US-12617578-B2 - Tray with divider features

Abstract

A tray for holding one or more food products includes a plurality of panels including a central panel, at least one end panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel, a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray and including the at least one end panel and the at least one side panel, a flange extending outwardly from the sidewall and including the central panel, a bottom wall including the at least one bottom panel, and divider features including at least one divider in the interior of the tray, the at least one divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall.

Inventors

• Raymond S. Kastanek

Assignees

• GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240314

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A tray for holding one or more food products, the tray comprising: a plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one end panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel; a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray and comprising the at least one end panel and the at least one side panel; a flange extending outwardly from the sidewall and comprising the central panel; a bottom wall comprising the at least one bottom panel; and divider features comprising at least one divider in the interior of the tray, the at least one divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the at least one bottom panel comprises a bottom wall forming portion at least partially forming the bottom wall and at least one divider forming portion at least partially forming the at least one divider, the at least one divider forming portion is a first divider forming portion and a second divider forming portion.
2. 2 . The tray of claim 1 , wherein the first divider portion and the second divider portion extend obliquely upwardly from the bottom wall forming portion in the interior of the tray.
3. 3 . The tray of claim 2 , wherein the first divider forming portion is foldably connected to the bottom wall forming portion, and the second divider forming portion is foldably connected to the first divider forming portion, the first divider forming portion and the second divider forming portion obliquely arranged to form the at least one divider.
4. 4 . The tray of claim 2 , wherein the at least one divider is first divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall and the divider features further comprise a second divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the first divider forming portion is foldably connected to the bottom wall forming portion of the at least one bottom panel and at least partially forming the first divider, and the second divider forming portion is foldably connected to the bottom wall forming portion and extending obliquely upwardly from the bottom wall forming portion in the interior of the tray to at least partially form the second divider.
5. 5 . The tray of claim 2 , wherein the at least one divider is first divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall and the divider features further comprise a second divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the bottom wall forming portion is a first bottom wall forming portion and the at least one bottom panel further comprises a second bottom wall forming portion spaced apart from the first bottom wall forming portion, the first divider forming portion is foldably connected to the first bottom wall forming portion and at least partially forming the first divider, and the second divider forming portion is foldably connected to the second bottom wall forming portion and extending obliquely upwardly from the second bottom wall forming portion in the interior of the tray to at least partially form the second divider.
6. 6 . The tray of claim 2 , wherein the at least one bottom panel is a first bottom panel and the plurality of panels further comprises a second bottom panel at least partially forming the bottom wall, the second bottom panel comprises a bottom forming portion and at least one divider forming portion foldably connected to the bottom forming portion of the second bottom panel, the at least one divider forming portion of the first bottom panel and the at least one divider forming portion of the second bottom panel obliquely arranged to form the at least one divider.
7. 7 . The tray of claim 2 , wherein the at least one bottom panel is a first bottom panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a second bottom panel, a third bottom panel, and a fourth bottom panel, each of the first bottom panel, the second bottom panel, the third bottom panel, and the fourth bottom panel comprising a respective bottom forming portion and a respective at least one divider forming portion foldably connected to the respective bottom forming portion, the at least one divider is a first divider and the divider features further comprise a second divider, a third divider, and a fourth divider in the interior of the tray and extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the at least one divider forming portion of the first bottom panel arranged to at least partially form the first divider, the at least one divider forming portion of the second bottom panel arranged to at least partially form the second divider, the at least one divider forming portion of the third bottom panel arranged to at least partially form the third divider, and the at least one divider forming portion of the fourth bottom panel arranged to at least partially form the fourth divider.
8. 8 . The tray of claim 7 , wherein the at least one divider forming portion of the second bottom panel is a first divider portion at least partially forming the second divider and the second bottom panel further comprises a second divider forming portion at least partially forming the third divider.
9. 9 . The tray of claim 8 , wherein the at least one divider forming portion of the third bottom panel is a first divider forming portion at least partially forming the second divider and the third bottom panel further comprises a second divider forming portion at least partially forming the third divider.
10. 10 . The tray of claim 9 , wherein the first divider forming portion of the second bottom panel is obliquely arranged with the first divider forming portion of the third bottom panel to form the second divider.
11. 11 . The tray of claim 10 , wherein the second divider forming portion of the second bottom panel is obliquely arranged with the second divider forming portion of the third bottom panel to form the third divider.
12. 12 . The tray of claim 2 , wherein the at least one end panel and the at least one side panel extend downwardly from the central panel.
13. 13 . The tray of claim 12 , wherein the at least one end panel is foldably connected to the central panel and the at least one side panel is foldably connected to an attachment panel overlapping the central panel.
14. 14 . The tray of claim 13 , wherein the central panel at least partially defines an outer edge and an inner edge circumscribing an opening, the at least one end panel is foldably connected to the inner edge of the central panel.
15. 15 . The tray of claim 2 , further comprising a liner separably attached to at least a portion of a respective panel of the plurality of panels.
