GB2350785A

GB2350785A - Cardboard rotary display stand

Info

Publication number: GB2350785A
Application number: GB9911921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas Andrew Whitworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-22
Filing date: 1999-05-22
Publication date: 2000-12-13
Also published as: GB9911921D0

Abstract

A fold-flat display stand has a base 16 supporting a rotary product display carrier with product pockets 22, the base and carrier both being made of folded cardboard. The base forms a tube with extended buttressing fins and supports a pole 17, also of cardboard. A polygonal column formed with the pockets 22 is supported by a platform 21 and the whole is rotatably suspended from a top plate 19 located on a central rod 18 extending from the pole.

Description

2350785 FREE-STANDING ROTARY DISPLAY This invention relates to a

free-standing product display.

Product displays are used in many situations, retail, wholesale, trade fairs etc. and can vary in size and complexity according to the requirements of the product being displayed. often the display can rotate, enabling a standing customer to view items which are on the opposite side of the display. These displays, particularly the rotary displays, are mostly made of metal and are expensive to produce and purchase and costly to transport. They are usually supplied free to retail /wholesale outlets by the product producer in order to guarantee display of their products. The cost of the display has to be recouped in sales of product and the high cost of the display dictates that it has to hold a large quantity of products in order to pay for itself. Producers of smaller product ranges find it hard to compete if they cannot justify the cost of a display through product sales.

This invention uses the properties of cheap, readily available materials to construct a display which can recover its costs with fewer sales. It could also be used as a I throwaway, display at trade fairs or temporary venues.

The display comprises five separate parts enabling different configurations to accommodate the requirements of different items. The configurations can include a static, 'nonrotational', display or could be adapted to provide a flatfolding, lightweight support for a counter-type surface.

According to the present invention:- i) There is a container for the product - in this case, greetings cards. This is die-cut from thin material, paper card for example, in a way that folds to form a pocket, open at the top and f ront to enable the product to be removed and examined by the customer.

ii) There is a polygonal column made of thin material, paper card for example, with a number of the pockets (i) attached to its surfaces. If the column has an even number of sides, i.e. six, it can be supplied as a complete sleeve and fold flat. It the column has an odd number of sides, i.e. three, it can be supplied as a flat sheet, to be folded and fixed, by tabs for example, into a column.

iii) There is a support for the column (ii) which comprises a base plate which extends to the outer sides of the column (ii) and pockets (i) with a locating surface rising vertically from the base plate which fits inside the column or sleeve (ii). If the column (ii) is to form part of a rotating display, the base plate can have a central aperture enabling it to slide over a central spine (iv) and be suspended from a top plate which fits inside the column and rests on the top of the spine (iv), rotating in a horizontal plane about a central rod.

iv) There is a spine which supports the column of pockets. This can be in the form of a circular tube, made of cardboard for example, which allows a cap to locate in the top of the spine. This cap could have a central rod with a spacer 'which will support and locate the top plate (iii) allowing it to rotate in the horizontal plane.

v) There is a plinth which supports the spine (iv). This can take the form of three or more flat fins, made of corrugated board for example, attached to each other so that when each is folded into an 'L' shape, it forms a vertical sleeve into which the spine (iv) can be located with the longer side of the 'L' forming the base of the plinth, resting upon the floor and extending far enough from the spine (iv) to make a stable support for the column of pockets (ii).

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure i)a shows the flat, die-cut sheet forming variation i)a of the product holder; Figure i)a2 shows variation i)a folded into shape; Figure i)b shows the flat, die-cut sheet forming variation i)b of the product holder; Figure i)b2 shows variation i)b folded into shape; Figure ii)l shows the folds and glue strip for a hexagonal column; Figure ii)2 shows the hexagonal column with product holders attached; Figure iii) illustrates the column support base plate suspended by strings from the top plate; Figure iv) shows the spine, endcap and central rod assembly as an expoded diagram; Figure v)l shows a single buttress fin with fold line; Figure v)2 shows four buttressing fins, attached to each other and lying flat with the top fin partly folded; Figure v)3 shows a single, folded buttressing fin; Figure v)4 shows four fins folded into place; Figure v)5 shows a retaining cap f or the assembled butressing fins and; and Figure vi) shows the complete, assembled, rotary display.

