Abstract
Deployable display with an expansion system comprising a traction elastic element. The elastic element is basically formed by an elastic band which is annular or is cord-type with engaging elements, and optionally by at least one extension for extending the length of a said band, formed by a plate made of flexible or semi-flexible sheet material provided with engaging elements for said elastic band, the assembly in turn being engaged to side projections of the display. The limiting system is implemented by the reduction in the elastic force and/or by the own resting length of the elastic band in cooperation, where appropriate, with the length of the extension element.
Claims
1. An advertising display comprising: at least two panels made of sheet material, having side projections connected thereto on hinge or folding lines performed in said panels; an expansion system for bringing said display from a flattened position to an expanded or working position, the expansion system comprising at least one traction elastic band; hooks or engaging elements for connecting said side projections with said expansion system, said expansion system being mounted directly between said hooks or engaging elements of one of said side projections and said hook or engaging elements of the side projections opposite thereto, said display lacking additional limiting devices defining a stop relative to contraction travel of said at least one traction elastic band, such that an end of the contraction travel of said at least one traction elastic band is defined by a reduction of a contraction force of said at least one traction elastic band during contraction.
2. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein dimensions of said display in the expanded or working position are determined by a resting length characteristic of said at least one traction elastic band.
3. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein said at least one traction elastic band is hung from two ends, being supported at points in which said at least one traction elastic band is hung and without any support or guide in at least one intermediate part between supports.
4. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein said expansion system comprises at least one extension element, said at least one extension element comprising a coupling means for said at least one traction elastic band at one end and connecting means at another end thereof for connecting to said side projections of said display.
5. An advertising display according to claim 4, wherein said at least one extension element comprises a plurality of coupling means, for said at least one traction elastic band, located at different points of said at least one extension element for defining different lengths of said expansion system.
6. An advertising display according to claim 5, wherein said expansion system comprises another traction elastic band to provide two elastic bands connected to one another through said at least one extension element between said two elastic bands having at least one of said plurality of coupling means for each of said two elastic bands at each end of said at least one extension element.
7. An advertising display according to claim 4, wherein said at least one extension element is made of flexible plastic.
8. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein said at least one traction elastic band is an annular type of elastic band.
9. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein said at least one traction elastic band is a linear type of elastic band with two opposite ends and each of said opposite ends is integrally connected to one of said hooks or engaging elements made of metal, plastic or another material, and said engaging elements allowing said ends of the at least one traction elastic band to be engaged to said side projections of said display.
10. An advertising display according to claim 6, wherein said at least two panels are two message display panels, said two message display panels being of a same width, made of flexible sheet material, said plurality of side projections being connected thereto on said hinge or folding lines performed in said display panels by creasing said hinge or folding lines in the sheet material of said display panels, such that when said side projections are folded inwardly by means of said hinge or folding lines, side edges are formed in the display, and the display further comprising: another connecting means provided between opposite side projections of the display panels of the display for keeping said opposite side projections connected to one another; engaging means in said side projections such that said elastic bands of said expansion system or the at least one extension element are to be linked through said connecting means of said extension elements or the engaging elements.
11. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein said at least two panels have a plurality of horizontal lines formed by creasing lines dividing each of said at least two panels into substantially rectangular portions allowing said at least two panels to be fold along said horizontal lines when the display is compressed to said flattened position to provide a smaller folded assembly.
12. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein two symmetrical elements made of substantially rigid, corrugated paperboard-type sheet material, are coupled by means of said at least one traction elastic band and at least another traction elastic band or by means of gluing to facing side projections of the at least two panels corresponding to a lower zone of said display, on both sides of said display, each of said two symmetrical elements being formed by two substantially rectangular or polygonal hinged regions hinged by means of a vertical fulcrum line, where a first region is housed in coplanar form between said side projection of one of said at least two panels and another one of said at least two panels, said fulcrum line being parallel corresponding with an inside of one of said side edges of the display, wherein a second region extends towards the inside of said display a certain length equivalent to a width thereof, said second region further comprising a hole or hook close to a lower edge thereof for fastening or linking an elastic band, the display further comprising: a rigid platform-like third part having die-cut therein, two hooks for said elastic band which is linked to the second region of said two symmetrical elements, said rigid platform-like third part being pressed against a base of the display as a result of tension of said elastic band.
