Thermoformed dual container packaging assembly

A packaging assembly comprising:

• a first container having a first circular container body defining a first circular mouth and a first circular lip extending from the first container body about the circumference of the first circular mouth, the first circular lip having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first container body;
• a second container having a second circular container body defining a second circular mouth and a second circular lip extending from the second container body about the circumference of the second circular mouth, the second container disposed adjacent to the first container with the first circular lip and the second circular lip being generally coextensive;
• and
• a snap ring removably snap-fitted about the first container and the second container, the snap ring having a peripheral circular main body defining a coaxial circular inner opening, the inner opening having a diameter greater than the first container body and lesser than the first container lip, the snap ring disposed with the inner opening positioned about the first container body, the snap ring including a coaxial containment flange extending circumferentially from the main body, the containment flange defining a coaxial inwardly opening circumferential containment channel, the containment channel receiving the first lip and the second lip, the containment flange including a coaxial circular skirt extending from the containment channel and forming a coaxial lead-in flange capable of shepherding the first lip and the second lip into the containment channel as the snap ring is installed about the containers.

A method for packaging article in isolation in a single packaging assembly, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first container containing a first article, the first container having a first container body defining a first container mouth and a first container lip extending outwardly from the first container mouth;
• providing a second container containing a second article, the second container having a second container body defining a second container mouth and a second container lip extending from the second container mouth, at least one of the first container and the second container including a lid, the lid maintaining separation between the first article and the second article;
• stacking the first container and the second container with the first container lip disposed generally adjacent to the second container lip;
• providing a snap ring with a peripheral body defining an internal opening and a inwardly opening containment channel;
• and
• moving the snap ring over the container body of the first container with the internal opening receiving the container body of the first container and snap-fitting the snap ring about the first container lip and the second container lip, the first container lip and the second container being retained in adjacent relationship by the containment channel.