Package with tambour closure

Abstract

A package comprised of a container and a tambour closure physically attached by a hinge to the container is described. A guide, such as grooves in side walls, is attached to the container and the tambour closure is disposed to move within the guide. The tambour closure is preferably self closing and the container has at least two compartments. The guide and the container are thermoformed as a unitary piece, and/or the container and the tambour closure are made as a unitary pieces. Preferably, the package is molded from a single sheet of material. The package is at least two colors. Opposites sides of the sheet may be different colors so that the external surface is one color and the internal surface another. Also, different portions of the sheet may be different colors so that one portion of the package is a first color and another portion is another color.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the art of packages. More specifically, the present invention relates to one-piece molded packages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tambour closures have been used in packages, furniture, and cabinets for some time. The construction of these closures makes them longitudinally flexible and at the same time transversely rigid. The longitudinal flexibility allows for a closure that will conform to the shape of the package, furniture, or cabinets in which they are used.

[0003] A closure, as used herein, is a structure that closes, including but not limited to a door, cover, lid, drawer, top, or other structure. A tambour closure, as used herein, is a closure that includes a plurality of transverse ridges, strips, slats, pieces, or other structures that allow the closure to flex in the longitudinal direction.

[0004] Some tambour closures, such as those used in roll top desks, consist of a plurality of rigid wooden strips arranged in parallel fashion side-by-side and glued to a canvas backing material. The canvas backing material allows the tambour closure to flex which in turn allows the tambour closure to follow a curved path. This type of tambour closure is typically positioned in a track or guide and is completely free to move in the track. The problem with this type of tambour closure is that the tambour closure must be assembled from numerous pieces, and further the tambour closure, which constitutes a separate piece, must be assembled into the desk.

[0005] Other tambour closures are made of plastic strips (also called slats or ridges), that are molded to each other via plastic flex joints. The flex joints allow for flexing of the plastic tambour closure. Such plastic tambour closures have been molded as a unitary piece. (A unitary piece or structure, as used herein, is a structure that is molded in a single molding operation as one piece.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,895 shows a unitary tambour closure.

[0006] However, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,895 merely describes a tambour closure, and not an entire package. Thus, to be used in a package the tambour closure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,895 must be assembled with a separate piece, and the resulting package would not be unitary. An example of a non-unitary package with a tambour closure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,493. Another type of prior art arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,171. Here, a plastic drawer is molded to one end of the plastic tambour closure. The tambour closure/drawer combination is then assembled with the rest of the package such that when the drawer is opened or closed, the tambour closure opens and closes. A similar package is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,858 wherein the plastic tambour closure is molded to a plastic holding cup that moves up and down inside of the container. In this package, as the tambour closure is opened and closed, the holding cup moves up and down. Again, the problem here is that manufacture of these packages is cumbersome because assembly is required.

[0007] Each of these prior art packages are not unitary; at a minimum the complete package consists of a container piece and a separate tambour closure piece. The package is made by assembling these two pieces together. This requires a separate assembly step during the manufacturing process. Thus, it is desirable to have a unitary package wherein the container and the tambour closure are unitary, whereby no assembly is required. A container, as used herein, is any structure that can be used in connection with a closure, including, but not limited to, bowls, dishes, compartments, trays, vessels, receptacles, etc.

[0008] Prior art tambour closures are placed in a guide and are free to move within the guide between an open position and a closed position and visa-versa. However, the tambour closure must be manually closed or a separate structure must be added to the package, such as a spring mechanism, to facilitate automatic closing of the tambour closure. Therefore it is desirable to have a tambour closure that is self closing and that does not require a separate structure to facilitate closing.

[0009] Prior art tambour closures are entirely contained in the guide in which they move, even when the tambour closure is open. Prior art tambour closures are also not physically attached to (affixed at one or more fixed locations or unitary with) the guide or container in which they are located because the entire tambour closure must be free to move within the guide. It is desirable to have a tambour closure wherein one end of the tambour closure is physically attached to the container of the package.

[0010] With the current marketing emphasis on product presentation and specialized packaging, multi-colored (black, white, clear, and any other shade of color) packages are desirable. For instance, one possibility is to have a package that has a closure of one color an a container of a different color. An alternative multi-colored package would be one having an external color that is one color and an internal color that is a different color.

[0011] In general, to obtain these types of multi-colored packages, two separate pieces, each of a different color, are molded separately. The two pieces are then either assembled, glued, or sonically welded together in a second processing step. Overall, the manufacturing process for these multi-colored packages requires two molding steps and an assembly step.

[0012] It is therefore desirable to have a package and a process for making the package wherein the closure and the container are molded as a unitary piece and further wherein the package is multi-colored. More specifically, it is desirable to have a package and a process for making the package wherein the closure and the container are molded as a unitary piece and further wherein the closure or a portion of the closure is one color and the container or a portion of the container is a different color. Likewise, it is also desirable to have a package and a process for making the package wherein the entire container and the closure are molded as a unitary piece and further wherein the exterior or a portion of the exterior is one color and the interior or a portion of the interior is a different color.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A first aspect of the invention is a package comprised of a container and a tambour closure physically attached to the container. A guide is attached to the container and the tambour closure is disposed to move within the guide.

[0014] The guide and the container are made as a unitary piece, and/or the container and the tambour closure are made as a unitary piece in various alternatives. Preferably, the package is molded from a single sheet of material in the latter alternative.

[0015] The package is at least two colors in other alternatives. The external surface is at least a first color and the internal surface at least a second color in one embodiment. The container top surface is at least a first color and the tambour closure top surface is at least a second color in another embodiment. A portion of the container is at least a first color and a portion of the tambour closure is at least a second color in a different alternative. The container internal surface is at least a first color and the tambour closure external surface is at least a second color in another embodiment.

[0016] The package is formed from a sheet of material having one surface at least a first color and a second surface at least a second color. The container top surface formed from the first surface and is at least the first color and the closure top surface is formed from the second surface and is at least the second color. Alternatively, the sheet of material has a first portion of at least a first color and a second portion, of at least a second color such that at least a portion of the container is at least the first color and at least a portion of the tambour closure is at least the second color.

[0017] The tambour closure is physically attached to the container by a hinge that is part of the package in one embodiment. The tambour closure, and the hinge are made as a unitary piece, and preferably molded from a single sheet of material in other alternatives.

[0018] The tambour closure is self closing in another embodiment.

[0019] The container has at least two compartments in another alternative.

[0020] The package is a thermoformed package in another alternative.

[0021] The guide is a groove located in opposing, substantially parallel side walls in another alternative.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the invention a package includes a container and a closure formed molded as a unitary piece from a sheet of material. A first sheet surface is at least a first color and a second sheet surface is at least a second color. A container top surface is at least the first color and a closure top surface is at least the second color.

[0023] According to a third aspect of the invention a package includes a container and a closure that are molded as a unitary piece from a sheet of material. A first portion of the sheet is at least a first color and a second portion of the sheet is at least a second color. At least a portion of the container is at least the first color, and at least a portion of the closure is at least the second color.

[0024] According to a fourth aspect of the invention a package includes a container and a closure formed molded as a unitary piece from a sheet of material. A first surface of the sheet is at least a first color and a second surface of the sheet is at least a second color. The container internal surface is at least the first color and the container external surface is at least the second color.

[0025] According to a fifth aspect of the invention a unitary package is formed from a single sheet of material. The external surface of the package is at least a first color and the internal surface is at least a second color.

[0026] According to a sixth aspect of the invention a unitary package is formed from a single sheet of material. The unitary package has a container and a closure. The container top surface is at least a first color and the closure top surface is at least a second color.

[0027] According to a seventh aspect of the invention a unitary package is formed from a single sheet of material. The unitary package has a container and a closure. A portion of the container is at least a first color and a portion of the closure is at least a second color.

