Configurable tray system and related components and methods

Abstract

A configurable tray system comprising a container base and at least one divider or at least one connector. An example of a container base is adapted to hold items and may have at least one raised edge. A divider is adapted to facilitate dividing of the container base into different areas for holding items, wherein a divider may comprise at least one defined portion that is adapted to facilitate desired breakage of the divider into a desired length or lengths or a desired width or widths. A connector is adapted to be used with a divider to facilitate dividing of a container base into different areas for holding items. Related methods and components are included.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tray system comprising:
 an open container base having at least one raised edge and adapted to hold items; and   at least one divider adapted to facilitate dividing of said open container base into different areas for holding items, each said divider comprising at least one defined portion that is adapted to facilitate desired breakage of said divider into a desired length or lengths or a desired width or widths.   
     
     
         2 . The tray system of  claim 1  wherein a respective said divider comprises multiple said defined portions that are respectively adapted to facilitate desired breakage of said respective divider into a desired length or lengths or a desired width or widths. 
     
     
         3 . The tray system of  claim 2  wherein said defined portions are substantially evenly spaced apart along a length of said respective divider. 
     
     
         4 . The tray system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one defined portion has been formed by laser etching. 
     
     
         5 . The tray system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one defined portion has been formed by etching. 
     
     
         6 . The tray system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one defined portion has been formed by scoring. 
     
     
         7 . The tray system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one defined portion has been formed by molding. 
     
     
         8 . The tray system of  claim 1  wherein a respective said defined portion is a perforation in a respective said divider. 
     
     
         9 . The tray system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one connector, each said connector adapted to connect a respective said divider to a respective said raised edge of said open container base or to another respective said divider. 
     
     
         10 . The tray system of  claim 9  wherein each said connector further defines a proximal slot that is adapted to receive a distal edge of another said connector. 
     
     
         11 . A tray system comprising:
 an open container base having at least one raised edge and adapted to hold items; and   at least one connector adapted to facilitate dividing of said open container base into different areas for holding items, each said connector comprising a clip portion that is associated with a distal slot portion, said clip portion adapted to attach said connector to a respective said raised edge of said open container base or to a divider, and said distal slot portion adapted to receive a divider.   
     
     
         12 . The tray system of  claim 11  wherein said clip portion comprises at least one prong adapted to engage said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         13 . The tray system of  claim 12  wherein said at least one prong is adapted to flex to facilitate positioning of said clip portion over said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         14 . The tray system of  claim 13  wherein said at least one prong is resilient such that said at least one prong is adapted to adjust to variations in thickness of said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         15 . The tray system of  claim 12  wherein each said prong comprises a rounded distal portion adapted to facilitate positioning of said clip portion over said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         16 . The tray system of  claim 15  wherein said rounded distal portion is further adapted to resist against said connector being undesirably removed from said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         17 . The tray system of  claim 12  wherein said at least one prong comprises at least a first said prong and a second said prong such that said first said prong operationally opposes said second said prong to facilitate positioning of said clip portion over said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         18 . The tray system of  claim 17  wherein said first said prong and said second said prong are resilient such that said first said prong and said second said prong are adapted to adjust to variations in thickness of said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         19 . The tray system of  claim 17  wherein said at least one prong further comprises at least a third said prong and a fourth said prong such that said third said prong operationally opposes said fourth said prong to facilitate positioning of said clip portion over said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         20 . The tray system of  claim 19  wherein said first said prong, said second said prong, said third said prong, and said fourth said prong are resilient such that said first said prong, said second said prong, said third said prong, and said fourth said prong are adapted to adjust to variations in thickness of said at least one raised edge of said open container base or a divider. 
     
     
         21 . The tray system of  claim 19  wherein said first said prong and said second said prong are spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said third said prong and said fourth said prong. 
     
     
         22 . The tray system of  claim 21  wherein:
 said first said prong and said second said prong are positioned adjacent to a first side of said distal slot portion; and 
 said third said prong and said fourth said prong are positioned adjacent to a second side of said distal slot portion that is opposite said first side of said distal slot portion. 
 
     
     
         23 . The tray system of  claim 22  wherein:
 said first said prong and said second said prong form a first set; 
 said third said prong and said fourth said prong form a second set; and 
 said first set and said second set form a proximal slot that is adapted to receive a distal edge of another said connector. 
 
     
     
         24 . The tray system of  claim 11  wherein said distal slot portion comprises:
 a first side; 
 a second side that is opposite said first side such that a slot is formed between said first side and said second side; 
 a proximal edge that connects said first side and said second side; and 
 a top edge that connects said first side and said second side, said top edge adapted to rest on top of a divider that is adapted to be received in said distal slot portion. 
 
     
     
         25 . The tray system of  claim 24  wherein said clip portion is positioned adjacent to said proximal edge. 
     
     
         26 . The tray system of  claim 25  wherein said clip portion is positioned adjacent to an intersection of said proximal edge and said top edge. 
     
     
         27 . The tray system of  claim 25  further comprising:
 a first flange that extends away from said proximal edge and said first side; and 
 a second flange that extends away from said proximal edge and said second side; 
 wherein said first flange and said second flange extend below said clip portion. 
 
     
     
         28 . The tray system of  claim 27  wherein said first flange and said second flange are adapted to facilitate attachment of said connector to a respective said raised edge of said open container base or to a divider, or adapted to stabilize said connector when attached to a respective said raised edge of said open container base or to a divider. 
     
     
         29 . The tray system of  claim 11  wherein said clip portion and said distal slot portion are respectively configured such that a respective said raised edge of said open container base or a divider adapted to be engaged by said clip portion is adapted to be substantially perpendicular to a divider adapted to be received by said distal slot portion.