Pallet packaging and display assembly

Abstract

A pallet packaging and display assembly for shipping products to a retail establishment and displaying the products in the establishment. The present assembly is particularly configured for shipping and displaying fresh produce, such as grapes. The assembly has retail package and pallet box components. The retail package is a generally box-shaped container having a transparent top section hingedly attached to a bottom section configured to hold the products. The pallet box has a base portion forming a cavity configured to removably receive a plurality of retail packages in a generally side-by-side relationship and a top portion configured to at least partially enclose the retail packages inside the cavity during shipment. The top portion can be a cover or lid to fully enclose the retail packages in the cavity. The consumer can selectively remove one or more of the retail packages from the pallet box for inspection and purchase.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaging and display assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of retail packages, each of said retail packages having one or more products disposed therein; and    a pallet box having a base portion and a top portion, said base portion having opposing sides, opposing ends and a bottom configured to form a cavity in said base portion, said top portion attached to said base portion and configured to at least partially enclose said plurality of retail packages in said cavity during shipping of the assembly, said cavity sized and configured to removably receive said plurality of retail packages in a generally side-by-side relationship forming one or more layers of said retail packages in said pallet box.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said retail packages is in a generally box-shaped configuration having a top section removably attached to a bottom section.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 2  further comprising a hinge interconnecting said top section to said bottom section of said retail package.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 2  further comprising one or more connectors on said top section and one or more corresponding receivers on said bottom section for securely closing said retail package.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said top section is transparent.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 2  further comprising one or more spacers on said top section or said bottom section to space said top section from said bottom section.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more products in said retail package is fresh produce.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said fresh produce is grapes.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity is sized and configured to securely receive said retail packages therein.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a lip member attached to said ends or said sides of said base portion.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a cross-member attached to said base portion.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a cover removably attached to said base portion, said cover configured to enclose said retail packages in said cavity during shipment of said assembly.  
     
     
         13 . A packaging and display assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of retail packages, each of said retail packages having a top section removably attached to a bottom section and fresh produce disposed in said bottom section; and    a pallet box having a base portion and a top portion, said base portion having opposing sides, opposing ends and a bottom configured to form a cavity in said base portion, said top portion attached to said base portion and configured to at least partially enclose said plurality of retail packages in said cavity during shipping of the assembly, said cavity sized and configured to removably receive said plurality of retail packages in a generally side-by-side relationship forming a single layer of said retail packages in said pallet box.    
     
     
         14 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said retail package further comprises a hinge interconnecting said top section and said bottom section and means for securely connecting said top section to said bottom section.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said retail package further comprises one or more spacers on said top section or said bottom section to space said top section from said bottom section.  
     
     
         16 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said top section is transparent.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a lip member attached to said ends or said sides of said base portion.  
     
     
         18 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a cross-member attached to said base portion.  
     
     
         19 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a cover removably attached to said base portion, said cover configured to enclose said retail packages in said cavity during shipment of said assembly.  
     
     
         20 . A packaging and display assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of retail packages, each of said retail packages having a transparent top section hingedly attached to a bottom section and connecting means for securely connecting said top section to said bottom section, said retail package having fresh produce disposed in said bottom section; and    a pallet box having a base portion and a top portion, said base portion having opposing sides, opposing ends and a bottom configured to form a cavity in said base portion, said top portion attached to said base portion and configured to at least partially enclose said plurality of retail packages in said cavity during shipping of the assembly, said cavity sized and configured to removably securely receive said plurality of retail packages in a generally side-by-side relationship forming a single layer of said retail packages in said pallet box.    
     
     
         21 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a lip member attached to said ends or said sides of said base portion.  
     
     
         22 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a cross-member attached to said base portion.  
     
     
         23 . The packaging and display assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said top portion of said pallet box comprises a cover removably attached to said base portion, said cover configured to enclose said retail packages in said cavity during shipment of said assembly.