Tray for holding articles

Abstract

A tray for holding articles includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the tray having a bottom panel, at least one side panel, at least one end panel, and at least one corner panel forming a curved corner between the at least one side panel and the at least one end panel. The tray includes a first ply, a second ply, and a fluted layer positioned between the first ply and the second ply, the fluted layer arranged along a flute direction, the curved corner extending upwardly from the bottom panel along the flute direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tray for holding articles, the tray comprising:
 a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, the tray comprising a bottom panel, at least one side panel, at least one end panel, and at least one corner panel forming a curved corner between the at least one side panel and the at least one end panel,   the tray comprising a first ply, a second ply, and a fluted layer positioned between the first ply and the second ply, the fluted layer arranged along a flute direction, the curved corner extending upwardly from the bottom panel along the flute direction.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one corner panel comprises a plurality of spaced apart fold lines extending therealong facilitating at least partial formation of the curved corner. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart fold lines are oriented along the flute direction. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprising at least one end flap foldably connected to the at least one corner panel and attached to the at least one end panel to form at least one end wall of the tray. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 4 , wherein the bottom panel comprises at least one corner edge aligned with the curved corner of the tray. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one corner panel is foldably connected to the at least one side panel, and the at least one end flap is foldably connected to the at least one corner panel. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second side panel, the at least one end panel is a first end panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second end panel, the at least one corner panel is a first corner panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second corner panel, a third corner panel, and a fourth corner panel. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 6 , wherein the curved corner is a first curved corner of the tray between the first side panel and the first end panel, and each of the second corner panel, the third corner panel, and the fourth corner panel comprises a plurality of a plurality of spaced apart fold lines extending therealong facilitating at least partial formation of a second curved corner between the first side panel and the second end panel, a third curved corner between the second end panel and the second side panel, and a fourth curved corner between the second side panel and the first end panel. 
     
     
         9 . A blank for forming a tray for holding articles, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of panels extending for at least partially around an interior of the tray formed from the blank, the tray comprising a bottom panel, at least one side panel, at least one end panel, and at least one corner panel for forming a curved corner between the at least one side panel and the at least one end panel when the tray is formed from the blank,   the blank comprising a first ply, a second ply, and a fluted layer positioned between the first ply and the second ply, the fluted layer arranged along a flute direction such that the curved corner is for extending upwardly from the bottom panel along the flute direction when the tray is formed from the blank.   
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one corner panel comprises a plurality of spaced apart fold lines extending therealong facilitating at least partial formation of the curved corner. 
     
     
         11 . The blank of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart fold lines are oriented along the flute direction. 
     
     
         12 . The blank of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprising at least one end flap foldably connected to the at least one corner panel and for being attached to the at least one end panel to form at least one end wall of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom panel comprises at least one corner edge for being aligned with the curved corner of the tray when the tray is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one corner panel is foldably connected to the at least one side panel, and the at least one end flap is foldably connected to the at least one corner panel. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second side panel, the at least one end panel is a first end panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second end panel, the at least one corner panel is a first corner panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second corner panel, a third corner panel, and a fourth corner panel. 
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the curved corner is a first curved corner of the tray formed from the blank between the first side panel and the first end panel, and each of the second corner panel, the third corner panel, and the fourth corner panel comprises a plurality of a plurality of spaced apart fold lines extending therealong facilitating at least partial formation of a second curved corner between the first side panel and the second end panel when the tray is formed from the blank, a third curved corner between the second end panel and the second side panel when the tray is formed from the blank, and a fourth curved corner between the second side panel and the first end panel when the tray is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a tray for holding articles, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank, the blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, at least one side panel, at least one end panel, and at least one corner panel, the tray comprising a first ply, a second ply, and a fluted layer positioned between the first ply and the second ply, the fluted layer arranged along a flute direction;   positioning the plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the tray; and   positioning the at least one corner panel forming a curved corner between the at least one side panel and the at least one end panel, the curved corner extending upwardly from the bottom panel along the flute direction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one corner panel comprises a plurality of spaced apart fold lines extending therealong facilitating at least partial formation of the curved corner. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart fold lines are oriented along the flute direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , the blank further comprising a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprising at least one end flap foldably connected to the at least one corner panel, and the method further comprises attaching the at least one end flap to the at least one end panel to form at least one end wall of the tray. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the bottom panel comprises at least one corner edge, and the method further comprises aligning the at least one corner edge with the curved corner of the tray. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one corner panel is foldably connected to the at least one side panel, and the at least one end flap is foldably connected to the at least one corner panel. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second side panel, the at least one end panel is a first end panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second end panel, the at least one corner panel is a first corner panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second corner panel, a third corner panel, and a fourth corner panel. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the curved corner is a first curved corner of the tray between the first side panel and the first end panel, and each of the second corner panel, the third corner panel, and the fourth corner panel comprises a plurality of a plurality of spaced apart fold lines extending therealong, and the method further comprises at least partially forming a second curved corner between the first side panel and the second end panel, at least partially forming a third curved corner between the second end panel and the second side panel, and at least partially forming a fourth curved corner between the second side panel and the first end panel.