U.S. patent application number 11/732064 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-25 for pallet system for product display.
Invention is credited to David James Pedler.
Application Number | 20070246398 11/732064 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38618479 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070246398 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pedler; David James |
October 25, 2007 |
Pallet system for product display
Abstract
A pallet system for displaying products including a plurality of
trays (which may be stacked one to a level, two to a level or four
to a level), a tie sheet for securing the trays of a level
together, one or more graphics panels that display important and
useful product information and a pole cover for product
display.
Inventors: |
Pedler; David James;
(Kernersville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN S. PRATT - 38949;KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP
1100 PEACHTREE STREET
SUITE 2800
ATLANTA
GA
30309
US
|
Family ID: |
38618479 |
Appl. No.: |
11/732064 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60788263 |
Mar 31, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/745 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/112 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/745 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/22 20060101
B65D001/22 |
Claims
1. A pallet system for holding and displaying products, comprising:
(a) a plurality of pallet trays comprising at least a first pallet
tray stacked above a second pallet tray, wherein at least the
second pallet tray comprises a base, at least one back wall, and at
least two side walls, the back wall and side walls extending
generally vertically from the base to define an interior space for
holding and displaying products; and (b) at least one graphics
panel associated with the first and second pallet trays, wherein
the graphics panel is secured to the first pallet tray and
associated with the second pallet tray in a sliding manner, wherein
the graphics panel is not secured to the second pallet tray, and
wherein the graphics panel includes indicia related to the
products.
2. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
1, wherein the graphics panel is associated with the second pallet
tray in a sliding manner by a blade extending from a back side of
the graphics panel.
3. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
2, wherein the blade fits into a gap between the second pallet tray
and a third pallet tray to associate the graphics panel with the
second pallet tray in a sliding manner.
4. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
3, further comprising a capture tray; wherein a lower portion of
the graphics panel is positioned within the capture tray; and
wherein the second pallet tray is stacked in the capture tray.
5. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
4, wherein the capture tray comprises a planar base and at least
four walls extending generally vertically from the capture tray
planar base.
6. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
1, wherein the graphics panel is secured to the first pallet tray
by the interaction of a tab with a slot.
7. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
6, wherein the tab extends from the graphics panel and the slot is
formed in the first pallet tray.
8. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
6, wherein the graphics panel is associated with the second pallet
tray in a sliding manner by a blade extending from a back side of
the graphics panel.
9. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
1, wherein the second pallet tray back wall and side walls comprise
top surfaces; and wherein the top surfaces of the second pallet
tray back wall and side walls are substantially level.
10. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
9, wherein the top surfaces of the second pallet tray back wall and
side walls comprise mitered corners.
11. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
1, wherein the second pallet tray comprises a plurality of products
held and displayed within the interior space of the second pallet
tray.
12. A pallet system for holding and displaying products,
comprising: (a) a plurality of pallet trays comprising at least a
first level and a second level of pallet trays, the first and
second levels of pallet trays each comprising at least two pallet
trays, wherein the first level of pallet trays are positioned above
the second level of pallet trays, and wherein at least one of the
pallet trays comprises a base, at least one back wall, and at least
two side walls, the back wall and side walls extending generally
vertically from the base to define an interior space for holding
and displaying products; and (b) at least one tie sheet, the tie
sheet positioned above the second level of pallet trays and below
the first level of pallet trays, wherein the tie sheet is secured
to the first and second level of pallet trays, and wherein the
second level of pallet trays is at least indirectly secured to the
first level of pallet trays.
13. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
12, wherein a plurality of slots and tabs facilitate securing the
tie sheet to the first and second level of pallet trays and at
least indirectly securing the second level of pallet trays to the
first level of pallet trays.
14. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
13, wherein the tabs comprise a plurality of tabs extending
downwardly from the tie sheet; wherein the slots comprise slots
formed in upper surfaces of the at least two pallet trays of the
second level of pallet trays; and wherein the tabs extending
downwardly from the tie sheet engage the slots formed in the upper
surfaces of the at least two pallet trays of the second level of
pallet trays.
15. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
14, wherein the tabs further comprise a plurality of tabs extending
downwardly from the at least two pallet trays of the first level of
pallet trays; and wherein the tabs extending downwardly from the
first level of pallet trays also engage the slots formed in the
upper surfaces of the at least two pallet trays of the second level
of pallet trays.
16. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
12, wherein the tie sheet locks the pallet trays of the first level
of pallet trays together.
17. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
16, wherein the tie sheet locks the pallet trays of the first and
second levels of pallet trays together.
18. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
12, wherein the back wall and side walls of the at least one pallet
tray comprise top surfaces; and wherein the top surfaces of the
back wall and side walls are substantially level.
19. The pallet system for holding and displaying products of claim
18, wherein the top surfaces comprise mitered corners.
20. A pallet system for holding and displaying products,
comprising: (a) a plurality of pallet trays comprising at least a
first level and a second level of pallet trays, wherein the first
level of pallet trays are positioned above the second level of
pallet trays, wherein each level comprises at least two pallet
trays, wherein the first level comprises a first pallet tray and
the second level comprises a second pallet tray, wherein the first
pallet tray is stacked above the second pallet tray, wherein at
least the second pallet tray comprises a base, at least one back
wall, and at least two side walls, the back wall and side walls
extending generally vertically from the base to define an interior
space for holding and displaying products; (b) at least one
graphics panel associated with the first and second pallet trays,
wherein the graphics panel is secured to the first pallet tray and
associated with the second pallet tray in a sliding manner, wherein
the graphics panel is not secured to the second pallet tray, and
wherein the graphics panel includes indicia related to the
products; and (c) at least one tie sheet, the tie sheet positioned
above the second level of pallet trays and below the first level of
pallet trays, wherein the tie sheet is secured to the first and
second level of pallet trays, and wherein the first level of pallet
trays is at least indirectly secured to the second level of pallet
trays; wherein the back wall and side walls of the second pallet
tray define top surfaces; and wherein the top surfaces of the back
wall and side walls are substantially level.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Serial Application No. 60/788,263, filed Mar. 31, 2006 and entitled
"Improved Pallet System for Product Display," the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by this reference.
RELATED FIELDS
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a pallet
system for displaying products.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Pallet systems that house and display products in retail
stores or the like at the point of sale are well known. Retailers
use such systems to reduce the costs of shipping, stocking and
displaying products with such costs-savings being passed on to the
consumer. Retail pallet systems are generally made of flat
paperboard or corrugated board that can be folded or assembled into
free standing structures with trays with planar bases and panels.
The folding of the panels is made possible through the use of
pre-manufactured score lines or separation lines along the
paperboard or corrugated board.
[0004] Pallet systems generally have a plurality of planar tiers
with a plurality of compartments or dividers. Each planar tier or
compartment may hold a plurality of products for display to
customers in retail stores or warehouses. In many cases, the planar
tiers of the pallet system are only held together by their own
weight, glue, or by interlocking notches or slots in the tiers or
compartments. Because of the number of panels associated with
forming pallets, it is often difficult to form pallets uniformly,
making formation very cumbersome. Additionally, many of the
available pallet systems are unattractive and may negatively impact
consumer purchasing decisions.
[0005] Retailers may also desire that their pallet systems have an
appearance that attracts customers to the display, thereby
increasing the chances of purchase. For instance, some pallet
systems may include graphics panels to indicate to the consumer the
nature of the products displayed in the pallet or to attract
customers to the displayed product. Typically, these graphics
panels have been glued, stapled or otherwise directly affixed to
the product trays. In use, the trays may settle or compact somewhat
due to the weight of the trays and products. Problematically, as
the trays settle or compact, the graphics panel may become bent,
distorted, or otherwise damaged.
