I AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Amcor Limited Actual Inventor: David Carter Address for Service: CULLEN & CO Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia Invention Title: Improved Tray and Blank Therefor The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: 2 Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to trays and, in particular, to trays of the type that are erected from a blank of foldable material. 5 Brief Discussion of the Prior Art A particular prior art tray which is erected from a blank of foldable material includes a bottom wall panel, a pair of opposing end wall panels hinged to opposite ends of the bottom wall panel along fold lines, and a pair of opposing outer side wall panels hinged to opposite sides of the bottom wall panel along fold lines. A 10 respective pair of first post panels is hinged to each of the outer side wall panels along fold lines, and a respective first end flap is hinged to each of the first post panels along a fold line. A respective inner side wall panel is hinged to each of the outer side wall panels along a fold line, and a respective pair of second post panels is hinged to opposite ends of each of the inner side wall panels along fold lines. A respective is second end flap is hinged to each of the second post panels along a fold line. The inner side wall panels are folded relative to the outer side wall panels such that the inner side wall panels, second post panels and second end flaps respectively overlie the outer side wall panels, first post panels and first end flaps. The outer side wall panels are folded relative to the bottom wall panel such that the 20 outer side wall panels are perpendicularly upstanding from the bottom wall panel. The end flaps are folded relative to the post panels such that the end flaps on each side of the bottom wall panel are perpendicular with respect to the side wall panels and extend towards the end flaps on the other side of the bottom wall panel. The end wall panels are folded relative to the bottom wall panel such that the 25 end wall panels are perpendicularly upstanding from the bottom wall panel, and such that a respective pair of the overlying first and second end flaps overlies each of the end wall panels. The overlying first and second post panels are folded relative to the side wall panels and end flaps such that they extend obliquely between the side wall panels and 30 the end wall panels. Although the overlying outer and inner side wall panels in combination with 3 the overlying first and second post panels and overlying end wall panels and end flaps provide the prior art tray with greater compressive strength than other prior art trays so that the tray is able to support heavier loads than other prior art trays, it would nevertheless be desirable to provide an improved tray which has even greater 5 compressive strength. Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or to provide the 10 consumer with a useful or commercial choice. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations, wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 15 According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a tray erected from a blank of foldable material, the tray comprising a bottom wall panel, a pair of opposing end wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along fold lines, a respective pair of opposing end flaps hinged to each of the end wall panels along fold lines, a pair of opposing outer side wall panels hinged to the bottom wall panel along 20 fold lines, wherein a respective pair of the end flaps overlies each of the outer side wall panels, a respective inner side wall panel hinged to each of the outer side wall panels along a fold line, a respective intermediate side wall panel overlying each of the inner side wall panels and hinged thereto along a fold line, wherein each of the intermediate side wall panels overlies a respective pair of the end flaps, a respective 25 pair of opposing first post flaps hinged to each of the inner side wall panels along fold lines, and a respective pair of opposing second post flaps hinged to each of the intermediate side wall panels along fold lines, wherein each one of the first post flaps overlies a respective one of the second post flaps, and wherein the overlying first and second post flaps extend obliquely between the side wall panels and the end wall 30 panels. Overlaying the various panels and flaps of the tray increases the compressive 4 strength of the tray so that heavier loads are able to be stacked on top of the tray. It is preferred that the tray is a stackable tray which is adapted to be stacked with other trays. Preferably, the tray is a manually-erectable tray which is adapted to be 5 erected by hand. Other embodiments of the tray may be machine-erectable trays which are adapted to be erected by a tray-erecting machine. The blank from which the tray is erected is preferably fabricated from a single sheet of foldable material. The blank may be fabricated from any suitable foldable material. Preferably, 10 the blank is fabricated from a paper-based foldable material. For example, the blank may be fabricated from cardboard or corrugated fibreboard. In a particular preferred form, the blank is fabricated from double-faced corrugated fibreboard. Preferably, the tray further comprises a plurality of locking tab-receiving openings in the bottom wall panel, and at least one respective locking tab extending 15 from each inner side wall panel, wherein the locking tabs are received by the locking tab-receiving openings such that the inner and outer side wall panels are thereby secured together. The tray preferably includes at least one stacking tab-receiving recess for receiving a stacking tab of another tray which the tray may be stacked on top of. 20 Preferably, the tray further comprises at least one respective opening located between each pair of hinged outer and inner sidewall panels, and a respective catch extending from each of the end flaps, wherein the openings receive the catches such that the end flaps are thereby prevented from moving from between the outer and inner side wall panels. 25 Preferably, the tray further comprises at least one respective recess in each of the inner side wall panels, and at least one respective securing flap hinged to each of the intermediate side wall panels along a fold line, wherein the recesses receive the securing flaps such that the inner and intermediate side wall panels are thereby secured together. 30 Preferably, the tray further comprises corner stacking tabs extending from the end wall panels and the end flaps. Each corner stacking tab may be received by a 5 stacking tab receiving recess or opening of another tray which may be stacked on top of the tray. Preferably, the tray further comprises at least one respective stacking tab extending from each of the outer side wall panels. Each stacking tab may be received 5 by a respective stacking tab receiving recess or opening of another tray which may be stacked on top of the tray. The fold lines along which the outer and inner side wall panels are hinged together are preferably double fold lines. 10 Brief Description of the Illustrations In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a tray according to a first 15 preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected; Figure 2 depicts a tray erected from the blank illustrated in figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank from which a tray according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected; and Figure 4 depicts a tray erected from the blank illustrated in figure 3. 20 Detailed Description of the Illustrations Figure 1 depicts a blank 20 of foldable material from which a tray according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected. The foldable material from which the blank 20 is fabricated is double-faced 25 corrugated fibreboard. Blank 20 includes a generally rectangular bottom wall panel 21 which includes a plurality of locking tab receiving openings 22. A pair of opposing end wall panels 23 is hinged to opposite ends of the bottom wall panel 21 along fold lines 24. 30 A respective pair of opposing end flaps 25 is hinged to each of the end wall panels 23 along fold lines 26. Each end flap 25 has a respective catch 27 extending 6 therefrom. Corner stacking tabs 28 extend from the end wall panels 23 and end flaps 25. A pair of opposing outer side wall panels of 29 is hinged to opposite sides of the bottom wall panel 21 along discontinuous fold lines 30. Stacking tabs 31 extend 5 from each outer side wall panel 29. A respective opening 32 is located adjacent to each of the corners of the bottom wall panel 21. A respective inner side wall panel 33 is hinged to each outer side wall panel 29 along a double fold line 34. A respective opening 35 is located between each pair 10 of hinged outer and inner side wall panels 29, 33 such that the openings 35 form discontinuities in the double fold lines 34. Each opening 35 includes a respective pair of opposing recessed portions 36. Each inner side wall panel 33 also includes a respective recess 37. A respective pair of locking tabs 38 extends from each inner side wall panel 33. 15 A respective pair of rectangular first post flaps 39 is hinged to opposite ends of each of the inner side wall panels 33 along fold lines 40. A respective intermediate side wall panel 41 is hinged to each of the inner side wall panels 33 along a discontinuous fold line 42. Each intermediate side wall panel 41 has a free edge 43 which includes a ventilation recess 44. Each intermediate 20 side wall panel 41 also includes a securing flap 45 which is hinged to the intermediate side wall panel 41 along a fold line 46. A respective pair of rectangular second post flaps 47 is hinged to opposite ends of each of the intermediate side wall panels 41 along fold lines 48. Referring to figure 2, a tray 50 is erected from the blank 20 by firstly folding 25 the end wall panels 23 relative to the bottom wall panel 21 along the fold lines 24 until the end wall panels 23 are perpendicularly upstanding with respect to the bottom wall panel 21. The end flaps 25 are then folded with respect to the end wall panels 23 along the fold lines 26 until the end flaps 25 hinged to each end wall panel 23 are 30 perpendicular with respect to the end wall panel 23 and extend towards the end flaps 25 hinged to the other end wall panel 23.
7 The intermediate side wall panels 41 are then folded relative to the inner side wall panels 33 along the fold lines 42 until the intermediate side wall panels 41 and the second post flaps 47 respectively overlie the inner side wall panels 33 and the first post flaps 39. The securing flaps 45 are then folded relative to the intermediate side 5 wall panels 41 along the fold lines 46 such that each securing flap 45 is received by a respective recess 37 to thereby secure each intermediate side wall panel 41 relative to the inner side wall panel 33 hinged thereto. Each outer side wall panel 29 is then folded relative to be bottom wall panel 21 along the fold lines 30 until each outer side wall panel 29 is upstanding from the 10 bottom wall panel 21 so that a respective pair of the end flaps 25 overlie each of the outer side wall panels 30. The inner side wall panels 33 are then folded relative to the outer side wall panels 29 along the fold lines 34 until each intermediate side wall panel 41 overlies a respective pair of the end flaps 25. Each locking tab 38 is received by a respective 15 locking tab receiving opening 22 such that the inner side wall panels 33 are thereby secured relative to the outer side wall panels 29. The overlying first and second post flaps 39, 47 extend obliquely between the side wall panels 33, 41 and the end wall panels 23. Each catch 27 is received by a respective recessed portion 36 so that the end 20 flaps 25 are prevented from moving from between the side wall panels 29, 33, 41. Each stacking tab 31 overlies a respective corner stacking tab 28. The openings 32 in the blank 20 which are located adjacent to the corners of the bottom wall panel 21 form corner stacking tab-receiving recesses 51 of the tray 50. The openings 35 in the blank 20 form ventilation recesses 52 in the outer and 25 inner side wall panels 29, 33 of the tray 50. Tray 50 is able to be stacked with other like trays such that the corner stacking tabs 28 and stacking tabs 31 of the tray 50 are able to be received by corner stacking tab-receiving recesses of a tray which is stacked on top of the tray 50, and such that the corner stacking tab receiving recesses 51 of the tray 50 are able to 30 receive stacking tabs of a tray which the tray 50 is stacked on top of. Figure 3 depicts a blank 60 of foldable material from which a tray according 8 to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is able to be erected. For convenience, features of the blank 60 which are the same as or which are similar to features of the blank 20 are referenced using the same reference numbers. Blank 60 primarily differs from the blank 20 in that the side wall panels 29, 5 33, 41 of the blank 60 are wider than its end wall panels 23. Also, the blank 60 includes a pair of openings 35 located between each pair of hinged outer and inner side wall panels 29, 33 rather than a single opening 35. Furthermore, blank 60 includes a pair of ventilation recesses 44 in the free edge 43 of each of the intermediate side wall panels 41, and a pair of securing flaps 45 hinged to each of the io intermediate side wall panels 41 along fold lines 46. Figure 4 depicts a tray 70 which is erected from the blank 60. Tray 70 is erected from the blank 60 in a similar manner to the way in which the tray 50 is erected from the blank 20. Throughout the specification and the claims (if any), unless the context 15 requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Throughout the specification and claims (if any), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to 20 the value for the range qualified by the terms. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and 25 ambit of the invention as herein set forth.