EP2076156A2

EP2076156A2 - Fold-flat display unit

Info

Publication number: EP2076156A2
Application number: EP07747336A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kirk Glen Dobie
Original assignee: Smurfit Kappa Zedek BV
Current assignee: Smurfit Kappa Zedek BV
Priority date: 2006-06-20
Filing date: 2007-06-20
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Also published as: WO2007148963A2; WO2007148963A3; GB0612232D0

Abstract

A fold-flat shelving unit is formed from foldable sheet material and comprises a shelf (86) and shelf support panels (12a, 12b) erectable from a unitary preassembly (10), in which the shelf is connected between a pair of the shelf support panels so that at least a part of the shelf is caused to move from its folded position to its erected position as the pair of shelf support panels are moved from their folded to their erected position. In a further aspect, the fold-flat shelving unit may comprise an elongate shelving support panel formed from multiple thicknesses of foldable sheet material, the support panel (12a, 12b) being divided into upper and lower parts along a hinge line at which the number of thicknesses of the sheet material is reduced, the support panel being foldable about the hinge line when the shelving unit is folded flat, to reduce the length of the support panel. In another aspect, the unit includes a probe (80) which is engageable with the ground to cause the unit to unfold.

Description

FOLD-FLAT DISPLAY UNIT

Field of the Invention

This invention concerns display units formed from foldable sheet material such as paperboard, cardboard, corrugated paperboard or the like. It may be used for example to provide a temporary or promotional display unit for retail products, which is supplied folded flat for erection on the retail premises to form product display shelving.

Background of the Invention

Such retail display units can be used to promote particular product lines by being overprinted with product-specific graphics and text. They therefore tend to be used for relatively short periods, after which they are replaced by other display units promoting other products, or by units with different graphics, so that their advertising impact is kept fresh. These units therefore have to be easily erected and packed away again after use, for storage, transport, recycling or disposal. However, such fold-flat shelving units formed from foldable sheet material are structurally quite complex and often need to be assembled by the end user from a large number of separate components. This can be time consuming, particularly for the untrained or inexperienced, with difficult to follow assembly instructions that may need to be translated into many different languages. There is also the danger of some of the parts being lost or missing, or spoilt by incorrect assembly.

US4582003 addresses some of these problems by providing a fold-flat display shelving unit formed from corrugated board in which, as supplied to the end user, the display shelves are hingedly pre-attached to a rear wall panel. The shelves may thus be folded substantially flat against the rear panel, with which they form a single preassembly. On erection the shelf front edges are supported on load-bearing pins in an opposed pair of side support panels, elastic bands being stretched between the pins. However, this unit still requires some time and manual dexterity to assemble or fold up again. The pins or elastic bands can be lost or broken and may not provide a very solid support for the shelves. A further problem with such display units, even if supplied to the end user wholly preassembled, lies in the often complex and careful manipulation needed in order to bring them from their folded to their fully erected condition.

Still another problem with such display units, particularly with tall, floor- standing ones, is that even when folded flat, they can still be up to about two metres in length and are therefore awkward to store and transport. Such tall units almost invariably require support panels formed from several thicknesses of the sheet material for adequate strength and rigidity. It is therefore not readily possible to form hinge lines enabling the flattened unit to be further folded so as to reduce its overall length (the height dimension of the erected unit).

Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention accordingly provides a fold-flat merchandise display unit as defined in claim 1. In this way, the shelving unit may be easily and quickly erected without the need for assembly of many different parts, or the need to follow complex assembly instructions. The obliquely extending hinge line provides a simple, robust mechanism whereby the shelf will move between folded and erected positions, as the shelf support panels are similarly moved. The hinge line lies outside the merchandise support surface so that the latter can be made relatively stable, unitary, rigid, smooth and/or uncluttered.

A particularly simple and robust structure results if the shelf-forming blank comprises a further hinge line which defines an end of the merchandise supporting surface that lies adjacent to one of the shelf support panels in the erected unit.

The hinge line extending at the oblique angle may delineate a flap which is secured to one of the shelf support panels in use, by gluing, stapling, stitching or the like. This provides a convenient means for securing the or each shelf blank to the shelf support panels during preassembly of the unit. Alternatively, the hinge line extending at the oblique angle may delineate a flap which in use is secured in a slot formed in one of the shelf support panels. This allows greater flexibility of the merchandise display unit in use, as shelves are then removable and can be selectively omitted substituted for others. A number of slots at different heights can be provided, so as to permit selective adjustment of the shelf heights.

