Patent Application
20230061172
The present disclosure relates generally to displayable shipping containers that may be used for shipping products and then converted to display and provide access to the products for individual sale. In particular, the present application relates to displayable shipping containers formed from a single blank and including reinforcement features.
Dual-purpose containers have been developed that can be used for both shipping and displaying goods. Generally, the containers start as flat sheets of corrugated paperboard, typically referred to as blanks. The blanks can then be assembled into containers for shipping goods, which can also be converted into a display for the goods contained therein. This practice reduces costs to stores because merchandise does not need unloaded from the shipping boxes and arranged on the shelves.
In shipping and displaying products, particularly in a retail setting, it is desirable to have a container, which is easy to pack, sturdy and fully enclosed for protection of contents during storage and shipping, while also being suitable for store display. A container can be provided that is convertible from a shipping configuration to a display configuration, which permits the converted container to be placed directly upon a shelf, or floor display, without having to remove the individual product items from the container. Typically, this is accomplished by providing the container with removable portions of the container that create apertures through which customers may access the products within the converted container.
Some displayable shipping containers are comprised of multiple components requiring several steps to assemble the container and often requiring multiple machines, some of which are specialized, to assist in assembly of the container, such as by applying adhesive.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one implementation, there is provided a container comprising a plurality of panels and a plurality of flaps integrally formed in a blank. The plurality of panels includes a front panel, a top panel adjacent the front panel, a back panel adjacent the top panel, a bottom panel adjacent the back panel, and a support panel adjacent the back panel, wherein adjacent panels are connected with one another. The plurality of flaps are configured to cooperate with each other to enclose the container at ends of the container. A first line of weakness is formed in the front panel and top panel, wherein the first line of weakness defines a first severable portion of the container that is configured to be removable. A second line of weakness formed in the support panel, wherein the second line of weakness defines a second severable portion of the container that is configured to be removable. The support panel is fixedly attached to an inner surface of the front panel such that the first severable portion and the second severable portion are generally aligned
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the following description and annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects and implementations. These are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which one or more aspects may be employed. Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings.
What is disclosed herein may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, and will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the claimed subject matter.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Further, at least one of A and B and/or the like generally means A or B or both A and B. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims may generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter.
Also, although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art based upon a reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The disclosure includes all such modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), the terms used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary implementations of the disclosure.
In addition, while a particular feature of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”
Referring now to
The container can be machine glued as part of the assembly from the flat blank. The assembled container needs sufficient strength and durability to survive shipping environments and be equipped with a removable portion to display the bagged items enclosed therein. Thus, the container disclosed herein should be produced at the lowest cost possible and have a removable portion for displaying and accessing the contents (e.g., bagged items) of the container.
Blank
Referring to
In one or more examples, the blank 100 can further comprise a first front panel flap 112a, a first top panel flap 114a, a first back panel flap 116a, and a first bottom panel flap 118a hingedly connected to the front panel 102, the top panel 104, the back panel 106, and the bottom panel 108, respectively, at fold lines 124a. The blank 100 also comprises a second front panel flap 112b, a second top panel flap 114b, a second back panel flap 116b, and a second bottom panel flap 118b hingedly connected to the front panel 102, the top panel 104, the back panel 106, and the bottom panel 108, respectively, at fold lines 124b. In these examples, the flaps 112a, 114a, 116a, and 118a are configured to cooperate with each other to enclose an end of the container formed from the blank 100. Similarly, the flaps 112b, 114b, 116b, and 118b are configured to cooperate with each other to enclose another end of the container formed from the blank 100. In one or more examples, the fold lines 124a and 124b are parallel or substantially parallel.
In one or more examples, the blank 100 further comprises a first support panel flap 120a hingedly connected to the support panel 110 at fold line 126a and a second support panel flap 120b hingedly connected to the support panel 110 at fold line 126b. The first support panel flap 120a can include a flap fold line 130a or perforated channel that promotes folding of the first support panel flap 120a along the flap fold line 130a. In some non-limiting examples, the flap fold line 130a may divide the first support panel flap 120a into a first portion 132a and a second portion 134a. The first portion 132a can be positioned between the second portion 134a and the support panel 110 with the first portion 132a directly, hingedly attached to the support panel 110. The second support panel flap 120b can include a flap fold line 130b or perforated channel that promotes folding of the second support panel flap 120b along the flap fold line 130b. In some non-limiting examples, the flap fold line 130b may divide the second support panel flap 120b into a first portion 132b and a second portion 134b. The first portion 132b can be positioned between the second portion 134b and the support panel 110 with the first portion 132b directly, hingedly attached to the support panel 110.
In one or more examples, the fold line 126a can extend parallel or substantially parallel to the fold line 124a and may be offset from the fold line 124a by a predefined distance. The first support panel flap 120a can include an angled cut 128a that is formed at an angle Θa and extends between the offset fold lines 124a and 126a. In some non-limiting examples, the angle Θa is approximately 45°. Similarly, the fold line 126b can extend parallel or substantially parallel to the fold line 124b but offset from the fold line 124b by a predefined distance. The second support panel flap 120b can include an angled cut 128b that is formed at an angle Θb and extends between the offset fold lines 124b and 126b. In some non-limiting examples, the angle Θb is approximately 45°. In one or more examples, the angle Θb is substantially the same size as the angle Θa.
The blank 100 can have various dimensions. In one or more examples, the blank 100 comprises a front panel 102 and back panel 106 that are substantially the same size and a top panel 104 and bottom panel 108 that are substantially the same size so that the container formed from the blank 100 has the shape of a rectangular prism to promote the stacking of containers. In one example, the blank 100 is 59½ in (L)×35¾ in (W) and comprises a front panel 102 having a length of approximately 12 in, a top panel 104 having a length of approximately 11⅞ in, a back panel 106 having a length of approximately 11 15/16 in, a bottom panel 108 having a length of approximately 11¾ in and a support panel 110 having a length of approximately 11 15/16 in. It is contemplated that the blank 100 can be designed to have other dimensions and/or relative size proportions. Additionally, it is contemplated that the relative dimensions of the various panels 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 and/or flaps 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 can take into account any spacing requirements for providing separation or gaps between the flaps 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, and/or the thickness of the support panel 110 that is attached to the front panel 102.
The blank 100 can also be made out of various materials including recycled materials. As an example, the blank 100 may be fabricated from a wide variety of suitable materials including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard (corrugated and otherwise), wood, metal, and plastic. For reasons of strength and economy, materials for containers according to the present disclosure typically include corrugated cardboard.
The blank 100 includes a first line of weakness 136 that defines a first severable portion 138 formed in the front panel 102 and top panel 104. The first severable portion 138 is configured to be separable and removable from the remainder of the blank 100, in particular from the front panel 102 and top panel 104, via the first line of weakness 136. It is contemplated that the first severable portion 138 is not limited to the particular shape and configuration illustrated in
In one or more examples, the first severable portion 138 of the front panel 102 and top panel 104 is generally rectangular in shape and includes an aperture 140 adjacent to the midpoint of a lower part of the first line of weakness 136. In one example configuration, as depicted in
The blank 100 further includes a second line of weakness 142 that defines a second severable portion 144 formed in the support panel 110. The second severable portion 144 is configured to be separable and removable from the remainder of the blank 100, in particular from the support panel 110, via the second line of weakness 142. The second severable portion 144 is configured with dimensions that generally align with the first severable portion 138 for reasons that will be described in further detail below. In some non-limiting examples, the second severable portion 144 is rectangular with a width that generally corresponds to the width of the first severable portion 138. It is contemplated that the second severable portion 144 is not limited to the particular shape and configuration illustrated in
In one or more examples, the second severable portion 144 of the support panel 110 is generally rectangular in shape and includes an aperture 146 adjacent to the midpoint of a lower part of the second line of weakness 142. In one example configuration, as depicted in
The weakening of the region of the front and top panels 102 and 104, which comprises the first line of weakness 136, and the weakening of the region of the support panel 110, which comprises the second line of weakness 142, may be accomplished by full or partial perforation of the relevant panel material, full or partial scoring thereof, partial severing, or any other suitable method known in the art. Whatever the method of forming the lines of weakness, the lines of weakness can exhibit sufficient strength to survive shipping and handling of the container without premature rupture while remaining sufficiently easy to rupture to facilitate opening and leave a reasonably well defined opening upon removal of the first and/or second severable portions 138 and 144.
Assembly
Referring now to
Referring to
In one or more examples, the front panel 102 is then folded along fold line 122a in the direction 152 of the support panel 110 for attachment to the support panel 110. In this example, the strips of adhesive 156 are disposed on the support panel 110. But, in other examples, the strips of adhesive may be disposed on the front panel 102 (e.g., 148 in
One particular advantage of this disclosure is that the process of folding panels and adhering panels together (e.g., adhering the front panel 102 to the support panel 110) described above can be performed by one standard machine. This process does not require any operations, such as applying glue, to be performed by a second specialty machine. Thus, the container 200 formed by the blank 100 of this disclosure can be assembled in a simple, cost-effective manner using a single standard machine (e.g., for gluing).
In one or more examples, the first and second support panel flaps 120a and 120b can be folded inwardly (i.e., into the interior of the container 200) along fold lines 126a and 126b respectively, as shown in
The first and second support panel flaps 120a, 120b advantageously provide improved structural integrity and stacking strength to the container 200 formed from the blank. Additionally, the first and second support panel flaps 120a, 120b provide reinforcement to the front panel 102 as will be described in further detail.
In one or more examples, the second support panel flap 120b is folded inwardly along fold line 126b. The first portion 132b of the second support panel flap 120b extends diagonally across an interior corner of the container 200 that is formed where the front panel 102 meets the orthogonally disposed flaps 112b, 114b, and 118b, as shown in
In these examples, the first portion 132b thereby forms a support structure in the interior corner of the container 200 defined by the first portion 132b, the front panel 102, and flaps 112b, 114b, 118b. Additionally, the angled cut 128b of the second support panel flap 120b can add significant packing strength to the container 200.
Similarly, in some non-limiting examples, the first support panel flap 120a is folded inwardly along fold line 126a. The first portion 132a of the first support panel flap 120a extends diagonally across an interior corner of the container 200 that is formed where the front panel 102 meets the orthogonally disposed flaps 112a, 114a, and 118b (not shown). In these examples, a space is formed in the interior of the container 200 that is defined by the first portion 132a and the corner formed by the flaps 112a, 114a, 118a and the front panel 102. The space can be in the shape of a triangle, but is not so limited. The second portion 134a of the first support panel flap 120a is folded along fold line 130a in order to place the second portion 134a flush against the surfaces of one or more flaps 112a, 114b, and 118a.
In these examples, the first portion 132a thereby forms a support structure in the interior corner of the container 200 defined by the first portion 132a, the front panel 102, and flaps 112a, 114a, 118a. Additionally, the angled cut 128a of the second support panel flap 120b can add significant packing strength to the container 200.
To open the container 200 for access to the products therein, the consumer or customer inserts one or more fingers or a tool into the apertures 140 and 146 that are aligned as a result of the attachment of the support panel 110 to the front panel 102. The one or more fingers or tool are then hooked around the edges defining the apertures 140, 146, the edges comprising part of the first and second severable portions 138, 144. The consumer or customer may then pull outwardly and upwardly, as shown by direction arrow 160 in
Tearing away the first and second severable portions 138, 144 provides a consumer or customer with access to product housed within the container 200. The support panel 110 attached to the front panel 102 strengthens the container 200, but does not deter the ease with which the first and second severable portions 138, 144 can be torn away to expose the product for shoppers. Because the first and second severable portions 138, 144 are completely removed, products may be extracted from the resulting opening even though other containers or articles may be stacked both above and below the subject container 200. Note that, as best depicted in
The container 200 can be placed on a shelf as a single display as well as stacked in a pallet configuration such as, for example, a stack four layers high. The container 200 can be configured to carry a product weight of approximately 25 lbs.
One advantage of this disclosure concerning a blank 100 comprising a plurality of panels and a plurality of flaps that are integrally formed from one sheet of material, is that a standard piece of machinery can apply the adhesive 156 (e.g., glue) to a single surface on the support panel 110 to assemble the container 200 from the blank 100. Thus, the present disclosure eliminates any need to use multiple machines to apply adhesive and eliminates the need to perform multiple operations to attach separate components together to form the container because the container is formed from a single blank. Additionally, because of the increased stacking strength that is achieved by the features of the container 200 (e.g., a support panel 110 attached to and reinforcing the front panel 102 with support panel flaps 120a, 120b that strengthen the interior corners of the container 200 at the front panel 102), lighter materials can be used, which in turn results in reduced material usage and lower cost of manufacture. Accordingly, it is believed the present disclosure provides reduces the production costs, material, and assembly time, especially given that multi-component solutions often require a specialized machine to apply adhesive.
The implementations have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63238139 | Aug 2021 | US |
