US20080060975A1 - Display Package with Extending Trays - Google Patents
Display Package with Extending Trays Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080060975A1 US20080060975A1 US11/465,286 US46528606A US2008060975A1 US 20080060975 A1 US20080060975 A1 US 20080060975A1 US 46528606 A US46528606 A US 46528606A US 2008060975 A1 US2008060975 A1 US 2008060975A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- trays
- package
- tray
- linkage assembly
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/38—Drawer-and-shell type containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
- B65D11/10—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of polygonal cross-section and all parts being permanently connected to each other
- B65D11/12—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of polygonal cross-section and all parts being permanently connected to each other of drawer-and-shell type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2301/00—Details of blanks
- B65D2301/20—Details of blanks made of plastic material
Definitions
- This invention relates to a package that can be fabricated from various combinations of paperboard, plastic sheet and/or metal, the package having a housing and at least two trays, drawers or display panels (all of which, singularly and collectively, are referred to herein as “trays”) slidably engaging the housing. At least two of the trays are preferably interconnected by a linkage disposed between them inside the housing in such manner that sliding one of the trays partially out of the housing in one direction simultaneously causes a second tray to slide partially out of the housing in a different direction.
- the trays can be configured to receive and selectively store or display products, product manuals, promotional materials, and the like.
- U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,789,773 and 6,953,177 disclose devices with a housing containing a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism for selectively extending and retracting a promotional panel in response to movement of a spring-biased support member. Extension of the promotional panel in a direction either transverse or parallel and opposite to the direction of movement of the support member are disclosed.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,265 discloses an advertising/promotional product with a housing containing an endless band mechanism for selectively extending and retracting display panels or a display member/carrier in opposite directions.
- FIG. 7 discloses a three-part display panel extendable from one end of the housing. The two side sections rotate gravitationally away from each other upon exiting the housing, but rotate back into axial alignment with the housing during retraction.
- the display member/carrier can be constructed for containing any desired product or advertising material.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,700 discloses a package with a tubular housing containing a product tray, a divider, a drive belt passing around the divider, and a pull-out tab member that, when pulled, causes the tray to extend from the housing in a direction parallel and opposite to the tab member.
- the drive belt is typically a strip of plastic film whose ends are fastened to each other form a continuous loop.
- the tray and tab member are bonded to the loop.
- the tab member can be replaced by a second tray that extends oppositely to the first tray.
- a display package comprising a housing containing a plurality of slidably engaged trays that are selectively extended from or retracted into openings in the housing by a linkage assembly comprising a drive wheel, and a plurality of drive arms each rotatably connected to the drive wheel and to an associated tray through an elongated guide slot in a divider disposed adjacent to the drive arm, the elongated guide slot being disposed parallel to the direction in which extension or retraction of the associated tray is desired.
- a product display package preferably includes a housing having a plurality of slidably engaged trays that are linked in such manner that sliding one tray outwardly from the housing in a first direction also causes one or more other trays to slide outwardly from the housing in one or more other directions. Conversely, movement of one extended tray back into the housing causes simultaneous retraction of one or more other extended trays into the housing.
- a linkage assembly connecting the trays is preferably disposed between them inside the housing and is easily adaptable to cause the trays to extend from the housing in different radial directions along axes disposed in the same or parallel planes.
- the linkage assembly can be made to cause a second tray to extend from the housing in a different predetermined radial direction ranging from less than 90 degrees up to more than 270 degrees from the direction of extension of the first tray, provided that the housing is also configured to permit such extension in the desired directions.
- the subject display package is preferably fabricated and assembled with parts made from die-cut paperboard and plastic sheet material, although portions of the linkage assembly are preferably thermoformed from plastic sheet, and metal parts can also be utilized in making the packages of the invention.
- a product display package comprising a housing, most preferably in the form of a sleeve; a divider defining substantially parallel, vertically spaced upper and lower receptacles inside the housing; upper and lower trays that are slidably engageable inside the upper and lower receptacles, respectively; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of both trays whenever either tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
- Manual movement of either tray outwardly from the housing simultaneously causes the other tray to extend outwardly from the housing in a different direction.
- manual movement of either tray back into the housing causes the other tray to retract back into the housing simultaneously.
- a product display package comprising a housing having a plurality of receptacles lying in substantially the same horizontal plane but facing in different radial directions relative to the center of the housing; a plurality of trays, with one tray being slidably engageable with each receptacle in the same horizontal plane; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of all trays whenever any tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
- Manual movement of any tray outwardly from the housing simultaneously causes the other trays to extend outwardly from the housing in different directions.
