GB2455314A - Container for smokable materials, including an area for marking - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for smokable materials, and methods for forming such containers. In particular, the present invention relates to tobacco containers such as tobacco pouches. The container has an outer surface formed with a matt coating thereon; the matt coating may be marked by a user. A user may write on the coating with ink so as to personalise the container and clearly distinguish it from like containers. The coating may be a lacquer, paint, ink, or matting agent, e.g. silica gel.

Description

1 2455314 Container for smokable materials and methods for forming such containers

Introduction

The present invention relates to containers for smokable materials such as tobacco pouches, and methods for forming such containers. In particular, the present invention relates to containers which allow marking thereof, for example using an ink, and to methods for forming such containers.

In situations where a number of people are smoking the same brand of tobacco and, therefore, have identical tobacco containers such as tobacco pouches, there is the possibility of one person confusing his/her tobacco container with that of another person. This is especially a disadvantage in situations where the people are present in the same environment (i.e. location) or where such people are likely to come into contact with each other. Therefore, it would be advantageous for a person to be able to personalise his/her tobacco container. For example, when several people are smoking a particular brand of tobacco, and especially when several people are smoking a particular brand of tobacco in the same place or in situations where such people come into contact with each other, it would be advantageous for such people to be able to personalise their own tobacco containers.

The present invention seeks avoid the above disadvantage by providing a container for smoking articles or smokable materials, such as a tobacco pouch, which allows marking thereof, for example by an individual, so as to thereby personalise such container.

Prior art

US-A-5,560,885 relates to a process for producing a biaxially-oriented multi-layer film having a silk-matt finish, the process comprising co-extruding melts corresponding to the individual layers of the film. Uses of the film include as a replacement for acetate films, as a packaging film on high speed packaging machines, as a lid closure and as cigarette wrapping film.

US-A-6,306,493 discloses laser-markable paper and board products wherein micronized polymers composed of linear aromatic polyesters and/or of linear polyarylenes having a particle size of 0.1 to 1 00.tm are incorporated as absorber materials directly into the body and/or coating of the paper.

GB-A-1,423,211 discloses boat type packaging containers of a previously cut out, foldable cardboard and the inner surface of which may be coated with a sheet of cellulose paper of the calendered or glassine type. Further, the blank used to form the container may be coated to improve the appearance and/or mechanical characteristics of the blank. The containers are intended especially for the transport and display for sale of food products.

GB-A-599,921 discloses moisture-vapour-proof pouches of an outer lamination and an inner lamination having an inner pigment-coated surface. The pigment coated sheet may be formed of a metal foil or thin paper sheet with the outer transparent sheet being printed on the reverse side to contact the pigment coated surface of the inner sheet.

The pouches may be used for packaging tobacco.

EP-A-0 209 362 discloses metallised laminates which can be used for such as cigarette cartons. The laminate comprises a mono-or multi-layer coextruded film composed of biaxially oriented polypropylene each surface of which is either glossy or matt and is metallised with aluminium.

JP 2002262851 discloses a tobacco packaging container which does not require the carrying of a lighter. The container comprises a coated surface of ignition material.

GB-A-854,2 13 discloses portable containers for bottles or like elongated articles, the container having a hinged flap the inner surface of which may comprise a substance which may be written upon and the writing easily erased by means of a damp cloth.

CH 63099 discloses a plastic sheet material having an appearance of cardboard. The sheet material can be used to form containers and other articles and may be printed.

The above-noted prior art does not disclose the specific containers forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Description of the Invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a smokable material container, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon, the matt coating allowing marking thereof.

Preferably, the smokable material container is a tobacco container and, more preferably, is a tobacco pouch.

Preferably the coating is a lacquer, a paint or an ink. More preferably, the coating is a lacquer.

Suitable inks for use as the coating include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing techniques.

The coating may, for example, comprise a matting agent such as a silica gel. An example of a suitable silica gel is Syloid 244 available from W. R. Grace and Company, USA ("Syloid" is a trade mark).

