GB2457933A

GB2457933A - Folding display board

Info

Publication number: GB2457933A
Application number: GB0803775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Paul Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-29
Filing date: 2008-02-29
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-29
Also published as: GB0803775D0; GB2457933B

Abstract

A display assembly 10 has a display board 12 which is divided into at least two sections 20,22,24 which may be folded relative to one another, and a stand mechanism 30 divided into sections corresponding to the sections of the display board, the sections of the stand mechanism 30 being foldable in the same manner as the sections of the display board 12. One of the sections of the stand mechanism 30 is laminated to the corresponding section of the display board 12. The or each of the other sections of the stand mechanism 30 are secured to the corresponding sections of the display board 12 by means of a sliding mechanism (52,58, figure 6) which will permit relative movement between the or each other section of the stand mechanism 30 and the corresponding section of the display board 12. Such a relative movement between sections of the strand mechanism 30 and display board 12 allows the display assembly to be easily folded.

Description

Display Boards The present invention relates to display boards and in particular free standing display boards, which can typically be used as a carrier of visual graphics, advertising and promotions.

Traditionally displays are printed to a flat board of regular or irregular shape and have a separate stand mechanism or support strut laminated to the rear of the display board. Laminating the stand to the display board in this 1 0 manner has the disadvantage that the display may not be folded for transport or storage purposes, as folding would require relative movement between the display board and stand in order to accommodate the difference in curvature between the display board on the inside and the stand on the outside of the fold. Such relative movement would cause the 1 5 adhesion between the display board and the stand to break or either the display board and/or stand to distort. This problem is particularly applicable to larger displays, which may for example be a life size replica of a standing person, which would have to be shipped at the full size in outer packaging, would be difficult to handle and would be difficult and uneconomic to store. S. **

: * * The only alternative at present would be to produce the display in flat pack form for self assembly.

The present invention provides a display board assembly, which may be folded and is easily erected from the folded state and folded from the erected state.

According to one aspect of the present application a display board assembly comprises a display board, the display board being divided into at least two sections which may be folded relative to one another, and a stand mechanism, the stand mechanism being divided into at least two sections which may be folded relative to one another, the sections of the stand mechanism corresponding to the sections of the display board, one of the sections of the stand mechanism being laminated to the corresponding section of the display board, the or each of the other sections of the stand mechanism being secured to the corresponding sections of the display board by means of a sliding mechanism which will permit relative movement between the or each other section of the stand mechanism and the corresponding section of the display board.

1 0 In accordance with the present invention, the sliding mechanisms permit relative movement between the sections of the display board and stand mechanism when folded.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stand 1 5 mechanism comprises a central section extending longitudinally, the central section of one portion of the stand mechanism being laminated to the S..... corresponding portion of the display board and the central sections of the other sections of the stand mechanism being secured to the other portions of the display board by sliding mechanisms, the folds between the sections of the display board and stand mechanism being transverse to the : * longitudinal axis of the stand mechanism. A pair of wings are hinged to one to each longitudinal edge of the central section of the stand mechanism, so that the wings may be folded outwardly to the rear of the display board, to form a channel shaped stand.

Preferably, the wings of the stand mechanism are biased away from the display board, flaps being provided to limit movement of the wings towards one another and maintain a channel configuration, when the display is erected. In order to fold the display, the wings may be flattened against the display board and folded with the central sections of the stand mechanism.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the sections of the stand mechanism are also biased towards the erected position, so that when the stand mechanism is unfolded, the sections of the stand mechanism and display board will snap open. The channel shaped stand will prevent the sections from folding when the display board is erected.

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 1 0 Figure 1 shows a perspective rear view of a display board assembly in the erected position, Figure 2 shows a perspective of the display board when folded, 1 5 Figure 3 shows a view similar to figure 1 showing the stand mechanism partially assembled; S... * . * S..

Figure 4 shows a blank of part of the stand mechanism;

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Figure 5 shows blanks of further parts of the stand mechanism; and Figure 6 is a section along the line Vl-Vl of figure 1.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a display board assembly 10 comprises a display board 1 2 which is shaped, for example, in the form of a life sizes human figure. The display board is made of cardboard or similar rigid sheet material. The display board 1 2 is creased or scored along parallel fold lines 1 4, 1 6, which divide the display board 1 2 into three sections 20, 22, 24 of substantially equal length. The creased or scored fold lines 14, 1 6 allow the outer sections 20, 24 of the display board 1 2 the be folded over the central portion 22, to the front or display side of the display board 12.

A stand mechanism 30 comprises a first member 32 formed from cardboard or similar rigid material, said first member 32 extending from the bottom of the lowermost section 20 of the display board 1 2 to at least part way across the uppermost section 24 of the display board 1 2. The first member 32 is creased or scored to form fold lines 34, 36 which correspond in position to the fold lines 14, 16 on the display board 12. The fold lines 34, 36 divide the first member into three portions 38, 40 and 42.

The first member 32 is also creased of scored to form parallel fold lines 44, 46 which run longitudinally of the first member 32 and to right angles to the fold lines 34, 36. The fold lines 44, 46 thereby divide the first member 32 1 5 into a central longitudinal section 48 and a pair of wing sections 50, so that the wing sections 50 may be folded rearwardly, out of the plane of the central section 48. * * * * *

The central section 48 of portion 40 of the first member 32 is bonded to the rear face of the central portion 22 of the display board 1 2, so that fold line * 34 is aligned with fold line 14 and fold line 36 is aligned with fold line 16.

Longitudinally extending slots 52 are provided in the central section 48 of the outer portions 38 and 42 of the first member 32, and these portions 38 and 42 are secured to sections 20 and 24 of the display board 1 2 by means of sliders 54 which engage through the slots 52 and are bonded to the display board 1 2. The sliders comprise a spacer element 56 which slidably engages in the slot 52 and an enlarged head formation 58 which bears against the rear surface of the first member 32. The sections 20, 24 of the display board and sections 38 and 42 of the first member are thereby able to be folded with one another about fold lines 14, 16 and 34, 36 respectively, the sliders 54 moving in slots 52 to accommodate relative movement between the display board 1 2 and first member 32 and avoid distortion thereof.

A pair of C-shaped slots 60 are provided in the central sections 48 of portions 38 and 40, the slots 60 in sections 38 and 40 being curved away from one another so that the tabs 64 defined thereby are directed away from one another. A similar pair of C-shaped slots 60 are provided in the central section 48 of portions 40 and 42. Elastic bands 62 under tension are located between the slots 60 of each pair of slots 60, the elastic bands 62 being located around the tabs 64 formed by the slots 60. The elastic bands 62 will be further tensioned when sections 20, 38 and 24, 42 of the display board and first member 32 are folded, thereby biasing the sections 20, 38, 24 and 42 to the unfolded position. * **

Further pairs of C-shaped slots 66 are provided in the wing section 50, each *...

C-shaped slot 66 of a pair, being curved away from one another to define outwardly direct tabs 68. *

IS

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Reinforcing elements 70, 72 and 74 are formed from the same material as S. ** * . . * * the first member 32. The reinforcing elements 70, 72 and 74 correspond in shape to the portions 38, 40 and 42 of the first member 32, respectively.

The reinforcing elements 70, 72 and 74 are creased or scored to form fold lines 76 corresponding the fold lines 44, 46, so that they may be folded with the wings 50.

The reinforcing elements 70, 72 and 74 have pairs of C-shaped slots 66 corresponding to the C-shaped slots 66 in the corresponding section 38,40, 42 of the first member 32. The reinforcing members 70, 72, 74 may thus be located in juxtaposed relationship to the corresponding section 38, 40,42, by means of elastic bands 78, which also serve to bias the wings 50 together. Spacers 80 are bonded to the first member, adjacent the sliders 54 to ensure that the reinforcing elements 70 and 74 are spaced from sections 38 and 42 and do not foul the sliders 54.

