Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
3 "~
COOKIE TRAY
The present invention is directed to a novel form
of divided tray for insertion into a cookie bag or other
package form which is advantageous when compared with
existing structures.
Currently, there are two standard packaging
structures used to package multiple numbers of round and
planar cookies. The most common structure employs a
single-face corrugated divider which is positioned
inside a cookie bag to separate stacks of superimposed
cookies one from another to prevent damage in transit.
Another structure uses a thermoformed tray with
individual molded recesses or pockets to receive the
cookie stacks.
The disadvantage with the corrugated separators is
the considerable labour cost associated with manual or
semi-automatic operations of assembly and loading with
cookies together with insertion and closing of the bags.
The thermoformed tray permits automatic loading of
cookies and virtually forming of the bag around the tray
for an almost automatic system. However, the
thermoformed tray possesses three major disadvantages,
namely:
(a) As a result of deep draw forming, the plastic
film thins out to only about 0.002 to 0.004
inch at the bottom of the cavities, providing
almost no protection for the product in these
important areas;
(b) Because the tray must be drafted on all four
sides for molding, the tray does not sit
squarely in the bag, providing a problem in
ensuring the bag can stand erect and secure on
a supermarket shelf. In some cases, a U-
shaped board must be inserted over the top of
the tray to provide a square bottom within the
bag to solve the problem; and
(c) A plastic tray is environmentally unfriendly.
.
:. . -, :
,
7J ~
The present invention provides a novel form of
cookie package having a cushioned cubic structure, which
is die-cut in the form of a blank from recyclable
paperboard and folded (and in one option glued) and
which can be set up automatically by a tray former of
unique design which is able to deposit the formed tray
on a loading conveyor for automatic filling of the
cookies or other foodstuffs and forming of the bag, or
other package format.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a tray for supporting
circular and planar cookies in rows for placing into an
enclosing packaging structure, comprising a generally
rectangular planar bottom wall, generally rectangular
side and end walls upstanding from the~ bottom wall and
defining an open top, and at least one generally
rectangular intermediate wall upstanding from the bottom
wall and extending between the side walls generally
parallel to the end walls to define a plurality of
parallel pockets within the tray extending between the
side walls to receive face-abutted stacks of the cookies
therein. Each of the pockets is defined by side walls
which slope outwardly divergent from each other at an
obtuse angle to the plane of the bottom wall such that
cookies received in each of the pockets peripherally
engage the bottom wall and each of the side walls
defining the pocket.
While the tray provided in accordance with the
invention specifically is designed for supporting rows
or stacks of circular and planar cookies, the tray can
be used for packaging in cushioned manner other fragile
food items which have a generally curved outline, both
in two and three dimensions.
For example, in addition to cookies with a circular
outline, cookies having a fluted edge or an oval outline
can be accommodated, as can tarts of various types, as
. .
''
-
~ 3
well as easter eggs and circular fragile chocolate
products.
The curved surface of the food item is supported in
the pocket by somewhat resilient three-point contact
with each side wall and the bottom wall of the pocket as
well as somewhat resilient lengthwise support of a stack
of such products by the pocket end walls.
The tray usually is formed by folding a suitably
formed blank which is die-cut from paperboard of
suitable thickness.
The invention is described hereinafter, by way of
illustration, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a
tray according to one embodiment of the present
invention may be assembled;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a
novel form of cookie tray for placing in a cookie bag,
assembled from the blank of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the
novel form of cookie tray of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a plan view of one part of a two-part
blank from which a tray according to a second embodiment
of the invention may be assembled;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the other part of a two-
part blank from which the tray may be assembled;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a detail of
the cookie tray assembled from the two-part blank of
Figures 4 and 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cookie tray
assembled from the blanks of Figures 4 and 5 combined;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a blank from which a
tray according to a third embodiment of the invention
may be assembled;
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate assembly of the cookie
tray from the blank of Figure 8;
-
. .
'
- : . .
. ., - . . ,
- , . .
