Technical field The present invention relates generally to containers Background

It is known to use a first container for transporting product to a point of sale and then transferring the product to a product display apparatus, such a shelving unit in a retail outlet, so that customers can conveniently view and purchase the product. We have realised that it would be advantageous to provide container which can be used not only to transport goods, but also to display the goods at the point of sale, thus avoiding the need to transfer the goods from a shipping container to a product display apparatus.

Summary

According to the invention there is provided a shipping and display container, arranged to removably receive a sleeve on top thereof, the container comprising at least one rearward support component arranged to be moveable along a base of the container, and positionable in a first condition at a rear region of the container, the at least one component comprising an upper portion which is arranged to at least in part locate the sleeve, with the at least one component in the first condition.

The at least one support component may comprise a locating tab.

The at least one component may be of substantially L-shape and comprises a portion which extends upwardly and a basal portion, the basal portion being substantially perpendicular to the upward portion. The basal portion may be adjacent to a floor of the container.

A front-facing portion of the container may be provided with a substantially transparent window. The window may be arranged to removably receive an information display portion. The at least one component may be arranged to be manually moveable by way of a puller component.

The puller component may be detachably engageable with the at least one support component.

The puller component may comprise a handle located at the front of the container.

The container may be provided with a through-hole which allows a finger to pass therethrough and allow a user to pull.

In the first condition, a vertical component of the support member is preferably substantially flush with a rearward wall of the container. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a shipping and display container which comprises at least one rearward support component arranged to be moveable along a base of the container, and positionable in a first condition at a rear region of the container, the container further comprising a puller component which is detachably engageable with the at least one support component, and the container comprising a clip to detachably maintain the support component in the first condition, wherein the puller component is arranged to be capable of urging the clip into a released condition.

The container may comprise a feature described in the description and/or feature shown in the drawings.

Further aspects of the invention relate to one or more features above and/or features mentioned in the description and/or the drawings Brief description of the drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 in a second condition,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 in a third condition,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 in a forth condition,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 in a fifth condition, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 and a sleeve on top thereof,

Figures 7a to 7d are cross-sectional views of a support member showing detail of a clipping arrangement,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of Figure 7a, and

Figure 9 is a cut away perspective view of the container of Figure 1. Detailed Description

With reference to Figure 1 , there is shown a shipping and display container 1 , essentially of tray form. As will be described below, the container 1 comprises product support members 5, which each serve to support product in front thereof, and maintain the product towards the front of the container 1. As will also be described below, each of the members 5 is moveable along the base of the container.

Each of the support members 5 is of essentially L-shape comprising an upright back portion 5a and a forward horizontal portion 5b. The upright back portion is longer than the forward horizontal portion. The underside of the forward horizontal portion comprises barbed projections which are received in the channels 8. The arrangement of the barbs is such that they can be urged into the channels 8, but are prevented from being removed from the channels once so inserted.

With reference to Figure 1 , both of the support members 5 are in the 'home' position, located against the rear wall 10 of the container. More specifically, the rear wall 10 comprises a recess region which is arranged to receive the upright back portion 5a, and so each support member becomes flush with the rear wall 10. This advantageously means that the space available in the container for receiving and holding product therein is maximised.

A puller bar 20 is provided for each support member 5. Each puller bar 20 comprises a handle portion 21 , which is located at a foremost distal end of the bar. The handle portion 21 is arranged to be pulled by a user' s finger or thumb. At an opposite distal end of the bar 20 there is provided a flange component 22. The flange component 22 is detachably engageable with the rear of the support member so as to allow the support component to be moved forwards. A barbed protrusion (located under the bar 20) serves to guide the respective bar 20.

In order to maintain the support member in the home position, a resiliently deflectable clip 6 engages with a recess 6a which is provided in the base of the container 1. In order to detach the clip from the attached condition, the user can grip the handle portion 21 and pull the bar forwards. In so doing the flange component 22 engages with the rear of the support component 5 and urges the clip out of engagement with the recess 6a, as best shown in Figures 7a to 7d. With the clips released for each of the support members 5, a user can pull the support members 5 forward using the respective bar 20, to required positions within the container. Advantageously, the clip 6 ensures that the support component 5 is maintained in the home position, but is nevertheless straightforward for the user to detach. The ability to be able to maintain the support members in the home position is advantageous when the container is being transported and prevents the support member from moving out of the home position.

With reference to Figure 6, the container 1 is arranged to receive, on top thereof, a sleeve 30, which is detachably connected thereto and serves to extend the height of the container, and thereby protect the contents during transportation. As best seen in Figure 1 , each of the side walls 12 is provided with two spaced-apart locating tabs 15. The uppermost portions 25 of the members 5 also serve as locating tabs, when in the home position. In the context of the tabs 25 serving a locating function, the retaining feature described above, advantageously serves to ensure that the tabs 25 are maintained in the correct position in order for them to achieve their locating function. The tabs 15 and 25 serve to receive and locate the sleeve 30, by providing an upper support surface to receive, locate and support said sleeve . The sleeve 30 is maintained in an attached condition to the container 1 by way of two resilient portions 40 which snap over side handles 50 of the container and into the space below. This snap-over functionality is achieved by pushing downwardly on the sleeve so that lowermost portions of the portions 40 locate underneath the respective handle 50. In order to remove the sleeve from the container, a user needs to grip the portions 40 and pull the same outwardly. The sleeve 30 can then be lifted from the container.

In use, the container 1 is used as follows. With the support members in the home positions, product is loaded into the container in two rows, each in front of a respective support member 5. The product extends above the height of the container 1 and so the sleeve 30 is pushed onto the top of the container to be removably attached to the container 1. It will be appreciated that more than one sleeve, or indeed a sleeve of greater height could be used if the height of the product necessitates the same. With the product in the container 1 , and protected by the sleeve 30, the container is then shipped to its point of sale.

On reaching the point of sale, the sleeve 30 is removed. Each of the clips 6a is then released so as to allow the support members to be moveable forwards. The container 1 can be placed on a shelf at the point of sale .

At the point of sale, the container 1 , with product therein, is placed on a shelf so that customers can easily remove product from the container for purchase. As product is removed from the container 1 , empty space is created at the front region of the container. This is both unappealing and inconvenient for the customer. A user can conveniently bring remaining product towards the font of the container by placing a finger in a hole 23 and hooking the finger behind the handle 21. The user can then pull the handle and in so doing, the flange component engages with the respective support member 5 and urges the support member, and the supported product, forwards. When the product has been moved towards the front of the container, the user can then push the handle 21 backwards so that the handle is returned to its initial position, flush with the front wall 12. Since the flange component is not fixedly attached to the support member 5, rearward movement of the flange does not result in rearward movement of the support member 5, and so frictional engagement ensures that each support member remains in its new position. This process can be repeated as product is progressively removed from the container 1 , thus ensuring that product is always located towards the front of the container. Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the support members 5 in different positions in the container 1. Product is not shown in the container for clarity. It will be appreciated that although two support members are shown, more or less may be provided.