GB2056951A

GB2056951A - Stacking trays

Info

Publication number: GB2056951A
Application number: GB8026703A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Board Products Ltd
Current assignee: Smurfit Kappa GB Ltd
Priority date: 1979-08-15
Filing date: 1980-08-15
Publication date: 1981-03-25

Abstract

A stacking tray is formed from a blank of corrugated or solid fibre board and has a double thickness of material along each of two opposed sides (28), and an extra thickness of material over at least part of each of opposed end walls (20). The extra thickness is provided by lugs (30) on the sides (28) which overlie inner panels of the end walls (20). The lugs (30) have locking tabs (62) and locking detents (56) engageable respectively in base slots and angled slots (68) in the end walls (20). The tray further has stacking tabs defined by cuts 46 engageable in complementary spaces in the lower corners of another tray stacked thereon. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to stacking trays This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to stacking trays, particularly of a type which are formed from a carton blank.

According to the present invention there is provided a blank arranged to be formed into a stacking tray, said blank comprising a base section, a first pair of opposed sections on the base section and foldable relative thereto to define walls of the tray, and a second pair of opposed sections on the base section and foldable relative to define further walls of the tray of a greater than single thickness of material, the sections of said second pair having laterally extending lugs each of which has a first part foldable against an outer face of a respective end section of said first pair when erected and a second part foldable over said erected respective section to increase the thickness of the respective wall of the tray.

Preferably each section of said second pair and its lugs have lines of cut defining stacking tabs which are arranged to extend upwardly of the erected tray.

Preferably also each lug of each section of said second pairs has a detent and each section of said second pair has a pair of openings to receive respective ones of the detents when the tray is erected.

Preferably also the sections of said second pair and the lugs may be provided with locking tabs, with openings being provided in the base section to receive the locking tabs when the tray is erected.

According to the present invention there is also provided a stacking tray having a base section, a first pair of opposed walls of a greater than single thickness of material, and a pair of opposed end walls of a thickness of material greater than a single thickness along at least part of the length thereof.

Preferably the walls of the tray extend substantially normal to the base section and means enabling stacking of one tray on another comprises stacking tabs extending from the walls outwardly of the tray and complementary recessed areas formed on the walls inwardly of the respective stacking tabs.

Preferably also said parts of the second pair of opposed walls comprise lugs on the first pair of opposed walls overlying a single thickness of mater ial, said parts having detents engaging In openings in the single thickness. The openings In the single thickness may comprise slots angled with respect to edges of the respective walls.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank for 3 stacking tray; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the stacking tray at different stages of erection; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two erected trays stacked one on top of the other.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a blank for a stacking tray formed of corrugated or solid fibre board, or similar shaped material. S of generally rectangular configuration and comprises a base section 10 of rectangular configuration and defined by fold lines 12 at opposed ends and fold lines 14 at opposed sides. Terminating on each end fold line 12 there are provided in the base section 10 a pair of spaced apart elongate slots 16 for a purpose hereinafter described and terminating on each of the side fold lines 14 In the base section 10 are a pair of spaced apart elongate slots 18, also for a purpose hereinafter described.

Each fold line 12 defines a border between the base section 10 and an end section 20 and each of the latter has a lug 22 extending from each side there of on a fold line 24 the latter extending parallel to the fold lines 14 of the blank between the fold line 12 and the outermost edge of the end section 20. The edge of each lug 22 opposite the fold line 24 Is defined by a cut 26 defined by a first part 26a extending inwardly from the outermost edge of the lug 22, parallel to the fold line 24, a second part 26b extending at an angle inwardly from the part 26a towards the fold line 24 and a third part 26c extending from the end of the part 26b parallel to the fold line 24.

Each of the fold lines 14 defines a border between the base section 10 and a side section 28 which has a lug 30 extending laterally from each side thereof. An opening 32 is defined in each side section 28 at opposite ends of the fold line 14 and is defined by an innermost edge 34 of the respective one of the lugs 22, an edge 36 forming a continuation of the cut 26c, an edge 38 extending from the end of the edge 36 inwardly at an angle towards the fold line 14, and an edge 40 aligned with the fold line 24 and slightly inwardly of the base section 10 from the fold line 14.

Between each side section 28 and each of its lateral lugs 30 Is provided a fold line 42 aligned with the respective fold line 12, the fold line 42 terminating inwardly of the outermost edge 44 of the side section 28 in a cut 46 extending parallel to the fold line 14 into each of the side section 28 and the lug 30. From each cut 46 there extends outwardly to the edge 44 and parallel to the fold line 42, a cut 47 and a fold line 49 respectively Inwardly and outwardly of the fold line 42. The edge 46 has a part 50 extending from the Inner end of the cut 46 inwardly at an angle towards the fold line 14 and substantially parallel to the edge 38 of adjacent opening 32. The parts 50 of the cuts In each side section 28 terminate at opposite ends of i fold line 52 extending parallel to the fold line 14, and a further fold line 54 extends parallel to the fold line 52 and Is spaced therefrom in an outward direction.

the fold line 54 aligning with the cuts 46. Towards the other side of the fold line 42 the cut 46 has a part 58 extending outwardly and towards the respective lug 22, at the same angle as the cut part 50. A fold line 52a forming an extrusion of the fold line 52 and ) fold line 54a forming an extension of the fold line 54 are provided In each lug 30.

On the outermost edge 44 of each side section 28 there are provided spaced apart locking tabs 60 of the dimensions and at locations corresponding to the slots 18. On a laterally outermost edge of each of the lugs 30 is provided a locking lug 62 of a dimension corresponding to the slots 16.

Outwardly of each cut part 26a there is formed a detent 56 having a first fold line 56a aligned with the cut part 26b and a second fold line 56b parallel to the first fold line 56a and outwardly thereof. A recess 48 is defined outwardly of the detent 56 by a cut 48a aligned with the fold line 56a, and a cut 48b parallel to the cut 26b. A pair of slots 68 in each end section 20 are each angled towards a central area of the section 20 from a location inwardly of the fold line 24 and the fold line 12, for a purpose hereinafter described.

To erect a stacking tray and with reference to Figs.

2 to 4, the end sections 20 are folded upwardly about the fold lines 12 through 90 and the lugs 22 are folded inwardly about the fold lines 24 through 90 .

The side sections 28 are then folded upward'y about the fold lines 14 through 90 and the lugs 30 are folded about the fold lines 42 through 90 such that the lowermost part of each lug 30 when the respective side section is folded upwardly engages against the outermost face of the respective erected end section 20. The upper parts of the lugs 30 are then folded through 180 over the outermost or upper edges of the side sections 20 and the locking tabs 62 are engaged in the respective slots 16 in the base section 10. Edge parts of the lugs 30 defined by the fold lines 49 are folded about the latter and lie against the innermost faces of the sections 28. The detents 56 are folded about the fold lines 56a and engaged through the slots 68. The detents 56 are then folded about the fold lines 56b to lie against the innermost face of the end sections 20.

The outermost parts of the side sections 28 are then folded through 180 about the double fold lines 52, 54 such that the area between the respective fold lines extends substantially horizontally to form the upper edge of the side walls of the tray and the locking tabs 60 are engaged in the slots 18 in the base section 10. The outermost parts overlie the edge parts of the lugs 30 and this also helps to secure the locking tabs 62.

The tray when thus erected has stacking tabs 64 defined by the cuts 46, 48, 50 remaining upstanding from the tray and when one tray is to be stacked on top of the other as shown in Fig. 4, the stacking tabs 64 of the lowermost tray engage in a space 66 defined above the base section 10 by the openings 32 and the spacing of the lugs 30 from the end sections 20 by virtue of the provision of the lugs 22.

The tray so erected has a double thickness of material along each of the opposed sides as well as an extra thickness of material over at least part of each of the opposed ends, the extent of the extra thickness on the end walls depending on the relationship between the depth and width of the tray. Such an arrangement produces a relatively strong tray, increases the cushioning thickness on the sides and ends, and increases the stacking strength. These advantages can be achieved using less material than conventional stacking trays of similar types.

By virtue of the provision of the stacking tabs the tray can be formed with vertical sides, as otherwise tapered sides would be provided to enable stacking.

The erection of the tray from the blank can be carried out easily and quickly. By virtue of the provision of the detents the side walls are locked to the end walls, the angling of the slots assisting this.

It is to be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention.

For example hand grips or ventilation holes can be provided by making suitable modifications to the blank. Also other locking arrangements may be provided as alterations to detents in slots.

Claims

1. A blank arranged to be formed into a stacking tray, said blank comprising a base section, a first pair of opposed sections on the base section and foldable relative thereto to define walls of the tray, and a second pair of opposed sections on the base section and foldable relative thereto to define further walls of the tray of a greater than single thickness of material, the sections of said second pair having laterally extending lugs each of which has a first part foldable against an outer face of a respective end section of said erected respective section to increase the thickness of the respective wall of the tray.

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein each section of said second pair and the lugs thereof have lines of cut defining stacking tabs which are arranged to extend upwardly of the erected tray.

3. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each lug of each section of said second pair has a detent and each section of said second pair has a pair of openings to receive respective ones of the detents when the tray is erected.

4. A blank according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sections of said second pair and the lugs thereof are provided with locking tabs when the tray is erected.

5. A stacking tray having a base section, a first pair of opposed walls of a greater than single thickness of material, and a second pair of opposed end walls of a thickness of material greater than a single thickness along at least part of the length thereof.

6. A tray according to claim 5, wherein the walls of the tray extend substantially normal to the base section and means enabling stacking of one tray on another comprises stacking tabs extending from the walls outwardly of the tray and complementary recessed areas formed on the walls inwardly of the respective stacking tabs.

7. A tray according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first pair of opposed walls and said parts of the second pair of opposed walls have locking tabs engaging in openings In the base section.

8. A tray according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein said parts of the second pair of opposed walls comprise lugs on the first pair of opposed walls overlying a single thickness of material, said parts having detent engaging In openings in the single thickness.

9. A tray according to claim 8, wherein the openings in the single thickness comprises slots angled with respect to edges of the respective walls.

10. A blank arranged to be formed into a stacking tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A stacking tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.