ES2471265A1 - Expanding device for a self-expanding, foldable display, and self-expanding, foldable display provided with such an expanding device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an expanding device (300) comprising a plate (30) with a hinge (33) between proximal and distal edges (31, 32) defining proximal and distal plate portions (30a, 30b), an elastic traction element (7) that pulls on the proximal and distal (30a, 30b) plate portions in order to fold the plate (30) about the hinge (33), and a limiting member (3) that limits the folding of the plate (30) to an angled working position. The proximal plate portion (30a) comprises a rigidly connected plate extension (30c) that extends to said distal edge (32) and ends in an additional distal edge (34), both remaining coplanar when the plate (30) is folded in the angled position. The expanding device (300) is arranged between two panels of the display (100) in order to push the panels from the inside, from a collapsed position to an expanded position.

Description

EXPANSOR DEVICE FOR SELF-EXPANSIBLE FOLDING EXHIBITOR, and SELF-EXPANSIBLE FOLDING EXHIBITOR PROVIDED WITH SUCH DEVICE EXPANSOR

Technical field

The present invention concerns an expander device for expanding a self-expanding folding display consisting of two panels facing each other and joined by their respective side edges, where the expander device is located between said two panels and acts by pushing the panels from within to expand them from a collapsed position, in which the panels exhibit a flat configuration, to an expanded position, in which the panels exhibit a three-dimensional configuration capable of standing upright.

The present invention also concerns a self-expanding folding display provided with such an expanding device.

Background of the invention

International patent application WO 2006/067252 discloses an expander device located between two panels of a self-expanding folding display, where said two display panels are facing each other and joined by their respective side edges. The expander device comprises a plate having a proximal edge connected to at least one of the panels of the self-expanding folding display on or near one of said lateral edges, a distal edge opposite to said proximal edge, and a hinge located between said proximal edges and distal and dividing said plate into a proximal plate portion and a distal plate portion, an elastic tensile element arranged to pull said proximal and distal plate portions towards each other to bend the plate around said hinge from a flat rest position at an angled working position, and a limiting member arranged so that when the plate is in said angled work position it has a first end in contact with the proximal plate portion and a second end in contact with the distal plate portion to limit the bending of the plate to the angled working position.

When the plate of the expander device of the international patent application WO 2006/067252 is bent to the angled working position, the distal edge of the plate presses one of the panels from the inside while the plate hinge presses the other of the panels from within to expand the display from a collapsed position to an expanded position.

However, a drawback of the expanding device of the international patent application WO 2006/067252 is that given the particular configuration of the plate, the distal edge makes contact with the corresponding panel at a point located a distance considerably further from the lateral edge of the display that the point of the other panel where the hinge makes contact, with the result of an irregular expansion of the display that usually needs to be compensated by installing a second expander device associated with the opposite side edge of the display and preferably placed in an inverse position with respect to the first device expander so that one of the display panels is pushed by the distal edge of the first expander device and by the hinge of the second expander device and the other of the display panels is pushed by the hinge of the first expander device and by the distal edge of the second expander device.

The need to incorporate two expander devices associated with opposite edges has the disadvantage of providing a relatively complex and expensive self-expanding folding display to produce, and in addition such a self-expanding folding display has the side edges of both sides of the panels occupied by the expanding devices, and therefore disabled to incorporate other configurations.

Exhibition of the invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention contributes to mitigating the foregoing and other inconveniences by providing an expander device for a self-expanding folding display, said self-expanding folding display comprising two or more panels joined to each other by their respective side edges, said device being expander located between two of said panels of the self-expanding folding display to push the panels from within a collapsed position, in which the panels exhibit a flat configuration, to an expanded position, in which the panels exhibit a three-dimensional configuration capable of standing upright .

The expander device of the present invention comprises a plate having a proximal edge connected to at least one of the panels of the self-expanding folding display, a distal edge opposite to said proximal edge, and a hinge located between said proximal and distal edges and dividing said plate in a proximal plate portion and a distal plate portion, an elastic tensile element arranged to pull said proximal and distal plate portions towards each other to bend the plate around said hinge from a flat rest position to an angled working position, and a limiting member that when the plate is in said angled working position has a first end in contact with the proximal plate portion and a second end in contact with the distal plate portion to limit the bending the plate to the angled working position.

The proximal plate portion has a plate extension that extends beyond the hinge towards the distal edge and ends at an additional distal edge, where said plate extension is not affected by the hinge and remains coplanar with the portion of proximal plate when the plate is bent to the angled working position.

With this construction, when the plate is bent to the angled working position, the distal edge of the plate presses one of the panels of the display and the additional distal edge presses the other of the panels of the display, and since the plate extension extends beyond the hinge towards the distal edge, the points at which the distal edge and the additional distal edge press the respective panels of the display are distances (in the direction of the width of the display) of the corresponding edge side of the exhibitor similar or comparable order. In addition, when the plate is bent in the angled working position, the distance in a transverse direction of the display between the distal edge and the additional distal edge is significantly greater than the distance in the transverse direction of the display between the distal edge and the hinge.

Thus, the expander device of the present invention provides a much more efficient, regular and balanced display expansion than other prior art expander devices, which makes it unnecessary to install a second expander device associated with the opposite side edge of the display if The expander device is correctly sized in relation to the display.

Preferably, although this is not an essential condition, the plate is made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or the like, and the hinge is formed by a first fold line having an intermediate interruption corresponding to the plate extension of the portion of proximal plate, while the plate extension is formed by cutting lines that extend into the distal plate portion from the ends of said intermediate hinge interruption.

In one embodiment, the limiter member is an integral part of the plate and has said second end articulatedly connected to the distal plate portion by a second fold line close to the distal edge. In such a case, said first end of the limiting member is formed by a free edge thereof opposite to said second bending line.

In this same embodiment, the proximal plate portion has cutouts that form one

or more first engagement elements close to the proximal edge, and the limiter member has cutouts that form one or more second attachment elements, preferably at lateral edges thereof. The elastic tensile element is an elastic tensile ring, such as for example a rubber ring, engaged in said first and second engagement elements.

