HK1163630B - Container for tobacco industry products - Google Patents

Description

Container for tobacco industry products

Technical Field

The present invention relates to containers for tobacco industry products.

Background

As used herein, the term "tobacco industry product" includes any article manufactured or sold by the tobacco industry, generally including a) cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or self-wrapping cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes); b) non-smoking products comprising tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes, such as snuff, hard tobacco and heat-not-burn products; and c) smokeless products, including oral tobacco products, such as Snus and nicotine delivery products. This list is not exclusive, but merely depicts the scope of products relevant to the tobacco industry.

Conventional tobacco industry product containers typically include an outer wrap of a heat sealable release film, most commonly polypropylene with an embedded tear tape to aid easy opening. The outer membrane provides functionality and user convenience. The film acts as a moisture barrier and is therefore important to the shelf life stability of the packaged product. Furthermore, such a plastic film also ensures the freshness of the tobacco industry products contained therein for the user.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides an improved container for tobacco industry products.

The present invention provides a container for tobacco industry products, the container being adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and comprising: an interior region; and first and second parts adapted to be slidably fitted together such that sliding one of the parts towards the other part causes the interior region to be pressurised to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

Sliding one of the parts towards the other part may cause the inner region to be pressurised to a pressure of greater than 1.1 bar. However, the interior region may be pressurized to a pressure greater than 1.2 bar, or a pressure greater than 1.5 bar. Preferably, said sliding causes the inner zone to be pressurized to a pressure between 1.1 bar and 2 bar.

Over-pressure within the container improves the shelf life of tobacco industry products within the container by reducing the likelihood of cigarette staining and contamination compared to a corresponding container at atmospheric pressure.

The present invention also provides a container for tobacco industry products, the container being adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and comprising: an interior region; and first and second parts adapted to be slidably fitted together such that sliding one of the parts towards the other causes the interior region to be sufficiently pressurised such that pressure is perceptibly released upon opening the container.

Thus, when the user opens the container, he or she may perceive the release of pressure. This pressure release provides an indication to the user that the tobacco industry product within the container is fresh.

The present invention also provides a container for tobacco industry products, the container being adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the container comprising: an interior region; and first and second parts adapted to be slidably fitted together such that sliding one of the parts towards the other part causes pressurisation of the interior region and such that pressure is maintained in the container until the package is opened or until the seal is broken.

Thus, the container may be arranged such that the functionality and user advantages of the pressurized container are maintained until the package is opened or until the seal is broken.

When the container is pressurized, the pressure therein will force the first and second portions apart. In one example, the first and second portions are held in place against the pressure by frictional resistance therebetween. In another example, the container comprises a fastening mechanism adapted to hold the first and second parts in place after one of the parts has been slid towards the other part.

Preferably, the container is a container for smoking articles. As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes smokable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos (whether tobacco-based or not), tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and heat not burn products. The smoking article may be provided with a filter for the airflow which is sucked by the smoker.

Drawings

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of illustrative examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1a shows a perspective view of a tubular container of cigarettes.

Fig. 1b shows a cross-sectional view of the container of fig. 1 a.

Fig. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d depict the process steps for pressurizing the container of fig. 1 a.

Fig. 2e, 2f, 2g and 2h are cross-sectional views corresponding to fig. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, respectively.

Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c depict a fastening mechanism.

Figures 4a and 4b depict the process steps of fastening the lid and body of a tubular cigarette container that includes a fastening mechanism.

Fig. 4c is a cross-sectional view taken along the line a-a shown in fig. 4a, corresponding to fig. 4 a.

Fig. 4d is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B shown in fig. 4B, corresponding to fig. 4B.

Figure 5 shows a hinged-lid container of cigarettes.

Figure 6 shows a front view of the hinge-lid cigarette container of figure 5.

Figure 7 shows the hinge-lid cigarette container in an open position.

Figure 8 shows a hinge-lid cigarette container in a closed position.

Detailed Description

Figures 1a and 1b show perspective and cross-sectional views of a tubular container 10 for smoking articles such as cigarettes 20. The container 10 is preferably made of molded plastic, although it may alternatively be made of any other suitable material that is gas impermeable. Suitable materials for the container include, but are not limited to: metal, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN), polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), or hardwood.

As shown in fig. 1a and 1b, the container 10 has a first portion in the form of an elongate body 30, and a second portion in the form of a tubular cap 40 adapted to slidably fit together with the body 30. As described in more detail below, the cap and body fit together tightly enough that sliding one toward the other causes the interior 50 of the container 10 to be positively pressurized.

Referring in detail to the construction of the elongated body, as shown in FIG. 1, the body 30 has a cylindrical lower section 60 and a cylindrical collar section 70, the collar section 70 having an outer diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the lower section 60.

The lower segment 60 includes a closed cylindrical wall 65 and a closed bottom 80, the cylindrical wall 65 having an annular upper face 66. The bottom 80 is made integral with the cylindrical wall 65 and is disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body.

The neck section 70 has a closed cylindrical wall 75 integrally formed with the annular upper face 66 of the body 40. The interior space defined by wall 75 is open to the interior space defined by wall 65 and in this way, walls 65, 75 define an elongate space inside the container of cigarettes 20. As shown, the neck segment 70 has an open end 90 for accessing the cigarette.

Although the neck 70, annular upper face 66, cylindrical wall 65 and bottom 80 are described above as being integral with one another, alternatively, the body may be formed from two tubes, one secured within the other, the inner tube comprising the neck section and the outer tube comprising the cylindrical wall, annular upper face and base.

Referring to fig. 1a and 1b, the tubular cap 40 has an open end 110, a cylindrical wall 120 and a closed top 100, the top 100 being integrally formed with the cylindrical wall 120. The cylindrical wall 120 defines a receiving space for the cylindrical collar segment 70 of the elongate body and is arranged such that the cap 40 can be slidably fitted onto the body 30. As shown, the diameter of the inner surface 125 of the cylindrical wall 120 of the cap 40 is equal to or very slightly larger than the diameter of the outer surface 76 of the cylindrical wall 75 of the collar segment 70 such that the cap 40 and the body 30 are hermetically fitted together.

As diagrammatically depicted in fig. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, sliding the cap 40 and the body 30 together causes the container 10 to be positively pressurized. Fig. 2e, 2f, 2g and 2h show cross-sectional views corresponding to fig. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, respectively. As shown in fig. 2e and 2f, the cap 40 is placed on the neck segment 70 such that the inner surface 125 of the wall 120 of the cap 40 and the outer surface 76 of the wall 75 of the neck region 70 just touch each other, thereby hermetically sealing the volume of air V in the region enclosed by the body 30 and the cap 40₁. As shown in fig. 2g and 2h, sliding the cap and the body together reduces the volume of the hermetically sealed region to a volume V₂，V₂Less than V₁. The hermetically sealed region is substantially or completely airtight such that air cannot escape, or substantially cannot escape, when the cap and body are slid together. Thus, as the cap and body are slid together, the air in the hermetically sealed region is compressed, thereby increasing the pressure of the interior region of the container 10 above the pressure of the surrounding air. That is, the container 10 is positively pressurized.

Sliding the cap 40 towards the body 30 may cause the interior region to be pressurised to a pressure of greater than 1.1 bar. However, the interior region may be pressurized to a pressure greater than 1.2 bar or greater than 1.5 bar. Preferably, the inner zone is pressurized to a pressure between 1.1 bar and 2 bar.

In the example shown in fig. 2e, 2f, 2g and 2h, the height L of the cylindrical neck section 70 of the body 30 is equal to the height of the cylindrical inner wall 125 of the cap 40. The cap 40 and the body 30 are thus slidable a distance L. The distance L determines the pressure at which the container can be pressurized. For example, the distance L may be selected such that when the cap and body are slid together, the interior of the container is pressurized to a pressure greater than 1.1 bar. However, the length L may be selected such that the container is pressurized to a pressure between 1.5 bar and 3 bar.

Also, the tight seal between the cap 40 and the body 30 preferably allows positive pressure to be maintained within the container for an extended period of time, such as 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year or more.

In this way, the cap and body may fit together tightly enough that a positive pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is maintained within the container for a longer period of time, for example, longer than 1 week, or longer than 1 month, longer than 3 months, longer than 6 months, or longer than 1 year.

