U.S. patent application number 11/465286 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for display package with extending trays.
Invention is credited to Richard Charles Thibault, Steve R. Young.
Application Number | 20080060975 11/465286 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39168491 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080060975 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young; Steve R. ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
Display Package with Extending Trays
Abstract
A display package having a housing containing a plurality of
slidably engaged trays that are selectively extended from or
retracted into the housing by a linkage assembly comprising a
rotatable drive wheel, and a plurality of drive arms each rotatably
connected to the drive wheel and to an associated tray through an
elongated guide slot in a divider adjacent to each drive arm, the
elongated guide slot being generally parallel to the direction in
which extension or retraction of the associated tray is desired,
with the length of the elongated guide slot limiting the rotation
of the drive wheel.
Inventors: |
Young; Steve R.; (Plano,
TX) ; Thibault; Richard Charles; (Broomall,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP;Attn: Michael Ritchie, Docketing
2200 Ross Avenue, Suite # 2200
DALLAS
TX
75201-6776
US
|
Family ID: |
39168491 |
Appl. No.: |
11/465286 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/745 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2301/20 20130101;
B65D 11/12 20130101; B65D 5/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/745 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/22 20060101
B65D001/22 |
Claims
1. A display package comprising a housing having a plurality of
openings and a plurality of trays that are slidably engaged in the
openings and are selectively extended from or retracted into the
housing at the same time by a linkage assembly comprising a drive
wheel, and a plurality of drive arms each rotatably connected to
the drive wheel and to an associated tray through an elongated
guide slot in a divider disposed adjacent to the drive arm, the
elongated guide slot being disposed parallel to the direction in
which extension or retraction of the associated tray is
desired.
2. The package of claim 1 wherein the trays slide outwardly from
the housing in different directions in substantially parallel
horizontal planes.
3. The package of claim 1 wherein the trays slide outwardly from
the housing in different directions in substantially the same
horizontal plane.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein the housing, trays and linkage
assembly are made from materials selected from the group consisting
of paperboard and plastic sheet materials.
5. The package of claim 1 wherein the housing, trays and linkage
assembly are all manually assembled.
6. The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the trays
comprises a compartment having a cover.
7. The package of claim 1 wherein each drive arm comprises two ends
with oppositely extending, transverse cylindrical projections.
8. The package of claim 7 wherein one projection frictionally
engages a cooperatively shaped aperture in the drive wheel.
9. The package of claim 7 wherein one projection extends through an
elongated guide slot and frictionally engages an aperture in a tab
attached to the associated tray.
10. The package of claim 7 wherein one projection extends through
an elongated guide slot and frictionally engages an aperture in the
associated tray.
11. A product display package comprising a housing having a
plurality of slidably engaged trays linked together so that sliding
movement of one tray outwardly from the housing in a first
direction causes one or more other trays to slide outwardly from
the housing in one or more other directions, and so that movement
of one extended tray back into the housing causes simultaneous
retraction of one or more other extended trays into the housing, a
plurality of the trays being linked together by a linkage assembly
disposed between them inside the housing, the linkage assembly
comprising a rotatably mounted drive wheel having a range of travel
limited by the length of an elongated guide slot in a divider
disposed inside the housing.
12. The package of claim 11 wherein the trays slide outwardly from
the housing in different directions in substantially parallel
horizontal planes.
13. The package of claim 11 wherein the trays slide outwardly from
the housing in different directions in substantially the same
horizontal plane.
14. The package of claim 11 wherein the housing, trays and linkage
assembly are made from materials selected from the group consisting
of paperboard and plastic sheet materials.
15. The package of claim 11 wherein the housing, trays and linkage
assembly are all manually assembled.
16. The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the trays
comprises a compartment having a cover.
17. The package of claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly comprises a
plurality of drive arms, each drive arm comprising two ends with
oppositely extending transverse projections.
18. The package of claim 17 wherein one projection frictionally
engages a cooperatively shaped aperture in the drive wheel.
19. The package of claim 17 wherein one projection extends through
the elongated guide slot and frictionally engages an aperture in a
tab attached to an associated tray.
20. The package of claim 17 wherein one projection extends through
an elongated guide slot and frictionally engages an aperture in an
associated tray.
21. A product display package comprising a housing, most preferably
in the form of a sleeve; a divider defining substantially parallel,
vertically spaced upper and lower receptacles inside the housing;
upper and lower trays that are slidably engaged inside the upper
and lower receptacles, respectively; and a linkage assembly
disposed between the upper and lower trays, the linkage assembly
producing simultaneous movement of both trays whenever either tray
is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing, the linkage
assembly comprising a drive wheel that is rotatable for a
predetermined distance in either rotational direction, two drive
arms disposed on opposite sides of the drive wheel, each drive arm
having one end rotatably connected to the drive wheel and another
end comprising a projection aligned with and projecting through a
guide slot disposed between the drive wheel and one of the upper
and lower trays, the projection also being rotatably connected to a
tray tab attached in fixed relation to said tray.
22. The package of claim 21 wherein the trays slide outwardly from
the housing in different directions in substantially parallel
horizontal planes.
23. The package of claim 21 wherein the housing, trays and linkage
assembly are made from materials selected from the group consisting
of paperboard and plastic sheet materials.
24. The package of claim 21 wherein the housing, trays and linkage
assembly are all manually assembled.
25. The package of claim 21 wherein at least one of the trays
comprises a compartment having a cover.
26. A product display package comprising a housing having a
plurality of receptacles lying in substantially the same horizontal
plane but facing in different directions; a plurality of trays,
with one tray being slidably engageable with each receptacle in the
same horizontal plane; and a linkage assembly producing
simultaneous movement of all trays whenever any tray is moved
outwardly from, or back into, the housing, whereby manual movement
of any tray outwardly from the housing simultaneously causes the
other trays to extend outwardly from the housing in different
directions, and manual movement of any tray back into the housing
causes the other trays to retract back into the housing
simultaneously.
27. A product display package comprising a housing; a divider
defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles inside
the housing, with at least two of the receptacles lying in the same
horizontal plane and at least one of the receptacles being
vertically spaced apart from, but substantially parallel to, at
least one other receptacle; a plurality of trays, with one tray
being slidably engageable inside each receptacle; and a linkage
assembly producing simultaneous movement of a plurality of the
trays whenever another tray is moved outwardly from, or back into,
the housing.
28. A product display package comprising a housing; a divider
defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles lying in
different horizontal planes inside the housing; a plurality of
trays, with one tray being slidably engageable inside each
receptacle; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement
of a plurality of the trays whenever another tray is moved
outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
29. A linkage assembly for use in a product display package, the
assembly comprising at least one rotatably mounted drive wheel; at
least one divider substantially parallel to and facing a surface of
the drive wheel, the divider comprising at least one elongated
guide slot; at least two drive arms, each drive arm disposed
between a surface of a drive wheel and a divider, and having one
end rotatably connected to the drive wheel and a second end having
a projection extending transversely through, and rotatable within,
an elongated guide slot.
30. The linkage assembly of claim 21 wherein the projection
extending through the elongated slot rotatably engages a tray tab
disposed on a side of the divider that is opposite to the drive
arm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a package that can be fabricated
from various combinations of paperboard, plastic sheet and/or
metal, the package having a housing and at least two trays, drawers
or display panels (all of which, singularly and collectively, are
referred to herein as "trays") slidably engaging the housing. At
least two of the trays are preferably interconnected by a linkage
disposed between them inside the housing in such manner that
sliding one of the trays partially out of the housing in one
direction simultaneously causes a second tray to slide partially
out of the housing in a different direction. The trays can be
configured to receive and selectively store or display products,
product manuals, promotional materials, and the like.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,789,773 and 6,953,177 disclose devices with
a housing containing a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism for
selectively extending and retracting a promotional panel in
response to movement of a spring-biased support member. Extension
of the promotional panel in a direction either transverse or
parallel and opposite to the direction of movement of the support
member are disclosed.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,265 discloses an advertising/promotional
product with a housing containing an endless band mechanism for
selectively extending and retracting display panels or a display
member/carrier in opposite directions. FIG. 7 discloses a
three-part display panel extendable from one end of the housing.
The two side sections rotate gravitationally away from each other
upon exiting the housing, but rotate back into axial alignment with
the housing during retraction. The display member/carrier can be
constructed for containing any desired product or advertising
material.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,700 discloses a package with a tubular
housing containing a product tray, a divider, a drive belt passing
around the divider, and a pull-out tab member that, when pulled,
causes the tray to extend from the housing in a direction parallel
and opposite to the tab member. The drive belt is typically a strip
of plastic film whose ends are fastened to each other form a
continuous loop. The tray and tab member are bonded to the loop.
The tab member can be replaced by a second tray that extends
oppositely to the first tray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, a display
package is disclosed herein that comprises a housing containing a
plurality of slidably engaged trays that are selectively extended
from or retracted into openings in the housing by a linkage
assembly comprising a drive wheel, and a plurality of drive arms
each rotatably connected to the drive wheel and to an associated
tray through an elongated guide slot in a divider disposed adjacent
to the drive arm, the elongated guide slot being disposed parallel
to the direction in which extension or retraction of the associated
tray is desired.
[0008] According to another embodiment of the invention, a product
display package is disclosed herein that preferably includes a
housing having a plurality of slidably engaged trays that are
linked in such manner that sliding one tray outwardly from the
housing in a first direction also causes one or more other trays to
slide outwardly from the housing in one or more other directions.
Conversely, movement of one extended tray back into the housing
causes simultaneous retraction of one or more other extended trays
into the housing. A linkage assembly connecting the trays is
preferably disposed between them inside the housing and is easily
adaptable to cause the trays to extend from the housing in
different radial directions along axes disposed in the same or
parallel planes. Thus, for example, the linkage assembly can be
made to cause a second tray to extend from the housing in a
different predetermined radial direction ranging from less than 90
degrees up to more than 270 degrees from the direction of extension
of the first tray, provided that the housing is also configured to
permit such extension in the desired directions. The subject
display package is preferably fabricated and assembled with parts
made from die-cut paperboard and plastic sheet material, although
portions of the linkage assembly are preferably thermoformed from
plastic sheet, and metal parts can also be utilized in making the
packages of the invention.
[0009] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing,
most preferably in the form of a sleeve; a divider defining
substantially parallel, vertically spaced upper and lower
receptacles inside the housing; upper and lower trays that are
slidably engageable inside the upper and lower receptacles,
respectively; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous
movement of both trays whenever either tray is moved outwardly
from, or back into, the housing. Manual movement of either tray
outwardly from the housing simultaneously causes the other tray to
extend outwardly from the housing in a different direction.
Conversely, manual movement of either tray back into the housing
causes the other tray to retract back into the housing
simultaneously.
[0010] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing
having a plurality of receptacles lying in substantially the same
horizontal plane but facing in different radial directions relative
to the center of the housing; a plurality of trays, with one tray
being slidably engageable with each receptacle in the same
horizontal plane; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous
movement of all trays whenever any tray is moved outwardly from, or
back into, the housing. Manual movement of any tray outwardly from
the housing simultaneously causes the other trays to extend
outwardly from the housing in different directions. Conversely,
manual movement of any tray back into the housing causes the other
trays to retract back into the housing simultaneously.
[0011] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing; a
divider defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles
inside the housing, with at least two of the receptacles lying in
the same horizontal plane and at least one of the receptacles being
vertically spaced apart from, but substantially parallel to, at
least one other receptacle; a plurality of trays, with one tray
being slidably engageable inside each receptacle; and a linkage
assembly producing simultaneous movement of a plurality of the
trays whenever another tray is moved outwardly from, or back into,
the housing.
[0012] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing; a
divider defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles
lying in different horizontal planes inside the housing; a
plurality of trays, with one tray being slidably engageable inside
each receptacle; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous
movement of a plurality of the trays whenever another tray is moved
outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a linkage assembly is disclosed for use in the display packages of
the invention that comprises at least one rotatably mounted drive
wheel; at least one divider substantially parallel to and facing a
surface of the drive wheel, and comprising at least one elongated
guide slot; at least two drive arms, each drive arm disposed
between a surface of a drive wheel and a divider, and having one
end rotatably connected to the drive wheel and a second end having
a projection extending transversely through, and rotatable within,
an elongated guide slot. A portion of the transverse projection
extending through the elongated guide slot preferably frictionally
engages a tray tab, the tray tab being attachable to a tray.
[0014] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
a product display package is disclosed herein that comprises a
plurality of interconnected trays, at least one of trays further
comprising a compartment having a cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The apparatus of the invention is further described and
explained in relation to the following drawings wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a bottom rear perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the display package of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of the display
package of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display package of FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the upper tray of the
display package of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the lower tray of the
display package of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded bottom rear perspective view of the
trays and linkage assembly of FIG. 3, showing the linkage assembly
further exploded into its component parts;
[0022] FIG. 7 is plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in
forming sleeve 12 as shown in FIG. 3;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use
in forming upper tray 14 as shown in FIG. 4;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use
in forming lower tray 16 as shown in FIG. 5;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use
in forming the spaced-apart upper and lower dividers of FIG. 6;
[0026] FIG. 11 is an enlarged top perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of a drive arm of FIG. 6;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the drive arm
of FIG. 11;
[0028] FIG. 13 is an enlarged top perspective view of the drive
wheel mounting hub of FIG. 6;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the display package
of FIGS. 1 and 2, with both the upper and lower trays extended
simultaneously and with a cover over a compartment in the upper
tray shown in dashed outline in a partially raised position;
and
[0030] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of another preferred display
package of the invention wherein four trays lying in the same
horizontal plane are linked to one rotatably mounted drive wheel
that causes all four trays to extend outwardly in different
directions or retract inwardly into a housing whenever one of the
trays is manually extended or retracted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, display package 10 preferably comprises
housing 12 containing upper tray 14, lower tray 16, and combined
divider and linkage assembly 18 disposed between them. As shown in
this embodiment, housing 12 is preferably made in the form of a
sleeve that is constructed from a die-cut blank as shown in FIG. 7.
Upper tray 14 is also preferably made from a die-cut blank as shown
in FIG. 8, and is assembled by folding. Referring to FIG. 4, upper
tray 14 further comprises an interior compartment 24 surrounded by
a bottom, side walls 20 and hinged cover 26, which can be raised to
the position illustrated by dashed line 22 when slidably extended
from housing 12 as shown in FIG. 14. Aperture 28, visible in FIG.
3, is desirably provided on the bottom of upper tray 14 to
facilitate alignment and engagement with combined divider and
linkage assembly 18.
[0032] Lower tray 16 is preferably made from a die-cut blank as
shown in FIG. 9, and is also assembled by folding. Referring to
FIG. 5, lower tray 16 further comprises recess 32 and an aperture
30 located on the top surface to facilitate alignment and
engagement with combined divider and linkage assembly 18. The
combined divider and linkage assembly 18 is preferably
preassembled, after which upper tray 14 and lower tray 16 are
attached as described below in relation to FIG. 6. Housing 12, in
partially pre-folded form, is wrapped around the assembled trays
14, 16 and combined divider and linkage assembly, and then sealed
to form package 10 as seen in FIGS. I and 2. When fully assembled,
display package 10 has the configuration of a rectangular box.
However, when upper tray 14 is manually grasped at the sides using
indentations 15 in the sides of housing 12 and is pulled outwardly,
lower tray 16 simultaneously extends rearwardly from housing 12 due
to the engagement of both trays with the linkage assembly as
further described below. Conversely, if either of trays 14, 16 is
then pushed manually back into housing 12, the other tray is
simultaneously retracted into housing 12 by the linkage
assembly.
[0033] Although trays 14, 16 are disclosed in relation to this
embodiment as having a covered interior compartment and an open
recess, respectively, it should be appreciated that the shape and
configuration of trays suitable for use in the invention can vary
greatly, depending upon factors such as, for example, the
configuration of the housing, the materials of construction, and
the intended use. For example, display packages embodying aspects
of the invention can be made with substantially flat trays or with
relatively deep drawers to accommodate various sized products or
manuals, or made with solid trays and substantially flat surfaces
for displaying promotional materials, and the like, or with any
combination of such styles.
[0034] Also, while it will be appreciated upon reading the
disclosure that various synthetic and naturally occurring materials
can be used in constructing parts of the display packages of the
invention, die-cut sheets of paperboard are preferred for use in
making housing 12 and trays 14, 16 as described in relation to
FIGS. 1-9 and 14, and die-cut sheets of rigid but foldable plastic
are preferred for use in making combined divider and linkage
assembly 18 as shown in FIG. 3 and as further described in relation
to FIG. 6. It should also be understood that some parts as
described below are preferably made by thermoforming plastic sheet
into a desired configuration, although many such parts can also be
made using other polymeric materials or metals, or by other
manufacturing methods such as injection molding, stamping, or the
like.
[0035] Where it is desirable to secure overlapping surfaces of
paperboard, plastic or other materials, conventional, commercially
available tapes, adhesives, fasteners and welding processes well
known to those of skill in the art can also be used if desired to
assemble portions of display packages made in accordance with the
invention. Similarly, where one or more parts are to be rotatably
connected, or slidably or frictionally engaged, other known and
commercially available connecting devices can likewise be
substituted for parts disclosed and described herein provided that
the substitution of such parts is not otherwise contrary to the
teachings of this specification regarding the structural,
functional and operational requirements of this invention.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, combined divider and linkage assembly
18 desirably separate the interior of housing 12 into upper and
lower receptacles having sufficient interior volume to receive
upper and lower trays 14, 16, respectively, inside housing 12. Each
tray is slidably engageable with its respective receptacle and is
also engaged with the linkage assembly by means of apertures 28,
30, into which projections 66, 46 (FIG. 6) of the linkage assembly
extend, and by means of tray tabs 42, 82 (FIG. 6) that frictionally
engage projections 66, 46 and are attachable to the trays using
double-sided tape, adhesive, or other similarly effective materials
or devices.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 6, the divider portion of combined divider
and linkage assembly 18 preferably comprises upper and lower guide
platforms 60, 34, respectively that are spaced-apart and
substantially parallel. The divider is preferably formed from a
die-cut blank of foldable plastic sheet material having a
configuration as shown in FIG. 10 wherein upper and lower guide
platforms 60, 34 are joined by a narrow rectangular section 88
having long sides defined by two parallel fold lines. The vertical
spacing between upper and lower guide platforms 60, 34 in FIG. 6 is
determined by the width of rectangular section 88 and by a
like-sized section 90 disposed inwardly of foldable tab 91 on the
opposite side of upper guide platform 60. Referring to FIGS. 6 and
10, foldable tabs 68, 70, 72 and 74 of upper guide platform 60 and
foldable tables 38, 39, 40 and 41 of lower guide platform 34 are
desirably provided to properly position the divider inside the
package housing (FIG. 3) and thereby define receptacles within
which trays 14, 16 can be slidably engaged. Referring again to FIG.
10, foldable tab 91, which is broken away in FIG. 6, is preferably
secured by tape, adhesive or similarly effective means to the
upwardly facing surface of lower guide platform 34 following
installation of drive wheel 50 and drive arms 76, 44 between upper
and lower guide platforms 60, 34, respectively.
[0038] Each guide platform comprises an elongate guide slot 62, 36,
that, following assembly of display package 10, is parallel to the
desired direction of travel of the nearest adjacent tray and is
positioned to facilitate extension of the associated tray outwardly
from housing 12, as shown in FIG. 14, without allowing the tray to
disengage from combined divider and linkage mechanism 18 (FIG. 3).
The length of guide slots 62, 36 determines the range of travel of
upper and lower trays 14,16, respectively.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 6, a preferred linkage assembly comprises
drive wheel 50 that is rotatably mounted between upper and lower
guide platforms 60, 34, and can rotate in either direction as
indicated by arrow 58. One satisfactory means for rotatably
mounting drive wheel 50 between upper and lower guide platforms is
by use of mounting cap 80, visible in FIGS. 6 and 13, that
comprises an annular flange portion and a transversely projecting
cylindrical portion 82 that is insertable downwardly through a
cooperatively sized and shaped aperture 64 in the middle of upper
guide platform 60 and through a similar aperture 52 in the center
of drive wheel 50. Frictional engagement between mounting cap 80
and apertures 64, 52 is preferably sufficient to hold mounting cap
80 in position relative to upper guide platform 60 and drive wheel
50 without overly restricting the rotational motion of drive wheel
50 between upper and lower guide platforms 60, 34.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 6, drive wheel 50 is preferably linked to
upper and lower trays 14, 16 by drive arms 76, 44 that cooperate
with guide slots 62, 36 to convert the translational sliding motion
of upper tray 14 in one direction into rotational motion of drive
wheel 50 and, substantially simultaneously, to convert rotational
motion of drive wheel 50 into translational motion of lower tray 16
in another direction that is different from the direction of travel
of upper tray 14. Drive arms 76, 44 are desirably positioned
between drive wheel 50 and upper and lower guide platforms 60, 34,
respectively, and preferably each comprise one end that is
rotatably connected to an off-center position on drive wheel 50,
and another end having a transversely extending projection that
extends through and is rotatable within one of guide slots 62, 36.
