Package and Sleeve Therefor

Abstract

A package comprises first and second walls, joined by first and second side walls, and defining an internal volume therebetween. A retainer wall is locatable in the internal volume to lie against the first wall. A first locking feature is arrangeable inside the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall. A closure flap is coupled to the second wall at a forward end of the package. The closure flap is movable between a closed configuration in which the closure flap blocks access to the internal storage volume, and an open configuration in which the closure flap permits access to the internal storage volume via the forward end. The closure flap comprises a second locking feature configured such that when the closure flap is in the closed configuration the second locking feature is positioned inside the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall, such that the retainer wall forces the second locking feature into engagement with the first locking feature to lock the closure flap in the closed configuration. The first wall is flexible, to allow deflection of the first wall away from the retainer wall to cause movement of the first locking feature in an unlocking direction, thereby disengaging the first locking feature from the second locking feature to permit movement of the closure flap.

1 . A package comprising
 first and second walls, joined by first and second side walls, and defining an internal volume therebetween;   a retainer wall locatable in the internal volume to lie against the first wall;   a first locking feature arrangeable inside the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall; and   a closure flap coupled to the second wall at a forward end of the package;
 the closure flap being movable between a closed configuration in which the closure flap blocks access to the internal storage volume, and an open configuration in which the closure flap permits access to the internal storage volume via the forward end; and 
 the closure flap comprising a second locking feature configured such that when the closure flap is in the closed configuration the second locking feature is positioned inside the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall, such that the retainer wall forces the second locking feature into engagement with the first locking feature to lock the closure flap in the closed configuration; 
   wherein the first wall is flexible, to allow deflection of the first wall away from the retainer wall to cause movement of the first locking feature in an unlocking direction, thereby disengaging the first locking feature from the second locking feature to permit movement of the closure flap.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking feature comprises a locking flap that protrudes into the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the locking flap is coupled to the first wall via a fold or crease. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the locking flap comprises a locking protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein the second locking feature comprises an opening formed in the closure flap. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the locking protrusion is configured to protrude into in the opening when the closure flap is in the closed configuration, to prevent movement of the closure flap from the closed configuration to the open configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the closure flap and locking flap are configured such that, when the closure flap is in the closed configuration, a lower edge of the closure flap is located below a lower edge of the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the closure flap comprises a top cover that covers an open end of internal volume, and an extension flap that extends into internal volume between the locking flap and the retainer wall when the closure flap is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing between the side walls defines a width of the internal volume of the package, and wherein a width of the retainer wall at the forward end of the package is less than the width of the internal volume. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer wall comprises a protrusion region having one or more side protrusions, and wherein a width of the retainer wall in the protrusion region is greater than the width of the retainer wall at a forward end of the package. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a brace coupled to the retainer wall and configured to brace against the second wall, so as to restrict movement of the retainer wall away from the first wall. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the brace comprises a pair of brace walls that project away from the retainer wall towards the second wall. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a guard flap coupled to a forward end of retainer wall, and selectively arrangeable to cover a forward end of the internal volume. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall comprises an inner first wall and an outer first wall that overlies and is coupled to the inner first wall. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , comprising first and second reinforcement walls that extend between the closure flap and the respective side walls. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein each reinforcement wall is coupled to each of the closure flap and respective side wall by a coupling crease, and wherein each reinforcement wall comprises a further crease between the coupling creases, to allow the reinforcement wall to fold when the closure flap is moved from the open configuration to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 1 , comprising an outer sleeve that defines the internal volume, and an insert that is insertable into the internal volume, wherein the retainer wall is defined by the insert. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein the brace is defined by the insert. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein the outer sleeve is formed as a separate piece from the insert. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein the outer sleeve and the insert are formed from the same piece. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 20  wherein the insert is coupled to the second wall at a rearward end, such that the insert extends from a rearward end of the second wall through the internal volume towards a forward end of the package. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a third locking feature coupled to one of the first wall or the second wall at a rearward end of the package, the third locking feature being arrangeable inside the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall, or between the second wall and a further retainer wall; and   a further closure flap coupled to the other of the first wall or the second wall at a rearward end of the package;
 the further closure flap being movable between a closed configuration in which the further closure flap blocks access to the internal storage volume, and an open configuration in which the further closure flap permits access to the internal storage volume via the rearward end; and 
 the further closure flap comprising a fourth locking feature configured such that when the further closure flap is in the closed configuration the fourth locking feature is positioned inside the internal storage volume between the third locking feature and the retainer wall, or the further retainer wall such that the retainer wall or the further retainer wall forces the fourth locking feature into engagement with the third locking feature to lock the closure flap in the closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the package is made of a cardboard or paperboard material. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising an engagement feature configured to be engaged by the user to facilitate deflection of the first wall. 
     
     
         25 . A sleeve for use with an insert having a retainer wall to provide a latchable package, the sleeve comprising
 first and second walls, joined by first and second side walls, and defining an internal volume therebetween, the internal volume capable of receiving the insert such that the retainer wall of the insert lies adjacent to the first wall;   a first locking feature arrangeable inside the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall of the insert; and   a closure flap coupled to the second wall at a forward end of the sleeve;
 the closure flap being movable between a closed configuration in which the closure flap blocks access to the internal volume, and an open configuration in which the closure flap permits access to the internal volume via the forward end; and 
 the closure flap comprising a second locking feature configured such that when the closure flap is in the closed configuration the second locking feature is positioned inside the internal volume between the first wall and the retainer wall of the insert, such that the retainer wall forces the second locking feature into engagement with the first locking feature to lock the closure flap in the closed configuration; 
   wherein the first wall is flexible, to allow deflection of the first wall away from the retainer wall of the insert to cause movement of the first locking feature in an unlocking direction, thereby disengaging the first locking feature from the second locking feature to permit movement of the closure flap.