Abstract:
A box having a main body and a wing slideably connected to the main body. The box including structure for holding and displaying goods.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/178,548 filed May 15, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    N/A 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a box for displaying and transporting products having a main body and a wing slideably connected to the main body, allowing the wing to extend beyond the main body to enhance display of the goods after shipment to a retail outlet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A variety of containers are used for transporting and displaying goods. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides a box with a wing that can be extended to enhance the display of the goods, and collapsed to provide a smaller profile for shipping of the box. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a box for transporting and displaying goods. The box includes a main body having one or more openings or shelves or other structures suitable for holding goods for sale. The box also includes a wing slideably attached to the main body. The wing can be extended at a retail location to enhance the display of the goods. During transport, the wing is slided down into the main body to provide a smaller profile for shipping. This reduces the shipping costs. The box is preferably formed from a corrugated material and includes plastic clips to prevent the wing from extending beyond a predetermined distance. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a box for transporting and displaying goods is provided. The box includes a main body having a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a front wall. The front includes a first opening and a second opening separated from the first opening by a partition for holding and displaying goods. The main body also includes a top and a bottom panel. The box further includes a wing slideably secured to the main body. The wing is moveable from a collapsed position covering the first opening (or a portion thereof), to an extended position having a portion above the main body of the box. 
         [0008]    The main body includes a vertical slot that mates with a projection or tab on the wing to provide a guide for the sliding movement of the wing. The main body also includes plastic C-clips which are aligned with two slots in the wing. The C-clips prevent the wing from moving upward beyond a predetermined distance. 
         [0009]    The main body and wing can be formed from a paper or a corrugated material. Other suitable materials can also be used. 
         [0010]    The main body can also include shelves and structure to support the shelves. Other structures can be provided as necessary depending on the size and shape of the goods that are transported and displayed in the box. 
         [0011]    The main body can include a bumper wall in the interior of the main body. The bumper wall can include an opening for supporting a wall of the partition between the first opening and the second opening. 
         [0012]    The wing and/or the main body can include graphics, designs or other indicia relating to the goods. The C-clips or other structure can be provided to mount the box on a wire frame at a retail location. 
         [0013]    The main body is preferably formed from a single blank of material folded to form the structure of the main body. Similarly, the wing is also preferably formed from a single blank of material. Tabs, flaps and panels can be provided as necessary to enable construction of the main body or wing. Additionally, glue or other fastening means can also be utilized if necessary. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a box for transporting and displaying goods comprises a main body having a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, where the front wall includes a first opening for displaying goods. The box also includes a wing slideably connected to the main body. The wing is configured to move from a first collapsed position covering at least a portion of the first opening to a second extended position having a portion of the wing extending beyond the top wall of the main body exposing the first opening in the front wall. 
         [0015]    The main body is preferably formed from a single sheet of corrugated material. Similarly, the wing is also formed from a single sheet of corrugated material. 
         [0016]    The main body can include a second opening separated from the first opening by a partition. The partition forms a shelf between the first opening and second opening for displaying goods. Additional openings can also be formed in the main body. 
         [0017]    The main body can further include a slot in the back wall for receiving a tab from the wing. The slot and tab are used to guide the wing from the first collapsed position to the second extended position. 
         [0018]    The box can further comprise a C-clip interacting with the main body and the wing. The C-clip is used to prevent the wing from separating from the main body when moved from the first position to the second position. 
         [0019]    The main body can further comprise a bumper panel positioned proximate the first side wall. The bumper panel can include an opening for receiving a tab from the partition panel to secure the partition panel as a shelf. 
         [0020]    The second side wall can include a first cut out portion and a second cut out portion that correspond to the first opening and the second opening, respectively. The cut out portions enhance the visual affect of the box and allow for easier viewing of goods displayed. 
         [0021]    The back wall can include a first channel that interacts with the C-clip to define movement of the wing from the first position to the second position. Additionally, the back wall can have a length greater than the front wall, first side wall and second side wall. 
         [0022]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a two-piece box for transporting goods comprises a generally rectangular main body having a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a front wall, the front wall having a first opening and a second opening. The box also includes a generally rectangular wing having a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a front wall slideably connected to an outer surface of the main body. The wing is moveable from a first position covering at least a portion of the first opening to a second position having a portion of the wing extending outward beyond the top wall of the main body. 
         [0023]    The two-piece box can further comprise a first plastic clip connected to the main body and the wing to prevent the wing from separating from the main body when moved to the second position. The back wall of the wing includes a first channel for receiving a portion of the first plastic clip. Additionally, the two-piece box can further comprise a second plastic clip connecting the main body to the wing and wherein the back wall of the wing includes a second channel for receiving a portion of the second plastic clip. 
         [0024]    The two-piece box can further comprise a partition wall separating a first portion of the main body from a second portion of the main body wherein the first opening exposes the first portion of the main body, and the second opening exposes the second portion of the main body. 
         [0025]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0026]    To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a blank of a main body for a box for displaying goods in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a blank of a sliding wing used with the main body of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a front of a main body and a sliding wing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention prior to connecting the sliding wing to the main body; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the main body and sliding wing of  FIG. 3A  with the sliding wing moved downward onto the main body; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a back of the main body and sliding wing of  FIG. 3A ; and, 
           [0032]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of a back of the main body and sliding wing of  FIG. 3A  showing C-clips preventing the sliding wing from being removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the Figures and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0034]    The present invention provides a container or box for transporting and displaying goods. The box  10  includes a main body  12  and a wing  14  slideably connected to the main body  12 . The main body  12  preferably includes a first opening  16  and a second opening  18  divided by a partition  20  for displaying goods stored in the box  10 . The wing  14  slides over the first opening  16  during transport of the box  12 , and can be extended (as discussed below) for display at a retail location. While two openings  16 ,  18  separated by a horizontal partition  20  are shown, other configurations (e.g., having fewer or more openings and partitions) can be utilized. Moreover, additional structures can be added to enhance the display characteristics of the box  10 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a blank of the main body  12  of the box  10  is provided. Starting at the left side of the blank (as positioned in the Figure), a bumper wall  22  is connected by a back panel segment  24  to a first side wall  26  of the main body  12 . The bumper wall  22  also includes a front panel segment  28  that can be used to glue to or tuck under a portion of a front wall  30  of the main body  12 . 
         [0036]    The first side wall  26  is also connected to the front wall  30 . When constructing the main body  12 , the side wall  26  is folded downward, and the back panel segment  24 , bumper wall  26  and front panel segment  28  are folded to position the bumper wall  22  parallel to the first side wall  26  in the interior of the main body  12 . The front and back panel segments  28 ,  24  are sized to conform to a strip  32  on the front wall  30  between the first side wall  26  and the openings  16 ,  18 . The bumper wall  22  includes an opening  33  generally corresponding to the position of a wall  34  extending between the front of the partition  20  and a back wall  36  of the body. Depending on the type and positioning of the goods being transported and displayed, the wall  34  can act as a shelf for the display. The opening  33  can include a straight portion which may be used to support a tab extending from the wall  34 . 
         [0037]    A second side wall  38  is connected to the front wall  30  and the back wall  36 . As shown, a portion of each opening  16 ,  18  extends into the second side wall  38  to enhance the visual appeal of the box  10 . 
         [0038]    The back wall  36  of the main body  12  includes a first horizontal slot  40  and a second horizontal slot  42 , each configured to receive a C-clip  45  (see  FIG. 3D ). The C-clips are used in connection with the sliding wing  14  as described below. 
         [0039]    The back wall  36  also includes a vertical slot  44  that aligns with a vertical slot  46  in the back panel segment  24  of the bumper wall  22 . The vertical slots  44 ,  46  allow for vertical (i.e., sliding) movement of the wing  14  when connected to the main body  12 . 
         [0040]    The main body  12  includes a bottom wall  48  and a top wall  50 . The first and second side walls  26 ,  38  are provided with upper and lower flaps  52  that are folded over and covered by the respective bottom and top walls in a conventional manner. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the blank of the wing  14  (shown rotated 90 degrees) includes a back wall  54 , a first side wall  56 , a front wall  58  and a second side wall  60 . The back wall  54  of the sliding wing  14  includes a first slot  62  and a second slot  64  that coincide with the positions of the C-clips  45  in the first and second slots  40 ,  42  of the main body  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3D , the C-clips  45  act as stops and prevent the sliding wing  14  from sliding off of the main body  12  when extended. 
         [0042]    The back wall  54  of the wing  14  also includes a tab  66  in an opening  68 . The tab  66  is configured to fit in the vertical slots  44 ,  46  in the main body  12  when the sliding wing  14  is connected thereto. The sliding wing  14  is connected to the main body  12  so that the front wall  58  covers the first opening  16 . The sliding wing  14  can slide (along the vertical slots  44 ,  46 ) to an extended position. 
         [0043]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the back wall  36  of the main body  12  includes a first cut-out  70  and a second cut-out  72 . The cut-outs  70 ,  72  each allow a portion of the back wall  36  to support shelves or other structures. The cut-outs  70 ,  72  can also each allow a portion of the back wall  36  to be folded into the interior of the main body. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 3A-D  show a perspective view of a set-up box  10 . The box  10  in  FIG. 3A  shows a front of the box  10  with the sliding wing  14  positioned upward above the main body  12 . In  FIG. 3B  the box  10  is shown with the sliding wing  14  (slideably) collapsed onto the box  10  covering a portion of the first opening  16 .  FIG. 3C  provides a perspective back view of the box  10  with the sliding wing  14  positioned upward above the top of the main body  12 .  FIG. 3D  provides a perspective back view with the sliding wing  14 . In this last view, the C-clips  45  are shown preventing the sliding wing  14  from being removed from the main body  12 . 
         [0045]    In operation, the sliding wing  14  is typically provided with graphics or other indicia relating to the goods displayed. The box  10  is shipped with the sliding wing  14  collapsed covering a portion of the first opening  16 . The sliding wing  14  is extended at the retail location. The smaller shipping profile allows for more efficient (i.e., cost-effective) transportation. 
         [0046]    While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.