Optimized folding display

Abstract

The invention relates to an optimized folding display, comprising two facing main side panels (1, 2), a traverse assembly (3) formed by narrow and elongated rectangular boards of semi-flexible sheet material, and fixing means (11, 12, 13, 14) for keeping the traverses fixed to the outer surface of the corresponding side panel (1, 2). The traverses (3) have their planes separated a given distance, so they form an articulated rhombus which can diagonally be closed from an expanded position into a folded position. Furthermore, the display has at least one shelf element (15) located between the two side panels (1, 2) and resting flat on the traverses (3) located at a similar height, forming a shelving assembly.

Claims

1. An optimized folding display, comprising: two facing main side panels arranged parallel at a separation distance from one another, the two facing main side panels comprising at least one of cardboard and wood, each of the two facing main side panels having a set of first vertical slots or cuts, the first vertical slots or cuts of one of the two facing main side panels being a symmetrical reflection of the first vertical slots or cuts of another one of the two facing main side panels, the first vertical slots or cuts of one of said two facing main side panels facing the first vertical slots or cuts of the another one of said two facing main side panels; a plurality of traverse assemblies formed by narrow and elongated rectangular boards of flexible sheet material divided into a central region having a same length as the separation distance of the two facing main side panels, and at least two end regions that can be articulated by creasing lines, the at least two end regions of each traverse assembly correspondingly passing through the first vertical slots or cuts of the two main side panels, the at least two end regions being folded by bending along the creasing lines towards a corresponding outer surface of each of said two facing main side panels; a fixing means for fixing the at least two end regions contiguous to the central region of a respective traverse assembly, the fixing means comprising at least one of glue, staples, fasteners and anchors for keeping each of the at least two end regions flattened and fixed to the outer surface of a corresponding main side panel, at least two traverse assemblies having planes separated a given distance, such that one of the traverse assemblies connected to the corresponding outer surfaces of the two main facing side panels form an articulated rhombus which from an expanded position can diagonally be closed into a folded position; and at least one shelf element located between the two facing main side panels of the display and resting flat on at least two of the traverse assemblies, forming a shelving assembly.

2. An optimized folding display according to claim 1, further comprising: side covers covering the outer surface of said two facing main side panels and the end regions of the traverse assemblies, the side covers being fixed to the outer surface of the two facing main side panels, the side covers being formed of a material comprising at least cardboard, and the side covers being held by at least one of glue, and fasteners.

3. An optimized folding display according to claim 1, wherein each of the traverse assemblies comprises two additional end regions, one at each end of the traverse assemblies, the two additional end regions being configured to be articulated by creasing lines, and each of the additional end regions of each of the traverse assemblies being inserted through a second slot provided in each of the two facing main side panels, again into the side panels, to form a link, the link being used as a holding means for a corresponding traverse assembly.

4. An optimized folding display according to claim 1, further comprising another shelf element to provide a plurality of shelving assemblies at different heights, the shelving assemblies being formed by the at least one shelf element and at least two of the traverse assemblies.

5. An optimized folding display according to claim 1, wherein the two facing main side panels are connected by a rear panel having a same width as a length of the central region of at least one of the traverse assemblies, and the two facing main side panels being articulated with the rear panel by vertical connecting lines.

6. An optimized folding display according to claim 5, wherein the side panels have a horizontal cutting line at an intermediate height between shelves, and the rear panel has a creasing line extending between each of the cutting lines and the creasing line is aligned with the cutting lines, forming a lower part and an upper part of the display, the upper part being able to be articulated and bent backwards up to 180 onto the lower part.

7. An optimized folding display according to claim 2, wherein the side covers of the two facing main side panels are formed from at least one side prolongation of each of the two facing main side panels, each side prolongation being articulated by vertical creasing lines along which a respective side prolongation can bend and be folded until covering the at least two end regions of a respective traverse assembly.

8. An optimized folding display according to claim 1, wherein the at least two traverse assemblies bearing the at least one shelf element of a shelving assembly are not located at a same height, resulting in the at least one shelf element having a specific angle of inclination when the at least one shelf element rests on the at least two traverse assemblies.

