MX2014009920A

MX2014009920A - Container with adhesive label with adhesive free area.

Info

Publication number: MX2014009920A
Application number: MX2014009920A
Authority: MX
Inventors: De Oliveira Daniel Seyfferth
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products Sa
Priority date: 2012-02-15
Filing date: 2013-02-13
Publication date: 2014-11-21
Also published as: RU2017112750A; US20150034509A1; BR112014020178A8; SI2814763T1; MY189712A; DK2814763T3; CN104114464B; LT2814763T; RU2014137115A; WO2013120915A1; NO2814763T3; SG11201404546RA; HK1247601A1; RU2622803C2; PT2814763T; JP6250562B2; EP3299314A1; BR112014020178A2; KR102046461B1; AU2013220404B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (100) for consumer goods. The container comprises an outer housing, wherein the outer housing comprises a box (102) and a lid (104) hinged to the box. An inner package (106) of consumer goods has an access opening through which consumer goods can be removed. An adhesive label (108) is provided to cover the access opening and extend beyond the periphery of the access opening of the inner package. The adhesive label (108) is at least partially releasably affixed to the inner package (106) by a resealable adhesive provided on a first area (112) of the inner surface of the adhesive label extending about at least the lower periphery of the access opening of the inner package. A second area (200) of the inner surface of the adhesive label is permanently affixed to the inner surface of the front wall of the lid of the outer container. A further, third area (202) of the inner surface of the adhesive label disposed between the first and second areas is substantially free of adhesive.

Description

CONTAINER WITH ADHESIVE LABEL IN AN AREA LI BRE DE ADH ESIVO Ca m po of the I nve nc i n The present invention relates to a container for consumer products comprising an adhesive label. The container of the present invention finds particular application as a container for elongated products of the consumer, such as smoking articles.

Antecedents of the I nve ntion Smoking articles such as cigars and cigars are commonly packaged in rigid hinged lid containers comprising a box and a lid connected to the box around an articulation line extended through the back wall of the container. Such articulated lid containers are typically constructed of one-piece laminated cardboard templates. During use, the lid is rotated around the joint line to open the container and gain access to a set of smoking items housed in the box.

The set of smoking items housed in the box is usually wrapped in an inner liner or packaging, or foil, sheet metal or other flexible sheet material. To have access to the set of smoking items inside the inner liner, the consumer must remove a pre-perforated upper portion of the inner liner after first opening the container with an articulated lid.

It is also known to enclose consumer products, for example, a set of smoking articles, in an essentially air-tight, releasable envelope. The wrapper that includes the consumer's products can be inserted into the articulated lid container.

For example, EP-A-0 944 539 discloses an articulated lid package for smoking articles wherein the smoking articles are provided in a sealed enclosure with a layer of barrier material having an access opening defined in the same The access opening is covered by a cover layer with a permanent sticky surface, which can be joined to the layer of the barrier material to reseal the room after the first opening. A frame against which the cover layer can be pressed is provided in the sealed enclosure between the smoking articles and the layer of barrier material.

WO-A-2008/142540 discloses a hinged lid package of smoking articles wherein the smoking articles are enclosed in an inner package with an extraction opening closed by a cover flap which is fixed with the inner package with the use of a non-dry adhesive applied to the underside of the cover fin. In one embodiment, an outer surface of the lower tab of the cover layer is permanently and non-removably adhered to the inner surface of the front wall of the cover, so that the opening and closing of the cover opens and closes , simultaneously, the cover flap. In this mode, the cover flap forms an S-shaped fold when the lid of the hinged lid package is opened.

Due to the S-shape of the cover cap, at a specific angle during the opening and closing of the cover, a portion of the cover layer may come into contact, inconveniently with another portion of the cover layer or with the edge bottom of the front wall of the lid. Because both portions of the cover layer have a non-dry re-adhesive, the portions can adhere together and affect the closure of the cover.

An object of the present invention is to avoid this disadvantage of the prior art.