FIGS. 11 and 12 better illustrate a preferred embodiment of drive
arm 44, and are also representative of a preferred embodiment of
drive arm 76. Transverse cylindrical projections 46, 48 are
desirably thermoformed in a plastic sheet used to make drive arm
44, although it will be appreciated that parts having a similar
configuration can also be made by injection molding a polymeric
resin or by metal stamping if desired.
[0041] Referring again to FIG. 6, transverse cylindrical projection
48 is preferably frictionally engageable with, but rotatably
mounted within, aperture 54 near the perimeter of drive wheel 50.
Similarly, transverse cylindrical projection 78 of drive arm 76 is
preferably frictionally engageable with, but rotatably mounted
within, oppositely disposed aperture 56 near the perimeter of drive
wheel 50. The positioning of apertures 54, 56 on drive wheel 50 and
the length of drive arms 76, 44 will depend upon factors including
the diameter of drive wheel 50 and the desired direction and length
of travel of trays 14, 16 relative to the housing. If desired,
retainer devices (not shown) can be used to secure mounting cap 80
and projections 78, 48 to drive wheel 50.
[0042] Each drive arm 76, 44 preferably has at the end not attached
to drive wheel 50 another transverse cylindrical projection 66, 46
that is sufficiently long to extend transversely through the
associated guide slot 62, 36, through an aperture in the associated
tray tab 82, 42, and into aperture 28, 30 of the associated upper
or lower tray 14, 16. Cylindrical projections 66, 46 preferably
have a diameter slightly less than the width of elongate guide
slots 62, 36, to permit simultaneous translational and rotational
movement of each projection within its respective slot without
excessive wobble or lost motion. The engagement between each
transverse cylindrical projection 66, 46 and the associated upper
or lower tray 14, 16 is preferably enhanced by attaching tray tabs
82, 42 to attachment sites 84, 85 on bottom surface 86 of upper
tray 14 and on the top surface of bottom tray 16, respectively.
Each tray tab 82, 42 is preferably attached in fixed relation to
its associated tray to reduce the likelihood that trays 14, 16 will
accidentally become disengaged from cylindrical projections 76, 46
following repeated use or if tray 14 is withdrawn from housing 12
with excessive force. Two-sided tape, conventional adhesives,
pressure-sensitive adhesives, or other similarly effective means
can be used to attach tray tabs 82, 42 to trays 14, 16, as desired.
The range of travel of each projection 66, 46 in either direction
in guide slots 62, 36 controls the extent to which drive wheel 50
will rotate in either direction as indicated by arrow 58.
[0043] Other embodiments of the invention are further described and
explained in relation to FIG. 15, which depicts a plan view of a
display package 100 comprising a housing 102 having side wall 106
and four trays 104 that are each slidably engaged within the
housing and that each extend simultaneously from the housing in
different directions. Unlike the preferred embodiment described
above in relation to FIGS. 1-14, all four trays 104 lie in
substantially the same horizontal plane and all are connected to a
linkage assembly comprising a single drive wheel 115 that is
rotatably mounted inside the housing beneath trays 104. Guide
platform 108, disposed between drive wheel 115 and trays 104,
comprises four elongate guide slots 110. Whenever any tray 104 is
moved inwardly or outwardly relative to housing 102, as indicated
by arrow 124, the linkage assembly connecting each tray 104 to
drive wheel 115 produces corresponding translational motion of
projection 116 in slot 110, as indicated by arrow 122, and causes
drive wheel 115 to rotate left or right, respectively, around
mounting hub 126, as indicated by arrow 120. The linkage assembly
used to connect each tray 104 to drive wheel 115 is otherwise
substantially similar to the assembly linkage described above in
relation to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-14, and preferably comprises
drive arms 112, transverse cylindrical projections 116, 118 and
tray tabs 114, it being understood that the elements of the linkage
assembly associate with each of trays 104 is substantially the
same.
[0044] It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
upon reading this disclosure that display packages utilizing the
elements of the invention can also be made wherein some, but not
all, trays are connected to the linkage assembly so that some, but
not all, trays will extend or retract simultaneously. Similarly, by
using a plurality of horizontally or vertically separated linkage
assemblies in a single display package, it is possible to have
groups of trays that extend and retract in different directions in
one, two, or more than two, levels, with each group of trays
retracting and extending simultaneously but independently of the
trays in a different group.
[0045] Other alterations and modifications of the invention will
likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon
reading this specification in view of the accompanying drawings,
and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein
be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended
claims to which the inventors are legally entitled.
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