[0006] Another problem with some pallet systems is that the product
trays used with them do not allow for level stacking, which may
also cause the display to be less visually attractive. The top
edges of a typical pallet tray are not level with one another. For
instance, the tray back is often formed by folding the portions of
the blank corrugated board forming the back of the tray over
portions of the blank board forming the sides. Because the back
portions are folded over the sides, the backs of typical trays
extend slightly higher on the sides and front of the trays.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention generally include
pallet systems for holding and displaying products. In some
embodiments of the invention, the pallet system may include a
number of pallet trays (which may be stacked one to a level, two to
a level, four to a level, or in other arrangements), a tie sheet
for securing the trays of a level together, and one or more
graphics panels that display information related to the product
held and displayed in the pallet system, or other types of
graphics. The pallet system may also have a number of additional
features generally intended to give it an attractive appearance at
the point of sale and to increase its durability.
[0008] In certain embodiments of the invention, a pallet system
tray may include top surfaces that are level with one another. For
instance, the tray may include top surfaces of the tray sides and
backs that abut one another to define a level surface to stack
additional trays on. In some embodiments, these top surfaces may be
joined at a miter joint.
[0009] In these or other embodiments, the pallet system may also
include a tie sheet to facilitate orderly stacking of the trays
and/or prevent the trays from spreading apart from one another
after being stacked. In some embodiments, the tie sheet may include
tabs and/or slots that interact with tabs and/or slots on the
pallet system trays to lock them together.
[0010] In these or other embodiments, the pallet system may also
include a graphics panel that may not distort or otherwise become
damaged as the pallet trays settle. For instance, in some
embodiments, the graphics panel is only secured to the topmost
trays of the pallet and can move independently of the lower trays,
such that graphics panel will "float" with respect to the other
trays and not become distorted as the pallet settles or compresses
due to the weight of the displayed items. In some embodiments, the
graphics panels may be secured to the topmost trays by the
interaction of a tab with a slot. The graphics panel may also
include a blade that aligns the graphics panel with respect to the
lower trays, yet allows the graphics panel to slide with respect to
those trays as they settle or compact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a top view of a blank for a pallet tray in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pallet tray assembled from
the blank shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of a blank for a capture tray in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a capture tray assembled
from the blank shown in FIG. 3.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pallet tray of FIG. 2
being positioned in a capture tray of FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of several pallet trays of FIG.
2 positioned in a capture tray of FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a top view of a blank for a tie sheet in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tie sheet of FIG. 7,
shown with its tabs pushed out.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tie sheet of FIG. 7
being assembled with the portion of the pallet system shown in FIG.
6.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another pallet tray being
added to the pallet system shown in FIG. 9.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of pallet tray being
positioned in a capture tray in accordance with other embodiments
of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a tie sheet being assembled
onto a portion of a pallet system in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an another pallet tray
being added to the pallet system shown in FIG. 12.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a top view of a blank for a graphics panel in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a graphics panel assembled
from the blank shown in FIG. 14.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the graphics panel of FIG.
15 being associated with a pallet system in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the graphics panel of FIG.
14 associated with the pallet system shown in FIG. 16.
[0028] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a graphics panel being
associated with a pallet system in accordance with some embodiments
of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 19 is another perspective view of the graphics panel
being associated with a pallet system as shown in FIG. 18.
[0030] FIG. 20 is a top view of a blank for a pole cover in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a pole cover assembled from
the blank shown in FIG. 20.
[0032] FIG. 22 is a top view of a blank for a riser in accordance
with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a riser formed from the
blank shown in FIG. 22.
[0034] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the riser and pole cover of
FIGS. 21 and 23 being assembled to a pallet system in accordance
with some embodiments of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 25 is a perspective view after the riser and pole cover
have been assembled to the pallet system of FIG. 24.
[0036] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a riser being assembled to
a pallet system in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 27 is a perspective view after the riser has been
assembled to the pallet system of FIG. 26.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a blank 10 for a pallet tray 30 in accordance
with some embodiments of the present invention. The blank 10 may be
formed by cutting a sheet of material, such as corrugated board,
solid fiberboard, heavy paperboard, heavy plastic sheet, or other
materials, and also perforating the blank with score lines 31. The
blank 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a planar base 32, a back panel
38, a top back panel 40, opposing inner side panels 44, L-shaped
top dust panels 50, opposing outer side panels 54, top side panels
46, side top flap panels 58, front panel 60, and opposing front
dust flaps 62. Blanks for pallet trays having other configurations
are also possible and within the scope of the present
invention.
[0039] The pallet tray 30 shown in FIG. 2 may be assembled from the
blank 10 shown in FIG. 1 by vertically folding the top back panel
40 of the blank 10 along its associated score lines 31 and
inserting tabs 42 into slots 34. Next, the opposing inner side
panels 44 may be inwardly folded along their associated score lines
31 and the L-shaped dust panels 50 may be inwardly folded along
their score lines 31. Back panel 38 may then be folded into an
upright position along the score line 31 separating it from planar
base 32.
[0040] Subsequently, the outer side panels 54 may be folded into an
upright position along the score lines 31 separating them from the
planar base 32 and the top flaps 46 may be folded over the inner
side panels 44. The tabs 42 on the top flap 46 may be inserted into
the slots 34 on the inner side panels 44 to secure the top flaps 46
to the inner side panels 44. Next, the side dust panels 62 may be
folded inwardly and the side top flap panels may be folded down
with their associated tabs 42 tucked into slots 34.
[0041] Subsequently, the front panel 60 may be folded upright over
the side dust panels 62 with the left and right sides of the front
panel flexing as they are folded over the score lines 31. The front
panel 60 may be secured by inserting its associated tabs 42 into
the slots 34. Finally, the tabs 36 on the base 32 may be pushed
downward so that they extend beneath the base 32.
[0042] Other methods may also be employed to assemble pallet trays
in accordance with the present invention.
[0043] The pallet tray 30 shown in FIG. 2 includes top surfaces 200
that are level with one another to facilitate stacking additional
pallet trays on top in a stable manner. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2, the top surfaces 200 are joined at mitered corners 33,
i.e., beveled at a 45-degree angle to form a 90-degree corners. In
other embodiments, it is not necessary for the pallet tray 30 to
include mitered corners or other level top surfaces.
[0044] In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2,
the pallet tray 30 includes apertures 56 to assist in lifting and
moving the pallet tray.
[0045] FIG. 3 shows a blank 11 used to form the capture tray 64
shown in FIG. 4. Like the blank 10 for the pallet tray 30, blank 11
may be formed by cutting a sheet of material and perforating it
with score lines 31. The blank 11 shown includes a planar base,
four side panels 68, and four dust panels 70. Capture tray 64 may
be formed from blank 11 by folding the dust flaps inwardly and
folding side panels 68 upright to insert tabs 42 into slots 34. In
some embodiments, once capture tray 64 is formed, it may be
centered and secured on a pallet (not shown) with a pneumatic
staple gun, glue, nails, rivets or in some other manner. Blanks for
forming capture trays having other configurations are also possible
and within the scope of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 6 shows one way to position a level of pallet trays 30
into a capture tray 64. In this embodiment, the pallet trays 30 are
shown in one type of X4 configuration (e.g., a configuration that
includes 4 pallet trays per level), although other X4
configurations may also be possible and within the scope of the
present invention. FIG. 6 also shows that dividers 72 may
optionally be positioned inside of pallet trays 30.
[0047] FIG. 7 shows a blank 12 used to form the tie sheet 80 shown
in FIG. 8. Blank 12 may be made in similar manners and from similar
materials as blanks 10 and 11, although in other embodiments, the
blanks 10, 11, and 12 may be made from different materials. The
blank 12 shown in FIG. 7 includes a pole opening 82, rectangular
shaped notches 84, and perimeter and interior tabs 42. Pushing the
tabs outwardly (as shown in FIG. 8) forms additional slots in the
tie sheet 80. Blanks for forming tie sheets of other configurations
are also possible and within the scope of the present
invention.
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 9, tie sheet 80 may be placed on top
of the pallet trays 30 and the tabs 42 may be inserted into
corresponding slots 34 in the trays 30 to secure the tie sheet 80
in place and fix the positions of the pallet trays 30 with respect
to one another. FIG. 10 shows how additional levels of pallet trays
30 may be placed onto the tie sheet 80 with the tabs 42 fitting
through slots or notches in the tie sheet (or around the edge of
the tie sheet) and into the slots 34 of the lower level of pallet
trays 30. Thus, in some embodiments, including the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the slots 34 in the lower level of pallet
trays 30 are sized to receive both the tabs 42 of the tie sheet 80
and the tabs 42 of the upper level of pallet trays 30. In other
embodiments, however, the tie sheet and/or pallet trays may be
secured to the lower level of pallet trays in another manner.
[0049] FIGS. 11-13 illustrate the use of a tie sheet 80 in
conjunction with a pallet system having a X2 configuration.(e.g. a
pallet system that includes two pallet trays per level).
[0050] FIG. 14 shows a blank 13 used to form the graphics panel 90
shown in FIG. 15. Blank 13 may be made in similar manners and from
similar materials as blanks 10, 11, and 12, although in other
embodiments, the blanks 10-13 may be made from different materials.
Blank 13 includes a central panel 92, two side opposing panels 94,
dust panels 96, locking tabs 98, top side panel 100 and top tab
102. The graphics panel 90 may be formed by folding the various
portions of blank 13 over score lines 31.
[0051] FIGS. 16-17 show a graphics panel 90 being associated with a
pallet system in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention. The graphics panel 90 may be secured to a topmost pallet
tray 30 by inserting the tab 42 of the graphics panel 90 into a
slot 34 of the pallet tray. The blade 102 of the graphics panel 90
may be inserted into a gap between the sides and backs of the
pallet trays 30 such that the graphics panel will slide with
respect to the pallet trays 30 that are not the topmost pallet
tray. A lower portion of the graphics panel 90 may be inserted into
the capture tray 64 to help further retain the graphics panel 90.
FIGS. 18-19 show an alternative method for associating graphics
panels 90 with a pallet system that does not involve a graphics
panel blade 102 like the one shown in FIG. 15. Rather, the graphics
panel 90 shown in FIGS. 18-19 fits over the edges of the pallet
trays 30. Graphics panels 90 may also be associated with pallet
systems in other manners that are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0052] FIG. 20 shows a blank 14 used to form the pole cover 110
shown in FIG. 21. The blank 14 shown in FIG. 20 may be formed from
similar, or different, materials, and in similar, or different,
manners as the blanks discussed above. Like the blanks discussed
above, blank 14 may be folded along score lines 31 to form the pole
cover shown in FIG. 21. The blank 14 includes a planar base 112
with two opposing sectional tubes 114 with square openings (shown
in FIG. 21), two opposing side panels 116 with notches 118, pole
opening 120, and rectangular slots 122. On formation, the two
opposing sectional tubes 114 are racked up to a square position and
secured in place by tabs 42, and the opposing side panels 116 are
folded down. In some embodiments of the present invention, other
pole cover configurations may be used, or, in still other
embodiments, no pole cover is necessary.
[0053] FIGS. 22 and 23 show a blank 15 and the riser 130 that may
be formed from it, which may optionally be used in conjunction with
some pallet systems of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 24
and 25, the riser 130 may be secured to the pole cover 110, which
may positioned near or at the top of the pallet display. In other
embodiments, a sign on a pole may be associated with the pole cover
110. As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the riser may be directly
associated with the rest of the pallet display in some embodiments,
and pole cover 110 is not always necessary.
[0054] Changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and
deletions may be made to the structures, methods and concepts
described above without departing from the scope or spirit of the
present invention.
* * * * *