[0001] The present invention relates to a tray made from paper or cardboard material, for
transporting and displaying foodstuff products.
[0002] In general, trays of this type are already known in the art. They must combine properties
such as a resistant structure that is suitable for use as packaging, with a predisposition
to render the carried products clearly visible.
[0003] A very widespread example is constituted by a folded sheet container, having four
side walls with reduced height, which leave prevalent portions of the carried products
exposed. This type of tray offers the advantage of presenting a simple and low-cost
structure.
[0004] In applications with products packaged in rigid or semi-rigid containers, these trays
can be stacked directly on top of each other, according to a condition in which the
weight of the formed stack is supported by the products themselves carried by the
trays.
[0005] In this context, the present invention proposes the provision of an improved solution,
which is able to satisfy one or more of the following requirements:
- providing an arrangement of the products that also includes a support for the products;
- providing an arrangement of the products that guarantees stability even during handling
and transport of the tray;
- providing a simple and low-cost structure;
- providing a simple and quick assembly of the tray;
- providing an improved display method.
[0006] The tray according to the present invention is characterized in that it has the characteristics
referred to in claim 1.
[0007] The claims form an integral part of the technical disclosure provided here in relation
to the invention.
[0008] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from
the description that follows with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely
by way of non-limiting example, wherein:
- Figure 1 represents a preferred embodiment of the tray described here, according to
an axonometric view;
- Figure 2 represents the tray of Figure 1, in a condition wherein a series of products
have been loaded onto it;
- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tray of Figure 1;
- Figure 4 represents an example of a sheet for constructing the tray of Figure 1.
[0009] In the following description, various specific details are illustrated aimed at a
thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be implemented without
one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials,
etc. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described
in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments.
[0010] The references used here are only for convenience and do not therefore define the
field of protection or the scope of the embodiments.
[0011] As anticipated above, the tray described here is intended to be used for transporting
and displaying foodstuff products.
[0012] In particular, the tray described herein has been designed for applications with
products packaged in rigid or semi-rigid containers, for example, made of plastic,
paper, glass, aluminum material etc.
[0013] With reference to the figures, the tray described herein, indicated as a whole by
the reference number 10, is formed by a single folded sheet so as to define:
- a bottom 2,
- a first pair of side walls 4, 6 oriented along a first direction Y,
- a second pair of side walls 8, 12 oriented along a second direction X perpendicular
to said first direction Y,
- two separating walls 14, 16 that extend along the first direction Y, and are parallel
to one another and are spaced apart from each other so as to divide the tray in distinct
compartments C.
[0014] The compartments C obtained are - in total - three, or rather, a central one and
two side ones positioned on opposite sides of the central one.
[0015] According to an important characteristic of the tray described herein, the separating
walls 14 and 16 are directly connected to the two walls 8 and 12 via connecting portions.
[0016] In various preferred embodiments, these connecting portions define the only connecting
points of the tray. "Connecting points" are the parts of the sheet forming the tray,
which are mutually connected, following the folding of the sheet, to lock the sheet
in the folded configuration.
[0017] In various preferred embodiments, these connecting portions define the only gluing
points.
[0018] In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the illustrated one, the two walls
14 and 16 both rest on the bottom 2. Furthermore, in various preferred embodiments,
as in the one illustrated, the indicated sheet defines a pair of folded portions 125,
127 which, respectively, connect each separating wall 14, 16 to the closest wall 4
or 6, and which, in the mounted condition of the tray, are arranged within a respective
compartment C of the tray, in particular, in the two side compartments in the example
illustrated.
[0019] As can be seen in Figure 3, preferably, the two portions 125, 127 assume a downwardly-inclined
position, starting from the respective side wall 4 or 6, so that the two separating
walls 14, 16 are brought into contact with the bottom 2, resting thereon with their
lower edges.
[0020] The separating walls 14, 16 have the function of dividing the tray into the indicated
compartments, and, in addition, of constituting a support for the products. The second
function is particularly advantageous for applications in which the products have
a non-flat bottom so that they are not able to remain in an upright position or are
not self-supporting. In various preferred embodiments, as in that shown in Figure
2, the products in question are products packaged in containers 20.
[0021] In various preferred embodiments, as in the illustrated one, these containers are
arranged according to an orderly array of parallel rows. Preferably, in each row,
each container is connected at least to one other container of the same row.
[0022] In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, the containers
20 are provided, at their upper ends, with respective peripheral edges 21 which project
laterally with respect to the underlying portion of the individual container.
[0023] The aforesaid connection between containers can be made at these perimetric edges,
in the form of connecting points or lines formed at these edges.
[0024] In the embodiment of Figure 2, the containers 20 of each row are connected to each
other along connecting lines T.
[0025] The containers 20 described can, for example, be obtained by means of a conventional
form-fill-seal process, in which a plurality of containers are thermoformed starting
from a single sheet of plastic material. The connecting lines (or points) T indicated
consist of weakening lines (or points) of the formed plastic sheet, in order to facilitate
the separation of the individual containers.
[0026] Returning to the tray 10, the described group of products is arranged thereon according
to an arrangement whereby adjacent containers of the same row are arranged on either
side of the dividing walls 14, 16.
[0027] In this way, within a respective compartment C, therefore, containers 20 of different
rows are arranged, and the connecting lines T of the individual rows are found above
the dividing walls 14 and 16.
[0028] The two separating walls 14 and 16 act as a support to the containers 20 to keep
them stably in a vertical position.
[0029] In various preferred embodiments, the two walls 14 and 16 extend vertically until
they reach the connecting lines T. In various preferred embodiments, as in the one
illustrated, the upper edges of these walls are shaped in such a way as to define
a plurality of recesses 14', 16' within which the connecting lines T and, possibly,
the corresponding confining portions of the containers 20 are received.
[0030] Thanks to the configuration described, the two walls 14 and 16 are able to hold the
containers 20 in both the directions X and Y.
[0031] In alternative embodiments, the same containers 20 can be separated from each other
and not connected to each other; also in this case, the separating walls 14, 16 and
the respective shaped edges nonetheless exert a stabilization action on the containers
20.
[0032] With reference now to Figure 4, this represents an example of a sheet for constructing
the tray 10 of Figures 1 and 2. This sheet can, for example, be made of cardboard,
corrugated cardboard, etc.
[0033] This sheet, indicated in Figure 4 as a whole by the reference number 100, has an
outer profile 101 and predefined folding lines 103.
[0034] In various preferred embodiments, as in the illustrated one, the sheet 100 defines
a quadrangular portion 111, which is included between a first pair of folding lines
103
I and 103
II, parallel to each other, and a second pair of folding lines 103
III and 103
IV, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the lines 103
I e 103
II. The portion 111 is intended to define the bottom 2 of the tray 10.
[0035] To the portion 111 are connected, on opposite sides, via the folding lines 103
I and 103
II, the two portions 113, 115, respectively, which are instead intended to define the
two walls 4 and 6 of the tray 10.
[0036] Still on opposite sides, the portion 111 is also connected, through the folding lines
103
III and 103
IV, to the additional portions 117, 119, which are instead intended to define the walls
8 and 12 of the tray 10.
[0037] Furthermore, the sheet 100 has two end portions 121, 123, which are located at opposite
ends of the sheet and are intended to define the two separating walls 14, 16 of the
tray 10.
[0038] The two end portions 121, 123 are connected, respectively, to the portions 113 and
115, through the two additional portions 125, 127 indicated above, which constitute
the connection of the two separating walls to the base structure of the tray (consisting
of the bottom and the side walls), and whose width (measured in the direction of the
folding lines 103
IV and 103
III) determines the positioning of the two walls on the bottom 2.
[0039] In particular, the portion 125 is connected to the portion 113 through the folding
line 103
V, and to the end portion 121 through the folding line 103
VI. On the other hand, the portion 127 is connected to the portion 115 through the folding
line 103
VII, and to the end portion 123 through the folding line 103
VII.
[0040] As already highlighted above, in the mounted condition of the tray, the portions
125, 127 are found within the two side compartments C and, preferably, assume a downwardly-inclined
orientation - starting from the respective side walls of the tray to which they are
connected - so that the separating walls 14 and 16 can rest with their lower edges
directly on the bottom 2, thus further increasing the stability of the overall structure.
[0041] In various preferred embodiments, as well as in the one illustrated, these portions
125 and 127 each have a series of openings 125', 127', respectively, suitable for
receiving the individual products.
[0042] As mentioned above, according to an important characteristic of the tray described
herein, the separating walls 14 and 16 are directly connected to the two walls 8 and
12 through connecting portions.
[0043] In this regard, with reference to the sheet 100, in various preferred embodiments,
as in the one illustrated, the two end portions 121 and 123 - which define the two
separating walls 14, 16 - are arranged with their respective opposite edges perpendicular
to the folding lines 103
VI and 103
VIII, with flaps 132 that are connected to the portions 121, 123 through folding lines
103
IX, and which are intended to be connected to the inner faces of the two portions 119,
117 - these defining the two side walls 8 and 12.
[0044] In various preferred embodiments, the flaps 132 identify the only connecting points
of the tray 10.
[0045] In particular, it should be noted that these flaps create a connection, between the
two separating walls 14 and 16 and the side walls 8 and 12, configured to create a
mutual support between these, which is sufficient to rigidly lock the entire structure
of the tray in its closed configuration. Finally, with reference to the construction
process of the tray 10, it simply requires folding the sheet 100 along the indicated
folding lines, to bring the portions 119, 113, 117, 115, 121 and 123 into an upright
position, and to connect the flaps 132 to the portions 117 and 119.
[0046] In view of the above, the simplicity of the structure and the ease of assembly of
the tray described here thus appear evident.
[0047] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction
and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to those illustrated
here, purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined by the attached claims.
1. A tray for transporting and displaying foodstuff products, comprising a sheet that
is folded so as to define:
- a bottom (2);
- a first pair of side walls (4, 6) oriented along a first direction (Y); and
- a second pair of side walls (8, 12) oriented along a second direction (X) transversal
to said first direction (Y),
said tray being
characterized in that said folded sheet, furthermore, defines:
two separating walls (14, 16) that extend along said first direction (Y), and are
parallel to one another and are spaced apart from each other so as to divide the tray
into distinct compartments (C);
wherein said separating walls (14, 16) extend along said first direction (Y) so far
as to place respective opposite edges immediately next to said second pair of side
walls (8, 12),
wherein said separating walls (14, 16) and/or said second pair of side walls (8, 12)
have connecting portions (132) that connect said opposite edges of said separating
walls (14, 16) to said second pair of side walls (8, 12).
2. A tray according to claim 1, wherein said separating walls (14, 16) are provided with
one or more flaps (132) at said opposite edges, for connecting said opposite edges
to said second pair of side walls (8, 12) .
3. A tray according to claim 2, wherein said flaps are connected to said second pair
of side walls (8, 12) by means of glue or via a snap-fit connection.
4. A tray according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said connecting portions
(132) define the only connecting points of said tray, preferably said connecting points
being covered with glue.
5. A tray according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said sheet defines, furthermore,
a pair of folded portions (125, 127) which, respectively, connect each separating
wall (14, 16) to the closest wall of said first pair of side walls (4, 6), and which,
in the mounted condition of said tray, place themselves within a respective compartment
(C) of said tray.
6. A tray according to claim 5, wherein said portions (125, 127) have a series of openings
for receiving said products, and preferably assume a downwardly-inclined position
starting from said respective closest side walls (4, 6).
7. A tray according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said separating walls
(14, 16) rest on said bottom (2).
8. A tray according to any one of the previous claims,
comprising a plurality of products that are packaged in containers (20) provided,
at their upper ends, with respective perimetral edges (21) that project laterally
with respect to the portion below the single container,
wherein said containers (20) are placed within said distinct compartments (C) according
to an ordered arrangement of parallel rows,
wherein the containers of the same row are connected to one another via said perimetral
edges (21), at or along connecting points or lines (T), and are placed on said tray
so that adjacent containers of the same row straddle one of said separating walls
(14, 16),
wherein said separating walls (14, 16) have upper edges shaped in such a way that
define a series of recesses (14', 16'),
wherein said connecting points or lines (T) between said perimetral edges of said
adjacent containers are placed within said recesses (14', 16').
9. A rigid or semi-rigid sheet having a perimetral contour and preformed folding lines,
which are configured for providing a tray according to any one of the previous claims.