CA2039633A1 - Cookie tray - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A cookie tray is folded from a die-cut blank of recyclable paperboard and provides a strong, cushioned cubic structure permitting it to be automatically loaded into a bag for secure, upright shelf display. The cookie tray has a plurality of parallel cushioned recesses to receive stacks of circular and flat cookies or other fragile food item having a generally curved outline, which are supported at three or more peripheral locations in addition to cushioned support to the planar face of the stacks of cookies.

Description

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COOKIE TRAY
The present invention is directed to a novel form of divided tray for insertion into a cookie bag or other package form which is advantageous when compared with existing structures.
Currently, there are two standard packaging structures used to package multiple numbers of round and planar cookies. The most common structure employs a single-face corrugated divider which is positioned inside a cookie bag to separate stacks of superimposed cookies one from another to prevent damage in transit.
Another structure uses a thermoformed tray with individual molded recesses or pockets to receive the cookie stacks.
The disadvantage with the corrugated separators is the considerable labour cost associated with manual or semi-automatic operations of assembly and loading with cookies together with insertion and closing of the bags.
The thermoformed tray permits automatic loading of cookies and virtually forming of the bag around the tray for an almost automatic system. However, the thermoformed tray possesses three major disadvantages, namely:
(a) As a result of deep draw forming, the plastic film thins out to only about 0.002 to 0.004 inch at the bottom of the cavities, providing almost no protection for the product in these important areas;
(b) Because the tray must be drafted on all four sides for molding, the tray does not sit squarely in the bag, providing a problem in ensuring the bag can stand erect and secure on a supermarket shelf. In some cases, a U-shaped board must be inserted over the top of the tray to provide a square bottom within the bag to solve the problem; and (c) A plastic tray is environmentally unfriendly.

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The present invention provides a novel form of cookie package having a cushioned cubic structure, which is die-cut in the form of a blank from recyclable paperboard and folded (and in one option glued) and which can be set up automatically by a tray former of unique design which is able to deposit the formed tray on a loading conveyor for automatic filling of the cookies or other foodstuffs and forming of the bag, or other package format.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tray for supporting circular and planar cookies in rows for placing into an enclosing packaging structure, comprising a generally rectangular planar bottom wall, generally rectangular side and end walls upstanding from the~ bottom wall and defining an open top, and at least one generally rectangular intermediate wall upstanding from the bottom wall and extending between the side walls generally parallel to the end walls to define a plurality of parallel pockets within the tray extending between the side walls to receive face-abutted stacks of the cookies therein. Each of the pockets is defined by side walls which slope outwardly divergent from each other at an obtuse angle to the plane of the bottom wall such that cookies received in each of the pockets peripherally engage the bottom wall and each of the side walls defining the pocket.
While the tray provided in accordance with the invention specifically is designed for supporting rows or stacks of circular and planar cookies, the tray can be used for packaging in cushioned manner other fragile food items which have a generally curved outline, both in two and three dimensions.
For example, in addition to cookies with a circular outline, cookies having a fluted edge or an oval outline can be accommodated, as can tarts of various types, as . .
'' -~ 3 well as easter eggs and circular fragile chocolate products.
The curved surface of the food item is supported in the pocket by somewhat resilient three-point contact with each side wall and the bottom wall of the pocket as well as somewhat resilient lengthwise support of a stack of such products by the pocket end walls.
The tray usually is formed by folding a suitably formed blank which is die-cut from paperboard of suitable thickness.
The invention is described hereinafter, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a tray according to one embodiment of the present invention may be assembled;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a novel form of cookie tray for placing in a cookie bag, assembled from the blank of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the novel form of cookie tray of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a plan view of one part of a two-part blank from which a tray according to a second embodiment of the invention may be assembled;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the other part of a two-part blank from which the tray may be assembled;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a detail of the cookie tray assembled from the two-part blank of Figures 4 and 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cookie tray assembled from the blanks of Figures 4 and 5 combined;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a blank from which a tray according to a third embodiment of the invention may be assembled;
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate assembly of the cookie tray from the blank of Figure 8;

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Figure 11 is a perspective view from below of the assembled cookie tray formed from the blank of Figure 8;
Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate details of the assembled cookie tray of Figures 10 and 11; and Figure 15 is a plan view of a blank from which a tray according to a fourth embodiment of the invention may be assembled;
Figure 16 is a perspective view from above of a cookie tray assembled from the blank of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a plan view of a modified form of the blank of Figure 15; and Figure 18 is a side elevational view of a detail of the cookie tray of Figure 16, showing accommodation of different sized cookies in the same tray.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the blank 10 is a continuous blank and four separate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 of the assembled structure 19 are formed from the blank 10. The element 12 forms the shell of the finished tray 19, while elements 14, 16 and 18 are glued to the shell to provide the finished tray 19 .
The element 12 comprises a rectangular central panel 20 having side panels 22 and 24 joined thereto along fold lines 26 and 28. The central panel 20 has a pair of flaps 30, 32 which are cut on three sides and joined to the central panel 20 along the fourth side along fold lines 33. Notches 34 are formed at the longitudinal ends of the flaps 30, 32. Openings 36 also are die-cut through the flaps 30, 32 to assist in assembling the tray 19 form the blank 10.
Also joined to the central panel 20 by a fold line 38 is an end panel 40, which also is joined to element 14 at a line of sever 42. A tab 44 is cut from the panel 40 and also is joined to the panel 20 by fold line 38. The central panel 20 is completed by panel portions . ~ . ' ~ .

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The element 14 comprises two panels 52 and 54, joined by a fold line 56. The element 16 similarly comprises two panels 58, 60 joined by a fold line 62.
5Element 18 comprises three panels 63, 64 and 66 joined by fold lines 68 and 70 respectively.
As a first step in assembling the tray 19 from the blank 10, glue lines 71 are applied to panel 64 while glue line 73 is applied to panel 54. The panels 14, 16 and 18, still joined together, are folded about line 42 to overlie the end panel 40 and the central panel 20.
This folding and gluing is accomplished at high speed on a straight line gluer in a traditional folding carton plant.
15The abutting faces of portion 54 of element 14 and panel portion 46 are adhered along glue line 73, with fold line 56 coincident with fold line 38. Similarly, panel portion 64 is adhered to panel portion 50 along glue lines 71. The final glued tray is shipped flat to the user company.
In the bakery, during final assembly of the tray, prongs, or the like, are pushed through the openings 36 in the panels 30 and 32, causing the panel portion 58 to become detached along its sever line 72 and to fold up about fold line 62 and the panel portion 63 to become detached along its sever line 74 and to fold up about fold line 68.
The panels 30 and 32 are also folded upwardly about their respective fold lines 33 to form, with the panel portion 63 and 58 respectively, inverted V-shaped dividers 76 and 78.
The panel portion 66 is folded upwardly about the fold-line 70 to form one end panel to the tray 19 while the overlying panel portions 52 and 40 are folded about their common fold lines 56 and 38 to form the other end panel of the tray 19. The end panels and the dividers - . . . .
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76 and 78 provide three cookie-receiving pockets or recesses in the finished tray 19 (see Figure 2) extending between the side walls of tray 19. Additional or fewer pockets may be provided, as desired, by suitable modification to the blank structure, for this embodiment and also for the other embodiments described below.
The side panels 22 and 24 are folded up about their fold lines 26 and 28 and each is provided with a pair of triangular openings 80 which receive therethrough locking elements on the longitudinal extremities of the dividers 76 and 78, including the notched tabs 34 and 82.
Similarly, the panels 22 and 24 have additional openings 84, which have a first portion of a length to receive locking tabs 86 therethrough and a second portion of lesser length. The locking tabs 86 first are pushed through the first portion of the openings 84 and then the respective end panels 52 and 66 are drawn outwardly, so that the notched portions of the locking tabs 86 inter-engage with the longitudinal extremities of the second portion of the opening, to lock the tray 19 in its assembled condition (see Figures 2 and 3).
The upper portion of the side panels 22 and 24 have tab panels 88, 90 respectively, which flare outwardly by bending about fold lines 92 and 94 in engagement with outwardly-directed peripheral portion of the end panels (see Figures 2 and 3). The double-planar canted side walls of the tray 19 provided by the side panels 22 and 24 extend for the full length of the tray and add strenqth to the package. In addition, this arrangement provides a cushioning effect to the main face of the cookie by indenting the cookies slightly away from direct blows to the sides of the outer package. The side walls along with the end walls of the tray 19 provide the generally cubic structure of the tray 19 .
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and the side walls provide stacking strength to thefinished product, for secure, erect display on a supermarket shelf.
As may be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the tray 19 comprises a plurality of pockets or recesses defined by the end walls 52 and 66 and the dividers 76, 78, designed to receive face-abutted stacks of round and planar cookies. As mentioned earlier, other shapes of foodstuff can be packaged in the pockets.
Each of the pockets is defined by side walls which are upwardly divergent from each other. Each of the pockets is dimensioned to receive the cookies in engagement with each of the side walls as well as the bottom wall of the pocket, so that each of the cookies has a three-point somewhat flexible support in the pocket. The inwardly-directed fold-lines 92, 94 in the side panels 22 and 24 also provide a spring-like gripping effect on the cookie stack to help keep the stack in the pockets.
The underside of the dividers 76, 78 provide recesses 96, 98 on the underside of the tray 19 which permit entry of suitable guide devices on conveyors on which the trays 19 are positioned, so as to control the location of the tray 19 as the conveyor moves along and the cookies are automatically loaded into the tray 19.
The blank 10 may be die-cut from paperboard, which is recyclable, and is glued up, as described, to form a finished cookie tray 19. The tray 19 can be set up on a suitable automatic tray former of appropriate design, which then deposits the assembled tray 19 automatically on a loading conveyor for automatic filling of the cookies in the tray and then forming of the bag around the filled tray.
A plurality of such trays 19 abutted end-to-end provides a plurality of modular, evenly-spaced pockets or recesses which receive the cookies. The equally-spaced recesses permit automatic trouble-free loading into the trays.
The tray 19 also may be utilized in other carton styles to provide for protective packaging of a food item in such carton. For example, the carton may be a Brightwood style carton. The carton is set up automatically by a tray former with spot glued corners.
The tray 19 with food items stored therein then is inserted into the carton and the lid manually closed.
Usually, this structure requires an outer cellowrap to preserve the freshness of product. The resulting carton is sturdy and may be provided with a wide range of graphics, full color printing or embossing.
Another example of a carton is a Beers style carton, which has a similar appearance to the Brightwood carton, but the blank is pre-glued, folded and shipped flat for manual assembly, insertion of the tray and manual closure.
Another example would be automated or semi-automated end-loading of a reclosable cereal-type carton, which may have a gable top closure. A further example is a carton which is fully end-sealed at both ends, but is opened with a tear strip for access to product through a main panel opening.
A final example is locating the tray 19 in a rectangular open-topped tray which is overwrapped with cellowrap, permitting the product to be viewed through the cellowrap and the open top wall.
The tray 19 provided in accordance with this one embodiment of the invention embodies several important design concepts, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the present invention includes all structures embodying such concepts.
The tray 19 overcomes the various prior art problems cited above and provides significant advantages, including:

