Patent Application
20250223094
The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a refillable container for a product for oral consumption. For example, a refillable container in accordance with the present invention may find use as a container for permeable pouches comprising a nicotine-containing product for oral consumption.
Among the broad spectrum of tobacco products offered on the market, there is a class of goods intended for oral administration which does not require combustion. Examples of such goods are chewing tobacco, snus, snuff and nicotine pouches.
Nicotine pouches are typically white, pre-portioned pouches. They do not contain tobacco leaf, dust or stem, but they do contain either tobacco derivative nicotine or synthetic nicotine. Different nicotine pouch products can have a different nicotine content. Nicotine pouches may also contain one or more of sweeteners, plant-based fibres, food-grade fillers, and flavourants.
To use a nicotine pouch, the user puts a pouch between the upper lip and gum, and leaves it there while the nicotine and flavours are released. After use, the pouch is disposed of.
A typical package for nicotine pouches is a substantially cylindrical can or container provided with a reclosable lid. The typical package is made from metal or a resilient plastic material, and is characterized by a hand-held portable size, such that it can be easily stored and transported.
During usage, a user may open the lid to extract and consume a fresh nicotine pouch from the container. Once all the nicotine pouches originally provided with the container have been consumed, consumers dispose of the container and purchase a new one. While both metal and plastic as materials provide an inherent advantage in terms of mechanical and barrier properties which sustain the consumer experience during use, the end-of-life scenarios of such containers are rather controversial if the climatic and environmental impacts are taken into account. Furthermore, single-use packaging represents also a significant cost in the supply chain system.
Reusable packaging represents a valuable option to address environmental issues. In fact, reusable packaging has been shown to have a much lower environmental footprint, and to have a potentially much lower impact on global warming, eutrophication, and waste management costs.
Reusable forms of packaging have historically been used in a lot of applications. However, in the past decades, a trend has been observed away from reusable packaging towards single-use solutions. This trend has been particularly observed in connection with numerous food-grade products and products generally intended for human consumption, since frequent use of one and the same package may not be ideal due to hygienic and health safety reasons.
Examples of reusable packaging for nicotine pouches are known in the art. In fact, attempts have been made to produce refill unit or packaging for nicotine-containing products for oral consumption which are durable, form a protective environmental barrier for the goods and are more environmentally friendly. However, while known packaging options are generally suitable for keeping the product clean, moist, and free from physical stress, there remains a need to further develop packaging containers with a reduced environmental impact.
The present disclosure relates to a refillable container for a product for oral consumption. The refillable container may comprise a refill unit, a casing and a lid. The casing may have an access opening at a top end of the casing and may be adapted to removably receive the refill unit through the access opening. The lid may be movable between a closed position, wherein the lid occludes the access opening, and an open position, wherein the lid is displaced to reveal the access opening and enable access to the refill unit. The refill unit may comprise a rigid cup-shaped body. The rigid cup-shaped body may comprise a bottom wall and a side wall. The rigid cup-shaped body may define an internal receptacle configured to accommodate the product for oral consumption. The bottom wall of the cup-shaped body may comprise a (downwardly) concave portion, such that when the refill unit is received inside the casing a compartment is defined between the (downwardly) concave portion and a bottom wall of the casing.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refillable container for a product for oral consumption. The refillable container comprises a refill unit, a casing and a lid. The casing has an access opening at a top end of the casing and is adapted to removably receive the refill unit through the access opening. The lid is movable between a closed position, wherein the lids occludes the access opening, and an open position, wherein the lid is displaced to reveal the access opening and enable access to the refill unit. The refill unit comprises a rigid cup-shaped body. The rigid cup-shaped body comprises a bottom wall and a side wall. The rigid cup-shaped body defines an internal receptacle configured to accommodate the product for oral consumption. The bottom wall of the cup-shaped body comprises a downwardly concave portion, such that when the refill unit is received inside the casing a compartment is defined between the downwardly concave portion and a bottom wall of the casing.
