AU2003200606A1 - Storage and dispensing of tobacco based products - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: STORAGE AND DISPENSING OF TOBACCO BASED PRODUCTS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us STORAGE AND DISPENSING OF TOBACCO BASED PRODUCTS The present invention relates to improvements in or modifications of apparatus for storing and dispensing cigarette and other tobacco based products.

Cigarette packets and similar packets of tobacco products such as cut tobacco leaf for roll your own cigarettes are commonly stored in disposing trays at point of sale outlets where the packets are successively fed to a dispensing point in the front of the tray. Movement of the packets within the tray towards its front wall is usually achieved by either dispensing the trays in an inclined configuration such that the packets feed forwardly under gravity or by arranging the trays generally horizontal with a rearwardly mounted spring loaded pusher member that acts to urge the packets forwardly. The trays themselves may be wide enough to accommodate one row of packets or they may be wider to accommodate two or more rows of packets or wider products such as packets of cut leaf tobacco. The aforementioned trays have traditionally been made from clear or translucent plastics material with a relatively low height front wall which allows the forward most packet to be readily removed when bought by a customer while allowing the front face of the packet to be displayed or easily seen by customers. In certain jurisdictions, there are recently established legal requirements that tobacco based products of the aforementioned kind not be displayed or seen by prospective customers at the point of sale. This means that many of the existing storage and dispensing trays as described above do not meet the current legal requirements.

This problem is partially resolved by locating a non transparent strip panel between the foremost packet in a dispensing tray and the front wall of the tray which effectively satisfies the legal non display requirements but creates the further disadvantage of making it extremely difficult to actually remove the foremost packet when a sale is being made. This problem is most serious with horizontally disposed trays (as discussed above) where there is usually very little space between the top of the packets in one tray and a bottom face of a dispensing tray located thereabove.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a means for satisfying legal non-display of tobacco products requirements while enabling continued use of the general type of storage and dispensing trays currently in use.

According to the invention, there is provided a cover means for a tobacco based product storage and dispensing tray having a base wall for supporting a plurality of said products and a front wall towards which said products are urged when a forward most said product is removed from the tray, said cover means including an opaque panel member having attachment means for attaching said panel member to said tray whereby either said panel member alone or said panel member together with the front wall of the tray obscures, in use in an inoperative position, the products stored in said tray, at least a portion of said panel member being moveable away from said front wall of the tray to allow access to a forward most said product held in the tray such that said product is removable therefrom.

Preferred aspects and features of the invention may be as defined in claims 1 to 14 as annexed hereto, the subject matter of which is hereby made part of the disclosure of this specification.

In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, there is provided a tobacco based product storage and dispensing tray having a base wall for supporting a plurality of said products and a front wall towards which said products are urged when a forward most said product is removed from said tray, and at least one cover member as defined in the preceding two paragraphs assembled with said tray.

According to a still further aspect, the present invention also provides a method of covering tobacco based products stored in and dispensed from a tray having a base wall for supporting a plurality of said products and a front wall towards which said products are urged when a forward most said product is removed from the tray, said method including steps of: providing an opaque panel member having dimensions sufficient to either alone, or in combination with said front wall obscure the products stored in said tray; and attaching said panel member to said tray whereby at least a portion of said panel member is moveable away form the front wall of the tray to allow access to the forward most said product in the tray to remove said product therefrom.

Preferred aspects of the aforesaid method maybe as defined in claims 17 and 18 annexed hereto, the subject matter of which is hereby made part of the disclosure of this specification.

Further preferred aspects and features of this invention may become apparent from the following description of several, non-limiting, preferred embodiments shown in the annexed drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 are schematic side elevation views of a cover member according to a first embodiment secured to a forward end of storage and dispensing tray, each of which show a differing position of the cover member; Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1 to 4 showing an alternative preferred embodiment; Figures 5a and 6a are views similar to Figures 5 and 6 showing a further alternative preferred embodiment; Figures 7 to 9 are detailed front, rear and side elevation views of the panel member shown in Figures 1 to 4; Figure 10 is a detailed side elevation view of the pivot area of the cover member shown in Figures 7 to 9; Figure 11 is rear elevation view of another preferred embodiment; Figure 12 is a section view along line A-A of Figure 11; Figures 13 to 15 are front elevation, side elevation and top plan views of still a further preferred embodiment; Figure 16 is a detailed section view on line C-C of Figure Figure 17 is a rear perspective view of another possible preferred embodiment; Figures 18, 19 and 20 are views similar to Figures 1, 3 and 4 but showing a still further embodiment; and Figures 21, 22 and 23 are views similar to Figures 7 to 9 showing in more detail the cover member utilized in Figures 18 to Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 and 7 to 10, a first preferred embodiment is shown, either as an individual cover member 10 (Figures 7 to 10) or as a cover member 10 assembled with the forward end 12 of a tray 11 for storing and dispensing cigarette packets 13. The tray 11 includes a base wall 14 on which the cigarette packets 13 are supported and a front end wall 15 having an inner surface 16 and an outer surface 17. A spring loaded pusher member (not shown) may be provided to push the cigarette packets 13 toward the front end wall 15 if the base wall 14 is not disposed with sufficient inclination for the cigarette packets 13 to feed by gravity towards the front end wall The cover member includes a main panel 18 which is made from an opaque relatively stiff or rigid material with dimensions sufficient to cover and obscure from sight the front face of the forward most cigarette packet 13', and of course all packets located rearwardly thereof. The rear face 19 of the panel 18 includes a pair of spaced pivot pins 20, 21 defining a pivot axis 22, the pivot pins 21 being supported by flanges 23, 24 extending rearwardly whereby the pivot axis 22 is located adjacent to and rearwardly of a bottom edge 25 of the panel 18.

In use, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pivot pins 20, 21 are received in upwardly open and transversely spaced channel formations 26 extending forwardly of the front end wall 15 of the tray 11. In the non operative position illustrated in Figure 1, the panel 18 is disposed generally upright and parallel to the front end wall of the tray 11 and is maintained in this position by a stop member or bar 27 which engages with the front end wall 15 of the tray.

The cover member 10 also includes and integrally moulded leaf spring member 28 that extends rearwardly from the panel 18 and, in use, engages with the underneath surface 29 of the base wall 14 of the tray 11. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, as the panel 18 is bodily swung about the pivot axis 22, the leaf spring member 28 curves as shown in dashed outline and provides ever increasing resistance to further movement. Upon release of the force 43 urging the panel member 18 to move forwardly, as depicted, the panel member 18 will return to the position shown in Figure 1 under the restoring force applied by the leaf spring member 28. In the forwardly swung position Figure it is possible to gain access to and remove from the tray 11, the forward most packet 13'. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a wider panel member 18 intended for use with a wider tray 11. In this embodiment, two spaced leaf spring members 28 are provided. It will of course be appreciated that any number of leaf spring members 28 may be provided. As shown in Figures 11 and 12 and subsequently in Figures 13 to 16, the pivot pins 20, 21 may be arranged to fit into upwardly open grooved positions 30 of the tray 11, located rearwardly of the front end wall 15, one of which being accessed through a sideways opening access passage and the other of which having a slot 31 opening forwardly of the tray 11. In these embodiments, in the inoperative position (Figure 14) the panel 18 is located closely adjacent the front wall 15 of the tray and a stop bar 27 is not required.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 7 to 16, stress relieving slots 32, 33 may be provided on either side of each integrally formed leaf spring member 28, the slots 32, 33 extending upwardly into the panel 18.

Figure 17 illustrates a still further possible preferred embodiment where the spring element 34 is formed as a spring steel member separate from the panel 18. The rear face of the panel 18 may include guide formations 35, 36 to receive and hold edge regions of an upright length 37 of the spring element 34. A second length 38 is bent to extend transversely from the length 37 rearwardly from the panel 18. The second length 38 is adapted, in use, to engage with an underneath surface of the tray in a similar manner to the leaf spring members 28 of earlier described embodiments. In this embodiment, transverse tabs 39, 40 of the portion 37 of the spring element 34 engage with the top end of the guide formations 35, 36 to correctly position the portion 38 of the spring element 34. In another possible embodiment, transverse ledges on the edge regions of the portion 37 might be arranged to engage with abutments at the lower end of the guide formations 35, 36.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 a still further preferred embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment a stiffly resilient panel 18 of opaque material is provided, the lower half 41 of which is secured to front face 17 of the front wall of the tray 11 via adhesive means such as double sided adhesive tape 42. It will of course be appreciated that the panel 18 might also be similarly secured to the inside surface 16 of the front wall 15 of the tray 11. The panel 18 is produced from a sufficiently resiliently flexible material that will enable bending deformation of same as shown in Figure 6 but when the deforming force 43 is removed, the upper portion 72 will return to the position shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, the foremost packet 13' and all other packets 13 are hidden, and in the position shown in Figure 6, the foremost packet 13' is accessible and capable of being removed.

Figures 5a and 6a show an arrangement similar in operation to that shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the stiffly resilient panel 18 of opaque material is formed having a U shape in cross-section with a first upright leg section 70 which is secured to the front face 17 of the front wall 15 of the tray 11.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures Sa, 6a, adhesive means such as double sided adhesive tape 42 might be used to secure the leg section 70 to the tray 11.

