The present invention relates generally to point of purchase merchandise displays. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a corrugated, paperboard display that is manufactured in a fold and/or glue assembly process and that is traditionally provided to an end user in a collapsed or knockdown configuration for setup.
Corrugated displays and containers are often made from pieces of flat paperboard stock material that are die cut into shapes that define various panels. The shapes are folded along predefined lines between the panels, often with at least one overlapping strip or panel that is glued, taped or otherwise affixed to another panel to form an enclosed boundary. The panels are folded and/or glued into place to become the walls of the display or container. The displays or containers are traditionally provided to product manufacturers and/or retailers in a collapsed or knockdown configuration for storage, handling and shipping. The manufacturer and/or retailers open the knockdown containers and fold appropriately to utilize the assembled display or container for display and/or packing products therein.
The knockdown displays or containers are typically manufactured by feeding flat die cut sheets through a fold-and-glue machine. The fold-and-glue machine applies adhesive and folds over select panels so that the panels are in the knockdown configuration. One common knockdown display is a weekender style display. A corrugated weekender display is typically used to display products to consumers at a point-of-sale location. In some instances, several weekender displays are utilized at a single location, often requiring significant resources to purchase, erect, locate, and load the same. Such problems are compounded when weekender displays are specialized displays, such as displays that are designed for a specific limited-time promotion, such as for a seasonal promotion, a product promotion (such as on a release date, during a sale, or other times during which demand is higher than normal), a product clearance event (or other circumstance during which temporary display options are desired), and/or the like. Consequently, it is desirable to minimize the time and effort necessary to manufacture the weekender display and/or to erect the display from its knockdown configuration.
Historically, weekender displays provide support on only the front and back of the shelf. As a result, weekender displays have relatively weak shelves that cannot support much weight, thereby limiting the versatility and/or decreasing their useful life. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a weekender style display that provides added shelf support, such as shelf support on both sides of the shelf in addition to the traditional support on the front and back of the shelf. Also, it would be beneficial to provide a weekender style display that can be assembled entirely from the front of the display to reduce assembly time.
In one aspect, the invention provides a weekender display having a rear panel with support apertures, two side panels, a front panel, and at least two shelf assemblies. In one embodiment, the weekender display has a bottom including several bottom panels. In one embodiment, the weekender display has a top including a top panel and two side panels. In one embodiment, each shelf assembly includes a portion of the front panel, a shelf member panel, two side support panels, and a tab panel with a tab member. Here, each support aperture receives a tab member to support the shelf against the rear panel. In some embodiments, each side support panel is separated from the shelf member panel by a fold line and is separated from each side panels by a fold line and a cut line. In another embodiment, each tab panel is separated from the front panel by a cut line.
In another embodiment, the weekender display has two opposed shelving scenes that share a rear panel and two side panels. Here, “rear” means behind each shelf but within the central plane bisecting the display and each side panel. In one embodiment, the opposed shelves are back-to-back or coplanar. In another embodiment, the opposed shelves are off-set or alternating.
In one embodiment, the weekender display is in a single-piece knock-down configuration.
In one embodiment, the weekender display is made of corrugated cardboard.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for erecting a weekender display. In one embodiment, the panels of a knock-down embodiment of the weekender display are folded, secured by tabs, and optionally glued as needed. In one embodiment, rear panels are folded toward the side panels, the side panels are folded toward the front panel to form a box with an interior, bottom panels are then folded toward the interior of the box, each shelf member is folded away from the interior and the tab panels are mated with the support apertures in the rear panel.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for erecting a weekender display having two opposing display scenes with two front panels. In one embodiment, the panels of a knock-down embodiment of the weekender display are folded, secured by tabs, and optionally glued as needed. In one embodiment, the rear panel is folded toward a first side sub-panel, a second side sub-panel is folded toward a second front panel, the second front panel is folded toward a second side panel (which is continuous, i.e., not comprised of sub-panels), the second side panel is folded toward a first front panel, the bottom panels are folded inwardly, and the shelves are folded and secured as described in the preceding aspect. In one embodiment, an outer edge of said rear panel is adhered to the midline of the second side panel and a free end of the second side sub-panel is adhered to the first side sub-panel to form the first side panel (here, the first side panel is discontinuous).
A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
The present invention comprises a display having a base and a plurality of shelf assemblies, each formed from a single piece of material. The base includes a plurality of panels separated by respective fold lines so as to facilitate moving the display from a knockdown configuration to an erected configuration. Each shelf assembly includes a shelf member flanked by opposed side support panels, the shelf assembly being moved between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration as the display is moved between the knockdown configuration and the erected configuration, respectively. In some embodiments, the display is moveable to one or more flat configurations, such as by folding and gluing one or more panel together such that the display maintains a relatively low profile to facilitate shipping and storage while being readily moveable to an erected configuration.
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In the embodiment shown, each side panel is hingedly coupled to each shelf assembly 200 at a line of weakness 225 (each a “support hinge” 225), such as, e.g., an 8-point roundtop rule foldable crease, each support hinge 225 extending from the fold line 124a and/or 124b separating the side panel from the front panel to a lateral mid-point 240a/b in the middle of the side panel. In this way, the support hinge 225 does not extend into the rear portion 122a, 122b of the respective side panel. In one embodiment, the support hinge 225 shown extends 45 degrees from horizontal when the display is erected. Each side panel 120a, 120b defines opposed cut lines 260 (such as the S-shaped cuts shown) associated with each shelf assembly, the cut lines extending from the fold line 124 separating the side from the front to mid-point 240 on the side panel where the support hinge 225 ends.
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Each shelf member defines opposed left and right side edges, each such side edge being hingedly coupled to a respective left and right side support panel 220. In some embodiments, each support panel 220 is defined by an area positioned between a cut line (such as the S-shaped cuts shown), a support hinge 225, and a longitudinal fold line (a “side hinge” 215) separating the shelf member 210 from the support panel 220. In some such embodiments, the side hinge 215 is colinear with a longitudinal fold line 124a and/or 124b that separates the front panel 110 from a respective side panel when the display is in the knockdown configuration.
The shelf member 210 is configured to deform as the shelf assembly 200 moves between its stowed and deployed configurations, thereby facilitating simultaneous bending at the support hinge 225 and the side hinge 215. In some embodiments, the shelf member 210 includes two relief hinges 214, such as fold lines or the like, to facilitate deformation of the shelf member 210. In some such embodiments, the relief hinge 214 is formed by a line of weakness extending diagonally from a front corner of the shelf member 210 towards a mid-region of the rear edge of the shelf member. Preferably, the relief hinge 214 line is located and oriented at an angle congruent to an angle of the support hinge 225.
In some embodiments, the shelf assembly 200 includes a tab panel 250 extending from a rear edge of the shelf member 210, each tab panel defining one or more tab member 255. The rear of the shelf member 210 is separated by a fold line 252 from the tab panel 250, thereby facilitating rotation of the same. Each rear tab panel 250 is configured to interface with a respective support aperture 150 when the display is in the erected configuration, wherein a tab member 255 inserts through its respective support aperture 150, thereby providing vertical support for a rear portion of the shelf member.
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The process of converting the display from the knockdown configuration to the erected configuration is substantially similar to the process discussed with respect to other embodiments, but also includes folding the top panel 310 and top side panels 320a and 320b along the lateral fold lines 312 and 322a and 322b, respectively, and affixing the panels to each other, via tabs and holes, adhesive, or other similar means.
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In some embodiments, a shelf assembly 200 includes fold lines and/or cut lines and/or cut outs which correspond to locking tabs 630. In such embodiment, said locking tabs 630 are configured to engage with a corresponding receiving element 620, such as an aperture defined by an intermediate panel, a rear panel, or the like (each a “vertical panel”) (e.g., back wall 610). In some embodiments, the receiving element 620 includes a support flap 640, such as a support flap formed from the vertical panel, the support flap 640 being hingedly coupled to the vertical panel 610 such that the receiving element 620 is moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the receiving element 620 defines a support slot that is configured to receive a tab member 630 from each of two opposed shelf assemblies 200 (front and rear shelf member), such as by allowing the tab members 630 to extend past each other. In the open configuration, the receiving element 620 defines a large aperture that is configured to allow the tab members to move in and out of the support slot, the large aperture being formed by folding the support flap 640 away from the vertical panel 610, thereby defining a void in the vertical panel. In some embodiments, the support flap 640 is configured to restrain the tab members 630 in the support slot when the receiving element 620 is in the closed configuration, thereby moving the display to a locked configuration.
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In some embodiments, a shelf assembly 200 includes fold lines and/or cut lines and/or cut outs which correspond to locking tabs 670. In such embodiment, said locking tabs 670 are configured to engage with a corresponding receiving element 680. In some embodiments, said receiving element 680 is associated with one or more fold lines and/or cut lines and/or cut outs, which in some embodiments are located on an intermediary element 810. In some embodiments, said receiving elements 680 receive only a single tab 670, while in other embodiments said receiving elements 680 are configured to receive more than one tab 670. In some such embodiments, said receiving elements 680 are configured to receive more than one tab 670 from any given direction, and/or said receiving elements 680 are configured to receive more than one tab 670 from opposing directions. Thus, said intermediary element 810 with its receiving elements 680 is capable of supporting one or more opposing shelf members 210 by receiving one or more locking tabs 670 and subsequently supporting said one or more shelf members 210.
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The present invention further includes a process for moving a multi-sided display from a knockdown configuration to an erected configuration. For the embodiments having an intermediary element 610 or 810 or the like, the process includes additional and/or different considerations beyond those discussed above for single-sided displays. In some embodiments, the process includes securing the intermediate element between two or more shelving scenes 510a and/or 510b. In some embodiments, the shelving scenes comprise one or more shelf members 210, each shelving member having one or more locking tabs 630 or 670. In some embodiments, the intermediary element 610 or 810 is situated between the two shelving scenes 510a and 510b such that said locking tabs 630 or 670 align with one or more receiving elements 620 or 680 of the respective intermediary element 610 or 810. In some embodiments, the process includes mating or joining the one or more receiving elements 620 or 680 to the one or more locking tabs 630 or 670 such that the intermediary element serves as a back wall 610 or 810 for one or more shelf members 210 of the display. In some embodiments, the assembled configuration results in pairwise opposing shelf members 210, while in other configurations the assembled configuration results in opposing, alternating height shelf members 210.
In some embodiments, the process includes moving a receiving element 620 to an open configuration so as to allow one or more tab member 630 to move into engagement with a respective tab slot. In some embodiments, the process includes moving the receiving element 620 to a closed configuration, thereby preventing or otherwise habiting the tab member 630 from moving out of the respective tab slot.
The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof. Various features and subcombinations of invention may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention and various features thereof.
This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/933,487, filed Jul. 20, 2020, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/876,478, filed Jul. 19, 2019, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/979,191, filed Feb. 20, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62876478 | Jul 2019 | US | |
62979191 | Feb 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16933487 | Jul 2020 | US |
Child | 18196233 | US |