WO2012022580A1

WO2012022580A1 - Package for smoking articles

Info

Publication number: WO2012022580A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/062579
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Gibson; Nicole Hooper
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd IFI; British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd IFI
Priority date: 2010-08-20
Filing date: 2011-07-21
Publication date: 2012-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-20
Also published as: GB201013954D0

Abstract

A smoking article package comprising first and second smoking article containers configured to move relative to each other between open and closed configurations of the package and a locking mechanism configured to create an audible sound when the package is moved between the open and closed configurations.

Description

Package for smoking articles

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a package for smoking articles.

Background to the Invention

As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-not- burn products.

Conventional smoking article packages are formed of a rectangular box with a hinged lid. The box contains a plurality of smoking articles, such as twenty cigarettes, wrapped in sealed metal foil packet. However, such packages can be bulky and thus inconvenient. There is also a tendency in conventional packages for the lid to naturally open slightly from its fully closed position and thus to allow substances to undesirably enter or exit the package. This tendency is referred to in the industry as "yawning" or "smiling". Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a smoking article package comprising: first and second smoking article containers configured to move relative to each other between open and closed configurations of the package; and

a locking mechanism configured to create an audible sound when the package is moved between the open and closed configurations.

The locking mechanism may comprise:

an engagement member comprising a main body and a tab extension separated from the main body by a hinge line; and

a receiving section comprising a primary recess configured to accommodate the main body of the engagement member and a secondary recess configured to accommodate the tab extension of the engagement member when the package is in the closed configuration. The secondary recess may be located within the primary recess.

The dimensions of the tab extension may substantially correspond to the dimensions of the secondary recess such that the tab extension is a close fit inside the secondary recess when the package is in the closed configuration.

The first and second containers may each comprise a parallelepiped comprising a front wall, first and second opposing side walls, a real wall and an end wall; the engagement member may extend from one of the first and second side walls of the first container; and the receiving section may be located in one of the first and second side walls of the second container.

The side walls of the containers may comprise an outer layer, an intermediate layer and an inner layer of sheet material; the primary recess may comprise a recess in the outer layer of the one of the first and second side walls of the second container; and the secondary recess may comprise a recess in the intermediate layer of the one of the first and second side walls of the second container. The smoking article package may further comprise a panel attached to the other of the first and second side walls of each of the containers to provide a hinge joint between the containers.

The hinge joint may comprise a hinge line in the panel and slots may be provided in the hinge line.

Each of the containers may comprise an opening opposite the end wall for removing smoking articles from the container. The opening may additionally extend into the front wall and taper to a point on the front wall. Each of the containers may comprise a hinged lid for selectively closing the opening.

Each of the containers may have substantially the same length, width and depth, the length being approximately four times greater than the width and approximately ten times greater than the depth.

The smoking article package may contain a plurality of smoking articles. Brief Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a front and top side of a smoking article package when the package is in an open configuration and the lids of the package are closed;

Figure 2 is a plan illustration of a smoking article package when the package is in an open configuration and the lids of the package are open;

Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of a front and top side of a smoking article package when the package is in an open configuration and the lids of the package are open;

Figure 4 is an illustration of a front side of a smoking article package when the package is in an open configuration and the lids of the package are open;

Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of a front and top side of a smoking article package when the package is in a closed configuration;

Figure 6 is a perspective illustration of a rear and top side of a smoking article package when the package is in an open configuration and the lids of the package are closed;

Figure 7 is perspective illustration of a front and bottom side of a smoking article package when the package is in an open configuration and the lids of the package are open. Detailed Description of Embodiments

A smoking article package 1 comprises a first smoking article container 2 and a second smoking article container 3. The smoking article containers 2, 3 each comprise a substantially parallelepiped box 4 for storing a plurality of smoking articles such as cigarettes. Referring to Figure 1, the length of the box 4 may be approximately four times greater than its width and approximately ten times greater than its depth. For example, the box 4 may have a length of approximately 106mm, a width of approximately 27mm and a depth of approximately 1 1mm. It will be understood that other lengths, widths and depths can be used and that the box 4 does not need to be a parallelepiped.

Referring to Figure 2, each box 4 comprises a front section 4a and a rear section 4b. The front and rear sections 4a, 4b each comprise a substantially rectangular primary face and two substantially rectangular secondary faces. The secondary faces are the same length as the primary face, but are not as wide. As shown in Figure 2, the secondary faces of each section 4a, 4b extend in the same direction as each other from opposite longitudinal edges of the primary face. The front and rear sections 4a, 4b therefore have U-shaped cross-sections when viewed end-on, with the base of the "U" being formed by the primary face and the uprights of the U being formed by the secondary faces. The front and rear sections 4a, 4b may each be formed from a substantially rectangular sheet of material with a pair of fold lines to form the divisions between the primary face and the pair of secondary faces.

