Abstract:
A display unit including a plurality of shelves and at least one collapsible support element, wherein the display unit is configured to be moveable between a compact state in which the at least one support element is in a collapsed position, and at least one assembled state in which the plurality of shelves are assembled whereby each assembled shelf is separated by, and supported by the at least one support element in an extended position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention broadly relates to a collapsible shelving unit for the display or presentation of products or other items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the economic activities of advertising, marketing and sales, the placement and presentation of products and/or information relating to products or services offered for sale is all important. 
         [0003]    Traditionally, items for sale in a shopfront window are positioned on shelves, stands or other units in order maximise the range and visual impact of items displayed to the passer-by. The same principle applies to portable units for displaying products or information, such as temporary stands used in exhibition halls, ‘pop-up’ stands set up in commercial centres or portable displays used by travelling salespersons. However, portable display units need to be both easy to set up and dismantle, and versatile to allow for marketing, sales and advertising activities to be adjusted to suit the environment in which the display unit is placed. 
         [0004]    There is therefore a need for a display unit which offers enhanced portability and versatility. 
         [0005]    Portable display units in the past have incorporated hinged foldable parts which, when packed up, can be carried around by an individual. Many such prior display units have complicated assembly processes, and setting up can be time consuming. Prior portable display units may also have a single assembled state, and this can restrict the versatility of the display unit to accommodate items of differing size or number. 
         [0006]    Such proposals may be contrasted with the invention presently disclosed in that the invention uses a simple assembly process and provides a range of display options for the user. 
         [0007]    The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the above discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Orientational terms used in this specification and terms such as base, lid, upper and lower, are to be interpreted as relational and are used on the understanding that the component, item, article, or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, typically with the base of the display case located on a surface and, in an assembled state, the shelves located directly above the base. 
         [0009]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display unit including a plurality of shelves and at least one collapsible support element; the display unit is adapted to be moveable between a compact state and at least one assembled state, the collapsible support element(s) each adapted to be movable between a collapsed position and at least one extended position; wherein in the compact state the support element(s) are in a collapsed position; and in an assembled state a plurality of shelves are assembled whereby each assembled shelf is separated by, and supported by, the at least one support element(s) in an extended position. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the display unit further includes a display unit case wherein the support element(s) and shelves fit into the display unit case when the display unit is in the compact state. In this configuration, the portability of the display unit is increased. 
         [0011]    The display unit case may also be configured such that in the compact state, the shelves and support element(s) are located wholly within the boundary of the display unit case. Alternatively, parts of the shelves and/or support element(s) may be located outside of the display unit in the compact state. 
         [0012]    Preferably, in the assembled state, the display unit case constitutes the base of the display unit, making it stable and enabling it to stand securely by itself. Alternatively, some other part of the display unit may operate to make the display unit stable, or the display unit may be used in conjunction with another structure to make it stable. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the display unit includes a lid which is supported by one or more support element(s) in the assembled state. The lid may fold back, slide or otherwise move to enable the shelves to be assembled. 
         [0014]    Preferably a plurality of support elements are used, each support element being a rigid straight bar having a certain length, each bar&#39;s upper end being located closest to the lid or top of the display case and each bar&#39;s lower end being located closest to the base when the display unit is in the assembled state. Preferably, the rigid bars collapse by pivoting or sliding along rails located in or on the shelves. Alternatively, the support element(s) may incorporate a telescoping mechanism in which a series of cylindrical sub-elements collapse into each other (each sub-element smaller in diameter than the next outer sub-element), or another mechanism which allows the support element(s) to collapse as well as to extend to support the shelves in the assembled state. 
         [0015]    The shelves of the display unit are preferably rectangular in dimension. Alternatively, they may take a circular, triangular or other shape. Where rectangular shelves and rigid bars for support elements are used, the bars preferably slide along rails located along the long side of the shelves. 
         [0016]    Preferably, in the extended position the support element(s) are located at the corners of a shelf, though not necessarily at each corner. The support element(s) may also be located elsewhere, such as at the centre region of a shelf. 
         [0017]    The support element(s) may travel through the shelves. In this case, the preferred mechanism for the collapsing support element(s) is a telescoping mechanism as described above. 
         [0018]    Preferably, one or more support elements are adapted to provide multiple collapsed positions, so that the space between each assembled shelf can be adjusted, and different assembled states can be realised. In this case, where a telescoping support element is used, it may have a plurality of extended positions. Preferably, the plurality of extended positions are each realised by operation of spring loaded sub-element which cooperates with a series of holes located on the circumference of a plurality of interoperating cylindrical sub-elements. Alternatively, multiple collapsed positions may be realised by the use of rigid bars as support elements adapted to slide on rails located along the sides of shelves, or on the top-side and/or under-side of shelves; the rails preferably including stoppers or other cooperating sub-elements which permit the bars to be secured at a variety of positions along the rails, thereby permitting variable spacing between the shelves. A combination of telescoping support elements and rails may also be used to permit greater versatility in the shape of the assembled display unit. 
         [0019]    Preferably, so as to move the display unit from the compact state to the assembled state, the user need simply pull the lid or top shelf of the unit upwards to move the support element(s) into an extended position, and the shelves into an assembled position. It is contemplated that the support element(s) may incorporate, or operate in conjunction with, a spring, piston or other device such to assist in automating the assembly of the display unit from the compact state to the assembled state. The spring, piston or other device preferably assists in raising a shelf into an assembled position by pushing against the base, or against a lower shelf of the display unit. 
         [0020]    According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a display unit in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the display unit adapted to be movable between a compact state and a plurality of assembled states, wherein in each assembled state a plurality of spaced shelves are assembled. 
         [0021]    In a preferred configuration, the each assembled state of the display unit differs from the other by the number of display shelves which are formed in each respective assembled state. For example, in a first assembled state, three shelves are formed (excluding the display case lid) and in a second assembled state, four shelves are formed. 
         [0022]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display unit in accordance with the first or second aspect of the invention, the display unit further including interchangeable panels. The interchangeable panels are adapted to allow advertising, print material, or similar to be interchangeably placed under or on the panel, thereby further increasing the versatility of the display unit. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the panels are located on the sides of the shelves and the sides of the display unit case. The panels may extend beyond the dimensions of the shelves and/or display unit case. In a preferred configuration, the lid is adapted to support an upper message for advertising. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment the display unit includes locking means for vertically aligning and securing the shelves in the assembled state. The locking means may be a pin slidable along the support member and engagable with the shelf. 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that any or all of the three aspects of the invention may be combined in any combination. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0026]    Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a display unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, depicted in an assembled state; 
           [0028]      FIG. 1   b  is the display unit represented in  FIG. 1   a,  depicted in a compact state; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of a display unit according to the second aspect of the invention, depicted in a first assembled state and having three shelves;  FIG. 2   b  is a front view of the display unit represented in  FIG. 2   a,  depicted in a second assembled state and having four shelves; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 2   c  is a front view of the display unit in  FIG. 2   a,  depicted in a third assembled state and having five shelves. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    In  FIG. 1   a,  an embodiment of a display unit  10  according to the first aspect of the invention is depicted in an assembled state, whereas in  FIG. 1   b,  the display unit  10  is depicted in a compact state. In  FIG. 1   a,  the display unit  10  has a display unit case  20  and a series of five rectangular shelves ( 31  to  35 ), and a lid  40 . The display unit case  20  constitutes a support base for the display unit  10  in this embodiment. Sets of two slidable parallel bars  50  (only one set is labelled on  FIG. 1   a ), located in each corner of each rectangular shelf  30  are the support elements which separate one shelf from another in the assembled state. The slidable parallel bars  50  are slidable along rails (not shown), the top end of each bar being slidably movable along a corresponding rail located along each long side of each rectangular shelf (or the lid), each bar  50  being able to pivot at its lower end. When the display unit  10  is in a compact state as depicted in  FIG. 1   b,  the upper parts of each of the bars  50  collapse inwardly to be parallel to a shelf. Locking pins  21  (labelled on  FIG. 1   a ) are slidable along the parallel bars  50  to securely align the shelves  31 - 35  vertically. 
         [0032]    In order to assemble the display unit  10  in  FIG. 1   a,  starting with the display unit in the compact state as depicted in  FIG. 1   b,  the assembler raises the lid  40  upwards thereby separating the lid  40  from the first or upper shelf  31 ; during the process of raising the lid  40 , the support elements collapsibly attached to the upper shelf  31 , move from a collapsed position into an extended position to support the lid  40  above the first or upper shelf  31 ; 
         [0033]    next, the upper shelf  31  is raised by the assembler upwards to separate the upper shelf  31  from the second shelf  32  and the support elements  50  attached to the second shelf move from a collapsed position into an extended position to support the lid  40  and the upper shelf  31  above the second shelf  32 . The raising of the upper shelf  31  from the second shelf  32  is achieved in this case by the lid  40  moving upwards, which in turn raises the upper shelf  31  and second shelf  32 , or alternatively, by raising the second shelf  32  which thereby raises the assembled upper shelf  31 ; the remaining shelves are likewise assembled until each of the third shelf  33 , fourth shelf  34  and fifth shelf  35  are moved into position so that the display unit  10  is in the assembled state as depicted in  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0034]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  also depict a display unit lid  40  having two recesses, one recess being parallel to the long sides of the rectangular lid  91  (not visible in  FIG. 1   a ), the other recess being curved  92 . Each recess  91 ,  92  is capable of receiving an upper message  85 . The parallel recess  91  receives the upper message  85  in each of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b.    
         [0035]    In  FIGS. 2   a,    2   b  and  2   c,  an embodiment of a display unit  100  according to a second aspect of the invention is depicted. The display unit  100  in  FIGS. 2   a,    2   b  and  2   c  has a display unit case  200  and a series of rectangular shelves  301 - 305 , and a lid  40 . The display unit case  200  constitutes a support base for the display unit in this embodiment. Support bars  500  (only one of which is labelled, see  FIG. 2   a ), located in each corner of each rectangular shelf  301 - 4 , are the support elements which separate one shelf from another in the assembled state. In  FIG. 2   a,  the display unit  100  is in an assembled state having three shelves  301 - 303 ; and in  FIG. 2   b  the display unit  100  is in an assembled state having four shelves  301 - 304 . 
         [0036]    In  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b,  on the front side of each rectangular shelf  300  there is an interchangeable shelf panel under which is positioned a shelf message strip. The front face of the interchangeable shelf panel is slidable relative to the shelf which permits the shelf message strip to be interchanged as needed. Only the shelf panel  601  and message strip  651  for the upper shelf  301  is labelled in  FIG. 2   a.  Similarly, the four faces of the display unit case  200  (only the front face is shown) each have an interchangeable case panel  700  which permits the case message to be interchanged, which is labelled in  FIG. 2   b  only. 
         [0037]    In  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b,  an interchangeable upper message  850  is depicted above the lid  400 , and this is labelled in  FIG. 2   b  only. The interchangeable upper message  850  is removably attached to the lid  400 . In the aforementioned embodiments the lid  400  has recesses to receive the upper message  850 , which has been described above with reference to  FIG. 1   b.    
         [0038]    Advantages of the display unit herein described are many. First, the portability of the display unit: it can be carried from display location to location in a compact state by means of the display unit case. The case may be fitted with handles, grips, knobs or similar means to permit easy carrying of the unit. Second, as depicted in  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b  and  2   a  and  2   b,  the display unit  10 ,  100  is free-standing and supported by its display unit case  20 ,  200 , so no additional support structures at the base are required in order to set up the display unit. This increases the range of locations where the display unit  10 ,  100  can be used. Third, the unit  100  is simple and fast to assemble. The limited number of parts, and self-contained nature of the design, further enhances its portability. 
         [0039]    With reference to the embodiment of the display unit depicted in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b,  this is a highly versatile display unit  100  which provides the added flexibility of having a plurality of assembled states and allows the display unit  100  to be used in a larger variety of spaces and for a wider variety of display purposes. Furthermore, the interchangeable panels  600  and interchangeable upper message  850  provide further advantages in customising the display unit  100  to suit the needs of the user. 
         [0040]    The shelves  31 - 35 , 301 - 305  and lids  40 , 400  of the display units  10 , 100  in  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b  and  2   a,    2   b  and  2   c  are made out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); suitable alternative materials may include other polymers and copolymers, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), metals such as steel and composite metal-plastic materials. The case of the display units  20 ,  200  is made from ABS with corners made out of PVC, however the materials used for the case may be made from other materials such as other polymers and copolymers, metals and metal-plastic composites. The support structure, including the support elements  50 ,  500  and rails (not shown), is made from mild steel but may be made from other suitable materials including polymers and copolymers, and metal-plastic composites. 
         [0041]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.