Advantageously, the first and second engagement elements may be arranged so that a portion of the elastic tensile element, that is, of the elastic tension ring, interferes with the first end of the limiting member when the plate is in the angled position of work, thereby limiting further slippage of the first end of the limiter member on the proximal plate portion to prevent the plate from bending around the hinge beyond the angled working position.

Preferably, the limiting member has a plurality of the second coupling elements located at different distances from the first end thereof, so that one or more of these second coupling elements can be selected to engage the elastic tension element in order to of regulating the tension of the elastic tensile element.

Self-expanding folding displays of the type referred to are known in which the side edges of the two panels are connected to tabs bent inwardly and connected to each other by means of an elastic connecting ring, such as a rubber ring , placed around both. In such a case, the plate of the expander device of the present invention has at least one connection flange articulated connected to the proximal edge of the proximal plate portion by a third bending line, and this at least one connection flange is configured to engage with the same elastic connecting ring that connects the side edges of the panels of the self-expanding folding display.

Depending on the particular embodiment, the connection flange of the plate of the expander device may have an intermediate interruption caused by the cutouts that form the one or more first engagement elements.

Preferably, the connecting flange of the plate of the expander device has a length in the direction of the exhibitor's height substantially equal to the length of the flanges folded into the display panels, so that the elastic connecting ring surrounds by same as the connection flange of the plate of the expander device and the tabs folded into the display panels.

In one embodiment, at least part of the proximal plate portion and the entire distal plate portion have a length in the direction of the exhibitor's height less than the length of the connection flange in order to provide a free space within the exhibitor.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a self-expanding folding display of the type described above equipped with at least one expander device according to the first aspect of the present invention. The expander device is located between the two panels of the self-expanding folding display and with the proximal edge of its plate connected to at least one of the panels at or near one of said side edges to push said panels from the inside out from a position collapsed, in which the panels exhibit a flat configuration, to an expanded position, in which the panels exhibit a three-dimensional configuration capable of standing upright.

Since self-expanding folding display only needs to have one or more expander devices associated to the side edges of one side of the panels that form it, the side edges of the other side of the panels are free.

Thanks to this, in one embodiment the two panels of the self-expanding folding display of the present invention have respective cupboard cutouts adjacent to that of the side edges opposite the expander device. The aforementioned pantry cuts have respective horizontal lower edges, vertical side edges and upper edges. A shelf panel is hingedly connected to at least one of the panels so that it can rotate between a folded position, wherein said shelf panel is superimposed on the display panels when the self-expanding folding display is in said position. collapsed, and a working position, in which the shelf panel is in a horizontal position and supported on lower edges of said cupboard cuts.

In one embodiment, the shelf panel is attached to at least one of the display panels by a support plate having an upper edge articulated articulated by a bending line to a joining flange, for example by adhesive, to a bottom face of the shelf panel, and a side edge connected articulated by a bending line to a connection flange configured to engage with the elastic connection ring that connects the side edges of the panels.

The connection flange of said support plate has substantially the same length in the direction of the height of the display as inwardly folded tabs connected to the side edges of the panels, which are shortened due to the cupboard cutouts , and said elastic connection ring is arranged surrounding the connection flange of the support plate and said flanges bent into the panels.

The aforementioned vertical side edges of the pantry cuts are articulated by bending lines articulated to closing panels which in turn have free vertical edges articulated by bending lines to auxiliary tabs bent inwards, the which are mutually connected by an elastic auxiliary connection ring, such as a rubber ring, arranged surrounding said auxiliary flanges bent inwards. Said closing panels have a length in the direction of the width of the display less than the length of said lower edges of the cupboard cutouts, so that the closing panels are mutually aligned and distanced from the side edges of the display panels when the self-expanding folding display is in the expanded position.

Both the two display panels as the shelf panel and the support plate are preferably made of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard, or similar material.

In another embodiment, the self-expanding folding display includes an external container comprising a front wall connected articulated by its lateral edges to foldable side walls, which are provided with respective intermediate hinges formed by fold lines. These foldable side walls have free side edges articulably connected to container connection tabs, which are configured to engage with elastic connecting bands that connect the side edges of the panels.

The aforementioned external container further comprises a folding connection element formed by a plurality of cross-linked vertical plates in the form of bellows. This foldable connection element has a front connection surface at a front end configured to be attached, for example by adhesive, to a central region of said front wall and at a rear end a rear connection surface configured to be attached, for example by adhesive, to a central region of one of the display panels.

In addition, the aforementioned rear end of the folding connection element is articulatedly connected to an articulated connection tongue joined, for example by adhesive, to a central region adjacent to a rear edge of a bottom plate sized to cover the entire space. delimited by the folding front and side walls of the external container and by the corresponding panel of the exhibitor. This bottom plate preferably has a curved rear edge to adapt to the three-dimensional configuration of the display panel when it is in the expanded position.

Thus, the bottom plate moves between a folded position, in which said bottom plate is superimposed on the panels when the self-expanding folding display is in said collapsed position, and a working position, in which the plate in the background it is in a horizontal position and supported on upper edges of said bellows-shaped interlocking plates that form the folding connection element.

Preferably, the outer container includes an elastic tensile element arranged to pull the bottom plate towards the folding connection element. With this, the movements of the bottom plate involve movements of the front wall and the folding side walls between a folded position, in which the side walls are folded and superimposed on the front wall and the display panels, and a working position, in which the front wall is separated from the display panel and the side walls are deployed and substantially perpendicular to the front wall.

The front wall, the foldable side walls, and the container connection tabs are preferably made of a single sheet of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or similar material. The cross-shaped bellows plates that form the folding connection element and the bottom plate are also preferably made of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard, or similar material.

Optionally, the self-expanding folding display of the present invention includes a base plate connected to the display panels by a base connection plate configured so as to allow said base plate to move between a folded position, in which the base plate is superimposed to the display panels when the display is in said collapsed position, and a working position, in which the base plate is in a position perpendicular to the display panels and in contact with a lower edge thereof when the display is in the expanded position. The base plate has an area greater than the base of the display when it is in the expanded position, so that the base plate helps to hold the display in the upright position.

