Abstract:
An adjustable shipper display system includes a master shell having side walls with mounting positions. A plurality of tray-like shelves are supported at each end at the mounting positions. Fillers are insertable along the shelves to divide the shelves into compartment spaces and to provide dunnage where required. With minimum modification the shipper can be prepared for displaying articles to the consumer without requiring removal or other adjustment of the articles within the shipper.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/488,716, filed Jul. 18, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to containers used for packaging articles for shipment as well as for displaying those articles at a point of sale. More particularly, the present invention is directed to systems for shipping and displaying which are adjustable in their configuration, which are readily erected at a point of sale and which are inexpensive so as to be disposable, when no longer needed. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Packaging arrangements are known to have a dual function of both containing or holding articles during shipment and to function as a display for those articles, typically at a retail store, convenience store, drug store, club store or mass merchandiser such as regional and national grocery stores. Such arrangements provide a material handling advantage in that they eliminate the need at the retail outlet to remove the individual articles and to place those articles individually on shelves, racks or other store fixtures, so that the articles are available to the consumer. When shipping and display arrangements are used, it is only necessary at the retail store to open the shipping container and, with minor adjustments, put the modified shipping container in a location accessible to the consumer. Oftentimes, stores are arranged in aisles with a special area being reserved at the end of each aisle for standardized product displays. For example, wire racks are provided as end extensions of opposing aisles, on which product displays are carried. 
   Arrangements for packing, shipping and displaying articles are sometimes utilized by an organization which produces or otherwise handles a wide variety of products having many different shapes and forms. For example, larger manufacturers of consumer food products may need to package, ship and display articles in glass and plastic jars and bottles of different sizes and shapes, bags of fragile food products, such as potato chips and tortilla chips, tubs of various food products, such as cottage cheese and dips and packages of meal or snack kits containing a variety of components. A mass merchandiser is under continuous pressure to ship on short notice special orders to stores or other customers who require an assortment of articles, oftentimes arranged in a palletized load. Such special purpose assortments can arise from the need of the customer to display seasonal promotions, for product roll outs of complementary food articles and to present a family of food articles to a consumer, such as different sized packages of the same food product. In order to meet increasingly stringent time demands, a mass merchandiser must be able to readily package and ship special orders upon receipt of the orders. Increasingly, orders are sent and received in electronic form, processed by programmable computers which operate at very fast speeds, such that orders are often received and shipped on the same day. 
   A commercially successful shipper display arrangement should be flexible in its configuration, that is, be adjustable so as to accommodate a wide variety of different articles. In order to provide substantial material handling advantages, the same shipper arrangements should be readily adaptable for displaying the articles being shipped. Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of aesthetic values and it is important that shipper arrangements be converted to display functions without requiring mutilation of the packaging materials. Furthermore, commercially successful shipper display arrangements should be of such low cost as to permit their disposal when no longer required. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide systems of shipper display packaging which are flexible, i.e., adjustable in their configuration so as to accommodate a wide variety of articles. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide such shipper display systems utilizing a master shell formed from a single blank of material that is cut and scored to produce a construction suitable for manual or automated loading, for sealing by the shipper, and for subsequent conversion into a display unit at the point of use. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide shipper display systems having cooperating components which are also formed from a single blank of material that is cut and scored to produce the desired features. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide such shipper and display systems which can be accumulated in commercially significant numbers for shipment in a sturdy and durable manner on a pallet and which can be readily adapted at the point of sale for display without need for disturbing or removing the articles from the basic shipping materials. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide shipper display systems in which, in the display mode, a consumer is afforded a full view and access of the articles for sale. 
   In one aspect, these and other objects of the present invention are attained in a shipper display system utilizing a master shell of corrugated paperboard material having a rectangular tray shape with a back wall and four side walls. Interior surfaces of opposed side walls have a plurality of mounting positions for receiving shelves spanning the width of the master shell so as to engage the shelf side walls at desired mounting positions. In one preferred embodiment, the mounting positions are formed as a series of openings on the master shell side walls. Mounting clips are inserted within the openings and include inwardly extending tab portions for engaging and supporting ends of the shelves. 
   In other aspects, the present invention provides flexible configuration by providing shelves of different constructions. In general, the shelves are preferably formed from single integral pieces of foldable materials, such as corrugated board, paperboard, or plastic film which are scored and folded for erection to provide the desired shape and function. For example, shelves are provided having a rectangular five sided tray configuration with an open top and a forwardly facing front wall or lip. In other forms, the front wall of the tray style shelf is omitted to allow a consumer to slide an article off the shelf, without requiring the article to be lifted. In a further embodiment, tray-style shelves are provided in a double tier configuration, comprising a unitary construction in which one tray style shelf is positioned atop another. 
