EP2403765A1

EP2403765A1 - Hinge lid container

Info

Publication number: EP2403765A1
Application number: EP09801672A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vincenzo Disavino
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2009-03-02
Filing date: 2009-12-30
Publication date: 2012-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-30
Also published as: KR101830446B1; WO2010099814A1; RU2011139946A; EP2403765B1; PT2403765E; JP5638012B2; JP2012519116A; RU2486117C2; KR20110132406A; ES2441121T3

Abstract

A container (2)(300) for consumer goods (12) comprising: a box (4) and a lid (6). The lid (6) is hinged to the box (4) along a first hinge line (8) extending between the lid back wall (30) and the box back wall (20) such that the top of the container (2) is openable by the lid (6). The container (2) further includes a hatch (34) which is hinged to the box (4) along a second hinge line extending either across the first box side wall (16) or across the box bottom wall (22), such that the bottom of the container (2) is openable by the hatch (34). At least one wall (36) of the hatch (34) comprises two layers of material, an outer layer (36a) and an inner layer (36b), wherein the outer layer (36a) has a smaller surface area than the inner layer (36b).

Description

HINGE LID CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a novel hinge lid container for consumer goods. The container finds particular application as a container for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes.

It is known to package elongate smoking articles and other consumer goods in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. For example, elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are commonly sold in hinge lid packs having a box for housing the smoking articles and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. Such packs are typically constructed from one-piece laminar cardboard blanks. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack and so gain access to the smoking articles held in the box.

Conventionally, filter cigarettes and other smoking articles with a predetermined mouth end are packaged with their mouth end upwards. The smoking articles are removable through the upper opening of the pack by grasping the mouth end of the smoking article. However, some consumers may prefer not to touch the mouth end.

It would be desirable to provide a container for consumer goods that offers additional ways for the consumer to access the consumer goods housed within the container.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for consumer goods comprising a box; the box comprising a box front wall, a box back wall, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall and a second box side wall. The container further comprises a lid comprising a lid front wall, a lid back wall, a lid top wall, a first lid side wall and a second lid side wall. The lid is hinged to the box along a first hinge line extending between the lid back wall and the box back wall such that the top of the container is openable by the lid. The container further includes a hatch, which comprises a hatch side wall and a hatch bottom wall. The hatch is hinged to the box along a second hinge line extending either across the first box side wall or across the box bottom wall, such that the bottom of the container is openable by the hatch. At least one wall of the hatch comprises two layers of material, an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein the outer layer has a smaller surface area than the inner layer. The provision of a lid and a hatch enables the consumer goods to be removed from containers according to the invention in two different ways, either through the top end or the bottom end of the box.

The term "hatch" refers to the cover of an additional opening in the container. Consumer goods may be removed from the container through the hatch. The terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "side", "top", "bottom" and other terms used to describe relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer to the container in an upright position with the lid at the top end, the hatch at the bottom end and the first hinge line at the back. With regard to the hatch, this means that the hatch bottom wall is located at the bottom of the container and the hatch side wall is located at a side wall of the container.

The terms "left" and "right" are used with reference to side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in its upright position. The term "longitudinal" refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa. The term "transverse" refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which the lid or the hatch may be pivoted in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming a wall of the container. Alternatively, a hinge line may be a fold line or a score line in a piece of material connecting a wall of the lid or the hatch to a corresponding wall of the box. Such a piece of material may be, for example, a label that is attached to the back wall of the lid and the back wall of the box. Preferably the second hinge line is perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the container. Advantageously, containers according to the invention provide the option of removing a smoking article through the bottom end of the container. In this case, the consumer will grasp the smoking article by the rod end, that is, the end of the smoking article opposite the mouth end.

The provision of a hatch providing access to the rod ends of the smoking articles also allows the insertion of one or more moisture release elements or one or more flavour release elements into the container. It may be desirable to insert such elements into the container in order to infuse the tobacco with moisture or a flavourant prior to smoking. It is advantageous to be able to insert the elements at the rod end of the smoking articles rather than the filter ends so that the element can be positioned adjacent the tobacco rod rather than the filter. Preferably, the lid is defined by cut lines in the container. The hatch may be defined by lines of weakness in the container. The container is therefore provided with the lid connected to the box along the hinge line only, whilst the hatch is integral to the box unless and until the lines of weakness are broken. The consumer therefore has the option of leaving the hatch unopened. The lines of weakness are preferably lines of perforation which may be easily broken in order to open the hatch. Once the lines of perforation have been broken, the increased friction between the perforated edges helps to retain the hatch in its closed position.

As set out above, at least one wall of the hatch comprises two layers of material. The two layers are formed, for example, by the inner side wall and the outer side wall that are attached to each other in the assembly of the container. Preferably the hatch further comprises a hatch front wall, wherein the hatch front wall is detachably connected to the box front wall, and a hatch back wall, wherein the hatch back wall is detachably connected to the box back wall. This advantageously increases the structural strength of the hatch.

Preferably, the box of the container is provided with a cut out portion adjacent one of the walls of the hatch. This facilitates the opening of the hatch, particularly the first opening thereof where the hatch needs to be separated from the box along lines of weakness.

Preferably, the hatch comprises a closing edge that abuts an edge of the box when the hatch is closed. Preferably, the hatch further comprises a retention flap that extends beyond the closing edge into the box when the hatch is closed. This advantageously improves the retention of the hatch in a closed position after the hatch has been opened for the first time. Containers according to the present invention are preferably formed from a single cardboard blank. Advantageously, a standard hinge lid pack blank can be used, with additional fold lines or perforation lines provided in order to form the hatch part of the box. This means that it is possible to manufacture containers according to the present invention using existing machinery and methods, without any significant modifications. Preferably, the container further comprises an inner frame mounted within the box, wherein the inner frame extends above the upper edges of at least the front wall of the box of the container. The inner frame is therefore visible to the consumer when the lid is opened. The front wall of the inner frame may be printed with indicia which may be the same as, or different to the indicia printed on the front wall of the box. Alternatively, or in addition, the front wall of the inner frame may be cut into a distinctive shape, for example, to reflect the branding of the consumer goods.

Preferably, the front wall of the inner frame is provided with a cut out portion at the upper edge thereof. This enables more convenient access to the consumer goods within the container, without significantly reducing the surface area of the front wall of the inner frame. Alternatively or in addition to an inner frame, the consumer goods within the container may be wrapped with an inner liner, which is visible above the upper edge of the front wall of the box and the front wall of the inner frame (if present) when the container is open.

Containers according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof. For example, the container according to the invention may comprise, without limitation:

- One or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall. - One or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two transversal rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall. -A-

- One longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge on the front wall, and/or one transverse rounded edge and one transverse bevelled edge on the back wall.

- One or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall. - Two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on a first side wall or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the second side wall.

Where the container comprises one or more rounded edges and is made from a laminar blank, preferably the blank comprises three, four, five, six or seven scoring lines or creasing lines to form the rounded edge in the assembled container. The scoring lines or creasing lines may be either on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Preferably, the scoring lines or creasing lines are spaced from each other by between about 0.3 mm and 4 mm.

Preferably, the spacing of the creasing lines or scoring lines is in function of the thickness of the laminar blank. Preferably, the spacing between the creasing lines or scoring lines is between about 0.5 and about 4 times larger than the thickness of the laminar blank. Where the container comprises one or more bevelled edges, preferably the bevelled edges each have a width of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 2 mm and about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container may comprise a double bevel formed by three parallel creasing or scoring lines that are spaced such that two distinct bevels are formed on the edge of the container. Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular transverse cross section, for example polygonal, such as triangular or hexagonal, or oval, semi-oval, circular or semi-circular.

