COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY FOLDER
A display folder including a front panel and a rear panel pivotally coupled to the front panel, the rear panel having generally the same size and shape as the front panel. The display folder further includes a pocket positioned on at least one of the front or rear panels, and a collapsible support panel coupled to both the front and rear panels. The display folder is movable between an expanded configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween and the support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compact configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a second angle therebetween smaller than the first angle and the support panel is collapsed.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/879,451, filed on Sep. 18, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention is directed to a display folder, more particularly, to a display folder which can be arranged in a relatively flat, compact configuration.
BACKGROUNDDisplay folders and the like may be used to store and display items. However, many existing display folders are fixed in configuration, and not able to be moved to a relatively flat, compact configuration.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention is a display folder including a front panel and a rear panel pivotally coupled to the front panel, the rear panel having generally the same size and shape as the front panel. The display folder further includes a pocket positioned on at least one of the front or rear panels, and a collapsible support panel coupled to both the front and rear panels. The display folder is movable between an expanded configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween and the support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compact configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a second angle therebetween smaller than the first angle and the support panel is collapsed.
With reference to
In one embodiment, the front 12, rear 14 and support 16 panels are all different portions of a single, unitary rectangular piece of material separated by fold lines or areas of weakness. Thus in this case the support panel 16 can be permanently and non-removably coupled to the front 12 and/or rear 14 panels at both ends thereof. However, the display folder 10 can be formed in various differing manners, and if desired, the panels 12, 14, 16 can be made of separate and discrete pieces of material joined together. The folder 10/panels 12, 14, 16 can be made of or include any of a wide variety of materials, such as polymers (including plastic, vinyl, etc.), paper, cardboard, polymer-covered cardboard, leather, or the like.
The front panel 12 may include or be coupled to a coupling flap 22 that extends over or at least partially defines the pivotal connection 18 between the front 12 and rear 14 panels. The coupling flap 22 can thus be positioned over an upper part of the rear panel 14 and secured via a joint or coupling 24, shown as a heat sealing coupling 24 in
The display folder 10 is movable into and out of a compact configuration, as shown in
In one embodiment, the folder 10 includes a pocket panel 26 that is generally parallel with and spaced apart from the front panel 12 to define a pocket 28 therebetween in which loose items can be placed, along with a mouth 30 providing access to the pocket 28. The pocket 28 can further includes a pair of side panels 32 oriented generally perpendicular to the pocket panel 26 and the front panel 12, the side panels 32 being positioned on opposite sides of the pocket 28. In the illustrated embodiment the side panels 32 are gusseted to provide a collapsible/expandable functionality to the pocket 28.
The front panel 12 can include an inner face 12a facing the rear panel 14, and an outer face 12b on the opposite side thereof. The pocket 28 can be located on the outer face 12b of the front panel 12 such that the pocket 28 can be accessed from the front side of the front panel 12 for ease of access. In the illustrated embodiment at least part of the mouth 30 is at least partially spaced away from an outer perimeter of the front panel 12 to further provide ease of access. The pocket 28 is shown as being positioned on the front panel 12; however, it should be understood that the pocket 28 could instead or in addition be positioned on the rear panel 14.
The folder 10 can also include a supplemental pocket 34 positioned on the pocket 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the supplemental pocket 34 is defined by a supplemental pocket panel 36 positioned on the pocket panel 26, defining the supplemental pocket 34 therebetween. In one embodiment the supplemental pocket panel 36 is made of a generally clear, transparent and/or translucent material such that items positioned in the supplemental pocket 34 are viewable therethrough.
As shown in
The display folder 10 can be used in a variety of settings and to provide various functionalities. However, in one particular case, the display folder 10 can be used as an activity center in a classroom. In this case, the teacher can place instructions for a particular activity or activities, or an invitation to participate in the activity, or a description of a particular activity, in the supplemental pocket 34. When the supplemental pocket material 34 is clear, transparent or translucent, the instructions are visible to all users/students facing the display folder 10. In this manner the materials in the supplemental pocket 34 can act as an attention-getting device for the student. The teacher can then place materials associated with the instructions, description or invitation, such as hand-outs, worksheets or the like, in the pocket 28. Since the pocket 28 can have a relatively high storage capacity, due to the gusseted side panels 32, materials for a number of users, such as each member of a classroom, can be stored therein. The system thereby enables a user to display contents and provide associated materials in bulk, utilizing a single display folder 10 which can be easily folded relatively flat and stored when not in use.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the various embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the claims of the present application.
Claims
1. A display folder comprising:
- a front panel;
- a rear panel pivotally coupled to said front panel, said rear panel having generally the same size and shape as said front panel;
- a pocket positioned on at least one of said front or rear panels; and
- a collapsible support panel coupled to both said front and rear panels, said display folder being movable between an expanded configuration wherein said front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween and said support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compact configuration wherein said front and rear panels form a second angle therebetween smaller than said first angle and said support panel is collapsed.
2. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said front or rear panels includes an inner face facing the other one of said front or rear panels and an outer face on the opposite side thereof, and wherein said pocket is located on said outer face, and wherein said rear panel has the same size and shape as said front panel.
3. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said pocket at least partially defines an inner cavity, and wherein said inner cavity is accessible from a front side of said at least one of said panels.
4. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a mouth, and wherein at least part of said mouth is at least partially spaced away from an outer perimeter of said at least one of said front or rear panels.
5. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a pocket panel that is generally parallel with and spaced apart from said at least one of said front or rear panels, said pocket further including a pair of side panels positionable generally perpendicular to said pocket panel and said at least one of said front or rear panels, said side panels being positioned on opposite sides of said pocket.
6. The display folder of claim 5 wherein each side panel is made of a gusseted material.
7. The display folder of claim 1 further comprising a supplemental pocket positioned on said pocket.
8. The display folder of claim 1 further comprising contents stored in said pocket, and wherein the display folder further includes a clear, transparent or translucent supplemental pocket positioned on said pocket, and wherein the display folder further includes instructions positioned in said supplemental pocket such that said instructions are viewable therethrough, wherein said instructions relate to said contents of said pocket.
9. The display folder of claim 1 further comprising an elastic strap coupled to at least one of said front panel, rear panel or support panel, wherein said elastic strap is passable at least partially around said display folder when said display folder is in said compact configuration to retain said display folder in said compact configuration.
10. The display folder of claim 9 wherein said elastic strap has a pair of ends, and wherein each end is attached to the other one of said front or rear panels.
11. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said front panel, said rear panel and said support panel are all made of a single, unitary piece of material.
12. The display folder of claim 11 wherein said single, unitary piece of material includes a coupling flap unitarily formed with said at least one of said of said front or rear panels and directly secured to the other one of said at least one of said front or rear panels, wherein said coupling flap extends over or at least partially defines said pivotal connection between said front and rear panels.
13. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said support panel includes a fold line formed therein about which said support panel is foldable.
14. The display folder of claim 1 wherein when said display folder is in said expanded configuration said display folder is in a generally triangular shape such that the support panel forms a base of a triangle at a bottom-most portion of said display folder, and the front and rear panels form sides of the triangle extending generally upwardly away from the base.
15. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said support panel is permanently and non-removably coupled to said front panel and rear panel on opposite sides thereof
16. A display folder comprising:
- a front panel;
- a rear panel pivotally coupled to said front panel along a fold line or area;
- a pocket positioned on at least one of said front or rear panels; and
- a collapsible support panel coupled to both said front and rear panels, said display folder being movable between an expanded configuration wherein said front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween and said support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compact configuration wherein said front and rear panels form a second angle therebetween smaller than said first angle and said support panel is collapsed, wherein said front panel, said rear panel and said support panel are all made are all made of a single, unitary piece of material, and wherein one of said front panel or said rear panel includes a coupling flap that extends over or at least partially defines said fold line or area.
17. The display folder of claim 16 wherein said rear panel has the same size and shape as said front panel, wherein said front and rear panels are pivotally joined together solely by said coupling flap.
18. A display folder comprising:
- a front panel;
- a rear panel pivotally coupled to said front panel along a fold line or area located along an uppermost edge of both said front panel and said rear panel;
- a pocket positioned on at least one of said front or rear panels; and
- a collapsible support panel coupled to both said front and rear panels, said display folder being movable between an expanded configuration wherein said front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween and said support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compact configuration wherein said front and rear panels form a second angle therebetween smaller than said first angle and said support panel is collapsed, wherein said front panel, said rear panel and said support panel are all made are all made of a single, unitary piece of material.
19. The display folder of claim 18 wherein one of said front panel or said rear panel includes a coupling flap that extends over or at least partially defines said fold line or area.
20. The display folder of claim 18 wherein said rear panel has the same size and shape as said front panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 18, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 19, 2015
Inventor: Laura E. Reasoner (Columbus, OH)
Application Number: 14/490,237
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101); A47G 1/14 (20060101);