Supports – Easel; book – copy or music score holder – Knockdown or collapsible
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-20
2003-11-18
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Easel; book, copy or music score holder
Knockdown or collapsible
C248S465000, C040S124160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648293
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to display stands and boxes and more particularly, to a foldable display container that may be shipped flat and easily assembled by a consumer, retailer or other user of the display.
Foldable display containers are used to display printed materials and other articles. The display containers are formed from a single, integrated piece of plastic or other material. Each integrated piece may be packaged and shipped flat so that one or several hundred containers may be shipped at one time while minimizing shipping costs. Furthermore, the expense related to packaging materials needed to protect the containers from damage during shipping is also reduced significantly. Once the containers reach a retailer, the retailer can construct the display containers from the flat pieces by folding out and connecting the components of the display containers. There are several types of display containers that are used to display printed materials.
One such display container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,024, issued on Jul. 24, 1990 to Meyer. This patent discloses a printed material holder that is formed from molded plastic and includes a flat panel having a molded clip that extends outward from the flat panel. The lower end of the clip is attached to and extends from the flat panel. The top end of the clip curves towards the front panel to a position that is even with the front surface of the flat panel. The clip has an inherent spring tension which enables the clip to be easily pulled forward to insert material behind the clip. The tension of the clip provides a pressure point at the top of the clip to hold materials in place inside the holder. In this configuration, the holder may be mounted to a wall or door.
In a separate configuration, a pair of side panels extend from either side of the flat panel. The side panels, along with the molded clip, keep materials from sliding out of the sides of the holder. A pair of L-shaped support legs are mounted to the flat panel to provide support for the holder. Tabs or buttons on the legs fit into corresponding holes on the flat panel to secure the legs to the flat panel. The legs extend from the flat panel down to the base of the holder. The legs form a triangular support on each side of the holder to support the holder for use on a flat surface such as a table top.
Although the material holder securely holds printed material in place, it has some practical problems and disadvantages. A portion of the molded clip extends above the planar surface of the flat panel so that two or more holders cannot be easily stacked or packaged for shipping. The molded clip prevents the holder from being a single flat piece that can be stacked to save room inside of a shipping container. Furthermore, the material holder includes separate support legs which can be broken or lost easily during shipping or handling of the holders.
Other types of display containers are molded from a single flat piece of material such as plastic to reduce parts and also reduce shipping costs. The molded containers include several panels that fold upright and connect together to form the display containers. One such display container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,663, issued on Jan. 28, 1992 to Conway et al. This patent discloses a plastic display container that may be hung on a wall or placed on a flat surface in an inclined position. The display container is manufactured in a blank or single piece of plastic to reduce shipping costs and parts. Once the display is received by a retailer or other customer, it may be folded and assembled into a display container for displaying printed materials and other similar articles. The display container includes a back panel, a bottom panel and a front panel hinged together along two fold lines. Two side panels are hinged on either side of the front panel. To assemble the display container, the front and rear panels are folded into an upright position. The side panels are folded inward to form the interior space of the container. Each side panel includes a top and bottom tab or protrusion that connects to corresponding slots on the rear panel. Once the tabs on the side panels engage the slots on the rear panel, the display container is secured together. This configuration is best adapted for hanging the display container on a wall or similar surface.
If the display container is placed on a flat surface such as a tabletop, then an easel panel is used to stabilize the container. The easel panel is integrally formed in the rear and bottom panels of the display container. Two small plastic protrusions extend between each side of the easel panel and the rear panel. The protrusions hold the easel panel in place until it needs to be used to support the display container. To separate the easel panel from the rear panel so that the easel panel may be folded back and secured in place, the small protrusions must be cut or snapped apart. A user may either cut the protrusions with a utility knife or similar device or snap the protrusions by placing force on the corresponding areas of the easel panel. Once separated, the easel panel is folded behind the rear panel. Notches located in a bottom portion of the easel panel fit into corresponding notches on the rear panel to hold the easel panel in place. The easel panel forms a triangular support for the display container to keep the container from tipping backwards and falling over. The container slants backward at a predetermined angle to enable the display materials to lean backward and remain in the container.
Another type of display container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,875 issued Apr. 26, 1994 to Meyer. This patent discloses a fold-up display container that is a single, integrally molded plastic unit having a base panel, a front panel, a rear panel, left and right side panels and support panels. The front panel, rear panel and side panels have a hinged portions that connect the panels to the base panel. The hinged portions enable the panels to be folded into position during assembly of the display container. The front panel and side panels are folded into an upright position where each side panel has a slot that engages a corresponding tab on the side edges of the front panel. After the tabs engage the slots on the side panels the front panel and two side panels are secured in an upright position. Furthermore, a pair of feet that project from the front panel extend below the front panel to elevate the front of the display container. The rear panel is folded into an upright position. Tabs on each side panel, located on the opposite sides of the slots, engage corresponding slots on the rear panel. The engagement secures the rear panel in an upright position. Two support panels formed in the rear panel have hinged portions so that the support panels may be folded outward away from the rear panel to provide stability for the display container. The feet located on the front panel raise the front of the display device such that the display device tilts towards the rear panel. The tilted nature of the display container enables display materials to lean against the rear panel and remain organized and inside the container. Three openings are located in the rear panel for hanging the display container on a wall or similar structure.
The integrally molded display containers reduce shipping costs and eliminate the possibility of losing parts associated with the displays. These displays, however, have significant problems or disadvantages. Each of these displays have multiple panels or surfaces that include several hinged portions and several connecting components. The complexity of the display containers, requires an assembler to fold the panels in a particular order and then align corresponding connecting devices to secure the panels together. Thus, retailers or other users must spend time reading the instructions and assembling each display. If several displays are needed, substantial amounts of time and effort will be expended to assemble
Bell Boyd & Lloyd LLC
Braeside Plastics Corporation
Braun Leslie A.
Szumny Jon
LandOfFree
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