SHIPPING/DISPLAY CONTAINER

Abstract: A shipping/display container includes top panels (14) and side panels (15) hingedly attached together to form a shroud (10). The container includes a bottom panel and lower side panels hingedly attached together to form a tray (12). The side panels of the shroud are disposed inside the lower side panels and against the bottom panel. The lower side panels of the tray have at least two flaps (12a) attached to at least two lower side panels of the tray at lines of demarcation (13). The flaps are adhered to the side panels of the shroud.

Description: SHIPPING/DISPLAY CONTAINER This invention relates to a shipping container which can be converted into a display after opening at the destination point. Background of the Invention U.S. Patent 4,784,271 discloses a tear strip for tearing a wide adhesive tape for separating the upper portion of a shipping container from the bottom tray portion. U.S. Patent 5,105,950 relates to a cardboard carton lid so constructed that the carton may be securely packed and without the necessity for plastic strapping. The lid has elongated side panels with two parallel lines of weakness (e.g., perforations) formed in each of them. The bottom, fastening portion of the side panels is secured, as by adhesive, to the carton body side walls. The carton is packed with non-deformable material such as business forms which extend above the top edge of the carton. After the lid is compressed, the components are maintained in the compressed condition and the side panels are glued to the carton body side walls. A user can grasp the strip between the liner of weakness and detach the lid, leaving the lid with an uneven, unsightly boundary. It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shipping/display container that can be opened using a knife or other sharp instrument without danger of cutting cartons in the container. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved shipping/display container of simplified construction. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention, a container adapted to ship and display a boxed product includes a top panel and side panels hingedly attached thereto forming a shroud, and a bottom panel and lower side panels hingedly attached thereto forming a tray. The side panels of the shroud are disposed inside the side panels of the tray and rest against the bottom panel, thereby encasing the boxed product. The tray was at least two flaps attached to at least two lower side panels at lines of demarcation therebetween. The flaps are adhered to the side panels of the shroud and are adapted to be detached from the lower side panels of the tray so that the shroud can be removed to display the product. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shipping/display container with cartons to be loaded therein with the container in the loading position which is inverted with respect to its display position; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the Fig. 1 container with cartons loaded therein; Fig. 3 is an end sectional view of the Fig. 1 container with cartons loaded therein taken at right angles to the Fig. 2 sectional view; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the loaded container of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of the Fig. 4 container with cartons loaded therein; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the Fig. 4 container with the shroud removed from the bottom tray; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the knocked-down flat; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the knocked-down flat shroud. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Fig. 1 shows a tray 12 formed with side panels 12b hingedly attached to a bottom panel and flaps 12a attached to the side panels 12b at lines of demarcation 13. Cartons 11 are loaded into shroud 10 prior to assembling the tray. Fig. 2 shows the shroud 10 loaded with cartons 11 and having flaps 12a adhered thereto, for example by glue. Fig. 4 shows where top panels 14 and side panels 15 are hingedly attached to form the shroud 10 which is shown attached to tray 12 in its display position. The side panels 15 hingedly attached to the top panels 14 are disposed inside the lower side panels 12b of tray 12. At least two flaps 12a are attached to at least two lower side panels 12b at lines of demarcation 13 therebetween. The flaps 12a are adhered to the side panels 15 of shroud 10. All panels and flaps preferably are of corrugated material. The lines of demarcation 13 preferably are perforations which are parallel to the bottom panel of the tray. Referring now to Fig. 5, at the point of display the flaps 12a may be cut along the lines of demarcation 13 and separated from the bottom side panels 12b. The length of the knife blade 16 represented in Fig. 5 is set in accordance with the thickness of the flap 12a and the cartons 11 are protected from being cut by the side panels 15 between the knife blade and the cartons 11. As represented in Fig. 6, the container 10 may then be lifted from the tray 12 to display the cartons 11. Figure 7 is a view of the knocked-down flat tray wherein the lines of demarcation 13 are formed as parallel perforations to facilitate separating the flaps 12a after shipping. Figure 8 shows the knocked-down flat shroud 10 having side panels 15 and top panels 14.

Claims: b AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 12 -July 1995 (12.07.95); original claim 1 amended ; remaining claims unchanged (1 page)] What is claimed: 1. A container for shipping and displaying a boxed product, said container comprising a shroud having a top panel with lower side panels hingedly attached thereto, a tray having a bottom panel with lower side panels hingedly attached thereto, said upper side panels being received inside said lower side panels to encase boxed product for shipment, and at least two flaps attached to at least two respective lower side panels at lines of demarcation extending along substantially the entire lengths of said lower side panels, said flaps being adhered to said upper side panels, said flaps being detachable from said respective lower side panels along said lines of demarcation so that said shroud can be removed from said tray to display said boxed product. 2. A container as in claim 1 wherein said shroud is a half-slotted container. 3. A container as in claim 1 wherein said shroud is corrugated. 4. A container as in claim 1 wherein said tray is corrugated. 5. A container as in claim 1 wherein said lines of demarcation are parallel to said bottom panel. 6. A container as in claim 1 wherein said lines of demarcation are perforated. 7. A container as in claim 1 wherein said lower side panels are all substantially the same height. 8. A container as in claim 1 wherein said flaps are attached to two parallel side panels. 9. A container as in claim 1 wherein said upper side panels are received against said bottom panel.

Inventors: MERTZ NOEL J, ROBOTHAM JAMES O, MERTZ, NOEL, J., ROBOTHAM, JAMES, O.
Applicants: KELLOG CO, KELLOGG COMPANY
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5