[0028] According to an eighth aspect of the invention a unitary package is formed from a single sheet of material. The unitary package has a container and a closure. The container internal surface is at least a first color and the closure external surface is at least a second color.

[0029] Other principal features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention consisting of a package having a hinged tambour closure with the tambour closure in the closed position;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 1 with the tambour closure in a completely open position;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 1 with the tambour closure in a partially open position;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0035] FIG. 6 shows an end view of the container portion of the tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0036] FIG. 7 shows an end view of the tambour closure portion of the tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a close-up top view of the movable ledge mounting arrangement of the tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3;

[0038] FIG. 9 shows a close-up end view of the movable ledge portion of the tool used to make the package shown in FIGS. 1-3; and

[0039] FIG. 10 shows a close-up side view of the latch which is a part of the package shown in FIGS. 1-3.

[0040] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] While the present invention will be illustrated with reference to a particular package configuration made from a particular molding process, it should be understood at the outset that the present invention is not limited to this package configuration or this molding process.

[0042] Generally, the present invention relates to a package having a container and a closure. The preferred embodiment of the present invention consists of a container, a hinge, and a tambour closure. The hinge physically attaches the tambour closure to the container.

[0043] The container, hinge, and tambour closure are molded as a unitary piece using a plastic thermoform molding process in the preferred embodiment. The packages of the present invention, however, are not limited to unitary packages, for example in one alternative the tambour closure is formed separately and physically attached to the container, and are not limited to manufacture by thermoform molding. To close the tambour closure, the tambour closure is folded up about the hinge and the front end of the tambour closure is slid into a guide contained in the container. The physical attachment of one end of the tambour closure results in a tambour closure that is self closing as will be more fully described below.

[0044] If a single sheet of material having top and bottom surfaces of different colors is used to form a unitary package, the resulting unitary package can be configured to be multi-colored having specific portions or parts that are different colors. The term sheet top surface, as used herein, refers to the surface of a sheet of material that does not contact the tool that is used to make the package. Similarly, for purposes of this disclosure, the term sheet bottom surface, as used herein, refers to the surface of the sheet of material that contacts the tool that is used to make the package.

[0045] In one multi-colored embodiment of the present invention, the unitary package made from such a sheet of material (i.e. having top and bottom surfaces of different colors) has a container top surface (or a portion thereof) of one color and a closure top surface (or a portion thereof) that is a different color in this embodiment. This multi-colored package configuration results because the closure top surface (or a portion thereof) corresponds to one surface of the sheet of material which is one color and the container top surface (or a portion thereof) corresponds to the other surface of the sheet of material which is a different color.

[0046] In another multi-colored embodiment of the present invention, the unitary package made from such a sheet of material (i.e. again having top and bottom surfaces of different colors) is configured having an external package surface (or a portion thereof) that is one color and an internal package surface (or a portion thereof) that is a different color. This color scheme results when the container external surface and the closure external surface (or portions thereof) both correspond to one surface of the sheet of material which is one color and the container internal surface and the closure internal surface both correspond to the other surface of the sheet of material which is a different color.

[0047] The term external surface, as used herein with respect to the package, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on the outside of the package, container, and/or closure when the closure is in a closed position. The term internal surface, as used herein with respect to the package, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on the inside of the package, container, and/or closure when the closure is in a closed position. The term top surface, as used herein with respect to the package, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on the top side of the package, container, and/or closure when the closure is in a closed position. The term bottom surface, as used herein with respect to the package, container, and/or closure, refers to the surface on the underside of the package, container, and/or closure when the closure is in a closed position.

[0048] If a sheet of material having two separate portions of different colors (i.e. one-half of the sheet is a first color and the other one-half of the sheet is a second color different from the first color) is used to form the unitary package, the resulting unitary package can also be configured to be multi-colored having specific portions or parts that are different colors.

[0049] In another multi-colored embodiment of the present invention, the unitary package made from such a sheet of material (i.e. having two separate portions of different colors) has a container of one color or a portion of which is one color and a closure of a different color or a portion of which is a different color.

[0050] Although several multi-colored package embodiments of the present invention have been described, the package of the present invention is not limited to these particular multi-colored package embodiments. The present invention includes any multi-colored package configurations that can be obtained for a unitary package made from a single sheet of material.

[0051] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Package 10 is shown consisting of a container 11, a tambour closure 12, and a hinge 13. Hinge 13 physically attaches container 11 to tambour closure 12. In FIG. 1, package 10 is shown with tambour closure 12 in the completely closed position.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention with tambour closure 12 in an open position exposing the inside of container 11. Container 11 consists of a front wall 14, a rear wall 15, and two side walls 16, 17. Side walls 16 and 17 are positioned opposite and substantially parallel to each other on either side of container 11.

[0053] Container 11 contains three compartments 18, 19, and 20 in the preferred embodiment. Surface 22 is located at the top edge of, and surrounds, each of compartments 18, 19, and 20. Although the container in the preferred embodiment contains a specific number and configuration of compartments, the present invention is not limited to this number or configuration and any convenient number or configuration of compartments could be provided. In this embodiment, three compartments are shown. In other embodiments, a single compartment or a pair of compartments are present.

[0054] Sidewall 16 extends above surface 22 as shown in FIG. 2. An inwardly directed lip 23 extends inward from the top of sidewall 16. A longitudinal groove 24 running along a substantial portion of the length of sidewall 16 is formed by the combination of surface 22, sidewall 16, and lip 23.

[0055] Likewise, sidewall 17 extends above surface 22. A second inwardly directed lip 25 extends inward from the top of sidewall 17. A longitudinal groove 26 (not shown) running along a substantial portion of the length of sidewall 17 is formed by the combination of surface 22, sidewall 17, and lip 25.

[0056] The combination of grooves 24 and 26 form a guide in container 11 in which tambour closure 12 can easily slide. It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment, lips 23 and 24 do not extend the entire length of sidewalls 16 and 17. Therefore, grooves 24 and 26 also do not run the entire length of sidewalls 16 and 17 respectively. The significance of this will be discussed below.

[0057] The term guide, as used herein, refers to any structure that provides guidance for the movement of a tambour closure between an open and a closed position, such as, but not limited to, a track, slot, groove, etc.

[0058] A latch 27 is provided near the front end of container 11 and extends upward from surface 22 (see FIG. 10). Latch 27 has a latch surface 28 and a front surface 29 which is substantially perpendicular to both surfaces 22 and 28. An angled triangular surface 30 extends rearward from surface 28. Triangular surface 30 gradually rises from surface 22 to surface 28. The function of latch 27 will be described below.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows tambour closure 12 consisting of a plurality of ridges 31 arranged transversely side-by-side. A flex joint 32 is parallel to, and located between, each pair of elongated ridges 31.

[0060] Each of the plurality of ridges 31 does not extend the full width of tambour closure 12. A short guide ridge 40 projects from each end of each ridge 31 (accept for the last ridge 31 closest to hinge 13). Each guide ridge 40 is shorter in height than the particular ridge 31 from which it projects. Each guide ridge 40 projects from its corresponding ridge 31 just inside of the edge (width wise) of tambour closure 12. The purpose for each guide ridge 40 will be explained below.

[0061] A raised front panel 33 having a height approximately equal to the height of each ridge 31 is located at the front end of tambour closure 12. The increased width of front panel 33 compared to the width of each ridge 31 adds crossways rigidity to the front end of tambour closure 12. A finger notch 34 is molded into front panel 33 to allow for easier opening and closing of tambour closure 12. Finally, at the front end of tambour closure 12 is a horizontal lip 35 extending forward from a front wall 36.

[0062] Hinge 13 is located at the rear end of tambour closure 12. One edge of hinge 13 is physically attached to container 11 via flex joint 37. The other edge of hinge 13 is physically attached to tambour closure 12 via double flex joint 38. For added crossways rigidity, hinge 13 contains four raised panels 39.

[0063] Although tambour closure 12 is physically attached to container 11 using hinge 13 in the preferred embodiment, the physical attachment of the tambour closure to the container in the present invention is not limited to the use of a hinge.

[0064] The operation of tambour closure 12 will now be described (see FIG. 3). The front end of tambour closure 12 is first positioned such that front panel 33 is aligned with the guide formed by grooves 24 and 26. Once aligned, tambour closure 12 is inserted into the guide. As tambour closure 12 is inserted, the closure slides on top of surface 22 with guide ridges 40 located under lips 23 and 25.

[0065] The height and location of guide ridges 40 are such that each guide ridge 40 slides under one of the lips 23 or 25 as tambour closure 12 is closed. The last ridge 31 nearest hinge 13 does not have associated guide ridges as previously mentioned because no part of this ridge extends under lips 23 or 25.

[0066] During closing, tambour closure 12 is slid along surface 22 of container 11 until lip 35 at the front end of tambour closure 12 nears latch 27. Once lip 35 reaches latch 27, lip 35 is further slid over triangular surface 30 until front wall 36 on tambour closure 12 is in contact with front surface 29 on latch 27. This effectively secures tambour closure 12 in the closed position. To open tambour closure 12, the above described process is simply reversed.

[0067] The physical attachment of one end of tambour closure 12 to container 11 provides a self closing feature for package 10 in this embodiment. This physical attachment creates a spring Like effect which is produced by the unnatural curvature of tambour closure 12 when tambour closure 12 is in a partially closed position (see FIG. 3).

[0068] With one end of tambour closure 12 fixed to hinge 13 and the other end of tambour closure 12 partially inserted into the guide, tambour closure 12 is forced to assume an unnatural curved orientation outside of the guide. In this situation, only the front end of tambour closure 12 is free to move. The resulting spring forces acting on tambour closure 12 while it is in this unnatural curved position will have a tendency to force the free end of tambour closure 12 into the guide toward a closed position. Thus, tambour closure 12 is self closing in this embodiment.

[0069] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is made as a unitary package using a conventional plastic thermoforming process. FIGS. 4-9 show tool 100 used to make unitary package 10. Tool 100 consists of a male portion 101 above the sheet line 103 and a female portion 102 below sheet line 103. Male portion 101 is used to form container 11. Female portion 102 is used to form tambour closure 12 and hinge 13. The term male portion, as used herein with respect to tools, refers to a tool structure that is above the sheet line of the tool. The term female portion, as used herein with respect to tools, refers to a tool structure that is below the sheet line of the tool.

[0070] A first movable ledge 104 on one side of male portion 101 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. A second movable ledge (not shown) is located on the opposite side of male portion 101. Movable ledge 104 is mounted to tool 100 via a pair of pins 105 and is also attached to tool 100 via springs 106. A groove 107 is formed between movable ledge 104 and surface 108 of male portion 101. The function of movable ledge 104 will be discussed below.

[0071] During the thermoforming process, a sheet of plastic material is heated and then pulled down and formed on to tool 100 using a vacuum (from below the sheet of material), form air (pressurized air from above the sheet of material), and plug assist modules (used to force the sheet of material down into tool 100). Tool 100 contains small vacuum holes in various strategic locations that allow for the sheet of material to be pulled tightly into various nooks and crannies in tool 100. One such nook where the sheet needs to be pulled into is groove 107.

[0072] The newly formed package is ready to be removed from the tool once the package has cooled and hardened sufficiently. One problem is that a portion of the newly formed package is located under movable ledge 104. If movable ledge 104 were rigidly attached to tool 100, it would be very difficult to remove the newly formed package from tool 100 without deforming the newly formed package.

[0073] To allow for easy withdrawal, however, movable ledge 104 is spring loaded and is designed to move up and out of the way as the newly formed package is withdrawn. This allows for the newly formed package to be easily withdrawn. Once the package is removed, moveable ledge 104 returns to its lowered position for the start of molding the next package.

[0074] One feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that, using a single sheet of material, unitary package 10 can be made with container 11 having a container top surface (or a portion thereof) of one color and tambour closure 12 having a closure top surface (or a portion thereof) that is a different color. This is accomplished using a single sheet of material having a sheet top surface of one color and a sheet bottom surface having a color different from the color of the sheet top surface.

[0075] In the molding process for making the preferred embodiment, the sheet of material is pulled down on to tool 100 with the sheet top surface facing away from tool 100 and the sheet bottom surface in contact with tool 100. With respect to tool 100, when the sheet of material is formed on tool 100, the sheet top surface covering male portion 101 corresponds to the container top surface and the sheet bottom surface which is in contact with the male portion 101 of tool 100 corresponds to the container bottom surface of container 11.

[0076] With respect to tambour closure 12, the sheet top surface covering female portion 102 corresponds to the closure bottom surface of tambour closure 12 and the sheet bottom surface which is in contact with the female portion 102 of tool 100 corresponds to the closure top surface of tambour closure 12.

[0077] The result of using a sheet of material with two different surface colors (i.e. the sheet top surface is one color and the sheet bottom surface is a different color) is that, in the preferred embodiment, the container top surface (or a portion thereof) will be one color while the tambour closure top surface (or a portion thereof) will be a different color. This results simply because tambour closure 12 actually folds over on top of container 11 when tambour closure 12 is in a closed position.

[0078] In an alternative package embodiment of the present invention (not shown) which is also made using a single sheet of material having a sheet top surface that is a first color and a sheet bottom surface that is a second color different from the first color, a unitary package can be made having a package internal surface (or a portion thereof) that is one color and a package external surface (or a portion thereof) that is a different color.

[0079] In the molding process for this alternative package embodiment, the sheet of material used to make the unitary package embodiment is pulled down on to a tool (not shown) that has either two female portions (i.e. one for molding the container and one for molding the closure) or two male portions. The sheet line of the tool in this embodiment is at or near the location of where the container and the closure mate together.

[0080] The result of making this alternative embodiment from a sheet of material having two different surface colors (i.e. the sheet top surface is one color and the sheet bottom surface is a different color) is that the package external surface (or a portion thereof) will be one color while the package internal surface (or a portion thereof) will be a different color. This results simply because the external surfaces of the container and closure both correspond to one sheet surface of the sheet of material used to make the package and the internal surfaces of the container and closure both correspond to the other sheet surface of the sheet of material.

[0081] Another feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that using a single sheet of material having two portions of different colors (i.e. one-half of the sheet is a first color and the other one-half of the sheet is a second color different from the first color), package 10 can be molded with container 11 (or a portion of container 11) being a first color and tambour closure 12 (or a portion of tambour closure 12) being a second color different from the first color.

[0082] Numerous modifications may be made to the present invention which still fall within the intended scope hereof. Thus, it should be apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a package and process for making the package that fully satisfies the objectives and advantages set forth above. Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a container;

a guide attached to the container; and

a tambour closure physically attached to the container, wherein the tambour closure is disposed to move within the guide.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the guide and the container are made as a unitary piece.

3. The package of claim 1 wherein the container and the tambour closure are made as a unitary piece.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the package is molded from a single sheet of material.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the package has a package external surface that is at least a first color and a package internal surface that is at least a second color different from the first color.

6. The package of claim 4 wherein the container has a container top surface that is at least a first color and the tambour closure has a closure top surface that is at least a second color different from the first color.

7. The package of claim 4 wherein a portion of the container is at least a first color and a portion of the tambour closure is at least a second color different from the first color.

8. The package of claim 4 wherein the container has a container internal surface that is at least a first color and the tambour closure has a closure external surface that is at least a second color different from the first color.

9. The package of claim 4 wherein the container has a container top surface wherein the tambour closure has a closure top surface, wherein the sheet of material has a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface, and further wherein the first sheet surface is at least a first color and the second sheet surface is at least a second color different from the first color, wherein the container top surface is the at least first color and the closure top surface is the at least second color.

10. The package of claim 4 wherein the container has a container internal surface and a container external surface, wherein the tambour closure has a closure internal surface and a closure external surface, wherein the sheet of material has a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface, and further wherein the first sheet surface is at least a first color and the second sheet surface is at least a second color different from the first color, wherein the container external surface and the closure external surface are both at least the first color and the container internal surface and the closure internal surface are both at least the second color.

11. The package of claim 4 wherein the sheet of material has a sheet first portion and a sheet second portion, and further wherein the sheet first portion is at least a first color and the sheet second portion is at least a second color different from the first color whereby at least a portion of the container is at least the first color and at least a portion of the tambour closure is at least the second color.

12. The package of claim 1 further comprising a hinge, wherein the hinge physically attaches the tambour closure to the container.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein the container, the tambour closure, and the hinge are made as a unitary piece.

14. The package of claim 13 wherein the package is molded from a single sheet of material.

15. The package of claim 1 wherein the container and the tambour closure are different colors.

16. The package of claim 1 wherein the tambour closure is self closing.

17. The package of claim 1 wherein the container has at least two compartments.

18. The package of claim 1 wherein the package is a thermoformed package.

19. The package of claim 1 wherein the container comprises two opposing and substantially parallel side walls and wherein the guide comprises a groove located in each opposing sidewall.

20. A package comprising:

a container formed from a sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material has a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface, and further wherein the first sheet surface is at least a first color and the second sheet surface is at least a second color different from the first color, and further wherein the container has a container top surface, and further wherein the container top surface is at least the first color; and

a closure formed from the sheet of material, wherein the container and the closure are molded as a unitary piece, wherein the closure has a closure top surface, and further wherein the closure top surface is at least the second color.

21. The package of claim 15 wherein the package is a thermoformed package.

22. A package comprising:

a container formed from a sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material has a sheet first portion and a sheet second portion, and further wherein the sheet first portion is at least a first color and the sheet second portion is at least a second color different from the first color, and further wherein at least a portion of the container is at least the first color; and

a closure formed from the sheet of material, wherein the container and the closure are molded as a unitary piece, wherein at least a portion of the closure is at least the second color.

23. The package of claim 17 wherein the package is a thermoformed package.

24. A package comprising:

a container formed from a sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material has a first sheet surface and a second sheet surface, and further wherein the first sheet surface is a at least first color and the second sheet surface is at least a second color different from the first color, and further wherein the container has a container internal surface and a container external surface, wherein the container internal surface is at least the first color and the container external surface is at least the second color; and

a closure formed from the sheet of material, wherein the container and the closure are molded as a unitary piece, wherein the closure has a closure internal surface and a closure external surface, wherein the closure internal surface is at least the first color and the closure external surface is at least the second color.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a unitary package formed from a single sheet of material, wherein the unitary package has a package external surface that is at least a first color and a package internal surface that is at least a second color different from the first color.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a unitary package formed from a single sheet of material, wherein the unitary package has a container and a closure, wherein the container has a container top surface that is at least a first color and the closure has a closure top surface that is at least a second color different from the first color.

27. An apparatus comprising:

a unitary package formed from a single sheet of material, wherein the unitary package has a container and a closure, wherein a portion of the container is at least a first color and a portion of the closure is at least a second color different from the first color.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a unitary package formed from a single sheet of material, wherein the unitary package has a container and a closure, wherein the container has a container internal surface that is at least a first color and the closure has a closure external surface that is at least a second color different from the first color.