JP2018502784A - Package including access opening with closure flap - Google Patents

Abstract

A front wall 114, a rear wall 116, a bottom wall 122, opposing side walls 118, 118 ', and a top wall 120 having an opening 124 therein for accessing a cigarette 146 in the package. A package 110 for a cigarette with a box 112, in which an opening extends across the upper wall from its front end, and the periphery of the access opening is from the rear end 132 and side ends of the upper wall. Spacing so that the top wall extends around the rear side 126 and sides 128, 128 'of the opening. Extending from the back wall of the package is a closure flap 130 that is movable between a closed position where the flap covers the opening and an open position where the opening is not covered. A blank for such a pack is also disclosed. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel package for consumer goods comprising an opening for access to the contents of the pack and a flap for closing the opening. The present invention also includes a container containing such a package inside the outer housing. The packages and containers of the present invention are useful for packaging elongated articles such as cigarettes and other smoking articles.

  Cigarettes often have a lower rectangular box portion having front and rear walls connected by side and bottom walls, and a lid with front and rear walls connected by side and top walls. In order to close the lid, the lid is hinged to the box.

  It has been proposed to provide a pack comprising a front wall and a rear wall, a bottom wall and a top wall joined by side walls. Cutouts from the upper wall that extend from the rear end of the pack across the upper wall to the front end of the upper wall and partially into the front wall provide access to the interior of the pack, on both sides of the upper wall Leaving the edge, and most of the front wall remains unchanged. A flap extends upward from the back wall of the pack, which can be bent over the top and front walls to close the opening and secure it to the front wall. This type of pack can suffer from lack of rigidity, especially when made of relatively thin cardboard or paper.

  In order to minimize package distortion during use, thereby providing greater protection to the consumer goods within the package, it is useful to provide a package of the aforementioned type having greater rigidity. It would also be useful to provide a package that can be manufactured and assembled with minimal modifications to conventional packaging machines and techniques.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package for consumer goods comprising a box, the box comprising a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, a bottom wall, and opposite side walls. A top wall having an opening therein for accessing consumer goods in the package, wherein the opening extends from the front end thereof across the top wall, and the periphery of the access opening is Separated from the rear and side edges of the top wall, the top wall thus extends around the rear side and sides of the opening.

  In some embodiments, the package further comprises a flap that is movable between a closed position where the flap covers the opening and an open position where the opening is not covered. In some embodiments, the flap is hinged to the rear wall along the upper end of the rear wall.

  In some embodiments, the opening also extends down from the front end of the top wall to midway through the front wall, and the flap is an upper flap portion that is above the top wall when the flap is in the closed position; And a front flap portion that is at least partially above the front wall when the flap is in the closed position.

  In some embodiments, the opening extends from less than 80 percent, preferably less than 70 percent and preferably less than 60 percent of the depth of the upper wall from the front edge to the rear edge of the top wall. Is more preferable. In some embodiments, the surface area of the opening in the top wall of the housing is less than 70 percent, preferably less than 60 percent, and more preferably less than 50 percent of the top surface area of the package. In some embodiments, the surface area of the opening is at least 5 percent and preferably at least 20 percent of the surface area of the top of the package.

  In some embodiments, in the closed position, the flap can be received behind the front wall of the housing or in a slit or cutout in the front wall of the package.

  In some embodiments, the flap includes an adhesive that can be resealed over at least a portion of its interior surface so that the closure flap can be resealed in the closed position to the front wall of the package. Can be pasted.

  In some embodiments, the upper wall extends from the front wall of the housing and includes an integral rear and side portion and an upper upper wall panel extending from the upper end of the housing sidewall and the upper upper wall panel. And a pair of lower upper wall panels below the side portions of the.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a package according to the first aspect of the present invention housed in an outer housing.

  The package according to the present invention is useful for containing a bundle of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, in a box. In a third aspect, the present invention includes a pack according to the present invention having one or more bundles of smoking articles on the inside. The package may contain, for example, cigarettes, cigarettes, or cigarillos. Of course, with an appropriate choice of package dimensions, a package according to the present invention may be made for different numbers of conventional sizes, king sizes, super king sizes, slim, or super slim cigarettes. The package according to the present invention can also be used for consumer goods other than smoking articles.

  In the package according to the invention, the periphery of the opening is set away from the rear and side edges of the top wall of the package. The upper wall therefore extends around the three sides (rear and both sides) of the opening, so that the side part of the upper wall is bridged by the rear part. This provides improved stiffness and in particular improved resistance to shear forces. As a result, this reduces the likelihood of package distortion, for example when a user holds the package, which provides improved protection for consumer goods in the package.

  The top wall can be formed as a single panel rather than two separate side panels as in the prior art because it includes a rear bridging portion. This reduces the number of folds required during the assembly process and simplifies manufacturing.

  The closure flap functions in a manner similar to the prior art packs, and the presence of the bridge portion of the top wall does not significantly affect the construction or closure of the package. According to the present invention there is also provided a layered blank for a package according to any one of claims 1-11, the blank comprising a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, a first side wall panel, A box defining portion including a second sidewall panel and an upper wall panel including an opening, wherein the opening extends from a front end of the upper wall panel, and the upper wall panel is behind the opening. And extending around the sides, the flap is hinged to the rear wall panel of the box defining portion along the upper end of the rear wall panel. The front wall panel preferably has an opening continuous with the opening in the upper wall panel.

  In a preferred embodiment, the blank is a front wall panel, an outer wall panel extending from each of the two opposing ends of the front wall panel, a top wall panel extending from the end of the front wall panel, and opposite the top wall panel. A bottom wall panel extending from the end of the front wall panel on the side, a side wall tab extending from each of the two opposing ends of the bottom wall panel, and a rear wall panel extending from the panel end of the front wall opposite the bottom wall panel And an inner wall panel extending from each of the two opposite ends of the rear wall panel and a closure flap panel extending from the rear wall panel end opposite the bottom wall panel, the panel and tab being mutually defined by a crease Is done. The closure flap panel comprises a top wall closure panel extending from the panel end of the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel and a front wall closure panel extending from the end of the upper wall closure panel opposite the rear wall panel. It is preferable.

  It will be appreciated that features described with reference to one aspect of the invention are applicable to any other aspect of the invention. The advantages described in connection with one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention.

  “Front”, “Back”, “Top”, “Bottom”, “Up”, “Down”, “Side”, “Left” used to describe the relative position of the components of the container according to the present invention The terms "side", "right", "side", "top", "bottom" and other terms are upright, with the open end of the box portion at the top and consumer goods accessible from the top Refers to the container. The terms “side” and “lateral” are used to refer to the side wall of the container when the container is viewed from its front in its upright position.

  When the packages of the present invention are used as packs for cigarettes or other smoking articles, they can be made to hold different numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, a pack according to the present invention may be designed to hold a total of 10 to 20 smoking articles.

  The smoking articles in the pack may be arranged in different ways depending on the total number of smoking articles. The smoking articles are preferably arranged in two or more rows. Two or more rows may contain the same number of smoking articles. Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rows that include a different number of smoking articles. The ratio of container height to container depth is preferably from about 0.3 to 1 to about 10 to 1, more preferably from about 2 to 1 to about 8 to 1, and from about 3 to 1 Most preferably, it is 5 to 1.

  The ratio of container width to container depth is preferably from about 0.3 to 1 to about 10 to 1, more preferably from about 2 to 1 to about 8 to 1, and from about 2 to 1 to 3. Most preferred is one-to-one.

  The outer surface of the container according to the present invention may be decorated by printing, embossing, debossing or other methods using manufacturer or brand logos, trademarks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia.

  The term “hinge” is used throughout this specification to refer to a common line for package flaps and boxes, with the flap rotating between a closed position and an open position about the hinge line. The hinge extends across all or part of the width of the top wall of the container anywhere on the rear edge of the top wall of the box, i.e. between the back edge of the box top wall and the back edge of the opening. Also good. In some embodiments, the hinge line may substantially coincide with the rear end of the box top wall. In other embodiments, the hinge may extend across all or part of the width of the box top wall of the container at an intermediate position between the rear end of the box top wall and the front end of the box top wall.

  When using the package according to the present invention, the user rotates the flap about the hinge line so that the opening is not covered, thereby gaining access to the articles held in the box. The user rotates the flap back to cover the opening. When the flap is in the closed position, the opening is at least partially obstructed by the lid, so that the interior of the package is inaccessible and no consumer goods can be removed from the package.

  The package according to the invention may be formed of a single layered blank. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a layered blank for a package according to the present invention. In some embodiments, the blank is a box defining portion that includes a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, a first side wall panel, a second side wall panel, and an upper wall panel that includes an opening, wherein A box-defining portion and a flap hinged to the box, wherein the opening extends from the front end of the upper wall panel and the upper wall panel extends behind and around the side of the opening. . In some embodiments, the flap is hinged to the rear wall panel of the box defining portion along the upper edge of the rear wall panel.

  The term “panel” is used herein to refer to the portion of the package blank that forms part or all of the wall of the assembled container. A panel may be subordinate to one or more other panels along one or more folds. The term “crease” refers to a fold between two adjacent panels. When forming a container, adjacent panels that can define the end of the container or portions thereof are folded along its common fold. In an assembled container, the “wall” may be formed of one panel or several overlapping panels attached to each other (eg, by an adhesive). Further, the wall may be formed of two or more adjacent or overlapping panels.

  A package according to the present invention can be conveniently manufactured by folding a layered blank made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. The package is preferably formed from a folded layered cardboard blank. The cardboard preferably has a weight between about 100 grams / square meter and about 250 grams / square meter, more preferably between about 120 grams / square meter and about 180 grams / square meter. The package according to the present invention is generally a conventional method using standard manufacturing equipment to fold one or more layered blanks around a consumer article and to maintain the container in an assembled shape. It is assembled by sealing the panels on top together. This can be achieved using conventional adhesives or adhesives.

  Layered blanks include score lines or creases that draw one panel of a blank from another, allowing the blank to form a package, and some panels can be hinged with other panels Like that. In the finished package, the score line or crease may be inside the package or outside the package.

  The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a package according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a blank for the package of FIG. FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a package according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a blank for the package of FIG.

  The package 110 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is a pack for cigarettes. This is because the front wall 114, the rear wall 116 opposite the front wall (not visible in FIG. 1), and the side walls 118, 118 ′ connecting the front wall to the rear wall (only one of them is visible in FIG. 1). ), A top wall 120, and a bottom wall 122 (not visible in FIG. 1). The opening 124 extends partway across the front portion of the upper wall 120 and extends partway down the front wall 114. The rear edge 126 and the side edges 128, 128 'of the upper wall are left, defining this portion of the opening 124 in the upper wall. The opening extends 25% below the height of the front wall 114. This ratio can vary depending on the size of the package with respect to the articles conveyed within the package. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the opening extends across about 2/3 of the width of the package. Again, this ratio can vary depending on the size of the package with respect to the articles conveyed in the package.

  A closure flap 130 extends from the rear wall 16 of the package and is hinged to the rear end 132 of the top wall 120. The closure flap comprises an upper wall closure panel 134 extending from the back wall 116 of the pack, from which a front wall closure panel 136 extends along a fold 138. Tab 140 extends along fold 142 from front wall closure panel 136. Resealable adhesive line 144 extends across the lower portion of front wall closure panel 136.

  When using the package 110, the user holds the tab 138 of the closed package flap 130 and hinges it upward so that the opening 124 is not covered so that the cigarette 146 can be removed from the package. Unseal the adhesive wire 144 which can be resealed. Hinging the flap top wall closure panel 134 onto the top wall 120 and then hinge-turning the flap front wall closure panel 136 onto the package front wall 114 to close the opening 124 Close the pack by. When pressure is applied to the front wall panel, it will reseal the adhesive wire 144 that can be resealed to hold the flap 130 in the closed position.

  FIG. 2 shows a blank 200 for making a pack of the type shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the solid line in the blank indicates cutting and the broken line indicates a fold line. The blank is a piece of paper or cardboard with rectangular panels corresponding to each panel and additional panels for the construction of the pack as follows. An outer wall panel 218 extends from each long end of the front wall panel 214 and is defined from the front wall panel by a score line 250. An upper wall panel 220 extends from one short end of the front wall panel 214 and is defined from the front wall panel by a score line 252. A generally rectangular cutout 224 from the front and top wall panels provides openings 124 in the top and front walls of the finished pack. A bottom wall panel 222 extends from the other short end of the front wall panel 214 and is defined from the front wall panel by a score line 254. A rear wall panel 216 extends from the opposite end of the bottom wall panel 222 and is defined from the bottom wall panel by a score line 256. An inner wall panel 218 'extends from each long end of the rear wall panel 216 and is defined from the rear wall panel by a score line 250'. A side wall tab 258 extends from the short end of the inner wall panel 218 ′ adjacent to the outer wall panel 218 and is defined from the box inner wall panel by a score line 260. An upper wall tab 262 extends from the other short end of the inner wall panel 218 'and is defined from the inner wall panel by a score line 264. From the short end of the rear wall panel 216 opposite the end from which the bottom panel 222 extends, the top wall closure panel 234 extends and is defined from the rear wall panel by a score line 266, from the opposite end of the panel to the front wall A closure panel 236 extends and is defined by a score line 268. A tab panel 240 extends from the opposite end of the front wall closure panel 236 and is defined by a score line 270.

  To form a pack from a blank, the pack is folded around a cigarette bundle so that the front and rear wall panels 214 and 214 are connected by an inner wall 218 'and an outer wall 218 that are bonded together. 216 face each other. The side wall tabs 258 are folded over and glued to the inside of the bottom wall panel 222. The top wall tab 262 is folded over the top of the bundle and the top wall panel 220 is folded over and glued to the top wall tab. A line of resealable adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the front wall closure panel 236. The score line between the rear wall panel 214, the top wall closure panel 234, the front wall closure panel 236, and the tab panel 240 is folded so that the front of the adhesive strip 144 (FIG. 1) on the front wall closure panel The pack can be closed by bonding to the wall panel 214. The pack may then be overwrapped with a transparent plastic film such as a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film.

  The pack 310 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 except that the closure flap 330 is held in the closed position (and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar elements). )

The package 310 includes a front wall 114, a rear wall 116 (not visible in FIG. 3) opposite the front wall, and sidewalls 118, 118 '(only one of them in FIG. 3) connecting the front wall to the rear wall. And a box 112 having a top wall 120 and a bottom wall 122 (not visible in FIG. 3). The opening 124 extends partway across the front portion of the upper wall 120 and extends partway down the front wall 114. The rear edge 126 and the side edges 128, 128 ′ of the upper wall are left, defining this portion of the opening 124 in the upper wall. The opening extends 25% below the height of the front wall 114. This ratio can vary depending on the size of the package with respect to the articles conveyed within the package. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the opening extends across about 2/3 of the width of the package. The width of the opening. Again, this ratio can vary depending on the size of the package with respect to the articles conveyed in the package.
A closure flap 330 extends from the rear wall 116 of the package and is hinged to the rear end 132 of the top wall. The flap comprises an upper wall closure panel 334 that extends from the back wall 116 of the pack, from which a front wall closure panel 336 extends along a fold 338. The front wall closure panel includes an upper portion 340 that is substantially the same width as the front wall 114, from which a tapered panel 344 extends along a fold 342. The tapered panel 344 is wide enough to close the opening 124 in the front wall of the pack. The width of the tapered panel 340 decreases in a direction away from the upper portion 340 of the front wall closure panel 336. A tab 346 extends from the tapered panel 344 from a bend 348 along the end of the tapered panel opposite the upper portion 344. The slot 350 extends across the middle of the width of the front wall 114 of the pack below the lower edge of the opening 124. When the flap is in the closed position holding the flap in that position, the slot 350 can receive the free end portion of the tab 346 of the tapered panel 344 and the lower portion of the tapered panel itself.

  To open the pack, the user pulls the tapered tab 340 out of the slot 348 and hinges the flap 330 upwards so that the opening 124 is not covered. To close the pack, the user hinges the flap top wall panel 334 onto the top wall 20 and then moves the flap front wall panel 336 to the package front wall 114 to close the opening 24. Rotate the hinge up. The free end portion of tapered panel 340 is inserted into slot 348 to hold the flap in the closed position. The folds 342, 248 between the upper portion 340 of the front wall closure panel 336, the tapered panel 344, and the tab 346 facilitate insertion and removal of the panel into the slot 350.

  FIG. 4 shows a blank 400 for making a pack of the type shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, a solid line in the blank indicates cutting, and a broken line indicates a score line. The blank is a piece of paper or cardboard with rectangular panels corresponding to each wall and additional panels of the pack for building the pack as follows. The blank 400 is similar to the blank 200 of FIG. 2 (like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements). The blank is a piece of paper or cardboard with rectangular panels corresponding to each wall and additional panels of the pack for building the pack as follows. An outer wall panel extends from each long end of the front wall panel 214 and is defined from the front wall panel by a score line 250. An upper wall panel 220 extends from one short end of the front wall panel 214 and is defined from the front wall panel by a score line 252. A generally rectangular cutout 224 from the front and top wall panels provides openings 124 in the top and front walls of the finished pack. The slot 350 extends partially across the center of the front wall panel 214. A bottom wall panel 222 extends from the other short end of the front wall panel 214 and is defined from the front wall panel by a score line 254. A rear wall panel 216 extends from the opposite end of the bottom wall panel 222 and is defined from the bottom wall panel by a score line 256. An inner wall panel 218 'extends from each long end of the rear wall panel 216 and is defined from the rear wall panel by a score line 250'. A sidewall tab 258 extends from the short end of the inner wall panel 218 ′ adjacent the outer wall panel 218 and is defined from the box inner wall panel by a score line 260. An upper wall tab 262 extends from the other short end of the inner wall panel 218 'and is defined from the inner wall panel by a score line 264. From the short end of the rear wall panel 216 opposite the end from which the bottom panel 222 extends, the top wall closure panel 434 extends from the rear wall panel by a score line 466, and the front wall closure from the opposite end of this panel. An upper portion 440 of the panel 436 extends and is defined from the top wall closure panel 434 by a score line 468. A tapered panel 444 extends from the opposite end of the upper portion 440 and is defined from the upper portion 440 by a score line 470. A tab panel 446 extends from the opposite end of the tapered panel 444 and is defined from the tapered panel by a score line 448.

  To form a pack from a blank, the pack is folded around a cigarette bundle so that the front and rear wall panels 214 and 214 are connected by an inner wall 218 'and an outer wall 218 that are bonded together. 216 face each other. The side wall tabs 258 are folded over and glued to the inside of the bottom wall panel 222. The top wall tab 262 is folded over the top of the bundle and the top wall panel 220 is folded over and glued to the top wall tab. The score line between the rear wall panel 214, the top wall closure panel 434, the upper portion 440 of the front wall closure panel 436, the taper portion 444 of the front wall closure panel, and the tab panel 446 is folded so that the tab panel and taper The pack can be closed by insertion into a slot 350 in the front wall panel 214 of a portion of the panel. The pack may then be overwrapped with a transparent plastic film such as a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film.

Claims (15)

A package for consumer goods comprising a box, wherein the box is
The front wall,
A rear wall opposite the front wall;
The bottom wall,
Opposing side walls;
An upper wall having an opening therein for accessing the consumer goods in the package, the opening extending across the upper wall from a front end thereof, and the periphery of the access opening being the An upper wall spaced from the rear and side edges of the upper wall so that the upper wall extends behind and around the opening;
A flap hinged to the rear wall along the upper end of the rear wall, wherein the flap is movable between a closed position where the opening is covered and an open position where the opening is not covered And a package comprising:   The opening extends part way down from the front end of the upper wall below the front wall, and the flap has an upper flap portion on the upper wall when the flap is in the closed position; and The package of claim 1, comprising a front flap portion that is at least partially above the front wall when the flap is in the closed position.   The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening extends from the front end of the top wall to the rear end thereof for less than 80 percent of the depth of the top wall.   The package of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the surface area of the opening in the top wall of the housing is less than 70 percent of the top of the package.   The package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surface area of the opening is at least 5 percent of the surface area of the upper portion of the package.   The package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the package is formed of a single layered blank.   The package according to claim 1, wherein the flap can be received behind the front wall of the housing in the closed position.   The flap includes an adhesive that can be resealed over at least a portion of its interior surface, so that the closure flap can be resealed to the front wall of the package in the closed position. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the package can be applied or the flap can be received in a slit or cutout in the front wall of the package in the closed position.   An upper upper wall panel extending from the front wall of the housing and including an integral rear and side portion; an upper wall panel extending from an upper end of the side wall of the housing; and 9. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a pair of lower upper wall panels below the side portions.   The package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bundle of smoking articles is housed in the box.   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the package according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in an outer housing. A layered blank for a package according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the blank is
A box defining portion comprising a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, a first side wall panel, a second side wall panel, and an upper wall panel including an opening, and the front portion of the upper wall panel therein A box defining portion in which the opening extends from an end and in which the upper wall panel extends around the rear and sides of the opening;
A flap hinged to the rear wall panel of the box defining portion along the upper end of the rear wall panel. A blank according to claim 12,
A front wall panel;
An outer wall panel extending from each of two opposing ends of the front wall panel;
An upper wall panel extending from an end of the front wall panel having an opening therein extending from the end of the front wall panel;
A bottom wall panel extending from an end of the front wall panel opposite the top wall panel;
Sidewall tabs extending from each of the two opposing ends of the bottom wall panel;
A rear wall panel extending from an end of the bottom wall panel opposite the front wall panel;
An inner wall panel extending from each of two opposite ends of the rear wall panel;
A closure flap panel extending from the end of the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel;
A blank, wherein the panels and tabs are mutually defined by creases. The closure flap panel comprises:
A top wall closure panel extending from the panel end of the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel;
14. A blank according to claim 13, comprising a front wall closure panel extending from the end of the upper wall closure panel opposite the rear wall panel.   15. A blank according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the front wall panel has an opening continuous with the opening in the upper wall panel.

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