WO2021224638A1

WO2021224638A1 - Mounting bracket

Info

Publication number: WO2021224638A1
Application number: PCT/GB2021/051108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard BUDGEN
Original assignee: Tatsfield Holdings Limited
Priority date: 2020-05-07
Filing date: 2021-05-07
Publication date: 2021-11-11
Also published as: GB2590089A; EP4146042A1; GB2590089B; GB202006808D0

Abstract

A mounting bracket for supporting a load in a display stand. The bracket comprises: a structure comprising a front portion (106) and a rear portion (108), wherein a first region (112) of the front portion (106) is configured to form a protrusion that protrudes outwardly; a second region (116) of the front portion, adjacent the first region (106), is arranged to lie substantially flat against a corresponding region of said rear portion (108), such that said corresponding regions can be secured together; and the rear portion (108) is substantially planar.

Description

Mounting Bracket

Background

The present invention relates primarily to a mounting bracket, and also to an assembly comprising said mounting bracket and a means for supporting a load, which engages with the mounting bracket, in use.

In particular, the present invention provides a mounting bracket suitable for supporting a shelf in a display stand, for example a mounting bracket for a free standing display unit. Such display units are typically used in a retail environment, but may also feature at exhibitions and conferences, for example, to display and promote goods and services of vendors or companies. Display stands are available in various configurations, depending on the type of goods or services being promoted or exhibited, with one such configuration being a display stand having one or more shelves upon which goods or promotional materials may be displayed. These display units are usually manufactured for transport in a flat-pack configuration, and then assembled once on-site. Furthermore, for ease of transportation and to reduce cost, the display units are often constructed from lightweight materials, with the display stand and shelves comprising paper- based or card-based materials. Mounting brackets may be used to mount the shelves within the display stand, and in the past these mounting brackets have typically comprised plastic materials to ensure the necessary strength required to support potentially heavy loads on the shelves.

Indeed, it is important to ensure that the mounting brackets that support the shelves in a display stand do not fail under load, for example by buckling or breaking during use, which can result in damage to the goods held within the associated display stand. The risk of failure may be exacerbated depending on the material of the mounting bracket, which is why plastic has previously been relied upon. Given the growing environmental concern in relation to plastics, and in particular single-use plastics, it is desirable that these mounting brackets may instead be constructed from non-plastic, environmentally friendly materials, such as paper- based or card-based material. However, such materials are inherently more susceptible to failure than plastic.

An improved mounting bracket is therefore desired that can be made from a non-plastic, environmentally friendly material, such as a paper-based or card- based material, which has the necessary structural integrity to support the weight of a loaded shelf (i.e. a load) in a display stand, and can thereby provide a viable substitute for a conventional plastic mounting bracket.

Statement of invention

Described herein is a mounting bracket for supporting a load in a display stand, the bracket comprising: a structure comprising a front portion and a rear portion, wherein: a first region of the front portion is configured to form a protrusion that protrudes outwardly; a second region of the front portion, adjacent the first region, is arranged to lie substantially flat against a corresponding region of said rear portion, such that said corresponding regions can be secured together; and the rear portion is substantially planar.

In this way, a mounting bracket is provided with improved structural integrity and load bearing capability compared to known mounting brackets. As the first region of the front portion of the mounting bracket protrudes outwardly, away from the planar rear portion, an applied load may be advantageously distributed across the mounting bracket, thereby reducing the likelihood of mounting bracket failure.

Preferably, the structure consists of a uniform piece of planar material in the form of a blank configured to be manipulated to define said structure. As it is formed from a planar substrate, the mounting bracket may be producing using a more efficient and/or cheaper manufacturing process than known mounting brackets. For example, it may possible to form multiple blanks for forming the mounting brackets from a single piece (e.g. sheet) of material, such as display board, for example by using a die or laser cutter, and then assemble each blank into a respective mounting bracket. This may allow for significant savings in manufacturing cost and allows the mounting bracket to be made from non-plastic materials, which do not have to be pre-formed. Indeed, the cost and environmental impact of the mounting bracket may be significantly reduced compared with, for example, plastic or metal mounting brackets.

