GB2478573A

GB2478573A - Tobacco Package With Thermochromic Temperature Sensitive Markings

Info

Publication number: GB2478573A
Application number: GB1004013A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Burdock-Latter
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-11
Filing date: 2010-03-11
Publication date: 2011-09-14
Also published as: GB201004013D0

Abstract

A tobacco industry package, e.g. a cigarette packet 1 or carton, comprises at least one heat reactive indicium 13 configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature. The heat reactive markings are preferably formed from thermochromic temperature sensitive ink. First and second markings 14, 15 may be provided which overlap and which are designed so that a first set of marking are visible in a first temperature range and non-visible in a second temperature range and a second set of markings are visible in the second temperature range but non-visible in the first temperature range. A method of manufacturing a tobacco industry package comprises printing a temperature sensitive ink onto a surface of a blank, and forming the tobacco industry package from the blank.

Description

Tobacco Package

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a tobacco industry package comprising a heat reactive indicium.

Background to the Invention

The tobacco industry is an industry in which the circulation of product information is often limited by national regulation. As such, unlike other industries, the tobacco industry is frequently unable to use normal channels in order to provide information to their customers.

One place where such information can generally be provided is on the packaging in which the tobacco industry product is sold. The optimum use of packaging for providing product information is therefore of great importance.

Current tobacco packaging generally bears markings to indicate the type, origin and authenticity of the tobacco products contained within, as well as other product information. The markings are generally printed on the exterior surfaces of the packaging so that they are visible to consumers. However, the small si2e of tobacco packaging means that the amount of information that can be provided is severely limited by the available surface area of the package. It would be advantageous to be able to increase the amount of product information available to the consumer.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a tobacco industry package comprising at least one heat reactive indicium configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature.

The transition may occur in response to the temperature of the at least one indicium Jo reaching a threshold temperature.

The transition may occur in response to the temperature of the at least one heat reactive indicium increasing from a temperature below the threshold temperature to a temperature above the threshold temperature.

The transition may occur in response to the temperature of the at least one heat reactive indicium decreasing from a temperature above the threshold temperature to a temperature below the threshold temperature.

The transition may comprise a change from a first colour configuration to a second colour configuration.

The transition may comprise a change from a visible state to a non-visible state.

The transition may comprise a change from a non-visible state to a visible state.

The at least one heat reactive indicium may comprise a plurality of heat reactive indicia.

The at least one heat reactive indicium may comprise heat sensitive ink.

The at least one heat reactive indicium may be provided on an outwardly facing surface of the package.

The tobacco industry package may comprise a first set of heat reactive indicia configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature, and a second set of heat reactive indicia configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature.

The first set of heat reactive indicia and the second set of heat reactive indicia may be provided at overlapping locations on a surface of the package.

The first set of indicia may be visible in a first temperature range and non-visible in a second temperature range, and the second set of indicia may visible in the second temperature range and non-visible in the first temperature range.

Optionally, the first and second temperature ranges do not overlap.

An upper temperature boundary of the first temperature range may correspond to a lower temperature boundary of the second temperature range.

The heat reactive indicia may comprise heat reactive ink.

The indicia may be provided on an outwardly facing surface of the package.

The package may contain a tobacco product.

The tobacco product may comprise a plurality of cigarettes.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method of manufacturing a tobacco industry package, comprising printing at least one heat reactive indicium configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature onto a surface of a blank for the package, and forming the tobacco industry package from the blank.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an illustration of a tobacco industry package in an open configuration and a plurality of cigarettes.

Figure Ia is an illustration of another tobacco industry package in an open configuration.

Figure 2 is an illustration of a tobacco product container for a tobacco industry package.

Figure 3 is an illustration of a tobacco industry package in a closed configuration.

Figure 4 is an illustration of a tobacco industry package having a first set of heat reactive indicia in a visible state on an outwardly facing surface of the package.

Figure 5 is an illustration of a tobacco industry package having a second set of heat reactive indicia in a visible state on an outwardly facing surface of the package.

Figure 6 is an illustration of a tobacco industry package having a third set of heat reactive indicia in a visible state on an outwardly facing surface of the package.

Figure 7 is an illustration of a tobacco industry package having a first and second set of heat reactive indicia visible together to form a combined image on an outwardly facing surface of the package.

Figure 8 is a flow diagram of a method of forming a tobacco industry package with heat reactive indicia.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

For exemplary purposes only, embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

A tobacco industry package I is illustrated in Figure 1. Another example of a tobacco industry package I is illustrated in Figure Ia. As can be seen, the package I may comprise a substantially parallelepiped container 2 and a lid 3 hinged from an upper portion of the container 2 for opening and closing the package I. The container 2 may have internal dimensions designed to accommodate a plurality of smoking articles such as cigarettes 4, for example ten or twenty cigarettes 4. However, it will be appreciated that the depth, width, length and shape of the package 1 can be varied to accommodate any desired number of cigarettes 4 or other type of tobacco product. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the container 2 comprises a front wall 5, a rear wall 6, a first side wall 7, a second side wall 8 and a base wall 9. It also comprises an open end opposite the base wall 9 through which cigarettes 4 can be inserted into or removed Jo from the container 2. The walls 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the container 2 define an internal cavity II in which the cigarettes 4 can be accommodated and stored. Therefore, optionally, the container 2 may include a plurality of cigarettes 4.

The hd 3 is moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The open and closed configurations of the lid 3 are shown in Figures 1 and 3 respectively.

More specifically, the lid 3 may pivot about a hinge line 12 on the rear wall 6 of the package I between these two configurations. In the closed configuration, the lid 3 covers the open end 10 of the container 2 and therefore prevents access to the cavity 11. In the open configuration, the lid 3 is hinged away from the open end 10 of the container 2 and allows consumers to access cigarettes 4 contained within the cavity 11.

The exterior of the package I is marked with at least one heat reactive indicium 13, for example a plurality of heat reactive indicia 13. Examples are illustrated in Figures 4 to 7.

The heat reactive indicia 13 may be provided on an outwardly facing surface of one or more of the front wall 5, rear wall 6, first side wall 7, second side wall 8 or base wall 9 of the container 2, or on an outwardly facing surface of the lid 3. The indicia 13 may additionally or alternatively be provided on an inwardly facing surface of the lid 3 so that the indicia 13 become visible when the lid 3 is moved from the closed configuration shown in Figure 3 to the open configuration shown in Figure 1 and Figures 4 to 7.

The indicia 13 may be configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature. For example, the indicia 13 may be configured to change appearance when heated or cooled by an external source such as a human hand. The change may involve a transition from a first appearance state to a second appearance state when the temperate of the indicia 13 reaches a threshold temperature. More specifically, the indicia 13 may be configured to change from a first appearance state to a second appearance state when the temperature of the indicia 13 increases from a temperature below a threshold temperature to a temperature above the threshold temperature.

Likewise, the indicia 13 may be configured to change from a first appearance state to a second appearance state when the temperature of the indicia decreases from a temperature above a threshold temperature to a temperature below the threshold temperature. The change in appearance state may be permanent such that the appearance of the indicia 13 does not change following an initial appearance transition. Alternatively, the appearance state may alternatively be reversible and entirely temperature dependent such that the indicia 13 adopt a first appearance state below the threshold temperature and a second appearance state above the threshold temperature. Each of the appearance states may be associated with a temperature range, such that the indicia 13 adopt a particular appearance state only when the temperature of the indicia 13 is within the boundaries of the temperature range associated with that particular appearance state.

The change in appearance state does not have to be associated with a fixed threshold temperature. The change in appearance state of the indicia 13 may occur in response to any change in temperature of the indicia 13. For example the indicia 13 may be configured to undergo an appearance transition between first and second appearance states in response to a temperature fluctuation of one degree Celcius.

The change in appearance state may comprise a change from a first colour configuration of the indicia 13 to a second colour configuration of the indicia 13. The change in appearance state may alternatively comprise a change from a high visibility state to a reduced visibility state, a change from a reduced visibility state to a high visibility state, a change from a non visible state to a visible state or a change from a visible state to a non visible state. Detailed examples are described further below.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the indicia 13 may be divided into groups or sets. Each group or set of indicia 13 may have substantially the same heat reactive properties. For example, the indicia 13 may comprise a first set 14 of indicia 13 and a second set 15 of indicia 13.

The indicia 13 in the first set 14 may have different heat reaction properties to the indicia 13 in the second set 15.

For example, the indicia 13 in the first set 14 may be configured to change from a first appearance state to a second appearance state at a different threshold temperature to the indicia 13 in the second set 15. Additionally or alternatively, the indicia 13 in the first set 14 may have different first and second appearance states to the first and second appearance states of the indicia 13 in the second set 15. For example, the first set 14 and second set 15 of indicia 13 may be configured to change appearance at the same threshold temperature, Jo but between different first and second appearance states. In this case, optionally the first and second sets 14, 15 of indicia 13 may occupy the same or overlapping locations on the surface area of the package I with only one of the first and second sets 14, 15 of indicia being visible to the human eye at any one time. This allows double the amount of information to be provided on the package I than would usually be the case. Examples of this are explained below.

The first set 14 of indicia 13 may be configured to adopt a visible appearance state at temperatures below a threshold temperature of thirty-five degrees Celcius whilst the second set 15 of indicia 13 may be configured to adopt a non-visible appearance state at temperatures below the threshold temperature of thirty-five degrees Celcius. When the temperature of the indicia 13 reaches the threshold temperature of thirty-five degrees Celcius, the first set 14 of indicia 13 may be configured to undergo a transition to a non-visible appearance state whilst the second set 15 of indicia 13 may be configured to undergo a transition to a visible appearance state. At the threshold temperature, optionally one or the other or both of the sets 14, 15 of indicia 13 may be visible.

Therefore, in this configuration, at temperatures below the threshold temperature the first set 14 of indicia 13 are visible and the second set 15 of indicia 13 are not visible. This is shown in Figure 4. At temperatures above the threshold temperature the second set 15 of indicia 13 are visible and the first set 14 of indicia 13 are not visible. This is shown in Figure 5. As such, the first and second sets 14, 15 of indicia 13 can occupy the same or overlapping positions on the surface of the package I thereby increasing the amount of information on the package I without giving a confusing appearance to the consumer. It should be noted that the threshold temperature of thirty-five degrees referred to above is purely an example, and that any temperature could be used. For example, the threshold temperature may be human body temperature.

Referring to Figure 6, the indicia 13 may also comprise a third set 16 of indicia 13 having different heat reaction properties to the first 14 and second 15 sets. The indicia 13 in the third set 16 may be configured to change appearance state at a different threshold temperature to the indicia 13 in one or both of the first 14 and second IS sets.

Additionally or alternatively, the indicia 13 in the third set 16 may have different first and second appearance states to the first and second appearance states of the indicia 13 in one or both of the first 14 and second IS sets. In this case, optionally the first, second and third sets 14, 15, 16 of indicia 13 may occupy the same or overlapping areas of the package I with only one of the first, second and third sets 14, 15, 16 of indicia 13 being visible to the human eye at any one time.

For example, the first set 14 of indicia 13 may adopt a visible state below a first (lower) threshold temperature and a non-visible state above the first threshold temperature. The second set 15 of indicia 13 may adopt a non-visible state below the first threshold temperature, a visible state between the first threshold temperature and a second (higher) threshold temperature and a non-visible state above the second threshold temperature.

The third set 16 of indicia 13 may adopt a non-visible state below the second threshold temperature and a visible state above the second threshold temperature. This allows the first, second and third sets 14, 15, 16 of indicia 13 to occupy the same or overlapping positions on the surface of the package 1, thereby increasing the amount of information on the package I without giving a confusing appearance to the customer. More sets of indicia 13 can be used in the same manner, as will be appreciated by the skilled person.

Furthermore it will be appreciated that changes in colour could be employed in addition or as an alternative to the visibility appearance changes discussed above.

Any of the first 14, second 15 and third 16 sets of indicia 13 may be configured such that they are visible together, for example above or below a particular threshold temperature.

An example of this is shown in Figure 7, in which the position of the second set 15 of indicia 13 overlaps the position of the first set 14 of indicia 13 to create a combined image above a particular threshold temperature. Below the threshold temperature, optionally one or the other of the first and second sets 14, 15 is visible as shown in Figures 4 and S. The indicia 13 may comprise printed markings on the surface of the package 1, for example an outwardly facing surface of the package 1. The indicia 13 may be printed using a heat reactive ink or other heat reactive marking product. The indicia 13 may comprise text, pictures, symbols or shapes of any kind. Examples of the indicia 13 may include indicia 13 configured to indicate the temperature of the package I using a colour code. For example, the indicia 13 may be blue below ten degrees Celcius, orange between ten degrees Celcius and thirty degrees Celcius and red above thirty degrees Celcius. The indicia 13 may be configured to change colour only with increasing temperature, and to not reverse in colour when the temperature of the package I cools. Thus, the indicia 13 could be used as a warning system to indicate packages I that have been heated to a higher than desirable temperature. A similar configuration could be used to indicate that the package I has been cooled to a lower than desirable temperature.

The indicia 13 could alternatively be used to reveal text on the package 1. For example, a first set 14 of black indicia 13 may be configured to turn transparent when the package I is heated to a threshold temperature. At the threshold temperature, a second set 15 located in the same location on the package I as the first set 14 of indicia 13 may turn from transparent to black to reveal the text on the surface of package 1. The threshold temperature may be close to human body temperature so that the text can be revealed by a consumer holding their finger or thumb against the indicia 13 to heat them.

Referring to Figure 8, the tobacco industry package I may be manufactured by printing or marking the package I with indicia 13 in a production process. For example, blanks for the package I may be passed through a suitable printing apparatus configured to print the indicia 13 onto the surface of each blank using one or more heat reactive inks. Each set 14, 15, 16 of indicia 13 may be printed using a different ink or blend of inks to provide each set 14, 15, 16 of indicia 13 with different heat reactive characteristics. Following the printing process, the blanks can be assembled into packages I by folding and gluing the blanks in a conventional manner.

It will be appreciated that although the package I has been described in terms of a hinged-lid cigarette package 1, the package I could alternatively comprise any other type of tobacco industry package I. For example, the package I may comprise other types of tobacco product packages I such as a loose tobacco package, a cigar package, a cigarillo package, a snus package or a snuff package. Alternatively, the package I may comprise a carton adapted to contain a plurality of individual tobacco product packages.

The examples and alternatives discussed above may be used singly or in combination to achieve the effects of the invention.

Claims

-10 -Claims 1. A tobacco industry package comprising at least one heat reactive indicium configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature.
2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the transition occurs in response to the temperature of the at least one indicium reaching a threshold temperature.
3. A package according to claim 2, wherein the transition occurs in response to the temperature of the at least one indicium increasing from a temperature below the threshold temperature to a temperature above the threshold temperature.
4. A package according to claim 2, wherein the transition occurs in response to the temperature of the at least one indicium decreasing from a temperature above the threshold temperature to a temperature below the threshold temperature.
5. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the transition comprises a change from a first colour configuration to a second colour configuration.
6. A package according to any one of claims I to 4, wherein the transition comprises a change from a visible state to a non-visible state.
7. A package according to any one of claims I to 4, wherein the transition comprises a change from a non-visible state to a visible state.
8. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one indicium comprises a plurality of heat reactive indicia.
9. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one heat reactive indicium comprises heat sensitive ink.
10. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one indicium is provided on an outwardly facing surface of the package.

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11 - 11. A package according to claim 1, comprising a first set of heat reactive indicia configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature, and a second set of heat reactive indicia configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature.
12. A package according to claim 11, wherein the first set of heat reactive indicia and the second set of heat reactive indicia are provided at overlapping locations on a surface of the package.
13. A package according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first set of indicia are visible in a first temperature range and non-visible in a second temperature range, and the second set of indicia are visible in the second temperature range and non-visible in the first temperature range.
14. A package according to claim 13, wherein the first and second temperature ranges do not overlap.
15. A package according to claim 13, wherein an upper temperature boundary of the first temperature range corresponds to a lower temperature boundary of the second temperature range.
16. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat reactive indicia comprise heat reactive ink.
17. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicia are provided on an outwardly facing surface of the package.
18. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the tobacco package contains a tobacco product.
19. A package according to claim 18, wherein the tobacco product comprises a plurality of cigarettes.

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20. A tobacco industry package substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying figures.
21. A method of manufacturing a tobacco industry package, comprising printing at least one heat reactive indicium configured to undergo an appearance transition in response to a change in temperature onto a surface of a blank for the package, and forming the tobacco industry package from the blank.