Packaging System and Method

Abstract

Embodiments provide packaging systems and methods that may be easy to open, have a measure of theft deterrence, may be manufactured from a minimum number of materials, and/or are relatively easy to recycle. One packaging/display system includes multiple package elements in an upright orientation between side walls of a support tray, without edges of the package elements extending into the side walls for support. In some cases a support tray includes multiple support tabs located along at least one side wall to engage a front and/or back surface of a package element in a supporting configuration. Support tabs may optionally be spaced along side wall inner surfaces in an alternating configuration. An optional removable cover may be configured to fit about package elements within a support tray to provide an integrated packaging assembly for transport. Methods for packing and displaying products are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for packaging and displaying multiple products, comprising:
 a plurality of package elements, each package element configured to hold at least one product; and   a support tray configured to support the plurality of package elements arranged adjacently in a row upon the support tray;   wherein the support tray comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, and a support surface extending between and joined to the first and the second side walls;   wherein the first side wall comprises a first inner wall surface facing the plurality of package elements and a first outer wall surface and the second side wall comprises a second inner wall surface facing the plurality of package elements and a second outer wall surface; and   wherein the support tray is configured to support the plurality of package elements in the row upon the support tray without the package elements extending through the first inner wall surface into the first side wall and without the package elements extending through the second inner wall surface into the second side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of package elements comprises a front surface and a back surface and wherein the support tray further comprises a plurality of support tabs configured to engage the front surface and/or the back surface of one or more of the plurality of package elements, thereby supporting the one or more of the plurality of package elements in a generally upright orientation with respect to the support tray. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of support tabs are located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein support tabs located along the first inner wall surface are positioned in front of half or less of the plurality of package elements and support tabs located along the second inner wall surface are positioned in front of half or less of the plurality of package elements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of support tabs are spaced along the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface in an alternating configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of support tabs comprises a partial cut-out portion of one of the first and the second side walls, the partial cut-out portion being folded out from the respective side wall along a fold line. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of package elements comprises a front surface, a back surface, and a bottom surface, the bottom surface configured to engage the support tray with the package element reclining such that a centerline extending through the package element forms a reclining angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the reclining angle is at least about five degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the support tray further comprises a plurality of support tabs configured to engage the front surface and/or the back surface of one or more of the plurality of package elements, thereby supporting the one or more of the plurality of package elements in a generally upright orientation with the centerline of each package element forming the reclining angle. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of package elements and the support tray are substantially formed from a single material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to fit about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to form an integrated packaging assembly for transporting the plurality of package elements with the support tray. 
     
     
         12 . A packaging system for transporting and displaying products, comprising:
 a plurality of package elements, each package element configured to substantially enclose at least one product and comprising
 a height, 
 a width, 
 a thickness less than half the height and less than half the width, a front surface, and 
 a back surface; 
   a support tray comprising
 a first side wall comprising a first inner wall surface, 
 a second side wall comprising a second inner wall surface, 
 a support surface extending between and joining the first and the second side walls, and 
 a plurality of support tabs located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface, the plurality of support tabs configured to engage the front surface and/or the back surface of one or more of the plurality of package elements, thereby supporting the plurality of package elements in a row configuration with the plurality of package elements arranged adjacently front-to-back along the support tray and the height of each package element extending upward from the support tray; and 
   a removable cover configured to fit about the plurality of package elements and the support tray for transporting the plurality of package elements with the support tray.   
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of package elements further comprises a bottom surface configured to engage the support tray with the package element reclining such that a centerline extending through the package element forms a reclining angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 13 , wherein the reclining angle is between about five degrees and about ten degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of support tabs are spaced along the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface in an alternating configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A method for packing and displaying products, comprising:
 providing a plurality of package elements, each package element holding at least one product;   providing a support tray comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, and a support surface extending between and joining the first and the second side walls, the first side wall comprising a first inner wall surface and the second side wall comprising a second inner wall surface;   arranging the plurality of package elements adjacently in a row upon the support surface of the support tray between the first side wall and the second side wall; and   retaining the plurality of package elements in the row in the support tray upon the support surface and between the first side wall and the second side wall without extending the package elements through the first inner wall surface into the first side wall and without extending the package elements through the second inner wall surface into the second side wall.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising separating portions of at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall and folding the separated portions along respective fold lines and inward away from the respective inner side wall to form support tabs located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising reclining the plurality of package elements at a reclining angle from a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising removing a cover from about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to display the plurality of package elements with the support tray in a retail setting. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising fitting a removable cover about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to transport the plurality of package elements with the support tray.