Cohesive sealed package with anti-theft feature and method of making the same

Abstract

A multi-piece package is provided. The package includes a plastic component configured to hold a product. The plastic component includes a product compartment sized to receive the product, an outer portion at least partially surrounding the product compartment and a post extending outward from the outer portion. The package includes a non-plastic component. The non-plastic component includes a first segment having an outer surface and an inner surface, a second segment having an outer surface and an inner surface, a product opening formed through the non-plastic component and a post opening cut through the non-plastic component. The outer portion of the plastic component is captured between opposing portions of the first segment of the non-plastic component and of the second segment of the non-plastic component following assembly. The product compartment extends through the product opening and the post extends through the post opening following assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A theft-resistant multi-piece package comprising:
 an integral, molded, plastic shell configured to hold a product, the plastic shell comprising:
 a product compartment sized to receive the product; 
 a flange extending from an edge of the product compartment, the flange at least partially surrounding the product compartment, the flange defining a planar outer surface; and 
 an anchor extending outwardly from and substantially perpendicular to the planar outer surface of the flange; 
   a fibrous board comprising:
 a first segment having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a second segment having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a hinge coupling the first segment to the second segment; 
 a product opening cut through the fibrous board; and 
 an anchor port formed through the fibrous board; 
   a first cohesive layer formed on the inner surface of the first segment of the fibrous board; and   a second cohesive layer formed on the inner surface of the second segment of the fibrous board;   wherein the fibrous board is folded along the hinge such that the first cohesive layer engages the second cohesive layer sealing the first segment of the fibrous board to the second segment of the fibrous board;   wherein the flange of the plastic shell is captured between opposing portions of the first segment of the fibrous board and the second segment of the fibrous board and the product compartment extends through the product opening; and   wherein the anchor extends through the anchor port such that engagement between an outer surface of the anchor and an inner edge of the anchor port, upon deflection of the product shell, resists movement of the plastic shell relative to the fibrous board.   
     
     
         2 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 1  wherein a gap is located between the outer surface of the anchor and the inner edge of the anchor port. 
     
     
         3 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 2  wherein the gap is between 1/100 inches and 1/10 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 2  wherein the first cohesive layer and the second cohesive layer does not bond to the plastic shell such that the portions of the fibrous board adjacent to the anchor port are not bonded to the portion of the plastic shell adjacent to the anchor. 
     
     
         5 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 1  wherein the anchor port is an opening separate from the product opening such that a portion of the fibrous board is located between the anchor port and the product opening. 
     
     
         6 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 1  wherein the plastic shell further comprises a second anchor, wherein the fibrous board comprises a second anchor port, wherein the second anchor extends through the second anchor port such that engagement between an outer surface of the second anchor and an inner edge of the second anchor port, upon deflection of the product shell, resists movement of the plastic shell relative to the fibrous board. 
     
     
         7 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 6  wherein the anchor and the second anchor are positioned on the flange such that both the anchor and the second anchor are located between a peripheral edge of the flange and the product compartment of the plastic shell. 
     
     
         8 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 6  wherein the anchor port and the second anchor port are positioned on the flange such that a line intersecting the centers of the anchor port and the second anchor port is substantially parallel to the hinge. 
     
     
         9 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 6  wherein the anchor port and the second anchor port are positioned on the flange such that a line intersecting the centers of the anchor port and the second anchor port is substantially parallel to a lateral edge of the fibrous board. 
     
     
         10 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 6  wherein the anchor and the second anchor are positioned such that less than ⅛ inches is between the center of the anchors and the nearest lateral outer edge of the product shell. 
     
     
         11 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 6  wherein the fibrous board includes a hanger opening configured to support the package on a display rack. 
     
     
         12 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 6  wherein product compartment of the plastic shell is located between the anchor and the second anchor. 
     
     
         13 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 12  wherein the plastic shell further comprises a third anchor and a fourth anchor, wherein the fibrous board comprises a third anchor port and a fourth anchor port, wherein the third anchor extends through the third anchor port and the fourth anchor extends through the fourth anchor port, wherein the product compartment is located between the third anchor and the fourth anchor. 
     
     
         14 . The theft-resistant multi-piece package of  claim 1  further comprising a product within the product compartment of the plastic shell, wherein a gap between an outer surface of the product and an inner surface of the product compartment adjacent the anchor is greater than ¼ inch. 
     
     
         15 . A multi-piece package comprising:
 a plastic component configured to hold a product, the plastic component comprising:
 a product compartment sized to receive the product; 
 an outer portion at least partially surrounding the product compartment; and 
 a post extending outward from the outer portion; 
   a non-plastic component comprising:
 a first segment having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a second segment having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a product opening located through the non-plastic component; and 
 a post opening located through the non-plastic component; 
   wherein the outer portion of the plastic component is captured between opposing portions of the first segment of the non-plastic component and of the second segment of the non-plastic component following assembly; and   wherein the product compartment extends through the product opening and the post extends through the post opening following assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The multi-piece package of  claim 15  wherein a gap is located between the outer surface of the post and the inner edge of the post opening, wherein the gap is between 1/100 and 1/10 inches, wherein the post is positioned such that less than ⅛ inches is between the center of the post and the nearest lateral, outer edge of the plastic component. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-piece package of  claim 15  further comprising a cohesive material located on the inner surfaces of the first segment and the second segment of the non-plastic component, wherein the post opening is an opening separate from the product opening such that a planar portion of the non-plastic component is located between the post opening and the product opening. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-piece package of  claim 17  wherein the non-plastic component further includes a hanger opening configured to support the package from a display rack, wherein the post opening is an opening separate from the hanger opening such that a planar portion of the non-plastic component is located between the post opening and the hanger opening. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a multi-piece package comprising:
 providing a plastic component configured to hold a product, the plastic component comprising:
 a product compartment sized to receive the product; 
 a planar outer portion at least partially surrounding the product compartment; and 
 a post extending outward from the planar outer portion; 
   providing a non-plastic component, the non-plastic component comprising:
 a first segment having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a second segment having an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 a hinge coupling the first segment to the second segment; 
 a product opening formed through the non-plastic component; and 
 a post opening located through the non-plastic component; 
   placing a product within the product compartment of the plastic component; and   closing the non-plastic component around the plastic component such that the planar outer portion of the plastic component is captured between opposing portions of the first segment and the second segment of the non-plastic component, the product compartment extends through the product opening and the post extends through the post opening.   
     
     
         20 . The method of assembling a multi-piece package of  claim 19  wherein a cohesive material is located on opposing portions of the inner surface of the first segment of the non-plastic component and the inner surface of the second segment of the non-plastic component.