DESCRIPTION

[001] This patent application discloses a series of elements for the manufacture of a display stand structure and manufacture of said display stand structure by means of said elements, in particular a display stand structure integrated with a pallet, said structure consisting essentially of four elements of longitudinal extension placed at the vertices of the upper surface of a generic pallet, said elements of longitudinal extension each equipped with adequate means of fastening to the upper surface of the generic pallet by interlocking .

Moreover, this patent application covers a display stand structure manufactured by means of the aforementioned series and integrated with a pallet where the elements of longitudinal extension placed at the vertices of the upper surface of a generic pallet are equipped with adequate means of interlocking transversal shelves within said elements of longitudinal extension, forming the aforementioned display stand structure.

Field of application.

[002] The invention covered by this patent application finds its application in the business of display stand manufacturing, in particular but not exclusively cardboard display stands.

State of the art

[003] The use of foldable display stands to display products of various kind is currently established, in particular in the business of small and large retail.

[004] A disadvantage of this kind of display stands is their overall bulk and, in order to overcome said disadvantage, foldable display stands have been perfected so that they can be folded in order to reduce their bulk when they are not being used, for example during transportation or storage. Conventionally, there are currently established structures called "pallets", made of cardboard or cardboard/plastic composites, essentially consisting of a base and at least four L-shaped corner posts on the lower surface of said base. Such structures are typically used as a support for packaging of goods and are usually managed with vehicles known as "forklifts" that have frontal forks used to engage the base of the aforementioned pallets and move them.

[005] Solutions designed to modify pallet-like structures in order to make them suitable for a different use are currently established. [006] In particular, currently established are display stands/pallets systems essentially consisting of a base or footplate base that has a box-shaped element with a closed sidewall, a part of the top designed to define a supporting surface for one or more display stands, a part of the bottom and several L-shaped corner posts, connected to the bottom of said box-shaped element, that are designed to be placed on the floor and to keep said base and its lower surface separated from the floor itself.

[007] For example, document FR2781304 describes an assembling method for a cardboard display stand properly perfected in order to create a base equipped with a L-shaped corner post made up of folded portions of the box-shaped element that forms the display stand itself. In particular, according to document FR2781304, the closed sidewall of the display stand is defined by a first and a second pair of opposite and parallel sides.

According to the description in document FR2781304, the L-shaped corner posts are made of materials such as cardboard/wood or cardboard/plastic composites in order for the structure to be more stable.

[008] Document DE9003424 describes a base for sales display stands made of cardboard that are designed to accommodate and display products and are made of walls that can be assembled as a box and of at least one supporting insert placed transversally between the inner space of the box and the aforementioned base. According to the invention described in document DE9003424, the stability of the structure, which is entirely made of cardboard, is guaranteed by at least four supporting rails, also made of cardboard, each of them interlocked to the lower end of the base, also made of cardboard, where adequate casings have been obtained.

[009] Structures such as the ones described are especially complex both in terms of the way they are assembled and because of the considerable quantity of material, in particular cardboard material, used to build the complete structure.

[010] Document 102009901783895 describes a structured element for the assembling of a supporting base and the supporting base obtained from the structured element. The invention described in the aforementioned document refers in particular to the supporting bases introduced within a packaging such as a box or a carton and placed on the bottom of the packaging, in order to maintain the objects that are placed inside the packaging lifted from the bottom of the packaging itself. In particular, the element structured according to the invention described in said document includes a provisional model with several flaps connected by creasing. Said flaps and creasing are shaped and placed so that the provisional model can be folded to form a prism-shaped box portion, designed to be laid on a surface, as well as a connection portion, connected to the box portion and placed basically perpendicularly to the box portion and designed to be connected to the box portion of another structured element. The invention described in the aforementioned document is particularly complex in terms of the way the provisional model is assembled and because of the considerable quantity of material used to build the complete structure.

[Oil] Also established are those solutions that aim to build display stands connected to already existing pallets, where said display stands essentially lay on the pallet's upper surface, which therefore acts as a base. However, this kind of solutions cannot be considered particularly efficient in terms of stability of the structure laid on the pallet's upper surface, nor can it be considered adequate if the pallet itself needs to be moved.

[012] Also established are those solutions that include a connection between the structure and the pallet's upper surface, said connection is achieved by clipping or gluing the lower end of the display stand. Such solutions do not allow the resulting structure to be reversible and are particularly complex in terms of how they are built.

Aim of the invention

[013] This invention aims to overcome the disadvantages described in the section "State of the art", in particular creating a series of elements for the manufacture of a display stand structure that is simpler from a structural point of view and that requires less material compared to the solutions established nowadays, preserving if not improving its requested performance in terms of support of the products placed in it.

[014] The invention covered by this patent application also aims to realize, by means of the aforementioned series, a display stand structure that can be firmly connected to the pallet's upper surface in a reversible way, so that it can be assembled and reassembled quickly and more easily compared to other established solutions. Invention summary

[015] The aforementioned aims as well as others are fulfilled thanks to a series of elements for the manufacture of a display stand structure that has the features listed in patent claim 1. The main claim and the secondary claims are essential parts of the technical instruction described below with regard to the invention.

[016] Therefore, covered by this patent application are a series of elements for the manufacture of a display stand structure and manufacture of said display stand by means of said elements, basically consisting of four elements of longitudinal extension, hereinafter named angular elements, each of them with a proper structure on the lower end that allows it to be firmly connected to the upper surface of a pallet of the known kind or to a generic flat surface made of cardboard and consisting of a base properly made to be reversibly interlocked to the aforementioned angular elements. Brief figure descriptions

[017] Additional features and advantages of the invention are more noticeable in light of the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive assembling method of a foldable display stand structure according to the invention presented as but not limited to an example in the attached documents, where

Figure l.a schematically shows an overview of the display stand structure assembled according to this invention in a first preferred configuration;

Figure l.b schematically shows an overview of the display stand structure assembled according to this invention in a second preferred configuration;

Figure 2.a schematically shows an overview of the display stand structure's base assembled in a first preferred configuration;

Figure 2.b schematically shows an overview of the display stand structure's base assembled in a second preferred configuration; Figure 3.a schematically shows the internal surface of an angular element according to this invention;

Figure 3.b schematically shows the external surface of an angular element according to this invention;

Figure 4.a schematically shows a portion of the external surface of an angular element according to this invention; Figure 4.b schematically shows a portion of the internal surface of an angular element according to this invention;

Figure 4.c shows the flat structure of an angular element according to this invention;

Figure 5.a shows the assembly angular element-base from the outside according to this invention;

Figure 5.b shows the assembly angular element-base from the inside according to this invention;

Figure 5.c shows the lower surface of the assembly angular elementbase according to this invention;

Figure 6.a schematically shows the set of angular elements and shelves that make up the structure according to this invention;

Figure 6.b schematically shows the flat development of a shelf that can be connected to the structure according to this invention.

Figure 7 shows the flat structure of the angular element assembled in a preferred configuration according to this invention.

Figure 8 schematically shows the angular element of the structure assembled in a preferred configuration according to this invention. Description of the invention

[018] The display stand structure according to this invention is represented in Fig. l.a and Fig. l.b and it is indicated with reference 100 and essentially consists of a base (1), four angular elements (3) placed on a plane orthogonal to the development plane of the base (1) and a series of shelves (601-60n) placed transversally within the four angular elements (3) and parallelly to the plane on which the base (1) lays.

[019] According to the invention covered by this patent application, the base (1, Fig. 2.1, 2.b) consists of a quadrangular surface with four sides (11, 12) pairwise parallel.

[020] With regard to Fig. 2.a and Fig. 2.b, the base's perimeter surface (1) has at least two recesses (rl,r2).

In particular, a first recess (rl Fig. 2.a, 2.b) is developed parallelly to the first side (11) and a second recess (r2) is developed parallelly to the second side (12) adjacent to the first side (11).

[021] With regard to Fig. 2.a and Fig. 2.b, the surface of each base's lateral end (1) has at least two through holes (a.l, a.2).

In particular, a firs through hole (a.l) develops parallelly to the first side (11) and a second through hole (a.2) develops parallelly to the second side (12) adjacent to the first side (11).

[022] According to what has been stated above, the structure (100) has an angular element (3 Fig l.a, Fig l.b) on each lateral end of the base (1) developed vertically with respect to the development plane of the base (1), called vertically developed angular element because it can be reversibly connected to the base (1).

[023] With regard to Fig. 3.a, 3.b, 3, each angular element (3) consists of a body that consists of a pair of surfaces (3.1, 3.2) mutually orthogonal, whose edge (s, Fig. 3.a) has a series of casing (301-30n) throughout the entire length of said edge.

[024] With regard to Fig. 3.b and Fig. 4.a, each casing (301-30n) consists of a pair of lateral surfaces mutually orthogonal and laying on a plane parallel to the development plane of the edge (s) and of a base developing orthogonally with respect to the development plane of the edge (s) of the angular element (3).

According to the invention covered by this patent application, each casing (301-30n) has an opening on the upper side (401-40n).

[025] According to what has been stated above and with regard to Fig. 3.a and Fig. 4.b, each angular element (3) internally has mutually orthogonal surfaces and the base of each casing (301-30n).

[026] When assembling the structure in the preferred way, each lateral surface of each casing (301-30n) is tapered at the top.

[027] With regard to Fig. 4.c, each angular element (3) has a pair of appendices (501,502) at the bottom. In particular, each appendix (501,502) has a tapered free end and a line of creasing (C) that develop transversely to the plane of longitudinal extension of the appendix itself (501,502.). [028] With regard to Fig. 4.b, once folded along the line of creasing (C), each appendix becomes a hook-shaped object, with a section in the shape of the letter U. According to what has been stated above, each appendix (501,502) is either flat (Fig. 4.c) or folded (Fig. 4.b).

[029] According to the invention covered by this patent application, the display stand structure (100) can be manufactured by interlocking each angular element (3) to the base (1).

[030] In particular, the first appendix (501), while flat, is brought near the first recess (rl, Fig. 2.a) of the base's perimeter surface (1); the free end of the first appendix (501) is then inserted in the first through hole (al, Fig. 2.a) out of which it comes. According to what has been stated above, the transition between the flat and the folded first appendix (501) is therefore completed when inserting the free end of the first appendix (501) in the first through hole (a.l).

[031] Similarly, the second appendix (502), while flat, is brought near to the second recess (r2, Fig. 2.a) of the base's perimeter surface (1); the free end of the second appendix (501) is then inserted in the second through hole (a2, Fig. 2.a) out of which it comes. According to what has been stated above, the transition between the flat and the folded second appendix (502) is therefore completed when inserting the free end of the second appendix (502) in the second through hole (a.2).

[032] With regard to Fig. 5.a and Fig. 5.b, according to what has been stated above, each angular element (3) is connected to the base (1) by means of the pair of appendixes (501, 502) that are inserted in the recesses (rl,r2) and are inserted in the through holes (al,a2) that, when folded, allow this connection to be stable and prevent the loosening of the angular elements (3) of the base (1) thanks to the free end of each appendix (501, 502) that, when folded, is hookshaped.

[033] With regard to Fig. 5.c, the peculiar feature of the system here described is the fact that each angular element (3) is connected to the base (1) so that the lower surface of each surface (3.1, 3.2) that forms the angular element is coplanar to the base's perimeter surface itself (1) and, at the same time, so that it contains a portion of perimeter surface by means of the appendixes (501, 502) that cover said portion of perimeter surface.

[034] Once the angular elements (3) and the base (1) have been interlocked, it is possible to insert a number of shelves (601, 6on) in the structure. In particular, the insertion of the shelves (601, 60n) on the angular elements (3) occurs by cooperation between the shelf surfaces (601,60n) with the casings (301,30n) on each angular element (3).

[035] With regard to Fig. 6, each shelf (601, 60n) consists of an open box-shaped element with a lower surface and four lateral surfaces developed orthogonally to the development plane of the lower surface.

[036] With regard to Fig. l.a, Fig. 2.a, Fig. 4.a and Fig. 4.b, the connection between shelves (601.60n) and the angular elements (3) occurs by inserting portions of the edge of each shelf (601, 60n) in the through hole (401, 40n) of the corresponding casing (301, 30n).

[037] In a preferred but not exclusive assembling method of the structure, the lower surface of each shelf (601, 60n, Fig. 6.b) has a quadrangular through hole at the lateral ends (7, Fig. 6.b). According to the aforementioned preferred assembling method, inserting edge portions of each shelf (601, 60n) in the through holes (401, 40n) of the casing (301, 30n) entails inserting the tapered ends of the orthogonal surfaces that make up each casing (301,30n) providing greater stability to the resulting system.

[038] Description of an alternative assembling method for the base (1)

With regard to Fig. l.a and Fig. 2.b, In a preferred but not exclusive assembling method of the structure, the base (1) has at least four supporting elements (2.1,2.2,2.2,2.3). [039] Description of an alternative assembling method for the shelves (601-60n)

In an alternative assembling method for the shelves (601-60n), each shelf (601-60n) is obtained from a flat element made of cardboard or flexible material (Fig. 6.b).

In particular, the flat element has a central surface that has quadrangular through holes (7) on its lateral ends, said central surface has a flap (801,802,803,804) and creasing (801.1,802,1,803.1,804.1) on each side.

Folding each flap (801,802,803,804) along the corresponding creasing (801.1,802,1,803.1,804.1) the box-shaped element (601, 60n) that makes up the shelf is assembled.

[040] Description of an alternative assembling method for the angular elements (3)

With regard to Figures 7, 8 and 9, each angular element (3) can be obtained by folding a flat element (800) made of cardboard or flexible material.

In particular, the flat element (800) consists of at least two pairs of flaps (801,802, 901,902) pairwise separated by creasing (s) that extends throughout the entire height of the flat element (800), said pairs of flaps (801,802, 901,902) that have a series of creasing (803, 804,903,904) extending throughout the entire height of the flat element (800).

In particular, a first series of creasing (803. 903) lies on the central axis of each flap (801, 802, 901, 902) and divides each flap (801,802, 901,902) in a left portion (ps) and a right portion (pd).

A second series of creasing (804,904) separates the first flap (801) from the second flap (802) and the third flap (902) from the fourth flap (901) respectively.

On the lower end of both the left and the right portion (ps, pd) is an appendix (101,102,103,104,105,106,107,108), whose position compared to the creasing (803,903) is different and makes each left portion perfectly stackable on the right portion with a rotation of 180° around the central axis, i.e. around the creasing (803,903). In particular, the left portion (ps) of the first flap (801) has an appendix (101) next to the lower left end compared to the creasing (803), while the right portion (pd) of the first flap (801) has an appendix (102) next to the creasing (803) at such a distance from the creasing itself (803) that the left portion (ps) and the right portion (pd) can be perfectly stacked with a rotation of 180° of the left portion around the creasing (803).

The left portion of the second flap (802) has an appendix (103) next to the corresponding creasing (803), while the right portion of the second flap (802) has an appendix (104) next to the creasing (s) that separates it from the third adjacent flap (902).

According to what has been stated above, the appendix (104) of the right portion is in such a position that, with a rotation of 180° of the left portion of the second flap (802) around the creasing (803), the left portion and the right portion can be perfectly stacked.

The right portion of the fourth flap (901) has an appendix (105) on the lower right end compared to the creasing (903), while the left portion of the fourth flap (901) has an appendix (106) next to the creasing (902) at such a distance from the creasing itself (903) that, with a rotation of 180° of the right portion around the creasing (903), the left portion and the right portion can be perfectly stacked.

The right portion of the third flap (902) has an appendix (107) next to the corresponding creasing (903), while the left portion of the third flap (902) has an appendix (108) next to the creasing (s) that separates it from the second adjacent flap (802).

According to what has been stated above, the appendix (107) of the right portion of the third flap (902) is in such a position that, with a rotation of 180° of the right portion of the third flap (902) around the creasing (903), the left portion and the right portion can be perfectly stacked.

According to what has been stated above, with a rotation of 180° of the first flap (801) around the creasing (804), the first flap (801) and the second flap (802) can be perfectly stacked; similarly, with a rotation of 180° of the fourth flap (901) around the creasing (904), the fourth flap (901) and the third flap (902) can be perfectly stacked.

With a rotation of 180° of the combination first-second flap (801, 802) around the creasing (s) or with a rotation of 180° of the combination fourth-third flap (901, 902) around the creasing (s), a flat shape forming the flat structure of the angular element (3) is obtained.

With regard to Fig. 9 the flat structure has a left portion (3s) that has an appendix (501) at the bottom and a right portion (3d) that also has an appendix (501) at the bottom.

With a rotation of 90° around the creasing (s) of the left portion (3s) or of the right portion (3d), the structure of the angular element (3) is obtained.

Regardless of the alternative assembling methods, the resulting structure (100) according to the invention covered by this patent application allows the manufacture of a display stand that is easily modular due to the cooperation of the elements of which it consists and without additional fastening elements such as metal clips and/or gluing.