GB2369231A

GB2369231A - Collapsible display novelty.

Info

Publication number: GB2369231A
Application number: GB0028055A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Peter Crompton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-15
Filing date: 2000-11-15
Publication date: 2002-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-15
Also published as: GB0028055D0; GB2369231B

Abstract

A collapsible device, suitable for display purposes, comprises a base 1, a former 3 and a flexible sheet 2. The device is transformed from a substantially flat condition into an erected condition by twisting of the former relative to the base such that the flexible sheet forms a 3D shape, preferably a cone. The base may be card or rigid plastic, and the flexible sheet may be plastic, paper or thin card. The shape may be a decorative item or, if made from a mirrored material it may reflect an image printed on the device.

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE The present invention relates to display devices.

According to the the present invention, a flat display device is provided which comprises a base, a former, rotatable on or within the base, and a piece of flexible sheet material held at least two of its extremities, whereby during rotation of the former and the sheet material thereon one part abuts a stop located on the base to cause the flexible sheet material to deform three dimensionally as the rotation continues.

Thus the present invention enables a three dimensional cone or the like to be produced from a flat pack.

The base and the former can be a rigid sheet such as plastic or made from foldable material such as cardboard. It is preferable the the base is made from foldable material and the former be located partially within the base.

The former is essentially circular in shape and is pivotably fixed to the base, but preferably freely rotates within the base. The former can be in two parts with a limited degree of independent movement between these parts so that the extremities of the flexible sheet which is attached to them may move either together so that the sheet remains flat during movement or may move differently so that the sheet is deformed three dimensionally.

The flexible sheet material which is deformed to form the three dimensional shape may be thin plastic sheet such as Mylar, or paper, or cardboard. It is essentially semi-circular to form a cone, or can have radially extending creases and a polygonal shape to form a cone in the form of a pyramid. Its extremities are tabs which may be folded and fixed to the former. Alternatively the flexible sheet and the part of the former to which it is attached may be made from a continuous piece of flexible sheet suitably shaped and folded.

The stop which causes one extremity of the flexible sheet to be held fixed is by means of a part of the former which catches on a fixed part of the base during rotation.

All parts of the device may carry information and designs, the cone may be a decorative item in its own right or may have a mirrored finish to reflect a design on the base or on that part of the former which is exposed. The cone may act as an anamorphic mirror rectifying a distorted image on the device. l he invention is illustrated with reference to the following drawings of which; Figure 1, shows the parts from which the device is assembled in plan view.

Figure 2, shows the component parts of the device partially assembled.

Figure 3, shows a perspective sketch of the device in its closed state Figure 4, shows a perspective sketch of the device, with the cone half erect.

Figure 5, shows a perspective sketch of the device with the cone in its erect position.

The component parts of the device are illustrated in figure 1 are as described below. In this representation all made of cardboard, of about 120 grams/square metre thickness, except for component (2) which is of flexible plastic such as 75 microns thick Polyester.

*A base (1) made from a sheet cut as shown, provided with a tongue (14), a hole (11), a slot (18), a shaped edge with a notch (12), and a shaped cut (15).

- A flexible sheet to be formed into a cone (2) with its straight edge strengthened by folding (19) and having two tabs (20) for fixing it to the former.

- Three pieces of sheet material (3), (4) and (5) substantially circular as shown, with slits (6), (9), (8, ) to their centres.

The former is assembled from these components (3), (4) and (5) as shown in figure 2 and as described below.

The first part of the former is constructed by joining components (3) and (5) by fixing edge (6) to edge (8) to form a screw, with piece (2) fixed by its tab (4) through slot 7 to complete the larger circular part in figure 2 The second part of the former is made by folding component (4) along line (13) with the flexible sheet fixed by its second tab through slit (10) to make the smaller circular part in figure 2.

The two parts of the former are thus linked by the flexible sheet (2), the smaller part is threaded through the larger part so that fold (13) encloses component (5) and presses against edge (16) and the part of component (4) without a slit (22) is at the bottom of the assembly. This completes the former.

The base is then folded, initially as indicated in figure 2 and the former is then located in the position it will occupy in the closed state on notch (12). Disk (3) protrudes through the slot (18), flap (21) passes through slot (15) and the curved part of (15) passes under the curved part of flap (21). The tongue (14) is fed over (22). The assembly is completed by folding the cover with its hole (11) over the front where it may be held in place with a tab (17).

When the device is in the configuration shown in Figure 3 the wheel (3) cannot be rotated anti clockwise because the fold (13) catches on the tongue (14). It can however be rotated clockwise until the cone piece emerges from under the flap when the fold again catches on the tongue (14) so preventing further movement of component (4) and so holding one end of the flexible sheet. As the wheel is turned further the cone is erected as shown in figures 4 and 5. If, starting from the position shown in figure 5, the wheel is rotated anti clockwise the action is reversed until the fold (13) is caught by the edge of the slit (16) and the flexible sheet is drawn back into the device until it is concealed from view as seen in figure 3.

Claims

Claims 1. A flat display device which comprises a base, a former, rotatable on or within the base, and a piece of flexible sheet material held at least two of its extremities, whereby during rotation of the former and the sheet material thereon one extremity abuts a stop located on the base to cause the flexible sheet material to deform three dimensionally as the rotation continues.
2. A flat display device as claimed in claim 1, where the action to erect a cone is performed by rotating a disc to which is attached one end of the material to be deformed into a cone whilst the other end is held on a separate piece of the mechanism whose movement is controlled so at different times it can either hold that end in a fixed position, allow it to rotate freely, or pull it back into the mechanism.
3. A flat display device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the material to be deformed three dimensionally rotates freely at first before being held at one extremity so allowing it to be pulled from a concealed position inside the flat pack before being deformed three dimensionally.
4. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which deformation is reversible and means are provided to draw the material to be formed into a cone back into the device where it is concealed in the closed position.
5. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the former which operates the device has an image printed on it which is concealed in the closed position but is revealed when the device is rotated to the open position.
6. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the edges of the material to be deformed three dimensionally are stiffened by folding (19) or adhesive fixing of sheet material strips so as to keep the edges straight when in the erect position.
7. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which a hinge is provided about which the mechanism rotates formed by the intersection of slits in two pieces of sheet material, (12 and 16) through which is fed a screw formed from two discs with slits to their centres fixed together (6 and 8).
8. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the disc whose movement erects the cone is prevented from making an excessive forward motion by a notch (7) which presses over the fixed end of the cone.
9. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the edges of the base which are folded together to form the slot from which the three dimensional shape emerges are shaped substantially as shown in (15) and (12), in figure 1 so that when the edge of the cone is fed back into the device it meets the base at an acute angle and does not snag.
10. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 for erecting a cone substantially as described herein and in figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 for erecting a cone substantially as described herein and in figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A flat display device which comprises a base, a former, rotatable within the base, and a piece of flexible sheet material held at least two of its extremities, whereby during rotation of the former and the sheet material thereon one extremity abuts a stop located on the base to cause the flexible sheet material to deform three dimensionally into a cone as the rotation continues.

2. A flat display device as claimed in claim 1, where the action to erect the cone is performed by rotating the former which is attached to one end of the material to be deformed into a cone whilst the other end is held on a separate piece of the mechanism whose movement is controlled so at different times it can either hold that end in a fixed position, allow it to rotate freely, or pull it back into the mechanism.

3. A flat display device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the material to be deformed three dimensionally rotates freely at first before being held at one extremity so allowing it to be pulled from a concealed position inside the flat pack before being deformed three dimensionally.

4. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which deformation is reversible and means are provided to draw the material to be formed into a cone back into the device where it is concealed in the closed position.

5. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the former which operates the device has an image printed on it which is concealed in the closed position but is revealed when the device is rotated to the open position.

6. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the edges of the material to be deformed three dimensionally are stiffened by folding (19) or adhesive fixing of sheet material strips so as to keep the edges straight when in the erect position.

7. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which a hinge is provided about which the mechanism rotates formed by the intersection of slits in two pieces of sheet material, (12 and 16) through which is fed a screw formed from two discs with slits to their centres fixed together (6 and 8).

8. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the disc whose movement erects the cone is prevented from making an excessive forward motion by a notch (7) which presses over the fixed end of the cone.

9. A flat display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the edges of the base which are folded together to form the slot from which the three dimensional shape emerges are shaped substantially as shown in (15) and (12), in figure 1 so that when the edge of the cone is fed back into the device it meets the base at an acute angle and does not snag.