Patent Abstract:
A package that may be constructed into a point of purchase display includes a plurality of bottom uprights set in a tray, and a plurality of top uprights that are kept in folded form in a space between the bottom uprights. The top uprights are assembled and placed on top of the bottom uprights to form a completed display. The bottom uprights may contain shelves with product stocked thereon, and the space between the bottom uprights may contain product to be stocked on the top uprights after the top uprights are assembled on top of the bottom uprights. The top uprights may be assembled and placed on top of the bottom uprights by a retailer or other end user without requiring glue or fasteners.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to pallet displays for books, magazines, or other shelved merchandise. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Pallets are commonly used to ship large quantities of products. For instance, manufacturers may load products onto pallets for transport from manufacturing facilities to warehouses or distribution centers, and then for further transport from warehouses or distribution centers to the manufacturer&#39;s customers, such as retailers. Although retail stores generally stock their goods in purchasing aisles grouped by product category, retailers may use the pallets on which products are shipped for in-store display of the products in the larger aisles that are generally not dedicated to a given product category. Such larger aisles of the store generally are predominantly provided for consumer travel to access the dedicated purchasing aisles. 
         [0003]    The use of pallets in such manner provides various cost savings to both the retailers and the manufacturers. For instance, the pallet loaded with products may be deposited (e.g., by fork lift) directly at the display location in the store, rather than deposited in the stock room, back room, or inventory, thus freeing up space in the retailer&#39;s stock room. Employees need not expend time and energy transporting cartons of the product from the stock room to a shelf (or other display area) at a merchandising location. Because larger quantities of a product may be displayed on a pallet than on a typical store shelf, less time and effort is expended in re-stocking the display for the product, In fact, products typically are shopped down from a pallet and not restocked. Moreover, because larger quantities of a product may be displayed on a pallet than on a typical store shelf, all products remain on the pallet and the retailer need not dedicate stock room space to store products (as would be the case if such products were displayed on a shelf which cannot accommodate the full pallet-load of products). Once the display is largely sold down/sold through, the stock from a promotional display may be placed in the home location of the product. 
         [0004]    Manufacturers benefit from having their products displayed on a pallet because pallets typically draw consumer attention by virtue of their mass and stand-alone location along the larger aisles or main drive aisles of the store generally traveled to access the purchasing aisles. The display of products on pallets positioned in a main drive aisle induces impulse purchases, not only because such displays tend to grab consumer attention, but also because the product is positioned for higher visibility. More particularly, there is more foot traffic (and thus a greater number of potential shopper pass such display) in a main drive aisle because consumers typically circulate through the store by walking the perimeter or main drive aisle. 
         [0005]    In order to enhance saleability and the attention-grabbing aspect, including the visual impact/aesthetic impact, stopping power, or signature-personality (see and remember quality) of displaying products on pallets, manufacturers may utilize pallet displays, which are a type of display designed to rest on a pallet (or at least to be set among other pallets used to display products). Pallet displays permit the efficient shipping and rollout to sales floors provided by simply displaying products on a pallet, yet also permit various additional benefits. One significant benefit of pallet displays is that they may be designed to have various features that attract consumers. For instance, pallet displays generally contain sufficient panels or “billboard” space or printable surface area for graphics, product imagery, branding (e.g., logos), consumer education, or other messaging and communications. Generally, more information may be provided on a pallet display than at the home location for the product (on a shelf in the aisle dedicated to the product category for such product). Structural elements may also be provided to enhance the display (such as by providing additional graphics, etc., or audio-visual effects, etc.). Likewise, the pallet display may have a unique shape or configuration enhancing display of the products. Pallet displays thus are generally more aesthetically appealing than displays of products merely stacked on a pallet. 
         [0006]    Pallet displays can incur challenges in shipping. For example, four-sided shelved pallet displays are used for books, and are often between 50 and 60 inches height for visibility. Such tall displays cannot be double stacked in a standard 100 inch tractor trailer for shipping. Because of this, tall pallet displays can only be single stacked in a tractor trailer, which leaves a great deal of wasted freight space, resulting in higher shipping costs for the manufacturer. It would be desirable to design a pallet display that, while tall enough to grab attention in a store, can be shipped compactly. It would also be desirable that such a pallet display be easily assembled from the compact shipping package. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In an embodiment according to the invention, a compact package for a point-of-purchase display comprises a tray; a plurality of bottom uprights disposed in the tray such that at least one space is formed between the bottom uprights; and a plurality of top uprights in disassembled form that are at least partially stowed in the at least one space between the bottom uprights. Each of the top uprights may be removed from the at least one space between the bottom uprights, then assembled and secured on top of one of the bottom uprights to form assembled uprights in a point-of-purchase display. In a further embodiment, the bottom uprights have products for display contained therein, and products for display on the top uprights are stowed in the at least one space between the bottom uprights. The products for display on the top rack may stored in boxes having hand holes inside the space. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the top uprights may be secured to the bottom portions without adhesive or external fasteners. A top upright may be secured to a bottom upright at least partially using flanges and slots. In one embodiment, the bottom upright has flanges extending upward that may be inserted into female slots on the top upright. In a related embodiment, a top upright is secured to a bottom upright at least partially using tabs on the top upright that fit on opposite sides of a panel on the bottom upright. The top upright may have a center tab and two side tabs extending downward from the top upright, the center tab extending further downward than the two side tabs, and the center and side tabs fit on opposite sides of a panel on the bottom upright. 
         [0009]    The aforementioned package may also have a shroud and a cap for enclosing the package for transport, or be constructed essentially of corrugated board. The aforementioned package may be sized to be double-stacked on a standard tractor trailer. The package may also include graphic panels that may be applied to the assembled uprights that cover seams where the top upright is secured to the bottom upright. The package may also include a panel stowed in the package that may be unfolded and placed on top of the assembled display to cover any space between the top uprights. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the invention will now be explained in further detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a view of the interior of an embodiment of the display package prior to assembly into a display. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a view of the interior of the display package showing the location of products inside the display package. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a view of the interior of an embodiment of the display package showing the location of parts of the top part of the display. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  is a view of the interior of an embodiment of the display package showing the location of false backs for the top part of the display 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a view of the exterior of an embodiment of the display package during shipping. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the exterior of an embodiment of the display package during shipping. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a view of a large top upright of an embodiment of the display package prior to assembly. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a view of a female clip incorporated in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is a view of a male clip incorporated in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 5A-5G  are a front view of a top upright of an embodiment of the invention as it is assembled for a display. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a view of a shelf of an embodiment of the invention prior to assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a view of a small top upright according to an embodiment of the invention prior to assembly. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side view showing the assembly of a large top upright and large bottom upright according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a top oblique view showing the completed assembly of a large top upright and large bottom upright according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a top oblique view showing the completed assembly of small and large top uprights with small and large bottom uprights according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9-9A  are top oblique views showing the assembly of a finishing H-piece on a display according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 10A-10B  are top oblique views showing the assembly of finishing graphic panels on a display according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows the interior of a display package  100 , as it would be typically shipped by a manufacturer or distributor to an end user (typically a retailer). The display may be constructed of appropriate weights of corrugated board or similar material. The display comprises a rectangular bottom tray  110 , in which two large bottom uprights  120  and two small bottom uprights  130  are set, which each upright  120  and  130  facing one outer edge of the bottom tray  110 . The bottom tray  110  is made of corrugated board or like material, and may be sized to fit on a pallet. Each upright  120  and  130  in this embodiment is a partial box having back panels  121  and  131 , respectively and each upright  120  and  130  has two side panels  122  and  132 . The back panels  121  and  131  may have false backs  125  and  135  lain over the back panels. The bottom uprights  120  and  130  each have a height, width, and depth, here the height of the large bottom uprights  120  and small bottom uprights  130  are roughly equal. The height of the bottom uprights ideally is such that the package can be double-stacked in a standard tractor trailer, and thus the height of the bottom uprights is ideally under 45 inches. In this embodiment, each bottom upright  120  or  130  has at least one shelf  128  or  138  that extends across the width of the upright  120  or  130 , and which fits within the depth of the upright  120  or  130 . The display may be shipped with products to be displayed already placed on the shelves  128  and  138  of uprights  120  and  130 . 
