WO2013060381A1

WO2013060381A1 - Packaging system and method for storing and displaying articles

Info

Publication number: WO2013060381A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/068988
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederik JACOBSSON; Gert De Smedt; Wim Wouters
Original assignee: Sca Packaging Marketing Nv
Priority date: 2011-10-28
Filing date: 2011-10-28
Publication date: 2013-05-02

Abstract

A packaging system for storing and displaying articles includes at least one box (2) for including several of the articles to be displayed, and a presentation stand (1) for supporting and displaying the box (2). The presentation stand (1) includes a receiving part (100) for accommodating the box (2), and a base plate (105) movably connected to the receiving part (100). The presentation stand (1) can be selectively disposed either in a receiving configuration, in which the presentation stand (1) is arranged for receiving one of the boxes (2), or in a displaying configuration, in which the presentation stand (1) is arranged for supporting and displaying the box (2). The presentation stand (1) is changed from the receiving configuration into the displaying configuration by moving the receiving part (100) relative to the base plate (105).

Description

Packaging System and Method

for Storing and Displaying Articles

Technical Field

The present invention is concerned with a packaging system for storing and displaying articles, in particular one that can be used in the frame of a "Shelf Ready Packaging" (SRP) , "Display Ready Packaging" (DRP) or "Retail Ready

Packaging" (RRP) concept, as well as in a corresponding method for storing and displaying articles.

Prior Art

Operators of shops and supermarkets have been searching for ways to economise the manual work of re-stocking the shelves. "Shelf Ready Packaging" (SRP) , "Display Ready

Packaging" (DRP) or "Retail Ready Packaging" (RRP) refers to the containers and packaging for retail goods which are ready to be displayed instantly or with little set up for retail consumption by consumers. Alternative formats thereof are emerging in all shapes and sizes. Examples of a retail ready package are the paperboard cartons that hold several packs of gum which are placed near cash registers at supermarkets and retail stores, cartons of yoghurt or the like in the dairy shelves, or a presentation tray for chocolate tablets.

In the following, the terms "Shelf Ready Packaging" (SRP), "Display Ready Packaging" (DRP) and "Retail Ready Packaging" (RRP) will be used synonymously. Another synonym is the French "PAV" ("pret-a-vendre") .

A large variety of prior art RRP dispensers have been constructed by folding a sheet-material blank to form a container or box. Where the material is cardboard, such boxes are quite inexpensive due to the low cost of the

cardboard and the ease of cutting and bending a blank of this material. When assembled, these boxes generally define an enclosure for containing a plurality of articles, and an opening in the enclosure through which articles are

extracted.

The boxes are often simply placed in a stack on the shelf, and one of the boxes is opened so as to allow the customer to remove the desired articles. In this case the users often tend to take and open the uppermost box from the stack. New boxes containing fresh articles are also placed on top of the stack. Therefore, the lowermost boxes in the stack possibly remain on the shelf for a long time, so that there is a risk for the articles or products contained therein to deteriorate.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is the object underlying the present invention to provide a packaging system for storing and displaying individual articles or products, which allows for a

controlled removal of the individual articles based on the first-in-first-out principle, and a corresponding method for storing and displaying articles using the packaging system.

The basic idea of the present invention is to provide a packaging system comprising at least one box including the individual articles (products) to be displayed and a

presentation stand which can be arranged in two different configurations and accordingly fulfil two different

functions: in a receiving configuration, the stand is used for receiving one of the boxes, particularly the lowermost box of a stack of boxes. In a displaying configuration, the stand is used for supporting the box and displaying the articles (products) contained therein.

As a result, the user is encouraged to always take the lowermost box from the stack, whereas new boxes are added to the top of the stack. In this manner it is made sure that the products are properly rotated on the shelf and the products which are put on the shelf first are also sold first. This decreases the likelihood that a product has to be discarded after reaching its expiration date. Accordingly, the above object is achieved by a packaging system for storing and displaying articles as claimed in claim 1, including at least one box for including several of the articles to be displayed, and a presentation stand for supporting and displaying the box. The presentation stand includes a receiving part for accommodating the box, and a base plate movably connected to the receiving part.

The packaging system of the present invention consists of two cooperating entities: on the one hand, there is the box including several of the individual articles to be presented and dispensed. On the other hand, there is the presentation stand in which the box can be accommodated and by means of which it is displayed.

In accordance with the invention, the presentation stand can be selectively disposed either in a receiving

configuration, in which the presentation stand is arranged for receiving one of the boxes, or in a displaying

configuration, in which the presentation stand is arranged for supporting and displaying the box. The presentation stand is changed from the receiving configuration into the displaying configuration by moving the receiving part

relative to the base plate.

The packaging system can advantageously be designed so as to include several boxes in a stacked fashion. In this case, the presentation stand is arranged to receive the lowermost box from the stack when it is arranged in its receiving configuration.

In order to accommodate a filled box within the stand, the stand is arranged in its receiving configuration. In this receiving configuration, the base plate of the stand is arranged relative to the receiving part thereof so as to allow the lowermost box of the stack to be pulled into the stand. The stand and the box therein are then moved relative to the base plate, so that the stand assumes its displaying configuration and the box therein is displayed to the customer. The remaining boxes of the stack can be placed onto an exposed part of the base plate to help stabilizing the box on display against shifting and tilting over.

As soon as the box has been emptied, it can be taken out from the stand and discarded upon moving the stand from the displaying to the receiving configuration.

The packaging system could be used on the shelf, or placed next to the cash register or even in a display.

As regards the individual products to be displayed, the packaging system can be used for virtually any kind of product which can suitably be placed in the boxes of the packaging system. One could for example think of cartons, bottles, pillow bags, tablets, tubes, cans, tubs, rolls or bags.

The dimensions of the packaging system, i.e. of the presentation stand and the boxes, entirely depend on the kind of product and the dimensions of the location where the system is to be used, e.g. the shelf.

The base plate may be connected to the receiving part via a connecting hinge, and the presentation stand may be changed from the receiving configuration into the displaying configuration by pivoting the receiving part relative to the base plate about the connecting hinge, preferably by about 90°.

The receiving part of the presentation stand may be essentially constituted in the form of a tunnel-shaped element open at the top and bottom, and the base plate is connected to a free edge of a front face of the tunnel-shaped receiving part. This is a particularly simple configuration of the presentation stand which facilitates setting up the stand in the receiving and displaying configurations.

The base plate suitably coextends with the front face of the tunnel-shaped receiving part in the receiving

configuration, but is arranged at an angle with respect to the front face in the displaying configuration. When the presentation stand is in the displaying

configuration_/ the base plate is suitably arranged at a bottom of the presentation stand.

When the presentation stand is in the displaying

configuration, the base plate at least partly extends beyond an outline of the receiving part so that at least a second one of the boxes can be placed thereon. In this context, the "outline" of the receiving part is the footprint thereof, which is the area delimited by the walls of the receiving part, seen from above. The weight of the additional box or boxes can then be used to prevent the stand and the box supported therein from shifting and tilting in at least some directions.

The boxes may each have a shape which allows them to be stacked in a storage orientation but presented in a

presentation orientation different from the storage

orientation. In this manner the boxes are changed from their storage orientation into their presentation orientation by changing the stand from the receiving into the displaying configuration.

When the presentation orientation is an upright

orientation of the box, whereas the storage orientation is a reclined orientation of the box, the boxes can be suitably stored without tilting over, while removal of the products or articles from the box on display is facilitated.

The box may include an area for the presentation of the articles. The presentation area is an area in which a presentation aperture can be formed through which the

articles can be withdrawn from (taken out of) the box.

During transport and storage, the aperture is preferably closed or not yet established so as to prevent the articles from falling out or being withdrawn.

Once the articles are to be displayed, however, the presentation aperture must be provided. This can be done by arranging at least part of at least one of the faces of the box so that it is tearable away (e.g. by means of a

perforation), so as to expose the articles. In case, for example, where both a part of the front face and a part of the bottom face of the box were torn away, the aperture would be facing frontward and upward.

In this context and even though not preferred, the box could already be delivered with the presentation aperture being formed. As an alternative, the presentation aperture could be formed immediately before the boxes are placed in the stack. In this case, the aperture must be shaped so that the products are still retained in the box, in particular if the aperture extends on that side of the box which faces downwards when the box is arranged in the stack. In order to avoid such difficulties, and also for dust and hygienic reasons, it is most common that the aperture is only opened, by a customer or a store employee, once it has been set up within the presentation stand.

The receiving part of the presentation stand may be formed with a cut-out, which preferably coincides with the presentation area of the box or with a part thereof. It is then possible to expose and display all the articles contained in the box rather than concealing them within the stand.

