Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXPANDABLE DISPLAY AND SHIPPING CONTAINER
Reference to Related Application
[0001]
Technical Field
[0002] The invention relates to containers for shipping and
displaying products, and particularly to containers which may be
converted between a shipping configuration and a display configuration.
Back rg ound
[0003] Stand-up in-store displays are typically bulky constructions
of corrugated paperboard (cardboard). In most cases, displays are
broken down into component parts or flattened for shipping to reduce
transportation costs. If the displays were shipped in assembled form,
the sender would have to pay for the air space that would be shipped
along with the product and the display. Generally, the highest possible
density with which any goods are transported, the better and more cost
effective the transport becomes. However, when broken down or
flattened displays arrive at the store in which they are to be set up, it is
often difficult for store staff to properly set up the displays and/or move
the displays once they have been set up.
Summary of Invention
[0004] The invention provides containers for shipping and
displaying products or other items. One aspect of the invention
provides a container comprising a base, a plurality of trays pivotally
attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports
pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure, each support
moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The
container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the
plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a
plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the
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supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration
wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the
supports are in the unsecured position.
(0005] Another aspect of the invention provides a container
comprising a base, a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached to the
base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached
to each tray frame of the accordion structure, each support moveable
between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is
convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of tray
frames are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the
base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the
supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration
wherein the plurality of tray frames are stacked atop the base when the
supports are in the unsecured position.
[0006] Further aspects of the invention and features of specific
embodiments of the invention are described below.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0007] In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of
the invention:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of an example container in a display
configuration according to one aspect of the invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the container of Figure 1 in a
shipping configuration;
Figures 3 to 8 are side elevation views of the container of Figure
1 which illustrate the process of converting the container from the
shipping configuration to the display configuration;
Figures 9 and 10 are close up views of a support hinge of the
example container of Figures 1 to 8;
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Figure 11 is a side elevation view of an example container in a
display configuration according to one aspect of the invention;
Figure 12 is an exploded view of a tray frame of the container of
Figure 11;
Figure 13 is an isometric view of a tray hinge of the example
container of Figure 11;
Figure 14 is an isometric view of the container of Figure 11 in
the display configuration;
Figure 15 is a side elevation view of the tray hinge of Figure 13;
Figure 16 is a side elevation view of an example container in a
display configuration according to one aspect of the invention; and,
Figure 17 is a close up view of an interface between two of the
supports of the container of Figure 16.
Descri, t!' ion
[0008] Throughout the following description, specific details are
set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the
invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these
particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been
shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the
invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be
regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
[0009] Certain aspects of the invention provide a container for
shipping and displaying items. The container may be converted
between a shipping configuration wherein the items and container take
up a relatively small amount of space, and a display configuration
wherein the container holds the items in positions to facilitate display of
the items to customers. The container may be set up directly on the
floor in display configuration, or may be placed on a shelf or table.
The container comprises a plurality of trays, and supports for holding
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the trays in the display configuration. The trays and supports may form
a plurality of triangular structures when the container is in the display
configuration.
[0010] Figure 1 shows an example container 10 in a display
configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container 10
comprises a base 12, a plurality of trays 14 and an advertising panel 16.
Trays 14 are configured to hold products (not shown) and held at
alternating acute angles to the plane of base 12 by pairs of supports 18
pivotally attached to trays 14 by rivets 19. Trays 14 are pivotally
attached to base 12 in an accordion structure, wherein each tray 14 is
pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of tray 14
below, and is also pivotally attached at an opposite top edge thereof to a
bottom edge of tray 14 above, except for the bottommost and topmost
of trays 14. The bottommost of trays 14 is pivotally attached at a
bottom edge thereof to base 12, and the topmost of trays 14 is pivotally
attached to advertising panel 16 by rivets 19. Pivotal attachment of
trays 14 to each other and to base 12 may be accomplished by any
suitable attachment means, including hinges, perforated cardboard
sheets, or the like. Trays 14 are positioned to face in alternating
directions, such that when container 10 is in the display configuration
customers may view the products held in trays 14 from opposite sides of
container 10.
[0011] In the Figure 1 example, base 12 is constructed from
wood, trays 14 and advertising panel 16 are constructed from
cardboard, and supports 18 are constructed from steel. Trays 14 are
substantially identical, which provides for reduced manufacturing costs.
Also, supports 18 are substantially identical, except for the bottommost
supports 18 which are shorter than the other supports 18, so that the
bottommost of trays 14 is at approximately the same acute angle to the
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plane of base 12 as the other trays 14. In the Figure 1 example, each
tray 14 is held at an angle of approximately thirty degrees to the plane
of base 12 with container 10 is in the display configuration, but it is to
be understood that trays 14 may be held at different angles in the
display configuration. As one skilled in the art will appreciate,
different construction materials could be used depending on the length
of time container 10 is expected to be used and the expected weight of
the products (not shown) to be placed in trays 14, and trays 14 may
have different sizes and/or shapes depending on the products or items to
be shipped and displayed.
[0012] Container 10 is convertible between the display
configuration shown in Figure 1 and a shipping configuration wherein
container 10 may be covered by a lid 11 which fits over base 12 and
trays 14, as shown in Figure 2. Container 10 may be shipped with lid
11 held in place by packing straps or the like (not shown), and with
trays 14 packed with products or other items to be displayed (not
shown) . In order to allow conversion of container 10 between the
display and shipping configurations, each support 18 comprises a lower
support arm 18A and an upper support arm 18B pivotally connected to
each other by a support hinge 20, as shown in Figures 3 to 8.
[0013] To convert container 10 from the shipping configuration to
the display configuration, a user first removes lid 11 and pivots the
bottommost tray 14 up from base 12, as shown in Figure 3. The user
then moves the bottommost of supports 18 into a secured position by
securing support hinges 20, as described below with reference to
Figures 9 and 10. Next, the user pivots the next lowest tray 14 up from
the bottommost tray 14 and secures support hinges 20 for the next
lowest supports 18, as shown in Figure 4. This process is repeated for
each tray 14, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, . and then the user pivots
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advertising panel 16 into a vertical position, as shown in Figure 8.
Once all supports 18 have been moved into the secured position,
container 10 has good stability and may be moved by lifting from one of
the middle trays 14. The above process may be reversed to convert
container 10 back into the shipping configuration.
[0014] Figures 9 and 10 illustrate support 18 having a support
hinge 20 in unsecured and secured positions, respectively. Support
hinge 20 comprises a rivet 22 which pivotally connects lower support
arm 18A and upper support arm 18B. In the illustrated example, a
spring button 24 is provided on lower support arm 18A and a
corresponding hole 26 is provided on upper support arm 18B. To move
support 18 from the unsecured position shown in Figure 9 to the
secured position shown in Figure 10, the user depresses spring button
24 and applies pressure to lower support arm 18A and upper support
arm 18B as indicated by arrows 28 until support 18 is straight and
spring button 24 is received in hole 26. To move support 18 back into
the unsecured position, the user pushes button 24 out of hole 26 and
pivots lower support arm 18A and upper support arm 18B relative to
each other.
[0015] Figure 11 illustrates an example container 30 in a display
configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container 30 is
similar to container 10 of Figures 1 to 10, except container 30 has tray
frames 32 in place of trays 14 and does not have advertising panel 16
(although it is to be understood that an advertising panel 16 could be
provided for the example of Figure 11). As shown in Figure 14, each
tray frame 32 comprises a flange 34 which may be used to support a
tray, bin or other product holding means. The remaining elements of
container 30 are the same as those of container 10 and will not be
described again to avoid unnecessary repetition.
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[0016] As shown in Figure 12, each tray frame 32 comprises a
pair of side members 36 and a pair of end members 38. Side and end
members 36 and 38 may be constructed from injection molded plastic.
Each side and end member 36 and 38 has a pair of holes 40
therethrough. Tray frame 32 is formed by placing side members 36
within the corners of end members 38 so that holes 40 line up, and
inserting rivets 19 of supports 18 through holes 40. All side members
36 may be of identical construction. All end members 38 may also be
of identical construction.
[0017] Figures 13 and 15 illustrates an example of a tray hinge 50
according to one aspect of the invention. Each end member 38 has a
male hinge member 52 extending from a lower edge thereof and a
female hinge member 54 extending from an upper edge thereof. For
each tray frame 32, male hinge member 52 of one end member 38 is
received in female hinge member 54 of tray frame 32 below and female
hinge member 54 of the other end member 38 receives male hinge
member 52 of tray frame 32 above, except for the bottommost and
topmost tray frames 32. Male hinge member 52 of the bottommost of
tray frames 32 is received in a base hinge member 56 on base 12, and
female hinge member 54 of the topmost of tray frames 32 is open.
[0018] Figure 16 illustrates an example container 60 in a display
configuration according to one aspect of the invention. Container 60 is
similar to container 10 of Figures 1 to 10, except supports 62 of
container 60 are not hinged, and container 60 does not have advertising
panel 16 (although it is to be understood that an advertising panel 16
could be provided for the example of Figure 16) . Supports 62 may be
pivoted such that they are positioned parallel to trays 14 when container
60 is in the shipping configuration. The remaining elements of
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container 60 are the same as those of container 10 and will not be
described again to avoid unnecessary repetition.
[0019] Each support 62 of the Figure 16 example is connected to
one of trays 14 by a rivet 63 through an upper portion thereof. Each
support 62 comprises an upper connector 64 and a lower connector 66.
Each support 62 may be moved into the secured position by engaging its
lower connector 66 with upper connector 64 of support 62 below,
except for the bottommost pair of supports 62 and the second
bottommost pair of supports 62. The two bottommost pairs of supports
62 may be moved into the secured position by engaging lower
connectors 66 thereof with suitable connectors (not shown) on base 12,
or by attaching the lower ends thereof to base 12 with screws, nails or
the like. It is to be understood that the method of securing the two
bottommost pairs of supports 62 to base 12 may vary without departing
from the spirit or scope of this aspect of the invention.
[0020] One of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66 may
comprise a male connector, and the other may comprise a female
connector. Supports 62 may be held in the secured position by gravity
when connectors 64 and 66 are engaged. Alternatively, a locking
mechanism 68 may optionally be provided to secure connectors 64 and
66. As shown in Figure 17, locking mechanism 68 may comprise a
spring button 70 in the male one of upper and lower connectors 64 and
66 and a correspondingly shaped hole 72 in the female one of upper
and lower connectors 64 and 66. A user may secure connectors 64 and
66 by depressing spring button 70 and inserting the male one of upper
and lower connectors 64 and 66 in the female one of upper and lower
connectors 64 and 66 until spring button 70 is received in hole 72.
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[0021] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of
the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are
possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the
spirit or scope thereof. For example:
~ Although the illustrated example containers each comprise 5
trays, the number of trays may vary from as few as 2 trays to as
many trays as weight and height constraints allow.
~ Although the nays of the illustrated example containers are each
held at approximately the same acute angle with respect to the
plane of the base, the trays may be at different angles with
respect to the plane of the base.
~ The area and depth of each tray may vary.
~ The materials from which the containers are constructed may
vary. For example, in addition to cardboard and injection
molded plastic, the trays may be constructed from metal, wood,
vacuum formed plastic, extruded plastic, etc.
[0022] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments
have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize
certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations
thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and
claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such
modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are
within their true spirit and scope.
