Shipping and display system

Abstract

A light-weight, disposable and re-cycleable base for shipping and displaying multiple product packaging units, and which may be capable of supporting relatively heavy product loads. Several corrugated fiberboard support units having an internal brace element may be secured to each other to create a base. The base is placed upon a pallet and one or more layers of product cases containing the product to be shipped and displayed are placed on top of the base. Advertising graphics advertising the product to be displayed and sold may be placed on the exterior of the base or on a sleeve or wrap secured to the base for that purpose. The base and products may be secured together by for shipping. The entire system may be loaded by forklift into a standard trailer and a second unit may be loaded directly on top of the first unit. The units may be shipped to the end user, unloaded and placed directly on a sales floor display and sale of the products.

1 . A light-weight, disposable base for use in a product shipping and display system, said base comprising at least two corrugated fiberboard support units each having at least one corrugated fiberboard internal brace element, where the total compression strength of the base is at least about 1500 lbs, and the compression strength of the base is at least 100 lbs per square foot of top surface area of the base.  
     
     
         2 . The base of  claim 1  where the total compression strength of the base is at least about 2000 lbs.  
     
     
         3 . The base of  claim 2  where the total compression strength of the base is at least about 3000 lbs.  
     
     
         4 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the compression strength of the base is at least 150 per square foot of top surface area of the base.  
     
     
         5 . The base of  claim 4  wherein the compression strength of the base is at least 200 per square foot of top surface area of the base.  
     
     
         6 . The base of  claim 1  where the compression strength of each support unit is at least about 100 lbs per square foot of top surface area of the support unit.  
     
     
         7 . The base of  claim 6  where the compression strength of each support unit is at least about 200 lbs per square foot of top surface area of the support unit.  
     
     
         8 . The base of  claim 7  where the compression strength of each support unit is at least about 300 lbs per square foot of top surface area of the support unit.  
     
     
         9 . The base of  claim 1  where the total compression strength of the brace element is from about 100 lbs to about 1200 lbs.  
     
     
         10 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises four corrugated fiberboard support units of substantially identical dimensions.  
     
     
         11 . The base of  claim 1  where the corrugated fiberboard has an ECT of at least 32.  
     
     
         12 . The base of  claim 1  where the corrugated fiberboard has an ECT of at least 40.  
     
     
         13 . The base of  claim 1  where the corrugated fiberboard has an ECT of at least 44.  
     
     
         14 . The support unit of  claim 1  where the internal brace element comprises a plurality of brace members.  
     
     
         15 . The support unit of  claim 14  where internal brace element comprises at least one brace member that is co-extensive with at least one support unit side wall.  
     
     
         16 . The support structure of  claim 15  where the internal brace element further comprises at least one brace member that divides the interior of the support unit.  
     
     
         17 . The support unit of  claim 16  wherein the internal brace element comprises four members that are each co-extensive with an internal side wall of the support unit and at least one member that divides the interior of the support unit into at least two compartments.  
     
     
         18 . The base of  claim 11  where the support units comprise corrugated fiberboard selected from the group consisting of A, B, C, E or F-fluted corrugated fiberboard and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The base of  claim 18  where the support units comprise corrugated fiberboard selected from the group consisting of single-wall, double-wall or triple wall corrugated fiberboard and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The base of  claim 18  where the support units comprise C-fluted, single-wall corrugated fiberboard.  
     
     
         21 . A system for shipping and displaying products comprising: 
 a) a pallet,    b) a base, and    c) at least one product container secured to the base,    d) where the base comprises at least two adjacent non-product containing corrugated fiberboard support units, each support unit having an internal brace element within the support unit and a compression strength of at least 150 lbs per square foot of top surface area the support unit.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  where the base has a total compression strength of at least 2000 lbs.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21  where the base has a total compression strength of at least 3000 lbs  
     
     
         24 . A light-weight, disposable structure for use in a product shipping and display system, said structure comprising four non-product containing corrugated fiberboard support units each having at least one corrugated fiberboard internal brace element, where the support units have been secured to one another to form the structure, and where the structure will support at least 3000 lbs without collapsing.  
     
     
         25 . The structure of  claim 24  where the structure will support at least 4000 lbs without collapsing.  
     
     
         26 . The structure of  claim 24  where the structure will support at least 5000 lbs without collapsing.  
     
     
         27 . The structure of  claim 24  where the structure will support about 6000 lbs without collapsing.  
     
     
         28 . A product shipping and display system comprising: 
 a) a first shipping and display unit comprising: 
 i) a first pallet,  
 ii) a first corrugated corrugated fiberboard base placed on the pallet,  
 iii) a plurality of product containers placed on and secured to a top surface of the base, and  
   b) a second shipping and display unit comprising: 
 i) a second pallet placed on the product containers,  
 ii) a second corrugated corrugated fiberboard base placed on the second pallet, and  
 iii) a second plurality of product containers placed on and secured to a top surface of the second base,  
   c) wherein the first and second bases comprise a plurality of substantially empty corrugated fiberboard support units each having an internal brace element and a compression strength of at least 150 lbs per square foot of the top surface of each support unit, and where the first shipping and display unit supports the second shipping and display unit during transit of the units without collapsing.    
     
     
         29 . A method of shipping consumer products comprising: 
 a) securing at least two substantially empty corrugated corrugated fiberboard support units each having an internal brace element to one another to form a base;    b) placing the base onto a pallet;    c) placing at least one layer of product containing units onto the base;    d) securing the product containing units to the base to form a combined pallet, base and product container shipping unit; and    e) shipping the shipping unit to a merchandiser.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  comprising placing a second shipping unit on top of the first shipping unit.