NZ250824A - Cardboard blank and interengageable stacking trays formed therefrom - Google Patents

Description

2508 N-Z- PATEMT OFFICE NEW ZEALAND 24 JAN 1995 PATENTS ACT 1953 RECEIVED COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL NO: 250824 DATED: 4 FEBRUARY 1994 A BLANK FOR A TRAY AND A TRAY FORMED THEREFROM WE, KIWI PACKAGING LIMITED, of Henderson Road, Hastings, New Zealand, a New Zealand company, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: -1- ' 250824 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a blank for a tray and a tray formed therefrom.

More particularly but not exclusively the present invention relates to trays of corrugated board used for packaging horticultural produce such as fruit and vegetables.

Such trays need to achieve an efficient use of board i.e. a minimum of wastage, a speedy and efficient manufacture, and a resultant tray which can efficiently and safely store and transport the required produce.

Typically such trays will be self-stacking so that a number of the trays can be stacked one on top of the other with means provided to enable the trays to be interengaged.

The stacking facility of each tray needs to provide an efficient and effective interengagement between adjacent trays in a stack.

It is thus an object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a tray, and a blank therefor, which will at least go some way in achieving the above objectives or which at least will provide the public with a useful choice. 250 8 24 Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a blank for a tray having a base portion with a pair of opposite side portions foldable relative to said base portion to form respective side walls and respective lid portions, each said side portion being provided at each respective end thereof with an end portion, end portions of opposite side portions at each respective end foldable in overlapping relationship with one another to form part of an end wall, one of said end portions having at least one upstanding tab member, said base portion having an extending portion at each end which is foldable upwardly to extend over said folded end portions to also form part of said end wall, each extending portion having one or more apertures therein to accommodate the or each said tab member.

Preferably each lid portion includes at least one aperture to accommodate the or each said tab member.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for a tray substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2508 According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a tray formed from a blank as defined in any one of the three immediately preceding paragraphs.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments thereof and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1: shows a plan view of a blank for forming a tray according to one possible embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2: shows diagrammatically the blank of Figure 1 in its assembled form.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings a blank is referenced generally by arrow 1. The blank 1 may be formed by any suitable technique and from any suitable material although in one preferred embodiment of the invention the blank 1 will be formed from corrugated cardboard which may be single or multi ply.

The blank 1 is shown with a rectangular base portion 2 from which extends a pair of opposite side portions 3 250824 which can be folded about fold lines 4 to form the side walls of the resultant tray. Side edge portions 5 may then be foldable about fold lines 6 to form lid portions extending at least partially over, and spaced apart above, the base portion 2.

The side portions 3 are shown at either end having end portions 7 and 8 respectively, each of which is foldable relative to a respective side portion 3 along fold lines 9.

With the side portions 3 themselves folded about the base portion 2 to form the side walls of the resultant tray, the folding of the end portions 7 and 8 will result in the overlapping end portions 7, 8 forming part of the end walls 22 of the resultant tray 23 (see Figure 2).

The end walls 22 of the resultant tray 23 will in this embodiment be completed by base end portions 10 foldable relative to the base portion 2 about respective fold lines 11. The base end portions 10 are each shown with respective edge portions 12 foldable relative to the end portions 10 about fold regions 13. The regions 13 are each shown associated with one or more apertures 14 which can engage over and accommodate respective tabs 15. Two apertures 14 are shown provided in this 250824 embodiment on each of the end portions 7 to accommodate the same number of tabs 15.

It is seen that corresponding tabs 15 are omitted in the end portions 8 so that only a single thickness of the board material of the tabs 15 is required to be accommodated in a respective aperture 14. In the illustrated embodiment the end portions 8 do have small projections 15A coinciding in position with the tabs 15 of the end portions 7. The projections 15A are able to provide some reinforcement for the base of a respective tab member 15 in use.

Each of the end portions 7, but not the end portions 8, is also shown provided with one or more, two being shown, cut-outs or apertures 16. With the end portions 7 folded over in overlapping relationship with the respective end portions 8, the cut-outs or apertures 16 will be aligned with a respective aperture 17 provided in the base portion 2.

The omission of corresponding apertures 16 in the end portions 8 will result in a space left in the apertures 17 of only a single thickness of material.

This space will therefore coincide with the single thickness of material of the respective tabs 15 which can thereby be securely accommodated in an upper tray in a stack of such trays. 2508 In the resultant tray 23 (see Figure 2) the tabs 15 will therefore be accommodated in a respective aperture 14 and will also extend through a respective aperture 18 in the lid portions 5. An upper part of each tab 15 will thereby be available for use in an interengaging relationship in a respective aperture 17 in an upper tray of a stack of such trays.

The secure holding of the blank portions forming the end walls of the tray as described above can avoid the need for adhesive or other securement means so as to simplify and reduce the cost of manufacture of the tray.

The flutes, illustrated very diagrammatically by lines 19 are shown extending transversely of the blank 1 so that in the resultant side walls 30 and end walls 22 formed by the portions 3, 7 and 8, the flutes 19 will be extending in a substantially vertical direction so as to contribute to the strength of the resultant tray. In forming the folding region 13 the flutes in that region may be crushed to provide a sufficient width of region to extend over the overlapping end portions 7 and 8.

The end wall portions 10 are also shown provided with respective apertures 20 to facilitate the carrying of the resultant tray. The side wall portions 3 are 250824 also shown provided with respective slits or apertures 21 to facilitate ventilation within the resultant tray.

It is seen that the blank 1 can be formed from a single sheet of material with a minimum amount of material needing to be cut out and thereby wasted.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 250 8 24

Claims (3)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. A blank for a tray having a base portion with a pair of opposite side portions foldable relative to said base portion to form respective side walls and respective lid portions, each said side portion being provided at each respective end thereof with an end portion, end portions of opposite side portions at each respective end foldable in overlapping relationship with one another to form part of an end wall, one of said end portions having at least one upstanding tab member, said base portion having an extending portion at each end which is foldable upwardly to extend over said folded end portions to also form part of said end wall, each extending portion having one or more apertures therein to accommodate the or each said tab member.

2. A blank as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each lid portion includes at least one aperture to accommodate the or each said tab member.

3. A blank as claimed in Claim 2 wherein each end portion has a pair of upstanding tab members and each said extending portion and lid portion includes a pair of said apertures to accommodate a respective said tab member. °-x /■>" V 2508 - 10 - A blank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said base portion at or adjacent its fold line connecting with each said extending portion has at least one aperture commensurate with the size of the or each said tab member. A blank as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said one end portion but not the other end portion has at least one cut-out to be positioned above the or a respective said aperture in said extending portion. A blank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims formed from corrugated cardboard having flutes which in the side walls and the folded end portions will extend substantially vertical relative to the base portion. A blank as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said flutes are crushed to form fold lines for said extending portions as they extend over said folded end portions. A blank as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the other of said end portions at each end of said side portions is provided with a projection corresponding in position with that of said tab member on the said one end portion so as 250824 11 10. 11. to reinforce said tab member at its base when said end portions are in said overlapping relationship. A blank substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A tray formed from a blank according to any one of the preceding claims. A tray substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. PT0506119