Abstract:
A packaging assembly for transporting, storing and displaying containers includes a merchandising feature that facilitates moving containers toward a display opening of the tray as the front container is removed by a customer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to packaging for transporting, storing and displaying containers. 
         [0002]    Small food or beverage containers are currently shipped to stores in boxes. The containers are removed from the boxes and manually arranged on refrigerator shelves for display to customers. Customers select one or more of the containers positioned at the front of the shelf. Store workers manually rearrange the containers periodically to move the remaining containers to the front of the shelf to make them more visible and accessible to customers and to facilitate first in first out inventory management. 
         [0003]    Manually unloading the containers onto the store shelves and periodically shifting all of the rows of the containers forward is time-consuming. The current boxes are discarded and not reused. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a reusable packaging assembly for transporting, storing and displaying containers, which includes a merchandising feature that facilitates moving containers toward a display opening of the packaging as the front container is removed by a customer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view a packaging assembly according to one example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 1 , with the front portion closed; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 1  in a stacked configuration with a similar packaging assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 5  with the front portion closed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a section view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 5  in a stacked configuration with similar packaging assemblies; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention in a stacked configuration with a similar packaging assembly; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10A  is a sectional side view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 9  with the spring assembly in a fully loaded position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10B  is a view similar to  FIG. 10A  with the spring assembly in the unloaded position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 9  in a stacked configuration with two similar packaging assemblies; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 12  taken along line A-A with the side flaps in an extended, support position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention in a stacked configuration; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a release button of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 14 , with the side wall broken away; 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a side view of a plurality of packaging assemblies of  FIG. 17  in a stacked configuration on a shelf; 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a packaging assembly according to another example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 20  is an end view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 19  in a stacked configuration with a similar packaging assembly; 
           [0028]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the tray of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 22  is a side view of the tray of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 19  in a stacked configuration with a similar tray; 
           [0030]      FIG. 23  is a side view of the tray of  FIG. 19  in a nested configuration with a similar tray; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the packaging assembly of  FIG. 19  including an alternate rack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    A packaging assembly  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The packaging assembly  10  includes a box  12  and a front portion  14  pivotably attached to the box  12 . The box  12  includes a top portion  16 , a bottom portion  18 , an end portion  20  and a pair of opposing side portions  22  extending upward from the bottom portion  18  of the box  12 . The top portion  16 , the bottom portion  18  and the pair of opposing side portions  22  define an interior space in which containers  24  are placed. 
         [0033]    The front portion  14  includes a recess  27  on an interior surface and is pivotably connected to the side portions  22  at pivot axis  26 . The front portion  14  of the packaging assembly  10  is pivotable from an open position to a closed position, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]    In the open position, the front portion  14  is pivoted downward about the pivot axis  26  to provide access to the containers  24 . In the open position, customers have access to view and select containers for purchase. Also, an advertising space  32  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ), which extends downward from the top portion  16  of the box  12 , is exposed when the front portion  14  is pivoted to the open position. 
         [0035]    In the closed position, the front portion  14  is pivoted upward about the pivot axis  26 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the exterior of the front portion  14  includes a handle  34  extending partially over an adjacent recess  36 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the top portion  16  of the box  12  includes at least one rib  28  extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the top portion  16  and at least one groove  30  extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the bottom portion  18 , corresponding to the at least one rib  28 . 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a similar packaging assembly  10 ′ is stackable upon the packaging assembly  10  such that the at least one rib  28  of the lower packaging assembly  10  engages the at least one groove  30 ′ of the upper packaging assembly  10 ′. 
         [0038]    In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the containers  24  are placed horizontally within the interior space of the packaging assembly  10  in an alternating arrangement, i.e. the containers  24  are placed on their sides, with a bottom row of containers  24  having tops facing and substantially parallel to one of the opposing side portions  22  of the box  12  and a top row of containers  24  having tops facing and substantially parallel to the other of the opposing side portions  22  of the box  12 . 
         [0039]    In use, the packaging assembly  10  is shipped to a store full of containers  24  (such as yogurt containers). The packaging assembly  10  can be carried by the handle  34  and by a similar handle (not shown) molded into the end portion  20 . The packaging assembly  10  can be placed directly onto a shelf, such as a shelf in a refrigerated section of the store, and similar packaging assemblies  10 ′ can be stacked on the packaging assembly  10 . On the shelf, the front portion  24  is opened so that customers can view and remove the containers  24 . When the packaging assembly  10  is empty, it can be returned to the warehouse or manufacturer to be reused. 
