WO2007034227A2

WO2007034227A2 - Improvements to packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2007034227A2
Application number: PCT/GB2006/003569
Authority: WO
Inventors: Burgo Wharton; Hamish Thain
Original assignee: Burgopak Limited
Priority date: 2005-09-26
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2007-03-29
Also published as: WO2007034227A3

Abstract

A package comprising an open-ended sleeve (112), a tab member (130) movable in and out of the sleeve (112) through the open end, and a closure (134) movable in response to said movement of the tab member (130), the closure (134) being movable between a closed position in which the closure (134) substantially covers the open end when the tab member (130) is within the sleeve (112) and an open position in which the closure (134) allows the tab member (130) to protrude from the sleeve (112) through the open end, wherein the closure (134) is a web having opposed ends that at one end joins the sleeve (112) at a first hinge and at another end joins the tab member (130) at a second hinge such that relative movement of the second hinge with respect to the first hinge drives said movement of the closure.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO PACKAGING

The present invention relates to packaging, such as a box or packet which may be used in the packaging of various items. A particular example in this specification is the packaging of cigarettes. However the invention is not limited to the packaging of any particular items.

EPl 140639 of the Applicant, the subject matter of which is incorporated into this specification by reference, describes a box comprising a generally tubular sleeve defining a through passage, a planar divider extending across the passage, a belt extending around the divider, and a tray member extending into the passage. The box further comprises a tab member extending into the passage, wherein each of the tray member and the tab member are attached to the belt on respective sides of the divider. The arrangement is such that when the tab member is moved out of the passage in a first direction, the tray member moves out of the passage in a second direction opposite to said first direction. The belt is in the form of a continuous loop such that when, conversely, the tab member is moved into the passage in the second direction, the tray member moves into the passage in the first direction.

This box is easier to use than prior art boxes because pulling the tab member to open it will also cause the tray member to open, and vice versa. It also has an intriguing and commercially appealing design.

It is possible for the tray member to be another tab member; thus, a tray is merely an example of a tab member. Where there are two tab members, moving one of the tab members in one direction, for example pulling it away from the sleeve, will cause the other tab member to move with respect to the sleeve in an opposite direction, for example away from the other end of the sleeve.

EP 1140639 is an example of a package in which a tab member can slide out of a sleeve for access to the contents of the package. It may be necessary or desirable to provide a closure such as a lid, a cap or a top to close an end of the sleeve when the tab member is inside the passage. An example is where a box or packet contains cigarettes that need to be protected from damage and from the ingress of moisture and dirt, yet without hindering access to the cigarettes when required. However, it would be disadvantageous to have to open such a closure in a separate operation, which apart from being slow and inconvenient detracts from the intriguing and commercially appealing design of EPl 140639. It would also be disadvantageous for the closure to require additional components or manufacturing operations.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved packaging which alleviates one or more of the problems stated above.

The invention resides in a package comprising an open-ended sleeve, a tab member movable in and out of the sleeve through the open end, and a closure such as a lid movable in response to said movement of the tab member, the closure being movable between a closed position in which the closure substantially covers the open end when the tab member is within the sleeve and an open position in which the closure allows the tab member to protrude from the sleeve through the open end, wherein the closure is a web having opposed ends that at one end joins the sleeve at a first hinge and at another end joins the tab member at a second hinge such that relative movement of the second hinge with respect to the first hinge drives said movement of the closure. In this way, the closure can be moved between a closed and an open position by movement of the tab member.

Advantageously, the closure joins a wall of the sleeve at the first hinge and joins a wall of the tab member at the second hinge; said wall of the sleeve defining one side of the open end of the sleeve and said wall of the tab member being offset to that side of the sleeve. Preferably, said wall of the tab member is adjacent said wall of the sleeve and is in sclosureing contact with said wall of the sleeve.

Preferably, the open end of the sleeve is generally oblong and the first hinge defines one long side of that oblong. When the closure is closed, the second hinge lies inwardly with respect to said end of the sleeve and the first hinge, and as the closure opens and the second hinge moves outwardly with respect to the sleeve, the second hinge moves past the first hinge. In this way, the relative movement between the first and second hinges drives the movement of the closure between the closed and open positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure has at least a first intermediate hinge between the first and second hinges, and a first portion between the first hinge and the first intermediate hinge which is a generally planar panel and which is narrower than a second portion between the first intermediate hinge and the second hinge. The closure has a second intermediate hinge between the first intermediate hinge and the second hinge which divides the second portion into second and third panels. By virtue of the second and third panels being narrower than the first panel, the first panel of the closure can be pulled to be flush with the sleeve open end in the closed position. Preferably, the second and third panels are of substantially equal width.

The invention may also be expressed as a package comprising a sleeve, a tab member movable in and out of one end of the sleeve, and a closure movable, in response to the movement of the tab member, between a first position in which it substantially covers the sleeve end and a second position in which the sleeve end is substantially uncovered, wherein the closure has a configuration which transforms as the closure moves between the first and second positions. This change in configuration provides an aesthetically pleasing transformation. In its re-configured state in the second position, a part of the closure can act as a further support surface on which to rest the package.

One end of the closure co-operates with the sleeve and another end of the closure cooperates with the tab member. This arrangement drives the movement of the closure and means that the closure is caused to move when the tab member moves.

For ease of manufacture, the closure can be integral with the sleeve and the tab member. Preferably, the closure comprises at least three panels which are arranged to move relative to each other and to transform in configuration as the closure moves between the first and second positions.

In one embodiment of the invention, the package includes a further tab member movable in and out of another end of the sleeve, and drive means for driving movement of the tab members by causing one tab member to move in response to a movement of the other tab member. The drive means may comprise a belt means to which the tab members are attached, such that moving one of the tab members in a first direction causes the other tab member to move in a second direction different to said first direction.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood, currently preferred embodiments will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures l(a) and l(b) are cross-sections of an alternative embodiment of a box of the present invention comprising a tray member and a tab member, when the tray member is in the closed and fully open positions, respectively;

Figures 2(a) to 2(e) are side views of the box of Figure 1, showing the box in three successive positions between closed and the fully open positions (Figures 2(a) and

(e) respectively);

Figures 3(a) to 3(g) are detailed cross-sections of the box of Figure 1, with parts of the box omitted for clarity, in successive positions between the closed and fully open positions, respectively; and

Figures 4(a) to 4(g) are successive perspective views of a blank being folded into the box of Figure 1.

Figures 1 to 4 show a box 110 having a sleeve 112 defining a through passage and comprising an upper wall 114, a lower wall 116 and two side walls 118, 120 (Figure 4). The box 110 also includes a planar divider 122 extending across the passage and dividing the passage into upper and lower passages. A belt 124 extends around the divider 122 on a belt path 126 (Figure 4). The belt 124 is typically a strip of low-friction sheet material such as polypropylene film as sold under the trade mark Treofan GND, whose ends are fastened to each other to form a continuous loop. The belt path 126 is defined by a waist across the two ends of the divider 122 and serves to restrain the belt 124 against lateral movement with respect to the divider 122.

Attached to the belt 124 by bonds 126, which are strips of adhesive, is a tray member 128 in the lower passage, and a tab member 130 in the upper passage. The tray member 128 comprises a lower wall 121, an upper wall 123 which is shorter than the lower wall 121, two side walls 125, 127 (Figure 4) and an end wall 129. The bond 126 attaching the tray member 128 to the belt 124 is between the upper wall 123 of the tray member 128 and the belt 124. In Figures 1 and 3, the tray member 128 is illustrated as containing cigarettes but can contain other products or printed matter.

