Tray with integrated support structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731860-B2
Application number	US-201414551401-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2014
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

The present invention is to an integrated tray for holding and retaining a plurality of articles contained therein. The integrated tray comprises a tubular open-ended tray having a floor panel and an article support panel that is foldably joined to the floor panel in a spaced apart relationship. The article support panel includes a plurality of apertures formed therein to securely retain the plurality of articles therein. A girder is foldably joined to the floor panel and extending upwardly therefrom and is engaged with the article support panel to form the tubular open-ended tray. At least one divider is configured to be removably attached to the tubular open-ended tray. The at least one divider has at least one web panel extending transversely across the tray and at least one flange panel extending longitudinally of the tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tubular open-ended tray for holding and retaining a plurality of articles contained therein, comprising:
a floor panel,
an article support panel being foldably joined to the floor panel in a spaced apart relationship, the article support panel includes a plurality of apertures formed therein to securely retain the plurality of articles therein, wherein the article support panel and the floor panel are foldably joined to one another via two opposed side walls each of which extends from respective longitudinal edges of the floor panel and the article support panel,
a girder foldably joined to the floor panel and extending upwardly therefrom and being engaged with the article support panel to form the tubular open-ended tray;
at least one divider is configured to be removably attached to the tubular open-ended tray wherein the at least one divider having at least one web panel extending transversely across the tray and at least one flange panel extending longitudinally of the tray; and

a plurality of slots formed on each of the two opposed side walls wherein the plurality of slots are used to engage with the at least one divider.

2. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 1 wherein the at least one divider includes two identical dividers each of which is transversely mounted onto a longitudinal axis of the tubular open-ended tray.

3. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 1 wherein at least one web panel and the at least one flange panel are foldably joined to one another and wherein the web panel is defined by two rectangular-shaped panels coextensively folded onto one another and wherein the least one flange panel includes four flange panels each of which foldably extend from respective ends of each rectangular-shaped panels.

4. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 3 wherein each of the four flange panels includes a locking tab projected from respective free edges thereof and is inserted into the respective plurality of the slots formed on each of the opposed side walls.

5. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 3 wherein the at least one divider further comprises a male slot used to engage with the girder.

6. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 5 wherein the male slot is formed onto each of the rectangular-shaped panels.

7. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 1 wherein the article support panel includes an elongated slot formed in a central portion thereof to permit the girder being inserted through the elongated slot.

8. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 5 wherein the girder includes a female slot that receives the male slot of the at least one divider to securely affix the at least one divider to the tubular open-ended tray.

9. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 1 wherein the girder is a carry handle panel having two hand holes formed therein to permit a user to carry the integrated tray.

10. The tubular open-ended tray of claim 7 wherein the girder is defined by two identical carry handle panels foldably joined to the floor panel and extending upwardly in contiguous relationship to one another through the elongated slot in the article support panel.

11. A tubular open-ended shipping and display tray for holding and retaining a plurality of articles contained therein in an upright position at a point of sale, the tray formed from a single unitary blank, comprising:
an article support panel having a plurality of apertures therein for supporting articles in the upright position,
opposite side walls foldably joined to longitudinal opposite sides of the article support panel and extending downwardly therefrom,
floor panels foldably joined to each of the side walls, the floor panels extending inwardly from the respective side walls toward one another beneath the article support panel in spaced relationship to the article support panel, wherein the article support panel and the floor panel are foldably joined to one another via two opposed side walls each of which extends from respective longitudinal edges of the floor panel and the article support panel and
a handle panel foldably joined to each floor panel and extending upwardly in contiguous relationship to one another through a slot in the article support panel to form a carry handle for the tray, and
at least one divider removably attached to the tray so as to provide compression capability when a plurality of said trays are stacked on top of one another, the at least one divider having at least one web panel extending transversely across the tray and at least one flange extending longitudinally of the tray and
a plurality of slots formed on each of the two opposed side walls wherein the plurality of slots are used to engage with the at least one divider.

12. A plurality of blanks attached to one another for making an integrated tray, the plurality of blanks comprising:
a first blank comprising an article support panel having a plurality of apertures formed therein, the article support panel includes an elongated slot formed in a central portion thereof, opposite side wall panels being foldably joined to longitudinal opposite sides of the article support panel via first fold lines, floor panels each of which being foldably joined to each of the respective side wall panels via second fold lines, and girder panels each of which having two female slots formed therein and being foldably joined to the respective floor panels via third fold lines to form a tubular open-ended tray when the first blank being constructed; and
two identical blanks being defined by second and third blanks each of which comprises two identical rectangular-shaped panels foldably joined to one another, each of the two rectangular-shaped panels includes two flange panels each of which foldably extends from respective opposed ends of the rectangular-shaped panel, each of the two rectangular-shaped panels includes a male slot formed therein which engaged with the female slot of the girder panels when the blanks being constructed and wherein each of the two flange panels includes a locking tab projected from respective free edges thereof.

13. The plurality of blanks of claim 12 wherein each of the opposed side wall panels includes four spaced apart slots formed on respective longitudinal edges thereof.

Assignees

• Int Paper Co

Inventors

• Kretz David
• Hollar Mark

Classifications

• B65D5/48048

  Single partition formed by folding one or more blanks and provided with flaps fixed to or maintained by parts of the container body (B65D5/4804 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D5/503 Primary

  Tray-like elements formed in one piece (formed by folding a blank B65D5/5038) · CPC title

• B65D71/0029 Primary

  formed by folding one blank so as to form a tubular element in which the upper wall is provided with openings through which the articles extend partially · CPC title

• B65D5/5038

  Tray-like elements formed by folding a blank and presenting openings or recesses (without external box B65D71/72; external face of container provided with opening for receiving object in display position B65D5/5286) · CPC title