System and method for localizing a zone

Abstract

System and method for localizing a zone wherein wall modules, terminator support modules, column modules and spanner modules are arranged to define one or more zone boundaries. The modules are structured as polymeric shells. The wall modules and terminator support modules are configured with integrally formed tongue-and-groove joints and when used with outdoor zones may be filled with a ballast such as a liquid. The columns are configured with receptor cavities at their tops to receive roof-defining canopy structures, sight simulators and the like.

1 . The method for localizing a zone at a surface, comprising the steps: 
 determining one or more boundaries of said zone at said surface corresponding with characteristics of the zone function and attendees thereto;    providing a plurality of moveable wall modules structured as polymeric shells each having a bottom engageable with said surface, a wall length extending between wall connecting ends, a wall width, a wall height locating a wall top at an elevation above said surface;    providing a plurality of moveable terminator support modules structured as polymeric shells, each having a support bottom engageable with said surface, a support height greater than said wall height extending to a support top, a support cavity extending inwardly from said support top, one or more support sides of width greater than said wall width and having a terminator connector configured to effect removable engagement with a wall connecting end;    providing a plurality of moveable column modules configured as polymeric shells, each having a column base configured for engagement with the support cavity of a terminator support module and extending a column height to a column top and having one or more column side surfaces;    locating a plurality of said terminator support modules in spaced apart adjacency along said one or more zone boundaries, two or more of the terminator support modules being located to define an entrance to said zone;    locating one or more wall modules upon said surface between two adjacent terminator support modules and joining wall connecting ends with terminator connectors to define a low boundary wall with one or more entrances; and    erecting one or more column modules at one or more terminator support modules by removably connecting the column base with a terminator support module support cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  in which: 
 said column modules are provided with one or more sides having a column connector at a location adjacent said column top;    further comprising the steps:    providing a plurality of moveable spanner modules configured as polymeric shells having a spanner length extending between spanner ends incorporating spanner connectors; and    supporting one or more said spanner modules between adjacent column modules by connecting said spanner connectors with a said column connector.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  in which: 
 one or more of said terminator support modules is provided as being configured having a ballast receiving portion;    following the location of said terminator support modules upon said surface, liquid ballast is positioned within said ballast receiving portion; and    said terminator support modules are provided having ballast fill and removal ports.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  in which: 
 one or more said wall modules is provided as being configured having a ballast receiving portion;    following the location of said wall modules upon said surface, liquid ballast is positioned within said ballast receiving portion; and    said wall modules are provided having ballast fill and removal ports.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  in which: 
 one or more of said column modules is provided having an accessory receiving receptor cavity extending inwardly from the column top.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the steps: 
 providing said accessory as a roof defining canopy; and    removably mounting said canopy upon said column module at accessory receiving receptors.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the steps: 
 providing said accessory as a plurality of dynamic wind responsive devices; and    removably mounting one or more of said dynamic wind responsive devices upon said column modules at accessory receiving receptors.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  in which: 
 said wall modules are provided with said wall connecting ends configured as an integrally formed component of a tongue-and-groove joint; and    said terminator support modules are provided with a terminator connector configured as an integrally formed component of a tongue-and-groove joint.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  in which: 
 said wall module integrally formed component of a tongue-and-groove joint is further configured with an interlock portion; and    said terminator support module integrally formed component of a tongue-and-groove joint is further configured with an interlock portion.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2  in which: 
 said column modules are provided with one or more sides having a column connector configured as an integrally formed component of a tongue-and-groove joint; and    said spanner modules are provided with spanner connectors configured as an integrally formed component of a tongue-and-groove joint.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2  in which: 
 said column modules are provided with one or more sides having a column connector generally configured as an upwardly open slot; and    said spanner modules are provided with spanner connectors configured as integrally formed outwardly extending tabs with laterally disposed spaced apart detent defining components.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  in which: 
 said step of supporting spanner modules between column modules is carried out by inserting a said spanner connector tab downwardly within a column connector slot in a manner wherein adjacent said detent components slideably abuttably engaged oppositely disposed walls of said upwardly open slot.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  in which: 
 each said column connector is configured as the groove component of a joint;    each said spanner module is configured with a tongue joint component as one spanner connector and a groove component as the oppositely disposed spanner connector;    further comprising the step:    providing a plurality of a polymeric spanner splines each configured for slideable insertion within the groove component of a spanner connector and the groove component of a column connector; and    said step of supporting spanner modules between column modules is carried out by inserting a spanner spline within the groove component of a spanner connector and within the groove component of a column connector of one column module and inserting the oppositely disposed spanner connector tongue component into the column connector groove component of an oppositely disposed column module.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  in which: 
 each said terminator connector is configured as the groove component of a joint;    each said wall module is configured with a tongue joint component as one wall connecting end and a groove joint component as the oppositely disposed wall connecting end;    further comprising the step:    providing a plurality of polymeric wall splines each configured for slidable insertion within the groove component of a wall module; and    said step of locating wall modules and joining wall connecting ends with terminator connectors is carried out by inserting a wall spline within the groove component of a wall connecting end and within the groove component of a terminator connector of one terminator support module and inserting the oppositely disposed wall connecting end tongue component into the terminator connector groove component of an oppositely disposed terminator support module.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  in which: 
 each said terminator connector is configured as the groove component of a joint having an inwardly disposed female interlock portion;    each said wall module is configured with a tongue joint component having an outwardly disposed male interlock portion as one wall connecting end and a groove joint component having an inwardly disposed female interlock portion as the oppositely disposed wall connecting end;    further comprising the step:    providing a plurality of polymeric wall splines each configured with oppositely outwardly disposed integrally formed male interlock portions; and    said step of locating wall modules and joining wall connecting ends with terminator connectors is carried out by inserting a wall spline within the groove connecting end in a manner wherein a spline male interlock portion engages a wall connecting end female interlock portion and the oppositely disposed spline male interlock portion engages a terminator connector groove component female interlock portion.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 2  in which: 
 said zone is a retail merchandising zone;    said surface is an outdoor surface;    said step of determining one or more boundaries of said zone is carried out corresponding with characteristics of selected retail product or products and of shoppers anticipated to be purchasers thereof;    said steps providing terminator support modules and said column modules provide said support height and said column height to establish a zone height within a range from about eight feet to about fourteen feet;    said step of locating said terminator modules locates two or more such modules spaced apart a merchandising bay width and said defined entrance is located to define a shopper aisle within said zone, said step further locating one or more terminator modules to define a cash/wrap region; and    further comprising the step of suspending merchandise information signage from one or more said spanner modules.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  in which: 
 said steps of providing wall modules and terminator support modules provides one or more integrally molded together combined wall module and terminator support module.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps; 
 providing one or more signage support assemblies; and    mounting said one or more signage assemblies upon one or more wall module wall tops.    
   