   Preferably, the shelves mounted within the master shell are continuous and undivided. Nonetheless, it is desirable to accommodate multiple articles arranged on a single shelf in side-by-side fashion. In a commercial environment in which a wide variety of different packages is encountered, it becomes necessary from time to time to divide the space of a particular shelf and/or to fill voids between products with dunnage articles. The present invention, in one aspect, provides flexibility in this regard with a variety of fillers preferably formed from a single integral blank of flexible material such as paperboard or plastic film, or molded Styrofoam. Most preferably, the fillers are erected from corrugated paperboard materials folded to take on the form of a hollow rectangular tube. The fillers are inserted or slid along a shelf to acquire their desired position. Preferably, the fillers are sized in height in the manner corresponding to the spacing of the mounting positions of the master shell. In this manner, shelf heights of uniform predetermined values allow for the prefabrication of fillers, such that a quantity of prefabricated fillers may be readily available at the time of packaging without requiring special construction. 
   As mentioned, it is generally preferred that the shelves be formed in a tray style so as to be continuous between the side walls of the master shell. Shelf clips or other mounting devices installed in the side walls of the master shells provide support at the opposed ends of the shelves. When formed from conventional paperboard material, the shelves take on the role of rigid load bearing beams supporting the weight of products placed on the shelves. At times, the shelf materials are required to be thin or flexible such that additional load bearing support for the shelves is required. It is generally preferred, in these instances that the back wall of the master shell be provided with a series of horizontal slots corresponding to the mounting positions of the master shell side walls. The shelves may be constructed so as to have rearwardly extending tabs which interengage slots in the master shell back wall. If desired, the slots and rearwardly facing tabs can be dimensioned so as to extend across substantially the entire width of the master shell. 
   With adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention, the interior volume of a master shell can be divided or partitioned in a number of ways so as to provide a wide variety of differently sized product compartments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a blank for the master shell; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a shipper display system according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view thereof; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a bin-style shelf; 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view of a blank therefor; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an open front shelf; 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of a blank therefor; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a double tier shelf; 
       FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b  are plan views of carton blanks therefor; 
       FIGS. 14-16  are perspective views of palletized loads utilizing adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a rear perspective view of a master shell; 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a first filler member; 
       FIG. 20  is a top plan view of a blank therefor; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a second filler member; 
       FIG. 22  is a top plan view of a blank therefor; 
       FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a third filler member; 
       FIG. 24  is a top plan view of a blank therefor; 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of adjustable shipper and display systems being prepared for transport; 
       FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the first carton component for the double tier shelf; 
       FIG. 27  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 26  but with the second component having been added, prior to final assembly; 
       FIG. 28  is an enlarged side view of the mounting clip; 
       FIG. 29  is a perspective view of an adjustable shipper display system according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a bin-style shelf therefor; 
       FIG. 31  is a plan view of a carton blank; 
       FIG. 32  shows partial folding and erection of the carton blank of  FIG. 31 ; 
       FIG. 33  shows a shelf fully erected using the blank of  FIG. 31 ; 
       FIG. 34  is a perspective view of another adjustable shipper display system according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 35  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  35 - 35  of  FIG. 34 ; 
       FIG. 36  is a fragmentary view of an enlarged portion of  FIG. 35 ; 
       FIG. 37  is an end view of the bin-style shelf of  FIG. 34 ; 
       FIG. 38  is a fragmentary perspective view of a further adjustable shipper display system according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 39  is a perspective view of a mounting clip therefor; 
       FIG. 40  is a front elevational view of the mounting clip of  FIG. 39 ; 
       FIG. 41  is a side elevational view of the mounting clip of  FIG. 39 ; 
       FIG. 42  is a side elevational view of a mounting clip similar to that shown in  FIG. 41  but having an elongated configuration; 
       FIG. 43  is a fragmentary top plan view of the bin-style shelf with the mounting clip of  FIG. 39  installed; 
       FIG. 44  is a fragmentary top plan view of the bin-style shelf with the mounting clip of  FIG. 42  installed; 
       FIG. 45  is an end view of the bin-style shelf with the mounting clip of  FIG. 39  installed; 
       FIG. 46  is an end view of a bin-style shelf with the elongated mounting clip of  FIG. 42  installed; 
       FIG. 47  is a perspective view of another adjustable shipper display system according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 48  is a front elevational view of the mounting clip therefor; 
       FIG. 49  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  49 - 49  of  FIG. 48 ; 
       FIG. 50  is an end view of the bin-style shelf of  FIG. 47 ; 
       FIG. 51  is a front elevational view of an alternative mounting clip for the system of  FIG. 47 ; 
       FIG. 52  is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines  52 - 52  of  FIG. 51 ; 
       FIG. 53  is an end view of the bin-style shelf adapted for the mounting clip of  FIG. 51 ; 
       FIG. 54  is a front elevational view of a further alternative mounting clip; 
       FIG. 55  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  55 - 55  of  FIG. 54 ; 
       FIG. 56  is an end view of the bin-style shelf adapted for the mounting clip of  FIG. 54 ; 
       FIG. 57  is a front elevational view of another mounting clip; 
       FIG. 58  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  58 - 58  of  FIG. 57 ; 
       FIG. 59  is an end view of a bin-style shelf adapted for the mounting clip of  FIG. 57 ; 
       FIGS. 60-62  are perspective views of alternative adjustable shipper display systems showing different loading configurations; 
       FIG. 63  is a perspective view of a display arrangement incorporating adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 64  is top plan view of a blank for the display base therefor; 
       FIGS. 65-68  are fragmentary perspective views showing erection of a display base; 
       FIG. 69  is a perspective view of a shipper display system being readied for installation on the display base; and 
       FIGS. 70-71  show mounting of the shipper display system on the display base. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention. The various shipper display systems  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  are built up from the same master package unit or master shell  20 . Preferably, the master shell  20  and the various components for the adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention are each made of foldable material such as corrugated board, paperboard, and plastic film which is scored and folded for erection to provide the desired shape and function. 
   The adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention have found immediate commercial acceptance with a worldwide manufacturer of a wide variety of food articles leaving a large number of different article packaging types. For example, food articles such as potato chips, crackers and other friable food articles are packaged in flexible airtight bags to preserve freshness. The bags are however susceptible to crushing and suitable precautionary measures must be taken during shipping and display of these food articles to prevent breakage. Other food articles such as mayonnaise and salad dressing are contained in glass or plastic jars and bottles and have their own handling requirements to prevent breakage. Other articles such as meal kits or lunch kits have an assortment of different food products contained in a common outer package, oftentimes in the form of a paperboard box. The food articles vary not only in the nature of their fragility, but also in package rigidity and overall package size. 
   Large manufacturers of different food articles and mass merchandisers are subjected to increasingly severe time constraints to meet customer shipping demands. For example, food stores and other customers often place special orders for an assortment of different food articles, with the size of the overall order being such that the food articles are conveniently shipped in palletized form. With improvements in programmable computers and electronic communications, orders are often received with the expectation that shipment will be performed within a day or two and perhaps even on the same day. Adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention provide the flexibility, i.e., adjustability to readily accommodate a wide variety of different articles, differing in shape, fragility and weight. A master shell  20  shown in  FIG. 1  provides the basis for various adjustable shipper display systems such as those indicated at  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  in  FIG. 1 . The shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention provide a dual function of safely containing articles during shipment, and upon arrival, as a display for the contained articles without requiring mutilation of the packaging materials, or removal or other reorganization of the articles within the shipping system. As will be seen herein, the master shell  20  is readily formed by scoring and folding a single integral blank of foldable material, such as corrugated board. Similarly, the remaining components of the adjustable shipper display systems according to principles of the present invention are also formed from respective low-cost blanks of corrugated board or other foldable material. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , master shell  20  is formed from the corrugated blank  22  shown in  FIG. 2 . The master shell  20  is also shown in  FIGS. 3-7 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , master shell  20  includes a rear wall  24 , side walls  26 ,  28 , a top wall  30  and a bottom wall  32  which extend from rear wall  24 . In its form, master shell  20  generally resembles a tray of rectangular configuration having a continuous series of side walls. Referring to  FIG. 6 , side wall  26  has a double wall construction with inner and outer overlying walls  26   a ,  26   b  joined together at a bight portion  34  on the forward edge of master shell  20  (see  FIG. 3 ). The opposed side wall  28  has an identical mirror-image construction. 
