Patent Publication Number: US-9428298-B2

Title: Dividerless palletized packaging system with interlocking tray and corner posts

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This patent relates to a tray and post type packaging system for shipping and displaying palletized products. More particularly, this patent relates to a dividerless tray and post type packaging system in which the construction of the trays and corner posts provides extra strength and stability. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Palletized packaging systems suitable for both shipping products and displaying them at retail are well known. For example, Sonoco Products Company of Hartsville, S.C. makes a tray and post type packaging system that is described in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,342, incorporated herein by reference. The products in their primary packages (what the consumer actually buys) are arranged on the trays. The entire unit is self-supporting and may be displayed in the store aisle. 
     There are two general types of palletized packaging systems: those in which the trays are supported by the products themselves, and those in which the trays are supported wholly or partly by structural components, such as corner posts, partitions and dividers. The use of partitions or dividers between each tray can improve stacking strength, but can make it difficult for consumers to view the products. 
     The objective of the present invention is to provide a tray and post type packaging system for the shipping and display of products that has increased strength and stability without the use of partitions or dividers. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a tray and post type packaging system that eliminates the need for outer shroud panels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a tray-and-post type packaging system for shipping and displaying products. The packaging system includes an interlocking tray-and-post construction that provides extra strength and stability and eliminates the need for outer shroud panels. The trays and posts may be shipped flat to minimize shipping space and assembled on-site. The system is strong enough to be used without dividers supporting the trays, which can obscure the products displayed thereon. 
     In one aspect of the invention a unitary folded blank for making a corner post is provided. The folded blank comprises two halves foldably connected to each other. An outer half comprises two substantially L-shaped outer panels foldably connected along an outer edge fold line. Each L-shaped outer panel comprises an outer leg member adjacent the outer edge fold line and an outer foot member extending outwardly from the outer leg member away from the outer edge fold line and terminating at a free distal edge. An outer reinforcing panel having an outer angled free edge extends between the outer leg member and the outer foot member. The outer leg member, outer foot member and outer reinforcing panel form one contiguous, unitary structure lacking any fold or score lines. 
     The inner half comprises two substantially L-shaped inner panels foldably connected along an inner edge fold line. The inner edge fold line is co-linear with the outer edge fold line. Each L-shaped inner panel comprises an inner side panel adjacent the inner edge fold line, a narrow leg member hingedly attached to the inner side panel along a vertical fold line and an inner foot member extending outwardly from the narrow leg member and terminating at a free distal edge. An inner reinforcing panel having an inner angled free edge extends between the narrow leg member and the inner foot member. The narrow leg member, inner reinforcing panel and inner foot member form one contiguous substantially L-shaped structure lacking any fold or score lines. 
     The inner half may further comprise a flap cut out of each inner foot member and hingedly attached to the outer foot member along the bottom fold line. The inner half may further comprise locator tabs extending from a top edge and cut outs adjacent the bottom fold line and vertically aligned with locator tabs. The locator tabs and cut outs may straddle the vertical fold line. 
     In another aspect of the invention a corner post made from a folded blank is provided. The folded blank has an outer half and an inner half connected by a bottom fold line. The corner post comprises a four-sided, substantially rectilinear tubular portion and foot members extending laterally outward from the tubular portion. The tubular portion comprises two inner side panels formed from the inner half of the blank and hingedly connected along an inner edge fold line and two outer leg members formed from the outer half of the blank and hingedly connected along an outer edge fold line. A reinforcing panel having an angled free edge may extend between the leg member and the foot member on either side of the tubular portion. The corner post may further comprise flaps cut out of each inner half and hingedly attached to a foot member along the bottom fold line. The corner post may also comprise a top edge opposite and parallel to the bottom fold line, locator tabs extending from the top edge, and cut outs adjacent the bottom fold line, wherein the cut outs  88  are vertically aligned with locator tabs. 
     In still another aspect of the invention a packaging system for shipping and displaying products is provided. The packaging system comprises one or more levels, each level comprising a tray and corner posts. The tray is made from a first folded blank and has a bottom panel for supporting the products and having a perimeter, and two opposing side walls and two opposing end walls extending upward from the perimeter. 
