AU2006268011B2

AU2006268011B2 - Box containing loose smokable material

Info

Publication number: AU2006268011B2
Application number: AU2006268011A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Vincenzo Disavino
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2005-06-10
Filing date: 2006-06-09
Publication date: 2011-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-09
Also published as: EP1893042A2; JP2008545596A; UA92743C2; WO2007007197B1; ATE493899T1; BRPI0611920A2; CN101175419A; AU2006268011A1; EA012778B1; KR101299329B1; NZ562554A; EA200702560A1; AR057359A1; KR20080022141A; MX2007013930A; HK1113647A1; WO2007007197A2; WO2007007197A3; BRPI0611920B1; DE602006019424D1

Abstract

A box (2) (62) containing loose smokable material (4) formed from a one-piece blank comprises: a receptacle portion (6) containing loose smokable material (4) and having an access opening; a flap (8) integral with the receptacle portion (6) ; and a pair of opposed upstanding walls (30) integral with the flap (8) and extending at least part-way along the sides thereof . The flap (8) is moveable between a folded position, in which the flap (8) is folded at least partly around the receptacle portion (6) and overlies the opening, and an extended position, in which the flap (8) extends outwardly from the receptacle portion (6) . The box (62) may further comprise an integral closure tongue (64) connected to the receptacle portion (6) and moveable between a closed position, in which the closure tongue (64) covers the opening and loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion (6) is inaccessible, and an open position, in which loose smokable material (4) contained in the receptacle portion (6) is accessible through the opening. The loose smokable material (4) may be loose fine-cut tobacco for forming roll your own (RYO) or make your own (MYO) cigarettes and the box (2) (62) may be of substantially the same size and shape as a conventional cigarette pack.

Description

BOX CONTAINING LOOSE SMOKABLE MATERIAL The present invention relates to a box containing loose smokable material formed from a one-piece blank. Fine cut tobacco for the manufacture of roll your own (RYO) and make your own 5 (MYO) cigarettes is conventionally sold in reclosable, flexible, plastic pouches. Such pouches are often provided with an elongate flexible flap that is folded or wrapped around the pouch in order to close it. Known pouches of fine-cut tobacco are typically not suitable for sale in existing vending machines used for retailing cigarette packs or for inclusion in existing point of sale fixtures used for the storage and display of cigarette packs. 10 According to the present invention there is provided a box containing loose smokable material formed from a one-piece blank, wherein the box is a substantially rigid container said box including a receptacle portion containing loose smokable material and having an access opening, a flap integral with the receptacle portion and moveable between a folded position, in which the flap is folded at least partly around 15 the receptacle portion and overlies the opening, and an extended position, in which the flap extends outwardly from the receptacle portion and a pair of opposed upstanding walls integral with the flap and extending at least part-way along the sides thereof, wherein the opposed upstanding walls extend from the receptacle portion along the sides of the flap and are connected to the receptacle portion by a 20 pair of opposed foldable web panels. Also according to the invention there is provided a box containing loose smokable material formed from a one-piece blank, the box comprising: a receptacle portion containing loose smokable material and having an access opening; an integral closure tongue connected to the receptacle portion and moveable between a closed position, in which the closure 25 tongue covers the opening and loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion is inaccessible, and an open position, in which loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion is accessible through the opening; and a flap integral with the receptacle portion and moveable between a folded position, in which the flap is folded at least partly around the receptacle portion and overlies the closure tongue and the opening, and an 30 extended position, in which the flap extends outwardly from the receptacle portion. Throughout the specification, "box" is used to mean a substantially rigid container. Such containers are self-supporting, having an size and shape that, once formed, does not alter significantly upon the insertion or removal of contents into or from the container. Conventional hard hinge-lid cigarette packs are substantially rigid and self-supporting. 24/06/1 ,dh-16901 - specipgl -cdm.doc, I WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 -2 In contrast, known pouches of cut tobacco are neither substantially rigid nor self-supporting. The term loose smokable material is used to describe smokable material that has not been manufactured into a smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or cigarillo or part thereof and includes, but is not limited to, rolling tobacco, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and snuff. Preferably, the loose smokable material is loose tobacco, more preferably rolling tobacco, most preferably loose fine-cut tobacco. Where the loose smokable material is rolling tobacco, the receptacle portion of the box preferably contains between about 20g and about 40g of tobacco. Preferably, the loose smokable material is not wrapped inside the box; it is in direct contact with the receptacle portion of the box. The loose smokable material may, however, be contained in a pouch, bag or other wrapper, which is contained within the receptacle portion of the box. In the extended position, the flap of the box of the present invention advantageously provides a surface on which a consumer can handle loose smokable material removed from the receptacle portion thereof. For example, a consumer may use the surface provided by the flap to roll a charge of loose smokable material removed from the receptacle portion of the box in a wrapper to form a hand rolled cigarette. Alternatively, a consumer may use the surface provided by the flap to stuff a charge of loose smokable material removed from the receptacle portion of the box in a pre-fabricated tube or spill to form a smoking article. The surface provided by the flap in the extended position may advantageously also be printed with, for example, graphics, text, logos or other consumer information. Furthermore, by helping to retain the loose smokable material on the flap as it is handled by the consumer, the pair of opposed side walls extending at least part-way along the sides of the flap advantageously help to prevent loss or wastage of the loose smokable material when the flap is in the extended position. Preferably, the opposed upstanding walls extend from the receptacle portion along the sides of the flap. More preferably, the opposed upstanding walls are connected to the receptacle portion. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the shape and position of the pair of opposed upstanding walls is such that the walls also advantageously help to prevent loss of the loose smokable material from the receptacle portion when the flap is in the folded position.

WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 -"3 In preferred embodiments of the invention, the flap is connected to a first wall of the receptacle portion and in the folded position overlies at least part of a second wall of the receptacle portion that is generally opposed to the first wall. More preferably, in the folded position the flap overlies the second wall of the receptacle portion and at least part of a third wall of the receptacle portion, the third wall being generally opposed to the opening. Most preferably, in the folded position the flap overlies the second wall of the receptacle portion, the third wall of the receptacle portion and at least part of the first wall of the receptacle portion. Preferably, the flap comprises two or more hingedly connected panels. The one-piece blank from which the box is formed may be made of any suitable materials) including, but not limited to, for example cardboard, paperboard, plastic and/or metal. Preferably, the box is formed from a one-piece board blank, more preferably from a one-piece film laminated board blank or a one-piece aluminium foil laminated board blank. Use of a laminated board blank to form the box can advantageously help to prevent the box from spotting/dirtying due to, for example, moisture present in the loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion thereof. In addition use of a laminated board blank can be used to enhance the appearance of the box. For example, where the box is formed from a one-piece film laminated board blank, the film can be metallised or printed with an overall ink before lamination to, for example, provide a metallic or coloured appearance when the flap is in the extended position. Preferably, the box further comprises retention means for holding the flap in the folded position. The retention means may comprise a tab provided on one of the receptacle portion or the flap and a cooperating slot provided in the other of the receptacle portion or the flap, the slot being positioned to accept the tab when the flap is in the folded position. Alternatively, the retention means may comprise a first magnetic region provided on the receptacle portion and an aligned second magnetic region provided on the flap, whereby the flap is held in the folded position by magnetic attraction between the first magnetic region and the second magnetic region. In further embodiments, the retention means may retain the flap in the folded position by adhesion. For example, the retention means may comprise a re-sealable adhesive applied to at least part of the flap WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 -4 and/or receptacle portion, which adheres the flap to the receptacle portion in the folded position. Alternatively, the retention means may comprise two non-adhesive means that only adhere when in contact with one another, a first one of the two non-adhesive means being provided on the receptacle portion and a second one of the two non-adhesive means being provided on the flap, the first non-adhesive means and the second non adhesive means being positioned such that they are brought into contact with one another when the flap is in the folded position. The use of such an "A/B" adhesion technique" advantageously avoids any loose smokable material sticking to the first or second retention means when the flap is in the extended position, which could lead to a reduction in the adhesion power of the retention means when the flap is in the folded position. As well as the specific examples given above, it will be appreciated that a variety of other known retention means could also be employed to hold the flap in the folded position such as, for example, hook and loop type fasteners, elastic string type fasteners or inelastic string type fasteners. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the box further comprises an integral closure tongue connected to the receptacle portion and moveable between a closed position, in which the closure tongue covers the access opening and loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion is inaccessible, and an open position, in which loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion is accessible through the access opening. Preferably, the closure tongue is pivotally connected to the receptacle portion along a hinge line. Preferably, the flap is connected to a first wall of the receptacle portion and the closure tongue is connected to a second wall of the receptacle portion, the second wall being generally opposed to the first wall. The inclusion of a closure tongue that initially covers the access opening of the receptacle portion advantageously helps to preserve the freshness of the loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion prior to initial opening of the box, especially in hot, dry or humid environments. Preferably, the closure tongue is detachably connected to the receptacle portion. For example, the closure tongue may be connected to the receptacle portion along a line of perforations. Having opened the WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 5 box, by moving. the flap from the folded position to the extended position, the consumer may move the closure tongue from the closed position to the open position and then tear along the line of perforations in order to detach the closure tongue from the remainder of the box. Alternatively, the consumer may press on the closure tongue in the closed position in order to tear along the line of perforations and so detach the closure tongue from the remainder of the box. Once detached, the closure tongue may be discarded. When desired, the consumer re-closes the box by moving the flap back from the extended position to the folded position. Preferably, in the closed position a distal portion of the closure tongue is inserted into the receptacle portion through the access opening. To help retain the closure tongue in the closed position, boxes according to the invention may also further comprise a retention tab integral with the receptacle portion, the distal portion of the closure tongue being inserted between a wall of the receptacle portion and the retention tab in the closed position. Alternatively or in addition, a removable adhesive may be provided on a distal portion of the closure tongue that is inserted into the receptacle portion in the closed position in order to help retain the closure tongue in the closed position. Through an appropriate choice of blank, boxes containing loose smokable material according to the invention may be formed having a variety of different shapes. For example, boxes according to the invention may be rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, elliptical or "stadium-shaped" in cross-section; the term "stadium-shaped" is used to describe a shape comprising a pair of opposed parallel straight sides joined by a pair of opposed curved sides. In particular, the box according to the invention may have the same shape as any type of conventional cigarette pack. Preferably, the box according to the invention is substantially cuboid. More preferably, the box is rectangular in cross-section. By varying the sizes of the blanks from which they are formed, boxes containing loose smokable material according to the invention having different sizes may also be produced. For example, a cuboid box according to the invention that is about 55 mm x about 22.5 mm x about 84 mm or about 55 mm x about 22.5 mm x about 100 may be formed.

WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 6 Preferably, the box containing loose smokable material according to the invention is substantially the same size as a known type of conventional cigarette pack. More preferably, the box containing loose smokable material according to the present invention is of substantially the same size and substantially the same shape as a known type of conventional cigarette pack. Most preferably, the box according to the invention is of substantially the same size and substantially the same shape as a known type of hinge lid cigarette pack. It will be appreciated that boxes according to invention having the same size and shape as known cigarette packs may advantageously be sold in existing vending machines used for retailing cigarette packs and/or stored or displayed in existing point of sale fixtures alongside cigarette packs. Furthermore, the application of appropriate branding/trade dress to the outer surface of such boxes advantageously produces boxes containing loose smokable material having the same appearance as conventional cigarette packs. Boxes according to the invention may further comprise one or more pockets in or on the receptacle portion thereof for storing cigarette papers, cigarette lighters, rolling machines or other such items. In addition, packs of cigarette papers for making roll your own cigarettes may also be attached directly to the receptacle portion or flap of boxes according to the invention by means of, for example, adhesive. If desired, boxes according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene in a conventional manner. The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a box containing loose fine-cut tobacco according to a first embodiment of the invention with the flap in the extended position; Figure 2 is a plan view of a one-piece blank for forming the box of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of an alternative one-piece blank for forming the box of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a box containing loose fine-cut tobacco according to a second embodiment of the invention with the flap in the extended position and the closure tongue in the open position; Figure 5 shows the box of Figure 4 with the closure tongue detached from the receptacle portion.

WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 -. 7 The one-piece blanks and boxes shown in the figures have several components in common; these have been given the same reference numerals throughout. The box 2 containing loose tobacco 4 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 generally comprises a receptacle portion 6 and an elongate flap 8 connected to the receptacle portion 6. The receptacle portion 6 comprises a front wall 10 and an opposed parallel rear wall 12 (not shown), a bottom wall 14 (not shown), which connects the front wall 10 and the rear wall 12 along their lower edges, and a left side wall 16 (not shown) and a right side wall 18, which connect the front wall 10, rear wall 12 and bottom wall 14 along their left hand and right hand edges respectively. The walls 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 of the receptacle portion 6 thus define an open-topped receptacle within which the loose tobacco 4 is contained. To facilitate removal of the loose tobacco 4 contained in the receptacle portion 6, a notch 20 with opposed sloping sides is provided in the middle of the upper edge of the front wall 10 of the receptacle portion 6. As shown in Figure 1, in the extended position the elongate flap 8 extends outwardly from the upper edge of the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6. In the longitudinal direction thereof, the flap 8 includes a first panel 22 of approximately the same dimensions as the bottom wall 14 of the receptacle portion 6, which is connected to the upper edge of the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6 along a transverse score line (not visible in Figure 1), a second panel 24 of approximately the same dimensions as the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6, a third panel 26 of approximately the same dimensions as the first panel 22 and a fourth panel 28 of approximately the same dimensions as the second panel 24. The first panel 22, the second panel 24, the third panel 26 and the fourth panel 28 are separated from one another in the longitudinal direction of the flap by three further transverse parallel score lines. A pair of opposed upstanding walls 30 are connected to the longitudinal edges of the second panel 24 of the flap 8 along a pair of parallel longitudinal score lines. As shown in Figure 1, the ends of the opposed upstanding walls 30 proximate to the receptacle portion 6 of the box 2 are connected to the side walls 16, 18 of the receptacle portion 6 by a first pair of opposed foldable web panels 32 having "V-shaped" free edges. The ends of the opposed upstanding walls 30 distant from the receptacle portion 6 of the box 2 are connected to the longitudinal edges WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 of the third panel 26 of the flap 8 by a second pair of opposed foldable web panels 34 having outwardly curved free edges. To close the box 2, the flap 8 is moved from the extended position shown in Figure 1 to a folded position, in which it is wrapped around the receptacle portion 6 of the box 2, by folding the first panel 22, second panel 24, third panel 26 and fourth panel 28 about the transverse score lines so that they overlie the open-top, front wall 10, bottom wall 14 and rear wall 12, respectively, of the receptacle portion 6 and the opposed upstanding walls 30 of the flap 8 overlie the left side wall 16 and right side wall 18 of the receptacle portion 6. The second pair of foldable web panels 34 form extensions of the opposed upstanding walls 30 that help to smoothen the connection of the opposed upstanding walls 30 to the third panel 26 of the flap 8 in the folded position. The shape of the first pair of foldable web panels 32 also helps to ease the folding of the flap 8 to close the box 2. In use, when the flap 8 is in the extended position shown in Figure 1, the upper faces of the first panel 22, second panel 24, third panel 26 and fourth panel 28 of the flap 8, which overlie the open-top and the front wall 10, bottom wall 14 and rear wall 12, respectively, of the receptacle portion 6 in the folded position, provide an elongate surface or tray on which a consumer may, for example, roll a charge of the tobacco in a cigarette paper to form a roll your own cigarette or otherwise handle the tobacco. The first pair of opposed -foldable web panels 32 and the upstanding opposed walls 30, which are substantially perpendicular to the second panel 24 of the flap 8, help to retain the loose tobacco 4 on the upper surface of the panels 22, 24, 26, 28 of the flap 8 during handling by the consumer and so advantageously prevent loss or wastage thereof. A one-piece laminated board blank 40 from which the box 2 of Figure 1 may be formed is shown in Figure 2. The blanks 40 includes various panels and tabs, which when folded about appropriate score lines (shown by broken lines in Figure 2) in a known manner and secured to one another by, for example, adhesive form the box 2 shown in Figure 1; the term "score line" is used to indicate a line formed by, for example, scoring, creasing, perforating, embossing or otherwise compressing, cutting and/or weakening the blanks. The same reference numerals are used in Figure 2 for elements of the blank 40 that are similar or related to elements of the box 2 of Figure 1 previously described.

WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 -9 An alternative, elongate, one-piece laminated board blank 50 from which-the box shown in Figure 1 may be formed is shown in Figure 3. Once again, the same reference numerals are used in Figure 3 for elements of the blank 50 that are similar or related to elements of the box 2 of Figure 1 previously described. Like the blank 40 shown in Figure 2, the blank 50 shown in Figure 3 includes various panels and tabs, which when folded about appropriate score lines (shown by broken lines in Figure 3) in a known manner and secured to one another by, for example,. adhesive form the box 2 shown in Figure 1. However, the panels of the blank 50 shown in Figure 3 that form the receptacle portion 6 of the box 2 shown in Figure 1 are arranged differently to those of the blank 40 shown in Figure 2; the panels of the blank 50 shown in Figure 3 that form the flap 8 of the box 2 shown in Figure 1 are identical to those of the blank 40 shown in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that the precise order in which the various panels of the one-piece laminated board blanks 40, 50 shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively, are folded and secured to one another to form the box 2 of Figure 1 may be varied depending upon, for instance, the apparatus used to produce the box 2. For example, the blank 40 shown in Figure 2 may be advantageously partially pre-folded and pre-glued prior to being fully erected to form the box 2 shown in Figure 1. With reference to Figure 2, in the pre-folding and pre-gluing step panel 16' and panel 16'' of the blank 40, which form the left side wall 16 of the box 2 shown in Figure 1, are glued to one another to form an easily transportable "semi-finished" box in which panel 10 of the blank 40, which forms the front wall 10 of the box 2 shown in Figure 1, overlies panel 12 of the blank 40, which forms the rear wall 16 of the box 2 shown in Figure 1. Erection of the "semi-finished" box to form the box 2 shown in Figure 1 may then either be subsequently completed by hand or the "semi-finished" box may be transferred to a packing machine where panel 10 of the blank 40 is elevated from panel 12 of the blank 40 and the remaining panels of the blank 40 are folded and secured to one another as necessary to complete erection of the box 2. If desired, a strip of double-sided adhesive tape may be provided on panel 14' of the blank 40, which can be used to affix panel 14' to panel 14'' during erection of the box 2. The one-piece blank from which the box containing loose smokable material of the invention is formed may advantageously further comprise retention means for holding the flap 8 in the folded position. For WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 - 10 example, as shown in Figure 3, a cut-out tab 52 may be provided in panel 28 of the blank 50, which forms the fourth panel 28 of the flap 8 of the box 2 shown in Figure 1, proximate the free end thereof. A cooperating slot 54 of substantially the same width as the cut-out tab 52 in the lateral direction of the blank 50 and aligned centrally therewith is provided in panel 12 of the blank 50, which forms the rear wall 12 of the box 2 shown in Figure 1 (the optional cut-out tab 52 and slot 54 are shown by bold lines in Figure 3). Upon erection of the box 2 from the blank 50, the relative orientation and position of the cut-out tab 52 and the slot 54 are such that when the flap 8 is in the folded position, with the fourth panel 28 of the flap 8 overlying the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6 of the box 2, the slot 54 in panel 12 can receive the cut-out tab 52 provided in panel 28 in order to retain the flap 8 in the folded position. It will be appreciated that, instead of or in addition to the cooperating slot and cut-out tab shown in Figure 3, boxes containing loose smokable material according to the invention may be provided with other suitable known retention means for retaining the flap in the folded position. For example, with reference to blanks 40 and 50 shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively, a re-sealable pressure sensitive adhesive (not shown) may be applied to at least part of the surface of panel 28 that forms the inner surface of the fourth panel 28 of the flap 8 of the box 2 and/or to the surface of panel 12 that forms the outer surface of the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion of the box 2, so that upon erection of the box 2 the flap 8 is releasably adhered to the receptacle portion 6 in the folded position. Alternatively, aligned magnetic regions (not shown) could be provided on panel 28 and panel 12 of the blanks 40, 50 that, upon erection of the box 2, hold the flap 8 in the folded position by means of magnetic attraction between the fourth panel 28 of the flap 8 and the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6 of the box 2. A box 62 containing loose tobacco according to according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5; for the sake of clarity the loose tobacco contained in the receptacle portion 6 of the box 62 has been omitted from Figure 4. The box 62 according to the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 has all of the features of the box according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 and previously described above. In addition, the box 62 according to the second embodiment of the invention further comprises a WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 - 11 closure tongue 64 and associated retention tab 66 connected to the receptacle portion 6. The closure tongue 64 extends outwardly from the upper edge of the front wall 10 of the receptacle portion 6 and includes a first proximal panel 68 (not visible in Figure 4) of approximately the same dimensions as the notch 20 provided in the middle of the upper edge of the front wall 10 of the receptacle portion 6, and which is detachably connected to the upper edge of the front wall 10 of the receptacle portion 6 along a line of perforations (also not visible in Figure 4), a second central panel 70 of approximately the same dimensions as the bottom wall 14 of the receptacle portion 6 and a third distal panel 72 having rounded free corners. The first panel 22, the second panel 70 and the third panel 72 of the closure tongue 64 are separated from one another by transverse parallel score lines. The retention tab 66 is detachably connected to the upper edge of right side wall 18 of the receptacle portion 6 along a line of perforations and extends outwardly there from. The box according to the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be formed from one-piece laminated board blanks of the type shown in Figure 2 and 3, but which include additional panels and tabs that when folded about appropriate score lines in a known manner form the closure tongue and retention tab shown in Figure 4 and 5. During erection of the box 62 from the one-piece blank 50, the third distal panel 72 of the closure tongue 64 is inserted into or tucked inside the receptacle portion 6 of the box 62, between the retention tab 66 and the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6, so that it rests against the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6 and the second central panel 70 of the closure tongue 64 completely covers the open top of the receptacle portion. With the closure tongue 64 in this closed position, the flap 8 is wrapped around the receptacle portion to its folded position to complete erection of the box 62. The retention tab 66, which helps to retain the third distal panel 72 within the receptacle portion 6 and so hold the closure tongue 64 in the closed position, may be omitted. Furthermore, in addition to or instead of the retention tab, removable adhesive may be provided on the outer surface of the third distal panel 72, which rests against the inner surface of the rear wall 12 of the receptacle portion 6 in the closed position, in order to help retain the closure tongue 64 in the closed position.

WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 - 12 To initially open the box 62, the consumer moves the flap 8 from the folded position, in which it is wrapped around the receptacle portion 6 of the box 62, to the extended position shown in Figure 4, as previously described above for the box 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1. The consumer then moves the closure tongue 64 from the initial closed position described above to the open position shown in Figure 3 by removing the third distal panel 72 of the closure tongue 64 from the receptacle portion and folding the closure tongue outwardly from the receptacle portion 6 about the line of perforations connecting the first proximal panel 68 thereof to the upper edge of the front wall 10 of the receptacle portion 6. The consumer may then detach the closure tongue 64 and/or retention tab 66 from the receptacle portion 6 of the box 62 by tearing along the lines of perforations connecting the closure tongue 64 and the retention tab 66 to the front wall 10 and right side wall 18, respectively, of the receptacle portion as shown in Figure 5. The detached closure tongue 64 and retention tab 66 may then be discarded While the invention has been exemplified above with reference to boxes comprising a flap 8 having a first panel 22, a -second panel 24, a third panel 26 and a fourth panel 28, which overlie the open-top, front wall 10, bottom wall 14 and rear wall 12, respectively, of the receptacle portion 6 of the box when the flap 8 is in the folded position, boxes containing loose smokable material according to the invention may comprise flaps including a greater or lesser number of panels. For example, the flap may include only a first panel and a second panel, which overlie the open-top and the front wall, respectively, of the receptacle portion of the box when the flap is in the folded position. Similarly, while the boxes according to the first and second embodiments of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 4, respectively, include a flap 8 having a pair of opposed upstanding walls 30 and first 32 and second 34 pairs of foldable web panels, boxes containing loose smokable material of the invention may comprise flaps in which one or more of these web panels or walls are omitted. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that while the invention has been exemplified with reference to boxes with a receptacle portion having right-angled edges, boxes containing loose smokable material according to the invention may have, for example, one or more rounded or bevelled edges. For example, by scoring in a known manner the one-piece blank from WO 2007/007197 PCT/IB2006/002545 - 13 which it is formed, a "rounded-corner" box containing loose smokable material according to the invention may be produced. It will also be appreciated that the outer surfaces of boxes containing loose smokable material according to the invention may carry, for example, graphics, brand logos, health warnings and other consumer information conventionally found on pouches of fine-cut tobacco and/or cigarette packs. It will be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides boxes. containing loose smokable material having the functionality of known pouches for fine-cut tobacco, but the look, shape and feel of conventional cigarette packs.

Claims

1. A box containing loose smokable material formed from a one-piece blank, wherein the box is a substantially rigid container said box including: 5 a receptacle portion containing loose smokable material and having an access opening; a flap integral with the receptacle portion and moveable between a folded position, in which the flap is folded at least partly around the receptacle portion and overlies the opening, and an extended position, in which the flap extends outwardly 10 from the receptacle portion and a pair of opposed upstanding walls integral with the flap and extending at least part-way along the sides thereof, wherein the opposed upstanding walls extend from the receptacle portion along the sides of the flap and are connected to the receptacle portion by a pair of opposed foldable web panels. 15

2. A box according to claim I wherein the pair of opposed foldable web panels have V-shaped free edges.

3. A box according to claim I or 2 wherein the flap is connected to a first wall of the receptacle portion and in the folded position overlies at least part of a second 20 wall of the receptacle portion, the second wall being generally opposed to the first wall.

4. A box according to claim 3 wherein in the folded position the flap overlies the second wall of the receptacle portion and at least part of a third wall of the 25 receptacle portion, the third wall being generally opposed to the opening.

5. A box according to claim 4 wherein in the folded position the flap overlies the second wall of the receptacle portion, the third wall of the receptacle portion and at least part of the first wall of the receptacle portion. 30

6. A box according to any preceding claim further including retention means for holding the flap in the folded position. 24/06/1 I,dh-16901 - claims - cdm.doc,14 - 15

7. A box according to any preceding claim further including an integral closure tongue connected to the receptacle portion and moveable between a closed position, in which the closure tongue covers the opening and loose smokable material 5 contained in the receptacle portion is inaccessible, and an open position, in which loose smokable material contained in the receptacle portion is accessible through the opening.

8. A box according to claim 7 wherein the flap is connected to a first wall of 10 the receptacle portion and the closure tongue is connected to a second wall of the receptacle portion , the second wall being generally opposed to the first wall.

9. A box according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the closure tongue is detachably connected to the receptacle portion. 15

10. A box according to claim 7, 8, or 9, wherein a distal portion of the closure tongue is insertable in the closed position through the opening into the receptacle portion. 20

11. A box according to claim 10 further including a retention tab integral with the receptacle portion and the distal portion of the closure tongue is insertable between a wall of the receptacle portion and the retention tab in the closed position.

12. A box according to any preceding claim wherein the loose smokable 25 material is in direct contact with the receptacle portion.

13. A box according to any preceding claim further including one or more pockets for storing cigarette papers. 30

14. A box according to any preceding claim wherein the loose smokable material is rolling tobacco, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco or snuff. 24/06/1 ,dh-16901 - claims - cdm.doc,15