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US 12,344,445 B2Granted
Adjustable tray
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorRobert Ackroyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tray for supporting a food product includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels including a central panel, at least one side panel, and at least one end panel. At least one corner flap is foldably connected to the at least one end panel, and at least one adjustment feature receives at least a portion of the at least one corner flap such that the tray is reconfigurable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration.
Claims32
A tray for supporting a food product, comprising:
- a plurality of panels defining an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, at least one end panel, and at least one base panel foldably connected to each of the central panel and the at least one end panel;
- at least one corner flap foldably connected to the at least one end panel;
- and
- at least one adjustment feature in the at least one side panel receiving at least a portion of the at least one corner flap such that the tray is reconfigurable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration, in the erected configuration the end panel is obliquely disposed relative to the central panel at a first angle, in the collapsed configuration the end panel is obliquely disposed relative to the central panel at a second angle, the second angle is greater than the first angle, wherein the at least one adjustment feature includes a cut and the at least one corner flap includes a finger extending therefrom that is positionable through at least a portion of the cut, the cut defining a forward stop edge and a rear stop edge, and
- the tray comprises a microwave energy interactive material that at least partially defines the interior of the tray, the microwave energy interactive material is disposed on each of the central panel, the at least one end panel, and the at least one base panel;
- and
- wherein the at least one side panel comprises a tab extending therefrom, and the at least one corner flap is foldably connected to the at least one end panel at a fold line that is interrupted by a slot, the tab is at least partially inserted through the slot when the tray is in the erected configuration.
4 more elements
A blank for forming a tray for supporting a food product, comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, at least one end panel, and at least one base panel foldably connected to each of the central panel and the at least one end panel;
- at least one corner flap foldably connected to the at least one end panel;
- and
- at least one adjustment feature in the at least one side panel positioned for receiving at least a portion of the at least one corner flap when the tray is formed from the blank such that the tray is reconfigurable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration, wherein when in the erected configuration of the tray formed from the blank the end panel is obliquely disposed relative to the central panel at a first angle, wherein the at least one adjustment feature comprises a cut, wherein the at least one corner flap comprises a finger extending therefrom that is positionable through at least a portion of the cut when the tray is formed from the blank, the cut defining a forward stop edge and a rear stop edge, wherein when in the collapsed configuration of the tray formed from the blank, the end panel is obliquely disposed relative to the central panel at a second angle, and wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle,
- a microwave energy interactive material that at least partially defines an interior of the tray formed from the blank, the microwave energy interactive material is disposed on each of the central panel, the at least one end panel, and the at least one base panel;
- and
- wherein the at least one side panel comprises a tab extending therefrom, and the at least one corner flap is foldably connected to the at least one end panel at a fold line that is interrupted by a slot.
4 more elements
A method of forming a tray for supporting a food product, comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels including a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, at least one end panel, and at least one base panel foldably connected to each of the central panel and the at least one end panel, the blank further comprising at least one corner flap foldably connected to the at least one end panel, and at least one adjustment feature in the at least one side panel;
- folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the tray;
- and
- positioning the at least one adjustment feature to receive at least a portion of the at least one corner flap such that the tray is reconfigurable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration, in the erected configuration the end panel is obliquely disposed relative to the central panel at a first angle, wherein the at least one adjustment feature comprises a cut, wherein the at least one corner flap comprises a finger extending therefrom that is positionable through at least a portion of the cut, the cut defines a forward stop edge and a rear stop edge, wherein when in the collapsed configuration the end panel is obliquely disposed relative to the central panel at a second angle, and wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle,
- the tray comprises a microwave energy interactive material that at least partially defines the interior of the tray, the microwave energy interactive material is disposed on each of the central panel, the at least one end panel, and the at least one base panel;
- and
- wherein the at least one side panel comprises a tab extending therefrom, and the at least one corner flap is foldably connected to the at least one end panel at a fold line that is interrupted by a slot, the tab is at least partially inserted through the slot when the tray is in the erected configuration.
4 more elements
A tray for supporting a food product, comprising:
- a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, at least one end panel, and at least one base panel foldably connected to each of the central panel and the at least one end panel;
- at least one corner flap foldably connected to the at least one end panel;
- and
- at least one adjustment feature in the at least one side panel receiving at least a portion of the at least one corner flap such that the tray is reconfigurable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration, the at least one adjustment feature comprises a cut and the at least one corner flap comprises a finger extending therefrom that is positionable through at least a portion of the cut, the cut defines a forward stop edge and a rear stop edge, and
- in the erected configuration, the finger is positioned proximate the forward stop edge, and in the collapsed configuration, the finger is positioned proximate the rear stop edge, the at least one side panel comprises a tab extending therefrom, and the at least one corner flap is foldably connected to the at least one end panel at a fold line that is interrupted by a slot, the tab is at least partially inserted through the slot when the tray is in the erected configuration.
2 more elements
A blank for forming a tray for supporting a food product, comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, at least one end panel, and at least one base panel foldably connected to each of the central panel and the at least one end panel;
- at least one corner flap foldably connected to the at least one end panel;
- and
- at least one adjustment feature in the at least one side panel positioned for receiving at least a portion of the at least one corner flap when the tray is formed from the blank such that the tray is reconfigurable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration,
- the at least one adjustment feature comprises a cut, the at least one corner flap comprises a finger extending therefrom that is positionable through at least a portion of the cut when the tray is formed from the blank, the cut defines a forward stop edge and a rear stop edge, the at least one side panel comprises a tab extending therefrom, and the at least one corner flap is foldably connected to the at least one end panel at a fold line that is interrupted by a slot.
2 more elements
A method of forming a tray for supporting a food product, comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels including a central panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the central panel, at least one end panel, and at least one base panel foldably connected to each of the central panel and the at least one end panel, the blank further comprising at least one corner flap foldably connected to the at least one end panel, and at least one adjustment feature in the at least one side panel;
- folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the tray;
- and
- positioning the at least one adjustment feature to receive at least a portion of the at least one corner flap such that the tray is reconfigurable between an erected configuration and a collapsed configuration,
- the at least one adjustment feature comprises a cut, the at least one corner flap comprises a finger extending therefrom that is positionable through at least a portion of the cut, the cut defines a forward stop edge and a rear stop edge, and
- in the erected configuration, the finger is positioned proximate the forward stop edge, and in the collapsed configuration, the finger is positioned proximate the rear stop edge, the at least one side panel comprises a tab extending therefrom, and the at least one corner flap is foldably connected to the at least one end panel at a fold line that is interrupted by a slot, the tab is at least partially inserted through the slot when the tray is in the erected configuration.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.