13. An advertising display according to claim 1, wherein said at least two panels of the display are provided as two separate parts that are connected to one another, for which a first part of the two separate parts has in a lower line thereof regularly distributed projections narrowing slightly towards a lower end, where two of said regularly distributed projections are narrow enough and are included in a side projection portion of a corresponding panel, wherein a second part of the two separate parts has cuts-grooves, each of said cuts-grooves corresponding to a projection of the first part, said projections of the first part fitting with the cuts-grooves of the second part along a straight stop, wherein elastic bands hold to the side projections to provide stability and fastening of the assembly.
14. An advertising display according to claim 1, further comprising: a substantially rectangular flat panel comprising a cardboard-type material, divided into five regions defined by folding lines, and an integral rectangular panel, said substantially rectangular flat panel being formed by placing glue in two alternating regions of said five regions, adjacent to a central region of the five regions and folding along the folding lines until the glue comes into contact with the central region, the integral rectangular panel being added by gluing along the central region on a previously used gluing face.
15. An advertising display according to claim 10, wherein said another connecting means comprises one of glue and elastic bands.
Description
[0076] To better understand the invention, drawings of an embodiment of the present invention are connected by way of illustrative, non-limiting example.
[0077] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict an annular-type elastic band, the basic element of the expansion system, showing the two working configurations: the resting configuration (1A) and the extension configuration (1B);
[0078] FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic plan views of the application of the basic expansion system to an oval display, showing the two configurations of the display: the flattened configuration (2B) and the expanded configuration (2A);
[0079] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an oval display in which the basic expansion system is applied in the working position (3A) and in the folded position (3B), using horizontal creasings made in the main panels;
[0080] FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show the application of an extension element of the elastic band having a plurality of couplings for an annular band, based on pairs of open holes. FIG. 4A shows the way of engaging the annular band, and a coupling for the projections of the display, and it shows the two working configurations: the resting configuration (4A) and the extended configuration (4B);
[0081] FIG. 5 schematically shows the application of an extension element of the elastic band, a variant of the preceding element as regards the embodiment of the couplings for the elastic band, also based on holes in pairs, and another type of coupling for the projections of the display;
[0082] FIG. 6 shows the application of two extensions with a single elastic band;
[0083] FIG. 7 schematically shows the use of two elastic bands with a single extension;
[0084] FIG. 8 depicts an elastic band consisting of a cord with anchors at the ends which will allow the engaging thereof to the projections of the display;
[0085] FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 schematically show applications of the expansion system using extensions of the elastic band;
[0086] FIG. 13 schematically shows the application of the expansion system based on an elastic band consisting of a cord;
[0087] FIGS. 14A and 14B schematically show a display having a flat face and another convex face in the opposite panel;
[0088] FIGS. 15A and 15B depict a rectangular-type display based on two panels each with two vertical creasing lines, equally distributed in both panels;
[0089] FIGS. 16A and 16B depict a variant of the preceding display, where the vertical creasing lines of each panel are spaced equidistantly, and giving rise to a square prism;
[0090] FIGS. 17A and 17B depict a display which can be considered a variant of the preceding displays where the distances between vertical creasing lines and the expansion system have been adjusted to result in a triangular prismatic structure;
[0091] FIGS. 18A and 18B depict a cone-type display which can be obtained by changing the width of the main panels between the upper part and the lower part, based on an oval-type display;
[0092] FIGS. 19A and 19B depict a pyramid-type display which can be obtained by changing the width of the main panels between the upper part and the lower part based on a square prism-type display;
[0093] FIGS. 20A, 20B, 21A and 21B schematically show structures formed from main panels with non-straight vertical creasings which form irregular curved surfaces when adopting the expanded configuration;
[0094] FIGS. 22A and 22B depict a display having two faces with combined flat-oval surfaces. The structure is achieved with main panels having vertical creasings lines and assembling it with the edges formed by folding said creasings outwardly;
[0095] FIG. 23 shows a display having main concave surfaces obtained by internally gluing the main panels along an inner vertical line;
[0096] FIG. 24 shows a swiveling display as a result of a curved support base for supporting on the floor;
[0097] FIG. 25 schematically depicts a display obtained as a result of a plurality of irregular or inclined folds;
[0098] FIGS. 26A, 26B, 26C, 27A, 27B and 27C depict variants of counter-type displays formed by a base based on structures such as the preceding displays, and adding an upper board connected by a fastening element. How the assembly can be folded is shown;
