Container having openings and external cover panel

Abstract

A dual purpose shipping/display container is disclosed having a plurality of wall panels that define a central space. One or more openings are positioned in adjoining wall panels to provide access to the central space. A cover panel is removably attached overlying the adjoining wall panels and substantially covering the openings, which are preferably contiguous. Removing the cover converts the container from a shipping container to a display container for point of purchase retail sale. A removable panel portion may be positioned beneath the cover panel within an opening. The removable cover panel may be attached to the wall panel, the cover panel, or both. The removable cover panel prevents product from binding with the exposed edges of panels within the central space when it is loaded into the container.

1 . A container, comprising: 
 a plurality of wall panels attached to one another to define a central space within said container;    an opening positioned in one of said wall panels providing access to said central space;    a cover panel removably attached overlying said one wall panel in a position substantially covering said opening, said cover panel being removable from said one wall panel to provide access to said central space through said opening.    
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1 , further comprising another wall panel having a second opening therein, said other wall panel sharing a common edge with said one panel, said cover panel being removably attached overlying said other wall panel substantially covering said second opening, said cover panel being removable from said other wall panel to provide access to said central space through said second opening.  
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover panel is adhesively bonded to said wall panel.  
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 2 , further having a knockdown state comprising: 
 a first knockdown wall including a first of said wall panels and a second of said wall panels positioned in a substantially same first plane, said first and second panels being attached to one another along a first common edge;    a second knockdown wall including a third of said wall panels and a fourth of said wall panels positioned in a substantially same second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, said third and fourth panels being attached to one another along a second common edge; wherein    said first and second knockdown walls are attached to one another at first and second knockdown corners to form a substantially flat assembly.    
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein said first knockdown wall includes said cover panel and said one and said other panels having said openings therein.  
   
   
       6 . A container comprising: 
 six wall panels attached to one another to define a central space;    a first opening positioned in a first of said wall panels and a second opening positioned in a second of said wall panels, said first and second wall panels being attached to one another along a common fold line, said first and second openings being substantially contiguous with one another;    a cover panel having a first portion attached overlying said first wall panel substantially covering said first opening and a second portion attached overlying said second wall panel substantially covering said second opening, said cover panel being removably attached to said first and second wall panels, removal of said cover panel providing access to said central space through said first and second openings.    
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 6 , further comprising a tab attached to said cover panel, said tab providing purchase for manual grasping for removal of said cover panel from said first and second wall panels.  
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein said cover panel is adhesively bonded to said first and second panels.  
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 6 , further having a knockdown state comprising: 
 a first knockdown wall including said first and said second wall panels and said cover panel positioned in a substantially same first plane;    a second knockdown wall including a third wall panel and a fourth wall panel positioned in a substantially same second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, said third and fourth panels being attached to one another along a common edge;    wherein said first and second knockdown walls are attached to one another at first and second knockdown corners to form a substantially flat assembly.    
   
   
       10 . A container, comprising: 
 a plurality of wall panels attached to one another to define a central space within said container;    a first opening positioned in a first wall panel providing access to said central space;    a second wall panel attached to said first wall panel along a common fold line, said second wall panel having a removable panel portion co-planar therewith, removal of said removable panel portion from said second wall panel forming a second opening in said second wall panel;    a cover panel removably attached overlying said first and second wall panels and substantially covering said first opening and said removable panel portion, said cover panel being removable from said first and second wall panels to provide access to said central space through said first opening, said removable panel portion being removable from said second wall panel thereby providing access to said central space through said second opening.    
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein said cover panel is also attached to said removable panel portion, removal of said cover panel from overlying relation with said second wall panel causing removal of said removable panel portion thereby forming said second opening providing access to said central space.  
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein said removable panel portion is substantially contiguous with said first opening, said first and second openings being substantially contiguous with one another upon removal of said cover panel and said removable panel portion.  
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 10 , wherein said removable panel portion has a perimeter defined by a plurality of nicks and cuts in said second wall panel, said removable panel portion being thereby removably attached to said second wall panel.  
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 10 , further having a knockdown state comprising: 
 a first knockdown wall including two of said wall panels positioned in a substantially same first plane, said two wall panels being attached to one another along a first common edge;    a second knockdown wall including a third of said wall panels and a fourth of said wall panels positioned in a substantially same second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, said third and fourth panels being attached to one another along a second common edge;    wherein said first and second knockdown walls are attached to one another at first and second knockdown corners to form a substantially flat assembly.    
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 14 , wherein said first knockdown wall includes said first and second wall panels and said cover panel.  
   
   
       16 . A container, comprising: 
 a plurality of wall panels attached to one another to define a central space within said container;    one of said wall panels having a removable panel portion, removal of said removable panel portion from said one wall panel providing an opening in said one wall panel providing access to said central space;    a cover panel positioned overlying at least said one wall panel in a position substantially covering said removable panel portion, said cover panel being removably attached to said one wall panel.    
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein said removable panel portion is attached to said one wall panel.  
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein said cover panel is attached to said removable panel portion.