Items such as medicine, tobacco, and CBD products are often sold and stored in a package, which also may be referred to as a container. As the content of these packages may pose a safety risk for certain members of the public (e.g., children) it is desirable to limit access to the contents of the package through a tamper resistant packaging. A tamper resistant packaging is a packaging that is designed and constructed to be significantly difficult for certain members of the public (e.g., children) to open or obtain items from the package within a reasonable time.
Presently, locking mechanisms for tamper resistant packages may take up an area of the packaging which otherwise could be utilized for labeling or advertising purposes on a blank surface configured to form a package. Therefore, it is desirable to have locking mechanism for packages that are not obtrusive and allows efficient use package space for labeling or advertising.
Various aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of examples, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:
Described herein are examples of an inventive package or container with a locking mechanism. Hereinafter, an example of a package that includes an outer box (100), an inner tray (200), and locking mechanism (300) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The inner tray (200) includes a first eyelet (225e) and a second eyelet (255e), and when the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are in the first position the first protrusion (320b) and the second protrusion (320c) extend through the first eyelet (225e) and the second eyelet (255e), respectively, locking the inner tray (200) to the outer box (100), and when the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are in the second position the first protrusion (320b) and the second protrusion (320c) are positioned between the first eyelet (225e) and the second eyelet (255e) unlocking the inner tray from the outer box.
The surfaces forming the cuboid shape of the outer box (100) are quadrilaterals.
A package comprising: an outer box (100), an inner tray (200) slidable in and out of the outer box (100), the inner tray (200) including an open ended chamber to store items, the outer box (100) and the inner tray (200) forming an hexahedron when the inner tray (200) is slid into the outer box (100) and a locking mechanism (300) to lock the inner tray (200) to the outer box (100) and unlock the inner tray (200) from the outer box (100), the locking mechanism (300) mountable along an interior of the compartment of the inner tray (200).
The locking mechanism (300) comprises a spring loaded mount (320) that may include a first lever (310a), a second lever (310b), a first protrusion (320b), and a second protrusion (320c). When the locking mechanism (300) is mounted along the interior of the open ended chamber of the inner tray (200) and the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are in a first position, the first protrusion (320b) and the second protrusion (320c) lock the inner tray (200) to the outer box (100), and when the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are in a second position, the first protrusion (320b) and the second protrusion (320c) unlock the inner tray (200) from the outer box (100), so that the inner tray (200) is slideable in and out of the outer box (100).
The inner tray (200) includes a first eyelet (215e) and a second eyelet (245e), and when the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are in the first position the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend through the first eyelet (215e) and the second eyelet (245e), respectively, locking the inner tray (200) to the outer box (100), and when the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are in the second position the first protrusion (320b) and the second protrusion (320c) are positioned between the first eyelet (215e) and the second eyelet (245e) unlocking the inner tray (200) from the outer box (100).
When fully assembled the package is able to stand on a short side of the outer box. The locking mechanism (300) is mountable along a surface the interior tray and not viewable when the package is standing on the short side of the outer box. The structure and position of the locking mechanism allows for efficient use of outer box for labeling and advertising.
The outer box (100) including a first side wall (105) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (105a), a front edge (105b), a first side edge (105c), and a second side edge (105d). The front edge (105b) having a fold line, the first side edge (105c) having a fold line, and the second side edge (105d) having a fold line and a four tooth perforation across the fold line.
The outer box (100) further including a first dog ear flap (115). The first dog ear flap (115) being square shaped and including a back edge (115a), a front edge (115b), a first side edge (115c) that is tooth perforated, a second side edge (115d) and a first eyelet (115e). The first side edge (115c) of the first dog ear flap (115) bordering with the second side edge (105d) of the first side wall (105). The first side edge (115c) of the first dog ear flap (115) having a fold line and a four tooth perforation across the fold line. The first side edge (115c) of the first dog ear flap (115) enabling the first dog ear flap (115) to be folded onto a surface of the first side wall (105). An first eyelet (115e) being formed on a surface of the first dog ear flap (115). The first eyelet (115e) being a cut out to receive a protrusion of the locking mechanism (300).
The outer box (100) further including first flip top flap (110) being quadrilateral shaped and including a back edge (110a), a front edge (110b), a first side edge (110c) and a second side edge (110d). The second side edge (110d) of the first flip top flap (110) having a fold line. The second side edge (110d) of the first flip flap bordering the first side edge (105c) of the first side wall (105).
The outer box (100) further including a front base (120) being rectangular shape and including a back edge (120a), a front edge (120b), a first side edge (120c), and a second side edge (120d). The back edge (120a), front edge (120b), first side edge (120c), and second side edge (120d) having a folding line.