In one embodiment, said base connection plate comprises two end plate portions articulatedly joined to opposite edges of an intermediate plate portion. The aforementioned end plate portions have respective end edges articulated jointly to respective side connection tabs configured to engage with the elastic connection bands that connect the side edges of the display panels to each other, and said intermediate plate portion has a lower edge articulatedly joined to one or more lower connecting tabs configured to engage with one or more elastic bands engaged in turn to one or more engagement elements formed in the base plate.

The base plate is preferably made of a sheet of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or similar material, and can have any shape that is convenient in relation to the shape of the display. The end plate portions, the intermediate plate portion and the side and bottom connecting tabs are preferably made of a single sheet of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or similar material.

Brief description of the drawings

The foregoing and other features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of some embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an expandable device for self-expanding folding display according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, in a flat position;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are different perspective views of the expander device of Fig. 1 in an angled working position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two panels of a self-expanding folding display in accordance with an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, in a disconnected position, and two expander devices of Fig. 1 connected to one of said panels ;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the self-expanding folding display in an expanded position provided by the expander devices;

Fig. 7 is a front view of an expandable device for self-expanding folding display according to another embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, in a flat position;

Fig. 8 is a front view of two panels and a shelf panel of a self-expanding folding display in accordance with another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, in a disconnected position;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the display of Fig. 8 in an expanded position;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a self-expanding folding display in accordance with yet another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, in an expanded position;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of walls, a bottom plate and a folding connection element of the display of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a front view of an expandable device for self-expanding folding display in accordance with yet another embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, in a flat position;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the expander device of Fig. 12 in an angled working position;

Fig. 14 is a schematic perspective view of a self-expanding folding display in accordance with yet another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention held in an expanded position by the expanding device of Fig. 12 in the angled working position;

Fig. 15 is a front view of an expandable device for self-expanding folding display in accordance with yet another embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, in a flat position;

Fig. 16 is a front view of a stiffening plate that can be associated with the expander device of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of a self-expanding folding display in accordance with yet another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention held in an expanded position by the expander device of Fig. 15 in collaboration with the stiffening plate. n of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a base plate belonging to a self-expanding folding display in accordance with another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 19 is a base connection plate that connects the base plate of Fig. 18 to the display;

Fig. 20 is a schematic perspective view of the display in the expanded position, with the base connection plate of Fig. 19 installed therein and about to be connected to the base plate of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a plan view of a base plate belonging to a self-expanding folding display in accordance with yet another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 22 is a base connection plate that connects the base plate of Fig. 21 to the display;

Fig. 23 is a schematic perspective view of the display in the expanded position, with the base connection plate of Fig. 22 installed therein and about to be connected to the base plate of Fig. 21;

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a self-expanding folding display in accordance with another additional embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, including a shelf panel shown about to be installed on wall panels in an expanded position;

Fig. 25 is a partial perspective view of the display of Fig. 24 with the shelf panel installed in the wall panels in an expanded position;

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the display of Figs. 24 and 25 in the expanded position, where the wall panels are represented by dashed lines;

Fig. 27 is a partial side view of one of the wall panels of the display of Figs. 24 and 25; Y

Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the display of Figs. 24 and 25 in a collapsed and partially folded position to a compact folded position.

Detailed description of some exemplary embodiments Referring first to Fig. 1, numerical reference 30 generally designates a plate belonging to an expander device 300 (shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4) according to An embodiment of the present invention. The plate 30 is made of a piece of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or the like, and comprises a proximal edge 31, a distal edge 32 opposite said proximal edge 31, and a hinge 33 located between said proximal and distal edges 31, 32. Said hinge 33 is formed by a first fold line and divides the plate 30 into a proximal plate portion 30a and a distal plate portion30b.

From the distal plate portion 30b extends a limiter member 3 having a first end 3a forming a free edge and a second end 3b, opposite to said first end, articulably connected to the distal plate portion 30b by a second line of fold. The proximal edge 31 of the proximal plate portion 30a is articulably connected by a third bending line to a connection flange 6. This connection flange 6 has at least one intermediate interruption caused by trimming that forms a first engagement element 4 , and the limiting member 3 has a plurality of second engagement elements 5 formed on its side edges.

The hinge 33 has two extreme hinge portions that start from edges of the plate 30, and between these two extreme hinge portions there is an intermediate interruption of the hinge. Cutting lines 35 defining a plate extension 30c extending the proximal plate portion 30a and ending at an edge extend into the ends of this intermediate interruption of the hinge 33 and into the distal plate portion 30b. additional distal 34. Thus, said plate extension 30c of the proximal plate portion 30a extends beyond hinge 33 towards distal edge 32 of distal plate portion 30b.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 AND 4, in an operative situation the limiter member 3 is folded inwardly around the second bending line that connects its second end 3b to the distal plate portion 30b, and an elastic tensile element 7, which in this The embodiment is an elastic pulling ring, and more specifically a rubber ring, is hooked to the first engagement element 4 of the proximal plate portion 30a and to two of the second engagement elements 5 formed on opposite sides of the limiting member 3. As �, the elastic force exerted by the elastic tensile element 7 pulls the proximal and distal plate portions 30a, 30b towards each other so that the plate 30 bends around the hinge 33 from a flat rest position ( not shown) to an angled working position (Figs. 2, 3 and 4).

Since the hinge 33 does not affect the joint zone between the proximal plate portion 30a and the plate extension 30c, said joint zone is rigid and the proximal plate portion 30a and the plate extension 30c remain coplanar when the plate 30 it is bent to the angled working position, with the result that the distal edge 32 of the distal plate portion 30b and the additional distal edge 34 of the plate extension 30c extending the proximal plate portion 30a project at comparable distances and in different directions in relation to hinge 33.

The first and second engagement elements 4, 5 are arranged so that a portion of the elastic tension element 7 interferes with the first end 3a of the limiting member 3 when the plate 30 is in the angled working position, which it limits the possibility that the first end 3a of the limiter member 3 slides over the proximal plate portion 30a beyond the first engagement element 4 and prevents the plate 30 from bending beyond the angled working position.

In addition, since the plurality of second engagement elements 5 formed on both sides of the limiting member 3 are located at different distances from the first end 3a of the limiting member 3, the tension of the elastic tensile element 7 can be regulated by selecting a pair of the second coupling elements 5 where to engage the elastic tension element 7.

It will be understood that the tensile elastic element 7 can be in any other way different from an elastic rubber ring provided that the first and second coupling elements are configured so as to allow the coupling thereof.

It will also be understood that alternatively the limiting member 3 can be a separate element of the plate 30 or an element articulated connected to the plate 30 in a different way than that shown in Fig. 1 provided that it is configured and / or installed so that when the plate 30 is in the angled working position the limiting member 3 has a first end 3a in contact with the proximal plate portion 30a and a second end 3b in contact with the distal plate portion 30b limiting bending plate 30 to the angled working position.

The expander device 300 is provided for a self-expanding foldable display 100 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which comprises two panels 10, 20 facing each other and joined to each other by their respective side edges 12. The expander device 300 is located between the two panels 10, 20 of the display 100 to push the panels 10 from within , 20 And thereby automatically expanding the display 100 from a collapsed position (not shown), in which the panels 10, 20 exhibit a flat configuration, to an expanded position (Fig. 6), in which the panels 10, 20 they exhibit a three-dimensional configuration capable of standing tall.

As shown in Fig. 5, the two panels 10, 20 of the display 100 have their lateral edges 12 articulatedly connected to flanges 15 which in an operative situation are folded inwards and connected to each other by an elastic connecting ring 8 arranged surrounding to the tabs folded inwards 15 of the panels 10, 20 of the display 100.

The proximal edge 31 of the expander device 300 is connected to the display 100 by means of its connection flange 6, which is configured to be superimposed on the tabs folded inwardly 15 of one of the side edges 12 of the panels 10, 20 of the display 100 And to engage with said elastic connection ring 8, which is thus arranged surrounding the connection flange 6 of the plate 30 of the expander device 300 and the folded tabs inwardly 15 of the panels 10, 20 of the display 100

Preferably, the connection flange 6 of the plate 30 has substantially the same length in the direction of the display height as the inwardly folded tabs 15 of the display 100, which ensures a reliable connection with a simple configuration and a great ease and Quick assembly without using adhesives.

The display can be collapsed from the expanded position to the collapsed position by manually pressing the panels 10, 20 towards each other from the outside by overcoming the elastic force exerted by the elastic tensile element 7. Each of the panels 10, 20 of the Exhibitor 100 has transverse fold lines 24 around which the display 100 can be folded manually from the collapsed position to a compact folded position (not shown), in which the folds of the panels prevent the automatic expansion of the display 100. However, just by starting a display of the display from the compact folded position, the elastic force exerted by the traction elastic element 7 expands the expander device 300 and it automatically expands the display 100 to its expanded service position.

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the expander device 300, which is all analogous to the expander device 300 described above in relation to Figs. 1 to 4 except that here a portion of the proximal plate portion 30a and the entire distal plate portion 30b have a length in the direction of the display height less than the length of the connection flange 6, while the length of the connection flange 6 in the direction of the height of the display remains substantially equal to the length of the tabs bent inwardly 15 of the display 100. Thus, the expander device of Fig. 7 leaves room for other accessories of the display 100

Figs. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the display 100 that can advantageously use the expander device 300 of Fig. 7. The display 100 of Figs. 8 and 9 is analogous to the display 100 described above in relation to Figs. 5 and 6 except that both panels 10, 20 of the display 100 here have respective cupboard cuts 13, 23 adjacent to one of the side edges 12 opposite the side edge 12 in which the expander devices 300 are connected (not shown in Figs. 8 and 9). The mentioned cupboard cuts 13, 23 have respective lower edges 13a, 23a, vertical side edges 13b, 23b and upper edges 13c, 23c.

The aforementioned vertical side edges 13b, 23b of the cupboard cutouts 13, 23 are articulated connected by bending lines to closing panels 16, 26 which in turn have free vertical edges articulated connected by bending lines. to auxiliary tabs 25, which in operative situation are arranged bent inwards and are connected to each other by an elastic auxiliary connection ring (not shown) arranged surrounding both auxiliary tabs bent inwards 25. The closing panels 16, 26 have a length in the direction of the width of the display less than the length of said lower edges 13a, 23a of the cupboard cutouts 13, 23, so that when the display 100 is in the expanded position (Fig. 9), the closing panels are arranged mutually coplanar by enabling an open space above the lower edges 13a, 23a of the cupboard cuts 13,23.

A shelf panel 70 is articulated connected to one of the panels 10, 20 of the display 100 by means of a support plate 71, which has an upper edge articulated connected by a bending line to a joint flange 72 attached, for example by adhesive, to said shelf panel 70 and a side edge connected articulated by a bending line to a connection flange 73 configured to engage with the corresponding elastic connection ring 8 that connects the bent inward flanges 15 at the edge side 12 of the display 100 opposite the expander device 300 below the lower edges 13a, 23a of the cupboard cutouts 13,

2. 3.

The tabs bent inwardly 15 of the side edge 12 opposite the expander device 300 and located below the lower edges 13a, 23a of the cupboard cutouts 13, 23, are shorter in the direction of the height of the display than those of the side opposite, and the connection flange 73 of the support plate 71 has substantially the same length in the direction of the height of the display as these inwardly folded tabs 15 shorter. The corresponding elastic connection ring 8 is arranged surrounding the connection flange 73 of the support plate 71 and said inwardly folded tabs 15 of the panels 10, 20.

In this way, the shelf panel 70 can rotate between a folded position, in which said shelf panel 70 is superimposed on the panels 10, 20 when the display 100 is in the collapsed position, and a working position ( Fig. 9), in which the shelf panel 70 is in a horizontal position and supported on lower edges 13a, 23a of said cupboard cuts 13, 23. Both the shelf panel 70 and the support plate 71 are �n made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or the like, and in the working position the shelf panel 70 provides a shelf strong enough to support relatively heavy A items, such as bottles, books, small appliances, etc.

