IL35782A - Cellular packages - Google Patents

Description

Μ·*η ηιτ»ηκ Cellular packages MOSHE KBILAP The present invention concerns packages for consumer objects such as cigarettes, cigsrs, pharmaceutical compositions, e.g., in the form of suppositories, and the like.

Where a plurality of such objects is packed in one single sealed package the objects are fairly well preserved ae long as the package is not opened* However, after the package is opened the objects come into contact with the atmosphere and where their consumption extends over a prolonged period they may deteriorate with time. This problem has already been recognized before and in connection with suppositories it is, for example, known to pack them in individual pouches formed between two facing foils, e.g. tinfoils, lines of reduced resistance being formed between adjacent pouches so as to be able to tear them off individually. While this solution is satisfactory in connection with hard and resistant objects it is not satisfactory for objects that are liable to be folded or broken and thereby ruined such as, for example, cigarettes.

In connection with oigars there is known a package (see for example British Patent No. 849639) which comprises cells for individual cigars formed by heat sealing on enclosing wrapping between them, tearing means being arranged between the cells so that individual cells may be separated from the package and opened in one operation. Optionally this package may comprise a cardboard protector which supports the above assembly from below.

When without a cardboard, protector, the package does not offer the necessary resistance against folding and breaking. The provision of the cardboard protector solves this problem only partly and is unsatisfactory in that the protector board is a separate body which is liable to become detached in the course of use from the actual package and thus not to fulfill its purpose. Moreover, the protector board interferes with the withdrawal of objects for consumption.

A further package for tobacco goode is desoribed in British patent specification 1,139>036. It is formed from a film produced by laminating outer layers of a polyolefin, e.g. polyethylene to an inner layer of barrier resin, e.g. halogenated hydrocarbon such as vinyldene chloride polymer. This package again has the same drawback as the other ones in that it does not provide the necessary rigidity and thereby resistance to folding and breaking.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a package for consumer objects in which each such object is accommodated in an individual cell in such a way that at each stage of consumption the outermost cell can be detaohed from the remaining package without affecting the remaining cells, the package affording sufficient rigidity to proteot the packed object from folding and breaking.

With these objects in view the invention consists in a package for consumer objects comprising a rigid carrier board with a plurality of cut-oute each designed to accommodate one of said objects, and pliable foils covering the carrier board and the objeot accommodated therein from both sides in such a way that the sheet arid the carrier board form together individual cells around each packaged object.

The pliable covering foils are connected to zones of the carrier board between the cut-outs, e.g. by heat sealing, gluing or the like.

If desired tearin lines of reduced stren th ma be progressive tearing off of the emptied portions of the package.

The carrier board may be of any i¾uitable material such as cardboard, synthetic material, wood, sheet metal, etc.

The pliable covering foils may, if desired, be transparent and may be, for example, of transparent paper known as cellophane paper, of thin plastic, material, etc* The assembly consisting of a carrier member .holding a plurality of objects and covered on both facos with pliable foils constitutes a packaging unit. It is possible in accordance with the invention to pack a plurality of such units in suitable boxes.

If desired, tearing strips may be provided on either or both of said pliable foils between adjacent cells in order to tear open the foil portion of a cell for the withdrawal of an object. Where the package according to the invention serves for packaging cigars or cigarettes each such tearing strip may be associated with, or consist of a match. In such a case it is furthermore possible to fit one or more of the edges of the supporting member with a friction surface.

For withdrawal of an object from a package according to the invention either of the two cell-forming foil portions is removed or, if desired, both of them are removed, and the object is pressed out from the cut-out in which it is accommodated.

In the following the invention will be described with reference to packaging of cigarettes, it being understood that it is not limited thereto.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings in which; Fig. 1 is a plan view of a packagin unit according to the invention wherein a match is provided between each pair -"ig. 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a section along line III-III of Fig. 1; Pig. 4 is a plan view of the carrier board of the embodiment of FigB. 1 to 3? Fig, 5 is a perspective view of a box, partly broken open, in which a plurality of packaging units according to Figs.1-3 are packed ; Fig, 6 is a perspective view showing the manipulation of a package according to the invention during cigarette withdrawal; and Fig. 7 is a similar perspective view showing how the emptied portion of the package is torn off.

The package unit according to the invention illustrated in i s. 1 to 4 comprises a rigid carrier board 1, e.g. of cardboard, with a plurality of oblong cut-outs 2 each of which is the size of a cigarette* One of the longitudinal edges of each cut-out 2 merges into tearing line 3 of reduced strength along which the empties part of the package may be torn off. The outermost cut-out 2 on the left hand side in Fig, 4 is sealed by a terminal portion 4 of board 1 which may be torn off after the withdrawal of the first cigarette as will be explained further below.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 each out-out 2 accommodates a cigarette 5 and a match 6 is provided between each pair of adjacent cut-outs serving as tearing strip. The longitudinal edge of support 1 opposite the heads of matches 6 is fitted with protective foils Θ and 9· The edges of foils 8, 9 are connected to the edges of member 1, e.g. by teat sealing, and likewise in the zone between each pair of adjacent cigarettes the foils are connected to the registering portion of board 1, again for example by heat sealing, pockets being formed for the matdhes $ where such matches are provided, so that a seam is produoed between every pair of adjacent cigarettes. This seam ensures that upon , withdrawal of the foremost cigarettes from the package the following ones still remain under sealed condition until consumption.

The package unit comprising one support 1 accommodating cigarettes 5» matches 6 and covered with foils 8 and 9 in the manner specified is indexed 10» In Fig. 5 there is shown in perspective view, partly torn open, a box 11 accommodating a plurality of units 10. ^ic a box may be used for shipment and individual units 10 may be withdrawn therefrom for consumption* In Fig. 6 there is shown the withdrawal of a cigarette.

As shown, the match 6 adjacent to the foremost cigarette 5 is i withdrawn whereby the associated cell-forming portion of the sealing foil is torn open* Thereupon ths cigarette is pressed out from the associated cut-out 2 in which it was accommodated. After the completion of the cigarette withdrawal the terminal portion 4 may be torn off as shown in Pig. 7* In a similar way the emptied portion remaining after each cigarette withdrawal may be torn off so as to successively decrease the size of the board 1 which, among others, serves as an indicator of the quantity of cigarettes still left. It should however be noted that the successive tearing off of these emptied board portions is an optional feature of the invention.

As previously mentioned the description of the invention of example only and application of the invention to the packaging of other objects is completely analogous. Where the objects are not smoking articles, the matches are of course not required and they may be replaced by tearing strips.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1. A package for consumer objects comprising a rigid carrier board with a plurality of cut-outs each designed to accommodate one of said objects, and pliable foils covering the carrier board and the object accommodated therein from both sides in such a way that the sheet and the carrier board form together individual cells around each packaged object* 2. A package according to Claim 1, wherein tearing lines of reduced strength are provided on said carrier near the cut-outs. 5. A package according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said pliable foils are transparent. 4· A package according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein tearing strips are provided on at le¾st one of said pliable foils between ad aoent cells. 5· package according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 serving for packing cigars or cigarettes, wherein said tearing strips comprise or consist of matches. 6. A package according to Claim 5» wherein a friction surface is provided on the carrier board. 7· For use in a package according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, a carrier board with oblong cut-outs. 8. A package substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the annexed drawings. For the Applicants DR. REINHOLD COH AND PARTNERS