-
2 ~
Figure 11 is a perspective view from below of the
assembled cookie tray formed from the blank of Figure
8;
Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate details of the
assembled cookie tray of Figures 10 and 11; and
Figure 15 is a plan view of a blank from which a
tray according to a fourth embodiment of the invention
may be assembled;
Figure 16 is a perspective view from above of a
cookie tray assembled from the blank of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a plan view of a modified form of the
blank of Figure 15; and
Figure 18 is a side elevational view of a detail of
the cookie tray of Figure 16, showing accommodation of
different sized cookies in the same tray.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings,
the blank 10 is a continuous blank and four separate
elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 of the assembled structure 19
are formed from the blank 10. The element 12 forms the
shell of the finished tray 19, while elements 14, 16 and
18 are glued to the shell to provide the finished tray
19 .
The element 12 comprises a rectangular central
panel 20 having side panels 22 and 24 joined thereto
along fold lines 26 and 28. The central panel 20 has a
pair of flaps 30, 32 which are cut on three sides and
joined to the central panel 20 along the fourth side
along fold lines 33. Notches 34 are formed at the
longitudinal ends of the flaps 30, 32. Openings 36 also
are die-cut through the flaps 30, 32 to assist in
assembling the tray 19 form the blank 10.
Also joined to the central panel 20 by a fold line
38 is an end panel 40, which also is joined to element
14 at a line of sever 42. A tab 44 is cut from the
panel 40 and also is joined to the panel 20 by fold line
38. The central panel 20 is completed by panel portions
. ~ . ' ~ .
.:
~ 3
46, 48 and 50.
The element 14 comprises two panels 52 and 54,
joined by a fold line 56. The element 16 similarly
comprises two panels 58, 60 joined by a fold line 62.
5Element 18 comprises three panels 63, 64 and 66 joined
by fold lines 68 and 70 respectively.
As a first step in assembling the tray 19 from the
blank 10, glue lines 71 are applied to panel 64 while
glue line 73 is applied to panel 54. The panels 14, 16
and 18, still joined together, are folded about line 42
to overlie the end panel 40 and the central panel 20.
This folding and gluing is accomplished at high speed on
a straight line gluer in a traditional folding carton
plant.
15The abutting faces of portion 54 of element 14 and
panel portion 46 are adhered along glue line 73, with
fold line 56 coincident with fold line 38. Similarly,
panel portion 64 is adhered to panel portion 50 along
glue lines 71. The final glued tray is shipped flat to
the user company.
In the bakery, during final assembly of the tray,
prongs, or the like, are pushed through the openings 36
in the panels 30 and 32, causing the panel portion 58 to
become detached along its sever line 72 and to fold up
about fold line 62 and the panel portion 63 to become
detached along its sever line 74 and to fold up about
fold line 68.
The panels 30 and 32 are also folded upwardly about
their respective fold lines 33 to form, with the panel
portion 63 and 58 respectively, inverted V-shaped
dividers 76 and 78.
The panel portion 66 is folded upwardly about the
fold-line 70 to form one end panel to the tray 19 while
the overlying panel portions 52 and 40 are folded about
their common fold lines 56 and 38 to form the other end
panel of the tray 19. The end panels and the dividers
- . . . .
~.. , . ~ .
- ~ ~
2~3~
76 and 78 provide three cookie-receiving pockets or
recesses in the finished tray 19 (see Figure 2)
extending between the side walls of tray 19. Additional
or fewer pockets may be provided, as desired, by
suitable modification to the blank structure, for this
embodiment and also for the other embodiments described
below.
The side panels 22 and 24 are folded up about their
fold lines 26 and 28 and each is provided with a pair of
triangular openings 80 which receive therethrough
locking elements on the longitudinal extremities of the
dividers 76 and 78, including the notched tabs 34 and
82.
Similarly, the panels 22 and 24 have additional
openings 84, which have a first portion of a length to
receive locking tabs 86 therethrough and a second
portion of lesser length. The locking tabs 86 first are
pushed through the first portion of the openings 84 and
then the respective end panels 52 and 66 are drawn
outwardly, so that the notched portions of the locking
tabs 86 inter-engage with the longitudinal extremities
of the second portion of the opening, to lock the tray
19 in its assembled condition (see Figures 2 and 3).
