EP3953270B1

EP3953270B1 - Packaging with top release button

Info

Publication number: EP3953270B1
Application number: EP20712566.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Laura GRAU
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2019-04-10
Filing date: 2020-03-20
Publication date: 2023-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-20
Also published as: EA202192455A1; US20220081192A1; CN113661132A; EP3953270A1; JP2022525834A; WO2020207760A1

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging for housing a plurality of articles comprising an outer packaging, an inner packaging and a deformable section, wherein the inner packaging is moveable in a longitudinal direction in relation to the outer packaging.
Packaging is known as a system of boxes with different sizes, materials and tasks to solve.
When packaging is used for housing a plurality of cigarettes, an outer box is mostly made of cellulosic material, such as paper or carton and is used to give space for information and serves as mechanical protection for cigarettes or the like. For example, US9004273 describes such a box, wherein the box comprises an inner box made of second packaging material. The outer box is at least partially housing the inner box. The inner box often provides a barrier layer to greatly improve shelf life of cigarettes, in particular in high humidity or very dry regions, and to prevent it from direct contact upon packaging and storage with the cellulosic material of the outer box.
US9004273 , which accords with the preamble of claim 1, describes an additional outer flexible wrapping material, which encloses the outer box of a packaging system before first opening thereof. That wrapping material helps to maintain freshness of the products therein. However, once the foil is opened the seal offered by it is lost. However, outer wrapping material enclosing the outer box remain mostly in use also to provide an evidence for the intactness of the box, e.g. before purchase. Thus, the consumer wants to be sure that the packaging for the cigarettes is undamaged so that the cigarettes inside are not altered by unwanted conditions. Once the outer wrapping material is opened, it is thus difficult for the consumer - without opening the box - to check if e.g. somebody else opened the box before or something else happened to the box before.
In that regard, US 9,004,273 B2 describes a hinge-lid package for rod-shaped smoking articles comprising an outer box having an open end, an inner pack contained in the outer box, the inner pack including a bundle of the rod-like smoking articles and an inner wrapper wrapping the bundle, a lid hingedly jointed to a rear edge of the open end of the outer box, the lid for opening and closing the open end, and a separation line for detachably connecting the outer box and the lid, wherein the separation line includes a fragile portion for determining a cutoff start position to start the cutting thereof when the lid is first opened.
Since every consumer wants to buy an unopened package, producers are confronted with the challenge to provide a tamper evidence for the packages on the one hand and want to save material on the other hand.
The objective of the invention is therefore to create a tamper evidence of the package after the package has been opened so that no additional outer wrapping material is needed anymore. In that way some manufacturing steps can be omitted, and material can be saved.
The afore-mentioned problems are eliminated by a packaging for housing a plurality of articles comprising an outer packaging, made of a first packaging material, with an outer packaging container and an outer packaging lid. An inner packaging for housing the articles is made of a second packaging material, with an inner packaging container and an inner packaging lid, wherein the outer packaging is at least partially housing the inner packaging. In a closed state of the packaging before the first opening thereof the inner packaging is fixedly attached via a first connection to an inner surface of the outer packaging lid. At least one face of the outer packaging lid comprises a deformable section such that the first opening of the packaging requires a pressure to be applied upon said deformable section so as to break said first connection between the inner packaging and the inner surface of the outer packaging lid. After breaking the first connection, the inner packaging is arranged to be moveable in a longitudinal direction in relation to the outer packaging. With such a packaging it is possible to move an inner package inside an outer package, while before the first opening the inner package is fixed to the outer package, after the first opening of the package the deformable section is deformed and the inner package will be arranged in offset to the outer package. That offset and/or the deformed deformable section represents a tamper evidence.
According to the invention, breaking a connection means the destruction of said connection, wherein said connection is permanently and irretrievably broken/destroyed.
In a preferred embodiment, after breaking the first connection the inner packaging is moveable in the longitudinal direction towards a space between an inner packaging container bottom wall and an outer packaging container bottom wall, wherein the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outer packaging container bottom wall are arranged in parallel and at a distance to each other. Due to the space between an inner packaging container bottom wall and an outer packaging container bottom wall the inner packaging can be moved by pressing the deformable section. During this movement the space between an inner packaging container bottom wall and an outer packaging container bottom wall will be reduced.
In a preferred embodiment an outer surface of the inner packaging is connected to the inner surface of the outer packaging lid by at least one glue point. A glue point can easily be provided by known methods and/or techniques. Moreover, glue is very cheap and easy to install.
In a preferred embodiment the at least one glue point connects an inner surface of an outer packaging lid front wall to an outer surface of an inner packaging lid front wall and/or an inner surface of an outer packaging lid side wall to an outer surface of an inner packaging side wall. A connection of the outer surface of the inner packaging lid and the inner surface of the outer packaging lid guarantees that the inner packaging remains fixed within the outer packing during e.g. transportation and/or vibrations of the packaging.
In a preferred embodiment an outer packaging container bottom flap is arranged in the space between the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outer packaging container bottom wall, wherein the outer packaging container bottom flap is connected to an inner surface of the outer packaging container bottom wall and/or an inner surface of an outer packaging container side wall as well as to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall. An outer packaging container bottom flap serves as a placeholder and guarantees that the space between the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outer packaging container bottom wall remains similar during e.g. transportation and/or vibrations of the packaging.
In a preferred embodiment the outer packaging container bottom flap is glued to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall. The glue fixes and attaches the inner packaging to the outer packaging.
In a preferred embodiment the outer packaging container bottom flap is moveable together with the inner packaging in the longitudinal direction upon pressure on the deformable section of the outer packaging lid. While and after pressing the deformable section of the outer packaging lid, a glued connection guarantees that the inner packaging remains fixed to the outer packaging.
In a preferred embodiment an outer length of the inner packaging is shorter than an inner length of the outer packaging in the longitudinal direction, so that the inner packaging is moveable within the outer packaging in said longitudinal direction.
In a preferred embodiment the deformable section comprises a partial cut-out, which is provided in an outer packaging lid top wall, wherein the partial cut-out is at least partially moveable in the longitudinal direction by applying pressure. With a partial cut-out it is possible to move the inner packaging within the outer packaging without opening the packaging.
In a preferred embodiment the partial cut-out is arch-shaped so that the partial cut-out is fitted to the form of a user's fingertip, and thus makes it easier for the user to press the cut-out.
In a preferred embodiment an indication sign is printed and/or arranged on an outer surface of the outer packaging lid top wall on top or adjacent to the deformable section. An indication sign shows the user where the partial cut-out is positioned on the outer packaging.
In a preferred embodiment the first packaging material and the second packaging material are different so that the different materials provide protection against different types of stresses.
In a preferred embodiment the first packaging material is a paper, carton and/or cardboard material so that the inner packaging and the filling of the inner packaging are protected against mechanical stresses.
In a preferred embodiment the second packaging material is a foil material so that the filling of the inner packaging is protected against chemical stresses, especially against moisture or dryness.
In a preferred embodiment the outer packaging container bottom flap is free of contact towards an outer packaging container front wall and an outer packaging back wall and in particular is trapezoidal. An outer packaging container bottom flap free of contact towards an outer packaging container front wall and an outer packaging back wall and thus with little resistance is easy to move during the movement of the inner packaging.
Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols.
The figures show:

Fig. 1: a schematic view of a packaging for housing a plurality of articles in closed position comprising an outer packaging and an inner packaging;
Fig. 2: a schematic view of a trapezoidal outer packaging container bottom flap;
Fig. 3: a schematic view of an indication sign.

In Figure 1 a schematic view of a packaging 1 for housing a plurality of articles in a closed state is shown. Assuming that the packaging 1 is arranged in such a way that the direction of its main extension coincides with the vertical, some terms such as "bottom", "top" or "lower" are used accordingly.
The packaging comprises an outer packaging 2, which has the shape of a parallelepiped with a rectangular cross section and an inner packaging 3, which is arranged to be moveable in a longitudinal and linear direction 4 in relation to the outer packaging 2 in a sliding manner so as to allow the inner packaging 3 to slide within the outer packaging 2 and parallel to side edges 29 of the outer packaging 2 and between an upper and a lower position. At the outer packaging 2, four longitudinal or rather side edges 29 are defined. An outer length of the inner packaging 3 is therefore shorter than an inner length of the outer packaging 2 in the longitudinal direction 4, so that the inner packaging 3 is allowed to be moveable within the outer packaging 2.
The outer packaging material is different to the inner packaging material. The outer packaging 2 is preferably made of a cardboard material and comprises an outer packaging container 2a and an outer packaging lid 2b, wherein the inner packaging 3 is preferably made of a foil material such as for example an aluminum coated material and comprises an inner packaging container 3a and an inner packaging lid 3b. The inner packaging 3 is positioned within the outer packaging 2, wherein the outer packaging container 2a covers the inner packaging container 3a and the outer packaging lid 2b covers the inner packaging lid 3b. The stiffness of the inner packaging 3 before opening the package is provided by the articles therein.
An inner packaging 3 comprises an inner packaging container bottom wall 10, an inner packaging lid front wall 12, an inner packaging lid top wall 14, inner packaging container side walls 18, an inner packaging container front wall 21 and an inner packaging back wall 23. The inner packaging lid front wall 12 is arranged parallel to an outer packaging lid front wall and is smaller in size, both in longitudinal and transversal direction than the inner packaging lid front wall 12. The inner packaging lid 3b covers a part of the inner packaging container front wall 21 and an upper face wall parallel to the top wall of the outer packaging lid, wherein the inner packaging lid front wall 12 and the inner packaging lid top wall 14 are spaced to the inner packaging container side wall 18 by between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 8 mm, more preferably between 3 mm and 6 mm. The inner packaging lid 3b can be opened in longitudinal direction 4 and relative to the inner container 3a. When the inner packaging lid 3b is open, it provides access to the articles located in the inner packaging 3, which can house for example cigarettes with a length between 84 to 83 mm.
A split 24 separates the outer packaging container 2a from the outer packaging lid 2b at the side walls 15, 17 and the outer packaging front walls 12, 20 to form edges 31, wherein an outer packaging back wall 22 connects the outer packaging container 2a and the outer packaging lid 2b. Moreover, the outer packaging back wall 22 serves as flap and forms both the outer packaging container back wall and the outer packaging lid back wall so that the outer packaging has a container and a hinged lid 3b so as to rotate the hinged lid 3b, relative to the outer container and the longitudinal direction 4 and a direction vertical to the outer packaging container front wall 20. In the closed position, the top wall 5 of the outer packaging lid 2b is parallel to and opposite the outer packaging bottom wall 15, wherein the outer packaging container front wall 20 is coplanar to the outer packaging lid front wall 13. Moreover, the outer packaging container side walls 17 are arranged coplanar to outer packaging lid side walls 15. The split 24 is arranged in an angle 32 of between 30° and 90°, preferably between 50° and 70°, more preferably of around 60° from the outer packaging back wall 22 relative to the outer packaging container side wall 17. Further, the split 24 is arranged in an angle 33 of between 90° and 150°, preferably between 105° and 135°, more preferably of around 120° from the outer packaging back wall 22 relative to the outer packaging lid side wall 15.
At the bottom of the outer packaging 2 four edges are formed by the adjacent walls, with two by two opposing each other. A first pair of lower edges 27 is formed by the outer packaging container front wall 20 and the outer packaging bottom wall 11 as well as the outer packaging back wall 22. A second pair of lower edges 28 is formed by the outer packaging container side wall 17 and the outer packaging bottom wall 11, wherein the outer packaging bottom wall 11 is arranged adjacent to two outer packaging container side walls 17, which are positioned parallel to each other and the outer packaging front wall 20 and the outer packaging back wall 22, which are also positioned parallel to each other.
Two outer packaging container bottom flaps 16 are arranged in the space 9 between the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and the outer packaging container bottom wall 11. The two outer packaging container bottom flaps 16 are shaped rectangularly and are extending inwardly through folding about a folding line at each lower edge 28 from the side walls, such that they both overlie an inner surface of the outer packaging bottom wall 11, without being attached thereto. Both bottom flaps 16 comprise a flap back end 16b and a flap front end 16a, wherein each of the flap front ends comprise an attachment area 19 connecting the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 to each bottom flap 16, and therefore to the outer packaging 2. The attachment area 19 may comprise any of a glue stripe 19a or at least a glue dot preferably. Both the flap back ends 16b and the flap front ends 16a are moveable in the longitudinal direction 4 towards the outer packaging container bottom wall 11 together with inner packaging 3, wherein the flap front ends 16a are positioned and/or during the movement remain almost parallel to the outer packaging container bottom wall 11, wherein the angle 34 will be reduced and the angle 35 will be increased during the movement of the inner packaging 3 downwards. While the bottom flaps 16 are represented and described here are generally of rectangular shape, it will be apparent to the skilled person that they may adopt other shapes without their specific connecting function to the inner packaging and movability with respect to the outer packaging bottom wall being altered. In particular, the flap front ends 16a may be arch-shaped or trapezoidal.
The glue stripes 19a are positioned on the outer packaging container bottom flap front ends 16a and are arranged parallel to each other and vertically to the outer packaging container front wall. Moreover, the glue stripes are positioned on the surface of the flap front ends 16a so that they are directed to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall and connect that surface at least after the inner packaging 3 has been moved towards a space 9 between an inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and an outer packaging container bottom wall 11. However, it is also possible that the glue stripes 19a connect the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 even before the movement of the inner packaging 3. It is also possible that the glue stripes 19a have another shape, such as an oval or circular shape.
The packaging 1 is arranged, as stated before, for the inner packaging to be movable longitudinally a few millimeters within the outer packaging during use. A space 9 be arranged between the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and the outer packaging container bottom wall 11 as represented in fig. 1 or between the inner packaging container top wall and the outer packaging top wall. This space 9 exhibits an extension in the longitudinal direction 4 in a range between 0.5 mm and 6 mm, more preferably between 1 mm and 4 mm and particularly preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm.
At the top wall of the outer packaging 2 four edges are formed by the adjacent walls, with two by two opposing each other. A first pair of top edges 25 is formed by the outer packaging lid front wall 12 and the outer packaging top wall 5 as well as the outer packaging back wall 22. A second pair of top edges 26 is formed by the outer packaging lid front wall 12 and the outer packaging side walls. A second pair of lower edges 28 is formed by the outer packaging lid side walls 15 and the outer packaging top wall 5. The top wall 5 of the outer packaging lid 2b further comprises a deformable section 6, which comprises an arch-shaped partial cut-out 7, which is connected to the top wall 5 at a line shaped connection. The partial cut-out 7 is at least partially moveable downwards the longitudinal direction 4 and the outer packaging 2. By this movement the partial cut-out 7 is pressed out of the top wall 5 of the outer packaging lid 2b and contacts the outer surface of the inner packaging lid 3b, wherein the inner packaging 3 moves towards the space 9 between the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and the outer packaging container bottom wall 11. The center of the deformable section 6 is preferably arranged at or close to the center of the top wall 5 of the outer packaging lid 2b and within a distance of between 2 mm and 18 mm from the outer packaging lid front wall 12, more preferably within a distance between 5 and 12 mm. Moreover, the center of the deformable section 6 is preferably also arranged within a distance of between 5 mm and 55 mm from an outer packaging lid side wall 12, more preferably within a distance between 20 and 40 mm. It is also possible that the deformable section 6 or rather the partial cut-out 7 is shaped rectangular or oval or trapezoidal and/or is completely moveable and/or pressable out of the top wall 5.
The outer surface of the inner packaging lid 3b is connected to the inner surface of the outer packaging lid 2b by one glue point 8 close to the Inner packaging upper front wall 30. The glue point 8 is arranged at the center of the inner packaging lid front wall 13 with respect to the transversal direction. This connection is broken, when the inner packaging 3 slides in longitudinal direction towards a space 9. It is also possible that one or more glue points connect an inner surface of an outer packaging lid side wall 15 to an outer surface of an inner packaging container side wall 18 so that glue points are arranged at the side walls of the inner 3b and outer packaging lids 3b.
In Figure 2 a schematic view of a trapezoidal outer packaging container bottom flap 16 is shown, with an outer packaging container bottom flap front end 16a, an outer packaging container bottom flap back end 16b, a glue stripe 19a and a connection side of the flap, that represents the connection to the outer packaging container.
In Figure 3 a schematic view of an indication sign is shown, which is printed and/or arranged on an outer surface of the outer packaging lid top wall 5 on top or adjacent to the deformable section 6. Preferably, the indication sign is printed on top of the deformable section 6 or rather the partial cut-out and has a similar shape, wherein the cut-out 7 has a circular shape and a connection side 36 that is connected to the top wall of the outer packaging lid. Additionally, it is preferred that the indication sign includes a hint that the deformable section is a button that can be pressed.

List of reference symbols

1: Packaging
2: Outer packaging
2a: Outer packaging container
2b: Outer packaging lid
3: Inner packaging
3a: Inner packaging container
3b: Inner packaging lid
4: Longitudinal direction
5: Top wall of the outer packaging lid
6: Deformable section
7: Partial cut-out
8: Glue point and connection of outer surface of the inner packaging and inner surface of the outer packaging
9: Space between an inner packaging container bottom wall and outer packaging container bottom wall
10: Inner packaging container bottom wall
11: Outer packaging container bottom wall
12: Outer packaging lid front wall
13: Inner packaging lid front wall
14: Inner packaging lid top wall
15: Outer packaging lid side wall
16: Outer packaging container bottom flap
16a: Outer packaging container bottom flap front end
16b: Outer packaging container bottom flap back end
16c: Connection side of the flap connected to the outer packaging container
17: Outer packaging container side wall
18: Inner packaging container side wall
19: Attachment area
19a: Glue stripes
20: Outer packaging container front wall
21: Inner packaging container front wall
22: Outer packaging back wall
23: Inner packaging back wall
24: Split
25: Top edge 1
26: Top edge 2
27: Lower edge 1
28: Lower edge 2
29: Side edge
30: Inner packaging upper front wall
31: Edge of the split
32: Angle of the split between the outer packaging back wall and the outer packaging container side wall
33: Angle of the split between the outer packaging back wall and the outer packaging lid side wall
34: Angle between flap back end and outer container bottom wall
35: Angle between flap back end and flap front end
36: Connection side of the partial cut-out connected to top wall of the outer packaging lid

Claims

Packaging (1) for housing a plurality of articles comprising an outer packaging (2), made of a first packaging material, with an outer packaging container (2a) and an outer packaging lid (2b),
an inner packaging (3) for housing the articles, made of a second packaging material, with an inner packaging container (3a) and an inner packaging lid (3b), and wherein the outer packaging (2) is at least partially housing the inner packaging, wherein in a closed state of the packaging before the first opening thereof the inner packaging (3) is fixedly attached via a first connection to an inner surface of the outer packaging lid (2b),

characterized in that

at least one face (5) of the outer packaging lid comprises a deformable section (6) such that the first opening of the packaging requires a pressure to be applied upon said deformable section (6) so as to break said first connection between the inner packaging (3) and the inner surface of the outer packaging lid (2b), wherein after breaking the first connection, the inner packaging (3) is arranged to be moveable in a longitudinal direction (4) in relation to the outer packaging (2).
Packaging according to claim 1,
characterized in that
after breaking the first connection, the inner packaging (3) is moveable in the longitudinal direction towards a space (9) between an inner packaging container bottom wall (10) and an outer packaging container bottom wall (11), wherein the inner packaging container bottom wall (10) and the outer packaging container bottom wall (11) are arranged in parallel and at a distance to each other.
Packaging according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
an outer surface of the inner packaging (3) is connected to the inner surface of the outer packaging lid (2b) by at least one glue point (8).
Packaging according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that
the at least one glue point (8) connects an inner surface of an outer packaging lid front wall (12) to an outer surface of an inner packaging lid front wall (13) and/or an inner surface of an outer packaging lid side wall (15) to an outer surface of an inner packaging side wall (18).
Packaging according to any of claims 2-4,
characterized in that
an outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is arranged in the space (9) between the inner packaging container bottom wall (10) and the outer packaging container bottom wall (11), wherein the outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is connected to an inner surface of the outer packaging container bottom wall (11) and/or an inner surface of an outer packaging container side wall (17) as well as to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall (10).
Packaging according to claim 5,
characterized in that
the outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is glued to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall (10).
Packaging according to any of claims 5 or 6,
characterized in that
the outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is moveable together with the inner packaging (3) in the longitudinal direction (4) upon pressure applied on the deformable section (6) of the outer packaging lid (2b).
Packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
an outer length of the inner packaging (3) is shorter than an inner length of the outer packaging (2) in the longitudinal direction (4), so that the inner packaging (3) is moveable within the outer packaging (2) in said longitudinal direction (4).
Packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
said deformable section (6) comprises a partial cut-out (7) which is provided in an outer packaging lid top wall (5), wherein the partial cut-out (7) is at least partially moveable in the longitudinal direction (4) by applying pressure.
Packaging according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that
the partial cut-out (7) is arch-shaped.
Packaging according to claim 9 or 10,
characterized in that
an indication sign is printed and/or arranged on an outer surface of the outer packaging lid top wall (5) on top or adjacent to the deformable section (6).
Packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the first packaging material and the second packaging material are different.
Packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the first packaging material is a paper, carton and/or cardboard material.
Packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the second packaging material is a foil material.
Packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the outer packaging container bottom flap (16) is free of contact towards an outer packaging container front wall (20) and an outer packaging back wall (22) and in particular is trapezoidal.