Display carton and method for displaying product using same

Abstract

A display carton, a corrugated fiberboard unitary blank for forming same, and a method for displaying product using the display carton are presented. The display carton generally includes a rectangular bottom, triangular shaped columns connected to and extending upwardly from the tray bottom. The display carton further includes a tray lip connected to the tray bottom at the peripheral edges of the tray bottom and extending upwardly from the tray bottom. The display carton may include triangular shaped gussets between the upper edge of the tray lip and the columns. The display carton provides four substantially open upright walls whereby a method of displaying product to a consumer is provided. The product contained in the display carton and the product main labels are viewable and accessible regardless of the upright wall orientation of the display carton relative to a consumer. The display carton may be assembled by folding a unitary blank fabricated from a sheet of corrugated fiberboard.

1 . A unitary blank formable into a display carton, said unitary blank comprising: 
 a bottom panel;    a pair of face panels foldably connected to said bottom panel, each of said pair of face panels defining a face extension and a bottom extension;    wherein each of said pair of face panels further defines a pair of columns, each of said pair of columns being foldably connected to said bottom panel; and    a pair of side panels foldably connected to said bottom panel, each of said pair of side panels defining a side extension.    
   
   
       2 . The unitary blank of  claim 1  wherein said unitary blank comprises corrugated fiberboard.  
   
   
       3 . The unitary blank of  claim 1  wherein said unitary blank is configured as a rectangular sheet.  
   
   
       4 . The unitary blank of  claim 1  wherein said face extensions are foldable to overlap a corresponding one of said pair of face panels.  
   
   
       5 . The unitary blank of  claim 1  wherein said bottom extensions are foldable to overlap said bottom panel.  
   
   
       6 . The unitary blank of  claim 1  wherein said side extensions are foldable to overlap a corresponding one of said pair of face panels.  
   
   
       7 . The unitary blank of  claim 1  wherein said columns comprise: 
 a column first face;    a column second face foldably coupled to said column first face;    a column third face foldably coupled to said column second face; and    a column face panel extension foldably coupled to said column third face.    
   
   
       8 . The unitary blank of  claim 7  wherein said column face panel extension is foldable to overlap said column first face.  
   
   
       9 . A display carton comprising: 
 a bottom panel configured as a rectangular sheet;    a pair of face panels each of said pair of face panels being configured as a rectangular sheet and each of said pair of face panels being foldably connected to said bottom panel;    wherein each of said pair of face panels has a pair of spaced apart face extension cut-lines defining a face extension, a bottom extension, and a pair of column first faces;    wherein said face extensions are folded to overlap a corresponding one of said pair of face panels;    wherein said bottom extensions are folded to overlap said bottom panel;    wherein each of said pair of face panels has a pair of column cut-lines, each of said pair of column cut-lines defining a column second face foldably connected to a one of said pair of column first faces, defining a column third face foldably connected to of said column second face, and defining a column face panel extension foldably connected to said column third face;    wherein said column face panel extensions are folded to overlap one of said pair of column first faces;    a pair of side panels each of said pair of side panels being configured as a rectangular sheet and each of said pair of side panels being foldably connected to said bottom panel;    wherein each of said pair of side panels has a pair of spaced apart side panel cut-lines defining a side panel extension and defining a pair of side panel column extensions;    wherein said side extensions are folded to overlap a corresponding one of said pair of side panels; and    wherein each of said pair of side panel column extensions is folded to overlap one of said column second faces.    
   
   
       10 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said display carton is formed from a folded unitary blank.  
   
   
       11 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said face extensions are secured to a corresponding one of said pair of face panels by adhesive.  
   
   
       12 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said bottom panel extensions are secured to said bottom panel by adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said side extensions are secured to a corresponding one of said pair of side panels by adhesive.  
   
   
       14 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said column face panel extensions are secured to said column first faces by adhesive.  
   
   
       15 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said side panel column extensions are secured to said column second faces by adhesive.  
   
   
       16 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said face extension cut-lines further define a pair of face panel gussets  146  adjacent each of said pair of column first faces  114  of each of said pair of face panels  104 .  
   
   
       17 . The display carton of  claim 9  wherein said side panel cut-lines further define a pair of side panel gussets adjacent each of said pair of side panel column extensions of each of said pair of side panels.  
   
   
       18 . A method of displaying a product comprising: 
 fabricating one or more unitary blanks as in  claim 1;     folding and assembling said one or more unitary blanks to form one or more display cartons having substantially open upright walls;    placing products in said one or more display cartons such that a main label on said products faces toward said substantially open upright walls;    presenting said one or more display cartons to a consumer.    
   
   
       20 . The method of displaying product of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 palletizing said one or more display cartons on a pallet;    presenting said pallet to a consumer.    
   
   
       21 . The method of displaying product of  claim 20  wherein a said main label is visible to said consumer.