Reusable Packaging Assembly

Abstract

A packaging assembly includes a top section, a bottom section releasably connected by at least one fastener. The top section includes a top body defining a label opening and a transparent label cover closing the label opening. The top section is configured to removably retain a shipping label under the transparent label cover. The bottom section includes a bottom body, at least a first package recess being defined in the bottom section that removably accommodates at least a first internal package therein. The first package recess has a first recess width approximately equal to a first package width. A user releases the fastener to open the top and bottom sections and remove the internal package. The shipping label is removed, manipulated to display a return address and reinserted under the label cover so the packaging assembly can be returned.

What is Claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging assembly comprising:
 a top section including a top body defining a label opening, the top section also including a transparent label cover closing the label opening, the top section being configured to removably retain a shipping label under the transparent label cover;   a bottom section including a bottom body, at least a first package recess being defined in the bottom section, the first package recess removably accommodating at least a first internal package therein, the first package recess having a first recess width approximately equal to a first package width; and   at least one fastener releasably connecting the top and bottom sections.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one hinge pivotably connecting the top and bottom sections such that, with the at least one fastener released, the top and bottom sections are pivotable between opened and closed configurations. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the label opening has a lower perimeter extending under a perimeter of the transparent label cover such that edges of the shipping label are retainable in a space between the lower perimeter and the transparent label cover. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom body are both single, integrally molded plastic pieces. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the top body includes a lower peripheral lip and the bottom body includes an upper peripheral lip, the lower and upper peripheral lips sitting side-by-side around a perimeter of a junction between the top and bottom sections. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first package recess is molded into the bottom body. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a second package recess is molded into the bottom body adjacent to the first package recess. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second package recesses are identically dimensioned. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a shared middle wall between the first and second package recesses extends upwardly therebetween for only a portion of a total depth of the first and second package recesses. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a third package recess is molded into the bottom body adjacent to the first and second package recesses. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the third package recess is shallower than the first and second package recesses. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first package recess removably accommodates a second internal package therein, a second package width being approximately equal to the first recess width. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first package recess has a first recess length that is approximately equal to a combined length of the first and second packages. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging assembly of  claim 13 , wherein upward facing surfaces of the first and second internal packages are coplanar. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a second package recess defined in the bottom section adjacent to the first package recess, the second package recess removably accommodating a second internal package therein, the second package recess having a second recess width approximately equal to a second package width. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second package recesses are identically dimensioned. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first package recess removably accommodates a third internal package therein, a third package width being approximately equal to the first recess width. 
     
     
         18 . The packaging assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first package recess has a first recess length that is approximately equal to a combined length of the first and third packages. 
     
     
         19 . The packaging assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the second package recess has a second recess length that is approximately equal to a second package length. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second package recess is shallower than the first package recess. 
     
     
         21 . The packaging assembly of  claim 20 , wherein upward facing surfaces of the first and second internal packages are coplanar. 
     
     
         22 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is located in upper and lower clasp recesses of the top and bottom bodies, respectively, so that the at least one fastener does not extend beyond outer sides thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The packaging assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one fastener includes a unitary molded clasp hinged to a lower edge of the lower clasp recess and having an upper clasp edge releasably secured over an upper clasp edge in the upper clasp recess. 
     
     
         24 . The packaging assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the unitary molded clasp further includes a retention tab extending inwardly of the upper clasp edge and defining a retention opening secured over a retention button extending upwardly from the top body. 
     
     
         25 . A method of using a packaging assembly, the method comprising:
 receiving the packaging assembly;   releasing a fastener of the packaging assembly;   opening top and bottom sections of the unfastened packaging assembly;   removing at least one internal package from at least one recess in the bottom section;   removing an address label from under a transparent label cover in the top section;   manipulating and reinserting the address label under the transparent label cover so that a return address is shown through the transparent label cover;   closing the top and bottom sections;   re-securing the fastener to re-fasten the closed top and bottom sections; and   sending the packaging assembly to the return address.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising of inserting one or more previously used internal packages into the at least one recess before closing the top and bottom sections.