A further advantage may arise in a situation when the mounting bracket is to be utilised for supporting a load within a display stand that is transported to a venue unassembled or flat-packed, and only assembled once on-site. As the mounting bracket can be produced by the simple manipulation and folding of a planar (i.e. substantially flat) blank of material, it may be transported in unfolded form which allows for a reduction in transportation costs than, for example, a pre-formed metal or plastic mounting bracket.

Preferably, the first region of the front portion is folded at least partially back upon itself to form the protrusion. In this way, the structural integrity, and thus load bearing capability, of the mounting bracket are further improved.

Preferably, the blank comprises a paper-based or card-based material. In this way, an environmentally friendly mounting bracket is provided with the necessary structural integrity required to support the weight of a load (e.g. a shelf) in a display stand. Furthermore, it is known that alike-materials are more easily, and more securely, bonded together. As display stands are often constructed from a paper-based or card-based material, the mounting bracket being formed from a blank comprising a paper-based or card-based material may be more easily and securely adhered to the display stand compared with, for example, a metal or plastic mounting bracket.

Preferably, the second region of the front portion is secured to said corresponding region of the rear portion so as to retain said first portion in its protrusion form. Preferably, the protrusion extends across the front portion of the structure, for example across the width of the structure.

Preferably, the protrusion has a generally triangular (e.g. a generally pyramidal or triangular prism) shape.

Preferably, a slot extends from an edge of the protrusion partway, preferably halfway, along or across the protrusion. Preferably, the slot has a serpentine configuration. In this way, interlocking areas that are in contact should experience friction, which may help to maintain a strong coupling between the mounting bracket and supporting means.

Also described herein is an assembly for supporting a load in a display stand, comprising: a mounting bracket as described above (and herein); and means for supporting a load; said support means (i.e. means for supporting) configured to be releasably coupled with said mounting bracket; wherein said support means has an engaging portion configured to engage with the protrusion of the mounting bracket in an interlocking manner.

Preferably, the engaging portion on the support means is provided, at least in part, by a slot arranged in the support means, preferably a slot that is, at least in part, serpentine. Preferably, the support means comprises a substantially planar (“second”) substrate, preferably having a generally rectangular shape.

Preferably, the support means has a proximal edge and an opposed distal edge, and wherein the slot is provided towards the proximal edge thereby to define the proximal edge as the engaging portion. Preferably, the slot is spaced from the proximal edge of the support means. In this way, the extent to which the support means acts like a cantilever (and thereby undergoes related strain) is reduced. Preferably, the slot extends from a first edge of the support means partway (preferably halfway) across the support means. Preferably, the load is a shelf for the display stand, and the support means is configured to engage with a portion of the shelf, for example a portion towards a front edge of the shelf.

Preferably, the support means is configured to interlock with the mounting bracket via slotted engagement in which said proximal edge of said support means is generally adjacent the mounting bracket and said distal edge of said support means extends outwardly away from the mounting bracket in a substantially perpendicular direction for supporting a load thereon.

Preferably, the support means consists of a uniform piece of planar material in the form of a blank configured to be manipulated to form the support means.

Also described herein is a means (e.g. a device or element) for supporting a load (i.e. a support means) in a display stand, wherein the support means consists of a uniform piece of planar material in the form of a blank configured to be manipulated to form the support means.

Preferably, a slot extends from a first edge of the support means partway, preferably halfway, across it, the slot being spaced from an adjacent and perpendicular second (e.g. proximal) edge of the support means.

Preferably, the blank of the support means comprises a first segment and a second segment separated by a dividing line, the blank being configured to be folded back on itself such that the first segment and second segment are superimposed having a substantially flat configuration.

In this way, a means for supporting a load is provided which can be assembled or constructed by manipulating a planar blank of material. It does not require pre-forming, thereby removing the requirement for the mounting bracket to be made from plastic. Moreover, as the support means is formed by the folding of the second blank, the thickness of the support means is increased and the load carrying capability of the mounting bracket is improved. Preferably, the first and second segments are each provided with a complimentary slot (e.g. the slots have a corresponding size and configuration, preferably wherein the complimentary slots are substantially identical), and wherein said slots are positioned so as to be aligned when the first and second segments of the blank are superimposed (e.g. to form said (single) slot that extends from the first edge of the support means).

In this way, the slotted engagements provide a secure method of coupling the support means to the mounting bracket, which can be quickly and easily be carried out by a user. Thus, a safe and effective mounting bracket is provided which does not require the use of expensive tools or equipment to assemble.

Also described herein is an assembly for supporting a load (e.g. a shelf) in a display stand, the bracket comprising: a first component (e.g. mounting bracket) for mounting in the display stand, said first component comprising a substantially planar first substrate (e.g. blank) configured to be folded back on itself such that it comprises a front portion and a rear portion, in which: a first region of the front portion is further configured to be folded back on itself to provide a protrusion that protrudes outwardly from the plane of the substrate, with a first slot extending from an edge of the protrusion partway across the protrusion, and a second region of the front portion, adjacent the first region, is arranged to lie substantially flat against a corresponding region of said rear portion, such that said corresponding regions can be secured together so as to assemble the first component with the first region of the front portion retained in said folded configuration to provide said protrusion; and a second component (e.g. a support means, device or part) for supporting the load (e.g. shelf), said second component being substantially planar with a second slot (preferably corresponding to the first slot) extending partway across it; wherein said first component, when assembled, is configured to interlock with said second component via slotted engagement of said first and second slots so as to form said mounting bracket in which said second component extends outwardly from said first component in a generally perpendicular direction. As used herein, the term “blank” preferably connotes a unitary piece of, typically planar, material from which an article (typically a three-dimensional article) can be formed or assembled, typically by manipulation of the blank of material into a desired form. Optionally, the form may be retained using fixing mechanisms such as adhesive or tape, for example, though other fixing means may of course be used. A blank may be punched or cut, for example, from a larger piece of material. Advantageously, multiple blanks may be obtained from a single piece of (e.g. sheet) material.

As used herein, the term “planar” preferably connotes relating to, or in the form of, a plane (i.e. substantially flat or two-dimensional).

As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure. For example, the support element may be described as a “means for supporting” or a “support means”.

In the Figures

An embodiment of a mounting bracket according to the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a free-standing display unit comprising a display stand having a plurality of shelves, each shelf being supported by mounting brackets according to the present invention;

Figures 2A and 2B show how a shelf is mounted in the display stand using the mounting bracket and support means described herein;

Figures 3A and 3B show a mounting bracket of the present invention in assembled form and blank form, respectively; Figures 4A and 4B show a support means as described herein in assembled form and blank form, respectively;

Figures 5A and 5B show the mounting bracket and support means configured in two different possible orientations;

Figures 6A and 6B show the mounting bracket and support means before and after being interlocked to form a mounting bracket assembly;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the mounting bracket assembly; and

Figures 8A and 8B show exemplary configurations of blanks for the mounting bracket and support means, respectively.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a free-standing display unit 10 comprising a display stand 12 and a plurality of shelves 14 which are each supported within the display stand 12 by a mounting bracket 100 and a support means (e.g. a device or element for supporting...) 200 interlocked to form a mounting bracket assembly 300, as will be described below. The rear edge of each shelf 14 is retained in the display stand 12 by way of a “return” flap (not shown) on the shelf 14 being located into a slot (not shown) provided at the rear of the display stand 12.

As shown in Figure 2A, a mounting bracket 100 couples an end 15 of (a front edge of) each shelf 14 to the display stand 12. Due to its configuration, the mounting bracket 100 provides the necessary structural integrity required to support the weight of a loaded shelf 14 in the display stand 12.

As shown in more detail in Figure 2B, the mounting bracket assembly 300 comprises the mounting bracket 100 and the support means 200. The mounting bracket 100 is secured within a side-wall of the display stand 12, for example using an adhesive, and is configured such that a portion of the mounting bracket 100 protrudes out from the side-wall of the display stand 12. The support means 200 is arranged to support the end 15 of the front edge of the shelf 14. Here, the support means 200 is received within the end 15 of the front end of the shelf 14 such that it supports the weight of the shelf 14. A portion of the support means 200 protrudes out from the end 15 of the shelf 14, which portion is received and interlocked with the protruding portion of the mounting bracket 100.

Mounting bracket

Figure 3A shows the mounting bracket 100 in isolation. The mounting bracket 100 comprises a front portion 106 and a rear portion 108 and is formed by folding and/or manipulating a first blank 110. Figure 3B illustrates the first blank 110 in unfolded form.

