Stackable packaging units and methods for manufacturing the same

A stackable packaging unit, comprising:

• a molded pulp tray including two or more compartments and a female feature located between two of the compartments;
• a cover attached to the molded tray and including a horizontal planar portion, a handle extending upward therefrom, and two or more cover attachment arms, wherein portions of the cover, including the horizontal planar portion, the two or more cover attachment arms, and the handle, are made from a single sheet of the paperboard or cardboard that is cut and folded to provide said portions of the cover;
• wherein the handle of the cover provides a male feature that is configured to
• fit within the female feature of a further instance of the stackable packaging unit that is stacked above the stackable packaging unit;
• inhibit the further instance of the stackable packaging unit from sliding horizontally to-and-fro and side-to-side relative to the cover;
• and
• allow the further instance of the stackable packaging unit to be lifted up vertically relative to the cover;
• wherein each cover attachment arm, of the two or more cover attachment arms of the cover, tapers downward from a proximal end of the cover attachment arm toward a distal end of the cover attachment arm;
• wherein the proximal end of each of the two or more cover attachment arms is attached to and extends downward from the horizontal planar portion of the cover;
• and
• wherein each cover attachment arm, of the two or more cover attachment arms of the cover, is attached at the distal end of the cover attachment arm to the molded pulp tray thereby attaching the cover to the molded tray.

A stackable packaging unit, comprising:

• a molded tray including one or more compartments, a female feature, and two or more slots;
• and
• a folded paperboard or cardboard cover element including a horizontal planar portion, two or more cover attachment arms that extend downward from the horizontal planar portion, and a handle that extends upward from the horizontal planar portion and provides a male feature that is configured to fit within the female feature of a further instance of the stackable packaging unit that is stacked above the stackable packaging unit;
• wherein
• a distal portion of each of the cover attachment arms includes one or more tabs that extend outward;
• the distal portion of each of the cover attachment arms, which includes the one or more tabs that extend outward, is inserted through a respective one of the slots in the molded tray and thereby attaches the cover attachment arms to the molded tray;
• and
• the one or more tabs that extend outward from the distal portion of each of the cover attachment arms prevents the cover attachment arms from being inadvertently detached from the molded tray.