EP-4735341-A1 - DISPLAY SYSTEM

Abstract

A package (20) for displaying a plurality of items (10) includes a carton body having at least a bottom panel (24), a first side panel (26), a second side panel (28), and a rear panel (30). At least one support is extendable from at least one of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel. At least one support (60) is engageable with a rear surface of one of the plurality of items. The at least one support is located remotely from the rear panel.

Inventors

• PRAKASH, Hareen

Assignees

• Intercontinental Great Brands LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240628

Claims (20)

1. 1. A package for displaying a plurality of items, the package comprising: a carton body having at least a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a rear panel; and at least one support extendable from at least one of said first side panel, said second side panel, and said bottom panel, wherein said at least one support is engageable with a rear surface of one of the plurality of items, and wherein said at least one support is located remotely from said rear panel.
2. 2. The package according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support is integrally formed with said carton body.
3. 3. The package according to claim 1, wherein said carton body further includes a front panel separated from said rear panel, said front panel being positioned to support a front surface of one of the plurality of items.
4. 4. The package according to claim 3, wherein said front panel has a non-uniform height.
5. 5. The package according to claim 4, wherein a height at a central portion of said front panel, measured perpendicularly from said bottom panel, is shorter than said height at a side of said front panel.
6. 6. The package according to claim 4, wherein an end of said front panel has a truncated V-shape.
7. 7. The package according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support is arranged at one or both of said first side panel and said second side panel.
8. 8. The package according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support extends upwardly from said bottom panel.
9. 9. The package according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support further comprises a plurality of supports spaced over a length of said carton body.
10. 10. The package according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of supports are arranged at said same surface of said carton body.
11. 11. The package according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of supports are arranged at different surfaces of said carton body.
12. 12. The package according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support further includes a plurality of supports arranged in at least one group, said plurality of supports within said at least one group being aligned within a plane.
13. 13. The package according to claim 1, wherein said carton body is formed from a folded piece of material, said folded piece of material having a removable portion separated from said carton body along a separation line.
14. 14. The package according to claim 13, wherein said separation line includes a plurality of slit scores formed in said folded piece of material, said plurality of slit scores extending over at least 50% of said separation line.
15. 15. The package according to claim 13, wherein said removable portion includes an initial separation region, said initial separation region being deformable.
16. 16. The package according to claim 15, wherein said initial separation region is associated with said separation line, said separation line being accessible in response to deformation of said initial separation region.
17. 17. The package according to claim 15, wherein one or more score lines are formed in said removable portion adjacent to said initial separation region.
18. 18. The package according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of items are distributed horizontally within said carton body.
19. 19. The package according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support is oriented to provide a backward support.
20. 20. The package according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support is oriented to provide a forward support.

Description

DISPLAY SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 63/510,955, filed on June 29, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a package for displaying items of sale. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is known to transport pre-packaged items, such as confectionary, from a manufacturing site to a vending site in bulk cartons, such as cardboard boxes. One of the main functions of such a carton is to protect the items from physical damage during transit. At the vending site, the items are typically removed from the carton and arranged on display for sale. [0003] It may, however, be desirable to display multiple smaller items in a carton and dispense them directly therefrom. In such a case it can be advantageous to use the same carton that was used for transporting the items. Such cartons are often referred to as “shelf ready packs.” U.S. Pat. No. 7,284,662 describes a carton that allows a product to be shipped, displayed, and dispensed all from the same carton. [0004] Existing shelf ready packs exhibit a number of problems. For example, items which are stacked in such packs (whether horizontally, vertically or at an inclined angle) can look unsightly after removal of several items. In some instances, after removal of several items, the goods may fall to a where the goods are not readily viewable by a consumer. In addition, in applications where the goods within the pack are relatively fragile or deformable, such as when the goods are an edible food product for example, this unintended movement of the product away from a desired display position may damage the goods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0005] According to one embodiment, a package for displaying a plurality of items includes a carton body having at least a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a rear panel. At least one support is extendable from at least one of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel. At least one support is engageable with a rear surface of one of the plurality of items. The at least one support is located remotely from the rear panel. [0006] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one support is integrally formed with the carton body. [0007] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the carton body includes a front panel separated from the rear panel. The front panel being positioned to support a front surface of one of the plurality of items. [0008] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the front panel has a non-uniform height. [0009] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments a height at a central portion of the front panel, measured perpendicularly from the bottom panel, is shorter than the height at a side of the front panel. [0010] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments an end of the front panel has a truncated V-shape. [0011] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one support is arranged at one or both of the first side panel and the second side panel. [0012] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one support extends upwardly from the bottom panel. [0013] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one support includes a plurality of supports spaced over a length of the carton body. [0014] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the plurality of supports are arranged at the same surface of the carton body. [0015] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the plurality of supports are arranged at different surfaces of the carton body. [0016] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one support includes a plurality of supports arranged in at least one group. The plurality of supports within the at least one group are aligned within a plane. [0017] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the carton body is formed from a folded piece of material. The folded piece of material having a removable portion separated from the carton body along a separation line. [0018] In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the separation line includes a plurality of sli