The present invention relates to a display device in the form of a display card having multiple surfaces on which for instance, matter may be printed for advertising. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of construction of the display device.

A lack of space for advertising using materials such as paper, cardboard and plastic is a common occurrence in advertising. A single piece of paper, for example, only provides two surfaces on which to print matter for advertising. An example of an item having only two sides for advertising purposes is a beer mat. By folding a piece of paper onto itself, a further two surfaces are provided giving a maximum of four surfaces on which to advertise. An example of an item having four sides used for advertising or display purposes is a standard open-fold menu. The problem of providing further surfaces for display or advertising purposes has been addressed to some extent by multiple folding of a larger piece of material. This can however be inconvenient as a number of unfolding actions may be required to view a particular surface. Furthermore, multiple folds result in a bulkier construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in the form of a display card having multiple surfaces for providing advertising space and which overcomes problems associated with known displays. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of display device construction.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a display device comprising a first member and a second member, each member having a first arm projecting from a first side thereof and at least two arms projecting from a second side disposed opposite the first side; the at least two projecting arms being foldable onto the member, whereby with the arms in a folded position, the at least two projecting arms on the first member are aligned with and are securable to the at least two projecting arms on the second member and the first arm on the first member is aligned with and securable to the first arm on the second member such that, in use, the display device has two outer surfaces and is unfoldable at either of two edges to reveal a further two surfaces.

Ideally, the at least two projecting arms on the first member are securable to the at least two projecting arms on the second member by means of adhesive and preferably, the

first arm on the first member is securable to the first arm on the second member by means of adhesive.

Ideally, the display device is in the form of a display card.

Preferably, the display card is square or rectangular in shape and ideally the first and second members are planar in configuration.

Advantageously, the display device provides a plurality of surfaces suitable for advertising purposes.

Ideally, all surfaces of the display device are printable and conveniently can be used for providing advertising space.

Preferably, all printed surfaces of the display device are laminated.

Ideally, the arms projecting from the sides of the first and second members can be of different length and width.

Preferably, the display device includes tabs protruding from the outer surfaces to assist unfolding at the two unfoldable edges of the display device. Alternatively, thumbnails may be provided.

Conveniently, multiple arms may project from both the first and second sides of a member provided that the number of arms projecting from one side of the member is always greater by one than the number of arms projecting from the other side of the member.

Advantageously, the display device may be manufactured from paper, cardboard, plastic or other like materials.

The present invention also provides a method of constructing a display device, the method comprising:

cutting two identically shaped sections from a web or net of material;

scoring the sections to provide foldable arms;

applying adhesive to the foldable arms of each section on a first side;

printing an image on the centre of each section on the first side;

cutting further images into strips and affixing the strips to a second side of each section;

folding the arms of each section against the second sides thereof exposing adhesive applied to the arms of each section on the first side; and

pressing together and joining the exposed adhesive areas of the arms to form a display device.

Preferably, the strips are affixed to the second side of each section and arranged thereon so that unfolding the display device at either of two edges reveals further images.

Ideally, the display device is in the form of a display card which can optionally be used for providing advertising space.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a display device comprising a first member, a second member, a third member and at least one arm projecting from a first side of the first member; the at least one projecting arm being foldable onto the first member; the third member being disposed between a second side of the first member, and a first side of the second member; the second and third members being foldable against the first member, wherein with the first, second and third members in a folded position, at least a portion of the at least one projecting arm on the first member is hingeably securable to the second member; whereby, in use, with the first, second and third members in a folded position and the at least one projecting arm hingeably secured to the second member, the display device has at least two outer surfaces and is unfoldable to reveal a further at least two surfaces.

The device has the advantage that it can provide a plurality of surfaces for display purposes.

Preferably, the second side of the first member is opposite the first side of the first member.

Preferably, the width of the third member and the width of the at least one projecting arm are substantially the same as each other. Furthermore, the width of the third member and the width of the at least one projecting arm are half the width of the first and second members. The term "width" refers to measurement taken along the transverse axis of each member/arm.

Ideally, the first, second and third members comprising the display device are integrally formed.

Preferably, the at least one projecting arm on the first member is hingeably securable to the second member by means of adhesive.

Ideally, the display device is in the form of a display card.

Preferably, the display card is square or rectangular in shape and ideally all members are planar in configuration.

Advantageously, the display device provides a plurality of surfaces suitable for advertising purposes.

