GB2488143A

GB2488143A - Stackable snack food display module in the form of a tray with collapsible sidewalls

Info

Publication number: GB2488143A
Application number: GB1102764.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guluzar Unlu; Yelda Odabasi; Aleks Kesapyan
Original assignee: Frito Lay Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Frito Lay Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2011-02-17
Filing date: 2011-02-17
Publication date: 2012-08-22
Also published as: TR201113010A2; TR201107876U; GB201102764D0; WO2012110571A1

Abstract

A module 2 of a display unit [61, Fig. 6] for displaying snack foods, the module comprising a central tray element 4 having: opposite ends; opposite sides; end wall elements 14,16 each hingedly attached to a respective end of the tray element; and side wall elements 16,18 each hingedly attached to a respective side of the tray element, the end and side elements being hingedly rotatable from a flat configuration [see Fig. 1], substantially coplanar with the tray element, to an assembled configuration in which the end and side elements are interconnected at adjacent edges of alternating end and side elements to form an upstanding peripheral wall 56 surrounding the tray element, the adjacent edges having mutually cooperating interlocking parts [e.g. lugs 34 and openings 40, Figure 1] to retain the module in the assembled configuration, an upper portion of the peripheral wall 56 having a first fitment, e.g. cavities 48, and a lower part of the module in the assembled configuration having a second fitment, e.g. feet 42, the first and second fitments of respective modules being adapted to fit together two modules in a stacked assembly. Preferably, the lower fitments of the tray comprise a pair of feet integrally formed on each of the side elements 14,16. When the module is in a flat configuration, the feet 42 are received in notches 46 formed in the central tray 4, [see Fig. 1]. The feet 42 are rotated out of the notch 36 when the side elements 14,16 are rotated upwardly to the assembled configuration.

Description

DISPLAY UNIT

This invention relates to a display unit, for example for displaying snack foods, such as bags of potato chips, at the point of sale.

It has been well known for many years for various consumer products to be displayed at the point of sale in individual display units which attract the consumer and temporarily hold or contain the products in a secure manner for optimal presentation to the consumer.

Such display units are often cumbersome, difficult to erect and/or unstable. They may also be rather expensive to manufacture, and have low versatility in use.

The invention aims to provide an improved display unit, and in particular a display unit formed from a plurality of stacked modules, which can at least partially overcome these problems of known display units. The display unit may be adapted to display particular products, for example snack foods at the point of sale.

The present invention accordingly provides a module of a display unit for displaying snack foods, the module comprising a central tray element having opposite ends and opposite sides, a plurality of end elements, each end element being hingedly attached to a respective end of the tray element and a plurality of side elements, each side clement being hingedly attached to a respective side of the tray element, the end and side elements being hingedly rotatable from a substantially flat configuration of the module, in which the end and side elements are substantially coplanar with the tray element, to an assembled configuration of the module in which the end and side elements are mutually interconnected at adjacent edges of alternating end and side elements to form an upstanding peripheral wall surrounding the tray element, the adjacent edges having mutually cooperating interlocking parts to retain the module in the assembled configuration, an upper portion of the peripheral wall having a first fitment and a lower part of the module in the assembled configuration having a second fitment, the first and second fitments of respective modules being adapted to fit together two modules in a stacked assembly.

Preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

The present inventors have devised a module which can be formed from a single injection moulding, and can easily be erected from a flat transport configuration to form a stackable walled tray. Such trays may be stacked together to form a multi-tiered display unit which is securely fitted together, robust and stable. The module is inexpensive to manufacture, and has a high versatility in use since a selected number of trays may be stacked together, An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a module of a display unit for displaying snack foods according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the module being in a first unassembled configuration; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the module of Figure 1 in a second partly-assembled configuration; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the module of Figure 1 in a third fully-assembled configuration; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a display unit formed from a stack of the modules of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a wall portion for fitting to the module of Figure 1 or the display unit of Figure 4.

An embodiment of a module of a display unit, and a display unit formed from a stack of the modules, suitable for displaying snack foods, according to an embodiment of the present invention are illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

The module 2 comprises a central tray element 4, which is substantially planar. The tray element 4 may include a lattice structure having an array of through holes for reduced weight and material saving. The tray element 4 is typically rectangular and has opposite ends 6, 8 and opposite sides 10, 12. An end element 14, 16 is hingedly attached to each respective end 6, 8 of the tray element 4. A side element 18, 20 is hingedly attached to each respective side 22, 24 of the tray clement 4. The end elements 14, 16 and the side elements 18, 20 are hingedly fitted to the tray element 4 by a plurality of integral living hinges 26, 28, 30, 32.

Each side clement 18, 20 has a respective lug 34 on each of the respective opposed edges 36, 38 thereof Each end element 14, 16 has a respective opening 40 on each of the respective edges 41, 43 thereof The lugs 34 and openings 40 are integrally mouldcd with respective side elements 18, 20 and end elements 14, 16. Each lug 34 is adapted to snap-fit into the opening 40 of the adjacent end element 14, 16 when the module 2 is assembled, The lugs 34 and openings 40 form mutually cooperating interlocking parts to retain the module 2 in the assembled configuration, Each end element 14, 16 has a pair of feet 42 integral with the respective end element 14, 16. For each pair of feet 42, the feet 42 arc located along a lower part 44 of the end clement 14, l6at opposite ends of a respective hinge 26, 28 between the respective end element 14, 16 and the tray element 4, When the module 2 is in the substantially flat configuration as illustrated in Figure 1, each foot 42 is movably received in a respective notch 46 formed in a respective end 6, 8 of the tray element 4.

Rotation of the end elements 14, 16 from the substantially flat configuration to the assembled configuration causes each foot 42 to be rotated out of the respective notch 46 so as to extend downwardly below the tray element 4, as shown in Figure 3, Each end element 14, 16 also has a pair of cavities 48 located along and integral with an upper part 50 of the end element 14, 16, Each upper cavity 48 is aligned with a respective lower foot 42. Each cavity 48 is adapted to receive a foot 42 in a snap-fitting connection.

One of the side elements 18 includes an integral handle portion 52 including a slot 54 for receiving a hand of a user.

The lugs 34, openings 40, feet 42, and cavities 48 are integrally moulded with the end and side elements 14, 16, 18, 20. The end and side elements 14, 16, 18, 20 are connected to the tray element 4 by the integral living hinges 26, 28, 30, 32. Accordingly, the module 2 preferably comprises a single injection moulding of polymeric material incorporating the central tray element 14, the end and side elements 14, 16, 18, 20, the hinges between the central tray element 4 and the end and side elements 14, 16, 18, 20, the mutually cooperating interlocking lugs 34 and openings 40, and the feet 42 and cavities 48.

The end elements 14, 16 and the side elements 18, 20 are hingedly rotatable from a substantially flat configuration of the module 2, illustrated in Figure 1, in which the end elements 14, 16 and the side elements 18, 20 are substantially coplanar with the tray element 4, to an assembled configuration of the module 2, illustrated in Figure 3. The flat configuration is for transport, and the assembled configuration is for use when displaying products such as snack foods in a display unit at the point of sale, the products being supported by the trays. The flat configuration is typically transported to warehouses/depots, for example by the manufacturer or distributor of the products, where then erected modules may be formed and optionally contain products displayed therein, to an end user, such as a retailer, or transported directly to the end user, such as a retailer.

During assembly, initially the side elements 18, 20 are rotated upwardly so as to be substantially orthogonal to the tray element 4, as shown in Figure 2. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 3, the end elements 14, 16 are rotated upwardly so as to be substantially orthogonal to the tray element 4, and each lug 34 is snap-fitted into the opening 40 of the adjacent end element 14, 16. In the assembled configuration, the end elements 14, 16 and the side elements 18, 20 are therefore mutually interconnected at adjacent edges of the alternating end elements 14, 16 and side elements 18, 20 by the interlocking lugs 34 and openings 40 to form an upstanding peripheral wall 56 surrounding the tray element 4. The interlocking lugs 34 and openings 40 retain the module 2 in the assembled configuration.

The assembled module 2 may readily be lifted manually using the handle portion 52.

When the end elements 14, 16 are rotated upwardly, each foot 42 is rotated out of the respective notch 46 so as to extend downwardly below the tray element 4. This forms an array of feet 42 for the module 2, The feet 42 comprise a lower fitment 58 in a lower part of the module 2 in the assembled configuration. The cavities 48 comprise an upper fitment 60 in an upper part of the module 2, in particular an upper portion of the peripheral wall 56 in the assembled configuration. The lower fitment 58 and upper fitment 60 are adapted to fit together two modules 2 in a stacked assembly by snap-fitting of the feet 42 of an upper module 2 into the cavities 58 of a lower module 2. This fits together two modules in a stacked assembly to form a display unit 62, as shown in Figure 4. Additional modules 2 may be stacked onto the upper module, as shown in Figure 4 which illustrates a stack of three modules 2. The display unit 62 may comprise any desired number of modules. In addition, a single module may be used as a display unit.

In the display unit 62, the upper edges of the end elements 14, 16 may be extended in height, to assist the display of larger products, by snap-fitting feet 64 of an upwardly extending wall portion 66, as illustrated in Figure 5, into the exposed cavities 48 of the respective end element 14, 16.

The modules may readily be disassembled when required.

Various modifications to the illustrated embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A module of a display unit for displaying snack foods, the module comprising a central tray element having opposite ends and opposite sides, a plurality of end elements, each end element being hingedly attached to a respective end of the tray element and a plurality of side elements, each side element being hingedly attached to a respective side of the tray element, the end and side elements being hingedly rotatable from a substantially flat configuration of the module, in which the end and side elements are substantially coplanar with the tray element, to an assembled configuration of the module in which the end and side elements are mutually interconnected at adjacent edges of alternating end and side elements to form an upstanding peripheral wall surrounding the tray element, the adjacent edges having mutually cooperating interlocking parts to retain the module in the assembled configuration, an upper portion of the peripheral wall having a first fitment and a lower part of the module in the assembled configuration having a second fitment, the first and second fitments of respective modules being adapted to fit together two modules in a stacked assembly.
2. A module according to claim 1, wherein the second fitment comprises a plurality of feet depending downwardly from the module in the assembled configuration and the second fitment comprises a plurality of cavities in an upper edge of the peripheral wall, each cavity being adapted to receive a respective foot.
3. A module according to claim 2, wherein each foot is integral with an end element and, in the substantially flat configuration, is received in a notch formed in a respective end of the tray element,
4. A module according to claim 3, wherein rotation of the end elements from the substantially flat configuration to the assembled configuration causes each foot to be rotated out of a respective notch so as to extend downwardly below the tray element.
5. A module according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each end element includes a pair of the feet.
6. A module according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein each foot is adapted to be snap-fitted into a respective cavity of a lower module in the stacked assembly.
7. A module according to any foregoing claim, wherein the mutually cooperating interlocking parts comprise a lug and an opening for receiving the lug in a snap-fit.
8, A module according to any claim 7, wherein each side element has a respective lug on each of the respective opposed edges thereof and each end element has a respective opening on each of the respective opposed edges thereof
9. A module according to any foregoing claim, wherein the end and side elements are hingedly attached to the central tray element by a plurality of integral living hinges.
10. A module according to any foregoing claim, wherein the mutually cooperating interlocking parts are integrally moulded with the end and side elements.
11. A module according to any foregoing claim, wherein the first and second fitments are integrally moulded with the end and side elements,
12. A module according to any foregoing claim, comprising a single injection moulding of polymeric material incorporating the central tray element, the end and side elements, hinges between the central tray element and the end and side elements, the mutually cooperating interlocking parts and the first and second fitments.
13. A module according to any foregoing claim, wherein one of the side elements includes an integral handle portion including a slot for receiving a hand of a user.
14. A display unit comprising a vertically stacked assembly of a plurality of modules according to any foregoing claim, the second fitment of an upper module of the stack being fitted to a first fitment of a lower part of the stack.