SHIP-TO-DISPLAY-CONTAINER

Abstract

A shipping container and display system is provided, including an inner and an outer box, and first and second trays. The outer box is telescopically slidable over the inner box. The trays are slidable within the inner box. The first tray is stackable on top of the second tray. First and second two-part dividers are provided, each having partitioned walls, each divider having a side-by-side configuration and a stacked configuration. In a shipping configuration, the dividers are disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the trays, the trays are stacked and disposed in the inner box, and the outer box is disposed over the inner box to form a shipping container. In a display configuration, the inner and outer boxes are disposed top down, the dividers are disposed in stacked configurations in the interior of the boxes, and the trays are disposed on and supported by the dividers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the transportation of plants and flowers and/or other small items. More particularly, the present invention relates to the packaging, shipment and display of plants and flowers or other small items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to the fragile nature of live plants and flowers and the stress placed on them during the course of shipping, flower growers, distributors, and retailers must take special care regarding transportation. Accordingly, there is a need for safe and efficient means by which to transport them.

Moreover, while retailers must not only receive plants and flowers in sellable condition, a retail establishment must display them in such a way as to maximize their desirability to a purchaser. Unpacking plants and flowers from shipping containers or pallets, and then arranging them in a display can be labor intensive, time consuming, and therefore expensive.

Thus, there remains a need to develop a means by which to ship plants and flowers and/or other small items efficiently and to enable a retailer to display them in a desirable manner without an unacceptable amount of effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a shipping container and display system is provided wherein the system has a shipping configuration and a display configuration. The system includes an inner box and an outer box, each having a closed top, an open interior, and an open bottom. A first and a second tray are provided, each tray having an open interior, and an open top. The outer box is telescopically slidable over the inner box. The trays are slidable within the inner box and the first tray is stackable on top of the second tray. A first two-part divider having partitioned walls, has a side-by-side configuration sized to fill the open interior of the first tray, and a stacked configuration. A second two-part divider having partitioned walls, also has a side-by-side configuration sized to fill the open interior of the second tray, and a stacked configuration.

In the shipping configuration, the first two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the first tray, the second two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the second tray, the second tray is stacked on the first tray to form a stacked tray and divider assembly, the stacked tray and divider assembly is disposed in the inner box, and the outer box is disposed over the inner box to form a shipping container. In the display configuration, the inner box is disposed with its top down, the outer box is disposed with its top down, the first two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the inner box, the second two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the outer box, the first tray is disposed on and supported by the stacked first two-part divider, and the second tray is disposed and supported by the stacked second two-part divider.

The inner box may be attached to the outer box by at least one fastener. The at least one fastener may be a folded portion of the inner box connected to a folded portion of the outer box.

In another, more detailed, exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a shipping container and display system for plants or flowers is provided where the system has a shipping configuration and a display configuration. The system includes an inner box having a closed top, a plurality of sides each having an outer surface and an inner surface, an open interior, an open bottom, and a height. The outer surfaces of the sides bound an outer cross-sectional area. The inner surfaces of the sides bound an inner cross-sectional area. The system also includes an outer box having a closed top, a plurality of sides each having an outer surface and an inner surface, an open interior, an open bottom, and a height. The inner surfaces of the sides bound an inner cross-sectional area. The height of the outer box is preferably substantially the same as the height of the inner box. First and a second trays are provided where each tray has a closed bottom, a plurality of sides each having an outer surface and an inner surface, an open interior, an open top, and an overall height. The outer surfaces of the sides bound an outer cross-sectional area. The height is preferably one half the height of the height of the inner box. The outer cross-sectional area of the inner box is smaller than the inner cross-sectional area of the outer box such that the outer box is telescopically slidable over the inner box. The outer cross-sectional areas of the trays are smaller than the inner cross-sectional area of the inner box such that the trays are slidable within the inner box. The first tray is stackable on top of the second tray. A first two-part divider has a side-by-side configuration and a stacked configuration. The side-by-side configuration is sized to fill the open interior of the first tray and has a matrix of divisions, each division adopted to receive a plant or flower unit. A second two-part divider has a side-by-side configuration and a stacked configuration. The side-by-side configuration is sized to fill the open interior of the second tray and has a matrix of divisions, each division adopted to receive a plant or flower unit.

In the shipping configuration, the first two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the first tray, the second two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the second tray, the second tray is stacked on the first tray to form a stacked tray and divider assembly, the stacked tray and divider assembly is disposed in the inner box, and the outer box is disposed over the inner box to form a shipping container.

In the display configuration, the inner box is disposed with its top down, the outer box is disposed with its top down, the first two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the inner box, the second two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the outer box, the first tray is disposed on and supported by the stacked first two-part divider, and the second tray is disposed and supported by the stacked second two-part divider.

The inner box may be attached to the outer box by at least one fastener. The at least one fastener may be a folded portion of the inner box connected to a folded portion of the outer box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in conjunction with the following drawings, where in like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a shipping container and display system for plants and flowers in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in a shipping container configuration;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, shown with an outer box removed;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, shown in a first deconstructed configuration with outer box, inner box, rectangular trays and two-part dividers shown;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, shown in a first partially constructed display configuration;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, shown in a second partially constructed display configuration;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, shown in a third partially constructed display configuration;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, shown in a fourth partially constructed display configuration;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, shown in a fully constructed display configuration;

FIG. 9A is a simplified cross-section showing the outer cross-section of the inner box of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9B is a simplified cross-section showing the inner cross-section of the inner box of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9C is a simplified cross-section showing the outer cross-section of the outer box of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9D is a simplified cross-section showing the inner cross-section of the outer box of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9E is a simplified cross-section showing the outer cross-section of the first rectangular tray of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9F is a simplified cross-section showing the inner cross-section of the first rectangular tray of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9G is a simplified cross-section showing the outer cross-section of the second rectangular tray of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9H is a simplified cross-section showing the inner cross-section of the second rectangular tray of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the shipping container and display system of FIG. 1, taken along lines X-X of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1-8 an exemplary embodiment of a shipping container and display system for plants or flowers 10. FIGS. 1-8 show, in chronological order, steps to transform the system 10 from a shipping container configuration 12 (FIG. 1) to a display configuration 14 (FIG. 8).

Generally, while the present description is directed to shipping and displaying plants and flowers, any objects whatsoever suitable for shipping and display using the present system are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, bottles (water, soda, alcohol, etc.),

The shipping container and display system 10 includes an inner box 16 (preferably rectangular, but substantially any exterior shape is considered to be within the scope of the present invention) having a closed top, four sides 20, 22, 24, 26 (each side having an outer surface 20A, 22A, 24A, 26A, and an inner surface 20B, 22B, 24B, 26B, an open interior 28, an open bottom 30, and a height 32. The outer surfaces 20A, 22A, 24A, 26A of the four sides 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D bound an outer cross-sectional area 34 (see FIG. 9A). The inner surfaces 20B, 22B, 24B, 26B of the four sides 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D bound an inner cross-sectional area 36 (see FIG. 9B).

The shipping container and display system 10 also includes an outer box 38 having a closed top 40, four sides 42, 44, 46, 48 (each side having an outer surface 42A, 44A, 46A, 48A and an inner surface 42B, 44B, 46B, 48B), an open interior 50, an open bottom 52, and a height 54. The outer surfaces 42A, 44A, 46A, 48A of the four sides 42, 44, 46, 48 bound an outer cross-sectional area 56 (see FIG. 9C). The inner surfaces 42B, 44B, 46B, 48B of the four sides 42, 44, 46, 48 bound an inner cross-sectional area 58 (see FIG. 9D). The height 54 of the rectangular outer box 38 is substantially the same as the height 32 of the inner box 16.

The system 10 further includes a first tray 60 and a second tray 82. The first tray 60 has a bottom 62, four sides 64, 66, 68, 70 (each having an outer surface 64A, 66A, 68A, 70A and an inner surface 64B, 66B, 68B, 70B), an open interior 72, an open top 74, and an overall height 76, The outer surfaces 64A, 66A, 68A, 70A of the four sides 64, 66, 68, 70 bound an outer cross-sectional area 78 (see FIG. 9E). See FIGS. 9A-9H. The height 76 of the first tray 60 is generally one half the height 32 of the inner box 16. The inner cross-sectional area 36 of the inner box 16 is larger than the outer cross-sectional area 78 of the first tray 60 such that the inner box 16 is telescopically slidable over the first tray 60. See FIG. 10. The second tray 82 has a bottom 84, four sides 86, 88, 90, 82 (each having an outer surface 86A, 88A, 90A, 92A and an inner surface 86B, 88B, 90B, 92B), an open interior 94, an open top 96, and an overall height 98. The outer surfaces 86A, 88A, 90A, 92A of the four sides 86, 88, 90, 92 bound an outer cross-sectional area 100 (see FIG. 9G). The height 98 is generally one half the height 32 of the inner box 16. The inner cross-sectional area 36 of the inner box 16 is larger than the outer cross-sectional area 100 of the second tray 82 such that the outer box 38 is telescopically slidable over the inner box 16. See FIG. 10. The first tray 60 is stackable on top of the second tray 82. See FIGS. 3 and 4.

A first two-part divider 104A, 104B is provided for receipt in the first rectangular tray 60. The first two-part divider 104A, 104B has partitioned walls 106 forming a matrix of divisions 108, where each division 108 is adopted to receive a plant or flower unit 126. In the shipping configuration (described below), the first two-part divider 104A, 104B is disposed in a side-by-side configuration in the open interior 72 the first rectangular tray 60. See FIG. 6. A second two-part divider 110A, 110B is provided for receipt in the second rectangular tray 82. The second two-part divider 110A, 110B also has partitioned walls 112 forming a matrix of divisions 114, where each division 114 is adopted to receive a plant or flower unit 126.

In the shipping configuration (see FIG. 1), the first two-part divider 104A, 104B is disposed in a side-by side configuration in the open interior 72 of the first rectangular tray 60, the second two-part divider 110A, 11B is disposed in the second in a side-by-side configuration in the open interior 114 of the rectangular tray 82, the second rectangular tray 92 is stacked on the first rectangular tray 60 to form a stacked tray and divider 96 (see FIG. 3). The stacked tray and divider 96 are disposed in the inner box 16, and the outer box 38 is disposed over the inner box 16 to form a shipping container 98 (see FIG. 1).

In the display configuration 14, (see FIG. 8) the inner box 16 is disposed with its top 18 down, the outer box 38 is disposed with its top 40 down, the first two-part-divider 104A, 104B is separated and placed in a stacked configuration in the open interior 28 of the inner box 16, the second two-part divider 110A, 110B is separated and placed in a stacked configuration in the open interior 50 of the outer box 38, the first tray 60 is disposed on and supported by the stacked first two-part divider 104A, 104B, and the second tray 82 is disposed and supported by the stacked second two-part divider 110A, 110B.

In the display configuration 14, the inner box 16 may be attached to the outer box 38 by one or more fasteners 100. Here, the fasteners may be a folded portion 102 of the inner box 16 connected to a folded portion 104 of the outer box 38.

It is to be understood that the disclosure teaches just one example of the illustrative embodiment and that many variations of the invention can easily be devised by those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure and that the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A shipping container and display system, the system having a shipping configuration and a display configuration, the system comprising: (a) an inner box and an outer box, each having a closed top, an open interior, and an open bottom;(b) a first and a second tray, each tray having an open interior, and an open top;(c) wherein the outer box is telescopically slidable over the inner box;(d) wherein the trays are slidable within the inner box, and wherein the first tray is stackable on top of the second tray;(e) a first two-part divider having partitioned walls, and having a side-by-side configuration sized to fill the open interior of the first tray, and a stacked configuration; and(f) a second two-part divider having partitioned walls, and having a side-by-side configuration sized to fill the open interior of the second tray, and a stacked configuration.

2. The shipping container and display system of claim 1, wherein in the shipping configuration, the first two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the first tray, the second two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the second tray, the second tray is stacked on the first tray to form a stacked tray and divider assembly, the stacked tray and divider assembly is disposed in the inner box, and the outer box is disposed over the inner box to form a shipping container; and wherein in the display configuration, the inner box is disposed with its top down, the outer box is disposed with its top down, the first two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the inner box, the second two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the outer box, the first tray is disposed on and supported by the stacked first two-part divider, and the second tray is disposed and supported by the stacked second two-part divider.

3. The shipping container and display system of claim 1, wherein in the display configuration, the inner box is attached to the outer box by at least one fastener.

4. The shipping container and display system of claim 3, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a folded portion of the inner box connected to a folded portion of the outer box.

5. A shipping container and display system for plants or flowers, the system having a shipping configuration and a display configuration, the system comprising: (a) an inner box having a closed top, a plurality of sides each having an outer surface and an inner surface, an open interior, an open bottom, and a height, the outer surfaces of the sides bounding an outer cross-sectional area, the inner surfaces of the sides bounding an inner cross-sectional area;(b) an outer box having a closed top, a plurality of sides each having an outer surface and an inner surface, an open interior, an open bottom, and a height, the inner surfaces of the sides bounding an inner cross-sectional area, the height of the outer box being substantially the same as the height of the inner box;(c) a first and a second tray, each tray having a closed bottom, a plurality of sides each having an outer surface and an inner surface, an open interior, an open top, and an overall height, the outer surfaces of the sides bounding an outer cross-sectional area, the height being generally one half the height of the height of the inner box;(d) wherein the outer cross-sectional area of the inner box is smaller than the inner cross-sectional area of the outer box such that the outer box is telescopically slidable over the inner box;(e) wherein the outer cross-sectional areas of the trays are smaller than the inner cross-sectional area of the inner box such that the trays are slidable within the inner box, and wherein the first tray is stackable on top of the second tray;(f) a first two-part divider having a side-by-side configuration sized to fill the open interior of the first tray and having a matrix of divisions, each division adopted to receive a plant or flower unit, and a stacked configuration;(g) a second two-part divider having a side-by-side configuration sized to fill the open interior of the second tray and having a matrix of divisions, each division adopted to receive a plant or flower unit, and a stacked configuration;wherein, in the shipping configuration, the first two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the first tray, the second two-part divider is disposed in the side-by-side configuration in the second tray, the second tray is stacked on the first tray to form a stacked tray and divider assembly, the stacked tray and divider assembly is disposed in the inner box, and the outer box is disposed over the inner box to form a shipping container; andwherein, in the display configuration, the inner box is disposed with its top down, the outer box is disposed with its top down, the first two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the inner box, the second two-part divider is disposed in its stacked configuration in the open interior of the outer box, the first tray is disposed on and supported by the stacked first two-part divider, and the second tray is disposed and supported by the stacked second two-part divider.

6. The shipping container and display system of claim 5, wherein in the display configuration, the inner box is attached to the outer box by at least one fastener.

7. The shipping container and display system of claim 6, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a folded portion of the inner box connected to a folded portion of the outer box.