Technical Field
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The present invention relates to a self-mounting display unit.
Background Art
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Self-mounting display units are structures, generally made of cardboard material which, by means of a simple movement of some of their parts, switch from a folded configuration, wherein they are provided with a substantially flat shape and are easily stored and transported, to an assembled configuration, wherein they are provided with a three-dimensional shape and are capable of holding products to be displayed.
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For this purpose, the display units are also provided with one or more shelves. Specifically, the shelves are associated with the base structure and, in order to make them stronger, are composed of one or more overlapping sheets of cardboard material, made as substantially flat bodies and without folding lines.
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In the assembled configuration, the shelves are positioned on the base structure, e.g. by interlocking. The base structure is therefore provided with special slots into which corresponding fins defined on the shelf are fitted by interlocking.
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However, this type of display unit has a limited load-bearing capacity as the connection between the shelf and the base structure is not very strong and cannot hold products above a certain weight or in large numbers.
Description of the Invention
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The main aim of the present invention is to devise a self-mounting display unit which allows a high load-bearing capacity to be achieved.
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A further object of the present invention is to devise a self-mounting display unit which is provided with considerable structural strength, especially at the shelves. Another object of the present invention is to devise a self-mounting display unit which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome in a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.
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The aforementioned objects are achieved by this self-mounting display unit having the characteristics of claim 1.
Brief Description of the Drawings
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Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a self-mounting display unit, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example in the accompanying tables of drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a display unit 1 according to the invention, in the assembled configuration;
- Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a display unit 1 according to the invention, in the folded configuration;
- Figures 3-5 are axonometric views of the display unit according to the invention in the assembly phases from the folded configuration to the assembled configuration.
Embodiments of the Invention
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With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a self-mounting display unit.
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The self-mounting display unit 1 comprises at least one base structure 2 made of a cardboard material and provided with at least one rear wall 3 and at least two side walls 4.
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In this disclosure, the term "cardboard material" means a paper-like material having a weight of at least 180 g/m2 and a thickness of at least 175 µm. Preferably, the cardboard material has a weight of between 375 g/m2 and 1100 g/m2 and a thickness of between 1.5 mm and 8 mm. In particular, the display unit 1 may comprise portions made of corrugated, single-wave or multi-wave cardboard, and portions made of flat cardboard. In addition, the cardboard material may be waterproofed so as to make the display unit 1 very strong even in the event of liquid product spills.
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The self-mounting display unit 1 is positionable between at least one folded configuration, wherein the walls are folded back on themselves, and one assembled configuration, wherein the walls 3, 4 are stretched and have a substantially planar development.
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In actual facts, in the folded configuration, the display unit 1 takes on a substantially flat shape and has minimal overall dimensions, which allows for practical storage and transport.
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In the assembled configuration, on the other hand, the display unit 1 takes on a three-dimensional configuration with maximum overall dimensions and develops along a longitudinal direction.
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In accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the longitudinal direction is substantially vertical. In actual facts, the display unit 1 develops by height.
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In accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the base structure 2 is divided into a lower structure, adapted to be placed on the ground, and an upper structure.
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The two structures are locked together through the rear wall 3 along a joining line 5. At the joining line 5, the rear wall 3 is foldable into two parts, each of which defining a rear wall of the single structures.
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The display unit 1, in accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, is therefore a ground display unit, i.e., intended to be placed on the ground, and may have a height of up to two meters or more. It cannot, however, be ruled out that this display unit 1 may have different dimensions and/or intended to be placed on a counter or the like.
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According to the invention, the display unit 1 comprises at least one shelf 6 made of a cardboard material and associated with the base structure 2, and the base structure 2 comprises holding means 7 adapted to hold the shelf 6.
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In the assembled configuration, in fact, the display unit 1 allows products to be held and displayed. In use, the shelf 6 is arranged substantially horizontally or slightly inclined towards the rear wall 3, so as to avoid the risk of products tipping outwards with respect to the display unit 1.
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In accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the display unit 1 comprises a plurality of shelves 6 and the base structure 2 comprises a plurality of respective holding means 7.
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Still with reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, each shelf 6 is associated with the base structure 2 in a removable manner and is applied thereto only in the assembled configuration.
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According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the at least one shelf 6 is locked together with the base structure 2. For example, the shelf 6 may have a gluing flap through which it is attached to the base structure 2. The shelf 6 may be fastened to the base structure 2, e.g. by gluing. In this case, the shelf 6 is preferably associated with the rear wall 3 of the base structure 2. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the shelf 6 may be attached to a different wall of the base structure 2.
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Furthermore, embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the display unit 1 may comprise at least one shelf 6 associated with the base structure 2 in a removable manner and at least one shelf locked together with the base structure 2.
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The shelves 6 are made of one or more sheets of cardboard material and have no folding lines so that they are stable and resistant to the weight of the products to be displayed.
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The holding means 7 ensure the stability and strength of the shelf 6 during use.
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The holding means 7 are provided with at least one sheet-shaped body 8 associated with the side walls 4 and adapted, in the assembled configuration, to receive and support the shelf 6.
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The sheet-shaped body 8 defines a supporting surface 9 on which the shelf 6 rests during use. As a result, the shelf 6 is not only attached to the walls of the display unit 1 but is also provided with additional support, making it more stable and able to hold heavy weights.
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Usefully, the sheet-shaped body 8 develops between the side walls 4. In other words, the sheet-shaped body 8 is able to hold the shelf across the entire width thereof.
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In detail, the sheet-shaped body 8 is locked together with the side walls 4 and comprises at least one folding line 10. The sheet-shaped body 8 is, in fact, folded back on itself in the folded configuration.
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Thanks to the folding line 10, the sheet-shaped body 8 can fold back on itself and allow the base structure 2 to be closed in the folded configuration and, at the same time, can take on a substantially flat and horizontal shape in the assembled configuration.
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The sheet-shaped body 8 comprises at least one connecting portion 11 associated with a respective side wall 4 by means of adhesive means, and each of the side walls 4 comprises a seat 12 adapted to receive the connecting portion 11.
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The connecting portion 11 ensures a large contact surface between the sheet-shaped body 8 and the side wall 4 and strong seal.
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Advantageously, the seat 12 defines a slot with a substantially horizontal development through which the connecting portion 11 is fitted.
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In actual facts, the sheet-shaped body 8 is supported by the seat 12 and allows the weight of the shelf 6 to be distributed more evenly on the side wall 4.
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The connecting portion 11 consists of a flap which, in the assembled configuration, develops below the plane of development of the sheet-shaped body 8, adjacent to the respective side wall 4.
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This conformation allows increasing the contact surface between the sheet-shaped body 8 and the side wall 4, thus allowing for considerable strength even under high loads.
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In accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the side wall 4 comprises at least two overlapping sheets of cardboard material, in this case, an inner sheet facing the inside of the display unit 1 and an outer sheet facing the outside of the display unit. This increases the thickness of the side wall 4, which provides greater strength to the display unit 1.
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The seat 12 is defined on the inner sheet and the connecting portion 11 is placed between the two sheets of the side wall 4.
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Usefully, the base structure 2 comprises at least one front raised edge 15 opposite the rear wall 3 and arranged so as to connect the side walls 4 at the front, where the sheet-shaped body 8 is locked together with the front raised edge 15.
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Specifically, the sheet-shaped body 8 is made in a single body piece with the front raised edge 15.
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In actual facts, the sheet-shaped body 8 and the front raised edge 15 are obtained from a single sheet of cardboard material which is suitably folded back on itself. This embodiment solution helps to increase the structural strength and load-bearing capacity of the shelf 6.
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Usefully, in accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the holding means 7 also comprise at least one slit 16 defined on the rear wall 3 and adapted to receive the shelf 6 by interlocking.
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The holding means 7 also comprise one or more openings defined on the front raised edge 15 and adapted to receive corresponding interlocking fins 17 defined on the shelves 6.
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The openings, not shown in detail in the figures, are defined at the sheet-shaped body 8.
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It has, in practice, been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, it should be emphasized that the self-mounting display unit according to the invention allows a high load-bearing capacity to be achieved.
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Furthermore, this self-mounting display unit has considerable structural strength, especially at the shelves.