SE1951539A1 - Information display stand with biased locking assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An information display stand is build up by two panels (2, 2’) and two transverse locking inserts (3, 3’) by means of which the stand (1) can be expanded from an idle flat state to an expanded state of use. Each locking insert (3, 3’) has a tongue member and a tongue receiving member which are in sliding connection. By this sliding, the locking inserts (3, 3’) can assume an extended form corresponding to the idle formation of the stand (1) and a retracted form corresponding to the expanded state of the stand (1). The tongue member and the tongue receiving member are connected to each other by a biasing means which may be an endless rubber strap.

Description

INFORMATION DISPLAY STAND WITH BIASED LOCKING ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD The present inVention relates in general to an information display stand configured toassume a first formation in which the stand is planar for storage or transportation, and asecond forrnation in which the stand is expanded and capable of assuming an uprightdisplaying position. More specifically, the inVention concerns a locking assembly whichis configured to be included in an information display stand and which maintains the stand in its expanded forrnation for upright position of use.

BACKGROUND Inforrnation display stands have been used in the promotion industry since many years.Stands of this structure are oftentimes referred to as pop-up display stands. One type ofsuch stand is disclosed in WO20l0/0l9086Al, which has two panels and which is canassume a first configuration in which the stand is flattened for transport or storage, anda second configuration in which the stand is extended, hence self-supporting. Thisknown information presenting stand has a locking member arranged between the panels,for continuously adjustable locking of the stand in the two configurations. The lockingmember is self-locking by means of a friction band coupling formed between contactsurfaces of the two parts of the locking member.

A drawback with friction-based means in locking members in such displaystands, is the unspecific length of the locking member that may arise during themanufacturing process, where the locking member parts are j oined to become a unit. Ifthe locking member is too short, it does not fit between the two panels and excessmanual work is needed to fasten the locking member between the two panels. A similarproblem occurs if the locking member tums out to be too long.

In DE2020l4008337Al , an information display stand is described which has afirst and a second lateral surface as well as a mechanism including at least onetensioning element, such as a rubber band. This known stand is however of quitecomplicated structure which do not fit today°s market demand for stands that are easy to handle and that are based on a structure with a reduced number of parts.

From the above, it is understood that there is room for improvements.

SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to solve or at least mitigate the problems related toprior art. This object is achieved by means of the technique set forth in the appendedindependent claims; preferred embodiments being defined in the related dependentclaims.

In an aspect, there is provided an information display stand configured toassume a first formation in which the stand is planar for storage or transportation, and asecond formation in which the stand is expanded and capable of assuming an uprightdisplaying position. The stand has a center axis and it comprises: at least two panels thatare j oined together along respective edge portions, such that the stand in the secondformation forms a substantially tubular shape; and at least one elongated lockingassembly arranged between the two panels. The locking assembly extends transverselywith respect to the center axis and has its respective ends attached to the panels at saidrespective edge portions. Furthermore, the locking assembly is configured to assume anextended form corresponding to said first formation of said stand, and a retractedlocking form corresponding to the second formation of the stand; The locking assembly of this improved stand comprises a tongue member and areceiving member, wherein the tongue member is in sliding connection within anopening of the receiving member. The locking assembly further comprises biasingmeans connected to and extending between the tongue member and the receivingmember, respectively. The tongue member comprises stopping means configured toengage with matching engagement means of the receiving member in the extended andretracted form of the locking assembly, wherein securing of the engagement betweenthe stopping means and the engagement means is obtained by the biasing means.

A stand according to this aspect is favourable in that the improved lockingassembly promotes quick and convenient switch between the two forrnations of thestand. Furthermore, the locking assembly is of robust structure which secures efficient handling and use of the stand.

In an embodiment, the opening of the receiVing member comprises a slit andthe engagement means includes two opposite wall portions of said slit. The stoppingmeans of the tongue member comprises opposite protrusions configured to engage withthe slit wall portions in the extended form of the locking assembly. Furthermore, thestopping means comprises opposite shoulders configured to engage with the slit wallportions in the retracted form of the locking assembly. This embodiment isadvantageous, since the locking assembly is of compact design and it can be operated ina Very reliable manner.

Preferably, the sliding connection between the tongue member and a tonguereceiVing area of the receiVing member is substantially frictionless in that the distancebetween opposite sliding connection surfaces of the tongue receiving area of thereceiVing member is larger than the material thickness of the tongue member to bereceived in said tongue receiving area. This structure promotes smooth and efficienthandling and operation of the locking assembly and thereby the entire stand.

In an embodiment, the thickness of the tongue member is between 40-90 % ofthe distance between the opposite sliding connection surfaces of the tongue receivingarea of the receiving member. Most preferred, the thickness proportion is 55-75%.

The biasing means preferably comprises an elastic member which may be arubber band, strip or the like. Such a rubber strip can form an endless loop having twoopposite portions attached to hooks.

Preferably, the tongue member receiving member are made from one-pieceblanks which may be of paper material, for instance corrugated board.

Further features of the inVention and its embodiments will be explained in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSBy way of example, embodiments of the present inVention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side View of an information display stand in its idle position, Fig. 2 is a top View of the stand shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a front view of the stand in its position of use, Fig. 4 is a top view of the stand shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a locking assembly of the stand in its extended forrn,Fig. 6 is a top view of the locking assembly shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 shows the locking assembly in its retracted form, Fig. 8 is a top view of the locking assembly shown in Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the extended locking assembly,Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the retracted locking assembly,Fig.11 shows a blank for a receiving member of the assembly, and Fig. 12 shows a blank for a tongue member of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSAn information display stand 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs 1-4. The information display stand 1 is also referred to as a pop-up standin the following. In Fig. 1, the stand is illustrated in its first state or formationrepresenting an idle position. Here, the stand 1 is substantially flat and planar in order toenable efficient storage and/or transportation. Two elongated panels 2, 2” are joinedtogether along their respective edge portions 4, 4”. Between the panels 2, 2” inside theinformation display stand 1, elongated locking assemblies 3, 3” are disposed whichextend transversely with respect to a centre axis C. The locking assemblies 3, 3” are alsoreferred to as locking inserts. Both the panels 2, 2” and the locking assemblies 3, 3” maybe of the same material, for example a paper material, such as corrugated board.Essentially, the material is flexible, yet rigid.The locking assemblies 3, 3” are schematically illustrated as rectangular boxesin Figs 1 and 3, where the dashed lines indicate their placement between the panels 2, 2”inside the stand 1. Furthermore, the dotted lines on the panels 2, 2” indicate fold lines 5,5”. The purpose of these fold lines 5, 5” is to enable folding of the stand 1 in its firstformation such that the stand 1 can be flattened for storage and/or transportation.The stand 1 is illustrated in its idle position as seen from a top view in Fig. 2.

Here, the locking assembly 3 is arranged between the panels 2, 2” and has its respective ends attached to the panels 2, 2” at their respective edge portions 4, 4”. Moreover, the locking assembly 3 is in an extended position, corresponding to the idle position of thestand.

In Fig. 3, the stand 1 is illustrated in its second state or formation, representing aposition of use. Here, the stand 1 is in an expanded forrn, i.e. in an upright displayingposition, having a substantially cylindrical or tubular shape. In relation to Fig. 1, thelocking assemblies 3, 3” in Fig. 3 are in a retracted position, hence pulling the paneledge portions 4, 4” closer to each other and leading to the tubular shape of the stand.

The stand 1 is illustrated in its position of use as seen from a top View in Fig. 4.Here, the locking assembly 3 is in a retracted locking position. The locking assembly 3is attached to the panels 2, 2” at their respective edge portions 4, 4”, thereby expandingthe two panels 2, 2” such that the stand 1 takes on its second formation.

In Fig. 5 the locking assembly 3 is shown in its extended position, i.e. when theinformation display stand 1 is in its idle position. The locking assembly 3 includes atongue member 6 that is slidable within an opening 8 or slit of a receiving member 7.Both the tongue member 6 and the receiving member 7 comprises a hook l4a, l4bconf1gured to retain a biasing means 9. Preferably, the biasing means 9 is flexible, suchas an elastic band, and it is connected to and extends between the hooks l4a, l4b of thetongue member 6 and the receiving member 7, respectively. The tongue member 6 alsohas stopping means in the form of protrusions 10, 10”, in Fig. 5 and 7 shown as twooppositely located tooth-shaped protrusions on said tongue member 6. The stoppingmeans protrusions 10, 10” are, in the extended position of the locking assembly 3,engaged with matching engagement means located at the slit 8 of the receiving member7. The engagement means include two opposite wall portions 1 1, 1 1” which areconfigured to engage with the protrusions 10, 10” of the tongue member 6. The role ofthe biasing means 9 in this extended position of the locking assembly 3 is to secure theengagement between the stopping means 10, 10” and the engagement means 11, 11” sothat the locking assembly 3 can stay in its extended position, thereby maintaining theidle position of the stand 1 when not in use. The biasing means 9 is biasing the lockingassembly 3 in such manner that the tongue member 6 and the tongue receiving member 7 are pulled in a direction towards each other.

