Display pack and packaging assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a display pack for shipping and displaying a product, the display pack comprising a hollow shell and first and second product supports disposed within the hollow shell. The first product support is disposed in a lower portion of the hollow shell, and the second product support is disposed in an upper portion of the hollow shell, such that the first and second product supports are spaced apart from each other to define a product region between them. Additionally, the first and second product supports each define a product support recess that is sized and configured to conformably receive one end of a product disposed within the product region such that the entire hollow shell is spaced apart from the product. At least a portion of the hollow shell is transparent.

1 . A display pack for shipping and displaying a product, comprising:
 a hollow shell; and   first and second product supports disposed within the hollow shell, wherein the first product support is disposed in a lower portion of the hollow shell, and the second product support is disposed in an upper portion of the hollow shell;   wherein the first and second product supports are spaced apart from each other to define a product region between them;   wherein the first and second product supports each define a product support recess that is sized and configured to conformably receive one end of a product disposed within the product region such that the entire hollow shell is spaced apart from the product; and   wherein at least a portion of the hollow shell is transparent.   
   
   
       2 . The display pack as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the hollow shell has a cylindrical or polygonal cross-section, 
   
   
       3 . The display pack as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second product supports have the shape of a frustum. 
   
   
       4 . The display pack as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the hollow shell and the first and second product supports are transparent. 
   
   
       5 . The display pack as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second product supports are tinted. 
   
   
       6 . The display pack as defined in  claim 5 , and further comprising an adhesive material for adhering the first and second supports to the hollow shelf. 
   
   
       7 . The display pack as defined in  claim 6 , and further comprising end caps, which cap the upper and lower ends of the hollow shell. 
   
   
       8 . The display pack as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the hollow shell includes:
 a main body portion defining a cylindrical or polygonal shape;   an upper closure flap connected to the main body portion by an upper fold line that is located at an upper end of the main body portion of the hollow shell; and   a lower closure flap connected to the main body portion by a lower fold line that is located at a lower end of the main body portion of the hollow shell;   wherein the upper closure flap can be folded at the upper fold line to close off the upper end of the hollow shell; and wherein the lower closure flap can be folded at the lower fold line to close off the lower end of the hollow shell.   
   
   
       9 . The display pack as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the hollow shell and the first and second product supports are transparent. 
   
   
       10 . The display pack as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second product supports are tinted. 
   
   
       11 . The display pack as defined in  claim 10 , and further comprising an adhesive material for adhering the upper and lower closure flaps to the hollow shell. 
   
   
       12 . A packaging assembly for shipping and displaying a plurality of products, comprising:
 a plurality of display packs, each display pack configured to hold at least one of the plurality of products; and   a display stand including:
 a support panel having a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is configured to receive at least one of the display packs, 
 a base panel disposed below the support panel, and 
 at least one spacing panel, wherein the spacing panel is configured to space the support panel in a prescribed position above the base panel; 
   wherein each display pack includes:
 a hollow shell; and 
 first and second product supports disposed within the hollow shell, wherein the first product support is disposed in a lower portion of the hollow shell, and the second product support is disposed in an upper portion of the hollow shell; 
 wherein the first and second product supports are spaced apart from each other to define a product region between them; 
 wherein the first and second product supports each define a product support recess that is sized and configured to conformably receive one end of a product disposed within the product region such that the entire hollow shell is spaced apart from the product; and 
 wherein at least a portion of the hollow shell is transparent; and 
   wherein the lower portion of each of the display packs is configured to be inserted in any one of the plurality of apertures formed in the support panel such that each so-inserted display pack rests on the base panel, wherein a majority of the display pack is visible above the support panel.   
   
   
       13 . The display pack as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the hollow shell has a cylindrical or polygonal cross-section. 
   
   
       14 . The display pack as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second product supports have the shape of a frustum. 
   
   
       15 . The display pack as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the hollow shell and the first and second product supports are transparent. 
   
   
       16 . The display pack as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second product supports are tinted. 
   
   
       17 . The display pack as defined in  claim 16 , and further comprising an adhesive material for adhering the first and second supports to the hollow shell. 
   
   
       18 . The display pack as defined in  claim 16 , and further comprising end caps, which cap the upper and lower ends of the hollow shell. 
   
   
       19 . The display pack as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the hollow shell includes:
 a main body portion defining a cylindrical or polygonal shape;   an upper closure flap connected to the main body portion by an upper fold line that is located at an upper end of the main body portion of the hollow shell; and   a lower closure flap connected to the main body portion by a lower fold line that is located at a lower end of the main body portion of the hollow shell;   wherein the upper closure flap can be folded at the upper fold line to close off the upper end of the hollow shell; and wherein the lower closure flap can be folded at the lower fold line to close off the lower end of the hollow shell.   
   
   
       20 . The display pack as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the hollow shell and the first and second product supports are transparent. 
   
   
       21 . The display pack as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the first and second product supports are tinted. 
   
   
       22 . The display pack as defined in  claim 21 , and further comprising an adhesive material for adhering the upper and lower closure flaps to the hollow shell. 
   
   
       23 . A multi-layer stack of packaging assemblies for shipping and displaying a plurality of products, the stack comprising:
 a first layer of assembled packaging assemblies, and   a second layer of assembled packaging assemblies located on the first layer of assembled packaging assemblies,   wherein each packaging assembly includes:
 a plurality of display packs, each display pack configured to hold at least one of the plurality of products; and 
 a display stand including:
 a support panel having a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is configured to receive at least one of the display packs, 
 a base panel disposed below the support panel, and 
 at least one spacing panel, wherein the spacing panel is configured to space the support panel in a prescribed position above the base panel; 
 
 wherein each display pack includes:
 a hollow shell; and 
 first and second product supports disposed within the hollow shell, wherein the first product support is disposed in a lower portion of the hollow shell, and the second product support is disposed in an upper portion of the hollow shell; 
 wherein the first and second product supports are spaced apart from each other to define a product region between them. 
 wherein the first and second product supports each define a product support recess that is sized and configured to conformably 
 receive one end of a product disposed within the product region such that the entire hollow shell is spaced apart from the product; and 
 wherein at least a portion of the hollow shell is transparent; and 
 
 wherein the lower portion of each of the display packs is configured to be inserted in any one of the plurality of apertures formed in the support panel such that each so-inserted display pack rests on the base panel, wherein a majority of the display pack is visible above the support panel. 
   
   
   
       24 . The multi-layer stack of packaging assemblies as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the weight of the second layer of assembled packaging assemblies is at least partially supported by the hollow shell and the product. 
   
   
       25 . The display pack as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the hollow shell has a cylindrical or polygonal cross-section. 
   
   
       26 . The display pack as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the first and second product supports have the shape of a frustum. 
   
   
       27 . The display pack as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the hollow shell and the first and second product supports are transparent. 
   
   
       28 . The display pack as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the first and second product supports are tinted. 
   
   
       29 . The display pack as defined in  claim 28 , and further comprising an adhesive material for adhering the first and second supports to the hollow shell 
   
   
       30 . The display pack as defined in  claim 29 , and further comprising end caps, which cap the upper and lower ends of the hollow shell. 
   
   
       31 . The display pack as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the hollow shell includes:
 a main body portion defining a cylindrical or polygonal shape;   an upper closure flap connected to the main body portion by an upper fold line that is located at an upper end of the main body portion of the hollow shell; and   a lower closure flap connected to the main body portion by a lower fold line that is located at a lower end of the main body portion of the hollow shell;   wherein the upper closure flap can be folded at the upper fold line to close off the upper end of the hollow shell; and wherein the lower closure flap can be folded at the lower fold line to close off the lower end of the hollow shell.   
   
   
       32 . The display pack as defined in  claim 31  wherein the hollow shell and the first and second product supports are transparent. 
   
   
       33 . The display pack as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the first and second product supports are tinted. 
   
   
       34 . The display pack as defined in  claim 33 , and further comprising an adhesive material for adhering the upper and lower closure flaps to the hollow shell.