Display tray with support column and apertures

• US 10,562,661 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Cooper, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeree, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US15/503,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20170267397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 229191, 229918, 229241, 229904, 206590, 206763, 206485, 206589
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/114 in the form of trays with a base
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2100/00 Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by folding single-piece sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/502 having integral corner posts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/26 Folding sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/60 Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/62 by adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/74 Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/81 Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0045 having both integral corner posts and ledges
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/20 by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form B65D5/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/443 Integral reinforcements, e.g. folds, flaps double walls B65D5/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5021 Integral elements for containers formed by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5286 the container being provided with an opening or weakened area in which an item is inserted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/64 Lids

Abstract

An apparatus to display packaged products that includes a base that includes a bottom segment, at least two supporting segments, and a top segment, the top segment provided with a plurality of apertures and supported at least in part by the at least two supporting segments such that the bottom segment and the top segment are generally parallel; and at least two side portions, at least one of said side portions comprising a support column, the at least two side portions being generally perpendicular to the bottom segment and the top segment. Methods of assembling the apparatus are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus to display consumer products comprising:

a base that includes a bottom segment, at least two supporting segments, and a top segment having a first top portion and a second top portion attached together to form said top segment, the top segment provided with a plurality of apertures and supported at least in part by the at least two supporting segments such that the bottom segment and the top segment are generally parallel, wherein the top segment includes a cutout portion to receive the support column and the support column is a triangular or rectangular prism; and

at least two side portions, at least one of said side portions comprising a support column, the at least two side portions being generally perpendicular to the bottom segment and the top segment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two side portions further comprises a perforated area adapted to provide a handle aperture upon applying pressure on or near said perforated area.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a lid, said lid supported at least in part by the at least two side portions, wherein a portion of the lid is affixed to at least one of the at least two side portions in close proximity to the perforated area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two side portions is reinforced.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom segment, at least two supporting segments, top segment, and at least two side portions are assembled from a continuous piece of the same material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apertures are generally in the shape of an ellipse.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures consists of six or nine apertures.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one second extraneous segment connected with at least one of the at least two side portions, wherein the at least one second extraneous segment is folded at one or more creases to form a second support column.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of apertures has a shape of two overlapping ellipses, wherein a major axis of one of each overlapping ellipse crosses at a center of a major axis of its corresponding overlapping ellipse.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a major axis of one of each overlapping ellipse crosses near a major vertice of its corresponding overlapping ellipse.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of apertures has a shape of an ellipse with two notches, one notch at each major vertice of the ellipse.

12. An assembly to display packaged products comprising at least two apparatus comprising,

a base that includes a bottom segment, at least two supporting segments, and a top segment having a first top portion and a second top portion attached together to form said top segment, the top segment provided with a plurality of apertures and supported at least in part by the at least two supporting segments such that the bottom segment and the top segment are generally parallel, wherein the first top portion and the second top portion each include a flange portion, wherein the flange portion of the first top portion and the flange portion of the second top portion overlap with one another;

and

at least two side portions, at least one of said side portions comprising a support column, the at least two side portions being generally perpendicular to the bottom segment and the top segment wherein the at least two apparatus are stacked.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein a consumer product is housed in at least one of the plurality of apertures.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of the at least two side portions is reinforced.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apertures are generally in the shape of an ellipse.

16. An apparatus to display consumer products comprising:

a base that includes a bottom segment, at least two supporting segments, and a top segment having a first top portion and a second top portion attached together to form said top segment, the top segment provided with a plurality of apertures and supported at least in part by the at least two supporting segments such that the bottom segment and the top segment are generally parallel, wherein the first top portion and the second top portion each include a flange portion, wherein the flange portion of the first top portion and the flange portion of the second top portion overlap with one another; and

at least two side portions, at least one of said side portions comprising a support column, the at least two side portions being generally perpendicular to the bottom segment and the top segment.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the at least two side portions further comprises a perforated area adapted to provide a handle aperture upon applying pressure on or near said perforated area.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the at least two side portions is reinforced.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the bottom segment, at least two supporting segments, top segment, and at least two side portions are assembled from a continuous piece of the same material.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apertures are generally in the shape of an ellipse.