CN112739628A

CN112739628A - Package (I)

Info

Publication number: CN112739628A
Application number: CN201880097694.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 米歇尔·萨默斯; 黛拉·克罗宁; 马瑞斯·斯洛维克
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2018-10-19
Filing date: 2018-10-19
Publication date: 2021-04-30
Also published as: WO2020078565A1

Abstract

A package comprising: a container for holding one or more consumer goods; a flip-top lid hingedly connected to the container; and a flap hingedly connected to the receptacle, the flap including a retaining portion for retaining one or more items. A blank system for forming the package and a method of forming the package.

Description

Package (I)

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of packaging, for example for consumer goods (e.g., smoking articles). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the field of packages, blanks for use in constructing such packages, and methods of constructing such packages.

Background

There is a continuing need to improve the ergonomics and practical design of packages. Packaging of fast-moving consumer products must meet a series of challenging requirements. In particular, the package should not only be inexpensive and capable of mass production, but should also be strong enough to maintain the security of the goods, and in some cases, should maintain the freshness and integrity of the goods with multiple openings and closings of the package.

It is sometimes desirable to package a consumer product with one or more other items, such as a kit or promotional item for use with the consumer product. However, it may be necessary to separate such articles from consumer products. For example, in a package comprising a cigarette and a match, it is desirable to separate the match from the cigarette so that the odor from the match does not affect the flavor of the cigarette.

There is a need for an improved way of packaging consumer products together with other items.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect, there is provided a package comprising: a container for holding one or more consumer goods, the container comprising a container opening for accessing the one or more consumer goods; a flap hingedly connected to the container and movable between an open position in which the container opening is exposed and a closed position in which the container opening is at least partially blocked by the flap; and a flap hingedly connected to the container and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the flap is in its open position, the flip is movable between its open and closed positions, and when the flap is in its closed position, the flap prevents the flip from moving between its open and closed positions, the flap comprising a retaining portion for retaining one or more items; the package is configured such that the retaining portion overlies a portion of the flap when both the flap and the cover are in their respective closed positions.

The flap may comprise a front panel included in a portion of the flap that is overlapped by the retaining portion when both the flap and the cover sheet are in their respective closed positions.

The front face of the container may include the container opening and a container front wall at least partially circumscribing the container opening.

The top face of the container may include the container opening.

The container opening may extend at least half way from a top edge of the front face of the container towards a bottom edge of the front face of the container.

The flap may extend at least half way over the front face of the container from a top edge of the front face of the container toward a bottom edge of the front face of the container when in the closed position.

The container may further include a flap fastening feature on the front wall of the container for holding the flap in its closed position.

The flip-top fastening feature may be positioned closer to a bottom edge of the front face of the container than the container opening.

The flap fastening feature may be configured to fasten a portion of the flap distal from its hinged connection to the container front wall.

The flap fastening feature may comprise a flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture in the front wall of the container, and the portion of the flap distal from its hinged connection to the container is a flap tab portion configured to be received by and engaged with the flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture.

The flap fastening feature may be located on the container front wall such that the retaining portion overlies the flap fastening feature when the cover flap is in the closed position and the flap is in the open position.

The cover sheet may include: a cover plate panel; and a retaining panel hingedly connected to the flap panel and movable between an open position in which the one or more items are accessible and a closed position in which the one or more items are retained against the flap panel.

The retaining panel may be hingedly connected to the flap panel along a bottom edge of the flap panel.

The package may further comprise one or more articles attached to the retention panel.

The cover sheet may include: a cover plate panel; and a pocket attached to the flap panel and configured to receive the one or more items.

The container may include a flap fastening feature for retaining the flap in its closed position.

The flap fastening feature may include a flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture in the receptacle, and the flap may include a flap tab portion configured to be received by and engage with the flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture.

The flap can be hingedly connected to the container along a first container side wall, and the flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture can be disposed along a second container side wall opposite the first container side wall.

The hinge line connecting the flap to the container may be perpendicular to the hinge line connecting the flap to the container.

