Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SHIPPING CARTON TRANSFORMABLE
INTO A SHELF READY TRAY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention is directed to packaging, and more particularly, to a
shipping carton made from corrugated cardboard that is transformable into a
shelf
ready tray and also to a die cut blank for constructing a transformable
shipping carton
using a mandrel based tray former.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to package and ship products for retail sale in a Regular Slotted
Carton (RSC) constructed from a die cut corrugated cardboard blank. Once such
a
carton has reached its retail destination, the products packaged therein are
removed and
typically arranged on a shelf for display and subsequent purchase by a
consumer. Over
time, these products can become displaced or moved around on the shelf,
resulting in a
display that is no longer aesthetically pleasing to consumers, thus requiring
time
consuming reorganization.
It would be beneficial therefore to provide a shipping carton of the RSC type,
that can be easily formed, loaded, closed, stacked and shipped in a
conventional
manner, without the need for slip sheets or master cases, and then
subsequently
transformed into a shelf ready display tray once it has reached its retail
destination.
The subject invention provides such a shipping carton that is formed from a
die
cut blank using a mandrel based tray former and having a series of
perforations
provided therein that can be utilized to separate a lower portion of the
shipping carton
from an upper portion of the shipping carton, whereby the upper portion of the
shipping
carton is configured as an RSC type carton for convenient product loading and
the
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lower portion of the shipping carton, once separated from the upper portion of
the
shipping carton, defines a shelf ready tray having a flat bottom for
displaying products
on a level base structure.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The subject invention is directed to a new and useful shipping carton that is
made from corrugated cardboard and is transformable into a shelf ready tray
for
displaying the contents of the carton in a manner for easy access. In
accordance with
certain embodiments of the subject invention, the shipping carton is formed
from a die
cut blank that includes a flat rectangular bottom panel having opposed front
and rear
edges and opposed first and second side edges, wherein the bottom panel is
common to
the carton and the tray formed therefrom.
The die cut blank further includes a front panel that is foldably connected to
the
front edge of the bottom panel along a front crease and includes a front
perforated cut
line running parallel to the front crease for forming a front wall of the tray
from the
front panel. The blank also includes a rear panel that is foldably connected
to the rear
edge of the bottom panel along a rear crease and includes a rear perforated
cut line
running parallel to the rear crease for forming a rear wall of the tray from
the rear
panel.
The blank further includes opposed first and second main outer side panels
that
are foldably connected to the opposed first and second side edges of the
bottom panel
along respective first and second side creases to define outer opposed side
walls of the
tray. In certain embodiments of the subject invention, the opposed first and
second
side panels each includes a side perforated cut line for forming the outer
opposed side
walls of the tray from the opposed first and second side panels.
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Preferably, the front panel has opposed first and second front side flaps that
are
foldably associated therewith and the front perforated cut line extends
through the
opposed first and second front side flaps for forming opposed front inner side
wall
portions of the tray from the opposed first and second front side flaps. In
addition, the
rear panel has opposed first and second rear side flaps that are foldably
associated
therewith and the rear perforated cut line extends through the opposed first
and second
rear side flaps for forming opposed rear inner side wall portions of the tray
from the
opposed first and second rear side flaps.
Preferably, the opposed front inner side wall portions of the tray are
configured
to align with the outer opposed side walls of the tray, and the opposed rear
inner side
wall portions of the tray are configured to align with the outer opposed side
walls of the
tray.
In addition, the front panel includes a front perforated fold line extending
parallel to the
front perforated cut line to define an upper front flap of the carton, and the
front
perforated fold line extends through the opposed first and second front side
flaps to
define opposed first and second upper front side flaps of the carton.
Preferably, the opposed first and second rear side flaps each have a rear
perforated fold line that extends therethrough to define opposed first and
second upper
rear side flaps of the carton. In certain embodiments of the subject
invention, the rear
.. perforated fold lines of the opposed first and second rear side flaps are
co-extensively
aligned with the rear perforated cut line of the rear panel. In other
embodiments of the
subject invention, the rear perforated fold lines of the opposed first and
second rear side
flaps are not aligned with the rear perforated cut line of the rear panel.
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The subject invention is also directed to a die cut blank for a shipping
carton
transformable into a shelf ready tray that includes a rectangular bottom panel
including
opposed front and rear edges and opposed first and second side edges, wherein
the
bottom panel is common to the carton and the tray formed therefrom, a front
panel that
is foldably connected to the front edge of the bottom panel along a front
crease to form
an outer front wall of the tray, a rear panel that is foldably connected to
the rear edge of
the bottom panel along a rear crease to form an outer rear wall of the tray,
and opposed
first and second side panels that are foldably connected to the opposed first
and second
side edges of the bottom panel along respective first and second side creases,
wherein
.. each side panel includes a non-linear side perforated cut line for forming
a side wall of
the tray therefrom.
Preferably, the front panel includes a front perforated cut line that runs
parallel
to the front crease for forming a front wall of the tray from the front panel.
Each of the
opposed side panels includes a front side panel portion and a rear side panel
portion
that are foldably associated therewith and the respective side perforated cut
line extends
through the front and rear side panel portions to define opposed inner front
and rear
wall portions of the tray.
Each of the front side panel portions includes a front flap portion that is
foldably associated therewith to define opposed first and second upper front
flaps of the
.. carton. Each of the rear side panel portions includes a rear flap portion
that is foldably
associated therewith to define opposed first and second upper rear flaps of
the carton.
Each of the opposed first and second side panels includes a side flap portion
that is
foldably associated therewith to define opposed first and second upper side
flaps of the
carton.
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In sum, the subject invention is directed to a shipping carton made from
corrugated cardboard that is transformable into a shelf ready tray, wherein
the shipping
carton has an upper portion that is configured as an RSC type carton having a
plurality
of foldable closure flaps, and a lower portion that has a flat base panel,
wherein the
.. upper portion of the shipping carton is separable from the lower portion of
the shipping
carton along a series of interconnected perforated cut lines, so as to
transform the
shipping carton into a shelf ready tray for displaying products on a level
surface.
Preferably, the upper and lower portions of the shipping carton are erected
from a die
cut blank using a mandrel based tray former.
These and other features of the transformable shipping carton of the subject
invention will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in
the art to
which the subject invention appertains from the detailed description of the
preferred
embodiments taken in conjunction with the following brief description of the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that those skilled in the art will readily understand how to make and use
the
transformable shipping carton of the subject invention without undue
experimentation,
preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with
reference
to the figures wherein:
Fig. 1 is an illustration of a die cut blank for a transformable shipping
carton in
.. accordance with a first embodiment of the subject invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a transformable shipping carton erected from
the
blank shown in Fig. 1, with the top portion of the carton in an open
condition;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the transformable shipping carton shown in
Fig.
2, with the top portion of the carton in a closed condition;
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Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tray formed from the shipping carton
illustrated in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is an illustration of a die cut blank for a transformable shipping
carton in
accordance with a second embodiment of the subject invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a transformable shipping carton erected from
the
blank shown in Fig. 5, with the top portion of the carton in an open
condition;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the transformable shipping carton shown in
Fig.
6, with the top portion of the carton in a closed condition;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the tray formed from the shipping carton
illustrated in Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is an illustration of a die cut blank for a transformable shipping
carton in
accordance with a third embodiment of the subject invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a transformable shipping carton erected from
the blank shown in Fig. 9, with the top portion of the carton in an open
condition;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the transformable shipping carton shown in
Fig.
10, with the top portion of the carton in a closed condition;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the tray formed from the shipping carton
illustrated in Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is an illustration of a die cut blank for a transformable shipping
carton in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the subject invention;
Fig. 14 is an illustration of a die cut blank for a transformable shipping
carton in
accordance with a fifth embodiment of the subject invention, which is a
modification of
the die cut blank shown in Fig. 13.
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a transformable shipping carton erected from
the blank shown in Fig. 13, with the top portion of the carton in an open
condition;
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Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the transformable shipping carton shown in
Fig.
15, with the top portion of the carton in a closed condition; and
Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the tray formed from the shipping carton
illustrated in Fig. 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify
similar
structural elements of the various embodiments of the subject invention, there
is
illustrated in Figs. 1-4 a first embodiment of a transformable shipping carton
constructed in accordance with the subject invention that is formed from a die
cut
corrugated cardboard blank configured to be erected into a Regular Slotted
Carton
(RSC) and subsequently transformed into a shelf ready tray for product
display.
More particularly, as explained in detail below, the transformable shipping
carton of the subject invention is formed from a die cut blank 10 shown in
Fig. 1. The
die cut blank 10 is adapted to be erected using a conventional mandrel based
tray
former into shipping carton 100 that has an upper portion configured as an RSC
type
carton for convenient product loading and a lower portion configured as shelf
ready
tray having a flat base for displaying products on a level surface, as shown
in Fig. 2.
In the opened condition shown in Fig. 2, the carton 100 can be top-loaded with
products in a conventional manner, as with any RSC type carton. The carton 100
is
configured to be closed in a conventional manner utilizing existing closure
methods
such as a taper, hand tape, or gluer, as shown in Fig. 3. In this closed
condition, the
carton 100 can be stacked and shipped in a conventional manner, without the
need for
slip sheets or master cases. As explained in detail below, once the carton 100
has
reached its retail destination, a series of die cut perforations formed in the
blank 10
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enable the carton 100 to be transformed into a shelf ready tray 200, which is
shown in
Fig. 4.
Referring now to Fig. 1, as noted above, the carton 100 is erected with a
mandrel based tray former and glue from a die cut blank 10, which includes a
flat
rectangular bottom panel 12 having opposed front and rear edges 14 and 16, and
opposed first and second side edges 18 and 20. The bottom or base panel 12 is
common to the carton 100, which is shown in Fig. 2, and to the tray 200 that
is formed
therefrom, which is shown in Fig. 4.
With continuing reference to Fig. 1, the die cut blank 10 further includes a
front
.. panel 22 that is foldably connected to the front edge 14 of the bottom
panel 12 along a
front crease 24. The front panel 22 includes a front perforated cut line 26
running
parallel to the front crease 24 that divides the front panel 22 into a lower
front panel
portion 25 that will form the front wall of the tray 200 and an upper front
panel portion
27 that will be separated from the front wall of the tray 200. A handle 29 is
defined
within the upper front panel portion 27 by perforations for carrying the
carton 100. In
addition, the front panel 22 includes a front perforated fold line 62 that
extends parallel
to the front perforated cut line 26 to define an upper front flap 64 of the
carton 100.
The die cut blank 10 also includes a rear panel 32 that is foldably connected
to
the rear edge 16 of the bottom panel 12 along a rear crease 34. The rear panel
32
includes a rear perforated cut line 36 running parallel to the rear crease 34
to separate
and define the lower rear panel portion 35 that will form the rear wall of the
tray 200
and an upper rear flap 78 of the carton 100. A handle 39 is defined within the
rear
panel 35 by perforations, and a semi-circular perforated punch 37 is formed
therein to
provide a starting point for engaging the perforation that define handle 39.
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The die cut blank 10 further includes opposed first and second main or outer
side panels 40 and 42 that are foldably connected to the opposed first and
second side
edges 18 and 20 of the bottom panel 12 along respective first and second side
creases
44 and 46. The main side panels 40 and 42 each have a respective curvilinear
upper
edge 43 and 45, and these panels 40 and 42 will define the outer opposed side
walls 55
and 65 of the tray 200, as best seen in Fig. 4. When the carton 100 is erected
using a
conventional tray former, glue is placed on the inner surfaces of the outer
side panels
40 and 42, before they are folded into an upright position shown in Fig. 2.
The front panel 22 of blank 10 further includes opposed first and second front
.. side panels 47 and 48 that are foldably connected to the front panel 22
along respective
opposed front side crease lines 76 and 78. The first front side panel 46
includes an
angled perforated cut line 90 that defines and separates a front inner side
wall portion
50 of the tray 200 from a front inner side wall portion 94 of the carton 100.
In addition,
the first front side panel 47 includes a crease line 95 that defines and
separates an upper
.. front side flap portion 66 from the front inner side wall portion 94.
The second front side panel 48 includes an angled perforated cut line 92 that
defines and separates a front inner side wall portion 52 of the tray 200 from
a front
inner side wall portion 96 of the carton 100. In addition, the second front
side panel 48
includes a crease line 97 that defines and separates an upper front side flap
portion 68
from the front inner side wall portion 96.
The rear panel 32 of blank 10 further includes opposed first and second rear
side panels 54 and 56 that are foldably connected to the rear panel 32 along
respective
opposed rear side crease lines 86 and 88. The first rear side panel 54 incudes
a
curvilinear perforated cut line 80 that defines and separates a rear inner
side wall
portion 58 of the tray 200 from a rear inner side wall portion 85 of the
carton 100. In
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addition, the first rear side panel 54 includes a crease line 70 that is
aligned with rear
cut line 36 and defines and separates an upper rear side flap portion 74 from
the rear
inner side wall portion 85.
The second rear side panel 56 incudes a curvilinear perforated cut line 82
that
defines and separates a rear inner side wall portion 60 of the tray 200 from a
rear inner
side wall portion 87 of the carton 100. In addition, the second rear side
panel 56
includes a crease line 72 that is aligned with rear cut line 36 and defines
and separates
an upper rear side flap portion 76 from the rear inner side wall portion 87.
When the carton 100 is transformed into the tray 200, the front inner side
wall
portion 50 and rear inner side wall portion 58 align or otherwise register
with the main
or outer side panel 40 of the tray 200, and the front inner side wall portion
52 and rear
inner side wall portion 60 align or otherwise register with the main or outer
side panel
42 of the tray 200, as best seen in Fig. 4. In this condition, the height of
the rear wall
35 of the tray 200 is greater than the height of the front wall 25 of the tray
200.
Referring now to Figs. 5-8, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the
transformable shipping carton of the subject invention that is constructed
from a die cut
blank 110 shown in Fig. 5. The die cut blank 110 is adapted to be erected
using a
conventional tray former and glue into a shipping carton 300 having an upper
portion
constructed as an RSC type carton with closure flaps and a lower portion
constructed as
a mandrel formed tray having a flat base, as shown in Fig. 6.
The carton 300 is configured to be closed in a conventional manner utilizing
existing closure methods such as a taper, hand tape, or gluer, as shown in
Fig. 7. In this
closed condition, the carton 300 can be stacked and shipped in a conventional
manner
without the need for slip sheets or master cases. Once the carton 300 has
reached its
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retail destination, a series of die cut perforations formed in the blank 110
enable the
carton 300 to be transformed into a shelf ready tray 400, which is shown in
Fig. 8.
Referring now to Fig. 5, the die cut blank 110 includes a rectangular bottom
panel 112 having opposed front and rear edges 114 and 116, and opposed first
and
.. second side edges 118 and 120. The blank 110 further includes a front panel
122 that is
foldably connected to the bottom panel 112 along a front crease 124 and a rear
panel
132 that is foldably connected to the rear edge 116 of the bottom panel 112
along a rear
crease 134.
The front panel 122 includes a front perforated cut line 126 that divides the
front panel 122 into a lower front panel portion 125 that will form the front
wall of the
tray 400 and an upper front panel portion 127 that will be separated from the
front wall
of the tray 400. A handle 129 is defined within the upper front panel portion
127 by
perforations. In addition, the front panel 122 includes a front perforated
fold line 162
that defines an upper front flap 164 of the carton 300.
The rear panel 132 includes a rear perforated cut line 136 that separates and
defines the lower rear panel portion 135 that will form the rear wall of the
tray 400 and
an upper rear flap 178 of the carton 300. A handle 139 is defined within the
rear panel
132 with a semi-circular perforated punch 137.
The blank 110 further includes opposed first and second outer side panels 140
.. and 142 that are foldably connected to the opposed first and second side
edges 118 and
120 of the bottom panel 112 along respective first and second side creases 144
and 146.
Here, the die cut blank 110 differs from the die cut blank 10, in that the
first and second
outer side panels 140 and 142 have respective curvilinear perforated cut lines
143 and
145.
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More particularly, the perforated cut line 143 of the first outer side panel
140
separates and defines an upper side panel portion 153 from a lower side panel
portion
155, and the perforated cut line 145 of the second outer side panel 142
separates and
defines an upper side panel portion 163 from a lower side panel portion 165.
In
addition, the opposed first and second outer side panels 140 and 142 include
respective
semi-circular perforated punches 157 and 167 for engaging the perforated cut
lines 143
and 145, respectively.
The front panel 122 of blank 110 further includes opposed first and second
front
side panels 147 and 148 that are foldably connected to the front panel 122
along
respective opposed front side crease lines 176 and 178. The first front side
panel 147
includes an angled perforated cut line 190 that defines and separates a front
inner side
wall portion 150 of the tray 400 from a front inner side wall portion 194 of
the carton
300. In addition, the first front side panel 147 includes a crease line 195
that defines
and separates an upper front side flap portion 166 from the front inner side
wall portion
194.
The second front side panel 148 includes an angled perforated cut line 192
that
defines and separates a front inner side wall portion 152 of the tray 400 from
a front
inner side wall portion 196 of the carton 300. In addition, the second front
side panel
148 includes a crease line 197 that defines and separates an upper front side
flap
portion 168 from the front inner side wall portion 196.
The rear panel 132 of blank 110 further includes opposed first and second rear
side panels 154 and 156 that are foldably connected to the rear panel 132
along
respective opposed rear side crease lines 186 and 188. The first rear side
panel 154
incudes a curvilinear perforated cut line 180 that defines and separates a
rear inner side
wall portion 158 of the tray 400 from a rear inner side wall portion 185 of
the carton
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300. In addition, the first rear side panel 154 includes a crease line 170
that is aligned
with rear cut line 136 and defines and separates an upper rear side flap
portion 174
from the rear inner side wall portion 185.
The second rear side panel 156 incudes a curvilinear perforated cut line 182
that
defines and separates a rear inner side wall portion 160 of the tray 400 from
a rear inner
side wall portion 187 of the carton 300. In addition, the second rear side
panel 156
includes a crease line 172 that is aligned with rear cut line 136 and defines
and
separates an upper rear side flap portion 176 from the rear inner side wall
portion 187.
When the carton 300 is transformed into the tray 400, the front inner side
wall
portion 150 and rear inner side wall portion 158 align or otherwise register
with the
main or outer side panel 140 of the tray 400, and the front inner side wall
portion 152
and rear inner side wall portion 160 align or otherwise register with the main
or outer
side panel 142 of the tray 400, as best seen in Fig. 8. In this condition, the
height of
the rear wall 135 of the tray 400 is greater than the height of the front wall
125 of the
tray 400.
Referring now to Figs. 9-12, there is illustrated a third embodiment of the
transformable shipping carton of the subject invention that is constructed
from a die cut
blank 210 shown in Fig. 9. The die cut blank 210 is adapted to be erected
using a
conventional tray former and glue into a shipping carton 300 having an upper
portion
__ constructed as an RSC type carton with closure flaps and a lower portion
constructed as
a mandrel formed tray having a flat base, as shown in Fig. 10.
The carton 500 is configured to be closed in a conventional manner utilizing
existing closure methods such as a taper, hand tape, or gluer, as shown in
Fig. 11. In
this closed condition, the carton 500 can be stacked and shipped in a
conventional
manner without the need for slip sheets or master cases. Once the carton 500
has
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reached its retail destination, a series of die cut perforations formed in the
blank 210
enable the carton 500 to be transformed into a shelf ready tray 600, which is
shown in
Fig. 12.
Referring now to Fig. 9, the die cut blank 210 includes a rectangular bottom
panel 212 having opposed front and rear edges 214 and 216, and opposed first
and
second side edges 218 and 220. The blank 210 further includes a front panel
222 that is
foldably connected to the bottom panel 212 along a front crease 224 and a rear
panel
232 that is foldably connected to the rear edge 216 of the bottom panel 212
along a rear
crease 234.
The front panel 222 includes a front perforated cut line 226 that divides the
front panel 222 into a lower front panel portion 225 that will form the front
wall of the
tray 600 and an upper front panel portion 227 that will be separated from the
front wall
of the tray 600. A handle 229 is defined within the upper front panel portion
227 by
perforations. In addition, the front panel 222 includes a front perforated
fold line 262
that defines an upper front flap 264 of the carton 500.
The rear panel 232 includes a rear perforated cut line 236 that separates and
defines the lower rear panel portion 235 that will form the rear wall of the
tray 600 and
an upper rear flap 278 of the carton 500. A handle 239 is defined within the
rear panel
232 with a semi-circular perforated punch 237.
The blank 210 further includes opposed first and second outer side panels 240
and 242 that are foldably connected to the opposed first and second side edges
218 and
220 of the bottom panel 212 along respective first and second side creases 244
and 246.
Here, the die cut blank 210 is similar to the die cut blank 10, in that the
first and second
outer side panels 240 and 242 do not include any perforated cut lines.
However, the
upper edges 243 and 245 of outer side panels 240 and 242 of blank 210, which
will
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define the outer opposed side walls 155 and 165 of the tray 600, are shaped
differently
from the upper edges 143 and 145 of outer side panels 40 and 42 of blank 10.
The front panel 222 of blank 210 further includes opposed first and second
front
side panels 247 and 248 that are foldably connected to the front panel 222
along
respective opposed front side crease lines 276 and 278. The first front side
panel 247
includes an curvilinear perforated cut line 290 that defines and separates a
front inner
side wall portion 250 of the tray 600 from a front inner side wall portion 294
of the
carton 500. In addition, the first front side panel 247 includes a crease line
295 that
defines and separates an upper front side flap portion 266 from the front
inner side wall
portion 294.
The second front side panel 248 includes an curvilinear perforated cut line
292
that defines and separates a front inner side wall portion 252 of the tray 600
from a
front inner side wall portion 296 of the carton 500. In addition, the second
front side
panel 248 includes a crease line 297 that defines and separates an upper front
side flap
portion 268 from the front inner side wall portion 296.
The rear panel 232 of blank 210 further includes opposed first and second rear
side panels 254 and 256 that are foldably connected to the rear panel 232
along
respective opposed rear side crease lines 286 and 288. The first rear side
panel 254
incudes a perforated cut line 280 aligned with rear cut line 236 that defines
and
separates a rear inner side wall portion 258 of the tray 600 from an upper
rear side flap
portion 274, and the second rear side panel 256 incudes a perforated cut line
282
aligned with tear cut line 236 that defines and separates a rear inner side
wall portion
260 of the tray 600 from an upper rear side flap portion 276.
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When the carton 500 is transformed into the tray 600, the front inner side
wall
portion 250 and rear inner side wall portion 258 align or otherwise register
with the
main or outer side panel 240 of the tray 600, and the front inner side wall
portion 252
and rear inner side wall portion 260 align or otherwise register with the main
or outer
side panel 242 of the tray 600, as best seen in Fig. 12. In this condition,
the height of
the rear wall 235 of the tray 600 is greater than the height of the front wall
225 of the
tray 600.
Referring now to Figs. 13-17, there is illustrated a fourth embodiment of the
transformable shipping carton of the subject invention that is constructed
from a die cut
.. blank 310 shown in Fig. 13, or from a slightly modified blank 410 shown in
Fig. 14. In
either case, the die cut blank 310, 410 is adapted to be erected using a
conventional tray
former and glue into a shipping carton 700 having an upper portion constructed
as an
RSC type carton with closure flaps and a lower portion constructed as a
mandrel
formed tray having a flat base, as shown in Fig. 15.
The carton 700 is configured to be closed in a conventional manner utilizing
existing closure methods such as a taper, hand tape, or gluer, as shown in
Fig. 16. In
this closed condition, the carton 700 can be stacked and shipped in a
conventional
manner without the need for slip sheets or master cases. Once the carton 700
has
reached its retail destination, a series of die cut perforations formed in the
blank 310,
410 enable the carton 700 to be transformed into a shelf ready tray 800, which
is shown
in Fig. 17.
Referring now to Fig. 13, the die cut blank 310 includes a rectangular bottom
panel 312 having opposed front and rear edges 314 and 316, and opposed first
and
second side edges 318 and 320. The blank 310 further includes a front panel
322 that is
foldably connected to the bottom panel 312 along a front crease 324 and a rear
panel
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332 that is foldably connected to the rear edge 316 of the bottom panel 312
along a rear
crease 334.
The front panel 322 includes a front perforated cut line 326 that divides the
front panel 322 into a lower front panel portion 325 that will form the front
wall of the
tray 800 and an upper front panel portion 327 that will be separated from the
front wall
of the tray 800. A perforated semicircular punch 329 is defined within the
upper front
panel portion 327 for engaging the cut line 326.
In contrast to this die cut blank 310, the die cut blank 410 shown in Fig. 14
has
a front panel 422 that is foldably connected to the bottom panel 412 along a
front
crease 424 that only includes a front panel portion 325 that will form the
front wall of
the tray. Otherwise, blank 410 and 310 are identical in form and function.
With continuing reference to Fig. 13, the rear panel 332 of blank 310 will
form,
in and of itself, the rear wall 335 of the tray 800. The rear panel 332
further includes a
pre-cut handle area 339, for carrying the carton 700. The blank 310 further
includes
opposed first and second outer side panels 340 and 342 that are foldably
connected to
the opposed first and second side edges 318 and 320 of the bottom panel 312
along
respective first and second side creases 344 and 346.
The first outer side panel 340 includes a curvilinear perforated cut lines 343
that
separates and defines an upper side panel portion 353 and a lower side panel
portion
355. The lower side panel portion 355 will form the first side wall of the
tray 800 once
it is separated from the upper side panel portion 353. The first outer side
panel 340
further includes an upper side flap 364 that is foldably connected to the
upper side
panel portion 353 along a perforated crease 367.
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The first outer side panel 340 also includes opposed front and rear side panel
portions 347 and 354 that are foldably connected to the outer side panel 340
along
respective front and rear crease lines 376 and 386. The front side panel
portion 347
includes a substantially linear perforated cut line 390 that defines and
separates a front
inner wall portion 350 of the tray 800 from front inner wall portion 394 of
the carton
700. In addition, the front side panel 347 includes a crease line 395 that
defines and
separates an upper front flap portion 366 from the front inner wall portion
394.
The rear side panel portion 354 includes a generally L-shaped perforated cut
line 380 that defines and separates a rear inner wall portion 358 of the tray
800 from
rear inner wall portion 385 of the carton 700. In addition, the rear side
panel portion
354 includes a crease line 370 that defines and separates an upper rear flap
portion 374
from the rear inner wall portion 358.
The second outer side panel 342 includes a curvilinear perforated cut line 345
that separates and defines an upper side panel portion 363 and a lower side
panel
portion 365. The lower side panel portion 365 will form the second side wall
of the
tray 800 once it is separated from the upper side panel portion 363. The
second outer
side panel 342 further includes an upper side flap 378 that is foldably
connected to the
upper side panel portion 363 along a perforated crease 369.
The second outer side panel 342 also includes opposed front and rear side
panel
portions 348 and 356 that are foldably connected to the outer side panel 342
along
respective front and rear crease lines 378 and 388. The front side panel
portion 348
includes a substantially linear perforated cut line 392 that defines and
separates a front
inner wall portion 352 of the tray 800 from front inner wall portion 396 of
the carton
700. In addition, the front side panel 348 includes a crease line 397 that
defines and
separates an upper front flap portion 368 from the front inner wall portion
396. The
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rear side panel portion 356 includes a generally L-shaped perforated cut line
382 that
defines and separates a rear inner wall portion 360 of the tray 800 from rear
inner wall
portion 387 of the carton 700. In addition, the rear side panel 356 includes a
crease line
372 that defines and separates an upper rear flap portion 376 from the rear
inner wall
portion 360.
When the carton 700 is transformed into the tray 800, the opposed front inner
wall portions 350 and 352 align or otherwise register with the front outer
wall portion
325 of the tray 800, and the opposed rear inner wall portions 358 and 360
align or
otherwise register with the rear wall portion 335 of the tray 800, as best
seen in Fig. 17.
In this condition, the height of the rear wall 353 of the tray 800 is greater
than the
height of the front wall 325 of the tray 800.
While the subject disclosure has been shown and described with reference to
preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that
changes or
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope
of the
subject disclosure.
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