Claims
- 1. A container assembly which utilizes interchangeable trays for shipping goods, said assembly comprising:
- a plurality of containers including a first container and a second container;
- said first container including a first tray, a second tray and a first shroud, said first shroud located between said first tray and said second tray;
- said second container including a second shroud and a third tray, said second container stacked on top of said first container and said second shroud located between said third tray and said second tray; and
- each of said trays having an identical shape and including first and second opposing surfaces having first and second locating features respectively for retaining said shrouds, said first locating feature comprising a raised peripheral rim extending from said first surface and an outer wall mounted on said raised peripheral rim, with said shroud disposed within said outer wall and adjacent to said outer wall, said outer wall further including a plurality of inwardly projecting ribs in abutting relationship to said shroud for retaining said shroud, said ribs having a ramped portion for guiding said shroud within said outer wall, said first shroud retained by said first locating feature of said first tray and said second locating feature of said second tray, said second shroud retained by said first locating feature of said second tray and either of said first and said second locating feature of said third tray.
- 2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second locating feature comprises a plurality of downwardly projecting tabs depending from said outer wall, a plurality of notches formed between said downwardly projecting tabs and said raised peripheral rim for retaining said shroud.
- 3. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shrouds are movable between a shipping configuration and a compact configuration for storage and return shipment of said shrouds.
- 4. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shrouds comprise corrugated cardboard.
- 5. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shrouds comprise plastic.
- 6. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of dividers disposed within at least one of said shrouds and arranged into a shipping configuration to form a plurality of compartments adapted to store the goods.
- 7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said first opposing surfaces further include at least one pair of retaining members, said pair of retaining members forming a slot for retaining at least a portion of said dividers.
- 8. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said dividers are movable between said shipping configuration and a compact configuration for storage and return shipment of said dividers.
- 9. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said dividers comprise corrugated cardboard.
- 10. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said dividers comprise plastic.
- 11. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said dividers are attached to at least one of said shrouds to form a unitary structure.
- 12. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of said dividers is arranged transversely to at least another of said dividers thus forming an intersection, said at least one and at least another of said dividers interlocking together at said intersection.
- 13. The assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said dividers are disposed within said first shroud, said dividers supported by said first surface of said first tray and abutting said second surface of said second tray for supporting said second tray.
- 14. A plastic tray for a packaging system utilizing shrouds and dividers, said tray comprising:
- first and second opposing surfaces;
- a raised peripheral rim extending from said first surface and an outer wall mounted on said raised peripheral rim and adapted to retain one of the shrouds, said outer wall including a plurality of inwardly projecting ribs having a ramped portion adapted to guide the one of the shrouds within said outer wall;
- a plurality of downwardly projecting tabs depending from said outer wall with a plurality of notches formed between said tabs and said raised peripheral rim adapted to retain another of the shrouds; and
- at least one pair of retaining members on said first surface forming a slot adapted to retain at least a portion of the dividers.
- 15. The tray as set forth in claim 14, wherein said tray comprises plastic.
- 16. The tray as set forth in claim 15, wherein said plastic comprises polystyrene.
- 17. The tray as set forth in claim 15, wherein said plastic comprises polyethylene.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/100,891, filed Sep. 23, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (24)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
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TriEnda Corporation Custom Twin-Sheet Thermoforming Brochure. |