Patent Publication Number: US-11661247-B2

Title: Product packaging and locking mechanisms

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/031,976, titled “MOLDED FIBER LOCK” and filed May 29, 2020, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to product packaging, and more specifically but not exclusively, to locking mechanisms for product packaging. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional product packaging often contains non-sustainable materials, including but not limited to plastic. In particular, locking mechanisms used in product packaging often comprise plastic. As such, the product package often includes parts comprising fiber materials and part comprising non-fiber materials that may require manual separation of the various parts of the package prior to recycling. For example, a product package may comprise a fiber material while a locking mechanism may comprise a plastic material such that the plastic material must be separated from the package for separate recycling. Moreover, conventional product packaging often has to be specially manufactured to be compatible with existing locking mechanisms. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to certain embodiments, a product package may include a locking mechanism comprising a material that may be recycled along with the material of the remaining product package. For example, the locking mechanism may comprise materials such that the entire package (including the locking mechanism) may be recycled together without manual separation of the parts. In some embodiments, a locking mechanism for a product package may be moveable between a locked (or unactuated) position and an unlocked (or actuated) position for optionally repeatedly moving the product package between an open position and a closed position in which the product package is secure in the closed position. The locking mechanism may include a body portion, a pair of end portions, and a pair of neck portions extending between the body portion and each respective end portion. The body portion of the locking mechanism may extend from or through an opening in a first wall of the product package. The body portion may be sized and shaped to extend through a second opening in a second wall of the product package to secure the product package in a closed position when the locking mechanism is in the locked or unactuated position. The locking mechanism may secure the product package in the closed position by coupling the first wall and the second wall together. The locking mechanism may be forced or moved into an unlocked or actuated position in which a portion of the locking mechanism disengages or uncouples from the second opening in the second wall of the product package to allow for moving the product package from the closed position into the open position. 
     In some embodiments, the locking mechanism may be formed of fiber materials, including but not limited to molded fiber materials. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism may comprise a sustainable fiber material. The locking mechanism may be biodegradable, compostable and/or recyclable. As used herein, the term “biodegradable” means being capable of being decomposed or experiencing biodegradation by bacteria or other living organisms. The locking mechanism may not include plastic materials. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A further understanding of the nature and advantages of various embodiments may be realized by reference to the following figures. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label. 
         FIG.  1 A  is a perspective view of a product package with a locking mechanism according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the product package positioned in a secured closed position with the locking mechanism in the locked or unactuated position. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a perspective view of the product package with the locking mechanism of  FIG.  1 A , the locking mechanism of the present disclosure actuated into the unlocked or actuated position. 
         FIG.  1 C  is an perspective view of the product package with the locking mechanism of  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B  of the present disclosure, the product package in an open position. 
         FIG.  2    is a top perspective view of a locking mechanism according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of the locking mechanism of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4 A  is a top partial cross-sectional view of a product package in a closed position with a locking mechanism in the locked position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a top partial cross-sectional view of the product package in the closed position with the locking mechanism in the unlocked position, according embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5 A  is a rear perspective view of the locking mechanism of the product package of  FIGS.  4 A,  4 B  in the locked or unactuated position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5 B  is a rear perspective view of the locking mechanism of the product package of  FIGS.  4 A,  4 B  in the unlocked or actuated position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional top view of a locking mechanism of a product package, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a locking mechanism according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim. Also, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and “includes” when used in this specification and in the following claims are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components, steps, acts, or groups. In addition, it is to be understood that any workable combination of the features and elements disclosed herein is also considered to be disclosed. Additionally, any time a feature is not discussed with regard in an embodiment in this disclosure, a person of skill in the art is hereby put on notice that some embodiments of the invention may implicitly and specifically exclude such features, thereby providing support for negative claim limitations. 
     The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. 
     The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a locking mechanism  10  for a product package  11 .  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  depict views of the locking mechanism  10  in various positions while installed on the product package  11 . In some aspects, the product package  11  includes a top member  12 , which may form a top of the product package  11 , and a bottom member  14 , which may form a bottom of the product package  11 . The top member  12  and the bottom member  14  may be coupled together in a closed position that is secured (or locked) via the locking mechanism  10 . In the closed position, for example as shown in  FIG.  1 A , the top member  12  may be locked or secured to the bottom member  14  such that the top member  12  and bottom member  14  may not separate from one another without moving the locking mechanism  10  from a locked or unactuated position to an unlocked or actuated position. The product package  11  may further have an open position (as shown in  FIG.  1 C ), in which the top member  12  is uncoupled from and rotated away from the bottom member  14  such that an interior region  15  of the product package  11  is accessible. Though  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  depict the product package  11  as having a top member  12  that is positioned on top of a bottom member  14  in the closed position, in some aspects the product package may have a top member that may be positioned within a bottom member. 
     The top member  12  may include a wall  12 A. The bottom member  14  may also include a wall  14 A. The locking mechanism  10  may be secured in place on the bottom member  14 , as shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  on the wall  14 A. The product package  11  may be moved from the open position (shown in  FIG.  1 C ) to the closed position (shown in  FIG.  1 A ) by rotating the top member  12  down towards the bottom member  14 . The wall  14 A and wall  12 A may be aligned such that the locking mechanism  10  extends at least partially through an opening  16  (shown in  FIGS.  1 B,  1 C ) in the wall  12 A of the top member  12  to secure (or lock) the top member  12  to the bottom member  14  in the closed position (as shown in  FIG.  1 A ). The locking mechanism  10  may also extend through an opening in the wall  14 A of the bottom member  14 . As used herein, the term “closed position” means the product package (e.g. product package  11 ) cannot be moved from the closed position to the open position without actuation of a locking mechanism (e.g. locking mechanism  10 ). As described further below with reference to  FIGS.  4 A,  4 B , the locking mechanism  10  can be actuated between a locked position and an unlocked position, for selectively uncoupling the top member  12  from the bottom member  14 , by applying a force to a portion of the locking mechanism  10 . In the locked position, the locking mechanism  10  may be retained in place by frictional engagement between the locking mechanism  10  and an edge surface  18  defining the opening  16  in the wall  12 A of the top member  12  of the product package  11 . Though  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  depict the locking mechanism  10  coupled to the bottom member  14  and optionally coupled to the top member  12  (i.e. when the product package  11  is in the closed position), in some embodiments the locking mechanism  10  may be coupled to a different location on the product package  11 . For example, in some embodiments a product package may have the locking mechanism coupled to a top portion of the product package and optionally coupled to the bottom portion of the product package, for moving the product package between an open position and a closed position, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in the top front perspective view of the locking mechanism  10  depicted in  FIG.  2   , the locking mechanism  10  may comprise a body portion  20 , an end portion  22 A connected to the body portion  20  via a neck portion  24 A, and an end portion  22 B connected to the body portion  20  via a neck portion  24 B. The body portion  20  may include a base  26  from which side walls  28  project upwards to a top surface  30 . The locking mechanism  10  may include respective ridges  27 A,  27 B which may extend between recesses  29 A,  29 B, respectively. The ridges  27 A,  27 B and recesses  29 A,  29 B may aid in providing strength and/or stiffness to the locking mechanism  10 . For example, the ridges  27 A,  27 B and recesses  29 A,  29 B may aid in providing the locking mechanism  10  with sufficient structural support to repeatedly flex between an actuated position and an unflexed position without permanently deforming, thereby allowing the repeated actuated of the locking mechanism  10 . More or fewer ridges and/or recesses may be used in embodiments of the locking mechanism  10 . In some examples, top surface  30  may be positioned at a distance in a range of about 8 mm-24 above the base  26 . In some embodiments, the top surface  30  may be between approximately 15 mm and approximately 17 mm apart from the base  26 . While exemplary ranges are provided herein, such ranges are not limiting as the height the top surface  30  extends from the base  26  may be selected depending on the characteristics of the product package  11 , for example but not limited to the material used for the product package  11  that may determine the thickness of the walls and/or flaps of the product package  11 . In some embodiments, the body portion  20  may include a company logo and/or may be shaped into a company&#39;s logo. In some embodiments, the material defining the locking mechanism  10  may have a thickness of between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5 mm, including but not limited to having a thickness of about 1 mm. 
     In some embodiments, a width W 1  of the top surface  30  may be less than a width W 2  of the base  26  of the body portion  20 , as defined by the slope of the side walls  28 . The differences between the widths W 1  and W 2  may aid in manufacturing and/or the functionality of the locking mechanism  10 . In some embodiments, the width W 1  of the top surface  30  may not differ from the width W 2  of the base  26 , or in some embodiments the width W 2  may be less than the width W 1 . In some embodiments, without limitation, the width W 1  of the top surface  30  may be in the range of about 20 mm to about 40 mm and the width W 2  of the base  26  may be in the range of about 30 mm to about 50 mm. 
     The neck portions  24 A,  24 B may each have a width of W 3 . The amount each neck portion  24 A,  24 B, extends between the body portion  20  and the respectively end portions  22 A,  22 B may be between about 20 mm and about 40 mm, including for example but not limited between about 25 mm and about 30 mm. The width W 3  can aid in providing sufficient structural support for the locking mechanism  10  to repeatedly flex between an actuated and an unflexed position without permanently deforming, thereby allowing for repeated use of the locking mechanism  10 . The end portion  22 A includes a base  32 A from which a projection  34 A projects in a direction opposite the direction in which the body portion  20  projects. The end portion  22 B includes a base  32 B from which a projection  34 B projects in the direction opposite the direction in which the body portion  20  projects.  FIG.  3    depicts a bottom plan view of the locking mechanism  10  separate from the product package  11 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the projection  34 A projects in a direction coming out of the page via sidewalls  36 A (shown in  FIG.  2   ) while the body portion  20  projects in a direction into the page via side walls  28  (shown in  FIG.  2   ). The base  32 A surrounds the projection  34 A and may include tabs  38 A,  38 B that extend outwardly away from the projection  34 A. Similarly, the end portion  22 B includes a base  32 B from which a projection  34 B projects in a direction opposite the direction in which the body portion  20  projects. In other words, in viewing  FIG.  3    the projection  34 B projects in a direction coming out of the page via sidewalls  36 B (shown in  FIG.  2   ) while the body portion  20  projects in a direction into the page. The base  32 B surrounds the projection  34 B and may include tabs  38 C,  38 D that extend outwardly away from the projection  34 B. In some embodiments, the projections  34 A,  34 B may be extend about 4 mm to about 12 mm, including ranges therein for example but not limited to including but not limited to extending about 8 mm to about 10 mm away from the respective bases  32 A,  32 B. The height of the projections  34 A,  34 B may be determined based on characteristics of the product package  11 , for example but not limited to the material used for the product package  11  that may define the thickness of the walls and/or flaps of the product package  11 . 
     The locking mechanism  10  also includes an outer perimeter or ledge  40  extending circumferentially around one or more of the body portion  20 , the neck portions  24 A,  24 B, or the end portions  22 A,  22 B of the locking mechanism  10 . The outer perimeter or ledge  40  may extend sufficiently to form a surface upon which a surface of the product package  11  may contact for retaining the locking mechanism  10  in place on the product package  11 . In some embodiments, the outer perimeter or ledge  40  may extend about 1.5 mm to about 5 mm—from the body portion  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the end portions  22 A,  22 B, the body portion  20 , the outer perimeter or ledge  40 , and the neck portions  24 A,  24 B may be integrally formed. However, the end portions  22 A,  22 B, body portion  20 , outer perimeter or ledge  40 , and/or neck portions  24 A,  24 B may be separately formed and coupled together by any suitable attachment means. 
       FIG.  4 A  depict a cross-sectional top view of the product package  11  showing the locking mechanism  10  in the locked position with the top member  12  of the product package  11  in a closed position relative to the bottom member  14 . In the locked position, the locking mechanism  10  may be positioned such that the neck portions  24 A,  24 B are generally linearly aligned along a horizontal axis. As shown in  FIG.  4 A , in the locked position the body portion  20  extends through the opening  13  in the wall  14 A of the bottom member  14  and also extends at least partially through the opening  16  in the wall  12 A of the top member  12  for securing the top member  12  to the bottom member  14 . In the locked position, the locking mechanism  10  may retain the product package  11  in the closed position by passing at least partially through the opening  16 . In some aspects, at least a portion of the locking mechanism  10  may also contact the edge surface  18  of the opening in the product package  11  to aid in securing the top member  12  to the bottom member  14  by providing frictional engagement between the locking mechanism  10  and the top member  12 .  FIG.  4 B  depicts a cross-sectional top view of the product package  11  showing the locking mechanism  10  in the unlocked or actuated position with the top member  12  in a decoupled or unsecured position relative to the bottom member  14 . In the unlocked or actuated position, the body portion  20  of the locking mechanism does not extend through the opening  16  in the wall (i.e. the wall  12 A) of the top member  12 , thereby permitting rotation of the top member  12  away from the bottom member  14  to open the product package  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 B , to actuate the locking mechanism  10  from the locked to the unlocked position the body portion  20  may be pushed inwardly towards the interior region  15  of the product package  11 . The body portion  20  may be pushed inwardly to a point that the body portion  20  no longer extends sufficiently through the opening  16  in the wall  12 A such that the top member  12  is no longer coupled to the bottom member  14 . By positioning the locking mechanism  10  in the actuated or unlocked position, the top member  12  may be decoupled from the bottom member  14 . In some embodiments, the body portion  20  may extend at least partially through the opening  16  in the wall  12 A in the actuated position. In some embodiments, the body portion  20  may not extend through the opening  16  in the wall  12 A at all when in the actuated position. With the locking mechanism  10  in the actuated position, the top member  12  may be rotated away from the bottom member  14  into the open position. In the locked position (shown in  FIG.  4 A ), the body portion  20  extends at least partially through the opening  16  in the wall  12 A of the product package  11  to secure the top member  12  to the bottom member  14 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  4 A , the body portion  20  may extend through the opening  16  a sufficient amount to contact the edges of the opening  16  to retain the top member  12  in place coupled to the bottom member  14 . The amount the body portion  20  extends through the opening  16  may vary depending on the size, shape, and orientation of the opening  16  and the locking mechanism  10 . Upon removal of force from the body portion  20 , the locking mechanism  10  may return to the locked or unactuated position. In other words, the locking mechanism  10  may be biased to the locked position. Thus, the locking mechanism  10  may remain in the locked position until a force or pressure is applied to the locking mechanism  10 , i.e. the body portion  20 , thereby moving the locking mechanism  10  to the unlocked or actuated position. 
       FIG.  5 A  depicts a rear view of the product package  11  with the locking mechanism  10  in the locked position while  FIG.  5 B  depicts the same view with the locking mechanism  10  in the actuated position. As shown in  FIGS.  5 A,  5 B  the locking mechanism  10  may be secured in place on the product package  11  with a front surface of the locking mechanism  10  positioned against an inner surface of the wall  14 A (not visible in  FIGS.  5 A,  5 B  due to placement of the flap member  42 ) the product package  11  and with the body portion  20  extending through the opening  13  in the wall  14 A. A flap member  42  of the product package  11  may fold down towards the wall  14 A of the product package  11 . The flap member  42  may include a cutout  44  shaped and sized to generally correspond to the locking mechanism  10  such that the locking mechanism  10  is sandwiched and secured in place between the flap member  42  and the wall  14 A. In some aspects, the locking mechanism  10  may be retained in place between the flap member  42  and the wall  14 A by the ledge  40  sandwiched between the flap member  42  and the wall  14 A. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS.  5 A,  5 B , the locking mechanism  10  may be secured in place without adhesive or other additional securing features. For example, an edge region  48  of the flap member  42  may contact the ledge  40  of the locking mechanism  10  to aid in securing the locking mechanism  10  in place. The projections  34 A,  34 B also aid in securing the locking mechanism  10  in place between the wall  14 A the flap member  42  by extending beyond the flap member  42 . The locking mechanism  10  may be sufficiently secured in its position between the wall  14 A and the flap member  42  such that the locking mechanism  10  is retained in place when a force is applied to the body portion  20  to actuate the locking mechanism  10  from the locked position (shown in  FIG.  5 A ) to the actuated position (shown in  FIG.  5 B ) for uncoupling the top member  12  from the bottom member  14  for opening the product package  11 . As shown in  FIG.  5 B , the locking mechanism  10  may be flexible enough to repeatedly flex between the locked position and the actuated (or unlocked) position. In some embodiments the locking mechanism  10  may be retained in place by other means, including but not limited to adhesives, mechanical features, hook and loop fasteners, or any other suitable means for securing the locking mechanism  10  in position. 
       FIG.  6    depicts a cross-sectional top view of an embodiment of a locking mechanism according to aspects of the present disclosure, for example, but not limited to, locking mechanism  10 , including the body portion  20 , the neck portions  24 A,  24 B, the end portion  22 A,  22 B, and the projections  34 A,  34 B. 
     In some embodiments, the locking mechanism  10  may be formed of a fiber material, including but not limited to molded fiber material. The locking mechanism may be formed of a sustainable fiber material, such as a material comprising natural or plant derived fibers, including by example only with no intention to be limiting sustainable or rapidly renewing natural or plant derived fibers (e.g., bamboo, bagasse, etc.). In some embodiments, the fiber material of the locking mechanism  10  may include, but is not limited to including, recycled paper, non-recycled paper, wood, sisal, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, cotton, cereal straws, bamboo, and/or bagasse, including combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism  10  may be formed from a slurry of materials, including but not limited to plant derived fibers, water, and/or binding ingredients. In some embodiments, the materials defining the locking mechanism may be biodegradable, compostable, and/or recyclable. 
     The locking mechanism  10  may be formed of fiber materials that have been molded into the shape of a locking mechanism. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism  10  may be formed by molding, pressing, and/or die cutting processes. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism  10  may be manufactured by molding, for example by mixing a water/fiber slurry, pumping the slurry into a forming station, drawing the slurry through a screen so as to trap the fiber material of the slurry onto the screen. The fiber material, now on the screen, may be pressed in molds that are the form factor of the desired product. Heat and pressure may be applied to the molds so that the water is pressed and evaporated out of the fibers. The product may be removed from the molds dry and ready for shipping. In some aspects, the product may be die cut following the molding process. 
     In some examples of product packages and locking mechanisms contemplated in the present disclosure, the similar composition of the locking mechanism  10  to the materials used in packaging (e.g. corrugated fiberboard and paperboard) may allow for the entire product package  11 , including the locking mechanism  10 , to be recycled, added to compost, and/or permitted to biodegrade, in its entirety without the need for separation from one another. For example, without having to separate the locking mechanism  10  from the remainder of the product package  11  which can increase the likelihood of recycling or otherwise reduce the likelihood of the product package  11  and/or the locking mechanism  10  ending up in a landfill or causing contamination of a recycling plant by including materials that should have been separated from one another prior to recycling. Furthermore, the manufacturing of the locking mechanism  10  from the fiber material, i.e. by a molding production method, may provide for variations of structures and features, including size, shape, and orientation of the locking mechanism  10 , depending on the desired design and/or necessities of the locking mechanism  10  based on the material used for the remainder of the product package  11  (e.g. walls of the product package  11 ). 
     As described above, the locking mechanism  10  may be formed of a fiber material, which, due to the molding process, may be customized so as to be formed into a unique shape. The molding process may also provide for the locking mechanism  10  being manufactured using an automated process. In addition, the relative small size of the locking mechanism  10  can provide for multiple pieces being produced on a single tool, and subsequently providing rapid reproducibility of the locking mechanism. The molded fiber material may vary in thickness and may be pliable in nature, thereby providing functionality that can be used in many different situations. In particular, the molded fiber material allows for the locking mechanism  10  to be cycled between the actuated (or unlocked) position and the unactuated (or locked) position multiple times without the need to be replaced. In other words, in addition to being biodegradable, recyclable and/or compostable, the locking mechanism  10  may also be reusable thereby eliminating waste. The locking mechanism  10  may not include plastic. 
     Moreover, the locking mechanism  10  may be integrated into a preexisting product package or may be formed as a separate structure within other packaging materials (e.g., product package  11 ). For example, the locking mechanism  10  may allow for the closure of a product package  11  having a single piece. Alternatively, the locking mechanism  10  may attach multiple pieces of a product package  11 . Additionally, as described above, the locking mechanism  10  may be designed as multiple pieces depending on packaging needs. 
     In some embodiments, the thickness of the molded fiber material defining the locking mechanism (e.g. locking mechanism  10 ) may be selected to adjust for mass requirements of a particular product package  11 . For example, the locking mechanism  10  may be adjusted to have a stronger lock when necessary and/or may be adjusted to accommodate for varying space requirements between packaging components where necessary. In addition, the pliable nature of the molded fiber material combined with the aforementioned features may also determine the tightness or security of the lock between elements of the locking mechanism  10 , which may be selected to correspond with a desired user experience when unboxing the product package  11 . This ability to control the tightness or security of the lock between elements of the locking mechanism  10  provides for a level of control that is not available when using other materials. Furthermore, the molded fiber material allows for the locking mechanism  10  to be produced and integrated within the product package  11  without the need for complex injection molded tooling. 
     While the locking mechanism  10  is illustrated in use with a product package  11  being a rectangular box, the locking mechanism  10  is not so limited and may be used in a product package of varying shapes and sizes. Moreover, the locking mechanism  10  may be positioned in any suitable location on the product package  11 , not necessarily on the bottom member as shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C . Similarly, the locking mechanism  10  may vary in size and shape from the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the body portion  20  of the locking mechanism  10  may be rectangular in shape, circular in shape, triangular in shape, or any other suitable shape. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG.  7    in which the body portion  20  of the locking mechanism  10  has a circular shape. 
     Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Examples of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative examples will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the examples described above or depicted in the drawings, and various examples and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below. 
     In some embodiments, a locking mechanism or packaging product is provided according to one or more of the following examples: 
     Example #1: A locking mechanism for a product package may include a body portion that is receivable within a surface of the product package. The locking mechanism may also include a pair of end portions, as well as a first neck portion positioned between the body portion and a first end portion of the pair of end portions. The locking mechanism may also include a second neck portion positioned between the body portion and a second end portion of the pair of end portions. The locking mechanism may have locked position in which at least a portion of the locking mechanism extends through an opening in a wall of a product package for retaining the product package in a closed position. The locking mechanism may also have an actuated position in which the locking mechanism does not extend through the opening in the wall of the product package for permitting the product package to be moved to an open position. The locking mechanism may be biased to the locked position and may comprises a fiber material. 
     Example #2: The locking mechanism of Example #1, further featuring the locking the first and second neck portions being generally linearly aligned along a horizontal axis when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. The locking mechanism may be flexible such that in the actuated position first and second neck portions are not generally linearly aligned along the horizontal axis. 
     Example #3: The locking mechanism of any of Examples #1-#2, further featuring a top surface of the body portion of the locking mechanism extending entirely through the opening in the wall of the product package when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. 
     Example #4: The locking mechanism of any of Examples #1-#3, further featuring the fiber material being a molded fiber material. 
     Example #5: The locking mechanism of any of Examples #1-#4, further featuring the fiber material being a natural fiber. 
     Example #6: The locking mechanism of any of Examples #1-#5, further featuring the fiber material being at least one of paper, wood pulp, hemp or bamboo. 
     Example #7: A product package assembly may include a locking mechanism and a product package. The locking mechanism may include a body portion and a pair of end portions. The locking mechanism may also include a first neck portion positioned between the body portion and a first end portion of the pair of end portions, as well as a second neck portion positioned between the body portion and a second end portion of the pair of end portions. The product package may include a first member including a first wall, and a second member including a second wall. The first member may be coupleable to the second member in a closed position via the locking mechanism. The product package assembly may include a closed position in which the locking mechanism is in a locked position. The body portion may extend at least partially through an opening in the first wall of the first member for securing the first member to the second member in a closed position when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. The locking mechanism may also have an unlocked or actuated position in which the body portion does not extend through the opening in the first wall of the first member such that first wall and second wall are uncoupled from one another. The locking mechanism may include a fiber material. 
     Example #8: The product package assembly of Example #7, further featuring the locking mechanism being biased to the locked position. 
     Example #9: The product package assembly of any of Examples #7-#8, further featuring the locking mechanism being repeatedly moveable between the locked position and the actuated position. 
     Example #10: The product package assembly of any of Examples #7-#9, further featuring the first neck portion having at least one ridge and at least one recess. 
     Example #10: The product package assembly of any of Examples #7-#9, further featuring that a top surface of the body portion of the locking mechanism extends through an opening in the second wall of the second member in the locked position. 
     Example #11: The product package assembly of any of Examples #7-#10, further featuring the locking mechanism being retained in place on the product package without the use of an adhesive. 
     Example #12: The product package assembly of any of Examples #7-#11, further featuring that the fiber material comprises a molded fiber material. 
     Example #14: The product package assembly of any of Examples #7-#13, further featuring that the fiber material comprises a natural fiber. 
     Example #15: The product package assembly of any of Examples #7-#14, further featuring that the natural fiber comprises a plant fiber. 
     Example #16: A method of opening a product package may include providing the product package comprising a first member having an opening in a wall of the first member, and a second member that is coupleable to the first member. The product package may also include a locking mechanism formed of a molded fiber material for coupling the first member and the second member in a closed position. The locking mechanism may further include a body portion, a pair of end portions, a first neck portion positioned between the body portion and a first end portion of the pair of end portions, and a second neck portion positioned between the body portion and a second end portion of the pair of end portions. The method includes applying a force to the body portion of the locking mechanism for forcing the locking mechanism from a locked position in which the first member is coupled to the second member in the closed position, to an actuated position in which the first member is uncoupled from the second member for rotating the first member away from the second member to position the product package in an open position. 
     Example #17: The method of Example #16 further featuring, rotating the first member towards the second member such that the opening in the wall of the first member is aligned with the body portion of the locking mechanism. The method also includes removing a force from the locking mechanism for automatically positioning the locking mechanism in the locked position wherein the body portion of the locking mechanism at least partially extends through the opening in the wall of the first member such that the first member and second member are secured together in the closed position. 
     Example #18: The method of any of Examples #16-#17, further featuring the step of applying a force to the locking mechanism for forcing a body portion of the locking mechanism from a locked position in which the first member is coupled to the second member in the closed position, further comprising applying the force to the body portion of the locking mechanism for moving the body portion of the locking mechanism such that it no longer extends at least partially through the opening in the wall such that the first member is uncoupled from the second member. 
     Example #19: The method of any of Examples #16-#18, further featuring the molded fiber material comprising a plant fiber. 
     Example #20: The method of any of Examples #16-#19, further featuring the molded fiber material comprises at least one of paper, wood pulp, hemp, or bamboo.