AU2003204840A1 - Combined transport and display package - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): UR1 INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD Invention Title: COMBINED TRANSPORT AND DISPLAY PACKAGE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 COMBINED TRANSPORT AND DISPLAY PACKAGE The present invention relates generally to packaging, particularly packaging for use in transporting items or goods, in such a manner that the items or goods are substantially protected against damage, marking, marring or the like during transportation and/or prior to display. More particularly, the present invention relates to packaging and/or a package which is suitable for use in both transporting the items and displaying the items or goods, such as for example, transporting the goods to a department store, supermarket or the like and displaying the goods at the point of sale or similar within the shop.

Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a combined transport and display package having a movable or removable cover portion allowing the package to adopt two different configurations. One of the configurations is a transport configuration in which the items or contents of the package are transported in relative safety by being protected against damage or similar by the packaging, and another of the configurations is a display configuration in which the contents or items contained within the package are presented for display, such as for example, by being displayed for sale at a point of sales location.

The conversion of the package from one configuration to the other configuration is achieved by moving or removing the cover portion with respect to the remainder of the package between one position and another portion.

The present invention finds particular application as a combined transport and display package, having a base portion which is substantially rigid and durable for containing the items or goods within the package, and a movable or removable cover portion for fitting over the base member to protect the contents during transport by forming a substantially closed package, but when the cover is removed from the package, the package is converted to a display configuration in which the items or goods are at least partially exposed \\melbfiles\homeS\susanp\keep\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03 3 for display to potential consumers whilst being retained in the base portion without having to manipulate the base portion further or to adjust it in any way in order for the goods or items to be displayed. Further, one particular application of the combined display and transport package is for transporting photograph albums, picture frames, photograph frames or the like.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to one form of a combined display and transport package, particularly for use with photo albums, it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment or to its use with photo albums, but rather, the scope of the present invention is more extensive so as to include other forms and arrangements of the package and to other uses of the various forms and arrangements of the packages, and containing items other than photo albums.

Goods are often transported in packages which are then used to display the goods. Such packages typically include food packages, consumer products, or general goods of a type which can be displayed in supermarkets, department stores, specialty shops or the like. The packages allow access to the goods located within the package and/or provide for easy dispensing of the goods from the package. Usually, the packages are in the form of a sealed box, carton or the like, particularly made from cardboard, or similar material, in which part of the box, carton or the like must be removed to convert the package into a display container or similar. Usually, the part of the package that is to be discarded is removed by cutting along the edges of a defined panel or part to be removed with a suitable knife, such as a Stanly knife, box cutter, or similar implement. Cutting in this manner has a tendency to damage the contents of the package or to mar the surface of the contents of the package, which detracts from the saleability of the products being displayed.

Further, removing part of the carton by cutting \melbJ iles \home$\ susanp\ keep\ P4 6213 !JR1.doc 19/06/03 4 usually leaves an unsightly or untidy edge which is often ragged, uneven or the like. Often it is necessary to further trim the exposed edge or edges to even or neaten the cut edges to create a more attractive display or to smooth any uneven edges to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury to shoppers or others when retrieving an item from inside the display carton or when the items are being dispensed through the opening.

Another way of forming a display from a closed package is to push or otherwise force a selected panel or similar from the carton, such as for example, separating an edge of the panel from the carton by pushing one or the other along a line of perforations, a tear line, a perforated line, a line of weakness or the like. Again, this may leave a ragged edge or may not result in complete separation of the panel from the remainder of the carton.

Also, there is a tendency for the carton to tear, particularly if the carton is made from relatively lightweight material, such as thin cardboard. In this event, a knife or similar implement will be required to trim and/or neaten the edges of the display part of the carton or the carton would need to be repaired in order for it to be used to display the goods for sale.

In other packages, after removal of a part of the carton, the remaining parts of the carton often require to be folded, bent, assembled or otherwise manipulated, to form the remaining part of the carton into the display part so as to reveal the contents of the package for display, sale or the like.

Further, another problem of some of the existing packages is that the material from which the package is made needs to be strong, durable and rigid enough to withstand rough treatment and handling during transportation. Thus, the material of the package needs to be relatively heavyweight or substantial in order to protect the contents of the package. However, whilst having the package made from strong material may provide \\mlbfiles\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 URI .doc 19/06/03 5 good protection for the contents of the package, the strength of the material makes it more difficult to cut or otherwise remove a panel or part of the carton when adopting the display configuration. The use of relatively heavyweight material in the manufacture of the package makes it more difficult to either remove part of the carton and/or to manipulate the remaining part of the carton used for display purposes owing to the relative inflexibility of the material.

Thus, many of the existing types of package suffer from one or more disadvantages which include that the contents or products contained in the package may be damaged during transit if lightweight material is used for the package or when cutting a panel or part of the carton to form the display, that converting the package from the transport configuration to the display configuration is time consuming, difficult and/or requires manual dexterity to manipulate parts of the package, particularly if heavyweight material is used for the part or panel of the carton being removed to make the display thereby making it difficult to cut the carton neatly or to assemble it to form the display.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a package which can be used for transportation and for display which is readily converted from the transport configuration to the display configuration with a minimum of cost, effort and time, which package is durable enough to provide adequate protection during transportation and which does not result in damage to the contents of the package, either during transportation or when transforming the package into a display configuration, and which does not require trimming or similar to neaten any rough, ragged, uneven or cut edges of the carton when in the display form.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a package which can be used to both transport and display the goods which, when at the point \\nelb files\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 tJR1.doc 19/06/03 6 of sale, can be readily converted from the transport configuration to the display configuration without the risk of damage to the contents of the package or without having to manipulate the package unnecessarily to form the package into the display configuration, or without having to engage in time wasting manipulation of the package to make it presentable for displaying goods.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combined transport and display package capable of adopting at least two different configurations, one configuration being a transport configuration for transporting items contained in the package, and the other configuration being a display configuration for displaying the items in the package, said package including a base member having at least one retaining element for retaining the items when the package is in the transport configuration and in the display configuration, and a movable or removable cover member for engaging with the base member to form the package when in the transport configuration and for disengaging from the base member when the package is in the display configuration, wherein when the cover member is engaged with the base member, the package is in the transport configuration for transporting the items in the package by forming a substantially closed package for enveloping or containing the items, and when the cover member is .disengaged or removed from the base member, the package adopts a display configuration for displaying the items by forming a partially open package in which the items are retained in the base member, said cover member being readily movable with respect to or removable from the base member, such that when the cover member is moved or removed from the base member, the package is readily converted from the transport configuration to the display configuration revealing the base member in a condition ready for displaying the items without the need to further manipulate the base member unnecessarily.

\\melbfiles\homeS\susanp\keep\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03 7 Typically, the transport configuration is suitable for transporting the items or goods in the package including whilst the package is in transit or storage.

Typically, the display configuration is for displaying the contents of the package at a desired location. Typically, the display configuration involves the base member only, the cover member being removed from covering the base member.

Typically, the package is a carton, box, container or similar. More typically, the package is a sealed package. Even more typically, the package is sealed by the cover member, preferably by the cover member being sealed to the base member by a suitable sealing means. Typically, the sealing means is packaging tape, sealing tape, duct tape or similar.

Typically, the package is a double walled package. More typically, the package is a multi-walled package. Typically, one of the walls of the double walled or multi-walled package is the wall of the base member whereas another wall of the double- or multi- walled package is the wall of the cover member. Typically, the base member is received in the cover member so that corresponding walls of the base member and cover member are in abutting relationship with each other. Even more typically, the package is an open box within an open box.

Even more typically, the openings of the respective boxes are located on different walls or sides of the package.

Typically, the cover member has an open bottom surface or face and the base member has an open top and/or front surface or face.

Typically, the retaining element is a wall element, preferably more than a single wall element. More typically, the wall element is a side wall, a front wall, a rear wall or a combination of such walls. Preferably, the retaining element includes the walls of the base member.

\\melbfiles\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 URl1.doc 19/06/03 8 Typically, the movable or removable cover member is movable from a first position corresponding to closing the package to a second position corresponding to opening the package. More typically, the cover member is removable completely from the base member to expose the open base member and the contents of the base member to display the contents. Even more typically, the package is transformed or converted from the transport configuration to the display configuration by lifting the cover member of the base member and/or removing the cover member.

