Packing method for soft packages

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to using a wholesale package to ship a large number of densely packed retail packages. The wholesale package includes an a top portion which receives a tray portion. At the retail site, the top portion is removed and discarded whereby the tray portion forms a retail display which holds the retail packages in the densely packed configuration. The retail packages are preferably soft packages, such as those using polymeric film to form the walls and being manufactured by form fill seal methods.

1 . A shipping package including: 
 a tray portion including a lower surface for supporting retail packages;    a top portion comprising lateral walls which form a lower mouth for receiving the tray portion therewithin.    
   
   
       2 . The shipping package of  claim 1  wherein the top portion further includes a top surface joining the top edges of the lateral walls.  
   
   
       3 . The shipping package of  claim 2  wherein the tray portion receives a plurality of retail packages.  
   
   
       4 . The shipping package of  claim 3  wherein the tray includes a lip formed around the periphery thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The shipping package of  claim 4  wherein the lip is formed from lateral wall segments.  
   
   
       6 . The shipping package of  claim 5  wherein the lateral wall segments are of equal height throughout the periphery of the tray.  
   
   
       7 . The shipping container of  claim 4  wherein a rear lateral wall segment is approximately the height of a retail package, the front lateral wall segment is approximately 20 percent of the height of a retail package and the side lateral wall segments are diagonally oriented to extend between a top edge of the front lateral wall segment and a top edge of the rear lateral wall segment.  
   
   
       8 . The shipping package of  claim 5  wherein the lateral walls segments are received within the top portion.  
   
   
       9 . The shipping package of  claim 5  wherein the tray portion is a tray for displaying the plurality of retail packages in a retail environment.  
   
   
       10 . The shipping package of  claim 8  wherein the tray portion includes inserts to maintain the retail packages in near-upright orientation.  
   
   
       11 . A shipping package including: 
 a tray portion including a lower surface;    a plurality of retail packages supported on the lower surface; and    a top portion comprising lateral walls which form a lower mouth for receiving the tray portion therewithin.    
   
   
       12 . The shipping package of  claim 1  wherein the retail packages are formed of polymeric material.  
   
   
       13 . The shipping package of  claim 12  wherein the top portion further includes a top surface joining the top edges of the lateral walls.  
   
   
       14 . The shipping package of  claim 13  wherein the tray includes a lip formed around the periphery thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The shipping package of  claim 14  wherein the lip is formed from lateral wall segments.  
   
   
       16 . The shipping package of  claim 15  wherein the lateral wall segments are of equal height throughout the periphery of the tray.  
   
   
       17 . The shipping container of  claim 14  wherein a rear lateral wall segment is approximately the height of a retail package, the front lateral wall segment is approximately 20 percent of the height of a retail package and the side lateral wall segments are diagonally oriented to extend between a top edge of the front lateral wall segment and a top edge of the rear lateral wall segment.  
   
   
       18 . The shipping package of  claim 15  wherein the lateral walls segments are received within the top portion.  
   
   
       19 . The shipping package of  claim 15  wherein the tray portion is a tray for displaying the plurality of retail packages in a retail environment.  
   
   
       20 . The shipping package of  claim 18  wherein the tray portion includes inserts to maintain the retail packages in near-upright orientation.