AU2016102364A4

AU2016102364A4 - Cardboard display base

Info

Publication number: AU2016102364A4
Application number: AU2016102364A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shigeharu Hasegawa; Shogo NAKAIMA; Yukio Nawata; Shizuka Suga; Kohei Tanabe
Original assignee: Rengo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Rengo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-08
Filing date: 2016-02-22
Publication date: 2019-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-22
Also published as: AU2016319857A1; KR20180001473U; WO2017043102A1; CN208875870U

Abstract

A cardboard display rack is provided which is configured such that when opposed side walls (3) are bent such that their hinges (la) form ridgelines, shelves (2) protrude through openings (9), while pivoting toward the outer surfaces of rear walls (5) or front walls (4), until the rack is folded, and configured such that when, with the rack folded, the side walls (3) are pushed inward at their portions in the vicinity of the hinges (la), the side walls (3) are unfolded, and the shelves (2) are slid in a direction in which the shelves (2) are inserted into the casing (1), until the distal ends of the shelves (2) are supported by the end edges of the openings (9), so that the rack is erected.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: CARDBOARD DISPLAY RACK

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]

This invention relates to a cardboard display rack which is collapsible, and can be erected at a retail store for displaying commercial products.

BACKGROUND ART [0002]

The below-identified Patent Document 1 discloses a cardboard display rack shown in Fig. 6. This cardboard display rack includes a casing 51 comprising side walls 52 opposed to each other on both sides of the casing 51, a front wall 53, and a rear wall 54; two upper and lower shelves 55; and a base panel 56. The shelves 55 are vertically pivotally attached to the rear wall 54. The display rack further includes shelf support panels 57 extending between the side walls 52 along the bottom surfaces of the respective shelves 55. Each shelf support panel 57 has oblique fold lines 57a extending from the respective rear corners to the front edge, of the shelf support panel 57.

[0003]

The base panel 56 is joined to the front wall 53, and is supported by a base support member 58 fixedly fitted in the lower portion of the casing 51.

The shelf support panels 57 are fixed to the side walls 52 by screws. The side walls 52 and the base support member 58 have, on their side surfaces, fold lines 59 as hinges.

[0004]

As shown in Fig. 7, by upwardly pivoting the shelves 55 and the base

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 panel 56, and inwardly bending the two side walls 52 and the base support member 58 along the fold lines 59, the shelf support panels 57 are folded flat along the oblique fold lines 57a, so that the entire display rack is also folded flat, taking up a minimum space, and can be dispatched to a retail store in this state.

[0005]

In order to erect the display rack at the retail store, as shown in Fig.

8, the side walls 52 are unfolded to unfold the shelf support panels 57 along the oblique fold lines 57a, and unfold the base support member 58 into a three-dimensional shape of the Japanese character “=i”, then, the shelves 55, which have been pivoted upward, are pivoted downward until placed on the respective shelf support panels 57, and the base panel 56 is inserted into the frame 51 until placed on the base support member 58.

PRIOR ART DODUMENT(S)

PATENT DOCUMENT(S) [0006]

Patent Document 1: JP Patent Publication 2004-49788A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0007]

When erecting the folded cardboard display rack at a retail store, it is necessary, after unfolding the two side walls 52, to set the shelves 55 and the base panel 56 so as to be supported, respectively, by the shelf support panels 57 and the base support member 58, so that a user needs extra time to understand how to erect the rack before actually erecting the rack.

[0008]

An object of the present invention is to provide a cardboard display

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 rack which allows a user to quickly erect the display rack at a retail store without thinking.

MEANS FOR ACHIEVING THE OBJECT [0009]

In order to achieve this object, from one aspect of the invention, a cardboard display rack comprises a casing and shelves mounted inside the casing, wherein the casing includes side walls opposed to each other on respective sides of the casing, front walls, and rear walls, each of the side walls having a vertically extending hinge at an intermediate, in a fore-and-aft direction, portion of the side wall such that the side wall is foldable along the hinge, wherein each of the shelves extends from one of the front walls or the rear walls so as to be vertically pivotable about a proximal end thereof where the shelf is connected to the one of the front walls or the rear walls, wherein openings are defined between adjacent ones of the rear walls or the front walls opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves such that the shelves are inserted through the respective openings with distal ends of the shelves first, and wherein the display rack is configured such that:

(i) when the opposed side walls of the casing are bent along the respective hinges such that the hinges form ridgelines, the shelves protrude beyond the openings between the rear walls or the front walls opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves while pivoting toward outer surfaces of the rear walls or the front walls opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves, and the display rack is folded; and (ii) when, with the display rack folded, the opposed side walls are

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 pushed inward at their portions in the vicinity of the hinges, the side walls are unfolded along the respective hinges, the shelves are slid in a direction in which the shelves are inserted into the casing through the openings between the rear walls or the front walls opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves, until the distal ends of the shelves are supported by end edges of the openings between the rear walls or the front walls opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves, and the display rack is erected.