Typically, the package is made from any suitable materials, such as for example, cardboard including layered cardboard, corrugated cardboard or similar materials including combinations of two or more materials.

More typically, the base member is made from a different grade or strength of material than is the cover member.

Even more typically, the base member is made from stronger or relatively more heavyweight cardboard than is the cover member. Even more typically, the base member is rigid, durable, stronger and/or more substantial than the cover member. Even more typically, the base member provides the majority of strength of the package during transportation.

Typically, the cover member is made from relatively lightweight material, preferably a lighter weight cardboard than is the base member. More typically, the cover member is made from a single layer or has a single layer wall or is of a single wall construction.

More typically, the package retains its structural integrity when the cover member is removed from the package. More typically, the base member supports the contents of the package in both the transport configuration and the display configuration.

Even more typically, a part of the base member is formed from a single wall arrangement, including a wall having one or more sheets, layers or thickness of material, whereas another part of the base member is formed from two or three wall arrangements, including each \\.elb..files\honmeS\susanp\keep\P46213 URi.doc 19/06/03 9 wall being sheets or layers of thickness of cardboard folded one upon the other. Even more typically, part of the base member comprises three wall arrangements, each wall arrangement being of one or more sheets, layers or the like of cardboard material. Even more typically, there is a central layer received within two outer layers or located intermediate two outer layers. More typically, the two outer layers are formed from a single sheet being folded over upon itself. Even more typically, the central layer is connected to one part of the base member, preferably the rear wall element of the base member, and the two outer layers form another part of the base member, preferably one side wall element, more preferably, two side wall elements.

Typically, the base member includes a base element. More typically, the base element is of a single thickness of corrugated cardboard or similar. More typically, the base element is provided with a pair of side elements. More typically, the side elements form the side wall elements. More typically, the side elements are provided with flaps or tabs.

Typically, the pair of side elements are formed as two layers of corrugated cardboard folded over each other. Even more typically, the ends of the inner layers of the side elements are provided with tabs which are received in slots in the base element.

Typically, the rear wall is a single thickness of corrugated cardboard. Typically, the rear wall is provided with two side extension elements. Typically, each side extension element is received within the space between the two side elements on either side of the base member. Typically, there are two side elements located on either side.

Typically, the side walls are substantially triangular in shape. More typically, there is an inner side wall and an outer side wall. Even more typically, the side walls are trapezium-like or trapezoid in shape.

\\melbfiles\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 URi.doc 19/06/03 10 Typically, the package can contain any goods, products or items. More typically, the items are separate and discrete items that can be purchased individually.

Even more typically, the items are photo albums, photo frames, stationery products or accessories or similar.

Typically, there are four, five, six, seven, eight or more photo albums or photo frames to each package.

Typically, the cover member is a substantially hollow parallelepiped or other regularly shaped three dimensional solid. More typically, the cover is an open box. More typically, the cover is made from lightweight corrugated material. Even more typically, the base of the cover member is open. More typically, the cover member is received over the base element so that the combined base element and cover member form a substantially closed package.

Typically, the cover member can be displaced from the base member, or can be removed completely from the base member.

The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top isometric view from one side of one form of the package when in the transport configuration in which the base member is located inside of the cover member; Figure 2 is an underneath view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top isometric view from one side of one form of the base member of the package of the present invention forming the display configuration of the package; Figure 4 is an underneath isometric view of one form of the cover member of the present invention; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing the cover member separated from the base member and the relationship of the cover member and base \\melbfies\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03 11 member; Figure 6 is an isometric in-use view of the package in the process of being converted from the transport configuration to the display configuration by removing the cover member from the base member; and Figure 7 is an in-use view of the package in the display configuration at the point of sale, in which one package is displaying four photo albums and the other two packages are empty.

It is to be noted that in the description of the invention, reference to top, base, side, rear, front and the like is reference to the page when in the normal in use position when the package is in the display configuration and is not meant to be limiting to the scope of the invention in any way. These references are provided for ease of understanding.

In the drawings, there is shown one form of the package of the present invention, in the form of a carton, generally denoted as 2, including a base portion 4 and a cover portion 6. In Figure 1, the carton is in the transport configuration in which the base portion 4 is received within the cover portion 6 to form a substantially closed package for transporting the contents of the package in such a manner to protect the contents against damage during transit and storage and to protect the walls of the base member against damage, such as by marking, disfigurement or the like. Thus, the cover portion forms the top and the outer four side walls of the package, whereas the base member forms the base of the package when in the transport configuration.

With particular reference to Figure 3, one form of the base portion 4 will now be described in detail. In this embodiment, base portion 4 is made from a blank of a single sheet of relatively heavy weight or moderate weight corrugated cardboard, which is of sufficient strength, rigidity and durability to support the contents of the package during transportation and display and to resist \\melbfiles\homeS\susanp\keep\P46213 IRdoc 19/06/03 12 deformation during transit. However, it is to be noted that any suitable material may be used to form the package including plastics materials, wood and timber, paper and cardboard, including both natural and synthetic materials and combination of different materials.

The blank is bent, folded or otherwise assembled to adopt the substantially open-top structure having two trapezium-like side walls, a high back wall and a low front wall, as shown particularly in Figure 3. Base member 4 comprises base panel 10 forming the bottom of the base member 4. Base panel 10 is formed from a single thickness of the corrugated cardboard. It is to be noted that the type and thickness of cardboard is chosen to satisfy all the demands. As shown more particularly in Figure 2, base panel 10 is provided with slots 12a, b, c, d, e and f located in pairs at spaced apart locations around the perimeter of the base 10 for receiving respective tabs of the walls of the base member during assembly of the base portion. Slots 12a, b are located along one side of the base panel 10 whereas slots 12c, d are located along the front of the base panel 10 and slots 12e, f are located along the other side of base panel The front of the base is provided with the low wall. A rear wall 14 extends upwardly from the rear edge of base panel 10 to form the rear wall of the base member 4.

Turning now to Figure 3 in particular rear wall 14 is formed of a single thickness of cardboard and is provided with a pair of substantially triangular shaped or trapezium shaped side extensions 16 at either side which extend from either side edge of the rear wall 14. Each side extension is bent or folded through about 900 along the side edges of rear wall 14. The forwardly directed end of each side extension 16 is provided with a flap (not shown), to assist in forming and retaining the blank into the finished shape of the base member 4 (to be described in more detail later in this specification).

The base member 4 is provided with two side walls eb~files\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 tLRl.doc 19/06/03 13 18 located on either side of rear wall 14. The two side walls 18 are identical, but are arranged as mirror images of. each other. Each side wall extends upwardly from the side edges of base panel 10. Substantially triangular side wall 18 is formed from a generally square or rectangular sheet of cardboard being folded along a pair of closely spaced apart diagonally extending fold lines which extend between opposed diagonal corners. The pair of spaced apart substantially parallel fold lines form the top edges 20a, 20b of side wall 18 and are spaced apart from each other at about the thickness of the side extension 16 extending from rear wall 14. Edge 20a forms the outer top edge of wall 18, whereas edge 20b forms the inner edge of wall 18. The fold lines extend from corner 22 located at the rear of wall 18 adjacent rear wall 14 to corner 24 located at the front of wall 18 adjacent the front wall, as shown in Figure 3. When the upper part of the side portion is folded over the lower part of the side portion along fold lines 20, the single layer of cardboard is formed into two generally triangular sections, thereby forming the double thickness wall 18 by one triangular section being folded over and superimposing over the other triangular section. The two triangular sections form the inner panel 18a and outer panel 18b respectively of the side wall 18 at either side of the package. In use, the outer and inner panels 18a, 18b of the side wall 18 are spaced apart by the distance between the two fold lines so that the side extension 16 extending from the rear wall 14 can be received in the space between the two folded over portions 18a, 18b of the side wall, as shown in the fragmentary portion of Figure 3, ie., side extension 16 is located between inner wall panel 18a and outer wall panel 18b thereby forming the triple thickness side wall 18.

The outer panel 18b of the side wall is provided with a flap or tab 28 which extends from the forwardly directed end thereof. Flap or tab 28, in use, is aligned against the flap or tab (not shown) of the rear of front \\elb fi1es\hom~e$\susanp\keeP\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03 14 wall 30 to assist in forming the blank into the finished shape of base member 4 and retaining the base member in this shape (to be described in more detail later in this specification) two spaced apart tabs(note shown) are located along the lower edge in use of the inner wall panel 18a for being received in slots 12a, 12b on one side of the base member 4.

