Partition structure for trays, related systems and methods

A foldable panel system forms divider walls in trays to separate and organize items, addressing the need for compartmentalization in containers, enhancing item separation and display.

JP2025527715APending Publication Date: 2025-08-22GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL LLC
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2025511769
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-08-25
Filing Date
2023-08-24
Publication Date
2025-08-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing containers lack a practical and efficient way to separate and organize items within a tray, particularly for portioned retail food products, to prevent mixing and enhance display.

Method used

A structure comprising foldable panels that form divider walls within a tray, allowing for the creation of compartmentalized spaces using a blank that includes central, bottom, and divider panels, which are folded to extend upwardly and form divider walls, creating separate compartments for items.

Benefits of technology

The solution effectively separates and organizes items, preventing mixing and enhancing visibility, while being adaptable to various tray shapes and materials, including paperboard, cardboard, and sheet plastic.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The structure for providing a divider feature within the tray includes a plurality of panels including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel, and a divider feature including at least one divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and including the at least one divider panel.
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 400,0921, filed August 25, 2022.

[0002] [Incorporated by reference] The disclosures of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 400,0921, filed August 25, 2022, and U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 900,564, filed August 22, 2023, are each incorporated by reference herein for all purposes as if set forth in their entirety herein. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to a container for holding at least one item. In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a structure for providing a divider feature within a tray for holding at least one item.

[0004] According to one aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a structure for providing a divider feature within a tray, the structure including a plurality of panels including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; and a divider feature including at least one divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and including the at least one divider panel.

[0005] According to another aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a blank for forming a structure for providing a divider feature within a tray, the blank including a plurality of panels including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; and a divider feature including at least one divider panel extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel to form at least one divider wall of the structure formed from the blank.

[0006] According to another aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a method of forming a structure for providing a divider feature within a tray, the method including obtaining a blank including a plurality of panels, the blank including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel, the method further including folding the at least one divider panel to extend upwardly from the at least one bottom panel to form at least one divider wall of the structure.

[0007] According to another aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a system including a tray and a structure providing a divider feature within the tray, the tray including a plurality of panels extending at least partially around the periphery of the tray's interior, the structure including the plurality of panels including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel, and the divider feature including at least one divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and including the at least one divider panel.

[0008] Those skilled in the art will appreciate these and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawings. It is within the scope of this disclosure that the above-mentioned aspects be provided both individually and in various combinations.

[0009] According to common practice, the various features of the drawings described below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exterior surface of a blank for forming a construct according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray for at least partially receiving a structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of a partial formation of a construct from the blank of FIG. 1 along with the tray of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 3 is a perspective view of a structure from the blank of FIG. 1 along with the tray of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 5 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 4 inserted into the tray of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals throughout the drawings.

[0012] Containers and structures according to the present disclosure can accommodate items of many different shapes. As used herein, the terms "lower," "bottom," "upper," "top," "front," and "rear" refer to orientations determined with respect to the fully assembled container and structure. As described herein, the containers and structures may be formed by multiple overlapping panels, sections, and / or end flaps. Such panels, sections, and / or end flaps may be designated in relative terms with respect to one another, such as "first," "second," "third," etc., in contiguous or non-contiguous reference, without departing from this disclosure.

[0013] 1 illustrates an exterior surface 101 of a blank 103 for forming a structure 105 (FIG. 4) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Structure 105 can be configured to form a divider insert to provide a divider feature within another container, such as a tray or other container. In this regard, structure 105 can be provided with a tray or other container to form system 110 (FIG. 5).

[0014] 2, a tray T for use with structure 105 is shown schematically, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Tray T may include a bottom B and side walls S1, S2, S3, S4 extending upwardly from the bottom B to define an interior N of tray T. It will be appreciated that one or more of the bottom B and side walls S1, S2, S3, S4 of tray T may be formed from one or more panels and / or end flaps. In some embodiments, side walls S1, S2, S3, S4 may be formed from respective side panels foldably connected to the bottom panel forming the bottom B of tray T at respective fold lines, with adjacent side panels attached to one another via one or more respective end flaps.

[0015] A tray, e.g., a Tray T or another container, that may be used to form system 110 is used to hold one or more items, such as food products, e.g., portioned retail food products, which may include one or more of cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries, candy, nuts, popcorn, trail mix, gum, etc. In some embodiments, the items include frozen or non-frozen foods that may be provided in separate portions, such as chicken nuggets, French fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, chips, popcorn, other finger foods, etc. In some embodiments, such products may be contained within additional packaging and then placed within the tray. Such trays may be differently shaped and arranged and used to hold other products and / or items in similar or different environments without departing from this disclosure.

[0016] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to provide items in the tray at least partially separated from one another, for example, to avoid mixing of different foods, to facilitate service of use, to more prominently display such different items to customers, etc.

[0017] 1 , the blank 103 has a horizontal axis L1 and a vertical axis L2. The blank 103 may have a plurality of panels disposed across a front portion 111 to form a front portion 113 of the structure 105 / system 110 and a rear portion 115 of the blank 103 to form a rear portion 117 of the structure 105 / system 110. The front portion 111 of the blank 103 / front portion 113 of the structure 105 / system 110 may be foldably connected to the rear portion 115 of the blank 103 / rear portion 117 of the structure 105 / system 110 at a horizontal fold line 119.

[0018] The front portion 111 of the blank 103 / front portion 113 of the structure 105 can include a front central panel 121a, a front bottom panel 123a foldably connected to the central panel 121a at a transverse fold line 125a, a first front divider panel 127a (broadly, the “first divider panel” or “second divider panel”) foldably connected to the bottom panel 123a at a longitudinal fold line 129a, and a second front divider panel 131a (broadly, the “first divider panel” or “second divider panel”) foldably connected to the bottom panel 123a at a longitudinal fold line 133a. The divider panel 127a is separable from the central panel 121a at a transverse cut 135a, and the divider panel 131a is separable from the central panel 121a at a transverse cut 137a.

[0019] As also shown, the first front connector panel 139a (broadly, the "first connector panel" or the "second connector panel") can be foldably connected to the front partition panel 127a at a horizontal fold line 141a, and the connector panel 139a can be at least partially separably connected to the central panel 121a at a vertical cut 143a that intersects with a diagonal fold line 145a along which the connector panel 139a can be at least partially foldably connected to the central panel 121a.

[0020] Similarly, the second front connector panel 147a (broadly, the "first connector panel" or "second connector panel") can be foldably connected to the front partition panel 131a at a horizontal fold line 149a, and the connector panel 147a can be at least partially separably connected to the central panel 121a at a vertical cut 151a that intersects with a diagonal fold line 153a along which the connector panel 147a is at least partially foldably connected to the central panel 121a.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, fold line 141 a, cut 135 a, fold line 125 a, cut 137 a, and fold line 149 a can have a generally collinear arrangement, with cut 143 a extending perpendicularly away from the endpoints of fold line 141 a and cut 135 a, and cut 151 a extending perpendicularly away from the endpoints of cut 137 a and fold line 149 a. It will be understood that blank 103 and structure 105 / system 110 can have different arrangements of the lines of weakness without departing from this disclosure.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, rear portion 115 of blank 103 includes rear center panel 121b, rear bottom panel 123b, divider panel 127b (broadly, the “first divider panel” or the “second divider panel” or the “third divider panel” or the “fourth divider panel”), divider panel 131b (broadly, the “first divider panel” or the “second divider panel” or the “third divider panel” or the “fourth divider panel”), connector panel 139b (broadly, the “first connector panel” or the “second connector panel”), and connector panel 147b (broadly, the “first connector panel” or the “second connector panel”), with associated features that are approximately mirror images of the corresponding panels of front portion 111 of blank 103. Corresponding components (e.g., panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, etc.) are designated by corresponding reference numbers with different suffixes "a" or "b," with "a" components corresponding to the front portion 111 of the blank 103 and "b" components corresponding to the rear portion 115 of the blank 103.

[0023] It will be understood that the blank 103 and the structure 105 / system 110 formed therefrom may include different numbers, arrangements, and / or configurations of panels, end flaps, and / or related features without departing from this disclosure.

[0024] 3 and 4, the formation of construct 105 from blank 103 will be described in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be understood that intermediate configurations between blank 103 shown in FIG. 1 and construct 105 shown in FIG. 4 are, optionally, considered to be further folded configurations of blank 103 or partially assembled configurations of construct 105.

[0025] The blank 103 can be placed on a support surface with the outer surface 101 facing up. An operator, such as an operator manually assembling the construct 105 from the blank 103, and / or an assembly or mechanical device can grasp the divider panels 127a, 131a and fold the divider panels 127a, 131a at their respective fold lines 129a, 133a at least partially upward in the directions of their respective arrows A1, A2.

[0026] Additionally, connector panels 139a, 147a can be folded in the directions of arrows A3, A4 at respective fold lines 141a, 145a and fold lines 149a, 153a into at least partial face-to-face contact with central panel 121a.

[0027] The aforementioned movement of one or more of panels 123a, 127a, 131a, 139a, 147a can move central panel 121a to a generally upright position, thereby causing rear central panel 121b (e.g., under the influence of its own weight) to fold downward at fold line 119 into at least partial face-to-face contact with front central panel 121a.

[0028] Such a shifting, e.g., dropping, of rear central panel 121b can cause rear connector panels 139b, 147b to at least partially separate therefrom at respective cuts 143b, 151b and fold at respective fold lines 141b, 145b and fold lines 149b, 153b into at least partial face-to-face contact therewith.

[0029] Movement of rear connector panels 139b, 147b can pull rear divider panels 127b, 131b apart from central panel 121b at respective cuts 135b, 137b and fold upwardly at respective fold lines 129b, 133b.

[0030] In this regard, the panels of the rear portion 115 of the blank 103 / rear portion 117 of the structure 105 can be arranged in a generally similar manner as the panels of the front portion 111 of the blank 103 / front portion 113 of the structure 105 provided by the operator. Thus, the blank 103 / structure 105 is configured for at least a partial self-folding arrangement in which panels of one portion of the blank 103 / structure 105 can be folded / arranged upon movement of another portion of the blank 103 / structure 105.

[0031] Although the formation of the structure 105 from the blank 103 has been described with respect to engaging the front portion 111 of the blank 103 / the front portion 113 of the structure 105 and further folding / positioning the rear portion 115 of the blank 103 / the rear portion 117 of the structure 105, it will be understood that the rear portion 115 of the blank 103 / the rear portion 117 of the structure 105 can be engaged and the front portion 111 of the blank 103 / the front portion 113 of the structure 105 can be further folded / positioned without departing from this disclosure.

[0032] Such arrangement may be maintained at least in part by an adhesive, such as glue, which, in one embodiment, may be applied in one or more coats to the inner surface of one or both of the central panels 121 a, 121 b to adhere them to one another.

[0033] 4 may be configured as a divider insert to provide a divider feature for another container, such as a tray T. As described herein, the divider feature of the structure 105 may include a plurality of divider walls extending upwardly from the bottom panels 123 a, 123 b.

[0034] As shown, the divider features of structure 105 include a first divider wall 155 (broadly referred to as a "third divider wall") formed at least in part by central panels 121, 121b and connector panels 139a, 139b, 147a, 147b, a second divider wall 157 (broadly referred to as a "first divider wall" or a "second divider wall") formed at least in part by divider panel 127a, and a third divider wall 158 (broadly referred to as a "second divider wall") formed at least in part by divider panel 131a. The partition walls may include a third partition wall 159 (broadly referred to as the "first partition wall" or "second partition wall") formed at least in part by partition panel 127b, a fourth partition wall 161 (broadly referred to as the "first partition wall" or "second partition wall" or "fifth partition wall") formed at least in part by partition panel 131b, and a fifth partition wall 163 (broadly referred to as the "first partition wall" or "second partition wall" or "fourth partition wall") formed at least in part by partition panel 131b.

[0035] 5 , structure 105 can be at least partially received within interior N of tray T to form system 110. In system 110, partition walls 155, 157, 159, 161, 163 are positioned to extend upwardly from bottom B of tray T to form a plurality of compartment spaces or compartments 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, each being a respective portion of interior N of tray T, e.g., providing separated receiving spaces for articles or products in system 110.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, compartment 165 (broadly, the “first compartment” or “third compartment”) can be at least partially defined between tray bottom B, divider wall 155, divider wall 159, and each panel of tray T. Compartment 167 (broadly, the “second compartment”) can be at least partially defined between tray bottom B, divider wall 155, divider wall 159, divider wall 157, and each panel of tray T. Compartment 169 (broadly, the “first compartment” or “third compartment”) can be at least partially defined between tray bottom B, divider wall 155, divider wall 157, and each panel of tray T. Compartment 171 (broadly, the “first compartment” or “third compartment”) can be at least partially defined between tray bottom B, divider wall 155, divider wall 161, and each panel of tray T. Compartment 173 (broadly, the "second compartment") can be at least partially defined between tray bottom B and divider walls 155, 161, 163, and the respective panels of tray T. Compartment 175 (broadly, the "first compartment" or "third compartment") can be at least partially defined between tray bottom B and divider walls 155, 161, 163, and the respective panels of tray T. It will be understood that structure 105 can be positioned in different orientations in interior N of tray T without departing from this disclosure.

