Abstract:
A folding display apparatus includes: first and second forms; and at least one flexible connector strip interconnecting the first and second forms and carrying indicia thereon in a preselected pattern. The apparatus is moveable between a first position in which the first and second forms collectively define a face bearing a first image composed from the indicia; and a second position in which the first and second forms collectively define a second face bearing a second image composed from the indicia.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/617,118 Filed Oct. 8, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to advertising or amusement devices and more particularly to a folding display apparatus for carrying advertisements thereon.  
         [0003]     It is known to incorporate advertising in many different types of media such as print, sound, and video. Advertising is also often incorporated into common objects, such as pens and office supplies, that can be sold at low cost or provided gratis to a client. In addition to these known methods it is desirable to present advertising or information in a way which will attract a consumer&#39;s attention through a unique appearance, and encourage the consumer to interact with the object and to observe the advertising or information contained thereon for an extended period of time.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is a need for a display apparatus which is inexpensive and catches a consumer&#39;s attention.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The above-mentioned need is met by the present invention, which according to one embodiment provides a folding display apparatus, including: first and second forms each having a plurality of faces; and at least one flexible connector strip interconnecting the first and second forms and carrying indicia thereon in a preselected pattern The apparatus is moveable between: a first position in which a first pair of faces of the first and second forms collectively display a first selected image composed from the indicia; and a second position in which a second pair of faces of the first and second forms collectively display a second selected image composed from the indicia.  
         [0006]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is moveable to additional positions in which additional selected images are displayed.  
         [0007]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the display apparatus includes a plurality of connector strips arranged in a side-by-side relationship, wherein the indicia carried by the individual connector strips collectively form the first and second images.  
         [0008]     According to another embodiment of the invention, alternate ones of the connector strips are wrapped in opposite directions around the first and second forms.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the alternate wrapping of the connector strips forms a hinge-like connection that allows the first and second forms to pivot relative to each other, such that a pivoting motion of the first and second forms causes one of the connector strips to wind more fully around the first form, while another of the connector strips unwinds from the first form.  
         [0010]     According to another embodiment of the invention, each of the connector strips is divided into individual segments, and the indicia representing portions of the images are carried on the connector strip in a pattern which accommodates the direction the connector strip would onto the form.  
         [0011]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the first and second forms are prismatic.  
         [0012]     According to another embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second forms is a rectangular solid.  
         [0013]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the connector strip is made from paper.  
         [0014]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the connector strip is made from plastic  
         [0015]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the first and second forms are hollow boxes.  
         [0016]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the indicia are selected from the group consisting of: information, text, symbols, colors, patterns, photographs, and combinations thereof.  
         [0017]     According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of displaying a series of preselected images includes: providing a folding display apparatus, including: first and second forms each having a plurality of faces; and at least one flexible connector strip interconnecting the first and second forms and carrying indicia thereon in a preselected pattern; pivoting the first and second forms to move the apparatus to a first position in which a first pair of faces of the first and second forms collectively display a first selected image composed from the indicia; and pivoting the first and second forms to a second position in which a second pair of faces of the first and second forms collectively display a second selected image composed from the indicia.  
         [0018]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the method of claim  13  further includes pivoting the first and second forms to an additional position in which an additional pair of faces of the first and second forms collectively display an additional selected image composed from the indicia 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a folding display apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and arranged in a first position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a exploded perspective view of a folding display apparatus constructed according to the present invention, showing the component parts thereof;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a view of a first side of a connector strip for use with the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3B  is a view of a second side of a connector strip for use with the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the assembled folding display apparatus in an intermediate position; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the assembled folding display apparatus in a second position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary folding display apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrated example, the display apparatus  10  has a height “H” of about 12.7 cm (5 in.), a width “W” of about 25.4 cm (10 in.), and a depth “D” of about 12.7 cm (2.5 in.) The display apparatus  10  may be scaled up or down as desired. The display apparatus  10  includes a number of external faces “F”, two of which are positioned to define a generally planar front face  12  which presents indicia such as information, text, symbols, colors, patterns, photographs, or a combination thereof to a user. Representative indicia  14  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the basic components of the display apparatus  10  are a pair of first and second forms  16  and  18  and one or more connector strips  20 . In the illustrated example, five side-by-side connector strips  20 A- 20 E are used. The number of connector strips  20  may be varied to suit a particular application. Alternate ones of the connector strips  20 A- 20 E are wound around the first and second forms  16 ,  18  in opposite directions, as explained more fully below.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate opposite sides of a connector strip  20 A, which is representative of the other connector strips  20 B- 20 E, in more detail. The connector strip  20 A may be constructed of any relatively thin, flexible material capable of displaying indicia such as information, text, symbols, colors, patterns, photographs, or a combination thereof. Examples of suitable materials include paper and related fiber products, fabrics, and plastic sheet materials. The connector strip  20 A has opposed first and second sides  22  and  24 , and opposed first and second ends  26  and  28 . The connector strip  20 A is divided at fold lines “L” into a series of individual segments, generally denoted “S” The segments S closest to the first and second ends  26  and  28  are denoted as first and second end segments  30  and  32 , respectively.  
         [0029]     The segments S of the connector strip  20 A bear indicia which are arranged so as to present desired patterns when the connector strip  20 A is wrapped around the first and second forms  16  and  18 . This may mean that the indicia are carried on the connector strip  20 A in a discontinuous arrangement when viewed in a flat, stretched-out condition. The indicia are illustrated in a schematic manner using Roman numerals in  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  
         [0030]     The first and second forms  16  and  18  each have a top end  34 ,  36  and a bottom end  38 ,  40 , respectively. The first and second forms  16  and  18  serve as a structural support for the connector strips  20 A- 20 B. In the illustrated example, the first and second forms  16  and  18  are hollow boxes constructed from light cardboard. Either of the first and second forms  16  and  17  could be used to contain items such as small gifts therein, and may be provided with one or more openings (not shown) to facilitate removal of those items. The first and second forms  16  and  18  could be made from other materials and could be solid if desired. The shape of the first and second forms  16  and  18  may also be varied as desired, so long as they are capable of being positioned to cooperatively define at least one external face.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , alternate ones of the connector strips  20  are wrapped in the opposite direction around the first and second forms  16  and  18 . For example, the uppermost connector strip  20 A is wrapped around the first form  16  in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the top end  34 , beginning with the first end segment  30 , which is permanently attached to the first form  16  with adhesive or the like. The uppermost connector strip  20 A is also wrapped around the second form  18  in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the top end  36 , beginning with the second end segment  32 , which is permanently attached to the second form  18  with adhesive or the like.  
         [0032]     The adjacent connector strip  20 B is wrapped around the first form  16  in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top end  34 , beginning with its first end segment  40 . The connector strip  20 B is wrapped around the second form  18  in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the top end  36 , beginning with its second end segment  42 , which is permanently attached to the second form  18  with adhesive or the like.  
         [0033]     This alternate wrapping arrangement of the connector strips  20 A and  20 B forms a hinge-like connection “H” that allows the first and second forms  16  and  18  to pivot relative to each other, and creates a condition in which a pivoting motion of the first and second forms  16 ,  18  causes one of the connector strips  20 A to wind more fully around the one of the forms  16  and  18 , while the other connector strip  20 B “unwinds” from the other one of the forms  16  and  18 . While the number of connector strips  20  is optional, it has been found that if at least two connector strips  20  are used, then the forms  16  and  18  will be securely held together and prevented from flexing or moving relative to each other except along the hinge-like connection “H”.  
         [0034]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the display apparatus  10  presents the front face  12  which is a composite image of the exposed panels of the connector strips  20 A- 20 E, which displays the indicia  14 . In the illustrated example, the front face  12  comprises ten exposed segments “S” of the five connector strips  20 A- 20 E arrayed in a top-to-bottom fashion, and the forms  16  and  18  collectively define a generally rectangular solid.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows the display apparatus  10  in a transition position in which the first form  16  has been rotated clockwise a fraction of a turn, and the second form  18  has been rotated counter-clockwise a fraction of a turn. The faces bearing the indicia  14  are now spread apart and the faces bearing a second set of indicia  14 ′ such as information, text, symbols, colors, patterns, photographs, or a combination thereof are partially exposed.  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  shows the display apparatus  10  rotated to a second position. The facets bearing the second set of indicia  14 ′ are now disposed side-by-side so that they constitute a second iteration of a front face  12 ′.  
         [0037]     The display apparatus may continue to be rearranged into additional positions by further rotation of the first and second forms  16  and  18 . The greater the length of the connector strips  20 A- 20 E, the greater the total number of faces available. A folding display apparatus has been disclosed. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.