RU2486117C2 - Container with hinged lid - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging industry.

SUBSTANCE: container (2) (300) for consumer goods (12) comprises a box (4) and a lid (6). The lid (6) is hingedly connected to the box (4) along the first hinge line (8) extending between the rear wall of the lid (30) and the rear wall of the box (20) so that the upper part of the container (2) can be opened using the lid (6). The container (2) additionally comprises a flap (34) hingedly connected to the box (4) along the second hinge line extending either across the first side wall of the box (16) or transversely to the lower wall of the box (22) so that the lower part of the container (2) can be opened with the flap (34). At least one wall (36) of the flap (34) comprises two layers of material, the outer layer (36a) and the inner layer (36b), at that the outer layer (36a) has a smaller surface area than the inner layer (36b).

EFFECT: invention enables to take the product from the container in two ways: either through the upper end or through the lower end of the box.

8 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to a new consumer goods container having a hinged lid. This container is particularly suitable as packaging for elongated smoking articles such as cigarettes.

It is known to pack oblong smoking articles and other consumer goods into containers formed from folded plate blanks. For example, elongated smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are usually sold in packs with hinged lids having a box for holding smoking articles and a lid connected to the box around a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. Such packs are usually made from solid plate cardboard blanks. In use, the lid is rotated around the hinge line to open the pack and gain access to the smoking articles contained in the box.

Traditionally, filter cigarettes and other smoking articles with a predetermined mouth end are packaged with the mouth end up. Smoking articles can be removed through the top opening of the packet, capturing the mouthpiece end of the smoking articles. However, some consumers may prefer not to touch the mouthpiece end.

It is desirable to provide a container for consumer goods, offering the consumer additional ways to access products inside the container.

According to the present invention, there is provided a consumer goods container comprising a box; wherein the box includes the front wall of the box, the back wall of the box, the bottom wall of the box, the first side wall of the box and the second side wall of the box. The container further comprises a lid comprising a front wall of the lid, a rear wall of the lid, an upper wall of the lid, a first side wall of the lid and a second side wall of the lid. The lid is pivotally connected to the box along a first hinge line extending between the rear wall of the lid and the rear wall of the box, so that the top of the container can be opened with the lid. The container further includes a sash comprising a side wall and a lower wall. The sash is pivotally connected to the box along a second hinge line extending either across the first side wall of the box or across the bottom wall of the box, so that the bottom of the container can be opened using the sash. At least one leaf wall comprises two layers of material, an outer layer and an inner layer, the outer layer having a smaller surface area than the inner layer.

The provision of a lid and a sash allows the products to be removed from the containers of the invention in two different ways, either through the upper end or through the lower end of the box.

The term “sash” refers to a tool closing an additional opening in a container. Products can be removed from the container through this sash.

The terms “front”, “back”, “upper”, “lower”, “lateral”, “upper”, “lower” and other terms used to describe the relative positions of the constituent elements of the containers of the invention relate to the container in a vertical position with a lid at the upper end, a sash at the lower end and a first hinge line at the rear. As for the sash, its lower wall is located in the bottom of the container, and the side wall of the sash is located in the side wall of the container.

The terms “left” and “right” are used with reference to the side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in a vertical position. The term “longitudinal” refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa. The term "transverse" refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The term "hinge line" refers to a line around which a lid or sash can be rotated to open a container. The hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a weakened line in a panel forming a container wall. Alternatively, the hinge line may be a fold line or a weakened line in a piece of material connecting the wall of the lid or sash with the corresponding wall of the box. A similar piece of material may be, for example, a label that is attached to the rear wall of the lid and the rear wall of the box. Preferably, the second hinge line is perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the container.

Advantageously, the containers of the invention provide an alternative to removing smoking articles through the lower end of the container. In this case, the consumer will grab the smoking article with the rod end, that is, the end of the smoking article opposite the mouth end.

Providing a flap for access to the rod-shaped ends of the smoking articles also enables the introduction of one or more moisture or odor release elements into the container. The introduction of such elements into a container may be required to moisturize or flavor tobacco before smoking. It is preferable to insert these elements to the rod-shaped ends of the smoking articles, and not to their filter ends, so that the element is adjacent to the tobacco rod, and not to the filter.