Again referring to Figure 2, the secondary faces of the front and rear sections 4a, 4b fully overlap each other and are joined together such that the primary faces of the front and rear sections 4a, 4b directly face each other. The joined front and rear sections 4a, 4b together form the substantially parallelepiped box 4. As can be seen from Figure 2, the distance between the primary faces of the front and rear sections 4a, 4b, and therefore the depth of the box 4, substantially corresponds to the width of the rectangular secondary faces of the front and rear sections 4a, 4b. The join between the secondary faces of the front and rear sections 4a, 4b can be achieved using a suitable adhesive. The resulting box 4 comprises a front wall 5, a rear wall 6 opposite the front wall 5, two opposing side walls 7, 8 and an end wall closing off one end of the box 4. Each wall 5, 6, 7, 8 is substantially rectangular. The front wall 5 corresponds to the primary face of the front section 4a, the rear wall 6 comprises the primary face of the rear section 4b and the side walls 7, 8 each comprise one secondary face of the front section 4a and one secondary face of the rear section 4b in overlapping arrangement. The end wall may be comprised as part of either the front 4a or rear 4b section. The side walls 7, 8 of the box 4 therefore comprise a double layer of sheet material due to the attachment between the secondary faces of the front and rear sections 4a, 4b. The front 5, rear 6 and end walls of the box 4 each comprise a single layer of sheet material. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the box 4 of each container 2, 3 comprises an opening 9 opposite the end wall to allow smoking articles to be removed from the container 2, 3. For example, referring to Figure 3, the opening 9 may be provided by leaving the box 4 completely open at the end opposite the end wall. The opening 9 may extend into the front wall 5 of the box 4 to allow easier removal of smoking articles using a thumb or finger. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the opening 9 may extend from opposing corners of the front wall 5 of the box 4 at its open end and taper to a point approximately one fifth of the way along the length of the front wall 5. Referring to Figures 2 and 6, the containers 2, 3 are joined together by a panel 10 comprising a sheet material. The sheet material can be cardboard, plasticized cardboard, plastics or any other material suitable for manufacturing the panel 10. The same material can be used for manufacturing the boxes 4. The panel 10 is attached to an outwardly facing surface of the first side wall 7 of each of the boxes 4 such that the first side walls 7 of the two boxes 4 are coupled together. To aid with relative movement of the containers 2, 3, the panel 10 includes a hinge joint 11 between the containers 2, 3. As is shown in Figure 4, the hinge joint 11 comprises a hinge line 11a in the panel 10 between the first side walls 7 of the boxes 4. The hinge line 11a is parallel and adjacent to a longitudinal edge of the front wall 5 and first side wall 7 of both containers 2, 3. Therefore, the hinge joint 11 provides a spine about which the package 1 can move between the open configuration shown in Figures 1 to 4 and a closed configuration, which is shown in Figure 5, by movement of the containers 2, 3 relative to one another. This is discussed in more detail further below. The panel 10 may comprise one or more slits/slots in the hinge line 11a to further aid respective movement of the containers 2, 3 between the open and closed configurations. Examples of such slits/slots are clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6.

The panel 10 is also attached to the rear wall 6, the second side wall 8 and the end wall of each box 4. As is shown in Figure 6, the panel 10 may substantially cover the entire rear 6, side 7, 8 and end walls of the boxes 4. However, this is not essential. For example, the panel 10 may alternatively comprise a strip only partially covering the rear 6 and side 7, 8 walls of the boxes 4.

Referring again to Figure 2, the attachment of the panel 10 to the rear and side walls 6, 7, 8 of the boxes 4 results in an extra layer of material thickness being added to the corresponding walls of the containers 2, 3. More specifically, the side walls of each container 2, 3 comprise the double-thickness side walls 7, 8 of the box 4 and an additional layer of thickness from the panel 10. The rear wall of each container 2, 3 comprises the single thickness rear wall 6 of the box 4 and an additional layer of thickness from the panel 10.

The attachment of the boxes 4 to the panel 10 can be achieved using a suitable adhesive, although other suitable means of attachment can equally be used.

Referring to Figure 3, each container 2, 3 comprises a lid 12 for closing the opening 9 in its box 4. The lid 12 is an extension of the panel 10 attached to the rear wall 6 of the box 4, and is therefore formed of the same sheet of material. The lid 12 comprises two hinge lines 12a, 12b about which it can move to open and close the box 4. The first of the hinge lines 12a divides a root/base of the lid 12 from the panel 10, thereby allowing the lid 12 to move relative to the panel 10 and the box 4. The second of the hinge lines 12b divides a top section of the lid 12 from a front section of the lid 12, thereby allowing the front section of the lid 12 to fold over the front wall 5 of the box 4 to cover the tapered portion of the opening 9.

In an alternative construction, the lid 12 may be an extension of the rear wall 6 of the box 4. In this case, the first hinge line 12a divides the lid 12 from the rear wall 6 of the box 4 rather than from the panel 10. In its closed position, the lid 12 can be secured to the front face 5 of the box 4 by inserting a tab 12c of the lid 12 into a slot 5a in the front face 5 of the box 4. The closed position of the lid 12 is shown in Figure 1. The lid 12 is opened by removing the tab 12c from the slot 5a and folding the lid 12 back to reveal the opening 9. The open position of the lid 12 is shown in Figure 3.

A locking mechanism 13 is provided to prevent unwanted movement of the package 1 from a closed configuration (see Figure 5) to an open configuration (see Figure 1) . As can be seen from Figure 5, the closed configuration comprises the front walls 5 of the containers 2, 3 directly facing each other. The front walls 5 are preferably touching. The lids 12 of the containers 2, 3 are closed. The side walls and end walls of the containers 2, 3 are aligned, as are the top sections of the lids 12.

The locking mechanism 13 secures the package 1 in the closed configuration by engagement between male 14 and female 15 parts of the locking mechanism 13. For example, referring to Figure 7, the locking mechanism 13 can comprise a male engagement member 14 and a female receiving section 15 configured to receive the engagement member 14 and to interlock with the engagement member 14 when the package 1 is in the closed configuration. The locking mechanism 13 thereby retains the package 1 in the closed configuration until a force sufficient to disengage the engagement member 14 from the receiving section 15 is applied to the package 1.

The engagement member 14 can comprise a projection from the second side wall of the first container 2, and the receiving section 15 can comprise a corresponding recess 15 in the second side wall of the second container 3 for accommodating the engagement member 14. The engagement member 14 is configured to overlap and fit into the recess 15 when the package 1 is in the closed configuration, as is shown in Figure 5. The engagement member 14 is preferably an extension of the panel 10 on the second side wall of the first container 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the engagement member 14 extends in a direction which is at approximately ninety degrees to the front wall 5 of the first container 2 and is in the same plane as the second side wall of the first container 2. The recess 15 can comprise a primary recess 15 in the panel 10 on the second side wall of the second container 3. The primary recess 15 may be formed, for example, by cutting away a section of the panel 10 to reveal an underlying section of the second side wall 8 of the box 4. The revealed part of the second side wall 8 of the box 4 is the outer layer of the double-thickness side wall 8 of the box 4 (and the intermediate layer of the treble-thickness side wall of the second container 3) .

The shape and dimensions of the primary recess 15 substantially correspond to those of the main body of the engagement member 14 so that the primary recess 15 and main body of the engagement member 14 are closely fitted together when the package 1 is in the closed configuration.

Within the primary recess 15 is provided a secondary recess 16. The secondary recess 16 may be formed, for example, by cutting away a section of the outer layer of the second side wall 8 of the box 4 to reveal an underlying section of the inner layer of the double-thickness side wall 8 of the box 4 (also the inner layer of the treble thickness side wall of the second container 3) . The secondary recess 16 therefore extends approximately twice as deep into the second side wall of the second container 3 than the primary recess 15. It may comprise a substantially rectangular cut-away portion of the outer layer of the second side wall 8 of the box 4, revealing a corresponding rectangular section of the inner layer of the second side wall 8 of the box 4. The male engagement member 14 comprises a tab 17 which cooperates with the secondary recess 16 when the package 1 is in the closed configuration. The tab 17 may comprise a substantially rectangular or trapezoidal extension of the main body of the engagement member 14. Referring to Figure 7, a division between the tab 17 and the main body of the engagement member 14 is provided by a hinge line 14a, which allows the tab 17 to move with respect to the main body of the engagement member 14.