The fully closed container is shown in fig. 2d, while its cross-section is shown in fig. 2 h. The container has a compressed volume of air sealed therein and the container interior has a positive pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

Although the depicted pressurization process shows sliding the second portion in the form of the tubular cap 40 towards the first portion in the form of the tubular body 30, the container may alternatively be pressurized by sliding the tubular body 30 towards the tubular cap 40 or by simultaneously sliding the tubular body 30 and the tubular cap 40 towards each other.

Also, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the first and second portions may have many different adaptations and shapes in order to achieve the desired positive pressure.

Once the container has been closed in this way, the compressed air within the container exerts a pressure that will force the body and the cap apart. For example, the pressure may be balanced by frictional resistance between the inner surface of the cap and the outer surface of the neck region. That is, frictional resistance may hold the cap in place on the body despite pressure from the compressed air within the container.

However, alternatively or additionally, the container 10 may have a fastening mechanism, such as a staple-type fastener for holding the cap 40 and the elongate body 30 together.

Fig. 3a and 3b show a vertical cross-sectional view of the cap 40, while fig. 3c shows a perspective view of the body 30 of the container with such a fastening mechanism. Referring to fig. 3a and 3b, the staple type fastening mechanism includes a protrusion 130 disposed on the inner surface 125 of the cylindrical wall 120 of the cap 40, an elongated slot 150 in the wall 75 of the neck segment 70 for air-tightly receiving the protrusion, and a rubber O-ring 155 encircling the bottom edge of the neck segment 70. As shown, the slot 150 includes a longitudinally extending portion 160 and a circumferentially extending portion 170. Referring to fig. 4a and 4b, when the cap 40 is secured to the body, the cap 40 is placed over the neck segment 70 such that the projections 130 are received in the longitudinally extending portions 160. The protrusion and the groove are arranged so that there is a tight fit between them that is airtight so that sliding the cap and body together pressurizes the container in the manner described above. The cap and body are pushed together until the protrusion reaches the bottom of the longitudinal segment, compressing the O-ring 155, as shown in fig. 4 b.

The cap 40 is then twisted to guide the tabs 130 into the circumferentially extending portion 170 and then released. When the cap is released in this position, the restoring force from the compressed O-ring 155 forces the protrusion 130 against the upper wall 175 of the circumferential portion 170 of the groove 150, so that the cover and body are held securely together. The compressed O-ring 155 also provides a high quality hermetic seal between the cap and the base.

While the closed container has been described above as containing a positively pressurized volume of air, the container may alternatively contain a positively pressurized volume of another gas, such as nitrogen. This can be achieved by sliding the cap onto the base under a nitrogen atmosphere, thereby hermetically sealing the nitrogen volume in the container.

Also, in another example, the height of the cylindrical neck section of the body is different from the height of the cylindrical inner wall of the cap 40. In this case, the distance L by which the cap 40 and the body 30 can slide is the shorter of the two heights.

The container 10 may further include an indicator element (not shown) for indicating whether the container is pressurized. For example, the indicator element may be a button or a protrusion disposed on the body 30 or the cap 40 that protrudes significantly from the surface of the container 10 when the container is pressurized.

The containers may be pressurized manually or by a packaging machine before being sold. The overpressure in the container improves the shelf life of the tobacco industry products in the container by reducing the potential for staining and contamination of the cigarettes compared to a corresponding container at atmospheric pressure. One possible non-limiting explanation for this improvement is that the overpressure reduces the internal vapor pressure of water and other volatile components. In addition, the purchaser of the first opening of the container may detect the release of pressure, thereby indicating that the cigarette is fresh.

Also, each time the user closes the container, it is repressurized so that the cigarettes can be stored with a reduced likelihood of staining and contamination.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 depict variations of the smoking article container shown in figure 1, which may also be formed of molded plastic. Figure 5 shows a container 180 comprising a first part in the form of a body 190 holding cigarettes and having a lid 200. The body 190 has a body portion 220 and a neck portion 230 integrally formed with the body portion 220. The lid 200 is attached to the main body 190 by a hermetically sealed hinge 210 located at the back of the container. The hinge line of the hinge 210 may be formed as a weakened bendable portion of the plastic body 190. The hinge allows the lid to rotate between a closed position (as shown in fig. 5) and an open position (as shown in fig. 7). When the container is closed, the lid touches the body along a closing line 215 at the front of the container and parallel to the hinge 210.