i) Product holder This holder is designed to hold greetings cards but could also hold items of a similar dimension. The holder is in the shape of a pocket and in this instance is made of thin card, diecut, creased and folded into shape. The pocket uses tabs located in slots to hold it in shape, though glue can be used for strength. The items on display sit in the pocket, revealing as much of the front of the item as possible without allowing the item to fall out of the pocket or holder. There are two alternative designs for the pockets. Version i)a is suitable for shorter items, version i)b is more suited to displaying longer items, the side flaps providing support higher up the front of the item on display.

version i)a Referring to Figures i)a and i)a2, the back of the pocket i)aA has dimensions slightly larger than the item displayed. The dimensions of the sides i)aB and i)aC and the base i)aD are determined by the number of items to be displayed in the pocket and the thickness of each item. The front of the pocket is formed by i)aE. The dimension of this is determined by the height of the product to be contained and by the width of the sides i)aB and i)aC. For a pocket which can hold ten greetings cards for instance, if a single card is placed in the pocket and the front support is less than one third the height of the card, the card falls forward and hangs out of the pocket. If the front support is greater than one third the height of the card, the amount of overhang from a card falling forward is reduced. Surface i)aF, which has similar dimensions to i)aE, folds into the pocket and encloses the side flaps i)aG and i)aH. Flap i)aF and side flaps i)aG and i)aH have small tabs which locate in corresponding slots in the junction between surfaces i)aD and i)aE. There is a relationship between the dimension of sides i)aE and sides i)aB and i)aC. To enable f lap i) aF to f old into the pocket, the height of the f ront support i)aE cannot be greater than 150% the side dimension of the pocket, i)aB and i)aC.

Version i)b Referring to Figures i)b and i)b2, this version is similar to the version just described but the front support i)bE is much shorter, enabling more of the product to be seen. The product is prevented from falling forward by extensions of side flaps i)bG and i)bH which form part of the front of the pocket. The dimension of these extensions is determined by the product. The gap between the surfaces i)bG and i)bH, when they are folded into place, should not be greater than the width of the product else the product would fall out. The minimum distance between the base of the pocket and the top of the inner edge of the side flap extensions i)bG and i)bH should be greater than half the height of the product else it will fall forward.

7 - The dimension of the junction between surfaces i)bE and i)bF and the dimensions of the surface i)bF will be determined by the dimensions of the side flap extensions, the width of i)bF being the same as the gap between the extensions. Side flaps i)bG and i)bH and surface i)bF will have tabs which locate in slots similar to the variation i)a.

ii) The -polvqonal-Qol In this version the column has six sides. Referring to Figures ii)l and ii)2, the column itself is made of a single sheet of thin card, creased or scored to assist folding. When the sides are folded together to meet there is a slight overlap to allow for gluing (1) together of the two edges. When the folded edges of this glued sheet are then pushed towards each other the card folds to form a sleeve or column with six sides. Each side of the column is the width of the product holder i) and the height of the column allows three product holders to be placed one above the other with space between each holder to allow for the product to be removed and replaced easily from the holder. The column will therefore have 18 pockets attached. The weight of the product in the pockets is supported by the strength of the folded card of the column.

iii) The column support Referring to Figure iii), the polygonal column ii) is held in shape and is supported by a base plate (2) made, in this instance, of strong corrugated board. This plate is hexagonal in shape and extends to the full width of the hexagonal column ii) together with its attached pockets or product holders i) The base of the pockets sits on the base plate. A second hexagonal shaped plate (3), in this instance made of strong corrugated board, is attached to the top of the base plate. This second plate has dimensions which allow it to fit snugly inside the hexagonal column ii). The second plate acts as a locator for the column, holding it in shape and positioning it laterally on the base plate. To make the display rotate, both base plates have a hole cut in their centre with a dimension slightly greater than the outer diameter of the spine iv). This allows the base plate to be placed onto the spine iv) and to freely rotate around it, whilst preventing any lateral movement of the base of the column in relation to the spine. The two base plates are suspended from a top plate (4) by means of strings (5) which pass through both base plates. The top plate has dimensions which allow it to fit snugly inside the column. In this instance the top plate is made of MDF as it will be supporting the whole of the weight of the column of pockets full of product. If the base plate is supported in four places, a single loop of string can be threaded from one of four holes in the top plate, through one of four holes in the base plate, back through one of the other holes in the base plate and similarly in the top plate. This allows the distance between the top and bottom plates to be adjusted by simply shortening the single loop and allows for the top and bottom plates to have parallel planes by letting the string slip through the holes as required, equalising the tension on the string. The top plate has a f if th hole in the centre. This locates the top plate onto the spine iv). The top plate also acts to strengthen the top of the column, holding the column in shape and preventing any lateral movement of the top of the column in relation to the spine iv) iv) The s12ine Referring to Figure iv), the spine, in this instance, is simply a cardboard postal tube (6) which has a plastic cap (7) in one end. The length of the tube can vary, depending on the desired height of the product display above the ground. The tube needs to be suf f iciently long enough to extend at least two thirds of the way up the column of pockets ii) as well as enough to locate securely in the plinth v) and giving free space between the top of the plinth v) and the base of the column support iv). The end cap (7) has a central hole through which a bolt (8) is passed, with the free end of the bolt protruding above the top of the plastic cap. The bolt is held in place by a large metal repair washer (9) which strengthens the cap and a nut (10) which is tightened. The top plate (4) of the column support iii) locates onto the protruding bolt end with a spacing sleeve (11) placed between the end cap (7) and the top plate (4) which supports the top plate allowing it to rotate about the central bolt without fouling the end cap. Additional washers and nuts can be used to aid the rotational freedom and to prevent friction wear and to retain the top plate on the central bolt once it is in place.

v) The v)linth Referring to Figures v) 1, v) 2, v) 3, v) 4 and vi) 5, the plinth needs to give lateral support to the display. In the simplest form the spine iv) rests on the floor and is held vertical by buttressing fins of a plinth. The plinth is made from three or more flat sheets (12), in this instance made of heavy duty corrugated cardboard, with flutes running vertically, which are folded once (13) in the direction of the flutes, a short distance from one side of each sheet. Each sheet thus forms an 'L' shape when viewed from above with the short side being approximately the diameter of the spine iv). The long side forms a buttressing fin as illustrated in Figure v)3. For a plinth with supports on four sides, four 'L' shaped boards are placed together with the orientation of each 'L' rotated clockwise by 900 from the previous 'L' as shown in Figure v)4. The four 'L' folded sheets thus have one surface of each of the four short sides forming one side of a square sectioned tube whilst at the same time the other surface of each of the four short sides is in contact with the longer side of another sheet. The inner dimension of the square tube so formed is such that it allows the outer diameter of the spine iv) to f it within it. If three of the short sides in this construction are glued to the long sides each touches, the result is a plinth of buttressing fins which can also fold flat in the shape of four flat sheets, one on top of the other but staggered horizontally as illustrated in Figure v)2. When these sheets are wrapped around the spine iv), they form a central, squaresectioned tube, with buttressing support fins extending at right angles to each other. These fins should extend far enough out from the central spine iv) of the display to provide stability when the pockets are filled with products.

The plinth, once assembled, could be glued or fixed in place with adhesive tape, staples or other means.

If the plinth is to be able to be dismantled and later re assembled the plinth can be held in shape by two caps slipped over each end of the square sectioned tube. Referring to Figure v) 5, these square caps have a circular hole in the centre which allows the spine iv) to pass through. They have surfaces at the outer edges at right angles to the top surface which extend down the outer sides of the square sectioned tube, holding the folded fins in place.

