Multi-purpose merchandise tray

Abstract

A multi-purpose merchandise tray has base dimensions equal to support surface of a standard transport pallet. A plurality of the tray may be disposed in a stacked manner on the pallet with merchandise prearranged therein. The merchandise tray with the pallet may be readily transported and deposited at a selected location such as an aisle of the shop floor of a retail location for ready purchase of the merchandise by customers walking through the aisle.

1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A multi-purpose merchandise tray comprising,
 a large rectangular base panel having dimensions equal to dimensions of a 24 inches by 48 inches top supporting surface of a standard load supporting pallet,   two U-thaped side panels extending perpendicular to two long side edges of said base panel, said U-shaped side panels having an elongated portion and a vertical side portion extending vertically upward at two ends of said elongated portion, a reinforcing end panel extending outward from each vertical outer edge a said vertical side portion,   a plurality of foldable reinforce panels formed on an upper edge of said elongated portion of each one of said side panels, said foldable reinforcing panels being foldable downward to a folded position lying juuxtaposed to each corresponding one of said each one elongated portion of said side panels, said foldable reinforcing panels having mounting tabs formed at a free edge therein,   a plurality of mounting slots formed along said side edges of said base panel, said mounting slots being engageable with said mounting tabs of said foldable reinforcing panels for maintaining said foldable reinforcing panels in said folded position,   vertical slot openinsg formed by spacings between neighboring foldable reinforcing panels in said folded position and a pair of said vertical slot openings located at directly opposite associated positions in said side panels,   transverse slot openings formed in said base panel, said transverse openings being located at said associated positions aligned with two directly opposite vertical slot openings between said side panels,   two rectangular support cases located adjacent an inner surface of two opposite end panels of said tray, support cases having a height lower than said end panels of said tray,   an open transverse slot formed at a mid point of an upper surface of each of said support cases, and said open transverse slot being aligned with the longitudinal center of said base panel, and being located directly opposite to one another,   four right angle mounting brackets located at four upper corners of said tray, said right angle mounting brackets being formed by an upper edge portion of said of said vertical side portion at each end of said U-shaped side panels and an upper edge portion of said reinforcing end panel,   a plurality of longitudinal mounting slots formed in said base panel, said longitudinal mounting slots being located along the longitudinal center of said base panel,   two vertical transverse dividers mounted in said tray for dividing interior area of said tray into separate divided areas, each transverse divider having a generally I-shape in vertical side view, including a rectangular main board having a height equal to the height of said support cases and a width equal to the width of said base panel of said tray, two rectangular bottom rims extending perpendicularly to a bottom edge of two opposite surfaces of said main board, two horizontal plates extending outward perpendicular to an upper edge of said two opposite surfaces of said main board, an upstanding tab extending upwardly from a center portion of said upper edge of said main board.   
     
     
         4 : A multi-purpose merchandise tray according to  claim 3  wherein said rectangular main board is engageable with selected two opposite vertical slot openings formed between said neighboring foldable reinforcing panels, and are aligned with said transverse slots formed on the base panel of the tray. 
     
     
         5 : A multi-purpose merchandise tray according to  claim 4  wherein a plurality of said tray are removably and securely mountable in a stack manner with four bottom corners of an upper tray slidably engaging said four mounting bracket located at four upper corners of a lower tray, two end portion of said upper tray resting on upper edge of said support cases, and middle portion of said upper tray resting on said horizontal plates of said transverse dividers in said lower tray. 
     
     
         6 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 : A multi-purpose merchandise tray according to  claim 3  wherein said tray and said support cases are formed with a single configuration formed on a sheet material chosen selectively form the group consisting of paperboard and corrugated paper board.