Pivotally articulated container

Claim 2

A shipping and display container adapted to hold a multiplicity of packaged units in an organized array, said container comprising a plurality of linearly disposed, article-housing sections including a pair of walled end sections, a walled intermediate section therebetween and an articulated uniplanar floor beneath each said sections and integrally formed therewith, each said end sections being joined to said intermediate section thereadjacent along a laterally extending fold line formed in said articulated floor whereby said end sections are each pivotal downwardly with respect to said intermediate section along said fold line, said end sections and said intermediate section each being adapted to hold a row of articles extending thereacross, whereby upon pivotal shifting of said end sections about each said fold line in said articulated floor, facing end panels of any articles contained in respective said sections are exposed and rendered readily accessible for application of price marking indicia thereto.

Claim 3

The container as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said end sections and said intermediate section include a pair of opposed side walls, and wherein each said end section of said container includes an end wall joined to said floor and to each said side walls of said end sections.

Claim 4

The container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said container is formed from a single blank, and wherein each said end sections includes a. a pair of flanges integral with respective each said side walls of said end sections and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outwardly facing upper edge of said side walls of said end sections, each said flanges extending downwardly of said upper edge and overlying each said side walls of said end sections in proximity thereto, whereby each said flanges and respective each said side walls of said end sections define a slot therebetween coextensive with said flanges, b. means securing said flanges in place, and c. a pair of flaps integral with each said end walls and hinged thereto along spaced fold lines defining Lateral limits thereof; each said flaps extending generally normally to said end walls to parallel said side walls of said end sections and to project into a corresponding said slot, thereby to interlock said floor, said end walls, and said side walls of each end section of said container into a stable, unitary structure.

Claim 5

The structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means securing each said flanges in place comprise slits formed in said floor adjacent lateral limits thereof and paralleling lateral edges of said floor, and further comprising downwardly projecting tab means integrally formed with each said flanges at downwardly directed free ends thereof, each said tab means projecting into and seating within a corresponding said slit in said floor to lock said flanges in place.

Claim 6

A product storage and display container adapted to retain a plurality of articles in an organized arrangement, said container comprising a plurality of linearly disposed, article-housing sections including a pair of walled end sections, a walled intermediate section therebetween, and an articulated floor therebeneath and integrally formed therewith, each said end sections being joined to said intermediate section thereadjacent along a laterally extending fold line formed in said articulated floor, whereby said end sections are each pivotal downwardly with respect to said intermediate section along said fold line, each said end sections comprising a. a base panel constituting a segment of said articulated floor, and a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a connecting end wall, all integral with said base panel and extending upwardly of and normally thereto, b. a pair of flanges integral with respective each said side walls and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outwardly facing edge of said side walls, each said flanges extending inwardly of said forward edge and overlying respective each said end walls in proximity thereto, whereby each said flanges and respective each said side walls define a slot therebetween coextensive with said flanges, c. means securing said flanges in place to parallel generally said side walls, and d. a pair of flaps integral with said end walls and hinged thereto along spaced fold lines defining lateral limits thereof, each said flaps extending normally to said end walls and projecting into a respective said slot between said side walls and said overlying flanges of each said end section to provide an interlocked, stable structure; said intermediate section comprising e. a base panel constituting a segment of said articulated floor and having lateral limits corresponding to and in line with lateral limits of said base panels of each said end section thereadjacent, said base panel of said intermediate section being interposed between and flanked by base panels of said end sections and separated therefrom along fold lines in said articulated floor, f. a pair of laterally spaced side walls integral with said base panel of said intermediate section and extending normally thereto at ends thereof, g. a pair of flanges integral with respective said side walls and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outwardly facing edge of respective said side walls, each said flanges extending inwardly of said outwardly facing edge and overlying respective each said side walls in proximity thereto, whereby each said flanges and respective each said side walls define a slot therebetween coextensive with said flanges, and h. means securing said flanges in place to parallel generally said end walls; each said end sections being pivotal with respect to said intermediate section along a corresponding fold line in said floor, to effect an arcuate separation of and to provide access to ends of any articles contained in said intermediate section to facilitate application of price marking indicia on the articles without necessitating physical removal thereof from said container.

Claim 7

A product storage and display container adapted to retain a plurality of articles in an organized arrangement, said container comprising a plurality of linearly disposed, article-housing sections including a pair of walled end sections, a walled intermediate section therebetween, and an articulated floor therebeneath and integrally formed therewith, each said end sections being joined to said intermediate section thereadjacent along a laterally extending fold line formed in said articulated floor, whereby said end sections are each pivotal downwardly with respect to said intermediate section along said fold line, each said end sections comprising a. a base panel constituting a segment of said articulated floor, and a pair of laterally spaced side walls and a connecting end wall, all integral with said base panel and extending upwardly of and normally thereto, b. a pair of flanges integral with respective each said side walls and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outwardly facing edge of said side walls, each said flanges extending inwardly of said forward edge and overlying respective each said end walls in proximity thereto, whereby each said flanges and respective each said side walls define a slot therebetween coextensive with said flanges, c. means securing said flanges in place to parallel generally said side walls, and d. a pair of flaps integral with said end walls and hinged thereto along spaced fold lines defining lateral limits thereof, each said flaps extending normally to said end walls and projecting into a respective said slot between said side walls and said overlying flanges of each said end section to provide an interlocked, stable structure; said intermediate section comprising e. a base panel constituting a segment of said articulated floor and having lateral limits corresponding to and in line with lateral limits of said base panels of each said end section thereadjacent, said base panel of said intermediate section being interposed between and flanked by base panels of said end sections and separated therefrom along fold lines in said articulated floor, f. a pair of laterally spaced side walls integral with said base panel of said intermediate section and extending normally thereto at ends thereof, g. a pair of flanges integral with respective said side walls and hinged thereto along a fold line defining an outwardly facing edge of respective said side walls, each said flanges extending inwardly of said outwardly facing edge and overlying respective each said side walls in proximity thereto, whereby each said flanges and respective each said side walls define a slot therebetween coextensive with said flanges, and h. means securing said flanges in place to parallel generally said end walls; each said end sections being pivotal with respect to said intermediate section along a corresponding fold line in said floor, to effect an arcuate separation of and to provide access to ends of any articles contained in said intermediate section to facilitate application of price marking indicia on the articles without necessitating physical removal thereof from said container.

Claim 8

The container as seT forth in claim 5, and further comprising separator means extending laterally across said intermediate section, to divide said intermediate section into two compartments, and means securing said separator means fixed in place.

Claim 9

The container as set forth in claim 6, wherein said separator means comprises a. a sheet folded closely upon itself to form an upstanding double-webbed wall extending transversely across said intermediate section between said side walls thereof and normally to the base panel thereof, to divide said section into two compartments each having an open end opposite said double-webbed wall, and b. wing tabs integrally formed at each end of each web of said double-webbed wall, pairs of said tabs at each opposed end of said double-webbed wall extending in opposite directions and normally to said wall; each said tabs projecting into and being held within a corresponding said slot defined by respective said side walls and said overlying flanges of said intermediate section to secure said separator means against shifting displacement.