     The corner post is made from a second folded blank. The second folded blank has an outer half and an inner half foldably connected along a bottom fold line. The corner post comprises a four-sided, substantially rectilinear tubular portion comprising two inner side panels formed from the inner half and hingedly connected along an inner edge fold line and two leg members formed from the outer half and hingedly connected along an outer edge fold line. A foot member extends laterally outward from each leg member and forms a corner with its respective leg member. A reinforcing panel may be disposed at the corner. The reinforcing panel may have an angled free edge extending between the leg member and the foot member. One foot member is at least partially encapsulated within a side wall and the other foot member is at least partially encapsulated within an end wall. 
     Each side wall may comprise an outer panel foldably connected to the bottom panel along a side fold line co-linear with the perimeter, an inner panel foldably connected to the outer panel along double fold lines parallel to the side fold line, a lip foldably connected to the inner panel along a lip fold line parallel to the side fold line, and an angled panel foldably connected to the outer panel along angled double fold lines. The angled double fold lines form a non-right angle with the double fold lines. Each angled panel at least partially encapsulates a reinforcing panel of a corner post. 
     At least one of the inner side panels may define a vertical slot, and the angled panel may have a tab that extends into the vertical slot. 
     The inner half of each corner post blank may further comprise a flap hingedly attached to the foot member along the bottom fold line, the flap defining a flap slot adjacent the bottom fold line so that a tab extending downward from the inner panel may be inserted into the flap slot. The side wall lip may abut an edge of the flap. 
     The system is strong enough not only to support the weight of the products on the trays and withstand the vibration and impact forces that can occur during shipping, but to withstand the weight of one or more units stacked on top. The system is particularly suited for shipping and displaying irregularly shaped items and items that cannot withstand vertical stacking forces, such as soft-packaged goods, since the system can bear the entire stacking load. 
    
    
     
       THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tray-and-post type packaging system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the packaging system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a blank used to form a tray of the packaging system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a blank used to form a corner post of the packaging system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a partially assembled corner post. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a partially assembled corner post. 
         FIG. 7  is a close up perspective view of a fully assembled corner post. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of four corner posts being placed onto a tray blank. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of four corner posts positioned on a tray blank. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of four corner posts being secured to a tray by the tray side walls and end walls. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of four corner posts being further secured to a tray by the tray side walls and end walls. 
         FIG. 12  is a close up perspective view of a corner post shown fully secured to a tray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While this invention may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments with the understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments. 
     The invention is a tray-and-post type packaging system for shipping and displaying products. The packaging system includes an interlocking tray-and-post construction that provides extra strength and stability and eliminates the need for outer shroud panels. The trays and posts may be shipped flat to minimize shipping space and assembled on-site. The system is strong enough to be used without dividers supporting the trays, which can obscure the products displayed thereon. 
     The Packaging System 
     Turning to the drawings, there is shown in  FIG. 1  one embodiment of the present invention, a packaging system  10  for shipping and displaying products. The packaging system  10  comprises a plurality of trays  12  for holding products in their primary packaging, corner posts  14  that separate and support the trays  12  and a top cap  15 . The corner posts  14  space the trays  12  apart and provide a platform on which each tray  12  can rest. The height of the corner posts  14  is determined by the height of the products in their primary packaging or, more particularly, the desired height between trays  12 . The packaging system  10  may be wrapped in an outer wrap (not shown) to protect the products from dust and damage during shipment, and carried on a standard pallet (not shown). 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the packaging system  10  of  FIG. 1 . Brace members  16  may be added to the packaging system  10  to add further support to the trays  12 . Each tray  12  comprises a bottom panel  18  for supporting the products and two opposing side walls  22  and two opposing end walls  24  extending upwardly from the bottom panel  18 . The side walls  22  and the end walls  24  capture portions of the corner posts  14  to help lock the packaging system  10  together as described in detail below. 
     Tray Blank 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a blank  20  used to form a tray  12  of the packaging system  10  of  FIG. 1 . The blank  20  may be made from any suitable material, but corrugated board is preferred for its combination of strength, light weight and recyclability. The blank  20  is shown cut and scored from a single piece of material to the desired shape, and comprises a rectangular bottom panel  18 , two opposing side wall assemblies  26  and two opposing end wall assemblies  28 . The perimeter of the rectangular bottom panel  18  is defined by parallel, opposing side fold lines  30  and parallel, opposing end fold lines  32 . A slot  34  is disposed in the bottom panel  18  adjacent each side fold line  30  near each corner. Likewise, a slot  36  is disposed in the bottom panel  18  adjacent each end fold line  32  near each corner. 
