Packaging with sliding tray lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10696443-B1
Application number	US-201715697871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 7, 2017
Priority date	Mar 1, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A package may include a sled configured to receive a product, and a sleeve configured to receive the sled through a first or second opening. The sleeve may include a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second sidewalls, defining the first and second openings. The sleeve may include a rib extending downward from the top wall and positioned substantially parallel to an edge of the top wall proximate the first opening. The rib may engage the sled when the package is in a closed position, and in response to a force sliding the sleeve relative to the sled, the rib may deflect and produce an indication of opening or closing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging, comprising:
a sled configured to receive a product, the sled comprising:
a bottom surface for receiving the product;
first and second sidewalls; and
third and fourth sidewalls perpendicular to the first and second sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls of the sled define an open top of the sled; and

a sleeve formed from a continuous paper-based substrate, the sleeve comprising:
a top wall;
a bottom wall;
first and second sidewalls, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, and the sidewalls of the sleeve define a first opening at an end of the sleeve;
a first rib extending downward from the top wall and disposed parallel to an edge of the top wall proximate the first opening, wherein the first rib is configured to engage the first sidewall of the sled when the packaging moves to a closed position, and wherein the first rib is spaced apart from the sidewalls of the sleeve such that the third and fourth sidewalls of the sled may slide between the first rib and the first and second sidewalls of the sleeve;
a second rib extending downward from the top wall and disposed parallel to an edge of the top wall proximate a second opening at an opposing end of the sleeve from the first opening, wherein the second rib is configured to engage the second sidewall of the sled when the packaging moves to the closed position; and
wherein, in response to a force sliding the sleeve relative to the sled when the packaging is in the closed position, the first rib is flexed and released by the first sidewall of the sled, wherein the releasing of the first rib produces an indication of opening the packaging,
wherein each of the first and second ribs is spaced equidistantly from edges of the first and second openings, respectively,
wherein the second rib is spaced apart from the sidewalls of the sleeve such that the third and fourth sidewalls of the sled may slide between the second rib and the first and second sidewalls of the sleeve, and
wherein the top wall and the first rib are formed from a continuous substrate such that the first rib extends away from the top wall and is folded back onto itself towards the top wall.

2. A packaging, comprising:
a sled configured to receive a product; and
a paper-based sleeve configured to receive the sled through a first or second opening of the sleeve, the sleeve comprising:
a top wall; and
a first rib extending downward from the top wall and positioned parallel to an edge of the top wall proximate the first opening, wherein the first rib interferes with and passes over an upper edge of the sled when the packaging moves to a closed position, and wherein the first rib maintains the sled in position relative to the sleeve when the packaging is in the closed position,
wherein the top wall and first rib are formed from a continuous paper-based substrate such that the first rib extends away from the top wall and is folded back onto itself towards the top wall, and
wherein the sleeve further comprises a second rib extending downward from the top wall and positioned parallel to an edge of the top wall proximate the second opening, wherein the second rib maintains the sled in position relative to the sleeve when the packaging is in the closed position.

3. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the first and second ribs are spaced equidistantly from the edges of the first and second openings, respectively.

4. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein one of the sled or sleeve is constructed entirely from paper.

5. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is integrally formed from a continuous substrate.

6. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the first rib is spaced apart from a first sidewall.

7. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein in response to a force sliding the sleeve relative to the sled, the first rib is deflected and produces audible indication of opening or closing.

8. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the first rib comprises a lower fillet.

9. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the first rib comprises an upper fillet.

10. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the sled further comprises:
a bottom surface for receiving a product;
first and second sidewalls, the first sidewall configured to engage the first rib when the packaging is in the closed position; and
third and fourth sidewalls perpendicular to and connecting to the first and second sidewalls, wherein the sled is substantially rigid, and wherein the third and fourth sidewalls are disposed in a space between the first rib and sidewalls of the sleeve.

11. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the sled further comprises a hang tab configured such that a user may pull the hang tab to move the sled from the sleeve from the closed position to an open position.

12. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein a lower edge of the first rib is preprocessed in a pattern having alternating creasing and cutting operations along a length of the lower edge.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Mundt Matthew
• Yang Connie
• Mccarren Jonathan M
• Mehta Bhautik H
• Rosebrock Evan M

Classifications

• B65D55/02

  Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure · CPC title

• B65D5/38 Primary

  Drawer-and-shell type containers · CPC title

• B65D43/12

  guided for removal by sliding · CPC title

• B65D51/18

  Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures {(B65D51/247 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D81/18

  providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient (with thermal insulation B65D81/38) · CPC title