GB2413315A

GB2413315A - Container having an opening means

Info

Publication number: GB2413315A
Application number: GB0508030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Petrie
Original assignee: PACTIV
Current assignee: PACTIV
Priority date: 2004-04-22
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2005-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-21
Also published as: GB0408943D0; GB0508030D0; GB2413315B

Abstract

A container comprises a first packaging member 14, a second packaging member 12, engagement means 26,32 and releasing means 18,28. The engagement means are arranged to releasably secure the first packaging member 14 to the second packaging member 12 in a closed configuration. The releasing means 18,28 are arranged to selectively disengage the engagement means 26,32 such that the container occupies an open configuration. The releasing means comprise a first portion 28 of the first packaging member 14 and a second portion 18 of the second packaging member 12, which first portion 28 is at least partially overlaid with respect to the second portion 18 in the closed configuration. The first portion 28 is capable of greater relative deformation than the second portion on pressing it to open the container and can act as a tamper evident portion.

Description

1 "Packaging and Method" 3 The present invention relates to packaging, and

more 4 particularly, but not exclusively, relates to tamper evident packaging.

7 Conventionally, many different types of packaging 8 are used to store, transport and eventually display 9 goods for sale in retail outlets such as shops and supermarkets. In the intervening time period from 11 the point at which the goods are placed into the 12 packaging to the final purchase by the end consumer, 13 there are various opportunities for persons to 14 tamper with the contents of the packaging. The possibility that the package contents may have been 16 tampered with post manufacture is clearly 17 undesirable to both the consumer and the retailer.

18 Therefore packaging which makes it evident to the 19 consumer that the contents have been tampered with is desirable. This is especially true for high 21 value products such as batteries etc. 1 According to a first aspect of the invention, there 2 is provided a container comprising: 3 a first packaging member; 4 a second packaging member; engagement means, the engagement means arranged 6 to releasably secure the first packaging member to 7 the second packaging member in a closed 8 configuration; and 9 releasing means arranged to selectively disengage the engagement means such that the 11 container occupies an open configuration, wherein 12 the releasing means comprise a first portion of the 13 first packaging member and a second portion of the 14 second packaging member, which first portion is at least partially overlaid with respect to the second 16 portion in the closed configuration and wherein the 17 first portion is capable of greater deformation than 18 the second portion.

According to a second aspect of the present 21 invention, there is provided a method of indicating 22 an opened container comprising the steps of: 23 providing a first packaging member; 24 providing a second packaging member; releasably securing the first packaging member 26 to the second packaging member using engagement 27 means; and 28 applying pressure to a first portion of the 29 first packaging member and deforming the first portion such that it abuts a second portion of the 31 second packaging member thereby selectively 1 disengaging the first packaging member from the 2 second packaging member.

4 Preferably, the first portion is capable of greater relative deformation than the second portion. The 6 first portion can be a tamper evident portion.

7 Preferably, the tamper evident portion can be 8 arranged to provide a visual indication after the 9 releasing means have been actuated to open the container.

12 The first portion can be deformable to abut at least 13 a part of the second portion which it overlays in 14 the closed configuration. The first portion can be plastically deformable.

17 The second portion can be arranged such that a 18 predetermined pressure exerted thereon is sufficient 19 to disengage the engagement means without substantial deformation of the second portion.

22 The second portion can comprise a protrusion from 23 the second packaging member. The first portion can 24 comprise a protrusion from the first packaging member. The protrusion of the first portion can 26 define a recess on an opposing side from the 27 protrusion on the first packaging member. The 28 recess can at least partially accommodate the second 29 portion in the closed configuration.

1 The first portion can comprise a relatively thin 2 material with respect to the remainder of the 3 container or with respect to the second portion.

In the closed configuration, the second portion can 6 engage a recess defined by the first portion, and at 7 least a part of the two portions can be spaced from 8 one another in the recess, so that upon actuation of 9 the releasing means, deformation of the first portion occurs before the two portions engage to 11 open the container.

13 This allows the packaging to be opened by deforming 14 the first portion or tamper evident portion by, for example, pressing upon it which will then cause the 16 first portion to deform into the recess. The 17 deformed first portion can then abut the second 18 portion in order to disengage the engagement means.

19 In this situation the second portion may be less deformable relative to the first portion.

21 Alternatively or additionally, the second portion 22 may be supported, for example, by the user placing 23 part of their hand beneath the second portion to act 24 as a support. Where use of such an external support is envisaged, the first portion need not necessarily 26 be capable of greater relative deformation.

28 The first portion can comprise a substantially dome 29 shaped button. The second portion can comprise a substantially dome shaped button. The dome shaped 31 button of the first portion can have a relatively 32 small radius of curvature with respect to the radius 1 of curvature of the dome shaped button of the second 2 portion. The second portion can be accommodated 3 within the first portion substantially without 4 abutment therebetween when the container is in the closed configuration and before actuation of the 6 container from the closed configuration to the open 7 configuration.

9 The engagement means can comprise a ridge member and a channel, wherein the channel and the ridge member 11 respectively circumscribe at least a portion of the 12 perimeter of one of the first or second packaging 13 members, the channel being shaped to couple with at 14 least a portion of the ridge member when the container is at or near the closed configuration.

17 The ridge member and channel can be shaped such that 18 the coupling therebetween forms a selective locking 19 mechanism when the container is in the closed configuration. The coupling between the ridge 21 member and the channel can define a join 22 therebetween and the engagement means can be 23 arranged to substantially prevent access to the join 24 between the first and second packaging members. The ridge member and channel can be shaped such that the 26 coupling therebetween forms a seal when the 27 container is in the closed configuration.

29 A barrier means can be provided on one of the first or second packaging members and can be adapted to 31 restrict access to the join between the ridge member 32 and the channel when the container is in the closed 1 configuration. The barrier means can comprise a 2 raised shoulder in the region of the join between 3 the ridge member and the channel. One side of the 4 shoulder can be flared to further restrict access to the join.

7 The first and second packaging members can be 8 connected by hinge means. The hinge means can 9 connect part of the first and second packaging members and allow the container to unfold from the 11 closed configuration to the open configuration. The 12 hinge means can be arranged such that they 13 substantially restrict access between the first and 14 second packaging members in the closed configuration.

17 The barrier means can circumscribe a significant 18 proportion of the perimeter of the second packaging 19 member. Typically, the barrier means do not circumscribe the portion of the second packaging 21 member adjacent the hinge means.

23 Alternatively, the container forms at least two 24 separate components.

26 At least one of the first or second packaging 27 members can comprise a cavity for retaining goods.

28 The cavity can be provided with resilient retaining 29 means adapted to retain the goods therein.

31 At least one of the first or second packaging 32 members can comprise suspension means arranged to 1 allow the container to be suspended. The suspension 2 means can comprise at least one hole.

4 The first and second packaging members can be formed from plastic. Each component of the packaging can 6 be formed from one piece of material and as such are 7 integral.

9 According to the present invention there is provided packaging actuable between a closed configuration 11 and an open configuration comprising: 12 a first packaging member; 13 a second packaging member; 14 engagement means selectively adapted to releasably secure the first packaging member to the 16 second packaging member; and 17 releasing means adapted to permit the first 18 packaging member to be selectively released from the 19 second packaging member.

21 According to the present invention there is also 22 provided a method of packaging goods comprising the 23 steps of: 24 providing a first packaging member; providing a second packaging member; 26 selectively securing the first packaging member 27 to the second packaging member via engagement means; 28 selectively releasing the first packaging 29 member from the second packaging member by actuating a releasing means.

1 Embodiments of the present invention will now be 2 described, by way of example only, with reference to 3 the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. la is a plan view of an embodiment of the 6 packaging showing the front and rear portions 7 in an open configuration; 8 Fig. lb is a side view of the packaging of 9 Fig. tat Fig. lc is an end view of the packaging of 11 Fig. la; 12 Fig. 2 is a detailed schematic side view of 13 the packaging of Fig. la in a first, closed, 14 configuration) Fig. 3a is a side illustration of the 16 packaging of Fig. 2 in the closed 17 configuration) 18 Fig. 3b is an isometric rear illustration of 19 one corner of the packaging of Fig. 3a showing the cap and button position whilst in the 21 closed configuration; 22 Fig. 3c is an isometric front illustration of 23 the corner of the packaging of Fig. 3bi 24 Fig. 4 is an isometric illustration of the packaging of Fig. 2 in the closed 26 configuration) 27 Fig. 5 is an isometric illustration of the 28 packaging of Fig. 4 in a second, open, 29 configuration) Fig. 6a is a detailed isometric rear illustration of one corner of the packaging of 1 Fig. 2 in the closed configuration showing a 2 cap in its intact forms 3 Fig. 6b is a detailed isometric rear 4 illustration of one corner of the packaging of Fig. 6a in a partially open configuration 6 showing the cap in its collapsed form; 7 Fig. 6c is an isometric illustration of the 8 packaging in a partially open configuration 9 also showing the cap in its collapsed form; Fig. 7a is a front illustration of the 11 packaging of Fig. 2 showing the goods on 12 display; and 13 Fig. 7b is a rear illustration of the 14 packaging of Fig. 7a.

16 Referring to Figs. la, lb and lo, packaging 10 in 17 accordance with the present invention comprises a 18 front panel 12 and a rear panel 14 connected to one 19 another at a hinge 16 such that in use the front panel 12 may be folded toward the rear panel 14 for 21 engagement thereto (as shown in Fig. 2). The front 22 12, rear 14 panels and hinge 16 are, in this 23 embodiment, formed from a single moulded piece of 24 suitable material such as a clear (see through) plastic, though other materials may be used and 26 other methods of manufacturing the packaging 10 may 27 also be used. The packaging 10 in this particular 28 embodiment is adapted to hold batteries but would, 29 with suitable modifications be useful for holding other goods such as pens, screws, nuts, bolts, drill 31 bits, foodstuffs, etc 1 In the remaining description the inside of panels 12 2 and 14 should be taken to be those faces that are on 3 the inside of the packaging 10 when the packaging 10 4 is in a closed configuration and the outside of panels 12 and 14 should be taken to be those on the 6 outside of the packaging 10 when the packaging 10 is 7 in the closed configuration.

9 In this embodiment, the front panel 12 is provided with a convex (when viewed from the inside of panel 11 12) dome shaped, substantially rigid, button 18 12 protruding from the planar panel 12. The depth dl 13 (with respect to the panel 12 mean surface level) of 14 the rigid button 18 is relatively shallow with respect to its diameter; in other words, the radius 16 of curvature of the rigid button 18 is relatively 17 large. During manufacture of tne packaging 10, the 18 rigid button 18 is formed by pushing a circular 19 portion of the planar panel 12 inwardly via a moulding plate (not shown) until a dome portion 18 21 is created. The reader skilled in the art will 22 realise that since the depth dl of the rigid button 23 18 is relatively shallow, during manufacture the 24 circular portion of material of the planar panel 12 is only stretched over a relatively small area of 26 the dome portion 18. This results in the material 27 thickness of the rigid button portion being only 28 marginally less that of the front panel 12 mean 29 surface thickness.

31 The front panel 12 is provided with a raised wall 24 32 (best seen in Fig. 2) which has faces 26 which are 1 outwardly tapered. The raised wall 24 extends 2 around the perimeter of the front panel 12.

4 The front panel 12 also has a number of channels 20 separated by ridges 22 and a mating lip 34 which 6 protrudes outwardly from the lower end of the 7 tapered face 26. The purpose of these components 8 will be described subsequently.

The rear panel 14 is provided with a concave (when 11 viewed from the inside of panel 14) dome shaped cap 12 28 which protrudes outwardly from the planar panel 13 14. The depth d2 (with respect to the panel 14 mean 14 surface level) of the cap 28 is relatively deep with respect to the depth dl of the button 18 on the 16 planar panel 12; in other words the radius of 17 curvature of the cap 28 is smaller than that of the 18 button 18. The manufacturing process for the cap 28 19 is similar to that previously described for the rigid button 18. However, the reader skilled in the 21 art will realise that since the depth d2 of the cap 22 28 is relatively deep compared with the depth dl of 23 the rigid button 18, the material of the planar 24 panel 14 is stretched over a much greater area of the cap 28. This results in the material thickness 26 of the cap 28 being significantly thinner at the cap 27 portion 28 than the rest of the packaging 10.

28 Importantly, the cap 28 will hence comprise thinner 29 material and will therefore be less rigid than the button 18.

1 The rear panel 14 is also provided with a shallow 2 panel retaining portion 30 (see Fig. lb) which has 3 side walls 32 that are tapered inwardly in order to 4 provide a front panel receiving portion. The rear panel walls 32 and front panel raised walls 26 are 6 tapered in order to form a secure seal when each 7 wall 26, 32 is brought together in the fashion 8 described in published United Kingdom Patent 9 Application No GB 2307902, Penlea Plastics Ltd the whole contents of which is incorporated herein by 11 reference. The front panel retaining portion 30 may 12 also be provided with a card insert 44 (best shown 13 in Fig. 5) which provides details of the product 14 being displayed.

16 At their upper end the side walls 32 level out to 17 form a mating lip receiving ledge 36. The ledge 36 18 then leads on to a raised barrier 38 which has an 19 inwardly tapered surface 39.

21 The connecting hinge 16 comprises a pair of u-shaped 22 concertinas 17 and a flat extension portion 19 which 23 connects the front panel 12 to the hinge and hence 24 the rear panel 14 whilst easily allowing the front panel 12 to be folded toward or away from the rear 26 panel 14 when required. The raised barrier 38 of 27 the rear panel is provided with a flattened gap 28 portion 23 (see Fig. la) that accommodates the flat 29 extension 19 of the front panel when the packaging 10 is in the closed configuration.

1 A suspension hook 40 is provided on an extended 2 portion 15 of the rear panel 14 and can be used to 3 suspend the packaging 10 from e.g. a hook when it is 4 desired to display the contents of the packaging 10.

6 Each of the components of the packaging 10 as 7 previously described may be formed from a single 8 piece of material which has been moulded during 9 manufacture by a moulding plate (not shown) into the required formation; however it may be possible to 11 create the packaging 10 via a number of discrete 12 components if required.

14 In use, the contents to be displayed, such as batteries 42, are placed into the channels 20 when 16 the packaging 10 is in an open configuration, as 17 seen in Fig. lb. However, the skilled reader will 18 realise that the channels 20 could be altered to 19 receive other contents to be displayed as required and further, the channels 20 could be omitted for 21 certain contents. Once inserted into the channels 22 20, the batteries are held securely within the 23 packaging 10 due to a widened head portion 44 which 24 tends to hold the batteries in the channels 20. The resilience of the plastic material used in this 26 embodiment also helps to secure the batteries 42 in 27 the channels 20. The front panel 12 of the 28 packaging 10 may then be folded around the hinge 16 29 by the packaging operator / machine (not shown) toward the rear panel 14 until the raised wall 24 31 contacts the upper corner of the side walls 32 on 32 the rear panel 12. With further application of a 1 force by the operator/machine the raised wall 24 and 2 outwardly tapered face 26 will tend to push against 3 the resilience of the rear panel 14 side walls 32 4 until the raised wall 24 has pushed the side walls 32 outwardly to such an extent that the internal 6 dimension of the side walls 32 is large enough to 7 allow the front panel 12 to enter the front panel 8 retaining portion 30. Once the front panel 12 is 9 positioned within the front panel retaining portion 30, the elastic resilience of the side walls 32 on 11 the rear panel 14 will return the side walls 32 to 12 their initial position such that the front panel is 13 then securely held in the front panel retaining 14 portion 30. This provides a tight fitting closure mechanism which holds the contents of the packaging 16 securely within the packaging 10 in a first closed 17 configuration.

19 When the packaging 10 is arranged in the closed configuration, an interference fit between the outer 21 edge of the mating lip 34 and the inwardly tapered 22 surface of the raised barrier 38 is also created.

24 In the closed configuration, the effective closure of the packaging 10 is not hindered by the rigid 26 button 18 and cap 28 since the button 18 is of 27 suitable dimensions such that it may reside under 28 the cap 28 without abutment therebetween. This is 29 best seen in Fig. 2.

31 When the end user wishes to open the packaging 10 in 32 order to gain access to the contents, this is done 1 by pushing the cap 28 (via e.g. the user's 2 forefinger) until it partially collapses and abuts 3 against the apex of the rigid button 18. After the 4 cap 28 has partially collapsed any force exerted on the cap 28 by the user will be transferred to the 6 rigid button 18 which will not collapse due to its 7 relatively rigid characteristics as previously 8 described. Since the rigid button 18 does not 9 collapse, the force applied by the user to the now collapsed cap 28 and hence the rigid button 18 will 11 be transferred to the rest of the front panel 12 on 12 which the rigid button 18 is formed. Maintaining 13 the force on the rigid button 18 in this way will 14 eventually force the front panel 12 apart from the rear panel 14 until the outwardly tapered face 26 16 overcomes the resilience of the side walls 32 around 17 the perimeter of the front panel 12 in a reverse 18 process to that previously described for the initial 19 closing process. This overcomes the tight fitting seal whilst allowing the packaging 10 to be 21 effectively closed again since, even though it will 22 now be evident (by virtue of the collapsed cap 28) 23 that the packaging 10 has been opened post 24 manufacture, no other part of the package is damaged in the opening procedure. It should also be noted 26 that the properties of the material from which the 27 cap 28 is made (and indeed the rest of the packaging 28 10 in this embodiment) are such that once deformed, 29 the material will (even when returned to its original position) exhibit stress lines or fractures 31 within the material of the cap 28. This means that 32 it would not be possible for anyone to fool the 1 consumer into thinking that the packaging 10 has not 2 been tampered with by returning the cap 28 to its 3 original position.

The packaging 10 as described cannot easily be 6 opened from its closed configuration without using 7 the button 18 and cap 28 since the only other way of 8 gaining leverage between the front panel 12 and rear 9 panel 14 would be to prise, for example, fingers between the outer edge of the mating lip 34 and the 11 internal dimension of the raised barrier 38. This 12 is made extremely difficult due to the very small 13 gap between these two members and the relatively 14 thin mating lip 34 by which the leverage would need to be gained. The tapered surface 39 and height of 16 the raised barrier 38 also presents a problem to 17 anyone attempting to open the packaging 10 in this 18 way since it makes it difficult for any tool 19 (including fingers) to gain access to the edge of the mating lip 34. Furthermore, the possibility of 21 opening the packaging 10 by prising apart the front 22 panel 12 and rear panel 14 at the hinge 16 location 23 is minimised by the close abutment between the flat 24 extension 19 of the front panel 12 and the flat gap 23 in the ridge 38 of the rear panel 14.

27 The visually concealed nature of the join between 28 the mating lip 34 and the inwardly tapered surface 29 39 of the raised barrier 38 also makes it unclear, to anyone attempting to gain access to the packaging 31 without utilising the cap 28 and button 18, as to 32 how this would be done.

1 The packaging 10 thus provides secure packaging that 2 allows the user to easily see whether the packaging 3 10 has been opened post manufacture, and therefore 4 indicates whether the goods contained within the packaging 10 have been tampered with. The packaging 6 10 provides this whilst allowing the packaging 10 to 7 be repeatedly opened and closed again.

9 Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing, without departing from the scope of the 11 invention, for example: 13 The cap 28 on the rear panel 14 could be replaced 14 with a simple circular hole through which the button 18 may pass when the packaging 10 is in the closed 16 configuration. In this modification, in order to 17 maintain the tamper evident properties of the 18 packaging 10 it would be necessary to manufacture 19 the button 18 such that its depth is relatively deep in relation to its diameter. This would allow the 21 pack to be opened by pressing directly on the button 22 18 through the hole in the rear of the packaging 10 23 in order to open the packaging 10. In this case, it 24 would be necessary to manufacture the button 18 such that it collapses before the pressure exerted by the 26 user is sufficient to overcome the seal between the 27 front panel 12 and rear panel 14.

29 Alternatively, the cap 28 on the rear panel 14 could be altered from that shown in the Figures such that 31 the altered cap has a similar radius to the button 32 18. In this alternative embodiment, the altered cap 1 would be wholly or substantially coupled to the rear 2 panel 14 by a weakened portion (for instance, 3 perforations) such that pressing on the altered cap 4 destroys the weakened portion and continued pressing results in an opening force on the button 18. In 6 the case where the altered cap is wholly coupled to 7 the rear panel by the weakened portion, the altered 8 cap would detach from the rear panel 14 thus 9 providing evidence of tampering if a person attempted to reclose the rear panel 14. In the case 11 where the cap is substantially coupled to the rear 12 panel 14 by the weakened portion, the unweakened 13 portion would act as a hinge, allowing continued 14 pressing to result in an opening force being applied to the button 18. The destroyed weakened portion 16 would then provide the tamper evident feature.

18 The dimensions of the packaging 10 may be altered 19 such that it is capable of holding a variety of different goods.

22 Furthermore, the hinge 16 may be omitted such that 23 when opened, the packaging 10 comprises two discrete 24 parts i.e. the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14.

Claims

1 CLAIMS 3 1. A container comprising: 4 a first packaging member; a second

packaging member; 6 engagement means, the engagement means arranged 7 to releasably secure the first packaging member to 8 the second packaging member in a closed 9 configuration) and releasing means arranged to selectively 11 disengage the engagement means such that the 12 container occupies an open configuration, wherein 13 the releasing means comprise a first portion of the 14 first packaging member and a second portion of the second packaging member, which first portion is at 16 least partially overlaid with respect to the second 17 portion in the closed configuration and wherein the 18 first portion is capable of greater deformation than 19 the second portion.

21 2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 22 first portion is capable of greater relative 23 deformation than the second portion.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, 26 wherein the first portion is a tamper evident 27 portion.

29 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the tamper evident portion is arranged to provide a 31 visual indication after the releasing means have 32 been actuated to open the container.

1 5. A container according to any preceding claim, 2 wherein the first portion is deformable to abut at 3 least a part of the second portion which it overlays 4 in the closed configuration.

6 6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the 7 first portion is plastically deformable.

9 7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the second portion is arranged such that a 11 predetermined pressure exerted thereon is sufficient 12 to disengage the engagement means without 13 substantial deformation of the second portion.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, 16 wherein the wherein the second portion comprises a 17 protrusion from the second packaging member.

19 9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the first portion comprises a protrusion 21 from the first packaging member.

23 10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the 24 protrusion of the first portion defines a recess on an opposing side from the protrusion on the first 26 packaging member.

28 11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the 29 recess at least partially accommodates the second portion in the closed configuration.

1 12. A container according to any preceding claim, 2 wherein the first portion comprises a relatively 3 thin material with respect to the remainder of the 4 container.

6 13. A container according to any preceding claim, 7 wherein the first portion comprises a relatively 8 thin material with respect to the second portion.

14. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, 11 wherein in the closed configuration, the second 12 portion engages a recess defined by the first 13 portion, and wherein at least a part of the two 14 portions are spaced from one another in the recess, so that upon actuation of the releasing means, 16 deformation of the first portion occurs before the 17 two portions engage to open the container.

19 15. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the first portion comprises a substantially 21 dome shaped button.

23 16. A container according to any preceding claim, 24 wherein the second portion comprises a substantially dome shaped button.

27 17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the 28 dome shaped button of the first portion has a 29 relatively small radius of curvature with respect to the radius of curvature of the dome shaped button of 31 the second portion.

1 18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the 2 second portion is accommodated within the first 3 portion substantially without abutment therebetween 4 when the container is in the closed configuration and before actuation of the container from the 6 closed configuration to the open configuration.

8 19. A container according to any preceding claim, 9 wherein the engagement means comprise a ridge member and a channel, wherein the channel and the ridge 11 member respectively circumscribe at least a portion 12 of the perimeter of one of the first or second 13 packaging members, the channel being shaped to 14 couple with at least a portion of the ridge member when the container is at or near the closed 16 configuration.

18 20. A container according to claim 19, wherein the 19 ridge member and channel are shaped such that the coupling therebetween forms a selective locking 21 mechanism when the container is in the closed 22 configuration.

24 21. A container according to claim 20, wherein the coupling between the ridge member and the channel 26 defines a join therebetween and wherein the 27 engagement means are arranged to substantially 28 prevent access to the join between the first and 29 second packaging members.

31 22. A container according to any of claims 19 to 21, 32 wherein the ridge member and channel are shaped such 1 that the coupling therebetween forms a seal when the 2 container is in the closed configuration.

4 23. A container according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein a barrier means is provided on one of the 6 first or second packaging members and is adapted to 7 restrict access to the join between the ridge member 8 and the channel when the container is in the closed 9 configuration.

11 24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the 12 barrier means comprises a raised shoulder in the 13 region of the join between the ridge member and the 14 channel.

16 25. A container according to claim 24, wherein one 17 side of the shoulder is flared to further restrict 18 access to the join.

26. A container according to any preceding claim, 21 wherein the first and second packaging members are 22 connected by hinge means.

24 27. A container according to claim 26, wherein the hinge means connect part of the first and second 26 packaging members and allow the container to unfold 27 from the closed configuration to the open 28 configuration.

28. A container according to claim 26 or claim 27, 31 wherein the hinge means is arranged such that it 32 substantially restricts access between the first and 1 second packaging members in the closed 2 configuration.

4 29. A container according to any of claims 1 to 25, wherein the container forms at least two separate 6 components.

8 30. A container according to any preceding claim, 9 wherein at least one of the first or second packaging members comprises a cavity for retaining 11 goods.

13 31. A container according to claim 30, wherein the 14 cavity is provided with resilient retaining means adapted to retain the goods therein.

17 32. A container according to any preceding claim, 18 wherein at least one of the first or second 19 packaging members comprises suspension means arranged to allow the container to be suspended.

22 33. A container according to claim 32, wherein the 23 suspension means comprises at least one hole.

34. A container according to any preceding claim, 26 wherein the first and second packaging members are 27 formed from plastic.

29 35. A method of indicating an opened container comprising the steps of: 31 providing a first packaging member; 32 providing a second packaging member; 1 releasably securing the first packaging member 2 to the second packaging member using engagement 3 means; and 4 applying pressure to a first portion of the first packaging member and deforming the first 6 portion such that it abuts a second portion of the 7 second packaging member, thereby selectively 8 disengaging the first packaging member from the 9 second packaging member.