9. An optimized folding display according to claim 4, wherein the shelving assemblies have reduced relative separations and depths according to a height at which the shelving assemblies are assembled to provide a display assembly with a stepped configuration.

10. An optimized folding display according to claim 2, wherein the two facing main side panels in which the traverse assemblies for bearing shelf elements are housed, the side covers and a rear panel are formed from a single sheet part having folding lines, such that the two facing main side panels are located at lateral ends of the single sheet part, the rear panel being located in the center and the side covers being in the intermediate areas on either side of said rear panel, wherein the assembly is folded such that the two facing main side panels form inner walls of sides of the display, the two facing main side panel being articulated by folding lines, located in front and connected to the side covers, the side covers being articulated by rear folding lines and connected with the rear panel on both sides, the two main facing side panels having pairs of slots, wherein upper ends of the pairs of slots are connected by a cutting line such that an upside down U-shaped cut remains where pairs of traverse assemblies connected at ends thereof in a form of a rectangular ring through the end regions can be engaged, passing the end regions through the cutting line.

11. An optimized folding display, comprising: two facing main side panels arranged parallel at a separation distance from one another, the two facing main side panels comprising at least one of cardboard and wood, each of the two facing main side panels having a set of first vertical slots or cuts, the first vertical slots or cuts of one of the two facing main side panels being a symmetrical reflection of the first vertical slots or cuts of another one of the two facing main side panels, the first vertical slots or cuts of one of said two facing main side panels facing the first vertical slots or cuts of the another one of said two facing main side panels; a traverse assembly comprising narrow and elongated rectangular boards of flexible sheet material divided into a central region having a same length as the separation distance of the two facing main side panels, and at least two end regions that can be articulated by creasing lines, the at least two end regions of the traverse assembly correspondingly passing through the first vertical slots or cuts of the two main side panels, the at least two end regions being folded by bending along the creasing lines towards a corresponding outer surface of each of said two facing main side panels; a fixing means for fixing the at least two end regions contiguous to the central region of a respective traverse assembly, the fixing means comprising at least one of glue, staples, fasteners and anchors for keeping each of the at least two end regions flattened and fixed to the outer surface of a corresponding main side panel, the traverse assembly being connected to the corresponding outer surfaces of the two main facing side panels to form an articulated rhombus which from an expanded position can diagonally be closed into a folded position; and at least one shelf element located between the two facing main side panels of the display and resting on the traverse assembly, forming a shelving assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To better understand the invention, drawings of embodiments of the present invention are enclosed as non-limiting illustrative examples.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a traverse in its most basic form;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show how a pair of traverses is assembled to the main side panels. FIG. 3 furthermore indicates possible fixing means for the end regions, such as glue, for example;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a traverse with two end regions on each side, which are articulated by creasing lines;

(5) FIGS. 5 and 6 show how the traverses with two end regions according to FIG. 4 are assembled to the main side panels by means of an additional slot provided in said panels;

(6) FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C show ways of fixing the end regions of the traverses to the main side panels;

(7) FIGS. 8A and 8B show a display with a rear panel and how to place a shelf element;

(8) FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show how to fold a display by flattening it diagonally;

(9) FIGS. 10 and 11 show how to assemble side covers to the display and the final result;

(10) FIGS. 12A, 12B and 13 show examples of side covers formed from extensions of the main side panels themselves;

(11) FIG. 14 depicts a display in which the shelves change in depth depending on the height and it also depicts a shelf element with a certain inclination; an optional bracket has also been included;

(12) FIGS. 15, 16A and 16B show the possibility of a display with the sides divided by a cutting line, and as a result the assembly can be folded into a twice smaller shape.

(13) FIGS. 17A and 17B show a display in which the traverse assembly is formed by pairs of traverses connected at their ends in the form of a rectangular ring and how said rectangular ring fits into pairs of upside down U-shaped slots provided on the main side panels.

(14) FIGS. 18A and 18B show a display according to the invention in which the shelf element incorporates fixing flaps.

(15) FIG. 19 shows an alternative embodiment of the display of FIGS. 18A and 18B.

EMBODIMENTS

(16) For the sake of simplicity and clarity, most of the drawings show a diagrammatical form of a display without showing specific minor details as they are not considered essential.

