Convertible Package Assembly

Abstract

A case formed from a single piece of material can be deconstructed simply and placed on a store shelf without the need for tools. The case has asymmetric portions can hide tear lines from the end consumer. Further, the case can be filled with product containers in a first orientation and shipped or placed on a shelf in a second orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package assembly comprising:
 a case formed from a single piece of packaging material, the case having a filling configuration and a display configuration;   the case having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein a first tear line extends along a first side of the case and the second side of the case defines a gap opposite the tear line;   the case further having a front when the case is in the display configuration, the front defining a second tear line, the second tear line being at least partially masked in the display configuration by a flap that extends over the second tear line.   
     
     
         2 . The package assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a third tear line. 
     
     
         3 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material is corrugated cardboard defining flutes. 
     
     
         4 . The package assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the case further has a shipping configuration, wherein, when the case is in the shipping configuration, the flutes extend vertically. 
     
     
         5 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the case has a front in the display configuration, the front of the case having three overlapping sections. 
     
     
         6 . The package assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the case has a back in the display configuration, the back of the case having three overlapping sections. 
     
     
         7 . The package assembly of  claim 6 , wherein, in the display configuration, the surface area of the back is greater than the surface area of the front. 
     
     
         8 . The package assembly of  claim 1  having exactly fifteen sections. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein exactly two of the sections have tear lines. 
     
     
         10 . The package assembly of  claim 8 , wherein exactly three of the sections have tear lines. 
     
     
         11 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second tear line includes a portion that is skip cut and a portion that is clear cut. 
     
     
         12 . The package assembly of  claim 1 , wherein 30-60% of the length of the second tear line  136  is clear cut and 40-70% of it is skip cut. 
     
     
         13 . The package assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the third tear line includes a portion that is skip cut and a portion that is clear cut. 
     
     
         14 . The package assembly of  claim 13 , wherein 30-60% of the length of the third tear line  136  is clear cut and 40-70% of it is skip cut.