Tote box merchandising method and apparatus for charcoal, hickory & mesquite chips

Abstract

The present invention is to a method and apparatus for merchandising charcoal products in a box dimensioned for display on a store shelf. The box has a handle and preferably includes a merchandising window. Wood chip samples, such as hickory chips or mesquite chips, can be packaged with the tote box and the presence of the sample is preferably made known to consumers via the merchandising window. The tote box handle and size allows for easier consumer handling and the box form allows improved retail and consumer storage. Additionally, since boxes are inherently more stable than bags and are less prone to tipping over, consumers benefit from reduce spillage from opened containers. The box size combined with the merchandising window and wood chip sample provides retailers with improved marketing of charcoal products.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box, comprising: 
 packaging said charcoal products in said tote box, wherein said tote box is dimensioned to allow merchandising on store shelves; and    providing a handle on said tote box.    
     
     
         2 . The method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a wood chip sample with said charcoal products.  
     
     
         3 . The method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box of  claim 2 , wherein said wood chip sample is selected from the group consisting of hickory chips and mesquite chips.  
     
     
         4 . The method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a see-through merchandising window on said tote box.  
     
     
         5 . The method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box of  claim 4 , further comprising providing said wood chip sample in a separate package associated with said tote box.  
     
     
         6 . The method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box of  claim 5 , further comprising integrally forming said separate package with said merchandising window.  
     
     
         7 . The method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box of  claim 5 , further comprising securing said separate package with adhesive to an interior side of said merchandising window.  
     
     
         8 . The method of merchandising charcoal products in a tote box of  claim 5 , further comprising inserting said separate package in a wall of said tote box and providing a second merchandising window on said separate package.  
     
     
         9 . A tote box for merchandising charcoal products, comprising: a box dimensioned to allow merchandising on store shelves; 
 a handle on said box; and    a wood chip sample for inclusion with said charcoal products.    
     
     
         10 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 9 , wherein said wood chip sample is selected from the group consisting of hickory chips and mesquite chips.  
     
     
         11 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 9 , further comprising a see-through merchandising window on said box.  
     
     
         12 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 11 , wherein said wood chip sample is in a separate package associated with said tote box.  
     
     
         13 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 12 , wherein said merchandising window integrally forms a wall of said separate package.  
     
     
         14 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 12 , further comprising adhesive attached to an interior side of said merchandising window and securing said separate package to said merchandising window.  
     
     
         15 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 an opening in a wall of said box;    a flange formed on said separate package, wherein said flange is secured to a perimeter of said opening; and    a second merchandising window on said separate package adjacent said flange.    
     
     
         16 . A tote box for merchandising charcoal products, comprising: 
 a box dimensioned to allow merchandising on store shelves;    a handle on said box; and    a see-through merchandising window on said box for consumer inspection of said charcoal products.    
     
     
         17 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 16 , further comprising a wood chip sample for inclusion with said charcoal products.  
     
     
         18 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 17 , wherein said wood chip sample is selected from the group consisting of hickory chips and mesquite chips.  
     
     
         19 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 17 , wherein said wood chip sample is in a separate package associated with said tote box.  
     
     
         20 . The tote box for merchandising charcoal products of  claim 19 , wherein said separate package is associated with said tote box by a means selected from the group consisting of: 
 loose placement in said box with said charcoal products,    having said merchandising window integrally form a wall of said separate package,    having adhesive attached to an interior side of said merchandising window secure said separate package to said merchandising window, and    having said separate package inserted into an opening in said box with a second merchandising window formed in a viewable portion of said separate package.