US 2008/0185490 A1 · Envelope tray adapter

Abstract

An envelope tray adapter is designed to protect a horizontal stack of envelopes positioned in a postal tray having outwardly angled sidewalls. The adapter has pairs of side and end panels joined end to end and sized to fit on the bottom wall of the tray. Each panel has a height greater than the envelope stack, but less than the sidewalls of the tray for supporting a second postal tray nested on top and protecting the envelopes from crushing. The panels may be formed from a continuous length of material that is folded to form the end and side panels. The adapter panels may also be formed of a corrugated paper material. One end of the panels has a free end including a glue flap that overlaps and adheres to the inner surface of the adjacent panel.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An envelope tray adapter for a protecting a horizontal stack of envelopes positioned in a tray having outwardly angled side walls and a bottom wall, each side wall having a side wall height, said bottom wall having a bottom wall length and a bottom wall width, each envelope having an envelope length and an envelope height, said envelope length being less than said bottom wall width, and said adapter comprising:

(a) a pair of end panels, each end panel having an end panel height and having a panel length less than said bottom wall width;
(b) a pair of side panels, each side panel having a side panel height and having a side panel length less than said bottom wall length;
(c) said end panels and said side panels being joined in end to end relation with said end panels opposite one another and said side panels opposite one another;
and
(d) said end panels and said side panels having such panel heights and cooperating in such a manner as to support a second tray out of crushing engagement with a stack of envelopes positioned within said panels.

2 more elements

An envelope packaging system for horizontal stacks of envelopes, each envelop having an envelope length and an envelope height, said system comprising:

(a) a first postal tray having outwardly angled side and end walls and a bottom wall, each side wall and end wall having a side wall height, said bottom wall having a bottom wall length and a bottom wall width, said side height being greater than said envelope height;
(b) an envelope tray adapter including:
(1) a pair of end panels, each end panel having an end panel height less than said side wall height but greater than said envelope height and a panel length less than said bottom wall width;
(2) a pair of side panels, each side panel having a side panel height equal to said end panel height and a side panel length less than said bottom wall length;
and
(3) said end panels and said side panels being joined in end to end relation with said end panels opposite one another and said side panels opposite one another;
(c) said envelope tray adapter being positioned within said postal tray engaging said bottom wall to receive a horizontal stack of envelopes within said adapter;
and
(d) a second postal tray positioned on said envelope tray adapter to thereby maintain said second postal tray out of crushing engagement with envelopes positioned within said envelope tray adapter.

6 more elements

A method for packaging horizontal stacks of envelopes, each envelope having an envelope length and an envelope height, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of postal trays, each tray including outwardly angled side and end walls and a bottom wall, each side wall and end wall having a side wall height, said bottom wall having a bottom wall length and a bottom wall width, said side height being greater than said envelope height;
(b) providing a plurality of envelope tray adapters, each adapter including:
(1) a pair of end panels, each end panel having an end panel height less than said side wall height but greater than said envelope height and a panel length less than said bottom wall width;
(2) a pair of side panels, each side panel having a side panel height equal to said end panel height and a side panel length less than said bottom wall length;
and
(3) said end panels and said side panels being joined in end to end relation with said end panels opposite one another and said side panels opposite one another;
(c) positioning one of said envelope tray adapters within each of a plurality of said postal trays, each adapter engaging said bottom wall of a respective tray;
(d) positioning a horizontal stack of envelopes within each of said adapters;
and
(e) stacking said postal trays with adapters and envelopes therein with each upper tray engaging an adapter in its respective lower tray whereby each upper tray is maintained out of crushing engagement with envelopes in the respective lower tray.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Envelope tray adapter

Life of this patent

Envelope tray adapter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19