PAPERBOARD PACKAGE WITH RETAINING STRAP

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of United States provisional application serial number 61/580,481 filed on December 27, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present application is directed to security packages and, more particularly, to a paperboard security card with content-retaining elements. In one embodiment the package is a security card/package predominantly formed from paper board.

[0003] In one embodiment the package includes front and rear opposing cards or panels, with content-retaining straps extending from at least one of the front and rear surfaces to retain a content item. The opposing cards as well as the content-retaining straps may be made of paper board and can include a non paper based layer that prevents or limits tearing, access and or disassembly of the package to gain access to package. The product-retaining straps may be formed as an extension of one or both cards.

[0004] The package may be formed from a single sheet or card that is then folded, formed and bonded into a finished structure.

[0005] Manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods, such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, health and beauty products and the like, typically package their products in tamper resistant security packages. For example, many consumer goods are packaged in blister or clamshell packages formed by positioning a consumer good in a flanged blister made from various polymeric and/or paperboard materials and sealing the flanged blister between two paperboard substrates. Consumers have voiced disapproval of such packages because of the difficulty of opening the same and the potential for being cut on a rough edge especially of plastic blisters. Packages may therefore be made based largely on paperboard, for example, NATRALOCK packages. Packaging made primarily of paperboard is more sustainable than packaging made from petroleum-based plastics. The paperboard used in such packages may be tear-resistant as described in commonly assigned US Patent No. 7, 144,635.

[0006] It would be useful to have a security package that has provides tear-resistant, tamper-resistant, and theft-resistant features, allowing visibility of a product without necessarily using a transparent blister material such as plastic.

SUMMARY

[0007] In one aspect, a package is disclosed for holding an item, the package including front and rear panels or cards, and at least one pair of product-retaining straps. Other aspects of the disclosed packaging structure will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a plan view and side view of a blank for forming an exemplary package;

[0009] FIG. 2 shows plan and side views of a product item placed upon a back panel portion of the blank;

[0010] FIG. 3 shows plan and side views of a first portion of a strap being folded over the product item;

[0011] FIG. 4 shows plan and side views of a second portion of a strap folded over the product item, the first and second portions of the strap secured together;

[0012] FIG. 5 shows plan and side views of a front panel portion of the blank, folded upward over the product item and straps;

[0013] FIG. 6 shows plan and side views of the package with the upper ends of the front panel attached to the upper end of the back panel, completing the closure of the package;

[0014] FIG. 7 shows plan and side views of a different product item placed upon a back panel portion of the blank; [0015] FIG. 8 shows plan and side views of the straps folded over the different product item, the first and second portions of the strap secured together;

[0016] FIG. 9 shows plan and side views of the different product item, folded upon itself;

[0017] FIG. 10 shows plan and side views of a front panel portion of the blank, folded upward over the different product item;

[0018] FIG. 11 shows plan and side views of the package with the upper ends of the front panel attached to the upper end of the back panel, completing the closure of the package;

[0019] FIG. 12 shows plan and side views of another embodiment of a package, with a first portion of a strap being folded over a product item;

[0020] FIG. 13 shows plan and side views of yet another embodiment of a package, with first and second portions of a strap being folded over a product item;

[0021] FIG. 14 shows plan and side views of still another embodiment of a package, with a strap folded over a product item;

[0022] FIG. 15 shows a partial view and a plan view of another embodiment of a package with a strap folded around a product item; and

[0023] FIG. 16 shows a partial view and a plan view of another embodiment of a package with a strap folded around a smaller product item.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Reference will be made to FIGURES 1 - 16 which show exemplary embodiments of a paperboard package. Where there is more than one of the same feature, sometimes only one will be denoted by a reference numeral. If different figures have a common feature, it may only be described one time. Similar features are sometimes denoted by the same numeral even if not identical. Where assembly steps are described, these steps are exemplary and are not to be limiting as to the sequence of operations used to arrive at the final package.

Also, directions such as up, down, top, bottom, front, back, etc. are used for convenience in describing the package and are not meant to be limiting. The packages described may be made of one or several blanks (that is, the cut sheet parts from which the package components are made by folding and other steps). However, it should be understood that certain unitary blanks may be provided instead as more than one part, and certain blanks may be combined into single blanks, while still arriving at the same finished package.

[0025] The packages are shown holding example contents in the form of a regularly- shaped product item such as a smartphone, PDA, wallet, etc. However, other shapes of contents may also be held in such packages. One content or product item is shown in each package; however two or more content items may be held by appropriate modifications to the package.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a blank 1 (and side view 1 A) for forming a package. The blank may include a front panel 10 hingedly connected to a back panel 20 through hinge or fold lines 22. Alternately, front panel 10 and back panel 20 may be formed from separate blanks and connected together by adhesive, heat seal, stapling, or other connection methods. A bottom panel 24 may be provided between the front panel 10 and back panel 20. A top panel 14 may be hingedly attached to the front panel 10, for example along hinge or fold lines 12. An extension panel 16 may be hingedly attached to the top panel 14. Hang holes 18, 28 may be provided on extension panel 16 and back panel 20, respectively. One or more windows 15 A, 15B may be provided one the front panel 10 or the back panel.

[0027] Extending from either the front or back panel there may be one or more retaining straps 36 (here extending from and hingedly attached to back panel 20 through hinge or fold line 31). The retaining straps may extend from edges of the back panel 20 or the front panel 10. The retaining straps may extend from opposing edges of the back panel 20 or front panel 10. Side panels 32 may be present between back panel 20 (or front panel 10) and the straps 36.

[0028] The ends of the retaining straps may have strap engaging features such as a slit 38 and arrow lock 39. The location and size of the retaining straps 36 may be chosen according to manufacturing preference. For example they may be placed upon the front or the back panel. There may be more than one pair of retaining straps. Strap windows 35 may be provided in the retaining straps, for example near their juncture with back panel 20. The retaining straps 36 may extend in a direction generally parallel to hinge line or lines 22. For example if the hinge lines 22 extend sideways as shown in FIG. 1, the retaining straps may also extend sideways. However, although the retaining straps 36 as shown extend at a right angle to the side of the back panel, they may also extend at an angle or angles, provided that upon assembly of the package, the strap retaining devices described below are able to hold the straps closed.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a product item 50 placed upon back panel 20. In this example product item 50 is approximately as large as back panel 20. However, the product item might comprise a first product section upon the back panel 20 extending across a fold in the product item to a second product section upon front panel 10, as shown later in FIG. 7. Such a product item would for example be found in a wallet or an electronic device with a hinged or flip-top cover. The product may have more than two sections hingedly or otherwise connected together.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows one of the retaining straps 36 folded over upon product item 50.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows the other of the retaining straps 36 folded over upon product item 50, in the fashion of a belt, with the ends of the retaining strap connected together through strap retaining devices. The strap retaining devices may be interlocking features such as a slit 38 and arrow lock 39. The retaining straps 36 when thus connected together restrict sideways movement of product item 50. More than one pair of retaining straps may be used. If the product items extends (e.g. over a product item fold) onto front panel 10, one or more pairs of retaining straps may also be used which extend from front panel 10. Instead of slit 38 and arrow lock 39, the strap retaining devices might be other attachments such as adhesive, glue dot, staples, or other attachment.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows the front panel 10 having been folded upward over product item 50. The product item may still be visible through one or more windows 15 A, 15B. The strap retaining devices (for example slit 38 and arrow lock 39, or other strap retaining devices) however are now concealed by the front panel 10 and are thus (in the completely assembled package shown on FIG. 6) inaccessible. Thus the retaining strap cannot be easily taken apart.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows the extension panel 16 folded into contact with the top end of back panel 20, to which it may be attached. Attachment may be by adhesive (heat seal, glue, etc) or mechanical means. The secure attachment of front panel 10 to back panel 20 may restrict vertical movement of product item 50. [0034] It may thus be seen that the product item is held in a sleeve wrapped around the product, securing the product in one direction (here the 'vertical' direction), the sleeve having open or partly open sides, the product item however prevented from coming out of the package in a second (here sideways) direction by at least one pair of product retaining straps.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a package 2 (and side view 2A) for holding a different product item which may be somewhat longer and may include first portion 50A and second portion 50B joined by a hinge portion 50C. Dimensions of the package elements may be adjusted according to manufacturing preference to best fit the product. In this example, assuming product first portion 50A and second portion 50B are half as thick as the earlier product 50, then the 'width' dimension of side sections 32A may be made approximately half as wide as the 'width' dimension of side sections 32 previously shown. However, the product item shown in FIG. 7 may also be packaged in package 1, with the product retaining straps wrapped around both first portion 50A and second portion 50B. With a product having N sections, the dimensions of the product retaining straps may be chosen to wrap around one to N of the product sections, according to manufacturing preference.

[0036] Retaining straps 36 may be provided on either or both of front panel 10 and back panel 20. FIG. 8 shows retaining straps 36 folded across first portion 50A and secured by strap engaging features such as slit 38 and arrow tab 39. However, other strap engaging features may be used, such as adhesive, glue dot, stapling, etc.

[0037] FIG. 9 shows the product item folded about hinge portion 50C, so that second portion 50B now overlays first portion 50A.

[0038] FIG. 10 shows the front panel 10 having been folded upward over the product. The product item may still be visible through one or more windows 15 A, 15B. The strap retaining devices slit 38 and arrow lock 39 however are now firmly sandwiched between the first product portion 50A and second product portion 50B, which in turn are sandwiched between front panel 10 and back panel 20. Thus the retaining strap cannot be easily taken apart.

[0039] FIG. 11 shows the extension panel 16 folded into contact with the top end of back panel 20, to which it may be attached. Attachment may be adhesive (for example heat seal or glue) or mechanical (for example staples or stitching). The secure attachment of front panel 10 to back panel 20 may restrict vertical movement of the product item.

[0040] By proper dimensioning of the blank, the retaining straps 36 together with the wrap-around construction of the front panel 10 and back panel 20 may securely hold the product item within the package. It should be noted that portions of the front panel 10 (or back panel 20) might not be as wide as the full width of the package. However, preferably those portions of the front panel 10 or back panel 20 are wide enough to cover any adjacent strap retaining features 38, 39.

[0041] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a package 3 (including a side view 3 A), during assembly, where retaining straps 36 instead of joining together by strap engaging features such as a slit and arrow lock, may instead be held together by an adhesive 38A applied to one or both of retaining straps 36.

[0042] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of a package 4 (including a side view 4A), during assembly, where retaining straps 36 are provided at an angle to the sides of the package. The straps may overlap and be joined by strap engaging features such as a slit and arrow lock described previously, or an adhesive, glue dot, stapling, or other suitable method. Alternately, the straps 36 may be long enough and stiff enough so that once the front panel 10 is closed over straps 36, they may be held securely within the package even without strap engaging features.

[0043] FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of a package 5 (including a side view 5 A), during assembly, where one or more retaining straps 36 may be provided with one or more holes 39B to engage one or more features 38B on product item 50. Such features 38B may, for example, be knobs, buttons, protrusions, or other features on the product item 50. Once front panel 10 is closed over strap 36, it may be held securely within the package by the engagement with the features 38B on the product item 50. Depending on the height of features 38B, one or more apertures 15C may be provided on front panel 10 to provide clearance for features 38B. Alternately, windows 15A, 15B may be sized and/or shaped to provide clearance for features 38B.

[0044] FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of a package 6 (including a partial view 6A), during assembly, where one or more retaining straps 36 may be provided that wrap partly around product item 50. For example, retaining strap 36 may cross the forward or top surface of the product item from the right side, then wrap down and under the product item from the left side, with the retaining strap end 36A being located behind or under the back or bottom surface of the product. The retaining strap could of course come across the product item from the opposite (e.g. left) side. Once front panel 10 is closed over strap 36 and product item 50, the retaining strap end 36B may be snugly held between product item 50 and the back panel 20, thereby securely holding the product item.

[0045] FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of a package 7 (including a partial view 7A), during assembly, where one or more retaining straps 36 may be provided that wrap partly around product item 50. Package 7 may be similar to package 6, but may be adapted to hold a smaller product item 50, for example a product item 50 that is not as wide as package 7. Retaining strap 36 may cross the forward or top surface of the product item from the right side, then wrap down and under the product item from the left side, with the retaining strap end 36A being located behind or under the back or bottom surface of the product. The retaining strap could of course come across the product item from the opposite (e.g. left) side. Once front panel 10 is closed over strap 36 and product item 50, the retaining strap end 36B may be snugly held between product item 50 and the back panel 20, thereby securely holding the product item. If two product items 50 are contained in package 7, both may be retained by a single retaining strap 36, or each product item 50 may be retained by a separate retaining strap 36. If the product items are each half as wide (or less than half as wide) as the package 7, then a first product item 50 may be positioned to the right of the package and held by a retaining strap 36 connected to the right side of the package (as shown in FIG. 16) while the second product item 50 may be positioned to the left of the package and held by a retaining strap connected to the left edge of the package.

[0046] With a product item 50 generally smaller than the package capacity (as in Figure 16) it may be desirable to modify the size of windows 15A, 15B accordingly. With a product item 50 generally smaller than the package capacity the excess package volume may be left empty, or may be utilized to hold accessory items, product instructions, and the like.

[0047] With appropriate design, any of the packages described herein may hold more than one product item. [0048] The packages may comprise one or more additional panels connected to one or both of the front panel 10 and back panel 20. For example one or more additional panels may extend from the ends and / or sides of the front and/or back panels. Such additional panels, if used, may be located (in the finished package) between the front and back panels, or outside the front and /or back panels.

[0049] The material used for the blank may be coated on one or both surfaces. For example, one surface may have a graphics-receptive coating, while the opposite surface may have a coating for heat sealing and/or tear resistance. It may sometimes be desirable to have the graphic-receptive surfaces of the cards and straps to face outwards on the finished package, while the tear-resistant or heat-seal surfaces may face inwards. If more than one card is formed from a single blank, for example hingedly joined together, the blank may be designed so as to place the respective surfaces on the desired outward or inward orientation in the finished package.

[0050] The package here may comprise paperboard or plastic, and may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. While the package has been shown holding an example product item 50, it should be understood that other shapes of products, may be housed within the package.

[0051] The features described for the package herein may be alone or in combination with other described features. It is to be understood that a variety of materials may be used to form the package. However, for sustainability purposes, a paperboard based material may be used and for improved theft deterrence a tear resistant paperboard may be used. Package materials may include tear-proof materials such as DURAFOLD paperboard, tear-resistant materials such as NATRALOCK paperboard, as well as other types of paperboard or plastic materials. The packages may be made of one or more layers of material, including but not limited to one, two, three or more layers of material. Different parts of the package may comprise different materials and/or different numbers of layers.

[0052] Packages made of tear-resistant material may be difficult to open without first initiating a tear, which can often most readily be done by using a knife or scissors.

However, a package may be provided with a pre-cut tear initiation point, such as a perforation or a notch cut into the tear-resistant material, for example near its periphery. In such a case, to avoid unauthorized opening of the package before it is sold, a security tag may be used to cover up the tear initiation point. Use of a security device to cover a tear initiation point is also described in U.S. Provisional Application 61/025, 102 filed on January 31, 2008 and in International Application PCT/US09/32321 filed on January 29, 2009, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their respective entireties.

[0053] The package disclosed herein may be comprised mostly of paperboard, for example as described in International Application PCT/US08/051245. The paperboard used in such packages may be tear-resistant as described in commonly assigned US Patent No. 7,144,635. However, the package may also comprise plastic materials.

[0054] The package disclosed herein may be made from one or several blanks (that is, the cut sheet parts from which the package components are made by folding and other steps). However, it should be understood that certain unitary blanks may be provided instead as more than one part, and certain blanks may be combined into single blanks, while still arriving at the same finished package.

[0055] Where more than one blank is used, the blanks may be assembled in various stages, including assembling a unitary blank into a package, assembling separate blanks and then joining them to form a package, and joining two or more blanks together, for example by heat sealing, gluing, mechanical fastening, or otherwise and then forming the combined blanks into the package.

[0056] Portions of the package may be made of one, two, or more layers of material. It is to be understood that additional layers of material may be used based on manufacturing preferences. Portions of certain cards or panels may be folded over or around the portions of other cards or panels, creating multiple layers of material.