Patent Publication Number: US-11044940-B2

Title: Package for accommodating products

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to European patent application No. 16169567.1, filed May 13, 2016. This European application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     a. Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a package for accommodating products such as electronic smoking devices and parts thereof. 
     An electronic smoking device, such as an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), typically has a housing accommodating an electric power source (e.g. a single use or rechargeable battery, electrical plug, or other power source), and an electrically operable atomizer. The atomizer vaporizes or atomizes liquid supplied from a reservoir and provides vaporized or atomized liquid as an aerosol. Control electronics control the activation of the atomizer. In some electronic cigarettes, an airflow sensor is provided within the electronic smoking device, which detects a user puffing on the device (e.g., by sensing an under-pressure or an air flow pattern through the device). The airflow sensor indicates or signals the puff to the control electronics to power up the device and generate vapor. In other e-cigarettes, a switch is used to power up the e-cigarette to generate a puff of vapor. 
     A variety of products should not be easily accessible for unauthorized person such as children. Thus, packages or containers in which such products are accommodated require a non-trivial opening mechanism, which cannot be easily opened by children. On the other hand, the integration of such an opening mechanism should not interfere with advertising concepts or reduce the optical appearance of the package. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a package adapted for accommodating products. The package comprises an inner tray comprising at least one recess formed at an upper side of the inner tray and being adapted for accommodating a product, the upper side of the inner tray having a first portion and a second portion adjoining the first portion. The package further comprises a cover adapted for covering at least the first portion, wherein the cover is movable between an open state of the package in which the at least one recess is accessible to a user and a closed state of the package in which the at least one recess is inaccessible to a user. Furthermore a removable sleeve adapted to be fixed on the inner tray in the closed state and adapted to be removed from the inner tray in the open state, wherein the sleeve is movable between a coupled state of the package in which the cover is fixed to the inner tray and an uncoupled state of the package in which the cover can move in relation to the inner tray. The package further comprises a plurality of pairs of cavities and protrusions, wherein one among the cavities and the protrusions is formed in the second portion of the inner tray and the other one among the cavities and the protrusions is formed on an inner surface of the removable sleeve, wherein the respective cavity interlocks with the respective protrusion in the coupled state of the package, wherein each of the pairs comprise an unlocking element adapted such that, in the coupled state of the package, the respective cavity unlocks from the respective protrusion when a pressure is applied to the respective unlocking element. 
     The characteristics, features and advantages of this invention and the manner in which they are obtained as described above, will become more apparent and be more clearly understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, same element numbers indicate same elements in each of the views: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an exemplary e-cigarette. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of an inner tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of a removable sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective top view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention in a coupled state. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective side and top view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention in a coupled state. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective side and top view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention in a coupled state, where a force is applied to the unlocking elements. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention in a uncoupled and open state. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention in an uncoupled and closed state. 
     
    
    
     While various embodiments discussed herein are amenable to modifications and alternative forms, aspects thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure including aspects defined in the claims. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following. 
     Throughout the following, a package for accommodating products such as electronic smoking devices and parts thereof will be exemplarily described with reference to an e-cigarette. E-cigarettes and parts thereof such as atomizers, cartomizers, batteries and liquid reservoirs are deemed to be product to be accommodating in a package in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , an e-cigarette and parts thereof are explained in more detail. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 1 , an e-cigarette  10  typically has a housing comprising a cylindrical hollow tube having an end cap  16 . The cylindrical hollow tube may be a single-piece or a multiple-piece tube. In  FIG. 1 , the cylindrical hollow tube is shown as a two-piece structure having a power supply portion  12  and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . Together the power supply portion  12  and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  form a cylindrical tube which can be approximately the same size and shape as a conventional cigarette, typically about 100 mm with a 7.5 mm diameter, although lengths may range from 70 to 150 or 181 mm, and diameters from 5 to 28 mm. 
     The power supply portion  12  and atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  are typically made of metal, e.g. steel or aluminum, or of hardwearing plastic and act together with the end cap  16  to provide a housing to contain the components of the e-cigarette  10 . The power supply portion  12  and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  may be configured to fit together by a friction push fit, a snap fit, or a bayonet attachment, magnetic fit, or screw threads. The end cap  16  is provided at the front end of the power supply portion  12 . The end cap  16  may be made from translucent plastic or other translucent material to allow a light-emitting diode (LED)  20  positioned near the end cap to emit light through the end cap. The end cap can be made of metal or other materials that do not allow light to pass. 
