US3295671A

US3295671A - Pre-packaged display

Info

Publication number: US3295671A
Application number: US345613A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Wuensch; John A Ferrara
Original assignee: Diamond International Corp
Current assignee: Smurfit Diamond Packaging Corp
Priority date: 1964-02-18
Filing date: 1964-02-18
Publication date: 1967-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-03

Description

1967 J. H. WUENSCH ETAL 3,

PRE-PACKAGED DISPLAY Filed Feb. 18, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS John H. Wuensch JohnA Ferraro BY HHRL 64) 20mm ATTORNEY 1967 J. H. WUENSCH ETAL 3,295,571

PRE-PACKAGED DI SPLAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1964 F/G. 5 INVENTORS John H. W|uensch JohnA. Ferrorcl BY HHRL wjlocks ATTORNEY 1967 J. H. WUENSCH ETAL 3,

PRE-PACKAGED DISPLAY Filed Feb. 18, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8 F 9 INVENTORS John Wuensch John rruru BY KHRL Hoe/(s ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,295,671 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 filice 3,295,671 PRE-PACKAGED DISPLAY John H. Wuensch, Leonia, N ..l., and John A. Ferrara, New

York, N.Y., assignors to Diamond International Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 345,613 14 Claims. (Cl. 2064i) The present invention relates to a pre-packaged display device and, more particularly, a display device which may be shipped directly from the manufacturer of the goods to be displayed to the seller, which display contains the articles desired to be sold and which display may be removed from the shipping package and used directly without requiring further construction.

Up to the present time it has been necessary in setting up display devices to ship or mail the display device in separate parts. This has required the construction at the situs of use of the device by either the retailer or the wholesaler. This past procedure is not only inefiicient and costly, but is also annoying to the retailer or wholesaler who are not interested in building displays. Special assembling instructions are generally necessary and this does not guarantee that the desired display, particularly if at all complex, will be constructed according to the design.

The display devices of the prior art also generally have the undesirable feature of being inflexible to the display of articles of varying sizes. Thus, for example, if a display device was designed to display cans of 4" in height, the same display could not later be used to display cans having a height of 6". On the other hand, those devices which are designed for large articles, such as a display large enough to accept a 6" can, will then not only Waste 2" of space when used to display a 4" can, but will also not securely retain the 4" can in place.

The prior art display devices formed of metal or plastic have proven not only expensive to construct, but also, because of their great weight, have been expensive to ship. The display devices previously formed of paperboard, on the other hand, while of relatively light Weight and therefore suitable for shipping, have required expensive gluing and/or stitching operations. Therefore, display devices of the prior art have not proven completely suitable and sufficiently inexpensive, both in construction and for use in shipping.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pre-packaged display which overcomes the deficiencies of the display devices of the prior art, such as those indicated above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a means of mailing or shipping a prepackaged display, wherein the recipient may set up the display immediately and expose the merchandise to public view without assembling the display.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple but exceedingly eifective display device and package therefor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which saves time for a dealer in setting up a display.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display device which is particularly effective in holding and cradling merchandise, such as cylindrical containers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display device which expands for holding merchandise of all heights, and thereby provides economy in using one display device designed for a whole line of diiferent products.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display device which has an extremely light weight, yet which securely holds the merchandise in position and protects and noise-proofs the merchandise both during shipment and at display.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pre-packaged expandable display device which is con structed without gluing or stitching.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pre-packaged display device wherein the merchandise to be displayed is stacked in a plurality of layers and securely maintained during shipping.

These and other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accorn panying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of a display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an expanded view in perspective of the display device of FIG. 1 and including an article stabilizing device used only during shipping;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the stacking arrangement of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the display device of FIG. 3 during shipping;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an element of the display device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and additionally including a supporting pillar; and

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views similar to FIG. 5 showing alternate embodiments.

A display device 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown generally in FIG. 1. The display 10 comprises a central supporting pillar 12, a planar base 14 for the pillar l2, and at least one planar element 16 disposed above the planar base 14 on the supporting pillar 12. The supporting pillar 12 preferably passes through the centers of the planar base 14 and the planar element 16, since the structure will have the greatest strength with the supporting pillar running through the middle. However, the supporting pillar may be disposed at the edge or at any point through the planar base 14 and the planar element 16. Although the supporting pillar 12 may be formed of any material, it is desired and preferable that it be formed of paperboard in the form of a hollow cylinder, since this construction provides adequate strength as well as light weight for shipping and is also very inexpensive. Disposed within the top of the hollow supporting pillar 12 at the site of display is a paperboard signpiece 18 with the desired indicia thereon.

The construction of the planar base 14 and the planar element 16 is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Each of these elements is formed of an upper tray layer 20 and a lower insert layer 22.

The upper tray layer 2% is provided with an attractive appearance for display purposes by forming or molding such tray from a suitable attractive material into a desired configuration. The upper tray layer 20 is therefore preferably formed of a molded material such as a thin vacuum formed sheet of plastic or molded pulp. The upper tray layer 29 is preferably provided with article nesting or receiving recesses 24 which are adapted to retain the articles to be shipped and displayed. Extending upwardly from the plane of the tray 2'0 is an inverted funnel-shaped pillar gripping element 26 which has a funnel-shaped hole 28 passing therethrough having a diameter at its upper end the same as the outer diameter of the supporting pillar 12. About the periphery of the tray 26 is a downwardly extending flange 30.

The lower layer 22 provides a supporting structure for the molded tray layer 20 and is preferably formed of corrugated paperboard which is light in weight yet sufiiciently strong to provide adequate support. The lower paperboard layer 22 has the same peripheral configuration as the inner surface of the flange 30 of the upper layer 20. Hence, as clearly shown in FIG. 6, the lower layer 22 nests within the peripheral flange 30 to provide support for the molded tray 20. The peripheral flange 30 serves to hide the lower supporting layer 22, thereby giving the planar element 16 and the planar base 14 a pleasing and attractive appearance.

The lower paperboard layer 22 is provided with cut portions which provide a plurality of triangular shaped flaps 32 disposed directly beneath the pillar engaging element 26 of the upper layer 20. When the supporting pillar 12 is passed through the lower layer 22, the triangular shaped fiaps are forced upwardly into the funnel shaped recess of the gripping element 26 of the upper layer 20. Thus, while the upper end of the funnel shaped hole 28 of the gripping element 26 serves to frictionally maintain the upper layer 20 in a desired location on the supporting pillar 12, the flaps 32 are squeezed between the pillar 12 and the tapered walls of the hole 28, thereby serving to maintain the lower paperboard layer 22 in position on the pillar 12. Simultaneously, the peripheral engagement of the edge of the paperboard layer 22 and the interior surface of the flange 30 additionally maintains the lower layer 22 and the upper layer 20 in locked position.

The upper layer 20 of the planar base 14 and the upper layers 20 of all the planar elements 16 are identical. The lower layer 22 of the planar base 14 and the lower layers 22' of the planar elements 16 are also similar except that the lower layers 22' contain article retaining means (which are not necessary for the lower layer 22 of the base 14). As shown in FIG. 2, these article retaining means comprise a plurality of holes 34 which pass through the lower layer 22'. These holes 34 are adapted to receive the upper ends of the articles which are maintained directly below in the nesting recesses 24 of the upper layer 20 on the tier immediately beneath the lower layer 22'. It is clear that the recesses 24 and the holes 34 must be correctly oriented verticaly about the supporting pillar 12; this is easily accomplished since all the elements are supported on the pillar 12 by only frictional engagement.

The frictional engagement of the display elements provides one of the major advantages of the present device. As the height of the articles desired to be retained in the display vary, the distance between the planar elements 16 and between the lowest planar element 16 and the planar base 14 can be varied by merely sliding the planar elements 16 vertically on the supporting pillar 12. As the articles supported become shorter, more planar elements 16 can be added to the top of the supporting pillar 12.

The particular configuration shown in the drawings is particularly adapted to support cylindrical articles, such as cans or bottles. FIG. 3 shows the display in operation supporting aerosol cans 36 and 33. The aerosol cans 36 are supported within the nesting recesses of the planar base 14. The upper end of the aerosol can 36 is retained in the holes 34 of lower layer 22 of the planar element 16. The aerosol cans 38 are nested Within the nesting recesses 24 of the planar element 16 and require no upper support during display.

During shipping, the display 10, shown in FIG. 3 but without the sign piece 18, is placed in a corrugated shipping carton 40 of conventional design but having inner dimensions so that the display will fit tightly therewith (note FIG. 4). Thus, if the display has a circular cross section, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the carton 40 may be provided with a square cross sectional area so that the planar base 14 and the planar elements 16 will contact the interior of the carton 46 each at 4 points about its periphery. It is clear that because of such support the display device will be securely maintained Within the shipping carton 40.

Since the articles 36 are maintained in position at both their upper and lower ends within the display 10, such articles 36 will also be securely maintained during shipping. Since the articles 33 on the uppermost tier are maintained only by their support in the nesting recesses 24, these articles 38 cannot be maintained in position without a further stabilizing member. Therefore, during shipping a stabilizing insert 42 is provided which has apertures 34' for restraining the upper ends of the articles 38 in a manner similar to that in which holes 34 in the lower layer 22' maintain the upper ends of the articles 36. In addition, a pillar hole 46 is provided through which the pillar 12 passes for additional stabilization of the entire shipping unit. The stabilizing insert 42 may have any desired configuration so long as it maintains at least a stabilizing contact against the interior sides of the corrugated shipping carton 40. For ease of manufacture it has been found that a square stabilizing member which has dimensions corresponding to the interior cross sectional dimension of the packing carton 40 is most satisfactory. If desired, the stabilizing element 42 may have upwardly depending flanges 44. Like the shipping carton 40 and the

lower layers

22 and 22, it is preferable that the stabilizing element 42 be formed of corrugated paperboard for maximum strength and minimum cost and weight.

To set up the display 10, the bottom corrugated paperboard layers 22 and 22' are placed inside the downwardly depending flanges 30 of the upper molder layers 20 so that the triangular flaps 32 of the lower layers 22 and 22' extend upwardly into the funnel shaped recess of the gripping element 28 of the upper layer 20. The planar base 14 is then pushed over the supporting pillar 12 until it rests at the bottom or base of such pillar 12. The articles 36 are then stacked in the recesses 24 of the planar base 14. A second tray supporting unit, Le. a planar element 16, is then pushed over the supporting pillar 12 until the bottom of the corrugated lower layer 22 contacts the upper extremities of the article 36 and retains them within the holes 34. This procedure is repeated until the desired number of tiers is obtained. The display 10 is then placed in the shipping carton 40 and the stabilizing insert 42 is placed over the supporting pillar 12 and forced into the carton 40 over the upper ends of the articles 38. The carton is then sealed in a conventional manner and shipped.

When reaching its destination the carton 40 is opened, the corrugated stabilizing insert 42 is removed and the complete display 10 is lifted out by grasping the supporting pillar 12. The display may be placed wherever desired and a sign piece 18 attached to the top of the pillar 12.

FIGS. 79 show alternate shapes 20', 20" and 20", respectively, of the article nesting molded upper layer or tray. In addition, FIG. 8 shows that the article nesting recesses 24 may be provided in any desired shape to provide a seat for articles having other than a cylindrical shape.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not intended to be limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pre-packaged display comprising a supporting pillar, a planar base mounted on said supporting pillar and having a configured article bearing upper surface, a planar element on said supporting pillar disposed above said planar base and having a configured article bearing upper surface, said planar element having article retaining means' article retaining means of the bottom surface of said;

planar elements, a shipping carton surrounding and contacting said planar base and said planar element, and an article stabilizing insert disposed above said planar element and having article retaining means in its bottom surface, said stabilizing insert being surrounded and contacted by said shipping carton, the highest of said tiers of said cylindrical containers being immobilized between said configured upper surface of a said planar element and said stabilizing insert.

2. A pre-packaged display comprising a supporting pillar, a planar base mounted on the bottom of said support ing pillar and having an article bearing upper surface, at least one planar element on said supporting pillar disposed above said planar base and having an article bearing upper surface, said supporting pillar passing through said planar base and said planar element and retaining said planar base and at least one planar element thereon by friction, a lower tier of articles disposed upon said article bearing surface of said planar base and contacting the lower surface of said planar element, and thereby immobilized between said base and said lower surface, a shipping carton surrounding and contacting said planar base and planar element, an article stabilizing insert disposed above the uppermost of said planar elements, said stabilizing insert being surrounded and contacted by said shipping carton, and at least one upper tier of articles, said upper tier of articles being disposed upon said article bearing surface of said uppermost planar element and contacting the lower surface of said stabilizing insert and thereby immobilized between said planar elernent and stabilizing insert.

-3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said planar element has article retaining means in its bottom surface through which said article contact is effected.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said article bearing upper surfaces of said planar element and planar base comprise configured article nesting recesses.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said planar element comprises a lower paperboard layer and an upper molded layer, said lower layer having holes therein corresponding to said article retaining means, and said upper layer forming said configured article nesting recesses.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said shipping carton and said lower paperboard layer are formed of corrugated paperboard and said upper molded layer is formed of a thin sheet of plastic.

7. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said article stabilizing insert comprises a corrugated paperboard layer having holes therein through which said article contact is effected.

8. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said supporting pillar is a hollow paperboard cylinder.

9. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said planar base and said planar element are circular.

10. A device in accordance with claim 2 having only one planar element.

11. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said upper molded layer comprises a downwardly extending peripheral flange and said lower layer is nested within flange.

12. A pre-packaged display device comprising a cylindrical supporting pillar, a planar base for said supporting pillar and frictionally engaged thereto having an article nesting upper surface, a planar element frictionally engaged to said supporting pillar disposed above said planar base and having an article nesting upper surface and article retaining means on its lower surface, cylindrical containers disposed upon the upper article nesting surfaces of said planar base and said planar element, said cylindrical containers on said planar base being retained at their upper ends by said article retaining means, a carton surrounding and contacting said planar base and said planar element, an article stabilizing insert disposed above said planar element and having article retaining means in its bottom surface, said cylindrical containers on said planar element being retained at their upper ends by said article stabilizing insert and said article stabilizing insert being surrounded and contacted by said carton, and a sign for mounting on the upper end of said cylindrical supporting pillar.

13. A pre-packaged display comprising a supporting pillar, a planar base mounted on said supporting pillar and frictionally engaged thereto having an article nesting upper surface, a planar element frictionally engaged to said supporting pillar disposed above said planar base and having an article nesting upper surface and an article retaining lower surface, cylindrical containers disposed upon the upper article nesting surfaces of said planar base and said planar element, said cylindrical containers on said planar base being retained at their upper ends by said article retaining lower surface, a carton surrounding and contacting said planar base and said planar element, and an article stabilizing insert disposed above said planar element and having an article retaining bottom surface, said cylindrical containers on said planar element being retained at their upper ends by said article stabilizing insert and said article stabilizing insert beng surrounded and contacted by said carton.

14. A display device comprising a cylindrical supporting pillar, a planar base mounted on said supporting pillar and frictionally engaged thereto having a configured article nesting upper surface, a planar element frictionally engaged to said supporting pillar disposed above said planar base, said planar element comprising a lower paperboard layer having article retaining holes therein and an upper molded layer having a configured article nesting upper surface, cylindrical containers disposed upon the upper article nesting surfaces of said planar base and said planar element, said cylindrical containers on said planar base being retained at their upper ends by said article retaining holes in said lower paperboard layer, and a sign mounted on the upper end of said cylindrical supporting pillar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,471,594 10/1923 Evans 211-78 1,950,908 3/1934 Stone 206 X 2,063,319 12/1936 Lee 206-65 2,301,618 11/1942 Curtis.

2,678,543 5/ 1954 Lapentina 229--15 2,704,600 4/1955 Despres 20665 LOUIS G. MANQENE, Primary Examiner,

Claims

1. A PRE-PACKAGED DISPLAY COMPRISING A SUPPORTING PILLAR, A PLANAR BASE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING PILLAR AND HAVING A CONFIGURED ARTICLE BEARING UPPER SURFACE, A PLANAR ELEMENT ON SAID SUPPORTING PILLAR DISPOSED ABOVE SAID PLANAR BASE AND HAVING A CONFIGURED ARTICLE BEARING UPPER SURFACE, SAID PLANAR ELEMENT HAVING ARTICLE RETAINING MEANS IN ITS BOTTOM SURFACE, SAID SUPPORTING PILLAR PASSING THROUGH APPROXIMATELY THE CENTERS OF SAID PLANAR BASE AND SAID PLANAR ELEMENT, CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS DISPOSED UPON SAID CONFIGURED ARTICLE BEARING SURFACES SO THAT SAID DISPLAY CONTAINS A PLURALITY OF TIERS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS, THE LOWEST OF SAID TIERS BEING IMMOBILIZED BETWEEN SAID CONFIGURED UPPER SURFACE OF SAID PLANAR BASE AND SAID ARTICLE RETAINING MEANS OF THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID PLANAR ELEMENTS, A SHIPPING CARTON SURROUNDING AND CONTACTING SAID PLANAR BASE AND SAID PLANAR ELEMENT, AND AN ARTICLE STABILIZING INSERT DISPOSED ABOVE SAID PLANAR ELEMENT AND HAVING ARTICLE RETAINING MEANS IN ITS BOTTOM SURFACE, SAID STABILIZING INSERT BEING SURROUNDED AND CONTACTED BY SAID SHIPPING CARTON, THE HIGHEST OF SAID TIERS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS BEING IMMOBILIZED BETWEEN SAID CONFIGURED UPPER SURFACE OF A SAID PLANAR ELEMENT AND SAID STABILIZING INSERT.