Universal tray cover

Abstract

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a blank for forming a lid for covering a container holding product therein, comprises, a top panel, a first lid side flap foldably connected to the top panel at a first top panel fold line, and a second lid side flap foldably connected to the top panel, opposite the first side, at a second top panel fold line. With the lid constructed, the first lid side flap and second lid side flap are configured to be inserted into a set up container such that the first lid side flap abuts a first side panel of the set up container and the second lid side flap abuts the second side panel of the set up container to allow additional containers to be stacked atop the lid panel without crushing the product within the interior space of the set up container. Further, when constructed and inserted into the set up container, the lid is configured to interact with the container in such a manner so as to resist upward movement exerted onto the lid by a depalletizer vacuum to prevent the lid from being removed from the container by the depalletizer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blank for forming a lid for covering a container holding product therein, the lid blank comprising:
 a top panel;   a first lid side flap foldably connected to the top panel at a first top panel fold line; and   a second lid side flap foldably connected to the top panel, opposite the first side, at a second top panel fold line, wherein in a set up container, the first lid side flap and second lid side flap are configured to be inserted into or placed over the set up container such that the first lid side flap abuts a first side panel of the set up container and the second lid side flap abuts the second side panel of the set up container to allow additional containers to be stacked atop the lid panel without crushing the product within the interior space of the set up container, wherein in the set up container, the lid is configured to interact with the container to resist upward movement exerted onto the lid by a depalletizer vacuum to prevent the lid from being removed from the container by the depalletizer.   
     
     
         2 . A blank set for forming a container and a lid for the container, comprising:
 a container blank, comprising:
 a bottom panel; 
   a plurality of panels each extending from the bottom panel, the plurality of panels including a first side panel foldably connected to bottom panel at a first fold line, a second side panel disposed opposite the first side panel and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a second fold line, a first end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a third fold line, and a second end panel disposed opposite the first end panel and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a fourth fold line, wherein each of the bottom panel, the first and second side panels, and the first and second end panels are configured to partially define an interior space to hold product therein; and   
       a lid blank comprising:
 a top panel, 
 a first lid side flap foldably connected to the top panel at a first top panel fold line; and 
 a second lid side flap foldably connected to the top panel, opposite the first side, at a second top panel fold line, wherein in a set up container, the first lid side flap and second lid side flap are configured to be inserted into the set up container such that the first lid side flap abuts the first side panel and the second lid side flap abuts the second side panel to allow additional containers to be stacked atop the lid panel without crushing the product within the interior space of the set up container, wherein in the set up container, the lid is configured to interact with the container to resist upward movement exerted onto the lid by a depalletizer vacuum to prevent the lid from being removed from the container by the depalletizer. 
 
     
     
         3 . A blank set according to  claim 2 , wherein the container blank further comprises a first hole defined in the first side panel and wherein the lid blank further includes a first lid hole defined in the first lid side flap configured to align with the first hole on the first side panel with the lid placed in the container in the set up container, and wherein each of the first hole, and first lid hole are configured to accept a fastener therethrough to fasten the lid to the container to resist upward movement exerted onto the lid by the depalletizer vacuum to prevent the lid from being removed from the container by the depalletizer. 
     
     
         4 . A blank set for forming a container and a lid for the container, comprising:
 a container blank, comprising:
 a bottom panel; 
 a plurality of panels each extending from the bottom panel, the plurality of panels including a first side panel foldably connected to bottom panel at a first fold line, a second side panel disposed opposite the first side panel and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a second fold line, a first end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a third fold line, and a second end panel disposed opposite the first end panel and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a fourth fold line, wherein each of the bottom panel, the first and second side panels, and the first and second end panels are configured to partially define an interior space to hold product therein; and 
   a lid blank comprising:
 a top panel, 
 a first lid end flap foldably connected to the top panel at a first end panel fold line; and 
 a second lid end flap foldably connected to the top panel, opposite the first end, at a second end panel fold line, wherein in a set up container, the first lid end flap and second lid end flap are configured to be inserted into the set up container such that the first lid end flap abuts the first end panel and the second lid end flap abuts the second end panel to allow additional containers to be stacked atop the lid panel without crushing the product within the interior space of the set up container, 
 wherein the container blank further comprises a first hole defined in the first end panel and wherein the lid blank further includes a first lid hole defined in the first lid end flap configured to align with the first hole on the first end panel with the lid placed in the container in the set up container, and wherein each of the first hole, and first lid hole are configured to accept a fastener therethrough to fasten the lid to the container to resist upward movement exerted onto the lid by a depalletizer vacuum to prevent the lid from being removed from the container by the depalletizer. 
   
     
     
         5 . A blank set according to  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of stacking flaps extending from each of the first side panel the second side panel configured to form a plurality of stacking tabs in the set up container to allow an additional set up container to be placed atop the stacking tabs of the set up container, wherein a gap is formed between a bottom edge of the stacking flaps and the first and second fold lines; and
 the lid blank further comprising: 
 a plurality of locking flaps extending from the first and second lid side flap, wherein the plurality of locking tabs are configured to fold in a reverse direction relative to the first and second lid side flaps, wherein with the lid inserted into the set up container, the locking flaps are configured to rest in the gaps formed by the plurality of stacking tabs in the set up container and interact with the plurality of stacking tabs to resist upward movement exerted onto the lid via the depalletizer vacuum to prevent the lid from being removed by the depalletizer. 
 
     
     
         6 . A set comprising the container and the lid for the container formed according to the blank set of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A set comprising the container and the lid for the container formed a ding to the blank set of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A blank for forming a container having an integrated lid, comprising:
 a bottom panel;   a plurality of panels each extending from the bottom panel, the plurality of panels including a first side panel foldably connected to bottom panel at a first fold line, a second side panel disposed opposite the first side panel and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a second fold line, a first end panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a third fold line, and a second end panel disposed opposite the first end panel and foldably connected to the bottom panel at a fourth fold line, wherein each of the bottom panel, the first and second side panels, and the first and second end panels are configured to partially define an interior space to hold product therein,   wherein each of the first end panel and the second end panel further include a lid flap having first and second minor flaps, the lid flap configured to fold over the respective end panel to form a lid structure at a respective end of a set up container, wherein the first and second minor flaps are configured to abut and interact with the first side panel and second side panel in the set up container to resist upward movement exerted onto the lid via the depalletizer vacuum to prevent the lid from being removed by the depalletizer.   
     
     
         11 . A container having the integrated lid formed according to the blank of  claim 10 .