Display kiosk and method for making and deploying the same

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for and method of making and using portable display kiosks. The invention is designed and fabricated to be highly collapsible for transport yet readily deployable for use. The invention is substantially preassembled in transport requiring only unfolding and the attachment of a backplate and counter top, none of which requires tools or any other ancillary items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display kiosk, comprising:
 a front panel, said front panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge and a second edge;   a rear panel, said rear panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge and a second edge;   a first bifolding side panel, said first bifolding side panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge, a second edge, and a bifold hinge;   a second bifolding side panel, said second bifolding side panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge, a second edge, and a bifold hinge;   wherein   said first edge of said front panel is hingedly joined to said first edge of said first bifolding panel;   said first edge of said rear panel is hingedly joined to said second edge of said first bifolding panel;   said second edge of said front panel is hingedly joined to said first edge of said second bifolding panel; and   said second edge of said rear panel is hingedly joined to said second edge of said second bifolding panel.   
     
     
         2 . The display kiosk of  claim 1 , wherein
 said front panel and said rear panel form opposing front and rear sides of a rectangular-shaped expanded display kiosk; and   said first bifolding side panel and said second bifolding side panel form opposing lateral sides of a rectangular-shaped expanded display kiosk.   
     
     
         3 . The display kiosk of  claim 1 , wherein
 said front panel and said rear panel form opposing front and rear sides of a substantially planar-shaped collapsed display kiosk; and   said first bifolding side panel and said second bifolding side panel form opposing collapsed sides of a substantially planar-shaped collapsed display kiosk.   
     
     
         4 . The display kiosk of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel further comprises a door hingedly joined to said front panel. 
     
     
         5 . The display kiosk of  claim 1 , further comprising a top surface detachably supported by a top edge of said front panel, a top edge of said first bifolding side panel and a top edge of said second bifolding side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The display kiosk of  claim 1 , further comprising a backplate detachably mounted to said rear panel. 
     
     
         7 . The display kiosk of  claim 5 , wherein said top surface further comprises stops on its underside which engage said top edge of said front panel, a top edge of said first bifolding side panel and a top edge of said second bifolding side panel so as to prevent collapse of said deployed kiosk. 
     
     
         8 . A display stand, comprising:
 four connected sides, said four connected sides being substantially rectangularly arranged;   each side being hingedly connected to two other sides at the corners of said rectangular arrangement;   each side of one pair of two opposing sides being hinged lengthwise approximately about its centerline; and   stops located coincident with said centerline so as to prevent over rotation of said lengthwise hinges past a fully deployed position.   
     
     
         9 . The display stand of  claim 8 , wherein said substantially rectangularly-arranged sides further comprise a substantially planar arrangement of collapsed sides having said each side of one pair of two opposing sides being folded lengthwise approximately about its centerline. 
     
     
         10 . The display stand of  claim 8 , further comprising a door disposed within and hingedly attached to at least one of said four connected sides. 
     
     
         11 . The display stand of  claim 8 , further comprising top surface detachably supported by a top edge of said rectangularly-arranged sides, wherein said top surface further comprises underside stops that engage said top edges of said rectangularly-arranged sides so as to prevent inward collapse of said rectangularly-arranged sides. 
     
     
         12 . The display stand of  claim 8 , further comprising a backplate detachably mounted to one of said rectangularly-arranged sides. 
     
     
         13 . A method for constructing, deploying, and stowing a display kiosk, comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a front panel, said front panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge and a second edge;   fabricating a rear panel, said rear panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge and a second edge;   fabricating a first bifolding side panel, said first bifolding side panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge, a second edge, and disposing a hinge within said first bifolding panel along a line approximately equidistant from said first edge and said second edge of said first bifolding panel;   fabricating a second bifolding side panel, said second bifolding side panel having a front side, a rear side, a first edge, a second edge, and disposing a hinge within said second bifolding panel along a line approximately equidistant from said first edge and said second edge of said second bifolding panel;   hingedly joining said first edge of said front panel to said first edge of said first bifolding panel;   hingedly joining said first edge of said rear panel to said second edge of said first bifolding panel;   hingedly joining said second edge of said front panel to said first edge of said second bifolding panel; and   hingedly joining said second edge of said rear panel to said second edge of said second bifolding panel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of constructing, deploying, and stowing a display kiosk of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 folding outward said first bifolding side panel and said second bifolding side panel along said disposed hinges to form opposing lateral sides of a rectangular-shaped expanded display kiosk; and   expanding said front panel and said rear panel to form opposing front and rear sides of a rectangular-shaped expanded display kiosk.   
     
     
         15 . The method of constructing, deploying, and stowing a display kiosk of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 folding inward said first bifolding side panel and said second bifolding side panel along said disposed hinges; and   collapsing said front panel and said rear panel to form opposing front and rear sides of a substantially planar-shaped collapsed display kiosk.