Display Stand

Abstract

A combination merchandise tray and stand for displaying merchandise comprises front and rear panels foldably joined at longitudinal edges thereof to a gusset panel having a longitudinal medial score line. The gusset, front and rear panels have transverse collinear cut and fold lines whereby they can be folded medially into a collapsed position. The front panel has the upper portion secured to the tray and resilient means are operable upon the unfolding of the panels causing the gusset panels to move to position providing erected stability of the front, rear and gusset panels.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to display stands which can be shipped in a collapsed condition and erected readily to a display position, the stand portion having a tray fastened thereto for holding articles of merchandise therein.

2. The Prior Art

The prior art appears to be best exemplified in the following U.S. Patents which were developed in a search:

Hennessey No. 2,920,852 Jan. 12, 1960 248/174 Adams No. Re.25,309 Jan. 1, 1963 248/174 Wojciechowski No. 3,300,166 Jan. 24, 1967 248/174 Thomas No. 3,508,734 April 28, 1970 248/459

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the stand and tray in a collapsed position ready to be erected;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the display stand in the erected position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 looking at the front thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken essentially along the plane indicated by the numbers 4--4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The combination tray and display stand according to the present invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and is comprised of a conventional tray T having a bottom B. Tray T is secured to a stand S which, as seen in FIG. 1, is in a collapsed condition and ready for erection whereby the contents of the tray T may be displayed readily when the stand is in such erected position.

Stand S comprises a front wall 11 consisting of panel portions 12, 13 and 14, these being defined by score lines 16. Stand S also includes side gusset panels 17 which are foldably connected to a back panel 15. Side gusset panels 17 include triangular shaped gusset panel portions 18 and 19, these being foldably connected along a fold line 21.

Gusset panel portions 18 and are connected along fold lines 22 to the front panel portions 12 and 14, and gusset panel portions 19 are foldably connected to each other along a fold line 21. Gusset panel portions 18 are each foldably connected along fold line 23 to the back panel 15, and a manufacturer's joint flap 24 connects one of the gusset panel portions 19 to the back panel 15.

As seen in the several views, the gusset panel portions 18 and 19 are triangular in shape, and when the stand S is erected, it is essentially in the form of a wedge.

The front panel 11, the back panel 15 and the gusset panels 17 are arranged to be folded medially thereof, and to this end the front panel 11 is provided with a transverse slot 20, and gusset panel portions 19 are each provided with cut lines CL which are coplanar with the slot 20. In similar fashion, gusset panel portions 18 are provided with score lines 26, these being coplanar with cut-out portions 28 in the back panel 15, the cut-out portions 28 being coplanar with a fold line 27 in the back panel 15. The back panel 15, the front panel 11 and the gusset panel portions 18 and 19 are adapted to be folded into a flattened position, the gusset panel portions 18 and 19 being first folded about the vertical score lines 21, the stand S being folded to the position seen in FIG. 1 against the bottom B of the tray 10.

Structure is provided for the rigid setup of the stand S upon the unfolding of same, and to this end the top of the back panel 15 is provided with a flap 29 which extends downward between the back panel 15 and the front panel 11 at the top extremities thereof. Flap 29 is connected to the back panel 15 along a fold line 31. An elastic strand ES is connected at 36 to the flap 29 and at its opposite end 37 to an erecting flap 32 foldably connected at 33 to an abutment 34 adhesively secured to the inside of the back back panel 15.

Upon the unfolding of the panels comprising the stand S, erecting flap 32 is caused to move against the inside of the front panel portion 13 and against a lower end wall EW of the tray T.

Claims

We claim:

1. In a collapsible, self-erecting stand for an integral merchandise display tray, which includes a back wall and a lower end wall, the combination of:

a. a pair of front and rear panels hingedly interconnected at their upper ends and having corresponding sides connected to each other by a pair of generally triangular gusset panels to form a structure which is generally wedge-shaped when in erected condition;

b. said front panel having an upper section secured to said tray back wall and having a lower section separated from said upper section by a transverse slit disposed in the plane of said tray lower end wall;

c. said front panel lower section including side portions which diverge rearwardly when the stand is in erected condition;

d. each of said gusset panels including a pair of front and rear panel sections hingedly connected to side edges of said front and rear panels, respectively, and hingedly connected to each other along a fold line extending longitudinally of said gusset panel;

e. said rear and gusset panels being cut and scored in areas aligned with said plane to permit the stand to be collapsed and folded upon itself flat against said tray back wall;

f. a retaining flap having a free front end and having a rear end hingedly connected to the inside of said rear panel, at an area aligned with said plane, and having a length greater than the width of said gusset panels at said plane;

g. resilient means extending between an upper area of said stand and said retaining flap free front end and operable upon the unfolding of said front, rear, and gusset panels, to urge said retaining flap front end upwardly until it engages the inside of said front panel lower section to urge said lower section forwardly of the plane of said tray back wall so that the upper edge of said lower section engages said tray lower end wall.