As used herein, the term “refillable container” is used to describe a container that can be filled again such that it is re-usable, and that may be used indefinitely for any number times. For example, a refillable container may be adapted to receive a refill unit, and a depleted refill unit may be replaced with a new, full refill unit again and again.
As used herein, the term “rigid” with respect to the cup-shaped body of the refill unit is intended to mean that the body of the refill unit is not flexible and retains its shape, without being able to bend or change or adapt its shape in response to the application of a force associated with normal use of the refill unit.
As used herein, the term “concave” refers to the state of a surface or a line as generally being curved or rounded inwardly. It will be understood that, when the term concave is used to describe a surface, the surface being referenced is concave in a three-dimensional space. For example, the term “(downwardly) concave portion” is used to describe a portion of a bottom wall of the cup-shaped body of the refill unit that bends inwardly such that the (downwardly) concave portion superiorly delimits a volume external to the refill unit.
As used herein, the term “product for oral consumption” is meant to encompass any product that is administered orally, and in particular any product that is meant to be administered orally but not ingested. Particularly, but not exclusively, the term “product for oral consumption” is meant to include any nicotine-containing product for oral consumption. As used herein, the term “nicotine-containing product” is meant to refer to any nicotine-based product, being the nicotine either synthetic nicotine or extracted nicotine. As used herein, the term “synthetic nicotine” refers to chemically synthesized nicotine such that the nicotine is analytically identical to the naturally occurring nicotine. As used herein, the term “extracted nicotine” is intended to mean nicotine obtained from a natural source, such as from tobacco leaves.
As described briefly above, a refillable container in accordance with the present invention comprises a refill unit adapted to be removably received inside a casing. The casing may be provided as a re-usable item, while the refill unit may generally be provided as a disposable item. Thus, a consumer would buy refill units—containing, for example, nicotine—containing products for oral consumption—multiple times, whilst using the same casing again and again. This may have a favourable impact on the overall lifecycle cost of the refillable container. At the same time, one such refillable container provides an improved and more sustainable alternative to single-use containers.
The refill unit comprises a rigid-cup shaped body, which defines an internal receptacle wherein fresh product for oral consumption may be stored. The rigid cup-shaped body generally comprises a side wall and a bottom wall. In contrast to existing refillable containers, the rigid cup-shaped body comprises a (downwardly) concave portion. When the refill unit is positioned inside the casing of the refillable container in accordance with the present invention, a compartment is advantageously defined between the casing and the (downwardly) concave portion of the rigid cup-shaped body.
Depending on where the (downwardly) concave portion is formed in the rigid cup-shaped body, the compartment may be provided at various locations within the refillable container.
In certain preferred embodiments, the (downwardly) concave portion is formed in the bottom wall of the rigid cup-shaped body, and so a compartment may be provided at the bottom of the refillable container, such as between the (downwardly) concave portion and a bottom wall of the casing.
In other embodiments, (downwardly) concave portion may be formed in the side wall of the rigid cup-shaped body, and so a compartment may be provided at the periphery of the refillable container, such as between the (downwardly) concave portion and a side wall of the casing.
Refillable containers in accordance with the present invention may advantageously be configured such that the receptacle defined on the inside of the refill unit and the compartment defined between the refill unit and the casing are substantially isolated from each other. By excluding any fluid communication between the receptacle and the compartment, their respective volumes within the refillable container may advantageously be used to store products that need to be kept apart.
For example, while the receptacle holds a fresh product for oral consumption, the compartment may be advantageously used to store the product for oral consumption following use thereof. Because the respective volumes of the receptacle and the compartment are separated by the (downwardly) concave portion of the rigid cup-shaped body of the refill unit, the fresh and used product for oral consumption are never in contact with one another. Therefore, the risk of the used product for oral consumption contaminating the fresh product for oral consumption is substantially eliminated. This allows for increased safety and ease of use for the consumers. Such beneficial effects are felt particularly since the product is one destined for oral administration and, like nicotine-containing pouches, inevitably become moist after use.
Additionally, compared to existing solutions, the present invention enables the provision of such two separate volumes within a single refillable container without substantially increasing the number of separate components forming the refillable container. Advantageously, this has the benefit that refillable containers in accordance with the present invention may be manufactured without a substantial increase in the number of manufacturing steps or in the overall manufacturing cost or both, and without requiring a complete redesign of the existing manufacturing equipment.
In some embodiments, the refillable container may comprise a further access opening formed through a wall of the casing at a location such that, when the refill unit is received within the casing, the further access opening may enable access to the compartment. Additionally, the refillable container may comprise a further lid, which is movable between a closed position, wherein the further lid occludes the further access opening, and an open position, wherein the further lid is displaced to reveal the further access opening and enable access to the compartment. This is beneficial in that both the receptacle and the compartment are not only distinct and substantially isolated from each other, but also adapted to be accessed and reclosed or resealed independently from each other.
In preferred embodiments, the refillable container comprises one such further access opening formed through the bottom wall of the casing and a further lid. The further lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. When in the closed position, the further lid occludes the further access opening in the bottom wall. When in the open position, the further lid is displaced to reveal the second access opening and enable access to the compartment through the further access opening in the bottom wall.
One such refillable container effectively comprises a first lid coupled with the access opening at the top end of the casing and a second lid coupled with the further access opening in the bottom wall of the casing. The first lid is configured to selectively enable access to the inside of the casing and the refill unit—and particularly the receptacle—when the refill unit is received within the casing. In fact, the first lid may provide a protective barrier for the fresh product for oral consumption, which may allow for the fresh product for oral consumption to be well preserved by limiting moisture loss and the ingress of dust, microbes, and/or insects.
The further (second) lid is configured to selectively enable access to the inside of the casing and—more particularly—the compartment when the refill unit is received within the casing. In fact, the further (second) lid may seal the used product for oral consumption, such as to prevent fluid from leaking out of the casing.
Advantageously, the provision of two completely separate lids at opposite ends of the casing may more easily allow the consumer to access a specific one of the access openings during use, depending on whether they wish to extract fresh product for oral consumption from the refill unit or to store used product in the compartment, without risking to contaminate the fresh product for oral consumption with the used product.
In certain embodiments, the lid and the further lid differ from one another in at least one of shape, size, and colour. By differentiating the lids coupled with the two access openings from each other, easy and quick identification of which volume is accessible via each access opening is made possible for the consumer.
For example, a larger lid and corresponding access opening may be provided at the top end of the refillable container for access to the fresh product for oral consumption, whereas a smaller lid and corresponding access opening may be provided at the bottom end of the refillable container for access to the compartment used for storing the used product for oral consumption. This makes it easy for the consumer to grab the container with the right orientation for easily accessing one or the other access opening.
Additionally, or as an alternative, an indicium may be provided on at least one of the lid and the further lid. For example, the indicium may be a letter, a word, a symbol, a drawing, a trade mark, etc. This may also help the consumer quickly identify which end is which and what product lies behind a certain lid. Additionally, the provision of a indicium on at least one of the lid and the further lid may provide for a degree of customisation and personalisation of the refillable container.
Different suitable lid configurations will be known to the skilled person. For example, the lid may depend from the remainder of the casing (e.g. a pivotable, hinged lid) or be separate from the remainder of the casing (e.g. a screw-on or snap on lid, etc.). In certain embodiments, one or both of the first lid and the further lid may be directly coupled with the refillable container through a living hinge or an assembly hinge, welded to the refillable container. In other embodiments, one or both of the first lid and the further lid may be removably coupled with the refillable container via a fastening member. The fastening member may be a protrusion, a latch, or a dual lock.
In certain embodiments, one or both of the first lid and the second lid may be coupled with the casing by a child resistant closure. The child resistant closure may be one of the several ones identified in accordance with ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) D3475-20—Standard Classification of Child-Resistant Packages. Child-Resistant packages are often also described as being Senior-Friendly.
In some preferred embodiments, one or more of the first lid and the further lid have an ASTM Type IIIA—snap closure. The ASTM IIIA closure may be a two-pieces snap cap.
With one such closure, the lid and the casing are generally locked together by a latch element provided in the lid that engages a corresponding groove formed in the casing. In order to gain access to the access opening occluded by the lid, the consumer needs to rotate the lid relative to the casing to bring the lid into a predefined openable configuration, wherein the latch element becomes disengaged from the groove. In practice, a gap is provided in the groove, and so when by rotating the lid the latch element is brought into alignment with the gap, disengagement of the latch element is achieved. To assist the consumer, an arrow or other indicium may be provided on the lid, which becomes aligned with a corresponding arrow or other indicium provided on the casing when the lid is in the predefined openable configuration.
When the lid is in the predefined openable configuration, the consumer applies pressure on the lid to move into the open position and reveal the underlying access opening.
In other preferred embodiments, one or both of the first lid and the further lid have an ASTM Type IB—slits sides closure.
With one such closure, the lid and the casing are generally locked together by a one-piece continuously threaded closure. Additionally, a locking rib provided in the lid engages a corresponding locking rib in the casing, such that rotation of the lid relative to the casing to unscrew the lid off the casing is prevented. In order to reveal the access opening occluded by the lid, the consumer needs to disengage the locking ribs from each other, and can do so by applying pressure on opposite sides of the closure lid where the locking ribs are provided, and then turning the lid counter-clockwise without removing the compressive force off the sides of the lid. The closure lid may have a uniform ribbing around its entire circumference, except at the two locations where the locking ribs are provided.
In certain embodiments, one or both of the first lid and the further lid are of the same re-usable material as the casing. Advantageously, as they are made of re-usable material, the lids may also be used for a prolonged period of time in conjunction with several disposable refill units, without the need for replacement lids to conceal the fresh and used product for oral consumption.
In certain embodiments of the invention, the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises a lip portion extending outwardly from an upper edge of the side wall. The lip portion is configured to rest against an edge surface of the access opening at the top end of the casing when the refill unit is received into the casing through the access opening.
This is beneficial in that the provision of one such lip portion of the cup-shaped body may increases the comfort of use for the consumers. In fact, it may facilitate extraction of the refill unit from the casing as the consumer may grip and pull on the lip portion, without unnecessary burden, when willing to replace a disposable refill unit depleted of product for oral consumption with a new one.
Further, because the lip portion of the cup-shaped body rests against an edge surface of the access opening, movement of the refill unit relative to the casing along a longitudinal (that is, vertical) axis of the refillable container is substantially prevented, which has several advantages. Firstly, the refill unit is prevented from undesirably sliding into, the casing, which may make it more difficult to extract and replace. Secondly, the refill unit is effectively prevented from getting stuck within the casing. Thirdly, by substantially predefining and stabilising a position of the refill unit within the casing, a position of the bottom wall and of the corresponding (downwardly) concave portion relative to a bottom wall of the casing is also stabilised at a predefined height. This enables a good control over how the compartment defined between the concave portion and the bottom wall of the casing can be used.
In certain embodiments, the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises a connecting portion extending between the bottom wall of the cup-shaped body and the side wall of the cup-shaped body. The connecting portion may define a peripheral boundary of the compartment.
In preferred embodiments, the connecting portion may abut the bottom wall of the casing when the refill unit may be received into the casing through the access opening. In certain embodiments, the connecting portion may have a shape of a toroidal polyhedron.
The connecting portion may advantageously provide for a smoother transition from the side wall of the rigid cup-shaped body to the peripheral edge of the (downwardly) concave portion on the bottom wall of the rigid cup shaped body. This may facilitate the insertion of the refill unit within the casing and contribute to efficiently separate and isolate the compartment from the receptacle.
Advantageously, the provision of a connecting portion ensures that the cup-shaped body of the refill unit couples with the bottom wall of the casing such that when the two parts fit together, a capacity of the compartment is clearly defined and delimited. As used herein, the term “capacity” with respect to the compartment is intended to mean the maximum amount that the compartment itself can contain.
In some embodiments, an outer surface of the refill unit may be configured to mate with an internal surface of the casing. This may be beneficial in that, especially if provided in combination with a lip portion of the refill unit as described above, it further stabilises the refill unit within the casing. Additionally, by having an outer surface of the refill unit mate with an internal surface of the casing, it is easier to ensure that the compartment is properly isolated from the remainder of the internal volume of the casing, when the refill unit is received within the casing. This is beneficial in that a more effective environmental barrier is provided around the compartment, and so the fresh product for oral consumption in the refill unit is more effectively protected from contamination on the part of the used product for oral consumption.
In certain embodiments, the outer surface of the refill unit and the internal surface of the casing may have a polyhedric shape or a cylindrical shape. As used herein, the term “polyhedric shape” is intended to encompass any three-dimensional shape with flat polygonal faces. As used herein, the term “cylindrical shape” is intended to encompass a three-dimensional solid, having a circle, an oval or an elliptical cross-section.
In certain embodiments, the receptacle may comprise a portion having a generally cylindrical shape and the connecting portion may have a toroidal shape. In some specific embodiments, the connecting portion having a toroidal shape may create a particularly smooth transition from the concave portion of the bottom wall of the rigid cup-shaped body to the cylindrical shape of the refill unit. One such smooth transition may guarantee a very accurate mating between the outer surface of the refill unit and the inner surface of the cylindrical shaped wall of the casing.
In some embodiments, the lid may be configured to sealingly engage the access opening at the top end of the casing. As used herein, the term “sealingly” is intended to mean that the access opening is securely fastened under all conditions of use and storage, such that the access opening is protected from any inward or outward transmission that can be experienced. In certain specific embodiments, the lid may be configured to be water proof. Furthermore, considering that moisture is present within the atmosphere to varying degrees at different time of the year and at different geographical areas, moisture may ingress and/or egress from the product. Therefore, in certain specific embodiments, the lid may be configured to offer a protective barrier in order to maintain the level of moisture as recommended for the product for oral consumption. Throughout its life, the refillable container may be stored in conditions where dust and dirt may have a detrimental effect. Dust and dirt might have an effect on the efficiency of the refillable container to preserve the fresh product for oral consumption. Dirt entering the access opening will bring with it microbial infestation, especially in humid atmosphere, and the resultant mix of product and microbial attack could be harmful to the product in use, and to the user. Last but not least, the various wavelength in the atmosphere might also have differing effects on the product. In certain particular embodiments, the lid may be configured to offer a comprehensive protective tool for the fresh product for oral consumption.
In some embodiments, the refill unit may comprise a seal at the top end of the cup-shaped body. The seal may be peelable to reveal the internal receptacle. The seal may be resealable. The seal may be permanently removed.
Advantageously, it has been found that the cup-shaped body of the refill unit is sealed such that every refill units guarantees that the product for oral consumption inside is fresh and equally preserved for every refill unit the consumer might use. The seal may be peeled off to reveal the internal receptacle and the lip portion. More advantageously, being the seal peelable, it can be peeled off smoothly with the minimum of effort from the consumer. The peelable seal may seal the refill unit at the interface of the unit. An adhesive material may be applied to guarantee the seal at the interface of the unit. The peeling of the seal may disrupt the adhesive forces at the interface. However, a layer of adhesive may remain at the interface, which advantageously may allow for the reseal of the refill unit.
In preferred embodiments, the further lid is configured to sealingly engage the further access opening through the bottom wall of the casing. This has the benefit that leaks from the compartment to the outer environment are prevented.
In some embodiments, the casing may comprise metal or plastic. In some specific embodiments, the casing comprises a metal selected from at least one of aluminium, beryllium, titanium, or magnesium alloy.
In some embodiments, the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises recyclable moulded pulp material or compostable material or biodegradable material. Moulded pulp material may be manufactured by recycling fibrous materials, especially natural fibres like recycled paper, cardboard, wheat, bamboo. The final moulded up products may be shaped from the initial manufacturing stages and show a smooth surface. Moulded pulp products may be recyclable and they may be re-used again after its end-use. Moulded pulp products may be also biodegradable, as they can decompose and break down. Compostable material and biodegradable material can disintegrate into non-toxic, natural elements and may require microorganisms, humidity, and heat to yield a finished compost product.
