US2530950A

US2530950A - Collapsible cardboard display device

Info

Publication number: US2530950A
Application number: US60514A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ebert Ludwig; Jr Robert Benchley
Original assignee: EINSON FREEMAN CO Inc
Current assignee: EINSON FREEMAN CO Inc; EINSON-FREEMAN Co Inc
Priority date: 1948-11-17
Filing date: 1948-11-17
Publication date: 1950-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-21

Description

Nov. 2l, 1950 L. EBERT ETAL coLLAPsIBLE cARDBoARD DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1948 laan/16 Nov. 2l, 1950 L. EBERT ETAL 2,530,950

coLLAPsIBLE cARDoARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 17, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 21, 1950 coLnArsinpn oARDBoARD DISPLAY DEVICE Ludwig Ebert, New York, N. Y., and Robert Benchley, Jr., New Canaan, Conn., assignors to Ellison-Freeman Co., Inc., Long Island City, N9 Y.. a corporation 0f Delaware Application November 17, 1.948, Serial No. 60,514

2 Claims. (Cl. l0-4244) Our present invention relates generally to display devices and has particular reference to a collapsible cardboard display device intended primarily for use in store windows, on counters and the like.

It is a general object of the invention to provide certain improvements in the type of device in which an upright poster or its equivalent is supported at its lower end by a collapsible base structure of substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. More particularly, the structure to which outl present invention relates is of the kind in which a pair of supporting panels are hinged to the poster and diverge downwards, and a pair of nether bracing panels are hinged respectively to said supporting panels and converge upwards. The supporting panels are adapted toY swing atwise into superposed lrelation when the device is to be collapsed. They assume downwardly divergent supporting positions when the device is set up, and it is a feature of our invention to provide a means for limiting the extent of divergence, thus assuring a proper relationship of the parts when the` device is used.

The nether bracing panels have upper edges which are joined together along a hinge line, In accordance with our invention, a cut-out is provided which extends along part of this hinge line, and the poster is provided with an extension which projects downwardly through the cut-out. The poster extension is formed with an upwardlyfacing abutment which underlies the joined bracing panel edges. Preferably, the cut-out is medially arranged with respect to the hinge `line with which it is aligned, and the poster extension has a T-shaped part which extends through the cut-out. This interlocked relationship of parts would ordinarily make it imperative that the device be composed of at least two elements. However, a particular feature of our present invention lies in the design and arrangement of the parts in such a way that the entire structure may be formed, if desired, of a single blank of cardboard. This serves not only to simplify the manufacture, but also to obviate problems of alignment which have always heretofore arisen when a structure of this general character has been composed of two or more elements. i

Other features and objectives of the invention reside in the provision of a construction which is not only simple and inexpensive from a manufacturing standpoint, but which may be expeditiously adjusted between its collapsed and set-up conditions without requiring any special skill on the part of `the user.

We achieve the foregoing objects and advane tages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, the manner illustratively exemplified in the ELCQQm' panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown in set-uc condition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the single blank 0f cardboard ef which the device, of Fie 1 may be formed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sec.- tional view taken substantially along the line 3-.3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in their collapsed relationship;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a part of the base structure .of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a inodication;

Fig. '7 is a view similar` to Figs. 5 and f5, illustratillg another modiation; and

Fie.' 8 ,is a fragmentary plan, View of the blank of cardboard of which the device of Fie- '1 may be formed.

Referring first to Figs. 1-5. We have dieser to show an upright poster I0 which is substantially rectangular in shape. 'It is supported upon a collapsible base structure which consists of the downwardly divergent supporting panels I I and I2., and the upwardly convergent nether bracing panels I3 and I4. The supporting panels II and I 2 are hinged to the poster I 0 along the lines l5 and I6 respectively. The bracing panel I3 is hinged to the panel l I along the line l l, and the bracing` panell is similarly hinged to the panel I2 along the line I8. The panels I3 and I4 have upper edges which are hinged together along the hinge line I9. As a result of these hinged connections, the base structure can be adjusted from the set-up condition shown most clearly in Figs, l, 2 and 5 to the collapsed condition showinI in Fig. 4.

In accordance with our invention, the bracing panels I3 and I 4 are provided with a cut-out in alignment with the hinge line I 9. Preferably this cut-out is medially arranged. It is designated in the present drawings by the reference numeral 20. Extending downwardly through hit is a T- shaped par-t of a poster extension 2l. The stem of `the T lies between the parallel edges 22 which are spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the length of the cut-out 20. The crossbar of the -T defines upwardly facingshoulders or aloutments `23 which underlie the hinge line I9.

The upper marginal part of the poster extension 2| overlaps the lower margin of the poster I0. These overlapping layers are rigidly secured together during the initial manufacture of the device. We have illustratively shown staples 24 for accomplishing this purpose, but adhesive or other securing means may be employed if desired. It is to be noted that the securement is above the level of the hinge lines I5 and I6. Thus, the poster I and the poster extension 2I are rigidly interconnected at all times.

Extending between the upper edge 25 of the poster extension 2| and the upper edge I6 of the adjacent supporting panel I2 is a connecting panel 26. This panel is doubled upon the poster extension 2 I, and the staples 24 extend through it. The panel 2B is provided to facilitate the construction of the device from a single blank of cardboard. This blank is shown most clearly in Fig. 2 in which the parts hereinbefore described, and the hinge lines which separate them, are designated by corresponding reference numerals. It will be understood that the hinge lines may be formed in any suitable or appropriate manner, either by cut-scoring the cardboard blank, or by crease-scoring it. It will be noted that the panels II, I3, I4, I2 and 26, as well as the poster I8 itself and the poster extension 2 I, are successively adjacent parts of the single initial blank.

In manufacture, the blank shown in Fig. 2 is rst cut, shaped, and scored, and after the parts have been brought into their proper relationship, the staples 24 are applied to hold the structure in its assembled condition. In order to permit the cross-bar of the T (of the poster extension) to be brought beneath the hinge line I9, the cut-out 2@ is provided with an enlargement which extends laterally from the hinge line I9 and which is provided with a part out of alignment with the hinge line I8 and long enough to permit the cross-bar of the T to pass through it. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-5, the cut-out enlargement is provided with the part 2T which is parallel to but offset from the hinge line I9, and which has a length suiicient to permit the cross-bar of the T to pass through it. Thus, in assembling the structure during course of manufacture, the T- shaped part of the poster extension 2l is first passed through the cut-out part 21, then brought into the position shown in Fig. 5. The staples 24 or other fastening instrumentalities are then applied to hold the parts in assembled relationship.

In Fig. 6, a modified structure is shown which is in so many respects identical with that hereinbefore described, that corresponding reference numerals have been applied, each with the qualifying symbol a.

The structure of Fig. 6 is different from that of Fig. in that the bracing panel I3a is provided with a pair of tongues 28 (only one shown in Fig. 6, the other being at the opposite end of the structure) which project into the cut-out enlargement so as to embrace the edge portions 22a. of the poster extension. It has been found that these tongues help to hold the parts in proper relationship during the collapsing and setting up of the structure when it is used. The provision of the tongues 28 makes it necessary to provide corresponding notches 29 in the T-shaped part of the poster extension, so that during the initial assembly of the device, the tongues 28 may pass through the notches 29 when-they are aligned therewith. This occurs during the act of passing the cross-bar of the T through the cut-out part 4 21a and then shifting it back so that it lies beneath the hinge line I9a.

In Figs. '7 and 8, the structure is similar to that shown in Figs. 1-5, except for the shape of the cut-out enlargement. Accordingly, the same reference numerals have been applied in this case, except that each reference numeral is accompanied by the qualifying designation b.

In the structure of Figs. 7 and 8, the cut-out 2012 which is aligned with the hinge line I9b is provided with an enlargement which extends laterally in both directions. It is provided with a part 2lb which intersects the hinge line |92) at an oblique angle, and which is long enough to permit passage through it of the cross-bar of the T- shaped part of the poster extension 2 Ib. In assembling this structure, the T-shaped part of the poster extension is first twisted slightly askew, then passed through the cut-out part 2lb, then allowed to assume its normal position, thus bringing the abutments 231) directly beneath the hinge line I9b. With the parts in this relationship, staples or other fastening means (corresponding to the elements 24 of Fig. 1) are applied.

In each of the structures shown and illustrated, the assembling of the parts during manufacture may be achieved expeditiously and without requiring any special skill or care; and the parts of the device are accurately aligned in predetermined relationship when the assembly has been completed. The finished structure is easy to use, sturdy, and the upright poster is retained in an accurate vertical plane at all times by the guiding action of the T-shaped part of the poster extension in its relation to the cut-out through which it extends.

It will be understood that the term poster as used herein and in the appended claims is intended to include within its scope any display area or part which is supported by the collapsed base structure shown.

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may readily make changes in the details herein described and illustrated, without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z l. A collapsible cardboard display device comprising an upright poster, a pair of supporting panels hinged to said poster and diverging downwards, a pair of nether bracing panels hinged respectively to said supporting panels and converging upwards, said bracing panels having upper edges which are joined together along a hinge line and provided with a cut-out extending along part of said hinge line, and a poster eX- tension projecting downwardly through said cutout and provided with an upwardly-facing abutment underlying the joined bracing panel edges to limit the extent of spread of said bracing panels, said poster extension having an upper margin which overlaps the poster and is rigidly secured thereto above the line along which said supporting panels are hinged to said poster.

2. A collapsible cardboard display device comprising an upright poster, a pair of supporting panels hinged to said poster and diverging downwards, a pair of nether bracing panels hinged respectively to said supporting panels and converging upwards, said bracing panels having upper edges Which are joined together along a REFERENCES CTED The following references are' of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,144,341 Anderson June 29, 1915 1,430,735 Goes Oct. 3, 1922 10 2,311,218 Fandrch Feb. 16, 1943