NL2014871A

NL2014871A - Support beam, point-of-sale display, and method.

Info

Publication number: NL2014871A
Application number: NL2014871A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Bakker Hugh; Wissink Edwin
Original assignee: Smurfit Kappa Zedek B V
Priority date: 2015-05-28
Filing date: 2015-05-28
Publication date: 2016-12-07
Also published as: NL2014871B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a support beam for supporting a shelf or a tray in a point-of-sale display. The support beam is substantially made of a cardboard sheet material. Said support beam is convertible from a first position, in which said support beam is substantially collapsed, into a second position, in which said support beam is erected and has a substantially horizontally extending flange section for supporting a shelf or a tray thereon and a web section for supporting the flange section in order to counteract bending of said flange section, said web section extending away from the flange section in a downward direction.

Description

Title: Support beam, point-of-sale display, and method

The invention relates to point-of-sale displays (POS displays), especially point-of-sale displays substantially made of board, particularly cardboard, especially paperboard.

Point-of-sale displays are for instance used in outlets, such as supermarkets, to display products for sale, such as for instance food products, such as candy, chocolate, crisps (chips), biscuits (cookies), or drinks, batteries, DVDs, toys, cleaning products, other household goods, other commodities, etc.

Usually, a point-of-sale display is substantially made of paper-pulp based board or so-called cardboard, especially corrugated fiberboard, which may be at least partly covered with prints and/or branding for the products on display. Such point-of-sale displays can for instance comprise a pallet, e.g. a wooden pallet, on which a cardboard structure is mounted. Often, the cardboard structure comprises a frame having two side walls extending upwardly from two opposite sides of the pallet, and can additionally comprise a rear wall, wherein the walls may then be provided with branding and/or other prints. Between the walls, one or multiple cardboard trays or shelves can be mounted on which the products on sale can be displayed. In order to ensure that the trays or shelves can withstand the load of the products, the point-of-sale displays can comprise one or multiple support beams for supporting such trays or shelves.

Different beams for supporting such trays or shelves in point-of-sale displays are known. For example, in some displays, wooden sticks are used, of which two ends can each for instance be provided with a notch into which an edge portion of a respective opening in a respective one of two opposite side walls of the display can be inserted in order to attach the stick to said side walls. However, because only a small area of the side wall can be slit into the notch, a relatively small area of the side wall may bear a relatively high load, which may result in a torn side wall and even in a collapsed display. Therefore, in alternative known displays, the ends of the wooden support stick may be suspended by means of two plastic dips attached to the ends of the stick, wherein an attachment portion of a respective one of said clips can be inserted into a slit provided in a respective one of two opposite side walls of the display in order to mount said plastic chp to the respective side wall. Because the plastic clip can be relatively wide with respect to the width of the stick, tearing of cardboard material of the side walls can be counteracted and the sticks, and thus the trays supported thereby, may be loaded relatively heavily.

Since it is often desired that a POS display can be easily disposable in order to replace it, e.g. when a promotion and/or a specific season has ended, especially in a recyclable manner, it can be a disadvantage when it takes a lot of effort to demount the POS displays and to separate the different materials used in the POS display. For example, when the wooden sticks and/or plastic clips are disposed together with the cardboard walls and shelves or tray into a single refuse container, the recycling process can become relatively laborious, cumbersome, time-consuming and/or expensive. This, for instance because it can be difficult or even impossible to recycle the wooden and/or plastic parts together with the cardboard display parts within a single waste stream. Hence, POS displays comprising non-paper-pulp based parts that are relatively hard to remove are usually not quick to dispose in an easily recyclable manner.

In order to counteract this problem associated with POS displays comprising non-paper-pulp based parts that are relatively hard to remove, some time ago, the applicant of the present patent application has introduced a POS display comprising cardboard support beams for supporting shelves in said display. Said support beams are made of corrugated fiberboard solidly glued together into a substantially triangular beam having an integrated T-shaped core and reinforced mounting lips for insertion into slits provided in respective walls of the POS display. Although said cardboard beams can be recycled together with the other cardboard parts of the POS display, it is difficult and expensive to manufacture said support beams. For example, after die-cutting and creasing a pattern from the corrugated cardboard, portions of said cardboard pattern are to be glued together at seven different locations. Actually, the applicant had to provide a relatively complex machine to allow to produce these support beams. Nevertheless, manufacturing the beams is laborious, cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive. Moreover, such prefab support beams are relatively voluminous, thereby taking up relatively a lot of space, e.g. during storage and/or during transport to a co-packer, a manufacturer of food products or other commodities, or another party assembling the POS display.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative POS display and/or an alternative support beam for a POS display. In particular, it can be an object of the invention to provide a POS display and/or a support beam, wherein at least one of the disadvantages of above-mentioned and/or other prior art POS displays and/or support beams is counteracted. More in particular, the invention may aim to provide a POS display, wherein at least one of the disadvantages mentioned above is counteracted. In embodiments, the invention aims at providing a POS display, preferably one being substantially made of cardboard material, that can be recycled relatively easily, and that can be manufactured in a relatively efficient and/or cheap manner and/or transported and/or stored in a relatively efficient and/or cheap manner.

Thereto, the invention provides for a support beam for supporting a shelf or a tray in a point of sale display, wherein the support beam is substantially made of a cardboard sheet material and is convertible from a first position, in which said support beam is substantially collapsed, into a second position, in which said support beam is erected and has a substantially horizontally extending flange section for supporting a shelf or a tray thereon and a web section for supporting the flange section in order to counteract bending of said flange section, said web section extending away from the flange section in a downward direction.

By arranging the support beam such as to be erectable into a working state in which it has a substantially horizontally extending flange section supported by a web section that can counteract bending or sagging of said flange section, said support beam can be brought into a use state in which it can effectively support a shelf or tray in a point-of-sale display. By arranging the support beam such that it can be in a collapsed state, preferably in a substantially flat packed manner, said support beam can be stored and transported in a relatively compact, efficient and cheap manner, e.g. until the point-of-sale display is to be assembled and packed, thereby delivering significant supply chain savings. By making the support beam substantially of a cardboard sheet material, it can not only be facilitated that the support beam may be relatively cheap to produce, but also that it can be disposed together with one or more other substantially cardboard parts of a point-of-sale display, such as for instance a substantially cardboard frame or structure and/or one or more substantially cardboard shelves or trays of said display, into a single waste stream, e.g. in order to recycle it together with said one or more other substantially cardboard parts.

Hence, said support beam can at the one hand take up relatively little space when being stored or transported, and can at the other hand be disposed easily together with other cardboard parts of said display.

By making the support beam at least substantially of massive cardboard sheet material or solid cardboard sheet material, and thus for instance not of a corrugated cardboard material, the collapsible support beam can at the one hand be relatively strong, thereby counteracting failure of its supportive function when in use in its second position, e.g. failure due to accidental snapping of one or more sheet portions of the support beam, whereas said collapsible support beam made of massive or solid cardboard material can at the other hand be recycled together with corrugated cardboard material of which the frame or structure and/or the trays or shelves of the display advantageously can be made.

The invention also relates to a point-of-sale display. In embodiments, the point-of-sale display can comprise a support beam and a frame, wherein said frame comprises two opposite walls facing each other, wherein the support beam extends from a first one to a second one of said two opposite walls. The two opposite walls may for instance be side walls of the frame of the point-of-sale display.

Moreover, the invention relates to a kit of parts for assembling a point-of-sale display.

The invention further relates to a method for forming a support beam.

By way of non-limiting examples only, exemplary embodiments of aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective, partly cut-away view of an embodiment of a point-of-sale display comprising multiple support beams according to an aspect of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a blank for forming two support beams according to an aspect of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the blank of Fig. 2 being formed into two still interconnected support beams;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of two support beams according to an aspect of the invention in a collapsed position;

Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of four support beams, each in their erected position;

Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of one of the support beams of Fig. 4 in a collapsed position;

Fig. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the support beam of Fig. 6 in an intermediate position; and

Fig. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the support beam of Figs. 6 and 7 in an erected position.

It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to aspects of the invention. In the figures, the same or similar reference signs or numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective, partly cut-away view of a point-of-sale display 100, or so-called PoS display 100, according to an aspect of the invention. Here, the display 100 comprises eighteen support beams 1 for supporting nine shelves. It is apparent that in alternative embodiments, the PoS display 100 may comprise another number of support beams, e.g. one or multiple support beams. As can be understood from Fig. 1, two or more support beams 1 may together support a shelf or tray (not shown). Nevertheless, in alternative embodiments a tray or shelf can be supported by a single support beam. Additionally or alternatively, multiple trays or shelves can be supported by a single or multiple common support beams. Besides, the support of the one or more support beams, the tray or shelve can additionally be suspended and/or supported by other parts of the display 100, e.g. by a structure which may comprise a frame 110 and/or one or multiple walls, e.g. side walls 111, 112 and/or a rear wall 113 of the display.

The point-of-sale display 100 may for instance be used in an outlet, such as a supermarket, for example to display products for sale, such as for instance food products, such as candy, chocolate, crisps (chips), biscuits (cookies), or drinks, batteries, DVDs, toys, cleaning products, other household goods, other commodities, etc. The one or more shelves or trays of the display 100 can be arranged for supporting products for sale, and may for instance be substantially made of cardboard material, preferably corrugated cardboard material.

Advantageously, the point-of-sale display 100 can be substantially made of paper pulp based board or so-called cardboard. For example, its structure and/or walls 111, 112, 113 can be made substantially of cardboard, especially corrugated fiberboard, which may be at least partly covered with prints and/or branding for the products on display. In embodiments, the PoS display 100 may additionally comprise a pallet, e.g. a wooden pallet or a plastic pallet, on which the cardboard structure and/or frame can be mounted. The pallet can be located at the bottom side of the display 100. Said pallet can for instance facilitate that the PoS display 100 can be handled relatively easily once it is assembled, and once it for instance is packed with commodities as well, e.g. at a moment before the packed PoS display is shipped to a shop where it is to be placed and/or at said shop. For example, the pallet can facilitate that the display 100 can be for instance handled by means of a pallet jack or a forklift. Additionally or alternatively, the pallet can provide a relatively solid base for counteracting that the PoS display 100 falls over or shoves aside unintentionally. For instance in order to ensure that the trays or shelves can withstand the load of the products, the point-of-sale display 100 can comprise one or multiple support beams 1 for supporting such trays or shelves.

In advantageous embodiments, the PoS display 100 can comprise a frame 110, which may be made substantially of a cardboard material, such as for instance a corrugated cardboard material. Said frame 110 can for instance comprise two side walls 111, 112, between which the one or more support beams 1 may be mounted. Additionally or alternatively, the PoS display 100 may comprise a rear wall 113.

Preferably, the display 100 can be a disposable display, or at least the substantially cardboard frame and/or structure, the one or more support beams 1 and the one or more trays or shelves can be disposable, preferably by integrally disposing them in a paper recycling container, e.g. after removing the pallet, which pallet may be reused. In case the PoS display is substantially integrally returned to the manufacturer of said display, the manufacturer can relatively easily separate the cardboard parts from the pallet and reuse the pallet while having the cardboard recycled.

The structure or frame of the display 100 can be provided with mounting means for mounting the support beam to said frame or structure. For example, the support beam, especially at its ends, may be clamped and or and/or suspended by such mounting means. Additionally or alternatively, the support beam may fixed to the structure or frame in by using an adhesive, glue, staples, etc.

In embodiments, at least a wall portion of a wall 111, 112 of the frame 110 can have at least two facing cardboard layers 111a, 111b; 112a, 112b and an opening 114 for inserting one or more folding tab portions 130, 140; 131, 141 between said two facing cardboard layers 111a, 111b of said wall portion 11. Said tab portions 130, 140; 131, 141 can for instance be provided at the end of the flange section 2 of the support beam 1. For example, said opening 114 can be formed by means of a slot or slit in a proximal one lila, 112a of the two facing cardboard layers 111a, 111b; 112a, 112b of the wall portion of the frame 110 of the display 100.

Advantageously, two opposite side walls 111, 112 can be provided with such openings 114 or other mounting means, especially wherein both mounting means are placed at substantially the same height level.

Preferably, said opening 114 can have at least one lower edge 114a, which may extend substantially horizontally, on which the support beam 1 can be suspended at least partly during use. Due to the flange section 2 of the support beam 1, which, in the erected position of the support beam 1, can be relatively wide, e.g. relatively wide in comparison to a slit in a conventional wooden support stick, loads born by the support beam 1 can be distributed over a relatively wide area of a side wall 111, 112 and/or over a relatively wide area of one or more layers 111a thereof.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, a proximal one 111a of the two facing cardboard layers of the wall portion of the frame of the display, e.g. not the outwardly facing layer 11 lb, but the inwardly facing layer 11 la, can be provided with a receiving opening 115, especially a downwardly extending slit or slot 115, for receiving a distal end piece 3a of the web section 3 of the support beam 1. Once said distal end piece 3 of the web section 3 is secured in said receiving opening 115, it can be counteract that the web section 3 can pivot with respect to the flange section 2 of the support beam 1.

Furthermore, the structure or frame 110 of the display 100 can be provided with mounting means for mounting the tray or shelf to said frame or structure. For example, a wall, such as for instance the rear wall 113, can be provided with mounting means 116, such as openings and/or tabs for mounting a shelf or tray thereon. In embodiments, the tray or shelf may be provided with corresponding mounting means, e.g. tabs for insertion into such opening in a wall and/or in the frame 110 of the display 100. Additionally or alternatively, the tray or shelf may be mounted to the support beam 1 supporting it, e.g. by means of mounting means provided at said support beam 1 and/or mounting means provided at said tray or shelf.

Figs. 2-3 shows a preferred embodiment of a method according to an aspect of the invention, said method being for forming a support beam 1, e.g. a support beam according to another aspect of the invention.

The method comprises a step of providing a blank 4 of a cardboard sheet material, especially massive cardboard sheet material. The blank 4 comprises at least six substantially parallel substantially strip-shaped portions 11a, 12, 13, 14, 15, 1 lb which are interconnected by five substantially parallel fold lines 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, especially substantially straight fold lines, which can advantageously be formed at least partly by prefab creases or double creases. The second strip-shaped portion 12 and the fourth strip-shaped portion 14 both have substantially the same width and the third strip-shaped portion 13 and the fifth strip-shaped portion 15 both have substantially the same with. It is noted that it can be understood that said widths extend substantially transverse to the direction in which the fold lines extend and/or the direction in which the strip-shaped portion extend. In embodiments, the blank 4 may further comprise other portions. For instance, said blank can comprise one or multiple tab portions 120, 130, 140, 150, 121, 131, 141, 151 or other portions that form portions of the support beam 1 to be formed. Additionally or alternatively, the blank 4 can comprise portions that are not to be included in the support beam 1 and that can be removed from the blank 4 during the forming of the support beam. In embodiments, such as in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 2, such portions may themselves form portions of a further support beam 1.

With respect to the fold lines provided in the blank 4 is noted that each of these fold lines can be formed at least partly by means of a crease or alternatively by a so-called double crease, e.g. creases creased into the cardboard material previous, during or after the desired pattern of the blank is cut. Additionally or alternatively, the fold fines may be formed at least partly by means of perforations and/or cuts or notches in order to locally weaken the cardboard sheet material in order to facilitate relatively easy folding or pivoting of the cardboard sheet material at the respective location of the respective fold fine. Creases can for instance be formed by means of a creasing rule or other suitable means. It is noted that it will be apparent to the skilled person that the word line’ in the term Told line’ does not mean that the fold fines or creases have no width and/or no depth. Actually, in embodiments, the fold fine, especially when formed by a double crease, can have a width of for instance up to two, three, four or even five time the thickness of the cardboard sheet material.

The method further comprises a step of attaching the first strip-shaped portion 11a and the sixth strip-shaped portion lib to each other in an at least partly overlapping manner, and in a manner such that the first and the fifth fold lines 21, 25 will practically coincide, such that the second, third, fourth and fifth strip-shaped portions 12, 13, 14, 15 together form a collapsible parallelogram 8 (see Figs. 6-8). It is noted that during use of the support beam 1, the parallelogram 8; 12, 13, 14, 15 can form a flange 2 substantially transverse to a web 3 that during use of the support beam 1 is being formed by the attached first and sixth strip-shaped portions 11a, lib, as will be further discussed below.

For example, the blank 4 can be folded over the third fold line 23, as can for instance be understood from the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3, in order to enable attachment of the first strip-shaped portion 11a to the sixth strip-shaped portion lib. By attaching the first strip-shaped portion 11a and the sixth strip-shaped portion lib a combined strip-shaped sheet portion 11 can be formed, see Fig. 4 showing two support beams in their collapsed state. Preferably, the first strip-shaped portion 11a and the sixth strip-shaped portion 1 lb can be attached to each other by means of an adhesive, e.g. a glue and/or a double-side tape and/or any other suitable means. For example, before overlaying the first and sixth strip-shaped portions 11a, lib, an adhesive 6, such as glue, can be applied to at least one of said portions 11a, lib, i.e. at a surface facing the other of said portions when being attached.

By forming a strip-shaped sheet portion 11 at least partly build up from multiple layers, a relatively strong web section 3 can be provided.

Additionally, the method may comprise one or multiple additional steps. For example, the method can comprise a step of detaching the support beam 1 from additional portions. In the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3, the support beam 1 is for instance being detached from a second support beam 1 being formed from the same blank 4. Detaching can for instance take place by cutting the respective portions from each other, e.g. by cutting along a line 7 connecting the two support beams 1.

It is noted that the method, or at least certain steps of the method, may advantageously be executed in a machined manner, preferably at least partly by means of a carton folding and gluing machine. It is noted that one or more steps of cutting, e.g. cutting loose the support beam 1 and/or cutting the blank 4, especially die cutting the blank 4, may be performed by the same machine that does the folding and gluing or can be executed by another machine. For example, the cutting of the blank 4 may be done by a die cutting and creasing machine, which machine can also crease the fold lines into the cardboard material for forming the blank.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the method may also comprise one or more printing steps for providing the support beam material with appropriate prints, if so desired, and/or that in the step of providing a blank 4, the blank 4 to be provided may be formed of printed cardboard material sheet.

Although, two support beams 2 are formed together from a single blank 4 in the shown embodiment, it will be apparent that less beams 1, i.e. a single, or that more, e.g. three, four or even more, support beams can be formed from a single blank.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the blank 4 of Fig. 2 being formed into two interconnected support beams 1. After being cut apart, two collapsed support beams 1 are formed, as can for example be seen in Fig. 4, which show an exemplary embodiment of a support beams 1 according to an aspect of the invention.

In Fig. 4, said support beams 1 are shown in a collapsed position, and in Fig. 5, said support beams 1 are shown in an erected position.

It is noted that the support beam 1 according to an aspect of the invention is for supporting a shelf or a tray in a point of sale display 100, such as for instance the display 100 of the embodiment of Fig. 1. The support beam 1 is substantially made of a cardboard sheet material, especially a paperboard sheet material. Advantageously, the support beam 1 can be substantially made of massive cardboard sheet material or solid cardboard sheet material. For example, said massive or solid cardboard may be formed from multiple layers of cardboard attached to each other.

The support beam 1 is convertible from a first position, in which said support beam 1 is substantially collapsed, see Fig. 4, into a second position, in which said support beam 1 is erected, see Figs. 1 and 5, and in which position it has a substantially horizontally extending flange section 2 for supporting a shelf or a tray thereon and a web section 3 for supporting the flange section 2 in order to counteract bending of said flange section 2. Regarding the bending is noted that said bending can in particular be understood as bending seen in a plane in which the web section 3 extends.

Further, it is noted that the web section 3 can start at the flange section 2, e.g. a one or two fold lines or pivot lines 21, 25 connecting the flange section portions 11 to the adjacent web section portions 12, 15. The web section 3 can further extend away from said flange section 2 in a downward direction in the second position, i.e. in the erected position in which the support beam 1 can be used in a PoS display 100. Preferably, the web section 3 can be extending substantially vertically and/or substantially transverse to the flange section 2 in said second position.

With respect to Fig. 5, it is noted that two of the four support beams 1 shown in said figure (the one at the bottom of the figure and the one at the top right corner of the figure) are turned over about 90° in order to provide good views on different sides of said beam 1.

In the first position, the support beam 1 can be substantially flat packed. For example, the support beam 1 can have multiple sheet portions 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 120, 130, 140, 150, 121, 131, 141, 151, especially substantially flat sheet portions, wherein each of said sheet portions can include at least one layer of cardboard sheet material or multiple layers overlaying each other at least partly, wherein the multiple sheet portions 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 120, 130, 140, 150, 121, 131, 141, 151 are interconnected by means of fold lines, e.g. formed at least partly by creases or double creases, respectively, and wherein, in the first position, the sheet portions are extending substantially parallel to each other. As a result, the support beam 1 may take up relatively little space in the first position.

In a preferred embodiment of the support beam 1, the support beam 1 may comprises at least five substantially strip-shaped sheet portions 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 extending substantially along each other, a first one 11 of said sheet portions having a first layer 11a being connected to a second one 12 of said sheet portions by means of a first fold 21 line, the second sheet portion 12 being connected to a third sheet portion 13 by a second fold line 22, the third sheet portion 13 being connected to a fourth sheet portion 14 by a third fold line 23 , the fourth sheet portion 14 being connected to fifth sheet portion 15 by a fourth fold line 24, the fifth sheet portion 15 being connected to a second layer 1 lb of the first sheet portion 11 by a fifth fold line 25. Said first and second layers 11a, lib of the first sheet portion 11 can be substantially parallel and interconnected, e.g. by being adhered or glued onto each other, either with or without one or multiple intermediate layers in between them. Said layers 11a, lib can thus at least partly overlay each other.

With respect to said five fold fines 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, it is noted that they can extend in substantially parallel directions, and can for instance be formed by prefab or preformed creases or double creases. Advantageously, the first and the fifth fold fines 21, 25 can be formed by prefab creases or double creases allowing the cardboard to be fold at least in a first direction, whereas the second, third and forth fold fines 22, 23, 24 can then be formed as prefab creases or double creases allowing the cardboard to be fold at least in a second direction, e.g. a direction opposite to said first direction.

Additionally, in a cross-section transverse to the elongated direction of the strip-shaped sheet portions 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and/or transverse to the directions of the respective fold lines 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 there between, the second, third, fourth and fifth sheet portions 12, 13, 14, 15 may substantially form a collapsible parallelogram 8, as can be seen relatively well in Figs. 6-8, especially in Fig. 7. In preferred embodiments, said parallelogram 8 may have four sides 12, 13, 14, 15 of substantially equal length, wherein the second and third sheet portions 12, 13 are lying substantially in fine with each other in the first position (see Fig. 6) and are substantially parallel and facing each other in the second position (see Fig. 8), wherein the fourth and fifth sheet portions 14, 15 are lying substantially in fine with each other in the first position (see Fig. 6) and are substantially parallel and facing each other in the second position (see Fig. 8), and wherein the second and fifth sheet portions 12, 15 are substantially parallel and facing each other in the first position (see Fig. 6) and are lying substantially in fine with each other in the second position (see Fig. 8), and wherein the third and fourth sheet portions 13, 14 are substantially parallel and facing each other in the first position (see Fig. 6) and are lying substantially in fine with each other in the second position (see Fig. 8) of the support beam 1.

As for instance can be understood from Figs. 6 and 8, the collapsible parallelogram 8 can thus be collapsed in the first position (see Fig. 6), in which the support beam 1 is collapsed and may stackable, e.g. in order to be stored and/or transported in a relatively efficient manner. The collapsible parallelogram 8 can thus also be collapsed in the second position (see Fig. 8) in which the support beam 1 is erected, and in which the support beam 1 can for instance substantially form a T-beam. It is noted that the collapsible parallelogram 8 may in the second position of the support beam be collapsed in another manner as in the first position of the support beam 1. During erecting the support beam 1 from its first position into its second position, the support beam 1 is transitioned via intermediate positions (see Fig. 7), in which the collapsible parallelogram 8 forms a parallelogram.

Since the flange 2 may advantageously be formed as a collapsible parallelogram 8, it can be counteracted that the flange 2 unintentionally bends about the first fold line 21 and/or fifth fold line 25, which may be coincide substantially in the second, erected position (see Figs. 5 and 8).

This is, in case the second and fifth sheet portions 12, 15 tend to sag, the third and fourth sheet portions 13, 14, which interconnect the lateral ends of the second and fifth sheet portions 12, 15 in the second position of the support beam 1, work as a tensioning means for counteracting that the second and fifth sheet portions 12, 15 can tend to a substantial degree.

Although in embodiments, such as the shown embodiment, the four sheet portions 12, 13, 14, 15 forming the four arms of the collapsible parallelogram 8 may all have substantially the same width, e.g. in order to provide a substantially symmetrical support beam that therefore for instance may be mounted into a PoS display structure or frame relatively easily, the second and fourth sheet portion 12, 14 may in alternative embodiments have different width as the third and fourth sheet portions 13, 15. Although the support beam 1 may then not be substantially symmetrical, it can then have the advantage that the fold line 23 between the third and fourth sheet portions 13, 14 may in the second position of the support beam 1 then not be positioned substantially straight above the top edge of the web section 3, thereby counteracting even further that the flange section 2 can unintentionally bend.

As for instance can be seen in Fig. 5, in embodiments, a first folding tab portion 130 may be provided at least at one distal end 13’ of the third substantially strip-shaped sheet portion 13 of the support beam 1.

Said first folding tab portion 130 may be connected to said third sheet portion 13 by means of a sixth fold line 26. Further, at least a second folding tab portion 140 can be provided at a corresponding distal end 14’ of the fourth substantially strip-shaped sheet portion 14, wherein said second folding tab portion 140 can then be connected to said fourth sheet portion 14 by means of a seventh fold line 27. Preferably, said first and second folding tab portions 130, 140 may be interconnected by means of an eighth fold line 28 that then can lie in line with the third fold line 23 in the first position (see Fig. 4) of the support beam 1. More preferably, said sixth and seventh fold lines 26, 27 can then extend in line with each other in the second position of the support beam 1 (see Fig. 5). With respect to said two sets of fold lines 23,28;26,27 that can lie in line with each other in the respective positions of the support beam 1, and/or in a potential blank in case the support beam 1 is made from a blank 4, is noted that the intersection of said sets of fold lines may be cut out of the cardboard material in order to counteract that the support beam is difficult to fold at the location of said intersection due to an excessive amount of material. For example, a cut-out 9, e.g. shaped as a circular through-hole or formed as any other suitable hole, can be provided at said intersection.

Preferably, said cut-out 9 may be provided in a potential blank 4 in case the support beam 1 is formed from at least a portion of at least one blank 4.

It is noted that the opposite ends of the substantially strip-shaped third and fourth sheet portions 13, 14 can advantageously be provided with corresponding folding tab portions 131, 141, which can be connected to said sheet portions 13, 14 and to each other by means of corresponding fold fines 26’, 27’, 28’. It is apparent that also an intersection of said fold fines may be provided with a cut-out 9.

Actually, at any intersection of fold fines, which may in preferred embodiment be formed at least partly by creases, the local material can be cut away in order to facihtate bending, pivoting or folding of material of the blank 4 and/or of the support beam 1.

With respect to the folding tab portions 130, 140; 31, 141 is noted that they may facilitate to reinforce the support beam 1, e.g. in order to counteract that the support beam 1 can bend or sag to a too large extent, for instance counteracting bending or sagging in a direction transverse to a plane in which the flange 2 can substantially extend in the second position of the support beam 1 and/or for instance counteracting bending or sagging in a direction transverse to a plane in which the web 3 can substantially extend in the second position of the support beam 1 (see e.g. Fig. 5).

Alternatively or additionally, in embodiments one or more further folding tab portion 120, 121, 150, 151 may be provided at least at one, and preferably at both, distal ends of the second and/or fifth substantially strip-shaped sheet portion 12, 15 of the support beam 1. The respective folding further tab portion 120, 121, 150, 151 may be connected to the respective sheet portion 12, 15 by means of a further fold fine 29. Preferably, the respective further tab portions 120, 150; 121, 151 located near each other are not interconnected. Said further tab portions 120, 121, 150, 151 can be for reinforcing the support beam 1 during use, e.g. in the second position of said beam 1, and/or for facilitating that said support beam 1 can be mounted to the frame 110 and/or structure of a PoS display 100.

Advantageously, the support beam 1, or at least a part of said support beam 1, can substantially forms a T-beam. For example, the four sheet portions 12, 13, 14, 15 that can form the sides of the collapsible parallelogram 8 can form the flange 2 of the T-beam in the second position of the support beam (see Fig. 8). Additionally, the two layers 11a, lib of the first sheet portion 11 can then form at least a part of the web 3 of the T-beam in said second positon.

Additionally, the support beam 1 can substantially form an I-beam, or a so-called double T-beam. For example, the four sheet portions 12, 13, 14, 15 that can form the sides of the collapsible parallelogram 8 can form the top flange of the I-beam. Additionally, the two layers 11a, lib of the first sheet portion 11 can then form at least a part of the web 3 of the I-beam. In embodiments a lower flange of the I-beam may also be formed by a collapsible parallelogram, e.g. a collapsible parallelogram corresponding to the collapsible parallelogram 8 forming the top flange.

Although the support beam 1 may in preferred embodiments be formed from a single blank 4, e.g. a blank 4 formed by die cutting a pattern and by providing fold fines, especially creases and/or double creases, the support beam 1 may in alternative embodiments be formed from multiple blanks or separate parts, that for instance can be mounted to each other, e.g. by clamping, adhering, stapling and/or attaching them to each in any other suitable manner. It is noted that portions of the support beam, e.g. any one of he strip-shaped sheet portions 12, 13, 14, 15 described above, can be formed by multiple layers at least partly overlaying each other, wherein one layer can for instance form a mounting strip for adhering a second blank to a first blank in order to form a blank build-up from multiple blanks, e.g. two blanks or even more than two blanks.

It is noted that the invention also relates to a kit of parts for assembling a point-of-sale display 100. Said kit of part comprises at least one flame 110, preferably a collapsible cardboard frame. Said kit of part further comprises at least one, and preferably multiple, support beams 1, especially support beams according to one or multiple embodiments of support beams 1 described above. Further, the kit op parts may comprise other parts, especially parts for assembling a point-of-sale display 100. For example, the kit may comprise one or multiple shelves or trays, which in embodiment may be integrated parts of the frame 110, e.g. pivotable connected to a rear wall 113 of the frame 110. As another example, the kit of parts may comprise a pallet, e.g. a wooden pallet or a plastic pallet, on which the frame 110, or a cardboard structure comprising the frame 110, can be mounted.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

It will be apparent that features solely described in the context of the method are also deemed to be disclosed in the context of the support beam and/or the display, and vice versa.

Further, it is noted that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

Such and other variants will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to he within in the scope of the invention as formulated in the following claims.

Claims

A support beam for supporting a shelf or bin in a point-of-sale display, wherein the support beam is substantially made of a cardboard sheet material and can be unfolded from a first position, wherein said support beam is substantially folded into a second position, wherein the support beam is erected and has a substantially horizontally extending flange part for supporting a shelf or tray thereon and a body part for supporting the flange part to prevent bending of the flange part, said body part extending away from the flange part in a downward direction.

2. Support beam as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support beam is substantially made of solid cardboard sheet material or sheet material of non-corrugated cardboard.

3. Support beam as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the first position, the support beam is substantially flat.

Support beam as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the support beam has a plurality of sheet portions, each comprising at least one layer of cardboard sheet material, said sheet portions being connected by means of folding or folding lines, and wherein the sheet portions are substantially in the first position extend parallel to each other.

A support beam according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support beam comprises at least five substantially strip-shaped sheet portions extending substantially along each other, a first of said sheet portions having a first layer connected to a second of said sheet portions by means of a first fold line, wherein the second sheet portion is connected to a third sheet portion by a second fold line, wherein the third sheet portion is connected to a fourth sheet portion by a third fold line, the fourth sheet portion is connected to a fifth sheet portion by a fourth fold line, wherein the fifth sheet portion is connected to a second layer of the first sheet portion by a fifth fold line.

Support beam as claimed in claim 5, wherein, in a section transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped sheet portions, the second, third, fourth and fifth sheet portion substantially form a collapsible parallelogram, preferably a parallelogram with four sides of substantially equal length, wherein the second and third sheet portion in the first position are substantially aligned with each other and in the second position are substantially parallel and facing each other, the fourth and fifth sheet portion in the first position being substantially aligned with each other and in the second position being substantially parallel and facing each other, and wherein the second and fifth sheet portion in the first position are substantially parallel and facing each other and in the second position being substantially in line with each other, and wherein third and fourth sheet portions in the first position are substantially parallel and are facing each other and in the second position of the supporting beam are substantially ak are in line with each other.

Support beam as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein at least one distal end of the third substantially strip-shaped sheet portion is provided with a first folding lip portion, wherein said first folding lip portion is connected to said third sheet portion by means of a sixth folding line, and wherein at least a second folding lip portion is provided at a corresponding distal end of the fourth substantially strip-shaped sheet portion, said second folding lip portion being connected to said fourth sheet portion by means of a seventh fold line, preferably wherein said first and second folding lip portions are mutually connected by means of a eighth fold line in line with the third fold line in the first position of the support beam, and more preferably wherein the sixth and seventh fold lines are aligned with each other in the second position of the support beam.

8. Support beam as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the support beam, or a part thereof, substantially forms a T-beam, preferably wherein the support beam is according to claim 6 or 7 and the four sheet sections, which are the sides of the collapsible parallelogram forming the flange of the T-beam in the second position of the support beam.

9. Support beam according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support beam substantially forms an I-beam, preferably wherein the support beam is according to claim 6 or 7 and the four sheet sections forming the sides of the collapsible parallelogram in the second position of the support beam form the upper flange of the I-beam.

10. Support beam according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support beam is formed from a single projection.

Point of sale display, comprising at least one support beam according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Point of sale display according to claim 11, further comprising a frame, preferably a frame which is substantially made of a cardboard material, more preferably a corrugated cardboard material, the frame comprising two opposite walls facing each other, wherein the support beam extends from a first to a second of said opposite walls.

13. Point of sale display according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the point of sale display comprises a frame, preferably a frame which is substantially made of a cardboard material, more preferably a corrugated cardboard material, wherein the frame comprises a wall part which comprises at least has two mutually facing cardboard layers and which has an opening for inserting one or more folding lip portions provided at the end of the flange portion of the support beam between said two mutually facing cardboard layers of said wall portion.

A point of sale display according to claim 13, wherein a proximal copy of the two facing cardboard layers of the wall portion of the display frame is provided with a receiving opening, in particular a downwardly extending slit or slot, for receiving a distal end piece of the body part of the support beam.

A kit of parts for assembling a point of sale display comprising: at least one frame, preferably a collapsible cardboard frame; and at least one, and preferably several, supporting beams according to any one of claims 1-10.

A method of forming a support beam, preferably a support beam according to any one of claims 1-10, comprising the steps of: providing a blank of cardboard sheet material, in particular solid cardboard sheet material, the blank at least substantially six comprises parallel, substantially strip-shaped portions which are mutually connected by means of five substantially parallel folding lines, wherein the second strip-shaped portion and the fourth strip-shaped portion both have substantially the same width and wherein the third strip-shaped portion and the fifth strip-shaped portion are both substantially have the same width; and attaching the first strip-shaped portion and the sixth strip-shaped portion to each other in at least a partially overlapping manner to form a combined strip-shaped sheet portion and in such a manner that the first and the fifth fold lines practically coincide so that the second, third, fourth and fifth strip-shaped portion together form a collapsible parallelogram.