- manual movement of any tray back into the housing causes the other trays to retract back into the housing simultaneously.
- a product display package comprising a housing; a divider defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles inside the housing, with at least two of the receptacles lying in the same horizontal plane and at least one of the receptacles being vertically spaced apart from, but substantially parallel to, at least one other receptacle; a plurality of trays, with one tray being slidably engageable inside each receptacle; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of a plurality of the trays whenever another tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
- a product display package comprising a housing; a divider defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles lying in different horizontal planes inside the housing; a plurality of trays, with one tray being slidably engageable inside each receptacle; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of a plurality of the trays whenever another tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
- a linkage assembly for use in the display packages of the invention that comprises at least one rotatably mounted drive wheel; at least one divider substantially parallel to and facing a surface of the drive wheel, and comprising at least one elongated guide slot; at least two drive arms, each drive arm disposed between a surface of a drive wheel and a divider, and having one end rotatably connected to the drive wheel and a second end having a projection extending transversely through, and rotatable within, an elongated guide slot.
- a portion of the transverse projection extending through the elongated guide slot preferably frictionally engages a tray tab, the tray tab being attachable to a tray.
- a product display package is disclosed herein that comprises a plurality of interconnected trays, at least one of trays further comprising a compartment having a cover.
- FIG. 1 is a bottom rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the display package of the invention
- FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of the display package of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display package of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the upper tray of the display package of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the lower tray of the display package of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 6 is an exploded bottom rear perspective view of the trays and linkage assembly of FIG. 3 , showing the linkage assembly further exploded into its component parts;
- FIG. 7 is plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in forming sleeve 12 as shown in FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 8 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in forming upper tray 14 as shown in FIG. 4 ;
- FIG. 9 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in forming lower tray 16 as shown in FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 10 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in forming the spaced-apart upper and lower dividers of FIG. 6 ;
- FIG. 11 is an enlarged top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a drive arm of FIG. 6 ;
- FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the drive arm of FIG. 11 ;
- FIG. 13 is an enlarged top perspective view of the drive wheel mounting hub of FIG. 6 ;
- FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the display package of FIGS. 1 and 2 , with both the upper and lower trays extended simultaneously and with a cover over a compartment in the upper tray shown in dashed outline in a partially raised position;
- FIG. 15 is a top plan view of another preferred display package of the invention wherein four trays lying in the same horizontal plane are linked to one rotatably mounted drive wheel that causes all four trays to extend outwardly in different directions or retract inwardly into a housing whenever one of the trays is manually extended or retracted.
- display package 10 preferably comprises housing 12 containing upper tray 14 , lower tray 16 , and combined divider and linkage assembly 18 disposed between them.
- housing 12 is preferably made in the form of a sleeve that is constructed from a die-cut blank as shown in FIG. 7 .
- Upper tray 14 is also preferably made from a die-cut blank as shown in FIG. 8 , and is assembled by folding.
- upper tray 14 further comprises an interior compartment 24 surrounded by a bottom, side walls 20 and hinged cover 26 , which can be raised to the position illustrated by dashed line 22 when slidably extended from housing 12 as shown in FIG. 14 .
- Aperture 28 visible in FIG. 3 , is desirably provided on the bottom of upper tray 14 to facilitate alignment and engagement with combined divider and linkage assembly 18 .
- Lower tray 16 is preferably made from a die-cut blank as shown in FIG. 9 , and is also assembled by folding. Referring to FIG. 5 , lower tray 16 further comprises recess 32 and an aperture 30 located on the top surface to facilitate alignment and engagement with combined divider and linkage assembly 18 .
- the combined divider and linkage assembly 18 is preferably preassembled, after which upper tray 14 and lower tray 16 are attached as described below in relation to FIG. 6 .
- Housing 12 in partially pre-folded form, is wrapped around the assembled trays 14 , 16 and combined divider and linkage assembly, and then sealed to form package 10 as seen in FIGS. I and 2 . When fully assembled, display package 10 has the configuration of a rectangular box.
- trays 14 , 16 are disclosed in relation to this embodiment as having a covered interior compartment and an open recess, respectively, it should be appreciated that the shape and configuration of trays suitable for use in the invention can vary greatly, depending upon factors such as, for example, the configuration of the housing, the materials of construction, and the intended use.
- display packages embodying aspects of the invention can be made with substantially flat trays or with relatively deep drawers to accommodate various sized products or manuals, or made with solid trays and substantially flat surfaces for displaying promotional materials, and the like, or with any combination of such styles.
- die-cut sheets of paperboard are preferred for use in making housing 12 and trays 14 , 16 as described in relation to FIGS. 1-9 and 14
- die-cut sheets of rigid but foldable plastic are preferred for use in making combined divider and linkage assembly 18 as shown in FIG. 3 and as further described in relation to FIG. 6 .
- some parts as described below are preferably made by thermoforming plastic sheet into a desired configuration, although many such parts can also be made using other polymeric materials or metals, or by other manufacturing methods such as injection molding, stamping, or the like.
- combined divider and linkage assembly 18 desirably separate the interior of housing 12 into upper and lower receptacles having sufficient interior volume to receive upper and lower trays 14 , 16 , respectively, inside housing 12 .
- Each tray is slidably engageable with its respective receptacle and is also engaged with the linkage assembly by means of apertures 28 , 30 , into which projections 66 , 46 ( FIG. 6 ) of the linkage assembly extend, and by means of tray tabs 42 , 82 ( FIG. 6 ) that frictionally engage projections 66 , 46 and are attachable to the trays using double-sided tape, adhesive, or other similarly effective materials or devices.
- the divider portion of combined divider and linkage assembly 18 preferably comprises upper and lower guide platforms 60 , 34 , respectively that are spaced-apart and substantially parallel.
- the divider is preferably formed from a die-cut blank of foldable plastic sheet material having a configuration as shown in FIG. 10 wherein upper and lower guide platforms 60 , 34 are joined by a narrow rectangular section 88 having long sides defined by two parallel fold lines.
- the vertical spacing between upper and lower guide platforms 60 , 34 in FIG. 6 is determined by the width of rectangular section 88 and by a like-sized section 90 disposed inwardly of foldable tab 91 on the opposite side of upper guide platform 60 . Referring to FIGS.
- foldable tabs 68 , 70 , 72 and 74 of upper guide platform 60 and foldable tables 38 , 39 , 40 and 41 of lower guide platform 34 are desirably provided to properly position the divider inside the package housing ( FIG. 3 ) and thereby define receptacles within which trays 14 , 16 can be slidably engaged.
- foldable tab 91 which is broken away in FIG. 6 , is preferably secured by tape, adhesive or similarly effective means to the upwardly facing surface of lower guide platform 34 following installation of drive wheel 50 and drive arms 76 , 44 between upper and lower guide platforms 60 , 34 , respectively.
- Each guide platform comprises an elongate guide slot 62 , 36 , that, following assembly of display package 10 , is parallel to the desired direction of travel of the nearest adjacent tray and is positioned to facilitate extension of the associated tray outwardly from housing 12 , as shown in FIG. 14 , without allowing the tray to disengage from combined divider and linkage mechanism 18 ( FIG. 3 ).
- the length of guide slots 62 , 36 determines the range of travel of upper and lower trays 14 , 16 , respectively.
- a preferred linkage assembly comprises drive wheel 50 that is rotatably mounted between upper and lower guide platforms 60 , 34 , and can rotate in either direction as indicated by arrow 58 .
- One satisfactory means for rotatably mounting drive wheel 50 between upper and lower guide platforms is by use of mounting cap 80 , visible in FIGS. 6 and 13 , that comprises an annular flange portion and a transversely projecting cylindrical portion 82 that is insertable downwardly through a cooperatively sized and shaped aperture 64 in the middle of upper guide platform 60 and through a similar aperture 52 in the center of drive wheel 50 .
- Frictional engagement between mounting cap 80 and apertures 64 , 52 is preferably sufficient to hold mounting cap 80 in position relative to upper guide platform 60 and drive wheel 50 without overly restricting the rotational motion of drive wheel 50 between upper and lower guide platforms 60 , 34 .
- drive wheel 50 is preferably linked to upper and lower trays 14 , 16 by drive arms 76 , 44 that cooperate with guide slots 62 , 36 to convert the translational sliding motion of upper tray 14 in one direction into rotational motion of drive wheel 50 and, substantially simultaneously, to convert rotational motion of drive wheel 50 into translational motion of lower tray 16 in another direction that is different from the direction of travel of upper tray 14 .
- Drive arms 76 , 44 are desirably positioned between drive wheel 50 and upper and lower guide platforms 60 , 34 , respectively, and preferably each comprise one end that is rotatably connected to an off-center position on drive wheel 50 , and another end having a transversely extending projection that extends through and is rotatable within one of guide slots 62 , 36 .
- FIGS. 11 and 12 better illustrate a preferred embodiment of drive arm 44 , and are also representative of a preferred embodiment of drive arm 76 .
- Transverse cylindrical projections 46 , 48 are desirably thermoformed in a plastic sheet used to make drive arm 44 , although it will be appreciated that parts having a similar configuration can also be made by injection molding a polymeric resin or by metal stamping if desired.
- transverse cylindrical projection 48 is preferably frictionally engageable with, but rotatably mounted within, aperture 54 near the perimeter of drive wheel 50 .
- transverse cylindrical projection 78 of drive arm 76 is preferably frictionally engageable with, but rotatably mounted within, oppositely disposed aperture 56 near the perimeter of drive wheel 50 .
- the positioning of apertures 54 , 56 on drive wheel 50 and the length of drive arms 76 , 44 will depend upon factors including the diameter of drive wheel 50 and the desired direction and length of travel of trays 14 , 16 relative to the housing.
- retainer devices can be used to secure mounting cap 80 and projections 78 , 48 to drive wheel 50 .
- Each drive arm 76 , 44 preferably has at the end not attached to drive wheel 50 another transverse cylindrical projection 66 , 46 that is sufficiently long to extend transversely through the associated guide slot 62 , 36 , through an aperture in the associated tray tab 82 , 42 , and into aperture 28 , 30 of the associated upper or lower tray 14 , 16 .
- Cylindrical projections 66 , 46 preferably have a diameter slightly less than the width of elongate guide slots 62 , 36 , to permit simultaneous translational and rotational movement of each projection within its respective slot without excessive wobble or lost motion.
- each transverse cylindrical projection 66 , 46 and the associated upper or lower tray 14 , 16 is preferably enhanced by attaching tray tabs 82 , 42 to attachment sites 84 , 85 on bottom surface 86 of upper tray 14 and on the top surface of bottom tray 16 , respectively.
- Each tray tab 82 , 42 is preferably attached in fixed relation to its associated tray to reduce the likelihood that trays 14 , 16 will accidentally become disengaged from cylindrical projections 76 , 46 following repeated use or if tray 14 is withdrawn from housing 12 with excessive force.
- Two-sided tape, conventional adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, or other similarly effective means can be used to attach tray tabs 82 , 42 to trays 14 , 16 , as desired.
- the range of travel of each projection 66 , 46 in either direction in guide slots 62 , 36 controls the extent to which drive wheel 50 will rotate in either direction as indicated by arrow 58 .
- FIG. 15 depicts a plan view of a display package 100 comprising a housing 102 having side wall 106 and four trays 104 that are each slidably engaged within the housing and that each extend simultaneously from the housing in different directions.
- all four trays 104 lie in substantially the same horizontal plane and all are connected to a linkage assembly comprising a single drive wheel 115 that is rotatably mounted inside the housing beneath trays 104 .
- Guide platform 108 disposed between drive wheel 115 and trays 104 , comprises four elongate guide slots 110 .
- the linkage assembly connecting each tray 104 to drive wheel 115 produces corresponding translational motion of projection 116 in slot 110 , as indicated by arrow 122 , and causes drive wheel 115 to rotate left or right, respectively, around mounting hub 126 , as indicated by arrow 120 .
- the linkage assembly used to connect each tray 104 to drive wheel 115 is otherwise substantially similar to the assembly linkage described above in relation to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-14 , and preferably comprises drive arms 112 , transverse cylindrical projections 116 , 118 and tray tabs 114 , it being understood that the elements of the linkage assembly associate with each of trays 104 is substantially the same.
- display packages utilizing the elements of the invention can also be made wherein some, but not all, trays are connected to the linkage assembly so that some, but not all, trays will extend or retract simultaneously.
- display packages utilizing the elements of the invention can also be made wherein some, but not all, trays are connected to the linkage assembly so that some, but not all, trays will extend or retract simultaneously.
- by using a plurality of horizontally or vertically separated linkage assemblies in a single display package it is possible to have groups of trays that extend and retract in different directions in one, two, or more than two, levels, with each group of trays retracting and extending simultaneously but independently of the trays in a different group.
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Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to a package that can be fabricated from various combinations of paperboard, plastic sheet and/or metal, the package having a housing and at least two trays, drawers or display panels (all of which, singularly and collectively, are referred to herein as “trays”) slidably engaging the housing. At least two of the trays are preferably interconnected by a linkage disposed between them inside the housing in such manner that sliding one of the trays partially out of the housing in one direction simultaneously causes a second tray to slide partially out of the housing in a different direction. The trays can be configured to receive and selectively store or display products, product manuals, promotional materials, and the like.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,789,773 and 6,953,177 disclose devices with a housing containing a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism for selectively extending and retracting a promotional panel in response to movement of a spring-biased support member. Extension of the promotional panel in a direction either transverse or parallel and opposite to the direction of movement of the support member are disclosed.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,265 discloses an advertising/promotional product with a housing containing an endless band mechanism for selectively extending and retracting display panels or a display member/carrier in opposite directions.
FIG. 7 discloses a three-part display panel extendable from one end of the housing. The two side sections rotate gravitationally away from each other upon exiting the housing, but rotate back into axial alignment with the housing during retraction. The display member/carrier can be constructed for containing any desired product or advertising material. - U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,700 discloses a package with a tubular housing containing a product tray, a divider, a drive belt passing around the divider, and a pull-out tab member that, when pulled, causes the tray to extend from the housing in a direction parallel and opposite to the tab member. The drive belt is typically a strip of plastic film whose ends are fastened to each other form a continuous loop. The tray and tab member are bonded to the loop. The tab member can be replaced by a second tray that extends oppositely to the first tray.
- According to one embodiment of the invention, a display package is disclosed herein that comprises a housing containing a plurality of slidably engaged trays that are selectively extended from or retracted into openings in the housing by a linkage assembly comprising a drive wheel, and a plurality of drive arms each rotatably connected to the drive wheel and to an associated tray through an elongated guide slot in a divider disposed adjacent to the drive arm, the elongated guide slot being disposed parallel to the direction in which extension or retraction of the associated tray is desired.
- According to another embodiment of the invention, a product display package is disclosed herein that preferably includes a housing having a plurality of slidably engaged trays that are linked in such manner that sliding one tray outwardly from the housing in a first direction also causes one or more other trays to slide outwardly from the housing in one or more other directions. Conversely, movement of one extended tray back into the housing causes simultaneous retraction of one or more other extended trays into the housing. A linkage assembly connecting the trays is preferably disposed between them inside the housing and is easily adaptable to cause the trays to extend from the housing in different radial directions along axes disposed in the same or parallel planes. Thus, for example, the linkage assembly can be made to cause a second tray to extend from the housing in a different predetermined radial direction ranging from less than 90 degrees up to more than 270 degrees from the direction of extension of the first tray, provided that the housing is also configured to permit such extension in the desired directions. The subject display package is preferably fabricated and assembled with parts made from die-cut paperboard and plastic sheet material, although portions of the linkage assembly are preferably thermoformed from plastic sheet, and metal parts can also be utilized in making the packages of the invention.
- According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing, most preferably in the form of a sleeve; a divider defining substantially parallel, vertically spaced upper and lower receptacles inside the housing; upper and lower trays that are slidably engageable inside the upper and lower receptacles, respectively; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of both trays whenever either tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing. Manual movement of either tray outwardly from the housing simultaneously causes the other tray to extend outwardly from the housing in a different direction. Conversely, manual movement of either tray back into the housing causes the other tray to retract back into the housing simultaneously.
- According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing having a plurality of receptacles lying in substantially the same horizontal plane but facing in different radial directions relative to the center of the housing; a plurality of trays, with one tray being slidably engageable with each receptacle in the same horizontal plane; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of all trays whenever any tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing. Manual movement of any tray outwardly from the housing simultaneously causes the other trays to extend outwardly from the housing in different directions. Conversely, manual movement of any tray back into the housing causes the other trays to retract back into the housing simultaneously.
- According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing; a divider defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles inside the housing, with at least two of the receptacles lying in the same horizontal plane and at least one of the receptacles being vertically spaced apart from, but substantially parallel to, at least one other receptacle; a plurality of trays, with one tray being slidably engageable inside each receptacle; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of a plurality of the trays whenever another tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
- According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a product display package is disclosed that comprises a housing; a divider defining at least three substantially parallel receptacles lying in different horizontal planes inside the housing; a plurality of trays, with one tray being slidably engageable inside each receptacle; and a linkage assembly producing simultaneous movement of a plurality of the trays whenever another tray is moved outwardly from, or back into, the housing.
- According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a linkage assembly is disclosed for use in the display packages of the invention that comprises at least one rotatably mounted drive wheel; at least one divider substantially parallel to and facing a surface of the drive wheel, and comprising at least one elongated guide slot; at least two drive arms, each drive arm disposed between a surface of a drive wheel and a divider, and having one end rotatably connected to the drive wheel and a second end having a projection extending transversely through, and rotatable within, an elongated guide slot. A portion of the transverse projection extending through the elongated guide slot preferably frictionally engages a tray tab, the tray tab being attachable to a tray.
- According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a product display package is disclosed herein that comprises a plurality of interconnected trays, at least one of trays further comprising a compartment having a cover.
- The apparatus of the invention is further described and explained in relation to the following drawings wherein:
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FIG. 1 is a bottom rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the display package of the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of the display package ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display package ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the upper tray of the display package ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the lower tray of the display package ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 6 is an exploded bottom rear perspective view of the trays and linkage assembly ofFIG. 3 , showing the linkage assembly further exploded into its component parts; -
FIG. 7 is plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in formingsleeve 12 as shown inFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in formingupper tray 14 as shown inFIG. 4 ; -
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in forminglower tray 16 as shown inFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a preferred die-cut blank for use in forming the spaced-apart upper and lower dividers ofFIG. 6 ; -
FIG. 11 is an enlarged top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a drive arm ofFIG. 6 ; -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the drive arm ofFIG. 11 ; -
FIG. 13 is an enlarged top perspective view of the drive wheel mounting hub ofFIG. 6 ; -
FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the display package ofFIGS. 1 and 2 , with both the upper and lower trays extended simultaneously and with a cover over a compartment in the upper tray shown in dashed outline in a partially raised position; and -
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of another preferred display package of the invention wherein four trays lying in the same horizontal plane are linked to one rotatably mounted drive wheel that causes all four trays to extend outwardly in different directions or retract inwardly into a housing whenever one of the trays is manually extended or retracted. - Referring to
FIG. 3 ,display package 10 preferably compriseshousing 12 containingupper tray 14,lower tray 16, and combined divider andlinkage assembly 18 disposed between them. As shown in this embodiment,housing 12 is preferably made in the form of a sleeve that is constructed from a die-cut blank as shown inFIG. 7 .Upper tray 14 is also preferably made from a die-cut blank as shown inFIG. 8 , and is assembled by folding. Referring toFIG. 4 ,upper tray 14 further comprises aninterior compartment 24 surrounded by a bottom,side walls 20 and hingedcover 26, which can be raised to the position illustrated by dashedline 22 when slidably extended fromhousing 12 as shown inFIG. 14 .Aperture 28, visible inFIG. 3 , is desirably provided on the bottom ofupper tray 14 to facilitate alignment and engagement with combined divider andlinkage assembly 18. -
Lower tray 16 is preferably made from a die-cut blank as shown inFIG. 9 , and is also assembled by folding. Referring toFIG. 5 ,lower tray 16 further comprisesrecess 32 and anaperture 30 located on the top surface to facilitate alignment and engagement with combined divider andlinkage assembly 18. The combined divider andlinkage assembly 18 is preferably preassembled, after whichupper tray 14 andlower tray 16 are attached as described below in relation toFIG. 6 .Housing 12, in partially pre-folded form, is wrapped around the assembledtrays package 10 as seen in FIGS. I and 2. When fully assembled,display package 10 has the configuration of a rectangular box. However, whenupper tray 14 is manually grasped at thesides using indentations 15 in the sides ofhousing 12 and is pulled outwardly,lower tray 16 simultaneously extends rearwardly fromhousing 12 due to the engagement of both trays with the linkage assembly as further described below. Conversely, if either oftrays housing 12, the other tray is simultaneously retracted intohousing 12 by the linkage assembly. - Although
trays - Also, while it will be appreciated upon reading the disclosure that various synthetic and naturally occurring materials can be used in constructing parts of the display packages of the invention, die-cut sheets of paperboard are preferred for use in making
housing 12 andtrays FIGS. 1-9 and 14, and die-cut sheets of rigid but foldable plastic are preferred for use in making combined divider andlinkage assembly 18 as shown inFIG. 3 and as further described in relation toFIG. 6 . It should also be understood that some parts as described below are preferably made by thermoforming plastic sheet into a desired configuration, although many such parts can also be made using other polymeric materials or metals, or by other manufacturing methods such as injection molding, stamping, or the like. - Where it is desirable to secure overlapping surfaces of paperboard, plastic or other materials, conventional, commercially available tapes, adhesives, fasteners and welding processes well known to those of skill in the art can also be used if desired to assemble portions of display packages made in accordance with the invention. Similarly, where one or more parts are to be rotatably connected, or slidably or frictionally engaged, other known and commercially available connecting devices can likewise be substituted for parts disclosed and described herein provided that the substitution of such parts is not otherwise contrary to the teachings of this specification regarding the structural, functional and operational requirements of this invention.
- Referring to
FIG. 3 , combined divider andlinkage assembly 18 desirably separate the interior ofhousing 12 into upper and lower receptacles having sufficient interior volume to receive upper andlower trays housing 12. Each tray is slidably engageable with its respective receptacle and is also engaged with the linkage assembly by means ofapertures projections 66, 46 (FIG. 6 ) of the linkage assembly extend, and by means oftray tabs 42, 82 (FIG. 6 ) that frictionally engageprojections - Referring to
FIG. 6 , the divider portion of combined divider andlinkage assembly 18 preferably comprises upper andlower guide platforms FIG. 10 wherein upper andlower guide platforms rectangular section 88 having long sides defined by two parallel fold lines. The vertical spacing between upper andlower guide platforms FIG. 6 is determined by the width ofrectangular section 88 and by a like-sized section 90 disposed inwardly offoldable tab 91 on the opposite side ofupper guide platform 60. Referring toFIGS. 6 and 10 ,foldable tabs upper guide platform 60 and foldable tables 38, 39, 40 and 41 oflower guide platform 34 are desirably provided to properly position the divider inside the package housing (FIG. 3 ) and thereby define receptacles within whichtrays FIG. 10 ,foldable tab 91, which is broken away inFIG. 6 , is preferably secured by tape, adhesive or similarly effective means to the upwardly facing surface oflower guide platform 34 following installation ofdrive wheel 50 and drivearms lower guide platforms - Each guide platform comprises an
elongate guide slot display package 10, is parallel to the desired direction of travel of the nearest adjacent tray and is positioned to facilitate extension of the associated tray outwardly fromhousing 12, as shown inFIG. 14 , without allowing the tray to disengage from combined divider and linkage mechanism 18 (FIG. 3 ). The length ofguide slots lower trays - Referring to
FIG. 6 , a preferred linkage assembly comprisesdrive wheel 50 that is rotatably mounted between upper andlower guide platforms arrow 58. One satisfactory means for rotatably mountingdrive wheel 50 between upper and lower guide platforms is by use of mountingcap 80, visible inFIGS. 6 and 13 , that comprises an annular flange portion and a transversely projectingcylindrical portion 82 that is insertable downwardly through a cooperatively sized and shapedaperture 64 in the middle ofupper guide platform 60 and through asimilar aperture 52 in the center ofdrive wheel 50. Frictional engagement between mountingcap 80 andapertures cap 80 in position relative toupper guide platform 60 anddrive wheel 50 without overly restricting the rotational motion ofdrive wheel 50 between upper andlower guide platforms - Referring to
FIG. 6 ,drive wheel 50 is preferably linked to upper andlower trays drive arms guide slots upper tray 14 in one direction into rotational motion ofdrive wheel 50 and, substantially simultaneously, to convert rotational motion ofdrive wheel 50 into translational motion oflower tray 16 in another direction that is different from the direction of travel ofupper tray 14. Drivearms drive wheel 50 and upper andlower guide platforms drive wheel 50, and another end having a transversely extending projection that extends through and is rotatable within one ofguide slots FIGS. 11 and 12 better illustrate a preferred embodiment ofdrive arm 44, and are also representative of a preferred embodiment ofdrive arm 76. Transversecylindrical projections drive arm 44, although it will be appreciated that parts having a similar configuration can also be made by injection molding a polymeric resin or by metal stamping if desired. - Referring again to
FIG. 6 , transversecylindrical projection 48 is preferably frictionally engageable with, but rotatably mounted within,aperture 54 near the perimeter ofdrive wheel 50. Similarly, transversecylindrical projection 78 ofdrive arm 76 is preferably frictionally engageable with, but rotatably mounted within, oppositely disposedaperture 56 near the perimeter ofdrive wheel 50. The positioning ofapertures drive wheel 50 and the length ofdrive arms drive wheel 50 and the desired direction and length of travel oftrays cap 80 andprojections wheel 50. - Each
drive arm wheel 50 another transversecylindrical projection guide slot tray tab aperture lower tray Cylindrical projections elongate guide slots cylindrical projection lower tray tray tabs attachment sites bottom surface 86 ofupper tray 14 and on the top surface ofbottom tray 16, respectively. Eachtray tab trays cylindrical projections tray 14 is withdrawn fromhousing 12 with excessive force. Two-sided tape, conventional adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, or other similarly effective means can be used to attachtray tabs trays projection guide slots drive wheel 50 will rotate in either direction as indicated byarrow 58. - Other embodiments of the invention are further described and explained in relation to
FIG. 15 , which depicts a plan view of adisplay package 100 comprising ahousing 102 havingside wall 106 and fourtrays 104 that are each slidably engaged within the housing and that each extend simultaneously from the housing in different directions. Unlike the preferred embodiment described above in relation toFIGS. 1-14 , all fourtrays 104 lie in substantially the same horizontal plane and all are connected to a linkage assembly comprising asingle drive wheel 115 that is rotatably mounted inside the housing beneathtrays 104.Guide platform 108, disposed betweendrive wheel 115 andtrays 104, comprises fourelongate guide slots 110. Whenever anytray 104 is moved inwardly or outwardly relative tohousing 102, as indicated byarrow 124, the linkage assembly connecting eachtray 104 to drivewheel 115 produces corresponding translational motion ofprojection 116 inslot 110, as indicated byarrow 122, and causes drivewheel 115 to rotate left or right, respectively, around mountinghub 126, as indicated byarrow 120. The linkage assembly used to connect eachtray 104 to drivewheel 115 is otherwise substantially similar to the assembly linkage described above in relation to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-14 , and preferably comprises drivearms 112, transversecylindrical projections tray tabs 114, it being understood that the elements of the linkage assembly associate with each oftrays 104 is substantially the same. - It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure that display packages utilizing the elements of the invention can also be made wherein some, but not all, trays are connected to the linkage assembly so that some, but not all, trays will extend or retract simultaneously. Similarly, by using a plurality of horizontally or vertically separated linkage assemblies in a single display package, it is possible to have groups of trays that extend and retract in different directions in one, two, or more than two, levels, with each group of trays retracting and extending simultaneously but independently of the trays in a different group.
- Other alterations and modifications of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification in view of the accompanying drawings, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventors are legally entitled.
Claims (30)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/465,286 US20080060975A1 (en) | 2006-08-17 | 2006-08-17 | Display Package with Extending Trays |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/465,286 US20080060975A1 (en) | 2006-08-17 | 2006-08-17 | Display Package with Extending Trays |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20080060975A1 true US20080060975A1 (en) | 2008-03-13 |
Family
ID=39168491
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/465,286 Abandoned US20080060975A1 (en) | 2006-08-17 | 2006-08-17 | Display Package with Extending Trays |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20080060975A1 (en) |
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US20080146045A1 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2008-06-19 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Electrical connector assembly with protecting |
US8465336B2 (en) | 2010-04-29 | 2013-06-18 | Mattel, Inc. | Expandable packaging assembly |
USD747964S1 (en) * | 2013-11-13 | 2016-01-26 | Aventisub Llc | Package for medical device |
US20170137167A1 (en) * | 2016-04-29 | 2017-05-18 | AssurPack LLC | Safety Container |
WO2017210243A1 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2017-12-07 | Elc Management Llc | Integrated platform and folding carton tray |
USD808259S1 (en) * | 2016-10-21 | 2018-01-23 | Google Llc | Product packaging |
US10124284B2 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2018-11-13 | Sata Gmbh & Co. Kg | Filter system and holder therefor |
CN110353321A (en) * | 2019-08-28 | 2019-10-22 | 深圳雾芯科技有限公司 | It is a kind of for electronic cigarette and its portable box of smoke grenade |
US10513370B1 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2019-12-24 | Google Llc | Product packaging |
US20220340338A1 (en) * | 2021-04-26 | 2022-10-27 | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | Cover assembly and packaging box |
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---|---|---|---|---|
US20080146045A1 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2008-06-19 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Electrical connector assembly with protecting |
US7611015B2 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2009-11-03 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Electrical connector assembly with protecting member |
US8465336B2 (en) | 2010-04-29 | 2013-06-18 | Mattel, Inc. | Expandable packaging assembly |
USD747964S1 (en) * | 2013-11-13 | 2016-01-26 | Aventisub Llc | Package for medical device |
US10124284B2 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2018-11-13 | Sata Gmbh & Co. Kg | Filter system and holder therefor |
US20170137167A1 (en) * | 2016-04-29 | 2017-05-18 | AssurPack LLC | Safety Container |
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KR20180132957A (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2018-12-12 | 이엘씨 매니지먼트 엘엘씨 | Integrated platform and folding carton tray |
KR102156560B1 (en) | 2016-05-31 | 2020-09-17 | 이엘씨 매니지먼트 엘엘씨 | Integrated platform and foldable carton tray |
WO2017210243A1 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2017-12-07 | Elc Management Llc | Integrated platform and folding carton tray |
USD808259S1 (en) * | 2016-10-21 | 2018-01-23 | Google Llc | Product packaging |
US10513370B1 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2019-12-24 | Google Llc | Product packaging |
CN110353321A (en) * | 2019-08-28 | 2019-10-22 | 深圳雾芯科技有限公司 | It is a kind of for electronic cigarette and its portable box of smoke grenade |
US20220340338A1 (en) * | 2021-04-26 | 2022-10-27 | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | Cover assembly and packaging box |
US11919681B2 (en) * | 2021-04-26 | 2024-03-05 | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | Cover assembly and packaging box |
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