Brief description of the invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a container for consumer products is provided. The container comprises an external housing, wherein the external housing comprises a box, and a lid hinged to the box along the articulation line extended through the rear wall of the container. An internal package of consumer products is provided within the outer housing comprising an access opening through which the consumer's products can be removed. An adhesive label is provided by covering the access opening of the inner package and extending beyond the periphery of the access opening of the inner package. The sticker can be released, at least partially, fixed with the inner package by a re-adhesive adhesive provided in a first area of the internal surface of the adhesive label, extended at least approximately in the lower periphery of the access opening of the internal packaging. A second area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is fixed, permanently, with the internal surface of the front wall of the lid of the outer container. A third area of the inner surface of the adhesive label that is disposed between the first and second areas is essentially free of adhesive.

By providing such an adhesive label, a container with a re-bondable inner pack can be provided, which allows the container to be closed more easily. The container can be closed more easily because the labels do not adhere on itself, or on the inner surface of the lid, during opening and closing. In addition, a safer internal packing can be provided because the re-adherable adhesive portion of the adhesive label provided only adheres to the inner package, and therefore, can be effectively sealed several times.

The height of the third area of the inner surface of the adhesive label is preferably at least about 1 mm. Preferably, the height of the third area is at least about 2 mm, more preferably, at least about 3 mm. The height of the second area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is preferably at least about 3 mm. Preferably, the height of the second area is at least about 4 mm, more preferably, at least about 6 mm.

Preferably, the width of the third area of the inner surface of the adhesive label is at least about 90 percent of the width of the access opening of the inner package. With more Preferably, the width of the third area of the inner surface of the adhesive label is essentially equal to or greater than the width of the access opening of the inner package. More preferably, the width of the third area is essentially equal to the width of the adhesive label. The width of the third area may vary to change the force required to open the container. A third narrower area increases the force required to open the container, and therefore, can provide a better seal between the adhesive label and the inner package. However, decreasing the width of the third area can increase the force required to close the container, since the adhesive label can make contact and partially adhere to the inner surface of the lid.

Preferably, the height of the third area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is essentially equal to or less than the height of the second area of the internal surface of the adhesive label. The second area of the inner surface of the adhesive label can be placed on the inner surface of the lid, so that when the lid is in the open position, the third, essentially adhesive-free area extends on or beyond the edge bottom of the lid. By configuring the relative dimensions and positions of the adhesive label as mentioned above, an adhesive label is provided that does not adhere to the inner surface of the lid, and thus, a container that is easier to close is provided.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a container for consumer products is provided. He The container comprises an outer housing comprising a box, and a cover hinged to the box along a line of articulation extended through the rear wall of the container. An internal package of consumer products is provided within the outer housing, which comprises an access opening through which the consumer's products can be removed. An adhesive label is provided, which covers the access opening of the inner package by a re-adhesive adhesive provided in a first area of the inner surface of the adhesive label extended beyond the periphery of the access opening of the inner package. The adhesive label can be released at least partially, fixed with the inner package by extending at least approximately the lower periphery of the inner package access flap, a second area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is essentially free of adhesive, and wherein the first surface area The internal label of the adhesive label is fixed permanently with the internal surface of the front wall of the lid of the outer container. The second area of the inner surface of the adhesive label and the first area of the outer surface of the adhesive label partially overlap each other. This reduces the forces between the rear side of the first area of the outer surface and the re-bondable label provided in the first area of the inner surface. By providing such an adhesive label, the container can be provided with an internal re-bondable package, which allows the container to be closed more easily. The container can be closed more easily because the adhesive label is not Adheres to itself or on the inner surface of the lid, during opening and closing. In addition, a sealed inner pack can be provided in a more secure manner because the re-adherable adhesive portion of the adhesive label provided only adheres to the inner pack and therefore can be effectively sealed several times.

Preferably, in the second aspect of the present invention, the area of the second area of the adhesive label is between 1 00 percent and about 50 percent of the area of the first area of the outer surface of the adhesive label. With advantage, when the second area is smaller than the first area, the adhesive label has a lower tendency to detach from the lid when the container is opened. The height of the second area of the inner surface may be at least about 1 mm, preferably, at least about 2 mm, and more preferably, at least about 3 mm. The height of the first area of the outer surface of the adhesive label can be at least about 3 mm, preferably at least about 4 mm and more preferably at least about 6 mm.

The adhesive label provided, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, for sealing the access portion over the access opening comprises a re-adhesive adhesive, so that the label can be removed from the surface of the inner package and become to attach several times. This allows the repeated opening and closing of the internal packaging in order to have access to the consumer's products, in a individual. The re-adhesive adhesive on the adhesive label will preferably provide sufficient adhesion for the label to reattach at least as many times as the consumer's products within the inner package. This allows the consumer to open and reseal the inner package until the package is empty.

Re-adhesive adhesives are well known to those skilled in the art and a wide variety of adhesives are commercially available from various suppliers. The selection of the appropriate adhesive depends on the material that forms the inner packing with which the adhesive label is sealed or sealed during use.

Preferably, the adhesive label comprises a surface area free of adhesive, wherein the adhesive-free surface area corresponds in size to the access opening of the inner package. When the lid is in the closed position with the adhesive label sealed with the inner packing, this adhesive-free surface area covers the access opening in the inner packing. This will prevent dust or small particles, such as tobacco chips or other residues of consumer products inside the package, from adhering to the adhesive label. This can happen, for example, when the adhesive label comes into contact with consumer products inside the inner packaging.

In an alternative embodiment to having the adhesive-free area corresponding in size to the access opening of the inner package, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, the opening Access of the internal package is defined by one or more weak lines in the internal package. The one or more weak lines define an access portion in the inner package. By providing the inner package with a defined access portion, the inner package can be sealed more securely before the first opening of the container. This can increase the shelf life of consumer products contained within the container. More preferably, the adhesive label comprises another area of the internal surface of the fixed adhesive label, permanently with the access portion of the inner package joined by one or more weak lines. The access portion of the inner package is preferably partially separated from the rest of the inner package along one or more weak lines under the first opening of the outer housing cap, so that the access portion of the inner package remains coupled with the internal packing this during the opening and closing of the outer housing lid. The re-adherent adhesive provided in the first area of the inner surface of the adhesive label can extend around essentially the entire periphery of the access portion of the inner package.

Preferably, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, the adhesive label is fixed permanently with the internal package, at least partially. More preferably, the adhesive label is permanently affixed to the inner package by an extended connection portion around essentially the entire periphery of the adhesive label. The connection portion is connected with the adhesive label along an edge of the adhesive label adjacent to an edge of the access portion. Preferably, the connecting edge is located towards the rear of the upper part of the inner package.

Preferably, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, the container also comprises an internal frame within the inner package. More preferably, the internal frame is an internal U-shaped frame having a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls. Alternatively, the internal frame is provided between the container and the inner package. With advantage, an internal frame with a large surface area increases the structural strength of the container. The increased structural strength provided by the internal frame allows a secure closure of the adhesive label. This is particularly convenient for subsequent closing operations when the container is no longer full. The term "U-shaped" is used to refer to the form comprising three parts, wherein the first and third parts are parallel to each other and extend in the same direction perpendicular to the second part.

When the inner frame is provided between the container and the inner package, the inner frame may comprise a cover layer, wherein the surface structure of the cover layer is selected so that essentially no adhesive is transferred from the adhesive label to the cover layer. the cover layer, when the adhesive layer is coupled with the cover layer of the internal frame. For example, the internal frame may comprise a cover layer of Laminated polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The cover layer can be transparent or metallized. To prevent transfer of adhesive label toward the inner frame has the advantage that dust or small particles, also called 'chips snuff not stick to the inner frame.

Preferably, the inner package is formed of a sheet of metal or metallized paper. The material of the inner package can be formed as a laminate of metallized polyethylene film and a lining material. The lining material can be a super-fluted glasin paper. In addition, the material of the inner package can be provided with a top coating receiving of impressions.