[0099] FIG. 28 depicts an example of a structure formed as a result of using an arch-like display with hooks performed at the ends, and two column-like displays per se;
[0100] FIG. 29 depicts an example of wall, screen- or partition-type structures formed by assembling more than one display along the contiguous side edges thereof;
[0101] FIGS. 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D express an embodiment of a leaflet pocket in cooperation with a main panel of the display;
[0102] FIGS. 31A and 31B schematically show the application of an anti-tipping platform applied to displays;
[0103] FIGS. 32A and 32B explain a method for assembling a panel presented in two parts, without using glue;
[0104] FIG. 33 shows how to construct a tray model for product to be inserted into an opening formed in the display intended for such purpose, and;
[0105] FIGS. 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, 35A, 35B, 35C and 35D show, in different steps, a cubic structure, in a particular case a parallelepiped structure, and how the structure can completely folded to the level of a single face.
[0106] For the sake of simplicity, most of the drawings show a basic expansion system based only on an annular elastic band, it being understood that the expansion system applied in each case can correspond with any of the variants described in this specification without it changing the essence of each of the described embodiments of the display.
[0107] First in relation to FIGS. 1A and 1B, these figures show the expansion system in the most basic form. Reference number -1- designates an elastic band in general. The drawings show the two working positions, the resting position in FIG. 1A and the extended position in FIG. 1B, where the length of the band 1 increases by value ΔL. The band has two ends referred to as -1a- and -1b-. This first embodiment is important due to its simplicity, being capable by itself to cause the expansion of a display -2- of the type expressed in the field of application, for keeping it in an upright position, as shown in FIG. 3A, applied to a display which can be referred to as a conventional or basic display since it is the most widely used and marketed model. FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show the way in which the expansion system is applied and the difference between the flattened position in FIG. 2B and the extended position in FIG. 2A. The apparent simplicity of this embodiment of the expansion system must not be confused with simpleness since the characteristics of the elastic band must be calculated and adjusted, as described in this specification, in order to achieve the desired result, a philosophy that has not been used up until now and that has already been demonstrated in the described background. In this embodiment, the elastic band is linked to both inner sides of the display, on inner side projections -3a, 3b, 4a, 4b- which are formed by projection of the main panels of said display having hooks or engaging elements -6- in which the elastic band -1- can be engaged or linked.
[0108] A second embodiment of the expansion system is shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7. This embodiment uses an extension element, designated with numbers -10- and -15-, to enable applying the expansion system when requiring lengths much greater than those that could be provided by using only one elastic band -1-. The material forming said extension element -10, 15- does not have to be a rigid element since it only acts as an element for prolonging the elastic band -1-, so the forces to which it is subjected are stretching and not compressive forces. The function of extension element -10, 15- consists of making the elastic expansion system have a greater resting length and allowing it to be adapted to the desired length according to the application where said elastic expansion system will be used. With this system, it is possible to use one and the same elastic band -1- for different types of display, or to adjust the force and elongation characteristics within one and the same type of display based on one and the same type of elastic band.
[0109] To facilitate a greater number of adjustments with one and the same extension element -10, 15-, a plurality of couplings means for the elastic band can be formed on said extension element at different distances from the end thereof. Said couplings means are indicated with numbers -11- and -16-, according to the type, and are formed in this example by means of a plurality of substantially circular holes from which corresponding cutting lines reaching the side edge of the part emerge. In FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5, 6 and 7, the couplings means -11- and -16- are distributed in pairs along the substantially rectangular part forming the extension element -10- or -15-. The elastic band -1- is engaged by making it go through both matching holes. It is a rather strong engagement even though the material forming the part is not very tough; generally said material is flexible plastic. In a variant of the preceding couplings means, the couplings means are individual with the elastic band being led through a single hole. This coupling means is not as strong as that described above, but has the advantage of being quicker to handle, which can be important at the production cost level. Said extensions furthermore form a coupling, with numbers -12- and -17- according to the examples, intended for engaging said element with respect to a side edge of the display, which will have the complementary coupling intended for such purpose and will be described in the following section.
