Merchandise Packaging and display

Abstract

A merchandise display is capable of being shipped in a compact package of limited longitudinal length complete with merchandise items pre-loaded in place, and selectively expanded for displaying the merchandise items at a point-of-purchase location wherein there is a shelf which makes available at the point-of-purchase location a predetermined longitudinal shelf length exceeding considerably the limited longitudinal length of the compact package. The merchandise display includes a case and at least one display tray for carrying merchandise items arranged for display and dispensing at the point-of-purchase location. The display tray is coupled with the case for telescoping movement into and out of the case between a retracted position telescoped within the case such that merchandise items carried by the display tray are housed within the case, and an advanced position extended longitudinally out of the case for displaying the merchandise items at the point-of-purchase location. With the display tray in the retracted position the merchandising display is in a compact configuration for shipping in the compact package, and with the display tray in the advanced positions the merchandise display is in an expanded configuration for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items, having a prescribed longitudinal length which fills the predetermined longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location.

1 . A merchandise display capable of being shipped in a compact package of limited longitudinal length complete with merchandise items pre-loaded in place, and selective expansion for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items at a point-of-purchase location of prescribed dimensions, including a predetermined longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location, the merchandise display comprising:
 a generally central case having a length extending longitudinally between opposite first and second ends, the case including an opening at each of the first and second ends;   a first display tray for carrying merchandise items arranged for display at the point-of-purchase location;   a first coupling arrangement coupling the first display tray with the case for telescoping movement of the first display tray into and out of the case through the opening at the first end of the case, the telescoping movement being between a retracted position, wherein the first display tray is essentially telescoped within the case such that merchandise items carried by the first display tray will be housed within the case, and an advanced position, wherein the first display tray is extended longitudinally out of the case for displaying the merchandise items at the point-of-point location;   a second display tray for carrying merchandise items arranged for display at the point-of-purchase location; and   a second coupling arrangement coupling the second display tray with the case for telescoping movement into and out of the case through the opening at the second end of the case, the telescoping movement being between a retracted position, wherein, the second display tray is essentially telescoped within the case such that merchandise items carried by the second display tray will be housed within the case, and an advanced position, wherein the second display tray is extended longitudinally out of the case for displaying the merchandise items at the point-of-purchase location, whereby, with the first and second display trays in respective retracted positions the merchandise display is in a compact configuration for shipping in the compact package, and with the first and second display trays in respective advanced positions the merchandise display is in an expanded configuration for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items, the expanded configuration having a prescribed longitudinal length for essentially filling the predetermined longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location.   
   
   
       2 . The merchandise display of  claim 1  including a stop mechanism between the case and each of the first and second display trays, each stop mechanism being located and arranged for precluding movement of a corresponding display tray out of the case beyond a respective advanced position wherein the expanded configuration includes the prescribed longitudinal length. 
   
   
       3 . The merchandise display of  claim 2  wherein each stop mechanism is located and arranged for precluding movement of a corresponding display tray into the case beyond a respective retracted position when the merchandise display is placed in the compact configuration. 
   
   
       4 . The merchandise display of  claim 2  wherein:
 the case includes a bottom panel and a rear panel;   the first and second display trays each include a bottom wall juxtaposed with the bottom panel, and a rear wall juxtaposed with the rear panel; and   a said stop mechanism is located at least between a wall of each display tray and a juxtaposed panel of the case.   
   
   
       5 . The merchandise display of  claim 4  wherein each coupling arrangement includes an elongate slot extending longitudinally along at least one of the bottom panel and the rear panel of the case and juxtaposed with a corresponding wall of each of the first and second display trays, and a follower on the corresponding wall received within a juxtaposed slot for sliding movement confined to longitudinal movement along the slot during telescoping movement of a corresponding display tray. 
   
