Self supporting paperboard packaging and methods of making the same

Abstract

A packaging comprises a tray and a tray cover. The tray is formed to define a pocket configured to receive one or more products therein. The tray cover is coupled to the tray over the one or more products in the pocket to close an opening to the pocket. Methods of making the same are further provided.

1 . A package comprising:
 a tray including a base and a planar lip that extends from and around an edge of the base, the base defining a pocket configured to receive one or more products, and   a tray cover that couples to the planar lip of the tray over at least a portion of the one or more products in the pocket to close an opening to the pocket,   wherein the base and the lip of the tray cooperate to provide support means for supporting the package on a planar surface in an upright orientation in which the tray cover extends substantially perpendicular to the planar surface so that the package is free-standing in the upright orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is a formed paperboard tray formed from a paperboard blank having one or more creases configured to aid in forming the paperboard blank into the formed paperboard tray without tearing or destroying the paperboard blank when pressed in a press. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the tray includes a bottom wall, a top wall spaced apart from the bottom wall, and interconnecting side walls that extend between and interconnect the bottom wall and the top wall, wherein the bottom wall, the top wall, and the interconnecting side walls cooperate to define the pocket, and wherein the bottom wall of the base and the planar lip cooperate to provide the support means. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom wall extends at an angle relative to the planar surface. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the base of the tray is formed to include one or more windows for viewing one or more products contained therein. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more windows in the base of the tray is formed in one of the top surface and one of the interconnecting side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein one of the base and the tray cover includes a printed label attributed to the one or more products in the pocket of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tray cover is formed to include at least one window for viewing one or more products contained therein. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the one or more products extend out through the at least one window such that the portion of the one or more products extends past the planar lip of the tray. 
     
     
         10 . A paperboard package comprising:
 a formed paperboard tray including a base and a planar lip that extends from the base, the base defining a pocket configured to receive one or more products, and   wherein the base and the lip of the tray cooperate to provide support means for supporting the package on a planar surface in an upright orientation in which the planar lip extends substantially perpendicular to the planar surface so that the package is free-standing in the upright orientation.   
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10 , further comprising a tray cover that couples to the planar lip of the formed paperboard tray over at least a portion of the one or more products in the pocket to close an opening to the pocket. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein one of the base and the tray cover includes a printed label attributed to the one or more products in the pocket of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the tray cover is formed to include one or more windows for viewing one or more products contained therein. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the formed paperboard tray is formed from a paperboard blank having one or more creases configured to aid in forming the paperboard blank into the formed paperboard tray when pressed in a press. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the base of the tray includes a bottom wall, a top wall spaced apart from the bottom wall, and interconnecting side walls that extend between and interconnect the bottom wall and the top wall, wherein the bottom wall, the top wall, and the interconnecting side walls cooperate to define the pocket, and wherein the bottom wall of the base and the lip cooperate to provide the support means. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom wall extends at an angle relative to the planar surface. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the base of the tray is formed to include one or more windows for viewing one or more products contained therein. 
     
     
         18 . A package comprising:
 a formed paperboard tray including at least one base and a planar lip that extends from the at least one base and defines an outer boundary of the at least one base, the at least one base defining a first pocket configured to receive one or more products, and   a tray cover that couples to the planar lip of the tray over at least a portion of the one or more products in the first pocket,   wherein the at least one base and the lip of the tray cooperate to provide support means for supporting the package on a planar surface in an upright orientation in which the tray cover extends substantially perpendicular to the planar surface so that the package is free-standing in the upright orientation.   
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein the formed paperboard tray includes a first base and a second base spaced apart from the first base, the first base forming the first pocket and the second base forming a second pocket, and wherein the planar lip extends between and interconnects the first base and the second base. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein each of the first base and the second base of the tray includes a bottom wall, a top wall spaced apart from the bottom wall, and interconnecting side walls that extend between and interconnect the bottom wall and the top wall, wherein the bottom wall, the top wall, and the interconnecting side walls cooperate to define the respective pocket, and wherein the bottom wall of the first and second bases and the lip cooperate to provide the support means.