Abstract:
A method for manufacturing theft-resistant product packaging includes the steps of (1) providing a matrix of cut-resistant strands, (2) adhering the matrix to a plastic substrate to form a theft-resistant material, (3) forming a front shell from the theft-resistant material including a cavity for holding a product therein, and (4) securing the front shell to a back cover so as to enclose the product therebetween.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to tamper resistant product packaging. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Product packaging is the science, art, and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Product packaging can be described as a coordinated system of preparing goods for transport, warehousing, logistics, sale, and end use. Product packaging contains, protects, preserves, transports, informs, and helps sell the product it contains. 
         [0003]    The first product packages used the natural materials available at the time including baskets of reeds, wooden boxes, pottery vases, ceramic amphorae, wooden barrels, and woven bags. Processed materials were used to form packages as they were developed. For example, early glass and bronze vessels. The earliest recorded use of paper for packaging dates back to 1035, when a Persian traveler visiting markets in Cairo noted that vegetables, spices and hardware were wrapped in paper for the customers after they were sold. Iron and tin plated steel were used to make cans in the early 19th century. Paperboard cartons and corrugated fiberboard boxes were first introduced in the late 19th century. Product packaging advancements in the early 20th century included Bakelite closures on bottles, transparent cellophane overwraps and panels on cartons, increased processing efficiency and improved food safety. As additional materials such as aluminum and several types of plastic were developed, they were incorporated into packages to improve performance and functionality. In-plant recycling has long been common for production of packaging materials. Now post-consumer recycling of aluminum and paper based products has been economical for many years. Since the 1980s, post-consumer recycling has increased due to curbside recycling, consumer awareness, and regulatory pressure. 
         [0004]    As of 2003, the packaging sector accounted for about two percent of the gross national product in developed countries. About half of this market was related to food packaging. Product packaging serves a multitude of purposes today. First, product packaging is physical protection as the objects enclosed in the package may require protection from, among other things, mechanical shock, vibration, electrostatic discharge, compression, and temperature. Second, product packaging may provide a barrier protection from oxygen, water vapor, and dust. Permeation is a critical factor in design. Some packages contain desiccants or oxygen absorbers to help extend shelf life. Modified atmospheres or controlled atmospheres are also maintained in some food packages. Keeping the contents clean, fresh, sterile and safe for the intended shelf life is a primary function. Product packaging may also aid in containment or agglomeration when small objects are typically grouped together in one package for reasons of efficiency. For example, a single box of 1000 pencils requires less physical handling than 1000 single pencils. Liquids, powders, and granular materials also need containment. Product packaging is also used for information transmission as packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product. With pharmaceuticals, food, medical, and chemical products, some types of information are required by governments. Some packages and labels also are used for track and trace purposes. Product packaging is used for marketing as the packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product. Product package graphic design and physical design have been important and constantly evolving phenomenon for several decades. Marketing communications and graphic design are applied to the surface of the package and (in many cases) the point of sale display. Product packaging is also for convenience as packages can have features that add convenience in distribution, handling, stacking, display, sale, opening, reclosing, use, dispensing, and reuse. Also, product packaging can be used for portion control as a single serving or single dosage packaging has a precise amount of contents to control usage. Bulk commodities (such as salt) can be divided into packages that are a more suitable size for individual households and also aids the control of inventory. 
         [0005]    One function of product packaging that most people don&#39;t realize is for security. Product packaging can play an important role in reducing the security risks of shipment. Packages can be made with improved tamper resistance to deter tampering and also can have tamper-evident features to help indicate tampering. Packages can be engineered to help reduce the risks of package pilferage. Some package constructions are more resistant to pilferage and some have pilfer-indicating seals. Packages may include authentication seals and use security printing to help indicate that the package and contents are not counterfeit. Packages also can include anti-theft devices, such as dye-packs, RFID tags, or electronic article surveillance tags that can be activated or detected by devices at exit points and require specialized tools to deactivate. Using product packaging in this way is a means of loss prevention. 
         [0006]    Unfortunately, theft of goods is quite prominent today despite the advances in product packaging and theft prevention techniques. Two particular packaging types are quite susceptible to theft; the clamshell and blister pack product packaging. Clamshells are generally comprised of a housing and a chamber for storing products and may be reusable or permanently sealed. Permanently sealed clamshells are generally formed from a clear plastic housing that is sealed together through radio frequency (RF), sonic vibrations or electrical resistance. As the housing is generally made from clear plastic, inserts made of cardboard and other materials are often inserted into the clamshell packaging to describe or label the goods. Blister packs typically have two layers of cardboard or stiff paper with a clear plastic housing on the other side. Between the clear plastic housing and the cardboard is the product. 
         [0007]    Many clamshell and blister packs have RFID tags embedded in the housing such that it is difficult to carry the product with the packaging out through the sensors at the entrance and exit of a storefront. Therefore, the thieves have simply removed the product from the packaging while still in the store. For instance, an area of high theft is in the knives department. With some retailers, they report to have stolen four knives for every one they legitimately sell. The thieves will grab the product off the shelves, relocate to a less noticeable spot and simply cut open the package to the remove the product. The thieves will literally use a knife, razor blade, or other cutting tool to slice open the clamshell and blister pack and then remove the product. 
         [0008]    To help deter pilfering, the clamshell thickness has increased to make it harder to penetrate. This also means the cost of the product packaging itself has gone up and the overall product is now more costly. The cost of the thicker product packaging and the stolen product is passed on to the consumer. Additionally, such thick plastic packaging is typically slippery, whereby a knife being used to open the package by penetrating the plastic clamshell can bounce or slip off the package and cut or otherwise wound the user. Many stores want to reduce the amount of wasted material in their product packaging, yet want to prevent or reduce the amount of pilfered goods. Rising oil prices also drives the cost of plastic packaging up. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there is a need for a clamshell and blister pack design that reduces or eliminates the ability of a thief to quickly and easily slice open the product packaging to then steal the product located inside. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention is directed to theft-resistant product packaging. The packaging comprises a front shell and a back cover secured to one another by folding, bonding, gluing and/or stapling edges of the cover shell and backing shell together. The front shell comprises a matrix of cut-resistant strands disposed within or adjacent to a plastic substrate. The cover shell may be preformed with a recess conforming to a shape of the product. 
         [0011]    The back cover is disposed relative to the front shell so as to form a cavity configured to contain a product. The back cover comprises cardboard, wood, metal, plastic or a matrix of cut-resistant strands disposed within or adjacent to a plastic substrate. 
         [0012]    The cut-resistant strands may comprise metal, fiber or fabric and include a hard, outer shell comprising a hardened adhesive, a powdered metal, or a ceramic material. The matrix may comprise a grid of cut-resistant strands overlayed, weaved, or twisted with respect to intersecting strands. The cut-resistant strands are disposed in the grid so as to form squares, rectangles, diamonds or parallelograms. The intersecting strands are welded, glued or bound at the points of intersection. 
         [0013]    The plastic substrate may comprise a laminate of thermoplastic or bio-film material formed around the matrix. The plastic substrate comprises first and second laminates of thermoplastic or bio-film material disposed on opposite sides of the matrix and formed around the matrix. 
         [0014]    A method for manufacturing the theft-resistant product packaging comprises the step of providing a matrix of cut-resistant strands. The matrix is adhered to a plastic substrate to form a theft-resistant material. A front shell is formed from the theft-resistant material and includes a cavity for holding a product therein. The front shell is secured to a back cover so as to enclose the product therebetween. 
         [0015]    The providing step includes orienting a first set of individual strands in a first direction and orienting a second set of individual strands in a second direction different from the first direction. A matrix is formed by overlaying, weaving, wefting and warping and warping, or twisting the first and second sets of strands together. The first and second sets of wires are secured, welded, glued or bonded together. The first and second directions of the first and second sets of wires may be oriented perpendicularly to each other. 
         [0016]    The method may also comprise the step of coating the strands with a hard, outer shell comprising a hardened adhesive, a powdered metal, or a ceramic material. The adhesive is initially applied as a liquid or other soft form and is hardened by the end of the process. The adhering step may include the steps of applying a first laminate of thermoplastic or bio-film material to one side of the matrix, and heating the matrix and first laminate such that the first laminate softens such that it becomes pliable. The applying step may include applying a second laminate of thermoplastic or bio-film material to another side of the matrix. Once heated the matrix and first/second laminate(s) are pressed such that the first/second laminate(s) becomes formed around and bonded to the matrix. The matrix and first/second laminate(s) may also be cooled to fix the matrix and first/second laminate(s) together. 
         [0017]    The adhering step includes the steps of pulling the matrix across a surface, dispensing small pieces of thermoplastic or bio-film material over the matrix on the surface, heating the small pieces such that they soften or melt around the matrix, and rolling the matrix and heated small pieces such that they form the plastic substrate around the matrix. As above, the matrix and plastic substrate may be cooled to fix the matrix and plastic substrate together. 
         [0018]    The forming step includes the steps of shaping the theft-resistant material into a clam shell or blister pack, and preforming a recess in the front shell conformed to a shape of the product. The forming step also includes the step of forming an unobstructed area in the front shell that is devoid of the matrix. The back cover comprises cardboard, wood, metal, plastic or theft-resistant material. The securing step comprises folding, bonding, gluing and/or stapling edges of the front shell and back cover together. 
         [0019]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a simplified perspective view of an exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2A  is a simplified perspective view of a portion of an exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention continued from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2B  is a simplified perspective view of a portion of an alternate exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention continued from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a simplified perspective view of a portion of an exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention continued from either  FIG. 2A  or  2 B; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a simplified perspective view of a portion of an alternate exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4A  is a simplified perspective view of a portion of an alternate exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustration of the structure of  FIG. 2A  taken along line  5 - 5 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a side view illustration of the structure of  FIG. 2B  taken along line  6 - 6 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of the wire grid before and after the processing steps illustrated in  FIGS. 2A  or  2 B; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a close-up view of the wire grid of  FIG. 7  indicated by circle  8 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a wire mesh structure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a top view of another exemplary embodiment of a wire mesh structure; 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 9  indicated by circle  11  showing the wires welded; 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 9  indicated by circle  12  showing the wires overlapping; 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 10  indicated by circle  13  showing the wires welded; 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 10  indicated by circle  14  showing adjacent wires twisted and connected; 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  is a simplified perspective view of an exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 16  is a simplified perspective view of an alternate exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 17  is a simplified perspective view of another alternate exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view of the manufacturing process of  FIG. 15  taken along line  18 - 18 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 19  is a sectional view of the exemplary manufacturing process of  FIG. 15  taken along line  19 - 19 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 20  is a sectional view of the exemplary manufacturing process of  FIG. 16  taken along line  20 - 20 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 21  is a sectional view of the exemplary manufacturing process of  FIG. 16  taken along line  21 - 21 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 22  is a sectional view of the exemplary manufacturing process of  FIG. 17  taken along line  22 - 22 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 23  is a sectional view of the exemplary manufacturing process of  FIG. 17  taken along line  23 - 23 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a clam pack embodying the present invention about to package a product; 
           [0047]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the clam pack of  FIG. 24  now packaging a product; 
           [0048]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a clamshell mold embodying the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a clamshell embodying the present invention before it is folded; 
           [0050]      FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the clamshell of  FIG. 27  now folded about to package a product; 
           [0051]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the clamshell of  FIG. 27  now packaging a product; 
           [0052]      FIG. 30  is a perspective view of the structure of  FIG. 29  now resistant to cutting with a knife or razor; 
           [0053]      FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a clam pack alternate embodiment of the present invention about to package a product; 
           [0054]      FIG. 32  is a perspective view of the clam pack of  FIG. 31  now packaging a product; 
           [0055]      FIG. 33  is a simplified perspective view of another alternate exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 34  is a perspective view of a blister pack embodying the present invention about to package a product; and 
           [0057]      FIG. 35  is a perspective view of the blister pack of  FIG. 34  now packaging a product. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0058]      FIGS. 1-3  present simplified perspective views of an exemplary manufacturing process  10  for theft proof product packaging of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , a wire grid or two-dimensional matrix  12  is formed first. The wire grid  12  is formed from a plurality of individual cut-resistant wires or strands  14 . The individual wires  14  come out of a machine called a creel  16 . The creel  16  is able to store the rolls of individual wires  14 . The creel  16  organizes the plurality of individual wires  14  into the correct location to thereafter form the wire grid  12 . A first set of individual wires  14  come out of the creel  16  and pass through a series of idle rollers  18 . The idle rollers  18  help to align the individual wires  14  into their proper spacing. 