Referring to Figures 2 and 7, in the open configuration of the package 1, the tab 17 projects inwardly in a direction substantially towards the hinge line 11a between the containers 2, 3. In this position, the angle between the tab 17 and the main body of the engagement member 14 is approximately forty- five degrees. As the package 1 is moved towards the closed configuration shown in Figure 5, the tab 17 contacts the front wall 5 of the second container 3 and, as the front walls 5 of the containers 2, 3 are brought closer together by further movement of the package 1 towards the closed configuration, the tab 17 is folded backwards about the hinge line 14a between it and the main body of the engagement member 14 until the plane of the tab 17 is parallel to the plane of both the main body of the engagement member 14 and the second side face of the second container 3.

When the closed configuration is reached, the main body of the engagement member 14 fits into the primary recess 15 in the panel 10 at the exterior of the second side wall of the second container 3. The tab 17 fits into the secondary recess 16 and as such lies flush against (and parallel to) the inner layer of the second side wall 8 of the box 4 of the second container 3. The shape and dimensions of the tab 17 may substantially correspond to those of the secondary recess 16 so that the tab 17 is a close fit inside the secondary recess 16.

The cooperation between the tab 17 and the secondary recess 16 prevents the package 1 from opening to the open configuration unless a significant opening force is applied to move the containers 2, 3 apart. This is because, when the tab 17 is inside the secondary recess 16 as described above, an opening force will initially force the edge of the tab 17 against the cut-away edge of the outer layer of the second side wall 8 of the box 4 (which defines the boundary of the secondary recess 16) . The abutment between the edge of the tab 17 of the cut-away edge/wall of the secondary recess 16 thereby prevents further movement of the containers 2, 3. Only when a force large enough to bend the tab 17 sufficiently for the edge of the tab 17 to snap away from the edge of the secondary recess 16 is applied, can the locking mechanism 13 be disengaged and the containers 2, 3 be moved apart into the open configuration of the package 1.

As the tab 17 enters the secondary recess 16 upon the package 1 reaching the closed configuration, an audible sound is created by the tab 17 striking the inner layer of the second side wall 8 of the box 4. This is caused by the tab 17 resiliently moving back towards its natural position of forty-five degrees to the plane of the main body of the engagement member 14. The audible sound may correspond to a "click" or "snap" sound which can be heard by the user of the package 1. The sound provides confirmation to the user that the package 1 is fully in the closed configuration and that the locking mechanism 13 has secured the package 1 in that configuration. The disengagement of the tab 17 from the secondary recess 16 also produces an audible sound. The disengagement and engagement sounds are different in character, with the engagement sound being sharper and having a different tone to the

disengagement sound.

Claims

1. A smoking article package comprising:

first and second smoking article containers configured to move relative to each other between open and closed configurations of the package; and

2. A smoking article package according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a receiving section comprising a primary recess configured to accommodate the main body of the engagement member and a secondary recess configured to accommodate the tab extension of the engagement member when the package is in the closed configuration.

3. A smoking article according to claim 2, wherein the secondary recess is located within the primary recess.

4. A smoking article package according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the dimensions of the tab extension substantially correspond to the dimensions of the secondary recess such that the tab extension is a close fit inside the secondary recess when the package is in the closed configuration.

5. A smoking article package according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: the first and second containers each comprise a parallelepiped comprising a front wall, first and second opposing side walls, a real wall and an end wall;

the engagement member extends from one of the first and second side walls of the first container; and

the receiving section is located in one of the first and second side walls of the second container.

6. A smoking article package according to claim 5, wherein the side walls of the containers comprise an outer layer, an intermediate layer and an inner layer of sheet material,

the primary recess comprises a recess in the outer layer of the one of the first and second side walls of the second container; and

the secondary recess comprises a recess in the intermediate layer of the one of the first and second side walls of the second container.

7. A smoking article package according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a panel attached to the other of the first and second side walls of each of the containers to provide a hinge joint between the containers.

8. A smoking article package according to claim 7, wherein the hinge joint comprises a hinge line in the panel and slots are provided in the hinge line.

9. A smoking article package according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein each of the containers comprises an opening opposite the end wall for removing smoking articles from the container.

10. A smoking article container according to claim 9, wherein the opening additionally extends into the front wall and tapers to a point on the front wall.

11. A smoking article package according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each of the containers comprises a hinged lid for selectively closing the opening.

12. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the containers has substantially the same length, width and depth, the length being approximately four times greater than the width and approximately ten times greater than the depth.

13. A smoking article package according to any preceding claim containing a plurality of smoking articles.

14. A smoking article package substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures 1 to 7.