An understanding of embodiments described in this disclosure and many of the attendant advantages may be readily obtained by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings, of which:
Some embodiments discussed in this disclosure are descriptive of apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for making, assembling, and utilizing self-expanding mechanisms for display units.
Applicants have recognized that, in accordance with some embodiments described in this disclosure, some types of retailers, advertisers, consumers, sellers of information display units and other types of users may find it beneficial to have a collapsible and expandable display unit configured with one or more collapsible and expandable, load-bearing mechanisms for bearing, by way of example and without limitation, products, gifts, and/or other types of items.
Some embodiments discussed in this disclosure are descriptive of apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for making, assembling, and utilizing load-bearing inserts for display units. Some embodiments discussed in this disclosure are descriptive of display units configured to have a load-bearing surface (e.g., supported by one or more load-bearing inserts).
Some embodiments discussed in this disclosure are descriptive of apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for display units utilizing one or more self-expanding and/or load-bearing mechanisms.
As used in this disclosure, the term “mechanism” may refer to an article of manufacture or apparatus that when assembled, is configured to be collapsible and self-expanding. The term “insert” may refer to such a mechanism when used, for example, in a display unit (e.g., to expand an outer substrate or substrates of the display unit). In some embodiments, mechanism may be used without an outer substrate for displaying formation (e.g., may be used as a free-standing support for a load-bearing surface).
Applicants have recognized that, in accordance with some embodiments described in this disclosure, some types of retailers, advertisers, consumers, sellers of information display units and other types of users may find it beneficial to have a display unit that expands utilizing at least one insert configured to expand and push symmetrically on opposing sides of the display unit.
Some embodiments discussed in this disclosure are descriptive of symmetrically-expanding inserts for display units. In one example, an insert for a display unit expands symmetrically and pushes simultaneously outward on two opposing display portions (e.g., opposite sides) of a display unit (e.g., to expand the display unit to a free-standing display state). In another example, two points where an expanding or expanded insert symmetrically pushes the display portions outward are directly opposite one another (e.g., across the interior of the display unit).
Applicants have recognized that, in accordance with some embodiments described in this disclosure, it would be beneficial to provide for a collapsible and expandable display unit having one or more of the following features:
can support a load (e.g., products, other items placed for display on a surface) without additional support
can open smoothly, quickly, and/or consistently, with little effort by the user
an expanding mechanism that pushes outward from the center of the display unit (e.g., against one or more sides of the display
utilizes a minimal number (e.g., one or two) mechanisms to retain expanded, free standing shape
an active mechanism that actively pushes one or more opposing sides of the display unit outward
does not require an expanding mechanism to be immovably fixed or locked in place to the corners or edges of the display unit
the mechanism may be flexibly connected to or suspended by the edges of the unit (e.g., to prevent the mechanism from falling down through the unit) so it may effectively “float” inside the unit, pushing outward on opposing sides of the unit, without having to pull or push on the edges to maintain the display shape
A mechanism according to some embodiments described in this disclosure comprises at least one component (e.g., a piece of cardboard or other material) having at least one flap and at least one hook for affixing at least one contracting element (e.g., a rubber band).
The mechanism 6 further comprises sides 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d (e.g., of cardboard or other rigid material). The mechanism 6 also comprises contracting elements 14a and 14b (which also may be referred to as pushing elements). Element 14a, which may comprise a rubber band, acts to pull inward on sides 12a and 12d at points 15a and 15b, respectively, causing the edge 16a (e.g., a corner fold) of mechanism 6 to push outward on one side of the outer portion 4. Similarly, element 14b acts to pull inward on sides 12b and 12c, causing the edge 16b of mechanism 6 to push outward on the opposite side of the outer portion 4. The contracting elements 14a and 14b edges, for example, cause the edges 16a and 16b to move away from each other (e.g., symmetrically). The dashed arrows in
The display unit 24 further comprises a mechanism 28 as described with respect to one or more embodiments in this disclosure (e.g., an active insert, a symmetrically pushing and/or expanding insert). As depicted in
As depicted in
According to one embodiment, a two-piece mechanism comprises folds, flaps, and hooks that when assembled with two rubber bands allows for an automatic locking shape (e.g., diamond, square, triangle, or other shape) when expanded. Alternatively or in addition, the two pieces may be glued on one edge, which may require the use of only one rubber band to provide for expansion of the mechanism. For example, the rubber bands allow the mechanism to go from a flat or collapsed position into an expanded or locking shape (e.g., allowing a display unit to stand and/or providing load bearing support for a surface).
