Patent Publication Number: US-10766659-B2

Title: Container, blank, modular display device, and method for forming a display device from the modular display device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national phase application of International Application No. PCT/IB2017/001167, filed Sep. 19, 2017, which claims benefit from Chinese Application No. 201610866480.9, filed Sep. 29, 2016, which are each hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to containers, and in particular to containers which may be used to form a modular display device. The invention relates in particular to containers which can stacked on top of one another to display items located therein. The invention also relates to methods of forming a modular display device comprising at least one such container, to a modular display device and to a blank. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide a display unit for confectionery items and the like which is formed of a series of compartments positioned above one another. These compartments may in some instances be held in position by a support structure which is typically constructed from a metal or plastics material. However, such units are relatively expensive to construct and must be restocked with items which are generally stored in additional packaging. 
     To overcome these issues, it is known to provide items in “shelf-ready packaging” (“SRP”) which can be used to transport, store and subsequently display the items without the need for an additional display unit. Furthermore, SRP is typically constructed from cartonboard or the like which reduces manufacturing costs. SRP of this type commonly includes a base and a cover removable from the base by tearing along perforations in the packaging material. When removed, the cover may be used as a stand on which the base may be placed to form the display unit. Furthermore, removing the cover provides an opening in the base to display items located therein. 
     In some examples of SRP, the cover may comprise an inclined surface on which the base sits. In this way, when the base is positioned on the cover it is angled with respect to a horizontal axis to better display items located within the display to potential customers. However, SRPs of this type are limited in the sense that the formed display unit is restricted to the angled configuration determined by the incline of the surface on the cover. 
     Furthermore, increasing the angle at which the containers in the display unit are positioned creates additionally stability issues, where the containers may become top heavy when stocked with items and therefore more likely to topple or where upper containers may slide relative to lower containers. It is therefore a requirement for any display unit comprising stacked containers to be sufficiently stable at the angle at which the containers are inclined. If the incline is to be varied, the stacked containers must be sufficiently stable at a range of angles. However, no solution has been provided which addresses this issue. 
     It is therefore an aim of an embodiment or embodiments of the invention to overcome or at least partially mitigate the problems associated with the prior art, or any other problem of vertically stackable packaging containers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container constructed from a blank of foldable material and adapted to be stacked together with other similar containers to form a modular display, the container comprising a base, a pair of opposed side walls extending upwardly from the base, and opposed front and rear walls extending upwardly from the base between said opposed side walls, said base and said walls defining an enclosure for storing and displaying one or more items, a locking tab defined in each side wall and a pair of corresponding locking slots defined in the base, the locking tabs and locking slots being configured such that, in use, a first container is detachably mountable on a second container by insertion of the locking tabs of the second container into the corresponding locking slots of the first container; wherein each projecting tab comprises a neck portion and a body portion with the body portion overhanging the neck portion to define an undercut. 
     In an embodiment, the undercut opens in a rearward direction. 
     In an embodiment, each locking tab is defined at a rearward end of its respective side wall. 
     In an embodiment, the corresponding locking slots are defined in the base at positions which are offset forwardly from their respective locking tabs such that, in use, when a first container is mounted to a second container, the front wall of the upper, first container is offset rearwardly from the front wall of the lower, second container. 
     In an embodiment, the locking tabs and locking slots are configured such that, in use, a first container is mountable on top of a second container with the body portion of each of the locking tabs of the second container inserted through a corresponding locking slot in the first container and the base of the first container engaging within the undercut. 
     In an embodiment, a first recess is defined in the upper edge of each of the opposed side walls, each first recess extending from a forward edge the respective locking tab forwardly over part of the remaining length of the side wall. In an embodiment, the container is configured such that, in use, when a first container is mounted on top of a second container, a region of base of the first container between a forward edge of the locking slots and the front wall is received in the first recesses of the second container. In an embodiment, each first recess is are longer than the distance between the forward end of the locking slots and the front wall. 
     In an embodiment, the base is planar and the uppermost edges of the opposed side walls are parallel to the plane of the base. 
