GB2480863A

GB2480863A - Display device

Info

Publication number: GB2480863A
Application number: GB1009361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Suki Gauvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-04
Filing date: 2010-06-04
Publication date: 2011-12-07
Also published as: GB201009361D0; GB2480921A; GB201109333D0; GB2480921B

Abstract

A display device features a main body 1 with one or more shelves, around a normally conical centre. In a closed condition (fig. 1) the item is also a lidded container with a top 2. The top 2 can be removed, and positioned under the base to act as a stand 2, allowing the main body 1 to be rotated on the stand 2 (fig.2). The device may be formed from a flat blank of card or similar (fig.3) which can be folded up (fig.4), or may alternately be moulded. The device may be used for the display of small food items carried on the shelves.

Description

DEVICE FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS

This invention relates to a variable sized conical device for multiple items. It has an inner conical, shelved main body which also rotates on it's cover or base.

Containers are generally used for transporting items and are thrown away once these have been removed. Contents are either taken from the container directly, when not all items are always accessible at the same time, or are transferred to something else in order to be displayed (for example: canapes' or petits fours'). Containers generally do not simultaneously display all items contained and usually have to be looked into, or inner layers removed in order to view all items (for example: chocolate boxes). Usually lids or covers have graphics on and so once removed can no longer be seen.

This is a conical type device that packages and displays a multiple of small items that can all be viewed from a fixed point due to having a shelved, conical inner main body that rotates on it's cover or base. Either the specially shaped cover is removed and placed underneath the main body, allowing the main body to rotate on top, or if a base is required it is specially shaped so that the main body rotates on top once the protective cover is removed. Either way, the device becomes effectively a conically shelved "turntable' once the cover is removed.

This device allows all the contained items to be displayed simultaneously on tiered shelves in an attractive way which are easily accessed once the cover is removed. Different dimensions and shapes create different sculpted designs allowing it to adapt to the different items to be contained. When the device is transformed into a turntable' it allows more than one person to access items at a time making it well suited for consumables such as confectionary, biscuits, party food, sushi etc. If the conical, shelved inner main body has information and/or graphics, these are still present after the cover is removed.

This could be useful in order to have item specific information ever present, still informing the consumer. The main body can be made of various materials using different processes to achieve the conical shelved shape, including a moulded material. If made from card (or similar material), different sized conical trays can be made from the same piece (same net), and this same piece can also provide an optional handle. Alternative handles can be used such as ribbon (doubled, knotted & threaded through). The main body is designed so that no glue is required for securing as interlocking and slots of the design do this, and if the integrated handle is used this further secures the main body and the cover. Different permutations of cuts and folds create different sculpted designs allowing it to adapt to the different items to be contained. There can be a varying quantity of shelves and even an integrated dish shape at the top if required, all out of the same piece of material. The shelved main body, if made out of a 2D flat material, can be supplied and stored flat and the cover stacks. The cover 2' can be formed out of a rigid or semi rigid material and has three purposes: -it is shaped so that it protects the shelved items when in transit -it reinforces the rigidity of the device -it is shaped so that it can be used underneath the shelved main body in order for the main body to rotate on, transforming the device into a "turn table". The device can also stack on itself due to the cover and inner main body being conical. The conical main body can be produced and supplied without the cover for display purposes (for example: as a throw away display paper party plate). There is a version with a third component of an integrated base that the cover clips on to for items that need to be encased so as not to allow contamination. In this version there would be a conical base which would be already on the inside of the main body allowing it to rotate once the cover is removed. The device has easily separable parts for recycling that can be made from recycled material which in turn can also be recyclable (for example: rPET and recycled card). Details and versions of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: *Figure 1 shows device (main body with cover on) *Figure 2 shows main body placed on top of cover in order for it to rotate Figure 3 shows 2D net of flat main body before being assembled Figure 4 shows 3D main body after being assembled Figure 5 shows 2D net of main body Figure 5i shows corresponding assembled main body to Figure 5 Figure 6 shows 2D net with section A' removed Figure 6i shows corresponding smaller size assembled main body from Figure 6 Figure 7 shows version with moulded inner main body with cover on *Figure 8 shows moulded main body placed on top of cover in order for it to rotate *Figure 9 shows version with a third component base that the cover secures to *Figure 10 shows main body that rotates on the third component base when the cover is removed The conical shelved main body 1 can be made up of one piece of circular (or polygonal) shaped card (or similar material) which is precut and creased (fig. 3) so that it can create various sized and shaped conical main bodies when put into 3D (fig.5,5i, & 6, 6i). This is achieved by removing a variable section A' before putting it into 3D which is done by bringing the radial sides F' and G' together (fig.3). As this happens the pre cuts and creases dictate the shelves S' with raised lips E' are created. To secure sides F' and G" together, shape H' is put through slot I' and shape J' is interlocked with slot K'. Tongue L' fits into shelf space M'. The card (or similar material) can also form its own handle if desired by simultaneously putting strip B' through the appropriate slot C' and then back up through center hole D' (fig. 3 & 4). If the integrated handle is used this helps secure the cover to the main body.

The cover 2' is specially formed so that it protects the shelved items when in transit, and can be used underneath the shelved main body 1' creating a pivot at apex P' for the main body to rotate on, transforming it into a "turn table". In the forming of the cover a hole or flap can be cut at apex P' to allow handle B', or a ribbon, to pass through.

The cover 2' can be secured to the main body 1' either with tape or interlocking. In versions where the main body 1' rotates on the 3rd component conical base 3' (fig 10) at apex P', the conical cover 2' clips into the conical shaped base 3' (fig. 9) with an interference fit to secure closure. In the version (fig 7) where the inner conical main body 1' is made of moulded material, the cover 2' can be secured to it with a flange' or skirt' 4'.

Any version of the device, when assembled, has a shape that enables it to stack on itself.

All parts are all easily separable to the end user for recycling purposes and all versions of the device can be made out of recycled and/or recyclable material.

Claims

Claims 1. A conical shaped device for the packaging and display of multiple small items comprising of an outer conical protective cover made from a rigid or semi-rigid material and an inner, conical shelved main body produced from one flat circular sheet of cardboard or similar material, cut and creased so as to provide one or more tiered storage shelves which encircle the sloping faces of the main body and an optional handle.
2. The conical, shelved main body of a device according to claim 1 converts from one flat 2D circular sheet to a 3D conical shape by the removal of a variable sized section delineated by two radial lines from the center point to two points on the circumference and the subsequent linking of the two remaining radial edges by engaging tongues on one edge formed by semicircular cuts through the card, with corresponding straight radial cuts in the other edge.
3. Each storage shelf according to claim 1 is formed by a pair of broadly parallel folds which circle the conical main body, the first fold closest to the center point inverted downwards towards the base of the cone shape from the cone face and the second fold further from the centre point projected outwards from the cone face.
4. Shelves according to claim 3 provided with raised lips at their outer edge to assist in retaining items, these lips being formed by shaped cuts through the material adjacent to the second fold line so that when that second fold making the outer edge of the shelf is formed, small tongues of card delineated by the shaped cuts remain unfolded and stand upwards from the shelf outer edge.
5. A handle according to claim 1 that is formed along one of the radial edges by an incorporated pre cut and creased length in the same piece of material which then passes through a pre cut slot and a cut opening at the top of the main body and cover.
6. An outer protective conical cover according to claim 1 is taller than the inner conical main body and has a pointed apex, which when removed from the main body is used as a support for the main body whose card cone apex is placed upon the outer cover apex, thus also providing a pivot so that the main body may be rotated allowing the items placed upon the shelves to be viewed from a fixed point.
7. A device according to the above claims based upon a polygon rather than circular shaped plan and with corresponding facet faces between base and apex.
8. A device according to the above claims with an inner conical, shelved, main body made from moulded material.
9. A device according to the above claims with a third component of a conical base made out of a rigid or semi-rigid material that is taller than the inner, shelved main body whose card cone apex is placed upon the inner taller, conical base apex providing a pivot so that the main body may rotate allowing the items placed upon the shelves to be viewed from a fixed point.
10. A 3rd component conical base according to claim 9 whose outer rim is shaped so as to provide an interference fit with the cover when it is placed over the main body.