[0010]

The casing comprises a front casing member which forms a front half portion of the casing, and a rear casing member which forms a rear half portion of the casing, wherein the front casing member and the rear casing member are joined together by joint pieces on the respective sides of the casing, wherein the hinges of the side walls are defined by proximal portions of the joint pieces, and wherein the display rack is configured such that when the display rack is erected, the joint pieces protrude into the casing, and support intermediate, in the fore-and-aft direction, portions of the shelves.

[0011]

From another aspect of the invention, a cardboard display rack comprises a cylindrical casing, and a plurality of shelves mounted in the casing and arranged one over another, the casing having vertically extending hinges on respective sides of the casing such that the casing is foldable along the hinges, wherein the casing is formed with a plurality of windows through which products on each of the shelves can be seen, wherein each of the shelves is a disk-shaped member which can be bent along a diametrically

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 extending edge, and which is connected at its opposed outer peripheral portions to intermediate portions of the casing that are spaced apart from the hinges on the respective sides of the casing, wherein the shelves are vertically connected at their diametrically extending edges to each other through a coupling member, and wherein the display rack is configured such that:

(i) when the casing is folded flat such that the hinges form ridgelines, the shelves are bent about their portions connected to the casing such that the diametrically extending edges form ridgelines until the shelves are superposed on the inner surface of the casing, and the display rack is folded; and (ii) when, with the display rack folded, the casing is pushed inward at its portions in the vicinity of the hinges on the respective sides of the casing, the casing is unfolded along the hinges, the shelves are unfolded along the diametrically extending edges, and the display rack is erected. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION [0012]

According to the first aspect of the invention, simply by inwardly pushing the vicinity of the hinges of the opposed side walls with the cardboard display rack folded, the side walls are unfolded, and the shelves extending from the front walls or rear walls are slid into the casing through the openings between the opposite rear walls or front walls, until the distal ends of the shelves are supported by the end edges of the openings, so that the display rack is erected. Thus, a user can quickly erect the cardboard display rack of the first aspect of the invention at a retail store, without referring to a manual and without thinking. This makes it possible to efficiently place products on the display rack for display.

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 [0013]

According to the second aspect of the invention, simply by inwardly pushing the casing at its portions in the vicinity of the hinges on both sides of the casing with the cardboard display rack folded, the casing becomes cylindrical, and the shelves are unfolded along the diametrically extending edges, so that the display rack is erected. Thus, a user can quickly erect the cardboard display rack of the second aspect of the invention at a retail store, without referring to a manual and without thinking, as with the first embodiment. This makes it possible to efficiently place products on the display rack for display, as with the first embodiment. Moreover, since large windows can be formed in the cylindrical casing, products in the display rack can be easily seen through the windows, and can be taken out of the rack through the windows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a cardboard display rack according to a first embodiment of the present invention, when the display rack is erected.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof when erected.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view thereof showing how the display rack is erected.

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view thereof when the display rack is folded.

Fig. 5 shows blanks that are formed into the cardboard display rack of Figs. 1-4.

Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of a cardboard display rack disclosed in Patent Document 1, when it is erected.

2016102364 22 Feb 2016

Fig. 7 is a front perspective view thereof when folded.

Fig. 8 is a front perspective view thereof showing how it is erected.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cardboard display rack according to a second embodiment of the invention, when it is erected.

Fig. 10 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 11 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 13 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-Aof Fig. 10.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the cardboard display rack of the second embodiment, while being folded.

Fig. 17 is a central vertical sectional view thereof, while being folded.

Fig. 18 is a front view thereof when folded.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged plan view thereof.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the upper portion thereof while being in use.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a cardboard display rack of a modification of the second embodiment of the invention, when it is erected.