The one or more items may be configured for use with the one or more consumer products.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a blank system comprising one or more blanks for forming the package of the first aspect, the blank system comprising: a container portion comprising at least two container panels for forming the container, the container panels comprising a container back panel; a flap portion hinged to the container portion along a fold line, the flap portion comprising at least one flap panel for forming the flap, the flap panel comprising a flap front panel; a flap portion comprising at least one flap panel; and a holding part including at least one holding part panel including a holding part front panel; wherein, the difference between the length of the rear panel of the container and the shortest length of the front panel of the flip cover is smaller than the length of the front panel of the holding part.

The difference between the length of the container back panel and the length of the shortest portion of the flip front panel may be less than 80% of the length of the holding portion front panel.

The retaining portion may be hinged to the flap portion along a fold line.

The flap portion may be hinged to the container portion along a fold line.

The flap portion and the flap portion may be hinged to the same container panel.

The hinge of the flap portion to the container portion may be perpendicular to the hinge of the flap portion to the container portion.

The hinge of the retaining portion to the flap portion may be perpendicular to the hinge of the flap portion to the container portion.

The container portion may comprise a container front panel comprising a shaped edge configured to partially restrict the container opening when the package is assembled.

The shortest length of the container front panel from the edge opposite the shaped edge to the shaped edge may be greater than or equal to the length of the retaining portion front panel.

The flip front panel may include a flip tab portion and the receptacle portion may include a flip receiving slot or aperture configured to receive and engage the flip tab portion.

The container front panel may include the flip-top receiving slot or aperture, and a portion of the container front panel from an edge opposite the shaped edge to the flip-top receiving slot or aperture is shorter in length than the retaining portion front panel.

The length of the portion of the container front panel from the edge opposite the shaped edge to the flip cap receiving slot or aperture may be less than 60% of the length of the retaining portion front panel.

The container portion, the flap portion, the cover portion and the retaining portion may be formed in a blank.

The length of the shortest portion of the flap front panel may be greater than or equal to 70% of the length of the container back panel.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a package according to the first aspect, the method comprising folding one or more blanks according to the second aspect.

Drawings

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary package in a fully open configuration;

FIG. 1B illustrates the exemplary package of FIG. 1A in a partially opened configuration;

FIG. 1C illustrates an example blank for forming the example package of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 2A illustrates a blank for forming a flap portion of an alternative exemplary package; and

fig. 2B illustrates a blank for forming the container portion and the flip portion of the alternative exemplary package of fig. 2A.

Detailed Description

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the system, and is provided in the context of a particular application. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The terms "top," "bottom," "side," "front," "back," "forward," "rearward," and other terms describing the orientation of features are not intended to be limiting, and are included merely to facilitate describing the relative positions of such features within the context of the drawings. The features may be provided in other orientations, in use or during storage.

As used herein, the term "length" means the longitudinal extension of a panel, wall, tab or face of a packaging element, measured from the top to the bottom of the package, and vice versa. As used herein, the term "width" means the longitudinal extension of a panel, wall, tab or face of a packaging element measured from one side of the package to the opposite side. As used herein, the term "depth" means the longitudinal extension of a panel, wall, tab or face of a packaging element, measured from the front to the back of the package, and vice versa.

An example of a package adapted to hold a plurality of products will now be described. This type of package includes a container for holding one or more consumer goods (the container having an opening for accessing the consumer goods), a hinged flap for opening and closing the container, and a flap hinged to the container for holding one or more items. The flap may be closed on the container to prevent the flap from opening. When both the flip cover and the cover sheet are in their respective closed positions, the article is separated from the consumer product by a portion of the flip cover.

Fig. 1A illustrates an exemplary package 100 in a fully open configuration. The package 100 includes a container 110 for holding one or more consumer goods 120 (cigarettes in this example). The cigarettes 120 may be removed through openings 111 formed in the front and top of the container 110. An aperture 112 is provided towards the bottom of the front wall of the container 110 for holding the flap 130 closed. Flap 130 is hinged along its top rear edge to receptacle 110 and has a tab 131 located distally relative to the hinge line for insertion into aperture 112.

