A collapsible dispenser

Abstract

 A dispenser for inter alia leaflets comprising a single piece of sheet material having several sections divided by fold lines. The sheet has a plurality of slots to receive edges of at least one section during assembly. The edges are retained within the slots once assembled.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a collapsible dispenser. More specifically the invention relates to a collapsible dispenser that provides, when assembled, a plurality of individual holding areas.

[0002] Dispensing devices or holders for retaining, for example, leaflets, that comprise front, back and side portions that form a pocket in which to locate the leaflets are known. Such dispensers are generally moulded from a strong, durable polystyrene material and are designed to provide available space to hold leaflets and the like as and when required. It is also known to provide dispensers of this type that are moulded in such a way as to provide multiple pockets to retain a variety of different items.

[0003] A problem associated with these dispensers is that they can be fairly large in size and require considerable storage space. The size and robust structure of each dispenser incurs a substantial cost for transportation from the manufacturer to the consumer.

[0004] The present invention seeks to alleviate the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional leaflet dispensers by providing a collapsible multi-pocket dispenser constructed of a single piece of sheet material. As such, the dispenser can be supplied as a flat net for construction by the consumer. Once assembled, the dispenser can be very easily disassembled when no longer required, back to a flat net, with minimal storage requirements.

[0005] The construction of the dispenser, as will be later described, provides for simple assembly.

[0006] In one aspect there is provided, a collapsible dispenser for inter alia leaflets, the dispenser comprising a single piece of sheet material having a number of sections divided by fold lines, the sheet having a plurality of slots to receive edges of at least one section during assembly, and means to retain the edges within the slots once assembled.

[0007] Preferably each section is shaped so as to provide a number of individual holding sections once assembled.

[0008] Preferably the dispenser, once assembled comprises at least two, preferably four, holding sections.

[0009] Preferably still the holding sections are constructed in a step formation.

[0010] The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which is a plan view of a net of a collapsible dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention.

[0011] Figure 1 shows a net 10 of a dispenser 12 of the present invention. The dispenser 12 is formed from a flexible plastic material such as, for example, 800 mic PP Priplack Opaline.

[0012] Reference hereinafter to "dispenser" refers generally to the net of the dispenser shown in the Figure.

[0013] The dispenser 12 comprises a main strip portion 14 formed of a number of sections 16a-i divided by lines of weakness which provide folds in the strip 14 when the dispenser 12 is being assembled.

[0014] The strip 14 includes two generally triangular arms 18a,b which provide side walls of the dispenser 12 once assembled. The strip 14 forms the back, base and pocket walls of the dispenser 12 once assembled (as will be explained later).

[0015] Each arm 18a,b extends outwardly from the strip 14 and is connected thereto via a fold line 20a, b. As can be seen from the Figure, each arm 18a,b is connected to the strip 14 along only part of its length.

[0016] The sections 16 of the strip 14 fall into one of three catagories, depending on the resulting function once the dispenser has been assembled. Section 16a provides the back of the dispenser 14. Sections 16b, 16d, 16f and 16h provide the bases of individual pockets formed once the dispenser 12 has been assembled. Sections 16c, 16e, 16g and 16i provide the front walls of the pockets once formed.

[0017] The pocket wall sections 16c,e,g,i are divided into two portions by fold lines 22. Cut-outs 24 are provided at the end of each fold line 22. The cut-outs allow for the edges of the wall sections 16c,e,g,i, once folded, to be connected within slots 26c,e,g,i located through the arms 18a,b.

[0018] Each slot 26 has a inwardly protruding cornered edge which engages with the associated cut-out 24 to ensure that each wall section 16c,e,g,i is retained within the respective slot 26c,e,g,i. The edges of the major portion of each of the wall sections 16c,e,g,i are slightly convex to aid retention of the wall section 16c,e,g,i within the respective slot 26,c,e,g,i.

[0019] It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of collapsible dispensers in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A collapsible dispenser for inter alia leaflets, the dispenser comprising a single piece of sheet material having a number of sections divided by fold lines, the sheet having a plurality of slots to receive edges of at least one section during assembly, and means to retain the edges within the slots once assembled.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each section is shaped so as to provide a number of individual holding sections once assembled.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, once assembled, the dispenser comprises at least two holding sections.

4. A dispense according to claim 3, wherein the dispenser, once assembled, comprises four holding sections.

5. A dispenser according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the holding sections are each constructed in a step formation.

Drawing