WO2022090209A1

WO2022090209A1 - Smoking articles box

Info

Publication number: WO2022090209A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/079649
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nimue NEUKIRCH
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2020-10-27
Filing date: 2021-10-26
Publication date: 2022-05-05

Abstract

Smoking articles box (1) for housing a charge of smoking articles (10) with an outer packaging (2) with a plurality of sidewalls (22, 26, 36) surrounding a volume for housing the smoking articles and a lid (12), the lid (12) being hinged on at least one sidewall (22), with an inner packaging (6) and or an inner frame (6) arranged at least partially inside the outer packaging (2) and suited for housing the smoking articles (10). According to the invention the smoking articles box (1) comprises an expandable compartment (8), the expandable compartment (8) being confined by at least one of the sidewalls (22).

Description

Smoking articles box

Description

The present invention is directed to a smoking article box and especially a cigarette box. Such boxes are known from the state of the art and serve to house a charge of smoking articles and especially cigarettes. Usually these boxes comprise lids, which can be swiveled with respect to a basic body. In the state of the art the consumer sometimes wishes to use the smoking article box also as compartment for additional articles as for example credit cards or the like. The present invention is therefore related to a smoking articles box which provides an additional compartment for specific articles and especially flat articles.

A smoking articles box for housing a charge of smoking articles comprises an outer packaging with a plurality of sidewalls surrounding a volume for housing the smoking articles and a lid. Thereby the lid is hinged on at least one sidewall of the outer packaging, especially a rear sidewall. Furthermore the box comprises an inner packaging or an inner frame arranged at least partially inside the outer packaging and which is suited for housing and/or surrounding the smoking articles.

According to the invention the smoking article box comprises an expendable compartment wherein the expendable compartment is confined by at least one of the side walls and the compartment for housing the smoking articles is preferably undivided and/or non expandable. A non expandable compartment is understood to be a compartment which maintains its size and/or volume independently of an expansion of the expandable compartment. Preferably the smoking article box is constructed such that upon opening a lid and by pulling a back panel away from a main body the consumer reveals and/or expands a folding compartment. This folding compartment is suitable for storing flat items such as for example banking cards, identification cards or (folded) paper money in a concealed and secure way, ideal for use and go.

Preferably the compartment side panels or compartment side walls act as canvas for communication especially revealing an extension to a back canvas when opened.

In a preferred embodiment the expandable compartment is confined by a back wall of the outer packaging. In another preferred embodiment the expandable compartment is confined by at least one foldable sidewall and especially by two foldable sidewalls. In a preferred embodiment the back wall of the outer packaging can be swiveled with respect to a bottom wall of the outer packaging. Especially the back wall can be swiveled between a first position, in which it extends substantially parallel to a front wall of the outer packaging and a second position, in which it extends under a given nonzero (maximal) angle witch respect to that front wall.

By swiveling the back wall or back panel with respect to the bottom wall the compartment can be expanded. Preferably this angle is greater than 10°, preferably greater than 20°, preferably greater than 25°. In another preferred embodiment this angle is smaller than 50°, preferably smaller than 40° and preferably smaller than 35°.

Preferably the back wall or back panel extends along the extension plane of one sidewall of the smoking articles box. Very preferably the back wall or back panel extends along the extension plane of the backside of the smoking articles box. It is conceivable that in a closed state of the expandable compartment the back wall acts as a sidewall of the box, wherein in an expanded state of the compartment the backwall is swiveled with respect to the other sidewalls of the box.

In another preferred embodiment the back wall is attached to at least one sidewall and preferably to two sidewalls via an accordion like structure. This accordion like structure is preferably built up by the compartment side walls and their attachment to the back wall of the outer compartment. In another preferred embodiment the outer packaging is made of paper or cardboard. Also the inner packaging or inner frame is preferably made of paper or cardboard.

In another preferred embodiment the expandable compartment is confined also by an inner packaging or inner frame of the smoking article box and/or by a wrapper element which directly surrounds the smoking articles.

In another preferred embodiment the smoking articles box comprises an articles packaging and/or an articles wrapper, which especially directly surrounds the smoking articles. This packaging may be formed of a foil like element and/or a coated element.

