F IELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of foldable display blanks and display containers formed therefrom.

B A C K GRO UND

[0002] Display containers perform the function of packaging the contents of the container and then displaying the contents once the containers are opened. It is known to manufacture foldable display blanks from sheets of corrugated paperboard that are foldable into display containers, in which the display containers are convertible from a shipping configuration to a display configuration.

[0003] Prior attempts at providing display containers may suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, prior display containers are lacking in the necessary shipping performance characteristics and require separate structural elements that cause difficulties during manufacture of the display container blanks, during folding of the of the display container blanks into display containers, or during conversion of the display container from the shipping configuration to the display configuration.

[0004] Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development in the field of foldable display blanks and display containers formed therefrom.

S UMMARY

[0005] Disclosed are display container blank.

[0006] In one embodiment, the disclosed display container blank includes a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a plurality of bottom flaps, and a plurality of bottom flaps foldably connected together. A support panel is foldably connected to the front panel. The support panel includes a first corner reinforcement for reinforcing a vertical corner between the front panel and the first side panel. The front panel includes a breakaway portion. [0007] In another embodiment, the disclosed display container blank includes a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a plurality of bottom flaps, and a plurality of bottom flaps foldably connected together, the front panel including a breakaway portion; and a support panel foldably connected to the front panel, the support panel including a first comer reinforcement for reinforcing a vertical comer between the front panel and the first side panel, the support panel further including an adhesive area and the breakaway portion, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive area is outside of the breakaway portion, wherein the display container blank is formed from a single sheet of cormgated paperboard.

[0008] Also disclosed are display containers.

[0009] In one embodiment, the disclosed display container includes a front face, a back face, a first side face, a second side face, and a first corner reinforcement for reinforcing a vertical corner between the front face and the first side face. The front face, the back face, the first side face, the second side face, and the first corner reinforcement are formed from a single sheet of material.

[0010] In another embodiment, the disclosed display container includes a front face, a back face, a first side face, a second side face, and a first corner reinforcement for reinforcing a vertical corner between the front face and the first side face, wherein the front face, the back face, the first side face, the second side face, and the first corner reinforcement are formed from a single sheet of material, and wherein the display container is configurable between at least: (1) a flat configuration, wherein the front face comprises a breakaway portion; (2) a packaging configuration having the front face, the back face, the first side face, the second side face, a bottom face, and an open top, wherein the front face comprises the breakaway portion; (3) a shipping configuration having the front face, the back face, the first side face, the second side face, the bottom face, and a top face, wherein the front face comprises the breakaway portion; and (4) a display configuration having the front face, the back face, the first side face, the second side face, the bottom face, and the top face, wherein the front face comprises an open display window that permits access to and display of the contents of the display container. [0011] Other embodiments of the disclosed foldable display blanks and display containers will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

B RIEF DE S C RIP T I ON OF THE DRAW ING S

[0012] Fig. l is a schematic view of a display container blank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present description.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 prior to being assembled into a display container.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0016] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0017] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0018] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0019] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0020] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0021] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the display container blank of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state. [0022] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the display container of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state.

[0023] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the display container of Fig. 1 in a fully assembled state in a flat configuration.

[0024] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the display container of Fig. 12 in a packing configuration.

[0025] Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the display container of Fig. 12 in a shipping configuration.

[0026] Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the display container of Fig. 12 in a display configuration.

D E TAILED DE S C RIP T ION

[0027] Fig. l is a schematic view of a display container blank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present description.

[0028] With reference to Fig. 1, the display container blank 10 of the illustrated example of the present description includes a first side panel 100, a front panel 200, a second side panel 300, and a back panel 400 foldably connected together. More particularly, the display container blank 10 includes the first side panel 100, the front panel 200 foldably connected to the first side panel 100 by fold line 105, the second side panel 300 foldably connected to the front panel 200 by fold line 205, and the back panel 400 foldably connected to the second side panel 300 by fold line 305. The back panel 400 may be bonded to the first side panel 100 such as by way of attachment flap 430. However, the illustrated display container blank 10 is merely exemplary. It would be understood that many variations are possible. In an example, the back panel 400 may be foldably connected to the first side panel 100 and bonded to the second side panel 300. In another example, the back panel 400 may be foldably connected to the first side panel 100 and the second side panel 300, and the front panel 200 may be foldably connected to one of the first side panel 100 and second side panel 300 and bonded to the other of the first side panel 100 and second side panel 300. The display container blank 10 further includes a support panel 500 foldably connected to the front panel 200 by fold line 226.

[0029] The display container blank 10 may be cut (e.g., die cut) from a sheet of stock material to define an outer periphery of the display container blank 10. In one particular construction, the stock material may be a cellulosic material, such a corrugated paperboard.

[0030] The first side panel 100 may include a first bottom flap 110 foldably connected thereto by fold line 101, a first top flap 120 foldably connected to the first side panel 100 by fold line 102, and a first side edge 103 opposite to fold line 105. The first bottom flap 110 functions as a portion of the bottom of the display container 10. The first bottom flap 110 may include a first bottom flap bottom edge 111, a first bottom flap first side edge 112, and a first bottom flap second side edge 113. The first top flap 120 functions as a portion of the top of the display container 10. The first top flap 120 may include a first top flap top edge 121, a first top flap first side edge 122, and a first top flap second side edge 123. The first top flap first side edge 122 may be tapered to minimize interference of the first top flap first side edge 122 during use of the display container in a display configuration.

[0031] The front panel 200 may include a second bottom flap 210 foldably connected thereto by fold line 201 and a second top flap 220 foldably connected to the front panel 200 by fold line 202. The second bottom flap 210 functions as a portion of the bottom of the display container. The second bottom flap 210 may include a second bottom flap bottom edge 211, a second bottom flap first side edge 212, and a second bottom flap second side edge 213. The second top flap 220 functions as a portion of the top of the display container 10. The second top flap 220 may include a second top flap fold line 225, a second top flap first side edge 222, and a second top flap second side edge 223. The second top flap first side edge 222 and a second top flap second side edge 223 may be tapered to minimize interference with a corner reinforcement.

[0032] The second side panel 300 may include a third bottom flap 310 foldably connected thereto by fold line 301 and a third top flap 320 foldably connected to the second side panel 300 by fold line 302. The third bottom flap 310 functions as a portion of the bottom of the display container. The third bottom flap 310 may include a third bottom flap bottom edge 311, a third bottom flap first side edge 312, and a third bottom flap second side edge 313. The third top flap 320 functions as a portion of the top of the display container 10. The third top flap 320 may include a third top flap top edge 321, a third top flap second side edge 322, and a third top flap second side edge 323. The third top flap second side edge 323 may be tapered to minimize interference of the third top flap second side edge 322 during use of the display container in a display configuration.

[0033] The back panel 400 may include a fourth bottom flap 410 foldably connected thereto by fold line 401, a fourth top flap 420 foldably connected to the back panel 400 by fold line 402, and an attachment flap 430 foldably connected to the back panel by fold line 403. The fourth bottom flap 410 functions as a portion of the bottom of the display container. The fourth bottom flap 410 may include a fourth bottom flap bottom edge 411, a fourth bottom flap first side edge 412, and a fourth bottom flap second side edge 413. The fourth top flap 420 functions as a portion of the top of the display container. The fourth top flap 420 may include a fourth top flap top edge 421, a fourth top flap first side edge 422, and a fourth top flap second side edge 423. The attachment flap 430 function to attach the back panel 400 to the first side panel 100. The attachment flap 430 may include an attachment flap end edge 431, an attachment flap first side edge 432, and an attachment flap second side edge 433. The attachment flap first side edge 432 and the attachment flap second side edge 433 may be slightly tapered to avoid interference with top and bottom flaps upon assembly of the display container. The attachment flap 430 may include an attachment area 435 to facilitate attaching (e.g., gluing) of the attachment flap 430 to the first side panel 100.

[0034] The support panel 500 includes a support panel top edge 501, a support panel first side edge 502, and a support panel second side edge 503. The support panel 500 includes a first corner reinforcement tab 510 and a second comer reinforcement tab 520. As illustrated, the first corner reinforcement tab 510 may include a first corner reinforcement first column 511 and a first corner reinforcement second column 512. The first comer reinforcement first column 511 may be foldably connected to the support panel 500 by fold line 513. The first corner reinforcement second column 512 may be foldably connected to the first corner reinforcement first column 511 by fold line 514. As illustrated, the second corner reinforcement tab 520 may include a second comer reinforcement first column 521 and a second comer reinforcement second column 522. The second comer reinforcement first column 521 may be foldably connected to the support panel 500 by fold line 523. The second comer reinforcement second column 522 may be foldably connected to the second comer reinforcement first column 521 by fold line 524. By including two corner reinforcement columns foldable connected together for each corner reinforcement, the comer reinforcements can be more resistant to twisting when a compressive force is applied to the corner reinforcement. Alternatively, the first and second corner reinforcements could each include only a single corner reinforcement column or could include three or more corner reinforcement columns foldably connected together.

[0035] The support panel 500 may further include attachment areas 530 and 540 to facilitate attaching (e.g., gluing) of the support panel 500 to the front panel 200 during assembly of the display container. In an alternative arrangement, the attachment areas 530 and 540 could be located on the front panel 200 to facilitate attaching (e.g., gluing) of the front panel 200 to the support panel 500 during assembly of the display container. In an aspect, the attachment areas 435, 530, and 540 may be in the form of strips parallel to each other. By arranging the attachment areas 435, 530, and 540 to be in parallel relationship to each other, an adhesive may be readily applied to the attachment areas by conventional automated machine gluing processes.

[0036] The display container blank 10 further includes a breakaway portion 600. The breakaway portion 600 is included at least on the front panel 200 to facilitate access to contents of the display container in the display configuration. With reference to the illustrated example of Fig. 1, the breakaway portion 600 is included in on the front panel 200 and support panel 500. The breakaway portion 600 is defined by a bottom breakaway line 601 on the front panel 200, a top breakaway line 602 on the support panel 500, a first side breakaway line 603 crossing from the front panel 200 to the support panel 500, and a second side breakaway line 604 crossing from the front panel 200 to the support panel 500. Preferably at least a portion of attachment areas 530 and 540 are outside of the breakaway portion 600 to maintain bonding of the support panel 500 to the front panel 200 in the display configuration. The breakaway portion 600 may further include a first grip 605 and/or second grip 606 to facilitate pulling of the breakaway portion 600.

[0037] Figs. 2-12 illustrate perspective views of the display container blank during an assembly process. Fig. 2 shows the display container prior to the start of assembly. With reference to Figs. 3-5, the support panel 500 is folded along fold line 226. Meanwhile, the support panel 500 is attached (e.g., glued) to the front panel 200 by way of attachment areas 530 and 540 of support panel 500 contacting to corresponding areas of the front panel 200. With reference to Figs. 6-8, the back panel 400 is folded along fold line 305. With reference to Figs. 9-11, the first side panel 100 is folded along fold line 105. Meanwhile, the second corner reinforcement tab 520 is folded along fold line 523. With reference to Fig. 12, the back panel 400 is attached (e.g., glued) to the first side panel 100 by way of attachment area 435 to result in a display container in a fully assembled state in a flat configuration.

[0038] Once the display container 10 is in the fully assembled state as shown in Fig. 12, multiple display containers in the flat configuration may be stacked and shipped to a packaging destination, where the display container 10 may then be unstacked and converted from the flat configuration into a packaging configuration as shown in Fig. 13. In the packaging configuration, the first bottom flap 110, the second bottom flap 210, the third bottom flap 310, and the fourth bottom flap 410 are folded and sealed to form a bottom face of the display container 10 in a conventional manner, such as by sealing with adhesive tape or glue. The resulting display container 10 in the packaging configuration has a first side face formed from first side panel 100, a front face formed from front panel 200, a second side face formed from second side panel 300, a back face formed from back panel 400, a bottom face formed from the first bottom flap 110, the second bottom flap 210, the third bottom flap 310, and the fourth bottom flap 410, and an open top to allow for packaging of the contents of the display container. Meanwhile, the first corner reinforcement 510 is naturally positioned at a vertical corner between the front panel 200 and the first side panel 100, and the second corner reinforcement 520 is naturally positioned at a vertical comer between the front panel 200 and the second side panel 300.

[0039] Once the display containers are packaged, the display container 10 may then be converted from the packaging configuration into a shipping configuration as shown in Fig. 14. In the shipping configuration, the first top flap 120, the second top flap 220, the third top flap 320, and the fourth top flap 420 are folded and sealed to form a top face of the display container 10 in a conventional manner, such as by sealing with adhesive tape or glue. The resulting display container 10 in the shipping configuration has a first side face formed from first side panel 100, a front face formed from front panel 200, a second side face formed from second side panel 300, a back face formed from back panel 400, a bottom face formed from the first bottom flap 110, the second bottom flap 210, the third bottom flap 310, and the fourth bottom flap 410, and a top face formed from the first top flap 120, the second top flap 220, the third top flap 320, and the fourth top flap 420. Meanwhile, the first comer reinforcement 510 remains positioned at a vertical corner between the front panel 200 and the first side panel 100, and the second corner reinforcement 520 remains positioned at a vertical corner between the front panel 200 and the second side panel 300. Accordingly, when multiple display containers 10 in the shipping configuration are stacked upon each other for shipping with contents therein, the first comer reinforcement 510 and the second corner reinforcement 520 reinforce the display containers 10 against collapsing due to the weight of the other display containers 10 stacked thereupon.

[0040] Once the display containers are shipped to a shipping destination such as a shelf of a store, the display container 10 may then be converted from the shipping configuration into the display configuration as shown in Fig. 15. In the display configuration, the breakaway portion 600 is removed from the display container 10 to result in an open display window that permits access to and display of the contents of the display container in a shelf-ready fashion. Thus, the display containers of the present description allow for a one piece shelf ready display container with internal vertical reinforcements and a breakaway front window that may be entirely machine glued by conventional automated machine gluing processes.

[0041] Although various embodiments of the disclosed foldable display blanks and display containers have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.