GB2329890A

GB2329890A - Collapsible storage and display container

Info

Publication number: GB2329890A
Application number: GB9720833A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Mcdonald; Christopher Dunn
Original assignee: Linpac Containers International Ltd
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-02
Filing date: 1997-10-02
Publication date: 1999-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-02
Also published as: GB9720833D0; GB2329890B

Abstract

A collapsible storage and display container 1 comprises a foldable circular or polygonal tubular body 2 with a plurality of shelves 3, the body and shelves being creased 32,33 and assembled together such that the container can be erected from the collapsed condition into an erected condition in which the shelves lie in planes normal to the longitudinal axis of the body. Apertures are provided in the body allowing access to the shelves and at least one elongated operator (101,102 fig.5) may be provided to aid collapsing/erecting of the container, said operator(s) having notches (106 fig.5) to engage with generally diamond shaped apertures (35 fig. 4) in at least one of the lower shelves, the elongated operator(s) being attached to the underside of the top shelf. The container body, shelves and operator(s) are formed individually from blanks and assembled as a unitary structure. The container provides for quick and easy erecting and collapse for use at a 'point of sale'.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE AND DISPLAY CONTAINER DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a collapsible storage and display container for use at point-of-sale and of the type comprising an outer tubular body in which is supported a plurality of tiered shelves upon which articles at, say, point-of-sale, can be supported for storage and display purposes, the outer body of the container having, in a wall thereof, a plurality of apertures which are coincident with respective ones of the shelves and which permit access to the articles supported and displayed thereon.

Known point-of-sale, storage and display containers of this type are usually supplied for use at point-of-sale as a "kit of parts" which need to be assembled to form the finally-erected containers, resulting in the need for careful assembly of the component parts and, as a consequence, comparatively high labour costs. Also, when these known types of storage and display container are not in use at pointof-sale, they require comparatively large areas of storage space, because they cannot be collapsed into a reasonable size for storage purposes.

Alternatively, they have to be disassembled for storage purposes, again involving time and labour costs.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially reduce, the disadvantages associated with the known types of storage and display container discussed above, whilst also providing a point-of-sale, storage and display container which can be erected and collapsed with ease and, if required, stored and/or transported in a collapsed, generally flat condition.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a storage and display container for use at point-ofsale, which, in an erected condition, comprises an outer, generally tubular body and a plurality of shelves which are spaced along the length of the interior of the generally tubular body and lie in respective generally parallel planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the body and shelves are creased and assembled together such that the container can be folded down from the erected condition into a collapsed condition.

Preferably, the folded-down body and shelves lie in respective generally parallel planes when the container is in its collapsed condition, particularly when it is compressed into a generally flat condition, for example, when a plurality of collapsed containers are stacked one upon the other.

Another aspect of the invention resides in a storage and display container for use at point-ofsale, which, in a collapsed condition, comprises a folded body and a plurality of folded shelves spaced along the interior thereof, wherein the body and shelves are creased and assembled together such that the container can be erected from the collapsed condition into an erected condition in which the body is generally tubular and in which the shelves lie in respective generally parallel planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the generally tubular body.

With respect to the folded body and shelves, when the container is in its collapsed condition, the term "generally parallel planes" is used to embrace not only planes which are exactly or substantially parallel but also planes which are inclined at acute angles to each other, for example, acute angles lying in the range of, say 5" to 60".

Thus, the respective planes of the two folded halves of a folded-down shelf could be inclined at up to, say, 60 to each other, that is to say, with the plane of each folded half of a shelf being inclined at an angle of up to, say, 30 to a plane which extends laterally of the folded-down body and in which the axis of the body lies. As a result, the plane of each folded half of a shelf may be inclined at an angle of up to, say, 30 to the axis of the folded down body and to the planes of the front and rear walls of the collapsed container. Preferably, however, the collapsed containers can be compressed such that the planes in which the folded shelves and body lie, are substantially parallel, particularly when a plurality of such containers are stacked one upon the other for, say, storage and/or transportation purposes.

A container in accordance with the first or second aspect of the invention, as defined above, preferably includes at least one elongate operator which extends axially along the interior of the erected or collapsed container, as the case may be, and which is engaged operably with at least one of the shelves, to assist in not only collapsing or erection of the container but also supporting said at least one shelf in substantially normal relationship with respect to the tubular body of the erected container.

