Patent Application
20050127152
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement for boxes and more particularly, for those boxes which also serve as display containers for the goods shipped therein in a retail environment.
2. Related Art
Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for a conventional “Euro” box that is now commonly used to ship produce such as apples. The “Euro” box has its own structure and does not require a lid for additional strength. As discussed herein, these boxes have reinforced corners that allow the boxes to be stacked on top of one another without damaging the boxes or the materials contained therein.
Conventionally, when a retail store receives produce in boxes from a wholesaler, the fruit is unpacked and set in a display. Typically, produce is put onto display racks, produce coolers, bags, bins or trays and the boxes are then discarded. While the display of goods within a shipping box is not novel, there is a need to provide improved display conditions wherein information regarding the product is conveniently provided, and can be easily set up so that it is accessible to a prospective purchaser. Preferably, this information is provided directly adjacent or in close proximity with the goods so that the information is convenient and the goods can be inspected with reference to the information.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a lid for displaying the contents within a box. In one embodiment, a lid having a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, a right side portion coupled to said front, rear, and top portions, a left side portion coupled to said front, rear, and top portions, and a display portion integrated with said top portion and said front portion is provided. In such an embodiment, the display portion includes first and second sections, a hinge coupled to the first and second sections, and a flap coupled to the first portion. The display portion is also capable of being partially separated from the lid and secured to the rear portion. Such a lid may be resistant to toploading forces.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the display portion of the lid may include a display extension that extends beyond the hinge into the second section and is capable of being separated from the second section when said first section is folded into contact with said second section.
In still a further embodiment of the invention, the lid may be used to cover the contents of a box. The box may include a base, a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a left sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall, and a right sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall. When the lid is placed on top of the box to cover the contents of the box, the lid, in combination with the box, may be resistant to toploading forces.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the lid may be used to display the contents of a box. The box may include a base, a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, a left sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall, and a right sidewall coupled to said base, front sidewall, and rear sidewall. When the lid is placed on top of the box to cover the contents of the box, the lid, in combination with the box, may be resistant to toploading forces.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference as if each had been individually incorporated.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow goods such as fruit to be displayed within the box it is shipped and provides a “message board” or “display panel” for providing information regarding the contents to be displayed to prospective customers. Providing such improvements allows an in-store display to be quickly and easily set up. In view of the ease of the set up and the added value associated with the lid according to embodiments of the invention, the retailer has additional incentives to purchase goods packed with the present invention. Further, the improved lid as described herein leads to increase the exposure and display of the products within a particular store, allows the origin of the products that are not traditionally individually labeled to be communicated to the purchaser, and provides more marketing and marketing control by the wholesale seller. Increase exposure and improved display can lead to increased sales.
Because the lid of the Euro box is reinforced as described below, the lid of the box may be perforated without materially weakening the lid structure and without compromising the integrity of the structure of the box. The end result is a self-display package that takes little effort to execute or construct on behalf of the retail store. Because the produce companies do not typically have the man-power to send sales personnel into stores to ensure that point of sale marketing material is displayed correctly, the lid solves problems for both retailer and the wholesaler. If the seller wants to display the product without the lid, it can be easily removed.
Now referring to
After the box is cut from a blank, the box is assembled by folding the along the perforated lines 150 and 160 as well as along lines 165, 166167 and 168, and along top lines 180181, 182 and 183. The assembled lid is depicted in
Now referring to
As described above, when the box is cut, a number of perforations are also made to allow for ease of folding but do not result in a cut that allows separation by pulling the respective side apart. In other words enough cardboard remains along these lines to prevent the parts from being easily separated by mechanical tearing. For example, areas 370 and 371 are perforated to allow for ease of folding at that location. As best seen in
The pop up display panel 350 can be partially released from the top by separating the perforations along lines 121 and 120. The display panel is secured to the rear wall by rear section 430 where the two sections are in a hinged arrangement. As best seen in
As discussed above, the box lid is particularly suitable for use in combination with a box bottom depicted in
When the lid according to the invention is used in connection with the box, it is apparent that the lid 200 structures and bottom box 500 complement each other. In this regard, the lateral walls of the lid 202 consist of two layers and, when in association with the box positioned next to the bottom box 500 which has two sidewalls therefore providing a total of four layers. The front wall 504 and the rear walls 506 of the box bottom 500 which substantially comprise three layers (near the opposite end) are reinforced with a single layer by the front 315 and rear 425 of the lid. The lid has the same height at the box so both the lid and the box bottom will provide support to materials on top of the box.
When provided with a lid according the invention, multiple boxes may be stacked upon one another without crushing the bottom boxes because the lid as described above is resistant to toploading forces. While the middle of the box is somewhat structurally compromised by the perforations that create the display panel, this section of the box does not bear significant weight and therefore the box remains sturdy.
While printed matter can be provide directly on the cardboard from which the box is made to result with desired printed matter being located on the display panel, the display region can also received printed matter created by the retail establishment. For example a section may be left blank so that the retail can insert pricing information. While the top edge 121 of the display panel is depicted herein, this line may be made fanciful, such as in the outline of an apple, grapes etc.
The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60523669 | Nov 2003 | US |