The first blank 110 is substantially planar. In other words, the first blank 110 comprises a sheet of substantially flat material. In this example, the first blank 110 is composed of a paper-based material, such as cardboard, which is recyclable and environmentally friendly. Specifically, the first blank 110 may be formed from a flat sheet of display board (or “grey board”), e.g. fibreboard which has been compressed and lined. The display board may typically have a thickness of between approximately 1mm - 1.25mm; however, the skilled person will appreciate that the thickness may be varied depending on the desired load carrying properties or other properties of the mounting bracket 100. One or more first blanks 110 (and/or second blanks 240) may be cut from a single sheet of display board using a die, laser cutter, or other suitable tool.

As well as paper-based and card-based (material) substrates, the first blank 110 could alternatively be made from metal, plastic or acrylic material. However, each of these alternative materials is less environmentally friendly or sustainable than paper-based materials, and furthermore would hinder recycling the display stand 10 at the end of its useful life.

The first blank 110 comprises a first region 112 and a second region 116 which are connected by a third region 114. In this example, all three regions 112, 114, 116 are formed as part of a single piece of material; however, the skilled person will appreciate that the three regions 112, 114, 116 may be formed from different pieces of material that are then joined together. The first region 112 and second region 116 comprise substantially rectangular pieces of material having the same height but different widths. The width of the second region 116 is less than the first region 112, and preferably equal to or less than half the width of the first region 112. In this example, the ratio of the width of the first region 112 to the second region is approximately 2.5. In alternative examples, the ratio of widths may be other values such as 1.25, 1.5, 2, 2.25, 2.75 or 3.

The third region 114 that connects the first region 112 and second region 116 is generally rectangular with a height less than the height of the first region 112 and second region 116. However, in other examples, the third region may 114 may have the same height as the first region 112 and second region 116. The third region 114 is arranged such that it lies vertically in the middle of the first region 112 and second region 116. A first slot 128 is centrally disposed in the third region 116, the first slot 128 beginning at a top edge 115 of the third region 114 and extending approximately halfway down the height of the third region 114. In this example, the width of first slot 128 decreases towards a middle portion of the first slot 128 to provide a “friction fit” with an engaging component. In other examples, the width of the first slot 128 may remain constant. The slot may, additionally or alternatively, have a generally “serpentine” configuration, which can also provide a “friction fit”.

The first region 112 and the second region 116 comprise respective contact regions 124, 126 that may be bonded together to form the mounting bracket. In this example, the (second) contact region 126 of the second region 116 comprises adhesive and the (first) contact region 124 of the first region 112 comprises an adhesive “landing” area that approximately matches the size of the adhesive. The two contact regions 124, 126 are configured to adhere with one another when brought into contact. Optionally, the adhesive may be covered by a thin release layer, or similar, which can be removed by a user, to prevent unintentional bonding during transit or storage of the first blank 100, for example. Preferably, however, the mounting bracket 100 will be supplied in assembled form with the first and second regions 112, 116 secured together.

The skilled person will appreciate that the two contact regions 124, 126 may be swapped so that the first contact region 124 comprises the adhesive and the second contact region 126 comprises the adhesive landing area. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the adhesive may be applied either via an automated process or manually by a user. An alternative coupling mechanism may be used, such as tape, though adhesive is preferred.

The mounting bracket 100 is formed by manipulating the first blank 110. Specifically, the first blank 110 is folded about a vertical dividing line 118 between the first region 112 and the third region 114 to form the front portion 106 and the rear portion 108 of the mounting bracket 100. The front portion 106 comprises a first region 104 which corresponds to the third region 114 of the first blank 110, and a second region 102 which corresponds to the second region 116 of the first blank 110.

The first region 104 of the front portion 106 is then folded about a fold line 120 coincident with the first slot 128 to form a protrusion 107 (e.g. a structure), having a top edge 111 and a bottom edge 109, which protrudes away from the plane of the first blank 110 (i.e. away from the plane in which lies the rear portion 108 of the mounting bracket 100). The first slot 128 is thus disposed at the apex of the protrusion 107. In other words, the rear portion 108 and the first region 104 of the front portion 106 form a hollow triangular prism, with the rear portion 108 acting as one major face of the triangular prism, and the first region 104 of the front portion 106 acting as the two other major faces.

Finally, the contact regions 124, 126 of the first region 112 and the second region 116 are brought into contact such that the second region 102 of the front portion 106 lies flat against a corresponding region of the rear portion 108. This requires the front portion 106 to be folded about a vertical dividing line 122 between the second region 116 and the third region 114. The second region 102 of the front portion 106 is arranged such that its top edge, bottom edge and one side edge coincide with the top edge, bottom edge and one side edge of the rear portion 108 respectively. The contact regions 124, 126 secure the front portion 106 to the rear portion 108, for example using adhesive applied between the contact regions 124, 126, such that a consolidated mounting bracket 100 is formed with high structural rigidity and integrity.

Support means (e.g. element or device)

Figure 4A shows the support means 200 of the mounting bracket assembly 300. The support means 200 is substantially planar and generally rectangular with four edges: a first edge 230, a proximal edge 231 , a second edge 232 and a distal edge 232. The first edge 230 opposes the second edge 232, and the proximal edge 231 opposes the distal edge 233. A second slot 234 is disposed in the first edge 230 of the support means 200, towards the proximal edge 231 of the support means 200 that is perpendicular to the first edge 230, and extends approximately halfway across the support means 200. In this example, the second slot 234 is bowed at its midpoint (e.g. serpentine) to provide improved interlocking properties, such as higher friction. In other examples, the second slot 234 may be substantially straight.

The support means 200 is formed by folding and/or manipulating a second blank 240. As shown in Figure 4B, the second blank 240 is substantially planar. In other words, the second blank 240 comprises a sheet of flat material. In this example, the second blank 240 is also composed of a paper-based material, such as cardboard.

The length of (at least) the proximal edge 231 and (here also the) opposed distal edge 233 correspond to the height of the protrusion 107 of the mounting bracket 100 (i.e. the height of the third region 114 of the first blank 110, or the height of the first region 104 of the front portion 106 of the mounting bracket 100). The first slot 128 of the mounting bracket 100 is substantially identical (i.e. the same size and configuration) as the second slot 248 of the support means 200. As the first slot 128 extends approximately halfway across the protrusion 107 and the second slot 248 extends approximately halfway across the support means 200, when the first slot 128 is engaged with the second slot 248, the first edge 230 and second edge 232 of the support means 200 are generally flush with the bottom edge 109 and the top edge 111 of the protrusion 107 respectively (as will be further demonstrated in Figure 7).

The second blank 240 comprises a first segment 242 and a second segment 244 separated by a dividing line 246. The first segment 242 can be viewed as a mirror image of the second segment 246, with the dividing line 246 being the mirror plane. A third slot 248 is disposed in a top edge 252 of the first segment 242 and a corresponding (e.g. mirror configuration) fourth slot 244 is disposed in an opposed bottom edge 253 of the second segment 244.

The first segment 242 and the second segment 244 comprise respective contact regions 256, 258 which may be bonded together to form the support means 200. In this example, the contact region 258 of the second segment 244 comprises adhesive and the contact region 256 of the first segment 242 comprises an adhesive “landing” area that is approximately matches the size of adhesive. The two contact regions 256, 258 are configured to adhere with one another when brought into contact. The adhesive may be covered by a thin release layer, or similar, which can be removed by a user, to prevent unintentional bonding during transit or storage of the second blank 200, for example. Preferably, however, the support means 200 will be supplied in its folded form, with the two segments 242, 244 secured together.

The skilled person will appreciate that the two contact regions 256, 258 may be swapped so that the contact region 256 of the first segment 242 comprises the region of adhesive and the contact region 258 of the second substrate comprises the adhesive “landing” area. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the adhesive may be applied via an automated process or manually by a user. An alternative coupling mechanism may be used, such as tape, though adhesive is preferred. The support means 200 is formed by manipulating the second blank 240. Specifically, the second blank 240 is folded about the dividing line 246 such that the first segment 242 lies flat against the second segment 244. As the first segment 242 is a mirror image of the second segment 244, the third slot 248 of the first segment 242 aligns with the corresponding fourth slot 250 of the second segment 244 when folded, thereby forming the second slot 234 in the proximal edge 232 of the support means 200. When folded, the two contact regions 256, 258 align and are adhered, for example using adhesive, to secure the first segment 242 to the second segment 244.

The support means 200 may of course alternatively be formed from, and as, a single layer of material having a desired thickness. In this case, the support means 200 would correspond to either one of the first segment 242 or the second segment 244 of the second substrate 240, and no folding is required. However, by folding a thinner blank 240 of material to provide a support means 200 of said desired thickness, the cost of that thinner blank 240 may be cheaper.

As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the material at the dividing lines 118, 120, 122 of the first blank 110 and the dividing line 246 of the second blank 240 (about which the first blank 110 and the second blank 240 are, respectively, folded to produce the mounting bracket 100 and support means 200) may be weakened for ease of folding.

For example, a die or other tool may be used to form creases along each of the dividing lines 118, 120, 122, 246. In another example, the dividing lines 118, 120, 122, 246 may comprise a portion of material having a thickness that is thinner than the rest of the blank 110, 240. In another example, the dividing lines 118, 120, 122, 246 may comprise a chemically weakened portion. In another example, the dividing lines 118, 120, 122, 246 may comprise a radioactively weakened portion. In another example, the dividing lines 118, 120, 122, 246 may comprise a mechanically weakened portion. In another example, the dividing lines 118, 120, 122, 246 may comprise a line of perforations. Alternatively, the dividing lines 118, 120, 122, 246 may be indistinguishable from the rest of the first blank 110 and the second blank 240 and merely exist in the abstract as an indication of where each blank 110, 240 is to be folded.

Assembly for mounting a shelf (e.g. “a load”)

As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the mounting bracket 100 may be produced in mirrored orientations. For example, Figure 5A shows the mounting bracket 100A configured to support a “left-hand side” of the shelf 14, whereas Figure 5B shows the mounting bracket 100B configured to support a “right-hand side” of the shelf 14. In use, the “left-hand side” mounting bracket lOOA can be mounted in a section of the display stand 12 and the “right-hand side” mounting bracket 100B can be mounted in an opposing section of the display stand 12 such that the first parts 100A, 200A face and mirror one another. Alternatively, the mounting bracket 100 could be made symmetrical. In other words, the mounting bracket 100 could have a single configuration that allows it to support both the left-hand side and the right-hand side of a shelf 14, which may help to avoid confusion during assembly of a display stand 10.

The support means 200 has a single “symmetrical” configuration that allows the support means 200A, 200B to be interlocked with each of the “left-handed” mounting bracket 100A and the “right-handed” mounting bracket 100B, to form an “assembly”, simply by orientating the support means 200 as appropriate. The second parts 200A, 200B can therefore engage with opposite ends of a shelf 14, or similar, to form an assembly for supporting a load (e.g. shelf 14) within the display stand 12.

In alternative examples, the “left-handed” support means 200A may be formed at one end of a strip of material, and the “right-handed” support means 200B may be formed at the opposing end of the same strip of material. Thus, an “extended” support means 200 is formed with a second slot at either end of the strip of material, each second slot being configured to engage with a respective mounting bracket 100A, 100B mounted within respective walls of the display stand 12. When engaged, the extended support means 200 extends between the walls of the display stand 12 and a load can be supported along the length of the extended support means 200.

The (second) slot 234 in the support means 200 is spaced from the edge of the support means 200 that interconnected with the mounting bracket 100 so as effectively to move the position at which the support means is supported by the mounting bracket 100 inwards (i.e. away from the edge of the support means 200) in order to reduce the extent to which the support means 200 acts like a cantilever, and thereby reduce the associated risk of failure of the support means 200, in use.

Figures 6A and 6B show how the mounting bracket 100 and the support means 200 are interlocked to form the mounting bracket assembly 300. The first slot 128 of the mounting bracket 100 is arranged to receive and engage with the second slot 248 of the support means 200.

When interlocked, as illustrated in Figure 7, the proximal edge 231 of the support means 200 is adjacent to the mounting bracket 100 such that the base of the first slot 128 contacts the base of the second slot 248, and the first edge 230 and the second edge 232 of the support means 200 lie generally flush with the bottom edge 109 and the top edge 111 of the protrusion 107 respectively. The distal edge 233 of the support means 200 extends away from the mounting bracket 100 in a perpendicular direction, and a load may be supported thereon. In use, the rear portion 108 and the second region 102 of the front portion 106 may be enclosed (and/or secured) within a display stand 12 whilst the protrusion 107 defined by the folded first region 104 of the front portion 106 of the mounting bracket 100 is arranged to protrude from the display stand 12 to receive and interlock with the support means 200.

