Container for shipping and display

Abstract

A container is convertible from a shipping configuration in which it protects products stored therein during shipping into a display configuration in which the products are displayed in a retail setting and easily accessible to customers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a base including a bottom element, a front wall extending upward, a rear wall extending upward and a pair of opposed sidewalls connecting the front wall to the rear wall;   a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion, and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to overlap the front wall, rear wall and pair of opposed sidewalls of the base;   a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, the divider element mounted in the base on top of the bottom element and between the front wall, rear wall and opposed sidewalls; and   a display element positioned on top of the divider element;   wherein the top element and divider element are removable from the base and the display element is mounted on the rear wall of the base such that an interior of the base is visible.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a peripheral element mounted in the base and surrounding the divider element, wherein the peripheral element is removable from the base after the top element is removed.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each storage space of the plurality of storage spaces is sized to accommodate a desired product. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the desired product remains in the base after the divider element is removed from the base and is accessible to a user. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall of the base is lower than the rear wall and the pair of opposed sidewalls extend upward along their length from the front wall to the rear wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the top element includes a pair of opposed flaps forming the top surface thereof, wherein the flaps are foldable from an open position wherein the interior of the container is accessible, to a closed position in which the interior of the container is covered. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the display element further comprises at least one slot formed along a bottom edge thereof, the slot configured to accept a top portion of the rear wall of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one slot is a first slot and the display element further comprises:
 a second slot formed along the bottom edge thereof, the second slot positioned parallel to the first slot and spaced laterally away from the first slot such that a tab is formed between the first slot and the second slot.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the first slot and second slot receive a top portion of the rear wall of the base and the tab flexes forward or backward when the display element is mounted on the top edge of the rear wall of the base. 
     
     
         10 . A method of converting a container from a shipping configuration to a display, where the container includes a base, a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to surround the base, a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, and mounted in the base and a display element, the method comprising the steps of:
 removing the top element of the container;   removing the display element from the container;   removing the divider element of the container such that products stored in the container are visible in the base; and   mounting the display element on a rear wall of a base of the container.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising removing a peripheral element mounted in the base and surrounding the divider element in its front, rear, left and right sides. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each storage space of the divider is sized to accommodate a desired product and the container accommodates of plurality of such desired products. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the desired product remains in the base after the steps of removing the divider element and mounting the display element. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the base further comprises:
 a front wall;   a rear wall; and
 a pair of opposed sidewalls extending between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the front wall is lower than the rear wall and the pair of opposed sidewall extend upward along their length between the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the top element includes a pair of opposed flaps forming the top surface thereof, wherein the flaps are foldable from an open position wherein the interior of the container is accessible to a closed position in which the interior of the container is covered. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the display element further comprises at least one slot formed along a bottom edge thereof, the slot configured to accept a top portion of the rear wall of the base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one slot is a first slot and the display element further comprises:
 a second slot formed along the bottom edge thereof, the second slot positioned parallel to the first slot and spaced laterally away from the first slot such that a tab is formed between the first slot and the second slot.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of mounting the display element on the rear wall includes inserting a top edge of the rear wall into the first slot and second slot of the display element. and flexing the tab forward or backward such that the display element is mounted on the top edge of the rear wall of the base. 
     
     
         19 . A container comprising:
 a base including a bottom element, a front wall extending upward, a rear wall extending upward and a pair of opposed sidewalls connecting the front wall to the rear wall;   a top element positioned on top of the base and including a top portion, and sidewalls extending downward therefrom to overlap the front wall, rear wall and pair of opposed sidewalls of the base;   a divider element including a plurality of storage spaces, the divider element mounted in the base on top of the bottom element and between the front wall, rear wall and opposed sidewalls;   a peripheral element surrounding the divider element on the left, right front and rear sides thereof; and   a display element positioned on top of the divider element;   wherein the top element, divider element and peripheral element are removable from the base and the display element is mounted on the rear wall of the base such that an interior of the base is visible.