Tray for containers

Abstract

A thermoformed tray includes a base wall and a plurality of side walls curving upwardly from a periphery of the base wall. A guide rail projects downward from the periphery of the base wall.

1 . A thermoformed tray comprising:
 a base wall;   a plurality of side walls curving upwardly from a periphery of the base wall; and   a guide rail projecting downward from the periphery of the base wall.   
   
   
       2 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 1  further including a recess on an upper surface of the base wall corresponding to the guide rail. 
   
   
       3 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 2  wherein the guide rail includes alternating inwardly-curved and outwardly-curved portions. 
   
   
       4 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 3  further including a plurality of vertical projections upwardly from the base wall between the side walls, a plurality of pockets defined between the plurality of vertical projections and the side walls. 
   
   
       5 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 4  wherein the inwardly-curved portions are aligned with the vertical projections and the outwardly-curved portions are aligned between the vertical projections. 
   
   
       6 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 5  wherein the base wall, side walls vertical projections and guide rail are thermoformed from a single sheet. 
   
   
       7 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 1  further including at least one handle integrally formed with the tray. 
   
   
       8 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 7  wherein the at least one handle extends upwardly from one of the side walls. 
   
   
       9 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 1  further including a plurality of bottles in the plurality of pockets. 
   
   
       10 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 9  further including plastic wrap securing the bottles to the tray. 
   
   
       11 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of side walls includes a plurality of curved portions that are curved in a plane generally parallel to the base wall to partially define pockets. 
   
   
       12 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 11  wherein the guide rail includes alternating inwardly-curved and outwardly-curved portions, the outwardly-curved portions generally aligned with the pockets. 
   
   
       13 . A thermoformed tray comprising:
 a base wall   a plurality of side walls curving upwardly from a periphery of the base wall;   a plurality of vertical projections upwardly from the base wall between the side walls, a plurality of pockets defined between the plurality of vertical projections and the side walls; and   alternating inwardly and outwardly positioned rail portions projecting downward from the periphery of the base wall and having corresponding recessed portions on an upper surface of the base wall.   
   
   
       14 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 13  wherein the inwardly-projecting portions are aligned with the vertical projections and the outwardly-projecting portions are aligned between the vertical projections. 
   
   
       15 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 13  further including at least one handle integrally formed with the tray. 
   
   
       16 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 15  wherein the at least one handle extends upwardly from one of the side walls. 
   
   
       17 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 13  further including a plurality of bottles in the plurality of pockets. 
   
   
       18 . The thermoformed tray and bottles of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of bottles contact one another in the tray. 
   
   
       19 . A method of forming a tray for beverage containers including the steps of:
 a) thermoforming a polymer sheet to include a base wall;   b) thermoforming a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from a periphery of the base wall;   c) thermoforming a plurality of vertical projections upwardly from the base wall between the side walls, a plurality of pockets defined between the plurality of vertical projections and the side walls; and   d) thermoforming guide portions projecting downward from the periphery of the base wall.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the guide portions include alternating inwardly and outwardly projecting rail portions projecting downward from the periphery of the base wall. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the guide portions have corresponding recessed portions on an upper surface of the base wall. 
   
   
       22 . A thermoformed tray comprising:
 a base wall; and   a plurality of side walls curving upwardly from a periphery of the base wall, at least one of the plurality of side walls including a plurality of curved portions that are curved in a plane generally parallel to the base wall to partially define pockets.   
   
   
       23 . The thermoformed tray of  claim 21  further including alternating inwardly and outwardly positioned rail portions projecting downward from the periphery of the base wall and having corresponding recessed portions on an upper surface of the base wall.