Reusable packaging

Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a reusable product package. The reusable product package utilizes a slot and tab mechanism to hold the product package in its closed position, while also allowing the tabs to be removed from the slots to open the package. The slot and tab mechanism can make the product package inexpensive to manufacture versus other reusable solutions. Disclosed embodiments provide reliable, reusable containers that are also very environmentally friendly.

1 . A reusable package comprising: 
 A backing having at least one slot sized to receive a tab;    A cover having at least one cavity formed therein, the cavity and the backing configured to form a product-enclosing space, the cover further having an edge portion and at least one tab on said edge portion, the at least one tab configured to fit into the at least one slot of the backing portion to releasably secure the cover to the backing.    
   
   
       2 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the backing is substantially flat.  
   
   
       3 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the edge portion of the cover is permanently secured to the backing at an attachment point, said attachment point being substantially opposite the at least one tab.  
   
   
       4 . The reusable package of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is fastened to the backing at least in part by a sonic seal.  
   
   
       5 . The reusable package of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is fastened to the backing at least in part by an RF weld.  
   
   
       6 . The reusable package of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is fastened to the backing at least in part by a UV weld.  
   
   
       7 . The reusable package of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is fastened to the backing at least in part by a heat seal.  
   
   
       8 . The reusable package of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is fastened to the backing at least in part by an adhesive.  
   
   
       9 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the backing and the cover are two portions of a single plastic piece and a living hinge divides the backing and the cover.  
   
   
       10 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is substantially transparent.  
   
   
       11 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is substantially translucent.  
   
   
       12 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the backing has printing of at least one color thereon.  
   
   
       13 . The reusable package of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the backing comprises a utility portion and an information portion;    the utility portion comprises a peripheral portion attached to the cover and at least one slot sized to receive a tab; and    the information portion is not adjacent to the peripheral portion.    
   
   
       14 . The reusable package of  claim 13 , wherein the information portion and utility portion are separated by scoring which allows the two portions to detach, and the at least one slot sized to receive a tab is located away from the scoring such that the slot can receive the tab even after the two portions are separated.  
   
   
       15 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further contains a hold, the hold being configured to allow a user to grasp the hold and pull the cover partially away from the backing, overcoming the forces holding the at least one tab in the at least one slot, and allowing the user access to the cavity.  
   
   
       16 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the backing is a plastic.  
   
   
       17 . The reusable package of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a plastic.  
   
   
       18 . A reusable package comprising: 
 a substantially flat backing, the backing comprising at least two slots sized to receive at least one tab per slot; and    a cover comprising at least one cavity formed therein, the cavity and backing creating a product-enclosing space, the cover further comprising an edge portion and at least two tabs on the edge portion, each tab being adapted to fit into at least one of the plurality of slots of the backing portion to form the product enclosing-space of the cavity.    
   
   
       19 . The reusable package of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the at least two tabs are arranged along the edge of the cover so that at least two tabs are on generally opposite sides of the at least one cavity; and    the slots are arranged on the backing to accept the tabs, such that when the slots accept the tabs, the backing and cover are substantially joined.    
   
   
       20 . A method of using a plastic package comprising: 
 purchasing a plastic package having a product cavity between a cover and a backing, the cover and/or backing having at least one tab and at least one slot;    opening the plastic package to use a product; and    re-closing the plastic package to enclose a product by inserting the tab into the slot.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 removing a product information portion from the plastic package after purchasing the plastic package.