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.

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.

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.