Product Container Including Surface with Bumps

Abstract

A product container ( 10 ) includes a tray. The tray ( 20 ) includes a bottom surface ( 22 ) and at least one side wall ( 24 ) extending from the bottom surface. A plurality of bumps ( 26 ) is disposed along the bottom surface.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A product container for holding a plurality of product pieces comprising:
 a tray comprising:   a bottom surface;   at least one side wall extending from the bottom surface; and   a plurality of bumps disposed along the bottom surface, the bumps oriented and shaped to encourage the plurality of product pieces to lay flat on the bottom surface and a single product piece within an interstitial space between the bumps.   
     
     
         27 . The product container of  claim 26  further comprising a lid. 
     
     
         28 . The product container of  claim 27  wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the tray. 
     
     
         29 . The product container of  claim 27  wherein the lid is slidingly connected to the tray. 
     
     
         30 . The product container of  claim 26  wherein the bumps are semi-spherical in shape. 
     
     
         31 . The product container of  claim 26  wherein the bumps are conical in shape. 
     
     
         32 . The product container of  claim 26  wherein the bumps are pyramidal in shape. 
     
     
         33 . The product container of  claim 26  wherein the bumps are disposed at regular intervals in a pattern of rows and columns. 
     
     
         34 . The product container of  claim 26  further comprising a plurality of product pieces contained within the product container. 
     
     
         35 . The product container of  claim 34  wherein the product pieces have at least one substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         36 . The product container of  claim 34  wherein the product pieces have at least one slightly curved surface. 
     
     
         37 . The product container of  claim 26  wherein the interstitial space is defined by four adjacent bumps. 
     
     
         38 . The product container of  claim 37  wherein the product pieces are shaped so as to be able to simultaneously contact exactly three of the four bumps defining the interstitial space. 
     
     
         39 . A method of loading product pieces into a product container, comprising:
 providing a tray comprising:   a bottom surface;   at least one side wall extending from the bottom surface;   and a plurality of bumps disposed along the bottom surface, the bumps oriented and shaped to encourage the plurality of product pieces to lay flat on the bottom surface and a single product piece within an interstitial space between the bumps;   
       providing a lid; 
       providing a plurality of product pieces; 
       disposing the plurality of product pieces into the tray; 
       vibrating the tray to position the product pieces onto the bottom surface; and attaching the lid to the tray. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the interstitial spaces are defined by four adjacent bumps. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the product pieces are shaped so as to be able to simultaneously contact exactly three of the four bumps defining the interstitial space and the bottom surface of the tray. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the at least one side wall includes a height and wherein the product pieces include a longest dimension, wherein the height is not greater than about the longest dimension of the product pieces. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the at least one side wall includes a height and wherein the product pieces include a thickness, wherein the height is between about 1 mm and about 4 mm greater than about the thickness of the product pieces.