US Patent 6905017 Muffin pan and muffin liner holder

A tray and method for packaging muffin pans and liners. The tray surrounds the outer bottom and side surfaces of the packaged muffin pans and muffin liners, protecting the same from damage. The tray includes an engagement portion with a lower surface and a lip, whereby rims defined by the packaged muffin pans are securely held therebetween. An integral hang tab extends outwardly from the packaging tray to enable the tray with packaged muffin pans and liners to be hung from a display rack. The muffin pans are snap-locked into the tray by pressing the rims against the lip, which flexes allowing the muffin pans to pass by and then snaps back to retain the muffin pans and muffin liners within the tray.