Package with a locking sleeve

Abstract

A package is provided having a tapered sleeve that has a greater width on a proximal end than a distal end of the sleeve, the sleeve having one or more foldable tabs and a first opening, and a tapered slidable insert having a greater width on a proximal end than a distal end of the slidable insert, the slidable insert having one or more indents, and the slidable insert being insertable into the sleeve through the first opening. The one or more foldable tabs align with the one or more corresponding indents, providing a locking mechanism. The foldable tab(s) can be located at the proximal end of the sleeve and the indent(s) can be located at the proximal end of the slidable insert, or the foldable tab(s) and the indent(s) can be located at a distal end of the sleeve and slidable insert, respectively.

1 . A package comprising:
 a tapered sleeve having a greater width on a proximal end than a distal end of the sleeve, the sleeve having one or more foldable tabs and a first opening; and   a tapered slidable insert having a greater width on a proximal end than a distal end of the slidable insert, the slidable insert having one or more indents, and the slidable insert being insertable into the sleeve through the first opening;   wherein the one or more foldable tabs align with the one or more corresponding indents, providing a locking mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more foldable tabs are located at the proximal end of the sleeve and the one or more indents are located at the proximal end of the slidable insert. 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the tapered sleeve is substantially the same as the height of the tapered slidable insert. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a hanging tab on the proximal end of the slidable insert. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered sleeve has a second opening opposite of the first opening. 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 two foldable tabs on the proximal end of the tapered sleeve.   
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 two indents at the proximal end of the tapered slidable insert.   
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the two indents at the proximal end of the tapered slidable insert align with the two foldable tabs at the proximal end of the tapered sleeve. 
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered slidable insert has a top and bottom covering and encloses a product positioned within the tapered slidable insert. 
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more indents are recessed into a thickness of a wall of the tapered slidable insert. 
   
   
       11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered sleeve and tapered slidable insert are made of a material comprising a plastic material. 
   
   
       12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the plastic material is chosen from one of the following materials: polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and polystyrene. 
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered sleeve and tapered slidable insert are made of a paper material. 
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more foldable tabs each have a notch that provides a spring-back feature of the one or more foldable tabs. 
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the one or more foldable tabs on the tapered sleeve corresponds to a shape of the one or more indents on the tapered slidable insert. 
   
   
       16 . A method of packaging a product, the method comprising:
 positioning a product inside a tapered slidable insert, the tapered slidable insert having one or more indents on a proximal end of the tapered slidable insert;   sliding the insert into an opening of a tapered sleeve, the tapered sleeve having one or more foldable tabs on a proximal end of the tapered sleeve; and   locking the tapered slidable insert into the tapered sleeve by aligning the one or more indents with the one or more foldable tabs.   
   
   
       17 . A method of manufacturing a product package, the method comprising:
 cutting one or more panels to create a tapered sleeve;   scoring one or more foldable tabs located at a top of the panels;   folding the one or more tabs inward;   securing the panels together to form the tapered sleeve such that a width at a proximal end of the tapered sleeve is greater than a distal end of the tapered sleeve; and   sliding a tapered slidable insert into the tapered sleeve.   
   
   
       18 . The method of manufacturing a product package of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 inserting a product within the tapered slidable insert before sliding the slidable tapered insert into the tapered sleeve.   
   
   
       19 . The method of manufacturing a product package of  claim 17 , wherein the tapered slidable insert is vacuum formed, molded or fabricated. 
   
   
       20 . The method of manufacturing a product package of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 locking the tapered slidable insert into the tapered sleeve by securing the one or more foldable tabs on a proximal end of the tapered sleeve into one or more indents on a proximal end of the tapered slidable insert.