Abstract:
A lid having a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, a right side portion coupled to said front, rear, and top portions, a left side portion coupled to said front, rear, and top portions, and a display portion integrated with said top portion and said front portion. The display portion includes first and second sections, a hinge coupled to the first and second sections, and a flap coupled to the first portion. The display panel is capable of being partially separated from the lid and secured to the rear portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an improvement for boxes and more particularly, for those boxes which also serve as display containers for the goods shipped therein in a retail environment.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for a conventional “Euro” box that is now commonly used to ship produce such as apples. The “Euro” box has its own structure and does not require a lid for additional strength. As discussed herein, these boxes have reinforced corners that allow the boxes to be stacked on top of one another without damaging the boxes or the materials contained therein.  
         [0005]     Conventionally, when a retail store receives produce in boxes from a wholesaler, the fruit is unpacked and set in a display. Typically, produce is put onto display racks, produce coolers, bags, bins or trays and the boxes are then discarded. While the display of goods within a shipping box is not novel, there is a need to provide improved display conditions wherein information regarding the product is conveniently provided, and can be easily set up so that it is accessible to a prospective purchaser. Preferably, this information is provided directly adjacent or in close proximity with the goods so that the information is convenient and the goods can be inspected with reference to the information.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a lid for displaying the contents within a box. In one embodiment, a lid having a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, a right side portion coupled to said front, rear, and top portions, a left side portion coupled to said front, rear, and top portions, and a display portion integrated with said top portion and said front portion is provided. In such an embodiment, the display portion includes first and second sections, a hinge coupled to the first and second sections, and a flap coupled to the first portion. The display portion is also capable of being partially separated from the lid and secured to the rear portion. Such a lid may be resistant to toploading forces.  
         [0007]     In a further embodiment of the invention, the display portion of the lid may include a display extension that extends beyond the hinge into the second section and is capable of being separated from the second section when said first section is folded into contact with said second section.  
         [0008]     In still a further embodiment of the invention, the lid may be used to cover the contents of a box. The box may include a base, a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a left sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall, and a right sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall. When the lid is placed on top of the box to cover the contents of the box, the lid, in combination with the box, may be resistant to toploading forces.  
         [0009]     In yet another embodiment of the invention, the lid may be used to display the contents of a box. The box may include a base, a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a left sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall, and a right sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall. When the lid is placed on top of the box to cover the contents of the box, the lid, in combination with the box, may be resistant to toploading forces. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the cardboard from which the lid according to the invention is cut.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective front view of the lid according to the invention showing the display panel in the closed position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lid according to the invention wherein in the display panel is in an upright position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the lid aspect of the invention with the display panel in an upright position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the bottom of a box used with the lid according to embodiments of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  depicts a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the bottom of a preferred box that is used in accordance with the invention in a partially disassembled condition.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts a front view an exemplary embodiment of a lid according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference as if each had been individually incorporated.  
         [0018]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow goods such as fruit to be displayed within the box it is shipped and provides a “message board” or “display panel” for providing information regarding the contents to be displayed to prospective customers. Providing such improvements allows an in-store display to be quickly and easily set up. In view of the ease of the set up and the added value associated with the lid according to embodiments of the invention, the retailer has additional incentives to purchase goods packed with the present invention. Further, the improved lid as described herein leads to increase the exposure and display of the products within a particular store, allows the origin of the products that are not traditionally individually labeled to be communicated to the purchaser, and provides more marketing and marketing control by the wholesale seller. Increase exposure and improved display can lead to increased sales.  
         [0019]     Because the lid of the Euro box is reinforced as described below, the lid of the box may be perforated without materially weakening the lid structure and without compromising the integrity of the structure of the box. The end result is a self-display package that takes little effort to execute or construct on behalf of the retail store. Because the produce companies do not typically have the man-power to send sales personnel into stores to ensure that point of sale marketing material is displayed correctly, the lid solves problems for both retailer and the wholesaler. If the seller wants to display the product without the lid, it can be easily removed.  
         [0020]     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a top view of the box lid  100  material prior to the cutting and folding step is shown. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, corrugated cardboard is cut through on solid lines  101 - 116 . Line  120  and line  121  are cut with perforations so that the line may be easily torn away at the point of sale. The dotted lines  150 ,  160 ,  170 , and  171  depict areas where the cardboard is cut to facilitate folding.  
