The techniques described herein relate to a collapsible product display container, and particularly to a product display container configured to have a pallet bottom and be assembled without bolts, screws or other separate hardware.
Current collapsible containers are known in the art for use as pet crates, or for displaying and shipping products. Most current art collapsible containers require assembly via screws, bolts, or other separate hardware. Some current containers are collapsible, wherein four side walls are detachable and are configured to be vertically inserted into a pallet base or bottom via downward protrusions on sides that interact with recesses on the pallet base to engage through vertical motion. Collapsible pallets are also known. Some current foldable pallets that are assembled without screws, bolts, or other similar hardware comprise a pallet bottom having four affixed sides that hinge inward so that the edges of the sides meet and snap together with an attached latch system, wherein the sides are not detachable.
It would be desirable to provide a collapsible pallet/product display container having features desirable for ease of shipping of the containers with and without product that also has advantageous product display features.
The techniques described herein provide an apparatus for a product display container comprising a pallet bottom configured to allow traditional lifting and moving of the display container. The container sides may be assembled easily and include desirable features for use as a product display container.
In one embodiment, a collapsible product display container is provided. The container may comprise a pallet bottom configured to allow lifting and moving of the display container and at least two foldable sides, wherein the at least two foldable sides are attached to the pallet bottom. The container may further comprise a front side and a back side, wherein the front and back sides are detachable. The container may further comprise a detachable front door, wherein the front and back sides and front door attachable without screws or bolts.
Another aspect of the techniques described herein provides a collapsible product display container that also serves as a shipping container. The container may comprise a bottom supporting shipping pallet and two opposing attached sides pivotable to upright positions attached to said pallet. The container may further comprise a back side detachably connectable to the opposing sides, a front open frame detachably connectable to said opposing sides and a front pivotably mounted door which closes over the open frame, wherein the two opposing attached sides, the back side, and the front pivotably mounted door form a space for displaying product.
It is noted that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the techniques described herein and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the techniques may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The techniques described herein provide an apparatus for a product display container comprising a pallet bottom configured to allow traditional lifting and moving of the display container. The container sides may be assembled easily and include desirable features for use as a product display container.
Thus, the product display container may be shipped to a product supply company as an unassembled relatively compact arrangement to lessen shipping and handling costs.
The product display container may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials. For example in one embodiment the container may be formed from thick rigid metal wire having a mesh pattern. In one embodiment, all of the sides and the pallet may be formed of such metal wire material. It is understood that the product display container could also be made of metal without a mesh pattern, or made of plastic, or some other rigid material or combinations thereof. In addition, the various components may be formed via a mesh pattern, solid sheets, or other arrangement or combinations thereof. In fact, it will be recognized that the advantageous container provided herein that combines a collapsible mechanism with advantageous product shipping and display functionality is not limited to any particular type of material.
The back side 108 attaches to the first side 110 and second side 112 via latches 114 located on back portions of the first and second sides 110, 112. The latches 114 may have a sliding bar that inserts into loop-shaped receiving means located on both sides of the back side 108. The front side 109 attaches to the first and second sides 110, 112 via latches 114 located on front portions of the first and second sides 110, 112. A front panel or door 104 comprising an opening 106 attaches to the first side 110 via a hinge mechanism comprising pins 116 located on a side edge the front panel or door 104 that vertically insert into cylinder-shaped receiving means 117 located on a front edge of the first side 110. The front panel or door 104 is shown in more detail in
The front panel or door 104 can thus be opened via the hinge mechanism like a door. As shown in
On the opposite side of the hinges of the front panel or door 104 there may be a locking or latching mechanism provided to secure the front panel or door 104 to the side 112. Thus the front panel or door may further comprise a cylinder-shaped receiving means 118 at an opposite side of the front panel or door 104 for receiving a locking pin 120 located on a front edge of the second side 112. The locking pin 120 inserts vertically into the cylinder-shaped receiving means 118 to lock the front panel or door 104 closed. The opening 106 of the front panel or door 104 allows product to pass into and out of the container 100A even when the front panel or door 104 is in the closed position. Such a closed position, may in one embodiment be a normal point of sale position such that customers may remove product through the opening 106. The front panel or door 104 can be unlocked via the locking pin 120, allowing the front panel or door 104 to swing open for loading or unloading product in larger quantities. The product display container 100A is open at the top, also allowing for top loading and unloading of product in larger quantities.
A highly versatile container is therefore provided having a variety of independent features that may be used together or in alternative embodiments may be comprised of some subset of the features. For example, the container is collapsible to provide an ease of shipping of the container itself. The container includes a pallet bottom that assists in shipping and movement of the container (for example to and at a point of sale location). The container may be easily assembled without the need for additional hardware, screws and the like. Further, a variety of point of sale uses may be achieved by providing an open top for loading/unloading, a pivotable front door for loading and unloading and a smaller front opening for access to smaller quantities of product.
In an alternate embodiment, the collapsible product display container 100A is a shipping container that can contain product when shipped or can be shipped empty in a folded, collapsed position. The assembly or product display container 100A may be set up without separate attachment members, and comprises a bottom supporting pallet 102, two opposing sides 110, 112 that are pivotable to upright positions and attached to the pallet 102. A back side 108 and a front open frame or front side 109 are connectable to the opposed up sides 110, 112 without separate attachment members. A front pivotably mounted door or front panel 104 is attachable to the assembly or product display container 100A to open and close over the open frame or front side 109.
An edge of the front panel 104 connects to a first side 110 of the container and comprises at least two pins 116 configured for insertion into receiving means on an adjacent edge of the first side. Once the pins 116 are inserted vertically into the receiving means of the first side, a hinge mechanism is formed, allowing the front panel 104 to swing open at the hinges for mass product loading or unloading. A receiving means 118 on the opposite edge of the front panel 104 is configured to receive a large latching pin affixed to an adjacent edge of a second side. The receiving means 118 may be a hollow, cylinder-shaped mechanism that causes the front panel 104 to be locked or unlocked via the large latching pin located on a front edge of the second side. The front panel 104 acts as a door to the front of the container and may also hold advertising or marketing materials or signage in place. In an alternative embodiment a separate front panel or door 104 and front side 109 may not be utilized, but rather merely a front panel or door 104 may be utilized without the frame of side 109.
The latch mechanisms 114 are pivotably attached to the first and second sides. A user slides the latch 114 by moving the latch handle 134 to point upward, and slides the handle 134 toward the receiving means on a front or back side. Once the bar 130 engages the receiving means, the handle 134 is pivoted downward to a locked position, holding the newly attached sides in place.
It will be recognized that the various hinges, receiving mechanism, pins, and locking mechanism described herein are merely illustrative. One skilled in the art will recognize the functionality described herein may be achieved through a wide variety of hinges, receiving mechanism, pins, locking mechanisms, attachment means, or the like. It will also be recognized that the container described herein has a variety of independent features that may be used separately from each other and all features are not required in order to gain the benefit of the concepts disclosed herein.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the techniques described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. It will be recognized, therefore, that the techniques described herein are not limited by these example arrangements. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the techniques described herein. It is to be understood that the forms of the techniques described herein shown and described are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Various changes may be made in the implementations and architectures. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein and certain features of the techniques described herein may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the techniques.