Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02485670 2004-10-21
PATENT
Attorney Docket No.: 427768
Express Mail Label No.: EV426667574US
COMBINATION SHIPPING CONTAINER AND DISPLAY RACK
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to commonly-owned Canadian Patent
Application Number 2,443,755, filed 22 October 2003 and incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
Retail distribution channels generally begin at a manufacturer and end at a
retailer; there may also be third parties between the manufacturer and the
retailer.
Handling goods as they pass through a distribution channel can result in labor
expenses and risks of breakage or spoilage. The retailer ultimately recoups
these
expenses and risks, resulting in an increased price that a consumer pays for
the goods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A combination shipping container and display rack has a body with a top, a
bottom, and two sides forming one or more sub-container cavities, each cavity
is
accessible from the front and/or the rear of the rack. The rack also has one
or more
sub-containers within the cavities, and may also have one or more closure
panels to
shield the sub-containers during transport. The rack may include one or more
dividers
used in forming the cavities. The rack may, optionally, have wheels for
rolling the
rack across a surface, and/or a pair of forklift tine receptacles for lifting
the rack. The
rack and/or the sub-containers may have electronically and/or optically
readable
identification tags. The rack may use a battery and/or an external power
source to
power light elements and/or a refrigeration unit. The rack may include
supports with
attachment points for hooks, brackets and/or shelves to support the sub-
containers.
The closure panels and/or all or part of the sub-containers may be constructed
of wire
mesh, transparent material, or stainless steel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. I shows one combination shipping container and display rack
FIG. 2 shows the combination shipping container and display rack of FIG. 1
with four sub-containers, each employing a mesh.
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FIG. 3 shows exemplary detail of the combination shipping container and
display rack of FIG. 1, including identification tags attached thereto.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the combination shipping container and
display rack of FIG. 1 showing closure panels opened in a display position.
FIG. SA shows an optional containment lip for use at an edge of a cavity for a
sub-container.
FIG. SB shows the optional containment lip of FIG. SA.
FIG. 6 shows optional locking devices in the form of hooks for one sub-
container.
FIG. 7 shows one sub-container with an optional locking device.
FIG. 8 shows one sub-container with an optional front panel.
FIG. 9 shows a schematic top view of a sub-container with a divider and with
a tensioner that bias goods towards a front of the sub-container.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one combination shipping container and
display rack.
FIG. 11 shows one combination shipping container and display rack with light
elements.
FIG. l2 is a cut-away top view of one combination shipping container and
display rack with a refrigeration unit.
FIG. 13 is a cut-away top view of one combination shipping container and
display rack with a refrigeration unit.
FIG. 14 shows one combination shipping container and display rack with
supports and attachment points for sub-containers.
FIG. 15 shows a bracket that engages certain attachment points of FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows one combination shipping container and display rack 10(1).
Display rack 10(1) is shown with a body 12 having a top 14, a bottom 16, two
sides
18, a back 19(1) and a plurality of dividers 15. Body 12 has one or more
cavities 20
which serve as receptacles for sub-containers, as described below. Referring
to FIG.
4, cavities 20 may be accessible from at least a front side 1, and, when back
19(1) is
not present, from a rear side 2. Each cavity 20 may be bounded by top 14,
bottom 16,
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sides 18 and/or one or more dividers 15, as shown. Referring to FIG. 1 and 2,
wheels
22 and/or forklift tine receptacles 24 may mount to bottom 16 of body 12.
Wheels 22
may include a locking mechanism 23 to prevent theft and/or unintentional
movement
of display rack I 0( 1 ).
Rack 10(1) is for example used to ship goods (e.g., goods 5, FIG. 8) from a
distributor or manufacturer to a retail location, which then displays the
goods using
rack 10(1).
FIG. 2 shows rack 10( I ) with four sub-containers 26, identified in FIG. 2 as
sub-containers 26(1), 26(2), 26(3) and 26(4), each shown with a mesh 28. Mesh
28 is
for example wire mesh. Sub-containers 26 may be made of any suitable material
(e.g., plastic, glass, metal or combinations thereof). For visibility of goods
in retail
applications, see-through materials such as glass, transparent plastic, or
wire mesh
may be used; for refrigerated and/or frozen goods, materials such as stainless
steel or
glass may be used. See also FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. Visible surfaces of rack
10(1) -
such as sides 18, top 14, dividers 15, and/or closure panels 32 (see FIG. 4) -
may
include writing or graphics for advertising.
FIG. 3 shows exemplary detail of rack 10(I). In accord with one embodiment,
two identification tags 30 illustratively attach to body 12 and to a sub-
container 26.
Tags 30 may attach to body 12 and/or sub-containers 26 by utilizing, for
example,
adhesives, pockets and/or other mechanical apparatus. Each tag 30 may provide
information such as, for example, a serial number of rack 10(1), number and/or
types) of sub-containers 26 loaded therein, a type and/or quantity of goods
loaded
within sub-containers 26, manufacturing and/or shipping dates, manufacturing
traceability information. Identification tags 30 may be electronically
readable (e.g.,
an RFID tag) and/or may be optically readable (e.g., a barcode).
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional top view (as indicated by line A-A in FIG. 2) of
rack 10(1). In one embodiment, rack 10(1) includes two closure panels 32(1)
and
32(2), shown opened in a display position in FIG. 4. Closure panels 32(1) and
32(2)
may, for example, fold in the direction ofarrows 33(I) and 33(2),
respectively,
against body 12 in a shipping position, where they may be fixed to body 12 by
a
locking device (e.g., snaps, bolts, latches, locks, electromechanical devices,
magnets,
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electromagnets, or combinations thereof). When opened, as shown in FIG. 4,
closure
panels 32 permit viewing of goods within rack 10(1).
In other embodiments, closure panels 32 may attach to body 12 in the shipping
position, and may detach when goods within rack 10( 1 ) are on display.
Alternatively,
closure panels 32 may permanently attach to rack 10(1) and cover sub-container
cavities 20 in a shipping position and may fold or roll up within body 12 in a
display
position. Storing closure panels 32 within body 12 may be useful at shipment
or retail
locales where space is limited. Closure panels 32 may provide security at a
retail
location, for example, when rack 10(1) is utilized as an unattended kiosk.
Closure panels 32 may be constructed of various materials depending on the
type of goods and a retail location of rack 10( 1 ). For example, when rack
10( 1 ) is
utilized as a kiosk, closure panels 32 made of transparent materials (e.g.,
glass,
transparent plastic, wire mesh) allow viewing of goods inside rack 10(1) even
when
closed. In other applications, closure panels 32 may be made of inexpensive
yet
sturdy material (e.g., metal) to provide protection during shipping.
FIGS. SA and SB are side and front views, respectively, showing an optional
lower containment lip 34 on a divider 15 that bounds a cavity 20. A sub-
container 26
(not shown in FIGS. SA and SB) is lifted over lip 34 to enter or leave cavity
20, so that
lip 34 secures sub-container 26 in cavity 20.
Other locking devices may be included with rack 10(1). For example, FIG. 6
shows an optional locking device 36 in the form of a hook for one sub-
container
26(5). FIG. 7 shows one sub-container 26(6) with an optional locking device 38
in
the form of an eyelet on sub-container 26(6), that engages a corresponding
locking
device 36 mounted on body 12. Other forms of locking devices may also be used;
for
example, hasps and latches that engage between a sub-container and body 12.
FIG. 8 shows one sub-container 26(7) with an optional front panel 40 that has
an upper portion 42 and a lower portion 44. Upper portion 42, shown in an
opened
position for access to goods 5, opens and closes in the direction of arrow 43.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, a sub-container may form a tray for goods
placed
thereon; the tray may be kept in place by sides 18, dividers 15 and/or closure
panels
32 of rack 10( 1 ).
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FIG. 9 shows a schematic top view of one sub-container 26(8) with a divider
43 and with a tensioner 46 that bias goods 5 towards a front 3 of sub-
container 26(8).
Divider 43 and tensioner 46 are also shown in dashed lines to illustrate a
compressed
position of divider 43 and tensioner 46 when goods 5 fill sub-container 26(8).
As
goods 5 are removed, tensioner 46 pushes divider 43 in the direction of arrow
45, as
shown, to keep goods 5 near front 3 of sub-container 26(8), for convenient
access.
Tensioner 46 may be a spring, as shown in FIG. 9. It may alternatively utilize
gas
pressure or an elastic force to bias divider 44 towards goods 5.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one combination shipping container and
display rack 10(2). Rack 10(2) is illustratively shown with a top 14, dividers
15(2),
bottom 16(2), sides 18(2), wheels 22(2), forklift tine receptacles 24(2), and
closure
panels 32(3) and 32(4). Closure panels 32(3) and 32(4) are shown open in a
display
position in FIG. 10. Top 14(2), dividers 15(2), bottom 16(2) and sides 18(2)
form
cavities 20(2), as shown. Each cavity 20(2) may hold a sub-container 26 with
goods
5. For example, sub-containers 26(9), 26( 10) and 26( 11 ) are shown open to
expose
goods 5 for display. One sub-container 26(9) is shown partially out of one
cavity
20(3) to illustrate that sub-containers can be removed from rack 10(2).
FIG. 11 shows one combination shipping container and display rack 10(3)
with light elements 50. Light elements 50 may for example include light-
emitting
diode ("LED") displays 50( 1 ), 50(2) and light emitters 50(3). Light elements
50 may
mount on any convenient surface of rack 10(3). In FIG. 11, light emitters
50(3)
mount with sides 18(3) and top 14(3), while LED display 50(1) mounts with top
14(3)
and LED display 50(2) mounts with one divider 15(3). Altogether, light
elements 50
may draw attention to rack 10(3) and/or goods therein, and may display
information
such as descriptions of the goods, prices, advertising slogans, and the like.
Light
elements 50 may also light rack 10(3), goods within rack 10(3) and/or an area
surrounding rack 10(3), for example, when rack 10(3) is used as a kiosk in an
otherwise unlit area. Light emitters 50(3) may be, for example, incandescent
or
fluorescent lights, LEDs, strobe lights, or backlit signs, and may optionally
be
configured to vary over time by flashing, sparkling, running, and so forth.
Electrical
connections 54 for light emitters 50(3) and/or LED displays 50(1), 50(2) may
be
integrated into a body 12(3) and/or dividers 15(3) of rack 10(3), as shown.
Power for
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light emitters 50(3) and/or LED displays 50( 1 ), 50(2) may be provided
through a
power cord 56( 1 ) to a power supply 57( 1 ), or, optionally, from a battery
58( 1 ). Power
supply 57(1) and battery 58(1) may thus be configured so that light emitters
50(3)
and/or LED displays 50(1), 50(2) utilize power from battery 58(1) when
external
power is not available. When external power is available, the external power
through
cord 56(1) may be utilized (a) for light emitters 50(3) and/or LED displays
50(1),
50(2), and/or (b) for recharging battery 58(1).
FIG. 12 is a cut-away top view of one combination shipping container and
display rack 10(4) with a refrigeration unit 60(1). Refrigeration unit 60(1)
cools the
interior of rack 10(4), making rack 10(4) suitable, for example, for
refrigerated and/or
frozen goods. Power for refrigeration unit 60(1) may be provided externally
through
a power cord 56(2) or a battery 58(2), and may be connected through a power
supply
57(2) in a manner similar to power for light elements 50 discussed above. In
rack
10(4), sides 18(4), a back 19(2) and a closure panel 32(5) (and a top and a
bottom, not
shown) may include insulation 64 to reduce heat transfer into and out of rack
10(4).
FIG. 13 is a cut-away top view of a combination shipping container and
display rack 10(5) with a refrigeration unit 60(2) that cools a region 62 of
rack 10(5).
Heat transfer into and out of region 62 is reduced by insulation 64 within
sides 18(5),
dividers 15(5) and closure panel 32(6) surrounding region 62, as shown. Rack
10(5)
is accessible from front side 1 and from rear side 2; in this embodiment, sub-
containers 26(13) within refrigerated region 62 are accessible from rear side
2. Power
for refrigeration unit 60(2) may be provided externally through a power cord
56(3) or
a battery 58(3), and may be connected through a power supply 57(3) in a manner
such
as discussed for light elements 50 above.
FIG. 14 shows one combination shipping container and display rack 10(6)
with supports 70 that form attachment points 72 for modifiable configurations
of sub-
containers 26, shown illustratively as sub-container 26(14). Supports 70 may
be
integrated with a back 19(3) of rack 10(6), but supports 70 may be on sides
18(6) or
otherwise disposed within a rack 10(6). Brackets 74 may engage attachment
points
72 to suspend sub-containers 26(14) within rack 10(6). Sub-container 26(14)
thereby
rests on brackets 74, as shown.
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FIG. 15 shows a bracket 74 that engages certain of attachment points 72.
Attachment points 72 may be apertures formed in support 70; a mounting tab 76
may
engage one such aperture to support bracket 74. A retaining tab 82 may prevent
a
sub-container 26 placed on one or more brackets 74 from dislodging during
stocking
or transport.
Sub-containers 26(14) may be configured within a rack 10(6) by mechanisms
other than supports 70, attachment points 72 and brackets 74. For example,
hooks or
moveable shelves may engage attachment points 72. Tabs (e.g., like mounting
tab 76)
or hooks may integrate with a sub-container 26(14) to engage attachment points
72
directly. Supports 70 may attach to sides 18(6), top 14(6) and/or bottom 16(6)
of rack
10(6), or may be integrated therewith. Brackets 74 may include rails that
engage with
sub-containers 26(14) so that sub-containers 26(14) slide partially or
completely out
of body 12(6). Attachment points 72 may be protrusions instead of apertures;
shelves
or sub-containers 26(12) may rest directly on such protrusions. Sub-containers
26(14)
may stack on bottom 16(6) of rack 10(6); sub-containers 26(14) may include
mechanical features such that a top surface of one sub-container 26(14)
engages a
bottom surface of another sub-container 26( 14) placed thereon.
Accordingly, as described above, a rack 10 may begin as a shipping container
for goods 5. Referring to FIG. 8, a shipper may load goods into sub-containers
26 via
upper portion 42 of each sub-container 26, and then, referring to FIGS. 1 and
2, may
install sub-containers 26 into appropriate sub-container cavities 20 of body
12.
Alternatively, referring to FIGS. l4 and 15, a shipper may install sub-
containers 26
within body 12 using brackets, hooks, shelves and the like. Referring to FIGs.
3 and
4, the shipper may attach identification tags 30 to body 12 and/or sub-
containers 26,
and may place sub-containers 26 and closure panels 32A and 32B in transport
position, securing the sub-containers for transport. Identification tags 30
may be read
during stocking, shipment or display at a retail location to determine the
identity
and/or contents of rack 10, sub-containers 26 and/or goods 5 therein.
Referring to
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6 and 7, the shipper may place each sub-container 26 behind a
corresponding lower containment lip 34, and engage locking devices 36 with
locking
devices 38 to enhance the stability of goods within body 12. Referring to
FIGS. 1 and
2, rack l0 may be loaded into vehicles by a forklift utilizing tine
receptacles 24, or by
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rolling on wheels 22. Upon arrival at a distribution or retail location, rack
10 may be
unloaded by a forklift utilizing tine receptacles 24, or by rolling on wheels
22.
Referring to FIG. 4, closure panels 32 may be removed or placed in display
position.
Referring to FIG. 7, locking devices 36 may be disengaged from locking devices
38,
so that rack 10 may be used to display goods. Referring to FIG. 8, a retailer
may open
upper portion 42 of each sub-container 26 to make goods within the sub-
container
accessible for public inspection and consumption. Referring to FIG. 9, a
divider 44
and a tensioner 46 may push goods 5 towards a front edge of a sub-container 26
as
goods are removed, so that the remaining goods are easily accessible.
Referring to
FIG. 1 l, light features and/or LED displays may be utilized (a) to improve
visibility
of goods within rack 10, and/or (b) for advertising. Referring to FIGs. 12 and
13, part
or all of a rack 10 may be refrigerated. Referring to FIG. 13, sub-containers
26 may
be accessible from one or both sides of rack 10. Referring to FIG. 14 and 15,
attachment points 72 and/or brackets 74 may enable modifiable configurations
of
containers 26 within rack 10.
The changes described above, and others, may be made in the combination
shipping container and display rack described herein without departing from
the scope
hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter contained in the above
description or
shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and
not in a
limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and
specific
features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the
present method
and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there
between.
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