Preferably, the consumer's products are articles for smoking. However, the container can be adapted for a variety of consumer products, such as sweets, dry snacks or the like.

As used here, the terms 'front', 'back', 'bottom', 'upper' and 'lateral' refer to the relative positions of the portions of the containers according to the invention and the components thereof, when the container is in the straight position with the cover of the outer housing in the closed position and the articulation line at the back of the container. When the containers according to the present invention are described, these terms are used without considering the orientation of the described container. The rear wall of the container is the wall comprising the articulation line.

The term 'articulation line' refers to a line around which the container can rotate in order to open. A line of The articulation may be, for example, a fold line or a line marked on the panel forming the rear wall of the container.

The term 'longitudinal' refers to the direction from the bottom to the top and vice versa. The term 'transverse' refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

As used herein, the term 'height' refers to the dimension of the respective portion of the adhesive label measured in the longitudinal direction when the adhesive label is fixed with the inner package. The term "broad" refers to the dimension of the respective portion of the adhesive label measured in the transverse direction when the adhesive label is fixed with the inner package.

Preferably, the container is a rectangular parallelepiped comprising two wider walls separated by two narrower walls.

The container can be formed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal or combinations thereof. Preferably, each of the outer housing housing is formed of one or more laminated cardboard templates and preferably, the cardboard has a weight of between about 100 grams per square meter and about 350 grams per square meter.

As described above, the containers according to the invention may be in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with longitudinal edges at right angles and transverse edges at right angles. Alternatively, the container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or beveled transverse edges or a combination thereof. For example, the container according to the invention may comprise without limitation: One or more rounded or bevelled longitudinal edges on the front wall; and / or one or two rounded or bevelled longitudinal edges on the back wall.

One or two rounded or beveled transverse edges on the front wall; and / or one or two rounded or bevelled transverse edges on the rear wall.

A rounded longitudinal edge and a longitudinal beveled edge on the front wall; and / or a rounded transverse edge and a transverse edge bevelled on the rear wall.

One or two rounded transverse edges or bevelled edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinal edges beveled or rounded on the front wall.

Two rounded or beveled longitudinal edges in a first side wall or two rounded or beveled transverse edges in the second side wall.

When the container comprises one or more beveled edges, preferably, the beveled edge has a width of about 1 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 2 mm and about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container may comprise a double bevel formed by three parallel marked or folding lines which are separated so as to form two different ones. bevels on the edge of the container.

Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular cross section, for example, polygonal, such as triangular, quadrangular or hexagonal, semi-oval or semi-circular.

The containers according to the invention can be used in particular for packaging elongated articles for smoking, such as cigars, cigars and cigarettes. It will be appreciated that by proper selection of the dimensions thereof, the container in accordance with the invention can be designed for different cigars of conventional size, king size, super-King size, thin or super thin. Alternatively, other consumer products may be accommodated within the container.

Through proper selection of the dimensions thereof, the containers according to the invention may be designed to accommodate different number of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, with the proper selection of the dimensions thereof, the containers according to the invention can be designed to accommodate a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.

The articles for smoking can be arranged in different configurations, depending on the total number of articles for smoking. For example, smoking articles can be arranged in a single row of six, seven, eight, nine or ten. Alternatively, the smoking articles can be arranged in two or more rows. The two or more rows may contain the same number of articles for smoking. For example, smoking articles may be arranged in two rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; three rows of five or seven, or four rows of four, five, or six. Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rows containing different number of smoking articles with each other. For example, smoking articles may be arranged in: a row of five and a row of six (5-6); a row of six and a row of seven (6-7); a row of seven and a row of eight (7-8); an average row of five and two external rows of six (6-5-6); an average row of five and two outer rows of seven (7-5-7); an average row of six and two external rows of five (5-6-5); an average row of six and two rows of seven (7-6-7); an average row of seven and two external rows of six (6-7-6); a middle row of nine and two outer rows of eight (8-9-8) or a middle row of six with an outer row of five and an outer row of seven (5-6-7).

The containers according to the present invention can house smoking articles of the same type or brand or of different types or brands. Furthermore, smoking articles without filter and smoking articles with different filter tips can be accommodated, as well as smoking articles with different lengths (for example, between approximately 40 mm and approximately 1 80 mm), diameter (for example, between approximately 4 mm and approximately 9 mm). In addition, smoking items can vary in taste strength, smoking resistance and total delivery of particulate material. Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the configuration of articles for smoking. Typically, the external dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the set of smoking articles housed in the container.

The length, width and depth of the containers according to the invention can be such that, in the closed position, the resulting total dimensions of the container are similar to the typical dimensions of a disposable lid-hinged package of twenty cigars.

Preferably, the containers according to the invention have a height between about 60 mm and about 1 50 mm, more preferably, a height between about 70 mm and about 1 25 mm, wherein the height is measured from the wall upper to the lower wall of the container.

Preferably, the containers according to the invention have a width of about 1 2 mm and about 1 50 mm, more preferably, a width of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the width is measured from a side wall to the other side wall of the container.

Preferably, the containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably, a depth of between about 1 2 mm and about 25 mm, wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the rear wall of the container (comprising the joint between the box and the lid).

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of the container is between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, more preferably, between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, more preferably, between about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1.

Preferably, the ratio of the width of the container to the depth of the container is between about 0.3 and 1 and about 10 to 1, more preferably, between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, more preferably, between about 2 and 1 and 3 to 1.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the rear cover wall to the height of the rear case wall of the outer sleeve is between approximately 0 and 1 (lid located on the upper edge of the container) approximately 1 to 1, more preferably , between about 1 to 5 and about 1 to 10, more preferably, between about 1 to 6 and about 1 to 8.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the front wall of the lid of the outer sleeve to the height of the front wall of the outer sleeve box is between about 1 to 0 (the cover covers the entire front wall) about 1 to 1. 0, more preferably, between about 1 to 1 and about 1 to 5, more preferably, between about 1 to 2 and about 1 to 3.

When the container comprises articles for smoking, the container may also comprise garbage compartments (for example, for ashes or cigarette butts) or other consumer products, such as, for example, matches, lighters, extinguishing media, breath lozenges or electronic The other consumer products may be coupled to the exterior of the container, contained within the container together with the smoking articles, in a separate compartment of the container or combinations thereof.

The outer surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, embossed or otherwise decorated with the manufacturer's or brand's logo, registered trademarks, slogans and other information, indications for the consumer.

Once filled, the containers according to the invention can be shrink-wrapped or otherwise wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of for example high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film or combinations thereof in a conventional manner. When the containers according to the invention are overwrapped, the overwrap may include a rupture tape. In addition, the overwraps can be printed with images, information for the consumer or other data.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described only as an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a representation of a container according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the container shown in Figure 1, with the lid in the open position.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the container shown in Figure 1, with the lid in the closed position.

Figure 4 shows the internal surface of an adhesive label used in a container according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows the external surface of the adhesive label shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a side view of another container according to the invention, with the lid in the open position.

Figure 7 shows a side view of another container, with the lid in the closed position.

Figure 8 shows the internal surface of the adhesive label used with another container; Y Figure 9 shows the external surface of the adhesive label shown in Figure 8.

Detailed description of the invention The hinged lid container 1 00 shown in Figure 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped and comprises a lower case 102 and a top cover 1 04 which is hinged to the case 1 02, along a line of articulation extended substantially horizontally along the rear wall of the container 100. Figure 1 shows the container with the hinged lid 1 04 in the open position. A set of cigarettes (not shown) is housed in the box 1 02 of the container 100. The assembly is wrapped in an inner package 106, described in more detail below. The size and general construction of box 1 02 and cover 104 of the Container 100 are essentially the same as that of a cigar pack with standard hinged lid.

