Bakery tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9902523-B2
Application number	US-201414319712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jan 28, 2011
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A tray includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base. In one feature, a first wall of the plurality of walls may include a projection outward from the first wall. The projection is aligned with an upper edge of the first wall, such that the projection is outward of a portion of the upper edge of the first wall. The projection of an identical upper tray stacked on the tray would interlock with the upper edge of the first wall to resist outward deflection of the upper edge of the first wall of the tray. In another feature, a platform may extend inward from at least one of the walls to support smaller trays stacked thereon. In another feature, an exterior of each of the side walls may include an interlocking recess for receiving automated handling equipment for supporting the tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tray comprising:
a base;
a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, including a first pair of walls each having an inner wall portion extending upward from the base, wherein the each of the first pair of walls includes a double-walled lip portion that projects outwardly relative to a lower portion, wherein the double-walled lip portion includes the inner wall portion and an outer wall portion spaced outward of the inner wall portion, an interior of the tray defined between inner surfaces of the inner wall portions, the plurality of walls including a second pair of walls having the same height as the first pair of walls, wherein the second pair of walls includes a plurality of feet for stacking at a first height on an identical tray at a first relative orientation and at a second height with the identical tray at a second relative orientation, 180 degrees from the first relative orientation; and
a platform extending inwardly from an upper portion of each inner wall portion of each of the first pair of walls, wherein the platforms are cantilevered over the base from the inner surfaces of the inner wall portions and project inwardly toward one another such that the platforms are nearer to one another than any other points on the first pair of the plurality of walls and wherein the platforms do not extend a full length of the respective walls.

2. The tray of claim 1 wherein each wall of the first pair of walls includes a pair of handles formed therein and wherein each platform is centered between the handles on the respective one of the first pair of walls.

3. The tray of claim 1 wherein each platform is generally hollow and wherein an interior of the hollow platform is open toward an exterior of the respective one of the first pair of walls.

4. The tray of claim 1 wherein the platforms each include a central support surface spaced away from outer support surfaces, a central ridge projecting upwardly from an inner edge of the central support surface, outer ridges projecting upwardly from inner edges of the outer support surfaces.

5. The tray of claim 1 in combination with two small trays stacked directly on the tray, the two small trays supported partially on the platforms.

6. The tray of claim 1 wherein the platforms extend toward one another over the base and the space between the base and each platform is void of structure.

7. The tray of claim 1 wherein the second pair of walls include recesses for receiving feet of an identical tray thereon.

8. The tray of claim 1 wherein the first pair of walls are longer than the second pair of walls.

9. The tray of claim 1 wherein each platform is generally hollow and wherein an interior of each hollow platform has an opening through an outer surface of each outer wall portion.

10. A tray comprising:
a base wall;
a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from side edges of the base wall;
opposed front and rear walls extending upward from front and rear edges of the base wall, wherein the pair of side walls includes a plurality of feet for stacking at a first height on an identical tray at a first relative orientation and at a second height with the identical tray at a second relative orientation, 180 degrees from the first relative orientation; and
a platform extending inwardly from inner-most surfaces of upper portions of each of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the platforms extend toward one another over the base wall and are spaced above the base wall and wherein the platforms are centered on the front and rear walls and do not extend a full length of the front wall and rear wall.

11. The tray of claim 10 wherein the front wall and the rear wall each includes a pair of handles formed therein and wherein each platform is centered between the handles.

12. The tray of claim 10 wherein each platform includes a central support surface spaced away from outer support surfaces, a central ridge projecting upwardly from an inner edge of the central support surface, and outer ridges projecting upwardly from inner edges of the outer support surfaces.

13. The tray of claim 12 in combination with two smaller trays cross-stacked directly on the tray, the two smaller trays supported partially on the platforms.

14. The tray of claim 10 wherein each platform is generally hollow and wherein an interior of the hollow platform is open through an exterior surface of the respective front and rear walls.

15. The tray of claim 10 wherein the tray can stack at a first height with an identical tray at a first relative orientation and at a second height with the identical tray at a second relative orientation, 180 degrees from the first relative orientation.

16. The tray of claim 10 in combination with two smaller trays cross-stacked directly on the tray, the two smaller trays supported partially on the platforms.

17. A tray comprising:
a base including recessed portions;
a pair of side walls extending upward from the base, wherein the pair of side walls includes a plurality of feet for stacking at a first height on an identical tray at a first relative orientation and at a second height with the identical tray at a second relative orientation, 180 degrees from the first relative orientation;
a front wall and a rear wall extending upward from the base, wherein the side walls are substantially the same height as the front wall and rear wall; and
a platform projecting inward from an inner surface of an upper portion of each of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the platforms are cantilevered from the front wall and the rear wall over the base, wherein the platforms are configured to be received in the recessed portions of the base of a similar tray stacked thereon.

18. The tray of claim 17 wherein the front wall has an interior surface facing an interior of the tray and an opposite exterior surface, wherein the platform on the front wall is generally hollow with an opening through the exterior surface of the front wall.

19. The tray of claim 17 wherein the platforms do not extend a full length of the front wall and the rear wall.

20. The tray of claim 19 wherein the platforms are centered on the front wall and the rear wall.

21. The tray of claim 17 wherein the front and rear walls each include an uppermost edge having a raised central portion adjacent the platforms.

22. The tray of claim 21 wherein the base includes a recessed portion below each of the front and rear walls, the recessed portions centered on the front and rear walls.

23. A tray comprising:
a base;
a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, including a first pair of walls each having an inner wall portion extending upward from the base, an interior of the tray defined between inner surfaces of the inner wall portions, wherein each wall of the first pair of walls includes a pair of handles formed therein, the plurality of walls including a second pair of walls having the same height as the first pair of walls, wherein the second pair of walls includes a plurality of feet for stacking at a first height on an identical tray at a first relative orientation and at a second height with the identical tray at a second relative orientation, 180 degrees from the first relative orientation; and
a platform extending inwardly from an upper portion of each inner wall portion of each of the first pair of walls, wherein each platform is centered between the handles in the respective one of the first pair of wal

Assignees

• Rehrig Pacific Co

Inventors

• Baltz Kyle L
• Kapla John Paul
• Hassell Jon P

Classifications

• B65D71/70

  Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking · CPC title

• B65D21/0212 Primary

  Containers presenting local stacking elements protruding from the upper or lower edge of a side wall, e.g. handles, lugs, ribs, grooves (B65D21/0211, B65D21/0215, B65D21/023 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D21/0216

  Containers with stacking ribs in the side walls · CPC title

• B65D21/0233

  Nestable containers · CPC title

• B65D21/045

  about 180° only · CPC title