A neat appearance results if the shelf support panel is formed from a plurality of layers of the sheet material and the slot forms the mouth of a pocket defined between a first and second of said layers. The flap is then concealed in the pocket in use. The shelf support panel preferably comprises a third said layer and the pocket is further defined by a cut-out formed in the third layer. The first and second layers form walls of the pocket and the cut-out in the third layer forms an interior space of the pocket, into which the flap can be readily inserted. The slot is formed in the first or second layer, in registration with the cut-out, to allow insertion of the flap. The slot may be provided with an entrance flap which helps insertion of the shelf flap, as well as allowing the shelf-forming blank to lie closely adjacent to the shelf support panel when the merchandise display unit is folded flat. The layers of sheet material forming the shelf support panel may be secured together by lines of adhesive applied in the height direction of the shelf support panel. This allows the merchandise display unit to be machine gluable: a major benefit in mass production.

The shelf flap may be provided with a lock-in barb which secures it in the slot, for example during transit and folding/unfolding of the unit as well as in normal use of the unit for displaying merchandise. The shelf blank nevertheless remains detachable/exchangeable as discussed above, when desired.

In addition or as an alternative, the shelf comprises a fitment having a top panel extending above the merchandise supporting surface in the erected shelf, so as to form a rack or dump box for the merchandise. Different kinds or combinations of shelves are therefore possible, making the merchandise display unit very versatile.

The first and second shelf support panels of the merchandise display unit may be opposed to one another. This configuration is useful in supporting shelves whose merchandise supporting surfaces are quadrilateral, e.g. rectangular. A third shelf support panel may be provided, having opposed edges forming hinge lines with which the third shelf support panel is connected between the first and second shelf support panels. The third shelf support panel thus forms a back panel of the merchandise display unit, with the first and second shelf support panels forming side panels of the unit.

A further foldable and unfoldable structure, which is not a merchandise display shelf, preferably extends between the shelf support panels. This structure, when moved from a folded to an unfolded position, causes the shelf support panels to move from their folded to their erected position. The structure can therefore provide a convenient means for opening out the shelf support panels, and hence the entire unit including the shelves, from the folded to the unfolded or fully erected position.

Such a further foldable and unfoldable structure is useful in erecting many different kinds of fold flat display units, including but not limited to those as defined in claim 1. Accordingly, in a second independent aspect, the present invention provides a fold-flat display unit as defined in claim 13.

Conveniently, the further foldable and unfoldable structure can be unfolded by engagement with the ground. It may extend outwardly from a base of the flattened display unit, so that as the unit is stood upright on the ground, it is caused to open towards its erected condition automatically.

The further foldable and unfoldable structure may comprise a plurality of panels interconnected along hinge lines and which are substantially coplanar in the erected display unit. A pair of the further foldable and unfoldable structure panels may lie face-to-face when the display unit is folded flat. One of the pair of panels which lie face-to-face in the flattened display unit may have a bracing panel secured to it so as to project beyond the hinge line connecting the face-to-face panel pair, so that, when the further foldable and unfoldable structure is unfolded, the bracing panel prevents relative movement of that panel pair about their connecting hinge line through more than substantially 180 degrees. This prevents the further foldable and unfoldable structure from folding back in on itself once it has flattened out so that its panels have become coplanar. Preferably the plurality of interconnected panels contact the ground in the erected display unit, so that they are held coplanar and thereby hold the unit erected.

In a further independent aspect, the present invention provides a fold-flat shelving unit comprising an elongate shelving support panel formed from multiple thicknesses of foldable sheet material, the support panel being divided into upper and lower parts along a hinge line at which the number of thicknesses of the sheet material is reduced, the support panel being foldable about the hinge line when the shelving unit is folded flat, to reduce the length of the support panel.

The shelving support panel may comprise a side panel of the shelving unit connected to another side panel by a back panel. The two side panels may be similar or substantially identical. The back panel may comprise upper and lower parts disconnected from each other along a line substantially level with the hinge lines in the side panels. The back panel may have hinge lines formed along opposed sides, by which it is connected to two integrally formed side flaps. The side flaps may be connected to or comprise parts of the side panels. In one embodiment, the back panel disconnection line does not disconnect or does not completely disconnect upper and lower parts of the side flaps from each other.

