U.S. patent application number 15/311885 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-30 for smoking article pack.
The applicant listed for this patent is British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited. Invention is credited to Gary FALLON, Karl KING.
Application Number | 20170088341 15/311885 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51177564 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170088341 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FALLON; Gary ; et
al. |
March 30, 2017 |
Smoking Article Pack
Abstract
A smoking article pack has an openable enclosure with a partial
vacuum therein. The smoking article also has a support member for
smoking articles, the support member being located within the
enclosure.
Inventors: |
FALLON; Gary; (London,
GB) ; KING; Karl; (New South Wales, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
51177564 |
Appl. No.: |
15/311885 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
May 7, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2015/051342 |
371 Date: |
November 17, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 15/00 20130101;
B65D 81/02 20130101; B65D 75/66 20130101; B65D 85/1045 20130101;
B65D 75/5838 20130101; B65D 75/5894 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10; B65D 81/02 20060101 B65D081/02; A24F 15/00 20060101
A24F015/00; B65D 75/66 20060101 B65D075/66 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 28, 2014 |
GB |
1409459.3 |
Claims
1. A smoking article pack comprising an openable enclosure having a
partial vacuum therein, and a support member for smoking articles,
the support member being located within the enclosure and the
support member comprising a box to receive smoking articles, and
wherein the box at least partially surrounds smoking articles on
six sides to protect the smoking articles against crushing caused
by the partial vacuum.
2. The smoking article pack of claim 1, comprising a hinged-lid
pack, wherein the enclosure is located in the hinged-lid pack.
3. The smoking article pack of claim 1 wherein the enclosure
comprises a barrier material.
4. The smoking article pack of claim 3, wherein the barrier
material comprises a laminate material.
5. The smoking article pack of claim 3, wherein the barrier
material comprises a polymer material and a metallic material.
6. The smoking article pack of claim 1 wherein the enclosure
comprises one or more seals.
7. The smoking article pack of claim 6, wherein the one or more
seals comprise fin seals.
8. The smoking article pack of claim 1 wherein the box comprises an
opening.
9. The smoking article pack of claim 1 wherein the enclosure
comprises an openable access aperture that is aligned with an
opening in the support member.
10. The smoking article pack of claim 9, wherein the openable
access aperture is re-closable.
11. The smoking article pack of claim 1, wherein the support member
comprises a card material.
12. The smoking article pack of claim 1, wherein smoking articles
are located within the enclosure.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a smoking article pack.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Packs of cigarettes comprise a wrapped bundle of cigarettes
received in a hinged-lid pack. The wrapped bundle of cigarettes has
a foil wrapper that at least partially surrounds a plurality of
cigarettes. Once the hinged-lid has been opened, a part of the foil
wrapper can be removed to give access to the cigarettes.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to the present invention, there is provided a
smoking article pack comprising an openable enclosure having a
partial vacuum therein, and a support member for smoking articles,
the support member being located within the enclosure.
[0004] The smoking article pack may comprise a hinged-lid pack,
wherein the enclosure is located in the hinged-lid pack.
[0005] The enclosure may comprise a barrier material. The barrier
material may comprise a laminate material. The barrier material may
comprise a polymer material and a metallic material.
[0006] The enclosure may comprise one or more seals. The one or
more seals may comprise fin seals.
[0007] The support member may at least partially surround smoking
articles on at least 3 sides. Alternatively, the support member may
at least partially surround smoking articles on at least 5
sides.
[0008] The support member may comprise a box to receive smoking
articles. The box may at least partially surround smoking articles
on six sides. The box may comprise an opening.
[0009] The enclosure may comprise an openable access aperture that
is aligned with an opening in the support member. The openable
access aperture may be re-closable.
[0010] The support member may comprise a card material.
[0011] Smoking articles may be located within the enclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a smoking article pack;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a support sleeve;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a first example of a process for forming a
wrapped bundle;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a second example of a process for forming a
wrapped bundle; and,
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a wrapped bundle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a pack of smoking articles 1 that has a
hinged-lid pack 2 and a wrapped bundle 3 of smoking articles. The
hinged-lid pack 2 has a body 4 and a lid 5 that is hingedly
attached to the body 4 about a hinge 6. The wrapped bundle 3 is
received within the hinged-lid pack 2 and the lid 5 can be rotated
about the hinge 6 to expose an end part of the wrapped bundle
3.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the wrapped bundle 3 has an access
aperture 7 formed at the end of the wrapped bundle 3, which is
exposed when the lid 5 is opened. The access aperture 7 is covered
by a label 8 which can be opened by pulling on a tab 9, which peels
the label 8 back to expose the access aperture 7 and give access to
smoking articles within the wrapped bundle 3.
[0020] The access aperture 7 extends across an end 10 and partially
into a front wall 11 of the wrapped bundle 3. When the access
aperture 7 is open, the ends of some of the smoking articles are
accessible and can be grasped for removing them from the pack
1.
[0021] The wrapped bundle 3 is made from a barrier material which
is sealed around the smoking articles to form an enclosure. This
enclosure is sealed from the outside atmosphere prior to the label
8 being opened for the first time.
[0022] In some examples, the label 8 is formed from the barrier
material of the wrapped bundle 3. The barrier material may comprise
two or more layers of material, for example a laminate material.
One of these layers may overlap around the edges of the label 8 and
be adhered to the barrier material, to create a sealed label.
Peeling the label 8 back will break this adhesive and expose the
access aperture 7.
[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the label 8 is at least
partially attached to the edges of the access aperture 7, so that
opening the label 8 tears a part of the barrier material to create
the access aperture 7. In this case, the label 8 can be formed by
at least partially cutting the barrier material prior to wrapping
the barrier material around the smoking articles.
[0024] In another example, the label 8 is separate and is attached
to the wrapped bundle 3 such that it covers the access aperture 7.
For example, the label 8 may be adhered to the barrier material
around the access aperture 7.
[0025] Once the label 8 is opened it may be retained on the wrapped
bundle 3. For example, the back edge (not shown) of the label 8 may
remain attached to the wrapped bundle 3 after opening. In an
alternative example, the label 8 may be detached from the wrapped
bundle 3 on opening.
[0026] The label 8 may be re-closable, so that the label 8 can be
repositioned over the access aperture 7 after first opening.
Therefore, the label 8 may have a reusable adhesive that can be
reattached to the barrier material after the label 8 has been
opened for the first time.
[0027] Within the wrapped bundle 3, smoking articles are arranged
in rows so that on opening the access aperture 7 the ends of the
smoking articles can be grasped for removal from the wrapped bundle
3 and the pack 1.
[0028] In various embodiments of the present invention, a partial
vacuum is provided within the enclosure formed in the wrapped
bundle 3 to help preserve the flavour and freshness of the smoking
articles. The partial vacuum can be created by evacuating at least
some of the air from the enclosure. This partial vacuum may be
provided by performing at least part of the pack assembly in a
low-pressure environment.
[0029] The wrapped bundle 3 is sufficiently sealed to allow low
pressure to be maintained in enclosure within the wrapped bundle 3
until the wrapped bundle 3 is opened. Preferably, the barrier
material of the wrapped bundle 3 is impermeable to air. The
enclosure within the wrapped bundle 3 may be hermetically
sealed.
[0030] The barrier material of the wrapped bundle 3 is made from a
gas-impermeable material. The material may be impermeable to oxygen
to prevent ingress of oxygen into the wrapped bundle 3. Also, a
gas-impermeable material will prevent movement of moisture through
the barrier material, so the moisture content within the wrapped
bundle 3 remains the same and is not affected by external
conditions.
[0031] In one example, the barrier material comprises a laminate
material having a polymer, such as polypropylene or polyethylene,
arranged as outer layers of the laminate material and a metallic
foil, for example tin foil, aluminium or any other metallised
coating, arranged as the inner layer of the laminate material,
between two polymer layers.
[0032] In other examples, the barrier material may comprise a
cellulose film and/or a polylactide (polylactic acid) material,
which can be coated or laminated to improve the barrier and/or heat
sealing properties of the material.
[0033] The seal between the barrier material and the label 8 is
sufficient to prevent ingress of air through the seal into the
enclosure within the wrapped bundle 3 prior to the label 8 being
opened for the first time.
[0034] The barrier material is wrapped around a group of smoking
articles so that the smoking articles are received in an enclosure
formed by the barrier material. For example, twenty smoking
articles can be arranged in three rows so that the cross-section of
the group of smoking articles is approximately rectangular and the
wrapped bundle 3 can be received in a substantially cuboid
hinged-lid pack 2. However, it will be appreciated that the wrapped
bundle 3 may have a different number of smoking articles and the
smoking articles may have a different arrangement.
[0035] A support sleeve is provided around the group of smoking
articles within the enclosure formed by the barrier material of the
wrapped bundle 3. The support sleeve at least partially surrounds
the smoking articles to prevent the smoking articles from becoming
compressed, crushed or deformed when air is evacuated from the
enclosure within the wrapped bundle 3.
[0036] When a partial vacuum is created in the enclosure of the
wrapped bundle 3, the support sleeve resists the inward force
acting on the barrier material and protects the smoking
articles.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows one example of the support sleeve 12. In this
example, the support sleeve 12 is a box with a substantially cuboid
shape. Smoking articles are received in the box of the support
sleeve 12 and so the group of smoking articles is at least
partially surrounded on all sides.
[0038] The support sleeve 12 has five substantially complete sides:
a front side 13; a rear side 14; two opposing sides 15, 16; and, a
bottom side 17. The support sleeve 12 also has a top side 18 that
extends partially across the top of the smoking articles.
[0039] As shown, an opening 19 is provided in the support sleeve 12
and this opening 19 extends across the top side 18 and partially
into the front side 13 of the support sleeve 12. This opening 19 is
aligned with the access aperture (7, see FIG. 1) of the wrapped
bundle (3, see FIG. 1). Therefore, when the label (8, see FIG. 1)
is peeled back the access aperture (7, see FIG. 1) and opening 19
are revealed, providing access to the smoking articles.
[0040] The top side 18 of the support sleeve 12 shown in FIG. 2
comprises flaps 18a, 18b that are disposed either side of the
opening 19. These flaps 18a, 18b extend partially across the top
side 18 of the support sleeve 12 and help to protect the smoking
articles from any compression caused by the inward force acting on
the barrier material when air is evacuated from the enclosure of
the wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1) to provide a partial vacuum
therein.
[0041] In another example, the support sleeve 12 may comprise a
five sided box, which surrounds the group of smoking articles on
five sides. For example, the support sleeve may have a front side,
a rear side, two opposing sides and a bottom side, as per the
example shown in FIG. 2. However, in this example, the support
sleeve does not comprise flaps on the top side, which is open.
[0042] In an alternative example, the support sleeve 12 has three
sides which surround the group of smoking articles on at least
three sides. For example, the support sleeve may have a front side,
which extends across the front of the group of smoking articles,
and two opposing sides, that extend across the sides of the group
of smoking articles. This `U` shaped support sleeve provides
rigidity to protect the smoking articles against the compression
force caused by evacuating air from the enclosure within the
wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1) to provide a partial vacuum
therein.
[0043] In yet another example, any of the support sleeves 12
described above may also have a strut wall that extends across the
enclosure within the wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1). For example,
the strut wall may extend between opposing sides of the support
sleeve 12. Referring to the example support sleeve 12 shown in FIG.
2, a strut wall may extend from the inside of the front side 13 to
the rear side 14 of the support sleeve 12, dividing the space
within the wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1). The strut wall will
provide additional rigidity to resist the compressive force. If the
support sleeve 12 includes a strut wall, then smoking articles can
be arranged in two groups, one either side of the strut wall. Other
embodiments may include multiple strut walls, in which case the
smoking articles can be arranged in two or more groups as per the
configuration of the strut walls.
[0044] The support sleeve 12 is made from a rigid or semi-rigid
material that has sufficient strength to resist the compressive
force acting inwardly on the enclosure when air is evacuated from
the enclosure within the wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1) to provide
a partial vacuum therein. For example, the support sleeve 12 may
comprise card, multiple layers of card, plastics, or other suitable
material. The material of the support sleeve 12 may be card of
between 150 grams per square meter and 300 grams per square meter.
The card may be coated or laminated, for example with a polymer, or
tin or aluminium foil. The laminate will provide barrier properties
and prevent the card from absorbing substances that may be present
within the wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1).
[0045] During manufacture of the packs of smoking articles 1, a
blank of the support sleeve 12 is folded around the group of
smoking articles. Alternatively, the support sleeve 12 may be
partially formed and the group of smoking articles can be pushed
into the partially formed support sleeve 12.
[0046] In some examples, the blank of the support sleeve 12 may
include flaps that are adhered to adjacent sides of the support
sleeve 12, so that the support sleeve 12 retains its shape. The
adhered flaps will increase the structural rigidity of the support
sleeve 12.
[0047] The barrier material is then wrapped around the support
sleeve 12 and the group of smoking articles, and the ends and edges
of the barrier material are sealed to form the wrapped bundle (3,
see FIG. 1).
[0048] The wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1) is then received in the
hinged-lid pack (2, see FIG. 1). The hinged-lid pack (2, see FIG.
1) may be folded around the wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1), or the
wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1) may be pushed into a partially
formed hinged-lid pack (2, see FIG. 1).
[0049] FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples of how the barrier material 21
may be wrapped around the group of smoking articles 20 and support
sleeve 12 to form the wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1).
[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, a group of smoking articles 20 is
combined with a support sleeve 12, and this combination is in turn
wrapped in a barrier material 21. The support sleeve 12 and smoking
articles 20 may be combined by wrapping the support sleeve 12 at
least partially around the group of smoking articles 20, depending
on the construction of the support sleeve 12. Alternatively, the
smoking articles 20 can be pushed into a partially formed support
sleeve 12.
[0051] The barrier material 21 is wrapped around the support sleeve
12 and fin seals 22 are formed to hold the barrier material 21 in
place and provide an air-tight seal. In this way, the support
sleeve 12 and the group of smoking articles 20 are located in an
enclosure formed by the barrier material 21. The air-tight fin
seals 22 allow a reduced pressure to be created in the enclosure
within the wrapped bundle (3, see FIGS. 1) and therefore allows a
partial vacuum to be maintained until the wrapped bundle (3, see
FIG. 1) is opened.
[0052] In order to provide a partial vacuum within the enclosure
defined by the barrier material 21, at least the final fin seal 22
may be formed while the group of smoking articles 20 is exposed to
a low pressure environment, to cause evacuation of air from within
the enclosure. For example, the final fin sealing operation could
be performed in a reduced-pressure environment.
[0053] The barrier material 21 may have a pre-formed access
aperture 7 and label 8, as described with reference to FIG. 1. As
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the barrier material 21 is wrapped around
the support sleeve 12 and smoking articles 20 such that the access
aperture 7 is aligned with the opening 19 in the support sleeve
12.
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the barrier material 21 can be
wrapped around the support sleeve 12 and a first fin seal 22a can
be formed between two ends of the barrier material 21.
[0055] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the first fin seal 22a is
formed in a position adjacent to the rear side 14 of the support
sleeve 12. After this first fin seal 22a has been made the barrier
material 21 is essentially arranged as a tube around the support
sleeve 12 and smoking articles 20.
[0056] In an alternative example, shown in FIG. 4, the barrier
material 21 can be wrapped around the support sleeve 12 and smoking
articles 20 to form a tube and the first fin seal 22a is formed
adjacent to the bottom side 17 of the support sleeve 12, opposite
to the access aperture 7 and label 8.
[0057] In the examples shown in both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 the first
fin seal 22a is formed in a position which is spaced from the
opening 19 of the support sleeve 12 and therefore spaced from the
access aperture 7 and label 8, so that the operation of the label 8
to open the access aperture 7 is not affected by the first fin seal
22a.
[0058] When the barrier material 21 has been wrapped around the
support sleeve 12 and a group of smoking articles 20 to form a
tube, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ends of the tube of barrier
material 21 are sealed together to form a sealed wrapped bundle (3,
see FIG. 1) having an enclosure in which the smoking articles 20
and support sleeve 12 are received. The ends of the tube of barrier
material 21 are also fin sealed.
[0059] FIGS. 3 and 4 show, in dotted lines, the extent of the
support sleeve 12 within the tube of barrier material 21 once the
first fin seal 22a has been formed. As shown, the tube of barrier
material 21 is longer than the width of the support sleeve 12, and
so the barrier material 21 extends past the sides of the support
sleeve 12. The overhanging ends of the barrier material 21 are fin
sealed to create the sealed wrapped bundle (3, see FIG. 1).
[0060] FIG. 5 shows the fin seals (22b, 22c) that are formed on the
opposing sides of the wrapped bundle 3. As shown, the first fin
seal 22a is folded against the support sleeve 12 and extends
through each of the side fin seals 22b, 22c of the wrapped bundle
3. The side fin seals 22b, 22c can be folded against the opposing
sides of the wrapped bundle 3 so that the wrapped bundle 3 can be
tightly received in the hinged-lid pack (2, see FIG. 1), as
previously described.
[0061] FIG. 5 shows the first fin seal 22a formed adjacent to the
rear side of the support sleeve. However, it will be appreciated
that the first fin seal 22a may alternatively be formed adjacent to
the bottom side of the support sleeve, as described above with
reference to FIG. 4, or in any other position in which the first
fin seal 22a is spaced from the access aperture 7 and label 8.
[0062] The fin seals 22a, 22b, 22c can be made by attaching
opposing portions of the barrier material 21 together. That is, as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ends of the barrier material 21 are
arranged so that they are directed in the same direction and are
overlapping. The portions of barrier material 21 are then attached
to each other using heat, adhesive, ultrasonic weld, or other means
of attaching the barrier material together. The barrier material 21
may include a thermoplastic material or other means of adhesive
that can be activated by, for example, heat and/or pressure.
[0063] In alternative examples, the sealed wrapped bundle 3 is
formed using a process other than the fin seals 22a, 22b, 22c
described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. For example, the barrier
material 21 could be sealed by folding the ends against the sides
of the support sleeve 12 and pressing them to create a seal. This
may involve adhesive, heat, ultrasonic welds or other means of
attaching the folded flaps of barrier material 21 together. In this
case, the rigidity of the support sleeve 12 will reduce the
likelihood of damaging the smoking articles while forming the
seals.
[0064] As explained earlier, air is evacuated from the enclosure
within the wrapped bundle 3 to form a partial vacuum therein. This
may be performed by exposing the partially wrapped bundle 3 to a
reduced-pressure environment prior to forming the final fin seal
22. It will also be appreciated that varying degrees of air may be
evacuated from the enclosure within the wrapped bundle 3, but that
the pressure within the wrapped bundle 3 will be reduced. It will
also be appreciated that not only air may be evacuated from the
enclosure within the wrapped bundle 3, and any gas that is present
at that time can be evacuated.
[0065] In various examples, the partial vacuum within the enclosure
of the wrapped bundle 3 has a pressure of less than 1 bar.
[0066] In some examples, the partial vacuum within the enclosure of
the wrapped bundle 3 is less than 500 millibar, for example between
40 and 300 millibar. In other embodiments, the partial vacuum
within the enclosure of the wrapped bundle 3 is less than 150
millibar, preferably about 80 millibar. However, it will be
appreciated that the partial vacuum within the enclosure of the
wrapped bundle 3 may be any value less than 1 bar.
[0067] 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.
[0068] As used herein, the term "partial vacuum" means that
pressure has been reduced by removing at least a part of the gas
from within a space, for example the enclosure within the wrapped
bundle (3, see FIG. 1).
[0069] 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 smoking article 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.
* * * * *