GB2608650A

GB2608650A - Display unit

Info

Publication number: GB2608650A
Application number: GB2109958.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nathan Paul
Original assignee: Roar Creativity Ltd
Current assignee: Roar Creativity Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-09
Filing date: 2021-07-09
Publication date: 2023-01-11
Also published as: GB202109958D0

Abstract

A display unit kit (100, figure 1) comprises first and second planar members 110, 150. The first flat piece 110 comprising a first slot 122 with a height corresponding to a plane thickness of the second member 150. The channel 122’s length is no less than that of a lateral extension of the second member 105. This allows the second two-dimensional member 150 to be inserted through the slot 122. The second planar piece 150 comprises a waist 152 with a width of less than the lateral extent of the member 150. The slot 122 comprises a wider region 124 whose height is larger than the member 150’s thickness and at least as large as its waist width. Rotating the first planar member 110 relative to the second planar member 150 creates an interlock that does not rely on bending or folding the planar members.

Description

Freestanding display unit

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to display units, particularly to kits for a temporary display unit that include all components required for assembly of a free-standing display unit without reliance on additional equipment for assembly. In a particular aspect, the display units are made from recycled material and/or recyclable material.

Background

Temporary display units such as display shelves are popular in the retail and merchandise environment particular for the presentation of seasonal items. Such display units may be in use in showrooms, on a shop floor, for instance free-standing or at the end of aisles, for several weeks or a few months, and may subsequently be discarded. Display units may also be used at trade shows, e.g. in booths, where they are in use for a few days only.

The drive towards a circular economy has seen an increased use of recycled materials, such as cardboard, aluminium or recyclable plastics. However, when used in connection with temporary display units, the installation of such display units can be cumbersome, relying on the use of reinforcing components, such as tape, plastic straps, dowels, edge protectors and the like, that are often compound materials. At the time of dismantling such shelving units, such components are frequently not recyclable and/or difficult to separate from recyclable material.

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative solution to improve the recovery rate of recyclable material.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a display unit kit as defined by claim 1. The display unit kit comprises a first planar member and a second planar member, the second planar member comprising a plane thickness and a lateral extension, the first planar member comprising a first slot with a slot height corresponding to the plane thickness and a slot length no less than the lateral extension, to allow the second planar member to be inserted through the first slot, wherein the second planar member comprises a waist section with a waist width less wide than the lateral extension and wherein the first slot comprises a wider region comprising a slot height larger than the plane thickness and at least as large as the waist width.

In some embodiments, the waist section has a length corresponding to a plane thickness of the first planar member.

It will be understood that the length of the waist section is length by which the non-waist sections are spaced apart.

In some embodiments, the wider region of the slot is oval, or round.

The arrangements allow the second planar member to be attached to the first planar member, and to be secured in place, by rotating the waist section in the wider region. Conversely, the arrangements allow the members to be disassembled, by rotating the waist section into alignment with the extension of the first slot, without reliance on bending or folding either of the planar members.

In some embodiments, the first planar member comprises a secondary slot extending from or through the wider region of the first slot and oriented obliquely-angled or perpendicularly to the first slot.

The slot allows the second planar member, when appropriately rotated, to be inserted, or sunk, into the secondary slot from the wider region. This reduces the likelihood of the second planar member being rotated out of alignment when positioned in the wider region.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit comprises a set of support members engageable with the first planar member, wherein the support members hold the first planar member upright in use.

The support members may be planar in shape. For instance, the first planar member, the second planar member and the support members may be planar, and optionally of the same plane thickness.

In some embodiments, the second planar member comprises in the extension of its plane an arrangement of tabs.

The tabs may provide a cooperating structure to interlock with tab-receiving apertures of a shelf to be provided.

In some embodiments, the second planar member comprises a straight edge from which the arrangement of tabs extends.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit comprises a plurality of second planar members each slotted through a first slot and rotated at the wider region, and a shelf board supported by the second planar members.

Each second planar member may be slotted through a separate, individual first slot. In embodiments, a first slot may be wider, to accommodate multiple second planar members. In that case, the first slot may comprise multiple wider regions, each of the multiple wider regions for receiving a second planar member.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a display unit kit as defined by claim 9. The display unit kit comprises a set of three or more planar rigid panels comprising re-entrant core-assembly slots to form a polygonally-profiled core body by slidingly interlocking the panels of a set, the kit comprising at least two sets, to form two or more core bodies stackable on top of each other in an offset manner and interconnectable via re-entrant stacking slots located at body-to-body contact edges of the panels, to form a stack of multi-faceted core bodies providing a number of external flats, wherein the kit further comprises at least one support member for attachment to an external flat to provide a display region.

By stacking the core bodies in an offset manner i.e. by rotating two core bodies relative to each other, or by using two core bodies of different dimensions, their body-to-body contact edges support each other with a reduced risk of collapse (i.e. lower edges of a respective upper body rest on upper edges of a respective lower body).

The two or more core bodies may be stackable on top of each other in an angularly-offset manner, e.g. one core body may be stacked 45 degrees, or 60 degrees, rotated relative the core body underneath. The two or more core bodies may be stackable on top of each other in an offset manner by having different core body geometries, e.g. one core body may be thinner and longer than a core body underneath, such that edges of the core bodies provide contacting surfaces.

One or more of the re-entrant core-assembly slots may be provided by slots in the flat of a rigid panel. One or more of the re-entrant core-assembly slots may be provided by hook portions, i.e. by the hook gap voids of the hook portions. The one or more hook portions may be configured to interlock with corresponding hook-receiving slots of another panel. The hook-receiving slots may be provided by other hook portions and/or by other re-entrant slots in the flat of a rigid panel.

In some embodiments, some of which may form a separate aspect of the invention, the display unit kit comprises a first pair of panels, a second pair of panels, and at least one support member, the first and second pair interlocking to form a cuboid body (constituting a core body, more specifically a four-faceted core body) using the panels of the second pair to connect one panel of the first pair spaced apart to another panel of the first pair, wherein the panels are interlocking by a slotting together corresponding slots (constituting core-assembly slots) of the panels, wherein one or more of the panels comprise one or more support-receiving apertures allowing the support member to be attached to the cuboid body such that an end portion of the support member is outside the cuboid body, said end portion providing a display region for one or more goods to be displayed.

In some embodiments, the panels of one of the first pair or the second pair comprise support-receiving apertures aligned on opposite sides of the cuboid body, allowing the support member to be slotted through the cuboid body such that end portions of the support member protrude at opposite sides of the cuboid body, said end portions providing a display region for goods to be displayed.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit comprises a second support member, wherein the panels of the other of the first pair and the second pair comprise support-receiving apertures allowing the second support member to be slotted through the cuboid body such that end portions of the second support member protrude at opposite sides of the cuboid body, wherein, when assembled, one of the support members is located on top of the other support member.

In some embodiments, at least one support member is provided by a shelf body and the support-receiving aperture is provided by an elongate slot, shaped to allow the shelf body to be slotted through the cuboid body.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit comprises a plurality of cuboid bodies, the plurality comprising an upper cuboid body stacked on top of a lower cuboid body, interlocked via stacking slots on one or both of respective body-to-body contact edges.

It will be understood that the body-to-body contact edges are constituted by an underside edge of the upper cuboid body and/or an upper edge of the lower cuboid body.

In some embodiments, the stacking slots are dimensioned such that, when assembled, the support-receiving apertures extend above the lower cuboid body so as to allow a support member of the upper cuboid body to protrude beyond opposite sides of the lower cuboid body.

In some embodiments, the upper cuboid body and the lower cuboid body are offset at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees to each other, preferably offset at an angle between 40 and 50 degrees to each other.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a display unit kit as defined by claim 17. The display unit kit comprises a first shelf panel and a support column assembly, the support column assembly comprising a first subassembly comprising three or more rigid column panels comprising corresponding re-entrant slots to slidably interlock to form a column structure comprising a polygonal cross-section, a second subassembly comprising two or more rigid connector panels comprising corresponding re-entrant slots to slidably interlock to form a connector structure with multi-arm cross-section, wherein the first shelf panel comprises an connector-receiving aperture comprised of two or more intersecting slots corresponding to the multi-arm cross-section, wherein the second subassembly is attachable onto the first subassembly, and the first shelf panel is insertable over the second subassembly by slotting the multi-arm cross-section through the connector-receiving aperture, such that edges of the polygonal cross-section abut against solid portions surrounding the intersecting slots of the first shelf panel.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit comprises a plurality of first and second subassemblies to support the first shelf panel.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit comprises two of the first subassemblies connected via the second subassembly, the first shelf panel being sandwiched between the two first subassemblies.

In some embodiments, the first subassembly comprises four rigid column panels to form a structure comprising a cuboid body.

In some embodiments, the second subassembly comprises two rigid connector panels to form a structure comprising a cruciform cross-section.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit is freestanding when assembled without reliance on folding or bending any one of the planar members.

In some embodiments, each component of the display unit kit is made from the same material.

In some embodiments, the display unit kit is made from cardboard material.

Features described in an embodiment in relation to any one of the first, second or third aspects may be combined with features described in relation to any one ore more other embodiment of the first, second or third aspect. For instance, the slotting interlock between a wider region and a waist section, described in relation to embodiments of the first aspect, may be used on panels of embodiments of the second aspect and/or third aspect.

Description of the Figures

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of display unit; Figure 2 shows a part-exploded view of the Figure 1 display unit; Figures 3 to 7 show isometric views of a portion of a display unit, each Figure to illustrate a different step of an assembly sequence; Figure 8 shows an isometric view of a variant of the Figure 1 display unit; Figure 9 shows an isometric view of another variant of the Figure 1 display unit; Figures 10 to 12 show isometric views of parts of a display unit, each Figure to illustrate a different step of an assembly sequence; Figures 13, 14 and 16 show isometric views of two display unit subassemblies, each Figure to illustrate a different step of an assembly sequence; Figure 15 shows an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 14; Figures 17 to 18 show isometric views of parts of a display unit, each Figure to illustrate a different step of an assembly sequence; Figure 19 shows an isometric view of a display unit; Figures 20 to 22 show isometric views of different variant of the Figure 19 display unit; Figure 23 shows a part-exploded view of another display unit; Figure 24 shows an isometric view of the Figure 23 display unit, assembled; Figure 25 shows an isometric view of a variant of the Figure 23 display unit; Figures 26 to 32 show isometric views of display unit subassemblies, each Figure to illustrate a different step of an assembly sequence; Figure 33 shows an isometric view of a display unit; Figure 34 shows an isometric view of a variant of the Figure 33 display unit; Figure 35 shows an isometric view of a variant of the Figure 33 display unit; Figure 36 is a photograph of a prototype corresponding to the Figure 33 display unit; Figure 37 is a photograph of a prototype corresponding to the Figure 19 display unit; Figure 38 is a photograph of a prototype corresponding to the Figure 1 display unit; Figure 39 is a photograph of a detail of the Figure 1 display unit; and Figure 40 is a photograph of a display unit according to Figure 1.

Description

Figures 1 and 2 show a first display unit 100 comprising a backing structure 110 constituting a first planar member, supported by two lateral uprights 112, 114. Each lateral upright 112, 114 has a generally triangular shape and comprises a plurality of (here: three) hook-receiving slots 116a, 116b, 116c. The backing structure 110 comprises a plurality of hook arms 118 (118a, 118b, 118c one lateral side and three hook arms, not shown, on the other lateral side) to slot into the hook-receiving slots 116a-c of each lateral upright 112, 114. The backing structure 110 comprises a generally flat surface 120 with a plurality of carrier-receiving slots 122. The carrier-receiving slots 122 (here: nine slots) are arranged as a three-by-three array and each carry a support member 150 extending through the carrier-receiving slot 122. The support member 150 constitutes a second planar member and in this embodiment constitutes a carrier structure for a shelf board to be received by the carrier-receiving slots 122. In Figure 1, the support members 150 are concealed by shelf boards 140.

Figure 2 is a part-exploded view showing three support members 150a, 150b, 150c located in the carrier-receiving slots 122a, 122b, 122c, respectively, and two shelf boards 140 elevated.

Figures 3 to 7 show a sequence of steps to assemble the support members 150 in the carrier receiving slot 122. Each carrier-receiving slot 122 constitutes a first slot and is dimensioned in slot height to correspond to the thickness of the support member 150, which constitutes a second planar member. The slot length is no less than the lateral extension of the support member 150. The carrier-receiving slot 122 comprises a wider region 124, being wider by way of a greater slot height, provided by a circular cut-out. The support member 150 is a generally symmetrical, triangular flat shape comprising a waist section 152, centrally of the triangular flat shape. The waist section 152 is defined by two re-entrant slots on either side of the support member, whereby the re-entrant slots provide a gap width between the two wings of the support member, the gap width constituting a length of the waist section. The waist width of the waist section 152 is less than the lateral extension and corresponds to the diameter of the circular cut-out (the wider region 124). The assembling process will now be described in the sequence of Figures 3 to 7. Initially (see Figure 3), the support member 150 is separate from the backing structure 110 and inserted through the carrier-receiving slot 122 such that the waist section 152 aligns with the receiving slot 122 (see Figure 4).

The support member 150 is moved translationally (pushed), within and along the carrier-receiving slot 122, such that the waist section 152 aligns with the wider region 124 (see Figure 5). At this position along the carrier-receiving slot 122, the wider region 124 provides sufficient clearance allowing the support member 150 to be rotated, for instance by 90 degrees as shown herein (although other angles may be used). It will be understood that a narrower waist section 152 may be more difficult to rotate, and too-wide a waist section 152 may not provide a good friction grip, and so the waist section 152 length preferably corresponds to the plane thickness of the backing structure 110. In the area of the wider region 124, the backing structure 110 comprises a secondary slot 126 (see numeral illustrated in Figure 3) intersecting with the wider region 124. Appropriately rotated into alignment with the secondary slot 126 (see Figure 6), the support member 150 can be sunk or pushed into the secondary slot 126 to assume a deployed configuration (see Figure 7) in which the support structure 150 is retained on the backing structure 110. The assembly and interlock does not rely on bending or folding, or on releasing tab structures or wing structures. Therefore, disassembly by removal of the support structure 150 from the backing structure can be achieved by simple reversing the procedure, starting from the position of Figure 7, to Figure 3. It will be understood that, depending on the type and quality of the material, such as low grade recycled cardboard, assembly and disassembly may be possible only once, as the slots and edges may fray after one use, however this would still achieve an improvement in that disposable items are easier disassembled into flat, pure, recyclable components, without any other materials, such as adhesive tape, plastic dowels and the like still remaining attached. The invention is however not necessarily so limited and better grade materials may allow for multiple assembly and dismantling.

Each support structure 150 comprises an arrangement of tabs 156 on one edge 154. The edge 154 is straight (generally straight) and designed to be oriented upwards, when in use (see Figure 7), so that the edges 154 can provide a support seat for the shelf boards 140. As such it will be appreciated that the carrier-receiving slots 122 are horizontally aligned (with respect to the in-use upright position of the backing structure 110), or that differently shaped and sized support structures are used so as to provide a level support seat for a shelf board. Each shelf board 140 may comprise a plurality of apertures 142, for instance in the form of slots, arranged corresponding to the position of the tabs 156 and dimensioned corresponding to the geometry of the tabs 156. The shelf boards 140, when assembled, are seated relatively securely on the edges 154 of the support structures 150, and at least partially interlocked by way of the engagement between the tabs 156 and the apertures 142. The quality of the interlocking arrangement may depend on friction fit, depending on the tolerances and clearances of the apertures 142 and the tabs 156 relative to each other. By way of the interlocking arrangement, the support members 150 are hindered from rotating in their respective carrier-receiving slots 122 and/or hindered from becoming dislodged from their secondary slots 126, respectively. The shelf boards 140 correspond in width to the width of the backing structure 110, thereby abutting against the inside surfaces of the lateral uprights 112, 114, in turn hindering and practically preventing rotation of the lateral uprights 112, 114 relative to the backing structure 110. The arrangement provides a reasonable degree of stability for shop display purposes, allowing the shelf boards 140 to be used as a display region particularly for merchandise, clothing, shoes, accessories, souvenirs, office material and stationery, as well as books.

Figure 8 shows a variant 100a of the display unit 100 that comprises eight shelf boards 140 (four on either side of the backing structure).

Figure 9 shows a variant 100b of the display unit 110, comprising a different type of support structure 160. The backing structure 110b comprises a plurality of (here: ten) carrier-receiving slots 122, and is supported by two lateral uprights 112b, 114b. The lateral uprights 112b,114b are not symmetrical and comprise a vertical rear edge, rendering the variant 100b suitable for installations near a wall. The support structure 160 comprises a serrated arm affixed to the backing structure 110b in the manner described with reference to Figures 3 to 7, via a waist region that is formed by two re-entrant slots on opposite sides of the support structure 160. The serrations are located on the (in use) upward facing edge of the support structure 160 and provide spaced-apart notches suited for hangable merchandise, such as packaging with hang-tabs or cloth hangers etc. As can be appreciated from Figure 9, not all of the carrier-receiving slots 122 of the backing structure 110b are necessarily provided with support structures. Thereby, the arrangement provides flexibility to accommodate differently sized hanging merchandise.

Figures 10 to 14 show different steps in the assembly of parts of a display unit 200 (assembled unit shown in Figure 19). Figure 10 shows a first panel 210 and a second panel 230.

The first panel 210 is generally rectangular comprising two lateral side edges 211, 212 that comprise generally flat side edges, a lower (in use: lower) edge 214 and an upper (in use) edge 216. The first panel 210 comprises two hook-receiving slots 221, 222, one each extending vertically, along the side edges 221, 222. Extending horizontally between, and underneath, the two hook receiving slots 221, 222, the first panel 210 comprises a support-receiving slot 224. The lower edge 214 comprises an arrangement of (here: two) re-entrant stacking slots 215. The upper edge 216 comprises an arrangement of (here: two) re-entrant stacking slots 217.

The second panel 230 is also of generally rectangular form, comprising two lateral side edges 231, 232, a lower edge 234 and an upper edge 236. The lower edge 234 and the upper edge 236 each comprise an arrangement of (here: two) re-entrant stacking slots 235 and 237, respectively. Laterally, each side edge 231, 232 comprises a hook arm 238, 239 extending in the plane of the second panel 230 and being integral with the second panel 230. Near the lower edge 234, the second panel 230 comprises a support-receiving slot 240.

In order to assemble the first panel 210 and the second panel 230, the hook arm 238 is slotted though the hook-receiving slot 221 (see Figure 11). Subsequently, the second panel 230 is pushed down relative to the first panel 210 such that the inner slot (hook gap) of the hook arm 238 fully abuts against the end edge of the hook-receiving slot 211 (see Figure 12). The process is repeated for a pair of first panels 210 and a pair of second panels 230, to obtain a generally cuboid body 250 constituting a core body comprising two first panels 210 held together in a spaced-apart relationship by two second panels 230. The example of four panels (a pair of first panels 210 and a pair of second panels) provides a cuboid, four-faceted core body. It will be understood that with appropriately designed slots, three panels may suffice to create a three-faceted core body in the manner of a three-sided prism, or any number of panels for a multifaceted core body.

Figures 13 and 14 show a plurality of (here: two) such cuboid bodies, a lower body 250 and an upper body 250a. For the purposes of the present passage, both the lower and upper body are identical and so corresponding elements are identified by the same numerals without repeating a detailed description, wherein integers with a suffix -a are used for the upper cuboid body 250a. The lower cuboid body 250 and the upper cuboid body 250a are stacked on top of each other, offset by 45 degrees, and interlocked by slotting engagement of the re-entrant stacking slots 217, 237, of the body-to-body contact edges, i.e. by way of the upper edges of the lower cuboid body 250 slidingly engaging the re-entrant stacking slots 216a, 236a, of the lower edges of the upper cuboid body 250a. The arrangement as shown in Figure 14, comprising interlocked re-entrant slots at the body-to-body contact edges, provides further stability to the overall assembly, because the hook arms 238, 239 of the lower cuboid body 250 cannot be moved upward, out of their seated configuration, within the hook-receiving slots 211, 212 while the cuboid bodies 250a and 250 are stacked in an interlocked manner.

With reference to Figure 14, the upper edges 216 and 236 have multiple level heights, e.g. illustrated in Figure 14 is a first height level 253 and a second height level 254 of one upper edge 216, and a third height level 255 and a fourth height level 256 of another upper edge 216. The first height level 253 and the fourth height level 256 may be have the same height and be lower than the second height level 254 and the third height level 255. The upper edges and the lower edges, i.e. the body-to-body contact edges of the core bodies, may comprise a stepped profile, constituted by different height levels, to accommodate a seating surface for support structures such as shelves.

Figure 15 shows a detail view illustrating that, when stacked on top of each other, the support-receiving slots 224a are located above the upper edges 216, 236, thereby avoiding interference of the upper edges with a component inserted into the support-receiving slots 224a.

Turning to Figure 16, a support structure 260, here a display shelf, is to be inserted through the support-receiving slot 224a of one of the first panels 210a of the upper cuboid body 250a. The support structure 260 has a thickness and dimensions corresponding to the support-receiving slot 224a. It will be understood that tighter tolerances are more likely to result in an interference fit. Conversely, the design may be embodied with some clearance to facilitate assembly and disassembly, when it is appropriate to tolerate a less tight fit.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate that, when the panels are assembled, the support-receiving slot 240 of the second panel 230 is offset (here: below) the support-receiving slot 224 of the first panel 210, which allows two support structures 260, 260a to extend through the full width of the cuboid body (Figure 17 showing only two panels of a partial assembly). The support structures have a length exceeding the side length of the cuboid body, such that end portions 262, 262a of the support structures 260, 260a protrude at the opposite sides of the cuboid body, providing a display region. It will also be appreciated that at least portions of the body-to-body contact edges are stepped (see elements 253-256 in Figure 14) such that each support structure 260,260a is supported by direct contact with an edge underneath, without requiring one of the support structures to bend.

The assembly has an improved stability because the display region may be relatively small in comparison to the cuboid body, and suited or items such as shoes that are not typically heavy. The display unit 200 is advantageous in that the cuboid body 250, by way of the support structure 260, comprises a floor structure providing a hollow container, the void inside the container being able to accommodate ballast to further improve the stability of the display unit.

Figure 19 shows a display unit 200 comprised of four cuboid bodies 250a, 250b, 250c, 250d stacked on top of each other, each cuboid body being offset by 45 degrees relative to its adjacent cuboid body above and/or underneath, respectively. The display unit 200 is stabilised not only by the interlocking re-entrant stacking slots of the bodyto-body contact edges, but also by the support structures 260, 260a being seated and wedged in tight abutment on the stepped contour (see elements 253-256 in Figure 14).

As such, the support structures rest supported on the support-receiving slots 224 and 240, respectively, and also on the appropriately step-profiled upper edges 216 and 236.

The support members may be provided by shelf bodies 260, is illustrated in Figures 16 to 18. However, other support members may be used: exemplary alternatives are illustrated in Figures 20 to 22.

Figure 20 shows a display unit 202 in which the support members are provided in the form of rods 270, each rod of a length exceeding that of the cuboid bodies such that end portions 272 protrude on the outside of the cuboid bodies to provide a display region. The support members of the display unit 202 are suited for hangable merchandise.

Figure 21 shows a display unit 204 in which the support members are provided in the form of individual arms 280 that are mounted to the first and second panels of the cuboid bodies in the manner of the slot geometry with a rotation-permitting wider region described above with reference to Figures 3 to 7. The support members (arms 280) comprise serrated upper edges providing spaced-apart notches for hanging merchandise. The cuboid bodies of the display unit 204 are taller than those of the display units 200, 202, and thereby better suited for the presentation of taller articles.

Figure 22 shows another variant, a display unit 206 in which the support members are provided by a vertically mounted hook arrangements 290 (vertical in the in-use configuration displayed in Figure 22) that comprise a series of hooks in the manner used for the display of glasses etc. It will be understood that, while the display units 200, 204, 206, and 208 of Figures 19 to 22 comprise cuboid bodies assembled in the manner illustrated in Figures 10 to 18, the display stand may be comprised of other multifaceted core structures, for instance three panels to form a core structure comprising a triangular core profile, or more panels. It will be appreciated that an even number of panels, e.g. four, six, or eight, provides parallel opposite panel faces that may be easier to assemble, and into which slots may be more easily cut during manufacture, than other geometries. The four-sided, cuboid form is believed to provide a relatively good stability while also allowing slots and apertures to be cut at a right angle to the plane of the panels.

Figures 23 to 25 show further variant 210 of the display unit 200, in which cuboid bodies 251a, 251b, 251c, 251d of different size are stacked on top of each other, each cuboid body being of a smaller footprint than the cuboid body directly underneath. The cuboid bodies are stacked in the same orientation in an offset manner by way of the different body geometries avoiding the risk of one body collapsing into another. Each cuboid body comprises two pairs of first panels and second panels assembled in an interlocking engagement and further stabilised by a stacking cube-on-cube interlocking engagement between the cuboid bodies directly above and/or directly underneath. The cuboid bodies are considerably wider than deep although other geometries may be used. The wider panels comprise each a support-receiving slot 242b, 242c, 242d, two opposite support-receiving slots being aligned to allow a shelf body 264b, 264c, 264d to be inserted through the cuboid body, whereby the length of the shelf body exceeds the thickness of the cuboid bodies, such that end portions of each shelf body protrude outside the cuboid body to provide a display region. The display unit variant 210 comprises a base cuboid body 251a without a shelf. It will be understood that some of the cuboid bodies may not be provided with shelves, to allow inter-shelf space for larger merchandise.

The support-receiving slots are located just above the upper edges of the cuboid body underneath so that the support structure (here, the shelf body) rests on the upper edge of a cuboid body underneath, which further increases the load capacity of the external end portions, and also contributes to the interlocking engagement of the overall assembly.

Figure 25 shows a display unit 212 that is another variant of the display unit 200 comprising a plurality of cuboid bodies 252a, 252b, 252c, 252d, dimensioned and stacked as described with reference to Figure 23. The display unit 212 comprises rod-shaped arms 266 as support structures, to provide arm-shaped support structures suited for the display of hangable articles.

Turning to Figure 26, this shows a first subassembly 310 in exploded view (left side) and in assembled form (right side), the first subassembly 310 consisting of a plurality of (here: four) column panels 312. The column panels 312 are generally flat and comprise an arrangement of re-entrant slots. In the depicted embodiment, the column panels 312 are of the same shape although it will be appreciated that some variants may use different shapes, or pairs of shapes. The re-entrant slots comprise core-assembly slots 314 and stacking slots 316. The core-assembly slots 314 are designed to connect the four column panels 312 of the first subassembly 310 into a stable subunit. The core-assembly slots 314 extend each over half the height of a column panel 312 such that two column panels 312 with two fully-engaged core-assembly slots 314 have the same upper and lower edge level. In assembled form, the first subassembly 310 comprises polygonal (here: quadrilateral) contact surfaces, one each at its upper and lower end, whereby edges of the column panels 312 protrude laterally so that the overall shape is that of a 'hash' sign comprising an integral square-shaped cross-section. The upper and lower end edges comprise the stacking slots 316 whose function will be described below.

Figure 27 shows a second subassembly 330 in exploded view (left side) and in assembled form (right side), the second subassembly 330 comprising multiple (here: two) connector panels 332 that are slotted together at a generally right angle via core-assembly slots to provide a cruciform connector subassembly. The upper and lower edges of the cruciform subassembly comprise re-entrant stacking slots 334 located correspondingly to the stacking slots of the first subassembly.

Figures 28 and 29 show how the re-entrant stacking slots allow the second subassembly 330 to be inserted onto the first subassembly 310. The second sub-assembly 330 provides a multi-arm (here: cruciform) cross-section to be inserted through a corresponding cruciform slot 352 of a shelf panel 350. The first subassembly 310 comprises a polygonal (here: square) cross-section that provides a generally larger foot-print than the multi-arm cross-section, unsuited to slot through the shelf panel slot, and providing a seating surface against which the shelf panel 350 may abut (se Figure 30).

As shown in Figures 31 and 32, a further first subassembly 310a may be inserted on top of the second subassembly 330, thereby locking the shelf panel 350 between the contact edges of the two first subassemblies 310, 310a in a 'sandwiched' configuration.

The resulting interlocking configuration has a good level of stability while avoiding the need for folding or bending, or any additional connector components. The surface area of the edges of the polygonal cross-section reduces the likelihood that the first subassemblies 310,310a cut into the material of the shelf panel 350, allowing the two first subassemblies to practically clamp the shelf panel 350 between them with little risk of the shelf panel 350 becoming thereby damaged.

Figure 33 shows a display unit 300 using six of the described first subassemblies 310 for a four-tier display unit. It will be appreciated that the display unit 300 may comprise a differently configured base or plinth arrangement and is otherwise not restricted in height or width. Figure 34 shows an eight-tier display unit 302 and Figure 35 shows a six-tier display unit 304 of wider footprint using three subassemblies 310 per tier, to support each shelf.

Figure 36 shows a honeycomb cardboard prototype 306 of the display unit 300, showing a first subassembly 310 providing abutment surfaces resting on a shelf panel 350 underneath and supporting a shelf panel 350 above, as well as a second subassembly 320 underneath and one above, connecting to the next column of a first subassembly 310 via the shelf panel 350. A considerable surface area of the shelf panel 350 is available as a display region for articles.

Figure 37 shows a honeycomb cardboard prototype 200a of the display unit 200, comprising two cuboid bodies 250a, 250 stacked on top of each other and rotationally offset by 45 degrees. The upper cuboid body 250a comprises two support members 260, 260a resting on the upper edges of the cuboid body 250 underneath and providing end portions protruding outside the cuboid body 250a to provide a display region.

Figures 38 and 39 show portions of a honeycomb cardboard prototype of a display unit 100c. Figure 38 shows a hook arm 118 engaged in the hook-receiving slot 116 of a lateral upright 112. Figure 39 shows a support member 150 engaged in a carrier-receiving slot 122, rotated in the wider region 124 and pushed (down) into the secondary slot (not visible in Figure 29).

Figure 40 shows the display unit 130c that corresponds to the design illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, comprising a backing structure 110 supported by two lateral uprights 112, 114, the backing structure constituting a first planar member connected with a plurality of support members 150 each constituting a second planar member, carrying a shelf board 140 held in place via apertures 142 seated on corresponding tabs 156.

All components of the variants described above are generally flat elements, and are conveniently made from cardboard, in particular corrugated cardboard or honey-comb-enforced cardboard structures. In some embodiments, the components may be panels made from wood, aluminium, including aluminium honeycomb, or plastics materials. The components may be panels made from other materials such as hemp board, hay or grass boards, grey compound, farming waste. A particular endeavour underlying the present embodiments was to provide display units that can be assembled without reliance on tools or fixing means. Each one of the display units described herein can be assembled by slotting components together or through one another. The assembly methods avoid the need for bending or folding edges, and avoid the need for barbed retainer structures. This allows relatively low-grade, or waste based (up to 100% recycled) materials to be used, although it will be understood that the invention is not limited in this respect. The assembly of many embodiments requires primarily an assembly of core structures assembled into multi-faceted sub-units by core-assembly recesses in the form of re-entrant recesses or hooks, and stacking the core structures via stacking slots that are typically less deep than the core-assembly recesses.

The display units herein are relatively easy to disassemble into their component parts, which are all flat. The flat configuration facilities storage and transport of such units prior to their installation. This might, in certain scenarios, facilitate the disassembly for storage and later use. However, a practical observation contributing to the development of the embodiments described herein was that such re-use rarely happens due to various complicating factors, in particular also time pressure for shop redecoration or requirements to vacate temporary showrooms. The time pressure also usually leads to recyclable materials not being separated appropriately, and thereby effectively being lost from the circular economy.

By providing a display unit kit made from planar members, the unit may be assembled and used as a freestanding unit without reliance on folding or bending any one of the planar members.

By avoiding reliance on folding or bending, rigid materials can be used such as low grade cardboard. A consistent plane thickness can be achieved by designing all interconnecting tabs such that they extend in the plane of the planar members, whereby all planar members may have a consistent plane thickness while including protruding interlocking structures.

Furthermore, all components are designed such that interlocking connections engage in a sliding manner with corresponding slots or re-entrant slots of a size suitable for both insertion and removal without requiring wing structures or tab structures to bend, and so the present arrangements avoid barb structures. This is of relevance particularly to facilitate disassembly after use. The present display units are easily pulled apart into 'pure' material components, e.g. honeycomb re-enforced cardboard, that are flat, do not require squashing, and therefore facilitate collection for recycling.

It will be understood that the description above is exemplary and that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific examples described herein. For instance, the designs used herein may also be used in packaging, as decorative packaging elements and/or as structural packaging element.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A display unit kit comprising a first planar member and a second planar member having a plane thickness and a lateral extension, the first planar member comprising a first slot with a slot height corresponding to the plane thickness and a slot length no less than the lateral extension, to allow the second planar member to be inserted through the first slot, wherein the second planar member comprises a waist section with a waist width less wide than the lateral extension, and wherein the first slot comprises a wider region comprising a slot height larger than the plane thickness and at least as large as the waist width.
2. The display unit kit according to claim 1, wherein the waist section has a length corresponding to a plane thickness of the first planar member.
3. The display unit kit according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the wider region of the slot is oval, or round.
4. The display unit kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first planar member comprises a secondary slot extending from or through the wider region of the first slot and oriented obliquely-angled or perpendicularly to the first slot.
5. The display unit kit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a set of support members engageable with the first planar member, wherein the support members hold the first planar member upright in use.
6. The display unit kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second planar member comprises in the extension of its plane an arrangement of tabs.
7. The display unit kit according to claim 6, wherein the second planar member comprises a straight edge from which the arrangement of tabs extends.
8. The display unit kit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of second planar members each slotted through a first slot and rotated at the wider region, and a shelf board supported by the second planar members.
9. A display unit kit comprising a set of three or more planar rigid panels comprising re-entrant core-assembly slots to form a polygonally-profiled core body by slidingly interlocking the panels of a set, the kit comprising at least two sets to form two or more core bodies stackable on top of each other in an offset manner and interconnectable via re-entrant stacking slots located at body-to-body contact edges of the panels, to form a stack of multi-faceted core bodies providing a number of external flats, wherein the kit further comprises at least one support member for attachment to an external flat to provide a display region.
10. A display unit kit according to claim 9, comprising four planar rigid panels in the form of a first pair of panels and a second pair of panels, the first and second pair interlocking to form a cuboid body using the panels of the second pair to connect one panel of the first pair spaced apart to another panel of the first pair, wherein the panels are interlocking by sliding together corresponding re-entrant core-assembly slots of the panels, wherein one or more of the panels comprise one or more support-receiving apertures allowing the support member to be attached to the cuboid body such that an end portion of the support member protrudes outside the cuboid body, said end portion providing a display region for one or more goods to be displayed or attached.
11. The display unit kit according to claim 10, wherein the panels of one of the first pair or the second pair comprise support-receiving apertures aligned on opposite sides of the cuboid body, allowing the support member to be slotted through the cuboid body such that end portions of the support member protrude at opposite sides of the cuboid body, said end portions providing a display region for goods to be displayed.
12. The display unit kit according to claim 11, comprising a second support member, wherein the panels of the other of the first pair and the second pair comprise support-receiving apertures allowing the second support member to be slotted through the cuboid body such that end portions of the second support member protrude at opposite sides of the cuboid body, wherein, when assembled, one of the support members is located on top of the other support member.
13. The display unit kit according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein at least one support member is provided by a shelf body and the support-receiving aperture is provided by an elongate slot, shaped to allow the shelf body to be slotted through the cuboid body.
14. The display unit kit according to any one of claims 9 to 13, comprising a plurality of cuboid bodies, the plurality comprising an upper cuboid body stacked on top of a lower cuboid body, interlocked via stacking slots on one or both of respective body-tobody contact edges.
15. The display unit kit according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the stacking slots are dimensioned such that, when assembled, the support-receiving apertures extend above the lower cuboid body so as to allow a support member of the upper cuboid body to protrude beyond opposite sides of the lower cuboid body.
16. The display unit kit according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the upper cuboid body and the lower cuboid body are offset at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees to each other, preferably offset at an angle between 40 and 50 degrees to each other.
17. A display unit kit comprising a first shelf panel and a support column assembly, the support column assembly comprising a first subassembly comprising three or more rigid column panels comprising corresponding re-entrant slots to slidably interlock to form a column structure comprising a polygonal cross-section, a second subassembly comprising two or more rigid connector panels comprising corresponding re-entrant slots to slidably interlock to form a connector structure with multi-arm cross-section, wherein the first shelf panel comprises an connector-receiving aperture comprised of two or more intersecting slots corresponding to the multi-arm cross-section, wherein the second subassembly is attachable onto the first subassembly, and the first shelf panel is insertable over the second subassembly by slotting the multi-arm cross-section through the connector-receiving aperture, such that edges of the polygonal cross-section abut against solid portions surrounding the intersecting slots of the first shelf panel.
18. The display unit kit according to claim 17, comprising a plurality of first and second subassemblies to support the first shelf panel.
19. The display unit kit according to claim 17 or 18, comprising two of the first subassemblies connected via the second subassembly, the first shelf panel being sandwiched between the two first subassemblies.
20. The display unit kit according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the first subassembly comprises four rigid column panels to form a structure comprising a cuboid body.
21. The display unit kit according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the second subassembly comprises two rigid connector panels to form a structure comprising a cruciform cross-section.
22. The display unit kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display unit kit is freestanding when assembled without reliance on folding or bending any one of the planar members.
23. The display unit kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each component of the display unit kit is made from the same material.
24. The display unit kit according to any one of the preceding claims, made from cardboard material.