GB2526058A

GB2526058A - Box

Info

Publication number: GB2526058A
Application number: GB1406736.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Ryan
Original assignee: TRM Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: TRM Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2014-04-15
Filing date: 2014-04-15
Publication date: 2015-11-18
Also published as: GB201406736D0

Abstract

Packaging comprising a box (10, fig. 1) and an insert (98, fig. 3), which together act as a tray to support and display products, has an engagement feature on the insert for pulling the insert towards the front of the box to reduce the size of the tray, and an aperture (82a, fig. 5) in the base or side of the box through which the engagement feature 118 on the insert can be accessed. Preferably the aperture is on the base of the box and the engagement feature is on the insert, thereby enabling the insert to be pulled forward from underneath the packaging. The aperture may be a slot extending from the rear to the front of the box, and the engagement feature may be a finger hole. A method of packaging goods comprises: erecting the box and moveable insert, placing the insert inside the box, positioning the rear panel of the insert in face-to-face contact with the rear of the box, packing goods in the box, and closing the upper part of the box.

Description

BOX

The present invention relates to packaging. In particular the present invention relates to a box and insert suitable for use as shelf ready packaging (SRP).

Produce is commonly delivered to retailers in cardboard boxes. At the retailer, Items may be taken individualiy from the boxes and suitably arranged on shelving for display and sale but this involves considerable manual labour. For the sake of efficiency it is a common practice instead to adapt boxes or other packaging to be placed directly on the retailer's shelves and to suitably display the produce within.

In this way the need to take individual items out of the box and arrange them on the shelf is avoided. Boxes and other packages for use in this manner are referred to in the trade as "shelf ready packaging" (SRP).

Shelf ready boxes whose top part can be torn away along a line of perforations are well known. Such boxes are typicafly delivered to a manufacturer or distributor of produce in the form of a stamped, pre-creased, flat blank. The manufacturer/distributor erects the blank to form a box, fills It with Items of produce, seals or doses it, and ships it to the retailer. At the retailer, merely tearIng away the top pan dfthé bOx lóavós béhihdà trac or base po?tiOn of the box, containing and displaying the items of produce, which can be placed directly on the retailers shelves.

It Is desirable that the contents of the box should be tidily arranged, not only when the box is full but also throughout its time on the retailer's shelf during

I

which it is gradually emptied by purchasers. This can be problematic. Consider for example the typeof flat plastlcspacks commonly usedlorsllced foods such..

as cold meats and cheeses. It is preferable for such packs to be displayed upright, standing on their bottom edges, so that the front face of the package is dIsplayed to best advantage to consumers. Shelf ready boxes can be fifled with flat plastics packs in this orientation and while the box is full the packs can support one another, but as the box empties support for the remaining packs is lost and they consequently fail over, giving an untidy arrangement and making the retailers shelf display less attractive.

It Is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a box which overcomes or reduces the drawbacks associated with known products of this type.

From a first aspect the present invention provides packaging comprising a box and an insert which together act as a tray to support and display products, -with an engagement feature on the insert for puffing the insert towards the front of the box to reduce the size of the tray, -and an aperture In the base or side of the box through which the Eagirtent feátureon the insert can be accessed.

By "tray" Is meant a container with a generally flat base, and peripheral features (e.g. wails, or portions of wails) to stop products falling out of the tray. Preferably there are front, rear and side wails.

The front and side wafts may be provided by the box and the rear wall may be provided by the insert. (Although, typically, the packaging has front, rear and side walls, other peripheral upstanding features, rather than continuous wafis, could alternatively be used.) Pulling the insert forwards (Le. towards the front of the box), reduces the footprint of the tray. This might be done, for example, in a supermarket, after several packs of, e.g., sflced meat, have been taken out of a container, so as to usher the remaining packs of product to the front of the container so that product remains of optimal visibility to customers and to prevent product falling over within the box.

