A cardboard modular stand

Abstract

 A cardboard display stand comprising separate modules (100) positioned on top of each other, the modules (100) having a shape of a polyhedron with a top wall parallel to the bottom wall and with an open side wall. The modules (100) have pegs (60) attached to the top wall (104), which are inserted to positioning openings (72) in the bottom wall (105) of a higher module (100).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to cardboard modular stands.

[0002] There are known cardboard display stands having a fixed working configuration, i.e. a configuration that does not change and has a stable shape.

[0003] A US patent US5706953 presents a cardboard stand with shelves, having a box-like shape and having a side wall, a back wall and a front wall and a front wall, which has a front opening and which is connected with the back wall at the top and runs toward the base of the box. The internal walls of the stand comprise holders for shelves. The holders have a form of ribs formed at the side walls and the back wall and running along the whole side edge of the shelves.

[0004] A European patent application EP 1031304 presents a cardboard stand with shelves positioned in a box comprising side walls, external back wall and front walls formed of one cardboard sheet, and an internal movable back wall formed of another cardboard sheet. The shelves are fastened by gluing its back support flaps with the internal back wall. In addition, the shelves further comprise edge support flaps which can be glued with the side walls only in the working configuration. The stand can be converted from a flat transport configuration to a working configuration by vertically adjusting the internal back wall.

[0005] Cardboard display stands of this type are cheaper to produce than display stands made of plastics, they can be manufactured in small batches and can be easily recycled. However, their configuration is fixed and defines the sizes and the number of shelves.

[0006] In order to obtain a modular stand, the configuration of which will depend on the current needs, it is well known to place individual cardboard boxes, having one side wall open, on top of each other and join them by glue or adhesive tape. A disadvantage of such solution is that the joined modules cannot be detached without damage and cannot be reconfigured. Moreover, manual joining is problematic and requires to precisely position the modules on top of each other.

[0007] The aim of the invention is to provide a cardboard modular stand, which is both stable and easy to assemble and disassemble.

[0008] The object of the invention is a cardboard display stand comprising separate modules positioned on top of each other, the modules having a shape of a polyhedron with a top wall parallel to the bottom wall and with an open side wall, wherein the modules have pegs attached to the top wall, which are inserted to positioning openings in the bottom wall of a higher module.

[0009] Preferably, at least one module comprises two parts, wherein the first part is rigid in the planes in which the second part is foldable, and the second part is rigid in the planes in which the first part is foldable.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom wall and the top wall comprise at least two layers, wherein the positioning openings are closed at one side and made in at least one of the external layers of the bottom wall.

[0011] Preferably, the module has a parallelepiped shape.

[0012] Preferably, the positioning openings are placed symmetrically with respect to the centre of the bottom wall in a distance from each other equal to at least a half of the length of the bottom wall.

[0013] Preferably, the positioning openings are circular.

[0014] Preferably, the stand comprises a base module in a shape of a polyhedron equivalent to the other modules, with a top wall parallel to the bottom wall, on which the other modules are placed, wherein all the side walls of the base module are closed and the base module comprises pegs attached to the external side of the top wall, by which the base module is joined with positioning openings of the modules placed thereon.

[0015] Preferably, the base module comprises two parts, wherein the first part is rigid in the planes in which the second part is foldable, and the second part is rigid in the planes in which the first part is foldable.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom wall and the top wall of the base module comprise at least two layers, wherein the positioning openings are closed at one side and made in at least one of the external layers of the bottom wall.

[0017] Preferably, the stand comprises a cover on top of the top module in form of a bent cardboard blank which comprises positioning openings in its bottom and is joined with the top module by means of pegs attached to the top wall of the top module.

[0018] Preferably, the modules comprise borders made of a single cardboard blank, having a front element perpendicular to the edge of the bottom wall.

[0019] The object of the invention is shown by means of embodiments on a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a single module in a front view,

Fig. 2 shows an assembly view of a single module shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3A-G show cardboard blanks for assembling the single module shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 shows a peg,

Fig. 5A shows an assembly view of the stand of the first embodiment,

Fig. 5B shows the assembled stand according to the first embodiment in a working configuration in a front view,

Fig. 6 shows a base module,

Fig. 7 shows an assembly view of the base module shown in the embodiment of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 shows a blank of cardboard for assembling the complementary part of the base module,

Fig. 9 shows a module cover,

Fig. 10 shows a blank of cardboard for assembling the cover,

Fig. 11 shows a second embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view,

Fig. 12 shows a third embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view,

Fig. 13 shows a fourth embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view,

Fig. 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view,

[0020] The dashed lines on the drawings of the blanks indicate bending lines, and the continuous lines indicate edges and notch lines. The hatched areas indicate the areas where adhesive is applied to join the cardboard layers.

[0021] The stand according to the invention is made of cardboard, preferably of corrugated cardboard.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows, in a front view, an embodiment of a single module, forming the basic assembly module for the stand, which is an open module. The module 100 has a shape of a parallelepiped with one side wall open- typically the front wall with respect to the user standing in front of the stand assembled to the working configuration. The module comprises three vertical side walls 101, 102, 103, wherein the walls 101 and 103 are parallel to each other and perpendicular with respect to the wall 102, as well as two side walls, the top wall 104 and the bottom wall 105, which are parallel with respect to each other and perpendicular with respect to the vertical walls 101, 102, 103. The bottom wall 105 forms the base of the module 100. On the external side of the bottom wall 105 the module 100 has positioning openings 72 for placing assembly pegs therein for joining the modules 100 standing on top of each other, the pegs shown in example on Fig. 4. At the external side of the top wall 104 of the module 100 there are cuts 71 which indicate the area for attaching the pegs.

[0023] Other embodiments of the module are possible as well, having the shape of another polyhedron with parallel bottom and top walls and at least one side wall open. Such modules should have, at the external side of the bottom wall, positioning openings 72 for placing therein pegs, and at the external side of the top wall - cuts 71 indicating the area for attaching the pegs.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows an assembly view of the single module of Fig. 1. The module comprises two parts 110, 120. The first part 110 functions as the base part and is rigid in the plane parallel to the side wall 101, 103 and in a plane parallel to the top wall 104 and to the bottom wall 105, i.e. its projection on these planes keeps a shape of a rectangle having a constant height. Moreover, the first part 110 is foldable in the plane parallel to the side wall 102, i.e. its projection on that plane may change its shape from a rectangle to a parallelogram with inclined side walls. The second part 120 forms a complementary part and is rigid in planes parallel to the side wall 101, 102, 103, and foldable in a plane parallel to the top wall 104 and to the bottom wall 105. Therefore, in general, the first part 110 is rigid in the planes where the second part 120 is foldable, and the second part 120 is rigid in the planes, in which the first part 110 is foldable. The complementary part 120 is insertable to the base part 110.

[0025] Fig. 3A-3G show a blank of cardboard for assembling a single module shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1. The base part 110 of the module 100 is formed from blanks 10A, 10B, 20A, 20B shown in Figs. 3A-3D, and the complementary part 120 is formed from a blank 30 and two blanks 40 shown in Figs. 3E-3F.

[0026] In order to assemble the module according to this embodiment, the following actions should be performed.

[0027] The blank is folded according to the bending lines. The blanks 10A and 10B are joined together by flaps 15A, 15B such that the flap 15A is glued to the element 12B, and the flap 15B is glued to the element 12A. Next, the elements 12A and 12B are strengthened by adhering to them the elements 20A and 20B, wherein the element 20B comprising openings 72B is adhered to the element 12B such that the openings 72A face the openings 72B to form positioning openings 72. In the next step, the elements 14A and 16A are glued to the element 20B, and the elements 13A and 17A are glued to the element 11A. In an equivalent manner, the elements 14B and 16B are glued to the element 20A, and the elements 13B and 17B are glued to the element 11B. The blanks joined in this manner form the base part 110. The elements 14A, 14B, 16A, 16B further comprise grooves 19A, 19B located next to the longer edges of the elements 12A, 12B, used for more stable connection of the base part with the complementary part.

[0028] Next, in order to form the complementary part 120, the elements 31 and 32 of the blank 30 are glued together, and the elements 41 and 42 of the blank 40 are glued together. Next, the blanks 30 and 40 are joined together such that to each flap 33 of the blank 30, one blank 40 is glued at the fragment of the protruding element 41. The blank 30 further comprises narrow tongues 34 extending from the edges 35 and 36, to be positioned in the grooves 19A, 19B located in the base part to connect the base part and the complementary part in a stable manner.

[0029] The elements 14A, 14B, 16A, 16B are slightly shorter than the length of their adjacent elements 12A, 12B, which is useful while joining the base part and the complementary part together. After the blanks of the base part and the complementary part are folded and glued, the complementary part is placed inside the base part such that the tongues 34 enter into the grooves 19A, 19B, to form the open module 100. Since the length of the elements 14A, 14B, 16A, 16B is slightly shorter than the length of their adjacent elements 12A, 12B, the edges of the elements 40 of the complementary part, adjacent to the base part, may enter the slots formed in the internal edges of the base part.

[0030] The modules 100 formed in this way have a three-layered top wall 104 and a three-layered bottom wall 105. The positioning openings in the bottom wall 105 are closed and extend only via the first two external layers of that wall. In the top wall there are only notches 71 in a single external layer of that wall, which indicate the area for attachment of pegs. In order to join individual modules together, the pegs 60 shown in Fig. 4 are placed in the positioning openings 72. The pegs may be made of extruded polystyrene, of cardboard, of plastic or of wood. The pegs for joining adjacent modules may be glued to the area limited by the notches in the top wall of one module and freely insertable to the openings of the boom wall of another module. Preferably, the positioning openings 72 and the pegs 60 both have a circular horizontal cross-section.

[0031] Other module embodiments are possible, wherein the positioning openings are closed at one side and located in at least one external layer of the bottom wall.

[0032] The positioning openings 72 may also have a shape different than circular, adapted to receive pegs of a corresponding cross-sectional shape.

[0033] In addition, the modules 100 may be finished with borders 107, made of a cardboard blank 50 shown in Fig. 3G. The elements 53 and 54 are glued together and net the elements 51 and 52 are bent along the bending lines 55, 56. Then, the element 51 is placed between adjacent modules 100, and a flap 52 is inserted between the elements 13A and 41 and between the elements 13B and 41. The borders 107 protect the products placed within the modules from falling outside the area of the shelf.

[0034] Fig. 5A shows an assembly view of the stand according to the first embodiment. In order to assemble the stand from the individual modules, the pegs 60 are glued to the areas indicated by notches 71 in the top wall of modules. Next, individual modules are placed one on another, such that the pegs 60 glued to the notch area 71 of the top wall 104 of the module fit into the openings 72 located in the bottom wall of the adjacent module.

[0035] Fig. 5B shows the first embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view. The stand comprises modules 100 placed on top of each another, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1, and comprising borders 107 made of cardboard blanks shown in Fig. 3G. The stand further comprises a base module 200 and a cover 300.

[0036] Fig. 6 shows the base module in a front view. The base module 200 has a shape of a parallelepiped, equivalently to the other open modules 100, wherein all side walls of the base module 200 are closed. Therefore, the base module 200 has, in contrast to the open module 100, four vertical closed side walls. The base module 200 differs from the open modules further in that it does not need to have the positioning openings 72 at the external side of the bottom wall 105. The method of joining the base module 200 with the module 100 placed thereon is equivalent to the method of joining of modules 100. The base module may also function as a separator, to separate the individual open modules 100, and in such a case the bottom wall must have the positioning openings 72.

[0037] Fig. 7 shows a blank of cardboard for assembling the base module. The base module 200 comprises two parts, i.e. the first part 210 equivalent to the first part 110 of the open module 100 and the second part 230. As in the open module, the first part 210 being the base part is rigid in at least one plane parallel to the side wall and foldable in other planes parallel to the other side walls. The second part 230, being the complementary part, is rigid in the planes, in which the first part 210 is foldable. Preferably, the complementary part 230 is positioned within the base part 110.

[0038] In order to make the base module 200 according to the embodiment, the same procedure is followed as for the open module. The base part 210 of the base module 200 is formed from blanks 10A, 10B, 20A, 20B described before and shown in Figs 3A-3D. The complementary part 230 is formed from two identical cardboard blanks as shown in Fig. 8. In order to assemble the complementary part 230 from two blanks 80, in each of the blanks the element 81 is glued with the element 82, and the element 83 is glued with the element 84. Next, after bending along the bending lines, the blanks 80 are joined such that the flap 85 of the blank 80 is glued to extending fragments of the elements 83.

[0039] After the blanks of the base part 210 and the complementary part 230 are folded and glued, the complementary part is placed preferably in the base part such that the tongues 86 enter into the grooves 19A, 19B, to form the base module 200.

[0040] Fig. 9 shows a module cover for the highest module.

[0041] Fig. 10 shows a blank of cardboard for forming the cover. The cover 300 is made of a single bent cardboard blank 90, which is folded such that the individual elements of the blank 90 are bent along the bending lines 97, such that the element 91 forming the vertical wall of the cover is perpendicular to the element 92, forming the base of the cover and parallel to the top wall 104 of the module 100. Next, the construction is joined by tongues 94 extending from the shorter edge of elements 93, the tongues being placed in the cuts 96. The element 92 forming the base of the cover comprises positioning openings 74 for placing therein the pegs 60, to join the cover 300 with the module 100 in a manner equivalent to joining the modules 100.

