Jar and lid tray system

Abstract

A packaging system for the packaging of a plurality of canning jars each including a canning container, a lid element, and a retainer element includes a first tray formed by a first wall. The first wall includes a plurality of first container retention structures formed therein with each of the first container retention structures forming an indentation configured to receive a first end portion of one of the canning containers therein. The first wall further includes a plurality of lid retention structures formed therein with each of the lid retention structures configured to threadably engage one of the retainer elements to couple each of the retainer elements to the first tray with a corresponding one of the lid elements disposed between the first tray and one of the retainer elements.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A packaging system for the packaging of a plurality of canning jars each including a canning container, a lid element, and a retainer element, the packaging system comprising:
 a first tray formed by a first wall, the first wall including:
 a plurality of first container retention structures formed therein, each of the first container retention structures forming an indentation in the first wall configured to receive a first end portion of one of the canning containers therein; and 
 a plurality of lid retention structures formed therein, each of the lid retention structures configured to threadably engage one of the retainer elements to couple each of the retainer elements to the first tray. 
   
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lid retention structures projects from a portion of a corresponding one of the first container retention structures. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first container retention structures is indented into the first wall in a first direction, and wherein each of the lid retention structures projects away from the corresponding first container retention structure in the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of each of the lid retention structures includes one or more thread segments configured to engage a thread of a corresponding one of the retainer elements. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lid elements is disposed between one of the lid retention structures and one of the retainer elements. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the lid elements includes a centrally disposed dome portion, a peripherally disposed peripheral portion having a sealing element, and a channel portion disposed radially between and axially offset from the dome portion and the peripheral portion, and wherein the channel portion of each of the lid elements directly engages a corresponding one of the lid retention structures. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the lid retention structures includes at least one first annular surface segment and at least one second annular surface segment disposed radially outwardly and axially offset relative to the at least one first annular surface segment, wherein the channel portion of each of the lid elements engages the at least one first annular surface segment of the corresponding one of the lid retention structures while the sealing element of each of the lid elements is spaced apart from the at least one second annular surface segment of the corresponding one of the lid retention structures. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lid retention structures includes a cylindrically shaped outer circumferential surface configured for reception within a cylindrically shaped and axially extending portion of a corresponding one of the retainer elements. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the lid retention structures is formed from a plurality of angularly spaced apart projections that cooperate to form the cylindrically shaped outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall of the first tray includes a peripheral segment forming a lip extending peripherally around the plurality of the lid retention structures and the plurality of the first container retention structures formed within the first wall. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tray formed by a second wall, the second wall including a plurality of second container retention structures formed therein, each of the second container retention structures formed as a projection configured for reception within an interior of a corresponding one of the canning containers at a second end portion thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the first end portion of each of the canning containers is formed by a closed end thereof and wherein the second end portion of each of the canning containers is formed by an open end thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first container retention structures is indented into the first wall in a first direction, and wherein each of the second container retention structures projects from the second wall in the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the projection forming each of the second container retention structures is tapered inwardly in a direction towards the first tray. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , further comprising a box for enclosing the second tray. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , further comprising a retaining wrap for applying for compressing the canning containers between the first tray and the second tray. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the retaining wrap is an enclosure contracted around the first tray and the second tray. 
     
     
         18 . The packaging system of  claim 17 , wherein the enclosure is formed by a polymeric material that contracts upon exposure to heat or following exposure to heat. 
     
     
         19 . The packaging system of  claim 17 , wherein a vacuum is formed within the enclosure to contract the enclosure around the first tray and the second tray. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging system of  claim 17 , wherein the enclosure is contracted around a box receiving the second tray therein.