DESC:TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A Storage unit

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The invention relates to a storage unit having a panel capable of holding and displaying plurality of boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Many retail goods, like fast moving consumer goods, pharmaceutical products, etc. are packed in boxes.
[003] Generally, in super-markets or shops such boxes are either placed on shelves or counters. In some cases, the boxes may be stacked one above the other or in a side-by-side manner. Accordingly, such boxes can simply be picked up from shelves or counters. Hence, there is always a risk of shop lifting of boxes stored on shelves or counters, especially where the shelves and counters are not supervised. Further, the boxes may topple over when stacked thereby damaging the contents of the box. Also, the boxes have to be arranged/rearranged at regular intervals which is a tedious task.
[004] Furthermore, it is common for boxes to have aesthetic features, art-work or other designs. However, when boxes are stacked, such features especially on sides and rear-side of the box are not visible.
[005] In view of the aforesaid, there is a need in the art to address at-least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a storage unit comprising at-least one box having a first slit on one of its panel and a second slit on a panel opposing the panel with first slit; and a panel having at-least one opening with a first support member extending from one edge of the opening and a second support member extending from opposite edge of the opening, the first and second support member configured to be received by the first slit and the second slit of the box.
[007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a storage unit, comprising a box having a top slit and a bottom slit; and a panel having at-least one opening with a top support member extending from a top edge of the opening and a bottom support member extending from an opposing bottom edge of the opening, the top support member and the bottom support member configured to be received by the top slit and the bottom slit of the box to support and hold the box on the panel.
[008] In another aspect, the present invention provides a panel for holding and displaying at-least one box, the panel having at-least one opening with a first support member extending from an edge of the opening and a second support member extending from an opposite edge of the opening, the first and second support member configured to be received by a first slit and a second slit of the box, wherein the support members can extend from top and bottom edge of the opening or the support members can extend from left and right edge of the opening, and the box has corresponding slits on top and bottom or sides of the box depending upon the placement/position of the support members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 show a storage unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a panel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a storage unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a panel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[010] The present invention is directed towards a storage unit. The storage unit has a panel configured to engage and hold at-least one box such that there is maximum visibility of the box from various sides. Further the one or more boxes remain engaged by the panel and can only be removed or moved from the panel with human intervention.
[011] Figure 1 shows a storage unit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The storage unit comprises of a panel 110 and plurality of boxes 10. In an embodiment, the panel is configured to hold and engage plurality of boxes such that the boxes are visible from different sides – front, top, bottom, left and right.
[012] As shown, each box has opposing front and rear panels, opposing side panels, a top panel and a bottom panel. The top panel is hinged with the rear panel allowing contents of the box to be accessed. Further, a top slit and a bottom slit is provided on top side and bottom side of the box. The top slit is provided between the top panel and the front panel, and the bottom slit is provided between the bottom panel and the rear panel. Alternately, the top slit can be provided on the top panel, and the bottom slit can be provided on the bottom panel.
[013] Figure 2 shows the panel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The panel has a front face and a rear face with text, colors, artwork, etc as per requirement. In an embodiment, the panel comprises plurality of openings 120. Each opening has a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges. In an embodiment, a top support member 130 extends from the top edge and a bottom support member 140 extends from the bottom edge of each opening to support the box. The top support member and the bottom support member are configured to be received by the top slit and the bottom slit of the box to support and engage/hold the box.
[014] In an embodiment of the invention, the top support member extends perpendicularly outwards from the top edge of the opening. Further, the top support member has a tuck member 132 extending downwards from the top support member, whereby the tuck member is received by the top slit of the box. The top support member extends perpendicularly outwards from the top edge up to a predetermined length. In this regard, the length of the top support member corresponds with length/width of the top panel of the box. The top support member is folded out from the panel, and the tuck member is further folded downwards from the top support member. Further, as shown in figure 2, the bottom support member extends upwards from the bottom edge of the opening up to a predetermined length and is received by the bottom slit of the box. In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the top slit is provided adjacent to the front panel, and the bottom slit is provided adjacent to the rear panel. The top support member is perpendicular with the front face of the panel. Accordingly, as shown in figure 1, the boxes when adapted on the panel, the top support member will engage the box from the top and the bottom support member will engage the box from the bottom. The box when adapted and engaged by the panel rests on the front face panel. In this regard, the panel, as shown, holds/engages the boxes and provides full visibility of the front panel, side panels and bottom panel of the boxes.
