Display tray

In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed a display tray having a tray body with a bottom wall, opposing front and rear walls and an open top. At least one support wall is spaced between the rear walls and extends upward from the bottom wall to define a plurality of article carrying rows. A plurality of openings are positioned in the front, rear or support walls adjacent to the bottom wall for receiving projections of articles to be carried in the display tray and retaining the articles in the article carrying rows. In one embodiment, a bottom wall flap member overlies the bottom wall and is folded to form at least one support wall spaced between front and rear walls and extending upward from the bottom wall to form a plurality of article carrying rows. The bottom wall flap member includes front and rear upward extending flap wall members positioned adjacent the interior of respective front and rear walls of the tray body. The front and rear flap wall members and the support walls include a plurality of openings adjacent the bottom wall and dimensioned for receiving projections of articles to be carried in the display tray and retaining the articles in the article carrying rows.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a display tray having a plurality of article 
carrying rows defined by front, rear and support walls and openings in the 
front, rear or support walls and adjacent the bottom wall for receiving 
projections of articles to be carried in the display tray and retaining 
the articles in the article carrying rows. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Consumer products, such as solid deodorant sticks, typically are contained 
in a plastic body, such as an oval configured plastic carrying body. The 
carrying body usually includes a top lid for covering the carrying body 
and a circular adjustment knob positioned on the bottom of the body for 
controlling the amount of solid deodorant stick forced out of the carrying 
body. 
These types of consumer articles are packaged typically in individual 
containers, boxes or vacuum sealed packages for display and marketing. The 
individual packaging of each product has market appeal, and for years this 
manner of marketing has been standard for the packaging of many different 
consumer products such as deodorant sticks. Recently, emphasis in 
packaging has shifted from packaging a product individually to packaging a 
plurality of the consumer products into one display tray or package for 
reducing the amount of waste the consumer must dispose. Individually 
packaged articles generate higher amounts of waste products in the form of 
discarded boxes, vacuum packages and other containers. 
Preferably, a plurality of products are packaged in a point-of-purchase 
display tray or other means where the consumer can select the product 
directly from the tray. When the point-of-purchase display tray is empty, 
the display tray then is discarded. One of the drawbacks for such a 
point-of-purchase display tray is the apparent lack of means for retaining 
the articles in the display tray. 
Some prior art proposals include packaging designs which have slot openings 
for receiving a bottom portion of the article to be retained. These 
proposals disclose packaging designs for retaining bottles and cans. 
Typically the packages are of the wrap-around type and include a top cover 
or wall for engaging the top portion of the bottle or can. The wrap-around 
nature of the package aids in retaining the articles in the package. 
However, there are drawbacks to this type of package design. Typically, a 
consumer must purchase the entire package and contents, and cannot 
selectively choose one bottle from the package without destroying the 
package. Examples of these designs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
2,339,176, 4,382,505 and 4,875,586. Other packaging proposals disclosed in 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,986,628 and 4,067,471 to Prodel disclose open top 
packages with interconnecting side walls for individually storing bottles 
in separate compartments. This type of package allows withdrawal of 
bottles or other articles from the package without destroying the package. 
Nevertheless, this design proposal requires compartmentalizing the package 
which requires excess packaging material requirements and does not ensure 
adequate retention of the articles in the package. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a display tray 
which advantageously does not require compartmentalizing of the display 
tray for holding articles therein. In addition, the display tray of the 
present invention advantageously ensures adequate retention of articles in 
the display tray by receiving projections of the articles to be carried in 
the display tray and retaining the articles in the plurality of article 
carrying rows formed in the display tray. 
In accordance with the present invention, the display tray comprises a tray 
body having a bottom wall, opposing front and rear walls and an open top 
and at least one support wall spaced between the front and rear walls and 
extending upward from the bottom wall to define a plurality of article 
carrying rows. A plurality of openings are positioned in the front, rear 
or support walls adjacent the bottom wall for receiving projections of the 
articles to be carried in the display tray and retaining the articles in 
the article carrying rows. The tray advantageously is formed from a single 
sheet of paper board material. Tray side wall panels serve as tray 
sidewalls and are tapered downward from the rear wall toward the front 
wall. In the preferred embodiment, the openings are formed in each of the 
front, rear and support walls to form cooperating pairs of openings for 
receiving projections of articles and retaining the articles within the 
article carrying rows. 
In one embodiment, a bottom wall flap member overlies the bottom wall. The 
bottom wall flap member is folded to form at least one support wall spaced 
between front and rear walls and extending upward from the bottom wall to 
form a plurality of article carrying rows. The bottom wall flap member 
includes front and rear upward extending flap wall members positioned 
adjacent the interior of respective front and rear walls of the tray body. 
The front and rear flap members and support walls include a plurality of 
openings adjacent to the bottom wall and dimensioned for receiving 
projections of articles to be carried in the display tray and retaining 
the articles in the article carrying rows. 
The rear flap wall member advantageously extends upward to the height of 
the rear wall and is integrally connected to the rear wall to form a rear 
wall having a multi-layered panel thickness. Tray side wall panels serve 
as tray side walls and each advantageously includes an interior wall panel 
having a portion of the lower edge spaced from the bottom wall and forming 
a slot opening adjacent the bottom wall. The bottom wall flap member 
includes side extensions dimensioned for fitting within the slot openings 
for maintaining the bottom wall flap member in overlying engagement with 
the bottom wall. 
The bottom wall includes means for defining a tear-out flap panel and the 
rear wall includes means for receiving a tear-out flap panel from the 
bottom wall for allowing interconnection of a plurality of the display 
trays when stacking of the trays, one on top of the other. The means for 
defining a tear-out flap panel preferably comprises a fold line on the 
bottom wall. A portion of the bottom wall is defined by lines of weakening 
on the bottom wall and interconnecting the fold line. The tear-out flap 
member is separable from the bottom wall along the lines of weakening 
formed on the bottom wall for folding outward along the fold line. 
One advantageous blank design for forming the display tray in accordance 
with the present invention also is disclosed. The blank comprises a 
rectangular blank having opposing side flap portions which extend from the 
blank for folding upward and forming sidewalls. The blank includes a front 
wall fold line defining a front wall flap portion for folding upward and 
forming a front wall portion. 
A rear wall fold line is spaced from the front wall fold line and is 
substantially parallel thereto and defines a bottom wall portion between 
the front wall and rear wall fold lines. The rear fold line also defines a 
rear wall flap member portion. 
The rear wall flap member portion includes a plurality of horizontally 
extending fold lines which define an interior rear wall portion for 
folding over the interior of the rear wall and also a bottom wall flap 
member for overlying the bottom wall. 
The bottom wall flap member includes a plurality of substantially parallel 
and horizontal fold lines positioned on the bottom wall flap member for 
folding and forming a plurality of article carrying rows overlying the 
bottom wall portion. In one advantageous embodiment, there are five fold 
lines which form a double-U configuration and form a dual row display tray 
when the display tray is erected. A plurality of spaced openings are 
formed along the fold lines and are aligned with each other so that when 
the bottom wall flap member is folded and overlies the bottom wall, a 
plurality of article carrying rows are formed for receiving articles 
having projections where the projections on the articles to be carried are 
received within the openings and retained within the article carrying 
rows. 
The side wall flap portion advantageously includes a horizontal fold line 
defining a bottom wall extension flap for folding transverse to the 
sidewalls for reinforcing the bottom wall when the display tray is 
erected. In addition, a diagonal fold line is included on opposing side 
flap portions for allowing folding of a portion of the side flap portions 
over upon themselves to form a sidewall multi-layer panel thickness which 
is tapered downward from the rear wall to the front wall when the display 
tray is erected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In the drawings and specification, there is disclosed a typical preferred 
embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed 
throughout the description, they are used in a generic and descriptive 
sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. 
As shown in FIG. 1, there is illustrated one embodiment of the display tray 
of the present invention indicated generally at 10. The display tray 10 
includes a tray body having a bottom wall 12, opposing front and rear 
walls 14, 16 and an open top. At least one support wall 18 is spaced 
between front and rear walls 14, 16 and extends upward from the bottom 
wall 12 to define a plurality of article carrying rows, which in the 
illustrated embodiment are two article carrying rows indicated at 20 and 
22 for forming a dual row display tray (FIG. 2). Although only two article 
carrying rows 20, 22 are illustrated, the display tray 10 can include two 
or more article carrying rows. 
A plurality of openings 24 (FIG. 2) are positioned in each of the front, 
rear and support walls 14, 16 and 18 adjacent to the bottom wall 12 for 
receiving projections of articles A to be carried in the display tray 10 
and retaining the articles in the article carrying row. In the illustrated 
dual row display tray, two rows of nine sets of openings 24 are 
illustrated for containing nine articles A in each row. The overall length 
of the display tray can be varied for allowing a fewer or larger number of 
articles in each row. The article carrying rows 20, 22 are dimensioned so 
that the distance between front, rear and support walls 14, 16, 18 is such 
that the sides of an article are engaged by the front, rear and support 
walls when the article is carried in the display tray 10. 
Any articles A retained in the display tray 10 generally include 
projections on the bottom portion thereof which are received within the 
openings 24 positioned adjacent to bottom wall 12 on the front, rear and 
support walls 14, 16, 18. Many different articles can be received within 
the display tray 10 and the display tray forms an article holding tray for 
displaying different articles in the article carrying rows. Those types of 
articles A having projections on the bottom portion such as illustrated in 
FIGS. 2 and 3 are best suited for use with the present invention because 
the article projections can be inserted in openings of the article 
carrying row. In FIG. 3, there is illustrated a conventional deodorant 
stick article A which can be received in the display tray 10. 
The illustrated deodorant stick article A is the conventional type 
commercially available at many stores and includes an oval configured 
cylindrical carrying body 30 having an oval configured solid deodorant 
stick (not shown) contained therein. A projection, which operates as an 
adjustment knob 32, is positioned on the bottom of the carrying body and 
is connected to a support plate positioned in the carrying body 30 on 
which the deodorant stick is secured. As the adjustment knob 32 is 
rotated, the deodorant stick is raised out of the carrying body 30. A user 
grasps the projecting portion of the adjustment knob 32 and rotates the 
adjustment knob to raise the solid deodorant stick out of the carrying 
body 30. An oval configured top 34 is positioned on the carrying body 30 
and extends over a top flange portion to engage a shoulder 36. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the openings 24 are dimensioned for 
receiving the adjustment knob 32 and forming a frictional fit so that the 
adjustment knob is retained in the openings 24. Preferably, the walls are 
dimensioned so that the space between front, rear and support walls allows 
frictional engagement of the walls with the carrying body 30. This aids in 
retaining the articles A in the article carrying rows. 
The display tray 10 is formed advantageously of 200 pound E flute paper. 
Although different types of paper and weights can be used, a 200 pound E 
flute material has been found advantageous and provides rigidity to the 
display tray while being resilient enough to enable insertion and removal 
of the articles A. Typically, E flute material has a main corrugated web 
and outer surfaces of Kraft or other paper secured onto the corrugated 
web. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the rear wall 16 is of greater height than 
the front wall 14. Tray sidewall panels 38 serve as tray sidewalls and are 
tapered downward from the rear wall 16 toward the front wall 14. 
Preferably, the rear wall 16 is a height substantially equal to or less 
than the height of the articles to be carried (FIG. 1). More preferably, 
the rear wall is a height substantially equal to the height of the 
articles to provide additional support. This provides a display tray 10 
having a top surface formed by the top surfaces of the articles A retained 
therein on which a second display tray 10 can be positioned on top of the 
articles (FIG. 7) for allowing stacking of one tray one on top of the 
other. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 12 advantageously includes 
means defining a tear-out flap panel 4c (FIGS. 4 and 8) which engage the 
rear wall 16 of another display tray 10 for allowing interconnection of a 
plurality of the display trays 10 when stacking of the trays, one on top 
of the other (FIGS. 4 and 8). As shown in the drawing of the blank shown 
in FIG. 8, the illustrated tear-out flap panel 40 comprises a fold line 42 
on the bottom wall 12. A portion of the bottom wall 12 is defined by lines 
of weakening 44 on the bottom wall which interconnect the fold line 42 to 
form a somewhat rectangular configured tear-out flap panel. The lines of 
weakening 44 can include score lines, intermittent openings or other means 
forming a line of weakening in which the tear-out flap member is separable 
from the bottom wall along the lines of weakening for folding outward 
along the fold line 42. Means for receiving the tear-out flap panel 40 on 
the rear wall 16 includes a slot opening 46 in the multi-panel rear wall 
(FIGS. 1 and 2). The slot opening 46 is dimensioned for receiving the 
tear-out flap panel 40 (FIG. 7). When one display tray 10 is stacked one 
on top of the other, the tear-out flap panel 40 allows interconnection of 
the stacked display trays. 
