US20130228492A1

US20130228492A1 - Packaging System and Method

Info

Publication number: US20130228492A1
Application number: US13/782,494
Authority: US
Inventors: Adolf Hans Friedebach; Randy Lehner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-01
Filing date: 2013-03-01
Publication date: 2013-09-05

Abstract

Embodiments provide packaging systems and methods that may be easy to open, have a measure of theft deterrence, may be manufactured from a minimum number of materials, and/or are relatively easy to recycle. One packaging/display system includes multiple package elements in an upright orientation between side walls of a support tray, without edges of the package elements extending into the side walls for support. In some cases a support tray includes multiple support tabs located along at least one side wall to engage a front and/or back surface of a package element in a supporting configuration. Support tabs may optionally be spaced along side wall inner surfaces in an alternating configuration. An optional removable cover may be configured to fit about package elements within a support tray to provide an integrated packaging assembly for transport. Methods for packing and displaying products are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/605,490, filed Mar. 1, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Different forms of self-service merchandise packaging are commonly used to both package products and display the products/packaging in a desirable configuration for viewing by customers. Some types of these display packaging systems are useful for providing access to successively displayed product items. They may also be useful for packaging and securing products. For example, some products for sale may be too large to hang on a peg board display, or may be too small (e.g., a gift card) to be left out on a counter unpackaged.
One example of this type of self-service packaging includes the readily known example of plastic “blister pack” displays. In such cases the products may be encased in a transparent plastic blister pack (e.g., a heat-sealed plastic, transparent clamshell). In the case of small products, such a blister pack can provide the product with a larger integral packaging to reduce the risk of theft. In the case of larger products, the blister pack can provide an integral display methodology as an alternative to hanging a product on a pegboard.
Blister packs are commonly stocked in cardboard or plastic trays and arranged in a series or row from the front of the tray to the back. As a customer picks out one product in the series, the next product package is immediately exposed and visible to a new customer without the need for restocking or product rearranging by store clerks. One problem recognized with trays and blister packs is the tendency for the product/packaging to tip over after one or more have been removed by customers. A common technique to address this problem is to include slots on each side of the tray into which the blister pack edges are inserted to keep the package upright. While blister packs have proven useful and popular to some extent as packaging, they are also notoriously hard and frustrating to open and are generally not recycled by customers.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the invention provide a packaging system that is generally easy to open, provides a measure of theft deterrence, may be manufactured from a minimum number of materials, and/or is relatively easy to recycle. In some embodiments, the packaging system is configured to maintain several individual products within individual packages, displayed upright in a tray without the aid of packaging edges engaging slots in the opposing sides of the tray.
An example of one embodiment of the invention provides a system for packaging and displaying multiple products. The system includes multiple package elements and a support tray configured to support the package elements arranged adjacently in a row upon the support tray. Each of the package elements is generally configured to hold at least one product. The support tray has a first side wall, a second side wall, and a support surface extending between and joined to the first and the second side walls. Each side wall has an inner wall surface facing the package elements supported by the tray and an outer wall surface facing away from the package elements. The support tray is configured to support the multiple package elements in the row upon the support tray without the package elements extending through the first inner wall surface into the first side wall and without the package elements extending through the second inner wall surface into the second side wall.
Another example of an embodiment is a packaging system for transporting and displaying products. The packaging system includes a plurality of package elements, a support tray for supporting the package elements, and a removable cover configured to fit about the package elements and the support tray. Encasing the package elements and the tray with the cover provides an integrated packaging assembly with additional strength and security for transporting the package elements with the support tray.
In this example, each package element is configured to substantially enclose at least one product. The package element also includes a height, a width, and a thickness that is less than half the height and less than half the width of the package element. The package element also includes at least a partial front surface and a partial back surface.
The support tray in this example embodiment includes a support surface extending between and joining first and second side walls. The first side wall has a first inner wall surface and the second side wall has a second inner wall surface. The support tray also includes multiple support tabs located along the first inner wall surface, the second inner wall surface, or both inner wall surfaces. The support tabs are configured to engage the front surface and/or the back surface of one or more of the package elements. The support tabs can thus assist in supporting the package elements in a row configuration with the package elements arranged adjacently front-to-back along the support tray. Typically the height of each package element extends upward from the support tray in this type of example, such that the package elements rest on their bottom surfaces. The length of the bottom surfaces is the smaller thickness of the package element, meaning that the much longer height of the package elements can tend to tip the package elements over without the aid of the support tabs.
Another example of the type of embodiments provided by the invention is an exemplary method for packing and displaying products. The method includes providing a plurality of package elements, with each package element holding at least one product. The method further includes providing a support tray such as one of those described above with a first side wall, a second side wall, a support surface, a first inner wall surface, and a second inner wall surface. The plurality of package elements are arranged adjacently in a row upon the support surface of the support tray between the first side wall and the second side wall. The method further includes retaining the plurality of package elements in the row in the support tray and between the first side wall and the second side wall without extending the package elements through the first inner wall surface into the first side wall and without extending the package elements through the second inner wall surface into the second side wall.
Some embodiments may optionally provide none, some, or all of the following advantages, though other advantages not listed here may also be provided.
In some embodiments providing support tabs, the support tabs can be located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface. Optionally, the support tabs located along one of the inner wall surfaces are positioned in front of only half or less of the maximum number of package elements supported by the packaging system. Thus, a support tab need not be provided along each side wall of the support tray for every package element being displayed. In some cases each group of support tabs located along each of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface are positioned in front of half or less of the plurality of package elements. One possible configuration provided in some embodiments includes a number of support tabs spaced along the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface in an alternating configuration, e.g., alternating between successive package elements.
A possible feature of some embodiments includes one or more support tab that are formed from a partial cut-out portion of one of the first and the second side walls. The partial cut-out portion can be folded out from the side wall along a fold line to provide the tab, leaving behind a hole in the side wall that may be present but not needed or used. For example, a package element may be supported by a support tab but may not extend into the hole left behind from the support tab after it is folded away from the side wall.
Some embodiments may be optionally configured to provide the package elements with a reclining angle while supported in the support tray, to provide a more convenient viewing angle for prospective buyers. As one example, in some cases a package element is formed with a front surface, a back surface, and a bottom surface, and the bottom surface is configured to engage the support tray with the package element reclining such that a centerline extending through the package element forms a reclining angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface. In some cases the angle may be at least about five degrees, or between about five and about ten degrees. In some cases the angle is about seven degrees.
These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate some particular embodiments of the present invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Some embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a packaging system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a packaging system illustrating a support tab according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a packaging element according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic, side view of a packaging system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B is a schematic, side view of a portion of a support tray according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic, partial top view of a packaging system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded assembly view of a packaging system including a support tray, a plurality of package elements, and a cover according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides some practical illustrations for implementing some embodiments of the present invention. Examples of constructions, materials, dimensions, and manufacturing processes are provided for selected elements, and all other elements employ that which is known to those of ordinary skill in the field of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the noted examples have a variety of suitable alternatives.
Embodiments described herein generally relate to self-service product display packaging and methods for packing products and/or displaying products using such packaging. Basic goals of such display packaging will be familiar to those skilled in the art, and include among other things, positioning successive product items in a row for viewing by customers so that as one product item is removed, the next product item is revealed and readily displayed for viewing by the next customer.
Embodiments of the invention, while in some cases addressing the basic goals of self-service display packaging, also provide one or more additional features, advantages, benefits, and/or differences from existing product display packaging such as, e.g., plastic blister pack display pack systems. As just a few examples, in some embodiments a packaging system may include package elements that are generally easy to open and/or that provide a measure of theft deterrence. In some cases all or most components of a packaging system may be manufactured from a minimum number of materials and/or is relatively easy to recycle. In some embodiments, the packaging system is configured to maintain several individual products within individual packages, displayed upright in a tray without the aid of packaging edges engaging slots in the opposing sides of the tray. Of course these are just a few examples and those skilled in the art will appreciate a number of other features, advantages and/or differences from a reading of this disclosure.
