Temporary merchandiser display

A display hutch is provided that can be made from three components adhered together to form a flat compact structure suitable for shipping. The compact structure can be positioned upright and quickly converted into the display hutch having uninterrupted side panels suitable for graphics. A top tray may be mounted on top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to a merchandiser display hutch. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a display hutch made from three die cut blanks that can be assembled together to form a flat compact structure suitable for shipping. The compact structure can be positioned upright and quickly converted into a display hutch by pushing down on individual shelf members and top flaps. A top tray can be quickly assembled from a separate cut and scored blank and mounted on top of the hutch. The sides of the display hutch present large surfaces suitable for printing graphics.

Description of the Related Art

Floor stands (a.k.a. display hutches) having multiple shelves for supporting products are known. Typically, display hutches are made of multiple components and sometimes even require fasteners. Display hutches can also require complex assembly steps, and can be large even when knocked down. The present disclosure is designed to address these problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a display hutch that can be made from three components adhered together to form a flat compact structure suitable for shipping, plus a separate top tray that mounts on top of the display hutch. The compact structure can be positioned upright and converted into a display hutch by rotating inwardly (as by pushing) shelf panels and then folding down top flaps.

In one aspect of the disclosure a display hutch is provided comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a left side panel, a right side panel and one or more shelves. The front panel comprises a front panel body that defines a plurality of windows and one or more front shelf panels rotatably attached to the front panel body along front shelf fold lines. The front panel extends from a left front corner to a right front corner. Each front shelf panel has a front distal edge parallel to the front shelf fold line. The left side panel extends from the left front corner to a left rear corner. The right side panel extends from the right front corner to a right rear corner. The rear panel extends from the left rear corner to the right rear corner, and comprises a rear panel body that defines a plurality of windows and one or more rear shelf panels rotatably attached to the rear panel body along rear shelf fold lines. Each rear shelf panel has a rear distal edge parallel to the rear shelf fold line. Each shelf comprises one of the front shelf panels and one of the rear shelf panels. Front glue tabs are hingedly affixed to each front shelf panel. Rear glue tabs are hingedly affixed to each rear shelf panel. The hutch further comprises a top wall comprises one or more top flaps affixed to one or both of the front panel and the rear panel. The hutch further comprises an internal support comprising a vertically extending front rail adhered to each front glue tab and a vertically extending rear rail adhered to each rear glue tab.

In a refinement, the display hutch further comprises front tabs projecting upwardly from each front shelf fold line and rear tabs projecting upwardly from each rear shelf fold line.

In another refinement the front rail comprises a rear facing surface flush with the distal edge of each front shelf panel, and the rear rail comprises a front facing surface flush with the distal edge of each rear shelf panel. The front rail and the rear rail may abut each other along their respective rear and front facing surfaces.

The front distal edge of each front shelf panel may contact a corresponding rear distal edge of each rear shelf panel.

The front panel, the left side panel, the right side panel, the rear panel and the shelves may be formed from a single folded unitary first blank.

The front rail and the rear rail may each be formed from an identical blank.

Each side panel may be vertically bisected by a side panel fold line. The display hutch may be re-configurable from a first configuration in which the front panel, the side panels and the rear panel are squared up and form a right prism, and a second configuration in which the side panels are folded along their respective side panel fold lines and are sandwiched between the front panel and the rear panel.

The display hutch may further comprise a glue flap foldably attached to a panel selected from the group consisting of the front panel, the left side panel, the right side panel and the rear panel, and wherein the glue flap is affixed to a different panel selected from the group consisting of the front panel, the left side panel, the right side panel and the rear panel.

The display hutch may extend upward from a ground-contacting bottom edge. The internal support may contact the ground.

The display hutch may comprise a top tray affixed to the top wall. The top tray has a bottom wall comprising top tray tabs that fit within slots defined by the top wall.

In another aspect the disclosure relates to a method of assembling a display hutch comprising the steps of: adhering the front rail to the front glue tabs and adhering the rear rail to the rear glue tabs; adhering the glue flap to one of the front panel, the left side panel, the right side panel or the rear panel to create a folded and glued structure; positioning the folded and glued structure in an upright position on a ground surface and squaring up the folded and glued structure; rotating downwardly in unison the front shelf panels along the front shelf fold lines until the front rail contacts the ground; rotating downwardly in unison the rear shelf panels along the rear shelf fold lines until the rear rail contacts the ground; folding inwardly each of the front and rear top facing flaps until each is perpendicular to its respective front or rear main flap; and rotating the front top flap and the rear top flap inwardly about their respective top edge fold lines until each assumes a horizontal orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention described herein may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments with the understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the illustrated embodiments. Aspects of the different embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another.

As will be appreciated, terms such as “left” and “right”, “top” and “bottom,” “vertical” and “horizontal”, and “front” and “rear” (etc.), used as nouns, adjectives or adverbs refer in this description to the orientation of the structure of the hutch as it is illustrated in the various views. Such terms are not intended to limit the invention to a particular orientation. Also, fold lines in the drawings may be depicted as either broken or solid lines.

Turning to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown inFIG. 1a perspective view of a display hutch10according to the disclosure. The display hutch10comprises a hutch body24and a top tray101. The hutch body24is made from three blanks while the top tray101is made from a separate (fourth) blank100.

The hutch body24comprises four major panels, that is, a front panel12, two side panels14and a rear panel16(obscured inFIG. 1), as well as an internal support20and shelves22. Each shelf22may have a load bearing surface and corresponds to a level. The display hutch10shown inFIG. 1has three levels, although the display hutch10may be made with any number of levels.

Each panel12,14,16generally extends vertically (bottom to top) from a bottom edge26resting on the ground to a top edge28located just below the top tray101. The various surfaces of the hutch10, especially the large uninterrupted surfaces of the side panels14, may bear graphics and other information about the products on display.

The display hutch10may be a substantially rectilinear structure and may have four vertical corners, namely, a left front corner36, a right front corner38, a left rear corner40and a right rear corner42. The front panel12of the hutch10extends laterally from the left front corner36to the right front corner38. The left side panel14extends front to back from the left front corner36to the left rear corner40. The right side panel14extends front to back from the right front corner38to the right rear corner42. And the rear panel16extends laterally from the left rear corner40to the right rear corner42.

The front panel12comprises a substantially rectangular front panel body13that defines a plurality of openings or windows30, one per level, through which products (not shown) may be seen and accessed. Each side panel14is a planar, uninterrupted surface, lacking any significant openings or windows. The rear panel16comprises a rear panel body17that defines a plurality of openings or windows30through which products may be seen and accessed. Thus, the display hutch10may present two (front and rear) “shoppable” sides, that is, two sides through which products may be seen and accessed, and two “uninterrupted” surfaces, the uninterrupted surfaces being the side panels14.

The front panel body13and the rear panel body17may include upwardly projecting front tabs45and rear tabs45at each level to help hold products or a tray full of products on the respective shelves22.

Each shelf22may comprise two separate panels: a front shelf panel44and a rear shelf panel72. Each front shelf panel44is hingedly connected to the front panel body13along a front shelf fold line54and may be supported at its distal (free) edge56by the internal support20. Each rear shelf panel72is hingedly connected to the rear panel body17along a rear shelf fold line74and may be supported at its distal (free) edge76by the internal support20. Thus, each shelf22is supported by the front panel body13, the rear panel body17and the internal support20.

The internal support20is substantially tall and narrow and extends vertically between the front shelf panels44and the rear shelf panels72. The internal support20is made from two blanks or rails88and so is two layers thick. A front rail88may be adhered to the front panel12and, more specifically, to front glue tabs66that are hingedly affixed to every front shelf panel44. Likewise, a rear rail88may be adhered to the rear panel16and, more specifically, to rear glue tabs66that are hingedly affixed to every rear shelf panel72. As the display hutch10is erected, the front rail88and the rear rail88come together in the middle of the structure to form the internal support20.

The internal support20may be located equidistant the front panel12and the rear panel16and equidistant the two side panels14. Preferably the internal support20extends to the ground. In order to extend to the ground, each rail88may extend below the lowest glue tabs66a distance equal to the distance from the lowest shelf22to the ground.

The hutch body24may further comprise a top wall39which is obscured by the top tray101inFIG. 1but visible inFIG. 11. The top wall39comprises one or more top flaps47affixed to the front panel12and the rear panel16. The top wall39may also comprise one or more small flaps32(obscured inFIG. 11but visible inFIG. 10) affixed to one or both side walls14.

The top tray101shown inFIG. 1may be affixed to the hutch body24via top tray tabs132and top wall slots43. The top tray tabs132are formed in the bottom wall102of the top tray101and fit within the top wall slots43defined by (formed in) the hutch body top wall39. More specifically, the top wall slots43may be defined by the top flaps47.

FIG. 2is a plan view of a first blank50used to make the display hutch10ofFIG. 1. The first blank50may be made from any suitable material, but corrugated board is preferred for its combination of strength, light weight and recyclability. The first blank50is shown cut and scored from a single piece of corrugated board to the desired shape, and comprises four major panels, a glue flap52, small flaps32and top flaps47. The four major panels are the front panel12, the two side panels14and the rear panel16. Each of the four major panels extends from a bottom edge26to a top edge28.

The front panel12is attached to one side panel14by a left front (first) fold line36corresponding to the left front corner36and to the other one side panel14by a second fold line38corresponding to the right front corner38. The rear panel16is attached to one side panel14by a third fold line40corresponding to the left rear corner40and to the glue flap52along a fold line42corresponding to the right rear corner42.

The left side panel14may be foldably attached to the front panel12by a left front corner fold line36corresponding to the left front corner36and to the rear panel16by the glue flap52. The right side panel14may be attached to the front panel12by a right front corner fold line38corresponding to the right front corner38and to a left rear corner fold line40corresponding to the left rear corner40in the finished hutch10.

Of course, other arrangements of the major panels are possible. The glue flap52may be foldably attached to any major panel and upon assembly of the hutch10may be affixed with glue or other adhesive to a different major panel. For example, the glue flap52may be foldably attached to the left side panel14and affixed to the rear panel16. Also, the major panels can be arranged with both side panels14foldably attached to the rear panel16. It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular panel arrangement shown in the drawings.

Still referring toFIG. 2, the front panel12comprises a ladder shaped front panel body13and one or more front shelf panels44. Each front shelf panel44is attached to the front panel body13along a horizontally oriented front shelf fold line54. Rotating each front shelf panel44inwardly along a front shelf fold line54creates a front window30in the assembled display hutch10. Thus each front shelf panel44—and each front window30—may be at least partly defined by a substantially U-shaped cut line58that extends upwardly from one lateral end of the front shelf fold line54to the opposite lateral end. At each level of the hutch10, the front shelf fold line54may be co-linear with the rear shelf fold line74. Each front shelf panel44may be substantially rectangular. A front glue tab66may be attached to each front shelf panel44along a glue tab fold line68. The front glue tabs66are configured to be adhered to a front rail88as explained below.

Each side panel14may be substantially rectangular. A side panel fold line (side knockdown score)11may vertically bisect each side panel14.

The rear panel16includes a ladder shaped rear panel body17and one or more rear shelf panels72. Each rear shelf panel72is attached to the rear panel body17along a horizontal rear shelf fold line74. Rotating each rear shelf panel72inwardly along a rear fold line74creates a rear window30in the assembled display hutch10. Thus each rear shelf panel72—and each rear window30—may be at least partly defined by a substantially U-shaped cut line78that extends upwardly from one lateral end of the rear shelf fold line74to the opposite lateral end. Each rear shelf panel72may be substantially rectangular. A rear glue tab66may be attached to each rear shelf panel72along a glue tab fold line68. The rear glue tabs66are configured to be adhered to a rear rail88as explained below.

The first blank50may include upwardly projecting front tabs45and rear tabs45. More specifically, each front shelf fold line54and each rear shelf fold line74may be interrupted by one or more preferably semicircular tab score lines41to create one or more front tabs45and one or more rear tabs45.

During assembly of the hutch10, the two rails88are glued to the first blank50in the positions indicated by the dashed lines89inFIG. 2.

One or more small flaps32are attached to each side panel14along a top edge fold line28corresponding to the top edge28of the hutch10. Each small flap32may define one or more small flap slots33, the purpose of which is explained below.

A top flap47is attached to each of the front panel12and the rear panel16along the top edge fold line28corresponding to the top edge of the hutch10. Each top flap47may include a main flap48and a facing flap49attached to the main flap along a top flap fold line46. The top flap47may define one or more top wall slots43configured to receive top tray tabs132extending downward from the top tray101. The top flap47may also comprise one or more locking tabs35that may be inserted into the small flap slots33defined by the small flaps32.

FIG. 2ais a close up view of a portion of the first blank ofFIG. 2. The horizontal portion of the glue tab fold line68is located a distance (d) below the front distal edge56of each front panel44. This distance (d) may be about equal to the thickness of the front glue tab66and the front rail88. The glue tabs66and glue tab fold lines68of the rear shelf panels72are configured in a similar fashion.

FIG. 2bis a top plan view of a portion of the display hutch ofFIG. 1. The front and rear glue tabs66are bent backwards along their respective fold lines68and in a vertical orientation. The rear facing surface91of the front rail88, that is, the surface facing the rear panel16, is flush with (co-planar with) the distal edge56of each front shelf panel44, and the front facing surface93of the rear rail88is flush with the distal edge76of each rear shelf panel44. Also, the front and rear rails88may abut each other along their respective rear and front facing surfaces91,93. The front distal edge56of each front shelf panel44may come into close proximity to or even contact a corresponding rear distal edge76so that each shelf22forms a solid (uninterrupted) loading surface.

Two second (rail) blanks88may be used to form the internal support20. Each second blank88may be substantially rectangular as shown inFIG. 3. Each second blank88may have a height at least as great as the distance between two of the glue tabs66, and preferably at least as great as the distance between the bottommost glue tab66and the topmost glue tab66. Each second blank88may have a vertical first edge82and a vertical second edge84. The edges82of two blanks88come together in the assembled display hutch10to form the edge82of the internal support20. Likewise, the second edges84of two blanks88come together in the assembled display hutch10to form an edge84of the internal support20. The first edge82and the second edge84may each define a series of vertically spaced apart notches86.

FIG. 4is a plan view of a third blank100that may be used to make the display hutch10ofFIG. 1. The third blank100may be used to form the top tray101that is mounted on top of the hutch10. The blank100may be made from any suitable material, but corrugated board is preferred. The blank100is shown cut and scored from a single piece of corrugated board to the desired shape, and comprises a rectangular bottom panel102, two opposing side wall assemblies104and opposing front and rear wall assemblies106. The rectangular bottom panel102is defined by parallel, opposing side fold lines108and parallel, opposing front and rear end fold lines110. One or more bottom wall slots112may be disposed in the bottom panel102adjacent the side fold lines108and the front and rear fold lines110.

Each side wall assembly104extends outward from the bottom panel102along a side fold line108. Each side wall assembly104comprises an elongated, substantially rectangular exterior side panel114—so called because it forms the exterior of the side wall105in the assembled tray101—attached to the bottom panel102along the side fold line108and an elongated, substantially rectangular interior side panel116connected to the exterior side panel114along parallel double side fold lines118. Flaps120extend from either end115of the exterior side panel114. Tabs122extend from each interior side panel116and are located and configured to be inserted into corresponding bottom wall slots112in the finished top tray101.

Each front and rear wall assembly106extends outward from the bottom panel102along an end fold line110. Each front and rear wall assembly106may comprise an elongated, substantially rectangular exterior panel124—so called because it forms the exterior of the front or rear wall107in the assembled tray101—attached to the bottom panel102along an end fold line110and an elongated substantially rectangular interior end panel126connected to the exterior end panel124along parallel double end fold lines128.

Tabs122extend from each interior end panel126and are located and configured to be inserted into corresponding bottom wall slots112in the finished top tray101. A top tray fold line130may bisect the top tray blank100. One or more top tray tabs132may be formed in the top tray bottom102in locations corresponding to the top wall slots43in the hutch body24. The top tray blank100can be folded in half along the top tray fold line130prior to shipping.

Method of Assembly

Referring toFIG. 2, glue or other adhesive is applied to the interior (rail facing) surfaces of the front and rear glue tabs66or, less preferably, to areas of the rails88that will be adhered to the front and rear glue tabs66. After applying the glue, the two rails88are positioned onto the first blank50in the locations indicated by the dashed lines89inFIG. 2. This causes the rails88to become affixed to the vertically aligned glue tabs66of the front and rear panels12,16to achieve the substantially flat structure90shown inFIG. 5.

Next, as shown inFIG. 5, glue51or other adhesive may be applied to the inner facing surface53of the glue flap52. The flat structure90may be folded over along the fold line38as shown by arrow A inFIG. 5and then folded over along the fold line40as shown by arrow B until the glue flap52lays flat against the outer facing surface of the left side panel14and is adhered thereto to form the glued structure92ofFIG. 6.

Alternatively, the glue51or other adhesive may be applied to the outer facing surface55of the glue flap52. Then the flat structure90may be folded over along the fold line40as shown by arrow B inFIG. 5and then folded over along the fold line38as shown by arrow A until the glue flap52lays flat against the inner facing surface of the left side panel14and is adhered thereto to form a glued structure92like that ofFIG. 6.

The glued structure92may be shipped in the configuration shown inFIG. 6. If desired, the glued structure92may be made even more compact. This may be achieved by squaring up (opening up) the structure92ofFIG. 6so that it assumes a three dimensional right prism shape (like that shown inFIG. 11), then pushing the side panels14inwardly along the side panel fold lines11. This pushing/folding step will cause the side panels14to fold inwardly on themselves and become sandwiched between the front panel12and the rear panel16to achieve the compact structure94shown inFIG. 7. The compact structure94has a width about the same as the front panel12(or, for that matter, the rear panel16) and is much more compact than most traditional hutches. The compact structure94, along with a folded top tray blank100, may be shipped to the end user in this configuration.

Top Tray Assembly

The top tray101may be assembled from the blank100ofFIG. 2in the following manner. As shown inFIG. 8, the side walls105are formed by first rotating each side wall assembly104inwardly (in the direction of arrow C) along the side fold line108until it is substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel102. The flaps120are folded inwardly (toward each other as shown by the arrows) along end fold lines115until they are perpendicular to the exterior side panel114and aligned with a respective front or rear end fold line110. The interior side panels116are then folded inwardly along the double side fold lines118until the interior side panels116are in facing, abutting relationship with the exterior side panels114. The tabs122may be inserted into the bottom wall slots112.

Next, the front wall107and the rear wall107each are assembled in a similar manner by first rotating each wall assembly106inwardly (in the direction of arrow D) along the first end fold line110until they are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel102. Then the interior end panels126are folded inwardly along the double end fold lines128until the interior end panels126are in facing, abutting relationship with the exterior end panels124. The tabs122may be inserted into the bottom wall slots112. The flaps120should be captured between the exterior end panels124and the interior end panels126.

The assembled top tray101, shown inFIG. 9, is a lightweight, rigid structure that can be mounted on top of the hutch10as explained below.

Hutch Assembly

To assemble (set up) the hutch10at, for example, its final destination, starting with the compact structure94ofFIG. 7, the compact structure94may be positioned upright and the front panel12and the rear panel16pulled outwardly to form the “squared up” three-dimensional upright structure96ofFIG. 10. In this configuration the two rails88that have been adhered to the front and rear glue tabs66are spaced apart by approximately the front-to-back depth of the compact structure94.

Next, the front shelf panels44may be rotated downwardly along front shelf fold lines54in unison. This may be accomplished by pushing inwardly and downwardly any of the front shelf panels44along its respective front shelf fold line54in the direction of arrow E inFIG. 10, and/or by pushing down on the front rail88. Likewise, the rear shelf panels72may be rotated downwardly along rear shelf fold lines74in unison by pushing inwardly and downwardly any of the rear shelf panels44along its respective rear shelf fold line74in the direction of arrow F inFIG. 10, and/or by pushing down on the corresponding rear rail88. These two actions bring together the two rails88to form the internal support20shown inFIG. 11.

Next, each small flap32may be folded inwardly in the direction of arrow G until it assumes a horizontal orientation. Each of the front and rear top facing flaps49may be folded inwardly along top flap fold line46until it is perpendicular to its respective front or rear main flap48. Then each front and rear top flap47is rotated inwardly about its respective top edge fold line28in the direction of arrow H until it assumes a horizontal orientation, preferably adjacent a corresponding pair of small flaps32. Each locking tab35may be pushed downward and inserted into a corresponding small flap slot33to lock the top flaps47and the small flaps32together.

FIG. 11is a front perspective view of the upright structure96ofFIG. 10after the shelf panels44,72have been folded downward into a horizontal orientation and the top flaps47have been folded down to create a top wall39.

Finally, the assembled top tray101ofFIG. 9may be mounted onto the top wall39of the hutch body24. Prior to placing the top tray101on the top wall39, the top tray tabs132may be pushed downward so that they can be inserted into the top wall slots43in the top of the hutch body24. The display10is now fully assembled and appears substantially like the hutch10ofFIG. 1.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The hutch10can be used to display any suitable product, in a retail setting or otherwise. The hutch is durable and can bear significant loads, especially if made of corrugated board. With knockdown scores on the side panels, the hutch can be folded into a compact configuration about half the size of some traditional hutches.

It should be understood that the embodiments described above are only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the invention. Modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope.