Nestable storage and transport tray

#The present invention relates generally to storage and transport trays and in particular to nestable trays for storing and transporting articles, such as beverage containers.

#Beverages, such as soft drinks and beer, are distributed commercially in glass and plastic bottles and in aluminum cans. Single service beverage containers, which typically contain six to twenty-four ounces of the beverage, are grouped into individual cases, each of which contains twenty-four individual containers. These cases may be further subdivided into groups of six, eight or twelve individual beverage container packages. Typically, each case of individual containers or multiple container packages is loaded by an automated tray packing system into a separate tray for transport from the site of a bottling company to the point of sale, such as at a grocery store.

#According to prior practice, trays used for transporting beverage containers are made of corrugated paper or wood. Corrugated paper trays are typically rectangular in shape, with upright walls around the perimeter of the tray. Thus, the beverage containers must be loaded vertically into the tray, which is a relatively slow and complex process. Alternatively, if the containers are loaded into the corrugated paper tray when the tray is disposed at an angle relative to the incoming containers, the volume of the tray must be substantially greater than the volume occupied by the containers when the containers are loaded into the tray, thereby resulting in excessive free play or "slop" among the containers in the tray after loading.

#FIGS. 1-4 are perspective, side elevation, end elevation and top plan views, respectively, of a first embodiment of a tray for storing and transporting beverage containers and the like, according to the present invention;

#FIGS. 5-7 are side elevation, end elevation and top plan views, respectively, of a second embodiment of a tray, according to the present invention;

#FIGS. 8-10 are side elevation, end elevation and top plan views, respectively, of a third embodiment of a tray, according to the present invention;

#In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features of the invention.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of a storage and transport tray 11 according to the present invention is depicted. Tray 11 is comprised of a bottom member 13, a pair of oppositely positioned side walls 15 and 17 and a pair of oppositely positioned end walls 19 and 21, interconnected to form an enclosure for receiving articles therein. The respective intersections between adjacent ones of the tray walls and between each of the walls and bottom member 13 define respective curved surfaces to provide respective areas of transition therebetween, thereby enhancing the strength and rigidity of tray 11.

#Disposed on respective inner surfaces of side walls 15 and 17 and on bottom member 13 are a first set of rib members 23. First rib members 23 are arranged in cooperating pairs to define respective recessed regions 25 therebetween. The spacings between adjacent ones of rib members 23 are dependent upon the thickness of rib members 23 (measured perpendicularly inward from the respective side walls 15 and 17) and the diameter of the container. The greater the thickness of rib members 23, the greater will be the spacings between adjacent ones of the rib members, so that cylindrically-shaped articles, such as beverage containers, stored in tray 11 are able to contact the respective side walls 15 and 17 within the respective recessed regions 25, as will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 25-28.