As used herein, the term "matt", when used in connection with the coating applied to the outer surface of the container, refers to a state where the coating lacks visual brightness due to a roughness of the surface of the coating. The roughness gives the coating surface the desired property of allowing marking thereof whereby the material used for the marking (e.g. an ink) adheres to the coating surface. Such roughness may be only a slight roughness but is sufficient to enable marking(s) applied to adhere thereto. Also, as used herein, in connection with the present invention, the term "matting agent" refers to a material that may be present in the coating such that the coating is a matt coating.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "smokable material" includes tobacco, tobacco-containing materials, and tobacco substitutes.

Although the coating may be of any colour, it is preferably a white coating. The use of a white coating has the advantage that it aids in the visibility of marking(s) applied thereto by providing a contrast between such coating and the markings applied thereto.

The smokable material container (e.g. tobacco pouch) of the present invention may, for example, be formed from any suitable substrate. For example, a suitable substrate for forming the container is a plastics material. The plastics material may be any conventional plastics material. For example, the plastics material may be selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

The smokable material container (e.g. tobacco pouch) may, for example, be formed from a plastics laminate material, a metallised foil or a foil laminate. If such a plastics laminate material, metalised foil or foil laminate comprises two or more plastics material layers, then each of said layers may, for example, be independently formed from a plastics material selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

However, other materials that may form the substrate of the container, particularly a tobacco pouch, include leather and lambskin.

Preferably, the smokable material container (e.g. tobacco pouch) is formed from a plastics material substrate, and more preferably is formed from a plastics laminate material substrate.

The coating may, for example, be in the form of a lacquer, a paint or an ink, and is preferably in the form of a lacquer. The lacquer, paint or ink may, for example, be a solvent or water based system.

The marking(s) to be applied to the container may, for example, be applied using any suitable material and any suitable technique.

The marking(s) may, for example, be applied manually. For example, the marking(s) may be applied manually using a pencil, ball pen, roller ball pen or fountain pen.

Alternatively, the marking(s) may be applied mechanically, for example, using any conventional printing technique such as gravure printing, lithographic printing or flexographic printing techniques. Suitable inks for use in such printing techniques include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of preparing a smokable material container, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon, the matt coating allowing marking thereof, and the method comprising applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and drying or curing said coating composition.

According to the present invention there is further provided a method of preparing a smokable material container, for example a personalised smokable material container, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings (e.g. personal markings) to the resultant coating on the container or to the resultant coating on the material prior to formation of the container.

In the methods according to the present invention, the container is preferably a tobacco container, and more preferably is a tobacco pouch.

In the methods of the present invention for preparing a smokable material container, for example a personalised smokable material container, the marking(s) to be applied to the container may, for example, be applied using any suitable material and any

suitable technique.

In such methods, the marking(s) may, for example, be applied manually. For example, the marking(s) may be applied manually using a pencil, ball pen, roller ball pen or fountain pen.

Alternatively, in such methods, the marking(s) may be applied using any conventional printing technique such as gravure printing, lithographic printing or flexographic printing techniques. Suitable inks for use in such printing techniques include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing.

The coating composition may, for example, be in the form of a lacquer, a paint or an ink, and is preferably in the form of a lacquer. The lacquer, paint or ink may, for example, be a solvent or water based system.

Suitable inks for use as the coating composition include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing.

The coating composition applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the smokable material container or to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container may, for example, comprise a matting agent. The matting agent may, for example, be present in the coating composition in an amount of up to 10 % by weight, e.g. in an amount of from 2 to 3 % by weight.

An example of a suitable matting agent is a silica gel and an example of a suitable silica gel is Syloid 244 available from W. R. Grace and Company, USA.

The coating composition may be of any colour. However, the coating composition is preferably a white coating composition. That is, the coating composition may, for example, be such that the dried or cured coating composition produces a white coating on that portion, or those portions, of the container coated with said coating composition. As stated above, the use of a white coating has the advantage that it may aid in visibility of the marking(s) applied thereto by providing a contrast between such coating and the markings applied thereto.