The reinforcing elements 70, 72, 74 define trapezoidal flaps 82, the shorter parallel edges of which are hinged to the central sections 84 of the reinforcing elements 70, 72, 74. The elastic bands 78 are arranged so that when the first member 32 and reinforcing elements 70, 72 and 74 are flat, the trapezoidal flaps 82 will overlie the elastic bands 78 and as the wings 1 0 50 are moved together under the biasing force of the elastic bands 78 the flaps 82 will be lifted, until the portions of reinforcing elements 70, 72 and 74 overlying the wings 50 engage the inclined edges of the trapezoidal flaps 82, to prevent further movement of the wings 50.

1 5 To fold the display assembly 1 0 the display assembly 1 0 is placed on a flat * ** surface, with the display board 1 2 uppermost. The display board 1 2 is then S...

pressed down to flatten the wings 50 and flaps 80. The outer sections 20, 24 of the display board 1 2 and outer sections 38, 42 of the stand assembly 30, may then be folded over the central sections 22 and 40. S5 **

: * * To re-erect the display, it is merely necessary to flick the folded display board assembly 10, so that elastic bands 62 will cause the sections 20, 24, 38 and 42 to unfold and elastic bands 78 will cause the wings 50 to folded outwardly to the limit imposed by the flaps 82.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

For example, while in the above embodiment the display folds in three sections, the invention is applicable to display assemblies which may be folded in two or more that three sections. Furthermore, while in the above embodiment the stand assembly has a pair of wings, the stand assembly may alternatively be provided with a single wing.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the flaps 82 may be provided on the first member 32, in order to avoid the need for separate reinforcing elements 70, 72, 74. Other suitable sliding mechanisms may also be used and the form and means of attachment of the biasing means, may also be varied without departing from the invention. * S. * S S * ** 55. * S S... S. S. * S S * S S.. *5 *S

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Claims

Claims 1. A display board assembly comprising a display board, the display board being divided into at least two sections which may be folded relative to one another, and a stand mechanism, the stand mechanism being divided into sections corresponding to the sections of the display board, the sections of the stand mechanism being foldable in the same manner as the sections of the display board, one of the sections of the stand mechanism being laminated to the corresponding section of the display board, the or 1 0 each of the other sections of the stand mechanism being secured to the corresponding sections of the display board by means of a sliding mechanism which will permit relative movement between the or each other section of the stand mechanism and the corresponding section of the display board. * ** * * S * *5
2. A display board assembly according to claim 1 in which the or each **** :.. sliding mechanism comprises a slot in the portion of the stand mechanism, * and a slider in said slot secured to the corresponding section of the display **.* board, a head formation being provided on said slider for engagement of the surface of the stand mechanism remote from the display board.
3. A display board assembly according to claim 1 or 2 in which the stand section defines a first longitudinal section adapted to be secured to the display board and a longitudinal wing is foldably attached to one longitudinal edge of the first section.
4. A display board assembly according to claim 3 in which longitudinal extending wings are foldably attached to both longitudinal edges of the first section.
5. A display board assembly according to claim 3 or 4 in which one or more flaps are foldably attached to the first longitudinal assembly for engagement of the or each wing to limit movement of the or each wing out of the plane of the first section.
6. A display board assembly according to claim 5 in which the or each flap is foldable about a fold line perpendicular to the fold line of the or each wing.
7. A display board assembly according to claim 5 or 6 in which the or each flap is defined by separate reinforcing elements corresponding the each section of the stand assembly, the reinforcing sections being secured in juxtaposed relationship to the sections of the stand assembly.

1 5
8. A display board assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 7 in which the or each wing is resiliently biased our of the plain of first section. S. *.
9. A display board assembly according to claim 8 in which the or each * wing is resiliently biased by means of an elastic band. S. ** * .
10. A display board assembly according to claim 9 in which the elastic bands engage tabs formed in the wings.
11. A display board assembly according to claim 9 or 1 0 in which the elastic bands serve to locate reinforcing elements in juxtaposed relationship to each of the portions of the stand assembly.
1 2. A display board assembly according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sections of the stand are resiliently biased towards the unfolded configuration of the display board assembly.
1 3. A display board assembly according to claim 1 2 in which elastic bands act between the sections of the display stand.
14. A display board assembly substantially as disclosed herein with reference to and as shown in figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings a ii * a * * ** *..* * I S. SI * S I * I * I..I SI 55 * . II