Fig. 22 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 23 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 24 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 25 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-Aof Fig. 22.

Fig. 27 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 23.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the cardboard display rack of the

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 modification of the second embodiment, while it is being folded.

Fig. 29 is a central vertical sectional view thereof, while being folded.

Fig. 30 is a front view thereof, when folded.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged plan view thereof.

Fig. 32 is a perspective view of the upper portion thereof, while being in use.

BEST MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION [0015]

Now referring to Figs. 1-5, the display rack according to the first embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0016]

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this display rack basically comprises a casing 1 in the form of a rectangular tube, and upper, middle and lower shelves 2 which are to be set in the casing 1, and further includes, as an optional element, an advertising board 30. The display rack is constructed from corrugated cardboard members shown in Fig. 5 in the form of blanks. The casing 1 comprises a front casing member 11, a rear casing member 12, a pair of front reinforcing members 13, and a pair of rear reinforcing members 14. Each shelf 2 comprises a shelf panel member 21 and a shelf reinforcing member 22.

[0017]

The front casing member 11 includes front side panels 6 which form the front halves of a pair of side walls 3 of the casing 1, and which are connected together through upper, middle, and lower front walls 4. A reinforcing piece 4a is integrally connected to the upper edge of each of the upper and middle front walls 4. A shelf support piece 4b is integrally

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 connected to the lower edge of each of the upper and middle front walls 4. Another shelf support piece 4b is integrally connected to the reinforcing piece 4a that is integrally connected to the upper edge of the lower front wall 4.

[0018]

A reinforcing piece 6a is integrally connected to the top end of each front side panel 6, and has a reinforcing piece 6b integrally connected to the rear (when the rack is erected) end edge of the reinforcing piece 6a. Reinforcing pieces 6c are integrally connected to the front (when the rack is erected) end edge of each front side panel 6 to protrude into the spaces between the upper and middle front walls 4 and between the middle and lower front walls 4, respectively.

[0019]

Upper, middle and lower joint pieces 8 are integrally connected to the rear (when the rack is erected) end edge of each front side panel 6. A scoreline as a hinge la is formed along the borderline between each joint piece 8 and the front side panel 6. An engaging protrusion 8a extends upward from the upper end of each joint piece 8.

[0020]

The rear casing member 12 includes rear side panels 7 which form the rear halves of the pair of side walls 3, and which are connected together through upper, middle, lower, and uppermost rear walls 5. A reinforcing piece 7a is integrally connected to the upper end of each rear side panel 7. The rear walls 5 are arranged such that upper, middle and lower openings 9 are defined between the respective adjacent pairs of rear walls 5 when the below-described reinforcing pieces 5b are bent.

[0021]

2016102364 22 Feb 2016

Each of the upper, middle and lower rear walls 5 includes engaging pieces 5a extending upward from the respective ends of the upper end edge of the rear wall 5, i.e., its end edge on the side of the corresponding opening 9, and further includes one of the reinforcing pieces 5b which is integrally connected to the portion of its upper end edge between the engaging pieces 5a. A reinforcing piece 5c is integrally connected to the upper end of the uppermost rear wall 5, and a reinforcing piece 5d is integrally connected to the reinforcing piece 5c. A slit-shaped insertion hole 5e is formed in the proximal portion of the reinforcing piece 5c. The reinforcing piece 5d has a cutout in the central portion of its distal end.

[0022]

Upper, middle and lower joint pieces 8 are integrally connected to the front (when the rack is erected) end edge of each rear side panel 7. A scoreline as a hinge la is formed along the borderline between each joint piece 8 and the rear side panel 7. An engaging protrusion 8a extends upward from the upper end of each joint piece 8.

[0023]

The front reinforcing members 13 have shapes corresponding to the shapes of the front side panels 6 of the front casing member 11, are each formed with cutouts along the upper and front (when the rack is erected) end edges thereof.

[0024]

The rear reinforcing members 14 have shapes corresponding to the shapes of the rear side panels 7 of the rear casing member 12, and are each formed with a cutout along its upper (when the rack is erected) end edge. [0025]

Each shelf panel member 21 comprises a shelf front panel 23, shelf

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 side portions 24 integrally connected to the respective sides of the shelf front panel 23, and shelf back panels 25 integrally connected to the respective shelf side portions 24. The shelf back panels 25 have widths substantially half the width of the shelf front panel 23. Each shelf back panel 25 has a cutout at its front (when the rack is erected).

