Pilfer resistant software package

A software package comprises a folded structure including a pair of molded, complemental sheets connected to a hinged base. The sheets have peripheral, complemental stair-step edges for closing the package with complemental, releasable latches. The software is sealed between one of the molded sheets and the base with access thereto being provided by way of a frangible flap, while the related information is either sealed behind the other molded sheet or is at least partially behind the other molded sheet and secured to the base. Both molded sheets are preferably constructed of a clear material for easy viewing by a perspective customer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a software package, and more particularly 
to a pilfer resistant software package for a diskette and for printed 
instructions concerning the software. 
Presently, software is packaged in a variety of ways, including the 
provision of the stored software medium and any instructions relating 
thereto in a carton which may be easily opened for viewing by a 
perspective customer. With such access to the elements of the package, 
pilferage becomes a problem. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the object of the present invention to provide a software package in 
which the instructions and related information are easily viewed by a 
perspective customer, while at the same time the software and its related 
information are protected against pilferage. 
According to the invention, the above object is achieved in a folded 
software container having a first section housing the software and a 
second section housing the related information. Both sections share a 
common base which is preferably a polyvinylchloride (PVC) coated 
paperboard. Each of the storage sections comprises a molded, preferably 
clear, PVC cover which is welded to the base by radio frequency (RF) 
welding. 
The first storage section comprises a formed pocket for holding, for 
example, a diskette structure, and includes a slit extending between a 
pair of scorings which provide frangible locations whereby the diskette 
may be removed upon lifting the material at the slit to break the 
scorings. A molded bubble also extends between the scorings spaced from 
the slit and acts as a hinge for the flap which is formed after the 
scorings have been broken. The second storage section comprises a clear 
sheet having slots therein for a variety of purposes. First of all, simple 
instructions may be printed on the base for viewing through the clear 
plastic sheet. As an alternative, a separate printed sheet may be 
introduced between the base and the clear plastic sheet by way of one of 
the aforementioned slots. More detailed instructions and related material, 
in the form of a booklet, may be included when the clear plastic sheet is 
formed with a recess for receiving the book with its back cover extending 
through one of the slots. In this latter variation, the back cover may be 
glued to the base as a guard against pilferage. 
According to another feature of the invention, the folded container 
comprises, for each section, a hollow upstanding peripheral edge shaped to 
mate with the similar peripheral edge of the other section. One of the 
sections further comprises at least one projection of the hollow structure 
to mate with at least one recess of the other hollow structure with the 
projection and the recess each including resilient bypassing hook walls 
for releasable engagement as a latch structure for holding the folded 
container in a closed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawing, a software package constructed in accordance with 
the present invention is generally illustrated at 10 as comprising a first 
storage section 12 and a second storage section 14 connected together by a 
hinge 16. The storage sections 12, 14 share a common base 18 which may 
comprise, for example, PVC coated paperboard. The hinge 16 comprises a 
pair of embossments 20 and 22 to facilitate folding of the package in the 
manner illustrated in FIG. 3. 
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage section 12 comprises a molded 
sheet 24 which includes an upstanding peripheral edge 26 and a, in this 
case, shallow pocket 28 for holding a diskette structure, hereinafter 
simply termed diskette. As is known, a diskette comprises a storage disk 
housed in, conventionally, a paper container and may further include an 
envelope for the paper container. Of course, with proper dimensioning of 
the package and pocket, various magnetic tape cassettes and cartridges 
could be accommodated in the pocket 28. 
The peripheral edge 26, as best seen in FIG. 2, comprises a stairstep 
structure including a pair of walls 30 and 34 and a pair of walls 32 and 
36 connecting the walls 30 and 34 and for providing mating to a 
complemental structure of the storage section 14, as will be set forth 
below. The peripheral edge 26 also comprises a pair of projections 38 and 
40 for the purpose of latching, as will be discussed in connection with 
FIG. 6, and a plurality of projections 42, 44 and 46 which aid in aligning 
the stairstep structures when the package is closed. 
The pocket 28 comprises a transverse slit 48 (later to form an edge 48') 
which is connected, so to speak, with a bubble 62 by way of a plurality of 
scores 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 (later to form edges 50', 52', 54', 56', 
58',60') of which the latter two scores include sections extending into 
the bubble 62. The bubble 62 also comprises an aperture 64 therethrough. A 
diskette 66 is located and sealed in the pocket 28. As best seen in FIG. 
4, access may be had to the diskette 66 by lifting the, as viewed, upper 
edge of the slot 48 to break the scores and form a flap 68 which is hinged 
by the material of the bubble between the scores 58, 60 and the aperture 
64. This frangible structure is a deterrent to pilferage. 
The storage section 14 is provided for information concerning the software 
stored in the storage section 12 and comprises a molded sheet, preferably 
a clear PVC sheet 70 comprising, again, an upstanding peripheral edge 72 
having a stairstep configuration. This stairstep configuration is 
complemental to and cooperable with the stairstep configuration of the 
edge 26 when the package is folded and comprises a pair of walls 74 and 78 
connected by way of a pair of walls 76 and 80. As illustrated in FIG. 3, 
the wall 36 engages the wall 76 and the wall 32 engages the wall 80 when 
the package is folded into a closed condition. 
The peripheral edge 72 further comprises a pair of recesses 86 and 88 for 
receiving the projections 42, 44 and 46 when the package is in the closed 
condition. In addition, the peripheral edge 72 comprises a pair of further 
recesses 82 and 84 for receiving the latch projections 38 and 40 of the 
storage section 12. This is best illustrated in FIG. 6 which is a 
sectional view through either of the combinations 38, 82 or 40, 84, and 
assumes the latter combination. As seen in FIG. 6, the latches comprise 
resilient bypassing hooks having oblique hook walls 106, 108 which flex, 
bypass and latch the package. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage section 14, as mentioned 
above, is provided for related printed material. This printed material may 
be printed directly on the base 18 and viewed through the clear sheet 70 
as indicated at 90. Also, a separate printed sheet 92 may be provided and 
inserted behind the sheet 70 and viewed therethrough. If the related 
material is more involved, it may take the form of a booklet, as indicated 
in FIG. 2, having a back cover 98 which is received through the slot 94 in 
the sheet 70, or a corner of the cover may be inserted through a slot 96. 
In either case, pilferage is deterred by, for example, gluing the cover 98 
to the base 18, as indicated at 100 in FIG. 2. 
The molded sheet 24 comprises a peripheral flange 102 and the molded sheet 
70 comprises a peripheral flange 104. The molded sheets 24 and 70 may 
therefore be sealed to the base 18, preferably by RF welding. 
Although I have described my invention by reference to a particular 
illustrative embodiment thereof, many changes and modifications of the 
invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I therefore intend 
to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and 
modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope 
of my contribution to the art.