Locking packaging container

Abstract

The technology disclosed herein includes a re-lockable, environmentally friendly packaging apparatus including an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and at least one locking mechanism configured to lock the inner sleeve inside the outer sleeve. In some implementations, the locking mechanism is an interior mechanism, which locks the inner sleeve in its entirety in the outer sleeve. In some implementations, the locking mechanism is an interior sliding mechanism, which permits the inner sleeve to move partially out of the outer sleeve. In some implementations, the inner sleeve includes a pull tab for removal of the inner sleeve from inside the outer sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 sliding an inner sleeve into an outer sleeve of a packaging apparatus, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a bottom panel of the outer sleeve, a top panel of the outer sleeve, a middle panel of the outer sleeve, a locking tab of the outer sleeve, a first side panel of the outer sleeve, and a second side panel of the outer sleeve,   wherein, in an unassembled configuration, the bottom panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the first side panel of the outer sleeve, the first side panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the top panel of the outer sleeve, the top panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the second side panel of the outer sleeve, the middle panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the second side panel of the outer sleeve, the locking tab of the outer sleeve is attached to the bottom panel of the outer sleeve, and the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel separate and are positioned between the middle panel and the bottom panel,   wherein, in an assembled configuration, the middle panel of the outer sleeve forming a glue lap that is glued to the bottom panel of the outer sleeve;   moving a locking tab of the inner sleeve connected to a bottom panel of the inner sleeve from a position in between and substantially parallel to the bottom panel of the inner sleeve and a middle panel of the outer sleeve to an angled position protruding into a first area of the outer sleeve proximate to a bottom panel of the outer sleeve and adjacent to the middle panel of the outer sleeve;   engaging the locking tab of the inner sleeve with a locking ridge located on an end of the middle panel of the outer sleeve; and   locking the packaging apparatus responsive to engaging the locking tab of the inner sleeve with the locking ridge.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pressing the locking tab of the inner sleeve into the outer sleeve via an aperture located in a bottom panel of the outer sleeve; and   disengaging the locking tab of the inner sleeve from the locking ridge to unlock the packaging apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprises:
 sliding the inner sleeve from the outer sleeve;   latching the locking tab of the inner sleeve onto a locking tab of the outer sleeve; and   locking the inner sleeve to the outer sleeve responsive to latching the locking tab of the inner sleeve onto a locking tab of the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein latching the locking tab of the inner sleeve onto a locking tab of the outer sleeve is responsive to the locking tab of the inner sleeve and the locking tab of the outer sleeve being angled in opposing directions. 
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 providing an inner sleeve of a packaging apparatus comprising a bottom panel of the inner sleeve, a top panel of the inner sleeve, a first side panel of the inner sleeve, a second side panel of the inner sleeve, a middle panel of the inner sleeve, a locking tab of the inner sleeve, a first compartment side panel of the inner sleeve, two compartment top panels of the inner sleeve, and a second compartment side panel,   wherein, in an unassembled configuration, the bottom panel of the inner sleeve is attached to the first side panel of the inner sleeve, the first side panel of the inner sleeve is attached to the top panel of the inner sleeve, the top panel of the inner sleeve is attached to the second side panel of the inner sleeve, the middle panel of the inner sleeve attached to the second side panel of the inner sleeve, the locking tab of the inner sleeve is attached to the bottom panel of the outer sleeve, the first compartment side panel of the inner sleeve is attached to the middle panel of the inner sleeve, the two compartment top panels of the inner sleeve are attached to the first compartment side panel of the inner sleeve, and the second compartment side panel of the inner sleeve is attached to the two compartment top panels of the inner sleeve,   wherein, in an assembled configuration, the middle panel of the inner sleeve is attached to the bottom panel of the inner sleeve and the bottom panel of the inner sleeve, the middle panel of the inner sleeve, the two compartment top panels of the inner sleeve, the first compartment side panel of the inner sleeve, and the second compartment side panel of the inner sleeve at least partially define an inner compartment of the inner sleeve.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprises:
 providing an outer sleeve of the packaging apparatus comprising a bottom panel of the outer sleeve, a top panel of the outer sleeve, a middle panel of the outer sleeve, a locking tab of the outer sleeve, a first side panel of the outer sleeve, and a second side panel of the outer sleeve,   wherein, in an unassembled configuration, the bottom panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the first side panel of the outer sleeve, the first side panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the top panel of the outer sleeve, the top panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the second side panel of the outer sleeve, the middle panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the second side panel of the outer sleeve, the locking tab of the outer sleeve is attached to the bottom panel of the outer sleeve, and the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel separate and are positioned between the middle panel and the bottom panel,   wherein, in an assembled configuration, the middle panel of the outer sleeve forming a glue lap that is glued to the bottom panel of the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the packaging apparatus comprises a first locking mechanism comprising the middle panel of the outer sleeve and configured to lock the inner sleeve inside the outer sleeve responsive to sliding the inner sleeve inside the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the locking tab of the inner sleeve connected to an end of a bottom panel of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising moving the locking tab of the inner sleeve from a position in between and substantially parallel to the bottom panel of the inner sleeve and the middle panel of the outer sleeve to an angled position protruding into a first area of the outer sleeve proximate to an end panel of the bottom sleeve and the bottom panel of the outer sleeve and adjacent to the middle panel of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising engaging the locking tab of the inner sleeve with a locking ridge located on an end of the middle panel of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the packaging apparatus comprises a second locking mechanism configured to lock the inner sleeve to the outer sleeve responsive to sliding the inner sleeve from the outer sleeve until the locking tab of the inner sleeve latches onto the locking tab of the outer sleeve, the locking tab of the inner sleeve and the locking tab of the outer sleeve angled in opposing directions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the packaging apparatus comprises an aperture located on the bottom panel of the outer sleeve wherein a user can access the locking tab of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is positioned inside the outer sleeve in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising pressing the locking tab of the inner sleeve into the outer sleeve via the aperture and disengaging the locking tab of the inner sleeve from the locking ridge to unlock the packaging apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising preventing, with the second locking mechanism, the inner sleeve from sliding entirely out of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising locking, with the second locking mechanism, the inner sleeve partially inside the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprises:
 providing an inner sleeve; and   providing an outer sleeve of the packaging apparatus comprising a bottom panel of the outer sleeve, a top panel of the outer sleeve, a middle panel of the outer sleeve, a locking tab of the outer sleeve, a first side panel of the outer sleeve, and a second side panel of the outer sleeve,   wherein, in an unassembled configuration, the bottom panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the first side panel of the outer sleeve, the first side panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the top panel of the outer sleeve, the top panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the second side panel of the outer sleeve, the middle panel of the outer sleeve is attached to the second side panel of the outer sleeve, the locking tab of the outer sleeve is attached to the bottom panel of the outer sleeve, and the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel separate and are positioned between the middle panel and the bottom panel,   wherein, in an assembled configuration, the middle panel of the outer sleeve forming a glue lap that is glued to the bottom panel of the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the packaging apparatus comprises a first locking mechanism comprising the middle panel of the outer sleeve and configured to lock the inner sleeve inside the outer sleeve responsive to sliding the inner sleeve inside the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a locking tab of the inner sleeve connected to an end of a bottom panel of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising moving the locking tab of the inner sleeve from a position in between and substantially parallel to the bottom panel of the inner sleeve and the middle panel of the outer sleeve to an angled position protruding into a first area of the outer sleeve proximate to an end panel of the bottom sleeve and the bottom panel of the outer sleeve and adjacent to the middle panel of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising engaging the locking tab of the inner sleeve with a locking ridge located on an end of the middle panel of the outer sleeve.