US2231091A - Display device - Google Patents

Description

11,1941 L. w. SAULSBURY 2,231,091

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 25,-. 1937 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Application June 23, 1937,Serial No. 149,821

Claims.

The present invention is concerned with merchandise displays, and more particularly with such devices made of cardboard or like material,

and serving chiefly for counter orlshowcase display of small units or packages.

While the invention is shown applied for sales display of pencil lead packages, it is also useful for like purpose with packages for pencils, fountain pens, crayons, chewing gum, candy, tooth brushes and the like, and also. for unpackaged articles of corresponding shape, such I as erasers, sticks of sealing wax and the like.

An object of the invention is toprovide a display rack, made from a simple inexpensive cardboard blank, which may be shipped in flat knocked-down condition, and which may readily be set up without the exercise of skill, or the use of tools, staples, rivets, pins or adhesive, to make up a merchandise display of attractive and distinctive appearance.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type, for displaying a multiplicity of packages in such a way, as to expose themto substan- I tially full view, and to permit the easy successive dispensing thereof by a simple. manipulation applied at a singleejecting station while rendering it difiicult for said packages to be shoplifted, all without impairment of the attractiveness of the display, whether it is fully charged with theunits or packages, or partly empty.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of thedisplay device containing a plurality of stacked packages, one of said packages being shown in the process of being discharged from the device;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the display device;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sections taken on line 3-3, 4--4 and 5-5 respectively of "Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a rear View of the display device;

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on line 'I'! of Fig.

. 45 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of the lower portion of the display device shown in empty condition, and on a reduced scale; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the blank from which thedisplay device is formed.

= Referring now to the drawing, the display rack comprises a rear panel II, having its'upper portion preferably decorated and printed withadvertising matter, a pair of contiguous base sections I2 and I3, a pair of spaced rectangular side pocket pieces I4 and I5 connected to the front of said panel for retaining packages I6 therebetween, and advantageously a rectangular loop strap H for holding the packages of a rear stack against displacement with respect to a second stack infront of said strap. These packages are shown of the type containing pencil leads to be used in mechanical pencils, but as far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned'they may contain any other articles or units of merchanm dise, such as those previously referred to.

The pocket pieces I4 and I5 include top walls 2!], extending forwardly from the rear panel I I, front panels 2| extending parallel to said rear panel, and outer or end walls '22 and 23 respectively, forming end abutments for all of said packages IIi, except the bottom row thereof. The bottom ed e of the outer end wall'23 of thepocket piece I5 'is spaced above thebase sectionI'2 to form an opening 24 the full width of said end wall, and has a semi-circular cut-out 24a to'permit easy insertion of a finger through saidiopening. The end wall 22 of the other pocket'piece I 4 has a flap 1Z5, hinged at the bottom thereof and swingable into position to expose a discharge port 25 the full width of said wall, so that the'bottom packages Ifi fromeither stack may be discharged therethrough when pushed through by T'fin'ger manipulation at the'openingM.

The loop strap I'I includes an upper pa'rtZS, extending forwardly from the rear panel I I, and a front panel 21 substantially parallel to saidrear panel and disposed midway between the front panels 2| of the pocket pieces I l and I5, and the rear panel I I. v Extending rearwardly from the sides of the rear panel II isa pair of'wing flaps 28 forming easel supports for the display rack;

Although as far as certain aspectsof the present invention are concerriedthe display rack may be of molded material, or be made compositely of sheet material, it is advantageously formed from a single blank of cardboard or similar comparatively stiff bendable material, shaped, slitted and scored as shown in Fig. 9. This blank comprises in general a main panelsection A, forming the rear panel II of the display rack, and a pair of side sections B and C, connected to said main panel section respectively by score "lines '29, extending in alinement with the outer side edges'of said mainpanel section.

The mainpanel section A is provided with four parallelsli-tstl, 32, 33 and 34, extending length- We of the blank, and having their upper ends at the same level. The lower ends of the two outer slits 3| and 34 are at the same level, and extend below the lower level ends of the two slits 32 and 33. Spaced above the lower ends of these slits 32 and 33, and extending respectively between the slits 3| and 32, and between the slits 33 and 34 are the alined transverse score lines 35 along which the lower portion of the blank is forwardly folded to form the base sections I2 and I3.

The pair of slits 32 and 33 is disposed centrally with respect to the sides of the blank, and form therebetween the loop strap IT. For that purpose these slits 32 and 33 are interconnected transversely at their upper ends by a score line 36,- below said score line by a score line 31, and at their lower ends by a score line 38. The portion of the blank between the slits 32 and. 33 is folded forwardly along the score line 36 to form the upper part 26 of the loop strap I1, and along the score lines 31 and 38 to form the front panel. 21.

The portions of the blanks between the side slits 3| and 34, and the sides of the main panel section A respectively, form the upper walls and front panels of the pocket pieces I4 and I5. For that purpose these slits 3| and 34 are connected transversely to the nearest sides of the main panel A respectively by score lines 42 at their upper ends, score lines 43 disposed below said score lines 42 a distance equal to twice the distance between the two score lines 36 and 31, and score lines 44 disposed below the score lines 35 a distance equal to the distance between the score lines 42 and 43.

The portions of the blank between the slits 3| and 34, and the sides of the main panel section A are folded forwardly along the score lines 42 to form the upper walls 26 of the pocket pieces I4 and I5, and along the score lines 43 and 44 'to form the front panels 2| of said pocket pieces.

The side blank sections B and 0 form the end walls 22 and 23 of the pocket pieces I4 and I5 respectively, the easel supports 28, and the means for interlocking the various sections of the display stand in setup condition. For that purpose the side section B has a score line 46 parallel the adjoining score line 29, to form the end wall 22 of the pocket piece I4, and the upper edge of said wall between said score lines extends score line 46 and the adjoining score line 29 respectively, and interconnected at their upper ends by a score line 48, defining therebelow the closure fiap 25 and forming a hinged connection for said flap.

The side section C has a score line 50 parallel to the adjoining score line 29 and defining with said score line 29 the end wall 23 of the pocket piece I5. 'The upper edge of this end wall section 23 extends in alinement with the score line 43, and its lower edge is spaced above the score line 44 to define the opening 24 and is provided with the semi-circular cut-out 24a for the purpose already described.

The side sections B and C of the blank are folded rearwardly along the score lines 29 to form the end walls 22 and 23 of the pocket pieces I4 and I5 respectively.

In order to provide means for interlocking the various sections of the stand into setup condition, the side sections B and C are provided on their upper ends and on opposite sides thereof beyond the score lines 46 and 50 with a pair of extensions 5| respectively which are foldable longitudinally along said score lines to define the upper rear edges of the end walls 22 and 23 of the pocket pieces, and which are provided at their lower edges with notches 52 to form rectangular tongues 53. These blank extensions 5| are folded inwardly along the score lines 46 and 50 so that said extensions lap the rear side of the panel II as shown in Fig. 6, and the tongues 53 are inserted downwardly into rectangular slots 54, having downwardly extending end slits 55 to afford a tongue 56 therebetween for resiliently and frictionally engaging the tongues 53 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

- Also extending beyond the score lines 46 and 50 of the side blank sections B and C are the wing flaps 28, which are separated from the flaps 5I by the slits 51, and which are hinged along said score lines 46 and 50 to permit said wing flaps to be folded slightly inwardly and out of view when the stand is. in display position.

In setting up the blank and loading the. packages I6 in their proper position on the folded blank, the blank is first folded in position to form the top walls 20 and the front panels 2|, of the pocket pieces I4and I5 and the upper end 26 and the front panel 21 of the strap loop II in the manner already described. Before bending the side portion of the blank beyond the score lines 29, and while the-sides of the pocket pieces I4 and I5 are open, the packages I6 are Inserted lengthwisethrough the open sides of said pocket pieces, first through the strap loop I! until the rear stack has been formed, and then in front of the loop strap I! to form the front stack. The side sections B and C of the blank are then folded rearwardly along the score lines 29 as already described, to form the end walls 22 and 23 of the pocket pieces I4 and I5 respectively and inwardly along the score lines 46 and 50 to lock the tongues 53 into the slots 54, and to provide the easel supports 28 for the stand.

The front base section I3 is preferably bendable along a score line 60, interconnecting the two score lines 44, so that by bending said front base section I3 with respect to the rear base section I2, and by adjusting the angular position of the easel supports 28 with respect to the sides of the stand, said stand may have any desired tilt within a limited range.

In the ordinary operation of dispensing from the display stand, the 'front'stack is first dispensed successively from the bottom of the stand as shown in Fig. 1. As'each package I6 from the bottom as a stack is pushed through the discharge opening the closure fiap 25 will yield outwardly as shown in Fig. 1, and when said package is completely discharged; said flap will immediately return to closure position with respect to said discharge opening, and the remainder'of the stack will drop bygravity topresent another package in discharge position. As the front'stack of packages is dispensed from the stand, the rear stack becomes exposed to view. The exposed surfaces of the loop strap I! are preferably colored or decorated so that the ornamental attractiveness of the stand will not be diminished by the removal of the front stack.

The packages from the rear stack may be dispensed from the bottom of said stack by the same process that was employed in dispensing from the front stack. As these packages are successively removed from. the display stand, there is exposed the sections of the rear panel between the pocket pieces I4 and I5 and the loop strap I'I, said sections being preferably colored or decorated to match the loop strap l1,' so that the stand will retain itsornamental appearance, even after the packages have been completely discharged from 5 the rear stack.

, It is seen therefore that the display stand may be set up from a single blank, and secured in setup condition without the use of any special fastening means, except for the use of tongue and slot connections. Furthermore, the stand has a highly ornamental and attractive appearance which immediately attracts attention thereto, said ornamental appearance being retained even after most of the packages displayed thereon have been dispensed or discharged. Furthermore, the dispensing of the packagesfrom the stand is effected by a simple finger manipulation, without effecting the disorderly disarrangement of the packages. Also the containers can not be lifted from the stand, but can only be dispensed therefrom by the manipulation referred to, so that the possibility of shoplifting the packages from the stand is substantially minimized.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described a device in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which device in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

80 As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above 35 description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 40 ent is:

1. A display device including a rear panel, a base extending forwardly thereof and a pair of side pocket pieces comprising front panel sections longitudinally slit from the plane of said 45 rear panel and transversely bent out of the plane thereof, rising from said base and having a horizontal top wall connected to the rear panel, each of said pocket pieces having also an end wall unitary therewith and extending from said base 50 to the corresponding top wall and attached to said rear panel, said pocket pieces being adapted toholdtherebetween a stack of merchandise units extending at their ends into said pocket pieces and bridging therebetween over the tops of 55 which stacks the top walls of the respective side pocket pieces extend.

2. A display device including a rear panel, a base extending forwardly thereof and a pair of side pocket pieces comprising front panel sec- 50 tions longitudinally slit from the plane of said rear pan-e1 and transversely bent out of the plane thereof and rising from said base, each of said pocket pieces having an end wall unitary therewith and attached to said rear panel, one of said 5 pieces being provided on its end wall near the bottom with a discharge port, the other piece being provided on its end wall near the bottom with an opening to permit the insertion of a finger, whereby merchandise units disposed in stack 70 formation between the side pocket pieces may be pushed successively endwise through said discharge port.

3. A one piece display stand including a rear upstanding panel, a base extending forwardly 75 thereof, a pair of side pocket pieces adapted to hold a stack of merchandise units therebetween, each of said side pieces comprising a front panel bent upwardly from said base, an end wall unitary with one of said panels and attached to the other, said pockets being arranged in rectan- 5 gular relationship, each of said pockets having a top wall unitary with and directly connecting the top of the front panel to the rear panel, one of said end walls having a discharge port near the bottom thereof through which the units may 10 be successively discharged, and the other end wall also having an opening near the bottom thereof to permit the insertion of a finger by means of which said units may be pushed endwise through said discharge port. 15

4. A display device made from a single blank and including an upstanding rear panel, a base extending forwardly of said panel, a pair of side pocket pieces connected to said panel for holding a stack of merchandise units therebetween, and 20 extending upwardly from said base and comprising front panels and end walls, extensions extending rearwardly from said end walls, said extensions being transversely interrupted for the lower portions thereof to form easel supports for 25 said stand and the upper portions thereof to form retaining flaps for the respective pocket pieces by attachment thereof to the rear panel.

5. A display device comprising a unitary blank including an upstanding rear panel, a base extending forwardly of said panel, a pair of side pocket pieces connected to said rear panel each including a front panel and an end wall and adapted to hold a pair of stacks of merchandise units therebetween, and a loop strap upstanding from said base between said side pieces spaced from the rear panel by a distance less than the fronts of said side pieces for holding one of said stacks against said rear panel.

6. In combination, a display device made from a single blank and including a rear panel, a base, and a loop strap integral at its ends with said rear panel and said base respectively and extending substantially in rectangular relationship with respect to said rear panel and said base, and adapted to retain a plurality of merchandise units in stacked relationship against said rear panel and passing horizontally through said loop strap, said blank having means to encompass the ends of such merchandise units.

7. A display device comprising a unitary blank including an upstanding rear panel, a base extending forwardly of said panel, a pair of side pocket pieces connected to said panel, and adapted to hold a stack of merchandise units therebetween, said side pieces each including a front panel, a loop-strap upstanding from said base between said side pieces and spaced rearwardly of said front panel to hold said stack against said rear panel and to separate said latter stack from a stack of units disposed in front of said loop strap and behind said front panels.

8. A display stand formed from a single blank and including an upstanding rear panel, a pair of side pocket pieces for holding a stack of merchandise units therebetween, each of said pieces including a front panel, a top and an end wall, one of said end walls having a discharge port at the bottom thereof and the other end wall having an opening near the bottom topermit the insertion of a finger therethrough, whereby the pieces may be discharged endwise successively through said discharge port, an upstanding loop strap between said side pieces for holding a stack of merchandise units against said rear panel, flaps unitary with said end walls extending'beyond the rearward edges of the same and interlocked with said rear panel, and a pair of winged extensions extending rearwardly from said rearward edges and forming easel supports for said stand.

9. A blank for use in a display device comprising a main body portion adapted to form a rear panel for said display device, said blank being provided with a longitudinal slit near each side of said blank, and a plurality of transverse score lines extending outwardly from said slits along which the blank is adapted to be folded to ,form a pair of side pocket pieces having front panels, and a pair of extensions connected by score lines to said front panel sections and foldable along said latter score lines to form end walls for said pocket pieces, said end walls being foreshortened at their lower ends to afford removal openings.

10. A blank for use in a display device comprising a main body portion adapted to for'mth rear panel of the display device, said blank being provided with a slit near each side of said blank, and a plurality of transverse score lines extending outwardly from said slits along which the blank is adapted to be fold-ed to form a pair of side pocket pieces having front panels, a pair of extensions connected by score lines to said front panel sections and foldable along said latter score lines to form the end walls of the pocket pieces, saidend walls being foreshortened at their lower ends to afford removal openings, said end walls having extensions each comprising two sections, one for interlocking the corresponding pocket with the rear panel at a corresponding slot in the latter, and the other for forming an easel support for said device.

LAWRENCE WILSON SAULSBURY.

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