In the illustrated embodiment, a bottom wall flap member 50 overlies the 
bottom wall 12 and is folded to form at least one support wall 18 spaced 
between the front and rear walls (FIGS. 2 and 4). As noted above, the 
support wall 18 extends upward from the bottom wall 12 to form a plurality 
of article carrying rows. The bottom wall flap member 50 is formed from a 
larger panel which is folded in a double-U configuration to form two 
article carrying rows 20, 22. As noted before, the present invention is 
not limited to a dual row display tray having two article carrying rows. 
Depending upon the desired dimensions of the display tray, the bottom wall 
flap member 50 can be folded to form a greater number of article carrying 
rows 20, 22 by forming two or more support walls positioned between the 
front and rear walls of a display tray. 
The bottom wall flap member 50 includes front and rear upward extending 
flap wall members 52, 54 positioned adjacent the interior of respective 
front and rear walls 14, 16 of the tray body 11 (FIG. 4). The rear flap 
wall member 54 extends upward the height of the rear wall 16 and is 
connected to the rear wall 16 to form a rear wall 16 having a multi-layer 
panel thickness. The front upward extending flap wall member 52 is 
positioned adjacent the interior of the front wall of the tray body 10 and 
extends upward about one-half the height of the front wall. The openings 
are positioned adjacent the bottom wall in the support wall 18 and in the 
front and rear upward extending flap wall members 52, 54 for receiving the 
projections of those articles to be carried in the display tray 10 and 
retaining the articles in the article carrying rows. 
Advantageously, the bottom wall flap member 50 is retained in overlying 
engagement with the bottom wall 12 to prevent the bottom wall flap member 
50 from moving out of engagement with the bottom wall 12. Each tray side 
wall panel 30 includes an interior wall panel 56 (FIG. 2) having a lower 
edge spaced from the bottom wall and forming a slot opening shown in 
dotted lines at 58 adjacent the bottom wall 12. The bottom wall flap 
member 50 includes side member extensions shown in dotted lines at 60 
which are dimensioned for fitting within the formed slot openings 58 for 
maintaining the bottom wall flap member 50 in overlying engagement to the 
bottom wall 12. Each interior side wall panel 50 also forms a slot opening 
62 for receiving the side member extensions 64 on the interior rear flap 
wall member 54 therein to maintain the rear flap wall member 54 against 
the rear wall 16 of the tray body. 
As shown in FIG. 8, one advantageous blank design for forming the display 
tray in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 
66. The blank includes generally a main rectangular blank portion, 
indicated generally at 62 having opposing side flap portions indicated 
generally at 64 extending from the blank for folding upward and forming 
sidewalls. Each side flap portion 64 includes a horizontal score line 67 
defining a bottom wall extension flap 68 for folding transverse to the 
side walls for reinforcing the bottom wall when the display tray is 
erected. A front wall extension flap 70 extends outward from the side flap 
portion and is adapted for folding upward and forming a reinforcing flap 
on which the front wall extends around. Each side flap portion 64 
advantageously includes a diagonal fold line 72 for allowing folding of 
the side flap portions over upon themselves to form a side wall having a 
multi-layer panel thickness which is tapered downward from the rear wall 
to the front wall when the display tray is erected. 
The blank includes a front wall fold line 74 defining a front wall flap 
portion indicated generally at 76 for folding upward and forming a front 
wall when the display tray 10 is erected. The front wall flap portion 76 
includes two medially positioned fold lines 78 for allowing folding of the 
front wall flap portion over the front wall extension flap 70 when the 
display tray is erected to form a front wall having a multi-panel wall 
thickness. A rear wall fold line so is spaced from the front wall fold 
line 74 and is substantially parallel thereto and defines a bottom wall 
portion 82 positioned between the front wall and rear wall fold lines 74, 
80. The rear wall fold line 80 also defines a rear wall flap member 
portion 84 opposite the bottom wall portion 82. The bottom wall portion 
includes a fold line 42 and a cut score line 44 forming the tear-out flap 
panel 40. 
The rear wall flap member portion 84 includes two horizontally extending 
fold lines 86 for allowing folding of the rear wall flap member portion 84 
over itself to form an interior rear wall panel portion for folding into 
engagement with the rear wall when the tray is erected and to form a rear 
wall having a multi-panel thickness. The two spaced openings 46 are 
positioned on the fold lines 86 for forming a slot opening 46 on the upper 
portion of the rear wall when the display tray is erected for receiving 
the tear-out flap panels 40 of a second tray when the trays are stacked 
one on top of the other. The rear wall flap member portion 84 is 
dimensioned so that when folded, a portion also overlies the bottom wall 
member and forms the bottom wall flap member 50 when the display tray 10 
is erected. 
A plurality of substantially parallel and horizontal fold lines 90 are 
positioned on the bottom wall flap member and are adapted for folding upon 
themselves to form the plurality of article carrying rows overlying the 
bottom wall portion. The bottom wall flap member 50 advantageously 
includes five substantially parallel and horizontal fold lines 90. The 
bottom wall flap member 50 is folded along these lines to form a double-U 
configured bottom wall flap member for overlying the bottom wall when a 
display tray is erected. As illustrated, when the tray is erected the 
double-U configuration includes a support wall 18 and a front wall flap 
member 52 which is positioned adjacent the interior of the front wall. The 
rear wall flap member 54 extends upward against the rear wall. 
Each of the first, second, fourth and fifth fold lines 90 includes a 
plurality of the spaced openings 24 formed along the fold lines and being 
aligned with each other so that when the bottom wall flap members are 
folded and overly the bottom wall, a plurality of article carrying rows 
20, 22 are formed having openings for receiving articles with projections 
wherein the projections on the articles to be carried are received within 
the openings. 
To erect the display tray 10 in accordance with the illustrated blank 
design, the bottom wall extension flaps 68 on the side flap portions 64 
are first folded upward 90.degree.. The side flap portions 64 are then 
folded along the diagonal fold line 72 and the side flap portion is raised 
into vertical orientation. Each side flap includes a locking member 
extension 92 for fitting within a slot opening 94 on the bottom wall 
portion when the side flap portions are erected. 
The bottom wall portion 82 is folded and then the front wall portion is 
folded upon itself and upon the front wall extension flap members 
positioned on the side flap portions 92. The front wall portion is locked 
into place by front wall locking member extensions 96 which are received 
into slot openings 98 formed in the bottom wall. The rear wall flap member 
portion 84 is folded to form the rear wall, the interior rear wall panel 
portion, and bottom wall flap member which overlies the bottom wall. The 
bottom wall flap member 50 is secured in overlying engagement to the 
bottom wall by means of the side member extensions 60 which are received 
within the formed slot openings 58. The rear wall flap member 54 is 
secured by the side member extensions which are retained in slot openings 
formed by the folded side flap portions so that the rear wall flap member 
54 is retained in engagement with the interior of the rear wall. After the 
display tray is erected, the articles A are placed within the rows. In the 
case of the illustrated carrying body 30, the projecting portion of the 
adjustment knob 32 extends into the openings 24. The openings 24 are 
dimensioned for receiving the adjustment knob 32 in a frictional fit for 
retaining the articles A in the article carrying rows. Thus, the display 
tray 10 can be rotated or carried vertically and the articles retained 
therein. 
The display tray 10 can be manufactured as a blank and sold to a 
manufacturer and distributor of those articles to be merchandised within 
the display tray 10. The dimensions of the display tray can vary, 
depending upon the type of article to be displayed. Any number of article 
carrying rows can be formed depending on the desired dimensions of the 
display tray and the needs of the retailer. In closely confined spaces of 
a retail store, the display trays preferably can be stacked one on top of 
the other in accordance with the present invention. 
It will be recognized that numerous variations can be made within the 
spirit and scope of the invention as described in the foregoing 
specification and as defined in the following claims.