A tray which, in one preferred form, may be sized to hold a flat food product such as a pizza. The tray, in this one preferred form, includes a pair of opposed side walls each being foldably connected along a base edge at a generally right angle to a floor. A corner wall is foldably connected to each end of each side wall and also is oriented at a generally right angle to the floor, each corner wall also being oriented at an angle relative to its connected side wall. A set up panel is foldably connected to a bottom edge of each corner panel, is foldably connected to the floor, and overlies the floor in flush relation when the associated corner panel is oriented at a general right angle relative to the floor. A fastener system directly connects each set up panel with the floor. When each set up panel is so fastened to the floor, the side walls and the corner walls are retained in generally upright, i.e., right angular, position relative to the floor, thereby forming a tray with opposed side and corner wall pairs that cooperate to retain a product, e.g., a pizza, therebetween on the floor even when the tray is somewhat tipped relative to horizontal.

This invention relates to containers. More particularly, this invention 
relates to a tray which, in one preferred form, is sized to hold a flat 
food product such as a pizza. 
The most common way of packaging pizza for carryout in the pizza business 
today is to place the pizza on the floor of a carton. The carton, of 
course, has a cover, and the cover is closed after the pizza is placed on 
the floor so that the retail consumer can take the pizza home. There are a 
couple of disadvantages to this packaging approach for carryout pizza. 
First, the cartons are normally delivered to carryout restaurants in 
knock-down or blank configuration. A restaurant employee must then erect 
each carton from a supply of the blanks, and this is a relatively time 
consuming operation because the blank may require numerous folding and 
fastening steps. Second, the erected carton is comprised of side walls 
that extend circumferentially around its entire periphery. This means that 
when the consumer gets the pizza home, the pizza must be lifted out of the 
carton before it can be easily cut or re-cut. In other words, a pizza 
knife cannot be drawn through the pizza beyond the edges of the carton's 
floor while the pizza remains in the carton because the carton's walls 
prevent the knife from being so used. This peripheral wall aspect of prior 
art cartons also makes initial loading of the pizza into the carton 
somewhat difficult because of limited spacing between the carton's side 
walls and the pizza pie's circumference when it is hand set into the 
carton. And third, the prior art closed carton, which is commonly made of 
corrugated board, requires a substantial amount of such board in light of 
the fact that carton has side walls around the entire periphery of the 
carton's floor, and also includes a lid used to close the carton. 
Accordingly, it has been the primary objective of this invention to provide 
a tray which does not require side walls around its entire periphery, and 
which makes use of no lid, thereby obviating the above discussed problems 
relative to prior art cartons of the type as described above. In accord 
with this objective, and in one preferred form, the tray of this invention 
may be sized to hold relatively flat food products such as pizza, pie or 
cake. Alternatively, and in other preferred forms, the tray of this 
invention may be sized to hold diverse products such as coiled rope or 
wire, stacked disks, and round fluorescent bulbs. 
The tray, in preferred form, includes a pair of opposed side walls each 
being foldably connected along a base edge at a generally right angle to a 
floor. A corner wall is foldably connected to each end of each side wall 
and also is oriented at a generally right angle to the floor, each corner 
wall also being oriented at an angle relative to its connected side wall. 
A set up panel is foldably connected to a bottom edge of each corner 
panel, is foldably connected to the floor, and overlies the floor in flush 
relation when the associated corner panel is oriented at a generally right 
angle relative to the floor. A fastener system directly connects each set 
up panel with the floor. When each set up panel is so fastened to the 
floor, the side walls and the corner walls are retained in generally 
upright, i.e., right angular, position relative to the floor, thereby 
forming a tray with opposed side and corner wall pairs that cooperate to 
retain a product, e.g., a flat food product therebetween on the floor even 
when the tray is somewhat tipped relative to horizontal.

A first embodiment of a shallow tray 10 in accord with the principles of 
this invention is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shallow 
tray shown in FIG. 2 is erected from the tray blank 11 illustrated in FIG. 
1. The erected tray 10 defines a generally circular (see phantom line 12) 
constraint that may be particularly sized to hold any flat food product 
such as pizza, pies, cakes and the like. More particularly, the tray blank 
11 illustrated in FIG. 1 is of a generally rectangular configuration along 
its outer circumferential periphery 13. With the opposed side wall 
structure 14, 15 erected, however, the erected tray 10 defines the 
circular interior periphery 12 where cross dimension x is substantially 
the same as cross dimension y. 
The tray blank 11, as shown in FIG. 1, is comprised of a floor 20, and the 
opposed side wall structures 14, 15 each foldably connected to the floor 
20. The side wall structures 14, 15 are thus foldably connected to a first 
pair of opposed side edges 16, 17 of the floor 20. Note particularly that 
no side wall structure, i.e., no wall structure analogous to opposed side 
wall structures 14, 15, is provided along a second pair of opposed side 
edges 18, 19 of the floor 20. Each side wall structure 14, 15 includes a 
side wall 21 connected to the floor 20 on fold line 24 (which also 
constitutes a side edge 16 or 17 of the floor). Each side wall structure 
14, 15 further includes two corner walls 22, 23. The corner wall 22 is 
connected on fold line 25 (which also constitutes one end edge of the side 
wall 21) to one end 21a of the side wall, and the corner wall 23 is 
connected on fold line 26 (which constitutes the other end edge of the 
side wall 21) to the other end 21b of that side wall. Note the fold lines 
25, 26 by which the corner walls 22, 23 are separated from the associated 
side wall 21 are normal to the floor's side wall edge 16 or 17 when the 
tray is in the blank 11 configuration as well as when it is in the set up 
10 configuration. Therefor, each corner wall 22, 23 and each side wall 21 
are oriented at a generally right angle relative to the floor 20 when the 
tray 10 is erected as illustrated in FIG. 2. Note also as illustrated in 
FIG. 2, that each corner wall 22, 23 of each side wall structure 14, 15 is 
also oriented in such a way as to define an interior obtuse angle 27, 28 
relative to that side wall to which it is connected when the tray 10 is 
erected. 
A set up panel 30 is connected to a bottom edge of each corner wall 22, 23 
along fold line 31. Each set up panel 30 also is connected along fold line 
32 to the floor 20. Each set up panel 30 is of generally triangular 
configuration with that triangular configuration being preferably of a 
right angular triangle configuration as illustrated where the right angle 
is partially defined by the bottom edge 31 of the adjacent corner wall 22 
or 23 and by the adjacent free edge 18 or 19 of the floor 20. When 
erected, each set up panel 30 overlies the floor 20 in flush relation 
therewith as particularly shown in FIG. 2, the top surface 30a of the set 
up panel being in face to face relation with the top surface 20a of the 
floor when compared in FIG. 1 configuration with FIG. 2 set up 
configuration. And as to each side wall structure 14, 15, note 
particularly that folding of the two set up panels 30 associated with each 
side wall 21 causes that side wall and the two corner walls 22, 23 to fold 
upwardly along fold lines 16, 31 until those side and corner walls are 
oriented at a generally right angular configuration relative to the floor 
20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. 
A fastener system 40 directly connects each set up panel 30 with the floor 
20, thereby functioning to retain each side wall structure 14, 15 in 
generally right angular erected position relative to the floor. This 
fastener system 40 thereby allows the opposed side walls 21, and each 
opposed side wall's associated corner walls 22, 23, to form a shallow tray 
10 with an opposed pair of side wall structures 14, 15 that cooperate to 
retain a flat food product such as a pizza (not shown) therebetween on the 
floor 20 even when the tray is somewhat tipped relative to the horizontal. 
Note particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, that in the erected tray 10 
configuration each corner wall 22, 23 has a free end edge 22a, 23a. The 
free end edges 22a, 23a of each pair of opposed corner walls 22 or 23 of 
the opposed side wall structures 14, 15 are spaced one from the other so 
as to create opposed gaps 41, 42 oriented at generally right angles 
relative to the opposed side walls 21. With a flat food product such as a 
pizza (not shown) disposed on the tray 10, same can be relatively easily 
cut by a cutting implement such as a knife which can be drawn through 
those gaps 41, 42 while the pizza is retained on the tray between the 
opposed side wall structures 14, 15. Further, pizza sections (not shown) 
of the pizza (not shown) as cut on the tray's floor 20 can be a little 
more easily removed from the tray than from a carton with side walls 
extending circumferentially therearound simply by drawing the pizza 
sections out through the gaps 41, 42 instead of lifting same out of the 
carton. 
A couple of different embodiments of the fastener system 40 that directly 
connects each set up panel 30 with the tray's floor 20 can be used. A 
first fastener system embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1. In this first 
embodiment, a glue dot 45 is carried on top face 30a of each set up panel 
30, and a mating glue dot 46 is carried on the tray floor's top face 20a 
adjacent thereto. When the set up panel 30 is erected relative to the 
floor 20, the two glue dots 45, 46 join one with the other so as to retain 
the set up panel in erected configuration with the floor as shown in FIG. 
2. Preferably a self adhering glue is used for both glue dots 45, 46, the 
glue being of the type which adheres only to itself, i.e., which will not 
adhere to cardboard stacked on top of it. With these preferred self 
adhering glue dots 45, 46, a whole stack of tray blanks 11 can be stacked 
one on top the other without need for cover paper for the glue dots. 
A second fastener system embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3. This second 
fastener system 40 embodiment simply is in the form of a staple 47 
partially carried by the set up panel 30 and partially carried by that 
area of the floor 20 which underlies the set up panel. The staple 47 can 
be simply installed by a stapler of any well known type once the side wall 
structure 14, 15 has been erected as shown in FIG. 3. A third embodiment 
of the fastener system 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. In this third 
embodiment, and when the tray 10 is in the blank configuration as shown in 
FIG. 4, a first T-shaped tab 48 is defined in each set up panel 30 by cut 
lines 49 adjacent the fold line 31 that separates the set up panel and the 
corner panel wall 22 or 23, and a second T-shaped tab 50 is defined in the 
floor 20 by cut line 51 and fold line 52, the second tab being adjacent 
the fold line 32 that separates the set up panel and the floor. As shown 
in FIGS. 5 and 6, when a corner wall 22 or 23 is erected relative to the 
floor 20, the floor's tab 50 is upraised against the outside face of the 
corner panel after the set up panel's tab 48 has been deflected out of the 
way, and the set up panel's tab is thereafter re-set into co-planar 
relation with the set up panel as illustrated in FIG. 6, so as to hold the 
floor panel's tab against the corner wall's outside face. 
A fourth alternative embodiment for the fastener system 40 in accord with 
the principles of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9-12. The 
fastener system 40 includes a latch finger 101 cut out of the tray's floor 
20 that cooperates with a slot 102 cut out of the corner wall 22 or 23 at 
each corner of the tray. More specifically, the slot 102 is juxtaposed to 
that fold line 31 which separates the corner wall 22 or 23 and the set up 
panel 30. One edge of the slot 102 is defined by that fold line 31, and 
the slot's longitudinal axis 103 is parallel to that fold line. 
Accordingly, and when the set up panels 30 for each side wall structure 14 
or 15 are erected so as to orient the side 21 and corner 22, 23 walls 
normal to the tray's floor 20, the slot is automatically oriented in a 
vertical plane since it is cut out of the corner wall 22 or 23. The latch 
finger 101 is defined by cut lines 104 and fold line 105 on the tray's 
floor 20. Note particularly the fold line 105 is oriented generally 
perpendicular to that fold line 31 which separates the set up panel 30 and 
the corner wall 22 or 23 when the corner wall is oriented in erected 
configuration as shown in FIG. 11. The latch finger 101 defines a base 
edge 106 parallel to and juxtaposed to the fold line 31 that separates the 
set up panel 30 and the corner wall 22 or 23 when the tray is erected. A 
tab 107 adapted to interfit with the slot 102 extends beyond that base 
edge 106. Note also the latch finger's fold line 105 is juxtaposed to the 
free edge 22a or 23a of the corner wall 22 or 23 when that corner wall is 
erected, see FIG. 12. In use of each latch finger 101, the latch finger is 
initially popped upwardly above the tray's floor 20 before the side wall 
structure is erected as shown in FIG. 10. Thereafter, the set up panels 30 
are uplifted to erect the side 21 and corner 22, 23 walls as shown in FIG. 
11. Subsequently, the latch finger 101 is pivoted down into overlying 
relationship onto the top surface of the set up panel 30 at which location 
the finger's tab 107 extends into the corner wall's slot 102. This 
provides a fastener system 40 that maintains structural integrity of the 
erected tray 10. And it also ensures that nothing protrudes below the 
bottom surface of the tray's floor 20 so as to impede insertion of the 
tray with, e.g., a pizza, into a bag (not shown) for retail take out use. 
An additional feature of the first embodiment of the tray 10 is also 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in the tray blank 11 configuration 
illustrated in FIG. 1, the opposed side edges 18, 19 of the tray blank 11 
that are not foldably connected with the side wall structure 14, 15, i.e., 
the free side edges 18, 19, each define a notch panel 55 adjacent 
diagonally opposite corners 56, 57 of the floor 20. Each triangular notch 
panel 55 is defined by a cut line 58, and is connected to the floor by a 
fold line 59. When it is desired to stack an upper erected tray 10a on top 
a lower erected tray 10b, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the notch panels 55 of 
the upper tray are deflected downwardly beneath the floor into a generally 
vertical position, same being so deflectable along fold lines 59. With the 
upper tray's notch panels 55 so deflected, the upper tray 10a is rotated 
90.degree. relative to the lower tray 10b, and the upper tray then simply 
lowered into nesting relation with the lower tray. When so oriented and 
nested, the notch panels 55 of the upper tray 10a are located in 
substantially facial relation with corner walls 22, 23 of the lower tray 
with the upper tray's floor 20 being seated on the top edges 60 of the 
lower tray's wall structures 14, 15. These notch panels 55 of the upper 
tray 10a thereby cooperate with the lower tray 10b in order to aid in 
maintaining the upper and lower trays in stacked relation when same are 
being carried. 
In use, and with a pizza (not shown) installed on an erected tray 10 of the 
type shown in FIG. 2, the tray can simply be slipped inside a shallow 
height bag (not shown) for delivery to a retail customer. This combination 
bag and tray 10 packaging system, in the first place, is significantly 
less expensive than an enclosed carton. And in the second place, at the 
retail pizza outlet level the shallow tray 10 can be more easily and 
quickly erected from the flat blank 11 configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 
than a carton with cover can be erected, thereby minimizing labor for the 
pizza restaurant owner, and also the cost of supplies for the pizza 
restaurant owner, relative to the closed carton packaging system. 
A second embodiment of a shallow tray 70 in accord with the principles of 
this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The erected tray 70 
illustrated in FIG. 8 is sized to retain two separate pizzas (not shown) 
on a floor 87 in circular areas illustrated by phantom lines 71, 72. The 
tray 70 is sub-divided into two tray sections 73, 74 by divider panel 
structure 75. As shown in FIG. 7, the tray blank 76 includes a pair of 
opposed side wall structures 77, 78. Each side wall structure 77, 78 
includes a side wall 79 the continuous length of which is somewhat more 
than twice as long as the length of the side wall 21 illustrated in the 
FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment because the tray is sized lengthwise 80 to retain 
two pizzas of generally circular configuration within the two tray 
sections 73, 74. The opposed side walls 79 are oriented generally parallel 
to the longitudinal axis 87a of the floor 87 so that each extends between 
opposed ends 87b, 87c of the floor where gaps 89a, 89b are defined. Each 
of these opposed side walls 79 is provided with a corner wall 81, 82 
foldably connected along fold line 83, 84, respectively, at each end. The 
two corner walls 81, 82 associated with each side wall 79 are each 
provided with a set up panel 85 connected to a bottom edge of its 
associated corner wall by a fold line 86, and connected to floor 87 along 
fold line 88, so that the side wall structures 77, 78 can be erected in 
the same fashion as with the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment earlier described. 
The fastener system 90 illustrated in this second embodiment to hold the 
side wall structure in erected configuration is the same glue dot 45, 46 
system described in connection with the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment. 
Note particularly, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, that divider panel structure 
75 includes first 93 and second 94 divider panel sections cut out of the 
floor 87. These divider panel sections 93, 94 are cut out of the floor 
along cut lines 95, 96, respectively, and the divider panel sections are 
connected to the floor along co-axial fold lines 97, 98 that serve as a 
hinge line for both panel sections. One 93 of the panel sections is cut 
from the floor 87 on one side of the fold axis 97, 98 and the other 94 of 
the panel sections is cut from the floor on the opposite side of the fold 
axis. And note also the two panel sections 93, 94 are configured to 
overlap one another, as at 99, when oriented at generally right angles 
relative to the floor as shown in FIG. 8. The memory of the corrugated 
board from which the tray 70 is configured, when the two panel sections 
93, 94 are overlapped relative one to the other as shown in FIG. 8, cause 
those sections to be retained in the vertically upright configuration 
relative to the floor 87. Thus, these divider panel sections 93, 94 
function to retain one of the flat food products separate from the other 
of the flat food products on the double tray 70. 
A third embodiment of a shallow tray 110 and a shallow tray blank 111 in 
accord with the principles of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 13 
and 14. The tray 100 is sub-divided into two tray sections 112, 113 by a 
separator strip 114 in the form of a line of perforation defined in the 
tray floor 115. The separator strip 114 may also be in the form of a tear 
strip (not shown) or drawstring (not shown) if desired. Each of the tray's 
sections 112, 113 is sized to hold one product, e.g., one pizza. The 
separator strip 114 is oriented generally normal to the longitudinal axis 
116 of the floor, and it permits the tray to be separated into two 
separate sections 112, 113 if desired. In other words, the erected tray 
100 illustrated in FIG. 14 is sized to retain two separate pizzas (not 
shown) on floor 115 in circular areas illustrated by phantom lines 117 and 
118. If desired, the erected tray 110 can be used to carry the two pizzas, 
or the two tray sections 112, 113 can be separated along the line of 
perforation 114 simply by tearing the two sections apart one from the 
other so that two separate trays of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 
result. 
More particularly, each side wall 119 of the tray 110 is comprised of two 
side wall sections 120, 121, each side wall section having a corner wall 
122 foldably connected to each end thereof. One of each side wall section 
120, 121 and associated corner walls 122 is located on opposite sides of 
the separator strip 114. Accordingly, the erected tray 110 that results 
from the tray blank 111 is basically two trays of the FIGS. 1 and 2 type 
which are connected together along an adjacent open gap edge by the line 
of perforation 114.