US Patent 7360647 Packaging system and method

The present invention is directed to a system for packaging bottles having a neck portion. The system includes a tray unit and a bridge. The tray unit has a planar base, first and second opposite sidewalls, and first and second opposite end walls. The sidewalls and end walls extend outwardly from a periphery of the base and connect thereto to define a rectangular structure for holding a plurality of bottles arranged in a series of rows. The bridge has a central planar portion and a plurality of arcuate recesses extending into a periphery of the central planar portion. Each recess is sized to receive a neck portion of one of the bottles. A method of packaging bottles having neck portions is also disclosed.