The present invention relates to packaging inserts containing elongate elements, particularly but not exclusively to packaging inserts containing smoking articles.
Many variations of packets for elongate elements, such as smoking articles, are employed. Improvements in these types of packaging are desired.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a packaging insert containing individually sealed elongate elements, comprising a first web having a series of parallel grooves and a second web arranged over the grooves of the first web providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and hold a single elongate element, each first end of the individual pockets has a first seal, and each second end has a temporary second seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element.
The first and second seals cover the respective ends of the individual pockets providing a series of individually sealed pockets. The first end may be permanently or temporarily sealed. The second seal is a temporary seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element. Providing access to each pocket individually allows the user to remove a single elongate element without breaking the seal around any other elongate element in the packaging insert. Hence, the shelf-life of the elongate elements remaining in the packaging insert is increased.
The individual pockets may have any suitable cross section. For example, the individual pockets may have a triangular, circular, semi-circular, or hexagonal cross section.
The grooves of the first web may have any suitable shaped cross section so that each groove is shaped to form part of an individual pocket containing a single elongate element. For example, the grooves of the first web may have a V-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section. In embodiments in which the second web has no grooves, V-shaped and U-shaped grooves provide individual pockets having triangular and semi-circular cross sections respectively. Alternatively, the grooves of the first web may have a polygonal shaped cross section such as a three-sided polygonal shaped cross section. In embodiments in which both the first web and the second web have three-sided polygonal shaped cross sections, the resulting individual pockets have a hexagonal cross section.
The second web may have no grooves. The second web may therefore be substantially flat.
Alternatively, the second web may comprise a series of parallel grooves. The grooves of the second web may have any suitable shaped cross section so that each groove is shaped to form part of an individual pocket. For example, the grooves of the second web may have a V-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section. Alternatively, the grooves of the second web may have a polygonal shaped cross section such as a three-sided polygonal shaped cross section.
In one embodiment, the first web and the second web both have a series of parallel grooves, wherein the webs are arranged so that the grooves of the first web face and align with the grooves of the second web.
The grooves of the first web and the second web may have the same shaped cross section.
For example, the first web and the second web may both have grooves having a three-sided polygonal shaped cross section, wherein the webs are arranged so that the grooves of the second web face and align with the grooves of the first web resulting in a series of individual pockets having a hexagon shaped cross-section each shaped to contain a single elongate element.
The grooves of the first web and/or the grooves of the second web may be equally spaced along each web.
The first and second webs may be made of the same material or of different materials. Any suitable material may be used including but not limited to thin walled card. For example, the first and second webs may be impervious to water, moisture and/or air. In such circumstances, the first and second webs may be made of one material that is impervious to water/moisture/air. Alternatively, the first/second web may comprise any suitable base material, such as thin walled card, board, film or foil, and further comprise a layer or membrane that is impervious to water, moisture and/or air.
The first and second webs may be joined together. For example, the first and second webs may be bonded together. Any suitable bonding means may be employed including but not limited to adhesive.
The first web and the second web may be joined together where the second web contacts with areas between the grooves of the first web. For example, a first web having grooves and ridges may be joined to a second web where the second web contacts the ridges of the first web facing the second web. A first web having grooves and ridges may be joined to a second web having grooves and ridges where the ridges of the first web contact the ridges of the second web facing the first web.
In the present invention, the individually sealed pockets are sealed at both ends. In one embodiment, the first end is permanently sealed.
The seal at the second end is temporary and may comprise perforations arranged to allow individual access to each pocket. Access to each individual pocket is achieved by breaking the perforations; this in turn allows removal of an elongate element from the pocket.
In one embodiment, the temporary seal at the end of each individual pocket comprises a tab. The tab may provide a part of the seal that a user can hold to help opening of each temporary seal and allow access to each individual pocket.
The seal(s) at one or both ends of the individual pockets may be formed from a continuous strip of material positioned over the (open) ends of the individual pockets. The strip may be joined to the ends of the individual pockets, for example by adhesive.
The strip may be the same width as the depth of the grooves of the first web or the same width as the combined depth of the grooves of the first and second webs (in embodiments in which the pockets are formed by a first web and a second web both having grooves that face and align with each other). When the strip of material is the same width as the grooves, part of the strip extends beyond the end of the individual pockets providing a tab for each individual pocket. The tab makes it easier to open the seal, and allow access to each individual pocket. Alternatively, the strip may be wider than the ends of the individual pockets.
The continuous strip may be joined to the end of the individual pockets by any suitable means including but not limited to bonding the strip to the ends of the individual pockets. For example, the continuous strip may be heat bonded to the ends of the individual pockets.
Positioning such a continuous strip at the ends of the individual pockets may create a temporary seal or a permanent seal. For example, a temporary seal may be created by providing a continuous strip having a series of perforated lines arranged lateral to the length of the strip so that perforation of one or more perforated lines allows access to one individual pocket containing an elongate element.
The strip may be made of the same material as the first and/or second webs, or can be different from the first and/or second webs. The strip may be made from any suitable material including but not limited to thin walled card, foil, opaque foil, or plastic such as transparent or translucent plastic. In some embodiments, the seal is impervious to water, moisture and/or air.
Alternatively, the seal at one or both ends of the individual pockets is formed by an extension of the second web that is folded such that it covers the ends of the individual pockets creating a seal. Such a seal may be possible when the second web has no grooves. For example, the second web may be folded along an axis running along the ends of the individual pockets.
To provide such an arrangement, the width of the first web may be less than the width of the second web, such that the width of the second web extends beyond the width of the first web, providing an additional width of second web in relation to the first web. The second web is then folded such that the additional width of the second web is positioned over one end of the series of individual pockets containing elongate elements thereby sealing one end of the individual pockets. The individual pockets may be sealed in this way at one end or both ends.
The seals may be of any suitable shape including but not limited to semicircular, triangular, and hexagonal. For example, a seal may be the same shape and size as the end of each individual pocket. Alternatively, the seal has a size greater than the end of each individual pocket. Each seal would therefore overlap the end of each pocket providing an easy way of removing a temporary seal from the end of an individual pocket.
In the context of a temporary seal, the extension of the second web may further comprise a series of perforations that extend from the edge(s) of each individual pocket (where the first web joins the second web). The perforations are arranged to allow access to each individual pocket when the perforations are broken and to allow removal of an elongate element from each pocket.
Any kind of temporary seal may further comprise a tab. A tab facilitates the opening of a seal from the end of the pockets and allows the user to gain access to an elongate element inside each pocket.
A tab may be of any suitable shape including but not limited to semicircular.
Any individually sealed elongate element/smoking article may further benefit from being stored in an inert atmosphere. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the packaging inserts of the present invention further comprise an inert gas in each of the individual pockets. For example, an individual pocket may further comprise an inert gas such as nitrogen. The inert gas may be added during the preparation of the packaging insert. In some circumstances, it may be appropriate to add the inert gas under positive pressure. Adding an inert gas may take place before, during and/or after the elongate elements/smoking articles are fed to the grooves/pockets.
According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method of preparing a packaging insert of the present invention, the method comprises providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and containing a single elongate element, sealing a first end of each pocket, and sealing a second end of each pocket with a temporary seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element.
In one embodiment, the elongate article is a smoking article.
The step of sealing one or both ends of the individual pockets may comprise positioning a continuous strip along the (open) ends of the individual pockets and joining the strip to the pockets creating a seal.
The strip may be the same width as the depth of the grooves of the first web or the same width as the combined depth of the grooves of the first and second webs (in embodiments in which the pockets are formed by a first web and a second web both having grooves that face and align with each other).
Joining the continuous strip to the end of the individual pockets may be carried out in any suitable way including but not limited to bonding the strip to the ends of the individual pockets. For example, the continuous strip may be heat bonded to the ends of the individual pockets.
Positioning such a continuous strip at the ends of the individual pockets may create a temporary seal or a permanent seal. For example, a temporary seal may be created by providing a continuous strip having a series of perforated lines arranged lateral to the length of the strip so that perforation of one or more perforated lines allows access to one individual pocket containing an elongate element.
The strip may be made of the same material as the first and/or second webs, or can be different from the first and/or second webs. The strip may be made from any suitable material including but not limited to thin walled card, foil, opaque foil, or plastic such as transparent or translucent plastic. In some embodiments, the seal is impervious to water, moisture and/or air.
Alternatively, the step of sealing one or both ends of the individual pockets may comprise folding part of the second web such that it covers the ends of the pockets creating a seal. Such a step may be possible when the second web has no grooves and no ridges, and has a width greater than the width of the first web. The second web may be folded along an axis running in the direction of travel of the second web.
For example, the width of the first web may be less than the width of the second web, such that the width of the second web extends beyond the width of the first web, providing an additional width of second web in relation to the first web. The second web is then folded such that the additional width of the second web is positioned over one end of the series of individual pockets containing elongate elements thereby sealing one end of the individual pockets. The individual pockets may be sealed in this way at one end or both ends.
The steps above may create a permanent seal or a temporary seal.
The series of parallel individual pockets formed from a first web and a second web as defined may be prepared by any conventional method. For example, the first web having grooves may be arranged with the second web to form the individual pockets before the elongate elements are positioned in the pockets. Alternatively, the elongate elements may be positioned in the grooves of the first web before the second web is arranged with the first web to provide a series of individual pockets each containing a single elongate element.
A suitable method is described in United Kingdom patent application no. GB1305383.0 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
According to a third aspect, the invention provides a packet, such as a cigarette packet, containing within it a packaging insert according to the first aspect of the invention.
a and 3b show alternative embodiments of the present invention and in particular illustrate alternative examples of how the individual pockets of the packaging insert may be sealed.
a and 5b show examples of packaging inserts in a triangular configuration having individually sealed pockets.
It is desirable to package elongate elements in a manner that provides protection from bending and/or crushing during transportation and/or storage of the elements. It is also desirable to package elongate elements, in particular smoking articles, in a manner that improves customer experience both during the opening and withdrawing of the element from its container and preserving the element for longer in its desired state ready for use. In this respect, a packaging insert may be employed that retains one or more elongate elements and improves the protection provided by the packaging as a whole. Such a packaging insert may then be incorporated into a package.
Elongate elements may be, but are not limited to, any cylindrical article. Examples of suitable elongate elements include but are not limited to smoking articles and electronic cigarettes. 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. The smoking article may be provided with a filter for the gaseous flow drawn by the smoker. Other suitable elongate elements include any delicate or degradable items such as but not limited to halogen bulbs and glass ampules. Glass test-tubes containing one, two, three or more smoking articles may also be appropriate.
In the following examples, the invention is described in the context of packaging inserts containing smoking articles, although the invention should not to be viewed as limited as such. The packaging inserts of the invention are applicable to any suitable elongate element.
The invention provides a packaging insert having individually sealed pockets containing elongate elements. In the context of smoking articles, complete sealing of each individual pocket in this way provides a way of keeping the smoking article in an optimised environment to which it is best suited. In particular, the state of the smoking article just after manufacture may be maintained. Environmental factors such as moisture and humidity can adversely affect a smoking article over time. Most importantly, a smoking article comprising tobacco that is packaged in an individually sealed pocket can avoid moisture loss and therefore retain its ideal moisture content. Sealing the individual pockets containing a smoking article helps avoid the negative effects such environmental factors can cause. By preserving the individual smoking articles in their own individual pocket/environment until they are smoked allows each smoking article to be at its optimised and intended state when it is smoked. Smoking articles that have been left for a period of time in an unsealed packet during which time they have been subjected to varying humidity and other environmental conditions, can when smoked lead to a harsher taste and hence a degraded smoking experience.
Furthermore, the packaging inserts of the present invention provide a way of extending the life of an elongate element product, such as a smoking article, without requiring plastic wrappers. Avoiding the use of such wrappers has a beneficial environmental impact. The packaging inserts of the present invention can reduce the amount of non-recyclable materials (e.g. plastic wrappers) employed in the package as a whole and employ materials that are easier to recycle.
The seals shown on the near side of
In general however a strip may be joined to the end of a series of individual pockets in any suitable way. For example,
The strip of sealing material 61 shown in
As explained above, the temporary seals of the present invention may further comprise a tab. A seal with a tab provides improved access to each smoking article positioned in each individual pocket. For example, the strip 61 shown in
Alternatively, a seal may be incorporated into a packaging insert as illustrated in
a and 5b show packaging inserts 90 according to embodiments of the present invention. The packaging inserts 90 comprise a first web 91 having grooves and a second web 92 arranged so as to provide a series of individual pockets 94, each pocket containing a single smoking article 93. The second web 92 in both cases has no grooves. In
a and 5b also illustrate how the packaging inserts of the present invention may be modified into different configurations. For example, the packaging inserts 90 of
In
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 superior packaging inserts containing elongate elements. 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, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure 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 elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1305383.0 | Mar 2013 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2014/050928 | 3/25/2014 | WO | 00 |