The box 1 02 has a box front wall, a left box side wall, a right box side wall, a box back wall and a box bottom wall. The upper side of the box 102 is open to provide an upper opening through which the cigars can be removed.

When the container in the straight position is open, the cigars contained in the box 102 can be removed from the upper end of the container 1 00.

The cover 1 04 has a front cover wall, a left side cover wall, a right side cover wall, and an upper cover wall. When the container 1 00 is closed, the free edges of the walls of the lid 1 04 abut the free edges of the walls of the box 1 02 along a coupling line. In the closed position, the walls of the lid 104 form extensions of the corresponding walls of the box 102 to define the walls of the container 1 00.

An internal frame (not shown) is mounted within the inner package 1 06 of the container 1 00. The internal frame comprises a front wall of internal frame, a left side wall of the internal frame and a right side wall of the internal frame, which are connected to the inner surface of the left side wall of the inner gasket and to the right side wall of the inner gasket, respectively. The front wall of the internal frame includes a rectangular cut on the edge free top in order to facilitate the removal of the cigars from the box 1 02. The rectangular cut essentially corresponds to a wall portion of the access opening in the inner package. The walls of the internal frame extend over the upper edges of the box 102.

Prior to the first opening, the container 1 00 is wrapped in an outer wrapper (not shown) formed of a transparent film, in the conventional manner.

The internal packing 1 06 includes a cut through which the cigars can be removed. When the internal package of cigars is in place inside the box, the cut is placed in the open upper end of box 1 02.

A rectangular self-adhesive label is coupled to the outer surface of the inner package, so that the label 1 08 covers the cut defining the access opening in the inner package 1 06. The free end 1 10 of the label 1 08 fixed permanently with a portion of the inner surface of the lid 104. The label 1 08 includes an area 1 1 2 of re-adhesive adhesive on the inner surface of the label 1 08, which overlaps with a portion of the package internally essentially around the periphery of the access opening. When the lid is in the closed position, the area 1 1 2 of re-adhesive adhesive forms a seal between the adhesive label 108 and the inner package 106.

In addition, the tag 108 is sealed with the inner package at the upper rear edge of the inner package with the use of a strip of permanent adhesive. This provides a line of articulation around which the adhesive label can rotate in order to open and close the inner package.

In order to have access to the cigars within the inner package, the hinged lid moves from the closed position to the open position, shown in Figure 1. As the lid moves from the closed position, the label 1 08 is peeled from the inner package 1 06 since the free end 1 1 0 of the label 1 08 is fixed permanently with the lid, which uncovers the access opening in the inner packaging through which one or more cigars can be removed.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the container 100 with the lid 1 04 in the open position. As described above, the tag 1 08 is permanently fixed with the use of an adhesive 200 with the inner surface of the lid 104 essentially adjacent to the lower edge of the lid. The portion 202 located adjacent the permanent adhesive portion 200 is essentially free of adhesive. The adhesive-free portion is provided to prevent the adhesive label from adhering to the inner surface of the lid in the region of the lower edge of the lid. By preventing the adhesive label from adhering to the lid, the container can be opened or closed more easily.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the container 1 00 with the lid 1 04 in the closed position. As can be seen, the portion 200 of the adhesive label fixed permanently with the inner surface of the lid bends essentially 180 degrees away from the inner package. The adhesive label 108 is shown fixed with the internal package 106.

Figure 4 shows the adhesive label 08. The portion 200 is provided with a permanent adhesive so that the lower edge of the adhesive label can be fixed permanently with the inner surface of the lid 104, as described above. The portion 202 is essentially free of adhesive, and is located adjacent the permanent adhesive portion 200. Alternatively, the portion 200 can be neutralized with adhesive to ensure that it does not adhere to the inner surface of the lid. The portion 12 of re-adhesive adhesive described above is shown surrounding the periphery of the portion 400. The portion 12 of re-adhesive adhesive is adapted to adhere re-sealable with the inner package around the access opening to provide a sealed inner packing. The portion 400 is provided with a permanent adhesive adapted to permanently affix the adhesive label with an access portion of the inner package. The access portion is therefore the first opening of the container, connected to the inner package by weak lines, such as perforations, folding lines or marked lines. Specifically, weak lines are provided on the left and right side and bottom side of the access opening when the container is seen from the front with the lid at the top. The adhesive label is permanently attached to the access portion, so that in the first opening of the container, the access portion is separated from the inner packaging along the weak lines, but remains engaged with the internal packing at the length of the articulation line formed in the upper rear corner of the inner package.

Figure 5 shows the outer surface of the adhesive label 1 08. As can be seen, the surface 500 is free of adhesive.

In this embodiment, the height of the adhesive-free portion is less than the height of the permanent adhesive portion 61 0. The height of the adhesive-free portion is approximately 3 mm and the height of the permanent adhesive portion is approximately 4 mm. The relative dimensions of the adhesive-free portion and the permanent adhesive portion of the adhesive label are such that the releasable adhesive portion does not contact the inner surface of the lid when the lid is in the open position. In addition, the relative dimensions are such that the releasable adhesive portion provides a seal with the area surrounding the access portion of the inner package.

The container 600 shown in Figure 6 is similar in construction to the container 1 00 shown in Figures 1 to 3, described above. The container 600 has a box 602, and a lid 604 that is hinged to the box 602 along a hinge line extended substantially horizontally along the rear wall of the container 600. However, the inner packing 606 is provided with an alternative adhesive label 608. In this alternative, a portion 61 0 of the outer surface of the adhesive label 608 is fixed permanently with the inner surface of the lid 604. A portion 61 2 of the inner surface of the adhesive label 608 is essentially free of adhesive. Similar to the adhesive-free portion 202 provided on the adhesive label 1 08 as described above, the adhesive-free portion 612 is provided so that the adhesive label does not adhere to itself when the lid is in the open position. Therefore, the Container can be opened and closed more easily.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the container 600 with the lid 604 in the closed position. As can be seen in this alternative embodiment, the portion 61 0 of the fixed adhesive label, permanently with the inner surface of the lid does not bend relative to the inner package. The adhesive label 1 08 is shown fixed, releasably, with the internal package 606.

Similar to the container 1 00 described above, an internal frame (not shown) is mounted inside the inner package 606 of the container 600. The internal frame comprises a front wall of the internal frame, a left side wall of the internal frame and a side wall Right side of the inner frame that are connected to the inner surface of the front wall of the inner gasket, the left side wall of the inner gasket and the right side wall of the inner gasket, respectively The front wall of the inner frame includes a rectangular cut on the edge free top, in order to facilitate the removal of the cigars from the box 602. The rectangular cut corresponds essentially to the front wall portion of the access opening in the inner packing.The walls of the inner frame extend over the upper edges of the box 602.

Prior to the first opening, the container 600 is wrapped in an outer wrapper (not shown) formed of a transparent film, in a conventional manner.

The inner package 606 includes a cut through which the cigars can be removed. When the internal packing of cigars is in its place inside the box, the cut is placed in the upper, open end of the box 602.

Figure 8 shows the adhesive label 608. The portion 612 is essentially free of adhesive, and located adjacent the lower edge of the adhesive label 608. Alternatively, the portion 61 2 may be neutralized with adhesive to ensure that it does not adhere to the adhesive. itself when the lid is in the open position. The releasable adhesive portion 800 is shown surrounding the periphery of the portion 802. The releasable adhesive portion 800 is adapted to be releasably secured with the inner package 606 around the access opening to permanently secure the adhesive label with a access portion of the inner package. The access portion, before the first opening of the container, is connected to the inner package by weak lines, such as perforations. Specifically, the weak lines are provided on the right side, the left side, and the underside of the access opening when the container is viewed from the front with the lid at the top. The adhesive label is permanently coupled with the access portion so that after the first opening of the container, the access portion is separated from the inner packaging along the weak lines, but remains coupled with the internal packing at the length of the articulation line formed in the upper rear corner of the inner package.

Figure 9 shows the outer surface of the adhesive label 608. As can be seen, the portion 61 0 of permanent adhesive is provided at the lower edge of the outer surface of the label adhesive The remainder 900 of the outer surface of the adhesive label is the adhesive-free surface.

In the alternative embodiment, the height of the adhesive-free portion is less than the height of the permanent adhesive portion 61 0. The height of the adhesive-free portion is approximately 3 mm, and the height of the permanent adhesive portion is approximately 6 mm. The relative dimensions of the adhesive-free portion and the permanent adhesive portion are such that the elastic properties of the adhesive label material prevents the releasable adhesive portion from adhering on itself when the lid is in the open position.

The containers 1 00 and 600 can be filled and assembled with the use of conventional apparatuses and methods, modified to include the step of applying the adhesive label 108, 608 on the access opening of the inner package 106, 606.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 . A container for consumer products comprising: an external housing comprising: a box; Y a cover hinged to the box along the articulation line extended through the rear wall of the container; an internal package of consumer products within the outer housing comprising an access opening through which the consumer's products can be removed; Y an adhesive label covering the access opening of the inner package and extending beyond the periphery of the access opening of the inner package; wherein the adhesive label is at least partially fixed to the inner package by a re-adhesive adhesive provided in a first area of the inner surface of the adhesive label extended at least about the lower periphery of the access opening of the adhesive. inner package, and wherein a second area of the inner surface of the adhesive label is permanently fixed to the inner surface of the front wall of the outer container lid; Y wherein a third area of the inner surface of the labels disposed between the first and second areas is essentially free of adhesive. 2. The container according to claim 1, in wherein the height of the third area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is less than about 1 mm. 3. The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the third area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is at least about 90 percent of the width of the access opening of the inner package. 4. The container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the width of the third area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is essentially equal to or greater than the width of the access opening of the inner package. 5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the height of the third area of the internal surface of the adhesive label is essentially equal to or less than the height of the second area of the internal surface of the adhesive label. 6. A container for consumer products, comprising: an external housing, comprising: a box; Y a cover hinged to the box along the articulation line extended through the rear wall of the container; an internal package of consumer products within the outer housing comprising an access opening through which the consumer's products can be removed; Y an adhesive label that covers the access opening of the inner packaging and extended beyond the periphery of the access opening of the internal packaging; wherein the adhesive label is releasably fixed, at least partially with the inner package with the releasable adhesive provided in a first area of the inner surface of the adhesive label extended around at least the lower periphery of the access opening of the inner package, a second area of the inner surface of the adhesive label is essentially free of adhesive and wherein the first area of the outer surface of the adhesive label is permanently fixed to the inner surface of the front wall of the lid of the external container; Y wherein the second area of the inner surface of the adhesive label and the first area of the outer surface of the adhesive label are partially overlapped with each other. 7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the area of the second area of the adhesive label is between 100 percent and approximately 50 percent of the area of the first area of the outer surface of the adhesive label. 8. The container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the access opening of the inner package is defined by one or more weak lines in the inner package. 9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive label comprises another area of the internal surface of the adhesive label fixed permanently with the portion of the inner package joined by one or more weak lines. 10. The container in accordance with any of the previous claims, wherein the first area of the internal surface of the adhesive label extends approximately essentially around the entire periphery of the access opening of the inner package. eleven . The container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive label is fixed at least permanently with the inner package. 12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive label is fixed permanently with the inner package by a connecting portion extended approximately essentially over the entire periphery of the adhesive label, wherein the portion is connected to the label. adhesive along an edge of the adhesive label adjacent to an edge of the access portion. 13. The container according to any of the preceding claims, which also comprises an internal frame within the inner package. 14. The container according to claim 1 3, wherein the internal frame has an internal U-shaped frame comprising a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls. 15. The container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the consumer's products are smoking articles.