GB2506492A - Collapsible stand - Google Patents

Abstract

 A collapsible stand 1 suitable for books, paintings, sheet music or the like, a kit of parts to be assembled into the collapsible stand, and a method of assembly of the collapsible stand is presented. The collapsible stand comprises a backboard 2, a shelf element 6, a surface engaging formation for standing on a surface, and at least one bracket 4 which comprises at least one shelf element receiving formation and at least one backboard engaging formation; the backboard engages the backboard engaging formation and the shelf element engages the shelf element receiving formation such that the shelf element is demountably retained under compression between the backboard and the shelf receiving formation to thereby releasably lock the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the backboard in position. The collapsible stand is assembled without the need for a bonding agent such as an adhesive, or fasteners, such as screws, and the disassembled components may be stored or transported in a more compact form than those known in the art.

Description

1 COLLAPSIBLE STAND

3 Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of stands and methods of assembling stands, more 6 specifically to the field of collapsible stands and methods of assembling collapsible 7 stands.

9 Background to the invention

11 Stands are commonly used to support or hold material in a generally upright position 12 so that the material can be displayed to a user. For example, stands are used to hold 13 written music to be read by a musician as they play, to hold reading material such as 14 books or pages of text, or to display an article such as a drawing, a painting or similar.

17 Stands typically comprise a backboard to support the material to be displayed in an 18 upright position, a shelf upon which the material rests, and a frame or similar that 19 holds the shelf and backboard in the desired orientation relative to a horizontal surface upon which the stand rests, such as a table, for example.

22 Stands are often assembled with a bonding agent, such as an adhesive, or with 23 fasteners such as nails etc. to ensure that the stand is secure and sufficiently sturdy 24 to retain any material that a user may wish to display.

2 However, it is sometimes desirable for stands to be disassembled so that they may 3 be more readily stored and/or transported between locations.

Typically, the shelf and backboard of such collapsible stands are fixed together by 6 either a bonding agent such as an adhesive, or by fasteners such as screws or nails 7 etc, to form a unit that ensures that the resulting stand has sufficient structural 8 integrity to support the material likely to be displayed on the stand.

Such collapsible stands typically allow the separation or rearrangement of the 11 backboard and shelf unit from the frame or similar, and this limitation restricts the 12 resulting reduction in size of the stand, and therefore, the ease with which such 13 stands can be transported or stored.

Accordingly, there is a need for a collapsible stand that is readily disassembled by the 16 user, and one that is more compact and more readily stored or transported in its 17 disassembled state, whilst retaining its structural strength.

19 Therefore, some aspects of the present invention aim to provide a collapsible stand that, when disassembled, is more compact and more readily stored or transported 21 than conventional stands.

23 Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is presented a collapsible stand 26 comprising a backboard, a shelf element, a surface engaging formation for standing 27 on a surface, and at least one bracket which comprises at least one shelf element 28 receiving formation and at least one backboard engaging formation; the backboard 29 engaging the backboard engaging formation and the shelf element engaging the shelf element receiving formation such that the shelf element is demountably retained 31 under compression between the backboard and the shelf element receiving formation 32 to thereby releasably lock the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the 33 backboard in position.

By the term "collapsible stand" we refer to a stand that may be reversibly 36 disassembled or dismantled.

1 Typically, the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the backboard are 2 releasably locked in position such that they cannot move relative to each other.

4 Generally, collapsible stands in the art that may be disassembled to allow the stand to be more readily stored and/or transported, have a shelf element permanently fixed 6 to a generally planar backboard of the stand, using a bonding agent such as an 7 adhesive or fasteners such as screws, for example. As a result, the disassembled 8 stand typically comprises the backboard with the shelf element still attached, and a 9 separated support, such that the minimum dimensions of the disassembled stand are determined by the extent the shelf element projects from the major plane of the 11 backboard, the dimensions of the backboard itself, and the dimensions of the 12 separated support. Therefore, whilst the disassembled stand is more readily stored 13 and transported than the assembled stand, it is generally still relatively bulky.

The provision of a collapsible stand where the shelf element is demountably retained 16 under compression between the backboard and the shelf element receiving formation 17 to thereby releasably lock the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the 18 backboard in position allows a stable collapsible stand to be assembled without the 19 use of tools and/or a bonding agent such as an adhesive, or a fastener such as screws or nails, for example. In addition, the ability to readily separate the shelf 21 element from the backboard when the collapsible stand is disassembled allows the 22 disassembled collapsible stand to be more compact than those found in the art.

24 A further advantage of the present aspect of the invention is the ability to readily replace the backboard without requiring the user to also replace the shelf element, or 26 to remove the shelf element by removing the bonding agent or fastener. Accordingly, 27 the user may change a first backboard of a first design, for a second backboard of a 28 second design, without being required to replace or remove the shelf element from 29 the first backboard and attaching the shelf element to the second backboard.

31 A first backboard of a first design may be decorated with a first pattern and a second 32 backboard of a second design may be decorated with a second pattern. As such, 33 changing from the first backboard to the second backboard may allow the user to 34 alter the visual appearance of the collapsible stand.

36 A first backboard of a first design may comprise one or more retaining formations 37 configured to receive and retain sheets of paper, and a second backboard of a 1 second design may comprise receiving formations configured to receive and retain a 2 book, for example. Therefore, changing between the tirst backboard and the second 3 backboard may allow the user to alter the functionality of the collapsible stand.

Typically, the shelf element is demounted from the shelf element receiving formation 6 by moving a first edge of the shelf element that abuts the backboard when the 7 collapsible stand is assembled, away from the shelf element receiving formation 8 whilst the opposed second edge remains within the shelf element receiving formation.

9 In this way, the shelf element pivots about the second edge resulting in the first edge of the shelf element moving away from the backboard. As such, the compression of 11 the shelf element between the backboard and shelf element receiving formation is 12 released and the shelf element, backboard and at least one bracket are unlocked and 13 may be disassembled.

In the same way, during assembly, the shelf element may be mounted to the shelf 16 element receiving formation by resting the second edge of the shelf element against 17 the shelf element receiving formation. The first edge may be moved towards the 18 backboard until the shelf element is perpendicular to the backboard. As such, the 19 shelf element is compressed between the backboard and the shelf element receiving formation, and the shelf element, backboard and at least one bracket are locked in 21 position.

23 Preferably, at least one of the shelf element, the backboard and the at least one 24 bracket comprise a resilient material. For example, the backboard may comprise a resilient material. The shelf element may comprise a resilient material. The at least 26 one bracket may comprise a resilient material. The resilient material may be wood.

27 The resilient material may be a resilient plastics material.

29 Preferably, the shelf element receiving formation of the at least one bracket is configured such that a shelf retaining space is defined by the shelf element receiving 31 formation and a backboard engaged in the backboard receiving formation of the at 32 least one bracket. Preferably, the shelf retaining space is less than the size of the 33 shelf element to be demountably retained within the shelf retaining space. As such, a 34 shelf element is compressed when retained within the shelf retaining space. For example, the shelf retaining space may be ninety nine percent of the size of the shelf 36 element, ninety five percent of the size of the shelf element or ninety percent of the 37 size of the shelf element.

2 The shelf element is typically rectangular in shape, with a major dimension (length) 3 and a minor dimension (width). In embodiments where the shelf element is 4 rectangular, the shelf retaining space is less than the minor dimension, or width, of the shelf element.

7 The provision of at least one of the shelf element, the backboard and/or the at least 8 one bracket comprising a resilient material and the provision of a shelf element that is 9 slightly larger than the shelf retaining space within which it is retained, results in the shelf element, the backboard and/or the at least one bracket being compressed when 11 the shelf element is engaged by the shelf element receiving formation, generating a 12 compressive force on the shelf element and thereby releasably locking the shelf 13 element, the backboard and the at least one bracket in position.

The collapsible stand may comprise at least two brackets. The collapsible stand may 16 comprise at least three brackets.

18 The at least one bracket may comprise a surface engaging formation for standing on 19 a surface. In embodiments where the collapsible stand comprises at least two brackets, each of the at least two brackets may comprise a surface engaging 21 formation for standing on a surface. Alternatively, one or more of the at least two 22 brackets may comprise a surface engaging formation such that one or more of the at 23 least two brackets does not comprise a surface engaging formation.

Alternatively, the collapsible stand may further comprise a support, the support 26 comprising a surface engaging formation for standing on a surface. The support may 27 extend from the backboard. The support may extend from the shelf element.

29 The at least one bracket may comprise at least two shelf element receiving formations. The at least one bracket may comprise a first shelf element receiving 31 formation and a second shelf element receiving formation. The backboard engaging 32 formation of the at least one bracket may be located between the first and second 33 shelf element receiving formation. The backboard may engage the backboard 34 engaging formation between the first and second shelf element receiving formations, such that a first shelf element mounted in the first shelf element receiving formation is 36 demountably retained under compression between the backboard and the first shelf 37 element receiving formation, and a second shelf element mounted in the second shelf 1 element receiving formation is demountaby retained under compression between the 2 backboard and the second shelf element receiving formation.

4 The collapsible stand is typically mounted on a horizontal surface with the surface engaging formation engaged with the horizontal surface. The backboard typically 6 extends away from the horizontal surface. The backboard may be oriented at an 7 angle of ninety degrees to the horizontal surface (that is, the backboard is vertical).

8 The backboard may be oriented at an angle of less than ninety degrees to the 9 horizontal surface. The backboard may be oriented at an angle of less than eighty degrees to the horizontal surface. The backboard may be oriented at an angle of 11 between ninety degrees and sixty degrees to the horizontal surface.

13 The angle at which the backboard is oriented relative to a horizontal surface upon 14 which the collapsible stand is mounted may be defined by the relative orientation of the surface engaging formation and the backboard. For example, in embodiments 16 where the at least one bracket comprises a surface engaging formation, the 17 backboard engaging formation of the at least one bracket may be oriented at an 18 angle to the surface engaging formation and thereby determine the angle at which 19 the backboard engaged in the backboard engaging formation is oriented.

21 The at least one bracket may comprise a strut that supports the backboard and 22 thereby stabilises the collapsible stand. When the collapsible stand is mounted on a 23 horizontal surface, the strut of the at least one bracket may support the backboard 24 above the level of the shelf element. In embodiments where the backboard is oriented at an angle away from perpendicular to a horizontal surface on which the 26 stand is mounted, the strut of the at least one bracket may bear at least some of the 27 weight of the backboard and the material displayed on the stand to provide stability.

28 The strut may be configured to transmit at least some of the weight of material 29 displayed on the collapsible stand to the surface engaging formation via the corresponding at least one bracket.

32 Typically, the backboard is planar. The backboard may be rectangular. The 33 backboard may trapezoidal. The backboard may be irregularly shaped.

Typically, the shelf element is planar. Preferably, the at least one bracket is planar.

36 Preferably, the backboard, the shelf element and the at least one bracket are planar.

1 In embodiments where the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the at least 2 one backboard are planar, the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the at least 3 one backboard may be the same thickness. They might, for example, be formed by 4 cutting one or more sheets of material of constant thickness. The shelf element, the at least one bracket and the at least one backboard may have different thicknesses to 6 each other. In embodiments where the backboard, shelf element and at least one 7 bracket are planar, the collapsible stand provides the benefit that when 8 disassembled, the individual components of the collapsible stand can be stored flat, 9 and the collapsible stand may be stored in a planar container, such as a folder, or an envelope, for example.

12 In embodiments where the backboard is planar, typically, the shelf element is 13 oriented perpendicular to (at ninety degrees to, or is normal to) the plane of the 14 backboard. The shelf element may extend along the majority of the full width of the backboard. For example, the shelf element may extend along two thirds of the width 16 of the backboard, three quarters of the width of the backboard, or four fifths of the 17 width of the backboard. The shelf element may extend along the full width of the 18 backboard. The shelf element may extend beyond the full width of the backboard.

Each shelf element receiving formation may extend away from the backboard and 21 may define the orientation of the shelf element relative to the backboard.

23 Typically, the shelf element rests upon the at least one bracket whilst being 24 demountably retained under compression between the backboard and the shelf element receiving formation. Generally, the majority of the weight of material 26 displayed andlor retained on the collapsible stand is born by the shelf element.

27 Accordingly, the at least one bracket may bear at least some of the weight of material 28 displayed on the collapsible stand.

Preferably, in embodiments where the shelf element rests upon the at least one 31 bracket, when the collapsible stand is mounted on a horizontal surface, the shelf 32 element engaging the shelf element receiving formation is held above the horizontal 33 surface. The shelf element may be held above the base of the backboard engaging 34 the backboard engaging formation. A portion of the said backboard may extend below the shelf element. It may be that at least a portion of the at least one bracket is 36 arranged between the shelf element and the horizontal surface upon which the 37 collapsible stand is mounted.

2 The shelf element receiving formation of the at least one bracket may comprise a slot 3 to receive a planar shelf element. The backboard engaging formation of the at least 4 one bracket may comprise a slot for engaging a planar backboard. The shelf element receiving formation may be oriented at an angle to the backboard engaging 6 formation. Preferably, the shelf element receiving formation is oriented perpendicular 7 to the backboard engaging formation. For example, in embodiments where the shelf 8 element receiving formation and the backboard engaging formation comprise a slot, 9 the slot of the shelf element receiving formation may be oriented perpendicular relative to the slot of the backboard engaging formation.

12 In embodiments where the shelf element receiving formation comprises a slot, the 13 shelf element receiving formation may comprise a chamfered edge adjacent to the 14 slot. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle to the slot of the shelf element receiving formation. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle of at least 30 16 degrees to the slot. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle of at least 40 17 degrees to the slot. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle of at least 50 18 degrees to the slot. During assembly, the chamfered edge may accommodate the 19 partial engaging of the shelf element to the shelf element receiving formation at an angle to the engaged backboard, and thereby accommodate the assembly of the 21 collapsible stand, and in particular the engaging of the shelf element to the shelf 22 element receiving formation. The chamfered edge may accommodate the assembly 23 of the collapsible stand by providing additional clearance adjacent to the shelf 24 element receiving formation. The additional clearance may allow the shelf element to more readily be partially engaged with the shelf element receiving formation. For 26 example, the chamfered edge may be oriented relative to the shelf element receiving 27 formation at an angle corresponding to the angle at which the shelf element partially 28 engages the shelf element receiving formation.

The slot and chamfered edge of the shelf element receiving formation may be 31 configured to hook around a first edge of a shelf element demountably engaged in the 32 shelf element receiving formation.

34 Material displayed on the collapsible stand may be prevented from sliding off the shelf element by a portion of the at least one bracket that is raised above the level of 36 the shelf element. The portion of the at least one bracket raised above the level of 37 the shelf element may act to complement the friction force between the shelf element 1 and that portion of the displayed material resting on the shelf element. In 2 embodiments comprising a chamfered edge, the chamfered edge may be operable to 3 retain material displayed on the collapsible stand by preventing said material from 4 sliding off the shelf element.

6 It may be that the collapsible stand is between 5cm to 100cm wide. For example, the 7 collapsible stand may be suitably dimensioned to retain an article such as a business 8 card, or an article such as an A5 (21cm x 14.8cm), A4 (29.7cm x 21cm) or A3 (42cm 9 x 27.7cm) sheet of paper, or a book.

11 In a second aspect of the invention, there is presented a kit of parts comprising at 12 least one backboard, a shelf element, a surface engaging formation for standing on a 13 surface, and at least one bracket which comprises at least one shelf element 14 receiving formation and at least one backboard engaging formation, wherein the kit of parts is configured to be assembled into the collapsible stand of the first aspect of the 16 invention.

18 Accordingly, the provision of a kit of parts that may readily be assembled into the 19 collapsible stand of the first aspect of the invention allows the user to readily assemble and disassemble a collapsible stand without the use of a bonding agent, 21 such as adhesives, or fasteners such as screws etc, into a more compact form than 22 that provided by collapsible stands known in the art to thereby allow the collapsible 23 stand to be more readily stored and/or transported.

The kit of parts may comprise at least a first backboard and a second backboard, and 26 the kit of parts may be configured to be assembled into the collapsible stand of the 27 first aspect of the invention using either the at least first backboard or the second 28 backboard.

The first backboard may comprise a first design and the second backboard may 31 comprise a second design.

33 The first backboard of a first design may be decorated with a first pattern and the 34 second backboard of a second design may be decorated with a second pattern. As such, changing from the first backboard to the second backboard may allow the user 36 to alter the visual appearance of the collapsible stand.

1 The first backboard of a first design may comprise one or more retaining formations 2 configured to receive and retain sheets of paper, and the second backboard of a 3 second design may comprise receiving formations configured to receive and retain a 4 book, for example. Therefore, changing between the first backboard and the second backboard may allow the user to alter the functionality of the collapsible stand.

7 Typically, in embodiments comprising at least a first backboard and a second 8 backboard, when assembled, only the first backboard or the second backboard is 9 engaged by the backboard engaging formation, and is herein referred to as the engaged backboard.

12 Collapsible stands in the art typically have a fixed backboard and shelf element and 13 generally do not allow the user to change the backboard for one of a different design 14 or shape. The provision of a kit of parts comprising at least a first backboard and a second backboard of different designs allows the user to change the backboard of the 16 collapsible stand when they wish. For example, the user may wish to change the 17 backboard to give the stand a different visual appearance, or, where the at least first 18 and second backboards have different functional features, the user may wish to 19 change the function of the stand.

21 Typically, once assembled, the shelf element may be demounted from the shelf 22 element receiving formation by moving a first edge of the shelf element that abuts the 23 backboard when the collapsible stand is assembled away from the shelf element 24 receiving formation whilst the opposed second edge remains within the shelf element receiving formation. In this way, the shelf element pivots about the second edge 26 resulting in the first edge of the shelf element moving away from the backboard. As 27 such, the compression of the shelf element between the backboard and shelf element 28 receiving formation is released and the shelf element, backboard and at least one 29 bracket are unlocked and may be disassembled.

31 In the same way, during assembly, the shelf element may be mounted to the shelf 32 element receiving formation by resting the second edge of the shelf element against 33 the shelf element receiving formation. The first edge, may be moved towards the 34 backboard until the shelf element is perpendicular to the backboard. As such, the shelf element is compressed between the backboard and the shelf element receiving 36 formation, and the shelf element, backboard and at least one bracket are locked in 37 position.

2 Preferably, at least one of the shelf element, the at least one backboard and the at 3 least one bracket comprise a resilient material. For example, the at least one 4 backboard may comprise a resilient material. The shelf element may comprise a resilient material. The at least one bracket may comprise a resilient material. The 6 resilient material may be wood. The resilient material may be a resilient plastics 7 material.

9 Preferably, the shelf element receiving formation of the at least one bracket is configured such that a shelf retaining space is defined by the shelf element receiving 11 formation and a backboard engaged in the backboard receiving formation of the at 12 least one bracket. Preferably, the shelf retaining space is less than the size of the 13 shelf element to be demountably retained within the shelf retaining space. For 14 example! the shelf retaining space may be ninety nine percent of the size of the shelf element, ninety five percent of the size of the shelf element or ninety percent of the 16 size of the shelf element.

18 The provision of at least one of the shelf element, the at least one backboard and/or 19 the at least one bracket comprising a resilient material and the provision of a shelf element that is slightly larger than the shelf retaining space within which it is retained, 21 results in the shelf element, the engaged backboard and/or the at least one bracket 22 being compressed when the shelf element is engaged by the shelf element receiving 23 formation, generating a compressive force on the shelf element and thereby 24 releasably locking the shelf element, the engaged backboard and the at least one bracket in position.

27 The kit of parts may comprise at least two brackets. The kit of parts may comprise at 28 least three brackets.

The at least one bracket may comprise a surface engaging formation for standing on 31 a surface. In embodiments where the kit of parts comprises at least two brackets, 32 each of the at least two brackets may comprise a surface engaging formation for 33 standing on a surface. Alternatively, one or more of the at least two brackets may 34 comprise a surface engaging formation such that one or more of the at least two brackets does not comprise a surface engaging formation.

1 Alternatively, the kit of parts may further comprise a support, the support comprising 2 a surface engaging formation for standing on a surface. The support may be 3 configured to extend from the engaged backboard or shelf element when assembled.

The at least one bracket may comprise at least two shelf element receiving 6 formations. The at least one bracket may comprise a first shelf element receiving 7 formation and a second shelf element receiving formation. The backboard engaging 8 formation of the at least one bracket may be located between the first and second 9 shelf element receiving formation. When assembled, the engaged backboard may engage the backboard engaging formation between the first and second shelf 11 element receiving formations, such that a first shelf element mounted in the first shelf 12 element receiving formation is demountably retained under compression between the 13 engaged backboard and the first shelf element receiving formation, and a second 14 shelf element mounted in the second shelf element receiving formation is demountably retained under compression between the engaged backboard and the 16 second shelf element receiving formation.

18 A collapsible stand assembled from the kit of parts is typically mounted on a 19 horizontal surface with the surface engaging formation engaged with the horizontal surface. The engaged backboard typically extends away from the horizontal surface.

21 The engaged backboard may be oriented at an angle of ninety degrees to the 22 horizontal surface (that is, the engaged backboard is vertical). The engaged 23 backboard may be oriented at an angle of less than ninety degrees to the horizontal 24 surface. The engaged backboard may be oriented at an angle of between ninety degrees and sixty degrees to the horizontal surface.

27 The angle at which the engaged backboard is oriented relative to a horizontal surface 28 upon which a collapsible stand assembled from the kit of parts is mounted may be 29 defined by the relative orientation of the surface engaging formation and the engaged backboard. For example, in embodiments where the at least one bracket comprises 31 a surface engaging formation, the backboard engaging formation of the at least one 32 bracket may be oriented at an angle to the surface engaging formation and thereby 33 determine the angle at which a backboard engaged in the backboard engaging 34 formation is oriented.

36 The at least one bracket may comprise a strut that, when the collapsible stand is 37 assembled from the kit of parts, supports the engaged backboard and thereby 1 stabilises the collapsible stand. When the assembled collapsible stand is mounted 2 on a horizontal surface, the strut of the at least on bracket may support the backboard 3 above the level of the shelf element. In embodiments where the engaged backboard 4 is oriented at an angle away from perpendicular to a horizontal surface on which a collapsible stand assembled from the kit of parts is mounted, the strut of the at least 6 one bracket may bear at least some of the weight of the engaged backboard and the 7 material displayed on the stand to provide stability. The strut may be configured to 8 transmit at least some of the weight of material displayed on the collapsible stand 9 assembled from the kit of parts to the surface engaging formation via the corresponding at least one bracket.

12 Typically, the at least one backboard is planar. The at least one backboard may be 13 rectangular. The at least one backboard may trapezoidal. The at least one 14 backboard may be irregularly shaped.

16 Typically, the shelf element is planar. Preferably, the at least one bracket is planar.

17 Preferably, the at least one backboard, the shelf element and the at least one bracket 18 are planar.

In embodiments where the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the at least 21 one backboard are planar, the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the at least 22 one backboard may be the same thickness. They might, for example, be formed by 23 cutting one or more sheets of material of constant thickness. The shelf element, the 24 at least one bracket and the at least one backboard may have different thicknesses to each other.

27 In embodiments where the at least one backboard, the shelf element and at least one 28 bracket are planar, the kit of parts of the present aspect provides the benefit that the 29 individual components of the kit of parts can be stored flat, and may be stored in a planar container, such as a folder, or an envelope, for example.

32 In embodiments where the at least one backboard is planar, typically, when 33 assembled, the shelf element is oriented perpendicular to (at ninety degrees, or is 34 normal to) the plane of the engaged backboard. When assembled, the shelf element may extend along the full width of the engaged backboard. The shelf element may 36 extend beyond the full width of the engaged backboard. The shelf element may 37 extend along a part of the width of the engaged backboard. For example, the shelf 1 element may extend along two thirds of the width of the engaged backboard, three 2 quarters of the width of the engaged backboard, or four fifths of the width of the 3 engaged backboard. The shelf element may extend along the full width of the 4 engaged backboard. The shelf element may extend beyond the full width of the engaged backboard.

7 The shelf element receiving formation of the at least one bracket may comprise a slot 8 to receive a planar shelf element. The backboard engaging formation of the at least 9 one bracket may comprise a slot for engaging a planar backboard. The shelf element receiving formation may be oriented at an angle to the backboard engaging 11 formation. Preferably, the shelf element receiving formation is oriented perpendicular 12 relative to the backboard receiving formation. For example, in embodiments where 13 the shelf element receiving formation and the backboard engaging formation 14 comprise a slot, the slot of the shelf element receiving formation may be oriented perpendicular relative to the slot of the backboard engaging formation.

17 In embodiments where the shelf element receiving formation comprises a slot, the 18 shelf element receiving formation may comprise a chamfered edge adjacent to the 19 slot. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle to the slot of the shelf element receiving formation. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle of at least 30 21 degrees to the slot. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle of at least 40 22 degrees to the slot. The chamfered edge may be oriented at an angle of at least 50 23 degrees to the slot. The chamfered edge may accommodate the partial engaging of 24 the shelf element to the shelf element receiving formation at an angle to an engaged backboard, and thereby accommodate the assembly of the collapsible stand from the 26 kit of parts, and in particular the engaging of the shelf element to the shelf element 27 receiving formation. The chamfered edge may accommodate the assembly of the 28 collapsible stand from the kit of parts by providing additional clearance adjacent to 29 the shelf element receiving formation. The additional clearance may allow the shelf element to more readily be partially engaged with the shelf element receiving 31 formation. For example, the chamfered edge may be oriented relative to the shelf 32 element receiving formation at an angle corresponding to the angle at which the shelf 33 element partially engages the shelf element receiving formation.

The slot and chamfered edge of the shelf element receiving formation may be 36 configured to hook around a first edge of a shelf element demountably engaged in the 37 shelf element receiving formation.

2 Material displayed on the collapsible stand may be prevented from sliding off the 3 shelf element by a portion of the at least one bracket that is raised above the level of 4 the shelf element. The portion of the at least one bracket raised above the level of the shelf element may act to complement the friction force between the shelf element 6 and that portion of the displayed material resting on the shelf element. In 7 embodiments comprising a chamfered edge, the chamfered edge may be operable to 8 retain material displayed on the collapsible stand by preventing said material from 9 sliding off the shelf element.

11 The collapsible stand assembled from the kit of parts may be Scm to 100cm wide.

12 For example, the collapsible stand may be suitably dimensioned to retain an article 13 such as a business card, for example, an article such as an A5 (21cm x 14.8cm), A4 14 (29.7cm x 21cm) or A3 (42cm x 27.7cm) sheet of paper, or a book, or an article such as an artist's canvass or similar, for example.

17 Preferred and optional features of the first aspect of the invention are preferred and 18 optional features of the second aspect of the invention and vice versa.

The invention extends in a third aspect of the invention to a method of assembling a 21 collapsible stand, comprising the steps: 22 (a) providing a backboard, a shelf element, and at least one 23 bracket comprising at least one shelf element receiving formation and at least 24 one backboard engaging formation; (b) engaging the backboard with the backboard engaging 26 formation of the bracket; and 27 (c) demountably retaining under compression the shelf element 28 between the backboard and the shelf element receiving formation; 29 wherein, step (c) releasably locks the shelf element, the at least one bracket and the backboard in position.

32 The step of mounting the shelf element to the shelf element receiving formation may 33 comprise laying the shelf element against the backboard and shelf element receiving 34 formation at an angle to the plane of the backboard, and sliding the shelf element into the shelf element receiving formation such that the angle formed by the shelf element 36 to the plane of the backboard approaches ninety degrees.

1 Description of the Drawings

3 An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with 4 reference to the following Figures in which: 6 Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a stand according to one embodiment 7 of the invention; 9 Figure 2 is a perspective view from behind of a stand according to one embodiment of the invention; 12 Figure 3 is a perspective view from the front of a stand according to one aspect of the 13 invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of a backboard and shelf element of one embodiment of the 16 invention; 18 Figure 5 is a plan view of a bracket according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side view of a stand according to one embodiment of the invention 21 during assembly; 23 Figure] is side view of a stand according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 8 is a side view of the lower portion of a stand according to one embodiment of 26 the invention.

28 Detailed Description of an Example Embodiment

With reference to Figures ito 8, a stand 1 (acting as a collapsible stand) comprises a 31 planar backboard 2 (acting as a backboard), a first and a second planar bracket 4 32 and a planar shelf 6 (acting as a shelf element). The first and second planar brackets 33 comprise a backboard slot 8 engaging the planar backboard (acting as a backboard 34 engaging formation), a shelf slot 10 engaging the planar shelf (acting as a shelf element receiving formation), a strut 12 extending along the planar backboard, and a 36 foot 14 (acting as a surface engaging formation).

1 The first and second planar brackets are located at the bottom of the sides of the 2 stand, the first adjacent to the left side, and the second adjacent to the right side, as 3 viewed from the front.

The planar backboard comprises two formations 16 to cooperatively engage the 6 backboard slots of the first and second planar brackets.

8 The planar shelf, the planar backboard, and the first and second planar brackets are 9 made from plywood (acting as a resilient material). The distance 18 between the end of the shelf slot 20 and the planar backboard (acting as a shelf retaining space) is 11 slightly less than the width of the planar shelf 22. Accordingly, the planar shelf is 12 retained between the end of the shelf slot and the planar backboard under 13 compression due to this slight mismatch in size.

In addition, plywood is a lightweight material, and therefore, the stand is lightweight 16 and as such is readily handled and moved by the user. The stand may be readily 17 made by cutting sheets of plywood to form the components of the stand.

19 In alternative embodiments, the planar shelf may be the only component of the stand that is made of a resilient material such as plywood. The first and second planar 21 brackets may be the only components of the stand made of a resilient material such 22 as plywood. The planar backboard may be the only component made of a resilient 23 material such as plywood.

It is generally sufficient that at least one component (first and second planar brackets, 26 planar backboard or planar shelf) comprises a resilient material such as plywood and 27 that that component may be sufficiently compressed to allow the planar shelf to be 28 retained between the end of the shelf slot and the planar backboard under 29 compression.

31 The planar shelf is retained under compression at an angle of approximately ninety 32 degrees to the plane of the planar backboard.

34 The stand is configured to be placed on a horizontal surface 24, such as a table etc. During use, the foot of each bracket contacts the horizontal surface. The foot of each 36 bracket is cut at an angle 26 to the plane of the planar shelf such that the backboard 37 slot of each bracket is oriented at an angle less than ninety degrees to the horizontal 1 surface, and thereby the planar backboard engaged in the backboard slot extends 2 from the horizontal surface at an angle less than ninety degrees to the horizontal 3 surface. As such, any material retained by the stand is angled away from ninety 4 degrees and thereby rests on the planar backboard and planar shelf, and is more readily seen by a user.

7 The first and second planar brackets further comprise a chamfered edge 28 adjacent 8 to the shelf slot. During assembly, with reference to Figures 6 and 7, the planar 9 backboard is engaged by the backboard slot in each bracket. The planar shelf is then positioned at an angle to the shelf slot and the planar backboard, abutting the 11 chamfered edge of the first and second planar bracket. The planar shelf is then 12 moved down towards the shelf slot such that the shelf approaches the end of the 13 shelf slot and travels down the planar backboard. The planar shelf is then pushed 14 against the end of the shelf slot, thereby compressing the end of the shelf slot, the planar backboard and the planar shelf (or wedging the shelf into the shelf slot 16 between the end of the shelf slot and the planar backboard), releasably locking the 17 planar shelf, planar backboard and first and second planar brackets in position.

19 As such, compressive forces 30 act on the planar shelf from the end of the shelf slot and the planar backboard. Reciprocal forces from the planar shelf act on the end of 21 the shelf slot and the planar backboard, producing a moment about the backboard 22 slot of each planar bracket, to lock the planar shelf, the planar backboard and each 23 planar bracket in position.

Accordingly, the assembled stand is stable and suitable to hold material such as 26 sheets of paper or books, for example, whilst requiring neither a bonding agent such 27 as an adhesive, nor a fastener such as screws etc. 29 In addition, the stand can be readily disassembled by moving the planar shelt away from the shelf slot in an action the reverse of assembly, to thereby unlock the planar 31 shelf, the planar backboard and the first and second planar brackets.

33 The disassembled components (acting as a kit of parts) may be stored flat, and the 34 bulk of the disassembled components are only limited by the thickness ot each component. Accordingly, the disassembled stand is more compact and is more 36 readily assembled or disassembled than other collapsible stands known in the art.

1 Due to the ease with which the stand may be assembled and disassembled, the 2 backboard of the stand may be readily replaced. For example, a plain first backboard 3 can be replaced by a more decorative second backboard, or a plain first backboard 4 may be replaced by a second backboard having retainers configured to hold sheet material in place. As such, the appearance and functionality of the stand can be 6 readily changed as required.

8 In an alternative embodiment, the stand comprises a third planar bracket located in 9 the middle of the stand, with the first and second planar brackets located to either side. The third planar bracket does not comprise a foot, and comprises a shelf slot 11 and a backboard slot. The provision of a third planar bracket provides further stability 12 to the stand and is especially useful for stands having a high width to height ratio.

14 In a further alternative embodiment! the first and second planar brackets comprise two shelf slots and a backboard slot, and the stand comprises a first planar shelf 16 retained under compression between the end of the first shelf slot and the planar 17 backboard, and a second planar shelf retained under compression between the end 18 of the second shelf slot and the planar backboard. The planar backboard is oriented 19 normal to the horizontal surface upon which the stand rests. This arrangement allows two articles to be displayed on the stand, one on each planar shelf, whilst 21 retaining the advantages of the other embodiments.

23 Further variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention 24 herein disclosed.