Display stand for disposable serving containers

Abstract

A display stand for disposable serving ware containers, such as paper or plastic plates, platters, deep dishes or bowls that displays the containers in a vertical position so the face of the container can be readily viewed by the consumer at the point of purchase.

1 . A display stand, comprising: 
 a front panel;    a rear panel, substantially parallel to the front panel;    a first side panel adjoining the front panel and the rear panel;    a second side panel adjoining the front panel and the rear panel and being spaced from the first side panel;    wherein the front panel, the rear panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel define an open top portion and an open bottom portion and the rear panel has a top portion that defines a shoulder that is adapted to support a portion of a product disposed in the display stand.    
   
   
       2 . The display stand of  claim 1  wherein the product disposed in the display stand includes a face portion defined by an outer circumference and the rear panel has a portion defining a concave curve that has a radius of curvature that is generally the same as a radius of curvature of the outer circumference of a face portion of the product disposed in the display stand.  
   
   
       3 . The display stand of  claim 2  wherein the product disposed in the display stand includes an interface with an outer rim and the portion of the rear panel defining a concave curve acts as a shoulder to support the interface with the outer rim of the product disposed in the display stand.  
   
   
       4 . The display stand of  claim 1  wherein the front panel defines a top edge that does not obstruct a face portion of the product disposed in the display stand.  
   
   
       5 . The display stand of  claim 4  wherein the top edge of the front panel defines a concave curve.  
   
   
       6 . The display stand of  claim 5  wherein the rear panel has a top edge that defines a concave curve that has a radius of curvature that is generally the same as a radius of curvature of the face portion of the product disposed in the display stand.  
   
   
       7 . The display stand of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel has a generally V-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       8 . The display stand of  claim 7  wherein the V-shaped configuration of one of the first side panel and the second side panel defines an apex of a V that is substantially at a midpoint of one of the first side panel and the second side panel.  
   
   
       9 . The display stand of  claim 8  wherein the apex is substantially aligned with a tangent line extending from an outermost side portion of the product disposed in the display stand.  
   
   
       10 . The display stand of  claim 8  wherein the apex is aligned with a point located between the outermost side portion of the product disposed in the display stand and a face portion of the product disposed in the display stand.  
   
   
       11 . The display stand of  claim 1  wherein the product disposed in the display stand includes an outer rim and the first side panel and the second side panel each define a top portion that acts as a shoulder to support the outer rim of a product disposed in the display stand.  
   
   
       12 . A blank for forming a display stand, comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel adjoining the first panel along a first vertical fold line;    a third panel adjoining the second panel along a second vertical fold line;    a fourth panel adjoining the third panel along a third vertical fold line; and    a fifth panel adjoining the fourth panel along a fourth vertical fold line wherein the second panel includes a fifth vertical fold line disposed about midway between the first vertical fold line and the second vertical fold line and the fourth panel includes a sixth vertical fold line disposed about midway between the third vertical fold line and the fourth vertical fold line.    
   
   
       13 . The blank of  claim 12  where in the third panel has a generally curvilinear top edge.  
   
   
       14 . The blank of  claim 13  wherein the first panel and the fifth panel each has a generally curvilinear top edge.  
   
   
       15 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the generally curvilinear top edge of each of the first panel and the fifth panel is substantially the same as one half of the curvilinear top edge of the third panel.  
   
   
       16 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein the generally curvilinear top edge of the first panel and the fifth panel are generally the same.  
   
   
       17 . The blank of  claim 16  wherein the generally curvilinear top edge of the first panel, the third panel and the fifth panel each has a radius of curvature that are substantially the same.  
   
   
       18 . A blank for forming a display stand, comprising: 
 a first panel;    a second panel adjoining the first panel along a first vertical fold line;    a third panel adjoining the second panel along a second vertical fold line;    a fourth panel adjoining the third panel along a third vertical fold line; and    a fifth panel adjoining the fourth panel along a fourth vertical fold line, wherein the second panel has a concavely curved top portion and the fourth panel has a concavely curved top portion.    
   
   
       19 . The blank of  claim 16  wherein the concavely curved portion of the second panel has a radius of curvature that is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the concavely curved portion of the fourth panel.