A similar arrangement of a second pair of tabs 26e, 26f is provided along the lower edge in use of the other side wall on the other side of base member 4 for being received in slots 12e, 12f, as shown in Figure 3.

Owing to the folded over construction of both side walls, the sides of base member 4 are formed as triple thickness layers being inner panel 18a, side extension 16 and outer panel 18b.

The front wall arrangement of base member 4 will now be described. The front wall 30 of base member 4 is formed by folding a single layer of cardboard extending from the front edge of base panel 10 into two layers to form an outer front wall portion 30a and an inner front wall portion 30b. The inner and outer front wall portions 30b are formed by folding along a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel fold lines which form the inner and outer top edge 32a, b respectively of front wall 30. The inner and outer front wall portions 30a, 30b are folded about the pair of spaced apart fold lines so that the two wall portions 30a, 30b are spaced apart from each other to the thickness of the tab 28 of side wall 18 which is received in between the two walls 30a, 30b. Thus, the front wall 30 is a triple thickness wall of outer front wall portion 30a, flap 28 and inner front wall portion as shown in the fragmentary portion of the front wall of Figure 3. The lower edge in use of the inner front wall portion 30b is provided with a pair of spaced apart tabs (not shown) for being received in slots 12c, 12d formed along the front edge of base panel 10. Thus, the triple wall thickness forming the low front wall of the \\nelb_files\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 URI.doc 19/06/03 15 package and the base of the package are retained in place.

Owing to the use of a combination of single thickness base and rear wall portions and triple thickness layers of the side walls and front wall, the base member 4 is durable, rigid and strong enough to support contents within the base member during use of a carton made from the base member and is retained in this shape by the respective tabs being received in slots 12.

Turning now to the cover portion, with particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown one form of the cover portion being a box arrangement having an open face 40 which in use is the lower surface of the cover.

The cover 6 is formed from a lighter weight material than the base member 4. Cover 6 is provided with a front wall 42, a rear wall 44 and two side walls 46a, b as well as a top portion 48. The top portion 48 is formed as four overlapping flaps 60a, b, c, d as shown in Figure 6 which in use are sealed together as in a conventional carton.

Top 48 forms the top of carton 2 when in the transport configuration.

In use of the combined package of the present invention, the base member 4 is formed from a suitable blank by folding and assembling the blank into the assembly as shown particularly in Figures 3 and Contents of the package are added to the base member 4 with the side walls of the base member retaining the contents in place. In one embodiment, a number of photo albums are added to the base member 4. Typically, four photo albums are added to the base member as shown in Figure 7 with the side walls 18 and the front and rear walls retaining the albums in place in the base.

The cover member 6 in the assembled form, as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5, is placed over base member 4 in alignment so that the walls of the base member are received in abutting relationship with the walls of the cover member to form the carton 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus, the front and side walls of the carton \\melb_files\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 URI.doc 19/06/03 16 have four thicknesses where as the rear wall is of two thicknesses. Cover member 6 may be sealed to base member 4 in any suitable manner, such as for example, by sealing tape, packaging tape or the like between the underside of base panel 10 and the lower portions of the walls 42, 44, 46a, 46b of cover 6. It is to be noted that cover 6 provides protection for the contents of the package, and also assists in strengthening the package when in the transport configuration by providing another thickness or layer to the walls of the base member, as well as protecting the base member 4 during transit and storage.