   
       6 . The merchandise display of  claim 4  wherein the bottom panel extends between a front edge and rear edge, the rear panel extends upwardly from the rear edge of the bottom panel to a top edge, each coupling arrangement includes first and second elongate slots extending longitudinally along the rear panel and juxtaposed with corresponding rear walls of the first and second display trays, and a follower on each of the rear walls of the first and second display trays, each follower being received within a corresponding slot for sliding movement confined to longitudinal movement along the slot during telescoping movement of a corresponding display tray, each stop mechanism includes an abutment at one of opposite terminal ends of each slot, the abutments being located adjacent a corresponding end of the case such that upon the corresponding display tray reaching the advanced position, a corresponding follower will engage a corresponding abutment to preclude advancement of the corresponding display tray out of the case beyond the advanced position. 
   
   
       7 . The merchandise display of  claim 6  wherein each stop mechanism includes a further abutment at another of the opposite terminal ends of a corresponding slot, the further abutment being located such that upon the corresponding display tray reaching the retracted position, a corresponding follower will engage a corresponding further abutment to preclude retraction of the corresponding display tray into the case beyond the retracted position. 
   
   
       8 . The merchandise display of  claim 6  wherein the slots extend adjacent the top edge of the rear panel. 
   
   
       9 . The merchandise display of  claim 8  wherein each coupling arrangement includes further elongate slots extending longitudinally along the bottom panel of the case, and counterpart followers on the bottom wall of each display tray received within corresponding slots for longitudinal sliding movement during telescoping movements of the corresponding display tray. 
   
   
       10 . The merchandise display of  claim 9  wherein each further slot includes a terminal end having an abutment located for engagement by a corresponding follower upon the corresponding display tray reaching the advanced position of that display tray. 
   
   
       11 . The merchandise display of  claim 9  wherein each stop mechanism includes a further abutment at another of the opposite terminal ends of a corresponding slot, the further abutment being located such that upon the corresponding display tray reaching the retracted position, a corresponding follower will engage a corresponding further abutment to preclude retraction of the corresponding display tray into the case beyond the retracted position. 
   
   
       12 . The merchandise display of  claim 9  wherein the further elongate slots are located adjacent each of the front edge and the rear edge of the bottom panel. 
   
   
       13 . The merchandise display of  claim 1  wherein the case includes a bottom panel having a front edge and a rear edge, a rear panel, a front panel extending upwardly from the front edge of the bottom panel, a top panel extending rearwardly from the front panel to the rear panel, and an outer face extending along at least one of the front panel and the top panel for carrying information pertaining to the merchandise items. 
   
   
       14 . A merchandise display capable of being shipped in a compact package of limited longitudinal length complete with merchandise items pre-loaded in place, and selective expansion for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items at a point-of-purchase location of prescribed dimensions, including a predetermined longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location, the merchandise display comprising:
 a case having a length extending longitudinally between opposite first and second ends, the case including an opening at least at the first end;   a display tray for carrying merchandise items arranged for display at the point-of-purchase location;   a coupling arrangement coupling the display tray with the case for telescoping movement of the display tray into and out of the case through the opening at the first end of the case, the telescoping movement being between a retracted position, wherein the display tray is essentially telescoped within the case such that merchandise items carried by the display tray will be housed within the case, and an advanced position, wherein the display tray is extended longitudinally out of the case for displaying the merchandise items at the point-of-purchase location, whereby with the display tray in the retracted position the merchandise display is in a compact configuration for shipping in the compact package, and with the display tray in the advanced position the merchandise display is in an expanded configuration for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items, the expanded configuration having a prescribed longitudinal length for essentially filling the predetermined longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location.   
   
   
       15 . The merchandise display of  claim 14  including a stop mechanism between the case and the display tray, the stop mechanism being located and arranged for precluding movement of the display tray out of the case beyond the advanced position wherein the expanded configuration includes the prescribed longitudinal length. 
   
   
       16 . The merchandise display of  claim 15  wherein:
 the case includes a bottom panel and a rear panel;   the display tray includes a bottom wall juxtaposed with the bottom panel, and a rear wall juxtaposed with the rear panel; and   the stop mechanism is located at least between a wall of the display tray and a juxtaposed panel of the case.   
   
   
       17 . The merchandise display of  claim 16  wherein the coupling arrangement includes an elongate slot extending longitudinally along at least one of the bottom panel and the rear panel of the case and juxtaposed with a corresponding wall of the display tray, and a follower on the corresponding wall engaged with a juxtaposed slot for longitudinal sliding movement along the slot during telescoping movement of the display tray. 
   
   
       18 . The merchandise display of  claim 16  wherein the bottom panel extends between a front edge and rear edge, the rear panel extends upwardly from the rear edge of the bottom panel to a top edge, the coupling arrangement includes an elongate slot extending longitudinally along the rear panel and juxtaposed with the rear wall of the display tray, and a follower on the rear wall of the display tray, the follower extending within the slot for sliding movement confined to longitudinal movement along the slot during telescoping movement of the display tray, and the stop mechanism includes an abutment at a terminal end of the slot, the abutment being located adjacent the first end of the case such that upon the display tray reaching the advanced position, the follower will engage the abutment to preclude advancement of the display tray out of the case beyond the advanced position. 
   
   
       19 . The merchandise display of  claim 18  wherein the slot extends adjacent the top edge of the rear panel. 
   
   
       20 . The merchandise display of  claim 19  wherein the coupling arrangement includes further elongate slots extending longitudinally along the bottom panel of the case, and counterpart followers on the bottom wall of the display tray and extending into corresponding slots for longitudinal sliding movement along the corresponding slots during telescoping movements of the display tray. 
   
   
       21 . The merchandise display of  claim 20  wherein each further slot includes a terminal end having an abutment located for engagement by a corresponding follower upon the display tray reaching the advanced position. 
   
   
       22 . The merchandise display of  claim 21  wherein the further elongate slots are located adjacent each of the front edge and the rear edge of the bottom panel. 
   
   
       23 . The merchandise display of  claim 14  wherein the case includes a bottom panel having a front edge and a rear edge, a rear panel, a front panel extending upwardly from the front edge of the bottom panel, a top panel extending rearwardly from the front panel to the rear panel, and an outer face extending along at least one of the front panel and the top panel for carrying information pertaining to the merchandise items. 
   
   
       24 . A merchandise display capable of being shipped in a compact package of limited longitudinal length complete with merchandise items pre-loaded in place within the merchandise display, and selective expansion for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items at a point-of-purchase location of prescribed dimensions, including a longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location, the merchandise display comprising:
 a case having a length extending longitudinally between opposite first and second ends, the case including an opening at least at the first end;   a display tray for carrying merchandise items arranged for display at the point-of-purchase location;   the display tray being engageable with the case for telescoping movement of the display tray along longitudinal directions extending into and out of the case through the opening at the first end of the case, the telescoping movement being between a retracted position, wherein at least a portion of the display tray is telescoped within the case, and an advanced position, wherein the display tray is extended longitudinally beyond the first end of the case for displaying the merchandise items at the point-of-purchase location, whereby with the display tray in the retracted position the merchandise display is in a compact configuration for shipping in the compact package, and with the display tray in the advanced position the merchandise display is in an expanded configuration for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items, the expanded configuration providing a longitudinal length for essentially filling the longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location.   
   
   
       25 . A method for shipping a merchandise display in a compact package of limited longitudinal length complete with merchandise items pre-loaded in place within the merchandise display, and selectively expanding the merchandise display for displaying and dispensing of the merchandise items at a point-of-purchase location of prescribed dimensions, including a longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location, the method comprising:
 placing merchandise items in a display tray with the merchandise items arranged for display at the point-of purchase location;   moving the display tray into a retracted position within a case having a length extending longitudinally between opposite first and second ends of the case, the case including an opening at least at the first end for enabling telescoping movement of the display tray within the case, between a retracted position, wherein at least a portion of the display tray is telescoped within the case to place the merchandise display in a compact configuration, and an advanced position, wherein at least a portion of the display tray is extended longitudinally beyond the first end of the case to place the merchandise display in an extended configuration for displaying merchandise items at the point-of-purchase location;   shipping the merchandise display in the compact configuration; and   subsequently moving the display tray into the advanced position to place the merchandise display in the expanded configuration for displaying and dispensing the merchandise items, the expanded configuration providing the merchandise display with a longitudinal length for essentially filling the longitudinal shelf length available at the point-of-purchase location.