US2110784A - Three-dimensional article formed of sheet material - Google Patents

Description

W. WOLFSON March 8, i938.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARTICLE FORMED OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Nov. 20, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR w [L L. 1AM WflLFJb/r ATTORNEY W. WOLFSON March 8, 192,80

THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARTICLE FORMED OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Nov. 20, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I lNvsuToia WILL/BM WDITF ZJUMKZM:

W. VVOLFSON THREEDIMENSIONAL ARTICLE FORMED OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Nov. 20, 1.955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Wm. mm yyoL FSoN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES FATE GFFEQE THREE-DIMENSIONAL ARTICLE FORMED F SHEET MATERIAL 31 Claims.

This invention relates to articles or structures of the class of advertising displays, greeting cards, place cards, childrens toys and the like. It relates more particularly to articles or structures of the said type produced from sheet material such as pasteboard, sheet metal, plastic materials, such as celluloid and the like, adapted to be supplied to the user in a compact, knock-down, fiat (substantially two-dimensional) form and erected by the user into three-dimensional form.

An object of the invention is to provide an article of the class described, which is adapted to be supplied in a compact, flat form, preferably as a single piece or unit, and which can be readily erected to form a three-dimensional display card or toy without requiring any special skill or additional materials and without requiring any substantial expenditure of time or effort. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which is adapted to be supplied in a compact, flat form for shipment or storage, preferably as a single piece or unit, in which a maximum sculptural effect is secured when the device is erected without requiring any substantial expenditure of time or effort in erecting the device. Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class described which is simple and cheap to manufacture and to provide a device of the class described which 30 is adapted to be made from a single, flat sheet of stiff paper or other stiff sheet material yieldingly providing resistance to bending. An additional object of the invention is to provide an article of the said type which is adapted to be supplied in a compact, fiat form for shipment or storage and in which a plurality of planes are moved into predetermined spaced relation to each other automatically upon erection of the article.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Briefly described, the present invention comprises a body member formed of stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form, preferably into an arch, a wing member hingedly connected to the body member, preferably at a non-arching edge of the body member, and means on said wing member cooperating with said body member for holding the body member bent in three dimensional form.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body member is formed of stiff resilient sheet material to cause it to bend when pressure is applied to opposite edges thereof and to cause it to flatten out when no pressure is applied. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the wing member carries means cooperating with the body member to hold the body member in bent position when erected; the body member is provided with one or more additional wing members hingedly connected thereto; at least one of the wing members provides an easel for said article when in erected position, and others of the wing members may provide surfaces spaced from the body member and/or projecting through suitable openings formed in the body member to enhance the three-dimensional effect; and the wing members may further carry additional members hinged thereto and so arranged that they are moved into predetermined positions relative to the body and wing members when the body memher is erected into three-dimensional form.

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which only a few of the many possible embodiments areshown for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the invention in erected form adapted for use as a display, toy or the like;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same embodiment in the erected form;

Fig. 3 is a top viewof the same embodiment in the erected form;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same embodiment in a closed form adapted for shipment, storage or the like;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the same embodiment in the closed form;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention in the erected form;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 in the erected form;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a blank for forming the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of still another embodiment of the invention in the erected form; and

Fig. 11 is a plan View of a blank for forming the embodiment shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 for purposes of illustration, the device consists of a body member I and wing members 2 and 3 hingedly connected to the body member at opposite sides thereof. The body and wing members are formed by scoring and creasing or folding a single sheet of stiff, resilient sheet material of suitable thickness, such as stiff paper, bristol board or other suitable material herein referred to, that has been stamped or cut, as

shown in Fig. 6, to provide elements hereinafter referred to as well as a contour in accordance with the representation desired, which in the present instance is that of Mary and her lamb.

It will be observed that, while the body member is normally fiat, as when the article is in collapsed form for shipment or storage, it is adapted to be bowed or arched, as shown in Fig. 3 (or otherwise bent into three-dimensional form) when erected.

To maintain the body member in bent position when erected, means are provided on one of the wing members for cooperation with the body member. As shown in the specific embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, such a locking means is formed by cutting away material of the body member at the junction between the body I and wing 2, to provide a marginal slot 6, and providing wing member 3 with a tab I5 having a shoulder 8. Intermediate between the tab I5 and the hinged joint I of the body member I and wing 3, the wing 3 is cut away at its upper edge to provide a neck portion I8. In order to retain the body member I in bent position, the distance between the joint or fold I and the shoulder 8 on the tab I5 is less than the distance between the slot 6 and the joint or fold I.

An additional wing member II, hingedly connected to the wing member 3, is provided to supplement the three-dimensional effect of the device when erected and for other purposes, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The wing member I! is cut away at its lower edge to provide a notch I2 and projections I3 and I4, and the wing member 2 is cut away at its upper edge to provide a notch 9 and projections I6 and H. The notches 9 and I2 are so located and are of such depth that when the wings 2 and 3 are folded behind or in front of the body member I, the notches will be in registering relation.

To further enhance the three-dimensional effect, the body member I is cut as at 2|; also an additional wing member 22 is hinged thereto as at 23. As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the additional Wing members II and 22 may be formed by cutting and folding the sheet material.

In assembling the article shown in blank or development in Fig. 6, the wing members 2 and 3 are folded back or forward of the body member I to overlap each other (being shown as folded back), the tab I5 is inserted in the slot 6, and the winks II and 2 are interlocked, wing II lying in the notch 9, wing 2 lying in the notch I2, the projections I3 and I4 straddling the wing 2, and the projections I6 and I1 straddling the wing member II, as shown in Fig. 2. The wing member 22 is also folded to overlap the body member 2i and is held in folded relation by a projection 24 hooked over, or interlocked with, the edge of the body member.

In erecting the device for use, the body memher I is flexed or bent as by applying pressure simultaneously at the edge of the slot '5 and at the hinge or fold I, or by applying tension to the tab I5, sufficient pressure or tension being applied to cause the tab l5 to slide within the slot 6 and at least to the point where shoulder 8 projects beyond the joint 5.

It will be observed that, by reason of the cut 2! and the stiffness of the material, the portion 38 of the body member does not bend when the body member is bent or arched but remains straight, thereby providing an element of the erected device in a plane different from that of the body portion. Further, the wing portion 22 being hinged to the body portion I also does not flex or bend with the body portion, thus pro viding another element of the erected device in a plane spaced from that of the portion 3t, and also in a plane diiierent from that of the body portion. It will also be noted that, by reason of the locking action of the projection 24, the relative positions of the wing 22 and the body member I in the erected device is predetermined and automatically assumed upon erection of the device. Similarly, the upper portion 3i of the wing member 3 forms another element lying in a plane spaced from the body I and from the planes of portion 30 and Wing member 22 in the erected device. Further, when the body member I is bent into its erected form, the projection I'I upon the wing member II moves the latter into a position lying in a plane at an angle to the plane of the wing 3, thereby further increasing the sculptural and three-dimensional effect of the device, and similarly the projection I3 on wing member 2 causes this member also to assume an angular position with respect to the body member and the Wing member 3, whereby the wing 2 forms an easel for increasing the stability of the erected device. By having the neck portion I8 of a width not greater than the length of the slot 6, and the tab I5 of a width substantially greater than the length of the slot 6, when the device is stood upon its lower edge as a base, the shoulder B is held beyond the inner end of the slot and abuts the body member at the lower portion 33 of the joint 5, thereby preventing accidental collapse of the erected article.

It will thus be apparent that the structure provides means whereby flexing or bending of the body member from a fiat (unerected) position automatically projects additional elements from the plane of the flat (unerected) device, with the result that a flat, substantially uniplanar assembly is automatically converted into a three-dimensional device having a plurality of planes spaced from each other.

As above noted, the body member and wing members may be formed with an outline of suitable contour to represent any desired figure or pictorial representation. Further, the body member and/or the wing members may carry pictorial matter and/or advertising matter, as desired.

It will be evident, furthermore, that the specific angular relationship between the wing members 2 and II with respect to each other and with respect to the body member I when the device is in erected position is dependent upon the location of the notches 9 and I2 and may be controlled by the positioning thereof. Further, the specific shape assumed by the body member I when in flexed or bent position will be dependent upon the relative location of the hinges or folds 5 and I; thus, if they are parallel, a somewhat cylindrical shape will be assumed by the body member, Whereas if they are not parallel, a conic surface will be formed. By suitable scoring, the body member I also may be made to assume angular three-dimensional forms other than curved surfaces.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11 similarly includes the structural features described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6. In addition, increased sculptural effect is secured, according to another feature of the present invention, by cutting openings or slots 4G and II in the body member i to receive tongues 43 and M formed on wing member 3.

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Further, an additional wing member 22 adapted to fold over Wing member 22; and a wing member 45 out out of wing member 2, adapted to overlie the face of body member I and held in place in any suitable manner, as by tabs 50 and 5| cooperating with slots 52 and 53, respectively, in body i, give further sculptural effect to the device.

As a supplemental means for holding the body member l in arched form, the tongue 43 is provided with a ridge or projection 55 adapted to abut the face of the body member I when the latter is in arched form,

The invention is not limited to the details of construction and the features hereinabove described in connection with the specific embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 6, 10 and 11. While it is advantageous from the standpoint of cheapness, ease of construction and simplicity of manufacture to form the device from a single piece of sheet material by cutting and/or stamping and folding, with or without scoring, it will be evident to those familiar with the manufacture of such devices that the body member and one or more of the wing members may be formed of separate ieces of sheet material and suitably jointed to provide hinged wing members. It will further be noted, inasmuch as only the body member I is flexed or bent in the preferred form of the device, that only the body member i need be formed of resilient stiff material in the latter event. The latter form of construction (jointed separate pieces) is preferably employed when making the article from material which does not hinge readily when folded.

It is further to be noted, while a device having all of the advantageous features of the embodiments shown inFigs. l to 6, l and 11 represents a preferred form of the invention, the invention is capable of embodiment in forms omitting one or more of said features. For example the wing member i I need not carry pictorial matter but may merely serve to cooperate with wing member Z to hold the latter in spaced location. Or the cooperating action of the notches 9 and E2 on the wing members 2 and H, respectively, may be dispensed with, thereby permitting the wing member 2 to assume any desired position while still retaining its function as an easel. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Further, if desired, the wing member 2 may be cut down to a size merely providing a slot 6 and shoulder 33 for cooperating with the shoulder 8 of the tab I5 in looking the device in erected position, or the slot 6 may be formed at a point intermediate the edges 5 and l of the body member. Obviously, additional wing members may be hinged to the body member and/or the wing members -2 and 3. The advantageous threedimensional effect secured by having the tongues 43 and lid project through openings in the body member also may be secured or supplemented by projections on other wing members carried by the body member or carried by other wing members, projecting through openings or notches formed in the body member. Further, the angles assumed by the wing members may vary. It is noted, however, that the wing member 3 in the erected position takes the position of a cord of a circle with respect to an are formed by the arched body member.

Instead of having the additional wing member H notched as at it for cooperation with the notch 9 of wing 2, the said wings may be provided with the projections M and I6 and the device may be formed of stiff material possessing resistance to folding, whereby the projections l4 and IE retain said wings 2 and H against thetendency of said wings to open apart when the body member 4 is bent into three-dimensional form. Further, the wing member I i may be made to overlap wing member 3 against its own resistance to folding, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the width of wing it being such as to permit the edge lifl thereof to abut the inner face ii! of the body member I when the latter is in bent position. As a result the wing member l l is held in a predetermined spaced relation to the plane of wing member 3 when the device is erected.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular arrangement or size of the various members with respect to each other. Thus, the body member or one or more of the wing members may carry the representation forming the back-ground of the display or the main feature or features of the display. The lateral wing members may be in front of the body member or behind it in the erected article. Further the slot and shoulder locking means shown at 6 and 8 in the drawings may be placed on the opposite side by reversing the location of the Wing members 2 and 3.

Instead of holding the body member I in bent form by means of the interlocking action of shoulder 8 of tab it: and slot 6, the device may be locked in bent form by other means; for example the tongue 63 in slot ill may provide the sole locking means, as by the ridge 55. It is noted, in the case of either of the said locking means, they add to the pictorial and three-dimentional eifect as well as serving as locking members.

It will be noted, further, while the embodiments illustrated in the'drawings provide a pictorial representation in which the device when in erected position stands on an edge which has a curved or angular form, the representation may provide for standing the device in any other manner, as for example upon the edge i. It will be noted that also in the latter case the wing member 2 may act as an easel for the device.

The devices of the present invention can be employed for a number of useful purposes. Thus, they can be employed as advertising displays, place cards, greeting cards, childrens toys and other amusement devices, for commer ial, educational and decorative purposes, etc. Inasmuch as they may be supplied to the user in the form of a single unit which can be readily erected to form a pleasing three-dimentional structure without requiring assembling of separate parts, intricate instructions to the user, skill in assembling, or additional material, they are admirably suited for such purposes.

They also present numerous advantages from the standpoint of their manufacture; for example, they can be produced from a single sheet of material merely by cutting and/or stamping and folding, thereby avoiding assembling of separate parts; although as above noted, if desired, they can be made from separate sections of sheet material suitably joined to form a hinged structure of the type herein described.

I claim:

1. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form, a wing member hingedly connected to said body member, and means on said wing member cooperating with said body member for holding said body member bent in three-dimensional form under tension.

2. An article of the character described, comprising a normally fiat body member formed of stiif, resilient sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form, a wing member hingedly connected to said body member, and means on said wing member cooperating with said body member for holding said body member bent in three-dimensional form under tension.

3. An article of the character described, comprising a normally fiat body member formed of stiff, resilient sheet material adapted to be arched, a wing member integral with and hingedly connected to said body member at an edge thereof, and means on said wing member engaging with said body member for holding said body member bent in arched form.

All article of the character described com prising a body member formed of stiff, sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form and having an opening therein, a wing member hingedly connected to said body member and having a portion projecting through said opening when in collapsed, flat position and when in bent form, and means on said wing member for locking the body member in bent form.

5. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff, resilient sheet material normally tending to assume a fiat form and adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form, said body member having an opening therein, a wing member integral with and hingedly connected to said body member and adapted to project through said opening when said body member is in bent form, and means on said wing member engagingsaid body member when in bent form for locking the body member in bent form.

6. An article of the character described formed by folding a sheet of resilient, stiff material, comprising a normally flat body member adapted to be arched and having a slot formed therein, a lateral wing member overlapping the body member and having a tab normally lying in said slot and extending through said slot when said body member is arched, and a projection formed on said tab for engaging the body member when in arched form to lock said body member in arched form.

7. An article of the character describe-d comrising a body member formed of stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional rm and having an opening therein, a wing mem er hingedly connected to said body member at an edge of said body member and having a portion projecting through said opening when the body member is in collapsed, fiat position and when it is in bent form, and means on wing member for locking the body membent form under tension.

An article of the character described comprising a body member formed of resilient, stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a three dimensional form and having a slot formed therein, win member hingedly connected to said body member, a second wing member hingedly connected to said body member at an opposite edge of said body member and adapted to lie within slot, and a projection formed on the latter wing member adapted to abut said body member to hold said body member in bent position when said body member is in erected threedimensional form.

9. An article of the character described comprising a body member formed of resilient, stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a threedimensional form and having a marginal slot formed at an edge thereof, a wing member hingedly connected to said body member at said slotted edge, a second wing member hingedly connected to said body member at an opposite edge of said body member and adapted to lie within said slot when said body member is in collapsed, flat position, and a projection formed on the latter Wing member adapted to engage said body member to hold said body member in bent position when said body member is in erected threedimensional form.

10. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff, resilient sheet material adapted to be bent into a threedimensional form and having an opening therein, a Wing member hingedly connected to said body member and having a portion adapted to lie within said opening when said body member is in collapsed, flat position, and a projection formed on the wing member adapted to engage said body member to hold said body member in bent position when said article is in erected three-dimensional form.

11. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff, resilient sheet material adapted to be bent into an arch, a wing member hingedly connected to said body member, a second wing member hingedly connected to said body member at an edge remote from the junction of the first-mentioned wing member with the body member, said second-mentioned wing member and body member being formed to provide a slot adapted to receive the first-mentioned Wing member, and cooperating means on said first-mentioned wing member and on said body member for holding said body member in arched form.

12. An article of the character described comprising a body member formed of resilient, stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a threedimensional form, wing members hingedly connected thereto, said body member and one of the wing members being formed to provide an opening between the-m, and a projection on the other wing member adapted to lie within said opening and having means for holding said body member in bent position when the article is in erected three-dimensional form.

13. An article of the character described comprising a body member formed of resilient, stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a threedimensional form, wing members hingedly connected thereto, said body member and one of the wing members being formed to provide an opening between them, a projection on the other wing member adapted to lie within said opening and having means for holding said body memher in bent position when the article is in erected three-dimensional form, and an additional wing member hingedly connected to said other wing member.

14-. An article of the character described, formed by folding a sheet of resilient, stiff material, comprising a normally fiat body member adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form, wing members overlapping the body member, said body member and one of said wing members being formed to provide an opening at their junction, and a tab formed on the other wing member adapted to project through said opening to lock the body member against flattening when the latter is bent into three-dimensional form.

15. An article of the character described, formed by folding a sheet of resilient, stiff material, comprising a normally flat body member adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form, wing members overlapping the body member, said body member and one of said wing members being formed to provide a slot at their junction, a tab formed on the other wing member adapted to project through said slot to lock the body member against flattening when the latter is bent into three-dimensional form, an additional wins member formed on said other wing member, and means on the additional wing member engaging the first-mentioned wing member, whereby said first-mentioned wing member and said additional wing member are moved into planes spaced from the body member when said body member is bent into three-dimensional form. i

16. An article of the character described, formed by folding a sheet of resilient, stiff material, comprising a normally 11% body member adapted to be arched and having a slot formed therein, a lateral wing member overlapping the body member and having a tab normally lying in said slot and extending through said slot when said body member is arched, a projection formed on said tab for engaging the body member when in arched form to lock said body member in arched form, a lateral wing member oppositely disposed and overlapping the first-rnentioned wing member and having a. notch formed therein, an additional wing member on the firstmentioned wing member having a notch formed therein for cooperation with the first-mentioned notch, whereby the second mentioned wing member and additional wing member are moved into predetermined planes spaced from the body member when said body member is arched.

17. A display card, toy and the like adapted when collapsed to lie flat and when erected to form a self-sustaining three-dimensional structure and formed of a single sheet of stiff, resilient sheet material of the character of resilient pasteboard and the like by cutting and folding, comprising a central body portion, a lateral Wing portion overlapping said central portion when in collapsed position, another lateral wing portion overlapping said first-mentioned Wing portion when in collapsed position and adapted to form an easel for the article when in erected position, the latter wing portion and the body portion being cut at their junction to provide a marginal slot and the latter wing portion being formed to provide a notch, a tab formed on the first-mentioned wing portion normally lying within said slot and adapted to project through said slot and lock the body portion in bent form when in erected position, an additional wing portion formed on said first-mentioned Wing portion and having a notch therein cooperating with the notch in the second-mentioned wing portion, whereby the additional wing portion and the second-mentioned wing portion are held in predetermined planes spaced from the body portion when the latter is locked in bent position.

18. A display card, toy and the like adapted when collapsed to lie fiat and when erected to form a self-sustaining three-dimensional structure and formed of a single sheet of stiif, resilient sheet material of the character of resilient pasteboard and the like by cutting and folding, comprising a central body portion having an opening therein, a lateral wing portion overlapping said central portion when in collapsed position, another lateral wing portion overlapping said first-mentioned wing portion when in collapsed position and adapted to form an easel for the article when in erected position, the latter wing portion and the body portion being cut at their junction to provide a marginal slot and the latter wing portion being formed to provide a notch, a tab formed on the first-mentioned wing portion normally lying within said slot and adapted to project through said slot and lock the body portion in bent form when in erected position, a

rejection on said first-mentioned wing portion adapted to project through said opening in the body portion, an additional wing portion formed on said first-mentioned wing portion and having a notch therein cooperating with the notch in the second-mentioned Wing portion, whereby the additional wing portion and the secondmentioned Wing portion are held in predetermined planes spaced from the body portion when the latter is locked in bent position.

19. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff sheet material adap-ted to be bent into a three-dimensional form and having an opening therein, a Wing member hingedly connected to said body member and having a tab normally lying in said opening and extending through said opening when said body member is bent, a projection formed on said tab for engaging the body member when in bent form to lock said body member in bent form, a wing member oppositely disposed and overlapping the first-mentioned wing member, and means for moving the latter wing member into threedimensional relation to the body member when the body member is bent into three-dimensienal form.

20. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff, resilient sheet material adapted to be bent into a threedimensional form and having an opening therein, a plurality of Wing members hingedly connected to the body member and overlying the front face of the body member, one of the wing members having a portion adapted to lie within said opening when the body member is in collapsed, fiat position, and means on said wing member for holding said body member bent in three-dimensional form.

21. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form, wing members hingedly connected to said body member, an additional wing member hingedly connected to one of said wing members, means for connecting said additional wing member to the other wing member, and means for holding said body member bent in three-dimensional form.

22. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of still, resilient sheet material adapted to be bent into a threedimensional form,-a plurality of wing membershingedly connected to the body member and overlying the front face of the body member, and means for holding said body member bent in three-dimensional form.

23. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiif sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form, a wing member hingedly connected to said body member, and a projection on said Wing member adapted to interlock with an edge of said body member.

24. An article of the character described, formed by folding a sheet of resilient, stiff material, comprising a normally flat body member adapted to be arched, a wing member hingedly connected to said body member, and a projection on the wing member adapted to hook over an arching edge of said body member.

25. An article of the character described formed of a single sheet of resilient material adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form, comprising a body member having an aperture formed therein, a wing member overlapping said body member and hingedly connected to said body member at an edge thereof, a second Wing member overlapping said body member, hingedly connected to said body member at another edge thereof and adapted to project through said aperture, and means on the latter wing member for engaging the body member to hold the body member in bent form.

26. An article of the character described, comprising a body member formed of stiff, resilient, substantially flat sheet material adapted to be bent into a three-dimensional form, a plurality of wing members overlapping the body member, said body member having an opening therein for receiving one of said wing members, an additional wing member, means for holding said body member bent in three-dimensional form, and means for moving the additional wing member into and out of three-dimensional relation with the body member when said body member is bent into three-dimensional form and collapsed, respectively.

2'7. An article of the character described, comprising a normally fiat body member, formed of resilient, stiff material, adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form, wing members overlapping the body member, and means engaging one of the wing members to cause said wing member to move into three-dimensional relation to another of said wing members when said body member is bent into three-dimensional form.

28. An article of the character described, comprising a normally fiat body member, formed of resilient, stifi" material, adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form, wing members overlapping the body member, and means on one of said wing members engaging another of said wing members to cause one of said wing members to move into three-dimensional relation to another of said wing members when said body member is bent into three-dimensional form.

29. An article of the character described, comprising a normally fiat body member, formed of resilient, stiff material, adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form, a plurality of wing members overlapping one face of said body member, at least two of said Wing members being hingedly connected to said body member, and means on at least one of said Wing members engaging another of said wing members to cause one of said wing members to move into three-dimensional relation to the body member and to another of said Wing members when the body member is bent into three-dimensional form.

30. An article of the character described, comprising a normally flat body member, formed of resilient, stiff sheet material, adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form and having an opening therein, a plurality of wing members overlapping the body member, one of said wing members having a portion adapted to lie within said opening when the body member is in collapsed, fiat position, and means on the latter wing member cooperating with the body member for holding the body member in bent form.

31. An article of the character described, adapted when collapsed to lie fiat and when erected to form a self-sustaining three-dimensional structure, comprising a single sheet of stiff, resilient sheet material having an opening therein, said sheet being cut and folded to provide a body member adapted to be bent into three-dimensional form, and a plurality of wing members overlapping one face or" the body member, one of said Wing members having a portion adapted to lie within said opening when the body member is in collapsed, flat position, and means on at least one of said Wing members whereby it is moved into and out of three-dimensional relation to said body member and to another of said wing members when the body member is bent into three-dimensional form and collapsed, respectively.

WILLIAM WOLFSON.

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