Where the container comprises a bevelled edge and is made from a laminar blank, the bevel may be formed by two parallel creasing lines or scoring lines in the laminar blank. The creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged symmetrically to the edge between a first wall and a second wall. Alternatively, the creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged asymmetrically to the edge between the first wall and the second wall, such that the bevel reaches further into the first wall of the container than into the second wall of the container.

The container may be formed from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the cardboard has a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre.

Containers according to the invention may be used as packages for a variety of consumer goods. In a particularly preferred embodiment, containers according to the invention are used to package smoking articles. Containers according to the invention may be advantageously used to package smoking articles including, but not limited to, conventional lit- end cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, heated smoking articles comprising a combustible fuel element or heat source and an aerosol-generating substrate (for example cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-4,714,082) and smoking articles for use with electrical smoking systems (for example cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-5,692,525).

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.

Containers according to the invention may hold one, two, three four or five separate bundles of consumer goods. The separate bundles may be arranged substantially parallel to the front wall and to the back wall or substantially perpendicular to the front wall and to the back wall.

The smoking articles may be arranged in a bundle in different collations, depending on the total number of smoking articles, the dimensions of the smoking articles or the cross sectional shape of the container. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in a bundle in a single row of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten. Alternatively, the smoking articles may be arranged in two or more rows. The two or more rows may contain the same number of smoking articles. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in: two rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; three rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; or four rows of four, five or six. Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rows containing different numbers of smoking articles to each other. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in: a row of five and a row of six (5-6); a row of six and a row of seven (6-7); a row of seven and a row of eight (7-8); a middle row of five and two outer rows of six (6-5-6); a middle row of five and two outer rows of seven (7-5-7); a middle row of six and two outer rows of five (5-6-5); a middle row of six and two outer rows of seven (7-6-7); a middle row of seven and two outer rows of six (6-7-6); a middle row of nine and two outer rows of eight (8-9-8); or a middle row of six with one outer row of five and one outer row of seven (5-6-7).

Containers according to the present invention may hold smoking articles of the same type or brand, or of different types or brands. In addition, both filterless smoking articles and smoking articles with various filter tips may be contained, as well as smoking articles of differing length (for example, between about 40 mm and about 180 mm), diameter (for example, between about 4 mm and about 9 mm). In addition, the smoking articles may differ in strength of taste, resistance to draw and total particulate matter delivery. Where the container comprises more than one bundle, each bundle within the same container may hold the same or different types of smoking articles as listed above. Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, the outer dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle of smoking articles housed inside the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height of between about 60 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a height of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the height is measured from the top wall to the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a width of between about 12 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a width of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the width is measured from the first side wall to the second side wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 mm and about 100 mm, more preferably a depth of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container (comprising the hinge between box and lid).

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of the container is between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1

Preferably, the ratio of the width of the container to the depth of the container is between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, most preferably between about 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid back wall to the height of the box back wall is between about 0 to 1 (hinge located at the top edge of the container) to about 1 to 1 , more preferably, between about 1 to 5 and about 1 to 10, most preferably, between about 1 to 6 to about 1 to 8.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid front wall to the height of the box front wall is between about 1 to 0 (lid covering the entire front wall) to about 1 to 10, more preferably, between about 1 to 1 and about 1 to 5, most preferably, between about 1 to 2 and about 1 to 3.

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia. Alternatively, or in addition, the exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be at least partially covered with lacquer, metallisation, holograms, luminescent material, or any other materials that alter the feel, odour or appearance of the container.

Where the inner housing of a container according to the present invention contains one or more bundles of smoking articles, the smoking articles are preferably wrapped in an inner liner of, for example, metal foil or metallised paper. Where the container comprises smoking articles, the container may further comprise waste-compartments (for example for ash or butts) or other consumer goods, for example matches, lighters, extinguishing means, breath-fresheners or electronics. The other consumer goods may be attached to the outside of the container, contained within the container along with the smoking articles, in a separate compartment of the container or combinations thereof.

Once filled, containers according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include a tear tape. The tear tape is preferably positioned around the container below the lower edge of the front wall of the lid, such that once the tear tape has been removed, the lid is free to be pivoted about the first hinge line. Alternatively or in addition, there may be a second tear tape positioned around the container above the hatch, such that once the tear tape has been removed, the hatch is free to be rotated about the second hinge line. Alternatively, the tear tape may be provided lengthways around the container.

The present invention also provides a container of smoking articles comprising a container as described above filled with smoking articles.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a container according to the invention, with the hatch in the open position; Figure 1 a shows an enlarged view of the circled area of Figure 1 ,

Figure 2 shows the cardboard laminar blank for forming the container of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the container according to the invention, with the hatch in the open position.

The hinge lid container 2 shown in Figure 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped and comprises a box 4 and a lid 6 that is hinged to the box 4 along a hinge line 8 extending substantially horizontally along the back wall 10 of the container 2. A bundle of cigarettes 12 is housed in the box 4 of the container 2. The overall size and construction of the box 4 and lid 6 of container 2 are substantially the same as that of a standard hinge lid cigarette pack.

The box 4 has a front wall 14, a first, left side wall 16, a second, right side wall 18, a back wall 20, and a bottom wall 22. Figure 1 shows the container from the back and thus the left side wall 16 is shown on the right side of the container and vice versa. The upper side of the box 4 is open, to provide an upper opening through which the cigarettes 12 can be removed.

The lid 6 has a front wall 24, a first, left side wall 26, a second, right side wall 28, a back wall 30 and a top wall 32. When the container 2 is closed, the free edges of the walls of the lid 6 abut the free edges of the walls of the box 4 along a line of abutment. In the closed position, the walls of the lid 6 therefore form extensions of the corresponding walls of the box 4 to define the walls of the container 2. The box 4 of the container 2 includes a hatch 34 comprising a hatch side wall 36 formed from the lower part of the left side wall 16 and a hatch bottom wall 38 formed from the left part of the bottom wall 22. The hatch 34 is pivotable about a fold line 40 extending across the left side wall 16 of the box 4, approximately one half of the way up. The hatch 34 extends approximately one third of the way across the bottom wall 22, from the left side thereof.

Prior to its first opening, the hatch 34 is integral to the left side wall 16 and the bottom wall 22 of the box 4, such that the container 2 appears substantially identical to a conventional cigarette pack. Lines of perforations are provided around the edges of the hatch 34, on all sides except the edge coinciding with the hinge line 40. In order to open the hatch 34 for the first time, the lines of perforations must be broken. A semi-circular cut out 42 is provided in the bottom wall 22 adjacent the end of the hatch bottom wall 38 to facilitate opening of the hatch 34.

Figure 1 shows the container 2 with the hatch 34 open. The separation of the hatch 34 from the remainder of the box 4 creates a lower opening in the bottom left corner of the box 4, through which the cigarettes 12 contained in the box 4 may be removed. In order to re-close the lower opening, the hatch 34 can be returned to its starting position.

As shown in the enlarged areas 102 shown in Figure 1a, the hatch side wall 36 comprises an outer panel 36a and an inner panel 36b. The perforations along the free edges of the inner panel 36b and the outer panel 36a of the hatch side wall 36 are such that the surface area of the outer panel 36a is slightly smaller than the inner panel 36b, such that a small section of the inner panel 36b extends sideways beyond the outer panel 36a. At the same time, a thin strip 44 of the outer panel 36a extends from the edge of the box back wall 10 and the box front wall 14 towards the outer panel 36a. To reclose the hatch 34, the hatch side wall 36 is pressed into its initial position, such that the small section of the inner panel 36b that extends beyond the outer panel 36a locks behind the strip 44 and is retained in the closed position. Alternatively, the lid 6 may be opened in order to access the cigarettes through the upper opening in the box 4.

The container 2 is produced using the single cardboard blank 200 shown in Figure 2.

