CN113661132A

CN113661132A - Package with top release button

Info

Publication number: CN113661132A
Application number: CN202080027606.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: L.格劳
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2019-04-10
Filing date: 2020-03-20
Publication date: 2021-11-16
Also published as: US20220081192A1; EP3953270A1; EP3953270B1; EA202192455A1; WO2020207760A1; JP2022525834A

Abstract

The invention relates to a package (1) for accommodating a plurality of articles, comprising an outer package (2) and an inner package (3), wherein the inner package is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer package. The outer package made of the first packaging material at least partially accommodates the inner package. The inner package for containing the articles is made of a second packaging material. In the closed state before the first opening of the package, the inner package is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the outer package flap via a first connecting portion. At least one face of the outer packaging flap comprises a deformable section (6) such that opening the package for the first time requires the application of pressure on said deformable section in order to break said first connection between the inner packaging and the inner face of the outer packaging flap. After breaking the first connection, the inner package is arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the outer package.

Description

Package with top release button

The invention relates to a package for accommodating a plurality of articles, comprising an outer package, an inner package and a deformable section, wherein the inner package is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer package.

The package is referred to as a box system with different sizes, materials and tasks to be solved. When the pack is intended to contain a plurality of cigarettes, the outer box is mostly made of cellulose material, such as paper or carton, and provides space for information and serves as mechanical protection for the cigarettes, etc. The inner box typically provides a barrier to greatly improve the shelf life of the cigarettes, particularly in high humidity or very dry areas, and prevents them from coming into direct contact with the cellulosic material of the outer box when packaged and stored.

Typically, an additional outer flexible wrapper encloses the sleeve prior to the first opening of the sleeve of the packaging system. The wrapper helps maintain the freshness of the product therein. However, once the foil is opened, the seal provided by it is lost. However, the overwrap material that encapsulates the outer box continues to be used for the most part, also providing evidence of the integrity of the box, e.g., prior to purchase. Thus, consumers want to ensure that the package of cigarettes is not damaged so that the cigarettes inside are not altered by unwanted conditions. Once the overwrap material is opened, it is difficult for the consumer to check, without opening the box, whether, for example, someone has previously opened the box or something else has happened before.

In this regard, US 9,004,273B 2 describes a hinge-flip package for rod-shaped smoking articles, the hinge-flip package comprising an outer casing having an open end; an inner package contained within the outer box, the inner package comprising a bundle of rod-shaped smoking articles and an inner wrapper surrounding the bundle; a flip hinged to a rear edge of the open end of the outer box, the flip being for opening and closing the open end; and a separation line for detachably connecting the outer box with the lid, wherein the separation line includes a frangible portion for determining a cutting start position to start its cutting when the lid is opened for the first time.

Since each consumer wants to buy an unopened package, on the one hand the producer faces the challenge of providing evidence of unsealing for the package, and on the other hand it wants to save material.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to form tamper evidence of a package after the package has been opened, so that no additional outer wrapper is required. In that way some manufacturing steps can be omitted and material can be saved.

The above-mentioned problems are eliminated by a package for containing a plurality of articles, comprising an outer package made of a first packaging material, the outer package having an outer package container and an outer package flap. The inner package for accommodating the articles is made of a second packaging material having an inner package container and an inner package flap, wherein the outer package at least partially accommodates the inner package. In the closed state before the first opening of the package, the inner package is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the outer package flap via a first connecting portion. At least one face of the outer package flap comprises a deformable section such that opening the package for the first time requires applying pressure on said deformable section in order to break said first connection between the inner package and the inner face of the outer package flap. After breaking the first connection, the inner package is arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the outer package. With such a package, the inner package can be moved into the outer package, while the inner package is fixed to the outer package before the first opening, after which the deformable section is deformed and the inner package will be arranged offset from the outer package. The offset and/or deformed deformable section represents evidence of tampering.

According to the invention, breaking a connection means breaking the connection, wherein the connection is permanently and irreparably broken/destroyed.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner package is movable in the longitudinal direction towards the space between the bottom wall of the inner and outer packaging containers after breaking the first connecting portion, wherein the bottom wall of the inner and outer packaging containers are arranged parallel to and at a distance from each other. Due to the space between the bottom wall of the inner and outer packaging containers, the inner package can be moved by pressing the deformable section. During this movement, the space between the bottom wall of the inner and outer packaging containers will decrease.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the inner package is connected to the inner surface of the outer package flap by at least one glue dot. The glue sites can be readily provided by known methods and/or techniques. Furthermore, glue is very cheap and easy to install.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one glue joint connects the inner face of the outer package flap front wall to the outer face of the inner package flap front wall and/or connects the inner face of the outer package flap side wall to the outer face of the inner package side wall. The connection of the outer surface of the inner package flap and the inner surface of the outer package flap ensures that the inner package remains fixed within the outer package during, for example, transportation and/or vibration of the package.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer packaging container base flaps are arranged in the space between the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outer packaging container bottom wall, wherein the outer packaging container base flaps are connected to the inner surface of the outer packaging container bottom wall and/or the inner surface of the outer packaging container side walls and to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall. The outer packaging container bottom flaps act as spacers and ensure that the space between the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outer packaging container bottom wall remains similar during e.g. transport and/or vibration of the package.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer packaging container bottom flap is glued to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall. Glue secures and attaches the inner package to the outer package.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer packaging container base flap is movable together with the inner package in the longitudinal direction when pressure is exerted on the deformable section of the outer packaging flap. The glue connection ensures that the inner package remains fixed to the outer package when and after the deformable section of the outer package flap is pressed.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer length of the inner package is shorter in the longitudinal direction than the inner length of the outer package, so that the inner package is movable within the outer package in said longitudinal direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the deformable section comprises a partial cut-out provided in the outer package flap top wall, wherein the partial cut-out is at least partially movable in the longitudinal direction by applying pressure. By means of the partial cut, the inner package can be moved within the outer package without opening the package.

In a preferred embodiment, the partial cut is arched such that the partial cut fits the shape of the user's fingertip and thus makes it easier for the user to press the cut.

In a preferred embodiment, the indicator is printed and/or arranged on the outer surface of the outer package flap top wall, on top of or adjacent to the deformable section. The indicator displays to the user where the partial cut is positioned on the outer wrapper.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second wrapper materials are different, such that the different materials provide protection against different types of stress.

In a preferred embodiment, the first packaging material is a paper, carton and/or cardboard material, such that the inner package and the filling of the inner package are protected from mechanical stress.

In a preferred embodiment, the second package material is a foil material, so that the filling of the inner package is protected from chemical stress, in particular from moisture or drying.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer packaging container base flaps are free from contact with the outer packaging container front wall and the outer packaging rear wall, and are in particular trapezoidal. The outer packaging container base flaps, which are free from contact with the outer packaging container front wall and the outer packaging rear wall and therefore have less resistance, are easily moved during movement of the inner package.

Other advantages, objects and features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from the practice of the invention. In the drawings, similar components in different embodiments may present the same reference numerals.

The figures show:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a package for containing a plurality of articles in a closed position, the package comprising an outer package and an inner package;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a bottom flap of a trapezoidal shaped outer packaging container;

fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the indicator.

In fig. 1, a schematic view of a package 1 for containing a plurality of articles in a closed state is shown. It is assumed that the packages 1 are arranged in such a way that their main direction of extension coincides with the vertical direction, and accordingly some terms such as "bottom", "top" or "lower" are used.

The package comprises an outer package 2 having the shape of a parallelepiped with a rectangular cross section, and an inner package 3 arranged to be movable in a sliding manner in a longitudinal and rectilinear direction 4 with respect to outer package 2, so as to allow inner package 3 to slide inside outer package 2 and parallel to a side edge 29 of outer package 2 and between an upper position and a lower position. At the outer wrapper 2, four longitudinal or more precisely side edges 29 are defined. Thus, the outer length of inner package 3 is shorter in longitudinal direction 4 than the inner length of outer package 2, so that inner package 3 is allowed to be movable within outer package 2.

The outer packaging material is different from the inner packaging material. The outer package 2 is preferably made of a cardboard material and comprises an outer package container 2a and an outer package flap 2b, wherein the inner package 3 is preferably made of a foil material, such as for example an aluminum coated material, and comprises an inner package container 3a and an inner package flap 3 b. Inner package 3 is positioned within outer package 2, wherein outer package container 2a covers flip-top inner package container 3a and outer package flip-top 2b covers flip-top inner package flip-top 3 b. The rigidity of the inner package 3 prior to opening the package is provided by the articles therein.

The inner package 3 comprises an inner package bottom wall 10, an inner package flip top wall 12, an inner package flip top wall 14, inner package container side walls 18, an inner package front wall 21 and an inner package rear wall 23. The inner package flap front wall 12 is arranged parallel to the outer package flap front wall and has a smaller dimension in both the longitudinal and transverse directions than the inner package flap front wall 12. Inner package flap 3b covers a portion of the flap inner package front wall 21 and an upper wall parallel to the top wall of the outer package flap, wherein the inner package flap front wall 12 and the inner package flap top wall 14 are spaced from the inner package side wall 18 by a distance of between 1mm and 10mm, preferably between 2mm and 8mm, more preferably between 3mm and 6 mm. Inner packaging flap 3b can be opened in longitudinal direction 4 and relative to inner container 3 a. When the inner package flap 3b is open, it enables access to the articles located in the inner package 3, which can accommodate, for example, cigarettes having a length of between 84mm and 83 mm.

The slits 24 separate the outer packaging container 2a from the outer packaging flap 2b at the

side walls

15, 17 and the outer

packaging front wall

12, 20 to form an edge 31, wherein the outer packaging rear wall 22 connects the outer packaging container 2a and the outer packaging flap 2 b. Furthermore, the outer package rear wall 22 serves as a cover flap and forms both the outer package container rear wall and the outer package flap rear wall, so that the outer package has the container and the hinge flap 3b for rotating the hinge flap 3b relative to the outer container and the longitudinal direction 4 and perpendicular to the outer package container front wall 20. In the closed position, the top wall 5 of the outer package flap 2b is parallel to and opposite the outer package bottom wall 15, with the outer package container front wall 20 and the outer package flap front wall 13 being coplanar. Further, the outer packing container side wall 17 is arranged coplanar with the outer packing flap side wall 15. The slits 24 are arranged from the outer package back wall 22 at an angle 32 of between 30 ° and 90 °, preferably between 50 ° and 70 °, more preferably about 60 °, relative to the outer package container side wall 17. Furthermore, the slits 24 are arranged from the outer package rear wall 22 at an angle 33 of between 90 ° and 150 °, preferably between 105 ° and 135 °, more preferably about 120 °, relative to the outer package flap side wall 15.

At the bottom of the outer wrapper 2, four edges are formed by adjacent walls, two of which are opposite each other in pairs. The first pair of lower edges 27 are formed by the outer package container front wall 20 and the outer package bottom wall 11 and the outer package rear wall 22. The second pair of lower edges 28 is formed by the outer package container side walls 17 and the outer package bottom wall 11, wherein the outer package bottom wall 11 is arranged adjacent to the two outer package container side walls 17 (located parallel to each other) and the outer package front wall 20 and the outer package rear wall 22 (also located parallel to each other).

Two outer packaging container base flaps 16 are arranged in the space 9 between the inner packaging container base wall 10 and the outer packaging container base wall 11. The two outer packaging container base flaps 16 are rectangular in shape and extend inwardly by folding from the side walls about fold lines at each lower edge 28 so that they both overlie and are not attached to the inner surface of the outer packaging base wall 11. The two base flaps 16 comprise a flap rear end 16b and a flap front end 16a, wherein each flap front end comprises an attachment area 19 connecting the outer surface of the inner packaging container base wall 10 to each base flap 16 and thus to the outer package 2. Preferably, the attachment area 19 may comprise any one of the glue strips 19a or at least glue dots. Both flap rear end 16b and flap front end 16a are movable in longitudinal direction 4 together with inner package 3 towards outer packaging container bottom wall 11, wherein flap front end 16a is positioned and/or remains almost parallel to outer packaging container bottom wall 11 during movement, wherein angle 34 will decrease and angle 35 will increase during downward movement of inner package 3. Although the base flaps 16 shown and described herein are generally rectangular in shape, it will be apparent to the skilled person that they may take other shapes without altering their specific attachment function to the inner package and their movability with respect to the bottom wall of the outer package. Specifically, the flap front end 16a may be arcuate or trapezoidal.

The glue strips 19a are positioned on the outer packaging container base flap front end 16a and are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the outer packaging container front wall. Furthermore, the glue strips are positioned on the surface of the front end 16a of the flap so that they are directed towards the outer surface of the bottom wall of the inner packaging container and join this surface at least after the inner package 3 has been moved towards the space 9 between the bottom wall 10 of the inner packaging container and the bottom wall 11 of the outer packaging container. However, it is also possible that the glue strip 19a is attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall 10 of the inner package container even before the inner package 3 is moved. The strip 19a may also have other shapes, such as an oval or circular shape.

As mentioned before, the package 1 is arranged for the inner package to be longitudinally movable within the outer package by a few millimetres during use. As shown in fig. 1, the space 9 is arranged between the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and the outer packaging container bottom wall 11 or between the inner packaging container top wall and the outer packaging top wall. The space 9 exhibits an extension in the longitudinal direction 4 in a range between 0.5mm and 6mm, more preferably between 1mm and 4mm and particularly preferably between 2mm and 3 mm.

At the top wall of the outer wrapper 2, four edges are formed by adjacent walls, two of which are opposite each other in pairs. The first pair of top edges 25 is formed by the outer package flap front wall 12 and the outer package top wall 5 and the outer package rear wall 22. The second pair of top edges 26 is formed by the outer package flap front wall 12 and the outer package side walls. A second pair of lower edges 28 is formed by the outer package flap side walls 15 and the outer package top wall 5. The top wall 5 of the outer packaging flap 2b also comprises a deformable section 6 which comprises an arcuate partial cut 7 which is connected with the top wall 5 in a linear connection. The partial cut 7 can be moved at least partially downwards in the longitudinal direction 4 with the outer package 2. By this movement, the partial cut 7 is pressed out of the top wall 5 of the outer packaging flap 2b and contacts the outer surface of the inner packaging flap 3b, wherein the inner package 3 is moved towards the space 9 between the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and the outer packaging container bottom wall 11. The center of the deformable section 6 is preferably arranged at or near the center of the top wall 5 of the outer packaging flap 2b and within a distance of between 2mm and 18mm, more preferably within a distance of between 5mm and 12mm, from the outer packaging flap front wall 12. Furthermore, the center of the deformable section 6 is preferably also arranged within a distance of between 5mm and 55mm, more preferably within a distance of between 20mm and 40mm, from the outer package flap side wall 12. It is also possible that the shape of the deformable section 6 or more precisely the partial cut 7 is rectangular or oval or trapezoidal and/or is completely movable and/or pressable out of the top wall 5.

The outer surface of inner package flap 3b is connected to the inner surface of outer package flap 2b by means of a glue spot 8 near the upper front wall 30 of the inner package. The glue sites 8 are arranged in the center of the inner package flap front wall 13 with respect to the transverse direction. This connection is broken when the inner package 3 is slid in the longitudinal direction towards the space 9. It is also possible that one or more glue sites connect the inner surface of outer package flap side wall 15 to the outer surface of inner package container side wall 18 such that glue sites are arranged at the side walls of inner package flap 3b and outer package flap 3 b.

In fig. 2, there is shown a schematic view of a trapezoidal outer packaging container base flap 16 having an outer packaging container base flap front end 16a, an outer packaging container base flap rear end 16b, a glue strip 19a and a connecting side of the flap representing the connection with the outer packaging container.

In fig. 3, a schematic illustration of an indicator is shown, which is printed and/or arranged on the outer surface of the outer package flap top wall 5 on top of or adjacent to the deformable section 6. Preferably, the indicator is printed on top of the deformable section 6 or more precisely a partial cut and has a similar shape, wherein the cut 7 has a circular shape and a connecting side 36 connected to the top wall of the outer packaging flap. Further, preferably, the indicator comprises a prompt that the deformable section is a button that can be pressed.

List of reference numerals

1 packaging

2 external packing

2a outer packaging container

2b outer package flip cover

3 inner package

3a inner packaging container

3b inner package flip cover

4 longitudinal direction

5 Top wall of outer packaging flip cover

6 Deformable segment

7 partial incision

8 glue points and connecting parts of outer surface of inner package and inner surface of outer package

9 space between bottom wall of inner packaging container and bottom wall of outer packaging container

10 bottom wall of inner packaging container

11 bottom wall of outer packaging container

12 outer package flip front wall

13 inner packing flip front wall

14 inner package flip top wall

15 side wall of outer package flip cover

16 outer packaging container bottom cover

16a outer packaging container bottom cover front end

16b outer packaging container bottom flap rear end

16c to the attachment side of the lid plate of the outer packaging container

17 side wall of outer packaging container

18 side wall of inner packaging container

19 attachment region

19a rubber strip

20 front wall of outer packaging container

21 front wall of inner packing container

22 rear wall of outer package

23 inner packing rear wall

24 cracks

25 top edge 1

26 top edge 2

27 lower edge 1

28 lower edge 2

29 side edge

30 inner package upper front wall

31 edge of crack

32 angle of the cleft between the rear wall of the outer package and the side wall of the outer package container

33 angle of the crack between the back wall of the outer package and the side wall of the flip cover of the outer package

34 angle between rear end of flap and bottom wall of outer container

35 angle between the rear end of the flap and the front end of the flap

36 connecting side of partial cut-out connecting with top wall of outer packaging turnover cover

Claims

1. A package (1) for containing a plurality of articles, comprising

An outer package (2) made of a first packaging material, having an outer package container (2a) and an outer package flap (2b), and

an inner package (3) for accommodating the articles, which is made of a second packaging material and has an inner packaging container (3a) and an inner packaging flap (3b),

wherein the outer package (2) at least partially accommodates the inner package,

wherein the inner package (3) is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the outer package flap (2b) via a first connecting portion in a closed state before the package is opened for the first time,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

at least one face (5) of the outer packaging flap comprises a deformable section (6) such that the first opening of the packaging requires the application of pressure on said deformable section (6) in order to break said first connection between the inner packaging (3) and the inner face of the outer packaging flap (2b), wherein the inner packaging (3) is arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction (4) relative to the outer packaging (2) after breaking the first connection.

2. The package as set forth in claim 1, wherein the package is,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

after breaking the first connection, the inner package (3) is movable in the longitudinal direction towards a space (9) between the inner package container bottom wall (10) and the outer package container bottom wall (11), wherein the inner package container bottom wall (10) and the outer package container bottom wall (11) are arranged parallel to and at a distance from each other.

3. The package according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the outer surface of the inner package (3) is connected to the inner surface of the outer package flap (2b) by at least one glue dot (8).

4. The package according to the preceding claim, wherein,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the at least one glue site (8) connects the inner face of the outer packaging flap front wall (12) to the outer face of the inner packaging flap front wall (13) and/or the inner face of the outer packaging flap side wall (15) to the outer face of the inner packaging side wall (18).

5. The package of any one of claims 2-4,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

an outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is arranged in the space (9) between the inner packaging container bottom wall (10) and the outer packaging container bottom wall (11), wherein the outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is connected to the inner surface of the outer packaging container bottom wall (11) and/or the inner surface of the outer packaging container side wall (17) and to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall (10).

6. The package as claimed in claim 5, wherein the package is a single package,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is glued to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall (10).

7. The package of any one of claims 5 or 6,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

when pressure is exerted on the deformable section (6) of the outer packaging flap (2b), the outer packaging container base flap (16) can be moved together with the inner packaging (3) in the longitudinal direction (4).

8. The package according to at least one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the outer length of the inner package (3) is shorter in the longitudinal direction (4) than the inner length of the outer package (2) so that the inner package (3) can move within the outer package (2) in said longitudinal direction (4).

9. The package according to at least one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the deformable section (6) comprises a partial cut-out (7) which is provided in the outer packaging flap top wall (5), wherein the partial cut-out (7) is at least partially movable in the longitudinal direction (4) by applying pressure.

10. The package according to the preceding claim, wherein,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the partial cut (7) is arched.

11. The package according to claim 9 or 10,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

an indicator is printed and/or arranged on the outer surface of the outer packaging flap top wall (5), on top of the deformable section (6) or adjacent to the deformable section.

12. The package according to at least one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the first wrapper is different from the second wrapper.

13. The package according to at least one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the first wrapper is a paper, carton and/or cardboard material.

14. The package according to at least one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second wrapper is a foil material.

15. The package according to at least one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is free from contact with the outer packaging container front wall (20) and the outer packaging rear wall (22), and is in particular trapezoidal.