Package for shipping stackable articles

Abstract

A package for stackable articles, such as egg cartons, produce containers, plates, food trays and the like, includes substantially tray-shaped top and bottom caps. Sandwiched therebetween are stacks of the articles arranged vertically or horizontally to form a desired array between the top and bottom caps. Sheet material wraps around the array and at least partly around the top and bottom caps to enclose the array securely between the caps.

1 . A package for stackable articles, said package comprising: 
 a top cap and a bottom cap, said top and bottom caps being substantially tray-shaped and having a base with side and end walls extending therefrom;    a plurality of stacks of said articles, said stacks being arranged in a desired array on said bottom cap and said top cap being disposed atop said array, said top and bottom caps being oriented toward one another to partly enclose said array; and    sheet material wrapped around said array and at least partly around said top and bottom caps to enclose said array securely between said top and bottom caps.    
   
   
       2 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said top and bottom caps are folded from a blank cut from stiff sheet material.  
   
   
       3 . A package as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said stiff sheet material is of plastic.  
   
   
       4 . A package as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said stiff sheet material is of corrugated board.  
   
   
       5 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said stacks are oriented horizontally to form said desired array.  
   
   
       6 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said stacks are oriented vertically to form said desired array.  
   
   
       7 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said articles are molded from polystyrene foam sheet material.  
   
   
       8 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said articles are selected from the group consisting of egg cartons, produce containers, plates and food trays.  
   
   
       9 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sheet material is of plastic.  
   
   
       10 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sheet material is shrink-wrap film.  
   
   
       11 . A package as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sheet material is stretch film.  
   
   
       12 . A method for making a package of stackable articles, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a top cap and a bottom cap for said package, said top and bottom caps being substantially tray-shaped and having a base with side and end walls extending therefrom;    forming a plurality of stacks of said stackable articles;    arranging said plurality of stacks in a desired array on said bottom cap;    disposing said top cap atop said array; and    wrapping around said array and at least part of said top and bottom caps with sheet material to enclose said array securely between said top and bottom caps, thereby forming said package.    
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said providing step includes the steps of: 
 cutting a blank for each of said top and bottom caps from stiff sheet material; and    folding said blank to form each of said top and bottom caps.    
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein, in said arranging step, said plurality of stacks are disposed horizontally on said bottom cap to form said array.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein, in said arranging step, said plurality of stacks are disposed vertically on said bottom cap to form said array.  
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said sheet material is shrink-wrap film and further comprising the step of heating said shrunk-wrap film to shrink said film after said wrapping step.  
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said sheet material is stretch film