Wall system, power distributor and frame for a wall system

Abstract

The invention relates to a wall system for a sales stand or exhibition stand, comprising frames (30) which each support metal busbars (511, 512), wall elements (10) for fastening to the frames (30), wherein the wall elements (10) have electrical connection contacts (13, 14) for contacting the busbars (511, 512), a carrier plate (13), conductor tracks (11, 12) which are arranged next to one another and are each electrically conductively connected to one of the connection contacts (13, 14), and a cover layer (18). According to the invention, the wall system includes a column (41) which contains a power distributor (40) which has an electrically insulating underside, a first set of electrical contacts (43) which are distributed in the peripheral direction and are electrically connected to one another, an electrically insulating intermediate layer (44), a second set of electrical contacts (45) which are distributed in the peripheral direction, are electrically connected to one another and are electrically insulated from the first set of electrical contacts (43), and an electrically insulating top side, and the frames (30) support electrical wires (60, 61) in order to connect electrical contacts (45, 43) of the power distributor to busbars (511, 512). The invention also relates to a power distributor and to a frame for a wall system.

Description

[0001] patent application

[0002] Wall system, power distribution box and frame for a wall system

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to a wall system for a sales or exhibition stand. A wall system with the features mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 2020 / 201396 A1. Such wall systems comprise a frame with busbars and wall elements that are attached to the frame. The wall elements have electrical connection contacts for connecting to the busbars, a carrier plate, adjacent conductor tracks that are electrically connected to the contacts, and a cover layer. Adjacent conductor tracks of the wall elements are electrically insulated from one another. Walls constructed from such a wall system can be used, for example, in shops or at trade fairs for the presentation of goods.

[0005] Electrical devices, such as monitors, can be magnetically attached to the wall and connected to a power supply via current collectors that contact conductive traces in the wall elements with multiple pins. Such current collectors are known, for example, from DE 10 2019 108 726 A1 and WO 2023 / 110985 A1.

[0006] One advantage of such wall systems is that a wall constructed from them can be flexibly adapted to changing requirements. For example, when redecorating a shop, electrical appliances can simply be removed from the wall and installed elsewhere without requiring qualified electricians.

[0007] Particularly in trade fair construction, an important requirement for wall systems is that the assembly and disassembly of walls that enable the power supply of monitors and similar devices can be carried out as quickly and with as little effort as possible.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to show a way in which this requirement can be met even better.

[0009] This problem is solved by a wall system with the features specified in claim 1, by a power distributor according to claim 1, and by a frame according to claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

[0010] A wall system according to the invention comprises, in addition to frames and wall elements, a column with a power distributor having circumferentially distributed electrical contacts. The contacts are uniformly distributed circumferentially and, for example, arranged in a cross shape. A column with such a power distributor makes it possible to construct several walls at right angles to each other or in a line and to connect them electrically via the power distributor, so that a single power connection is sufficient for the connected walls. Instead of a cross-shaped arrangement, the electrical contacts can also be arranged at an angle of 60° to each other, thus enabling a honeycomb-shaped arrangement of the walls, or only two pairs of contacts can be arranged opposite each other. Further alternatives are arrangements of the electrical contacts according to the outer sides of a triangle, i.e.,at an angle of 120°, an octagon or any other geometric polygon.

[0011] In particular, in trade fair construction, the use of wall systems of the type mentioned above is significantly facilitated by a column according to the invention with power distributors according to the invention.

[0012] Power distribution units for such a wall system can be designed in various ways. In one possible embodiment of the invention, a power distribution unit according to the invention comprises: a housing for mounting on a column, a first set of electrical contacts that are electrically connected to one another, a second set of electrical contacts that are electrically connected to one another and electrically insulated from the first set of electrical contacts, and at least two circumferentially opposed supports, each of which is movable along a guide in the axial direction, wherein one electrical contact of the first set and one electrical contact of the second set are attached to each support.

[0013] Such a power distribution box is designed to be mounted on a column of a wall system, for example at one end of the column, so that its axial direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the column. The axial movement of the supports, i.e., along the length of the column, advantageously allows the contacts to be shifted to compensate for any slope in the floor between adjacent columns. Alternatively or additionally, such a power distribution box can also be used as part of a cross member of a frame to connect wall panels to a power supply.

[0014] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the guides of such a current distributor are each designed as a slot in the housing, and one of the supports is arranged in each of these slots. In an alternative embodiment, a current distributor can comprise: a first electrically insulating body forming a bottom surface of the current distributor, a first set of circumferentially distributed electrical contacts that are electrically connected to one another, an electrically insulating intermediate layer, a second set of circumferentially distributed electrical contacts that are electrically connected to one another and electrically insulated from the first set of electrical contacts by the intermediate layer, and a second electrically insulating body forming a top surface of the current distributor.The electrical contacts of the first and second sets can, for example, each be arranged in a cross shape.

[0015] A current distributor according to the invention can be attached to the upper or lower end of a column or, for example, form a middle section of a column. To facilitate this, the current distributor can have a projection that can be inserted into a suitable opening in the column. A suitable projection can be provided with minimal effort on the underside of the first electrically insulating body and / or on the top side of the second electrically insulating body. The electrically insulating bodies can, for example, be manufactured cost-effectively from plastic. The column can, for example, be made from one or more extruded profiles.

[0016] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that a first metal body is arranged between the first electrically insulating body and the electrically insulating intermediate layer, and a second metal body is arranged between the electrically insulating intermediate layer and the second electrically insulating body. These metal bodies provide an electrical connection between the electrical contacts of the first set and between the electrical contacts of the second set. The electrical contacts can be formed by the metal bodies themselves, for example, by cross-shaped arrangements of the outer surfaces of the metal bodies. Preferably, however, the electrical contacts are formed by cross-shaped arrangements of permanent magnets that are attached to the respective metal bodies, for example, by being located in bores in the metal bodies.Magnetic forces can then facilitate the establishment of an electrical connection to corresponding terminals on an adjacent wall.

[0017] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the frames have electrical connection contacts, for example at their upper and / or lower ends. The connection contacts are preferably arranged in the end faces of the frame legs. In this way, frames can be placed next to each other and electrically connected to each other via their connection contacts.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting contacts of the frames can contain permanent magnets. These connecting contacts can then be moved by magnetic attraction of a mating contact against the force of a return spring. In this way, electrical contact can be achieved very easily when frames are placed next to each other to form a longer wall (i.e., a length of two or more frame widths).

[0019] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained with reference to exemplary embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings. Identical and corresponding components are identified by matching reference numerals in the various drawings. The drawings show:

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of walls with electrical appliances attached to them;

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a wall element;

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the wall element with coating;

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the wall element with a current collector;

[0024] Fig. 5 schematically shows an enlarged view of the pantograph; Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of busbars with wall elements attached to them;

[0025] Fig. 7 shows a frame with a wall element attached to it;

[0026] Fig. 8 shows a detailed view of the frame shown in Fig. 7;

[0027] Fig. 9 two frames arranged transversely to each other and a column with a power distributor;

[0028] Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal section of a power distribution board;

[0029] Fig. 11 shows a cross-section of the power distributor from Fig. 10 along the section line AA;

[0030] Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of a crossbeam with cables and clamping elements for electrical connecting cables;

[0031] Fig. 13 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a power distributor according to the invention; and

[0032] Fig. 14 shows a side view of another embodiment of a frame of a wall system.

[0033] Figure 1 schematically depicts a presentation or measuring stand 100, which has several wall elements 10 with electrical loads 5 attached to them. Each side of the presentation or measuring stand 100 can be composed of a plurality of individual wall elements 10, the construction of which is explained below.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a wall element 10 without a cover layer. The wall element 10 has first electrical conductors 11 of a first polarity and second electrical conductors 12 of a second polarity. The first and second electrical conductors 11, 12 are arranged alternately, at least in sections, and are electrically insulated from each other. Fig. 3 shows the wall element 10 with its electrically insulating cover layer 18.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows a side view of a wall element 10 and a current collector 20 attached to the wall element 10. Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of the current collector 20 on the wall element 10. The wall element

[0036] The wall element 10 has a carrier plate 15, for example made of ferromagnetic steel, which is electrically insulated from the conductor tracks 11, 12 by an insulating layer (not shown). The wall element 10 has a first electrical connection contact 13 and a second electrical connection contact 14. As shown in Fig. 4, the first electrical connection contact 13 is electrically connected to the first electrical conductor tracks 11. The second electrical connection contact 14 is electrically connected to the second electrical conductor tracks 12. The first electrical connection contact 13 and the second electrical connection contact 14 are arranged on the back side of the carrier plate 15. For example, planar connection contacts 13, 14 can be provided.

[0037] The current collector 20 has a plurality of at least two, in particular at least three, contact pins 21a, 21b, 21c. The current collector 20 is designed to be attached to the wall element 10 such that at least one of the contact pins 21a contacts one of the first electrical conductors.

[0038] 11 is contacted and at least one other contact needle 21b is contacted by one of the second electrical conductors. A first contact needle 21a, a second contact needle 21b, and a third contact needle 21c of the majority of contact needles can be arranged such that they lie on a circle.

[0039] To attach the current collector 20 to the wall element 10, the wall element 10 and the current collector 20 can be configured such that the current collector can be magnetically attached to the wall element. For example, the current collector 20 can have one or more magnets 32. The conductor tracks 11, 12 and / or the mounting plate can have a magnetic material so that the current collector can adhere to them by magnetic force.

[0040] The contact pins 21a-c of the current collector can be connected to a rectifier 22. The rectifier can be part of the current collector or part of an electrical load 5 that can be connected to the current collector. The rectifier 22 is configured to provide an output voltage of defined polarity based on an input voltage applied to at least two of the contact pins 21a-c. For this purpose, output pins 24a, 24b can be provided, to which an electrical load 5 can be connected. The rectifier can have at least two, in particular at least three, inputs 23a-c and two outputs 24a,b, each of the at least three inputs 23a-c being connected or connectable to a respective contact pin 21ac. The current collector can have a contact spring 26 for the contact pins to provide a defined contact pressure.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a wall 500 with busbars 511, 512 and wall elements 10 attached to them. In the example shown, busbars 511 are connected to the positive terminal of a voltage source 600 and busbars 512 to the negative terminal of the voltage source 600. The busbars 511, 512 are provided with openings 540 into which the wall elements 10 engage with projections 410 on their rear side. The busbars can be part of a frame that supports the wall elements 10 or can themselves be attached to such a frame.

[0042] Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a frame 30 with a wall element 10 attached to it. In this frame 30, the busbars are integrated into longitudinal legs 34 of the frame and are connected to a voltage source via transverse legs 31. The frame 30 has electrical contacts 32 at its upper and / or lower end, for example, on an end face of the transverse legs 31. Fig. 8 shows a detailed view of the frame 30 looking at the end face of a transverse leg 31. The electrical contacts 32 of the frame 30 can be formed by permanent magnets, which are movably or rigidly connected to the frame against the force of a return spring. In the embodiment shown, the electrical contacts 32 are arranged one above the other, i.e., side by side in the longitudinal direction of the frame 30. However, the contacts can also be arranged side by side in the thickness direction, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the frame surface.

[0043] The cross members 31 can be extruded profiles containing channels in which electrical conductors, in particular cables, run, leading to the contacts 32. The cross members 31 can have an opening 33 for routing connecting conductors. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 33 are arranged on the front and back of the cross member 33. In addition to the cross members 31 shown, the frame 10 can also have cross braces that can likewise carry electrical conductors. The cross members and cross braces are therefore referred to as crossbeams.

[0044] Figure 9 schematically shows frames 30 arranged transversely to one another. These frames 30, more precisely their electrical contacts 32, are electrically connected to one another via a column 41, which contains one or more power distributors 40.

[0045] Fig. 10 schematically shows an embodiment of such a power distributor 40 with a section of the column 41 in a longitudinal section. Fig. 11 schematically shows a cross-section of the power distributor 40 along section line AA. The power distributor 40 has a first electrically insulating body 42, which forms a bottom surface of the power distributor, a first set of cross-shaped electrical contacts 43, which are electrically connected to one another, an electrically insulating intermediate layer 44, a second set of cross-shaped electrical contacts 45, which are electrically connected to one another and electrically insulated from the first set of electrical contacts 43, and a second electrically insulating body 46, which forms a top surface of the power distributor. The electrical contacts 43 of the first set are thus arranged at an angle of 90° to one another.Similarly, the electrical contacts 45 of the second set are arranged at an angle of 90° to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical contacts 42, 43 contain permanent magnets. For example, permanent magnets, in particular rare-earth magnets such as NdFeB magnets, can be integrated into electrically conductive material.

[0046] The first set of electrical contacts 43 is electrically connected to each other via a first metal body 47. The second set of electrical contacts 45 is electrically connected to each other via a second metal body 48. The electrical contacts 43, 45 can be arranged in bores of the respective metal body 47, 48, for example, by being pressed or screwed in. Alternatively, the electrical contacts 43, 45 can also be movably mounted on the metal bodies 47, 48 against the force of a return spring.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the plastic bodies 42, 46 and the two metal bodies 47, 48 are connected to each other by a screw 49. However, the plastic bodies 42, 46 and the two metal bodies 47, 48 can also be connected to each other in other ways, for example by gluing. In a power distributor 40, projections of the electrically insulating bodies 42, 47 or of the intermediate layer 44 can extend into the metal bodies 47, 48, thus simplifying the assembly of the power distributor 40.

[0048] To facilitate the mounting of the power distributor 40 on the column 41, the first and / or the second plastic body 42, 46 can have a projection 50 that extends into a longitudinally extending cavity of the column 41. For example, the column 41 can be designed as an extruded profile.

[0049] The plan of column 41 and electrical distribution box 40 can have a chamfer 51 between adjacent side surfaces. Such a chamfer 51 can facilitate the routing of a covering, such as a poster, from one wall over column 41 to an adjacent wall.

[0050] As already mentioned in connection with Fig. 7, crossbeams of the frame 30 can have an opening 33 through which conductors arranged in the crossbeam can be connected. Fig. 12 schematically shows a section of a cross leg 31 in which conductors 60, 61, for example insulated wires, run. These conductors 60, 61, can each be connected to further conductors via clamping elements 62. The clamping elements 62 are metal bodies that have openings 63 on opposite side surfaces in which the stripped ends of the conductors 60, 61 are inserted and held there by means of screws 64 that are inserted into threaded bores extending transversely to the openings. Another side of the clamping elements 62 has further openings 65 for connecting conductors, which can also be held there by screws in threaded bores extending transversely to the openings 65 and can be led out of an opening 33 of the crossbeam.

[0051] Fig. 13 shows another embodiment of a power distribution unit 40 for a wall system for a sales or exhibition stand. This power distribution unit 40 is intended to be mounted on a column 41, as shown schematically in Fig. 9, for example at an upper end of the column 41. The power distribution unit 40 has a housing 52, for example made of an electrically insulating plastic. On at least two opposite sides of the housing 52, there is an electrical contact 43 of the first set and an electrical contact 43 of the second set.

[0052] The contacts 43 of the second set are arranged. The contacts 43 of the first set are electrically connected to each other, for example by cables or other conductors inside the housing 52. Similarly, the electrical contacts 45 of the second set are also electrically connected to each other. The contacts 43 of the first set are electrically insulated from the contacts 45 of the second set.

[0053] Each electrical contact 43 of the first set and one electrical contact

[0054] The components 44 of the second set are arranged on a support 53 that is movable relative to the housing 52, for example, along a guide. A suitable guide can, for example, have a slot 54 in which the support 53 sits and can be moved longitudinally along the slot 54. The guide can, for example, be a dovetail guide, meaning that the support 53 in the housing 52 has a greater width than the slot 54. The current distributor 40 is designed to be attached to the column 41 in such a way that it extends the column in its longitudinal direction and the slot 54 runs longitudinally along the column 41, for example, by inserting the current distributor 40 into or onto a column 41. The current distributor 40 shown in Fig. 13 has a projection 50 at both ends for insertion into a suitable opening at one end of the column 41 or at one end of a section of a column 41.

[0055] If the wall system is erected on an uneven floor, the supports 53 of adjacent columns 41 can be moved to compensate for unevenness in the floor. Frames 30 of the wall system can therefore be electrically connected to columns 41 without any problems, even on uneven floors.

[0056] The power distributor 40 can have four supports 53 with contacts 43, 45 to enable a cross-shaped arrangement of walls of the wall system, or - as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 13 - only have two supports 53 and thus only allow the connection of two walls.

[0057] Fig. 14 shows a detailed view of another embodiment of a frame of the wall system for a sales or exhibition stand. Shown are a portion of a longitudinal leg 34 and a transverse leg 31 attached to it.

