and include a first support bracket

24

and a second support bracket

26

. The first support bracket

24

extends between respective inner base members

18

and is connected to an outer edge of the inner base members

18

, preferentially using Velcro strips attached to the underside of an edge of the first support bracket

24

. Although not illustrated, a male or hook portion of a Velcro strip is also preferentially adhered to an upper surface of the first support member

24

to secure the countertops

20

to the first support bracket

24

.

Referring to

FIG. 7

, a cross-section of the second support bracket

26

is illustrated to demonstrate the manner in which the second support bracket

26

connects to the upper edge of a portion of the inner base member

18

. The second support bracket

26

includes a U-shaped notch

28

that provides a friction fit over the upper edge of the inner base member

18

. The male or hook portion of a Velcro strip

30

is adhered to the upper surface of the second support bracket

26

. The first support bracket

24

can be made of a material similar in shape to the second support bracket

26

, but can also be made of other similar shaped materials as well.

Referring once again to

FIGS. 1-6

, a countertop

20

is connected to the countertop frame

22

that is formed by a combination of the upper edge of the base member

12

, the first support bracket

24

and the second support brackets

26

. The preferred countertops

20

are formed in the shape of a trapezoid. Although not specifically illustrated, the male or hook portion of a Velcro strip is also connected to the upper edge of the base member

12

. As such, the male portions of Velcro strips on the first support bracket

24

, the second support brackets

26

and the base member

12

are fastened to a female or loop portion of at least one Velcro strip that has been adhered to the underside of the countertops

20

. The countertops

20

are thereby preferentially entirely held in position using Velcro strips thereby allowing the countertops

20

to be quickly and easily placed and removed from position. The preferred countertops

20

are made using an acrylic or plastic material; however other materials may be used as well.

As illustrated, a plurality of vertical support members

32

extend upwardly in relation to the countertops

20

. The vertical support members

32

are preferentially located toward an inside edge of the inner base members

18

. Although not specifically illustrated, the preferred countertops

20

are provided with a notched section on their outer edges that allows a bottom edge of the vertical support members

32

, which are covered with female or loop portions of Velcro, to be connected to the upper surface of the first and second support brackets

24

,

26

. The male or hook portion of the Velcro strips on the first and second support brackets

24

,

26

allows the vertical support members

32

to be fastened to the first and second support brackets

24

,

26

. The notched section in the countertops

20

allows the vertical support members

32

to appear flush with the countertops

20

. This notched out section prevents the vertical support members

32

from shifting. The preferred vertical support members

32

are made the same as the base members

12

and the inner base members

18

.

A plurality of top members

34

are connected to an upper edge of the respective vertical support members

32

to form a geometric shape almost identical to the geometric shape formed by the arrangement of the base members

12

. Although not illustrated, the male or hook portion of a Velcro strip is connected to an upper edge of the vertical support members

32

. When a top member

34

is placed in contact with the Velcro strip it causes the top member

34

to be removably fastened to the upper edge of the vertical support member

32

. A Velcro strip

36

is connected to the upper surface of the top members

34

at junction points where the top members

34

mate together. The top members

34

are preferentially made using the same material that is used to make the base members

12

, the inner base members

18

and the vertical support members

32

.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of lighting devices

38

are inserted into apertures (not illustrated) that are located in each respective top member

34

. The apertures are sized such that the lighting devices

38

snap into the apertures and remain in place through a friction fit. The lighting devices

38

may be battery operated or powered from conventional AC power sources. If an AC power source is used, although not illustrated, preferentially a Velcro strip is used to conceal the power cords as they are taken down to the power source by placing the power cords and the strips on a back edge of the vertical support members

32

. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the lighting devices

38

are halogen lights.

As further illustrated, a plurality of signage pieces

40

are connected to the vertical support members

32

and the top members

34

. The signage piece

40

extends between respective vertical support members

32

. Although not specifically illustrated, the male or hook portion of a Velcro strip is adhered to the outer edges and the upper edge of the signage piece

40

to fasten the signage piece

40

to vertical support members

32

and the top members

34

.

The trade show booth

10

disclosed herein is capable of being quickly and easily assembled and disassembled without the need of any tools. At the same time, the trade show booth

10

provides an extremely attractive look and feel that is capable of attracting potential customers.

While the invention has been described in its currently best-known modes of operation and embodiments, other modes, embodiments and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are contemplated herein.