     In an embodiment, each of the opposed side walls comprises an inner panel and an outer panel, the inner panel defining a second recess in a lower edge region of the panel in alignment with a respective one of the locking slots, the second recess being configured to receive at least a body portion of the locking tab of a further container when inserted though the locking slot in use to mount the container to said further container. 
     In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a blank for the manufacture of the container according to the first aspect, the blank comprising:
         first and second side wall sections, a rear edge of each side wall section being profiled to define a locking tab in the completed container;   a front wall panel and a rear wall panel;   a base panel connected by fold lines along a first set of opposing end edges to the front and rear panels, and along a second set of opposing side edges to the first and second side wall sections, the base comprising a pair of opposed locking slot apertures located along respective side edges.       

     In an embodiment, each side wall section comprises inner and outer side wall panels separated by one or more fold lines, the rear edges of the inner and outer panels in each side wall section being profiled to define a locking tab when the blank is folded to form a container. In an embodiment, the front wall panel and the rear wall panel each have a securing flap connected to either side edge by a fold line, the securing flaps being configured for insertion between the inner and outer side wall panels of a respective side wall when the blank is folded to form a container. In an embodiment, each of the securing flaps connected to the rear wall panel are profiled along a rear edge to define a locking tab together with the inner and outer side wall panels of their respective side wall sections when the blank is folded to form a container. In an embodiment, each side wall section defines an aperture spanning the inner and outer side wall panels over part of their length, the aperture defining a forward edge of the locking tab and a first recess in the upper edge of the respective side wall when the blank is folded to form container. 
     In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular display device comprising at least one container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. 
     In an embodiment, the modular display device comprises two or more containers in accordance with the first aspect of the invention mountable one above another to form a stack, wherein the containers are connectable together in adjacent pairs to form the stack by means of the locking tabs in a lower container of each pair being inserted in the respective locking slots of the upper container in each pair, with the base of the upper container in each pair engaging in the undercut defined in the locking tabs of the lower container in each pair. 
     In an embodiment, the modular display device comprises a stand or base to which said at least one container can be mounted, the stand being made from a blank of foldable material and comprising a pair of side walls connected along fold lines to opposing side edges of a rear wall, the side walls having upper surfaces which are inclined downwardly from the rear wall toward a forward edge, a locking tab projecting form the upper surface of each side wall for insertion in a respective locking slot of said at least one container. 
     In an embodiment, the locking tabs on the stand each comprise a neck portion and a body portion overhanging the neck portion to define an undercut, the base of the at least one container being engageable in the undercut. 
     In an embodiment wherein two or more containers are arranged in a stack, a lowermost container in the stack is mountable to the stand. 
     In an embodiment, the display device comprises a header mountable to said at least one container. In an embodiment, the header is formed from a blank of foldable material. 
     In an embodiment, the header has a substantially planar display surface configured to extend parallel to the plane of the base of a container to which it is mounted. 
     In an embodiment in which two or more containers are arranged in a stack, the header is mountable to an uppermost container in the stack. 
     In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for forming a display device from the modular display device according to the third aspect, the method comprising detachably mounting at least two containers one above another to form a stack, a first container in each adjacent pair of containers in the stack being mounted on top of a second container in each adjacent pair by inserting each locking tab of the second container through a respective locking slot of the first container, the base of the first container engaging in the undercuts defined by the locking tabs of the second container. 
     In an embodiment where the modular display device comprises a stand, the method includes mounting a lowermost container in the stack to the stand by inserting each locking tab of the stand within a respective locking slot of the lowermost container, the base of the lowermost container engaging in the undercuts defined by the locking tabs of the stand. 
     In an embodiment where the modular display device comprises a header, the method includes mounting the header to an uppermost container in the stack. 
     In any of the above aspects of the invention, the container or containers may comprise one or more items located therein, which items may be food or drink items including confectionery items such as a gum or candy, snack products such as biscuits or cheese and the like or indeed any suitable items for display. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a further perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to a further container; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular display device in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a header forming part of the modular display device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stand forming part of the modular display device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of an embodiment of a blank in accordance with an aspect of the invention for forming the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a blank for forming the stand of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a blank for forming the header of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of a container  10  in accordance with an aspect of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The container  10  has a front wall  12 , rear wall  14 , a pair of opposed side walls  16  and a base (or bottom)  18 . The walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and the base  18  define a substantially cuboidal enclosure for housing one or more items, in use. 
