Abstract:
A container and its associated container blank for shipping and displaying products. The container blank includes a plurality of side panels, bottom panels, and top panels that are erectable into a fully enclosed shipping container. Formed in some of the side panels and some of the top panels are removable punch-out window panels. When removed, the punch-out window panels leave a top panel that defines a periphery around the “window” area. Various stacking tabs and slots are configured in the bottom panels. The stacking tabs and stacking slots are positioned such that when engaged and the containers are in a vertically stacked arrangement, the stacking tabs bias against a portion of the periphery of the top panel. When not engaged, the container has a flat bottom.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to blanks and their resulting containers and more specifically to blanks and containers having viewing windows and stacking tabs. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]     The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, various features of the drawings are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in these drawings are the following figures:  
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an exemplary container blank;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of yet another exemplary container blank;  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a partially assembled container made from the container blank of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of a further assembled container made from the container blank of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of a further assembled container made from the container blank of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 6  is a perspective bottom view of a formed container made from the blank of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 7  is another exemplary perspective bottom view of the container formed from the blank of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the container made from the blank of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary view of the container made from the blank of  FIG. 1 , having the viewing panels removed;  
         [0012]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a stacking container arrangement according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the second container arrangement as depicted in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an exemplary arrangement of containers stacked upon one another; and,  
         [0015]      FIG. 13  is yet another exemplary bottom perspective view of the containers and stacking features made in accordance with this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is directed to a blank  20  and container  50  that utilizes a unique tab-in window arrangement to provide stacking stability. One suitable embodiment of the blank  20  and container  50  are constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  through  14 . Additionally, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 2 . Specific details of the blank  20  and the resulting container  50  are described in more particularity below.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts a blank  20  used to form the container  50 . The blank  20  is typically constructed from a single piece of formable material such as, without limitation, sheets of cellulose-based material formed from cellulose materials such as wood pulp, straw, cotton, bagasse, or the like. Cellulose-based materials used in the present invention may come in many forms, such as fiberboard, containerboard, corrugated containerboard and paperboard. It will be appreciated that other materials may be used. For example, a polymer based material may be used. The polymer based material may be in any form, such as, without limitation, a plastic sheet or corrugated plastic sheet.  
         [0018]     The blank  20  is cut and scored, perforated or otherwise formed into a plurality of panels that, when assembled, form container  50 . In all FIGURES, like numbers indicate like parts; additionally, cut lines are shown as solid lines, score lines as dashed lines, and lines of perforation as broken lines. For the purposes of further description herein, the downward direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the first bottom panel  26  when the container  50  has been erected. The upwards direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to the first bottom panel  26  that corresponds to the inner surface of the bottom panel when the container  50  has been erected.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the blank  20  includes first side panels  22 . The first side panels  22  are generally rectangular in shape. However, it is understood that the first side panels  22  may be of a different geometric shape, such as, without limitation, square. The periphery of the first side panels  22  is generally defined by fold lines  21 ,  23 , and  25 . Additionally, one first side panel  22  is bounded by a fold line  36  and the other is bounded by a fold line  31 . Attached to first side panel  22  along the fold line at  21  is a second side panel  24 . As depicted in the FIGURES, the second side panel  24  is rectangular in shape; however, it is appreciated that the second side panel may also be of a different geometric shape. It will be appreciated that the general size and shape of the relative first side panels  22  and second side panels  24  is largely one of design choice.  
         [0020]     Attached to the first side panel  22  along a fold line  25  is a first bottom panel  26 . Additionally, attached to the first side panel  22  along a fold line  23 , opposite fold line  25 , is a first top panel  30 . It will be understood that the overall shape of the respective first bottom panels  26  and first top panels  30  will be dictated via the selected geometric shape of their respective first side panel  22  and second side panel  24 . Still further, attached to one of the first side panels  22  along a fold line  27  is a manufacturer&#39;s joint panel  36  that is attached to one of the first side panels. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the manufacture&#39;s joint panel  36  may be of any suitable size, shape, or configuration so long as it provides an adequate base for locking the first side panels  22  and second side panels  24  in an erect arrangement with the container  50  is formed.  
         [0021]     The second side panel  24  includes a second top panel  32  attached thereto along a fold line  31 . In overall shape, the second top panel is generally an inverted T-shape. The overall length of the second top panel measured at and along fold line  31  is substantially the same as the length of the second side panel  24  measured at and along the same fold line  31 . However, as you move in a direction away from fold line  31 , the second side panel  32  narrows substantially symmetrically along both sides such that the second top panel has a length distal from fold line  31  that is substantially less than the length of the second top panel  32  at fold line  31 .  
         [0022]     The second side panel  24  includes a second bottom panel  28  attached thereto along a fold line  29 , opposite fold line  31 . As with the first bottom panel  26  discussed above, the second bottom panel&#39;s overall geometry is a function of the size and geometry of the second side panel  24 . It will be appreciated that the overall size and shape of both the first bottom panel  26  and the second bottom panels  28  will be such that when the container  50  is erected, the respective bottom panels will substantially close off the entire bottom portion of the container  50 .  
         [0023]     Formed in the first side panel  22  and first top panel  30  is a punch-out window panel  34  that is defined by a perforation line  37 . As depicted in the figures, the punch-out window panel  34  is substantially rectangular in shape. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art may change the overall shape and geometry of the punch-out window panel  34  depending upon a variety of factors such as, without limitation, the overall size and shape of the container  50  as well as the product that is being contained therein.  
         [0024]     The first bottom panel  26  and the second bottom panel  28  include stacking tab structure. Specifically, in the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 1 , the first bottom panel  26  includes stacking tab slots  40 . Additionally, the second bottom panel  28  includes stacking tabs  42 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the relative positioning of the stacking slots  40  and the stacking tabs  42  within their respective panels will be configured and positioned such that when the container is erected the stacking tabs  42  align with and may be configured to protrude through the stacking slots  40 .  
         [0025]     The first top panels  30  and second top panels  32  are configured such that the relative panels interact to allow them to substantially close the top portion of the container  50  once it is erected. Specifically, as mentioned above, the second top panel  32  includes profiles that are formed along the outer periphery to form a substantially centrally located column extending away from the second side panel—the previously mentioned inverted T-shape. Additionally, the first top panel  30  includes the punch-out window panel  34 . The punch-out window panel  34  is configured such that when it is removed it leaves the first top panel  30  as a substantially U-shaped member. The outer portion of the U-shaped member of the first top panel  30  is configured to cooperate with the substantially centrally located protrusion on the second top panel  32  such that the respective panels provide support to one another as the container  50  is erected and the top panels are closed. It will be appreciated that once the punch-out window panel  34  is removed, the design of the various top panels will still provide strength to the container  50  while permitting viewing of the products (not shown) placed in the container  50 . It will be further appreciated that the punch-out window panel  34 , may be completely removed, or cut out of the blank  20  when the blank  20  is formed.  
         [0026]     With respect to  FIG. 2 , a slightly modified version of the blank of  FIG. 1  is depicted. This alternative embodiment includes an alternative arrangement for the stacking stock tabs  42  and stacking slots  40 . Specifically in this embodiment, the stacking tabs  42  are formed in the first bottom panel  26  and the stacking slots  40  are formed in the second bottom panel  28 . For simplicity purposes only, the rest of the discussion regarding the present invention the blank depicted in  FIG. 1  will be used for discussion; however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention also includes a container formed from the blank of  FIG. 2 , although it is not shown.  
         [0027]     With respect to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , certain aspect of erecting the container  50  are shown. Specifically, the relative first side panels  22  and second side panels  24  are folded around their respective fold lines such that manufacturer&#39;s joint panel  36  is brought into juxtaposed association with the respective second side panel  24 . Subsequently, the panels are joined in an acceptable manner that will hold the manufacture&#39;s joint panel  36  juxtaposed the second side panel  24 . Suitable methods of fastening the panels include using adhesives or mechanical fasteners such as brads or staples. Further, other known fastening means may be included without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.  
         [0028]     After the manufacturer&#39;s joint panel  36  is suitably attached to the respective second side panel  24 , the various second bottom panels  28  and first bottom panel  26  may be folded in along fold lines  29  and  25 , respectively. Additionally, as best seen in  FIG. 5 , the respective first top panel  30  and second top panel  32  may be folded in along their respective fold lines  23  and  31  to close off the top portion of the container  50 .  
         [0029]     With respect to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , various aspects of the formed container  50  are disclosed. Specifically as best shown in  FIG. 6 , the container  50  is shown with the first bottom panel  26  and the second bottom panel  28  wherein the stacking tabs are not employed. However, as best shown in  FIG. 7 , should a user wish to employ the stacking tab features of the present invention, they may be so used. Specifically, stacking tab  42  in this embodiment is passed through a stacking slot  40  such that stacking tab  42  protrudes in the bottom of the container  50 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  depicts an aspect of the present invention. Specifically,  FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the container  50  formed with the punch-out window panel  34  removed. In this fashion, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any products (not shown) contained within this container may be viewed easily as well as accessed by a user. It will be further appreciated that the container  50  may be used in this mode with either one or both of the punch-out window panels  34  removed.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 10 through 14  depict the unique stacking tab arrangement of the present invention more clearly. Specifically, as can be seen in the FIGURES, one container  50  is depicted as being placed in a stacked relationship relative to another container  50 . In operation, the stacking tab  42  of a top container  50  “fits” into the open space created by the removal of the punch-out window panel  34 . More specifically, the stacking tab  42  “fits” into the open area, and abuts, or substantially abuts the periphery of the first top panel  30 . It will be appreciated that this abutment or this connection of stacking tab  42  in association with the first top panel  30  will help prevent the container  50  from displacing while in a stacked position. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that this stacking tab in the window arrangement improves the overall stability of a vertical column of stacked containers  50  or a container stack  52  as best depicted in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0032]     While various embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of such embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.