The locking assembly 3 is shown in its extended position in Figs 5-6. Here, thestopping means 10, 10” of the tongue member 6 are in engagement with matchingengagement means 11, 11 of the receiving member. As similarly illustrated in Fig. 5,the engagement takes place in the slit 8 at two wall portions of the tongue receivingmember 7. In this position, there is no contact between the inner surfaces of thereceiving member 7 and the surfaces of the tongue member 6. In other words, theengagement between the tongue member 6 and the receiving member 7 is substantiallyfrictionless.

The frictionless design is further explained with respect to Fig. 6. The thicknessT of the tongue member 6 is smaller than the distance D between spaced oppositesurfaces in the tongue receiving area of the tongue receiving member 7. The proportionT/D is in the range of 40-90%, preferably 55-75%. Hereby, an upper gap and a lowergap are formed between the tongue member 6 and opposite surfaces in the tonguereceiving area of the receiving member 7. In practice, these gaps can be a fewmillimetres. In a practical example, the tongue thickness is about 8 mm and the distancebetween opposite surface in the tongue receiving area is about 12 mm. Hence, gaps ofabout 2 mm are left on either side of the tongue 6.

Thanks to thickness proportions of this kind and the gaps left on either side ofthe tongue 6, a substantially frictionless connection between the tongue 6 and thetongue receiving member 7 is achieved. This promotes smooth telescopic mutualmovements of the tongue 6 and the tongue receiving member 7, which is tum leads tosmooth switch between the idle position and the expanded formation of the stand 1.

Figs 7-8 shows the locking assembly 3 in its retracted, locking position, i.e.when the information display stand 1 is in its position of use. Here, extemal forces F, F”(see Fig, 3) have been applied to the edges of the locking assembly 3 when in itsextended position, thereby overcoming the tension created by the biasing means 9 suchon the engagement between the stopping means 10, 10” of the tongue member 6 and thecorresponding engagement means 11, 11” of the receiving member 7. In this lockingposition, the panels 2, 2” of the stand are bent to achieve a convex form, as can be seenin Fig. 2. Opposite shoulders of the tongue 6 and the receiving member 7 are in abutment with each other in this position.

The extracted and retracted positions of forms of the locking insert 2 are furtherillustrated in Figs 9-10, from which the biasing effect of the biasing means 9 isunderstood. Furtherrnore, the operation of the engagement means and abutment meansbetween the tongue 6 and the receiving member 7 are shown.

In Figs 11-12, two flat blanks are shown from which the tongue member 6 andthe tongue receiving member 7 are formed. When producing the locking insert 3, thecut-outs 14a and 14b are made in the blanks and then the two blanks are folded to theaimed-at shape and connected to each other so that the insert 3 is formed. Preferably,the blanks are based on a paper material; such as corrugated board.

The folding process described above is very efficient can be performed at highspeed in a folding machine. The locking inserts can be delivered separately to facilitieswhere pop-up stands are manufactured, but it is also possible to produce complete pop-up stands more or less in-line. In this case, locking inserts are produced in first stationand fed to second station where they are placed between panels and fastened by its endsto the inner edges of the opposite panels making up the stand. The folding machine usedin this second station can for instance be of type described in the patent SE-C-537,072.Standard lengths of locking inserts of the type described herein is about 500 - 550 mm,oftentimes about 535 mm, but the locking inserts according to the embodimentsdescribed herein are more flexible in terms of length. In particular, longer lockinginserts are achievable by means of the improved locking inserts herein.

As mentioned above, the locking inserts are preferably formed from a one-pieceblank which is folded in a number of folding steps. Preferably, the blank is made ofsome kind of paper-based material suitable for folding. A favourable material iscorrugated board which can have some kind friction-impeding surface layer or coating.

