EP4114754A1 - Container for consumer goods - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a container for consumer goods comprising a box having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, side walls, and an access opening; a lid pivotally attached to the rear wall of the box and moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the lid comprises a flap that extends beyond the access opening and overlaps a free edge of the front wall of the box when the lid is in the closed position; a protruding tab formed on the front wall of the box; and a recess formed in the flap of the lid such that the protruding tap engages with the recess when the lid is moved to the closed position.

Description

CONTAINER FOR CONSUMER GOODS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods, in particular a container for smoking articles such as cigarettes.

Background

Typically, cigarette containers comprise a rigid outer housing and an inner package within which cigarettes are contained. These containers have a hinged lid so as to protect the cigarettes stored within the inner package when the lid is closed. The lid is usually attached to or formed in the outer housing of the container.

In such conventional containers, the lid covers an opening in the inner package of the container to protect the goods when the lid is closed. However, the lid may not provide sufficient protection if it is not properly closed or if it becomes loose due to frequent use. In such cases, the consumer goods such as cigarettes stored inside in the container may be exposed to the external environment and deteriorate over time.

Providing a secure closing mechanism for the container that is complex or fiddly is not ideal as it leads to user inconvenience. Therefore, it is desirable that the closing of the container is smooth and intuitive as well as secure.

To solve these problems there have been attempts to use more complex, and therefore costly, construction of the cigarette container. These solutions are unsatisfactory as they are more costly and increase manufacturing complexity.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved container for consumer goods with a secure lid. Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for consumer goods comprising a box having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, side walls, and an access opening; a lid pivotally attached to the rear wall of the box and moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the lid comprises a flap that extends beyond the access opening and overlaps a free edge of the front wall of the box when the lid is in the closed position; a protruding tab formed on the front wall of the box; and a recess formed in the flap of the lid such that the protruding tap engages with the recess when the lid is moved to the closed position.

Advantageously, the combination of the long lid and a lock mechanism defined by the protruding tab and the recess provides a secure container. The consumer goods such as cigarettes stored in such a container can be better protected from the external environment as well as from accidental opening.

Preferably, the recess is formed by making an incision in an inner layer of the flap of the lid.

Preferably, a part of the inner layer containing the incision is embossed.

Preferably, the incision is substantially trapezoidal in shape.

Preferably, the protruding tab is substantially trapezoidal in shape.

Preferably, when the lid is moved to the closed position, the protruding tab automatically engages with the recess to lock the box and the lid together.

Preferably, in the closed position, the protruding tab is contained inside the recess.

Preferably, the protruding tab is formed as a folded cut portion below the free edge of the front wall of the box. Preferably, the protruding tab is formed substantially at the center of the free edge of the front wall of the box.

Preferably, the front portion of the lid including the flap extends to at least 50%, and more preferably about 65% of the height of the container.

Preferably, the lid is attached to the wall of the box by a hinge joint.

Preferably, the container is used for storing smoking articles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective front view of a first example of a container in an open position; Fig. 2 shows a perspective side view of the container in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective front view of a second example of a container in an open position; and

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the container in a closed position.

Detailed Description A container 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a box 2 and a lid 3 that is hinged to the box 2 along a hinge line. Fig. 1 shows the container 1 with the lid 3 in an open position. The box 2 has a rigid outer pack, or outer frame 4a which forms the main body of the box 2, and an inner frame 4b (clearly shown in Fig. 3) contained inside the outer pack 4a. The outer frame 4a and the inner frame 4b could be separate or integrally formed. A bundle of cigarettes 14 is housed in the box 2 of the container 1. The box 2 has a front wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall. An upper side of the box 2, opposite the bottom wall, is open i.e. there is no box top wall to provide an access opening 6 through which the cigarettes can be inserted and removed.

The front wall and the back wall of the outer frame 4 each comprise top edges. The back wall top edge (not shown) corresponds to a hinge line. As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the front wall has a height that is less than a length of the back wall. In other words, the distance between the bottom wall and the back wall top edge is greater than the distance between the bottom wall and the front wall free edge 2a. As a result of the difference in height between the front wall and the back wall, both the left and right side walls comprise inclined, or sloping, top edges 17. These inclined top side edges 17 join the back wall top edge to the front wall free edge 2a.

The lid 3 has a lid top wall 3a, a lid left side wall 3b, a lid right side wall 3c, and a lid back wall 3d. The lid back wall 3d is attached to the back wall of the box 2 at the hinge line.

The lid 3 also comprises a flap 8 extending from the lid top wall 3a. The flap 8 extends away from the lid top wall 3a, parallel to the lid back wall 3d. In some examples, the flap 8 is resiliently deformable. The flap 8 is connected to the lid left side wall 3b and the lid right side wall 3c, as shown in Fig. 2. Typically, the flap 8 is formed integrally into the lid 3. However, in some cases the flap 8 may be a separate component and in this case is then attached to the lid top wall 3a. The flap 8 is preferably made of the same material as the lid 3. Preferably, the flap 8 extends and fold back onto itself to provide added rigidity and to provide a recess 10 formed between the inner and outer layer, as explained in detail further below.

As shown in Fig. 4, the flap 8 extends beyond the access opening 6 and overlaps the free edge 2a of the box 2 when the lid 3 is closed. The lid 3 along with the flap 8 extends to at least 50% of the height of the container 1. Preferably, the lid 3 and the flap 8 extends to about 65% of the height of the container 1.

The flap 8 is configured such that when the lid 3 is pushed downwards, the flap 8 is snap closed onto the front wall of the box 2. A pressure exerted by a user on the top wall of the lid 3 forces the flap 8 to bias away from the upper edges of the cigarettes 14 contained in the box 2. Once the flap 8 has moved past the upper edges of the cigarettes 14 by a sufficient amount, the resistance of the flap 8 causes the flap 8 to close against the front wall of the box 2. Therefore, the container 1 is securely auto-closed by the flap 8 to protect the cigarettes stored inside it. As the flap 8 extends much further from the access opening 6, the cigarettes are better protected.

In the example shown in Fig. 2, the lid left and right side walls 3b, 3c are substantially trapezoidal in shape, having an inclined edge that slopes downwards from the lid back wall 3d to the flap 8 when the box 2 is held in an upright, operative position with the access opening 6 at the top of the box 2. The inclined edges have a slope which corresponds to the same slope as the inclined top edges 17 of the box 2. Thus, when the lid 3 is in the closed position, the inclined edges of the lid abut against the inclined edges of the side of the box 2, and the two corresponding sloping or inclined edges lie against each other. In other words, when the container 1 is closed, the free side edges of the left and right side walls 3b, 3c of the lid 3 abut the top side edges 17 of the box 2 defining a line of abutment between them.

As shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the front wall of the box 2 also comprises a locking tab 9 projecting away from the main body of the box 2. The locking tab 9 is substantially continuous with the main body of the box 2 and extends outwards along the free edge 2a of the box 2. In this embodiment, the locking tab 9 is trapezoidal-shaped and is formed substantially at the center of the free edge 2a. The locking tab 9 is configured to engage with the recess 10 formed in the flap 8. The recess 10 is formed as a substantially trapezoid-shaped segment with a cut or incision in the long parallel side 10c in the outer layer of the flap 8. The angled sides 10a, 10b, and the short parallel side 10d are uncut and the area containing the trapezoid in the outer layer of the flap 8 is embossed. By virtue of the recess 10 defined by the embossed area, the locking tab 9 can be securely contained inside the recess 10 when the lid 3 is closed, and the cigarettes stored in the container 1 are further well protected from accidental opening. In other words, when the user pushes the lid 3 onto the front wall of the box 2, the tab 9 automatically engages with recess 10 to lock the lid 3 to the box 2. As shown in Fig. 4, when the lid 3 is closed, the flap 8 extends over the front wall of the box 2. In order to access the cigarettes the lid 3 is moved from the closed position to the open position shown in Fig. 1. As the lid 3 is moved from the closed position, the tab 9 contained in the recess 10 is pulled out and the flap 8 is moved upwards away from the main body of the box 2 exposing the access opening 6. In order to close the container 1 , the lid 3 is moved from the open position to the closed position.

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a container 2 is almost identical to the container 1 of Fig. 1 except the locking tab 9. In this embodiment, the locking tab 9 is positioned below the free edge 2a of the box 2. The locking tab 9 is formed as a folded cut-out in the outer frame 4a of the box 2. The locking tab 9 is preferably trapezoidal-shaped with cuts or incisions made in the outer frame 4a defining the side walls 9a, 9b and the short parallel side 9c. The tab 9 formed in this way is folded upwards along the long parallel side 9d such that the tab 9 protrudes outwards from the surface of the box 2.

The recess 10 is formed in the same way as in the first embodiment but is positioned in the flap 8 so that it can contain the tab 9 when the lid 3 is closed onto the front wall of the box 2. By moving the tab below the free edge 2a of the box, it is possible to minimize the chances of accidentally damaging the tab 9 by the user when drawing out cigarettes from the access opening.

In both embodiments, the flap 8 may be provided with indicia such as health warnings, on its outer surface, which is the side that is visible when the lid 3 is closed. The indicia may be provided at multiple locations on the flap 8. In general, the indicia are provided on the front face of the flap 8 and on one or both sides of the box 2. As the flap 8 covers at least the half of the front face of the box 2 from the top, visual impact of the indicia is more prominent.

In some examples, the indicia are text. However, any other type or combination of indication or marking could be provided including numerals, logos and images. Indicia can also be provided on other parts of the flap 8, such as on the inside surface of the flap 8 or the front surface of the outer frame 4a. Indicia on such surfaces are selected such that they can be viewed effectively by the consumer when the container 1 is opened. Indicia could be in the form of any branding or promotional messages.

The indicia can be provided by one or more of an ink, a varnish, a lacquer, embossing, debossing, and hot foil stamping. Where the indicia are provided by an ink they can be separated from the consumer goods in order to prevent any potential migration of compounds to the consumer goods. This may be achieved by providing the indicia at a position on the flap 8 that is offset from the access opening 6 when the lid 3 is in the closed position. Alternatively, or in addition, a coating (not shown) may be provided on the flap 8 in the vicinity of the indicia to prevent egression of compounds therefrom and into the consumer goods. In one arrangement a frame (not shown) can be provided on the flap 8 around the portion of the flap 8 that overlies the access opening 6 when the lid 3 is in the closed position.

Advantageously, the indicia can be visible at all times when the lid 3 is moved from the closed position to the open position.

The above description relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention; however it will be appreciated that other implementations are possible. In particular, the skilled person may modify or alter the particular geometry and arrangements of the particular features of the packaging. Particularly, the shape and size of the locking tab 9 and recess 10 can easily be modified by the skilled person without affecting the functional behaviour of the invention. Other variations and modifications will also be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features described herein. Features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, features which are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Claims

Claims:

1. A container for consumer goods comprising: a box having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, sidewalls, and an access opening; a lid pivotally attached to the rear wall of the box and moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the lid comprises a flap that extends beyond the access opening and overlaps a free edge of the front wall of the box when the lid is in the closed position; a protruding tab formed on the front wall of the box; and a recess formed in the flap of the lid such that the protruding tap engages with the recess when the lid is moved to the closed position.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed by making an incision in an inner layer of the flap of the lid.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein a part of the inner layer containing the incision is embossed.

4. The container of claim 2 or 3, wherein the incision is substantially trapezoidal in shape.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the protruding tab is substantially trapezoidal in shape.

6. The container of any preceding claim, wherein when the lid is moved to the closed position, the protruding tab automatically engages with the recess to lock the box and the lid together.

7. The container of any preceding claim, wherein, in the closed position, the protruding tab is contained inside the recess.

8. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the protruding tab is formed as a folded cut portion below the free edge of the front wall of the box.

9. The container of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the protruding tab is formed substantially at the center of the free edge of the front wall of the box.

10. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the front portion of the lid including the flap extends to at least 50%, and preferably about 65% of the height of the container.

11. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the lid is attached to the wall of the box by a hinge joint.

12. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the container is used for storing smoking articles.