According to some embodiments, as discussed in this disclosure, when the mechanism is assembled with at least one piece of rigid substrate (e.g. paperboard) to create a front and a back for a display unit, the mechanism pushes the front and the back sides of the substrate outward, creating an elliptical or square display.
According to some embodiments, a collapsible and expandable display unit may be used as a greeting or occasion card (e.g., as a birthday card, holiday card, etc.), novelty display item, for in-store advertising and/or product delivery system, ballot boxes, take one display, table, etc.
Although reference may be made in this disclosure to particular types of information and/or uses of display units, it will be readily understood in light of this disclosure that any type of information may be displayed on a display unit (e.g., by printing on at least one outer substrate or surface of a display unit).
In one embodiment, a display unit having a load-bearing surface (e.g., supported by one or more load-bearing inserts) may be used for holding or presenting a gift, product, or other item(s).
According to some embodiments, a display unit is collapsible and expandable in an accordion-like manner (e.g., a display or occasion card that accordion folds up and down).
According to some embodiments, a display unit comprising one or more self-expanding mechanisms in accordance with this disclosure, may be expanded and/or opened, for example, by a user holding a top edge of the folded/collapsed display unit and dropping or lifting the remainder of the display (e.g., allowing gravity to unfold it) so the display unit will open and take shape automatically.
According to some embodiments, depending on the height of the display unit, fewer mechanisms may be required than may be utilized by other types of display units of similar height. The tension aggression (e.g., the contracting force of a rubber band or other contracting element) of one or more mechanisms may be increased to require fewer mechanisms overall to achieve a stable, free standing display unit without the tension causing crimping in the sides of the display unit because the tension of the mechanism is used to push the sides outward, rather than inward. In some embodiments, the symmetrical expansion of the mechanism may allow for greater tension than may be accommodated by expansion elements that expand asymmetrically, pull inward on the edges of a display, and/or do not push outward at opposing points of the sides of a display unit (e.g., the middle of opposing sides).
According to some embodiments, a mechanism is always the same width of the display when the display is flat or collapsed. In some embodiments, the width of the mechanism may stay the same as the width of the display as the mechanism is expanding, contracting, and/or fully expanded.
In some embodiments, a mechanism inserted in a display unit may expand the display unit by pushing out on the sides of the display, and not by pulling in from the edges or corners of the display.
According to some embodiments, a display unit comprising one or more mechanisms described in this disclosure may be folded or collapsed by pushing the center of the two sides of the display together to make a panel of the display flat (e.g., counteracting the expansive force of a corner of a mechanism pushing outward on the middles of the sides of the display). In one embodiment, once the display is flattened as above, if the display includes two or more panels (e.g., separated by fold lines) a user may accordion fold all the panels back down (e.g., for portability and/or storage).
According to some embodiments, by placing two or more mechanisms on top of one another, within a display, the display may carry a load or weight. The load is supported by the diamond shape, for example, edge to edge.
According to some embodiments, a unit comprising at least one mechanism disclosed in this disclosure may be utilized as a gravity feed dispenser (e.g., for allowing customers or other users to access and remove products or other items stored inside the unit through an opening in a surface of the unit).
Although various references are made in this disclosure to a display unit for use in displaying information and/or products, it will be readily understood that an apparatus comprising one or more of the mechanisms disclosed in this disclosure need not necessarily display information or have information printed, for example, on an outer surface of such a unit. For example, this disclosure contemplates a collapsible and expandable apparatus comprising one or more self-expanding and/or load-bearing inserts.
According to some embodiments, the mechanism may be flexibly connected to or suspended by the edges of the unit (e.g., using rubber bands, string, etc.) to prevent the mechanism from falling down through the unit. For example, the mechanism effectively may “float” inside the unit, while pushing outward on opposing sides of the unit.
The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, an enabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some of these embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the present application, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuing applications that claim the benefit of priority of the present application.
The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/798,002 filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Self-expanding, Load-bearing Mechanism for Display Units,” which is incorporated by reference in the present application.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61798002 | Mar 2013 | US |