A flat blank of generally rectangular shape with rounded corners has a U-shaped incision in each end portion forming a tongue, extending endwise at each end from the portion that is to provide a tray bottom, that is separated by the incision from an end strip forming a continuous arch joining the portions that are to provide side walls for the tray. To set up the tray each end strip is folded inwards in the middle, the tongues are bent upwards and the most closely folded end strip mid-portion is pushed through a slot in the middle of the adjacent tongue, where it is held against flipping out by resilient flaps of the slot and by scollops or serrations on the upper edge of the folded-in strip bearing against the upper end of a slot. With different depths of insertion of the folded portion of the end strip through the tongue slot, different tray lengths can be provided with the same tray blank.
Trays are erected from cardboard blanks by insertion of bent edge parts into slits in tongues, the extent of insertion dictating the carrying capacity of the resulting tray. The edge parts are bent with a double fold using mechanical fingers to give a wedge-shaped insertion structure for engagement with the slits in the tongues. To stiffen the blank and simplify insertion, side walls of the blank are first bent up by a bending tool and then subsequently insertion fingers are pivoted against the edge parts to form the double fold, and insert it into the slits of the tongues.
A blank capable of rapidly setting-up into a self-supporting container, having a polygonal base panel with n sides, wherein n is at least 6, and at least n+2 side panels. The side panels are divided into a first contiguous group and a second contiguous group, with each of the side panels being separated from the contiguous side panel by a fold line. Locking tabs are used to lock the container in the set up position. Due to the multi-sided structure an ease of assembly as well as a ridigity not found in the prior art is provided.
A lid for a tray, the lid being comprised of a light weight foldable material such as cardboard, is produced from a one-piece blank. The blank has a main body panel and eight side wall panels hingedly extending therefrom. Four of the side wall panels have protrusions for engaging slots in adjacent side wall panels when the lid is erected.
A food serving apparatus having a flat food-supporting member consisting of a material sized to prevent served food from contacting unsanitary surfaces, and having sufficient rigidity, to support one or more food items. The food-supporting member has at least one food-retaining portion integrally formed adjacent thereto which extends upward, or can be positioned upward by a user, relative to the food-supporting member, in a manner which increases rigidity of the member. The food-supporting member has at least one bendable cross-section tangent to at least one user-breakable joint of a food-retaining portion to allow separation of the separable joint(s). Breaking of the joint(s) allows a user to bend the food-supporting member downward and away from food supported to facilitate the eating experience. The apparatus accommodates a variety of shapes and optionally includes a fold-over tab to assist a user in securing food beneath the tab and above the food-supporting member.
