Tamper resistant package

Abstract

A tamper resistant package comprises a packaging enclosure in the form of an open-ended sleeve or carton with a plurality of product packs inside the enclosure engaging the interior surface thereof. Each of the product packs includes outer wrap material at least a portion of which is secured to the interior surface of the enclosure. Upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains within the enclosure thereby destroying the integrity of the outer wrap material which effectively prevents the product packs from being removed from the package and individually sold. The wrapping material is disturbed sufficiently so that the pack is not suitable for sale after being separated from the enclosure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A package comprising: 
 a packaging enclosure having an interior surface;    a plurality of removable product packs inside the enclosure engaging the interior surface thereof; and    each of the packs including outer wrap material at least a portion of which is secured to the interior surface of the enclosure such that upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains secured to the enclosure.    
     
     
         2 . A package as in  claim 1  wherein the packaging enclosure comprises: 
 an open-ended packaging sleeve having a plurality of pack-receiving pockets; and  
 at least one product pack in each of the pockets.  
 
     
     
         3 . A package as in  claim 2  wherein the packaging sleeve includes two pack-receiving pockets with one product pack in each pocket.  
     
     
         4 . A package as in  claim 2  wherein the packaging sleeve includes two pack-receiving pockets with a single product pack in one pocket and two product packs in the other pocket.  
     
     
         5 . A package as in  claim 2  wherein the open-ended packaging sleeve includes an adhesive on the interior surface thereof that secures a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the sleeve.  
     
     
         6 . A package as in  claim 1  wherein the packaging enclosure comprises: 
 a carton constructed and arranged to receive two rows of product packs, each row comprising a plurality of packs.  
 
     
     
         7 . A package as in  claim 6  wherein each of the two rows comprises five product packs.  
     
     
         8 . A package as in  claim 6  wherein the carton includes: 
 opposite side walls and opposite interconnecting end walls; and  
 dots or a strip of adhesive extending across an interior surface of each side wall that secure a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the carton.  
 
     
     
         9 . A package as in  claim 8  wherein the adhesive is hot melt adhesive.  
     
     
         10 . A package as in  claim 8  wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.  
     
     
         11 . A package as in  claim 6  wherein the carton includes: 
 opposite sidewalls, top and bottom walls and interconnected end walls; and  
 wherein the top wall includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, one directly above each product pack within the carton providing access to the packs for individually pushing them out and away from the carton.  
 
     
     
         12 . A package as in  claim 1  wherein the packaging enclosure comprises: 
 a carton constructed and arranged to receive a single row of a plurality of product packs.  
 
     
     
         13 . A package as in  claim 12  wherein single row comprises five product packs.  
     
     
         14 . A package as in  claim 12  wherein the carton includes: 
 opposite side walls and opposite end walls; and  
 dots or a strip of adhesive extending across an interior surface of one side wall that secures a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the carton.  
 
     
     
         15 . A package as in  claim 14  wherein the adhesive is hot melt adhesive.  
     
     
         16 . A package as in  claim 14  wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . A package as in  claim 12  wherein the carton includes: 
 opposite side walls, top and bottom walls and interconnecting walls; and  
 wherein the top wall includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, one directly above each product pack within the carton providing access to the packs for individually pushing them out and away from the carton.  
 
     
     
         18 . A package as in  claim 1  wherein the outer wrap material of each product pack includes: 
 a weakened line of separation between top and bottom portions of the outer wrap; and  
 whereby upon removal of a product pack from the packaging enclosure the outer wrap separates at the weakened line thereby leaving a portion of the outer wrap secured to the interior surface of the enclosure while a portion of the outer wrap remains with the removed product pack.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package of product packs each having outer wrap material comprising the steps of: 
 forming a packaging enclosure;    filling the packaging enclosure with a plurality of product packs; and    securing at least a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the interior surface of the packaging enclosure such that upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains secured to the enclosure.    
     
     
         20 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in  claim 19  wherein the step of securing at least a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack to the interior surface of the packaging enclosure includes applying an adhesive to a portion of the interior surface of the packaging enclosure or to the at least a portion of the outer wrap material so as to create a bond therebetween.  
     
     
         21 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in  claim 20  wherein the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.  
     
     
         22 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in  claim 20  wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.  
     
     
         23 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in  claim 19  further including the step of: 
 forming a weakened line of separation between top and bottom portions of the outer wrap material of each product pack such that upon removal of a product pack from the packaging enclosure the outer wrap separates at the weakened line thereby leaving a portion of the outer wrap secured to the interior surface of the enclosure while a portion of the outer wrap remains with the removed product pack.  
 
     
     
         24 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package of product packs each having outer wrap material comprising the steps of: 
 forming a packaging enclosure blank;    applying an adhesive to the blank;    positioning a plurality of product packs on the blank such that at least a portion of the outer wrap material of each product pack is adhered to the surface of the packaging enclosure blank; and    folding the packaging enclosure blank around the plurality of product pack to form an enclosure such that upon removal of a product pack from the enclosure at least a portion of the outer wrap material remains secured to an interior surface of the enclosure.    
     
     
         25 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in  claim 24  wherein the adhesive is hot melt adhesive.  
     
     
         26 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in  claim 24  wherein the adhesive is heat-activated adhesive.  
     
     
         27 . A method of producing a tamper resistant package as in  claim 24  further including the step of: 
 forming a weakened line of separation between top and bottom portions of the outer wrap material of each product pack such that upon removal of a product pack from the packaging enclosure the outer wrap separates at the weakened line thereby leaving a portion of the outer wrap secured to the interior surface of the enclosure while a portion of the outer wrap remains with the removed product pack.