WO2009135837A1

WO2009135837A1 - Smoking article pack and associated blank

Info

Publication number: WO2009135837A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/055412
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Hodgson; Stephen Lewis; Alan Douglas Tearle; Aaron Mckenzie
Original assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
Priority date: 2008-05-07
Filing date: 2009-05-05
Publication date: 2009-11-12
Also published as: GB0808246D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a smoking article pack (10) and an associated blank each configured to enclose smoking articles having a generally frustoconical shape. The pack (10) is provided with polygonal end faces (20, 22) of differing surface areas and has a body portion (10a) and a lid portion (10b) which, when the lid portion (10b) is in its closed position, define an overal frusto- pyramidal shape. The lid portion (10b) is operable to provide access to the pack (10) proximate the end face (22) having the greater surface area thus maximising the use of the space within the pack (10). The present invention allows frusto- conical smoking articles to be orientated within the pack whilst they all lie in the same direction such that they may be conveniently removed by a consumer in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axes.

Description

Title of the Invention

Smoking Article Pack and Associated Blank

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to packages for smoking articles.

Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a smoking article pack and associated blank. The packs and blanks according to the present invention are configured to enclose smoking articles such as cigarettes, and in particular cigarettes of a generally frusto-conical shape such as those known in the art as Kretek cigarettes. For convenience these will be referred to hereinafter as frusto-conical smoking articles. The invention relates particularly to packs being of the rigid (hard pack) . type.

Packs of the so-called hinged lid type are well known in the art. A hinged lid pack generally comprises a body portion and a lid portion, the lid portion being operable to repeatedly open and to close an upper end face of the body portion whilst the contents of the pack are being consumed. Such a pack is conventionally formed from a pack blank folded about a bundle of smoking articles which bundle may conveniently be wrapped in an inner foil. The pack so formed is usually wrapped in a further outer wrapper, known as an overwrap, conventionally formed from a flexible plastic material such as cellophane, for example. The overwrap provides a barrier layer which prevents the ingress and egress of moisture to and from the

i contents of the pack, thus maintaining the freshness of the smoking articles contained therein.

However, packs of the conventional hinged lid type are not particularly suitable for accommodating frusto-conical smoking articles due to the rectangular shape of such packs and their mutually perpendicular faces. For example, in order to maximise the use of the available space within such a rectangular pack, the frusto- conical smoking articles would need to be orientated within the bundle such that the wide end of one article is adjacent to the narrow end of the next. However, by alternating the orientation of the frusto-conical smoking articles in this way, the conventional method of removing a smoking article from the pack (i.e. in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis) is initially prevented, or at least impeded, by the resultant dovetailing effect.

GB254.337 discloses a frusto-pyramidal pack having a body portion and a hinged lid portion wherein the lid portion is defined by the front major face of the pack. This pack overcomes the difficulties associated with the removal of frusto-conical smoking articles from the pack due to the absence of any dovetailing effect in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the articles. However, the hinged face of the box opens to expose the entire longitudinal surfaces of the cigars accommodated therein thereby exposing them to ambient conditions and providing little protection against mechanical damage or accidental spillage from the box.

The present invention is predicated upon the inventor's realisation that there is a need for a conventional hinged lid type of pack for accommodating frusto-conical smoking articles which maximises the use of the space within the pack whilst overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a smoking article pack having polygonal end faces of differing surface areas, the pack comprising a body portion and a lid portion which, when the lid portion is in its closed position, define an overall frusto-pyramidal shape; wherein the lid portion is operable to provide access to the pack proximate the end face having the greater surface area.

Preferably, the polygonal end faces are each of substantially the same shape.

Preferably, the end faces of the pack are rectangular and their respective corresponding corners are connected by non-parallel longitudinal marginal edges which define front and rear major faces and two minor faces of the pack which are trapezoidal.

Preferably, the front and rear major faces and two minor faces of the pack are isosceles trapeziums.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the longitudinal marginal edges are non- parallel with the central longitudinal axis of the pack.

Preferably, the angle of divergence of the longitudinal marginal edges in the direction towards the end face having the greater surface area is adapted to substantially match the degree of conicity of smoking articles accommodated within the pack.

Preferably, the lid portion is hingeably attached to the body portion along a hinge line.

Preferably, the hinge line is provided on a minor face of the pack.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinge line is spaced from an edge of the pack common to a minor face and the end face having the greater surface area.

This general arrangement is known in respect of conventionally shaped packs having mutually perpendicular faces. For example, side opening lid arrangements are disclosed in US5,097,948 (Fabriques de Tabac Reunies, S.A.) and UK Design Nos. 2006108, 2006109 and 2006110 (Philip Morris).

Alternatively, the hinge line is provided on a major face of the pack.

In a first alternative embodiment, the hinge line is spaced from the edge of the pack common to the rear major face and the end face having the greater surface area.

In a second alternative embodiment, the hinge line is provided on the edge of the pack common to the rear major face and the end face having the lesser surface area. This general arrangement is known in respect of conventionally shaped packs having mutually perpendicular faces. For example, the applicant's prior application WO2006/061563 A1 comprises inner and outer shells, wherein the inner shell can be pivoted out of the volume defined by the outer shell to provide access to smoking articles. The outer shell effectively acts as the lid portion in packs of this type.

Preferably, the lid portion covers the full width and depth of the pack when it is in its closed position.

Preferably, each face of the pack is substantially planar.

Optionally, the front major face of the pack is gusseted to facilitate selective expansion of the inner volume of the opened pack.

Optionally, a dividing sheet is provided to facilitate separation of rows of frusto- conical smoking articles within the pack.

Optionally, the pack is dimensioned such that it accommodates a plurality of frusto-conical smoking articles in two rows.

Optionally, the pack is dimensioned such that it accommodates a between twelve and eighteen frusto-conical smoking articles. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a smoking article pack blank, the blank comprising a lid portion and a container portion, the container portion comprising: a base panel having at least two opposed marginal edges; front and rear trapezoidal major panels depending from the respective opposed marginal edges, each trapezoidal major panel having two opposed longitudinal marginal edges; and trapezoidal minor panels depending from the respective opposed longitudinal marginal edges of the front major panel; the respective panels being foldable along said marginal edges; and the lid portion comprising: a top panel having at least two opposed marginal edges; trapezoidal front and rear major lid panels depending from the respective opposed marginal edges; each trapezoidal major lid panel having two opposed longitudinal marginal edges; and trapezoidal minor panels depending from the respective opposed longitudinal marginal edges of the front major lid panel; the respective panels being foldable along said marginal edges; wherein the lid portion is connected to the container portion along a hinge line formed in a face common to both the lid portion and the container portion.

Preferably, the common face on which the hinge line is formed is one of the trapezoidal front major panel and the two opposing trapezoidal minor panels. Most preferably, the hinge line is formed in one of the two opposing trapezoidal minor panels.

Preferably, the lid portion and the container portion are partially separated along lines of separation formed in two of the trapezoidal front major panel and the two opposing trapezoidal minor panels.

Brief Summary of the Drawing Figures

In order that the present invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 shows a prior art box for accommodating conical cigars;

Figs. 2a-b show perspective views of a pack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the lid is in its closed position and its open position respectively;

Figs. 3a-b show front views corresponding to Figs. 2a-b;

Figs. 4a-d show side views from the left and right corresponding to Figs. 2a-b;

Figs. 5a-b show top views corresponding to Figs. 2a-b; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a pack according to a first alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the lid is in its open position;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a pack according to a second alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the lid is in its open position; and

Fig. 8 shows a pack blank from which the pack of Fig. 2a is constructed.

Fig. 1 depicts a prior art box for accommodating conical cigars as disclosed in GB254.337 (Roetman). The box is provided with two end faces (1 , 2) wherein the first end face (1 ) is deeper and wider than the other end face (2). Accordingly, the height and width of the box gradually decreases in the direction of the latter end face (2). Access is provided to the box by a hinged cover which functions as a - major face of the box such that the conical cigars are removable in a direction perpendicular to their longitudinal axes.

There are several problems inherent in such prior art boxes. In particular, the hinged face of the box opens to expose the entire longitudinal surfaces of the cigars accommodated therein thereby exposing them to ambient conditions and providing little protection against mechanical damage or accidental spillage from the box.

Fig. 2a depicts a smoking article pack (10) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention having front and rear major faces (12, 14), opposing minor faces (16, 18), a base face (20) and a top face (22). The base and top faces (20, 22) are each rectangular in shape with the top face (22) having a greater surface area than the base face (20). Corresponding corners of the respective faces (20, 22) are connected by non-parallel longitudinal marginal edges (24, 26, 28, 30) which define the front and rear major faces (12, 14) and two minor faces (16, 18) of the pack (10). The angle of divergence of the longitudinal marginal edges (24, 26, 28, 30) in the direction towards the top face (22) is selected to substantially match the degree of conicity of frusto-conical smoking articles accommodated within the pack (10).

The pack (10) comprises a container portion (10a) and lid portion (10b). A line of separation (32) is provided along two major faces and one minor face of the pack (10) at a position spaced from, and parallel to, the top face (22). The container and lid portions (10a, 10b) are connected to each other by means of a hinge line (34)- provided on the minor face (18) of the pack (10) and similarly spaced from the top face (22) such that the line of separation (32) and the hinge line (34) each lie within the same plane. In the illustrated example in the figures, that plane is parallel to the plane of the top face (22). However, it will be appreciated that the line of separation (32) and the hinge line (34) may define a plane which is inclined relative to the plane of the top face (22) of the pack (10), or indeed the line of separation (32) may undulate along the two major faces and one minor face of the pack (10). In any event, when the lid portion (10b) is in its closed position, the full width and depth of the pack (10) is covered and the pack (10) assumes an overall frusto-pyramidal shape. Fig. 2b shows the pack of Fig. 2a in its open condition whereby the lid portion (10b) has been pivoted away from the container portion (10a) about the hinge line (34) to thus provide access to the contents of the pack.

Figs. 3a and 3b show front views of the packs of Figs. 2a and 2b respectively, and Fig. 3b illustrates how frusto-conical smoking articles can be accommodated within the pack in rows of seven.

Figs. 4a-d show end views of the packs of Figs. 2a and 2b respectively. In particular, Figs. 4a and 4c show views of the left hand side of the closed and open pack respectively, whilst , Figs. 4b and 4d show views of the right hand side of the closed and open pack respectively. Fig. 4a illustrates how frusto-conical smoking articles can be accommodated within the pack in two rows. ^•

Figs. 5a and 5b show top views of the packs of Figs. 2a and 2b respectively, and Fig. 5a illustrates how frusto-conical smoking articles can be accommodated within the pack in two rows of seven.

Fig. 6 depicts a first alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the lid portion (10b¹) is hinged to the container portion (10a') along a hinge line (34') provided on the rear major face (14') of the pack (10'). The hinge line (34') is spaced from, and parallel to, the top face (22') such that the line of separation (32') and the hinge line (34') each lie within the same plane. In the illustrated example, that plane is parallel to the plane of the top face (22') of the pack (10'). However, it will be appreciated that the line of separation (32') and the hinge line (34') may define a plane which is inclined relative to the plane of the top face (22'), or indeed the line of separation (32') may undulate along the two major faces and one minor face of the pack (10'). In any event, as previously described, when the lid portion (10b¹) is in its closed position, the full width and depth of the pack (10') is covered and the pack (10') assumes an overall frusto-pyramidal shape.

Fig. 7 depicts a second alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the pack (10'") comprises an outer shell (O) and an inner shell (I). The outer shell defines a cavity which contains the inner shell (I) when the pack (10'") is closed. Smoking articles are contained in the inner shell (I). The inner and outer shells are connected by a spring member (not shown) so arranged that the inner shell (I) is stably held in its closed position within the outer shell (O) and is stably held in its open position out of the outer shell (O) but, when moved, springs between the open and closed positions under the spring action of the spring member.

The outer shell (O) comprises a front face (12'") having an aperture (13"'), left and right minor faces (16'", 8'"), a bottom end face (20'") and a top end face (22'"). The minor and front faces (16"', 18"', 12'") depend from respective ones of three of the edges of the bottom end face (20'"). The fourth edge is connected to the inner shell (I) by a hinge line (34'").

The inner shell (I) comprises a front face (not shown), left and right minor faces, and a rear face (14'"). The rear face (14"') of inner shell (I) is hinged to the bottom face (20'") of the outer shell (O) at the hinge line (34'"). The spring member (not shown) is hingedly connected to the inner surface of the front face (not shown) of the outer shell (O).

Fig. 8 shows an example of a pack blank from which the pack of Fig. 2a can be constructed, like reference numerals having been used to denote corresponding features.

The blank comprises a container portion (10a) and a lid portion (10b). The container portion (10a) comprises a base panel (20) having at least two opposed marginal edges. Front and rear trapezoidal major panels (12, 14) depend from the respective opposed marginal edges, each panel (12, 14) having two opposed longitudinal marginal edges (24, 26, 28, 30). Trapezoidal minor panels (16, 18) depend from the respective opposed longitudinal marginal edges (24, 26) of the v front major panel (12). Retaining tabs depend from the corresponding longitudinal marginal edges (28, 30) of the rear major panel (14), and from the shorter minor edges of the trapezoidal minor panels (16, 18).

The lid portion (10b) comprises a top panel (22) having a larger surface area than the base panel (20) and having at least two opposed marginal edges. Front and rear trapezoidal major lid panels (12, 14) depend from the respective opposed marginal edges, each major lid panel (12, 14) having two opposed longitudinal marginal edges (24, 26, 28, 30). Trapezoidal minor panels depend from the respective opposed longitudinal marginal edges (24, 26) of the front major lid panel (14) whilst retaining tabs depend from the corresponding longitudinal marginal edges (28, 30) of the rear major panel (14). The container and lid portions (10a, 10b) are connected along a hinge line (34) formed in the trapezoidal minor panel (16) which is common to both container and lid portions (10a, 10b). A line of separation (32) is formed in the front trapezoidal major panel (12) and the other trapezoidal minor panel (18). The line of separation (32) may be interrupted by one or more retaining tabs to maintain the integrity of the blank whilst it is wrapped around a bundle of frusto-conical smoking articles.

The respective panels described above are foldable along their marginal edges such that a frusto-pyramidal pack according to the present invention is formed. It will be appreciated that alternative blanks could be used to produce the pack of Fig. 2a.

In each of the above examples, frusto-conical smoking articles can be accommodated within the packs whilst lying in the same direction thereby avoiding the dovetailing problem described above. Accordingly, the frusto-conical smoking articles may be conveniently removed from the packs by the user in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axes. This also allows a greater portion of the longitudinal surfaces of the frusto-conical smoking articles to be covered by the faces of the pack, and hence protected against possible mechanical damage and accidental spillage.

Additional features may be provided to modify the functionality of the packs. For example, WO 06/61563 describes a snap lock member formed of card for a hard pack. Variants of snap lock members, also referred to as spring lock members, are increasingly known in the art. The name derives from a snapping or springing action upon opening and closing of the pack, caused by a modification or supplementation of the hinge feature.

Referring to Figure 2a, one example of such a modified pack according to the invention is formed by inserting a strip of material (not shown) having suitable strength and resilience, such as plastic, along the inward facing portion of minor face (18) in the region of hinge line (34). The strip of material would be located between pack (10) and an inner pack located therein, which inner pack holds smoking articles. The location between the outer and inner packs helps retain the strip of material in place and reduce the propensity of tearing or damage to the material of the packs when in repeated use. Where a snap or spring closure is provided in some materials and configurations, pack (10) may have an adjustment to increase the height measurement by approximately 5-15% to accommodate the additional hinge-located features in the pack.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, whilst all faces of the packs are illustrated as being substantially planar, it will be appreciated that rounded, chamfered or beveled edges and/or textured or embossed surfaces are within the scope of the present invention.

Whilst the illustrated packs are shown to accommodate frusto-conical smoking articles in two rows of seven, it will be appreciated that alternative arrangements are possible. In particular, it is envisaged that frusto-conical smoking articles could be arranged in two rows of six or eight.

Claims

1. A smoking article pack having polygonal end faces of differing surface areas, the pack comprising a body portion and a lid portion which, when the lid portion is in its closed position, define an overall frusto-pyramidal shape; wherein the lid portion is operable to provide access to the pack proximate the end face having the greater surface area.

2. A smoking article package according to claim 1, wherein the polygonal end faces are each of substantially the same shape.

3. A smoking article package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the end faces of the pack are rectangular and. their respective corresponding corners are connected by non-parallel longitudinal marginal edges which define front and rear major faces and two minor faces of the pack which are trapezoidal.

4. A smoking article package according to claim 3, wherein the front and rear major faces and two minor faces of the pack are isosceles trapeziums.

5. A smoking article package according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the angle of divergence of the longitudinal marginal edges in the direction towards the end face having the greater surface area is adapted to substantially match the degree of conicity of smoking articles accommodated within the pack.

6. A smoking article package according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the lid portion is hingeably attached to the body portion along a hinge line.

7. A smoking article package according to claim 6, wherein the hinge line is provided on a minor face of the pack.

8. A smoking article package according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the hinge line is spaced from an edge of the pack common to a minor face and the end face having the greater surface area.

9. A smoking article package according to claim 6, wherein the hinge line is provided on a major face of the pack.

10. - A smoking article package according to claim 9, wherein the hinge line is spaced from the edge of the pack common to the rear major face and the end face having the greater surface area.

11. A smoking article package according to claim 9, wherein the hinge line is provided on the edge of the pack common to the rear major face and the end face having the lesser surface area.

12. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid portion covers the full width and depth of the pack when it is in its closed position.

13. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim, wherein each face of the pack is substantially planar.

14. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim, wherein the front major face of the pack is gusseted to facilitate selective expansion of the inner volume of the opened pack.

15. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim, wherein a dividing sheet is provided to facilitate separation of rows of frusto-conical smoking articles within the pack.

16. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim, wherein the pack is dimensioned such that it accommodates. a plurality of frusto-conical smoking articles in two rows.

17. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim, wherein the pack is dimensioned such that it accommodates a between twelve and eighteen frusto-conical smoking articles.

18. A smoking article pack blank, the blank comprising a lid portion and a container portion; the container portion comprising: a base panel having at least two opposed marginal edges; front and rear trapezoidal major panels depending from the respective opposed marginal edges, each trapezoidal major panel having two opposed longitudinal marginal edges; and trapezoidal minor panels depending from the respective opposed longitudinal marginal edges of the major panels; the respective panels being foldable along said marginal edges; and the lid portion comprising: a top panel having at least two opposed marginal edges; trapezoidal front and rear major lid panels depending from the respective opposed marginal edges; each trapezoidal major lid panel having two opposed longitudinal marginal edges; and trapezoidal minor panels depending from the respective opposed longitudinal marginal edges of the major lid panels; the respective panels being foldable along said marginal edges; wherein the lid portion is connected to the container portion along a hinge line formed in a face common to both the lid portion and the container portion.

19. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 18, wherein the common face on which the hinge line is formed is one of the trapezoidal front major panel and the two opposing trapezoidal minor panels.

20. A smoking article pack blank according to claim 19, wherein the hinge line is formed in one of the two opposing trapezoidal minor panels.

21. A smoking article pack blank according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the lid portion and the container portion are partially separated along lines of separation formed in two of the trapezoidal front major panel and the two opposing trapezoidal minor panels.