Figs. 10 and 11 show another embodiment of the display 100 that can advantageously use the expander device 300 of Fig. 7. The display 100 of Figs. 10 and 11 is all analogous to the display 100 described above in relation to Figs. 5 and 6 except that here the display 100 includes an external container 60 comprising a front wall 61 articulated by its side edges articulated to foldable side walls 62, 63 provided with respective intermediate hinges 62a, 63a. Said collapsible side walls 62, 63, free side edges articulatedly connected to container connection tabs 64, which are configured to engage with the corresponding elastic connection bands 7 connecting the side edges 12 of the panels 10, 20.

The outer container 60 further comprises a folding connecting element 65 formed by a plurality of interlocking bellows-shaped plates having lower edges configured to be supported on the ground. This folding connection element 65 has a front connection surface 65a configured at the front end to be joined, for example by adhesive, to a central region of the front wall 61 and at a rear end a rear connection surface 65a configured to be joined , for example by adhesive, to a central region of one of the panels 10, 20 of the display 100.

The aforementioned rear end of the folding connection element 65 is further articulated connected to a connection tab 65c attached to a central region of a bottom plate 66, at a site adjacent to a rear edge thereof. Thus, the bottom plate 66 can be moved between a folded position, in which the bottom plate 66 is superimposed on the panels 10, 20 when the display 100 is in the collapsed position, and a working position, wherein the bottom plate 66 is in a horizontal position and supported on upper edges of the bellows cross-linked of the folding connection element 65. An elastic tension element 67 is arranged to pull the plate bottom 66 towards the folding connection element 65.

In addition, the outer container 60 can be folded together with the bottom plate 66 by folding inward the folding side walls 62, 63 around the intermediate hinges 62a, 63a between a working position (Fig. 10), in which the folding side walls 62, 63 are substantially perpendicular to the front wall 61, and a folded position (not shown) in which the folding front and side walls 61,62.63 are superimposed on the bottom plate 66 and to panels 10, 20 of the display 100 when it is in the collapsed position.

Preferably, the front wall 61, the folding side walls 62, 63, and the container connection tabs 64 are preferably made of a single sheet of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or similar material, and the articulated connections between them. as intermediate hinges 62a, 63a are formed by fold lines. The cross-shaped bellows plates forming the folding connection element 65 and the bottom plate 66 are also preferably made of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard, or similar material.

Figs. 12 and 13 show another alternative embodiment of the expander device 300, which is all analogous to the expander device 300 described above in relation to Figs. 1 to 4 except that here the plate 30 of the expander device 300 comprises a stiffening plate portion 37 articulatedly connected to the distal edge 32 of the distal plate portion 30b by means of a connection plate portion 38 having a edge connected to the distal edge 32 by a fourth fold line 38a and a second edge connected to the stiffening plate portion 37 by a fifth fold line 38b. The stiffening plate portion 37 has one or more connecting tabs 39 articulatedly connected to a distal edge thereof by a sixth fold line 39a.

The expander device 300 of Figs. 12 and 13 is provided for the expansion of a self-expanding folding display 100 provided with four panels 10, 20, 40, 50 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 14). Two of the panels 10, 20 are made of a piece of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or similar material, and separated by a fold line 101, and the other two panels 40, 50 are made of another piece of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard or similar material, and separated by another fold line 102. Both pieces of sheet have lateral edges 12 connected to each other by respective inwardly folded tabs 15 surrounded by respective elastic connecting rings 8 ( not shown). In the expanded position, the display 100 exhibits the shape of a rectangular prism where the tabs bent inwardly 15 are located diagonally opposite side edges 12.

In operative situation, the expander device 300 of Figs. 12 and 13 conveniently folded as shown in Fig. 13, it is arranged with the connection flange 6 superimposed on the flanges bent inwardly 15 of one of the lateral edges of the display 100 Y hooked with the corresponding elastic connecting ring 8, and with the connection flange 39 superimposed on the flanges bent inwardly 15 of the other side edges of the display 100 AND engaged with the corresponding elastic connecting ring

8.

In this position, the proximal plate portion 30a together with the plate extension 30c is disposed superimposed on an inner surface of one of the panels 10 of the display 100 while the stiffening plate 37 is disposed superimposed on an inner surface of another of the panels 30 of the display 100 opposite the panel 10. For this, the proximal plate portion 30a with the plate extension 30c and the stiffening plate 37 are sized in accordance with the corresponding panels 10, 30 of the exhibitor.

Fig. 15 shows another alternative embodiment of the expander device 300, which is all analogous to the expander device 300 described above in relation to Figs. 1 to 4 except that here the hinge 33 of the plate 30 of the expander device 300 is located in an intermediate section and does not reach edges of the plate 30. Furthermore, here the plate extension 30c of the proximal plate portion 30a it is formed by cutting lines 36 that extend from ends of the bending line that forms the hinge 33 and that surround the distal plate portion 30b and part of the limiter member 3, whereby the additional distal edge 34 in the end of the plate extension 30c is significantly further from the hinge 33 than the distal edge 32 at the free end the distal plate portion 30b. The proximal plate portion 30a with the plate extension 30c has a substantially rectangular contour and a considerable extent.

The expander device 300 of Fig. 15 is provided to expand a self-expanding folding display 100 provided with three panels 10, 20, 40 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 17). In the triangular expander of Fig. 17 a first panel 10 and a first portion 40b of a third panel 40 are made of a piece of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard or similar material, and separated by a fold line 103, while a second panel 20 and a second portion 40b of the third panel 40 are made of another piece of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard or similar material, and separated by another fold line

104. Both pieces of sheet have lateral edges connected to each other by respective inwardly folded tabs 15 surrounded by respective elastic connection rings 8 (not shown). In the expanded position, the display 100 exhibits the shape of a triangular prism where the inwardly folded tabs 15 are located on a lateral edge 12 between the first and second panels 10, 20 and in the center of the opposite third panel 40, the Which is foldable.