[0110] Said extension elements -10- or -15- per se do not play an active functional role, but rather complement the functionality of the elastic band -1- and act in cooperation with it. As mentioned in the “Brief Description of the Invention” section, said extensions elements -10, 15- complement and modify the resting length characteristic of the expansion system, allowing material savings and greater versatility in the use of the elastic bands. Generally, the extension element allows modifying the resting length of the expansion system conserving the elastic modulus.
[0111] The example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 shows how extensions -10- or -15- can be applied on both sides of the elastic band -1-, or how two bands can be applied on both sides of one and the same extension element -10, 15-. It is also possible to connect two extensions elements -10, 15- one after the other with coupling means of the type indicated in FIG. 6 with elements -17-, -17a- and -17b-. The objective is to achieve even greater length using the same basic elements, without the need for having two extension elements -10, 15- of a different size or two types of elastic band, with subsequent production cost savings.
[0112] The example shown in FIG. 8 shows a variant of a linear- or cord-type elastic band also generically numbered as -1-. Although functionality is exactly the same as when using annular bands, this system necessarily has auxiliary engaging elements, herein referred to as -18a- and -18b-, integral with the ends of the band referred to as -1a- and -1b-. These engaging elements -18a- and -18b- can be metal clamps, plastic parts, etc., formed like a hook or an anchor to enable fastening the end to the display where it is incorporated.
[0113] FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 show diagrams of how expansion systems based on extensions of the elastic band via on or more extension elements -10, 15- are applied, as described in the preceding sections, to a basic display, -2-, both with a single extension element -10- in FIG. 9 and with two extension elements -15- in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. FIG. 13 schematically shows that same display based on an expansion system comprising a cord-type elastic band.
[0114] The present patent also provides a display to which any of the embodiments of the expansion system described in the present document can be applied, as schematically shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Said display, generically numbered as -2-, consists of two main panels numbered -3- and -4- made of flexible sheet material, generally graphic cardboard or the like, having side projections -3a-, -3b-, -4a- and -4b-, differentiated by means of creasing lines in the material, protruding from the sides of said panels like projections, and capable of turning completely over said creasings until they are flattened and arranged facing the inside of the main panels -3- and -4-. Said main panels are arranged opposing one another back to back, internally encompassing the side projections of both panels. The side projections are formed in a symmetrical manner such that the facing projections of both panels overlap one another and match in their outer profile, situation in which a connecting system, such as glue is applied between both projections, the profile being linked by annular elastic bands, clamping, etc., which is generically indicated with number -8- without specifying the detail since it does not change the essential value of the system. Said projections further comprise connecting or engaging means, numbered as -6- or -19-, for connecting or engaging with respect to an elastic band directly, or with respect to an extension which contains the elastic band, as explained above, and which already contains the complementary coupling, numbered as -12- and -17-, or -18a- and -18b-. Said engaging elements -6- and -19- can be formed by means of one or two holes made in said projections, from which a cut line emerges up to the edge of the projection for defining one or two entry lines, said cut allowing the entry of the elastic band or the hook -12- or -17-, of the extension -10-, -15-, up to the situation of engagement. In the case of a linear band with hooks in the form of an anchor as shown in FIG. 8 with references -18a- and -18b-, said engaging means of the side projections of the main panels of the display being simply holes, numbered as -19- in FIG. 13, will be enough.
[0115] Another embodiment of the display is shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. This embodiment is characterized in that one of the main panels -4- of the display -2- has two vertical creasing lines indicated as -20-, preferably distributed symmetrically with respect to the vertical direction, which divides said panel -4- into three regions in the form of a column, two of them are indicated as -4e- and -4f-. Each of said regions can be hinged with respect to the contiguous regions by turning along said creasings -20- when the display is brought to the working or expanded arrangement. Preferably, the creasing lines -20- are equidistantly spaced a short distance from the side edges, relative to the central region, -4e- which will occupy most of the surface of the panel -4-, while at the same time the expansion system is adjusted so that the inclination between the side regions -4d- and -4f- and the central region is approximately a right angle. A structure which has the appearance of a flat surface on the face formed by the panel -4- and forms a substantially cylindrical or oval bulged column surface on the opposite face is thereby defined.
[0116] In another embodiment of the display shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B, 16A and 16B, each of the main panels -3- and -4- of the display -2- has a vertical creasing line indicated as -20-. Said creasing lines are placed at the same distance from the side of each panel -3- and -4- as seen from the front. Once the main panels -3- and -4- are arranged facing one another to form the display -2-, the narrowest columns -4d- defined in each panel by means of the mentioned vertical creasing are arranged adjacent to opposite sides of the display. When the display adopts the expanded position, said narrowest column regions -4d- become the narrowest sides of a prismatic structure. In this embodiment, the expansion system is adjusted such that the two substantially flat regions -4e- and -4d- of each panel form preferably right angles between adjacent faces, thus obtaining a prismatic structure having a rectangular section, and the widest column regions -4e- of each panel become the main widest faces of said structure. Without changing the essence of this same embodiment, locating the vertical creasing -20- right on the vertical axis of each panel -3- and -4- is enough to obtain two column regions of the same width resulting in a prismatic structure having a square section, provided that the expansion system is adjusted so that the faces form substantially right angles, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B.
[0117] Another embodiment of the display which can be considered a variant of the display described in the preceding paragraph is the one shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. It is also of a prismatic-type structure but in this case has a triangular section. This display is formed by means of two main panels -3- and -4- having two vertical creasing lines -20- like the preceding example, with the difference that the left column region of the panel -3- is half as wide as the adjacent column, whereas the left column -4d- of the panel -4- is twice as wide as the adjacent column. By adjusting the expansion system so that the narrower faces of each panel are aligned and therefore coplanar, a prismatic structure having a substantially isosceles triangular section, as shown in the mentioned drawings, is formed.
[0118] The embodiment of the display shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B can be considered a variant of the basic display described in a preceding paragraph in relation to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. This embodiment is also formed by two main panels -3- and -4- made of flexible sheet material, however, in this case, said main panels show a greater length along the width of their base than along the width of the upper zone, said width changing proportionally with the distance to the base. When the display -2- expands, the contour of the display takes a substantially conical shape. The cone will be cylindrical or oval depending on the adjustment of the expansion system. Although the drawings show a truncated cone, a complete cone can be constructed without changing the essence of the embodiment.
[0119] Another embodiment of the display is shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B. This embodiment can be considered a variant of the display shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B described above in a preceding section corresponding to a square prism-shaped display. In this new embodiment, the main panels -3- and -4- have a central and vertical creasing line indicated as -20- defining two vertical regions in each panel, -4d- and -4e- in panel -4-, which can turn a certain angle with respect to one another when the display adopts the expanded configuration. In this embodiment, said main panels show greater width along their base than in the upper zone, said width changing proportionally with the distance to the base. When the display -2- expands, the contour of the display adopts a substantially pyramidal shape. The adjustment of the expansion system will once again be a necessary element in order to achieve the desired square profile in this case. Although the drawings show a truncated pyramid, a complete pyramid could be constructed without changing the essence of the embodiment.
[0120] In another embodiment of the display shown in FIGS. 20A, 20B, 21A, and 21B, each main panel -3- and -4- has two vertical creasing lines indicated as -23- with the particularity of forming a broken or curved line, changing the distance of each creasing segment with respect to the closest side edge of the display depending on height, as well as the angle between one creasing segment and another. Each of said panels -3- and -4- is divided into three column regions, some of these indicated as -3d-, -4e- and -4f- having a variable width according to height, said zones being able to be hinged to one another by turning along said creasing -23- when the display adopts the working arrangement, so an irregularly prismatic structure is thereby defined. In addition, the resting length feature of the expansion system is adjusted to a value such that two contiguous column side surfaces of each panel -3- and -4- closest to both ends of the display are coplanar in each horizontal segment, forming a single curved effective surface divided by a central line which is at the same time the line joining the two panels -3- and -4- of the display. Depending on how the curvature of the creasing lines -23- changes, the assembled structure can adopt bulged shapes or shapes with a tapered central zone, as shown in FIGS. 20B and 21B, providing certain originality to the display and making it interesting as a support for an advertising message.
[0121] A new embodiment of the display provided in the present patent is schematically shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, and it comprises main panels -3- and -4- having a vertical creasing -20- dividing each of said panels into two different column regions -3d-, -3e-, 4d- and -4e-. Both column regions of each panel -3- and -4- are folded together by turning along said creasing lines -20-, being arranged back to back. The two panels are assembled such that both panels -3- and -4- are arranged opposing one another, maintaining the situation in which the two column surfaces of each panel described above and defined by the creasing -20- are folded with their inner surfaces facing one another. The creasing lines -20- form the outermost edges of the display both in the folded position and in the working position. When adopting the expanded configuration, the display -2- shows two visualization areas, each of which shows two combined faces, one of each panel -3- and -4-, a flat face and another bulged face, as can be seen in FIG. 22B.
[0122] Based on a display where each of the main panels -3- and -4- has two vertical creasing lines -20-, the distance of each creasing with respect to the closest side edge of the corresponding panel being the same, and this distance being substantially shorter than the width of the central regions, the corresponding to panel 4 is indicated as -4e-, a new embodiment can be provided in which the two said central regions corresponding to the two main panels -3- and -4- have discrete regions for gluing on the facing inner surfaces, numbered as -50-, along a vertical central line to prevent the bulging of said central zones, and to therefore force the bulging of the side zones of the same panels, thereby producing a structure in the form of a column with two concave surfaces in the front and rear zones of the display. The zones for gluing must not prevent the passage of an elastic band through the inner surfaces to enable housing the expansion system. This embodiment is schematically shown in FIG. 23.
[0123] FIG. 24 schematically shows another embodiment of the display based on a display shown above, with the characteristic of having a curved cut line on its base, referred to as -51-. This offers certain instability to the working equilibrium of the display in the expanded configuration, meaning that the most minor mechanical perturbation, such as an air stream, can cause a swiveling movement. This display would be useful to draw attention as an advertising message.
[0124] A new embodiment of the display is shown in FIG. 25, which, like the preceding displays, also has main panels -3- and -4- having two vertical creasing lines per panel indicated with number -20-, forming a substantially rectangular surface therebetween, whereas the main panels are wider at the base than in the upper line, and furthermore the vertical creasing lines -20- start from the upper vertices and descend in a substantially vertical fashion, furthermore defining substantially triangular side surfaces as that identified as -3f- and 4d. When the display adopts the expanded configuration, the surfaces turn with respect to one another by means of the folding lines, forming different angles and giving rise to a final structure adopting a tent or gable roof shape, i.e., two substantially rectangular surfaces in the main front and rear visualization areas, and two substantially triangular surfaces on the sides.
[0125] The present invention also provides a type of display capable of supporting products thereon. It is a counter-type display formed basically by a central support column -2-, an upper board numbered as -40-, and a connecting element -41- for connecting said board to said main support. The support column consists of a structure equivalent to any of the previously described displays. FIGS. 26A, 26B and 26C show a specific example of an embodiment where the main column of the counter is formed by a structure which corresponds with the basic display having an oval section described above. The connecting element -41- for connecting the board -40- with the base -2- is formed by a plate made of sheet material such as paperboard or the like having three horizontal creasing lines defining four regions -41a-, -41b-, -41c-, -41d- hinged to and differentiated from one another. One of said creasings is located at the center of said plate, and the other two creasings are located a short distance and the same distance from the ends of said plate, defining in the two end regions zones suitable for being glued in the central zones of the upper edge of the main panels of the main column. In the flattened position, the board can turn together with the connecting element on the adjacent flattened body of the base of the counter, which can in turn contain an additional fold and the entire assembly can be in a flattened configuration in the form of an accordion, as shown in FIG. 26C, to achieve greater volume reduction during transport or storage.