(17) First, FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the traverse assembly -3- in its most basic form, showing a central region -4-, two end regions -5a- and -5b-, the creasing lines -6a- and -6b- along which the different regions can be articulated, and optional slots -17- useful in aiding the fixing means -11-, -12-, -13-, -14- for fixing said end regions -5a- and -5b- are also indicated.

(18) A preferred basic embodiment of the display starts with an assembly such as the one shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The traverses -3- are assembled to the main side panels -1- and -2-, with their end regions -5a- and -5b- passing through first slots -9a- and -9b- provided in the main side panels -1- and -2-. Then they are folded along the creasing lines -6a- and -6b- and are finally fixed on the outer surface of the panels by fixing means -11-, 12-, -13-, -14- intended for that purpose. A basic display is complete once a shelf element -15- is placed, as will be shown in the following drawings.

(19) FIG. 4 depicts the embodiment of a traverse -3- with two additional end regions -7a- and -7b-, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show how said traverses -3- are assembled to the main side panels -1- and -2- by means of an additional second slot -10a-, -10b- provided in said side panels -1- and -2-. The two additional end regions -7a- and -7b- of each side of the traverse -3- are inserted through the first slot -9a-, -9b-. Next they are bent along the creasing lines -8a-, -8b-, -6a- and -6b-, and finally the additional end regions -7a-, -7b- are reinserted therein through the second slots -10a-, -10b-, said assembly being useful as fixing means for said traverses -3- and their end regions.

(20) FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C show preferred embodiments of fixing means for fixing the end regions 5a-, -5b- of the traverses -3- to the main side panels -1- and -2-. The drawings show a rivet, screw or fastener system -12- in FIG. 7A, a projecting tabs system -13- in FIG. 7B, and a system in which the end regions -5a- and -5b- are fused into a single region -14- clasping the corresponding side panel -1-, -2- through the two contiguous first slots -9a-.

(21) In a preferred embodiment schematically shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the display comprises a rear panel -16- connecting the two main side panels -1- and -2-. The rear panel -16- is articulated with them through vertical connecting lines. The drawings further show how to place the shelf element -15-.

(22) According to another feature of the invention, the described display can be folded until achieving a flattened configuration, and this process is shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C. As a result of the parallel configuration of the traverses -3-, they can be articulated according to the shape of a rhombus which can diagonally be closed until all the surfaces of the traverses -3- and of the side panels -1- and -2- are finally coplanar.

(23) In another preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, further to the traverse assembly -3- and main side panels -1- and -2-, the display comprises side covers -20- fixed against the outer surface of said main side panels -1- and -2-, thereby concealing the back faces and the ends -5a- and -5b- of the traverses -3-.

(24) According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the side covers -20- are formed from extensions or prolongations -21a-, -21b-, -22a-, -22b-, -26a-, -26b- of the main side panels -1- and -2- themselves. FIGS. 12A, 12B and 13 show examples of this embodiment. FIGS. 12A and 12B show two prolongations -21a-, -21b-, -22a-, -22b- having about half of the width of the main side panels -1- and -2- and are articulated along connecting lines with same until being closed on the outer surface, leaving an open central line between both prolongations, whereas in FIG. 13 the embodiment consists of a single side prolongation -26a-, -26b- of each of the main side panels -1- and -2- which folds onto the outer surface of the corresponding panel.

(25) FIG. 14 shows another preferred embodiment of a display in which the shelves change in depth depending on the height. Furthermore, the display has shelf elements -15- with a certain inclination, which is achieved by placing the traverses -3- on which each of said shelf elements -15- rests at a different height. An optional bracket -25- has also been included in the same embodiment for advertising purposes.

(26) An embodiment based on a display of the type comprising a rear panel -16- like the one described above is also disclosed. Furthermore, the display has a cutting line -23a-, -23b-, in each of the main side panels -1- and -2-, located approximately between two shelving assemblies. Both lines are located at the same height, and a creasing line -24- in said rear panel -16- extends from a cutting line -23a- of one side panel -1- to the cutting line -23b- of the other side panel -2-. As a result, the display can be articulated and folded backwards, further to being folded into the characteristic rhombus shape of the invention. Correspondingly, the assembly can be folded into a smaller shape with two-fold size reduction. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 15, 16A and 16B.

