GB2569163A

GB2569163A - A pack for tobacco industry products

Info

Publication number: GB2569163A
Application number: GB1720453.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grzonka Horst
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-08
Filing date: 2017-12-08
Publication date: 2019-06-12
Also published as: GB201720453D0

Abstract

A pack 2 for tobacco industry products is disclosed comprising a base wall 5 and a side wall (11 or 9, figure 1) upstanding from the base wall 5 to define a cavity. The pack 2 has an inwardly projecting step 23 to support one or more tobacco industry products 22 to be received in the cavity. The step 23 is formed from a portion of the base 18 and a portion of the side wall 16, which may be separated by a fold 13. Openings made by forming the step 23 may be covered by the base panel 5 and/or a side panel (11 or 9, figure 1). The base panels 5 and 6 and side panels (11 or 9, figure 1) may be glued together. A blank (1, figure 1) for a pack of smoking articles, as well as a method of manufacturing a pack, is also disclosed.

Description

A Pack for Tobacco Industry Products

Description

The present invention relates to a pack for tobacco industry products, to a pack containing one or more tobacco industry products, and to a blank for forming a pack for tobacco industry products. A method of manufacturing a pack for tobacco industry products is also disclosed.

Background

It is conventional for a group of tobacco industry products, such as smoking articles, to be wrapped in a layer of barrier material to form a wrapped bundle. The bundle is received in a pack folded from a more rigid card. In a typical hinged-lid pack, the wrapped bundle is received in, and protrudes from an open end of, a body of the pack. The pack includes a lid hingedly connected to the body that extends over that part of the bundle protruding from the open end of the body when the lid is closed. When the lid is pivoted into an open position, access to an opening in the barrier layer is obtained and smoking articles may be extracted from the wrapped bundle by a consumer.

Summary

The present invention provides a pack for tobacco industry products, comprising a base wall and a side wall upstanding from the base wall to define a cavity, and an inwardly projecting step configured to support one or more tobacco industry products to be received in the cavity, wherein the step is formed from a portion of each of the base and the side wall

The portion of the base wall is preferably separated from the portion of the side wall by a fold.

Preferably, the portion of the side wall forming the inwardly projecting step comprises a surface on which a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products to be received in the cavity is supported.

-2In embodiments of the invention, the side wall may comprise a first major side panel and an inner minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge of the first major side panel, the inner minor side panel being folded relative to the first major side panel. The side wall may also comprise a second major side panel and an outer minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge of the second major side panel, the outer minor side panel being folded relative to the second major side panel. Preferably, the first and second major side panels are positioned parallel to and spaced from each other by the inner and outer minor side panels with the outer minor side panel overlapping the inner minor side panel.

The base wall may comprise a base panel flap extending from the inner minor side panel, the base panel flap being folded relative to the inner minor side panel.

The base wall may comprise a major base panel with the first and second major side panels extending from opposite longitudinal edges of the major base panel, the first and second major side panels being folded relative to the major base panel so they are parallel to and spaced from each other by the major base panel.

Preferably, the base panel flap overlaps the major base panel.

The portion of the base wall that forms the inwardly projecting step may be a part of the base panel flap.

The part of the base panel flap may be folded relative to a remainder of the base panel flap to upstand therefrom, and such that an opening is formed in the base panel flap.

The part of the base panel flap folded relative to the remainder of the base panel flap may be substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the base panel flap.

The base panel flap may overlap the major base panel so that the opening in the base panel flap is covered by the major base panel.

-3The portion of the side panel that forms the inwardly directed step may be a part of the inner minor side panel.

The part of the inner minor side panel may be folded relative to a remainder of the inner minor side panel to upstand therefrom, and such that an opening is formed in the inner minor side panel.

The portion of the inner minor side panel may be substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the inner minor side panel.

The outer minor side panel may overlap the inner minor side panel so that the opening in the inner minor side panel is covered by the outer minor side panel.

The pack may comprise a pair of inwardly projecting steps, one of the pair of the inwardly directed steps being formed from a portion of the inner minor side panel extending from one longtitudinal edge of the first major side panel, and a portion of a corresponding base panel flap extending from the inner minor side panel, and the other inwardly directed step being formed from a portion of an inner minor side panel extending from the other of the longitudinal edge of the first major side panel, and a portion of a corresponding base panel flap extending from the inner minor side panel.

The first major side panel may be a rear panel of the pack, whereas the second major side panel may be a front panel of the pack.

An outer surface of the or each base panel flap may be glued to an inner surface of the major base panel.

An inner surface of each outer minor side panel may be glued to an outer surface of a corresponding inner minor side panel.

The major side panels may be perpendicular to the inner and outer minor side panels, the major base panel and to the base panel flaps.

-4The side wall may comprise an open upper end remote from the base wall and, the pack further comprising a lid hingedly connected to the side wall to close said upper end.

According to another aspect, there is also provided a pack of the invention containing the one or more tobacco industry products supported on said inwardly projecting step. Preferably, the one or more tobacco industry products comprise a wrapped bundle of smoking articles.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a blank for forming a pack for a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, comprising:

(a) a first major side panel having an inner minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge, and a second major side panel having an outer minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge;

(b) a major base panel, the first and second major side panels extending from opposite longitudinal edges of the major base panel, and a base panel flap extending from a short edge of the inner minor side panels adjacent to said major base panel;

(c) a pair of spaced cut lines extending across the short edge from the inner minor side panel to the base panel flap; and (d) a fold line joining respective ends of the cut lines in each of the inner minor side panel and the base panel flap.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method of manufacturing a pack for one or more tobacco industry products comprising a base wall and a side wall upstanding from the base wall to define a cavity, the method comprising forming an inwardly projecting step from a portion of each of the base and side walls to support one or more tobacco industry products to be received in the cavity on said inwardly projecting step.

Brief Description of the Drawings

- 5 In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment thereof will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a blank which is foldable into a pack according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows part of the blank of Figure 1 after it has been partly folded into a pack according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure3 shows a front view of an assembled pack according to an embodiment of the invention with part of the front wall omitted for the purposes of clarity; and Figure 4 is a side view of the assembled pack shown in Figure 3, with part of the minor outer side wall removed for the purposes of clarity.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the invention provide a pack which can receive one or more tobacco industry products. Preferably, the tobacco industry products comprise a wrapped bundle of smoking articles.

When a standard length or long format wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, e.g. a wrapped bundle of smoking articles, is received in a pack according to an embodiment of the invention, the pack is used in a conventional way. However, when a shorter length or short format wrapped bundle is received in a pack according to the invention, the pack is altered to provide a step within the pack on which the wrapped bundle is supported at a distance from the base wall of the pack. By distancing a shorter length bundle from the base wall of the pack, the top of the bundle can be maintained at the same or similar level or height within the pack to a standard length wrapped bundle, making the smoking articles easily accessible irrespective of their length, and avoiding the requirement to produce a different pack depending on the bundle format.

It will be appreciated that the machinery required to pack either a long or a short format bundle requires only limited modification because, as will become apparent from the description that follows, the adaptation required to pack a short format

-6bundle involves inwardly folding an integral part of the pack, without requiring any additional inserts or gluing steps.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a blank 1 formed from a pliable cardboard material that is foldable to form a pack 2 (see Figures 3 and 4) according to an embodiment of the invention. Although embodiments of the invention are described with reference to a common parallel-piped shaped hinged-lid type of smoking article pack, it will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to other pack types, including slide and shell type packs, or any other type of pack which may be used to pack one or more tobacco industry products and, preferably, bundles of smoking articles of different lengths.

In Figure 1, dashed lines represent folds about which panels of the pack are folded relative to each other, whereas solid lines represent full thickness cuts between panels of the pack.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the pack blank 1 comprises front and rear major panels 3, 4 separated by a major base panel 5, which forms part of a base wall together with base panel flaps 6. The front major panel 3 is foldable relative to the major base panel 5 about a fold line 7 and the rear major panel 4 is folded relative to the major base panel 5 about a fold line 8.

An outer minor side panel 9 extends from each longitudinal edge of the front major panel 3. Each outer minor side panel 9 is foldable relative to the front major panel 3 about a fold line 10 extending along the longitudinal edge of the front major panel 3. Similarly, an inner minor side panel 11 extends from each longitudinal edge of the rear major panel 4. Each inner minor side panel 11 is foldable relative to the rear major panel 4 about a fold line 12 extending along the longitudinal edge of the rear major panel 4.

The base panel flaps 6 extend from a lower edge of each of the inner minor side panels 11, adjacent to the major base panel 5, and are foldable relative to the inner minor side panels 11 about a fold line 13.

-7 A pair of spaced cut lines 14 extend between each inner minor side panel 11 and its corresponding base panel flap 6 in a direction across the fold line or edge 13. With reference to the illustrated embodiment, the cut lines 14 are parallel to each other and extend in a perpendicular direction across the fold line or edge 13. However, in other embodiments they may be non-parallel. Further, in other embodiments the cut-lines 14 may not extend perpendicularly across the fold line 13. The ends of the cut lines 14 in the inner minor side panel 11 are joined by a fold line 15 that extends parallel to fold line 13, to form a base panel portion 16 enclosed by the cut lines 14, and the fold lines 13, 15. Similarly, the ends of the cut lines 14 in the base panel flap 6 are joined by a fold line 17 that extends parallel to fold line 13 to form a base panel flap portion 18 enclosed by the cut lines 14, and the fold lines 13, 17.

Further foldable panels 19 extend from, and are folded relative to, an upper edge 20 of the major rear panel 3, remote from the major base panel 5. These further foldable panels 19 are foldable to form a hinged-lid 21 that rotates about a hinge that extends along upper edge 20. The hinged-lid 21 formed as a result of folding and gluing these panels 19 is no different to the hinged-lid conventionally found in cigarette packs of this type. Therefore, no further description of the foldable panels 19 will be provided.

To fold the blank 1 of Figure 1 to form a pack 2, the major front and rear panels 3, 4 are folded relative to the major base panel 5 about fold lines 7, 8, respectively, so that the major front and rear panels 3, 4 are perpendicular to the major base panel 5 and are parallel to, and spaced from, each other by the major base panel 5. The base panel flaps 6 are folded relative to the inner minor side panels 11 about fold lines 13 so that they extend perpendicularly thereto and the inner minor side panels 11, together with the base panel flaps 6 extending therefrom, are folded inwardly about fold line 12, and in a direction towards the major front panel 3, so that the inner minor side panels 11 extend perpendicularly to the major rear panel 4 and the base panel flaps 6 overlap the major base panel 5. Figure 2 shows the blank of Figure 1 after the base panel flaps 6 have partly been folded about fold lines 13 and, inner minor side panels have been partly folded about fold lines 12.

Similarly, the outer minor side panels 9 are folded inwardly about fold line 10, towards the major rear panel 4, so that they extend perpendicularly to the major front panel 3 and overlap the inner minor side panels 11. Prior to folding, glue is applied to an outer surface of each of the base panel flaps 6, so they adhere to the inner surface of the major base panel 5 in their overlapping position. Similarly, glue is also applied to the inner facing surfaces of the outer minor side panels 9 so that they adhere to a corresponding outer surface of the inner minor side panels 11 in their overlapping position. No glue is applied to the inner minor side panel portions 16 or, to the base panel portions 18.

The further panels 19 are then folded to form the hinged-lid 21. In its erected form, the pack 2 provides a cavity to receive a wrapped bundle of smoking articles, which can be closed by the hinged-lid 21.

If the pack 2 is to receive a short format bundle 22 (see Figure 3), rather than a long format bundle which would extend to, and be supported by, the base wall of the pack 2, inwardly directed steps 23 to support the shorter format bundle 22 are formed from the inner minor side panel portions 16 and base panel portions 18 as the base panel flaps 6 are folded relative to their corresponding inner minor side panels 11 about the fold line 13. In particular, by applying an inwardly directed pressure against an inner minor side panel portion 16 and base panel portion 18 as the base panel flap 6 is folded relative to its inner minor side panel 11, the inner minor side panel portion 16 folds out of the plane of the inner minor side panel 11 about fold line 15 and base panel portion 18 folds out of the plane of the major base panel 5 about fold line 17, with the inner minor side panel portion 16 and base panel portion 18 folding relative to each other about fold line 13. Once folded, inner minor side panel portion 16 provides a surface, substantially parallel to, but spaced from, the major base panel 5 to support the bottom wall of a wrapped bundle 22 thereon. Base panel portion 18 upstands from the major base panel 5 substantially parallel to, but spaced from, the inner minor side panel 11.

-9As a result of folding of the inner minor side panel portions 16 and base panel portions 18, an opening is formed in each of the inner minor side panels 11 and the base panel flaps 6. However, the openings are covered, partly by each of the outer minor side panels 9 which extend over and are glued to, corresponding inner minor side panels 11 and, by the major base panel 5, to which the base panel flaps 6 are glued. As the inner minor side panels 11 are covered by the outer minor side panels 9, and the base panel flaps 6 are covered by the major base panel 5, the openings formed as a result of inwardly folding the inner minor side panel portions 16 and base panel portion 18, are hidden from Anew from outside of the erected pack 1. Therefore, the continuity and outward appearance of the outer surface of the pack 2 is maintained.

Although it is desirable to ensure that the opening formed as a result of folding the inner minor side panel portion 16 and the base panel portion 18 is covered by the outer minor side panel 9 and the major base panel 5, respectively, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, only part of the opening formed in either the inner minor side panel portion 16, or in the base panel flaps 6, may be hidden from view by the outer minor side panel 9 or the major base panel 5, respectively. In other embodiments, the opening in the inner minor side panel 11 and base panel flaps 6 may not be hidden from view at all by the outer minor side panel 9 or the major base panel 5.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to an inwardly projecting step 23 being formed from both inner minor side panels 11 and their corresponding base panel flaps 6, it will be appreciated that there may only be a single step 23 formed from a portion of one inner minor side panel 11 and its corresponding base panel flap 6.

It will be appreciated that the above described examples of a pack, and its method of manufacture, are described with reference to tobacco industry products, for example, smoking articles such as cigarettes. However, it will be appreciated that the pack and method of manufacture may also find application in the packaging of non

- 10 tobacco industry related products or articles, particularly when there is a desire to provide one pack for differently sized articles.

