This invention relates generally to a stand-up display used for advertising and related retail functions, and more particularly to such a display that expands (i.e., pops out) from a generally planar two-dimensional shape into a three-dimensional shape with a minimal amount of human intervention.
The use of stand-up displays is commonplace in the modern retail environment. In such devices, a generally portable, lightweight display is placed to attract consumer attention to a particular good or service. Visual attributes, such as life-size pictures of a celebrity endorser or the like, entice a would-be consumer to consider purchasing the good or service advertised thereon. Similarly, such displays may also be used for public service or related non-commercial information. While such displays are effective vehicles for conveying a desired message, their physical dimensions (often measuring over two feet wide by more than five feet tall) make them unwieldy and expensive to transport. To that end, folding displays have been developed that can be stored and shinned in a compact, generally two-dimensional shape and that, upon expansion, assume a three-dimensional shape when in use. In such configurations, articulating flaps, expandable box-like members, elastic bands or combinations of the above can be used such that when the display reaches its destination, one or more people can assemble the display to ready it for its intended use.
The foldable displays have certain drawbacks, despite offering additional flexibility over their nonfoldable counterparts. The complex construction of the articulating parts of some displays are such that skilled assemblers are required, sometimes in teams of two or more. In either case, such complexity increases the cost associated with the display. Accordingly, there is a need to provide foldable, stand-up displays with simple construction so that a single unskilled installer can set up the displays quickly. In addition, many such displays employ numerous discrete parts that can become separated from the displays, making effective display construction more complicated. Accordingly, there is also a need to provide stand-up displays that reduce or eliminate the number of separable parts required for assembly of the displays. Moreover, the support structure used to give rigidity to present foldable displays is often located on the rear surface of the display. Such structure can detract from the appearance of the display, especially where the display is situated such that people can see both the front and rear surfaces. Furthermore, such structure takes up additional floor space. Accordingly, there is a need for a stand-up display that also keeps much, if not all, of the articulating componentry hidden from view.
These needs are met by the present invention, where a stand-up display is disclosed. According to a first aspect of the invention, a self-erecting display includes a front panel, a back panel facing the front panel and a spinal member disposed longitudinally between the front and back panels. In the present context, a display is self-erecting if it is constructed such that assembly of discrete components is not required to convert the display from a compact shape in which it has been stored or transported to its final as-displayed shape. In other words, if the display can be converted from its compact shape to its as-displayed shape by mere manipulation of the various display components such that the cooperative relationship between the components effects the conversion without recourse to separate assembly, then the display is self-erecting. In the present aspect, the relationship between the spinal member and the front and back panels is such that it defines a cooperative bias such that at least two positions exist. In a first position, the spinal member maintains the panels in a substantially collapsed relationship relative to one another. In this shape, inner surfaces of the two panels are substantially adjacent one another. In a second position, the spinal member urges (or forces) the front and back panels apart such that the display assumes a substantially three-dimensional use shape. Unlike prior art devices, the display of the present invention is able to maintain its three-dimensional use shape without recourse to a resilient device (such as a rubber band or similar elastic device that imparts a tension or traction force on the panels to bias the panels into a preferred, typically three-dimensional, orientation). As used in the present context, the term “substantially” refers to features that, while in theory would be expected to exhibit exact correspondence or behavior, may in practice embody something slightly less than exact. As such, the term denotes the degree by which a quantitative value, measurement or other related representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Optionally, the front panel, back panel and biasing spinal member are made of foldable paperboard, examples of which include cardboard and corrugated paper products. In addition, the front and back panels may each be subdivided into numerous panel sections, where longitudinally-spaced, horizontally extending fold lines can be used to define the various sections. Preferably, each of the fold lines in the front panel is substantially aligned with a corresponding fold line in the back panel so that, when the display is in the first position, the various panel sections can be folded over one another. This allows the display to assume a relatively compact, substantially two-dimensional shape that facilitates storage, transport or the like. In the present context, the terms “substantially two-dimensional” or “generally two-dimensional” are meant to represent the display in its folded-up shape, where the front and back panels are in a close, collapsed relation to one another, while the terms “substantially three-dimensional” or “generally three-dimensional” are meant to represent the display in its expanded shape. It will be appreciated that even though the substantially (or generally) two-dimensional shape has a three dimensional component, its small thickness dimension relative to that of the expanded (i.e., “three-dimensional”) shape makes such terminology amply descriptive of the display configuration. As with the panels, the spinal member includes a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, horizontally extending fold lines located such that they are longitudinally aligned with the aforementioned fold lines that define the panel sections. This means that the substantially planar spinal member does not appreciably hamper the ability of the display to be folded into the substantially two-dimensional storage shape. Preferably, adhesive is used to couple the spinal member to the inner surfaces of one or both of the front and back panels. The coupling (whether by adhesive, fastener or other method) is such that upon movement of the spinal member relative to the front and back panels, the cooperative bias causes the display to change from one of the first or second positions to the other of the first or second positions. In yet another option, the spinal member is adhesively coupled to at least a majority of the panel sections to promote cooperative movement among as many of the panel sections as possible. In one preferred embodiment, the front and back panels together define a unitary (i.e., one-piece) construction. The placement of the front and back panels is such that a hollow chamber is formed between them. This hollow chamber is configured to conceal a substantial majority of the spinal member from outside view, thereby both improving the aesthetics of the display in its second position and permitting both the front and back panels to accept displayable indicia thereon, thus improving the effectiveness of the display.