When the package has been transported to the location at which the contents of the package are to be displayed, the sealing or packaging tape is cut or otherwise severed so that the cover 6 may be readily removed from the base member 4 by lifting the cover off the base member as shown in Figure 6. Although Figure 6 shows the cover member with the top 48 in an open configuration, with the four flaps 60a, 60b, 60c and in an open position it is to be noted that the cover member 6 is usually removed in a sealed configuration, as shown in Figure 5, with top 48 in a closed position so that all four flaps 60a, b, c, d are folded upon themselves as shown in Figures 1 and Removal of the cover member 6 reveals the base member 4, together with its contents. The base member may be located at the point of sale, such as for example, on shelves 50 or similar, as shown in Figure 7. Apart from removing cover member 6 from base member 4 and locating the base member at the desired location, there is no other manipulation of the base member required, such as for example, it is not necessary that the package be cut or folded before the contents of the package can be displayed. Simple removal of the cover is all that is required and the package is ready for display. As the walls of the cover member 6 cover the walls of the base member, the walls of the base member are protected from \melb..files \home$\ susanp\ keep\ P4 6213 tlRI.doc 19/06/03 17 damage or marking during transportation so that they present a fresh and clean appearance when being displayed by the removal of the cover. Additionally, the edges are clean and even, particularly the folded over edges of the front and side walls.

Advantages of the present invention include that the one package may be used for transportation and for display, the display portion of the package arrives at the final destination in a clean and unmarked condition so that it can be displayed without further modification, cleaning or the like. The conversion of the package from the transportation configuration to the display configuration can be simply achieved by merely removing the cover in the form of an open box. Therefore, no folding, cutting or assembly of the display part of the carton is required in order to display the contents.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the package can be readily stacked one upon the other for transportation and/or storage owing to the construction of the package because of the relatively rigid and strong display portion of the package. If the package is provided with nesting means, the package can be stacked in a nested configuration or similar which assists in transporting the package.

The package is strong enough to resist damage by rough handling during transportation, storage or the like.

The described arrangement has been advanced by explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described.

It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.

\\melbfiles\home$\susanp\keep\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03

Claims (41)

1. A combined transport and display package capable of adopting at least two different configurations, one configuration being a transport configuration for transporting items contained in the package, and the other configuration being a display configuration for displaying the items in the package, said package including a base member having at least one retaining element for retaining the items when the package is in the transport configuration and when in the display configuration, and a movable or removable cover member for engaging with the base member to form the package when in the transport configuration and for disengaging from the base member when the package is in the display configuration, wherein when the cover member is engaged with the base member, the package adopts the transport configuration for transporting the items in the package by forming a substantially closed package for enveloping the items, and when the cover member is disengaged from the base member, the package adopts a display configuration for displaying the items by forming a partially open package in which the items are retained in the base member, said cover member being readily movable with respect to or removable from the base member, such that when the cover member is moved or removed from the base member, the package is readily converted from the transport configuration to the display configuration revealing the base member in a condition ready for displaying the items without the need to further manipulate the base member unnecessarily.

2. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the cover member is removed from the base member to convert the package from the transport configuration to the display configuration.

3. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the package is in the form of a carton, box, container or similar. \\melb-files\home\susaip\keep\P46213 URi.doc 19/06/03 19

4. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the package is closed by the cover member being received over the base member.

A package according to any preceding claim, in which the cover member is sealed to the base member by a sealing means, preferably a sealing tape, packaging tape or the like.

6. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the package is a double-walled package or multi- walled package or a combination of a mutli- or double- walled package.

7. A package according to any preceding claim, in which one of the walls of the double- or multi- walled package is a wall of the base member, whereas another wall of the package is a wall of the cover member, wherein the two walls are located in side-by-side relationship.

8. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base member is received in the cover member so that the corresponding walls of the base member and cover member are in abutting relationship with each other thereby contributing to the strength and/or rigidity and/or structural integrity of the package.

9. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the package is in the form of an open box located within an open box, preferably with the openings of the respective boxes not in alignment or correspondence with each other.

A package according to any preceding claim, in which the respective openings of the boxes forming the open boxes are located on different walls or sides of the package.

11. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the cover member has an open bottom surface of face in use and the base member has an open top or face and/or partially open front surface or face in use.

12. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the retaining element is a wall element, preferably \\mlb-files\home\su~sanp\keep\P46213 tlRI.doc 19/06/03 20 a side wall element, a front wall element, a rear wall element or a combination of two or more wall elements that cooperate with each other to retain the items in the package so as to prevent the items from substantially moving during transport of the package.

13. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the retaining element includes the walls of the base member so that items are located and retained in place by the walls of the base member.

14. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the movable or removable cover member is movable from a first position corresponding to closing the package to a second position corresponding to opening the package, said open package corresponding to the package being in the display configuration.

A package according to any preceding claim, in which the cover member is removable from the base member so as to expose the open base member and the contents of the base member, in order to display the contents when the package is in the display configuration.

16. A package according to any preceding claim, in which movement of the cover member converts the package from the transport configuration to the display configuration.

17. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the package is made from cardboard, including layered cardboard, corrugated cardboard or similar materials, including combinations of two or more materials.

18. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base member is made from a different grade or strength or type of material than is the cover member.

19. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base member is made from stronger, thicker or relatively more heavyweight cardboard than is the cover member.

A package according to any preceding claim, in \\.elb..fies\ho~e$\susanp\keep\P46213 UI.doc 19/06/03 21 which the base member is rigid, durable, stronger and/or more substantial than the cover member so as to provide the majority of strength to the package during transportation and when the package is in the display configuration.

21. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the cover member is made substantially from a single layer, or has a single layer wall, or is of a single wall construction apart from the top surface face in use which has at least a partially overlap portion of two or more thicknesses.

22. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base member supports the contents of the package when the package is in both the transport configuration and in the display configuration.

23. A package according to any preceding claim, in which a first part of the base member is formed as a single wall arrangement and a second part of the base member is formed had a double- or multi- wall portion, including a wall having one or more sheets, layers or thicknesses of material, or another part of the base member being formed from two or three wall arrangements, including each wall being sheets or layers of thickness of cardboard folded one upon the other.

24. A package according to any preceding claim, in which part of the base member comprises a triple- wall portion wherein each wall arrangement includes one or more sheets, layers or panels of material.

A package according to any preceding claim, in which there is a central layer received within two outer layers wherein the central layer is an extension of a different wall member to the two outer layers.

26. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the two outer layers are formed from a single sheet being folded over upon itself.

27. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the central layer is connected to one part of the \\melb fies\home$\susanIp\keep\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03 22 base member, preferably the rear wall element of the base member, and the two outer layers form another part of the base member, preferably one side wall element, and more preferably, two side wall elements.

28. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base member includes a base element, preferably of a single thickness of material, such as corrugated cardboard or similar.

29. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base element is provided with a pair of side elements which form the side wall elements of the base member.

A package according to any preceding claim, in which the side elements are provided with flaps, tabs, flanges, or protrusions.

31. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the pair of side elements are each formed as two layers folded one upon the other, forming an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the ends of the inner layers of the side elements are provided with tabs which are received in slots in the base element.

32. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the rear wall is provided with two side extension elements, wherein each side extension element is received within the space between the two side elements on either side of the base member.

33. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the side walls are substantially triangular in shape or trapezium-like or trapezoidal in shape.

34. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the cover member is a substantially hollow to parallel epiped or other regularly-shaped hollow arrangement having at least one open wall.

A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base member is an open top box arrangement having at least a top surface which is open and a front surface which is partially open, and in which the cover \\melb-files\homeS\susanp\keep\P46213 URIdoc 19/06/03 23 portion is an open box arrangement having an open base, said cover member and base member being arranged with respect to each other so that the open top base member is located inside the open base cover member, so that the open base of the cover portion is closed by the base of the base member, and the closed top portion of the cover member closes the open top and partial open front of the base member to form the package in the transport configuration so as to protect the contents of the package.

36. A package according to any preceding claim, in which the base member includes a base element having a side wall extension and a side wall element in which the side wall element is folded into two portions along a fold line to form a double wall arrangement in which the two wall portions are spaced apart from each other, said side wall extension and the side wall elements being arranged so that the side extension element is received in the gap or space between the two spaced apart wall portions in order to form a side wall of the base member.

37. A method of displaying items of a package including the steps of moving or removing a cover member from a base member so as to at least partially expose the contents of the package wherein the package is a package in accordance with any preceding claim.

38. A method of converting a package from a transport configuration to a display configuration including the step of moving or removing a cover member from a base member in accordance with any preceding claim.

39. A combined transport and display package substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A method of displaying items of a package substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

41. A method of converting a package from a transport configuration to a display configuration substantially as \\m~ebfiles\honmeS\susanp\keep\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03 24 herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 19th day of June 2003 UR1 Interntional Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia \\melb-files\homeS\susanp\keep\P46213 UR1.doc 19/06/03