EP3320804A1

EP3320804A1 - Display tray, display comprising such trays and method there for

Info

Publication number: EP3320804A1
Application number: EP17201634.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Klaas Schepers
Original assignee: Palkps Holding BV
Current assignee: Palkps Holding BV
Priority date: 2016-11-14
Filing date: 2017-11-14
Publication date: 2018-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-14
Also published as: PL3320804T3; NL2017786B1; EP3320804B1; DK3320804T3; ES2895684T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display tray, a display comprising such trays, and a method for setting up a display. The display tray according to the invention comprises:
- a carrier floor (5) configured for placing goods thereon;
- a support (15a-d) having a hinged end (17) and a free end (19), wherein the support is at the hinged end thereof hingedly connected to the carrier floor for rotation about an axis of rotation (25) between an extended state, wherein the support extends substantially perpendicular to the carrier floor, and a collapsed state, wherein the support extends substantially along the carrier floor, and wherein the support has an abutment (53) at its free end; and
- an accommodation (41) and an opening (39) providing an opening to the accommodation, wherein the hinged end of the support partly defines the accommodation, and the accommodation is configured for receiving an abutment (153) at a free end of a support (115) of a second display tray (101) such that rotation of the support about its axis of rotation is locked after insertion of the abutment (153) of the second display tray (101).

Description

The present invention relates to display trays, in particular display trays for displaying merchandise in retail stores.
Merchandise is often displayed in retail stores on fixed shelving units distributed over the retail floor in accordance with a fixed retail floor plan. In particular for providing temporary display space, for instance for displaying seasonal merchandise or merchandise that is temporary subject to additional promotion or merchandise with high rotation, it is known to temporarily arrange display trays carrying the particular merchandise on the retail floor at locations where people will likely encounter the merchandise during shopping. Such display trays are generally arranged in a stacked configuration in order to make efficient use of available retail floor space. For providing the stack of display trays, some types of merchandise allow for arranging on a first amount of merchandise that is carried by a first display tray of the stack of display trays, a subsequent display tray carrying a second amount of merchandise. This method of providing the stack of display trays is advantageous in that it is easy in the sense that it merely requires arranging a subsequent display tray carrying merchandise thereon, on the merchandise arranged on and carried by the previous display tray. Furthermore, unstacking of the stack of display trays is easy, in the sense that it merely requires taking an empty display tray of the merchandise carried by the subsequent display tray. Drawback is that this method of stacking display trays requires the merchandise to be able to carry the load of the all display trays and merchandise arranged thereon that are located higher in the stack of display trays. Furthermore, each time a display tray is empty, store personnel or even customers have to take the empty display tray from the stack of display trays in order to provide access to the merchandise that is carried by the subsequent display tray.
Alternatively, it is known to arrange supports between subsequent display trays in the stack of display trays that carry the load of subsequent display trays and merchandise arranged thereon and that allow customers to access the merchandise carried by each of the display trays without having to remove any of the display trays from the stack of display trays. Drawback of this method of stacking is that stacking is more time consuming as it requires arranging supports between subsequent display trays while stacking and removing supports between subsequent display trays while unstacking. Arranging of the supports between subsequent display trays each time a stack of trays is provided and removing the supports each time a stack of trays is unstacked is required to reduce storage space when the display trays are not used.
US 2015/257530 A , GV 25879 A , JP 2004 016377 A and BE 507 712 A show display trays and/or displays that require several parts involving additional support parts and/or require a relatively complex transition between a collapsed state and an extended state.
The present invention has as its object to provide an improved display tray that obviates or at least reduces one or more of the aforementioned problems.
The display tray according to the present invention comprises a carrier floor, and a support having a hinged end and a free end, wherein the support is at the hinged end thereof hingable connected to the carrier floor for rotation about an axis of rotation between an extended state and a collapsed state. The display tray according to the invention allows for providing a stack of display trays wherein supports are arranged between subsequent display trays in the stack of display trays, wherein arranging the supports between subsequent display trays in the stack of display trays is relatively easy and quick. In particular, arranging the supports between subsequent display trays in the stack of display trays, merely requires rotating each support of one of the display trays into its extended state and arranging the subsequent display tray on the previous display tray such that the free end of each support of one of the display trays abuts the other one of the display trays. Unstacking a thus formed stack of display trays according to the invention merely requires lifting each display tray from the stack of display trays until there is no stack anymore, and rotating the supports of the display trays into their collapsed state. Moving a support of the display tray according to the invention between its extended and its collapsed state is only by rotating the support about its axis of rotation. This is a simple movement that can be performed in little time and that is particularly suitable for automation.
According to the invention the display tray provides the support having an abutment at its free end, and the display tray comprises an accommodation.
Preferably, at least with the support in its extended state, the abutment and accommodation have complementary shapes. This preferred feature allows accommodating the abutment at the free end of the support of the display tray according to the invention in the accommodation of an identical display tray. The complementary shapes of the abutment and accommodation allow the abutment and the accommodation to interact. Preferably, the complementary shapes are such that when the abutment of the support of a second, identical display tray is accommodated in the accommodation of the first display tray, rotation of the support of the first display tray is blocked. This advantageous feature provides that arranging a first display tray according to the invention on a second identical display tray such that the free end of a support of the second display tray abuts the first display tray, in particular by accommodating the abutment of at the free end of the support of the second display tray in the complementary shaped accommodation of the first display tray, not only provides a stack of display trays, but additionally blocks rotation of the support of the first display tray about its axis of rotation. Consequently, no other movement of the support of the display tray according to the invention than rotation thereof and no other additional actions are required for locking the support in its extended state. Locking the support in its extended state contributes to the stability of the stack of display trays.
In an advantageous embodiment of the display tray according to the invention having an abutment at the free end of the support and a complementary shaped accommodation, the complementary shapes are nesting shapes. Additionally or alternatively the complementary shapes are interlocking shapes.
In an advantageous embodiment of the display tray according to the invention having an abutment at the free end of the support and a complementary shaped accommodation, the accommodation comprises a pair of facing abutment surfaces, wherein one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces is a surface of the support that at least partly is moved towards the other one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces when the support is rotated between the extended state and a collapsed state. Preferably, the other abutment surface of the pair of facing abutment surfaces is the surface of a tray body that comprises the carrier floor.
In an advantageous embodiment thereof the support comprises two abutment surfaces, wherein one of the abutment surfaces of the support is one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation when the support is in the extended state, and the other one of the abutment surfaces of the support is one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation when the support is in the collapsed state. This feature allows for locking the support of a first display tray either in its extended state or in its collapsed state by accommodating the free end of the support of a second, identical display tray in the accommodation of the first display tray while the support of the first display tray is in either its extended state or in its collapsed state
In an alternative embodiment the support comprises the accommodation.
In a preferred embodiment of the display tray according to the invention the accommodation is arranged at the hinged end of the support.
In an advantageous embodiment of the display tray according to the invention having an abutment at the free end of the support and a complementary shaped accommodation, the abutment comprises an abutment surface that is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the support, and the accommodation comprises a complementary abutment surface.
In a preferred embodiment of the display tray according to the invention, in the extended state, the support extends substantially perpendicular to the carrier floor, and in the collapsed state the support extends along the carrier floor.
In an advantageous embodiment of the display tray according to the invention, the support is a one-piece body. In a preferred embodiment thereof the support is plate shaped.
In an advantageous embodiment of the display tray according to the invention the support is hingable/hingedly connected to the carrier floor by means of a hinge that is configured for allowing rotation of the support post about a single axis of rotation and for restricting translation along and rotation about other axes of movement. In a preferred embodiment thereof the display tray comprises a tray body comprising the carrier floor, wherein the tray body comprises a wall, preferably a side wall, perpendicular to the carrier floor; and the support is arranged on the wall, the hinge comprises the wall and a pen that extends perpendicular to the wall and through the support and that defines the axis of rotation of the support, and the support and the wall have respective surfaces that face each other and are in contact with each other.
In an advantageous embodiment thereof, the hinge further comprises an additional wall that extends parallel to the wall on the opposite side of the support, wherein the surface of the additional wall that faces the wall is in contact with a facing surface of the support.
In an advantageous embodiment the wall of the hinge is an abutment surface of the accommodation. In a preferred embodiment thereof, the additional wall is an abutment surface of the accommodation.
In an advantageous embodiment of the display tray according to the invention having an abutment at the free end of the support and a complementary shaped accommodation, the display comprises a tray body comprising the carrier floor, wherein the tray body has adjacent the hinged end of the support an opening to the accommodation. In a preferred embodiment thereof the opening to the accommodation is sized and shaped to closely fit the cross-sectional size and shape of the support.
The present invention further relates to a method for setting up a display, comprising the steps of providing a first display tray according to the present invention as described herein above, moving the support into its extended state, providing a second, identical display tray, and arranging the first display tray and the second display tray the one above the other such that the free end of the support of the first display tray abuts the second display tray.
In a preferred embodiment thereof the first and second display tray are according to the preferred embodiment of the display tray according to the invention as described herein above having an abutment at the free end of the support and a complementary shaped accommodation, wherein the step of arranging the first display tray and the second display tray the one above the other comprises accommodating the abutment at the free end of the support in the accommodation of the second display tray. In a preferred embodiment thereof the accommodation of the second display tray is arranged at the hinged end of the support of the second display tray, and by accommodating the abutment at the free end of the support of the first display tray in the accommodation of the second display tray the support of the of the first display tray and the support of the second display tray are interlocked such that rotation of the support of the second display tray about its axis of rotation is locked.
In preferred embodiments of the display according to the invention only a rotational movement of the supports is required to move between the collapsed and extended states. This enables automatization of stacking and/or unstacking. In a presently preferred embodiment this is achieved by providing the support(s) with an engagement member, such as a hole, a pen, a flange, a tab etc. such that a machine may engage the engagement member in an automated manner. A further advantage is that in these preferred embodiments supports of stacked display trays are positioned substantially above each other. This provides additional support to the display independent of the carrier floor, for example, thereby providing a stable display. By providing the abutment of the free end with a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of the accommodation that is partly defined by the hinged end of the support the position of the support is firmly locked in both the collapsed and extended states without requiring additional parts or supports. This provides a stable and effective display tray. An even further effect is that the display tray in these preferred embodiments does not require parts to be positioned outside the surface of the carrier floor. This provides a safe display tray and associated display that also reduces the risk of damaging other goods.
The invention further relates to a display comprising a number of display trays in one or more of the embodiments according to the invention, and a method for setting up such display.
The display and/or method provide similar effects and advantages as described in relation to the display.
In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the present invention moving the support into its extended state is only by rotating the support about its axis of rotation.
The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate non-limitative preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The above stated and other advantages, features and objectives of the invention will become more apparent, and the invention better understood, from the following detailed description when read in combination with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of the display tray according to the invention;
Figures 11 to 14 show a second embodiment of the display tray according to the invention;
Figures 15 to 17 show stacks of display tray according to the first embodiment of the display tray according to the invention;
Figures 18 to 20 show a third embodiment of the display tray according to the invention;
Figure 21 shows a detail of a fourth embodiment of the display tray according to the invention; and
Figure 22 shows a detail of a fifth embodiment of the display tray according to the invention.

Figures 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of the display tray 1 according to the present invention. The display tray 1 comprises a tray body 3. The tray body 3 comprises a carrier floor 5 and four side walls 7, 9, 11, 13 that extend upwards from the carrier floor 5. The display tray 1 further is shown with four supports 15a-d. The supports 15a-d are plate shaped. The supports 15a-d each have a hinged end 17 and a free end 19. The supports 15a-d are at their hinged end 17 hingedly connected to the carrier floor 5 via two opposing side walls 7 and 11. Each support 15a-d is hingedly connected near a respective corner of the tray body 3. Of each of the supports 15a-d, a planar surface 21 thereof faces an inwardly facing planar surface 7a, 11a of the respective side wall 7, 11. In the shown embodiment the planar surface 21 of each support 15a-d is in contact with the inwardly facing planar surface 7a, 11b of the respective side wall 7, 11. At their hinged end 17 the supports 15a-d are fixed to the respective side wall 7, 11 by means of a pen 23. The pen 23 defines an axis of rotation 25 about which the support 15a-d is rotatable between a collapsed state, shown in figure 2, and an extended state, shown in figure 3. In both states and while being rotated between the two states, the planar contact between the facing planar surfaces, i.e. planar surface 21 of the supports 15a-d and respective planar surface of the side walls 7, 11, is maintained, in particular by virtue of the pen 23 holding the respective supports 15a-d and associated side walls 7, 11 together. The pen 23 thus embodies a hinge that allows the supports 15a-d to rotate about their respective axis of rotation 25, while translation along and rotation about other axes of movement is restricted.
As shown in figure 2, in the collapsed state the supports 15a-d extend along the carrier floor 5. As shown in figure 3, in the extended state the supports 15a-d extend substantially perpendicular to the carrier floor 5.
As shown in figures 1 to 3, the supports 15a-d are each provided with a hole 27 that is offset from the respective axis of rotation 25. This hole 27 allows for a machine to engage the support 15a-d by inserting an engagement member, such as an engagement pen, in the hole 27, and to simply rotate the support 15a-d about its axis of rotation 25 in order to move the support 15a-d between its collapsed state and its extended state.
In figure 4A is shown that in the extended state of the support 15, a first surface 29 of the support 15 is in contact with the inner surface 9a of the side walls 9 and 13 that extend perpendicular to the side walls 7 and 11 on which the supports 15a-d are arranged. This contact prevents the support 15 from rotating about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow A. Furthermore, as shown in figure 4A, a second surface 31 of the support 15 is in contact with the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5. The second surface 31 extends on both sides of a plane p1 in which the axis of rotation 25 extends and that is perpendicular to the second surface 31 and the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5. As a result the contact between the second surface 31 and the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5 prevents the support 15 from rotating about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow B. In order to rotate the support 15 from its extended state into its collapsed state, the edge 33 of the second surface 31 is required to move in the direction of arrow C. The latter requires a deformation of the carrier floor 5 and/or a deformation of the support 15. In the present embodiment the support is made of steel and the carrier floor 5 is made of a synthetic polymer material that allows for elastic deformation of the carrier floor 5 for allowing the edge 33 of the second surface 31 to move in the direction of arrow C when a certain force threshold is exceeded. The force threshold is sufficient for preventing accidental rotation of the support 15 out of its extended state. Alternatively or additionally, the friction between the support 15 and the side wall on which it is arranged can provide a force threshold for preventing accidental rotation of the support 15 out of its extended state. As a further alternative, the sharp edges 33 and 37 may be rounded edges having a radius that corresponds to the distance between the axis of rotation 25 and the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5. In such embodiment the friction between the support 15 and the side wall on which it is arranged may provide a force threshold for preventing accidental rotation of the support 15 out of its extended state
In figure 4B is shown that in the collapsed state of the support 15, a third surface 35 of the support 15 is in contact with the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5. The third surface 35 extends on both sides of a plane p2 in which the axis of rotation 25 extends and that is perpendicular to the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5 and to the third surface 35. As a result the contact between the third surface 35 and the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5 prevents the support 15 from rotating about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow D. Furthermore, as a result of the contact between the third surface 35 and the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5 the location of the hole 27 is well defined. In order to rotate the support 15 from its collapsed state into its extended state, the edge 37 of the third surface 35 is required to move in the direction of arrow E. The latter requires a deformation of the carrier floor 5 and/or a deformation of the support 15. In the present embodiment the support is made of steel and the carrier floor 5 is made of a synthetic polymer material that allows for elastic deformation of the carrier floor 5 for allowing the edge 37 of the third surface 35 to move in the direction of arrow E when a certain force threshold is exceeded. The force threshold is sufficient for preventing accidental rotation of the support 15 out of its collapsed state. Alternatively or additionally, the friction between the support 15 and the side wall on which it is arranged can provide a force threshold for preventing accidental rotation of the support 15 out of its collapsed state.
In figure 4A is furthermore shown that the tray body 3, in particular the carrier floor 5 has an opening 39 adjacent the hinged end of the supports 15. This applies to all supports 15a-d. The opening 39 is an opening to an accommodation 41. As shown in figure 4A, in the accommodation 41 is defined by a plurality of abutment surfaces. One of the abutment surfaces is the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3. The support 15 comprises three of the abutment surfaces 43, 45, 47. The opening 39 provides four abutment surfaces. The four abutment surfaces provided by the opening are the circumferential surfaces of the opening 39. One of the four abutment surfaces is co-planar with the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3. A second one is the surface 49 on the opposite side of the opening 39. Third and fourth abutment surfaces are the surfaces that extend between the first one and second one. Of the third and fourth abutment surfaces provided by the opening 39 only one abutment surface 51 is shown in figure 4A. With the support 15 in its extended state as shown in figure 4A, abutment surface 47 provided by the support 15 forms together with the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3 a pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation 41. When support 15, starting from its extended state shown in figure 4A, is rotated about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow F towards its collapsed state, the abutment surface 47 is (initially) moved towards the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3 in the direction of arrow G.
As shown in figure 4B, with the support 15 in its collapsed state the accommodation 41 is still there, albeit that instead of three abutment surfaces, the support 15 provides two abutment surfaces 31, 52 that together with the abutment surfaces provided by the opening 39 and the inner surface 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13, (as described herein above under reference to figure 4A) define the accommodation 41. Abutment surface 52 provided by the support 15 forms together with the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3 a pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation 41. When support 15, starting from its collapsed state shown in figure 4B, is rotated about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow A towards its extended state, the abutment surface 31 is (initially) moved towards the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3 in the direction of arrow H.
As shown in figure 4C, wherein figures 4A and 4B are superimposed, the size and shape of the accommodation 41 with the support 15 in its extended state and the size and shape of the accommodation 41 with the support 15 in its collapsed state correspond, albeit that the accommodation 41 with the support 15 in its extended state has one additional abutment surface 43 that is provided by the support 15.
The support 15 shown in figures 4A-4C has at its free end an abutment 53. The abutment 53 and the accommodation 41 have complementary shapes, in particular interlocking shapes, as will be explained under reference to figures 5 to 7.
In figures 5 and 6 is shown that display tray 1 as shown in figure 3 with its supports 15 in their extended state is arranged on a second, identical display tray 101 with its supports 115 in their extended state as well. In particular, the free end of each support 115 of the second display tray 101 is inserted in the direction indicated by arrow I via a respective opening 39 in the carrier floor 5 of the first display tray 3 into a respective accommodation 41. As shown in figure 7, after insertion of the free end of the support 115 into the accommodation 41, the abutment 153 that is provided at the free end of the support 115 nests in the accommodation 41. Furthermore, the abutment 153 abuts each of the abutment surfaces defining the accommodation 41 as a result of the abutment 153 and the accommodation 41 having complementary shapes. In particular, the abutment 153 has for each abutment surface defining the accommodation a complementary abutment surface that is in contact therewith. Abutment surface 155 of the abutment 153 is in contact with the inner surface 9a of the side wall 9. Abutment surface 157 of the abutment 153 is in contact with abutment surface 43 that is provided by the support 15. Abutment surface 159 of the abutment 153 is in contact with abutment surface 45 that is provided by the support 15. Abutment surface 161 of the abutment 153 is in contact with abutment surface 47 that is provided by the support 15. Furthermore, the respective outwardly facing surfaces of the support 115 at the level of the abutment surfaces provided by the opening 39 are each in contact with a respective inwardly facing circumferential abutment surface of opening 39. As a result the abutment 153 at the free end of the support 115 and the accommodation 41 at the hinged end of the support 15 are in form locked relationship, wherein except for translation of the abutment 153 relative to the accommodation 41 in the direction indicated by arrow J opposite to the insertion direction, translational movement of the abutment 153 relative to the accommodation 41 is restricted by at least one of the abutment surfaces defining the accommodation 41. Additionally, the above described contact between abutment surfaces of abutment 153 and abutment surfaces of the accommodation 41 prevents the supports 115 of the second display tray 101 from rotating about their respective axis of rotation 125 in the direction of arrow B into their collapsed state. The latter even without the accommodation 141 at the hinged end of the supports 115 accommodating a free end of a support of an additional identical display tray therein.
Furthermore, rotation of the support 15 of the first display tray 1 about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow B is locked after insertion of the abutment 153 at the free end of support 115 of the second display tray 101 in the accommodation 41 at the hinged end of the support 15 of the first display tray 1. As described herein above under reference to figure 4A with the support 15 in its extended state as shown in figure 4A, abutment surface 47 provided by the support 15 forms together with the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3 a pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation 41. When support 15, starting from its extended state, is rotated about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow B towards its collapsed state, the abutment surface 47 is (initially) moved towards the inner surface of 9a, 13a of the side wall 9, 13 of the tray body 3. As shown in figure 7, abutment 153 at the free end of support 115 of the second display tray 101 is nested in the accommodation 41 and is interposed between and in contact with both the abutment surface 47 provided by the support 15 and the inner surface of 9a of the side wall 9 of the tray body 3. As a result the abutment surface 47 cannot be moved towards the inner surface of 9a of side wall 9 of the tray body 3, such that support 15 cannot be rotated in the direction of arrow B from its extended state into its collapsed state.
In figure 8, the stacked first display tray 1 and second display tray 101 of figures 5 to 7 are shown in perspective view.
Under reference to figures 5 and 6 is described how the abutment 153 at the free end of a support 115 of a second display tray 101 can be nested in the accommodation 41 of a first display tray 1 that is defined by an abutment surface provided by the side wall of the tray body 3, abutment surfaces provided by the opening 39 in the tray body 3, and by abutment surfaces provided by the support 15 in its extended state, in particular surfaces 43, 45, and 47 of the support 15. As described under reference to figure 4B, with the support 15 in its collapsed state the accommodation 41 is also present, albeit that the abutment surfaces defining the accommodation include other surfaces 31, 52 of the support 15. As illustrated by figure 4C, the size and shape of the accommodation 41 with the support 15 in its extended state and the size and shape of the accommodation 41 with the support 15 in its collapsed state correspond. The latter allows the abutment 53 at the free end of support 15 of the first display tray 1 to be accommodated in the accommodation 241 of a third, identical display tray 201, as will be described under reference to figures 9 and 10.
In figures 9 and 10 is shown that on the free ends of the supports 15 of display tray 1 as shown in figures 5 to 8 is arranged a third, identical display tray 201 with its supports 215 in their collapsed state. In particular, the free end of each support 15 of the first display tray 1 is inserted via a respective opening 239 in the carrier floor 205 of the third display tray 201 into a respective accommodation 241. As shown in figure 10, after insertion of the free end of the support 15 into the accommodation 241, the abutment 53 that is provided at the free end of the support 15 nests in the accommodation 241. Furthermore, as a result of the abutment 53 and the accommodation 241 having complementary shapes, the abutment 53 abuts each of the abutment surfaces defining the accommodation 241. In particular, the abutment 53 has for each abutment surface defining the accommodation 241 a complementary abutment surface that is in contact therewith. Abutment surface 55 of the abutment 53 is in contact with the inner surface 209a of the side wall 209. Abutment surface 59 of the abutment 53 is in contact with abutment surface 231 that is provided by the support 15. Abutment surface 61 of the abutment 53 is in contact with abutment surface 247 that is provided by the support 215. Furthermore, the respective outwardly facing surfaces of the support 15 at the level of the abutment surfaces provided by the opening 239 are each in contact with a respective inwardly facing circumferential abutment surface of opening 239. As a result the abutment 53 at the free end of the support 15 and the accommodation 241 at the hinged end of the support 215 are in form locked relationship, wherein except for translation of the abutment 53 relative to the accommodation 241 in the direction indicated by arrow I opposite to the insertion direction indicated by arrow J, translational movement of the abutment 53 relative to the accommodation 241 is restricted by at least one of the abutment surfaces defining the accommodation 241. Additionally, the above described contact between abutment surfaces of abutment 53 and abutment surfaces of the accommodation 241 prevents the supports 15 of the first display tray 1 from rotating about their respective axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow B into their collapsed state. As a result of the accommodation 41 at the hinged end of the support 15 accommodating the abutment 153 of the support 115 of the second display tray 101, while the abutment 53 at the free end of the support 15 is accommodated in the accommodation 241 at the hinged end of the support 215 of the third display tray 1, the support 15 is both at its hinged end and at its free end locked for rotation about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow B out of its extended state toward its collapsed state.
Furthermore, rotation of the support 215 of the third display tray 201 about its axis of rotation 225 in the direction of arrow A is locked after insertion of the abutment 53 at the free end of support 15 of the first display tray 1 in the accommodation 241 at the hinged end of the support 215 of the third display tray 201. In accordance with what is described herein above under reference to figure 4B, with the support 215 in its collapsed state, abutment surface 247 provided by the support 215 forms together with the inner surface of 209a, 213a of the side wall 209, 213 of the tray body 203, a pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation 241. When support 215, starting from its collapsed state, is rotated about its axis of rotation 225 in the direction of arrow A towards its extended state, the abutment surface 247 is (initially) moved towards the inner surface of 209a, 213a of the side wall 209, 213 of the tray body 203. As shown in figure 10, abutment 53 at the free end of support 15 of the first display tray 1 is nested in the accommodation 41 and is interposed between and in contact with both the abutment surface 247 provided by the support 215 and the inner surface of 209a of the side wall 209 of the tray body 203. As a result the abutment surface 247 cannot be moved towards the inner surface of 209a of side wall 209 of the tray body 203, such that support 215 cannot be rotated in the direction of arrow A from its collapsed state into its extended state.
In the embodiment of the display tray 1, 101, 201 according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 10, the supports 15, 115, 215 extend in upward direction when in their extended state. Alternatively, the supports may extend in opposite, i.e. downward, direction when in their extended state, as will be described herein below under reference to figures 10 to 14.
Figures 11A, 12, 13, and 14 correspond to figures 2, 3, 6, and 7, respectively, albeit that there are some differences between the identical first and second display trays 1 and 101 shown in figures 2, 3, 6, and 7 and the first and second display trays 1 and 101 shown in figures 11A, 12, 13, and 14. The differences are described herein below.
In stead of the supports 15 being arranged on the inwardly facing surfaces 7a, 11a of the side walls 7, 11, the supports 15 are arranged on the opposite, outwardly facing surface 7b, 11b, of the side walls 7, 11. As shown in figure 11B, the side walls 9, 11 are provided at the end thereof facing away from the carrier floor 5 with an outwardly extending flange 63, that extends perpendicular to the side walls 7, 11. As illustrated in figure 11B, optionally, a cover wall 65 extends from the outward facing end of flange 63 downwards along the side wall 9, 11.
As shown in figure 11, in the collapsed state of the support 15, in stead of being in contact with the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5, the surface 35 of the support 15 extends along and is in contact with the bottom surface 63a of the flange 63.
As shown in figure 12 in the extended state of the support 15, in stead of being in contact with the inner surface 5a of the carrier floor 5, the surface 31 of the support 15 extends along and is in contact with the bottom surface 63a of the flange 63.
As shown in figures 11 and 12, the openings 39 adjacent the hinged ends of the supports 15 are not arranged in the carrier floor 5, but in de flange 63. The opening 39 is an opening to an accommodation 41 that is identical to the accommodation 41 of the embodiment of the display tray 1 shown in figures 2 to 7, albeit that the accommodation is mirrored relative to an axis parallel to the carrier floor 5, such that the insertion direction is opposite to the insertion direction of the accommodation 41 of the embodiment of the display tray 1 shown in figures 2 to 7.
In figures 13 and 14 is shown that an identical second display tray 101 with its supports 115 in their extended state is arranged on the first display tray 1 shown in figure 12 with its supports 15 in their extended state as well. In particular, the free end of each support 115 of the second display tray 101 is inserted via a respective opening 39 in the flange 63 of the first display tray 1 into a respective accommodation 41. As shown in figure 14, after insertion of the free end of the support 115 into the accommodation 41, the abutment 153 that is provided at the free end of the support 115 nests in the accommodation 41. Furthermore, the abutment 153 abuts each of the abutment surfaces defining the accommodation 41 as a result of the abutment 153 and the accommodation 41 having complementary shapes. In particular, the abutment 153 has for each abutment surface defining the accommodation a complementary abutment surface that is in contact therewith. Abutment surface 155 of the abutment 153 is in contact with the inner surface 9a of the side wall 9. Abutment surface 157 of the abutment 153 is in contact with abutment surface 43 that is provided by the support 15. Abutment surface 159 of the abutment 153 is in contact with abutment surface 45 that is provided by the support 15. Abutment surface 161 of the abutment 153 is in contact with abutment surface 47 that is provided by the support 15. Furthermore, the respective outwardly facing surfaces of the support 115 at the level of the abutment surfaces provided by the opening 39 are each in contact with a respective inwardly facing circumferential abutment surface of opening 39. As a result the abutment 153 at the free end of the support 115 and the accommodation 41 at the hinged end of the support 15 are in form locked relationship, wherein except for translation of the abutment 153 relative to the accommodation 41 in the direction indicated by arrow J opposite to the insertion direction indicated by arrow I, translational movement of the abutment 153 relative to the accommodation 41 is restricted by at least one of the abutment surfaces defining the accommodation 41. Additionally, the above described contact between abutment surfaces of abutment 153 and abutment surfaces of the accommodation 41 prevents the supports 115 of the second display tray 101 from rotating about their respective axis of rotation 125 in the direction of arrow B into their collapsed state. The latter even without the accommodation 141 at the hinged end of the supports 115 accommodating a free end of a support of an additional identical display tray therein.
Furthermore, rotation of the support 15 of the first display tray 1 about its axis of rotation 25 in the direction of arrow B is locked after insertion of the abutment 153 at the free end of support 115 of the second display tray 101 in the accommodation 41 at the hinged end of the support 15 of the first display tray 1.
Despite the differences between the identical first and second display trays 1 and 101 shown in figures 2, 3, 6, and 7 and the first and second display trays 1 and 101 shown in figures 11A, 12, 13, and 14, the functionality of both embodiments corresponds.
Both embodiments allow for making a stack of display trays, as will be described under reference to figures 15 to 17.
In figure 15 is shown that a stack of display trays 1, 101, 201, 301, 401, according to the present invention is arranged on a wheeled carrier 70, also known as a dolly. Of each of the display trays 1, 101, 201, 301, 401, the supports are in their collapsed state.
In figure 16 and 17 the same stack of display trays 1, 101, 201, 301, 401, is shown as in figure 15, albeit that the supports 15, 115, 215 and 315, are in their extended state, while the supports 415 of display tray 401 are in their collapsed state. The display trays 1, 101, 201, 401 shown in figure 16 are identical to the embodiment of the display tray as shown in figures 1 to 8, i.e. the embodiment wherein the supports 15 extend upwards in their extended state. The display trays 1, 101, 201, 401 shown in figure 16 are stacked in accordance with the method of stacking as described herein above under reference to figures 5, 6, 9, and 10, wherein the abutment 53 at the free end of a support 15 of a first display tray is nested in the accommodation 41 at the hinged end of a support 15 of a second, adjacent display tray in the stack. A similar stack of display trays can be made with the embodiment of the display tray shown in figures 11 to 14. In that case, instead of the top display tray 401, the bottom display tray 1 has its supports 15 in their collapsed state.
In figures 18 to 20 a further alternative embodiment of the displays tray according to the present invention is shown. The alternative embodiment shown in figures 18 to 20 corresponds to the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 10, albeit that there are some differences as described herein below.
A first difference is that the length 1 of the supports 15 is different. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 10, the length of the supports 15 is such that the pair 67 of supports 15a, 15b and the pair 69 of supports 15c, 15d that are arranged on the same side wall 9, 11, do not overlap when the supports 15 are in their collapsed state. In the alternative embodiment shown in figures 18 to 20, the length of the supports 15 is such that the pairs 67, 69 of supports 15a, 15b; 15c, 15d that are arranged on the same side wall 9, 11, do not overlap when the supports 15 are in their collapsed state.
In order to make overlapping of the pair 67 of supports 15a, 15b possible, the supports 15a, 15b are mutually offset over a distance z along an offset axis that is parallel to the respective axes of rotation 25a, 25b. In particular, the support 15a is in contact with the inner surface 7a of side wall 7, while the support 15b is in contact with the inner surface 71a of a plate 71. The plate 71 has a thickness z and is with its opposite surface 71b in contact with the inner surface 7a of side wall 7. Furthermore, the display tray 1 is provided with an additional wall 73 parallel to the side wall 7, the outer surface 73b of which is in contact with the support 15b.
In order to make overlapping of the pair 69 of supports 15c, 15d possible, the supports 15c, 15d are mutually offset over a distance z along an offset axis that is parallel to the respective axes of rotation 25c, 25d. In particular, the support 15d is in contact with the inner surface 11a of side wall 11, while the support 15c is in contact with the inner surface 75a of a plate 75. The plate 75 has a thickness z and is with its opposite surface 75b in contact with the inner surface 11a of side wall 11. Furthermore, the display tray 1 is provided with an additional wall 77 parallel to the side wall 11, the outer surface 77b of which is in contact with the support 15c.
The plates 71 and 75 may also be embodied by a local thickening of the side wall.
A second difference is that supports 15a and 15c are mutually connected by means of a connection plate 81, and that supports 15b and 15d are mutually connected by means of a connection plate 83. The connection plate 81 allows for rotating the supports 15a and 15c simultaneously, while the connection plate 83 allows for rotating the supports 15b and 15d simultaneously. As shown in figure 19, the height h₁ of the side walls 9, 13 is less than the height h₂ of the side walls 7, 11, for accommodating the connection plates 81, 83, when the supports 15 are in their extended state.
Mutually connecting the supports that rotate about co-axial axes of rotation by means of a connection plate can also be applied to the embodiment of the display tray as shown in figures 1 to 10 and to the embodiment of the display tray as shown in figures 11 to 14.
The additional walls 73, 77 of the embodiment of the display tray as shown in figures 18 to 20 may also be applied in the embodiment of the display tray according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 10, without the pairs of supports mutually overlapping. In such case one of the surfaces of the support is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall while the opposite surface of the support is in contact with the additional wall.
In the embodiments of the display tray according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 20, the supports are provided with a hole 27 that allows for an apparatus to engage the supports 15. The side walls on which the supports 15 are arranged may be provided with a cut-out to allow engaging members of an apparatus to reach the holes 27 from opposite side of the side walls. Furthermore, instead of or in addition to a hole 27, the supports may be provided with an engaging member that extends side ways, such as a tab, flange, pal and the like. For instance a tab may extend from and perpendicular to the surface 21 of the support 15. This would require a cut-out in the side wall to allow the support to be rotated into its collapsed state.
In the embodiments of the display tray according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 20, the side walls 7 and 11 on which the supports 15 are arranged are longer than the side walls 9 and 13. Alternatively, the side walls 7 and 11 on which the supports 15 are arranged are shorter than the side walls 9 and 13, or the supports are arranged on side walls 9 and 13 instead of on side walls 7.
In the embodiments of the display tray according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 20, the underside of the carrier floor is flat. Alternatively, the underside of the carrier floor is shaped such that it partly nests in a second display tray when the display trays are stacked with their supports in the collapsed state.
In the embodiments of the display tray according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 20, the display trays each have four supports. It is also possible that a display tray according to the invention has less or more supports, depending on the specific shape of the display tray.
In the embodiments of the display tray according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 20, the accommodation is partly defined by an abutment surface provided by the support.
Alternatively, it is possible, as shown in figure 21, that the accommodation 541 is only defined by abutment surfaces 541a-d provided by the tray body 503. In such embodiment the accommodation of the abutment in the accommodation does not block rotation of the support 515 about its axis of rotation 525.
In the embodiments of the display tray according to the invention shown in figures 1 to 20, one of the abutment surfaces of accommodation is the inner surface 9a, 11a of the side wall 9,11. Alternatively, that abutment surface is a surface provided by the support. In such embodiment, shown in figure 22, the support 615 has a substantially U-shaped opening, wherein the base of the U-shape is provided by abutment surface 643, one leg of the U-shape is provided by abutment surfaces 645 and 647 of the support, and the other leg of the U-shape is provided by a surface 646 facing the abutment surfaces 645 and 647.
Although the principles of the invention have been set forth above with reference to specific embodiments, it must be understood that this description is given solely by way of example and not as limitation to the scope of protection, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Display tray (1), comprising:
- a carrier floor (5) configured for placing goods thereon;

- a support (15a-d) having a hinged end (17) and a free end (19), wherein the support is at the hinged end thereof hingedly connected to the carrier floor for rotation about an axis of rotation (25) between an extended state, wherein the support extends substantially perpendicular to the carrier floor, and a collapsed state, wherein the support extends substantially along the carrier floor, and wherein the support has an abutment (53) at its free end; and

- an accommodation (41) and an opening (39) providing an opening to the accommodation, wherein the hinged end of the support partly defines the accommodation, and the accommodation is configured for receiving an abutment (153) at a free end of a support (115) of a second display tray (101) such that rotation of the support about its axis of rotation is locked after insertion of the abutment (153) of the second display tray (101).
Display tray according to claim 1, wherein the abutment of the support and the accommodation have complementary shapes that are such that when the abutment of the support of a second, identical display tray is accommodated in the accommodation of the first display tray, rotation of the support of the first display tray is blocked.
Display tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the complementary shapes are nesting shapes and/or interlocking shapes.
Display tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the accommodation comprises a pair of facing abutment surfaces, wherein one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces is a surface (31) of the support (15a-d) that at least partly is moved towards the other one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces when the support is rotated between the extended state and a collapsed state.
Display tray according to claim 4, wherein the support comprises two abutment surfaces, wherein:
- one of the abutment surfaces (43) of the support (15a-d) is one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation when the support is in the extended state; and

- the other one of the abutment surfaces (31, 52) of the support (15a-d) is one of the pair of facing abutment surfaces of the accommodation when the support is in the collapsed state.
Display tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the size and shape of the accommodation in the extended and collapsed states of the support substantially correspond.
Display tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein:
- the abutment comprises an abutment surface that is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the support; and

- the accommodation comprises a complementary abutment surface.
Display tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support is a one-piece body that is preferably plate shaped.
Display tray according to any of the preceding claims, the opening (39) extends through the carrier floor.
Display tray according to claim 9, wherein the opening to the accommodation is sized and shaped to closely fit the cross-sectional size and shape of the support.
Display tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support further comprising an engagement member, such as a hole (27), that allows for a machine to engage the support by inserting an engagement member to move the support from its collapsed state to its extended state.
Display comprising a number of display trays according to any of the preceding claims.
Method for setting up a display, comprising
- providing a first display tray according to any of claims 1 to 11;

- moving the support into its extended state;

- providing a second display tray;

- arranging the first display tray and the second display tray the one above the other such that the free end of the support of the first display tray abuts in the accommodation of the second display tray.
Method according to claim 13, wherein
- the accommodation of the second display tray is arranged at the hinged end of the support of the second display tray, and

- by accommodating the abutment at the free end of the support of the first display tray in the accommodation of the second display tray the support of the of the first display tray and the support of the second display tray are interlocked such that rotation of the support of the second display tray about its axis of rotation is locked.
Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein moving the support into its extended state is only by rotating the support about its axis of rotation.