IP Library Granted Patent US 9,812,038
Granted Patent B2
US 9,812,038 · App. 14/709,285 · Granted Nov 7, 2017

Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,812,038
App. No.
14/709,285
Granted
Nov 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Self-erectable displays and methods of making such self-erectable displays are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a shroud including a first shroud panel, a second shroud panel coupled to the first shroud panel, and an interior formed between the first shroud panel and the second shroud panel. A support is disposed in the interior of the shroud, the support including a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second sides edges, the first side edge coupled adjacent the second side edge, and one of the first side edge or the second side edge coupled to one of the first shroud panel or the second shroud panel. A biasing member is coupled to the support such that at least a portion of the biasing member is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support, the biasing member to cause a portion of the first shroud panel to separate from a portion of the second shroud panel.

Claims (27)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a shroud including a first shroud panel opposite a second shroud panel, the first shroud panel and the second shroud panel coupled at a first end and a second end of the shroud;

a support coupled within the shroud and centrally disposed between the first shroud panel and the second shroud panel and spaced from the first and second ends of the shroud, the support including a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second sides edges, the first side edge coupled adjacent the second side edge;

wherein an elastic band is to be coupled to the support and to outwardly bias the shroud to enable the shroud to have an oblong cross-section when erected; and wherein when the elastic band is coupled to the support, the elastic band surrounds the support engaging the top edge and the bottom edge to position a portion of the elastic band substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom edges define notches into which the elastic band is to be disposed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support further including a tongue adjacent the first edge and an aperture adjacent the second edge, the aperture to receive the tongue to couple the first and second side edges.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support is folded to define first and second support panels, the first support panel to be coupled to the first shroud panel and the second support panel to be coupled to the second shroud panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further including a notch defined by the top edge or the bottom edge into which the elastic band is to be disposed, the notch positioned between the first support panel and the second support panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shroud further includes a first shroud line of weakness and a second shroud line of weakness, the first shroud line of weakness separating the first shroud panel and the second shroud panel at the first end of the shroud, the second shroud line of weakness separating the first shroud panel and the second shroud panel at the second end of the shroud.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the shroud is foldable about the first and second shroud lines of weakness by urging the first shroud panel toward the second shroud panel against a biasing force of the elastic band.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shroud further includes inwardly facing flaps that are coupled to enable the shroud to have the oblong cross-section when erected.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first shroud panel includes a first transverse line of weakness and the second shroud panel includes a second transverse line of weakness, the first and second transverse lines of weakness being substantially within a plane of the shroud to enable the first and second transverse lines of weakness to be immediately adjacent one another when the first and second shroud panels are being folded about the first and second transverse lines of weakness.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the shroud is foldable about the first and second transverse lines of weakness.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a self-erecting display.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support includes a first support panel and a second support panel, the first support panel coupled to the first shroud panel, the second support panel coupled to the second shroud panel, the first support panel substantially parallel to the second support panel.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a shroud including a first shroud panel, a second shroud panel coupled to the first shroud panel, and an interior formed between the first shroud panel and the second shroud panel;

a support disposed in the interior of the shroud, the support including a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second sides edges, the first side edge coupled adjacent the second side edge, and one of the first side edge or the second side edge coupled to one of the first shroud panel or the second shroud panel; and

a biasing member coupled to the support such that the biasing member surrounds the support engaging the top edge and the bottom edge and opposing first and second support panels to position a portion of the biasing member substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support, the biasing member to cause a portion of the first shroud panel to separate from a portion of the second shroud panel.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the interior has an oblong cross-section.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the biasing member is an elastic band.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the support is a first support, further including a second support disposed in the interior of the shroud spaced from the first support.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the top edge is a first top edge and the bottom edge is a first bottom edge, the second support includes a second top edge, a second bottom edge, and third and fourth sides edges, the third side edge coupled adjacent the fourth side edge, and one of the third side edge or the fourth side edge coupled to one of the first shroud panel or the second shroud panel.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a shroud including a first shroud panel opposite a second shroud panel;

a support coupled within the shroud, the support including a first support panel and a second support panel, the first support panel coupled to the first shroud panel, the second support panel coupled to the second shroud panel, the first support panel substantially parallel to the second support panel when the support is in an expanded state, the support including a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second sides edges, the first side edge coupled adjacent the second side edge; and

an elastic band to be coupled to and to surround the support and to outwardly bias the shroud to enable the shroud to have an oblong cross-section when erected, a portion of the elastic band being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support.

Assignments (19)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070919/0394 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068534/0447 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068534/0366 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (R/F 064463/0597) Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068534/0330 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (R/F 064462/0445) Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068534/0306 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 068533/0812 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2024
From: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068467/0314 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT RF 056122/0839; ASSIGNED VIA RF 059203/0333 TO JEFFERIES AND RF 063487/0449 TO APOLLO Recorded Apr 17, 2024
From: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
To: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067131/0845 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 067000/0669 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS 2028 NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064463/0597 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064462/0445 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 056079, FRAME 0534 Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064441/0646 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 056122/0839 AND 059203/0333 Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 063487/0449 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 10, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062702/0648 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL RECORDED AT R/F 056122/0839 Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 059203/0333 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2021
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056122/0810 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2021
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056122/0839 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056079/0534 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2015
From: LYON, JON
To: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 035725/0472 →