[0026]

Each shelf panel member 21 has, at its rear (when the rack is erected) end, engaging cuts 2a each extending from one of the shelf side portions 24 into the shelf front panel 23 and the shelf back panel 25, and open to the end edge of the shelf panel member 21. The intermediate (in the fore-and-aft direction) portion of each shelf back panel 25 is formed with an engaging hole 2b near the shelf side portion 24.

[0027]

The shelf reinforcing members 22 have shapes corresponding to the shapes of the shelf front panels 23 of the shelf panel members 21, and are each formed with engaging holes 2b on both sides of the middle (in the front-and-aft direction) portion thereof. The shelf reinforcing members 22 are formed from corrugated cardboard thicker than the corrugated cardboard forming the shelf panel members 21.

[0028]

The advertising board 30 comprises a display panel 30a, and reinforcing pieces 30b integrally connected to the respective sides of the display panel 30a. The display panel 30a has an insertion piece 30c integrally connected to the central portion of its lower end.

[0029]

To construct the display rack from the above-described blanks, for the blank of the front casing member 11, the front reinforcing members 13

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 are attached to the respective pair of front side panels 6! and the reinforcing pieces 6a and 6c are bent inward, and attached to the inner surfaces of the front side panels 6 while being fitted in the respective cutouts of the front reinforcing members 13. Further, the reinforcing pieces 4a integrally connected to the upper and middle front walls 4 are folded along their upper edges, and attached to the inner surfaces of the respective front walls 4.

[0030]

For the blank of the rear casing member 12, the rear reinforcing members 14 are attached to the respective pair of rear side panels 7; and the reinforcing pieces 7a are bent inward, and attached to the inner surfaces of the rear side panels 7 while being fitted in the respective cutouts of the rear reinforcing members 14. Further, the reinforcing pieces 5b are bent inwardly and downwardly along the respective upper edges of the upper, middle and lower rear walls 5, and attached to the inner surfaces of the respective rear walls 5. Still further, the reinforcing pieces 5c and 5d are bent in the same direction relative to the uppermost rear wall 5! and the reinforcing piece 5d is attached to the inner surface of the uppermost rear wall 5.

[0031]

For the blank of each shelf panel member 21, one of the shelf reinforcing member 22 is attached to the back surface of the shelf front panel 23; each shelf side portion 24 and the corresponding shelf back panel 25 are bent in the same direction such that the shelf reinforcing member 22 is enclosed by the shelf front panel 23, the shelf side portions 24, and the shelf back panel 25; and the shelf back panels 25 are attached to the back surface of the shelf reinforcing member 22. The shelf panel member 21 and

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 the shelf reinforcing member 22 are configured such that in this state, the engaging cuts 2a and the engaging holes 2b of the shelf panel member 21 are aligned with the engaging cuts 2a and the engaging holes 2b of the shelf reinforcing member 22, respectively.

[0032]

For the blank of the advertising board 30, the reinforcing pieces 30b are bent along the respective side edges of the display panel 30a, and attached to the back surface of the display panel 30a.

[0033]

Then, the shelf support pieces 4b integrally connected to the upper and middle front walls 4 are bent rearward along the lower edges of the respective front walls 4; the reinforcing piece 4a integrally connected to the lower front wall 4 is bent downward along the upper edge of the lower front wall 4; the shelf support piece 4b integrally connected to this reinforcing piece 4a is bent rearward; and each of the three shelf support pieces 4b is attached to the portions of the back surface of the shelf front panel 23 of the corresponding shelf 2 that are exposed through the cutouts of the shelf back panels 25. The shelves 2 are thus mounted to the respective front walls 4. [0034]

In this state, as shown in Fig. 4, the shelves 2 are inserted through the openings 9 between the rear walls 5 until the proximal portions of the shelves 2 protrude from the openings 9; the joint pieces 8 of the front casing member 11 and the rear casing member 12 are bent inward relative to the front side panel 6 and the rear side panel 7, respectively, and attached to each other! and the reinforcing pieces 6b are attached to the inner surfaces of the rear side panel 7 while being fitted in the cutouts of the reinforcing pieces 7a.

