U.S. patent application number 11/581244 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for display container.
This patent application is currently assigned to WARNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY. Invention is credited to David R. Henke, William Gerard Laramy.
Application Number | 20080087556 11/581244 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39302176 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080087556 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Henke; David R. ; et
al. |
April 17, 2008 |
Display container
Abstract
A display container adjustable between an enclosed position and
a display position is disclosed, having a tray and a cover. The
cover includes a display panel, a base, and at least one
positioning tab. The positioning tab is configured to engage a back
wall of the tray so as to keep the display panel positioned at a
predetermined downward angle relative to the back wall for easy
reading of a display label having product information, when the
display container is in the display position.
Inventors: |
Henke; David R.; (Maple
Grove, MN) ; Laramy; William Gerard; (Eagan,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON, P.C.
P.O. BOX 2902
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0902
US
|
Assignee: |
WARNER MANUFACTURING
COMPANY
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
|
Family ID: |
39302176 |
Appl. No.: |
11/581244 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/45.23 ;
206/45.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5213
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/45.23 ;
206/45.2 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/52 20060101
B65D005/52 |
Claims
1. A display container for displaying items and being adjustable
between an enclosed position and a display position, the display
container comprising: a tray including a bottom, a front wall, a
back wall and a plurality of side walls; a cover including a
display panel, a base and at least one positioning tab, the display
panel being hingedly connected to a top edge of the back wall of
said tray along a first fold line, the base including a base panel,
a front wall and a plurality of side walls and being connected to
the display panel along a second fold line; said cover being
positioned on top of said tray when the display container is in the
enclosed position; and when the display container is in the display
position, said cover being folded back relative to said tray along
the first fold line such that the display panel overlies the back
wall of said tray at a predetermined downward angle and the base is
folded underneath said tray, the positioning tab being positioned
outwardly to engage the back wall of said tray so as to keep the
display panel positioned at the predetermined downward angle
relative to the back wall of said tray.
2. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of side walls of the base are configured to support the
base at an angle descending toward the back wall of said tray when
the base is folded underneath said tray.
3. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the
predetermined downward angle is in a range from 15 degrees to 45
degrees.
4. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one positioning tab is an integral component of the display
container.
5. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one positioning tab is a discrete component of the display
container.
6. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one positioning tab is made of at least one of paper board,
plastic, metal, or combinations thereof.
7. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the display
panel includes a display label conveying information.
8. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the display
label includes a separate label attached to a surface of the
display panel.
9. The display container according to claim 1, wherein the display
label includes information printed or transferred directly onto a
surface of the display panel.
10. A display container for displaying items and being adjustable
between an enclosed position and a display position, the display
container comprising: a tray including a bottom, a front wall, a
back wall and a plurality of side walls; a cover including a
display panel, a joint portion, a base and at least one positioning
tab, the display panel including a display label and being hingedly
connected to a top edge of the back wall of said tray along a first
fold line, the joint portion being connected to the display panel
along a first joint portion fold line, the base including a base
panel, a front wall and a plurality of side walls and being
connected to the joint portion along a second joint portion fold
line; said cover being positioned on top of said tray when the
display container is in the enclosed position; and when the display
container is in the display position, said cover being folded back
relative to said tray along the first fold line such that the
display panel overlies the back wall of said tray at a
predetermined downward angle and the base is folded underneath said
tray, the positioning tab being positioned outwardly along the
second joint portion fold line to engage the back wall of said tray
so as to keep the display panel positioned at the predetermined
downward angle relative to the back wall of said tray for easy
reading of the display label.
11. The display container according to claim 10, wherein the
display label includes a separate label attached to a surface of
the display panel.
12. The display container according to claim 10, wherein the
display label includes information printed or transferred directly
onto a surface of the display panel.
13. A display container for displaying items and being adjustable
between an enclosed position and a display position, the display
container comprising: a tray including a bottom, a front wall, a
back wall and a plurality of side walls; a cover including a
display panel, a base and at least one positioning tab, the display
panel including a display label and being hingedly connected to a
top edge of the back wall of said tray along a first fold line, the
base including a base panel, a front wall and a plurality of side
walls and being connected to the display panel along a second fold
line; said cover being positioned on top of said tray when the
display container is in the enclosed position; and when the display
container is in the display position, said cover being folded back
relative to said tray along the first fold line such that the
display panel overlies the back wall of said tray at a
predetermined downward angle and the base is folded underneath said
tray, the positioning tab being positioned outwardly to engage the
back wall of said tray so as to keep the display panel positioned
at the predetermined downward angle relative to the back wall of
said tray for easy reading of the display label.
14. The display container according to claim 13, wherein the
display label includes a separate label attached to a surface of
the display panel.
15. The display container according to claim 13, wherein the
display label includes information printed or transferred directly
onto a surface of the display panel.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to display
containers for storing, shipping and/or displaying merchandise on
store shelves.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It has been known that containers may be used for shipping,
storage and display of products such as office supplies, tools,
shoes and the like. Typically, the containers are packed with
merchandise by the manufacturer, and then shipped to various
merchants for sale. In certain situation, it is a common practice
among merchants to simply open the display container and place the
opened container on their store shelves, thus displaying the
contents to the consumer.
[0003] When the display container is placed on store shelves, a
display label on the container is sometimes used to convey
information to the consumer, such as the brand, price, or other
characteristics of the product. The display label can also be used
to capture the attention of the consumer through any combination of
colors, patterns, symbols, pictures, photographs and the like.
Accordingly, there is a need to enhance the visibility of the
display label and make the display label easily read by the
consumer.
[0004] The present disclosure discloses a display container which
addresses this need and solves many of the problems that are
associated with existing display containers. It will be appreciated
that the disclosure may disclose more than one invention. The
Invention(s) is/are pointed out with particularity in the claims
annexed hereto and forming a part hereof.
SUMMARY
[0005] This disclosure relates to a display container for shipping,
storage and display of merchandise, such as office supplies, tools,
shoes and the like.
[0006] In one embodiment, there is provided a display container
comprising a tray and a cover adjustable between an enclosed
position and a display position. The tray of the container includes
a bottom, a front wall, a back wall and a plurality of side walls.
The cover includes a display panel, a base and at least one
positioning tab. The display panel is hingedly connected to a top
edge of the back wall of the tray along a first fold line. The base
includes a base panel, a front wall and a plurality of side walls
and is connected to the display panel along a second fold line.
[0007] When the display container is in the enclosed position, the
cover of the container is positioned on top of the tray. When the
display container is in the display position, the cover is folded
back relative to the tray along the first fold line such that the
display panel overlies the back wall of the tray at a predetermined
downward angle and the base is folded underneath the tray. In the
display position, the positioning tab is positioned outwardly to
engage the back wall of the tray so as to keep the display panel
positioned at the predetermined downward angle relative to the back
wall of the tray.
[0008] In another embodiment, the cover has a display panel, a
joint portion, a base and at least one positioning tab. The display
panel includes a display label and is hingedly connected to a top
edge of the back wall of the tray along a first fold line. The
joint portion is connected to the display panel along a first joint
portion fold line and is connected to the base along a second joint
portion fold line. When the display container is in the display
position, the positioning tab is positioned outwardly along the
second joint portion fold line to engage the back wall of the tray
so as to keep the display panel positioned at a predetermined
downward angle relative to the back wall of the tray for easy
reading of the display label.
[0009] In still another embodiment, the cover includes a display
panel, a base and at least one positioning tab. The display panel
includes a display label and is hingedly connected to a top edge of
the back wall of the tray along a first fold line. The base is
connected to the display panel along a second fold line. When the
display container is in the display position, the positioning tab
is positioned outwardly to engage the back wall of the tray so as
to keep the display panel positioned at a predetermined downward
angle relative to the back wall of the tray for easy reading of the
display label.
[0010] The above-mentioned embodiments are only representative and
illustrative. The invention(s) is/are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part
hereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an embodiment of a
display container in a display position with a cover of the
container folded under a tray of the container;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective section view of the display
container of FIG. 1 along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating a
positioning tab engages a back wall of the tray;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the display container
of FIG. 1 with the cover in a partly folded open position;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting the display container
of FIG. 1 in an enclosed position with the cover of the container
on top of the tray; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an inside surface of a blank
used to form one embodiment of the display container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
generally designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown
an embodiment of a display container adjustable between an enclosed
position and a display position, designated generally by the
numeral 10.
[0017] Terms "above," "on," "under," "underneath," "top", "bottom,"
"interior," "inside," "outside," "inwardly," and "outwardly" used
in the description and/or claims are in reference to the relative
positions of the display container 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-4.
[0018] The display container 10 includes a tray 12 and a cover 14
hingedly connected to the tray 12 along a first fold line 36. The
tray 12 includes a bottom 16, a front wall 18, a back wall 20 and
side walls 22, 23. The cover 14 includes a display panel 24, a base
26 and a positioning tab 34. It will be appreciated that the
display container 10 can be made of a variety of materials suitable
for forming a container, such as paperboard, plastic, metal, etc.,
or combinations of such. For convenience, in the following
description, the display container will be described as being made
of paperboard.
[0019] The display panel 24 is defined between the first fold line
36 and a second fold line 38 and is hingedly connected to the back
wall 20 of the tray along the first fold line 36. A display label
40 that conveys information, such as brand, price, or other
characteristic of the product, other point of sale information,
etc., to the consumer, can be attached or disposed on a surface 25
of the display panel 24. It will be appreciated that the display
label 40 might be a separate label which can be suitably attached
to the surface 25 of the display panel 24, or might be printed or
otherwise transferred directly onto the surface 25 of the display
panel 24, by any user and at any time as desired. For example, the
display label 40 can be attached or transferred to the surface 25
of the display panel 24 by the retailer right before the display
container 10 containing the products is placed on a store shelf. In
another example, the display label 40 can include adhesive on one
of its surfaces so that it can be easily attached to the display
panel 24 at any time desired.
[0020] In the embodiment shown, the display panel 24 has a height
defined between the first fold line 36 and the second fold line 38,
which is preferably not less than a height of the back wall 20 of
the tray, which is defined between the first fold line 36 and a
bottom edge of the back wall 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
display panel 24 overlies the back wall 20 of the tray at a
predetermined downward angle .theta. relative to the back wall 20
of the tray for easy reading of the display label 40, when the
display container is in the display position.
[0021] The base 26 refers to the portion of the cover 14 extending
beyond the second fold line 38. The base 26 includes a base panel
28, a front wall 30 and side walls 32, 33. The side walls 32, 33
include respective angled edges 102, 104, which serve to tilt the
container 10 forward when the cover 14 is folded under the tray 12
of the display container for displaying the contents of the
container to the consumer, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. From the
enclosed position to the display position, the base 26 and display
panel 24 are adapted to be folded at least 180 degree relative to
the back wall 20 of the tray along the first fold line 36 so that
the display panel 24 overlies the back wall 20 of the tray at the
predetermined downward angle .theta. relative to the back wall 20
for easy reading of the display label 40.
[0022] The positioning tab 34 can be a tab slotted in the base
panel 28 so that it is hingedly connected to the base panel 28 and
can remain within the base panel 28 of the container when the
display container 10 is in an enclosed position, as shown in FIG.
4. When in the display position, the positioning tab 34 can be
pushed up and folded outwardly to engage the back wall 20 of the
tray so as to keep the display panel 24 positioned at the
predetermined downward angle .theta. relative to the back wall 20
of the tray for easy reading of the display label 40, as shown in
FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the angle .theta. is preferably 15
degrees to 45 degrees.
[0023] The positioning tab 34 is included in the base panel 28 and
spaced from the second fold line 38 so as to prevent the display
panel 24 from sliding toward the back wall 20 of the tray when in
the display position and thereby retain the display panel 24 at the
predetermined downward angle .theta. relative to the back wall 20
of the tray. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, in one embodiment, the
positioning tab 34 is hingedly connected to the base panel 28 along
a connecting line 35 which is parallel to the first fold line
36.
[0024] It will be appreciated that the positioning tab 34 can be
either an integral part or a discrete component of the display
container 10. The display container 10 can also include more than
one positioning tab, for example, having multiple positioning tabs
to allow the display panel 24 to be adjusted between multiple
predetermined downward angles relative to the back wall 20 of the
tray in the display position. In another example, the display
container 10 can have additional positioning tabs, providing extra
support to the tray 12 in the display position.
[0025] Alternatively, in one embodiment, the positioning 34 tab
might be a discrete component of the display container 10, where
the positioning tab 34 can be attached to an outside surface of the
base panel 28 by a suitable fastening mechanism. In yet another
embodiment, the tab might be a plastic "T" shaped component which
is inserted through a slot in the base panel 28 to engage the back
wall 20 of the tray.
[0026] It will be appreciated that the positioning tab can be made
of a variety of material suitable for positioning the tray 12 as
desired, such as paper board, plastic, metal, etc., or combinations
of such. The positioning tab can also be of different shapes
suitable for positioning the tray 12 of the display container. It
will be appreciated that the positioning tab 34 might have a
variety of configurations and arrangements.
[0027] In the embodiment shown, because of the predetermined
downward angle .theta. between the display panel 24 and the back
wall 20 of the tray, the base panel 28 is slightly bent along the
connecting line 35, forming an angle .alpha. as can be seen in
FIGS. 1 and 2, when the back wall 20 engages the positioning tab 34
so that the tray 12 rests on the base 26, as shown in FIG. 2. When
the display container is made of relatively rigid material, like
metal, to allow for flexing of the joint portion, it will be
appreciated that a flexible joint portion might be provided. The
joint portion might be disposed between the display panel 24 and
the base 26 and more particularly between the second fold line 38
and the positioning tab 34.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the container 10 is in an enclosed
position, with the cover 14 positioned on top of the tray 12 so as
to enclose the container 10, such as it may appear after it has
been filled with items to be sold, closed and shipped to a merchant
for sale of the items within the container 10. The positioning tab
34 can remain within the base panel 28 so that the display
container 10 remains the regular container shape for easy shipping
and storage.
[0029] The container 10 is adapted to adjust from the enclosed
position in FIG. 4 to a partly folded open position in FIG. 3, and
to the display position in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is accomplished by
lifting the cover 14 upwardly from the tray 12, pivoting the cover
14 around the first fold line 36 and over the back wall 20 of the
tray, pushing up and folding the positioning tab 34 outwardly such
that the positioning tab 34 engages the back wall 20 of the tray
and the display panel 24 including the display label 40 overlies
the back wall 20 of the tray at the predetermined downward angle
.theta. relative to the back wall 20 for easy reading of the
display label 40.
[0030] Next, the base 26 of the cover is folded down and underneath
the tray 12 along the second fold line 38, causing the tray 12 to
be supported upon the base 26. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS.
1 and 2, the base 26 is wedge-shaped, such that the base 26 of the
cover supports the tray 12 at an angle .beta. defined by the angled
edges 102, 104 of the side walls 22, 23 of the cover descending
toward the back wall 20 of the tray for displaying the contents of
the container 10 to the consumer. It will be appreciated that the
front wall 30 and side walls 32, 33 of the cover may have a variety
of configurations and/or may not even be present depending on the
user's needs. Also, the angle .beta. can vary depending on the
orientation of the store shelves. In one embodiment, the angle
.beta. is preferably 0 degree to 45 degrees. For example, the base
26 can be flat, not even having the front wall 30 and side walls
32, 33, so as to be placed on shelves that are already slanted.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, a blank from which the display
container 10 that may be manufactured according to one embodiment
of the invention is illustrated and generally designated by
reference numeral 50. The blank 50 can be a unitary piece of
paperboard material, and in general, the blank 50 can be made of
different kinds of paper board, for example, corrugated cardboard,
and can be varied as to thickness and numbers of layers as may be
desired.
[0032] It will be appreciated that the display container can also
be made from separate pieces of components, for example, a discrete
tray-forming portion and cover-forming portion, rather than a
unitary piece of paperboard, and form into the display container 10
as in FIGS. 1-4 by fasteners.
[0033] The blank 50 in FIG. 5 includes a tray-forming portion 52 to
form the tray 12 of the container as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and a
cover-forming portion 54 to form the cover 14 of the container as
shown in FIGS. 1-4. The tray-forming portion 52 is comprised of the
bottom 16 hingedly connected along score lines 58, 60, 62, 64 to
the front wall 18, the back wall 20, and the two side walls 22, 23,
of the tray respectively. The front wall 18 is hingedly connected
along score lines 66, 68 to respective front wall flaps 18a and
18b, and the back wall 20 is hingedly connected along score lines
70, 72 to respective back wall flaps 20a and 20b. The side walls
22, 23 are hingedly connected along score lines 90, 92 to side wall
flaps 22a, 24a respectively.
[0034] The cover-forming portion 54 of the container 10 in FIG. 5
is comprised of a base-forming portion 55 to form the base 26 as
shown in FIG. 3, the display panel 24 hingedly connected along the
second fold line 38 to a base-forming portion 55 and along the
first fold line 36 to the back wall 20 of the tray, and the
positioning tab 34.
[0035] The base-forming portion 55 includes the base panel 28, the
front wall 30 hingedly connected along score line 76 to the base
panel 28, and side walls 32, 33 hingedly connected along score
lines 78, 80 to the base panel 28, respectively. The front wall 30
of the base is hingedly connected along a score line 86 to a front
wall flap 30a. The side walls 32, 33 of the base are hingedly
connected along score lines 82, 84 to side wall flaps 32a and 33a,
respectively.
[0036] The positioning tab 34 can be a tab slotted in the base
panel 28 so that it is hingedly connected to the base panel 28 and
can remain within the base panel 28, when the display container 10
is in the enclosed position, as shown in FIG. 4. When in the
display position, the positioning tab 34 can be pushed up and
folded outwardly to engage the back wall 20 of the tray so as to
keep the display panel 24 positioned at the predetermined downward
angle .theta. relative to the back wall 20 of the tray for easy
reading of the display label 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0037] Typically, the inside surface and outside surface of the
blank 50 are unprinted except that the inside surface of the
display panel 24 might include the display label 40.
[0038] The tray-forming portion 52 may be made to form the tray 12
of the container by folding the front wall flaps 18a, 18b of the
tray upward along the respective score lines 66, 68 to a position
approximately perpendicular to the front wall 18 of the tray and
folding the front wall 18 of the tray upward along the score line
58 to a position approximately perpendicular to the bottom 16 of
the tray. Similarly, the back wall flaps 20a, 20b of the tray are
folded upward along the respective score lines 70, 72 to a position
approximately perpendicular to the back wall 20 and the back wall
20 is folded upward along the score line 60 to a position
approximately perpendicular to the bottom 16.
[0039] Thereafter, the side wall 22 of the tray, together with the
side wall flap 22a, is folded upward along the score line 62 to a
position approximately perpendicular to the bottom 16 and the side
wall flap 22a of the tray is folded inwardly and downward along the
score line 90 to encompass the front wall flap 18a and the back
wall flap 20a, and is fastened by inserting a tab 120 that is on an
edge 106 of the side wall flap 22a into a corresponding slot 122
that is within the score line 62. The side wall 23 of the tray,
together with the side wall flap 23a, is folded upward along the
score line 64 to a position approximately perpendicular to the
bottom 16 and the side wall flap 23a is folded inwardly and
downward along the score line 92 to encompass the front wall flap
18b and the back wall flap 20b and is fastened by inserting a tab
124 that is on an edge 108 of the side wall flap 23a into a
corresponding slot 126 that is within the score line 64. It will be
appreciated, however, that the order and manner in which the
folding steps are performed may be varied according to the level of
skill in the art.
[0040] Similarly, the cover-forming portion 54 may be made to form
the cover 14 of the container by folding the side wall flaps 32a,
33a of the base upward along the score lines 82, 84 to a position
approximately perpendicular to the side walls 32, 33 of the cover
and folding the side walls 32, 33 upward along the score lines 78,
80 to a position approximately perpendicular to the base panel 28.
Then, the front wall 30 of the cover, together with the front wall
flap 30a, is folded upward along the score line 76 to a position
approximately perpendicular to the base panel 28 and the front wall
flap 30a is folded inwardly and downward to encompass the side wall
flaps 32a, 33a and is fastened by inserting a tab 128 that is on an
edge 110 of the front wall flap 30a into a corresponding slot 130
that is within the score line 76.
[0041] Specific embodiments have been shown by ways of example in
the drawings and described in detail herein. However, it should be
understood that the invention(s) claimed in the appended claims
is/are not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments
disclosed. Rather, the invention(s) claimed in the appended claims
cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling
within the spirit and scope of the invention(s) as claimed by the
appended claims.
* * * * *