GB2560692A

GB2560692A - A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products

Info

Publication number: GB2560692A
Application number: GB1701085.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Holford Steven
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2017-01-23
Filing date: 2017-01-23
Publication date: 2018-09-26
Also published as: GB201701085D0

Abstract

A container 2 to receive wrapped bundle of cigarettes 11 comprising: front, rear and side panels; lid attached to the rear panel; inner frame 14 with a major surface 15; tongue 22 depending from the major surface; the tongue lying between the wrapped cigarettes and front panel 4 of the container to urge them apart. Preferably, major surface is located between tongue and wrapped bundle or between tongue and front panel. Preferably, tongue comprises a U-shaped cut-out folded out of the plane of major surface, and a folded tab in order to attach to front face of wrapped bundle using adhesive. Preferably, frame is resilient to urge front panel from wrapped bundle. Preferably, bundle is wrapped in layer of barrier material and comprises removable section with an overlaid label to form opening. Invention aims to prevent bowing of front panel.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products Abstract Title: Cigarette container with tongue between cigarette bundle and front panel (57) A container 2 to receive wrapped bundle of cigarettes 11 comprising: front, rear and side panels; lid attached to the rear panel; inner frame 14 with a major surface 15; tongue 22 depending from the major surface; the tongue lying between the wrapped cigarettes and front panel 4 of the container to urge them apart. Preferably, major surface is located between tongue and wrapped bundle or between tongue and front panel. Preferably, tongue comprises a U-shaped cut-out folded out of the plane of major surface, and a folded tab in order to attach to front face of wrapped bundle using adhesive. Preferably, frame is resilient to urge front panel from wrapped bundle. Preferably, bundle is wrapped in layer of barrier material and comprises removable section with an overlaid label to form opening. Invention aims to prevent bowing of front panel.

FIG. 10 /6

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-ιΑ Container for a Wrapped Bundle of Tobacco Industry Products

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry 5 products such as smoking articles, including cigarettes. The present invention also relates to a tobacco industry product pack that comprises the container of the invention and a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products received in the container.

Reference is also made to a two-part blank for assembly into a container according to the invention and, to an inner frame for attachment to a container to receive a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products.

Background

Cigarette packs are known to have a re-closable label provided on a wrapped bundle of cigarettes. Pulling the label exposes an extraction opening for retrieving the cigarettes.

The label includes a region of pressure sensitive adhesive that allows the label to be repositioned over the extraction opening and held in place after it has been peeled back for the first time. In some instances, the bundle may have at least a partial vacuum therein, the vacuum being released when the label is pulled for the first time and air is allowed into the bundle through the extraction opening.

The wrapped bundle may be received in the base of a container of a smoking article pack so that it protrudes from an open end of the base. The wrapped bundle maybe at least partially enclosed by an inner frame positioned between the wrapped bundle and the container that is attached to and protrudes from the open end of the base together with the wrapped bundle. The container may further include a lid hingedly connected to the base that extends over the wrapped bundle and the inner frame protruding from the base to close the pack. The wrapped bundle may be glued or otherwise attached to the inner frame to prevent the wrapped bundle from coming out of the base of the pack during use.

Summary

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, there is provided a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products comprising a base having a front panel and a rear panel spaced from each other by side panels to define a cavity to receive the wrapped bundle, a lid pivotally attached to the rear panel of the base, and an inner frame having a major surface, wherein the inner frame comprises a tongue depending from said major surface, said tongue being configured to lie between the wrapped bundle and the front panel, when the wrapped bundle is received in the cavity, to urge the front panel away from the wrapped bundle.

In accordance with one embodiment, the major surface may be located between the tongue and the front panel so that the major surface is urged away from the wrapped bundle together with the front panel.

In accordance with another embodiment, the major surface may be located between the 10 tongue and the wrapped bundle so that the front panel is urged away from the wrapped bundle by the tongue, but the major surface remains against the wrapped bundle.

Preferably, the tongue is integral with the major surface.

The major surface may lie in a plane and the tongue may be folded out of the plane about a fold-line.

The major surface may comprise a cut-out section to form the tongue. The cut-out section can be defined by a U-shaped cut in the major panel.

The fold-line may extend along an upper edge of the major surface facing the lid.

Preferably, the inner frame is formed from a resilient material so that the tongue urges the front panel away from the wrapped bundle due to the resilience of said material.

The inner frame may comprise side flaps depending from the major surface, each side flap being folded relative to the major surface to overlie a corresponding side panel of the base.

The tongue may comprise a tab at its free end for attachment of the tongue to the wrapped bundle, the tab being folded relative to the remaining part of the tongue about a fold-line.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tobacco industry product pack comprising the container according to any preceding claim and a wrapped

-3bundle comprising a group of tobacco industry products wrapped in a layer of barrier material, said wrapped bundle being received in the container.

The wrapped bundle may have a front face that faces the front panel of the container. In 5 one embodiment, the tongue may be attached to said front face, preferably using adhesive.

In another embodiment, the tongue can be attached to the front panel and the major surface can be attached to the wrapped bundle.

In preferred embodiments, the layer of barrier material comprises an extraction opening defined by a removable section of said barrier material, wherein a label is attached to said removable section and has a peripheral portion that extends beyond the removable section, said peripheral portion being peelable away from the barrier layer so that the removable section lifts together with the label to open the extraction opening.

The wrapped bundle may have at least a partial vacuum therein that is released when the extraction opening is opened for the first time. The front face of the wrapped bundle may be bowed inwardly when the wrapped bundle has at least a partial vacuum therein.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a two-part blank for assembly into a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to the invention, a first part comprising a front panel and a rear panel spaced from each other by side panels, the front, rear and side panels being foldable relative to each other to define a base of a container to receive a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, and a second part comprising an inner frame having a major surface and a tongue depending from said major surface, the inner frame being attachable to the front panel of the base so that said tongue extends between the wrapped bundle and the front panel to urge the front panel away from the wrapped bundle. The inner frame maybe attached to the front panel of the base after the major surface has been attached to a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an inner frame for attachment to a container to receive a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products that has a base having a front panel and a rear panel spaced from each other by side

-4panels to define a cavity to receive the wrapped bundle, wherein the inner frame comprises a major surface, and a tongue depending from said major surface, the tongue being configured to lie between the wrapped bundle and the front panel, when the wrapped bundle is received in the cavity, to urge the front panel away from the wrapped bundle.

The major surface and the tongue may be separated by a fold-line.

The inner frame may be formed from a resilient material so that the tongue urges the front panel away from the wrapped bundle due to the resilience of said material.

The tongue may comprise a tab at its free end separated from the remainder of the tongue by a fold line.

In one embodiment, the tongue comprises a cut-out section of the major surface. The cut-out section maybe defined by a U-shaped cut in the major surface.

The major surface may have an edge and the tongue may extend from said edge.

Preferably, side flaps depend from the major surface, each side flap being foldable relative to the major panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wrapped bundle comprising a charge of tobacco industry products wrapped in a layer of barrier material and, an inner frame according to the invention, the inner frame being attached to the wrapped bundle for insertion of the wrapped bundle and the inner frame into a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a tobacco industiy product pack according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a container in which is received a wrapped bundle of smoking articles and an inner frame;

-5FIG. 2 shows a front view of the inner frame according to the invention prior to folding the tongue, or the side flaps, out of the plane of the major surface of the inner frame; FIG.3 shows the same view as FIG. 2, after the tongue has been folded out of the plane of the major surface of the inner frame;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the inner frame shown in Figure 3, taken along line A-A;

FIG 5 shows the inner frame of FIG. 4, after it has been placed around, and attached to, a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the inner frame according to another embodiment of the invention, prior to folding the tongue out of the plane of the major surface of the inner frame;

FIG. 7 shows a blank of a container according to an embodiment of the invention, to which an inner frame, according to FIG. 6 has been attached;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the inner frame according to another embodiment of the invention, prior to folding the tongue out of the plane of the major surface of the inner frame;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the inner frame shown in FIG. 8, taken along line A-A;

FIG. 10 shows the inner frame of FIG. 9, after it has been placed around and attached to a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products;

FIG. 11 shows a front view of the inner frame according to another embodiment of the invention, prior to folding the tongue out of the plane of the major surface of the inner frame, and

FIG. 12 shows a cross-section along the line A-A of FIG. 11, with the tongue is folded out of the plane of the major surface so that it lies between the front panel of the wrapped bundle and the major surface of the inner frame, and with the inner frame shown in a container together with a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products.

Detailed Description

It is known to provide a conventional hinged-lid type cigarette container with an inner frame having a major surface that is attached to the front panel of the container. The container has a base that receives a group or charge of cigarettes wrapped in a layer of barrier material. A front wall of the barrier material faces, and is attached to, the major surface of the inner frame to retain the wrapped bundle within the base.

-6It has been found that when the front wall of the barrier material is deformed, some deformity of the major surface of the inner frame can occur as a result of attaching the front wall to it. As the major surface of the inner frame is also attached to the front panel of the container, the deformity may also be transferred to the front panel. This problem is more prevalent when the wrapped bundle is under a vacuum pressure, as the front wall of the wrapped bundle tends to have an inwardly bowed surface profile, which results in the major surface of the inner frame, and the front panel of the container, assuming a similar profile. If the front panel of the wrapped bundle is bowed or otherwise deformed as a result of its attachment to the wrapped bundle, then the front panel doesn’t align properly with the lid and gives the pack an unsightly appearance.

According to embodiments of the invention, a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, a tobacco industry product pack comprising the container according to the invention, a two-part blank for assembly into the container of the invention and, an inner frame for attachment to a container to receive a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, is provided.

Embodiments of the invention have the intention of reducing or alleviating the disadvantage referred to above and seeks to prevent or reduce the tendency for the major surface of the inner frame, and the front panel of the base, to bow inwardly and assume a similar profile to that of the front wall of the wrapped bundle. In other embodiments, the invention seeks to prevent or reduce the tendency for only the front panel of the base to bow inwardly and assume a similar profile to the front wall of the wrapped bundle.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container 1 for a wrapped bundle 2 of tobacco industry products according to an embodiment of the invention. The container 1 comprises a base 3 having parallel front and rear panels 4, 5, which are spaced from each other by spaced parallel side panels 6, 7, to provide a cavity to receive the wrapped bundle 2 protruding from an open, upper end of the base 3.

Container 1 further comprises a lid 8 hingedly mounted to an upper end of the rear panel 5 for rotation into a closed position in which it extends over the wrapped bundle

2 protruding from the base 3.

-ΊThe wrapped bundle 2 comprises a flexible barrier material that has been wrapped around a group of twenty tobacco industry products such as smoking articles, for example cigarettes. However, it will be appreciated that the wrapped bundle 2 may contain any number of cigarettes. The cigarettes are elongate cylindrical articles and are arranged in rows such that the overall shape of the wrapped bundle 2 is substantially cuboid, or parallelepiped.

The wrapped bundle 2 comprises a front face 9, a rear face 10, opposing side faces 11,12 and an upper end face 13.

An inner frame 14 is located between the base 3 of the container 1 and the wrapped bundle 2 and protrudes from the open end of the base 3 together with the wrapped bundle 2. The inner frame 14 has a front or major surface 15 that extends in a plane and is located directly behind the front panel 4. The major surface 15 is attached, preferably with adhesive, to the inside surface of the front panel 4 to retain it in position within the base 3.

The inner frame 14 has a side flap 16 extending from each side edge of the major surface 15. Each side flap 16 is foldable relative to the major surface 15 about a fold-line

17 so that it extends substantially at right angles to the major surface 15 between the front and rear panels 4,5 of the base 3 with each side flap 16 overlying a side panel 6, 7. An upper edge of each side flap 16, protruding from the base 3, extends towards the upper end 13 of the wrapped bundle 2.

The inner frame 14 has an upper edge, which extends to the upper end 13 of the wrapped bundle 2. However, a central cut-out section 19 is formed in the major surface 15 so that part of the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2 is visible when the lid 8 is opened. The lowest edge of the cut out section 19 extends in a widthwise direction across the inner frame 14 and is located adjacent to the top edge 4a of the front panel 4.

With reference to the embodiment of Figures 2 to 5, the part of the major surface 15 that forms the cut out section 19 is left attached to the major surface by a fold-line 21 (shown in dotted lines in Figure 2) that extends along the lowest edge of the cut out section 19. This part is folded out of the plane of the major surface 15 to form a tongue

22. Figure 2 shows, in solid lines, cuts 24 made in the major surface 15 prior to folding

-8the tongue 22. Figure 3 shows a front view of the inner frame 14 after the tongue 22 has been folded back, downwardly into the page as shown, about the fold-line 21.

The material from which the inner frame 14 is made has a degree of resiliency so that, when folded downwardly, the tongue 22 assumes a rest position in which it extends at an angle from the major surface 15 in the absence of any external forces acting against it, as shown in the cross-sectional side elevation of Figure 4, taken along the line A-A of Figure 3. However, when the inner frame 14 is placed around a wrapped bundle 2 of tobacco industry products and the major surface 15 is attached to the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2, the tongue 22 is pressed downwardly towards the major surface 15 by the wrapped bundle 2, as shown in Figure 5, and a biasing force is generated which urges the major surface 15 of the inner frame 14 away from the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2, in the direction of arrow X in Figure 5. Therefore, the major surface 15 is prevented from conforming to any deformity in the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2. Furthermore, the major surface 15 of the inner frame 14 may be attached to the front panel 4 without causing any deformity to the front panel 4.

Another embodiment is shown in Figure 6. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment described with reference to Figures 2 to 5, except that rather than extend from an upper edge of the major surface 15 of the inner frame 14 so that the tongue 22 is folded downwardly, the tongue 22 extends from a lower edge 24 of the major surface 15, and is folded upwardly.

Figure 7 shows the inner frame of Figure 6 and its positioning relative to a blank which is foldable to form the container 1, described with reference to Figure 1, above. The inner frame 14 is attached to the container blank in the position shown in Figure 7 prior to folding of the blank to form the container 1. The other embodiments of the inner frame 14 described herein are positioned relative to the container blank, and are attached thereto, in a similar way. It will be understood that, in Figure 7, the tongue 22 is shown prior to folding it upwardly about the fold-line 21.

In another embodiment, shown in Figure 8, the tongue 22 is formed by cutting into the major panel 15, so that the tongue 22 does not extend from an edge of the major panel 15 as in the first embodiment. In particular, a U-shaped cut is 25 formed in the inner frame 14 and a cut-out section of the major surface 15 is folded out of the plane of the remainder of the major surface 15 about the fold-line 21 to form the tongue 22. As

-9shown in Figure 8, rather than being folded downwardly as in the embodiment of Figures 2 to 5, the tongue 22 is folded upwardly to lie between the wrapped bundle 2 and the remainder of the major surface 15.

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 8, taken along lines A-A in Figure 8, after the tongue 22 has been folded out of the plane of the major surface 15 about the fold line 21, and from which it can be seen that the tongue 22 assumes a rest position, absent of any external forces acting against it, in which it extends at an angle to the plane of the major panel 15. However, as with the previous embodiment, once the inner frame 14 is placed around a wrapped bundle 2 and its major surface 15 attached to the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2, the tongue 22 is pressed downwardly towards the major surface 15, as shown in Fig. 10. Folding of the tongue 22 generates a biasing force which urges the major surface 15 of the inner frame 14 away from the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2, in the direction of arrow X in

FIG. 10.

Figure 11 shows another embodiment, in which the tongue 22 is formed by cutting into the major panel 15 itself, similar to the embodiment of Figures 8 to 10, except that rather than being folded upwardly, as in the embodiment of Figures 8 to 10, the tongue

22 is folded downwardly to lie between the wrapped bundle 2 and the remainder of the major surface 15.

Another embodiment is described with reference to Figure 12. A cross-section through the inner frame along the line A-A of Figure 11 is shown. However, in this embodiment, the tongue 22 of Figure 11 is folded out of the plane of the major surface in the opposite direction compared to the previously described embodiments, i.e. so that it lies between the front panel 4 of the wrapped bundle and the major surface 15 of the inner frame 14. The tongue 22 maybe attached to the front panel 4, and the major surface 15 maybe attached to the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2. In this embodiment, only the front panel 4 of the container 1 is urged away from the wrapped bundle 2, whilst the major surface 15 of the inner frame 14 will still conform to the shape of the front wall of the wrapped bundle 2. It will be appreciated that, whilst Figure 12 shows the inner frame of Figure 11, any embodiment of the inner frame 14 described above maybe used in the way illustrated in Figure 12.

- 10 As shown in FIG.i, the barrier material forming the wrapped bundle 1 has a U-shaped line of weakening 28 (shown in dotted lines), which may be a cut extending part, or all, the way through the barrier material to define a removable section 29 that forms an extraction opening to enable cigarettes to be removed from the bundle 2 when the removable section 29 is lifted or removed. A cover flap 30 extends over the removable section 29 and has a peripheral portion 31 that extends beyond the line of weakening 28. The cover flap 30 is adhered to the barrier material using a releasable and reusable adhesive. The strength of the adhesive is such that, when the cover flap 30 is peeled back, the line of weakening 28 will break and the removable section 29 will lift together with the cover flap 30. However, it will be appreciated that permanent adhesive can be used to glue the cover flap 30 to the removable section 29 and releasable adhesive used to glue the peripheral section 31 of the cover flap 30 to the barrier material surrounding the line of weakness 28.

The line of weakness 28 and the cover flap 30 may be sufficient to seal the wrapped bundle 2 to prevent air from entering the wrapped bundle 2 after manufacture and therefore maintain the freshness of the cigarettes for longer. Furthermore, it is envisaged that a reduced pressure may be provided within the wrapped bundle 2, i.e. a partial vacuum. This causes the barrier material to be drawn inwardly against the cigarettes by the atmospheric pressure outside of the wrapped bundle 2 making it harder to glue the wrapped bundle 2 to the inner surface of the major surface 15 of the inner frame 14 without causing the inner frame 14 to bow and assume a similar shape to the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2. However, this is overcome by gluing or otherwise attaching the folded tongue 22 to the surface of the wrapped bundle 2, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 5 or 10. The tongue 22 acts as a spring to urge the major surface 15, and the front panel 4 of the container 1, away from the front surface 9 of the wrapped bundle 2, so that neither the major surface 14 nor the front panel 4 of the container 1 conform to the shape of the wrapped bundle 2.

It will be appreciated that it is not essential for the tongue 22 to be stuck to the wrapped bundle 2, as the major surface 15 and the front panel 4 of the container 1 will still be urged away from the wrapped bundle 2 without attaching the tongue 22 to it. However, it is preferable if the tongue 22 is stuck to the front wall 9 of the wrapped bundle 2 to retain the wrapped bundle 2 within the container 1.

- 11 The barrier material may comprise a single layer of material. Alternatively, the barrier material may comprise a laminate material of two or more layers, for example three layers. Each layer of the barrier material may comprise a polymer (for example polypropylene), a metal foil, a metallised foil or other flexible material suitable for packaging.

It will be understood that a wrapped bundle 2 can be formed by fin sealing. A fin sealed wrapped bundle 2 will provide a strong hermetic seal capable of holding a pressure differential. For example, the interior of the wrapped bundle 2 may be provided with a pressure above or below atmospheric pressure.

An increased pressure within the wrapped bundle 2 can be provided by adding air, or some other gas, or liquid, to the interior of the wrapped bundle 2 prior to forming the seal.

A reduced pressure, for example a partial vacuum, can be provided to the interior of the wrapped bundle 2 by extracting air prior to forming the seal, for example by carrying out the wrapping and sealing process in a low pressure environment.

Alternatively, the wrapped bundle 2 may be provided with a one-way valve adapted to permit flow of air in one direction and not the other. The valve on the wrapped bundle 2 can then be provided with either a high pressure source or a low pressure source to move air into or out of the wrapped bundle 2.

Alternatively, the interior of the wrapped bundle 2 may be provided with a modified atmosphere, for example gas other than air, for example an inert gas. In one example, the wrapped bundle 2 may be provided with a nitrogen rich atmosphere therein.

In further embodiments, a part of the cover flap 30 may be attached to an inside face of the lid 8, such that opening of the lid 8 simultaneously pulls on the cover flap 30 to lift the removable section 29 and open the extraction opening.

It will be appreciated that the above described examples of wrapped bundle, container and packaging are described with reference to tobacco industry products, for example cigarettes. However, it will be appreciated that the wrapper may alternatively be used to

- 12 wrap a bundle of non-tobacco industry related products or articles. For example, food products, electronics or other consumer goods.

As used herein, the term “tobacco industry product” is to be understood as including 5 smoking articles comprising combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material), electronic smoking articles such as e-cigarettes, heating devices that release compounds from substrate materials without burning such as tobacco heating products; and hybrid systems to generate aerosol from a combination of substrate materials, for example hybrid systems containing a liquid or gel or solid substrate.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a smoking article for combustion selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a non-combustible smoking article.

In one embodiment the tobacco industry product is a heating device which releases compounds by heating, but not burning, a substrate material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment the heating device is a tobacco heating device.

In another embodiment the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials. The substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate. The solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.

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 a superior container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, a tobacco industry product pack, a two-part blank for assembly into

-13a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, and an inner frame. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, 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, and that other embodiments maybe utilised and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

Claims

1. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products comprising a base having a front panel and a rear panel spaced from each other by side panels to

5 define a cavity to receive the wrapped bundle, a lid pivotally attached to the rear panel of the base, and an inner frame having a major surface, wherein the inner frame comprises a tongue depending from said major surface, said tongue being configured to lie between the wrapped bundle and the front panel, when the wrapped bundle is received in the cavity, to urge the front panel away from the wrapped bundle.

io
2. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to claim l, wherein the major surface is located between the tongue and the front panel so that the major surface is urged away from the wrapped bundle together with the front panel by the tongue.
3. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to claim l, wherein the major surface is located between the tongue and the wrapped bundle so that the front panel is urged away from the wrapped bundle by the tongue.

20
4. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to any preceding claim, wherein the tongue is integral with said major surface.
5. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to claim 4, wherein the major surface lies in a plane, the tongue being folded out of said

25 plane about a fold-line.
6. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to claim 5, wherein the major surface comprises a cut-out section to form the tongue.

30
7. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to claim 6, wherein said cut-out section is defined by a U-shaped cut in the major panel.
8. A container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to 35 claim 5, wherein the fold-line extends along an edge of the major surface.

-159- A container for a wrapped bundle according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner frame is formed from a resilient material so that the tongue urges the front panel away from the wrapped bundle due to the resilience of said material.

5 10. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner frame comprises side flaps depending from the major surface, each side flap being folded relative to the major surface to overlie a corresponding side panel of the base.

it. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the tongue comprises a io tab at its free end for attachment of the tongue to the wrapped bundle, the tab being folded relative to the remaining part of the tongue about a fold-line.

12. A tobacco industry product pack comprising the container according to any preceding claim and a wrapped bundle comprising a group of tobacco industry

15 products wrapped in a layer of barrier material, said wrapped bundle being received in the base of the container.

13. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 12, when dependent on claim 2, wherein the wrapped bundle has a front face that faces the front panel of the

20 container, the tongue being attached to said front face.

14. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 13, wherein the tongue is attached to said front face using adhesive.

25 15. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 12, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the tongue is attached to the front panel and the major surface is attached to the wrapped bundle.

16. A tobacco industry product pack according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the

30 layer of barrier material comprises an extraction opening defined by a removable section of said barrier material, wherein a label is attached to said removable section and has a peripheral portion that extends beyond the removable section, said peripheral portion being peelable away from the barrier layer so that the removable section lifts together with the label to open the extraction opening.

-ι617. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 16, wherein the wrapped bundle has at least a partial vacuum therein that is released when the extraction opening is opened for the first time.

5 18. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 17, wherein the front face of the wrapped bundle is bowed inwardly when the wrapped bundle has at least a partial vacuum therein.

19. A two-part blank for assembly into a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco 10 industry products according to any of claims 1 to 11, a first part comprising a front panel and a rear panel spaced from each other by side panels, the front, rear and side panels being foldable relative to each other to define a base of a container to receive a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, and a second part comprising an inner frame having a major surface and a tongue depending from said major surface, the

15 inner frame being attachable to the front panel of the base so that said tongue extends between the wrapped bundle and the front panel to urge the front panel away from the wrapped bundle.

20. An inner frame for attachment to a container to receive a wrapped bundle of

20 tobacco industry products that has a base having a front panel and a rear panel spaced from each other by side panels to define a cavity to receive the wrapped bundle, wherein the inner frame comprises a major surface, and a tongue depending from said major surface, the tongue being configured to lie between the wrapped bundle and the front panel, when the wrapped bundle is received in the cavity, to urge the front panel

25 away from the wrapped bundle.

21. An inner frame according to claim 20, wherein the major surface and the tongue are separated by a fold-line.

30 22. An inner frame according to claim 21, formed from a resilient material so that the tongue urges the front panel away from the wrapped bundle due to the resilience of said material.

23. An inner frame according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the tongue

35 comprises a tab at its free end separated from the remainder of the tongue by a fold line.

-1724- An inner frame for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the tongue comprises a cut-out section of the major surface.

25. An inner frame for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to claim 24, wherein said cut-out section is defined by a U-shaped cut in the major surface.
10 26. An inner frame according to any of claims 20 to 23, wherein the major surface has an edge and the tongue extends from said edge.

27. An inner frame according to any of claims 20 to 26, wherein side flaps depend from the major surface, each side flap being foldable relative to the major panel.

28. A wrapped bundle comprising a charge of tobacco industry products wrapped in a layer of barrier material and, an inner frame according to any of claims 20 to 27, the inner frame being attached to the wrapped bundle for insertion of the wrapped bundle and the inner frame into a container for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to any of claims 1 to 11.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1701085.1 Examiner: Mr Peter Banks