Merchandising display

A merchandising display comprising a top, a pair of side panels foldably joined respectively to the sides of the top and extending downwardly therefrom, a pair of end panels foldably joined respectively to the ends of the top and extending downwardly therefrom, a pair of V-shaped support elements disposed at each corner of the display and extending downwardly therefrom, a retention clip disposed in a locking relationship with each pair of V-shaped support elements, and a support tube joined to the side panels and disposed adjacent the underside of the top.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to merchandising displays which are economical to 
produce, easy to assemble, and highly maneuverable. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Merchandising displays which are utilized in temporary promotions 
especially at the retail level are generally known and are embodied in 
various forms. An example of this type of display is disclosed and claimed 
in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 957,296 filed Nov. 2, 1978 and owned 
by the assignee of this invention. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
According to this invention a merchandising display comprises a top with 
legs joined at each corner thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, 
each leg comprising a pair of elongated V-shaped support elements, and an 
elongated retention clip interlocking each pair of V-shaped support 
elements.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the top of the display to the side 
edges of which side panels 2 and 3 are foldably joined respectively along 
fold lines 4 and 5. In addition end panels 6 and 7 are foldably joined 
respectively to the end edges of top 1 along fold lines 8 and 9. Slots 10, 
11, 12 and 13 are formed in top 1 at the corners thereof. 
According to a feature of this invention, the display legs are formed from 
V-shaped support elements identified by the numerals 14-21 and which are 
integrally joined to the respective side or end panel as shown in FIG. 1. 
The apex of each V-shaped support element is formed along fold line A and 
each pair of V-shaped support elements is foldably joined along fold line 
B. Also stabilizing tab C is formed on the lower edge of one of each pair 
of the V-shaped support elements 14-21. 
In order to prevent sagging of top 1 in the completed display, a support 
tube is provided and is formed from support tube elements indicated 
generally by the numerals 22 and 23. Support tube element 22 is foldably 
joined to the lower edge of side panel 2 along fold line 24 and support 
tube element 23 and foldably joined to the lower edge of side panel 3 
along fold line 25. 
Support tube element 22 is provided with supporting walls 26, 27, 28, 29 
and 30 and intermediate fold lines 31, 32, 33, and 34. Locking means is 
provided in the form of locking tabs 35 and 36 which are adapted to 
cooperate with slots 37 and 38 respectively. In addition apertures 39 and 
40 are formed respectively in supporting walls 27 and 29 and are provided 
respectively with retaining tabs 41 and 42. 
Support tube element 23 is constructed in a manner similar to support tube 
element 22 and is provided with supporting walls 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 
which are interconnected by means of fold lines 48, 49, 50 and 51. Also 
locking tab 52 is adapted to cooperate with slot 53 and locking tabs 54 
and 55 are formed respectively in supporting walls 44 and 46. 
In order to form the display from the blank shown in FIG. 1, initially it 
is necessary to fold side panels 2 and 3 and end panels 6 and 7 together 
with V-shaped support elements 14-21 upwardly along fold lines 4, 5, 8 and 
9 . As this occurs, each pair of V-shaped support elements is folded 
inwardly along fold line B and the individual panels X and Y of each 
V-shaped support element are folded into a 45.degree. angle along fold 
line A as best shown in FIG. 2. 
In order to interlock each pair of V-shaped support elements formed at the 
corners of the display, retention clip R is provided. More specifically 
retention clip R is provided with base strips 56 and 57 which are 
integrally joined along the adjacent edges thereof. In addition locking 
strips 58 and 59 are integrally joined to the outer edges of base strips 
56 and 57 respectively and extend inwardly therefrom. Therefore to 
complete formation of the display legs, retention clip R is simply slipped 
over each pair of V-shaped support elements. In this manner, locking 
strips 58 and 59 are manipulated into an overlapping and enveloping 
relationship with the respective outer edge portions of panels X of each 
V-shaped support element which are disposed remote from line A. 
In order to provide additional support on the underside of top 1 and 
thereby to prevent any sagging thereof, a support tube formed from support 
tube elements 22 and 23 is provided. Specifically supporting walls 26-30 
of support tube element 22 are folded along fold lines 31-34 into a square 
configuration in cross section and locking tabs 35 and 36 are inserted 
into slots 37 and 38 respectively. Support tube 22 is then rotated 
upwardly about fold line 24 into a position whereby supporting wall 30 is 
disposed in face contacting relation with the underside of top 1. 
Thereafter support tube element 23 is formed in a manner similar to support 
tube element 22. Specifically supporting walls 43-47 are folded along fold 
lines 48-51into a square cross sectional configuration and locking tab 52 
is inserted into slot 53. Since supporting walls 43 and 47 are shorter 
than supporting walls 44, 45 and 46, support tube element 23 is simply 
slipped over support tube element 22 whereby the inner portions of 
supporting walls 44, 45 and 46 are disposed in flat face contacting 
relation with the inner portions of supporting walls 27, 28 and 29 
respectively and as best shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter locking tabs 54 and 
55 are manually punched through apertures 39 annd 40 respectively and held 
there in place respectively by means of retaining tabs 41 and 42. 
An alternative means for providing a display support tube is to eliminate 
support tube elements 22 and 23 and to form a pair of round holes in side 
panels 2 and 3 respectively. Then a rigid circular tube is inserted 
through the holes into a position of abutment with the underside of top 1. 
In order to form a multiple display as shown in FIG. 3, a base display is 
formed by initially shortening the V-shaped support elements 14-21 shown 
in FIG. 1 to any desired length. Thereafter a base cup B is inserted onto 
the lower portion of each shortened display leg in a conventional manner. 
Then any number of displays, formed according to this invention, are 
stacked one upon the other. In order to maintain the overall display in a 
sturdy condition, stabilizing tabs C of one display are simply inserted 
into the respective slots 10-13 formed in the display disposed immediately 
therebelow. The merchandising display then appears as shown in FIG. 3. 
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
By this invention a merchandising display is provided which is economical 
to produce and very easy to assemble. Therefore the display can be adapted 
to a variety of retail applications and is especially well suited to 
instances where the display must support a large amount of weight.