BACKGROUND OF INVENTION It is often desirable to display various items. Such items, which may be either two or three dimensional, may not be free standing. Therefore some sort of device is required to display the items. Examples of some items for which such a display device may be required include: pictures, photographs, designs, toys, promotional material, models, decorations, booklets, tools, utensils, and the like.

Prior art display devices are generally three dimensional structures constructed of rigid material such as plastic.

Such prior art devices are therefore generally bulky and inconvenient to store in large numbers, and are often damaged during storage. In addition, such prior art devices are often expensive and time consuming to assemble.

Accordingly, a first object of the invention is to provide an improved display device.

A second object of the invention is to provide a display device that is compact for storage.

A third object of the invention is to provide a display device that is not easily damaged during storage or shipping.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a display device that is inexpensive to manufacture.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide a display device that is easy to assemble.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention consists of a device that is constructed of a foldable material such as cardboard or

plastic. The device exists in at least two modes: a planar or storage mode, and a three dimensional or display mode. In the storage mode, the device is planar in nature and therefore stackable. In the display mode, the device is three dimensional, free standing and designed to display various items.

According to the present invention, there is provided a foldable device for displaying items, comprising: a rigid, planar sheet having first and second opposing ends adapted to be attached together; a first transverse fold line on said planar sheet between said first and second opposing ends; a second transverse fold line on said planar sheet, oriented substantially parallel to said first transverse fold line, and located between said first transverse fold line and said first opposing end; a third transverse fold line on said planar sheet, oriented substantially parallel to said first transverse fold line, and located between said first transverse fold line and said second opposing end, said third and first transverse fold lines defining a display surface on said planar sheet; said device being constructed and arranged such that said planar sheet is foldable along said first transverse fold line to enable said first and second opposing ends to be attached together, and such that said planar sheet is subsequently foldable along said second and third transverse fold lines such that said display surface is substantially upright.

In an embodiment of the invention, said planar sheet includes a first tab defined by a first incision extending from said third transverse fold line towards said second opposing end, whereby said display surface is extended. Said device may include a series of fold lines and incisions constructed and arrayed such that said display surface is convertible to a three dimensional, multi-surface structure adapted to engage items to be displayed.

Some of the many advantages associated with the display device of the present invention are as follows. First, the device is effective for displaying a wide variety of items including pictures, photographs, designs, toys, promotional material, models, decorations, booklets, tools, utensils, and the like. Second, the device is stackable and compact when in the planar mode for storage or shipping. Third, the devices, when stacked, are not easily damaged during storage or shipping. Fourth, the devices are inexpensive to manufacture since they may be constructed from a sheet of cardboard or plastic which may be mechanically stamped.

Fifth, the innovative design of the device renders it easy to assemble.

Other advantages, objects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention in the storage mode; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 during the first step of conversion from the storage mode to the display mode; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 during the second step of conversion from the storage mode to the display mode; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 during the third step of conversion from the storage mode to the display mode;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 during the fourth step of conversion from the storage mode to the display mode; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 during the fifth step of conversion from the storage mode to the display mode.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of alternate embodiments of the present invention.

Note that similar reference numerals are used in different Figures to denote similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figure 1, a display device 1 includes a rigid planar sheet 5, which is preferably constructed of a light weight, somewhat rigid, foldable material such as cardboard or some types of plastic. In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet 5 is rectangular, though other shapes are possible as shown for example in Figures 7A and 7B in which sheet 5 is prestamped to form a circular second tab 50.

Centrally located between a first opposing end 10 and a second opposing end 15 of the sheet 5 is a first transverse fold line 20. As shown in Figure 2, the sheet 5 may be folded in half along the first transverse fold line 20. The first opposing end 10 and the second opposing end 15 may be attached together, for example with adhesive, at attachment areas 25.

Referring again to Figure 1, the sheet 5 includes a second transverse fold line 30, which is parallel to the first transverse fold line 20, and is located between the first transverse fold line 20 and the first opposing end 10. A first tab 40 extends from the second transverse fold line 30 towards the first transverse fold line 20, and is defined by a first incision 45.

The sheet 5 also includes a third transverse fold line 35, which is parallel to the first transverse fold line 20,

and is located between the first transverse fold line 20 and the second opposing end 15. A second tab 50 extends from the third transverse fold line 35 towards and, in some embodiments, beyond the second opposing end 15 (see Figures 7A and 7B), and is defined fully or in part by a second incision 55.

The first transverse fold line 20, the third transverse fold line 35 and the second incision 55 define a display surface 60. The display surface 60 may include a series of fold lines 65 and incisions 70 constructed and arranged such that the display surface 60 is convertible to a three dimensional, multi-surface structure that displays or is adapted to engage items to be displayed, such as pictures, photographs, designs, toys, promotional material, models, decorations, booklets, tools, utensils, and the like.

Figures 1 through 6 illustrate the steps involved in the conversion of the device 1 from its planar or storage mode, illustrated in Figure 1, to its three dimensional or display mode, illustrated in Figure 6. In the storage mode of Figure 1, the device 1 is planar in nature and therefore stackable.

In the display mode of Figure 6, the device 1 is three dimensional, free standing and designed to display various items. Figure 7 discloses alternate embodiments having display surfaces with different shapes and sizes to best accommodate the item to be displayed. The entire exposed surface of the display device can be printed with pictures, advertising, logos, team statistics or whatever else is desired.

Numerous modifications, variations and adaptations may be made to the particular embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims.