Abstract:
A kit for displaying beverages, includes a first corrugated fiberboard for supporting a bin within a cavity of the first corrugated fiberboard. A second corrugated fiberboard displays at least one of words, images, and shapes, and is capable of being removably mounted to the first corrugated fiberboard. A third corrugated fiberboard supports the articles placed in the bin, and inserts within the cavity of the first corrugated fiberboard. A fourth corrugated fiberboard receives the articles therein, and comprises a portion of the bin and inserts within the cavity of the first corrugated fiberboard supported by the third corrugated fiberboard and secured by the first corrugated fiberboard. A liner is inserted in the first corrugated fiberboard over the fourth corrugated fiberboard, a portion of the liner extending through the fourth corrugated fiberboard, the third corrugated fiberboard, the second corrugated fiberboard, and the first corrugated fiberboard, allowing a coolant placed within the liner to drain from the bin after cooling the articles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/314,495, filed Mar. 16, 2010, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to the cooling and display of beverages and other items and, more particularly, to a disposable cooler beverage bin. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a kit for displaying beverages, and includes a first corrugated fiberboard for supporting a bin within a cavity of the first corrugated fiberboard. A second corrugated fiberboard displays at least one of words, images, and shapes, and is capable of being removably mounted to the first corrugated fiberboard. A third corrugated fiberboard supports the articles placed in the bin, and inserts within the cavity of the first corrugated fiberboard. A fourth corrugated fiberboard receives the articles therein, and comprises a portion of the bin and inserts within the cavity of the first corrugated fiberboard supported by the third corrugated fiberboard and secured by the first corrugated fiberboard. A liner is inserted in the first corrugated fiberboard over the fourth corrugated fiberboard, a portion of the liner extending through the fourth corrugated fiberboard, the third corrugated fiberboard, the second corrugated fiberboard, and the first corrugated fiberboard, allowing a coolant placed within the liner to drain from the bin after cooling the articles. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a beverage bin embodying features of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of one component of a disclosed embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of one component of a disclosed embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of one component of a disclosed embodiment of the present invention 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of one component of a disclosed embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the assembly process of a disclosed embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. Additionally, for the most part, details concerning fiberboard manufacturing, creasing, and cutting and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, there is exemplified a system  100  for displaying, cooling, and advertising articles for sale, such as beverages. The system  100  preferably comprises a cooler base  101  and a cooler header  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cooler base  101  comprises a portion of a bin for storing and cooling beverages. The cooler base  101  further comprises one or more areas for displaying an image or advertisement. The cooler header  102  comprises an area of the system  100  for displaying an image or advertisement. Furthermore, the cooler header  102  secures or attaches to the cooler base  101  as described in more detail below. Preferably, the cooler base  101  and the cooler header  102  are comprised of corrugated fiberboard, although additional materials may be used. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is exemplified a single sheet of corrugated fiberboard used in the assembly of the cooler base  101 . The single sheet of corrugated fiberboard is die cut and creased to form the following: a front wall  110 , a first side wall  111 , a back wall  112 , a second side wall  113 , an attachment flap  114 , a back wall bin formation flap  115 , a back wall bottom formation flap  116 , a first side wall bin formation flap  117 , a first side wall bottom formation flap  118 , a front wall bin formation flap  119 , a front wall bottom formation flap  120 , a second side wall bin formation flap  121 , and a second side wall bottom formation flap  122 . 
     As illustrated, the first side wall  111 , and the second side wall  113  comprise a pair of opposing side walls foldably attached along a first cooler base crease (“First CBC”)  123  and a second cooler base crease (“Second CBC”)  124  to the front wall  110 . The back wall  112  is foldably attached along a third cooler base crease (“Third CBC”)  125  to the first side wall  111  opposite the front wall  110 . Finally, the attachment flap  114  foldably attaches to the back wall  112  along a fourth cooler base crease (“Fourth CBC”)  126  opposite the first side wall  111 . In the illustrated embodiment, folds are made along each of the First CBC  123 , the Second CBC  124 , the Third CBC  125 , and the Fourth CBC  126  such that the front side of each wall does not face any other wall of the single sheet of corrugated fiberboard. These folds create the box like structure featured prominently in  FIG. 1 . An adhesive is applied to the front of attachment flap  114  and secured to the second side wall  113  along an edge  127  opposite the First CBC  123  of the front wall  110  securing the box like structure. This allows the cooler base  101  to quickly and easily move from a relatively flat storage configuration (not shown) to a box-like set-up configuration ( FIG. 1 ) having a cavity. 
     The back wall bottom formation flap  116  folds away from the front of the corrugated fiberboard sheet of the cooler base  101  along a fifth cooler base crease (“Fifth CBC”)  128  toward the cavity previously formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the back wall bottom formation flap  116  is creased along a sixth cooler base crease (“Sixth CBC”)  129  forming a first portion back wall bottom formation flap  130 , and a second portion back wall bottom formation flap  131 . An adhesive is applied along the back of the second portion back wall bottom formation flap  131  and secured to the first side wall bottom formation flap  118  along an edge of the first side wall bottom formation flap  118  proximate to the back wall bottom formation flap  116 . The first side wall bottom formation flap  118  folds away from the front of the corrugated fiberboard sheet of the cooler base  101  along a seventh cooler base crease (“Seventh CBC”)  132  toward the cavity. 
     Similarly, the front wall bottom formation flap  120  folds away from the front of the corrugated fiberboard sheet comprising the cooler base  101  along an eighth cooler base crease (“Eighth CBC”)  133  toward the cavity. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall bottom formation flap  120  is creased along a ninth cooler base crease (“Ninth CBC”)  134  forming a first portion front wall bottom formation flap  135 , and a second portion front wall bottom formation flap  136 . An adhesive is applied along the back of the second portion front wall bottom formation flap  136  and secured to the second side wall bottom formation flap  122  along an edge of the second side wall bottom formation flap  122  proximate to the front wall bottom formation flap  120 . The second side wall bottom formation flap  122  folds away from the front of the corrugated fiberboard sheet of the cooler base  101  along a tenth cooler base crease (“Tenth CBC”)  137  toward the interior previously formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooler base  101  folds along the cooler base creases described above between the storage configuration and set-up configuration (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). 
     In an embodiment, castors may be placed at castor locations  138  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the back wall bin formation flap  115  folds away from the front of the cooler base  101  along an eleventh cooler base crease  139 , and again along a twelfth cooler base crease  140  to form a pocket (not shown) of a thickness of a bin  104  ( FIG. 5 ). The back wall bin formation flap  115  further comprises a first back wall insert  141 , and a second back wall insert  142 . Similarly, the first side wall bin formation flap  117  folds away from the front of the cooler base  101  along a thirteenth cooler base crease  143 , and again along a fourteenth cooler base crease  144  to form a pocket (not shown) of a thickness of the bin  104  ( FIG. 5 ). The first side wall bin formation flap  117  further defines a first first side wall slot  145 , and a second first side wall slot  146 . 
     The front wall bin formation flap  119  folds away from the front of the cooler base  101  along a fifteenth cooler base crease  149 , and again along a sixteenth cooler base crease  150  to form a pocket (not shown) of a thickness of the bin  104  ( FIG. 5 ). The front wall bin formation flap  119  further comprises a first front wall insert  147 , and a second front wall insert  148 . Similarly, the second side wall bin formation flap  121  folds away from the front of the cooler base  101  along a seventeenth cooler base crease  152 , and again along an eighteenth cooler base crease  153  to form a pocket (not shown) of a thickness of the bin  104  ( FIG. 5 ). The second side wall bin formation flap  121  further defines a first second side wall slot  151 , and a second second side wall slot  154 . 
     Following insertion of a cooler bin support  103  ( FIG. 4 ), and the bin  104  ( FIG. 5 ) described below with respect to  FIGS. 6A-6B , the bin formation flaps are folded as described above. The first back wall insert  141  is inserted into the second second side wall slot  154 , the second back wall insert  142  is inserted into the first first side wall slot  145 , the first front wall insert  147  is inserted into the second first side wall slot  146 , and the second front wall insert  148  is inserted into the first second side wall slot  151 . Thus the cooler bin support  103  ( FIG. 4 ) and the bin  104  ( FIG. 5 ) are secured within the cavity formed by the cooler base  101 . 
     The back wall is cut to form a drain flap  155 , a first back wall header support  156 , and a second back wall header support  157  as indicated in  FIG. 2 . The drain flap  155  allows for passage of a liner drain  503  ( FIG. 6B ). The first back wall header support  156  and the second back wall header support  157  provide support for the header  102  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is exemplified a sheet of corrugated fiberboard used in the assembly of the header  102  for allowing placement of graphical representations upon the system  100 . The header  102  is cut to a desired shape, such as that illustrated and creased as illustrated to form a header crease  201 . In the illustrated embodiment the header crease  201  divides the header  102  into a first header portion  203  and a second header portion  204 . The header  102  may fold along the header crease  201  such that the header  102  may fit within the footprint of the back wall  112  of the cooler base  101 . The header  102  is further cut along the indicated lines to form header drain hole  202 . In the illustrated embodiment, the header drain hole  202  is the same size as the back wall drain flap  155 . Finally, the header  102  is cut to define the first header support receiver  205 , and the second header support receiver  206 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first back wall header support  156  ( FIG. 2 ) fits into the second header support receiver  206 , and the second back wall header support  157  ( FIG. 2 ) fits into the first header support receiver  205 , thereby partially supporting the weight of the header  102  and partially securing the header  102  to the cooler base  101 . An adhesive is applied to part of the second header portion  204  between the top of the header drain hole  202  and the header crease  201 . This portion of the header  102  is then secured to the corresponding area of the back wall  112  of the cooler base  101  thereby joining the header  102  to the cooler base  101  such that the location of the header drain hole  202  and the drain flap  155  correspond. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is exemplified a single sheet of corrugated fiberboard used in the assembly of the cooler bin support  103 . The cooler bin support  103  further comprises a main support wall  301 , a first support wall  302 , a second support wall  303 , a third support wall  304 , a fourth support wall  305 , a fifth support wall  306 , and a sixth support wall  307 . The first support wall  302  foldably attaches to the main support wall  301  at a first cooler bin support crease  312 , and the second support wall  303  foldably attaches to the main support wall  301  opposite the first support wall  302  at a second cooler bin support crease  311 . The third support wall  304  foldably attaches to the first support wall  302  opposite the main support wall  301  at a third cooler bin support crease  314 , and the fourth support wall  305  foldably attaches to the second support wall  303  opposite the main support wall  301  at a fourth cooler bin support crease  313 . The fifth support wall  306  foldably attaches to the third support wall  304  opposite the first support wall  302  at a fifth cooler bin support crease  316 , and the sixth support wall  307  foldably attaches to the fourth support wall  305  opposite the second support wall  303  at a sixth cooler bin support crease  315 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each support wall folds up toward the main support wall  301  such that a first bin support edge  318  and a second bin support edge  319  meets the main support wall  301  at main support wall slots  330 . The main support wall slots  330  comprise equally sized slots cut into the main support wall  301  as illustrated. Furthermore, the cooler bin support  103  is cut along each cooler bin crease described above as illustrated to form cooler bin support inserts  320 . The cooler bin support inserts  320  along each respective bin support edge  318  and  319  insert into the corresponding main support wall slots  330  when the cooler bin support  103  is in the set-up configuration ( FIG. 1 ). Additionally, the interior cooler bin support inserts  320  along the each cooler bin crease prevent the cooler bin support  103  walls from contacting the front wall  110 , the first side wall  111 , the back wall  112 , and the second side wall  113  of the cooler base  101  (see  FIG. 2 ) during the set-up configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ). Finally, the cooler bin support  103  comprises a first latitudinal edge  321 , and an opposing second latitudinal edge  322 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is exemplified a single sheet of corrugated fiberboard used in the assembly of the bin  104 . The bin  104  is cut and creased such that the bin  104  further comprises a bin floor  401 , a bin floor drain  402 , a front bin wall  403 , a back bin wall  404 , a first bin side wall  405 , and a second bin side wall  406 . The bin floor drain  402  comprises a hole cut as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The front bin wall  403  is foldably attached to the bin floor  401  along a first bin crease  407 . The back bin wall  404  is foldably attached to the bin floor  401  opposite the front bin wall  403  along a second bin crease  408 . The first bin side wall  405  is foldably attached to the bin floor  401  along a third bin crease  409 . The second bin side wall  406  is foldably attached to the bin floor  401  opposite the first bin side wall  405  along a fourth bin crease  410 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first bin side wall  405  comprises a back first bin side wall flap  411 , and a front first bin side wall flap  412 . The back first bin side wall flap  411  comprises a portion of the first bin side wall  405  proximate to the back bin wall  404  cut as illustrated and crease along fifth bin crease  413 . The front first bin side wall flap  412  comprises a portion of the first bin side wall  405  proximate to the front bin wall  403  cut as illustrated and crease along sixth bin crease  414 . Similarly, the second bin side wall  406  comprises a back second bin side wall flap  415 , and a front second bin side wall flap  416 . The back second bin side wall flap  415  comprises a portion of the second bin side wall  406  proximate to the back bin wall  404  cut as illustrated and crease along seventh bin crease  417 . The front second bin side wall flap  416  comprises a portion of the second bin side wall  406  proximate to the front bin wall  403  cut as illustrated and creased along eighth bin crease  418 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the storage configuration of the bin  104  is illustrated as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the set-up configuration, the front wall  403  and the back wall  404  fold up such that the front (shown) portions of the corrugated fiberboard sheet comprising the bin  104  face each other. Similarly, the first side wall  405  and the second side wall  406  fold up such that the front (shown) portions of the corrugated fiberboard sheet comprising the bin  104  face each other. The back portions  411  and  415 , respectively, of the first and second bin side walls  405  and  406 , respectively, are placed behind the back bin wall  404  such that the front portions (shown) of the corrugated fiberboard sheet comprising the bin  104  contacts the back portion (not shown) of the corrugated fiberboard sheet comprising the bin  104  of the back wall  404 . Similarly, the front portions  412  and  416 , respectively, of the first and second bin side walls  405  and  406 , respectively, are placed behind the front bin wall  403  such that the front portions (shown) of the corrugated fiberboard sheet comprising the bin  104  contacts the back portion (not shown) of the corrugated fiberboard sheet comprising the bin  104  of the front wall  403 . Thus forming the bin  104  in the set-up configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the front of the bin  104  (shown) is coated with a water-resistant material. 
     The system  100  further comprises the liner  501  ( FIG. 6B ) having a liner basin  502  ( FIG. 6B ) and the liner drain  503  ( FIG. 6B ). The liner basin  502  comprises a portion of the liner  501  which secures to the cooler base  104  to provide a receptacle for a coolant and articles which are to be cooled while preventing contact between the coolant and the fiberboard making up the system  100 . The liner drain  503  comprises a portion of the liner  501  attached to the liner basin  502  such that a coolant placed in the liner basin  502  may drain out of the liner basin  502  leaving the liner basin  502  relatively free of coolant. 
     The process of bin set-up is shown in the operative steps illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-6B  and described below with reference to components described in  FIGS. 1-5 . The process begins at block  601  where opposing corners of the cooler base  101  are pressed toward each other so that the cooler base  101  moves from the flat storage configuration to the rectangular set-up position defining the cavity. The process continues at block  602  where the cooler bin support  103  is placed in set-up configuration as described above with respect to  FIG. 4 . Next, at block  603 , the cooler bin support  103  is inserted into the cavity of the cooler base  101  such that the first latitudinal edge  321  rests on the bottom of the cooler base  101 . 
     At block  604 , the bin  104  is constructed as described above with respect to  FIG. 5  and inserted into the cavity of the cooler base  101  such that the bottom of the corrugated fiberboard sheet forming the cooler bin  104  rests on the second latitudinal edge  322  of the cooler bin support  103 . Next, the bin attachment flaps are folded and inserted into place as described above with respect to  FIG. 2  and indicated at blocks  605  and  606 . At block  607 , an adhesive, such as double sided adhesive tape, is applied to a portion of the header  102  allowing the header  102  to be further secured to the cooler base  101  such that the header  102  extends above an edge of the cooler base  101  beyond the footprint of the back wall  112  of the cooler base  101 . Optionally, castors may be applied to the cooler base  101  as described above with respect to  FIG. 2  and indicated at block  608  of  FIG. 6B . 
     Next, at block  609 , the liner  501  is inserted into the cooler base  101  such that the liner  501  covers the bin  104 . Initially, the liner drain  503  is pushed into the bin floor drain  402  allowing the liner basin  502  to cover all exposed areas of the bin  104  and extending above an edge of the cooler base  101 . The portion of the liner basin  502  extending above the edge of the cooler base  101  are folded down such that the corners of the cooler base  101  secure the liner basin  502  as indicated at block  610 . 
     At block  611 , the liner drain  503  is pulled through the drain flap  155  in the back wall  112  of the cooler base  101 . Finally, as indicated at block  612  a coolant, such as ice, is placed in the liner basin  502  and an article, such as cola beverages, is placed in the cooler basin  502  with the coolant allowing for display of the article while the article is kept cool. 
     It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the size and shape of the each component can be changed to suit the particular needs of the user. 
     Thus the present invention embodied in the system  100  provides a disposable cooler bin having numerous advantages over prior art beverage bins. For example, the disclosed embodiments provide a cost-effective disposable beverage bin that will last the lifetime of most beverage promotions. In addition, it is space efficient in its transport, allowing many more bins to be shipped or provided to individual resellers by distributors than prior art cooler beverage bins. Furthermore, it is easy for resellers and distributor deliverers to transition from storage to set-up configuration. While the beverage bin will last the lifetime of a promotion, it will begin to decompose shortly thereafter, preventing the reseller from using the distributor provided beverage bin to display and sell products that are not the distributor&#39;s. Finally, the disclosed beverage bin is produced from recycled and recyclable materials reducing the waste produced from most prior art cooler beverage bins. 
     Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.