WO2023213800A1

WO2023213800A1 - Hinge-lid pack and blank of sheet material for forming a hinge-lid pack

Info

Publication number: WO2023213800A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/061525
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sara TREVISAN
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2022-05-04
Filing date: 2023-05-02
Publication date: 2023-11-09

Abstract

A hinge-lid pack comprising a body and a lid, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the body along a hinge line arranged on a back side of the pack. The pack comprises a releaseable locking means arranged on a front side of the pack to releasably lock the lid and the body. A separate reinforcement strip is attached to the back side of the pack and extends over at least 50 precent of a width of the back side. Also disclosed is a blank of sheet material for forming the hinge-lid pack.

Description

HINGE-LID PACK AND BLANK OF SHEET MATERIAL FOR FORMING A HINGE-LID PACK

The present disclosure relates to a pack for consumer goods, in particular it relates to a hinge-lid pack and a blank of sheet-material for forming such a hinge-lid pack.

It is known to package consumer goods such as, for example, elongate smoking articles, in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. Elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes, 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. The lid has to be opened to gain access to the content of the pack.

It may be desirable to ensure that the container remains closed until a user is ready to access the consumer goods. This may help to secure the goods in the container during transport and it may help to preserve one or more properties of the consumer goods, such as their freshness.

It would be desirable to provide a novel and improved hinge-lid pack with secured closure to prevent accidental opening of the hinge-lid pack. Further, it would be desirable to provide one or more blanks of sheet material, wherein the manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective requiring little modifications on existing machines.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge-lid pack comprising a body and a lid, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the body along a hinge line arranged on a back side of the pack. The pack comprises a releaseable locking means arranged on a front side of the pack to releasably lock the lid and the body. A reinforcement strip is attached to the back side of the pack and extends over at least 50 percent of a width of the back side.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip extends over between 60 percent and 100 percent of the width of the back side, more preferably, between 80 percent and 100 percent of the width of the back side. The reinforcement strip, for example, extends over an entire width of the back side.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip is an individual strip attached to the inner side of the pack and extends over the entire width of the pack. The reinforcement strip reinforces the back side of the pack against forces acting on the lateral sides of the pack in a direction along the width of a pack. The reinforcement strip enhances the rigidity of the pack, in particular the back wall of the pack in view of lateral forces.

Such a hinge-lid pack needs to be pushed from both lateral sides of the pack in a direction along the width of a pack to release the locking means on the front side of the pack in order to open the pack to gain access to its content. Since the back side of the pack is reinforced by the reinforcement strip, the back side of the pack is, at least in the region of the reinforcement strip, more rigid. A lateral compressing force is thus transferred to the front side of the pack leading to an outward deformation of the front side of the pack. By this, the locking means between lid and body is released. The hinge-lid pack according to the invention enables to open the pack by more sophisticated handling of the pack, thus, enhancing the secured closure of the pack against unauthorized or accidental opening, particularly when a pack is completely filled or almost filled.

In particular, aerosol-generating articles for electronic devices, where parts of the articles are heated rather than combusted, are usually shorter than conventional cigarettes. Thus, hingelid packs for such aerosol-generating articles often have a width, which is larger than its height. This makes a user less likely to apply a pressing force to both sides of the pack at the same time during normal handling of the pack. Thus, the hinge-lid pack according to the invention allows a reliable repeated opening also of differently dimensioned packs with enhanced security against accidental opening.

Thus, by providing the pack with locking means on a front side of the pack combined with the provision of a reinforcement strip arranged along a significant portion of the width of the back side of the pack, the risk of inadvertent opening of the pack can be further reduced. This is because both lateral sides of the pack need to be interacted with at the same time due to the provision of a locking means and the dimensions of the pack. Accordingly, a pressing force is required from two opposing sides of the pack in order to unlock the locking means. Thus, the present invention may be particularly advantageous in embodiments where the width of the pack is greater than the height of the pack. Preferably, the width of the pack is greater than the height of the pack. For example, preferably the aspect ratio of the pack may be such that the width of the pack is greater than 120% of the height of the pack, more preferably the width of the pack is greater than 130% of the height of the pack, most preferably the width of the pack is greater than 140%. Preferably, the aspect ratio of the pack may be such that the width of the pack is less than 300% of the height of the pack, more preferably the width of the pack is less than 250% of the height of the pack, even more preferably the width of the pack is less than 220% of the height of the pack. For example, preferably the width of the pack is greater than 75mm, more preferably the width of the pack is greater than 80mm, most preferably the width of the pack is greater than 85mm or 90mm. The width of the pack is preferably less than 200 mm, more preferably less than 150 mm. This is because in such embodiments, a user is less likely to hold both sides of the pack with one hand at any time. As such, the user is less likely to be applying a pressing force to both sides of the pack at the same time, during normal handling of the pack. This makes it unlikely that the pack will be inadvertently opened.

The hinge-lid pack comprises a height, a width and a depth, wherein the lid forms a top of the pack. For opening a pack, the lid may be tilted relative to the body of the pack along a hinge line. The hinge line always extends along the width of a back side of the pack, such that a top of a pack is opened to provide access to the consumer goods in the pack.

Preferably, the width of the pack is larger than the height of the pack. The specific opening mechanism of a pack as described in this application is in particular advantageous to such packs as these have only a limited height not available for other ways of opening the pack due to their limited height.

Preferably, the locking means are not visible when the pack is closed. Thus, any locking elements of the locking means are arranged inside of the pack or get covered or are covered by parts of the pack, when the pack is closed. For example, a tab is inserted in a slit and to the interior of the pack, an adhesive section is applied on an inside of the lid or part of the locking means are provided on the body, for example on an inner frame, which part is covered by the lid when the pack is closed.

The reinforcement strip may extend over the entire width of the pack or may extend over the width of the pack and over the lateral sides of the pack.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip extends over the width of the pack and over at least a portion of both lateral sides of the pack. Preferably, the reinforcement strip extends over the width of the pack and over both lateral sides of the pack, thus also over a depth of the pack.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip is symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal middle axis through a center of the pack.

A reinforcement strip may be arranged on an outside or on an inside of the pack. While the reinforcement strip may represent design or marketing features on an outside of the pack, the reinforcement strip is preferably arranged on an inside of the pack.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip is arranged on an inner back side of the body of the pack or on an inner back side of the lid of the pack.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip is arranged adjacent a hinge line. Preferably, the reinforcement strip is attached to the back side of the pack adjacent the hinge line.

The reinforcement strip may extend over the hinge line. However, preferably, the reinforcement strip is fixedly attached to the back side of the pack but not to the hinge line, in order not to hinder any opening or closing of the lid.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip is arranged and attached exclusively to the inner back side of the body of the pack. Alternatively, preferably, the reinforcement strip is arranged and attached exclusively to the inner back side of the lid of the pack.

A separate reinforcement strip being attached to the back side of a pack bears the advantage that otherwise conventional packs or conventional blanks for forming such packs may be used.

The reinforcement strip may be made of any suitable material and is preferably made of a sheet material. Preferably, the reinforcement strip is made of paper, cardboard, plastics, metal, or a combination of these materials. The reinforcement strip may be made of a material being the same or different from the material of the pack.

The reinforcement strip provides rigidity to the back side of a pack. Preferably, the reinforcement strip has more rigidity than a pack material. A reinforcement strip forms a stabilized zone on the back side of the pack. This is preferably achieved by a thicker wall portion on the back side of the pack in the region of the interface between lid and body. However, the reinforcement strip may also be more rigid than the pack material. For example, the material of the reinforcement strip may be thicker than the pack material or the structure of the material of the reinforcement strip may have a rigidity that is higher than that of the pack material.

Preferably, body and lid of the pack and the reinforcement strip are made of a same material.

A reinforcement strip has an elongate shape. Longitudinal sides of the strip may be parallel and may be straight. However, a strip may also have different widths over its length and may be non-straight, for example, curved.

A preferred shape of a reinforcement strip has two parallel sides. A most preferred shape of a strip is rectangular.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip has a rectangular shape on the back side of the pack. Most preferably, the reinforcement strip has an overall rectangular shape, when extending over the back side of the pack and over the lateral sides of the pack.

The reinforcement strip has a length and a width. The length of the reinforcement strip preferably corresponds to at least the width of a pack.

A length of the reinforcement strip may, for example, be between 60 millimeter and 110 millimeter, preferably between 70 millimeter and 100 millimeter, for example 74 millimeter or 98 millimeter.

The width of a reinforcement strip may be adapted to a size of a pack and in particular to a position of the reinforcement strip on a pack. For example, a reinforcement strip preferably, has a smaller width if provided on a lid or on a body.

A width of the reinforcement strip may, for example, be between 3 millimeter and 22 millimeter, preferably between 5 millimeter and 18 millimeter, for example 8 millimeter or 15 millimeter.

Preferably, locking means form any one of an interference fit, including press fit, friction fit and force fit, a form fit, a magnetic fastener, a Velcro fastener or an adhesive fastener between body and lid of the pack. All types of fits or fasteners form releasable fits or releasable fasteners, preferably designed and adapted for multiple opening and closing actions.

Several kinds of locking means may be combined. For example, an interference fit may be combined with an adhesive fastener to further reduce the risk of misuse of the pack.

The body of the pack may comprise an inner frame. In these embodiments, the locking means may be arranged between the lid and the inner frame. When a hinge-lid pack is provided with an inner frame, the locking means are preferably arranged between lid and inner frame. Preferably, the locking means comprise a male connector and a female connector. The male connector and the female connector from a respective fit, for example an interference fit when connected with each other.

Preferably, a male connector is a latch, a tab or a protrusion. Accordingly, a female connector preferably is a recess, a slit or a cut-out.

Such male and female connectors may be manufactured in a simple manner, for example by providing two cuts, for example, a straight cut and a corresponding curved cut in a blank of sheet material.

The male connector may be arranged at the lid or at the body. Accordingly, the female connector may be arranged in the lid or in the body.

Preferably, the male connector is arranged at the inner frame when arranged at the body of the pack.

Preferably, the female connector is arranged in the inner frame when arranged in the body of the pack.

Hinge-lid packs may comprise an inner frame that is arranged within the body, between a body front side and lateral sides and the consumer goods within the pack. The inner frame typically extends above the body and reaches into the lid when the pack is closed. The inner frame may facilitate the closure of the pack and may protect the consumer goods within the pack, in particular an extraction opening. An inner frame typically comprises an access recess on a front side of the pack. An inner frame is arranged on an inner surface of a front side of the body. The inner frame may extend over the front side and over both lateral sides of the body. Preferably, the inner frame extends exclusively over the front side of the body or exclusively extends over the front side and both lateral sides of the body.

The reinforcement strip is part of the lid or of the body but not part of the inner frame. Accordingly, an inner frame and the reinforcement strip may overlap on the lateral sides of the body if inner frame and reinforcement strip both extend into the lateral sides of the pack.

An inner frame may be provided in a hinge-lid pack to enhance the rigidity of the pack. An inner frame is always positioned on an inner surface of a front side of a body of a pack, possibly also extending over the lateral sides and eventually to a minimal extent into the back side. Thus, an inner frame, if provided, may enhance the rigidity of a front side of the pack. With the provision of a reinforcement strip provided on the back side of the pack, any laterally applied forces to the lateral sides of the pack are then mainly transferred to the front of the lid of the pack as the body portion may be too rigid to be significantly bent outside. Accordingly, the locking means may be released by such a lateral force and the lid may at the same time be substantially opened.

Preferably, the hinge-lid pack according to the invention is made of a blank of sheet material, wherein panels representing sides of the pack are connected with each other by folding lines, and wherein the locking means are embodied in the blank of sheet material. For example, the locking means may be delimited from the blank of sheet material by cutting lines.

Preferably, a female connector of the locking means is formed by a straight cut in the blank of sheet material.

Preferably, a male connector of the locking means is formed by a curved cut in the blank of sheet material. A curved cut may, for example, be a half-circle, have a triangular, rectangular or square shape.

A length of the reinforcement strip extends along the width of the pack and a width of the reinforcement strip extends along the height of the pack. A reinforcement strip may extend along an entire width of a material blank or substantially along the width of the material blank.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank of sheet material for forming a hinge-lid pack according to the present invention and as described herein. The blank of sheet material comprises a body portion for forming a body of the pack and a lid portion for forming a lid of the pack, wherein body portion and the lid portion are connected by a hinge line. A reinforcement strip is provided on the blank of sheet material, for example applied to, and locking means are embodied in the blank of sheet material for forming a releasable lock of lid and body in the formed hinge-lid pack.

Hinge-lid packs are commonly formed from blank of sheet material, wherein folding lines are provided in the blank for folding the pack from the blank. The locking means according to the invention is preferably integrated in the blank, for example by cutting lines or protrusions that may form the locking means once the blank is folded.

Preferably, in the blank of sheet material, the locking means comprise a male connector and a female connector, wherein the male connector or the female connector of the locking means is arranged in the lid portion. Accordingly, the corresponding female connector or male connector is arranged in the body of the pack.

Preferably, the blank of sheet material comprises two cutting lines, one cutting line forming the male connector and another cutting line forming the female connector. Preferably, a curved cut forms the male connector of the locking means and a straight cut forms the female connector of the locking means. One of the two cutting lines is arranged in the lid portion of the blank of sheet material and the other one of the two cutting lines is arranged in the body portion.

In particular, the other one of the two cutting lines may be arranged in an inner frame portion if such an inner frame portion is provided.

A blank of sheet material may be a one-piece blank or a multi-piece blank. The pieces or parts of the blank may be attached to each other while still forming the blank or upon folding and assembling the pieces of the blank forming the hinge-lid pack. Preferably, the blank of sheet material comprises two separate parts. Therein, one part is formed by a combined body portion and lid portion and the second part is formed by an inner frame portion. While an inner frame portion may be integrated in a single blank of sheet material, preferably, the inner frame portion is a separate part of the blank of sheet material.

A reinforcement strip may be applied to the body portion or may be applied to the lid portion. Preferably, the reinforcement strip is arranged on one side of the hinge line in order not to hinder the folding of the blank of sheet material and a future opening and reclosing of the lid.

Preferably, the reinforcement strip is a rectangular strip and preferably extends over an entire width of the blank of sheet material.

A reinforcement strip may extend over a portion only of the width of the blank, in particular a reinforcement strip may extend only over a portion of the width of a middle panel forming the back side of the pack. In these embodiments, the reinforcement strip is preferably arranged in a center of the middle panel such as to symmetrically extend to both lateral sides of the blank.

For the hinge-lid pack according to the invention, blanks, for example laminar blanks, may be used that need only be slightly modified compared to blanks used for common hinge-lid packs. In particular, existing machines need only little modifications and are easy to adapt for manufacturing the blank required for the hinge-lid pack as described herein. Thus, the manufacturing process for the improved hinge-lid packs is simple and cost-effective.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example Ex1 : A hinge-lid pack comprising a body and a lid, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the body along a hinge line arranged on a back side of the pack, wherein the pack comprises a releaseable locking means arranged on a front side of the pack to releasably lock the lid and the body, and wherein a reinforcement strip is attached to the back side of the pack and extends over at least 50 percent of a width of the back side.

Example Ex2: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex1 , wherein the reinforcement strip extends over between 60 percent and 100 percent of the width of the back side, preferably, between 80 percent and 100 percent of the width of the back side, for example extends over an entire width of the back side

Example Ex3: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the reinforcement strip extends over the width of the pack and over at least a portion of both lateral sides of the pack.

Example Ex4: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex3, wherein the reinforcement strip extends over the width of the pack and over both lateral sides of the pack.

Example Ex5: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged on an inner back side of the body.

Example Ex6: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex1 to Ex4, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged on an inner back side of the lid. Example Ex7: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex5, wherein the reinforcement strip is attached to the back side of the pack adjacent the hinge line.

Example Ex8: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex4 to Ex6, wherein the reinforcement strip further extends over the hinge line.

Example Ex9: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex5 and Ex7, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged and attached exclusively to the inner back side of the body of the pack.

Example Ex10: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex6 to Ex7, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged and attached exclusively to the inner back side of the lid.

Example Ex11 : The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the reinforcement strip is made of paper, cardboard, plastics, metal or a combination of these materials.

Example Ex12: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein a rigidity of a material of the reinforcement strip is higher than a rigidity of a material of the pack.

Example Ex13: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the body and lid of the pack and the reinforcement strip are made of a same material.

Example Ex14: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the reinforcement strip has a rectangular shape on the back side of the pack.

Example Ex15: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex14, wherein the reinforcement strip has an overall rectangular shape.

Example Ex16: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the reinforcement strip has a length and a width, wherein a width of the reinforcement strip is between 3 millimeter and 22 millimeter, preferably between 5 millimeter and 18 millimeter, more preferably 8 millimeter or 15 millimeter.

Example Ex17: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex16, wherein the length of the reinforcement strip is between 60 millimeter and 110 millimeter, preferably between 70 millimeter and 100 millimeter, for example 74 millimeter or 98 millimeter.

Example Ex18: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the locking means form any one of an interference fit, a form fit, a magnetic fastener, a Velcro fastener or an adhesive fastener between body and lid of the pack.

Example Ex19: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the body comprises an inner frame partially arranged within the body of the pack and wherein the locking means are arranged between the lid and the inner frame.

Example Ex20: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex18 to Ex19, wherein the locking means comprise a male connector and a female connector. Example Ex21 : The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex20, wherein the male connector is a latch, a tab or a protrusion.

Example Ex22: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex20 to Ex21 , wherein the female connector is a recess, a slit or a cut-out.

Example Ex23: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex20 to Ex22, wherein the male connector is arranged at the lid.

Example Ex24: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex20 to Ex22, wherein the female connector is arranged in the lid.

Example Ex25: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Example Ex20 to Ex22, wherein the male connector is arranged at the body.

Example Ex26: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex25, wherein the male connector is arranged at the inner frame.

Example Ex27: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Example Ex20 to Ex23, wherein the female connector is arranged in the body.

Example Ex28: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex27, wherein the female connector is arranged in the inner frame.

Example Ex29: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex19 to Ex28, wherein the inner frame comprises an access recess on a front side of the pack.

Example Ex30: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Example Ex19 to Ex29, wherein the inner frame is arranged on an inner surface of a front side of the body.

Example Ex31 : The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex30, wherein the inner frame extends over the front side and over both lateral sides of the body.

Example Ex32: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex31 , wherein the inner frame extends exclusively over the front side and both lateral sides of the body.

Example Ex33: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex31 and Ex32, wherein the inner frame and the reinforcement strip overlap on the lateral sides of the body.

Example Ex34: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples being made of a blank of sheet material, wherein panels representing sides of the pack are connected with each other by folding lines, and wherein the locking means are embodied in the blank of sheet material.

Example Ex35: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex34, wherein the locking means are delimited from the blank of sheet material by cutting lines.

Example Ex36: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex35, wherein a straight cut in the blank of sheet material forms a female connector of the locking means.

Example Ex37: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of Examples Ex35 to Ex36, wherein a curved cut in the blank of sheet material forms a male connector of the locking means. Example Ex38: The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the pack comprises a height, a width and a depth, with the hinge line extending along the width of the pack, wherein the width of the pack is larger than the height of the pack.

Example Ex39: The hinge-lid pack according to Example Ex38, wherein a length of the reinforcement strip extends along the width of the pack and a width of the reinforcement strip extends along the height of the pack.

Example Ex40: A blank of sheet material for forming a hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding Examples, the blank of sheet material comprising a body portion for forming a body of the pack and a lid portion for forming a lid of the pack, wherein the body portion and the lid portion are connected by a hinge line, and wherein a reinforcement strip is provided on the blank of sheet material and locking means are embodied in the blank of sheet material for forming a releasable lock of lid and body in the formed hinge-lid pack.

Example Ex41 : The blank of sheet material according to Example Ex40, wherein the locking means comprise a male connector and a female connector, wherein the male connector or the female connector of the locking means are arranged in the lid portion.

Example Ex42: The blank of sheet material according to Example Ex41 , comprising two cutting lines, one cutting line forming the male connector and another cutting line forming the female connector.

Example Ex43: The blank of sheet material according to Example Ex42 wherein a curved cut forms the male connector of the locking means and a straight cut forms the female connector of the locking means.

Example Ex44: The blank of sheet material according to any one of Examples Ex40 to Ex43, comprising two separate parts, wherein an inner frame portion is one of the two separate parts of the blank of sheet material.

Example Ex45: The blank of sheet material according to any one of Examples Ex42 to Ex44, wherein one of the two cutting lines is arranged in the lid portion of the blank of sheet material and the other one of the two cutting lines is arranged in the body portion.

Example Ex46: The blank of sheet material according to Example Ex45, wherein the other one of the two cutting lines is arranged in the inner frame portion.

Example Ex47: The blank of sheet material according to any one of Examples Ex40 to Ex46, wherein the reinforcement strip is applied to the body portion.

Example Ex48: The blank of sheet material according to any one of Examples Ex40 to Ex47, wherein the reinforcement strip is applied to the lid portion.

Example Ex49: The blank of sheet material according to any one of Examples Ex40 to Ex47, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged on one side of the hinge line.

Example Ex50: The blank of sheet material according to any one of Examples Ex40 to Ex49, wherein the reinforcement strip is a rectangular strip. Example Ex51 : The blank of sheet material according to any one of Examples Ex40 to Ex50, wherein the reinforcement strip extends over a width of the blank of sheet material.

Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

Figure 1 shows an open hinge-lid pack;

Figure 2 shows the hinge-lid pack of Fig.1 in a closed state;

Figure 3 shows a schematic through-view of a hinge-lid pack;

Figure 4 shows a back view of a hinge-lid pack;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the hinge-lid pack of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 shows a blank of sheet material for a hinge-lid pack; and

Figure 7 shows another embodiment of a blank of sheet material for a hinge-lid pack.

The packs of Fig. 1 to 5 are hinge-lid packs 1 , wherein the outer shape is of similar design and construction, and like elements are shown by the same reference numerals in all figures.

The packs 1 each comprise an outer housing comprising a body 10 and a lid 11 hinged to the body along a hinge line 109 across the back wall 102 of the housing. Each pack 1 has opposed front side 101 and back side 102 and opposed lateral sides 105. The body 10 has a bottom side 103 (not visible in the figures 1 to 5) and the lid 11 has a top side (visible in Fig. 3).

In Fig. 1. the hinge-lid pack 1 is shown in an open state. Fig. 2 shows the hinge-lid pack 1 of Fig. 1 in the closed state. In the figures, the locking means 15 are indicated by a line arranged on a frontal mid-section on the front side 101 of the pack 1. Preferably, the locking means 15 are arranged on the inside of the pack 1 . In the closed state of the pack as shown in Fig.2, the locking means 15 are typically not visible from the outside.

Preferably, the housing is made of cardboard accommodating a wrapped bundle of consumables 3, for example aerosol-generating articles. The bundle of consumables 3 may be surrounded by a wrapper 30, for example a metallised polymeric film (shown in Fig. 1).

The pack 1 has a width 401 , which is longer than its height 400. Packs of such dimensions are common for packing so called ‘heat sticks’, which sticks are used in electronic heating devices for aerosol generation. However, such packs may also be convenient for, for example, products of the food industries.

As may be seen in Fig. 1 , the locking means 15 are arranged between the lid 11 and the inner frame 12 arranged in the body 10 of the pack 1 , wherein the inner frame 12 forms part of the body 10. The two locking elements 150,151 of the locking means 15 form a releasable lock between lid 11 and body 10, namely between the lid 11 and the inner frame 12. One locking element 150 is located on the lid 11 and the other locking element 151 is located on the inner frame 12 of the pack 1. In some embodiments, the two locking elements 150, 151 are embodied as male connector, such as a protrusion or paper tab and as female connector, such as a slit, a cut-out or a pre-cut slot, engaging each other when connected. In Fig. 1 , the locking element 150 on the lid 11 is embodied as male connector in the form of a curved protrusion. The locking element 151 in the inner frame 12 is schematically indicated by a line only and may be a female connector in the form of a straight cut.

The male connector may be configured to be inserted in the female connector to secure the lid 11 with the body 10. The male connector and the female connector may have a substantially rectangular profile. Other shapes are, for example, substantially circular, substantially triangular, and the like.

The schematically indicated locking means 15 with locking elements 150,151 , may, for example, also be embodied as adhesive layer, for example on the inner side of the lid 11 , and as adhesive or non-adhesive outer surface on the inner frame 12, receiving the adhesive inner side of the lid 11. Alternatively, locking elements 150,151 may be embodied as Velcro-type fastener, both locking elements 150,151 comprising a material element of the locking means 15.

The inner frame 12 may otherwise be a conventional inner frame known from hinge-lid packs: attached to an inner surface of the front side of the body, comprising an access recess for removing consumer goods 3 from the pack 1 and comprising lateral resistance tabs 121 further defining and securing a closed position of the lid 11.

In an example, the inner frame 12 may be deployed in the receptacle of the pack to enhance the rigidity of the pack 1. In another example, the inner frame may be used to enhance a collation of consumables in the pack. In yet another example, the inner frame may be deployed with different thickness and width to protect from counterfeiting of the pack and further improve aesthetics of the pack. Examples of the inner frame may include a plane or white inner frame, a printed inner frame, a holographic inner frame, an anti-counterfeit inner frame, and the like.

Fig. 3 is a schematic through-view of a hinge-lid pack 1 , for example as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Locking means 15 are provided on a frontal mid-section of the front side 101 of the pack 1. A rectangular reinforcement strip 201 is arranged parallel to the hinge line 109 along the width 401 of the back side 102 of the pack 1 and over the two lateral sides 105 of the pack 1. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the reinforcement strip 201 is arranged on the body 10 of the pack 1. The width 256 of the strip 201 is preferably between 1 cm and 2 cm, for example 1.5 cm with a pack height 400 between 45 mm and 50 mm for example 48 mm and a pack depth 402 between 12 mm and 20 mm, for example 15 mm.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a rear view and a side view of a hinge-lid pack 1. In these examples a reinforcement strip 201 is shown on the outside of the pack 1 , mainly for illustration purposes. Although not required from a technical point of view, the reinforcement strip 201 is preferably applied to the inside of the pack 1 and not visible from the outside.

In Fig. 4 it may be seen that the reinforcement strip 201 is a rectangular strip with parallel sides and extending over the entire width 401 of the back side 102 of the pack 1. The reinforcement strip 201 is arranged parallel to and slightly below the hinge line 109, for example 1 to 3 millimeters below the hinge line 109. From the side view in Fig. 5 it may be seen that the reinforcement strip 201 also extends over the entire width of the lateral side 105 of the pack 1 , thus also over the width 402 of the pack 1 . This not only enables the specific release mechanism according to the invention but also enhances stability of the pack 1 , in particular when the pack is sideways compressed as indicated by arrows 50, for releasing the locking mechanism and for opening the pack 1.

Fig. 6 shows a blank 2 for forming a hinge-lid pack, for example as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The blank comprises two parts, a primary blank 20 and a secondary blank 21 . The primary blank 20 comprises a body portion 110 and a lid portion 111 and is used to form the lid 11 and the body 10 of the pack 1 . The lid portion 111 of the primary blank 20 comprises a first locking element 150 in the form of a curved cut arranged in the middle of the primary blank 20.

The secondary blank 21 is used to form the inner frame 12 of the pack. The secondary blank 21 comprises a second locking element 151 in the form of a straight cut arranged in the middle of the secondary blank 21.

Fig. 6 shows the secondary blank 21 with left and right lateral panels 210, 220 and middle panel 230. The cut 151 is arranged substantially or exactly symmetrically in the center of the middle panel 230 and extends over a part of the width of the middle panel 230. The lateral panels 210, 220 are each provided with a lateral panel extension 211 , 221 , which extensions may be folded onto the lateral panels. Alternatively, the lateral panel extension 211 , 221 may extend to the back side 102 of the pack 1 to enhance stability of the lateral sides 105 of the body 10 of the pack 1 .

The lateral panels 210, 220 as well as the lateral panel extensions 211 , 221 overlap with end portions of the reinforcement strip 201 , in particular if the reinforcement strip extends over lateral panels 105 of the primary blank 20 as shown in the example of Fig. 6.

Also the primary blank 20 is provided with according lateral panels 115 and middle panels 116. The lateral panels 115 of the primary blank 20 are used for forming the lateral sides 105 of the pack 1 .

The curved cut forming the first locking element 150 is arranged substantially or exactly in the center of the lid portion 150.

The reinforcement strip 201 is a paper strip applied to the primary blank 20. As shown in Fig. 6, the reinforcement strip 201 forms part of the body portion 110. The reinforcement strip 201 is arranged adjacent the hinge line 109 but does not extend over the hinge line so as to not hinder any opening or closing action of the lid once formed from the blank. The length 255 of the strip 201 essentially corresponds to the width of the blank 20. The reinforcement strip 201 extends from the left edge of the left side panel to the right edge of right lateral panel of the primary blank 20. The width 256 of the reinforcement strip 201 may be several millimeters up to for example 20 millimeters, as the body portion 110 provides space for wide strips 201. In Fig. 7 another embodiment of a blank of sheet material 2 comprising two parts is shown. One part is formed by the primary blank 20 comprising the lid portion 111 and the body portion 110. The other part is formed by the secondary blank 21 comprising the inner frame portion 120. The blank 2 essentially has the same set-up and form as the blank shown in Fig. 6.

In the example of Fig. 7, the reinforcement strip 201 is a paper strip applied to the primary blank 20, however, the reinforcement strip 201 forms part of the lid portion 111. Again, the reinforcement strip 201 is arranged adjacent the hinge line 109 but does not extend over the hinge line. The length 255 of the strip 201 essentially corresponds to the width of the blank 20. The reinforcement strip 201 extends from the left edge of the left side panel to the right edge of right lateral panel of the primary blank 20. The width 256 of the reinforcement strip 201 is only several millimeters, as the lid portion 111 does not provide much space for wide strips 201 .

A sequence of operations for forming the pack from a blank as for example shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be as follows. It is understood that there may be modifications in the sequence of operations, such as, a change in an order of the sequence of operations, an addition of new operation in the existing sequence of operations to form the pack, or a removal of an existing operation from the sequence of operations, based on user requirements.

The sequence of operations preferably includes a blanking operation, a cutting operation, and a reinforcing operation.

In the blanking operation, the primary blank 20 and the secondary blank 21 are formed, wherein the primary blank 20 is configured and used to form the lid 11 and the body 10 of the pack 1 and the secondary blank 21 is configured and used to form the inner frame 12 of the pack 1.

Based on the formation of the primary blank 20 and the secondary blank 21 , the cutting operation may be initiated. In the cutting operation, the first locking element 150 is formed in the primary blank 20 and the second locking element 151 is formed in the secondary blank 21. In an example, for example as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the two locking elements 150,151 are cut-outs that may be pre-cut in the primary blank 20 and the secondary blank 21 , respectively.

Based on a completion of the cutting operation, the reinforcing operation may be initiated. In the reinforcing operation, the reinforcement strip 201 is attached, for example glued, to a portion of the primary blank 20. In an example, the portion may be a rectangular area that may be disposed adjacent to a notched profile 205 of the primary blank 20. It is understood that the rectangular area is merely an example and the reinforcement strip 201 may include any other shape, such as for example a rectangular area with zigzag or wavy ends, or a substantially polygonal area as per user requirements.

Upon completion of the reinforcing operation, the primary blank 20 and the secondary blank 21 may be folded to form the body 10, the lid 11 and the inner frame 12 of the pack 1 . The inner frame portion 120 is preferably glued to the body portion 10 so as to form a part of the body 10 of the pack 1 .

Thus, there are three main processes that may be deployed to form the pack, wherein an order of the individual steps may be changed and the presence of an inner frame may be omitted, namely:

1) pre-cutting a blank, with a part including a lid portion and a body portion and optionally another separate part being an inner frame portion;

2) pre-cutting of the blank(s) to form the locking means;

3) addition of the reinforcement strip to increase the rigidity of the back side of the pack.

Preferably, conventional pre-formed blanks are used and modified for the pack according to the invention. In particular, a primary blank 20 may additionally be provided with a cut for forming a tab used for interlocking with the inner frame. The primary blank 20 is additionally provided with a reinforcement strip 201 , preferably an additional strip of material. The secondary blank 21 is provided with a cut for forming a slit for interlocking with the tab of the primary blank 20.

An example of a hinge-lid pack is:

Pack width 401 : 74 mm; pack height 400: 48 mm; pack depth 402: 15.3 mm; with reinforcement strip:

- where the strip is adhered to the back of the body: strip length 255: 9.8 cm, strip width 256: 1.5 cm;

- where the strip is adhered to the back of the lid: strip length: 9.8 cm, strip width: 0.8 cm.

For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 5 % of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1. A hinge-lid pack comprising a body and a lid, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the body along a hinge line arranged on a back side of the pack, wherein the pack comprises a releaseable locking means arranged on a front side of the pack to releasably lock the lid and the body, and wherein a separate reinforcement strip is attached to the back side of the pack and extends over at least 50 percent of a width of the back side.

2. The hinge-lid pack according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement strip extends over between 60 percent and 100 percent of the width of the back side, preferably, between 80 percent and 100 percent of the width of the back side, for example extends over an entire width of the back side.

3. The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcement strip extends over the width of the pack and over at least a portion of both lateral sides of the pack.

4. The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcement strip is attached to the back side of the pack adjacent the hinge line.

5. The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged and attached exclusively to the inner back side of the body of the pack.

6. The hinge-lid pack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged and attached exclusively to the inner back side of the lid of the pack.

7. The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcement strip has a rectangular shape on the back side of the pack.

8. The hinge-lid pack according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement strip has an overall rectangular shape.

9. The hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises an inner frame partially arranged within the body of the pack and wherein the locking means are arranged between the lid and the inner frame.

10. The hinge-lid pack according to claim 9, wherein the inner frame and the reinforcement strip overlap on lateral sides of the body.

11. A blank of sheet material for forming a hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding claims, the blank of sheet material comprising a body portion for forming a body of the pack and a lid portion for forming a lid of the pack, wherein the body portion and the lid portion are connected by a hinge line, and wherein a reinforcement strip is provided on the blank of sheet material and locking means are embodied in the blank of sheet material for forming a releasable lock of lid and body in the formed hinge-lid pack.

12. The blank of sheet material according to claim 11, wherein the locking means comprise a male connector and a female connector, wherein the male connector or the female connector of the locking means are arranged in the lid portion.

13. The blank of sheet material according to claim 12, comprising two cutting lines, one cutting line forming the male connector and another cutting line forming the female connector.

14. The blank of sheet material according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising two separate parts, wherein an inner frame portion is one of the two separate parts of the blank of sheet material.

15. The blank of sheet material according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the reinforcement strip is arranged on one side of the hinge line.