Patent Abstract:
The embodiments of the present invention provide a blank of foldable material configurable to form a container. When formed, the container includes a removable top portion of panel assemblies that converts the container from shipping container to a display container.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention related generally to cellulose-based blanks and containers and more specifically to wood cellulose-based blanks and containers used for shipping and displaying goods. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following FIGURES. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a single piece container blank formed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a partially assembled container assembled according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of a partially assembled container assembled according to yet another aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is yet another perspective view of a partially assembled container assembled according to a further aspect of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the assembled container blank of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides a blank and resulting container for shipping and displaying a variety of goods. By way of overview, and with reference to the  FIGS. 1 through 5 , an embodiment of the present invention includes a single piece blank  20  of formable material arranged to form a container  50 . Specific details of the blank  20  and container  50  are described in more particularity below. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a blank  20  used to form container  50 . The blank  20  is preferably constructed from a single piece of formable material such as, without limitation, sheets of cellulose-based materials formed from cellulose materials such as wood pulp, straw, cotton, bagasse or the like. Cellulose-based materials used in this present invention come in many forms such as fiberboard, containerboard, corrugated containerboard, and paperboard. The blank  20  is cut and scored, perforated or otherwise formed to include a plurality of panels that when assembled form container  50 . In all FIGURES, like numbers indicate like parts. Additionally, cut lines are shown as solid lines, score lines as dashed lines, and lines of perforation as broken lines. 
       FIG. 1  depicts the blank  20  made in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The blank  20  includes a bottom panel  22 . The bottom panel  22  is either square or rectangular in shape. The bottom panel  22  is bounded by fold lines  21  and  23  and opposed fold lines  27 . Connected with the bottom panel  22  along the fold line  21  is a rear panel  24 . The rear panel  24  is bounded in part by opposed fold lines  25 . The first side panels  32  are connected with rear panel  24  along the respective fold lines  25 . 
     Connected with the bottom panel  22  along a fold line  23  is a front panel  26 . Front panel  26  is in part defined by opposed fold lines  29 . Third side panels  36  are connected with the front panel  26  along those fold lines  29 . 
     Connected with the front panel  26  are front access flaps  42 . The front access flaps  42  are connected to the front panel  26  along perforation line  41 . Front access panel  30  is also connected to the front panel  26  via a perforated line  41  and is partially defined at one end by a cut line  33 . Connected with the front access flaps  42  are side access panels  38 . 
     A top panel  28  is connected with the front access panel  30  along a fold line  35 . The top panel  28  also includes opposed top flaps  40  that are connected with the top panel  28  along fold lines  37 . 
     With references to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , erection of the container and exemplary container features are depicted. The rear panel  24  may be folded upwardly approximately 90 degrees along a fold line  21 . Likewise front panel  26  may be folded upwardly approximately 90 degrees along a fold line  23 . The side panel  36  and side access panels  38  may be folded inwardly approximately 90 degrees along fold lines  29  and  31 . Likewise first side panels  32  may be folded inwardly along fold line  25 . Further, second side panels  34  may be folded upwardly approximately 90 degrees along fold line  27  to substantially close the lower portion of the container as best depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
     It will be appreciated that as these various panels may be held in place by any variety of fastening means known in the industry. Suitable, non limiting examples of such fasteners includes glue or other adhesive, tape, staples or combinations thereof. As fasteners are known in the industry, a detailed description is not necessary herein. 
     To “close” the container  50 , top panel  28  may also be folded inwardly along fold line  35 . Subsequently top flaps  40  may be folded downwardly approximately 90 degrees along fold line  37  to bring the panel top flaps  40  into a juxtaposed position with the side access panel  38  and the first side panel  32  as best viewed in  FIG. 4 . At this stage the container  50  is substantially closed and may be shipped or moved around and placed on display shelves. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , another aspect of the present invention is disclosed. Specifically, the “open” or “display” state of the container  50  is shown. The container  50  is “display ready” by taking off top panel  28 , front access panel  30 , top flaps  40 , side access panel  38  and front access flaps  42  all in a single unit. The remaining portion of the container  50  is set to display any variety of products (not shown) on a store shelf or other location. 
     A variety of additional elements may be included, such as, without limitation, vents, specialized liners or grease barriers, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Similarly, rounding or otherwise trimming of various panels is considered within the scope of this invention. 
     While various embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1