Importance

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Abstract

A molded, stackable and nestable beverage can tray having tapered side walls and end walls, contoured window openings in both the side walls and end walls, and having contoured window openings in both side walls and end walls to snugly contain the cans is disclosed. The bottom length and width dimensions of the tray are less than the sum of the diameters of rows of can placed in the tray. Trays according to the invention have 3:2 length-to-width ratio for cross-tying stacks, and have a tray bottom design having generally diamond-shaped standoffs projecting downwardly from the bottom of the tray to lock onto the tops of the cans contained in the tray immediately beneath the can tray. The trays include can bottom seating rings capable of receiving and centering cans having a range of the bottom diameter dimensions. Trays according to the invention have side walls and end walls which are tapered at an angle of preferably 10.degree., thereby enabling the trays to be nested to at least 67% of their overall height when stacked in an empty condition. In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the tray bottom is molded with additional downwardly extending arcuate ribs to provide greater tray bottom exterior surface area. This second tray embodiment further includes upper end side openings in an upturned peripheral top lip for manually separating nested empty trays and to enable automatic can tray packing apparatus to feed a nested stack of empty trays onto a conveyor.

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First Claim