Patent Publication Number: US-2011061277-A1

Title: Easel display board with two-way integral foot

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/274,524 filed Aug. 17, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a display board that has a deployable, integral foot for supporting the display board in portrait or landscape orientation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Presentation of information represented by indicia and images is often achieved with posterboard. Posterboard may be hung on a wall or supported by an easel for presentation of the information. Posterboard does not stand alone without some means of support. This provides a limited number of options for presenting the information. For instance, in some situations, it is not feasible or permissible to hang a posterboard on a wall with pushpins or tape, and an easel or similar type support is not available. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improvement in a device for displaying information that is self-supporting. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is principal object of the invention herein to provide a self-supporting display board for presenting information. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide a self-supporting display board that may also be used as a flat posterboard. 
     It is also an object of the invention herein to provide a display board for presenting information that is self-supporting in portrait and landscape orientation. 
     It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a method of making a self-supporting display board. 
     In carrying out the invention herein, a display board is provided including a front layer with a display surface for receiving indicia and images and a laminating surface opposite the display surface. A rear layer of substantially the same size and shape as the front layer is provided, the rear layer having an integral foot with a proximate foot end integrally hingedly connected to the remaining part of the rear layer at a fold line, and the remaining portion of the integral foot including a distal foot end separated from the remaining portion of the rear layer by cut lines. The rear layer is adhered to the laminating surface of the front layer with the integral foot thereof not laminated to the front layer, wherein the integral foot is foldably extendable from the rear layer to support the display board in upright position on a surface. 
     In additional aspects of the invention, brace means are provided for establishing a fixed extended position of the integral foot. In a specific aspect, the brace means is a brace arm integral with the rear layer with a proximate brace arm end integrally hingedly connected to the remaining part of the rear layer at a fold line. The remaining portion of the brace arm separated from the remaining part of the rear layer by cut lines. The brace arm is not laminated to the front layer. In a related aspect of the invention, the brace arm and the integral foot are releaseably interengageable to hold the integral foot in its fixed extended position. 
     In another specific aspect of the invention, the integral foot defines a slot and a distal end of the brace arm is configured as a tab receivable in the slot of the integral foot to hold the integral foot in its fixed extended position. In an alternative specific aspect of the invention, the integral foot and the brace arm each define notches that are interengageable to hold the integral foot in its fixed extendable position. 
     The integral foot may be positioned with the integral foot end at a corner of a rectangular display board, with edges for supporting the display board in portrait or landscape orientation. The integral foot may also be positioned as an interior portion of the rear layer, and may have edges for supporting a rectangular display board in portrait or landscape position. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the front layer an the rear layer are each corrugated panels, providing a stiff, lightweight display board. The display surface of the front layer may be provided on an outer paper or paperboard skin adhered to the front layer corrugated panel, or the display surface may be provided by a coating applied to the front layer corrugated panel. The front layer and rear layer corrugated panels are laminated together by glue, with the integral foot and brace arm not laminated. 
     In additional aspects of the invention, the front layer of the display board is paperboard stock, which may be of the type referred to art board or posterboard, and the rear layer is also paperboard stock. The two layers of paperboard stock are laminated together by glue with the integral foot and brace arm not being laminated. In another aspect, the rear layer may be paperboard having fluted corrugate thereon. The rear layer is laminated to the front layer with the corrugate adhered to the laminating surface of the front layer, except for the integral foot and brace arm. As alternative aspects, the front layer may be plastic, such as vinyls, polypropylenes or polyethylenes. The rear layer may also be other materials. 
     In further aspects of the invention, the display board is rectangular and the extended position of the foot supports the display board on a surface in portrait or landscape orientation. The display board may have the dimensions 22″×28″, or a similar or different size. As alternative aspects, the display board may have other polygonal or rounded shapes. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the cut lines separating the integral foot and the integral brace arm from the remaining portions of the rear layer are at least in part discontinuous cut lines separated by tear-away webs, whereby the integral foot and integral brace arm are maintained in their unfolded, flat condition as part of the rear layer until it is desired to deploy them, and the webs are torn as the integral foot and integral brace arm are deployed. Alternatively, the cut lines fully define the integral foot and brace arm, which are secured by one or more spots of adhesive that the user can readily release. The integral foot and brace arm may also be secured as undeployed portions of the rear layer by friction along the cut lines, and a cutout may be provided to facilitate extending the integral foot and brace arm. 
     Also in carrying out the invention herein, the method of making the display board includes providing a die for applying adhesive to one of the laminating surfaces of the front layer or the rear layer, wherein the die does not apply adhesive to the locations of the integral foot and integral brace arm. The die may, however, apply a small amount of adhesive to the areas of the integral foot and brace arm for releasably securing them. The rear layer is positioned on the laminating surface of the front layer, such that the integral foot and integral brace arm are not laminated to the front layer. The cut lines forming the integral foot and integral brace arm may be formed either before or after the step of laminating. 
     The method of making the display board may alternatively include applying adhesive in a pattern that does not adhere the integral foot and brace arm to the front layer and applying adhesive in ways other than a die. 
     Other features and objects of the invention herein will also appear from the following detailed description of the invention and claims, taken together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of the rear of a display board according to the invention herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the display board of  FIG. 1 , taken along the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the display board of  FIG. 1 , with an integral foot and brace arm thereof deployed; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the display board of  FIG. 1  with the integral foot and brace arm deployed to support the display board in portrait orientation; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the display board of  FIG. 1  with the integral foot and brace arm deployed to support the display board in landscape orientation; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the front layer of the display board of  FIG. 1 , with adhesive applied thereto in preparation for laminating the rear panel thereto; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of another display board according to the invention herein; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of another display board according to the invention herein; 
         FIG. 9  is a fragmentary sectional view of the display board of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the display board of  FIG. 8 , in an erected position; and 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of another display board according to the invention herein. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same elements through out the various figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , display board  10  according to the invention herein has a front layer  12  having a display surface  14  and a laminating surface  16  opposite the display surface  14 . A rear layer  20  having an integral foot  22  and an integral brace arm  24  is adhered or laminated to the laminating surface  16  of the front layer  12 , except that the integral foot  22  and integral brace arm  24  are not laminated to the front layer  12 . The integral foot  22  and integral brace arm  24  may be deployed as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5  such that the display board  10  is supported in easel-like manner in either a landscape or portrait orientation. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  the integral foot  22  is separated from the remaining portion of the rear layer  20  by a cut line  26  that extends along sides  28  and  30  of the integral foot  22  and the cut line  26  also defines a distal foot end  32  of the integral foot  22 . The distal foot end  32  preferably has two straight edges  34  and  36  which facilitate supporting the display board  10  in the portrait and landscape positions shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     The proximate end  38  of integral foot  22  is integrally connected with the remaining portion of the rear layer  20  at a fold line  40 , which may be formed by a crease in the rear layer  20 . The integral foot  22  also has a cut line  42  defining a slot  44  and rectangular fill piece  46 , which may be folded from the integral foot  22  to provide access to slot  44  as best seen in  FIG. 4 . The slot  44  is wider than the fill piece  46 , so that the ends of the slot  44  are operative portions thereof. 
     The display board  10  also includes a brace means  48  which in the embodiment shown is a brace arm  50  integral with the rear layer  20 . The brace arm  50  is separated from the remaining portions of the rear layer by cut line  52  which define the sides  54  and  56  and a distal brace arm end  58  of the brace arm  50 . A proximate end  60  of the brace arm  50  is connected to the remaining portion of the rear layer  20  at fold line  62 . 
     The cut lines  26 ,  42  and  52  may be at least in part discontinuous, such that small webs remain and retain the integral foot  22 , the fill piece  46  and the integral brace arm  50  in planar, attached condition with respect to the remaining portions of the rear layer  20  until such time as the webs are torn to deploy the foot  22  and brace arm  50 . This permits the display board  10  to be used in the same manner as a posterboard. The discontinuous portions of the cut lines may be localized near the distal ends  32  and  58  of the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50 , respectively, or may be widely spaced webs along the cut lines. 
     Alternatively, the cut lines  26 ,  42  and  52  are substantially complete and the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  are held in their undeployed positions by one or more spots of adhesive, which may be provided on two-sided tape or may be glue provided in the laminating process. The amount of adhesive is such that the user can easily release the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  when it is desired to deploy them. 
     If the cutlines are sufficiently thin, it has also been found that the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  may be held in planar, undeployed condition by friction, wherein no webs or adhesives are necessary. 
     The front layer  12  of the display board  10  is paperboard stock of the type known as art board or poster board. It typically has a thickness of 10-14points and the display surface  14  is coated, calendered or otherwise processed to provide a smooth surface for receiving indicia or images comprising the information to be presented. The display surface may be colored, if desired. The front layer  14  may also be made of any other suitable material providing a relatively smooth surface for presenting information. Plastics, such as vinyls, polypropylenes and polyethylenes, may be suitable and have the advantage of being water-resistant. They may also be used as coatings over paperboard, for that purpose. The display board may have dimensions of 22″×28″, or may have similar or other dimensions. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the rear layer  20  includes an outer panel  70  of paperboard stock and fluted corrugate  72  secured to an inside surface thereof by adhesive. The rear layer may also be paperboard, i.e. without flutes, or may be other substrates, such as vinyls, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, or other suitable material. The rear layer is sufficiently stiff that the integral foot  22  adequately supports the display board  10 , and the front layer and rear layer together are sufficiently thick and stiff that the display board  10  does not sag or bend excessively. It will be appreciated that the thicknesses may vary with the size of the display board  10 , i.e. a smaller display board  10  would require stock with less stiffness and a larger display board  10  would require thicker, stiffer stock. 
     Although the display board  10  is shown having a rectangular shape, it will be appreciated that other shapes may be provided, such as other polygonal shapes, ovals, circles, or irregular shapes, so long as the foot and brace arm are accommodated within the shape in a position to support the display board when extended. 
       FIG. 7  shows another display board  80  having the same front layer  12  and display surface  14 , and having a similar rear layer  82  that has an integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  formed therein. In display board  80 , no fluted corrugate is provided between the front layer  12  and rear layer  82 , and the rear layer  82  is laminated directly to the laminating surface  16  of front layer  12 . Again, the operative principle is that the front layer  12  and rear layer  82  together have sufficient strength to achieve a display board  80  with acceptable sag and bend, and the rear layer  82  provides an integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  for supporting the display board  80  in a display position. 
     The display boards  10 ,  80 , however, are further advantageous in that the display boards may be used in a self-supporting easel mode by deploying the integral feet and brace arms. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the sides  28 ,  30  and distal end  32  of the integral foot  22  are separated from the remaining portion of the rear layer  20  along the cut line  26 , and the rectangular fill piece  46  is bent from the integral foot along the cut line  42 , to expose the slot  44  to accommodate the distal end  58  of the brace arm. The integral foot  22  is folded or is extended outwardly by folding at the fold line  40 . The sides  54 ,  56  and distal end  58  of the brace arm  20  are also separated from the remaining portion of the rear layer along the cut line  52 , and are folded outwardly at the fold line  62 . The distal end  58  of the brace arm  50  forms a tab that is inserted in the slot  44 . The tab and rectangular opening are shaped and configured for interengagement, so that the brace arm  50  holds the integral foot  20  in its outwardly angled deployed position. 
     With respect to  FIG. 4 , the display board  10  may be supported in landscape orientation, with the edge  36  of the distal foot end  32  resting on the surface on which the display board  10  is supported. With reference to  FIG. 5 , the display board  10  may also be supported in portrait orientation by the integral foot  22 , with edge  34  the distal end of the integral foot on the surface. The display board  80  may be similarly supported. 
     With reference to the  FIGS. 8-11 , another display board  100  according to the invention herein is illustrated. It has a front layer  102  having a display surface  104  and a laminating surface  106  opposite the display surface  104 . The display board  100  also has a rear layer  110  having an integral foot  112  and an integral brace arm  114 . As more fully discussed below, the integral foot  112  and brace arm  14  may be deployed to support the display board  100  in a standing position. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , which is a sectional view of the display board  100  taken along the lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 , the composition and construction of the front layer  102  and rear layer  110  are shown. The front layer  102  is a corrugated panel, having paperboard skins  116  and  118  connected by corrugate flute  120 . The skin  118  provides the laminating surface  106  of the front layer  102 . The display surface  104  is provided by a paper display sheet  122 , which is adhered to the skin  118 . The paper display sheet may be provided in a white or other colors such as black, blue, red, green, etc. The display sheet  122  can also be provided by other substrates, such as plastics or vinyls. 
     The rear layer  110  is also a corrugated panel, having paperboard skins  124  and  126  connected by corrugate flute  128 . The surface of paperboard skin  124  is adhered to the paperboard skin  118  of the front layer  102  by adhesive  129 , to laminate the front and rear layers together. If desired, the paperboard skin  126  of the rear layer  102  may be covered by colored paper sheet or another sheet material to improve the appearance thereof; however, the rear layer  102  is generally not used as a display and the additional sheet is not necessary to the structure or function of the display board. It should also be known that the display surface  104  may be provided by a coating on the surface of paperboard skin  116 , such as a heavy clay coating or the like, in lieu of a separate sheet. 
     The integral foot  112  has a distal end  130  having edges  132  and  134  aligned with adjacent corner edges of the front layer  102 . The integral foot  112  also has a proximate end  136  hingedly connected with the rear layer  110  at a fold line  137 . The integral foot is further defined by edges  138  and  139  extending from the ends of the fold line  137  to the distal end  130 . A notch  140  is formed along the edge  138  of the integral foot  112 . A portion of the brace arm extends across the edge  138 , as more fully discussed below. 
     The brace arm  114  has proximate end  142  hingedly connected with the remaining portion of the rear layer  110  at a fold line  144 . The fold line  144  is advantageously located extending from the side  138  of the integral foot  112  at the notch  140 . The distal end  146  of the brace arm  114  is provided with a tab  148  and a notch  150  adjacent the tab  148 . A portion  152  of the edge  138  of the integral foot  112  is angled from the top of notch  140  to the top of notch  150 . The tab  148  extends into the integral foot  112 . An access opening  154  is cut into the rear layer  110  adjacent the brace arm  112 , to facilitate lifting the brace arm from the rear layer  110 . 
     The integral foot  112  and the brace arm  114  are formed in the rear layer  110  by cut lines and by the fold lines  140  and  144 . They are not laminated to the front layer  102 , whereas a sufficient amount of the remaining portion of the rear layer  110  is secured to the front layer  102  by adhesive  129  or the like. It is desirable to secure most of the front layer and rear layer together except for the integral foot  112  and brace arm  114 , although the corrugated layers are relatively stiff and sufficiently self supporting that the adhesive  129  does not need to be applied to the entire laminating surface  106 . 
     The nature of the corrugated structure of the rear panel is such that the integral foot  112  and brace arm  114  tend to remain co-planer with the rear layer  112  until the user pivots them to an open position; however, small discontinuities in the cuts defining the integral foot  112  and brace arm  114  may be provided to better hold them in place, and small amounts of adhesive can be used for that purpose. 
       FIG. 10  shows the display board  100  erected. This is accomplished by first folding the integral brace arm  114  outwardly from the rear layer  110 . The integral foot  112  is then folded outwardly from the rear layer  110 . Because the notch  140  is adjacent the fold line  139 , the notch  140  slides along the brace arm edge until the notches  140  and  150  interengage. This secures the integral foot  112  in a position that supports the display board on a table top or the like. 
     In  FIG. 10 , the display board is supported in portrait orientation, by edge  132  of the integral foot  112 , but it will be appreciated that the display board  100  could also be supported in landscape orientation, with edge  134  on the table or other flat supporting surface. 
     The display board  100  is rectangular and may be either the relatively standard size of 24 inches by 32 inches, or any other desired size. The corrugated front layer  102  and corrugated rear layer  110  are in and of themselves relatively stiff, and therefore provide a stiff display board  100  and the corrugated construction of the front layer and the rear layer also provides a display board that is of relatively light weight. 
     With reference to  FIG. 11 , another display board  170  according to the invention herein is shown in a rear plan view. It has a front layer  172  and having a display surface, not seen, in  FIG. 11 , and a rear layer  174  laminated to the front layer  172  by adhesive or the like. An integral foot  176  is formed from a portion of the rear layer  174  by cut lines  177 , and the integral foot  176  extends to an integral foot end  178  aligned with adjoining corner edges of the display board  170  as described above with respect to display board  100 . The cut line  177  partially defining the integral foot includes a notch  180 . The integral foot  176  has a proximate end  182  which joins with the rear layer  174  at a fold line  184 . A brace arm  190  is also formed by a portion of the rear layer  174 , and includes a distal end  192  and a proximate end  194  at a fold line  196 . The brace arm defines a notch  198 . 
     When the integral foot  176  and brace arm  190  are folded outwardly and thereby deployed, the notch  198  of the brace arm engages with the notch  180  of the integral foot, wherein the brace arm  190  holds the integral foot  176  in the desired position for supporting the display board  170  on a flat surface in either portrait or landscape orientation. Therefore,  FIG. 11  shows a display board  170  wherein the brace arm has a different shape and location with respect to the integral foot then in the embodiments described above, illustrating flexibility and options in design of the integral foot and brace arm. 
     In the display boards  10 ,  80 ,  100  and  170  the rear layers  20 ,  82 ,  110  and  174  are respectively adhered to the laminating surfaces of the front layers. However, the integral feet and the brace arms are not adhered to the front layer, so that they can be deployed. As illustrated in  FIG. 6  with respect to display board  10 , this is accomplished by applying adhesive to areas other than the areas  76  of the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50 . Adhesive  78  is applied to the laminating surface  16 , and the adhesive may be applied using a die with the areas of the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  having corresponding blank areas on the die, except that a small portion of adhesive may be applied to the area  76  of the integral foot and brace arm for releasably securing them. The rear layer  20  is positioned on the laminating surface  16  of the front layer  12 , with the adhesive securing the front layer  12  and rear layer  20  together but without securing the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  to the front layer, except in a small releasable area, if desired. The same procedure may be used to laminate rear layers to the front layers of display boards  80 ,  100  and  170 . 
     If appropriate equipment is available, adhesive may be applied without using a die. The adhesive may be applied to either the front panel or the rear panel. One or more spots of adhesive may be positioned to releasably hold the integral foot and brace arm. The releaseable securement of the integral foot  22  and brace arm  50  may be achieved by application of two-sided tape and is, of course, not necessary if tear-away webs  50  are used. The cut lines  26 ,  42  and  52  may be formed in the rear layers either before or after the laminating step. 
     In using the display boards  10 ,  80 ,  100  and  170 , they may be placed on a flat surface for the application of indicia and images comprising information to be presented. The indicia and images may include lettering, numbers, pictures, and may also include additional materials secured to the display surfaces, such as pictures or text printed on paper. Everything that might be placed on a prior art poster board can be placed on the display surface  14 . At this point, the integral feet and brace arms are not deployed, such that the display boards are completely flat while the indicia and images are applied. If desired, the display boards may be used in this flat configuration, in the same manner as a prior art poster board. For instance, they can be hung on a wall with push pins or tape, or may be placed on an easel. 
     Accordingly, the easel display boards with two way integral foot described above admirably fulfill the objects of the invention herein. It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above are illustrative of the invention, and that various changes may be made without disparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.