GB2397747A

GB2397747A - Display unit assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2397747A
Application number: GB0302303A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen James Poynton
Original assignee: SCA Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: SCA Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-31
Filing date: 2003-01-31
Publication date: 2004-08-04
Also published as: GB0302303D0

Abstract

A display unit assembly comprises a display unit 100 constructed from a corrugated board, cardboard or similar semi-rigid sheet material. The display unit is mounted to a base platform 102 of a more rigid material. The base is formed of a top layer 110 having an area larger than the area of the bottom of the display unit and a bottom layer 116 of a more rigid material. The display unit is secured to the base by means of flaps 108, 130 which extend from the lower walls of the display unit and which pass through slots (118, fig 8) in the base. Feet 122 are located on the underside of the base. The edges of the display unit panels are covered by protective strips (16, fig 1).

Description

78917001.361 Display Unit The present invention relates to a display unit

constructed from cardboard, corrugated board or other semi-rigid material. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a point of sale display unit.

It is known to provide point of sale display units to display confectionery and other food and drinks products, as well as non-food products, in a visually attractive manner to customers. Display units of this type are typically constructed from corrugated board as this may provide a relatively lightweight but rigid structure. Other display units may be used for example as advertising units, for example in cinema foyers, where they may merely display just a graphical image, or include pockets for containing promotional literature,

for example.

However, in the present case the Applicant has recognized certain limitations associated with these known display units. In particular, the edges of the display units tend to become scuffed and damaged in use and this detracts from their overall appearance and may also shorten their operational lifespan. Moreover, if the display unit is constructed from corrugated board, an open edge will reveal the internal flutes in the board and this may be considered to be unattractive by customers.

To address these problems, the present invention provides a display unit constructed from a cardboard, corrugated board, or other semi-rigid material, said display unit having at least one edge, and having a protective strip provided along at least a portion of said edge.

The protective strip helps to protect the edge from - 2 damage and thus improves the durability of the display unit so that it may be used as a semi-rigid fixture having a life span of up to 6 months, for example. The protective strip may also advantageously increase the rigidity of the display unit and improve the overall appearance thereof.

Preferably the protective strip is provided with a channel for receiving the edge of the display unit.

The strip may be configured so as to retain itself on the edge. For example it may have one or more walls or formations which grip the edge. For example where the strip is provided with a channel, at least one of the walls of the channel, or a part thereof may be resilient so as to grip the edge.

Preferably, however, the protective strip is retained in position using adhesive. The adhesive may be applied between the strip and the display at the time of erection, but preferably it is pre-applied to one of the components, most preferably the strip. An adhesive tape can be used for this purpose.

In the preferred embodiment, an adhesive tape is affixed in a or the channel, most preferably the base of the channel, of the protective strip.

Preferably a foam or other resilient deformable material is interposed between the strip and the edge to accommodate any unevenness in the edge. Most preferably, therefore, the strip is attached to the edge by a foam backed adhesive tape.

A further problem with existing display units is that they tend to absorb water at their bases, for example when the surrounding floor is being cleaned.

The absorption of water can damage the units and render them unattractive. Thus, the life span of the units may be further reduced.

The protective strip of the invention can also protect the edges of the display unit against the absorption of water into the sheet material, thereby - 3 increasing further the longevity of the display unit.

Viewed from a further aspect, therefore, the present invention provides a display unit constructed from a corrugated board, cardboard or other similar material, said display unit having a base with at least one edge, a water resistant protective strip being provided along at least a portion of said edge.

Preferably, therefore, the strip is made of a waterproof or water resistant material.

The protective strip is preferably made from a plastics material. Preferably, the protective strip is extruded.

The strip may be configured so as to facilitate its location on the edge. For example a wall of the strip may be flared to assist in locating the protective strip In posltlon.

In cross-section, the protective strip may have an outer surface which is convex to facilitate more readily the application of pressure to the protective strip to locate it in position.

Where the protective strip is to be provided around the base of the display unit, the bottom surface of the strip is preferably flat to improve stability of the unit.

Although the protective strip may be preformed to a particular shape, for example to match the profile of a free edge, it is preferably flexible to facilitate mounting on a range of different profiles.

When, for example, the protective strip is to be provided on the free edge of a panel which is not to be folded, the flexibility of the protective strip in the plane of the sheet material making up the panel may be chosen to be greater than the flexibility of the protective strip in the plane perpendicular to the first plane. This arrangement improves the rigidity of the protective strip and the display unit in the plane perpendicular to the plane of the sheet material, whilst - 4 facilitating bending of the protective strip to match free edges having a curved profile.

In arrangements where the protective strip extends across a fold line, however, the strip is preferably sufficiently flexible to facilitate folding about the associated fold line while it is in position. Most preferably the protective strip is such that it may be folded through substantially 180 to allow it to be retained in position when the panel(s) are folded over on themselves, for example, during transit, prior to erection.

The display unit is preferably a point of sale display unit for displaying confectionery, food and drink products, or non-food products, in a retail outlet. However, it can equally take other forms, for example an advertisement unit displaying a graphical image which need not be adapted to hold a product.

Viewed from a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing or erecting a display unit made from a cardboard, corrugated board sheet or other semi rigid material, comprising the step of locating a protective strip on an edge thereof.

As stated above, the display unit may have a base with a water resistant protective strip being provided along at least a portion of that base edge. In another arrangement, however, the display unit may be suitably mounted to a base platform. This has the potential advantage that the platform may, for example, be of a different shape or size than the base of the corrugated board unit itself thereby having either aesthetic appeal or potential structural stability. It may also be of a different material, leading to a potentially stronger unit.

This arrangement is, in itself, a novel arrangement, so from a further aspect the invention provides a display assembly comprising a display unit constructed from a corrugated board, cardboard or other - 5 similar sheet material said display unit being mounted to a base platform.

The base platform preferably extends beyond the outline of the base of the display unit to provide a more substantial appearance.

The base platform may, for example, also be made of cardboard, corrugated board or similar material or of a more rigid material, such as plastics, fibreboard, particle board, wood and so forth.

The base platform may also be a composite construction having layers of different materials.

Thus in a first embodiment the platform may comprise an upper layer of a corrugated, cardboard or similar sheet material and a lower layer of the more rigid material such as MDF.

The upper layer may have a different profile to that of the lower layer so that, for example, the upper layer may provide a cosmetic appearance to the base whereas the lower layer may act to provide rigidity to the assembled unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the base platform has feet which space it from the surface on which it will be positioned. This is advantageous in that it prevents any liquid on the surface from contacting and thereby weakening the base platform.

The feet may take a number of forms. For example, in a moulded construction, feet may be integrally moulded with the base platform. In other arrangements, however, the feet may be made as separate components suitably mounted to the base. Most simply, the feet may engage mounting apertures in the base.

The display unit may be secured to the base platform in any suitable manner. In a preferred embodiment, however, the display unit and base platform comprise inter-engaging formations. Most preferably, the display unit comprises one or more mounting formations such as flaps projecting from its lower edge, - 6 which engage in apertures or slots in the base platform.

The mounting formations or flaps may, for example, be a frictional fit in the platform apertures or slots thereby providing a degree of fixing between the display unit and the base platform. Preferably, however, locking means are provided between the display unit and the base platform.

In one embodiment, for example, one or more of the display unit flaps or formations may comprise a locking tab which is resiliently biassed towards a locking position by a suitable means, for example a resilient foam member. Once the flap passes a predetermined distance through the receiving slot in the base platform the tab is released and moved under the force of the pad to a position which prevents the flap being drawn back through the slot.

Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a display unit having first and second protective strips in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the underside of the rear of the display unit of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a first protective strip; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second protective strip; Figure 5 shows a further display unit in accordance with the invention having a base platform; Figure 6 shows the bottom of a display unit of the type shown in Figure 5, before mounting to the base platform; Figure 7 shows a first part of the base platform; Figure 8 shows a second part of the base platform; Figure 9 shows a first stage in assembly of the base platform to the display unit; - 7 Figure 10 shows the second stage of assembly of the base platform to the display unit; and Figure 11 shows a detail of an arrangement for locking the base unit to the platform.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5, a point of sale display unit 1 having left and right side panels 2, 4, a front panel 6, a back panel 8, and first, second and third shelves 10, 12, 14 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. A first protective strip 16 is provided along the front edges of the side panels 2, 4 and the shelves 10, 12, 14. A second protective strip 18 is provided along the lower edges of the side and rear panels 2, 4, 8.

Each of the shelves 10, 12 and 14 is provided with a bar 15 which extends between opposed side panels 4 of the display unit. The bars 15 can be made of plastics but could be made of other materials. They may be inserted into suitable apertures in the side panels 4 and can be straight or shaped. The bars 15 act to retain the product within the unit and at the same time add a further degree of rigidity to the unit.

