Packages and packaging kits with deactivatable and activatable locking features

Abstract

A package including an outer sleeve including a first locking structure, a lockable receptacle lockably retained within the outer sleeve for sliding movement between a fully inserted position and an outwardly extended position, the lockable receptacle comprising a second locking structure, and a deactivating component removably associated with the first locking structure of the outer sleeve. When the deactivating component associates with the outer sleeve, the first locking structure is prevented from engaging with the second locking structure of the lockable receptacle such that the lockable receptacle is slidable to the outwardly extended position.

1 . A deactivating component for use with a package comprising an outer sleeve having a first part of a two-part locking structure, the deactivating component comprising a concealment portion coupled to an anchoring portion, wherein the concealment portion is structured and configured for insertion internally of the outer sleeve such that the concealment portion is sufficiently disposable between the first and second parts of the two part locking structure to prevent the second-part of the two-part locking structure engaging the first part of the two-part locking structure of the outer sleeve and wherein, in use, the anchoring portion is disposed externally of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         2 . The deactivating component according to  claim 2  wherein the anchoring portion of the deactivating component comprises an upper tab including a bumpy or roughened surface portion and wherein the concealment portion comprises a lower tab having a greater length than the upper tab and being tapered to a free end to facilitate its insertion internally of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The deactivating component according to  claim 1  wherein the anchoring portion and concealment portion are formed as a unitary, substantially flat structure, wherein the anchoring portion is wider than the concealment portion, wherein the concealment portion tapers to a free end to facilitate its insertion internally of the outer sleeve and wherein at its opposite end the concealment portion comprises two shoulder portions which serve to temporarily latch the deactivating component to the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The deactivating component according to  claim 3  wherein the deactivating component is inwardly recessed and shaped between the anchoring portion and the concealment portion to limit the extent to which the deactivating component is insertable internally of the outer sleeve and wherein the deactivating component is generally tee-shaped, wherein a head of the tee defines the anchoring portion and wherein a leg of the tee defines the concealment portion. 
     
     
         5 . The deactivating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring portion and concealment portion are formed as a unitary, substantially tubular structure, wherein the anchoring portion is wider than the outer sleeve and wider than the concealment portion. 
     
     
         6 . The deactivating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the deactivating component is formed as a secondary sleeve comprising: a secondary sleeve top panel, a secondary sleeve bottom panel and secondary sleeve first and second side panels interconnecting and spacing the secondary sleeve top and bottom panels and wherein the concealment portion is formed as a shaped projection from the secondary sleeve top panel and wherein the remainder of the secondary sleeve top panel, secondary sleeve bottom panel and secondary sleeve first and second side panels together form the anchoring portion. 
     
     
         7 . The deactivating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the deactivating component is formed as a substantially flat flexible panel, wherein the concealment portion is defined by a substantially “U”-shaped aperture within said flexible panel and wherein the remainder of the flexible panel provides the anchoring portion. 
     
     
         8 . The deactivating component according to  claim 7  wherein the deactivating component is substantially square-shaped and wherein the width of the deactivating component is less than the width of the outer shell and wherein the length of the deactivating component is less than the length of the outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . The deactivating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the deactivating component is formed as a substantially tubular secondary sleeve structure comprising: a secondary sleeve top panel, a secondary sleeve bottom panel and secondary sleeve first and second side panels interconnecting and spacing the secondary sleeve top and bottom panels and wherein the concealment portion is defined by a substantially “U”-shaped aperture formed within the secondary sleeve top panel and wherein the remainder of the secondary sleeve top panel, secondary sleeve bottom panel and secondary sleeve first and second side panels together form the anchoring portion. 
     
     
         10 . The deactivating component according to  claim 1  wherein the concealment portion bends to cover the first-part of the locking structure in the outer sleeve when the deactivating component is inserted internally of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . A combination comprising a package and a deactivating component, the package comprising:
 an outer sleeve including a first part of a two-part locking structure; and   a lockable receptacle lockably retained within the outer sleeve for sliding movement between a fully inserted position and an outwardly extended position, the lockable receptacle comprising a second part of the two-part locking structure;   the deactivating component being removably associated with the first part of the two-part locking structure of the outer sleeve,   wherein when the deactivating component associates with the outer sleeve, the first part of the two-part locking structure is prevented from engaging with the second part of the two-part locking structure of the lockable receptacle such that the lockable receptacle is slidable to the outwardly extended position, and   wherein when the deactivating component disassociates from the outer sleeve, the first-part of the two-part locking structure can re-engage with the second part of the two-part locking structure of the lockable receptacle to lock the lockable receptacle within the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 11 , wherein the deactivating component comprises a first portion and a second portion connecting to the first portion, wherein the second portion is configured to insert through the outer sleeve such that the deactivating component releasably engages to the first locking structure of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein the deactivating component is substantially square-shaped and wherein the width of the deactivating component is less than the width of the outer shell and wherein the length of the deactivating component is less than the length of the outer shell. 
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein the first part of the two-part locking structure is selected from the group comprising: a locking edge, an aperture, a cutout, a notch, a protrusion, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the second part of the two-part locking structure is selected from the group comprising: of a protruding flap, an arc flap, a folded flap, an extension flap, a protruding bump, a protruding structure having an upper and a lower bumps wherein the upper bump releasably engages to the first locking structure, a protruding structure having a bump and a cut opening structure adjacent to the bump wherein the cut opening structure releasably engages to the locking edge, and a protruding structure having more than one bump. 
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 15  wherein the outer sleeve further comprises a releasing structure substantially adjacent to the first locking structure, the releasing structure being selected from the group consisting of an opening flap or flexible tab, a perforated flap, a cut flap, and a cut structure. 
     
     
         17 . A method of deactivating or activating a package having a releasable locking feature, the method comprising:
 providing a package comprising:
 an outer sleeve including a first locking structure, 
 a lockable receptacle lockably retained within the outer sleeve for sliding movement between a fully inserted position and an outwardly extended position, the lockable receptacle comprising a second locking structure configured to releasably engage with the first locking structure of the outer sleeve, 
 a deactivating component removably associated with the outer sleeve, the deactivating component being configured to prevent the first locking structure of the outer sleeve from engaging with the second locking structure of the lockable receptacle;
 associating the deactivating component with the outer sleeve to prevent the first locking structure of the outer sleeve from engaging with the second locking structure of the lockable receptacle, such that the lockable receptacle is slidable to the outwardly extended position. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . A packaging kit comprising: a deactivating component; a lockable receptacle including a second part of a two-part locking structure; and an outer sleeve configured to receive the lockable receptacle and lockably retain the lockable receptacle within the outer sleeve for sliding movement between a fully inserted position and an outwardly extended position, the outer sleeve comprising a first part of the two-part locking structure configured to releasably engage with the second locking structure of the lockable receptacle, wherein when the deactivating component associates with the outer sleeve, the first part of the two-part locking structure is prevented from engaging with the second part of the two-part locking structure of the lockable receptacle such that the lockable receptacle is slidable to the outwardly extended position. 
     
     
         19 . The packaging kit of  claim 18 , wherein the first part of the two-part locking structure is selected from the group consisting of a locking edge, an aperture, a cutout, a notch, a protrusion, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging kit of  claim 19 , wherein the second part of the two-part locking structure is selected from the group consisting of a protruding flap, an arc flap, a folded flap, an extension flap, a protruding bump, a protruding structure having a top and a bottom bumps wherein the upper bump releasably engages to the first locking structure, a protruding structure having a bump and an cut opening structure adjacent to the bump wherein the cut opening structure releasably engages to the locking edge, and a protruding structure having more than one bumps.