Preferably, the lid is formed using lines cut in the container. The leaf may be formed by weakened lines in the container. Accordingly, the container has a lid connected to the box only through the hinge line, while the sash is integral with the box until the weakened lines are broken. As a result, the consumer has the option of leaving the sash unopened. The weakened lines are preferably perforated lines that can be easily torn to open the sash. After the perforated lines are broken, the engagement of the perforated edges allows the sash to be maintained in the closed position.

As described above, at least one wall of the sash contains two layers of material. Two layers are formed, for example, by means of an inner side wall and an outer side wall, which are fastened to each other during assembly of the container.

Preferably, the sash further comprises a front wall detachably connected to the front wall of the box, and a rear wall detachable connected to the rear wall of the box. This advantageously increases the structural strength of the sash.

Preferably, the container box is provided with a section with a cutout adjacent to one of the walls of the sash. This facilitates the opening of the sash, especially its first opening, when it is necessary to separate the sash from the box along the weakened lines.

Preferably, the sash comprises a closing edge that abuts against the edge of the box when the sash is closed. Preferably, the sash further comprises a holding valve extending beyond the closing edge into the box when the sash is closed. This advantageously improves the holding of the sash in the closed position after the sash was first opened.

According to the present invention, the containers are preferably formed from a single cardboard blank. Advantageously, a standard pack blank with a hinged lid can be used with additional fold lines or perforation lines provided to form part of the box forming the sash. This means that it is possible to manufacture containers according to the present invention using existing machinery and methods without any significant modifications.

Preferably, the container further comprises an inner frame mounted inside the box, with the inner frame protruding above the upper edges of at least the front wall of the container box. As a result, the inner frame is visible to the consumer when the lid is open. Special marks may be printed on the front wall of the inner frame, which may be the same or different from the special marks printed on the front wall of the box. Alternatively or in addition, the front wall of the inner frame may be cut with a characteristic shape, for example, to reflect the marking of products.

Preferably, the front wall of the inner frame is provided with a section with a cutout on its upper edge. This allows more convenient access to products inside the container without significantly reducing the surface area of the front wall of the inner frame.

Alternatively, or in addition to the inner frame, the products inside the container may be wrapped with an inner gasket that is visible above the upper edge of the front wall of the box and the front wall of the inner frame (if any) when the container is open.

The containers according to the invention can be in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with a longitudinal angle and a transverse edge located at a right angle. Alternatively, the container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, beveled longitudinal edges, or beveled transverse edges, or a combination thereof. For example, the container according to the invention may contain, without limitation:

- One or two longitudinal rounded or chamfered edges on the front wall and / or one or two longitudinal rounded or chamfered edges on the back wall.

- One or two transverse rounded or chamfered edges on the front wall and / or one or two transverse rounded or chamfered edges on the rear wall.

- One longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal beveled edge on the front wall, and / or one transverse rounded edge and one transverse beveled edge on the rear wall.

- One or two transverse rounded or chamfered edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinal rounded or chamfered edges on the front wall.

- Two longitudinal rounded or chamfered edges on the first side wall or two transverse rounded or chamfered edges on the second side wall.

When the container contains one or more rounded edges and is made of a plate blank, the preform preferably comprises three, four, five, six or seven notch lines or notch lines to form a rounded edge in the assembled container. Notch lines or notch lines can be either on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Preferably, the notch lines or notch lines are separated from each other by a gap of between approximately 0.3 mm and 4 mm.

Preferably, the pitch of the notch lines or notch lines is functionally dependent on the thickness of the plate blank. Preferably, the gap between the notch lines or the notch lines is greater than the thickness of the plate preform from about 0.5 to about 4 times.

When the container contains one or more beveled edges, preferably each of the beveled edges has a width of from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, preferably from about 2 mm to about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container may comprise a two-sided bevel edge formed by three parallel notches or notches that are spaced apart so that two distinct bevel edges form on the edge of the container.

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

When the container contains a beveled edge and is made of a plate blank, the bevel of the edge can be formed using two parallel notch lines or notch lines in the plate blank. Notch lines or notch lines may be located symmetrically to the edge between the first wall and the second wall. Alternatively, notch lines or notch lines may be disposed asymmetrically to the edge between the first wall and the second wall, so that the bevel of the edge reaches an additional first container wall than the second container wall.

