GB2206863A - Packaging tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray (1) for display of sachets is in the form of a unitary thermoformed plastics structure having a plurality of thin grooves (2) each of which is intended to receive a substantially U-shaped portion of the periphery of each sachet. The overall vertical extent of each groove (2) is greater than the local depth of the groove at any point, thereby providing the desired support for the product without causing difficulties with thermoforming. <IMAGE>

Description

PACKAGING TRAY This invention relates to a packaging tray, and more particularly to a packaging tray for holding a plurality of items each of which has a thin substantially planar peripheral zone, e.g. a plurality of envelopes or sachets.

Heretofore, sachets and envelopes for retail sale have in general been placed in a tray or box which provides no positive location of the items in question.

As a result, although the items may stand up-right when the tray or box is full, when some of the items have been sold the remaining items will slide to the bottom of the tray or box, which is unsightly. Further, if, as is often the case, the sachet or envelope contains a liquid or powder, or has an irregularly shaped central portion.

a box or tray of items; even when full, does not provide a satisfactory top surface for stacking a further box or tray of similar items.

We have now devised a tray which is a unitary structure and can be thermoformed from a suitable plastics material, and which includes a plurality of grooves each to receive the planar peripheral zone of an item. The grooves are shaped to support the bottom edge of the peripheral zone and lateral edges of the peripheral zone located above the bottom edge portion of the peripheral zone. In this way, a generally U-shaped portion of the peripheral edge is supported by each groove, and each item is accordingly held in a desired position and orientation until removed from the tray.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a tray for holding a plurality of items each of which has a thin substantially planar peripheral zone, wherein the tray is a unitary thermoformed plastics structure and includes a plurality of grooves each to receive the planar peripheral zone of an item; wherein, when the tray is standing on a horizontal surface, each groove is upwardly open and includes a base portion to receive the bottom edge of the peripheral zone of an item and side portions to receive lateral edges of the peripheral zone located above the level of the base portion.

Preferably, the base portions of the grooves extend across substantially the entire width of the tray with the bottom edge of each base portion co-planar.

With this arrangement, the bottom surface of the tray is in the form of a plurality of co-planar ridges each of which extends across substantially the full width of the tray. These ridges provide a stable base for the tray and products.

By providing grooves each of which has a base portion and side portions as described above, the support provided to each item is comparable to that which would be provided by a groove having a vertical extent equal to the overall vertical extent of the proposed groove. However, in the proposed groove the actual depth of groove at any particular point is less than the overall depth of the groove and accordingly the difficulties of thermoforming deep grooves are obviated.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of tray according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the tray of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the tray of Figure 1: Figures 4 and 5 are respectively cross-sections on the lines IV-IV and \'-V of Figure 1; and Figures 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figures 4 and 5 of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1-5 the illustrated tray 1 is a unitary thermoformed plastics structure and includes a plurality of thin grooves 2 each of which is intended to receive a substantially U-shaped portion of a thin substantially planar peripheral zone of an item; for example an envelope or sachet. When viewed in transverse cross-section the floor of the tray 1, when viewed between adjacent grooves (Figure 4) is stepped and includes a top flange 3 and ledges 4,4A; 5,5A and 6.

The ledges 4 and 4A are co-planar, as are the ledges 5 and 5A.

When viewed in transverse cross-section through a groove (Figure 5) the profile of the tray comprises the flange 3, ledge portions 7 and 7A and a bottom 8.

The ledges 7 and 7A are co-planar and contiguous with the ledges 4 and 4A.

The profiles described produce grooves 2 each of which has a base portion 2A defined between the ledges 5,6, and 5A and the bottom 8, and side portions 2B,2C defined between the r,lane of ledges 4 > 4A and the plane of ledges 5,5A.

In use, an envelope or sachet is mounted in eachgroove with the bottom edge of the peripheral zone of the envelope or sachet located within the groove portion 2A.

and lateral portions of the peripheral zone of the item located within the groove portions 2B,2C. The effect of this arrangement is to support a generally U- shaped zone of the sachet or envelope. It will be noted, however, that the central portion of the generally Ushaped groove plays a relatively small part in supporting the sachet, and the central portion can, if desired, be eliminated completely by making the ledge 6 co-planar with the bottom 8.

It will be noted that the overall depth of the groove 2 (i.e. the distance from ledges 4.4A to bottom & is greater than the local depth of the groove at any point. This is a significant advantage since the required support is given to items held by the tray; but the difficulties associated with forming deep narrow grooves in a thermoformed structure are avoided.

The bottoms 8 of the grooves are co-planar so that when the tray is stood on a horizontal surface 9 the exterior surface of the material forming the grooves provides a stable base for the tray and its contents.

By proiding a separate groove for each item to be held, each item is positioned and held up-right by its associated groove until it is removed from the tray.

In the modified embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the ledges 5 and 6 are replaced by a continuous curved wall 10, each groove being defined between the imaginary surface upon which the walls 10 lie and the bottom 8 of each groove.

Claims (6)

1. A tray for holding a plurality of items each of which has a thin substantially planar peripheral zone, wherein the tray is a unitary thermoformed plastics structure and includes a plurality of grooves each to receive the planar peripheral zone of an item, wherein, when the try is standing on a horizontal surface, each groove is upwardly open and includes a base portion to receive the bottom edge of the peripheral zone of an item and side portions to receive lateral edges of the peripheral zone located above the level of the base portion.

2. A tray according to claim 1 wherein the base portions of the grooves extend across substantially the entire width of the tray with the bottom edges of the base portions co-planar.

3. A tray according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the overall vertical extent of each groove is greater than the maximum local depth of the groove.

4. A tray according to any preceding claim wherein the floor of the tray, when viewed in transverse crosssection taken between adjacent grooves is stepped.

5. A tray according to claim 4 wherein the stepped floor includes a central lowest step, and on each side of the central lowest step, a highest step located adjacent the edge of the tray, and an intermediate step between the highest and lowest step.

6. A tray according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the floor of the tray, when viewed in transverse crosssection taken between adjacent grooves includes a smooth concavely curved central portion.