Expandable display and shipping container
A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising a base, a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure. Each support is moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. application No. 60/625,961 filed on 9 Nov. 2004 and entitled EXPANDABLE DISPLAY AND SHIPPING CONTAINER, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates to containers for shipping and displaying products, and particularly to containers which may be converted between a shipping configuration and a display configuration.
BACKGROUNDStand-up in-store displays are typically bulky constructions of corrugated paperboard (cardboard). In most cases, displays are broken down into component parts or flattened for shipping to reduce transportation costs. If the displays were shipped in assembled form, the sender would have to pay for the air space that would be shipped along with the product and the display. Generally, the highest possible density with which any goods are transported, the better and more cost effective the transport becomes. However, when broken down or flattened displays arrive at the store in which they are to be set up, it is often difficult for store staff to properly set up the displays and/or move the displays once they have been set up.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe invention provides containers for shipping and displaying products or other items. One aspect of the invention provides a container comprising a base, a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
Another aspect of the invention provides a container comprising a base, a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray frame of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
Further aspects of the invention and features of specific embodiments of the invention are described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSIn drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention:
FIGS. 3 to 8 are side elevation views of the container of
Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
Certain aspects of the invention provide a container for shipping and displaying items. The container may be converted between a shipping configuration wherein the items and container take up a relatively small amount of space, and a display configuration wherein the container holds the items in positions to facilitate display of the items to customers. The container may be set up directly on the floor in display configuration, or may be placed on a shelf or table. The container comprises a plurality of trays, and supports for holding the trays in the display configuration. The trays and supports may form a plurality of triangular structures when the container is in the display configuration.
In the
Container 10 is convertible between the display configuration shown in
To convert container 10 from the shipping configuration to the display configuration, a user first removes lid 11 and pivots the bottommost tray 14 up from base 12, as shown in
As shown in
Each support 62 of the
One of upper and lower connectors 64 and 66 may comprise a male connector, and the other may comprise a female connector. Supports 62 may be held in the secured position by gravity when connectors 64 and 66 are engaged. Alternatively, a locking mechanism 68 may optionally be provided to secure connectors 64 and 66. As shown in
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. For example:
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- Although the illustrated example containers each comprise 5 trays, the number of trays may vary from as few as 2 trays to as many trays as weight and height constraints allow.
- Although the trays of the illustrated example containers are each held at approximately the same acute angle with respect to the plane of the base, the trays may be at different angles with respect to the plane of the base.
- The area and depth of each tray may vary.
- The materials from which the containers are constructed may vary. For example, in addition to cardboard and injection molded plastic, the trays may be constructed from metal, wood, vacuum formed plastic, extruded plastic, etc.
While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
Claims
1. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure; and,
- a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position;
- whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
2. A container according to claim 1 wherein each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached between two adjacent trays, the bottommost pair of supports being pivotally attached between a bottommost tray and the base.
3. A container according to claim 2 wherein each support comprises a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally connected by a support hinge.
4. A container according to claim 3 wherein each support hinge comprises:
- a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support arms;
- a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower support arms; and,
- a hole formed in the other of the upper and lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring button when the support is in the secured position.
5. A container according to claim 1 wherein each support comprises a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.
6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of trays are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
7. A container according to claim 1 further comprising an advertising pivotally attached to an uppermost tray.
8. A container according to claim 1 further comprising a lid configured to fit over the container when the container is in the shipping configuration.
9. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure; and,
- a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray frame of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position;
- whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
10. A container according to claim 9 wherein each tray frame comprises a pair of side members and a pair of end members, each side member overlapping one end member at one end thereof and the other end member at the other end thereof, each of the side members and the end members comprising a pair of holes therein such that the holes of adjacent side and end members line up when the tray frame is assembled, whereby the tray frame is held together by rivets extending through the holes of adjacent side and end members.
11. A container according to claim 10 wherein the supports are pivotally attached to the tray frames by the rivets extending through the holes of adjacent side and end members.
12. A container according to claim 9 wherein each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached between two adjacent tray frames, the bottommost pair of supports being pivotally attached between a bottommost tray frame and the base.
13. A container according to claim 12 wherein each support comprises a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally connected by a support hinge.
14. A container according to claim 13 wherein each support hinge comprises:
- a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support arms;
- a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower support arms; and,
- a hole formed in the other of the upper and lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring button when the support is in the secured position.
15. A container according to claim 9 wherein each support comprises a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.
16. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base, each tray other than a bottommost and a topmost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of the tray below, and pivotally attached at an opposite top edge thereof to a bottom edge of the tray above, the bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the base and the topmost of the trays being pivotally attached at a top edge thereof to an advertising panel; and,
- a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position;
- whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray's underside when the supports are in the secured position and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
17. A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of trays, each tray other than a bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of the tray below, the bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the base;
- a pair of supports pivotally attached to each of the plurality of trays, each support moveable between a secured and an unsecured position;
- whereby the container is convertible between:
- a display configuration wherein each tray and the pair of supports attached thereto, except the bottommost tray, form a triangular structure with the tray below when the supports are in the secured position, the bottommost tray and the pair of supports attached thereto forming a triangular structure with the base when the supports are in the secured position; and,
- a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 9, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 8, 2006
Applicant: Picquic Tool Company, Inc. (Vancouver)
Inventors: Paul McKenzie (West Vancouver), Semion Krivulin (Richmond)
Application Number: 11/269,618
International Classification: B65D 1/22 (20060101); B65D 25/00 (20060101);