With regard to the materials used, the presentation stand and/or the box may be made from solid paperboard or corrugated board, in particular E-flute corrugated board. Yet, also other fiber based materials and/or other materials are conceivable.

The most common corrugated board is single wall board. It consists of two outer sheets of flat paper, called facings or liners, glued to a fluted, or corrugated, inner sheet, called medium.

Corrugated board can be produced in various thicknesses, or heights. This is accomplished by shaping the medium (or inner paper) of the board into any of several flute heights during the production, or corrugating, process.

The higher the flute, the thicker the corrugated board. To designate the various flute heights, or board thicknesses, the corrugated paperboard industry applies letters and, as a result, has derived designations such as A-flute, B-flute, C- flute, E-flute, and so on.

B-flute board is about 3 mm thick, E-flute is about 1.5 mm thick, or half as much.

Apart from E-flute corrugated board, corrugated board in different thicknesses could also be used for the presentation stand and the boxes, as could entirely other materials. Of course, the presentation stand and the boxes do not need to be made from the same materials but different materials could be used. For the presentation stand, plastic or any other rigid material could be employed. For the boxes, paperboard could be used.

Since the stand will be re-used together with a number of consecutive boxes, it could also be made from higher quality material. Any durable, rigid material would be suitable, for example a plastic material.

In order to facilitate the initial set-up of the system, the presentation stand may be designed such that it can be formed by folding at least one sheet-material blank,

preferably a single sheet-material blank. It is then possible to provide the blank in a flat configuration for shipment and distribution, and easily complete the presentation stand by folding. Taking the presentation stand down and re-setting it up at a different location is equally easy.

Also the box may be formed by folding at least one sheet-material blank, preferably a single sheet-material blank.

The box may further include a gripping device, by means of which the box can be pulled into the presentation stand when the stand is disposed in the receiving configuration. This gripping device could be present in the form of a gripping tab provided on the front face of the box, which faces the user when the boxes are stacked. Any alternative gripping device could however also be considered, for example gripping cut-outs or the like.

In order to prevent it from tilting over towards the front, the presentation stand may be further provided with means for maintaining the displaying configuration thereof, for example by means of a magnetic force, i.e. a magnet cooperating with a steel shelf. Removable glue dots, tape, or still different features could also be used. The stand could also be designed to lean a few degrees backwards towards the stack, e.g. by providing the side walls with a slightly slanted shape.

The present invention also provides a method for storing and displaying articles using the packaging system described above, including the following steps:

disposing the presentation stand in an empty state in the receiving configuration,

inserting one of the boxes into the presentation stand, changing the presentation stand into the displaying configuration by moving the receiving part, and the box provided therein, relative to the base plate, and

removing the box again from the stand.

In the method of the invention, one of the boxes may be inserted into the presentation stand by advancing it into the receiving part from a first side of the receiving part. In this case, the box protrudes from a second side of the receiving part opposite the first one when the presentation stand has been brought into the displaying configuration. By using the presentation stand in this particular manner, the user is further prevented from taking a box from the top of the stack and setting it up in the presentation stand.

The terms removing, withdrawing, dispensing, picking, extracting, taking out, etc. are presently used synonymously.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a packaging system for storing and displaying articles according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2A is a perspective front view of only the presentation stand of the system of Figure 1, and Figure 2B is a perspective rear view of the presentation stand. Figure 3A is a perspective top view of one box of the system of Figure 1, and Figure 3B is a perspective bottom view of the box.

Figures 4 and 5 show the outlines of the blanks used for the presentation stand of Figure 2 and the box of Figure 3, respectively.

Figures 6Ά to 6D show a sequence of setting up the lowermost box of a stack of boxes within the presentation stand in the system of Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 6E shows the presentation stand and the box from behind in the display configuration.

Detailed Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

A packaging system for storing and displaying articles according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows the packaging system in the state in which it is presented on a counter or shelf S. The system includes a presentation stand 1 as well as a number of boxes 2. Each of the boxes 2 in turn includes several articles to be presented and dispensed. In the present embodiment, these articles are packets of cream cheese. The system could, however, as well be used to display and dispense bottles, pillow bags, tablets, tube, cans, or tubs of any kind, to mention only some examples.

In Figure 1, one box 2 is placed in an upright

orientation within the presentation stand 1 (which will also simply be referred to as the "stand" in the following) to be supported and presented to the customer. This box 2 has been opened in order to display the articles contained therein. Another box 2, which is still closed, is illustrated in a reclined orientation, positioned lengthwise behind the presentation stand 1 to help locating the stand 1 in its position in a manner to be described further below.

In practice, there will be further boxes 2 positioned on top of the reclined one, forming a stack, and further boxes or stacks of boxes, including the same or different articles, could be placed on both sides of that stack. There could also be several stacks of boxes with associated presentation stands placed next to each other.

Figures 2 and 3 are separate views of the two components of the packaging system, the stand 1 and the box 2.

Turning first to Figures 2A and 2B, which are front and back views of the stand 1, the stand 1 generally has the shape of a cuboid having a front face 101, side faces 102 and 103, and a rear face 104. A base plate 105 is provided at the bottom of the stand, while the top thereof is open.

Figures 2A and 2B show the stand in the same orientation as Figure 1, which is a so-called presentation orientation in which the stand 1 is arranged for supporting and displaying one of the boxes 2 in the upright orientation. The "front", "rear", "bottom" and "top" of the stand 1 are defined with reference to this presentation position.

The front face 101, side faces 102 and 103, and rear face 104 of the stand define a receiving part 100 of the stand 1, within which the box 2 is supported in the upright orientation.

The bottom of the stand 1 is provided by a base plate 105 which extends not only across the bottom of the stand 1 but beyond the outline of the stand as defined by the front face, side faces and rear face. A part 105' of the base plate 105 is exposed so that a box or a stack of boxes 2 can be placed thereon, see also Figure 1.

Apart from accommodating and presenting one of the boxes 2, the presentation stand 1 can also fulfil the function of presenting information to the customers. In particular, the front face 101 of the stand 1 can be suitably used for this purpose.

The inside of the back face 204 of the box, which is only visible when the box 2 has been emptied completely, could also carry instructions for the customer how to take away the empty box and set up a new box within the

presentation stand 1. Turning now to Figures 3A and 3B, which are top and bottom perspective views of one box 2, the shape of the boxes 2 as such will be described.

In the present embodiment_/ the boxes 2 are all equally shaped, and they all have the general shape of a cuboid. Each box has a front surface 201, side surfaces 202 and 203, a rear surface 204, a bottom surface 205, and a top surface or lid 206 (note that these designations refer to the reclined position of the box 2 which is shown in Figure 3, rather than the upright position) . The dimensions of the boxes 2 are adapted to the articles to be dispensed, in this case the packets of cream cheese.

At the same time, the shape of the box 2 is designed so as to match the shape of the presentation stand 1 insofar as the box 2 is sized so as to fit into the enclosure defined in the receiving part 100 of the presentation stand 1, wherein this fit should neither be too loose nor too tight. In fact, the box should be able to be slid into the stand but still have sufficient support when raised. To the latter extent, the height of the stand 1 is to be adapted to the length of the box 2 (or the height of the box 2, respectively, as soon as the box 2 has been set up within the stand 1) and should cover at least one fourth, preferably at least one third thereof. Heavier articles within the box 2 will generally require a stronger support, i.e. a higher stand 1 relative to the box 2.

Each of the boxes 2 includes an area in which a

presentation aperture for presenting the articles can be formed. As shown in Figure 3b, a perforation line 20Θ is provided, which encompasses parts of the bottom face 205, the front face 201 as well as the side faces 202, 203 of the box. As soon as the material delimited by the perforation line 208 has been removed, the presentation aperture 211 is generated. The presentation aperture 211 is provided for exposing the articles within the box 2 to the outside to allow the

customer to take (pick) out one article after the other from the box 2. Finally, Figure 3A also shows that the front face 201 of the box 2 is provided with a gripping tab 212 which

facilitates pulling the box 2 into the stand 1 in a manner to be described below.

In the present embodiment, both the presentation stand 1 and the boxes 2 are formed by folding respective single sheet-material blanks. These blanks can be provided in a flat configuration for shipment and distribution. The packaging system can then be easily completed by folding the

presentation stand and the boxes from the respective blanks. Figures 4 and 5 show the outlines of the blanks used for the presentation stand 1 and for one box 2, respectively.

As regards the materials used for the stand 1 and the boxes 2, the boxes 2 are in this embodiment made from

corrugated board, e.g. E-flute corrugated board, since they are discarded and recycled after use. The material used for the boxes 2 also depends on the kind of articles contained within the boxes 2, since heavier articles will generally require stronger box material.

In contrast, the stand 1 is made from a higher quality, durable, rigid material such as for example a plastic

material, because it may be used together with a large number of consecutive boxes 2 and should, therefore, have a strength ensuring a certain life period.

As shown in Figure 4, the entire stand 1 is folded from a single blank. By means of a fold 106, the base plate 105 is hingedly connected to that part of the blank which constitutes the front face. The fold 106 thereby constitutes a connecting hinge between the base plate 105 and the receiving part 100 of the stand 1.

Figure 4 also shows that the base plate 105 is slightly tapered from said connecting fold 106 towards the free end. As an alternative, a stepped configuration could be employed in which the width of the base plate 105 is reduced towards the free end thereof by providing at least one stepped diminution. The taper allows a certain movement of the stand 1, which will facilitate the pulling through of a new box 2 without perfectly aligning the stand 1 with the box 2. The base plate 105 could, however, also have a straight,

rectangular configuration without any taper.

The base plate 105 is larger than the outline of the stand 1 as defined by the front face 101, side faces 102, 103 and rear face 104: the exposed part 105' extends beyond the outline of the receiving part 100 of the stand 1, which is indicated in Figure 4 by a dashed line.

For fixing the stand 1 in the final configuration after folding the material blank of Figure 4, a side edge of the rear face 104 and a side edge of one of the side faces 103 of the stand 1 are glued together by means of a connecting tab 107. They could as well be engaged by other means known for such purposes, also by sticking them together without the use of adhesive.

In contrast, the base plate 105 is not further attached to the receiving part 100 of the stand 1. It remains only hingedly attached to the edge of the front part 101.

The box 2 is also folded from a single sheet-material blank, which is shown in Figure 5. As becomes once again clear from this Figure, rectangular cuboid boxes are used in the present embodiment, in which pairs of the faces 201 ... 206 of the box extend perpendicularly to each other. This leads to an uncomplicated configuration of the blank for forming the box.

The parts of the blank constituting the side faces 202, 203, the bottom face 205 and the lid 206 are shown. The front face of the box is constituted by four tabs 201a to 201d which partially overlap. In a similar manner, the rear face of the box is formed from four tabs 204a to 204d which partially overlap.

Figure 5 also once again illustrates the perforation line 208 extending across the bottom face 205, the side faces 202, 203 as well as front face parts 201b and 201d.

Also illustrated in Figure 5 is the tab 212 extending from front face part 201a, which is gripped for pulling the box into the stand as described below. Finally_/ further cutouts 213 at front face part 201c and 214 in the area of the perforation line 208 are shown in Figure 5, the function of which will also be explained further below.

Figures 6A to 6D show a sequence of setting up the system constituted by the presentation stand 1 and the boxes 2 described above.

The boxes 2 have each been folded from a blank as it is shown in Figure 5, and they have been filled with a number of articles, here packets of cream cheese, and closed for shipping and storage.

In the shelf, the boxes 2 are arranged in a stack.

Figure 6A shows a stack of two boxes 2 arranged on a shelf S. In practice there will be more boxes 2 on the stack, and there could also be boxes or stacks of boxes arranged on both sides of the stack. There could also be several stacks of boxes with associated presentation stands placed next to each other.

The presentation stand 1 has been folded and assembled from a blank as shown in Figure 4. Figure 6A shows the presentation stand 1 in its so-called displaying

configuration, in which it is arranged for supporting and presenting one of the boxes 2 in the upright orientation.

In order to insert a box 2 into the stand 1 the stand is, however, brought into its receiving configuration first. The receiving orientation of the stand is shown in Figure 6B: if compared with the displaying configuration (Figure 6A) , the tunnel-shaped receiving part 100 of the stand has been inclined in the forward direction, away from the stack of boxes 2, by about 90°. The base plate 105 does not take part in this inclination movement but substantially retains its position, laying flat on the shelf S. In this configuration the stand 1 has the shape of an open tunnel through which the lowermost box 2 of the stack can be advanced into the

receiving part 100 of the stand 1 from the side facing the stack of boxes 2. The free end of the base plate 105 of the stand 1 is positioned beneath the stack of boxes 2. For pulling the lowermost box 2 of the stack into the stand 1, the operator takes hold of the gripping tab 212 of the lowermost box 2 and pulls the box 2 into the tunnel-shaped receiving part 100 of the stand 1.

In order to facilitate the taking hold of the gripping tab 212, a gripping cut-out 213 is provided in the front face 201 of the box 2 (see also Figure 5 for the exact location of the cut-out 213) .

This procedure of pulling the lowermost box 2 into the receiving part 100 of the stand 1 is shown in Figures 6B and 6C, and it is continued until the rear face 204 of the box 2 is in register with the edge of the receiving part 100 of the stand 1 which faces the stack of boxes 2. The remainder of the stacked boxes will then fall down so as to weigh onto the exposed part 105' of the base plate 105.

As a last step, the receiving part 100 of the stand 1 and the box 2 therein are turned by about 90^e, so that the stand 1 again assumes its displaying configuration (Figure 6D) . The box 2 taken from the stack has now assumed an upright orientation. The rear face 204 of the box rests on the base plate 105 positioned at the bottom of the receiving part 100, while the front part of the box 2 protrudes upwards from the opposite side of the tunnel-shaped receiving part 100 of the stand 1.

In this manner, the changing of the presentation stand 1 from the receiving configuration into the displaying

configuration is done by moving, i.e. turning the receiving part 100 of the stand 1 and the box 2 accommodated therein relative to the base plate 105 thereof by about 90°, while the base plate 105 substantially retains its position laying flat on the shelf.

Finally, after the lowermost box 2 of the stack has been received in the tunnel-shaped receiving part 100 of the presentation stand 1, and the stand 1 and the box 2 received therein have been turned into the displaying configuration, a presentation aperture 211 is generated in the box 2 placed within the stand. This is done by tearing away the material delimited by the perforation line 208. The shape and size of the aperture 211 are chosen so that the individual articles can conveniently be displayed but do not fall out easily. Also the articles as such must have a form, by themselves or by having a primary packaging, that enables them to be retained in the box 2 until they are withdrawn.

The opening of the presentation aperture can be done already prior to stacking the boxes 2 in the stand 1, so that the boxes 2 are ready for dispensing immediately when they arrive at the bottom of the stack. In this case, the

aperture would have to be shaped so that the products are still retained in the box, since the aperture extends on that side of the box which faces downwards when the box is arranged in the stack. In the present embodiment and in the sequence shown in Figure 6, however, the presentation

aperture 211 is only generated once the box 2 has been set up in the stand 1.

For forming the presentation aperture 211, the biggest part of the bottom face 205 of the box, parts of the side faces 202, 203 as well as a part of the front face 201 are removed. In order to facilitate the tearing away of the material delimited by the perforation line 208, a gripping cut-out 214 is provided in the bottom face 205 of the box 2 (see also Figure 5 for the location of the gripping cut-out 214) .

As also becomes clear from Figure 6D, a large cut-out 111 is formed in the front face 101 of the stand which substantially coincides with that end part of the

presentation aperture 211 of the box 2 which is arranged towards the front of the box 2.

Finally, Figure 6D also shows that the remaining boxes 2 of the stack (only one of which is shown in the Figure) are placed onto the exposed part 105' of the base plate 105 and help stabilizing the box 2 on display against shifting and tilting over, at least in some directions. Figure 6E shows the presentation stand 1 and the box 2 from behind in the display configuration and once again makes it clear how the exposed part 105* of the base plate 105 of the stand 1 is arranged beneath the remaining box 2.

The sequence of Figures 6Ά to 6D once again makes it clear that in the packaging system of the present invention, the presentation stand 1 has two functions:

At first, the stand is arranged in a receiving

configuration and used for taking the lowermost box 2 from the stack of boxes stored on the shelf. In this manner, the use of the stand 1 encourages the user to always takes the lowermost box 2 from the stack in order to act according to the FIFO (first in first out) principle.

On the other hand, the presentation stand 1 has a function of supporting this lowermost box taken from the stack when the stand 1 and the box 2 therein are arranged in a display configuration, in which the articles in the box 2 are presented to the customer. The stand 1 supports the box 2 on display against shifting horizontally and tilting over. The stand 1 also keeps the stack of boxes 2 in place so that it cannot move horizontally.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment. In fact, various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as it is defined by the appended claims.

For example, in order to also prevent the stand 1 and the box 2 displayed therein from tilting over towards the front and fall off the shelf, a locking or stabilizing feature could be provided, for example in the form of a magnet cooperating with a steel shelf, removable glue dots, tape, or still different features. The stand could also be designed to lean a few degrees backwards towards the stack, e.g. by providing the side walls with a slightly slanted shape .

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging system for storing and displaying articles, including:

at least one box (2) for including several of the articles to be displayed, and

a presentation stand (1) for supporting and displaying the box (2),

characterized in that

the presentation stand (1) includes a receiving part (100) for accommodating the box (2), and a base plate (105) movably connected to the receiving part (100),

the presentation stand (1) can be selectively disposed either in a receiving configuration, in which the

presentation stand (1) is arranged for receiving one of the boxes (2) , or in a displaying configuration, in which the presentation stand (1) is arranged for supporting and displaying the box (2), and

the presentation stand (1) is changed from the receiving configuration into the displaying configuration by moving the receiving part (100) relative to the base plate (105) .

2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein

the base plate (105) is connected to the receiving part (100) via a connecting hinge (106), and

the presentation stand (1) is changed from the receiving configuration into the displaying configuration by pivoting the receiving part (100) relative to the base plate (105) about the connecting hinge (106), preferably by about 90°.

3. The packaging system of claim 1 or 2, in which the receiving part (100) of the presentation stand (1) is essentially constituted in the form of a tunnel-shaped element open at the top and bottom, and the base plate (105) is connected to a free edge of a front face (101) of the tunnel-shaped receiving part (100) .

4. The packaging system of claim 3, wherein the base plate (105) coextends with the front face (101) of the tunnel- shaped receiving part (100) in the receiving configuration, but is arranged at an angle with respect to the front face (101) in the displaying configuration.

5. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which, when the presentation stand (1) is in the displaying configuration, the base plate (105) is arranged at a bottom of the presentation stand (1) .

6. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which, when the presentation stand (1) is in the displaying configuration, the base plate (105) at least partly (105*) extends beyond an outline of the receiving part (100) so that at least a second one of the boxes (2) can be placed thereon.

7. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which the boxes (2) each have a shape which allows them to be stacked in a storage orientation but presented in a presentation orientation different from the storage

orientation.

8. The packaging system of claim 7, in which the

presentation orientation is an upright orientation of the box (2), whereas the storage orientation is a reclined

orientation of the box (2) .

9. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which the box (2) includes an area (211) for the

presentation of the articles contained in the box (2).

10. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which the presentation area (211) is provided by arranging at least part of at least one of the faces (201, 202, 203, expose and allow withdrawal of the articles within the box (2).

11. The packaging system of claim 9 or 10, in which the receiving part (100) of the presentation stand (1) is formed with a cut-out (111), which preferably coincides with the presentation area (211) of the box (2) or with a part

thereof .

12. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which the presentation stand (1) and/or the box (2) is made from solid paperboard or corrugated board.

13. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which the presentation stand (1) is formed by folding at least one sheet-material blank, preferably a single sheet- material blank.

14. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which the box (2) further includes a gripping device

(212), by means of which the box (2) can be pulled into the presentation stand (1) when the stand (1) is disposed in the receiving configuration.

15. The packaging system of any one of the preceding claims, in which the presentation stand (1) is further provided with means for maintaining the displaying configuration thereof, for example by means of a magnetic force or by means of a removable tape.

16. A presentation stand (1) suitable for a packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A sheet-material blank for making the stand (1) of claim

18. Use of a box (2) in a packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

19. A method for storing and displaying articles using the packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the method including the following steps:

disposing the presentation stand (1) in an empty state in the receiving configuration,

inserting one of the boxes (2) into the presentation stand (1),

changing the presentation stand (1) into the displaying configuration by moving the receiving part (100), and the box (2) provided therein, relative to the base plate (105), and removing the box (2) again from the stand (1).

20. The method of claim 19, in which

21. The method of any one of claims 19 and 20, in which the box (2) is inserted into the presentation stand (1) by advancing it into the receiving part (100) from a first side of the receiving part (100), and the box (2) protrudes from a second side of the receiving part (100) opposite the first one when the presentation stand has been brought into the displaying configuration.

22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, further

including the step of placing at least a second one of the boxes (2) onto that part (105') of the base plate (105) which extends beyond an outline of the receiving part (100).