GB2162823A - Packaging trays - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray 10 for packing delicate products eg., soft fruit, has a base 12 and sidewalls 13 and one or more supports 11 upstanding from the base 12 within the sidewalls 13. The supports 11 give support to wrapping material and allow stacking of the trays without crushing the contents. The supports 11 preferably have portions 24 engaged in recesses 17 in the base 12 and flanges 21 flush with the upper extremity of the sidewalls 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plastics trays This invention relates to trays and more particularly to plastic trays used for packing delicate products.

According to this invention there is provided a tray comprising a base, an upwardly extending peripheral side wall and one or more support members upstanding from the base, the upper extremities of said one or more support members being flush with upper extremity of the side wall.

Thus the support member creates a support for the operation of overwrapping the tray in film and enables the tray to be stacked to a considerable height without damaging the contents.

A preferred feature of the invention is that the or each support member has at its uppermost end an annular flange having a substantially flat upward facing surface.

Another preferred feature of the present invention is that the one or more support members are removable.

A further preferred feature of the invention is that the base ends of the one or more support members are frusto-conical in form and frictionally engage cooperating surfaces or sockets formed in the base of the tray or the base ends of the one or more support members have annular ribs which are snap fits in corresponding sockets in the base of the tray.

The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure l is a cross-section of a tray in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray of Figure 1; illustrating the section time I-I on which the crosssection of Figure 1 is taken; Figure 3 is a side view of the support member shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a support member for use in accordance with the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a tray 10 is provided with a removable support member 11. The tray 10 is thermoformed or injection moulded from a plastics material and has a generally square base 12 and an upwardly extending peripheral side wall 13, The upper extremity of said side wall having an outwardly extending lip 14. Upstanding dividing walls 15 are provided in order to divide the tray into four equal square sections 18 and are formed integrally with and as continuation of the base 12 and the side wall 13. It will be appreciated therefore, that the flat base area referred to by numeral 12 is not continuous but is in four connected parts each constituting a base for one of the sections 18.

A central hub 16 is formed integrally with the dividing walls 15 and serves to link the walls 15. At the centre of the central hub 16 is a downwardly extending frusto-conical recess 17, the lowest extremity of which does nowt project byond the base 12.

The removable support member 11 has at its upward-facing top surface 22, centrally mounted on a stem 23. The lower end 24 of the stem 23 is frustoconical in form and is dimensioned so as tofit in and be held by the recess 17 with the top surface 22 substantially flush with the upper extremity of the side wall 13.

The tray is primarily for perishable foodstuffs.

When the section of the tray have been loaded the flange 21 of the support member creates a support for the operation of overwrapping the tray in film or the like. The flange also enables the trays to be stacked one above the other to a considerable height without damaging the contents because the flange lies under the inside corner of the base of all the sections 18 of a tray immediately above.

In the slightly modified support member 30 shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the stem 33 is provided with two spaced annular ribs 34, 35 but the flange 21 and top surface 22 are similar to those previously stated. The lower rib 35 cooperates with the recess 17, which recess is modified to engage the rib 35 by snap action and the upper rib 34 abuts the upper surface of the hub 16.

Other forms of engagement between the plug and the tray are possible and the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated above. It will be appreciated that the flange 21 and stem 23 may be decorated, for example by printing or embossing, and can be in a wide range of shapes to suit the aesthetic needs of the tray.

Furthermore the tray is not limited to having four sections and one supporting member - many variations in tray design are possible whilst incorporating the features of the present invention.

1. A tray comprising a base, an upwardly extending peripheral side wall and one or more support members upstanding from the base, the upper extremities of said one or more support members being flush with upper extremity of the side wall.

2. A tray as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each support member has its uppermost end an annular flange having a substantially flat upward facing surface.

3. A tray as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the or each support is removable.

4. A tray as claimed in claim 3 wherein the or each support lodges in a corresponding socket formed in the base of the tray.

5. A tray as claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each socket has a frusto-conical end which frictionally engages a correspondingly shaped socket.

6. A tray as claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each socket has a rib which affords a snap fit in a correspondingly shaped socket.

7. A tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Plastics trays This invention relates to trays and more particularly to plastic trays used for packing delicate products. According to this invention there is provided a tray comprising a base, an upwardly extending peripheral side wall and one or more support members upstanding from the base, the upper extremities of said one or more support members being flush with upper extremity of the side wall. Thus the support member creates a support for the operation of overwrapping the tray in film and enables the tray to be stacked to a considerable height without damaging the contents. A preferred feature of the invention is that the or each support member has at its uppermost end an annular flange having a substantially flat upward facing surface. Another preferred feature of the present invention is that the one or more support members are removable. A further preferred feature of the invention is that the base ends of the one or more support members are frusto-conical in form and frictionally engage cooperating surfaces or sockets formed in the base of the tray or the base ends of the one or more support members have annular ribs which are snap fits in corresponding sockets in the base of the tray. The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure l is a cross-section of a tray in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray of Figure 1; illustrating the section time I-I on which the crosssection of Figure 1 is taken; Figure 3 is a side view of the support member shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a support member for use in accordance with the invention. With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a tray 10 is provided with a removable support member 11. The tray 10 is thermoformed or injection moulded from a plastics material and has a generally square base 12 and an upwardly extending peripheral side wall 13, The upper extremity of said side wall having an outwardly extending lip 14. Upstanding dividing walls 15 are provided in order to divide the tray into four equal square sections 18 and are formed integrally with and as continuation of the base 12 and the side wall 13. It will be appreciated therefore, that the flat base area referred to by numeral 12 is not continuous but is in four connected parts each constituting a base for one of the sections 18. A central hub 16 is formed integrally with the dividing walls 15 and serves to link the walls 15. At the centre of the central hub 16 is a downwardly extending frusto-conical recess 17, the lowest extremity of which does nowt project byond the base 12. The removable support member 11 has at its upward-facing top surface 22, centrally mounted on a stem 23. The lower end 24 of the stem 23 is frustoconical in form and is dimensioned so as tofit in and be held by the recess 17 with the top surface 22 substantially flush with the upper extremity of the side wall 13. The tray is primarily for perishable foodstuffs. When the section of the tray have been loaded the flange 21 of the support member creates a support for the operation of overwrapping the tray in film or the like. The flange also enables the trays to be stacked one above the other to a considerable height without damaging the contents because the flange lies under the inside corner of the base of all the sections 18 of a tray immediately above. In the slightly modified support member 30 shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the stem 33 is provided with two spaced annular ribs 34, 35 but the flange 21 and top surface 22 are similar to those previously stated. The lower rib 35 cooperates with the recess 17, which recess is modified to engage the rib 35 by snap action and the upper rib 34 abuts the upper surface of the hub 16. Other forms of engagement between the plug and the tray are possible and the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated above. It will be appreciated that the flange 21 and stem 23 may be decorated, for example by printing or embossing, and can be in a wide range of shapes to suit the aesthetic needs of the tray. Furthermore the tray is not limited to having four sections and one supporting member - many variations in tray design are possible whilst incorporating the features of the present invention. CLAIMS

1. A tray comprising a base, an upwardly extending peripheral side wall and one or more support members upstanding from the base, the upper extremities of said one or more support members being flush with upper extremity of the side wall.

2. A tray as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each support member has its uppermost end an annular flange having a substantially flat upward facing surface.

3. A tray as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the or each support is removable.

4. A tray as claimed in claim 3 wherein the or each support lodges in a corresponding socket formed in the base of the tray.

5. A tray as claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each socket has a frusto-conical end which frictionally engages a correspondingly shaped socket.

6. A tray as claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each socket has a rib which affords a snap fit in a correspondingly shaped socket.

7. A tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.