Ideally, all surfaces of the display device are printable and conveniently can be used for providing advertising space.

Preferably, all printed surfaces of the display device are laminated.

Preferably, the display device includes tabs protruding from the outer surfaces to assist unfolding at the two unfoldable edges of the display device. Alternatively, thumbnails may be provided.

In one embodiment, at least two arms project from a first side of the first member.

Conveniently, the at least two projecting arms are hingeably securable to the first side of the second member. Alternatively, the at least two projecting arms may be hingeably securable to the second member along opposed second and third sides of the second member.

Conveniently, in one embodiment, a fourth member in the form of a panel may project from a second side of the second member, the second side being opposite the first side of the second member, and the panel may be folded against the second member such that the at least two projecting arms secured to the second member are concealed from view. Alternatively, the fourth member may project from a third or fourth side of the second member.

Ideally, the at least two projecting arms secured to the second member are folded through slits provided at the top and base of a folding line between the second member and the fourth member.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an advertising display comprising a number of display devices stacked on top of each other, the unfolding edges of a display device disposed at right angles to those of the display device immediately below it in a stack; the stacked construction being unfoldable to provide a larger advertising and/or printable area.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1a and Figure 1b are perspective views of the display device of Figure 1 in an unfolded position;

Figure 2 is a front view of a web of material used in constructing the display device of Figure 1;

Figure 2a, Figure 2b and Figure 3 are front views of members which comprise the display device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a front view of a scored member having foldable arms;

Figure 5a and Figure 5b are front views of members showing areas where adhesive is applied;

Figure 6a and Figure 6b are front views of members showing where images are affixed;

Figure 7 is a front view of an image cut into strips;

Figure 8a and Figure 8b are rear views of members showing an arrangement for affixing the image strips of Figure 7;

Figures 9 to 11 are front views of a second embodiment of a display device according to the invention in an unfolded position;

Figure 12 is a side view of the folding construction of the display device of Figure 11 ;

Figure 13 is a front view of a further embodiment of a display device according to the invention in an unfolded position;

Figure 14 and 15 are perspective and top views respectively of variations of display device according to the invention;

Figure 16 is a front view of a further embodiment of a display device according to the invention in an unfolded position;

Figures 17, 18 and 19 depict folding stages in the construction of the display device of Figure 16;

Figure 20 is a front view of a further embodiment of a display device according to the invention in an unfolded position; and

Figure 21 , 22, 23 and 24 depict folding stages in the construction of the display device of Figure 20.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 and 1a, there is shown a first embodiment of a display device according to the invention. The display device is in the form of a display card 1 which is substantially square in shape, however the card is not restricted to having four sides and may be any other shape including but not limited to a circular, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or octagonal shape. The card 1 has a printable front surface 2, a printable rear surface 3 and is unfoldable at either edge 4 or edge 5 to display further surfaces. In particular, Figure 1a shows the display card 1 unfolded at edge 4 to reveal surfaces 6 and 7. Alternatively, the card of Figure 1 may be unfolded at edge 5 to reveal another two surfaces (not shown). Tabs 8 as shown in Figure 1a may protrude from the front surface 2 and the rear surface 3 at edges 4 and 5 to assist unfolding. Consequently, the display device has six surfaces which can optionally have matter printed thereon or affixed thereto for advertising purposes.

It is to be understood that any reference numeral in the drawings that has an underscore/line under it means a front surface. Any reference numeral in the drawings that has a double underscore/line under it means a rear surface.

With reference to Figures 2 to 8, a method of constructing a display device according to the present invention will now be described. Figure 2 shows a web of material such as paper, cardboard, plastic or the like cut so as to form two identically shaped members

10 and 11 as illustrated in Figure 2a and Figure 2b respectively. The web may be of any length comprising any number of members but for illustrative purposes the web shown comprises only two members. Each member 10,11 comprises a central portion 12, an arm 13 projecting from a first side of the central portion and two arms 14 and 15 projecting from a second side of the central portion disposed opposite the first side.

Blacked out areas in Figure 2 appear on adjacent members in the web 9.

As shown in Figure 3, both members 10 and 11 are scored along the lines indicated to give the effect shown in Figure 4 whereby the projecting arms 13, 14, 15 are foldable.

Referring now to Figures 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, adhesive is applied to a front surface of arms 13,14,15 of members 10 and 11 respectively. The surfaces to which adhesive is applied are indicated by reference letter G in Figures 5a and 5b. Furthermore, images (IMAGE

I and IMAGE 2) are printed on or otherwise affixed to the front surfaces of the central portions 12 of members 10 and 11 respectively.

A further four images (IMAGE 3,4,5,6) are cut into equal third strips 16 along the lines as shown in Figure 7. These strips 16 are affixed to the rear surfaces of members 10 and

I I in accordance with the arrangement depicted in Figures 8a and 8b. Reference letters T, M, and B are used to refer to the top, middle and bottom strips respectively of the four images. For example, M5 refers to the middle strip of image 5, B3 to the bottom strip of image 3 and so on. With IMAGE 1 and IMAGE 2 facing you, projecting arms 13, 14, 15 of members 10 and 11 respectively are folded all the way back so that they cover the rear surface of central portion 12 and the adhesive areas are exposed. Finally, the exposed adhesive areas of members 10 and 11 are brought together and bonded ensuring IMAGE 1 and IMAGE 2 are facing the same way up. This results in the construction of display card 1 shown in Figure 1.

The widths of the projecting arms do not necessarily have to be equal. For example, arm 13 may be substantially greater in width than arms 14 and 15 resulting in a greater continuous area for affixing IMAGES 3, 4, 5, 6. Accordingly, these images are not cut into equal third strips, rather the middle strip will be the same width as arm 13. Such an embodiment is shown in Figure 1 b.

Referring to Figure 9 of the drawings, a second embodiment of a display device according to the present invention is shown. The display device is in the form of a display card indicated generally by reference numeral 20 which is square in shape and similar to display card 1 depicted in Figures 1 and 1b for the first embodiment. The display card is not restricted to being square in shape and may take any other suitable shape as outlined previously for the first embodiment. The display card has a printable front surface 22, a printable rear surface 23 and is unfoldable at either of two edges (not shown) as in the first embodiment to reveal a further two surfaces. Surfaces 22 and 23 correspond to printable surfaces 2 and 3 of display card 1 of the first embodiment. The construction of display card 20 will now be described.

The display card 20 is integral in shape and cut from a web of material such as paper, cardboard or the like. The card 20 comprises two identically shaped first and second members 24, 25 connected by a central third member 26 having a width less than that of members 24, 25. First member 24 has two arms 27 projecting from the top and bottom of a first side of member 24. The arms 27 have a width substantially the same as the amount by which the width of central member 26 is less than that of members 24, 25. The members 24, 25, 26 are scored along the lines indicated such that the members 24, 25, 26 and arms 27 are foldable. The arms 27 are folded onto the front surface 30 of member 24 and member 25 is folded against the rear surface 28 of central member 26. Second and third members 25 and 26 are in turn folded 'against the front surface 30 of first member 24 such that the front surface 29 of the central third member 26 is in contact with surface 30. The arms 27 are now in contact with the rear surface 31 of member 25.

Hinges (not shown) are attached to the free ends of the arms 27 which hingeably secure the arms to the rear surface 31 of second member 25. The display card 20 is now in the same form as depicted in Figures 1 and 1 b for the first embodiment, the card having a printable front surface 22, a printable rear surface 23 and being unfoldable at either of two edges (not shown) to display further surfaces 23, 28, 29, 30. Images are affixed to or printed on the relevant surfaces in a similar manner as described previously for the first embodiment.

Referring now to Figure 10, an alternative, preferred variation of the second embodiment of the display device is shown and is indicated generally by reference numeral 20'. Like numerals are used to refer to like features. The length of arms 27' are increased by as much as twice the length of the arms 27 shown in Figure 9 using arm extensions 32 connected to arms 27'. Arms 27' and arm extensions 32 are scored along their intersection making them foldable and in effect creating a natural hinge. The display card 20' is constructed in the same way as described previously with reference to display card 20 shown in Figure 9 except for the inclusion of arm extensions 32 which are hingeably secured to the front surface 22 of member 25. Alternatively, a further member (not shown), substantially the same size as member 25 may be connected to arms 27' instead of arm extensions 32. Consequently, this member is hingeably secured to the front surface 22 of member 25, meaning the resultant card will be four ply in depth, namely the further member attached to arms 27', and members 24,25, 26.

A further alternative variation of the display device in the second embodiment is shown in Figure 11 and is indicated generally by reference numeral 20". The display device 20" includes a fourth member, namely panel 33 projecting from any one of the free sides of second member 25. The panel 33 may be the same size as the member 25, but in the case where the panel 33 projects from the side opposite that side connected to third member 26 (as shown in Figure 11), the panel 33 may be the same size as the connecting third member 26. Slits 34 are provided at the top and base of the intersection between the panel 33 and member 25 to allow the arm extensions 32 to pass through and be secured to the front surface 22 of member 25. The purpose of the panel 33 is to fold over and against the front surface 22 of member 25 so as to create a flat surface and conceal the arm extensions 32 from view. The panel 33 may also be used for providing a pouch or compartment for holding C.D.'s, records, business cards or like materials. Figure 12 shows a side view of the folding of the device 20" of Figure 11.

Referring to Figure 13, a further alternative embodiment of the invention is shown. Three display devices 1 , 20 are stacked on top of each other so that the unfolding edges of a display device are disposed at right angles to the unfolding edges of the display device located immediately below it in a stack. This allows unfolding of the stacked construction to provide a larger display area as depicted in Figure 13. A number of display devices 1 , 20 may also be stuck back to back as shown in Figure 14.

In Figure 15, use of brass eyelets 35 to allow a number of display devices 35, 36 to be stacked and revolved on top of each other is also possible.

Referring now to Figures 16 to 19, a further alternative embodiment of a display device according to the invention is shown. The display device is in the form of a display card 40 which is square in shape and similar to display card 1 depicted in Figures 1 and 1 b (first embodiment). The display card is not restricted to being square in shape and may take any other suitable shape as outlined previously for the first embodiment. The display card is shown in an unfolded position in Figure 16 and has a printable front surface 42, a printable rear surface 43 and is unfoldable at either of two edges (not shown) as in the first embodiment to reveal a further two surfaces. Surfaces 42 and 43 correspond to printable surfaces 2 and 3 of display card 1 of the first embodiment. The construction of display card 40 will now be described.

As shown in Figure 16, the display card 40 is integrally formed and cut from a web of material such as paper, cardboard or the like. The card 40 comprises two identically shaped first and second members 44, 45 connected by a central third member 46 between a second side of first member 44 and a first side of second member 45. The third member 46 has a width substantially half that of first and second members 44, 45. An arm 47 projects from a first side of member 44, the arm having a width substantially the same as member 46. The first, second and third members 44, 45, 46 and arm 47 are scored along the lines indicated such that the members and arm are foldable.

Arm 47 is folded along the first side of member 44 and members 45, 46 are folded along the second side of member 44 to give the construction depicted in Figure 17. Member 45 is then folded along its first side onto member 46 to give the construction depicted in Figure 18. Finally, the extending portion of arm 47 is folded onto member 45 and hingeably secured thereto to give the construction depicted in Figure 19.

The display card 40 is now in the same form as depicted in Figures 1 and 1b which show the first embodiment, the card having a printable front surface 42, a printable rear surface 43 and being unfoldable at either of two edges, A or B, to reveal a further two surfaces.

Referring now to Figures 20 to 24, a further alternative embodiment of a display device according to the invention is shown. The display device 60 is shown in an unfolded position in Figure 20 and comprises two display cards 40 of the type described for the previous embodiment. These cards will be referred to as card A and card B for the purposes of the description that follows. The first members 44 of cards A and B are connected by a member 50 between a fourth side of member 44 of card A and a third side of member 44 of card B. An arm 51 , substantially the same size and width as arm 47 of display card 40, projects from a third side of first member 44 of card A. The construction of the display device 60 will now be described.

Card B is folded along the third side of its first member 44 and under member 50 to give the construction depicted in Figure 21. Arm 51 is then folded along the third side of member 44 of card A, over member 44 of card A and is secured to member 44 of card B to give a composite member 52 as depicted outlined in Figure 22. Composite member

52 is then folded under the central third members 46 of cards A and B as shown in Figure 23. Finally, arms 47 of cards A and B are folded over the second members 45 of cards A and B and secured to the composite member 52 as depicted in Figure 24. This results in a display device comprising four surfaces S1, S2, S3 and S4. S2 can be folded onto S1 and similarly S4 can be folded onto S3. The resulting folded construction can be folded again to give a display device in the form of a display card having two outer surfaces and being unfoldable to reveal upto a further six surfaces.

It will of course be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific details herein described which are given by way of example only, and that various alterations and modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.