U.S. patent application number 14/377643 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-19 for packaging.
The applicant listed for this patent is British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited. Invention is credited to Paul Gibson, Robert Whiffen.
Application Number | 20150047995 14/377643 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45930030 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150047995 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gibson; Paul ; et
al. |
February 19, 2015 |
Packaging
Abstract
A package (1) comprises a container enveloped in a wrapper (80)
The wrapper (80) comprises a film (81) with overlapping portions
which are sealed together. The wrapper (80) further comprises a
tear strip (82) extending at least partially around the container
and having an end tab. The wrapper is configured such that pulling
the tab causes a tear to propagate through the film and the tear
strip to come away from the container and the entire film to come
away from the container attached to the tear strip. The tear strip
(82) is defined by two reinforcing tear tapes (83a, 83b) on either
side of the tear strip. Each tear tape (83a, 83b) has a respective
first remote end (84a, 84b) at the tab, and the two tear tapes
extend from the tab and diverge away from each other at least
partially around the container such that the width of the tear
strip enlarges around at least a part of the perimeter of the
container. The tear tapes (83a, 83b) have respective second remote
ends (86a, 86b) which are spaced from each other and spaced from
the tab.
Inventors: |
Gibson; Paul; (London,
GB) ; Whiffen; Robert; (London, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
45930030 |
Appl. No.: |
14/377643 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
February 13, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/052873 |
371 Date: |
August 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/236 ;
383/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 23/02 20130101;
B31B 50/811 20170801; B31D 1/0075 20130101; B31C 13/00 20130101;
B65D 75/66 20130101; B65D 75/5827 20130101; B31B 2105/00 20170801;
B31B 70/8123 20170801; B31B 2120/50 20170801; B65D 75/68 20130101;
B65D 85/1027 20130101; B31C 1/08 20130101; B31D 2201/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/236 ;
383/206 |
International
Class: |
A24F 23/02 20060101
A24F023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 13, 2012 |
GB |
1202449.3 |
Claims
1. A package comprising a container enveloped in a wrapper, the
wrapper comprising a film with overlapping portions which are
sealed together, the wrapper further comprising a tear strip
extending at least partially around the container and having an end
tab, the wrapper configured such that pulling the tab causes a tear
to propagate through the film and the tear strip to come away from
the container and the entire film to come away from the container
attached to the tear strip, wherein the tear strip is defined by
two reinforcing tear tapes on either side of the tear strip, each
tear tape having a respective first remote end at the tab, and the
two tear tapes extend from the tab and diverge away from each other
at least partially around the container such that the width of the
tear strip enlarges around at least a part of the perimeter of the
container, and wherein the tear tapes have respective second remote
ends which are spaced from each other and spaced from the tab.
2. A package according to claim 1 wherein the tear strip extends
from an edge of the film at the overlapping portion.
3. A package according to claim 2 wherein the tab portion is
provided at the edge of the film.
4. A package according to any of claims 1-3 wherein the first and
second remote ends of the tear tapes are disposed on the same side
of the container.
5. A package according to any of claims 1-3 wherein the first and
second remote ends of the tear tapes are disposed on different
sides of the container.
6. A package according to any of claims 1-5 wherein the tab portion
is spaced equidistantly from each of the second remote ends of the
tear tapes.
7. A package according to any of claims 1-6 wherein the tear tapes
constantly diverge away from each other along their length.
8. A package according to any of claims 1-6 wherein the tear tapes
diverge away from each other along part of their length, and extend
parallel to each other along part of their length.
9. A package according to any of claims 1 to 8 comprising tobacco
industry products and/or cigarette packaging.
10. A wrapper for use in a package according to any of claims 1 to
9 comprising a film having first and second edges on opposite sides
of the film, and third and fourth edges on opposite side of the
film between the first and second edges, wherein a tear strip
extends across at least a part of the film between the first and
second edges, and a tab portion is provide at an end of the tear
strip, wherein the tear strip is defined by two reinforcing tear
tapes on either side of the tear strip, each tear tape having a
respective first remote end at the tab, and the two tear tapes
extend from the tab and diverge away from each other such that the
width of the tear strip enlarges along at least a part of its
length, and wherein the tear tapes have respective second remote
ends which are spaced from each other and spaced from the tab.
11. A wrapper according to claim 10 wherein the tab is provided at
the first edge and the tear tapes extend across the film such that
the respective second remote ends are disposed at the second edge
of the film.
12. A wrapper according to claim 10 wherein the tab is provided at
the first edge and the tear tapes extend across the film such that
the respective second remote ends stop short and are spaced from
the second end of the film.
13. A wrapper according to any of claims 10-12 wherein the tear
tapes constantly diverge away from each other along their
length.
14. A wrapper according to any of claims 10-12 wherein the tear
tapes diverge away from each other along part of their length, and
extend parallel to each other along part of their length.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to packaging and, more
particularly, wrappers for packaging and packaging including such
wrappers.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Packaging is known which includes a sealed outer wrapper to
be removed upon initial opening of the packaging. Such wrappers may
include a tear-off strip to aid removal of the wrapper and which
separates the wrapper into two portions, at least one of which is
to be removed from the pack. The tear strip may remain adhered to
one portion of the separated wrapper so that it is removed from the
pack, leaving the other portion of the separated wrapper in place
over a portion of the pack.
SUMMARY
[0003] In accordance with embodiments of the invention, there is
provided a package comprising a container enveloped in a wrapper,
the wrapper comprising a film with overlapping portions which are
sealed together, the wrapper further comprising a tear strip
extending at least partially around the container and having an end
tab, the wrapper configured such that pulling the tab causes a tear
to propagate through the film and the tear strip to come away from
the container and the entire film to come away from the container
attached to the tear strip, wherein the tear strip is defined by
two reinforcing tear tapes on either side of the tear strip, each
tear tape having a respective first remote end at the tab, and the
two tear tapes extend from the tab and diverge away from each other
at least partially around the container such that the width of the
tear strip enlarges around at least a part of the perimeter of the
container, and wherein the tear tapes have respective second remote
ends which are spaced from each other and spaced from the tab.
[0004] The tear strip may extend from an edge of the film at the
overlapping portion, and the tab portion may be provided at the
edge of the film.
[0005] The first and second remote ends of the tear tapes may be
disposed on the same side of the container, or the first and second
remote ends of the tear tapes may be disposed on different sides of
the container.
[0006] The tab portion may be spaced equidistantly from each of the
second remote ends of the tear tapes.
[0007] The tear tapes may constantly diverge away from each other
along their length, or may diverge away from each other along part
of their length, and extend parallel to each other along part of
their length.
[0008] The package may comprise tobacco industry products and/or
cigarette packaging.
[0009] The present invention also provides a wrapper for use in a
package as described above, comprising a film having first and
second edges on opposite sides of the film, and third and fourth
edges on opposite side of the film between the first and second
edges, wherein a tear strip extends across at least a part of the
film between the first and second edges, and a tab portion is
provide at an end of the tear strip, wherein the tear strip is
defined by two reinforcing tear tapes on either side of the tear
strip, each tear tape having a respective first remote end at the
tab, and the two tear tapes extend from the tab and diverge away
from each other such that the width of the tear strip enlarges
along at least a part of its length, and wherein the tear tapes
have respective second remote ends which are spaced from each other
and spaced from the tab.
[0010] The tab may be provided at the first edge and the tear tapes
may extend across the film such that the respective second remote
ends are disposed at the second edge of the film. Alternatively,
the tab may be provided at the first edge and the tear tapes may
extend across the film such that the respective second remote ends
stop short and are spaced from the second end of the film.
[0011] The tear tapes may constantly diverge away from each other
along their length, or may diverge away from each other along part
of their length, and extend parallel to each other along part of
their length.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a pack including a wrapper of a first
embodiment of the invention partially unwrapped therefrom;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a wrapper of a second embodiment of the
invention laid flat; and
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a wrapper of a third embodiment of the
invention laid flat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a pack 1 having a wrapper 80 of a first
embodiment of the invention. The wrapper 80 comprises a film 81 and
is shown fully wrapped around a pack 1 of smoking articles. First
and second opposite sides of the film 81 overlap at one side wall 2
of the pack 1 and are heat sealed together. The wrapper 80
comprises a tear strip 82 extending around the perimeter of the
pack 1. The tear strip 82 is defined by two reinforcing tear tapes
83a, 83b on upper and lower edges of the tear strip 82, which are
permanently adhered to the film 81 and are disposed between the
film 81 and the pack 1. Each tear tape 83a, 83b includes a first
remote end 84a, 84b, and the first remote ends 84a, 84b meet at an
end 85 of the tear strip 82, at an edge of the film 81 on one side
wall 2 of the pack 1. The two tear tapes 83a, 83b diverge from the
end 85 of the tear strip 82 across the front face of the pack, and
then extend parallel to each other at the top and bottom of the
pack across the side, rear and opposite side walls of the pack,
terminating at respective second remote ends 86a, 86b at an edge of
the film 81 opposite to the edge at which the end 85 of the tear
strip 82 is located. On the wrapped pack 1, prior to unwrapping,
the second remote tear tape ends 86a, 86b are spaced from each
other, and are spaced from the first remote tear tape ends 84a,
84b. Also, the first and second remote tear tape ends 84a, 84b,
86a, 86b are disposed on the same side face 2 of the pack 1.
[0017] To remove the wrapper 80 from the pack 1, a user pulls the
end 85 of the tear strip 82 in the direction of arrow B which
detaches from around the pack 1 along the tear tapes 83a, 83b by
tearing the film 81, causing the film 81 to separate into an upper
portion 81a and a lower portion 81b. As the tear strip 82 reaches
the opposite side of the front face of the pack 1, it extends over
the entire height of the pack 1 and then continues across the side
wall, rear wall and opposite side wall of the pack 1, and finally
the upper and lower portions 81a, 81b of the film 81 come away from
the pack 1 with the tear strip 82. Therefore, the entire film 81 is
removable from the pack 1 in a single unwrapping step.
[0018] In the first embodiment described above, having diverged
away from each other initially, the tear tapes 83a, 83b of the tear
strip 82 extend around a portion of the pack 1 parallel to each
other. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to this
configuration and alternative configurations are intended to fall
within the scope of the invention. Such an alternative wrapper 90
of a second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 as a
flat sheet prior to wrapping around a pack. Here, the wrapper 90
comprises a film 91 having a tear strip 92 defined by two
reinforcing tear tapes 93a, 93b which are permanently adhered to
the film 91. As with the first embodiment, each tear tape 93a, 93b
includes a first remote end 94a, 94b which meet at an end or tab
portion 95 of the tear strip 92, at an edge of the film 91 which,
when wrapped around a pack 1, would be disposed on one side wall 2
of the pack 1, as shown in FIG. 1. The second embodiment differs in
that the two tear tapes 93a, 93b diverge from the end 95 of the
tear strip 92 and continue diverging away from each other along
their length to their respective second remote ends 96a, 96b at an
edge of the film 91 opposite to the edge at which the end 95 of the
tear strip 92 is located. Therefore, the tear tapes 93a, 93b
diverge from each other across the front, side, rear and opposite
side faces of the pack 1. As with the first embodiment, however, on
the wrapped pack 1, prior to unwrapping, the second remote tear
tape ends 96a, 96b are spaced from each other, and are spaced from
the first remote tear tape ends 94a, 94b. Also, the first and
second remote tear tape ends 94a, 94b, 96a, 96b are disposed on the
same side face 2 of the pack 1.
[0019] It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the tear tapes 93a, 93b are
straight lines on the film 91 when in its flat form prior to being
wrapped around the pack 1. This makes manufacture of the wrapper 90
and the wrapping process and apparatus to make wrapped packs 1
simpler. It will also be appreciated that in a manufacturing
process, the film 91 may be provided as a single continuous strip
and the two tear tapes 93a, 93b fed onto the film 91 from separate
bobbins, and the film cut into individual sheets as shown in FIG.
2.
[0020] In the first and second embodiments described above, the
second remote ends of the tear tapes 86a, 86b, 96a, 96b terminate
at an edge of the film 81, 91. However, the invention is not
intended to be limited to this configuration and alternative
configurations are intended to fall within the scope of the
invention. Such an alternative wrapper 100 of a third embodiment of
the invention is shown in FIG. 3 as a flat sheet prior to wrapping
around a pack. Here, the wrapper 100 is similar to the wrapper 90
of the second embodiment, and comprises a film 101 having a tear
strip 102 defined by two reinforcing tear tapes 103a, 103b which
are permanently adhered to the film 101. Each tear tape 103a, 103b
includes a first remote end 104a, 104b which meet at an end 105 of
the tear strip 102, at an edge of the film 101 which, when wrapped
around a pack 1, would be disposed on one side wall 2 of the pack
1, as shown in FIG. 1. As with the second embodiment, the tear
tapes 103a, 103b of the third embodiment diverge from the end 105
of the tear strip 102 and continue diverging away from each other
along their length to their respective second remote ends 106a,
106b. However, the third embodiment differs from the second
embodiment in that the second remote ends 106a, 106b of the tear
tapes 103a, 103b do not terminate at an edge of the film 101
opposite to the edge at which the end 105 of the tear strip 102 is
located, but instead terminate short of such opposite edge of the
film 101. This distance by which the second remote ends 106a, 106b
stop short of the film edge is shown as dimension `d` in FIG. 3.
Therefore, on the wrapped pack 1, prior to unwrapping, the second
remote tear tape ends 106a, 106b are spaced from each other, and
are spaced from the first remote tear tape ends 104a, 104b, but
unlike in the first and second embodiments, the first and second
remote tear tape ends 104a, 104b, 106a, 106b may not be disposed on
the same side face 2 of the pack 1, and the second remote tear tape
ends 106a, 106b may instead be disposed on the rear face of the
pack, for example. The further ensures that the entire wrapper 100
is removed with the single pull of the tear strip 102 as it ensures
upper and lower portions of the wrapper 100 are not separated from
the tear strip 102 but remain attached to the tear strip 102.
[0021] It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the tear tapes 103a, 103b
are straight lines on the film 101 when in its flat form prior to
being wrapped around the pack 1. This makes manufacture of the
wrapper 100 and the wrapping process and apparatus to make wrapped
packs 1 simpler. Also, since, in a manufacturing process, the film
101 may be provided as a single continuous strip and the two tear
tapes 103a, 103b fed onto the film 101 from separate moving
bobbins, or moving feed arms, and the film cut into individual
sheets as shown in FIG. 3, having the distance `d` between the
second remote ends 106a, 106b of the tear tapes 103a, 103b and the
film edge allows time for the manufacturing apparatus to reset the
tear tape feed bobbins or feed arms back to a start position for
the next wrapper 100 as the film 101 is conveyed as a continuous
strip past the point where the tear tapes 103a, 103b are provided
on the film 101.
[0022] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described above in relation to wrappers enveloping a single pack of
smoking articles, such wrappers of the invention are intended to be
usable as an outer wrapping around alternative configurations of
packaging, such as around multiple packs of smoking articles
bundled together, either `naked` or in a carton holding, for
example, 10 or 20 packs of smoking articles, or around tins or
other containers, such as snus containers. Furthermore, such
container(s) to be wrapper with wrappers of the invention, do not
necessarily need to be parallelepiped in shape, and may comprise
other shapes, for example, cylindrical container(s). The various
embodiments of the invention are shown and described above as
wrappers for packs of smoking articles, or smoking article
packaging having various embodiments of outer wrapper. However, the
invention is not intended to be limited to such use and it will be
appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to wrappers
and packaging for any other, non-tobacco industry use.
[0023] In the embodiments described above, the wrappers are
described as being heat sealed along a seam at an overlap of the
wrapper. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to
such sealing means, and alternatives are intended within the scope
of the invention, such as glue or other adhesive. Furthermore, some
of the embodiments are described above as comprising oriented film,
although such film may be used as the film in wrappers of any of
the embodiments of the invention described herein, and may be
particularly suitable for wrappers without tear tapes extending
around the entire perimeter of a wrapped pack, or those wrappers
intended to tear in locations other than directly adjacent the edge
of a tear tape.
[0024] In the embodiments described above, the tear tapes are
described as being adhered to the respective film, although the
invention is not intended to be limited to such construction and
the tear tapes may alternatively be heat sealed to the respective
film or comprise other means of sealing thereto. Additionally,
although in many of the embodiments described above, the tear tapes
are described as being provided on the inside surface of the
wrapper when wrapped around a pack, the tear tapes may equally be
provided on the outside of the respective wrapper.
[0025] The film and tear strips/tapes of the wrappers of the
invention described above may be made of a variety of materials,
including, but no limited to, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), cellulose acetate film, polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polyethylene oxide (PEOX), polyethylene, cellophane, Natureflex.TM.
or polyactic acid (PLA). Furthermore, combinations of such
materials may be used for the film/tear strip(s)/tear label(s)
respectively. In addition, the film and/or the tear strip/tape
material used in the wrappers may be of approximately 200 microns
in thickness to approximately 4 microns in thickness.
[0026] 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.
[0027] A tobacco industry product refers to any item made in, or
sold by the tobacco industry, typically including a) cigarettes,
cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own
cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives,
expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes); b)
non-smoking products incorporating tobacco, tobacco derivatives,
expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes such
as snuff, snus, hard tobacco, and heat-not-burn products; and c)
other nicotine-delivery systems such as inhalers, lozenges and gum.
This list is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrates a
range of products which are made and sold in the tobacco
industry.
[0028] 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 wrappers. 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
principles. It should be understood that they are not
representative of all claimed inventions. As such, certain aspects
of the disclosure have not been discussed herein. That alternate
embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of
the invention or that further un-described alternate embodiments
may be available for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer
of those alternate embodiments. It will be appreciated that many of
those un-described embodiments incorporate the same principles of
the invention and others are equivalent. Thus, it is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications
may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the
disclosure. As such, all examples, implementations, and/or
embodiments are deemed to be non-limiting throughout this
disclosure. Also, no inference should be drawn regarding those
embodiments discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein
other than it is as such for purposes of reducing space and
repetition. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of,
or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed
elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. Some of
the disclosed features, elements, implementation, etc., may be
mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously
present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some features are
applicable to one aspect of the disclosure, and inapplicable to
others. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not
presently claimed. Applicant reserves all rights in those presently
unclaimed inventions including the right to claim such inventions,
file additional applications, continuations, continuations in part,
divisions, and/or the like thereof. As such, it should be
understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, function,
features, structural, 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.
* * * * *