The plinth can be given additional stability by wrapping small pieces of card around the outer ends of the f ins to f orm, f eet (14), reducing the amount of fin in contact with an uneven f loor.

The plinth can also have small pieces of card (15) attached part way down and inside the square section tube, one piece attached to each short side of the buttressing fins, forming a lintel upon which the spine iv) can rest.

The whole of the rotary display described and illustrated in Figure vi) can be supplied in a flat-pack, with the polygonal column ii) collapsed flat, the plinth of fins v) folded flat and the column support iii) folded flat. The materials used thin card, postal tube and cap, corrugated board and a small quantity of MDF and string means that the whole display is lightweight, reducing distribution costs. The materials are also very inexpensive.

13 -

Claims

1 A construction of three or more sheets attached to each other so that they form either a central, vertical tube with extended buttressing fins when folded or can stack flat with one sheet on top of the other.

2 A construction as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each buttressing fin is not folded but is moulded, extruded or cast in an angled form which enables it to assemble to form a central, vertical tube with extended buttressing fins.

3 A construction as claimed in Claims 1 or Claim 2 wherein the material used is of corrugated or fluted construction.

4 A construction as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the material used is corrugated board.

A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the buttressing fins are identical in shape and size to each other.

6 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the construction includes a central pole which fits into the vertical tube formed by the buttresses and which supports a display.

14 - 7 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the central pole is a tube.

8 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the central pole can be made of cardboard.

9 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the central pole has a cap at the top which has a rod extending vertically and protruding above the cap.

A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein a plate with a central hole is located on the protruding rod and is free to rotate in a horizontal plane about the rod.

11 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein a spacer is placed between the plate and the cap enabling it to rotate without touching the cap.

12 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the plate is connected to a shelf which fits around the central pole, allowing plate and shelf to rotate in a horizontal plane about the central pole.

13 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the shelf is suspended from the plate.

14 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein - is - a display, in the form of a sleeve surrounding the central pole and plate, sits on the shelf and is able to rotate in a horizontal plane about the pole.

A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the material of the sleeve is card.

16 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the display is polygonal.

17 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the display is polygonal with holders for products attached to each of the flat sides.

18 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the holders for products are in the form of pockets, die-cut from'thin card, folded and attached to the sides of the polygonal sleeve.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows -v CLAIMS 1 A rotary display stand comprising a base and a carrier for products to be displayed, the carrier being mounted for rotation on the base, wherein the base and the product carrier are made from folded cardboard.

2 A construction of three or more sheets attached to each other so that they form either a central, vertical tube with extended buttressing fins when folded or can stack flat with one sheet on top of the other. - 3 A construction as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each buttressing fin is not folded but is moulded, extruded or cast in an angled form which enables it to assemble to form a central, vertical tube with extended buttressing fins.

4 A construction as claimed in Claims 1 or Claim 2 wh-erein the material used is of corrugated or fluted construction.

A construction as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the material used is corrugated board.

6 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the buttressing fins are identical in shape and size to each other.

7 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the construction includes a central pole which fits into the vertical tube formed by the buttresses and which supports a display.

8 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the central pole is a tube.

9 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the central pole can be made of cardboard.

A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the central pole has a cap at the top which has a rod extending vertically and protruding above the cap.

11 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein a plate with a central hole is located on the protruding rod and is free to rotate in a horizontal plane about the rod-.

12 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein a spacer is placed between the plate and the cap enabling it to rotate without touching the cap.

13 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the plate is connected to a shelf which fits around the central pole, allowing plate and shelf to rotate in a horizontal plane about the central pole.

X - 14 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the shelf is suspended from the plate.

A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein a display, in the form of a sleeve surrounding the central pole and plate, sits on the shelf and is able to rotate in a horizontal plane about the pole.

16 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the material of the sleeve is card.

17 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the display is polygonal.

18 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the display is polygonal with holders for products attached to each of the flat sides.

19 A construction as claimed in any previous Claim wherein the holders for products are in the form of pockets, die-cut from thin card, folded and attached to the sides of the polygonal sleeve.