[0037] In this regard, the structure 105 may be provided separately from the tray T or other container, e.g., to provide an optional divider insert for an existing supply of trays or other containers, for use in situations where a compartmentalized interior for a given tray or container is desired. In some embodiments, the construct(s) 105 may be provided together with the tray T or other system as a kit or package for forming a compartmentalized tray (e.g., system 110). It will be understood that the system 110 can be provided with the structure 105 that is at least partially received in the interior N of the tray T, or the structure 105 and the tray T can be provided separately.

[0038] It will be understood that the structure 105, the tray T, and / or one or more respective features thereof may have different arrangements or configurations without departing from this disclosure.

[0039] It will be understood that blanks and trays according to the present disclosure may have different numbers, arrangements, and / or configurations of features without departing from the present disclosure.

[0040] Generally, the blanks described herein may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper such that they are heavier and more rigid than regular paper. The blanks may also be constructed from other materials, such as cardboard, sheet plastic, or any other material having suitable properties to enable the container to function at least generally as described above. The blanks may be coated with, for example, a clay coating. Product, advertising, and other information or images may then be printed on the clay coating. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect the information printed on the blanks. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer on one or both sides of the blank. The blanks may also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.

[0041] As an example, the tear line can include a slit extending partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and / or a series of spaced slits extending partially into and / or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type of tear line is in the form of a series of spaced slits extending completely through the material, with adjacent slits spaced slightly apart so that a notch (e.g., a small, somewhat bridge-like piece of material) is defined between adjacent slits to typically temporarily connect the material across the tear line. The notch is broken during tearing along the tear line. The notch is typically a relatively small percentage of the tear line; alternatively, the notch can be omitted from or torn at the tear line so that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of this disclosure to replace each of the tear lines with a continuous slit, etc. For example, the tear line may be a continuous slit or may be wider than the slit without departing from this disclosure.

[0042] According to exemplary embodiments, the fold lines are not necessarily linear, but can be any substantially linear form of weakness that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, without intending to narrow the scope of this disclosure, fold lines include score lines, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife or the like, that create a crushed or recessed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness, cuts that extend partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and / or a series of cuts that extend partially and / or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, as well as various combinations of these features. In situations where cuts are used to create the fold lines, the cuts are typically not overly extensive so that a reasonable user could mistakenly consider the fold line to be a tear line.

[0043] The above embodiments are described as having one or more panels glued together by an adhesive during assembly of the container embodiment. The term "adhesive" is intended to encompass any type of adhesive commonly used to secure container panels in place, and is not intended to exclude thermal, chemical, or frequency bonding techniques.

[0044] The foregoing description of the present disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. Because various changes can be made in the above configurations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted in an illustrative and not a limiting sense. Moreover, the scope of the present disclosure encompasses various modifications, combinations, variations, and the like of the above-described embodiments. In addition, while the present disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments, various other combinations, modifications, and environments are within the scope of the present disclosure as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and / or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, some features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. 1. A structure for providing a partition feature within a tray, comprising: a plurality of panels including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; a divider feature including at least one divider wall extending upwardly from said at least one bottom panel and including said at least one divider panel.

2. the at least one divider panel is a first divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a second divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the at least one divider wall is a first divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel; 10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the divider feature further comprises a second divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and comprising the second divider panel.

3. 3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the divider feature further comprises a third divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and comprising the at least one center panel.

4. 4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the first and second divider panels are disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to each of the at least one bottom panel and the at least one central panel.

5. 5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a first connector panel and a second connector panel, the first connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the first divider panel, and the second connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the second divider panel.

6. the at least one central panel is a front central panel; the structure further comprising a rear central panel foldably connected to the front central panel and in at least partial face-to-face contact with the front central panel; 6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said third partition wall comprises said forward center panel and said aft center panel.

7. the at least one bottom panel is a front bottom panel foldably connected to the front central panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a rear bottom panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; and a third divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the divider feature further comprises a fourth divider wall extending upwardly from the rear bottom panel and comprising the third divider panel.

8. the plurality of panels further includes a fourth divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the divider feature further comprises a fifth divider wall extending upwardly from the rear bottom panel and comprising the fourth divider panel.

9. 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the third and fourth divider panels are disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the rear bottom and rear center panels, respectively.

10. A blank for forming a structure for providing a divider feature within a tray, comprising:

1. A blank comprising: a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprising at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; and a divider feature including the at least one divider panel positioned extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel to form at least one divider wall of the structure formed from the blank.

11. the at least one divider panel is a first divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a second divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the at least one partition wall is formed by the first partition panel when the construct is formed from the blank, the first partition wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel; 11. The blank of claim 10, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a second divider panel for forming a second divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel when the construct is formed from the blank.

12. 12. The blank of claim 11, wherein the at least one central panel is for forming a third divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel when the construct is formed from the blank.

13. 13. The blank of claim 12, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a first connector panel and a second connector panel, the first connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the first divider panel, and the second connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the second divider panel.

14. the at least one central panel is a front central panel; the blank further comprises a rear central panel foldably connected to the front central panel; 14. The blank of claim 13, wherein the front central panel and the rear central panel are for at least partially forming the third divider wall when the construct is formed from the blank.

15. the at least one bottom panel is a front bottom panel foldably connected to the front central panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a rear bottom panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; and a third divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 15. The blank of claim 14, wherein the third divider panel is for forming a fourth divider wall extending upwardly from the rear bottom panel when the construct is formed from the blank.

16. the plurality of panels further includes a fourth divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the fourth divider panel is for forming a fifth divider wall extending upwardly from the rear bottom panel when the construct is formed from the blank.

17. 1. A method of forming a structure for providing a partition feature within a tray, comprising:

1. A method comprising: obtaining a blank including a plurality of panels, the blank including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; and folding the at least one divider panel to extend upwardly from the at least one bottom panel to form at least one divider wall of the structure.

18. the at least one divider panel is a first divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a second divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the at least one divider wall is a first divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel; 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising folding the second divider panel to extend upwardly from the at least one bottom panel to form a second divider wall of the structure.

19. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning the at least one central panel to form a third divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel.

20. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising positioning the first divider panel and the second divider panel in a generally perpendicular relationship to each of the at least one bottom panel and the at least one central panel.

21. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a first connector panel and a second connector panel, the first connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the first divider panel, and the second connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the second divider panel.

22. the at least one central panel is a front central panel; the blank further comprises a rear central panel foldably connected to the front central panel; 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising placing the front central panel and the rear central panel in at least partial face-to-face contact to form the third divider wall.

23. the at least one bottom panel is a front bottom panel foldably connected to the front central panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a rear bottom panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; and a third divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising folding the third divider panel to extend upwardly from the rear bottom panel to form a fourth divider wall.

24. the plurality of panels further includes a fourth divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising folding the fourth divider panel to extend upwardly from the rear bottom panel to form a fifth divider wall.

25. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising positioning the third and fourth divider panels in a generally perpendicular relationship to the rear bottom and rear center panels, respectively.

26. 1. A system comprising: a tray; and a structure providing a partition feature within the tray; the tray comprising a plurality of panels extending at least partially around the interior of the tray; The structure comprises a plurality of panels including at least one central panel, at least one bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel, and at least one divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; and a divider feature including at least one divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and including the at least one divider panel.

27. the at least one divider panel is a first divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a second divider panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel; the at least one divider wall is a first divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel; 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the divider feature further comprises a second divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and comprising the second divider panel.

28. 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the divider feature further comprises a third divider wall extending upwardly from the at least one bottom panel and comprising the at least one center panel.

29. 30. The system of claim 28, wherein a first compartment is formed in the interior of the tray between the at least one central panel of the tray, the first divider panel, and each panel of the plurality of panels of the tray.

30. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein a second compartment is formed in the interior of the tray between the at least one central panel of the tray, the first divider panel, the second divider panel, and each panel of the plurality of panels of the tray.

31. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein a third compartment is formed in the interior of the tray between the at least one central panel of the tray, the second divider panel, and each panel of the plurality of panels of the tray.

32. 30. The system of claim 28, wherein the first divider panel and the second divider panel are disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to each of the at least one bottom panel and the at least one central panel.

33. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a first connector panel and a second connector panel, the first connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the first divider panel, and the second connector panel foldably connected to each of the at least one central panel and the second divider panel.

34. the at least one central panel is a front central panel; the structure further comprising a rear central panel foldably connected to the front central panel and in at least partial face-to-face contact with the front central panel; 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the third divider wall comprises the front center panel and the rear center panel.

35. the at least one bottom panel is a front bottom panel foldably connected to the front central panel; the plurality of panels further comprising a rear bottom panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; and a third divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 35. The system of claim 34, wherein the divider feature further comprises a fourth divider wall extending upwardly from the rear bottom panel and including the third divider panel.

36. the plurality of panels further includes a fourth divider panel foldably connected to the rear central panel; 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the divider feature further comprises a fifth divider wall extending upwardly from the rear bottom panel and comprising the fourth divider panel.

37. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the third divider panel and the fourth divider panel are disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the rear bottom panel and the rear center panel, respectively.

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