[0042] The openings 72 formed of the facing openings 72A, 72B, as well as the areas limited by notches 71 are positioned symmetrically to the axis of symmetry of the bottom wall and the top wall of the module, in a distance from each other equal to at least half of the length of the base of the module.

[0043] Fig. 11 shows a second embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view. The stand has a form of a four-sided, multi-level construction with adjacent modules 100, wherein each level comprises four modules 100. The modules 100 of each level of the stand are positioned along the perimeter of the stand, such that each module has two walls 102A, 103A adjacent to side walls 102B, 103C of neighboring modules, and the open walls forming the shelves of the stand are facing outside the stand towards the user at each side of the stand. The mutual arrangement of modules of a single layer in a horizontal view forms a square, with a smaller square of free space inside. For a more stable construction of the stand, the successive layers are shifted in relation to each other, such that the open walls forming the shelves of horizontally adjacent modules are positioned in a shifted relationship, at the left and right side of the stand. The modules are connected by pegs, in a manner equivalent to the first embodiment, with the difference that in this embodiment two modules may stand on one module, and so one module may stand on two modules. In addition, the stand may comprise base modules 200 positioned in the base layer or in any other layer in place of the open module 100. The stand further comprises covers 300 which are joined by pegs to the adjacent modules of the top layer of modules.

[0044] Fig. 12 shows a third embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view. The stand forms a multi-layer construction of modules 100 in form of a triangular tower. The successively upper layers comprise a number of modules smaller by one from the lower layer, therefore the number of levels is equal to the number of modules of the lowest level of the stand.

[0045] The modules of individual levels may be arranged at an angle with respect to each other, such that they form an arc. Fig. 13 shows the fourth embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view. The adjacent modules are joined by the back vertical edges of the side wall of the modules and do not form open spaces therebetween as in the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 12. The modules are connected together in a manner equivalent to the previous embodiments.

[0046] Fig. 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the stand in a working configuration in a front view, which is a more complex version of the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 13. The modules joined along an arc form a circular-like shape.

[0047] The embodiments from the third to the fifth may be assembled if the positioning openings 72 are positioned symmetrically to the axis of symmetry of the base of the module, in a distance from each other greater than half of the length of the base. The greater the distance between the positioning openings of the module, the larger the distance between the modules or the smaller the curvature angle of the arc that can be achieved.

Claims

1. A cardboard display stand comprising separate modules (100) positioned on top of each other, the modules (100) having a shape of a polyhedron with a top wall parallel to the bottom wall and with an open side wall, characterized in that the modules (100) have pegs (60) attached to the top wall (104), which are inserted to positioning openings (72) in the bottom wall (105) of a higher module (100).

2. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one module (100) comprises two parts (110, 120), wherein the first part (110) is rigid in the planes in which the second part (120) is foldable, and the second part (120) is rigid in the planes in which the first part (110) is foldable.

3. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom wall (105) and the top wall (104) comprise at least two layers, wherein the positioning openings (72) are closed at one side and made in at least one of the external layers of the bottom wall (105).

4. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the module has a parallelepiped shape.

5. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning openings (72) are placed symmetrically with respect to the centre of the bottom wall (105) in a distance from each other equal to at least a half of the length of the bottom wall (105).

6. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning openings (72) are circular.

7. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a base module in a shape of a polyhedron, with a top wall parallel to the bottom wall, on which the other modules (100) are placed, wherein all the side walls of the base module (200) are closed and the base module comprises pegs (60) attached to the top wall (204), by which the base module is joined with positioning openings (72) of the modules (100) placed thereon.

8. The stand according to claim 7, characterized in that the base module (200) comprises two parts (210, 230), wherein the first part (210) is rigid in the planes in which the second part (230) is foldable, and the second part (230) is rigid in the planes in which the first part (210) is foldable.

9. The stand according to claim 8, characterized in that the bottom wall (205) and the top wall (204) of the base module (200) comprise at least two layers, wherein the positioning openings (72) are closed at one side and made in at least one of the external layers of the bottom wall (205).

10. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the top module (100A) is joined with a module cover (300) in form of a bent cardboard blank which comprises positioning openings (72) in its bottom and is joined with the top module (100A) by means of pegs (60) attached to the top wall (104) of the top module (100A).

11. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the modules (100) with an open side wall comprise borders (107) made of a single cardboard blank, having a front element perpendicular to the edge (106) of the bottom wall (105).

Drawing