The container may be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paper board, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the cardboard has a mass of from about 100 grams per square meter to about 350 grams per square meter.

The containers according to the invention can be used as packages for many products. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the containers according to the invention are used for packaging smoking articles. The containers according to the invention can be advantageously used for packaging smoking articles, including, but not limited to, traditional cigarettes with a smoking end, cigars or cigarillos, heated smoking articles containing a flammable fuel element or heat source and an aerosol generating substance (e.g., cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-4714082) and smoking articles for use with electric smoking systems (e.g., cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-5692525).

Through an adequate selection of their parameters, the containers according to the invention can be configured to accommodate various total quantities of smoking articles or various configurations of smoking articles. For example, through an adequate selection of their parameters, the containers, according to the invention, can be configured to accommodate the total amount between ten and thirty smoking articles.

The containers according to the invention can accommodate one, two, three, four or five separate sets of products. The individual kits may be arranged substantially parallel to the front wall and rear wall, or substantially perpendicular to the front wall and rear wall.

Smoking products can be grouped with different groupings, depending on the total number of smoking products, the size of the smoking products or the shape of the cross section of the container. For example, smoking articles may be grouped in a single row of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten. Alternatively, smoking articles may be arranged in two or more rows. Two or more rows may comprise the same number of smoking articles. For example, smoking articles can be arranged: in two rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; in three rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; or in four rows of four, five, six. Alternatively, two or more rows may include different amounts of smoking articles. For example, smoking articles may be located 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); the middle row of five and two outer rows of six (6-5-6); the middle row of five and two outer rows of seven (7-5-7); the middle row of six and two outer rows of five (5-6-5); the middle row of six and two outer rows of seven (7-6-7); the middle row of seven and two outer rows of six (6-7-6); the middle row of nine and two outer rows of eight (8-9-8); or the middle row of six with one outer row of five and one outer row of seven (5-6-7).

The containers of the invention can accommodate smoking articles of the same type or brand or of different types or brands. In addition, smoking articles without a filter can be contained, as well as smoking articles with different filter mouthpieces, as well as smoking articles of different lengths (e.g., from about 40 mm to about 180 mm), diameters (e.g., from about 4 mm to about 9 mm). In addition, smoking articles may differ in strength of taste, resistance to elongation, and general delivery of particulate matter. When a container contains more than one group, each group within one container can accommodate the same or different types of smoking articles, which are listed above.

Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles and the ordering of the smoking articles. As a rule, the outer dimensions of the container are larger than the size of the group of smoking articles inside the container by a value of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm.

Preferably, the containers according to the invention have a height of from about 60 mm to about 150 mm, more preferably from about 70 mm to about 125 mm, the height being measured from the top wall to the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, the containers according to the invention have a width of from about 12 mm to about 150 mm, more preferably from about 70 mm to about 125 mm, the width being measured from the first side wall to the second side wall of the container.

Preferably, the containers according to the invention have a depth of from about 6 mm to about 100 mm, more preferably from about 12 mm to about 25 mm, the depth being measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container (containing a fold line between the box and the lid).

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

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

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the back wall of the lid to the height of the back wall of the box is from about 0: 1 (the fold line is located on the upper edge of the container) to about 1: 1, more preferably from about 1: 5 to about 1:10, most preferably from about 1: 6 to about 1: 8.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the front wall of the lid and the height of the front wall of the box is from about 1: 0 (a lid covering the entire front wall) to about 1:10, more preferably from about 1: 1 to about 1: 5, most preferably from about 1: 2 to about 1: 3.

On the outer surfaces of the containers, according to the invention, can be printed, embossed, protrusions or other decorations with logos, trademarks, slogans of the manufacturer or brand and other information and special marks for the consumer. Alternatively or in addition, the outer surfaces of the containers according to the invention can be at least partially metallized, varnished, holograms, luminescent material or any other materials that change the perception, smell or appearance of the container.

When the interior of the container according to the present invention encloses one or more sets of smoking articles, the smoking articles are preferably wrapped in an inner liner, for example of metal foil or metallized paper.

When the container contains smoking articles, the container may further comprise compartments for garbage (for example, ash or cigarette butts) or other products, for example, matches, lighters, quenchers, peppermint candies, or electronics. Other products may be attached to the outside of the container, enclosed within the container along with smoking products, in a separate compartment of the container, or combinations thereof.

After filling, the containers according to the invention can be traditionally packaged in shrink film or otherwise wrapped on top with a transparent polymer film, for example, of high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof. When the containers of the invention are wrapped on top, the top packaging may include a tear tape. The tear tape is preferably positioned around the container under the lower edge of the front wall of the lid so that as soon as the tear tape is removed, the lid is released to rotate around the first hinge line. Alternatively or in addition, there may be a second tear tape located around the container above the sash so that as soon as the tear tape is removed, the sash is released to rotate around the second hinge line. Alternatively, tear tape can be provided along its entire length around the container.

The present invention also provides a package of smoking articles comprising the above-described container filled with smoking articles.

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

Figure 1 - the first embodiment of the container according to the invention, with the sash in the open position;

Figa is an enlarged view of the area in the circle in Fig.1,

Figure 2 is a view of a cardboard plate blank for forming the container of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view of a second embodiment of the container according to the invention, with the sash in the open position.

The hinged lid container 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a rectangular box and comprises a box 4 and a lid 6 that is pivotally connected to the box 4 via a hinge line 8 extending substantially horizontally along the rear wall 10 of the container 2. In the box 4 of the container 2 is a set of cigarettes 12. The overall size and design of the box 4 and the lid 6 of the container 2 are essentially the same as the size and design of a standard cigarette pack with a hinged lid.

Box 4 has a front wall 14, a first left side wall 16, a second right side wall 18, a rear wall 20 and a lower wall 22. FIG. 1 shows the container from the back, and thus the left side wall 16 is shown on the right side of the container and vice versa. The upper side of the box 4 is open, providing an upper opening through which cigarettes 12 can be removed.

The lid 6 has a front wall 24, a first left side wall 26, a second right side wall 28, a rear wall 30 and an upper wall 32. When the container 2 is closed, the free edges of the walls of the lid 6 are adjacent to the free edges of the walls of the box 4 along the abutment line. As a result, in the closed position, the walls of the lid 6 form a continuation of the corresponding walls of the box 4 with the formation of the walls of the container 2.

Box 4 of container 2 includes a sash 34 comprising a side wall 36 formed from the bottom of the left side wall 16 and a lower wall 38 formed from the left of the bottom wall 22. The sash 34 is capable of pivoting around a fold line 40 extending across the left side wall 16 boxes 4, about half way up. Sash 34 extends approximately a third of the way across the lower wall 22, from its left side.

Prior to its first opening, the sash 34 is integral with the left side wall 16 and the lower wall 22 of the box 4, so that the container 2 looks essentially identical to a traditional cigarette pack. Perforated lines are made around the edges of the sash 34, on all sides except for the edge coinciding with the hinge line 40. To open the sash 34 for the first time, the perforated lines must be broken. To facilitate the opening of the sash 34, in the lower wall 22, the adjacent end of the lower wall 38 of the sash, a semicircular cutout 42 is provided.

1, the container 2 is shown with the sash 34 open. Separating the sash 34 from the rest of the box 4 creates a bottom hole in the lower left corner of the box 4 through which cigarettes 12 enclosed in the box 4 can be removed. To close the bottom hole, the sash can be returned to its original position.

As shown in the enlarged area 102 shown in FIG. 1a, the leaf side wall 36 comprises an outer panel 36a and an inner panel 36b. The perforations along the free edges of the inner panel 36b and the outer panel 36a of the sash side wall 36 are such that the surface area of the outer panel 36a is slightly smaller than the inner panel 36b, so that a small section of the inner panel 36b extends laterally outside the outer panel 36a. At the same time, the thin strip 44 of the outer panel 36a extends from the edge of the back wall 10 of the box and the front wall 14 of the box towards the outer panel 36a. To re-close the sash 34, the side wall 36 of the sash is pushed to its original position, so that a small section of the inner panel 36b, which extends beyond the outer panel 36a, is fixed behind the strip 44 and held in the closed position.

Alternatively, in order to access cigarettes through the top opening, a cover 6 may be opened in box 4.