(27) FIGS. 17A and 17B depict another display according to the invention. In this case, the side panels -1-, -2-, the side covers 20 and the rear panel 16 are formed from a single sheet part 19 having vertical folding lines -28a-, -28b-, -29a-, -29b-. The sheet part is preferably rectangular, but it could have other shapes, especially in the upper part, to render the display more appealing.

(28) In this display, the two side panels -1-, -2- are located at the lateral ends of the sheet part 19-. In addition, the rear panel -16- is located in the center and the side covers 20- are in the intermediate areas on either side of the rear panel -16-.

(29) This embodiment allows concealing the different panels and technical elements of the display in a simpler manner, and the display can be assembled without requiring additional fixing means. The assembly is therefore folded such that the side panels -1-, -2- form the inner walls of the sides of the display. As seen in the drawings, the side panels -1-, -2- are articulated by preferably vertical folding lines -28a-, -28b-, located in the front and connected to the side covers -20-. In turn, the side covers -20- are articulated by rear folding lines -29a-, 29b- and connected with the rear panel -16- on both sides.

(30) Finally, for the purpose of simplifying the assembly of the shelving assemblies and not requiring external fixing elements, the side panels -1-, -2- have pairs of slots -30- the upper ends of which are connected by a cutting line -30a-, such that an upside down U-shaped cut remains. Pairs of traverses 3 connected at the ends of the U in the form of a rectangular ring can be engaged through their respective end regions -5a-, -5b-. To that end, the end regions -5a-, -5b- are passed through the cut -30a-.

(31) FIGS. 18A and 18B show another embodiment of the folding display according to the invention.

(32) In this case, the display has two main side panels -1-, -2- made from sheet material which, like in the previous embodiment, are provided with pairs of slots -30- the upper ends of which are connected by a cutting line -30a- forming an upside down U-shaped cut. Furthermore, the side panels -1-, -2- are connected and articulated with a rear panel -16- by vertical connecting lines.

(33) In addition, the display also has two shelf elements -15- with two side flaps -15a-, -15c- and a rear flap -15b- which are articulated in respective creasing lines. These side flaps -15a- -15c- are inserted in pairs of slots -30- of the side panels -1-, -2- which, in the service position of the display, are facing one another and at one and the same height, such that it is possible to dispense with the traverses provided in the other embodiments.

(34) Further to the elements that have already been described, in this embodiment the display also has side covers -20- covering the outer surface of the side panels -1-, -2- and the two side flaps -15a, 15c- of each of the shelf elements -15-. To suitably conceal these elements, the side covers -20- are fixed to the outer surface of the side panels -1-, -2-.

(35) In this embodiment it is particularly preferable for the side panels -1-, -2-, the main side covers -20- and the rear panel -16- to be formed by a single sheet part -19- having vertical folding lines -28a-, -28b-, -29a-, -29b-. In this case, the two side panels -1-, -2- are located at the lateral ends of the sheet part -19-, the rear panel -16- is located in the center and the side covers -20- are in the intermediate areas on either side of said rear panel -16-. Preferably, the sheet part -19- is rectangular. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the base must hold on one plane once the display is assembled, the upper end does not necessarily have to be flat. Therefore, this upper end could have other alternative or fanciful shapes.

(36) FIG. 19 shows an alternative embodiment with respect to FIGS. 18A and 18B in which the side panels -1-, -2- are not parallel. In addition, in this case, the shelf element -15- has two side flaps -15a-, -15c- but it does not have the rear flap of the previous embodiment.

(37) Like in the case of the other embodiments, the sheet material according to the embodiments of FIGS. 17 to 19 is a rigid or semi-rigid sheet material, such as cardboard, plastic, foamboard or equivalents thereof. This sheet material must be rigid enough to hold the weight of the products displayed on the shelves. Furthermore, in those applications in which a panel has to be folded, the material must be flexible.

(38) Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, such embodiments must not be considered to be limiting of the invention which is defined by the broadest interpretation of the following claims.