PACKAGING SYSTEMS

Packages are configured to hold and display a plurality of packaged goods. The packages includes a package body having an integral hinge formed therein such that a first portion of the package body is configured to fold over a second portion of the package body about the integral hinge. The first portion includes a plurality of first apertures, and the second portion includes a plurality of second apertures. When the first portion is folded over the second portion about the integral hinge, each first aperture is aligned with one of the second apertures. The packages may form part of packaging systems, which may include one or more packaged goods.

The present disclosure provides novel packages and packaging systems configured to securely hold, organize, and display one or more food products or other merchandise, for example packaged food products or other packaged goods. For example, the inventive packages and packaging systems are configured to be efficiently transported, and then set upon a shelf or hung at the retail location, where the packaging systems effectively merchandise packaged goods contained therein. The packages and packaging systems are secure, economical, and can be enhanced with trade dress, enabling further versatility.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides packages configured to hold and display a plurality of packaged goods. The packages includes a package body having an integral hinge formed therein such that a first portion of the package body is configured to fold over a second portion of the package body about the integral hinge. The first portion includes a plurality of first apertures, and the second portion includes a plurality of second apertures. When the first portion is folded over the second portion about the integral hinge, each first aperture is aligned with one of the second apertures.

In some embodiments, the package body is substantially formed of a card stock.

In some embodiments, the package body is provided with one or more types/forms of trade dress. In some embodiments, the package body is provided with trade dress on a first side thereof, the first side spanning the integral hinge, the first portion, and the second portion. In some embodiments, the trade dress is a first trade dress, and the package body is provided with a second trade dress on a second side that is opposite the first side, the second trade dress differing from the first trade dress.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first apertures includes at least two first apertures, and the plurality of second apertures includes at least two second apertures. In some embodiments, a number of the first apertures is the same as a number of second apertures. In some embodiments, a number of the first apertures is different from a number of second apertures.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first apertures includes three first apertures, and the plurality of second apertures includes three second apertures.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first apertures has a linear arrangement.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first apertures forms at least two rows of first apertures.

In some embodiments, each first aperture has a first shape and each second aperture has a second shape that differs from the first shape.

In some embodiments, at least one first aperture has a same shape as each second aperture.

In some embodiments, the package further includes a locking mechanism configured to hold the first portion against the second portion when the first portion is folded over the second portion about the integral hinge.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides packaging systems having a container and a plurality of any of the packages described above.

In some embodiments, the packaging system further includes a plurality of packaged goods, each good being sandwiched between the first portion and the second portion of one of the plurality of the packages such that the second aperture of the one of the plurality of the packages receives the body portion thereof, and such that a label thereof is revealed through one of the first apertures.

In some embodiments, the first portion of the package body has a first hanger hole disposed therethrough, and the second portion has a second hanger hole disposed therethrough. The first hanger hole and the second hanger hole are configured to align when the first portion is folded over the second portion about the integral hinge.

In some embodiments, the package body has a rectangular, circular, triangular, or other polygonal outer shape.

In some embodiments, at least two of the first apertures and/or at least two of the second apertures have a different size and/or a different shape.

In some embodiments, the integral hinge is at least partially formed by a score, a cut, a fold, or a perforation in the package body. In some embodiments, the package does not include an integral hinge. For example, the first portion and the second portion are two separate pieces of material, which may be held together by one or more locking mechanisms.

In some embodiments, at least one second aperture is configured to prevent rotation of one of the plurality of packaged goods therein.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides packages having a package body having an integral hinge indicator formed therein, the integral hinge indicator demarcating a first portion and a second portion of the package body. The first portion includes a plurality of first apertures, and the second portion includes a plurality of second apertures. The package body is configured such that if the first portion is folded over the second portion about the integral hinge indicator, each first aperture aligns with one of the second apertures.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides packaging systems having at least one packaged good and a package body. Each packaged good has a label disposed on a body portion, and a lip extending away from the label. The package body has an integral hinge formed therein such that a first portion of the package body is configured to fold over a second portion of the package body about the integral hinge. The first portion includes a plurality of first apertures, and the second portion includes a plurality of second apertures. The first portion is folded over the second portion about the hinge, such that: the label of at least one packaged good is revealed through one of the first apertures; the body portion of at least one packaged good is disposed through one of the second apertures; and the lip of at least one packaged good is sandwiched between the first portion and the second portion of the package body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a packaging system100according to one non-limiting and representative embodiment of the present disclosure. The packaging system100includes a plurality of packaged goods110and a package120configured to simultaneously hold and display the packaged goods110. The packaging system100includes many features that enable it to securely display the packaged goods110in a space-efficient, visually-appealing arrangement, for example at a retail location (e.g., a grocery store). The packaging system100is also configured to securely hold the packaged goods110during commerce in order to prevent waste and to facilitate merchandising of the packaged goods110.

