Product Package, Product Packaging and Method for Maximizing Retail Merchandizing Space

1 . A product tray for retail display in a display case, the display case having an internal width dimension, said tray comprising:

a compartment for containing a product;

a flange;

an exterior width dimension that is larger than an internal width dimension of a display case into which the tray is placed for retail display; and

at least one hinge on the flange adapted to allow the flange to flex to therefore allow the tray to be placed into the display case in the flexed orientation.

2 . The product tray of claim 1 wherein tray is composed of a semi-rigid material.

3 . The product tray of claim 1 wherein the flange is planar.

4 . The product tray of claim 1 wherein the flange extends around a periphery of the compartment.

5 . The product tray of claim 1 wherein the hinge is proximate to the compartment.

6 . The product tray of claim 1 wherein the hinge includes a score line.

7 . The product tray of claim 1 wherein the at least one hinge is two hinges.

8 . A product packaging for retail display, said packaging comprising:

a retail display case having an internal width dimension; and

a product package having an exterior width dimension that is larger than the internal width dimension of the display case, the package including a tray for containing a product, the tray having a periphery and having a flange positioned on the periphery;

wherein the hinge enables the package to bend to thereby decrease its width dimension so as to fit within the display case in the bent orientation.

9 . The product packaging of claim 8 wherein the display case is a display ready case.

10 . The product packaging of claim 8 wherein the tray is composed of a semi-rigid material.

11 . The product packaging of claim 8 wherein the flange is planar.

12 . The product packaging of claim 8 wherein the package further includes a top cover sealed to the flange and composed of a flexible film.

13 . The product packaging of claim 8 wherein the flange extends around the periphery of the tray.

14 . The product packaging of claim 8 wherein the hinge includes a score line.

15 . The product packaging of claim 12 wherein when the package is bent, the integrity of the top cover being sealed to the flange is maintained.

16 . The product packaging of claim 8 and further including a second hinge.

17 . A method for maximizing retail merchandizing space for merchandizing products, said method including the steps of:

sourcing products in packages, the packages having an exterior width dimension, having a flange and having a hinge on the flange; and

displaying the packages in a display case having an internal width dimension that is smaller than the exterior width dimension of the packages by bending the flange at the hinge to reduce the width of the packages to thereby fit the packages within the interior of the display case.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the hinge includes a score line.

19 . The method of claim 17 wherein the packages further includes a tray and a top cover.

20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the tray is semi-rigid.