GB2137168A - Tray Blank - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray suitable for supporting a similar tray stacked thereon is assembled from a card blank which is so shaped that on erection of the blank into the tray the tray thus provided has a base, pairs of opposed ends and sides upstanding from the base, a strip partially covering the open top of the tray and extending across each end, and a strengthening assembly at each corner of the tray, the fixing means for holding the tray erect and fixing said strips and assemblies together being provided at only three areas of each corner. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Containers or Trays The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to trays or containers especially but not exclusively trays manufactured from a blank of corrugated paper to provide a tray which is capable of being stacked, while filled, on a similar tray or trays.

Stacking trays have been known in the past but have often suffered from the disadvantage that they have deformed under load, especially at the corners.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a tray assembled from a blank of a sheet material which is so shaped that on erection the tray provided has a base, pairs of opposed end and sides upstanding from the base, a strip partially covering the open top of the tray and extending across each end, a strengthening assembly extending across each corner of the tray and fixing means for holding said tray erect and fixing said strips and assemblies at three areas of each corner.

Preferably flaps formed on the ends of the strip extend downwardly over opposed sides of the tray to provide a double thickness of sheet material on said sides at each corner.

Preferably each strengthening assembly is formed by an extension from an end and includes a first portion which in an erected tray leads from a corner of the tray along the adjacent side, a second portion extending from said side back to said end and a third portion extending along said end.

Preferably said first and third portions of the strengthening assembly are attached to the side and end respectively by gluing, stapling, stitching or any other suitable fixing means and said flap on said strip is attached to the adjacent side by gluing, stapling, stitching or any other appropriate fixing means.

Extension lugs may be formed from the upper edges of said sides to assist in locating trays stacked one on top of the other. Corresponding slot may be provided in the base of the tray to accommodate the said lugs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray, Figure 2 is a sectional perspective view of one end of the tray and Figure 3 is a blank from which the tray shown in Figures 1 and 2 is manufactured.

A tray is substantially open-topped and comprises a base 10 from which extend upstanding opposed sides 12, 14 and ends 16, 18, the sides and ends extending for substantially the same amount above the base. A flange or strip 20 extends across the open top of the tray at each end thereof from side to side, each strip from the top of an end 16, 18, the free ends of the strip beyond the sides 12, 14 being provided with flaps 22 which are folded downwardly so that they lie alongside the sides 12, 14 to which they are fixed by any suitable fixing method, for example, gluing, stapling, stitching.

To provide for reinforcement at the corners strengthening assemblies extend from the end of ends 16, 1 8 each assembly comprising a first portion 24 (see Figure 3) attached to the end 16, (18) and which in the erected tray lies alongside the inside face of the adjacent side 12, (14) and is fixed to it by any suitable method, for example, gluing, stitching or stapling; a second portion 26 attached to the first portion 24 and which in the erected tray extends between the side 12, (14) at an angle thereto and the end 16 (18); and a third portion 28 attached to the second portion and which in the erected tray lies alongside the end wall 16 (18) and is fixed thereto by gluing, stapling, stitching or any other appropriate fixing means.

It will be realised, therefore, that the tray is formed from a simple blank using the minimum of material and can be readily erected from the blank to the in use condition shown in Figures 1 and 2 by a machine which applies glue or other fixing means to each corner over three areas. The erected tray is suitable for stacking on other similar trays, the stacking being facilitated by the flanges or strips 20 which are supported by the strengthening assemblies 26, this assembly adding to the rigidity of the erected tray at the corners by the provision of a triple thickness of material on each side 12, 14 at the corner and a double thickness on each end adjacent the corner.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the dimensions of the tray can be altered within a wide range. Additionally, to provide deep, shallow, wide or narrow dimensions of component parts of the tray can be altered whilst still giving the advantages outlined in the preceding paragraph. The strengthening assembly or portions thereof can be given different lengths but it is preferable that the second portion 26 always underlies the strip 20.

To facilitate the iocation of one container stacked on another the top edge of each side 12, 14 may be provided with an upstanding lug which either overlaps the sides of the container stacked on the said container (after some deformation of the lug) or penetrates into correspondingly shaped and positioned aperture formed in the base 10 of the stacked container.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (7)

1. A tray assembled from a blank of a sheet material which is so shaped that on erection the tray has a base, pairs of opposed ends and sides upstanding from the base, a strip partially covering the open top of the tray and extending across each end, a strengthening assembly extending across each corner of the tray and fixing means for holding said tray erect and fixing said strips and assemblies at three areas of each corner.

2. A tray as claimed in claim 1, in which flaps formed on the ends of the strip extend downwardly over opposed sides of the tray to provide a double thickness of sheet material on said sides at each corner.

3. A tray as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each strengthening assembly is formed by an extension from an end and includes a first portion which in an erected tray leads from a corner of the tray along the adjacent side, a second portion extending from said side back to said end and a third portion extending along said end.

4. A tray as claimed in claim 3, in which said first and third portions of the strengthening assembly are attached to the side and end respectively by gluing, stapling, stitching or any other suitable fixing means and said flap on said strip is attached to the adjacent side by gluing, stapling, stitching or any other appropriate fixing means.

5. A tray as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which extension lugs are formed from the upper edges of said sides to assist in locating trays stacked one on top of the other.

6. A tray as claimed in claim 5, in which corresponding slots are provided in the base of the tray to accommodate the said lugs.

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