U.S. patent application number 14/770764 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-21 for a pack.
This patent application is currently assigned to British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited. Invention is credited to Paul Hodges.
Application Number | 20160016723 14/770764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48092153 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160016723 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hodges; Paul |
January 21, 2016 |
A Pack
Abstract
A pack (1) is disclosed. The pack (1) comprises a front and a
rear wall (4,5), and side walls (6, 7) extending therebetween. At
least one side wall (6, 7)comprises at least three layers.
Inventors: |
Hodges; Paul; (London,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
British American Tobacco
(Investments) Limited
London
GB
|
Family ID: |
48092153 |
Appl. No.: |
14/770764 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
February 21, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2014/050532 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/259 ;
206/242; 206/271; 206/273; 229/122.32; 493/162 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/4266 20130101;
B65D 5/66 20130101; A24F 15/00 20130101; B65D 85/1045 20130101;
B65D 5/441 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10; B65D 5/44 20060101 B65D005/44; B65D 5/42 20060101
B65D005/42; A24F 15/00 20060101 A24F015/00; B65D 5/66 20060101
B65D005/66 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 27, 2013 |
GB |
1303441.8 |
Claims
1. A pack comprising a front and a rear wall, and side walls
extending therebetween, wherein at least one side wall comprises at
least three layers.
2. The pack according to claim 1, wherein the layers of the side
wall are formed from a single sheet of material.
3. The pack according to claim 2, wherein the sheet of material
includes fold lines to enable the sheet to be folded about said
fold lines to form said layers.
4. The pack according to claim 1, comprising a body that includes a
side body panel that overlaps with a secondary side body panel,
wherein the pack further comprises a reinforcement body panel being
positionable so that it overlaps its corresponding side body panel
and secondary body panel to form a multi-layered side wall.
5. The pack according to claim 4, wherein the side body panel
extends from the front wall and the secondary side body panel
extends from the rear wall, and the reinforcement body panel
extends from the side body panel and/or the secondary side body
panel.
6. The pack according to claim 1, comprising a lid that includes a
side lid panel that overlaps with a secondary side lid panel,
wherein the pack further comprises a reinforcement lid panel being
positionable so that it overlaps its corresponding side lid panel
and secondary lid panel to form a multi-layered side wall.
7. The pack according to claim 6, wherein the side lid panel
extends from the front wall and the secondary side lid panel
extends from the rear wall, and the reinforcement lid panel extends
from the side lid panel and/or the secondary side lid panel.
8. The pack according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcement body
panel is folded about a fold line in a direction such that it is
located between the side body panel and the secondary body
panel.
9. The pack according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcement lid
panel is folded about a fold line in a direction such that it is
located between the side lid panel and the secondary lid panel.
10. The pack according to claim 9, wherein the layers are held
together by an adhesive.
11. A blank for forming a pack as claimed in claim 1.
12. A method of forming a pack comprising the steps of providing a
blank, folding the blank so as to form a pack comprising a front
panel, a side panel, a secondary side panel and a side
reinforcement panel, and positioning the side, secondary side and
side reinforcement panels so that they overlap.
13. The method of forming a pack according to claim 12, wherein
side reinforcement panel is positioned between the side panel and
secondary side panel.
14. A tobacco industry pack comprising a front and a rear wall, and
side walls extending therebetween, wherein at least one side wall
comprises at least three layers.
15. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a pack and to a tobacco industry
pack. The invention also relates to a blank for a pack according to
the invention.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventional tobacco industry packs are generally
parallelepiped shaped packs having a body portion with an access
opening. Typically, the pack further comprises a lid configured to
open and close the access opening.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a
pack comprising a front and a rear wall, and side walls extending
therebetween, wherein at least one side wall comprises at least
three layers.
[0004] The layers of the side wall may be formed from a single
sheet of material, and the sheet of material may include fold lines
to enable the sheet to be folded about said fold lines to form said
layers. The layers may be held together by an adhesive.
[0005] The pack may comprise a body that includes a side body panel
that overlaps with a secondary side body panel, wherein the pack
further comprises a reinforcement body panel being positionable so
that it overlaps its corresponding side body panel and secondary
body panel to form a multi-layered side wall.
[0006] In one embodiment, the side body panel extends from the
front wall and the secondary side body panel extends from the rear
wall, and the reinforcement body panel extends from the side body
panel and/or the secondary side body panel.
[0007] The pack may comprise a lid that includes a side lid panel
that overlaps with a secondary side lid panel, wherein the pack
further comprises a reinforcement lid panel being positionable so
that it overlaps its corresponding side lid panel and secondary lid
panel to form a multi-layered side wall.
[0008] In one embodiment, the side lid panel extends from the front
wall and the secondary side lid panel extends from the rear wall,
and the reinforcement lid panel extends from the side lid panel
and/or the secondary side lid panel.
[0009] The reinforcement body panel may be folded about a fold line
in a direction such that it is located between the side body panel
and the secondary body panel and the reinforcement lid panel may be
folded about a fold line in a direction such that it is located
between the side lid panel and the secondary lid panel.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, there is also
provided a blank for forming a pack according to the invention.
[0011] The invention also provides a method of forming a pack
comprising the steps of providing a blank, folding the blank so as
to form a pack comprising a front panel, a side panel, a secondary
side panel and a side reinforcement panel, and positioning the
side, secondary side and side reinforcement panels so that they
overlap.
[0012] The side reinforcement panel may be positioned between the
side panel and secondary side panel.
[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a tobacco industry pack comprising a front and a rear
wall, and side walls extending therebetween, wherein at least one
side wall comprises at least three layers. The pack may further
comprise any of the features mentioned above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pack of a first
embodiment of the invention in a closed position;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the pack of FIG. 1 in an
open position;
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a blank of the pack of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a blank for a pack according to a second
embodiment of the invention; and,
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a blank for a pack according to a third
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] A pack 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a generally
parallelepiped container having a body 2 and a hinged lid 3. The
pack 1 has major front and rear walls 4, 5 minor side walls 6, 7 a
bottom wall 8 and a top wall 9. The front and rear walls 4, 5 of
the pack comprises front and rear body panels 4a, 5a and front and
rear lid panels 4c, 5b. The side walls 6, 7 of the pack comprise
side body panels 6a, 7a overlapping secondary side body panels 6b,
7b, and side lid panels 6c, 7c overlapping secondary lid panels 6d,
7d.
[0021] The hinged lid 3 is integrally connected to the body 2 at a
folding hinge line 10 between the rear body panel 5a and the rear
lid panel 5b and is pivotable between an open position in which an
access opening 11 in the top of the body 2 is exposed to allow
access to tobacco industry products, for instance smoking articles
such as cigarettes, contained therein, and a closed position.
[0022] An inner frame 12 having a front wall 13 and side walls 14,
15 is disposed within the body 2 of the pack 1 to project out of
the opening 11 therein. The inner frame 12 includes a cut-out 22 in
the front wall 13 of the inner frame 12 to provide easy access to
the contents of the pack 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a blank 20 used to form the pack 1 of FIGS. 1
and 2. The blank 20 comprises a single sheet of material, such as
cardboard, that comprises the various panels of the constructed
pack i described above. The front body panel 4a meets the bottom
wall 8 of the pack at a first body fold line 18a that is remote to
a second body fold line 18b where the bottom wall 8 meets the rear
body panel 5a. The side body panels 6a, 7a meet the front panel 4a
at respective third body fold lines 18c, 18d and the secondary body
panels 6b, 7b meet the rear body panel 5a at respective fourth body
fold lines 18e, 18f. The blank 20 is folded along the first,
second, third and fourth body fold lines 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e,
18f to form the body 2, so that the front body panel 4a faces
towards the rear body panel 5a, the side body panels 6a, 7a face
towards each other and overlap corresponding secondary body panels
6b, 7b so to form a double or dual layer.
[0024] The rear lid panel 5b meets the pack top wall 9 at a first
lid fold line 19a which is remote to a second lid fold line 19b
where the pack top wall 9 meets the front lid panel 4c. The side
lid panels 6c, 7c meet the front lid panel 4c at respective third
lid fold lines 19c, 19d and the secondary side lid panels 6d, 7d
meet the rear lid panel 5b at fourth lid fold lines 19e, 19f. The
blank 20 is folded along the first, second and third lid fold lines
19a, 19b, 19c, 19d to form the lid 3, so that the front lid panel
4c faces towards the rear lid panel 5b and the side lid panels 6c,
7c face towards each other and overlap corresponding secondary side
lid panels 6d, 7d so to form a dual or double layer. The rear body
panel 5a meets the rear lid panel 5b at the folding hinge line 10
so that the lid 3 may pivot relative to the body 2.
[0025] The blank 20 further comprises first reinforcement panels
16a, 17a, that meet with respective side body panels 6a, 7a at
first reinforcement fold lines 21a, 21b. Each first reinforcement
body panel 16a, 17a is folded at the first reinforcement fold line
21a, 21b.
[0026] The first reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a are preferably
folded about respective first reinforcement fold lines 21a, 21b in
a direction such that they fold up out of the page when viewing the
blank shown in FIG. 3 so that they lie against an inner surface of
the side body panels 6a, 7a that is visible in FIG. 3. Thus, in
this embodiment, a major surface of each first reinforcement body
panel 16a, 17a abuts against a major surface of the side body panel
6a, 7a, and an opposite major surface of each first reinforcement
body panel 16a, 17a abuts a major surface of the secondary side
body panels 6b, 7b such that they form a triple layer. Furthermore,
in this embodiment, the first reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a
are folded such that they are positioned between the secondary side
body panels 6b, 7b and the side body panels 6a, 7a as they form
said triple layer.
[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the first reinforcement body
panels 16a, 17a may be folded about respective first reinforcement
fold lines 21a, 21b in an opposite direction, down into the page of
FIG. 3. Thus, in this embodiment, a major surface of each first
reinforcement body panel 16a, 17a abuts against a major surface of
respective side body panel 6a, 7a, and an opposite major surface of
each side body panel 6a, 7a abuts a major surface of corresponding
secondary side body panel 6b, 7b such that they form a triple
layer. In this embodiment, the first reinforcement body panels 16a,
17a are folded such that the side body panels 6a, 7a are positioned
between the first reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a and the
secondary side body panels 6b, 7b.
[0028] In any of the above described embodiments, the triple layer
formed by the first reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a, the side
body panels 6a, 7a and secondary side body panels 6b, 7b are held
together by an adhesive.
[0029] The additional layer of material provided by the first
reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a abutting against the side body
panels 6a, 7a and/or the secondary side body panels 6b, 7b improves
the rigidity and durability of the pack 1. Therefore, the contents
of the pack 1 are better protected against external forces applied
to the pack 1. In one embodiment, each first reinforcement body
panel 16a, 17a may overlap the whole surface area of a
corresponding side body panels 6a, 7a and/or secondary side body
panels 6b, 7b. However, in an alternative embodiment each first
reinforcement body panel 16a, 17a may overlap a portion of a major
surface of corresponding side body panels 6a, 7a and/or secondary
side body panels 6b, 7b.
[0030] It will be appreciated that, in another embodiment one or
more further reinforcement body panels may extend from the first
reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a and be separated from the first
reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a by a fold-line. The side body
panels 6a, 7a, secondary side body panels 6b, 7b, first
reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a and any additional reinforcement
body panels provide a multi-layered structure to the pack 1.
[0031] A blank 30 for a pack according to a second embodiment of
the invention is shown in FIG. 4, and is similar to the first
embodiment of the invention, with like features retaining the same
reference numerals. However, the first reinforcement body panels
16a, 17a of the first embodiment are omitted and instead the second
embodiment comprises second reinforcement body panels 16b, 17b
which meet with respective secondary side body panels 6b, 7b at
second reinforcement fold lines 21c, 21d so that each second
reinforcement body panel 16b, 17b form a triple layer with
corresponding secondary side body panel 6b, 7b and side body panel
6a, 7a. Similarly to the embodiment described with reference to
FIG. 3, the secondary reinforcement body panels 16b, 17b can be
folded about the second reinforcement fold lines 21c, 21d either in
a direction out of the page or down into the page when viewing the
blank in FIG. 4. Thus, in one embodiment a major surface of each
second reinforcement body panel 16b, 17b abuts against a major
surface of the side body panel 6a, 7a, and an opposite major
surface of each second reinforcement body panel 16b, 17b abuts a
major surface of the secondary side body panel 6b, 7b. In another
embodiment, a major surface of each second reinforcement body panel
16b, 17b abuts against a major surface of the side body panel 6a,
7a, and an opposite major surface of each side body panel 6a, 7a
abuts a major surface of corresponding secondary side body panel
6b, 7b.
[0032] The additional layer of material provided by the second
reinforcement body panels 16b, 17b abutting against the side body
panels 6a, 7a and/or secondary side body panels 6b, 7b improves the
rigidity and durability of the pack 1.
[0033] As mentioned above in connection with the embodiment
described with reference to FIG. 3, additional reinforcement body
panels may extend form the second reinforcement body panels 16b ,
17b to enable a multi-layered structure to be formed.
[0034] In an alternate embodiment (not shown) the blank may
comprise both of the first and second reinforcement body panels
16a, 17a, 16b, 17b so as to form a multiple layer comprising four
layers of material. The first reinforcement body panels, 16a, 17a
and the second reinforcement body panels 16b, 17b can be folded
about their respective fold lines in any direction as described
above, and it should be appreciated that any combinations of the
embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 may be
formed. The four layers of material further improve the rigidity
and durability of the pack 1.
[0035] A blank 40 for a pack according to a third embodiment of the
invention is shown in FIG. 5 and is similar to the first and second
embodiments of the invention, with like features retaining the same
reference numerals. The blank 40 of the third embodiment of the
invention includes lid reinforcement panels 16c, 17c that are each
integrally formed with respective side lid panels 6c, 7c at third
reinforcement fold lines 21e, 21f. Each lid reinforcement panel
16c, 17c is folded at the third reinforcement line 21e, 21f. In one
embodiment, each lid reinforcement panels 16c, 17c are folded about
respective third reinforcement fold lines 21e, 21f in a direction
such that they fold up out of the page when viewing the blank shown
in FIG. 5 so that they lie against an inner surface of the side lid
panels 6c, 7c that is visible in FIG. 5. Thus, in this embodiment,
a major surface of each lid reinforcement panel 16c, 17c abuts
against a major surface of the side lid panel 6c, 7c, and an
opposite major surface of each lid reinforcement panel 16c, 17c
abuts a major surface of the secondary side lid panels 6d, 7d such
that they form a triple layer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the
lid reinforcement panels 16c, 17c are folded such that they are
positioned between respective side lid panel 6c, 7c and secondary
lid side panel 6d, 7d as they form said triple layer.
[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the lid reinforcement panels
16c, 17c are folded about respective third reinforcement fold lines
21e, 21f in an opposite direction, down into the page when viewing
the blank in FIG. 5. Thus, in this embodiment, a major surface of
each lid reinforcement panel 16c, 17c abuts against a major surface
of respective side lid panel 6c, 7c, and an opposite major surface
of each side lid panel 6c, 7c abuts a major surface of the
corresponding secondary side lid panel 6d, 7d such that they form a
triple layer. In this embodiment, the lid reinforcement panels 16c,
17c are folded such that each side lid panel 6c, 7c is positioned
between respective lid reinforcement panels 16c, 17c and secondary
side lid panel 6d, 7d.
[0037] Each triple layer formed from respective lid reinforcement
panel 16c, 17c, side lid panel 6c, 7c and secondary side lid panel
6d, 7d are held together by an adhesive.
[0038] The additional layer of material provided by the lid
reinforcement panels 16c, 17c abutting against the side lid panels
6c, 7c and/or secondary lid panels 6d, 7d improves the rigidity and
durability of the pack 1. Furthermore, the increased thickness and
rigidity of the lid 3 provided by the lid reinforcement panels 16c,
17c increases the friction between the lid 3 and inner frame 12,
which abuts the lid front and/or side lid panels 4c, 6c, 7c when
the lid 3 is in the closed position, thus enabling the lid 3 to
better stay in the closed position.
[0039] It will be appreciated that, in another embodiment one or
more further lid reinforcement panels may extend from the lid
reinforcement panels 16c, 17c and be separated from the lid
reinforcement panels 16c, 17c by a fold-line. The side lid panels
6c, 7c, secondary lid panels 6d, 7d, lid reinforcement panels 16c,
17c and any additional lid reinforcement panels provide a
multi-layered structure to the lid 3.
[0040] The embodiments described above wherein the reinforcement
panels 16a, 17a, 16b, 17b, 16c, 17c are folded about their
respective fold line such that they are positioned between two
adjacent layers provide the advantage that any free edges along the
side wall of the pack are concealed when the blank is folded. Thus,
if the blank is of a white colour and comprises a coloured outer
surface, there are no visible white free edges when the blank is
folded into a pack.
[0041] Although in the above described embodiments the first
reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a, second reinforcement body
panels 16b, 17b and lid reinforcement panels 16c, 17c are held in
place by adhesive, in alternate embodiments (not shown) they may be
held in place by other means or, they may just be held in place as
a result of the pressure applied to the inner frame by the walls of
the pack and the tobacco industry products contained therein.
[0042] It shall be appreciated that the present invention is not
limited to both the side walls 6, 7 of the pack 1 comprising a
triple layer. In any of the embodiments described above only one of
the side walls may be formed with a triple layer. Alternatively,
the number of layers may differ between the two side walls of the
pack. Furthermore, the side wall of the lid may comprise a
different number of layers compared to the side wall of the
body.
[0043] Although in the above described embodiments the first
reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a, second reinforcement body
panels 16b, 17b and lid reinforcement panels 16c, 17c are
integrally formed with the side body panels 6a, 7a, secondary body
panels 6b, 7b and side lid panels 6c, 7c respectively and are
positioned by means of folding, in an alternate embodiment (not
shown) the first reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a, second
reinforcement body panels 16b, 17b and/or lid reinforcement panels
16c, 17c may be separate sections of material that are arranged
against respective side body panels 6a, 7a, secondary body panels
6b, 7b and/or side lid panels 6c, 7c using an adhesive.
[0044] Although in the above described embodiments the inner a
hinged-lid pack is described, in alternate embodiments (not shown)
the first reinforcement body panels 16a, 17a, second reinforcement
body panels 16b, 17b and/or lid reinforcement panels 16c, 17c may
be provided on packs of other designs, for example, slide-packs or
telescopically extending packs to increase the rigidity and
durability of such packs.
[0045] 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.
[0046] A tobacco industry pack refers to any pack that can contain
and/or receive a tobacco industry product.
[0047] 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 a superior pack. The advantages and features of the
disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and
are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to
assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be
understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions,
features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are
not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by
the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that
other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure.
Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist
essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements,
components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the
disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but
which may be claimed in future.
* * * * *