   
       19 . A system for localizing a zone at a surface having one or more boundaries, comprising: 
 a plurality of freestanding terminator support modules structured as polymeric shells, each having a support bottom engageable with said surface, having a support height extending to a support top and a support cavity extending inwardly from the support top and having one or more sides of support width, one or more of which is configured with a terminator connector, said terminator support modules being arranged in spaced apart relationship along said one or more boundaries, two or more of said terminator support modules being located to define an entrance to the zone;    a plurality of freestanding wall modules structured as polymeric shells each having a bottom engageable with said surface, a wall length extending between wall connecting ends, a wall width less than said support width, a wall height less than said support height and locating a wall top at an elevation above said surface, one or more of said wall modules being located upon said surface between adjacent said terminator support modules to further define one or more said boundaries and selectively interconnected with said terminator support modules at respective connecting ends and terminator connectors; and    two or more column modules configured as polymeric shells, each having a column base configured for engagement with the support cavity of a terminator support module and extending a column height to a column top, having one or more column sides, said column modules being removeably mounted upon two or more adjacent terminator support modules to further localize said zone.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  in which: 
 said column modules are configured with one or more sides having a column connector at a location adjacent said column top; and    said system further comprising:    one or more spanner modules configured as polymeric shells having a spanner length extending between oppositely disposed spanner connectors, said spanner modules being coupled between adjacent column modules by connection between spanner connectors and column connectors.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19  in which: 
 said terminator support modules are structured with four sides and are configured with between one and three said terminator connectors, each said terminator connector being integrally formed as the groove component of a tongue-and-groove joint.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20  in which: 
 said column modules are structured with four column sides and are configured with one to three said column connectors, each said column connector being integrally formed as the groove component of a tongue-and-groove joint.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20  in which: 
 said column modules are structured with four column sides and are configured with one to four said column connectors, each said column connector configured as a wall defined upwardly open slot.    
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23  in which: 
 each said spanner module spanner connector is configured as an integrally formed outwardly extending tab with laterally disposed spaced apart detent defining components effective to abutably engage the walls defining said column connector upwardly open slot.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 19  in which: 
 each said terminator support module is structured with an integrally formed said support cavity having a rectangular cross-section effective to function as a socket; and    each said column module base is structured with an integrally formed downwardly depending plug of rectangular cross-section slideably engageable within a said terminator support module support cavity.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 19  in which: 
 said wall module wall height is between about two feet and about four feet.    
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 19  in which: 
 said wall length is about five feet.