Shrink film-encased double-tiered package

Package for packaging products in a double tier including an upper tray;

• a lower tray, with the lower tray including a base panel and first and second end walls extending upwardly from the base panel, with the upper tray including a base panel and first and second end walls extending upwardly from the base panel, with the end walls of the lower tray being connected to the base panel of the lower tray;
• and a shrink wrapper encasing the upper and lower trays and the products contained therein to hold the upper and lower trays and the products together, characterized in that the first and second end walls of the upper and lower trays are connected together at a location above the base panel of the upper tray when the base panel of the upper tray is supported on the products located in the lower tray on the base panel and intermediate the first and second end walls.

Package for packaging products including a tray including a base panel and first and second end walls integrally connected to the base panel about first and second fold lines, with each of the end walls including a handgrip, with the products being supported upon the base panel intermediate the end walls;

• and a shrink wrapper encased around the base panel, the end walls, and the products supported upon the base panel, with the shrink wrapper drawing the end walls against the products supported upon the base panel, with the shrink wrapper including first and second openings created when the shrink wrapper was shrunk around the products and the tray, with the handgrips being accessible through the openings, characterized in the openings created when the shrink wrapper was shrunk around the products and the tray having upper peripheries at least partially coincident with the upper periphery of the handgrips of the respective first and second end walls, with the shrink wrapper providing extra strength to the handgrips in the end wall.

Method for packaging products including the steps of:

• providing a tray including a base panel and first and second end walls integrally connected to the base panel about first and second fold lines, with each of the end walls including a handgrip, with the products being supported upon the base panel intermediate the end walls;
• enfolding a shrink wrapper around the base panel, the end walls, and the products supported upon the base panel;
• and shrinking the shrink wrapper to draw the end walls against the products supported upon the base panel and to create first and second openings with the handgrips being accessible through the openings, characterized in the openings having upper peripheries at least partially coincident with the upper periphery of the handgrips of the respective first and second end walls, with the shrunk shrink wrapper providing extra strength to the handgrips in the end walls.