     An air inlet may be provided in the end cap, at the edge of the inlet next to the cylindrical hollow tube, anywhere along the length of the cylindrical hollow tube, or at the connection of the power supply portion  12  and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 .  FIG. 1  shows a pair of air inlets  38  provided at the intersection between the power supply portion  12  and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . 
     A power supply, preferably a battery  18 , an LED  20 , control electronics  22  and optionally an airflow sensor  24  are provided within the cylindrical hollow tube power supply portion  12 . The battery  18  is electrically connected to the control electronics  22 , which are electrically connected to the LED  20  and the airflow sensor  24 . In this example the LED  20  is at the front end of the power supply portion  12 , adjacent to the end cap  16  and the control electronics  22  and airflow sensor  24  are provided in the central cavity at the other end of the battery  18  adjacent the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . 
     The airflow sensor  24  acts as a puff detector, detecting a user puffing or sucking on the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  of the e-cigarette  10 . The airflow sensor  24  can be any suitable sensor for detecting changes in airflow or air pressure, such as a microphone switch including a deformable membrane which is caused to move by variations in air pressure. Alternatively the sensor may be a Hall element or an electro-mechanical sensor. 
     The control electronics  22  are also connected to an atomizer  26 . In the example shown, the atomizer  26  includes a heating coil  28  which is wrapped around a wick  30  extending across a central passage  32  of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14 . The coil  28  may be positioned anywhere in the atomizer  26  and may be transverse or parallel to the liquid reservoir  34 . The wick  30  and heating coil  28  do not completely block the central passage  32 . Rather an air gap is provided on either side of the heating coil  28  enabling air to flow past the heating coil  28  and the wick  30 . The atomizer may alternatively use other forms of heating elements, such as ceramic heaters, or fiber or mesh material heaters. Nonresistance heating elements such as sonic, piezo and jet spray may also be used in the atomizer in place of the heating coil. 
     The central passage  32  is surrounded by a cylindrical liquid reservoir  34  with the ends of the wick  30  abutting or extending into the liquid reservoir  34 . The wick  30  may be a porous material such as a bundle of fiberglass fibers, with liquid in the liquid reservoir  34  drawn by capillary action from the ends of the wick  30  towards the central portion of the wick  30  encircled by the heating coil  28 . 
     The liquid reservoir  34  may alternatively include wadding soaked in liquid which encircles the central passage  32  with the ends of the wick  30  abutting the wadding. In other embodiments the liquid reservoir  34  may comprise a toroidal cavity arranged to be filled with liquid and with the ends of the wick  30  extending into the toroidal cavity. 
     An air inhalation port  36  is provided at the back end of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  remote from the end cap  16 . The inhalation port  36  may be formed from the cylindrical hollow tube atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  or may be formed in an end cap. 
     In use, a user sucks on the e-cigarette  10 . This causes air to be drawn into the e-cigarette  10  via one or more air inlets, such as air inlets  38 , and to be drawn through the central passage  32  towards the air inhalation port  36 . The change in air pressure which arises is detected by the airflow sensor  24 , which generates an electrical signal that is passed to the control electronics  22 . In response to the signal, the control electronics  22  activate the heating coil  28 , which causes liquid present in the wick  30  to be vaporized creating an aerosol (which may comprise gaseous and liquid components) within the central passage  32 . As the user continues to suck on the e-cigarette  10 , this aerosol is drawn through the central passage  32  and inhaled by the user. At the same time the control electronics  22  also activate the LED  20  causing the LED  20  to light up which is visible via the translucent end cap  16  mimicking the appearance of a glowing ember at the end of a conventional cigarette. As liquid present in the wick  30  is converted into an aerosol more liquid is drawn into the wick  30  from the liquid reservoir  34  by capillary action and thus is available to be converted into an aerosol through subsequent activation of the heating coil  28 . 
