U.S. patent application number 11/269618 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-08 for expandable display and shipping container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Picquic Tool Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Semion Krivulin, Paul Donald McKenzie.
Application Number | 20060118460 11/269618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36319890 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060118460 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McKenzie; Paul Donald ; et
al. |
June 8, 2006 |
Expandable display and shipping container
Abstract
A container for shipping and displaying items, the container
comprising a base, a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the
base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally
attached to each tray of the accordion structure. Each support is
moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The
container is convertible between a display configuration wherein
the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with
respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to
each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a
shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked
directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured
position.
Inventors: |
McKenzie; Paul Donald; (West
Vancouver, CA) ; Krivulin; Semion; (Richmond,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OYEN, WIGGS, GREEN & MUTALA LLP;480 - THE STATION
601 WEST CORDOVA STREET
VANCOUVER
BC
V6B 1G1
CA
|
Assignee: |
Picquic Tool Company, Inc.
Vancouver
CA
|
Family ID: |
36319890 |
Appl. No.: |
11/269618 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60625961 |
Nov 9, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/748 ;
206/768 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/748 ;
206/768 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/22 20060101
B65D001/22; B65D 25/00 20060101 B65D025/00 |
Claims
1. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container
comprising: a base; a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the
base in an accordion structure; and, a pair of supports pivotally
attached to each tray of the accordion structure, each support
moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position;
whereby the container is convertible between a display
configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at
alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the
pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in
the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the
plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are
in the unsecured position.
2. A container according to claim 1 wherein each pair of supports
other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached
between two adjacent trays, the bottommost pair of supports being
pivotally attached between a bottommost tray and the base.
3. A container according to claim 2 wherein each support comprises
a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally connected by
a support hinge.
4. A container according to claim 3 wherein each support hinge
comprises: a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support
arms; a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower
support arms; and, a hole formed in the other of the upper and
lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring
button when the support is in the secured position.
5. A container according to claim 1 wherein each support comprises
a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an
opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a
bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of
supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the
lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of
supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second
bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position
by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.
6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of trays
are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the
unsecured position.
7. A container according to claim 1 further comprising an
advertising pivotally attached to an uppermost tray.
8. A container according to claim 1 further comprising a lid
configured to fit over the container when the container is in the
shipping configuration.
9. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container
comprising: a base; a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached
to the base in an accordion structure; and, a pair of supports
pivotally attached to each tray frame of the accordion structure,
each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured
position; whereby the container is convertible between a display
configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are held at
alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the
pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the supports are
in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the
plurality of tray frames are stacked directly atop the base when
the supports are in the unsecured position.
10. A container according to claim 9 wherein each tray frame
comprises a pair of side members and a pair of end members, each
side member overlapping one end member at one end thereof and the
other end member at the other end thereof, each of the side members
and the end members comprising a pair of holes therein such that
the holes of adjacent side and end members line up when the tray
frame is assembled, whereby the tray frame is held together by
rivets extending through the holes of adjacent side and end
members.
11. A container according to claim 10 wherein the supports are
pivotally attached to the tray frames by the rivets extending
through the holes of adjacent side and end members.
12. A container according to claim 9 wherein each pair of supports
other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached
between two adjacent tray frames, the bottommost pair of supports
being pivotally attached between a bottommost tray frame and the
base.
13. A container according to claim 12 wherein each support
comprises a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally
connected by a support hinge.
14. A container according to claim 13 wherein each support hinge
comprises: a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support
arms; a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower
support arms; and, a hole formed in the other of the upper and
lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring
button when the support is in the secured position.
15. A container according to claim 9 wherein each support comprises
a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an
opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a
bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of
supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the
lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of
supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second
bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position
by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.
16. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container
comprising: a base; a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the
base, each tray other than a bottommost and a topmost of the trays
being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of
the tray below, and pivotally attached at an opposite top edge
thereof to a bottom edge of the tray above, the bottommost of the
trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the base
and the topmost of the trays being pivotally attached at a top edge
thereof to an advertising panel; and, a pair of supports pivotally
attached to each tray, each support moveable between a secured
position and an unsecured position; whereby the container is
convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality
of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a
plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray's
underside when the supports are in the secured position and a
shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked
atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
17. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container
comprising: a base; a plurality of trays, each tray other than a
bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge
thereof to a top edge of the tray below, the bottommost of the
trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the
base; a pair of supports pivotally attached to each of the
plurality of trays, each support moveable between a secured and an
unsecured position; whereby the container is convertible between: a
display configuration wherein each tray and the pair of supports
attached thereto, except the bottommost tray, form a triangular
structure with the tray below when the supports are in the secured
position, the bottommost tray and the pair of supports attached
thereto forming a triangular structure with the base when the
supports are in the secured position; and, a shipping configuration
wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the
supports are in the unsecured position.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. application No.
60/625,961 filed on 9 Nov. 2004 and entitled EXPANDABLE DISPLAY AND
SHIPPING CONTAINER, which is hereby incorporated by reference
herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to containers for shipping and
displaying products, and particularly to containers which may be
converted between a shipping configuration and a display
configuration.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Stand-up in-store displays are typically bulky constructions
of corrugated paperboard (cardboard). In most cases, displays are
broken down into component parts or flattened for shipping to
reduce transportation costs. If the displays were shipped in
assembled form, the sender would have to pay for the air space that
would be shipped along with the product and the display. Generally,
the highest possible density with which any goods are transported,
the better and more cost effective the transport becomes. However,
when broken down or flattened displays arrive at the store in which
they are to be set up, it is often difficult for store staff to
properly set up the displays and/or move the displays once they
have been set up.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] The invention provides containers for shipping and
displaying products or other items. One aspect of the invention
provides a container comprising a base, a plurality of trays
pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a
pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion
structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an
unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display
configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at
alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the
pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in
the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the
plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are
in the unsecured position.
[0005] Another aspect of the invention provides a container
comprising a base, a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached to
the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports
pivotally attached to each tray frame of the accordion structure,
each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured
position. The container is convertible between a display
configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are held at
alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the
pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the supports are
in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the
plurality of tray frames are stacked atop the base when the
supports are in the unsecured position.
[0006] Further aspects of the invention and features of specific
embodiments of the invention are described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the
invention:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example container in a
display configuration according to one aspect of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 1 in a
shipping configuration;
[0010] FIGS. 3 to 8 are side elevation views of the container of
FIG. 1 which illustrate the process of converting the container
from the shipping configuration to the display configuration;
[0011] FIGS. 9 and 10 are close up views of a support hinge of the
example container of FIGS. 1 to 8;
[0012] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of an example container in
a display configuration according to one aspect of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a tray frame of the container
of FIG. 11;
[0014] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a tray hinge of the example
container of FIG. 11;
[0015] FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 11 in
the display configuration;
[0016] FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the tray hinge of FIG.
13;
[0017] FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of an example container in
a display configuration according to one aspect of the invention;
and,
[0018] FIG. 17 is a close up view of an interface between two of
the supports of the container of FIG. 16.
DESCRIPTION
[0019] Throughout the following description, specific details are
set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the
invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these
particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been
shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the
invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be
regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
[0020] Certain aspects of the invention provide a container for
shipping and displaying items. The container may be converted
between a shipping configuration wherein the items and container
take up a relatively small amount of space, and a display
configuration wherein the container holds the items in positions to
facilitate display of the items to customers. The container may be
set up directly on the floor in display configuration, or may be
placed on a shelf or table. The container comprises a plurality of
trays, and supports for holding the trays in the display
configuration. The trays and supports may form a plurality of
triangular structures when the container is in the display
configuration.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows an example container 10 in a display
configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container
10 comprises a base 12, a plurality of trays 14 and an advertising
panel 16. Trays 14 are configured to hold products (not shown) and
held at alternating acute angles to the plane of base 12 by pairs
of supports 18 pivotally attached to trays 14 by rivets 19. Trays
14 are pivotally attached to base 12 in an accordion structure,
wherein each tray 14 is pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof
to a top edge of tray 14 below, and is also pivotally attached at
an opposite top edge thereof to a bottom edge of tray 14 above,
except for the bottommost and topmost of trays 14. The bottommost
of trays 14 is pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to base
12, and the topmost of trays 14 is pivotally attached to
advertising panel 16 by rivets 19. Pivotal attachment of trays 14
to each other and to base 12 may be accomplished by any suitable
attachment means, including hinges, perforated cardboard sheets, or
the like. Trays 14 are positioned to face in alternating
directions, such that when container 10 is in the display
configuration customers may view the products held in trays 14 from
opposite sides of container 10.