Packaging systems of the present disclosure have many variations. In some embodiments (for example, as described with respect toFIG. 4), the packaging system100further includes a container (e.g., a box) configured to store one or more of the packages120. In some embodiments, the packaging system100includes one or more packages120and one or more containers, but no packaged goods110. In some embodiments, the package120is configured to hold a different number of packaged goods.

The packaged goods110shown inFIG. 1are representative of those which may be utilized with the package120. Other packaged goods may be utilized however, and the representative packaged good110are not limiting.

Referring briefly toFIG. 2A-FIG. 2C, each packaged good110generally includes a good112(e.g., a cheese or other food product) at least partially disposed in a body portion114(e.g., a wrapper, a cover, or the like). Although the good112is a food product in this embodiment, it may be a non-food product in some embodiments, for example a widget, a cleaning product, or any other relatively small piece. The good112need not be solid; in some embodiments, it may be at least partially a liquid or semi-solid. The body portion114has a label116disposed on one side of the body portion114. As shown inFIG. 2C, a lip118extends away from the body portion114. In some embodiments, the lip118is part of the label116, however in some embodiments the lip118is distinct from the label. In some embodiments, the lip118extends away from the body portion by about 0.25 inch to about 1.0 inch. In the non-limiting embodiment ofFIG. 2C, the lip118extends around the body portion114. In some embodiments, the lip118does not extend all the way around the body portion114.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the package120includes a package body122that is substantially formed from a piece of card stock, cardboard, paper, thin plastic, or similar material. In the non-limiting embodiment ofFIG. 1, the package body122is formed from a card stock and has a rectangular outer shape when laid flat. In some embodiments, the package body122has a different outer shape, e.g., an oval shape, a circle shape, a square shape, a fanciful shape, a shape corresponding to a trademark of the packaged good110, etc. The package body122is generally sized such that when folded about an integral hinge132as described below, the package body122is sized to fit at a retail location, e.g., on a shelf or hanging from a rack. For example, the package body122ofFIG. 1has dimensions of approximately six inches by six inches. However, this example is not intended to limit the present disclosure to package bodies122of a particular size. The package body122is a substantially two-sided object when laid flat, and therefore it has a first side124and an opposite second side126. InFIG. 1, the first side124corresponds to a front side of the package body122, and the second side126corresponds to a back side of the package body122. “Front” and “back” are for reference, as the relative locations of the first side124and the second side126change when the package120is turned over, folded about an integral hinge as described below, etc. In some embodiments, the first side124and/or the second side126are provided with trade dress. In some embodiments, the first side124is provided with a first trade dress128, which can be the same or different from a second trade dress130provided on the second side126(seeFIG. 3), for example so the package120can provide different information about the packaged goods110, or can be reversibly utilized for different packaged goods110.

The package body122of the non-limiting illustrated embodiment has an integral hinge132formed by a score, a cut, a fold, a perforation, or the like. The integral hinge132facilitates folding of the package body122into the first portion134and the second portion136. In the representative embodiment ofFIG. 1, the integral hinge132extends along an entire height of the package body122inFIG. 1; however, in some embodiments, the integral hinge132does not extend along the entire height. In some embodiments, the integral hinge132extends across a width dimension, a diagonal dimension, or another dimension of the package body122. In some embodiments, for example before a first use of the package body122as a package (such as when the package body122is a flat piece of stock), the package body122does not have the integral hinge132formed therein; however, use of the package body122as a package in the shown inFIG. 1would create the integral hinge132. In some embodiments not having the integral hinge132, the package body122has an integral hinge indicator (such as a marking, notch, perforation, score, or similar indicator), that indicates where the package body122is configured to form the integral hinge132. In such embodiments, the integral hinge132is the integral hinge indicator. As described below with respect toFIG. 3AandFIG. 3B, the integral hinge132can be a “left” hinge or a “right” hinge.

The integral hinge132generally divides (demarcates) the package body122into at least two portions, including a first portion134and a second portion136, which are located on opposite sides of the integral hinge132. InFIG. 1, the first portion134is shown to the left of the integral hinge132, whereas the second portion136is shown to the right of the integral hinge132. Of course, “left” and “right” are for reference, as the relative locations of the first portion134and second portion136are reversed when the package120is rotated or turned around. The first portion134of the package body122is configured to fold over the second portion136about the integral hinge132, for example as shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B. The first portion134and the second portion136have a same shape (i.e., same or highly similar) in the non-limiting embodiment ofFIG. 1. In some embodiments, the first portion134has a different shape from the second portion136.

In some embodiments, the package does not include an integral hinge. For example, the first portion and the second portion are two separate pieces of material that are not joined by an integral hinge. Rather, in such embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are held together (or configured to be held together) by one or more locking mechanisms144, as described below and shown in the FIGURES.

To clarify, the first portion134and the second portion136differ from the first side124and the second side126in that the first portion134and the second portion136correspond to opposite sides of the integral hinge132, whereas the first side124and second side126correspond to opposite sides of the package body122. Restated, each of the first side124and the second side126span the first portion134, the integral hinge132, and the second portion136.

As noted above, the integral hinge132can be a “left” hinge or a “right” hinge. Referring toFIG. 3A, the integral hinge132is a “left” hinge, i.e., from the point of view of a person viewing the first portion134when it is folded over the second portion136, the integral hinge132appears to be on the left of the first apertures138. By the same reference, in some embodiments the integral hinge132is a “right” hinge, a “top” hinge, or a “bottom” hinge (which advantageously prevents the packaged goods110from falling out of the package120).

The first portion134of the package body122includes a plurality of first apertures138formed therethrough, and the second portion136of the package body122includes a plurality of second apertures140formed therethrough. Together, first apertures138and second apertures140are configured to display and hold the packaged goods110, respectively. That is, each second aperture140is shaped and sized to receive (and therefore hold) the body portion114of one packaged good110, and each first aperture138is shaped and sized to reveal at least a portion of the label116of that packaged good110when the first portion134is folded over the second portion136about the integral hinge132when the body portion114of that packaged good110is received within the corresponding second aperture140. Restated, each second aperture140is configured such that the body portion114of one packaged good110is disposed therethrough. To enable this function, the first apertures138and second apertures140are positioned such that when the first portion134is folded over the second portion136about the integral hinge132, each first aperture138is at least partially aligned with one of the second apertures140.

Further, the first apertures138and second apertures140are shaped and sized such that the first portion134and second portion136“sandwich” the lip118of that packaged good110therebetween when the first portion134is folded over the second portion136about the integral hinge132when the body portion114of that packaged good110is received within the corresponding second aperture140. Thus, neither the first apertures138or the second apertures140should be so large that the packaged good110falls out of the packaged good110through the first apertures138or the second apertures140.

As noted above, each first aperture138is shaped and sized to reveal at least a portion of the label116of one packaged good110. Accordingly, each first aperture138can have a variety of shapes and sizes. InFIG. 1, each first aperture138is circular. In some embodiments, one or more first apertures138are non-circular, e.g., triangular, rectangular, square, hexagonal, octagonal, a fanciful shape, etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the first apertures138have a different size and/or shape. In some embodiments, one or more of the first apertures138have a different size and/or shape than one or more second aperture140. In some embodiments (as inFIG. 1) one or more first apertures138have a same shape as at least one second aperture140. The number of first apertures138can vary between embodiments. InFIG. 1, the first portion134includes three first apertures138; however, this is representative and non-limiting. In some embodiments, the package body122includes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more first apertures138. The first apertures138ofFIG. 1are arranged in a substantially linear arrangement. In some embodiments, the first apertures138are arranged in a non-linear linear arrangement, or in one or more (e.g., 2, at least 2, 3, 4, or 5) “rows,” “columns,” and/or “groups,” e.g., to improve space efficiency and/or to improve marketing effectiveness. In some embodiments, the number of first apertures138differs from the number of second apertures140, e.g., there may be fewer first apertures138than second apertures140(such that the label116of at least one packaged good110is not revealed). In some embodiments such asFIG. 1, one or more first apertures138has a different shape and/or size than one or more of the second apertures140. The spacing of the first apertures138relative to one or more edges of the package body122can vary between embodiments.

As noted above, each second aperture140is shaped and sized to receive a body portion114of one packaged good110. Accordingly, each second aperture140can have a variety of shapes and sizes. InFIG. 1, each second aperture140is generally rectangular, corresponding to the shape of the body portion114of the packaged goods110. In some embodiments, one or more of the second apertures140has a shape and size configured to receive the body portion114of different types of packaged goods110. For example, inFIG. 1, each rectangular second aperture140can receive rectangular, triangular, circular, or other-shaped body portions114, so long as the dimensions of the body portions114do not exceed the dimensions of the second aperture140. Accordingly, each second aperture140need not have a shape that exactly corresponds to a particular packaged good110. In some embodiments, one or more of the second apertures140is shaped to prevent rotation of the body portion114of the packaged good110, which advantageously contributes to better retail display characteristics. Thus, as shown inFIG. 1, one or more second apertures140has at least one flat side or other anti-rotation feature.

In some embodiments, one or more second apertures140are non-rectangular, e.g., triangular, circular, square, hexagonal, octagonal, a fanciful shape, etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the second apertures140have a different size and/or shape. The number of second apertures140can vary between embodiments. InFIG. 1, the second portion136includes three second apertures140; however, this is representative and non-limiting. In some embodiments, the package body122includes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more second apertures140. The second apertures140ofFIG. 1are arranged in a substantially linear orientation. In some embodiments, the second apertures140are arranged in a non-linear orientation, or in one or more “columns” or “groups,” e.g., to improve space efficiency and/or to improve marketing effectiveness. In some embodiments, the number of second apertures140differs from the number of first apertures138, e.g., there may be fewer second apertures140than first apertures138(such as to reveal information other than a label116of a packaged good110). The spacing of the second apertures140relative to one or more edges of the package body122can vary between embodiments.

The package120includes a number of optional features that facilitate display, prevent the packaged goods110from falling out of the package120, prevent tampering, and/or for other advantage. For example, referring again toFIG. 1, the first portion134and/or the second portion136have an optional hanger hole142. In embodiments where both the first portion134and the second portion136have a hanger hole142, those hanger holes142may be positioned such that they are aligned when the first portion134is folded over the second portion136about the integral hinge132. As another example, the package120includes a locking mechanism144configured to hold the first portion134against the second portion136such that the packaged goods110are sandwiched therebetween. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism144is an adhesive member such as a decal, a piece of tape, or similar joining element. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism144is a snap, a button, a latch, or similar closure. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism144is formed integrally with the first portion134and/or the second portion136; for example, integrally-formed tabs and flaps.

FIG. 3AandFIG. 3Bshow the packaging system100ofFIG. 1, with the plurality of packaged goods110sandwiched in between the first portion134and the second portion136. As shown, each first aperture138reveals the label116of one packaged good110, while each second aperture140receives the body portion114of one packaged good110. The lip118(not shown) of each packaged good110is sandwiched between the first portion134and the second portion136, and the locking mechanism144secures the first portion134to the second portion136, thereby preventing any of the packaged goods110from falling out.

FIG. 4shows another representative embodiment of a packaging system400in accordance with the present disclosure, including a plurality of the packaging systems100ofFIG. 1contained within a container430, e.g., a box. In some embodiments, the container430is configured to protect the packaging systems100during commerce (e.g., shipment) and/or to display the packaging systems100at the retail location. As such, in some embodiments, the packaging system400includes one or more internal supports configured to support the packaging systems100in an upright position for effective merchandising on a shelf. In some embodiments, the packaging system400includes the container430and a plurality of the packages120ofFIG. 1disposed in the container430.

FIGS. 5-220show additional representative embodiments of packaging systems and packages, in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown, the inventive packages and packaging systems have many configurations and variations, including features that exemplify variations described with respect toFIGS. 1-4. Features of the embodiments ofFIGS. 5-220may be combined with any other embodiments.

Advantageously, packaging systems of the present disclosure provide a space-efficient means to securely store, transport, and effectively display packaged goods.

The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, are intended as a description of various embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Similarly, any steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or combinations of steps, in order to achieve the same or substantially similar result. Generally, the embodiments disclosed herein are non-limiting, and the inventors contemplate that other embodiments within the scope of this disclosure include combinations of structures and functionalities from more than one specific embodiment shown in the figures and described in the specification. Restated, the features of the embodiments described herein can be mixed and combined in additional embodiments within the scope of this disclosure.

The present application may include references to directions, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “top,” and “bottom,” etc. These references, and other similar references in the present application, are intended to assist in helping describe and understand the particular embodiment (such as when the embodiment is positioned for use) and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these directions or locations.