Support frame kit for canopies, display racks and the like
A support frame kit for canopies and display racks includes vertical posts and horizontal rails which are coupled to one another by square sockets mounted on the posts which receive square pintles projecting from the ends of the rails. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the rails are secured to the posts by removable pins and provide support for a canopy which is attached at its periphery to peripheral rails by attachment loops. In another embodiment of the invention rails are joined by struts and project from couplings fixed to the posts to provide shelves of a display rack.
1. An arrangement for supporting a canopy suitable for accommodating people and items of interest to retail consumers, the arrangement comprising in combination:
an array of rectangular posts, each post having four vertical sides, a top end and a bottom end with a rail coupling at the top end, the rail coupling consisting essentially of a rectangular socket fixed to each of the vertical sides;
an array of rectangular rails, each having post couplings consisting essentially of a rectangular pintle projecting therefrom at first and second ends thereof;
a canopy support frame consisting essentially of the rectangular rails being supported in spaced relation to the ground by receipt of the rectangular pintles in the rectangular sockets of at least four vertically disposed posts with the connected post and rail couplings being the only couplings attaching the vertically extending posts to one another thereby providing unobstructed vertical spaces between adjacent posts, and
a canopy connected to the rails and held in spaced relation to the ground by the posts to at least shield ground beneath the canopy from sun light.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the canopy support frame includes interior posts with each post coupled to four rails to provide interior supports and exterior posts each being coupled to two rails and located beneath the periphery of the canopy.
3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the pintles are retained within the sockets by pins which pass through holes in the pintles and sockets.
4. The arrangement of claim 3 further including a supporting base for at least some of the posts, the supporting base comprising a container having concrete therein holding vertical a post support which is received in or over one of the posts.
5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the posts, sockets, rails and pintles are square.
6. The arrangement of claim 5 further including therewith, a support frame assembled from a support frame kit and at least one shelf assembled therewith to form a display rack, the combination comprising:
a pair of square posts each having a pair of square sockets fixed adjacent to upper and lower ends thereof, as well as at least one location between the upper and lower ends;
a pair of base rails, each having a square pintle inserted into one of the square sockets adjacent to the lower end of one of the posts to support the posts in a vertical orientation,
at least one pair of rails having pintles inserted into a pair of sockets above the lower ends of the posts, the at least one pair of rails having a horizontal shelf fixed thereto to laterally brace the posts and to support display items thereon.
7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the shelf is comprised of a plurality of struts welded to the rails.
8. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein there is more than one shelf disposed above the base rails.
9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the canopy is made of flexible fabric.