         [0040]    A packaging assembly  10 A according to an alternate version of the first embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 . In the packaging assembly  10 A, the containers  24  are placed vertically within the interior space of the packaging assembly  10 A and arranged side-by-side. The packaging assembly  10 A includes a box  12 A and a front portion  14 A pivotably attached to the box  12 A. The box  12 A includes a top portion  16 A, a bottom portion  18 A, an end portion  20 A and a pair of opposing side portions  22 A extending upward from the bottom portion  18 A of the box  12 A. The interior surface of the front portion  14 A includes a recess  27 A into which the containers  24  can be slid during removal. The recess  27 A is partially defined by a wall  29 A ramped upwardly toward the outer end of the front portion  14 A (in the open position). 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the front portion  14 A includes a handle  34 A defined adjacent an exterior recess  36 A. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the top portion  16 A includes a pair of ribs  28 A in alignment with a complementary pair of grooves  30 A in a bottom portion  18 A. Several stacks of packaging assemblies  10 A,  10 A′ are supported on a store shelf in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0042]    A packaging assembly  110  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 9 . The packaging assembly  110  generally includes a box  112  and a cylindrical portion  116  disposed within the box  112 , although the box  112  and cylindrical portion  116  are integrally molded together in left and right halves which are snap-fit, welded or glued together. 
         [0043]    The box  112  includes a front portion  114 , a bottom portion  118 , a rear portion  120  and a pair of opposing side portions  122  extending upward from the bottom portion  118 . 
         [0044]    The cylindrical portion  116  is disposed within the pair of opposing side portions  122  and extends from the rear portion  120  to the front portion  114 . An opening  125  is disposed in the cylindrical portion  116 , proximate to the front portion  114  of the box  112 . 
         [0045]    An arched opening  119  is formed at a lower edge of the front portion  114 . The arched opening  119  leads to a cavity  121 , shown in  FIG. 10A , below the cylindrical portion  116 . 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a spring mechanism  150  may be disposed within the cylindrical portion  116 , proximate to the rear portion  120  of the box  112 . The spring mechanism  150  includes a spring  152  and a slide  154 . The slide  154  is contained within the cylindrical portion  116  and the spring  152  is contained within the slide  154  with a spring extension portion  156  extending along an interior of the cylindrical portion  116 . The slide  154  includes an engagement surface  158 , which interacts with containers  124  to move the containers  124  within the cylindrical portion  116  toward the opening  125  located near the front portion of the box  112 . 
         [0047]    The spring mechanism  150  moves from a fully loaded position, illustrated in  FIG. 10A , to an unloaded position, illustrated in  FIG. 10B , as containers  124  are removed from the opening  125 , i.e. the spring  152  is operable to move the slide  154  along a plane substantially parallel to the bottom portion  118  as the spring mechanism  150  moves from the fully loaded position to the unloaded position. 
         [0048]    As containers  124  are inserted into the packaging assembly  110  through the opening  125  the spring mechanism  150  moves toward the fully loaded position. Conversely, as containers  124  are removed from the packaging assembly  110  through the opening  125  the spring mechanism  150  moves toward the unloaded position, thus moving the containers  24  to a position adjacent the opening  125 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the packaging assembly  110  can be stacked on a similar packaging assembly  110 ′. The cylindrical portion  116 ′ of the lower packaging assembly  110 ′ is received in the opening  119  in the front portion  114  and in the cavity  121  ( FIG. 10A ) of the upper packaging assembly  110 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , another packaging assembly  110 ″ could be stacked on top of the packaging assembly  110  in a similar manner. By staggering the packaging assemblies  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ as shown, access to all of the containers  24  through the three openings  125 ,  125 ′,  125 ″ is provided. 
         [0050]    A packaging assembly  210  according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0051]    The packaging assembly  210  includes a tray  212  having a wall portion  214  extending upwardly from a periphery of a bottom portion  216 . A pair of opposing wedge-shaped side flaps  220  extend along opposing sides of the wall portion  214  of the tray  212 . 
         [0052]    The tray  212  further includes a support lip  213  along an upper edge of the wall portion  214  and an open access  215  located at a front end of the packaging assembly  210 . 
         [0053]    Each of the pair of opposing side flaps  220  is integrally molded with the tray  212  and connected to the tray  212  by a living hinge  222 . Each side flap  220  is moveable between an extended, support position and a folded position. In the support position, it extends downward, where it supports the tray  212  at an incline on a shelf or another, similar loaded packaging assembly. This moves the containers  224  toward the front of the packaging assembly  210  and the access  215 . In the folded position against the tray  212  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 13 ), the packaging assembly  210  can be nested within another similar empty packaging assembly, so that it can be shipped back to the warehouse more efficiently. 
         [0054]    The support lip  213  provides support for the containers  224  and the containers  224  slide down the incline along the support lip  213  toward the access cut-out  215  for removal by a customer for purchase. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the containers  224  are supported by their lids on the support lip  213 . 
         [0055]    A packaging assembly  310  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 14-16 . 
         [0056]    The packaging assembly  310  includes a base  312  and at least one cartridge  314 . The cartridge  314  is stackable upon the base  312  and slideably engaged with the base  312 . In the example shown, a similar cartridge  314 ′ is stacked upon and slideably engaged with the cartridge  314 . 
         [0057]    Each of the base  312 , the cartridge  314  and the similar cartridge  314 ′ includes a top portion  316 , a bottom portion  318 , opposing side portions  320 , a rear portion  322  and a front portion  323 . The opposing side portions  320  extend between the top portion  316  and the bottom portion  318 . Each front portion includes a display opening  326 , although preferably, the display opening  326  of the base  312  is much larger than those on the cartridge trays  314 ,  314 ′. 
         [0058]    Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , each of the base  312 , the cartridge  314  and the similar cartridge  314 ′ includes a release latch button  330  that releasably secures another tray above it. 
         [0059]    As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the containers  324  are visible in each of the display openings  326  of the base  312  and the cartridge  314  and accessible to a customer for removal through the display opening  326  of the base  312 . 
         [0060]    The bottom portions  318 ,  318 ′ of the cartridge packaging assemblies  314 ,  314 ′ are inclined at an angle θ with respect to horizontal while the bottom portion  318  of the base packaging assembly  312  is declined at the same angle θ. 
         [0061]    As containers  324  are removed though the display opening  326  of the base  312 , containers  324  contained within the cartridge  314  and the similar cartridge  314 ′ slide along their respective bottom portions  318 ,  318 ′ toward a container supply opening  332 ,  332 ′ formed in each respective bottom portion  318 ,  318 ′. 
         [0062]    The containers  324  slide through the container supply openings  332 ,  322 ′ and into a container receiving opening  334  formed in the top portion  316  of the base  312 . The containers  324  then slide along the declined bottom surface  318  of the base packaging assembly  312  toward the display opening  326  in the base packaging assembly  312  for removal by a customer. 
         [0063]    A packaging assembly  410  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 17 . The packaging assembly  410  includes a box  412  and a removable front face  414 . The box  412  includes a rear portion  416 , a front portion  418 , a bottom portion  420 , a top portion  422  and a pair of opposing side portions  424 . 
         [0064]    The bottom portion  420  includes a lower surface  420 A and an upper surface  420 B. The lower surface  420 A of the bottom portion extends substantially horizontally between the rear portion  416  and the front portion  418 . The upper surface  420 B of the bottom portion  420  also extends between the rear portion  416  and the front portion  418  but the upper surface  420 B declines as it extends from the rear portion  416  to the front portion  418 . 
         [0065]    The front portion  418  includes an advertising space  426  and a display opening  428  is formed at an intersection of the front portion  418  and the top portion  422 . Product advertisements are placed within the advertising space  426  and containers are displayed for purchase within the display opening  428 . 
         [0066]    Containers  424  are positioned within the box  412  and visible within the display opening  428 . The removable front face  414  is removably attached to the box  412 , covering the display opening  428 . 
         [0067]    The box  412  also includes at least one rib  430  extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the top portion  422  of the box  412  and at least one groove  432  extending longitudinally along an outer surface of the bottom portion  420  of the box  412 . In this example, two ribs  430  and two grooves  432  are shown. 
         [0068]    The ribs  430  of the box  412  correspond to the grooves  432 ′ of a similar box  412 ′ such that the ribs  430  are received in the grooves  432 ′ of the similar box  412 ′ stacked thereon. The stacked boxes  412 ,  412 ′ are placed on a shelf  436  for display, as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0069]    In the example embodiment, the box  412  is reusable and the front face  414  is disposable. As such, the box  412  is constructed, for example, from plastic and the front face  414  is constructed, for example, from cardboard or styrene. In use, the packaging assemblies  410  would be loaded and shipped to the store, where the front face  414  would be removed and where multiple packaging assemblies  410  could be stacked on a shelf. Customers would remove containers  424  through the open display opening  424 . When empty, the packaging assemblies  410  would be returned to the store for reuse. 
         [0070]    A packaging assembly  510  according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 19 . The packaging assembly  510  includes a tray  512  and a rack  514 . The rack  514  includes a plurality of legs  520  extending downward from a tray stacking platform  522 , each having a recess  521  at a lower end and a complementary interlocking portion  523  protruding upwardly above the platform  522 . An inwardly offset protrusion  526  extends upward from the tray stacking platform  522  inwardly adjacent each interlocking portion  523 . 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 20 , a similar rack  514 ′ is stackable upon the rack  514 , such that the recesses  521 ′ of the upper rack  514 ′ receive the interlocking portions  523  of the lower rack  514 , and the legs  520 ′ of the upper rack  514 ′ abut the protrusions  526  of the lower rack  514 , as illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0072]    The tray  512  includes a plurality of container support areas  516  and a plurality of stacking support areas  518 , as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . Containers  524  are placed within the container support areas  516  and the tray  512  is stacked upon a tray stacking platform  522  of the rack  514 . 
         [0073]    Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the tray  512  is stackable with a similar tray  512 ′, when containers  526  are positioned within the container support areas  516  of the tray  512 . The stacking support areas  518 ′ of the similar tray  512 ′ engage tops of the containers  526 , which are positioned within the container support areas  516  of the tray  512 . 
         [0074]    As illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the tray  512  and the similar tray  512 ′ are nestable within one another when no containers  526  are present. 
         [0075]    Alternatively, the tray  512  is slideably stackable within an alternate rack  550 , as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . 
         [0076]    The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.