Advertising/promotional display system

Abstract

By providing a unique, preprinted housing member which automatically expands from a flat, generally two-dimensional configuration into a three-dimensional promotional display, and is securely maintained in the three-dimensional configuration for any desired time duration, a unique, hands-on, printed, long-lasting visually exciting and interest-generating advertising/promotional product is obtained. In the present invention, the self-erecting, promotional display member incorporates small magnetic members mounted to internal panels, struts or support walls of the display member, with the magnetic members being positions for being automatically activated simultaneously with the movement of the display member from its two-dimensional configuration into its three-dimensional configuration. Once activated, the magnetic members are brought into locked engagement with each other, securely holding the display member in its fully erect, three-dimensional display configuration.

Description

THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the advertising/promotional display member of the present invention depicted as a polyhedron in its three-dimensional, fully constructed display configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the outer surfaces thereof shown in phantom and the internal support panels or walls thereof fully depicted;

FIGS. 3-5 are cross-sectional side elevation views of the polyhedron embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the embodiment in various stages of movement from its two-dimensional, collapsed position to its fully displayed, three-dimensional position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the advertising/promotional display member of present invention depicted as a house or building and shown in its three-dimensional, fully displayed configuration;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 with the outer surfaces thereof shown in phantom and the internal support panels or walls thereof fully depicted;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7, depicting the support panels in their fully erect and displayed position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate construction for the embodiment of FIG. 6 with the outer surface of the advertising/promotional display member depicted in phantom and with the internal support panels or walls shown fully depicted;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 shown in its collapsed, two-dimensional position;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 shown in its fully erect, three-dimensional position; and

FIGS. 12-19 are perspective views of various alternate embodiments of the advertising/promotional display member of the present invention with each embodiment depicting an alternate construction and configuration of the present invention shown in a fully erect, three-dimensional position.

Claims

1. An advertising/promotional product comprising: A. a housing comprising at least one wall forming member 1) constructed for establishing the outer, peripheral surface of said housing,2) being movable between a first collapsed, substantially flat configuration into a second, fully erect, three-dimensional configuration, and3) incorporating a first magnetic element mounted along the interior surface thereof; andB. at least one interior support strut 1) mounted along a first edge thereof to the interior surface of the wall forming member of the housing, and2) incorporating a second magnetic element mounted to a second edge of said support strut in position for cooperative, aligned, mating engagement with the first magnetic element for providing interior structural support to said housing when placed in its second, fully erect, three-dimensional configuration;

2. An advertising/promotional product comprising: A. a housing comprising a plurality of panels cooperatively associated with each other for being movable between a first, collapsed, substantially two-dimensional configuration into a second, fully erect, three-dimensional configuration, said three-dimensional configuration establishing a desired visual display;B. a first support strut mounted inside the housing and comprising a) a first edge pivotally mounted to a first panel of the housing for movement between a first folded position and a second extended position, andb) a second edge spaced away from the first edge and incorporating a first magnetic element mounted thereon: andC. a second support strut mounted inside the housing and comprising a) a first edge pivotally mounted to a second panel of the housing for movement between a first folded position and a second extended position, andb) a second edge space the way from the first edge and incorporating a second magnetic element mounted thereon and positioned for co-operative, interconnected engagement with the first magnetic element whenever the second magnetic element and the first magnetic element are brought into proximity with each other,

3. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein said panels forming the housing are further defined as being affixed to at least one adjacent panel along at least one side edge, for enabling the rapid movement between the first, collapsed position and the second, fully erect, display position.

4. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 3, wherein each of the panels forming the housing are further defined as comprising at least one shape selected from the group consisting of triangles, squares, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, trapezoids, polygons, circles, and ellipses.

5. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein the first support strut and the second support strut are each further defined as comprising a substantially L-shaped construction formed by two wall members cooperatively associated with each other and movable along a common fold line, with one of said wall members being affixed to one panel of the housing and the other wall member being arcuately pivotable relative to the first wall member and incorporating the magnetic element mounted along the free edge thereof.

6. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 5, wherein the first support strut and the second support strut are mounted to separate panels of the housing and positioned for cooperating contacting engagement with each other whenever the housing is moved from its first, collapsed, two-dimensional configuration into its second, fully erect, three-dimensional configuration.

7. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein the first support strut and the second support strut are each further defined as comprising four wall members cooperatively associated with each other and mounted in side by side adjacent relationship, with two of said wall members of each of said support struts being affixed to separate panels of the housing.

8. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 7, wherein the first support strut and the second support strut are further defined as comprising three fold lines formed substantially parallel to each other for defining the four wall members and enabling each support strut to move from a first, folded, substantially Z-shaped configuration to a second, unfolded, extended position with two wall members thereof extending inwardly from the panels forming the housing into the interior of the housing.

9. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 8, wherein the first support strut and the second support strut each comprise a magnetic element mounted along the fold line formed by the two wall members extending into the interior of the housing, whereby the magnetic element mounted to each of said support struts are positioned for contacting interengagement with each other whenever the advertising/promotional product is placed in its second, fully erect, three-dimensional configuration.

10. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein each support strut is further defined as being formed from material having a sufficient thickness to provide rigidity to the support structure for maintaining the housing in its fully erect position.

11. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 10, wherein each support strut is formed from heavy-duty cardboard.

12. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein each magnetic element is further defined as comprising a permanent magnet having a size and shape for optimizing its performance in aligned relationship with cooperating magnets.

13. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 12, wherein each magnetic element is further defined as comprising a shape selected from the group consisting of circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, rods, and spheres.

14. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein both the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are further defined as comprising a plurality of separate and independent magnets mounted along the edge of the support strut.

15. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 14, wherein the magnets are constructed for being attracted to each other for providing automatic contacting interengagement whenever the magnets are positioned in close proximity to each other.

16. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein each of the panel members forming the housing are further defined as comprising outer, exposed surfaces on which any desired indicia is displayed, for providing an exciting, interest generating, and effective advertising/promotional product.

17. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 16, wherein said indicia comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of printed matter, messages, colors, slogans, logos, graphics, and cutouts.

18. The advertising/promotional product defined in claim 2, wherein said housing is further defined as being quickly and easily converted from a substantially flat, coplanar structure into a fully erect, three-dimensional display configuration wherein the housing is constructed for being formed into any desired overall size and shape.