Carrying tray for holding, transporting, and/or delivering food and beverage containers and method therefor

Abstract

A carrying tray having a top wall and a plurality of receptacle cavities in the top wall with each cavity being configured to accept a container such as a beverage cup therein and having retaining features for holding the cup upright with a substantial portion of the cup sidewall being retained below the top wall of the tray within the cavity. The retaining features include a plurality of collar tabs that limit tipping of the cups within the cavity particularly during transportation. The carrying tray can be assembled from a flat die-cut blank without the aid of adhesives and fasteners by utilizing a combination of locking tabs and cooperative openings in the sidewalls. The carrying tray along with the cups can be placed in a tamper evident delivery bag for convenient transportation of the beverage cups in a secure tamper resistant manner to a consumer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrying tray for holding at least a container therein, said tray comprising:
 a top wall, a first set of opposing sidewalls, and a second set of opposing sidewalls;   said top wall comprising at least one receptacle cavity, said receptacle cavity being configured for receiving a first portion of the container therethrough, wherein the first portion of the container is held below the top wall in the carrying tray and a second portion of the container is held above said top wall;   said at least one receptacle cavity in the top wall comprising a retaining feature, wherein the retaining feature is configured to contact said first portion of the container and restrain movement of the container relative to said receptacle cavity;   and wherein, said carrying tray is configured for facilitating transportation of said container held in said receptacle cavity without tipping.   
     
     
         2 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said carrying tray is assembled from a planar blank. 
     
     
         3 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said first set of opposing walls are configured to be secured with said second set of opposing of sidewalls during assembly of said carrying tray. 
     
     
         4 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining feature includes a plurality of slits extending radially inwardly from a periphery of said receptacle cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining feature includes a plurality of collar tabs extending radially inwardly from a periphery of said receptacle cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining feature extends radially inwardly from a periphery of said receptacle cavity to a central opening within said receptacle cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein the height of said first set of opposing sidewalls is greater than a diameter of said receptacle cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of opposing sidewalls comprise a first set of flaps and a second set of flaps. 
     
     
         9 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of opposing sidewalls include a first set of locking features and a second set of locking features, and wherein said first set of locking features are configured for engaging with said first set of flaps, and the second set of locking features are configured for engaging with said second set of flaps. 
     
     
         10 . The carrying tray of  claim 9 , wherein said first set of flaps include a first set of openings, and said second set of flaps include a second set of openings; and wherein the first and second set of openings are configured for engaging with a first and a second set of locking tabs provided in said second set of opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         11 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said carrying tray is configured for placement in a delivery bag. 
     
     
         12 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said carrying tray is configured for delivery in a tamper-evident bag wherein a mouth region of the tamper-evident bag being sealed for assuring security of the bag contents. 
     
     
         13 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said tray is constructed from one of paperboard, chipboard, and boxboard. 
     
     
         14 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said tray is constructed from one of cardboard, fiberboard, and kraft board. 
     
     
         15 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said container is a cup. 
     
     
         16 . The carrying tray of  claim 1 , wherein said container has a frusto-conical shape. 
     
     
         17 . A method for delivering a container in a generally upright orientation, said method comprising:
 providing a tray having a top wall, a first set of opposing sidewalls and a second set of opposing sidewalls, said top wall comprising at least one cavity, said cavity being configured for receiving a first portion of the container therein;   providing at least one retaining feature within said cavity, said retaining feature being configured for engaging with said first portion of the container;   loading said container into said at least one cavity with said first portion of the container disposed below said top wall and said retaining feature in engagement with said first portion of the container;   loading said tray into a delivery bag; and   restricting movement of the container within said tray during transportation of said delivery bag and holding said first and second set of opposing sidewalls in the generally upright orientation within said delivery bag.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said delivery bag is gusseted. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said delivery bag is constructed from polyethylene. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said delivery bag includes a tamper-evident feature. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said delivery bag includes an adhesive closure configured for sealing a mouth region of the delivery bag and restricting access into the delivery bag during transportation. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said retaining feature comprises a plurality of collar tabs configured for stabilizing the first portion of the container within said cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said delivery bag includes a tamper-evident closure and a tear line below said tamper-evident closure, said tear line being configured for opening the delivery bag after said tamper-evident closure is deployed. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said delivery bag includes at least one vent for expelling air or steam from the delivery bag. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said tray is constructed from one of paperboard, chipboard, and boxboard. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said tray is constructed from one of cardboard, fiberboard, and kraft board. 
     
     
         27 . A tamper evident delivery system for delivering a container in a generally upright orientation, said system comprising:
 a tray comprising a top wall, a first set of opposing sidewalls and a second set of opposing sidewalls, said top wall comprising at least one cavity, said cavity including a retaining feature and being configured for receiving a first portion of the container therein, said retaining feature being configured for engaging with said first portion of the container;   a delivery bag comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a mouth end and a closed bottom end; the delivery bag includes a closure system for sealing off the mouth end of the delivery bag and a frangible line configured for tearing the delivery bag for accessing the contents sealed therein;   said tray being configured for loading into the delivery bag with said first portion of the container included in said cavity and engaged with said retaining feature, wherein said carrying tray is configured for maintaining said first and second set of opposing sidewalls and said container in the generally upright orientation in said delivery bag.   
     
     
         28 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said tray is assembled from a planar blank. 
     
     
         29 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said first set of opposing walls are configured to be secured with said second set of opposing of sidewalls during assembly of said tray. 
     
     
         30 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said retaining feature includes a plurality of slits extending radially inwardly from a periphery of said cavity. 
     
     
         31 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said retaining feature includes a plurality of collar tabs extending radially inwardly from a periphery of said receptacle cavity. 
     
     
         32 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said retaining feature extends radially inwardly from a periphery of said receptacle cavity to a central opening within said receptacle cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein the height of said first set of opposing sidewalls is greater than a diameter of said receptacle cavity. 
     
     
         34 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein the first set of opposing sidewalls comprise a first set of flaps and a second set of flaps. 
     
     
         35 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 34 , wherein the second set of opposing sidewalls include a first set of locking features and a second set of locking features, and wherein said first set of locking features are configured for engaging with said first set of flaps, and the second set of locking features are configured for engaging with said second set of flaps. 
     
     
         36 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 34 , wherein said first set of flaps include a first set of openings, and said second set of flaps include a second set of openings; and wherein the first and second set of openings are configured for engaging with a first and a second set of locking tabs provided in said second set of opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         37 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said tray is constructed from one of paperboard, chipboard, cardboard, fiberboard, kraft board, and boxboard. 
     
     
         38 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said tray is constructed from a coated paper substrate. 
     
     
         39 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said delivery bag includes at least one vent for expelling air from said delivery bag. 
     
     
         40 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said wherein said container is a cup. 
     
     
         41 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said delivery bag is constructed from polyethylene. 
     
     
         42 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said delivery bag is constructed from a paper substrate. 
     
     
         43 . The tamper evident delivery system of  claim 27 , wherein said delivery bag is constructed from a coated paper substrate.