Abstract:
A one-piece, easily erected, collapsible cardboard display for merchandise. Shelves formed from the display&#39;s front panel are secured to a longitudinally displaceable sliding panel providing support for the device and facilitating assembly and disassembly thereof.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    There are no related applications. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    None. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to display devices, and more particularly, to a foldable, portable display for supporting articles of merchandise. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Corrugated fiberboard (i.e., cardboard) is a well-known structural material commonly used for manufacturing storage boxes and the like. The relative inexpense of the material, its structural qualities, and the ease with which it can be manipulated has resulted in an ever growing number of items manufactured from it. The use of this material in merchandising displays is well known and range from its use as a structural component in an advertising message to various support structures for display of merchandise for sale in an aesthetically pleasing manner. In general, these merchandising displays are box-like structures with bins or shelves sized to hold the merchandise for sale. The displays can be quite bulky and difficult to transport in their assembled state and hence are generally shipped flat and assembled at the point of use. The displays, however, often consist of multiple pieces and, as these displays become ever more sophisticated, the degree of expertise and training necessary to assemble them increases accordingly. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a merchandising display that is intuitive to assemble, yet equally sturdy and aesthetically pleasing in use. Preferably, the device ships flat for easier transport and is then assembled on site when needed. More preferably, the device can also be easily disassembled and re-used. Any such display should be easy to manufacture and its design should entail a minimum of wasted material during construction. 
         [0007]    Collapsible displays that may be used for merchandising are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,732 issued Oct. 27, 1998 is a point-of-purchase shelving display device constructed from a “single blank” of corrugated material that may be collapsed into a “substantially flat” configuration for efficient shipment. The device uses various “locking tab[s]” and “locking slot[s]” to lock the device into its three-dimensional conformation. Additionally, the flat shelves of the device are separate structures that are mounted into slots die cut in the superstructure of the display. Unlike the present inventive combination, this device entails the assembly of multiple, interconnected pieces and significant training and/or instructions for assembly. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,623 issued Apr. 6, 2004 discloses a collapsible display shelving unit fabricated from corrugated paperboard. The sides and multiple, flat shelves are hinged to the rear wall of the device thereby enabling the entire structure to be folded flat for convenient transport. The structures of the device are mounted only to the rear wall and are not in communication with one another. Assembly of the device entails a series of steps requiring the user to individually pivot the sidewalls outward, then swing individual shelves downward, thereafter locking them into place against the sidewalls. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,424 issued Jan. 15, 1985 is a three shelf foldable display stand constructed from a single sheet of cardboard including shelves with raised front and side flanges to facilitate containing merchandise therein. The device is shipped unassembled and the free ends must be glued together by the customer in order to erect the device. In a separate step, individual die cut shelves pivot from the front panel of the device and are folded upwardly into individual attachment slots on the rear panel of the device. No shelf slide is used to coordinate positioning or fixation of the shelves. In contrast, the present invention is shipped pre-assembled, requiring that the user simply longitudinally displace its rear shelf support in order to erect the apparatus. 
         [0010]    Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,936 issued May 31, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,492 issued Oct. 21, 1997 disclose multi-shelved cardboard merchandising displays. Neither apparatus, however, includes the sliding shelf support of the present invention to facilitate ease of assembly of the devices therein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention is a multi-shelved merchandising display made from corrugated cardboard or a similar lightweight board-like material. In its collapsed state it is substantially flat thereby minimizing the space needed for storage and ensuring easier transport. The apparatus is erected by simply pressing its exposed, transversely opposing corners towards one another, then longitudinally displacing a sliding panel to position and support attached shelves. An interlocking flap-style box closure may then be used to maintain the display in this open, ready-for-use conformation. Alternatively, the display is held open via the friction of its interfitting parts and/or the weight of the merchandise being displayed on its shelves. 
         [0012]    The primary superstructure of the device is die-cut from a single sheet of corrugated cardboard and folded to create its front, rear, and side panels, as well as its shelves. Its sliding panel may also be cut from the same sheet of material. The instant invention employs flap-like shelves cut from its front panel. The free ends of these shelves are then attached to a sliding panel to facilitate assembly of the display, coordinate positioning of its shelves, and provide support to the erect device. In assembling the display, the user need only displace the sliding panel longitudinally or press the transversely opposing corners of the device towards one another. Movement of the sliding panel thereby erects the display, including positioning the shelves in a generally horizontal position. 
