US3285493A

US3285493A - Compartmented tray structure

Info

Publication number: US3285493A
Application number: US374102A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merrill J Coe; Curtis D Rice
Original assignee: Brown Co
Current assignee: Fort James Corp
Priority date: 1964-06-10
Filing date: 1964-06-10
Publication date: 1966-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1966 M. J. COE ETAL COMPARTMENTED TRAY STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed June 10, 1964 Nov. 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1964 United States Patent 3,285,493 COMPARTMENTED TRAY STRUCTURE Merrill J. Coe and Cartis 1). Rice, both of Kalamazoo,

Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Brown Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,102 10 Claims. (Cl. 229-27) ever, the addition of separate partitions to the tray often increases the cost of the tray to a prohibitive extent.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tray or container structure having vertical partitions dividing the tray into a plurality of compartments. It is a further object to provide a structure of the type described which may be formed from an integral blank of an inexpensive sheetform material such a paperboard. It is an additional object to provide such a structure which is relatively strong and retains its form through normal usage. It is an additional object to provide a structure which is inexpensive to produce and which may be formed by means of automatic machinery. The accomplishment of the foregoing and additional objects will become more fully apparent hereinafter.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a blank suitably cut and scored for forming a partitioned tray according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a tray erected from the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the erected tray, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 44 of FIG. 3, showing baked goods in several compartments of the tray.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of the invention, wherein all the parts are numbered and wherein the same numbers are used to refer to corresponding parts throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a blank 1 is shown suitably cut and scored to form a bottom 2,

side panels

3 and 4, and

end panels

5 and 6.

Glue flaps

7, 8, 9 and 10 are provided at the ends of the end panels for securing the end panels to the side panels.

The central portion of the bottom 2 of the tray is suitably cut and scored to provide a partition member 11 hingedly connected to the bottom at a score line 12 and having a media-11y positioned tab 13 at its proximal end, a partition member 14 hingedly connected to the bottom 2 at a score line 15 and having a medially positioned tab 16 at its proximal end, a partition member 17 hingedly connected to the bottom 2 at a score line 18 and having an upwardly positioned tab 19 at its proximal end, and a partition member 20 hingedly connected to the bottom at a score line 21 having an upwardly positioned tab 22 at its proximal end. A central web 24 is divided by a score line 25 colinear with the

score lines

18 and 21 into

toes

26 and 27. The

score lines

12 and 15 are substantial-1y colinear, and the

score lines

18 and 21 are substan tially colinear, the

score lines

12 and 15 being substantially perpendicular to the score lines 18 and 211. The

partition members

17 and 20 are provided with medially positioned

recesses

28 and 29, respectively at their proximal ends, and the

partition members

11 and 14 are provided with upwardly positioned

recesses

30 and 31, respectively, at their proximal ends. Although the

recesses

30 and 31 are not strictly recesses with respect to the

score lines

18 and 21, they are in fact recesses with respect to the proximal ends of the

partition members

11 and 14 as de-. fined by the

tabs

13 and 16 respectively.

In erecting the tray of the invention, the

end panels

5 and 6 are glued to the

side panels

3 and 4 by means of the glue flaps 7-10. The

partition members

11, 14, 17, and 20 may then be extended vertically. The

partition members

17 and 20 may first be placed in erect vertical position with the

tabs

19 and 22 in overlapping engagement. In a preferred embodiment the

tabs

19 and 22 are placed in transposed overlapping engagement, that is, they are moved past each other so that their opposite surfaces engage. The tabs then cooperate with the

toes

26 and 27, which upon erection of the tray come into sideby-side relationship with at least a portion of toe 26 in overlapping engagement with at least a portion of toe 27 to form an interlocking structure. The recesses 28 and Q3 cooperate to form a slot retaining the

tabs

13 and 16, and the

recesses

30 and 31 cooperate to form a slot retaining the

tabs

19 and 22. When the structure is fully erected and the tabs are retained in their respective slots, an interlocking radial partition structure is formed, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. In FIG. 4 the tray is shown having baked goods 32 in the compartments.

The side panels and end panels may be made of various sizes and shapes, either deep or shallow. The panels may be secured in a position perpendicular to the bottom, as shown in the drawings, or alternatively may be secured at either an acute or obtuse angle with respect thereto, in forms well known in the art. Instead of glue flaps, interlocking structures, tapes, or other securing means may be utilized to secure the panels together.

The partition structure may also vary considerably from that shown. The partitions may be made higher or lower, longer or shorter. The corners of the partitions may be rounded as shown, or may be left pointed. Complete box structures with covers may also be used instead of open trays. However, it is necessary that the basic structure be utilized, that is, a structure of four partitions oriented substantially perpendicular to each other, two opposing partition flaps having upper tabs and two opposing partition flaps having lower tabs, with slots appropriately formed to receive the tabs. If desired a plurality of partition structures may be utilized in a large tray to divide the tray into a plurality of compartments.

The partition tray of the present invention is useful for many purposes where containers for four or groups of four items are to beseparated so that they do not contact each other. The structure is relatively inexpensive and simple to fabricate and erect. Once erected, a relatively strong permanent structure is provided which will withstand substantial abuse during shipment and storage.

In a further embodiment of the invention, any one or more of the partition members may be provided with tabs and recesses on both ends rather than a single end, co-operating as a common partition with three other pairtition members to form six compartments, and so on.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide a radial partition structure, said structure comprising a first pair of vertically arranged partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of vertically oriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partitions, both said first pair of partition members and said second pair of partition members being provided with tabs and recesses at their proximal ends, the recesses of said first partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said second pair of partition members, and the recesses of said second pair of partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members, whereby said partition members are interlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

2. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide a radial partition structure, said structure comprising a first pair of vertically arranged partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of vertically oriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partitions, said first pair of partition members being provided with upwardly positioned tabs and medially positioned recesses at their proximal ends, said second pair of partition members being provided with medially positioned tabs and upwardly positioned recesses at their proximal ends, the recesses of said first partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said second pair of partition members, and the recesses of said second pair of partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition.

members in overlapping engagement, whereby said partition members are interlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

3. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide a radial partition structure comprising a first pair of vertically oriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of vertically oriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partition members, said first pair of partition members being provided at their proximal ends with upwardly positioned tabs, medially positioned recesses, and downwardly positioned toes arranged in overlapping engagement, said second pair of partition members being provided at their proximal ends with medially positioned tabs and upwardly positioned recesses, the recesses of said first partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said sec-nd pair of partition members in overlapping engagement, and the recesses of said second partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members in overlapping engagement, whereby said partition members are interlocked to form :a structure defining four compartments.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the proximal ends of said second pair of partition members are recessed at their lower portion to clear the toes of said first pair of partition members.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the toes are hingedly connected along a score line.

6. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide a radial partition structure comprising a first pair of vertically oriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of vertically oriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partition members, said first pair of partition members being provided at their proximal ends with upwardly positioned tabs, medially positioned recesses, and downwardly positioned toes arranged in overlapping engagement, said second pair of partition members being provided at their proximal ends with medially positioned tabs and upwardly positioned recesses, the recesses of said first partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said second pair of partition members in overlapping engagement, and the recesses of said second partition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members in transposed overlapping engagement, whereby said partition members are interlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

7. An integral blank for forming a container having a radial partition structure, said blank being suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom, a first pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines and adapted to be vertically arranged, and a second pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partitions and adapted to be vertically oriented, both said first pair of partition members and said second pair of partition members being provided with tabs and recesses at their proximal ends, the recesses of said first partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said second pair of partition members, and the recesses of said second pair of partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members, whereby, when erected, said partition members are interlocked to form a structure defining four compartrnents.

8. An integral blank for forming a container having a radial partition structure, said blank being suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom, a first pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines and adapted to be vertically arranged, and a second pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partitions and adapted to be vertically oriented, said first pair of partition members being provided with upwardly positioned tabs and medially positioned recesses at their proximal ends, said second pair of partition members being provided with medially positioned tabs and upwardly positioned recesses at their proximal ends, the recesses of said first partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said second pair of partition members, and the recesses of said second pair of partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members in overlapping engagement, whereby, when erected, said partition members are interlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

9. An integral blank for forming a container having a radial partition structure, said blank being suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom, a first pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines and adapted to be vertically oriented, and a second pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partition members and adapted to be vertically oriented, said first pair of partition members being provided at their proximal ends with upwardly positioned tabs, media-11y positioned recesses, and downwardly positioned toes adapted to be arranged in overlapping engagement, said second pair of partition members being provided at their proximal ends with medially positioned tabs and upwardly positioned recesses, the recesses of said first partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said second pair of partition members in overlapping engagement, and the recesses of said second partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members in overlapping engagement, whereby, when erected, said partition members are interlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

10. An integral blank according to claim 9, wherein the proximal ends of said second pair of partition members are recessed at their lower portion to clear the toes of said first pair of partition members When said partition structure is erected, and wherein said toes are hingedly connected along a score line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,723,796 11/1955 Malmgren 229--29 10 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A BOTTOM SUITABLY CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE A RADIAL PARTITION STRUCTURE, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FIRST OF VERTICALLY ARRANGED PARTITION MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM AT SUBSTANTIALLY COLINEAR SCORE LINES, AND A SECOND PAIR OF VERTICALLY ORIENTED PARTITION MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM AT SUBSTANTIALLY COLINEAR SCORE LINES SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE SCORE LINES OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF PARTITIONS, BOTH SAID FIRST PAIR OF PARTITION MEMBERS AND SAID SECOND PAIR OF PARTITION MEMBRS BEING PROVIDED WITH TABS AND RECESSES AT THEIR PROXIMAL ENDS, THE RECESSES OF SAID FIRST PARTITION MEMBERS COOPERATING TO DEFINE A SLOT