FIGS. 1-3 provide various views of a packaging system 100 according to one possible embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the packaging system 100, FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the packaging system 100, and FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the packaging system 100. As can be seen in the FIGS. 1-3, the packaging system 100 generally includes a support tray 102 and multiple package elements 104 positioned in and supported by the support tray 102. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support tray 102 is configured to support the package elements 104 in a row, with the package elements arranged adjacently front-to-back within the support tray 102. Thus, as a customer pulls the front-most package element out of the support tray 102, the next successive package element is revealed for viewing.
Continuing with reference to FIGS. 1-3, the support tray 102 is configured to hold the package elements 104 in an upright orientation as illustrated. The support tray 102 depicted in the figures generally includes a first side wall 110, a second side wall 112, a back wall 114, and a front wall 116. A bottom support surface 118 extends between and joins the walls of the tray, including the first side wall and the second side wall. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in some cases the front wall may include a cut away portion that allows for more complete viewing of the package elements 104, though this is not a required feature. The height of the tray walls 110, 112 may be determined in some cases based on, e.g., the height, width, thickness, overall shape, and/or center of gravity of the package elements 104.
As best seen in FIG. 2, in some embodiments such as the depicted example, the support tray 102 and the package elements 104 may be configured to allow the package elements 104 to recline from the vertical, which can be useful for providing a comfortable viewing angle for a person looking at the display system. As will be discussed, in some cases a bottom surface (not shown) of a package element is angled with respect to other surfaces of the package element. The package element bottom surface then engages the support surface 118 of the tray with the package element reclining away from the vertical. In some cases the back wall 114 of the support tray 102 can support the last packaging element in the row, thus helping to keep all of the packaging elements upright while also reclining.
Generally, a package element 104 may be configured to hold at least one product. As shown in FIG. 1, in this case each package element 104 is configured to hold two products in the form of coaxial cable windings 120. FIG. 4 is a partial view of one of the packaging elements 104 shown in FIGS. 1-3. In this embodiment a package element 104 is configured as a shallow box 122 with a fold-over top 124 having top sides that fit within the box sides to enclose about the products 120 within the package element 104. Optional mounting structure may be included within the box 122 in order to hold one or more products within the package element 104. By securing the top 124 to the box 122 with a fastener (e.g., adhesive, tape, wire, etc.) the package element 104 can be relatively secured, thus providing a measure of theft deterrence given the increased size that the package element provides about the products 120.
With the package element 104 in an upright orientation as shown in the figures, the extent of the package element 104 defines an overall height H, a width W, and a thickness T for the package element. In some cases, the thickness of the package element 104 may be less than half the height and also less than half the width of the package element, which gives the package element 104 the elongated box shape shown in the figures. As mentioned above, in some cases the height of the tray walls 110, 112 can be designed based on the shape and center of gravity of the package element, thus taking into account the height, width, and thickness of the package element 104.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each package element (as described in the upright orientation) generally includes a number of outside surfaces, including a front surface 130, a back surface 132, a top surface 134, and a bottom surface (not shown). In addition, the package element generally defines two side surfaces 136, 138. In this embodiment with the package element 104 taking the form of a box and fold over cover, the surfaces are provided by the corresponding sides of the box and cover. Of course this is just one example of a package element configuration and a package element may have one of a variety of configurations while still having one or more surfaces, including one or more of a front, back, top, and/or bottom surface.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each side wall of the support tray includes an inner wall surface 140, 142. With respect to the figures, these are referred to herein as a first inner wall surface 140 on the first side wall 110 that faces the package elements 104 and a second inner wall surface 142 on the second side wall 112 that also faces the package elements 104 as well as the first side wall 110. According to some embodiments, the support tray 102 is configured to support the package elements 104 in an upright row upon the support tray 102 without needing slots or other apertures in the first inner wall surface 140 or the second inner wall surface 142 for holding the sides of the packaging elements 104. Thus, with each package element 104 having two side surfaces 136, 138, in some embodiments the side surfaces simply abut or are positioned adjacent to the first inner wall surface 140 and the second inner wall surface 142, respectively. In these cases the first side surface 136 of the package element does not extend through the first inner wall surface 140 into the first side wall 110 and the second side surface 138 does not extend through the second inner wall surface 142 into the second side wall 112 in the same manner that a blister pack may be supported by slots in the sides of a blister pack tray.
Turning to FIG. 3, in some embodiments the display package system 100 includes one or more support tabs 150 that are configured to support the package elements 104 and help maintain them in an upright orientation within the support tray 102. In some cases a support tab 150 is configured to engage with the front surface of a package element and/or a back surface of a package element to support the package element in an upright orientation. As shown in FIG. 3, the support tab 150 is engaged with a portion of the front surface 130 of the front-most package element 104. The tab 150 thus provides the package element 104 with support by preventing the bottom portion of the package element 104 from sliding forward.
According to some embodiments, a system may incorporate multiple support tabs configured to engage multiple package elements to help ensure that the entire row of package elements remains in an upright orientation, e.g., without undesirably tipping forward or backward. In some cases the support tabs can be located along at least one of the first and second inner wall surfaces. FIG. 3 shows an example of the support tab 150 being located along the first inner wall surface 140. Support tabs 150 can be provided as part of the support tray 102 in a number of manners. As one example, in some cases support tabs may be positioned along the first inner wall surface 140, the second inner wall surface 142, or both inner wall surfaces. In addition, a support tab 150 may not correspond with every package element. For example, a number of support tabs 150 can be located along both the first inner wall surface 140 and the second inner wall surface 142, but for both surfaces, the tabs 150 may only be positioned in front of half or less of the maximum number of package elements 104 that fit within the support tray 102. In some cases a support tab 150 on one inner wall surface may not be matched by a support tab in a corresponding location on the other inner wall surface. As one example, in some cases the support tabs 150 may be spaced along the first inner wall surface 140 and the second inner wall surface 142 in an alternating configuration.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 are schematic illustrations of portions of a packaging system 500 that illustrate various support tab placements according to some embodiments. FIG. 5A is a schematic, side view of a packaging system 500, while FIG. 5B is a schematic, partial side view of a portion of the support tray 502 shown in FIG. 5A. In particular, FIG. 5B depicts a cut-away view of the support tray 502 rotated 180 degrees, showing the first side wall inner surface 540, with the location of the support tabs 550 illustrated in FIG. 5A. FIG. 6 is a schematic, partial top view of a packaging system 600 according to an embodiment. It should be appreciated that FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 are not drawn to scale and one or more features may be enlarged for purposes of illustration.
FIG. 5A is a schematic side view of the packaging system 500, from a perspective similar to the side view of the system 100 in FIG. 2. The side view in FIG. 5A illustrates a first side wall 510 of a support tray 502 and also depicts from the side several package elements 504 positioned within the support tray 502 (with the portions within the support tray shown in dotted line). Shown between certain package elements 504 is a side representation (e.g., on edge view) of three support tabs 550, illustrating their position in front of every other package element 504. The support tabs 550 are configured to help maintain the upward and generally vertical orientation of the package elements 504 within the support tray 502. As is shown, in this case, each of the support tabs 550 engages with the packaging element 504 directly in front of it and the packaging element 504 directly behind it. Thus, the support tabs 550 are configured to engage a portion of the front surface and a portion of the back surface of the package elements, thereby supporting the package elements 504 in a generally upright orientation with respect to the support tray 502.
FIG. 5A illustrates an embodiment in which support tabs 550 are located in front of just half of the package elements 504 in an alternating configuration. Turning to FIG. 6, in some cases support tabs 650 may be alternately located between the first inner wall surface 640 and the second inner wall surface 642. FIG. 6 illustrates a top-down schematic view of a support tray 602 with four tabs 650 and the location of the bottom surfaces of four package elements 604 outlined in dashed lines. As shown, the support tabs 650 are spaced along the first inner wall surface 640 and the second inner wall surface 642 in an alternating configuration.
Of course, many configurations and positions of support tabs are contemplated and it should be appreciated that the invention is not necessarily limited to any of the examples described herein. For example, it is contemplated that support tabs could be provided for every package element on each of the inner wall surfaces, thus providing pairs of support tabs for each package element.
In addition, when one or more support tabs are provided in some embodiments, the support tabs may be configured in a variety of manners. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5B, in some cases one or more support tabs can be formed from a partial cut-out portion of one of the first and the second side walls. In the illustrated examples, a semi-circular cutout 160, 560 is depicted, though other shapes and sizes may be chosen. After creating the cut line 562 in the inner wall surface, the partial cut-out portion is folded out from the respective side wall along a fold line 164, 564, leaving a corresponding aperture in the side wall inner surface. Although a hole is left in the side wall inner surface, the package elements engage with the support tab surfaces rather than being inserted into the apertures in the style of a blister pack and tray with slots. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other mounting options for support tabs can also be used, including attaching separate support tabs to the inner wall surfaces with a fastener such as, for example, an adhesive.
As discussed above, in some cases package elements and a support tray can be configured to allow the package elements to recline from the vertical. For example, in some cases a bottom surface of a package element may be angled with respect to other surfaces of the package element. FIG. 5A provides a more detailed view of an angular relationship of this sort according to some embodiments. As shown, each of the package elements 504 is reclining at a reclining angle 570 with respect to a plane 572 (represented by a dashed line) perpendicular to the support tray 502 support surface 518. The bottom surface 574 of each package element 504 is configured to engage the support surface 518 of the tray 502 with the package element reclining such that a centerline 576 extending through the package element 504 forms the reclining angle 570 with respect to the perpendicular plane 572. In some embodiments, the reclining angle 570 is at least about five degrees, while in some embodiments the reclining angle 570 is between about five degrees and about ten degrees. In some embodiments the reclining angle 570 is about seven degrees.
In addition, in the depicted embodiment the bottom surface 574 of each package element 504 forms an acute angle 580 with the front surface 530 of the package element 504 and an obtuse angle 582 with the back surface 532 of the package element. Thus, in this case the front surface 530 and the back surface 532 of the package element are also reclining away from the perpendicular plane 572 at the reclining angle 570, though this may not be the case in all embodiments (e.g., due to irregularly shaped or non-square package surfaces). Further, in some cases the support tabs 550 may also be oriented at the reclining angle to provide a more complete engagement with the package elements 504 in the reclining state, which can be useful in cases where the surfaces of the package element 504 that normally engage with the support tabs 550 are also reclining. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the case where the support tabs 550 are partially cut out of the side walls and folded out, the fold line 564 may be oriented at the reclining angle with respect to the perpendicular plane.
According to some embodiments, in some cases some or all of the components of a packaging system may be formed from a limited number of materials, or in some cases from a single material. For example, in some embodiments substantially all of the structurally components of the packaging/display system are formed from a single material such as cardboard, plastic, or another suitable material. Exceptions may be made for small components or non-structural components, such as fasteners (e.g., glues, tapes, staples, adhesives, ties, etc.). As depicted in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4, the support tray 102 and substantially all of the package elements 104 are made from cardboard. Utilizing a single material or substantially a single material can make the manufacturing process simpler and more cost effective. In addition, using a single material, such as cardboard, may increase the likelihood that a consumer will recycle the package element post-sale.
Turning to FIG. 7, in some embodiments a packaging system 700 can include multiple package elements 704 and a support tray 702 as previously discussed, and may further include a removable cover 715 configured to fit about the package elements 704 and the support tray 702. The removable cover 715 can be made from the same material or a different material as the other parts of the packaging system 700. The cover can be useful for protecting the contents of the support tray and package elements, and readying them for shipping. For example, in some cases the cover 715 includes an open box that slips over the outside of the package elements 704 and the support tray 702. The cover can then be secured about the support tray and package elements using a fastener to form an integrated packaging assembly for transporting the package elements with the support tray. Upon arriving at its intended destination, a store clerk can simply remove the cover 715 and position the support tray 702 and package elements 704 in a desirable location with ease.
According to some embodiments, methods for packing and/or displaying products are also provided. In some cases a method for packing and displaying products includes packing products using one type of package elements described herein and then positioning multiple package elements within a single support tray, optionally placing a cover over the package elements and support tray for transport or removing the cover for store display.
In some embodiments, a method for packing and displaying products includes providing a plurality of package elements with each package element holding at least one product. The method also includes providing a support tray having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a support surface extending between and joining the first and the second side walls, the first side wall comprising a first inner wall surface and the second side wall comprising a second inner wall surface. The method further provides for arranging the plurality of package elements adjacently in a row upon the support surface of the support tray between the first side wall and the second side wall and retaining the package elements in the row in the support tray upon the support surface and between the first side wall and the second side wall without extending the package elements through the first inner wall surface into the first side wall and without extending the package elements through the second inner wall surface into the second side wall.
In some embodiments a display/packing method also includes separating portions of at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall of a support tray and then folding the portions along respective fold lines and inward away from the respective inner side wall to form support tabs located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface. The method may also provide reclining the plurality of package elements at a reclining angle from a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface. In some cases the method includes removing a cover from about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to display the plurality of package elements with the support tray in a retail setting, while in some cases the method includes fitting a removable cover about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to transport the plurality of package elements with the support tray.
Thus, embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain disclosed embodiments, the disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation and other embodiments of the invention are possible. One skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for packaging and displaying multiple products, comprising:

a plurality of package elements, each package element configured to hold at least one product; and

a support tray configured to support the plurality of package elements arranged adjacently in a row upon the support tray;

wherein the support tray comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, and a support surface extending between and joined to the first and the second side walls;

wherein the first side wall comprises a first inner wall surface facing the plurality of package elements and a first outer wall surface and the second side wall comprises a second inner wall surface facing the plurality of package elements and a second outer wall surface; and

wherein the support tray is configured to support the plurality of package elements in the row upon the support tray without the package elements extending through the first inner wall surface into the first side wall and without the package elements extending through the second inner wall surface into the second side wall.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of package elements comprises a front surface and a back surface and wherein the support tray further comprises a plurality of support tabs configured to engage the front surface and/or the back surface of one or more of the plurality of package elements, thereby supporting the one or more of the plurality of package elements in a generally upright orientation with respect to the support tray.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of support tabs are located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein support tabs located along the first inner wall surface are positioned in front of half or less of the plurality of package elements and support tabs located along the second inner wall surface are positioned in front of half or less of the plurality of package elements.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of support tabs are spaced along the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface in an alternating configuration.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of support tabs comprises a partial cut-out portion of one of the first and the second side walls, the partial cut-out portion being folded out from the respective side wall along a fold line.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of package elements comprises a front surface, a back surface, and a bottom surface, the bottom surface configured to engage the support tray with the package element reclining such that a centerline extending through the package element forms a reclining angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the reclining angle is at least about five degrees.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the support tray further comprises a plurality of support tabs configured to engage the front surface and/or the back surface of one or more of the plurality of package elements, thereby supporting the one or more of the plurality of package elements in a generally upright orientation with the centerline of each package element forming the reclining angle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of package elements and the support tray are substantially formed from a single material.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to fit about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to form an integrated packaging assembly for transporting the plurality of package elements with the support tray.

12. A packaging system for transporting and displaying products, comprising:

a plurality of package elements, each package element configured to substantially enclose at least one product and comprising

a height,

a width,

a thickness less than half the height and less than half the width, a front surface, and

a back surface;

a support tray comprising

a first side wall comprising a first inner wall surface,

a second side wall comprising a second inner wall surface,

a support surface extending between and joining the first and the second side walls, and

a plurality of support tabs located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface, the plurality of support tabs configured to engage the front surface and/or the back surface of one or more of the plurality of package elements, thereby supporting the plurality of package elements in a row configuration with the plurality of package elements arranged adjacently front-to-back along the support tray and the height of each package element extending upward from the support tray; and

a removable cover configured to fit about the plurality of package elements and the support tray for transporting the plurality of package elements with the support tray.

13. The packaging system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of package elements further comprises a bottom surface configured to engage the support tray with the package element reclining such that a centerline extending through the package element forms a reclining angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface.

14. The packaging system of claim 13, wherein the reclining angle is between about five degrees and about ten degrees.

15. The packaging system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of support tabs are spaced along the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface in an alternating configuration.

16. A method for packing and displaying products, comprising:

providing a plurality of package elements, each package element holding at least one product;

providing a support tray comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, and a support surface extending between and joining the first and the second side walls, the first side wall comprising a first inner wall surface and the second side wall comprising a second inner wall surface;

arranging the plurality of package elements adjacently in a row upon the support surface of the support tray between the first side wall and the second side wall; and

retaining the plurality of package elements in the row in the support tray upon the support surface and between the first side wall and the second side wall without extending the package elements through the first inner wall surface into the first side wall and without extending the package elements through the second inner wall surface into the second side wall.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising separating portions of at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall and folding the separated portions along respective fold lines and inward away from the respective inner side wall to form support tabs located along at least one of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising reclining the plurality of package elements at a reclining angle from a plane perpendicular to the support tray support surface.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing a cover from about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to display the plurality of package elements with the support tray in a retail setting.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising fitting a removable cover about the plurality of package elements and the support tray to transport the plurality of package elements with the support tray.