WO2017050735A1

WO2017050735A1 - Packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2017050735A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/072254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Young
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd IFI
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd IFI
Priority date: 2015-09-21
Filing date: 2016-09-20
Publication date: 2017-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-21
Also published as: RO201800012U3; CN209972997U; KR20180001156U; UA130650U; JP3217805U; RO201800012U2; ES1214344Y; KR20190003259U; GB201516708D0; ES1214344U

Abstract

There is described packaging that comprises a single piece of material comprising a multiplicity of panels joined by lines of weakening in the material. The multiplicity of panels and the lines of weakening are arranged to enable the packaging to be manipulated between an erected configuration in which the multiplicity of panels define a box and an un-erected configuration in which the multiplicity of panels define a substantially continuous sheet.

Description

PACKAGING

Technical Field

The present invention relates to packaging.

Background

Many consumable articles, for example replacement cartridges for electronic cigarettes, are sold to consumers in a packaging containing one or more of the consumable articles.

It is desirable to provide packaging that can be readily erected into a box for containing such consumable articles.

Summary

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided packaging comprising: a single piece of material comprising a multiplicity of panels joined by lines of weakening in the material, wherein the multiplicity of panels and the lines of weakening are arranged to enable the packaging to be manipulated between an erected configuration in which the multiplicity of panels define a box and an un-erected configuration in which the multiplicity of panels define a substantially continuous sheet.

The multiplicity of panels may comprise plural pairs of first panels with the panels of each pair of first panels together defining a pair of adjacent walls of the box when the packaging is in the erected configuration and the multiplicity of panels may further comprise plural pairs of second panels with the panels of each pair of first panels being connected by the panels of a respective one of the pairs of second panels, with the panels of each pair of second panels being joined together along a respective one of first lines of weakening of the lines of weakening in the material, with, when the packaging is in the erected configuration, the panels of each pair of second panels being folded against each other inside the box along the respective one of first lines of weakening that joins them.

A first panel of each pair of first panels may be joined along a respective one of second lines of weakening, of the lines of weakening in the material, to a first panel of the respective one of the pairs of second panels that connect that pair of first panels and a second panel of each pair of first panels may be joined along a respective one of third lines of weakening, of the lines of weakening in the material, to a second panel of the respective one of the pairs of second panels that connect that pair of first panels. Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective front side view of packaging in an erected configuration;

Figure 2 shows a perspective rear side view of the packaging in an erected configuration;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the packaging in an un-erected configuration;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the packaging between the un-erected and erected configurations;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the packaging between the un-erected and erected configurations;

Figure 6 shows a plan view of the packaging in the erected configuration with a lid panel open.

Detailed Description

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate packaging 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The packaging 1 comprises a single piece of any suitable material, for example, a foldable material such as cardboard or paper. The single piece of material comprises a multiplicity of panels 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7, 7a, 7b, 9, 9a, 9b 11, 11a, 13 (not all of which are visible in Figures 1 and 2), which multiplicity of panels 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7, 7a, 7b, 9, 9a, 9b 11, 11a, 13 are joined by lines of weakening a to f .

The multiplicity of panels 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7, 7a, 7b, 9, 9a, 9b 11, 1 la, 13 and the lines of weakening a to f are arranged so that the packaging 1 can be manipulated, for example, folded and un-folded, between an erected configuration (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) in which the multiplicity of panels 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7, 7a, 7b, 9, 9a, 9b 11, 11a, 13 define a closed box and an un-erected configuration (illustrated in Figure 3) in which the multiplicity of panels 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7, 7a, 7b, 9, 9a, 9b 11, 1 la, 13 define a substantially continuous flat sheet.

When the packaging 1 is in the erected configuration a first panel 3 and a second panel 5, which are opposite each other, act as side walls of the closed box, a third panel 7 and a fourth panel 9, which are opposite each other, respectively act as a front wall and a rear wall of the closed box, and a fifth panel 11 and a sixth panel 13, which are opposite each other, respectively act as a top wall and a bottom wall or based of the closed box.

When the packaging 1 is in the erected configuration, a dimension L of the front 7, rear 9, top 11, bottom 13 walls defines the length of the closed box, a dimension W of the side 3 and 5, top 11 and base 13 walls defines the width of the closed box and a dimension H of the side 3 and 5 front 7 and rear 9 walls defines the height of the closed box.

The panels 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 are all rectangular in shape, with the opposing panels in the erected configuration having the same cross-sectional area, and so when in the erected configuration, the closed box takes the form of a regular cuboidal box. Other shapes and cross-sectional areas are, of course, possible. In one example, the opposing panels in the erected configuration having the same cross-sectional area may have a square cross sectional area. If the panels 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 are all square and have the same cross- sectional area, the closed box takes the form of a cube.

The remaining panels 3a, 3b, 3c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, and 1 la are all interior panels in the sense that they are arranged substantially within the closed box when the packaging 1 is in the erected configuration. The lines of weakening a to f may be provided by crease lines, by lines of perforations, by lines of scoring or any other type of weakening lines or combinations thereof.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the panel 13 adjoins the panels 3, 5, 7 and 9 along respective weakening lines r\ f , q and s\ The panel 9 adjoins the panel 11 along a weakening line h\ The panel 11 is rectangular in shape.

The panel 7a is substantially quadrilateral in shape and adjoins the panel 7 along weakening line a and adjoins the panel 3a along the weakening line b\ The panel 3a is substantially quadrilateral in shape and, as well as adjoining the panel 7a, adjoins the panel 3 along the weakening line c\ The panel 3, as well as adjoining the panels 3a and 13, also adjoins the panels 3c and 3b along the weakening lines e and d respectively. The panel 3c is substantially trapezoid in shape and has two rounded corners. The panel 3b is substantially quadrilateral in shape and, as well as adjoining the panel 3, also adjoins the panel 9b along the weakening line f . The panel 9b is triangular in shape and, as well as adjoining the panel 3b, also adjoins the panel 9 along the weakening line g .

The panel 11, as well as adjoining the panel 9, also adjoins the panel 11a along the weakening line . The panel 11a is substantially an irregular pentagon in shape with three of its corners being rounded off.

The panels 9a, 5a, 5, 5b and 7b are provided in a substantially symmetrical arrangement with the panels 9b, 3b, 3, 3a and 7a respectively. Accordingly, panels 9a and 9b are the same shape and size, panels 5a and 3b are the same shape and size, panels 5 and 3 are the same shape and size, panels 5b and 3a are the same shape and size and panels 7b and 7a are the same shape and size.

The panel 9a adjoins the panel 9 along the weakening line j and adjoins the panel 5a along the weakening line k\ The panel 5a, as well as adjoining the panel 9a, also adjoins the panel 5 along the weakening line Γ. The panel 5, as well as adjoining the panels 13 and 5a, also adjoins the panels 5c and 5b along the weakening lines m and n respectively. The panel 5b, as well as adjoining the panel 5, also adjoins the panel 7b along the weakening line o\ The panel 7b, as well as adjoining the panel 5b, also adjoins the panel 7 along the weakening line p\ The panels 3, 5, 9 and 13 have no free edges (i.e. cut edges). The remaining panels have free edges that together define the perimeter of the packaging 1 when it is in the un-erected configuration. These free edges are most clearly shown in Figure 3, although to maintain the clarity of this figure they are un-labelled. The panels 7, 9a and 9b each have a single straight free edge, although as will be discussed below, the free edge of panel 7a has a small curved notch 7d formed in it. The panels 3b, 3a, 5a and 5b each have two straight free edges one of which is substantially longer than the other and which meet at a curved corner. The panels 7a and 7b each have two straight free edges which are substantially perpendicular to each other and meet at a curved corner. The panel 11 has two free straight edges that are parallel and opposite each other. The panel 11a has four free edges and three curved corners. The panels 3c and 5c (which are smaller than the other panels) each have three free edges with two curved corners.

It will be appreciated that, in this example, the curved corners essentially join free edges which improves the appearance of the packaging

Figures 4 to 6 help illustrate how the various panels 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c,

7, 7a, 7b, 9, 9a, 9b 11, 11a, 13 pivot about the various weakening lines a to s when the packaging 1 is manipulated between the erected and un-erected configurations.

When moving from the erected configuration to the un-erected configuration, the packaging 1 is manipulated so that the panels 3, 5, 7 and 9 pivot about the weakening lines r\ t\ q and s respectively until the panels 3, 5, 7 and 9 are substantially perpendicular to the panel 13.

When the panels 3, 5, 7 and 9 are pivoted into the position in which they are substantially perpendicular to the panel 13, the panels 3b and 9b, 7a and 3a, 5a and 9a, and 7b and 5b move into positions, best illustrated in Figure 6, in which, the panels 9b and 3b are folded upon one another about the weakening line f , the panels 3a and 7a are folded upon one another about the line of weakening b\ the panels 9a and 5a are folded upon one another about the weakening line k and the panels 5b and

7b are folded upon one another about the weakening line o\

Accordingly, on one side of the packaging 1, the pair of panels 9b and 3b, and the pair of panels 3a and 7a are arranged within an interior of the box and are directed or angled inwardly, from opposite edges of the box, towards a central longitudinal axis (indicated by a broken line in Figure 6) of the box. Similarly, on the other side of the packaging 1, the pair of panels 9a and 5a, and the pair of panels 5b and 7b are arranged inside of the box and are directed or angled inwardly, also from opposite edges of the box, towards the longitudinal axis of the box. On the one side, the panels 3a and 3b angled are towards one another and are sandwiched between the panels 9b and 7a. On the other side, the panels 5a and 5b are angled towards one another and are sandwiched between the panels 9a and 7b.

To complete configuring the packaging 1 in the erected configuration, the panels 3c and 5c are pivoted about the weakening lines e and m respectively toward the interior of the box until they are substantially perpendicular to the panel 3 and the panel 5 respectively. The panel 11 is pivoted about the weakening line tf and the panel 11a tucked into the box between the panel 7 and the panels 7a and 7b until the panel 11 is substantially perpendicular to the panels 9 and 11a. In this position, the panel 11a acts to prevent the other panels from springing apart and hence the box from opening out.

Accordingly, when the packaging 1 is in the erected configuration, the pair of panels 9 and 3 define adjacent walls of the box, as do the pair of panels 3 and 7, as do the pair of panels 7 and 5, and as do the pair of panels 5 and 9. The panels of each of these pairs of wall panels are connected by a respective pair of connecting panels (i.e. the panels 9b and 3b are one pair of connecting panels, as are the panels 3a and 7a, as are the panels 7b and 5b, and as are the panels 9a and 5a), which panels are folded against each other along a first line of weakening (f , b\ o or k as the case may be) and which extend an at angle inwardly into the box.

For a given pair of adjacent wall panels, one of the panels of the pair of connecting panels is adjoined to one of the wall panels along a second line of weakening and the other of the panels of the pair of connecting panels is adjoined to the other of the wall panels along a third line of weakening. For a given pair of adjacent wall panels and its pair of connecting panels, the first, second and third lines of weakening converge at a respective one of the corners of the panel 13 that acts as a base panel. As each of the four wall panels 9, 3, 7 and 5 is itself adjoined to the base panel 3 along a respective line of weakening, as best understood from Figure 3, five weakening lines converge or meet at each of the corners of the base panel 13.

In one example, the lines of weakening b\ f , k and o are weaker than the other lines of weakening in order to facilitate the relatively large amount of pivoting required for the panels 7a, 3a, 3b, 9b, 9a, 5a, 5b, 7b of the pairs of connecting panels to fold upon one another. In one example, the lines of weakening b\ f , k and o may be lines of perforations whereas the other lines of weakening are fold or crease lines.

To return the package 1 to the un-erected configuration, the panel 1 la is pulled out of the inside of the box and the panel 11 pivoted in the opposite sense to that used when closing the box. The panels 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7, 7a, 7b, 9, 9a, 9b 11, 1 la 13 can then be fanned out by moving along paths that are generally the reverse of those that they move along when the package is being placed into the erected configuration.

As mentioned above, the free edge of the panel 7 has a curved notch 7d formed in it to facilitate the panel 11 being manipulated out of the box.

The packaging 1 is in the form of a continuous sheet when opened out into the un-erected configuration and hence does not have any slits that are cut into it and which are used when manipulating the packaging 1 into the erected configuration or to hold the packaging 1 in the erected configuration. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that this single piece design is self-supporting in that it is able to hold firm when in the erected configuration without the assistance of any additional bonding or sticking agents, e.g. glue or sticky tape.

As no glue or sticky tape is required to hold the packaging 1 in the erected configuration, the process of erecting the packaging 1 and filling it with whatever articles it is to contain is facilitated because panels need not be aligned for gluing or sticking during assembly and no special tooling is required.

This facilitates the process of erecting the packaging into the erected configuration and filling it with the articles it is to contain. When in the erected configuration, the packaging 1 is structurally rigid and provides good protection to the articles inside the packaging 1.

Furthermore, a consumer is able to easily open out the packaging 1 into the un- erected configuration and hence the entire internal surface of the packaging may be used to convey a visual message (e.g. instructions or an advert) to the consumer.

When in the erected configuration, the packaging 1 has a neat appearance because the majority of edges that are visible are folded edges and there are a relatively small number of cut edges that are visible. In one example, when in the erected configuration, the packaging 1 is used for containing replacement cartridges for electronic cigarettes, although it will be appreciated that the packaging may be used to contain a wide variety of different articles.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention 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 of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. Packaging comprising:

a single piece of material comprising a multiplicity of panels joined by lines of weakening in the material, wherein the multiplicity of panels and the lines of weakening are arranged to enable the packaging to be manipulated between an erected configuration in which the multiplicity of panels define a box and an un-erected configuration in which the multiplicity of panels define a substantially continuous sheet.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of panels comprise plural pairs of first panels, wherein the panels of each pair of first panels together define a pair of adjacent walls of the box when the packaging is in the erected configuration and wherein the multiplicity of panels further comprises plural pairs of second panels and wherein the panels of each pair of first panels are connected by the panels of a respective one of the pairs of second panels, and wherein the panels of each pair of second panels are joined together along a respective one of first lines of weakening of the lines of weakening in the material and wherein, when the packaging is in the erected configuration, the panels of each pair of second panels are folded against each other inside the box along the respective one of first lines of weakening that joins them.

3. Packaging according to claim 2, wherein a first panel of each pair of first panels is joined along a respective one of second lines of weakening, of the lines of weakening in the material, to a first panel of the respective one of the pairs of second panels that connect that pair of first panels and a second panel of each pair of first panels is joined along a respective one of third lines of weakening, of the lines of weakening in the material, to a second panel of the respective one of the pairs of second panels that connect that pair of first panels.

4. Packaging according to claim 3, wherein, for a given pair of the first panels and the pair of second panels connecting those first panels, the respective one of the first lines of weakening, the respective one of the second lines of weakening and the respective one of the third lines of weakening converge at a point.

5. Packaging according to claim 4, wherein the point is a corner of a further panel of the multiplicity of panels.

6. Packaging according to claim 5, wherein the further panel acts as a base of the box when the packaging is in the erected configuration.

7. Packaging according to claims 5 or 6 wherein the first panel of each pair of first panels is joined along a respective one of fourth lines of weakening, of the lines of weakening in the material, to the further panel and the second panel of each pair of first panels is joined along a respective one of fifth lines of weakening, of the lines of weakening in the material, to the further panel.

8. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein, for a given pair of the first panels and the pair of second panels connecting those first panels, the respective one of the first lines of weakening, the respective one of the second lines of weakening, the respective one of the third lines of weakening, the respective one of the fourth lines of weakening and the respective one of the fifth lines of weakening converge at a point that is a corner of a further panel of the multiplicity of panels.

9. Packaging according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the multiplicity of panels comprise a panel that when the packaging is in the erected configuration acts as a lid of the box.

10. Packaging according to claim 9, wherein the panel that when the packaging is in the erected configuration the panel that acts as a lid of the box is joined along a line of weakening to one of the first panels.

11. Packaging according to claim 10, wherein the multiplicity of panels comprises a tab panel that is adjoined by a line of weakening to the panel that when the packaging is in the erected configuration acts as a lid of the box, wherein the tab panel is adapted to be folded into the inside of the box between two or more of others of the multiplicity of panels when the packaging is in the erected configuration.

12. Packaging according to claim 11, wherein the tab panel is adapted to be folded into the inside of the box between one of the first panels and two of the second panels each of which is adjoined to the one of the first panels along a respective one of the lines of weakening.

13. Packaging according to claim 11, wherein the tab panel acts to maintain the packaging in the erected configuration.

14. Packaging according to any of claims 2 to 13 wherein the first lines of weakening are weaker than others of the lines of weakening.

15. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the lines of weakening comprises at least one of fold lines, crease lines, perforated lines, and scoring lines.

16. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the box is a closed box in the erected configuration.

17. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the box is self-supporting in the erected configuration.

18. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the box is a cuboidal or cubic box.

19. Packaging according to any preceding claim wherein the substantially continuous sheet is a substantially flat sheet.

20. Packaging according to any preceding claims wherein some of the lines of weakening are weaker than others of the lines of weakening. Packaging as substantially described herein with reference to the Figures.