Abstract:
A transportable merchandise display unit ( 10 ) is provided comprising: an outer container ( 20 ) containing an inner display case ( 30 ) removable via an opening in the top of said outer container, the outer container including display case support means ( 50, 50 ′); the support means arranged to move from a first position to a second position; the first position is resiliently retained by an elastic band until the inner display case is vertically displaced from an initial transit position to a display position, at which instant the support means resiles to the second position to engage and support the inner display case thus preventing the inner display case from returning under the force of gravity to the initial transit position.

Description:
PRIORITY 
   This application claims priority to Great Britain Patent Application No. GB 0008192.7 filed on Apr. 5, 2000 and PCT Application No. WO 01/74201 A1 filed on Mar. 16, 2001. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a transportable merchandise display unit. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to stand-alone display structures for use in retail outlets and the like, which are delivered preferably pre-packed with merchandise. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A common feature of many supermarkets is the promotional display of a new product line. These new lines are often displayed upon plinths located at prominent (and therefore at a premium cost) locations around the shop. Often, as an alternative to the existing on-site plinths, manufacturers ship goods with a ready-to-assemble temporary promotional display structure, adorned with the particular products get-up and/or trade mark (an introductory price discount may also be highlighted). These promotional display structures can take many forms; a common type, particularly with confectionery, is a stiff cardboard “skip” or “bin” into which a supermarket operative (after assembling the “skip” or “bin”) will load the appropriate product. 
   There are disadvantages with these conventional types of manufacturer supplied temporary displays, in that they require complete assembly at the retail site; a task which is often complicated and time consuming, and therefore expensive in terms of man-hours. Additionally, post-assembly, the displays require filling with stock. Again, this occupies the time and labour of a retail operative. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide an improved display structure that requires reduced expenditure in terms of man-hours to erect, and one which is capable of being pre-stocked prior to delivery at a retail outlet. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transportable merchandise display unit comprising: an outer container containing an inner display case, the inner case being slidable along a predetermined path relative to the outer container through an opening in the top of said outer container, the outer container including retractable display case support means positioned at a predetermined location along said path the support means being urged for movement from a retracted position out of said path to an extended position extending into said path, the inner display case being arranged to hold said support means in its retracted position until it is vertically displaced from an initial transit position inside the outer container to a position beyond said predetermined location where the inner display case projects through said opening, at which instant the support means resiles to the extended position into the predetermined path to provide support for the inner display case at that location and prevent the inner display case from returning under the force of gravity to its initial transit position. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank for forming a box having an open end and internal support means comprising: a plurality of planar sections foldable with respect to each other to form a base, side walls upstanding from the base, and two open-end flaps one on each of two opposing side walls foldable along respective fold lines inwardly into the cavity formed by the box; each flap having at least one support section foldable along an axis extending at right angles to said fold line to project into the cavity formed by said box; each said support section having attachment means for enabling a resilient member to interconnect said support members. 

   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of the transportable merchandise display unit; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view of the display unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the display unit showing the inner display case raised to a display position; 
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the display unit of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an axonometric view of the outer container of the display unit showing the support means in a transit position; 
       FIG. 6  is another view of the display unit of  FIG. 5  showing the support means in a support position; 
       FIG. 7  is another axonometric view of the outer container of the display unit showing a guide member; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing guide members in operation within the display unit; 
       FIG. 9  shows a display unit with a protective cover; and 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of a blank for forming the outer container of the display unit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1  to  4 , a transportable merchandise display unit  10  (hereinafter referred to as the display unit) comprises an outer container  20 , and an inner display case  30 . The outer container  20  is a rectangular section box constructed from a one-piece blank of corrugated cardboard which is folded and glued into place in a known manner. The figures show a box which is of a generally rectangular form. However, other shapes such as square, polygonal or circular section containers are envisaged which may not be constructed from cardboard but from any such other suitably stiff workable material, for example plastics. 
   The outer container  20  further includes an open top end  22 , a floor  21  and a foot-hole  25  in the lower portion of one of the four side walls to provide access to the floor or bottom end of the container  20 . The foot-hole is shown positioned in the rear side wall of the display unit  10 , and is generally semi-circular shape but it may take any desired form, and be positioned elsewhere on the display unit. 
   Within the outer container  20  of the display unit  10  is an inner display case  30 . This is also constructed from a one-piece corrugated cardboard blank in a fashion known, and includes side walls  31 ,  32 , a rear wall  33  and a handle portion  35 . The handle portion  35  is hingedly connected to the rear wall  33  at fold line  38 , thus enabling the handle portion to be folded inwardly in transit so as to be flush with the plane of the open end  22  which facilitates optimal packing of a plurality of display units. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the inner display case  30  includes a base section  42  and a shelf  40  which divides the case  30  into two storage areas  41  and  43 ; in practice there may be any number of shelves, or in certain situations, no shelf. Alternatively, the inner display case  30  may comprise a plurality of shelves arranged in a tree-like fashion wherein the shelves protrude from a central support (atop which the handle portion is situated) and are accessible from both the front and rear of the display unit. Side walls  31  and  32  are shown with chamfer or sloping sections  36 ; the presence of such a feature will be determined by the nature of the merchandise to be displayed within the unit. The base section  42  may include a pair of spaced parallel walls (not shown) on its underside to hold the section  42  spaced from the floor  21  to enable access to the floor  21  through the opening  25  when the inner display case  30  rests on the floor  21 . 
   Located within the outer container is a retractable support means  50 ,  50 ′ which when extended will support the base section  42  of the inner display case  30  within the outer container  20  but at a location raised above the floor. The support means  50  comprises articulated hinge portions  51  and  52  (corresponding portions  55  and  54  comprise support means  50 ′ in the front view of  FIG. 4 ) and a resilient member  53  ( 56  in  FIG. 4 ) which is preferably an elastic band of appropriate strength and dimension. Articulated hinge portion  51  is hingedly connected along a vertical fold line to an open-end flap  61  which is in turn hingedly connected to a side wall  22  along a horizontal fold line  24 . The corresponding articulated hinge portion  52  of the opposing side wall  23  is hingedly connected along a vertical fold line to a second open-end flap  62  similarly connected to the side wall  23  along a horizontal fold line which cannot be seen in the figure. Articulated hinge portions  51  and  52  are interconnected and resiliently urged towards each other by the elastic band  53 . 
   As can be seen from  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is a corresponding support means  50 ′ disposed towards the front of outer container  20 . Open-end flap  61  is hingedly attached to articulated hinge portion  55 , and open-end flap  62  is connected to articulated hinge portion  52  also. 
   The outer container  20  is constructed from a one-piece blank of corrugated cardboard  100  shown in plan view in FIG.  10 . The blank  100  is separated by pre-creased or partially cut fold lines (shown as broken lines in the figure) into side wall sections  101  to  104 , base sections  105  to  108 , lip sections  109  and  110 , and open-end flaps  120 . From this blank, an upright rectangular section box with an open top and closed base can be constructed in a manner known to a skilled reader. Advantageously, open-end flaps  120  are included so that the box thus formed includes support means operational within the cavity of the box. 
   Each open-end flap includes tabs  121  and  122  which extend orthogonally from the central portion of the flap. The central portion of the flap lies within the boundary of the fold lines  141  and  151 . These fold lines are colinear with the fold lines  140  and  150  which delimit the extent of the side wall  101 . 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , each open-end flap  120  further includes fold lines  132  and  133  and slots  131  cut inwardly from opposed edges of flap  120  to point in line with fold lines  132  and  133 . Slots  130  form shoulder sections  131  allowing for folding along the lines  132  and  133  to form the articulated hinge portions discussed above. 
   Tabs  121  and  122  include respective hole portions  123  and  124 . Access to the hole portions is via slits  125  and  126  cut from an edge of the tab to the hole. The slits and holes enable elastic bands  53  and  56  to be fitted subsequent to container constructions. Also shown in  FIG. 10  is shown foot-hole void  25 . 
   In use the display unit may be supplied to a manufacturer of a given product in a “flat-pack” form to be assembled by the manufacturer. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 9 ,  FIG. 6  shows the outer container prior to the insertion of display unit  30 . In this position with the elastic bands in place, the portions  51  and  52  are pulled towards one another to cause the support means to adopt an extended state. A guide member  200  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) will be inserted parallel to an outer wall as shown, and will urges the support means into a retracted state as shown in FIG.  5 . (In practice, a second guide member  300  will be used in tandem with guide member  200 —see  FIG. 8. ) With both support means held in their retracted positions, the inner display case  30  (which will have been pre-loaded with the desired merchandise) will be inserted into the outer container  20  in a vertical manner as shown in FIG.  8 . 
   Once the inner displace case  30  is in place and in a transit position (FIGS.  1  and  2 ), guide members  200  and  300  are removed, handle portion  35  is folded inwards to lie flat, and a transit cover  400  (or other such outer protective covering) is placed over the display unit  10  (FIG.  9 ). The unit is then ready for shipment to a desired retail outlet. 
   With the transit cover  400  removed at the retail outlet (FIG.  1 ), the display unit  10  is positioned at a desired location, for example close to a point-of-sale counter, by a retail operative. Grasping handle portion  35  while exerting firm downward pressure on base section  21  with a toe in foot-hole  25 , an operative moves the inner display case from a transit position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to a display position (FIGS.  3  and  4 ). 
   At the desired display height, the supporting means  50  and  50 ′ resile into place, and in so doing the articulated hinge portions  51 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  are urged into the path of the inner display case preventing it from returning to the initial transit position. Upon release, the inner display case  30  will now rest on and be supported by the hinged portions  51 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 .  FIG. 5  indicates the position of the support means prior to the inner display case (not shown) reaching the desired display height.  FIG. 6  shows the orientation of the support means when the desired display height has been reached. (The situation is mirrored on the opposing side wall, but this cannot be seen given the projected view.) 
   The advantages of the display unit, as described above, is the simplicity of its use. An operative need only locate the display unit at a desired location and raise the inner display case (already pre-packed with goods by the manufacturer) to the display height, at which point the outer container automatically becomes a display pedestal/plinth. Thus, there is considerable savings in terms of operative man-hours by the negating of display unit assembly or the need for loading of goods at the retail site. 
   Instead of a foot hole  25 , the container  20  may include a ground engaging flap (not shown) in which case the parallel walls on the underside of the container  20  may be omitted.