In another preformed embodiment the expandable compartment is confined by at least one compartment sidewall wherein preferably this compartment sidewall has a first sidewall section and a second side wall section which are foldable with respect to each other. Preferably the expandable compartment is confined by two compartment sidewalls.

In another preferred embodiment the first side wall section and the second sidewall section are foldable with respect each other and with respect to a folding line wherein the first sidewall section and the second sidewall section (of the compartment sidewalls) are especially also arranged symmetrically with respect to this folding line. Therefore preferably these compartment sidewall sections form the above mentioned accordion like structure.

In another preferred embodiment in an expanded state the at least one compartment side wall section has a triangular shape and especially the shape of an isosceles triangle. In another preferred embodiment at least one of the sidewall sections and preferably both sidewall sections have a triangular shape. Especially at least one sidewall section and preferably both sidewall sections have a right-angled triangle shape.

In another preferred embodiment at least one compartment sidewall is connected directly to the outer packaging and/or is a part of the outer packaging. Preferably both compartment sidewalls are connected directly to a sidewall of the outer packaging. Under a direct connection is especially understood that these compartment sidewall connections are formed in one piece with the sidewall of the outer packaging. Especially this connection extends along a straight line and/or forms a folding line. ln another preferred embodiment the compartment sidewalls are arranged such at the side walls of the outer packaging, that in a fully expanded state of the expandable compartment the compartment sidewalls and the outer packaging sidewalls are parallel to each other and especially are arranged in the same plane.

In another preferred embodiment at least one compartment sidewall section is connected in a swiveling manner to a sidewall of the outer packaging. In another preferred embodiment at least one compartment sidewall section and preferably two compartment sidewall sections are glued to the back wall of the outer packaging.

Preferably attached and/or connected to at least one sidewall section is a glueing strip which serves to be glued to the back wall of the outer packaging. In another preferred embodiment the lid is hinged on the back wall of the outer packaging.

In another preferred embodiment the inner packaging or inner frame surrounds the smoking elements. Preferably the inner packaging or inner frame is constructed bottom free and/or roof free. Preferably the smoking articles can be arranged in such a manner in the inner packaging or inner frame that at least one end section of the smoking articles and especially both end sections of the smoking articles extend beyond the inner packaging or inner frame. Preferably the inner packaging or inner frame comprises a rectangular cross section.

In another very preferred embodiment at least one compartment sidewall comprises a display surface for displaying information. Especially in this area advertisement and/or product information can be displayed. In another preferred embodiment both sidewall sections comprise display surfaces for displaying information and/or canvas Especially the surface of the compartment sidewalls facing to the outside of the outer packaging comprises such information, for example printed on it.

In a preferred embodiment the information displayed on the sidewall sections extents also over the folding lines of the sidewall sections and can be displayed preferably completely when the sidewall sections are in an unfolded state. In another preferred embodiment the compartment is suited to house flat objects and especially credit cards, ID cards, folded paper money and the like. ln another preferred embodiment at least one compartment sidewall is pivotable with respect to a bottom wall and/or a side wall of the outer packaging to expand the expandable compartment. In another preferred embodiment the inner packaging or inner frame comprises a back wall section which is preferably arranged adjacent to the back wall of the outer packaging, especially in a folded state of the expandable compartment.

The present invention is also directed to a folding sample which is foldable to form a smoking articles box and especially an outer packaging of a smoking articles box of the above mentioned manner. A folding sample in the sense of the invention is understood to mean an especially two dimensional sample which comprises a plurality of folding lines, separating different sections of the folding sample. By folding these folding sections with respect to each other the above mentioned outer packaging can be folded.

Preferably this folding sample comprises a front wall section, a bottom section, at least one and preferably two sidewall sections and at least one and preferably two compartment sidewall sections, which are preferably arranged directly at the sidewall sections.

Furthermore, the folding example preferably comprises a back wall section, which can be glued to at least one compartment sidewall section and especially to both compartment sidewall sections.

Preferably the folding sample comprises further elements, which can be folded to form a lid section of the outer packaging.

The folding sample arrangement preferably comprises in another embodiment a second folding sample, which serves to be folded to the inner packaging or the inner packaging frame and especially to the inner packaging as described above.

The present invention is further directed to a method for producing an outer packaging of a smoking article box providing an expendable compartment and especially an outer packaging as described above.

Thereby in a first step a foldable assemble is provided, having a front section, two sidewalls and a bottom section, wherein a compartment sidewall is connected to each sidewall and wherein the compartment sidewalls comprise a first compartment sidewall section and a second compartment sidewall section. ln a second step the front section of the outer packaging is glued to a bottom section of the outer packaging. In another step the back wall of the outer packaging is glued to a section of the foldable elements. However the order of these glueing steps can be changed and/or reversed.

Further advantages of the invention are described with reference to the figures. Therein show:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of a smoking articles box according to the invention;

Fig. 2 a folding sample to fold the outer packaging according to figure 1 ;

Fig. 3 a folding sample to fold an inner packaging or frame for the smoking article box according to figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a smoking articles box 1 especially a cigarette box according to the invention. The reference number 10 shows a charge of cigarettes which is located inside an outer packaging 2. This outer packaging comprises a front wall 26 and two sidewalls 36 (only one shown). Additionally this outer packaging 6 comprises a bottom section (not shown). The volume surrounded also by the sidewalls 36 and the front wall 26 is preferably undividable and/or non extendable.

Inside the outer packaging 2 an inner packaging or inner frame 6 is arranged. This inner packaging or inner frame surrounds the smoking articles 10. Preferably the compartment housing the smoking articles cannot be expanded. Preferably all smoking articles are housed in the same compartment and preferably not separated from each other. Reference number 35 is directed to a foil and/or a wrapper which directly surrounds the smoking articles for maintenance of freshness.

Reference number 12 shows a lid, which is hinged to a back sidewall 22 of the outer packaging 2. Reference number 8 shows a compartment which can be opened and which is expendable. To expend this compartment 8, sidewall sections 32a and 32b of compartment sidewalls 32 can be unfolded (accordion like) with respect to each other. Reference number 31 shows a display surface on which information can be for example printed. The information may be printed on both sidewall sections. Also this information may be printed in a manner that it extends over a connection line 32c between the two sidewall sections 32a, 32b.

The lid 12 comprises lid sidewalls 52, a lid front wall 54 and a lid backwall 56. Reference numeral 20 denotes an article to be placed in the inside of the compartment 8 as for example a credit card or the like. The lid 12 is preferably built as one piece with the outer packaging or is a part of the outer packaging 2.

Figure 2 shows a folding sample 50, which can be folded to form the outer packaging. Reference numeral 26 is directed to the front panel and the reference number 36 to the two sidewalls of the outer packaging 2. These sidewalls are directly attached to the front panel or front wall 26. Reference numeral 42 denotes a bottom section of the outer packaging

Reference numeral 32 is directed to the compartment sidewalls which have two compartment sidewall sections 32a and 32b which can be unfolded with respect to each other. It can be seen, that this compartment sidewall 32 and especially the sidewall section 32a is connected (and especially connected in one piece) by a folding line to the sidewall 36. 32c denotes the folding line by which the two sections 32a and 32b can be swiveled with respect to each other. The reference symbols a and b denote angles of the sidewall sections 32a, 32b. In the embodiment shown, theses angles are 15° respectively.

The reference numeral 37 is directed to a folding section which serves to be glued to the back wall section 22 once folded. The shaded surfaces in figures 2 and 3 denote these surfaces which are glued to other surfaces. Attached to the back wall section 22 is the lid 12 which has lid sidewall sections 52 and a lid front wall section 54. The surface 58 serves again as glueing surface.

Figure 3 shows another folding sample 60 which serves to fold the inner packaging or inner frame 6 shown in figure 1. Reference number 62 shows a front panel or front section which has a recess 62a also shown in figure 1. Reference numeral 64 show sidewall sections of the inner packaging or inner frame and reference numeral 66 back wall sections of the inner packaging which serve to surround the charge of smoking articles. Reference number 68 denotes another glueing section which is glued to the left side section 66 to close the inner packaging or inner frame around the cigarettes. The remaining glueing surfaces like 72 and 74 serve to adhere an inner foil or inner wrapper 35 (see fig. 1) which surrounds directly the smoking articles.

The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in the application document as being an essential feature of the invention, as long as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of the prior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures features are described, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled in the art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosed in a figure can be advantageous also without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diverse features being disclosed in one or various figures.

List of reference symbols

1 smoking articles box

2 outer packaging

6 inner packaging or inner frame

8 expandable compartment

10 smoking articles

12 lid

20 object to be put in expandable compartment

22 back wall of the outer packaging

26 front wall of outer packaging

31 display surface

32 compartment side wall

32a, 32b compartment side wall section

32c folding line

35 wrapper

36 side wall of outer packaging

37 folding section

42 bottom section

50 folding sample for outer packaging

52 lid side wall 54 lid front wall

56 lid back wall

58 glueing surface

60 folding sample for inner packaging 62 front section of inner packaging

62a recess

64 sidewall section of inner packaging

66 backwall section of inner packaging

68 glueing section 72, 74 glueing sections a, b angles

Claims

Patent claims Smoking articles box (1) for housing a charge of smoking articles (10) with an outer packaging (2) with a plurality of sidewalls (22, 26, 36) surrounding a volume for housing the smoking articles (10) and a lid (12), the lid (12) being hinged on at least one sidewall (22), with an inner packaging (6) and/or an inner frame (6) arranged at least partially inside the outer packaging (2) and suited for housing the smoking articles (10) all in the same compartment and not separated from each other, characterized in that the smoking articles box (1) comprises an expandable compartment (8), the expandable compartment (8) being confined by at least one of the sidewalls (22), which is a back wall (22) of the outer packaging (2), wherein the lid (12) is hinged to the back wall (22), and the compartment (8) being expandable upon opening the lid (12) and pulling the back wall (22) away from the main body of the box (1). Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expandable compartment (8) is confined by at least one compartment side wall (32), wherein preferably this compartment sidewall (32) has a first sidewall section (32a) and a second sidewall section (32b) which are foldable with respect to each other. Smoking articles box (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first sidewall section (32a) and the second sidewall section (32b) are foldable with respect to each other with respect to a folding line, wherein the first sidewall section (32a) and the second sidewall section (32b) are also arranged symmetrically with respect to this folding line. Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 3 - 4, characterized in that in an expanded state of the compartment (8) the at least one compartment sidewall (32) has a triangular shape. Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one compartment sidewall (32) is connected directly to a sidewall (36) of the outer packaging (2). Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 3 - 7, characterized in that at least one sidewall section (32a) is connected in a swiveling manner to a sidewall (36) of the outer packaging (2). Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 3 - 8, characterized in that at least one sidewall section (32b) is glued to the backwall (22) of the outer packaging (2). Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 3 - 8, characterized in that the lid (12) is hinged on the backwall (22) of the outer packaging Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims 3 - 8, characterized in that at least one compartment sidewall (32) comprises a display surface (31) for displaying information. Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compartment (8) comprises a size which is big enough to house flat objects (20) and especially credit cards, ID- cards paper money and the like. Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one side wall (22, 32) is pivotable with respect to a bottom wall of the outer packaging (2) to expand the expandable compartment (8). Smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner packaging or inner frame (6) comprises a back wall section, which is arranged adjacent to the back wall (22) of the outer packaging. Folding sample (50) to fold a smoking articles box (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the smoking articles box (1) can be folded from a piece of material with the shape of the folding sample (50) Method for producing an outer packaging (2) of a smoking articles box (1) providing an expandable compartment (8) according to claim 1 with the steps:

- providing a foldable sample (50), having a front section, two side walls (36) and a bottom section, wherein a compartment sidewall (32) is connected to each side wall (36), the compartment sidewalls each comprising a first compartment sidewall section (32a) and a second compartment sidewall section (32b)

- glueing the front section (26) of the outer packaging to the bottom section of the outer packaging (2)

- glueing a backwall (22) of the outer packaging (2) to a compartment sidewall section (32b).