EP2120617A2

EP2120617A2 - Refillable composite case for smoking articles

Info

Publication number: EP2120617A2
Application number: EP08751016A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacques Weiss; Philippe Bourgoin; Miles Richard Hawley; Daniel Brady
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-18
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Also published as: RU2457762C2; EP1961316A1; JP2010518831A; WO2008102272A3; WO2008102272A2; WO2008102272A8; RU2009134992A

Abstract

A refillable composite case (2) for smoking articles such as cigarettes comprises two releasably connected, independently accessible, containers (4), each for housing a separate bundle (6) of smoking articles. The two releasably connected containers (4) are configured to be disconnected for separate independent use and subsequently releasably reconnected and are releasably connected along abutting major planar surfaces.

Description

REFILLABLE COMPOSITE CASE FOR SMOKING ARTICLES

The present invention relates to a refillable composite case for smoking articles such as cigarettes, which comprises a pair of releasably connected containers. It is known to provide reusable hard cases that may be filled with a plurality of cigarettes in order to prevent bending, crushing or breaking of the cigarettes as they are carried in, for example, a consumer's pocket or purse. Typically, known reusable hard cases are designed to receive unpackaged cigarettes. However, reusable hard cases that are designed to receive conventional disposable hinge-lid or soft packs of cigarettes are also known. US-A-1 ,736,651 discloses a cigarette box construction including a plurality of cigarette boxes intended to be used as individual trophies to be awarded as prizes for different athletic or other events, which are held in a detachable interlocked relation by keys. Each of the plurality of cigarette boxes is flat and relatively shallow and includes a body portion with a major bottom wall and minor side and end walls and a closure with a major top wall, which is hinged to one of the minor end walls of the body portion. The plurality of cigarette boxes are detachably connected in an interlocked relation by inserting the keys into longitudinally extending slots provided in facing minor side walls of the body portions thereof. Thus, in the detachably interlocked relation, the plurality of cigarette boxes of the cigarette box construction of US-A-1 ,736,651 are held in row relation by the keys, with the facing minor side walls of the plurality of cigarette boxes in abutting engagement.

The individual cigarette boxes of the cigarette box construction of US-A-1 , 736,651 are intended to be engraved with the particular event for which the box is offered as a prize.

Detachably interlocking the individual cigarette boxes in a 'side-by-side' row relation, results in the major top and bottom walls of each individual box, upon which such engraving may be provided, advantageously remaining visible in the assembled cigarette box construction.

To facilitate carrying and handling thereof by a consumer, it would be desirable to provide a refutable composite case for smoking articles comprising a plurality of releasably connected container, which has a reduced footprint compared to the cigarette box construction of US-A-1 ,736,651. It would also be desirable to provide a refillable composite case for smoking articles comprising a plurality of releasably connected containers in which the containers are directly releasably connected to one another without the use of keys or other separate intermediate connection means.

According to the present invention there is provided a refillable composite case for smoking articles comprising two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate bundle of smoking articles, the two releasably connected containers being independently accessible and being configured to be disconnected for separate independent use and subsequently releasably reconnected, wherein the two releasably connected containers are releasably connected along abutting major planar surfaces.

Preferably, the dimensions of the two releasably connected containers are such that, when disconnected, for separate independent use, each of the two containers may be conveniently carried by a consumer in, for example, a pocket or bag.

Preferably, the dimensions of the two releasably connected containers are such that, when releasably connected, the refillable composite case may be conveniently carried by a consumer in, for example, a pocket or bag. The length, width and depth of each of the two releasably connected containers may be such that, when releasably connected, the resultant overall dimensions of the refillable composite case are similar to, or substantially the same as, the dimensions of a conventional disposable pack of smoking articles. For example, the length, width and depth of each of the two releasably connected containers may be such that, when releasably connected, the resultant overall dimensions of the refillable composite case are similar to the dimensions of a conventional disposable hinge-lid pack of twenty cigarettes.

Preferably, the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention are directly releasably connected to one another. By directly releasably connected it is meant that the two releasably connected containers are releasably connected to one another without the use of separate intermediate connection means, such as for example a key.

Refillable composite cases according to the present invention advantageously allow consumers to carry different types of smoking articles in a protected and convenient manner at different times, depending on their particular individual tastes and requirements. The inclusion of two releasably connected containers each for housing a separate bundle of smoking articles advantageously allows two different types of smoking articles to be carried separately from one another in a single refillable composite case according to the present invention.

By enabling consumers to repeatedly disconnect and subsequently releasably reconnect the two releasably connected containers thereof, refillable composite cases according to the present invention also advantageously allow consumers to carry different numbers of smoking articles in a protected and convenient manner at different times, depending on their particular individual tastes and requirements.

Furthermore, the inclusion of two releasably connected containers that are independently accessible advantageously helps to preserve the freshness of smoking articles housed in refillable composite cases according to the present invention. When a consumer removes smoking articles from one of the two releasably connected containers, the freshness of smoking articles housed in the other of the two releasably connected containers is maintained until the consumer subsequently removes smoking articles from that container.

Each of the two releasably connected containers may be provided with, for example, a hinged lid, a sliding lid or another known opening and closing means that is openable to allow access to smoking articles housed in the container and closable to prevent access to smoking articles housed in the container. Preferably, the two releasably connected containers are provided with the same type of opening and closing means. It will be appreciated, however, that refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers provided with different types of opening and closing means. For example, one of the two releasably connected containers may be provided with a hinged lid and the other of the two releasably connected containers may be provided with a sliding lid.

Alternatively, one or both of the two releasably connected containers may comprise an outer shell and an inner slide, within the outer shell, for housing a bundle of smoking articles.

Refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a bundle of, for example, conventional lit-end cigarettes, cigarettes for use with electrical smoking systems (for example cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-5 692 525), cigars or cigarillos. Preferably, refillable composite cases according to the present invention comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate bundle of cigarettes. Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention may be designed to house separate bundles of different numbers of cigarettes. Alternatively or in addition, the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention may be designed to house separate bundles of cigarettes of different dimensions (for example cigarettes of different length or different circumference). The two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention may, for example, be designed to house separate bundles of different numbers of short (approximately 70-75mm in length), regular size (approximately 80mm in length), king size (approximately 84mm in length), super-king size, slim, super-slim or wide cigarettes. Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions of the two releasably connected containers thereof, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may also be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles. For example, refillable composite cases for cigarettes according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers for housing, in combination, a total of twenty or twenty-one regular size cigarettes. Alternatively, refillable composite cases for cigarettes according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers for housing, in combination, a total of seventeen or eighteen wide cigarettes.

Preferably, the refillable composite case comprises two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate bundle of a different number of smoking articles. For example, a refillable composite case according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for twenty regular size cigarettes comprises two releasably connected containers, one for housing a bundle of thirteen regular size cigarettes and one for housing a bundle of seven regular size cigarettes. A refillable composite case according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention for seventeen wide cigarettes comprises two releasably connected containers, one for housing a bundle of eleven wide cigarettes and one for housing a bundle of six wide cigarettes.

Refillable composite cases according to the present invention for housing twenty cigarettes arranged in a 7-6-7 collation may be produced. For example, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, one for housing a bundle of thirteen cigarettes in a 7-6 collation and one for housing a single row of seven cigarettes.

Refillable composite cases according to the present invention for housing twenty-one cigarettes arranged in a 7-7-7 collation may also be produced. For example, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, one for housing a bundle of fourteen cigarettes in a 7-7 collation and one for housing a single row of seven cigarettes.

In other embodiments, refillable composite cases according to the present invention for housing seventeen wide cigarettes arranged in a 6-5-6 collation may be produced. For example, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, one for housing a bundle of eleven wide cigarettes in a 6-5 collation and one for housing a single row of six cigarettes.

In yet further embodiments, refillable composite cases according to the present invention for housing eighteen wide cigarettes arranged in a 6-6-6 collation may be produced. For example, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, one for housing a bundle of twelve cigarettes in a 6-6 collation and one for housing a single row of six cigarettes.

It will be appreciated that the specific examples given above are for the purposes of illustration only and that refillable composite cases according to the invention for housing other desired numbers of smoking articles in other collations may be produced. Refillable composite cases according to the present invention may also comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a bundle of the same number of smoking articles. For example, refutable composite cases according to the present invention for twenty regular size cigarettes may comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a bundle of ten regular size cigarettes.