It should of course be appreciated that any other convenient means of securing the leg section 70 to the tray 11 could be used including mechanical engagement means such slots, pins and cooperating grooves. The panel 18 includes a second upright leg section 71 of a length and width sufficient to cover and obscure from view the foremost packet 13' and all other packets 13 located behind the foremost packet 13' when in the free position shown in Figure 5a. The second upright leg section 71 has sufficient resilient flexibility to allow it to bend as shown in Figure 6a when a deforming force is applied as shown by arrow 43 in Figure 6a. When this force is released, the leg section 71 returns to the position shown in Figure It is possible to provide product information such as type, size and price on the outwardly facing surface 73 of the first upright leg section 70 such that it might be read when the second leg section 71 is in the position shown in Figure 6a and is obscured when the second leg section 71 is in the position shown in Figure As with Figures 5 and 6, in the position shown in Figure 6a the foremost packet 13' is accessible and capable of being remove.

Referring now to Figures 18 to 23, a still further preferred embodiment is shown similar to Figures 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 wherein like features have been given the same reference numbers. In this embodiment the stop bar 27 has been replaced by a releasable catch device 50 that holds the panel member 18 in the upright position (Figure 18) when desired. If it is desired, the leaf spring element 28 might be omitted but if this occurs the operator would always need to return the panel member 18 to the upright position manually. As is shown in these drawings, the panel member may also include a lever arm 51 that moves upwardly through a slot in the base wall of the tray 14 to engage the bottom surface packet 13' and at least partially lift same as the panel member 18 swings in the direction of the arrow 43 away from the front tray wall 15. This assists with withdrawal of the packet 13' from the tray when it is sold to a customer.

It will of course be appreciated that many variations within the scope of the annexed claims could be utilized in the performance of this invention.

Claims (18)

1. Cover means for a tobacco based product storage and dispensing tray having a base wall for supporting a plurality of said products and a front wall towards which said products are urged when a forward most said product is removed from the tray, said cover means including an opaque panel member having attachment means for attaching said panel member to said tray whereby either said panel member alone or said panel member together with the front wall of the tray obscures, in use in an inoperative position, the products stored in said tray, at least a portion of said panel member being moveable away from said front wall of the tray to allow access to a forward most said product held in the tray such that said product is removable therefrom.

2. Cover means according to claim 1 wherein said panel member is made from a stiffly flexible material capable of bending when any urging force urges said at least a portion of said panel member in a forward direction and of recovering its original configuration when the urging force is released.

3. Cover means according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the attachment means includes an adhesive whereby a region of the panel member is securable to an outer face of the front wall of the tray.

4. Cover means according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the attachment means includes an adhesive whereby a region of the panel member is securable to an inner face of the front wall of the tray.

Cover means according to claim 1 wherein the panel member is made from a substantially rigid material with the attachment means including panel pivot means cooperable with tray pivot means located adjacent the front wall of the tray whereby the panel member is swingable bodily about a pivot axis defined by said panel and tray pivot means when assembled, sand releasable connecting means being provided to releasably maintain said panel member in a generally upright position adjacent the front wall of the tray when in said inoperative position.

6. Cover means according to claim 5 wherein said releasable connecting means includes spring loading means to normally urge said panel towards the generally upright position.

7. Cover means according to claim 6 wherein the spring loading means is integrally formed with the panel member.

8. Cover means according to claim 7 wherein the spring loading means includes a leaf spring portion extending rearwardly of the panel member and engageable, in use, with an underneath surface of the base wall of the tray.

9. Cover means according to claim 8 wherein stress relieving slots extend upwardly into said panel member on either side of said leaf spring portion.

Cover means according to claim 6 wherein the spring loading means is separately formed from said panel member with said panel member including attachment formations whereby said separately formed spring loading means is connectable with said panel member.

11. Cover means according to claim 10 wherein said spring loading means includes a leaf spring portion extending rearwardly of the panel member and engageable, in use, with an underneath surface of the base wall of the tray.

12. Cover means according to any one of claims 6 to 11 wherein a plurality of said spring loading means are provided spaced across said panel member.

13. Cover means according to claim 5 wherein said releasable connecting means includes cooperating catch parts on said panel member and on said tray.

14. Cover means according to any one of claims 5 to 13 wherein said panel member includes lever arm means arranged to contact and at least partially lift the forward most said product in said tray in response to said panel member swinging bodily about said pivot axis.

A tobacco based product storage and dispensing tray having a base wall for supporting a plurality of said products and a front wall towards which said products are urged when a forward most said product is removed from said tray, and at least one cover member according to any one of claims 1 to 14 assembled with said tray.

16. A method of covering tobacco based products stored in and dispensed from a tray having a base wall for supporting a plurality of said products and a front wall towards which said products are urged when a forward most said product is removed from the tray, said method including steps of: providing an opaque panel member having dimensions sufficient to either alone, or in combination with said front wall obscure the products stored in said tray; and attaching said panel member to said tray whereby at least a portion of said panel member is moveable away form the front wall of the tray to allow access to the forward most said product in the tray to remove said product therefrom.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said panel member is stiffly flexible whereby it is capable of being bent under load and restoring its previous configuration when the load is removed.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein said panel member is pivotally mounted from said tray. DATED this 24th day of January 2003 THE DISPLAY GROUP PTY. LTD. WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP/MEH/Jc:JL