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Tray

a technology of trays and trays, applied in the field of trays, can solve the problems of unduly restricting the user's access to the products stored and transported on the trays,

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-12-30
MEISSEN CYNTHIA R
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enhances user access to products by enabling full-sided retrieval and efficient stacking and nesting of trays, ensuring that products are protected during transport and storage.

Problems solved by technology

While such trays are certainly functional, they may unduly limit a user's access to the product stored and transported on the trays.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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first embodiment

[0016]A tray 10 according to the present invention is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1. The tray 10 includes a floor (or base) 12 and a first and second pair of opposed side walls, 14, 16, and 18, 20. The tray 10 may be rectangular or square in shape. For ease of discussion, walls 14, 16 may also be referred to as end walls. The walls are tapered slightly allowing like trays to nest (FIG. 4.) Floor 12 includes a series of openings 33 therethrough, shown as diamond-shaped openings for reducing the weight of the overall tray as well as providing a way for the tray to be supported onto a dolly or other lower platform (not shown) having an upper surface with corresponding diamond-shaped projections. Edges 13, 15, 17, and 19 of floor 12 include a low profile central projection 21 extending upwardly into opening 24 and on either side of the projection 21, the floor edges 13, 15, 17, 19 are defined by a slightly raised lip 27. Floor 12 also includes a drag rail 31 on its under surfa...

second embodiment

[0024]A tray 110 according to the present invention is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5. The tray 110 includes a floor (or base) 112 and a first and second pair of opposed side walls, 114, 116, and 118, 120. For ease of discussion, walls 114, 118 may also be referred to as end walls. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, each of the side walls is pivotably attached to floor 112 and is moveable between an upright assembled position as shown in FIG. 5 and an inwardly collapsed position as shown in FIG. 8. The pivotable walls allow the tray to be efficiently stored and transported when not in use, as shown in FIG. 8. Floor 112 includes a series of openings 133 therethrough, shown as diamond-shaped openings for reducing the weight of the overall container as well as providing a way for the tray to be supported onto a dolly or other lower platform (not shown) having an upper surface with corresponding diamond-shaped projections.

[0025]Along its side edges 113, 115, floor 112 includes a low pr...

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PUM

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Abstract

A tray for bakery items includes a floor and side walls extending around a periphery of the floor. The tray has a relatively thin upper edge with a bail member pivotably attached to the upper edge along at least one of the first and second pairs of side walls. The bail member is rotatable between a stack orientation wherein a like tray may be rested upon the bail member, and a nest orientation in which like trays may be nested within like trays. Further, one or more side walls also includes a relatively large continuous opening therein capable of retrieving bakery items stored in the tray through the at least one pair of side walls, the opening extending generally from the upper edge to the periphery of the floor. In another embodiment, at least one of the sidewalls is pivotably attached to the floor and is movable between an upright position and a collapsed position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 628,351, filed Oct. 17, 2007.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a tray for shipping and displaying goods, particularly bread and other bakery items.[0003]Bread loaves and other bakery items are typically shipped in trays having one or more diverse designs. One type of tray may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,163. This tray has two opposed higher profile side walls, and also two opposed generally lower profile side walls from which the bread may be retrieved. This tray includes bail members for allowing the trays to nest together when empty, and also to allow the trays to stack in one or two positions to accommodate the height of the product inside. Still another prior art tray is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,902 which discloses a multi-level bakery tray which utilizes a feet and pocket system in order to allow similar trays to nest and stack together...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B65D21/02B65D1/34B65D6/18B65D21/06
CPCB65D21/062B65D11/182
Inventor MEISSEN, CYNTHIA R.
Owner MEISSEN CYNTHIA R