Packaging Adaptable for Display

Abstract

The disclosure relates to packaging that may be used to hold retail products for transport and storage and where the packaging may be adapted into a display tray to display the products contained therein. The packaging includes a top portion and a tray portion which are defined by a separation line. To display products, a user separates the top portion and tray portion along the separation line and retains the tray portion which contains products for display.

Description

BACKGROUND

Manufacturers and retailers are constantly looking for better ways to display products to consumers and, at the same time, to reduce packaging and labor costs. In some cases, product containers may be displayed in dedicated product racks. However, their design may limit the locations in which the racks may be placed. This may be a particular problem in convenience stores where space is limited. The present disclosure relates to packaging that may be easily adapted for a display of retail products where the packaging may be more easily placed in locations desired by a retailer/SUMMARY

The disclosure relates to packaging that is used to hold products for storage or transport, and which is easily adapted or converted into a tray to display the products in retail locations. The packaging is preferably formed from one piece of material, such as paper. The packaging generally has two portions, a top portion, and a tray portion, which are defined by a separation line. A user in a retail location separates the top portion from the tray portion by tearing, cutting or using some other method, along the separation line. The tray portion retains products and may be used as a display tray and the top portion may be discarded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of packaging according to the disclosure where the packaging is closed.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 1 as seen from a reverse angle and showing the lid partially raised.

FIG. 3 shows the packaging of FIG. 1 as seen from the rear.

FIG. 4 shows one view of display tray according to the disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a view of a display tray according to the disclosure where the tray is shown holding products.

FIG. 6 shows a view of a display tray according to the disclosure where the tray is shown holding products

FIG. 7 shows a view of packaging according to the disclosure where the packaging is shown unfolded

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including”, “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, “involving” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalents thereof, and additional items, as well as alternate examples consisting of the items listed thereafter exclusively.

Other aspects, examples and embodiments, and advantages of these exemplary aspects and embodiments are discussed in detail below. This description is intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and examples. The accompanying drawings are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and embodiments, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings, together with the specification, serve to explain the described and claimed aspects and embodiments.

The present disclosure relates to packaging used to hold retail products, such as during transport or storage. According to the disclosure, the packaging may be adapted to form a display for the products contained therein. In preferred examples, the packaging of the disclosure may be adapted to form a display tray, where the display tray may be placed in suitable retail locations. In particularly preferred examples, packaging according to the disclosure may be adapted to hold food or beverage products. According to the disclosure, for example, packaging according to the disclosure may be adapted to form a display tray that holds at least two cylindrical beverage containers. In preferred examples, packaging according to the disclosure may be adapted to hold a desired number of product containers. Further, the packaging may be adapted for product containers of any shape or size.

In preferred examples, packaging may be adapted to form a display tray in a few steps and taking only a few minutes. For example, employees in a retail location may adapt packaging to form a display tray without having to use tools. That is, packaging holding products may be adapted to form a display tray for the products quickly and by a single individual. In preferred examples, a portion of the packaging is discarded, leaving a display tray containing products.

According to the disclosure, packaging may assume different shapes, including, without limitation, a cube, a cuboid, a rectangular prism, or a cylinder. For example, packaging according to the disclosure includes one or more walls, where the arrangement of walls defines the shape of the packaging. The arrangement of walls also defines or encloses an interior space. The packaging and the interior space may be configured to accommodate products of the desired size and shape. Packaging may also include flaps. Walls, flaps, or other components of the packaging include a first surface, facing externally away from the interior space and a second surface, facing towards the interior space.

In preferred examples, packaging according to the disclosure is formed from a single piece of material. For example, packaging may be formed from paper, including cardboard, or may be formed from plastic. In preferred examples, packaging is formed from heavy, weighted paper. Paper weight may be selected to have sufficient weight to support the desired number of products but still allow a user to adapt the packaging into a tray without undue effort.

In other examples, packaging may be formed from two or more pieces of material, such two or more pieces of paper of similar or different weights or formed from two or more different types of material such as paper and plastic.

According to the disclosure, packaging includes a top portion and a tray portion. The two portions are defined by the location of a separation line: the top portion is above the separation line and the tray portion is below the separation line when the packaging is positioned on a surface with the products upright therein. According to the disclosure, a user may physically separate the tray portion and top portion along the separation line to form a display tray. For example, a user may manually separate or split the top portion and the tray portion by tearing along the separation line.

In preferred examples, the separation line includes a series of perforations in the walls of the packaging. The perforations facilitate the separation of the top and tray portions by a user. The length, depth or spacing of the perforations may be selected to allow the top and tray portions to be separated manually. In preferred examples, the perforations are made on the first(external) surface of one or more walls. The depth of perforations, the length of each perforation, and spacing between each perforation may be varied for particular circumstances such as a selected paper weight.

In other examples, the separation line may be a line drawn on the packaging and/or may be a section of the packaging having a different material which is easily separated or torn. For example, the top and tray portions may be manufactured separately and may be joined at the separation line using an easily separable material. In some examples, the separation line may be formed from a strip of tape, plastic, or similar material. In these and other examples, a user may use a tool, such as scissors or a knife, to separate the top and tray portions along the separation line.

In preferred examples, packaging of the disclosure includes at least one chad or punchout. In general, the at least one chad is defined by perforations in the wall of the packaging. The at least one chad is preferably positioned such that a portion of the chad is continuous with the separation line. The at least one chad may be, for example and without limitation, semi-circular, rectangular, or square. The at least one or more chads may be located on any wall of the packaging.

In preferred examples, a user may disengage the chad(s) from the packaging wall by exerting force on the chad material on the first (external) surface of the chad, where the perforations defining the chads facilitate the disengagement. As a result, a gap is formed in a wall of the packaging adjacent to the separation line. A user may then more easily gain access to the separation line, thereby facilitating the separation of the top portion from the tray portion. For example, a use may more easily initiate tearing of the perforations of the separation line where a gap in the top portion is formed. According to particularly preferred examples, the at least one chad remains attached to the top portion when the top portion is discarded.

Example 1

FIGS. 1 to 3 show one example of packaging 10 according to the disclosure. It is to be understood that this represents only one example and other examples according to the disclosure packaging may have different dimensions and elements. In this example, the packaging takes the form of a rectangular prism. That is, packaging 10 has walls that define a rectangular prism, where an interior space 21 is enclosed by the walls. The interior space also takes the shape of a rectangular prism. Each of the walls and flaps of the packaging has a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface faces externally and the second surface faces internally, towards the interior space of the packaging.

According to this example, C2S board stock having a thickness of 0.02 inches is one example of a material used for packaging in this example.

In the view of FIG. 1, packaging 10 includes rectangular sidewall 12a and rectangular front wall 14. Also shown is lid 18 having first flap 20 and second flap 22 where the first flap and the second flap are joined by a hinged section 24. When the packaging is sealed or closed, as shown in FIG. 1, first flap 20 forms a top wall 19 of the packaging. In the sealed configuration, second flap 22 overlaps with front wall 14. For example, second flap 22 may be fixed to front wall 14 using glue or tape.

FIG. 2 shows a reverse view from FIG. 1, showing opposing sidewall 12b in addition to features previously described. In this Figure, the packaging is shown in a partially open position where lid 18 is raised, revealing interior space 21. FIG. 3 shows a further view of packaging, showing a rear wall 26. Additionally, packaging 10 includes a bottom wall which is not shown in these views.

Separation line 16 is also shown in FIGS. 1-3. In this example, separation line 16 includes a series of perforations 36 in the walls of the packaging. In this example, the perforations extend completely around the packaging periphery to define a separation line of constant height and that is generally parallel to the ground when the packaging is resting on a surface with the products upright. In this example, the perforations are made in the first (external) surface of the walls of the packaging.

The separation line defines two portions of the packaging: a tray portion 30 below the separation line and a top portion 32 above the separation line. According to the disclosure, a user may physically separate the tray portion and top portion along the separation line to form a tray. For example, a user may manually separate or split the top portion and the tray portion by tearing along the separation line where the perforations 36 facilitate the separation. A user may also use tools, such as a knife, to facilitate the separation of the top or tray portions.

In the example of FIGS. 1-3, the separation process may also be facilitated by the chad 17 or punch-out shown in FIG. 3 where the chad is defined by a series of perforations 23 in a wall of the top portion of the packaging. The chad connects with or is continuous with the perforations 36 of the separation line. In this example, the chad is semi-circular as defined by the location of perforations 23, and the diameter of the semi-circle is continuous with the perforations of the separation line.

A user may disengage the chad from the packaging wall by exerting force on the chad material on the external surface, where the perforations defining the chads facilitate the disengagement. As a result, a gap is formed in a wall of the packaging at the location of the chad. A user may then more easily access the perforations 36 defining the separation line to separate the top portion and tray portion.

In preferred examples, the material of the chad remains attached to the top portion of the packaging after separation from the tray portion, simplifying the disposal of the top portion and chad. The chad remains attached to top portion by selecting the appropriate material, such as the appropriate paper weight, or by the length, depth or spacing of chad perforations or by a combination of these factors. In this example, a tab 37 of the chad remains attached to the top portion after separation from the tray portion. In this example, the tab 37 is positioned at the top of the semicircular chad.

FIGS. 4-6 show views of the tray portion 30 after the separation of the top portion along the separation line of the packaging of FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the display tray without products and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the placement of products 44 in an example of a display tray.

In this example, the second surface 50 of bottom wall 46 of the display tray is shown along with border 42. In this example, border 42 is formed from portions of sidewalls 12a,b, back wall 26 and front wall 14 of packaging that remain after separation of the top portion from the tray portion along the separation line.

In this example, the border extends around the entire periphery of the bottom wall and is the same height 55 along the entirety of its length. The uppermost limit of the border height represents the approximate location of the packaging separation line. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the border is approximately perpendicular to the bottom wall around its entire length. In other examples, the dimensions of the border may be varied. For example, perforations of the separation line may be varied such that the border height is not the same around the entirety of the display tray's periphery.

FIG. 4 also shows a circular gap 52 in bottom wall 46 where a transparent insert may be placed in the gap. The transparent insert allows a user to observe product expiration dates and other time-sensitive material printed on the bottom of beverage containers. The inserts may be placed in the gap at the time of product placement in the packaging.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, tray 30 is shown with 12 cylindrical product bottles 44 displayed in the tray. In this example, each bottle holds approximately two ounces. According to the disclosure, the border height 55 is selected to retain the bottles in the tray but still allow relevant label information to be seen. The border may include text or images, such as product identification or regulatory requirements.

FIG. 7 shows the packaging of FIGS. 1-6 unfolded as one piece of material. This view shows the dimensions (in inches) of previously identified elements of the packaging of Example 1

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the disclosure, systems and methods may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. Packaging adaptable to form a tray for holding and displaying product containers, comprising: at least one wall that defines an interior space;a top portion;a tray portion;a separation line, said separation line defining said top portion and said tray portion;where said top portion is above the separation line and said tray portion is below said separation line when said packaging is oriented in an upright position;wherein said top portion and said tray portion are configured to be separated at said separation line and said tray portion retained to display product containers.

2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said at least one wall comprises four rectangular sidewalls, a rectangular top wall and a rectangular bottom wall that define said interior space.

3. The packaging of claim 2, wherein said top wall comprises at least one flap.

4. The packaging of claim 2, wherein said separation line is formed by perforations in said four rectangular sidewalls.

5. The packaging of claim 3, wherein said perforations extend around the perimeter of said packaging at the same height relative to said bottom wall of said packaging.

6. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said packaging is formed from paper.

7. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said packaging is formed from plastic.

8. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said packaging is formed from paper and plastic.

9. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said separation line includes at least one chad.

10. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said chad is retained on said top portion after separation of said top portion and said tray portion.

11. The packaging of claim 2, wherein said tray portion comprises a border, wherein said border is adaptable to include product information.

12. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall comprises a hole.