Method and apparatus for tamper resistant packaging

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tamper resistant packaging comprises a container ( 102 ) having a top ( 106 ), and a bottom ( 108 ). The container has a shape such that a top container perimeter has a first length, and a bottom container perimeter has a second length which is great than the first length. The container also has a tab ( 124 ) extending outward from a side surface of the container. The packaging further comprises a sleeve ( 104 ) adapted to slide over the top of the container, the sleeve having a bottom opening that has a sleeve bottom perimeter that has a third length that is greater than the first length and less than the second length such that the sleeve will not slide over the bottom of the container. The sleeve includes an engaging member ( 132 ) adapted to engage the tab.

1 . A packaging apparatus comprising: 
 a container having a top, a bottom a front a back a first side and a second side,    the container having a shape such that the front and the back taper inward from the top to the bottom of the container and the first side and the second side taper outward from top to the bottom of the container;    a tab extending outward from a side surface of the container; and    a sleeve for sliding over the top of the container, the sleeve having a bottom opening that has a sleeve bottom perimeter that is equal in length to the bottom container perimeter such that the sleeve will not slide over the bottom of the container,    wherein the sleeve includes slot adapted to engage the tab.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a first half and a second half that fold together in a closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve has a complimentary shape to the container.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is substantially adjacent to the top of the container preventing the sleeve from sliding off the top once engaged.  
   
   
       5 . A packaging apparatus comprising: 
 a container having a top, bottom, a first side, a second side, a front and a back,    the container having a shape wherein the first side and the second side taper inward from the top of the container to the bottom of the container, and    wherein the front and the back taper outward from the top of the container to the bottom of the container, and    wherein the container has a tab; and    a sleeve for covering the container, the sleeve formed by a first side a second side a front and a back and having a bottom opening, wherein the front and the back are tapered inward from a top of the sleeve to a bottom of the sleeve, and    wherein the first side and the second side are tapered outward from the top of the sleeve to the bottom of the sleeve, and    wherein the opening at the bottom of the sleeve is the same size as the bottom of the container such that the sleeve does not fit over the bottom of the container, and    wherein the sleeve has an engaging member to engage the tab preventing the sleeve from sliding back over the top of the container.    
   
   
       6 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the container is a clam shell container having a first half and a second half that fold together to form the container in a closed position.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first half has a fastening first member and the second half has a second fastening member to fasten the first half and the second half in the closed position.  
   
   
       8 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the tab is at the top of the container.  
   
   
       9 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the engaging member is a notch.  
   
   
       10 . A method for assembling a tamper resistant package comprising: 
 closing a container, the container having a top and a bottom, a front a back, a first side and a second side; and    sliding a sleeve having a bottom opening inner perimeter the same size as the bottom outer perimeter the container over the closed container from the top of the container to the bottom by substantially flattening the bottom portion of the sleeve so that a bottom opening of the sleeve fits over the top of the container and sliding the bottom opening to the bottom of the container wherein the sleeve can not slide further because the bottom opening is the same size has the same size as the bottom of the container.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising engaging a tab of the container with a notch in the sleeve, preventing the sleeve from sliding off the top of the container.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method of closing the container includes folding a first portion and a second portion of a clam shell container together.  
   
   
       13 . A packaging apparatus comprising: 
 a container having a substantially flat top portion, and having a wedge shape, tapering outward from the top to a bottom in a first direction, and tapering inward from top to bottom in a second direction,    wherein the bottom of the container has a perimeter equal in length to the top;    a sleeve having a shape that when substantially flattened has an inner perimeter substantially equal to the length of the flat top such that the sleeve slide over the top of the container, and opens to conform to the container size as the sleeve is slid over the container, wherein the sleeve does not slide over the bottom of the container wedging thereon; and    a tab that extends from the container substantially near the top, the tab flexible such that it bends as the sleeve slide over the tab, and engages a notch in the sleeve once the sleeve reaches a maximum sliding distance onto the container.