The outer box (100) further including a first panel (130) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (130a), a front edge (130b), a first side edge (130c), and a second side edge (130d). The first side edge (130c) have a fold line and bordering the second side edge (120d) of the front base (120). The first panel (130) foldable onto a surface of the front base (120) and reinforcing the fold outer box.
The outer box (100) further including a second flip top flap (125) including a side edge (125b) and a curved edge (125a). The side edge (125b) including a fold line and bordering the first side edge (120c) of the front base (120).
The outer box (100) further including a second side wall (135) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (135a), a front edge (135b), a first side edge (135c), and a second side edge (135d). The back edge (135a), front edge (135b), first side edge (135c) of the second side wall (135) having fold line. The second side edge (135d) of the second side wall (135) having a four tooth perforation across the fold line.
The outer box (100) further including a second dog ear (145) being square shaped and including a back edge (145a), a front edge (145b), a first side edge (145c) that is tooth perforated, a second side edge (145d) and a second eyelet (145e). The first side edge (145c) bordering the second side edge (135d) of the second side wall (135). The first side edge (145c) having a folding line and a four tooth perforation across the fold line. The second eyelet (145e) being a cut out to receive a lever of the locking mechanism (300).
The outer box (100) further including a third flip top flap (140) being quadrilateral shaped and including an back edge (140a), an front edge (140b), a first side edge (140c) and a second side edge (140d). The second side edge (140d) having a folding line. The third flip top flap (140) foldable onto a surface of the second side wall (135).
The outer box (100) further including a back base (150) being rectangular shape and including a back edge (150a), a front edge (150b), a first side edge (150c), and a second side edge (150d). The back edge (150a), front edge (150b), first side edge (150c), and second side edge (150d) of the back base (150) having a folding line.
The outer box (100) further including a second panel (160) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (160a), a front edge (160b), a first side edge (160c), and a second side edge (160d). The first side edge (160c) of the second panel (160) having a folding line. The first side edge (160c) of the second panel foldable onto a surface of the back base (150).
The outer box (100) further including a glue panel (165) being quadrilateral shaped and including an adhesive surface, a back edge (165a), a front edge (165b), a first side edge (165c) and a second side edge (165d). The back edge (165a) of the glue panel (165) having a folding line.
The outer box (100) is assembled by folding the first panel (130), along the first side edge (130c) of the first panel (130), onto a surface of the front base (120), folding the second panel (160), along the first side edge (160c) of the second panel (160), onto a surface of the back base (150), attaching a surface of the first side wall (105) to the adhesive surface of the glue panel (165), folding the first dog ear flap (115), along the first side edge (115c) of the first dog ear flap (115), onto a surface of first side wall (105) and folding the second dog ear (145), along the first side edge (145c) of the second dog ear (145), onto a surface of the second side wall (135) thereby leaving an opening at a first end of the outer box, and folding the first flip top flap (110), along the second side edge (110d) of the first flip top flap (110), folding the second flip top flap (125), along the side edge (125d) of the second flip top flap (125), folding the third flip top flap (140), along the second side edge (140d) of the third flip top flap (140), so that a second opening at a second end of the outer box (100) is closed.
The inner tray (200) further including first inner side wall (210) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (210a), a front edge (210b), a first side edge (210c), a second side edge (210d), and a first eyelet (210e). The back edge (210a) and the front edge (210b) of the first inner side wall (210) having a folding line. The back edge (210a) of the first inner side wall (210) bordering the front edge (205b) of the inner bottom base (205).
The inner tray (200) further including first outer side wall (215) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (215a), a front edge (215b), a first side edge (215c), and a second side edge (215d). The back edge (215a), front edge (215b), first side edge (215c), and second side edge (215d) of the first outer side wall (215) having folding lines. The back edge (215a) of the first outer side wall (215) bordering with the front edge (210b) of the first inner side wall (210).
The inner tray (200) further including a first dog ear flap (220) being square shaped and including a front edge (220a), a back edge (220b), a first side edge (220c), and a second side edge (220d). The back edge (220b) of the first dog ear flap (220) having a folding line.
The inner tray (200) further including a first pincher side flap (225) being square shaped and including a front edge (225a), a back edge (225b), a first side edge (225c), a second side edge (225d), and a first eyelet (225e). The back edge (225b) of the first pincher side flap (225) having a folding line.
The inner tray (200) further including an outer bottom base (230) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (230a), a front edge (230b), a first side edge (230c), and a second side edge (230d). The back edge (230a), front edge (230b), first side edge (230c), and the second side edge (230d) of the outer bottom base (230) having a folding lines.
The inner tray (200) further including an outer side flap (235) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (235a), a front edge (235b), a first side edge (235c), and a second side edge (235d). The back edge (235a), the front edge (235b), and the second side edge (235d) having a folding line.
The inner tray (200) further including a second pincher side flap (240) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (240a), a front edge (240b), a first side edge (240c), and a second side edge (240d). The back edge (240a), the front edge (240b), and the first side edge (240c) having a folding line.
The inner tray (200) further including a second outer side wall (245) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (245a), a front edge (245b), a first side edge (245c), a second side edge (245d), and a second eyelet (245e). The back edge (245a) and the front edge (245b) of the of the second outer side wall (245) having folding lines.
The inner tray (200) further including a second dog ear flap (250) being square shaped and including a back edge (250a), a front edge (250b), a first side edge (250c), and a second side edge (250d). The first side edge (250c) of the second dog ear flap (250) having a folding line.
The inner tray (200) further including a third pincher side flap (255) being square shaped and including a back edge (255a), a front edge (255b), a first side edge (255c), a second side edge (255d), and a second eyelet (255e). The first side edge (255c) of the third pincher side flap (255) having a folding line.
The inner tray (200) further including a second inner side wall (260) being rectangular shaped and including a back edge (260a), a front edge (260b), a first side edge (260c), a second side edge (260d), and a second eyelet (260e). A back edge (260a) of the second inner side wall (260) having a folding line.
Wherein the inner tray (200) is assembled by folding the first dog ear flap (220), along the second side edge (220d) of the first dog ear flap (220). And then folding the outer side flap (235), along the second side edge (235d) of the outer side flap (235), folding the second dog ear flap (250), along the second side edge (250d) of the second dog ear flap (250), so that the first dog ear flap (220), the outer side flap (235), and the second dog ear flap (250) extend in a direction perpendicular to the inner bottom base (205). Then folding the first dog ear flap (220), along the back edge (220b) of the first dog ear flap (220), and folding the second dog ear flap (250), along the back edge (250a) of the second dog ear flap (250), so that the first dog ear flap (220) and the second dog ear flap (250) are perpendicular to the outer side flap (235).
Then folding the first pincher side flap (225), along the first side edge (225c) of the first pincher side flap (225), folding the second pincher side flap (240), along the first side edge (240c) of the second pincher side flap (240), folding the third pincher side flap (255), along the first side edge (255c) of the third pincher side flap (255), so that the first pincher side flap (225), the second pincher side flap (240), and third pincher side flap (255) are perpendicular to the inner bottom base (205).
Then folding the first pincher side flap (225), along the back edge (225b) of the first pincher side flap (225), folding the third pincher side flap (255), along the back edge (255a) of the third pincher side flap (255), so that the first pincher side flap (225) and the third pincher side flap (255) are perpendicular the second pincher side flap (240).
Then folding the first inner side wall (210), along front edge (210b) of the first inner side wall (210), so that a surface of the inner bottom base (205) lays on a surface of the outer bottom base (230) and the inner bottom base (205) folds over the first dog ear flap (220) and the first pincher side flap (225) and the first inner side wall (210) and the first outer side wall (215) are adjacent to each other and perpendicular to the inner bottom base (205).
Then folding the second outer side wall (245), along the back edge (245a) of the second outer side wall (245), so that the second inner side wall (260) and the second outer side wall (245) are adjacent to each other, and the second inner side wall (260) folds over the second dog ear flap (250) and the third pincher side flap (255) and the second inner side wall (260) are perpendicular to the inner bottom base (205)
The inner tray (200) when assembled is slidable into and out the outer box (100) when assembled. The dimensions in
A locking mechanism (300) (locking mechanism may also be referred to as a lock or apparatus) may include an H bar (315) having a first lip 322a and a second lip 322b. In an example, the first lip 322a and the second lip 322b form a pair of flanges 324 with each flange of the pair of flanges 324 having a U shape in cross section to form the H bar.
The locking mechanism (300) also includes a spring loaded mount (320) with a pincher having a first lever (310a), a second lever (310b), and a spring loaded part (320a) disposed in between and coupled to the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b). In an example, the spring loaded part (320a) may be in form of a Ω shaped part. For example, the spring loaded part (320a) in form of an upside down U, or a horseshoe, shape in cross section with a pair of arms and a curved bend between the pair of arms (327). The pair of arms (327) being spring loaded due to each arm of the pair of arms (327) being urged away from each other to provide a biasing force between the pair of arms (327) so that the pair of arms (327) may be urged towards each other by pressing against the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) to release a first protrusion (320b) corresponding the first lever 310a and release a second protrusion (320c) corresponding to the second lever 310b from respective eyelets of the first eyelet (215e) and the second eyelet 245e. A first protrusion (320b) may be coupled to be positioned on one side of the spring loaded mount (320) and a second protrusion (320c) may be coupled to be positioned on second side of the spring loaded mount (320).