   As can be seen for example in  FIG. 3 , inner wall  26   a  has a series of slots  38  arranged in a vertical series of mounting positions. The slots  38  are preferably provided in numbers equal to or greater than the number of shelves to be accommodated, in order to provide adjustability for the positions of the shelves within master shell  20 . Due to the double wall construction, the slots  38  are backed by the outer wall  26   b . As indicated in  FIGS. 3-6 , co-material clips  40  made of preferably rigid or semirigid plastic are inserted in openings  38  for interlocking engagement with side wall  26  and especially the inner wall  26   a  thereof. The clips  40  comprise shelf mounts for supporting ends of the shells received in master shell  20 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , three bin-style shelves  44  are provided for mounting within master shell  20  for at a number of different mounting positions provided by openings  38  and clips  40 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 28 , the clips  40  include a pair of lower clip walls  40   a  for receiving inner wall  26   a  and a pair of upper clip walls  40   b  for receiving inner wall  26   a  and a side wall  46  of shelf  44 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the inner clip wall  40   b  extends through an aperture formed in the double layer bottom wall  48  of shelf  44 . Clip  40  further includes a tab  50  which underlies the double layer bottom wall  48  of shelf  44 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , blank  22  includes rear wall portion  24 ′, outer side wall portions  26   b ′,  28   b ′, inner side wall portions  26   a ′,  28   a ′, top wall portions  30   a ′,  30   b ′ and floor wall portions  32   a ′,  32   b ′. Blank  22  also includes side flaps  30   c  and  32   c  at the top and bottom of the master shell. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the inner walls, those arranged at the outer periphery of blank  22  have outwardly extending tab portions received in slots formed at the outer periphery of rear wall portion  24 ′. In addition, there are other slots  70  formed in rear wall portion  24 ′ for supporting the shelves, as will be seen herein. Slots  72  are formed in rear wall portion  24 ′ to allow hanging support for the master shell as will be described herein with reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 3 , adjustable shipper display system  12  includes three bin-style or closed front shelves  44 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , shelf  44  includes end walls  46 , front and rear walls  76 ,  78  and bottom wall  80 .  FIG. 9  shows the blank  82  from which shelf  44  is fabricated. Preferably, blank  82  is made of foldable sheet material such as corrugated board, paperboard or plastic film, for example. Centrally located in blank  82  is a bottom floor portion  80   a ′ joined at one side to rear wall portion  78 ′ and to outer front wall portion  76   b ′. Front wall portion is of double layer construction and includes inner front wall portion  76   a ′. Side wall portions  46 ′ are located at either end of rear wall portion  78 ′. Bottom wall half portions  80   b ′ are attached to the end wall portions  46 ′ and when folded overlay floor portion  80   a ′. Manufacturing tab portions  86 ′ are attached to each end wall portion  46 ′ and provide interlocking engagement with the overlying front wall portions. The joinder of rear wall portion  78 ′ to floor portion  80   a ′ includes score lines shown dotted and cut lines shown solid. Included in the cut portion is a pair of rearwardly extending tabs  90  which protrude beyond the shelf when the shelf is fully erected. The tabs  90  engage the slots  70  formed in rear wall  24  of the master shell. Thus, support is provided for the shelves intermediate the end walls to provide greater support for the weight carried on the shelf. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the tabs  90  extend from the lower floor portion  80   a  and interengage rear wall  24 , as shown. The bin-style shelves  44  are used in the adjustable shipper display systems  12  and  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  10  and  11 , adjustable shipper display system  10  utilizes open front shelves  100 . Open front shelf  100  includes end walls  102 , rear wall  104  and bottom wall  106 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , blank  110  is provided for erection of shelf  100 . Blank  110  includes a central floor portion  106   a ′ located adjacent an overlying floor portion  106   b ′. Rear wall portion  104 ′ is joined to floor portion  106   a ′ along a construction line which includes a score portion indicated in dotted form and a full cut portion indicated in solid line form. The solid line form includes rearwardly extending tabs  114  which engage slots  70  in rear wall  24  of the display shelf. Manufacturing tabs  116  are joined to end wall portions  102 ′ and are held captive between floor portions  106   a ′,  106   b ′ when the shelf is erected. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 12 , a double tier shelf  120  includes upper and lower bin-style shelves  122 ,  124 . Included are side walls  126  extending across both and top bottom shelves and front walls  128 ,  130  for each shelf. Rear wall  132  and floor portions  136 ,  138  complete the formation of the bin-style shelves. When fully erected, the double tier shelf  120  comprises a rigid unitary component having rearwardly extending tabs received in the slots  70  of the master shell  24 . Three double tier shelves are installed in the master shell to form the adjustable shipper display system  16  shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring now to  FIGS. 13   a,    13   b,    26  and  27 , construction of the double tier shelf will now be described. With reference to  FIGS. 13   a,    13   b  carton blanks  150 ,  152  are provided, respectively. Carton blank  150  includes double layer front wall portions  130   a,    130   b  which are folded so as to overlie one another, with front wall portion  130   a  interlocking with floor portion  138   b.  Floor portions  138   a  are located on either side of floor portion  138   b  and are folded toward one another so as to overlie floor portion  138   b.  The full height rear wall portion  132 ′ is joined to floor portion  138   b  by a construction line including a central cut portion  158  positioned between score portions  156 . Cut portion  158  includes rearwardly extending tabs  160  which engage slots in the rear wall of the master shell. The blank  150  is folded and locked together in the manner indicated in  FIG. 26 . 
   Turning to  FIGS. 13   b  and  27 , blank member  152  includes floor portion  136  and front wall portion  128  of the upper shelf  122  shown in  FIG. 12 . When erected, the blank  152  is interlockingly inserted within the erected blank  150  in the manner shown in  FIG. 27 . Tabs  164  extend from side walls  126  so as to be trapped between overlying front wall layers  128   a,    128   b.  Tabs extending from the free edge of wall portion  128   b  interlock with slots  168  formed in floor  136 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 19-24 , three examples of filler members and their blanks are shown. Referring to  FIG. 3 , three fillers  202  are employed, one in each bin-style shelf  44 . The fillers  202  resemble shelf dividers as can be seen for example of the upper right corner of  FIG. 1 . Fillers  202  provide dunnage as required to accommodate particular articles arranged side-by-side on a given shelf. Thus, a standardized width shelf can be used to accommodate a variety of different sized articles. The dividers described herein can be employed with any of the shelves herein described. Referring to  FIG. 19 , divider  202  can be seen to have a hollow rectangular tubular structure. Filler  202  includes a front wall  204 , opposed side walls  206 ,  208 , a rear wall  210  and a manufacturing tab  212 . A blank  216  from which filler  202  is fabricated is shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     FIGS. 21 and 23  show filler members similar to that of  202  in  FIG. 19 , except for the width of the filler member. The fillers  202   a,    202   b  in  FIGS. 21 and 23  have widths double and triple the width of filler  202 , respectively. As will be appreciated, the fillers and filler blanks of  FIGS. 21-24  are identical to those of FIGS.  19  and  20  except for width-wise dimensions. Accordingly, the same reference numerals used in  FIGS. 19 and 20  are used in  FIGS. 21-24  with the suffix character a being used for the double wide embodiment of  FIGS. 21 and 22  and the suffix character b being used for the triple wide embodiment of  FIGS. 23 and 24 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , hanging clips  300  have a generally S-shaped configuration as can be seen in  FIG. 18 . The lower hook portion of clip  300  is received in opening  72  formed in rear wall  24  of master shell  20 . The upper hook-shaped portion of clip  300  engages a wire element  302  of a wire rack or other support fixture. With clips  300 , the master shell and its accompanying adjustable shipper display system can be displayed in the hanging position, as well as a free-standing position. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 14-16 , palletized loads of pluralities of adjustable shipper and display systems are shown. In  FIG. 14 , shipper display systems such as those illustrated in  FIG. 1  are arranged in a vertical orientation and in  FIG. 15  are shown oriented in a horizontal orientation. Turning now to  FIG. 25 , two adjustable shipper display systems  12  are arranged in overlying relation, as shown in preparation for transport. A sleeve  500  is provided to enclose the open front of the top system  12  and provides protection from dust and, optionally, extra cushioning. The systems  12  and sleeve  500  are then slid in the direction of arrows  504  into a wrapper carton  510 . Preferably, carton  510  is of conventional rectangular-pinwheel design. Optionally, sleeve  500  and carton  10  can be reduced in size to accommodate a single adjustable shipper display system. Although three shelf systems  12  are shown in  FIG. 25 , the arrangement of  FIG. 25  can be employed with any of the adjustable shipper display systems herein. 
   As indicated in  FIG. 25 , the shelves disposed within the master shell can have a depth greater than that of the master shell. For example, a portion  514  can be seen to extend beyond the upper edge  516  of master shell  20 . The rigidity and strength of the shelf constructions is sufficient to withstand pressures in the direction of arrow  520  exerted on the overall assembly  550  illustrated in  FIG. 25 . If desired, additional strengthening in the form of dividers illustrated herein can be employed to provide additional compression strength. The major surfaces of the dividers are preferably located at the upper end of each shelf portion. For example, a divider for the lowermost shelf portion would be placed against surface  524  of the superior shelf. Although overhang of the shelves of increased depth can be readily accommodated by the present invention, the shelves could also be made to extend flush with the free edge  516  of the master shell or could be recessed below the master shell. In the latter arrangement, it is generally desirable to provide fillers at the front edge of the shelves or dividers at the upper ends of each shelvage portion of the master shell interior, so as to extend to the free edge  516  of the master shell to prevent compressive loadings on the master shell side walls. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 14-16  various arrangements of palletized loads of adjustable shipper display systems are shown. Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 16 , palletized load arrangements  560 ,  562  provide vertical stacking of the shipping arrangements  550 . In  FIG. 14 , pluralities of shipping arrangements  550  are oriented in an upright position about pallet  564 . In  FIG. 14 , the shipper assemblies  550  are similar to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 25  except that a single adjustable shipper display system is contained within the carton  510 . In  FIG. 16 , shipper arrangements  550  are also oriented in a vertical direction about pallet  564 , except that a double adjustable shipper display system arrangement of  FIG. 25  is employed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention provides for modular shipping procedures, thus adding additional value for a manufacturer or merchandiser. In  FIG. 15 , the shipping assemblies  550  are oriented in a generally horizontal direction about pallet  564 . If desired, the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the shipping assemblies involved can be made to be integral multiples of a common measurement unit. Adjustments to particular shipping arrangements can be made by adding filler materials within the wrapper cartons  510  to prevent the adjustable shipper display systems from moving within the wrapper carton  510 , during transport. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 29-33 , a shipper display system generally indicated at  600 , includes a master shell  602  similar to the master shell  20  described above. Master shell  602  includes side walls  604 ,  606  each having a similar array of voids or slots  608 . Preferably, the side walls  604 ,  606  are of double-ply construction and the slots are formed in one of the plies. 
   With additional reference to  FIG. 30 , shipper display system  600  includes a bin-style shelf  612 . In its preferred form, bin-style shelf  612  is similar to bin-style shelf  44  described above except for flaps  614 ,  616  extending above and below the end walls  618 . In use, the flaps  614 ,  616  are inserted into slots  608  and master shell  602  to provide secure mounting at the mid portion of each end wall  618 , without the use of comaterial devices such as plastic clips or the like. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 31-33 , a shelf member  620  (see  FIG. 33 ) is made from an integral blank  622 , preferably of paperboard material (see  FIG. 31 ). Blank  622  includes a body portion  624  folded along its longitudinal center line  626 . Wings  630 ,  632  extend from each end of the body portion  624  and, as indicated in  FIG. 32  are folded at angles to the folded body portion to form mounting members similar to the flaps  614 ,  616  described above and referenced at  FIG. 30 . In use, the wings  630   632  are foldingly inserted in slots  608 . 
   As can be seen herein, convenient and reliable mounting of shelves within the master shelf is accomplished in a low cost manner which avoids the use of plastic clips and other comaterial devices. Further, support can be conveniently provided at a mid point of the shelf end walls, spaced from the rear wall  610  of the master shell. This provides an improved single point mounting of the improved stability for each shelf, without requiring additional support to stabilize the shelf front-to-back. If desired, the shelf can be provided with rearwardly extending tabs, as described above, to be inserted in the slots  611  formed in rear wall  610  ( FIG. 29 ). However, with mounting flaps or wings described above, support features engaging rear wall  610  have been found unnecessary. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 34-37 , a shipper display system providing vertically sliding mounting is indicated at  650 . Included is a master shell  652  having side walls  654 ,  656 , preferably of dual-ply paperboard construction. A vertically extending slot  658  is formed in each side wall  654 ,  656 . Referring to  FIG. 36 , a gap  662  is formed between the side wall plies  654 A,  654 B. Slot  658  communicates with spacing  662 , and these features extend throughout the height of the mounting slot. In the preferred embodiment, spacer members  664  provide a convenient separation of the side wall plies. 
   A bin-style shelf  666  is shown mounted within the master shell  652 . Shelf  666  includes end walls  668  and, as shown in  FIG. 36 , a mounting panel  670  is secured to end wall  668  by a spacer  672 . As indicated in  FIG. 34 , an enlarged opening  676  is provided at the top of slot  658  to allow introduction of mounting panel  670  within the spacing  662  located between the plies of master shell side wall  654 . The sliding engagement between shelf  666  and master shell  652  is illustrated in  FIG. 35 . Shelf  666  is slided vertically downwardly to its desired position within master shell  652 . Engagement between mounting panel  670  and the plies of master shell side wall  654  is sufficient to securely position the shelf at a desired vertical location within the master shell. However, it is recognized that vibration during shipping and handling may, in some instances, result in an unintentional vertically downward shifting of the shelves within the master shell. Accordingly, the shelf may be provided with rearwardly extending protrusions as described above, receivable in slots  680  formed in the rear wall  682  of the master shell, as illustrated in  FIG. 34 . Other vertical stop devices could be employed as well, such as vertically extending dunnage members inserted between floor  684  of the master shell and the lower most shelf, and between adjoining shelves. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 38-46 , an alternative shipper display system is generally indicated at  680  ( FIG. 38 ). The shelf and mounting clips of system  680  have been omitted from  FIG. 38  for purposes of clarity. Included in the system, is a master shell  682  having a side wall  684  and a rear wall  686 . Slots  688  are formed in side wall  684  and are located generally adjacent rear wall  686 .  FIG. 39  is a perspective view of a mounting clip  690  having a generally flat wall  692  with upper and lower wing portions  694 . Mounting clip  690  further includes a pocket  696  including a side wall  700 , bottom wall  702  and a rear wall  704 . As can be seen, for example in  FIG. 40 , a protrusion  708  is located within the pocket extending from wall  692 . If desired, protrusion  708  could protrude from side wall  700 . As indicated in  FIG. 41 , tab portions  694  have a substantial height with respect to the height of side wall  700 . 
   Referring additionally to  FIGS. 43 and 45 , a bin-style shelf  712  has dual-ply end walls  714  of mirror image construction. As shown, side wall  700  is received between the plies of the shelf end wall with the outermost ply being held within the pocket portion of mounting clip  690 . With reference  FIG. 45 , the plies of shelf end wall  714  may be secured together with an adhesive  716  to assist protrusion  708  in holding the shelf end wall captive with the mounting clip  690 . It is generally preferred that the mounting clip  690  be installed within master shell  682  by inserting the flap portions  694  of the mounting clip in slots  688  of master shell  682 . The shelf  712  is then inserted within master shell  682  until the rear portion of the shelf end walls are received in the pocket portions of the mounting clips in the manner indicated in  FIG. 43 . 
   As indicated in  FIG. 38 , slots  688 , and hence mounting clips  690 , are located toward the rear of the master shell interior, generally adjacent rear wall  686 . Depending upon the relative proportions of the shelf depth and a mounting clip, the shelves might appear “front heavy” causing the front of the shelf to tip downward. If desired, conventional support can be secured to side walls  684  underneath the front of the installed shelves. Optionally, vertical dunnage members can be inserted between shelves and the floor of the master shell to provide added support against tipping. As a further alternative, an optional mounting clip  720 , illustrated in  FIGS. 42 ,  44  and  46 , could be employed. Clip  720  generally resembles clip  690  described above except for a forwardly elongated side wall  722  and floor  724 . As indicated in  FIG. 46 , the side wall  722  and floor  724  can be extended throughout a substantial portion of the depth of the shelf  712 . If desired, an additional internal glue joinder  728  between the plies of the shelf end wall can be employed to further captivate the forward end portion of side wall  722  between the end wall plies. In order to provide weight reduction, the flat wall of clip  720  is not extended, leaving the forward portion of the pocket open or single-sided as can be seen, for example, in the bottom left portion of  FIG. 44 . If desired, the flat wall  692  in  FIG. 44  can be extended in a downward direction so as to more completely overlie wall  722  and can be made coterminous therewith. 
   Regardless of which mounting clip, the shorter clip  690  or the longer clip  720 , is utilized, substantial advantages are enjoyed in commercial scale, high speed packaging environment. If desired, the shelves can be inserted within the master shell prior to loading of product. However, it is preferred that product be loaded onto the shelves beforehand and that the loaded shelves are inserted within the master shell and engaged by the mounting clip to hold the loaded shelf in position. The invention is particularly advantageous when employed with automated loading equipment, since the shelves are mounted with a simple front-to-back movement. The same single direction mounting of shelves within the master shell are accomplished with the arrangements illustrated in  FIGS. 47-59 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 47 , a shipper display system is generally indicated at  800 . Included is a master shell  802  similar in construction to the master shells  602  and  30 , described above. Included in master shell  802  are side walls  804  having slots  806 . A bin-style shelf  810  is shown mounted in master shell  802  and includes end walls  812 . Referring to  FIGS. 48 and 49 , mounting clip  816  includes a flexible or bendable wall  818  with enlarged end portions  820 . With reference to  FIG. 49 , clip  816  includes a mounting bracket  824  receivable in a slot  826  of end wall  812  ( FIG. 50 ). It should be noted that the end portions  820  protrude from wall  818  in a direction opposite that of mounting clip  824 . That is, with the mounting clip installed to the shelf in the manner indicated in  FIG. 47 , the end portions  820  protrude away from the shelf end wall  812 , toward the inner surfaces of master shell side walls  804 . 