In yet another option, the spinal member is made up of a first element configured as a pull tab and a second element cooperative with the pull tab. The second element includes a hinged spacer, a hinged affixing tab coupled to the spacer and a panel-engaging surface coupled to at least one of the display front or back panels. In one configuration, the panel-engaging surface is adhesively affixed to an inner surface of the back panel. The affixing tab can be coupled via adhesive to the first element such that at least the spacer is rotatably responsive to translational (i.e., linear, or back-and-forth) movement of the first element to effect the change between the first and second positions. In this way, the pulling or pushing movement of the pull tab along one linear dimension causes the spacer to rotate. The spacer, by virtue of its position relative to at least one of the front or back panels, pushes or pulls the corresponding front or back panel in a dimensional substantially orthogonal to the translational movement of the pull tab to effect the substantially two-dimensional or three-dimensional profile of the respective first or second position of the panels. The display may further include a foot support coupled to a lower end of the front and back panels. The foot support can be placed within one or both of the panels such that it is substantially coplanar with the panels in the first position, yet extends out in a substantially orthogonal direction to the surface of the panel from which it extends in the second position, thereby increasing the stability of the as-erected display. In one form, the foot support is integrally formed with the spinal member.
The display can further be configured to define a single transverse fold line so that rather than having a plurality of Z-fold panels, the display is divided into an upper half and a lower half that can be folded over one another. In addition, the display can define a substantially ogive-shaped planform, where the opposing panels can have convex outer surfaces that join at pointed ends. Moreover, the spinal member may be made from numerous plies of substantially planar material, where these plies include cutouts in the shape of a handle, a hinged spacer and a hinged affixing tab coupled to the spacer. As before, the spacer and affixing tab cooperate with one another as well as the surface of the panels to which they are attached to make the spacer rotatably responsive to translational movement of the spinal member, which in turn changes the shape of the display between the first and second positions. In a particular form, the various plies of the spinal member can all come from a single piece of material, thereby defining a unitary construction. An adhesive layer can be placed at one or more locations between the adjacent plies to promote adhesive bonding between them. By laminating the plies together, a stronger spinal member is formed.
According to another aspect of the invention, a stand-up display free of resilient support mechanisms includes a front panel, a spinal member, and a back panel. Both the front and back panels include inner and outer surfaces, where at least the outer surface is configured to accept displayable indicia. The inner surfaces of the front and back panels substantially face one another to define a chamber. The spinal member cooperates with the panels in such a way that the volume of space within the chamber is variable. In a first position, the spinal member maintains the variable volume chamber in a substantially collapsed (small volume) relationship, while in a second position the spinal member urges the substantially facing surfaces of the panels apart (larger volume) such that the display assumes a substantially three-dimensional use shape that is capable of free-standing (i.e., without the need for additional support structure) operation.
Optionally, the spinal member is made up of a first element and a second element. The first element is equipped with a graspable proximal end situated adjacent a top end of the panel, and a distal end substantially opposite the proximal end. In the present context, the top end of the display is that end which is highest when the display is in its free-standing condition. The second element includes a hinged spacer, a hinged affixing tab coupled to the spacer and a panel-engaging surface coupled to at least one of the front or back panels. The affixing tab is adhesively connected at discrete locations along the length of the first element such that at least the spacer is rotatably responsive to translational movement of the first element. As discussed in conjunction with the previous aspect, this effects the change of the display between the first and second positions. In addition, the front panel, back panel and spinal member are optionally made of foldable paperboard.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of displaying visual information is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of configuring a self-erecting display to include a first end and a second end, and as with the previous aspects of the invention, the display includes a front panel, a back panel facing the front panel and a spinal member disposed longitudinally between the front and back panels to define a cooperative bias between them. As with the previous aspects of the invention, while in a first position, the spinal member maintains the panels in a substantially collapsed relationship relative to one another, while in a second position the spinal member urges the front and back panels apart such that the display assumes a substantially three-dimensional use shape without recourse to a resilient device for effecting such shape. Additional steps include placing displayable indicia on at least one of the front or back panels, pulling on the spinal member such that the display expands from the collapsed relationship of the first position to the three-dimensional use shape of the second position, and placing the display on a display-supporting surface such that the display is capable of free-standing operation.
