This invention pertains to a case system that provides for shipment, storage and display of consumable products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a case system removably accommodating a plurality of display containers.
It is common for packaged articles to be placed into shipping cases for transport from the place of manufacture to the distributor. Such shipping cases are typically formed from a corrugate fiberboard of sufficient integrity to withstand the rigorous handling during storage and transport. During transportation or handling, the shipping cases are stacked on pallets and at times one pallet stacked onto another. In all of this handling and storage, the shipping case must protect the packaged articles from damage.
One type of shipping case contains a plurality of display containers. Each display container houses a plurality of the packaged articles therein. The packaged articles include individual product packaging filled with product goods. For example, product packaging can be a bag, pouch or box. The product packaging can contain a variety of products such as non-consumable goods or consumable goods, like loose confectionary product. The display containers provide protection of the packaged articles within. In addition, the display containers may also serve to display and dispense the packaged articles at the point of sale.
The display containers are shipped from distributors to retail stores. The distributor fills the orders for the individual stores or point of sale. The order may include an entire shipping case or portions thereof. If the required number of display containers amounts to less than an entire shipping case, then the distributor opens the shipping case and removes the number of display containers ordered and transports the requested number to the store. The store receives that quantity of display containers and places the containers on the shelves. The consumer removes the desired number of packaged articles from each display container.
While protection of the consumable goods is important, there is often much wasted material between the double packaging of shipment cases and display containers. This increases the cost of shipping the consumable goods and contributes to the cost of packaging which is passed on to the purchaser.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a shipping case and product display container packaging with reduced amount of wasted material required for shipping and storing a product but also provides protection of the package articles and consumable goods within.
This invention pertains to a split case system for shipping and displaying product. The split case system includes a U-shaped case and a plurality of aligned display containers attached thereto. The U-shaped case has a bottom panel, a pair of opposed longitudinal side panels, and a traverse front panel. The traverse front panel extends upwardly from the bottom panel. The side panels include a detachable portion. The plurality of aligned display containers are supported within the U-shaped case. Each of the display containers are attached to the two opposed side panels of the U-shaped case at the detachable portion. The display containers are releasable from the U-shaped case upon detachment of the detachable portion from the side panel.
Further, this invention pertains to a flat sheet material for forming a U-shaped case including a blank formed in the sheet. The blank has a generally rectangular configuration including a bottom panel, opposed side panels extending from opposed side foldable edges of the bottom panel, and a front panel extending from a front foldable edge of the bottom panel. The front foldable edge is perpendicular to the opposed side foldable edges. Each of the opposed side panels includes a tab extending from a tab foldable edge between the tab and each of the opposed side panel. The opposed side panels include a plurality of breakaway lines extending from a side unattached edge towards the side foldable edge. The breakaway lines divide an upper portion of the opposed side panels into detachable portions. Furthermore, a severing zone can be included extending along each of the opposed side panels for removal of the detachable portions from the U-shaped case.
Additionally, this invention pertains to a method of forming a split case system including the steps of cutting a first blank from a sheet. The first blank includes a blank formed in the sheet, the blank has a generally rectangular configuration including a bottom panel, opposed side panels extending from opposed side foldable edges of the bottom panel, and a front panel extending from a front foldable edge of the bottom panel. The front foldable edge is perpendicular to the opposed side foldable edges, each of the opposed side panels includes a tab extending from a tab foldable edge between the tab and each of the opposed side panel, the opposed side panels include a plurality of breakaway lines extending from a side unattached edge towards the side foldable edge, the breakaway lines divide the opposed side panels into detachable portions, and a severing zone along the side panels to allow for separation of the detachable portions from the side panels. Next, fold the tabs upwardly along the tab foldable edge perpendicularly to the side panels. Further, fold each of the opposed side panels upwardly along each of the side foldable edges perpendicularly to the bottom panel, and fold the front panel upwardly along the front foldable edge perpendicularly to the bottom panel. Attach the tabs to the front edge forming a generally U-shaped case. Place multiple containers within the U-shaped case, each of the containers includes a lid and a base. The base is placed on the bottom panel of the U-shaped case and the lid extends adjacent to the opposed side panels. Finally, attach opposing side panels of each of the lids to opposing detachable portions.
The present invention provides a U-board split case assembly or system for shipping, storing, dispensing and displaying a plurality of packaged articles. The assembly includes a U-shaped case and a plurality of aligned display containers attached thereto. The plurality of aligned display containers are supported within the U-shaped case. The U-shaped case includes a pair of side panels with a detachable portion. Each of the display containers are attached to a pair of opposed side panels at the detachable portion. The display containers are releasable from the U-shaped case upon detachment of the detachable portion from the side panel.
Referring to
The U-shaped case 12 includes a detachable portion 54 which allows for the removal of individual display containers 14 upon detachment of the detachable portion 54 from the U-shaped case 12.
Referring to
The length of the front panel 22 is the width (W) of the bottom panel 20 and extends from the front foldable edge 44 to the front unattached edge 56. The front panel 22 is shown tapering toward the front unattached top edge 56. While it may be desirable to have the front panel tapering, it is not a required feature. The front panel 22 has a front foldable edge 44, and three unattached cut edges (56,57,58). The width or height (F) of the front panel 22 is less than the width or height (S) of the side panel 16.
The pair of opposed side panels 16 are mirror images of each other. Each side panel 16 is generally rectangular with opposing side foldable edges 18,19 attached to the bottom panel 20 by material continuity. The length of the side panels 16 is similar to the length (L) of the bottom panel 20. The width (S) of the side panel 16 is shorter than the width (W) of the bottom panel 20. The top edge 30 is the opposite edge of the side panel 16 from the opposing side foldable edges 18, 19. The top edge 30 is also unattached along the length of the side panel 16. The back edge 23 includes back side edges 23a, 23b and back center edge 23c. The side panel front edge 46 includes an unattached edge 48 and an attached edge 52. The attached edge 52 is attached to a tab 50 which is an outward projection from attached edge 52.
Additionally, referring to
The side panel 16 includes a severing zone 40. The severing zone 40 may include a mechanism for separating the detachable portion 54 from the lower extent 42. The severing zone 40 may include a weakened section, a perforated section, pull tab, or other mechanical separator mechanisms. Preferably, the severing zone 40 is an area that may include guide location 43 to guide the user in manually cutting within a specific area across the length of the side panel 16 to disconnect the display containers 14 from the U-shaped case 12 without damaging the display containers 14 or contents inside. The detachable portion 54 thus becomes severed and disconnected from the lower extent 42. In addition, the individual display containers 14 become released or severed from the U-shaped case 12 upon detachment of the detachable portion 54 from one another, and the display containers 14 can then be individually removed from within the U-shaped case 12. Only the detachable portion 54 of the side panels 16 remains attached to the display container 14 after the detachable portion 54 is releasably detached from the U-shaped case 12.
The U-shaped case 12 is assembled by folding the side panels 16 toward the interior surface of the bottom panel 20. The side panels 16 are folded at opposing side foldable edges 18,19 raising the side panels 16 perpendicular to the bottom panel 20 and parallel to each other. The tab 50 is folded inwardly at attached edges 52 such that the tab 50 is perpendicular to side panels 16 and perpendicular to the bottom panel 20. The front panel 22 is folded along front foldable edge 44 such that the front panel 22 is perpendicular to bottom panel 20 and side panels 16. The tab 50 may include an adhesive on the exterior surface. The front panel 22 is attached to the tab 50 using the adhesive. The interior surface 35 of front panel 22 is coextensive with the exterior surface of tab 50 and the surfaces are adhered together, as shown in
The U-shaped case 12 is configured to accommodate a plurality of individual display containers 14, as shown in
The display lid 28 is assembled by folding the side wings 62 along the opposing folded edge 66. The side wings 62 are perpendicular to the top lid panel 60 and parallel to each other when folded and assembled. The extension wings 68,69 are folded along the extension wing folded edges 70, 71. Each extension wing 68, 69 is perpendicular to the center portion 67 of the side wing 62 and perpendicular to the top lid panel 60 when folded and assembled. Generally, the assembled shape is a rectangular box with one open end opposite the top lid panel 60. The open end is defined by the unattached side wing edges 72 which forms a rectangular opening when folded and assembled.
The open end of the display lid 28 is placed inside of a display base 26 and attached thereto by use of an adhesive, such as glue, as shown in
The display containers 14 house a plurality of packaged articles therein. The packaged articles may include individual product packaging such as bags, boxes or pouches. The packaged articles are filled with products which may include non-consumable goods or consumable goods. The consumable goods may include loose confectionary products. The lid 28 is removed and the base 26 functions as a display tray to hold the packaged articles together in a store shelf.
Referring to
One use of the U-board split case assembly 10 is with an angled slide tray conveying device. Once the detachable portion 54 is released from the side panels 16, display containers 14 are also released from the side panels 16 and loosely contained within the U-board case 12. The U-board split case assembly 10 can be placed on the angled slide tray conveying device, such that the assembly 10 is angled toward the front end 24, the front end 24 is lower than the back end 24. The remaining display containers move forwards towards the front panel 22 as a display container 14 is removed from within the U-shaped case 12.
Having described the preferred embodiments herein, it should now be appreciated that variations may be made thereto without departing from the contemplated scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments described herein are deemed illustrative rather than limiting, the true scope of the invention being set forth in the claims appended hereto.
This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US2010/053321, which designates the U.S., filed Oct. 20, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/256,335 filed on Oct. 30, 2009, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2010/053321 | 10/20/2010 | WO | 00 | 10/19/2012 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2011/053493 | 5/5/2011 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3480179 | Rowland | Nov 1969 | A |
3552082 | Howard | Jan 1971 | A |
3677458 | Gosling | Jul 1972 | A |
3759378 | Werth | Sep 1973 | A |
3979046 | Wilbur | Sep 1976 | A |
5160023 | Adams et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
5174444 | Adams et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5178268 | Talley et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5180056 | Adams et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5419431 | Neuber et al. | May 1995 | A |
5533667 | Gale | Jul 1996 | A |
5758818 | Ewing, Jr. | Jun 1998 | A |
5957358 | Getz et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
6027017 | Kuhn et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6371365 | Doucette et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6386369 | Yuhas et al. | May 2002 | B2 |
6481618 | Persson | Nov 2002 | B2 |
6499655 | Moen | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6729475 | Yuhas et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6913189 | Oliff et al. | Jul 2005 | B2 |
7059494 | Harrelson et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7083048 | Taylor et al. | Aug 2006 | B2 |
20020070145 | Yuhas et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20040222127 | McLeod et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
197 10 130 | Sep 1998 | DE |
0 481 695 | Apr 1992 | EP |
1 353 314 | May 1974 | GB |
286532 | Dec 1962 | NL |
02070357 | Sep 2002 | WO |
2008155626 | Dec 2008 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20130112592 A1 | May 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61256335 | Oct 2009 | US |