In operative situation, the expander device 300 of Fig. 15 is arranged with the connection flange 6 superimposed on the flanges bent inwardly 15 of the side edge 12 of the display 100 Y hooked with the corresponding elastic connecting ring 8. The portion of proximal plate 30a with the plate extension 30c acts as a stiffening plate superimposed on the inner surface of the first panel 10 of the display 100 And the distal edge 32 of the distal plate portion 30b presses from the inside against the second panel 20 of the exhibitor 100.

Optionally, the expander device 300 of Fig. 15 cooperates with an additional stiffening plate 55 (Fig. 16), which has a proximal edge articulated connected to a connection flange 56. In an operative situation, this connection flange 56 is arranged superimposed on the connection flange 6 of the expander device 300 and the flanges bent inwardly 15 of the side edge 12 of the display 100, and engaged with the corresponding elastic connecting ring 8. The additional stiffening plate 55 is arranged superimposed on the inner surface of the second panel 20 of the display 100, the distal edge 32 of the distal plate portion 30b presses from the inside against the additional stiffening plate 55, and this transmits the pressure to the second panel 20 of the display 100 keeping the flat configuration of it.

Both the plate 30 of the expander device 300 and the additional stiffening plate 55 are made of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard, or the like, where the hinge 33 and other articulated joints are formed by bending lines.

Fig. 20 shows a self-expanding folding display 100 analogous to that described above in relation to Figs. 5 and 6, which includes a base plate 80 (shown individually in Fig. 18) connected to the two panels 10, 20 of the display 100 by a base connection plate 81 (shown individually in Fig. 19). The mentioned base plate 80 has a circular shape with an extension greater than the extension of the base of the display 100 in the expanded position. In a central region of the motherboard there is a cutout that defines a hitch element 84.

Said base connection plate 81 comprises two end plate portions 81b, 81c articulatedly joined to opposite edges of an intermediate plate portion 81a. Said end plate portions 81b, 81c have respective end edges articulated jointly to respective side connection tabs 83 configured to engage with the elastic connection bands 8 (not shown in Fig. 20) that connect the bent inward tabs 15 at the side edges 12 of opposite sides of the panels 10, 20 of the display 100. The said intermediate plate portion 81a has a bottom edge articulated jointly to a bottom connection flange 82.

In operative situation, the base connection plate 81 is bent in a "z" shape as shown in Fig. 19, the side connection tabs 83 are connected to the inwardly folded tabs 15 of the display 100 by means of the corresponding elastic bands of connection 8, and the lower connection flange 82 of the base connection plate 81 overlaps said coupling element 84 formed in the base plate 80. The lower connection tab 82 and the coupling element 84 are connected the one to the other by an elastic ring (not shown) arranged surrounding both.

With this arrangement, the base connection plate 81 allows the base plate to be moved between a folded position, in which the base plate 80 is superimposed on the panels 10, 20, 40, 50 of the display 100 when the display 100 is in said collapsed position, and a working position, in which the base plate 80 is in a position perpendicular to the panels 10, 20, 40, 50 of the display 100 Y in contact with a lower edge thereof when the display 100 is in the expanded position. Thus, the base plate 80 contributes to holding the display 100 in an upright position when it is in the expanded position.

Fig. 23 shows another self-expanding folding display 100 analogous to that described above in relation to Fig. 14, which includes a base plate 80 (shown individually in Fig. 21) connected to panels 10, 20, 40, 50 of the display 100 by a base connection plate 81 (shown individually in Fig. 22), analogously to that described above in relation to Figs. 18 to 20. The only differences are that the base plate 80 here has a square or rectangular shape with an extension greater than the extension of the base of the display 100 in the expanded position, and that the side connection tabs 83, a Once the base connection plate 81 is bent in a "z" shape as shown in Fig. 23, the elastic connecting bands 8 are connected by means of the inwardly folded tabs 15 located on the diametrically opposite side edges 12 of the exhibitor 100.

In both embodiments of Figs. 18 to 20 and Figs. 21 to 23, both the base plate 80 and the base connection plate 81 are made of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard, or the like, where hinges or articulated joints are formed by bending lines.

Figs. 24 to 28 show yet another additional embodiment of the display 100, in which the expander device 300 of Fig. 7 can be advantageously used. The display 100 of Figs. 8 and 9 is analogous to the display 100 described above in relation to Figs. 5 and 6 except that both panels 10, 20 of the display 100 here have respective shelf openings 17 in central regions between the opposite side edges 12 thereof. The mentioned shelf openings 17 (one of which belonging to one of the two identical panels 10, 20 of the display, is shown in detail in Fig. 26) have respective horizontal bottom edges 17a, two respective vertical side edges 17b, and respective upper edges 17c.

The aforementioned vertical side edges 17b of the shelf openings 17 are hingedly connected by bending lines to closing panels 18 which in turn have free vertical edges articulatedly connected by bending lines to auxiliary tabs 19, the which in operative situation are arranged bent inwards and are connected to each other by an elastic auxiliary connection ring (not shown) arranged surrounding both auxiliary tabs 19 bent inwards. The closing panels 18 have a length in the direction of the width of the display less than the length of said lower and upper edges 17a, 17c of the shelf openings 17, so that when the display 100 is in the expanded position ( Figs. 24 and 25), the closing panels 18 are arranged mutually coplanar by enabling an open space above the lower horizontal edges 17a of the shelf openings 17.

As best shown in Fig. 27, the panels 10, 20 of the display 100 include small cuts 18a that extend downwardly from the lower horizontal edges 17a of the shelf openings 17 aligned with the vertical side edges 17b of the openings of shelf 17. The function of these cuts 18a will be explained below.

Fig. 26 shows a shelf panel 75 made of cardboard sheet, corrugated cardboard, or the like, which has an intermediate region 75a of length approximately equivalent to the width of the shelf openings 17 and end regions 75b having about projections 76 protruding beyond the intermediate region 75a. The depth of the shelf panel 75 is greater than the width of the display 100 in the expanded position. From the center of internal edges of the intermediate region 75a protruding points 77.