[015] Figure 3 shows a storage unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The storage unit comprises of a panel 310 and plurality of boxes. The boxes are similar to the boxes 10 discussed hereinbefore. In an embodiment, the panel is configured to hold and engage plurality of boxes 10 such that the boxes are visible from different sides – front, rear, top, bottom, left and right.
[016] As shown in figure 4, the panel has a front face and a rear face, and has plurality of openings 320. Each opening has a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges. A top support member 330 extends perpendicularly from the top edge of the opening, and the top support member has a tuck member 332 extending downwards from the top support member, whereby the tuck member is received by the top slit of the box. Further, as shown, a bottom support member 340 extends perpendicularly from the bottom edge, and the bottom support member has a tuck member 342 extending upwards from the bottom support member, whereby the tuck member is received by the bottom slit of the box. The support member and tuck member are formed as discussed hereinbefore. As shown, the top support member is perpendicular with the front face of the panel and the bottom support member is perpendicular with the rear face of the panel whereby the top support member and the bottom support member extend perpendicularly outwards up to a predetermined length. In this regard, the length of the top support member corresponds with length/width of the top panel and the length of the bottom support member correspond with length/width of bottom panel of the box. As shown in figure 3, each box is received by the opening such that a portion of the box extends from front face of the panel and remaining portion of the box extends from rear of the panel, and the top support member and the bottom support member support and engage the box. Accordingly, the boxes when adapted to the panel extend from the front face and rear face of the panel. The panel as shown holds/engages the boxes and provides full visibility of the front panel, side panels and rear panel of the boxes.
[017] Further, as shown through the figures, at-least the top support member also has a protruding member 132a extending opposite to the tuck member. The protruding members enable removal of the top support member. Thus, in order to remove the box, the top support member is to be pulled or removed out of the box. Similarly, the bottom support member is to be removed out of the box. Accordingly, to remove the box from the panel, the top support member is first removed and thereafter the bottom support member is removed from the box.
[018] In an embodiment, the panel further has at-least one punch hole for hanging the panel on a wall. Alternately, the panel has foldable or extendable legs (not shown) whereby the panel/storage unit can be used as a standee unit.
[019] Further, the storage unit can be formed of cardboard or paperboard with or without protective coating or layers. Alternately, the storage unit can be formed of other materials such as plastic, metal, non-metal, etc.
[020] Advantageously, the present invention provides a storage unit having a panel for holding and displaying plurality of boxes whereby the boxes are engaged by the panel of the storage unit and the boxes and panel have maximum visibility. Aesthetic features of the panel and especially the boxes are visible from different sides. Further, since the boxes are engaged by the panel, the boxes cannot be lifted or removed without human intervention, thereby preventing boxes from being picked up or stolen.
[021] The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since the modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to the person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the disclosure.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A storage unit (100), comprising:
a box (10) having a top slit and a bottom slit; and
a panel (110, 310) having at-least one opening (120, 320) with a top support member (130, 330) extending from a top edge of the opening and a bottom support member (140, 340) extending from an opposing bottom edge of the opening, the top support member and the bottom support member configured to be received by the top slit and the bottom slit of the box to support and hold the box on the panel.
2. The storage unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top support member (130) extends perpendicularly from the top edge of the opening and the bottom support member (140) extends upwards from the bottom edge of the opening.
3. The storage unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top support member (330) extends perpendicularly from the top edge of the opening and the second support member (340) extends perpendicularly from the bottom edge of the opening.
4. The storage unit as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the top support member comprises a tuck member (132, 332) extends downwards from the top support member.
5. The storage unit as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the top support member comprises a protruding member (132a) extending opposite to the tuck member.
6. The storage unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bottom support member comprises a tuck member (334) extending upwards from the bottom support member.
7. The storage unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein placement of slits on the box depends upon position and size of the support members.