         [0021]     After the box is cut from a blank, the box is assembled by folding the along the perforated lines  150  and  160  as well as along lines  165 ,  166   167  and  168 , and along top lines  180   181 ,  182  and  183 . The assembled lid is depicted in  FIGS. 2, 3   4  and  7 . In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a piece of corrugated cardboard that is, for example, 29.01 inches wide and 51.09 inches long, is cut along those lines identified by solid lines. As seen in cutting plan as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cut  120  for the display lid stop at the rear top edge and the top forms a hinge at this location.  
         [0022]     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a box lid  200  is shown assembled with the top and integral display panel in the closed position. Gaps  307  received opposite tabs formed in the cardboard sidewalls to restrain the sidewalls in an upright position. In this his regard, the sidewall  308  is formed of double thickness cardboard that has been folded along lower surface  309 . The opposite sidewall is formed in the same matter. In the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the front sidewall  315  and rear sidewall  425  are formed from a panel extending from the top  800 . The front sidewall  315  and rear sidewall  425  comprise a single ply sidewall. In this condition, the box is shipped and stored until it is time to access the contents.  
         [0023]     As described above, when the box is cut, a number of perforations are also made to allow for ease of folding but do not result in a cut that allows separation by pulling the respective side apart. In other words enough cardboard remains along these lines to prevent the parts from being easily separated by mechanical tearing. For example, areas  370  and  371  are perforated to allow for ease of folding at that location. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , area  370  and  371  form shoulders  470  and  471  when the display panel  350  is in the upright position. Various through holes such as  307  may also be to received and retain opposite slots.  
         [0024]     The pop up display panel  350  can be partially released from the top by separating the perforations along lines  121  and  120 . The display panel is secured to the rear wall by rear section  430  where the two sections are in a hinged arrangement. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the display panel  350  is supported from the rear by section  430  that extends upward from the rear sidewall  425 . As best seen in  FIG. 4 , when the front section  900  of display panel  350  is positioned parallel with the interior surface  905  of the rear wall  425 , the weight of the display panel will cause the display to tilt rearward. The front panel  900  can be secured by tape or by sliding section  900  between the interior surface  905  of rear wall of the lid and the exterior surface  509  of rear wall  506  of the bottom box  500 . In this regard, it should be understood that the lid fits outside the bottom of the box.  
         [0025]     As discussed above, the box lid is particularly suitable for use in combination with a box bottom depicted in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  depicts a conventional produced box referred to as the “Euro” and is characterized by inter alia the reinforced cornered panels  502 . These boxes have a three ply front wall  504  wherein the slot  530  extends within the two ply wall  504  to approximately location DD. The sidewall  518  is a two ply wall comprising side  530  that extends laterally from floor  550  and is stabilized in an upright position by slot  530  and slot  531 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  depicts the front of the box bottom  500  in an unassembled condition. Here one can see that lateral extensions  650  that, when assembled comprise interior panel of side wall  518  as well as the corner panel  522 .  
         [0027]     When the lid according to the invention is used in connection with the box, it is apparent that the lid  200  structures and bottom box  500  complement each other. In this regard, the lateral walls of the lid  202  consist of two layers and, when in association with the box positioned next to the bottom box  500  which has two sidewalls therefore providing a total of four layers. The front wall  504  and the rear walls  506  of the box bottom  500  which substantially comprise three layers (near the opposite end) are reinforced with a single layer by the front  315  and rear  425  of the lid. The lid has the same height at the box so both the lid and the box bottom will provide support to materials on top of the box.  
         [0028]     When provided with a lid according the invention, multiple boxes may be stacked upon one another without crushing the bottom boxes because the lid as described above is resistant to toploading forces. While the middle of the box is somewhat structurally compromised by the perforations that create the display panel, this section of the box does not bear significant weight and therefore the box remains sturdy.  
         [0029]     While printed matter can be provide directly on the cardboard from which the box is made to result with desired printed matter being located on the display panel, the display region can also received printed matter created by the retail establishment. For example a section may be left blank so that the retail can insert pricing information. While the top edge  121  of the display panel is depicted herein, this line may be made fanciful, such as in the outline of an apple, grapes etc.  
         [0030]     The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.