In terms of dimensions, the width of the stand 1 is in the range of 25-35% of itsheight. Depending on which formation the stand 1 has, its cross-dimension will vary.For example, the stand 1 may have an edge-to-edge dimension between the panel edges4, 4” of about 525 mm, whereas in its position of use, this transverse dimension can be about 420 mm.

Typioally, the height of the looking assembly is in the range of 15-30 % of itslength, Where the height is deterrnined in relation to the oentre axis C. Preferably, theheight is about 20-25% of its length.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the invention is by no means limited to theembodiments described herein and may modifioations are feasible Without departingfrom the spirit of the inVention. For instanoe, the looking assemblies may be arrangedon either side of the fold lines of the stand. In general, a least one looking insert isarranged between the panels and a dual-looking-insert-stand is described herein. For tallinformation display stands, more than two looking inserts can be used. There may beadditional fold lines on the panels, and the number of fold lines may be deterrnined bythe number of looking inserts. As regards the attaohment of the biasing means, thefasteing hooks are illustrated as a shark-tooth shaped element. HoWeVer, they may havedifferent shapes as long as it retains the biasing means. In general, the biasing meansoan be fastened to the tongue member and the tongue reoeiving member in many different Ways.

Claims (11)

1. An information display stand conf1gured to assume a first formation inwhich the stand is planar for storage or transportation, and a second forrnation in whichthe stand is expanded and capable of assuming an upright displaying position, said standhaving a center axis and comprising: at least two panels that are j oined together along respective edge portions, suchthat the stand in said second forrnation forrns a substantially tubular shape; and at least one elongated locking assembly arranged between the two panels, saidlocking assembly extending transversely with respect to said center axis and having itsrespective ends attached to the panels at said respective edge portions, said lockingassembly being configured to assume an extended form corresponding to said firstforrnation of said stand, and a retracted locking form corresponding to said secondforrnation of said stand; wherein said locking assembly comprises a tongue member and a receivingmember, the tongue member being in sliding connection within an opening of thereceiving member; wherein said locking assembly further comprises biasing means connected toand extending between of the tongue member and the receiving member, respectively; wherein the tongue member comprises stopping means configured to engagewith matching engagement means of the receiving member in said extended andretracted form of the locking assembly, said biasing means securing said engagement between said stopping means and said engagement means.

2. The information display stand according to claim 1, wherein the openingof said receiving member comprises a slit, said engagement means including twoopposite wall portions of said slit, wherein said stopping means of said tongue membercomprises opposite protrusions configured to engage with said slit wall portions in saidextended form of the locking assembly, and wherein said stopping means fiJrthercomprises opposite shoulders configured to engage with said slit wall portions in said retracted form of the locking assembly.

3. The information display stand according to claim 1 or 2, wherein thesliding connection between said tongue member and a tongue receiving area of saidreceiving member is substantially frictionless in that the distance between oppositesliding connection surfaces of the tongue receiving area of said receiving member islarger than the material thickness of said tongue member to be received in said tongue receiving area.

4. The information display stand according to claim 3, wherein thethickness of said tongue member is between 40-90 % of the distance between saidopposite sliding connection surfaces of said tongue receiving area of said receiving member, said thickness proportion preferably being 55-75%.

5. The information display stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing means comprises an elastic member.

6. The information display stand according to claim 5, wherein said elasticmember comprises a loop having a first portion attached to said receiving member, and a second portion attached to said tongue member.

7. The information display stand according to claim 6, wherein said firstportion of the loop is attached to a hook provided on said receiving member, and a second portion of the loop is attached to a hook provided on said tongue member.

8. The information display stand according to claim 7, wherein said hooksare formed in respective apertures provided in the tongue member and the receivingmember, respectively, said hooks having the shape of tip portions pointing away from each other along a longitudinal axis of said locking assembly.

9. The information display stand according to any one of claims 5-8, wherein said elastic member is made of rubber. ll

10. A locking assembly to be included in an two-panel information displaystand, said locking assembly comprising a tongue member and a receiving member, thetongue member being slidable Within an opening of the receiving member, Wherein saidlocking assembly further comprises biasing means connected to and extending betweenof the tongue member and the receiving member, respectively; Wherein the tonguemember comprises stopping means configured to engage With matching engagementmeans of the receiving member in said extended and retracted form of the lockingassembly, said biasing means securing said engagement between said stopping means and said engagement means.

11. The locking assembly according to claim 12, Wherein said locking assembly is formed from a one-piece a blank folded to the shape of an insert.