AU2018100148A4 - A tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray (10) including: a body (11) having a plurality of cavities (18), each cavity (18) to receive at least one article to be supported by the tray (10), each cavity (18) having an open top; a retaining member (22) secured to the body (11) and passing across the open tops to at least aid in retaining the items in the cavities (18); and wherein the retaining member (22) is located above the cavities (18) and covers only a portion of at least some of the cavities (18) so that at least portion of each of the articles is not covered by the retaining member (22). 2-3 4? 33

Description

A TRAY

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to trays, and more particularly but not exclusively to trays that receive oysters or the like.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Oyster trays generally consist of a moulded plastic body with a plurality of cavities, with each cavity being designed to receive and support a single oyster. The trays have an upper surface that provides for stacking of the trays. Each of the oysters is loosely held in its associated cavity.

[0003] The oysters are located very close to the upper stacking surface of the trays.

[0004] The disadvantages of the above discussed trays are that the oysters are only loosely held in their associated cavities. During transportation and merchandising (including wholesale and retail) the oysters can become dislodged. If the oysters become dislodged, the oysters are not arranged in the most aesthetic manner, can frequently inhibit stacking, and are less likely to be sold.

OBJECT

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] There is disclosed herein a tray including: a body having a plurality of cavities, each cavity to receive at least one article to be supported by the tray, each cavity having an open top; a retaining member secured to the body and passing across the open tops to at least aid in retaining the items in the cavities; and wherein the retaining member is located above the cavities and covers only a portion of at least some of the cavities so that at least portion of each of the articles is not covered by the retaining member.

[0007] Preferably, the cavities are separated by walls.

[0008] Preferably, the tray is generally rectangular or square in configuration so as to have a pair of first sides that are generally parallel and coextensive, and a pair of second sides that a generally transverse relative to the first sides, with the retaining member extending generally centrally of the tray so as to extend between the first sides or the second sides.

[0009] Preferably, the retaining member is releasably secured to the body.

[0010] In one preferred form, the retaining member is transparent.

[0011] In an alternative preferred form, the retaining member is not transparent.

[0012] Preferably, the body has an upper rim, with the retaining member spaced below the rim.

[0013] Preferably, the retaining member is a strap.

[0014] Preferably, the cavities are arranged in two rows, with the strap extending centrally of the body so as to project partly across each of the cavities and each of the rows.

[0015] There is further disclosed herein, a tray including: a body having an article receiving space within which the body provides a plurality of article receiving cavities, and a rim surrounding the space; and a retaining member attached to the body and located above the cavities so as to pass across the cavities to at least aid in retaining the articles in the cavities; and wherein each cavity is provided by a body cavity portion, each portion having a cup part within which a respective one of the articles is received, with the body portions providing upwardly facing surfaces, below the rim, to which the retaining member is attached.

[0016] Preferably, the body portion provides walls that separate the cavities.

[0017] Preferably, the retaining member is releasably attached to the upwardly facing surfaces.

[0018] Preferably, the body and retaining member are provided with cooperating projections and recesses that engage to releasably secure the retaining member to the body.

[0019] Preferably, the retaining member is a strap.

[0020] In a first preferred form, the retaining member is transparent.

[0021] In an alternative preferred form, the retaining member is not transparent.

[0022] Preferably, the body has an upper rim surrounding the space, with the upwardly facing surfaces being located below the rim.

[0023] Preferably, the rim provides an upwardly facing surface, with the body portion surfaces being located in a plane generally parallel to the upwardly facing surface of the rim.

[0024] Preferably, the body has a plurality of downwardly facing surfaces that provide for the tray to rest on a supporting surface, with the downwardly facing surfaces being generally arranged in a plane so as to be generally parallel to the body portion surfaces and rim surface.

[0025] Preferably, the retaining member is located below the rim so that a stacking space is provided between the retaining member and rim to provide for stacking of a like tray to project into the stacking space provided between the retaining member and rim.

[0026] Preferably, the tray body is moulded of plastics material.

[0027] Preferably, the retaining member is a strap, formed of plastics material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0029] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a tray to receive oysters; [0030] Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the tray of Figure 1; [0031] Figure 3 is a schematic end elevation of the tray of Figure 1; and [0032] Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view of the tray of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0033] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a tray 10 within which articles, such as oysters, are to be supported for the purposes of transportation and handling. The tray 10 has a body 11. In this embodiment the body 11 is adapted to receive and support six oysters. However, it should be appreciated that the tray 10 could support two or more oysters, depending on the configuration of the tray 10.

[0034] The tray 10 includes a body 11 that is square or rectangular in configuration. The tray 10 has a rim 14 having longitudinal rim portions 12 and transverse rim portions 13. The portions 13 are generally perpendicular to the rim portions 12. The rim 14 provides a generally planar upwardly facing surface 29.

[0035] Extending downwardly from the rim 14 is a pair of first side walls 15 and a pair of second side walls 16.

[0036] The first and second side walls 15 and 16 surround an article receiving space 17, providing a plurality of article receiving cavities 18. The rim 14 surrounds the space 17 so that the space 17 has an open top providing for location and removal of the oysters with respect to the cavities 18. Each cavity 18 is adapted to receive and support a respective one of the oysters (not shown).

[0037] Each cavity 18 is provided by a body cavity portion 19. Each body cavity portion 19 has a cup part 20, that provides one of the cavities 18, and a plurality of surfaces 21. In this embodiment the surfaces 21 are generally planar, horizontal and upwardly facing. Also provided are walls 33 that separate adjacent cavities 18.

[0038] The surfaces 21 are spaced downwardly from the rim 14 and therefore surface 29.

[0039] The body 11 also provides a pair of generally planar surfaces 28 that are upwardly facing, and preferably coplanar with respect to the surfaces 21. Each of the surfaces 28 is provided with a cavity or projection that engages a projection or cavity of a retaining member 22. The retaining member 22 of this embodiment is a strap that extends between the sides 16.

[0040] In this embodiment the body 11 is provided with recesses 23 that engage correspondingly shaped projections 24 of the retaining member 22 so that the retaining member 22 is fixed to the body 11. Preferably, the projections 24 releasably engage in the recesses 23 so that the retaining member 22 can be removed and re-engaged to be secured to the body 11.

[0041] The retaining member 22 extends generally centrally longitudinally of the body 11 so as to pass above a portion of each of the cavities 18. Accordingly, at least part of each of the cavities 18 is exposed. However, the retaining member 22 passes above at least part of each of the oysters so as to aid in retaining each of the oysters with its associated cavity 18. However, the retaining member 22 does not entirely cover each cavity 18, accordingly the oysters are also exposed so that they can be viewed.

[0042] Preferably, the surfaces 21 and 28 are located in a plane 27 that is generally parallel to the surface 29.

[0043] Preferably, the body 11 has a plurality of downwardly facing surfaces 26 that are located in a plane 27, so that the tray 10 when supported on a horizontal supporting body 31, the tray 10 is generally horizontally oriented. Preferably, the surface 30 of the supporting body 31 is generally parallel to the plane 27, and the surface 29.

[0044] Preferably, the retaining member 22 is spaced below the surface 29 by a distance 32.

This provides a stacking space 34 between the surface 29 and the retaining member 22 so that a like tray 10 may be stacked on the next adjacent below tray 10 and project into the stacking space 34 to rest on the retaining member 22.

[0045] When empty, and the retainer member 22 removed, the body 11 is stackable with like bodies, that is they can be nested.

[0046] The retaining member 22, as mentioned above, may be a strap, with the retaining member 22 being opaque, transparent or translucent.

Claims (5)

1. A tray including: a body having a plurality of cavities, each cavity to receive at least one article to be supported by the tray, each cavity having an open top; a retaining member secured to the body and passing across the open tops to at least aid in retaining the items in the cavities; and wherein the retaining member is located above the cavities and covers only a portion of at least some of the cavities so that at least portion of each of the articles is not covered by the retaining member.

2. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the cavities are separated by walls.

3. The tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tray is generally rectangular or square in configuration so as to have a pair of first sides that are generally parallel and coextensive, and a pair of second sides that a generally transverse relative to the first sides, with the retaining member extending generally centrally of the tray so as to extend between the first sides or the second sides.

4. The tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the retaining member is releasably secured to the body.

5. The tray according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body has an upper rim, with the retaining member spaced below the rim.