Telescoping Display Assembly

Abstract

An extensible and collapsible, telescoping display assembly which includes n array of longitudinally aligned, overlapping panels adapted to interlock by means of integrally formed cooperating tabs and slots. When collapsed, the assembly is adapted to fit within a container of merchandise, and when the merchandise reaches its point of sale the assembly is quickly erected into a stable, multi-panel display by simple telescopic extension of panels outwardly from the container.

Description

This invention relates to an improved display assembly of the type used in stores in association with units of merchandise which are held for sale in their shipping containers. More particularly, the invention is directed to an expandable and collapsible, telescoping display which constitutes an advancement over prior art devices by virtue of its compactness in collapsed form, ease of erection, stability in expanded form, and low cost.

Many display assemblies and stands are known in the prior art, but these devices are not completely suitable for their intended purposes for one or more reasons. Some assemblies are objectionably bulky and, accordingly, cannot be shipped and stored inside containers of merchandise, but must be packaged separately. When such assemblies reach their destination, complicated instructions must be followed to erect the displays. Often, the display assemblies become separated from the merchandise in shipment and are not at hand when needed.

Other prior art assemblies are not self-supporting, requiring auxiliary tubes or rods as standards. Unless such external supports are used, these stands lack sufficient height to attract attention or to exhibit graphic materials at a level at which they are readily viewed by passersby.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a multi-panel, telescoping display assembly shippable in collapsed form and which is easily and quickly erected at the point of merchandise sale, by shifting adjacent panels into extended positions in interlocking engagement.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a multi-panel display of sales promotional material which is collapsible into a highly compact, nested form for shipment within the same container in which the merchandise is shipped, and expandable for use at the point of sale to promote the sale of the merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-panel display assembly which is stable, rigid, and resistant to collapse when erected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a low-cost, multi-panel display which can be constructed from inexpensive materials such as paperboard stock, sheet cardboard and the like.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multi-panel display assembly of simplified construction in which the total number of pieces does not exceed the number of panels in the complete assembly, and in which tabs and slots for supporting the assembly are formed integrally with each panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a merchandise display which physically interrelates a multi-panel display assembly with a container of merchandise. By constructing a panel of the display assembly integral with a base panel positioned to overlie the floor of the container, added stability is imparted to the erected display assembly by the weight of merchandise in the container.

A related object of the invention is to provide a display assembly which utilizes a merchandise container as one of its structural elements.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following specification, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a merchandise container including the multi-panel display assembly of the invention in its expanded form, wall portions of the container being cut away to facilitate an understanding of the structures depicted;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the multi-panel display assembly of the invention, showing the assembly in its extended form;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corrugated board merchandise container, showing a collapsed multi-panel display assembly of the invention positioned adjacent a side wall inside the container;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a merchandise container holding a multi-panel display assembly of the invention in collapsed and compacted form;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a slot formed in the second panel of the display assembly, showing a tab of an intermediate panel extending through the slot to interlock the two panels;

FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of the multi-panel display assembly of the invention showing the internesting panels;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the slots and tabs of the panels of the display of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the display assembly illustrated in FIG. 2 but depicting the physical shape of each stamped blank from which the panels are fabricated, the broken lines representing fold lines in the assembled structure; and

The preferred embodiment shown and described herein is constructed of sheet cardboard, although other resilient materials such as thin sheets of plastic and metal foils are also suitable. Materials chosen for use in this invention must be capable of being formed into sheets, and sufficiently flexible to ensure proper operation of the tabs.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a merchandise container 10 which is, in the example depicted, a corrugated board box including a floor 11, side walls 12, 13, 14 and 15, and closure flaps 16. A multi-panel display assembly 20, which is positioned inside the box 10, includes four panels or placards - an upper panel 25, intermediate panels 26 and 27, and a lower panel 28. A base panel 29 formed integrally with the lower panel 28 rests on the box floor 11. The box 10 is adapted to contain units of merchandise 30 separated by interlocking cardboard dividers 31 in the usual form.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the lower panel 28 is supported to stand in an upright attitude by means of laterally spaced parallel foot elements or feet 40 and 41 formed integrally with the lower panel 28 and foldable to project forwardly thereof. Under edge portions or edges 42 and 43 of the feet 40 and 41 abut or rest on the box floor 11 thereby stabilizing the erected display assembly 20 against pivotal collapse.

The structure of typical individual panels or placards of the assembly is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which solid lines outline the panels and dashed lines indicate fold lines. The lower panel 28 and both intermediate panels 26 and 27 include body portions 26a, 27a and 28a, and a pair of webs 26b, 26c, 27b, 27c, 28b and 28c integrally joined to the respective body portions at lateral edges thereof. The webs are adapted to fold rearwardly to overlie side edges of each next adjacent panel, as shown in FIG. 6, which is a top plan view of the display assembly 20.

FIG. 5 shows the interlocking of adjacent panels, e.g. the lower panel 28 and an intermediate panel 27. The principal body portion 28a and the webs 28b and 28c of the lower panel define therebetween slide and guide channels 48 within which the other panels 25, 26 and 27 are shiftable. The intermediate panel 27 is formed with integral tabs or tab means 50 extending laterally from each side edge. Each tab 50 extends through a slot 52 cut in the lower panel 28 at the intersection of the web 28b and the principal body portion 28a. This slot 52 is adapted to receive the tab 50 of the intermediate panel 27, thereby holding the panel firmly in position.

Similarly, the upper panel 25 and the intermediate panel 26 are formed with laterally extending tabs 50 which are adapted for insertion within slots 52 of the adjacent panels 26 and 27.

During shipment and storage, the display assembly 20 of the invention is maintained as a compacted array against a side wall of a merchandise container, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the container 10 has been opened, the upper panel 25 of the merchandise display is grasped and extended or pulled upwardly as shown in FIG. 1. When the flexible tabs 50 of the upper panel are shifted upwardly to encounter and enter the slots 52 of the upper intermediate panel 26, engagement is completed interlocking the two panels in fixed longitudinal relationship. Further lifting of the upper panel 25 and the adjacent panel 26 interlocks the latter panel with the next adjacent intermediate panel 27.

In similar fashion, the lowermost intermediate panel 27 interlocks with the lower panel 28. The expanded multi-panel display assembly which results is adapted to carry descriptive or advertising material to promote the sale of the merchandise in the container 10.

Whether the assembly 20 projects from within a box or is used as an independent structure, stability is imparted by feet 40 and 41 formed integrally with the lower panel 28 at base corners thereof. Lower edge portions 42 and 43 of the feet rest on the box floor 11 or other substrate, precluding pivotal collapse of the assembly 20.

It will be appreciated that the merchandise 30 contained in the box 10 contributes materially to the overall stability of the erected assembly 20. Bearing directly on the base panel 29, such merchandise 30 holds the display assembly 20 in place and steadies the lower panel 28 and the structure extending upwardly therefrom, as indicated in FIG. 1.

This disclosure of the display assembly has been made with reference to a preferred embodiment in which panels are extended upwardly from a base. It will be apparent that numerous modifications and variations in details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the telescoping panels may be extended sideways, downwardly, or at any desired angle with respect to a base. Also, the lower panel of the assembly can be formed to constitute a side wall of the container or box itself. It is desired to include all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of this invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-panel display assembly selectively extensible for use and retractible for storage and shipment, said assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned panels adapted to carry visual display indicia thereon, adjacent said panels being substantially coincident laterally, said panels being shiftable axially with respect to one another between a telescopically contracted array in which said panels overlie one another in contiguous abutment and an extended array in which said panels remain telescopically overlapped but extend longitudinally outwardly of one another, said assembly including

an upper panel,

tab means integrally formed with an extending laterally from opposed side edges of said upper panel,

a lower panel,

said lower panel including a principal body portion and a pair of webs, said webs being integrally joined with said body portion at opposed lateral edges thereof,

said webs being folded rearwardly from lateral extremities of said principal body portion of said lower panel to overlie marginal side edges of said upper panel,

said principal body portion and said webs of said lower panel defining therebetween a slide and guide channel for said upper panel for longitudinal shifting of said upper panel including said tab means therewith,

said lower panel being formed at intersections of said principal body portion and said webs with through slots adapted to receive and to seat therewithin said tab means of said upper panel to effect an interlocking engagement between said upper panel and said lower panel upon displacement of the panels longitudinally of one another,

thereby to provide a mechanically stable extended multi-panel display assembly which may be readily collapsed and compacted to facilitate storage and shipment.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising intermediate panel means for said display assembly,

said intermediate panel means having inwardly folded side webs nesting between said upper and said lower panel of said display assembly for telescoping action therewith,

said intermediate panel means including laterally projecting tab means for seating within the slots in said lower panel,

said tab means being integrally formed with and extending laterally from opposed side edges of said intermediate panel means,

said intermediate panel means being formed with through slots as provided in said lower panel, said slots being adapted to receive the tabs of said upper panel therewithin,

whereby upon telescopic extension of said assembly to form an elongated array, upper and lower ends of said intermediate panel means overlap, overlie, and engage marginal end portions of said upper panel and underlie marginal edge portions of said lower panel to maintain said structure in an extended self-supporting attitude.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein said intermediate panel means comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned, substantially laterally coincident panels, each said panels being adapted to interlock with panels thereadjacent and in contact therewith.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said panels constitute a sequential array of similar panels having progressively lesser lateral width from panel to panel in a direction emanating from said lower panel.

5. The display assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a base panel integrally formed with said lower panel, said base panel being adapted to bear upon a substrate supporting said assembly,

said assembly further comprising a pair of foot elements integrally formed with said lower panel at opposed base corners thereof, said foot elements being adapted to project forwardly of a plane defined by said lower panel,

said foot elements including lower edge portions adapted to overlie and to abut against a substrate supporting said lower panel,

said base panel and said foot elements thereby maintaining said display assembly in a stable, self-supporting attitude.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said display assembly is formed from sheet cardboard.

7. A merchandise display comprising, in combination, th multi-panel display assembly of claim 1, and a container including a floor and side walls, said container enclosing and holding both units of merchandise and said multi-panel display assembly in compacted form,

said assembly in compacted form being confined to a limited, narrow portion of said container adjacent one of said side walls, thereby permitting insertion of said display assembly within said container without materially affecting capacity of said container to hold and to enclose units of merchandise.