CLIAMS:We claim:
1. A display device for containing and displaying product comprising:
a front panel comprising a display portion, a central portion and a bottom flap; a rear panel comprising a top portion and a bottom flap; side panels, each side panel comprising a bottom flap, a locking flap comprising a cut section that is complentary to other section in terms of size and shape; wherein the front panel, rear panel and side panels are from a single blank having a plurality of fold lines that are configured to allow the front, rear and side panels to form a shipping configuration; wherein, the front panel the side panels further having a common perforation line configured such that when the front panel and the side panels are torn along the perforation line, the front portion becomes coplanar and aligned with the rear panel to provide a display and side panels become lockable behind the display portion to form a shelf-ready display configuration.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking flaps engage in locking arrangement with a plurality of slits defined on the top portion of the rear panel.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking flaps engage in locking arrangement with a plurality of slits defined on side portions of the side panels.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the perforation line is of arcuate shape.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the perforation line is slanted at angle to the side panels and the front panel.
6. A display device for containing and displaying product comprising: a front panel comprising a display portion, a central portion and a bottom flap; a rear panel comprising a top portion and a bottom flap; side panels, each side panel comprising a bottom flap, a locking flap comprising a cut section that is complentary to other section in terms of size and shape; wherein the locking flaps are configured to be locked to provide a support for the display portion and an anti-theft arrangement for the contents of the display device.
,TagSPECI:Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a device, system and method for packaging and displaying retail goods. More particularly, the present invention a shelf-ready packaging and display device, system and method for configuring the same.

Background of the Invention
The product display systems and devices are designed for optimum utilization of valuable retail space. The graphics, brand identity, brand and product information is displayed prominently and most creatively on these display systems and devices. Display devices and systems are designed to save precious time, material and space From assembly to deployment on the retail space and also makes brand identification distinctly easier for a retail consumer. Modifications are made to shelf-ready devices or containers by retail employees at the retail space. These modifications including tearing off preconfigured perforations and folding preconfigured panels of the shelf-ready devices to deploy the shelf-ready device such that brand information, brand identity and product information is prominently displayed to retail consumers.
However, the prior art shelf-ready devices and systems are created from blanks wherein additional amount of packaging material is provided for creating a display panel. The additional amount of packaging material is provided taking into consideration factors, such as, for example, the size and the area of the display panel to be deployed. Further, these prior art shelf-ready devices and systems have a display that lacks a reinforcement in the form locking panels.
Therefore, there is a need for a shelf-ready device, system and method for erecting the same that provides an economically improved, optimized and easy to deploy display. Furthermore, more importantly, there is a need for a shelf-ready device, system and method for erecting the same wherein the display is constructed from the blank wherein no additional packaging material is not factored into the design. Further, it is desirable, to provide a shelf-ready device, system and method wherein the display is reinforced with extra locking panels.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Summary of the Invention
A display device for containing and displaying product is described. The display device includes a front panel comprising a display portion, a central portion and a bottom flap and a rear panel comprising a top portion and a bottom flap. The display device further includes side panel. Each side panel includes a bottom flap, a locking flap comprising a cut section that is complentary to other section in terms of size and shape.The front panel, rear panel and side panels of the display device are from a single blank having a plurality of fold lines that are configured to allow the front, rear and side panels to form a shipping configuration. The front panel the side panels of the device further includes a common perforation line configured such that when the front panel and the side panels are torn along the perforation line, the front portion becomes coplanar and aligned with the rear panel to provide a display and side panels become lockable behind the display portion to form a shelf-ready display configuration.

Statement of the Invention
A device for containing and display products having that is convertible from a shipping configuration into a display configuration when a front panel and a plurality of locking flaps of side panels are torn along a common perforation line and locking flaps are folded and locked behind the front panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 represents a front view of a blank that is used for the construction of a shelf-ready pack in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 represents a back view of a blank that is used for the construction of a shelf-ready pack in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 2-10 represent exemplary steps in construction of a container from which the shelf ready device is constructed;
FIGS. 10-23 represent exemplary steps in construction of the shelf ready pack from the container in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 24 represents the shelf-ready pack in accordance with the present invention; and
FIGS. 25-26 represents an embodiment of the shelf-ready pack in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a blank 100 used for the construction of a shelf-ready pack, a device for packaging, containing and displaying products in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated. Foldable substrates, such as, for example paper-based material which includes materials such as corrugated sheet material and/or paperboard is preferably used for the blanks. However, other materials, such as, for example, recycled materials, single play and/or laminated paperboard, coated and uncoated materials, which are foldable may be used.
Within the borders of the blank 100, a plurality of dotted lines are used to indicate perforation lines and fold lines F1-F15. It is stated, however, that dotted lines to indicate perforation lines or cut lines are shown in illustrations where expression of such an indication is most relevant and important. These lines may appear as solid lines where expression of such an indication is not relevant.
As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the blank 100 includes a first side panel 50, a front panel 52, a second side panel 54, and a rear panel 56. The first and second side panels 50, 52 both include a locking flap 58, and a side bottom flap 60 each. The first side panel includes a first side portion 59 and the second side panel has a second portion 61. The front panel includes a display portion 62, a central portion 64 having an aperture 66 along a dotted line 68 that passes through all the panels 50, 52, 54 and 56. The panels 50, 52, 54, 56 are foldable substrates. The dotted line 68 is a major perforation line 68 along which the panels 50, 56, 54 are torn in a preconfigured fashion to form a display and wherein H1 defines the height of the rendered part of the side panels 50 and 54. The display portion 62 starts from the dotted line 68.
The locking flap 58 of the panel 54 has a preconfigured cut portion 53 area that is formed between a group of cut lines C1 and the distal boundary of the panel 54. The locking flap 58 of the panel 56 has a preconfigured cut portion 57 area bounded between cut lines C1 and the distal boundary of the panel 56. The cut portion 57 has a triangular section 65. The locking flap 58 of the panel 56 has a triangular cut portion 63 that is formed between a group of cut lines C3 and the fold line F4.
The rear panel has a top portion 70 and a glue panel 72. The rear panel and the front panel both have a bottom flap 74 each. The locking flaps 58 have a plurality of dotted lines. The locking flaps 58 are torn in a preconfigured manner along some of the dotted lines to form a locking mechanism that locks both flaps 58 together. The bottom flaps 60 and side bottom flaps 74 come together to form a bottom. The bottom flaps 74 and the bottom flaps 60 share a common dotted fold line 76. The bottom flaps 74 have a dotted fold line F.
As shown in FIGS. 2-9, the blank 100 is appropriately folded at various place indicated by the dotted fold lines F1-F8 and the directional arrows to erect a container 200 as shown in FIG. 10 that defines a shipping configuration 200 from the blank 100. As indicated in FIGS. 5-7, the bottom flaps 74 and side bottom flaps 60 are folded as indicated by the fold lines F1, F2 and F3 and in the direction of arrows to form a bottom 76 of the shipping configuration 200. The side panels 50, 52, 54 and 56 are folded along the fold lines F5, F6, F7 and F8 to form four walls 78, 80, 82 and 84 of the shipping configuration The locking flaps 58 and the display portion 62 are folded along fold lines F4, F7 and F8 to form a closed hood position 86 of the shipping configuration 200. The glue panel 72 is attached to the side panel 50 to finish the shipping configuration 200.
Referring to FIGS. 11-24, the transformation of the shipping configuration 200 into the shelf-ready display pack in accordance with the present invention is explained. The shipping configuration 200 or the container 200 is torn up along the major perforation line 68 in the direction indicated by arrow in FIG. 11. The shipping configuration 200 can be swiveled up and down as indicated by arrows in FIGS. 12 and 13 along the fold line F8. The locking flaps 58 of panels 52 and 56 and the display portion 62 of the front panel 52 are erected in the direction indicated by arrows show in FIGS. 14 and 15. As shown in FIG. 16 the cut portions 53 and 57 of the panels 52 and 56 respectively are removed from the locking flaps 58.
The locking flaps 58 of the panels 52 and 56 are cut in the direction of the fold line F4 till the fold lines F9 and F10 that are perpendicular to the fold line F4 are reached respectively. The display portion 62, the locking flaps 58 are moved in the direction of the rear panel as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 17.
As shown in FIG. 18-24, the locking flaps 58 and the display portion 62 are coplanar and aligned with the rear panel 70. The locking flaps 58 of the panels 52 and 56 are folded behind the display portion along the fold lines F7 and F8 respective as shown in FIG. 19. The panels 52 and 56 have a combined width that is greater than the width of the rear panel 70 and the panels 52 and 56 folded behind the display portion 62 overlap each other. The cut portion 63 is engaged with the triangular section 65 of the cut portion 63 to accomplish a locking arrangement. The locking arrangement provided by the locking flaps 58 in which the fold behind the display portion 62 and engage with each other provide a reinforcement and strength to the display portion 62 to stand firm and erect as indicated by a shelf-ready display configuration 300 shown in FIG. 24.
In this particular embodiment, the panels 52 and 56 engage behind the display portion with each other to form a locking arrangement. However, in yet another embodiment the locking flaps 58 may and can have a locking arrangement with a plurality of slits defined on the rear panel 52. In yet another embodiment, the locking flaps may and can have locking arrangement with the side portions 61 and 59 of the panels 52 and 56. In this one preferred embodiment of the invention, the major perforation line 68 is parallel to fold lines F4, F4 and F15. However, it is understood that the major perforation line 68 may and can be of any profile, such as, for example, a curve, an arcuate shape or slanted at an angle in yet another embodiment. In yet another embodiment, the distance between the major perforation 68 and the fold line F4 may and can be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the height of the display portion 62 to increase or decrease the brand space available on the display portion 62. In yet another embodiment, there can even be a plurality of major perforation lines 68.

Referring to FIGS. 25-26, another embodiment of the shelf-ready in accordance with the present invention is described. The embodiment has locking flaps 72 and 74 that have locking portions 76. The locking flaps have support flaps 78. . The locking portions 76 have cuts 80 defined therein. The locking portions 76 of the flaps 72 and 74 are locked into each other such that the cuts 80 engage with each other and support flaps are folded advantageously to be almost coplanar with the display portion 62 to provide support to the display portion. The locking flaps 72, 74 when locked provide an anti-theft arrangement for the contents of the pack 100.

Changes and modifications, additions and deletions may be made to the structures and methods recited above and shown in the drawings without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention and the following claims.