GB2511309A

GB2511309A - A pack

Info

Publication number: GB2511309A
Application number: GB1303441.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Hodges
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd IFI; British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd IFI
Priority date: 2013-02-27
Filing date: 2013-02-27
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Also published as: AU2014222477B2; AU2014222477A1; US20160016723A1; RU2015140981A; KR20150123298A; JP2016513052A; CL2015002397A1; WO2014132040A3; WO2014132040A2; GB201303441D0; MX2015011036A; CN105121304A; CA2902368A1; BR112015020802A2

Abstract

A pack formed from a blank (40) comprises a front wall (4a) and a rear wall (5a), and side walls extending therebetween, at least one side wall comprising at least three layers which may be held together by adhesive. The pack is for use in the tobacco industry. The pack is preferably formed from a single sheet of material which may include fold lines. The pack body may include a side body panel (6a, 7a), preferably extending from the front wall, that overlaps a secondary side body panel (6b, 7b), that preferably extends from the rear wall and a reinforcement body panel (16a, 16b, 17a, 17b) that preferably extends from the side body panel and/or the secondary side body panel. The lid may comprise a side lid panel (6c, 7c), a secondary side lid panel (6d, 7d) and a reinforcement lid panel (16c, 17c). A method of forming the pack is also disclosed.

Description

A pack

Field of invention

The invention relates to a pack and to a tobacco industry pack. The invention also relates to a blank for a pack according to the invention.

Background

Conventional tobacco industry packs are generally parallelepiped shaped packs having a body portion with an access opening. Typically, the pack further comprises a lid io configured to open and close the access opening.

Siunmaiy According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a pack comprising a front and a rear wall, and side walls extending therebetween, wherein at least one side wall i comprises at least three layers.

The layers of the side wall may be formed from a single sheet of material, and the sheet of material may include fold Bnes to enable the sheet to be folded about said fold lines to form said layers. The layers maybe held together by an adhesive.

The pack may comprise a body that indudes a side body panel that overlaps with a secondary side body pand, wherein the pack further comprises a reinforcement body pand being positionable so that it overlaps its corresponding side body panel and secondary body pand to form a mdtiiayered side walL In one embodiment, the side body panel extends from the front wall and the secondary side body panel extends from the rear wall, and the reinforcement body panel extends from the side body panel and/or the secondary side body panel.

The pack may comprise a lid that includes a side lid panel that overlaps with a secondary side lid panel, wherein the pack further comprises a reinforcement lid panel being positionable so that it overlaps its corresponding side lid panel and secondary lid panel to form a multi-layered side wall.

In one embodiment, the side lid panel extends from the front wall and the secondary s side Ud panel extends from the rear wafi, and the reinforcement lid pand extends from the side lid panel and/or the secondary side Ud pand.

The reinforcement body panel maybe folded about a fold line in a direction such that it is ocated between the side body pan& and the secondary body pand and the reinforcement id pane] maybe fo]ded about a fo]d fine in a direction such that it is located between the side lid panel and the secondary lid panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a blank for forming a pack according to the invention.

io The invention a'so provides a method of forming a pack comprising the steps of providing a blank, f&ding the bthnk so as to form a pack comprising a front pan&, a side pane', a secondary side panel and a side reinforcement panel, and positioning the side, secondary side and side reinforcement panels so that they overlap.

The side reinforcement panel may be positioned between the side panel and secondary side pan&.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tobacco industry pack comprising a front and a rear wail, and side walls extending therebetween, wherein at east one side wail comprises at east three ayers. The pack may further comprise any of the features mentioned above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example on'y, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pack of a first embodiment of the invention in a dosed position; Figure 2 shows a perspective VC\V of the pack of Figure 1 in an opei position; 3o Figure 3 shows a b'ank of the pack of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a blank for a pack according to a second embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 5 shows a b]ank for a pack according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

A pack 1 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and comprises a generally parallelepiped container having a body 2 and a hinged lid 3. The pack 1 has major front and rear walls 4,5 minor side walls 6, 7 a bottom wafl 8 and a top wall 9.The front and rear wafls 4,5 of the pack comprises front and rear body panels a, a and front and rear lid panels 4c, 51). The side walls 6, 7 of the pack comprise side body panels 6a, a overlapping secondary side body panels 6b, 7b, and side lid panels 6c, c overlapping secondary lid panels 6d, 7d.

The hinged lid 3 is integrally connected to the body 2 at a folding hinge line 10 between io the rear body pand a and the rearUd panel 5b and is pivotable between an open position in which an access opening 11 in the top of the body 2 is exposed to allow access to tobacco industry products, for instance smoking articles such as cigarettes, contained therein, and a closed position.

An inner frame 12 having a front wall 13 and side walls 14, 15 is disposed within the body 2 of the pack ito project out of the opening H therein. The inner frame 12 includes a cut-out 22 in the front wall 13 of the inner frame 12 to provide easy access to the contents of the pack 1.

Figure 3 shows a blank 20 used to form the pack i of Figures i and 2. The blank 20 comprises a single sheet of material, such as cardboard, that comprises the various panels of the constructed pack 1 described above. The front body panel a meets the bottom wall 8 of the pack at a first body fold line 18a that is remote to a second body fold line i8b where the bottom wall 8 meets the rear body panel 5a. The side body panels 6a, a meet the front panel a at respective third body fold lines i8c, i8d and the secondary body panels 6b, 7b meet the rear body panel a at respective fourth body fold lines Be, i8f. The blank 20 is folded along the first, second, third and fourth body fold lines i8a, i8b, i8c, isd, the, i8f to form the body 2, so that the front body panel a faces towards the rear body pan& a, the side body pane's 6a, a face towards each other and overlap corresponding secondary body panàls 6b, 71) so to form a double or dual layer.

The rear lid pand b meets the pack top wall 9 at a first lid fold Une ia which is remote to a second lid fold line i9b where the pack top wall 9 meets the front lid panel c. The side lid panels 6c, c meet the front lid panel c at respective third lid fold lines ic, 19d and the secondary side lid panels 6d, 7d meet the rear lid panel b at fourth lid fold lines ie, 19L The blank 20 is folded along the first, second and third lid fold lines ia, 19b, 19c, 19d to form the lid 3, so that the front lid panel 4c faces towards the rear lid pand 5b and the side lid panàls 6c, 7C face towards each other and overlap corresponding secondary side lid panels 6d, 7d so to form a dua' or double ayer. The rear body panel a meets the rear lid panel 5b at the folding hinge line 10 so that the lid 3 may pivot relative to the body 2.

The blank 20 further comprises first reinforcement panels i6a, ia, that meet with respective side body panels 6a, a at first reinforcement fold lines ia, 21b. Each first Jo reinforcement body panel i6a, ia is folded at the first reinforcement fo'd line ia, 21b.

The first reinforcement body panels i6a, 17a are preferably fcilded about respective first reinforcement fold lines ia, 21b in a direction such that they fold up out of the page when viewing the blank shown in figure 3 so that they lie against an inner surface of the side body panels 6a, a that is visible in Figure 3. Thus, in this embodiment, a major surface of each first reinforcement body pand i6a, ia abuts against a major surface of the side body panel 6a, a, and an opposite major surface of each first reinforcement body panel i6a, ia abuts a major surface of the secondary side body panels 6b, 7b such that they form a triple layer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first reinforcement body panels 16a, ia are folded such that they are positioned between the secondary side body panels 6b, 7b and the side body panels 6a, a as they form said triple layer.

In an alternative embodiment, the first reinforcement body panels 16a, ia may be folded about respective first reinforcement fold lines 21a, 21b in an opposite direction, down into the page of figure 3. Thus, in this embodiment, a major surface of each first reinforcement body panel i6a, ia abuts against a major surface of respective side body panel 6a, a, and an opposite major surface of each side body panel 6a, a abuts a major surface of corresponding secondary side body panel 6b, 7b such that they form a triple layer. In this embodiment, the first reinforcement body panels i6a, ia are folded such that thc sidc body pancls 6a, a arc positioncd bctwccn thc first rcinforccmcnt body panels i6a, ia and the secondary side body panels 6b, 7b.

In any of the above described embodiments, the triple layer formed by the first reinforcement body panels i6a, ia, the side body panels 6a, a and secondary side body panels 6b, 7b are held together by an adhesive.

The additional layer of material provided by the first reinforcement body panels 16a, ia abutting against the side body panels 6a, a and/or the secondary side body panels 6b, 7b improves the rigidity and durability of the pack 1. Therefore, the contents of the pack 1 are better protected against external forces applied to the pack 1. In one embodiment, each first reinforcement body panel i6a, ia may overlap the whole surface area of a corresponding side body panels 6a, a and/or secondary side body panels 6b, 7b. However, in an alternative embodiment each first reinforcement body panel i6a, ia may overlap a portion of a major surface of corresponding side body panels 6a, a and/or secondary side body panels 6b, 7b. I0

It will be appreciated that, in another embodiment one or more further reinforcement body panels may extend from the first reinforcement body panels i6a, ia and be separated from the first reinforcement body panels i6a, i'a by a fold-line. The side body panels 6a, a, secondary side body panels 6b, 71), first reinforcement body panels i6a, ia and any additional reinforcement body panels provide a multi-layered structure to the pack 1.

A blank 30 for a pack according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4, and is similar to the first embodiment of the invention, with like features retaining the same reference numerals. However, the first reinforcement body panels 16a, ia of the first embodiment are omitted and instead the second embodiment comprises second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b which meet with respective secondary side body panels 6b, 7b at second reinforcement fold lines 21c, 21d so that each second reinforcement body panel i6b, 17b form a triple layer with corresponding secondary side body panel 6b, 7b and side body panel 6a, a. Similarly to the embodiment described with reference to figure 3, the secondary reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b can be folded about the second reinforcement fold lines 21c, 21d either in a direction out of the page or down into the page when viewing the blank in figure 4.

Thus, in onc embodimcnt a major surface of each second reinforcement body panel i6b, 17b abuts against a major surface of the side body panel 6a, a, and an opposite major surface of each second reinforcement body panel i6b, 17b abuts a major surface of the secondary side body panel 6b, 7b. In another embodiment, a major surface of each second reinforcement body panel i6b, 17b abuts against a major surface of the side body panel 6a, a, and an opposite major surface of each side body panel 6a, a abuts a major surface of corresponding secondary side body panel 6b, 7b.

The additional layer of material provided by the second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b abutting against the side body panels 6a, a and/or secondary side body panels 6b, 71) improves the rigidity and durabihty of the pack 1.

As mentioned above in connection with the embodiment described with reference to figure 3, additional reinforcement body panels may extend form the second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b to enable a multi-layered structure to be formed.

In an alternate embodiment (not shown) the blank may comprise both of the first and io second reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a, i6b, 17b so as to form a mtiltiple thyer comprising four thyers of material. The first reinforcement body panels, 16a, ia and the second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b can be folded about their respective fold lines in any direction as described above, and it should be appreciated that any combinations of the embodiments described with reference to figures 3 and 4 may be is formed. The four layers of material further improve the rigidity and durability of the pack 1.

A blank 40 for a pack according to a third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5 and is similar to the first and second embodiments of the invention, with like features retaining the same reference numerals. The blank 40 of the third embodiment of the invention includes lid reinforcement panels 16c, ic that are each integrally formed with respective side lid panels 6c, c at third reinforcement fold lines 21e, 21f.

Each lid reinforcement panel abc, ic is folded at the third reinforcement line 21e, 21f.

In one embodiment, each lid reinforcement panels abc, ic are folded about respective third reinforcement fold lines ie, 211 in a direction such that they fold up out of the page when viewing the blank shown in figure so that they lie against an inner surface of the side lid panels 6c, c that is visible in Figures. Thus, in this embodiment, a major surface of each lid reinforcement panel abc, ic abuts against a major surface of the side lid pan& 6c, c, and an opposite major surface of each lid reinforcement pan& abc, ijc abuts a major surface of the secondary side lid panels 6d, 7d such that they form a trip'e layer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lid reinforcement panàls abc, 17C are f&ded such that they are positioned between respective side Bd pand 6c, c and secondary lid side panel 6d, 7d as they form said triple ayer.

In an alternative embodiment, the lid reinforcement panels abc, ic are folded about respective third reinforcement fold lines 21e, 21f in an opposite direction, down into the page when viewing the blank in figure 5. Thus, in this embodiment, a major surface of each lid reinforcement panel 16c, ic abuts against a major surface of respective side lid panel 6c, 7c, and an opposite major surface of each side lid panel 6c, 7C abuts a major surface of the corresponding secondary side lid panel 6d, 7d such that they form a triple layer. In this embodiment, the lid reinforcement panels i6c, ic are folded such that each side lid panel 6c, c is positioned between respective lid reinforcement panels the, ic and secondary side lid panel 6d, 7d.

Each triple layer formed from respective lid reinforcement panel the, ic, side lid panel io 6c, c and secondary side lid panel 6d, 7(1 are held together by an adhesive.

The additional layer of material provided by the lid reinforcement panels the, ic abutting against the side lid panels 6c, c and/or secondary lid panels 6d, 7d improves the rigidity and durability of the packi. Furthermore, the increased thickness and is rigidity of the lid provided by the lid reinforcement panels the, ic increases the friction between the lid and inner frame 12, which abuts the lid front and/or side lid panels c, 6c, c when the lid 3 is in the closed position, thus enabling the lid 3 to better stay in the closed position.

It will be appreciated that, in another embodiment one or more further lid reinforcement panels may extend from the lid reinforcement panels 16c, ic and be separated from the lid reinforcement panels the, ic by a fold-line. The side lid panels 6c, c, secondary lid panels 6d, 7d, lid reinforcement panels 16c, ic and any additional lid reinforcement panels provide a multi-layered structure to the lid 3.

The embodiments described above wherein the reinforcement panels i6a, i7a, i6b, 17b, i6c, ic are folded about their respective fold line such that they are positioned between two adjacent layers provide the advantage that any free edges along the side wall of the pack are concealed when the blank is folded. Thus, if the blank is of a white colour and comprises a coloured outer surface, there are no visible white free edges when the blank is folded into a pack.

Although in the above described embodiments the first reinforcement body panels i6a, ia, second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b and lid reinforcement panels the, 17C are held in place by adhesive, in alternate embodiments (not shown) they may be held in place by other means or, they may just be held in place as a result of the pressure applied to the inner frame by the walls of the pack and the tobacco industry products contained therein.

It shall be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to both the side wails 6, 7 of the pack 1 comprising a triple layer. In any of the embodiments described above only one of the side walls may be formed with a triple layer. Alternatively, the number of layers may differ between the two side walls of the pack. Furthermore, the side wall of the lid may comprise a different number of layers compared to the side wall of the body. I0

Although in the above described embodiments the first reinforcement body panels i6a, ia, second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b and lid reinforcement panels i6c, 17C are integrally formed with the side body panels 6a, a, secondary body panels 6b, 7b and side lid panels 6c, c respectively and are positioned by means of folding, in an alternate embodiment (not shown) the first reinforcement body panels i6a, ia, second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b and/or lid reinforcement panels the, 17C may be separate sections of material that are arranged against respective side body panels 6a, a, secondary body panels 6b, 7b and/or side lid panels 6c, c using an adhesive.

Although in the above described embodiments the inner a hinged-lid pack is described, in alternate embodiments (not shown) the first reinforcement body panels 16a, ia, second reinforcement body panels i6b, 17b and/or lid reinforcement panels 16c, i'c may be provided on packs of other designs, for example, slide-packs or telescopically extending packs to increase the rigidity and durability of such packs.

A tobacco industry product refers to any item made in, or sold by the tobacco industry, typically including a) cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes); b) non-smoking products incorporating tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes such as snuff, snus, hard tobacco, and heat-not-burn products; and c) other nicotine-delivery systems such as inhalers, lozenges and gum. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrates a range of products which are made and sold in the tobacco industry.

A tobacco industry pack refers to any pack that can contain and/or receive a tobacco industry product.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for a superior pack. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, io functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disdosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed dements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disdosure indudes other inventions not presenfly claimed, but which may be claimed in future. -10-

Claims

Claims 1. A pack comprising a front and a rear wall, and side walls extending therebetween, wherein at least one side wafi compnses at east three layers.
2. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the layers of the side wall are formed from a single sheet of material.
3. A pack according to claim 2, wherein the sheet of material includes fold lines to io enable the sheet to be f&ded about said fold Unes to form said thyers.
4. A pack according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising a body that includes a side body panel that overlaps with a secondary side body panel, wherein the pack further comprises a reinforcement body panel being positionable so that it overlaps its corresponding side body pand and secondary body panel to form a multilayered side wall.
5. A pack according to any claim 4, wherein the side body panel extends from the front wall and the secondary side body panel extends from the rear wall, and the reinforcement body panel extends from the side body panel and/or the secondary side body panel.
6. A pack according to any preceding claim, comprising a lid that includes a side lid panel that overlaps with a secondary side lid panel, wherein the pack further comprises a reinforcement lid panel being positionable so that it overlaps its corresponding side lid panel and secondary lid panel to form a multi-layered side wall.
7. A pack according to claim 6, wherein the side lid panel extends from the front wan and thc secondary side lid panel extends from the rear wafl, and the reinforcement o lid panel extends from the side lid panel and/or the secondary side Ud panel.
8. A pack according to any of daims 4 to 7, wherein the reinforcement body panel is folded about a fold line in a direction such that it is located between the side body panel and the secondary body panel.-11 -
9. A pack according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcement lid panel is folded about a fold line in a direction such that it is located between the side lid panel and the secondary lid paneL
10. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the layers are held together by an adhesive.
ii. A blank for forming a pack as claimed in any of the preceding claims.io
12. A method of forming a pack comprising the steps of providing a bthnk, f&ding the blank so as to form a pack comprising a front panel, a side pand, a secondary side panel and a side reinforcement panel, and positioning the side, secondary side and side reinforcement panels so that they overlap.
13. A method of forming a pack according to claim 12, wherein side reinforcement panel is positioned between the side panel and secondary side panel.
14. A tobacco industry pack comprising a front and a rear wall, and side walls extending therebetween, wherein at least one side wall comprises at least three layers.
15. A tobacco industry pack according to claim 14, comprising any of the features of claims 2 to 10.