Tray for supporting containers and a blank for making the same

1. A blank for forming a tray, the blank comprising:

a bottom panel;

a pair of opposing end panels connected to the bottom panel;

a pair of opposing side panels connected to the bottom panel;

a first divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first end panel of the pair of end panels, the first divider panel assembly comprising a first upper panel and a first inner panel connected at a first fold line, the first upper panel defined within the first end panel and the first inner panel defined within the bottom panel, wherein the first upper panel is configured to be at a first angle to the first end panel and the first inner panel is configured to be at a second angle to the bottom panel in an erected configuration; and

a second divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first side panel of the pair of side panels, the second divider panel assembly comprising a second upper panel and a second inner panel connected at a second fold line, the second upper panel defined within the first side panel and the second inner panel defined within the bottom panel, wherein the second upper panel is configured to be at a third angle to the first side panel and the second inner panel is configured to be at a fourth angle to the bottom panel in the erected configuration, wherein the second divider panel assembly comprises a first engagement edge defined along a side edge of the second upper panel extending from the first side panel to the second fold line, the first engagement edge comprising a curved portion along the side edge of the second upper panel, the first engagement edge configured to cooperate with an engagement edge of at least one divider panel assembly adjacent to the second divider panel assembly to secure a product between the second divider panel assembly and the at least one adjacent divider panel assembly in the erected configuration.

2. A blank in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first divider panel assembly comprises a second engagement edge adjacent to the first engagement edge, the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge configured to cooperate with each other to secure a product between the first divider panel assembly and the second divider panel assembly in the erected configuration.

3. A blank in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the third angle is different than the fourth angle, and side edges of the second inner panel are curved to correspond to a shape of a product to be supported in the tray.

4. A blank in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first angle, the second angle, the third angle, and the fourth angle are each substantially right angles.

5. A blank in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an end flap extending from each side edge of each side panel of the pair of side panels.

6. A blank in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of divider panel assemblies defined within each side panel of the pair of side panels.

7. A tray formed from a blank of sheet material, the tray comprising:

a bottom wall;

a pair of opposing end walls connected to the bottom wall;

a pair of opposing side walls connected to the bottom wall;

a first divider structure extending from the bottom wall and a first end wall of the pair of end walls, the first divider structure comprising a first upper panel and a first inner panel connected at a first fold line, the first upper panel at a first angle to the first end wall and the first inner panel at a second angle to the bottom wall; and

a second divider structure extending from the bottom wall and a first side wall of the pair of side walls, the second divider structure comprising a second upper panel and a second inner panel connected at a second fold line, the second upper panel at a third angle to the first side wall and the second inner panel at a fourth angle to the bottom wall, wherein the second divider structure comprises a first engagement edge defined along a side edge of the second upper panel extending from the first side wall to the second fold line, the first engagement edge comprising a curved portion along the side edge of the second upper panel, the first engagement edge configured to cooperate with an engagement edge of at least one divider structure adjacent to the second divider structure to secure a product between the second divider structure and the at least one adjacent divider structure.

8. A tray in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the first divider structure and the second divider structure are adjacent, the first divider structure including a second engagement edge adjacent to the first engagement edge, the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge configured to engage a product within said tray to support the product between the first divider structure and the second divider structure.

9. A tray in accordance with claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first divider structure and the second divider structure is configured to space a product a distance from the respective end wall or side wall from which the at least one divider structure extends, and to secure the product within the tray.

10. A tray in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are substantially right angles, and the third angle is different than the fourth angle.

11. A tray in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of divider structures extending from each end wall of the pair of end walls and each side wall of the pair of side walls, each divider structure of the plurality of divider structures comprising an engagement edge configured to cooperate with an engagement edge of an adjacent divider structure of the plurality of divider structures to secure a product within the tray.

12. A method for forming a tray from a blank of sheet material, the blank of sheet material including a bottom panel, a pair of opposing end panels connected to the bottom panel, a pair of opposing side panels connected to the bottom panel, a first divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first side panel of the pair of side panels, and a second divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first end panel of the pair of end panels, the first divider panel assembly including a first upper panel defined within the first side panel, a first inner panel defined within the bottom panel, and a first engagement edge configured to cooperate with an engagement edge of at least one divider panel assembly adjacent to the first divider panel assembly to secure a product between the first divider panel assembly and the at least one adjacent divider panel assembly in the erected configuration, the second divider panel assembly including a second upper panel defined within the first end panel and a second inner panel defined within the bottom panel, the method comprising:

rotating the pair of side panels toward the bottom panel to form a pair of opposing side walls;

rotating the first upper panel with respect to the first side panel and the first inner panel with respect to the bottom panel to form a first divider structure including the first engagement edge, the first engagement end defined along a side edge of the first upper panel extending from the first side panel to the first inner panel, the first engagement edge including a curved portion along the side edge of the first upper panel, the first engagement edge configured to cooperate with an engagement edge of at least one divider structure adjacent to the first divider structure to secure a product between the first divider structure and the at least one adjacent divider structure;

rotating the pair of end panels toward the bottom panel to form a pair of opposing end walls; and

rotating the second upper panel with respect to the first end panel and the second inner panel with respect to the bottom panel to form a second divider structure.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein rotating the pair of side panels causes the first upper panel and the first inner panel to rotate to form the first divider structure.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the first side panel includes a plurality of divider panel assemblies, and wherein rotating the pair of side panels causes a plurality of divider structures to form from the plurality of divider panel assemblies.

15. A method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein rotating the pair of end panels causes the second upper panel and the second inner panel to rotate to form the second divider structure.

16. A blank for forming a tray, the blank comprising:

a bottom panel;

a pair of opposing end panels connected to the bottom panel;

a pair of opposing side panels connected to the bottom panel; and

a plurality of divider panel assemblies defined within the bottom panel and a first side panel of the pair of side panels, each divider panel assembly of the plurality of divider panel assemblies comprising an upper panel and an inner panel connected at a fold line, the upper panel defined within the first side panel and the inner panel defined within the bottom panel, the upper panel comprising a free edge and a plurality of slots defined along the free edge, the slots each defining an engagement edge, wherein the upper panel is configured to be at a first angle to the bottom panel and the inner panel is configured to be at a second angle to the bottom panel in an erected configuration.

17. A blank in accordance with claim 16 further comprising a divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first end panel of the pair of end panels.

18. A blank in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the upper panel comprises free side edges that are curved to define engagement edges.

19. A blank for forming a tray for shipping and displaying a plurality of products, the blank comprising:

a bottom panel;

a pair of opposing side panels connected to the bottom panel; and

at least one divider panel assembly defined within the bottom panel and a first side panel of the pair of side panels, the divider panel assembly comprising a plurality of slots configured to receive a portion of at least one of the products to secure the product within the tray.

20. A blank in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the divider panel assembly comprises an upper panel and an inner panel connected at a fold line, the upper panel defined within the first side panel and the inner panel defined within the bottom panel.

21. A blank in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the plurality of slots are defined in the upper panel.

22. A blank in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the upper panel comprises a free edge, the plurality of slots defined along the free edge.

23. A tray formed from a blank of sheet material, the tray for shipping and displaying a plurality of products, the tray comprising:

a bottom wall;

a pair of opposing side walls connected to the bottom wall; and

at least one divider structure extending from the bottom wall and a first side wall of the pair of side walls, the divider structure formed from a cut out in one of the bottom wall and the first side wall, the divider structure comprising a plurality of slots configured to receive a portion of at least one of the products to secure the product within the tray.

24. A tray in accordance with claim 23 , wherein the cut out comprises a first cut out in the first side panel and a second cut out in the bottom panel, the divider structure further comprising an upper panel and an inner panel connected at a fold line, the upper panel formed from the first cut out and the inner panel formed from the second cut out.

25. A tray in accordance with claim 24 , wherein the plurality of slots are defined in the upper panel.

26. A tray in accordance with claim 24 , wherein the upper panel comprises a free edge, the plurality of slots defined along the free edge.