     Each side wall assembly  26  extends outward from a side fold line  30  and comprises an outer panel  38 , an inner panel  40 , a lip  42  and two angled panels  44 . The outer panel  38  is foldably connected to the tray bottom panel  18  along the side fold line  30 . The inner panel  40  is foldably connected to the outer panel  38  along double fold lines  46 . The lip  42  is foldably connected to the inner panel  40  along a lip fold line  48 . The angled panels  44  are foldably connected to the outer panel  38  along angled double fold lines  50 . With the exception of the angled fold lines  50 , the fold lines  30 ,  46 ,  48  are all parallel to each other. Each angled panel  44  has a tab  52  extending outwardly from the rest of the angled panel  44  and configured to fit into a vertical slot  122  in one of the corner posts  14 . Each inner panel  40  has a pair of tabs  54  extending outwardly (away from the bottom panel  18 ) and configured to fit into a flap slot  120 . The outer panel  38  is substantially contiguous with the bottom panel  18  along the entire length of the side fold line  30 . The inner panel  40  is shorter, being contiguous with the outer panel  38  along the entire length of the double fold lines  46 . The angled double fold lines  50  extend outwardly at an angle from either end of the double fold lines  46 . 
     Likewise, the two opposing end wall assemblies  28  extend outward from the end fold lines  32 . Each end wall assembly  28  comprises an outer panel  58 , an inner panel  60 , a lip  62  and two angled panels  64 . The outer panel  58  is foldably connected to the tray bottom panel  18  along the side fold line  32 . The inner panel  60  is foldably connected to the outer panel  58  along double fold lines  66 . The lip  62  is foldably connected to the inner panel  60  along a fold line  68 . The angled panels  64  are foldably connected to the outer panel  58  along angled double fold lines  70 . The angled double fold lines  70  form a non-right angle with the double fold lines  66  and with the end fold line  32 . Each angled panel  64  has a tab  72  that fits into a vertical slot  122  in one of the corner posts  14 . Each inner panel  60  has a pair of tabs  74  extending outwardly (away from the bottom panel  18 ) and configured to fit into a flap slot  120 . The outer panel  58  is substantially contiguous with the bottom panel  18  along the entire length of the end fold line  32 . The inner panel  60  is shorter, being contiguous with the outer panel  58  along the entire length of the double fold lines  66 . The angled double fold lines  70  extend outwardly at an angle from either end of the double fold lines  66 . 
     Corner Post Blank 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a blank  80  used to form a corner post  14  of the packaging system  10  of  FIG. 1 . The blank  80  may be made from any suitable material, but corrugated board is preferred for its combination of strength, light weight and recyclability. The blank  80  is shown cut and scored from a single piece of material to the desired shape. The blank  80  comprises an outer half  82  and an inner half  84  foldably connected along a bottom fold line  83 . The outer half  83  is bisected by an outer edge fold line  85  and the inner half is bisected by an inner edge fold line  87  co-linear with the outer edge fold line  85 . Together, the outer edge fold line  85  and the inner edge fold line  87  form a single vertical fold line that is perpendicular to the bottom fold line  83 . 
     The outer half  82  is so-called because it forms the outer portion of the corner post  14 , i.e., the two orthogonal sides of the corner post  14  that face away from the products. The outer half  82  comprises two substantially L-shaped outer panels  86  foldably connected along the outer edge fold line  85 . Each L-shaped outer panel  86  may be a mirror image of the other, and comprises a leg member  90 , a foot member  92  and a reinforcing panel  94 . The leg member  90 , foot member  92  and reinforcing panel  94  will now be described separately, although they form one unitary, contiguous, substantially L-shaped outer panel  86  lacking any fold or score lines. 
     The two leg members  90  are foldably connected to each other along the outer edge fold line  85 . Each leg member  90  extends vertically from the bottom fold line  83  to a top edge  96  and outwardly—away from the outer edge fold line  85 —to a free edge  91 . Preferably the free edge  91  forms a non-right angle with the outer edge fold line  85  so that the leg member  90  is wider near the top edge  96 . Locator tabs  104  extend upward from the top edge  96 . 
     Each foot member  92  extends outwardly from a leg member  90  and terminates at a free distal edge  98  located opposite (away from) the outer edge fold line  85 . Each foot member  92  extends vertically from the bottom fold line  83  to a top edge  100 . 
     Each reinforcing panel  94  is substantially triangular and may be thought of as being located at the inner corner where the leg member  90  and the foot member  92  meet. Each reinforcing panel  94  has an angled free edge  102  that extends between the leg member free edge  91  and the foot member top edge  100 . The angled free edge  102  of the reinforcing panel  94  defines a non-right angle with the top edge  100  of the foot member  92 . The reinforcing panels  94  create a stiffer corner post  14  and thus a stronger packaging system  10 . 
     The inner half  84  is so-called because it forms the inner part of the corner post  14 , i.e., the part of the corner post  14  that face toward the products. In similar fashion to the outer half  82 , the inner half  84  comprises first and second substantially L-shaped inner panels  106  foldably connected along inner edge fold line  87 . Each L-shaped inner panel  106  may be a mirror image of the other, and comprises, from the inner edge fold line  87  outward: an inner side panel  108 , a (narrow) leg member  110 , a reinforcing panel  94  and a foot member  92 . As with the outer half  82 , the leg member  110 , reinforcing panel  94  and foot member  92  form one contiguous L-shaped structure lacking any fold or score lines. 
     The inner side panel  108  is separated from the rest of the L-shaped inner panel  106  by a fold line  118 . The inner side panel  108  extends vertically from the bottom fold line  83  to a top edge  104  and outwardly (horizontally) from the inner edge fold line  87  to a vertical fold line  112 . A vertical slot  122  disposed in each inner side panel  108  adjacent the vertical fold line  112  accommodates a tab  52  extending from an angled panel  44  of the tray  12 . 
     Each leg member  110  is foldably connected to an inner side panel  108  along a vertical fold line  112 . Each leg member  110  extends from the bottom fold line  83  to the top edge  96  and from the vertical fold line  112  to a free edge  91 . Preferably the free edge  91  forms a non-right angle with the inner edge fold line  87  so that the leg member  110  is wider near the top edge  96 . Locator tabs  104  extend beyond the top edge  96 . 
     Each foot member  92  extends outwardly from a leg member  110  and terminates at a free distal edge  98  substantially opposite the outer edge fold line  85 . Each foot member  92  also has a free top edge  100  opposite and substantially parallel to the bottom fold line  83 . 
     As with the outer half  82 , each reinforcing panel  94  is substantially triangular and may be thought of as being located at the inner corner where the leg member  110  and the foot member  92  meet. Each reinforcing panel  94  has an angled free edge  102  that extends between the leg member free edge  91  and the foot member top edge  100 . The angled free edge  102  of the reinforcing panel  94  defines a non-right angle with the top edge  100  of the foot member  92 . 
     The inner half  84  further comprises flaps  114  cut out of the foot members  92 . Each flap  114  is hingedly attached to the outer half foot member  92  along the bottom fold line  83  and has a perimeter defined by an inner angled edge  115 , an outer angled edge  116  and a horizontal cutline  118 . Each flap  114  defines a flap slot  120  adjacent the bottom fold line  83  and located to accommodate the tabs  54 ,  74  that extend downward from the inner panels  40 ,  60  of the tray side walls  22  and end walls  24  as explained further below. 
     The top edge  96  of the inner member  84 —which appears at the bottom of  FIG. 4 —may include a notch  126  to accommodate a brace member  16 . Cut outs  88  in the corner post blank  80  straddling the bottom edge fold line  83  just outside of the vertical fold lines  112  define notches  88  in the folded corner post  14 . These notches  88  are vertically aligned with the locator tabs  104  so that they can receive the locator tabs  104  of a corner post  14  located on the tray  12  below. 
     Corner Post Assembly 
     To assemble a corner post  14  from the corner post blank  80  of  FIG. 4 , the corner post blank  80  may be folded along the bottom fold line  83  as shown in  FIG. 5  until the inner half  84  lies flat against the outer half  82 . The halves  82 ,  84  may be glued or otherwise affixed together. More specifically, the narrow leg members  110  and the foot members  92  of the inner half  84  may be adhered to the outer half  82 , leaving the inner side panels  108  free to separate from the outer half  82  as explained below with regard to  FIG. 7 . The reinforcement panels  94  of the inner half  84  provide additional surface area that may be adhered to the outer half  82 . 
     The flaps  114  may be back-folded—away from the outer panel  90 —until they are substantially orthogonal to the rest of the folded blank  80  or until they are planar with the rest of the folded blank  80  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a corner post blank  80  after the inner half  84  and outer half  82  have been folded together and the flaps  114  back-folded so they are planar with the rest of the folded blank  80 . A portion of each foot member  92  extends horizontally outward, beyond each flap  114 . 
     Next, the partially assembled corner post  14  of  FIG. 6  is folded along outer edge fold line  85  by bringing the two foot members  92  toward each other until they are orthogonal. As the two foot members  92  are brought toward each other, the two inner side panels  108  are popped out (folded inward) until each is orthogonal with its corresponding foot member  92  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The assembled corner post  14  shown in  FIG. 7  includes foot members  92  and reinforcing panels  94  which extend outwardly from the leg members  90 . The assembled corner post  14  includes a substantially rectilinear, tubular portion  124  having two outer sides and two inner sides  108 . The two outer sides are formed by portions of the leg members  90  of the outer half  82  of the corner post blank  80  and are hingedly joined along the outer edge fold line or simply the “outer corner”  85 . The two inner sides are formed by the inner side panels  108  of the inner half  84  of the corner post blank  80  and are hingedly joined along inner edge fold line or simply the “inner corner”  87 . The tubular portion  124  includes a notch  126  for accommodating a brace member  16  for supporting the underside of a tray  12  located above the corner post  14 . The notch  126  straddles the inner corner  87  of the corner post  14  and communicates with the top edge  96 . The width of the notch  126  should be sized to securely hold a brace member  16 . 
     The corner post  14  has a top edge  96  that abuts a tray  12  or top cap  15  resting on top and a bottom edge  83  that rests on a tray  12  below in the assembled packaging system  10 . 
     Packaging System Assembly 
     Each level of the packaging system  10  of  FIG. 1  may be fabricated as follows. After assembling four corner posts  14  as described above, the corner posts  14  are placed onto the four corners of a flat tray blank  20  as shown in  FIG. 8  with the bottom edge  83  of each corner post  14  resting on the bottom panel  18  and the corner post foot members  92  aligned just inside the perimeter edges  30 ,  32  of the bottom panel  18 . The corner post locator tabs  104  will be pointing up and the foot members  92  will be extending outwardly from the tubular portion  124  of the corner post  14  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Next the corner posts  14  are locked onto the tray  12 , preferably using a three step process: 
     First, the side wall assemblies  26  and the end wall assemblies  28  are rotated along fold lines  30 ,  32  until they are in a vertical upright position, i.e., until they are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel  18 . In  FIG. 10  the far side wall assembly  26  and the far end wall assembly  28  are shown in the vertical, upright position. (The near side wall  22  and near end wall  24  have already been formed according to step 3 below.) 
     Second, the eight angled panels  44 ,  64  are folded over along double angled fold lines  50  as shown by the arrows ( 2 ) in  FIG. 10  until they overlap the corner posts  14  and, in particular, the reinforcing panels  94  of the corner posts  14 . As the angled panels  44  are folded over, their tabs  52  fit into the vertical slots  122  located in the corner post  14 . Likewise, the end wall angled panels  64  are folded independently along double angled fold lines  70  until they overlap the corner posts  14  and, in particular, the reinforcing panels  94  of the corner posts  14 . As the angled panels  64  are folded over, their tabs  72  fit into the vertical slots  122  located in the corner post  14 . 
     Third, the tray side walls  22  and end walls  24  are formed by folding the side wall and end wall assemblies  26 ,  28  as shown by the arrows ( 3 ) in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In  FIG. 10  one side wall  22  and one end wall  24  have been formed, while in  FIG. 11  both side walls  22  and both end walls  24  are formed. The side walls  22  are formed by first folding each side wall assembly  26  inwardly along the first side fold line  30  until they are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel  18 . The lip  42  is back-folded (away from the bottom panel  18 ) along the third side fold line  48  until the lip  42  is at a right angle to the inner panel  40 . The inner panels  40  are folded inwardly along the double side fold lines  46  until the inner panels  40  are in facing, abutting relationship with the outer panels  38  and the lips  42  are in facing, abutting relationship with the tray bottom panel  18  and the tabs  54  are inserted into the flap slots  120  in the corner post flaps  114 . 
     The end walls  24  are assembled in a similar manner by first folding each end wall assembly  28  inwardly along the first end fold line  32  until they are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel  18 . Then the end panel lips  62  are folded backward (away from the bottom panel  18 ) along the third end fold lines  68  until they are horizontal (at right angles to the end wall outer panels  58 ). The inner panels  60  are folded inwardly along the double end fold lines  66  until the inner panels  60  are in facing, abutting relationship with the outer panels  58  and the end wall lips  62  are in facing, abutting relationship with the tray bottom panel  18  and the tabs  74  are inserted into the flap slots  120  in the corner post flaps  114 . The side wall lips  42  and end wall lips  62  may be glued or otherwise affixed to the tray bottom panel  18 . 
       FIG. 12  is a close up perspective view of a corner post  14  shown attached to a tray  12 . The corner post foot members  92  are now captured (partially encapsulated) by the tray side walls  22  and end walls  24 . The tray lips  42 ,  62  function as a stopper by abutting the outer edges  116  of the corner post flaps  114 . The lips  42 ,  62  may be angled to mate with the outer edges of the corner post flaps  114 . When the user folds in each side wall assembly  26  and end wall assembly  28  as described above, the inner edges  43 ,  63  of each lip  42 ,  62  may contact and wedge against the outer edges  116  of the flaps  114  of the corner post  14 . The flaps  114  help keep the side wall and end wall lips  42 ,  62  in their horizontal position by contacting the inner edges  43 ,  63  of the lips  42 ,  62 . 
     When a second tray and corner post assembly is placed on top of the first assembly, the upwardly extending locator tabs  104  will fit through corresponding slots  34 ,  36  located in the second (upper) tray  12  and into the bottom notches  88  of the corner post  14  above to help hold the two trays  12  in vertical alignment. Additional tray and post layers may be placed on top until the assembled unit has the desired numbers of layers. A top cap  15  may be placed over the top level of corner posts  14  so that its side walls and end walls extend downward to help secure the top cap  15  to the upwardly extending corner posts  14  by fitting the corner posts snugly within the top cap side walls and end walls. The locator tabs  104  of the topmost corner posts  14  may extend through corner slots in the top cap  15  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Finally, the entire assembly  10  may be wrapped in transparent plastic film to protect the products from dust and damage during shipment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the corner posts  14  and trays  14  may be locked together in a number ways: 
     (1) The tray side walls  22  and end walls  24  capture (partially enclose) the corner post foot members  92 . 
     (2) The tray lips  42 ,  64  abut the outer edges  116  of the corner post flaps  114 . 
     (3) Tabs  54 ,  74  extend downward from the tray side walls  22  and end walls  24  and fit into flap slots  120  in the corner post flaps  114 . 
     (4) The tray angled panels  44 ,  64  capture (partially enclose) the corner post reinforcing panels  94 . 
     (5) Tabs  52 ,  72  extending from the angled panels  44 ,  64  of the tray  14  fit into vertical slots  122  in the corner posts  14 . 
     (6) Locator tabs  104  extending upward from the corner posts  14  located below the tray  12  fit through slots  34 ,  36  in each tray  12  and into notches  88  in each corner post. 
     Braces 
     While the packaging system  10  just described is suitable for many applications, in other applications it is desirable to reinforce the trays  12  with horizontal braces  16  as shown in  FIG. 2  herein and as disclosed in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/350,913, incorporated herein by reference. 
     Thus there has been described a packaging system for shipping and displaying products. The system enhances product visibility and reduces packaging waste and material costs by eliminating the need for partitions or dividers. The system is strong enough not only to support the weight of the products on the trays and withstand the vibration and impact forces that can occur during shipping, but also to withstand the weight of one or more units stacked on top. The system is particularly suited for shipping and displaying irregularly shaped items or items that cannot withstand vertical stacking forces, such as soft-packaged products, since the system can bear the entire stacking load. 
     It is understood that the embodiments of the invention described above are only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the invention. Modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope.