Foldable combined receptacle and advertisement display

A combined waste receptacle and advertising display is formed in a pyramidal shape from a single piece of folded material which to provide an enclosed waste receiving cavity and a three display surfaces. Openings in the pyramid walls provide access to a substantially enclosed waste receiving cavity. Advertising information and/or articles may be applied or attached to the remaining surface area of the walls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pertains generally to foldable structures and, in 
particular, to foldable three dimensional structures. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
With the elimination of ashtrays from a large percentage of restaurant 
table tops, there is a newly created need for a receptacle for such things 
as chewing gum, sugar packets and straw wrappers. For chewing gum in 
particular, the inadequacy of ashtrays as a receptacle is illustrated by 
the presence of gum stuck to the underside of restaurant tables 
everywhere. Ideally, such a receptacle would be aesthetically pleasing, 
have a substantially enclosed waste cavity, and occupy no more space than 
an ashtray. 
Foldable articles made of paper board or other foldable material are used 
as advertising displays for table tops in restaurants. Such articles are 
typically folded to have a base and two display surfaces upon which an 
advertisement is printed. For example, the common "tent" table top display 
is formed of a single piece of card stock folded in 2half with the end of 
each half folded inward to form an interlocking base. The tent thus 
provides two generally vertically oriented display panels which carry a 
printed advertisement. Though three dimensional, such tents have only two 
display surfaces and do not serve as waste receptacles. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a novel solution to the problem of 
restaurant table top waste management in combination with a novel table 
top advertisement format. 
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a combined receptacle and 
advertisement display is formed from a single sheet of foldable material 
having three fold lines which define adjoining edges of four generally 
rectangular interconnected panels including a central panel, a right panel 
connected along a first fold line to the central panel, a left panel 
connected along a second fold line to the central panel, and a bottom 
panel connected along a third fold line to the central panel; the right, 
left and bottom panels being foldable along respective fold lines relative 
to the central panel to form a three dimensional structure having a 
receptacle cavity and three advertising display surfaces. 
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pyramidal table top 
advertisement display and waste receptacle is formed from a single sheet 
of foldable material to provide a substantially enclosed waste receptacle 
accessible through an aperture in at least one of the pyramid walls which 
bear advertising indicia. 
These and other aspects of the present invention are herein fully disclosed 
in the following Detailed Description made with the reference to the 
annexed Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the combined receptacle and 
advertising display 10 of the present invention in an assembled 
configuration which novelly provides a generally concealed waste 
receptacle and three distinct display panels or walls. The display 10 is 
formed from a single sheet 11 of card stock or any other suitable foldable 
material cut substantially in the unfolded configuration shown in FIG. 4 
to include a central panel A, a right panel B, a left panel C and a bottom 
panel D. The four panels are interconnected along adjoining edges by 
respective fold lines 12, 14 and 16. In this particular embodiment, the 
length of fold lines 12 and 14 is substantially greater than fold line 16 
in order to increase the volume of the waste receiving cavity without 
increasing the surface area of bottom panel D. Panels B and C further 
include foldable bottom flaps 18 and 20, respectively, attached to a 
bottom edge of the panel along respective fold lines 22 and 24. Locking 
tab insertion slots 26 are provided adjacent fold lines 22 and 24 to 
receive and engage locking tabs 27 which extend from peripheral edges 28 
of panel D, in the manner well known in the foldable structure arts. Panel 
B further includes a foldable peripheral flap 30 attached to a peripheral 
edge of panel B along fold line 32. Locking tab insertion slots 34 are 
positioned adjacent fold line 32 to receive and engage locking tabs 36 
which extend from peripheral edge 38 of panel C. 
To transform the display 10 into the three dimensional pyramidal folded 
configuration shown in FIGS. 1-3, peripheral flap 30 of panel B is first 
folded relative to panel B away from the exterior face of panel B. Panels 
B and C are then each folded relative to panel A, away from the exterior 
face of panel A, along fold lines 12 and 14 each to the extent that 
peripheral edge 38 meets fold line 32 with peripheral flap 30 tucked 
underneath panel C. Locking tabs 36 are inserted into slots 34. Bottom 
flaps 18 and 20 are then folded inward and panel D is also folded away 
from the face of panel A, to overlap bottom flaps 18 and 20 and position 
locking tabs 27 for insertion into slots 26. Apertures 40 may be 
selectively placed and shaped in panels A, B and C to provide access to 
the substantially enclosed waste receiving cavity formed by the described 
structure. The receptacle can be easily emptied by disengaging locking 
tabs 26 and opening panel D by hinged rotation along fold line 16. 
Furthermore, multiple assembled displays may be vertically stacked by 
similarly opening (or folding inward) bottom panel D to allow insertion of 
the point of another display. 
The remaining exterior surface area of each panel is sufficient for 
attachment of an additional article or articles, which may be, for 
example, an advertising medium such as adhesively attached pieces of paper 
in the form of a miniature tablet 42 upon which messages may be printed 
and which may also be used to wrap waste material such as chewing gum 
prior to placing it in the receptacle. Other articles may be attached to 
the walls of the pyramid to attract attention to the advertisement 
display. 
The invention thus provides a three dimensional receptacle and generally 
vertically oriented advertising display ideally suited for placement upon 
a table top to receive small waste materials and to carry advertising 
messages on each of the sides of the display. 
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to one 
particular embodiment, obvious modifications and variations are all within 
the basic concept of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims 
and equivalents thereto.