Merchandise display device

#This invention relates to display devices formed primarily from foldable sheet material such as paperboard or corrugated board to store and to display packages of merchandise.

#Display devices formed from foldable sheet material such as paperboard or corrugated board have long been employed for displaying merchandise items for sale in retail outlets, Such devices have proven to be quite versatile in that they can be designed to accommodate the needs of a particular product. Also, these display devices are relatively inexpensive so that they can be discarded or recycled after they have served their purpose for the display and promotion of the selected product or merchandise.

#A number of display devices have been disclosed which include vertically spaced shelves mounted on opposing side wall supports. While such devices have been effective for displaying products for which they were designed, they do not provide a suitable vehicle for all products, particularly those requiring added structural strength for supporting the packages of product on display.

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank of foldable sheet material from which one embodiment of this invention may be formed.

#FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank of foldable sheet material from which a shelf for the presently disclosed display device may be formed.

#FIG. 3 is a plan view of a shelf support member that is designed for attachment to a shelf formed from the blank shown in FIG. 2.

#In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, blank 31 of a foldable sheet material (preferably corrugated board) is shown in FIG. 1. The blank includes a centrally disposed rear wall panel 34 having opposing left and right side-edges 35, 36 and opposing top and bottom edges. Foldably connected to side edges 35, 36 of rear wall panel 34 are a pair of opposing side wall assemblies. The side wall assemblies include outer panels 40, 42 foldably connected to side edges 35, 36, respectively, of panel 34, inner panels 41, 43 foldably connected to outer panels 40, 42 and spacer panels 44, 45 foldably connected to inner panels 41, 43, respectively. Also included in the side wall assemblies are foldover panels 46, 47 which are foldably connected to the top edges of outer panels 40, 42, respectively. Inner panel 41 is provided with a row of spaced, cooperating openings 48 located adjacent to the edge that is connected to outer panel 40 and inner panel 43 is similarly provided with a row of spaced, cooperating openings 49.

#Shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are details of a preferred shelf design that may be used with the display device. Blank 61 includes shelf panel 62 with left and right side edges having foldably connected thereto reinforcement panels 63 and 64. Foldably connected to the rear edge of shelf panel 62 is a shelf attachment panel 66 that is designed for securing to the rear wall of the display device. The front edge of shelf panel 62 has foldably connected thereto a shelf support panel 68 that is designed for attachment to a shelf support member 70 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that is formed from a substantially rigid material other than corrugated board. Shelf support member 70 may be fabricated from suitable metals, alloys, wood or plastic materials but it is preferably fabricated from a thermoplastic resin such as high-impact polystyrene. Shelf support member 70 includes a flat sheet 71 and cross member 72 extending between opposing side walls 73 and 74. The plane of cross member 72 is disposed transversely to the plane of flat sheet 71 (see FIG. 4) to impart strength and rigidity to shelf support member 70 as well as to define an area that is designed to accommodate shelf support panel 68. Shelf support member 70 is also provided with projections 76, 77 which are designed for insertion into holes 79, 80 formed in shelf support panel 68. The shelf support member 70 and shelf support panel 68 are held together by suitable retainers such as metal clips 82, 83 (see FIG. 5) commonly referred to as pal nuts. It will be appreciated that other means could be employed for holding together the shelf support panel 68 and shelf support member 70 such as suitable adhesives or replacing projections 76, 77 with holes and utilizing screws, washers and nuts to hold panel 68 and support member 70 together. Cross member 72 and flat sheet 71 serve to retain product packages placed on a shelf that has been installed in the display device. Attached to each of side walls 73 and 74 are short extensions 84 and 85, respectively, which include disc-shaped end caps that are designed for insertion into cooperating openings 48, 49 formed in inner panels 41, 43.

#Erection of blank 31 is accomplished by first folding spacer panels 44, 45 inwardly until they are brought into contact with the surfaces of inner panels 41, 43, respectively. Inner panels 41, 43 are then folded inwardly so that spacer panel 44 is sandwiched between inner panel 41 and outer panel 40 and spacer panel 45 is sandwiched between inner panel 43 and outer panel 42. Foldover panels 46, 47 are folded downwardly to bring the cut edge of foldover panel 46 into abutment with the top edge of inner panel 41 and the cut edge of foldover panel 47 into abutment with the top edge of inner panel 43 to complete the formation of the side wall assemblies. The two side wall assemblies are then moved into opposing positions as shown in FIG. 6 and it will be seen that a substantial portion of each side wall assembly is made up of three thicknesses of corrugated board to provide adequate strength for supporting merchandise packages displayed in the device.