The upper portion of the side panels 22 and 24 have
tab panels 88, 90 respectively, which flare outwardly by
bending about fold lines 92 and 94 in engagement with
outwardly-directed peripheral portion of the end panels
(see Figures 2 and 3). The double-planar canted side
walls of the tray 19 provided by the side panels 22 and
24 extend for the full length of the tray and add
strenqth to the package. In addition, this arrangement
provides a cushioning effect to the main face of the
cookie by indenting the cookies slightly away from
direct blows to the sides of the outer package. The
side walls along with the end walls of the tray 19
provide the generally cubic structure of the tray 19
.
-
.: '
.
~3~
and the side walls provide stacking strength to thefinished product, for secure, erect display on a
supermarket shelf.
As may be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the tray 19
comprises a plurality of pockets or recesses defined by
the end walls 52 and 66 and the dividers 76, 78,
designed to receive face-abutted stacks of round and
planar cookies. As mentioned earlier, other shapes of
foodstuff can be packaged in the pockets.
Each of the pockets is defined by side walls which
are upwardly divergent from each other. Each of the
pockets is dimensioned to receive the cookies in
engagement with each of the side walls as well as the
bottom wall of the pocket, so that each of the cookies
has a three-point somewhat flexible support in the
pocket. The inwardly-directed fold-lines 92, 94 in the
side panels 22 and 24 also provide a spring-like
gripping effect on the cookie stack to help keep the
stack in the pockets.
The underside of the dividers 76, 78 provide
recesses 96, 98 on the underside of the tray 19 which
permit entry of suitable guide devices on conveyors on
which the trays 19 are positioned, so as to control the
location of the tray 19 as the conveyor moves along and
the cookies are automatically loaded into the tray 19.
The blank 10 may be die-cut from paperboard, which
is recyclable, and is glued up, as described, to form a
finished cookie tray 19. The tray 19 can be set up on a
suitable automatic tray former of appropriate design,
which then deposits the assembled tray 19 automatically
on a loading conveyor for automatic filling of the
cookies in the tray and then forming of the bag around
the filled tray.
A plurality of such trays 19 abutted end-to-end
provides a plurality of modular, evenly-spaced pockets
or recesses which receive the cookies. The equally-
spaced recesses permit automatic trouble-free loading
into the trays.
The tray 19 also may be utilized in other carton
styles to provide for protective packaging of a food
item in such carton. For example, the carton may be a
Brightwood style carton. The carton is set up
automatically by a tray former with spot glued corners.
The tray 19 with food items stored therein then is
inserted into the carton and the lid manually closed.
Usually, this structure requires an outer cellowrap to
preserve the freshness of product. The resulting carton
is sturdy and may be provided with a wide range of
graphics, full color printing or embossing.
Another example of a carton is a Beers style
carton, which has a similar appearance to the Brightwood
carton, but the blank is pre-glued, folded and shipped
flat for manual assembly, insertion of the tray and
manual closure.
Another example would be automated or semi-
automated end-loading of a reclosable cereal-type
carton, which may have a gable top closure. A further
example is a carton which is fully end-sealed at both
ends, but is opened with a tear strip for access to
product through a main panel opening.
A final example is locating the tray 19 in a
rectangular open-topped tray which is overwrapped with
cellowrap, permitting the product to be viewed through
the cellowrap and the open top wall.
The tray 19 provided in accordance with this one
embodiment of the invention embodies several important
design concepts, as will be apparent to one skilled in
the art, and the present invention includes all
structures embodying such concepts.
The tray 19 overcomes the various prior art
problems cited above and provides significant
advantages, including:
9 203~
1. The structure provides a better and cushioned
protection for the cookies in the tray;
2. The structure is formed of environmentally
friendly, recyclable paperboard;
3. The structure permits automatic assembly and
fillinq;
4. The structure is "square" on all sides and
possesses a generally cubic structure,
providing improved product appearance and the
bag containing the structure can stand up
perfectly on a store shelf without the need
for additional supporting elements;
5. The structure is compatible with the product;
6. The structure can be pulled out of the bag or
carton in which it is housed by pulling on the
tab, for easy access to cookies contained in
the tray. Alternatively, dividers may be
pressed down inside the bag to gain access to
the cookies without the necessity to slide out
the tray;
7. Special-offer, money-back coupons etc. may be
printed, at low cost directly on the tray,
which is not possible with thermoformed trays
or single-face corrugated strip.
8. The blanks ship and store flat; and
9. The structure is affordable.
Figures 4 to 7 illustrate a second embodiment of
the invention comprising a two-part blank 112 and 114,
which enable a tray to be formed, similar in appearance
to the tray 19 of Figures 2 and 3 and possessing the
same advantages as tray 19 over the prior art enumerated
above. This embodiment, however, has a number of
advantages over that of Figures 2 and 3, as will become
apparent from the following description of that
embodiment. In particular, the embodiment of Figures 4
to 7 employs approximately 25 to 30% less paperboard, no
t9
gluing is required, and color coating is required on one
side only as is grease proofing.
The blank part 112 is folded to provide the side
walls, end walls and bottom wall of the cookie tray as
well as a pull-tab at each end while blank part 114
provides the dividers. The blank part 114 is folded
about fold lines 116, 118, 120 and 122 to form the
triangular dividers 124, 126 and then the folded element
is assembled with the blank part 112, by the triangular
dividers penetrating panels 128 and 130 in the bottom
wall 132 of the blank part 112, so that the centre panel
134 of the blank part 114 abuts the centre panel 136 of
the bottom wall 132 of the blank part 112.
The triangular dividers 124, 126 are maintained in
place by hooks 138 which are received in openings 140 in
the bottom wall 132. The various panels are locked in
place, as described above with respect to the embodiment
of Figures 1 to 3 to provide the assembled cookie tray
19 (see Figure 7). Each of the dividers 124, 126 is
comprised of two thicknesses of paperboard adjacent the
base, providing an enhanced strength.
By assembling the cookie tray from two separate
blanks, one providing the side walls 142, end walls 144
and bottom wall 132 of the tray 19 and the other
providing the dividers 124, 126, a cookie tray
possessing the advantages outlined above with respect to
the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 is obtained while
achieving a saving in materials, in that both end walls
are formed of a single thickness of material, whereas
the structure of Figures 2 and 3 has a double-wall
thickness in one end wall. In addition, the assembly
procedure is simplified. Other advantages are described
above.
Turning now to Figures 8 to 14, there is
illustrated therein a blank and assembled tray formed
therefrom in accordance with a third and currently most-
11 2~9~3
preferred embodiment of the invention. This embodimentretains the advantage of the embodiment of Figures l to
3 of assembly from a single planar blank element while,
at the same time, providing a further saving in
materials over the embodiment of Figures 4 to 7. In
addition, as in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 7, no
gluing is required and a single-side color coating and a
single-side grease proof coating only are required.
A planar blank 200 (see Figure 8) comprises a
central rectangular panel 212 to which a plurality of
panels are joined via fold lines. Four side panels 214,
216, 218 and 220 are joined by respective fold lines
222, 224, 226 and 228 to the central panel 212. The
side panels 214, 216 and 218, 220 have mirror-image
shapes as do side panels 214, 218 and 216, 220.
A pair of mirror-image shaped tab panels 230, 232
are joined to the central panel 212 by respective fold
lines 234, 236 and situated between the pairs of side
panels 214, 216 and 218, 220. A pair of mirror-image
shape end panels 238 and 240 are joined at each
longitudinal end of the central panel 212 by fold lines
242 and 244 respectively.
The central panel 212 has a plurality of round
openings 246 to receive pins or the like therethrough
upstanding from a forming jig to assist in accurate
assembly of the blank 200 into a finished tray structure
248 (see Figures 10 and 11).
The tab panels 230, 232 are folded up about the
fold lines 234, 236. The pairs of side panels 214, 216
and 218, 220 then are pushed towards each other, with
the assistance of pins protruding through the openings
246, until they overlap each other with openings
therethrough in alignment. This action which causes
panels 250, 252, which are joined to the remainder of
the bottom panel 212 by pairs of fold lines 254, 256 and
258, 260, to fold about those fold lines and fold line
J n ~ ~ f,-3
12
262 and 264, to form dividers 266, 268 (see Figure 9).
The end panels 238, 240 then are folded upwardly
about therein respective fold lines 242, 244 to form the
end walls 270 of the tray 248, to leave a pull tab 272
at each longitudinal end of the bottom wall 212.