The point of sale display unit 1 is constructed from a corrugated board sheet material. The first protective strip 16 and the second protective strip 18 are both manufactured from flexible plastics materials employing known extrusion techniques.

The first protective strip 16, as shown in perspective in Figure 3, has first and second side walls and 22 and a top wall 24 which together define a channel 26 to receive the free edge 27 of a side panel 2, 4 or a shelf panel 10, 12, 14. In this instance, the free edge 27 is formed of two sheets of material 29a, 29b which together form a wall 4 of the unit 1. The wall 4 (and indeed the other walls and shelves) can be double ply, as shown, single ply or multiple ply. The protective strip 16 locates the free edges of each sheet 29a, 29b relative to each other and provides a particularly rigid construction.

First and second lips 28, 30 are provided on facing side walls 20, 22 of the channel 26 which act to grip the associated panel edges and so help retain the strip 16 in position.

The channel 26 of the first protective strip 16 has a bottom surface 32 having a foam backed adhesive tape 34 provided thereon. A removable cover strip 36 is provided over the adhesive and this is removed prior to locating the protective strip 16 on the display unit edge 27. The foam backing on the adhesive 34 accommodates irregularities in the edge of the corrugated material and thus helps ensure consistent adhesion of the first protective strip 16 along its length.

The first protective strip 16 has an outer surface 38 which is convex in cross-section. First and second concave surfaces 40, 42 are provided on the underside of the first protective strip 16.

The second protective strip 18, as shown in perspective in Figure 4, has a channel 44 defined therein to receive the lower edges of the side and rear panels 2, 4, 8 of the unit 1. Inner and outer walls 46, 48 define the channel 44. The inner wall 46 is inclined inwardly to engage the inside surface of the associated display unit panel to create a waterproof seal and to retain the protective strip in position (although adhesive may also be used). The outer wall 48 lies adjacent to the outer surface of the associated panel.

The base surface 50 of the second protective strip 18 is flat to improve stability of the unit.

The second protective strip 18 extends over the fold lines at the junctions between the side and rear panels 2, 4, 8. Therefore, to enable the display unit 1 to be folded for transport or storage with the second protective strip 18 in position, the second protective strip 18 is sufficiently flexible to facilitate folding thereof through 180 in a plane perpendicular to the - 9 - plane defined by the sheet material.

The erection of the display unit 1 of Figure 1 is effected by erecting the display unit in its intended display location from a folded down transit configuration in a known way and then push-fitting or sliding the first and second protective strips 16, 18 into position along the free edges thereof, after first removing the cover strip 36 from the adhesive tape 34, if present. Alternatively, the strips 16, 18 may be located along the free edges of the display unit 1 during the manufacturing stage, or indeed at any other designated stage prior to its positioning in its desired display location, to enable the display unit to be erected in a known manner with the protective strips already in position.

The first and second protective strips 16 and 18 protect the free edges on which they are placed from damage. The protective strips 16 and 18 also seal the edges of the display unit 1 to prevent water being absorbed into the corrugated board, particularly through the bottom of the unit walls.

The skilled person will appreciate that various modifications can be made to the display unit described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, although the described embodiment utilizes different first and second protective strips, it will be appreciated that a single type of protective strip could be used throughout for any given unit.

Furthermore, the strips may be adapted to be mounted on single or multiple thicknesses of sheet material, either with cut, exposed edges or folded edges.

Where the edge of multiple thicknesses of material are covered, one or more dividing walls may be provided extending along the length of the protective strip in the channel to locate each of the free edges separately.

In another arrangement, the protective strip may be - 10 provided with protrusions to engage with the flutes in corrugated board to retain the strip in position. As such, the strip need not have a channel for receiving the edge.

Also, while the strips disclosed are flexible plastics strips, this is not essential and other non flexible materials could be used, such as metal. Thus the strip could be an extruded metal strip, for example of aluminium.

Turning now to Figures 5 to 11, a second embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In this embodiment, a point of sale display unit of the type shown generally in Figures 1 to 4 is shown mounted to a base platform 102.

As can be seen from in Figure 6, the display unit is, as in the earlier described embodiment, made from corrugated board and is provided with protective strips 104 on its exposed edges. Unlike the earlier described embodiment, however, the base 106 of the unit 100 is not designed to rest on a floor but rather is adapted to be mounted to a base platform 102. To this end, the base 106 of the display unit 100 is provided with five depending mounting flaps 108.