In practice, the mounting bracket 100 and support means 200 may each be secured, separately, to the display stand 12 and shelf 14, respectively, with the display unit 10 typically stored and transported in a flat-packed configuration, and then assembled once on-site, with the mounting bracket 100 and support means 200 interlocking to form the mounting bracket assembly 300. Figures 8A and 8B illustrate a specific embodiment of a first blank 110 and a second blank 240 according to the invention, with exemplary dimensions provided. Figures 8A and 8B show the first blank 110 and the second blank 240 orientated identically to the first blank 110 and the second blank 240 as shown in Figures 3B and 4B, respectively, with the features of both first and second blanks 110, 240 being the same (although they are not labelled in Figures 8A and 8B for clarity purposes).

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 8A and 8B, all of the dimensions are provided in mm. The height of the first region 112 of the first blank 110 is 65mm. The width of the first region 112 of the first blank 110 is 53mm. The distance between the top edge 252 and bottom edge of the second blank 240 is 90mm. The width of the second blank 240 is 70mm.

Again, it will of course be understood that this specific embodiment of the first blank 110 and second blank 240 is simply an exemplary embodiment according to the invention, and the invention is not intended to be limited in any way, shape or form by the dimensions provided for this exemplary embodiment.

Moreover, it will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention. It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects described herein can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for supporting a load in a display stand, the bracket comprising: a structure comprising a front portion and a rear portion, wherein: a first region of the front portion is configured to form a protrusion that protrudes outwardly; a second region of the front portion, adjacent the first region, is arranged to lie substantially flat against a corresponding region of said rear portion, such that said corresponding regions can be secured together; and the rear portion is substantially planar.

2. The mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein the structure consists of a uniform piece of planar material in the form of a blank configured to be manipulated to define said structure.

3. The mounting bracket of claim 2, wherein the first region of the front portion is folded at least partially back upon itself to form the protrusion.

4. The mounting bracket of claim 2 or 3, wherein the blank comprises a paper-based or card-based material.

5. The mounting bracket of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the second region of the front portion is secured to said corresponding region of the rear portion so as to retain said first portion in its protrusion form.

6. The mounting bracket of any preceding claim, wherein said protrusion extends across the front portion of the structure, for example across the width of the structure.

7. The mounting bracket of any preceding, wherein the protrusion has a generally triangular shape, for example a triangular prism.

8. The mounting bracket of any preceding claim, wherein a slot extends from an edge of the protrusion partway along the protrusion.

9. The mounting bracket of claim 8, wherein the slot has a serpentine configuration.

10. An assembly for supporting a load in a display stand, comprising: a mounting bracket according to any preceding claim; and means for supporting a load; said support means configured to be releasably coupled with said mounting bracket; wherein said support means has an engaging portion configured to engage with the protrusion of the mounting bracket in an interlocking manner.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the engaging portion on the support means is provided, at least in part, by a slot arranged in the support means, preferably a slot that is, at least in part, serpentine.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the support means comprises a substantially planar substrate, preferably having a generally rectangular shape.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the support means has a proximal edge and an opposed distal edge, and wherein the slot is provided towards the proximal edge thereby to define the proximal edge as the engaging portion.

14. The assembly of claim 12 or 13, wherein the slot extends from a first edge of the support means partway across the support means.

15. The assembly of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the load is a shelf for the display stand, and the support means is configured to engage with a portion of the shelf, preferably a portion towards a front edge of the shelf.

16. The assembly of any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the support means is configured to interlock with the mounting bracket via slotted engagement in which said proximal edge of said support means is generally adjacent the mounting bracket and said distal edge of said support means extends outwardly away from the mounting bracket in a substantially perpendicular direction for supporting a load thereon.

17. The assembly of any of claims 10 to 16, wherein the support means consists of a uniform piece of planar material in the form of a blank configured to be manipulated to form the support means.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the blank comprises a first segment and a second segment separated by a dividing line, the blank being configured to be folded back on itself such that the first segment and second segment are superimposed having a substantially flat configuration.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second segments are each provided with a complimentary slot, and wherein said complimentary slots are positioned so as to be aligned when the first and second segments of the blank are superimposed to form a single slot that extends from the first edge of the support means.