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1. The structure provides a better and cushioned protection for the cookies in the tray;
2. The structure is formed of environmentally friendly, recyclable paperboard;

3. The structure permits automatic assembly and fillinq;

4. The structure is "square" on all sides and possesses a generally cubic structure, providing improved product appearance and the bag containing the structure can stand up perfectly on a store shelf without the need for additional supporting elements;

5. The structure is compatible with the product;

6. The structure can be pulled out of the bag or carton in which it is housed by pulling on the tab, for easy access to cookies contained in the tray. Alternatively, dividers may be pressed down inside the bag to gain access to the cookies without the necessity to slide out the tray;

7. Special-offer, money-back coupons etc. may be printed, at low cost directly on the tray, which is not possible with thermoformed trays or single-face corrugated strip.

8. The blanks ship and store flat; and 9. The structure is affordable.
Figures 4 to 7 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention comprising a two-part blank 112 and 114, which enable a tray to be formed, similar in appearance to the tray 19 of Figures 2 and 3 and possessing the same advantages as tray 19 over the prior art enumerated above. This embodiment, however, has a number of advantages over that of Figures 2 and 3, as will become apparent from the following description of that embodiment. In particular, the embodiment of Figures 4 to 7 employs approximately 25 to 30% less paperboard, no t9 gluing is required, and color coating is required on one side only as is grease proofing.
The blank part 112 is folded to provide the side walls, end walls and bottom wall of the cookie tray as well as a pull-tab at each end while blank part 114 provides the dividers. The blank part 114 is folded about fold lines 116, 118, 120 and 122 to form the triangular dividers 124, 126 and then the folded element is assembled with the blank part 112, by the triangular dividers penetrating panels 128 and 130 in the bottom wall 132 of the blank part 112, so that the centre panel 134 of the blank part 114 abuts the centre panel 136 of the bottom wall 132 of the blank part 112.
The triangular dividers 124, 126 are maintained in place by hooks 138 which are received in openings 140 in the bottom wall 132. The various panels are locked in place, as described above with respect to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 to provide the assembled cookie tray 19 (see Figure 7). Each of the dividers 124, 126 is comprised of two thicknesses of paperboard adjacent the base, providing an enhanced strength.
By assembling the cookie tray from two separate blanks, one providing the side walls 142, end walls 144 and bottom wall 132 of the tray 19 and the other providing the dividers 124, 126, a cookie tray possessing the advantages outlined above with respect to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 is obtained while achieving a saving in materials, in that both end walls are formed of a single thickness of material, whereas the structure of Figures 2 and 3 has a double-wall thickness in one end wall. In addition, the assembly procedure is simplified. Other advantages are described above.
Turning now to Figures 8 to 14, there is illustrated therein a blank and assembled tray formed therefrom in accordance with a third and currently most-11 2~9~3 preferred embodiment of the invention. This embodimentretains the advantage of the embodiment of Figures l to 3 of assembly from a single planar blank element while, at the same time, providing a further saving in materials over the embodiment of Figures 4 to 7. In addition, as in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 7, no gluing is required and a single-side color coating and a single-side grease proof coating only are required.
A planar blank 200 (see Figure 8) comprises a central rectangular panel 212 to which a plurality of panels are joined via fold lines. Four side panels 214, 216, 218 and 220 are joined by respective fold lines 222, 224, 226 and 228 to the central panel 212. The side panels 214, 216 and 218, 220 have mirror-image shapes as do side panels 214, 218 and 216, 220.
A pair of mirror-image shaped tab panels 230, 232 are joined to the central panel 212 by respective fold lines 234, 236 and situated between the pairs of side panels 214, 216 and 218, 220. A pair of mirror-image shape end panels 238 and 240 are joined at each longitudinal end of the central panel 212 by fold lines 242 and 244 respectively.
The central panel 212 has a plurality of round openings 246 to receive pins or the like therethrough upstanding from a forming jig to assist in accurate assembly of the blank 200 into a finished tray structure 248 (see Figures 10 and 11).
The tab panels 230, 232 are folded up about the fold lines 234, 236. The pairs of side panels 214, 216 and 218, 220 then are pushed towards each other, with the assistance of pins protruding through the openings 246, until they overlap each other with openings therethrough in alignment. This action which causes panels 250, 252, which are joined to the remainder of the bottom panel 212 by pairs of fold lines 254, 256 and 258, 260, to fold about those fold lines and fold line J n ~ ~ f,-3 262 and 264, to form dividers 266, 268 (see Figure 9).
The end panels 238, 240 then are folded upwardly about therein respective fold lines 242, 244 to form the end walls 270 of the tray 248, to leave a pull tab 272 at each longitudinal end of the bottom wall 212.
The pairs of side panels 214, 216 and 218, 220 are folded upwardly, panel members 273 are folded outwardly about respective fold lines 275, and tabs 274 at the longitudinal ends of the dividers 266 and 268 are received through triangular openings 276 in the side panels to lock the dividers 266 and 268 to the side panels.
Tabs 278 at the longitudinal end of each tab panel 230, 232 are pushed through an adjacent opening 280 in the overlapping portions of the pairs of side panels.
Tabs 282 formed in the body of each of the tab panels 230, 232 are pushed through an adjacent opening 284 immediately below in the overlapping portions of the pairs of side panels. In addition, a tab 2B6 in the upper one of the overlapping side panels is pushed through an opening 288 (Figure 8) in the lower one of the overlapping panels.
These interengagements of the tabs and the respective openings (see Figure 13) locks the pairs of 25 side panels together to define side walls 290, 292 having a lower inwardly-canted portion and an upper outwardly-canted portion.
Tabs 294, 296 extending from the opposite longitudinal ends of each of the side walls 290, 292 are 30 bent about respective fold lines 298, 300 and hooked through slots 302 formed through the end walls 270, to lock the side walls 290, 292 and the end walls 270 to each other to form the completed tray 248. This locking engagement takes place at the same time as the triangular openings 276 in the side walls lock with the end locks 274 of the dividers 264, 266.

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The tray 248 has a generally cubic structure, enabling it to be readily inserted into a conventional cookie bag 310 (see Figure 11) and sit in an upright position on a shelf, without the necessity of any internal support structure. No gluing operations are required to form the tray in this preferred embodiment.
The recesses in the longitudinal ends of the side walls left by folding over the tabs 294, 296 may receive any extra thickness of sealed bottom flap on the bottom of the bag 310, so that the bag can sit flat on a shelf.
In each of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3, 4 to 7 and 8 to 14, the dividers defining the cookie-receiving recesses extend only for the portion of the depth of the cookie tray which is occupied by the lower, inwardly-canted portion of the side walls. In Figures 15 to 17, there are shown two alternative structures which provide dividers extending for a greater proportion of the depth of the tray.
The blanks shown in Figures 15 and 17 are similar to each other, except that Figure 17 has locking tabs for the side walls which are lacking in Figure 15. The blanks of Figures 15 and 17 also are each similar to the blank shown in Figure 8, except for an additional length to provide for the greater height of the dividers.
As seen in Figure 15, a planar blank 400 comprises a central rectangular panel 412 to which a plurality of panels are joined via fold lines. Four side panels 414, . ' ~ ~ ' , ' .
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416, 418 and 420 are joined by respective fold lines 422, 424, 426 and 428 to the central panel 412. The side panels 414, 416 and 418, 420 have mirror-image shapes as do side panels 414, 418 and 416, 420.
A pair of mirror-image shape end panels 438 and 440 are joined at each longitudinal end of the central panel 412 by fold lines 442 and 444 respectively.
The central panel 412 has a plurality of round openings 446 to receive pins or the like therethrough upstanding from a forming jig to assist in accurate assembly of the blank 400 into a finished tray structure 448 (see Figure 16).
The pairs of side panels 414, 416 and 418, 420 are pushed towards each other, with the assistance of pins protruding through the openings 446, until they overlap each other with triangular openings 449 therethrough in alignment. This action which causes panels 450, 452, which are joined to the remainder of the bottom panel 412 by pairs of fold lines 454, 456 and 458, 460, to 20 fold about those fold lines and fold line 462 and 464, to form dividers 466, 468 (see Figure 16).
The end panels 438, 440 then are folded upwardly about respective fold lines 442, 444 to form the end walls 470 of the tray 448, to leave a pull tab 472 at each longitudinal end of the bottom wall 412.
The pairs of side panels 414, 416 and 418, 420 then are folded upwardly, panel members 473 are folded outwardly about respective fold lines 475, and tabs 474 at the longitudinal ends of the dividers 466 and 468 are received through the aligned pairs of triangular openings 449 in the side panels while the apices of the triangular openings are received in notches 476 to lock the dividers 466 and 468 to the side panels.
Tabs 482 formed in the body of one of each pair of side panels are pushed through an adjacent opening 484 formed in the outer of the pairs of side panels to lock , ~, '~
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Tabs 494, 496 extending from the opposite longitudinal ends of each of the side walls 490, 492 are bent about respective fold lines 498, 500 and hooked through slots 502 formed through the end walls 470, to lock the side walls 490, 492 and the end walls 470 to each other to form the completed tray 448. This locking engagement takes place at the same time as the triangular openings 449 in the side walls lock with the end locks 474 of the dividers 464, 466.
The dividers 466, 468 combine with the end walls 470 to define pockets 504 extending between the side walls 490, 492 to receive stacks of face-abutted circular or other shaped cookies or other food items with a generally curved surface. Each individual cookie engages the bottom wall 508 of the recess 504 and each side wall of the recess, constituted by the respective end wall 470 and divider wall 466, 468.
Each of the end walls 470 and each of the dividers 20 466, 468 is provided with an additional fold line 510, which permits each of the end walls 470 to flex slightly outwardly and each of the dividers 466, 468 to be flexed inwardly to define recesses 504 of greater transverse dimension than in the absence of such flexure. This 25 arrangement permits cookies (512, 514) or other food items with a generally curved surface which have differing diameters to be packaged in the same structure (see Figure 1~).
The tray 448 has a generally cubic structure, enabling it to be readily inserted into a conventional cookie bag, in the same way as tray 248 described above, and sit in an upright position on a shelf, without the necessity of any internal support structure.
As may be seen from Figure 16, the dividers 466, 35 468 extend almost for the depth of the tray 448, providing a greater degree of separation of the cookies within the tray 448 and a greater degree of support to a cookie bag in which the tray 44~ is housed.
The blank 500' shown in Figure 17 differs from that shown in Figure 15 in that a pair of mirror-image shaped tab panels 430, 432 are joined to the central panel 412' by respective fold line 434, 436, and situated between the pairs of side panels 414', 416' and 418~, 420'. As an initial step in assembling a tray from the blank 500' of Figure 17, the tab panels 430, 432 are folded up 10 about fold lines 434, 436.
After the assembly operations described above with respect to formation of the end walls, side walls and dividers of the tray structure, the tabs 478 at the longitudinal end of each tab panel 430, 432 are pushed through an adjacent opening provided by aligned pairs of openings 480 in the respective pairs of side panels.
The provision of the tab panels and the interengagement of the tabs 478 and the openings provide additional locking together of the side panels in the side walls of the resulting cookie tray.
In the embodiments of Figures 8 to 18, the side walls are locked to the end walls of the tray by the interaction of tabs extending from the longitudinal ends of the side walls and slots formed through the end walls. However, this manner of locking may, if desired, be replaced by that employed in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7 by the interaction of notches formed in the longitudinal ends of the end walls and slots formed through the side walls.
Although in each of the embodiments of Figures 4 to 15, the various cookie tray structures involve no gluing together of parts but rather rely on the physical interaction of elements to produce the assembled form of the tray, and this is the preferred manner of proceeding, it is also possible to use hot melt adhesive, or other glue systems, to join the elements ~ ~ 3 ~

together.
In summary of this disclosure, the present invention provides a novel tray structure for cookies and the like fragile food items which overcomes prior art problems and makes available a useful structure with many advantages. In addition, all these described embodiments can be produced on high-production standard equipment in any modern folding carton plant, and can be produced competitively at high speed and shipped and stored flat. The present invention also provides blanks from which such tray structure may be assembled.
Modifications are possible within the scope of this invention.

Claims (12)

1. A tray for supporting fragile food items having a generally curved outline, comprising:
a generally rectangular and planar bottom wall, generally rectangular side and end walls upstanding from said bottom wall and defining an open top, and at least one generally rectangular intermediate wall upstanding from said bottom wall and extending between said side walls generally parallel to said end walls to define a plurality of parallel pockets within said tray extending between said side walls to house said food items therein, each of said pockets being defined by side walls which slope outwardly divergent from each other at an obtuse angle to the plane of said bottom wall such that the generally curved outline of a food item received in each of said pockets peripherally engages said bottom wall and each of said side walls defining said pocket.

2. The tray of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls include a first inwardly-canted portion extending upwardly from said bottom wall and second outwardly-canted portion to said open top.

3. The tray of claim 2 wherein each of said end walls extends upwardly from said bottom wall at an obtuse angle thereto said open top within the longitudinal extremities of said side walls.

4. The tray of claim 3 wherein said bottom wall has a integral pull tab extending from at least one end thereof.

5. The tray of claim 3 formed from a one-piece integral blank.

6. The tray of claim 3 formed from a two-piece blank.

7. The tray of claim 3 wherein said at least one intermediate wall is of inverted V-shape and comprised of a pair of rectangular panels providing one side wall of each of two adjacent ones of said pockets which converge towards and meet at an apex, to define a recess through said bottom wall beneath each said intermediate wall.

8. The tray of claim 7 which is assembled from a blank by the interlocking of elements of said blank which provide said bottom wall, side walls, end walls and at least one intermediate wall.

9. The tray of claim 8 wherein said blank is a one-piece die-cut paperboard blank.

10. The tray of claim 9 wherein each of said side walls is formed by overlapping side wall panels which have openings which align with each other and a locking tab received through the aligned openings to lock the two side wall panels together.

11. The tray of claim 10 wherein each said end wall and each of said rectangular panels has a horizontal fold-line formed therein whereby food items of differing dimensions may be accommodated in the same tray.

12. The tray of claim 8 wherein each said side wall has openings therethrough through which are received the longitudinal ends of the rectangular panels in mutually stabilizing relationship.