Abstract:
A shipping and display assembly includes a display tray and a box. The display tray includes a first pair of opposed side panels, each panel of which includes outer substantially vertical panels, a first substantially horizontal panel, joining the outer vertical panels, and having an exterior surface, holding slots for holding displayed items, and securing slots. The box includes securing tabs that mate with the securing slots. The exterior surface of the first substantially horizontal panel is an enclosing surface of the shipping and display assembly when the tabs and the securing slots are mated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to display cases and shipping boxes. More particularly, the present invention relates to display cases that contain items to be displayed, and also serve to secure the items during transport of the items in a shipping box from one point to another.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    When items are sold in stores, a great amount of attention is directed toward providing a neat and enticing display of the items so that consumers are attracted to the items being displayed. A wide variety of display racks and cases have been created to accomplish the objects of providing a neat and enticing display. Often times the display cases must be shipped unassembled, and/or separate from the items to be displayed in the display cases. The display cases are at times assembled at the point of sale, while other times the display cases are sent from the manufacturer preassembled. In either case, the items to be displayed must be placed in the display case or otherwise attached to the display case or rack at the point of sale. If the items are to be moved to another part of the store where they are sold, the items must often be separated from the display case or rack, and then replaced or reconnected at the new location.  
           [0003]    From the above discussion it is clear that there is a need in the art for a display case that securely hold items to be displayed in the case so that the items can be shipped to, and then moved from point to point at, the point of sale without having to be separated from the display case. There is also a need in the art for a display case that can be quickly assembled, broken down, and reassembled using minimal parts. There is yet another need in the art for a display case that can interact with other display cases and the items to be displayed to provide a neat and enticing display.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to meet the above-described needs and others. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping and display assembly, which comprises a display tray and a box. The display tray includes a first pair of opposed side panels, each panel of which includes outer substantially vertical panels, a first substantially horizontal panel, joining the outer vertical panels, and having an exterior surface, holding slots for holding displayed items, and securing slots. The box includes securing tabs that mate with the securing slots. The exterior surface of the first substantially horizontal panel is an enclosing surface of the shipping and display assembly when the tabs and the securing slots are mated.  
           [0005]    The holding slots include a linear edge and an adjacent curvilinear edge, which together form a wedge for securing the displayed items. The wedge formed by the meeting of the linear edge and the curvilinear edge is formed in a second substantially horizontal panel, which is disposed atop the outer vertical panels.  
           [0006]    The display tray preferably further includes a second pair of opposed panels, each of which includes an outer substantially vertical panel, and joint panels that connect the substantially vertical panel of each of the second pair of opposed panels with the outer substantially vertical panel of the first pair of opposed panels. The joint panels are folded against said second pair of opposed panels. Each panel of the second pair of opposed panels further includes an inner substantially vertical panel that is connected to the outer substantially vertical panel, and folded over the joint panels. The joint panels have an arcuate outer edge that prevents contact between the joint panels and a folding point between the inner and outer substantially vertical panels of the second pair of opposed panels.  
           [0007]    Each panel of the first pair of opposed panels may further include a third substantially horizontal panel, that is connected to a lower portion of an inner panel, and that includes lateral protrusions. Each of the second substantially vertical panels of the inner substantially vertical panel of each of the second pair of opposed panels includes cuts at lower lateral portions thereof, the cuts having dimensions of the lateral protrusions. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the drawings demonstrate and explain the principles of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a display tray blank according to the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 a  shows a display tray made from the display tray blank of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 b  shows the display tray blank of FIG. 2 a , holding display items.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 a  shows a display assembly, with the display tray as a component of a shipping box, and with the box top unattached to the display tray.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 b  shows a display assembly in an upside-down configuration, with the display tray as a component of a shipping box, and with the box top attached to the display tray. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    Using the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the display tray blank  100  of the present invention. The blank  100  may be formed from a variety of pliable materials, and is preferably constructed of a corrugated cardboard, and may further be flute type cardboard of variable thickness. In FIG. 1, cuts in the blank  100  are shown as solid lines, and scores in the blank  100  are shown as dotted lines.  
         [0016]    The blank  100  is shown from a perspective illustrating the upper surface  104  of the bottom panel  102 . Bottom panel  102  is the lowermost panel when the display tray  200  shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is assembled from the blank  100 . The blank  100  further includes front panels  106   a -b, rear panels  108   a -b, and side panels  110   a - d ,  112   a - d . The side panels  110   b - c ,  112   b - c  include a series of cut out slots  114  having a curvilinear portion  114   a , which ultimately serves to provide improved product engagement, as will be understood with reference to the finished display tray  200  described below.  
         [0017]    To assemble the display tray, the front  106   a - b , rear  108   a - b , and side panels  110   a - d ,  112   a - d  are raised by bending the panels upward at the seam provided by the score line that borders bottom panel  102  and panels  106   a ,  108   a    110   a  and  112   a . At this stage, each of panels  106   a - b ,  108   a - b ,  110   a - d  and  112   a - d  will be in a vertical position and perpendicular to the bottom surface  104 . The assembly joint  116  will be folded at the score line  122  between joint panels  116   a  and  116   b , and the assembly joint will thus reside within the perimeter of the rectangle formed by the raised panels  106   a ,  108   a ,  110   a , and  112   a . Preferably, an adhesive is placed on the under surface of the assembly joint panels  116   a ,  116   b  so that the two portions will adhere together upon assembly.  
         [0018]    At this point, the assembly joints  116  are folded toward vertically raised panels  106   a ,  108   a  to be flush against the panels  108   a ,  106   a . The panel  108   b  is then folded inward along the score line  123  between the panels  108   a ,  108   b  such that the panel  108   b  covers the assembly joints  116  and disposes them between panels  108   a  and  108   b . Similarly, panel  106   b  is folded inward along the similar score line  123  between the panels  106   a ,  106   b  to cover the assembly joints  116  and dispose them between panels  106   a  and  106   b.    
         [0019]    Next, side panels  110   a - d  are folded along multiple score lines to complete the assembly such that panel  110   a  remains vertical and becomes the outermost panel, panel  110   b  becomes a horizontal upper panel portion, panel  110   c  becomes a vertical inner panel, and panel  110   d  becomes a horizontal lower panel, where horizontal and vertical are described relative to the bottom surface  104  being disposed at a horizontal and at a lowermost position. More specifically, during assembly the side panel  110   a  remains vertical, panel  110   b  is folded inward to become substantially perpendicular to panel  110   a , and portions  110   d  and  110   c  are folded inward such that portion  110   c  is vertical, and  110   d  is folded inward and thereby made horizontal. Panel  110   d  is thus flush with the bottom surface  104 , along the seam between portion  110   a  and bottom surface  104 .  
         [0020]    Finally, side panels  112   a - d  are folded along multiple score lines to complete the assembly such that panel  112   a  remains vertical and becomes the outermost panel, panel  112   b  becomes a horizontal upper panel portion, panel  112   c  becomes a vertical inner panel, and panel  112   d  becomes a horizontal lower panel, where horizontal and vertical are described relative to the bottom surface  104  being disposed at a horizontal and at a lowermost position.  
         [0021]    More specifically, during assembly the side panel  112   a  remains vertical by being folded along score line  124 . Panel  112   b  is then folded inward along score line  125  to become substantially perpendicular to panel  112   a . Panel  112   c  is folded downward along score line  126  such that panel  112   c  is vertical. Then, panel  112   d  is folded inward along score line  127  and thereby made horizontal. Panel  112   d  is thus flush with the bottom surface  104 , along the seam between portion  112   a  and bottom surface  104 .  
         [0022]    The horizontal panels  110   d ,  112   d  include protrusions  118  at lateral ends of panels  110   d ,  112   d  that respectively mate with cuts  120  in the lower lateral portions of the front and rear end panels  106   b ,  108   b . The cuts  120  are dimensioned to match the dimensions of the protrusions  118  to provide improved structural integrity of the finished display tray by fitting around the protrusions  118  of the horizontal panels  110   d ,  112   d.    
         [0023]    Further, when the display tray  200  is assembled, panels  106   b ,  108   b  are disposed atop protrusions  118  to hold panels  110   d ,  112   d  flush with the bottom surface  104 . Additionally, the assembled side panels  110   c ,  112   c  further compress the front and rear panels  106   b ,  10   b  of the front and rear panels against the assembly joints  116 , to further improve the structural integrity of the finished display tray  200 .  
         [0024]    The assembly joints  116  have an arcuate outer edge so that the front and rear panels  106   b ,  108   b  can be folded along the score lines between panels  106   a  and  106   b , and between  108   a  and  108   b , without interference by the assembly joints along the points defining the score lines. Although it is preferred to include the panels  106   b ,  108   b , an alternative design omits these portions.  
         [0025]    Cuts  120  are provided along the lower portions of side panels  110   a ,  112   a . The cuts  120  provide slots  222  in the assembly tray  200  that are receptacles for tabs  302  in complementary locations along the sides of a shipper box  300 , described later. The slots  222  may also receive tabs  216  shown in FIG. 2 from an adjacent tray  200  to prevent adjacent trays from sliding apart from each other.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a display tray  200  assembled from the previously described blank  100  is shown. As is clear from the illustration, the assembled display tray includes a series of slots  214 , each having a straight side  214   a  and a curvilinear side  214   b . Additionally, the side slots  222  created from cuts  120  are shown. The curvilinear side  214   b  of slots  214  provides improved functionality, as the product can be wedged in the slots  214  and is thus better engaged with the tray  200 . Specifically, the edges of the product clamshell covers  218  are generally fairly sharp. The half straight, half curvilinear slot guides the sharp edges into a more fixed location. In contrast, a slot with two straight edge sides would allow more play regarding the resting position of the edge, which would cause misalignment in the display plane of the product, and possible damage to the edges of the clamshell covers  218 .  
         [0027]    As set forth above, the cuts  120  provide slots  222  in the assembly tray  200  that are receptacles for tabs  302  in complementary locations along the sides of a shipper box  300 . Preferably, the tabs  302  reside along the bottom edges  306  of the shipper box  300 . Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , the top  304  of the shipper box  300  may be assembled and taped before shipping, such that the shipper box  300  is easily placed on the display tray  200  to ultimately provide a finished shipping box assembly.  
         [0028]    Specifically, the shipper box  300  is placed onto the display tray  200 , having products  218  already stored within the tray  200 . Then, the tabs  302  are inserted into the slots  222  on opposing sides of the display tray  200 . As shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , pieces of shipping tape  306  are preferably placed over the tab  302 /slot  222  mating area, to secure the display tray  200  to the shipper box  300 . The shipper box  300  has an inner periphery sized to surround the vertical panels  106   a ,  108   a ,  110   a ,  112   a  of the display tray  200  upon assembly. Particularly, only the bottom surface  104   b  of the display tray  100  is exposed in the finished shipping assembly  400 . Thus, the vertical panels  106   a ,  108   a ,  110   a ,  112   a  which will ultimately be on display at the point of sale will reside within the shipper box  300  during shipment. This prevents damage to all areas of the display case  200  that will be exposed during display at the point of sale.  
         [0029]    The shipping assembly  400  that is received at the point of sale is easily converted to a display form. To reveal a display tray  200  having a product  118  ready for display, all that a worker at the point of sale must do is place the box right side up, cut the tape  306  over the tab  302 /slot  222  mating area, and lift the shipper box  300 . This unique display tray  200 , shipper box  300 , and resultant shipping assembly  400  provides an improved capability for moving products  118  from a factory or distribution area to shelves at a point of sale, and provides a vehicle for allowing the manufacturer or shipper to have more control over a product&#39;s display conditions.  
         [0030]    Of course, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any of the exact constructions that have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Although the invention is described in connection with the storage and display of products stored in clamshells, it is understood that other product storage units such as blister packs may also be stored and displayed. Additionally, various products may be stored and displayed by the display tray described in connection with this invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention only be limited by the appended claims.  
         [0031]    The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe the invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.  
         [0032]    The preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application. The preceding description is intended to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims.