GB2515987A

GB2515987A - A blank of wrapping material

Info

Publication number: GB2515987A
Application number: GB1303446.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Hodges
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd; British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2013-02-27
Filing date: 2013-02-27
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Also published as: WO2014132037A1; GB201303446D0

Abstract

A blank of wrapping material (3) foldable about a tobacco industry product, preferably a charge of smoking articles for insertion into a pack, is disclosed. The blank includes at least one pleat (comprising folds 21, 22 and 23) forming a region having multiple layers of wrapping material. Preferably the pleat is visible when the lid of the pack is open. The pleat may be formed into the blank of wrapping material before the blank is folded about the product. The pleat may be formed remote from the edges of the wrapping material. The pleat may be parallel or angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the smoking articles.

Description

A blaiik of wrapping material

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a blank of wrapping material for being foRmed about a tobacco industry product. The present invention a'so relates to a bundle of smoking artides comprising a charge of smoking artides and a wrapping materia' enclosing the charge of smoking articles, and a bundle of smoking articles received in a pack.

rn Background

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, are typically bunified together and wrapped in a sheet of materi&, for example, a sheet of paper aminated with meta' fofi. The sheet of materi& he'ps to preserve the freshness and the aroma of the tobacco in the smoking artides. The wrapped bunifie of i smoking artides is further stored in a pack which protects the cigarettes from mechanical and environmenta' damage. The pack can be endosed in an outer transparent plastic film so as to further ensure that the smoking articles are protected from any environmental impact.

To access the smoking articles, a user pulls on a tab of the plastic film such that the plastic film tears open. Thereafter, the user opens a lid of the pack such that the aminated paper is exposed. The paper is typically formed with a line of weakness, such as perforations, so that a user can easfly separate a portion from the remainder of the paper by tearing it along the line of perforations so as to gain access to the smoking articles held within.

Summary

According to the present invention, there is provided a blank of wrapping material foldaNe about a tobacco industiy product, the blank including at east one pleat o forming a region having multiple thyers of wrapping materiaL In one embodiment, the blank of wrapping material has edges that overlap each other and the pleat is formed in the material remote from the edges when the wrapping material is folded about a tobacco industry product.

In one embodiment, the blank of wrapping material forms a front, rear and top wall, when folded about a tobacco industry product and the pleat is located so that it at least extends across the front waiL According to the present invention, there is also provided a bundle of smoking articles for insertion into a smoking article pack comprising a charge of smoking articles and a wrapping material endosing the charge of smoking artic'es, wherein the wrapping material includes at least one pleat to form a region of wrapping material having multiple layers.

In one embodiment, the wrapping materia' may have edges that overthp each other and the pleat is formed in the material remote from the edges.

The wrapping material may comprise a front, rear and top wall, and the pleat is located so that it at least extends across the front waiL In another embodiment, the smoking artides may each comprise a ongitudina1 axis and they are arranged in rows such that the longitudinal axis of each smoking article is parallel to one another, and the p'eat is parallel to the ongitudina axis of the smoking artic'es.

In an alternative embodiment, the smoking articles may each comprise a ongitudinal axis and they are arranged in rows such that the longitudinal axis of each smoking artic'e is parallel to one another, the pleat extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the smoking articles.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a smoking article pack having a bundle of smoking articies as described above received therein such that the or each pleat ii the wrapping material is visible when the lid is open.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of f&ding a b'ank of wrapping materia' as described above, wherein the method comprises the steps of forming a p'eat, and then f&ding the Nank about a tobacco industry product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a transparent front view of a wrapped bundle of smoking articles according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the wrapped bundle of smoking arti&es shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a front wall of the wrapped bundle of smoking articles; Figure 4 shows a blank of wrapping material for enclosing a charge of smoking articles; and Figure 5 shows a front view of a wrapped bundle of smoking articles received in a pack according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example i only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention strengthen a blank of wrapping material f&ded about a tobacco industry product, reduce accidental tearing and maintain the freshness and aroma of the tobacco industry product until a user removes the wrapping material from the tobacco industry product.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a charge of smoking artides 1 wrapped in a wrapping for insertion into a smoking artide pack 15. The wrapping comprises an elongate sheet or blank of wrapping materi& 3, such as foil or paper laminated with foil, which enc'oses the charge of smoking articles 1 such that said smoking articles are arranged in rows with the longitudinal axis A' of each smoking article being parallel to one another. The e'ongate sheet of materia' 3 may be formed from foil or paper laminated with foil.

The sheet or blank of material 3 encloses the charge of smoking articles 1. It is folded about the charge of smoking articles such that it forms a front wall 4 and a rear wall (not shown), wherein the front 4 and rear walls are parallel to the longitudinal axis A' of the smoking articles. The sheet of material 3 also forms a s bottom wafl 5 facing the combustiNe end 6 of the smoking artides. Furthermore, the sheet of material forms side walls 8, 9 and a top wall ii of the wrapped charge of smoking articles 2 as will now be described.

The side walls 8, 9 comprises side flaps a, 4b (only right side flaps are visib'e in Figure 2) that extend from the front 4 and rear walls towards the sides of the bundle and that are folded around onto the sides of the smoking aflicles. The flaps a extending from the front wall 4 overlap the flaps 4b extending from the rear wall.

io Similarly, top flaps ia, 14b, 14c, 14d extending from the front wall 4, rear wall and the two side wafls 8, 9 in an opposite direction to the bottom wall 5 are folded across the mouth end 7 of the smoking articles so as to form the top wall ii. The top flaps inc, 14d extending form the side walls 8, 9 are folded first, thereafter the top flap 14b extending from the rear wall is folded and lastly the is top flap a extending from the front wafi 4 is folded such that it overlaps all the other top flaps 14b, 14c, 14d.

The sheet of material 3 comprises a line of weakness 12. This line can be scored, perforated or punctured so as to form a weakened line. The line of weakness 12 extends between opposite long edges of the elongate sheet of material 3 such that it defines a portion 13 of the sheet of material. When the sheet of material 3 encloses the charge of smoking articles 1, the line of weakness 12 is located on the front wall 4 and on its corresponding side flaps a (only one flap is visible in Figure 2) which forms part of the side walls 8,9 of the bundle. Thus, the portion 13 forms an upper end of the wrapped charge of smoking articles.

To remove the portion 13 from the wrapped bundle of smoking articles, a user pulls on the top flap ia extending from the front wall 4 of the wrapped charge of smoking articlcs 2 such that wrapping tcars or scparatcs along thc linc of weakness 12. The user pufis in a direction paralle' to the ongitudina axis A' of the smoking artides which is represented by an arrow (B') in Figures 2 and s This direction is referred to as a first direction.

Prior to, or as the sheet of material 3 is wrapped around the charge of smoking articles 1, the sheet of material is provided with at least one additional strengthening fold. In the embodiment seen in Figures 1 and 2, the wrapped bundle of smoking articles 2 comprises a fold 10. The fold is formed by folding a mid-section of the elongate sheet of material back on itself such that the fold 10 comprises three thyers of the sheet of materia' as can best be seen in Figure 5.

The fold 10 introduces a pleat into the materi&, i.e. a region in which the material is folded back on itself to form multiple layers, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of the wrapping material in this region. Although only one pleat is shown so as to form a three layered structure, it will be appreciated that further folds can be imparted to the material to further increase the number of layers of wrapping material. I0

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the front wafl 4 transverse to the ongitudinal axis A' of the smoking articles. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fold 10 is formed along the longitudinal axis of the elongate sheet of material 3 such that it is parallel to the longitudinal axis A' of the smoking articles. Furthermore, it is also shown located off-centre on the front 4, rear and top 11 wafis of the wrapped bunWe of smoking artides. However, it wifi be appreciated that the fold may not extend in a longitudinal direction and need not be located off-centre, as illustrated, but can be formed in any position in the material to provide a region having multiple layers.

For example, in alternative embodiments, the elongate sheet of material can be folded along its longitudinal axis such that a fold is located along the centre on the front 4, rear and top walls ii of the wrapped bundle. In another un-illustrated embodiment, the fold is located on the front 4, rear, and top walls ii proximal to one of the side walls 8, 9.

The single or plurality of folds are, in at least some embodiments, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate sheet of material such that it is also parallel to the ongitudinal axis A' of the smoking artides enclosed within the wrapping.

Each fold comprises three layers of the sheet of material 3 which creates a localised enhanced thickness of the material 3 such that it increases the stability and strength of the wrapped bunWe of smoking artides.

The wrapped charge of smoking articles is receivable in a smoking article pack such that at least part of the fold(s) will be visible when the user has opened the smoking article pack. The fold may also make the removable portion easier to separate from the portion of the wrapping that remains, as a user may be able to slip a finger or nail beneath the fold to gain purchase on the wrapping in order to pill' it away.

In an alternative embodiment, the elongate sheet of material 3 is folded in a different pattern such that it comprises a first 21 and a second fold 22 that are at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis A' of the smoking articles and a third fold 23 that is parallel to said longitudinal axis A'. This is best seen in Figure.

io In Figure, a wrapped charge of smoking artic'es is ocated in a body 17 of a pack 15. The pack comprises a frame 16 received in the body 17. The pack may also comprise a lid, however it is omitted from this drawing for the sake of clarity.

The first, second and third folds 21, 22, 23 are visible on the front wail 4 and top wall ii of the wrapping when a user has opened the ild.

Advantageously, each fold creates a localised enhanced thickness of the material in a plurality of directions and regions such that the overall strength of the wrapped bundle of smoking articles is increased.

The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above. It is intended that the scope of the present invention includes wrapped charge of articles having a single fold parallel or at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis A' of the smoking articles. Alternatively, the wrapped charge of smoking articles may comprise a plurality of folds that may be parallel or they may be at different angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the smoking articles. Furthermore, the fold(s) does not have to extend across the front, rear and top wall. It may extend across only on of these walls or a combination o thereof.

It should be appreciated that the wrapped charge of smoking articles 2 as described above is not limited to the pack described herein. The wrapped charge of smoking articles can be used with any pack which enables a charge of smoking articles to be wrapped in a wrapping having a removable portion.

As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigariflos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and a'so heat-not-burn products. The smoking artide may be provided with a filter for the gaseous flow drawn by the smoker.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to smoking articles. It shall be envisaged that the blank or sheet of wrapping material can be used for enclosing or being folded about any tobacco industry product. I0

A tobacco industry product refers to any item made in, or sold by the tobacco industry, typically including a) cigarettes, cigariflos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes); b) non-smoking products incorporating tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes such as snuff, snus, hard tobacco, and heat-not-burn products; and c) other nicotine-delivery systems such as inhalers, lozenges and gum. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrates a range of products which are made and sold in the tobacco industry.

A tobacco industry pack refers to any pack that can contain and/or receive a tobacco industry product.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superior bundle of smoking articles and blank of wrapping material. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustivc and/or exclusive. They arc presented only to assist in understanding o and teach the daimed principles. It should be understood that they are not representative of all daimed inventions. As such, certain aspects of the disdosure have not been discussed herein. That afternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the invention or that further undescribed alternate embodiments may be available for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. It will be appreciated that many of those undescribed embodiments incorporate the same principles of the invention and others are equivalent. Thus, it is to be understood that other embodiments maybe utilized and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disdosure. As such, all examp'es, implementations, and/or embodiments are deemed to be non-Umiting throughout this disclosure. Also, no inference should be drawn regarding those embodiments discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than it is as such for purposes of reducing space and repetition. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. Some io of the disc'osed features, elements, implementation, etc., may be mutuafly contradictory, in that they cannot be simffltaneousy present in a sing'e embodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of the disclosure, and inapplicable to others. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed. Applicant reserves all rights in those presently i unclaimed inventions including the right to daim such inventions, file additiona' applications, continuations, continuations in part, divisions, and/or the fike thereof. As such, it sho&d be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, function, features, structural, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A b'ank of wrapping matenal f&dabe about a tobacco industiy product, the blank including at least one p'eat forming a region having miiltipe layers of wrapping material.
2. A blank of wrapping material according to claim 1, wherein the blank of wrapping material has edges that overlap each other and the pleat is formed in the material remote from the edges when the blank of wrapping material is folded about a io tobacco industry product.
3. A blank of wrapping material according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the blank of wrapping material forms a front, rear and top wall, when folded about a tobacco industry product and the pleat is located so that it at least extends across the front wall.
4. A bunWe of smoking artides for insertion into a smoking article pack comprising a charge of smoking artides and a wrapping material endosing the charge of smoking articles, wherein the wrapping material includes at least one pleat to form a region of wrapping material having multiple layers.
5. A bundle of smoking articles according to claim 4, wrapping material has edges that overlap each other and the pleat is formed in the material remote from the edges.
6. A bundle of smoking articles according to claim 4 or claims, wherein the wrapping material comprises a front, rear and top wall, and the pleat is located so that it at least extends across the front wall.
7. A bundle of smoking articles according to any of eiaims 4 to 6, wherein the smoking articles each comprises a longitudinal axis and they are arranged in rows such that the longitudinal axis of each smoking article is paraUe to one another, and the pleat is parallel to the thngitudinal axis of the smoking articles.
8. A bunifie of smoking artides according to any of daims 4 to 6, wherein the smoking articles each comprises a longitudinal axis and they are arranged in rows such that the longitudinal axis of each smoking article is parallel to one -10-another, the pleat extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the smoking articles.
9. A smoking artide pack having a bundle of smoking artides according to any of claims 4 to 8 received therein such that the or each pleat in the wrapping material is visible when the lid is open.
10. A blank of wrapping material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. I0ii. AbunWe of smoking artides substantiafly as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.12. A method of folding a blank of wrapping material as claimed in any of claims 1 i to 3, wherein the method comprises the steps of forming a peat, and then f&ding the b'ank about a tobacco industiy product.