GB2241637A - Display stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A display stand is erectable from at least three parts, the first part 10 comprising a plurality of rectangular panels 16, 17, 18 and 19 each having a front face and a rearwardly directing flange 21 around its edges, the panels being hingedly connected to permit their deployment from a stowed flat pack to an erected position wherein they form a front wall of the stand and side walls 12, 13 of the stand extending rearwardly from opposite ends of said front wall, the second part comprising a top 14 which can be fitted over the upper edges of the front and side walls of the stand, and the third part comprising a shelf 15 whose side and forward edges can be located in recesses 23 defined between protrusions 22 on the inner faces of the panels, there being cut-outs 26 around the edges of the shelf to accommodate the rearwardly directed flanges of the panels. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY STAND This invention concerns a display stand suitable for use at exhibitions and the like, and erectable from a plurality of panels which can be stowed as a flat pack.

According to the present invention there is provided a display stand erectable from at least three parts, the first part comprising a plurality of rectangular panels each having a front face and a rearwardly directed flange around its edges, the panels being hingedly connected to permit their deployment from a stowed flat pack to an erected position wherein they form a front wall of the stand and side walls of the stand extending rearwardly from opposite ends of said front wall, the second part comprising a top which can be fitted over the upper edges of the front and side walls of the stand, and the third part comprising a shelf whose side and forward edges can be located in recesses defined between protrusions on the inner faces of the panels, there being cut-outs around the edges of the shelf to accomodate the rearwardly directed flanges of the panels.

The first part may comprise three panels the centre of which forms the front wall of the stand, there being cut-outs at the four corners of the shelf.

The centre panel may be twice the width of the other panels which each overlie half of the centre panel when the part is stowed as a flat pack.

The first part may comprise four panels the centre two of which form the front wall of the stand, the shelf having cut-outs at its four corners and also at the centre of its forward edge, the four panels being superimposed when the part is stowed as a flat pack.

The top and shelf may be rectangular, or they may be of trapezium shape to enable a plurality of stands to be fitted together in other than a straight line.

All of the parts may be moulded from a plastics material such as a fire retardent PVC.

Adjacent panels of the first part may be moulded together and connected by a strip of material forming a hinged connection therebetween.

The top may be formed with recesses to locate desired articles of various kinds.

Additional shelves may be provided.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of display stand embodying same.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the display stand from behind; and Figure 2 shows a partially cut-away side view of the display stand.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the display stand comprises a first part generally indicated at 10 and which defines the front 11 and sides 12 and 13 of the display stand, a second part which defines the top 14 of the stand and a third part in the form of a shelf 15 within the stand.

The first part 10 comprises four rectangular panels 16, 17, 18 and 19 each having a generally flat outer face 20 and a rearwardly directed flange 21 around the edges of its inner face.

The panels are moulded from flame retardent PVC material and have on their inner faces a plurality of square-shaped lands 22 which define horizontal grooves 23 therebetween.

The panels are hingedly interconnected for movement between the erected condition shown in Figure 1 and a stowage position wherein the four are in superimposed relationship with the outer faces of panels 17 and 18 facing one another and the inner faces of panels 16, 17 and 18, 19 facing one another respectively.

The centre panels 17 and 18 are moulded together with a strip of material interconnecting them and forming the hinged connection. The panels 16 and 19 are connected to the panels 17 and 18 respectively by ordinary hinges 24 secured to the panels by screws.

The panels are symmetrical and the first part 10 can therefore be erected either way up thus facilitating rapid deployment of the stand.

The top 14 which is also moulded from flame retardent PVC has a channel 25 on its underside running around its perimeter to enable the top to be engaged with the upper edges of the sides and front of the stand.

The shelf 15 which again is moulded from fire retardent PVC can be located at a desired height with the stand by engagement of its forward and side edges with the grooves 23 at the desired level.

The corners of the shelf are cut-away at 26 and there is a further cut-out 27 at the centre of its forward edge, all to accomodate the flanges 21 on the panels 16, 17, 18 and 19, to ensure a close fit.

The top may be formed with recesses, for example to locate bottles if the stand is to serve as a bar, or even a wash-basin if intended function requires.

Other accessories such as a parasol or canopy may be engageable with or deployable from the stand.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Thus, the front wall of the stand may be defined by a single panel instead of two hingedly connected panels.

Again the top and shelf may be trapezium shaped to provide stands with angled sides enabling a plurality of stands to be arranged alongside one another in other than a straight line.

Claims (11)

1. A display stand erectable from at least three parts, the first part comprising a plurality of rectangular panels each having a front face and a rearwardly directed flange around its edges, the panels being hingedly connected to permit their deployment from a stowed flat pack to an erected position wherein they form a front wall of the stand and side walls of the stand extending rearwardly from opposite ends of said front wall, the second part comprising a top which can be fitted over the upper edges of the front and side walls of the stand, and the third part comprising a shelf whose side and forward edges can be located in recesses defined between protrusions on the inner faces of the panels, there being cut-outs around the edges of the shelf to accomodate the rearwardly directed flanges of the panels.

2. A display stand according to claim 1, wherein the first part comprises three panels the centre of which forms the front wall of the stand, there being cut-outs at the four corners of the shelf.

3. A display stand according to claim 2, wherein the centre panel is twice the width of the other panels which each overlie half of the centre panel when the part is stowed as a flat pack.

4. A display stand according to claim 1, wherein the first part comprises four panels the centre two of which form the front wall of the stand, the shelf having cut-outs at its four corners and also at the centre of its forward edge, the four panels being superimposed when the part is stowed as a flat pack.

5. A display stand according to any preceding claim, wherein the top and shelf are rectangular.

6. A display stand according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the top and shelf are of trapezium shape to enable a plurality of stands to be fitted together in other than a straight line.

7. A display stand according to any preceding claim, wherein all of the parts are moulded from a plastics material.

8. A display stand according to claim 7, wherein the plastic material is PVC.

9. A display stand according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent panels of the first part are moulded together and connected by a strip of material forming a hinged connection therebetween.

10. A display stand according to any preceding claim, wherein the top is formed with recesses to locate desired articles of various kinds.

11. A display stand according to any preceding claim, including additional shelves.