U.S. patent number 3,664,049 [Application Number 05/088,552] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for self-erecting shadow box.
Invention is credited to Irving Smith.
United States Patent |
3,664,049 |
Smith |
May 23, 1972 |
SELF-ERECTING SHADOW 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 positioned a foldable, rigid
sheet. An elastic member is used to draw side panels of the sheet
towards each other so that the central portion of the sheet is
displaced 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 bottom panel slants upwardly, thus creating an illusion of
additional depth. The shadow box is initially contained within an
envelope which holds it flat and when it is removed therefrom the
elastic means will automatically erect the shadow box.
Inventors: |
Smith; Irving (Bronx, NY) |
Family
ID: |
22212027 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/088,552 |
Filed: |
November 12, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/800; 47/72;
206/805; 40/787 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42D
15/045 (20130101); G09F 1/04 (20130101); B42D
15/042 (20130101); B42D 15/04 (20130101); Y10S
206/805 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B42D
15/04 (20060101); G09F 1/00 (20060101); G09F
1/04 (20060101); G09f 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/34.13
;40/124.1,126A,154 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and
desired to secure by Letters Patent:
1. A self-erecting shadow box comprising:
a. a frontally positioned open frame;
b. a backdrop including a central section, a pair of side panels
hingedly secured to said central section along first and second
fold parallel lines, a bottom panel hingedly secured to said
central section along a third fold line and first transverse flap
means hingedly secured to said bottom panel along a fourth fold
line and to the rear of said frame; and
c. biasing means for urging said side panels from a first position
that is substantially parallel to and adjacent the plane of said
central section to a second position wherein said side panels
extend rearwardly at an angle to the plane of said central section
and said first, second and third fold lines are spaced rearwardly
of said frame.
2. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 wherein said biasing
means comprises an elongated elastic member extending under tension
between said side panels.
3. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 further including
means secured to said central section for supporting said shadow
box substantially vertically in said second position.
4. The shadow box in accordance with claim 3 wherein said support
means includes a rear member and a pair of side panels hingedly
secured to said rear member along fifth and sixth fold lines that
are substantially coincidental with said first and second fold
lines.
5. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 further including
means for limiting the movement of said side panels to said second
position.
6. The shadow box in accordance with claim 5 wherein said limiting
means comprises an angled edge formed on the lower end of each said
side panel, said angled edges being in abutment with the surface of
said bottom panel in said second position.
7. The shadow box in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first
fold line, said third fold line and one of said angled edges of
said side panels have a common junction and wherein said second
fold line, said third fold line and said angled edge of said other
side panel have a common junction, said angled edges being
convergent in a rearward direction in said second position.
8. The shadow box in accordance with claim 5 wherein said limiting
means comprises angled edges formed on the opposite ends of said
bottom panel, said angled edges being in abutment with the surface
of said side panels adjacent thereto in said second position.
9. The shadow box in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first
fold line, said third fold line and one of said angled edges of
said bottom panel have a common junction and wherein said second
fold line, said third fold line and the other angled edge of said
bottom panel have a common junction, said angled edges being
convergent in a rearward direction in said second position.
10. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is
further included a second bottom panel that is spaced from and
parallel to said first bottom panel in said second position and a
second transverse flap secured to said central section in spacedly
parallel opposition to said first transverse flap, said second
bottom panel being hingedly secured to said central section and to
said first transverse flap, said second transverse flap being
hingedly secured to said first bottom panel for defining a tubular
hinging parallelogram.
11. The shadow box in accordance with claim 10 wherein said biasing
means comprises an endless elastic member extending through said
parallelogram forwardly of said central section, around said side
flaps and around the rear surface of said central section.
12. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 further including
means integral with said backdrop for supporting said shadow box in
a rearwardly sloping almost vertical direction in said second
position.
13. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 wherein said side
panels converge in an upward direction.
14. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 wherein the side
edges of the side panels ride on the rear of the open frame as the
side panels move from the first position to the second
position.
15. The shadow box in accordance with claim 1 in combination with
an envelope in which the shadow box is positioned and substantially
filled with the side panels in their first position.