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 [0035]

The front casing member 11 and the rear casing member 12 are thus connected together, forming the casing 1. In this state, the pair of side walls 3, which are formed by connecting the front side panels 6 with the corresponding rear side panels 7, are each bent along the hinges la such that the hinges la form a ridge line, and the shelves 2 are pivoted toward the outer surfaces of the rear walls 5, so that the display rack is folded flat. [0036]

During transportation to a retail store or during storage, this display rack takes up little space by keeping it in the folded state, so that it is possible to reduce the costs for transportation and storage, and thus the entire cost for sales promotion of products to be displayed on the display rack.

[0037]

To use this display rack at a retail store, as shown in Fig. 3, by inwardly pushing the portions of the now-folded, opposed side walls 3 near the hinges la, the side walls 3 are unfolded along the hinges la, and as a result, the three shelves 2 are simultaneously slid through the openings 9 between the rear walls 9 in the direction in which the shelves 2 are inserted into the casing 1, and the joint pieces 8 protrude into the casing 1 from the opposed side walls 3.

[0038]

When, as a result, the casing 1 is formed into a rectangular tube (see Figs. 1 and 2), the engaging pieces 5a of the rear walls 5 are engaged in the engaging cuts 2a at the rear of the shelves 2, and the engaging protrusions 8a of the joint pieces 8 are engaged in the engaging holes 2b at the middle (in the fore-and-aft direction) portions of the shelves 2, so that the shelves 2

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 are supported at their rear portions by the end edges of the openings 9 between the rear walls 5, and at their middle (in the fore-and-aft direction) portions by the joint pieces 8. The display rack is thus fully erected.

[0039]

After erecting the basic portion of the display rack in this manner, for sales promotion purposes, the insertion piece 30c of the advertising board 30 is preferably inserted into the insertion hole 5e of the casing 1, which is located at the upper portion of the rear end of the casing 1, and the advertising board 30 is held upright so that the display panel 30a is easily recognizable.

[0040]

Since this cardboard display rack can be quickly erected from the folded state at a retail store without referring to a manual and without thinking, i.e., simply by inwardly pushing the opposed side walls 3 at their portions near the hinges la, commercial products can be displayed on the display rack with high efficiency.

[0041]

Once the display rack is erected, since the shelves 2 are supported at their rear portions by the end edges of the openings 9 between the rear walls 5, and at their middle (in the fore-and-aft direction) portions by the joint pieces 8, heavy products can be placed on the shelves 2 for display. Since the casing 1 reliably maintains its shape, commercial products can be displayed stably.

[0042]

While in the above embodiment, the casing 1 is formed by joining together the front casing member 11 and the rear casing member 12, in an embodiment of a smaller display rack, its casing 1 may be formed from a

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 single blank. In an embodiment of a display rack on which lightweight products are to be displayed, the front reinforcing members 13, the rear reinforcing members 14, and/or the shelf reinforcing members 22 may be omitted.

[0043]

In the embodiment, the shelves 2 extend from the front walls 4, and the openings 9 are defined between the rear walls 5. However, the display rack may be configured such that the shelves 2 extend from the rear walls 5, and the openings 9 are defined between the front walls 4 so that the shelves 2 protrude forward from the openings 9 defined between the front walls 4 while the display rack is in the folded position, and when the display rack is erected, the shelves 2 are pulled by the rear walls 5 into the casing 1. While in the embodiment, openings through which the products in the display rack can be seen are formed between the front walls 4, similar openings may be formed between the rear walls 5 too.

[0044]

The second embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to Figs. 9-20.

[0045]

Referring first to Figs. 9Ί5, the display rack of the second embodiment basically comprises a cylindrical casing 41, and upper, middle and lower shelves 42 mounted in the casing 41.

[0046]

The casing 41 is constructed from a pair of cardboard casing halves 43 joined together along their side edges, and having their inner peripheries reinforced with corrugated cardboard reinforcing members. The casing 41 has creases as hinges 41a that extend along the joint portions of

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 the casing halves 43, which are located on both sides of the casing 41. The casing 41 has, corresponding to each shelf 42, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart windows 44 so that products on each shelf 42 can be seen through the plurality of windows 44.

[0047]

Each shelf 42 is a disk shaped member having a layered structure, each layer comprising a pair of semicircular shelf panel members 45 made from corrugated cardboard and abutting each other along their diametrically extending edges such that the shelf 42 can be bent along the diametrically extending edges. The shelves 42 are each connected at its diametrically opposed outer peripheral portions to intermediate portions of the casing 41 that are spaced apart from the hinges 41a on both sides of the casing 41.

[0048]

The pair of shelf panel members 45 forming the uppermost layer of each shelf 42 are each formed with protrusions and recesses alternately arranged along the diametrically extending edge such that the protrusions are fitted in the recesses of the other of the pair of shelf panel member 45. The protrusions are configured, during use, to be seated on the shelf panel members 45 under the uppermost shelf panel members 45, thereby preventing the sinking of the shelf 42 along the diametrically extending edges.

[0049]

The shelves 42 are connected at the diametrically extending edges to each other by a vertically extending coupling member 46 which is made from a corrugated cardboard and partition the interior of the display rack. The coupling member 46 has extensions bent to extend along the shelf

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 panel members 45 of the respective shelves 42, forming the lowermost layer of each shelf 42 that connect together the opposed pairs of the shelf panel members 45. The coupling member 46 has openings through which the other side of the coupling member 46 can be seen.

[0050]

The display rack further includes a disk-shaped bottom reinforcing wall 47 of corrugated cardboard in the casing 41 at its bottom. The bottom reinforcing wall 47 comprises a pair of semicircular bottom panel members 48 which are connected to the casing 41 and the coupling member 46 in the same manner as are the semicircular panel members of the shelves 42.

[0051]

By, as shown in Figs. 16-19, bending the casing 41 of this cardboard display rack along the hinges 41a such that the hinges 41a form ridgelines, the shelves 42 and the bottom reinforcing walls 47 are bent about their portions connected to the casing 41 such that the diametrically extending edges form ridge lines, with the shelf panel members 45 and the bottom panel members 48 in contact with the inner surface of the casing 41. The display rack is thus folded flat.

[0052]

With the display rack in the folded state, by inwardly pushing the casing 41 near the hinges 41a on both sides of the casing 41, as shown in Figs. 9-15, the casing 41 is unfolded along the hinges 41a, the shelves 42 are unfolded along the diametrically extending edges into a flat shape, and the bottom end of the coupling member 46 is lowered to the same level as the bottom end of the casing 41, and thus touches the ground. The display rack is thus erected with the shelves 42 supported by the casing 41 and the coupling member 46.

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 [0053]

By, as shown in Fig. 20, placing commercial products on the respective shelves 42 of the thus-erected display rack, not only the products on the upper shelf 42 but also the products on the middle and lower shelves 42 can be seen from wide angles through the windows 44. This improves the sales promotion effects. For advertising purposes, an advertising board 49 may be erected on the upper shelf 42.

[0054]

Figs. 21-32 show a modification of the second embodiment, which includes a casing 41 having a larger diameter than the casing of the second embodiment, and formed with six (instead of four in the second embodiment) circumferentially spaced apart windows 44 for each of the middle and lower shelves. More than six windows may be used too. DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS [0055]