The side flaps may comprise parallel hinge lines disposed above and below the disconnection line in the erected unit. A cut-out may be formed in the layers of the side panels that would otherwise overly the region of the side flaps delineated by the parallel hinge lines. A respective fold line may extend from the cutout, across the side panel, in alignment with the disconnection line in the erected unit. A respective cut line may extend from the cut-out, across the side panel, in the region of each fold line, whereby the number of thicknesses of foldable sheet material is reduced in that region. The number of thicknesses of foldable sheet material in the region of each fold line may be reduced to one.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures 1 - 4 show blanks for components of a shelving unit for displaying merchandise, the unit embodying the invention; Figure 5 shows blanks for an alternative shelf component of the unit of

Figures 1 - 4;

Figure 6 shows a blank for an optional bottom infill that may be used with the unit of Figures 1 - 4;

Figure 7 shows the erection sequence for the unit of Figures 1 - 4, including shelves as in Figure 5 and a bottom infill as in Figure 6;

Figures 8 - 10 show blanks for alternative shelf fitments that can be used in the embodiment of Figure 7, and

Figure 11 shows the fully erected display units resulting from the blanks shown in Figures 8 - 10.

Description of the Illustrated Embodiments

Fully erected shelving units 10 embodying the invention are shown in perspective from the front and left side at (E) in Figure 7, and at (A) - (D) in Figure 11. To begin at the beginning however, as shown in Figures 1 , 2a and 2b, the main body of the unit is formed from separate blanks 12a, 12b comprising shelf support panels forming sides of the shelving unit, and a further separate blank 14 comprising upper 16a and lower 16b back panel parts disconnected by a transverse cut line 20. The blank 14 also comprises opposed side flaps 18a and 18b delineated from the back panel parts 16a, 16b along hinge lines 22a, 22b. As will be seen later, the side flaps 18a, 18b form the shelf supporting side panels together with the blanks 12a, 12b. The blanks 12a, 12b comprise respective front flaps 24a, 24b delineated from the remainder of the blank by double fold lines 26a, 26b. Respective middle flaps 24c, 24d are delineated from the front flaps 24a, 24b by fold lines 26c, 26d. To assemble the main body of the shelving unit 10, the middle flaps 24c, 24d are each folded upwardly through 180 degrees about the fold lines 26c, 26d respectively and are secured over the underlying front flaps 24a, 24b, for example by longitudinal glue lines 27. The front flaps 24a, 24b with the attached middle flaps 24c, 24d are each folded upwardly through 180 degrees about the fold lines 26a, 26b respectively and are secured to the underlying part of the remainder of blanks 12a, 12b (to the areas 24e, 24f, between the fold lines 26a, 26b and the respective broken lines 24g, 24h in Figures 2a and 2b) for example by gluing. Next, glue lines 29 are applied to the side flaps 18a, 18b (Figure 1). Blank 12a is then flipped over and placed on top of blank 14, with the inner edge of front flap 24a (line 24g) approximately aligned with the fold line 22a, and the free left edges of blanks 12a, 14 aligned. In this position, the glue on side flap 18a secures blank 12a to blank 14. Other securing means such as stitching or staples can of course be used as well as or instead of some or all the gluing steps mentioned above.

As seen in Figure 1 for example, the cut line 20 extends only partly into the side flaps 18a and 18b, so that the blank 14 remains as a unitary whole. The blanks 12a, 12b also have cut-outs 28a, 28b that register with the uncut portions of the side flaps 18a, 18b, in line with the cut 20, when the blanks 12a, 12b are glued to the blank 14. The front and middle flaps 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are also divided into upper and lower parts by cuts 29a, 29b, which register with the uncut parts of the blanks 12a, 12b between the inner ends of the cut-outs 28a, 28b and the hinge lines 26a, 26b, when the front flaps with the secured middle flaps are folded about those hinge lines and secured to the underlying parts of the remainder of the blanks 12a, 12b. The cuts 29a, 29b may be discontinuous, to provide frangible links (not shown) that hold the upper and lower parts of the front and middle flaps together during the assembly process, but which are broken when the assembled unit is first folded in half. Therefore when the main body 100 is assembled, there is substantially no more than a single thickness of sheet material along the line defined by the aligned cuts 20, 29a, 29b and cut-outs 28a, 28b. The uncut portions of the blanks 12a, 12b, 14 along this line are creased to form a hinge, so that the fully assembled shelving unit may readily be folded crosswise in half as shown at (A) in Figure 7, to reduce its overall height. The horizontal crease lines 29c, 29d in the side flaps 18a, 18b of the blank 14 may be double parallel creases, and the cut line 20 from which they extend may be of a wide, shallow H shape, to define a pair of linking hinge panels 29e, 29f (see Figure 1). When the blank 14 is doubled over, these linking panels accommodate the folded thickness of the side supporting panel blanks 12a, 12b. The cut line 20 thus opens to the width of the linking hinge panels 29e, 29f when the body of the unit is doubled over. The cut-outs 28a, 28b which correspond with

(overlie) the linking panels 29e, 29f in the assembled main body 100 are made of a similar width to the spacing between the double parallel creases 29c, 29d.

The back panel blank 14 of Figure 1 also comprises an attached bottom flap 80 divided into three parts 80a, 80b, 80c by oblique fold lines 84a, 84b. A fourth flap part 8Od is delineated from the remainder of the flap 80 by a double fold line 82c and cut lines 82e, 82f. Gluing tabs 84a, 84b are attached to the parts 80b, 80c. The parts 80b, 80c are folded downwardly 180 degrees about the lines 82a, 82b so as to lie behind and against bottom flap part 80a. The side flaps 18a, 18b with the folded and attached side shelf support panel blanks 12a, 12b are folded downwardly through 180 degrees, so as to lie behind and against the back panel parts 16a, 16b. This exposes the front flaps 24a, 24b again, so that they lie on either side of the back panel parts 16a, 16b. This can be seen for example in erection stages (B) and (C) of Figure 7. The gluing tabs 84a, 84b are now in a position to be secured to the lower edges of the side flaps 18a, 18b, (e.g. by glue lines 83) so that the folded bottom flap 80 forms a ground engaging probe as shown in erection stages (A) and (B) of Figure 7. The fourth flap part 8Od is folded upwardly through 180 degrees and is secured face to face with the flap part 80a, e.g. by a glue line 81. In this configuration, ends of the flap part 80a project beyond the fold lines 84a, 84b.

Figure 3 shows a blank for a shelf fitment 86. A rectangular lower panel 88 has an upper panel 92 is attached to one edge along a double fold line 90. The lower panel 88 also has side panels 96a, 96b attached to its side edges. The side panels comprise respective attachment flaps 98a, 98b delineated by oblique fold lines 100a, 100b. For assembly, the upper panel 92 is hinged about fold line 90 to overlie and be secured to the insert 102 e.g. by glue line 91.

The front flaps 24a, 24b are provided with oblique slots 30a, 30b which in the folded blanks 12a, 12b overlie upper ends of cut-outs 32a, 32b formed in the middle panels 24c, 24d. The cut-outs 32a, 32b therefore form pockets in the shelf side support panels and the slots 30a, 30b form pocket entrances. Each entrance may be provided with a flap 34a, 34b, delineated by a fold line 36a, 36b. For assembly with the main body of the display unit, the completed shelf fitment 86 is flipped over so that the attachment flaps 98a, 98b can be inserted into the respective pockets 32b, 32a through the slots 30b, 30a lying to either side of the back panel parts 16a, 16b, as described above. The desired number of shelves of identical or different constructions (for example shelf fitment variants as described below, in any permutation or combination) are thus secured to the front flaps 24a, 24b. Four such fitments can clearly be seen secured in place in stage (B) of Figure 7. The attachment flaps 12a, 12b are locked in their respective pockets 32a, 32b and slots 30a, 30b by locking barbs 98c, 98d (Figure 3).

A blank 104 for an optional bottom infill is shown in Figure 6. This comprises a rectangular front panel 106 to which are attached side panels 110a, 110b and a top flap 108. The side panels 110a, 110b carry respective gluing flaps 112a, 112b, attached at double fold lines 114a, 114b. The gluing flaps 112a, 112b are hinged about the fold lines 114a, 114b so as to lie behind their respective side panels 110a, 110b. The bottom infill is then placed onto the main body assembly so that the gluing flaps 112a, 112b are secured to the exposed faces of the front flaps 24a, 24b, below the lowermost shelf fitment 86. In this variant the space below the lowermost shelf position is larger than shown in the blanks of Figures 1 , 2a and 2b, so as to accommodate the bottom infill. The completed assembly thus produced is shown in stage (B) of Figure 7. When held upright by an end user, the tip of the probe/folded bottom flap 80 can rest on the ground. The weight of the assembled unit will then cause the folded bottom flap to unfold and flatten out. This causes the back panel side flaps 18a, 18b to hinge outwardly and rearwardly about the fold lines 22c, 22d (Figure 1), at the same time rotating the front flaps 24a, 24b forwardly and inwardly, if necessary with manual assistance, for example as indicated at 116 in Figure 46. This in turn causes the shelf fitments to hinge or unfold downwardly about the oblique fold lines 100a, 100b and the bottom infill 104 to unfold forwardly. This process is shown in sequential stages (B) to (E) of Figure 7, with the shelf fitments 86 and bottom infill 104 fully folded (collapsed) in stage (B) and fully unfolded (opened out) in stage (E). The unfolding process for this embodiment therefore involves hinging the front flaps 22a, 22b and attached shelf ends 90 degrees inwardly. A header board 54 as in Figure 4 is shown fitted at stage (E) of Figure 7. The header board 54 has mounting slots 56 which engage with the shelf side support panels adjacent to the back panel upper part 16a. The unfolding process initiated by the ground engaging probe 80 is therefore largely automatic and proceeds without the need for assembly of separate parts, or the need to follow complex instructions. The back panel upper part 16a is provided with a lifting hand hole 58 by which the assembled and doubled over unit 10 (configured as at (A) in Figure 7) can be lifted up and caused to unfold to its full height, ready for engagement of the probe 80 with the ground (configuration (B)₁ Figure 7).

Figures 5 and 8 - 10 show alternative shelf fitments 86a - 86d, each again having a lower panel 88 and side panels 96a, 96b with oblique folds 100a, 100b and attachment flaps 98a, 98b. In Figure 5, a first shelf fitment part comprises a rectangular lower panel 88 to one edge of which an upper panel 92 is attached along a double fold line 90. The lower panel 88 also has a rear flap 94 and side panels 96a, 96b attached to its other edges. The side panels comprise respective attachment flaps 98a, 98b delineated by oblique fold lines 100a, 100b. A rectangular insert 102 forms a second part of the fitment 86a. The insert 102 may be formed of the same or thicker sheet material as the remainder of the fitment 86a, and/or may be composed of several layers of the material. It therefore serves to strengthen and stiffen the finished fitment 86a. For assembly, the insert is flipped over from the position shown in Figure 5 and its glued face is applied and secured to the lower panel 88. The upper panel 92 is then hinged about fold line 90 to overlie and be glued to the insert 102. The upper panel may be larger than shown in Figure 5, so as to completely cover the insert 102. For assembly with the main body of the display unit, the completed shelf fitment 86a is flipped over so that glued faces of the attachment flaps 98a, 98b can be pressed against and secured to the exposed faces of the front flaps 24a, 24b, where they lie to either side of the back panel parts 16a, 16b, as described above. The pockets 32a, 32b and slots 30a, 30b can therefore be omitted. The rear flap 94 may also be glued for securing to the back panel parts 16a or 16b. However, it may also be left unglued, in which case it simply acts as a stiffening flange for the rear edge of the shelf fitment 86. The desired number of shelf fitments of identical or different constructions (for example variants as described below, in any permutation or combination) are secured to the front flaps 24a, 24b.

The fitment blank 86b of Figure 8 has a narrow rectangular front panel 118 attached to the lower panel 88 at a fold line 120. An upper panel 92a is attached to the opposite edge of the front panel 118 along a fold line 122. A rear securement panel 124 is delineated from the upper panel 92a by U-shaped cuts 126 and short straight fold lines 128. To configure the fitment 98a for installation in the display unit, securement panel 124 is hinged 180 degrees downwardly about the fold lines 128, to lie behind the upper panel 92a and front panel 118. Upper panel 92a and the attached securement panel 124 are then hinged upwardly 180 degrees about fold line 122, so that upper panel 92a lies above and against front panel 118 and lower panel 88. The fitment 86b is then flipped over, the glued faces of the attachment flaps 98a, 98b secured to the front flaps 24a, 24b, and the glued faces of the securement panel 124 and rear flap 94 secured to the back panel part 16a or 16b as the case may be. The fitment 86b then unfolds automatically on erection of the assembled display unit, so that the upper panel 92a extends parallel to the lower panel 88, spaced from it by the height of the front panel 118. The upper panel 92a contains apertures into which items to be displayed are inserted to rest on the bottom panel 88. Fitment 86c of Figure 9 is similar to fitment 86b of Figure 8, except that the upper panel is divided into three separate parts 92b, 92c, 92d, to define a pair of apertures 130a which extend partly into the front panel 118. This panel has an increased height compared to panel 118 of Figure 8, and is attached to the top panel parts at aligned separate hinge lines 122a, 122b, 122c. Glued reinforcement flaps 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d hingedly attached to edges of the top panel parts 92b, 92c, 92d are folded upwardly 180 degrees to overlie and be secured to those parts as a preliminary step in configuring the blank for installation. Thereafter configuration proceeds much as described above with reference to Figure 8. The resulting fitment has a box-like structure with twin apertures each extending into the box top and front sides, suitable for holding two side-by-side arrays of cased CDs, DVDs, or the like.

The fitment 86d of Figure 10 is similar to the fitment 86c of Figure 9, except that a single aperture 130b is provided, defining two top panel parts 92e, 92f, and extending into the generally oval front panel 118. The resulting fitment provides a "dump box" for holding loose items for display and customer selection. In any of the fitments described above with reference to Figures 5 and 8 - 10, any of the glued connections between the fitments and the display unit main body formed from the blanks 12a, 12b and 14, may be replaced by a tab and pocket or tab and slot connection, or other suitable forms of connection such as stitching or staples.

Figure 11 shows the resulting fully erected display units, (A) with shelf fitments 86 or 86a, (B) with shelf fitments 86b, (C) with shelf fitments 86b and (D) with shelf fitments 86d. Various different styles of header board 54 are also shown. In units (B) - (D), the shelf supporting side panels are extended forwardly compared to those of unit (A), so that the side panel front edges lie generally flush with the fitment and infill front panels 118 and 106.

Many modifications and variations will be apparent, within the scope of the claims. For example, the different features of the various embodiments may be combined in ways not specifically described above. The shelves/fitments may be attached to their supporting panels with a forward or rearward slope when erected. The corner angle between adjacent supporting panels need not be ninety degrees in the erected position, the shelves being shaped to fit accordingly. Rather than being hinged together, two or more of the supporting panels can be separate, connected together by the installed shelves. As will be apparent from the foregoing embodiments, the terms "shelf and related expressions such as "shelving" as used throughout this specification are to be broadly construed so as to include or comprise part of, without limitation, box-like, rack-like, tubular and similar structures.

Claims

1. A fold-flat display unit formed from foldable sheet material and comprising a shelf and a pair of shelf support panels that can be preassembled with the shelf connected between the shelf support panels so that at least a part of the shelf is caused to move from its folded position towards its erected position as the pair of shelf support panels are moved from their folded towards their erected position, the shelf and shelf support panels being formed from separate blanks, the shelf-forming blank comprising a hinge line extending at an oblique angle to a merchandise supporting surface of the erected shelf.

2. A display unit as defined in claim 1 , in which the shelf-forming blank comprises a further hinge line which defines an end of the merchandise supporting surface that lies adjacent to one of the shelf support panels in the erected unit.

3. A display unit as defined in claim 1 or 2, in which the hinge line extending at the oblique angle delineates a flap which is secured to one of the shelf support panels in use, by gluing, stapling, stitching or the like.

4. A display unit as defined in claim 1 or 2, in which the hinge line extending at the oblique angle delineates a flap which in use is secured in a slot formed in one of the shelf support panels.

5. A display unit as defined in claim 4, in which the shelf support panel is formed from a plurality of layers of the sheet material and the slot forms the mouth of a pocket defined between a first and second of said layers.

6. A display unit as defined in claim 4, in which the shelf support panel comprises a third said layer and the pocket is further defined by a cut-out formed in the third layer.

7. A display unit as defined in claim 4 or 5, in which the layers of sheet material forming the shelf support panel are secured together by lines of adhesive applied in the height direction of the shelf support panel.

8. A display unit as defined in any of claims 4 - 7, in which the flap is provided with a lock-in barb which secures the flap in the slot.

9. A display unit as defined in any of claims 1 - 8, in which the shelf comprises a fitment having a top panel extending above the merchandise supporting surface in the erected shelf, so as to form a rack or dump box for the merchandise.

10. A display unit as defined in any preceding claim, in which first and second shelf support panels of the pair are opposed to one another.

11. A display unit as defined in claim 10, comprising a third shelf support panel having opposed edges forming hinge lines with which the third shelf support panel is connected between the first and second shelf support panels.

12. A display unit as defined in any preceding claim, in which a further foldable and unfoldable structure, which is not a merchandise display shelf, extends between the shelf support panels, which structure, when moved from a folded to an unfolded position, causes the shelf support panels to move from their folded to their erected position.

13. A fold-flat display unit formed from foldable sheet material and comprising at least one shelf and a pair of shelf support panels that can be preassembled with the shelf or shelvesconnected between the pair of shelf support panels so that at least a part of the or each shelf is caused to move from its folded position towards its erected position as the pair of shelf support panels are moved from their folded towards their erected position, in which a further foldable and unfoldable structure, which is not a merchandise display shelf, extends between the shelf support panels, which structure, when moved from a folded to an unfolded position, causes the shelf support panels to move from their folded to their erected position.

14. A display unit as defined in claim 12 or 13, in which the further foldable and unfoldable structure can be unfolded by engagement with the ground.

15. A display unit as defined in any of claims 12 - 14, in which the further foldable and unfoldable structure comprises a plurality of panels interconnected along hinge lines and which are substantially coplanar in the erected display unit.

16. A display unit as defined in claim 15, in which a pair of the further foldable and unfoldable structure panels lie face-to-face when the display unit is folded flat.

17. A display unit as defined in claim 16, in which one of the pair of panels which lie face-to-face in the flattened display unit has a bracing panel secured to it so as to project beyond the hinge line connecting the face-to-face panel pair, so that, when the further foldable and unfoldable structure is unfolded, the bracing panel prevents relative movement of that panel pair about their connecting hinge line through more than substantially 180 degrees.

18. A display unit as defined in any of claims 15 - 17, in which the coplanar plurality of interconnected panels contact the ground in the erected display unit.

19. A fold-flat shelving unit comprising an elongate shelving support panel formed from multiple thicknesses of foldable sheet material, the support panel being divided into upper and lower parts along a hinge line at which the number of thicknesses of the sheet material is reduced, the support panel being foldable about the hinge line when the shelving unit is folded flat, to reduce the length of the support panel.

20. A shelving unit as defined in claim 19, in which the shelving support panel comprises a side panel of the shelving unit connected to another side panel by a back panel.

21. A shelving unit as defined in claim 20, in which the two side panels are similar or substantially identical.

22. A shelving unit as defined in claim 20 or 21 , in which the back panel comprises upper and lower parts disconnected from each other along a line substantially level with hinge lines in the side panels.

23. A shelving unit as defined in any of claims 22, in which the back panel comprises hinge lines formed along opposed sides, by which it is connected to two integrally formed side flaps.

24. A shelving unit as defined in claim 23, in which the side flaps are connected to or comprise parts of the side panels.

25. A shelving unit as defined in claim 24, in which the back panel disconnection line does not disconnect or does not completely disconnect upper and lower parts of the side flaps from each other.

26. A shelving unit as defined in any of claims 22 - 25, in which the side flaps comprise parallel hinge lines disposed above and below the disconnection line in the erected unit.

27. A shelving unit as defined in claim 26, in which a cut-out is formed in the layers of the side panels that would otherwise overly the region of the side flaps delineated by the parallel hinge lines.

28. A shelving unit as defined in claim 27, in which a respective fold line extends from the cut-out, across the side panel, in alignment with the disconnection line in the erected unit.

29. A shelving unit as defined in claim 28, in which a respective cut line extends from the cut-out, across the side panel, in the region of each fold line, whereby the number of thicknesses of foldable sheet material is reduced in that region.

30. A shelving unit as defined in claim 29, in which the number of thicknesses of foldable sheet material in the region of each fold line is reduced to one.