In the methods according to the present invention the material used to form the container (e.g. tobacco pouch) may be any suitable substrate. For example, a suitable substrate for forming the container is a plastics material. The plastics material may be any conventional plastics material. For example, the plastics material may be selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

In the methods according to the present invention the material used to form the container (e.g. tobacco pouch) may be a plastics laminate material, a metallised foil or a foil laminate. If such a plastics laminate material, metallised foil or foil laminate comprises two or more plastics material layers, then each of said layers may, for example, be independently formed from a plastics material selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

However, other materials that may form the substrate of a container, particularly a tobacco pouch, include leather and lambskin.

Preferably, in the methods according to the present invention the material used to form the container (e.g. tobacco pouch) is a plastics material substrate, and more preferably is a plastics laminate material substrate.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a container for smokable materials, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating (e.g. a matt coating) applied to at least a portion thereof, the mafl coating surface and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof.

In a further alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of preparing a container for smokable materials, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating applied to at least a portion thereof, the matt coating and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof, and the method comprising: (a) applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and drying or curing said coating composition; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used t& form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating (e.g. with a matt coating composition) at least a portion of such textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

In a still further alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of preparing a smokable material container, for example a personalised smokable material container, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising: (a) applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings (e.g. personal markings) to the resultant matt coating on the container or to the resulting matt coating on the material prior to formation of the container; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating (e.g. with a maft coating composition) at least a portion of the such textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container, and applying one or more markings (e.g. personal markings) to the resultant coated textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "smokable materials" includes: smokable materials such as tobacco, tobacco-containing materials, and tobacco substitutes; and smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos.

The container for smokable materials according to the above alternative embodiments of the present invention, or the container for smokable materials used in the above alternative methods of the present invention, may, for example, be in any suitable form. For example the container may be in the form of a cigarette packaging container or may be in the form of a container for smokable materials such as a tobacco pouch.

Preferably, the container is in the form of a tobacco pouch. When in the form of a tobacco container such as a tobacco pouch, the container may be formed from any suitable substrate. For example, the substrate of the container may be a plastics material, and more preferably is a plastics laminate material.

It is to be understood that one or more of the above-described features of the smokable material container according to the present invention may also be applicable to the container for smokable materials according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention and vice versa. Further, it is to be understood that one or more of the above-described features of the methods of preparing a smokable material container according to the present invention may also be applicable to the methods according to the alternative embodiments of the present invention and vice versa.

The present invention will now be further illustrated by way of the following Example.

Example

One surface of a polyethylene/polypropylene laminate material was printed by hand with a coating composition which was a conventional white lacquer to which had been added Syloid 244 matting agent (3% by weight based on the weight of the composition) and a pouch was then formed therefrom such that the matt coated surface was the outer surface of the pouch.

Hand written text was then applied to the matt surface of the laminate material pouch, the text being applied using inks from various types of pen.

The pouch was then tested to investigate the adhesion of the matt coating and also the adhesion of the hand written text. The results indicated that a permanent adhesion of the hand written text was possible and that a semi-permanent adhesion of the matt coating possible.

Various modifications and variations of the described aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes of carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. 1 2455314 Container for smokable materials and methods for forming such containers

Introduction

The present invention relates to containers for smokable materials such as tobacco pouches, and methods for forming such containers. In particular, the present invention relates to containers which allow marking thereof, for example using an ink, and to methods for forming such containers.

In situations where a number of people are smoking the same brand of tobacco and, therefore, have identical tobacco containers such as tobacco pouches, there is the possibility of one person confusing his/her tobacco container with that of another person. This is especially a disadvantage in situations where the people are present in the same environment (i.e. location) or where such people are likely to come into contact with each other. Therefore, it would be advantageous for a person to be able to personalise his/her tobacco container. For example, when several people are smoking a particular brand of tobacco, and especially when several people are smoking a particular brand of tobacco in the same place or in situations where such people come into contact with each other, it would be advantageous for such people to be able to personalise their own tobacco containers.

The present invention seeks avoid the above disadvantage by providing a container for smoking articles or smokable materials, such as a tobacco pouch, which allows marking thereof, for example by an individual, so as to thereby personalise such container.

Prior art

US-A-5,560,885 relates to a process for producing a biaxially-oriented multi-layer film having a silk-matt finish, the process comprising co-extruding melts corresponding to the individual layers of the film. Uses of the film include as a replacement for acetate films, as a packaging film on high speed packaging machines, as a lid closure and as cigarette wrapping film.

US-A-6,306,493 discloses laser-markable paper and board products wherein micronized polymers composed of linear aromatic polyesters and/or of linear polyarylenes having a particle size of 0.1 to 1 00.tm are incorporated as absorber materials directly into the body and/or coating of the paper.

GB-A-1,423,211 discloses boat type packaging containers of a previously cut out, foldable cardboard and the inner surface of which may be coated with a sheet of cellulose paper of the calendered or glassine type. Further, the blank used to form the container may be coated to improve the appearance and/or mechanical characteristics of the blank. The containers are intended especially for the transport and display for sale of food products.

GB-A-599,921 discloses moisture-vapour-proof pouches of an outer lamination and an inner lamination having an inner pigment-coated surface. The pigment coated sheet may be formed of a metal foil or thin paper sheet with the outer transparent sheet being printed on the reverse side to contact the pigment coated surface of the inner sheet.

The pouches may be used for packaging tobacco.

EP-A-0 209 362 discloses metallised laminates which can be used for such as cigarette cartons. The laminate comprises a mono-or multi-layer coextruded film composed of biaxially oriented polypropylene each surface of which is either glossy or matt and is metallised with aluminium.

JP 2002262851 discloses a tobacco packaging container which does not require the carrying of a lighter. The container comprises a coated surface of ignition material.

GB-A-854,2 13 discloses portable containers for bottles or like elongated articles, the container having a hinged flap the inner surface of which may comprise a substance which may be written upon and the writing easily erased by means of a damp cloth.

CH 63099 discloses a plastic sheet material having an appearance of cardboard. The sheet material can be used to form containers and other articles and may be printed.

The above-noted prior art does not disclose the specific containers forming the subject matter of the present invention.

Description of the Invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a smokable material container, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon, the matt coating allowing marking thereof.

Preferably, the smokable material container is a tobacco container and, more preferably, is a tobacco pouch.

Preferably the coating is a lacquer, a paint or an ink. More preferably, the coating is a lacquer.

Suitable inks for use as the coating include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing techniques.

The coating may, for example, comprise a matting agent such as a silica gel. An example of a suitable silica gel is Syloid 244 available from W. R. Grace and Company, USA ("Syloid" is a trade mark).

As used herein, the term "matt", when used in connection with the coating applied to the outer surface of the container, refers to a state where the coating lacks visual brightness due to a roughness of the surface of the coating. The roughness gives the coating surface the desired property of allowing marking thereof whereby the material used for the marking (e.g. an ink) adheres to the coating surface. Such roughness may be only a slight roughness but is sufficient to enable marking(s) applied to adhere thereto. Also, as used herein, in connection with the present invention, the term "matting agent" refers to a material that may be present in the coating such that the coating is a matt coating.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "smokable material" includes tobacco, tobacco-containing materials, and tobacco substitutes.

Although the coating may be of any colour, it is preferably a white coating. The use of a white coating has the advantage that it aids in the visibility of marking(s) applied thereto by providing a contrast between such coating and the markings applied thereto.

The smokable material container (e.g. tobacco pouch) of the present invention may, for example, be formed from any suitable substrate. For example, a suitable substrate for forming the container is a plastics material. The plastics material may be any conventional plastics material. For example, the plastics material may be selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

The smokable material container (e.g. tobacco pouch) may, for example, be formed from a plastics laminate material, a metallised foil or a foil laminate. If such a plastics laminate material, metalised foil or foil laminate comprises two or more plastics material layers, then each of said layers may, for example, be independently formed from a plastics material selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

However, other materials that may form the substrate of the container, particularly a tobacco pouch, include leather and lambskin.

Preferably, the smokable material container (e.g. tobacco pouch) is formed from a plastics material substrate, and more preferably is formed from a plastics laminate material substrate.

The coating may, for example, be in the form of a lacquer, a paint or an ink, and is preferably in the form of a lacquer. The lacquer, paint or ink may, for example, be a solvent or water based system.

The marking(s) to be applied to the container may, for example, be applied using any suitable material and any suitable technique.

The marking(s) may, for example, be applied manually. For example, the marking(s) may be applied manually using a pencil, ball pen, roller ball pen or fountain pen.

Alternatively, the marking(s) may be applied mechanically, for example, using any conventional printing technique such as gravure printing, lithographic printing or flexographic printing techniques. Suitable inks for use in such printing techniques include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of preparing a smokable material container, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon, the matt coating allowing marking thereof, and the method comprising applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and drying or curing said coating composition.

According to the present invention there is further provided a method of preparing a smokable material container, for example a personalised smokable material container, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings (e.g. personal markings) to the resultant coating on the container or to the resultant coating on the material prior to formation of the container.

In the methods according to the present invention, the container is preferably a tobacco container, and more preferably is a tobacco pouch.

In the methods of the present invention for preparing a smokable material container, for example a personalised smokable material container, the marking(s) to be applied to the container may, for example, be applied using any suitable material and any

suitable technique.

In such methods, the marking(s) may, for example, be applied manually. For example, the marking(s) may be applied manually using a pencil, ball pen, roller ball pen or fountain pen.

Alternatively, in such methods, the marking(s) may be applied using any conventional printing technique such as gravure printing, lithographic printing or flexographic printing techniques. Suitable inks for use in such printing techniques include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing.

The coating composition may, for example, be in the form of a lacquer, a paint or an ink, and is preferably in the form of a lacquer. The lacquer, paint or ink may, for example, be a solvent or water based system.

Suitable inks for use as the coating composition include any of the inks conventionally used in gravure, lithographic and flexographic printing.

The coating composition applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the smokable material container or to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container may, for example, comprise a matting agent. The matting agent may, for example, be present in the coating composition in an amount of up to 10 % by weight, e.g. in an amount of from 2 to 3 % by weight.

An example of a suitable matting agent is a silica gel and an example of a suitable silica gel is Syloid 244 available from W. R. Grace and Company, USA.

The coating composition may be of any colour. However, the coating composition is preferably a white coating composition. That is, the coating composition may, for example, be such that the dried or cured coating composition produces a white coating on that portion, or those portions, of the container coated with said coating composition. As stated above, the use of a white coating has the advantage that it may aid in visibility of the marking(s) applied thereto by providing a contrast between such coating and the markings applied thereto.

In the methods according to the present invention the material used to form the container (e.g. tobacco pouch) may be any suitable substrate. For example, a suitable substrate for forming the container is a plastics material. The plastics material may be any conventional plastics material. For example, the plastics material may be selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

In the methods according to the present invention the material used to form the container (e.g. tobacco pouch) may be a plastics laminate material, a metallised foil or a foil laminate. If such a plastics laminate material, metallised foil or foil laminate comprises two or more plastics material layers, then each of said layers may, for example, be independently formed from a plastics material selected from one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid.

However, other materials that may form the substrate of a container, particularly a tobacco pouch, include leather and lambskin.

Preferably, in the methods according to the present invention the material used to form the container (e.g. tobacco pouch) is a plastics material substrate, and more preferably is a plastics laminate material substrate.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a container for smokable materials, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating (e.g. a matt coating) applied to at least a portion thereof, the mafl coating surface and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof.

In a further alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of preparing a container for smokable materials, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating applied to at least a portion thereof, the matt coating and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof, and the method comprising: (a) applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and drying or curing said coating composition; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used t& form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating (e.g. with a matt coating composition) at least a portion of such textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

In a still further alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of preparing a smokable material container, for example a personalised smokable material container, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising: (a) applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings (e.g. personal markings) to the resultant matt coating on the container or to the resulting matt coating on the material prior to formation of the container; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating (e.g. with a maft coating composition) at least a portion of the such textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container, and applying one or more markings (e.g. personal markings) to the resultant coated textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

As used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "smokable materials" includes: smokable materials such as tobacco, tobacco-containing materials, and tobacco substitutes; and smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos.

The container for smokable materials according to the above alternative embodiments of the present invention, or the container for smokable materials used in the above alternative methods of the present invention, may, for example, be in any suitable form. For example the container may be in the form of a cigarette packaging container or may be in the form of a container for smokable materials such as a tobacco pouch.

Preferably, the container is in the form of a tobacco pouch. When in the form of a tobacco container such as a tobacco pouch, the container may be formed from any suitable substrate. For example, the substrate of the container may be a plastics material, and more preferably is a plastics laminate material.

It is to be understood that one or more of the above-described features of the smokable material container according to the present invention may also be applicable to the container for smokable materials according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention and vice versa. Further, it is to be understood that one or more of the above-described features of the methods of preparing a smokable material container according to the present invention may also be applicable to the methods according to the alternative embodiments of the present invention and vice versa.

The present invention will now be further illustrated by way of the following Example.

Example

One surface of a polyethylene/polypropylene laminate material was printed by hand with a coating composition which was a conventional white lacquer to which had been added Syloid 244 matting agent (3% by weight based on the weight of the composition) and a pouch was then formed therefrom such that the matt coated surface was the outer surface of the pouch.

Hand written text was then applied to the matt surface of the laminate material pouch, the text being applied using inks from various types of pen.

The pouch was then tested to investigate the adhesion of the matt coating and also the adhesion of the hand written text. The results indicated that a permanent adhesion of the hand written text was possible and that a semi-permanent adhesion of the matt coating possible.

Various modifications and variations of the described aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes of carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (32)

1. A smokable material container, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon, the matt coating allowing marking thereof.

2. A smokable material container according to Claim 1, wherein said coating is a lacquer, a paint or an ink.

3. A smokable material container according to Claim 2, wherein said coating is a lacquer.

4. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coating comprises a matting agent.

5. A smokable material container according to Claim 4, wherein said matting agent is a silica gel.

6. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coating is a white coating.

7. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is formed from a plastics material.

8. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is formed from a plastics laminate material.

9. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coating allows marking thereof with an ink.

10. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims which is in the form of a pouch.

11. A smokable material container according to Claim 10 which is in the form of a tobacco pouch.

12. A method of preparing a smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container, and drying or curing said coating composition.

13. A method of preparing a smokable material container, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising applying a maft coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings to the resultant coating on the container or on the material prior to formation of the container.

14. A method according to Claim 13, wherein said marking(s) is/are applied using an ink.

15. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein said coating composition is a lacquer, a paint or an ink.

16. A method according to Claim 15, wherein said coating composition is a lacquer.

17. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 16, wherein said coating composition applied to the outer surface of the smokable material container, or to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container, comprises a matting agent.

18. A method according to Claim 17, wherein said coating composition applied to the outer surface of the smokable material container, or to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container, comprises up to 10 % by weight of the matting agent.

19. A method according to Claim 18, wherein said coating composition comprises from 2 to 3% by weight of the matting agent.

20. A method according to any one of Claims 17 to 19, wherein said matting agent is a silica gel.

21. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 20, wherein said coating composition is a white coating composition.

22. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 21, wherein the smokable material container is formed from a plastics material.

23. A method according to Claim 22, wherein the smokable material container is formed from a plastics laminate material.

24. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 23, wherein the smokable material container is in the form of a pouch.

25. A method according to Claim 24, wherein the smokable material container is in the form of a tobacco pouch

26. A container for smokable materials, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating applied to at least a portion thereof, the matt coating and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof.

27. A method of preparing a container for smokable materials, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating applied to at least a portion thereof, the matt coating and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof, and the method compnsing: (a) applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and drying or curing said coating composition; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating at least a portion of such textured surface of the container prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

28. A method of preparing a container for smokable materials, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising: (a) applying a mart coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings to the resultant mart coating on the container or to the resulting mart coating on the material prior to formation of the container; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating at least a portion of such textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container, and applying one or more markings to the resultant coated textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

29. A smokable material container allowing marking thereof substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Example.

30. A smokable material container having one or more markings applied thereto substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Example

31. A method of preparing a smokable material container allowing marking thereof substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Example.

32. A method of preparing a smokable material container having one or more markings applied thereto substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to

the Example.

32. A method of preparing a smokable material container having one or more markings applied thereto substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to

the Example.

1. A smokable material container, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon, the matt coating allowing marking thereof.

2. A smokable material container according to Claim 1, wherein said coating is a lacquer, a paint or an ink.

3. A smokable material container according to Claim 2, wherein said coating is a lacquer.

4. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coating comprises a matting agent.

5. A smokable material container according to Claim 4, wherein said matting agent is a silica gel.

6. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coating is a white coating.

7. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is formed from a plastics material.

8. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is formed from a plastics laminate material.

9. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coating allows marking thereof with an ink.

10. A smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims which is in the form of a pouch.

11. A smokable material container according to Claim 10 which is in the form of a tobacco pouch.

12. A method of preparing a smokable material container according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container, and drying or curing said coating composition.

13. A method of preparing a smokable material container, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising applying a maft coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container, or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings to the resultant coating on the container or on the material prior to formation of the container.

14. A method according to Claim 13, wherein said marking(s) is/are applied using an ink.

15. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein said coating composition is a lacquer, a paint or an ink.

16. A method according to Claim 15, wherein said coating composition is a lacquer.

17. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 16, wherein said coating composition applied to the outer surface of the smokable material container, or to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container, comprises a matting agent.

18. A method according to Claim 17, wherein said coating composition applied to the outer surface of the smokable material container, or to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container, comprises up to 10 % by weight of the matting agent.

19. A method according to Claim 18, wherein said coating composition comprises from 2 to 3% by weight of the matting agent.

20. A method according to any one of Claims 17 to 19, wherein said matting agent is a silica gel.

21. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 20, wherein said coating composition is a white coating composition.

22. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 21, wherein the smokable material container is formed from a plastics material.

23. A method according to Claim 22, wherein the smokable material container is formed from a plastics laminate material.

24. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 23, wherein the smokable material container is in the form of a pouch.

25. A method according to Claim 24, wherein the smokable material container is in the form of a tobacco pouch 26. A container for smokable materials, which comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating applied to at least a portion thereof, the matt coating and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof.

27. A method of preparing a container for smokable materials, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein (i) at least a portion of the outer surface of said container has a matt coating thereon or (ii) the outer surface of the container has a textured surface which has a coating applied to at least a portion thereof, the matt coating and coated textured surface allowing marking thereof, and the method compnsing: (a) applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of the outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and drying or curing said coating composition; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating at least a portion of such textured surface of the container prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

28. A method of preparing a container for smokable materials, said container having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising: (a) applying a mart coating composition to at least a portion of said outer surface of the container or applying a matt coating composition to at least a portion of a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, drying or curing said coating composition, and applying one or more markings to the resultant mart coating on the container or to the resulting mart coating on the material prior to formation of the container; or (b) providing a textured surface on the outer surface of the container or on a surface of a material used to form the container prior to formation of the container, and coating at least a portion of such textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container, and applying one or more markings to the resultant coated textured surface prior to or subsequent to formation of the container.

29. A smokable material container allowing marking thereof substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Example.

30. A smokable material container having one or more markings applied thereto substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Example 31. A method of preparing a smokable material container allowing marking thereof substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Example.