Abstract:
The advertising display stand includes a planar base with two opposed mounting brackets secured on an upper surface of the base. A collapsible support post of a rectangular configuration is secured atop the base due to engagement with the brackets. The collapsible support post in a non-collapsed state includes opposed slots that receive and engage upwardly extending portions of the mounting brackets. An advertising media is provided on or supported by the support post. In one embodiment the support post is formed from stacked elements of a known segmented wall advertising system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to advertising displays, and in particular to self-supporting advertising displays of the column type that are collapsible to a flat configuration. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are a number of different advertising displays, and a number of these are collapsible displays specifically designed for easy shipping or transportation. In particular, these collapsible displays have a number of different cooperating segments and collapse to typically be transported in a lightweight container. With these structures, the user is able to easily carry the advertising display and quickly assemble the display at a desired site. Many of these advertising display stands are made of a laminated cardboard material or other lightweight printable material having a high quality printed advertisement provided on the exterior surface of the display stand. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,857 discloses a display stand which is easy to assemble and may be used as a free standing display or as a hanging display. The display uses an upper sub-assembly that is connected to a lower sub-assembly, and two foot assemblies are provided at the base of the unit to allow the display stand to be self supporting. The outer surface of the display stand has bowed side walls or curved side walls which join at two opposed corner regions. Each of the sub-assemblies include reinforcing members interior to the outer walls of the display stand for maintaining the bowed configuration of the advertising walls. Unfortunately, with this advertising display stand, the overall stability of the unit is not as high as would be desired, and the individual feet members  24  are subject to inadvertent abuse and/or breakage by a person who may be walking by the display stand. 
         [0004]    A different type of display tower is disclosed in PCT application WO 2007/040432. In this reference the assembly includes an inner post that includes outwardly extending flanges at the bottom of the post to extend below and be held in place by a base portion. The base portion includes a large central recess sized to allow the securing post to pass through the base portion. An outer sleeve can then be placed about the support post and provides a final display surface. The stability of this structure relies on the weight of the base portion holding the flanges of the inner post against a support surface. However, the display system is quite specialized in that the base portion must be provided with a recess for receiving the post and the post must include bottom flanges that extend beneath the base portion. Depending upon the particular surface that the device is supported on, the stability of the advertising display can be adversely affected. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides an advertising display system that is cost effective to manufacture and provides good stability. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the advertising display can advantageously use components from other advertising displays in providing a preferred form of the interior support post. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An advertising display according to the present invention comprises a generally planar base with two opposed mounting brackets securable on an upper surface of the base. A collapsible support post, that is generally rectangular in configuration in cross-section, is secured atop the base. The collapsible support post in a non-collapsed condition includes opposed slots that receive and engage upwardly extending portions of the mounting brackets provided on the upper surface of the base. These mounting brackets connect the support post to the upper surface of the base. An advertising media is provided on or supported by the support post. 
         [0007]    According to an aspect of the invention, the advertising media is a deformable flat sleeve sized to be applied over the support post and deform to a bowed side-walled configuration in engagement with and supported by the support post. The support post and the flat sleeve cooperate such that the sleeve engages the support post in a manner to maintain the bowed side walls while the sleeve is in engagement with the support post. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect of the invention, the flat sleeve is biased to maintain a flat configuration, and when applied over the support post, moves to the bowed configuration in engagement with the support post. 
         [0009]    In a further aspect of the invention, at least two rectangular-in-section elongate collapsible support members are stacked one above the other with connectors extending therebetween to maintain the collapsible support members in the stacked configuration. These support members form the support post. 
         [0010]    In a further aspect of the invention, the support members are additionally designed as a component of an advertising display system for forming a segmented wall advertising display. With this arrangement, a purchaser of a segmented wall advertising display can then utilize certain components of the segmented wall advertising display for forming the support post of the present advertising display. 
         [0011]    In a preferred aspect of the invention, each support bracket includes a securing flange fixed to the base and a pivotal portion moveable from a collapsed position generally parallel to the base to a support post engaging position extending outwardly away from the base. 
         [0012]    In a further aspect of the invention, each pivotal portion of each mounting bracket extends to a support post engaging position generally perpendicular to the base. 
         [0013]    In a yet further aspect of the invention, each mounting bracket is made of a plastic material with an integral hinge portion intermediate the length of the mounting bracket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the advertising display and the various components thereof; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2 through 4  are perspective views of the base of the advertising display and the mounting brackets in different configurations for receiving of the support post; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5 through 7  are perspective views of an alternate embodiment of the base where the mounting brackets are hinged, and in the collapsed state the hinged portion overlies the base portion of the mounting bracket; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of the advertising display system and  FIG. 9  shows the advertising display system utilizing only the base and the support post; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are perspective views of the advertising display system with the display system including a deformable flat sleeve to be placed over the support post; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 12 through 15  show further embodiments of the system where the advertising display utilizes the support post and includes horizontally extending shelf surfaces either side of the support post; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 16 ,  17  and  18  show details of an alternate base portion for the advertising display; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 19 ,  20 ,  21  and  22  show details of the particular cooperation of a modified mounting bracket and its cooperation with the molded base; and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 23 through 25  show details of the modified mounting bracket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The advertising display  2  includes a planar base  4  having a pair of mounting brackets  24  provided on an upper surface  5  of the base. These mounting brackets include a base portion  26  secured to the planar base  4  and a hinged portion  28  moveable to a perpendicular orientation relative to the base as shown in  FIG. 1 . The perpendicularly extending hinge portions are received in the collapsible support post  6  defined by the stacked collapsible support members  8  and  10 . 
         [0025]    Collapsible support members  8  and  10  are of a generally rectangular cross-section and preferably are components of a segmented wall advertising system that can be defined by stacking of these support members one above the other. In the present system the mounting brackets  24  and in particular the hinged portions  28 , are of a design to be received in an end slot of the collapsible support members  8  or  10  and provide a secure engagement of the collapsible support members to the planar base. 
         [0026]    Each of the collapsible support members  8  and  10  receive a portion of the bayonet-type connectors  12  and  14  that are received in end slots of these members. The bayonet connectors  12  and  14  are shown in a fully inserted position with respect to the collapsible support member  8  and are aligned for insertion in end slots of the collapsible support member  10 . 
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the collapsible support post  8  is defined by the stacked collapsible support members  10  which are secured to the planar base  4 . A deformable flat sleeve  20  is designed to slide over the collapsible support members  8  and  10  and maintain a bowed-wall configuration as generally shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 . 
         [0028]    As seen in  FIG. 11 , the deformable flat sleeve  20 , when inserted on the support post  6 , is in engagement with the support post at generally the corners of the support post and thus the support post maintains the sleeve  20  in the desired bowed configuration. It is preferred that the flat sleeve  20  have an inherent bias urging the flat sleeve to the flat configuration. This bias will maintain the sleeve in engagement with the support post and provides a simple arrangement for assembling of the advertising display. Other arrangements for maintaining the advertising sleeve can also be used. For example the sleeve could be biased to a bowed wall configuration of a size for close abutment with the support post. 
         [0029]    One of the main advantages with the advertising display shown in the drawings is associated with the base  4  and the mounting brackets  24  which are secured on the upper surface  5  of the base. Each of the mounting brackets preferably has a base portion  26  secured to the base by means of a mechanical fastening arrangement such as staples, screws etc. or it can be adhesively secured to the base. Preferably, the mounting brackets are designed to assume the generally horizontal orientation shown in  FIG. 2  and are moveable as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  to the perpendicular orientation of the hinged portions  28  for engaging the collapsible support post  6 . The base  4  is preferably made of an engineered wood product such as particle board, and it can include a laminated upper surface to provide a better finished surface. The mounting brackets  24  are designed to be essentially concealed by the support post when the support post is mounted to the base. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5 through 7  show a variation of the mounting bracket which has now been labeled  24   a . In this embodiment, the mounting bracket has the base portion  26  and the hinged portion  28  overlying one another in the horizontal orientation. The hinged portion  28   a  is then pivoted outwardly to the position of  FIG. 7  for engagement with the support posts. This structure allows the hinged portion  28  to be of increased length for further receipt in the collapsible support post  6 . 
         [0031]    The advertising display system as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  can include the support post  6  defined by the collapsible support members  8  and  10  attached to the base to provide a rectangular-type tower as shown in  FIG. 9 . Excellent stability is achieved as the base is of a weight significantly greater than the support post. Excellent advertising is provided due to the large rectangular surfaces of the support post and the unit is easily transportable as the support post is of a multi-component configuration. 
         [0032]    In some applications the advertising display system of the present invention will initially be sold as a base in combination with a support post. The purchaser can use this system initially to provide effective advertising on the surface of the support post. After a certain period of time, the user may wish to replace the advertising with different advertising. Rather than purchase a new system or at least purchase new components for the support post, the user can purchase a collapsible sleeve  20  that is designed to sleeve onto the post, and this provides a cost-effective enhancement where the particular advertising message is easily changed. 
         [0033]    In some circumstances, the purchaser of the system may already have the components  8  and  10  for defining the support post  6 . In this case, the user can purchase the base  4  and the advertising sleeve  20  and effectively use the components he has previously purchased to provide his support post. This integration of two distinct advertising systems provides a number of distinct advantages and flexibility for the end purchaser. 
         [0034]    Further enhancements to the system are shown in  FIGS. 12 through 15 . In this case, the support post  6 , due to its segmented design and bayonet connections  12  and  14  at the sides of the support post, can include horizontally extending shelf surfaces generally shown as  40 . These support surfaces include an elongate slot  42  for receiving the bayonet connection and the support shelves are effectively trapped between two collapsible support members  8  and  10 . The bayonets  12  and  14  can include releasable lock tabs to lock with the support members  8  and  10  to further secure the shelves. 
         [0035]    It is also possible to effectively use these horizontal shelf members in combination with a modified advertising sleeve. In this case, the advertising sleeve would be provided in two distinct segments: a lower segment which covers the support post below the horizontal shelves, and an upper sleeve that is positioned above the horizontal shelves. In this way, the end purchaser has a number of different options for providing display stands of different configurations. Furthermore, it has been found that this particular display stand, due to the use of a flat planar base of a relatively strong and heavy material relative to the remaining portion of the advertising display, provides an excellent support and is not subject to damage. As a person walks around such an advertising display, if he happens to place his foot on the base  4 , the display stand remains in its stable condition and there is no damage to the display stand. The probability of a user bumping into or kicking a display stand is reduced as the base extends outwardly and typically is contacted first without damage. The prior art structures as described in the background of the invention may be prone to this type of damage. 
         [0036]    Details of a modified arrangement for the base and the mounting brackets are shown in  FIGS. 16 through 25 . 
         [0037]    The modified base  104  is of a molded plastic with a peripheral edge  106  supporting a raised upper surface  112 . A pair of mounting portions  108  and  110  are provided in the upper surface with each mounting portion adapted to engage a molded mounting bracket ( 126 ,  128 ). The mounting portions include three recessed ports  114 ,  116  and  118 , which are open to each other beneath the dividing or separating segments  120  and  122 . The recessed ports  114 ,  116  and  118  are partially closed at a lower edge by bottom portions  115 ,  117  and  119  respectively. The portion of the base directly beneath the separating segments  120  and  122  are open to simplify molding. 
         [0038]    The mounting portions  108  and  110  are adapted to receive the injection molded mounting brackets  126  and  128 . These mounting brackets include a base portion  130  and a hinged portion  132 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 17 , the mounting brackets  126  and  128  are inserted into the modified base  104  such that the base portion  130  is received in the base and captured between the separating segments  120  and  122  and the bottom portions  115 ,  117  and  119 .  FIG. 18  shows the mounting brackets fully inserted within the mounting portions  108  and  110  of  FIG. 18 . 
         [0040]    Additional details of the particular cooperation between the mounting brackets  126  and  128  and the mounting portions  108  and  110  are shown in  FIGS. 19 through 22 . The recessed port  118  includes an angled end wall  140  closing the recessed port at one edge of the base portion  119 . The bottom surface of the base portion  130  of the mounting brackets  126  or  128  includes downwardly extending triangular projections  142 . These triangular projections on the lower surface of the base portion  130  in combination with the angled end wall  140  act like a cam encouraging the mounting bracket to move to the fully inserted position as shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . As shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the base portion  130  is inserted into the recessed ports and passes under the separating segments  120  and  122 . The base portions  115 ,  117  and  119  provide bottom support for the base portion  130  and the separating segments  120  and  122  retain the base portion within the recessed ports. Preferably, base portions  117  and  115  include angled walls  145  and  147  to cam the front edge of the base portion onto the base portions  117  and  115 . 
         [0041]    It can also be appreciated from  FIGS. 19 and 21  that the mounting portions  108  and  110  provide a centre floor engaging support within the modified base  104  that cooperates with the downwardly extending peripheral edge  106  to support the base peripherally and centrally. Preferably the base portion  130 , when received in a mounting portion, extends to and abuts the end wall  144  of the recessed port  114 . This abutment, in combination with the triangular projections  142  engaging the base of the angled wall  140 , positively retains the mounting bracket in a predetermined inserted position. It can also be appreciated from  FIG. 22  that the triangular projections provide a resilient distortion of the base portion  130  trapping the base portion in the mounting portions  108  or  110 . This arrangement provides good retention with wide tolerance variations due to injection molding manufacture and wear. The projections  142  and the angled wall  140  also assist in removal of mounting brackets for transport or other reasons. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 23 through 25  show a side view of the injection molded mounting bracket. The mounting bracket  126  includes a live hinge  150  connecting the angled walls  152  and  154  of the base portion  130  and the hinged portion  132  respectively. The live hinge is positioned in close proximity to the triangular projections  142 . The triangular projections  142  are provided at space points across the base portion  130 . Preferably, there are three or more of these triangular projections on the base portion  130 . The hinged portion  132  can be pivoted about the live hinge  150 , as shown in  FIG. 24 , to assume the perpendicular configuration as shown in  FIG. 25 . Note that the angled walls  152  and  154  now abut and form a stop mechanism for the live hinge at the perpendicular configuration. The mounting bracket is preferably about 24 cm in length and about 6 cm in width. The base portion is about 9 cm in length. 
         [0043]    The plastic material of the mounting brackets is chosen to provide good resiliency and to provide an effective live hinge between the base portion  130  and the hinge portion  132 . 
         [0044]    The modified base assembly as shown in  FIGS. 16 through 25  provides an effective arrangement, and also provides a strong connection between the collapsible support member  8  that forms the bottom portion of the support post  6  of the advertising display shown in the earlier Figures. 
         [0045]    One of the advantages of the present system is its ability to be used a number of different times, and to be transported in a flat condition. Over time, there may be damage to the mounting brackets, and the insertable mounting brackets of the modified arrangement allow for replacement if they become damaged or broken. The plastic molded base portion provides excellent stability and is light in weight for easy transport. 
         [0046]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.