GB2243360A

GB2243360A - Packaging trays

Info

Publication number: GB2243360A
Application number: GB9009550A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Taylor
Original assignee: Wellcome Foundation Ltd
Current assignee: Wellcome Foundation Ltd
Priority date: 1990-04-27
Filing date: 1990-04-27
Publication date: 1991-10-30
Also published as: GB9009550D0

Abstract

A tray for packaging a plurality of identical articles comprises a base member (1) having a central upright portion (6) projecting from its upper surface. This is surrounded by a plurality of substantially identical recesses (6) formed in the body of the base member (1). The upper surface has a side wall subtending therefrom defining a lower rim so that the lower rim and base of the recesses are substantially in the same plane. <IMAGE>

Description

TRAY The present invention relates to a tray for the packaging of a plurality of substantially identical articles, particularly containers of a pharmaceutical composition.

According to the present invention there is provided a tray for packaging a plurality of identical articles comprising a base member having an upper surface, a central upright portion projecting from the upper surface of the base member surrounded by a plurality of substantially identical recesses formed in the body of the base member, said upper surface extending to form a side wall subtending therefrom defining a lower rim so that the lower rim and base of the recesses are substantially in the same plane.

In a further aspect of the present invention the tray may conveniently be packaged in a box.

The base member of the tray may take any shape, but for the convenience of packaging the tray it is preferably rectangular (including square). The upper surface of the base member may be chamfered to provide any aesthetic features of shape, but advantageously is heptagonal in planform. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of recesses are symmetrically disposed around the central upright portion. The recesses may have any cross-sectional shape, but are preferably of circular cross-section for locating the articles in a predetermined array. Each recess generally has a similar depth and is shaped to receive an end of an article as a friction fit therein. Each recess is preferably also of sufficient depth to locate an article in place but advantageously does not obscure or damage a label on the article.

The articles may have any shape and be made of any suitable material, and may comprise bottles made from plastics having for example a square cross-section; or circular in cross-section, made from glass.

Preferably the top of each bottle is aligned with the top of the central upright portion thus allowing the tray and its contents to be packed easily and neatly into a box with the top of the bottles providing support in association with the central portion for the package. Accordingly there is provided as a further feature of the present invention a package comprising a tray of the present invention having articles located in the recesses.

The central upright portion of the tray is ideally a tower which may be any shape, but is advantageously frusto-conical, thus providing additional space for inserting the fingers to remove articles from the recesses. The frusto-conical tower is preferably integral with the base member, and as such provides rigidity to the tray and assists in removing the tray from any surrounding packaging.

The tower and base member may be manufactured separately; alternatively the tower may be frangibly attached or detachably located in association with the base member so that in use it may be detached and used as a measuring cup for dispening a liquid pharmaceutical composition. In a particularly preferred feature of the present invention the frusto-conical tower has a central recess, preferably of substantially circular cross-section located in the end remote from the base member suitable for retaining a measuring cup.

The height of the tower is preferably the height of the box in which the tray may be packaged so that the measuring cup is maintained in position by a lid of the box.

Typically the height of the tower from the surface of the base member to the end remote from the base is about twice the depth of the recesses, although the exact height of the tower in a preferred embodiment, is dependent upon the height of the containers to be located in the tray. In a preferred embodiment the tower is between 1.5 to 2 times as high as the depth of a recess.

The tray is most preferably manufactured in one piece by thermoform molding and a frusto-conical tower assists in the manufacturing process by enabling the tray to be removed easily from the mould. The trays are advantageously made from a suitable plastics material, preferably a thermosetting plastics such as high impact polystyrene.

In a particular preferred embodiment of the invention the tray has a substantially square base member having chamfered upper edges to form a heptagonal shaped upper surface of the base member, wherein seven circular recesses are symmetrically disposed around an integral central frusto-conical tower, said tower having a central circular recess located in the end remote from the base member for retaining a measuring cup.

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and to one side of the tray.

Figure 2 is a view from below.

Figure 3 is a side view on arrow III Figure 4 is a side view on arrow IV Figure 5 is a cross section on line V - V Referring to figure 1 the tray has a substantially square base member (1) having each corner (2) rounded. The base member (1) has a platform (3) of heptagonal plan form which is provided as chamfered upper edges (4) of the base member. Symmetrically disposed within the heptagonal platform (3) are seven circular recesses (5) arranged around an integral central frusto-conical tower (6). The tower (6) has a circular recess (7) suitable for retaining a measuring cup (not shown).

It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the details particularly described above and that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. A tray for packaging a plurality of identical articles comprising a base member having an upper surface, a central upright portion projecting from the upper surface of the base member surrounded by a plurality of substantially identical recesses formed in the body of the base member, said upper surface extending to form a side wall subtending therefrom defining a lower rim so that the lower rim and base of the recesses are substantially in the same plane.

2. A tray as claimed in claim 1 wherein the central upright portion is a tower.

3. A tray as claimed in claim 1 and 2 wherein the tower has a frusto-conical shape.

4. A tray as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein the tower has a central circular recess located in the end remote from the base member for retaining a measuring cup.

5. A tray as claimed in 4 wherein a measuring cup is located in the recess.

6. A tray as claimed in claims 1 to 5 wherein the tower is between

1.5 to 2.0 times as high as the depth of a recess.

7. A tray as claimed in claims 1 to 6 wherein the tray has a substantially square base member.

8. A tray as olaimed in claims 1 to 7 wherein the tray is manufactured in one piece by thermoform moulding.

9. A package as claimed in claims 1 to 8 wherein the tray has articles located in the recesses.

10. A package as claimed in claim 9 wherein the tray has containers located in the recesses.

11. A box as claimed in claims 1 to 10 wherein the tray is contained in a box.

12. A tray for packaging a plurality of identical articles wherein the tray has a substantially square base member having chamfered upper edges to form a heptagonal shaped upper surface of the base member wherein seven circular recesses are symmetrically disposed around an integral central frusto-conical tower, said tower having a central circular recess located in the end remote from the base member for retaining a measuring cup.

13. A tray substantially as herein described with reference to any of figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.