Tray for transport and storage of products and method for use thereof

Abstract

A tray comprises a foldable sheet including: a bottom having a first sector with a folding line that defines a first joining zone, and a second sector joined to the first sector in the first joining zone; end walls each having an interior surface; support surfaces each extending from an end wall, where the support surfaces are oriented to support the weight of another stacked tray; first flaps each extending from a support surface, where each of the first flaps is folded towards an interior of the tray and having a surface facing and separated from the interior surface of an end wall; side walls; and a second flap extending from a side wall. The second flap is placeable a first position on a side wall for reinforcement and in a second position substantially perpendicular to the side walls to serve as a lid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging device, comprising:
 a sheet with folding lines enabling the sheet to be foldable into a shape of the packaging device, wherein, in an assembled configuration, the sheet includes:
 a bottom; 
 first and second top support surfaces that are substantially parallel with the bottom for reinforcement against downward compression; 
 a first wall and a first flap extending from opposite sides of the first top support surface to the bottom; 
 a second wall and a second flap extending from opposite sides of the second top support surface to the bottom; 
 a third wall and a third flap, the third wall extending downward from the third flap to the bottom and extending between the first and second walls; and 
 a fourth wall and a fourth flap, the fourth wall extending downward from the fourth flap to the bottom and extending between the first and second walls, 
   wherein the third and fourth flaps are placeable in two alternative use positions of the packaging device: a first position in which the third and fourth flaps are respectively placed along the third and fourth walls to provide reinforcement against compression; and a second position in which the third and fourth flaps are placed substantially parallel with the bottom to serve as a lid for the packaging device.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, a width of the first flap is narrower than a width of an interior surface of the first wall in a direction parallel to the bottom, and a width of the second flap is narrower than a width of an interior surface of the second wall in the direction parallel to the bottom, the widths of the first and second flaps providing spacings to accommodate the third and fourth flaps in the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, the first and second top support surfaces are positioned to facilitate stacking of other packaging devices on the packaging device. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, a distance between the first wall and the first flap diminishes from the first top support surface to the bottom, and a distance between the second wall and the second flap diminishes from the second top support surface to the bottom. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, the first flap is substantially parallel to the first wall and the second flap is substantially parallel to the second wall. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flaps each include a projection at a distal end to engage the bottom. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first wall comprises a first hinged flap foldable into a space between the first wall and the first flap to provide an opening in the first wall usable as a first handle; and   the second wall comprises a second hinged flap foldable into a space between the second wall and the second flap to provide an opening in the second wall usable as a second handle.   
     
     
         8 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the third flap comprises a slot to engage the fourth flap in the second position to secure the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, the bottom is double-layered and comprises:
 a first sector with an oblique folding line that defines a first joining zone;   a second sector with an oblique folding line, the second sector being joined to the first sector;   a third sector with an oblique folding line defining a second joining zone; and   a fourth sector joined to the third sector in the second joining zone.   
     
     
         10 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall includes: a first projection in a plane of the first wall and adjacent to the first top support surface; and a first hole adjacent to the bottom, the first projection being positioned to engage a first hole of another packaging device stacked above the packaging device, and the first hole being positioned to receive a first projection of another packaging device stacked below the packaging device. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet comprises cardboard. 
     
     
         12 . A container, comprising:
 a bottom;   first and second top support surfaces that are substantially parallel with the bottom;   first and second end walls respectively extending from outer longitudinal edges of the first and second top support surfaces to first opposing edges of the bottom;   first and second end flaps extending from inner longitudinal edges of the first and second top support surfaces, respectively, to the bottom, wherein a spacing between the first end wall and the first end flap decreases from the first top support surface to the bottom, and a spacing between the second end wall and the second end flap decreases from the second top support surface to the bottom;   first and second side walls respectively extending from second opposing edges of the bottom and extending between opposing side edges of the first and second end walls; and   first and second side flaps respectively extending from top edges of the first and second side walls, the first and second side flaps being configurable in a closed-container position parallel to the bottom and shaped to engage each other to serve as a lid of the container in the closed-container position.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second side flaps are configurable in an open-container position in which the first and second side flaps are respectively disposed along the first and second side walls to provide reinforcement against compression in a direction perpendicular to the bottom. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein, a width of the first end flap is narrower than a width of an interior surface of the first end wall in a direction parallel to the bottom, and a width of the second end flap is narrower than a width of an interior surface of the second end wall in the direction parallel to the bottom, the widths of the first and second end flaps providing spacings to accommodate the first and second side flaps in the open-container position. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a first longitudinal edge of the first top support surface extends along a top edge of the first end wall and a second longitudinal edge of the first top support surface extends along a top edge of the first end flap;   a first longitudinal edge of the second top support surface extends along a top edge of the second end wall and a second longitudinal edge of the second top support surface extends along a top edge of the second end flap; and   the first and second top support surfaces are strip-shaped and substantially co-planar, and longitudinally extend parallel to each other.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom comprises:
 a first sector with an oblique folding line that defines a first joining zone;   a second sector with an oblique folding line, the second sector being joined to the first sector;   a third sector with an oblique folding line defining a second joining zone; and   a fourth sector joined to the third sector in the second joining zone.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second side flaps each include a projection at a distal end to engage the bottom. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a container capable of having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the container comprising a first end wall and a first end flap extending from opposite sides of a first top support surface to a bottom, a second end wall and a second end flap extending from opposite sides of a second top support surface to the bottom, first and second side walls each respectively extending from first and second side flaps to the bottom and extending between the first and second end walls, the method comprising:
 configuring the container in the open configuration by respectively positioning the first and second side flaps along the first and second side walls to provide reinforcement against compression in a direction perpendicular to the bottom; and   configuring the container in the closed configuration by positioning the first and second side flaps substantially parallel with the bottom to serve as a lid for the container.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein, to transition between the open and closed configurations, each of the first and second support surfaces is placed in a substantially vertical position, with the first and second end flaps being substantially parallel and in contact with the first and second end walls, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein, to transition between the open and closed configurations, the first end flap and the first top support surface are placed vertically above the first end wall.