WO2010108533A1

WO2010108533A1 - Container having means for facilitating flattening

Info

Publication number: WO2010108533A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/009321
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Seyfferth De Oliveira; Klaus Ilgner
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2009-03-24
Filing date: 2009-12-30
Publication date: 2010-09-30
Also published as: WO2010108533A8

Abstract

A container comprises a cup-shaped box and a cup-shaped lid connected to the box along a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. A first wall (12) of the container includes at least one line of weakness (14, 16) extending across it such that the first wall is separable along the at least one line of weakness into two or more wall portions (20,22), wherein all of the wall portions are each connected to only one edge of the container or are not connected to any edge of the container.

Description

CONTAINER HAVING MEANS FOR FACILITATING FLATTENING

The present invention relates to a novel container for consumer goods. Containers according to the present invention find particular application as containers for elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes. It is known to package elongate smoking articles and other consumer goods in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. For example, elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are commonly sold in hinge lid packs having a box for housing the smoking articles and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. Such packs are typically constructed from one-piece laminar cardboard blanks which are folded around a wrapped bundle of smoking articles and held together by means of an adhesive, which is applied between the overlapping panels of the pack blank.

Once empty, a cardboard container is commonly flattened by the consumer for disposal. In order to flatten a known hinge lid container, it is necessary either to disassemble it or crush it. Disassembly of the container is achieved by pulling apart at least some of the overlapping panels that have been glued together, but this can be relatively difficult and time consuming due to the adhesive typically used. Crushing of the container can also be relatively difficult, in particular by hand, since standard containers are constructed so as to have a high structural strength when assembled, in order to protect the consumer goods within the container. Particularly, containers with a cup-shaped lid and a cup-shaped box resist crushing due to the structure of the interconnected, preferably glued walls that form the cup shape.

It would be desirable to provide a container including means for facilitating the flattening of the container once empty, such that the container can be more quickly and easily flattened or collapsed and such that it occupies less space in the flattened or collapsed form. It would be particularly desirable if such a container could be formed using known and available machinery and methods, without the need for significant modifications.

According to the present invention there is provided a container comprising a cup- shaped box comprising a box back wall, a box front wall, a box bottom wall and two box side walls, and a cup-shaped lid comprising a lid back wall, a lid front wall, a lid top wall and two lid side walls. The lid is connected to the box along a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. A first wall of the container includes at least one line of weakness extending across it such that the first wall is separable along the at least one line of weakness into two or more wall portions. All of the two or more wall portions of the first wall are each connected to only one edge of the container or are not connected to any edge of the container.

The term "edge" is used to refer to the line along which two walls of the container meet and are connected. The term "line of weakness" refers to a line along which the material forming the first wall of a container according to the present invention has been weakened in some way such that the first wall may easily be broken along the weakened line or lines. The weakening of the material may be achieved in any suitable manner as known in the art. For example, the at least one line of weakness may comprise one or more score lines, perforated lines, cut lines, fold lines or any combination thereof. Where the at least one line of weakness includes one or more score lines, the score lines may be provided on the outer side of the first wall, or the inner side of the first wall, or on both the inner side and the outer side of the first wall. The at least one line of weakness may be substantially straight, bent, curved or a combination thereof. The at least one line of weakness is arranged to extend across the first wall of the container, between the edges thereof. Preferably, the at least one line of weakness extends between opposed edges of the first wall. A section of the at least one line of weakness may coincide with an edge of the container but at least a section of said line extends across the first wall. The terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "side", "top", "bottom" and other terms used to describe relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer to the container in an upright position with the lid at the top end and the hinge on the back. The terms "left" and "right" are used with reference to side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in its upright position. When the container in the upright position is open, the consumer articles contained in the box may be removed from the upper end of the container.

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 across the front wall, the back wall or one of the side walls. The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which the lid may be pivoted in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the back wall of the container. Alternatively, a hinge line may be a fold line or a score line in a piece of material bridging the lower edge of the back wall of the lid and the upper edge of the back wall of the box. Such a piece of material may be, for example, a label that is permanently or removably attached to the back wall of the lid and the back wall of the box. Preferably, the hinge line is positioned along the back wall of the container at a level below the upper edge thereof.

Containers according to the present invention include means for facilitating the flattening of the container when the container is in an empty state. These means are provided by the at least one line of weakness extending across the first wall of the container, which may be broken in order to separate the first wall into two or more wall portions. This separation can be achieved quickly and with little effort, to provide a container which can more readily be flattened. The separation of the first wall of containers according to the invention may facilitate the flattening of the box or the Nd, but preferably both the box and the lid.

In separating the first wall into two or more separate wall portions the container according to the invention is at least partially disassembled and therefore structurally weakened, such that flattening of the container is facilitated. Preferably, the at least one line of weakness is arranged such that upon separation of the two or more wall portions from each other, it becomes easier to move the remaining walls of the container relative to each other in order to collapse the container.

The arrangement of the at least one line of weakness may be such that a significantly reduced amount of further disassembly or crushing is required in order to flatten the container after the first wall has been separated into the two or more wall portions. However, preferably, the arrangement of the at least one line of weakness is such that upon separation of the first wall, the container is readily collapsible. This is the case if all of its walls can be folded flat without the need for further disassembly or crushing. Depending upon the construction of the container, it may be necessary to provide additional cut lines along one or more edges of the container such that the adjoining walls become detached from each other upon separation of the first wall.

In their flattened form, containers according to the invention occupy significantly less volume than the assembled container. The volume of waste is therefore reduced through the flattening of the container prior to disposal. In addition, the flattened container may be more conveniently carried, for example in a bag or pocket, until a suitable disposal container is available.

Before separation of the first wall, one or more of the wall portions may be connected only to the other wall portions along the at least one line of weakness and not to any edges of the container. Accordingly, when the at least one line of weakness in the first wall is broken, those wall portions are no longer connected to the container. In this way, containers according to the present invention may be provided with one or more detachable wall portions. Such an arrangement may be used, for example, to provide a coupon which is intended to be detached from the container and retained for information or further use. Preferably, the number of wall portions of the first wall is greater than or equal to the number of edges of the first wall. For example, a rectangular first wall preferably has four wall portions, each connected to one edge of the first wall. This way, all wall portions of the first wall, may be flattened out into the plane of the corresponding walls connected to the corresponding wall portion along the edge, once the wall portions have been disconnected from each other. Alternatively, a rectangular first wall may have five wall portions, wherein one wall portion is only connected to other wall portions and not to an edge of the first wall. - -

Advantageously, prior to the separation of the first wall into two or more wall portions, the lines of weakness do not significantly impact the appearance or structural strength of containers according to the invention as long as the container is filled.

Preferably, a container according to the invention is formed from a single laminar blank. The overall shape of the laminar blank may be substantially the same as that used to form a known container, the only difference being that the first wall is provided with the at least one line of weakness. Advantageously, it is therefore possible to produce containers according to the invention using existing machinery which has been only slightly modified to take into account this difference in the cut lines. Preferably, the at least one line of weakness in the first wall is arranged so as to define an opening tab. The first wall may be separated into the opening tab and one or more additional wall portions by pulling the opening tab away from the remainder of the wall towards the edge about which it is connected to the container, thereby breaking the at least one line of weakness. Where the at least one line of weakness in the first wall defines an opening tab, the first wall preferably includes one or more cut lines at the end of the opening tab in order to facilitate the separation of the opening tab from the remainder of the wall. The provision of the one or more cut lines enables the consumer to insert a finger underneath the end of the opening tab. If desired, the one or more cut lines may form a cut out proximate the end of the opening tab. The "first" wall may be any wall of a container according to the invention. The first wall of a container according to the invention may be the only wall of the container on which any lines of weakness are provided for the purposes of facilitating the flattening of the container.

For example, in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the back wall of the container includes two or more lines of weakness extending across it from the upper edge to the lower edge thereof. Preferably, the two or more lines of weakness in the back wall define one or more opening tabs in the back wall of the container, as described above. If desired, at least one of the opening tabs may be detachable from the container.

Alternatively, the container may include one or more additional lines of weakness extending across one or more of the walls other than the first wall. For example, in a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second wall of the container also includes at least one line of weakness extending across it, wherein the second wall is separable along the at least one line of weakness into two or more separate wall portions.

Preferably, the first wall and the second wall are substantially opposed to each other. The opposed first and second walls may be any pair of opposed walls in the container. Preferably, the first wall and the second wall are the top wall and the bottom wall of the container, respectively. Upon separation of both the first wall and the second wall into their - -

respective wall portions, the opposed ends of the container are opened and the container effectively becomes an open ended sleeve which can readily be flattened.

The arrangement of the at least one line of weakness extending across the first wall may be substantially the same as the at least one line of weakness extending across the second wall, such that the lines of weakness are substantially opposed to each other. Alternatively, a different arrangement of the at least one line of weakness may be provided on the first wall and the second wall. On either or both of the first wall and the second wall, the at least one line of weakness may be arranged so as to define at least one opening tab, as described above.

In one example of a container according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a single line of weakness extends across each of the first wall and the second wall of the container, between opposed edges thereof. Each wall therefore comprises two wall portions which upon separation from each other are connected to the container about opposed edges thereof. Each line of weakness may be broken by pushing the respective wall inwards, or by pulling the two wall portions away from each other. In addition to breaking the lines of weakness, it may also be necessary to detach the first wall portions, the second wall portions, or both, from one or more tabs to which the first wall is glued.

In a second example of a container according to the second embodiment of the present invention, each of the first and second walls of the container comprises a substantially rectangular strip formed by a pair of parallel, spaced apart lines of weakness extending between opposed edges of the wall and connected by a pair of cut lines extending along those opposed edges. Upon breakage of the lines of weakness, the rectangular strips are therefore torn away from the remainder of the container.

In a third example of a container according to the second embodiment of the present invention, each of the first and second walls of the container includes an arrangement of lines of weakness defining an opening tab, as described above.

Preferably, at least one of the two or more wall portions of containers according to the present invention is printed on both sides. Upon separation of the first wall, the inside surface of at least some of the two or more wall portions becomes visible and can therefore be provided with additional information or graphics, which is exposed upon separation of the first wall. Advantageously, containers according to the present invention may therefore provide a greater external surface area upon which manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information can be displayed.

In particular, where the first wall includes one or more openings tabs, the inside surfaces of the opening tabs are preferably printed, in addition to their outer surfaces. As described above, in order to separate the first wall, the opening tab is pulled away from the remainder of the first wall, thereby exposing its inside surface. Preferably, the container further comprises an inner frame mounted within the box, wherein the inner frame extends above the upper edges of at least the front wall of the box of the container. The inner frame is therefore visible to the consumer when the lid is opened. The front wall of the inner frame may be printed with indicia which may be the same as, or different to the indicia printed on the front wall of the box. Alternatively, or in addition, the front wall of the inner frame may be cut into a distinctive shape, for example, to reflect the branding of the consumer goods. If required, the inner frame may also comprise a line of weakness to facilitate flattening of the container.

Preferably, the front wall of the inner frame is provided with a cut out portion at the upper edge thereof. This enables more convenient access to the consumer goods within the container, without significantly reducing the surface area of the front wall of the inner frame.