         [0029]    Each of the small and large bottom uprights  120  and  130  incorporate flanges  123  and  133  at the top of the uprights, the flanges extending along the depth of each of the uprights  120  and  130 . In  FIG. 1 , the flanges  123  and  133  are oriented perpendicular to the height of the uprights  120  and  130 , so as to reduce the vertical height of the package  100  when shipping. However, the end user, in assembling the display, will turn each of the flanges  123  and  133  upright so that they are parallel with the height of the bottom uprights  120  and  130 . In this manner, the flanges will be set to mate with top uprights  170  and  180 . 
         [0030]    In this configuration, the two large display uprights  120  extend all the way across opposite sides of the tray  110 . The two small bottom uprights  130  extend part way across the other two sides of the tray  110 , fitting in the space left by the depth of the large bottom uprights  120 . This design leaves a center space  140  in the display, which space may be filled by a shipper filler  150 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , the shipper filler  150  may contain boxes  153  with product to be stocked on the top portion of the display  110 . These boxes  153  may contain hand holes  154  to assist in removing the products from the shipper filler. As shown in  FIG. 1B , the shipper filler  150  also contain top large uprights  170  and top small uprights  180  in flat, folded form. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  shows the exterior of a display package  100 .  FIG. 2A  shows the package  100  having a shroud  210  surrounding the tray  110  and bottom uprights  120  and  130 , and a top cap  220 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , the shroud  210  may be comprised of two folded panels  215  which together cover the tray  110  and bottom uprights  120  and  130 . The shroud  210  is held in place by top cap  220 . Also shown in  FIG. 2B  is an H-piece  190  in folded form which, as shown later, is used to finish the assembly of a display. 
         [0032]    The end user, having received the package  100 , removes the cap  220  and shroud  210 , sets aside the H-piece  190  that is set on top of the bottom uprights  120  and  130 . The end user opens the shipper filler  150  and removes large top uprights  170  and small top uprights  180 , which are in flattened form inside the shipper filler. The end user removes boxes  153  containing product from the shipper filler, The user may also remove a plurality of large top shelves  178  and small top shelves  188 , which are contained in flattened form. As shown in  FIG. 11C , the user may also remove two large false backs  175  and two small false backs  185  to be used in completing the assembly of large top uprights  170  and top small uprights  180 . The large false backs  175  are lodged in the interstices between the large bottom uprights  129  and the shipper filler  150 . The small false backs  185  are lodged in the interstices between the small bottom uprights  130  the shipper filler  150 . The end user may also remove four graphic panels  200  that are stowed along the bottom tray  110  (not shown). As seen above, large and small false backs  175  and  185  each have two U-locks  175   a  and  185   a,  which are upside down U shaped cutouts. These U-locks  175   a  and  185   a  can be used to support shelves  178  and  188  in the assembled top uprights  170  and  180 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a large top upright  170  in unassembled form. Large top upright  170  has a back panel  171 , side panels  172 , center tab  176 , and side tabs  177 . The center tab  176  and side tabs  177  extend downward from back panel  171 , with the center tab  176  extending slightly lower than side tabs  177 , for ease in installation. Each side panel  172  is formed of several subpanels that are assembled, partly at the manufacturer or distributor&#39;s facilities, and partly by the end user. Bottom lip panels  172   a  and  172   b  are folded onto clip subpanel  172   c  and outer subpanel  172   d,  over lines  172   p  and  172   q  respectively, and glued. This gluing would typically be done at the facilities of the manufacturer of the package, not the end user. Top lip subpanel  172   f  is folded onto itself along line  172   i  and glued to itself, and then top lip subpanel  172   f  is folded over outer subpanel  172   d  along line  172   j  and glued at the manufacturer&#39;s facilities. In this embodiment, top lip subpanel  172   f  has a key tab  172   k  that will mate with locking indent  172   l  on inner subpanel  172   e.  The glued but unassembled large top upright  170  is folded and stowed in shipper filler  150  to be assembled by the end user. The clip subpanel  172   c  has holes  172   g  to secure female clips  410  (shown in  FIG. 4A ) for a shelf  178 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4A  shows a female clip  410  of the type that may be used to secure a shelf. The clip  410  has a retainer portion  411  that is sized to fit through hole  172   g,  and a back stop  412 . The retainer portion has a lengthwise slot  413  that is open at a top end  414 .  FIG. 4B  shows a male clip  420 . The male clip has a body  421  and an H-profile slide  422 . The slide  422  fits securely into the lengthwise slot  413  of the female clip  410  when it is slid through the top end  414 . The body  421  may be glued to a shelf. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 5A-5G  shows assembly of a large top upright  170  by the end user. A large false back  175  is placed on top of back panel  171  as shown in  FIG. 5A . The end user folds inner subpanel  172   e  onto clip subpanel  172   c  over line  172   m  as shown in  FIG. 5B . The end user then folds the combined clip subpanel  172   c  and inner subpanel  172   e  onto outer subpanel  172   d  along line  172   n  as shown in  FIG. 5C . In this fashion, the key tab  172   k  interlocks with locking indent  172   l.  The resulting folded panel, as shown in  FIG. 5D , has female slots  174  at the bottom of side panels  172 . 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 5E  , the side panels  172  are folded 90 degrees over line  172   o  to form a U shape with the back panel  171  and false back  175 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5F and 5G  show the installation of shelf  178 . The shelf  178  is two-tiered, having a front lip portion  178   a,  a front well portion  178   b,  a rear lip portion  178   c,  and rear well portion  178   d,  and a flange  178   e,  which extends downward from the back edge of the rear well portion  178   d.  Male clips  420  are glued to the ends of first wall portion  178   a  and second wall portion  178   b.  These male clips  420  slide into female clips  420  that were mounted on side panels  172  of top upright  170 . The flange  178   e  points downward and fits into the U-locks  175   a  of the false back  175  to form a completed large top upright  170 . The completed large top upright  170  can be fit onto a large bottom upright  120  as described below. 
         [0038]    The shelf  178  may be partly assembled and glued by the manufacturer, then packaged in the shipper filler  150 .  FIG. 6  shows a shelf  178  before assembly. The shelf  178  has seven subpanels, a front lip  178   a,  a front lip backer  178   f,  a front well portion  178   b,  a rear lip portion  178   c,  a rear lip backer  178   g,  a rear well portion  178   d,  and flange  178   e.  The manufacturer glues two male clips  420  on the ends of front lip  178   a,  then folds front lip  178   a  onto front lip backer  178   f  over line  178   h.  The manufacturer glues two male clips  420  at the ends of rear lip portion  178   c  adjacent to line  178   i.  The manufacturer then folds and glues rear lip backer  178   g  onto rear lip portion  178   c  over line  178   i.  The glued and folded shelf  178  can be flat packed in shipper filler  150  to be completed by the end user. 
         [0039]    The end user folds along lines  178   j  and  178   k  so that the front well portion  178   b  forms a horizontal floor between vertically oriented front lip portion  178   a  and vertically oriented rear lip portion  178   c,  as shown in  FIGS. 5F and 5G . The end user then folds the shelf along lines  178   l  and  178   m  so that rear well portion  178   d  forms a horizontal floor behind vertically oriented rear lip portion  178   c,  and the flange  178   e  extends downward from well portion  178   d,  as shown in  FIGS. 5F and 5G . In this configuration, the shelf  178  can be installed in top upright  170  as described above. 
         [0040]    The small top uprights  180  are assembled in a manner similar to the large top uprights.  FIG. 7  shows a small top upright  180  in unassembled form with back panel  181 , side panels  182 , center tab  186 , and side tabs  187 . Side panels  182  are formed of several subpanels that are assembled to complete the display. Bottom lip panels  182   a  and  182   b  are folded onto clip subpanel  182   c  and outer subpanel  182   d  over lines  182   h  and  182   i,  and glued. Top lip panel  182   f  is folded onto outer subpanel  182   d  over line  182   j  and glued. Ideally, these gluing steps are carried out by the manufacturer. Female clips  410  are installed in holes  182   g,  and the unassembled upright  180  is folded and packed inside shipper filler  150 . The end user, after removing the small top upright, folds inner subpanel  182   e  onto clip subpanel  182   d  over line  182   k,  then folds clip subpanel  182   d  over outer subpanel  182   c.  Each finished side panel  182  has a bottom female slot  184  and a top female slot  189  formed between the folded subpanels. The end user lays a false back  185  on the back panel  181 , folds side panels  182  by 90 degrees, and installs a shelf  188  in the same manner as described with respect to large top upright  170 . The shelf  188  is identical to shelf  178  in all respects except size. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 8 ,  8 A, and  8 B show the assembly of the assembled display. Large top upright  170  is an open partial rectangular box with a back panel  171 , and side panels  172 . The side panels  172 , as described previously have female slots  174  at their bottom ends. The large top upright also has center tab  176 , and side tabs  177 , all extending from the bottom of back panel  171 . In this embodiment, the center tab  176  and side tabs extend all the way across the length of the back panel  171 , with the center tab  176  being approximately the same length as the two side tabs  177 . 
         [0042]    When connecting the top and bottom large uprights, the end user turns the flanges  123  on the large bottom upright  120  upward, so that they will be inserted into the female slots  174  on the large top upright  170 . The center tab  176  is fitted in front of the back panel  121 , while the side tabs  177  are fitted behind the back panel  121 . When completed, as shown in  FIG. 8A , the large top upright  170  and large bottom upright appear to be a continuous upright, broken only by a seam  129  between the side panels  122  and  172 . 
         [0043]    The small top uprights  180  are assembled with small bottom uprights in parallel fashion. Flanges  133  on bottom uprights  130  are turned upward, and the center tab  186  of small top upright is fitted in front of back panel  131 , and side tabs  187  are fit behind the back panel  131 . The flanges  133  of bottom small upright fit into bottom female slots  184  of small top upright  180 , resulting in the joining of small top upright  180  with small bottom upright  130  as shown in  FIG. 8B . The display  300  is essentially complete, and product that was stored in the shipper filler  150  can be stocked on the shelves  175  and  185 . 
         [0044]    After both the small top uprights  180  and large top uprights have been installed, an H-piece  190  may be installed to provide a finished appearance to the top of display  300 , which still has a center space  140  between the large and small top uprights  170  and  180 . As shown in  FIGS. 9 , the H-piece  190  comprises a center panel  191 , two large flaps  192 , two small flaps  193 . The center panel is approximately the same dimensions as the center space  140 , and will provide a top cover for the center space. Each large flap  192  has two flanges  194 . The H-piece  190  is assembled by folding the large flaps  192  and small flaps  193  downward from the center panel, and tucking the large flaps  192  behind the false backs  175  of the large top uprights  170 , and tucking the small flaps  193  behind the false backs  185  of the small top uprights  180 . The flanges  194  are then folded downward and inserted into the top female slots  189  of the small top uprights  180 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , the display  300  now has a top cover  190  over the center space  140 . 
         [0045]    Four graphic panels  200  may also be applied as shown in  FIG. 10  to cover the seams  129  between top large upright  170  and bottom large upright  120 . These graphic panels may also have graphic matter printed thereon to draw attention to the display. These graphic panels  200  may be stowed along the long side of bottom tray  110  of the package  100  in transit. In the assembled display  300 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , the graphic panels  200  are sized to cover the side panels  122  and  172  of the large bottom and top uprights  120  and  170 . The graphic panels  200  may be installed by sliding the graphic panel  200  between the tray  110  and the side panels  122  and  172  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The graphic panels  200 , once in place, are adhered to the side panels  122  and  172  using twinstick adhesive strips, resulting in the finished display  300  shown in  FIG. 10A .

Technology Classification (CPC): 1