Technical Field

The present invention pertains to a deployable stand and more particularly to a multi-self stand that can be deployed and locked in a firm position in a single pull.

Background

Single or multi -shelf stands are used mostly in exhibitions and display of merchandise in stores. They should be sufficiently strong to carry the load of the articles placed on the shelves, but at the same time be foldable so that they do not occupy a substantial volume before use. However, the deployment of such stands should not involve great labor and complexity. For example, the parts of a stand should be connected to each other with different connecting means such as hinges, screws, adhesives and so on to provide it the required rigidity to carry loads adapted to its capacity. These means are not integrated into the parts of the stand and need to be connected when erecting it.

US 2015/0313355 describes a supporting stand, which is made from a single two dimensional board with folding lines that make the three dimensional stand when folding the board parts around them. The board cannot self-deploy but requires manual handling to fold the board parts over themselves along the folding lines and construct the stand to a fully erect state. Furthermore, the fasteners do not engage by themselves when deploying the stand, but also need to be manually connected to each other. In addition, the deployment of the stand is reversible, which requires manually disengaging the fasteners from each other and unfolding the stand parts to return it to its two dimensional board state.

US 2006/118460 describes a container that vertically deploys with a plurality of trays serially connected to each other with supports pivotally attached to them. The trays deploy in an inclined position with an acute angle, preferably 30°. In addition, the trays are inclined in alternating opposite directions. The inclination and alternating directions of the trays are intentional to efficiently use the display of merchandise on them from opposite sides. The trays interface and are connected to each other at their edges in the deployed state. This enables the inclined position of the trays, which edges are attached to each other and pulled away from each other with telescopic supports in an alternating fashion. This structure cannot allow a horizontal orientation of the shelves relative each other in the deployed state. In addition, the locking means are only manually engaged and not simultaneously when deploying the container.

EP 0 663 170 describes a vertically deployable and collapsible display rack with a support between neighbor trays that consists of foldable and expandable movable side flaps, which are attached at one end to one of the trays and are free at their opposite end. This support does not extend beyond its location between adjacent trays and does not make a continuous single unit with supports between adjacent trays above or below the trays to which it is connected. Unlike the supports in the supports in the stand of the present invention, it has to have free ends and a continuous attachment to the length of the shelves in an alternating mode to enable the folding and deployment of the rack.

NL 2022802 describes a display that may be made of a single board, which is cut out to fold upon itself and connect and interlock with each of its parts to make trays and their supports. This stand is not deployable vertically or horizontally but instead is constructed from flat two dimensional boards that form its three dimensional erected state upon folding them on themselves. The stability of this stand relies on the continuous boards it is made of, the interlocking of the board parts that make it and the ‘Y’ shape of its supports that hold the trays in firm position. Deploying and folding this display requires manual labor and not a single pull as in the stand of the present invention. Its folding lines cannot be cut too deeply into the board, or this will weaken the strength and stability of the display when in erect three dimensional position.

EP 2 705 778 describes a horizontally collapsible and deployable shelving unit with a back wall and two side walls. The side walls are hingeably connected to the back wall and the shelves are hingeably connected to the back wall. This shelving unit is transversely foldable with the side walls folding over the back wall. This requires that the shelves also fold over the back wall, which is a necessary and not supplemental part, to allow the side walls fold over them and the back wall and maintain a two dimensional state. The solution is with the gussets, hingeably connected to the shelves and side walls so that the shelves are forced to fold over the back wall, when the side walls are folded over them and the back wall. 2014/4014606 also describes a horizontally fold-out shelving unit with a rear panel, namely a back board, which is a necessary and not supplemental part, side panels that are movable between folded and deployed positions and shelf panels connected to the side and rear panels. A support panel and side connection panels and fins extend from the shelf panel to connect it to the side panels and allow the shelves to fold when folding the side panels over the rear panel and expand when deploying the side panels away from the rear panel. Elastic members join the two opposite ends of the shelf panel and prevent over-expansion and detachment of the shelf panel parts. This design requires that the side and rear panels are maintained integral without folding or cutting lines along their width except for the folding lines along their length at the interface between the side panels and rear panel. Folding or cutting lines transversely oriented in these side and rear panels will destabilize the entire shelving unit in its deployed state. This is because they will only weaken and prevent them from forming a structure that stably holds the shelf panels and items placed on them.

There is, therefore, a need for a foldable stand that saves labor and complexity in deploying it.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an easily deployable stand that saves labor in deploying it onsite.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a deployable stand with integrated means for fixing and locking the stand in a deployed state.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a deployable stand with integrated fixing and locking means that is sufficiently rigid and strong to carry high loads such as articles in exhibitions or merchandise in stores.

This and other objects and embodiments of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Summary

In one aspect the present invention pertains to a stand that is provided in a folded state and configured to be deployed and fixed in its position in a single pull. This deployable stand imparts many advantages. Such advantages include delivery in a convenient folded state before deploying it onsite. Another advantage is the combination of a structure and locking and fixing mechanism that enables to deploy it in a single pull without significant efforts.

In a particular embodiment, the deployable stand of the present invention comprises one or more floors, wherein every floor comprises a shelf, supports attached to the bottom of the shelf, a back attached to the bottom of the shelf and adjacent to and positioned 90° relative to the supports and between said supports, and a locking and fixing means attached to the supports and back. Further, the supports are foldable over the shelf and deployable vertically relative to the shelf. The back is foldable over or outside the shelf between the supports and around cutting lines at its edges. And the locking and fixing means on the supports and back connect with each other upon unfolding the stand to its deployed state, thereby locking and fixing the stand in its erect position.

The folding and unfolding of the stand, particularly its supports and backs, is made around cutting lines at their edges and/or middle. In particular, the cutting lines alternate between cutting from the internal surfaces of the supports that face each other towards their external surfaces opposite the internal surfaces and cutting from these external surfaces towards the internal surfaces. The same is for the backs. These alternating cuts are continuous along the height of the supports and backs regardless of the number of floors they stretch through, thus making a single continuous structure that may be pulled to a fully deployed position in a single pull.

To fix the stand in an erect, deployed position is made locking and fixing means that are attached to adjacent supports and backs and are locked to each other when the stand reaches a fully deployed state. In general, the stand of the present invention comprises three major characteristics that impart it its advantages: A structure that is continuous with cutting lines that enable it to fold and unfold and at the same time define its floors; Locking and fixing means that is already built-in the stand as a complete package and locks and fixes the stand in its deployed state; And multi-layer boards with skin covers that are sufficiently elastic to make the cutting lines as axes for folding and unfolding the supports and backs.

The most general structure of the deployable stand comprises one or more floors, every floor comprises a shelf, supports attached to bottom of the shelf, and locking and fixing means attached to the supports. These supports are foldable over the shelf and deployable vertically relative the shelf. The locking and fixing means are configured to connect with each other in a deployed state of the stand and fix and lock the stand in a fully erect position.

Cutting lines in the middle and edges of supports and backs make the folding axes of the stand. For parallel supports in any floor of the stand, these cutting lines may be selected from cutting in directions opposite each other, cutting in directions towards each other, and cutting in a same direction.

The deployable stand may take several configurations depending on the formation of its supports. In one configuration, parallel supports are located any distance length from each other that ranges between length of the shelf and a length sufficient to fix the locking and fixing means to the supports. In particular, the distance length equals the length of the shelf, the parallel supports are aligned and integrated with the sides of the shelf and form a continuous single board. In another configuration, the distance length between every two parallel supports in a floor is sufficiently small to create a T-shape by these parallel supports and a back.

In still another configuration, every two supports comprise slits in their middle from top to a selected depth, so that they cross each other and are inserted one into the other inside said slits. This configuration makes a cross over which the shelf is attached and fixed, where the crossing point of the two supports attach to center of the bottom of the shelf. Further, the cutting lines that make the axes of folding and unfolding of the supports in their middle and edges alternate between two options: cutting from a first surface of one support that faces the surface of the other support towards their second surface opposite the first surfaces and cutting from the first surfaces towards their second surface. In addition, the direction of the cutting lines alternate across the crossing point of the supports so that the every support folds into a quarter defined by the halves which are formed by the crossing supports.

In one particular embodiment, the boards that make the supports and back are multi-walls as defined above and are cut through from one skin through the entire thickness of their core right to the second skin. This second skin, which is sufficiently elastic, is left intact and makes the folding and unfolding axis along the cutting lines of the supports and backs.

The following will describe particular and non-limiting examples of the present invention with exemplary reference to the drawings without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figs. 1A-B illustrate a deployable multi-shelf stand in a deployed state.

Fig. 2A-B illustrate a deployable multi-shelf stand in a folded state.

Fig- 3 illustrates a second configuration of a deployable multi-shelf stand in a deployed state.

Fig. 4 illustrates the second configuration of a deployable multi-shelf stand in a folded state.

Figs. 5A-D illustrate fixing and locking means of a deployable multi-shelf stand in different states of deployment.

Figs. 6A-B illustrate the deployable multi-shelf stand in intermediate state of deployment.

Fig. 7 illustrates a typical shelf of the deployable multi-shelf stand.

Figs. 8A-D illustrate a particular locking means for locking a deployed multi-shelf stand in a deployed state.

Figs. 9A-C illustrate one of the parts of the locking means which is illustrated in Fig. 8A.

Figs. 10A-F illustrate another part of the locking means which is illustrated in Fig. 8A.

Fig. 11 illustrates several examples of multi-walls for constructing a deployable multi-shelf stand of the present invention.

Figs. 12A-C illustrates a third configuration of a deployable multi-shelf stand in a folded state. Detailed Description of the Drawings

The folded state of a particular configuration of the stand 100 is illustrated in Figs. 2A-B in perspective front and back views, respectively. Box 130 contains the stand parts, shelves 105 supports (not shown) and backs 125, in their folded state. Locking and fixing means 210 is attached to the back 125 and is intended to lock to a matching locking and fixing means (not shown) that is attached to the support adjacent to the back 125 and in close proximity to the matching locking and fixing means 210 in the adjacent support. The back of box 130 is cut open in the middle, leaving two side wings 135, where the opening between these wings allows access for holding and lifting the upper shelf 105. This lifting drags the entire scaffold of the stand 100 including supports and backs and lower shelves, locks the supports to their corresponding adjacent backs at every floor and fixes the stand in a rigid state. Figs. 1A-B illustrate the erected fixed state of the stand 100 in perspective front and back views. The supports 110 are deployed from their folded state and as shown are made of two parts 110a and 110b, which are connected to each other through axis 115. Axis 115 is in fact a cut made through the thickness of the supports, which enables to accommodate the stand 100 in a folded position inside box 130 until it is deployed. As shown, the backs 125 also deploy when lifting the upper shelf 105. The following Figures show that the backs 125 are cut in the middle in this configuration to form a folding and deployment axis. This axis enables them to be folded together with the supports and between parallel supports and stack between neighbor shelves inside box 130. They further deploy conjointly with the supports to erect the stand and distance the shelves from each other. After deploying, box 130 serves as a firm base for holding the stand 100 in its deployed state.

Figs. 5A-D illustrate the deployment of the stand 100 and its intermediate state in more detail. Supports 110 and backs 125 are cut in the middle to form parts 110a, 110b and 125a, 125b, and folding and unfolding axes 115 and 135, respectively. Every axis is formed by cutting the boards that make the supports and backs sufficiently deep through the thickness of the boards that enables free movement of the parts between folding and unfolding states. At the same time, the axis keeps the board sufficiently continuous between the parts of the supports and backs to make a single continuous scaffold of the stand that is firm and suitable to carry high loads. Appropriate board structures that may be used to make the parts of the stand are illustrated in Fig. 11. In general, Fig. 11 shows double skin rigid boards with three or more layers, where the skins are sufficiently elastic to be used as a flexible surface for folding and unfolding the stand parts without breaking, fracturing or tearing. Several types of a multiwall structure 300, which is found suitable for making the deployable stand of the present invention, are illustrated in Fig. 11. All types of the multiwall in Fig. 11 include top and bottom skins 305 that cover a core 310. The core 310 may take different forms. Non-limiting examples are transversely or vertically oriented flutes, bubbles, corrugated and honeycomb. Particular materials are fluted polypropylene, corrugated cardboard, honeycomb or reboard cardboard, bubble structure multi-layer plastic (PP) and three layers PVC board that essentially comprises the general structure of solid/foam/solid. In general, any board that may be suitable for the deployable stand of the present invention comprises any three or more layers of a rigid material that is covered with flexible layers, i.e., skins, on its surfaces and a rigid, preferably lightweight core. Non-limiting examples are thin PVC skin/polyurethane foam/thin PVC skin and PP (Polypropylene)/wood/PP. The main objective is that the core provides sufficient rigidity to the board and thereby to the supports and backs of the stand, and at the same time keeps its skins sufficiently flexible to fold and deploy in the cutting and folding axes, 115 or 135. A double cardboard is also shown, which makes a good multiwall for the deployable stand of the present invention. The corrugated EB multiwall exemplifies the elasticity of these materials. In turn, the supports and backs that make the scaffold of the stand are sufficiently flexible to fold into the box and unfold to an erect position. In general, the depth of the cut reaches the inner surface of one of the skin, so that the skin remains intact and its elasticity enables it to serve as the folding and unfolding axis of the supports and backs. However, the depth of the cut depends on the particular design and specification of the stand may also not go throughout the entire core of the board up to the skin. Such multiwall forms are lightweight, which makes the stand easily portable and handled without applying great efforts.

Figs. 2A-B demonstrate how the supports and backs, which are made of a multiwall as shown in Fig. 11, are sufficiently elastic to enable them to fold into box 130. Figs. 5A-D show that these supports and backs are cut through the first skin and core of the multiwall, leaving the second skin and optionally part of the core adjacent the second skin uncut. When the stand is deployed, the supports and backs unfold around their cutting lines that make their axis of movement. This is particularly exemplified in the intermediate stages of deployment in Figs. 5B and 5C, showing the supports and backs moving toward each other around their cuts until they interface and meet in a fully erected state.

The erected state of the deployed stand is held with a locking and fixing means 200, a particular example of which is illustrated in Figs. 5A-D and 8A-D through 10A-F. This locking and fixing means 200 comprises essentially two elements, 205 and 210 that make a male-female inter-locking coupling. Male element 205 is fixed to a support part in proximity to the cutting line between every two parts of the support. Corresponding female element 210 is fixed to a back part that is leveled with the support back also in proximity to the cut between every two parts of the back. The fixing positions of the male and female elements are located adjacent each other and 90° one relative each other. The relative location of the elements of the fixing and locking means is such that when the supports and backs deploy, they get sufficiently closer to each other and lock together when the supports and backs are in fully erected position.

The supports and backs make an integral scaffold. In one particular embodiment, they are essentially cut from one piece. In another particular embodiment, the shelves are also cut from the same original piece of the supports and backs. Further, the box 130 may also form integral part of the stand which is cut from the original board. However, in all options, the shelves and box are also integrated with this scaffold. As a result, the stand 100 is deployed in its entirety upon a single pull from its folded position inside the box. Figs. 6A-B illustrate perspective front and back views of an intermediate state of deployment of the stand 100. As shown, pulling the top shelf 105 of the stand causes all the lower shelves, supports 110 and backs 125, to unfold until they are in erected position and the fixing means 200 secure them in place. This way the entire stand is fully deployed in a single pull.

Figs. 8A-D illustrate the particular example of a locking and fixing means 200 of the present invention. This means essentially comprises male 205 and female 210 elements that lock to each other when the stand is fully deployed, positioning adjacent supports 110 and backs 115 90° relative each other. The male element 205 comprises a body 215, a back plate 255, prongs 225, a hook 245 and a locking ring 235. The body 215 of the male element 205 is pushed into the multiwall board that makes the support 110 and fixed there until its back plate 255 protrudes out of the distal skin at the back of the support. Prongs 225 are imbedded in the multiwall core to fix the male element 205 in place. The female element 210 comprises a flat plate 220, side hooks 230 and 250 and recessed handle 240. The female element 210 is inserted into the back with its flat plate 220 protruding out of the proximal skin of the multiwall that makes the back part of the stand. Side hooks 230 and 250 are inserted into the core of the multiwall of the stand’s back and fix the female element in place. When deploying the stand and unfolding its supports and backs, the male 205 and female 210 elements of this locking and fixing means 200 approach each other. When reaching a full erect position, hook 245 of the male element frictionally contacts recessed handle 240 and eventually gets locked in it, when the stand is fully deployed. Figs. 9A-C and 10A-F illustrate the male 205 and female 210 elements of this locking and fixing means 200 in closer views.

The locking and fixing means 200 may further comprise a spring 400 pulling element that is locked between two male elements 205 of means 200, which are fixed in supports parallel each other. Figs. 5B-D illustrate such a spring 400 in a particular floor of the stand. When the stand is in a folded state, every two parallel supports 110 in any given floor of the stand lay apart from each other on the shelf 115 and are at maximum distance from each other. As a result, spring 400 is stretched to its maximum length between parallel male elements 205, which are fixed to the parallel supports 110, and stores kinetic energy. This energy provides additional momentum to the pulling action of the top shelf 115 when deploying the stand 100 that causes the spring to contract back to its relaxed state. The amount of the energy that spring 400 stores depends on the spring constant and length. As a result, the spring 400 generates a pulling force that causes every parallel supports to be pulled towards each other, and further alleviates the deployment of the stand.

Other mechanisms for pulling parallel supports towards each other in the deployment of the stand may be contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Particular non-limiting examples are coiled springs, non-coiled springs, elastic bands, for example rubber bands, magnetic discs or bars, strings, cords and gravitation pulling elements.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate another particular configuration of the stand 100 of the present invention, with the difference that the backs 125 are folded outside box 130 and deploy to form a back wall that forms support for the stand 100. In this configuration, the cutting lines 135 between backs 125 are made at the shelves 105 levels. In order to be folded outside box 130, the cutting lines are made from the proximal skin of the multi wall that makes the backs that is closer to the supports 110 towards the distal skin. In the configuration in Fig. 1, the cutting lines 135 in the backs 125 are made in the middle of every back and between backs. The cutting itself alternates between adjacent cutting lines. Namely, the cutting is made once from the proximal skin towards the distal skin and then from the distal skin towards the proximal skin of the backs. In both configurations, the supports 110 are cut in the middle and between supports in every floor. The cutting itself also alternates between adjacent cutting lines as described above, so that the supports fold on the shelves. This way, the cutting in the two configurations enables to pack the shelves and supports of the stand inside box 130 in a stack form and deploy them to an erect position in a single pulling and locking action. Supplemental back part 140 is added to the wall that the backs 125 form in the configuration in Fig.

3.

Figs. 12A-C illustrate another configuration of a deployable multi-shelf stand 100 in folded and deployed states. The supports 110 are located in the middle of the shelves 105 and pass through them along the height of the stand. As shown in these Figures, the supports 110 are positioned in cross configuration relative each other, thereby providing a stable and balanced support to the shelves. The supports comprise longitudinal cuts 155 along their length in their middle from their top to a selected depth that may reach down to their bottom along their length from the top shelf to the lowest shelf of the stand. Each support is cut along its length a selected distance between every two cutting lines 150 and meet the cutting lines 150, so that the slits 115 are positioned in the middle between every two neighbor shelves 105 and the adjacent cutting lines 150 to the slits 115 in the middle are located in proximity to the shelves 105, adjacent to the support edges. Fig. 12B shows that the slits 115 form two parts 110a, 110b of every support part between neighbor shelves 105. The edges of these longitudinal cuts 155 meet the cutting lines 150 and slits 115, which are cut along the width of the supports 110. The supports cross each other at a crossing point 145.

The cross configuration of the supports divides each of the two supports 110 into two halves 110A, HOB, in which the direction of the slit 115 in the middle one half, 110A, is opposite the direction of the slit 115 in the middle of the second half, HOB. The slits 115 extend along the thickness of the support 110 from one skin/surface of the support to its parallel skin/surface, so that the two parts fold in opposite directions relative each other. Since the supports are positioned 90° relative each other, every one of their two halves 110A, HOB, folds 90° relative the neighbor parts of the supports 110 that crosses it into one of the four quarters that the crossed supports define.

The slits 115 that make the axes of folding and unfolding of the supports 110 in their middle and edges alternate between cutting from a first skin/surface of one support that faces the skin/surface of the other support towards their second skin/surface opposite the first skin/surface and cutting from the first skin/surface towards their second skin/surface. In addition, the direction of the slits 115 and cutting lines 150 alternate across the crossing point 145 of the supports so that every support folds into a quarter defined by the halves, which are formed by the crossing supports 110A, HOB. In the folded state of the stand 100, the supports 110 fold on the shelves 105, letting the shelves pack in stack formation and be contained inside box 130. The box 130 also serves as a base for stabilizing the stand in its deployed position. Locking and fixing means may be attached in this configuration between every two adjacent halves of the crossing supports in 90° position relative each other. The mating male-female parts of the locking and fixing means may be placed between every two halves of the supports in 90° relative each other. The mating male-female parts may be placed near the crossing point 145 and cutting lines 150 or near the slits 115 in the middle of the supports, leveled relative each other and sufficiently close to each other to lock together when deploying the stand. In addition, a spring may stretch between the male-female parts 45° relative to the support halves.

Fig- 7 illustrates a particular configuration of a shelf 105 of the stand of the present invention.

Other locking and fixing means of the supports and backs of the deployable stand may be contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Particular non-limiting examples are single direction pins, screws and Christmas-tree pins that are held in the supports and imbed into their adjacent backs when deploying the stand, adhesives, double-side adhesive tapes and Velcro strips (scotch).