Three dimensional imformation transmitting device

A single sheet, of paper for example, is cut and provided with fold lines, such that when folded printing on a single side thereof becomes visible in two different directions. The device included a support carries wing-like portions which when folded and locked, project generally horizontally into the space in front of the support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an information transmitting device and more 
particularly to a device which provides a three dimensional viewing 
surface from two different directions, and yet only employs one side 
printing. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Information transmitting devices, for example, marketing devices, have and 
are subject of intense study and investigation. The number of such devices 
designed is probably very, very great. The objective, however, of a vast 
majority is the same - engage the mind of the prospective customer, cause 
them to think as to the message, and to create in their mind a need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display 
device which can, from a distance, engage the eye of the potential 
customer as they move down the supermarket aisle. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a three dimensional 
advertising device which maximizes the visual angle of recognition between 
the message to be transmitted and the customer. 
But another object of this invention is to provide a flat unitary resilient 
sheet having a message on only one side which can be folded into a three 
dimensional advertising device. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide a device which can be 
cut in any shape desired, to create a novel effect and which displays an 
advertising message spacially removed from the merchandise. 
Another object of this invention to provide a three dimensional information 
transmitting device which is bent in a predetermined manner to create both 
a three dimensional effect, and to provide support. 
A further object of this invention is to provide an attention getting 
device which is secured in a pricing rail and resiliently suspended in a 
spaced relationship before the commodity shelf. 
But another object of this invention is to provide an information bearing 
device which will maintain a predetermined position generally 
perpendicular to the passerby's direction to travel, and parallel to their 
field of vision. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide an advertising display 
device which contains further information concerning the offered goods in 
the form of tear-off sheets on pads. 
To this end, the invention provides a device constructed of a single flat 
sheet of, for example paper, for the transmission of information. The 
sheet is cut and scored to create a bridge portion from which depends 
first and second body portions in an angled winglike manner. A holding or 
locking means, also carried by the bridge portion, secures the two body 
portions against each other such that because of their angled relationship 
they are caused to warp or bend, thus resulting in strengthening and 
creating depth. A support tab is flexibly connected to the backside of the 
bridge portion and thus the device is capable of mounting in the channel 
of a stocking shelf. This flex tab serves as a hinge whereby the bridge 
portion, carrying the two body portions, projects horizontally into the 
space in front of the commodity shelf such that it can be struck from 
below it will bend upwardly without being damaged or destroyed. Further 
the major plane of the bridge portion is generally perpendicular to the 
major plane of the support tab, while the major plane generally of the 
body portions is perpendicular to that of the bridge portion. The result 
being in practice that, as stated, the bridge portion and the two body 
portions, each of which a message may occupy, are in a spacial 
attention-getting relationship to the commodity shelf where the product 
may be located and to the potential customer who is moving by.

Referring now to the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 
specifically in FIG. 1. The three dimensional information display means 
100 is preferably constructed of heavy paper or other similar inexpensive 
material. The display means 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is in a flat unfolded 
position, thus facilitating inexpensive and simple shipment as well as 
economical manufacture and importantly allows one side printing. Once the 
display means 100 is folded as shown in FIGS. 2-5, it assumes a three 
dimensional configuration. As is apparent, the message, price, pictures, 
graphic display, etc. which are printed on the first and second body 
portion means or wing-like means 102 and 104 are then visible to a 
prospective customer who may approach it either from the left or right of 
it as shown in FIG. 3. 
In this embodiment, a supporting means 106 is hingidly or flexably 
connected along a first fold line means 108 to a bridge or bridging 
portion means 110. The supporting means 106 as shown in FIG. 2 is designed 
for cooperation with a pricing channel or rail means 112, which is in turn 
secured to the facing edge of a commodity shelf 114. Cut out means 116 and 
118 are provided to allow insertion into the pricing channel 112 by bowing 
the support means 106 slightly and inserting it. 
It is apparent thus, that the display means 100 offers a high degree of 
mobility in that it can be set up or taken down without the use of tools, 
tape, staples, string, etc. 
The bridge means 110 includes second and third and fourth fold line means 
120, 122 and 124. Connected via fold line means 120 and 122 are the 
wing-like means 102 and 104 in a hinge-like fashion. As shown in FIGS. 2 
and 3, in use the wing-like means 102 and 104 are bent downwardly such 
that their individual major planes, which in FIG. 2 are parallel to the 
plane of the sheet, are generally perpendicular to the major plane of the 
bridging means 110. Which as shown in FIG. 2 extends up perpendicular from 
the plane of the sheet and from left to right. Supporting means 106 also 
has a major plane, which as shown in FIG. 2, extends into and out of the 
sheet, and is generally perpendicular to that of the major plane of 
bridging means 110. 
The wing-like means 102 and 104 can be of any general shape depending on 
the message etc. to be conveyed. In this embodiment they each include: a 
free end; an orientating means 126 and 128 arranged at the other end and 
cut-out means 130 and 132 arranged at approximatley the midsection 
thereof. The orientating means 126 and 128 or at least one of them, are 
designed to abut the pricing channel means 112 as shown in FIG. 2. As is 
apparent, the shape of the orientating means 126 and 128 will determine 
whether the bridge means will extend straight out from the commodity 
shelf, as in FIG. 2 or angle up or down. Remove material from the area 134 
of orientating means 126 and 28 and it will angle down, add material and 
it will angle up. This may be desirable to create additional effect. 