In a preferred embodiment of inventive storage and display container to be described in more detail hereinbelow, two such operators are provided on respective opposed sides of the body interior and extending axially thereof.

The or each elongate operator is preferably provided with one or more notches which are spaced along the length of the operator at a position or positions corresponding substantially with that or those of the shelf or shelves with which it is engageable operably. The or each shelf with which the operator is so-engaged, may also be provided with a corresponding notch or like feature, such as, an aperture, cooperable with the notch or respective notches of the associated operator(s).

Opposed edges of the or each shelf may be secured, for example, by adhesion, to corresponding opposed walls, preferably front and rear walls of the body, with the other opposed edges of the shelf or shelves being able to move freely of the corresponding adjacent walls of the body during collapse and erection of the container. In this case, the or each shelf may be provided with a generally diametric crease which extends between those freely movable, opposed walls and about which the or each shelf is foldable during erection and collapse of the container.

The body and shelves of the inventive container may be of any suitable cross-section, for example, polygonal or circular, the preferred embodiment of container to be described hereinbelow having a hexagonal cross-section. The components of the inventive container, for example, the body, shelves and any operator, may be made of any suitable material which can be cut and creased, so that the container can be collapsed or erected, the material of the preferred embodiment being corrugated cardboard or other fibreboard.

Also, the components of the inventive container can be manufactured and then assembled as a unitary structure, to avoid any separate parts in the assembled container.

A third aspect of the invention resides in at least one blank which is cut and creased such that it can be assembled and/or erected into the tubular body of a container in accordance with the first or second aspect of the invention.

Similarly, a fourth aspect of the invention provides at least one blank which is cut and creased for assembly and/or erection into at least one of the shelves of a container in accordance with the first or second aspect of the invention.

In order that the inventive storage and display container may be more readily understood, a preferred embodiment in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a point-of-sale, storage and display container in an erected condition; Figure 2 is a front view of the erected body of the container shown in Fig 1; Figures 3A and 3B are respective plan views of two blanks from which the container body shown in Figure 2, can be assembled; Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank from which shelves for the container shown in Figure 1, can be cut and assembled; Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank from which two operators for the shelves of the container shown in Figures 1 and 4, can be cut and assembled; and Figure 6 is a perspective view from one end of the container shown in Figure 1 but in a collapsed condition.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a point-of-sale, storage and display container is indicated generally at 1 in its erected condition. The erected container 1 comprises an outer tubular body 2 of generally hexagonal crosssection, with four tiered shelves, an uppermost shelf 3' and three lower shelves 3. The uppermost shelf 3' is slightly different to the three lower shelves 3 which are substantially identical, as will be described hereinbelow. The shelves 3, 3' are spaced equally along the length of the body 2 and lie in respective generally parallel planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the body 2.

Each shelf 3, 3' is supported within the tubular body 2 by means of a pair of opposed flaps 31 of which each has been folded, through a right angle, out of the general plane of the corresponding shelf 3 to 6 about respective creases 31' and is adhered to the inner surface of respective front and rear walls 21, 22 of the body 2.

Each shelf 3, 3' has a generally diametric crease 32 which extends between the junctures of respective pairs of opposed edges of the shelf 3, 3', about which the shelf is foldable in two, those edges being defined by respective creases 33.

Each of those opposed pairs of edge creases 33 has an arcuate flap 34 which is folded at a right angle thereto, out of the general plane of the shelf 3, 3' but which is not attached to the inner surface of the corresponding tubular body side wall 23.

Between each pair of adjacent shelves 3, 3' is provided an aperture 24 in the front wall 21 and, partially, in adjacent side walls 23 of the tabular container body 2. Thus, these apertures 24 are coincident with their respective shelves 3, 3' to provide visibility and access thereto from the front of the container 1.

Respective pairs of opposed arcuate portions 25, 26 of the front wall 21 of the body 2 extending downwardly and upwardly, as well as inwardly of each aperture 24, provide added strength to that front wall 21, assistance in retaining any articles on the shelves 3 3' and a decorative effect for the container 1.

Figure 3A and 3B show respective half-blanks from which the hexagonal tubular body 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2, can be assembled and erected.

The first half-blank shown in Figure 3A comprises a centre and two outer panels 21' and 23, respectively, whilst the second half blank shown in Figure 3B comprises centre and outer panels 22' and 23' respectively.

Adjacent pairs of panels 21' and 23' of the first half blank shown in Figure 3A, are connected by respective creases, whilst a further crease 28' connects one of the panels 23' to a flap 27' extending along the length thereof. Similarly, adjacent pairs of panels 22' and 23' of the second half-blank shown in Figure 3B are connected by respective creases 29 whilst a further crease 29' connects the panel 24' to another flap 27' extending along the length thereof.

On assembly of the two half-blanks shown in Figures 3A and 3B to form the tubular body 2 shown in Figure 2, the flaps 27' are adhered, in conventional manner, to the free edge regions of the respective panels 23' of the two half blanks, after the panels 23' have been folded about respective creases 28, 29 through approximately 60 with respect to the panels 21' and 22'.

Thus, the panel 21' forms the front wall 21 of the assembled and erected container body 2, with the other panels 22' and 23' forming respective rear and side walls 22, 23 of the body 2.

In Figure 4, there is shown a blank cut and creased to form the four shelves 3, 3' of the container 1 shown in Figure 1.

In that blank, each shelf 3, 3' includes the generally diametric crease 33, the pair of opposed rectangular panels 31 for adhering the shelf 3, 3' to the body 2, and corresponding creases 31' and the four arcuate, in this case chordal, flaps 34 and respective creases 33.

The panels 31 and flaps 34 are foldable about their respective creases 31, 33 through 90" out of the general plane of the shelves 3, 3'.

Each of the three lower shelves 3 has a pair of generally diamond-shaped apertures 35 at respective opposed ends of the generally diametric creases 32, these apertures in the assembled container 1 being arranged to receive therein a pair of opposed elongate operators, to be described hereinbelow.

The uppermost shelf 3 includes no such apertures, as the pair of elongate operators are, in the assembled container 1, required only to contact the underside of that shelf 31 or vice versa.

The shelves 3, 3' of the blank shown in Figure 4 are separable from each other for subsequent assembly within the container 1.

A blank, shown in Figure 5, is cut and creased to provide two elongate operators 101, 102 which are separable along a cut 103.

Each operator 101, 102 comprises a pair of elongate parallel panels 103, 105 connected by a crease 106. Spaced along the opposed edges of each operator 101, 102 are three pairs of in-register notches 106, which, when the operators 101, 102 are folded about their respective longitudinal creases 104, are arranged to interengage with respective pairs of diamond-shaped apertures 35 in the three lower shelves 3 of the assembled container 1.

The end 110 of each operator 101, 102 is arranged to contact the underside of the uppermost shelf 3, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

In Figure 6, there is shown the container 1 of Figure 1 but in its collapsed condition, as indicated generally at 1'.

The collapsed container 1' shown in Figure 6 is provided by urging, for example by squeezing, the front and rear walls 21, 22 of the erected container 1 shown in Figure 1, together, such that the side walls 23 move outwardly and the shelves 3, 3' are folded about their respective diagonal creases 32.

During such folding movement, the operators 101, 102, which are engaged operably with the three lower shelves 3, as described above, are moved axially of the tubular body 2 in the direction of the folding uppermost shelf 3', such that the three lowermost shelves 3 are folded in unison with each other. Such axial movement of the operators 101, 102 also assists in the folding of the uppermost shelf 3', due to their contact with the underside thereof.

Because the arcuate flaps 34 of each shelf 3, 3' are not attached to the tubular body 2, the shelves can be folded about their respective diametric creases 32 during collapsing of the erected container 1 shown in Figure 1 into the collapsed container 1' of Figure 6.

Due to the inherent stiffness of the corrugated fibre board from which the container is made, the collapsed container 1' of Figure 6 is shown in its natural collapsed condition, with the side walls 23 and the two halves of the folded-down shelves 3, 3' inclined at an angle of approximately 30 to a plane in which the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 2 lies and which is generally parallel to the respective planes in which the front and rear walls 21, 22 of the body 2 lie.

Thus, the collapsed container 1' of Figure 6 can be compressed, for example, by stacking further collapsed containers 1' upon it, for storage and/or transportation purposes, such that the planes in which the front, rear and side walls 21, 22, 23 of the body 2 and those in which the two halves of each foldeddown shelf 3, 3' lie are, to all intents and purposes, generally parallel with each other.

On erection of the collapsed container 1' into the erected container 1 of Figure 1, the apex of the folded-down uppermost shelf 3', namely, at the juncture of the two halves of that folded-down shelf 3' defined generally by its corresponding diametric crease 32, can be urged axially and inwardly of the folded-down body 2, such that the two operators 101, 102 are moved axially of the body 2 in the same direction. As a consequence, and because the operators 101 102 are contacted by the underside of the folded-down uppermost shelf 3' and, also, are engaged operably with the three lower shelves 3, such axial movement causes the apices of those three shelves 3 to be moved axially of the body 2, again in the same direction and, also, in unison with each other, such that, as the folded-down uppermost shelf 3' unfolds, so do the three lower shelves 3. As each shelf 3, 3' is attached, by means of the adhered panels 31, to the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls 21, 22 of the body 2, this unfolding action urges the front and rear walls 21, 22 apart, with consequential unfolding of the side walls 23, until the shelves 3, 3' are fully unfolded and lie in respective spaced parallel planes which are generally normal to the axis of the now-erected tubular body 2, with the container now in its erected condition, as shown at 1 in Figure 1.

Thus, it is to be appreciated that the invention provides a storage and display container which, for storage and transportation purposes, is provided in a collapsed condition from which it can be erected readily into an erected condition for immediate use.

Similarly, the erected container can be readily folded down into a collapsed condition, and optionally compressed, for storage and transportation purposes.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A storage and display container for use at point-of-sale, which, in an erected condition, comprises an outer, generally tubular body and a plurality of shelves which are spaced along the length of the interior of the generally tubular body and lie in respective generally parallel planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the body and shelves are creased and assembled together such that the container can be folded down from the erected condition into a collapsed condition.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folded-down body and shelves lie in respective generally parallel planes when the container is in its collapsed condition, particularly when it is compressed into a generally flat condition.
3. A storage and display container for use at point-of-sale, which, in a collapsed condition, comprises a folded body and a plurality of folded shelves spaced along the interior thereof wherein the body and shelves are creased and assembled together such that the container can be erected from the collapsed condition into an erected condition in which the body is generally tubular and in which the shelves lie in respective generally parallel planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the generally tubular body.
4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the respective planes of the two folded halves of a folded-down shelf are inclined at up to 60 to each other, with the plane of each folded half of the shelf being inclined at an angle of up to 30 to a plane which extends laterally of the folded-down body and in which the axis of the body lies.
5. A container as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein, in its collapsed condition, the container can be compressed such that the planes in which the folded shelves and body lie, are substantially parallel.
6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim including at least one elongate operator which extends axially along the interior of the erected or collapsed container, as the case may be, and which is engaged operably with at least one of the shelves, to assist in not only collapsing or erection of the container but also supporting said at least one shelf in substantially normal relationship with respect to the tubular body of the erected container.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6 including two said operators provided on respective opposed sides ofthe body interior and extending axially thereof.
8. A container as described in claim 6 or 7, wherein the or each elongate operator is provided with one or more notches which are spaced along the length of the operator at a position or positions corresponding substantially with that or those of the shelf or shelves with which it is engageable operably.
9. A container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the or each shelf with which the operator is so-engaged, is also provided with a corresponding notch or like feature, such as, an aperture, cooperable with the notch or respective notches ofthe associated operator(s).
10. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein opposed edges of the or each shelf are secured, for example, by adhesion, to corresponding opposed walls, preferably front and rear walls of the body, with the other opposed edges of the shelf or shelves being able to move freely of the corresponding adjacent walls of the body during collapse and erection of the container.
11. A container as claimed in class 10, wherein the or each shelf is provided with a generally diametric crease which extends between those freely movable, opposed walls and about which the or each shelf is foldable during erection and collapse of the container.
12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body and shelves of the container are polygonal, circular or hexagonal in cross section.
13. A container as claimed in any preceding claim including an aperture in the front wall ofthe body and between each pair of adjacent shelves.
14. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the components of the container are manufactured and then assembled as a unitary structure.
15. A blank which is cut and creased such that it can be assembled and/or erected into the tubular body of a container as claimed in any preceding claim.
16. A blank which is cut and creased for assembly and/or erection into at least one of the shelves of a container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13.
17. A container or blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.