Easily displayable shipping container

• US 20030226783A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
• Original Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
• Inventors: Jackson, Keith A., Schomisch, Joseph P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/772
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/16 the tubular body being formed with an aperture or removable portion arranged to allow removal or insertion of contents through one or more sides contents-dispensing means B65D5/72
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/542 the lines of weakness being provided in the container body

Abstract

A container for distribution and display of goods is convertible from a first configuration for distribution into a second configuration for display. The conversion is accomplished by removing a front cover panel. The front cover panel may be attached to the container using a variety of methods, including a perforated score line, a tear-away strip, adhesives, tapes, or a combination of these methods. When the front cover panel is removed for retail display, an access opening is uncovered, allowing users to easily view and access the contents of the container. The front cover panel may further cover graphics and text provided along the front of the container so that the graphics and text are not marred or otherwise damaged during distribution. In addition, the front cover panel may be provided with distribution information thereon, which is unimportant to an end user such as a retail customer and is easily removed for display of the container.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a bottom;

a top opposing said bottom;

first and second side panels bridging said top and said bottom;

a back panel bridging said top and said bottom; and

a front panel bridging said top and said bottom, said front panel having an access opening provided therein, said access opening covered by a front cover panel having a front portion and a top portion, said top portion of said front cover panel having a top tear-away strip for removing said top portion of said front cover panel from said top of said container.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said front cover panel is affixed to said container at at least two points.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said front cover panel is attached to said container along a first side edge of said front portion along a perforated score line.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein said front cover panel further comprises a side portion partially overlapping said first side panel of said container, said side portion being attached to a side cover attachment flap along a side tear-away strip.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein said access opening is partially covered by a punch-out portion attached to said front panel along at least one perforation line and further attached to said front cover panel via at least one adhesive area.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein said front cover panel further comprises a tab adapted for insertion into a slot provided in said front panel of said container.

7. A container comprising:

a first side panel;

a back panel connected to said first side panel;

a second side panel connected to said back panel;

a front panel connected to said second side panel, said front panel having a manufacturing tab attached thereto, said manufacturing tab being connected to said first side panel;

a first inner top flap extending inwardly toward a center of said container at approximately a right angle from said first side panel;

a second inner top flap extending inwardly toward the center of said container at approximately a right angle from said second side panel;

a first outer top flap extending inwardly along the top of said container at approximately a right angle from said back panel;

a second outer top flap extending inwardly along the top of said container at approximately a right angle from said front panel; and

a front cover panel covering at least a portion of said front panel, said front cover panel being attached to said first side panel along a front cover panel side attachment line, said front cover panel comprising a front portion and a top portion, said top portion of said front cover panel partially overlying said second outer top flap and being bordered along one edge by a top tear-away strip.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein said front cover panel side attachment line is a perforated attachment line.

9. The container of claim 7 wherein said front cover panel is further attached to said second side panel via a side cover attachment flap.

10. The container of claim 7 wherein said front cover panel side attachment line comprises perforated portions and open portions.

11. The container of claim 9 wherein said front cover panel is attached to said side cover attachment flap along a removable side tear strip.

12. The container of claim 7 wherein said front panel is provided with a front panel access opening therein, said access opening being at least partially covered by a punch-out portion attached to said front panel along a perforated punch-out path.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein said punch-out portion is attached to said front cover panel at one or more adhesive areas.

14. The container of claim 12 wherein said second outer top flap is provided with a top flap access opening therein, said front panel access opening and said top panel access opening being exposed upon removal of said front cover panel.

15. The container of claim 7 wherein said front cover panel is attached to said second side panel by a partial flap, said partial flap being attached to said front cover panel along a partial flap score line.

16. The container of claim 7 wherein said front cover panel is attached to said front panel via a releasable adhesive.

17. A blank for forming a container comprising:

a front panel having a front access opening provided therein;

a first outer top flap attached to said front panel along one or more a score lines;

a first outer bottom flap attached to said front panel along a score line opposite said first outer top flap;

a manufacturing flap attached to said front panel;

a first side panel attached to said front panel along a score line opposite said manufacturing flap;

a first inner top flap attached to said first side panel along a score line;

a first inner bottom flap attached to said first side panel along a score line opposite said first inner top flap

a back panel attached to said first side panel along a score line opposite said front panel;

a second outer top flap attached to said back panel along a score line;

a second outer bottom flap attached to said back panel along a score line opposite said second outer top flap;

a second side panel attached to said back panel along a score line opposite said first side panel;

a second inner top flap attached to said second side panel along a score line;

a second inner bottom flap attached to said second side panel along a score line opposite said second inner top flap; and

a front cover panel attached to said second side panel along a front cover panel attachment line opposite said back panel.

18. The blank of claim 17 wherein said front cover panel comprises a front portion and a top portion attached to said front portion along a score line.

19. The blank of claim 18 wherein said top portion of said front cover panel comprises a tear-away strip.

20. The blank of claim 17 wherein said front cover panel comprises a handle cutaway.

21. The blank of claim 17 wherein each of said first and second inner top flaps comprises a cutaway portion.

22. The blank of claim 21 wherein said first outer top flap comprises a cutaway portion aligning with said front access opening and adapted to align with said cutaway portions of said first and second inner top flaps when said blank is formed into a container.

23. A shipping and display container comprising:

a top panel;

a bottom panel opposing said top panel

a back panel

a front panel opposing said back panel and having a front access opening therein;

a first side comprising first and second inner first side flaps and first and second outer first side flaps;

a second side comprising first and second inner second side flaps and first and second outer second side flaps; and

a front cover panel attached to one of said top panel or said bottom panel along a perforation line.

24. The shipping and display container of claim 23 wherein said top panel comprises a top access opening aligning with said front access opening, said top access opening being covered by a top punch-out portion.

25. The shipping and display container of claim 23 wherein said front cover panel is attached to said front panel using releasable adhesives.

26. The shipping and display container of claim 23 wherein said front cover panel is attached at least one of said first and second sides of said container along first and second removable tear strips.

27. A blank for forming a container comprising:

a front panel having an access opening therein;

a first inner first side flap attached to said front panel along a score line;

a first inner second side flap attached to said front panel along a score line opposite said first inner first side flap;

a bottom panel attached to said front panel along a score line;

a first outer first side flap attached to said bottom panel along a score line;

a first outer second side flap attached to said bottom panel along a score line opposite said first outer first side flap;

a back panel attached to said bottom panel along a score line opposite said front panel;

a second inner first side flap attached to said back panel along a score line;

a second inner second side flap attached to said back panel along a score line opposite said second inner first side flap;

a top panel attached to said back panel along a score line opposite said front panel;

a second outer first side flap attached to said top panel along a score line;

a second outer second side flap attached to said top panel along a score line opposite said second outer first side flap; and

a front cover panel attached to said top panel along a score line opposite said back panel.

28. The blank of claim 27 wherein said top panel is provided with an access opening having a top punch-out portion attached to said top panel along a top perforation line.

29. The blank of claim 27 wherein said front cover panel is provided with first and second cover panel side flaps, each of said first and second cover panel side flaps having a tear-away strip thereon for facilitating removal of said front cover panel from a container constructed from said blank.

30. The blank of claim 27 wherein said front cover panel is provided with a cover panel side flap for attachment to one of said sides of said container, said cover panel side flap having a tear-away strip thereon for facilitating removal of said front cover panel from a container constructed from said blank.

31. A container comprising:

a bottom;

a top opposing said bottom;

first and second side panels bridging said top and said bottom;

a back panel bridging said top and said bottom; and

a front panel bridging said top and said bottom, said front panel having an access opening provided therein, said access opening comprising a punch-out portion and being covered by a front cover panel having a front portion and a top portion, said front portion of said front cover panel being adhesively attached to said punch-out portion of said access opening.

32. The container of claim 31 wherein said front cover panel is affixed to said container at at least two points.

33. The container of claim 31 wherein said front cover panel is attached to said container along a first side edge of said front portion along a perforated score line.

34. The container of claim 31 wherein said front cover panel further comprises a side portion partially overlapping said first side panel of said container, said side portion being attached to a side cover attachment flap along a side tear-away strip.