The locking mechanism (300) is assembled by inserting the pincher between the first lip 322a and second lip 322b of the H bar (315). In an example, the locking mechanism (300) may be assembled by inserting the pincher in at least one groove among a groove 326 and a groove 328 formed on at least one of the first lip 322a and the second lip 322b. When the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are squeezed toward each other the spring loaded part (320a) is capable of contracting, to move the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) in a first direction and when the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are released from being squeezed, the spring loaded part (320a) expands, moving the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) in a second direction. The first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) may have a recessed curved shape to accommodate two fingers of a person to perform a pinch to squeeze the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) towards each lever of the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b). In an example, at least one lever from among the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) may be have a semicircular concave shape in which each lever is curved inward and facing each short end of the locking mechanism 300 or facing each flange of the flanges (324).
When the locking mechanism (300) is assembled, the locking mechanism (300) is insertable into an interior of an inner tray (200) with the H bar (315) positioned in the interior of the inner tray (200) and the first lever (310a) and second lever (310b) positioned to rest over or along a top edge of the second pincher side flap (240) so that the first lever (310a) and second lever (310b) face outside of the package, and so that the first protrusion (320b) is insertable through the first eyelet (225e) of the first pincher side flap (225) to contact an interior of the outer box (100) and the second protrusion (320c) is inserted through the second eyelet (255e) of the third pincher side flap (255) to contact the interior of the outer box (100) so that the inner tray (200) is locked and unlocked to the outer box (100) based on the whether the first lever (310a) and the second lever (310b) are squeezed. The inner tray (200) may be locked to the outer box (100) based on a biasing force of the first protrusion (320b) and the second protrusion (320c) contacting the interior surfaces of the outer box (100). In an example, a first interior box eyelet may be formed by the first eyelet 210e, the first eyelet 215e, and the first eyelet 225e; and a second interior box eyelet may be formed by the second eyelet 245e; the second eyelet 255e and the second eyelet 260e. In an example, a first outer box interior eyelet may be formed by the first eyelet 115e and a second outer box interior eyelet may be formed by the second eyelet 145e.
In some examples, a 24 pt paperboard with a tear resistant, matte polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon laminate can be used for the material of the foldable outer box and the foldable inner tray. Likewise, in some examples the locking mechanism can use polyoxymethlyene (POM) material. Additionally, a 3 ml Polyester window may be added to the outer box, so the contents of the inner tray may be viewed from the outer box.
Some examples also include an apparatus comprising a body having a first lever, a second lever, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The body formed to contract based on pressure applied to the first lever and the second lever and expand when the pressure is released. This pressure results in a spring like action to provide a bias force. The apparatus also includes a H bar insertable into and detachable from the body, wherein an anchor slot is formed between a surface of the body and a surface of the H bar. When the H bar is inserted into the body, the first lever and the second lever are movable between a first position and a second position based on the pressure applied to the first lever and the second lever. In the first position, the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend outward to a first distance from the H bar and in the second position the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend outward to a second distance from the H bar, the second distance being less than the first distance.
The many features and advantages of the described examples are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the examples that fall within the true spirit and scope thereof. Further, since numerous modifications and changes may readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventive examples to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope thereof.
The words “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include plural forms of elements unless specifically referenced as a single element. The term “at least” preceding a listing of elements denotes any one or any combination of the elements in the listing. In other words, the expression “at least one of . . . ” when preceding a list of elements, modifies the entire list of elements and does not modify the individual elements of the list.
The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant or listed items or any one item among a plurality of relevant or listed items.
The terms “comprise(ing),” “include(ing),” and “have(ing)” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, functions, processes/operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, functions, processes/operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
In the specification, when an element (part or portion) is “coupled” to another element, the elements may be “directly connected”, or may also be “connected” via another element therebetween. The “coupling” may be mechanical, or resin, plastic, by way of injection molding. Also, when a region “includes” an element, the region may further include another element instead of excluding the other element, unless otherwise differently stated.
While this disclosure has been shown and described with reference to examples thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope as defined by the claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/348,714, filed Jun. 3, 2022, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63348714 | Jun 2022 | US |