[0126] FIGS. 27A, 27B and 27C also show the embodiment of a counter-type display that is completely equivalent to the display described in the preceding paragraph, with the only difference of having changed the oval- or rectangular-type main column with an also rectangular-type main column but formed according to the rectangular display with entire side walls folded laterally forming a rhombus, as described above. In this embodiment, the connecting part for connecting the board to the column can be simply formed by a plate -42- made of rectangular rigid sheet material having two regions -42c- and -42d- of approximately the same width, hinged to and differentiated from one another, defined by means of a longitudinal creasing, the first zone -42d- being susceptible to being glued in the central zone of the upper edge of one of the main panels -3- or -4-.
[0127] FIG. 28 shows an embodiment of a coupling system for coupling displays of the type shown until now, which allow forming arch- or goal-type structures. The essential feature in this embodiment consists of a straight, die-cut profile at the ends of the main panels -3- and -4- together with several creasing lines, in prism- or curve-type displays in the case of an oval display, defining substantially rectangular-, triangular- or arch-shaped areas referred to as -80a- and -80b-, such that by connecting said areas of both main panels -3- and -4- along an connecting fold indicated as -81-, a hook or groove indicated as -82- is formed, at which time the display adopts the working configuration in which it can be coupled to two conventional collaborating displays acting as columns, the first display being supported and coupled on both sides on the upper edge of a main panel of both collaborating displays forming a complete structure in the form of a goal or an arch.
[0128] FIG. 29 shows an embodiment of structures formed by displays of the type shown until now, constructed by means of assembling more than one display based on connecting side edges thereof by means of elastic bands linked to the side projections of the main panels. A flat panel assembled using the same method could be intercalated between two consecutive displays for the purpose of increasing the exposure surface indicated with -87-.
[0129] Any of the displays described as embodiments can have a series of horizontal creasing lines generally numbered as -7- along which it can be folded in the form of an accordion to occupy less volume in the flattened position, as shown throughout most of the drawings depicting the described examples.
[0130] The present invention also provides an embodiment of a minimalist bag system applied to one of the described displays for housing advertising leaflets and serving as a leaflet dispenser. It is based on a panel -70- made of semi-flexible material which can be of the same type as that forming the display itself, having four projections -71-, -72-, -73- and -74-, symmetrical along a vertical axis, which are introduced through grooves or cuts -68-, -64-, -65- and -66- performed in a region of one of the panels -3- or -4- of the display, as schematically shown in FIGS. 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D. The assembly is interlocked and remains flattened until the user lightly pulls on the central zone of the part -70- giving it a bulged shape forming a housing capable of holding a set of advertising or informative leaflets -77-, which is depicted in FIG. 30D; and is also characterized in that an edge -75- and -76- is formed in each of the upper projections -71- and -72- of said part -70-, which edge will act as a stop on the rear part of the main panel, preventing the part from being completely removed when the user pulls on same in order to form it.
[0131] Furthermore, FIGS. 31A and 31B show an embodiment of the display having an anti-tipping platform to give stability to said display. It has two symmetrical elements numbered as -90-, formed by substantially rigid, corrugated paperboard-type, sheet material, placed on both sides of the display together with the facing side projections -3a-, -3b-, -4a- and -4b- of the main panels -3- and -4-, coupled by means of elastic bands or by means of gluing, each of them formed by two substantially rectangular or polygonal hinged regions -90a- and -90b- hinged by means of a vertical fulcrum line indicated as -91-, where the first region indicated by -90a- is housed in coplanar form between said side projection of the main panel -3a- and -3b- and the same panel -3- and -4-, the fulcrum line corresponding in parallel with the inside of the side edge of the display -5a- or -5b-, whereas the second region -90b- extends towards the inside of the display a certain length equivalent to the width thereof; said region -90b- furthermore has a hole or hook indicated as -90c- close to the lower edge, capable of fastening or linking with an elastic band -92-; and it also comprises a rigid platform-like third part numbered as -93- having two hooks -93a- and -93b- die-cut therein for the same elastic band which is linked with the second region of the aforementioned elements, said platform being pressed against the base of the display as a result of the tension of the elastic elements. The assembled assembly is perfectly hinged with the display both in the flat and extended positions in which it provides stability and anti-tipping support for the display.
[0132] Furthermore, FIGS. 32A and 32B show the embodiment of a system for assembling panel parts for the display based on the expansion system. The main panels of the display are often provided as two separate parts indicated as -3g- and -3h- that must be connected to one another, for which the upper part -3g- has in the lower line thereof regularly distributed projections indicated as -3i- narrowing slightly towards the lower end, where the two end projections are narrow enough and are included in the side projection portion of the corresponding panel. In addition, the second part -3h- has cuts-grooves indicated as -3j-, each of them corresponding with a projection of the first part, and said projections of the first part furthermore fit perfectly with the grooves of the second part along a straight stop line. Elastic bands numbered as -94- connected to the side projections allow the stability and fastening of the assembly.
[0133] Finally, an embodiment of a tray for a product which, once formed, can be inserted into an opening formed in the display intended for such purpose is also provided. Said tray is formed from a substantially rectangular flat panel indicated as -97- in FIG. 33, generally made of a paperboard-type material similar to that forming the display, divided into five regions referred to as -97a-, -97b-, -97c-, -97d- and -97e- defined by folding lines -98a-, -98b-, -98c- and -98d-. Regions -97b- and -97c- are glued to and flattened against the region -97e-. An integral rectangular panel indicated as -100- is also added, gluing it along the central region -97e- on the same face as those previously glued. The end user must fold the end regions towards the inside of the assembly up to an angle greater than 90° so that the ends of the panel -100- interlock behind regions -97a- and -97d-, keeping said regions at a fixed angle of about 90°. The effect is achieved as a result of certain flexibility of the panel -100-, allowing it to give way until the end of regions -97a- and -97d- are allowed to adopt the working position, in which the position is fixed.
[0134] Another embodiment of the display is depicted in FIGS. 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D, 35A, 35B, 35C and 35D. It is based on a rectangular prismatic-type display such as those described above in which there have been incorporated regions obtained by the projection of the ends of the main panels for forming covers closing said ends to achieve a parallelepiped, and particularly cubic, structure. In this embodiment, each of the two main panels -3- and -4- has side projections at the free ends of regions -3d-, -3e-, -4d- and -4e-, defined by means of folding lines indicated as -105-, -106-, -107-, -108- and -109-, defining, in addition to the two main faces -3d-, -3e-, -4d- and -4e- of each panel -3- and -4-, several regions indicated as -101-, -101a-, -102-, -103-, -103a- and -104- susceptible to being folded towards the inside of the display. One of said regions indicated as -101- and defined by the folding line -105- forms a cover for the prism formed by the basic display for the purpose of closing it at its open ends, for which purpose said region is aided by a projection indicated as -101a-, with two regions indicated as -101b- and -101c- by way of a tab system for final closure, the tab being inserted through a system of grooves -103b-, -103c-, -103d-, located in the contiguous region -103-. This system of projections is connected in a relatively irreversible manner inside the system of grooves and prevents accidental opening of the structure. Another two of said end regions -102- and -103- defined by folding lines -107- and -108- located at opposite ends of one of the main faces -3d- and -4e- have a substantially triangular shape and one of these two furthermore has a tab -103a- or coupling system for coupling with the opposite region -102- in the assembly position. Preferably, at least one tab-like region indicated as -104- having a substantially rhombus shape is also incorporated, hinged along line -109- to act as a rib and provide rigidity to the corresponding edge of the contiguous face -3e- and -4d- of the display. The depicted display assembly is furthermore susceptible to being folded entirely to the level consisting of a single face (FIGS. 35A, 35B, 35C and 35D), first folding the side covers -101-, folding them backwards, flattening the rest until it is folded to the level consisting of two faces of the parallelepiped, and finally folding along the central line -20- separating two faces until being at a level of folding consisting of a single face, where all the mentioned regions of the main panels are folded and overlapping one another.
[0135] Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, they must not be considered as limiting of the invention which will be defined by the broadest interpretation of the following claims.
