Tray

Abstract

A tray for bakery items includes a floor and side walls extending around a periphery of the floor. The tray has a relatively thin upper edge with a bail member pivotably attached to the upper edge along at least one of the first and second pairs of side walls. The bail member is rotatable between a stack orientation wherein a like tray may be rested upon the bail member, and a nest orientation in which like trays may be nested within like trays. Further, one or more side walls also includes a relatively large continuous opening therein capable of retrieving bakery items stored in the tray through the at least one pair of side walls, the opening extending generally from the upper edge to the periphery of the floor. In another embodiment, at least one of the sidewalls is pivotably attached to the floor and is movable between an upright position and a collapsed position.

1 . A tray for bakery items comprising:
 a floor;   a side wall at a peripheral edge of the floor, the side wall having a relatively thin upper edge, wherein the side wall includes a relatively large continuous opening such that bakery items stored in the tray can be retrieved therethrough, the opening extending generally from the upper edge to the periphery of the floor; and   wherein the upper edge is formed of a first material, the first material being different from the remainder of the side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the remainder of the side wall is made of a second material, the first material being greater in strength than the second material. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2  wherein the first material is a metal, and wherein the second material is a plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 3  wherein the side wall includes a bail member pivotably attached to the upper edge thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 3  wherein the upper edge is a metal ring continuously extending around the upper periphery of the tray. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 5  further including a plurality of corner portions defined by an inner portion projecting into the tray, and wherein the plurality of corner portions each include a retaining tab mounted to an upper surface thereof, the metal ring maintained in position by the retaining tabs. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein the opening spans most of the side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 7  wherein the opening spans substantially the entire side wall. 
     
     
         9 . A tray for bakery items comprising:
 a floor;   a side wall at a peripheral edge of the floor, the side wall having a relatively thin upper edge, wherein the side wall includes a relatively large continuous opening such that bakery items stored in the tray can be retrieved therethrough, the opening extending generally from the upper edge to the periphery of the floor; and   wherein the tray has a plurality of corner portions defined by an inner portion projecting into the tray and a corresponding outer recess, wherein when in a nest orientation, the outer recess of an upper tray receives the inner portion of a lower tray.   
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 9  wherein the opening spans most of the side wall. 
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 10  further including a bail member pivotably attached to the upper edge of the side wall, the bail member rotatable between a stack orientation wherein a like tray may be rested upon the bail member, and a nest orientation in which a like tray may be nested within the tray. 
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 11  wherein the bail member includes a stop portion extending from a lateral edge, and wherein the stop portion engages an upper surface of one of the plurality of corner portions when the bail member is in the stack orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 12  wherein the opening extends laterally along the side wall from substantially one corner portion thereof to another. 
     
     
         14 . A tray for bakery items comprising:
 a floor;   a side wall at a peripheral edge of the floor, the side wall having a relatively thin upper edge, wherein the side wall includes a relatively large continuous opening such that bakery items stored in the tray can be retrieved therethrough, the opening extending generally from the upper edge to the periphery of the floor, the opening spanning most of the side wall; and   wherein the side wall is pivotably attached to the floor and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position.   
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 14  further including that the side wall is one of four side walls arranged at respective peripheral edges of the floor, each side wall having a relatively thin upper edge and a relatively large continuous opening. 
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 14  wherein each of the four side walls are pivotably attached to the floor and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position. 
     
     
         17 . A tray for bakery items comprising:
 a floor;   at least two side walls arranged at respective peripheral edges of the floor, each of the at least two side walls having a relatively thin upper edge, wherein each of the at least two side walls includes a relatively large continuous opening such that bakery items stored in the tray can be retrieved therethrough, the opening extending generally from the upper edge to the periphery of the floor;   wherein each of the at least two side walls includes a bail member pivotably attached to the upper edge thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 17  wherein the at least two side walls is less than four side walls. 
     
     
         19 . The tray of  claim 18  wherein the at least two side walls is three side walls. 
     
     
         20 . The tray of  claim 18  wherein the opening in each respective side wall spans most of the side wall.