   Preferably, mounting clip  816  is dimensioned such that the enlarged end portions  820  are spaced beyond the end wall  820  when mounted, being located above and below the upper and lower bounds of end wall  812 . This allows portions of wall  818  adjacent enlarged end portions  820  to flex. Preferably, shelf  810  has lateral dimensions for a relatively close fit within master shell  802 . Accordingly, the enlarged end portions  820  would interfere with the side walls  804  of master shell  802 , but for the ability of the upper and lower portions of the mounting clip to bend inwardly allowing the enlarged end portions  820  to pass along the interfaces of side walls  804 . This bending gives rise to a resilient bias force urging the enlarged end portions  820  toward side walls  804 . With a simple front-to-back motion, the shelves are positioned within master shell  802  until the enlarged end portions  820  are received in slots  806  with a “click fit.” With the enlarged end portions  820  received in slots  806 , the shelves are securely retained within master shell  802 . As can be seen in  FIG. 47 , the clips  816  can be made relatively narrow in a front-to-back direction, thus concentrating support for the shelves at the central portions of their end walls. Further, with the resilient engagement of the enlarged end portions of the mounting clip above and below the shelf, the shelf is securely retained within the master shell, against forces tending to tilt or tip the shelves. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 51-53 , an alternative embodiment of the mounting clip is generally indicated at  830 . Construction of clip  830  is generally identical that of clip  816  described above except for the provision for mounting the clip to the shelf end wall. As can be seen in  FIG. 52 , a mounting bracket  832  includes cantilever-supported flaps  834  which are receivable within opening  836  formed in the outer ply of dual-ply end wall  812  ( FIG. 53 ). The flaps  834  are preferably made of thin resilient plastic material so as to be easily tucked within opening  836  for secure mounting to shelf end wall  812 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 54-56 , an alternative mounting clip is generally indicated at  840  and has features identical to the mounting clip  816  described above. With reference to  FIG. 55 , a pair of mounting wings  842  are provided with protrusions  844 . Mounting clip  840  is rotated 90° such that the wings  842  are received in slot  848  formed in the outer ply of a dual-ply shelf end wall  812 . The mounting clip is then rotated an additional 90°, in either direction, to bring protrusions  844  into engagement with apertures  852  thereby locking the mounting clip within the shelf end wall, secure against anti-rotation. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 57-59 , an alternative embodiment of the mounting clip is generally indicated at  860 . The coinstruction of clip  860  is generally identical to that of clip  816  described above except for provision for twist-lock mounting of the clip to the shelf end wall. Mounting clip  860  is provided with a locking wall  864  which is spaced from clip wall  818  by a connecting portion  868 . A pair of spring clips  872  extend from wall  864  adjacent connection  868  and have outer free ends extending toward enlarged end portions  820 .  FIG. 59  shows shelf end wall  812  with a generally horizontally extending slot  874  and a generally vertically extending slot  876 . Wall  864  and the spring clips  872  of clip  860  are inserted in slot  874  and are rotated 90° to bring spring clips  872  into seating engagement with slot  876 , thus locking the mounting clip against further rotation. 
     FIGS. 60-62  show various arrangements of shipper display systems made ready for palletized loading, are shown. In  FIG. 60 , a pair of shipper display systems  20  are arranged front-to-back for vertical loading in an outer shipper carton  510 . In  FIG. 61 , the shipper display systems  20  are arranged front-to-front, again for vertical loading within an outer carton  510 , in the manner indicated in  FIG. 60 . In  FIG. 62 , a pair of shipper display systems  20  are arranged front-to-back and are laid on their backs for horizontal loading within an outer shipper carton  510 . A sleeve  500  is inserted within outer carton  510  to provide added support therefor. As indicated in  FIG. 62 , the directions of corregation of sleeve  500  and outer carton  510  are displaced at angles from one another, preferably 90°, to further increase the support given to outer carton  510  by sleeve  500 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 63-71 , and initially to  FIG. 63 , a display system is generally indicated at  900 . Included in display system  900  is a display base generally indicated at  902 , a shipper display system  20  mounted atop the display base and a header card  904 .  FIG. 64  shows a blank, preferably of corrugated paperboard material, from which display base  902  is formed. Included in blank  908  is a front wall  910  extending the full height of the display base. The side walls  912  are located on either side of front wall  910 . Back wall portions  914  are located at either side of blank  908 . When folded in the manner indicated in  FIGS. 66 and 67 , bottom flaps  916  are folded over as indicated in  FIG. 68  to form a base wall for upright support of the display base. Front wall  910  is folded at its stepped panel portions  918 ,  920  to form a step configuration as shown in  FIGS. 66 ,  67 . The upper portions of side walls  912  are folded to bring panel portions  922  to lie parallel to front wall  910  so as to provided underlying backing support for step wall  920 , as can be seen in  FIG. 67 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 69 , the rear wall  24  of shipper display system  20  contains mounting slots  72  as described above with reference to  FIG. 17 . In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 69 , mounting clips  930  are installed to provide a hook connection to mounting base  902  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 70 . As shown in  FIG. 70 , mounting clips  930  are hooked to front support panels  922  while the bottom portion of the shipper display system is nested within the step formed by walls  918 ,  920 . As indicated in  FIG. 66 , it is generally preferred that walls  918 ,  920  cooperate to provide an inclined support for the upright or vertically oriented shipper display system in order to provide support against tipping or other dislodgement of the shipper display system from the display base. In  FIG. 71 , an optional header card  904  is inserted atop the display base at a point adjacent shipper display  20 . 
   The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of the invention in regard to the details of its construction and manner of operation. Changes in form and in the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being delineated by the following claims.