U.S. patent application number 11/384476 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for memory module clamshell package.
Invention is credited to Lance Ballard, Keith McCall, Chandler Parkinson.
Application Number | 20060213800 11/384476 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36889060 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060213800 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ballard; Lance ; et
al. |
September 28, 2006 |
Memory module clamshell package
Abstract
A clamshell package comprises a first portion comprising a first
flange partially surrounding a first product receptacle. A first
connecting member is connected to the first flange. The package
further comprises a second portion comprising a second flange. A
second connecting member is connected to and irreversibly separable
from the second flange. The first connecting member irreversibly
connects to the second connecting member when the first flange is
disposed adjacent to the second flange.
Inventors: |
Ballard; Lance; (Houston,
TX) ; McCall; Keith; (Houston, TX) ;
Parkinson; Chandler; (Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
P O BOX 272400, 3404 E. HARMONY ROAD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
FORT COLLINS
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
36889060 |
Appl. No.: |
11/384476 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60664779 |
Mar 24, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/470 ;
206/701; 229/407 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5805 20130101;
B65D 43/162 20130101; B65D 2401/15 20200501; B65D 2401/10 20200501;
B65D 55/024 20130101; B65D 2401/60 20200501; B65D 75/22 20130101;
B65D 2251/1033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/470 ;
206/701; 229/407 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00; B65D 85/00 20060101 B65D085/00; B65D 1/00 20060101
B65D001/00 |
Claims
1. A clamshell package, comprising: a first portion comprising a
first flange partially surrounding a first product receptacle; a
first connecting member connected to the first flange; a second
portion comprising a second flange; and a second connecting member
connected to and irreversibly separable from the second flange;
wherein said first connecting member irreversibly connects to said
second connecting member when the first flange is disposed adjacent
to the second flange.
2. The clamshell package of claim 1, wherein said second portion
further comprises a second product receptacle.
3. The clamshell package of claim 2, wherein the first and second
product receptacles are aligned when the first flange is disposed
adjacent to the second flange.
4. The clamshell package of claim 1, wherein said first connecting
member is connected to and irreversibly separable from the first
flange.
5. The clamshell package of claim 4, wherein said first and second
connecting members are connected to and irreversibly separable from
the first and second flanges, respectively, by perforations.
6. The clamshell package of claim 1, wherein said first and second
connecting members are interlocking crush points.
7. The clamshell package of claim 1, wherein said first and second
portions are constructed from a material having a stiffness that
prevents the removal of a product from the first product receptacle
when the first flange is disposed adjacent to the second
flange.
8. The clamshell package of claim 1 further comprising a memory
module disposed within the first product receptacle.
9. A clamshell package comprising: a first portion comprising a
first flange; a second portion comprising a second flange, wherein
a product container is formed when the first flange is disposed
adjacent to the second flange; a first tab connected to and
irreversibly separable from the first flange; a first connecting
member that irreversibly connects said first tab to said second
portion when the first flange is adjacent to the second flange.
10. The clamshell package of claim 9, wherein the first flange
partially surrounds a first product receptacle.
11. The clamshell package of claim 10, wherein the second flange
partially surrounds a second product receptacle.
12. The clamshell package of claim 11, wherein the first and second
product receptacles form a product container when the first flange
is disposed adjacent to the second flange.
13. The clamshell package of claim 12, further comprising a memory
module disposed within the product container.
14. The clamshell package of claim 9, wherein said first connecting
member is disposed on the first tab.
15. The clamshell package of claim 14, further comprising a second
connecting member disposed on a second tab that is connected to and
irreversibly separable from the second flange.
16. The clamshell package of claim 15, wherein the first and second
connecting members irreversibly connect to each other.
17. The clamshell package of claim 16, wherein said first and
second connecting members are interlocking crush points.
18. The clamshell package of claim 15, wherein said first and
second tabs are connected to and irreversibly separable from the
first and second flanges, respectively, by perforations.
19. The clamshell package of claim 9, wherein said first and second
portions are constructed from a material having a stiffness that
prevents the removal of a product from the product container once
the first connecting member connects said first tab to said second
portion unless said first tab is irreversibly separated from the
first flange.
20. A clamshell package comprising: means for receiving a product
within a product container formed between a first and second
portion of a clamshell package; means for irreversibly connecting
the first portion of the package to the second portion of the
package such that the product can not be removed from the
container; and means for disconnecting the first portion of the
package from the second portion of the package by irreversibly
separating said means for irreversibly connecting from the first or
second portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of, and
incorporates by reference, provisional application Ser. No.
60/664,779, filed Mar. 24, 2005, and entitled "Memory DIMM
Packaging With Enhanced Security Features."
BACKGROUND
[0002] Computer systems and other electronic devices utilize
specialized memory chips to perform basic functions. The memory
chips are often consolidated onto a memory module that provides the
connection between the memory chips and a computer system. The
memory module allows the simultaneous installation and connection
of a plurality of memory chips. Many computer systems and other
electronic devices are designed so that an end user can install
replacement or additional memory modules in order to increase the
performance of the system or replace malfunctioning modules.
[0003] Memory modules are available in a variety of configurations.
Most computer systems and electronic devices are designed to
operate with a specific memory module configuration that is
constructed to specific manufacturer's specifications. Using memory
modules that are not constructed to the manufacturer's
specifications may result in inoperability of the system or
significantly decreased performance. Although most computer system
manufacturers provide memory modules constructed to their
specifications, memory modules are also provided by a number of
vendors other than the manufacturer and often constructed to lesser
specifications.
[0004] It is often difficult to determine the suitability of a
particular memory module based solely on the visual appearance of
memory module. The difficulty in easily determining suitability has
led to problems with customers receiving memory modules that are
not constructed to manufacturer's specifications but may visually
resemble acceptable memory modules. Thus, manufacturer approved
memory modules are often shipped in packaging that helps verify the
suitability of the memory module.
[0005] One problem with conventional packaging in which memory
modules are shipped is that the packaging may allow for removal of
a memory module and replacement with an inferior product without
significantly disturbing the package. Therefore, a customer may
inadvertently use an inferior product. Therefore, as can be
appreciated, there remains a need in the art for memory module
packaging that provides increased security and protection for the
memory modules disposed therein.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] A clamshell package comprising a first portion comprising a
first flange partially surrounding a first product receptacle. A
first connecting member is connected to the first flange. The
package further comprises a second portion comprising a second
flange. A second connecting member is connected to and irreversibly
separable from the second flange. The first connecting member
irreversibly connects to the second connecting member when the
first flange is disposed adjacent to the second flange.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the
invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an open clamshell package
constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the open clamshell package of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows an end view of the clamshell package of FIG. 1
shown in a closed position;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the clamshell package of
FIG. 1 in a closed position; and
[0012] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of the clamshell package of
FIG. 1 with tabs removed.
NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE
[0013] Certain terms are used throughout the following description
and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled
in the art will appreciate, computer companies may refer to a
component by different names. This document does not intend to
distinguish between components that differ in name but not
function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms
"including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and
thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to .
. . ." Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean
either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device
couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct
connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices and
connections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments
of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be
preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or
otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including
the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand
that the following description has broad application, and the
discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that
embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the
disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that
embodiment.
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate clamshell package 10 comprising
first portion 12 and second portion 14, which are connected by
foldable hinge 16. First portion 12 comprises a recessed product
receptacle 18, flange 20, tabs 22, and connecting members 24.
Second portion 14 comprises a corresponding raised product
receptacle 26, flange 28, tabs 30, and connecting members 32.
[0016] Tabs 22 and 30 are irreversibly separable from flanges 20
and 28, respectively, via perforations 34. Perforations 34 may be a
series of holes, slots, cuts, or other features that provide an
irreversibly separable connection between the tabs and their
respective flanges. The edges of flanges 20 and 28 are radiused at
the points 38 where perforations 34 intersect the edges.
[0017] Product receptacles 18 and 24 may further comprise integral
ridges 36 or other features sized and arranged so as to secure a
product within the receptacles. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2,
integral ridges 36 of receptacles 18 and 24 support the insertion
of two dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs). Other embodiments may
comprise receptacles, internal ridges, and other features sized so
as to accept any desirable memory module or other product.
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, clamshell package 10 is
shown in a closed position where first portion 12 is adjacent to
second portion 14. Second portion 14 is rotated relative to first
portion 12 about hinge 16 so that flanges 20 and 28 are positioned
adjacent to each other. As flanges 20 and 28 are positioned
adjacent to each other, tabs 22 on first portion 12 align with tabs
30 on second portion 14 and connecting members 24 on first portion
12 engage with connecting members 32 on second portion 14. Raised
product receptacle 26 is inserted into recessed product receptacle
18 to form a container that secures a product 40 therewithin.
[0019] Once connecting members 24 and 32 are engaged, the engaged
members are permanently interconnected so that they can not be
separated from each other. Thus, connecting members 24 and 32 form
a secure, irreversible interlock between first portion 12 and
second portion 14. Connecting members 24 and 32 are illustrated as
crush points, or crush rivets, that are interconnected by
plastically deforming the engaged members. In other embodiments,
tabs 22 and 30 may be irreversibly connected to each other by other
connecting means, such as adhesives, heat sealing, mechanical
rivets, or other fasteners.
[0020] As described above, receptacles 18 and 26 are aligned to
form a container or other means for receiving a product. Clamshell
package 10 is preferably constructed from a moldable plastic
material having a stiffness that prevents removal of the product
from the closed package. The moldable plastic material also
provides sufficient material properties that enable the
irreversible connections between connecting members 24 and 32.
Thus, products disposed within the container can not be removed
without separating first portion 12 from second portion 14.
[0021] Package 10 is opened by removing tabs 22 and 30 from their
respective flanges, as shown in FIG. 5. Once tabs 22 and 30 have
been removed, first portion 12 can be separated from second portion
14. Tabs 22 and 30 are removed from their respective flanges by
tearing along perforations 34 to permanently remove the tabs from
their flanges. Once removed, tabs 22 and 30 can not be reconnected
to the flanges. Because the tabs are irreversibly separable, it
will be easy to tell if package 10 has been opened as the tabs will
be removed.
[0022] In certain embodiments, only one of tabs 22 or 30 may be
irreversibly separable from its flange while the other tab is
permanently attached. In this embodiment, the irreversibly
separable tab would separate from its flange while the permanently
attached tab would remain attached to its flange.
[0023] The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the
principles and various embodiments of the present invention.
Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those
skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated.
For example, the tamper resistant and other security features
described herein may be applied to other types of packaging systems
used for other types of products. It is intended that the following
claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and
modifications.
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