Can tray assembly
First Claim
1. A low depth nestable can tray for containing a four-by-six layer array of substantially cylindrical, rimmed beverage cans, said tray having a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls, said end and side walls together forming a low-depth can tray wall structure, a floor construction secured to said wall structure for supporting thereon said array of cans, said floor construction having an open gridwork and a can receiving area for each can of said array, a peripheral top lip protruding outwardly from a top of said wall structure, and said cans of said array extending a distance above said top lip in a low-depth arrangement relative to said wall structure;
- wherein the improvements comprise;
at least portions of each of said side and end walls angled inwardly to provide for empty tray nesting;
a plurality of can receiving openings in each of said side and end walls, wherein portions of peripheral cans of said array partially extend out beyond said walls through said openings;
a plurality of interior curved wall portions disposed on each said wall, said curved wall portions generally conforming to the sidewalls of adjacent cans, and generally disposed above each said opening and below said top lip; and
at least one tab structure extending down from said top lip on outer surfaces of said walls to prevent empty nested tray wedging.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A molded plastic low-depth tray for beverage cans or the like. The low-depth tray walls angle inwardly to provide for deep empty tray nesting. Outer abutment tabs depending down from the top lip and on the outside of the walls prevent the empty trays when nested from wedging together. The walls each have a plurality of can receiving openings out through which lower portions of cans, when held in the tray on the tray floor, partially extend. Interior surfaces of the walls above the openings are outwardly curved to conform to the cylindrical sidewalls of the adjacent cans. The tray floor thereby has smaller length and width dimensions than that of the array of cans held in the tray. Redoubts or standoffs on the bottom of the floor lock on to the rims of cans in subjacent trays. Stable palletized stacking and cross-stacking of these trays when loaded with cans is thereby provided.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A low depth nestable can tray for containing a four-by-six layer array of substantially cylindrical, rimmed beverage cans, said tray having a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls, said end and side walls together forming a low-depth can tray wall structure, a floor construction secured to said wall structure for supporting thereon said array of cans, said floor construction having an open gridwork and a can receiving area for each can of said array, a peripheral top lip protruding outwardly from a top of said wall structure, and said cans of said array extending a distance above said top lip in a low-depth arrangement relative to said wall structure;
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wherein the improvements comprise; at least portions of each of said side and end walls angled inwardly to provide for empty tray nesting; a plurality of can receiving openings in each of said side and end walls, wherein portions of peripheral cans of said array partially extend out beyond said walls through said openings; a plurality of interior curved wall portions disposed on each said wall, said curved wall portions generally conforming to the sidewalls of adjacent cans, and generally disposed above each said opening and below said top lip; and at least one tab structure extending down from said top lip on outer surfaces of said walls to prevent empty nested tray wedging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification