Single action assembly temporary display

A pop-up display apparatus. The apparatus includes a knuckle defining a pivot axis and having a pair of parts, the pair of parts being pivotally connected to one another for relative movement about the pivot axis. A base portion is connected to one of the pair of parts. The apparatus includes a leaf portion connected to the other of the pair of parts for pivotal movement relative to the base portion about the pivot axis and a tab portion movable relative to the leaf portion between a released position and an engaged position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of pop-up displays.

2. Prior Art

Pop-up displays of many types are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is apparatus comprising a knuckle, a base portion, a leaf portion and a tab portion.

The knuckle defines a pivot axis and has a pair of parts, the pair of parts being pivotably connected to one another for relative movement about the pivot axis.

The base portion is connected to one of the pair of parts.

The leaf portion:is connected to the other of the pair of parts for pivotal movement relative to the base portion about the pivot axis: has an extension axis and a length associated with the extension axis;extends from the other of the pair of parts along the extension axis; andis shaped and dimensioned such that the cross-section of the leaf portion, throughout the length of the leaf portion, has a substantially constant perimeter.

The tab portion:has an extension axis and a length associated with the extension axis;extends from the leaf portion along the extension axis; andis movable relative to the leaf portion between a released position and an engaged position,the released position being such that the extension axis of the tab portion is substantially parallel to the extension axis of the leaf portion and the tab portion extends towards the other of the pair of parts,the engaged position being such that the extension axis of the tab portion is disposed in angular relation to the extension axis of the leaf portion.

According to another aspect, the tab portion can be resilient and be biased for movement to the engaged position.

According to another aspect, the tab portion can be formed integrally with the leaf.

According to another aspect, the leaf portion can define an aperture and the tab portion can occupy the aperture when the tab portion is in the released position.

According to another aspect, the base portion can be planar and the one of the pair of parts can be disposed to one side and centrally of the base portion.

According to another aspect, the pivot axis can be parallel to the base portion.

According to another aspect, the leaf portion can be planar.

According to another aspect, the pivot axis can be parallel to the leaf portion.

According to another aspect, the plane defined by the leaf portion can be coincident with the pivot axis.

According to another aspect, the apparatus can form, along with a pair of components, a joint.

In the joint:the tab portion is in the engaged position;one of the pair of components has defined therewithin a chamber and an aperture communicating with the chamber, the chamber being in gripping receipt of the leaf portion and the tab portion and having the other of the pair of parts protruding therefrom; andthe other of the pair of components defines a channel, the channel having the one of the pair of parts protruding therefrom and being in close-fitting relation thereto.

According to another aspect, the other of the pair of components can have defined therein a slit intersecting the channel such that the channel extends therefrom, the slit and the other of the pair of components being adapted such that the one of the pair of parts can be positioned in the channel by passing the base through the slit.

According to another aspect, one of the pair of components can comprise a cardboard tube that grippingly receives the leaf portion, the tube having a sidewall and, defined within the sidewall, an aperture, the aperture defining that part of the chamber that grippingly receives the tab portion.

According to another aspect, the other of the pair of components can comprise a pair of cardboard layers, one of the layers having defined therewithin the channel and the slit.

Forming another aspect of the invention is a structure comprising:an elongate beam having a longitudinal axis and a pair of ends, each end defining a pivot axis;a shelf pivotably connected to the beam for movement about the longitudinal axis betweena nested position, whereat the shelf is generally coplanar with the beam; anda supporting position, whereat the shelf is disposed in angular relation to the beam,a frame includingfor each end of the beam, a sidewall, the sidewall connected to the beam end for which it is provided for movement about the pivot axis defined thereby, betweena nested position, whereat the sidewall is generally coplanar with the beam and extends away from the beam; anda supporting position, whereat the sidewall is disposed in angular relation to the beam; anda planar support movable betweena nested position, whereat, when the shelf is in the nested position, the support is generally coplanar with the beam; anda supporting position, whereat, when the shelf is in the support position thereof, the support is disposed in parallel, spaced relation to the beam,a linkage coupling the sidewalls, support and shelf together such thatthe following movements are mechanically linked to one anothermovement of the shelf from the nested position to the supporting position;movement of each sidewall from the nested position to the supporting position;movement of the support from the nesting position to the supporting position.the shelf extends to, and is supported by, the support when the shelf is in the supporting position.

According to another aspect, the linkage can comprise:a shelf brace extending from the support to a midpoint of the shelf and upon which the shelf sits when in its supporting position; andfor each sidewall, a sidewall brace, to which said each sidewall extends and which extends to the support.

According to another aspect:the shelf brace can be planar and be pivotally connected to each of the shelf and the support; andeach sidewall brace can be planar and be pivotally connected to the sidewall for which it is provided and to the support.

According to another aspect, the hinge can be used to provide for the pivotal connection between the beam and the sidewall.

According to another aspect, the joint can define the connection between the beam and the sidewall, the one of the pair of components being defined by the beam and the other of the pair of components being defined by the sidewall.

Advantages, features and characteristics of the invention will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Hinge

Forming one embodiment of the invention is apparatus20comprising a knuckle22, a base portion24, a leaf portion26and a tab portion28, all as shown inFIGS. 1-4

The knuckle defines a pivot axis X1-X1and has a pair of parts30,32, the pair of parts being pivotably connected to one another for relative movement about the pivot axis X1-X1.

Base portion24is planar and is connected to one30of the pair of parts such that said one30of the pair of parts is disposed to one side and centrally of the base portion24and such that the pivot axis X1-X1is parallel to the base portion.