[0058] Similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the frame 30 carries electrical contacts 32 formed by permanent magnets. The permanent magnets can be movable against the force of a return spring in the direction of the transverse leg 31 or mounted without a return spring. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, the contacts 32 are additionally

[0059] The contacts 32 are movable in the direction of the longitudinal leg 34 by being attached to a contact carrier 55, which is movable along a guide in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal leg 34. This guide, as in the embodiment of a current distributor shown in Fig. 13, is formed by a slot that runs in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal leg 34 and in which the

[0060] The contact carrier 55 is movably arranged. Such frames 30 facilitate the construction of the wall system on uneven floors, since any height differences to adjacent frames 30 or columns can be easily compensated for by moving the contact carriers 55.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Wall system for a sales or trade fair stand, with Frames (30), each supporting metal busbars (511, 512), wall elements (10) for attachment to the frames (30), the wall elements (10) having electrical connection contacts (13, 14) for contacting the busbars (511, 512), a carrier plate (13), conductor tracks (11, 12) arranged side by side, each electrically connected to one of the connection contacts (13, 14), and a cover layer (18), characterized by a column (41) containing a current distributor (40) comprising an electrically insulating underside, a first set of circumferentially distributed electrical contacts (43) which are electrically connected to each other, an electrically insulating intermediate layer (44), a second set of circumferentially distributed electrical contacts (45) which are electrically connected to each other and are electrically insulated from the first set of electrical contacts (43),and has an electrically insulating top surface, and the frames (30) carry electrical conductors (60, 61) to connect electrical contacts (43, 45) of the power distributor (40) to busbars (511, 512).

2. Wall system according to claim 1, characterized in that the busbars (511 , 512) are integrated into legs (31 , 34) of the frame (30).

3. Wall system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the column (41) is an extruded profile having a cavity extending in its longitudinal direction and the power distributor (40) has a projection (50) on its underside or its top side that fits into this cavity.

4. Wall system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical contacts (43, 45) of the power distributor (40) contain permanent magnets.

5. Wall system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power distributor (40) has a housing (52) and an electrical contact (43) of the first set and an electrical contact (43) of the second set are arranged on at least two opposite sides of the housing (52), wherein an electrical contact (43) of the first set and an electrical contact (44) of the second set are arranged on a support (53) which is movable relative to the housing (52) in the longitudinal direction of the column (41).

6. Wall system according to claim 5, characterized in that the support (53) is movably arranged in a slot of the housing (52) extending in the longitudinal direction of the column (41).

7. Wall system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frames (30) for contacting electrical contacts (43, 45) of the power distributor (40) have electrical contacts (32) which contain permanent magnets.

8. Wall system according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the contacts (32) of the frames (30) or the power distributor (40) containing permanent magnets are movable against the force of a return spring.

9. Wall system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frames (30) have crossbeams (31) extending transversely to the busbars (511, 512), which carry a clamping body (62) which has openings (63) on opposite sides for inserting electrical has conductors and at least one opening (65) on another side for inserting further conductors for connection to busbars (511 , 512).

10. Wall system according to claim 9, characterized in that a threaded bore runs transversely to each of the openings (63, 65) for inserting electrical conductors, so that conductors can be clamped in the openings (63, 65) by means of a screw (64) seated in the threaded bore.

11. Power distribution unit for a wall system for a sales or exhibition stand, comprising frames (30) each supporting metal busbars (511, 512) and wall elements (10) for attachment to the frames (30), a housing (52) for attachment to a column of the wall system, a first set of electrical contacts (43) electrically connected to each other, a second set of electrical contacts (45) electrically connected to each other and electrically insulated from the first set of electrical contacts (43), and at least two circumferentially opposite supports (53) each movable along a guide in the axial direction relative to the housing (52), wherein one electrical contact (43) of the first set and one electrical contact (45) of the second set are attached to each support (53).

12. Power distributor according to claim 11, characterized in that the guides are each formed as a slot (54) in the housing (52) in which one of the supports (53) is arranged.

13. Power distributor according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the electrical contacts (43, 45) contain permanent magnets.

14. Power distribution box according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized by a projection (50) on its upper or lower side for insertion into a column (41) of the wall system.

15. Frame for supporting wall elements (10) of a wall system for a sales or exhibition stand, with Busbars (511 , 512) for supplying wall elements (10) and electrical contacts (32) for connecting the busbars to a voltage source, characterized in that a contact carrier (55) which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the frame side in question is attached to an outer longitudinal side of the frame (30) and which carries at least two electrically insulated contacts (32).

Images