Display stand with disposable serving containers

Abstract

A display stand with disposable serving ware containers, such as paper or plastic plates, platters, deep dishes or bowls, displaying the containers in a vertical position so the face of the front container is readily viewed by the consumer at the point of purchase.

1 . A display stand in combination with a plurality of disposable serving containers, comprising:
 a display stand comprising:
 a front panel; 
 a rear panel, substantially parallel to the front panel; 
 a substantially vertically extending first side panel adjoining the front panel and the rear panel; and 
   a substantially vertically extending second side panel adjoining the front panel and the rear panel and being spaced from and substantially parallel to the first side panel; and   a plurality of disposable serving containers disposed in the display stand;   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 one of the plurality of disposable serving containers disposed in the display stand.   
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein one of the plurality of disposable serving containers 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 the face portion. 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein the one of the plurality of disposable serving containers 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. 
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the front panel defines a top edge that does not obstruct a face portion of one of the plurality of disposable serving containers disposed in the display stand. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein the top edge of the front panel defines a concave curve. 
   
   
       6 . The combination 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 one of the plurality of disposable serving containers disposed in the display stand. 
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein one of the plurality of disposable serving containers 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 the one of the plurality of disposable serving containers disposed in the display stand.