As used herein, the term “tobacco industry product” is to be understood as including 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.

- 11 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 pack for tobacco industry products, a pack containing tobacco industry products, a pack blank and, to a method of manufacturing a pack for tobacco industry products. 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 may be utilised and modifications may be 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

1. A pack for tobacco industry products, comprising a base wall and a side wall upstanding from the base wall to define a cavity, and an inwardly projecting step configured to support one or more tobacco industry products to be received in the cavity, wherein the step is formed from a portion of each of the base and the side wall.

2. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the base wall is separated from the portion of the side wall by a fold.

3. A pack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the portion of the side wall forming the inwardly projecting step comprises a surface on which the one or more tobacco industry products to be received in the cavity is supported.

4. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the side wall comprises a first major side panel and an inner minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge of the first major side panel, the inner minor side panel being folded relative to the first major side panel, and a second major side panel and an outer minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge of the second major side panel, the outer minor side panel being folded relative to the second major side panel, the first and second major side panels being positioned parallel to and spaced from each other by the inner and outer minor side panels with the outer minor side panel overlapping the inner minor side panel.

5. A pack according to claim 4, wherein the base wall comprises a base panel flap extending from the inner minor side panel, the base panel flap being folded relative to the inner minor side panel.

6. A pack according to claim 5, wherein the base wall comprises a major base panel with the first and second major side panels extending from opposite longitudinal edges of the major base panel, the first and second major side panels being folded relative to the major base panel so they are parallel to and spaced from each other by the major base panel.

7. A pack according to claim 6, wherein the base panel flap overlaps the major base panel.

8. A pack according to claim 7, wherein the portion of the base wall that forms the inwardly projecting step is a part of the base panel flap.

9. A pack according to claim 8, wherein the part of the base panel flap is folded relative to a remainder of the base panel flap to upstand therefrom, and such that an opening is formed in the base panel flap.

10. A pack according to claim 9, wherein the part of the base panel flap folded relative to the remainder of the base panel flap is substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the base panel flap.

11. A pack according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the base panel flap overlaps the major base panel so that the opening in the base panel flap is covered by the major base panel.

12. A pack according to any of claims 4 to 11, wherein the portion of the side panel that forms the inwardly directed step is a part of the inner minor side panel.

13. A pack according to claim 12, wherein the part of the inner minor side panel is folded relative to a remainder of the inner minor side panel to upstand therefrom, and such that an opening is formed in the inner minor side panel.

14. A pack according to claim 13, wherein the portion of the inner minor side panel is substantially perpendicular to the remainder of the inner minor side panel.

15. A pack according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the outer minor side panel overlaps the inner minor side panel so that the opening in the inner minor side panel is covered by the outer minor side panel.

16. A pack according to any of claims 12 to 15, comprising a pair of inwardly projecting steps, one of the pair of the inwardly directed steps being formed from a portion of the inner minor side panel extending from one longitudinal edge of the first major side panel, and a portion of a corresponding base panel flap extending from the inner minor side panel, and the other inwardly directed step being formed from a portion of an inner minor side panel extending from the other of the longitudinal edge of the first major side panel, and a portion of a corresponding base panel flap extending from the inner minor side panel.

17. A pack according to any of claims 4 to 16, wherein the first major side panel is a rear panel and the second major side panel is a front panel of the pack.

18. A pack according to any of claims 7 to 17, wherein an outer surface of the or each base panel flap is glued to an inner surface of the major base panel.

19. A pack according to any of claims 4 to 18, wherein an inner surface of the or each outer minor side panel is glued to an outer surface of a corresponding inner minor side panel.

20. A pack according to any of claims 6 to 19, wherein the major side panels are perpendicular to the inner and outer minor side panels, and the base wall.

21. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the side wall comprises an open upper end remote from the base wall and, the pack further comprising a lid hingedly connected to the side wall to close said upper end.

22. A pack according to any preceding claim containing the one or more tobacco industry products supported on said inwardly projecting step.

23. A pack according to claim 22, wherein the one or more tobacco industry products comprises a wrapped bundle of smoking articles.

24. A blank for forming a pack for tobacco industry products, comprising:

(a) aa first major side panel having an inner minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge, and a second major side panel having an outer minor side panel extending from a longitudinal edge;

(b) a major base panel, the first and second major side panels extending from opposite longitudinal edges of the major base panel, and a base panel flap extending from a short edge of the inner minor side panel adjacent to said major base panel;

25. A method of manufacturing a pack for one or more tobacco industry products comprising a base wall and a side wall upstanding from the base wall to define a cavity, the method comprising forming an inwardly projecting step from a portion of each of the base and side walls to support one or more tobacco industry products to be received in the cavity on said inwardly projecting step.