Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Variable volume
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-05-08
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Variable volume
C220S008000, C229S122210, C229S164000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227438
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to paperboard trays and more specifically to a paperboard display tray that has expandable depth.
Paperboard or cardboard display trays are known to the art. Generally speaking such trays have a rectangle configuration with a bottom wall, side walls, front wall and back wall. Often, the front wall has a lesser height than the back wall so that access to the tray is facilitated. The back wall can be greater in height and can bear indicia, such as advertisements, prices and the like. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the depth of the tray is dictated by the depth of the bottom wall. These trays generally are erected from a pre-cut paperboard blank. That is, the paperboard blank is precut and then the user or distributor can fold the blank into the tray configuration. The trays can be provided as blanks or as filly erected trays, either full or empty. One particular application for the erected tray is to display for sale small items, such as candy, snacks or other items.
The typical paperboard display tray of the prior art has at least one significant drawback. As set out above, the depth of the tray is dictated by the depth of the bottom wall. Since the bottom wall is provided in the foldable blank, there is no way to vary the depth of the tray. If different size trays are required, different size blanks must be cut, resulting in increased costs, inventory and sometimes waste. Often, as items displayed in a tray are removed and sold, the remaining items can look picked-through or less desirable when they are left over in a large display tray. Hence, it would be advantageous to have a paperboard display tray that can be constructed or assembled from pre-cut paperboard blanks which allows the depth of the resulting tray to be adjusted or varied as desired to reduce costs and inventory and provide an aesthetically pleasing display even as items are removed from the tray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is among the various objects of the present invention to provide a paperboard display tray with an adjustable depth.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a display tray that can be erected from pre-cut paperboard blanks.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a display tray that has an outer tray support and a slidable tray, the slidable tray functioning as the adjustable bottom wall so as to adjust the overall depth of the tray.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a display tray that is economical to manufacture, easy to construct, durable and serviceable and well suited for its intended purposes.
In accordance with the invention, generally stated, a paperboard display tray having adjustable depth is provided. The display tray includes an tray support which has a back wall and a pair of integral side walls, the side walls having a substantially tapered profile from the back wall to the front. The side walls are composed of double walls with a space in-between. The display tray also includes a slidable tray section including a bottom wall, a front wall along the front edge of the bottom wall, and a pair of side walls. The side walls of the slidable tray section are disposed to seat in the space in side walls of the tray support in a sliding engagement so that the overall depth of the display tray can be adjusted by sliding the side walls of the slidable tray section into and out of the walls of the tray support. The side walls of the slidable tray section have detent fins at the upper rear edge to prevent the slidable tray from being pulled out of the tray support. The bottom wall of the slidable tray slides on top of the bottom wall of the tray support.
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patent: 4128167 (1978-12-01), Hogshead, III
patent: 5192019 (1993-03-01), Meehan
patent: 2646141 (1990-10-01), None
Denk Paul M.
Elkins Gary E.
Smurfit Stone Corporation
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