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US 5,983,538 AGranted
Printing system and method for individually creating three-dimensional displays
OwnerChristopher S. Crowellinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
By providing a plurality of interconnected, arcuately cooperating panels and end closures which are foldable into an overlying, interleaved, stacked configuration and, when desired, capable of being automatically erected into a three-dimensional display system, a unique, exciting three-dimensional pop-up system is provided. In order to provide the automatic, self-erecting feature, a spring member is mounted in the display system interleaved with the panels and end closures. In addition, the outer surfaces of the panels may incorporate any desired printed indicia, in order to produce a display system having any desired message or appearance.
Claims10
A three-dimensional, printed display system comprising
- A. a plurality of panels interconnected to each other to form a substantially continuous polygonal-shaped panel array and having surfaces on which printed indicia may be placed, each of said panels
- a. comprising a pair of side edges formed in juxtaposed, spaced, parallel relationship to each other, and a pair of free edges extending between said side edges,
- b. being joined to adjacent panels along said parallel side edges, and
- c. pivotally movable relative to each adjacent panel for enabling said panels to be movable between a first stowed position wherein each panel is in stacked overlying relationship with each other panel and a second displayed position wherein the panels are arrayed in a generally continuous, polygonal-shaped assembly;
- B. at least two movable closure members formed at each end of the polygonal-shaped panel array each of said movable closure members being
- a. interconnected to the free edges of at least two adjacent panels, and
- b. movable between an unfolded position wherein said closure members are fully displayed for substantially closing the polygonal-shaped panel array formed by the second position, and a folded position wherein the closure members are folded inwardly into the polygonal-shaped panel array for being in stacked overlying interleaved alignment with the stacked panels when in their first position;
- and
- C. a spring member
- a. mounted within the continuous panel array under tension in interleaved relationship therewith, and
- b. constructed for causing the overlying, planar panels and closure members to be automatically formed into a three-dimensional display upon activation.
- whereby said three-dimensional printed displays system is foldable into a small, compact position and, when unfolded, is automatically fully expanded into a three-dimensional display with the outer surfaces of each panel fully visible along with any indicia printed thereon.
9 more elements
A three-dimensional, printed display system constructed for providing a three-dimensional rectangular shaped member comprising
- A. a plurality of rectangular shaped, substantially flat panels interconnected to each other to form a substantially continuous three-dimensional, rectangular shaped member and having surfaces on which printed indicia may be placed, each of said panels
- a. comprising a pair of side edges formed in juxtaposed, spaced, parallel relationship to each other and a pair of free edges extending perpendicularly between said side edges,
- b. being joined to adjacent panels along said parallel side edges, and
- c. pivotally movable relative to each adjacent panel for enabling said panels to be movable between a first stowed position wherein each panel is in stacked overlying relationship with each other panel and a second display position wherein the panels are arrayed as a three-dimensional rectangular shaped member;
- B. four separate movable closure members formed at opposed ends of the rectangular shaped member, with two closure members being formed at each end and each of said movable closure members having a triangular shape and being
- a. interconnected to the free edges of two adjacent panels, and
- b. movable between an unfolded position wherein said closure members are fully displayed for substantially closing the rectangular shaped member formed by the second position, and a folded position wherein the closure members are folded inwardly into the interior of the rectangular shaped member for being in stacked interleaved alignment with the stacked panels when in their first position;
- and
- C. a spring member
- a. mounted with the rectangular shaped member under tension in interleaved relationship with the panels, and
- b. constructed for causing the overlying, planar panels and closure members to be automatically formed into a three-dimensional display upon activation whereby said three-dimensional rectangular shaped member is foldable into a small, compact position and, when folded, is automatically fully expanded into the three-dimensional rectangular shaped member with the outer surfaces of each panel fully visible along with any indicia printed thereon.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.