Collapsible sectional bookcase unit

Claim 2

A collapsible sectional bookcase unit for desk top use and the like comprising a back panel and hingedly connected at each side thereof a side panel, a bottom panel hingedly connected to the base of one of said side panels, and a connector flap hingedly connected to the base of the other side panel, the hingedly connected panels and flap being foldable into overlying relation against adjacent panels for a flat collapsed condition, said bottom panel and connector flap having registrable releasably engageable fastener elements for erection of said unit with said bottom panel being held at right angles to and extending from the base of said back panel and said side panels being thereby arranged in spaced parallel position to support books and the like therebetween, said side panels further having releasable fastener elements at corresponding positional locations thereon and facing outwardly thereof with the elements of one side panel being of a type for releasable engagement with the elements facing outwardly of the other panel to thereby optionally secure a plurality of like units in side by side relation, and said panels at each of said corresponding positional locations of the fastener elements having sections of reduced wAll thickness recessed inwardly of both panel wall surfaces, said fastener elements being mounted in said sections with the inner portions of the fastener elements being recessed within the panel walls and the outwardly facing portions thereof being in part recessed within said panel walls.

Claim 3

A collapsible sectional bookcase unit for desk top use and the like comprising a back panel and hingedly connected at each side thereof a side panel, a bottom panel hingedly connected to the base of one of said side panels, and a connector flap hingedly connected to the base of the other side panel, all said panels comprising flat stiffener members with covering sheets of thermoplastic material enclosing said members, the hingedly connected panels and flap being foldable into overlying relation against adjacent panels for a flat collapsed condition, said bottom panel and connector flap having registrable releasably engageable fastener elements for erection of said unit with said bottom panel being held at right angles to and extending from the base of said back panel and said side panels being thereby arranged in spaced parallel position to support books and the like therebetween, said side panels further having releasable fastener elements at corresponding positional locations thereon and facing outwardly thereof with the elements of one side panel being of a type for releasable engagement with the elements facing outwardly of the other panel to thereby optionally secure a plurality of like units in side by side relation, said stiffener members at said corresponding positional locations of the fastener elements having apertured portions, and said fastener elements being mounted in said apertures on sections of the covering sheets from opposite sides of said members for at least in part recessing said fastener elements.

Claim 4

A collapsible sectional bookcase unit for desk top use and the like comprising a back panel and hingedly connected at each side thereof a side panel, a bottom panel hingedly connected to the base of one of said side panels, and a connector flap hingedly connected to the base of the other side panel, all said panels comprising flat stiffener members with covering sheets of thermoplastic material enclosing said members, the hingedly connected panels and flap being foldable into overlying relation against adjacent panels for a flat collapsed condition, said bottom panel and connector flap having registrable releasably engageable fastener elements for erection of said unit with said bottom panel being held at right angles to and extending from the base of said back panel and said side panels being thereby arranged in spaced parallel position to support books and the like therebetween, said side panels further having releasable fastener elements at corresponding positional locations thereon and facing outwardly thereof with the elements of one side panel being of a type for releasable engagement with the elements facing outwardly of the other panel to thereby optionally secure a plurality of like units in side by side relation, said stiffener members at said corresponding positional locations of the fastener elements having apertured portions, and said fastener elements being mounted in said apertures on sections of the covering sheets from opposite sides of said members for at least in part recessing said fastener elements.

Claim 5

The unit as set forth in claim 2, in which said covering sheets at opposite sides of the panels are heat-sealed together in the areas between adjacent panels and form the hinge connections for folding said panels together, said connector flap is formed by extensions of said covering sheet material and is connected to the base of said other side panel along a similarly sealed hinging area, and said sheets are heat-sealed around the peripheral edges of the unit and the sections of the sheets in said apertures of the stiffener members are heat-sealed together for mounting said fastener elements.