US2466599A

US2466599A - Foldable display panel with collapsible support

Info

Publication number: US2466599A
Application number: US517791A
Authority: US
Inventors: James L Larkin
Original assignee: FORBES LITHOGRAPH Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: FORBES LITHOGRAPH Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1944-01-11
Filing date: 1944-01-11
Publication date: 1949-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 1966-04-05

Description

April 5, 1949- J. 1.. LARKIN 2,466,599

FOLDABLE DISPLAY PANEL WITH COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 11, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I raven/Z02.- J0: mesl'll azficz'n byfily g 10 r2432;

April 5, 1.949., J. L. LARKIN 2,466,599-

FOLDABLE DISPLAY PANEL WITH COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 April s, 1949. J. L. LARKIN I 2,466,599

FOLDABLE DISPLAY PANEL WITH COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT Invenior: v JamsLl) (12%; n.

213 a, a M Wm Zia? E8 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 ,1 NI'I'ED star EF FOLDABLE DISPLAY PANEL WITH COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT Application January 11, 1944, Serial No. 517,791

Claims. 1

This invention relates to displays such as are commonly used in store windows, etc., and which embody a panel suitably decorated as with an attractive picture and with or without accessories supported on the panel, such as auxiliary representations or actual samples of commodities. Such panels are ordinarily provided with an easel or similar support for-holding them in an upright position. They are frequently of large dimension such as might suitably be given in terms of feet.

To insure the delivery of the panel in good condition to the user it is necessary to protect the same in transit even although it itself is of heavy cardboard. It has been usual hitherto to provide a separate shipping box of fiberboard or the like.

In accordance with my invention I provide a display comprising a foldable panel and a collapsible support, which latter in erected form serves to hold the panel in upright extended position, the support and panel being proportioned for collocation when collapsed as a flat packet with the folded panel between the parts of the support to be covered and protected thereby throughout its area on both sides. Such a packet requires a mere wrapping of paper to make a shipping package which will insure delivery of the decorated panel to the user in good condition.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing the folded panel housed within the collapsed support and requiring merely a paper wrapping to prepare it for shipment;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the support in erected form;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, of Fig. 2, somewhat enlarged;

Fig. 4 is a back view in perspective of the panel extended;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the back of the display as erected for use on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail section, somewhat enlarged, of the lower part of Fig. 5 in the plane of one of the sides Fig. 7 is a transverse section through Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a back view in perspective of a modified form, erected in display position; and

Fig. 9 isa detail section, somewhat enlarged, of

panel, stiflens the upper edge.

the lower part of Fig. 8 in the plane of one of the sides.

In the drawings the panel has been designated as a whole by the reference letter P and the support by the reference letter S. Referring particularly to Figs. l and 5, the panel P is a sheet of suitable heavy cardboard bearing the matter to be displayed on its front face, not seen in the drawings, and divided by one or more transverse fold lines ill into strips I2 capable of being folded together in superposed relation to provide a flat packet as seen in Fig. l. The end portions of the strips Ill may have vertical fold lines Hi defining the lateral flange portions it which when the parts are erected (see Figs. 5 and 7) may be folded rearwardly to provide stiffening flanges for the extended panel. A similar flange I8 may be provided at the upper end of the panel which, bent more or less to the rear out of the plane of the The construction of panel as so far described is not in itself new.

The collapsible support S for the panel is constructed of heavy fiberboard and, when erected, forms a prismatic column (see Fig. 5), hereina triangular prism and therefore of indeformable cross section. As best seen in Fig. 2, the support S comprises two sides 2!} hinged together along two of their edges corresponding to the vertex of a triangle and provided at opposite edges of the sides with the flanges 22 and 2G adapted to overlap and to be interlocked (see Fig. 3) by opposed slots in the edges thereof mutually interengaging in the manner of a halving joint to form a relatively short base for the triangle. The result is a hollow rigid column. When the

flanges

22 and 2 1 are disengaged, they may be turned inwardly between the sides 29 which fold in a superposition to form a folio. The strips it of the panel P are of no greater dimension than these sides 20 so that the folded panel may be received within said folio in the manner illustrated in Fig. l to be covered and protected thereby throughout its area on either side. The collapsed elements when so collocated, as seen in Fig. 1, form together a flat packet which may be enclosed in a paper wrapping to form a shipping package and in which the support S, which is not on view When the display is erected in use, protects the more readily damaged panel against breakage, bending or abrasion.

To use the display the support S is erected in the manner shown in Fig. 2 and placed in position with the side herein formed by the

flanges

22 and 2 3 opposed to the back of the panel and traversing the fold lines it]. The twoparts may then be secured together at either end of the column. The column serves to hold the panel extended, acting in the manner of a cleat across the folds I0, and it also, as seen in Fig. 5, is a support in the nature of an easel to hold the extended panel upright.

In the embodiment of the invention shown the lower ends of the sides 20 at the rear (see Fig. are provided with diagonal fold lines defining fiat portions 26 which may be folded outwardly to form feet contributing to the stability of the structure, while the diagonal position of the fold lines provides a suitable rearward inclination to the support, as shown in Fig. 5. Forward of these flaps the sides are cut away to provide tongues 28 (see Fig. 6) which interlock with slots 30 formed in a rearwardly foldable section 32 at the lower edge of the panel P. The edges of this section may also be provided with notches 34 in line with the slots to embrace the cut-away edges of the sides rearwardly of the tongues 28. By the means described or their equivalents the section 32 is positioned in intersecting relation to the sides 20.

In-the embodiment of the invention shown the means for securing the panel at the upper end of the column is different from that at the lower end and comprises a piece 36 secured to the back of the uppermost strip I 2 of the panel and having a rearwardly unfolding free flap shaped to present inwardly facing hook-like tongues 38 (see Fig. '7) adapted to extend at either side of the columnar l support S and enter slots formed in the sides 20.

We may suppose that the user receives the display in knock-down form as a flat packet in a paper wrapping. The wrapping being removed, the parts are as shown in Fig. 1. The panel is taken out from the support which encloses the same and is laid out flat, face downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, while the support is folded up into prismatic form, as shown in Fig. 2, and secured by interlocking the

flanges

22 and 24. The support is then placed with the base of the triangle down, that is, inverted from the position shown in Fig. 2, against the back of the extended panel as shown in Fig. 4, the upper end of the prism entering the space between the hooks 38. The bottom flange 32 is folded up and the slots 30 are engaged over the tongues 28. The hooks 38 are folded rearwardly and their points entered through the slots in the sides 20 of the support S as illustrated in Fig. 5. The feet 26, if present, are bent outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5 and the structure stood up as shown in that figure. The flanges I6 and I8, if present,

are bent rearwardly to stiffen the margins of the panel and the display is ready for exhibition.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 parts corresponding generally in structure or function to those of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 7 are designated by the same'reference numeral increased by 100. Thus the panel P has one or more fold lines IIO defining the strips I I2 corresponding to the strips I2 between the fold lines I0 in Fig. 5.

The support S has sides I20 which form a folio of sufficient size to receive between them the collapsed panel with the strips II2 folded together in superposition and, in the erected position shown in the drawing, these two sides extend dihedrally in a position corresponding to adjacent sides of a triangular prism with the third side along the .back of the extended panel. The edges of these sides I20 remote from the hinge line between them may be provided with flanges I22 and I24 inthe arrangement shown in Fig. 8 these are 1 not directly connected together to form a third side of the prism. They may be folded into the plane of the back of the extended panel, as illustrated in the drawings, herein outwardly, and their edges may be tucked under tabs I38 formed by the unattached edge portions of strips secured to the back of the panel and providing a triotional clamping device for holding the flanges with the sides I20 angularly disposed.

To further secure together the panel and the support and to aid in maintaining the flanges engaged under the tabs I38 the panel may be provided with a rearwardly folding bottom section I32 which when so folded rearwardly intersects the sides I20 and herein the sides are provided with slots I21 into which the section I32 enters and (see Fig. 9) one wall of the slot is here shown as provided with a projection I28 to jam frictionally against the section I32 to aid in relatively positioning the parts, This is a frictional engagement, whereas in Fig. 6 thecorresponding projection 28 is sufliciently long to enter a slot 30 to provide a positive engagement.

The sides I20 are shown in Fig. 8 as provided with diagonal fold lines providing portions I25 foldable outwardly to form feet like the feet 26 in Fig. 5.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which I desir to secure by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A display comprising a panel having transverse fold lines defining strips foldable together in superposed relation to provide a flat packet and a separable support comprising sides of a length as great as the width of the panel and a width as great as that of said strips to receive between them when folded into opposition the packet aforesaid, the length of the sides of the support being such as to permit them to extend along the back of the panel across said fold lines, and inter-engaging means at the ends of said sides and adjacent the upper and lower ends of the panel respectively serving to position the support with its sides angularly disposed as a prismatic column along the back of the panel and crossing the fold lines of the same. I

2. A display comprising as separable units a support of sheet material comprising a pair of vertical sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition and a panel comprising a number of foldably connected strips of no greater dimension than the sides whereby the panel with its strips folded together may be housed between the sides of the support as a flat packet, and means for detachably securing together the extended panel and the support with the sides of the latter dihedrally disposed behind the former and crossing the fold lines thereof.

3. A display comprising as separable units a support of sheet material comprising a pair of verticalsides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition and a panel comprising a number of foldably connected strips of no greater dimension than said sides, and means for securing the extended panel to the erected support with the latter crossing the fold line between the strips and with its sides extending rearwardly from the extended panel, and means for interengaging the erected support with the extended panel which, when interengaged, positions in spaced relation said sides of the support at a pair of edges other than the edges where they are hinged together.

4. A display comprising as separable units a support of sheet material comprising a pair of vertical sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition, said sides including portions foldable laterally therefrom to provide feet for the support in the latter position, and a panel comprising a number of foldably connected strips of no greater dimension than said sides, and means for securing the extended panel to the erected support with the latter crossing the fold lines between the strips and with its sides extending rearwardly from the extended panel, and means for interengaging the erected support with the extended panel which, when interengaged, positions in spaced relation said sides of the support at a pair of edges other than the edges where they are hinged together.

5. A display comprising a support of sheet material comprising a pair of vertical sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition and a panel comprising a number of f-oldably connected strips of no greater dimension than said sides, and means for securing the extended panel to the erected support with the latter crossing the fold lines between the strips and with its sides extending rearwardly from the extended panel in angular relation one to another, said means comprising at at least one end of the display an edge portion of the panel foldable as a rearwardly extending flange to intersect the sides of the support, the flange and sides having conformations for retaining them together in such intersecting relation.

6. A display comprising a collapsible prismatic supporting column of sheet material including two sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition and having foldable flanges at the other edges with provision for looking them together to provide a third side, a panel comprising a number of relatively foldable strips of no greater dimension than said sides, and tongue and slot connections for securing the unfolded panel at said third side of the column with the fold lines between the strips transverse to the height of the column comprising elements cut from said sides and elements associated with the panel to fold rearwardly therefrom to connect with the former.

'7. A display comprising as separable units a support of sheet material comprising a pair of vertical sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into super-position and a panel comprising a number of foldably connected strips of no greater dimension than the sides whereby the panel with its strips folded together may be housed between the sides of the support as a flat packet, and means for detachably securing together the extended panel and the support with the sides of the latter dihedrally disposed behind the former and crossing the fold lines thereof including hook-like members hinged at the rear of the panel and adapted to be engaged with the angularly disposed sides.

8. A display comprising as separable units a support of sheet material comprising a pair of vertical sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition and a panel comprising a number of foldably connected strips of no greater dimension than the sides whereby the panel with its strips folded together may be housed between the sides of the support as a flat packet, and means for detachably securing together the extended panel and the support with the sides of the latter dihedrally disposed behind the former and crossing the fold lines thereof comprising flanges at the edges of said sides remote from those which are hinged together, which flanges fold into the plane of the extended panel, the back of the panel having tabs beneath which the flanges tuck when the sides are angularly disposed.

9. A display comprising as separable units a support of sheet material comprising a pair of vertical sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition and a panel comprising a number of foldably connected strips of no greater dimension than the sides whereby the panel with its strips folded together may be housed between the sides of the support as a flat packet, and means for detachably securing together the extended panel and the support with the sides of the latter dihedrally disposed behind the former and crossing the fold lines thereof comprising flanges at the edges of said sides remote from those which are hinged together, which flanges fold into the plane of the extended panel, the back of the panel having elements thereon with unattached edges forming tabs beneath which the flanges tuck when the sides are angularly disposed.

10. A display comprising as separable units a support of sheet material comprising a pair of vertical sides hingedly connected along one pair of edges to fold into superposition and a panel comprising a number of foldably connected strips of no greater dimension than the sides whereby the panel with its strips folded together may be housed between the sides of the support as a flat packet, and means for detachably securing together the extended panel and the support with the sides of the latter dihedrally disposed behind the former and crossing the fold lines thereof comprising flanges at the edges of said sides remote from those which are hinged together, which flanges fold into the plane of the extended panel, and means for clamping the flanges against the back of the panel with the sides in angular relation.

JAMES L. LARKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 815,235 Trum Mar. 13, 1906 1,603,622 Marsh Oct. 19, 1926 1,745,328 Ziemmerman Jan. 28, 1930 1,863,594 Glende June 21, 1932 1,890,258 Hinson Dec, 6, 1932