Tray with stacking features
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorLee Nowak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tray for holding one or more articles may include an upper construct having a plurality of upper panels, which include a flange panel extending at least partially around an opening and at least partially forming a flange of the tray. A lower construct may include a plurality of lower panels, the plurality of lower panels including a bottom panel at least partially forming a bottom wall of the tray and a plurality of lower side panels at least partially forming a sidewall around an interior of the tray. Stacking features may be defined along the flange of the tray and extend into the opening to support another tray thereon. Methods of forming the tray and combinations of blanks for forming the tray are also disclosed.
Claims34
A tray for holding one or more articles, the tray comprising:
- an upper construct comprising a plurality of upper panels, the plurality of upper panels comprising a flange panel extending at least partially around an opening and at least partially forming a flange of the tray;
- a lower construct comprising a plurality of lower panels, the plurality of lower panels comprising a bottom panel at least partially forming a bottom wall of the tray and a plurality of lower side panels at least partially forming a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray;
- and
- stacking features at least partially defined along the flange of the tray and extending into the opening for supporting another tray thereon.
A combination of blanks for forming a tray, the combination of blanks comprising:
- an upper blank comprising a plurality of upper panels, the plurality of upper panels comprising a flange panel extending at least partially around an opening and at least partially forming a flange of the tray;
- a lower blank comprising a plurality of lower panels, the plurality of lower panels comprising a bottom panel configured to at least partially form a bottom wall of the tray and a plurality of lower side panels configured to at least partially form a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray;
- and
- stacking features at least partially defined along the flange of the tray and extending into the opening for supporting another tray thereon.
A method of forming a tray, the method comprising:
- obtaining an upper blank comprising a plurality of upper panels, the plurality of upper panels comprising a flange panel extending at least partially around an opening and stacking features extending into the opening;
- obtaining a lower blank comprising a plurality of lower panels that comprise a bottom panel and a plurality of lower side panels;
- and
- forming an upper construct from the upper blank to form a flange of the tray and forming a lower construct from the lower blank such that the bottom panel at least partially forms a bottom wall of the tray and such that the plurality of lower side panels at least partially form a sidewall of the tray, and such that the stacking features are arranged along the flange of the tray for at least partially supporting another tray thereon.
A stack of trays for holding one or more food products, the stack of trays comprising:
- an upper tray;
- and
- a lower tray at least partially supporting the upper tray, the lower tray comprising:
- an upper construct comprising a plurality of upper panels, the plurality of upper panels comprising a flange panel extending at least partially around an opening and at least partially forming a flange of the lower tray;
- a lower construct comprising a plurality of lower panels comprising a bottom panel at least partially forming a bottom wall of the lower tray and a plurality of lower side panels at least partially forming a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the lower tray;
- and
- stacking features at least partially defined along the flange of the tray and extending into the opening for at least partially supporting the upper tray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.