Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
  • B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
  • B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
  • B65D85/1018—Container formed by a flexible material, i.e. soft-packages
  • B65D85/1027—Opening devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
  • B65D5/70—Break-in flaps, or members adapted to be torn-off, to provide pouring openings
  • B65D5/708—Separate tearable flexible elements covering a discharge opening of a container, e.g. adhesive tape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
  • B65D75/52—Details
  • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
  • B65D75/5827—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion
  • B65D75/5833—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall
  • B65D75/5838—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall combined with separate fixed tearing means, e.g. tabs

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a package for tobacco products, and in particular, for smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and loose tobacco. For convenience, these will be referred to as "cigarettes" in this specification.
• the package of the present invention is a soft cup package which is re- sealable.
• Soft cup packages are well known in the art, for example, from US 4,776,461.
• a soft cup package comprises a soft cup, typically made of paper, which is open at the top.
• a charge of cigarettes is surrounded by a wrapping, typically of metal foil, and is located in the soft cup.
• the soft cup pack may have a conventional closing strip or revenue stamp extending over the open top of the soft cup.
• the closing strip or revenue stamp may or may not be re-attachable once opened.
• the closing strip or revenue stamp may prevent cigarettes from falling from the package, but does not provide for the re-sealing of the package. Re-sealing of the package is particularly useful in hot countries where humidity can affect the quality of the cigarettes.
• the cigarettes may deteriorate.
• WO 02/066341 describes an enclosure surrounding cigarettes, which can be re- sealed.
• the enclosure is not a soft cup package having an outer cup located around an inner enclosure.
• the re-sealable cover is located on the inner enclosure.
• the present invention provides, in a first aspect, a soft cup package for tobacco products, comprising: a cup-shaped outer container having an open face;
• the soft cup package is re-sealable to protect the tobacco products after the initial opening of the packet.
• the present invention provides, in a second aspect, a method of applying a moveable cover to a soft cup package containing tobacco products, wherein the soft cup package comprises a cup-shaped outer container, and an inner enclosure located in the outer container and surrounding the tobacco products, the method
• the present invention provides, in a third aspect, a method of manufacturing a soft cup package containing tobacco products, comprising: forming an inner enclosure surrounding tobacco products; forming a cup-shaped outer container around the inner enclosure; the cup-shaped container having an open face; providing a moveable cover connected to a first side of the outer container; applying an adhesive arranged to releasably secure the cover to a second side of the outer container with the cover extendable over the open face, wherein the cover is extends across the majority of the width of the open face.
• a soft cup package is manufactured which is re-sealable to protect the tobacco products after the initial opening of the packet.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the package according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a sealed state;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in an open state;
• Figure 3 is a plan view of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further part of the first embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the package according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a sealed state
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of the package according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a partially unfolded state
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of the part of the package of Figure 6 in a folded state
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of the package according to the third embodiment of the present invention in a closed state.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of the package according to the third embodiment of the present invention in an open state.
• Figure 1 shows a soft cup package 1 for tobacco products, preferably cigarettes.
• the soft cup package 1 has a soft cup 2 forming an outer layer.
• the soft cup 2 is made of paper, and is open at the top.
• the soft cup has two major faces (front face 20, rear face 22), two side faces 24 and an end face (bottom face 28).
• An aperture or open face 26 is formed at the top of the soft cup 2, in place of a top end face.
• a smoking article charge is located in the soft cup 2.
• the smoking article charge comprises an enclosure 4 of flexible material wrapped around the tobacco products.
• the smoking article charge has two major (front and rear) faces, two side faces and two (top and bottom) end faces. Tobacco products can be removed through a top face of the smoking article charge, and through the aligned aperture 26 of the soft cup 2.
• the soft cup package 1 has a moveable cover 6 extending over the aperture 26 at the open top of the soft cup, and over the smoking article charge.
• the cover 6 is releasably attached to an exterior surface of the front face 20 of the soft cup 2.
• a permanently tacky adhesive is located on the front face 20 and/or on the cover 6 to allow the cover to be repeatedly opened and re-sealed.
• the permanently tacky adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
• the cover 6 is provided with a graspable - A - tab 8 which is not provided with adhesive. The tab 8 can be grasped by a user to open the cover 6.
• Figure 2 shows the cover 6 in an open state allowing withdrawal of a cigarette.
• the inner enclosure 4 extends over the open face of the outer container.
• the inner enclosure 4 is openable to allow access to the tobacco products through the open face of the outer container.
• the enclosure 4 comprises a plurality of flaps of material extending over the open face.
• the enclosure 4 has a top face formed by rear flap 10, front flap 12 and side flaps 16. The flaps 10,12,16 are folded against each other, and are not adhered together.
• a part of the inner enclosure 4 extending over the open face is attached to the moveable cover 6, such that opening of the moveable cover 6 opens said part of the inner enclosure 4.
• the part of the enclosure 4 attached to the moveable cover is a flap extending adjacent the side of the outer container to which the cover is connected.
• the rear flap 10 is connected to an interior surface of the cover 6. As the cover 6 is lifted, the rear flap 10 is also lifted, away from the front flap 12. A tobacco product can be easily withdrawn between the rear and front flaps 10,12.
• the rear flap 10 is preferably connected to the cover 6 by a permanent adhesive, and preferably by a line of adhesive 18 extending laterally across the cover 6 and rear flap 10. The permanent adhesive is sufficiently strong to permanently attach the cover 6 to the soft cup 2.
• Figure 3 shows the enclosure 4, without the soft cup 2, in a closed state
• the enclosure 4 may be constructed as conventionally known from a blank, and may optionally have a line of adhesive 18 on the rear flap 10 for attachment to the cover 6.
• the enclosure 4 is formed from a single sheet of material, folded around the tobacco products. The edges of the material overlap, and are not sealed or joined together.
• Figure 4 shows the cover 6 of the first embodiment of the invention.
• the cover 6 is affixed to the rear face 22 of the soft cup, preferably with a permanent adhesive.
• a first portion 30 of the cover is coated with the permanent adhesive in order to connect the cover to the soft cup 2.
• a second portion 32 of the cover 6 is not provided with adhesive.
• the second portion 32 extends over the top face, access aperture 26, of the soft cup.
• a third portion 34 is provided with a re-sealable, removable, permanently tacky, adhesive.
• the third portion 34 is arranged to releasably attach to the front face of the soft cup 2.
• the tab 8 forms part of the third portion 34, and is not provided with adhesive.
• the cover 6, and in particular the second portion 32, is dimensioned to extend over the majority of the width of the access opening 26 formed by the open face of the soft cup.
• the second portion 32 extends laterally across substantially the whole width of the soft cup 2.
• the cover 6 preferably extends slightly less than the whole width of the soft cup, and at the lateral extremities, the access opening 26 is covered by the underlying side flaps 16 and optionally also the rear and front flaps 10,12.
• the second portion 32 may be wider than the first portion 30.
• the second portion 32 may have permanently tacky adhesive extending along the interior surface, adjacent the lateral edges, and preferably extending from the portion 30 to the portion 34 on each side. Such adhesive is configured to releasably secure the cover to the top face of the inner enclosure, and so improve the seal around the tobacco products.
• the cup-shaped outer container 2 and enclosure 4 forming a known soft-cup package are conventional, and can be made using the same manufacturing apparatus known for manufacturing a soft-cup package without a cover 6.
• the cover 6 is applied to the cup-shaped outer container 2 after the outer container 2 and enclosure 4 have been formed.
• Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that no modification is required to the manufacturing apparatus for forming the outer container 2 and enclosure 4.
• the cover 6 can be readily affixed to the finished conventional soft-cup package, to form the re-sealable soft-cup package of the present invention.
• the outer container (soft cup) 2 and cover 6 therefore comprise two parts affixed together.
• Figure 5 shows part of a package 50 forming a second embodiment of the present invention.
• Package 50 is substantially the same as the first embodiment of the package, unless otherwise described.
• Package 50 has a moveable cover 56 extending over a top face of the soft cup.
• the cover 56 comprises a covering part integrally formed with a rear major face 52 of the outer soft cup.
• the moveable cover 56 is releasably connected to a front major face 66 with a re-sealing strip 60.
• the re- sealing strip 60 is affixed to the moveable cover 56 with a permanent adhesive located on portion 64.
• the re-sealing strip 60 releasably attaches to the front face 66 of the soft cup with a permanently tacky adhesive located at portion 62.
• the re- sealing strip 60 has a graspable tab 58 which is not provided with adhesive. The tab 58 can be lifted in order to release the re-sealing strip 60 from the front face 66, and lift the movable cover 56.
• the cover 56 comprises two parts affixed together.
• the cover 56 comprises a covering portion extending over the open face of the outer container, and a fastening portion 60 attached to the covering portion.
• the covering portion forms a seal over the top face of the soft cup.
• An interior surface of the movable cover 56 is preferably attached to a rear flap of the inner enclosure, as described for the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.
• the movable cover and rear flap may be connected by a line 68 of permanent adhesive.
• Pressure sensitive adhesive may extend along the interior surface of the cover 56, adjacent the lateral edges. Such adhesive is configured to releasably secure the cover to the top face of the inner enclosure, and so improve the seal around the tobacco products.
• the re-sealing strip 60 is described as separate from, and affixed to, the moveable cover 56.
• the re-sealing strip may be integrally formed with the movable cover.
• a portion of the moveable cover 56 can be releasably attached to the front face of the package with a permanently tacky adhesive on the moveable cover and/or on a corresponding part of the front face.
• a further portion of the moveable cover is not provided with adhesive, and acts as a graspable tab, analogously with tab 8 or tab 58.
• FIGS. 6 to 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
• a soft cup package 70 has an outer container 72 in the form of a soft cup, in which is located an enclosure surrounding a charge of cigarettes.
• the package 70 has a cover 66 moveable over a top face, analogous to the first embodiment.
• the cover 66 is affixed to an exterior surface of a rear face of an outer container, soft cup 72.
• the cover 66 is initially in a folded state, folded against an exterior surface of the rear of the package 70, and does not initially extend over the top face of the package 70.
• the cover 66 is folded onto itself against the side of the outer container to which the cover is permanently connected.
• the cover 66 can be unfolded into an extended state to form a cover analogous to the cover 6 of the first embodiment.
• Figure 6 shows the cover 66 in a partially folded state.
• the cover 66 is initially folded into three sections, a first section 73, second section 74 and third section 76.
• the first section is permanently connected to the rear face of the outer container with permanent adhesive in area 80.
• the first and second sections 74,76 are initially located between the first section 73 and the rear face of the outer container, and are thus held against the rear face of the soft cup.
• the cover 66 is folded into three overlying portions, corresponding to the first, second and third sections.
• the second section 74 is preferably not provided with any adhesive.
• the second section 74 may be provided with a permanently tacky adhesive on one or both faces in order to releasably secure the second section to the first and/or third sections 73,76 when the cover 66 is in the folded state.
• the third section is provided with a permanently tacky adhesive over area 82.
• the permanently tacky adhesive is located to releasably secure the cover 66 to a front face 90 of the outer container, when the cover 66 is unfolded. In the folded state, the adhesive on area 82 releasably secures the cover to the side of the outer container to which the cover 66 is permanently connected.
• the third section 76 is provided with a graspable tab 78.
• the graspable tab 78 does not have an adhesive applied, and is arranged to be grasped by the consumer in both the initial, folded, state of the cover and the final, extended, state. In the folded state, the tab 78 extends beyond the open face of the outer container.
• the tab 78 extends upwardly beyond the open face, and substantially parallel to the rear face of the container.
• the outer container may be initially surrounded by an overwrap.
• the overwrap may press the tab 78 against the top face or rear face.
• the tab is preferably configured to revert to the position described above, extending beyond the open face of the soft cup.
• Figure 7 shows the cover 66 in the initial, folded state in which the cover 66 is attached to the outer container 72.
• the tab 78 extends beyond coincident top edges of the first, second, and third sections 73,74,76.
• the first section 73 has an area larger than the second and third sections 74,76.
• the area 80 is on a part of the first section 73 extending beyond the second section, such that the area 80 can adhere directly to the rear face of the outer container 72.
• the first section 73 also extends laterally beyond the first and second sections 74,76.
• the laterally extending portions 84 may be provided with a permanently tacky adhesive, or alternatively, may not be provided with any adhesive.
• Figure 8 shows the package 70 with the cover 66 affixed to the rear face 92 of the cup shaped outer container 72.
• the graspable tab 78 extends beyond a top face 96 of the outer container. Only the inner enclosure extends across the top face 96.
• the inner enclosure 94 surrounds the tobacco products, and extends over the top face whilst the cover 66 is in the folded state.
• the tab 78 is pulled upwardly.
• the first section 73 is securely affixed to the rear face 92, and thus the cover 66 is unfolded.
• the cover 66 then extends over the top face.
• the second section 74 may have permanently tacky adhesive extending along the interior surface, adjacent the lateral edges, and preferably extending from the area 80 to the area 82 on each side. Such adhesive is configured to releasably secure the cover to the top face of the inner enclosure, and so improve the seal around the tobacco products.
• Figure 9 shows the package 70 with the cover 66 unfolded. The tab 78 is brought over the top face 96, and towards the front face 90 until the permanently tacky adhesive on the third section releasably attaches the cover 66 to the front face 90. The cover 66 thus extends over the majority of the width of the top face 96 of the package, and can be used to repeatedly cover the tobacco products 100,
• a further aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a re-sealable soft cup package containing tobacco products.
• the method is applying a moveable cover to a soft cup package which contains tobacco products.
• the soft cup package comprises a cup-shaped outer container, and an inner enclosure located in the outer container and surrounding the tobacco products.
• the soft cup package, including the tobacco products, is already formed when the moveable cover is attached.
• the method comprises affixing the moveable cover to a first side of the outer container.
• a permanently tacky adhesive is preferably provided to a part of the moveable cover, or alternatively to the second side of the outer container.
• the adhesive is arranged to releasably secure the cover to a second side of the outer container.
• the cover extends over the open face, and the cover extends across the majority of the width of the open face.
• the cover may be as described in any of the embodiments above.
• a further aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a soft cup package containing tobacco products, as described in any of the embodiments above.
• the method comprises forming an inner enclosure surrounding tobacco products.
• the inner enclosure is preferably formed by wrapping a blank around the tobacco products.
• a cup-shaped outer container is located around the inner enclosure; the cup-shaped container having an open face.
• the outer container is also preferably formed from a blank, and may be made from paper or other relatively soft material.
• a moveable cover is connected to a first side of the outer container.
• the moveable cover may be integrally formed with the outer container or affixed to the outer container with a permanent adhesive.
• a permanently tacky adhesive is applied to the cover arranged to releasably secure the cover to a second side of the outer container with the cover extending over the open face.
• the cover is extendable across the majority of the width of the access opening.
• any overwrap is initially removed from around the package of any of the embodiment.
• the tab is grasped and used to lift the cover.
• the cover is extended out of its folded position, ready to reseal the package.
• a part of the inner enclosure covering the tobacco products may be lifted with the cover.
• a remaining part, or the required part(s), of the inner enclosure is lifted in order to gain access to the tobacco products.
• One or more tobacco products is withdrawn.
• the package is then resealed by replacing the cover over the top face of the soft cup package, the cover being held in place by the pressure sensitive adhesive.
• the cover extends across the majority of the width of the open face of the soft cup, and the inner enclosure extends over any area not covered by the cover.
• the second embodiment shown in Figure 5 describes the cover 56 integrally formed with the outer container.
• the cover 56 may be attached to an exterior face of the outer container.
• the cover 56 may be attached with a permanent adhesive, as described for the first and third embodiment.
• the cover may be integrally formed with the outer container, and the permanently tacky adhesive may be located directly on the integrally formed cover.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=41171913

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (15)

Families Citing this family (11)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2009
  • 2009-08-26 GB GBGB0914859.4A patent/GB0914859D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2010
  • 2010-08-17 MX MX2012002441A patent/MX342283B/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-08-17 BR BR112012004279A patent/BR112012004279A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-08-17 JP JP2012526123A patent/JP2013503084A/ja active Pending
  • 2010-08-17 EP EP10747482A patent/EP2470448A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-08-17 NZ NZ598397A patent/NZ598397A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-08-17 KR KR1020127007731A patent/KR20120066029A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-08-17 RU RU2012111425/12A patent/RU2012111425A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-08-17 WO PCT/GB2010/051357 patent/WO2011023983A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-08-17 CN CN2010800484298A patent/CN102574629A/zh active Pending
  • 2010-08-17 SG SG2012013058A patent/SG178868A1/en unknown
  • 2010-08-17 CA CA2771966A patent/CA2771966A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-08-17 AU AU2010288302A patent/AU2010288302B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2010-08-27 AR ARP100103135A patent/AR077983A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2012
  • 2012-02-24 CL CL2012000485A patent/CL2012000485A1/es unknown
• 2015
  • 2015-08-07 JP JP2015157016A patent/JP2015231878A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-08-07 JP JP2015157015A patent/JP2015231877A/ja not_active Withdrawn
• 2016
  • 2016-09-30 AR ARP160103007A patent/AR106228A2/es unknown

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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