16. A combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein the bottom edge
of the shadow box is adjacent the mouth of the envelope.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
A display means, greeting card, or the like, in the form of a flat
paperboard shadow box that is self-erecting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
So far as the inventor is aware, there is no prior art that
discloses a flat self-erecting shadow box. There are knock-down
boxes and there are self-erecting displays; however, none of these
relate to shadow boxes, these being devices wherein, in erected
condition, a box extends rearwardly from an open front frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has utility as display means, greeting card,
or the like. For purposes of this description the present invention
will be described as a display means since in this context the
illusion of additional depth of field provided by the structure of
the present invention is highly useful. The present invention
provides a very simple and low cost means for creating an illusion
of additional depth when it is used as a display means for
merchandise such as carpeting or other household furnishings. A
first piece of paperboard is blanked out to provide an open flat
frame. A second piece of paperboard is secured to the first piece
of paperboard and is provided with appropriate fold lines so that
selected portions thereof may be displaced rearwardly by the urging
of an elastic member such as a rubber band. The elastic member
moves the central portion of the second piece of paperboard
rearwardly by pulling in the hinged side panels thereof to
positions at an angle with respect to the central portion. A bottom
panel hinged to the central section has a lower flap that is hinged
to the bottom panel and is adhesively secured to the rearward
surface of the front panel. Thus, the two side panels and the
bottom panel, in combination and when erected, provide an illusion
of added depth for the rearwardly located central section.
Preferably, the top is left open to facilitate the admission of
light. The elastic means for automatically erecting the shadow box
may be almost completely concealed. In addition, means is provided
to support the shadow box in a substantially vertical position.
When not in use the box is held flat in any convenient manner as by
disposing the same in an envelope which, because of its slight
front-to-back depth, prevents erection of the box.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved, self-erecting paperboard shadow box.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shadow box
as described above having elastic means for automatically erecting
the shadow box when it is removed from an envelope-type container
in which it is held flat.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an
improved, low cost shadow box, as described above, that may be
fabricated from low cost materials.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
self-erecting shadow box that may be shipped in a flattened
condition within an envelope, or the like, and which is
automatically erectable when removed from its container.
Other objects of the invention will in part be apparent and in part
will be pointed our hereinafter.
The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,
combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be
exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described, and of
which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown several of the
possible embodiments of the invention,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel shadow box flat folded
and disposed in an envelope;
FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the shadow box in
self-erected condition;
FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of the erected shadow box;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the shadow box showing the same in erected
condition in dotted lines and in partially collapsed condition in
full lines;
FIG. 5 is an exploded, fragmentary view, in perspective, of the
components of the shadow box, exclusive of the elastic member;
FIG. 6 is a central sectional vertical view of the shadow box in
erected condition;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of the shadow box in collapsed
condition;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of the shadow
box in erected condition;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, elevational, rear view of an erected
shadow box embodying an alternative form of the present
invention;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective front view illustrating a
certain feature of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating an
alternative embodiment of the feature shown in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of an erected shadow box
embodying another form of the present invention; and
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken
substantially along the line 13--13 of FIG. 12.
Referring first to FIG. 5, there are shown the several components,
exclusive of the elastic member, of one embodiment of the present
invention. The shadow box 18 includes a flat front frame paperboard
member 20 having top and bottom strips 22 and 24, respectively, and
side strips 26 and 28 for defining a central opening 30. A
transparent sheet 32, e.g. of cellulose acetate, may be secured by
any suitable adhesive means to the rear surface of the front frame
member 20. A backdrop, generally designated by the reference
character 34, is comprised of a single paperboard sheet 36 having a
central section 38, a pair of side panels 40 that are hingedly
secured to the central section 38 along fold lines 42, a bottom
panel 44 hingedly secured to the central section 38 along a fold
line 46 and a transverse flap 48 hingedly secured to the bottom
edge of the bottom panel 44 along a fold line 50. The outboard ends
of the bottom panel 44 are cut on an angle as shown by the
reference character 52 while the bottom edge of both of the side
panels 40 are also cut on an angle as shown by the reference
character 54. The edges 52 and 54 form an acute angle therebetween
and have a common junction with the fold lines 42 and 46.
A paperboard sheet 56 provides means for supporting the shadow box
18 in a substantially vertical position and by use of an
arrangement described below is made functionally unitary with the
sheet 36. The sheet 56 is comprised of a central section 58, and a
pair of side panels 60 that are secured to the central section 58
along fold lines 62. The sheet 56 is further provided with a pair
of feet 64 at the bottom or lower ends of the side panels 60. It
will be noted, particularly in FIG. 5, that the outboard edges of
the side panels 60 are both provided with a pair of closely spaced
notches 66 near the bottoms of these panels in order to accommodate
an elastic member 67 (FIG. 9) whose function will be described
hereinafter.
The shadow box 18 comprising the present invention is assembled by
adhesively securing the transparent sheet 32 to the rear surface of
the front frame 20. The sheet 36 is secured to the rear surface of
the front frame 20 by means of adhesive 68 that is applied to the
transverse flap 48. The bottom edge of the flap 48 is in registry
with the bottom edge of the bottom strip 24 of the frame member 20.
The support sheet 56 is secured to the sheet 36 by means of
adhesive 70. While adhesive has been illustrated in FIG. 5 as being
only in the central section 38 of the sheet 56, it should be noted
that the side panels 60 may also be adhesively secured to the rear
surface of the side panels 40. The top edge of the sheet 56 is
located midway of the height of the backdrop sheet 36, and said
sheet 56 extends below the fold line 46, its bottom edge being
below the bottom edge of the frame member 20 when the box is in
erected condition (see FIG. 6) and in registry with the bottom edge
of the frame member 20 when the box is in collapsed condition (see
FIG. 7).
Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown the shadow box 18 comprising
the present invention disposed in an envelope 72. The shadow box 18
is in its first or collapsed condition (see also FIG. 7). When the
shadow box 18 is removed from the envelope 72 it will automatically
assume its second or erected position as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and
8. The elastic member 67 will urge the two side panels 40 in a
direction towards each other, thus forcing the central section 38
rearwardly with respect to the front frame 20. The fold lines 42
and 46 will also move rearwardly and downwardly (the bottom panel
44 swinging about the fold line 50) until the side panels 40 and
the bottom panel 44 assume a position that is at an angle with
respect to the central section 38. The shadow box 18 may be
collapsed as shown in FIG. 4 by pressing the front and the rear
surfaces thereof towards each other. This effectively stretches the
elastic member 67 and permits the side panels 40 to return to their
first position in a plane that is substantially parallel to the
plane of the frame 20. FIG. 9 is used to more clearly illustrate
the preferred location of the elastic member 67. It should be
clearly noted that in the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, substantially all of the elastic member 67 is concealed
between the front frame 20 and the sheet 56 below the bottom panel
44.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate two different means for limiting the
rearward movement of the central section 38 (and inward movement of
the panels 40 and 60) when the shadow box 18 is removed from the
envelope 72. In FIG. 10 it will be noted that in the erected
condition the lower edges 54 of the panels 40 abut the marginal
parts of the upper surface of the bottom panel 44 and thereby serve
to limit the rearward movement of the central section 38. In FIG.
11 the outboard ends 52 of the bottom panel 44 are cut at an angle
and engage the bottom edges of the side panels 54 in the erected
condition to limit the rearward movement of the central section
38.
Referring now to FIG. 12 and to FIG. 13 there is shown still
another alternative embodiment of the present invention. As
previously described, the front panel 80 is provided with a central
opening 82. The backdrop sheet 84 includes a central section 86, a
pair of side panels 88 and two parallel spaced bottom panels 90 and
92. A pair of transverse flaps 94 and 96 are formed integrally with
the central section 86 and the bottom panels 90, 92, respectively.
In this embodiment the transverse flaps 94 and 96 are adhesively
secured to the central section 86 and the front frame 80,
respectively, in order to define a tubular parallelogram 98. In
addition, registered notches 100 are formed in each of the side
panels 88 in order to accommodate an endless, elastic member 102
that passes through the tubular parallelogram 98 and traverses the
outside surfaces of the side panels 88 and the rear surface of the
central section 86. The operation of this embodiment as regards the
automatic erection thereof is the same as described hereinabove in
connection with the previous embodiment. It should also be noted,
particularly in FIG. 12, that the side panels 88 converge in an
upward direction.
It will be evident from the foregoing that an improved low cost
display means has been provided. A simple elastic member assures
that the shadow box comprising the present invention will
automatically be erected as soon as it is removed from its
container. Because the side panels and the side edges of the bottom
panel converge, a distinct feeling of added depth is imparted. The
shadow box comprising the present invention may be very simply and
economically fabricated by conventional techniques using
paperboard, or the like, which may, if desired, be plastic coated.
There is a minimum of assembly that is required and which cannot be
automated. The fold lines and the cut-outs may all be made in a
single operation as is well known in the art. The only additional
operation required is the application of an adhesive to appropriate
surfaces and then the subsequent assembly of the several
components. Suitable designs may be imprinted on the visible areas
of the shadow box as required.
As shown in FIG. 2 a side panel 40 may have a flat figure 104
carried thereby as by insertion of an arm of the figure in a slot
in said side panel between the fold 42 and side edge of the side
panel. This figure will be sandwiched between the transparent sheet
32 in front and the side panel 40 and central section 38 in back
when the box is collapsed and will project into the interior of the
box when the box is erected.
It thus will be seen that there are provided devices 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.
* * * * *