초록 ▼

A kit for use in producing a three-dimensional article from flat cardboard sheets, includes: a cardboard assembly of flat cardboard sheets, each cut according to a predetermined configuration and formed with a predetermined arrangement of fold lines such as to permit the cardboard assembly to be fol

A kit for use in producing a three-dimensional article from flat cardboard sheets, includes: a cardboard assembly of flat cardboard sheets, each cut according to a predetermined configuration and formed with a predetermined arrangement of fold lines such as to permit the cardboard assembly to be folded from a flat condition for shipping and handling, to a three-dimensional condition defining a three-dimensional article having dimensional stability, structural rigidity and a pleasing appearance. Disclosed, for purposes of example, are kits for producing a stool, a chair, a desk and a table.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A kit for use in forming a three-dimensional article from flat cardboard sheets, comprising: an assembly of flat cardboard sheets, each cut according to a predetermined configuration and formed with a predetermined arrangement of fold lines such as to permit the cardboard ass

What is claimed is: 1. A kit for use in forming a three-dimensional article from flat cardboard sheets, comprising: an assembly of flat cardboard sheets, each cut according to a predetermined configuration and formed with a predetermined arrangement of fold lines such as to permit the cardboard assembly to be expanded from a flat condition to a three-dimensional condition defining a three-dimensional article; wherein said predetermined arrangement of fold lines includes: (a) first fold lines permitting the cardboard assembly to be folded from said flat condition to a three-dimensional condition to define a peripheral side wall of the three-dimensional article; and (b) second fold lines spaced inwardly of viewable edges of said peripheral side wall, defining flaps to be bent inwardly and adhesively joined to the inner surface of said peripheral side wall, to present fold lines, rather than cut edges, at the viewable edges of said peripheral side wall; and (c) at least two separate thin flexible connector strips of smaller thickness than that of the cardboard sheets in the cardboard assembly; wherein said cardboard assembly includes two cardboard sheets joined together at their opposite ends by said thin flexible connector strips, permitting the cardboard assembly to be folded to a flat condition without unduly stressing the fold lines at said opposite ends. 2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said cardboard assembly includes an extension at least at one end defined by a third fold line, permitting said extension to be folded over the respective end of the peripheral side wall and thereby to constitute an end wall of said peripheral side wall. 3. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said cardboard assembly includes a second extension at the opposite end and defined by another third fold line, permitting said second extension also to be folded over the respective end of the peripheral side wall and thereby to constitute a second end wall thereof; said second extension also including said fourth fold lines spaced inwardly of the outer edges thereof to define bendable flaps receivable against the inner surface at the respective end of the peripheral side wall for retaining said second extension in place as a second end wall of said peripheral side wall. 4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said cardboard assembly further includes a separate end wall to be applied over said peripheral side wall in the three-dimensional condition of the article, said separate end wall being formed with fourth fold lines spaced inwardly of its outer edges to define bendable flaps receivable against the inner surface of the respective end of the peripheral side wall for retaining said separate end wall in place over said peripheral side wall. 5. The kit according to claim 4, wherein said flaps defined by said second fold lines, and said flaps defined by said fourth fold lines have opposed sides which are inwardly tapered towards their outer edges, to facilitate the bending of said flaps. 6. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said kit comprises further cardboard sheets configured and formed with a predetermined arrangement of slits such as to permit the further cardboard sheets to be inserted within said peripheral side wall such as to structurally reinforce the three-dimensional article. 7. The kit according to claim 6, wherein said further cardboard sheets include at least two cardboard sheets each formed with at least one slot at an intermediate portion thereof extending for a portion of its height, with the other portion of the sheet being unslotted, such as to permit said two sheets to be assembled by inserting the non-slotted portion of one sheet into the slotted portion of the other sheet. 8. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces of said cardboard sheets which are exposed to view in the three-dimensional article are ornamented. 9. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said cardboard sheets are cut and formed with fold lines to define a stool in the three-dimensional condition of the cardboard assembly. 10. The kit according to claim 9, wherein said kit comprises further cardboard sheets configured and formed with a predetermined arrangement of slits such as to permit the further cardboard sheets to be assembled within said stool such as to structurally reinforce the stool. 11. The kit according to claim 9, wherein said cardboard sheets are cut and formed with fold lines to define a chair having a seat section and a backrest section in the three-dimensional condition of the cardboard assembly. 12. The kit according to claim 11, wherein said kit comprises further cardboard sheets configured and formed with a predetermined arrangement of slits such as to permit the further cardboard sheets to be assembled in an egg-crate array within said seat section of the chair and to structurally reinforce the chair. 13. The kit according to claim 12, wherein some of said further cardboard sheets are of longer height than others and extend into said backrest section of the chair. 14. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said cardboard sheets are cut and formed with fold lines to define, in the three-dimensional condition of the cardboard assembly, a desk having an opening at one side for accommodating a chair or the legs of a user sitting on a chair. 15. The kit according to claim 14, wherein said kit comprises further cardboard sheets configured and formed with a predetermined arrangement of slits such as to permit the further cardboard sheets to be assembled within said desk such as to structurally reinforce the desk. 16. The kit according to claim 15, wherein said desk is of rectangular configuration and has a length greater than its width; and wherein said further cardboard sheets define an egg-crate array and include a long cardboard sheet extending along the length of the desk, and shorter cardboard sheets extending across the width of the desk. 17. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said cardboard sheets are cut and formed with fold lines to define a table of polygonal shape having "n" sides. 18. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said cardboard sheets are of corrugated cardboard, said kit including further cardboard sheets receivable within said table in a radiating array to structurally reinforce said three-dimensional article, and at least one further corrugated cardboard sheet joined to, or to be joined to, one of said corrugated cardboard sheets and having corrugations perpendicular to said one cardboard sheet for strengthening said three-dimensional article. 19. A cardboard product made by assembling the kit of claim 1.