GB2206101A - Twin tier tray package - Google Patents

Abstract

A multipack comprises two identical trays (T1, T2) disposed one on top of the other and secured together by a cover (30) to provide a twin tier tray pack for containers. The cover has a top panel (32) covering the tops of the containers (J2) in the upper tray and side wall panels (34c, 36c; 34e, 36e ) glued to the sides of both trays and additionally locked to the sides of the lower tray. To open the pack and separate the trays, the cover is formed with upper and lower tear-away strips (34b, 36b; 34d, 36d). First the lower tear strips (34d, 36d) are removed to separate the trays (T1,T2),bearing one (lower) tray which is open to expose the containers, the other tray, remaining closed by the cover portions to provide a multiple unit shelf pack. <IMAGE>

Description

TWIN TIER TRAY PACKAGE This invention relates to a multipack in which two similar trays loaded with product and disposed one on top of the other are secured together by a cover to provide a twin tier tray package for distribution.

For retailing purposes, the twin tier package is opened and the trays separated. To this end, the cover is formed with detachable tear-away strips which can be removed so that the upper tray can be separated from the lower tray to leave one tray (the lower) open whereby the containers are exposed and the other tray (the upper) closed by remaining portions of the cover to provide a multiple shelf pack.

All the component parts of the package are formed from paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material.

The invention provides a package formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material which package comprises a pair of like trays loaded with product containers and disposed one atop the other and a cover securing together the trays thereby to provide a twin tier package, wherein the cover includes first frangible means by which the cover is broken to permit the trays to be separated such that one tray is open whereby the containers are exposed for individual selection and the other tray remains closed by attached cover portions to provide a multiple container unit.

According to a feature of the invention, the cover may include second frangible means whereby said cover portion can be removed to open said other tray whereby the containers in said other tray are exposed for individual selection.

According to another feature of the invention, said cover may comprise a top wall overlying the tops of the containers in the uppermost tray, upper wall portions hinged to opposed side edges of said top wall, intermediate wall portions secured to respective side walls of the uppermost tray and lower wall portions secured to respective side walls of the lowermost tray and wherein said first frangible means detachably connects together said intermediate and lower wall portions and wherein said second frangible means detachably connects together said upper and intermediate wall portions.

Preferably said first and second frangible means comprise tear-away strip portions of said cover.

It is also preferred that the uppermost tray includes downwardly depending guide tabs which cooperate with containers present in the lower tray to restrict relative transverse movement between the trays. This feature is of particular advantage when the cover is being applied to the stacked trays during the packaging process.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a tray incorporated in the twin tier package according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a tray formed from the blank shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a twin tier package according to the invention in which a lower tear-away strip is shown partially removed; and Referring first to Figure 1, the tray blank 10 comprises an elongate base panel 12, opposed side panels 14, 16 hinged to the base panel along longitudinal fold lines 18, 20 respectively and end panels 22, 24 hinged to the base panel along transverse fold lines 26, 28 respectively.In order to maintain the side and end panels upright relative to the base panel in the erected tray shown in Figure 2, each corner of the tray blank is formed with a securing flap fl-f4 by which the end panels are secured to the side panels.

Along each side of the tray there is formed a series of foldable tabs T1-T4 and T5-T8 hinged to both the base panel and a respective one of the side panels. These tabs can be manipulated to form a downwardly depending portion Pl-P4 P5-P8 by displacing the foldable tabs inwardly of the tray. The downwardly depending portions provide guide elements along each side of the tray base as will be referred to later. Further, each side wall panel of the tray is formed with a pair of spaced locking apertures Al, A2; A3, A4 each to be engaged by a locking tab provided by an overwrapped cover panel of the package also referred to hereinafter.

In order to form a package according to the invention, a first lower tray T1 is erected from a tray blank 10 similar to tray T2 shown in Figure 2 but in which the foldable tabs are not inwardly displaced. The tray therefore does not have the downwardly extending guide elements provided by the tabs. This tray is then loaded with containers Jl such as glass jars in two rows of five jars each and provides the lowermost tray of a twin tier package. Tray T2 is then formed so that it does display the downwardly extending guide elements and is loaded with containers J2 and then disposed atop lower tray T1.The guide elements in tray T2 are positioned so as to abut against upper wall (or lid) portions of the containers J1 in the lower tray so as to prevent transverse movement of the upper tray T2 relative to the lower tray T1 during application of an outer wrapper 30.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, outer wrapper 30 is applied to the stacked trays T1 and T2 and comprises a top panel 32 which overlies the tops of the containers in the upper tray T2 and side panels 34, 36 hinged to opposed longitudinal edges of the top panel 32. Side panel 34 comprises an upper wall portion 34a, which itself includes a series of container retaining openings R; an upper tearaway strip 34b; an intermediate wall portion 34c; a lower tear-away strip 34d; and a lower wall portion 34e.

Likewise, side panel 36 comprises and upper wall portion 36a, also having a series of container retaining openings R'; an upper tear-away strip 36b; an intermediate wall portion 36c; an intermediate wall portion 36c; a lower tear-away strip 36d; and a lower wall portion 36e.

Suitable frangible means other than tear-away strips known in the art may. be utilized in order to remove the cover partially or completely.

The wrapper is secured to the trays T1 and T2 by gluing the intermediate and lower wall portions thereof to the respective side walls of the trays. Thus, intermediate wall portions of the wrapper 34c and 36c are glued to side walls 16' and 14' respectively of upper tray T2 while lower wall portions of the wrapper 34e and 36e are glued to side walls 16 and 14 respectively, of lower tray T1.

In addition the lower wall portions of the wrapper 34e and 36e each include locking tabs 't' which engage with the locking apertures A1-A4 respectively to enhance the connection between the wrapper and the lower tray T1. A twin tier multiple unit package is thereby provided for distribution and sale which may be opened to gain access to the contents of both trays by removing all the tearaway strips provided.

However, it is envisaged that a retailer would separate the trays of a twin tier package and display the individual trays. Thus, in order to separate the trays, first both the lower tear-away strips are detached thereby allowing upper tray T2 to be removed from lower tray T1.

It will be appreciated that this opening action provides one tray T1, which is open so that all the containers J1 are accessible for sale as individual units whereas the other tray T2 which remains closed by the remaining portions of the wrapper 30 can be sold as a single multipack unit. The lower wall portions 34e, 36e of the cover remain attached to side walls 16 and 14 of tray T1 to increase the rigidity of the tray thereby allowing a lower calibre paperboard to be used that otherwise would be necessary. If desired, the retailer may offer the containers of tray T2 for sale as individual units simply by detaching the upper tear-away strips 34b and 36b and then discarding top panel 32 and upper wall portions 34 and 36 of the wrapper 30 thereby producing an open tray similar to tray T1. As with tray Tl, rigidity of tray T2 is enhanced in that the intermediate wall portions of the wrapper 34c and 36c are left attached to the side walls 16' and 14' of tray T2.

Claims (5)

1. A package formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material which package comprises a pair of like trays loaded with product containers and disposed one atop the other and a cover securing together the trays thereby to provide a twin tier package, wherein the cover includes first frangible means by which the cover is broken to permit the trays to be separated such that one tray is open whereby the containers are exposed for individual selection and the other tray remains closed by attached cover part ions, to provide a multiple container unit.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes second frangible means whereby said cover partition can be removed to open said other tray whereby the containers in said other tray are exposed for individual selection.

3. A package according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said cover comprises a top wall overlying the tops of the containers in the uppermost tray, upper wall portions hinged to opposed side edges of said top wall, intermediate wall portions secured to respective side walls of the uppermost tray and lower wall portions secured to respective side walls of the lowermost tray and wherein said first frangible means detachably connects together said intermediate and lower wall portions and wherein said second frangible means detachably connects together said upper and intermediate wall portions.

4. A package according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second frangible means comprise tear-away strip portions of said cover.

5. A package according tovany of the preceding claims wherein said uppermost tray includes downwardly depending guide tabs which cooperate with containers present in said lower tray to restrict relative transverse movement between the trays.