FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[000 J] The present invention relates generally to display stands for use to display merchandise or other items, and more particularly to such display stands designed to be easily assembled, disassembled, stored, and reassembled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Display stands are widely employed in retail establishments for displaying merchandise. When such stands are not in use, they must be stored, thereby taking up space. Stands that cannot readily be disassembled and reassembled in particular take up a lot of storage space. While some prior art display stands can be assembled and reassembled by store staff, they are generally difficult to dissemble and reassemble, requiring the use of tools, and they generally are not storable or transportable in a very compact form as a single unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A display stand assembly comprising rectangular top and bottom panels, two type A rectangular side panels having the same height and width and two type B rectangular side panels having the same height and width. Each type A side panel is configured to magnetically connect with the two type B side panels so that the side panels can be configured with the type having corresponding recesses on top and bottom sides configured to allow the top and bottom panels to be attached to the partial assembly by inserting dowels in the recesses and pressing the panels against the partial assembly.

[0004] A display stand assembly having rectangular top and bottom panels and four rectangular side panels. The heights of the side panels are equal, the side panels being configured form a partial assembly by magnetic attachment with each other to define an interior space having a rectangular cross-section. The partial assembly has the same height as the side panels, and has a perimeter equal to the widths of the side panels. The top and bottom panels have recesses on an inner side and the side panels have corresponding recesses on top and bottom sides configured to allow the top and bottom sides to be attached to the partial assembly by inserting dowels in the recesses and pressing the panels against the partial assembly.

[0005] The display stand assembly is preferably configured to the assembly to snap together and does not require the use of tools to assemble.

[0006] The dowels may be tenons sized to fit in recesses in each side panel and corresponding recesses in the corresponding top or bottom panel. Each panel may have a lateral hole that passes though the recess in the panel. Each tenon may further have two lateral holes. Each tenon lateral hole may be configured to align with one of the lateral holes in a panel so that when pins are inserted in the lateral holes, the tenon and panels are locked in place.

[0007] The A panels preferably have two strips that protrude into the interior of the assembled stand, each running along a vertical edge of the panel. The panels and strips are sized and configured to permit one B panel to be stacked with an A panel preventing lateral movement of the B Panel.

[0008] The type A side panels may have magnets positioned in recesses in a vertical edge of the type A side panels. The type B side panels may have metallic objects fastened to an inside surface of each type B side panels, wherein each magnet is positioned to align with corresponding metallic objects and to permit each magnet and the corresponding metallic object to be brought into proximity to form a magnetic bond and maintain the corresponding type A and type B side panels together.

[0009] A method for assembling the assembly a display stand assembly, the method having the steps of:

placing the bottom panel on the ground with the dowels and holes facing up;

attaching the A and B panels to form an upright four-sided partial assembly having a rectangular cross-section; attaching the four-sided partial assembly to the bottom panel by lining up the holes and dowels on the bottom of the A and B panels with the corresponding dowels and holes on the bottom panel and pressing the partial assembly downward;

attaching the top panel by aligning the dowels with the corresponding holes on the top of the A and B panels.

[0010] A method for disassembling a display stand assembly, the method having the steps of:

removing the top panel by lifting it upward;

lifting the side panels off the bottom panel by lifting the partial assembly upward;

disconnecting the A and B panels;

attaching the top and bottom panels together by lining up the dowels with the corresponding holes opposite to each other.

placing the B panels on the inside of the A panels; and stacking the panels with the top and bottom panels being on top of the side panels and each B panel being stacked on top of an A panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[001 1] Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of a display stand assembly in an assembled configuration.

[0012] Figure 2 is an exploded view showing components of the display stand of Figure 1.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a portion of a top or bottom panel showing a portion of the panel that faces the interior of an assembled display stand, showing recesses in the top or bottom panel (Element 3). [0014] Figure 4 shows a portion of side panel B showing a portion of the panel that faces the interior of an assembled display stand, showing a metallic object (Element 2).

[0015] Figure 5 shows a portion of side panel A showing a portion of the panel that faces the interior of an assembled display stand, showing a recess (Element 5) on the inside of side panel A.

[0016] Figure 6 shows a portion of side panel A showing an embedded magnet (Element 7) in a recess in a portion of the panel that faces the inner side of a side panel B in an assembled display stand.

[0017] Figure 7 shows a portion of a top or bottom panel showing a portion of the panel that faces the interior of an assembled display stand, showing dowels inserted into recesses in the top or bottom panel. The recesses are sized and shaped to accommodate the type of dowel being used.

[0018] Figure 8 shows a top view of portions of panels A and B as they are placed in an assembled display stand showing recesses (Element 3) in the top side of panels A and B.

[0019] Figure 9 shows a portion of a panel with a strip (Element 6) attached to the panel. This may also be an extruded profile.

[0020] Figure 10 shows a bottom view of a portion of the bottom panel showing a foot/riser (Element 4) attached to the bottom panel.

[0021] Figure 1 1 shows upper corner portions of panels A and B showing the magnetic connection between A and B panels.

[0022] Figure 12 shows portions of upper corner portions of panels A and B in a connected configuration and a corresponding portion of the top panel, showing the dowel connection between top/bottom panels and A and B panels.

[0023] Figure 13 shows corner portions of panel A and panel B in a disassembled state, showing the magnetic connection between A and B panels for

packaging/storage purposes. [0024] Figure 14 shows top and bottom panels in a disassembled state, showing the dowel/hole connection between the top and bottom panels for

packaging/storage purposes.

[0025] Figure 15 shows all the components of a display stand panel assembly in a disassembled state for packaging and storage purposes.

[0026] Figure 16A depicts a cross-sectional side of a tenon connecting a side panel with a top or bottom panel using a friction fit.

[0027] Figure 16B depicts a cross-sectional side of a tenon connecting a side panel with a top or bottom panel locked in place by shear pins.

[0028] Figure 16C depicts a top view of a tenon showing holes for inserting the shear pins for storage.

[0029] Figure 16D is a front cross-sectional view of a tenon with pins inserted in the storage holes.

[0030] Figure 16E is a side view of a tenon without O-rings.

[0031] Figure 16F is a front view of a tenon showing holes for inserting the shear pins for locking the connected panels in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The present invention is a display stand assembly including multiple panels which conjoin using a combination of magnets and dowels. The stand includes two type A side panels (A), two type B panels (B), a top panel (100) and a bottom panel (101 ). The type A side panels are identical and the type B side panels are identical. Each side panel is of equal height. The panels may be made of wood, plastic, or any other suitable material.

[0033] The design allows for multiple combinations and orientations during setup and packaging.

[0034] The assembly is constructed without the use of tools.

[0035] The assembly does not require the user to install fasteners. The system snaps/fits together. [0036] The assembly is designed to be comprehensive and compact allowing quick assembly/erection and disassembly.

[0037] Such display stands are useful in a multitude of industries, notable ones being residential, retail, commercial and disaster scenarios where immediate storage/shelter is necessary.

[0038] The assembly disassembles and fits together/inside each other creating a flat unit (see figure 15) that is ideal for shipping/storage.

[0039] The mating magnetic connection provides a positive reference and registration supporting the assembly from lateral forces in structural applications.

[0040] The mating magnetic connection (1100, 2) is also scalable in structural applications with the use of electromagnets.

[0041] Eight key elements of a display stand assembly are described below.

[0042] Element 1. Recesses on the inside surface of top and bottom panels.

Refer to FIG. 3. These recesses accept the objects/dowels described in Element 8 when being packaged flat. Refer to FIG 14.

[0043] Element 2. Metallic Object(s) fastened to inside surface of panel‘B’. Refer to FIG. 4. These objects are positioned proud of the surface allowing them to mate with the embedded magnets (1100) in panel‘A’ described in Element 7. Refer to FIG. 1 1. These objects also mate with the recesses described in

Element 5. Refer to FIG 13. The object (2) shown in FIGs. 5, 7 and 11 are a preferred embodiment. The objects may be made of any magnetic metal such as iron or nickel.

[0044] Element 3. Recesses on top and bottom surfaces of panels‘A’ and 'B.' Refer to FIG 8. These holes accept objects such as dowels protruding from the inside surface of the top and bottom panels described in Element 8. Refer to FIG. 7.

[0045] Element 4. Feet/risers in corners on the outside surface of the bottom panel. Refer to FIG. 10. [0046] Element 5. Recesses on inside surface of panel A.’ Refer to FIG 5. This series of recesses accept the objects on panel‘B’ as described in Element 2.

This connection allows panels A’ and‘B’ to be rigidly packaged flat. Refer to FIG. 13.

