Multiple compartment container assembly with suspended tray

Abstract

A multiple compartment container assembly for containing at least two articles arranged one above the other. The assembly includes a carton defining a first, lower compartment and a tray suspended within carton, wherein the tray defines a second, upper compartment. The tray may be provided with tabs extending therefrom suitable for removable engagement with corresponding notches defined in the carton. The tray's tabs may each include one or more forwardly or rearwardly extending projections for engaging portions of the carton adjacent the carton's notches in order to ensure the tray is held in a suspended position within the carton. The carton's notches may each include one or more forwardly or rearwardly extending projections extending therein for retaining the tray's tabs and preventing the tabs from becoming inadvertently upwardly disengaged from the notches. It will be appreciated that the notches' projections may be deflected in order to disengage the tray's tabs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container assembly for containing at least two articles generally arranged one above the other, said container assembly comprising:
 a carton including a carton sidewall extending generally upwardly from a carton bottom panel defining an interior of said carton, said carton sidewall having first and second generally opposing notches defined therein; and   a tray disposed at least partially in the interior of said carton, said tray including first and second generally opposing tabs for engaging said first and second notches of said carton for suspending said tray within the interior of said carton.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a first compartment defined in a lower portion of said carton and a second compartment defined within said tray. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said carton sidewall is formed from at least a carton front panel, a carton rear panel, a carton first end panel and a carton second end panel, and wherein said first notch is at least partially defined in said carton first end panel and said second notch is at least partially defined in said carton second end panel. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a cover panel hingedly connected to said carton rear panel. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said tray is formed from at least a tray bottom panel, a tray front panel, a tray rear panel, a tray first end panel and a tray second end panel, and wherein said first tab extends from said tray first end panel and said second tab extends from said tray second end panel. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tabs of said tray each include at least one holding projection extending therefrom for engaging a portion of said carton sidewall adjacent a respective said notch. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tabs of said tray each include first and second generally opposing holding projections extending therefrom for engaging a portion of said carton sidewall adjacent a respective said notch. 
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second notches each comprise at least one retaining projection extending therein for retaining a respective tab therein. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second notches each include at least two generally opposing retaining projections extending therein for retaining a respective tab therein. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said carton and said tray are each constructed of a paperboard material. 
     
     
         11 . A container assembly for containing at least two articles generally arranged one above the other, said container assembly comprising:
 a carton including a carton bottom panel, a carton front panel, a carton rear panel, a carton first end panel and a carton second end panel;   a first notch at least partially defined in said carton first end panel, said first notch including a first retaining projection extending therein;   a second notch at least partially defined in said carton second end panel, said second notch including a second retaining projection extending therein;   a tray disposed at least partially in an upper section of said carton, said tray including a tray bottom panel, a tray front panel, a tray rear panel, a tray first end panel and a tray second end panel;   a first tab extending from said tray first end panel, said first tab adapted for being removably retained within said first notch, wherein said first tab includes a first holding projection extending therefrom for engaging a portion of said carton first end panel adjacent said first notch; and   a second tab extending from said tray second end panel, said second tab adapted for being removably retained within said second notch, wherein said second tab includes a second holding projection extending therefrom for engaging a portion of said carton second end panel adjacent said second notch.   
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a first compartment defined in a lower region of said carton and a second compartment defined within said tray. 
     
     
         13 . In combination, a foldable carton blank and a foldable tray blank for forming a container assembly for containing at least two articles generally arranged one above the other,
 the carton blank comprising:
 a carton bottom panel; 
 a carton front panel foldably connected to said carton bottom panel; 
 a carton rear panel foldably connected to said carton bottom panel; 
 a carton first end panel foldably connected to said carton bottom panel, said carton first end panel having a first notch defined therein; 
 a carton second end panel foldably connected to said carton bottom panel, said carton second end panel having a second notch defined therein; 
   the tray blank comprising:
 a tray bottom panel; 
 a tray front panel foldably connected to said tray bottom panel; 
 a tray rear panel foldably connected to said tray bottom panel; 
 a tray first end panel foldably connected to said tray bottom panel, said tray first end panel including a first tab extending therefrom and further including a first holding projection extending from said first tab; 
 a tray second end panel foldably connected to said tray bottom panel, said tray second end panel including a second tab extending therefrom and further including a second holding projection extending from said second tab. 
   
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said first notch is defined proximate a distal end of said carton first end panel and said second notch is defined proximate a distal end of said carton second end panel 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said first tab extends proximate a distal end of said first tray first end panel and said second tab extends proximate a distal end of said second tray first end panel. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 13  further comprising a first retaining projection extending into said first notch and a second retaining projection extending into said second notch. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said first holding projection is adapted for engaging a portion of said carton first end panel adjacent said first notch and said second holding projection is adapted for engaging a portion of said carton second end panel adjacent said second notch when said carton blank is formed into a carton and said tray blank is formed into a tray.