Alternatively or in addition, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate bundle of smoking articles of a different type.

A wide variety of different types of cigarettes are produced and sold. Different types of tobacco having unique characteristic flavours and aromas, such as Burley, Oriental and Virginia tobacco, are used alone or in varying amounts in tobacco blends to produce brands of cigarettes having different characteristic flavours. Cigarettes containing flavourings such as menthol are also available. In addition, both plain (i.e. non-filter) cigarettes and cigarettes having many different types of filter tips are manufactured as well as cigarettes of different length (e.g. short, regular size, king size or super-king size), circumference (e.g. slim, super-slim or wide), strength of flavour, total particulate matter delivery and nicotine delivery. In use, the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention may each house a separate bundle of cigarettes of a different tobacco blend or flavour. For example, one of the two releasably connected containers may house a bundle of menthol cigarettes and the other of the two releasably connected containers may house a bundle of non-menthol cigarettes. The inclusion of two independently accessible, releasably connected containers advantageously avoids any migration of flavour between two separate bundles of cigarettes of different tobacco blend or flavour housed in refillable composite cases according to the present invention.

Refillable composite cases according to the present invention may also comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate bundle of cigarettes of different dimensions. For example, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, one for housing a bundle of regular size cigarettes and one for housing a bundle of slim cigarettes.

Preferably, refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate, wrapped bundle of smoking articles. More preferably, refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate, wrapped and sealed bundle of smoking articles.

For example, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate bundle of smoking articles wrapped in paper, plastic, metal foil, metallised paper, a metallised film, a laminate (e.g. an aluminium polypropylene laminate) or other packaging material. Refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention may comprise two releasably connected containers, each for housing a separate, wrapped, resealable bundle of smoking articles.

Preferably, the two releasably connected containers and the refillable composite case are substantially parallelepipedal. More preferably, the two releasably connected containers and the refillable composite case are substantially cuboid.

The two releasably connected containers and the refillable composite case may have one or more right-angled longitudinal edges, one or more right-angled transverse edges, one or more rounded longitudinal edges, one or more rounded transverse edges, one or more bevelled longitudinal edges, one or more bevelled transverse edges or any suitable combination thereof.

Preferably, the two releasably connected containers are of substantially the same shape.

The dimensions of the two releasably connected containers may be the same or different. Preferably, the refillable composite case comprises two releasably connected containers of different dimensions. More preferably, the refillable composite case comprises two releasably connected containers of the same length and width, but of different depth

Preferably, the two releasably connected containers are releasably connected along abutting major planar surfaces of substantially the same dimensions. More preferably, the two releasably connected containers are releasably connected along abutting major front walls of substantially the same dimensions or along abutting major side walls of substantially the same dimensions.

Preferably, the refillable composite case comprises two releasably connected hinge-lid containers that are releasably connected along abutting major planar surfaces of substantially the same dimensions. In one preferred embodiment, the hinged lids of the two releasably connected hinge-lid containers are pivotable about hinge lines extending across minor planar surfaces of the containers perpendicular to the abutting major planar surfaces along which the two hinge-lid containers are releasably connected. For example, the two hinge-lid containers may be releasably connected along abutting major side walls of substantially the same dimensions and the hinged lids of the two releasably connected hinge-lid containers may be pivotable about hinge lines extending across minor rear walls of substantially the same dimensions, which are perpendicular to the abutting major side walls.

In another preferred embodiment, the hinged lids of the two releasably connected hinge- lid containers are pivotable about hinge lines extending across major planar surfaces of the containers parallel and opposed to the abutting major planar surfaces along which the two hinge-lid containers are releasably connected. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the two hinge-lid containers are releasably connected along abutting major rear walls of substantially the same dimensions and the hinged lids of the two releasably connected hinge-lid containers are pivotable about hinge lines extending across major front walls of substantially the same dimensions, which are parallel and opposed to the abutting rear walls.

One of the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention may be provided with first securing means and the other of the two releasably connected containers may be provided with second securing means, the two containers being releasably connected by releasable engagement of the first securing means and the second securing means. The first securing means and the second securing means may comprise magnetic fasteners, mechanical fasteners, adhesive fasteners or combinations thereof. For example, the first securing means and the second securing means may comprise one or more releasable pressure-actuated hook-and-loop type fasteners or snap fasteners.

The two releasably connected containers are preferably releasably magnetically connected. One of the two releasably connected containers may comprise a permanent magnetic material and the other of the two releasably connected containers may comprise a magnetically attractable material, the two releasably connected containers being releasably connected by attraction between the permanent magnetic material and the magnetically attractable material. The two releasably connected containers may be at least partially formed from permanently magnetic and magnetically attractable materials or may have permanently magnetic and magnetically attractable materials affixed to a portion of the exterior or interior thereof or inserted or otherwise incorporated therein. One of the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention may be provided with at least one protuberance, which is received in at least one indentation provided on the other of the two releasably connected containers. The provision of at least one indentation on one of the two releasably connected containers that mates with at least one corresponding protuberance provided on the other of the two releasably connected containers advantageously helps to ensure that, having been disconnected for separate independent use, the two containers are properly aligned or registered with one another when they are subsequently releasably reconnected by a consumer to form the refillable composite case. The provision of at least one protuberance on one of the two releasably connected containers and at least one indentation on the other of the two releasably connected containers may also advantageously help to prevent movement of the two releasably connected containers relative to one another in the refillable composite case.

Refillable composite cases according to the present invention preferably comprise two releasably connected thin-walled containers. The two releasably connected containers may be formed from one or more rigid materials, including, but not limited to, hardboard, plastics, metals, alloys (e.g. zinc alloys), composite materials (e.g. carbon fibre composite materials). Preferably, the two releasably connected containers are formed from one or more lightweight, rigid materials.

Preferably, the two releasably connected containers are formed from metal, more preferably from aluminium. Preferably, the two releasably connected containers are formed from thin gauge metal, more preferably from aluminium with a material gauge of about 0.6mm.

The exterior of one or both of the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished (for example using labels or stickers) with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia. It will be appreciated that the same or different manufacturer and brand logos, trade marks, slogans, and other consumer information and indicia may be applied to the exterior of each of the two releasably connected containers.

The two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention may also have the same or different surface finishes (for example polishing or varnishing). For example, where the two releasably connected containers are formed from aluminium, at least a portion of the surface of one or both of the two releasably connected containers may be brushed.

The same or different surface treatments (for example anodizing, powder coating, pad printing or screen printing) may also be applied to the two releasably connected containers of refillable composite cases according to the present invention. For example, where the two releasably connected containers are formed of aluminium, at least a portion of the surface of one or both of the two releasably connected containers may be anodized and partially or fully coloured. Refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention may further comprise a lighter. Alternatively, or in addition, refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention may further comprise an ashtray.

For example, at least one of the two releasably connected containers of the refillable composite case may comprise a compartment for housing a lighter or for receiving ash. Alternatively, refillable composite cases according to the present invention may further comprise a lighter or an ashtray that is releasably connected, for example releasably magnetically connected, or otherwise attached to the interior or exterior of one of the two releasably connected containers.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refillable composite cigarette case according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the refillable composite cigarette case of Figure 1 with the two containers thereof disconnected; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the refillable composite cigarette case of Figure 2 with one of the two containers open.

The refillable composite cigarette case 2 shown in Figure 1 comprises two releasably magnetically connected, generally cuboid, hinge-lid containers 4, each having a major front wall and an opposed major rear wall, a pair of opposed side walls, a top wall and an opposed bottom wall. As shown in Figure 1 , the longitudinal edges between the major front wall and the opposed side walls of each of the two releasably connected hinge-lid containers 4 are rounded.

The two releasably magnetically connected, generally cuboid, hinge-lid containers 4 are of the same height and width (i.e. the major front walls and the major rear walls of the two hinge-lid containers are of the same dimensions), but different depth (i.e. the side walls of the hinge-lid containers are of the same height, but different width). The volume of one of the two hinge-lid containers 4 is thereby greater than the volume of the other of the two hinge-lid containers 4.

The two hinge-lid containers 4 are releasably magnetically connected along their major rear walls, which abut one another in the refillable composite cigarette case 2. As shown in Figure 2, a rectangular protuberance 6 is provided at the base of the rear wall of the larger of the two hinge-lid containers 4, which mates with a corresponding rectangular indentation 8 provided at the base of the major rear wall of the smaller of the two hinge-lid containers 4 when the two hinge-lid containers 4 are releasably magnetically connected along their major rear walls as shown in Figure 1. In use, to disconnect the two releasably magnetically connected hinge-lid containers 4, a consumer pulls the two hinge-lid containers 4 apart in opposite directions in order to overcome the magnetic attraction between the abutting major rear walls thereof. Once disconnected, as shown in Figure 2, each of the two hinge-lid containers 4 may be used separately by the consumer, independently of the other of the two hinge-lid containers 4. To subsequently releasably reconnect the two hinge-lid containers 4, the consumer brings the major rear walls of the two hinge-lid containers 4 together, with the rectangular protuberance 6 provided at the base of the larger of the two hinge-lid containers 4 in alignment with the rectangular indentation 8 provided at the base of the rear wall of the smaller of the two hinge-lid containers 4, until the rear walls of the two hinge-lid containers 4 abut one another as shown in Figure 1. Each of the two releasably magnetically connected hinge-lid containers 4 houses a separate bundle 10 of cigarettes wrapped in an aluminium polypropylene laminate. The larger of the two releasably connected hinge-lid containers 4 houses a bundle 10 of thirteen cigarettes in a 7-6 collation and the smaller of the two hinge-lid containers houses a single row (not shown) of seven cigarettes. The refillable composite cigarette case 2 thereby houses a total of twenty cigarettes arranged in a 7-6-7 collation. Each of the two hinge-lid containers 4 comprises a hinged lid having a front wall, a top wall and a pair of opposed side walls, which is pivotable about a horizontal hinge line extending across the major front wall of the hinge-lid container 4. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the horizontal hinge-lines extending across the major front walls of the two hinge-lid containers 4 are located less than half way between the opposed bottom and top walls thereof. In use, the wrapped bundles 10 of cigarettes in the two hinge-lid containers 4 are accessed by pivoting the hinged lids of the containers 4 downwardly about the horizontal hinge lines to expose an upper portion of the wrapped bundles 10, as shown in Figure 3. The hinged lids of the two hinge-lid containers 4 may be pivoted about their respective horizontal hinge lines independently of one another, so as to independently access the separate wrapped bundles 10 of cigarettes housed in each of the two hinge-lid containers 4. The separate wrapped bundles 10 of cigarettes in each of the two hinge-lid containers 4 are independently accessible in the same manner when the two hinge-lid containers 4 are releasably magnetically connected, as shown in Figure 1 , and when the two hinge-lid containers 4 are disconnected for separate independent use, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that refillable composite cases for smoking articles according to the present invention advantageously give consumers the flexibility to carry different numbers and different types of smoking articles with them at different times depending on their personal tastes and requirements, while preserving the freshness of, and preventing damage to, the smoking articles.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A refutable composite case (2) for smoking articles comprising two releasably connected containers (4), each for housing a separate bundle (6) of smoking articles, the two releasably connected containers (4) being independently accessible and being configured to be disconnected for separate independent use and subsequently releasably reconnected, wherein the two releasably connected containers (4) are releasably connected along abutting major planar surfaces.

2. A refutable composite case (2) according to claim 1 wherein the two releasably connected containers <4) are releasably connected along abutting major planar surfaces of substantially the same dimensions.

3. A refutable composite case (2) according to claim 2 wherein the two releasably connected containers (4) are hinge-lid containers.

4. A refutable composite case (2) according to claim 3 wherein the hinged lids of the two releasably connected hinge-lid containers (4) are pivotable about hinge lines extending across planar surfaces parallel and opposed to the abutting major planar surfaces along which the two hinge-lid containers (4) are connected.

5. A refutable composite case (2) according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein one of the two releasably connected containers (4) is provided with first securing means and the other of the two releasably connected containers (4) is provided with second securing means, the two containers being releasably connected by engagement of the first securing means with the second securing means.

6. A refutable composite case (2) according to any preceding claim wherein the two releasably connected containers (4) are releasably magnetically connected.

7. A refutable composite case (2) according to any preceding claim wherein one of the two releasably connected containers (4) is provided with at least one protuberance (6) that is received in at least one indentation (8) provided on the other of the two releasably connected containers (4).

8. A refutable composite case according to any preceding claim wherein the two releasably connected containers are of different dimensions.