Packaging sleeve and method of retaining a plurality of individually packaged products

A packaging sleeve configured to retain a plurality of individually packaged products and to remain intact upon removing one or more of the plurality of products therefrom, the packaging sleeve comprising:

• a plurality of walls together defining an interior of the packaging sleeve, the plurality of walls including a first wall having a first opening configured to partially receive a first product of the plurality of individually packaged products;
• and
• a biasing beam located within the interior and configured to exhibit a spring action to bias the first product into the first opening by applying a force to the first product in a direction toward the first opening, wherein the biasing beam is configured to a) assume a first, partially compressed state when biasing the first product into the first opening of the packaging sleeve, b) compress into a second compressed state, which is more compressed than the first, partially compressed state, to remove the first product, and c) automatically expand from the second compressed state, without tearing the packaging sleeve such that the packaging sleeve remains intact, after removal of the first product from the packaging sleeve, wherein the packaging sleeve is constructed from a paperboard material containing fibers which are oriented such that the biasing beam is biased to a fully expanded state by orienting the fibers so that the fibers cross a bend or fold in the biasing beam.

A method of retaining and selectively removing a plurality of individually packaged products with a packaging sleeve including a plurality of walls and a biasing beam, wherein the plurality of walls together defines an interior of the packaging sleeve, the plurality of walls includes a first wall having a first opening, the biasing beam is located within the interior, the biasing beam is configured to exhibit a spring action and the packaging sleeve is constructed from a paperboard material containing fibers which are oriented such that the biasing beam is biased to a fully expanded state with the fibers being oriented to cross a bend or fold in the biasing beam, the method comprising:

• partially receiving a first product of the plurality of individually packaged products within the first opening;
• biasing the first product into the first opening with the biasing beam by compressing the biasing beam into a first partially compressed state and applying a force to the first product in a direction toward the first opening to retain the first product;
• to remove the first product, pushing the first product in a direction opposite the force applied by the biasing beam, to compress the biasing beam into a second compressed state that is more compressed than the first partially compressed state;
• and
• removing the first product from the packaging sleeve without a need to tear the packaging sleeve, whereupon, after the first product is removed, the biasing beam automatically expands.