Point of purchase display device

The invention provides an attractive and versatile point of purchase display device comprising a collapsible body member having an open end portion and an end member which includes oppositely facing convex and concave surfaces. The body member, as well as both convex and concave surfaces of the end member, can be suitably inscribed with desired advertising indicia. The end member is adapted to fit over the open end portion of the body member when it is in a non-collapsed position with either its concave or convex surfaces exposed to customer view. When so positioned, the end member rigidly maintains the body member in its non-collapsed position for use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to point of purchase display devices. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides a point of purchase display device comprising a body 
member having an open end portion and an end member which includes 
oppositely facing convex and concave surfaces. The body member and both 
convex and concave surfaces of the end member can all be suitably 
inscribed with a desired advertising design or message. The end member is 
adapted to fit over the open end portion of the body member with a 
selected one of its concave and convex surfaces exposed to customer view. 
Thus, the display effect of the device can be quickly and simply altered. 
An eyecatching, versatile point of purchase display is thus provided. 
In one embodiment, the body member includes sidewalls which are hingedly 
attached together so as to be collapsable upon themselves for 
transportation and storage. The end member serves to rigidly maintain the 
body member in a non-collapsed condition so that, in use, the device can 
be table-mounted or suspended from the ceiling.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION 
Shown in the drawings is a display device 10 suited for customer view at 
point of purchase and similar applications. The device 10 includes a body 
12 having oppositely facing open end portions 14 and 16 (see FIG. 2) and 
at least one end member 18 which is adapted to cover either end portion 14 
or 16. Preferably, as is shown in FIG. 1, two end members 18 are provided 
to simultaneously cover both end portions 14 and 16. 
In the illustrated embodiment (as is best shown in FIG. 2), the body 12 is 
formed by four adjacently spaced side panels 20, collectively forming a 
rectilinear shape for the body 12. In the particular embodiment 
illustrated, this rectilinear shape is generally cubical. However, other 
shapes, rectilinear or non-rectilinear, can be utilized. 
The side panels 20 terminate in oppositely spaced edges 22 and 24 which 
peripherally bound the respective open end portions 14 and 16 of the body 
12. Due to the generally cubical configuration of the side panels 20, 
these open end portions 14 and 16 are generally square in shape. 
The side panels 20 can be constructed of various sturdy, lightweight 
materials, such as paper or plastic, or a combination of the two. Any or 
all of the panels 20 can be opaque or, if desired, translucent so that a 
light can be mounted within the body 12 and heighten the visual effect of 
the display device 10. Appropriate advertising designs can be printed, 
pasted, embossed or the like on the panels 20. 
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in the preferred embodiment, the side 
panels 20 are hingedly attached together, such as by plastic strips 25 or 
the like which are glued or otherwise affixed to adjacent panels 20. By 
virtue of this arrangement, the side panels 20 can be collapsed upon 
themselves (as shown in FIG. 3) to facilitate storage or transportation of 
the body 12. In this arrangement, and as will be described in greater 
detail later herein, the end members 18 serve to rigidly maintain the body 
12 in its non-collapsed or open position (as shown in FIG. 1) when in use. 
As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, each of the end members 18 includes a 
main or mid portion 26 having a generally convex or outwardly projecting 
surface 28 and an oppositely facing generally concave or inwardly 
projecting surface 30. While various constructions are possible, in the 
illustrated embodiment, the main portion 26 includes spaced upright 
sidewalls 32 and a top wall 34 which extends from the upright sidewalls 
32. The oppositely facing convex and concave surfaces 28 and 30 are thus 
formed. 
Like the body 12, each end member 18 can be constructed of various sturdy, 
lightweight materials, such as paper or plastic, and be opaque or 
translucent, according to the particular display effect desired. Also, the 
oppositely facing convex and concave surfaces 28 and 30 can each bear 
advertising indicia. 
The end members 18 can be fitted upon the open end portions 14 and 16 of 
the body 12 with either their convex or concave surface 28 or 30 exposed 
to customer view. More particularly, each end member 18 includes a lip 
portion 38 (as best shown in FIG. 5) which extends at a right angle 
outwardly from the lower peripheral edge 40 of each sidewall 32. The lip 
portion 38 includes a first surface area 42 which faces in the same 
direction as the concave surface 30 and a second surface area 44 which 
faces in the same direction as the convex surface 28. As is shown in FIG. 
1 and in solid lines in FIG. 5, the first surface area 42 overlies the 
edges 22 and 24, locating the end member 18 over the respective open end 
portion 14 or 16 with the convex surface 28 exposed to customer view. 
Alternately, as shown in FIG. 4 and in phantom lines in FIG. 5, the second 
surface area 44 can also overlie the edges 22 and 24, thereby locating the 
end member 18 over the respective open end portion 14 or 16 with the 
concave surface 30 exposed to customer view. 
A first skirt 46 extends at generally a right angle from the first lip 
surface 42. The first skirt 46 peripherally surrounds a portion of the 
side panels 20 adjacent to the open end portions 14 or 16 when the first 
surface area 42 of the lip portion 38 is engaged thereon (as shown in FIG. 
1 and in solid lines in FIG. 5), thereby rigidly maintaining the body 12 
in an open, or non-collapsed, position. 
In like fashion, a second skirt 50 extends at generally a right angle from 
the second lip surface 44 and is generally coplanar with the first skirt 
46. The second skirt 50, like the first skirt 46, peripherally surrounds a 
portion of the side panels 20 adjacent to the open end portion 14 and 16 
when the second lip surface 44 is engaged thereon (as shown in FIG. 4 and 
in phantom lines in FIG. 5), and, like the first skirt 46, serves to 
rigidly maintain the body 12 in an open, or non-collapsed, position. 
Thus, when at least one of the end members 18 is in position on one of the 
end portions 16 or 18 of the body 12 with either the convex or concave 
surfaces 28 or 30 exposed to customer view, the device 10 is 
self-supporting and can rest in an upright or lengthwise position atop a 
table or display counter. The device 10 can also be suspended lengthwise 
from the ceiling, if desired. 
In one possible use (not shown), the outwardly exposed convex surface 28 
can bear a clock face, and a clock mechanism can be suitably mounted 
within the concave surface 30. 
As is apparent from the foregoing, the device 10 provides an eyecatching, 
versatile point of purchase display. 
Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following 
claims.