package with pilfer proof assembly

Abstract

A product package and method for product packaging including an internal product container ( 14 ) having an external mating surface ( 118,326 ) and an external sleeve ( 12 ) configured to substantially enclose the product container ( 14 ) and having an opposing internal mating surface ( 112,347 ) and in which the package is assembled by sliding the product container ( 14 ) into the external sleeve ( 12 ) until the external mating surface ( 118,326 ) on the product container 14 and the internal mating surface ( 112,347 ) on the sleeve ( 12 ) matingly engage to lock the product container ( 14 ) in place within the external sleeve ( 12 ) to prevent pilferage of and tampering with the product.

1 . A product package, comprising:
 a product container having an external mating surface; and   an outer sleeve retaining said product container, said outer sleeve also including an internal opposing mating surface engaging said external mating surface of said product container, wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the internal opposing mating surface.   
     
     
         2 . A product package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said external mating surface is a tab and said internal opposing mating surface is a recess. 
     
     
         3 . A product package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said tab is resilient. 
     
     
         4 . A product package as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said outer sleeve is resilient. 
     
     
         5 . A product package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said tab and said outer sleeve are resilient. 
     
     
         6 . A product package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said external mating surface is a recess and said internal opposing mating surface is a tab. 
     
     
         7 . A product package as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said tab is resilient. 
     
     
         8 . A product package as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said outer sleeve is resilient. 
     
     
         9 . A product package as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said tab and said outer sleeve are resilient. 
     
     
         10 . A product package, comprising:
 a product container having at least one external tab; and   a resilient outer sleeve retaining and substantially enclosing said product container, said resilient outer sleeve further including at least one corresponding tab receiving recess matingly engaging said at least one external tab, wherein a portion of the resilient outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the tab receiving recess.   
     
     
         11 . A product package as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said tab is resilient. 
     
     
         12 . A product package, comprising:
 a product container having at least one resilient external tab; and   an outer sleeve retaining and substantially enclosing said product container, said outer sleeve further including at least one corresponding tab receiving recess matingly engaging said at least one external tab, wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the tab receiving recess.   
     
     
         13 . A product package as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said outer sleeve is resilient. 
     
     
         14 . A product package, comprising:
 a product container having at least one resilient external tab; and   an outer sleeve having at least one opening configured to enable said outer sleeve to slide over said product container to retain and substantially enclose said product container and having at least one corresponding internal recess matingly engaged with said at least one resilient external tab, wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the internal recess.   
     
     
         15 . A product package as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said outer sleeve is resilient. 
     
     
         16 . A product package, comprising:
 a product container having at least one recess in its outer surface; and   an outer sleeve having at least one opening configured to enable said outer sleeve to slide over said product container to retain and substantially enclose said product container and having at least one corresponding resilient internal tab matingly engaged with said at least one recess in the outer surface of said product container, wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the resilient internal tab.   
     
     
         17 . A product package as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said outer sleeve is resilient. 
     
     
         18 . A method for packaging a product in a product container, comprising the following steps:
 placing the product in the product container having at least one external mating surface;   inserting the product container into a product packaging enclosure of a shape suitable for retaining and substantially enclosing said product container, said product packaging enclosure having at least one corresponding opposing mating surface; and   engaging said at least one external mating surface and said at least one corresponding opposing mating surface to lock the product container in position within said product packaging enclosure, wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the opposing mating surface.   
     
     
         19 . A method for packaging a product as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said external mating surface is a tab and said internal opposing mating surface is a recess, and said step of engaging said at least one external mating surface and said at least one corresponding opposing mating surface to lock the enclosure in position includes inserting said tab into said recess. 
     
     
         20 . A method for packaging a product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said tab is resilient, and said step of inserting said product container into said product packaging enclosure includes deflecting said tab as the product container is inserted into the product packaging enclosure and allowing said tab to spring back upon insertion into said recess. 
     
     
         21 . A method for packaging a product as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said outer sleeve is resilient, and said step of inserting said product container into said product packaging enclosure includes deflecting said product packaging enclosure to pass over said tab as the product container is inserted into the product packaging enclosure and substantially restoring said product packaging enclosure to its intended shape in order to enable said tab to lockingly engage said recess. 
     
     
         22 . A method for packaging a product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said tab and said outer sleeve are resilient, and said step of inserting said product container into said product packaging enclosure includes deflecting said tab and deflecting said product packaging enclosure as the product container is inserted into the product packaging enclosure and allowing said tab to spring back upon insertion into said recess and substantially restoring said product packaging enclosure to its intended shape in order to enable said tab to lockingly engage said recess. 
     
     
         23 . A method for packaging a product claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said external mating surface is a recess and said internal opposing mating surface is a tab. 
     
     
         24 . A method for packaging a product as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said tab is resilient, and said step of inserting said product container into said product packaging enclosure includes deflecting said tab as the product container is inserted into the product packaging enclosure and allowing said tab to spring back upon insertion into said recess. 
     
     
         25 . A method for packaging a product as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said outer sleeve is resilient, and said step of inserting said product container into said product packaging enclosure includes deflecting said tab and deflecting said product packaging enclosure as the product container is inserted into the product packaging enclosure and allowing said tab to spring back upon insertion into said recess and substantially restoring said product packaging enclosure to its intended shape in order to enable said tab to lockingly engage said recess. 
     
     
         26 . A method for packaging a product as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said tab and said outer sleeve are resilient, and said step of inserting said product container into said product packaging enclosure includes deflecting said tab and deflecting said product packaging enclosure as the product container is inserted into the product packaging enclosure and allowing said tab to spring back upon insertion into said recess and substantially restoring said product packaging enclosure to its intended shape in order to enable said tab to lockingly engage said recess. 
     
     
         27 . A product packaging assembly to prevent product pilfering, comprising:
 a molded tray shaped to contain a specified product and having at least one indentation disposed along at least one edge to function as part of a locking mechanism; and   a sleeve retaining said molded tray having at least one extended tab disposed along an internal edge matingly interlocking with said at least one indention, wherein a portion of the sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the extended tab.   
     
     
         28 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said molded tray has at least one depression disposed along one end of the molded tray to prevent access to the contents while said molded tray is locked within said sleeve. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said molded tray is comprised of halves, each of which incorporates at least one shaped receiving cavity in order to substantially surround the specific contents when the halves are folded together. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said external sleeve is formed by a single piece of material folded over itself and secured at the external edge. 
     
     
         31 . A packaging assembly to prevent product pilfering comprising:
 a molded tray shaped to contain a specified product and having at least one tab disposed along an edge to function as part of a locking mechanism; and   a sleeve retaining said molded tray having at least one corresponding indention disposed along an internal edge of said sleeve matingly interlocking with said at least one tab, wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the indentation.   
     
     
         32 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said molded tray has a plurality of shaped receiving cavities to hold specific contents. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said molded tray has at least one depression disposed along at least one end of the molded tray and at least one depression disposed along at least one end of the molded tray to prevent access to the contents while said molded tray is locked within said sleeve. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said molded tray is comprised of halves, each of which incorporates at least one shaped receiving cavity in order to substantially surround the specific contents when the halves are folded together. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said external sleeve is formed by a single piece of material folded over and secured at the external edge. 
     
     
         36 . A packaging assembly to prevent product pilfering comprising:
 an outer sleeve of tapered shape configured so that the openings of the sleeve are different sizes and containing at least one notched internal edge; and   a clamshell molded tray configured to fully enclose a specific product and to be partially inserted within said outer sleeve, said tray having at least one extended tab matingly engaging with said at least one notched internal edge of said outer sleeve, wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier preventing access to the notched internal edge.   
     
     
         37 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 36  wherein said outer sleeve is comprised of a single piece of material folded over and secured at the external edge. 
     
     
         38 . A product package comprising a complementary locking mechanism, wherein the package comprises a product container having a first part of a complementary locking mechanism and an outer sleeve comprising a second part of a complementary locking mechanism such that the complementary locking mechanism prevents the product container from being slidably moved within the outer sleeve wherein a portion of the outer sleeve provides a barrier to prevent access to the complementary locking mechanism to prevent tampering with the complementary locking mechanism. 
     
     
         39 . A product package according to  claim 38  wherein the outer sleeve is formed from a single unitary blank wherein the single unitary blank comprises the second. 
     
     
         40 . A product package according to either of  claims 38  or  39  where the first part of the complementary locking mechanism is a recess. 
     
     
         41 . A product package according to either of  claims 38  or  39  where the first part of the complementary locking mechanism is a protrusion. 
     
     
         42 . A product package according to either of  claims 38  or  39  where the second part of the complementary locking mechanism is a recess. 
     
     
         43 . A product package according to either of  claims 38  or  39  where the second part of the complementary locking mechanism is a protrusion.