Self-hanging container

Abstract

A box for use in transporting and displaying items. The box includes separating means which extend around the box for separating the box into a cover, which can be discarded, and a container, which is used to display the items. A plurality of horizontally adjacent tabs are provided on a wall of the container, for attaching the container to a support, such as a vertical runner. The tabs are outwardly bendable and are inserted into a plurality of correspondingly spaced horizontally adjacent apertures provided on the support.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for holding an item for display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Retail establishments have often used display racks to conveniently and attractively display their goods to potential purchasers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,169,740 and 4,711,367 disclose displays having vertically adjacent partially scored tabs or straps for suspending the displays from a vertical support. U.S. Pat. No. 2,104,523, discloses a package dispensing device having a series of tabs that fit into and fold behind corresponding apertures provided through a flat panel that suspends the package. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,023,542 and 4,020,947, both disclose carton display and dispensing systems which includes at least one pair of horizontally adjacent, partially scored tabs that are equipped with an aperture therethrough for receiving a metal rod hanger or the like.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,939, discloses a blister package having a rear panel incorporated with a push-out tab which is received within a slot of an adjacent similar package to suspend the package therefrom. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,770,513; 3,193,108; and 3,907,104 all disclose carton type display cases having integrally formed hooks or barbs for suspending the cases from a shelf. U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,914 discloses a flap having a bendable tab that serves to wedge the flap against the rear side of the carton.

[0004] A disadvantage of the foregoing devices is that the hanger structure or tabs disclosed are designed to work with a container carrying light-weight items. Another disadvantage of the foregoing devices is that the tabs are easily torn from the container package or are poorly attached to support means adapted to mate with the tabs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The instant invention solves the problem seen in the conventional display boxes by providing a plurality of integrally formed horizontally adjacent attachment tabs which can be supported by any surface having corresponding receiver or support. In a preferred embodiment, the horizontally adjacent attachment tabs of the invention are particularly adapted for use with a substantially vertical runner used in shelving assemblies. The box of the invention constitutes both the container the articles of manufacture are transported in as well as the container the articles are later displayed in at a retail establishment.

[0006] Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention provides a container for displaying an item. The container comprises at least one wall provided with a plurality of scored horizontally adjacent tabs, wherein the tabs are outwardly bendable from the container for attaching the container to apertures in a support.

[0007] Another embodiment of the invention provides a display box comprising a container having a bottom, a front and rear wall and a pair of side walls; a cover including a top wall and top portions of the front, rear, and side walls; and separating means extending around the box for removing the cover from the container, thereby to use container for displaying articles; and a plurality of scored horizontally adjacent tabs provided on a wall of the container, thereby to attach the container to a support, wherein the tabs are outwardly bendable from the wall and placed into a plurality of correspondingly spaced horizontally adjacent apertures provided on the support.

[0008] A further embodiment of the invention provides for a folding box for use in packaging and displaying articles. The folding box comprises a front side wall having a first predetermined tearing line; a rear side wall having a second predetermined tearing line; at least one wall having a plurality of integrated scored horizontally adjacent tabs, the tabs outwardly bendable from the rear wall, and insertable into a plurality of correspondingly spaced horizontally adjacent apertures provided on a support; and two side walls having a third and fourth predetermined tearing line, the side walls connecting the front side wall with the rear side wall.

[0009] In yet a further embodiment of the invention provides for a method of using a folding box for displaying articles, comprising: providing a container comprising at least one wall provided with a plurality of horizontally adjacent keyhole shaped tabs; bending the tabs outwardly away from the container; and placing the horizontally adjacent tabs into a plurality of horizontally adjacent apertures in a support, thereby to support the container on the support.

[0010] In a still further embodiment of the invention provides for a method of using a folding box for packaging and displaying articles, comprising: providing a predetermined tearing line along a front side wall, a rear side wall, and a first and second side wall of the box; tearing along the predetermined tearing line on the front side wall, the rear side wall and the first and second side wall of the box, thereby creating a top cover and a bottom container; providing a plurality of scored horizontally adjacent tabs, the tabs integrally part of at least one wall of the bottom container; bending the horizontally adjacent tabs outwardly from the at least one wall; and inserting the horizontally adjacent tabs into a plurality of correspondingly spaced horizontally adjacent apertures provided on a support, thereby to attach the bottom container to the support for displaying articles.

[0011] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a closed packaging container of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an opened packaging container of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembled display container using the packaging container of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 4 shows the attachment tabs of the display container of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 5 shows a rear plan view of the scored, flattened-out packaging container of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 6 shows a front plan view of the scored, flattened-out packaging container of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the assembled display container attached to a support;

[0019] FIG. 8 shows a rear perspective view of the display container of FIG. 7 showing greater detail of the attachment and support; and

[0020] FIGS. 9a-d show the shapes of the tabs and apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, there is shown an assembled box 10 for storing articles 40 such as a plurality of paint rollers and other suitable items. The combination packaging and display container or box 10 is assembled from a single planar blank which is scored, creased, and slotted as required. The blank is made of cardboard, paperboard, plastic, and other suitable material, but is preferably fabricated from corrugated cardboard. Box 10 comprises a top wall 11, a bottom wall 21, and four side walls 23, 25, 27, and 29. In one embodiment, the top wall 11 is formed from folding, along folding lines 32, 30, a first top closure flap 16 and a second flap 18 together. Prior to the transportation of box 10, the first top closure flap 16 and second flap 18 are joined by an attachment means 14, in order to secure the box 10. Any suitable attachment means or fastener 14 can be used, such as tape, staples, glue, or other adhesive materials.

[0022] In another embodiment, the top wall 11 is formed from four top closure flaps 16, 18, 42, 44, folded along folding lines 32, 30, 54, 56. In yet another embodiment, the bottom wall 21 is formed from two bottom closure flaps 46, 48, which are folded together along folding lines 58, 60. In yet a further embodiment, the bottom wall 21 is formed from four bottom closure flaps 46, 48, 50, 52, which are folded together along folding lines 58, 60, 62, 64. No adhesives are needed to form box 10.

[0023] Separating means 12 extend continuously around box 10 for removing the top wall 11 from the box 10, leaving a container 33 for holding the article 40. In another embodiment, the separating means 12 removes the top wall 11 and the top portion of at least one side wall 23, 25, 27, or 29, from the box 10. The separating means 12 is preferably a partially scored, predetermined tearing line in the box 10.

[0024] In yet another embodiment, the separating means 12 removes the cover 31 of box 10. The cover 31 includes the top wall 11 and the top portions 23a, 25a, 27a, and 29a of all the side walls 23, 25, 27, and 29. In yet another embodiment, the top portion of the front side wall 25a, of the cover 31, has a substantially greater height dimension than the height dimension of the rear side wall 27a of the cover 31, so as to provide a potential purchaser a greater view of the article 40 being held by the container 33. In this embodiment, the front side wall 25 of the container 33 has a substantially smaller height dimension than the height dimension of the rear side wall 27 of the bottom container 33. In yet a further embodiment, at least a portion of the side walls 23, 29 slope downward from the rear side wall 27 toward the front side wall 25 providing a even greater view of the box 10 interior.

[0025] The predetermined tearing line 12 is such that a user can remove at least the top wall 11 from the box 10. A user can change the location of the predetermined line 12 in order to make the previously disclosed embodiments, wherein the top wall 11 and some portion of the side walls, including the front and rear side walls 23a, 25a, 27a, and 29a, are removed.

[0026] To prepare the box 10 for display, a user tears or punches out the predetermined tearing line 12 found along the side walls 23, 25, 27, and 29, thereby creating the top cover 31 and the bottom container 33. The top cover 31 can be discarded, leaving the bottom container 33 to hold the articles 40 for display. In a preferred embodiment, a notch 20 is provided on at least one wall to facilitate ease of separating the top cover 31 from the bottom container 33.

[0027] At least one side wall 23, 25, 27 or 29 is provided with a plurality of partially scored horizontally adjacent attachment tabs 26, 28. The attachment tabs 26, 28 are formed when the scored lines 22, 24 are bent outwardly from a side wall 23, 25, 27, or 29, away from the interior of the box 10, for eventual attachment to a support 34. In a preferred embodiment, the rear side wall 27 is provided with the attachment tabs 26, 28. Although the tabs can be of any shape, in one embodiment, the attachment tabs 26, 28 have an inverted keyhole shape.

[0028] The support 34 has a plurality of horizontally adjacent slots or apertures 36, 38, spaced corresponding to the horizontally adjacent attachment tabs 26, 28 on the box 10. In one embodiment the support 34 is a substantially vertical runner used in conventional shelving assemblies. The attachment tabs 26, 28 are inserted into the horizontally adjacent apertures 36, 38, thereby retaining box 10 in a selected location for displaying the article 40. A number of boxes 10 can then be placed one after the other along the support 34 for displaying article 40. The plurality of horizontally adjacent apertures 36, 38 can have multiple shapes (FIG. 9), but in one embodiment have a shape corresponding to the shape of the horizontally adjacent attachment tabs 26, 28.

[0029] Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purpose of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that various modifications and changes which are within the knowledge of those skilled in the art are considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container for displaying an item, container therein on a support for the container, the container comprising:

at least one wall provided with a plurality of scored horizontally adjacent tabs, wherein said tabs are outwardly bendable from said container for attaching said container to apertures in said support.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said tabs are provided on a rear side wall.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein said support is substantially vertical.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein said support has a plurality of horizontally adjacent apertures, spaced corresponding to the horizontally adjacent tabs on said container, thereby to allow insertion of the horizontally adjacent tabs into the horizontally adjacent apertures.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein said horizontally adjacent tabs have an inverted keyhole shape.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein said horizontally adjacent apertures have a keyhole shape.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein said container is fabricated from a single blank of paperboard, cardboard, or plastic.

8. A display box comprising:

a container having a bottom, a front and rear wall and a pair of side walls;

a cover including a top wall and top portions of the front, rear, and side walls;

separating means extending around the box for removing the cover from the container, thereby to use container for displaying articles; and

a plurality of scored horizontally adjacent tabs provided on a wall of the container, thereby to attach the container to a support, wherein the tabs are outwardly bendable from said wall and placed into a plurality of correspondingly spaced horizontally adjacent apertures provided on said support.

9. The packaging and display box of claim 8, wherein said support is a vertical runner.

10. The packaging and display box of claim 8, wherein a notch is provided on the top portion of the front wall, thereby to facilitate separation of the cover from the container.

11. The packaging and display box of claim 8, wherein the plurality of horizontally adjacent apertures on the support have a shape corresponding to the shape of the horizontally adjacent tabs on the container.

12. The packaging and display box of claim 11, wherein said shape is keyhole.

13. The packaging and display box of claim 8, wherein said box is fabricated from a single blank of paperboard, cardboard, or plastic.

14. The packaging and display box of claim 8, wherein the top portion of the front side wall, of the cover, has a substantially greater height dimension than the height dimension of the rear side wall of the cover.

15. The packaging and display box of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the side walls slope downward from the rear side wall toward the front side wall providing a greater view of the box interior.

16. A folding box for use in packaging and displaying articles, said box comprising:

a front side wall having a first predetermined tearing line;

a rear side wall having a second predetermined tearing line;

at least one wall having a plurality of integrated scored horizontally adjacent tabs, said tabs outwardly bendable from said rear wall, and insertable into a plurality of correspondingly spaced horizontally adjacent apertures provided on a support; and

two side walls having a third and fourth predetermined tearing line, said side walls connecting the front side wall with the rear side wall.

17. The folding box of claim 16, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth predetermined tearing lines are torn, thereby forming a cover and a container, said container having a bottom, a front and rear wall and a pair of side walls wherein the front side wall of the container has a substantially smaller height dimension than the height dimension of the rear side wall of the container.

18. The folding box of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the side walls of the container slope downward from the rear side wall toward the front side wall.

19. A method of using a folding box for displaying articles, comprising:

providing a container comprising at least one wall provided with a plurality of horizontally adjacent keyhole shaped tabs;

bending said tabs outwardly away from said container; and

placing said horizontally adjacent tabs into a plurality of horizontally adjacent apertures in a support, thereby to support said container on said support.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of horizontally adjacent apertures are spaced corresponding to the horizontally adjacent tabs on said container.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said horizontally adjacent tabs are scored prior to bending said horizontally adjacent tabs outwardly from said container.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said horizontally adjacent apertures have a keyhole shape.

23. A method of using a folding box for packaging and displaying articles, comprising:

providing a predetermined tearing line along a front side wall, a rear side wall, and a first and second side wall of the box;

tearing along the predetermined tearing line on the front side wall, the rear side wall and the first and second side wall of the box, thereby creating a top cover and a bottom container;

providing a plurality of scored horizontally adjacent tabs, said tabs integrally part of at least one wall of the bottom container;

bending the horizontally adjacent tabs outwardly from said at least one wall; and

inserting said horizontally adjacent tabs into a plurality of correspondingly spaced horizontally adjacent apertures provided on a support, thereby to attach the bottom container to the support for displaying articles.