         [0059]    The individual wires  14  then pass through a weft and warp insertion machine  20 . The weft and warp insertion machine  20  introduces a perpendicular set of wires  22  to the previous individual wires  14  to form wire grid  12 . The perpendicular wires  22  are fed from a second creel or similar machine (not shown). The weft and warp insertion machine  20  may place a plurality of perpendicular individual wires  22  onto, i.e., overlaying, or weaved within the individual wires  14 . The perpendicular wires  22  can be welded, weaved, glued, bound or temporarily held into place in relation to their spacing and position to the individual wires  14 . The wires  14  and  22  may comprise metal, fiber, fabric or other cut-resistant material, as described below. The wires  14  and  22  may be coated with an adhesive material to increase cutting resistance. The adhesive material creates a hard shell with fiber or fabric through the core. The wires  14  and  22  may also comprise fiber or fabric coated with a powdered metal or ceramic material to provide a hard outer shell resistant to cutting. 
         [0060]    In the next step, illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the wire grid  12  is subjected to a process that adds an adhesive coating to the wire  14 ,  22 . In  FIG. 2A , the wire grid  12  is passed through a vat or bath  80  of liquid or viscous adhesive material  82  that is caused to adhere to the wires  14 ,  22  by any known process. The adhesive material  82  may comprise a form of polymer which is caused to conform to the wires  14 ,  22  as by heating or other known process.  FIG. 5  illustrates a partial side view of the process applying this adhesive material  82  to wires  22 .  FIG. 2B  illustrates an alternate process for applying the adhesive material  82 . In this alternate process, the adhesive material  82  is applied via spray guns  84  either above, below or on both sides of the wire grid  12 . In this method of application, the adhesive material  82  may comprise metallic, ceramic or carbon materials that are subjected to an electromagnetic charge  86  as depicted in  FIG. 6 . It is worth noting that the process for applying the adhesive material  84  to the wires  14 ,  22  preferably does not involve sintering or a similar process. Both of these adhesive application processes are followed by a heating or curing process  87  to set the adhesive  82  as a hardened coating. 
         [0061]    The next step in  FIG. 3  is when the wire grid  12  with the adhesive coating  82  is mated on one side to a first laminate  24  from a laminate reel  26   a . The wire grid  12  and first laminate  24  meet when they pass over another idle roller  18  or series of idle rollers  18 . A second laminate  28  may then be introduced from another laminate reel  26   b.  The second laminate  28  can pass through a series of idle rollers  18  as it then mates to the wire grid  12 . Now, the wire grid  12  has a first laminate  24  on one side and a second laminate  28  on the other side. Alternately, either laminate  24 ,  28  may be omitted so that the wire grid  12  only has one laminate on one side. This is described more fully below. 
         [0062]    A heat process  30  is applied to the wire grid  12 , laminate  24  and laminate  28  if present. The heat process  30  can be a multitude of designs and configurations used by one skilled in the art. For example, the heat process  30  can be accomplished through an oven, hot air, radiation, microwave/radio waves or other radiometric means. Here, it is shown simplistically as applied heat to the wire grid and forcing it between an idle roller  18  and a larger heated roller  32 . Heat is absorbed into the laminates  24  and  28  which cause them to soften and become pliable so as to form around the wire grid  12  and also bond together. Now the wire grid  12  and laminates  24  and  28  are laminated together to act as a single material of theft proof product packing material  34 . The material  34  is then rolled onto a storage reel  36  to be used later to create theft proof product packaging. As can be seen by one skilled in the art, there may exist a multitude of pathways and location of idle rollers  18  that accomplish the same end result, and this disclosure is not limited to the exact configuration shown and described herein. 
         [0063]    The laminates  24  and  28  may be made from any common thermoplastic material. Alternatively, the laminates  24  and  28  may be made from a bio-film, such as corn-based material. Where bio-film on its own would tend to lose its shape and integrity in fairly low temperatures—125°-150°—the addition of the wire grid  12  provides a support framework for the bio-film. With this support framework, the bio-film can retain its shape and integrity in higher temperatures. 
         [0064]      FIG. 4  is another simplified perspective view of an alternate exemplary manufacturing process  10  for theft proof product packaging of the present invention. The wire grid  12  can be formed as was in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B with the creel  16  and weft and warp insertion  20 , or can be taken from a premade wire grid reel  38 . The wire grid  12  is pulled onto a surface  38  where plastic feed  40  is combined and heated. The plastic feed  40  is small bits of plastic material. The plastic feed  40  is channeled into a plastic feed shute  42  such that is can be appropriately dispensed over the wire grid  12 . 
         [0065]    As the plastic feed  40  is in the plastic feed shute  42 , it is pre-heated at the pre-heat stage  44 . When the plastic feed  40  is dispensed over the wire grid  12 , it is further heated in the final heat stage  46 . The plastic feed  40  is distributed over and around the wire mesh. The heat  46  melts or softens the plastic feed  40  such that it flows around and bonds to the wire grid  12 . The plastic feed  40  and wire grid  12  are then pulled through a blend and cover chamber where the heat is allowed to penetrate the plastic feed  40  as it forms around the wire grid  12 . Next, the wire grid  12  and plastic feed  40  go through a series of leveling and thickness rollers  48 . The rollers  48  level the amount of plastic in relation to the wire grid  12  such that any inconsistencies are eliminated or reduced. 
         [0066]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the wire grid  12  and plastic feed  40  may be passed between top and bottom pocket impression rollers  98  designed to compress the plastic feed  40  through the openings on the grid  12 . As illustrated in the close up of  FIG. 4A , the pocket impression rollers  98  have abutting teeth  99  configured to create waffle-like impressions  100  in the plastic feed  40  that coincide with the shape of the wire grid  12 . In this method of manufacture, the pocket impression rollers  98  are necessary to compress the plastic such that the manufactured material  34  is not unnecessarily bulky or heavy by a uniformly thick layer of plastic. At this point the plastic feed  40  has melted or softened and been formed around the wire grid  12  to create the theft proof product packaging material  34 . The material  34  is quickly drawn through a cooling chamber  50  to stop any residual melting or movement of the plastic relative to the wire grid  12 . The material  34  is then passed through a series of idle rollers  18  as it is rolled onto a storage reel  36 . As can be seen by one skilled in the art, the material  34  can be formed by combining one or two laminate sheets  24 ,  28  with a metal grid  12  or by using a plastic feed  40  which is then melted to the wire grid, as this disclosure is not limited to the precise forms described and shown herein. 
         [0067]      FIG. 7  illustrates the wire grid  12  along different portions of the manufacturing process illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B. In particular, the left side of  FIG. 7  illustrates the wire grid  12  before the application of the adhesive material  82  in either  FIG. 2A  or  FIG. 2B . The right side of  FIG. 7  illustrates the wire grid  12  after application of the adhesive material  82  as illustrated in  FIG. 2A  or  FIG. 2B .  FIG. 8  illustrates a close-up view of the wire grid as indicted by circle  8  in  FIG. 7 . In this close-up view, the adhesive material  82  can be seen encasing each of the wires  14 ,  22  in the wire grid  12 . 
         [0068]    A multitude of different wire grids  12  can be devised by one skilled the art.  FIG. 9  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a wire mesh structure  12 . The wire mesh/grid  12  is made of perpendicular wires, including the individual wires  14  and perpendicular wires  22 .  FIG. 11  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 9  indicated by circle  11  showing the wires  14 ,  22  overlapping and welded  54 . The wires  14 ,  22  can be welded every time they cross each other. The welding may be metallic welding if the wires are metallic, or may be bonded together using an adhesive or other means for attachment. Alternatively, the wires  14 ,  22  may be weaved together and bonded or attached every crossing or less frequently.  FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 9  indicated by circle  12  showing the wires  14 ,  22  weaved  56  together. The weaving  56  can consist of placing one wire below another at one location and then above at another location. In this way the two wires  14  and  22  are woven and connected. 
         [0069]      FIG. 10  is a top view of another exemplary embodiment of a wire mesh structure where two sets of parallel wires  14 ,  22  are combined at an angle relative to each other. The wires may form a diamond pattern, or a parallelogram shape.  FIG. 13  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 10  indicated by circle  13  showing the wires  14 ,  22  welded and  FIG. 14  is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of  FIG. 10  indicated by circle  14  showing adjacent wires  14 ,  22  twisted and connected  58 .  FIGS. 11-14  also show the adhesive materials  82  on the wires  14 ,  22 . 
         [0070]      FIGS. 1   5 - 1   7  illustrate simplified perspective views of alternate embodiments of exemplary manufacturing processes already described above.  FIG. 15  illustrates the wires  14  being fed from the creel  16  over idle rollers  18  and into the wefting and warping machine  20  where the perpendicular wires  22  are added. For clarity, the wefting and warping machine  20  is not illustrated in  FIGS. 15-17 , but is intended to be used as shown and described in  FIG. 1 . Subsequently the adhesive material  82  is applied by the device  80 ,  84  as shown and described in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . For clarity, the application and curing processes are shown as box  94  in  FIGS. 15-17 . As illustrated previously in  FIG. 3 , laminate layers  24  and  28  are added to opposite sides of the wire grid  12  and heated by roller  32  before being rolled onto storage reel  36 . Notably different from the earlier embodiments, a portion of the laminates  24 ,  28  extends beyond the width of the wire grid  12  so as to create an unobstructed area  88  that is devoid of the wire grid  12 . The purpose for this will be explained in greater detail below. 
         [0071]      FIG. 16  illustrates a simplified perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of an exemplary manufacturing process similar to  FIG. 15 . However, in  FIG. 16  the wire grid  12  is attached to and bonded with a single laminate  24  as depicted. The second laminate  28  is omitted from this embodiment such that the wire grid  12  only has laminate  24  on the underside as depicted in this drawing.  FIG. 17  illustrates a perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of an exemplary manufacturing process similar to  FIG. 16 . However, in this embodiment the laminate  24  on the underside of the wire grid  12  is omitted and the laminate  28  on the upper side is included. This again results in a wire grid  12  having a laminate  28  only on its upper surface as depicted in the drawing. 
         [0072]      FIG. 18  is a side view of the structure manufactured in  FIG. 15  taken along line  18 - 18 . The first laminate  24  is on one side of the wire grid  12  and the second laminate  28  is on the other side of the wire grid  12 . It can be seen in this stage that the two laminates  24  and  28  are not formed around the wire grid  12 , but have void spaces  52  in between.  FIG. 19  is a side view of the structure manufactured in  FIG. 15  taken along line  19 - 19 . Heat has been applied to form or mold both laminates  24  and  28  around the wire grid  12 . The void spaces  52  have been eliminated. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 20 and 22  illustrate side views of the structures manufactured in  FIGS. 16 and 17  respectively taken along lines  20 - 20  and  22 - 22  therein. In  FIG. 20 , the first laminate  24  is on the underside of the wire grid  12  and the second laminate  28  is omitted. In  FIG. 22 , the second laminate  28  is on the top side of the wire grid  12  and the first laminate  24  is omitted. As in  FIG. 18 , the individual laminates  22  or  28  are not formed around the wire grid  12 , but have void spaces  52  in between the wires  14 ,  22 .  FIGS. 21 and 23  are side views of the structure manufactured in  FIGS. 16 and 17  respectively taken along lines  21 - 21  and  23 - 23  thereof. With heat having been applied to the single laminates  24  and  28 , both respectively form or mold themselves to the wire grid  12 . The void spaces  52  have been eliminated. Where only a single laminate is used in either of these illustrated embodiments, the wire grid  12  is exposed on the side of the laminate  24  or  28  that has been omitted. 
         [0074]    The theft proof product packaging material  34  can then be formed into a multitude of packing designs.  FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a clam pack  60  embodying the present invention about to package a product  62 . The product  62  is placed between a backing  64  and the packaging material  34 . The backing  64  can be cardboard, wood, metal, plastic or any other appropriate material.  FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the clam pack  60  of  FIG. 24  now packaging the product  62 . The material  34  has been pressed over the product  62  and the ends of the material folded over the backing  64 . The ends may then be bonded or glued in place such that it cannot be easily opened. 
         [0075]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a clamshell mold  66  embodying the present invention. The clamshell mold  66  can be used to form the material  34  into a clamshell package  68 .  FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a clamshell package  68  before it is folded. The clamshell  68  has a front side  74  and a back side  76 . Once the clamshell  68  has been formed, it can now package a product  62 .  FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the clamshell  68  of  FIG. 27  now folded about to package a product  62 .  FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the clamshell  68  of  FIG. 27  now packaging a product  62 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 30  is a perspective view of the structure of  FIG. 29  now resistant to cutting with a knife or razor  70 . The theft proof product package  72  securely contains the product  62 . A razor  70  can easily cut the plastic, but it can&#39;t cut the wire grid/mesh  12 . The plastic laminates  24  and  28  hold the wire grid/mesh  12  from being opened or moved aside. The wire grid  12  and plastic laminates  24  and  28  work together to create a tamper and theft resistance package. A thief can no longer easily open a package within a store to remove the product from the packaging. When the consumer buys the product, the consumer may use a pair of scissors to open the package. The scissors create a shearing action that is needed to cut through the wire mesh/grid  12 . A knife or razor  70  cannot do this. 
         [0077]    The cut-resistant wire-embedded plastic shell  72  allows the product to be seen underneath while presenting a visual deterrent to potential thieves. The theft proof product package  72  also would require a thief to spend a longer amount of time trying to remove the contents. Many thieves will be discouraged from theft due to the increased time it takes to steal a product. 
         [0078]      FIG. 31  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the clam pack depicted in  FIGS. 24 and 25 . In this embodiment, the theft-proof packaging material  34  including the unobstructed area  88  is used. In this way, the backing  64  can include trade identity information  90  such as a logo or other product identification which is not obstructed by the wire grid  12  or other theft-proof features of the packaging.  FIG. 32  illustrates how the packaging material  34  including the unobstructed area  88  is attached to the backing  64  in such a way that the trade identity information  90  appears through the unobstructed area  88 . The packaging material  34  and the backing material  64  are attached as described above in connection with  FIG. 25 . 
         [0079]    The cut-resistant wire grid  12  can be formed from a multitude of materials including metals such as copper or steel, and also from cut resistant fabrics, such as Kevlar. Alternatively, the wire grid  12  can include a fabric core with a cut resistant coating such as a metallic or ceramic coating. As can be seen by one skilled in the art, various wires can be devised that are formable into a product package while being resistant to cutting with a knife or razor. 
         [0080]    Because the wire mesh/grid  12  does the bulk of the work to stop a razor blade  70 , the plastic laminates  24  and  28  or plastic feed  40  used can be thinner. This means there is less waste used in making plastic containers as less plastic is needed. Typically, a laminate of plastic is about 20 thousands of an inch thick. With the present invention, that thickness can be reduced to 6-10 thousands of an inch. For example, two laminates  24  and  28  at 6 thousands of an inch thickness would be a total thickness of 12 thousands. This is substantially thinner than the standard 20 thousands of an inch thickness used today. 
         [0081]      FIG. 33  depicts a simplified perspective view of another exemplary manufacturing process of the present invention. The process depicted in  FIG. 3  begins with a wire grid as is manufactured in  FIG. 1  above. This wire grid is formed into one or more blister packs  60  through a machine process such as a tool and die  92 . The tool and die  92  conforms the wire grid  12  to a particular shape configured to accept a product  62 . After the tool and die process  92 , the formed wire grid is passed through an adhesive machine  94  to apply and cure the adhesive material  82  to the wire grid as described above in connection with  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The blister pack  60  then moves to a plasticizing process  96  that applies plastic or laminate material  24 ,  28  to the blister pack  60  using one of the methods described above, particularly those of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 34  is a perspective view of a blister pack  60  embodying the present invention about to package a product  62 . The material  34  has been preformed to match the product  62 . Alternatively, the product  62  may be packaged with filler such as cardboard or Styrofoam to conform to the blister pack  60 . The backing  64  is formed to go around the material  34  and then fold over upon itself. The backing  64  is shown as one layer, but can be made from multiple layers of card stock or varying thicknesses and densities of cardboard. For instance, the backing  64  could be formed from two layers of card stock to give it sufficient stiffness and strength. The hole of the backing  64  contains one end of the material  34  and the backing  64  is then folded over one layer and adhered/sealed to itself.  FIG. 35  is a perspective view of the blister pack of  FIG. 34  now packaging a product. 
         [0083]    The exemplary embodiments shown herein used two sets of wires  14  and  22  to form a wire grid  12 . However, it is possible by one skilled in the art that only one set of wires  14  are required to form the theft proof product packaging material  34 , as this disclosure is not necessarily limiting it to the required use of two wires  14  and  22 . For example, one set of wires  14  may be utilized where the wires  14  are laid along a wavy (non-straight) pattern such that they essentially perform the function of a wire grid  12 . 
         [0084]    The theft proof product packaging material  34  can not only be used to make a blister pack and clamshell packages, but can be used to make other general packages such as boxes, tubes, shipping containers, envelopes and so forth. It is to be understood by one skilled in the art that the theft proof packaging material  34  can be used to a make a multitude of theft proof packages  72  beyond those specific embodiments shown and described herein. 
         [0085]    Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.