The leaf portion26: is connected to the other32of the pair of parts for pivotal movement relative to the base portion about the pivot axis X1-X1; is planar and parallel to the pivot axis X1-X1; defines an aperture34; has an extension axis X2-X2and a length associated with the extension axis; extends from the other32of the pair of parts along the extension axis X2-X2; and is shaped and dimensioned such that the cross-section of the leaf portion26, throughout the length of the leaf portion, has a substantially constant perimeter.

The tab portion28is formed integrally with the leaf portion26;has an extension axis X3-X3and a length associated with the extension axis;extends from the leaf portion26along the extension axis X3-X3and generally towards the other32of the pair of parts;inFIGS. 1-4, is shown in an engaged position, the engaged position being such that the extension axis X3-X3of the tab portion28is disposed in angular relation to the extension axis X2-X2of the leaf portion26; andis resilient, to permit movement from the engaged position, against spring bias, to a disengaged position, not shown, whereat the tab portion28occupies the aperture34and whereat the extension axis of the tab portion is substantially parallel to the extension axis of the leaf portion and the tab portion extends towards the other of the pair of parts.
Joint

The above apparatus20can be used, in combination with a pair of components36,38, to form a joint as shown inFIG. 5

One of the pair of components36will be understood to comprise a cardboard tube having a sidewall39. A portion of the sidewall is shown cutaway inFIG. 5, which reveals the central chamber40of component36. A further cutaway portion of the sidewall reveals that the sidewall39further has defined therein on one side an aperture42which communicates with the chamber40. It will be appreciated that the cutaways are for illustrational purposes only and do not appear in the joint.

The other38of the pair of components comprises a pair of cardboard layers44,46, one46of the layers having defined therewithin a channel50and a slit52intersecting the channel.

In the joint:the tab portion28is in the engaged position;the chamber40is in gripping receipt of the leaf portion26, the outline of the leaf portion being shown in dotted outline, for clarity;the aperture42is in gripping receipt of the tab portion28;the channel50has the one30of the pair of parts protruding therefrom and is in close-fitting relation thereto.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that, to form the joint:the leaf portion26can be inserted into to the chamber40, which will cause the tab28to deform to the release position until such time as the tab portion28reaches the aperture42and springs back to grippingly engage the one36of pair of components; andthe one30of the pair of parts can be positioned in the channel by passing the base24through the slit52; the outline of the base24is shown in dotted outline inFIG. 5for clarity.
Structure

The above apparatus and joint can be used to form a structure100, as shown inFIG. 6, that forms another embodiment of the invention.

The structure comprises a plurality of beams62, a shelf64for each beam, a frame66, a support68, a linkage70and a tensioner72for each shelf64.

The beam63is elongate, has a longitudinal axis X5-X5and a pair of ends, each end defining a pivot axis X6-X6.

Shelf64is pivotably connected to beam62for movement about the longitudinal axis X5-X5.

The frame includes, for each end of the beam, a sidewall74, the sidewall connected to the beam end for which it is provided for movement about the pivot axis defined thereby; it will be understood that the hinge and joint ofFIGS. 1-5are used to provide for the connection between the beam and the sidewall, the one of the pair of components being defined by the beam and the other of the pair of components being defined by the sidewall.

The linkage70comprises:a shelf brace76that is planar, extends from the support to a midpoint of the shelf and is pivotally connected to each; andfor each sidewall, a planar sidewall brace78, to which said each sidewall extends and which extends to the support, each sidewall brace78being pivotally connected to the sidewall for which it is provided and to the support68.

The tensioner comprises an elastic member72that extends between a pair of flaps73, the flaps being disposed beneath the shelf and at the junction of the sidewall and the sidewall brace.

The usefulness of the structure will be evidenced by the sequence ofFIGS. 7,6,8, which shows the structure transitioning betweena nested configuration shown inFIG. 7, whereat the shelf is at a nested position, generally coplanar with the beam, each sidewall is at a nested position, generally coplanar with the beam and extending away therefrom and the support is generally coplanar with the beam; anda supporting position shown inFIG. 8whereat the shelf is disposed in angular relation to the beam, each sidewall is disposed in angular relation to the beam, the support is disposed in parallel, spaced relation to the beam and the shelf is supported by the shelf brace.

In this further regard, it will be appreciated that:the linkage couples the sidewalls, support and shelf together such that the following movements are mechanically linked to one another: movement of the shelf from the nested position to the supporting position; movement of each sidewall from the nested position to the supporting position; and movement of the support from the nesting position to the supporting position; andthe tensioner assists both in movement of the structure to the supporting position and retaining the structure at the supporting position.

Persons of ordinary skill will readily appreciate that, but for the hinge and tensioner, the structure can be made cost-effectively out of cardboard:FIG. 9shows a die for a beam, shelf and shelf-brace;FIG. 10shows the die for the sidewalls, support and side-wall braces.

Whereas specific embodiments are herein shown and described, variants are possible.

FIG. 11shows an exploded view of a hinge20′ according to one such variant; in this variant, a flange23is disposed in transverse relation to the pivot axis and adjacent one (axial) end of the base portion; this flange23spreads the load carried by the hinge20′ across a larger surface of the transverse slit, thereby allowing heavier loads to be carried. Herein, a spring pin25is also provided; base portion24and leaf portion26pivot about pin25in a conventional fashion. Spring pin25has a bifurcated, enlarged end27and an enlarged head29. This allows the spring to be inserted through the bores of the base portion24and leaf portion26; once fully seated, the bifurcated end springs outwardly, to resist withdrawal of the pin in one axial direction; the enlarged head29resists withdrawal in the other direction.

Yet further variants are contemplated.

Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.