[0022] In the FIG. 1 example, base 12 is constructed from wood,
trays 14 and advertising panel 16 are constructed from cardboard,
and supports 18 are constructed from steel. Trays 14 are
substantially identical, which provides for reduced manufacturing
costs. Also, supports 18 are substantially identical, except for
the bottommost supports 18 which are shorter than the other
supports 18, so that the bottommost of trays 14 is at approximately
the same acute angle to the plane of base 12 as the other trays 14.
In the FIG. 1 example, each tray 14 is held at an angle of
approximately thirty degrees to the plane of base 12 with container
10 is in the display configuration, but it is to be understood that
trays 14 may be held at different angles in the display
configuration. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different
construction materials could be used depending on the length of
time container 10 is expected to be used and the expected weight of
the products (not shown) to be placed in trays 14, and trays 14 may
have different sizes and/or shapes depending on the products or
items to be shipped and displayed.
[0023] Container 10 is convertible between the display
configuration shown in FIG. 1 and a shipping configuration wherein
container 10 may be covered by a lid 11 which fits over base 12 and
trays 14, as shown in FIG. 2. Container 10 may be shipped with lid
11 held in place by packing straps or the like (not shown), and
with trays 14 packed with products or other items to be displayed
(not shown). In order to allow conversion of container 10 between
the display and shipping configurations, each support 18 comprises
a lower support arm 18A and an upper support arm 18B pivotally
connected to each other by a support hinge 20, as shown in FIGS. 3
to 8.
[0024] To convert container 10 from the shipping configuration to
the display configuration, a user first removes lid 11 and pivots
the bottommost tray 14 up from base 12, as shown in FIG. 3. The
user then moves the bottommost of supports 18 into a secured
position by securing support hinges 20, as described below with
reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Next, the user pivots the next lowest
tray 14 up from the bottommost tray 14 and secures support hinges
20 for the next lowest supports 18, as shown in FIG. 4. This
process is repeated for each tray 14, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and
then the user pivots advertising panel 16 into a vertical position,
as shown in FIG. 8. Once all supports 18 have been moved into the
secured position, container 10 has good stability and may be moved
by lifting from one of the middle trays 14. The above process may
be reversed to convert container 10 back into the shipping
configuration.
[0025] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate support 18 having a support hinge
20 in unsecured and secured positions, respectively. Support hinge
20 comprises a rivet 22 which pivotally connects lower support arm
18A and upper support arm 18B. In the illustrated example, a spring
button 24 is provided on lower support arm 18A and a corresponding
hole 26 is provided on upper support arm 18B. To move support 18
from the unsecured position shown in FIG. 9 to the secured position
shown in FIG. 10, the user depresses spring button 24 and applies
pressure to lower support arm 18A and upper support arm 18B as
indicated by arrows 28 until support 18 is straight and spring
button 24 is received in hole 26. To move support 18 back into the
unsecured position, the user pushes button 24 out of hole 26 and
pivots lower support arm 18A and upper support arm 18B relative to
each other.
[0026] FIG. 11 illustrates an example container 30 in a display
configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container
30 is similar to container 10 of FIGS. 1 to 10, except container 30
has tray frames 32 in place of trays 14 and does not have
advertising panel 16 (although it is to be understood that an
advertising panel 16 could be provided for the example of FIG. 11).
As shown in FIG. 14, each tray frame 32 comprises a flange 34 which
may be used to support a tray, bin or other product holding means.
The remaining elements of container 30 are the same as those of
container 10 and will not be described again to avoid unnecessary
repetition.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 12, each tray frame 32 comprises a pair of
side members 36 and a pair of end members 38. Side and end members
36 and 38 may be constructed from injection molded plastic. Each
side and end member 36 and 38 has a pair of holes 40 therethrough.
Tray frame 32 is formed by placing side members 36 within the
corners of end members 38 so that holes 40 line up, and inserting
rivets 19 of supports 18 through holes 40. All side members 36 may
be of identical construction. All end members 38 may also be of
identical construction.
[0028] FIGS. 13 and 15 illustrates an example of a tray hinge 50
according to one aspect of the invention. Each end member 38 has a
male hinge member 52 extending from a lower edge thereof and a
female hinge member 54 extending from an upper edge thereof. For
each tray frame 32, male hinge member 52 of one end member 38 is
received in female hinge member 54 of tray frame 32 below and
female hinge member 54 of the other end member 38 receives male
hinge member 52 of tray frame 32 above, except for the bottommost
and topmost tray frames 32. Male hinge member 52 of the bottommost
of tray frames 32 is received in a base hinge member 56 on base 12,
and female hinge member 54 of the topmost of tray frames 32 is
open.
[0029] FIG. 16 illustrates an example container 60 in a display
configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container
60 is similar to container 10 of FIGS. 1 to 10, except supports 62
of container 60 are not hinged, and container 60 does not have
advertising panel 16 (although it is to be understood that an
advertising panel 16 could be provided for the example of FIG. 16).
Supports 62 may be pivoted such that they are positioned parallel
to trays 14 when container 60 is in the shipping configuration. The
remaining elements of container 60 are the same as those of
container 10 and will not be described again to avoid unnecessary
repetition.
[0030] Each support 62 of the FIG. 16 example is connected to one
of trays 14 by a rivet 63 through an upper portion thereof. Each
support 62 comprises an upper connector 64 and a lower connector
66. Each support 62 may be moved into the secured position by
engaging its lower connector 66 with upper connector 64 of support
62 below, except for the bottommost pair of supports 62 and the
second bottommost pair of supports 62. The two bottommost pairs of
supports 62 may be moved into the secured position by engaging
lower connectors 66 thereof with suitable connectors (not shown) on
base 12, or by attaching the lower ends thereof to base 12 with
screws, nails or the like. It is to be understood that the method
of securing the two bottommost pairs of supports 62 to base 12 may
vary without departing from the spirit or scope of this aspect of
the invention.
[0031] One of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66 may comprise a
male connector, and the other may comprise a female connector.
Supports 62 may be held in the secured position by gravity when
connectors 64 and 66 are engaged. Alternatively, a locking
mechanism 68 may optionally be provided to secure connectors 64 and
66. As shown in FIG. 17, locking mechanism 68 may comprise a spring
button 70 in the male one of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66
and a correspondingly shaped hole 72 in the female one of upper and
lower connectors 64 and 66. A user may secure connectors 64 and 66
by depressing spring button 70 and inserting the male one of upper
and lower connectors 64 and 66 in the female one of upper and lower
connectors 64 and 66 until spring button 70 is received in hole
72.
[0032] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light
of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are
possible in the practice of this invention without departing from
the spirit or scope thereof. For example: [0033] Although the
illustrated example containers each comprise 5 trays, the number of
trays may vary from as few as 2 trays to as many trays as weight
and height constraints allow. [0034] Although the trays of the
illustrated example containers are each held at approximately the
same acute angle with respect to the plane of the base, the trays
may be at different angles with respect to the plane of the base.
[0035] The area and depth of each tray may vary. [0036] The
materials from which the containers are constructed may vary. For
example, in addition to cardboard and injection molded plastic, the
trays may be constructed from metal, wood, vacuum formed plastic,
extruded plastic, etc.
[0037] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have
been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize
certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations
thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended
claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include
all such modifications, permutations, additions and
sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
* * * * *