Multiple pastry box

Abstract

A container assembly for candying display-packaged delicate baked goods includes a container having opposing side walls interconnected with opposing end walls, a bottom interconnected with each of the side and end walls, a top, and an interior. A retaining tray has at least one aperture therein, and is removably received in the container interior. The retaining tray is dimensioned such that the container side and end walls restrict movement of the retaining tray in a direction perpendicular to the container side and end walls. The retaining tray includes at least one spacing member extending therefrom and spacing the retaining tray from an underlying surface. A display package includes a pan portion and a top removably secured to the pan portion. The pan portion includes a projection extending outwardly therefrom, and is removably received within the aperture until the projection contacts the retaining tray. The projection is disposed on the pan portion such that the display package is suspended from the retaining tray within the aperture above the underlying surface, thereby restricting the display package from movement in a direction perpendicular to the container side and end walls and in a direction toward the bottom of the container.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A container assembly, comprising 
 a container having opposing side walls interconnected with and spaced apart by opposing end walls, a bottom interconnected with each of said side walls and said end walls, a top, and an interior defined by said side walls, said end walls and said bottom,    at least one retaining tray defining at least one aperture therein, said at least one retaining tray being removably received in said interior of said container and being dimensioned such that said side walls and said end walls restrict movement of said retaining tray in a direction perpendicular to said side walls and said end walls, said retaining tray including at least one spacing member extending therefrom and spacing said retaining tray a predetermined distance from an underlying surface; and    at least one display package having a pan portion and a top removably secured to said pan portion, said pan portion including at least one projection extending outwardly therefrom, said at least one display package being removably received within said aperture until said projection contacts said retaining tray, said projection being disposed on said pan portion such that said display package is suspended from said retaining tray within said aperture above said underlying surface, said display package thereby being restricted by said aperture from movement in a direction perpendicular to said side walls and said end walls and restricted from movement by said projection in a direction toward said bottom of said container.    
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said opposing side walls and said opposing end walls of said container comprise one continuous side wall, said bottom being interconnected with said side wall.  
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein each of said at least one aperture has a shape corresponding to a shape of said pan suspended therein.  
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said pan includes a bottom interconnected with a substantially cylindrical side wall thereby defining an open end opposite said bottom, said projection comprising a flange disposed proximate to and around at least a portion of said open end.  
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of    claim 4   , wherein said side wall of said pan includes a first diameter proximate to said bottom of said pan and a second diameter proximate to said open end of said pan, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter.  
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said pan includes opposing side walls interconnected and spaced apart by opposing end walls, and a bottom interconnected with each of said side walls and said end walls thereby defining an open end opposite said bottom, said projection comprising a flange disposed proximate to and around at least a portion of said open end.  
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one retaining tray comprises a flat planar member.  
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of    claim 8   , wherein said flat planar member includes two opposing end rails which interconnect and space apart two opposing side rails, said flat planar member interconnected with each of said two end rails and said two side rails, said flat planar member defining said at least one aperture therein.  
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of    claim 8   , wherein said side rails and said end rails cooperate with said side walls and said end walls of said container to restrict displacement of said retaining tray in a direction perpendicular to said side walls and said end walls.  
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of    claim 8   , wherein said at least one spacing member comprises at least one of said two opposing side rails and said two opposing end rails.  
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one retaining tray comprises a plurality of retaining trays, each of said retaining trays being received within said container such that said retaining trays are disposed one on top of another, each of said retaining trays being spaced a predetermined distance apart by said at least one spacing member, each of said retaining trays having at least one display package suspended therefrom within a respective aperture, each of said at least one spacing members being dimensioned such that said predetermined distance is greater than a height of said display packages.  
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said container top is integral with said container.  
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said container is formed from a flat blank of material, said blank being appropriately cut and scored so as to enable folding and assembly of the blank into a finished container.  
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of    claim 1   , wherein said display package is transparent.  
     
     
         16 . A method of packaging delicate baked goods, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container having at least one side wall and a bottom;    placing a baked good in a display package, said display package including a pan portion, said pan portion including a side wall interconnected with a bottom, and a projection extending outwardly from at least a portion of said side wall;    inserting a retaining tray into said container, said retaining tray defining at least one aperture therein, said retaining tray being dimensioned such that said at least one side wall restricts said retaining tray from movement in a direction perpendicular to said at least one side wall, said retaining tray being spaced a predetermined distance from an underlying surface by a spacing member; and    suspending said display package by said projection from said retaining tray within said aperture, said display package being restricted by said aperture from movement in a direction perpendicular to said at least one side wall and restricted by said projection from movement in a direction toward said bottom of said container.    
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein said at least one side wall of said pan portion and said bottom of said pan portion define an open end, said projection being disposed proximate to and at least partially around said open end.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein said suspending step comprises suspending a display package within each of said at least one aperture.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 16   , comprising the further step of stacking a plurality of said retaining trays within said container, each respective said retaining tray having suspended therefrom within said at least one aperture a display package.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 16   , comprising the further step of closing said container with a top.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein said providing step comprises providing a flat blank of material appropriately cut and scored so as to enable folding and assembly of said blank into a finished container.