1. Casing la. Hinge

2. Shelf

2a. Engaging cut

2b. Engaging hole

3. Side wall

4. Front wall

4a. Reinforcing piece

4b. Shelf support piece

5. Rear wall

5a. Engaging piece

5b, 5c, 5d. Reinforcing piece

2016102364 22 Feb 2016

5e. Insertion hole

6. Front side panel

6a, 6b, 6c. Reinforcing piece

7. Rear side panel

7a. Reinforcing piece

8. Joint piece

8a. Engaging protrusion

9. Opening

11. Front casing member

12. Rear casing member

13. Front reinforcing member

14. Rear reinforcing member

21. Shelf panel member

22. Shelf reinforcing member

23. Shelf front panel

24. Shelf side portion

25. Shelf back panel

30. Advertising board

30a. Display panel

30b. Reinforcing piece

30c. Insertion piece

41. Casing

41a. Hinge

42. Shelf

43. Casing half

44. Window

45. Shelf panel member

2016102364 22 Feb 2016

46. Coupling member

47. Bottom reinforcing wall

48. Bottom panel member

49. Advertising board

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cardboard display rack comprising a casing (1) and a plurality of shelves (2) arranged one over another inside the casing (1), wherein the casing (1) includes side walls (3) opposed to each other on respective sides of the casing (1), front walls (4), and rear walls (5), each of the side walls (3) having a vertically extending hinge (la) at an intermediate, in a fore-and-aft direction, portion of the side wall (3) such that the side wall (3) is foldable along the hinge (la) wherein the casing (1) comprises a front casing member (11) that forms a front half of the casing (1), and a rear casing member (12) that forms a rear half of the casing (1), wherein the front casing member (11) and the rear casing member (12) are joined together by joint pieces (8) on each side of the casing (1), each of the joint pieces (8) on each side of the casing (1) is located under each of the shelves (2), such that the proximal portions of the joint pieces (8) on each side of the casing (1) form the hinge (la) of each of the side walls (3), wherein each of the shelves (2) extends from one of the front walls (4) or the rear walls (5) so as to be vertically pivotable about a proximal end thereof where the shelf (2) is connected to the one of the front walls (4) or the rear walls (5), wherein openings (9) are defined between adjacent ones of the rear walls (5) or the front walls (4) opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves (2) such that the shelves (2) are inserted through the respective openings (9) with distal ends of the shelves (2) first, wherein each of the rear walls (5) and the front walls (4) opposed to and

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 remote from the proximal ends of the shelves (2) has engaging pieces (5a) extending upward toward both ends of an end edge of a corresponding one of the openings (9), and wherein the display rack is configured such that:

(i) when the opposed side walls (3) of the casing (1) are bent along the respective hinges (la) such that the hinges (la) form ridgelines, the shelves (2) protrude beyond the openings (9) between the rear walls (5) or the front walls (4) opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves (2) while pivoting toward outer surfaces of the rear walls (5) or the front walls (4) opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves (2). and the display rack is folded: and (ii) when, with the display rack folded, the opposed side walls (3) are pushed inward at their portions in the vicinity of the hinges (la), the side walls (3) are unfolded along the respective hinges (la), the shelves (2) are slid in a direction in which the shelves (2) are inserted into the casing (1) through the openings (9) between the rear walls (5) or the front walls (4) opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves (2), until the joint pieces (8) protrude into the casing (1), the engaging pieces (5a) are fitted in engaging cuts (2a) formed in the distal ends of the respective shelves (,2), upwardly extending engaging protrusions (8a) of the joint pieces (8) are fitted in engaging holes (2b) in intermediate, in the fore-and-aft direction, portions of the respective shelves (2), and the distal ends of the shelves (2) are supported by end edges of the openings (9) between the rear walls (5) or the front walls (4) opposed to and remote from the proximal ends of the shelves (2), and the display rack is erected.
2. A cardboard display rack comprising a cylindrical casing (41), and a

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 plurality of shelves (42) mounted in the casing (41) and arranged one over another, the casing (41) having vertically extending hinges (41a) on respective sides of the casing (41) such that the casing (41) is foldable along the hinges (41a), wherein the casing (41) is formed with a plurality of windows (44) through which products on each of the shelves (42) can be seen, wherein each of the shelves (42) is a disk-shaped member which has a layered structure, each layer comprising a pair of semicircular shelf panel members (45) abutting each other along diametrically extending edges such that the shelf (42) can be bent along the diametrically extending edges, and which is connected at its opposed outer peripheral portions to intermediate portions of the casing (41) that are spaced apart from the hinges (41a) on the respective sides of the casing (41), wherein the pair of semicircular shelf panel members (45) forming an uppermost layer of each of the shelves (42) are each formed with protrusions and recesses alternately arranged along the diametrically extending edge, wherein the shelves (42) are vertically connected at their diametrically extending edges to each other through a coupling member (46), and wherein the display rack is configured such that^: (i) when the casing (41) is folded flat such that the hinges (41a) form ridgelines, the shelves (42) are bent about their portions connected to the casing (41) such that the diametrically extending lines form ridgelines until the shelves (42) are superposed on the inner surface of the casing (41), and the display rack is folded; and (ii) when, with the display rack folded, the casing (41) is pushed inw’ard at its portions in the vicinity of the hinges (41a) on the respective sides of the casing (41), the casing (41) is unfolded along the hinges (41a),

2016102364 22 Feb 2016 the shelves (42) are unfolded along the diametrically extending edges until the protrusions of each of the uppermost pair of semicircular shelf panel members (45) are fitted in the recesses of the other of the uppermost pair of semicircular shelf panel members (45), and are seated on the pair of semicircular shelf panel members (45) under the uppermost pair of semicircular shelf panel members (45), and the display rack is erected.