The shelf panel 75 is installed in the shelf opening 17 so that it can pivot around the tips 77 between a folded position (Fig. 28), in which the shelf panel 75 is superimposed on the panels 10, 20 of the display 100 when it is in the collapsed position, and a working position (Fig. 25), in which the shelf panel 75 is perpendicular to the panels 10, 20 of the display 100 when it is in the position expanded, with the projections 76 coupled to the vertices formed by the bending lines connecting the closure panels 18 to the vertical side edges 17b of the shelf openings 17 and with a lower surface of the shelf panel 75 resting on the horizontal bottom edges 17a of the shelf openings 17.

Thus, in working position, the shelf panel 75 provides a shelf strong enough to support relatively heavy items, such as bottles, books, small appliances, etc.

Said cuts 18a extending downwardly from the ends of the horizontal lower edges 17a of the shelf openings 17 facilitate that a portion of the panels 10, 20 adjacent to a lower side of the corresponding shelf opening 17 be bent inwardly. by the shelf panel 75 when the display 100 is folded to the collapsed position and the shelf panel pivots the folded position.

As Fig. 28 shows, from the collapsed position, the display 100 including the shelf panel 75 can be folded around the transverse fold lines 24 of the panels 10, 20 of the display 100 to the compact folded position.

A person skilled in the art will be able to introduce modifications and variations in the

5 embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (27)

1.-Expander device (300) for self-expanding folding display (100), said display comprising two or more panels (10, 20, 40, 50) joined to each other by their respective side edges (12), said said expander device (300) located between two of said panels (10, 20, 40, 50) of the display (100) to push the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) from within a collapsed position, in which the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) exhibit a flat configuration, to an expanded position, in which the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) exhibit a three-dimensional configuration capable of standing up, said expander device (300) comprising: a plate (30) having a proximal edge

(31)

connected to at least one of the panels (10,20,40,50) of the display (100), a distal edge (32) opposite said proximal edge (31), and a hinge (33) located between said proximal edges and distal (31, 32) And dividing said plate (30) into a proximal plate portion (30a) and a distal plate portion (30b); an elastic tensile element (7) arranged to pull said proximal and distal plate portions (30a, 30b) towards each other to bend the plate (30) around said hinge (33) from a flat rest position a an angled work position; and a limiter member (3) that when the plate

(30)

is in said angled working position has a first end (3a) in contact with the proximal plate portion (30a) and a second end (3b) in contact with the distal plate portion (30b) to limit the bending of the plate (30) to the angled working position, characterized in that: the proximal plate portion (30a) has a plate extension (30c) extending beyond the hinge (33) towards said distal edge (32) and which ends at an additional distal edge (34), where the hinge (33) does not affect a rigid joint between the proximal plate portion (30a) and said plate extension (30c) so that both remain coplanar when the plate (30 ) is bent to the angled work position.

2. Expansion device (300) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (30) is made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or the like, where the hinge (33) is formed by a first fold line having a intermediate interruption, and said plate extension (30c) of the proximal plate portion (30a) is formed by cutting lines (35) extending into the distal plate portion (30b) from ends of said intermediate interruption of the hinge (33). 3. Expansion device (300) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (30) is made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or the like, where the hinge (33) is formed by a first fold line that does not reach edges of the plate (30), and said plate extension (30c) of the proximal plate portion (30a) is formed by cutting lines (36) extending from ends of the hinge (33) and which delimit the distal plate portion (30b). 4. Expansion device (300) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said limiter member (3) is an integral part of the plate (30) and has said second end (3b) articulated connected to the distal plate portion (30b) by a second fold line and said first end (3a) on a free edge opposite said second fold line. 5. Expansion device (300) according to claim 4, characterized in that the proximal plate portion (30a) has at least one first engagement element (4) formed, the limiter member (3) has at least one second element formed hitch (5), and said elastic tensile element (7) is an elastic tensile ring engaged in said first and second engagement elements (4, 5). 6. Expansion device (300) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first and second coupling elements (4, 5) are arranged so that a portion of the elastic tension element (7) interferes with the first end ( 3a) of the limiter member

(3)

when the plate (30) is in the angled working position to prevent the plate

(30)

be bent beyond the angled work position.

7. Expansion device (300) according to claim 5, characterized in that the limiting member (3) has a plurality of said second coupling elements (5) located at different distances from the first end (3a), the second elements being hitch (5) selectable to regulate the tension of the elastic tensile element (7). 8. Expansion device (300) according to claim 4, characterized in that said cutting lines (36) extending from said ends of the hinge (33) surround the distal plate portion (30b) Ypart of the limiter member (3) . 9. Expansion device (300) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (30) has at least one connection flange (6) articulated connected to the proximal edge (31) of the proximal plate portion (30a) by a third fold line, said at least one connection flange (6) being configured to engage with an elastic connecting ring (8) connecting two of said lateral edges ( 12) of the panels (10,20,40,50) of the exhibitor (100). 10. Expansion device (300) according to claim 9, characterized in that said connection flange (6) of the plate (30) has at least one intermediate interruption caused by at least one cutout that forms at least a first coupling element ( 4) for said elastic tensile element (7). 11. An expander device (300) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the connection flange (6) of the plate (30) has substantially the same length in the direction of the height of the display as inwardly folded tabs ( 15) connected to the side edges (12) of the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) of the display (100), and said elastic connecting ring (8) is arranged surrounding the connection flange (6) of the plate (30) of the expander device (300) and said tabs bent inwards (15) of the panels (10,20,40,50) of the exhibitor. 12. An expander device (300) according to claim 11, characterized in that at least part of the proximal plate portion (30a) and the entire distal plate portion (30b) have a length in the direction of the height of the exhibitor smaller than the length of the connection tab (6). 13. Expansion device (300) according to claim 4, characterized in that the plate (30) comprises a stiffening plate portion (37) articulated connected to the distal edge (32) of the distal plate portion (30b) Y which is arranged superimposed on an interior surface of one of the panels (10,20,40,50) of the display (100). 14. Expansion device (300) according to claim 13, characterized in that said stiffening plate portion (37) is connected to the distal edge (32) of the distal plate portion (30b) by means of a portion of connecting plate (38) having an edge connected to the distal edge (32) by a fourth bending line (38a) and a second edge connected to the stiffening plate portion (37) by a fifth bending line ( 38b). 15.-Expansion device (300) according to claim 14, characterized in that the stiffening plate portion (37) has at least one connection flange (39) articulated connected to a distal edge thereof by a sixth line of fold (39a). 16.-Exhibitor (100) folding self-expanding equipped with an expander device (300), said display comprising two or more panels (10, 20, 40, 50) joined by their respective lateral edges (12), and where said expander device (300) is located between two of said panels (10, 20, 40, 50) and is configured to push the panels (10,20,40,50) from within a collapsed position, in which the panels (10,20,40, 50) exhibit a flat configuration, to an expanded position, in which the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) exhibit a three-dimensional configuration capable of standing up, characterized in that said expander device (300) it is an expander device according to any one of the preceding claims. 17. Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises two panels (10, 20) joined by their respective side edges (12), and both panels (10, 20) have respective cupboard cutouts (13 , 23) adjacent to one of the side edges (12) opposite the expander device (300), and a shelf panel (70) is articulated connected to at least one of the panels (10,20,40, 50) of so that it can rotate between a folded position, in which said shelf panel (70) is superimposed on the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) when the display stand (100) is in said collapsed position, and a working position, in which the shelf panel (70) is in a horizontal position and supported on lower edges (13a, 23a) of said pantry cuts (13, 23). 18. Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 17, characterized in that the shelf panel (70) is connected to at least one of the panels (10,20) by a support plate (71) having an edge upper joint articulated by a bending line to a joint flange (72) attached to said shelf panel (70) and a side edge articulated jointly by a bending line to a connection flange (73) configured to engage with a ring elastic connection (8) connecting said side edges (12) of the panels (10,20). 19.-Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 18, characterized in that the connecting flange (73) of said support plate (71) has substantially the same length in the direction of the height of the display as inwardly folded tabs (15) connected to the side edges (12) of the panels (10, 20), and said elastic connecting ring (8) is arranged surrounding the connection flange (73) of the support plate (71) and said tabs folded inwards (15) of the panels (10,20). 20.-Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 17, 18 or 19, characterized in that the cupboard cutouts (13, 23) of the panels (10, 20) have vertical side edges (13b, 23b) articulated connected by bending lines to closing panels (16, 26) which in turn have free vertical edges connected articulated by bending lines to auxiliary tabs folded inwards (25), which are mutually connected by a elastic auxiliary connection ring arranged surrounding said auxiliary flanges bent inwards (25), said closure panels (16, 26) having a length in the direction of the width of the display less than the length of said lower edges (13a, 23a ) of the pantry cuts (13, 23). 21. Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that it includes an external container (60) comprising a front wall (61) articulated by its lateral edges articulated to folding side walls (62, 63) provided with respective intermediate hinges (62a, 63a) formed by fold lines, said foldable side walls (62, 63) having free side edges articulably connected to container connection tabs (64), which are configured to engage with elastic connecting bands (7) connecting said side edges (12) of the panels (10,20,40,50). 22. Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 21, characterized in that said external container (60) further comprises a folding connecting element (65) formed by a plurality of bellows-shaped interlocking plates having lower edges configured for be supported on the ground, said folding connecting element (65) having a front connecting surface (65a) at a front end configured to be attached to a central region of said front wall (61) and at a rear end a surface of rear junction (65a) configured to be attached to a central region of one of the panels (10,20,40,50). 23. Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 22, characterized in that said rear end of the folding connecting element (65) is articulated connected to a connecting tab (65c) attached to a central region adjacent to a rear edge of a bottom plate (66), which moves between a folded position, in which said bottom plate (66) is superimposed on the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) when the display (100) is in said collapsed position, and a working position, in which the bottom plate (66) is in a horizontal position and supported on upper edges of said interlocking plates in the form of bellows of the folding connection element (65). 24. Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 23, characterized in that an elastic tensile element (67) is arranged to pull the bottom plate (66) towards the folding connection element (65). 25.-Exhibitor (100) folding self-expanding according to claim 16, characterized in that it includes a base plate (80) connected to the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) of the display (100) by a base connection plate (81 ) which allows said base plate to be moved between a folded position, in which the base plate (80) is superimposed on the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) of the display (100) when the display (100) is in said collapsed position, and a working position, in which the base plate (80) is in a position perpendicular to the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) of the display (100) and in contact with a lower edge of the same when the display (100) is in the expanded position. 26.-Self-expanding folding display stand (100) according to claim 25, characterized in that said base connection plate (81) comprises two end plate portions (81b, 81c) articulatedly joined to opposite edges of an intermediate plate portion (81a) , wherein said end plate portions (81b, 81c) have respective end edges articulated jointly to respective side connection tabs (83) configured to engage with elastic connection bands (8) connecting said side edges (12) of the panels (10, 20, 40, 50) of the display (100) and said intermediate plate portion (81a) has a lower edge articulated jointly to at least one lower connecting flange (82) configured to engage with at least one ring elastic hooked in turn to at least one coupling element (84) formed in the base plate (80). 27.-Folding self-expanding display stand (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises two panels (10, 20) joined by their respective side edges (12), and both panels (10, 20) have respective shelf openings (17 ) in which a shelf panel (75) that can pivot between a folded position is installed, in which the shelf panel (75) is superimposed on the panels (10, 20) of the display (100) when it is in the collapsed position, and a working position, in which the shelf panel (75) is perpendicular to the panels (10, 20) of the display (100) when it is in the expanded position, with projections (76) of the shelf panel (75) coupled to vertical side edges (17b) of the shelf openings (17) And with a lower surface of the shelf panel (75) resting on horizontal lower edges (17a) of the shelf openings (17).