Self-Unfurling Cardboard Cutout Figure Stand

A self-unfurling stand for a cardboard cutout figure, comprising:

• a generally planar cardboard material;
• a plurality of first cuts in the cardboard material defining an elongated center panel having first and second elongated side panels disposed on either side of the center panel, the side panels being defined by a pair of parallel longitudinal score lines formed in the cardboard material;
• a plurality of second plurality of cuts in the cardboard material defining and forming a plurality of transverse flaps in the center panel;
• a first plurality of holes formed in the first and second side panels, the first plurality of holes being configured for receiving ends of a plurality of transversely disposed elastic band joining the first and second side panels, the plurality of transversely disposed elastic bands having an elastic tension configured to pivotally pull the first and second side panels toward one another;
• a second plurality of holes formed in the center panel and the plurality of transverse flaps, the second plurality of holes being configured for receiving ends of a plurality of longitudinally disposed elastic bands joining the plurality of transverse flaps to the center panel, the plurality of longitudinally disposed elastic bands having an elastic tension configured to pivotally open the plurality of transverse flaps;
• and
• a plurality of transverse score lines dividing the center panel and first and second side panels into a plurality of segments that can be folded in a flat compact storage configuration.

A self-unfurling stand for a cardboard cutout figure, comprising:

• an elongated center panel having first and second elongated side panels disposed on either side of the center panel fabricated from a piece of generally planar cardboard material, the center and side panels being defined by a pair of parallel longitudinal score lines formed in the cardboard material;
• a plurality of transverse flaps formed in the center panel;
• a first plurality of holes disposed in the first and second side panels, the first plurality of holes being configured for receiving ends of a plurality of transversely disposed elastic band joining the first and second side panels, the plurality of transversely disposed elastic band having an elastic tension configured to pivotally pull the first and second side panels toward one another;
• a second plurality of holes disposed in the center panel and the plurality of transverse flaps, the second plurality of holes being configured for receiving ends of a plurality of longitudinally disposed elastic band joining the plurality of transverse flaps to the center panel, the plurality of longitudinally disposed elastic bands having an elastic tension configured to pivotally open the plurality of transverse flaps;
• a plurality of transverse score lines dividing the center panel and first and second side panels into a plurality of segments that can be folded in a flat compact storage configuration;
• and
• the elastic tension of the transversely disposed elastic bands and the longitudinally disposed elastic bands is configured to automatically unfurl and unfold the plurality of segments of the center panel and first and second side panels, automatically pull the first and second side panels toward one another, and automatically orient the plurality of transverse flaps to brace against the first and second side panels so that the stand automatically transforms from the flat compact storage configuration to a 3-dimensional display configuration.