[0047] Element 6. Strip along the outside edge and attached to the inside surface of panel A.’ Refer to FIG. 9. The strip provides additional surface area to allow for a recess to embed a magnet as described in Element 7. Refer to FIG. 6.

[0048] Element 7. Recesses along the side of the outside surfaces on panel A’ with magnets (1101 ) embedded. Refer to FIG. 6. The magnets

interact/engage/mate with the metallic objects (2) as described in Element 2. Refer to FIG. 11.

[0049] Element 8. Object(s)/dowel(s) (1400) placed in the holes (1 ) located in the opposite corners from each other on the inside surfaces of the top and bottom panels. Refer to FIG. 7. The objects protrude proud of the surface and mate with the holes on the top and bottom surfaces of side panels A’ and‘B.’ Refer to FIG. 12. The objects also mate with the holes on the inside surface in opposite corners of the top and bottom panels. Allowing them to be rigidly packaged flat. Refer to FIG. 14.

[0050] The dowels may be cylindrical wooden or plastic dowels. Figure 16 depicts a preferred embodiment where the dowels are tenons (1600). The tenons are not glued in pace (basic cylindrical dowels may be). A tenon is a separate part that exists as a free-floating tenon connector. A tenon may be made of plastic or wood, or any other suitable material.

[0051] The tenon has two rubber O-rings 1604 and two metal pins 1602. The rubber O-rings wrap around the tenon and sit proud of the surface. The O-rings are sized to form a friction fit with the inner surfaces of the recesses 1605 in each of the panels.

[0052] The metal shear pins 1604 may be stored within the body of the tenon by inserting them into holes 1603 shown in Figure 16C, as shown in Figure 16D. They can be left in the tenon, as in Figures 16A and 16D, or taken out and used as shear pins by inserting them into holes 1601 in each of the panels, as shown in Figure 16B. The shear pins go through the panels and the tenon, thereby locking the panels and tenon together as shown in Figure 16B.

[0053] The steps required to assemble a display stand are as follows.

[0054] Step 1. Begin by placing the bottom panel (101 ) on the ground with the dowels/tenons facing up.

[0055] Step 2. Attach the A and B panels to form an upright partial assembly. Refer to FIG. 11.

[0056] Step 3. Attach the partial assembly to the bottom panel by lining up the holes on the bottom of the A and B panels with the corresponding dowels on the bottom panel (101 ). Refer to FIG. 12.

[0057] Step 4. Attach the top panel (100) by aligning the dowels (1400) with the corresponding holes (1 ) on the top of the A and B panels. Refer to FIG. 12.

[0058] The steps required to disassemble a display stand are as follows.

[0059] Step 1. Remove top panel (100). Refer to FIG. 12.

[0060] Step 2. Remove/lift partial assembly from/off bottom panel (101 ). Refer to FIG. 12.

[0061] Step 3. Disconnect A and B panels, place B panels on the inside of the A panels. Refer to FIG. 13.

[0062] Step 4. Attach top and bottom panels together by lining up the dowels (1400) with the corresponding holes (1 ) opposite to each other. Refer to FIG. 14.

[0063] Step 5. Stack assemblies on top of each other. Refer to FIG. 15.

[0064] It should be understood that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any“preferred" embodiments, are only examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above- described embodiment(s) of the invention as will be evident to those skilled in the art. That is, persons skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that such modifications and variations are, or will be, possible to utilize and carry out the teachings of the invention described herein.

[0065] Where, in this document, a list of one or more items is prefaced by the expression“such as” or“including”, is followed by the abbreviation“etc.”, or is prefaced or followed by the expression“for example”, or“e.g.”, this is done to expressly convey and emphasize that the list is not exhaustive, irrespective of the length of the list. The absence of such an expression, or another similar expression, is in no way intended to imply that a list is exhaustive. Unless otherwise expressly stated or clearly implied, such lists shall be read to include all comparable or equivalent variations of the listed item(s), and alternatives to the item(s), in the list that a skilled person would understand would be suitable for the purpose that the one or more items are listed.

[0066] The words“comprises” and“comprising”, when used in this specification and the claims, are to be used to specify the presence of stated features, elements, integers, steps or components, and do not preclude, nor imply the necessity for, the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0067] The scope of the claims that follow is not limited by the embodiments set forth in the description. The claims should be given the broadest purposive construction consistent with the description and figures as a whole.