Packaging, shipping and display system

Abstract

A packaging, shipping and display system having a one piece molded tray and a corrugated cover for a stack of products such as lawn and garden spreaders. The tray includes wheel wells, a rest stand well and four latching tabs. The tabs are pliable strips and may be easily pulled out to form a convex shape or pushed in to form a concave shape. The cover includes latching tab receiving cutouts. To latch the cover to the tray, the tabs are pulled out. To unlatch, the tabs are pushed in. The cover and the tray stay connected when the tabs are pulled out because an abutment occurs between the tabs and borders of the cover tab receiving cutouts. The package of a tray, latched cover and a stack of products may be easily moved by gripping hand cutouts in the cover.

1 . A packaging, shipping and display system comprising: 
 a first structure;    a second structure; and    a connector including a movable, pliable tab and an alignable opening, said tab being connected to either said first member or said second member and said opening being formed on said first or second structure having an absence of said tab, said first structure and said second structure for supporting a stack of products and for covering said stack of products.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said first structure is a base adapted to mount the stack of product; and    said second structure is a cover mounted to said base and being connected thereto.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein: 
 said pliable tab is integral with said base; and    said opening is formed in said cover.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein: 
 said base includes an upstanding rib; and    said cover includes a vertically oriented slot for receiving said rib.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein: 
 said cover includes a lower edge portion; and    said base includes a recess along a peripheral portion of said base, said recess for receiving said lower edge portion of said cover.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein: 
 said base includes an integral upstanding rib; and    said cover includes a vertically oriented slot for receiving said rib.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said base is shaped to correspond to a portion of the product to be stacked on said base.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein: 
 said base includes slanted side walls and ribs to facilitate stacking of a plurality of said bases.    
   
   
       9 . A packaging, shipping and display system for accommodating a stacked array of products comprising: 
 a base structure for supporting the stacked array of products in a desired alignment,    a cover structure for attachment to the base structure to provide a protective covering surrounding the stacked array of products supported by the base structure;    said base structure including an integral pliable tab member; and    said cover structure including an opening alignable with said pliable tab member for selectively receiving said pliable tab member to removably connect said base structure to said cover structure.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said base is generally rectangular in shape and includes first and second integral pliable tabs located to the rear of said base and third and fourth integral pliable tabs, one each located on a side of said base.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said base includes an integral upstanding rib; and    said cover includes a vertically oriented slot for receiving said upstanding rib.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said cover includes a lower edge portion; and    said base includes a recess located along a peripheral portion of said base, said recess for receiving said lower edge portion of said cover.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said base is formed with a shape corresponding to a portion of the product to be stacked on said base.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said base includes holes located in a peripheral portion of said base.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said base includes slanted side walls to facilitate stacking of a plurality of said bases.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said base includes a raised and slanted front wall for displaying information.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said base includes an integral upstanding rib;    said cover includes a vertically oriented slot for receiving said upstanding rib;    said cover includes a lower edge portion; and    said base includes a recess along a peripheral portion of said base, said recess for receiving said lower edge of said cover.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein: 
 said supporting structure of said base has a shape corresponding to a portion of the product to be stacked on said base.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein: 
 said base includes drain holes located in said peripheral portion of said base.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein: 
 said base includes slanted side walls to facilitate stacking of a plurality of said bases.