The container 2 is manufactured using a single cardboard blank 200 shown in FIG. 2. The reference numbers used in FIG. 2 correspond to the reference numbers used in FIG. 1 so that each panel of the blank is marked with a reference number used to indicate a wall, sash or tongue formed by this panel in an assembled container. Thus, the blank comprises a front panel 14 of the box, a lower panel 22 of the box and a rear panel 10 of the box. It further comprises an outer left side panel 16a of the box, depending on the front panel 14, and an inner left panel 16b, depending on the rear panel 10 of the box.

In the assembled container 2, the outer left side panel 16a of the box overlaps the inner left panel 16b of the box to form the left side wall 16 of the box. It further comprises an outer right side side panel 18a of the box, depending on the front panel 14, and an inner right side panel 18b of the box, depending on the back panel 10 of the box. In the assembled container 2, the outer right side side panel 18a of the box overlaps the inner right side panel 18b of the box to form the right side wall 18 of the box.

The blank further comprises a dust flap 46 in the box, depending on the inner right side panel 18b of the box, which is attached to the inner side of the bottom panel 22 of the box in the assembled container 2. The lid is likewise formed from the back panel 30 of the lid, the top panel 32 of the lid, the front panel 24 lids, inner left side cover panel 26b, outer left side cover panel 26a, left dust cover 48, inner right side cover 28b, right outer side cover 28a and right wing 50c shki dust. An additional leaf 52 protrudes from the front wall 24 of the lid and folds inward 180 degrees to form with a bend line the lower edge of the front wall 24 of the lid.

Sash panels 34 are located in the lower left corner of the rear wall 10 of the box. Perforation lines are indicated by bold lines. The valve 54 for protecting the sash from dust, depending on the inner side panel 36b of the sash, in the assembled container 2 is attached to the bottom panel 38 of the sash. In the embodiment of the container of FIG. 1, the surface area of the valve 54 for protecting the casement from dust is smaller than that of the casement bottom panel 38, so that it does not extend beyond the casement bottom panel 38. The outer side panel 36a of the sash covers the inner side panel 36b of the sash, as described above with reference to Figa.

To form the container 2, the preform 200 is collected around a set of cigarettes, and then the assembled container 2 is wrapped in a transparent film. These steps can be performed using conventional methods and machinery.

The hinged lid container 302 shown in FIG. 3 has a similar overall construction with the container 2 shown in FIG. 1. The sash 334 of the container 300 further comprises a front wall (not shown) and a rear wall 304 of FIG. 3, the surface area of the valve 354 for protecting the sash from dust is larger than that of the bottom panel 38 of the sash, so that it extends beyond the bottom panel 38 of the sash. This section fits snugly under the bottom wall of the box in container 302, holding the sash 334 in the closed position after breaking the perforation lines.

Claims (8)

1. A container for consumer goods containing:
a box comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a lower wall, a first side wall and a second side wall;
a lid comprising a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the lid being pivotally connected to the box along a first hinge line extending between the rear wall of the lid and the rear wall of the box, and the top of the container may be open with a lid; and
a sash comprising a side wall and a lower wall, the sash being pivotally connected to the box along a second hinge line extending across the first side wall of the box or across the bottom wall of the box, so that the bottom of the container can be opened by said sash, and at least one wall of the sash contains two layers of material, the outer layer and the inner layer, while the outer layer has a smaller surface area than the inner layer. 2. The container according to claim 1, in which the lid is formed by lines cut in the container, and the sash is formed by weakened lines in the container. 3. The container according to claim 2, in which the sash further comprises a front wall detachably connected to the front wall and a rear wall detachable connected to the rear wall of the box. 4. The container according to claim 1, in which the bottom wall of the box or the first side wall of the box includes a cutout adjacent to the wall of the sash. 5. The container according to claim 1, in which the sash contains a closing edge that abuts against the edge of the box when the sash is closed, and the sash further comprises a retaining valve protruding beyond the closing edge into the box when the sash is closed. 6. The container according to claim 1, formed from a single plate blank. 7. The container according to any preceding paragraph, containing smoking articles that can be removed from the container through the lid or through the said sash. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the smoking articles are filter cigarettes.

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