Abstract:
A retail display case for glasses is a shoebox-like device. The box has openings in the top where glasses can be inserted for display. The openings are located at the rear of the box, to display the glasses at the front of the box. Extra pairs of glasses are stored inside the box itself. In addition, the openings snugly fit the glasses, so that the display cannot be easily removed by unauthorized persons, but can be removed for fitting to a customer or sale. In use, only a single pair of glasses is displayed on the box, and the displayed pair of glasses does not interfere with opening of the box to retrieve extra pair of glasses. The glasses retained inside the box are kept secure from unauthorized persons. The box is made from flexible plastic and the corners of the box are beveled to provide a more refined “hexagonal-type” appearance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to cases which can be used to store a product, and can also be used to display that product. More particularly, the invention relates to a product display case that displays a product and also stores product supply, and which has a beveled front.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Cases, such as boxes or cartons, have been developed which can be used to transport merchandise, and also display those articles for sale. Examples of boxes are shown, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,304,020 to Calef; U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,642 to Stidolph; U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,715 to Hahnemann; U.S. Pat. No. 1,176,932 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 1,296,158 to Bonham; and, U.S. Pat. No. 2,205,332 to Aste. Those boxes generally provide openings in the top of the box which are used to retain product for display.  
           [0005]    In addition, boxes have been developed with tabs and angled fronts. Examples of boxes are shown, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,062,949 to Taylor; U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,013 to Vines; U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,853 to Gulliver et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,035 to Correll; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,512 to Morrison. However, those boxes are formed from a single piece having a complex construction. In addition, the display boxes of Calef and Stidolph have an overly simplified construction and therefore are difficult to operate.  
           [0006]    However, none of those boxes are suitable for securely storing and displaying glasses, and especially for retaining different types of glasses that are to be displayed adjacent one another. Moreover, none of those boxes are suitable for use with a mobile display cart, such as described in co-pending application entitled Collapsible Retail Display Cart, U.S. Ser. No. ______, to David Zeuner, which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need for a case that can securely store glasses, and can also display those glasses to customers. In addition, there is a need for a case which can be positioned adjacent to one another, or to display a product on top of the box while at the same time storing additional product inside the box which are readily retrievable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a case that can store product and also display product. It is a further object of the invention to provide a case that can display a pair of glasses on the top of the case, while at the same time storing additional pairs of glasses inside the case which are readily retrievable. It is a further object of the invention to provide a case that has simple construction, is easy to use, and has sufficient strength and durability for long-term and repeated use.  
           [0009]    In accordance with these and other objectives, a retail display case is provided which is a shoebox-like device, and is especially useful for glasses. The box has openings in the top where glasses can be inserted for display. The openings are located at the rear of the box, to display the glasses at the front of the box. Extra pairs of glasses are stored inside the box itself. In addition, the openings snugly fit the glasses, so that the display cannot be easily removed by unauthorized persons, but can be removed for fitting to a customer or sale. In use, only a single pair of glasses is displayed on the box, and the displayed pair of glasses does not interfere with opening of the box to retrieve extra pair of glasses. The glasses retained inside the box are kept secure from unauthorized persons. The box is made from flexible plastic and the corners of the box are beveled to provide a more refined “hexagonal-type” appearance.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective of the case in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective showing the top and bottom of the case.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top view of the case top blank.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a top view of the case bottom blank.  
         [0014]    FIGS.  5 - 8  are perspective drawings showing the assembly of the case top blank of FIG. 3.  
         [0015]    FIGS.  9 - 11  are perspective drawings showing the assembly of the case bottom blank.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.  
         [0017]    Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the case  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. The case  10  has a top  20  and a bottom  40 , each of which are generally rectangular in shape. The bottom  40  is slightly smaller than the top  20 , so that the top  20  can slide down and frictionally fit over the bottom  40 . The case  10  has a front section  12  and a rear section  14 . FIGS. 1 and 2 show the top  20  and bottom  40  in an operating or folded position. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the top blank  20  and bottom blank  40  in the storage position, where the blanks are flat for easy storage and shipment.  
         [0018]    As shown in FIG. 2, the top  20  and bottom  40  of the case define an internal storage chamber or cavity  16  for the case  10 . Multiple glasses can be stored within the storage chamber  16 , and preferably the case  10  can store up to  12  pairs of glasses. The case  10  can be opened by removing the top  10  from the bottom  40  to retrieve the glasses, even while the display glasses is secured to the top  10  of the case  10 . The case  10  is preferably used to store the glasses at the retail location. The cases  10  with the glasses stored therein can be shipped in a master cart which holds about 25 cases  10 . Thus, the case  10  can be disposed of when it is empty, and a new case  10  of glasses can be ordered.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 shows the blank for the top  20  of the case  10 . The top blank  20  is formed as a single piece having side fold lines (fold lines are shown by a dashed line and cuts are shown by a solid line), a top fold line and a rear fold line which collectively define a middle or center section  22 . The side fold lines further define side panels  24 ,  26 , and the front and rear fold lines respectively define a front panel  28  and a rear panel  30 . The corners at the front portion of the center section  22  are separated from the side panels  24 ,  26  and the front panel  28 . Diagonal fold lines are formed in the center section  22  to form a triangular-shaped corner piece  23  at the corners of the center section  22 .  
         [0020]    The center section  22  also has one or more pairs of openings  32  located at the rear of the top blank  20 . The openings  32  are formed by cutting  0 . 5  inch in length slits through the top blank  20  from the outside. The slits  32  are crossed at the middle to create four triangular members that are slightly depressed inward. The openings  32  form a friction fit with the ear piece of a pair of glasses. The triangular members bend inward when the glasses are received, and return to their original position when the glasses are removed. Thus, the openings  32  can be repeatedly used.  
         [0021]    The openings  32  are spaced to align with the standard distance for ear pieces when the glasses are in an opened position. The openings  32  are positioned toward the rear  14  of the case  10 , so that the glasses face forward and are located toward the front  12  of the case  10  for easy viewing by customers and passersby. The front of the glasses rests on the top surface of the top  20  of the case  10 .  
         [0022]    Preferably, more than one pair of openings  32  is provided, so that the case  10  can display multiple glasses at one time. More than one pair of glasses can be fitted to each pair of openings  32 , so that more than 3 glasses can be displayed at once. When multiple glasses are displayed, they are stacked upon one another. The attendant can also use the various openings  32  to move the glasses to various positions from the front of the case  10 , and to account for any difference in the length or size of the glasses.  
         [0023]    The openings  32  are positioned toward the rear  14  of the case  10  so that the side arms of the glasses can be viewed by the customer. However, the openings  32  can alternatively be located toward the front  12  of the case and aligned to receive the ear pieces of the glasses in a folded position. The ear piece of the glasses, when positioned in the openings  32 , only extend into the interior of the case  10  a short distance, and therefore do not interfere with any glasses being stored inside the case  10 .  
         [0024]    Since the opening is depressed inward, it is easy to push the ear piece into the opening, and the glasses remain there due to the friction fit. Since the case is made of flexible plastic, the attendant must hold the ear piece close to the case, and place his other hand about the opening in order to withdraw the glasses from the top  20 . Thus, the glasses cannot be quickly grabbed by an unauthorized person, without disturbing the case  10  and drawing attention, and cannot be blown around by the wind. In addition, the case  10  can be removed from the display shelf without having to remove the display glasses.  
         [0025]    The side panels  24 ,  26  each have a fold line toward the front of the case  10  that creates respective side panel flaps  25 ,  27 . The side panel flaps  25 ,  27  are separate from the center section  22 , and extend along the corner pieces  23  of the center section  22 . The sides of the side panel flaps  25 ,  27  are angled slightly outward so that the interior edge of the side panel flaps  25 ,  27  do not interfere with the center section  22  when in the side panel flaps  25 ,  27  are folded inward. It should be appreciated that the flaps  25 ,  27  are not essential, and can be omitted, though cover the outside edge of the corner pieces  23 .  
         [0026]    The side panel flaps  25 ,  27  have a boss that projects outward at the front of the side panel flap  25 ,  27 . The boss extends the width of the side panel flaps  25 ,  27  to lend further support to the corner pieces  23 . The front edge of the boss is angled, so that the outward portion projects further outward from the side panel flap  25  than the inward portion.  
         [0027]    The front panel  28  has a mid-section, connector members  29  and hooked tabs. The mid-section is formed with the center section  22  between the triangular corner pieces  23 . The front panel connector members  29  are located on opposite ends of the mid-section and connect the mid-sections to the hooked tabs. The front panel connector members  29  extend the length of the corner pieces  23  of the center section  22 .  
         [0028]    The inside edge that extends along the connector members  29  and the hooked tabs is angled outward, so that that connector members  29  and hooked tabs do not interfere with the center section  22  when folded. In addition, the tabs are angled so that the case is easy to assemble, and the tabs fit tight when tucked in to fit flush so the case is not loose. The hooked tabs cooperate with slots formed at the front of the side panels  24 ,  26  to secure the front panel  28  to the side panels  24 ,  26  in the folded or operating position.  
         [0029]    The rear panel  30  has a rectangular mid-section which extends the entire width of the center section  22 . Hook tabs are located at each end of the mid-section. The hook tabs cooperate with slots formed at the rear of the side panels  24 ,  26  to secure the rear panel  30  to the side panels  24 ,  26  in the folded or operating position.  
         [0030]    FIGS.  5 - 8  show the assembly of the top blank  20 . Starting with FIG. 5, the side panels  24 ,  26  are folded upward (downward in the embodiment of FIG. 5) and the side panel flaps  25  are folded to extend over the corner pieces  23 . The corner pieces  23  are then folded up to cover the side panel flaps  25 . As shown in FIG. 6, the front panel  28  is then folded up, and the connector members  29  and the hooked tabs are wrapped around the corner pieces  23  and side panel flaps  25  to extend along the side panels  24 ,  26 .  
         [0031]    The hooked tabs are then inserted into the respective slots at the front of the side panels  24 ,  26 . As best shown in FIG. 8, the side panel flaps  25  seal the sides of the corner pieces  23  and the connector members  29  seal the front of the corner pieces  23 . The hooked tabs reach downward (in the embodiment of FIG. 6) to create a tight fit with the slots of the side panels  24 ,  26 . Turning to FIG. 7, the rear panel  30  is then folded up (or down, in the embodiment of FIG. 7), and the hooked tabs inserted into the respective slots at the rear of the side panels  24 ,  26 . Of course, the order of the assembly is not critical with respect to the rear panel  30 , which can be assembled before or after the front panel  30 . In addition, the corner pieces  23  can be folded before the side panels  24 ,  26 .  
         [0032]    Turning back to FIG. 4, the bottom blank  40  also has a center section  42  with corner pieces  43 , side panels  44 ,  46 , front panel  48  and rear panel  50 . The bottom blank  40  differs from the top blank  20 , however, in that the tabs are moved from the front and rear panels  28 ,  30  of the top blank  20  to the side panels  44 ,  46  of the bottom blank  40 . Thus, the tabs of the bottom blank  40  couple with slots in the front and rear panels  48 ,  50 , whereas the tabs of the top blank  20  couple with slots in the side panels  24 ,  26 .  
         [0033]    This is done so that the tabs of the bottom blank  40  are not aligned with the tabs of the top blank  20 . Accordingly, the tabs of the bottom blank  40  will not interfere with the tabs of the top blank  20  when the top  20  is positioned over the bottom  40 . In addition, the tabs on the top blank  20  connect to the side panels  24 ,  26 , so that the connection is not made at the front of the box, and therefore the connection for the top  20  is not visible to the consumer. The top  20  covers the bottom  40 , so that the tabs of the bottom  40  are also not visible to the consumer.  
         [0034]    Hence, the side panel flaps  25 ,  27  are positioned as front panel flaps  49  with respective bosses. The front panel connector members  29  are positioned as side panel connectors  45 ,  47 . Otherwise, the purpose and operation of the tabs, connector members  45 ,  47  and flap  49  of the bottom blank  40  are the same as described for the respective elements of the top blank  20 . Therefore, the operation of those elements will not be repeated.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIGS.  9 - 11 , the bottom blank  40  is assembled by first folding the front panel  48 . As shown in FIG. 9, the flaps  49  are folded over the corner pieces  43 , and the corner pieces  43  are folded up to cover the flaps  49 . At FIGS. 10 and 11, the side panels  44 ,  46  are then folded up and the tabs coupled with the respective slots in the front and rear panels  48 ,  50 .  
         [0036]    For each of the top and bottom blanks  20 , 40 , the hooked tabs and slots are configured to require that the case be bent or folded over in order to insert the tabs into the slots. Accordingly, the case cannot come apart simply by pulling on the front or rear panels  28 ,  30 . The outside ends of the slots are angled inward to form an arm, so that the hooked tabs can be moved into the arm during insertion and removal of the hooked tabs by rotating the front panel  28  inward.  
         [0037]    As best shown in FIG. 1, the corner pieces  23  and connector members  29  cooperate to form beveled corners at the front of the assembled case  10 . This allows cases  10  to be easily slid onto a shelf adjacent one another without obstruction. This is especially important to have ready access to the product contained within the case  10 , and be able to quickly replace the case  10  on the shelf. The beveled corners also add strength to the front of the case  10 . The beveled corners also provide a more finished look, and distinguish the cases  10  from each other.  
         [0038]    It should be recognized that the pieces  23  need not be triangular in shape, but rather, any suitable shape can be provided. For instance, the tops of the triangles can be removed, so that the pieces  23  are rectangular. In addition, the pieces  23  and connector members  29  need not be single pieces, but can be several pieces, such as two or more sections or members that form a top having a front that has two or more angled sections. Still yet, the pieces  23  and connector members  29  can be curved, to form a curved front to the case  10 . However, the front of the case  10  should be beveled or angled so that cases  10  can be easily slid into position adjacent one another.  
         [0039]    The case  10  is made of a flexible plastic for easy handling and durability. The plastic also allows the openings  32  in the case  10  to form a friction fit with the glasses ear piece. The case  10  can be pre-folded to form the fold lines in the case  10  so that the user can easily assemble the case  10 . The fold lines can be formed, for instance, by a press.  
         [0040]    The foregoing description and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention may be configured in any shape and size and is not intended to be limited by the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.