Alternatively, or in addition to an inner frame, the consumer goods within the container may be wrapped with an inner liner, which is visible above the upper edge of the front wall of the box and the front wall of the inner frame (if present) when the container is open. Containers according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof. For example, the container according to the invention may comprise, without limitation: - One or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall;

- One or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall;

- One longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge on the front wall, and/or one transverse rounded edge and one transverse bevelled edge on the back wall;

- One or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall;

- Two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on a first side wall or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the second side wall. Where the container comprises one or more rounded edges and is made from a laminar blank, preferably the blank comprises three, four, five, six or seven scoring lines or creasing lines to form the rounded edge in the assembled container. The scoring lines or creasing lines may be either on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Preferably, the scoring lines or creasing lines are spaced apart from each other by between about 0.3 mm and 4 mm. Preferably, the spacing of the creasing lines or scoring lines is in function of the thickness of the laminar blank. Preferably, the spacing between the creasing lines or scoring lines is between about 0.5 and about 4 times larger than the thickness of the laminar blank.

Where the container comprises one or more bevelled edges, preferably the bevelled one or more edges have a width of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 2 and about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container may comprise a double bevel formed by three parallel creasing lines or scoring lines that are spaced apart such that two distinct bevels form on the edge of the container.

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

Where the container comprises a bevelled edge and is made from a laminar blank, the bevel may be formed by two parallel creasing lines or scoring lines in the laminar blank. The creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged symmetrically to the edge between a first wall and a second wall. Alternatively, the creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged asymmetrically to the edge between the first wall and the second wall, such that the bevel extends further into the first wall of the container than into the second wall of the container.

The container may be formed from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the cardboard has a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre.

Containers according to the invention may be used as packages for a variety of consumer goods. In particularly preferred embodiments, containers according to the invention are used to package smoking articles. Containers according to the invention may be advantageously used to package smoking articles including, but not limited to, known lit-end cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, heated smoking articles comprising a combustible fuel element or heat source and an aerosol-generating substrate (for example cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-4,714,082) and smoking articles for use with electrical smoking systems (for example cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-5,692,525).

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.

Containers according to the invention may hold one, two, three four or five separate bundles of consumer goods. The separate bundles may be arranged substantially parallel to the front wall and to the back wall or substantially perpendicular to the front wall and to the back wall. -o-

Within a bundle, the smoking articles may be arranged in different collations, depending on the total number of smoking articles, the dimensions of the smoking articles or the cross sectional shape of the container. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in a bundle in a single row of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten. Alternatively, the smoking articles may be arranged in two or more rows. The two or more rows may contain the same number of smoking articles. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in: two rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; three rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten; or four rows of four, five, six or seven. Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rows containing different numbers of smoking articles to each other. For example, the 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); a middle row of five and two outer rows of six (6-5-6); a middle row of five and two outer rows of seven (7-5-7); a middle row of six and two outer rows of five (5-6-5); a middle row of six and two outer rows of seven (7-6-7); a middle row of seven and two outer 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 one outer row of five and one outer row of seven (5-6-7).

Containers according to the present invention may hold smoking articles of the same type or brand, or of different types or brands. In addition, both filterless smoking articles and smoking articles with various filter tips may be contained, as well as smoking articles of differing length (for example, between about 40 mm and about 180 mm), diameter (for example, between about 4 mm and about 9 mm). In addition, the smoking articles may differ in strength of taste, resistance to draw and total particulate matter delivery. Wherein the container comprises more than one bundle, each bundle within the same container may hold the same or different types of smoking articles as listed above.

Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, the outer dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle of smoking articles housed inside the container.

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

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

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 mm and about 100 mm, more preferably a depth of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container (comprising the hinge between box and lid). Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most 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 in between about 1 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid back wall to the height of the box back wall is between about 0 to 1 (hinge located at the top edge of the container) to about 1 to 1 , more preferably, between about 1 to 5 and about 1 to 10, most preferably, between about 1 to 6 to about 1 to 8.

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

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia. Alternatively, or in addition, the exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be at least partially covered with lacquer, metallisation, holograms, luminescent material, or any other materials that alter the feel, odour or appearance of the container. Where the container according to the present invention contains one or more bundles of smoking articles, the smoking articles are preferably wrapped in an inner liner of, for example, metal foil or metallised paper.

Where the container comprises smoking articles, the container may further comprise waste-compartments (for example for ash or butts) or other consumer goods, for example matches, lighters, extinguishing means, breath-fresheners or electronics. The other consumer goods may be attached to the outside of the container, contained within the container along with the smoking articles, in a separate compartment of the container or combinations thereof.

Once filled, containers according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise over 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. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include a tear tape. The tear tape is preferably positioned around the container below the lower edge of the front wall of the lid, such that once the tear tape has been removed, the lid is free to be rotated about the first hinge line. Alternatively, the tear tape may be provided lengthways around the container. The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figure 1 which shows a partial view of a blank for forming a container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is not drawn to scale.

The blank 10 shown in Figure 1 is of the same construction as a blank for forming a conventional hinge lid container, except for the provision of lines of weakness in the back wall panel 12 forming the back wall of the assembled container. As can be seen from Figure 1 , first

14 and second 16 lines of weakness extend from the upper left and right corners of the back wall panel 12, respectively, diagonally towards each other for approximately one third of the length of the back wall panel. At this point, the first 14 and second 16 lines of weakness are connected to each other by means of a substantially horizontal cut line 18.

Beneath the level of the cut line 18 the first and second lines of weakness continue extending down the back wall panel 12 in a substantially vertical direction for a further one third of the length of the panel. Over the lower third of the back wall panel 12, the first 14 and second 16 lines of weakness extend diagonally towards the lower left and right corners, respectively, of the back wall panel 12.

The first 14 and second 16 lines of weakness and the cut line 18 together define an upper, trapezoidal opening tab 20 and a lower opening tab 22. An additional perforation line 24 is provided along the upper edge of the back wall panel 12 between the upper corners thereof, such that when the first opening tab 20 is separated from the remainder of the back wall panel 12 along the lines of weakness, it becomes completely detached from the container.

The first 14 and second 16 lines of weakness are each formed by a pair of score lines, running substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by a distance of around 1 mm. The score lines are provided on different sides of the blank 10 to each other.

The blank 10 may be assembled using standard methods and apparatus to form a container according to the invention. In order to flatten the assembled container once empty, the upper opening tab 20 is pulled upwards towards the upper side of the container and the lower opening tab is pulled downwards 22 towards the lower side of the container, in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. This will cause the lines of weakness 14, 16 to be broken and the back wall panel 12 to be split into four separate portions, each being connected to a different edge of the back wall of the container. The upper wall panel 26 and the lower wall panel 28 are then separated from the tabs 30 to which they are glued. The container may then be fully flattened.

Claims

1. A container comprising a cup-shaped box comprising a box back wall, a box front wall, a box bottom wall and two box side walls, and a cup-shaped lid comprising a lid back wall, a lid front wall, a lid top wall and two lid side walls, wherein the lid is connected to the box along a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container, wherein a first wall of the container includes at least one line of weakness extending across it such that the first wall is separable along the at least one line of weakness into two or more wall portions, wherein all of the two or more wall portions are each connected to only one edge of the container or are not connected to any edge of the container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the at least one line of weakness defines at least one opening tab extending at least part way across the first wall from an edge thereof.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the at least one line of weakness includes one or more cut lines proximate the end of the opening tab.

4. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the first wall is the back wall of the container and wherein the back wall includes two or more lines of weakness extending across it.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein a second wall of the container includes a second line of weakness extending across it, wherein the second wall is separable along the second line of weakness into two or more separate wall portions and wherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially opposed to each other.

6. A container according to claim 5 wherein the first wall is the top wall of the container and the second wall is the bottom wall of the container.

7. A container according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the wall portions is detachable from the container upon separation of the two or more wall portions.

8. A container according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the wall portions is printed on both sides.

9. A container according to any preceding claim comprising smoking articles