# US 8,540,091 B2 · Blank for a rack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,091 B2 - Document ID: US8540091B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/282,335 - Filed: 2007-03-09 - Published: 2009-04-09 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-13 - Applicants: Teddy Kristensen - Inventors: Teddy Kristensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540091B2 ## CPC - A47F 5/10: Adjustable or foldable {or dismountable} display stands {(foldable racks in general A47B43/00; dismountable racks in general A47B47/00; assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable A47B87/00; publicity panels G09F15/0068)} - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS ## Abstract A blank for a rack with at least one shelf designed as a starting plate with at least one bending region in the form a number of segments and openings. The starting plate includes a number of elements which each have a side extending along a bending region while the other sides of the element are free whereby the rack is quickly and easily formed by bending these elements about their bending regions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blank in the form of a starting plate which can be folded into a rack with sides and shelves, said starting plate made of a permanently deformable material and formed with side elements and shelf elements connected each along one side to a remainder of the starting plate by a bending region in the form of a number of segments and openings, while at least one remaining sides of each side element and each shelf element is free, whereby the rack is folded by bending the side elements and the shelf elements about their respective bending regions so that the side elements become the sides of the rack which are perpendicular to the remainder of the starting plate and the shelf elements become the shelves, each shelf being formed as a cantilevered bar restrained by its associated bending region, wherein each side element includes a flap separated from the remainder of the starting plate by a slit whereby when the starting plate is folded into a rack the flaps extend from the remainder of the starting plate in a direction opposite the shelf elements and a remainder of the side elements for support against a surface for the rack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side elements is fitted with an oblong opening that fits a hand. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, wherein the bending region of the shelves is designed with a moment of resistance which is equal to or larger than a bending moment which the bending region is influenced by when the shelf is loaded with a predetermined maximal load divided by the maximum allowed specific strain for the material concerned. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, wherein the bending regions of the shelf elements are upper bending regions as seen in the upright position of the rack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, wherein a rear edge of each shelf element of the starting plate is formed by a plate region between the shelf elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, wherein the shelf elements each leave at least one rear edge element which is divided in sections in the starting plate when the at least one shelf element is bent about its bending region and that the rear edge elements form a rear edge for the shelves. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the shelf elements is connected to a front edge element via a second bending region at which bending about the second bending region forms a front edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, wherein the bending region of each shelf element is formed with a larger moment of resistance against bending than the other bending regions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, which further comprises dividing elements which in a folded state separate as dividing walls each of the shelves into a plurality of compartments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The blank according to claim 1, which further comprises holders which in a folded state form holders for a sign. ### Claim 11 A blank in the form of a starting plate which can be folded into a rack with sides and shelves, said starting plate made of a permanently deformable material and formed with side elements and shelf elements connected each along one side to a remainder of the starting plate by a bending region in the form of a number of segments and openings, while at least one remaining side of each side element and each shelf element is free, whereby the rack is folded by bending the side elements and the shelf elements about their respective bending regions so that the side elements become the sides of the rack and the shelf elements become the shelves, each shelf being formed as a cantilevered bar restrained in its associated bending region, wherein the bending regions of the shelf elements are upper bending regions as seen in the upright position of the rack while restraining a rear edge element that includes a plurality of rear edge sections, and wherein the bending region belonging to each shelf is designed with a moment of resistance which is equal to or larger than a bending moment which the bending region is influenced by when the shelf is loaded with a predetermined maximal load divided by the maximum allowed specific strain for the material concerned, wherein each side element includes a flap separated from the remainder of the starting plate by a slit whereby when the starting plate is folded into a rack the flaps extend from the remainder of the starting plate in a direction opposite the shelf elements and a remainder of the side elements for support against a surface for the rack. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The blank according to claim 11, which further comprises holders which in a folded state form holders for a sign. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The blank according to claim 11 which further comprises dividing elements which in a folded state separate as dividing walls of the shelves to form a plurality of compartments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The blank according to claim 11, wherein the side elements become the sides of the rack perpendicular to the remainder of the starting plate.