US3727791A - Tray - Google Patents

Tray Download PDF

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Publication number
US3727791A
US3727791A US00079109A US3727791DA US3727791A US 3727791 A US3727791 A US 3727791A US 00079109 A US00079109 A US 00079109A US 3727791D A US3727791D A US 3727791DA US 3727791 A US3727791 A US 3727791A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
members
wall
wall members
grid
curved
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00079109A
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English (en)
Inventor
H Fraser
H Brookshire
L Johnson
M Shutt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DURACO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS Inc
Original Assignee
Phillips Petroleum Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Phillips Petroleum Co filed Critical Phillips Petroleum Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3727791A publication Critical patent/US3727791A/en
Assigned to DURACO PRODUCTS, INC., A DE CORP. reassignment DURACO PRODUCTS, INC., A DE CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY A DE CORP.
Assigned to DURACO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC. reassignment DURACO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: DURACO PRODUCTS, INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers

Definitions

  • Trays of various kinds have been widely employed in moving commodities, e.g., foodstuffs, from one location to another. It is highly desirable that said trays be of a durable, rigid, light weight structure, be easy to handle in use, be easy to store when not in use, be of a simple and inexpensive construction which is easy to manufacture, and be economical in cost, regardless of size. Said tray should be easy to clean and all surfaces thereof should be self-draining. It is also highly desirable that said trays be resistant to collection of foreign matter, e.g., dirt, flour, etc., in any comers, angles, etc. in the tray structure. Few, if any, trays meeting all of the above requirements have been provided by the prior art.
  • the present invention solves the above-described problems by providing a tray which meets all of the above requirements.
  • a particular feature of the trays of the invention is that all surfaces of the tray structure are self-draining during cleaning.
  • the trays are resistant to the collection of foreign matter in or on the structure thereof, e.g., at the junctions between structural members.
  • a self-draining tray comprising, in combination: a pair of upstanding opposed first wall members; a pair of upstanding opposed second transverse wall members; said first wall members being joined in a curved junction along the upstanding edges thereof to the upstanding edges of said second wall members; a bottom member joined in an upwardly curved junction to the lower portions of said first wall members and to the lower portions of said second wall members to provide an open top structure; and wherein said wall members extend in a generally vertical direction throughout their structure so as to be self-draining even when said tray is in an inverted position.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating features of the improved trays of the invention and showing a fragment of the gridwork bottom structure in detail.
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a tray fabricated in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1. 1
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating details of the corner construction of a tray of the invention, and also illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 4
  • FIG. 5 is a cross section, similar to the cross section illustrated in FIG. 3, illustrating another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is another fragmentary plan view illustrating details of the bottom construr tion in one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated a generally rectangular tray 10 comprising a pair of upstanding, opposed first or side wall members 12 and 12.
  • a pair of upstanding, opposed second or end walls 14 and 14 are disposed transverse to said first walls and are joined in a curved junction along the upstanding edges thereof to the upstanding edges of said first wall members.
  • a bottom member is joined in an upwardly curved junction to the lower portions of said first wall members and to the lower portions of said second wall members to provide an open top structure.
  • Said bottom member comprises a plurality of intersecting grid members, designated generally by the reference numeral 16, which are joined at the ends thereof to said wall members.
  • the radius of curvature 18 at the junctions of said wall members and the radius of curvature 20 at the junctions of said bottom member(s) with said wall members are at least one-fourth inch.
  • each of said wall members is curved outwardly in a generally vertical direction to form a flange or rim.
  • the radius of curvature 24 on the underside of the flange, and the radius of curvature 26 on the upper side of said flange are preferably each at least one-fourth inch. 7
  • each wall member of at least one pair of said wall members is offset outwardly in a generally vertical direction, as at 28, from the lower portion thereof to form a curved internal shoulder on the inner walls of said wall members and a curved inverted external shoulder on the outer walls of said wall members.
  • the radius of curvature 30 of said internal shoulder and the radius of curvature 32 of said external shoulder are at least one-fourth inch.
  • said internal shoulder and said external shoulder extend completely around the periphery of the tray.
  • said shoulders can be provided from large portions of said wall members and said shoulders need only be provided in one pair of the opposing wall members, e.g., and 14'. Even when said shoulders are provided in only one pair of said wall members, they can be provided by one or a series of intermittent small offset portions extending along said wall members.
  • the position of said shoulders along the height of said wall members can be varied in accordance with the desired degree of nesting the trays and the desired ease of removing an individual tray from nesting position at the top of a stack of trays.
  • Said shoulders are preferably located so that the walls of one tray do not jam against the walls of an adjacent tray of the nested trays.
  • said gridwork bottom comprises a first plurality of grid members 34 which are disposed generally parallel to said second wall members l4 and 14, are spaced apart from each other, and extend between said pair of first wall members 12 and 12.
  • a second plurality of grid members 36 are disposed generally parallel to said first wall members 12 and 12', are spaced apart from each other, and extend between said pair of second wall members-14 and 14'.
  • Said second grid members are disposed generally parallel to said first wall members in an intersecting direction with respect to said first grid members so as to form a junction therewith and form a plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said wall members.
  • Said wall members form one side of the outer rows of said rectangles.
  • a fillet 38 is provided between each pair of adjacent grid members at said junction of said grid members.
  • the radius of curvature of said fillet is preferably at least one-fourth inch.
  • This structure is illustrated in FIG. 6.
  • This embodiment of the tray of the invention can be provided with the wall structure illustrated in FIG. 3, or with the wall structure illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • said gridwork bottom member can further comprise a third plurality of grid members 40.
  • Each one of said third grid members 40 extends substantially diagonally across one of each of said rectangles and is joined to said first and second grid members at saidjunction thereof to form junctions of said first, second,-and third grid members.
  • a fourth plurality of grid members 42 is also provided.
  • Each one of said grid members 42 extends substantially diagonally across one of each of said rectangles in a direction to integrally intersect said diagonally extending grid members40 at approximately the center of the rectangle and is joined to said first and second grid members at said junctions thereof to form junctions of said first, second, and fourth grid members.
  • Fillets 38 are provided between each pair of adjacent grid members at all of said junctions.
  • each rectangle of said outer rows of rectangles there is provided a grid member 44 which extends from the intersection of said diagonally extending grid members 40 and 42 to one of said wall members.
  • a fillet 38 is also provided at the junction of said grid member 44 with wall 12 and the intersection of said diagonally extending grid members 40 and 42.
  • This embodiment-ofthe invention can be provided with either the wall structure illustrated in FIG. 3 or thewall structure illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • said gridwork bottom can be coved upwardly a small distance, e.g., one-sixteenth to three-sixteenths inch, from the outer edge toward the center of the tray. This will provide increased accommodation for heavier loads, i.e., without causing the bottom to sag.
  • the bottom portion of the grid members e.g., 34
  • the bottom portion of said wall members is also similarly curved, as also shown in said FIGS. 3 and 5.
  • said opposed first walls 12 and 12 slope inwardly toward each other from top to bottom, and said opposed second walls 14 and 14' slope inwardly toward each other from'top to bottom.
  • the extent to which the trays will nest one within another will be determined by the thickness and the degree of slope of said side and end walls.
  • the taper or slope of the walls should be sufficient that the trays are easily withdrawn from nested position. Usually a slope within the range of from about 5 to about 25 from the vertical will be sufficient. While it is preferred that the trays be provided with sloping walls, it is within the scope of the invention for said walls to be disposed essentially vertical.
  • the trays of the invention are of a durable, lightweight structure.
  • said trays are particularly well adapted for transporting bakery goods, both within the baking shop and the delivery truck.
  • the bakery goods can be placed on the trays and the trays then placed in racks which may be easily pushed around the shop.
  • the trays can also be readily loaded onto racks in a delivery truck.
  • the light weight of the trays is a distinct advantage in that handling of the trays is not only less tiring for personnel handling same but also reduces the load on trucks. Thus, lighter weight trucks can-be employed with obvious savings in operating expenses.
  • the trays of the invention can be fabricated in any suitable manner known to the art. Injection molding, for example, is one presently preferred method for fabricating said trays. Said trays can be fabricated from any suitable material. High density polyethylenes are especially desirable materials from which to fabricate said trays. The high density polyethylene and other polyolefins prepared by the I methods disclosed and claimed -by J. P. Hogan et al. in US. Pat. No. 2,825,721, issued Mar. 4, 1958, are one group. of presently preferred materials. Said trays can also be fabricated from butadiene-styrene copolymers, and other plastic materials. If desired, areinforcing fibrous material, such as asbestos or glass fibers, can be incorporated in the plastic material. While the various plastics are presently preferred for the manufacture of the trays, it is within the scope of the invention to fabricate said trays from other materials, e.g., lightweight metals such as aluminum, reinforced pulp materials, etc.
  • one model'of a tray in accordance with the invention has a length of about 24 inches, a width of about 21 inches, the rectangles formed in the gridwork bottom were about 3.3 X 3.0 inches, the top surface of the bottom grid member was about 0.2 inch wide, and the side walls were about 1 inch in height.
  • the remainder of the elements of the tray were generally proportional insize.
  • a self-draining tray comprising, in combination:
  • said first wall members being joined in a curved junction along the upstanding edges thereof to the up standing edges of said second wall members;
  • a bottom member joined in an upwardly curved junction to the lower portions of said first wall members and to the lower portions of said second wall members to provide an open top structure; and wherein said wall members extend in a generally vertical direction throughout their structure so as to be self-draining on both sides, being, devoid of any horizontal portion even when said tray is in an inverted position:
  • said bottom member comprises a plurality of intersecting grid members joined at the ends thereof to said walls; and a curved fillet is provided between each pair of adjacent grid members at the intersections of said grid members.
  • the radius of curvature of said fillet is at leastonefourth inch.
  • the radius of curvature on the underside of said flange is at least one-fourth inch
  • the radius of curvature on the upper side of said flange is at leastone-fourth inch.
  • a tray according to claim 2 wherein at least a part of the upper portion of each wall member of at least one pair of said wall members is offset outwardly and upwardly from the lower portion thereof to form a curved internal shoulder on the inner walls of said wall members and a curved inverted external shoulder on the outer walls of said wall members.
  • first plurality of grid members spaced apart from 5 each other, extending between said pair of first wall members, and disposed generally parallel to said second wall member s;
  • second plurality of grid members spaced apart from each other, extending between said pair of second wall members, disposed generally parallel to said first wall members in an intersecting direction with respect to said first grid members so as to form a junction therewith and form a plurality of rectangles arranged in rows generally parallel with said wall members, said wall members forming one side of the outer rows of said rectangles;
  • a fourth plurality of grid members each one of which extends substantially diagonally across one of each of said rectangles in a direction to integrallyintersect said first-mentioned diagonally extending grid members at approximately the center of the rectangle and is joined to said first and second grid members at said junctions thereof to form junctions of said first, second, and fourth grid members;
  • a grid member which extends from the intersection of said diagonally extending grid members to one of said wall members;
  • a fillet is provided between each pair of adjacent grid members at said junction of said grid members.
  • each of said wall members is curved outwardly to forma flange; the radius of curvature on the underside of said flange is at least one-fourth inch;
  • the radius of curvature on the upper side of said flange is at least one-fourth inch
  • the radius of curvature of said fillet is at least onefourth inch.
  • junctions of said first, second, and third grid members and said junctions of said first, second, and fourth grid members of adjacent rectangles form reinforcing islands at corners common to the adjacent rectangles.
  • a tray according to claim 9 wherein an opening is provided in said reinforcing island, at least a portion of the wall of said opening is curved, and the radius of curvature of said curved wall portion is at least one-fourth inch.
  • a tray according to claim-8 wherein at least a part of the upper portion of each wall member of at least one pair of said wall members is offset outwardly from the lower portion thereof to form a curved inter- 65 nal shoulder on the inner walls of said wall member and a curved external shoulder on the outer walls of said wall members.
  • a tray according to claim 13 wherein an opening is provided in said reinforcing island, at least a portion of the wall of said opening is'curved, and the radius of curvature of said curved wall portion is at least onefourth inch.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
US00079109A 1970-10-08 1970-10-08 Tray Expired - Lifetime US3727791A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US7910970A 1970-10-08 1970-10-08

Publications (1)

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US3727791A true US3727791A (en) 1973-04-17

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00079109A Expired - Lifetime US3727791A (en) 1970-10-08 1970-10-08 Tray

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US3727791A (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE2149734C3 (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR2110309B1 (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1348151A (OSRAM)
SE (1) SE386638B (OSRAM)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3794208A (en) * 1972-05-26 1974-02-26 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
US3870151A (en) * 1973-07-30 1975-03-11 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
US3905510A (en) * 1973-11-07 1975-09-16 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
US3907111A (en) * 1973-06-14 1975-09-23 Rockwell International Corp Self-cleaning stackable container
US3917108A (en) * 1972-02-22 1975-11-04 Dare Plastics Inc Plastic tray and method of making same
USD251034S (en) 1976-05-24 1979-02-06 Phillips Petroleum Company Bakery tray or the like
US4162759A (en) * 1977-12-30 1979-07-31 Diamond International Corporation Food packaging tray
USD281231S (en) 1983-03-17 1985-11-05 Burlington Industries, Inc. Divider for separating stacked articles
USD350028S (en) 1992-11-25 1994-08-30 Rehrig Pacific Company, Inc. Floor construction for full depth crate
US5531379A (en) * 1994-12-16 1996-07-02 Hammett; Eddie G. Method and apparatus for handling railcar brake shoes
US6405557B1 (en) * 2000-08-12 2002-06-18 The Coleman Company, Inc. Cooler floor support tray
FR2851552A1 (fr) * 2003-02-21 2004-08-27 France Agro Ind Barquette pour le conditionnement de produits de la mer, en particulier de crevettes ou de langoustines
US12221246B2 (en) 2020-07-22 2025-02-11 Bockatech Ltd. Tray and manufacture thereof

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2351026A1 (fr) * 1976-05-12 1977-12-09 Vatto Reijo Emballage de transport en matiere plastique extrude, enveloppe d'une pellicule retractable et destine au conditionnement des livres, des disques, des boites de conserves et autres produits analogues
GB2174447B (en) * 1985-04-04 1989-06-28 Aldo Rabiotti Tiling aid

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3443717A (en) * 1966-05-09 1969-05-13 Tetra Pak Ab Plastic crate structure with lattice-work bottom
US3494502A (en) * 1968-03-20 1970-02-10 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
US3549018A (en) * 1968-11-08 1970-12-22 Banner Metals Inc Plastic tray

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3443717A (en) * 1966-05-09 1969-05-13 Tetra Pak Ab Plastic crate structure with lattice-work bottom
US3494502A (en) * 1968-03-20 1970-02-10 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
US3549018A (en) * 1968-11-08 1970-12-22 Banner Metals Inc Plastic tray

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3917108A (en) * 1972-02-22 1975-11-04 Dare Plastics Inc Plastic tray and method of making same
US3794208A (en) * 1972-05-26 1974-02-26 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
US3907111A (en) * 1973-06-14 1975-09-23 Rockwell International Corp Self-cleaning stackable container
US3870151A (en) * 1973-07-30 1975-03-11 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
US3905510A (en) * 1973-11-07 1975-09-16 Phillips Petroleum Co Tray
USD251034S (en) 1976-05-24 1979-02-06 Phillips Petroleum Company Bakery tray or the like
US4162759A (en) * 1977-12-30 1979-07-31 Diamond International Corporation Food packaging tray
USD281231S (en) 1983-03-17 1985-11-05 Burlington Industries, Inc. Divider for separating stacked articles
USD350028S (en) 1992-11-25 1994-08-30 Rehrig Pacific Company, Inc. Floor construction for full depth crate
US5531379A (en) * 1994-12-16 1996-07-02 Hammett; Eddie G. Method and apparatus for handling railcar brake shoes
US5740960A (en) * 1994-12-16 1998-04-21 Hammett; Eddie Gene Method and apparatus for handling railcar brake shoes
US6405557B1 (en) * 2000-08-12 2002-06-18 The Coleman Company, Inc. Cooler floor support tray
FR2851552A1 (fr) * 2003-02-21 2004-08-27 France Agro Ind Barquette pour le conditionnement de produits de la mer, en particulier de crevettes ou de langoustines
WO2004075640A3 (fr) * 2003-02-21 2004-10-07 France Agro Ind Barquette pour le conditionnement de produits de la mer, en particulier de crevettes ou de langoustines
US12221246B2 (en) 2020-07-22 2025-02-11 Bockatech Ltd. Tray and manufacture thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2110309A1 (OSRAM) 1972-06-02
DE2149734B2 (de) 1973-11-29
GB1348151A (en) 1974-03-13
SE386638B (sv) 1976-08-16
DE2149734A1 (de) 1972-04-13
DE2149734C3 (de) 1974-07-11
FR2110309B1 (OSRAM) 1975-10-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: DURACO PRODUCTS, INC., 1109 E. LAKE ST., STREAMWOO

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004085/0198

Effective date: 19821210

AS Assignment

Owner name: DURACO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC.,KENTUCKY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DURACO PRODUCTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004581/0735

Effective date: 19851231

Owner name: DURACO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INC., 1857 CALVIN DRIV

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:DURACO PRODUCTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004581/0735

Effective date: 19851231