US4687094A — Container display method and apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 341 words

A method of containing product for storage and/or shipping, and also mounting said product for display and/or convenient access, said method comprising: a. providing a container having a base portion defining a containing area, and a movable cover portion which has a first enclosing position where the cover portion interfits with said base portion to enclose said product, and which is movable to a second position to expose said product in said containing area, said container being characterized in that said container base portion comprises at least two side walls, each having an inwardly facing surface and an outer surface, a bottom wall and a back portion, and the container being constructed so that with said product in the containing area, the container can be supported from said side walls; b. enclosing said product in the container, with the container being in said first enclosing position; c. subsequently moving the cover portion of the container from the enclosing position to an open position to expose the product within the base portion of the container; d. providing at a connecting location at each side wall a related mounting member having a mounting element in a mounting position, with each mounting element being positioned outwardly of the outer surface of its related said side wall and with the mounting member being in supporting engagement with its related side wall in a manner to leave said containing area substantially unobstructed; e. interconnecting each mounting element to vertically aligned support board means having a vertically aligned contact surface by a related one of two connecting members, each of which has a first connecting end engaging its related mounting element and a second mounting end engaging said support board means, in a manner to support the container base portion with the product therein from the support board means, with the back portion of the container bearing against the vertically aligned contact surface of the board means and the connecting members each exerting on the container base portion an upward and rearward force toward the board means.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 341 words

A method of containing product for storage and/or shipping, and also mounting said product for display and/or convenient access, said method comprising: a. providing a container having a base portion defining a containing area, and a movable cover portion which has a first enclosing position where the cover portion interfits with said base portion to enclose said product, and which is movable to a second position to expose said product in said containing area, said container being characterized in that said container base portion comprises at least two side walls, each having an inwardly facing surface and an outer surface, a bottom wall and a back portion, and the container being constructed so that with said product in the containing area, the container can be supported from said side walls; b. enclosing said product in the container, with the container being in said first enclosing position; c. subsequently moving the cover portion of the container from the enclosing position to an open position to expose the product within the base portion of the container; d. providing at a connecting location at each side wall a related mounting member having a mounting element in a mounting position, with each mounting element being positioned outwardly of the outer surface of its related said side wall and with the mounting member being in supporting engagement with its related side wall in a manner to leave said containing area substantially unobstructed; e. interconnecting each mounting element to vertically aligned support board means having a vertically aligned contact surface by a related one of two connecting members, each of which has a first connecting end engaging its related mounting element and a second mounting end engaging said support board means, in a manner to support the container base portion with the product therein from the support board means, with the back portion of the container bearing against the vertically aligned contact surface of the board means and the connecting members each exerting on the container base portion an upward and rearward force toward the board means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 78 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said mounting members comprises a contact plate having a planar contact surface, said method further comprising forming each of said side walls with through opening means, and placing each of said contact plates with the contact surface engaging the inwardly facing surface of the side wall, with support means connecting to the contact plate being positioned in said opening means so as to be in supporting engagement therewith.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the support means of each of said mounting members comprises at least in part said mounting element being in bearing engagement with its related side wall.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said support means comprises at least one additional support element extending into said side wall so as to be in bearing engagement therewith.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method as recited in claim 2, wherein each mounting element comprises a mounting structure having side wall means and a top wall, said mounting structure defining a downwardly extending opening to receive the first connecting end of the related connecting member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as recited in claim 2, wherein each mounting element comprises a laterally extending mounting tab means extending through its related said opening means and having a through opening to receive the connecting end of the connecting member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said tab means is hinge mounted relative to said contact plate, whereby said tab means can be positioned more closely adjacent said contact plate and also positioned to extend laterally outwardly from said contact plate.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each mounting member has a first position where said mounting member is aligned within its related side wall so as to form a part of said side wall, and said mounting member is moved outwardly from said side wall to said mounting position to interengage with its related connecting member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein each mounting member is formed integrally with its related said side wall as a portion thereof, and each mounting member is moved outwardly from its position within the said wall to said mounting position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising providing each of said side walls with a reinforcing layer at a location of said mounting member at said side wall, with a portion of said reinforcing layer comprising a portion of said mounting member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said mounting members is bonded to its related said side wall.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 348 words

A packaging assembly for containing product for storage and/or shipping, and also mountng said product for display and/or convenient access, said assembly comprising: a. container having a base portion defining a containing area, and a movable cover portion which has a first enclosing position where the cover portion interfits with said base portion to enclose said product, and which is movable to a second position to expose said product in said containing area, said container being characterized in that said container base portion comprises at least two side walls, each having an inwardly facing surface and an outer surface, and the container being constructed so that with said product in the containing area, the base portion with said product therein can be supported from said side walls; b. a pair of mounting members, each of which is adapted to be mounted at a related one of said side walls at a mounting position, each mounting member having a mounting element which, with the mounting member in said mounting position, is positioned outwardly of the outer surface of its related said side wall and which is in supporting engagement with its related side wall in a manner to leave said containing area substantially unobstructed; c. each of said mounting members comprising a contact plate having a planar contact surface, each of said side walls being formed with through opening means, each of said contact plates being adapted to have the contact surface engaging the inwardly facing surface of the side wall, with each contact plate having support means connected thereto and being adapted to be positioned in said opening means so as to be in supporting engagement therewith, whereby, with the two mounting members in their said mounting position, each mounting element can be connected to a board support means by a related one of two connecting members, each of which has a first connecting end engaging its related mounting element and a second mounting end engaging said support board means, in a manner to support the container base portion with the product therein from the support board means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 348 words

A packaging assembly for containing product for storage and/or shipping, and also mountng said product for display and/or convenient access, said assembly comprising: a. container having a base portion defining a containing area, and a movable cover portion which has a first enclosing position where the cover portion interfits with said base portion to enclose said product, and which is movable to a second position to expose said product in said containing area, said container being characterized in that said container base portion comprises at least two side walls, each having an inwardly facing surface and an outer surface, and the container being constructed so that with said product in the containing area, the base portion with said product therein can be supported from said side walls; b. a pair of mounting members, each of which is adapted to be mounted at a related one of said side walls at a mounting position, each mounting member having a mounting element which, with the mounting member in said mounting position, is positioned outwardly of the outer surface of its related said side wall and which is in supporting engagement with its related side wall in a manner to leave said containing area substantially unobstructed; c. each of said mounting members comprising a contact plate having a planar contact surface, each of said side walls being formed with through opening means, each of said contact plates being adapted to have the contact surface engaging the inwardly facing surface of the side wall, with each contact plate having support means connected thereto and being adapted to be positioned in said opening means so as to be in supporting engagement therewith, whereby, with the two mounting members in their said mounting position, each mounting element can be connected to a board support means by a related one of two connecting members, each of which has a first connecting end engaging its related mounting element and a second mounting end engaging said support board means, in a manner to support the container base portion with the product therein from the support board means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the support means of each of said mounting members comprises at least in part said mounting element which is adapted to be in bearing engagement with its related said side wall.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said support means comprises at least one additional support element extending into said side wall so as to be in bearing engagement therewith.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein each mounting element comprises a mounting structure having side wall means and a top wall, said mounting structure defining a downwardly extending opening to receive the first connecting end of the related connecting member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein each mounting element comprises a laterally extending mounting tab means which is adapted to extend through its related said opening means and having a through opening to receive the connecting end of the connecting member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

The assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said tab means is hinge mounted relative to said contact plate, whereby said tab means can be positioned more closely adjacent said contact plate and also positioned to extend laterally outwardly from said contact plate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 288 words

A mounting assembly for mounting product for display and/or convenient access, said assembly comprising: a. a base container defining a containing area to support said product in a manner to expose said product in said containing area, said base container comprising at least two side walls, each having an inwardly facing surface and an outer surface, a bottom wall and a back portion, and the base container being constructed so that with said product in the containing area, the base container with said product therein can be supported from said side walls; b. a pair of mounting members, each of which is mounted at a related one of said side walls at a mounting position, each mounting member having a mounting element which is positioned outwardly of the outer surface of its related said side wall and which is in supporting engagement with its related side wall in a manner to leave said containing area substantially unobstructed; c. vertically aligned board support means having a vertically aligned contact surface and a plurality of spaced mounting locations thereon some of which are vertically spaced from one another; d. a pair of connecting members, each of which has a first connecting end engaging a related one of said mounting elements and a second mounting end engaging said board support means at a selected one of said mounting locations, in a manner to support the base container with the product therein from the board support means, said connecting members being characterized in that each connecting member exerts an upward and rearward force from its related mounting member to said board support means with the back portion of the container bearing against the vertically aligned contact surface of the board support means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 288 words

A mounting assembly for mounting product for display and/or convenient access, said assembly comprising: a. a base container defining a containing area to support said product in a manner to expose said product in said containing area, said base container comprising at least two side walls, each having an inwardly facing surface and an outer surface, a bottom wall and a back portion, and the base container being constructed so that with said product in the containing area, the base container with said product therein can be supported from said side walls; b. a pair of mounting members, each of which is mounted at a related one of said side walls at a mounting position, each mounting member having a mounting element which is positioned outwardly of the outer surface of its related said side wall and which is in supporting engagement with its related side wall in a manner to leave said containing area substantially unobstructed; c. vertically aligned board support means having a vertically aligned contact surface and a plurality of spaced mounting locations thereon some of which are vertically spaced from one another; d. a pair of connecting members, each of which has a first connecting end engaging a related one of said mounting elements and a second mounting end engaging said board support means at a selected one of said mounting locations, in a manner to support the base container with the product therein from the board support means, said connecting members being characterized in that each connecting member exerts an upward and rearward force from its related mounting member to said board support means with the back portion of the container bearing against the vertically aligned contact surface of the board support means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 81 words

The assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein each of said mounting members comprises a contact plate having a planar contact surface, each of said side walls being formed with through opening means, each of said contact plates being adapted to have the contact surface engaging the inwardly facing surface of the side wall, with each contact plate having support means connected thereto and being adapted to be positioned in said opening means so as to be in supporting engagement therewith.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

The assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the support means of each of said mounting members comprises at least in part said mounting element which is adapted to be in bearing engagement with its related said side wall.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein said support means comprises at least one additional support element extending into said side wall so as to be in bearing engagement therewith.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 42 words

The assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein each mounting element comprises a mounting structure having side wall means and a top wall, said mounting structure defining a downwardly extending opening to receive the first connecting end of the related connecting member.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

The assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein each mounting element comprises a laterally extending mounting tab means which is adapted to extend through its related said opening means and having a through opening to receive the connecting end of the connecting member.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 43 words

The assembly as recited in claim 23, wherein said tab means is hinge mounted relative to said contact plate, whereby said tab means can be positioned more closely adjacent said contact plate and also positioned to extend laterally outwardly from said contact plate.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 58 words

The assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein each mounting member has a first position where said mounting member is aligned within its related said wall so as to form a part of said side wall, and said mounting member is moved outwardly from said side wall to said mounting position to interengage with its related connecting member.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 42 words

The assembly as recited in claim 25, wherein each mounting member is formed integrally with its related said side wall as a portion thereof, and each mounting member is moved outwardly from its position within the side wall to said mounting position.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 42 words

The assembly as recited in claim 26, wherein each of said side walls has a reinforcing layer at a location of said mounting member at said side wall, with a portion of said reinforcing layer comprising a portion of said mounting member.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein each of said mounting members is bonded to its related said side wall.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-08-17	1991-02-16	1991-08-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-08-17	1995-02-16	1995-08-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-08-17	1999-02-16	1999-08-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Container display method and apparatus

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