US2487123A - Combination packing and display - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8,-1949 F. F. FLUSS ET AL COMBINATION PACKING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 21, 1946 W QM? m K .iiiiiii a 5 1% m Z W HIM a J m x Y p W5 U E V Fe \m NRM whfiimw I, A

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 COMBINATION PACKING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Felix F. Fluss, New York, N. Y., and George J ellinek, Plainfield, N. J.

Application May 21, 1946, Serial No. 671,378

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to combination packing and display devices and more particularly to devices or plates for carrying and displaying bulky and, preferably elongated articles, such as racks, towel bars, kitchen utensils, such as ladles, egg-heaters, irregularly shaped products of the hardware line, such as fixtures, tools, etc.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide means affording a very compact, inexpensive and space saving holding and display device of the aforesaid character on which one or a plurality of the aforesaid articles may be quickly mounted for packing and/or display purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide means facilitating simple accommodation and effective display of a number of towel bars or like articles on said device and permitting the attachment of such articles in their operative position to said device and for ready removal therefrom. Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for placing two holding devices in predetermined relation to each other with portions of said articles nested or extending therebetween in web-like fashion, so that a rigid packing structure is obtained which can be easily manipulated for the insertion in a carton or container for transporting, as well as for storing purposes.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means permitting rapid packing of two or more carrying devices holding articles, each two of said devices facing each other when packed within a box for shipping or like purposes.

Yet, another object of the present invention resides in the provision of means integral with the holding device and permitting the arrangement of articles to be displayed thereon in locked position and for ready removal therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for holding or carrying towel bars or like articles in a desired and orderly fashion, the articles being preferably arranged in staggered relation to each other, so that the holding device may be made of cardboard, corrugated board and the like, which will be braced and stiffened by the articles mounted thereon.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for carrying the aforesaid articles in an efficient manner, clearly arranged to each other and for the purpose intended, so that the purchaser will get an idea how to attach and to use the article or articles on display.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide means for obtaining holding devices which are neat in appearance, simple in construction, easy and inexpensive to manufacture by mass production methods, such as stamping and scoring operations, and which fulfill all practical requirements for stacking said devices with as well as without articles thereon and for packing and shipping the same.

Yet, a further object of the invention is to provide method and means for inexpensively packing articles having irregular contours or projecting parts, said means preventing said articles or their coatings from being marred or damaged during storage or transportation, and contributing t an equalization and reduction of pressure exerted on the packed articles when in transport.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide means dispensing with any tissue or other wrappin materials, but assuring nevertheless a safe and statically well balanced packing of the aforesaid articles.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawing which illustrates certain embodiments of said invention. These embodiments are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists, can be variously arranged and organized. The invention is therefore not limited to the precise arangement and organization of the parts herein shown and described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the underface of the holding device made in accordance with this invention, parts of said device being broken away to show details thereof;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the assembly of two holding devices arranged in opposed relation and contained within a shipping receptacle.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the assembly of Fig. 2, with a section through the holding devices (the receptacle and side flaps of the holding devices being omitted) Fig. 4 is a perspective view (on a reduced scale) of the holding device of Fig. 1 with towel bars mounted thereon;

- Fig. 5 is a section of a modified embodiment of the invention in the form of a molded holding device, illustrated in perspective and showing one of the towel bars inserted therein;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view through two oppositely disposed devices of the type seen in Fig. 6 and made in accordance with this invention, towel bars being contained within molded holding devices.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. i the rear face of a substantially flat holding device or plate 10 made from cardboard, corrugated board and the like. Plate it! comprises a median or portion H and two side flaps l2 and I3 integral with and swingably attached at scored side edges or folds l4 and E5 to portion II of plate M. The main portion H is provided with a row of staggered elongated slots l6, ll, l3, I9, .20 and 21 which terminate in lateral directions, respectively, in smaller slots lBa, l6b; Ha, llb, etc., communicating with respective enlarged substantially round perforations I60, IEd; l'lc, 11d, etc.

As seen in Fig. 1, there project, for example, through slots l1, l8 and I9 for spaced arrangement from the front face 3! of plate l0 respective towel bars 22, 23 and 24 of substantially U-shaped formation. 'Each of the towel bars 22, 23 and 2 is provided with lateral, substantially parallel arms terminating, respectively, into shields or flange pieces 22a, 22b; 23a, 23b and 24a, 24b which latter come to lie for abutment in substantially flat condition against the rear face of plate portion H. In this position the lateral parallel arms of the towel bars pass through perforations I To, l'ld; l8c, Md and Na, I9d, respectively. In order to maintain flange pieces 22a, 22b; 23a, 23b and 24a, 24b of the towel bars in .abutting relation with the rear face of plate portion H, side flaps l2 and 13 may be swung about folds l4 and I5, respectively, for engagement with the rear faces of the aforesaid flange pieces, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will also be noticed from Fig.1 that side flaps l2 and I3 are provided with tongue-like members 25, .26, 2'! and 28, 2-9, 30. These tongue-likemembers are substantially in alignment with the respective slots l6 to 21, inclusive.

As can be further seen from Figs. 1 and 2, these tongue-like members may be brought into engagement with respective slots of the plate portion H so that the flange pieces of the towel bars will be retained in position on the rear face of said plate. If desired, the free ends of said tongue-like members may be bent inwardly and folded over the front face of plate portion H to assure an improved fixation of the side flaps l2, 7

H in superposed position on the rear face of said plate portion H.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of the holding plate of Fig. .1, modified, however, in that two holding plates I0, lilasare shown in Fig. 2 with their front parts 3| and 32 facing each other, but arranged with the slots l6, H, i8, i9, 20, 2! in opposed relation to slots--36, 31, 38, 39., 48, M so that the row of successive-slots 16 to 2! provided in plate H! and the row of corresponding slots 36 to 41 provided in plate 10a will not register with one another, but rather lie in out-of-ali'gnment position to each other or are staggered with respect to each other so that when all the slots-of both plates H3, Hla are employed for holding or carrying towel bars thereon, the six towel bars within the slots on one plate will, .in this instance, not .abut against the. six towel bars mounted on the opposite plate.

on plate Illa and projecting'beyond slots 39 and I 40. Since the projecting transverse front portions of all towel bars will abut against the front faces- 31, 32. of the oppositely disposed holding plates at respective plate locations defined between each two adjacent slots, a very sturdy packing structure is attained in which the two holding plates ll], Illa are held in firm and spaced relation to each other by said projecting transverse front portions of said towel bars.

Consequently, two holding plates of the aforesaid type may thus be substantially undisplaced- 1y arranged to each other with said towel bars nested or mounted thereon and then slid into a suitable container 35 for shipping and like purposes. The retaining side flaps L2 and i3 further contribute to sturdily position said article holding plates It, 18a within said container and at or adjacent opposite sidewalls 35a, 35b of the latter (Figs. 2 and 3).

As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, each towel bar, generally designated b numeral consists of the transversely extending front portion or rod 51 with lateral substantially parallel arms 52, 53 which terminate in respective flange pieces 54, 55.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the embodiment of theinvention shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Holding devices 61], 65a coact with each other and are molded from cellulcsic material, eachv device comprising a plurality of recessed. or U- shaped elements 6!, 62, respectively, vjoined together by interconnecting bridge or strap portions 63. Each element is so formed as to receive within its U-shap'ed' recess 64 the lateral arms 52', 53 and the forward transverse portion or rod 51, whereas flange pieces "54, 55 are held within hollowsEB interconnected by slot 51 provided in the base 58 of each of the devices 69, 60a. It is preferred to provide hollows or recesses 56 of sufficient depth that flange pieces 54; 55 will be positioned substantially flush with the outer surface 58a of base 58'. As can be seen from Fig. 6, strap portions 63 are each provided with a notch 5'9 for accommodating or nesting therein the rounded edge 5% of a corresponding element 6| or 62.

Thus, a plurality of equally shaped articles, such as towel bars, may be positioned within recesses 64 of said: holding elements 6i and '62 of the 'res-pectiveholding devices 619 and 66a, which latter may then: be nested in: each other, as seen in Fig. *6, by the engagement of the rounded edges 5811' within notches 59 so that both holding devices 60, 60a may then be inserted or slid into a container 35 which is similar in construction to that drawn on an enlarged scale and-shown inFig. 2. I

The devices shown in Figs. 5 and 6 can be manufactured or molded from wood pulp, fibrous material or any other mold-able, inexpensive material and can beeasily severed-from the remainder of the holding device 9001- 6011, as the case maybaat notches 59.

The devices herein described are particularly useful for packing. aswellasdisplay purposesof various articles preferably of irregular contours, which are to be packed in conventional rectangular or square cardboard boxes. It is, however, obvious that the carrier or plate means on which the respective articles are to be mounted for packing or displa purposes may be modified or changed in order to comply with the particular shape of the article or articles, it being understood that the characteristic features herein disclosed are substantially maintained when making such changes.

Many advantages result from the structure of these devices since the articles or items have not to be individually wrapped and put in said box or container for transporting purposes whereby valuable space would be taken up by the wrappings and arrangement of the loose, bulky articles within such box.

The carrier means herein employed are made up for a definite number of articles to be mounted thereon so that counting of the articles is great- 1y facilitated.

The assembly of several carriers or plates may be effectuated in an efficient and simplified manner by placing each two carriers or plates in such relation to each other that their fronts face each other with projecting parts of the articles abutting against the respective front faces of said plates or carriers, so that said projecting parts come to lie between two plates to thereby provide a girder-like formation whose foot and head are formed by said two plates and the web by the aforesaid projecting parts of said articles. This girder-like or T-shaped formation contributes to a statically, well-balanced device which can be readily slid or inserted in a rectangular cardboard box for shipping and transporting purposes.

For the aforesaid reason, the carrier or plate on which the articles are mounted as well as the boxes in which these plates with the articles are inserted, may be made of thin cardboard or other suitable inexpensive material which leads to a considerable saving in material and cost for shipping the articles.

Instead of using tongue-shaped means to hereinabove referred to, it is also possible to employ screws which usually are sold together with the articles, to attach the latter temporarily on the plate or carrier which is preferably made I from cardboard. These screws preferably extend through the opening of fixture or rearward parts of the articles and retain the side flaps l2, [3 in position on the rear face of the plate Hi.

The front faces of the plates or carriers may be imprinted in various colors and may contain pictorial and desicriptive matters which may refer to the application and use of the articles thus exhibited or displayed. The parallel slots provided in the carriers or plates may also be used for temporarily holding and exhibiting the articles in a suspended position, if so desired.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a device of the character described in which the various objects hereinabove set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination, in a device for holding and packing a plurality of articles, such as towel bars, of at least two substantially flat carrier plates each having a front face and a rear face and each provided with a plurality of substantially parallel slots arranged in staggered relation to each other, with retainer means for position on the rear face of said carrier plates, respectively, and adapted to hold said towel bars in position thereon, said towel bars having each lateral arms terminating, respectively, in rear end flanges and in a transverse rod interconnecting said arms, said slots passing through said carrier plates and being adapted for the engagement of said arms, respectively, of said towel bars, said end flanges abutting against said rear faces of said carrier plates, said rods extending forwardly of said front faces of said carrier plates, whereby said carrier plates when holding said towel bars may be placed in such relation to each other that said front faces of said carrier plates face each other and said rods of said towel bars substantially abut against said front faces of said carrier plates, respectively.

2. In a device for holding and packing a plurality of articles of the character described, the combination of at least two substantially flat carrier plates, each carrier plate having a front face and a rear face and each provided with a central passageway and a plurality of lateral slots communicating with said passageway, said slots being arranged in staggered relation to each other, with retainer means engaging the rear face of said carrier plates, respectively, and holding in engaged position said articles on said carrier plates, said articles having each two spaced lateral portions terminating, respectively, in rear end portions and in a transverse front portion interconnecting said lateral portions, said slots being adapted for the engagement of said lateral portions, respectively, of said articles, said end portions abutting against said rear faces of said carrier plates, said front portions extending beyond said front faces of said carrier plates, whereby said carrier plates when holding said articles may be placed in such relation to each other that said front faces of said carrier plates face each other and said front portions of said articles substantially abut against said front faces of said carrier plates, respectively.

3. In a display and packing device, the combination of plate means having a front face, a rear face and opposite side edges, with towel bars having each lateral arms with end flanges at the rear ends of said arms and with a transverse rod interconnecting said arms at the forward ends thereof, said plate means being provided with a plurality of successive slots each terminating in a perforation short of one of said side edges,

each perforation being adapted for the insertion of a respective arm of said towel bars, the distance between said one side edge and one perforation of a predetermined slot diifering from the distance between the perforation of the succeeding slot and said one side edge, whereby said arms extend through said perforations of said slots in staggered relation with said end flanges abutting against said rear face of said plate means and said rod projecting beyond said front face of said plate means.

4. In a display and packing device for towel bars each having lateral, parallel arms terminat- 2 ing; respectively; in rear end flanges and: in: a transverse front rod interconnecting said arms at the-forwardendsthereof; alcarrier plate havinga'frontfa'ce and a rear face and: provided with substantially parallel'slots for the engagement of said arms of saidl'towelbars, the-ends of said'slots being arranged in staggered relation? to each other, whereby-said end flanges ofsaid towel bars may be disposed to-abut against said rear face of said carrier plate, whereasisaid rods ex-'- tendforwardly of saidffront face of: said carrier plate.

5; In a device for holding a plurality of towel bars, a substantially fiat carrier plate having a front faceand a rear face and provided with successiveiy disposed, spaced apart slots arranged in staggered relation to each other, and retainer means engageable with the rear face of said carrier plate, said towel bars having eachlateral arms terminating, respectively, in rear end flanges and ina transverse front rod extending between said arms at the-forwardends thereof, said'arms being engageable with said slots, respectively, whereby said-end flangesabut against said rear face of said carrier plate and are'maintained in position thereat by said retainermeans, whereas said rods extend in said position spaced from said front face of said carrier plate.

6. In a display and packing device for towel bars; a plurality of carrier means having each lateral, parallel arms, end flanges at the rear ends of'said arms and a transverse rod interconnecting said arms at. the forward ends thereof, each carrier means having a front face and a rear face and provided with elongated, substantially parallel slots providing respective spaces therebetween, the lateral ends of said slots being engaged by said arms of said towel bars and being arranged instaggered relation. toeach other, so that said end" flanges of said towelbars abut against saidrear faces-of said carriermeans and said rods extend beyond said front facesof said carrier means, said carrier means; when placed in pairsv with their front faces opposite each other, holding said towel bars with their transverse rods extending within said spaces between said slots, respectively.

7. In a device for holding a pluralityof articles having projecting parts; two substantially flat carrier means each having a front face and a rear face and each provided with successively disposed, spaced apart elongated slots passing through said front face and said rear face, said slots being arranged in staggered relation to each other and being adapted to maintain said articles in position on said carrier means with said projecting parts extending beyond said front faces, said carrier means when disposed with their front faces opposite each other being adapted'to hold said articles therebetween and with said project'- ing parts determining the distance between said two carrier means.

' FELIX F. FLUSS.

GEORGE JELLINEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,734,032 Evans Nov. 5,1929 1,890,181 Hoffman Dec. 6,1932 2,097,757 Deike Nov. 2,1937 2,356,552 Warr Aug. 22, 1944

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