         [0013]    Forming the shelves of the instant invention from the front panel of the device also creates the apertures through which items displayed on the shelves may be accessed, thereby minimizing waste and the materials needed for manufacture. Additionally, biased incisions in its side panels at the junction of the unit&#39;s shelves and the front panel cause the shelves to be slightly recessed when the device is assembled, thereby helping to protect the display and the items displayed therein from, for example, being upset by the loose clothing of passersby. 
         [0014]    The instant invention is simple to manufacture, minimizes waste, is intuitive to assemble, and otherwise solves the aforementioned problems noted in the discussion of the prior art. 
         [0015]    It is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive display device which is sturdy in construction and capable of supporting the weight of the articles of merchandise being exhibited. 
         [0016]    It is another object of this invention to provide an attractive display device for arranging articles of merchandise thereon. 
         [0017]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide a box-like display device having display niches, pockets, or shelves therein for the merchandise. 
         [0018]    It is still another object of this invention to provide a merchandising display device having article displaying areas. 
         [0019]    It is an object of this invention to provide a display device suitable for displaying articles of merchandise. 
         [0020]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a display device which is easily set up and collapsed by simple folding operations. 
         [0021]    It is an object of this invention to provide a display device which is easily collapsed for transport and is reusable. 
         [0022]    It is yet another object of this invention to provide a merchandising display which does not require any particular degree of skill or training to assemble. 
         [0023]    It is an object of this invention to provide a corrugated cardboard merchandising display which is simple to manufacture, with minimum waste. 
         [0024]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the inventive display device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a partially collapsed perspective view of the display invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the display invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the display invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the primary die-cut sheet of the display invention shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the sliding panel of the display invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the display invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a partially collapsed perspective view of the display invention shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation of the display invention shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the display invention shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the primary die-cut sheet of the display invention shown in  FIGS. 7-10 ; and, 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the sliding panel of the display invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    While the invention is described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended that the present invention be so limited. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0038]    This invention may be constructed from any board-like material that is amenable to precision cutting and is easily foldable. In preferred embodiments, the invention is manufactured from corrugated cardboard. The invention may also be constructed from fiberboard, pulpboard, or corrugated board. 
         [0039]    The preferred embodiment of the apparatus and best mode is rendered in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . An alternative embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 7 through 12 . The elements described herein apply to both the aforementioned preferred and alternative embodiments. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 1-2  are perspective views of the preferred embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , the display device  100  is depicted fully erect and ready for use.  FIG. 2  is a partially collapsed view  101  of the display device. The present device is constructed with a rear panel  20 , front panel  30 , and side panels  40 . Flap-like shelves  31  are formed from the front panel  30  with a leading end section  32  being the remainder of the panel  30  after shelf  31  has been folded back. The leading end section  32  is perpendicular to the ground and has biased end cuts  35  shown in  FIG. 1  which allow the leading end section to be folded in a recessed manner back into the side panels  40  so that it will not engage passersby. A trapezoidal shaped sliding panel engagement flap  34  is also formed on the trailing end section  33  of the shelves which facilitates mounting of the shelves  31  to a sliding panel  41 . The panel engagement flap  34  is secured to the sliding panel  41 . The sliding panel engagement flaps  34  have a length which is less than the shelf length, with the top of the flaps  34  or trailing end section  33  being positioned adjacent the sliding panel  41  such that the shelves  31  are substantially horizontal when the display is in its erect conformation with the flaps  34  extending above the shelf base. The sliding panel  41  is longitudinally displaced during erection and disassembly of the apparatus  100  and serves to position and provide support to the shelves  31  at their trailing end section  34 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 5-6  show the die cut material from which the display device  100  is constructed. Solid lines indicate cuts through the material. Dashed lines indicate score lines or creases created, for example, by embossing pressure or by a plurality of periodic incisions along the desired crease. Apertures  44  are formed in the side panels  40  of the display  100  to create an aesthetically pleasing effect and allow viewing of the stored merchandise. The shelves  31  which are formed from front panel  30  of the device are single piece shelves. It is also clear from these figures that in order for the device to function properly, the depth of the shelves  31  formed from the front panel  30  are approximately equal to the width of the side panels  40  and when assembled the leading edge section  32  is positioned below the planar surface of shelf  31 . 
         [0042]    The display  100  is manufactured by simply securing or affixing assembly flap  50  of the die cut sheet to the opposing free end of the sheet to thereby form a box structure when erected. The sliding panel  41  is then inserted and the trailing end section  33  or sliding panel engagement flaps  34  of the shelves  31  are then secured to the sliding panel  41  such that, when erected, the shelves  31  are in a generally horizontal position with the sliding panel engagement flaps  34  parallel and adjacent the sliding panel  41 . It is noted that the general position of the shelves  31  relative to the base of the display  100  may be varied according to the positioning of the sliding panel engagement flaps  34  on the sliding panel  41 . Mounting the sliding panel engagement flaps  34  at relatively higher or lower positions on the sliding panel will result in shelves  31  having a forward or rearward cant as desired. The display is manufactured and delivered substantially flat such that its front panel  30  is displace laterally relative to its rear panel  20 . In this flattened conformation, the opposing side panels  40  are generally coplanar with the front  30  and rear  20  panels and either side panel  40  is coplanar with, for example, the front panel  30  and is attached to the rear panel  20  along a fold line. The opposing side panel  40  is therefore similarly coplanar with the rear panel  20  and attached to the front panel  30  along a fold line. 
         [0043]    To operate the display device  100 , one need only press the side panels  40  towards one another at the aforedescribed acute angles formed at their junction with the front panel  30  and rear panel  20 , then longitudinally displace its sliding panel  41  to position and support the attached shelves. Alternatively, the display may be erected by simply displacing the sliding panel  41  downward, thereby causing the front  30  and rear  20  panels to separate while at the same time positioning and supporting the shelves  31  attached thereto. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 7-8  are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 7 , the display device  102  is depicted fully erect and ready for use.  FIG. 8  is a partially collapsed view  103  of the display device. The apparatus is constructed with a rear panel  120 , front panel  130 , and side panels  140  comprising its superstructure. Flap-like shelves  131  are formed from the front  130  panel with their leading end sections  132  being the remainder of the respective panel  120 ,  130  after shelf  131  has been folded back. The leading end section  132  of the shelf  131  is perpendicular to the ground with biased end cuts  135  which allow it to be folded in a recessed manner back into the side panels  140  so that it will not engage passersby, as is seen in  FIG. 8 . A trapezoidal sliding panel engagement flap  134  or trailing end section  133  is also formed from the front panel  130 , which facilitates mounting of the shelves  131  to a sliding panel  141 . The flap  134  is folded downward from the plane of the shelf  131 . The sliding panel engagement flaps  134  have a length which is less than the shelf length, with the engagement flaps  134  being positioned adjacent the sliding panel  141  such that the shelves  131  are substantially horizontal when the display is in its erect conformation. The sliding panel  141  is longitudinally displaced during erection and disassembly of the apparatus  102  and serves to position and provide support to the shelves  131  at their trailing end sections  134 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 8 , shown are extensions at the base of the front  130  and side  140  panels forming a traditional, flap style, box base closure  151 . The base closure  151  has a locking flap  152  mounted to the rear panel  120  ( FIG. 11 ) which engages a locking slot  153 , shown in  FIG. 8  formed in the front panel  130 , to ensure positive closure. The invention also encompasses additional methods to fix the display in its open configuration, for example, a traditional four-flapped box end closure, or locking tabs and slots. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 11-12  show the die-cut material from which the present display device is constructed. In the Figures, solid lines indicate cuts through the material and dashed lines indicate score lines or creases. 
         [0046]    The display apparatus  102  is manufactured by simply affixing assembly flap  150 , shown in  FIG. 11 , of the die cut sheet to the opposing free end of the sheet thereby forming a box structure when erected. The sliding panel  141  is then inserted and the sliding panel engagement flaps  134  of the shelves  131  are affixed to the sliding panel  141  such that the shelves  131  are in a generally horizontal position with the sliding panel engagement flaps  134  parallel and adjacent the sliding panel  141 . 
         [0047]    Embodiment  102  is assembled similarly to display  100  by displacing its sliding panel  141  upward, thereby causing the front  130  and rear  120  panels to separate. Alternatively, the user can first press the side panels  140  towards one another at the acute angles formed at their junction with the front  130  and rear  120  panels, thereafter the sliding panel  141  is displace upward to position and support the shelves  131 . The shelves  131  of the embodiment  102  move upwards in conjunction with the upward displacement of its sliding panel  141  until they reach their erect, generally horizontal position thereby forming lipped or contained display surfaces which may be preferable for displaying, for example, tubular or spherically shaped merchandise which would not be stable in the flat shelves of the embodiment  100 . 
         [0048]    The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims: