US3367511A - Display container - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1968 H. A. GRAY ETAL 3,367,511

DISPLAYVCONTAINER Filed Dec. 15, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR. HARRY A. GRAY DENNISR. MCCARTHY ATTORNEY F b- 6, 1968 H. AfGRAY Em. 3,367,511

DI SPLAY CONTAINER Filed Dec. 15, 1965 3 sheets-sheet 2 I? 1 l5 5 17 5* l9 1. limb v INVENTOR.

A. GRAY F 6 323318 R. McCARTHY I ATTORNEY DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed Dec. 15, 1965 3 Sheets-Shet 2 I50 l 8 I .4 A INVENTOR.

' HARRY A. GRAY DENNIS R. MCCARTHY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,367,511 DISPLAY CONTAINER Harry A. Gray, 6661 Markley Way, Apt. 2, Sacramento, Calif, and Dennis R. McCarthy, 230 Lockwood Lane, Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060 Filed Dec. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 514,007 11 "Claims. (Cl. 211-433) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display container in which an article supporting platform has a cylindrical shape and is supported by grooved, upright slats disposed along the cylindrical edge thereof. A flexible band is secured to the slats transversely thereof for holding the slats of the unit from a planar configuration to a cylindrical configuration.

The present invention relates in general to display containers, and more particularly to a display container that can be packaged in a compact manner for shipment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display container that can be packed in a compact manner for facilitating the shipping thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved prefabricated display container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display container that can be shipped in a relatively flat package and that can be assembled as a substantially cylindrical container with facility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display container that is economical to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display container that is collapsible for shipping.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the article supporting counter with upright supports and a band.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating a detachable securing arrangement in the assembling of the display container of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded plan view of the display container of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a disassembled display container of the present invention illustrated in the shipping carton with the cover of the carton open.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the shipping carton shown in FIG. 5 with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the compactness of the disassembled display container of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the securing of the bands and slats to a platform in the modified display container shown in FIG. 7.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a completely assembled display container 10 of the present invention which comprises a cylindrical counter or product supporting platform 11. In actual practice, bottled goods rest on the counter 11 to be supported thereby and to be displayed thereon. Thus, the platform 11 has a horizontally disposed, flat supporting surface.

For supporting the platform 11 above the floor supporting surface, a plurality of upright slats or upright members 15-20 are disposed along the peripheral or armate edge of the cylindrical platform 11 in uniform angu- 3,367,511 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 larly spaced relationship. Formed in each slat 15-20 is a transverse groove 25 which receives the peripheral edge of the cylindrical platform 11 therewithin.

The lower edges of the slats 15-20 rest on a floor supporting surface in planar relationship. Also, the grooves 25 of the slats 1520 are planar and of equal height so that the platform 11 would be parallel to the floor supporting surface. As observed from FIG. 1, the upper edges of the slats 1520 may be of varying height. The slats 19 are reduced in height to provide an access for the removing or placing of products from or onto the platform 11, while the slats 15-18 and 20 are of increased height to form a container wall.

Fixedly secured to the slats 15 by suitable screws are an upper flexible band 30 and a lower flexible band 31. The band 30 is substantially the same height as the grooves 25. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the bands 30 and 31 are of sufiicient length to extend transversely across the adjacent slats 16 and 20. Similarly, an upper flexible band 33 and a lower flexible band 34 are fixedly secured to the slats 17 by suitable screws. The bands 33 and 34 are of the same height as the bands 30 and 31, respectively. The bands 33 and 34 are of sufiicient height to extend transversely across the slats 16 and 18. Thus, the bands 30 and 33 overlap at the slat 16 (FIG. 3) and are detachably secured thereto by a suitable bolt and wing nut 40.

In a similar manner, the slats 19 are fixedly secured by a suitable screw to an upper flexible band 41 and a lower flexible band 42. The bands 41 and 42 are of sufficient length so as to extend transversely across the slats 18 and 20. The bands 41 and 42 are of equal height with the bands 30, 33 and 31, 34, respectively. The bands 33 and 41 overlap at the slat 18 and are detachably secured thereto by a suitable bolt and wing nut. Likewise, the bands 34 and 42 overlap at the slat 18 and are detachably secured thereto by a suitable bolt and wing nut. Further, the bands 30 and 41 overlap at the slat 20 and are detachably secured thereto by a suitable bolt and wing nut. The bands 31 and 42 also overlap at the slat 20 and are detachably secured thereto by a suitable bolt and wing nut.

When disassembled, the display container 10 is shipped in a compact, flat carton C (FIGS. 5 and 6). In the disassembled form the platform 11, the slats 16, 18 and 20 appear as individual and separate units. Further, the slats 15 with the bands 30 and 31 secured thereto appear as a separate and distinct unit; the slats 17 with the bands 33 and 34 secured thereto appear as a separate and distinct unit; and the slats 19 with the bands 41 and 42 secured thereto appear as a separate and distinct unit.

In assembling the display container 10, all the units are removed from the carton C. Thereupon, the units are placed relative to one another as shown in FIG. 4. The bands 30 and 31 are placed in overlapping relation and then secured to the slat 20 by the wing nut and bolt. Similarly, the bands 31 and 34 are placed in overlapping relation and then secured to the slat 20 by the wing nut and bolt.