The pairs of side panels 214, 216 and 218, 220 are
folded upwardly, panel members 273 are folded outwardly
about respective fold lines 275, and tabs 274 at the
longitudinal ends of the dividers 266 and 268 are
received through triangular openings 276 in the side
panels to lock the dividers 266 and 268 to the side
panels.
Tabs 278 at the longitudinal end of each tab panel
230, 232 are pushed through an adjacent opening 280 in
the overlapping portions of the pairs of side panels.
Tabs 282 formed in the body of each of the tab panels
230, 232 are pushed through an adjacent opening 284
immediately below in the overlapping portions of the
pairs of side panels. In addition, a tab 2B6 in the
upper one of the overlapping side panels is pushed
through an opening 288 (Figure 8) in the lower one of
the overlapping panels.
These interengagements of the tabs and the
respective openings (see Figure 13) locks the pairs of
25 side panels together to define side walls 290, 292
having a lower inwardly-canted portion and an upper
outwardly-canted portion.
Tabs 294, 296 extending from the opposite
longitudinal ends of each of the side walls 290, 292 are
30 bent about respective fold lines 298, 300 and hooked
through slots 302 formed through the end walls 270, to
lock the side walls 290, 292 and the end walls 270 to
each other to form the completed tray 248. This locking
engagement takes place at the same time as the
triangular openings 276 in the side walls lock with the
end locks 274 of the dividers 264, 266.
".. ~
:
, , ~ ~',
The dividers 266, 268 combine with the end walls
270 to define pockets 304 extending between the side
walls 290, 292 to receive stacks 306 of face-abutted
circular or other shaped cookies or other food items
with a generally curved surface. As seen in the detail
of Figure 14, each individual cookie 306 engages the
bottom wall 308 of the recess 304 and each side wall of
the recess, constituted by the respective end wall 270
and divider wall 266, 2 68.
The tray 248 has a generally cubic structure,
enabling it to be readily inserted into a conventional
cookie bag 310 (see Figure 11) and sit in an upright
position on a shelf, without the necessity of any
internal support structure. No gluing operations are
required to form the tray in this preferred embodiment.
The recesses in the longitudinal ends of the side walls
left by folding over the tabs 294, 296 may receive any
extra thickness of sealed bottom flap on the bottom of
the bag 310, so that the bag can sit flat on a shelf.
In each of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3, 4 to
7 and 8 to 14, the dividers defining the cookie-
receiving recesses extend only for the portion of the
depth of the cookie tray which is occupied by the lower,
inwardly-canted portion of the side walls. In Figures
15 to 17, there are shown two alternative structures
which provide dividers extending for a greater
proportion of the depth of the tray.
The blanks shown in Figures 15 and 17 are similar
to each other, except that Figure 17 has locking tabs
for the side walls which are lacking in Figure 15. The
blanks of Figures 15 and 17 also are each similar to the
blank shown in Figure 8, except for an additional length
to provide for the greater height of the dividers.
As seen in Figure 15, a planar blank 400 comprises
a central rectangular panel 412 to which a plurality of
panels are joined via fold lines. Four side panels 414,
. ' ~ ~ ' ,
' .
:
3 3
14
416, 418 and 420 are joined by respective fold lines
422, 424, 426 and 428 to the central panel 412. The
side panels 414, 416 and 418, 420 have mirror-image
shapes as do side panels 414, 418 and 416, 420.
A pair of mirror-image shape end panels 438 and 440
are joined at each longitudinal end of the central panel
412 by fold lines 442 and 444 respectively.
The central panel 412 has a plurality of round
openings 446 to receive pins or the like therethrough
upstanding from a forming jig to assist in accurate
assembly of the blank 400 into a finished tray structure
448 (see Figure 16).
The pairs of side panels 414, 416 and 418, 420 are
pushed towards each other, with the assistance of pins
protruding through the openings 446, until they overlap
each other with triangular openings 449 therethrough in
alignment. This action which causes panels 450, 452,
which are joined to the remainder of the bottom panel
412 by pairs of fold lines 454, 456 and 458, 460, to
20 fold about those fold lines and fold line 462 and 464,
to form dividers 466, 468 (see Figure 16).
The end panels 438, 440 then are folded upwardly
about respective fold lines 442, 444 to form the end
walls 470 of the tray 448, to leave a pull tab 472 at
each longitudinal end of the bottom wall 412.
The pairs of side panels 414, 416 and 418, 420 then
are folded upwardly, panel members 473 are folded
outwardly about respective fold lines 475, and tabs 474
at the longitudinal ends of the dividers 466 and 468 are
received through the aligned pairs of triangular
openings 449 in the side panels while the apices of the
triangular openings are received in notches 476 to lock
the dividers 466 and 468 to the side panels.
Tabs 482 formed in the body of one of each pair of
side panels are pushed through an adjacent opening 484
formed in the outer of the pairs of side panels to lock
, ~,
'~
:
~39~3
the panels together.
Tabs 494, 496 extending from the opposite
longitudinal ends of each of the side walls 490, 492 are
bent about respective fold lines 498, 500 and hooked
through slots 502 formed through the end walls 470, to
lock the side walls 490, 492 and the end walls 470 to
each other to form the completed tray 448. This locking
engagement takes place at the same time as the
triangular openings 449 in the side walls lock with the
end locks 474 of the dividers 464, 466.
The dividers 466, 468 combine with the end walls
470 to define pockets 504 extending between the side
walls 490, 492 to receive stacks of face-abutted
circular or other shaped cookies or other food items
with a generally curved surface. Each individual cookie
engages the bottom wall 508 of the recess 504 and each
side wall of the recess, constituted by the respective
end wall 470 and divider wall 466, 468.
Each of the end walls 470 and each of the dividers
20 466, 468 is provided with an additional fold line 510,
which permits each of the end walls 470 to flex slightly
outwardly and each of the dividers 466, 468 to be flexed
inwardly to define recesses 504 of greater transverse
dimension than in the absence of such flexure. This
25 arrangement permits cookies (512, 514) or other food
items with a generally curved surface which have
differing diameters to be packaged in the same
structure (see Figure 1~).
The tray 448 has a generally cubic structure,
enabling it to be readily inserted into a conventional
cookie bag, in the same way as tray 248 described above,
and sit in an upright position on a shelf, without the
necessity of any internal support structure.
As may be seen from Figure 16, the dividers 466,
35 468 extend almost for the depth of the tray 448,
providing a greater degree of separation of the cookies
16
within the tray 448 and a greater degree of support to a
cookie bag in which the tray 44~ is housed.
The blank 500' shown in Figure 17 differs from that
shown in Figure 15 in that a pair of mirror-image shaped
tab panels 430, 432 are joined to the central panel 412'
by respective fold line 434, 436, and situated between
the pairs of side panels 414', 416' and 418~, 420'. As
an initial step in assembling a tray from the blank 500'
of Figure 17, the tab panels 430, 432 are folded up
10 about fold lines 434, 436.
After the assembly operations described above with
respect to formation of the end walls, side walls and
dividers of the tray structure, the tabs 478 at the
longitudinal end of each tab panel 430, 432 are pushed
through an adjacent opening provided by aligned pairs of
openings 480 in the respective pairs of side panels.
The provision of the tab panels and the
interengagement of the tabs 478 and the openings provide
additional locking together of the side panels in the
side walls of the resulting cookie tray.
In the embodiments of Figures 8 to 18, the side
walls are locked to the end walls of the tray by the
interaction of tabs extending from the longitudinal ends
of the side walls and slots formed through the end
walls. However, this manner of locking may, if desired,
be replaced by that employed in the embodiments of
Figures 1 to 7 by the interaction of notches formed in
the longitudinal ends of the end walls and slots formed
through the side walls.
Although in each of the embodiments of Figures 4 to
15, the various cookie tray structures involve no gluing
together of parts but rather rely on the physical
interaction of elements to produce the assembled form of
the tray, and this is the preferred manner of
proceeding, it is also possible to use hot melt
adhesive, or other glue systems, to join the elements
~ ~ 3 ~
together.
In summary of this disclosure, the present
invention provides a novel tray structure for cookies
and the like fragile food items which overcomes prior
art problems and makes available a useful structure with
many advantages. In addition, all these described
embodiments can be produced on high-production standard
equipment in any modern folding carton plant, and can be
produced competitively at high speed and shipped and
stored flat. The present invention also provides blanks
from which such tray structure may be assembled.
Modifications are possible within the scope of this
invention.
