US3726412A

US3726412A - Collapsible display device

Info

Publication number: US3726412A
Application number: US00158263A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Resnicoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-06-30
Filing date: 1971-06-30
Publication date: 1973-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-10

Abstract

A display device constructed from a blank of foldable sheet stock having formed therein a plurality of spaced, vertical fold lines and a plurality of spaced, discontinuous horizontal slits which cross the vertical fold lines. The spaced, horizontal slits divide the blank into sections and adjacent sections are folded in opposite directions along the vertical fold lines to subdivide each of the sections into a plurality of panels which zig-zag in a direction opposite to the panels of the adjacent section and form intersections. At these intersections, short vertical fold lines are formed which are parallel to the spaced vertical fold lines. The ends of the discontinuous, horizontal slits have oppositely directed L-shaped slits or diagonal slits to join the short vertical fold lines and form hinge connections for panels of adjacent sections.

Description

United States Patent [191 Resnicoff Apr. 10, 1973 COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE [22] Filed: June 30, 1971 .[211 Appl. No.: 158,263

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,231 7/1936 Storch ..2l1/135 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. AttorneyMorton Amster et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A display device constructed from a blank of foldable sheet stock having formed therein a plurality of spaced, vertical fold lines and a plurality of spaced, discontinuous horizontal slits which cross the vertical fold lines. The spaced, horizontal slits divide the blank into sections and adjacent sections are folded in opposite directions along the vertical fold lines to subdivide each of the sections into a plurality of panels which zig-zag in a direction opposite to the panels of the adjacent section and form intersections. At these intersections, short vertical fold lines are formed which are parallel to the spaced vertical fold lines. The ends of the discontinuous, horizontal slits have oppositely directed L-shaped slits or diagonal slits to join the short vertical fold lines and form hinge connections for panels of adjacent sections.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED AFR 1 01973 m" To I E Wm 17 IR W Y E L m T s ATTORNEYS.

COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE The present invention relates generally to display devices and, more particularly, to a collapsible display device composed of cardboard or equivalent foldable sheet stock.

The overall object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved construction for display devices and decor items, made from a single flat blank of sheet material, which is merely folded and cut to attain a onepiece honey-comb formation, without the use of any adhesive, clip, clamp, staple, rivet or other extraneous fastening or hinge means, and which for transit or storage purposes, is collapsible to a compact configura tion or fully unfoldable to a flat form.

Another object thereof is to provide novel and improved honey-comb constructions of the character mentioned, in which the panels of adjacent accordion pleated sections intersect between their ends, and are joined by hinge connections formed from the single flat blank itself.

A further object thereof is to provide that such hinge connections do not protrude from the front surfaces of the panels so that the entire front surfaces of the panels may each have pasted thereto articles, such as a sheet exhibit, which will not only cover and hide the joint connection, but will not impair the foldability of the accordion pleating.

A further object of the invention is to provide that the display device may have end sections which enhance the appearance and sturdiness of the structure and such end sections may be the parts held in hand to effect folding and unfolding of the device by accordion wise manipulation.

Another object thereof is to provide a display device which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture requiring only simple die cutting to slit and score the blank of sheet material in the required arrangement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel and improved honey-comb constructions for display devices and articles of decor, of the character set forth, having the stated attributes, and which are simple to make, use and manipulate, and which are efficient in carrying out the purposes for which they are designed.

Briefly, in accordance with the principles of my invention, there is provided a display device having a honey-comb structure which is constructedby folding a single rectangular blank of stiff cardboard material, provided with a plurality of spaced, vertical fold lines and a plurality of spaced horizontal, discontinuous slits; each main fold line being crossed by a horizontal slit so the slit ends extend to the mid-points between successive main fold lines. In the space midway between proximate ends of successive slits, which is also midway between two main fold lines, the blank is provided with a short scored vertical fold line parallel to the main fold lines, with its midpoint on the horizontal line of slits it crosses. The ends of proximate slits continue in L- shaped directions and extend respectively to the ends of the short vertical fold lines between them. The blank is folded zig-zag along its main score. lines thereby forming accordion pleated sections, but the folding is done so that the panels of successive sections cross each other as in a lazy tongs. Such crossings form a hinge connection between intersecting panels of successive sections; the short fold lines serving as the axes vided with slits and scored fold lines in a prescribed arof such hinge connections. For a sturdy structure, the blank has end parts, each of which has an unbent portion extending from top to bottom, and connecting the pleated sections, as will be explained. Platforms for displaying various articles may be provided by inserting in chosen compartments of the honey-comb formation, horizontally-positioned rectangular tubes of paperboard material which are foldable to a flat configuration when apart from the honey-comb.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the display device of the present invention having a honey-comb structure made of a foldable sheet material;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of another honey-comb structure of this invention, showing a modified end;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a collapsible rectangular tube member which may be inserted in the honeycomb form to provide a display platform and lock the hinge connections of the structure adjacent thereto.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a blank for making the display device of the present invention; 7

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front view of a blank for making these honey-comb forms with hinge means of modified construction;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the blank shown in FIG. 5, and particularly, the portion directed to the hinge structure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an enlarged fragment of the honey-comb structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and in particular, the portion of the blank as illustrated in FIG. 7, forming a hinge means connecting crossing panels of adjacent sections;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the blank shown in FIG. 6, and particularly illustrates the modified hinge structure;

FIG. 10 is a view akin to FIG. 8, showing how the modified hinge structure of FIG. 9 becomes the hinge means; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of reduced scale, showing an end section scheme for a honey-comb structure of many pleated sections.

Referring now to the drawing, a structure embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 15. It is made by merely folding the prepared stiff paperboard rectangular blank, denoted generally by therefe'rence numeral 16, which is prorangement. When the blank is folded, as will be described, it forms the honey-comb structure denoted generally by the reference numeral 17, having

end sections

18 and 19, which I prefer to include in association with accordion pleated horizontal sections, indicated generally by the

reference numerals

20, 21 and 22 respectively. These pleated sections are arranged in the manner of a lazy tongs. Crossing panels of the adjacent pleated sections are connected by hinge constructions indicated generally by thereference numerals 23 and The blank 16 may be identified as" the rectangle ABCD, whose edge ABwill be called its top edge, so edge CD will be bottom edge, and edges AD and BC will be called its side edges. A part of blank 16, which forms the honey-comb structure per se, can exist and be used alone and is the rectangle designated GI-IJK. It would constitute the entire blank to be used when the display device does not include

end sections

18, 19, comprising the rectangles AGKD and HBCJ respectively. This description will now proceed to identify the. spaced, horizontal slits and spaced, vertical fold lines in the blank ABCD.

Referring now to FIG. 5, all solid lines indicate slits, while all dot-dash lines denote scored lines of folds. The blanks portion GI-IJK, is provided with a plurality of spaced vertical fold lines, such as LM, NP, QU and H]. The distance between the lines may be equal or varied as the desired use dictates. Lines GK and HJ are also lines along which folds are made in the blank.

The blank is also provided with a plurality of spaced horizontal slits through the points N and P, and are elongated slits crossing all the vertical fold lines. The horizontal slits are discontinuous and are interrupted at approximately midway between successive fold lines. The ends of the discontinuous, horizontal slits have oppositely directed L-shaped slits, such as 42,43, which are joined by comparatively short scored, fold lines along the vertical, such as along the line ST, to form

hinge connections

23, 24.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 9, the horizontal slits may terminate in oppositely directed diagonal slits, as shown at 44, 45, to a vertical fold line S'T', to

' provide hinge connections 23, 24', respectively.

When the blank 16 is folded along the scored vertical lines in the specificied alternating directions, the .section will comprise the identical rectangular panels 25 through 28, the section 21 will comprise the identical rectangular panels 29 through 32, and the section 22 will comprise the identical rectangular panels 33 through 36. The C-shaped

end portions

48 and 49 of the

end sections

18, 19, will extend divergently rearward, while the panels which connect them, indicated as 46, 47, will extend convergently rearward. The hinge structures-will assume the condition as shown in FIG. 8,- at 23 and 24, or as shown at 23 and 24' in FIG. 10, depending upon which-type of hinge structure is used. The resulting article formed from the blank 16," is designated by reference numeral 15, and is illustrated in FIG. 1.

It is to be noted that in the erected article 15, on the front side thereof, shown in FIG. 1, none of the

tabs

50, 51 at the hinges protrude forwardly. As seen in FIG. 8,

tabs

50, 51 will permit the entire front surface of

respective panels

26, 30, to be covered by an exhibit, which would also cover the

notches

52 and 53 respectively from view. The same conditions would prevail for the joint structure shown in FIG. 9.

When the display device 15 is made of stiff paperboard or of an easily bendable stiff plastic sheeting material as a suitable polyethylene, it is compactly collapsible or fully unfoldable to a flat configuration, which are convenient forms for transit and storage purposes. For a permanent erected form, it may be made of sheet metal, which might be preferred when the item is made for a decor purpose. The size of the article, is of course made to suit the purpose for which it is intended. The distances NN, N'P and P'P, may be the same or different. For the practice of this invention, it is not mandatory that there be a hinge connection at every pair of crossing panels of adjacent sections, so long as there are a sufficient number to have the blank of one piece. For proper extension and contraction, a hinge connection at each pair of such crossing panels is preferred. To have the display device capable of being uniformly extended and contracted is mandatory. The

horizontal slits

40, 41 need not be straight, but may be arcuate or scalloped. Rather than mere slits, they may be slots or other openings, as 55 shown in FIG. 6, whose edges may have decorative contours. Of course, at hinge regions, there must be continuity of the blank body. Each section may comprise panels of different length. The number of panels per section may be different. Fold lines need not be parallel. Although all such variations are not shown, it is believed that they are readily understood without further illustration. To provide a platform to carry a small article for exhibit, it is suggested for example, to insert partially into one of the openings, such as 57, a fitted horizontal piece of paperboard tubing 56, as seen in FIG. 4, which in contacting the rear surfaces of the

panels

34, 35, and the front faces of the

panels

30, 31, will lock the hinges associating all of said panels in the specific embodiment illustrated.

Although the display device 15 shown includes three pleated sections, it is evident that there may be any number which is a plurality. The general scheme for end section construction is shown in FIG. '11, which is a modification of the end sections 18 or 18'. The only requisite for each end section is that it need include a part that extends from top edge AG-to bottom edge DK.

The honey-comb structured display device 15 may be used to exhibit photographs, graphics, charts, etc., which may be pasted on the several panels, or hung thereon. Flat articles of merchandise may be hung for display on the panels. The display device l5 is ideal for store front and company promotion displays, and it lends itselfto highly decorative constructions suitable for decor. It may be stood on a flat surface or hung from one end, on a wall. Made of paperboard, its tooling and manufacture is simple, and its sales price would be reasonably inexpensive.

For production, it is also important to note that stock material for blanks may be printed. while flat, then scored, cut and folded into the honey-comb formation, or posters may be glued on the blank surfaces while flat and then scored, cut and folded to honey-comb design.

This invention is'capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive, and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being bad to the following claims rather than to the specific showings and description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A one-piece collapsible display device comprising a blank having a plurality of horizontal slits formed therein to divide said blank into sections, a plurality of vertical main folds formed in said blank which divide each of said sections into panels, the main folds of adjacent sections adapted to be folded in opposite directions so that the panels of adjacent sections form intersections, hinge means formed at a plurality of said intersections, each of said hinge means including hinge folds formed in said blank at the ends of said slits, said hinge folds joining panels of adjacent sections and forming a tab on each of said adjacent panels, said hinge folds being substantially parallel to said vertical main folds 2. A collapsible display device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slits are spaced in a substantially parallel relationship and said main folds are spaced in a substantially parallel relationship.

Claims

1. A one-piece collapsible display device comprising a blank having a plurality of horizontal slits formed therein to divide said blank into sections, a plurality of vertical main folds formed in said blank which divide each of said sections into panels, the main folds of adjacent sections adapted to be folded in opposite directions so that the panels of adjacent sections form intersections, hinge means formed at a plurality of said intersections, each of said hinge means including hinge folds formed in said blank at the ends of said slits, said hinge folds joining panels of adjacent sections and forming a tab on each of said adjacent panels, said hinge folds being substantially parallel to said vertical main folds.

2. A collapsible display device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slits are spaced in a substantially parallel relationship and said main folds are spaced in a substantially parallel relationship.

3. A collapsible display device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slits have substantially L-shaped cutouts formed at the ends thereof.

4. A collapsible display device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slits have substantially diagonal cutouts formed at the ends thereof.

5. A collapsible display device in accordance with claim 2 wherein a portion of said parallel slits are scalloped.

6. A collapsible display device in accordance with claim 5. wheRein said sections terminate in end sections and said slits extending across only a portion of said end sections.