Figure 6 shows a front view (figure 6 a), a rear view (figure 6 b) and a side view (figures 6c, 6 d) of a smoking article container 180. As shown, the body portion 220 has first and second rectangular faces 240, 250 that are parallel to each other and connected via first and second parallelogram sidewalls 260, 270. The neck portion 230 has first and second rectangular faces 280, 290 that are parallel to each other and connected via first and second parallel rectangular side walls 300, 310. As shown, the cross-sectional perimeter of the outer surface of the neck portion is less than the cross-sectional perimeter of the outer surface of the body portion. The body 190 has a locking mechanism for hermetically locking the body and the lid, which may include a tab or nub (not shown) on the lid 200 and a corresponding hole or recess (not shown) in the body portion 220. In this way, when the package is closed, the tab can engage or enter the recess to hold the package hermetically in the closed position.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, the container 180 further includes a second portion in the form of a substantially parallelepiped-shaped closure member 320 adapted to slidably fit together with the neck portion 230. As shown, the closure member has first and second rectangular faces 330 and 340 that are parallel to each other and connected via first and second parallel rectangular side walls 350, 360. The closure member further includes an end wall 370 integrally formed with the edges of the front and side walls 330, 340, 350, 360.

As shown in fig. 5, the cross-sectional outer perimeter of the neck portion 230 is equal to or very slightly less than the cross-sectional inner perimeter of the closure member 320 such that the closure member and body are air-tightly fitted together. Thus, when the lid is hermetically locked to the body, sliding the closure member and the body together causes the interior of the container to be positively pressurized. The closure member is shown in figure 8. Once the container has been closed in this way, the pressure, for example from compressed air within the container, is balanced by the frictional resistance between the closure member and the neck region. Alternatively, however, the container 180 may have a fastening mechanism for holding the closure member 320 and the body 190 in place.

Various modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (15)

1. A container for tobacco industry products, the container being adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the container comprising:

an interior region; and

first and second parts adapted to be slidably fitted together such that sliding one of the parts towards the other causes pressurisation of the interior region and such that the pressure is retained within the interior of the container until released.

2. A container for tobacco industry products according to claim 1 further comprising a fastening mechanism adapted to fasten the first and second parts in place after the one of the parts has been slid towards the other part.

3. A container for tobacco industry products according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising an indicator element to indicate whether the container is pressurised.

4. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the container is a container for smoking articles.

5. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and second parts are adapted to be slidably fitted together such that sliding one of the parts towards the other causes the interior region to be pressurised to a pressure of greater than 1.1 bar.

6. The container of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first portion has a neck section; and is

Wherein the neck section and the second portion are adapted to slidably fit together.

7. The container of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

the first portion comprises a tubular body having a cylindrical neck section;

the second portion comprises a tubular cover; and is

Wherein the cylindrical neck section and the tubular cap are adapted to be slidably fitted together.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the container has a fastening mechanism, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a staple-type fastening mechanism.

9. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first part comprises a body having a substantially parallelepiped-shaped neck portion at one end and a hinged lid at an opposite end for opening and closing the container, and wherein the second part comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped closure member, the neck portion and the closure member being adapted to be slidably fitted together.

10. A container according to claim 3, wherein the first part comprises a body having a substantially parallelepiped-shaped neck portion at one end and a hinged lid at an opposite end for opening and closing the container, and wherein the second part comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped closure member, the neck portion and the closure member being adapted to be slidably fitted together.

11. A container according to claim 4, wherein the first part comprises a body having a substantially parallelepiped-shaped neck portion at one end and a hinged lid at an opposite end for opening and closing the container, and wherein the second part comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped closure member, the neck portion and the closure member being adapted to be slidably fitted together.

12. A container according to claim 5, wherein the first part comprises a body having a substantially parallelepiped-shaped neck portion at one end and a hinged lid at an opposite end for opening and closing the container, and wherein the second part comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped closure member, the neck portion and the closure member being adapted to be slidably fitted together.

13. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the container is formed from moulded plastics.

14. A method of pressurising a container for tobacco industry products, the method comprising sliding one part of the container towards another part of the container thereby pressurising an interior region of the container such that pressure is maintained within the interior of the container until released.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is performed in a nitrogen environment.