The cylindrical platform 20 is inserted into the grooves 25 and the bolted units are urged into a cylindrical configuration. At this time, the bands 30 and 33 are disposed in overlapping relation and bolted to the slat 16 with the platform 11 inserted in the grooves 25 of the slats 17. Likewise, the bands 31 and 34 are disposed in overlapping relation and bolted to the slat 16. Now, the bands 33 and 41 are placed in overlapping relation and bolted to the slat 16. Thereupon, the bands 33 and 41 are positioned in overlapping relation and bolted to the slat 18. Lastly, the bands 34 and 42 are deposited in overlapping relation and bolted to the slat 18. The display container 10 now assumes the fully assembled configuration as shown in FIG. 1.

While the display container 10 is shown as substantially cylindrical, it can be formed in other configurations such as oval and the like. As long as the peripheral edge of the platform 11 is arcuate or curved, the flexible bands and the assembled slats will assume the configuration of the peripheral edge of the platform 11.

In the exemplary embodiment, the platform 11 and the slats 1520 are made from suitable material, such as redwood. The flexible bands are metallic, such as suitable steel straps.

In FIG. 7 is illustrated a modified display container 50. Like parts of the display container 50 with respect to the display container 10 are assigned the same reference numeral with the sufiix a. In the modified display container 50, a hub 51 is disposed at the axis of the cylindrical platform 11a with vertical disposed slats formed therein at spaced angular intervals along the periphery thereof. Radially disposed partitions 55 are disposed between the hub 51 and the slats 15a20a to form separated bins for displaying bottled products.

A lower platform 60 is mounted below the platform 11a. Portions of the slats 15a20a are cut away to provide access opening 6167 for the products stored on the platform 60. Flexible bands 7073 are fixed to the slats 15a-20a in a manner previously described for the bands 30, 31, 33, 34, 41 and 42. A third counter 80 supported by the partitions 55 provides another display supporting surface.

According to the present invention, the screws received by the band 70 and the upper sections of the slats are also inserted into the platform 11a, thus conforming the configuration of the container wall to the contour of the peripheral edge of the counter 11a. Likewise, the screws received by the flexible band 71 and the lower sections of the slats are also inserted into the counter 60, thus conforming the configuration of the wall of the container 50 to the peripheral edge of the platform 60.

It is to be understood that modifications and variations of the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A display container comprising a platform with a cylindrical edge and a supporting surface, a plurality of upright members connected to said platform along the cylindrical edge thereof for supporting said platform above a supporting surface, and a flexible band secured to said upright members transversely thereof for retaining said upright members as a unit from a planar configuration to a cylindrical configuration conforming to the contour of the cylindrical edge of said platform.

2. A display container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upright members are disposed in spaced relation along the cylindrical edge of said platform.

3. A display container as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second flexible band is secured to said upright members in vertically spaced relation to said first mentioned flexible band.

4. A display container as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are received by said band, said upright members and said platform for securing said band, upright members and platform together and for conforming the configuration of said upright members and band to the contour of the cylindrical edge of said platform.

5. A display container comprising a platform with an arcuate edge and a supporting surface, a plurality of upright members connected to said platform along the arcuate edge thereof for supporting said platform above a supporting surface, and a flexible band secured to said upright members transversely thereof for retaining said upright members as a unit from a planar configuration to an arcuate configuration conforming to the contour of the arcuate edge of said platform, said upright members being grooved to receive the arcuate edge of said platform.

6. A display container comprising a platform with an arcuate edge and a supporting surface, a plurality of upright members connected to said platform along the arcuate edge thereof for supporting said platform above a supporting surface, and a flexible band secured to said upright members transversely thereof for retaining said upright members as a unit from a planar configuration to an arcuate configuration conforming to the contour of the arcuate edge of said platform, said upright members being formed into a plurality of separate groups, each group of said upright members being fixedly secured to a respective flexible band, and said groups of upright members being detachably secured end-to-end by the joining of adjacent flexible bands to conform to the contour of the arcuate edge of said platform.

7. A display container as claimed in claim 6 wherein adjacent flexible bands overlap at the ends thereof, an upright member being disposed in confronting relation to overlapping ends of adjacent flexible bands, said last mentioned upright members being connected to the arcuate edge of said platform, and means detachably securing said overlapping ends of adjacent flexible bands to the associated confronting upright member to conform the groups of upright members to the contour of the arcuate edge of said platform.

8. A display container as claimed in claim 7 wherein radially disposed partitions are disposed on said platform and extend to the arcuate edge thereof to form separate bins.

9. A display container as claimed in claim 8 wherein a hub is disposed on said platform to join the walls of said partitions extending toward the center of said platform.

10. A display container as claimed in claim 7 wherein a second flexible band is disposed in vertical spaced relation to each of said previously mentioned flexible bands, adjacent second flexible bands being arranged to overlap at the ends thereof, and means detachably securing said overlapping ends of adjacent second flexible bands to the associated confronting upright member to conform the groups of upright members to the contour of the arcuate edge of said platform.

11. A display container as claimed in claim 9 wherein a second platform rests on said partitions to form a supporting surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 93,059 8/1934 Walker 211l33 XR 1,093,450 4/1914 McLaughlin 2l1l33 XR 1,883,833 10/1932 Tilton 211l33 XR 2,639,039 5/1953 Daniels 21 1-71 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

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