Advantageously, as the refill unit is adapted to be disposable, the usage of eco-friendly material allows for a sustainable approach to waste management.
In certain embodiments, the product for oral consumption may be provided in the form of one or more individual permeable pouches comprising nicotine-containing product for oral consumption. The pouches may be made of flexible and permeable material, which contains pores or openings that allow the content of the pouches to migrate through. The individual pouches allows the consumer to have the same experience with every singular pouches, which content repeats equally in each and every singular pouches.
In certain embodiments, the compartment is adapted to receive the product for oral consumption following use of the product.
The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.
Example Ex1: A refillable container for a product for oral consumption, the container comprising: a refill unit; a casing, having an access opening at a top end of the casing; a lid movable between a closed position, wherein the lid occludes the access opening, and an open position, wherein the lid is displaced to reveal the access opening and enable access to the refill unit
Example Ex2: A refillable container according to Ex1, wherein the casing is adapted to removably receive the refill unit through the access opening.
Example Ex3: A refillable container according to Ex1, wherein the refill unit comprises a rigid cup-shaped body, comprising a bottom wall and a side wall.
Example Ex4: A refillable container according to Ex3, wherein the rigid cup-shaped body defines an internal receptacle.
Example Ex5: A refillable container according to Ex4, wherein the internal receptacle is configured to accommodate the product for oral consumption . . .
Example Ex6: A refillable container according to any of Ex3 to Ex5, wherein the rigid cup-shaped body comprises the bottom wall; wherein the bottom wall comprises a (downwardly) concave portion.
Example Ex7: A refillable container according to Ex6, wherein the bottom wall of the cup-shaped body comprises the (downwardly) concave portion, such that when the refill unit is received inside the casing a compartment is defined between the (downwardly) concave portion and a bottom wall of the casing.
Example Ex8: A refillable container according to any of Ex1 to Ex7, wherein the refillable container comprises a further access opening.
Example Ex9: A refillable container according to Ex8, wherein the further access opening is formed through the bottom wall of the casing and a further lid.
Example Ex10: A refillable container according to Ex9, wherein the further lid is movable between a closed position, wherein the further lid occludes the further access opening, and an open position, wherein the further lid is displaced to reveal the further access opening and enable access to the compartment.
Example Ex11: A refillable container according to any of Ex3 to Ex7, wherein the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises a lip portion.
Example Ex12: A refillable container according to Ex11, wherein the lip portion extends outwardly from an upper edge of the side wall.
Example Ex13: A refillable container according to Ex11 or Ex12, wherein the lip portion is configured to rest against an edge surface of the access opening at the top end of the casing when the refill unit is received into the casing through the access opening.
Example Ex14: A refillable container according to any of Ex3 to Ex13, wherein the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises a connecting portion.
Example Ex15: A refillable container according to Ex14, wherein the connecting portion extends between the bottom wall of the cup-shaped body and the side wall of the cup-shaped body.
Example Ex16: A refillable container according to Ex14 or Ex15, wherein the connecting portion defines a peripheral boundary of the compartment.
Example Ex17: A refillable container according to any of Ex14 to Ex16, wherein the connecting portion abuts the bottom wall of the casing when the refill unit is received into the casing through the access.
Example Ex18: A refillable container according to any of Ex14 to Ex17, wherein an outer surface of the refill unit is configured to mate with an internal surface of the casing.
Example Ex19: A refillable container according to any of Ex14 to Ex18, wherein the receptacle comprises a portion having a generally cylindrical shape and the connecting portion has a toroidal shape.
Example Ex20: A refillable container according to any of Ex1 to Ex19, wherein the lid is configured to sealingly engage the access opening at the top end of the casing.
Example Ex21: A refillable container according to any of Ex1 to Ex20, wherein the refill unit comprises a seal at a top end of the cup-shaped body.
Example Ex22: A refillable container according to Ex21, wherein the seal is peelable to reveal the internal receptacle.
Example Ex23: A refillable container according to Ex21 or Ex22, wherein the seal is resealable.
Example Ex24: A refillable container according to any of Ex21 to Ex23, wherein the seal is permanently removable.
Example Ex25: A refillable container according to any of Ex1 to Ex24, wherein the casing comprises metal.
Example Ex26: A refillable container according to any of Ex1 to Ex25, wherein the casing comprises plastic.
Example Ex27: A refillable container according to Ex25, wherein the casing comprises metal selected from at least one of aluminium, beryllium, titanium or magnesium alloy.
Example Ex28: A refillable container according to any of Ex3 to Ex24, wherein at least the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises recyclable moulded pulp material.
Example Ex29: A refillable container according to any of Ex3 to Ex24, wherein at least the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises compostable material.
Example Ex30: A refillable container according to any of Ex3 to Ex24, wherein at least the cup-shaped body of the refill unit comprises biodegradable material.
Example Ex31: A refillable container according to any of Ex1 to Ex30, wherein the product for oral consumption is provided in the form of one or more individual permeable pouches comprising smokeless tobacco or synthetic nicotine or extracted nicotine.
Example Ex32: A refillable container according to any of Ex7 to Ex31, wherein the compartment is adapted to receive the product for oral consumption following use of the product for oral consumption.
Example Ex33: A refillable container according to any of Ex9 to Ex32, wherein the lid and the further lid differ from one another in at least one of shape, size, colour.
Example Ex34: A refillable container according to any of Ex9 to Ex33, comprising an indicium on at least one of the lid and the further lid.
Example Ex 35: A refillable container according to any of Ex1 to Ex 34, wherein the lid is coupled with the casing by a child resistant closure.
Example Ex36: A refillable container according to Ex34, wherein the lid and the casing are locked together by a latch element provided in the lid that engages a corresponding groove formed in the casing, and the lid is configured such that the latch element is released from engagement with the groove when the lid is rotated relative to the casing into a predefined openable configuration, the lid being movable into the open position when a compressive force is applied on a side surface of the lid when the lid is in the openable configuration.
Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:
Components of a refillable container 1 in accordance with the present invention are shown schematically in
The refill unit 2 comprises a cup-shaped body 7, that defines an internal receptacle. The refill unit 2 contains a product for oral consumption 8 within the internal receptacle. The product for oral consumption 8 is shown as provided in the form of multiple individual permeable pouches.
The cup-shaped body 7 is rigid and of a cylindrical shape such that an outer surface of the refill unit 2 mates with an internal surface of the casing 3. The refill unit 2 comprises a lip portion 9, which extends outwardly from an upper edge of a side wall of the cup-shaped body 7.
The cup-shaped body 7 comprises a bottom wall 15 and a side wall 16. As described above in connection with
Further, the cup-shaped body 7 comprises a connecting portion 17, which extends between the bottom wall 15 and the side wall 16. In the embodiment illustrated in
The bottom wall 15 of the cup-shaped body 7 comprises a (downwardly) concave portion 18. When the refill unit 2 is received inside the casing 3 a compartment-the compartment 13 described with reference to
As shown in more detail in
To assist the consumer, an arrow 44 is provided on the lid 4, which becomes aligned with a corresponding arrow 46 provided on the casing 3 when the lid 4 is in the predefined openable configuration. When the lid 4 is in the predefined openable configuration, by applying pressure on the lid 4 the lid 4 can be moved into the open position so as to reveal the underlying access opening.
The lid 4 and the casing 3 are locked together by a one-piece continuously threaded closure 46. Additionally, a locking rib 48 provided in the lid 4 engages a corresponding locking rib 50 in the casing 3, such that rotation of the lid 4 relative to the casing 3 to unscrew the lid 4 off the casing 3 is normally prevented. In order to reveal the access opening occluded by the lid 4, the locking ribs 48 and 50 need to be disengaged from each other. This can be achieved by applying pressure on opposite sides of the lid 4 where the locking ribs 48 and 50 are provided, and then turning the lid 4 counter-clockwise without removing the compressive force off the sides of the lid 4.
For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A±5 percent of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22168130.7 | Apr 2022 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/059482 | 4/12/2023 | WO |