Figure l(a) shows the box 110 in a closed position which is when the tray member 128 is fully enclosed within, or surrounded by, the sleeve 112. When the tab member 130 is moved out of the upper passage in a first direction (indicated by the arrow X in Figures 1 and 2) the belt 124 is caused to turn about the divider 122 which in turn causes the tray member 128 to move out of the lower passage in a second direction opposed to the first direction (indicated by the arrow Y in Figures 1 and 2). When the bonds 126 reach their respective ends of the divider 122, the tab member 130 can be pulled no further in the direction of the arrow X, and the tray member 128 is then in the fully open position (Figure l(b)). The end of the box 110 from which the tab member 130 extends shall hereinafter be referred to as the tab end 132, and the end from which the tray member 128 extends shall hereinafter be referred to as the tray end 134.

When the tab member 130 is pushed in the direction of arrow Y, the tab member 130 causes the belt 124 to turn about the divider 122 so that the tray member 128 moves in the direction of arrow X. The tray member 120 is back in the fully closed position when the bonds 126 reach their starting positions (i.e. their locations relative to the divider when the tray member 128 is in the fully closed position), as shown in Figure l(a). The starting positions of the bonds 126 are one above the other and about halfway along the length of the divider 122. If required, the tray member 128 can be pushed in the direction of arrow X to close the tray member 128. The effect is the same in that both the tray member 128 and the tab member 130 will return to the fully closed position. This general construction of a box comprising a sleeve, a divider, a belt, a tab member and a tray member, and the concept of the push-pull mechanism has been described previously in EPl 140639, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. The box 110 of the present invention is an improvement of the box of EPl 140639 in that it further comprises a closure 136 which covers the tray end 134 of the box 110 when the box 110 is in the fully closed position. Furthermore, this closure 136 automatically and gradually uncovers the tray end 134 as the tray member 128 extends from the lower passage when the tab member 130 is pulled out of the upper passage. Advantageously, when the tray member 128 is in the fully open position the tray end 134 is exposed and the closure 136 has moved so that it is positioned substantially beneath the lower wall 121 of the fully extended tray member 128 and may be in a supporting relationship to the extended tray member 128.

The mechanism by which the closure 136 uncovers the tray end 134 as the tab member 120 is pulled out of the upper passage will now be described with specific reference to Figures 2(a) to 2(e) and 3(a) to 3(g). The sleeve upper wall 114, divider 122, belt 124 and tab member 130 have been omitted from Figures 3(a) to 3(g) for clarity. The closure 136 comprises three panels 138, 140, 142 which are represented in Figures 3(a) to 3(g) by the lines A-B, B-C, and C-D. The first panel (A-B) 138 is attached to, or integral with, the lower wall 121 of the tray member 128 along line A, and the third panel (C-D) is attached to, or integral with, the lower wall 116 of the sleeve 112 along the line D. The lines A, B, C and D are fold or crease lines and can be considered as hinges which enable the three panels 138, 140, 142 of the closure 136 to move relative to each other, and relative to the lower walls 116, 121 of the sleeve 112 and the tray member 128, respectively.

When the tray member 128 is in the fully closed position (Figure 3(a)), the third panel 142 of the closure 136, whose shape and size substantially corresponds with the shape and size of the opening at the tray end 134, is substantially perpendicular to the sleeve lower and upper walls 116, 114 and so covers the tray end 134 of the box 110. At the same time, the end wall 129 of the tray member 128 is flush with the ends of the sleeve 112 at the tab end 132 and so covers the tab end 132 of the box 110. The second panel 140 is folded over along the line C so that the first and second panels 138, 140 face the third panel 142.

To ensure that the third panel 142 is substantially perpendicular to the sleeve lower and upper walls 116, 114 when the tray member 128 is in the closed position to close the tray end 134, the tray member 128 is shorter than the sleeve 112. This means that in the closed position, as the end wall 129 of the tray member 128 is flush with the sleeve 112 at the tab end 132 of the box 110, the lower wall 121 of the tray member 128 ends short of the tray end thereby pulling the closure panels 138, 140, 142 towards the tab end of the box to close the tray end 134.

As the tab member 130 is pulled out of the upper passage in the direction of arrow X, the tray member 128 is caused to move out of the lower passage in the direction of arrow Y as aforesaid. As the first closure panel 138 is attached to the tray member 128 and the third closure panel 142 is attached to the sleeve lower wall 116 which remains stationary as the tab member 130 is pulled in the direction of arrow X, the panels 138, 140, 142 of the closure 136 are made to move relative to the tray member 128 and the sleeve 112.

Initially, the lower wall 121 of the tray member 128 sclosurees along the sleeve lower wall 116 in the direction of arrow Y. This causes the first panel 138 to move outwards, also in the direction of arrow Y, until the outside of the fold at line A bears against the inside of the fold at line D (Figure 3(b)). This causes the third panel 142 to turn about line D, away from the tray end 134, as shown.

As the tray member 128 moves further in the direction of arrow Y, line A and the adjacent portion of the tray member 128 lower wall 121 sclosuree past line D which causes further pivoting of the third panel 142 about line D until the third panel 142 lies on the same plane as the sleeve lower wall 116 (Figure 3(c)). Line A and the adjacent portion of the tray member 128 then sclosuree along the third panel 142. Further extension of the tray member 128 in the direction of the arrow Y causes the first panel 138 to also continue to move in the direction of arrow Y and to turn about line A (Figure 3(d)) until it lies on the same plane as the lower wall 121 of the tray member 128 (Figure 3(e)). In the meantime, the third panel 142 has continued to turn about the line D away from the tray end 134. At this point, the tray end 134 of the sleeve 122 is completely uncovered or exposed.

As the tray member 128 continues to move in the direction of arrow Y, the first panel 138 continues to turn about line A (Figure 3(f)) until the tray member 128 is in the fully open position. At this point, the first panel 138 is substantially perpendicular to the lower wall 121 of the tray member 128 and the sleeve lower wall 116, and the second panel 140 is substantially parallel to the lower wall 121 of the tray member 128 and the sleeve lower wall 116.

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the shape or configuration of the closure 136 transforms or reconfigures between the open and closed positions. When in the open position, one or more of the closure panels 138, 140, 142 can be used as a support surface for the box 110. The reconfiguration of the closure 136 during opening and closing adds to, rather than detracts from, the convenience of opening and closing and the visual intrigue of the box of EPl 140639.

The box 110 can be made by folding and gluing a single flat blank 144 manufactured by cutting and creasing from a sheet material such as plastic, cardboard or folding box board, as can be seen in Figure 4. The blank 144 is laid flat, as shown in Figure 4(a) and the belt 124 is secured around the divider 122. Next, the tray member 128 is formed by folding along the lines shown in Figures 4(b) and (c). The formed tray member 128 is folded up by 180° degrees about fold line A and is moved so that the tray member lower wall 121 is adjacent the sleeve lower wall 116 (Figure 4(d)). The divider 122 is folded over the upper wall 123 of the tray member 128 and the upper wall 123 of the tray member 128 is secured to the belt 124 by adhesive (Figure 4(e)). The tab member 130 is then secured to the belt 124 on the opposite face of the divider 122 (Figure 4(f)), and finally, the upper wall 114 of the sleeve 112 is folded over the divider 122 (Figure 4(g)). The sleeve portion of the blank further comprises two sets of side walls 118, 120 which are matched and bonded together to form the sleeve.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential attributes as defined in the appended claims and other statements of invention herein. For example, in the embodiments shown, the belts need not be continuous loops but could be strips associated with the tab members and arranged to co-operate with each other such that translation of one tab member causes the other tab member to move. The sleeve may be any other type of structure such as a frame, and the closure system described here can be applied to any packaging system comprising a frame and a tab member movable in and out of an open end of the frame.

The closure 134 need not comprise panels but could be a single sheet, such as a web, having opposed ends that at one end joins the sleeve 112 at a first hinge (e.g. line D) and at another end joins the tab member 130 at a second hinge (e.g. line A). Relative movement of the second hinge with respect to the first hinge drives the movement of the closure.

The packaging of the invention is not limited to the shapes shown in the Figures: it can be made in many shapes and sizes and of various different materials.

Claims

1. A package comprising an open-ended sleeve, a tab member movable in and out of the sleeve through the open end, and a closure movable in response to said movement of the tab member, the closure being movable between a closed position in which the closure substantially covers the open end when the tab member is within the sleeve and an open position in which the closure allows the tab member to protrude from the sleeve through the open end, wherein the closure is a web having opposed ends that at one end joins the sleeve at a first hinge and at another end joins the tab member at a second hinge such that relative movement of the second hinge with respect to the first hinge drives said movement of the closure.

2. The package of Claim 1, wherein the closure joins a wall of the sleeve at the first hinge and joins a wall of the tab member at the second hinge; said wall of the sleeve defining one side of the open end of the sleeve and said wall of the tab member being offset to that side of the sleeve.

3. The package of Claim 2, wherein said wall of the tab member is adjacent said wall of the sleeve.

4. The package of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said wall of the tab member is in sclosureing contact with said wall of the sleeve.

5. The package of any preceding claim, wherein the open end of the sleeve is generally oblong and the first hinge defines one long side of that oblong.

6. The package of any preceding claim, wherein when the closure is closed, the second hinge lies inwardly with respect to said end of the sleeve and the first hinge.

7. The package of any preceding claim, wherein as the closure opens and the second hinge moves outwardly with respect to the sleeve, the second hinge moves past the first hinge.

8. The package of any preceding claim, wherein the closure has at least a first intermediate hinge between the first and second hinges.

9. The package of Claim 8, wherein the closure has a first portion between the first hinge and the first intermediate hinge that is narrower than a second portion between the first intermediate hinge and the second hinge.

10. The package of Claim 9, wherein the first portion is a generally planar panel.

11. The package of any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the closure has a second intermediate hinge between the first intermediate hinge and the second hinge.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein the second intermediate hinge divides the second portion into second and third panels.

13. The package of Claim 12, wherein each of the second and third panels is narrower than the first panel.

14. The package of Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the second and third panels are of substantially equal width.

15. A package comprising a sleeve, a tab member movable in and out of one end of the sleeve, and a closure movable, in response to the movement of the tab member, between a first position in which it substantially covers the sleeve end and a second position in which the sleeve end is substantially uncovered, wherein the closure has a configuration which transforms as the closure moves between the first and second positions.

16. The package of Claim 15, wherein one end of the closure co-operates with the sleeve and another end of the closure co-operates with the tab member.

17. The package of Claim 16, wherein the closure is integral with the sleeve and the tab member.

18. The package of any of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the closure comprises at least three panels that are arranged to move relative to each other and to transform the configuration of the closure as the closure moves between the first and second positions.

19. The package of Claim 34, wherein at least one of the panels is substantially the same shape and size as the sleeve end.

20. The package of any preceding Claim, wherein the tab member is a tray.

21. The package of any preceding Claim, wherein the package further comprises a further tab member movable in and out of another end of the sleeve.

22. The package of Claim 21, wherein the second tab member is a tray.

23. The package of Claim 21 or Claim 22, wherein the package includes drive means for driving movement of the tab members by causing one tab member to move in response to a movement of the other tab member.

24. The package of Claim 23, wherein the drive means comprises a belt means to which the tab members are attached, such that moving one of the tab members in a first direction causes the other tab member to move in a second direction different to said first direction.

25. The package of Claim 24, wherein the first and second directions are opposing directions.

26. The package of Claim 24 or Claim 25, wherein the belt means is a continuous loop each extending around a planar divider.

27. The package of Claim 26, wherein the divider, the sleeve, the closure and the tab member are integral.

28. A package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.