Tray for supporting containers and a blank for making the same

A blank for forming a tray, the blank comprising:

• a bottom panel;
• a pair of opposing end panels connected to the bottom panel;
• a pair of opposing side panels connected to the bottom panel;
• a first divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first side panel of the pair of side panels, the first divider panel assembly comprising a first upper panel and a first inner panel connected at a first fold line, the first upper panel defined within the first side panel and the first inner panel defined within the bottom panel, a first engagement edge is defined along a side edge of the first upper panel;
• and
• a second divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and the first side panel, the second divider panel assembly comprising a second upper panel and a second inner panel connected at a second fold line, the second upper panel defined within the first side panel and the second inner panel defined within the bottom panel, a second engagement edge is defined along a side edge of the second upper panel, wherein the first engagement edge is configured to cooperate with the second engagement edge to secure a product when the tray is in an erected configuration.

A tray formed from a blank of sheet material, the tray comprising:

• a bottom wall;
• a pair of opposing end walls connected to the bottom wall;
• a pair of opposing side walls connected to the bottom wall;
• a first divider structure extending from the bottom wall and a first side wall of the pair of side walls, the first divider structure comprising a first upper panel and a first inner panel connected at a first fold line, a first engagement edge is defined along a side edge of the first upper panel;
• and
• a second divider structure extending from the bottom wall and the first side wall, the second divider structure comprising a second upper panel and a second inner panel connected at a second fold line, a second engagement edge is defined along a side edge of the second upper panel, wherein the first engagement edge is configured to cooperate with the second engagement edge to secure a product.

A method for forming a tray from a blank of sheet material, the blank of sheet material including a bottom panel, a pair of opposing end panels connected to the bottom panel, a pair of opposing side panels connected to the bottom panel, a first divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first side panel of the pair of side panels, and a second divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and the first side panel, the first divider panel assembly including a first upper panel defined within the first side panel and a first inner panel defined within the bottom panel, the second divider panel assembly including a second upper panel defined within the first side panel and a second inner panel defined within the bottom panel, the method comprising:

• rotating the pair of side panels toward the bottom panel to form a pair of opposing side walls;
• rotating the first upper panel with respect to the first side panel and the first inner panel with respect to the bottom panel to form a first divider structure such that a first engagement edge is defined along a side edge of the first upper panel;
• rotating the second upper panel with respect to the first side panel and the second inner panel with respect to the bottom panel to form a second divider structure such that a second engagement edge is defined along a side edge of the second upper panel, wherein the first engagement edge is configured to cooperate with the second engagement edge to secure a product;
• and
• rotating the pair of end panels toward the bottom panel to form a pair of opposing end walls.