Shipping And Display Container

Abstract

A shipping container or carton having weakened portions which allow the container to divide into two display tray portions to display the plurality of articles therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers and cartons for use in shipping a plurality of articles, and more particularly to a shipping container or carton which can convert to display the articles contained therein.

In the shipping, transportation and display of articles, it has been a general practice to employ containers or cartons to transfer goods from the place of manufacture to the place of sale whereupon the goods must be unpacked from the carton and placed on the display shelves at the retail store. Although such devices have served their purpose, they have not proved entirely satisfactory because of large amounts of labor required to remove the articles from the carton and place them on the shelves at the retail stores. Those concerned with the cost of stocking articles in retail outlets have recognized the need for a carton or container which can be utilized to ship the goods from the manufacturer to the retailer and can be easily converted for use by the retailer as a display device, thus eliminating the labor required in transferring the goods from the containers to the shelves of the retail outlet.

To solve this problem, shipping cartons or containers have been provided which convert into a display device but these prior art devices have suffered from the disadvantage of being either time consuming to convert from a carton to a display device; expensive to manufacture; so weak due to its convertible features that it tends to fail during use as a shipper; or cannot be loaded as a shipping container and unloaded as a display device in the same direction. Also, to keep the cost of these devices at a minimum, it is important that they be able to pass through a case sealing machine to allow sealing on an assembly line, yet be simple to convert to a display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of this invention is to provide an inexpensive yet strong and durable container or carton for use in shipping a plurality of articles which can be easily sealed on an assembly line by use of a standard case sealing machine, and can be converted to a display device for the articles contained therein. To attain this, the present invention contemplates the use of a container with weakened portions in its ends and top whereby the container can be severed into two halves which are connected at the bottom and can be rotated to form two abutting back-to-back display trays.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container which converts to a display device for the articles contained therein.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a container which converts into a display device having two abutting tray portions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a container which is top loading and can be sealed by a conventional case sealer.

Still another object is to provide a container which is durable and strong.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a container which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pattern for cutting an embodiment of the present container from a sheet of material;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the pattern shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container ready for loading with the top in an unsealed condition;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a sealed container loaded with a plurality of packages;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a package shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the web member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container showing the top in a sealed condition;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are elevation views of the front of the container with the removable sections removed therefrom showing the rotation of the container to the display position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container in a display condition with the packages shown therein;

FIG. 8A is a sectional view taken along line 8a--8a of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a container in a sealed condition loaded with a plurality of cans therein;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a pattern for cutout of an alternate embodiment of the container from a sheet of material;

FIG. 12 is a third pattern for cutting out a container of the present invention from a sheet of material; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a display tray.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cutout pattern for the first embodiment 10 of the container. This pattern is formed with a front portion 12, a rear portion 14, and two side portions 16 and 18 which can be formed from a single piece of cardboard and joined at their edges along fold lines 20, 22 and 24. Two additional fold lines 26 and 28 are parallelly spaced to extend completely across the width of the pattern.

The front portion 12 has a rectangular top flap 30, a rectangular front wall 32, and a rectangular bottom flap 34. The front wall 32 is perforated along line 37 and parallel lines 36 while the front wall top flap 30 is perforated along lines 38 to outline a first removable portion 40 in the front wall and front wall top flap. As can be seen in FIG. 1A, the front wall bottom flap 34 is provided with a central line 35 along which the flap is cut except in portions A and C which are separated by three transverse cut lines 39.

The rear portion 14 has a rectangular rear top flap 42, a rectangular rear wall 44, and a rectangular rear wall bottom flap 46. The rear wall is perforated along three intersecting lines 48, 50 and 52 and the rear wall top flap 42 is perforated along the non-parallel lines 54. These perforated lines define a second removable portion 56 in the rear wall and rear wall top flap. The rear wall bottom flap 46 is identical in structure to the front wall bottom flap and the reader is referred to the above-detailed description of flap 34.

Side portion 16 has a top flap 58, a rectangular side wall 60 and a rectangular bottom flap 62. The upper edge 64 of the side wall top flap 58 is slanted so that when the container is folded, this line will coincide with perforated lines 38 and 54. Each corner of the side wall bottom flap 62 is provided with two rectangular cutouts 66 and 68, respectively, and form an extending portion 70 therebetween. The spacing of these portions is such that when the box is assembled, the cutout 66 will coincide with area A, the extending portion 70 will coincide with area B, and the cutout 68 will coincide with area C on the front and rear wall bottom flaps 34 and 46, respectively.

Side wall portion 18 has a side wall top flap 72, a rectangular side wall 74, and a rectangular side wall bottom flap 76, all of which are identical in structure to the side wall portion 16 except that the edge 78 is slanted in the opposite direction from the edge 64.

A trapezoid-shaped end flap 80 extends from the edge of rear wall 44 and is separated therefrom by fold line 82. It can be seen by folding the portions of the pattern shown in FIG. 1 at 90.degree. along fold lines 20, 22, 24 and 82 that end flap 80 is parallel to, and can be sealed with, side wall 74 in a manner known in the art to form a four sided structure. Next, flaps 34 and 46 are folded into the box and, thereafter the flaps 62 and 76 are folded on top of, and sealed to, flaps 34 and 46 to assemble the box as shown in FIG. 2. The container 10 with flaps 30, 58, 42 and 72 in an unsealed condition is now in a condition to be loaded.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the description of the loading of the container 10 will be described. It should be pointed out at this point, that although the following description of the loading of the container 10 is limited to particular product configurations and shapes, it is not intended that this description in any way limits the use of the box to the specific products described. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the container 10 is loaded with 36 packages 84 which are placed in the container in an overlapping configuration. These packages 84 are shown in detail in FIG. 3A and are constructed from a flexible package material with upper and lower seals 86 and 88, respectively. Due to the fact that the packages 84 are filled in the position shown in FIG. 3A, the material will tend to accumulate in the bottom of the package adjacent the lower seal 88 making the package thicker adjacent the lower seal 88. Because of this uneven cross-section of the package 84, it is desirable that they be loaded in the container 10 in an overlapping fashion as shown in FIG. 3 so that the density of the packaging is increased. A structural web member 90 can be placed in the center of the container 10 as shown to provide a stiffener for the box and to help align the packages 84. This structural web member 90 is shown in detail in FIG. 3B as having two end flaps 92 and 94 which extend at right angles to the web member 90. The web is centrally perforated along a line 96 so that it may be easily torn into two halves. As can be seen in FIG. 3, this structural web member 90 is placed in the box with its end flaps 92 and 94 contacting the side walls 74 and 60.

After the container 10 has been filled with packages 84, the top of the box can be sealed by first folding down flaps 30 and 42, and next folding down and sealing flaps 58 and 72 on top of flaps 30 and 42 as shown in FIG. 4. It is contemplated that flaps 58 and 72 could be folded first, but it is desirable that they be folded as described above so that edges 64 and 78 can provide a guide for tearing along lines 38 and 54, and the flaps 58 and 72 provide a continuous surface on the exposed portion of the box when it is folded to the display configuration as will be hereinafter described.

To convert the container 10 to a display device, the first and second removable portions 40 and 56 are torn from the box by severing the box along perforated lines 36, 37, 38, 48, 50, 52 and 54. The box is then bent along lines 35 on the bottom flaps 34 and 46 by applying pressure to the box along this line in the direction of arrow 100.

In the sequence of folding over the box as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it is important to note the structural web member 90 will be severed along line 96 during this folding so that the container 10 will resemble the display device shown in FIG. 8. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the container 10 has folded to form two separate trays 102 and 104 which are in an abutting back-to-back relationship. The container can then be placed on the shelves of a retail store to display the packages. It can be seen that the packages 84 are displayed in an upright position with the upper seal 86 extending from the tray to allow easy removal of the packages 84.

As can be seen in FIG. 8A, the extending portions 70 on flaps 62 and 76 will extend through area B while cutouts 66 and 68 will fit under areas A and C, respectively, to allow the box to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 8 without binding of the material in flaps 62 and 76.

Turning now to FIG. 9, the container 10 is shown with a plurality of cylindrical cans packed therein. As can be seen, the container 10 is provided with two ramp-like inserts 122, each of which has a flange 124. These inserts 122 are placed in the box so that the flanges 124 contact rear wall 44. A V-shaped spacer 126 is placed in the center of the container to separate the can contained therein. As shown in FIG. 10, when the container 10 is converted to a display device and the V-shaped spacer 126 is removed, the cans 120 will rest on and roll down the ramp inserts 122 to the front of the display tray 102 so that the cans can easily be removed as required.

Turning now to FIG. 11, an alternate pattern for the display container is shown. This cutout pattern 130 is identical to that shown in FIG. 1 except that the end flap 132 extends from the side wall rather than the rear wall, and the perforated line 134 in the rear wall is curved rather than V-shaped as in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 12, a third cutout pattern 140 is shown and, it differs from the pattern shown in FIGS. 1 and 11 in that there are no removable portions therein. Instead, the box is provided with two perforated lines 142 and 144 which allow the container to break and form two identical trays which do not have sloped sides.

The patterns shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the fact that the container 10 may be constructed in many forms. It can be constructed with removable sections in the front and rear walls and top (shown in FIG. 1) or with removable sections in only the top (not shown) or with removable sections in only the front and rear walls (not shown) or even with no removable sections at all (shown in FIG. 12).

It is also envisioned that the container could be provided with additional perforated portions in its bottom to allow separation of the two display trays as required. This could be accomplished by forming flaps 34, 46, 62 and 76, identical to flaps 30, 42, 58 and 72, respectively, and an additional perforated line 152 so that there would be four removable portions in each container to form two identical trays 150 as shown in FIG. 13.

Although in the foregoing descriptions, the container is described as being constructed from corrugated cardboard material, it is contemplated that the container could be constructed from single ply material for containing lighter packages such as potato chips or the like, and could even be constructed from an insulation backed paper material so that the container could be used for shipping goods requiring refrigeration. With respect to this last-mentioned configuration, it is contemplated that the trays could be of such a size and shape to fit into a refrigerator at the retail stores and could be provided with additional removable portions to allow circulation of cold air through the container.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A container for use in shipping and display of a plurality of articles of the type comprising:

two side walls in spaced parallel relationship, front and rear walls in spaced parallel relationship attached at their edges to and extending from said side walls at substantially right angles, top flaps extending from said front, rear and side walls attached together to form a top closure member, bottom flaps extending from said front, rear and side walls attached together to form a bottom closure member, said top and bottom closure members extending transverse to said front, rear and side walls,

conversion means formed in said front and rear walls and said top and bottom closure members for allowing said container to convert into two display trays,

said conversion means comprising removable portions in said front and rear wall top flaps, and

wherein said side wall top flaps are shaped to conform to only that portion of said front and rear wall top flaps remaining when said removable portions have been removed.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a removable portion in said front wall.

3. A container as defined in claim 2 wherein said removable portion in said front wall is rectangular shaped.

4. A container as defined in claim 2 additionally comprising a removable portion in said rear wall.

5. A container as defined in claim 4 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall is triangular shaped.

6. A container as defined in claim 4 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall is semi-circular shaped.

7. A container as defined in claim 6 wherein said removable portion in said front wall is rectangular shaped.

8. A container as defined in claim 5 wherein said removable portion in said front wall is rectangular shaped.

9. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said removable portion in said front wall top flap is trapezoidal shaped.

10. A container as defined in claim 9 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall top flap is trapezoidal shaped.

11. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall top flap is trapezoidal shaped.

12. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said side wall top flaps are trapezoidal shaped.

13. A container for use in shipping and display of a plurality of articles of the type comprising:

two side walls in spaced parallel relationship, front and rear walls in spaced parallel relationship attached at their edges to and extending from said side walls at substantially right angles, top flaps extending from said front, rear and side walls attached together to form a top closure member, bottom flaps extending from said front, rear and side walls attached together to form a bottom closure member, said top and bottom closure members extending transverse to said front, rear and side walls;

conversion means formed in said front and rear walls and said top and bottom closure members for allowing said container to convert into two display trays;

said conversion means comprising removable portions in said front and rear wall top flaps;

said removable portions in said front and rear wall top flaps defining an area in said top closure member, said area having length and width dimensions extending perpendicular and parallel, respectively, to said front wall; and

said width dimension varying in magnitude along the length of said area, said area decreasing in width as said area extends in a direction from said front wall to said rear wall.

14. A container as defined in claim 13 additionally comprising a removable portion in said front wall.

15. A container as defined in claim 14 wherein said removable portion in said front wall is rectangular shaped.

16. A container as defined in claim 14 additionally comprising a removable portion in said rear wall.

17. A container as defined in claim 16 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall is triangular shaped.

18. A container as defined in claim 16 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall is semi-circular shaped.

19. A container as defined in claim 18 wherein said removable portion in said front wall is rectangular shaped.

20. A container as defined in claim 17 wherein said removable portion in said front wall is rectangular shaped.

21. A container as defined in claim 13 wherein said removable portion in said front wall top flap is trapezoidal shaped.

22. A container as defined in claim 21 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall top flap is trapezoidal shaped.

23. A container as defined in claim 13 wherein said removable portion in said rear wall top flap is trapezoidal shaped.

24. A container as defined in claim 13 wherein said side wall top flaps are trapezoidal shaped.

25. A container as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said display trays have four sides.

26. A container for use in shipping and display of a plurality of articles of the type comprising:

two side walls in spaced parallel relationship, front and rear walls in spaced parallel relationship attached at their edges to and extending from said side walls at substantially right angles, top flaps extending from said front, rear and side walls attached together to form a top closure member, bottom flaps extending from said front, rear and side walls attached together to form a bottom closure member, said top and bottom closure members extending transverse to said front, rear and side walls,

conversion means formed in said front and rear walls and said top and bottom closure members for allowing said container to convert into two display trays, said conversion means comprising:

a first removable portion defined by a first rectangular shaped area in said front wall and a second trapezoidal shaped area in said front wall top flap,

a second removable portion defined by a third trapezoidal shaped area in said rear wall top flap and a fourth triangular shaped area in said rear wall,

said first and second portions being centrally located on and symmetrical about a line equal distance between said side walls, and

means for allowing folding of said bottom closure member along a line extending between said front and rear walls so that said container is divided into two display trays so that said two display trays are hingedly connected to each other along said fold line and will rotate to an abutting back-to-back relationship.

27. A container as defined in claim 26 wherein each of said display trays have four sides.