Paperboard Foldable Screen

Abstract

A speaker or lecturer's screen is made of foldable paperboard, foldable into an area of a single large panel of the screen. The panels in erected or unerected form are rigidized by paperboard supports. The sections in open position are interlockable. The screen may also exhibit display material.

Description

The present invention relates to a foldable paperboard folded screen.

Every speaker needs his forum. Whether professional or nonprofessional, a speaker consciously or unconsciously must use devices, whether of speech or substance to obtain optimum focus of the audience for maximum effectiveness.

In many situations, the stagings may be elaborately prepared, but in many situations a lecturer may not have a formal rostrum or backdrop. This is particularly true where regular or sporadic meetings are held in stores or hotel rooms, or even at conventions. Itinerant speakers may not have a good choice of the speaking environment.

According to the present invention a paperboard foldable screen is provided to serve as a backdrop for a speaker.

The foldable screen assists in physically focusing attention to the speaker and may further hold for display, selected information or pictures. The foldable screen of the present invention may possibly acoustically enhance vocal projection. The paperboard may be corrugated cardboard.

When not in use, the foldable screen may be folded into a compact configuration and removed until required again.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out may be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric front elevation of the foldable screen of the present invention shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a partial rear elevation of the foldable screen of the present invention showing the easel unassembled.

FIG. 2a is the easel of FIG. 2 assembled in support position.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the foldable screen of the present invention showing the moving axes of some of the section panels.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of FIG. 3 from the arrow 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 3 from lines 5--5.

FIG. 6 is a view of a foldable screen of the present invention being assembled.

FIG. 7 is a detail elevation of the partly assembled foldable screen of the present invention showing side panel interlock support means.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The foldable screen 1 of the present invention is reduceable in size in folding to the configuration as shown in FIG. 3.

When in use, as shown in FIG. 1, the assembled foldable screen 1 comprises a first section of a large upper panel 11, several feet high, with two several-feet high hinged panels 12, 13, a second section of a large lower panel 14 with associated hinged panels 15, 16.

The hinged panels 13, 16, 12, 15 are matched pairs which include as shown in the embodiment of the present invention, flaps 17 and slots 18 as can be best seen in FIGS. 1, 5 and 7. The large upper and lower panels 11, 14 have a horizontal hinge 20 as shown in FIG. 5 which is created by joining flaps 21, 22 by known means such as gluing or stapling. The flaps 21, 22 also provide strength to the large panels 11, 14.

The large upper and lower panels 11, 14 include vertical flaps 23 which are joined as are the horizontal flaps 21, 22 by known means, to the contiguous small panel support folds 24. The support folds 24 provide a rearward and vertical panel support in the embodiment shown as a triangular configuration leaving the face of the panels in open position flat.

The upper panels 12, 13 each include flaps 25. The flaps 25 each include a pair of tongues 26 which are insertable through slots 27 in flaps 28 on the lower panels 15, 16.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the side panels 12, 13, 15, 16, may be provided with rigidizing crosspiece supports 29. The crosspiece supports 29 are preferably held in place by flaps 30 extending from the panel support folds 24, engaging the crosspiece slots 31.

In view of the preferability of being able to provide a substantial backdrop area, the panels 11, 14 are usually several feet in breadth. As additional support against back tilting of the assembled foldable screen 1 of the present invention, and folding of the panel 14, the panel 14 is preferably provided with a backflap 32. A further precaution against back tilting is provided by a panel 35, usually of paperboard, which is attached foldably flat against the rear of the lower panel 14. The easel 33 is preferably provided with locking tab 34 and a slot 35 so that the easel 33 may be locked, protruding rearward of the foldable screen 1.

In essence, the foldable screen 1 is a large foldable screen of a plurality of panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, each panel closeable is a compactible configuration. Each panel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 is provided with flaps and folds to strengthen its periphery when in open position. The small panels 12, 13, 15, 16 are interlockable and interactable to provide general stability.

In use, the foldable screen 1 of the present invention is opened, preferably as shown in FIG. 6. The opened foldable screen 1 swings on a horizontal axis formed by the hinge 20. The hinge 20 is the only junction between the upper panels 11, 12, 13 and the lower panels 14, 15, 16. The smaller hinged panels 12, 13, 15, 16 swing on a vertical axis on the large panel vertical flaps 23, thus, the foldable screen 1 of the present invention may be folded closed in an area no greater than the area of the large panels 11, 14 and a thickness no greater than the combined width of paperboard thickness of the panels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, plus twice the depth of the paperboard support folds.

In use, the foldable screen 1, after being unfolded as shown in FIG. 6, the slots 18, 27 are joined with the flaps 17 and tongues 26, thus making the sets of panels 12, 15, 13, 16 into vertically swingable units hinged to the large panels 11, 14. By swinging out the side panel units 36, 37 partially, the backdrop for a speaker is provided. The partial opening of the units 36, 37 not only enclose the speaker, but provides stability of the foldable screen 1 of the present invention from falling forward. The back flap 32 of the panel 14 and the easel 33 locking in the rear of the foldable screen 1 provide stability against back tilting.

For speaking effectiveness, it is desirable to provide the foldable screen 1 with slots 28 so that select changeable placards 39 may be emplaced. Where desired, the foldable screen 1 may carry imprinted matter 46.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description; it is recognized, though, that various modifications are possible.

Claims

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail, what is claimed is:

1. A foldable paperboard screen having a first section, said first section having a face portion and a rear portion; said first section including a large panel; a hinged small panel on one side of said large panel; another hinged panel opposite said other small panel on said large panel, the faces of said small panels adapted to swing on said hinges to open and close, said faces opposite said large panel face when in closed position, a second section, said second section having a face portion and a rear portion; said second section including a large panel; a hinged small panel on one side of said large panel; another hinged panel opposite said other small panel on said large panel; the faces of said small panels adapted to swing on said hinges to open and close, said faces opposite said large panel face when in closed position, said first section and second section hingeably joined at a free side to open and close, the backs of said large panels adapted to swing on said hinges to be facing each other when in closed position, and said opposite small panels of said first and second sections including vertical support means extending rearward when in open position, said opposite small panels including horizontal support means, said first and second section small panels interlockable when said screen is in open position, said vertical support means including integral paperboard folds, said first and second section small panels including horizontal support means juxtaposed when said screen is in open position, said large panels including horizontal support means juxtaposed when said screen is in open position, said juxtaposed support means joined to form a hinge.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said large panel of said second section includes vertical support means.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said large panel of said second section includes vertical support means extending rearward when in open position.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vertical support means include additional horizontal support means attached to said vertical support means.

5. The invention of claim 1 including a plurality of openings in at least one panel said openings adapted to engageably hold intelligence bearing matter.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vertical support means is a lockable paperboard folded easel adapted to lie flat when said screen is in closed position.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said large panels of said first and second sections each including the vertical flaps along their sides, said vertical flaps joined to contiguous support means of said small panels to form hinges.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said small panels interlockable means when said screen is in open position comprises slot and flap interlock means.