Clamshell Package and Method of Forming Same

Abstract

A package includes: (a) a base having a first perimeter; (b) a cover having a second perimeter; (c) a hinge pivotally coupling the base and the cover and located at a first portion of the first perimeter and at a first portion of the second perimeter; and (d) a first non-reusable security element capable of keeping the base and the cover in a closed position and located at a second portion of the first perimeter and a second portion of the second perimeter.

1 . A clamshell package comprising:
 a base having a first perimeter;   a cover having a second perimeter;   a hinge pivotally coupling the base and the cover and located at a first portion of the first perimeter and at a first portion of the second perimeter, and   a first non-reusable security element configured to keep the base and the cover in a closed position and located at a second portion of the first perimeter and at a second portion of the second perimeter,   wherein:
 the hinge and the first non-reusable security element are absent from third portions of the first and second perimeters. 
   
   
   
       2 . The clamshell package of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least a portion of the first non-reusable security element is removable from the clamshell package to permit the base and the cover to move from the closed position to an open positron; and   the clamshell package is reusable after the removal of the at least a portion of the first non-reusable security element.   
   
   
       3 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first non-reusable security element comprises:
 a first flange coupled to the base; and 
 a second flange coupled to the cover; and 
   the first and second flanges are coupled together to form a seal for the first non-reusable security element.   
   
   
       4 . The clamshell package of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first flange extends outward from the first perimeter; and   the second flange extends outward from the second perimeter.   
   
   
       5 . The clamshell package of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the base comprises a first cavity;   the first flange is absent over the first cavity; and   the first non-reusable security element is outside of the first cavity.   
   
   
       6 . The clamshell package of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the cover comprises a second cavity;   the second flange is absent over the second cavity; and   the first non-reusable security element is outside of the second cavity.   
   
   
       7 . The clamshell package of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the cover is devoid of a cavity; and   the second flange is absent over the first cavity.   
   
   
       8 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base further comprises:
 an overhang portion extending from the second portion of the first perimeter; and 
   at least a portion of the overhang portion and at least a portion of the second portion of the second perimeter are coupled together to form a seal for the first non-reusable security element.   
   
   
       9 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cover further comprises:
 an overhang portion extending from the second portion of the second perimeter; and 
   at least a portion of the overhang portion and at least a portion of the second portion of the first perimeter are coupled together to form a seal for the first non-reusable security element.   
   
   
       10 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second non-reusable security element configured to keep the base and the cover in the closed position,   wherein:   the first non-reusable security element comprises:
 a first seal located at the second portion of the first perimeter and the second portion of the second perimeter; 
   the second non-reusable security element comprises:
 a second seal located at a fourth portion of the first perimeter and a fourth portion of the second perimeter; 
 the third portions of the first and second perimeters separate the hinge and the first non-reusable security element; 
 fifth portions of the first and second perimeters separate the first non-reusable security element and the second non-reusable security element; and 
 sixth portions of the first and second perimeters separate the second non-reusable security element and the hinge. 
   
   
   
       11 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second non-reusable security element configured to keep the base and the cover in the closed position; and   a third non-reusable security element configured to keep the base and the cover in the closed position,   wherein:   the first non-reusable security element comprises:
 a first seal located at the second portion of the first perimeter and the second portion of the second perimeter; 
   the second non-reusable security element comprises:
 a second seal located at a fourth portion of the first perimeter and a fourth portion of the second perimeter; 
   the third non-reusable security element comprises:
 a third seal located at a fifth portion of the first perimeter and a fifth portion of the second perimeter; 
 the third portions of the first and second perimeters separate the hinge and the first non-reusable security element; 
 sixth portions of the first and second perimeters separate the first non-reusable security element and the second non-reusable security element; 
 seventh portions of the first and second perimeters separate the second non-reusable security element and the third non-reusable security element; and 
 eighth portions of the first and second perimeters separate the third non-reusable security element and the hinge. 
   
   
   
       12 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first non-reusable security element comprises a radio frequency seal.   
   
   
       13 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first non-reusable security element comprises an adhesive.   
   
   
       14 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first non-reusable security element comprises a heat seal.   
   
   
       15 . The clamshell package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first perimeter includes a first aperture;   the second perimeter includes a second aperture; and   the first aperture is aligned with the second aperture when the base and the cover are in the closed position.   
   
   
       16 . The clamshell package of  claim 1  wherein:
 a size and a shape of the first perimeter is substantially the same as a size and a shape of the second perimeter.   
   
   
       17 . The clamshell package of  claim 1  wherein:
 a thickness of the second portion of the first perimeter is less than a thickness of a body portion of the base; and   a thickness of the second portion of the second perimeter is less than a thickness of a body portion of the cover.   
   
   
       18 . A package comprising:
 a product-containing portion defining an interior space, wherein the product-containing portion comprises:
 abase having a first perimeter; and 
 a cover having a second perimeter and capable of movement between a first position relative to the base, in which the cover encloses the interior space, and a second position relative to the base, in which the interior space is exposed; 
   a first tab extending from the base away from the interior space;   a second tab extending from the cover away from the interior space; and   a non-reusable seal securing together the cover and the base in the first position and located between at least a first portion of the first tab and at least a first portion of the second tab,   wherein:
 first portion of the first perimeter is separated from a first portion of the second perimeter when the cover is in the second position; 
 the first portion of the first perimeter is adjacent to the first portion of the second perimeter when the cover is the in first position; 
 the non-reusable seal is absent at a portion of the first portion of the first perimeter; and 
 the non-reusable seal is absent at a portion of the first portion of the second perimeter. 
   
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 18  further comprising:
 one or more third tabs extending from the base away from the interior space;   one or more fourth tabs extending from the cover away from the interior space, each of the one or more fourth tabs corresponding to at least one of the one or more third tabs; and   an additional non-reusable seal between a at least a portion of each of the one or more third tabs and at least a corresponding portion of the one or more fourth tabs,   wherein:
 each of the non-reusable seals is located outside of the interior space; and 
 each of the first tab, the second tab, the one or more third tabs, and the one or more fourth tabs are non-contiguous with each other. 
   
   
   
       20 . A package comprising:
 a first means for defining a periphery of an interior space comprising:
 a second means for defining a first portion of the periphery of the interior space; and 
 a third means for defining a second portion of the periphery of the interior space; 
   fourth means for hingedly attaching the second means to the third means; and   a non-reusable means for securing together the first means and the second means in a closed position and to enclose the interior space,   wherein:
 the fourth means is located a first portion of a perimeter of the first means; 
 the non-reusable means is located at second portion of the perimeter of the first means; and 
   the fourth and non-reusable means are absent at third portions of the perimeter of the first means.   
   
   
       21 . A method of packaging a product in a package comprising:
 providing a base having a first perimeter;   providing a cover having a second perimeter; and   securing together the cover and the base by sealing together a first portion of the first perimeter and a first portion of the second perimeter,   wherein:
 a second portion of the first perimeter is located apart from a second portion of the second perimeter when the cover is in an open position relative to the base; 
 the second portion of the first perimeter is adjacent to the second portion of the second perimeter when the cover is in a closed position relative to the base; 
 the first portion of the first perimeter is a portion of the second portion of the first perimeter; and 
 the first portion of the second perimeter is a portion of the second portion of the second perimeter. 
   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 inserting the product between the base and the cover before securing together the base and the cover.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 removing at least a portion of the first portion of the first perimeter and at least a portion of the first portion of the second perimeter from the package to open the package; and   thereafter, removing the product from the package.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein:
 removing the at least a portion of the first portion of the first perimeter and the at least a portion of the first portion of the second perimeter does not damage the base, the cover, or the product.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein:
 securing together the base and the cover comprises:
 heat sealing the first portion of the first perimeter and the first portion of the second perimeter.