     Some e-cigarette are intended to be disposable and the electric power in the battery  18  is intended to be sufficient to vaporize the liquid contained within the liquid reservoir  34 , after which the e-cigarette  10  is thrown away. In other embodiments the battery  18  is rechargeable and the liquid reservoir  34  is refillable. In the cases where the liquid reservoir  34  is a toroidal cavity, this may be achieved by refilling the liquid reservoir  34  via a refill port. In other embodiments the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  of the e-cigarette  10  is detachable from the power supply portion  12  and a new atomizer/liquid reservoir portion  14  can be fitted with a new liquid reservoir  34  thereby replenishing the supply of liquid. In some cases, replacing the liquid reservoir  34  may involve replacement of the heating coil  28  and the wick  30  along with the replacement of the liquid reservoir  34 . A replaceable unit comprising the atomizer  26  and the liquid reservoir  34  is called a cartomizer. 
     The new liquid reservoir  34  may be in the form of a cartridge having a central passage  32  through which a user inhales aerosol. In other embodiments, aerosol may flow around the exterior of the cartridge  32  to an air inhalation port  36 . 
     Of course, in addition to the above description of the structure and function of a typical e-cigarette  10 , variations also exist. For example, the LED  20  may be omitted. The airflow sensor  24  may be placed adjacent the end cap  16  rather than in the middle of the e-cigarette. The airflow sensor  24  may be replaced with a switch which enables a user to activate the e-cigarette manually rather than in response to the detection of a change in air flow or air pressure. 
     Different types of atomizers may be used. Thus for example, the atomizer may have a heating coil in a cavity in the interior of a porous body soaked in liquid. In this design aerosol is generated by evaporating the liquid within the porous body either by activation of the coil heating the porous body or alternatively by the heated air passing over or through the porous body. Alternatively the atomizer may use a piezoelectric atomizer to create an aerosol either in combination or in the absence of a heater. 
       FIG. 2  shows an inner tray  101  according to an embodiment of the present invention which is part of a package  100  of the present invention. 
     The inner tray  101  comprises a plurality of recesses  105  formed at an upper side of the inner tray  101  being adapted for accommodating a product. The upper side of the inner tray has a first portion  120  and a second portion  130  adjoining the first portion  120 . 
     Candidates for products to be accommodated in the recesses  105  may be USB charger, knives, scissors, nail scissors, household chemicals etc. Preferred products may be electronic smoking devices and/or electronic smoking device components, for which batteries, vaporizer, cartomizer, liquid reservoirs, mouth pieces, stems of electronic smoking devices etc. are examples. 
     The inner tray  101  is formed as cuboid but the present invention is not limited to this shape. The inner tray  101  comprises a base panel, a top panel  110  opposite to the base panel, four side panels  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 , wherein a first side panel  111  and a fourth side panel  114  are opposite to each other and a second side panel  112  and a third side panel  113  are opposite to each other. The first portion  120  comprises the first side panel  111 , parts of the adjacent second side panel  112  and the third side panels  113  and parts of the base panel and the top panel  110 . The second portion  130  of the inner tray  101  comprises the complementary parts of the inner tray  101 , in particular the fourth side panel  114 . 
     Three protrusions  161 ,  162  are located on the outer surface of the inner tray  101  in the second portion  130 . The first protrusion  161  is located on the top panel  110  of the inner tray  101 , the second protrusion  162  is located on the second side panel  112  of the inner tray  101  and the third protrusion (not visible from the perspective of the Figure) is located on the third side panel  113  of the inner tray  101 . 
     The protrusions  161 ,  162  are constructed to be in the form of protruding hemispheres or flattened hemispheres on the respective panels. The protrusions  161 ,  162  can be made of metal or alloys but any other suitable material can alternatively be used. The present invention is however not limited to this shape of the protrusions  161 ,  162 . 
     Furthermore, the inner tray  100  comprises three unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173 . The first unlocking element  171  is located on the top panel  110 , the second unlocking element  172  is located on the second side panel  112  and the third unlocking element  173  (not visible) is located on the third side panel  113 , wherein each unlocking element  171 ,  172 ,  173  is located in the first portion  120  of the inner tray  101 . 
     The first unlocking element  171  communicates with the first protrusion  161 , the second unlocking element  172  communicates with the second protrusion  162  and the third unlocking element  173  communicates with the third protrusion  163 . The unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  are not necessarily formed by an additional mechanical architecture, but they are integrated into the respective panels using their response towards applied forces. The side panel layer at the first portion  120 , on which the second unlocking element  172  is located, is thicker than the side panel layer of the second portion  130 , on which the second protrusion  162  is located, which results in an edge  158  formed between the second protrusion  162  and the corresponding second unlocking element  172 , the edge  158  forming a slope (m of approximately m=1). The larger thickness of the layer, in which the unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  are formed, may support the bending or distortion of the side panel under applied pressure. The direction of the applied force may be normal to the respective panels  110 ,  111 ,  112 . 
     Thus, if pressure is applied onto the first unlocking element  171 , the first protrusion  161  is slightly moved towards the centre of the inner tray  101  due to bending or distortion of the top panel  111  as a response to the applied mechanical pressure. Similarly, if pressure is applied to the second unlocking element  172 , the second protrusion  162  slightly moves towards the centre of the inner tray  101  due to bending or distortion of the second side panel  112  and, equivalently, if pressure is applied to the third unlocking element  173 , the third protrusion  163  slightly moves towards the centre of the inner tray  101  due to bending or distortion of the third side panel  113 . This response of the material in the presence of applied pressure will be employed in the following. 
       FIG. 3  shows a removable sleeve  125  according to an embodiment of the present invention which is part of a package  100  of the present invention. 
     The removable sleeve  125  is cuboid-shaped with an open side  190  adapted to be fixed on the second portion  130  of the inner tray  101 . The present invention is however not limited to this shape of the removable sleeve  125 . 
     The inner surface  195  of the removable sleeve  125  comprises three cavities  181 ,  182  adapted to receive protrusions  161 ,  162 ,  163  of the inner tray  101 , from which the first cavity  181  and the second cavity  182  are visible. In particular, the first cavity  181  is located on the inner surface  195  of a top sleeve panel  140  of the removable sleeve  125 , a second cavity  182  is located on an inner surface  195  of a second side sleeve panel  142  of the removable sleeve  125  and the third cavity is located on an inner surface  195  of a third side sleeve panel  143  of the removable sleeve  125 . 
     The shape of the cavities  181 ,  182  has a circular boundary and is essentially invers to the shape of the protrusions  161 ,  162 ,  163  adapted to receive the hemispherical or flattened hemispherical protrusions  161 ,  162 ,  163 . The present invention is however not limited to this shape of the cavities  181 ,  182 . The inner surface  195  comprises an additional layer  199  in which the cavities  181 ,  182  engage. The material of the additional layer  199  differs from the material of the removable sleeve  125 . For example, the additional layer  199  can be a plastic material, whereas the removable sleeve  125  may be a cardboard material. Plastic can be more robust and thus more suitable to form cavities adapted to receive the protrusions of the inner tray  101 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a package  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , the package  100  is in the coupled state, where the inner tray  150  is entirely covered by the cover  150  and the removable sleeve  125 . Coupled state means that the removable sleeve  125  is fixed on the inner tray  101 , such that the protrusions  161 ,  162 ,  163  of the inner tray  101  interlock with the cavities  181 ,  182  of the removable sleeve  125 . The cover  150  covers at least the first portion  120  of the inner tray, whereas the removable sleeve  125  covers the second portion  130  of the inner tray  101 . 
     In the perspective of  FIG. 4 , the position of the first unlocking element  171  on the top panel  110  is marked for sake of explanation while the other unlocking elements  172  are not marked. The protrusions  161 ,  162  of the inner tray  101  are not visible because they are received from the cavities  181 ,  182  of the inner surface  195  of the removable sleeve  125 . Due to the flatness of the outer surface of the removable sleeve  125 , the protrusions  161 ,  162  of the inner tray  101  are invisible from an outer perspective and the package  100  appears flat. This may improve the optical appearance of the package  100 . Further, less interruption for branding purposes on the outer surface of the package  100  may be achieved. 
     To open the package  100 , a user has to simultaneously press (i.e. apply pressure onto each of) the plurality of unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  on the inner tray  101  communicating with the protrusions  161 ,  162 ,  163 . Then, this pressure induces a distortion of the respective panels, where the unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  are located. The top panel  110 , the second side panel  112  and the third side panel  113  are bent or distorted at the unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  towards the centre of the inner tray  101 . This results in relative motion of the respective protrusion  161 ,  162 ,  163  away from the respective cavity  181 ,  182 , of the removable sleeve  125 . The cavities  181 ,  182  of the removable sleeve  125  are thereby released from the protrusions  161 ,  162  of the inner tray  101  and, upon simultaneous pressure, the removable sleeve  125  can be pulled from the inner tray  101  gaining access to the interior of the package  100 . Only if all three protrusions  161 ,  162 ,  163  are released from the cavities  181 ,  182 , the removable sleeve  125  can be removed from the inner tray  101 . 
     Without knowledge of this described opening mechanism, the opening of the package  100  may be prevented or at least delayed, in particular it may prevent children from opening the package  100 . Furthermore, an advantage may be that the package is fully re-closable, such that it may be used multiple times, which will be demonstrated in the following description. 
     The positioning of the unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  may have the advantage that all three unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  are located on different axes, which may increase the time required to identify the opening mechanism and may prevent the opening by children with insufficient hand span. 
     A first force is required to unlock the first cavity  181  from the first protrusion  161 , a second force is required to unlock the second cavity  182  from the second protrusion  162  and a third force is required to unlock the third cavity from the third protrusion  163 , the second force and the third force being larger than the first force. This reflects the situation that higher forces can be applied on opposing panels  112 ,  113 . The required forces are larger than 0.5 N, 1 N, 1.5 N, 2 N or even larger than 3 N. 
     A minimum distance between two adjacent unlocking elements ( 171  and  172 , or  171  and  173 ) is larger than 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm or even larger than 5 cm. A maximum distance d between two unlocking elements  172 ,  173  is larger than 5 cm, 7 cm, 9 cm or even larger than 11 cm. This may guarantee that children do not have a sufficient hand span to open the package  100 . 
     To achieve convenient use for a user, however, the maximum distance d between two unlocking elements  172 ,  173  may be smaller than 14 cm, 13 cm, 12 cm or even smaller than 11 cm. 
     The removable sleeve  125  further comprises a first window section  155  transparent for visible light (380 nm to 760 nm). A degree of optical transmission may be greater than 50%, greater than 80% or even greater than 90% (at 555 nm). The cover  150  has a second window section  156  also transparent for visible light. In the coupled state, both window sections  155 ,  156  have an overlap. Then, the user may see at least parts of the products accommodated in the recesses  105  of the inner tray  101  which may be useful for knowing the potential availability of a stored product. 
     The first window section  155  is rectangular and the second window section  156  is oval, wherein the second window section  156  is covered by the first window section  155  in the coupled state of the package  100 . Alternatively, the first and second window sections  155 ,  156  can have the same shape and/or size, such that the overlap of the respective windows is maximized in the coupled state. 
     The inner tray  101  is vacuum-formed (thermoformed). Vacuum-forming is a way of manufacturing plastic components. Plastic sheets are heated to a defined temperature and placed over a mould. A vacuum is then applied to draw the plastic onto the mould. The plastic adopts the shape of the mould and can then be removed. The precision of the resulting shapes of the cavities may be advantageously high. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a package  100  in a coupled state is shown. In comparison to  FIG. 4  the second unlocking element  171  on the first portion  120  is marked (and thereby visible) due to the chosen side view perspective. In order to increase the safety of the package, the position of the unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  is not necessarily marked as demonstrated in  FIG. 5 . That is, an unauthorized user such as a child will not be able to derive any position information about the unlocking elements which need to be simultaneously pressed for opening the package  100  and for accessing the accommodated products such as an e-cigarette. In other words, the position of the unlocking elements, i.e. the portions where a user has to simultaneously press the package for accessing the accommodated products is not visible from outside and therefore unauthorized users will not be prompted to the opening mechanism. 
     In  FIG. 6 , a package  100  is shown during the operation of opening the package  100 . The figure visualizes the method of opening a package  100  for accommodating products. In the first step a) a package  100  for accommodating products is provided. The exemplary package  100  is identical or similar to the packages  100  as described in the context of the previous figures. The second step comprises b) pressing all unlocking elements  171 ,  172 ,  173  simultaneously whilst pulling the removable sleeve  125  in order to remove the removable sleeve  125  from the inner tray  101 . This second step is demonstrated by a hand, which simultaneously presses the first  171 , the second  172  and the third unlocking element  173  by three fingers. The pulling of the removable sleeve  125  in order to remove the removable sleeve  125  could for example require the usage of the second hand, which is not explicitly demonstrated in here. 
     In  FIG. 7 , a package  100  in a decoupled state (sleeve removed) and open state (cover opened) from top view perspective is provided. The cover  150  is hinged and opened up. Thus, the third step c) opening the cover to access the accommodated products has been performed which leads to the decoupled state of  FIG. 7 . The removable sleeve  125  is separated from the inner tray  101  with the cover  150 , which has been pulled off whilst performing the second step b). Vice versa,  FIG. 7  mimics the starting point (first step) of the method of closing a package  100  for accommodating products. The first step a) refers to providing an inner tray  101  with a cover  150  and a removable sleeve  125 , which is described by  FIG. 7 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , a package  100  in a decoupled state (sleeve removed) and closed state (cover closed). In the context of the method steps for closing a package  100  adapted to accommodate products, the second step b) closing a cover  150  has been completed, such that the cover  150  covers parts of the inner tray  101 . The further step c) pushing the removable sleeve  125  onto the inner tray  101 , such that the protrusions  161 ,  162  of the inner tray  101  are received by the cavities  181 ,  182  of the removable sleeve  125  is not visualized. Upon performing this step c) would lead back to  FIG. 4 , of a coupled state if one pushes the removable sleeve  125  onto the inner tray  101  in reverse order to the pulling step of  FIG. 6 . This demonstrates that the opening mechanism and the closing mechanism are merely the same method steps solely performed in reverse order and reverse actions taken. Thus the opening and closing of the package is bidirectional and the coupled state of the package  100  can be re-established after each usage. Thus, the package  100  can therefore be used persistently multiple times. 
     In summary, in one aspect of the present invention there is provided a package adapted for accommodating products. The package comprises an inner tray comprising at least one recess formed at an upper side of the inner tray and being adapted for accommodating a product, the upper side of the inner tray having a first portion and a second portion adjoining the first portion. The package further comprises a cover adapted for covering at least the first portion, wherein the cover is movable between an open state of the package in which the at least one recess is accessible to a user and a closed state of the package in which the at least one recess is inaccessible to a user. Furthermore a removable sleeve adapted to be fixed on the inner tray in the closed state and adapted to be removed from the inner tray in the open state, wherein the sleeve is movable between a coupled state of the package in which the cover is fixed to the inner tray and an uncoupled state of the package in which the cover can move in relation to the inner tray. The package further comprises a plurality of pairs of cavities and protrusions, wherein one among the cavities and the protrusions is formed in the second portion of the inner tray and the other one among the cavities and the protrusions is formed on an inner surface of the removable sleeve, wherein the respective cavity interlocks with the respective protrusion in the coupled state of the package, wherein each of the pairs comprise an unlocking element adapted such that, in the coupled state of the package, the respective cavity unlocks from the respective protrusion when a pressure is applied to the respective unlocking element. 
     Candidates for products may be USB charger, knives, scissors, nail scissors, household chemicals and electronic smoking devices and/or electronic smoking device components. Examples for components are batteries, vaporizer, cartomizer, mouth pieces, stems of electronic smoking devices etc. An advantage may be that without knowledge of the opening mechanism, the opening of the package may be prevented or at least be delayed, in particular, it may prevent children from opening the package. Another advantage may be that the protrusions of the inner tray are not visible for the user or consumer in the closed state of the package since they are received either by the inner surface of the removable sleeve or by the inner tray. This may improve the optical appearance of the package and may render the package more suitable for premium products. Further, less interruption for branding purposes on the surface of the package may be achieved which may as well result in an improved premium feel of the package. Furthermore, an advantage may be that the package is fully re-closable, thus being suitable as multiple use product. 
     A number of pairs of protrusions and cavities may be three. 
     A first protrusion may be located on an outer surface of a top panel of the inner tray, a second protrusion may be located on an outer surface of a second side panel of the inner tray and a third protrusion may be located on an outer surface of a third side panel of the inner tray, the second side panel being opposite to the third side panel. 
     A first cavity may be located on an inner surface of a top sleeve panel of the removable sleeve, a second cavity may be located on an inner surface of a second side sleeve panel of the removable sleeve and a third cavity may be located on an inner surface of a third side sleeve panel of the removable sleeve. 
     A first unlocking element may be located on the top panel on the first portion of the inner tray, a second unlocking element may be located on the second side panel on the first portion of the inner tray and a third unlocking element may be located on the third side panel on the first portion of the inner tray. An advantage may be that all three unlocking elements are located on different axis, which may increase the time required to identify the opening mechanism and may prevent the opening by children with insufficient hand span. 
     An inner surface of the removable sleeve may comprise an additional layer, in which the cavities are located. 
     The material of the additional layer may differ from the material of the removable sleeve. An advantage may be that the material can be chosen to be more robust to prevent damage due to persistent usage. 
     The removable sleeve may comprise a first window section on the top sleeve panel, the cover may comprise a second window section on the top panel, where the first and the second window section are transparent for visible light, and may have an overlap with each other in the closed state of the package. An advantage may be that at least parts of the products accommodated in the package can be seen by the user or the consumer, which may be useful for advertising or the visibility of the product and one further may identify if the recess is empty or not. 
     The first and second window sections may have the same shape and/or size. An advantage may be that a maximum overlap and thus a maximal area of transparency may be achieved. 
     A first force may be required to unlock the first cavity from the first protrusion, a second force may be required to unlock the second cavity from the second protrusion and a third force may be required to unlock the third cavity from the third protrusion, the second force and the third force being larger than the first force. An advantage may be that higher forces can be applied to two opposing panels. 
     The forces may be larger than 0.5 N, 1 N, 1.5 N, 2 N or larger than 3 N. An advantage may be that children might not have the power to apply the mentioned forces. 
     A distance between two unlocking elements may be larger than 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm or larger than 5 cm. An advantage may be that a child may not be capable of reaching the two unlocking elements with one hand. 
     A maximum distance between two unlocking elements may be smaller than 5 cm, 8 cm, 11 cm or smaller than 14 cm. 
     The inner tray may be vacuum-formed (thermoformed). Vacuum-forming may be a way of manufacturing plastic components. Plastic sheets may be heated to a defined temperature and placed over a mould. A vacuum may then be applied to draw the plastic onto the mould. The plastic may adopt the shape of the mould and may then be removed. The precision of the resulting shapes and cavities may be advantageously high. 
     In another aspect of the invention a method of opening a package for accommodating products is provided comprising the following steps: a) providing a package adapted for accommodating products as described above, b) pressing all unlocking elements simultaneously whilst pulling the removable sleeve in order to remove the removable sleeve from the inner tray, c) opening the cover to access the at least one recess. 
     In another aspect of the invention a method of closing a package for accommodating products is provided comprising the following steps: a) providing an inner tray with a cover and a removable sleeve as described above, b) closing a cover, c) pushing the removable sleeve onto the inner tray, such that the protrusions of the inner tray are received by the cavities of the removable sleeve. 
     An advantage may be that the opening mechanism and the closing mechanism may be merely the same method steps solely performed in reverse order. Thus, the opening and closing of the package may be bidirectional and the locked state of the package may be re-established after each usage and the package may therefore be used multiple times. 
     While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Although several embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the present teachings. The foregoing description and following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations. 
     Various embodiments are described herein of various apparatuses, systems, and methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments, the scope of which is defined solely by the appended claims. 
     Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation. 
     Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materials does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  electronic smoking device 
           12  power supply portion 
           14  atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 
           16  end cap 
           18  battery 
           20  light-emitting diode (LED) 
           22  control electronics 
           24  airflow sensor 
           26  atomizer 
           28  heating coil 
           30  wick 
           32  central passage 
           34  liquid reservoir 
           36  air inhalation port 
           38  air inlets 
           100  package 
           101  inner tray 
           105  recess 
           110  top panel 
           111  first side panel 
           112  second side panel 
           113  third side panel 
           114  fourth side panel 
           120  first portion 
           125  removable sleeve 
           130  second portion 
           140  top sleeve panel 
           141  first side sleeve panel 
           142  second side sleeve panel 
           143  third side sleeve panel 
           150  cover 
           155  first window section 
           156  second window section 
           161  first protrusion 
           162  second protrusion 
           163  third protrusion 
           171  first unlocking element 
           172  second unlocking element 
           173  third unlocking element 
           181  first cavity 
           182  second cavity 
           190  open side 
           195  inner surface 
           198  outer surface 
           199  additional layer 
         d distance