HUTCH DISPLAY

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/624,858, filed Jan. 25, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a foldable hutch having a plurality of shelves formed from a blank of material where the side walls provide support to one of the components forming each shelf of the hutch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A number of hutch systems exist that are made from foldable paper products or other similar materials. A blank of such material is formed having a plurality of panels that remain flat during shipping and can be readily assembled when needed. The hutches typically have a plurality of shelves and are used for displaying goods, such as food products in a store.

The blanks are typically formed to include a first side wall panel, a second side wall panel, a back panel and two or more panels with components for forming the shelves or supporting such shelves. Such panels act as a front panel and one or more intermediate panels that span between the side wall panels. However, these extra panels also add weight and costs to the product, and require additional material.

The present invention provides a hutch that only requires four primary panels and uniquely utilizes the side wall panels to provide sufficient support for the shelves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a hutch display having a plurality of shelves. The shelves are formed from a first shelf component and a second shelf component. The first shelf components for each shelf are part of a front panel, and the second shelf components for each shelf are part of a rear panel. When set up, the first shelf components are attached to both of the side walls. Additionally, a support surface of the first shelf component will rest on and be supported by arms formed in the side walls. In view of this support, an intermediate panel-between the front panel and the rear panel-is not necessary. The second shelf component connects to the first shelf component to form a complete shelf.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a hutch display is provided that comprises a first side wall having a first slot, a second side wall and a first shelf component for a first shelf. The first shelf component for the first shelf includes a support surface extending between the first side wall and the second side wall from a front edge to a rear edge and has a rear tab with a first portion configured to fold downward and fit in the first slot of the first side wall.

The second side wall can also include a first slot aligned with the first slot of the first side wall. The rear tab can include a second portion configured to fold downward and fit in the first slot of the second side wall. The first and second portions of the rear tab of the first shelf component can be one continuous panel across the width of the shelf component, or two separate panel portions.

The first side wall also includes a first arm extending from the first slot to support the first shelf component of the first shelf and the second side wall includes a first arm extending from the first slot to support the first shelf component of the first shelf. The side walls are angled such that the support surface of the first shelf component extends beyond each arm and can rest thereon.

The first side wall can include a second slot, and the hutch can include a first shelf component for a second shelf. The first shelf component for the second shelf includes a support surface extending between the first side wall and the second side wall from a front edge to a rear edge and a rear tab with a first portion configured to fit in the second slot of the first side wall. Moreover, the hutch can include a plurality of shelves and each side wall can include a plurality of slots to connect with rear tabs on each of a plurality of first shelf components from the plurality of shelves.

The first shelf component for the first shelf can also include a rear slot proximate the rear edge. The hutch can include a second shelf component for the first shelf where the second shelf component has a support surface having a rear edge and a front edge, and a tab proximate the front edge configured to engage the rear slot of the support surface of the first shelf component. Similarly, the first shelf component for the second shelf (or plurality of additional shelves) can include a rear slot proximate the rear edge of the support surface of the first shelf component for the second shelf. The hutch can also include a second shelf component for the second shelf (or plurality of additional shelves) having a support surface having a rear edge and a front edge and a tab proximate the front edge configured to engage the rear slot of the support surface of the first shelf component for the second shelf.

The first shelf component for the first shelf and the first shelf component for the second shelf (and any additional shelves) are part of a front panel extending between the first side wall and the second side wall. Similarly, the second shelf component for the first shelf and the second shelf component for the second shelf (and any additional shelves) are part of a rear panel extending between the first side wall and the second side wall. In this regard, the hutch can be constructed from only four primary panels.

The first portion of the rear tab of the first shelf component for the first shelf can include a first slot for engaging the first slot of the first side wall. This helps provide a more secure connection between the rear tab and the side wall. A second slot can be provided in the second portion of the rear tab to engage the first slot of the second side wall.

The first shelf component for the first shelf can include a first front wall portion extending upward proximate the front edge of the support surface of the first shelf component for the first shelf. Additional front wall portions can also be included. The front wall portion can have an arcuate shape, however, other shapes can be used.

The second shelf component for the first shelf can include a rear portion extending upward proximate the rear edge of the support surface of the second shelf component for the first shelf. The rear portion can act as a back wall for the shelf. Again, additional such portions can be included.

The first side wall, the second side wall, the front panel and the rear panel can be integrally formed as part of a single blank of material where the side walls and panels are separated by fold lines. The material can be paperboard, corrugated paper, corrugated plastic or other similar or suitable materials.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a hutch display is provided that comprises a first side wall having a first plurality of slots for securing first shelf components and a first plurality of support arms where each support arm extends from one of the plurality of first slots in the first side wall. The hutch also includes a second side wall having a second plurality of slots for securing first shelf components and a second plurality of support arms where each support arm extends from one of the plurality of second slots in the second side wall. The hutch includes a front panel having a plurality of first shelf components. Each first shelf component of the plurality of first shelf components has a first tab portion configured to engage one of the first plurality of slots in the first side wall and a second tab portion configured to engage one of the second plurality of slots in the second side wall.

The hutch further includes a rear panel having a plurality of second shelf components. Each of the plurality of second shelf components include a tab configured to engage a slot in one of the plurality of first shelf components.

Each of the plurality of first shelf components include a front wall portion. Similarly, each of the plurality of second shelf components include a rear wall portion.

The first side wall, the second side wall, the front panel and the rear panel can be formed as part of a single blank of material.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a hutch display comprises a first side wall, a second side wall and a first shelf component for a first shelf. The first shelf component for the first shelf has a support surface extending between the first side wall and the second side wall from a front edge to a rear edge. The first shelf component also includes a rear tab with a first portion having a first slot to engage the first side wall and a second portion having a second slot configured to engage the second side wall.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first side of a hutch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second side of the hutch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hutch of FIG. 1 with goods on the shelves of the hutch; and,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming the hutch of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention is directed to a foldable hutch having a plurality of shelves. Unlike prior shelving systems, the present hutch does not include a beam panel intermediate a front panel and a back panel of the hutch. The beam panel was previously included to provide sufficient support for shelves having multiple components. Instead of an intermediate beam panel, at least one of the shelf components forming a shelf of the present hutch includes a fold panel that is connectable to the side wall panels of the hutch. This enables the side wall panels to support the shelves and the hutch to be formed from only four panels of a blank.

The hutch 10 is shown in a set up configuration in FIGS. 1-3. A blank 12 for forming the hutch 10 is shown in a plan view in FIG. 4 (the blank 12 includes at least one additional feature described herein that is not part of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3).

The hutch 10 includes a first side wall 14 and a second side wall 16. Each side wall 14, 16 can be formed as a foldable panel of the blank 12. The side walls 14, 16 include a plurality of shelf supporting arms 18 that extend outward toward a front portion of the hutch 10. A vertical slot 20 is provided at the back of each shelf supporting arm 18.

The hutch 10 also includes a plurality of shelves 22 extending between the first side wall 14 and the second side wall 16. Each of the shelves 22 is formed from a first shelf component 24 and a second shelf component 26. The first shelf components 24 of the plurality of shelves 22 can be formed as a foldable front panel of the blank 12. Similarly, the second shelf components 26 of the plurality of shelves 22 can be formed as a foldable rear panel of the blank 12.

The panels of the blank 12 (for the first side wall 14, the front panel of first shelf components 24, the second side wall 16 and the rear panel of second shelf components 26-shown from left to right in FIG. 4) are separated by fold lines 28. A glue panel or strip 30 is provided next to the rear panel of second shelf components 26, also separated by a fold line 28. The glue strip 30 is shown glued to an inner surface of the second side wall 16 in FIG. 1.

The first shelf components 24 include a substantially horizontal support surface 32 (when in the set up configuration) that extends from a front portion 34 to a foldable rear tab portion 36. The rear tab portion 36 extends across the entire back of the support surface as one piece-however, this portion 36 can be in two or more pieces if desired.

The foldable rear tab portion 36 is used to secure the first shelf component 24 to the support arms 18 of the first and second side walls 14, 16. Specifically, a first portion of the rear tab portion 36 is folded downward to fit in the slot 20 at the rear of the arm 18 on the first side wall 14, and a second portion of the rear tab portion 36 is folded downward to fit in the slot 20 at the rear arm 18 on the second side wall 16. Each of these portions of the rear tab portion 36 can include a slot 38 that engages the slot 20 on the shelf supporting arm 18 to provide a more secure fit. However, only one slot (either on the side wall or the first shelf component) is necessary to connect the shelf component to the side wall.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the support surface 32 of the first shelf component 24 rests on the upper edge of each of the shelf supporting arms 18, and is supported by the arms 18. This leaves a portion of each support surface 32 hanging outward on each side of the side walls 14, 16. The Figures also show an arcuate first front wall portion 40 and an arcuate second front wall portion 42 extending upward above the support surface 32. Additional front wall portions of varying shapes can also be provided.

The second shelf components 26 also include a substantially horizontal support surface 44 (again, when set up). Each second shelf component also includes a tab 46 that cooperates with a slot 48 in the first shelf component 24 to connect the second shelf component 26 to the first shelf component 24. Additionally, each second shelf component 26 can include one or more arcuate back wall portions 50 (only shown in the version of the hutch 10 in the blank 12 of FIG. 4). The back wall portions 50 extends upward from the support surface 44 and act as a centrally locate back wall to the shelves 22. Additionally, the remaining portions of the panel proximate the first and second side walls 14, 16 can also act as a back wall in those areas.

Goods or other items 52 are shown on the shelves in FIG. 3. In this regard, the hutch 10 can be quickly set up and used as a goods display in a store.

The panel containing the second shelf components 26 can have a width that is less than a width of the panel containing the first shelf components 24. This forces the side walls 14, 16 to extend from the front portion of the hutch 10 to the back of hutch 10 at an angle which allows the first shelf components 24 to rest on the upper edges of the arms 18 when folded downward. By resting on the upper edges of the arms 18 of the side walls 14, 16, the first shelf components 24 are provided additional support for goods placed on the upper surface 24 over prior hutch designs.

The hutch can be constructed from paperboard, corrugated paper, corrugated plastic and other similar materials.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.