Knockdown crate and method of display packaging

A knockdown crate, comprising:

• (a) two end panels, each with a bottom edge and opposing side edges, each edge comprising an interior groove extending the length thereof;
• (b) a bottom panel comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats and two transverse connection members connecting the plurality of longitudinal slats in parallel, the transverse connection members have a geometric cross section which seat with the interior grooves of the bottom edges of the two end panels, wherein the transverse ends of the bottom panel overlap the bottom edge of their respective end panels forming a right angle assembled edge;
• (c) two side panels each comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats and two transverse connection members connecting the plurality of longitudinal slats in parallel, the transverse connection members have a geometric cross section which seat with the interior grooves of the opposing side edges of the two end panels respectively, wherein the transverse ends of the two side panels overlap the opposing side edges of their respective end panels forming a right angle assembled edge and the bottom edges of the two side panels overlap the longitudinal edges of the bottom panel form a right angle assembled edge;
• and
• (d) one or more means for connecting the two side panels and the bottom panel with the two end panels, the means for connecting passing through the exterior side of the side panel transverse connection members and the bottom panel transverse connection members into the respective end panel interior grooves providing a strong fit when the knockdown crate is assembled, wherein the bottom panel transverse connection members and the two side panel transverse connection members are adapted to seat with their respective end panel interior grooves forming a uniform, flat interior end wall when the knockdown crate is assembled.

A method for packaging and displaying knockdown crates for sale at a retail location, comprising:

• (a) providing at least one unassembled knockdown crate comprising:
• (i) two end panels, each with a bottom edge and opposing side edges, each edge comprising an interior groove extending the length thereof;
• (ii) a bottom panel comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats and two transverse connection members connecting the plurality of longitudinal slats in parallel, the transverse connection members have a geometric cross section which seat with the interior grooves of the bottom edges of the two end panels, wherein the transverse ends of the bottom panel overlap the bottom edge of their respective end panels forming a right angle assembled edge;
• and
• (iii) two side panels each comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats and two transverse connection members connecting the plurality of longitudinal slats in parallel, the transverse connection members have a geometric cross section which seat with the interior grooves of the opposing side edges of the two end panels respectively, wherein the transverse ends of the two side panels overlap the opposing side edges of their respective end panels forming a right angle assembled edge and the bottom edges of the two side panels overlap the longitudinal edges of the bottom panel form a right angle assembled edge;
• (b) uniformly stacking and packing each unassembled knockdown crate into a rectangular tray, wherein the bottom panel, two end panels, and two side panels are each individually stacked one atop of the other;
• (c) each rectangular tray containing an unassembled knockdown crate stacked into a display box, wherein the exterior of the display box advertises the contents therein for display at a retail location;
• and
• (d) at least one display box containing the packaged knockdown crates is put on display and offered for sale at the retail location.

A method for packaging and displaying knockdown crates for sale at a retail location, comprising:

• (a) providing at least one unassembled knockdown crate comprising:
• (i) two end panels, each with a bottom edge and opposing side edges, each edge comprising an interior groove extending the length thereof;
• (ii) a bottom panel comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats and two transverse connection members connecting the plurality of longitudinal slats in parallel, the transverse connection members have a geometric cross section which seat with the interior grooves of the bottom edges of the two end panels, wherein the transverse ends of the bottom panel overlap the bottom edge of their respective end panels forming a right angle assembled edge;
• and
• (iii) two side panels each comprising a plurality of longitudinal slats and two transverse connection members connecting the plurality of longitudinal slats in parallel, the transverse connection members have a geometric cross section which seat with the interior grooves of the opposing side edges of the two end panels respectively, wherein the transverse ends of the two side panels overlap the opposing side edges of their respective end panels forming a right angle assembled edge and the bottom edges of the two side panels overlap the longitudinal edges of the bottom panel form a right angle assembled edge;
• (b) uniformly stacking each unassembled knockdown crate, wherein the bottom panel, two end panels, and two side panels are each individually stacked one atop of the other;
• (c) shrink wrapping each of the uniformly stacked unassembled knockdown crates, whereby providing a potential purchaser with view of the quality and construction of the knockdown crate while in the packaging during display at the retail location;
• (d) loading each shrink wrapped knockdown crate into a display box, wherein the exterior of the display box advertises the contents therein for display at a retail location;
• and
• (e) displaying at least one display box at the retail location, offering the packaged knockdown crates for sale.