EP2681131B1

EP2681131B1 - Package for tobacco related articles, multiple pack comprising a plurality of said packages, and blank for manufacturing said package

Info

Publication number: EP2681131B1
Application number: EP11706768.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frederic Savary; Slavomir Novak; Nadja Strehle; Claudia SIEGEL
Original assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd Great Britain
Current assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-04
Filing date: 2011-03-04
Publication date: 2017-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-04
Also published as: EP2681131A1; RU2013144575A; WO2012119611A1; UA107885C2; RU2562500C2

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a package for tobacco related articles and to a multiple pack comprising a plurality of packages for tobacco related articles. Further, the invention relates to a blank for manufacturing a package for tobacco related articles.

BACKGROUND

Tobacco related articles preferably smoking articles like e.g. cigarettes are often contained in disposable packages having a substantially cuboid or parallelepiped shape. Typically, four side walls (e.g. a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall and a right wall) extend from a bottom wall and form together with the bottom wall an outer box leaving an opening at the top side opposite to the bottom wall through which the smoking articles are accessible. The opening is typically covered by a lid that is usually hinged to the rear wall. However, a variety of different packages are known ranging from soft packs to classical cigarette boxes. In the recent time, packages for tobacco related articles departing from the classical cuboid or parallelepiped shape are becoming more and more popular. There are, for example packages having bevelled edges and a diamondlike cross-section, if regarded in a plane substantially perpendicular to a maximum extension of the package. Instead of using bevels for the longitudinal edge portions of the package, the latter may also be provided with rounded edge portions.
Auxiliary items, e.g. a lighter or an ash tray are often desired to be attached to the respective package in order to prevent their loss. A variety of different technical approaches to this problem is known in the prior art. They are ranging from holding frames to hook-and-loop fastener systems (Velcro straps) as exemplarily disclosed in document WO 2011/005855 A1 .
The general idea behind all these approaches is to prevent a loss of one of the two items that are usable with each other. E.g., a loss of the lighter is prevented by attaching it to the cigarette package.
This concept is for example disclosed in GB 2 299 212 A discloses a package that comprises one or magnets. However, the connector disclosed in this prior art document is reusable and therefore detachable and serves to attach a lighter.
However, all of the previously described packages or systems seek to avoid that auxiliary smoking equipment is easily lost and is therefore attached to the respective package.
Furthermore, EP 2 017 179 A1 discloses a package having a magnetic fastener that allows attaching a similar package.
WO 01/53171 A1 discloses a package for tobacco related articles having an outer box comprising a bottom wall and side walls extending from the bottom wall and a magnetic data recording element is non-detachably fixed in the interior space.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package or a multiple pack for tobacco related articles that is itself easily retrievable. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blank for manufacturing such a package.
The object of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of claims 1 and 24.
According to an aspect of the invention, a package for tobacco related articles is provided. The package has an outer box comprising a bottom wall and side walls (e.g. a front wall, a rear wall, a left and a right wall) extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom wall. The outer box encloses an interior space and has an opening that is arranged opposite to the bottom wall or in a side wall of the package. There might be a lid that is hinged to one of the side walls (for example the rear wall) for opening and closing the package. The package further comprises a permanent magnet that is arranged in the interior space and is non-detachably fixed in the interior space.
Advantageously, the permanent magnet may be arranged in close proximity to a longitudinal edge portion of the outer box. The longitudinal edge portion is the region where adjacent walls of the outer box are connected.
A permanent magnet within the meaning of the term may be a conventional solid permanent magnet, a magnetic foil a magnetic paste, e.g. a polymer dispersion comprising magnetic particles or even a stack or arrangement of a plurality of smaller magnets acting together as one permanent magnet.
"Non-detachably" means that the permanent magnet is fixed to the package in such a way that a removal of the magnet is only possible by damaging or destroying the package at least partially.
In order to non-detachably fix the permanent magnet, the permanent magnet may be glued to the package.
Alternatively, the permanent magnet may be contained in a compartment for non-detachable fixation.
Furthermore, a self-adhesive fixation may be used for non-detachably fixing the permanent magnet.
A self-adhesive layer or a self-adhesive tape on the permanent magnet or on a surface of the package may be used for non-detachable fixation.
One or more of the previously mentioned means may be combined for non-detachably fixing the permanent magnet.
Advantageously, the magnet and the package constitute an integral item. This reduces the possibility that the magnet or parts of it may separate from the package.
Advantageously, the package for tobacco related articles is magnetically attachable to a variety of different everyday items, preferably household items, e.g. a refrigerator door, a metallic door frame, a metallic framework of a lamp or a table and is therefore easily retrievable and storable at a preferred place. However, also in other places, e.g. in a car or a boat, there is a variety of different places comprising magnetizable material for attaching the package. Further, it is advantageous that the package is attached to the respective items by using a magnetic force. Especially in contrast to solutions that are known from the prior art (which use, for example an adhesive or glue or the like) the package is detachable without residue or leaving traces. Another advantage is that no counterparts such as a frame or a pad for a hook and loop fastener are necessary.
According to an aspect of the invention, the outer box can have a bevelled edge portion. Advantageously, the package has at least partially a polygonal, hexagonal, octogonal or semi-octagonal or round cross-sectional shape. This cross-sectional shape may relate to a plane substantially perpendicular to a maximum extension of the package. A semi-octagon is an octagon that is half cut and has one plane surface that is perpendicular to the respective neighboring surfaces. The bevelled edge portion defines edges relating to the above mentioned cross-sectional shapes. The permanent magnet may then be non-detachably fixed to the bevelled edge portion of the outer box.
According to an aspect of the invention, the outer box has a round edge portion. The round edge portion may then also relate to the cross-sectional shape in a plane substantially perpendicular to a maximum extension of the package. The permanent magnet may then be non-detachably fixed to the round edge portion of the outer box.
This arrangement of the permanent magnet in the interior space of the outer box of the package allows a bundle of packages to be coupled together. The packages may be attached to each other or the whole bundle may be attached to a third item. Single packages may be removed from or inserted into this bundle while a secure attachment between the single packages can be maintained.
The possibility of attaching a plurality of packages together so as to form a bundle of packages is advantageous for wrapping the bundle. Especially, if cigarette packages may be packed together in order to provide a bundle of cigarette packages, the handling of the bundle of packages during the packing process can be simplified.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the thickness of the wall of the outer box mainly defines the minimum distance between the permanent magnet that is located at the inside surface of the outer box and the respective item. The holding force for magnetically attaching the package to a third item increases with decreasing distance between the permanent magnet and the respective (magnetizable) item to which the package should be attached. The minimum distance causes a maximum holding force and therefore allows a secure attachment of the package.
In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the package further comprises an inner frame that is arranged in the interior space. The permanent magnet may then be arranged between the inner frame and the outer box. Advantageously, the inner frame is adjacent to an article compartment for accommodating tobacco related articles (for example cigarettes). The inner frame may then cover the permanent magnet completely so as to separate the permanent magnet from the article compartment.
Packages for tobacco related articles, e.g. a packet of cigarettes often comprise an inner frame for retaining the lid and holding cigarettes. The frame forms a collar which may provide an abutment or contact surface for the lid together with walls of the outer box. Advantageously, this inner frame may be applied for covering the permanent magnets. The permanent magnet is then kept out of reach of the user and not accessible, neither from the outside of the package nor from its inside.
Advantageously, the inner frame may extend over an entire length of the article compartment in a direction of a maximum extent of the side walls. This design of the inner frame and outer box allows omitting further auxiliary parts (blanks or parts of it etc) for covering and holding the permanent magnet. This is advantageous for a cost effective production of the package.
Furthermore, the inner frame may be configured so as to cover a bottom surface of the article compartment.
The inner frame may also be configured to cover at least the entire length of one of the side walls or front walls.
According to another advantageous embodiment, an edge portion of the inner frame facing the edge portion of the outer box may be bevelled and the permanent magnet may then be non-detachably fixed to the edge portion of the inner frame. This can be advantageous for an outer box having bevelled edge portions aligned with the edge portions of the inner frame. Furthermore, the outer box may have rounded edge portions aligned with the bevelled edge portions of the inner frame
Attaching the permanent magnet to the outer box or to the inner frame may be advantageous as the permanent magnet or magnets may be attached to a respective blank portion before manufacturing (folding and assembling) the package. Since an attachment of the permanent magnet to a rounded edge portion may be technically challenging, fixing the magnet at the inner frame can be advantageous.
For an outer box having a bevelled edge portion, a dimension of said edge portion in a direction that is transverse to a direction of a maximum extent of the side walls can be smaller than a dimension of the bevelled edge portion of the inner frame in the same transverse direction. In other words, the chamfered or bevelled edge of the inner frame along the longitudinal edge portion of the inner frame may be narrower than the chamfered or bevelled edge of the corresponding longitudinal edge portion of the outer box. Such a dimensioning of the respective edge portions allows providing a magnet compartment for accommodating the permanent magnet between the inner frame and the outer box.
According to another advantageous aspect of the invention a plurality of permanent magnets (for example in a plurality of compartments) are arranged in the interior space. The direction of a magnetic field of the permanent magnets can then differ according to a specific pattern in accordance with aspects of the invention. For example, the plurality of permanent magnets may advantageously be arranged and configured such that the outbound magnetic fields of permanent magnets being arranged in different edge portions have different magnitudes and/or opposite prefixes, if the magnets are arranged in edge portions adjacent to the same side wall and at the substantially same longitudinal location (location in longitudinal direction along the edges of the packages).
In this context, "outbound" means directing outside the package. In other words, the permanent magnets in the packages are advantageously arranged and configured such that the poles facing the inner surface of the outer box are opposite to each other from one edge portion to the next edge portion along the side walls (i.e. for example, along front wall, left wall, rear wall and right wall or in other words along the perimeter (or a circumferential line) of the outer box or the lid) at the same or substantially same longitudinal position. This can be arranged by choosing the local polarity of a permanent magnet at one edge opposite to the local polarity of another permanent magnet at the same longitudinal position at another (consecutive) edge. The edges are advantageously consecutive edges along the perimeter of the outer box.
For example, the respective magnets are arranged in that a north-pole of magnet at a first bevel (edge portion) is directed to the outside of the package while for a magnet that is arranged at a neighboring bevel at the substantially same longitudinal position, the south-pole is directed to the outside of the package.
In other words, a plurality of permanent magnets may be arranged in the interior space and the permanent magnets may be arranged and configured such that the permanent magnets have opposite polarity on the surface of the permanent magnets facing towards the outside of the outer box, if they are at the substantially same location in longitudinal direction and at different edge portions adjacent to the same side wall.
According to an aspect of the invention, the package is not only attachable to magnetizable metallic items but also to other packages of the same type. The magnet or the plurality of magnets are then arranged to have opposite polarity in two packages which are to be coupled to each other, as different or opposite magnetic poles attract each other. This aspect of the invention can advantageously be used to couple two packages to each other along a magnetic hinge.
In an aspect of the invention, for building a magnetic hinge between two packages, a plurality of permanent magnets (for example in a plurality of compartments) can be arranged in the interior space of each package according to the previously described pattern. The plurality of permanent magnets may advantageously be arranged and configured such that the outbound magnetic fields of permanent magnets being arranged in different edge portions have different magnitudes and/or opposite prefixes and/or opposite outbound polarity in edge portions adjacent to the same side wall and at the substantially same longitudinal location (location in longitudinal direction along the edges of the packages). For each package, the outbound polarity of permanent magnets in the edge portions (for example longitudinal edge portions) of the package may alternate from edge to edge along an imaginary line around the package (circumferential line) at the same (constant) longitudinal position.
In an embodiment of the invention, the permanent magnets may advantageously be multipole magnets comprising a plurality of magnetic poles. A plurality of different magnetic poles is then arranged at one surface of the permanent magnet. Preferably, a maximum extension of the magnetic poles is transverse or longitudinal to a direction of a maximum extent of the walls (front, rear, left, right wall) of the outer box.
Multipole magnets within the meaning of the term are magnets comprising opposite magnetic poles at one surface. Exemplarily, a multipole magnet having a cuboid shape comprises two north and two south poles at one side of the cuboid. The magnetic poles are arranged alternately, e.g. N/S/N/S. This is advantageous when attaching two or more packages of the same type to each other, e.g. in order to form a bundle or a multiple pack of packages.
For magnetic attraction, the respective opposite magnetic poles need to face each other. For multipole magnets there is a variety of different positions for two packages matching this condition. Accordingly, the arrangement of packages is very flexible. Especially for multipole magnets having magnetic poles that extend in a longitudinal direction of the side walls, especially along the longitudinal edges where front and rear wall are connected to the left and right wall, no significant vertical misalignment between neighboring packages can occur if they comply with the aforementioned magnetic matching condition.
Using multipole magnets as previously described is advantageous as this may relax the requirements on the polarity/direction of the magnetic field or prefix of the field of the magnets in the edge portions of a packet. As previously discussed also with multipole magnets the plurality of permanent magnets may advantageously be arranged and configured such that the outbound magnetic fields of permanent magnets being arranged in different edge portions have different magnitudes and/or opposite prefixes (or polarity facing the inner surface of the outer box) if the magnets are arranged in edge portions adjacent to the same side wall and at the substantially same longitudinal location (location in longitudinal direction along the edges of the packages). This requirement may be slightly relaxed, if multipole magnets with a rather high density of poles (many alternating poles very close to each other on the same side/surface of a magnetic strip) are used. Two packages may then be adhered to each other along the edges or surfaces of the packages and the relative position of two or more packages can easily be varied stepwise (i.e. for example by the distance of the alternating poles).
In an aspect of the invention, one or more permanent magnet may be arranged at each edge portion of the package. The edge portions may be longitudinal or transversal edge portions. In an embodiment, the permanent magnets may be arranged in the longitudinal edge portions only. These aspects of the invention provide that a package can be attached to a magnetizable surface or to another package in many different orientations.
According to an advantageous aspect, at least one permanent magnet is manufactured from a magnetic material comprising rare earth elements.
At least one permanent magnet may comprise Neodymium (Nd), Iron (Fe) and Boron (B). The addition of rare earth elements allows providing a hard magnetic material having a high remanence.
Advantageously, at least one permanent magnet comprises a coating of preferably Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and/or Gold (Au) which prevents the magnetic material from oxidation.
Advantageously, the permanent magnet provides a holding force of at least 350 g/cm².
At least one permanent magnet can have a magnetic remanence between 300 mT and 900 mT.
Advantageously, the magnetic remanence may be between 500 mT and 650 mT.
In an embodiment of the invention, the remanence may advantageously be between 570 mT and 600 mT.
It was found that a magnetic holding force in the aforementioned ranges provides a reliable and safe attachment of the respective package to almost any metallic household item.
In another aspect of the invention, a multiple pack comprising a plurality of packages according to one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention is provided.
In an aspect of the invention, a magnetic hinge is provided between neighboring packages, e.g. cigarette boxes, wherein the packages are preferably arranged so as to form a booklet having a magnetic hinge. Advantageously, a magnetic hinge allows providing a booklet for smoking articles that is very flexible. Different types of packages even for different smoking articles may be attached so as to form a booklet. The single packages are interchangeable, e.g. another type or flavor of smoking articles may be added or replaced in the booklet. The magnetic hinge allows two respective packages to be pivoted with respect to each other around the magnetic hinge. However, unlike other hinges made of folding lines in cardboard, the magnetic hinge can easily be disconnected and reconnected. Using mulitpole permanent magnets can be advantageous for forming a magnetic hinge between two packages.
According to another aspect of the invention, a blank, configured to manufacture a package for tobacco related articles according to the above aspects, is provided. The package to be formed from the blank has an outer box comprising a bottom wall and further side walls (front, rear, left, right) extending from the bottom wall. Further, the outer box encloses an interior space and has an opening opposite to the bottom wall or in a side wall. Adjacent side walls of the outer box are manufactured by folding the blank along a creasing line extending in a direction of (for example, a maximum extent of) the side walls, wherein at least one permanent magnet is non-detachably fixed to a (inner) surface of the blank, such that the permanent magnet is arranged inside the package to be formed from the blank.
The blank is advantageous, because an attachment of the permanent magnets to the blank, i.e. before manufacturing the package is technically much easier compared to an attachment of the magnets to the package itself.
Advantageously, the blank comprises a blank portion that is configured to build an inner frame and a blank portion that is configured to build the outer frame. A package for tobacco related articles may then be manufactured from the blank by folding the respective blank portions along a further creasing line extending in a longitudinal direction of a maximum extent of the side walls (front, rear, left, right wall) so as to arrange the at least one permanent magnet between the outer and inner frame.
This arrangement of the blank portions for the outer box and the inner frame allows an arrangement of the permanent magnets between the outer box and the inner frame. Advantageously, the package for smoking articles may be manufactured from one single blank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects and characteristics of the invention will ensue from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a package for smoking articles according to an embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 is a front view of the package according to aspects of the invention,
FIG. 3 is a side view of the package according to aspects of the invention,
FIG. 4 is a simplified cross-sectional top view along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an edge portion of the package in FIG. 4 in a further cross-sectional top view according to aspects of the invention,
FIG. 6 is a simplified perspective view of a package for tobacco related articles according to a further embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 7 is a front view of the package of FIG. 6 according to aspects of the invention,
FIG. 8 is a side view of the package of FIG. 6 according to aspects of the invention, and
FIG. 9 is a top view of a blank according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the blank is for manufacturing a package for tobacco related articles.
FIGs. 10 and 11 are simplified perspective views of multipole magnets,
FIG. 12 is a top view of an inside surface of a blank for manufacturing an outer box according to an embodiment of the invention, and
FIG. 13 is a top view of an outside surface of a blank for manufacturing an inner frame for a package for tobacco related articles according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a package 2 for tobacco related articles, preferably a cigarette package, according to an embodiment of the invention. The package 2 comprises an outer box 3 having four side walls 4 which are connected by respective edge portions. According to the embodiment, the edge portions are bevels 6, however, the edge portions may also be rounded. The side walls 4-1 (front wall), 4-2 (right wall) (4-3 (rear wall) and 4-4 (left wall) as well as bottom wall 10 are not shown) and the bevels 6 extend vertically from the bottom wall 10 (not shown) and form an opening that is covered by a lid 5 comprising a top wall 8 and a front wall 4-5, a rear wall 4-7 (not shown), and two side walls 4-6 and 4-8 (not shown). The respective walls 4-5, 4-6, 4-7 and 4-8 and bevels 6 of the lid also extend from the top wall 8. In this embodiment, two permanent magnets (not visible) per bevel 6 are arranged in an interior space that is surrounded by the outer box 3. The position of the permanent magnets is indicated by respective magnet areas 9. The magnets are attached to or arranged close to an inner surface of the outer box 3.
FIG. 2 is a simplified front view of the package of FIG. 1. The front wall 4-1 of the outer box and the bevels 6 extend from the bottom wall 10 in longitudinal direction Y. Again, the position of the permanent magnets that are arranged at an inside surface of the bevels 6 is denoted by a dashed line indicating the respective magnet areas 9.
FIG. 3 is a simplified side view of the package 2 known from FIGs. 1 and 2. A side wall 4-2 extending from the bottom wall 10 and the respective bevels 6 extend in a longitudinal direction Y that is a direction of a maximum extent of the side walls 4 (see also FIG. 2). The position of the two permanent magnets per bevel 6 is again denoted by dashed lines indicating the respective magnet areas 9.
FIG. 4 is a simplified cross-sectional top view of the package 2 along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2. The outer box 3 comprises four side walls 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4 and respective bevels 6 that are arranged in an edge portion of the package 2 between neighboring/adjacent side walls 4-1 and 4-2, 4-2 and 4-3, 4-3 and 4-4 and 4-4 and 4-1. The outer box 3 surrounds an interior space 14. An inner frame 15 comprising inner bevels 18 and inner side walls is arranged in the interior space 14. The permanent magnets are arranged in the interior space of the outer box and the permanent magnets can be arranged and configured such that the permanent magnets have opposite polarity on the surface of the permanent magnets facing towards the outside of the outer box, if they are at the substantially same location in longitudinal direction (Y) and at different edge portions adjacent to the same side wall. The cross sectional view represents a cut through the outer box of the package (walls 4-1 to 4-4 and bevelled edges 6-1 to 6-4 between adjacent walls 4-1 to 4-4) at longitudinal position Y. The polarity of the permanent magnets at a surface facing outside the package may then alter from edge 6-1 (for example north pole) to the next edge 6-2 (south pole) to the next edge 6-3 (north pole) until the last edge 6-4 (south pole). The cross-section defines a perimeter at a constant longitudinal position Y along walls and edges according to the order 4-1, 6-1, 4-2, 6-2, 4-3, 6-3, 4-4 and 6-4. Edge 6-1 is between adjacent walls 4-1 and 4-2. Edge 6-2 is between adjacent walls 4-2 and 4-3. Edge 6-3 is between walls 4-3 and 4-4 and edge 6-4 between adjacent walls 4-4 and 4-1. The same concept can be used if magnets are arranged in the lid of the package. Following the perimeter at a constant level in longitudinal direction provides that the outbound polarity of the magnets at this level alternates from edge to edge.
A detailed view of an edge portion of the package 2 is given in FIG. 5. The inner bevels 18 have an extension DIF in a direction that is transverse to a direction Y of a maximum extent of the side walls 4-2 and 4-3 (see FIGs. 2 or 3) that is greater than a respective dimension DOB of the bevel 6-2 (same concept can be used for all edges 6-1 to 6-4 shown in FIG. 4) of the outer box 3. Between the inner bevel 18 of the inner frame 15 and the bevel 6-2 of the outer box 3 there is a magnet compartment 20 comprising a permanent magnet 22. According to the embodiment, this permanent magnet 22 may be the upper magnet of the pair of permanent magnets that is arranged at each of the bevels 6 (or 6-1 to 6-4) in the edge portions of the package 2 (see FIGs. 1 to 4 also). The permanent magnet 22 is non-detachably fixed to the magnet compartment 20, e.g. by gluing the permanent magnet 22 into the respective magnet compartment. Preferably, the permanent magnet is non-detachably fixed to the outer box 3. This may be achieved by applying e.g. a suitable adhesive tape.
According to further embodiments, the permanent magnet 22 may have a self- adhesive strip attached to the magnetic material. Even a self adhesive magnetic paste may be applied. The permanent magnet may be cuboid in shape, however, other shapes for the magnet may be suitable, e.g. dots.
FIG. 6 is a simplified perspective view of a package 2 for tobacco related articles, according to another embodiment of the invention. The package, that is preferably a cigarette package, is similar to the package 2 in FIG. 1. However, the package 2 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 comprises a single magnet per bevel 6. The position of the magnets is again denoted by dashed lines indicating respective magnet areas 9. By way of an example only, the permanent magnet to the right may be arranged in that its magnetic north pole is directed to the outside of the package, as indicated by "N" in the magnet area 9. The magnet which is arranged in the magnet area to the left is - oppositely - arranged in that its magnetic south pole is directed to the outside of the package 2.
FIG. 7 is the corresponding simplified front view of the package of FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 is a corresponding simplified side view to the package for smoking articles 2 known from FIGs. 6 and 7.
FIG. 9 is a top view of a blank 24 for manufacturing a package for tobacco related articles according to aspects of the invention. A package 2 according to the embodiments in FIGs. 1 to 5 may be manufactured from the blank 24. The blank 24 comprises a first blank portion 26 that is configured to form the outer box 3. Between the side walls 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4 there are areas configured to form the bevels 6 and permanent magnets 22 are attached to the respective bevel areas. Bevels 6 that are adjacent to each other with respect to the same side wall 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 or 4-4 comprise permanent magnets 22 having a magnetic field with opposite prefixes. According to the embodiment in FIG. 6 the outer left bevel 6 (between walls 4-2 and 4-1) comprises permanent magnets 22 having a north pole N directed upside, i.e. to the viewer, and the next bevel 6 to the right (between walls 4-1 and 4-4) has magnetic south poles S that are directed upside. Preferably, the permanent magnets 22 are cuboid shaped bodies having a single magnetic pole on each of their lateral surfaces.
However, multipole magnets may be applied too. FIGs. 10 and 11 show a cuboid shaped multipole magnets. In FIG. 10, the magnetic poles "N" and "S" extend in a direction Y of a maximum extent of the respective side walls 4 of the packet (see FIGs. 2 and 3). In contrast, the magnetic poles for the permanent magnet 22 in FIG. 11 are perpendicular to the direction Y.
The blank 24 in FIG. 9 comprises a blank portion 28 that is dedicated to manufacture of the inner frame 15. This blank portion 28 comprises bevels 18 having an expansion DIF in a direction X that is transverse to a direction Y of a maximum extent of the side walls 4 that is greater than the respective dimension DOB of the bevels 6 of the blank portion 26 that is dedicated to the outer box 3. By folding the blank portion 28 that is dedicated to the inner frame along the creasing line 30 on top of the blank part 26 that is dedicated to the outer box 3, magnet compartments are manufactured between the bevels 6 of the outer box 3 and the bevels 18 of the inner frame 15. Advantageously, the package may be manufactured from a single blank 24.
FIG. 12 is a top view of an inside surface of a blank 30 for manufacturing an outer box 3 having a lid 5 hinged to one of the side walls 4-3 (rear wall), according to another embodiment of the invention. The blank 30 comprises 2 permanent magnets 22 per bevel 6, wherein a direction of the magnetic field of the permanent magnets 22 is directed oppositely from one bevel 6 to the neighboring one along walls 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4.
A further blank 32 for manufacturing an inner frame is shown in a top view to its outside surface in FIG. 13. Preferably, the blank 32 for the inner frame is glued to the blank 30 for the outer box (see FIG. 12) for manufacturing a package 2 for tobacco related articles.
An expansion DIF for manufacture of the inner bevels 18 of the inner frame 15 is greater than the respective dimension DOB of the bevels 6 of the blank 30 that is dedicated to manufacture of the outer box 3.
The permanent magnets 22 that are preferably manufactured from a magnetic material comprising rare earth elements, e.g. Neodymium (Nd), Iron (Fe) and Boron (B) have a coating or plating made from Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and/or Gold (Au) to inhibit oxidization of the magnetic material.
The permanent magnet provides a holding force F of at least 350 g/cm². The holding fore F is determined according to common technical standards, wherein the magnetic holding force F can be defined by: $F = (B^{2} / 2 μ_{0}) * A$
with B being the magnetic flux, µ₀ being the magnetic vacuum field constant and A being a surface area of the permanent magnet. The surface area A is that respective area of the permanent magnet that is facing the item to which the package is attached. According to the embodiments in FIGs. 1 to 3 and FIGs. 6 to 8 this is the sum of the magnet area 9 for a respective bevel. In other words, a holding force for the package 2 that is attached to a suitable third item, e.g. an iron frame work etc. may be determined from the sum of the magnet area 9 per bevel (resulting in the area A according to the formula above) and the magnetic flux B of the permanent magnet 22 at the respective distance between the permanent magnet 22 and the item to which the package 2 is attached. Typically, this distance is determined by a thickness of the bevel 6 of the outer box 3.
The magnetic flux B is determined by a value for the magnetic remanence of the permanent magnet 22 that is between 300 mT and 900 mT, preferably between 500 mT and 650 mT and further preferably between 570 mT and 600 mT.
Although the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to specific embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments and no doubt further alternatives will occur to the skilled person that lie within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

A package (2) for tobacco related articles having an outer box (3) comprising a bottom wall (10) and side walls (4) extending from the bottom wall, wherein the outer box (3) has at least partially a polygonal and/or round cross-sectional shape, encloses an interior space (14) and has an opening opposite to the bottom wall or one of the side walls (4), characterized in that a plurality of permanent magnets (22) is non-detachably fixed and arranged in the interior space (14) and the plurality of permanent magnets are arranged and configured such that the permanent magnets (22) have opposite polarity on the surface of the permanent magnets (22) facing towards the outside of the outer box (3) at different edge portions adjacent to the same side wall along a circumferential line around the package at the substantially same location in longitudinal direction (Y).
The package according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnets (22) are located in close proximity to edge portions of the outer box (3) and the edge portions are arranged between adjacent walls of the outer box (3).
The package according to claim 2, wherein the edge portions are longitudinal edge portions.
The package according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinal edge portions are bevelled or rounded.
The package according to claim 4, wherein for an outer box (3) having a bevelled edge portion and a hexagonal, semi-octagonal or octagonal cross-section, the permanent magnets (22) are non-detachably fixed to the bevelled edge portions (6) of the outer box (3).
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the permanent magnets (22) are non-detachably fixed by means of gluing.
The package according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the permanent magnets (22) are non-detachably fixed by means of a self-adhesive fixation.
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, further comprising an inner frame (15) that is arranged in the interior space, wherein the permanent magnets (22) are arranged between the inner frame (15) and the outer box (3).
The package according to claim 8, wherein the inner frame is adjacent to an article compartment for accommodating smoking articles, and wherein the inner frame (15) covers the permanent magnets (22) so as to separate the permanent magnets (22) from the article compartment.
The package according to claim 9, wherein the inner frame (15) extends over an entire length of the article compartment in a direction of a maximum extent of the side walls.
The package according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the inner frame further extends over a bottom surface of the article compartment.
The package according to anyone of claims 8 to 11, wherein an edge portion (18) of the inner frame (15) facing the edge portion (6-2) of the outer box (3) is bevelled and the permanent magnets (22) are non-detachably fixed to the edge portions (18) of the inner frame (15).
The package according to claim 12, wherein for an outer box (3) having a bevelled edge portion, a dimension of said edge portion in a direction that is transverse to a direction of a maximum extent of the side walls is smaller than a dimension of the bevelled edge portion (18) of the inner frame (15) in said transverse direction.
The package according to anyone of the pending claims, wherein the permanent magnets are arranged at each bevelled or rounded edge portion.
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one permanent magnet is a multipole magnet comprising a plurality of magnetic poles being arranged at one surface of the permanent magnet, and wherein a maximum extension of the magnetic poles is in transverse direction (X) or in longitudinal direction (Y).
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one permanent magnet is manufactured from a magnetic material comprising rare earth elements.
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one permanent magnet comprises Neodymium (Nd), Iron (Fe) and/or Boron (B).
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one permanent magnet comprises a coating, preferably a coating comprising Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu).
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one permanent magnet comprises Gold (Au).
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a least one permanent magnet provides a holding force of at least 350 g/cm².
The package according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the permanent magnets has a magnetic remanence between 300 mT and 900 mT, in particular between 500 mT and 650 mT or between 570 mT and 600 mT.
A multiple pack comprising a plurality of packages according to anyone of claims 1 to 21, wherein a magnetic hinge is provided between neighboring packages along longitudinal edges of the packages.
The multiple pack according to claim 22, wherein at least two packages are arranged so as to form a booklet of the at least two packages along the magnetic hinge.