Flap 140 is hinged to receptacle 110 along its rear left side. The cover sheet 140 has a holding portion 141 for holding one or more items 150 (e.g., matches as shown) in place. The flap 140 also has a tab 142 that is hinged along an edge away from the hinge line connecting the flap to the receptacle 110.

In this example, the holding portion 141 is a panel hinged along the bottom edge of the flap 140. As shown, the matches 150 are joined together by their bases, which are glued to the inside of the holding panel 141. As shown, one or the other match closest to the left or right edge of the cover piece 140 can be easily broken off the rest of the match and pulled away from the retaining panel 141. This may be done with the retention panel 141 closed, as shown, or the retention panel may be flipped down to provide easier access to the item 150. As shown, with the flap 130 open, the cigarette can be removed from the container 110 and lit with matches broken off the cover sheet 140, which can be struck against a strike plate 160 at the bottom of the container 110.

To close the package, the flap 130 is first closed by inserting the tab 131 into the aperture 112, as shown in fig. 1B. The flap 140 is then wrapped over the front of the container 110 and the tab 142 is inserted into a slit (not visible in this view) along the rear right edge of the container 110 to hold the flap 140 in place. When the exemplary package 100 is fully closed, the package is rectangular parallelepiped in shape with slightly rounded corners and edges. The head of the match 150 presses against the front of the flip top 130 and thus does not contact the cigarette 120.

As shown in fig. 1, the distance between the aperture 112 and the bottom edge of the front wall of the container 110 is less than the length of the retention panel 141. In other words, the aperture 112 is located on the front wall of the receptacle 110 such that the retaining portion 141 overlies the aperture 112 when the flap is in the closed position and the flip cover is in the open position. By doing so, direct contact of the article 150 held by the holding panel 141 with the consumer goods 120 can be prevented even if the consumer does not insert the tongue piece 131 into the aperture 112. For example, the distance between the aperture 112 and the bottom edge of the front wall of the container 110 may be less than 60%, such as between 30% and 50%, of the length of the retention panel 141.

The distance between the lower edge of the flap 130 (excluding the tab portion 131) and the bottom edge of the front wall of the container 110 (when closed) is less than the length of the retaining panel 141. For example, the distance between the lower edge of the flap 130 (excluding the tab portion 131) and the bottom edge of the front wall of the container 110 may be less than 80%, such as less than 70%, such as about 50% or about 40% of the length of the retention panel 141. Thus, even if the consumer does not insert the tongue 131 into the aperture 112 and the flap 130 is slightly misaligned, direct contact of the item 150 held by the holding panel 141 with the consumer product 120 is prevented. In addition, by ensuring such an amount of overlap between the flip cover 130 and the retaining panel 141, the retaining panel 141 is less likely to slide under the flip cover 130 and contact the item 150 with the consumer goods 120.

The distance between the lower edge of the container opening 111 and the bottom edge of the front wall of the container 110 is at least equal in length to the length of the retaining panel 141, but is preferably longer than the length of the retaining panel 141. Any undesired contact between the item 150 and the consumer goods 120 due to the holding panel 141 sliding under the flap 130 can thereby be further mitigated.

In the package of fig. 1, the container 110 comprises a container left side wall, a container right side wall, a container bottom wall and a container rear wall, the container left and right side walls and the container bottom wall each being connected to each other by the container rear wall. The slit for receiving flap tab portion 142 is along the right rear side edge of receptacle 110 connecting the receptacle rear wall to the receptacle right side wall. The cover sheet 140 includes: a flap left side panel hingedly connected to the container along a left rear side edge of the container connecting the container rear wall to the container left side wall; a flap front panel hingedly connected to the edge of the flap left side panel remote from its hinged connection to the receptacle; a flap right side panel hingedly connected to an edge of the flap front panel opposite its hinged connection to the flap left side panel; and a flap portion 142 hingedly connected to the edge of the right side panel of the flap opposite its hinged connection to the front panel of the flap. The flap tab portion 142 is configured to be received by and engage the flap of the receiving slot such that when the flap is in its closed position, the flap wraps around the container, covering the container left side wall, the front face of the container, and the container right side wall.

Fig. 1C shows an exemplary blank that may be folded to form the package 100 of fig. 1A. Solid lines indicate cut lines and dashed lines indicate fold lines.

The blank includes a container front panel 110F for forming a container front wall, wherein an upper edge of the container front panel is cut away to form a portion of the boundary of the opening 111. An aperture 112 is cut from the container front panel 110F below the opening 111. The container left sidewall is formed by a container left side panel 110LS that is hinged along a fold line relative to the left edge of the container front panel 110F. Similarly, the container right side wall is formed by a container right side panel 110RS hinged along a fold line relative to the right edge of the container front panel 110F. The container bottom wall is formed by a container bottom panel 110B that is hinged along a fold line relative to the lower edge of the container front panel 110F. The container bottom panel 110B carries a striker plate 160 on its outside. The container back wall is formed by a container back panel 110R that is hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the container right side panel 110RS opposite the edge hinged along the container front panel 110F. The fold line separating the container right side panel 110RS and the container back panel 110R also has a slit 170 extending along a central portion of its length for receiving the flap tab 142.

The structure of the container is held together using tabs. The left container side rear tab 110 LSR' is hinged along a fold line relative to an edge of the left container side panel 110LS opposite the edge hinged along the front container panel 110F. The container left and right bottom tabs are hinged along fold lines relative to the lower edges of the container left and right side panels 110LS and 110RS, respectively. Finally, the container bottom rear tab 110R' is hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the container bottom panel 110B opposite the edge hinged along the container front panel 110F.

The flip cover 130 is formed of a flip top panel 130T hinged along a fold line relative to the upper edge of the container back panel 110R and a flip front panel 130F hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the flip top panel 130T opposite the edge hinged along the container back panel 110R. The flip front panel 130F includes a flip tab 131 for insertion into the aperture 112.

Flap left side panel 140LS is hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of container back panel 110R opposite the edge hinged along container front panel 110F. Flap front panel 140F is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of flap left side panel 140LS opposite the edge hinged along container back panel 110R. Flap right side panel 140RS is hinged along a central portion of the edge of flap front panel 140F opposite the edge hinged along flap left side panel 140 LS. Flap tab 142 is hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of flap right side panel 140RS opposite the edge hinged along flap front panel 140F.

The holding portion bottom panel 141B is hinged along a fold line relative to the lower edge of the flap front panel 140F. Finally, the retaining portion front panel 141F is hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the retaining portion bottom panel 141B opposite the edge hinged along the flap front panel 140F.

An example method of forming the package 100 of fig. 1A and 1B from the blank of fig. 1C is as follows, although it will be understood that some steps may be performed in an alternative order.

First, the container 110 is formed. The container left side rear tab 110 LSR' is folded at a right angle toward the inner face of the container left side panel 110LS, and then the container left side panel is folded at a right angle toward the inner face of the container front panel 110F, and then the container front panel is folded at a right angle toward the inner face of the container right side panel 110RS, and then the container right side panel is folded at a right angle toward the inner face of the container rear panel 110R. In this way, a cylinder is formed in which the container left side rear tab 110 LSR' is tucked so as to abut against the container rear panel 110R.

The bottom of the container is then closed. The container left side bottom tab 110 LB' is folded at a right angle toward the inner face of the container left side panel 110 LS. Similarly, the container right bottom tab 110 RB' is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of the container right side panel 110 RS. The container bottom rear tab 110R 'is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of the container bottom panel 110B, which in turn is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of the container front panel 110F, while the container bottom rear tab 110R' is tucked against the interior face of the container rear panel 110R. This results in a container 110 having an open top face and a partially open front face.

The cigarettes 120 are then packed into the container 110 through the opening 111. The flip top front panel 130F is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of the flip top panel 130T, which in turn is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of the container back panel 110R. The flap tab 131 is then inserted into the aperture 112 to close the receptacle 110.

Next, the matches 150 are glued to the inner face of the holder part front panel 141F, thereby folding the holder part front panel at right angles towards the inner face of the holder part bottom panel 141B, thereby folding the holder part bottom panel at right angles towards the inner face of the flap front panel 140F, so that the matches abut against the flap front panel.

Finally, flap tab tongue 142 is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of flap right panel 140RS, and then flap right panel is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of flap front panel 140F, and then flap front panel is folded at a right angle toward the interior face of flap left panel 140LS, and then flap left panel is folded at a right angle toward the exterior face of container left panel 110LS, while flap tongue 142 is tucked into slit 170 to close the flap. Thus, a fully closed package has flap 140 wrapped around container 110 with flap left side panel 140LS overlying container left side panel 110LS, flap front panel 140F overlying flap front panel 130F (and thus container front panel 110F), with retaining portion front panel 141F sandwiched therebetween, flap right side panel 140RS partially overlying container right side panel 110RS, and flap tab 142 partially under container rear panel 110R, sandwiched between the interior face of container rear panel 110R and the rear side of cigarettes 120.

The package 100 may be made from the blank of fig. 1C by individual folding. Alternatively, to increase the robustness of the package, the various parts of the package are attached together, for example using an adhesive. For example, 110LSR 'and 110R may be glued together, 110 LB' and 110RB 'may both be glued to 110B, and 110R' may be glued to 110R.

A package similar to package 100 of fig. 1A and 1B may alternatively be made using two blanks, one for the flap, such as shown in fig. 2A, and the other for the container and flap, such as shown in fig. 2B.

The flap blank of fig. 2A includes flap back panel 240R that is hinged on one side thereof relative to flap right side panel 240RS along a fold line. Flap front panel 240F is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of flap right side panel 240RS opposite the edge hinged along flap back panel 240R. Flap 242 is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of flap front panel 240F opposite the edge hinged along flap right side panel 240 RS. Finally, the holding portion front panel 241F is hinged along a fold line relative to the lower edge of the flap front panel 240F.

The container blank and flip top blank of fig. 2B includes a container front left panel 210FL that is hinged on one side thereof relative to container left side panel 210LS along a fold line. A slit 270 is cut along a portion of the fold line. Container back panel 210R is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of container left side panel 210LS opposite the edge hinged along container front left panel 210 FL. The container right side panel 210RS is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the container back panel 210R opposite the edge hinged along the container left side panel 210 LS. The container front right panel 210FR is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the container right side panel 210RS opposite the edge hinged along the container back panel 210R.

The container bottom panel 210B is hinged along a fold line relative to the lower edge of the container back panel 210R and carries a striker plate on its outer face (not shown). The container front panel 210F is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the container bottom panel 210B opposite the edge hinged along the container rear panel 210R. The container left side tab 210LS 'and the container right side tab 210 RS' are hinged along fold lines relative to the left and right edges of the container bottom panel 210B, respectively.

The flip top panel is hinged along a fold line relative to the upper edge of the container back panel 210R. The flap front panel 230F is in turn hinged along a fold line relative to the edge of the flap top panel 230T opposite the edge hinged along the container back panel 210R. The flip front panel 230F includes a flip tab 231.

To form the container and the flip top, the container left side tab 210LS 'and the container right side tab 210 RS' are folded at right angles toward the interior face of the container bottom panel 210B, respectively. The container bottom panel 210B is then folded at a right angle toward the interior face of the container back panel 210R. Next, the container left and right side panels are folded at right angles toward the interior face of the container back panel 210R, respectively, to overlie the container left and right side tabs 210LS ', 210 RS'. The container front left panel 210FL and the container front right panel 210FR are then folded at right angles toward the interior faces of the container left side panel 210LS and the container right side panel 210RS, respectively. The container front panel 210F is then folded at a right angle toward the interior face of the container bottom panel 210B to complete the bottom of the container so that consumer goods can be inserted into the container through the opening formed on the container top face and a portion of the container front face.

Finally, the container is closed by folding the flip top front panel 230F at a right angle toward the interior face of the flip top panel 230T, and then folding the flip top panel at a right angle toward the interior face of the container back panel 210R, and then inserting the flip tabs 231 into the apertures 212. Container front left side panel 210FL and container front right side panel 210FR are shaped along the opposite edges to the edges hinged along container left side panel 210LS and container right side panel 210RS, respectively, so as not to obstruct aperture 212 when the blank is folded and to form an opening at the front face of the container when the container portion of the blank is folded but the flip-top is opened.

The container may be made from the blank of fig. 2B by individual folding. Alternatively, to increase the robustness of the package, the various parts of the package are attached together, for example using an adhesive. For example, 210LS 'may be glued to 210LS, likewise, 210 RS' may both be glued to 210RS, and 210FL and 210FR may be glued to 210F.

To complete the package, one or more articles are attached to the interior face of the holder portion front panel 241F, and then the holder portion front panel is folded about 180 ° up against the interior face of the flap front panel 240F to sandwich the articles therebetween. The interior face of the flap back panel 240R is attached to the exterior face of the container back panel 210R. Flap tabs 242 are folded at right angles toward the interior face of flap front panel 240F, which in turn is folded at right angles toward the interior face of flap side panels 240LS, which in turn is folded at right angles toward the interior face of flap back panel 240R. In this manner, the flap blank is wrapped around the container while flap tab 242 is tucked into slit 270 so that it is positioned between the consumer goods in the container and the interior face of left side panel 210LS of the container. Thus, with the package fully closed, the flap right side panel 240RS overlies the container right side panel 210RS, and the flap front panel overlies the flap front panel 230F (and hence the container front panel 210F, and hence the container front left side panel 210FL and the container front right side panel 210FR), sandwiching the article therebetween.

The method of wrapping described with respect to figures 1C, 2A and 2B includes inserting the cigarettes into the container once the container is formed. Alternatively, the container (in either case) may be folded around a bundle of cigarettes.

In both examples of fig. 1 and 2, the consumer goods in the container are separated from the item held to the cover sheet by the container flap.

In the example shown in the drawings, the consumer article is a smoking article (in particular a cigarette) and the article held by the cover sheet is a lit article (in particular a match). However, similar packaging may also be used for other types of consumer kits, where the consumer product is provided with some sort of accompanying item, promotional material, or other item. Such a package may be used, for example, for food, or for other kinds of smoking articles or components thereof, including e-cigarettes and heated non-combustible products. As an alternative example, such a package may be used for e-cigarette refilling, e.g. the tobacco capsule is stored separately from the liquid cartridge. Another alternative example is a rolling set, for example with loose pouched tobacco or filters inside the container and a cigarette paper booklet in the holding portion.

While the consumer goods in such packages may be accessed through an opening in a single face (e.g., the front or top face) of the container, providing openings in multiple faces (e.g., portions of the top and front faces according to the illustrated example) of the container allows for easier access to the consumer goods. Access is further improved by providing a large opening, e.g. the illustrated opening extending less than half the height of the container, but regardless of the size of the opening, the flap preferably completely covers the opening.

In addition to the preferably large flap to increase the coverage of the opening, a long flap, such as in particular when the hinge is formed by a crease or fold line in the blank shown, is more likely to remain closed for containers that are at least one-half the height of the container. This is because of the tendency of the folded blank to spring back to its original flat shape, for example due to the nature of common packaging materials such as cardboard or paperboard. Thus, the flip-top tends to bulge, thereby increasing the tension on the flip-top closure and pushing the lid sheet away from the container. This in turn causes the flap to bulge and also adds tension to the flap closure. The bumps are unsightly and can result in the loss of some of the contents of the package. This may also lead to the flap and/or flap closure breaking, e.g. the tongue portion may be weakened and eventually tear. These problems are alleviated by extending the length of the flap, particularly by extending the length of the flap so that it is longer than half the height of the package. These benefits are enhanced when the length of the flap is at least 70% of the height of the package, for example between about 80% and 90% of the height of the package.

The design of figure 1 further alleviates these problems because the flap tab portion is perpendicular to the primary force applied by the crease line along the side of the front panel of the flap when the flap is closed. This is because the slits for receiving the flap tabs are at the rear edge of the container side walls and the flap is connected by fold lines in sections so that the flap surrounds the side walls.

In the example shown in the figures, an aperture for fastening the flap part of the flap is provided at the front face of the container. However, this flip fastening feature is optional, as the cover sheet on the closed flip may serve to keep the flip closed. If a flip-top fastening feature is included, other types may be used, such as a magnetic closure mechanism, an elastomeric ring for hooking onto a button, or a resealable adhesive. According to the illustrated example, the flip-top fastening feature can be located below the container opening.

Similarly, in the example shown, a slit is provided in the side edge of the receptacle for fastening the flap portion of the lid sheet. However, this flap-securing feature is optional. If a flap fastening feature is included, other types may be used, such as a magnetic closure mechanism, an elastomeric ring for hooking onto a button, or a resealable adhesive.

These figures show a retaining portion formed by a panel hingedly connected to a flap panel along a bottom edge of the flap panel. However, the article or articles may instead be held in place by other means, such as in a bag. For example, according to the illustrated example, such a bag body may be formed using a panel folded from the lower edge of the flap panel, but with one or both sides of the panel glued or otherwise attached to the flap. Alternatively, the pouch body may be formed by adhering a separate panel to the cover sheet along two or three sides or otherwise. One or more articles may be attached to the holding portion in some manner, for example using an adhesive or an elastomeric material, or may be held in place by the geometry of the packaging.

A package without any articles can be provided. In this case, the holding portion may be used to hold personal items, such as transportation tickets or credit cards. When the holding portion comprises a hinged panel, as in the example shown in the figures, the inner surface of the holding portion (i.e. the surface of the holding portion facing the flap rather than the flap) may carry means for resealably attaching personal items, for example a low tack adhesive allowing multiple attachment or detachment of credit cards or transportation tickets.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.

Further, where the present application lists method or process steps in a particular order, it may be convenient or impossible in some circumstances to alter the order in which certain steps are performed, and it is intended that certain steps of the method or process claims claimed herein be interpreted as being in a particular order unless such order specificity is explicitly recited in the claims. That is, the operations/steps may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments may include more or less operations/steps than those disclosed herein. It is further contemplated that certain operations/steps may be performed or performed before, concurrently with, or after another operation in accordance with the described embodiments.

In addition, the skilled person may modify or change the specific geometry and arrangement of the specific features of the package. Other variations and modifications will also be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other known features which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, features which are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Claims

1. A package, comprising:

a container for holding one or more consumer goods, the container comprising a container opening for accessing the one or more consumer goods;

a flap hingedly connected to the container and movable between an open position in which the container opening is exposed and a closed position in which the container opening is at least partially blocked by the flap; and

a lid hingedly connected to the container and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the lid is in its open position the flip is movable between its open and closed positions and when the lid is in its closed position the lid prevents the flip from moving between its open and closed positions, the lid comprising a holding portion for holding one or more items;

the package is configured such that the retaining portion overlies a portion of the flap when both the flap and the cover are in their respective closed positions.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the flap comprises a front panel included in a portion of the flap that is overlapped by the retaining portion when both the flap and the cover flap are in their respective closed positions.

3. The package of one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the front face of the container comprises the container opening and a container front wall at least partially bounding the container opening.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein the top face of the container comprises the container opening.

5. The package of one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the container opening extends at least half way from a top edge of the front face of the container toward a bottom edge of the front face of the container.

6. The package of any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the flap extends at least half way over the front face of the container from a top edge of the front face of the container toward a bottom edge of the front face of the container when in the closed position.

7. The package of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the container further comprises a flap fastening feature on the container front wall for retaining the flap in its closed position.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein the flip-top fastening feature is positioned closer to a bottom edge of the front face of the container than the container opening.

9. The package of one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the flap fastening feature is configured to fasten a portion of the flap distal from its hinged connection to the container front wall.

10. The package of claim 9, wherein the flap fastening feature comprises a flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture in the container front wall, and the portion of the flap distal from its hinged connection to the container is a flap tab portion configured to be received by and engaged with the flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture.

11. The package of any of claims 7-10, wherein the flip-top fastening feature is located on the container front wall such that the retaining portion overlies the flip-top fastening feature when the cover flap is in the closed position and the flip-top is in the open position.

12. The package of any preceding claim, wherein the flap comprises:

a cover plate panel; and

a retaining panel hingedly connected to the flap panel and movable between an open position in which the one or more items are accessible and a closed position in which the one or more items are retained against the flap panel.

13. The package of claim 12, wherein the retaining panel is hingedly connected to the flap panel along a bottom edge of the flap panel.

14. The package of one of claims 12 or 13, further comprising one or more articles attached to the retention panel.

15. The package of any preceding claim, wherein the flap comprises:

a cover plate panel; and

a pocket attached to the flap panel and configured to receive the one or more items.

16. The package of any preceding claim, wherein the container comprises a flap fastening feature for retaining the flap in its closed position.

17. The package of claim 16, wherein the flap fastening feature comprises a flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture in the receptacle and the flap comprises a flap tab portion configured to be received by and engage with the flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the flap is hingedly connected to the container along a first container side wall and the flap receiving slot or flap receiving aperture is disposed along a second container side wall opposite the first container side wall.

19. The package of any preceding claim, wherein the hinge line connecting the flap to the container is perpendicular to the hinge line connecting the flap to the container.

20. The package of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more articles are configured for use with the one or more consumer products.

21. A blank system comprising one or more blanks for forming a package of any of the preceding claims, the blank system comprising:

a container portion comprising at least two container panels for forming the container, the container panels comprising a container back panel;

a flap portion hinged to the container portion along a fold line, the flap portion comprising at least one flap panel for forming the flap, the flap panel comprising a flap front panel;

a flap portion comprising at least one flap panel; and

a holding part including at least one holding part panel including a holding part front panel;

wherein, the difference between the length of the rear panel of the container and the shortest length of the front panel of the flip cover is smaller than the length of the front panel of the holding part.

22. A blank system according to claim 21, wherein the difference between the length of the container back panel and the length of the shortest portion of the flip front panel is less than 80% of the length of the retaining portion front panel.

23. The blank system of one of claims 21 or 22, wherein the flap portion is hinged to the container portion along a fold line.

24. A blank system according to claim 23 wherein the hinge of the flap portion to the container portion is perpendicular to the hinge of the flap portion to the container portion.

25. The blank system of one of claims 23 or 24, wherein the flap portion and the flap portion are hinged to the same container panel.

26. The blank system of any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the retaining portion is hinged to the flap portion along a fold line.

27. A blank system according to claim 26 wherein the hinge of the holding portion to the flap portion is perpendicular to the hinge of the flap portion to the container portion.

28. The blank system of any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the container portion comprises a container front panel comprising a shaped edge configured to partially circumscribe the container opening when the package is assembled.

29. A blank system according to claim 28, wherein the shortest length of the container front panel from the edge opposite the shaped edge to the shaped edge is greater than or equal to the length of the retaining portion front panel.

30. The blank system of any one of claims 21 to 29, wherein the flip-top front panel comprises a flip-top tab portion and the container portion comprises a flip-top receiving slot or aperture configured to receive and engage the flip-top tab portion.

31. The blank system of claim 30 when dependent on claim 28, wherein the container front panel comprises the flip-top receiving slot or aperture, and a length of a portion of the container front panel from an edge opposite the shaped edge to the flip-top receiving slot or aperture is shorter than a length of the retaining portion front panel.

32. A blank system according to claim 31, wherein the length of the portion of the container front panel from the edge opposite the shaped edge to the flip-top receiving slot or aperture is less than 60% of the length of the retaining portion front panel.

33. The blank system of any one of claims 21 to 32, wherein the container portion, the flap portion, the cover portion, and the retaining portion are formed in one blank.

34. The blank system of any one of claims 21-33, wherein a length of the flap front panel shortest portion is greater than or equal to 70% of a length of the container back panel.

35. A method of manufacturing a package according to any of claims 1 to 20 comprising folding one or more blanks according to any of claims 21 to 34.