Nested packaging assemblies

Abstract

A packaging assembly includes a plurality of individual packages. Each of the plurality of individual packages is adjoined to at least one other of the plurality of individual packages. The individual packages can be adjoined by hinged and/or detachable connections. Each of the plurality of individual packages has a base, a sidewall integral with and extending from the base, and an opening defined by an end of the sidewall distal from the base. Any conceivable product can be packaged in the packaging assembly. The packaging assembly can be configured in a nested manner and has a ratio of a packaged product volume to an occupied space volume that is at least 0.5 and less than 1.

1 . A packaging assembly comprising:
 a plurality of individual packages;   wherein each of the plurality of individual packages is adjoined to at least one other of the plurality of individual packages; and   wherein the packaging assembly has a ratio of a packaged product volume to an occupied space volume that is at least 0.5 and less than 1.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of individual packages comprises a base, a sidewall integral with and extending from the base, and an opening defined by an end of the sidewall distal from the base. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a first package of the plurality of individual packages is rotated relative to at least a second package of the plurality of individual packages. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein at least a first package of the plurality of individual packages is adjoined to at least a second package of the plurality of individual packages by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the first package is rotated relative to the second package about a hinged connection such that at least a portion of the base of the first package is adjacent to at least a portion of the sidewall of the second package. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the first package is rotated from about 75 degrees to about 115 degrees relative to the second package about the hinged connection. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the second package is adjoined to the first package by a detachable connection. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of individual packages has a three-dimensional shape that is substantially the same as the three-dimensional shape of each other of the plurality of individual packages. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of individual packages has a base and an opening that are both substantially L-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a first package of the plurality of individual packages is adjoined to at least a second package of the plurality of individual packages, and the L-shape of the base and the opening of each of the first and second packages comprises a heel section and a toe section, and the first package is configured relative to the second package such that at least a portion of the toe section of the first package is adjacent to at least a portion of the toe section of the second package. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of individual packages comprises:
 (a) a first sidewall portion opposite from a third sidewall portion and a fifth sidewall portion, wherein each of the first, third, and fifth sidewall portions has a length that is substantially parallel to the length of each other of the first, third, and fifth sidewall portions, and the length of the first sidewall portion is greater than the length of the third sidewall portion and the length of the fifth sidewall portion; and   (b) a second sidewall portion opposite from a fourth sidewall portion and a sixth sidewall portion, wherein each of the second, fourth, and sixth sidewall portions has a length that is substantially parallel to the length of each other of the second, fourth, and sixth sidewall portions, and the length of the second sidewall portion is greater than the length of the fourth sidewall portion and the length of the sixth sidewall portion; and   wherein the lengths of each of the first, third, and fifth sidewall portions is substantially perpendicular to the lengths of each of the second, fourth, and sixth sidewall portions.   
     
     
         12 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of individual packages comprises:
 (a) at least a first set of adjoined packages defined by a first package adjoined to a second package by a first hinged connection; and   (b) at least a second set of adjoined packages defined by a third package adjoined to a fourth package by a second hinged connection;
 wherein the first set of adjoined packages is configured such that the first package is rotated relative to the second package about the first hinged connection such that at least a portion of the base of the first package is adjacent to at least a portion of the sidewall of the second package; 
 wherein the second set of adjoined packages is configured such that the third package is rotated relative to the fourth package about the second hinged connection such that at least a portion of the base of the third package is adjacent to at least a portion of the sidewall of the fourth package; and 
 wherein the first set of adjoined packages is configured relative to the second set of adjoined packages such that: 
   (x) at least a portion of the base of the first package is adjacent to at least a portion of the base of the third package;   (y) at least a portion of the sidewall of the first package is adjacent to at least a portion of the base of the fourth package; and   (z) at least a portion of the base of the second package is adjacent to at least a portion of the sidewall of the third package.   
     
     
         13 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of individual packages has a base and an opening that are both substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of individual packages comprises a first corner section, a second corner section, a third corner section, and fourth corner section, respectively defined in a clockwise manner, and at least a first package of the plurality of individual packages is adjoined in an offset manner to at least a second package of the plurality of individual packages such that at least a portion of the second corner section of the first package is adjacent to at least a portion of the fourth corner section of the second package. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein at least a third package of the plurality of individual packages is adjoined in an offset manner to the second package such that at least a portion of the first corner section of the second package is adjacent to at least a portion of the third corner section of the third package, and at least a fourth package of the plurality of individual packages is adjoined in an offset manner to the third package such that at least a portion of the second corner section of the third package is adjacent to at least a portion of the fourth corner section of the fourth package. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the first package is adjoined to the second package by a first hinged connection, the second packaging is adjoined to the third package by a second hinged connection, and the third package is adjoined to the fourth package by a third hinged connection, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth packages are configured relative to each other such that:
 (a) at least a portion of the base of the first package is adjacent to at least a portion of the base of the third package;   (b) at least a portion of the base of the second package is adjacent to at least a portion of the base of the fourth package; and   (c) at least a portion of the sidewall of the first package and at least a portion of the sidewall of the third package are adjacent to at least a portion of the sidewall of the second package and at least a portion of the sidewall of the fourth package.   
     
     
         17 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the packaging assembly further comprises a secondary exterior package that encases at least a portion of the plurality of individual packages. 
     
     
         18 . The packaging assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the secondary exterior package comprises a shrink-wrap package or a wrap-around package. 
     
     
         19 . A method of packaging a product, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a packaging assembly according to  claim 1 ; and   (b) filling the product into one or more of the plurality of individual packages.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises the step of manipulating one or more of the plurality of individual packages to configure the packaging assembly into a nested configuration.