Abstract:
Presented is a package of tissue rolls, the package including two package sides, a package bottom, a package back, and a package top; a package front in a generally vertical orientation, the package front spaced apart from and generally parallel to the package back, wherein the package front and the package back are coupled to and generally orthogonal to the package bottom, the package front including a primary package logo having a logo axis; and a plurality of tissue rolls, each tissue roll having a roll height, a roll diameter, and a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the longitudinal axes are generally horizontal when the logo axis is generally vertical.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to tissue roll configurations that improve efficiencies in material use, product handling, and product stocking and display. 
         [0002]    Because of tradition and the larger compressive strength of a tissue roll along its longitudinal axis, tissue rolls are always packaged such that the longitudinal axis of each roll is parallel to the front of the package but perpendicular to the bottom of the package. This essentially vertical orientation of the tissue rolls allows multiple rolls, multiple packages, and multiple cases to be stacked with less risk of crushing the tissue rolls on the bottom. For example, a package of twenty-four tissue rolls is packed either as a brick (four tissue roll diameters wide by two tissue roll heights high by three tissue roll diameters deep) or as a tower (three tissue roll diameters wide by four tissue roll heights high by two tissue roll diameters deep). Such restrictions in orientation, however, lead to inefficiencies in the amount of packaging material required and in the number of tissue rolls that can be shipped and handled. 
         [0003]    In addition, tissue sales categories are undergoing transformation as manufacturers and retail outlets offer double rolls, triple rolls, extended life rolls, and other variations of a standard roll. Markings on such rolls are often confusing to consumers who don&#39;t know what they are getting unless they pull a package off a retail shelf to examine the rolls themselves. This wastes time for the consumer and, once they do this, there is no guarantee that they will replace the package in an orderly or properly-oriented manner. 
         [0004]    In an increasingly demanding and competitive retail environment, there is a need for unique package and merchandising solutions critical to delivering on key customer desires, leveraging consumer insights, and delivering on the overall objectives of a business, while also delivering improved environmental sustainability. 
         [0005]    While particular aspects and/or individual features of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, it should be apparent that all combinations of such aspects and features are possible and can result in preferred executions of the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Current packaging solutions require more resources in terms of materials and handling time than they need to. Excessive packaging and inefficient shipping and stocking methods add to the cost of products. In addition, consumers seek simplified communication aids to understand what tissue products are in the packages on a retail shelf. 
         [0007]    A unique packaging, distribution, and merchandising solution supports new business ventures with key retailers/customers and provides an increased level of environmental sustainability that is a key initiative in the marketplace. 
         [0008]    The present invention relates to improved configurations for shipping and handling that reduce the time necessary for shipping and handling and also reduce the amount of packaging materials used, thus reducing the cost to put a product on a retail shelf. 
         [0009]    For example, in one aspect of the present invention, the invention includes a package of tissue rolls, the package including two package sides, a package bottom, a package back, and a package top; a package front in a generally vertical orientation, the package front spaced apart from and generally parallel to the package back, wherein the package front and the package back are coupled to and generally orthogonal to the package bottom, the package front including a primary package logo having a logo axis; and a plurality of tissue rolls, each tissue roll having a roll height, a roll diameter, and a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the longitudinal axes are generally horizontal when the logo axis is generally vertical. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the present invention, the invention includes a package of tissue rolls, the package including two package sides, a package bottom, a package back, and a package top; a package front in a generally vertical orientation, the package front spaced apart from and generally parallel to the package back, wherein the package front and the package back are coupled to and generally orthogonal to the package bottom, the package front including a primary package logo having a logo axis; and a plurality of tissue rolls, each tissue roll having a longitudinal axis and a roll end surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the longitudinal axes are generally horizontal and perpendicular to the package front when the logo axis is generally vertical, and wherein at least a portion of the package front is translucent such that at least a portion of one roll end surface is visible through the package front. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the present invention, the invention includes a case of tissue rolls, the case including two case long faces in parallel orientation, two case short faces connecting and perpendicular to the two case long faces, a case bottom, and a case top; a removable panel including a portion of one of the case long faces and a portion of one of the case short faces, at least a portion of the removable panel bordered by a frangible line. The case also includes a package including a plurality of tissue rolls, two package sides, a package bottom, a package back, and a package top; a package front in a generally vertical orientation, the package front spaced apart from and generally parallel to the package back, wherein the package front and the package back are coupled to and generally orthogonal to the package bottom, the package front including a primary package logo having a logo axis, wherein the package is oriented in the case such that the logo axis is parallel to the case short faces and perpendicular to the case long faces. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the present invention, the invention includes a method for providing tissue rolls, the method including packaging a plurality of tissue rolls in a package including a package front defining a package front plane, a package bottom defining a package bottom plane, and a primary logo having a logo axis, wherein each tissue roll has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the tissue rolls are oriented in the package such that each longitudinal axis is parallel to the package bottom plane; and shipping the tissue rolls such that each longitudinal axis is generally vertical. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the present invention, the invention includes a method for improving the volume efficiency for shipping rolls of tissue, the method including packaging a plurality of tissue rolls in a plurality of packages each including a package front defining a package front plane, a package bottom defining a package bottom plane, and a primary logo having a logo axis, wherein each tissue roll has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the tissue rolls are oriented in the plurality of packages such that each longitudinal axis is parallel to the package bottom plane; and assembling the plurality of packages in a case. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The foregoing and other features and aspects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, where: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tissue roll of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a package of the present invention including the tissue rolls of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternate aspect of a package of the present invention including the tissue rolls of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a case of the present invention including the packages of either  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a unit of the present invention including the case of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a trailer of the present invention including the unit of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention. The drawings are representational and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary aspects of the present invention only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0023]    The invention relates to improved configurations for shipping and handling that reduce the time necessary for shipping and handling and also reduce the amount of packaging materials used, thus reducing the cost to put a product on a retail shelf. 
         [0024]    As used herein and unless otherwise described, the term “width” generally refers to the longest horizontal dimension of a structure, the term “height” generally refers to the vertical dimension of a structure, and the term “depth” refers to the shortest horizontal dimension of a structure. 
         [0025]    The consumer-oriented tissue rolls  10  of the present invention are illustrated in  FIG. 1  and include paper towels and bath tissue, also known as toilet paper and by other names. Each tissue roll  10  is generally cylindrical in shape with a roll height  12  and a roll diameter  14 . The tissue roll  10  has a central longitudinal axis  20  therethrough, and an outer surface  22  that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  20 . The tissue roll  10  also has two opposing end surfaces  24  generally perpendicular to the outer surface  22  and the longitudinal axis  20 . An exemplary tissue roll  10  of bath tissue has an as-packaged roll height  12  of approximately 4 5/16 inches and an as-packaged roll diameter  14  of approximately 3.9 inches. In various aspects of the present invention, the tissue roll dimensions may be of any suitable size. An exemplary tissue roll  10  of paper towels has an as-packaged roll height  12  of approximately 11 inches and an as-packaged roll diameter  14  of approximately 4.6-6.0 inches. 
         [0026]    Each tissue roll  10  is formed by winding a continuous web of tissue  26  around the longitudinal axis  20  to form an empty central bore  30  centered on the longitudinal axis  20 . The tissue  26  in the tissue roll  10  has an inner end  32  adjacent the central bore  30  and an outer end  34  at the outer surface  22  of the tissue roll  10 . The tissue  26  may be wound around a tubular core  36 , or the tissue roll  10  may be formed without a core  36 . If the tissue roll  10  has a core  36 , the inner end  32  of the tissue  26  may be attached to the core  36  using adhesive or other suitable means. The outer end  34  of the tissue  26  may be attached to the outer surface  22  of the tissue roll  10 . The tissue  26  may include score lines  40  at regular intervals that define a sheet  42  between two successive score lines  40 . In use, a tissue roll  10  is unwound by rotating the tissue roll  10  about its longitudinal axis  20  and drawing tissue  26  from the outer surface  22 . 
         [0027]    Due to the structure of the tissue roll  10 , the tissue roll  10  has greater compressive strength in a direction along the longitudinal axis  20  than it does in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  20 . A force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  20  tends to have a crushing effect on the tissue roll  10  and can cause the central bore  30  to collapse or become partially or completely flattened. 
         [0028]    While tissue rolls  10  may be packaged and sold individually, the present invention relates to packaging a plurality of tissue rolls  10  in one package  50 . In one aspect of the present invention, a package  50  for a plurality of tissue rolls  10  is generally rectilinear with a package front  52 , a package back  54 , two package sides  56 , a package top  58 , and a package bottom  60 . The package front  52  includes a package front width  62  and a package front height  64 . The package bottom  60  includes a package bottom depth  66 . The package  50  may be constructed from a poly film or any other suitable material. Individual tissue rolls  10  or groups of tissue rolls  10  are typically packaged in smaller units prior to assembly into the package  50 , yielding two layers of packaging material for each tissue roll  10 . In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of tissue rolls  10  are positioned in the package  50  without additional inner packaging materials. 
         [0029]    In prior art practice, tissue rolls  10  are always stacked such that their longitudinal axes  20  are vertical because of the strength profile of a typical tissue roll  10  described above. To minimize the volume occupied by a given number of tissue rolls  10 , tissue rolls  10  are usually stacked such that their longitudinal axes  20  are collinear. Tissue rolls  10 , whether individually wrapped or multiply packed, are transported, stored, and displayed on a retail shelf with their longitudinal axes  20  in a vertical orientation. 
         [0030]    Although the package  50  may hold any suitable number of tissue rolls  10 , in one particular example the package  50  includes twenty-four tissue rolls  10  in an array of three tissue rolls  10  by four tissue rolls  10  by two tissues rolls  10 . In the as-displayed orientation illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the package  50  generally has dimensions of three roll heights  12  wide, four roll diameters  14  high, and two roll diameters  14  deep. Using the tissue roll exemplary dimensions described above, an exemplary package  50  has the outer dimensions of 12.938 inches wide, 15.625 inches high, and 7.813 inches deep. 
         [0031]    The package  50  also includes at least one primary package logo  70  or other identifying feature on the package front  52 . The primary package logo  70  is properly oriented in an upright, readable orientation as illustrated in  FIG. 2  when the package  50  is displayed on a retail shelf. The primary package logo  70  has a logo axis  74  that is vertical when the primary package logo  70  is properly oriented in an upright, readable orientation. The package  50  may also include a secondary package logo  78  or other identifying feature on another side of the package  50 , such as on the package bottom  60  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , to allow a retailer some flexibility in displaying the package  50  on a retail shelf. The package  50  may include additional logos and other information as desired by the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other interested party. 
         [0032]    The package  50  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is designed to be displayed on a retail shelf with the longitudinal axes  20  of the tissue rolls  10  in a horizontal orientation and parallel to a front edge of the retail shelf such that the package front  52  is visible to a consumer. The tissue rolls  10  are resistant to crushing while on the retail shelf because the maximum weight to be borne by a tissue roll  10 , that of the three tissue rolls  10  above it, does not easily crush a tissue roll  10 . 
         [0033]    Another aspect of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3  provides a response to the consumer behavior of purchasing by roll count and, to a lesser degree, roll size or diameter. Using prior packaging methods and then displaying the packages  50  on their sides provides such information to a consumer but eliminates the display of a logo and other information. 
         [0034]    In this aspect, the primary package logo  70  is still displayed on the package front  52  but the tissue rolls  10  are oriented in the package  50  such that their longitudinal axes  20  are perpendicular to the package front  52  rather than parallel to the package front  52  in the previous aspect. When the package  50  in this aspect is displayed on the retail shelf with the longitudinal axes  20  of the tissue rolls  10  still horizontal but perpendicular to the front edge of the retail shelf, one end surface  24  of each tissue roll  10  can be visible to a consumer. In this orientation, the consumer may immediately evaluate the diameter of each tissue roll  10  in the package  50  and generally the number of rolls in the package  50  without removing the package  50  from the retail shelf. 
         [0035]    To add further value to this aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of the package front  52  is translucent such that at least a portion of an end surface  24  of at least one tissue roll  10  is visible through the package front  52 . In another aspect of the present invention, all of an end surface  24  of one tissue roll  10  is visible through the package front  52 . In another aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of an end surface  24  of a plurality of tissue rolls  10  is visible through the package front  52 . In another aspect of the present invention, all of an end surface  24  of a plurality of tissue rolls  10  is visible through the package front  52 . In another aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of an end surface  24  of each tissue roll  10  is visible through the package front  52 . In another aspect, an end surface  24  of each tissue roll  10  is visible through the package front  52 , although the primary package logo  70  may occlude a portion of the view of the end surfaces  24 . 
         [0036]    As used herein, the term “translucent” generally refers to permitting the passage of light, both in the sense of being transparent, in which objects may be seen clearly therethrough, and in the sense that light may be transmitted and diffused such that objects are not seen clearly therethrough. 
         [0037]    Unlike prior products, the package  50  of the present invention is not transported and stored in the same orientation as it is displayed on a retail shelf, as will be described further below. In the as-transported orientation illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the package  50  generally has dimensions of four roll diameters  14  wide, three roll heights  12  high, and two roll diameters  14  deep. This aspect of the present invention allows the tissue rolls  10  to be transported and stored with their longitudinal axes  20  in a vertical orientation, but displayed on a retail shelf with their longitudinal axes  20  in a horizontal orientation. 
         [0038]    While packages  50  of tissue rolls  10  may be cased and sold individually, the present invention relates to casing a plurality of packages  50  of tissue rolls  10  in one case  80 . In one aspect of the present invention, a case  80  for a plurality of packages  50  is generally rectilinear with two case long faces  82 , two case short faces  84 , a case top  85 , and a case bottom  86 . The case  80  also includes a case width  87 , a case height  88 , and a case depth  89 . The case  80  may be constructed from corrugated board or any other suitable material. The case  80  provides structural strength to protect the tissue rolls  10  from damage as well as a covering to protect the tissue rolls  10  and packages  50  from dust and dirt during storage, handling, and shipment. 
         [0039]    Packages  50  of tissue rolls  10  are always stacked such that the longitudinal axes  20  of the tissue rolls  10  are vertical because of the strength profile of a typical tissue roll  10  described above. To minimize the volume occupied by a given number of tissue rolls  10 , tissue rolls  10  are usually stacked such that their longitudinal axes  20  are collinear. Tissue rolls  10  are therefore transported and stored with their longitudinal axes  20  in a vertical orientation. 
         [0040]    Although the case  80  may hold any suitable number of packages  50  of tissue rolls  10 , in one particular example the case  80  includes six packages  50  of twenty-four tissue rolls  10  each in an array of three packages  50  by two packages  50 . In this example, the case  80  includes six packages  50  in a two-by-three array such that six package tops  58  are in a face-to-face arrangement with one case long face  82 , two package fronts  52  are in a face-to-face arrangement with one case short face  84 , and two package backs  54  are in a face-to-face arrangement with the other case short face  84 . In the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the case  80  generally has dimensions of three package bottom depths  66  wide, two package front widths  62  high, and one package front height  64  deep. This translates to an array of tissue rolls  10  that, absent packaging, is six roll diameters  14  wide by six roll heights  12  high by four roll diameters  14  deep for a total of  144  tissue rolls  10  in the case  80 . Using the tissue roll and package exemplary dimensions described above, such an exemplary case  80  has the outer dimensions of 23.375 inches wide, 26.625 inches high, and 15.563 inches deep. 
         [0041]    The case  80  may include at least one primary case logo (not shown) or other identifying feature on at least one of the case long faces  82 , case short faces  84 , case top  85 , and case bottom  86 . The case  80  may also include a secondary case logo (not shown) or other identifying feature on at least one of the case long faces  82 , case short faces  84 , case top  85 , and case bottom  86 . The case  80  may include additional logos and other information as desired by the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other interested party. 
         [0042]    The case  80  also includes a perforated display feature in the form of a removable panel  94  of the case  80 . The removable panel  94  is defined by lines  96  of perforations or other frangible features in one case long face  82  and one case short face  84 . As a result, the removable panel  94  includes part of that case long face  82  and part of that case short face  84 . Removal of the removable panel  94  exposes packages  50 ; once the removable panel  94  is removed and the case  80  is positioned on a retail shelf as described above, two packages  50  are immediately viewable and in their proper orientation, with four more packages  50  behind them. 
         [0043]    The case  80  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is designed to be positioned on a retail shelf with the case top  85  to the left of a viewing consumer, the case bottom  86  to the right of a viewing consumer, a case short face  84  in a vertical orientation facing the consumer, and a case long face  82  in horizontal orientation above the packages  50  of tissue rolls  10 . In this orientation, longitudinal axes  20  of the tissue rolls  10  are in a horizontal orientation and parallel to a front edge of the retail shelf such that package fronts  52  are visible to a consumer. 
         [0044]    The removable panel  94  allows for a quick transition from storeroom to shelf; a stocker simply removes the removable panel  94  by hand or using tools and places the case  80  on the retail shelf in the proper orientation. Packages  50  of tissue rolls  10  are then immediately viewable and obtainable by a consumer. The display on the shelf is six roll heights  12  wide and four roll diameters  14  high, with a depth of six roll diameters  14  while the case  80  is still full. The resulting presentation or display allows for two package facings and provides for a substantially larger package graphics billboard than on comparative configurations and/or display strategies. 
         [0045]    Another aspect of the present invention uses the packages  50  illustrated in  FIG. 3  in which the primary package logo  70  is still displayed on the package front  52  but the tissue rolls  10  are oriented in the package  50  such that their longitudinal axes  20  are perpendicular to the package front  52  rather than parallel to the package front  52 . In this example, the case  80  includes six packages  50  still in a two-by-three array such that six package tops  58  are in a face-to-face arrangement with one case long face  82 , two package fronts  52  are in a face-to-face arrangement with one case short face  84 , and two package backs  54  are in a face-to-face arrangement with the other case short face  84 . Similarly to the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the case  80  generally has dimensions of three package bottom depths  66  wide, two package front widths  62  high, and one package front height  64  deep. This translates to an array of tissue rolls  10  that, absent packaging, is six roll heights  12  wide by six roll diameters  14  high by four roll diameters  14  deep for a total of  144  tissue rolls  10  in the case  80 . 
         [0046]    Similarly to that described above for  FIG. 4 , the case  80  in this aspect is designed to be positioned on a retail shelf with the case top  85  to the left of a viewing consumer, the case bottom  86  to the right of a viewing consumer, a case short face  84  in a vertical orientation facing the consumer, and a case long face  82  in horizontal orientation above the packages  50  of tissue rolls  10 . In this orientation, longitudinal axes  20  of the tissue rolls  10  are in a horizontal orientation and perpendicular to a front edge of the retail shelf such that package fronts  52  and at least one roll end surface  24  are visible to a consumer upon removal of the removable panel  94 . Once the removable panel  94  is removed and the case  80  is positioned on a retail shelf as described above, two packages  50  are immediately viewable and in their proper orientation, with four more packages  50  behind them. Packages  50  of tissue rolls  10  are immediately viewable and obtainable by a consumer. The display on the shelf in this aspect will be six roll diameters  14  wide and four roll diameters  14  high, with a depth of six roll heights  12  while the case  80  is still full. 
         [0047]    While cases  80  of packages  50  may be shipped and sold individually, the present invention relates to assembling a plurality of cases  80  in one unit  100 . In one aspect of the present invention, a unit  100  is the primary arrangement for shipping purposes, and is generally rectilinear with two unit wide faces  102 , two unit narrow faces  104 , a unit bottom  105 , and a unit top  106 . The unit  100  also includes a unit width  107 , a unit height  108 , and a unit depth  109 . The unit  100  is typically an assembly and not constructed from packaging materials, although the unit  100  may be wrapped with poly film, corrugated board, or any other suitable material to protect the unit  100  from damage or disassembly during shipping. 
         [0048]    Cases  80  of packages  50  are always stacked such that the longitudinal axes  20  of the tissue rolls  10  are vertical because of the strength profile of a typical tissue roll  10  described above. Tissue rolls  10  are therefore transported and stored with their longitudinal axes  20  in a vertical orientation. 
         [0049]    Although the unit  100  may hold any suitable number of cases  80 , in one particular example illustrated in  FIG. 5  the unit  100  includes twenty cases  80  of six packages  50  each in an array of four tiers  110  with five cases  80  in each tier  110 . In this example, each tier  110  of five cases  80  has three cases  80  in case long face  82  to case long face  82  alignment. Two cases  80  are added such that the additional cases  80  are in case short face  84  to case short face  84  orientation with each other, and in an orientation of case long face  82  of the additional cases  80  to case short face  84  of the original three cases  80 . Adjacent tiers  110  may have alternating arrangements with respect to which side of a given tier  110  the first three cases  80  in case long face  82  to case long face  82  alignment are positioned. 
         [0050]    In the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the unit  100  generally has dimensions of three case depths  89  or two case widths  87  wide, four case heights  88  high, and one case width  87  plus one case depth  89  deep. This translates to an array of tissue rolls  10  that, absent packaging, is twelve roll diameters  14  wide by twenty-four roll heights  12  high by ten roll diameters  14  deep for a total of 2880 tissue rolls  10  in the unit  100 . Using the tissue roll, package, and case exemplary dimensions described above, such an exemplary unit  100  has the outer dimensions of 46.75 inches wide, 106.5 inches high, and 38.94 inches deep. 
         [0051]    This arrangement of the unit  100  yields a volume efficiency of 94.4 percent. 100 percent volume utilization or efficiency for a unit is defined as a volume that is 48 inches wide, 107 inches high, and 40 inches deep for a total of 205,440 cubic inches or 118.88 cubic feet. The closer to the standard of 48 inches by 107 inches by 40 inches a shippable unit is, the more economical it is to store, handle, and transport it. Typical previous tissue unit volume efficiencies are 83 to 90 percent. 
         [0052]    The unit  100  may also include one or more logos or other identifying features and other information as desired by the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other interested party. 
         [0053]    Another aspect of the present invention uses the packages  50  illustrated in  FIG. 3  in which the primary package logo  70  is still displayed on the package front  52  but the tissue rolls  10  are oriented in the package  50  such that their longitudinal axes  20  are perpendicular to the package front  52  rather than parallel to the package front  52 . In this example, the unit  100  still includes twenty cases  80  of six packages  50  each in an array of four tiers  110  with five cases  80  in each tier  110 . Similarly to the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the unit  100  generally has dimensions of three case depths  89  or two case widths  87  wide, four case heights  88  high, and one case width  87  plus one case depth  89  deep. This translates to an array of tissue rolls  10  that, absent packaging, is twelve roll heights  12  wide by twenty-four roll diameters  14  high by six roll heights  12  plus four roll diameters  14  deep for a total of 2880 tissue rolls  10  in the unit  100 . 