16. 16 . A blank for forming a tray for holding one or more food products, the blank comprising: a plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one end panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel, the at least one end panel and the at least one side panel for being arranged to at least partially forming a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray formed from the blank, the central panel for being arranged to at least partially form a flange extending outwardly from the sidewall when the tray is formed from the blank, the at least one bottom panel for being arranged to form a bottom wall of the tray formed from the blank; and divider features for forming at least one divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall in the interior of the tray when the tray is formed from the blank, the at least one bottom panel comprises a bottom wall forming portion for at least partially forming the bottom wall and at least one divider forming portion for at least partially forming the at least one divider, the at least one divider forming portion is a first divider forming portion and a second divider forming portion.
17. 17 . The blank of claim 16 , wherein the first divider forming portion is foldably connected to the bottom wall forming portion, and the second divider forming portion is foldably connected to the first divider forming portion, the first divider forming portion and the second divider forming portion for being obliquely arranged to form the at least one divider when the tray is formed from the blank.
18. 18 . The blank of claim 16 , wherein the at least one divider is a first divider for being formed by the divider features extending upwardly from the bottom wall when the tray is formed from the blank, the first divider forming portion is foldably connected to the bottom wall forming portion of the at least one bottom panel for at least partially forming the first divide when the tray is formed from the blank, and the second divider forming portion is foldably connected to the bottom wall forming portion for extending obliquely upwardly from the bottom wall forming portion in the interior of the tray to at least partially form a second divider when the tray is formed from the blank.
19. 19 . The blank of claim 16 , wherein the at least one divider is a first divider for being formed by the divider features extending upwardly from the bottom wall when the tray is formed from the blank, the bottom wall forming portion is a first bottom wall forming portion and the at least one bottom panel further comprises a second bottom wall forming portion spaced apart from the first bottom wall forming portion, the first divider forming portion is foldably connected to the first bottom wall forming portion for at least partially forming the first divider when the tray is formed from the blank, and the second divider forming portion is foldably connected to the second bottom wall forming portion for extending obliquely upwardly from the second bottom wall forming portion in the interior of the tray to at least partially form a second divider when the tray is formed from the blank.
20. 20 . The blank of claim 16 , wherein the at least one bottom panel is a first bottom panel and the plurality of panels further comprises a second bottom panel for at least partially forming the bottom wall when the tray is formed from the blank, the second bottom panel comprises a bottom forming portion and at least one divider forming portion foldably connected to the bottom forming portion of the second bottom panel, the at least one divider forming portion of the first bottom panel and the at least one divider forming portion of the second bottom panel for being obliquely arranged to form the at least one divider when the tray is formed from the blank.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/452,852, filed on Mar. 17, 2023. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE The disclosures of each of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/690,204, filed on Mar. 9, 2022, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/532,819, filed on Aug. 6, 2019, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/037,425, filed Jul. 17, 2018, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/654,814, filed Jul. 20, 2017, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/992,131, filed Feb. 11, 2011, PCT Patent Application No. PCT/GB/09/50506, filed May 13, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/452,852, filed on Mar. 17, 2023, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to blanks, containers, trays, constructs, and various features and methods for forming a container from a blank. More specifically, the disclosure is generally directed to trays with divider features. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to one aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a tray for holding one or more food products, the tray comprising a plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one end panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel, a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray and comprising the at least one end panel and the at least one side panel, a flange extending outwardly from the sidewall and comprising the central panel, a bottom wall comprising the at least one bottom panel, and divider features comprising at least one divider in the interior of the tray, the at least one divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall. According to another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a tray for holding one or more food products, the blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one end panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel, the at least one end panel and the at least one side panel for being arranged to at least partially forming a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray formed from the blank, the central panel for being arranged to at least partially form a flange extending outwardly from the sidewall when the tray is formed from the blank, the at least one bottom panel for being arranged to form a bottom wall of the tray formed from the blank, and divider features for forming at least one divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall in the interior of the tray when the tray is formed from the blank. According to another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a tray for holding one or more food products, the method comprising obtaining a blank, the blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a central panel, at least one end panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel, the blank further comprising divider features, arranging the at least one end panel and the at least one side panel to form a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, arranging the central panel to form a flange extending outwardly from the sidewall, arranging the at least one bottom panel to form a bottom wall of the tray, and forming at least one divider extending upwardly from the bottom wall in the interior of the tray. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed 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 the embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a tray according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tray formed from the blank of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is another perspective view of a tray formed from the blank of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an apparatus for processing a blank and/or tray that can be used with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS The present disclosure relates generally to various aspects of containers, constructs, trays, materials, packages, elements, and articles, and methods of making such containers, constructs, trays, materials, packages, elements, and articles. Although several different aspects, implementations, and embodiments are disclos