Packaging System and Method for Flatware and the Like
AssigneesGrafcor Packaging Inc., The Package Solution, LLC
InventorsWilliam E. Hall, Thomas P. McQueeny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for packaging consumer products that include a number of individual pieces is provided. A pulp insert tray that includes a number of form fitting receiving locations to receive the individual pieces of the set separates and protects the individual pieces from damage resulting from uncontained packaging. A retainer may be used in association with the insert tray to provide additional support of the individual pieces, and assist in the final assembly of the packaged set. The use of pulp as the insert tray material provides significant ecological benefit.
Claims20
A packaging system comprising:
- an insert tray including a pair of end walls, at least two sidewalls longitudinally between the end walls and extending between a top surface of the insert tray and a bottom surface defining at least one receiving location, the insert tray including at least one retainer receiving slot oriented across at least one receiving location, the at least one retainer receiving slot defined by a plurality of recesses extending from the top surface towards the bottom surface, individual recesses being formed in one of the end walls or sidewalls;
- and
- a retainer including, at least, a retention member receivable in the at least one retainer receiving slot, the retention member extending across the at least one receiving location when received in the at least one receiving slot, forming a gap between a bottom surface of the retention member and the bottom surface of the at least one receiving location.
A method of forming a packaging system comprising:
- forming an insert tray from pulp including recycled material, the insert tray having a plurality of receiving locations and at least one retainer receiving slot extending across the plurality of receiving locations;
- forming a retainer including at least a retention member sized to insert into the retainer receiving slot;
- providing a box having an internal cavity closely sized to an outer periphery of the combination of the insert tray with the retainer such that the combination may be received in the box.
A method of packaging flatware including:
- inserting a plurality of flatware pieces into a receiving location of an insert tray;
- securing the flatware pieces within the receiving location with a retainer;
- and
- inserting the flatware pieces, insert tray and retainer into a box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.