Three-dimensional advertising/promotional display

Abstract

A fold-flat advertising/promotional display system which incorporates tabs and slits on pre-printed panels to form a unique three dimensional structure. The advertising/promotional display system incorporates nine cooperating members: a top and bottom panel, an interior panel and six side panels. This advertising/promotional display can be used for a wide variety of promotions, have many designs and be constructed of flexible and non-flexible materials. The advertising/promotional display system provides an exciting and surprising result which is not anticipated by the user. Additionally, this advertising/promotional display can incorporate LED lights and cut outs on top and side panels of object silhouettes.

Claims

1. A display structure comprising: a bottom panel including a plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel and arranged around a center of the bottom panel; a top panel including a plurality of slits formed through the top panel and arranged around a center of the top panel; a plurality of side panels shaped to slidably fit through the slits formed through the bottom panel and the slits formed through the top panel, the plurality of side panels including lateral tabs located on a lower end of the plurality of side panels to prevent the plurality of side panels from passing through the plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel, the plurality of side panels further including a horizontal slit adjacent upper ends of the plurality of side panels; an interior panel attached to the top panel and including a plurality of arms extending radially from the interior panel, the plurality of arms shaped to fit through the horizontal slits formed through the plurality of side panels; wherein in a collapsed configuration the bottom panel is located adjacent to the top panel such that the plurality of side panels are capable of pivoting about the arms of the interior panel to lie flat underneath the bottom panel; and wherein in a deployed configuration, the bottom panel is slidably moved along lengths of the plurality of side panels towards a bottom of the side panels to maintain the plurality of side panels in an upright position.

2. The display structure of claim 1, the plurality of side panels oriented radially around a center of the bottom panel and a center of the top panel.

3. The display structure of claim 1, wherein the interior panel is attached to the top panel at ends of the plurality of arms extending radially from the interior panel and through the horizontal slits of the plurality of side panels.

4. The display structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of alternating side panels shaped to slidably fit through the slits formed through the bottom panel and the slits formed through the top panel, the plurality of side panels including diagonal cuts on a lower end of the plurality of alternating side panels, the plurality of alternating side panels including a horizontal slit adjacent upper ends of the plurality of alternating side panels.

5. The display structure of claim 4, wherein the plurality of side panels comprise at least three side panels, and wherein the plurality of alternating side panels comprise at least three alternating side panels, the plurality of side panels and plurality of alternating side panels arranged alternatively around centers of the top panel and the interior panel.

6. The display structure of claim 4, wherein the display structure is moved from the deployed configuration to the collapsed configuration by: sliding the bottom panel towards the top panel and interior panel along lengths of the plurality of side panels; pivoting lower ends of the plurality of alternating side panels towards a center of the display structure such that the plurality of alternating side panels lie flat against an underside of the interior panel; pivoting lower ends of the plurality of side panels towards the center of the display structure such that the plurality of side panels lie flat against the plurality of alternating side panels and underside of the interior panel.

7. The display structure of claim 1, further comprising an LED attached to an underside of the interior panel for illuminating the display structure when the display structure is in the deployed configuration.

8. The display structure of claim 1, further comprising one or more circular cutouts formed through the top panel and interior panel for receiving an object through the one or more circular cutouts.

9. The display structure of claim 1, further comprising printed indicia located on one of the top panel and plurality of side panels, the printed indicia selected from the group consisting of text, alphanumeric messages, visual images, pictures, graphics, symbols, and logos.

10. The display structure of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel, top panel, interior panel, and side panels are formed from one of plastic, vellum, cardstock, chipboard, cardboard, wood, and metal.

11. The display structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side panels comprise at least six side panels circularly arranged around centers of the top panel and interior panel.

12. The display structure of claim 1, wherein in the deployed configuration a hollow interior of the display structure is formed between the bottom panel, the interior panel, and the plurality of side panels.

13. A display structure comprising: a bottom panel including a plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel and arranged around a center of the bottom panel; a top panel including a plurality of slits formed through the top panel and arranged around a center of the top panel; a plurality of first side panels shaped to slidably fit through the slits formed through the bottom panel and the slits formed through the top panel, the plurality of first side panels including lateral tabs located on a lower end of the plurality of side panels and having a width greater than a width of the plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel to prevent the plurality of side panels from passing through the plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel, the plurality of side panels further including a horizontal slit adjacent upper ends of the plurality of side panels; a plurality of second side panels arranged alternately with the plurality of first side panels and shaped to slidably fit through the slits formed through the bottom panel and the slits formed through the top panel, the plurality of first side panels including diagonal cuts located on a lower end of the plurality of side panels and having a width less than a width of the plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel, the plurality of side panels further including a horizontal slit adjacent upper ends of the plurality of side panels; an interior panel attached to the top panel and including a plurality of arms extending radially from the interior panel, the plurality of arms shaped to fit through the horizontal slits formed through the plurality of first side panels and the plurality of second side panels; wherein in a collapsed configuration the bottom panel is located adjacent to the top panel such that the plurality of first side panels and plurality of second side panels are capable of pivoting about the arms of the interior panel to lie flat underneath the bottom panel; and wherein in a deployed configuration, the bottom panel is slidably moved along lengths of the plurality of side panels towards a bottom of the side panels to maintain the plurality of first side panels and plurality of second side panels in an upright position.

14. A display structure comprising: a bottom panel including a plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel and arranged around a center of the bottom panel; a top panel including a plurality of slits formed through the top panel and arranged around a center of the top panel; a plurality of side panels shaped to slidably fit through the slits formed through the bottom panel and the slits formed through the top panel, the plurality of side panels including lateral tabs located on a lower end of the plurality of side panels to prevent the plurality of side panels from passing through the plurality of slits formed through the bottom panel, the plurality of side panels further including a horizontal slit adjacent upper ends of the plurality of side panels; a plurality of arms shaped to fit through the horizontal slits formed through the plurality of side panels, the plurality of arms attached to the top panel; wherein in a collapsed configuration the bottom panel is located adjacent to the top panel such that the plurality of side panels are capable of pivoting about the plurality of arms to lie flat underneath the bottom panel; and wherein in a deployed configuration, the bottom panel is slidably moved along lengths of the plurality of side panels towards a bottom of the side panels to maintain the plurality of side panels in an upright position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the representative embodiment of the 3D advertising/promotional product depicting the fully erected assembled structure;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the representative embodiment of the 3D advertising/promotional product;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of two side panels slotted through slits on the bottom panel of the partially assembled structure;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the interior of the partially assembled structure with five of the side panels slotted onto arm members of the interior panel;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of the partially assembled structure;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the interior of the partially assembled structure and of the top panel prior to adhesion to the upper surface of tabs on arm members of the interior panel;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side of view of the fully assembled structure with the bottom panel half-way up the side panels;

(9) FIG. 8 is a side of view of the fully assembled structure being shaken, allowing the bottom panel to slide down the side panels;

(10) FIG. 9 is an upside down view of the fully assembled structure showing the side panels folding underneath the fully assembled structure;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top view of the fully collapsed assembled structure;

(12) FIG. 11 is an upside down view of the interior of the fully erected invention with one embodiment featuring a LED attached to the underside of the interior arm member and

(13) FIG. 12 is a side view of one embodiment of the fully erected invention with side and top cut-outs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) Various terms used herein are intended to have particular meanings. Some of these terms are defined below for the purpose of clarity. The definitions given below are meant to cover all forms of the words being defined (e.g., singular, plural, present tense, past tense). If the definition of any term below diverges from the commonly understood and/or dictionary definition of such term, the definitions below control.

(15) The three-dimensional (3D) advertising/promotional display (hereinafter referred to as 3D structure) of the present disclosure allow for construction comprised of cooperating panels connected by tabs and slits which fold flat and, when erected, assume a 3D shape with a hollow interior. Each of the panels can feature indicia or visual display and cut-outs. If desired, the hollow interior can accommodate a LED light.

(16) By referring to FIGS. 1-12, along with the following detailed discussion, the preferred constructions and operation of a plurality of alternate embodiments of the present invention can best be understood. In each of these embodiments, 3D structure 100 is fully disclosed which is capable of being easily moved between a substantially flat configuration into a fully erect, three-dimensional configuration.

(17) Although this disclosure and the associated drawings fully detail several alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, further alternate embodiments can be implemented without departing from the scope of this invention. Consequently, it is to be understood that the following disclosure is provided for exemplary purposes only and is not intended as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, all alternate embodiments which are obvious modifications of this disclosure are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

(18) A representative embodiment of the 3D structure 100 when erected is shown in FIG. 1. 3D structure 100 as shown in FIG. 2 consists of six side panels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, a bottom panel 50, a top panel 20 and an interior panel 30 with six arm members.

(19) 3D structure 100 is assembled, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by slotting side panels upwards through slits on bottom panel 50. Side panels 11, 13 and 15 are slotted upwards through interior slits 50b, 50d and 50f and side panels 10, 12 and 14 are slotted upwards through exterior slits 50a, 50c, 50e.

(20) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, side panels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, are slotted onto interior panel 30 by slotting interior arm tabs 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f through slits 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a (protruding tabs 30c, 30d, 30e are not visible in FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 5, lateral extensions 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e and 31f on arms 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e and 30f of interior panel 30 prevent the side panels from sliding towards the center of interior panel 30 allowing, as shown in FIG. 6, side panel tabs 10c, 11c, 12c, 13c, 14c and 15c to align with slits 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e and 20f on top panel 20.

(21) Adhesive is applied to the upper surface of interior arm tabs 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e and 30f, shown in FIG. 5, and top panel 20 is slotted downwards onto side panel tabs 10c, 11c, 12c, 13c, 14c and 15c, as shown is FIG. 6, and attached to the interior arm tabs resulting in 3D structure 100, as shown in FIG. 1.

(22) Note there are a variety of methods and materials known and used in art for adhesion including but to limited to hot glue, craft glue, spray adhesives, tape, gels, glue dots, rivets, magnets, staples, hook and loop (i.e. Velcro) and other adhesive substances or fasteners.

(23) As shown in FIG. 6, side panels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are not physically attached to top panel 20 allowing them to pivot on arms of interior panel 30. 3D structure 100 is collapsed, as shown in FIG. 7, by sliding bottom panel 50 upwards towards top panel 20, turning 3D structure 100 upside down and stacking side panels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, as shown in FIG. 9, on top of one another. 3D structure 100 when flat, as shown in FIG. 10, is erected by grasping the rim of top panel 20, lifting and, as shown in FIG. 8, slightly shaking the assembly causing bottom panel 50 to slide downwards pulling down side panels that unstack from underneath bottom panel 50.

(24) As shown in FIG. 9, structural integrity is provided to 3D structure 100 by extensions 10c, 12c and 14c which extend laterally on both sides of the bottom of side panels 10, 12 and 14. The total length of the bottom of side panels 10, 12 and 14 plus lateral extensions 10c, 12c and 14c exceed the length of slits 50a, 50c, and 50e preventing bottom panel 50 from sliding off the assembly when 3D structure 100 is fully erect and upright.

(25) Further embodiments include 3D structure 100 with a solid bottom panel and a circular cut-out in the top and interior panels resulting in a hollow interior when the structure is fully erected that can contain objects, including but not limited to office supplies, staples, paper clips, erasers, etc. or candies, chocolates or other giveways when used at weddings, concerts, at promotional events and/or vendor fairs.

(26) Further embodiments include 3D structure 100 with a circular cut-out in the top panel that could be removed to reveal artwork on the top of the interior panel.

(27) Further embodiments include 3D structure 100 with a partial cut-out on the top panel that could be lifted upwards or slide sideways to reveal artwork on the top of the interior panel.

(28) As shown in FIG. 9, diagonal die cuts 11c, 13c and 15c on interior panels 11, 13 and 15 accommodate lateral extensions 10c, 12c and 14c on exterior side panels 10, 12 and 14 allowing side panels to stack and unstack without obstruction. See FIG. 3 for another view of lateral extension 10c and diagonal cut 15c. The side panel stacking sequence is stacking, in any order, the three interior side panels 11, 13 and 15 followed by stacking, in any order, the three exterior side panels 10, 12 and 14.

(29) The unique tab, slit and pivot system allow 3D structure 100 to be made of a variety and combination of flexible and non-flexible materials including, but not limited to, die or laser cuttable plastic, vellum, cardstock, chipboard, cardboard, wood and metal.

(30) In accordance with the present invention, any desired printed indicia or visual display can be formed in the top and six side panel receiving zones of 3D structure 100. In this regard, indicia or visual display may comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of messages and/or displays which consists of alphanumeric, visual, pictorial, graphic, symbols, logos and pictures. As a result, by employing 3D structure 100 of the present invention, any message or display desired by a sponsor for being conveyed to a consumer is easily achieved in a unique, visually exciting and interest-generating manner.

(31) In addition, 3D structure 100, as shown in FIG. 4, has a hollow interior and a circular cut out 53 in the bottom of bottom panel 50. One embodiment of 3D structure 100, as shown in FIG. 11, is a LED attached to the underside of the interior arm member 30 which can be activated by an on and off switch by the consumer. Other embodiments feature top and side panel cut-outs of shapes, words and object silhouettes. See as an example, FIG. 12 top panel circular cut-outs 80 and side panel cut-out 70. Circular cut outs 41a on interior arm 30, as shown in FIG. 5, with matching cut outs 41b, as shown in FIG. 10, on top panel 20 allow 3D structure 100 to be, as one embodiment, a pen and pencil holder.

(32) Further embodiments include 3D structure 100 with an interior LED in combination with translucent vellum of different colors adhered to the backside of side panels with cut-outs.

(33) Another embodiment of 3D structure 100 could include construction out of die or laser cuttable thin aluminum or wood onto which inkjet images have been transferred.

(34) In addition, 3D structure 100 may be configured in any size without departing from the scope of this invention. One preferred embodiment would be a 3D structure 100 small enough to fit in a standard size envelope to be used as an affordable promotional mailer. Another embodiment would be as a larger promotional/display at retail outlets, museums, art shows, trade shows, weddings, bars or as promotional give-away at schools, events or concerts.

(35) It will thus be seen as the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

(36) It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.

(37) The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The described preferred embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the disclosure to the precise form(s) disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the concepts revealed in the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.