Stackable tray

Abstract

A stackable tray may have a main bottom panel and a plurality of wall members extending from the main bottom panel that are adaptable to be folded about a respective plurality of score lines to form a tray. The main bottom panel may have at least one perforation that is at least partially deformable due to engagement of the main bottom panel with a protrusion of a pre-determined item located beneath the tray in the vicinity of the at least one perforation. A blank for forming a stackable tray and a plurality of stackable trays are also disclosed.

1 . A blank for forming a stackable tray comprising:
 a main bottom panel and a plurality of wall members extending from said main bottom panel;   said plurality of wall members adaptable to be folded about a respective plurality of score lines to form a tray;   said main bottom panel comprising at least one perforation;   said at least one perforation adapted for engaging a protrusion of a pre-determined item to be located beneath said tray.   
   
   
       2 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said main bottom panel and said plurality of wall members comprise fiberboard. 
   
   
       3 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said main bottom panel and said plurality of wall members comprise a water resistant material. 
   
   
       4 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of wall members comprises at least one flap. 
   
   
       5 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of wall members comprises at least one panel. 
   
   
       6 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said blank further comprises one or more handles. 
   
   
       7 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said pre-determined item comprises a beverage container. 
   
   
       8 . The blank of  claim 1  wherein said at least one perforation is sized and positioned to substantially align with at least one predetermined item to be placed in said tray. 
   
   
       9 . A stackable tray comprising:
 a main bottom panel;   said main bottom panel comprising at least one perforation;   said main bottom panel being adaptable as a base for supporting a first pre-determined item;   a plurality of side members extending from said main bottom panel;   said stackable tray being stackable on top of a second pre-determined item;   said at least one perforation being sized and located for engagement of said main bottom panel with a protrusion of said second pre-determined item in the vicinity of said at least one perforation;   said at least one perforation being configured to at least partially deform due to said engagement when said stackable tray is stacked on top of said second pre-determined item.   
   
   
       10 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said stackable tray comprises fiberboard. 
   
   
       11 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said stackable tray comprises water resistant material. 
   
   
       12 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of side members comprises at least one of flap. 
   
   
       13 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of side members comprises at least one panel. 
   
   
       14 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said stackable tray further comprises one or more handles. 
   
   
       15 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said at least one perforation is adapted to allow said protrusion of said second pre-determined item to engage with a recess on said first pre-determined item. 
   
   
       16 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein a portion of said main bottom panel in the vicinity of said at least one perforation is adapted to engage with a recess on said first pre-determined item. 
   
   
       17 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  further comprising a wrapper disposed about said stackable tray and said first pre-determined item. 
   
   
       18 . The stackable tray of  claim 17  wherein said wrapper comprises shrink wrap. 
   
   
       19 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said at least one perforation is configured to substantially align with said first pre-determined item. 
   
   
       20 . The stackable tray of  claim 9  wherein said at least one perforation comprises a plurality of perforations that are respectively sized and positioned to substantially align with respective ones of a first plurality of pre-determined items in said stackable tray and a second plurality of pre-determined items in a lower tray. 
   
   
       21 . A plurality of stackable trays comprising:
 an upper tray comprising a first plurality of pre-determined items;   a lower tray comprising a second plurality of pre-determined items;   said upper tray being disposed on top of said lower tray;   said upper tray having a main bottom panel comprising a plurality of perforations;   said plurality of perforations being at least partially deformed due to engagement of said main bottom panel by respective protrusions of said second plurality of pre-determined items.   
   
   
       22 . The plurality of stackable trays of  claim 21  wherein said plurality of perforations is substantially aligned with respective ones of said protrusions. 
   
   
       23 . The plurality of stackable trays of  claim 21  wherein said plurality of perforations is substantially aligned with said first plurality of pre-determined items. 
   
   
       24 . The plurality of stackable trays of  claim 21  wherein said upper tray is stacked in a staggered manner with respect to said lower tray. 
   
   
       25 . The plurality of stackable trays of  claim 21  wherein said plurality of perforations is configured to be frangible in a desired amount based on a pre-determined weight associated with said first plurality of pre-determined items. 
   
   
       26 . The plurality of stackable trays of  claim 21  wherein said first plurality of pre-determined items and said second plurality of pre-determined items are the same. 
   
   
       27 . The plurality of stackable trays of  claim 26  wherein said first plurality of pre-determined items and said second plurality of pre-determined items comprise beverage containers. 
   
   
       28 . The plurality of stackable trays of  claim 21  wherein at least one of said plurality of perforations is at least partially broken. 
   
   
       29 . A stackable beverage tray comprising:
 a main bottom panel comprising fiberboard;   said main bottom panel having a plurality of perforations and being substantially continuous in the vicinity of each of said plurality of perforations;   said main bottom panel being adaptable as a base for supporting a first plurality of beverage containers;   said stackable beverage tray being stackable on top portions of a second plurality of beverage containers disposed below said stackable beverage tray such that said top portions respectively engage said main bottom panel in the vicinity of respective ones of said plurality of perforations and thereby cause at least some of said plurality of perforations to become at least partially broken.   
   
   
       30 . The stackable beverage tray of  claim 29  wherein said fiberboard comprises corrugated fiberboard. 
   
   
       31 . The stackable beverage tray of  claim 29  wherein each of said plurality of perforations is placed in a pre-selected location corresponding to a location of a beverage container disposed within a lower tray when said stackable beverage tray is stacked on said lower tray. 
   
   
       32 . The stackable beverage tray of  claim 31  wherein said main bottom panel is adaptable for receiving said first plurality of beverage containers in a configuration in which each of said first plurality of beverage containers is substantially aligned with a respective one of said plurality of perforations. 
   
   
       33 . The stackable beverage tray of  claim 31  wherein said main bottom panel is adaptable for receiving said first plurality of beverage containers in a configuration in which said first plurality of beverage containers is substantially offset from said plurality of perforations. 
   
   
       34 . The stackable beverage tray of  claim 29  further comprising a plurality of side members extending from said main bottom panel. 
   
   
       35 . The stackable beverage tray of  claim 34  wherein said plurality of side members is sized such that said first plurality of beverage containers protrudes above said plurality of side members. 
   
   
       36 . A stack of beverage trays comprising:
 a first beverage tray comprising a fiberboard bottom panel and a plurality of fiberboard side members extending from said bottom panel;   said bottom panel having a plurality of perforations and being substantially continuous in the vicinity of each of said plurality of perforations;   a first plurality of beverage containers disposed in said first beverage tray;   a second beverage tray having a second plurality of beverage containers therein;   said first beverage tray being stacked on top portions of said second plurality of beverage containers such that said top portions respectively engage said bottom panel in the vicinity of respective ones of said plurality of perforations such that said plurality of perforations are at least partially broken.   
   
   
       37 . The stack of beverage trays of  claim 36  wherein said first beverage tray is substantially aligned with said second beverage tray. 
   
   
       38 . The stack of beverage trays of  claim 36  wherein said first beverage tray is substantially offset from said second beverage tray. 
   
   
       39 . The stack of beverage trays of  claim 36  wherein said second beverage tray is substantially the same as said first beverage tray. 
   
   
       40 . The stack of beverage trays of  claim 36  wherein said top portions of said second plurality of beverage containers at least partially protrude into respective recesses of said first plurality of beverage containers. 
   
   
       41 . The stack of beverage trays of  claim 36  wherein said first plurality of beverage containers is substantially the same as said second plurality of beverage containers. 
   
   
       42 . The stack of beverage trays of  claim 36  wherein at least one of said first beverage tray and said second beverage tray comprises a wrapper disposed thereabout.