Interlocking Container For Vertical Displays

Abstract

A tray container adapted for stacking in vertical display tiers of variable height, with adjacent containers being mechanically interlocked by means of webs inserted into corresponding slots. The container units are suitable for shipping and storage of merchandise packages, and they afford ready access to retained units for price-marking purposes.

Description

The present invention relates to vertical containers in which merchandise is sold in "specials" at retail stores. Such containers are used both alone and in combination with graphic advertising materials.

Although many vertical display containers and assemblies are known in the prior art, these devices have certain objectionable features which impair their practicality. These assemblies generally do not stack or internest with one another, and are not suitable for shipping and storage of the articles promoted.

Other display containers in the prior art are manufactured in only a single size and cannot be adjusted to compensate for differences in store locations. Moreover, many display containers in the prior art are formed in several pieces and require complex assembly instructions. It is an important feature of this invention that each tray unit is formed from a one-piece blank and is easily assembled.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a display container in tray form in which individual tray units are stacked together to form a stable, interlocked display assembly.

It is a related object of the invention to provide a display container in which articles may also be shipped and stored prior to delivery to the point of purchase. The tray container of the invention is especially suitable for shipping and storage of filled aerosol cans and other articles for which an upright position is preferable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a display container of pleasing appearance which exposes a large proportion of the items to be promoted to public view, while holding the articles securely in place.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shipping and display container which facilitates application of price markings by exposing an outer price panel of each article held without physically removing any of the articles from said container.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a racked assembly of containers of the invention supported on a display stand;

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of a tier of three intercoupling components of containers according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of three tray containers of the invention, showing the manner in which they are arranged for shipment and storage prior to stacking for display;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a three tier assembly of the containers of the invention with respective units partially assembled;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 7--7 of FIG. 2 showing details of the end interlock arrangement of the container;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts cut away to show the mode of securing an article retention band, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, and indicating schematically a mode of stacking and securing articles in the container of the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary perspective views of end portions of two containers according to the invention and showing the manner of interlocking engagement;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a planar blank from which the uppermost container of the invention is produced, the dotted lines indicating fold lines;

FIG. 13 is a plan view similar to that shown in FIG. 12 but illustrating a blank used for the bottom and intermediate containers; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the article retaining band used in conjunction with the container.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, there are shown three trays or tray containers 15 of the invention in stacked relation, supported on a stand 16 which also holds a display card 17 for graphic advertising material. The trays 15 may also be stacked on store shelves of the usual type, or on stands having other sizes and shapes.

The trays are secured to the display stands 16 by anchor tabs 18 cut into the rear walls 20. Each anchor tab 18 is adapted to engage and to interlock with corresponding openings (not shown) in the display stand 16. When the tray containers 15 are so displayed they form a combination which can be varied in size merely by adding and subtracting container units.

In FIGS. 2 and 6 the individual trays 15 are shown in disjoined form. Each tray 15 includes a rear wall 20, opposed end walls 21 and a floor 22 attached to the end walls. Flanges 23 are integrally formed with each end wall 21, and are hinged along a fold line 24 at the outer edge of each end wall 21. The flanges 23 are folded inwardly to overlie each of the end walls 21. A vertical slot means or slot 25 is therby formed between the end walls 21 and their respective flanges 23. Each flange 23 is integrally formed with a projecting tab means or tab 26 adapted to engage corresponding openings or slits 27 cut into the rear wall 20. The flanges 23 are thereby locked into place.

Flaps 28 extend laterally of the floor 22 and are joined thereto along spaced fold lines 29. The flaps 28 project upwardly from the floor 22 for securement within slots 25 between the end walls 21 and their respective overlapping flanges 23.

A web means or web 28a, forming an integral extension of each flap 28, intercouples adjacent trays by seating within a corresponding slot 25 in each next higher tray 15. The method of insertion of the intercoupling web 28a is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11. The number of display tiers thus intercoupled is limited only by the strength of the materials used.

Articles are retained in each tray container by means of an elongated band 30 having ends 31 adapted to engage in slits or openings 27 formed in the rear wall 20. As shown in FIG. 9, this band 30 prevents articles 32 from falling forwardly, but permits customers to lift items upwardly over the band for purchase. End panels 33 are readily accessible to stock clerks for price-marking purposes.

The position in which the containers 15 are shipped and stored prior to delivery to the point of purchase is shown in FIG. 3. Two or more of the containers are arranged within an outer casing or wrapper (not shown) in order to make a "flatter" total package. Since such packages are usually kept "flat" during shipping and storage, articles such as aerosol containers are maintained in an upright attitude.

It will be readily appreciated that numerous variations and modifications may be constructed without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. For example, the webs interconnecting adjacent trays may be formed as downward extensions of the side walls rather than as upward extensions of the flaps. Also, the shape and structure of the floor may be altered to make the retaining band unnecessary. The true scope of the invention is defined by the following claims, which are intended to comprehend all equivalents of the embodiment described herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A tray-like shipping and display container comprising sheet material and constructed from a unitary, planar, one-piece blank, said container being open upwardly and forwardly and adapted for stacking in a vertical tier, each container comprising:

a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall, said end walls and said floor all being interconnected along fold lines of said blank,

said rear wall having formed therein a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending through openings adjacent junctures of said rear wall with said end walls; and

an elongated article-retaining band, opposed ends of said band being adapted for engagement within said openings to fasten said band to said rear wall, said band paralleling said floor of said container and extending laterally across and being spaced from said rear wall to hold in place articles contained in said container, and

means for intercoupling said container as a first container in a secured, vertically stacked array of containers, said means comprising a member including at least one of a web means and slot means, said member being adapted to interengage wit a cooperating member of a vertically adjacent container in said array, to maintain the containers of said array in fixed alignment with one another.

2. A tray-like shipping and display container adapted for stacking in a vertical tier, said container being open upwardly and forwardly, and comprising

a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall, said end walls and said floor all being interconnected,

a flange integral with each end wall and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outer edge of each end wall, said flange extending inwardly of said outer edge and overlying a respective each one of said pair of end walls in proximity thereto, whereby said flange and a corresponding end wall define a vertical through slot therebetween;

means securing each said flange in place to parallel generally a corresponding one of said pair of end walls,

a flap integral with said floor and hinged thereto along spaced fold lines at each of opposed lateral limits of said floor, each said flap extending upwardly and projecting into and being secured within a corresponding said slot between an end wall and a corresponding said flange overlying each end wall thereby to interlock said floor, said pair of end walls and said rear wall of said container together to define a stable unitary structure, and

means for intercoupling said container as an element in a secured, vertically stacked array, said means comprising a member including at least one of a web means and slot means, said member being adapted to interengage with a cooperating member of a vertically adjacent container, to maintain containers of said array in fixed alignment with one another.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means securing each said flange in place comprises a slit formed in said rear wall adjacent each lateral limit thereof, and further comprising rearwardly projecting tab means integrally formed with each said flange at a rearwardly directed free edge thereof, each said tab means being presented to and being adapted to project into and seat within a corresponding said slit in said rear wall to lock said flange in place.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rear wall has formed therein a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending through openings adjacent junctures of said rear wall with said end walls;

and further comprising an elongated article-retaining band, opposed ends of said band being adapted for engagement within said openings to fasten said band to said rear wall, said band paralleling said floor of said container and extending laterally across and being spaced from said rear wall to hold in place articles contained in said container.

5. The container of claim 2, wherein said container is adapted for placement on and for exhibition in connection with an upright display stand, said container further comprising an anchor tab integrally formed with said rear wall, said anchor tab being adapted to engage and to interlock within an opening formed in a vertical wall of said display stand to maintain said container in fixed alignment therewith.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said web means comprises a vertically extending web paralleling and adjacent to a corresponding end wall of a first said container, each said web comprising an extension of a corresponding each said flap and projecting upwardly into a vertically aligned downwardly opening cooperating slot of a second said container of said array, said second container surmounting and being supported on the first said container, whereby said web interlocks the first container with the second container.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein said web comprises an integral component of said container.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said web constitutes an integral extension of said flap hinged to and projecting upwardly of said floor and normally thereto.

9. A planar blank of corrugated paperboard and the like adapted to form a tray-like, generally rectangular shipping and display container suitable for stacking in a vertical tier, said blank comprising a single sheet marked along fold lines to define

a rear wall;

opposed end walls joined to said rear wall along spaced fold lines formed in said blank and defining lateral limits of said rear wall;

a pair of flanges integral with said end walls and joined thereto along fold lines corresponding to outer edges of said end walls;

a pair of slits formed in said rear wall at positions intermediate upper and lower boundaries thereof and adjacent lateral limits thereof;

a pair of tab means integrally formed with each one of said pair of flanges and projecting outwardly at laterally directed free ends thereof, said tab means being adapted, upon folding of said flanges to overlie said end walls, to project into and seat within corresponding said slits in said rear wall to lock said flanges in place and to form slots between said end walls and said flanges; and

a pair of flaps hinged to said floor along spaced fold lines defining opposed lateral limits of said floor corresponding to and in line with lateral limits of said rear wall, said flaps being adapted to project into corresponding said slots to interlock said floor, said end walls and said side walls together to form a stable unitary structure, said flaps being of a length greater than the height of said rear wall whereby said flaps are adapted to project upwardly of said rear wall and into corresponding vertically aligned slots of a second, vertically adjacent tray to provide a stacked tier of interlocked containers.

10. A tray-like shipping and display container comprising sheet material and constructed from a unitary, planar, one-piece blank, said container being open upwardly and forwardly and adapted for stacking in a vertical tier, each container comprising:

a rear wall, a pair of opposed end walls, and a floor, said rear wall, said end walls and said floor all being interconnected along fold lines of said blank, and means for intercoupling said container as a first container in a secured, vertically stacked array of containers, said means comprising a member including at least one of a web means and slot means, said member being adapted to interengage with a cooperating member of a vertically adjacent container in said array, to maintain the containers of said array in fixed alignment with one another,

said web means comprising a vertically extending web paralleling and adjacent to a corresponding end wall of said first said container and contiguous thereto, said web projecting upwardly of said first container into a corresponding vertically aligned slot means of a vertically adjacent container of said array surmounting and supported on said first container to interlock the first container with the vertically adjacent container.

11. The container of claim 10, and further comprising a flange integral with each one of said pair of end walls and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outer edge of each end wall, each said flange extending inwardly of said outer edge and overlying a corresponding end wall in proximity thereto, whereby said slot means comprises a vertical through slot defined by and extending between each said flange and a corresponding end wall;

means securing each said flange in place to parallel generally a corresponding end wall; and

a flap integral with said floor and hinged thereto along spaced fold lines defining opposed lateral limits thereof, each said flap extending upwardly and projecting into and being secured within a corresponding said slot between an end wall and a respective overlying flange of said end wall thereby to interlock said floor, said end walls and said rear wall of said container together to define a stable unitary structure.

12. The stucture as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means securing said flange in place comprises a slit formed in said rear wall adjacent each lateral limit thereof, and further comprising rearwardly projecting tab means integrally formed with each said flange at a rearwardly directed free edge thereof, said tab means being presented to and being adapted to project into and seat within a corresponding said slit in said rear wall to lock said flange in place.