Slanted Retail Shipper Display

Abstract

A carton including a back panel and a bottom panel is provided. The back panel is foldably connected along a first fold line to a first accordion panel and a second accordion panel is foldably connected along a second fold line to the first accordion panel. The back panel, the first accordion panel, and the second accordion panel are movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first accordion panel and the second accordion panel are substantially parallel to the back panel and are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel. In the second position, the back panel moves toward the bottom panel, the second accordion panel is substantially parallel the bottom panel, and the first accordion panel is disposed diagonally between the second fold line and the back panel. Articles in the carton thus can be slanted toward the back panel in the second position.

1 . A carton comprising:
 an upper portion and a lower portion separated by at least one tear line;   the carton including at least a back panel and a bottom panel; the back panel having two accordion panels at a lower portion; the back panel being foldably connected along a first fold line to a first accordion panel of the two accordion panels, a second accordion panel being foldably connected along a second fold line to the first accordion panel;   the back panel, the first accordion panel, and the second accordion panel being movable between a first position and a second position;   in the first position, the first accordion panel and the second accordion panel are substantially parallel to the back panel and are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel; and   in the second position, the back panel is moved downward in a direction toward the bottom panel, the second accordion panel is disposed substantially parallel the bottom panel and the first accordion panel is disposed at an angle between the second fold line and the back panel.   
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the at least one tear line includes a first tear line and a second tear line that each extend around approximately half of the carton. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein ends of the first tear line and the second tear line meet adjacent one another to form a substantially continuous tear line around the carton. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 3  wherein the upper portion is removable from the lower portion by separating along the first tear line and the second tear line. 
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein a flap extends above the back panel. 
     
     
         6 . A package comprising:
 a plurality of articles; and,   a carton; the carton comprising:
 an upper portion and a lower portion separated by at least one tear line; 
 the carton including at least a back panel and a bottom panel; the back panel having two accordion panels at a lower portion; the back panel being foldably connected along a first fold line to a first accordion panel of the two accordion panels, a second accordion panel being foldably connected along a second fold line to the first accordion panel; 
 the back panel, the first accordion panel, and the second accordion panel being movable between a first position and a second position; 
 in the first position, the first accordion panel and the second accordion panel are substantially parallel to the back panel and are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel; 
 in the second position, the back panel is moved downward in a direction toward the bottom panel, the second accordion panel is disposed substantially parallel the bottom panel and the first accordion panel is disposed at a diagonal between the second fold line and the back panel. 
   
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the at least one tear line includes a first tear line and a second tear line that each extend around approximately half of the carton. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7  wherein ends of the first tear line and the second tear line meet adjacent one another to form a substantially continuous tear line around the carton. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein the upper portion is removable from the lower portion by separating along the first tear line and the second tear line. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 6  wherein a flap extends above the back panel. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the articles are slanted toward the back panel in the second position. 
     
     
         12 . A blank comprising:
 a first panel connected to a second panel along a first fold line;   the second panel connected to a third panel along a second fold line;   the third panel connected to a fourth panel along a third fold line;   the fourth panel connected to a first accordion panel along a fourth fold line;   the first accordion panel connected to a second accordion panel along a fifth fold line;   a first end flap connected along a sixth fold line to the second panel at a first end of the blank;   a second end flap connected along a seventh fold line to the second panel at a second end of the blank;   a third end flap connected along an eighth fold line to the fourth panel at the first end of the blank;   a fourth end flap connected along a ninth fold line to the fourth panel at the second end of the blank;   a first tear line that extends across the first end flap, the second panel, and the second end flap;   a second tear line that extends across the third end flap, the fourth panel, and the fourth end flap;   wherein the first end flap, the second end flap, the third end flap, and the fourth end flap each include at least one angled edge that allow the fourth panel to move toward the first accordion panel and the second accordion panel when the blank is formed into a carton.   
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12  wherein an opening assisting device is included along the first tear line and along the second tear line. 
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 13  wherein the opening assisting device is an opening or a finger flap. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 11  wherein, to form the blank into a carton, the first and third end flaps overlap and the second and fourth end flaps overlap. 
     
     
         16 . A method of slanting articles in a package, the package comprising a plurality of articles and a carton, the method comprising:
 providing the carton; the carton including an upper portion and a lower portion separated by at least one tear line; the carton including at least a back panel and a bottom panel; the back panel having two accordion panels at a lower portion; the back panel being foldably connected along a first fold line to a first accordion panel of the two accordion panels, a second accordion panel being foldably connected along a second fold line to the first accordion panel; the back panel, the first accordion panel, and the second accordion panel being movable between a first position and a second position;   filling the carton with the plurality of articles; and   moving the back panel of the carton from a first position to a second position to slant at least one of the plurality of articles in a rearward direction;   wherein in the first position, the first accordion panel and the second accordion panel are substantially parallel to the back panel and are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel;   wherein in the second position, the back panel is moved downward in a direction toward the bottom panel, the second accordion panel is disposed substantially parallel the bottom panel and the first accordion panel is disposed at a diagonal between the second fold line and the back panel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one tear line includes a first tear line and a second tear line that each extend around approximately half of the carton. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein ends of the first tear line and the second tear line meet adjacent one another to form a substantially continuous tear line around the carton. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the upper portion is removable from the lower portion by separating along the first tear line and the second tear line. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first end and the second end of the carton are formed by overlapping end flaps.