AU3200689A - Improved tray - Google Patents

Description

"IMPROVED TRAY"

This invention relates generally to an improved tray or crate suitable for stacking and/or storing articles therein. The tray or crate of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with box like containers or cartons which have a generally square or rectangular cross section or dimension in plan, and are of the type comprising a top portion which includes two opposed upper panels inclined away from each other from an upper junction towards opposed side walls of the container so as to thereby form a generally pitched roof configuration. The top portion further includes an upstanding flange which extends axially along the junction of the two opposed upper panels. Cartons of this general type are often used for liquids such as milk, fruit juice and the like. British patent specification 2079256 describes a tray for stacking articles of this type. The tray includes an underside surface having a plurality of parallel and spaced apart folds which extend from one side of the tray to the other, these folds being adapted to receive the tops of cartons which are disposed in a tray situated below them. This tray suffers from several disadvantages. For example, because of the uni-directional nature of the folds, the tray can only be used in one configuration with respect to the cartons. A further disadvantage is that the tray and/or the cartons are prone to lateral movement if the stacked trays are not perfectly balanced. Yet another disadvantage of this form of tray is that it is, in essence, only suitable for use with one carton size. U.K. patent specification 2,132,173 and U.S. patent specification 3,384,229 both disclose panels for use with cartons of the type described above, the panels being used for stacking the cartons in groups one on top of the other. The panels of these specifications suffer the same problems of the tray described in U.K. 2,079,256, that is, they can only be used in one configuration and are only suitable for use with one carton size. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tray or crate which is suitable for use with containers of the aforementioned type and which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. - According to the present invention there is provided a tray which comprises a base having a top side, an underside and a peripheral side edge section, characterized in that said under side includes two groups of locating means therein each of said groups of locating means including a plurality of elongated slots, said slots in each group being generally parallel to and spaced apart from one another, said slots in one said group extending generally at right angles to said slots in the other said group, said underside of said base further including a plurality of formations which extend away from said slots to form sloping support sections said formations being bounded by adjacent slots of each of said two groups or by adjacent slots in each of said two groups and said peripheral side edge of said base. Preferably the base is generally rectangular or square in plan and may include a plurality of cross members which extend from one side of said peripheral side edge section to another side thereof, said slots being formed in said cross members. Preferably the formations are generally pyramidal in shape or are comprised by a segment of a pyramidal shape, each face of the pyramidal shaped formation or segment thereof defining one of the support sections. Preferably the slots in one group are spaced apart from one another at a distance which is different to the distance the slots in another group are spaced apart from one another. The formations are formed by a skeletal network of members. The top side of the base may include a plurality of reinforcing ribs which are arranged to at least partially form a support surface. Furthermore, the tray may further include a peripheral skirt section extending from the base in the direction of the formations. The tray may further include a peripheral side wall which extends from the base in the direction of the top side of the peripheral side wall. The skirt section and the peripheral side wall may be provided with tapered lead-in sections. Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of trays according to the present invention holding cartons arranged in a stacked position; Figure 2 is a similar view to that of Figure 1 but with cartons of different sizes being used; Figure 3 is schematic partial sectional view showing the disposition of the containers and the trays when in a stacked position; Figure 4 is a top plan view of a tray according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation taken along the line A-A in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation taken along the line B-B in Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a side elevation of the tray shown in Figures 4 to 6 the left hand side of the drawing being a view from one side of the tray and the right hand side of the drawing being a view from the other side of the tray at right angles to the first mentioned side. Referring to the drawings, the tray generally indicated at 1 comprises a base 3 having a top side 4 an underside 5 with a peripheral side edge section 6 extending there around. As shown, the tray is generally rectangular in plan. Any suitable materials can be used for construction of the tray however, preferably the trays are moulded using plastics materials. As best seen in fig. 4 the base 3 is formed by a plurality of cross members 31 and 32 extending from opposite sides of the peripheral side edge section 6. The cross members 31 and 32 are adjacent ribs 35 formed in side wall 9. As mentioned earlier, the tray or crate ±s' suitable for use with box-like containers, or cartons 50 which have a top portion 51 having two opposed upper panels 53 and 54 inclined away from one another to form a "pitched roof" . configuration with an upstanding flange 55 at the uppermost part of the top portion. As shown in figure 2, the trays in the preferred form are suitable for use with two carton sizes 58 and 59, carton 59 being larger than carton 58. Locating means 15 in the form of slots 17 and 18 are provided in the cross members 31 and 32. As shown the mouth of each of the locating slots 17 and 18 has a curved lead-in section to assist in the ready access of the upright flanges on the carton into the slot. The locating slots are formed in two groups 17 and 18 which extend at right angles to one another. The distance apart of the slots 17 in one of the groups 10 is closer together than the distance between the slots in group 11. Formations 20 extend downwardly from these slots, the formations being made up of a skeletal network of members 22 so as to define support sections 23,24,25 and 26. As will be seen, the formations adjacent the peripheral side edge sections 6 of the base are formed of segments of a generally pyramidal shaped formation as shown in the intermediate part of the base. Reinforcing ribs 34 are provided in the depressions on the upper surface of the formations 20, these reinforcing ribs 34 together with the cross members 31 and 32 defining a support surface 8 for the cartons. The peripheral side wall 9 of the tray extends from the peripheral side edge sections 6 in a normally upward direction and has a tapered lead-in section 13. A skirt 28 is provided which projects from the base 1 in the direction of the formations 20 from the peripheral side edge sections 6 this skirt having a tapered lead-in section 29. The skirt engages the cartons and assists in preventing lateral or relative displacement therebetween. The tapered lead-in sections assist in ease of stacking of the trays one on top of the other as well as for receiving the cartons. As best seen in figure 3, the cartons 50 are supported on the upper surface of the base of a lower crate in side by side relation. When a second crate is stacked on top of the lower crate, the flange 55 of each carton is received in a respective slot 17 or 18 depending on what size carton is being used. The side walls of the carton bear the weight of the stacked crate or tray as a result of the disposition of the formations 20. The particular configuration of the formations inhibits lateral movement of the cartons relative to one another in both directions. It will be appreciated that where smaller cartons are used, they are used in conjunction with slots 17 and where the larger cartons are used, they are used in conjunction with slots 18. The skirt 28 also assists in inhibiting lateral movement of the cartons when in the stacked position. Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS .

1. A tray comprising a base (3) having a top. side (4), an underside (5) and a peripheral side edge section (6) characterized in that said underside (5) includes two groups (10,11) of locating means (5) therein, each said group (10,11) of locating means (5) including a plurality of elongated slots (17,18), said slots (17,18) in each group (40,11) being generally parallel to and spaced apart from one another, said slots (17) in one said group (10) extend generally at right angles to said slots (18) in the other said group (11) said underside (5) of said base (13( further including a plurality of formations (20) which extend away from said slots to form sloping support sections (23,24,25,26) said formations being bounded by adjacent slots of each of said two groups or by adjacent slots in each of said two groups and said peripheral side edge of said base.

2. A tray according to claim 1 wherein said formations (20) are generally pyramidal in shape or a segment thereof each face of said pyramidal shaped formation or segment thereof defining one of said support sections (23,24,25,26).

3. A tray according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said slots in each group (10,11) extend from one side of said peripheral side edge section (6) of said base to another.

4. A tray according to any preceding claim wherein the slots (17) in one group (10) are spaced apart from one another at a distance which is different to the distance, slots (18) are spaced apart in the other group (11).

5. A tray according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said formations (20) are formed by a skeletal network of members (22).

6. A tray according to any preceding claim wherein said top side of said base includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs which are arranged to at least partially form a support surface (8).

7. A tray according to any preceding claim further including a peripheral skirt section (28) extending from said base (3) in the direction of said formations.

8. A tray according to any preceding claim further including a peripheral side wall (9) extend from said base (3) in the direction of said top side (4) the peripheral side wall (6) having a tapered lead-in section (13).