Container with attached shelf

Abstract

The opposed shelf flaps provide load bearing support to the main shelf panel and the main shelf panel is sufficiently rigid to support the weight of an upper product placed in the upper interior space in a manner such that an air gap is maintained between the top of a lower product placed into the lower interior space and the shelf itself so as to avoid unwanted contact between the two products.

1 . A container comprising:
 a plurality of panels connected together to enclose an interior space, wherein the interior space is divided into an upper interior space and a lower interior space by a shelf adhered to one or more of the plurality of panels, wherein the shelf includes:   a main shelf panel and a pair of opposed side shelf flaps connected to the main shelf panel along a pair of fold lines.   
     
     
         2 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shelf extends from a first end of the interior space to an opposite end of the interior space along a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposed shelf flaps provide load bearing support to the main shelf panel and wherein they are folded  90  degrees with respect to the main shelf panel. 
     
     
         4 . The container as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the main shelf panel is sufficiently rigid so as to support the weight of an upper product placed in the upper interior space in a manner that maintains an air gap between the top of a lower product placed into the lower interior space and the main shelf panel. 
     
     
         5 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shelf includes a pair of opposed shelf end flaps connected to the main shelf panel along a second pair of fold lines. 
     
     
         6 . The container as recited in  claim 5 , wherein one or more of the opposed shelf flaps or opposed shelf end flaps is adhered to the plurality of panels and the main shelf panel is not directly adhered to the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         7 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the shelf includes corrugated paper material. 
     
     
         8 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes four panels, which, together with a plurality of flaps foldably connected to the plurality of panels, connect together to form a rectangular footprint of the interior space. 
     
     
         9 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes eight panels, which, together with a plurality of flaps foldably connected to the plurality of panels connect together to form an octagonal footprint of the interior space. 
     
     
         10 . The container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the main shelf panel is dimensioned to have the same dimensions as the footprint of the interior space. 
     
     
         11 . A blank system for forming a container comprising:
 a main blank including a plurality of panels foldably connected together configured to enclose an interior space; and   a shelf blank including a main shelf panel and a pair of opposed side shelf flaps connected to the main shelf panel along a pair of fold lines, wherein the shelf blank is configured to form a shelf in the interior space when adhered to the main blank and divide the interior space into an upper interior space and a lower interior space.   
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the shelf is sized to extend from a first end of the interior space to an opposite end of the interior space along a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pair of opposed shelf flaps are configured to provide load bearing support to the main shelf panel when they are folded  90  degrees with respect to the main shelf panel. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the shelf blank includes a pair of opposed shelf end flaps connected to the main shelf panel along a second pair of fold lines. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the opposed shelf flaps or opposed shelf end flaps is adhered to the main blank and the main shelf panel is not directly adhered to the main blank. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the shelf blank includes corrugated paper material. 
     
     
         17 . The system wherein the main blank is a first main blank, and the shelf blank is a first shelf blank, further comprising a plurality of main blanks like the first main blank and a plurality of shelf blanks like the first shelf blank, wherein all the blanks are palletized. 
     
     
         18 . The system recited in  claim 17 , wherein the main blanks are palletized on one pallet, and wherein the shelf blanks are palletized on a separate pallet. 
     
     
         19 . The system recited in  claim 17 , wherein the main blanks and shelf blanks are palletized on a single pallet together. 
     
     
         20 . The system recited in  claim 19 , wherein each shelf blank is adhered to a respective one of the main blanks before the blanks are palletized. 
     
     
         21 . A method for forming a container comprising joining a shelf blank onto a main blank;
 folding the main blank around an interior space;   folding the shelf blank into the interior space to create a shelf dividing the interior space into an upper interior space and a lower interior space.   
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising folding a plurality of flaps of the main blank to create a bottom of the container, then placing a product into the lower interior space before folding the shelf blank into place to form the upper interior space. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising placing a second product into the upper interior space on top of the shelf blank.