The reference numerals used in Figure 2 correspond to those used in Figure 1 such that each panel of the blank has been labelled with the reference numeral used to refer to the wall, flap or tab formed by that panel in the assembled container. The blank thus comprises a box front panel 14, a box bottom panel 22 and a box back panel 10. It further comprises a box outer left side panel 16a depending from the front panel 14 and a box inner left panel 16b depending from the box back panel 10.

In the assembled container 2, the box outer left side panel 16a overlies the box inner left panel 16b to form the box left side wall 16. It further comprises a box outer right side panel 18a depending from the front panel 14 and a box inner right panel 18b depending from the box back panel 10. In the assembled container 2, the box outer right side panel 18a overlies the box inner right panel 18b to form the box right side wall 18.

The blank further comprises a box dust flap 46 depending from the box inner right side panel 18b which is attached to the inside of the box bottom panel 22 in the assembled container 2. The lid is similarly formed from lid back panel 30, lid top panel 32, lid front panel 24, lid inner left side panel 26b, lid outer left side panel 26a, left lid dust flap 48, lid inner right side panel 28b, lid outer right side panel 28a and right lid dust flap 50. An additional flap 52 extends from the lid front wall 24 and is folded inward by 180 degrees to form with the fold line the lower edge of the lid front wall 24. In the lower left corner of box back wall 10 the panels of the hatch 34 are arranged. The lines of perforation are indicated by bold lines. The hatch dust flap 54, depending from the hatch inner side panel 36b is attached to the hatch bottom panel 38 in the assembled container 2. In the embodiment of the container in Figure 1 , the surface area of the hatch dust flap 54 is smaller than the hatch bottom panel 38, such that it does not protrude beyond the hatch bottom panel 38. The hatch outer side panel 36a overlies the hatch inner side panel 36b as described above with reference to Figure 1a.

In order to form the container 2, the blank 200 is assembled around a bundle of cigarettes and the assembled container 2 is then overwrapped with a transparent film. These steps may be carried out using conventional methods and machinery. The hinge lid container 302 shown in Figure 3 is of a similar overall construction to the container 2 shown in Figure 1. The hatch 334 of container 300 further comprises a hatch front wall (not shown) and a hatch back wall 304. In Figure 3, the surface area of the hatch dust flap 354 is larger than the hatch bottom panel 38, such that it protrudes beyond the hatch bottom panel 38. This section is snugly slid under the box bottom wall into the container 302 to retain the hatch 334 in its closed position once the perforation lines are broken.

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods comprising: a box comprising a box front wall, a box back wall, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall and a second box side wall; a lid comprising a lid front wall, a lid back wall, a lid top wall, a first lid side wall and a second lid side wall, wherein the lid is hinged to the box along a first hinge line extending between the lid back wall and the box back wall and wherein the top of the container is openable by the Nd; and a hatch comprising a hatch side wall and a hatch bottom wall, wherein the hatch is hinged to the box along a second hinge line extending either across the first box side wall or across the box bottom wall, wherein the bottom of the container is openable by the hatch, and wherein at least one wall of the hatch comprises two layers of material, an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein the outer layer has a smaller surface area than the inner layer.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the lid is defined by cut lines in the container and the hatch is defined by lines of weakness in the container.

3. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the hatch further comprises a hatch front wall, wherein the hatch front wall is detachably connected to the box front wall, and a hatch back wall, wherein the hatch back wall is detachably connected to the box back wall.

4. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the box bottom wall or first box side wall includes a cut-out adjacent a wall of the hatch.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the hatch comprises a closing edge that abuts with an edge of the box when the hatch is closed and wherein the hatch further comprises a retention flap that extends beyond the closing edge into the box when the hatch is closed.

6. A container according to any preceding claim formed from a single laminar blank.

7. A container to according to any preceding claim, wherein the container comprises smoking articles and wherein the smoking articles may be removed from the container through the lid or through the hatch.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the smoking articles are filter cigarettes.