The cut-out portions 130 and 132 are designed to cooperate with a locking 
or holding means 136, as shown in FIG. 1 in order to secure the wing-like 
means 102 and 104 such that when folded as in FIG. 3, they are curved or 
bent into a particular relationship as will hereinafter discussed. The 
locking means 136 which secures the wing means in this manner is connected 
to the bridge means 110 on the fold line 124, the slot means 138 thereof 
allowing the insertion of the portions 140 and 142 of the wing means 102 
and 104. 
The locking or holding means 136, when engaging the first and second body 
portion or wing means 102 and 104, by virture of the fact they lie at an 
angle to each other, are forced together creating a degree of curvature 
along the major plane of each. That is, the wing means 102 and 104 are 
connected along fold lines 120 and 122 which define the wedge like profile 
of bridge means 110. Thus, when an attempt is made to force the wing means 
102 and 104 against each other, they are to a degree, with the resulting 
curvature. This gives each wing means 102 and 104 a three dimensional 
feature, that is, it's not totally a flat sheet but a curved one, and 
allows each one to function as a load bearing member rather then a 
flexible, flat bendable sheet. 
Thus, in practice the entire device or display means 100 can be resiliently 
suspended in space in front of the commodity shelf means 114 (see FIG. 2). 
The provision of fold line 108 allows it to hinge up if contacted from 
below, as for example hit by a product being removed from a lower shelf, 
the curvature in the wing portions 102 and 104 provide strength against 
outside forces directed from either the right or left (as in FIG. 3) and 
the orientating means 126 and 126 determine the angle at which it projects 
outwardly. The display means 100 thus for example, can project into the 
shopping aisle perpendicular to the shopper's direction of travel with a 
message generally parallel to the shopper's field of vision and slightly 
curved to provide depth. 
Reference is now being made to the drawings FIGS. 6-10 wherein a second 
embodiment is shown and identified as display means 200. FIG. 6 shows the 
display means 200 as being constructed from a unitary flat resilient sheet 
of material, for example, paper. The display means and includes a second 
supporting means 202, second and third body portions or wing means 206 and 
208 and a fourth body means 210 designed to provide space for the tear-off 
sheet means such as pad means 212. 
The second supporting means is flexibly connected to the body means 210 
along a fold line 222. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the display device 
is mounted in a pricing channel 216, the support means 202 and the body 
portion form a double fold portion 214. The pricing channel or rail means 
216 cooperates with the first supporting means 202 to secure it in a 
predetermined manner, with the double fold being positioned at the top 
flange of the pricing channel such that the display device is provided to 
withstand the forces generated by the removal of the tear-off sheets and 
the free edge of the support means being inserted in the other flange of 
the pricing channel. A commodity shelf means 218 or other suitable support 
is provided to carry the pricing rail means 216. 
Horizontally projecting out into the space in front of the pricing rail 216 
at an angle generally perpendicular to the shopper's direction of travel 
and yet parallel to their plane of vision, are the second and third body 
or wing means 206 and 208. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, they are generally 
trapezoidally shaped however, they may be cut in any desired shape to 
create novel effects and to display the advertising message spacially 
removed from the merchandise. This can include printed messages, prices, 
pictures, graphic display, advertising copy, etc. on the surfaces of wing 
means 206 and 208 as will as the fourth body portion 210. As stated 
further information concerning the advertised product can be provided 
through the use of tear-off sheets on pads. Such pads comprise a multitude 
of identical pieces of paper (cents off coupons for example) removably 
secured by mechanical or adhesive means. 
In forming the display means 200 from a unitary flat resilient sheet, as 
removed from the storage or transportation container, the supporting means 
202 is bent downwardly along fold line 222 (as shown in FIG. 6) to form 
the double material fold 214 (FIG. 10), the edge portion 224 is pushed 
toward the fourth body portion 210 (in the plane of the drawing sheet) 
causing bending along first, second, and third fold lines 226, 228, and 
230. 
Once formed as shown in FIG. 7, the orientation of the folds can be 
maintained by overlaping locking slits (not shown) in the supporting means 
202 or by the friction generated between the elements when cooperating as 
shown in FIG. 10. 
Thus, a flat sheet, of for example paper, having information on only one 
side can be folded to create a three dimensional display wherein the 
information is visable from two different directions by virtue of the wing 
means 206 and 208. The wing means 206 and 208 project out into the free 
aisle space where they are visable from either direction by shoppers 
moving through the aisle. 
An additional feature of the double fold means 214 is that in the event the 
display means 200 is contacted by a force from below, such as a product 
being removed from a lower shelf, it will hinge upwardly around the double 
fold and thus avoid being torn, or bent etc. The supporting means shown in 
these embodiments are only illustrative and could be designed to cooperate 
with any suitable hanger device. Or they could incorporate an adhesive for 
attachment to a surface. 
The present invention thus provides a device constructed of a single flat 
sheet which has information printed on only one side thereof that can be 
bent along fold lines to assume a generally three dimensional 
configuration such that the printed information is orientated generally 
perpendicular to a viewer's line on travel and horizontal to their field 
of vision. A second embodiment provides additional information that is 
orientated parallel to the viewer's line of travel, in that it is visible 
to the viewer should he stop and turn toward the device. For example, the 
viewer sees the three dimensional portion at a distance and as they 
approach to the point directly adjacent to the device if they turn to face 
the commodity shelf the additional information in the form of tear-off 
sheets will be directly before them. The supporting means in both 
embodiments are hinge like in construction to allow movement of the entire 
device out of or away from a possibly destructive force. 
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the 
invention, a Device For Displaying Information that fully satisfies the 
objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the invention has 
been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is 
evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be 
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing 
description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, 
modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of 
the appended claims.