Patent Publication Number: US-2023142003-A1

Title: Retail ready packaging for carded items

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to packaging, and more particularly to retail ready packaging for carded items. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Typical carded items hang from peg hooks and must be hung one at a time. To avoid the time consuming manual task, retail ready packaging can be used, in which the carded items are displayed from a carton bottom. The cards tend to lean and shift so that the presentation of the cards with in the carton bottom is non-uniform. 
     The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and methods for retail ready packaging for carded items. This disclosure provides a solution for this need. 
     SUMMARY 
     A retail ready packaging system includes a convertible carton with a bottom wall, a top wall opposed to the bottom wall. A first side wall connects between the bottom wall and the top wall. A second side wall is opposed to the first side wall and connects between the bottom wall and the top wall. The carton includes a front wall and a back wall opposed to the front wall, wherein each of the front and back walls connects to the bottom wall, the top wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall. A first plurality of slots are defined in the bottom wall adjacent the first side wall, and a second plurality of slots are defined in the bottom wall adjacent the second side wall. A plurality of cards are included, wherein each card is seated in one of the slots of the first plurality of slots and in an opposed one of the slots of the second plurality of slots. Each card has a respective foot panel foldably attached to a main panel of the card, wherein the foot panel sits adjacent the bottom wall, and wherein the main panel of the card extends upward from the foot panel toward the top wall. 
     A line of weakness can be defined through the first and second side walls, the back wall, and the front wall for conversion of the convertible carton from a shipping configuration in which the cards are contained within the convertible carton to a retail display configuration in which the cards are exposed for retail display. A respective lunate perforation can be included, connected to the line of weakness in each of the back wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall. 
     The bottom wall can be defined by a bottom front flap foldably connected to the front wall, a bottom first side flap foldably connected to the first side wall, a bottom second side flap foldably connected to the second side wall, and a bottom back flap foldably connected to the back wall. The first plurality of slots can be defined in the bottom first side flap, and the second plurality of slots are defined in the bottom second side flap. The top wall can be defined by a top front flap foldably connected to the front wall, a top first side flap foldably connected to the first side wall, a top second side flap foldably connected to the second side wall, and a top back flap foldably connected to the back wall. The carton can be formed from a blank, wherein the front wall is defined by a front panel of the blank, the back wall is defined by a back panel of the blank, the first side wall is defined by a first side panel of the blank, and wherein the second side wall is defined by the second side panel. 
     A plurality of side tabs can be folded inward from the second side wall for engaging the cards to assist the slots in maintaining orientation and spacing of the cards. The side tabs can number one greater than the slots in the first plurality of slots. 
     A blank for a carded item can include a main panel defining a top edge and two opposed side edges extending from the top edge. A foot panel can be foldably connected to the main panel along a fold line. At each end of the fold line there can be a cut extending inward from the respective one of the side edges. The cuts can each define a foot tab that extends further from the top edge than does the fold line. 
     A peg hole can be cut out of the main panel for hanging the blank from a peg and hook display. A blister pack containing a product can be affixed to the main panel. 
     These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a carded item constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the foot; 
         FIG.  2    is a cut-away perspective view of a convertible carton in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the carton of  FIG.  2   , showing the bottom wall; 
         FIGS.  4 - 5    are perspective views of the carton of  FIG.  2   , showing the carton during conversion; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a carton of  FIG.  2   , showing the cards ready for retail after conversion of the carton; 
         FIG.  7    is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton of  FIG.  2   ; and 
         FIG.  8    is a plan view of a blank for forming a card as shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a retail ready packaging system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in  FIG.  2    and is designated generally by reference character  100 . Other embodiments of systems in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided in  FIGS.  1  and  3 - 8   , as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used to provide for a retail ready package that maintains uniform spacing and orientation of a product within the package, where product items can be displayed from the retail ready package. 
     Each card  132  has a respective foot panel  134  foldably attached to a main panel  136  of the card along fold line  138 , wherein the foot panel  134  sits adjacent the bottom wall  104 , and wherein the main panel  136  of the card extends upward from the foot panel  134  toward the top wall  106 . As shown in  FIG.  8   , a blank  188  for a carded item includes a main panel  136  defining a top edge  192  and two opposed side edges  194 ,  196  extending from the top edge  192 . A foot panel  134  is foldably connected to the main panel  136  along a fold line  200 . At each end of the fold line  200  there is a cut  202 ,  204  extending inward from the respective one of the side edges  194 ,  196 . The cuts  202 ,  204  each define a foot tab  206 ,  208  that extends further from the top edge  192  than does the fold line  200 . A peg hole  210  is cut out of the main panel  136  for optionally hanging the blank  188  from a peg and hook display. A blister pack  212  containing a product  214  is affixed to the main panel  136 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     With reference now to  FIG.  2   , the retail ready packaging system  100  includes a convertible carton  102  with a bottom wall  104 , a top wall  106  opposed to the bottom wall. A first side wall  108  connects between the bottom wall  104  and the top wall  106  along fold line  110 ,  111 . A second side wall  112  is opposed to the first side wall  108  and connects between the bottom wall  104  and the top wall  106  along fold lines  114 ,  115 . The carton  102  includes a front wall  116  and a back wall  118  opposed to the front wall  116 , wherein each of the front and back walls  116 ,  118  connects to the bottom wall  104  along fold lines  120 ,  121 , the top wall  106  along fold lines  122 ,  123 , the first side wall  108  along fold lines  124 ,  125 , and the second side wall  112  along fold line  126 . 
     A first plurality of slots  128   a - e  are defined in the bottom wall  104  adjacent the first side wall  108 , and a second plurality of slots  130   a - e  are defined in the bottom wall  104  adjacent the second side wall  112 . As shown in  FIGS.  5 - 6   , a plurality of cards  132  are included, wherein each card  132  is seated in one of the slots  128   a  - 128   e  of the first plurality of slots  128   a - e  and in an opposed one of the slots  130   a - 130   e  of the second plurality of slots  130   a - e.    FIG.  2    shows in the cut away one of the cards  132 , including the foot  198  and tab  208  when seated inside the carton  102 . The foot  198  helps keep the main panel  136  of the card  132  upright, and the tabs  208  engage the slots  128   a - e  and  130   a - e  to help maintain the spacing between the cards  132 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , a line of weakness  139  is defined through the first and second side walls  108 ,  112 , the back wall  118 , and the front wall  116  for conversion of the convertible carton  102  from a shipping configuration (e.g. as shown in  FIG.  2   ) in which the cards  132  are contained within the convertible carton  102  to a retail display configuration (e.g. as shown in  FIG.  6   ) in which the cards  132  are exposed for retail display. A respective lunate perforation  140  is included, connected to the line of weakness  139  in each of the back wall  118 , the first side wall  108 , and the second side wall  112 . A user can break the lunate perforations  140 , as shown in  FIG.  4   , then break the top portion  150  of the carton  102  away from the lower portion  152 , as shown in  FIG.  5   , to leave the converted carton  102  as shown in  FIG.  6    ready for retail display of the cards  132 . The tabs  186  are defined in the bottom portion of the carton  102 , i.e. the portion that remains after conversion of the carton  102  as shown in  FIG.  6   . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the line of weakness  139  can follow any suitable path around the carton  102  without departing from the scope of this invention, including paths that reach the top wall  106  (shown in  FIG.  2   ), e.g. for a full height back wall  116  (labeled in  FIG.  7   ) when the carton  102  is converted. 
     With reference now to  FIG.  7   , which shows a plan view of a blank for forming a carton as shown in  FIGS.  2 - 6   . The bottom wall  104  is defined by a bottom front flap  142  foldably connected to the front wall  116  along fold line  120 , a bottom first side flap  146  foldably connected to the first side wall  108  along fold line  111 , a bottom second side flap  150  foldably connected to the second side wall  112  along fold line  115 , and a bottom back flap  154  foldably connected to the back wall  118  along fold line  121 . The first plurality of slots  128   a - e  are defined in the bottom first side flap  146 , and the second plurality of slots  130   a - e  are defined in the bottom second side flap  150 . The top wall  106  is defined by a top front flap  158  foldably connected to the front wall  116  along fold line  122 , a top first side flap  162  foldably connected to the first side wall  108  along fold line  110 , a top second side flap  166  foldably connected to the second side wall  112  along fold line  114 , and a top back flap  170  foldably connected to the back wall  118  along fold line  123 . The carton  102  is formed from a blank  174 , wherein the front wall  116  is defined by a front panel  176  of the blank  174 , the back wall  118  is defined by a back panel  178  of the blank  174 , the first side wall  108  is defined by a first side panel  180  of the blank  174 , and wherein the second side wall  112  is defined by a second side panel  182  of the blank  174 . 
     When erecting the carton  102  the flaps  142 ,  154  are folded after flaps  146 ,  150  and can be adhered to the outer surface of the flaps  146 ,  150 . This avoids flaps  142 ,  154  interfering with the function of the slots  128 ,  130  at the ends of the carton  102  near the flaps  142 ,  154 . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that if slots  128 ,  130  (and/or tabs  202 ,  208  of the cards  132 ) are omitted, the flaps  142 ,  154 ,  146 ,  150  can be in any suitable order. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  7   , a plurality of side tabs  186  are folded inward from the second side wall  112  along fold lines  189  for engaging the cards  132  to assist the slots  128   a - e,    130  in maintaining orientation and spacing of the cards  132 . The side tabs number one greater than the slots in the first plurality of slots (those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that any suitable number of slots  128 ,  130  and tabs  186  can be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure). The blank  174  can also include a glue tab  216  foldably connected to the front wall  116  along fold line  217  for engaging a portion of the side wall  112 . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that while tabs  186  are only shown on one side wall  112  of the carton  102 , tabs  186  can be included on either sidewall  112 ,  108 , or can be omitted from either or both sidewalls  112 ,  108  without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
     The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for a retail ready package that maintains uniform spacing and orientation of a carded product within the package, where product items can be displayed from the retail ready package. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.