The present disclosure relates to a package for consumer goods and particularly to a re-sealable cigarette pack.
Numerous approaches have been made for packaging consumer goods. In the case of cigarettes, for example, packages are designed to preserve the flavor and freshness of the consumer goods and also protect the goods from contamination. Known packages employ outer containers having a hinged lid providing access to an inner container with an opening for accessing the consumer goods. The outer containers are generally formed of a rigid paperboard, cardboard, or other suitable material. The inner container is generally formed of a material or combination of materials having substantially less rigidity than the outer container. For example, the inner container is known to be formed of paperboard, packing material, paper, and/or aluminium. In known designs, a label with a tacky substance for sealing and re-sealing can be used to cover the opening of the inner container.
An exemplary container for consumer goods is disclosed. The container comprises a rigid outer box having a hinged top configured to provide access to an inner volume of the outer box; a rigid inner box having an opening configured to provide access to an inner volume of the inner box; and a pull tab covering the opening, the pull-tab having a first adhesive that releasably adheres an edge portion of the pull tab to the inner box, a second adhesive that permanently adheres the pull tab to the inner box and the outer box, and an inner liner.
A container for consumer goods is disclosed. The container comprises an outer box blank configured to be assembled into a rigid outer box having a hinged top that allows access to an inner volume of the outer box; and an inner box blank configured to be assembled into a rigid inner box having a pre-cut opening configured to provide access to an inner volume of the inner box, wherein each of the outer box blank and the inner box blank includes a plurality of panels and one or more pre-cut flaps that are folded about fold lines during assembly, and wherein one surface of the inner box blank includes a material that establishes an inner liner of the container.
A method of assembling a container for consumer goods is disclosed. The method comprises folding a plurality of panels and associated flaps of an inner box blank to form an assembled inner box, wherein during an intermediate step of assembly of the inner box the consumer goods are deposited in a partially folded inner box blank; folding a plurality of panels and associated flaps of an outer box blank to form and assembled outer box, wherein during an intermediate step of assembly of the outer box the assembled inner box is deposited in a partially folded outer box blank; and covering a pre-cut opening of the assembled inner box with a pull-tab, wherein edge portions of the pull tab are releasably adhered around the pre-cut opening, and opposite ends of the pull tab are permanently adhered to a back panel of the inner box and an inner surface of the outer box.
The scope of the present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in each figure. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. For example, features and/or method steps illustrated or described as part of one embodiment and/or method can be used on or in conjunction with other exemplary embodiments and/or method steps to yield yet further exemplary embodiments or methods. It is intended that the present disclosure includes such modifications and variations.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a container for consumer goods having rigid inner and outer boxes. The outer box has a hinged lid that opens and closes to allow access the inner box. The inner box has an opening for accessing the consumer goods. The opening is covered by a re-sealable pull-tab. An inner surface of the hinged lid being arranged to rotate about a fold line based on a tension force applied to the inner surface via the pull tab when the hinged lid is opened and closed. The inner box also has an inner liner including at least a layer of paper or other suitable material as desired. According to an exemplary embodiment the re-sealable pull-tab has one or more layers where an innermost layer is composed of foil, paper, bundle wrap, or any combination thereof as desired. According to another exemplary embodiment the re-sealable pull-tab includes at least one vent that allows air trapped under the releasable pull-tab to escape when the inner box is sealed or re-sealed. The pull-tab can be permanently connected to the inner box and the inner surface of the hinged lid. The exemplary container described herein provides several advantages such as an improved barrier designed to protect product flavor and freshness and a simplified opening process designed to eliminate waste and one or more package opening steps. The arrangement of the re-sealable pull-tab prevents spillage of the product when the package is accessed the first time. The container of the present disclosure also provides a more durable package by protecting the product from physical damage while the product is in use and a less expensive packaging solution as fewer pieces of equipment are needed to make the package. Moreover, the package assembly can be performed faster and with fewer material components over known re-sealable packaging designs.
The inner box 106 can include a plurality of layers. A first layer 122 can be formed of a rigid material such as cardboard, paperboard, or any other suitable material as desired. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment the first layer 122 can be formed of Promina SBS Board stock. A second layer 124 of the inner box 106 can include one or more layers formed as a bundle wrap. For example, the second layer 124 can include a foil layer 126 and a paper layer 128 as an inner liner bound by an adhesive 130. The paper layer 128 is the layer closest to or in contact with the consumer goods 112 stored in the inner box 106. According to an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive 130 used to bind the layers of the bundle wrap can include at least sodium silicate or any other suitable material as desired. The first layer 122 and the second layer 124 of the inner box 106 can also be bound to each other via an adhesive 131, such as a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based adhesive.
In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the inner box 106 can also include a third layer 132 formed on a surface of the first layer 122. For example, the third layer 132 can include a polypropylene film or a metallized polyester (MET) material such that the layer structure of the inner box 106 includes bundle wrap/board/film or bundle wrap/board/MET, and more particularly the layer structure includes paper/foil/board/film or paper/foil/board/MET.
The pull tab 114 includes an adhesive layer 131 for adhering the pull tab 114 to the inner box 106 and a permanent adhesive layer 154, shown in
The outer box 102 includes a front flap 152 that is adhered to the pull-tab 114 via a permanent adhesive 154. The front flap 152 can be folded about a fold line FL so that it forms the inner surface 134 of the hinged lid 104 to which the pull tab 114 is attached. It should be understood that the material properties of the outer box 102 provide that once folded the front flap 152 can be spaced from the surface of the outer box at an angle α, where 0<α<90°. The opposite side of front flap 152 is not adhered to the hinged lid 104, which allows the front flap 152 to freely move (e.g., rotate) about the fold line FL when a tension force between the front flap and the pull tab 114 is generated during opening and closing of the hinged lid 104. For example, the tension force applied to the front flap 152 during opening of the hinged lid 104 causes the front flap 152 to move about the fold line FL, which results in the pull-tab 114 gradually peeling away from the top and front surfaces 144, 148 of the inner box 104 along a length of the non-permanent adhesive area 135 to fully uncover the opening 110. As the hinged lid 104 is closed, the tension force applied to the front flap 152 results in the pull-tab 114 gradually rolling onto the top and front surfaces 144, 148 of the inner box 104 to re-establish the seal and fully cover the opening 110. According to an exemplary embodiment, the front flap can move (e.g., rotate) about the fold line FL within an angle ϕ, where 0<ϕ<180°.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the front flap 152 can be adhered to a back surface 147 of the hinged lid 104. In this arrangement the pull tab 114 follows the contour of the hinged lid 104 such that when the hinged lid 104 is opened, a substantial portion (e.g., greater than half the length) of the pull-tab 114 is instantly pulled away from the top and front surfaces 144, 148 of the inner box 104. In addition, when the hinged lid 104 is closed, a substantial portion (e.g., greater than half the length) of the pull-tab 114 is instantly pressed onto the top and front surfaces 144, 148 of the inner box 104.
The pull-tab 300 includes a vent 312 that extends longitudinally from at least one of the left or right edge regions 306 of the window 301. The vent 312 is formed by an adhesive-free gap configured to allow the release of air located under the pull-tab 300 when the pull-tab 300 seals or re-seals the opening 110 as the hinged top 104 of the outer box 102 is closed. The pull-tab 300 also includes a lip 314 on a bottom edge 316 of the bottom edge region 308. The lip 314 can have permanent adhesive 324 on an outer surface 320 to adhere to the front flap 152 of the hinged top 104 of the outer box 102.
As shown in
The top back panel 512, the bottom front panel 508, and the bottom back panel 510 include left and right flaps. For example, the top front panel 506 includes a left side flap 522 and a right side flap 524; the top back panel 512 includes a left side flap 526 and a right side flap 528; the bottom front panel 508 includes a left side flap 530 and a right side flap 532; and the bottom back panel 510 includes a left side flap 534 and a right side flap 536.
Each panel of the outer box 102 and the associated left and right flaps are separated from an adjacent panel and its associated left and right flaps by a transverse fold line. The front flap 513 and the top front panel 506 are separated by transverse fold line 539. The top front panel 506, the left side flap 522, and the right side flap 524 are separated from the top panel 502, the left dust flap 514, and the right dust flap 516, respectively, by transverse fold line 538. The top panel 502, the left dust flap 514, and the right dust flap 516 are separated from the top back panel 512, the left side flap 526, and the right side flap 528, respectively, by transverse fold line 540. The top back panel 512, the left side flap 526, and the right side flap 528 are separated from the bottom back panel 510, the left side flap 534, and the right side flap 536, respectively, by transverse fold line 542. The bottom back panel 510, the left side flap 534, and the right side flap 536 are separated from the bottom panel 504, the left dust flap 518 and the right dust flap 520, respectively, by transverse fold line 544. The bottom panel 504, the left dust flap 518, and the right dust flap 520 are separated from the bottom front panel 508, the left side flap 530, and the right side flap 532, respectively, by transverse fold line 546.
Each side flap and dust flap of the outer box 102 is separated from the associated and adjacent panel by a longitudinal fold line. The top front panel 506 is separated from the left and right side flaps 522, 524 by longitudinal fold lines 548. The right side flap 524 has a pre-cut edge 525 that extends at an angle of approximately −45° from the transverse fold line 539. The left side flap 522 has a pre-cut edge 523 that extends at an angle of approximately −135° from the transverse fold line 539. The top panel 502 is separated from the left and right dust flaps 514, 516 by longitudinal fold lines 550. The top back panel 512 is separated from the left and right side flaps 526, 528 by longitudinal fold lines 552. The left side flap 526 has a pre-cut edge 527 that extends at an angle of approximately −50° from the transverse fold line 542. The right side flap 528 of top back panel 512 has a pre-cut edge 529 that extends at an angle approximately −140° from the transverse fold line 542. The bottom back panel 510 is separated from the left and right side flaps 534, 536 by longitudinal fold lines 554. The left side flap 534 has a pre-cut edge 535 that extends at an angle of approximately −45° from the transverse fold line 542. The right side flap 536 of the bottom back panel 510 has a pre-cut edge 537 that extends at an angle of approximately −135° from the transverse fold line 542. The bottom panel 504 is separated from the left and right dust flaps 518, 520 by longitudinal fold lines 556. The bottom front panel 508 is separated from the left and right side flaps 530, 532 by longitudinal fold lines 558. The left side flap 530 and the right side flap 532 extend past an edge 560 of the bottom front panel 508. The left side flap 530 has a pre-cut edge 531 that extends at approximately −45°, and in a preferred embodiment −39°, from the bottom edge 560 of the bottom front panel 508. The right side flap 532 a pre-cut an edge 533 that extends at approximately −135°, and in a preferred embodiment −129°, from the edge 560 of the front panel 508.
The pre-cut angle of the flaps associated with the bottom front panel 508 and bottom back panel 510 are complementary to the pre-cut angle of the flaps associated with the top front panel 506 and the top back panel 512 so that a side surface of the hinged top of the outer box mates with a side surface of a body of the outer box when the outer box is in a closed state.
The outer box 102 has dimensions suitable for providing a snug fit for the inner box 106 when disposed within the outer box 102. The outer box 102 has a width WOB that is common to each of the top panel 502, bottom panel 504, top front panel 506, bottom front panel 508, bottom back panel 510, and top back panel 512. The bottom back panel 510 has a length LOB-BBP that is substantially longer than the length of the top back panel (LOB-TBP) 512. The sum of LOB-BBP and LOB-TBP is approximately equal to the length of a cigarette pack, e.g., the length of the inner box 106. The length of the bottom front panel (LOB-BFP) 508 is substantially longer than the length of the top front panel (LOB-TFP) 506. The sum of LOB-BFP and LOB-TFP is substantially equal to the sum of LOB-BBP and LOB-TBP. According to an exemplary embodiment LOB-BBP=75.10 mm, LOB-TBP=11.40 mm, LOB-BFP=55.5 mm, and LOB-TFP=31.0 mm. The depth or thickness of the outer box 102 is equal to the width (WOB-FLP) of the side and dust flaps and the length (e.g., shortest edge) of the top panel (LOB-TP) 502 and bottom panel (LOB-BP) 504. According to an exemplary embodiment LOB-TP=LOB-BP=WOB-FLP=21.9 mm
Each panel is separated from an adjacent panel by a transverse fold line. The top front panel 606 is separated from the top panel 602 by a transverse fold line 612. The top panel 602 is separated from the back panel 610 by a transverse fold line 614. The back panel 610 is separated from the bottom panel 604 by a transverse fold line 616. The bottom panel 604 and the bottom front panel 608 are separated by transverse fold line 618.
Each panel includes associated side flaps. The top front panel 606 includes a left side flap 620 and a right side flap 622. The left side flap 620 has a pre-cut edge 621 that extends at an angle of approximately 45° from the transverse fold line 612. The right side flap 622 has a pre-cut edge 623 that extends at an angle of approximately 135° from the transverse fold line 612. The top panel 602 includes a left side flap 624 and a right side flap 626. The left side flap 624 has a pre-cut edge 625 that extends at an angle of approximately 45° from the transverse fold line 614. The right side flap 626 has a pre-cut edge 627 that extends at an angle of approximately 135° from the transverse fold line 614. The bottom back panel 610 includes left side flap 628 and a right side flap 630. The front panel 608 includes a left side flap 632 and a right side flap 634.
The bottom panel 604 includes a left dust flap 636 and a right dust flap 638.
The inner box 106 has dimensions suitable for storing a desired number (e.g., count) of consumer goods, which according to an exemplary embodiment are cigarette articles. The inner box 106 has a width WIB that equals the width of each of the top panel 602, bottom panel 604, top front panel 606, bottom front panel 608 and back panel 610. The back panel 610 has a height or length (LIB-BKP) sufficient for enclosing the consumer goods. The sum of the lengths of the top front panel 606 (LIB-TFP) and the bottom front panel (LIB-BFP) 608 is equivalent to LIB-BKP. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, LIB-BKP=83.6 mm, LIB-TFP=27.2 mm, and LIB-BFP=43.39 mm. The depth or thickness of the inner box 106 is established by the width WIB-FLP shared by each of the side and dust flaps and the length (e.g., shortest edge) of the top panel (LIB-TP) 602 and bottom panel (LIB-BP) 604. According to an exemplary embodiment, LIB-TP=LIB-BP=WIB-FLP=20.55 mm.
According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a sum of lengths of the top back panel 512 and bottom back panel 510 of the outer box 102 is at least equal to a length of the back panel 610 of the inner box 106, where (LOB-TBP+LOB-BBP=LIB-BKP), and in a preferred embodiment the sum of lengths is greater, where (LOB-TBP+LOB-BBP>LIB-BKP), so that the proper fit of the inner box 106 within the outer box 102 and closure of the hinged top 104 can be realized.
Each side and dust flap of the inner box 104 is separated from the associated and/or adjacent panel by a longitudinal fold line. The top front panel 606 is separated from the left and right side flaps 620, 622 by longitudinal fold lines 640. The top panel 602 is separated from left and right side flaps 624, 626 by longitudinal fold lines 642. The back panel 610 is separated from left and right side flaps 628, 630 by longitudinal fold lines 644. The bottom panel 604 is separated from left and right dust flaps 636, 638 by longitudinal fold lines 646. The bottom front panel 608 is separated from left and right side flaps 632, 634 by longitudinal fold lines 648.
An adhesive can be applied to the left and right side flaps 624, 626 of the top panel 602. The left and right side flaps 624, 626 of the top panel 602 are folded over longitudinal fold lines 642 and adhere to the side flaps 628, 630 of the back panel 610 (S714, State 5). An adhesive can be applied to the side flaps 632, 634 of the bottom front panel 608 and to the left and right side flaps 620, 622 of the top front panel. The side flaps 632, 634 of the bottom front panel 608 are folded about longitudinal fold lines 648 and adhere to the left and right side flaps 628, 630, respectively, of the back panel 610 (S716, State 6). The left and right side flaps 620, 622 of the top front panel 606 are folded about longitudinal fold lines 640 and adhere to the left and right side flaps 628, 630, respectively, of the back panel 610 (S718, State 6). It is noted that the left and right side flaps 620, 622 of the top front panel 606 are planar with and do not overlap the side flaps 624, 626, respectively of the top panel 602 because of the pre-cut angles of their respective edges. The pull tab 114 is placed on the inner box 104 to cover the opening 110 (S720, State 7). In particular, the second adhesive portion 310 of the pull tab 114 adheres to the back panel 610 of the inner box 106. The pull tab 114 is then folded over the top of the inner box 106 so that the first adhesive portion 302 adheres to the left, right, and upper portions of the top panel 602 and top front panel 606 that surround the opening 110 (State 7).
The outer box 102 is assembled from the outer box blank 500 by folding the left and right side flaps 534, 536 of the bottom back panel 510 about longitudinal fold lines 554 so that the left and right side flaps 534, 536 are substantially orthogonal to the bottom pack panel 510 (S720). The left and right dust flaps 518, 520 of bottom panel 504 are folded over longitudinal fold lines 556 so that they are substantially planar with each other and parallel with the bottom panel 504 (S722, State 8). According to an exemplary embodiment, adhesive can be applied to the left and right dust flaps 518, 520 so that they adhere to the bottom back panel 510 when folded. A lower section 505 of the outer box 102 including the bottom panel 504 and the bottom front panel 508 is folded about transverse fold line 544 so that the lower section 505 is substantially orthogonal to the bottom back panel 510 (S724, State 8). The assembled inner box 106 is placed within the area of the outer box 102 bounded by the left and right side flaps 534, 536 and the bottom panel 504 (S726, State 9). The bottom front panel 508 is folded over transverse fold line 546 so that the panel is substantially parallel with the bottom back panel 510 (S728, State 10). An adhesive can be applied to the left and right side flaps 530, 532 of the bottom front panel 508. The side flaps 530, 532 are then folded about longitudinal fold lines 558 and adhere to the left and right side flaps 534, 536, respectively, of the bottom back panel 510 (S730).
An upper section 503 of the outer box 102 including the top panel 502 and the top front panel 506 is folded about transverse fold line 540 so that the upper section 503 is substantially orthogonal to the bottom back panel 510 (S732, State 10). The left and right side flaps 526, 528 of the top back panel 512 are folded about longitudinal fold lines 552 so that they are planar with the left and right side flaps 534, 536, respectively, of the bottom back panel 510 (S734). It is noted that the angled edges of the left and right side flaps 534, 536 of the bottom back panel 510 and the angled edges of the left and right side flaps 526, 528, respectively, of the top back panel 512 are pre-cut so that they do not overlap and allow for opening of the hinged top 104 of the outer box 102. The top front panel 506 is folded about transverse fold line 538 so that the top front panel 506 is parallel with the bottom back panel 510 and planar with the bottom front panel 508 (S736, State 11). An adhesive is applied to the left and right side flaps 522, 524 of the top front panel 506. The left and right side flaps 522, 524 of the top front panel 506 are then folded about longitudinal fold lines 548 and adhere to the folded left and right side flaps 526, 528, respectively of the top back panel 512 (S738, State 11). Attaching the upper edge region 308 of the pull tab 114 having the permanent adhesive to the front flap 513 and folding the front flap 513 about transverse fold line 539 so that the front flap 513 establishes the inner surface 134 of the hinged lid 104 to which the pull tab 114 is attached (S740, State 11). According to another exemplary embodiment, the front flap 513 can be adhered to a back surface 147 of the top front panel 506 after being folded about the transverse fold line 539.
Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.