EP2423128B1

EP2423128B1 - Package for tobacco

Info

Publication number: EP2423128B1
Application number: EP10008951.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paul Jenkins; Paul Martin; Marja Van Luyben; Regine Wolfgramm
Original assignee: Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH; HF and PhF Reemtsma GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH; HF and PhF Reemtsma GmbH and Co
Priority date: 2010-08-27
Filing date: 2010-08-27
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-27
Also published as: EP2617663A1; PL2617663T3; WO2012025194A1; JP2013540653A; EP2620379A1; PL2423128T3; ES2413386T3; JP5714707B2; ES2572529T3; EP2617663B1; PL2620379T3; EP2423128A1; HUE029423T2; NZ606778A; ES2531269T3; CA2809560A1; EP2620379B1

Description

The invention relates to a package for tobacco, in particular for loose tobacco used for self-making or rolling cigarettes.
A conventional package for loose tobacco is designed as a soft pouch with a flap for closing the access opening of the pouch.
The object of the invention is to create a package for tobacco which has an appearance or design much different from that of a conventional pouch and which can provide additional options for improving usefulness, accessibility to the tobacco and freshness.
This object is achieved by a package for tobacco as defined in the independent claims. Advantageous versions of the invention follow from the dependent claims.
In the following, the invention is described in more detail by means of drawings. The figures show in

Figure 1: isometric views of a first embodiment of the package for tobacco not belonging to the invention, i.e. in part (a) with a locking lid in a locking position, in part (b) with the locking lid in an unlocking position, and in part (c) with a flap folded to an opened position and allowing access to a receptacle,
Figure 2: isometric views of a second embodiment of the package for tobacco according to the invention, i.e. in part (a) with a lid in a closed position, in part (b) with the lid partially opened, and in part (c) with the lid fully opened and releasing a front wall of a receptacle,
Figure 3: isometric views of a third embodiment of the package for tobacco according to the invention, i.e. in part (a) with a lid in a closed position, in part (b) with the lid partially opened, in part (c) with the lid fully opened and releasing a front wall of a receptacle, and in part (d) as in part (c), but viewed from a different direction,
Figure 4: isometric views of a forth embodiment of the package for tobacco not belonging to the invention, i.e. in part (a) with a box-shaped receptacle slid into a closing structure into a closed position, in part (b) with the closing structure in a partially opened position, in part (c) with the receptacle moved out of the closing structure, and in part (d) as in part (c), but with a fresh-keeping foil being removed,
Figure 5: isometric views of a fifth embodiment of the package for tobacco not belonging to the invention, i.e. in part (a) with a box-shaped receptacle slid into a closing structure into a closed position, in part (b) as in part (a), but viewed from a different direction, in part (c) with the closing structure in an opened position, and in part (d) with the receptacle moved out of the closing structure, and
Figure 6: isometric views of a sixth embodiment of the package for tobacco not belonging to the invention, i.e. in part (a) with a receptacle having two partitions slid into a closing structure into a closed position, in part (b) with the closing structure exposing one of the partitions, in part (c) with the closing structure moved relative to the receptacle into the opposite direction and exposing the other partition including its sub-partitions, and in part (d) with the receptacle moved out of the closing structure.

Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a package for tobacco by means of three isometric views, i.e. Figure 1(a), Figure 1(b) and Figure 1(c).
The package 100 comprises a box-shaped receptacle 110 having a front wall 112, a rear wall 114, a first major lateral wall 116, a second major lateral wall 117, a first minor lateral wall 118 and a second minor lateral wall 119. In the front wall 112 of the receptacle 110, there is provided an access opening 120. The total area of the access opening 120 is smaller than the area defined by the outer edges of the front wall 112.
The inner faces of the receptacle 110 are covered by a fresh-keeping foil 122, which extends somewhat beyond the edges of the access opening 120 such that it is visible in Figure 1(c).
The access opening 120 can be closed by means of a flap 130. The flap 130 is best seen in Figure 1(c) in which it is fully unfolded.
The flap 130 is connected to the receptacle 110 via a hinge line 131 located at the side of the first major lateral wall 116, i.e., in the embodiment, at its common edge with the rear wall 114. The flap 130 comprises a first lateral panel 132, to which, via a fold line 133, a main panel 134 is connected. The main panel 134 has about the size of the front wall 112. Via another fold line 135, a second lateral panel 136 is connected to the main panel 134 of the flap 130.
The main panel 134 is reinforced by a reinforcement structure 138 made of heavy cardboard. Alternatively, a soft sealing pad could be used instead of the reinforcement structure 138.
A conventional cigarette paper booklet 140 comprising a foldable cover 142 and a plurality of cigarette papers is fixed to the outer side of the second lateral panel 136 of the flap 130, see Figure 1(c).
Moreover, the package 100 includes a locking lid 150 comprising a main wall 152 as well as four side walls 154, 155, 156 and 157. The locking lid 150 is swivelably connected to the rear wall 114 of the receptacle 110 via a hinge line 158 located at the free edge of side wall 155. The distance between the hinge line 158 and the common edge between the rear wall 114 and the second major lateral wall 117 is smaller than the height of the side wall 155 (measured perpendicular to the main wall 152 of the locking lid 150). Thus, a cavity is formed between the main wall 152 of the locking lid 150 and the second major lateral wall 117 of the receptacle 110, when the locking lid 150 is in the closed or locked position shown in Figure 1(a). In this cavity, the cigarette paper booklet 140 is accommodated.
In the embodiment, the package 100 is made from cardboard blanks which are folded and glued via tabs provided in the blanks. Other materials, like plastic materials, are conceivable as well. As already mentioned, the tobacco accommodated in the receptacle 110 is kept fresh by means of the fresh-keeping foil 122. In an alternative embodiment, the fresh-keeping foil 122 is replaced by a fresh-keeping coating applied to the inner face of the receptacle 110, and instead of the cardboard reinforcement structure 138 a pad is used, which can largely seal the access opening 120 and also strengthen the package 100. Alternatively, a peelable fresh-keeping foil covering the access opening 120 of the receptacle 110 is used to provide freshness, which can also be resealable. In this case, the resealability may be accomplished by a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the edge area of the access opening 120.
In Figure 1(a), the closing structure consisting of the flap 130 and the locking lid 150 is in a closed position. Because of its structure comprising four side walls 154, 155, 156 and 157, the locking lid 150 firmly locks the folded flap 130 when in the closed position.
In Figure 1(b), the locking lid has been swivelled to an unlocking position, in which the cigarette paper booklet 140 is exposed. In that state, a user can take a single cigarette paper from the cigarette paper booklet 140 and prepare for rolling a cigarette.
In the next step, the user can unfold the flap 130, until the package 100 assumes the final state shown in Figure 1(c). Now, the user can conveniently take tobacco from the receptacle 110 via the exposed access opening 120 and finish the rolling procedure of the cigarette. Finally, the folding and swivelling actions are reversed, until the initial state shown in Figure 1(a) is assumed again.
Another embodiment of a package for tobacco is shown in the isometric views of Figure 2, i.e. in Figure 2(a), Figure 2(b) and Figure 2(c).
In this embodiment, the package 200 comprises a receptacle 210 having a front wall 212, a rear wall 214, a first lateral wall 216, a second lateral wall 217 and a bottom wall 218. Opposite to the bottom wall 218, there is provided an access opening 220.
The size of the access opening 220 can be increased by swivelling the front wall 212 away from the rear wall 214. To this end, the front wall 212 is connected to the lateral walls 216 and 217 via gusset- like extensions 222, 223 and 224, 225, respectively, see Figure 2(c). The front wall 212 can be swivelled about a hinge line 226 which is located in the region of the bottom wall 218, but not exactly at an edge of the bottom wall 218, such that a fixed front panel 228 is formed. When the front wall 212 is swivelled about the hinge line 226, the gusset- like extensions 222, 223, 224, 225 fold in a fan-like manner.
Moreover, a top panel 230 is foldably connected to the top edge of the front wall 212 via a hinge line 232. In the front wall 212, there is provided a tab 234, which protrudes to the outside and extends downwardly, i.e. to the right side in Figure 2(b).
The package 200 comprises a closing structure designed as a lid 240. The lid 240 includes a top wall 242 and a front wall 244 and is connected to the top edge of the rear wall 214 via a hinge line 246. For stabilizing the shape of the lid 240, two triangular lateral walls 248 and 249 are provided.
When not used, the lid 240 of the package 200 is in the closed position shown in Figure 2(a). In this position, the lid 240 is secured by means of the tab or claw 234 (see Figure 2(b)), which interacts with an inner brim 250 (a back-folded flap at the inner side of the front wall 244 of the lid 240 forming an engagement edge 252, see Figure 2(c)). The lid 240 secures the front wall 212 in its resting position shown in Figure 2(a).
When a consumer wants to take out tobacco from the package 200, he or she opens the lid 240, which provides a click noise when the tab 234 is released, see Figure 2(b). Finally, the consumer unfolds the front wall 212, see Figure 2(c), such that a large access opening 220 for easy removal of tobacco is obtained.
To close the package 200, the actions described before are reversed.
The embodiment of the package for tobacco illustrated in Figure 3 is similar to that shown in Figure 2.
In Figure 3, the package 300 comprises a receptacle 310 comprising a foldable front wall 312, a rear wall 314, a first lateral wall 316, a second lateral wall 317, a bottom wall 318 and an access opening 320 opposite to the bottom wall 318.
The size of the access opening 320 can be increased by swivelling the front wall 312 away from the rear wall 314. In this embodiment, gusset- like extensions 322, 323, 324 and 325 do not extend up to the upper edge of the front wall 312 and the upper edges of the first lateral wall 316 and the second lateral wall 317, respectively. The front wall 312 can be swivelled about a hinge line 326 at the upper edge of a fixed front panel 328, close to the bottom wall 318.
In the embodiment according to Figure 3, two inserts 330 and 331 are glued to the inside of the receptacle 310 in order to increase the height of the first lateral wall 316 and the second lateral wall 317.
The closing structure of the package 300 is formed by a lid 340, which comprises a top wall 342, a front wall 344, a rear wall 346, a lateral wall 348 and another lateral wall 349. The lid 340 is swivelably connected to the receptacle 310 via a hinge line 350 located at the lower edge of the rear wall 346 of the lid 340 and the upper edge of the rear wall 314 of the receptacle 310. Because of its rigid structure and the presence of the inserts 330 and 331, the lid 340 secures itself when in its closed position, such that there is no need for a tab like tab 234 in the embodiment of Figure 2. However, an optional tab or another locking means can enhance the stability of the package in the closed position of the lid and can also indicate the action of opening or closing the package by a noise. General examples of suitable securing devices are discussed further above.
The package 300 is used in the same way as the package 200. Figure 3(a) shows the lid 340 in its closed position. In Figure 3(b) it is partially open, and the front wall 312 is partially unfolded. In the views according to Figure 3(c) and Figure 3(d), the front wall 312 is almost fully swivelled away from the rear wall 314, such that an easy access to the interior of the package 300 is possible.
The packages 200 and 300 can be made from cardboard blanks, similar to the package 100. Although not explicitly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tobacco contained in the packages 200 and 300 can be kept fresh by means of a foil and/or a coating of the materials of the packages, similar to package 100.
A fourth embodiment of a package for tobacco is illustrated in Figure 4, which shows four isometric views of the package 400, i.e. Figure 4(a), Figure 4(b), Figure 4(c) and Figure 4(d).
The package 400 comprises a box-shaped receptacle 410 having a front wall 412, a rear wall 414, a first major lateral wall 416, a second major lateral wall 417, a first minor lateral wall 418 and a second minor lateral wall 419. An access opening 420 is arranged at the front wall 412, the area of the access opening being somewhat smaller than the total area of the front wall 412.
The access opening 420 can be covered by a fresh-keeping foil 422. An edge area of the fresh-keeping foil 422 is attached to a first attachment area 424 located at the front wall 412 of the receptacle 410 close to the second major lateral wall 417, see Figure 4(c) and Figure 4(d). The opposite edge of the fresh-keeping foil 422 is fixed at a second attachment area 425 located on the inside of a closing structure 430.
The closing structure 430 comprises a front wall 432, a rear wall 434, a first minor lateral wall 438 and a second minor lateral wall 439. The receptacle 410 can be slid into the closing structure 430 such that a closed position is assumed, in which the closing structure 430 surrounds the receptacle 410, see Figure 4(a), and the fresh-keeping foil 422 covers the access opening 420.
In order to expose the access opening 420, the closing structure 430 is moved with respect to the receptacle 410. Figure 4(b) shows an intermediate position. During this movement, the fresh-keeping foil 422 folds back automatically, thereby releasing the access opening 420.
A stop structure prevents the closing structure 430 from being separated from the receptacle 410 after transfer to the opened position. In Figures 4(c) and 4(d), this stop structure has been latched out in order to show the receptacle 410 and the closing structure 430 in a separated state and to permit a view at the parts of the stop structure. In Figure 4(c), the fresh-keeping foil 422 is still connecting the receptacle 410 and the closing structure 430, whereas in Figure 4(d), the fresh-keeping foil 422 has been removed for providing a better view.
The stop structure comprises a tab 440 cut from the blank forming the receptacle 410 in an area of a cutout 442. The tab 440 interacts with a flap 444 folded back from an edge of the rear wall 434 of the closing structure 430, see in particular Figure 4(d). When the receptacle 410 is inserted into the closing structure 430 and is moved towards the opened position, the tab 440 grips into the flap 444, and the stop structure stops further movement when the tip of the tab 440 reaches the fold line of flap 444.
In the closed position, the fresh-keeping foil 422 covers the access opening 420 and prevents the receptacle 410 from moving out of the closing structure 430 in the opposite direction. In a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the closing structure 430 comprises a major lateral wall which provides a stop when the receptacle 410 is fully slid into the closed position. This major lateral wall can be provided with a cutout for pushing onto the receptacle 410 when the package 400 is to be opened.
Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the package which is very similar to the embodiment of Figure 4. The package 500 in Figure 5, however, is opened by moving the receptacle in parallel to the major lateral walls instead of in parallel to the minor lateral walls.
To summarize, package 500 comprises a receptacle 510 having a front wall 512, a rear wall 514, a first major lateral wall 516, a second major lateral wall 517, a first minor lateral wall 518 and a second minor lateral wall 519. An access opening 520 is automatically covered and uncovered by a fresh-keeping foil 522, fixed at a first attachment area 524 located at the front wall 512 of the receptacle 10 and at a second attachment area 525 located at the inner side of a closing structure 530, when the closing structure 530 is moved with respect to receptacle 510 to the closed position as shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b) or the opened position, as shown in Figure 5(c), respectively.
The closing structure 530 comprises a front wall 532, a rear wall 534, a first major lateral wall 536 and a second major lateral wall 537. Moreover, the closing structure 530 includes a minor lateral wall 538 having a cutout zone 539, see Figure 5(b).
In Figure 5(d), the receptacle 510 has been separated from the closing structure 530 in order to allow a view on the stop structure comprising a tab 540 formed in an optional cutout 542 of the rear wall 514 of the receptacle 510 and a flap 544 folded back at the rear wall 534 of the closing structure 530.
The embodiments according to Figure 4 and Figure 5 can be folded from cardboard blanks. As before, the moisture of the loose tobacco accommodated in the packages 400 and 500 can be largely preserved by fresh-keeping foils (also inside the receptacle; not shown in the figures) or by an appropriate coating or by the choice of material for the receptacle and the closing structure.
Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of a package for tobacco, here designated by reference numeral 600. The basic concept of the package 600 is similar to that of package 400, but the receptacle can be slid with respect to the closing structure, in parallel to the minor lateral walls, in both directions such that two partitions of the receptacle can be exposed independent from each other.
The package 600 comprises a receptacle 610, in which the total front wall is designed as access opening 612. Further, the receptacle 610 includes a rear wall 614, a first major lateral wall 616, a second major lateral wall 617, a first minor lateral wall 618 and a second minor lateral wall 619.
The receptacle 610 is subdivided by a partitioning wall 620 (running in parallel to the first major lateral wall 616) into a first partition 621 and a second partition 622. The first partition 621 is designed to accommodate loose tobacco. The second partition 622 is subdivided by further partitioning walls 624 and 625 in order to store, e.g., a cigarette paper booklet and other small items a consumer likes when self-preparing cigarettes. The second partition 622 can also be used to accommodate prepared cigarettes. To this end, a holder 626 (designed with a profiled area able to clamp individual cigarettes or filter tips) is fixed to the inner side of the second major lateral wall 617. In the embodiment, the second major lateral wall 617 is foldable about a hinge line located at the common edge with the rear wall 614 of the receptacle 610. Two side extensions 627 of the second major lateral wall 617, which have arcuate upper edges, slide between the minor lateral walls 618, 619 and respective folded-over inner parts of the minor lateral walls 618, 619.
The partitioning wall 620 and the further partitioning walls 624, 625 may comprise rounded cutouts 628 to facilitate the access to the stored items with the consumer's fingers. In the embodiment, a similar cutout 628 is provided at the first major lateral wall 616 of the receptacle 610. The second major lateral wall 617 comprises a pulling tab 629 which even allows to open the compartment comprising the holder 626 without moving the receptacle 610 relative to the closing structure described in the next paragraph.
In the closed position, a closing structure 630 surrounds the receptacle 610, see Figure 6(a). The closing structure 630 comprises a front wall 632, a rear wall 634, a first minor lateral wall 638 and a second minor lateral wall 639, but no major lateral walls.
Figure 6(b) shows the opened position, after the receptacle 610 has been slid to one side in order to expose the first partition 621. In Figure 6(c), the receptacle 610 has been moved into the opposite direction into a second opened position in which the items in the second partition 622 are presented to the consumer.
In the state shown in Figure 6(d), the receptacle 610 has been separated from the closing structure 630. In a variant of this embodiment, a stop structure is provided which blocks a further movement of the closing structure 630 with respect to the receptacle 610 beyond the opened position shown in Figure 6(b) and the second opened position shown in Figure 6(c), respectively. For example, the stop structure can comprise a protrusion at one or both of the minor lateral walls 618, 619 of the receptacle 610. At the end of each travel position of the receptacle 610 (i.e. when the opened position or the second opened position has been reached), this protrusion abuts at the end edge of a tab folded back from the respective side of the adjacent first or second, respectively, minor lateral wall 638, 639 of the closing structure 630.
For the embodiment according to Figure 6, similar materials or fresh-keeping means can be used as for the other embodiments.
The embodiments described above are to be understood as examples. Many other embodiments are conceivable as well, for example embodiments which apply the elements and structural features of the embodiments explained in detail in a different combination.

Claims

A package for tobacco, comprising
- a receptacle (210; 310) adapted to accommodate loose tobacco and including a front wall (212; 312), a rear wall (214; 314), a first (216; 316) and a second (217; 317) lateral wall opposite to each other, and a bottom wall (218; 318), an access opening (220; 320) being provided opposite to the bottom wall (218; 318), wherein the front wall (212; 312) is connected to foldable gusset-like extensions (222-225; 322-325) of the lateral walls (216, 217; 316, 317) and is swivelable away from the rear wall (214; 314), about a hinge line (226; 326) in the region of the bottom wall (218; 318, but not exactly at an edge of the bottom wall (218, 318), such that a fixed front panel (228, 328) is formed, from a resting position to a use position for increase of the access opening (220; 320), and

- a lid (240; 340) including a top wall (242; 342) and a front wall (244; 344), wherein the lid (240; 340) is hingedly connected to the receptacle (210; 310) in the region of the rear wall (214; 314) of the receptacle (210; 310) and is swivelable from a closed position, in which the lid (240; 340) closes the access opening (220; 320) and secures the front wall (212; 312) of the receptacle (210; 310) in the resting position, to an opened position, in which the lid (240; 340) releases the front wall (212; 312) of the receptacle (210; 310).
Package according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (240) is hingedly connected to the receptacle (210) along a hinge line (246) located at an edge of the top wall (242) of the lid (240) and in that the lid (240) includes two lateral walls (248, 249) stabilising the front wall (244) of the lid (240).
Package according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a top panel (230) is foldably connected to an upper edge of the front wall (212) of the receptacle (210).
Package according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (340) includes a rear wall (346) and two lateral walls (348, 349) connecting the rear wall (346) of the lid (340) to the front wall (344) of the lid (340), wherein the lid (340) is hingedly connected to the receptacle (310) along a hinge line (350) located at an edge of the rear wall (346) of the lid (340).
Package according to claim 4, characterised in that the height of the front wall (312) of the receptacle (310) and/or the height of the rear wall (314) of the receptacle (310) is smaller than the height of the lateral walls (316, 330, 317, 331) of the receptacle (310), the heights being measured perpendicular to the bottom wall (318) of the receptacle (310).
Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, characterised by a securing device (234, 252) adapted to secure the lid (240; 340) in the locked or closed position, wherein preferably the securing device comprises one of the following designs: magnetic device, hook/hook device, hook/loop device, push button device, adhesive-tape device, tab/slit device, claw/brim device (234, 252).
Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a fresh-keeping foil is provided in the receptacle (210; 310) and/or at at least a part of the access opening (220; 320) of the receptacle (210; 310).
Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a re-sealable fresh-keeping foil is provided at at least a part of the access opening (220; 320) of the receptacle (210; 310).
Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, characterised by a sound-producing device (234, 250) adapted to produce a sound when the receptacle (210) is moved relative to the closing structure or lid (240), wherein the sound-producing device (234, 250) preferably comprises at least one tab (234) protruding from the receptacle (210) or from the closing structure or lid, said tab (234) being adapted to interfere with a counterpart (250) during the relative motion to produce a sound.
Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 9, characterised by at least one bevelled or rounded edge.