U.S. patent number 3,775,884 [Application Number 05/265,722] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-04 for self-erecting display box.
Invention is credited to Irving Smith.
United States Patent |
3,775,884 |
Smith |
December 4, 1973 |
SELF-ERECTING DISPLAY BOX
Abstract
A self-erecting shadow box made of paperboard or the like, for
example for use as a display means or a greeting card, includes an
open front frame behind which is placed a foldable rigid sheet. An
elastic member is used to urge toward each other like portions of
side panels of the sheet which are adjacent the central portion of
the sheet so that the central portion is moved rearwardly, thus
creating a rearwardly extending box. When viewed from the front,
the central portion of the sheet is rearward of the open frame, the
side panels of the sheet converge and the top and bottom panels of
the sheet converge or extend horizontally rearwardly, thus creating
an illusion of additional depth. The shadow box is initially
contained within an envelope which holds it flat. When it is
removed therefrom, the elastic member automatically opens the
shadow box.
Inventors: |
Smith; Irving (Flushing,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23011629 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/265,722 |
Filed: |
June 23, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/800 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
1/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
1/00 (20060101); G09F 1/04 (20060101); G09f
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/152,152.1,154,155,124.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Charles; Lawrence
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
Having now described the invention, there is claimed and is desired
to be secured by Letters Patent:
1. A self-erecting display box comprising:
a frontally positioned open frame;
a backdrop including a central section, a pair of side walls
hingedly secured to said section along first and second
top-to-bottom parallel fold lines;
means for hingedly securing said central section to the rear of
said frame; and
biasing means for urging at least portions of said side walls that
are parallel to said first and second fold lines from first
positions that are substantially parallel and adjacent the plane of
said central section to second positions such that said side walls
extend rearwardly at an angle to the plane of said central section
and said first and second fold lines are spaced rearwardly of said
frame,
the lower portions of said side walls extending below said parallel
fold lines and below the lower edge of said frame, said lower
portions of said side walls including feet upon which the box rests
when the same is erected,
said biasing means engaging said side walls at upper and lower
segments thereof, the lower segment being above said feet whereby
bowing of said side walls and feet by said biasing means is
minimized.
2. A display box according to claim 1, wherein said securing means
includes a bottom wall hingedly secured to said central section
along a third fold line and a first transverse flap hingedly
secured to said bottom wall along a fourth fold line at the rear of
said frame and which box further includes a top wall hingedly
secured to said central section along a fifth fold line parallel to
said third fold line and a second transverse flap hingedly secured
to said top wall along a sixth fold line and to the rear of said
frame.
3. A display box according to claim 2 wherein said side walls and
panels and said top and bottom walls extend rearwardly in a
converging manner when said display box is in the second
position.
4. A display box according to claim 2 wherein said side walls and
panels extend rearwardly in a converging manner, said top and
bottom walls extend horizontally rearwardly when said display box
is in said second position.
5. A display box according to claim 2 wherein said top wall is
substantially in juxtaposition with said second transverse flap
when said display box is in said first position, and said top wall
is substantially perpendicular to said second transverse flap when
said display box is in said second position.
6. A self-erecting display box comprising:
a frontally positioned open frame;
a backdrop including a central section, a pair of side walls
hingedly secured to said section along first and second fold
parallel lines, each of said side walls having a top and bottom
portion, and means for securing said central section to the rear of
said frame; and
biasing means for urging the respective top portions and bottom
portions of said side walls together in direction perpendicular to
said first and second fold lines and from a first position that is
substantially parallel and adjacent the plane of said central
section to a second position such that said side walls extend
rearwardly at an angle to the plane of said central section and
said first and second fold lines are spaced rearwardly of said
frame.
the lower portions of said side walls extending below said parallel
fold lines and below the lower edge of said frame, said lower
portions of said walls including feet upon which the box rests when
the same is erected,
said biasing means engaging said side walls at the top and bottom
portions thereof whereby bowing of said side walls and feet by said
biasing means is minimized.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to display means for greeting cards or the
like and more particularly to self-erecting flat paperboard shadow
boxes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a shadow box such as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,049
granted on May 23, 1972 elastic means locally applied to lower
portions of the side panels forces the box to open three
dimensionally. Over a period of time, the elastic means at least
partially overcomes the rigidity of the side panels and flexes
their lower portions toward each other, bending them out of shape.
This is unsightly. Moreover, since the bottom edges of the side
panels support the box in an erect position and since the stability
of the box is a function of the spacing of these edges, the
stability is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Purposes of the Invention
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for an
improved self-erecting shadow box wherein the force created by the
elastic means is more evenly distributed so as to prevent the lower
portions of the side panels from becoming bent out of shape.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved
self-erecting shadow box, wherein the floor and ceiling of the
display portion of the box are approximately perpendicular to the
front panels.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide for an
improved self-erecting shadow box having improved retention means
for holding the box in its open position.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part
be pointed out hereinafter.
Brief Description of the Invention
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a
self-erecting shadow box made of paperboard or the like, for
example for use as a display means or a greeting card, which
includes an open front frame behind which is placed a foldable
rigid sheet. An elastic member is used to urge toward each other
those portions of the side panels of the sheet which are adjacent
the central portion of the sheet so that the central portion is
moved rearwardly, thus creating a rearwardly extending box. When
viewed from the front, the central portion of the sheet is rearward
of the open frame, the side panels of the sheet converge and the
top and bottom panels of the sheet converge or extend horizontally
rearwardly, thus creating an illusion of additional depth. The
shadow box is initially contained within an envelope which holds it
flat. When it is removed therefrom, the elastic member
automatically opens the shadow box.
In one embodiment of the invention the top and bottom panels are
mechanically fixed to the rear of the front frame and locking means
is provided for holding the display box open. In another embodiment
of the invention the bottom panel is mechanically fixed to the rear
of the front frame while the top panel is not fixed to the rear of
the front frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible
embodiments of my invention:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a display box embodying the
invention as it appears when folded flat and partially disposed
within an envelope;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an open
display box constructed in accordance with the invention wherein
the side panels and top and bottom panels converge;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of a
display box incorporating the invention wherein the top and bottom
walls extend horizontally rearwardly while the side panels
converge;
FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the second embodiment when the
display box is collapsed;
FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the first embodiment when the
display box is collapsed;
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the second embodiment when the
display box is open;
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the first embodiment when the
display box is open;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism of the second
embodiment just before the box is fully opened;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism of the second
embodiment after the box is fully opened.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second embodiment
showing side, top and bottom panels and the central portion after
the box is fully opened;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 of the first embodiment just
before the box is fully opened; and
FIG. 12 is a further fragmentized view similar to FIG. 11 after the
box is fully opened.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The several embodiments of the invention will now be explained with
reference to the drawings.
A shadow, i.e. display, box 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a folded
(closed) condition having all components thereof lying in one plane
so that it may fit within the interior 12 of an envelope 14 whereby
it may be mailed to an individual.
A front perspective view of one embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. In
this embodiment the display box 10 is shown in an erect open
position and includes a self-form maintaining flat front frame
paperboard member 16 having top and bottom strips 18 and 20
respectively and side strips 22 and 24 for defining a large central
opening 26.
A backdrop generally designated by reference character 28, is
comprised of a single paperboard sheet having a central section 30.
The paperboard backdrop is made of a single sheet of
self-form-maintaining material, although portions thereof are
capable of relative movement about fold lines to be described. A
pair of side walls 32 and 34 are hingedly secured to central
section 30 along respective parallel fold lines 36 and 38. A bottom
wall 40 is hingedly secured to central section 30 along a fold line
42 extending perpendicularly between fold lines 36 and 38. A
transverse flap 44 shown in FIG. 5 is hingedly secured to the
bottom edge of bottom wall 40 along a fold line 50 shown in FIG. 5,
(parallel to fold line 42), and a top wall 52 is hingedly secured
to central section 30 along a fold line 54 (parallel to fold line
42) also shown in FIG. 5. The distal edges of the side walls and
the top wall which are adjacent the rear of frame 16 are free to
slide along the rear surface of the frame as the display box moves
from the folded (collapsed) position shown in FIG. 5 to the open
position shown in FIG. 2. The front face of transverse flat 44 is
fixed to the rear of bottom section 20 of frame 16 in any suitable
fashion, such as by use of a suitable adhesive.
The backdrop also includes a pair of side panels 56 and 58 shown in
FIG. 5, in juxtaposition with and attached, as by adhesive, to the
rear surface of respective side walls 32 and 34 so as to be
hingedly secured by the fold lines 36, 38 to the central section
30. Panels 56, 58 overlie the side panel 56, 58 and extend beyond
the upper and lower ends thereof. At the bottom ends of side panels
56 and 58 are respective feet 64 and 66 which are inclined
rearwardly and upwardly so that the open box will lean backwardly
at a slight angle when its feet rest on a horizontal surface. As
shown in FIG. 5 each of the outboard edges of side panels 56 and 58
is provided with a pair of notches 68 and 70, and 72 and 74,
respectively, near the tops and bottoms of these panels in order to
accommodate an elastic member 76 which in this instance is an
endless rubber band. The notches are respectively located above and
below fold lines 54, 42.
It should be noted that transverse flap 44 is adhesively attached
to the rear surface of bottom section 20 of frame 16 in such a
position that the bottom edge of flap 44 is in registry with the
bottom edge of bottom strip 20 of frame member 16. The top edges
and bottom corners of side panels 60 and 62 are approximately in
registry with the top edges and bottom corners of frame member 16
when the display box is held in folded (collapsed) position. When
the display box is in the open position, the top and bottom edges
of the side panels are respectively below and above the top and
bottom edges of frame member 16. The outboard edges 78 and 80 of
respective bottom and top walls 26 and 52 are inclined outwardly as
shown in FIG. 5. The top edge 82 and bottom edge 83 of side wall 34
and the top edge 84 and bottom edge 85 of side wall 32 are also
inclined outwardly. When the display box is in the collapsed
position, edges 83 and 78, edges 82 and 80, edges 80 and 84, and
edges 85 and 78 form acute angles therebetween and have a common
junction at the corners of central section 30.
When a restraining force (hereinafter explained) that keeps the
display box in the folded or collapsed position is removed, those
portions of elastic member 76 which extend between the notches at
the tops of the side panels and between the bottoms of the side
panels and which portions are under tension cause the distal edges
of the side panels to slide toward one another while maintaining
contact with the rear surface of the central section 30. This in
turn shifts central section 30 rearwardly until the side panels
reach and hold in the open position shown in FIG. 7. Inward
movement of the side panels, and rearward movement of the central
section is halted by abutment of the front faces of the side panels
against the end edges 78 of the bottom wall 40 and the end edges 80
of the top wall 53. In addition, edges 80 abuts side edges 82 of
side walls 32, 34 to assist in fixing the final open position of
the display box.
It will be appreciated that the use of two resilient members
stretched transversely between the top and bottom notches 68, 70
and anchored by enlarged ends on the rear faces of the side panels
56, 58 falls within the ambit of the invention.
The top edge of the central section is free, but tends to rest
against the rear surface of the front frame because the central
section is integral with the side panels 56, 58 whose distal edges
are biased toward the frame by the elastic member 76.
Another embodiment 87 of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6,
8, 9 and 10. In this embodiment, top and bottom walls 86 and 88 of
the backdrop extend rearwardly in a horizontal direction when the
display box is in the open position rather than in the rearwardly
converging direction as was the case for top and bottom walls 52
and 26 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 7, 11 and 12.
However, side walls 90 and 92 (see FIG. 3) extend rearwardly in a
converging direction when the display box is in the open position,
in a manner identical to the side walls of the first embodiment.
Top wall 86, which is hingedly secured to a central section 94 in
the same manner previously described with reference to the first
embodiment, is also hingedly secured to a top transverse flap 96
along a horizontal fold line 98 shown in FIG. 4 and 6. The front
face of transverse flap 96 is adhesively attached to the rear of
the top section of the front panel. Bottom wall 88 is also hingedly
attached to a bottom transverse flap 100 along a horizontal fold
line 101,said bottom transverse flap being adhesively attached to
the rear of the bottom section of the front frame.
Due to this construction the outer edge of the top wall 18, which
is adjacent fold line 98 and the rear of the front frame member, is
unable to move away from the frame member regardless of whether the
display box is in the folded position or the open position.
In this second embodiment, as in the first, there is a pair of side
panels 102 and 104 which are adhesively attached to the rear
surfaces of the side walls 90 and 92 and thereby hingedly secured
to the central section 94. The upper and lower ends of the side
panels project beyond the upper and lower edges of the side walls.
Similarly, notches are formed in the outboard edges of the side
panels so as to receive similar resilient biasing means such as the
rubber band 76.
In this second embodiment when the display box is in the collapsed
position, top wall 86 is folded over and onto the rear of flat
transverse flap 96 so as to be in juxtaposition therewith. When the
restraining force is removed from the display box, the adjacent
surfaces of top panel 86 and transverse flap 96 begin to separate
as the resilient biasing means causes the side panels to converge
until the front edges of the side walls abut the side edges of
bottom wall 88 so as to establish the fixed open position of the
display box and all of its components.
In this second embodiment a locking means is provided which
prevents the display box from easily being moved toward the
collapsed position once it is in the open position until a
sufficient force is applied to the side panels and central section
in the direction of the frame to disable the locking means. As the
display box,moving from the folded position, approaches open
position, as shown in FIG. 8, side edges 106 of top wall 86 (only
one is shown in this figure) begin to ride progressively over top
edges 108 of side walls 92 until outer edges 106 of top walls 96
snap over top edges 108 of side walls 92, as shown in FIG. 9 (an
audible snapping sound is heard), whereupon edges 106 prevent the
side panels from being easily pushed towards the collapsed position
until sufficient force is applied thereto to force edges 108 over
and past the abutting edges 106 of top walls 86. Other aspects of
the second embodiment are similar to the first embodiment and need
not be explained any further.
In both embodiments of the invention the display box is collapsed
by pushing the central section and side walls toward the rear of
the frame and,in the process, increasing the tension on the elastic
member 76, in particular the transverse reaches thereof. To hold
the display box in collapsed position a restraining force must be
exerted to hold the central section against the front frame; this
is most easily provided by slipping the collapsed box into an
envelope as seen in FIG. 1 in which it is snugly fitted and opening
movement thereof inhibited.
It thus is seen that there are provided self-erecting shadow boxes
which achieve the several objects of the invention and are well
adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.
As various possible embodiments might be made of the above
invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments
above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein
described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *