Expandable display and shipping container

Abstract

A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising a base, a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure, and, a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure. Each support is moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.

1 . A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: 
 a base;    a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure; and,    a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position;    whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.    
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached between two adjacent trays, the bottommost pair of supports being pivotally attached between a bottommost tray and the base.  
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein each support comprises a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally connected by a support hinge.  
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 3  wherein each support hinge comprises: 
 a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support arms;    a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower support arms; and,    a hole formed in the other of the upper and lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring button when the support is in the secured position.    
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein each support comprises a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.  
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of trays are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.  
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 1  further comprising an advertising pivotally attached to an uppermost tray.  
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 1  further comprising a lid configured to fit over the container when the container is in the shipping configuration.  
   
   
       9 . A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: 
 a base;    a plurality of tray frames pivotally attached to the base in an accordion structure; and,    a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray frame of the accordion structure, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position;    whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray frame when the supports are in the secured position, and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of tray frames are stacked directly atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.    
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 9  wherein each tray frame comprises a pair of side members and a pair of end members, each side member overlapping one end member at one end thereof and the other end member at the other end thereof, each of the side members and the end members comprising a pair of holes therein such that the holes of adjacent side and end members line up when the tray frame is assembled, whereby the tray frame is held together by rivets extending through the holes of adjacent side and end members.  
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 10  wherein the supports are pivotally attached to the tray frames by the rivets extending through the holes of adjacent side and end members.  
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 9  wherein each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports are pivotally attached between two adjacent tray frames, the bottommost pair of supports being pivotally attached between a bottommost tray frame and the base.  
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 12  wherein each support comprises a lower support arm and an upper support arm pivotally connected by a support hinge.  
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein each support hinge comprises: 
 a rivet pivotally connecting the upper and lower support arms;    a spring button extending from one of the upper and lower support arms; and,    a hole formed in the other of the upper and lower support arms, the hole positioned to receive the spring button when the support is in the secured position.    
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 9  wherein each support comprises a lower connector at one end thereof and an upper connector at an opposite end thereof, such that each pair of supports other than a bottommost pair of supports and a second bottommost pair of supports are moveable into the secured position by engaging the lower connectors thereof with the upper connectors of the pair of supports therebelow, and such that the bottommost and second bottommost pairs of supports are moveable into the secured position by connecting the lower connectors thereof to the base.  
   
   
       16 . A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: 
 a base;    a plurality of trays pivotally attached to the base, each tray other than a bottommost and a topmost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of the tray below, and pivotally attached at an opposite top edge thereof to a bottom edge of the tray above, the bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the base and the topmost of the trays being pivotally attached at a top edge thereof to an advertising panel; and,    a pair of supports pivotally attached to each tray, each support moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position;    whereby the container is convertible between a display configuration wherein the plurality of trays are held at alternating acute angles with respect to a plane of the base by the pairs of supports attached to each tray's underside when the supports are in the secured position and a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.    
   
   
       17 . A container for shipping and displaying items, the container comprising: 
 a base;    a plurality of trays, each tray other than a bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of the tray below, the bottommost of the trays being pivotally attached at a bottom edge thereof to the base;    a pair of supports pivotally attached to each of the plurality of trays, each support moveable between a secured and an unsecured position;    whereby the container is convertible between:    a display configuration wherein each tray and the pair of supports attached thereto, except the bottommost tray, form a triangular structure with the tray below when the supports are in the secured position, the bottommost tray and the pair of supports attached thereto forming a triangular structure with the base when the supports are in the secured position; and,    a shipping configuration wherein the plurality of trays are stacked atop the base when the supports are in the unsecured position.