Abstract:
A corrugated display sign with a former panel secured to a backer panel. The former panel includes a central section opposed by two lateral sections, two support members partially cut away from the central section and maintaining a connection with the central section via at least one fold line, and two or more preformed slits, with one slit positioned adjacent to the support members. The display sign further includes a graphic panel operable to be wrapped around exterior edges of the lateral sections, and having ends secured to the backer panel. The display sign is capable of being erected from a knockdown configuration to an erected configuration by folding the lateral sections away from the central section and wrapping the graphic panel about the lateral sections.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of earlier-filed U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/677,937, filed Jul. 31, 2012, and entitled “FACETED CORRUGATED SIGNAGE.” The identified earlier-filed provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present non-provisional application. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of point of purchase merchandise displays. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a corrugated, paperboard sign that is manufactured in a fold and glue assembly process and that is traditionally provided to an end user in a collapsed or knockdown configuration for setup. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Corrugated signs and containers are often made from pieces of flat paperboard stock material that are die cut into shapes that define various panels. The shapes are folded along predefined lines between the panels with overlapping sides, strips, or panels that are glued, taped or otherwise affixed to another panel to form an enclosed boundary. The panels are folded and/or glued into place to become the walls of the sign or container. The signs and/or containers are traditionally provided to product manufacturers and/or retailers in a collapsed or knockdown configuration for storage, handling and shipping. The manufacturer and/or retailers open the knockdown signs or containers and fold them appropriately to erect the assembled sign or container for display. 
     The corrugated sign or containers are typically manufactured by feeding flat die cut sheets through a fold-and-glue machine. The fold-and-glue machine applies adhesive and folds over select panels so that the panels are in the knockdown configuration. Signs associated with corrugated display containers, as well as corrugated and/or plastic signage in general, are traditionally made from flats pieces of corrugated or plastic material. Such signs are one-dimensional and often relatively unimpressive. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a corrugated paperboard signage assembly that is three-dimensional and that transforms quickly and easily from a knockdown to an erected configuration. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention include a corrugated display sign with a former panel secured to a backer panel. The former panel includes a central section opposed by two lateral sections, two support members partially cut away from the central section and maintaining a connection with the central section fold lines, and two or more preformed slits, with at least one of the slits positioned adjacent to each of the support members. The display sign further includes a graphic panel operable to be wrapped about exterior edges of the lateral sections, and having ends secured to the backer panel. 
     Embodiments of the present invention further include a method for making a corrugated sign including: forming a backer panel; forming a former panel; joining the former panel with the backer panel; compressing the former panel to create fold lines, such that the former panel presents a central section opposed by two lateral sections; cutting the central section of the former panel to present two support members, with the support members operable to be folded away from the former panel; cutting one or more slits in the lateral sections, with at least one of the slits positioned adjacent to each side of each of the support members; wrapping a graphic panel about exterior edges of the lateral sections; and securing ends of the graphic panel to the backer panel. 
     Embodiments of the present invention further include a method for erecting a corrugated sign. Steps of the method include providing the corrugated display sign in a knockdown configuration, with the corrugated display sign having: a former panel secured to a backer panel. The former panel includes: a central section opposed by two lateral sections; two support members partially cut away from the central section and maintaining a connection with the central section via fold lines; and two or more preformed slits, with at least one of the slits positioned adjacent to each of the support members. The steps further include: folding the support members away from the central section; folding the lateral sections away from the central section until they abut the support members; wrapping a graphic panel about exterior edges of the lateral sections; and securing ends of the graphic panel to the backer panel. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a signage assembly of embodiments of the present invention, with the signage assembly including a backer panel, a former panel, and a front graphic panel; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the former panel and the backer panel from the signage assembly of  FIG. 1  secured together in a knockdown configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the former panel and the backer panel from  FIGS. 1-2 , with the former panel being partially erected in an erected configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the former panel and the backer panel from  FIGS. 1-3 , with the former panel being fully erected in an erected configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the former panel and the backer panel from  FIGS. 1-4  in an erected configuration, and with the front graphic panel secured thereto; 
         FIG. 6  is an perspective view of a former panel with a segmented shape secured to a backer panel according to embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the former panel and the backer panel from  FIG. 6 , with a front graphic panel secured thereto. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
     As used herein, the term “longitudinal” generally refers to an orientation or direction relative to an axis of elongation, whereas the term “lateral” refers to an orientation or direction that is generally perpendicular to the axis of elongation. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a corrugated paperboard signage assembly  10  that is capable of being initially provided in a two-dimensional knockdown configuration, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 . From the knockdown configuration, the signage assembly  10  is capable of being erected into a three-dimensional configuration, such as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Returning to  FIG. 1 , the signage assembly of embodiments of the present invention comprises a rectangular backer panel  12 ; a former panel  14  secured to the backer panel; and a front graphic panel  16  secured to the backer panel and/or former panel. In certain embodiments, each of the back panel  12 , former panel  14 , and graphic panel  16  are formed from corrugated material. In certain embodiments, such corrugated material includes paperboard. However, other embodiments provide for the corrugated material to include other similar type materials, such as cardboard, fiberboard, or the like. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , in certain embodiments, the backer panel  12  and the former panel  14  are secured together with an adhesive, such as glue, tape, or other adhesive-like material. Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that other embodiments utilize other means of joining now known or hereinafter developed, including but not necessarily limited to various styles of fasteners, such as staples, rivets, hooks, pins, and the like. 
     In certain embodiments, the former panel  14  includes a central section  20  opposed by lateral sections  22 , with the central section of the former panel being secured to the backer panel  12 . In the embodiment shown, the central section  20  includes a longitudinal axis (not shown) of the former panel  14 , such that when the former panel is secured to the backer panel  12 , the longitudinal axis of the former panel is parallel with or aligned with a longitudinal axis (not shown) of the backer panel. As previously mentioned, the backer panel  12  is generally a rectangular piece of corrugated material. In certain embodiments, ends of the backer panel  12  include slits, notches, or other similar type openings (not shown) formed thereon. As will be described in more detail below, such openings are used to secure the front graphic panel  16  to the backer panel  12 . 
     In embodiments of the present invention, the former panel  14  includes a pair of pre-cut support members  24  that are operable to be folded away from the central section  20  of the former panel. In certain embodiments, the support members  24  are operable to fold along pre-folded, pre-weakened or perforated fold lines  26  connecting the support members to the former panel  14 . For example, in some embodiments, the fold lines  26  are formed by compressing along a thin line or a segment of the material comprising the former panel, so as to define the fold line. In certain embodiments, each of the support members  24  includes two tabs  28  that extend laterally from the support members. Additionally, the former panel  14  includes two slits  30  on each of the lateral sections  22 , with the slits positioned adjacent to the support members  24 . Furthermore, in certain embodiments the lateral sections  22  of the former panel  14  are operable to fold away from the central section  20  of the former panel. As with the support members, certain embodiments provide for the lateral sections  22  to fold about pre-folded, pre-weakened or perforated fold lines  32  that connect the lateral sections to the central section  20  of the former panel  14 . 
     In operation, the signage assembly  10  of the embodiments shown is capable of being transformed in a quick and efficient manner from the knockdown configuration of  FIG. 2 , to the erected configuration of  FIG. 5 . To begin, and as illustrated by  FIG. 3 , the support members  24  of the former panel  14  are folded away from the central section  20  of the former panel until such support members are generally orthogonal to the central section and the backer panel  12 . Next, the lateral sections  22  are folded away from the central section  20  until the lateral sections are generally orthogonal to the central section and the backer panel  12 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a single lateral section  22  folded away from the central section  20 , and  FIG. 4  illustrates both laterals sections folded away from the central section. As such, and as illustrated by  FIG. 4 , the slits  30  in the lateral sections  22  mate with the tabs  28  of the support members  24  to provide a rigid and a three dimensional support for the front graphic panel  16 . 
     In the embodiments shown, the front graphic panel  16  is secured to the former panel  14  and/or the backer panel  12  by being wrapped around the lateral sections  22  of the former panel, such as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In certain embodiments the front graphic panel  16  is secured to the former panel  14  and/or the backer panel  12  by glue or other adhesive. In other embodiments, the front graphic panel  16  has ends that mate with the openings on the ends of the backer panel  12 . For instance, certain embodiments provide for the front graphic panel  16  to have end tabs (not shown) configured to mate with the openings (not shown) at the ends of the backer panel  12  to secure the graphic panel in position. In other embodiments, the ends of the front graphic panel  16  are secured to the ends of the backer panel by other means of securement, such as by hook and loop fastener material, button-hook fasteners, or the like. Thus, as illustrated by  FIG. 5 , the signage assembly  10  is capable of being erected in the erected configuration that provides for the front graphic display  16  to be presented in a three-dimensional form. 
     In certain embodiments, the front graphic panel  16  is a generally rectangular piece of corrugated material that is sized to fit around the lateral sections  22  of the former panel  14 . However, it will be appreciated that the size and shape of the front graphic panel  16  of the will vary in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, once the front graphic panel  16  is secured to the former panel  14  and/or the backer panel  12 , the presented shape of the front graphic panel is dependent on a shape of exterior edges of the lateral sections. For instance, in embodiments such as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the exterior edges of the lateral sections  22  of the former panel  14  are arcuate in shape, such that when the front graphic panel  16  is wrapped around the lateral sections, the graphic panel is presented in an arcuate three-dimensional configuration (e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 6-7 , embodiments of the present invention include the lateral sections  22  formed with external edges that have one or more linear segments, such that when the front graphic panel  16  is wrapped around the former panel  14 , the font graphic panel forms a segmented three-dimensional configuration (e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). However, it is understood that embodiments of the present invention include a plurality of types of shapes for the lateral sections  22  of the former panel  14 , such that the front graphic panel  16  includes similar corresponding forms and presents a corresponding plurality of three-dimensional shapes. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.