Optionally, the step of configuring the display further comprises placing a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, horizontally extending fold lines in the front and back panels such that each of the fold lines in the front panel is substantially aligned with a corresponding fold line in the back panel to define a plurality of panel sections in the display. These panel sections can be folded over one another to define a relatively compact (including substantially two-dimensional) shape to facilitate transport or storage. An additional step can include moving the first end substantially vertically upward relative to the second end such that the panel sections become longitudinally unfolded and the display assumes an extended length. As with the previous embodiment, the spinal member includes a first element, configured as a pull tab, and a second element comprising a panel-engaging surface coupled to at least one of the front or back panels. The panel-engaging surface is made up of a hinged spacer and a hinged affixing tab coupled to the spacer in a manner previously discussed. Also as previously discussed, the front and back panels can be formed from a unitary piece of material, such as foldable paperboard, plastic or the like.
Referring first to
The spinal member 90 is disposed between the front and back faces 10, 30 and is expandable such that upon translational articulation of the spinal member 90 along its longitudinal axis, the display 1 expands from a generally planar two-dimensional shape into a three-dimensional shape with a minimal amount of human intervention. In this three-dimensional shape, the front panel 10 becomes outwardly bowed to take on a convex shape, while the back panel 30 is faceted along the longitudinal fold lines 50. The spinal member 90 is made up of two components, including a first element 100 and a second element 200. The first element 100 includes a proximal end 100A of extended width that terminates in a pull tab 115 with handle 125. A trunk extends from the proximal end 100A to the distal end 100B, and is more narrow than the pull tab 115 of proximal end 100A. Spaced along the trunk are numerous fold lines 160 that are designed to align with fold lines 60 of front and back panels 10 and 30 such that, upon folding of the display 1 into its more compact storage shape (shown and described later), the fold lines 160 will not appreciably increase the resistance of the display 1 to folding. Adhesive-accepting regions 400 are periodically defined along the length of first element 100, and can either have adhesive disposed directly thereon, or can be mated to a corresponding region on second element 200, as will be described next.
Second element 200 forms the part of spinal member 90 that is affixed to at least one of the panels 10, 30. In the configuration shown, central surface 230 of second element 200 can be adhesively affixed to the internal surface of back panel 30, although it will be appreciated that other affixing schemes and locations may be suitably adopted. Faceted surfaces 220 can be defined by a longitudinal fold line 250 to enable the second element to better fit against the corresponding surface of back panel 30. The faceted surfaces may additionally be adhesively or otherwise affixed to the corresponding faceted structure 20 of back panel 30. Once the second element 200 of spinal member 90 is affixed to back panel 30, the spacing of seam 80 between the opposing edges of back panel 30 becomes relatively fixed such that the opposing edges (and consequently the opposing sides of back panel 30) cannot move toward one another. While the opposing lateral edges of the front panel 10 bow toward each other when the display expands from its two-dimensional shape to its three-dimensional shape, it will be appreciated that such movement is more in the nature of a hinged movement rather than a translational motion. As with first element 100, second element 200 includes a plurality of longitudinally-spaced fold lines 260 that are sized and spaced to cooperate with fold lines 60 of the front and back panels 10, 30. As shown in
Second element 200 additionally includes a plurality of longitudinally-spaced hinged spacers 290 that are formed from cutouts in central surface 230. The hinged connection is a result of leaving a substantially horizontal continuous section between the proximal end of spacer 290 and the remainder of central section 230. Fold lines can also be included along the substantially horizontal continuous section to facilitate the hinged relationship. An affixing tab 295 is disposed at the distal end of spacer 290 and is further hinged along a substantially horizontal continuous section between them. As with the hinge formed between the central section 230 and the spacer 290, fold lines can also be included along the substantially horizontal continuous section to facilitate the hinged relationship. Referring with particularity to the side view of
As can be seen in the side view of
Referring next to
Referring next to
Referring next to
The spinal member 600 performs a similar function to that of spinal member 90 depicted in
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
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