CONTAINERS FOR DISPLAYING FOLDED TEXTILE PRODUCTS

Abstract

Containers for products, such as folded textile products, include a receptacle for receiving a product and a cover overlying the receptacle and configured to retain a product within the receptacle while allowing a substantial amount of the product to be displayed. The receptacle has a floor, opposing upright end walls and opposing upright side walls attached to the floor that define a rectangular product cavity having a width and length, and an open upper end. The cover has a width that is substantially less than the width of the cavity such that the product in the cavity is exposed. The cover has a width that is less than one half the width of the cavity.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/095,423, filed Sep. 9, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, to containers for displaying products.

BACKGROUND

Containers for storing and displaying products are known. Typically, such containers can be formed from a blank of sheet material cut and scored to provide an array of side-by-side panels joined along common sides. The panels are typically defined by score or fold lines along which they are folded relative to one another to erect a three-dimensional container with a cover or lid. The product then resides within the container in a retail store until purchase. It can be desirable for display containers to capture the attention of consumers and to distinguish a supplier's products from those of a competitor. As such, a display window (or windows) may be formed within one or more panels to permit viewing of the product within the container. Despite the above, alternate ways of displaying products are desired that may capture the attention of consumers, particularly in a retail space.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide containers for products, such as folded textile products. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a container includes a receptacle for receiving a product and a cover overlying the receptacle and configured to retain a product within the receptacle while allowing a substantial amount of the product to be displayed. The receptacle has a floor, opposing upright end walls and opposing upright side walls attached to the floor that define a rectangular product cavity having a width and length, and an open upper end. The cover has a width that is substantially less than the width of the cavity such that the product in the cavity is exposed. In some embodiments, the cover has a width that is less than one half the width of the cavity.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a container includes a receptacle for receiving a product and a multi-panel cover overlying the receptacle and configured to retain a product within the receptacle while allowing a substantial amount of the product to be displayed. The receptacle has a floor, opposing upright first and second end walls and opposing upright side walls attached to the floor that define a rectangular product cavity having a width and length, and an open upper end. A slot is formed through the floor adjacent each of the end walls. The cover includes first, second, third, and fourth panels joined in series. The first and fourth panels have free ends. The first panel is in face-to-face contact with the first end wall, the first panel free end extends through the slot adjacent the first end wall, and the third panel is in face-to-face contact with the second end wall. The cover extends through the slot adjacent the second end wall and the fourth panel is in face-to-face contact with an outer surface of the floor. The second panel extends the length of the cavity and has a width that is substantially less than the width of the cavity. The first and fourth panel free ends are releasably engaged with each other.

In some embodiments, the cover has a width that is less than one half the width of the cavity. In some embodiments, the first and third panels each have a respective width that is greater than the width of the second panel. In some embodiments, the second panel has greater rigidity than the other panels.

Rigidity may be provided by at least one strip of reinforcing material secured to the second panel. Rigidity may be provided by the second panel having elongated edge portions that are folded thereunder.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, a container includes a receptacle for receiving a product and a cover pivotably attached to the receptacle and configured to retain a product within the receptacle while allowing a substantial amount of the product to be displayed. The receptacle includes a floor, opposing upright first and second end walls and opposing upright side walls attached to the floor that define a rectangular product cavity having a width and length, and an open upper end. A slot is formed through the first end wall adjacent the floor. The cover is pivotably attached to the second end wall and is movable between open and closed positions. The cover includes a free end that is configured to releasably engage the slot when the cover is in the closed position. The cover has a width that is substantially less than the width of the cavity.

In some embodiments, the cover has a width that less than one half the width of the cavity. In some embodiments, the cover includes first and second panels. The first panel overlies the receptacle and the second panel is in face-to-face contact with an outer surface of the first end wall when the cover is in the closed position.

It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to one embodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention. The drawings and description together serve to fully explain the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary cover utilized with the container of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, with the cover of FIG. 2 in an unsecured configuration.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a container, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-6 are top perspective views of the display container of FIG. 4, with the cover in open positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Like reference numbers signify like elements throughout the description of the figures.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification are taken to specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

The terms “goods”, “product” and “products” as used herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, towels, blankets, bed sheets, bed skirts, bed spreads, blanket throws, comforters, curtains, draperies, duvets, fabric valances, mattress covers, mattress pads, pillow cases, pillow shams, washcloths, rugs, and other similar articles that are conventionally folded when packaged for sale.

In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”, “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on”, “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of a device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of “over” and “under”. A device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, walls and/or panels should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, wall or panel from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a “first” element, component, wall or panel discussed below could also be termed a “second” element, component, wall or panel without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Referring now to the figures, containers for products, such as folded textile products, will now be described. Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, a container 10, according to some embodiments of the present invention, is illustrated. The container 10 includes a receptacle 12 that is configured to receive a product or products therein. For example, the container 10 is configured to receive folded textile products, such as sheets, towels, etc., therein and is intended to serve as a package for presenting the products for sale in a retail space. The container 10, however, may also be utilized to store textile products after purchase.

The illustrated receptacle 12 has a floor 14, opposing upright first and second end walls 16, 18, and opposing upright first and second side walls 20, 22. The end walls 16, 18 and side walls 20, 22 are attached to the floor and extend upwardly, as illustrated, to define a rectangular product cavity 24 having a width W and length L. The product cavity 24 has an open upper end. A slot 26 is formed through the floor adjacent each of the end walls 16, 18.

A cover 30 is releasably secured to the receptacle 12 and is configured to surround and retain a product within the cavity 24 and to allow the product in the cavity 24 to be exposed and displayed. The cover 30 is configured to prevent a product from falling out of the receptacle 12, yet allow a large portion of the product to be displayed. The cover 30 includes first, second, third, and fourth panels 32, 34, 36, 38 joined in series by, for example, creases, score lines 301, or other means, and that serve as hinges that permit adjacent panels to pivot relative to each other. The first and fourth panels 32, 38 have free ends 32a, 38a that are configured to releasably engage each other. For example, first panel free end 32a includes a slot 32b that is configured to receive fourth panel free end 38a therein. Fourth panel free end 38a has a shape or portion (e.g., a tapered shape, a tab, etc.) that is configured to maintain the fourth panel free end 38a within the slot 32b. In other embodiments, the fourth panel free end 38a may include one or more tabs that maintain the fourth panel free end 38a within the slot 32b, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

When releasably secured to the receptacle 12 (i.e., when the first panel free end 32a and fourth panel free end 38a are secured together on the receptacle 12) the cover first panel 32 is in face-to-face contact with the inner surface of the first end wall 16 and the third panel 36 is in face-to-face contact with the inner surface of the second end wall 18, as illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the first panel free end 32a extends through a slot 26 adjacent the first end wall 16 and the fourth panel 38 extends through the slot 26 adjacent the second end wall 18. Also, the fourth panel 38 is in face-to-face contact with an outer surface of the floor 14 and the first and fourth panel free ends 32a, 38a are releasably engaged with each other via slot 26 adjacent to the first wall 32.

The second panel 34 is configured to be in contact with a product within the receptacle 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the second panel 34 extends the length of the cavity and has a width W₁ that is substantially less than the width W of the cavity 24. In some embodiments, the cover second panel 34 has a width W₁ that is less than one half the width of the cavity. The width W₁ of the cover second panel 34 may be less than one third or one quarter of the width W of the cavity 24 in some embodiments. The second panel 34 has a display surface 34a that can include various promotional and/or other indicia 35. The terms “indicia” and “promotional indicia” includes all types of printed material including, but not limited to, text, lettering (i.e., alphabetical characters, alphanumeric characters), designs, characters, logos, images, graphics, symbols, etc. Moreover, indicia and promotional indicia may be utilized virtually anywhere on the container 10.

The various panels of the cover 30 can have various shapes, sizes and configuration, without limitation. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and third panels 32, 36 each have a respective width W₂ that is greater (e.g., between about 5% and 50% greater, etc.) than the width W₁ of the second panel 34. In some embodiments, the second panel 34 can be configured to have greater rigidity than the other panels. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the second panel 34 has elongated edge portions 34a, 34b that are folded under to enhance the rigidity of the second panel 34. These folded edge portions 34a, 34b serve as strips of reinforcing material that increase the rigidity of the second panel 34. In other embodiments, second panel 34 may have a greater thickness than the other panels to add rigidity. In further embodiments, the second panel 34 may have one or more strips of reinforcing material secured thereto to provide rigidity.

In some embodiments, the receptacle 12 is formed from a blank of sheet material (e.g., cardboard, paperboard, etc.) cut and scored to provide an array of side-by-side panels joined along common sides to form the floor, end walls and side walls. In other embodiments, the receptacle 12 may be a unitary article formed, for example, from various polymeric materials via molding and other known processes. The cover 30 can be formed from cardboard, paperboard, or a polymeric material also. In some embodiments, the cover 30 and/or the receptacle 12 may be formed from material that is transparent or translucent (e.g., clear or colored visually transmissive polymeric material such as plastic).

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a container 110 according to some embodiments of the present invention, is illustrated. The container 110 includes a receptacle 112 that is configured to receive a product or products P therein. The container 110 is configured to receive folded textile products, such as bed sheets, towels, comforters, etc., therein and is intended to serve as a package for presenting such products for sale at a retail or other facility. The container 110, however, may also be utilized to store textile products after purchase. The receptacle 112 has a floor 114 and, opposing upright first and second end walls 116, 118, and opposing upright first and second side walls 120, 122. The end walls 116, 118 and side walls 120, 122 are attached to the floor and extend upwardly, as illustrated, to define a rectangular product cavity 124 having a width W and length L. The product cavity 124 has an open upper end. A slot 126 is formed through the first end wall 116 adjacent the floor 114 (or at the intersection/joint of wall 116 and floor 114). In the illustrated embodiment, the product cavity 124 is filled with a product P.

A cover 130 is pivotably attached to the second end wall 118 and is movable between open positions (FIGS. 5-6) and a closed position (FIG. 4). The cover 130 is configured to retain product or products within the cavity 124 when in the closed position and to allow the product in the cavity 124 to be exposed and displayed. The cover 130 is configured to inhibit a product from falling out of the receptacle 112, yet allow a large portion of the product to be displayed. The cover 130 includes a free end 130a that is configured to releasably engage the slot 126 when the cover 130 is in the closed position. The cover 130 has a width W₃ that is substantially less than the width W of the cavity 124. In some embodiments, the cover 130 has width W₃ that is less than one half the width W of the cavity. The width W₃ of the cover 130 may be less than one third or one quarter of the width W of the cavity 124 in some embodiments.

The illustrated cover 130 includes first and second panels 132, 134 joined, for example, by a fold or score line 1301. The second panel 134 is in face-to-face contact with an outer surface of the first end wall 120 when the cover 130 is in the closed position (FIG. 4). The first panel 132 is configured to be in contact with a product, such as a folded textile product, in the receptacle 112. The cover 130 has a display surface 131 that can include various promotional and/or other indicia 135.

In some embodiments, the receptacle 112 is formed from a blank of sheet material (e.g., cardboard, paperboard, etc.) cut and scored to provide an array of side-by-side panels joined along common sides to form the floor, end walls and side walls. In other embodiments, the receptacle 112 may be a unitary article formed, for example, from various polymeric materials via molding and other known processes. The cover 130 can be formed from cardboard, paperboard, or a polymeric material also. In some embodiments, the cover 130 and/or the receptacle 112 may be formed from material that is transparent or translucent (e.g., clear or colored visually transmissive polymeric material such as plastic).

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a receptacle for receiving a product, the receptacle having a floor, opposing upright end walls and opposing upright side walls attached to the floor that define a rectangular product cavity having a width and length, the product cavity having an open upper end; and

a cover overlying the cavity and configured to retain a product within the cavity, wherein the cover has a width that is substantially less than the width of the cavity such that the product in the cavity is exposed.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover has a width that is less than one half the width of the cavity.

3. The container of claim 1, further comprising promotional indicia on an outer surface of the cover.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a blank of sheet material configured as an array of side-by-side panels joined along common sides to form the floor, end panels, side panels, and cover.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a

proximal end pivotably attached to an end wall and a distal free end configured to releasably engage a slot formed in another wall of the receptacle.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises first, second, third, and fourth panels joined in series, wherein the first and fourth

panels have free ends, wherein the first panel is in face-to-face contact with a first end wall of the receptacle, wherein the first panel free end extends through a slot adjacent the first end wall, wherein the third panel is in face-to-face contact with a second end wall of the receptacle, wherein the cover extends through a slot adjacent the second end wall and the fourth panel is in face-to-face contact with an outer surface of the floor, wherein the second panel extends the length of the cavity, and wherein the first and fourth panel free ends are releasably engaged with each other.

7. The container of claim 1, further comprising a folded textile product in the receptacle with the cover over the product.

8. A container, comprising:

a receptacle for receiving a product, the receptacle having a floor, opposing upright first and second end walls and opposing upright side walls attached to the floor that define a rectangular product cavity having a width and length, the product cavity having an open upper end, and wherein a slot is formed through the floor adjacent each of the end walls; and

a cover comprising first, second, third, and fourth panels joined in series, wherein the first and fourth panels have free ends, wherein the first panel is in face-to-face contact with the first end wall, wherein the first panel free end extends through the slot adjacent the first end wall, wherein the third panel is in face-to-face contact with the second end wall, wherein the cover extends through the slot adjacent the second end wall and the fourth panel is in face-to-face contact with an outer surface of the floor, wherein the second panel extends the length of the cavity and has a width that is substantially less than the width of the cavity, and wherein the first and fourth panel free ends are releasably engaged with each other.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the cover second panel has a width that is less than one half the width of the cavity.

10. The container of claim 8, wherein the first and third panels each have a respective width that is greater than the width of the second panel.

11. The container of claim 8, wherein the second panel has greater rigidity than the other panels.

12. The container of claim 8, wherein the second panel

comprises at least one strip of reinforcing material secured thereto.

13. The container of claim 8, wherein the second panel has elongated edge portions that are folded under to enhance the rigidity of the second panel.

14. The container of claim 8, wherein the receptacle comprises a blank of sheet material cut and scored to provide an array of side-by-side panels joined along common sides to form the floor, end panels and side panels.

15. The container of claim 8, further comprising promotional indicia on an outer surface of the cover second panel.

16. A container, comprising:

a receptacle for receiving a product, the receptacle having a floor, opposing upright first and second end walls and opposing upright side walls attached to the floor that define a rectangular product cavity having a width and length, the product cavity having an open upper end, and wherein a slot is formed through the first end wall adjacent the floor; and

a cover pivotably attached to the second end wall and movable between open and closed positions, wherein the cover is configured to retain a product within the cavity, wherein the cover comprises a free end that is configured to releasably engage the slot when the cover is in the closed position, and wherein the cover has a width that is substantially less than the width of the cavity.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein the cover has a width that is less than one half the width of the cavity.

18. The container of claim 16, wherein the cover comprises first and second panels, wherein the first panel overlies the cavity and the second panel is in face-to-face contact with an outer surface of the first end wall when the cover is in the closed position.

19. The container of claim 16, further comprising promotional indicia on an outer surface of the cover.

20. The container of claim 16, wherein the container comprises

a blank of sheet material cut and scored to provide an array of side-by-side panels joined along common sides to form the floor, end panels, side panels, and cover.