GB2353276A

GB2353276A - Tray

Info

Publication number: GB2353276A
Application number: GB0020407A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Carr
Original assignee: McKechnie Components Ltd
Current assignee: McKechnie Components Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-19
Filing date: 2000-08-21
Publication date: 2001-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-21
Also published as: GB9919532D0; GB0020407D0; GB2353276B

Abstract

A re-usable tray 10 intended to be used in transporting and displaying containers of produce, such cans of foodstuffs or drink, has a base 12 on which a group of cans may stack. A wall 14 extends around the base 12 to retain cans against movement. Engaging means 16 in the form of hooks or claws allow a stable stack of nested empty trays 10 to be formed. The tray 10, with the containers, may be covered in plastics film and holes 28 may allow information on the containers to be read. The engaging means may comprise hollow bosses.

Description

2353276 Tray The present invention relates to trays, and in particular to

trays for transporting and displaying containers of produce, such as canned foodstuffs or drink.

It is conventional to package cans, bottles and jars of produce by placing them on a disposable cardboard tray and covering the assembly with clear plastic film. This secures the containers to the tray, while allowing the container labels to be read through the film. The result is a package which can readily be handled, stacked and displayed. However, the film and tray become waste when the containers have been sold.

The present invention provides a re-usable tray for transporting and displaying containers of produce, comprising a base on which a group of containers may stand, a retaining formation extending around the base to define an area for receiving a predetermined number of containers of predetermined size and for retaining them against movement across the base, and engaging means by which the tray may engage a like tray when stacked thereon, the engagement serving to form a stable stack.

The containers may be cans, bottles or jars.

The engaging means are preferably located in regions of the base which remain exposed after the tray has been filled with containers. The base may be substantially rectangular, the engaging means being located in corner regions of the rectangle. The engaging means preferably comprise a recess for receiving a portion of a lower tray when stacked. The engaging means may comprise a hollow projection, the hollow providing the recess, and the recess being generally complementary with the outer surface of the projection, whereby the projection may engage the recess of a tray above, and the hollow may engage the projection of a tray below. The engaging means preferably have an inverted V-section.

2 The retaining formation may comprise a wall around the base. Preferably the wall flares outwardly above the base, to receive another like tray in nesting fashion.

Preferably, the base has at least one formation through which the bottom surface of a container standing on the base may be viewed. Preferably, formations as aforesaid are provided at positions to be occupied by each container of a group of containers standing on the base.

The tray is preferably made of synthetic plastics material, preferably by injection moulding.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray according to the present invention, viewed from above; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tray of Fig. 1, viewed from beneath; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section along the line IINII of Fig. 1, showing two trays when stacked; Fig. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the tray of Fig. 1, when loaded with cans; Fig. 6 is a corner detail of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views from above and below, showing a tray 3 generally corresponding with Fig. 1, and showing additional features.

Fig. 1 shows a re-usable tray 10 which in this example is made from synthetic plastics material, preferably by injection moulding. The tray 10 is intended for use in transporting and displaying containers of produce, such as foodstuffs or drink. For reasons of simplicity, the following description will refer only to cans, but it should be understood that the invention can be implemented in relation to other containers, such as bottles and jars and is not limited in this respect.

The tray 10 has a base 12 on which a group of cans may stack. A retaining formation in the form of a wall 14 extends around the base 12 to define an area for receiving a predetermined number of cans of predetermined size and for retaining them against movement across the base, as will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 4. Engaging means 16 are provided, by which the tray 10 may engage a like tray when stacked thereon. This engagement serves to form a stable stack of empty trays 10.

It can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that the tray 10 is generally rectangular in shape, the edges of the tray being defined by the walls 14 along most of the sides of the rectangle. In the corners of the rectangle, the inwardly facing surface of the walls 14 becomes arcuate at 18, while the engaging means 16 project out from the arcuate portions 18 in the form of a claw at each corner.

As can best be seen in Fig. 3, and also in Figs. 1 and 2, each claw 16 is connected to the top of the arcuate portion 18 and extends downwardly and away from the portion 18 to form an inverted V-section. The recess 20 within the claw 16 is generally complementary with the external (upper) surface provided by the arcuate portion 18 and the claw 16 so that one claw 16 may be received within another, as shown in Fig. 3, when one tray is stacked upon another. In Fig. 3, consideration of the upper claw 16 shows that the downwardly directed recess 20 is receiving the claw 16 of the lower tray, while the claw 16 of the lower tray is in turn received within the recess 20 of the tray 4 above. Thus, a stack of trays 10 can be formed by each mating with the tray above and below, in the manner described, and as shown in Fig. 3.

The normal depth of penetration of the mating features can be sufficient to accommodate some misalignment such as could arise from distortion of the product when moulded from plastics.

Fig. 4 illustrates the form of the walls 14 between the claws 16. As can be seen, the walls flare outwardly above the base in order to receive another tray 10 in a nesting arrangement. In the absence of the claws 16, a tray 10 with flared walls 14 would be vulnerable to a nested stack of trays becoming misaligned and disengaged from one another, particularly if a force was applied unevenly, such as at one side of the base 12. This could have the effect of depressing the base 12 downwardly in the region of the force, with the result that the opposite side of the base 12 could lift, possibly lifting clear of the wall of the tray below, allowing the upper tray then to skid across the lower tray, becoming disengaged and possibly toppling a stack of trays.

However, in a tray in accordance with the invention, this would not occur because the claws 16 would be engaging each other throughout the height of the stack, preventing one tray from being depressed in this manner, or from skidding relative to the tray above or below.

Fig. 5 illustrates schematically the tray 10 when filled with twelve cans 22. it can be seen that these are a close fit within the wall 14 so that they are retained against movement relative to the base 12. In particular, the arcuate portions 18 closely follow the shape of the four corner cans to increase further the security with which the cans 22 are retained by the wall 14. The overall shape of the tray 10, when viewed in plan (known as the "footprint" of the tray) is generally rectangular, as can be seen from Fig. S. In particular, the footprint is substantially the smallest rectangular footprint which can accommodate the twelve cans 22. The circular shape of the cans leaves a small area in the four comers of the rectangle which is not used for receiving a can and it is in these four areas that the engaging means 16 are located. Consequently, they are accommodated within the design of the tray without increasing the footprint of the tray above the minimum required to contain the cans. This ensures that space wastage is minimised when trays of cans are stacked alongside each other.

Once the tray 10 has been loaded with cans as shown in Fig. 5, the complete arrangement can be covered in plastics film, of conventional nature, to produce a readily handled package. In so doing, the claws 16 will be covered, but these are used only when empty trays are being stacked for return. It can be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, particularly, that the form of the claws 16 is smooth, without sharp edges or corners, thus minimising the risk of the covering film being pierced.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative arrangement for engagement. In Fig. 6, the engaging means is in the form of a boss upstanding from a flange 26 located in the corner of the tray 10. The boss 24 may be hollow, to be complementary with a similar boss 24 on another tray, either from above or below. However, this example is considered less preferable, as presenting various sharp edges and corners which could pierce covering film.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a further embodiment of a tray, generally corresponding with the tray of Fig. 1, and having additional features which can optionally be incorporated in any of the examples set out above. The numerals of Fig. 1 are used again, in relation to corresponding features.

The tray of Figs. 7 and 8 incorporates a group of holes 28 in the base 12. In this example, which is intended to receive twelve cans, there are twelve holes 28 arranged so that the base of each can is exposed from beneath the base 12. This allows information on the base of the can to be read without removing the can from the tray 10, and in particular, without removing plastics film covering the tray and cans. It is common for the base of a can of produce to bear information such as the expiry date of the contents. The holes 18 allow the 6 expiry dates of the cans to be checked in a simple manner, while leaving the packaging intact.

Various modifications can be made to the examples described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, many different materials can be selected for manufacturing the trays, but an injection moulded plastics material is preferred for simplicity, durability, economy and ease of cleaning. The tray is shown as accommodating twelve cans, which is a conventional number, but could naturally be formed to accommodate a different number, or to accommodate cans in a different arrangement. The walls 14 may incorporate prominences part way along, projecting over the base 12, to help define pockets for receiving cans, and to further help resist movement of cans across the base 12.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

7

Claims

1. A re-usable tray for transporting and displaying containers of produce, comprising a base on which a group of containers may stand, a retaining formation extending around the base to define an area for receiving a predetermined number of containers of predetermined size and for retaining them against movement across the base, and engaging means by which the tray may engage a like tray when stacked thereon, the engagement serving to form a stable stack.

2. A tray according to claim 1, wherein the containers are cans, bottles or jars.

3. A tray according to claim I or 2, wherein the engaging means are located in the regions of the base which remain exposed after the tray has been filled with containers.

4. A tray according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the base is substantially rectangular, the engaging means being located in corner regions of the rectangle.

S. A tray according to any preceding claim, wherein the engaging means comprise a recess for receiving a portion of a lower tray when stacked.

6. A tray according to claim 3, wherein the engaging means comprise a hollow projection, the hollow providing the recess, and the recess being generally complementary with the outer surface of the projection, whereby the projection may engage the recess of a tray above, and the hollow may engage the projection of a tray below.

7. A tray according to any preceding claim, wherein the engaging means have an inverted V-section.

8 8. A tray according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining formation comprises a wall around the base.

9. A tray according to claim 8, wherein the wall flares outwardly above the base, to receive another like tray in nesting fashion.

10. A tray according to any preceding claim, wherein the base has at least one formation through which the bottom surface of a container standing on the base may be viewed.

11. A tray according to claim 10, wherein formations as aforesaid are provided at positions to be occupied by each container of a group of containers standing on the base.

12. A tray according to any preceding claim, wherein the tray is made of synthetic plastics material.

13. A tray according to claim 12, manufactured by injection moulding.

14. A re-usable tray substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.