     An upper end region of each side wall  16  is profiled to define a locking tab  22  at a rear end and a first recess  24  extending from a forward end of the locking tab  22  over part of the length of the walls. The container  10  additionally defines a pair of corresponding locking slots  26  in the base, into which the locking tabs  22  of a further container  10  can be inserted to mount the containers one above the other in a stack. The locking tabs  22  each comprise a neck portion  22   a  and a body portion  22   b . The body portion  22   b  of each tab is wider than the corresponding neck portion  22   a  such that it overhangs the neck portion resulting in respective undercut regions  22   c  which open in a rearward direction. The body portions  22   b  and undercut regions  22   c  cooperate with the base  18  of a further container to detachably connect the container  10  with said further container as will be described below. 
     The container  10  is configured to form part of a modular display device, in which two or more such containers  10  can be detachable mounted one above the other in a stack as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . When forming the stack, each adjacent pair of containers in the stack are connected together with locking tabs  22  of a lower container in the pair inserted into the locking slots  26  of the upper container. Each side wall  16  has an inner wall panel  16   a  and an outer wall panel  16   b  interconnected along the upper edge  17  of the side wall by fold lines. A second recess  30  is defined in the lower edge of the inner wall panel  16   a  adjacent the respective locking slot  26 . The second recess  30  is dimensioned to receive at least the body portion  22   b  of a respective locking tab  22  when inserted through the locking slot  26 . The locking tab  22  is therefore recessed into the side wall  16  so that it does not encroach into the volume for holding product which is defined between the inner surfaces of the inner panels  16   a  of the side walls. 
     The locking slots  26  are positioned offset forwardly from the locking tabs  22 , so that when one container  10  is mounted to another, the front wall  12  of the upper container is offset rearwardly from the front wall  12  of the lower container  10 . This produces a staggered display in which the interior volume of the lower container is accessible to allow a consumer to view and remove the contents of the lower container  10 . 
     The first recesses  24  in the upper edges of the side walls  16  are arranged so that when a first container  10  is mounted on top of a second container  10 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a portion  18   a  of the base  18  of the first container is received in the first recess. The first recesses  24  are slightly longer than the distance from a forwarded edge of the locking slots  26  to the front wall  12  of the container  10 . The length of the first recesses  24  is selected such that during mounting of the first container  10  to the second container  10 ′, the locking tabs  22 ′ of the second container are inserted through the locking slots  26  of the first container  10  until at least the body portion  22   b ′ of the locking tabs are above the base  18  of the first container and the first container  10  slid forwardly relative to the second container  10 ′ so that the base  18  of the first container at the rearward end of the locking slots  26  enters the undercuts  22   c , with the front wall  12  of the first container abutting a surface  32  of the side wall defining a forward edge of the first recess  24  in the second container  10 ′. This configuration securely connects the containers  10 ,  10 ′ and enables the containers to be inclined with their bases at any angle (between 0° and 90°) with respect to the horizontal axis. In addition, the first container  10  is offset rearwardly with respect to the second container  10 ′ such that the interior of both containers  10 ,  10 ′ is accessible even when in a stacked configuration, as shown. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a modular display device  34  formed from containers  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  in accordance with the invention. As shown, the display device  34  is formed from three separate containers, a first container  10   a , a second container  10   b  and a third container  10   c , stacked one on top of the other. Specifically, the second container  10   b  is stacked on top of the first container  10   a  to form a first adjacent pair of containers in the stack, and the third container  10   c  is stacked on top of the second container  10   b  to form a second adjacent pair of containers in the stack. Each adjacent pair of containers ( 10   a  and  10   b ,  10   b  and  10   c ) in the stack are detachably mounted to one another in the same manner as the first and second containers  10 ,  10 ′ shown in  FIG. 2  and described above. 
     The display device  34  as shown in  FIG. 3  also includes a stand or base  60  onto which the first, lowermost container  10   a  is mounted and a header  40  securely connected to the third, uppermost container  10   c . When mounted on the stand  60 , the containers  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  are angled with respect to a horizontal surface on which the stand  60  is positioned. The header  40  is connected to the uppermost container, the third container  10   c  in the illustrated embodiment, and comprises a display surface  42  which may include indicia such as advertising slogans, logos, trade marks, prices, etc. referring to the item(s) contained within the display  90 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the construction of the header  40  and stand  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the header  40  includes a planar display surface  42  which is integrally formed with opposing side walls  44   a ,  44   b  and a securing flap  46  at the front. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing flap  46  is connected along an edge  48  of the display surface  42  which includes a series of perforations  50  along its length to aid in folding. The ends of the side walls  44   a ,  44   b  extend beyond the edge  48  of the display surface and form securing tabs  52   a ,  52   b . The securing flap  46  and securing tabs  52   a ,  52   b  are used to securely connect the header  40  to a container  10   c  within the display device  34 . Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment the securing flap  46  is positioned to overlay the rear wall  14  of the uppermost container  10   c  in the display device  34 , with the securing tabs  52   a ,  52   b  inserted between the inner and outer side wall panels  16   a ,  16   b  of respective side walls  16  of the container. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the stand  60  includes a rear wall  62  which is integrally formed with opposing side walls  64  that project forwardly of the rear wall  62 . The lower edges  66  of the rear and side walls  62 ,  64  are coplanar. The upper edges  68  of the side walls are inclined downwardly in a direction from the rear wall  62  to a forward end so that the side walls  64  taper. A locking tab  70  projects from the upper surface  68  of each side wall  64 . The locking tabs  70  are configured in the same way as tabs  22  on the container  10  and have wider body portions  70   b  and narrower neck portions  70   a  to define a rearwardly directed undercut  70   c  which opens in a rearward direction proximal to the upper surface  68  of the side walls  64 . The locking tabs  70  on the stand  60  are used to securely connect a container  10  to the stand  60 . Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the tabs  70  are inserted through the locking slots  26  of the lowermost container  10   a  in the stack, and the container  10   a  is slid forwardly so that the base  18  of the container  10   a  engages in the undercuts  70   c  to lock the container to the stand  60 . When in this position, the base  18  of the container  10   a  rests on the inclined upper surfaces  68  of the side walls  64  and the upper surface of the rear wall  62  of the stand  60  and is angled with respect to a horizontal axis as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The stand  60  is used to support a stack of containers  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  on a horizontal surface, such as a retail counter, so as to form a retail display stand in which the containers are inclined relative to the surface of the counter at an angle which is determined by the angle of inclination of the upper surfaces  68  of the side walls  64 . Typically, the angle of inclination will be in the region of 45 degrees but can be varied to suit any particular application. For example, the angle of inclination might typically be in the range of 30 to 60 degrees. In a modular system, a range of stands  60  having side walls whose upper surfaces are inclined at different angles can be provided so that a retailer can select the most appropriate stand  60  when assembling the modular display device. The stand  60  is dimensioned to stably support the stack of containers with the side walls  64  of the stand spaced apart by the same distance as the side walls  16  of the containers  10  and the rear wall  62  of the stand in-line with the rear wall  14  of the container. 
     Whilst is expected that a modular display device  34  in accordance with the invention will usually comprise at least two containers  10  arranged in a stack, a display device  34  could be formed using only one container  10  mounted to a stand  60 , optionally with a header  40  mounted to the same container  10 . 
     The container  10 , the header and the stand  60  are all formed from blanks of foldable material such as cardboard or carton board or the like. The outer surfaces of the material at least may be printed on to carry suitable graphics for the display. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a blank  110  used to construct the embodiment of the container  10  of the present invention as shown in the preceding figures. The blank  110  comprises a base panel  118  and a pair of opposed side wall sections  116  connected via respective fold lines  215 ,  217  along a first set of opposing side edges of the base panel  118 . 
     The side wall sections  116  are substantially a mirror image of each other and each comprises an inner side wall panel  116   a  and an outer side wall panel  116   b . The inner and outer side wall panels  116   a ,  116   b  are connected via interior fold lines  216   a ,  216   b  which run parallel to one another and are configured such that when folded, the panels  116   a ,  116   b  are positioned adjacent to one another side-by-side but are separated by a gap equal in size to the distance between the interior fold lines  216   a ,  216   b , which is approximately equal to the thickness of the material. Each side wall section  116  additionally comprises a cut-out region or aperture  132  therein which spans a portion of both panels  116   a ,  116   b . The cut-out region  132  defines the first recess  24  in upper edge the respective side wall  16  of the container  10  when the blank is folded to form a container. In addition, the panels  116   a ,  116   b  are profiled to define a locking tab  22  at a rearward edge of the side wall  16  in the completed container. Accordingly, each panel  116   a ,  116   b  includes a notch  122   c  along a rear edge which together form the undercut region  22   c  of the locking tab  22  of the container  10 , when constructed from the blank  110 . The inner panel  116   a  defines a further cut out region  136  which forms the second recess  30  for receiving a locking tab  22 ,  70  of a further container  10  or stand  60  when the blank is folded to form a container  10 . Furthermore, the inner side wall panel  116   a  includes a pair of securing tabs  137   a ,  137   b  positioned along an outer edge of the panel  116   b  either side of the cut-out region  136 . 
     The base panel  118  comprises a pair of opposed locking slot apertures  126  positioned adjacent respective fold lines  215 ,  217  for the outer side wall panels  116   b  of the first and second side wall sections  116 . The locking slot apertures  126  form respective locking slots  26  in the base  18  of a container. Further apertures  138   a ,  138   b  are also defined on either side of the base panel  118 , one  138   a  to rear and one  138   b  forwardly of the locking slot aperture  126  to receive respective securing tabs  137   a ,  137   b  to hold the inner side wall panels  116   a  in position when the blank is folded to form a container. 
     The blank  110  includes a front wall panel  112  and rear wall panel  114  connected via respective fold lines  211 ,  213  along a second set of opposing end edges of the base panel  118 . A pair of first securing flaps  113   a ,  113   b  are connected via respective fold lines  212   a ,  212   b  along opposing side edges of the front wall panel  112 . The first securing flaps  113   a ,  113   b  locate between the inner and outer side wall panels  116   a ,  116   b  on their receptive sides when the blank is folded to form a container. Similarly, a pair of second securing flaps  115   a ,  115   b  are connected via respective fold lines  214   a ,  214   b  along opposing side edges of the rear wall panel  114 , the second securing flaps  115   a ,  115   b  also being received between the inner and outer side wall panels  116   a ,  116   b  on their receptive sides when the blank is folded to form a container. A rear edge of each of the second securing flaps  115   a ,  115   b  is profiled to define a locking tab portion  122 , which aligns with the profiled rear edges of the inner and outer side wall panels  116   a ,  116   b  to define the locking tabs  22  in the completed container. 
     To form the container  10  from the blank  110 , the blank  110  is first folded along fold lines  211 ,  213  to bring the front and rear wall panels  112 ,  114  perpendicular to the base panel  118 . The blank  110  is then folded along fold lines  212   a ,  212   b  to bring first securing flaps  113   a ,  113   b  perpendicular to the front wall panel  112 , and along fold lines  214   a ,  214   b  to bring projecting second securing flaps  115   a ,  115   b  perpendicular to the rear wall panel  114 . With the panels  112 ,  114 , and securing flaps  113   a ,  113   b ,  115   a ,  115   b  in position, the blank  110  is then folded along fold lines  215 ,  217  to bring the second side wall sections  116  perpendicular with the base panel  118 . 
     Each of the side wall sections  116  is folded along their interior fold lines  216   a ,  216   b  to bring the inner side wall panel  116   a  to a position wherein it overlaps the outer side wall panel  116   b  with the respective first and second securing flaps located between the inner and outer side wall panels  116   a ,  116   b . The inner side wall panel  116   a  is secured in position by locating the securing tabs  137   a ,  137   b  in respective further apertures  138   a ,  138   b  in the base panel  118 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a blank  160  for the construction of the stand  60  for use in embodiments of a display device of the invention. The blank  160  comprises a rear wall panel  162  and a pair of side wall sections  164  connected via respective fold lines  262   a ,  262   b  along opposing edges of the rear wall panel  162 . 
     The side wall sections are a mirror image of each other. Each side wall section  164  comprises a first side wall panel  164   a  and a second side wall panel  164   b , with each side wall panel being substantially a mirror image of the other. The first and second side wall panels  164   a ,  164   b  are connected via interior fold lines  264   a ,  264   b  which run alongside one another and are configured such that when folded, the panels  164   a ,  164   b  are positioned adjacent to one another, side-by-side. Each side wall panel  164   a ,  164   b  also includes a locking tab portion  170  extending therefrom. The locking tab portions  170  are profiled to define locking tabs  70  in the completed stand  60  and which are similar in profile to the locking tabs  22  of the container and include undercut regions  170   c  between the main body of the tab portion and an upper edge  168  of the respective side wall panel  164   a ,  164   b . The side wall panels  164   a ,  16   b  are triangular in shape so as to form tapered side walls in the stand. 
     To form the stand  60  from the blank  160 , the blank  160  is folded along fold lines  264   a ,  264   b  to bring the first and second side wall panels  164   a ,  164   b  on either side together, with the lacking tab portions  170  in alignment to define the side walls  64 . The panels  164   a ,  164   b  may be securely fastened to one another, by means of an adhesive or the like, for example, to retain the first and second side wall sections  164  in this configuration. The blank is also folded along fold lines  262   a ,  262   b  so that the side walls  64  of the stand project forwardly from the rear wall  66 . The side walls  64  of the stand  60  are held in position relative to the rear wall  62  once a container  10  has been mounted to the stand so that no front wall is required. This allows the side walls  64  of the stand  60  to taper very narrowly at their forward edge so that when a container  10  is mounted to the stand, the stand  60  is not visible from the front of the display and the container is brought very close to the surface on which the stand  60  is positioned. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a blank  140  for the construction of the header  40  for use in embodiments of a display of the invention. The blank  140  comprises a planer display surface panel  142 , a first side wall panel  144   a , a second side wall panel  144   b  and a securing flap member  146 . The first side wall panel  144   a  and second side wall panel  144   b  are connected via respective fold lines  242   a ,  242   b  along opposing edges of the top surface panel  142 . The securing flap member  146  is connected via fold line  148  along a further edge of the top surface panel  142 . The first and second side wall panels  144   a ,  144   b  comprise respective securing tab members  152   a ,  152   b  at an end thereof. The securing tab members  152   a ,  152   b  form securing tabs  52   a ,  52   b  of the header  40  for securing the header  40  to a container  10 , in use. To form the header  40  from the blank  140 , the blank  140  is folded along fold lines  242   a ,  242   b  and  148  to bring the first and second side wall panels  144   a ,  144   b  and the securing flap member  146  to a position wherein they are substantially perpendicular to the top surface panel  142 . 
     A modular display device  34  can be formed using any number of containers  10  arranged in a stack or even a single container mounted to a stand  60 . The components of the modular display device  34  could be provided as flat blanks for assembly at a retail outlet with product being loaded into the container(s)  10  after construction. Alternatively, the containers  10  may be pre-filled with product and supplied to a retailer who assembles them into a display device  34  together with a stand  60  and optionally a header  40 . Where the containers  10  are pre-filled, they may be provided with removable lid sections or other closure means to hold the product in the containers during transport. It will be noted that the use of a separate stand  60  to incline the containers  10  means that the upper surfaces of the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  of the containers can be aligned parallel to the base  18  so that the containers  10  define standard cuboid shape which is useful for stacking during storage and transport. Furthermore, it will be noted that the locking tabs  22  are defined within the side walls  16  of the containers and do not project beyond the upper edge of the side walls and so are less susceptible to damage during transport and storage. Furthermore, forming the locking tabs  22  using both the inner and outer side wall panels  116   a ,  116   b  and further supported by the locking tab portions  112  of second securing flaps  115   a ,  115   b  means that each locking tab is made from three thickness of material for additional strength. 
     The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.