초록 ▼

A can tray (10) includes a floor (12) and a plurality of support members (24) extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor. A plurality of upstanding projections (18,20) extend upwardly from the floor and define can-receiving (14) areas therebetween. Each of the projections includes concave surf

A can tray (10) includes a floor (12) and a plurality of support members (24) extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor. A plurality of upstanding projections (18,20) extend upwardly from the floor and define can-receiving (14) areas therebetween. Each of the projections includes concave surfaces (19,21) facing the can-receiving areas. The support members are hollow, such that support members of one can tray can be nested within the support members of an identical can tray stacked thereon. The plurality of projections includes a plurality of center projections (18) along at least one of two centerlines of the tray and a plurality of non-center projections (20) not on either of the two centerlines of the tray. The center projections extend higher than the non-center projections.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A can tray comprising: a floor; a plurality of support members extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor; a plurality of upstanding projections extending upwardly from the floor, the projections defining a plurality of can-receiving areas therebetween, wherein th

The invention claimed is: 1. A can tray comprising: a floor; a plurality of support members extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor; a plurality of upstanding projections extending upwardly from the floor, the projections defining a plurality of can-receiving areas therebetween, wherein the plurality of support members are taller than the plurality of upstanding projections; and a wall located between each of the plurality of support members, wherein each of the walls is spaced apart from an adjacent wall. 2. The can tray of claim 1 wherein the plurality of upstanding projections includes a plurality of center projections along a centerline of the can tray and a plurality of non-center projections not along the centerline of the can tray, wherein the center projections are taller than the non-center projections. 3. The can tray of claim 1 wherein the plurality of upstanding projections includes a plurality of center projections each along at least one of two centerlines of the can tray and a plurality of non-center projections not along either of the two centerlines of the can tray, wherein the center projections are taller than the non-center projections. 4. The can tray according to claim 1, wherein each of the projections includes a plurality of exterior concave surfaces each adjacent one of the can-receiving areas. 5. The can tray of claim 4 wherein each of the projections includes at least one vertically-extending rib adjacent each of the exterior concave surfaces. 6. The can tray according to claim 1, wherein the can tray can be nested at least partially within an identical can tray stacked thereon. 7. The can tray of claim 6 wherein the support members of the can tray are insertable into support members of the identical can tray stacked thereon. 8. The can tray according to claim 1, further including a plurality of windows, each defined between an adjacent pair of the plurality of support members. 9. The can tray of claim 8 wherein the windows are upwardly-open. 10. The can tray according to claim 1 further including at least one handle extending between adjacent support members and defining an opening between the handle and the floor. 11. The can tray according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of support members and the plurality of projections are hollow and each of the plurality of support members includes an upper opening through the can tray. 12. The can tray of claim 11 wherein at least some of the plurality of projections include an upper opening through the can tray. 13. The can tray according to claim 1 further including a plurality of upstanding ribs extending upwardly from the floor for impeding the flow of liquid from the tray. 14. The can tray of claim 13 wherein the ribs connect adjacent pairs of projections and are substantially shorter than the projections. 15. The can tray according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of support members each include an inner wall and an outer wall, and wherein the plurality of support members includes a plurality of end members having a cutout portion in the outer wall. 16. The can tray of claim 15 wherein the inner wall of the plurality of end members have concave interior surfaces. 17. The can tray of claim 1 wherein the plurality of support members includes a plurality of end members each having at least one concave interior surface and an exterior surface. 18. The can tray according to claim 1, wherein the floor, the support members and the projections are all integrally molded as a single piece of plastic. 19. The can tray according to claim 1 further including a plurality of beverage cans each disposed in one of the can-receiving areas. 20. The can tray according to claim 1, wherein the floor has an upper surface defining can pockets as the can-receiving areas for receiving the bottoms of cans and a lower surface having a plurality of protruding can capture areas for protruding into a recessed top area of the cans. 21. The can tray as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of support members do not include a vertical recess on an outer surface. 22. The can tray as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of upstanding projections do not include a vertical recess on an outer surface. 23. The can tray as recited in claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of non-center projections are defined by a plurality of spaced apart walls that define a hollow portion therebetween. 24. The can tray as recited in claim 8 wherein each of the walls is located under one of plurality of the windows. 25. A can tray comprising: a floor; a plurality of support members extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor, each adjacent pair of support members defining an upwardly-open window therebetween; and a plurality of upstanding projections extending upwardly from the floor, the projections defining a plurality of can-receiving areas therebetween, wherein the plurality of upstanding projections includes a plurality of center projections along a centerline of the can tray and a plurality of non-center projections not along the centerline of the can tray, wherein the center projections are taller than the non-center projections, the plurality of support members are taller than the plurality of upstanding projections, and each of the plurality of non-center projections are defined by a plurality of spaced apart walls that define a hollow portion therebetween. 26. The can tray of claim 25 wherein each of the windows has a height defined from a bottom of each of the windows to a top of the adjacent pair of support members that is significantly more than half a height of the adjacent pair of support members. 27. The can tray according to claim 25 wherein each of the projections includes four concave exterior surfaces, each adjacent one of the can-receiving areas. 28. The can tray according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of support members each include an inner wall and an outer wall, and wherein the plurality of support members includes a plurality of end members having a cutout portion in the outer wall. 29. The can tray of claim 28 wherein the inner wall of the plurality of end members have concave interior surfaces. 30. The can tray according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of support members and the plurality of projections are hollow. 31. The can tray as recited in claim 25 wherein the plurality of support members do not include a vertical recess on an outer surface. 32. The can tray as recited in claim 25 wherein the plurality of upstanding projections do not include a vertical recess on an outer surface. 33. The can tray as recited in claim 25 including a wall located between each of the plurality of support members, and each of the walls is spaced apart from an adjacent wall. 34. The can tray as recited in claim 33 wherein each of the walls is located under one of the plurality of windows. 35. A can tray comprising: a floor; a plurality of support members extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor, each adjacent pair of support members defining an upwardly-open window therebetween, wherein each of the windows has a height defined from a bottom of the window to a top of the adjacent pair of support members that is significantly more that half a height of the adjacent pair of support members; a plurality of hollow upstanding projections extending upwardly from the floor, the projections defining a plurality of can-receiving areas therebetween; and a wall located between each of the plurality of support members, wherein each of the walls is spaced apart from an adjacent wall. 36. The can tray of claim 35 wherein each of the support members includes an inner wall and an outer wall, such that the support members of the can tray would nest within the support members of an identical tray stacked thereon. 37. The can tray as recited in claim 35 wherein the plurality of support members do not include a vertical recess on an outer surface. 38. The can tray as recited in claim 35 wherein the plurality of upstanding projections do not include a vertical recess on an outer surface. 39. The can tray as recited in claim 35 wherein the plurality of upstanding projections includes a plurality of center projections along a centerline of the can tray and a plurality of non-center projections not along the centerline of the can tray, the center projections are taller than the non-center projections, and each of the plurality of non-center projections are defined by a plurality of spaced apart walls that define a hollow portion therebetween. 40. A can tray comprising: a floor; a plurality of support members extending upwardly from a periphery of the floor; and a plurality of upstanding projections extending upwardly from the floor, the projections defining a plurality of can-receiving areas therebetween, wherein the plurality of support members are taller than the plurality of upstanding projections, wherein the can tray does not include ribs connecting the plurality of upstanding projections to the plurality of support members. 41. The can tray of claim 40 wherein the can tray does not include ribs connecting the plurality of upstanding projections to one another. 42. The can tray of claim 26 wherein the can tray does not include ribs connecting the plurality of upstanding projections to the plurality of support members, and the can tray does not include ribs connecting the plurality of upstanding projections to one another.