Tray or box

Claim 2

A stackable tray comprising a bottom having an aperture in each of at least two corner regions, walls extending upwardly and inwardly from the bottom and including in each of at least two corner regions a pair of corner forming panels extending one along each of the adjacent sides of the tray and having a single integral projection lying in the plane of the panel to which it is integral and extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the projections and apertures in the tray being arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray and the projections are reinforced by their engagement with the apertures.

Claim 3

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray.

Claim 4

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray.

Claim 5

A tray according to claim 2 having a fourth side wall opposite said third wall, and lateral flaps hinged to the fourth wall and trapped between the first and second panels of said pair of opposite walls, the fourth wall comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom, and a second panel defined at least in part by a pair of cuts extending into the first panel from its upper edge and a hinge line extending parallel to said other edge between the lower ends of the cut, the second panel being folded about the hinge line to provide in the fourth wall a relatively lower portion.

Claim 6

A tray according to claim 2 wherein the part of each projection which extends from a lateral flap passes upwardly through a cut-away portion of the adjacent wall of said pair.

Claim 7

A tray according to claim 2 wherein said third wall comprises a first panel hinged to the bottom, a second panel hinged to the outer end of the first panel and folded back on the first panel and secured in that condition, the lateral flaps being hinged to one of the panels, and each projection being provided in part by an L-shaped cut at the end of the hinge line between the two panels and extending from the hinge line into the panel not carrying the lateral flaps.

Claim 8

A stackable tray comprising a bottom having an aperture in each of at least two corner regions, walls extending upwardly from the bottom and including in each of at least two corner regIons a pair of corner forming panels extending one along each of the adjacent sides of the tray and having a single integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the projections and apertures in the tray being arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray, the wall of the tray including an outer wall forming part, an inner wall forming part fitting inside the outer part and comprising a strip of panels hinged one to the next, and means for retaining the strip within the tray, the upper edge of the strip being shaped in the region of the hinges to provide the projections.

Claim 9

A stackable tray comprising a bottom having an aperture in each of at least two corner regions, walls extending upwardly from the bottom and including in each of at least two corner regIons a pair of corner forming panels extending one along each of the adjacent sides of the tray and having a single integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the projections and apertures in the tray being arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray, the wall of the tray including an outer wall forming part, an inner wall forming part fitting inside the outer part and comprising a strip of panels hinged one to the next, and means for retaining the strip within the tray, the upper edge of the strip being shaped in the region of the hinges to provide the projections.

Claim 10

A tray according to claim 6 wherein the retaining means comprises horizontal webs of material extending diagonally across the corners between adjacent outer wall panels engaging in corresponding horizontal slots provided in the strip in the region of its hinges and extending into the adjacent panels.

Claim 11

A tray according to claim 6 wherein the outer wall panels of the tray are provided with an inturned peripheral flange providing spacing means between the outer wall panels and the strip.

Claim 12

A blank of foldable sheet material for erecting into a stackable tray comprising a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, the blank comprising a bottom forming panel and hinged to the bottom forming panel a pair of opposite side wall forming portions and a third side wall forming portion extending between them said third side wall forming portion having hinged lateral flaps, each wall forming portion of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom forming panel and a second panel hinged to the free end of the first panel, the lateral flaps and said third side wall forming portion being shaped in the region of their common hinges to provide in the erect condition of the tray an integral projection extending laterally around the corner at each hinge and upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls, the second panels of the wall forming portions of the pair being foldable to trap the lateral flaps between the first and second panels and maintain the tray in the erect condition, the bottom forming panel being provided with apertures located so that when similar trays are stacked the projections of one tray may engage in the apertures of the tray next above.

Claim 13

A blank of foldable sheet material for erecting into a stackable tray comprising a bottom and side walls extending upwardly therefrom, the blank comprising a bottom forming panel and hinged to the bottom forming panel a pair of opposite side wall forming portions and a third side wall forming portion extending between them said third side wall forming portion having hinged lateral flaps, each wall forming portion of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom forming panel and a second panel hinged to the free end of the first panel, the lateral flaps and said third side wall forming portion being shaped in the region of their common hinges to provide in the erect condition of the tray an integral projection extending laterally around the corner at each hinge and upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls, the second panels of the wall forming portions of the pair being foldable to trap the lateral flaps between the first and second panels and maintain the tray in the erect condition, the bottom forming panel being provided with apertures located so that when similar trays are stacked the projections of one tray may engage in the apertures of the tray next above.

Claim 14

A blank according to claim 9 wherein said third wall forming portion comprises a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the free end of the first panel, the second panel of each wall forming portion having hinged to its free end a flange, the flanges being adapted so that in the erect condition of the tray they can lie on the bottom and extend inwardly from their respective walls with the end edges of the flange of said third wall abutting the free edges of the flanges of said pair of walls.

Claim 15

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray, said second panels of said pair of walls being folded inwardly to trap the lateral flaps, and the second panel of each wall having hinged to it a flange which lies on the bottom and faces inwardly from the wall, The length of the flange of said third wall being such that at its ends it abuts the edges of the flanges of said pair of walls and maintains the second panels of said pair in the folded in condition.

Claim 16

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray, said second panels of said pair of walls being folded inwardly to trap the lateral flaps, and the second panel of each wall having hinged to it a flange which lies on the bottom and faces inwardly from the wall, The length of the flange of said third wall being such that at its ends it abuts the edges of the flanges of said pair of walls and maintains the second panels of said pair in the folded in condition.

Claim 17

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray a fourth side wall opposite said third wall, and lateral flaps hinged to the fourth wall and trapped between the first and second panels of said pair of opposite walls, the fourth wall comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom, and a second panel defined at least in part by a pair of cuts extending into the first panel from its upper edge and a hinge line extending parallel to said other edge between the lower ends of the cut, the second panel being folded about the hinge line to provide in the fourth wall a relatively lower portion, said second panels of said pair of walls being folded inwardly to trap the lateral flaps, and the second panel of each wall having hinged to it a flange which lies on the bottom and faces inwardly from the wall, the length of the flanges of the third and fourth walls being such that at their ends they abut the edges of the flanges of said pair of walls and maintain the second panels of said pair in the folded in condition.

Claim 18

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray a fourth side wall opposite said third wall, and lateral flaps hinged to the fourth wall and trapped between the first and second panels of said pair of opposite walls, the fourth wall comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom, and a second panel defined at least in part by a pair of cuts extending into the first panel from its upper edge and a hinge line extending parallel to said other edge between the lower ends of the cut, the second panel being folded about the hinge line to provide in the fourth wall a relatively lower portion, said second panels of said pair of walls being folded inwardly to trap the lateral flaps, and the second panel of each wall having hinged to it a flange which lies on the bottom and faces inwardly from the wall, the length of the flanges of the third and fourth walls being such that at their ends they abut the edges of the flanges of said pair of walls and maintain the second panels of said pair in the folded in condition.

Claim 19

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray, the outer of the two panels of said third wall being provided with the lateral flaps and the inner of the two being arranged to flex inwardly relative to the tray so that the adjacent ends of the second panels of said pair of walls are trapped between the lateral flaps and the ends of the inwardly flexed panel.

Claim 20

A stackable tray made from foldable sheet material, comprising a bottom, hinged to the bottom a pair of opposite side walls and a third side wall extending between them, said third wall having lateral flaps hinged thereto, and each wall of said pair comprising a first panel hinged to the bottom and a second panel hinged to the first panel and folded to trap the adjacent lateral flaps between the panels and thereby maintain the walls in the erect condition, said third wall and its lateral flaps being shaped to provide at each corner between them an integral projection extending upwardly above the height of the adjacent walls and laterally around the corner, the bottom being provided with apertures arranged so that two similar trays can be stacked one on the other with the projections of the lower tray engaging in the apertures of the upper tray, the outer of the two panels of said third wall being provided with the lateral flaps and the inner of the two being arranged to flex inwardly relative to the tray so that the adjacent ends of the second panels of said pair of walls are trapped between the lateral flaps and the ends of the inwardly flexed panel.