The present InventIon providing a box having a moveable Insert permits a quick and easy way of dealing with the Issue of rumbilng" in supermarkets and other retail stores. Rumbling is the action of bringing products to the front of shelves so that they are visible to customers. Customers usually spend a small amount of time purchasing each item and If product is not immediately visible a selling opportunity may be lost. Furthermore, if produce is not displayed properly it may get lost on the shelf, or may not be taken from the shelf at a fast enough rate by consumers, which can mean that produce may be wasted, especially in the case of food produce with short lifóspáis.

Rumbling can be time consuming and if not done efficiently can mean that staff are less available for other tasks than would be desirable.

The present invention brings enhanced efficiency and also enhanced control in supporting the remaining products in a partused container. in contrast, merely bringing products forward without having a rear waft to support them; can mean that they are less likely to stay in place in a stable manner.

Other methods are known for ushering products to the front of shelves, e.g. spring mechanisms to push products forward as they get used up, but these are more complicated and more costly than the present invention.

The box and/or insert may be made out of any suitable material. For cost and convenience, cardboard, card, carton board, softd board, or other paper-based.

pulp-based, fibre-based, or corrugated material may be used. Preferably the box and insert are made from card or cardboard.

The box and!or insert may be constructed by any suitable method known in the art. For example, they may be formed from blank(s) which are stamped and then folded Into shape. They may be held In shape by virtue of the inherent form of the construction, and/or by gluing, and/or by taping, and/or by other methods as known in the art.

The box and insert must provide sufficient support so as to hold and support the product, and the insert must be sufficiently self-supporting so as to be able to bring the product foiward as it is pulled.

The aperture n the Lax can be in the base of th.e box. This enabies the insert to be pued forward from underneath the box. which in turn bhngs the products to the front of the box such that they are more vsibe to shoppers and better supported. Access to the underneath of the box may be achieved by ifting the box ofF the sh&f, or in situ by having sheives orother surfaces which therns&ves have apertures.

The engagement feature on thejnsert may be an aperture, for exampeafinger hoe, n this way one can reach through the aperture n. the box to the finger hoe in the inserL and contro the movement of The insert by puffing forwards on the finger hoie.

It wiU be evident from the above descHption that the aoerture in the box must be agned with the engagement feature on the insertS The aperture n the box may be a slot such that as the finger hole (or other engagement means) of the insert is pufled forwards, the finger hoe remains aligned with the aoerture o the box. This allows alignment not just at the start of the process of puffing the insert Forward, hut also continuous allgnment during that process, and furthermore during any subsequen.t step(s) of further pulling forward. Thus the siot may be a linear structure which is parallel with the sides of the box, assuming that the bass of the box is rectangular.

The insert, or fitment, sits within the box, or case, The ower face of the base of' the insert sits on the upper face of th.e base of the box. When filled Mth products.

sonic. of the products sit on the box and some on the insert, but this is of no consequence. After the insert has been moved forward, proportonaUy more of the base of the tray is made up of the insert, and proportionay more products sit on the nsem The insert is chic to shde smoothiy maUve to the box. This means, for exampie that there is nothing in the design of the upper surface of the base of the box which dashes with, or catches on. the iower surface of the base of the insert.

The insert oan optionaUy have suhstantiay the same width as the box. 0 "I

The box and insert have been described above, arg&y in terms of how they appear and are used on a sheft. The box may further comprise an upper part, or id, which is present dump transit and then is removabe to thsoay the contents.

15. By heiping to present produce to the purchaser in a costeffective, ccnvenient, tidy and attractive manner, padcagin.g according to the present invention can provide an important advantage over other sheif ready packaging.

R WHi he obvious to those skifled in the art that variations of the present invention 2o are possibie and it is intended that the present invention may be used other than as specificav described henain.

Specific embo&ments of the present invention wifi now be desobbed, by way of exampie ody, with reference to the. accompanying dra4ngs in which:' t) Figure 1* is a front perspective view of a box according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a precut biar.k for the box of Figure 1 in a fiat configurat!on; Figure 3 is a front perspectwe view of the moveahie insert for use in the box according to th.e present invention: Figure 4 is a plan view of a precut blank for the neert of Figure 3 in a flat configuration: Figures 5 and 6 show how the insert of FIgure 3 can be moved from the back to the front of the box through a slotted aperture in the base of the box: and Figure 7 is a plan view from below of the box of Figure 1 and insert of Figure 3 arid which shows how the insert can moved from the back to the front of the box through a slotted aperture in the base of the box.

Boxes according to the present invention can accommodate articles or produce of any shape. For the purpose of iUustrahon and not for the purpose of imiting the scope of the disclosure, in this specification, the terms "lower, ;bottcm "upper' and "top, "front", "rear and "sid& indicate orientations determined in relation to fuuy erected and uprght boxes.

The box 10 fri the drawings k formed from a snge pece of cardboard. more spedficaUy corrugated cardboard. Other sutabe sheet matehas cowd be substituted. ft a qenerafly cuboda ri shape, havfrig uphght front, rear and sde waDs 12, 14, lOs, lOb, a base 18 and a too pane 20. The base 16 and top pan& 20 are formed by muftipe flaps/tabs as MU be deathbed b&ow. To e.nahe the box to function as a theFt ready package, ta dMded rite upper and kiwer parts 22, 24 by a Une of weakenmg. n the Dustrated emhodrrent this takes the form of a pertoratftmn 20 whch extends around the box. To pre.oare a ready fffledbox for dspay on aretaUer's sheves, one need ony tear akinq the perforation 26 and remove the top part 22 of the box, The box's contents are thereby reveae.d, beng carred ri fra ower part 24 whkih can then be paced on the shel The base 18 s formed, n ac.cordance wfth the present nventkin, n such a way that fr tends to keep the box's contents n a ortain posfton and orientationS AD these. aspects of the box's construction wU now be described ri more detaU.

The bank I Os shown n Fure 2 can b.c formed by a oonventionc& stampnq process whk:h not ony defines the bank's shape but aso forms crease tines, represented by dotted tines ri Hgure 2; and the aforementioned perforation 26.

Three crease tines 28, 30. 32 extendnc4 ri the dfrecbon from top to bottom of the bkink dvde Ft to form the front; rear and &de waDs 12, 14, lOs. lOb. The sheet mateha of the bank'1Oa fods; preferentiatiy at the crease tines, wh:kih form upright vertjces of the erected box (see tern 2,5: fri flgure I for exampe). A continuous crease tine 34 extends from one sde of the bank IDa to the other, deflnnq top edges of the wails 12, 14, iSa. 1$b and coupilng them to respectve top flaps 3$. 38, 40 42. The top flaps are separated fmrn one another by cut aways 44. 45. 48 enabilrg each to he fdaed inward through nhwty degrees with respect to the wails that carry them so that in the erected box th.e top flaps S together define the hoxa top pand 20. in this configuration the top flaps 38, 42.

carried by the front and rear wails overiap the top flaps 36, 40 carded by the side wails. The top flaps may for example be kept Th this conflauration by a strip of adhesive tape, after the box has been filed to close the box.

The side wail ISa has an outer edge defined by a crease inc 50 running in the direction from top to bottom of the blank IDa and coupling the side wail lOs to a glue tab 52. Before the blank is despatched to a user, the rear wail 1$ and the.

side wail 1$b are folded at crease ilne 32 and front wail 1.2 and side wail ISa are folded at crease ilne 28 ln this configuration glue tab 52 (not seen in Figure 1).

overlaps an edge portion 54 of rear wail 14 and these parts are glued to one another.

The perforation 26 dMding the boxs upper and lower parts 2224k;: seen in Figure 2 to extend across the entire width of the blank IDa, running parailel to the uoper and lower edges of the wails 12, 18, i6a. 16b across the rear wail 1$. as seen at 5$ in FIgure 2, but being incilned upwardly tram front to rear of the box where it crosses the side walk;. as seen at SBa, 58b. Where it crosses the front wail 12 (at 60 in Figure 2) the perforation is fiat to enable the product to be easdy removed from the erected box 10 after removal o upper part 2.2, as best ilustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Figures 5 and S also show the resultant shape of the lower part 24 of the box, foftowing its erection and removal of the upper part 22. The lower part 24 forms an upwardly open tray for display of produce which Is deeper at its rear than its front and has a largely open front face which maximises visibility of produce within for the benefit of consumers.

To facilitate tearing away of the box's upper part 22, finger holes are provided at intervals along the perforation 28. In the illustrated embodiment these take the form of MD* shaped cut-aways 62.

The formation of the base 18 of the box 10 wilt now be described.

A continuous crease lIne 64 extending from one side of the blank 1 Oa to the other divides the box walls 12, 14, 18a, 16b from a lower portion of the blank which wifl form the base 16, and that portion is divided by cut-aways 66, 68, 70 to form first and second base flaps 72a, 72b depending from front and rear wafts 12. 14 and first and second locking tabs 74, 76 depending respectively from side walls 16a, 1 6b.

Duting erection of the box the flaps and tabs 72a, b, 74, 76 are each folded inwardly about crease line 64 to overlap one another and so together form the base 18, as be thOih inFiure 7. In this manner, the box iscónstruètE whereby the base is glued or taped.

Looking at Figures 2 and 7 in particular, it can be seen that the first base flap 72a and the second base flap 72b each include opposing slotted apertures 82a and 82b, respectively. When the box 10 is erected ready for packing, the slotted aperture 82a, 82b formed in the base flaps 72a, 72b is configured such that it extends from the front panel 12 to the rear panel 14. The slotted aperture 82a, 82b Is not formed completely in the base flaps 72a, 72b froni the front panel 12 to the rear panel 14 as this is not necessary and could adversely affect the S structural integrity of the erected box 10. As best shown in Figure 7, the slotted aperture 82a, 82b is positioned at the centre of the base flaps 72a, 72b, and extends into around 55% of the base 18, in a plane from the front panel 12 to the rear panel 14. The width of the slotted aperture 82a, 82b Is such that an adult finger can be inserted therein to move insert 98, as described in further detail below.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the box 10 includes a separate Insert 98 which is formed from a single piece of cardboard, more specifically corrugated cardboard.

The erected insert 98 Is shown in Figure 3, which is formed from a blank 98a as shown in Figure 4. Again, the blank 98a shown in Figure 4 can be formed by a conventional stamping process which not only defines the blank shape but also forms crease and tear lines, represented by dotted lines in Figure 4.

As best shown in FIgure 4, two crease lines 104 and 106 extend in a direction from the top to the bOttom of the blank 98a. alOng Adtb orthogonal creisi line lbs to divide the blank 98a to form base 100, rear 102 and side I lOt 1 lOb panels.

Perforations or cut-sways 114, 116 then define side flaps 1 12a, 11 2b which are then taped or glued to the top surface of the base panel 100. The front section of base panel 100 being formed having a truncated V shape 120. The erected insert 98, as shown in Figure 3, Is free standing and is dimensioned to fit inside the erected box 10.

Stamped in the base panel 100 of the Insert 98 is an aperture 118 which aligns with the slotted aperture 82a, 82b formed in the base flaps 72a, 72b. As described above, the manufacturer/distributor erects the blank IDa to form the box lot and blank 98a to fomi the movable insert 98. In a filling configuration, as best shown in Figure 5 (and which for ease of reference has also been shown with the upper part 22 removed) the rear panel 102 of the Insert 98 Is positioned against the rear panel 14 of the erected box 10. The manufacturer/distributor fills the box 10 with Items of produce (not shown) arid ships it to the retailer.

Some of produce packed in the box 10 Is therefore positioned on base panel 100 of the insert 98, and some of the produce will be positioned on the base 18 of the box 10.

At the retailers, produce Is then removed from the box 10 by consumers. To maintain the produce in a desired position and/orientation for the consumer, the retailer can then simp'y raise the front of the box 10 and Insert their finger into the aperture 118 and pull the insert 98 forwards towards the front panel 12, which is guided by the SUed äpèrture 82a, 82b formed in the base ThprcMdoa very quick and easy way of ushering the produce to the front of the box 10 to be visible to the consumer. The weight of the produce bearing down on the base panel 100 of the insert 98 ensures That the packs of produce are maintained in a desired configuration and rest against the rear panel 102 of the insert 98.

Numerous modifications couid he made to the box whHe remaining within the scope of the present invention. The arrangement used to ook the hoxs base, for exampie. could take many other fomis, or indeed [he box couid have a base which is ghied or taped. The shape, proportions and dimensions of the box shown in the drawings serve as an example ordy and can be varied. For instance the side waHs could be wider than the front wails. The illustrated box is cuboidal having a rectangular footphnt, but boxes with square footprints or with other shapes altogether may be formed in accordance with the iwention. The box's removable top part need not be a teaNoff tern, it could for example be a id 0 formed separately from the reniamder of the box. The term produce" has been used above to refer to the items packed in the box, hut this should not he understood to impose any imitation on the nature of the ferns in question and while the items may be foodstuffs such as packaged cheese and prepared meats, th.ey may take puite different forms. I r

Claims

CLAIMS1. Packaging comprising a box and an insert which together act as a tray to support and display products, -with an engagement feature on the insert for pulling the insert towards the front at the box to reduce the size of the tray, -and an aperture in the base or side of the box through which the engagement feature on the insert can be accessed.
2, Packaging as claimed in c'aim 1 wherein the box and insert together act as a rectangular tray to support and display products.
3. Packaging as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 suItable for containing products between a rear waft provided by the insert and front and side walls provided by the box.
4. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture In the box is on the base of the box and the engagement feature on the insert is on the base of the insert, thereby enabling the insert to be pulled forward from underneath the pábkaging.
5. Packaging as claimed In any preceding daim wherein the aperture in the box Is a slot extending from towards the rear to towards the front of the box. t4,
6. Packaging as damed in any preceding ciaim wherein the engagement means of the insert is a finger hok.
7. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the box and/or insert comprise cardboard, card, carton board, soUd board, or other naperbased, puipbased, fihre*based or corrugated materia, 6. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the box and/or insert comprise cardboard.9. Packaging as claimed in any preceding claim suitabe for containing severa products, a g, food products.10. Packacing as caimed ri any preceding cLaim wherein the box further comprises an upper part which covers the roducts and which is removabe to display the products.11. Packaging as claimed in claim If) wherein, the upper part is separated from the remainder of the box by a pre$omrned Une of weakness, which enabies the upper part to be torn away 12, Packaging as claimed in claim 10 wherein t!C upper part is a lid.13 A box as defined in any of claims Ito 12. 1 514. A box blank suitable for forming into a box as defined in any of claims I to 12.15. An Insert as defined In any of claims Ito 12.18. An insert blank suitable for forming into an insert as defined in any of claims I tol2.17. A method of packaging goods or products comprising: a. erecting a box comprising a base, side walls and an upper part which is removable to display the goods; b. erecting a moveable insert comprising a base panel, a rear panel and side walls; c. placing the erected moveable insert inside the erected box such that the base panel of the moveable Insert being in face-to-face contact with the base of the box; ci. positioning the rear panel of the erected moveable insert in face-to-face contact with the rear of the box; e. packaging goods in the interior of the box; and f. dosing the upper part of the box.18. Use of packaging as claimed in any of claims I to 12 to contain and display products on shelves, e.g. retail shelves.19. Use of packaging as claimed in any of claims Ito 12 to enhance the visibility of produce by pulling the insert forward thereby bringing the produce forward.20. Packaged goads comprising packaging as damed in any of claims Itot 12 wIth products therein.21. Packaging as claimed in any of claims ito 12, box as claimed in claim 13, box blank as claimed In claim 14, insert as claimed in claim 15, insert blank as claimed in claim 16, method as claimed in claim 17, use as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, or packaged goods as claimed in claim 20, wherein the products may fall over if not supported, e.g. are generafly flat suth that they require support to be able to be displayed upright standing on their bottom edges.