AU747942B2

AU747942B2 - Preformed tobacco package

Info

Publication number: AU747942B2
Application number: AU18547/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ewoud Alfonses Berg
Original assignee: De Erven de Weduwe J Van Nelle BV; Van Nelle Tabak Nederland BV
Current assignee: Van Nelle Tabak Nederland BV
Priority date: 1998-03-03
Filing date: 1999-03-02
Publication date: 2002-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-02
Also published as: ATE240055T1; DE69907779T2; AU1854799A; CA2263245A1; EP0940093A1; EP0940093B1; ES2199518T3; DE69907779D1; PT940093E; CA2263245C; NL1008459C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a package for tobacco comprising a substantially rectangular bag, provided with a front side (5) and a rear side (1) fixedly interconnected on three lateral sides (7',7'',7''';8',8'',8'''), and wherein the fourth side (9) can form an opening, while on the rear side (1), at the location of the opening, a flap (3) connects, characterized in that the front (5) side and/or rear side (1) consists of a preformed plastic sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Van Nelle Tabak Nederland B.V.

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: Preformed tobacco package The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:-

JO

'~9 P:\OPER\NDKC8547-99 V.N1ik sprI.d-c.27;03/02 -la- The invention relates to a tobacco package.

In general, packages for cut tobacco, for instance for pipe tobacco, tobacco for rolling one's own cigarettes or chewing tobacco, are manufactured from synthetic materials.

Most conventionally, two different types of package are used, viz. the wrapover bag and the side-fold or block-bottom bag.

The wrapover bag has the simplest form and consists of a plastic film or plastic laminate folded up over a folding seam, whereupon the lateral sides are sealed together. On the rear wall, a flap connects that can be wrapped one or more times around the bag and attached thereto, for instance with an adhesive tape.

As the name already indicates, the side-fold bag or block-bottom bag comprises folded sidewalls and a bottom, so that the bag acquires a more or less block-shaped appearance.

Such bag, too, is manufactured from plastic film. In 20 practice, such a bag often consists of a double sheet with a paper insert loosely provided between the sheets, which paper insert may be printed.

Although both packaging systems for tobacco are very common, there is nevertheless a need for an improved package for tobacco. In particular when the package of the wrapover bag type is used, it turns out that the filled package does not connect neatly at the lateral sides. Because of the filling, the lateral sides incline to draw inwards.

eeHence, there is a need for an improvement of the wrapover bag which does not entail this problem, without directly requiring the construction of the block-bottom bag.

The invention is based upon the insight that it is possible to obtain a suitable tobacco package by designing the wrapover bag so that the portion where the tobacco is P:\OPER\DKI[547-99 VNlle spr..dw-27/03102 -2located is preformed, for instance as is often used for packaging foodstuffs.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a tobacco package comprising a substantially rectangular front side and a rear side having a receptacle portion, the front side and said receptacle portion being fixedly interconnected on three lateral sides to define a receptacle, the fourth lateral side defining a closure portion which extends between the front side and the receptacle portion of the rear side, wherein the rear side extends beyond the location of the closure portion to form a flap, and wherein the front side and/or the receptacle portion comprise plastic sheet which is preformed into a predetermined shape and which is capable of maintaining its shape.

In the basic embodiment of the invention, two versions are possible. In the first version, the conventional wrapover pouch, consisting of one single sheet which is folded double, is modified in such a manner that the front side and/or rear 15 side is preformed in the central part thereof, for instance by vacuum forming. The edges, which fixedly interconnect the front side and rear side, are not deformed, but only the central part. The central part has the shape of a kind of tray.

Preferably, only the front side is deformed, as this i is the optimal embodiment. In each embodiment, it is preferred that the bag be so designed that additional space for taking out tobacco is created on the open side. This may for instance be effected by preforming the front side in such 25 a manner that said tray-shaped central part has no wall on S"one side.

In a second embodiment, the front side and rear side consist of separate sheets, which, however, may in fact be formed in the same manner as described hereinabove in relation to the first variant.

In accordance with a specific embodiment, the front side has a shape such that the opening displays a certain -AL: widening, which simplifies the use of the package.

P:'OPER\Dl-f\8547.99 V-,NIk p~.do.-27/031O2 2a The package is manufactured from plastic sheets, wherein materials can be used that are known f or this type of applications, while also taking into account the requirements a a a a a a a a a a a.

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a a in respect of appearance and moisture/oxygen barrier properties. Examples of materials are polyesters, polyamides, polyethene, polypropene and polystyrene. These materials can be applied as such, or as coextrudate or laminate with other plastics. If necessary, there may also be used additions for increasing the water vapor proofness, such as EVOH or aluminum.

More in particular, suitable materials for the rear side of the package are the various types of polypropene film, such as OPP, COP and the like, but it is also possible to use laminates of various materials. Also, use can be made of laminates of two layers of plastic film having a printed layer, for instance of paper or plastic, provided between them, as is customary in block-bottom bags.

Such choices can also be made with regard to the front side.

The plastics that are used for the manufacture of the package may be transparent, printed, colored or a combination thereof.

The package according to the invention may further comprise all kinds of useful or embellishing aspects, such as a cover at the end of the flap, for improving the stiffness thereof. If necessary, the front side and/or rear side may be provided with an embossing, for instance with a brand name or logo.

Another aspect is the provision of means for affixing a book of cigarette papers to the package. In its simplest form, this may be a strip of double-sided adhesive tape provided with a covering strip. After removal of the covering strip, the book of cigarette papers can be stuck thereto, so that it is always at hand. However, it is also possible to apply more complicated systems, for instance as described in Dutch patent application 1002375.

Conventional closures for such tobacco packages are adhesive strips in the form of a strip of sellotape. However, this has the drawback that after some use, the adhesive power decreases, due to tobacco sticking to the glue. In the aforesaid Dutch patent application, this drawback is overcome. However, it is also possible to use Velcro as closing means. In particular when this is provided as an extended strip, transversely to the bottom fold, this enables the package to be rendered smaller and smaller, according as more tobacco has been taken therefrom.

To improve the preservability, more in particular the shelf-life, it is preferred that in the factory, after the filling of the package, a temporary seal be provided on the top side of the pouch, for instance in the form of a layer of adhesive or a temporary hot weld which can readily be opened by the user without damaging the package.

In the closed form, the top of the front side will preferably be folded inwards, as is also customary in a block-bottom bag.

The invention will now be explained with reference to a Figure, which should not be considered a limitation of the invention.

In this Figure, an example of a possible embodiment of the package according to the invention is shown schematically.

The package consists of a rear side 1 comprising a bag part 2 and a flap part 3, the latter being folded around at its top side 4. The package also comprises a front side whose central part 6 is shaped into a tray, while the edges and 7 are substantially undeformed. These edges are fixedly hot-welded to the corresponding edges and of the rear side. The top side 9 of the front side 5 is fixed with a 'light' weld to the rear side 1, at the location of the transition of the bag part 2 and the flap part 3.

For attaching a book of cigarette papers, a length of double-sided adhesive strip 11 may be provided on the central part 6 of the front side 5, at P:OPER\DH\8547-99 V=Ndl sp. dod27/3/02 Finally, it is further observed that the top side of the front side may be folded inwards at the lateral sides, as indicated by the arrows 12' and 12''.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

2. A package according to claim i, wherein the front side and the rear side each consist of a separate sheet, fixedly interconnected on three sides.
3. A package according to claim i, wherein the front side and the rear side consist of one sheet which is folded double.
4. A package according to claim 1-3, wherein the rear side *0e** consists of a laminate of two or more plastics.
5. A package according to claim 1-4, wherein the front side has its opening provided with a widening.
6. A package according to claim 1-5, wherein the front side i :and/or rear side is preformed by vacuum forming a plastic sheet.
7. A package according to claim 1-6, wherein the front side and the rear side are fixedly welded together on three sides.
8. A package according to claim 1-7, wherein the filled package is provided, at the location of the opening, with a temporary seal.
9. A package according to claim 8, wherein said temporary seal consists of a layer of adhesive or a hot weld.
10. A package according to claim 1-9, wherein the front side and/or rear side is provided with an embossing.
11. A package according to claim 1-10, wherein the rear side and/or front side consists of a plastic laminate. 7
12. A package according to claim 1-11, wherein the front side is manufactured from a plastic which, after forming, is less stiff than the rear side.
13. A package according to claim 1-12, provided with a closure, for instance in the form of an adhesive strip or Velcro.
14. A package according to claim 1-13, provided with means for attaching a packet of cigarette papers in or on the package. P:WOER\DH\i 18547-99 \'.NdIk spl..do.Z27/O3MO A tobacco package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 27th day of March, 2002 Van Nelle Tabak Nederland B.V. By DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant