GB2530339A

GB2530339A - Tilting Packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2530339A
Application number: GB1416701.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Woolass; Jess Elliott; James Day
Original assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-22
Filing date: 2014-09-22
Publication date: 2016-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-22
Also published as: GB201416701D0; GB2530339B

Abstract

Packaging for containing and displaying products on a shelf having a removable section (90, fig 6) and a panel 44 which is reconfigurable to form a ramp whilst the packaging contains products. The removable section (90) and reconfigurable panel 44 allow the packaging, whilst containing products, to be placed in a display configuration and the products held therein to be more visible. Movement initiated by manipulation of the rear portion of the ramp 76 causes the front 78 to become an upright section to form a support for the ramp 44. The ramp 44 slopes downward from the frontward facing panel of the tray toward the rearward facing panel of the tray. The formed ramp 44 has the effect of tilting the boxed products backwards (i.e. toward the rearward facing panel of the tray). Such a tilting, which is preferably at least to an angle of 5 degrees, prevents the products from falling forward when the front most product is removed.

Description

Tilting Packaging The present invention relates to packaging, and in particular, although not exclusively, retail ready packaging which is used both for containing products during transport or shipment and for the display of the products on shelves in supermarkets, other shops, or the like.

It is known to display products for sale in a shop, such as a supermarket, on the shelves within the shop on trays or in boxes. It is desirable for this to be done using the same tray or box packaging that the products were originally delivered in. There is also a developing trend for companies to package their products such that one side of the packaging shows the product in a manner to entice customers to purchase it. Other sides of the packaging then contains more specific product information. There is also a developing trend to display the products in those trays or boxes in an aesthetic manner, such that the labels are facing frontward. Products which have fallen such that their front is no longer visible are less enticing to customers and may affect sales.

Much of the time, the standing up and orienting of products is carried out by an in-store shelf stacker, i.e. an employee who manually orientates the front-most product such that the display label faces outwards. However, in addition to manual arrangements, there is an increasing occurrence of automated arranging, i.e. products that are arranged in a tray or box such that their display label faces outwards. However, there is a problem that when a customer takes a product, the products behind have space to move, this means that the products may slide within the tray or container and the display label may be orientated in a way that is not visible to the customer.

Therefore, there exists a need to provide a tray or box which can itself facilitate the automatic orientation of a front product in a low cost manner, but yet is still suitable for transport, shipment or delivery of the products to the store or the shelf.

The present invention provides a tray for displaying products on a shelf, the tray comprising a plurality of side panels (preferably it is a box with four sides, i.e. the box having a front wall, sidewalls and a rear wall to provide structural rigidity); at least one panel having a reconfigurable section (preferably therein); wherein the tray is reconfigurable whilst containing products, the reconfiguration comprising folding the reconfigurable section to form a ramp. Preferably the ramp is rearwardly facing. This then allows the tray to be sat on a shelf with the fronts of the products in the tray facing forwards, but such that a front end of a panel is elevated relative to rear end thereof, i.e. the rear of the base, within the tray, so as to tilt the products rearwardly.

The tray can be a box.

The tray can be closed with a lid or it can be open at the top. The lid when provided may be an integral part of the tray or box, or it may be a separate component placed on top of the tray. It may be attached thereto so as to be readily removable therefrom, e.g. by way of tearable perforation lines around the perimeter thereof The tray can have relatively short sides (i.e. an upright dimension in use that is shorter than both the length and width of the tray), or it can be a deeper tray. Preferred embodiments are closed trays -with a lid or top.

When displayed upon the shelf, the tray is orientated such that it comprises a frontward facing panel, a rearward facing panel, a downward facing panel, an upward facing panel and sideward facing panels.

Preferably the reconfigurable section of the tray is narrower than the panel it is formed on.

Preferably the reconfigurable section comprises more than one panel.

Preferably the reconfigurable section comprises at least a part of a downward facing panel, or a base panel, of the tray. It may also comprise at least part of the rearward facing panel -front, rear, back etc. relating to the normal in-use orientations of the box, i.e. once the packaging is prepared for, and in use for, displaying its contents (products) on a shelf in a store.

Preferably the tray is formed from cardboard.

Preferably the tray is formed from a corrugated material. Preferably the corrugations extend along the length of the ramp.

Preferably the tray is formed of a resilient material.

The tray is preferably made from materials typically used for packaging of goods when transported to shops or a supermarket -it will advantageously withstand the typical forms of handling that occur during transport in a delivery lorry or similar. This may include being dropped, stacked on or rubbed against other objects. As such, the material is beneficially resilient to tearing and denting, and yet still lightweight. It is unlikely to be a steel tray.

Preferably the tray has a transport configuration -typically this is a closed configuration in which the lid or top is present. In the transport configuration, the ramp will not have been deployed.

Preferably the material of the tray has been printed I coloured / patterned or otherwise decorated. This increases the aesthetic appearance of the tray to customers when selecting products from within it.

Preferably the tray is prepared for its display configuration by removal of panels or portions of the panels. This is preferably at least part of the front panel, so that when the tray (with its contained products) is placed upon a shelf, at least parts of the front-most product is visible. It might alternatively (or additionally) be a removal of at least a part of at least one of a) the front facing panel, b) one or each side facing panel, c) the rear facing panel, or d) the upward facing panel. This may provide alternative access, or it may be to offer improved access or visibility to the products therein.

The tray may be decorated with decoration that is only visible when the tray is prepared for display, i.e. the decoration may be on internal surfaces of the panels, or may be covered by the lid or a removable cover panel or strip.

The present invention is preferred to be shelf-ready or retail ready packaging, in that it can readily be adapted by a user to grant access to the products contained therein in preferably an aesthetic display condition.

Preferably portions of the packaging to be removed are defined by continuous or discontinuous lines (i.e. perforations or score/cut lines).

The lines may include perforations and also cuts or creases.

Preferably the tray has cut-outs along the lines to enable easier removal of, or easier access to the edges of, removable or reconfigurable sections.

Preferably when first reconfigured the front facing panel of the tray is mostly removed in comparison to the remaining side facing panels.

Preferably when first reconfigured the top facing panel of the tray is mostly removed in comparison to the remaining side facing panels.

Preferably the reconfigurable section does not extend across the full width of its respective side(s) or panel(s) of the tray, i.e. it is delimited between at least one marginal edge of its side(s) or panel(s). It might for example be extending within two panels or two sides (a bottom and back for example, or in both panels or flaps that form one of those sides.

The ramp may be formed internally within the side panel(s) of the tray.

Preferably the tray has a cut-out window within a panel. This allows the viewing of the internals of the tray -such as the product(s) within the tray -when the window is opened. The window may be always open -the pad of the blank that occupied the cut-out is removed, or it may be an openable window -with the pad still present but removable. Usefully the window is located to overlie a part of at least one of the products within the tray that provides useful information -for example it can be serial numbers, product codes, barcodes, or the expiry date of perishables.

It is preferred that the reconfiguration into, and the retention of the tray in, the condition such that a ramp is formed requires no additional fixing materials compared to those comprised therein when the tray is in its transport condition, such as additional glue or separately insertable pegs. An overcentre folding of a leading support of the ramp can achieve that.

Preferably the reconfigurable section is connected to the at least one panel at opposite peripheral ends.

Preferably the side marginal ends forming the sides of the ramp of the reconfigurable section are separable from the panel it is formed within. Preferably the side marginal ends are scored, cut or perforated.

Preferably the reconfigurable section is hinged at both of its connected peripheral ends to a panel. The hinges may be creased, perforated or have a hinge line provided at the line of pivot to enable easy movement, i.e. deployment into the ramp form.

Preferably the reconfigurable section is further creased, perforated or scored between its side marginal ends mostly parallel to the hinges forming at least one further hinge.

Preferably a further hinge is positioned proximal but not juxtaposed to the frontwards facing panel.

Preferably a further hinge is positioned at the junction between two panels forming the reconfigurable section.

Preferably the area of the reconfigurable section bordered by the proximal hinge and junction hinge forms the ramp surface.

Preferably the proximal hinge forms the higher end of the ramp.

Preferably the junction hinge forms the lower end of the ramp.

Preferably the reconfigurable section bordered by the proximal hinge and the hinge of the connected peripheral end of the frontward facing panel forms the upright support for the ramp in its reconfigured form. Note that the upright support need not be vertical but may be at an angle.

Preferably the tray is held in its reconfigured form by the rigidity of the hinges or by the overcentre folding of the leading hinge -it thus being supported there by the weight of the products within the tray.

Preferably the panels may have pre removed cut-outs to help a user to form the ramp without interference of panels -the cut-outs facilitate the access to edges of the ramp, thus facilitating its manipulation into its deployed state.

The present invention also provides a folded blank of sheet material, arranged to form a tray as described above The present invention also provides a stack of such folded blanks.

The present invention also provides an unfolded blank of sheet material, arranged to form a tray as described above.

The present invention also provides a blank for a tray, the blank comprising foldable panels for forming a base and sides of the tray, wherein a part of at least one of the panels comprises a reconfigurable section, the reconfigurable section or sections being for forming an internal ramp for the tray. The tray preferably has any one or more of the above features.

The present invention also provides a method of assembling a tray, and deploying it into a display configuration, the tray being a tray that has a plurality of side panels, a base for sitting on a shelf, and a reconfigurable section, the reconfigurable section being foldable or unfoldable within the tray to convert the tray between a transport configuration and a display configuration, the display configuration involving an internal ramp, the method comprising: providing a blank having panels for forming the base and the side panels of the tray, folding the blank to form the side panels of the tray around the base; and and folding or unfolding the reconfigurable section to form the internal ramp in the tray, the ramp at least in pail extending above the plane of the base of the tray, and rising from a rear part of the tray towaids a front part of the tray.. The ramp is thus rearwardly tilting such that it will tilt products sitting thereon slightly backwards. For example, it may have a 5 to 20 degree tilt.

Preferably the tray is formed from a single blank. Preferably the reconfigurable section is formed from the same blank as the rest of the tray.

Preferably as the blank is folded to form a tray, parts of some of the panels are adhered or otherwise affixed to parts of other panels.

Preferably the affixing together of the panels is achieved through using glue, staples, tape or another means of affixing, as commonly known in the packaging art.

Preferably the tray is filled with products and the products can then be contained in the tray by folding further panels around the products. Preferably those further panels are affixed together so as to form an enclosed tray, or a box, or a tray with a lid.

The panels may comprise closure flaps for forming the lid -they are preferably all integral within the same blank.

Preferably the blank has pre-applied or pre-allocated affixing points to facilitate affixing methods for joining together overlying panels, e.g. to improve the speed of forming a tray or an enclosed tray.

Preferably the tray is orientated in use on a shelf, i.e. in a display position, such that the ramp will be formed out of at least a part of the base, i.e. from the downward facing panel surface.

Preferably when the tray is in the display position, the tray is reconfigured or otherwise opened by the removal of removable sections. Preferably these sections are joined to the other sections by perforations. Holes can also be provided for easy removal of the removable sections. They facilitate the access to the edges of the removable sections, thus allowing a simpler removal action.

Preferably when in the tray is in the display position, the removable sections consist of at least parts of the front facing panel, the upward facing panel and the sideward facing panels. This allows, upon the removal of those sections, an easy access to, and an aesthetic display of, the products within the tray.

Preferably the tray is further reconfigured by folding a front flap extending from the downward facing panel under said panel at the proximal end of the tray.

Preferably, the reconfiguration of the tray to form an internal ramp comprises moving in a frontward facing direction a reconfigurable section of the rearward facing panel.

Preferably the reconfigurable section includes a part of the base, and it pivots around at least two hinge or fold line in the base such that an upright support section of the ramp, which was formerly forming a part of the base, i.e. a part of the downward facing panel, folds upwardly to a substantially upright position, generally parallel to the front panel of the tray, or the former front panel if now removed, the ramp then comprising a second part of the base, extending rearwardly from that upright support section, down towards the back of the tray.

Preferably the deployment of that ramp, combines with the reconfiguration of the reconfigurable section of the rearward facing panel.

Preferably the ramp is biased towards its deployed state by a force exerted from the front flap upon the front flap being folded under the tray.

It is preferred that for a corrugated material, the corrugations extend along the length of the ramp so as to offer greater bending stiffness to the ramp.

The ramp preferably does not have folded sides. This reduces the material requirements for the insert. However, folded sides can be provided to increase the rigidity of the ramp if preferred.

The slots and cut outs may be present in, or be pre-formed in, the blank for folding, or marked by perforations for later removal of unrequired parts when reconfiguration for retail display is required. The form used in practice may depend on the products to be loaded inside the trays and whether a pre-formed hole is acceptable for such products.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tray for displaying products on a shelf, the tray comprising a plurality of side panels (preferably it is a box with four sides, i.e. the box having a front wall, sidewalls and a rear wall to provide structural rigidity); at least one panel comprising a reconfigurable section; wherein the tray is reconfigurable whilst containing products, the reconfiguration comprising folding or unfolding the reconfigurable section to form a ramp. This allows the box to be sat on a shelf such that a front end of a panel is elevated relative to rear end thereof, i.e. the rear of the base, within the tray.

The reconfigurable section may be an insert.

Preferably the insert is containable within the tray.

The insert may be an integral part of the blank that forms the tray, or it can be a separate insert, for example to be glued inside the folded tray, or onto the blank prior to forming the tray.

Preferably the insert sits flush or substantially so against a panel of the inside of the tray such that the space the insert occupies is minimised when the tray is in its transport configuration.

Preferably a portion of the insert is affixed to the inner surface of a panel of the tray.

Preferably the tray is initially reconfigurable into a display configuration by removal of panels or parts thereof The panels to be removed may include the upward facing, side facing and frontward facing panels along with a portion of the downward facing panel.

In this respect this embodiment is very similar to the previous embodiment, and features for one can equally apply for the other.

Preferably the insert is formed from a piece of corrugated card (or other such suitable material) of such a length and width that when folded in half lengthways, the surface area of a folded surface of the insert is smaller than the surface area of the downward facing panel inside the tray.

Preferably the folded insert is arranged flush to the inside of the downward facing panel (in the display orientation) such that a folded end thereof is proximal to the frontward facing panel of the dray. This results in a topside surface of the insert and an underside surface of the insert.

Preferably the folded end is also a hinge.

Preferably the insert is creased, perforated or scored as necessary to allow for folding, hinging or to allow parts of the insert to be removed for reconfiguration.

Preferably there is provided a hinge on the underside surface which is parallel and mostly proximal to the folded end hinge and extends across the width of the insert.

Preferably there is provided a hinge on the topside of the surface which is parallel and mostly distal to the folded end hinge, and extends across the width of the insert.

Preferably, when reconfigured, the section of the topside surface of the insert defined by the folded end hinge and the distal forms the ramp.

Preferably, when reconfigured, the folded end hinge forms the highest part of the ramp.

Preferably, when reconfigured, the distal hinge forms the lowest part of the ramp.

Preferably the section between the folded end hinge and the proximal hinge forms an upright support for the ramp. When reconfigured, the upright support need not be perfectly perpendicular to the downward facing panel.

Preferably, when reconfigured, the upright support has at least one tab which extends in a downward facing direction beyond the proximal hinge and the downward facing panel. The tab is a locking, or deployment securing, tab.

Preferably the underside section comprises at least one separable section of the underside section which is affixed to the downward facing panel, wherein the separable section is cut or perforated around its periphery to allow separation from the underside section.

Preferably there is provided a tab which extends from the distal hinge toward the proximal end of the insert wherein the tab is cut out, perforated or otherwise separable from the topside surface at each edge aside from the distal hinge boundary.

Preferably the tab, or part thereof, is affixed to the downward facing panel.

Preferably the tab, or part thereof, is affixed to a separable section of the underside section -The present invention also provides a method of assembling a tray, and deploying it into a display configuration, the tray being a tray that has a plurality of side panels and a reconfigurable section, wherein the reconfigurable section is an insert which is foldable within the tray to form a display configuration with an internal ramp, the method comprising: providing a blank for forming the side panels of the tray, folding the blank to form the side panels of the tray, folding the insert to form a reconfigurable section, where the reconfigurable section is located against one of the panels of the tray, between two sides of the tray; and folding a part of the reconfigurable section to form the internal ramp above the downward facing panel of the tray.

Preferably the tray and insert is formed from a single blank.

Alternatively the insert may be formed from a separate blank which is affixed to the tray, or the blank for the tray.

Preferably the blank for the tray is folded to form a tray comprising four side panels -a front, a back and the two sides. The tray then also has a base. It can also have a lid or top. The top is preferably made also from the same blank.

Preferably the blank is held in a tray configuration by affixing at least two panels together, or by affixing a tab extending from a panel to another panel.

Preferably the tray is designed to sit on a shelf in a store orientated into a display position, and the tray is reconfigured into a tray configuration, for example while in that display position, by tearing along lines of perforation to remove panels or parts of panels, such as a lid, and perhaps a front and parts of the sides.

Preferably the tray is further reconfigured by the removal of a part of the downward facing panel (i.e. the base) for allowing access to the insert -e.g. for allowing deployment of the ramp. For example, the removal of that part may be essential for that ramp deployment -if the part attaches to the ramp to otherwise lock it in a non-deployed state, or it may be preferred simply for allowing access to a deployment assistance part of the ramp -such as an edge of a panel of the ramp.

Preferably the tray is reconfigured to form an internal ramp by moving the underside section of the insert toward the frontward facing direction.

Preferably during the deployment of the ramp the upright support pivots around the proximal hinge and the front fold hinge, thus folding the upright support such that it is mostly perpendicular to the downward facing panel.

Preferably the ramp pivots around the front fold hinge and the distal hinge such that a ramp is formed inside the tray, elevated towards the front of the tray.

Preferably the at least one locking tab extending in a downward direction from the upright support extends beyond the front most edge of the downward facing panel, once the ramp is fully deployed, the locking tab thus resisting retraction of the upright support in a rearward direction. This effectively locks the ramp in its deployed state.

Preferably the separable section of the underside section prevents movement of the underside section of the insert in a frontward direction at a point when the underside section is constrained by the separable tab.

Preferably there is a cut-out section removed in the underside section to allow movement of the underside section before being constrained by the separable tab at a point where the upright section is mostly perpendicular to the downward facing panel.

These and other features of the present invention will now be described in further detail, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first example of a blank in accordance with the present invention for forming a tray of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the blank of Figure 1 which has been partially assembled into a tray -a folded blank; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the opposing side of the partially assembled tray of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an assembled tray with a closed lid, made using a blank like that of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the assembled tray of Figure 4 during the opening of a securement flap thereof; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the assembled tray of Figure 4, further reconfigured into an open configuration, with the removable lid section removed from the base, showing a stack of products therein; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the assembled tray of Figure 4, further reconfigured towards its display configuration -by folding the securement flap under a base wall; Figure 8 shows a rear perspective view of the tray of Figure 7 being further reconfigured to form a ramp; Figure 9 shows a side perspective view of the reconfigured tray of Figure 8 with the sample products tilted backwards therein by the formed ramp.

Figure 10 shows a front perspective view of the reconfigured tray of Figure 8 with a frontmost sample product having been removed therefrom, thus allowing the ramp's front to be visible; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the reconfigured tray, but with no products contained therein, and with the removable lid sections still present -not ripped away, but with the panels thereof opened to allow visibility inside the tray; Figure 12 shows a plan view of an alternative blank for forming a tray of the present invention, the ramp being formed by an insert part of the blank, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention (the insert part may alternatively be a separately formed insert); Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the blank of Figure 12 where the insert part of the blank has been folded; Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the blank of Figure 13 where the insert part have been further folded over the blank -over a central panel thereof -through folding an intermediary panel; Figure 15 shows a plan view of the blank of Figure 14 which has been further folded across a second intermediary panel to lie an end panel over the insert part, that end panel being attached to the insert part at that time, e.g. by adhesive, thus creating the folded blank ready for assembling the tray; Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the assembled tray during packing thereof, it thus having an open lid or end (the opposite end is typically closed by this stage, using its provided flaps; Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the assembled tray of Figure 16 with the lid (end) now closed for containing the products ready for transport; Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a preferred first step in the process of opening and reconfiguring the tray of Figure 17 into a display configuration; Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the tray of Figure 18 being further reconfigured to remove removable sections such as the lid; Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the reconfigured tray of Figure 19 with the removable sections removes so that the product therein can be seen, prior to ramp activation; Figure 21 shows a front perspective view of the tray of Figure 20 with the ramp being activated by sliding out the underside of the ramp from between the top of the ramp and the end panel so as to cause the leading end face of the ramp to be upstanding with its lips overlapping the leading edge of the end panel; Figure 22 shows a perspective view of the reconfigured tray of Figure 21 with the ramp fully deployed and the stack of products sitting thereon leaning slightly backwards; and Figure 23 shows a perspective view of a reconfigured tray with a deployed ramp, but in an empty box (with the removable sections still present).

Various lengths and dimensions are provided for the illustrated embodiments -in millimetres, as indicated by double ended arrow lines. These are not intended to be limiting in that many alternative sizes -length, width, height -are possible as well. In particular, different proportions and shapes are also permissible within the scope of the various aspects of the present invention.

Referring first of all to Figure 1, an example of a blank 10 for forming a first embodiment of tray is shown. This blank is for forming a tray in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. An assembled view of the tray in a transport configuration 80 from this embodiment of blank is shown in Figure 4 and a reconfigured version of the tray, in its display configuration 100 is shown in Figure 10.

Preferably the blank 10 is formed from corrugated cardboard, although other suitable materials can be used. The use of corrugated cardboard makes the product recyclable -a common requirement for users of packaging. It can also allow for differing structural characteristics depending on the direction of the corrugations. For instance the cardboard may be easier to fold parallel to the corrugations, and thus many creases are so arranged, although creases can also be provided across the corrugations for allowing positional control of folds in other directions.

Furthermore, when the tray is in a transport configuration, is it preferred that the box is orientated such that the corrugations run up the side panels of the tray, i.e. vertically, such that they are more resistant to loads -i.e. they are then more resistant to vertical crushing. This is beneficial since during transport there is commonly a desire to stack the packages. However, once on the shelf, it is appreciated that the tray can be reconfigured -the maintenance of that verticality for the sidewalls is no longer so important -stacking is less usual on shop shelves. This detail is used by the present invention in the preferred solution, as shown in the enclosed embodiments (where the "base" for the shelf need not be the "base" for transport). Therefore, when discussing the panels, it should be noted that the orientation of the tray in the display configuration may differ from the orientation in the transport configuration. For convenience, however, and along with normal convention, where possible, the panels will be described hereinafter from the display configuration perspective to maintain consistency of terminology.

In this first embodiment, the blank 10 as shown in Figure 1 has five main panels, each with end flaps, and it has crease lines 52 which define the panels, the panels producing the sides of the tray or transport box once the blank is folded along the crease lines 52.

In this embodiment, the final box is cuboid, with six sides.

There is a downward facing side or base and it is formed from a base wall or downward facing panel 12. Left and right sides are formed from two side panels 14, 16. The upward facing side in the assembled box is formed from further panels of the blank -the two upward facing panels 18, 20, which in this embodiment are located at either side of the unfolded blank 10-all these panels are formed in the blank in a linear array with four interconnecting fold lines 52.

The upward facing panels 18, 20 are dimensioned differently to one another in this embodiment, such that one upward facing panel extends further in the converse direction to the other. This larger upward facing panel 20 allows this panel to overlap the smaller upward facing panel 18 when the panels are folded along crease lines 52.

This can be seen in Figure 3, where the larger upward facing panel 20 extends over the smaller upward facing panel 18. The overlap area of these two panels may then be affixed to one another in this area to join the folded blank into a looped blank, ready for delivery to a customer.

On the side panels 14, 16, there are cut-crease lines 21 extending parallel to the crease lines 52 connecting the side panels to the downward facing panel 12. These cut-crease lines 21 are located central to each of the side panels 14, 16 and extend through their periphery. The purpose of the cut-crease lines 21 is to predefine the folded state of the looped blank, as shown in Figure 2. In this figure, the blank 10 is shown when viewed from the downward facing panel 12 direction, where the blank 10 has been folded along the cut-crease lines 21. This fold location ensures the integrity of the ramp (to be discussed below) is not compromised during transit of the unused blanks, whether fully unfolded and flat (Figure 1) or folded into their looped state (figure 2.

The folding of the blank 10 along cut-crease lines 21 ready for transport to a customer also provides a reduction in the footprint (surface area) of the blank 10, which then allows stacks or bales of the blanks to be transported to companies (prior to assembly into their transport configuration 80) more easily. The blanks can then be transported on conventional half pallets, rather than requiring full pallets.

The use of cut-crease lines can be interchanged with other conventional forms of pre-creasing such as scoring.

It is also to be appreciated that the preferred form of a particular crease lines can depend on the function of the line. For a crease line along the corrugations, a simple indent or crease may be adequate, but if provided across the corrugations, often a cut-crease is more preferred.

Perforations are also often present. Such perforations are commonly used where a line is not to be folded, but where the cardboard is instead destined to be separated along that line. The perforations provide an easier junction to tear since there is less material joining the cardboard to together in this point. Cut-creases and partial cuts are also sometimes used for this purpose. The perforations, cut-creases or partial cuts also assist with the creation of a cleaner tear since the line is partly cut already.

Figure 3 shows the blank 10 folded along the cut-crease lines 21 when viewed from the upward facing panel direction. The area of overlap for the two upward facing panels 18, 20 can be affixed. This provides an initial pre-assembly of the blank 10 prior to transport to a customer -who will fill the tray. This allows the smaller surface area of the blank -for facilitating convenient transportation, and reduces the amount of assembly required by the customer, since the blank 10 is pre-folded and affixed into its initial loop.

In this example of the invention, the upward facing panel is split and formed from two parts. This panel need not be split and may be formed from a single panel as part of the linear array. The advantage of the split panel allows for the blank 10 when partially folded as shown in Figures 2 and 3 to be symmetrical and thus more attractive for the client. It also ensures the ramp is protected and is not compromised.

Referring back to Figure 1, extending from the downward facing panel 12 in a direction not bordered by a side panel 14, 16, i.e. laterally in this embodiment, are further panels or flaps. In one direction is a lower front flap 22, which is bordered by front fold line 70 -for joining it to the downwardly facing panel. This lower front flap forms a securement flap as discussed below. In the opposite direction extending from the downward facing panel 12 is a lower rear flap 26. It, along with the downward facing panel, provides a part of the ramp, as discussed in detail below.

The side panels 14, 16 also have flaps extending laterally from them, i.e. in the same direction as the lower front and rear flaps 22, 26. In the frontward facing direction are front side flaps 28, 30 and in the rearward facing direction are rear side flaps 32, 34.

They are joined to their respective side panels 14, 16 also by fold lines 52.

The two upward facing panels 18, 20 also have flaps extending laterally from them.

These are upper front flaps 40, 42 extending in a frontward facing direction and upper rear flaps 36, 38 extending in the other direction. These four flaps 40, 42, 36, 38 are attached again by fold lines 52 to form the frontward facing end panel and backward facing end panel in the finally assembled box. The fold lines here are just creases in the preferred arrangement since the folds should not need to be folded much beyond 90° at any time of their -until perhaps such a time that the consequential damage of such larger folds has no negative consequence in the eyes of the user (such damage is of no consequence after use of the packaging for example).

The other flaps mentioned above may have the same or an alternative form of crease or fold, as further discussed below. For example, crease-cuts are more beneficial where folds are intended to exceed 900, especially where those folds are likely to be extended to the order of 1800 -as with the folds for transport of the folded blanks -i.e. the cut-crease lines 21 in the side panels 14, 16 and one of the folds 66 for the ramp (to be discussed below).

The lower front flap 22 has a perforated line 23 extending across its width from each periphery running parallel to the flap's border with the downward facing panel 12. The resultant section beyond the perforated line 23 to the free end of the lower front flap 22 is a tab 24 for affixing the lower front flap 22 to the front side flaps 28, 30 upon assembling the box. Due to the perforated line that tab can easily be separated from the rest of the lower front flap, thus allowing the securement flap part of the lower front flap (the part separated from the tab 24) to be released from the front side flaps 28, 30 simply by it tearing off along the perforated line 23. Alternatively the glue of the tab can be attempted to be overcome, but that is less convenient, so the perforations are preferred as this is more easy for achieving the desired separation of that securement flap.

On this lower front flap 22 is also provided a finger hole -here a semi-circular finger hole 58. Finger holes are often used along or juxtaposed to lines of perforation, to allow a person assembling or reconfiguring the box or tray to more easily gain purchase on a panel or to provide a starting point for a tear -e.g. along a perforation. This finger hole thus also assists with the separation of the securement flap from the tab 24.

Finger holes are also provided on the side panels 14, 16 and the upward facing panels 18, 20. These finger holes, as used on the illustrated panels, are circular finger holes 46 and they sit along further perforated lines 50, here provided again to facilitate the separation or access to, the edges of two parts that are designed for separation. These particular perforated lines 50, however, allow for a separation of two particular components of the box -the lid and the base -i.e. they are for allowing the facilitated removal of the lid from the base. The perforated lines diagonally bisect (although not equally) the side panels, starting at the front corner of the border (crease line 52) with the downward facing panel 12 and travelling toward the diagonally opposite corner, although meeting the upward facing panel border (crease line 52) at some distance above this corner. Said perforated lines 50, then continue along the upward facing panel parallel to the border of the flaps to the periphery of the panel. They thus permit a complete removal of a lid part from a base part by the tray (the lower part on the shelf) being separated along the perforation lines 50 from the lid (the upper part when on the shelf). This thus would result in the division of the side panels 14, 16 into two parts, with the part sharing the border (cut crease 52) with the upward facing panels 18, 20 being the separated side panels 54, 56.

The straight diagonals discussed in the preceding paragraph provide a neat edge for the resulting tray. Other shapes for the perforation lines, however, are also possible for providing different tray shapes once the lid is removed.

Different forms of the perforations are also possible for making the separation of the lid from the tray either easier or more difficult. This can have benefits depending upon how the packages may be handled in transit, or in the store. Preferably though a hash-form perforation is used to ensure it bridges the corrugations, thus offering a more zip-like separation experience. Such hash-form perforations are known in the art.

As previously mentioned, the tray also features a deployable ramp 44. That is formed in the tray part of the packaging. For that purpose, from the front fold line 70 of the downward facing panel 12, spaced from the crease 52 separating that panel 12 from the side panel 14, is a through cut 45 extending through the panel to the crease fold 52 of the rear lower flap 26. This through cut 45 continues then through the rear lower flap 26 in a direction away from the downward facing panel 12, although not reaching the distal periphery of this flap. The through cut 45 is mirrored by another through cut 45 along the other edge of the downward facing panel 12 -this time spaced from the other crease line 52 (that separates the downward facing panel 12 from the other side panel 16. The section enclosed by these two through cuts 45 forms the ramp 44, and as a result it extends from the front fold line 70 down to a rear crease hinge 68 in the lower rear flap 26. The sides of the ramp 44 might run parallel, but in this embodiment the edges taper -herein such that the front of the ramp 44 is narrower than the back.

In the preferred arrangement, the front fold line takes two forms along its length -it is a crease at its two ends -not the part overlying the end of the ramp, but instead the parts extending from the edges of the ramp to the edge-defining creases 52, and then a cut-crease hinge 66 along the line between the two through cuts 45. That cut-crease allows the further folding of the securement flap 22 underneath the box -the ramp might otherwise be encouraged to unfold to a flat state by that under folding of that securement flap 22.

The section of the ramp 44 which is within the lower rear flap 26 is the rear portion of the ramp 76. There is a pivoting junction 62 between the ramp 44 and the rear portion of the ramp 76. This pivoting junction 62 is a crease fold much like the crease folds 52 between the majority of the panels 52. Then, extending across the front edge (in use) of the ramp 44, parallel to the cut crease hinge 66, and spaced therefrom by the desired height of the leading edge of the ramp, is a front crease hinge 64. This is displaced closer to the front facing panel edge of the ramp 44 than the rear facing panel edge. The section between the cut crease hinge 66 and the front crease hinge 64 is the upright section 78 for the ramp 44, which is used for providing elevation for the ramp 44 when it is formed.

Along the line of the front crease hinge 64 is a cut through line 72 mostly central to the front crease hinge 64 but next extending to the end of the hinge. It defines a leading edge for the ramp, and facilitates the folding up of the ramp -since it breaks through some of the corrugations of that ramp.

Referring next to Figure 3, it can be see that there are gaps 77 between the various end-forming flaps. These gaps 77 allow the easy folding of the flaps along their crease lines 52 into overlapping arrangement with their adjacent flaps, i.e. with reduced interference between the flaps. Thus the tray is easier to assemble.

Referring next to Figure 4, the blank 10 has been assembled such that the tray is in its transport configuration 80. To assemble the blank 10 into this position, the panels have been folded along the crease lines 52, mostly at substantially perpendicular angles.

The cut-crease lines 21, as more clearly seen in Figure 1, and completely folded flat in Figures 2 and 3, have once again been unfolded (such that side panels 14, 16 each have, once again, a single planar arrangement -that earlier folding having only been for the initial transport of the blank 10).

The frontward facing panel of the box, which is shown at the top of the box in the transport configuration 80 in Figure 4, is formed by the folding of the side front flaps 28, perpendicular to the side panels 14, 16, followed by the folding of the lower front flap 22 and the upper front flaps 40, 42 perpendicular to the downward facing panel 12 such that the flaps are in front of the side front flaps 28, 30. The flaps are then held in this position by affixing to the other flaps they are flush with. In the case of the lower front flap 22, this is only affixed to the underlying flaps along the underside of the locking tab 24.

Although not in view in Figure 4, the rear facing flaps are similarly folded to the frontward facing panel to form a rearward facing panel. Again, the flaps of the side panels 14, 16, the side rear flaps 32, 34, are first folded perpendicular to the side panels 14, 16, and the lower rear flap 26, and the upper rear flaps 36, 38 are folded in on top of the side rear flaps 32, 34 and affixed. However, for them there is no locking tab as in the case of the lower front flap 22. Thus, the affixing to form the rear facing panel may be at any point on the flaps.

Also visible on Figure 4 is a viewing hole 48. As seen in Figure 1, this is formed by a cut through hole in at least one of the side panels 16. It replaces one of the circular finger holes. The shape of the viewing hole 48 may vary, but here it is seen to be a mostly rectangular shape generally central to the side panel 16 and extending perpendicular to the frontward facing panel of the box. The viewing hole 48 can be used to see the products inside the tray particularly when it is in its transport configuration 80. This may be useful to see the condition of products, but particularly, where the tray is filled with further boxed products -such as pizza boxes, for stacking vertically but top forwards, the viewing hole 48 can be cut such that information on the edges of the boxes therein, such as expiry dates in the case of consumables or foodstuffs, or batch numbers, can be seen without opening the boxes. This reduces the requirement for marking the outside of the box or tray with information relating to the product contained therein, thus reducing the need for packing-line readers and printers.

The viewing hole 48, need not be open, but may be a removable panel, or a transparent material may extend over it.

Figures 5 to 9 show the process of reconfiguration of the tray in transport configuration 80 into a display configuration 100.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 4, but from the other side (now seeing a circular finger hole rather than the elongated viewing hole), and here the securement flap part of the lower front flap 22 has been separated from the underlying flaps that form the front facing panel by separation thereof from the tab 24 along perforation line 23. As such the locking tab 24 remains attached to the remainder of the flaps forming the front facing panel.

In Figure 6, the tray part has also now been separated from the lid part -by separation of the perforation lines 50. The lid part, or the removed section 90, comprises the separated side panel parts 54, 56, a portion of the upward facing panel 18, 20 and the flaps which form the frontward facing panel (excluding the securement flap part of the lower front flap 22). The rest is the tray 100 that gets reconfigured to be ready for retail.

This removal of the lid part also reveals the products inside the tray 100, which, when packed, would have been configured such that their fronts are in the frontward facing panel direction.

The removed section 90 is not required for the final reconfiguration into the retail configuration, and can be disposed of or otherwise recycled or reused elsewhere.

Although the perforation lines 50 are positioned such to leave a portion of the upward facing panel 18, 20, they may be arranged in a number of configurations, such that more or less of the side facing panels 14, 16 or upward facing panel 18, 20 remains, or perhaps so that part of other panels are removed. Thus the illustrated form for the tray is not the only possible form.

Figure 7 then shows the folding of the securement flap part of the lower front tab 22 under the retail configured tray 100. The securement flap 22 is folded along front crease 70 such that is sits flush underneath the underside of the downward facing panel 12. Front crease 70 is a crease, and as previously discussed, it would not normally be used for a fold greater than a perpendicular angle. However, the weight of products within the tray can overcome the tendency of the fold to unfold, and thus it can be just a crease, and need not be a crease cut.

The location of the securement flap 22 under the front edge of the tray provides a slight elevation of the front of the trays. However, this is not adequate to reliably recline the products in the tray. The ramp is thus needed to be deployed to achieve that function.

In Figure 8, the reconfiguration of tray to form a ramp is shown. Here the outside of the rear facing panel is shown and in particular, the lower rear flap 26. The rear portion of the ramp 76 is pushed toward the front of the tray. It thus is seen to pivot with the rear crease hinge 68. To permit the rear portion of the ramp 76 to pivot forward, sections 74 of the rear side flaps 32, 34 have been cut away and removed. This can be seen in Figure 1 -the picture of the blank. As a result those flaps do not hinder that deployment of the ramp (if the sections 74 were not removed, they would be located behind the rear section 76 of the ramp).

See also Figure 11 which shows the inside of the tray -as can be seen panel 76 of the ramp is not hindered by the form of the two flaps 32, 34.

At the front of the tray, as shown in Figure 10, when the rear portion of the ramp 76 is pivoted forward, the product supporting part of the ramp 44 is also moved forward since it shares a pivoting junction 62 with the rear portion of the ramp 76. Further, since the product supporting part of the ramp 44 is attached to the front crease hinge 64, and since the front 78 of the ramp is attached both to that front crease hinge 64 and the cut-crease hinge 66, as it moves forward, the front crease hinge 64, the front 78 and the cut-crease hinge 66 all pivot. This, in turn causes the front 78 to become upright, by it pivoting around the cut-crease hinge 66. If it is then allowed to rotate to a mostly perpendicular position, the ramp will then tend not to fall back -this is a sort of overcentre arrangement.

The movement initiated by the manipulation of the rear portion of the ramp 76 has thus caused the front 78 to become an upright section 78 to form a support for the ramp 44.

Therefore a ramp 44 is formed which slopes downward from the frontward facing panel of the tray toward the rearward facing panel of the tray.

As can be seen in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the formed ramp 44 has the effect of tilting the boxed products backwards (i.e. toward the rearward facing panel of the tray). Such a tilting, which is preferably at least to an angle of 5 degrees, and more preferably to an angle of between 6 and 20 degrees, prevents the products from falling forward when the front most product is removed, or products simply falling forward due to being stood on their narrow edge. The maintaining of a mostly upright product can assist sales, since a customer is more likely to choose a product whose front is easily seen. More so, an eye catching product box, can only catch the eye of a customer, if the eye catching detail normally on the front of the product box, is visible. Unless a customer is looking for a particular product, it is unlikely they will pick up the product boxes which have fallen over to inspect the front of the box. Since the front facing panel of the tray has been removed, there is nothing to inhibit removal of the product from the tray. In addition, since the upward facing panel has been mostly removed, again, products can easily be removed from the tray.

The packaging not only enables the easy display of products with no additional shelf materials, but the packaging can also be printed or otherwise decorated in an aesthetic manner to further complement the product within.

Since the ramp is formed from a panel of the tray, there is also a reduced amount of material required for forming the ramp.

Figures 12 to 22 then show a further embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 12 showing an example of a blank for forming the tray/box/packaging. This blank is also for forming a tray in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. An assembled view of the tray in a transport configuration 300 from this embodiment of a tray blank is shown in Figure 17 and a reconfigured tray in its display configuration 310 is shown in Figure 22.

Similar to the first embodiment, there is provided a downward facing panel 242, two side panels 240, 246 and an upward facing panel 210 arranged in a linear array. In this embodiment, the upward facing panel 210 is a single panel and not split.

Between the panels are crease folds 252 to enable the folding of the panels to form the box.

On the side panels 240, 246, there are cut-crease lines 254 extending parallel to the crease lines 252 connecting the side panels to the upward facing panel 210. The purpose of the cut-crease lines 254 is shown in Figure 15 and is similar to that of the previous embodiment -see Figure 2, in that the surface area of the partially assembled blank 200 can thus be reduced by pre-folding the blank into a flat loop that does not damage the integrity of the ramp incorporated therein.

Referring back to Figure 12, similarly to the previous embodiment, there are flaps for forming the frontward and rearward facing panels. These flaps again extend laterally from the main panels of the blank.

A first flap 214 extends away from the upward facing panel 210 (a central panel of the blank) to form a upper front flap 214. A second flap 212 extends in the opposite direction from the upper facing panel 210. It is an upper rear flap 221. The side panels 240, 246 also have such flaps extending from them in the same directions. The ones extending in the frontward facing direction are front side flaps 220, 216 and those that extend in the rearward facing direction are rear side flaps 232, 236. Finally the downward facing panel 242 has a lower front flap 228 extending in a frontward facing direction and a lower rear flap 230 extending in the rearward facing direction.

All these flaps are connected to their respective panels via crease lines 252, some parts 300, 244 of which can also be perforated, as discussed below. Note too that parts of these parts form part of the perforations 300 that allow the top and bottom parts of the final shelf-located packaging to be broken apart -thus separating the lid part from the tray part, as in the previous embodiment, albeit here leaving behind a differently shaped tray through the perforations 300 following a different path through the respective panels.

The side panels 240, 246 and the upward facing panel 210 thus have perforated lines 226, 300 for separating the panels. These travel diagonally through the side panels, starting near to the rear corner of the border with the upward facing panel 210 and travelling toward the diagonally opposite corner. The perforated line 300, 226 also passes through the upward facing panel 210. The optional finger holes are again provided to assist the separation of these perforations and after separation there are left behind in the tray part the separated side panels 218, 222.

In this embodiment, an additional section is provided for the blank -for forming an internal ramp, rather than a ramp formed from the base sheet of the tray. This section further extends the blank out from the second side panel 246 of the blank 200 -in a direction opposite to the upward facing panel 210. This additional section will form an insert 234 for the tray and is used for forming a ramp within the reconfigured tray in its display configuration 310. Instead of it being an integral part of the blank, it could instead be a separate insert, but forming it all from one blank can facilitate production, so it is preferred this way.

The insert 234 is adjoined to the side panel 246 via a connecting tab 274, which has a perforated line 276 for the border between the connecting tab 274 and a panel 262 that forms a lower insert surface 262. The lower insert surface 262 is bordered in the frontward facing panel direction by a lower crease line 272 that extends across its width. It has creased sections, for folding, and cut sections, the cut sections creating two lips 266 after that folding process.

From that lower crease line a further flap extends, which further flap has a first part -a ramp riser section 264, which extends to an upper crease line 268 which is parallel to the lower crease line 272. The ramp riser section 264 between the upper crease line 268 and the lower crease line 272 will become the upright support 264 for the ramp, once the ramp is deployed.

Adjoined to the upper crease line 268 is then a further panel that defines an upper insert surface 256. It extends even further in the direction away from the upper and lower crease lines 268, 266, and it features an outermost cut crease line 270 and tab 260. Beyond them there is a section 258 that forms a ramp base 258. It extends to the outermost periphery of the insert 234.

The outermost cut crease line 270 extends outwardly on both sides of the tab 260. The tab 270 is formed by a through cut of panel of the upper insert surface 256.

The lower insert surface 262 also has a number of cut outs. Toward the lower crease line 272 edge of the lower insert surface 262 there is a semi-circular cut out 282. This semi-circular cut out 262 sits inside an affixing cut-out 280 which is perforated around its periphery. Toward the opposite edge of the lower insert surface 262 to the lower cut crease 272 is an affixing block 284 which has a perforated connection to a block cut out 278 which it sits within. Tab cut-outs 266 are also provided in the lower crease line 272 to form the two lips 266.

The function of these are discussed below.

The downward facing panel 242 also has a circular cut out 248 toward its front lower flap 228 edge. This circular cut out 248 bisects a through cut line 250 which initiates from the crease fold line 252 of the border between the downward facing panel 242 and the lower front flap 228. The section enclosed by the through cut line 250 is an opening tab 224. This borders the front lower flap 228 via a crease line 244. The function of this is also disclosed below.

Figure 13 shows the initial step in the assembly of the folded blank 200 for delivery to a customer, assuming it is not to be supplied fully flat. In this figure, the upper insert surface 256 is folded along upper crease line 268 such that it lays on top of the lower insert section 262. The blank 200 may also be glued or otherwise affixed at this point in that the affixing tab 260 is glued to the affixing block 284 of the lower insert surface 262.

In Figure 14, the insert 234 is then folded over the upward facing surface 210 along cut crease line 254 of the side panel 246. Glue or other affixing methods can at this time also then be applied to the affixing cut out 280, the affixing block 284 and the connecting tab 274.

The downward facing panel is then folded along the crease cut line 254 of the side panel 240 such that the downward facing panel 242 is positioned on top of the insert 234. See Figure 15. Therefore the affixing block 284 and the connecting tab 274 become adhered to the downward facing panel 242 and the affixing cut out 280 becomes adhered to the opening tab 224. This arrangement is thus such that the blank is in a form where it has been initially glued and assembled and would be suitable for delivery to a customer prior to packing with a product.

Notably the connecting tab 274 adheres to the downward facing panel 242 such that the sides of the tray are formed, with the insert 234 positioned inside the tray.

Figure 16 then shows the assembled the tray or box being loaded with products prior to the closing of the flaps to form the frontward facing panel. The rearward facing panel has been formed by the folding of the flaps as seen in the first embodiment. Here the product is placed in the tray and since the insert 234 is affixed against the downward facing panel 242 it does not interfere with the product packing of the tray.

The closed box in its transport configuration 300 is then shown in Figure 17. Similar to the first embodiment, a product window is provided.

Figures 18 to 22 then show the process of reconfiguring the box from the transport configuration 300 into the display configuration 310. This is initiated by the pulling of the opening tab 224 on the outside surface of the downward facing panel 242. To assist in the pulling of the opening tab 224, a finger hole 248 is provided. Since the opening tab 224 is attached to the affixing cut-out 280, this is also removed and separates from the lower insert surface 262.

The opening tab 224 can be used as a tab for removing the separable sections of the tray, such as the separable sides 218, 222 and a large portion of the upward facing panel 210 and the flaps which formed the frontward facing panel. Finger holes are provided to assist with the removal of the separable section.

Figure 20 shows the resulting tray prior to deploying the ramp feature, i.e. once the separable lid section has been removed. The upper crease line 268 is visible under the product in the tray.

Activation of the ramp is achieved through the section left by the removal of the opening tab 224 and the affixing cut-out 280 in the downward facing panel 242 of and the lower insert section 262 of the tray. The lower insert surface 262 is moved toward the front facing surface of the tray, preferably by using the affixing cut-out 280 as a finger slot. The lower insert surface 262 is able to move in a forward direction by the pivoting of the upright section 264 along the lower crease line 272. Thus, the upright section 264 is moved into a mostly perpendicular arrangement with reference to the downward facing panel 242. The perforated line 276 of the connecting tab 274 is also separated either at this stage or earlier.

The movement of the upright section 264 also causes the upper insert surface 256 to pivot relative to the upper crease line 268. Since the upper insert surface 256 is constrained at one end by the affixing tab 260, which is adhered to the affixing block 284, the end of the upper insert surface 256 (with the upper crease line 268 as its border) rises relative to the opposing ramp base 258. Thus a ramp is formed internally to the box sloping down toward the ramp base 258.

The ramp 256 is held in the reconfigured position by the affixing block 284 being adhered to the affixing tab 260 and the downward facing panel 242. As such, as the lower insert surface 262 moves forward, the block cut out 278 is constrained against the affixing block 284, and further forward movement of the lower insert surface 262 is not possible.

The tray is arranged such that the constraint of the further forward movement of the lower insert surface 262 is at the point where the upright support 264 is mostly perpendicular to the downward facing panel 242.

The ramp 256 is further held in the reconfigured position by the tab cut-outs or lips 266.

When the upright support 264 is in its reconfigured position, the tab cut-outs or lips 266 can descend to engage the leading edge of the downward facing panel 242 of the tray as can be seen in Figure 23. When the ramp 256 has products placed upon it, the ramp 256 will be forced down in that manner, even if the elasticity or stiffness of the corrugated material is inadequate for that effect.

As discussed above, the tray with an internal ramp discourages products from tipping forward when displayed within the packaging thus being more inviting to a customer.

The angle of the ramp is again preferably between 6 and 20 degrees from horizontal.

Although this embodiment of the invention has been described with an insert being formed from the same blank as the tray, the insert may also be formed separately. A separate insert will allow a different material to be used, perhaps a stronger cardboard to prevent deflection of the ramp. Moreover, if corrugated cardboard is used to form the ramp, it is preferred that the corrugations are orientated to travel down the card, thus providing additional strength to the ramp and not providing a point of bending on the ramp.

The present invention has therefore been described above by way of example. It provides a tray for displaying products on a shelf, wherein the tray is reconfigurable whilst containing products such that removal of panels allows access to products therein and an internal ramp can be formed rising toward the front of the tray to allow products to tilt slightly backwards and not fall forward thus obscuring their front packaging.

Preferred features of the present invention have been described above purely by way of example. Modifications in detail may be made to the invention within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A tray for displaying products on a shelf, the tray comprising: a plurality of side panels at least one panel having a reconfigurable section; wherein the tray is reconfigurable whilst containing products, the reconfiguration comprising folding the reconfigurable section to form a ramp.
2. The tray of claim 1 where the tray has a top panel or a lid.
3. The tray of any preceding claim, wherein the tray is formed from corrugated material or corrugated cardboard.
4. The tray of any preceding claim, wherein the material of the tray has been printed / coloured / patterned or otherwise decorated.
5. The tray of any preceding claim, wherein the closed tray is a transport configuration.
6. The tray of any preceding claim, wherein the tray is prepared for a display configuration by removal of panels or portions of the panels.
7. The tray of claim 6, wherein panels or portions to be removed are defined by continuous or discontinuous lines.
8. The tray of claim 6 or 7, wherein when the tray is prepared for a display configuration the front facing panel of the tray is mostly removed in comparison to the remaining side facing panels.
9. The tray of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein when the tray is prepared for a display configuration the top facing panel of the tray is mostly removed in comparison to the remaining side facing panels.
10. The tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray has a cut-out window within a panel.
11. The tray of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the reconfigurable section is also a panel or part of a panel.
12. The tray of claim 11, wherein the reconfigurable section of the tray is narrower than the panel it is formed of.
13. The tray of any one of claim 11 or 12, wherein the reconfigurable section comprises at least pads of more than one panel.
14. The tray of claim 13, wherein the reconfigurable section comprises a pad of a downward facing panel and a pad of a rearward facing panel when the tray is in a display configuration.
15. The tray of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the reconfigurable section does not extend as far as the marginal edge of a panel.
16. The tray of any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the reconfigurable section is connected to the at least one panel at opposite peripheral ends of the reconfigurable section.
17. The tray of any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the side marginal ends forming the sides of the ramp of the reconfigurable section are separable from the panel it is part of.
18. The tray of claim 16, wherein the reconfigurable section is hinged at both of its connected peripheral ends to the tray.
19. The tray of claim 18, wherein a further hinge is positioned proximal to, but not juxtaposed with, the frontward facing panel.
20. The tray of claim 19, wherein a further hinge is positioned at the junction between two panels forming the reconfigurable section.
21. The tray of claim 20, wherein the reconfigurable section bordered by the proximal hinge and junction hinge forms the ramp surface.
22. The tray of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the proximal hinge forms the higher end of the ramp.
23. The tray of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the junction hinge forms the lower end of the ramp.
24. The tray of any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the reconfigurable section bordered by the proximal hinge and the hinge of the connected peripheral end of the frontward facing panel forms an upright support for the ramp in its reconfigured form.
25. A tray reconfigurable to form an internal ramp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of Figures 1 to 11.
26. The tray of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the reconfigurable section is an insert.
27. The tray of claim 26, wherein the insert is containable within the tray.
28. The tray of claim 26 or 27, wherein the insert sits flush or substantially so against a panel of the inside of the tray.
29. The tray of claim 28, wherein a portion of the insert is affixed to the inner surface of a panel of the tray.
30. The tray of claim 29, wherein the insert is folded such that there is an upper part and a lower part thereof, the lower part being closer to the downward facing panel than the upper part.
31. The tray of claim 30, wherein the folded end of the insert is proximal to a frontward facing panel of the tray.
32. The tray of claim 31, wherein the insert's folded end is a hinge used in the deployment of the ramp.
33. The tray of claim 32, wherein there is provided a hinge on the lower part of the folded insert which is parallel and mostly proximal to the folded end hinge and which extends across the width of the insert.
34. The tray of claim 32 or 33, wherein there is provided a hinge on the upper part of the insert which is parallel and mostly distal to the folded end hinge, and which extends across the width of the insert.
35. The tray of claim 34, wherein, when reconfigured to form a ramp, the section of the upper part of the insert defined by the folded end hinge and the distal hinge forms the ramp.
36. The tray of claim 35, wherein the folded end hinge forms the highest part of the ramp with reference to the downward facing panel.
37. The tray of claim 35 or 36, wherein when reconfigured, the distal hinge forms the lowest part of the ramp with reference to the downward facing panel.
38. The tray of any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein the section between the folded end hinge and the proximal hinge forms an upright support for the ramp.
39. The tray of claim 38, wherein, when reconfigured to form a ramp, the upright support has at least one tab which extends in a downward facing direction beyond the proximal hinge and the downward facing panel.
40. The tray of any one of claims 30 to 39, wherein the lower part of the insert comprises at least one separable section which is affixed to the downward facing panel, wherein the separable section is cut or perforated around its periphery to allow separation from the underside section.
41. The tray of any one of claims 34 to 40, wherein there is provided a tab which extends from the distal hinge toward the proximal end of the insert wherein the tab is cut-out, perforated or otherwise separable from the upper part of the insert at each edge aside from the distal hinge boundary.
42. The tray of claim 41, wherein the tab, or part thereof, is affixed to the downward facing panel.
43. The tray of claim 42, wherein the tab, or part thereof, is affixed to a separable section of the lower part of the insert
44. A tray reconfigurable to form an internal ramp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of Figures 12 to 23.
45. The tray of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reconfiguration into, and the retention of the tray in, the condition such that a ramp is formed requires no fixing materials additional to the blank from which they are formed.
46. A blank for a tray, the blank comprising foldable panels for forming a base, sides and a top of the container, and a part of at least one panel comprising a reconfigurable section for forming a deployable internal ramp within the tray.
47. A method of assembling a tray, and deploying it into a display configuration, the tray being a tray that has a plurality of side panels, a base for sitting on a shelf, and a reconfigurable section, the reconfigurable section being foldable or unfoldable within the tray to convert the tray between a transport configuration and a display configuration, the display configuration involving an internal ramp, the method comprising: providing a blank having panels for forming the base and the side panels of the tray, folding the blank to form the side panels of the tray around the base; and folding or unfolding the reconfigurable section to form the internal ramp in the tray, the ramp at least in part extending above the plane of the base of the tray, and rising from a rear part of the tray towards a front part of the tray.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the reconfiguration of the tray to form an internal ramp comprises moving in a frontward facing direction a reconfigurable section of a rearward facing panel.
49. A method of assembling a tray, and deploying it into a display configuration, the tray being a tray that has a plurality of side panels and a reconfigurable section, wherein the reconfigurable section is an insert which is foldable within the tray to form a display configuration with an internal ramp, the method comprising: providing a blank for forming the side panels of the tray, folding the blank to form the side panels of the tray, folding the insert to form a reconfigurable section, where the reconfigurable section is located against one of the panels of the tray, between two sides of the tray; and folding a pad of the reconfigurable section to form the internal ramp above the downward facing panel of the tray.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein the tray is further reconfigured by the removal of pad of the downward facing panel allowing access to the insert.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein to form the internal ramp, the reconfiguration comprises moving a lower part of the insert toward the frontward facing direction of the tray.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein in the deployed ramp there is provided at least one locking tab extending in a downward direction beyond the front most edge of the downward facing panel.
53. A method of assembling and reconfiguring a tray to form an internal ramp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of more of the attached drawings.