Shipper container and transfer tool and system and method for use thereof
The transfer tool of this invention includes a handle, a substantially rigid rod extending from the handle, and a peg attachment end. The rod should be long enough to hold a plurality of packages to facilitate the quick transfer of a large number of packages from the shipping container to the display peg. The peg attachment end is configured to temporarily abut and align with the end of the display peg extending from the display case. Specially designed shipping containers are used to orient the packages in alignment to facilitate transfer of the packages to the display peg with the transfer tool A system and method of using the transfer tool and shipping container of this invention are also disclosed.
1. A shipping container comprising:
first and second opposing side panels, each side panel including a front edge, a back edge, a top edge and a bottom edge;
a back panel joined along opposite sides to the side panels, the back panel defining a first edge and a second edge, each of the first edge of the back panel and the second edge of the back panel adjoining one of the pair of opposing side panels along a back edge thereof;
a front panel joined along opposite sides to the side panels, the front panel defining a first edge and a second edge, each of the first edge of the front panel and the second edge of the front panel adjoining one of the pair of opposing side panels along a front edge thereof;
first and second top panels adjoining each of the first and second side panels respectively along the top edges thereof;
first and second bottom panels adjoining each of the first and second side panels along the bottom edges thereof;
a divider integral with the shipping container and having a first portion extending from the front panel and a second portion extending from the back panel, the first portion of the divider adjoining the second portion of the divider along a score line extending substantially parallel to the front panel at about a midpoint between the front panel and the back panel;
wherein the first side panel, the first top panel and the first bottom panel define a first substantially continuous perforation and the second side panel, the second top panel and the second bottom panel define a second substantially continuous perforation along which the shipping carton can be split into two portions where at least one portion is adapted to hold in a substantially vertical orientation a plurality of packages each with a top portion and an opening adjacent to the top portion such that the openings are substantially aligned.
2. The shipping carton of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially continuous perforation includes a first tear strip extending along the first side panel and the first top panel.
3. The shipping carton of claim 2 , wherein the second substantially continuous perforation includes a second tear strip extending along the second side panel and the second top panel.
4. The shipping carton of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the divider has a first height and the second portion of the divider has a second height and wherein the first height is greater than the second height.
5. The shipping carton of claim 1 , wherein the divider has a first portion and a second portion separated by an opening and at least one score line.
6. A blank for forming a shipping container, comprising:
a first main panel having a right edge, a left edge, a top edge and a bottom edge;
a second main panel having a right edge, a left edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, the first main panel connected along its right edge to the left edge of the second main panel;
a third main panel having a right edge, a left edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, the second main panel connected along its right edge to the left edge of the third main panel;
a fourth main panel having a right edge, a left edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, the third main panel connected along its right edge to the left edge of the fourth main panel;
a fifth main panel having a right edge, a left edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, the fourth main panel connected along its right edge to the left edge of the fifth main panel;
a first top flap adjoining the top edge of the first main panel;
a second top flap adjoining the top edge of the second main panel;
a third top flap adjoining the top edge of the third main panel;
a fourth top flap adjoining the top edge of the fourth main panel;
a fifth top flap adjoining the top edge of the fifth main panel;
a first bottom flap adjoining the bottom edge of the first main panel;
a second bottom flap adjoining the bottom edge of the second main panel;
a third bottom flap adjoining the bottom edge of the third main panel;
a fourth bottom flap adjoining the bottom edge of the fourth main panel;
a fifth bottom flap adjoining the bottom edge of the fifth main panel;
a first divider having a right edge and a left edge, the first divider connected along its left edge to the right edge of the fifth main panel;
a second divider having a right edge and a left edge, the second divider connected along its left edge to at least a portion of the right edge of the first divider;
a first tear strip extending through the second main panel and the second top flap; and
a glue tab having a right edge and a left edge, the glue tab connected along at least a portion of its left edge to the right edge of the second divider.
7. The blank of claim 6 , wherein the first divider has a first height and the second divider has a second height and wherein the first height is greater than the second height.
8. The blank of claim 7 , wherein the glue tab defines a thickness and the difference between the first height and the second height is about equal to twice the thickness of the glue tab.
9. The blank of claim 6 , wherein the first tear strip is located at about the midpoint of the width of the second main panel and the second top flap.
10. The blank of claim 6 , further comprising a second tear strip extending through the fourth main panel and the fourth top flap.
11. The blank of claim 10 , wherein the second tear strip is located at about the midpoint of the width of the fourth main panel and the fourth top flap.
12. The blank of claim 10 , wherein the second top flap has a top edge and the first tear strip extends beyond the top edge of second top flap and the fourth top flap has a top edge and the second tear strip extends beyond the top of the fourth top flap.
13. The blank of claim 12 , wherein the second top flap and the fourth top flap each have a height that is less than the height of the first top flap and the third top flap.
14. The shipping carton of claim 6 , wherein the first divider is connected to the second divider along a score line.
15. The shipping carton of claim 14 , wherein the first divider and the second divider are separated by an opening and at least one score line.