The base platform 102 comprises two layers, namely a first, upper, layer 110 shown in Figure 7 and a second, lower, layer 116 shown in Figure 8.

The first layer 110 is uppermost in use and arranged adjacent the base 106 of the base unit 100 and is made of corrugated board with a protective strip 112 around its exposed edge. The protective strip 112 is of the same or similar construction to that shown in the earlier embodiment. The board layer 110 has five slots 114 for receiving the respective mounting flaps 108 of the display unit base 106. As can be seen in Figure 10, the profile of the board layer 110 extends beyond that of the display unit 100 proper.

The lower base layer 116 is constructed from MDF (medium density fibreboard) and, as shown in Figure 10, has a smaller profile than that of the upper, board, layer 110. The MDF layer is provided with five slots 118 for receiving the base unit flaps 108 and also a series of holes 120 for receiving feet 122 which are provided with projections 124 for location in the apertures 120. The lower layer 116 provides rigidity and strength to the base platform 102.

To assemble the display unit 100 to the base platform 102, the upper platform layer 110 is first assembled over the base 106 of the display unit 100, with the display unit flaps 108 extending through the slots 114 in the upper layer 110. Then, as shown in Figure 10, the lower platform layer 116 is assembled over the upstanding flaps 108.

The flaps 108 are double-ply and engage the edges of the slots 118 of one or both the platform layers 110, 116 frictionally to provide a degree of fixing between the display unit 100 and the base platform 102.

However, as can be seen in Figures 10 and 11 a further locking device 128 is provided on the central flap 130 of the display unit 100.

The flap 130 is a two-ply flap having hinged tabs 132 provided on the respective plies of the flaps 130.

A resilient foam pad 134 is attached to one of the tabs 132 as shown in Figure 11. As the lower platform layer 116 is assembled over the flaps 130, the resilient pad 134 is compressed to allow the flap 130 to pass through the apertures 114 and 118, but once it passes beyond the slot 118, the pad resiles to push both tabs 132 outwardly as shown in Figure 5 into rebates 136 formed in the sides of the slot 118. These rebates prevent the tabs from rotating further and lock the display unit 100 and the base platform 102 together.

It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the second embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For - 12 example, as seen in Figure 8, each of the slots 118 in the lower platform layer 116 is provided with rebates 136 such that all or more than one of the flaps 108 of the display unit 100 can be provided with similar locking means to those disclosed. Alternatively, a completely separate locking element such a s locking clip may be provided between the flaps 108 and the base platform 102 or indeed between any other part of the display unit 100 and base platform 102.

Furthermore, the feet 122 may be differently shaped and arranged. For example they need not be placed in a rectangular arrangement as shown, and could be arranged with their vertices pointing in different directions to that shown. Also, the number of feet 122 and the number of flaps 108 may be different to that shown.

It will be appreciated that although the description above refers to display units constructed from corrugated board, the invention may equally be employed for display units constructed from other materials such as cardboard or other similar paper based materials, or indeed semi- rigid plastic materials, for example in sheet form.

In addition, although point of sale units have been described, the invention is not limited to such and other units are intended to fall within the scope of the invention. For example the unit may merely act to display graphical images and not be adapted to hold products.

Claims

Claims 1. A display assembly comprising a display unit constructed from a

corrugated board, cardboard or other similar sheet material said display unit being mounted to a base platform.
2. A display assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base platform extends beyond the outline of the base of display unit.
3. A display assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the base platform is made of cardboard, corrugated board or similar material and/or of a more rigid material, such as plastics, fibreboard, particleboard or wood.
4. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base platform is a composite construction having layers of different materials.
5. A display assembly as claimed in claims 3 and 4 wherein the base platform comprise an upper layer of a corrugated, cardboard or similar sheet material and a lower layer of a more rigid material.
6. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base platform has feet which space it from the surface on which it will be positioned.
7. A display assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the feet are integrally formed, for example moulded, with the base platform.
8. A display assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the feet are separate components mounted to the base. - 14
9. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the display unit and base platform comprise inter-engaging coupling formations.
10. A display assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the display unit comprises one or more mounting formations such as flaps projecting from its lower edge which engage in apertures or slots in the base platform.
11. A display assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the mounting formations or flaps are a frictional fit in the base platform apertures or slots.
12. A display assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein locking means are provided between the display unit and the base platform.
13. A display assembly as claimed in claim 12 and any of claims 9 to 11 wherein a display unit flap formation or comprises a locking tab which is resiliently biassed to a locking position.