         [0054]    While units  100  of cases  80  may be shipped and sold individually, the present invention includes assembling a plurality of units  100  in one trailer  120 . In one aspect of the present invention, a trailer  120  is the primary arrangement for shipping purposes, and is generally rectilinear. 
         [0055]    Although the trailer  120  may hold any suitable number of units  100 , in one particular example illustrated in  FIG. 6  the trailer  120  includes thirty-two units  100  of twenty cases  80  each in an array of two rows of sixteen units  100  each, where the units  100  within a row are in unit wide face  102  to unit wide face  102  orientation, and wherein the units  100  between rows are in a unit narrow face  104  to unit narrow face  104  orientation. 
         [0056]    In the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the trailer  120  generally has dimensions of sixteen unit depths  109  wide, one unit height  108  high, and two unit widths  107  deep. This translates to an array of tissue rolls  10  that, absent packaging, is 160 roll diameters  14  wide by twenty-four roll heights  12  high by twenty-four roll diameters  14  deep for a total of 92,160 tissue rolls  10  in the trailer  120 . Using the tissue roll, package, case, and unit exemplary dimensions described above, such an exemplary trailer  120  has the outer dimensions of 623.0 inches wide, 106.5 inches high, and 93.5 inches deep. 
         [0057]    This arrangement of the trailer  120  yields a volume efficiency increase of 22 percent to a volume efficiency of 92 percent. The trailer fill efficiency of the present invention allows for an increase in capacity use in a standard 53-foot dry goods trailer that nominally measures 53 feet long (wide in the present description) by 98 inches wide (deep in the present description) by 110 inches tall. The accepted capacity of a standard dry goods trailer in the United States is 3300 cubic feet. The present invention allows for thirty-two units to be placed within that space, which is an almost perfect trailer fill situation. Previous attempts typically allow fewer tissue rolls per case  80  and unit  100 , and only thirty units  100  per trailer  120 . 
         [0058]    Another aspect of the present invention uses the packages  50  illustrated in  FIG. 3  in which the primary package logo  70  is still displayed on the package front  52  but the tissue rolls  10  are oriented in the package  50  such that their longitudinal axes  20  are perpendicular to the package front  52  rather than parallel to the package front  52 . In this example, the trailer  120  still includes thirty-two units  100  of twenty cases  80  each in an array of two rows of sixteen units  100  each. Similarly to the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the trailer  120  generally has dimensions of sixteen unit depths  109  wide, one unit height  108  high, and two unit widths  107  deep. This translates to an array of tissue rolls  10  that, absent packaging, is ninety-six roll heights  12  plus sixty-four roll diameters  14  wide by twenty-four roll diameters  14  high by twenty-four roll heights  12  deep for a total of 92,160 tissue rolls  10  in the trailer  120 . 
         [0059]    The present invention provides the advantages of a unique manufacturing and merchandising solution. The unique case count, configuration, orientation, and presentation provide an entire at-retail-shelf solution. A case count of six packages  50  of twenty-four tissue rolls  10  each provides a unique quantity over the typical case of four twenty-four-packs for shipment and retail shelf pack-out. Pack-out, or stocking retail shelves, using cases  80  of six packages  50  each and wherein the cases  80  have removable panels  94  provides efficiency for retailers to stock shelves and leads to fewer out-of-stock situations. The case configurations and orientations of the present invention allow for a unique display of the packages  50 . Due to the solution provided by the present invention, each case  80  will be oriented on its side during retail shelf presentation. In addition, environmental sustainability is improved due in part to the elimination of individually-wrapped packages. Environmental sustainability is also improved due in part to the case quantity of six twenty-four-packs instead of four or fewer twenty-four-packs in a case. The present invention accomplishes at least an 11 percent reduction in packaging materials. Finally, the case quantity, configuration, and orientation improvements allow for increased efficiency in distribution strategy. 
         [0060]    These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various aspects of the present invention may be interchanged either in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims.