Abstract:
A showcasing system. The system includes a display board and a silhouetted 3D aesthetic component. The 3D aesthetic component includes (i) an unitary blank movable into a silhouetted 3D aesthetic surface, the 3D aesthetic component being attached to the display board and (ii) a plurality of die cutouts spaced along the longitudinal axis of the blank.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    (1) Field 
         [0002]    The present inventions relate generally to bulletin and activity boards and, more particularly to a display board and a silhouetted 3D aesthetic component attachable to the display board. 
         [0003]    (2) Related Art 
         [0004]    “Pop-ups” have previously been used in such areas as greeting card designs, advertising mailers and book illustrations. These “pop-ups” often result in 3D presentations that are usually nestled between two opposing pages until separation of the pages results in extension of the presentation into a raised location. These types of “pop-up” devices involve intricate designs and require positioning between two opposing pages, attachment of separate “pop-up” elements or both. These designs necessitate rigorous assembly, time intensive preparation and prohibitive expense, which exclude their use in the educational field to enhance classroom and educational displays. 
         [0005]    Teachers use classroom displays to augment the learning experience and to enhance the aesthetics within the classroom. Classroom displays often are changed weekly or monthly. However, educators work on time constraints and strict budgets and therefore any displays utilized must be affordable and easily manipulated. 
         [0006]    Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved showcasing system, which includes a silhouetted 3D aesthetic component, while at the same time, the 3D aesthetic component may be packaged in a flat blank and then moved into a silhouetted 3D aesthetic surface. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS 
       [0007]    The present inventions are directed to a showcasing system including a display board; a silhouetted 3D aesthetic component, the 3D aesthetic component including (i) an unitary blank movable into a silhouetted 3D aesthetic surface, the 3D aesthetic component being attached to the display board and (ii) a plurality of die cut outs spaced along the longitudinal axis of the blank; and means for attaching the 3D aesthetic component to a portion of the display board. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the 3D aesthetic component includes a first attachment flap extending along the longitudinal direction of the blank; an elevating panel adjacent to the first attachment flap, the die cut outs being positioned along the crest of the elevating panel; and a score line between the first attachment flap and the elevating panel for folding the elevating panel with respect to the first attachment flap. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the elevating panel may forms a 3D curved surface. In another, the elevating panel includes at least two portions forming a 3D triangular surface. In still another, the elevating panel includes at least three portions forming a 3D raised surface. The present inventions may further include score lines between each portion of the elevating panel for folding one portion with respect to another portion of the elevating panel to form a 3D raised surface. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the die cutouts are partial cuts generally outlining at least one design element illustration. In addition, the partial cuts portions of the die cutouts may extend transversely from the longitudinal axis of the elevating panel. In one embodiment, the partial cut portions of the die cutouts are cantilevered with respect to the remainder of the elevating panel and extend outwardly above the attachment flap. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the crest portion of the elevating panel is more visually vivid than the remainder of the elevating panel for accentuating the height of the crest portion of the elevating panel. In another embodiment, the attachment flap also is more visually vivid than the remainder of the elevating panel for accentuating the height of the crest portion of the elevating panel. 
         [0012]    Finally, the blank may further include a second attachment flap along the edge of the elevating panel opposite the first attachment flap and a second score line between the second attachment flap and the elevating panel for folding the elevating panel with respect to the second attachment flap. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the means for attaching the 3D aesthetic component to a portion of the display board is selected from the group consisting of staples, pushpins, adhesive tape, double stick tape, tacks and adhesive putty and combinations thereof. In addition, the display may further include decorations, pictures and educational materials and combinations thereof. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the display board includes a display area and an edge forming the outer perimeter of the display area. Also, it may further include a frame attached to at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the display board. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the display board may be selected from the group consisting of bulletin boards, activity boards, pocket charts and white boards and combinations thereof. Also preferably, the display area may be selected from the group consisting of cork, dry erase board, chalkboard, fabric and metal and combinations thereof. 
         [0016]    Accordingly, one aspect of the present inventions is to provide a showcasing system including: a display board; and a blank movable into a silhouetted 3D aesthetic component, the 3D aesthetic component being attachable to the display board. 
         [0017]    Another aspect of the present inventions is to provide a 3D aesthetic component for attachment to a display board or the like, the 3D aesthetic component including: an unitary blank movable into a silhouetted 3D aesthetic surface, the 3D aesthetic component being attachable to the display board; and a plurality of die cut outs spaced along the longitudinal axis of the blank. 
         [0018]    Still another aspect of the present inventions is to provide a showcasing system including: a display board; a silhouetted 3D aesthetic component, the 3D aesthetic component including (i) an unitary blank movable into a silhouetted 3D aesthetic surface, the 3D aesthetic component being attached to the display board and (ii) a plurality of die cut outs spaced along the longitudinal axis of the blank; and means for attaching the 3D aesthetic component to a portion of the display board. 
         [0019]    These and other aspects of the present inventions will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a display board having a 3D aesthetic component attached constructed according to the present inventions; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the 3D aesthetic component; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the 3D aesthetic component; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a blank constructed according to the present inventions, which is movable into the 3D aesthetic component; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional views of four embodiments ( 5 A- 5 D) of the 3D aesthetic component; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the 3D aesthetic component. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Referring now to the drawings in general, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing preferred embodiments of the inventions and are not intended to limit the inventions thereto. 
         [0027]    As best seen in  FIG. 1 , a showcasing system, generally designated  10 , is shown. The showcasing system  10  includes a display board  20  and a 3D aesthetic component  30 . Display board  20  can be a device such as a bulletin board, activity board, pocket chart or white board, and includes a display area  21  and edges  22  forming the outer perimeter of display area. Display area  21  can be a substrate such as cork, dry erase board, chalkboard, fabric and metal and combinations thereof. Frame  23  is optionally attached to edges  22 . 
         [0028]    Turning to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , a blank  35  is movable into the 3D aesthetic component  30 . 3D aesthetic component  30  includes design elements  50 , first attachment flap  40 , second attachment flap  41  and crest  47 , and is attachable to display board  20 . Preferably; blank  35  is constructed out of cardstock, paper or cardboard with rigidity to it, although other materials such as plastic, metal, fabrics, non-weaved materials and the like are also suitable. Suitable attaching means  15  include staples, pushpins, adhesive tape, double stick tape, tacks, adhesive putty and combinations thereof  FIGS. 5A-5D  depict suitable placement of attaching means  15 , herein shown as pushpins. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that blank  35  includes a strip of material comprising a multitude of designs, cuts and scores. Specifically, first attachment flap  40  and second attachment flap  41  each extend along the longitudinal direction of blank  35 . As previously shown in  FIG. 1 , when blank  35  is moved into 3D aesthetic component  30 , attachment flaps  40  and  41  receive attaching means  15  for attaching to display board  20 . 
         [0030]    Inwardly from attachment flaps  40  and  41  are first and second score lines  42  and  43  respectively, which ensure that a user properly folds blank  35  to form 3D aesthetic component  30 . Inwardly from score lines  42  and  43  is elevation panel  45 , which provides height to 3D aesthetic component  30 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0031]    As best seen in  FIG. 5 , in the 3-sided embodiments, generally designated  30 C and  30 D ( FIGS. 5C and 5D ), third and fourth score lines  48  and  49  respectively are inward from score lines  42  and  43 . In the curved and triangular embodiments, generally designated  30 A and  30 B ( FIGS. 5A and 5B  respectively), third and fourth score lines  48  and  49  are not present. Crest  47  is the uppermost portion of elevation panel  45 . 
         [0032]    As previously shown in  FIG. 4 , die cutouts  36  formed along elevating panel  45  create design elements  50 . Preferably, these die cutouts  36  are partial cuts that generally outline a portion of design illustration  51 . 
         [0033]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when blank  35  is moved into 3D aesthetic component  30 , partial cut portions  37  and uncut portions  38  remain planar, with partial cut portions  37  extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of elevating panel  45 . Partial cut portions  37  are cantilevered with respect to remainder of elevating panel  45 , and extend outwardly above attachment flaps  40  and  41 . 
         [0034]    As can be appreciated, design illustrations  51  of  FIGS. 2-4  are ladybugs, but any illustration, including animals, cartoons, characters, logos, designs, shapes, objects of nature, holiday symbols and graphics and combination thereof should be suitable. 
         [0035]    Preferably, crest  47  is colored or shaded to be more visually vivid than the remainder of elevating panel  45 , in order to accentuate the height of crest  47 . It is also preferable that attachment flaps  40  and  41  are also colored or shaded to be more visually vivid than non-crest portion of elevating panel. Visual vividness can be achieved by providing visually interesting and eye catching colors, designs, textures and/or features to crest  47  and/or attachment flaps  40  and  41 , while providing more muted colors, designs, textures and/or features elsewhere for contrast. 
         [0036]    Finally,  FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment wherein multiple 3D aesthetic components are longitudinally adjacent, thereby creating substantially parallel crests  47 . 
         [0037]    In operation, a user of the showcasing system  10  would take at least one blank  35  and then fold it along first and second score lines  42  and  43 , and possibly along third and fourth score lines  48  and  49 . The user would then attach the resulting 3D aesthetic component  30  to display board  20 , preferably along edge  22 . Finally, the user could then attach, for example, pictures or educational material, onto display area  21  to complete the display. 
         [0038]    Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, design features such as glitter, fabric, reflective material, “googly eyes” and lights could be added to design illustration  51 . Also, a string of lights could be run in hollow portion created between elevating panel  45  and display board  20  (not numbered but shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D ). Moreover, paper, fabric other textiles could be inserted into the diecut openings for further decoration. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.