GB2199018A

GB2199018A - Package for articles of merchandise

Info

Publication number: GB2199018A
Application number: GB08729703A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Thomas Dawson; Arthur David Greenly; Andrew Peter Goodman
Original assignee: Unilever PLC
Current assignee: Unilever PLC
Priority date: 1986-12-23
Filing date: 1987-12-21
Publication date: 1988-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-21
Also published as: GB8630725D0; GB8729703D0; GB2199018B

Abstract

A package for the storage and display of articles of merchandise comprises a base member (3), a cover member (9) and at least one article of merchandise 91. The base member is provided with a base (11), at least two upwardly facing ledges (63, 97) and a substantially open front. The article has shoulders (93, 95) located above its centre of gravity. The shoulders point in a downward direction relative to the base of the box and engage the edges. The article can comprise a backing card (91) to which a product (89) is secured. This permits the downwardly facing shoulders on the articles to engage the upwardly facing ledges to minimise the disk of the articles topping backward or forward and asset retaining them in an upright position. Furthermore, articles can easily be removed singly from the package without causing the remainder to topple. <IMAGE>

Description

"PACKAGE FOR ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE".

The present invention relates to a package for storing and displaying articles of merchandise.

There are a large number of known packages which may perform one or more of the functions of storing, transporting and displaying of articles.

One such known package for an article of merchandise is disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,187,889 (Sinclair). The package is designed to store, transport and deliver in convenient manner a collection or assortment of cards carrying articles of merchandise such as razor blades.

Another known package, which is a composite package is disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,589,554 (Smith). The composite package includes an outer receptacle and an inner receptacle which is removably mounted within the outer receptacle. The upper edges of the walls of the inner receptacle terminate in outwardly extending flanges which engage in pockets formed in the outer receptacle.

A storage box for storing hanging file folders is disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,724,920 (Beck). The storage box includes an insert structure which is formed from a single piece of stiff foldable material for insertion into the storage box to enable the storage of hanging file folders.

A case for carrying samples. of decorating materials is disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 1,470,582. The case includes a compartment for hanging fabric samples. For this purpose a rail formed as a channel is located on a pair of opposite walls of the compartment. Each sample is carried on a hanger which consists of a plastics strip having downwardly directed tongues at the ends thereof to engage in the channels of respective rails.

A container provided with pockets for storing electronic components is disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 2,150,118.

The pockets are formed by a continuous sheet of flexible material suspended between members accommodated in grooves.

The majority of the above referred to packages and containers are primarily provided for the storage or transport of merchandise.

Except for the package disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No.

3,187,889, they are not concerned with the display of articles of merchandise.

One of the problems which are associated with the type of package disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,187,889, is that when the cards containing razor blades are on display they may easily be toppled from an upright position if the package is moved or is subject to vibration. Furthermore, it is not very easy to remove individual cards from the display without causing the remaining cards to topple.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a construction for a package in which the above problem can be overcome.

According to the present invention there is provided a package for the storage and display of articles of merchandise comprising a box like structure and at least one article of merchandise, said box-like structure including a base member and a cover member, the base member having pairs of parallel walls, one pair of said walls having associated therewith upwardly facing ledges, whilst one wall of the other pair of parallel walls is substantially open (as hereinafter defined), the or each article of merchandise having shoulders located above the centre of gravity thereof, said shoulders pointing in a downward direction relative to the bottom of the base member, and engaging said ledges.

One of the advantages of the package according to the invention is that the downwardly facing shoulders on the articles of merchandise engage the upwardly facing ledges on the box to minimise the risk of the articles toppling backward or forward and assist retaining them in an upright position. Furthermore, individual articles of merchandise can easily be removed singly from the package without causing the remaining articles to topple. Another advantage of the package according to the invention is that it can be employed to store, transport and display the articles of merchandise.

The articles of merchandise may be in the form of a card provided with said shoulders. When the card does not in itself constitute the product, then the card may constitute a backing card to which the product is secured.

In one embodiment the upwardly facing ledges are provided by the side walls of the base member.

In another embodiment the upwardly facing ledges are provided by a U-shaped fitment positioned within the base member.

The substantially open front portion of the base member comprises a wall which extends a short distance in an upward direction from the base, and which terminates at its outer most edges in two regions which engage the walls of the first pair of parallel walls.

The base member can further comprise a partition which extends upwardly from the base, the upper edge of which can form one of the upwardly facing ledges supporting adjacent shoulders on rows of articles. In a preferred embodiment the partition is provided by an independent fitment. When the partition is an independent fitment it may be retained vertically by flanges and tabs engaging the base, rear and front of the base member.

Preferably, the distance between adjacent ledges is substantially identical to the width of the article of merchandise below its shoulders. The articles of merchandise can then frictionally engage lengthwise with the upright surfaces of the ledges.

Preferably the base member is provided with a removable support to prevent the rows of articles from toppling forward and to strengthen the front of the box. The support may comprise two panels arranged at right angles to one another, such that when the support is in position one panel is located between the front wall of the base member and the articles while the second panel rests on the upper most surface of the articles.

The cover member may comprise a lid and four downwardly extending peripheral faces having a height corresponding to the height of the box. Preferably, the cover member fits telescopically over the outside of the box-like structure.

The cover member and removable support protect the articles of merchandise during transit and enable packages to be stacked without the collapse of the base member. When the package is to be used for displaying the articles of merchandise the cover member and the support are removed, and the articles can be viewed through the substantially open front of the base member.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the package with the articles removed; Figure 2 is a view of the box half erected; Figure 3 is a view of the closed package; Figure 4 is a front view of the box shown in Figure 1 containing articles of merchandise; Figure 5 is a front view of another box containing articles of merchandise; and Figure 6 is a front view of the double "U" shaped fitment used in the box shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a package in the form of a box-like structure comprising a base member 3, a central partition 5, a support 7 and a cover member 9. The above mentioned components are shown in the exploded position to assist in understanding the construction of the package. The base member 3 includes a base 11 which defines a rectangle connected to a rear wall 13 and to a substantially open front portion 15 and two side walls 17,19. By "open" in relation to the front wall 15 is meant that it is cut away to leave a low wall over which the articles of merchandise will be readily visible when the cover member is removed. The rear wall 13 is provided with two elongage openings 21,23 for engaging tabs 25,26 on the central partition 5 and retaining it in the vertical position thereby.The rear wall 13 is connected at its lateral edges to each side wall 17,19. Each side wall is respectively provided with a base portion 27,29 at right angles thereto overlying the base 11 of the base member 3. Together the two base portions 27,29 substantially cover the base of the box thereby strengthening it. Each side wall 17,19 is provided with an inturned retaining flange having two tabs arranged at the lower edge of the flange and engaging corresponding openings formed at the intersection of the base portion 27,29 and side wall 17,19. In Figure 2 the inturned retaining flange 31, and two projections 33,35 formed thereon, associated with side wall 17 are shown.

The substantially open front portion comprises an upwardly extending front wall 37 as shown in Figure 2. The front wall is provided with an in turned retaining flange 39 and, at its outermost edges, two vertically extending regions 41,43, which extend upwardly substantially to the same height as the side walls 17,19. The inturned retaining flange is separated into two sections by an opening 45 the sides of which engage tabs 47,49 on the partition 5. Each section of the flange is provided with downwardly directed tabs 51,53 which respectively engage openings 55,57 formed at the intersection between the base 11 and the front wall 37. The two vertically extending regions 41,43 are each provided with a generally rectangular side wing 59, which is arranged to fit between the inturned retaining flange and the respective side wall.

The partition 5 comprises two rectangular panels 59,61. The panels are joined to one another at their upper long edges by a strip 63 which in the completely assembled package forms a ledge to support shoulders on adjacent rows of articles. The lower long edges of the panels are provided with perpendicular flanges 65,67. The flanges are inserted beneath the base portions 27,29 of the side walls 17,19 and contact the base 11 of the base member 3.

The remaining walls of the rectangular panels 59,61 are each provided with a tab. Two of these tabs 47,49 engage the inturned flange of the front wall 37. The remaining tabs 25,26 engage the two notches 21,23 in the rear wall 13 of the box.

The removable support 7 comprises two rectangular panels 69,71 joined together along a fold line at right angles to each other.

The cover member 9 consists of four rectangular walls 73,75,77,79 secured together in an edge-toedge relationship adapted to fit telescopically over the outside of the box. Upstanding from the four rectangular walls and - hinged thereto are four mutually unconnected flaps 81,83,85,87. The flaps can be folded in a plane perpendicular to the walls thereby to form a closed lid as shown in Figure 3.

The aforementioned components are formed of cardboard.

As shown in Figure 4 the articles of merchandise comprise a product 89 secured to a backing card 91. Each backing card is provided with shoulders 93,95 disposed at a position above the centre of gravity of the article and pointing in a downward direction relative to the base of the box.

In use the box displays two rows of articles of merchandise substantially parallel to one another. One shoulder on each card engages a ledge 97 formed by the upper surfaces of the side walls of the box.

The other shoulder on each card engages the strip 63 of the partition 5, as shown in Figure 4, the distance between adjacent ledges, 97 and 63, being substantially identical to the width of the backing card 91 below the shoulders. The backing card 91 can be retained in position by the shoulders supported on the ledges, and below the shoulders, the card frictionally engaging lengthwise with the upright surfaces of the adjacent panel of the partitions and of the side wall 19. The backing cards may also touch the base of the box. Retention of the card in this manner prevents it from twisting and prevents the cards from toppling forward or backward.

In use, one panel 69 of the removable support 7 is disposed between the front wall 37 and the front most card 91. This panel is provided with an opening 99, the sides of which engage the panels 59,61 of the partition 5. The other panel 71 overlies the upper surface 101 of at least some of the cards. In position the support prevents the front most cards from toppling forward and strengthens the front of the box.

When the box is filled with rows of cards the support can be inserted into the box and thereby help orientate the cards.

In use the cover member 9 is fitted over the box to provide a package which can be used for the storage and transit of the articles.

In another embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 5 and 6 the backing cards 9f are stored, transported and displayed in a substantially identical package to that described above except that the box is provided with an independent fitment 101 in place of the partition 5. The fitment 101 which is double "U" shaped comprises a central partition 103 spaced from but generally parallel to two vertical panels 105,107. The fitment 101 fits intimately within the box and the upper surfaces 109,111 of the respective vertical panels 105,107 and the upper surface 113 of the central partition 103 provide ledges which engage the shoulders 93,95 on the cards.

Claims

CLAIMS.

I. A package for the storage and display of articles of merchandise comprising a box-like structure and at least one article of merchandise, said box-like structure including a base member and a cover member, the base member having pairs of parallel walls, one pair of said walls having associated therewith upwardly facing ledges, whilst one wall of the other pair of parallel walls is substantially open (as hereinbefore defined), the or each article of merchandise having shoulders located above the centre of gravity thereof, said shoulders pointing in a downward direction relative to the bottom of the base member, and engaging said ledges.
2. A package according to claim 1 wherein the or each article of merchandise comprises a backing card and a product secured to the backing card.
3. A package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upwardly facing ledges are provided by side walls of the base member.
4. A package according to claim 2, wherein the upwardly facing ledges are provided by a U-shaped fitment positioned within the base member.
5. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base member is provided with a partition, extending upwardly from the base, the upper edge of which partion forms one of said ledges supporting adjacent shoulders on rows of articles.
6. A package according to claim 5, wherein the partition is provided by an independent fitment.
7. A package according to claim 6, wherein the independent fitment is retained vertically by flanges and tabs engaging the base member at the rear and front thereof.
8. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the articles frictionally engage lengthwise with the upright surfaces of the ledges.
9. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the open wall of the base member comprises a wall which extends a short distance in an upward direction from the base, and which terminates at its outer most edges in two regions which engage the walls of the first pair of parallel walls.
10. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said base member is provided with a removable support.
11. A package according to claim 11, wherein the removable support comprises two panels arranged at right angles to one another.
12. A package according to claim 11, wherein one panel of the removable support is located between the front wall of the base member and the articles whilst the other panel on the uppermost surface of the articles.
13. A package according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover member comprises a lid and four downwardly extending peripheral faces having a height corresponding to the height of the walls of the base member.
14. A package for the storage and display of articles of merchandise, constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.