Microfiche tray

A tray and its method of formation for supporting card-like articles in juxtaposed relation therein comprising a one-piece body of plastic material molded in flat form with a base, a pair of opposite side parts and a pair of opposite end parts. The side parts and end parts are joined to the base by fold lines about which the parts can be upfolded to form side walls and end walls for the tray. The end walls have tabs at their lateral edges and the side walls are formed with slots which receive the tabs when the walls are in upfolded condition. The end walls form an angle with the vertical in the secured position and the lateral edges are engaged between pairs of ribs formed on the side walls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to a tray for supporting articles in juxtaposed 
relation and, particularly, for supporting card-like articles such as 
microfiche. The invention also relates to a method of forming the tray. 
PRIOR ART 
Numerous constructions are known for the formation of trays for card-like 
articles. These include trays which are molded to shape. It is relatively 
difficult and expensive to mold shaped articles and this represents a 
disadvantage of the trays of the prior art. Also known are trays which are 
formed by using adhesives, fasteners, etc. to secure wall parts to one 
another and the base. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,667,320 shows a typical example of a tray. This tray is 
made of cardboard and is assembled by the use of gluing strips and the 
like. The use of cardboard is undesirable since it does not have long life 
and if a stronger material is used, this poses difficulties as regards 
assembly. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,258,666 shows a card file box employing a supplemental card 
support member. The card support member is made of a flexible material 
such a hard-thin-fiber which involves an additional expense above and 
beyond that of the box. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,665,808 also shows an outer box with an inner insert piece 
adapted for support of articles to be stored in the box. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,635 is directed to a storage file for photographic 
slides and comprises a shaped tray with integral ribs and bosses for 
receiving separators. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,781,125 is directed to a storage file for photographic 
slides which comprises a shaped tray with divider means therein. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,767 is directed to a holder for photographic 
transparencies comprising a shaped tray with means therein for the support 
of slides. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,701 is drawn to a card file composed of a shaped tray 
with separator plates affixed therein. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide a tray for supporting juxtaposed 
articles such as cards and, especially, microfiche in which the need for a 
shaped tray is obviated. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a tray which is assembled 
from a one-piece body of plastic material which is molded flat. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a tray whose 
construction is simple and which is readily assembled from said one-piece 
body without the need for tools. 
A further object of the invention is to form the one-piece body with a 
base, a pair of opposite side parts and a pair of opposite end parts in 
which the side parts and end parts are upfolded from the base and secured 
together by interlocking means on said parts. 
A further object of the invention is to provide the one-piece body with 
integrated hinges between the bottom and the end and side parts to permit 
folding of said parts with respect to the bottom. 
Yet, another object of the invention is to form the interlocking means as 
tabs and slots so arranged that the side parts and end parts are secured 
in stable relation in upfolded position on the base. 
In accordance with the above and further objects of the invention, there is 
provided a tray comprising a base, a pair of opposite side parts and a 
pair of opposite end parts, wherein the base and side parts and end parts 
are made from a relatively thin one-piece body. The body is a plastic 
material which is molded flat with the base side parts and end parts in a 
common plane. The side parts and end parts are upfolded from the base and 
are locked in upfolded position by engagement of interlocking means on the 
side parts and end parts. Articles such as cards and especially microfiche 
are supportable in juxtaposed relation by being placed in standing 
position on the base. 
The invention further contemplates that the side parts and end parts are 
foldably joined to the base along respective fold lines at which the 
plastic material is reduced in thickness to form hinges. 
The interlocking means comprises tabs and slots wherein the slots extend at 
an angle to the fold lines so that when the tabs are engaged in the slots, 
the end parts form an angle with the vertical. 
Adjacent the slots are ribs in which are inserted the edges of the parts 
with the tabs so as to be held thereat. 
According to a feature of the invention, the reduction in thickness of the 
material at the fold lines is formed by V-shaped notches whose angles are 
correlated to the angle at which the parts are upfolded from the base. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a method for forming a tray 
for supporting card-like articles in juxtaposed upstanding relation. 
In accordance with the method of the invention, a one-piece body of plastic 
material is molded in flat form with a base, end parts and side parts. The 
body has lines of reduced thickness between the base and the side and end 
parts to form hinge lines thereat and, in order to assemble the tray, the 
side and end parts are upfolded from the base and each end part is 
interlocked with the side parts to hold the parts in secured stable 
relation in upfolded position on the base. The interlocking of the parts 
is effected by inserting a tab on one part into a slot in the other part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to the drawing, there is seen a tray 1 which in FIG. 1 is shown 
in flat molded condition and is constituted as a one-piece body of plastic 
material. The tray 1 comprises a base 2 to which are foldably joined, 
opposed side parts 3 and opposed end parts 4. The side parts 3 are joined 
to the base by fold lines 5 and the end parts 4 are joined to the base by 
fold lines 6. The fold lines are formed by reducing the thickness of the 
material of the tray thereat. As seen in FIG. 4, the fold line 5 is formed 
by forming a V-shaped notch 7 having an angle of 90.degree. in the upper 
surface of the material of the tray. As seen in FIG. 5, the fold line 6 is 
formed by providing a V-shaped notch 8 of an angle of 60.degree. in the 
material of the tray. Effectively, the fold lines 5 and 6 serve as hinges 
allowing the side parts 3 and the end parts 4 to be upfolded through the 
angle formed by the notches 7 and 8. As seen in FIG. 3, the side parts 3 
in the assembled position extend at right angles with respect to the base 
2 whereas the end parts 4 extend at an angle of 60.degree. with respect to 
the base. 
The material of the tray is of plastic material, preferably polypropylene 
in which the notches can be readily formed and the hinges adapted for the 
folding of the bars with respect to the base. 
In order to secure the side parts and end parts in stable relation in the 
upfolded, assembled position as shown in FIG. 3, the end parts 4 are 
provided with laterally projecting tabs 9 at their upper edges and the 
side parts are provided with slots 10 in which the tabs 9 can be inserted. 
The slots 10 extend at an angle with respect to the associated hinge line 
5, said angle corresponding to the angle of the notch 8. Namely, as shown 
in FIG. 1, the slots 10 extend at an angle of 60.degree. with respect to 
the associated fold line 5. Extending parallel to the slots 10 on opposite 
sides thereof are ribs 11. The ribs 11 extend at one end to a position 
proximate the associated fold line 5 and at the other end to the edge of 
the side part 3. When the tabs 9 are inserted into the slots 10, the 
lateral edges 12 of the end parts 4 are received between the ribs 11 and a 
secured, stable assembly is formed. The angular position of the end parts 
4 with respect to the base and the corresponding angular formation of the 
notch 8 provides for a resilient biassing action by which the lateral 
edges 12 of the end parts 4 are gripped in the space between the ribs 11 
so that the ribs and the side parts 3 and end parts 4 are held in stable, 
assembled relation. In order to ensure the secured, stable position of the 
parts, the spacing between the ribs is such that the tabs 9 and the 
lateral edges 12 will snugly fit between the ribs. The height of the ribs 
should be at least 30% greater than the thickness of the material of the 
parts 3 to provide sufficient gripping area for the edges 12 of the end 
parts 4. 
In order to divide the space within the tray, one or more dividers 13 can 
be inserted into slots 14 in the base 2 of the tray. For this purpose, the 
dividers are formed with lugs 15 at their lower edges and the slots 14 are 
arranged in two rows so that each pair of lugs 15 at the bottom of a 
divider are engaged in slots 14 in the two rows. The articles to be stored 
in the tray are stacked in upright, standing position on the base 2, 
optionally between the dividers 13. The articles to be stored are 
microfiche on cards although other elements are also suitable. 
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with one 
embodiment thereof, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art 
that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing 
from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the attached 
claims.