U.S. patent application number 17/286092 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-18 for container for consumer goods.
This patent application is currently assigned to JT International S.A.. The applicant listed for this patent is JT International S.A.. Invention is credited to Timothy Collins.
Application Number | 20210354906 17/286092 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005764390 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210354906 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Collins; Timothy |
November 18, 2021 |
Container For Consumer Goods
Abstract
A container for consumer goods includes an outer housing
including a box portion closable by a lid portion and having front
and back walls and two side walls; and an inner frame within the
outer housing including a front panel glued to an inner surface of
the front wall and two side panels glued to respective side walls;
wherein the inner frame includes at least one horizontal cut across
part of the front panel and part of one of the side panels, and at
least first, second and third folding lines extending vertically
and parallel to each other from the at least one horizontal cut to
an upper edge of the inner frame for defining at least one foldable
portion; and the horizontal cut being positioned, in un-folded
condition of the inner frame at or below an upper edge of the front
wall of the box portion.
Inventors: |
Collins; Timothy;
(Leatherhead, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JT International S.A. |
Geneva |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
JT International S.A.
Geneva
CH
|
Family ID: |
1000005764390 |
Appl. No.: |
17/286092 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
November 20, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2019/081975 |
371 Date: |
April 16, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/4266 20130101;
B65D 85/10484 20200501; B65D 85/10564 20200501; B65D 5/6691
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10; B65D 5/66 20060101 B65D005/66; B65D 5/42 20060101
B65D005/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 27, 2018 |
EP |
18208562.1 |
Claims
1. A container for consumer goods comprising: a. an outer housing
comprising a box portion having a top opening closable by a lid
portion, the box portion comprising a front wall and a back wall
connected to each other by a bottom wall opposite the top opening
and two side walls, and the lid portion comprising a front panel
connected to a back panel by a top wall and opposite side panels,
the lid portion being hingedly attached to the box portion at a
hinge line between the back panel and the back wall; and b. an
inner frame arranged within the outer housing and comprising a
front panel and first and second side panels, wherein the front
panel of the inner frame is glued to an inner surface of the front
wall of the box portion of the outer housing and the first and
second side panels of the inner frame are glued to the respective
side walls of the box portion of the outer housing; wherein c. the
inner frame comprises at least one horizontal cut across part of
the front panel of the inner frame and part of the first side
panels of the inner frame, and at least a first folding line, a
second folding line and a third folding lines extending vertically
and parallel to each other from the at least one horizontal cut to
an upper edge of the inner frame for defining at least one foldable
portion which can be folded to an inside of the container for
selectively limiting space within the container; and d. the at
least one horizontal cut being positioned, in an un-folded
condition of the inner frame at or below an upper edge of the front
wall of the box portion.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first folding
line is a first vertical crease or perforated line at a first end
of the at least one horizontal cut in the front panel of the inner
frame.
3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the second folding
line is a second vertical crease or perforated line at a second end
of the at least one horizontal cut at the first side panel of the
inner frame.
4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the third vertical
folding line is a third crease or perforated line above the at
least one horizontal cut and between the front panel of the inner
frame and the first side panel of the inner frame of the inner
frame.
5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame
comprises at the at least one horizontal cut one or more breakable
connections between the foldable portion and non-foldable portions
of the inner frame.
6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame
comprises a first glue portion at the front panel of the inner
frame below the at least one horizontal cut and/or the inner frame
comprises a second glue portion at the first side panel of the
inner frame below the at least one horizontal cut.
7. The container according to claim 1, further comprising an inner
liner for storing consumer goods, wherein the inner liner is
arranged within the outer housing and within the inner frame and
the inner liner comprises a removable portion defining an access
opening through which consumer goods can be taken out; and wherein
the inner liner comprises at least one L-shaped perforation for
separating the removable portion from a remainder of the inner
liner.
8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the at least one
L-shaped perforation comprises a horizontal portion that extends
along the front wall, one of the side walls and the back wall of
the box portion of the outer housing.
9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the at least one
L-shaped perforation comprises a vertical portion that extends
along the back wall of the box portion of the outer housing.
10. The container according to claim 7, wherein the inner liner is
wrapped in a loop around vertically arranged consumer goods,
wherein a wrapping axis is vertically arranged and the inner liner
is closed at a top and a bottom of the inner liner.
11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame
further comprises a second horizontal cut extending across part of
the front panel of the inner frame and part of the second side
panels of the inner frame, for defining a second foldable portion
which can be folded to the inside of the container for selectively
limiting the space within the container.
12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the inner frame at
the front panel of the inner frame comprise a fourth vertical
crease or perforated line at a first end of the second horizontal
cut.
13. The container according to claim 11, wherein the inner frame at
the second side panel of the inner frame comprise a fifth vertical
crease or perforated line at a second end of the second horizontal
cut.
14. An Inner frame for a container for consumer goods, wherein the
inner frame comprises at least one horizontal cut across part of a
front panel of the inner frame and part of a side panels of the
inner frame and at least a first folding line, a second folding
line and a third folding line extending vertically and parallel to
each other from the at least one horizontal cut to an upper edge of
the inner frame, for defining at least one foldable portion which
can be folded to an inside of the container for selectively
limiting space within the container.
15. The inner frame according to claim 14, wherein: a. the first
folding line is a first vertical crease or perforated line at a
first end of the at least one horizontal cut in the front panel; b.
the second folding line is a second vertical crease or perforated
line at a second end of the at least one horizontal cut at the side
panel of the inner frame; and c. the third vertical folding line is
a third crease or perforated line above the at least one horizontal
cut and between the front panel and the side panel the of the inner
frame.
Description
1. TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for consumer
goods and an inner frame for such a container. The container is
particularly suitable for storing tobacco articles, like
cigarettes.
2. PRIOR ART
[0002] Fragile goods, like for instance cigarettes, are usually
packaged and brought into market in small containers in order to
protect the goods during transport. Such containers can be made of
renewable raw material like paperboard and often comprise a
plurality of components. Usually, a softer, odorless and unflavored
inner liner directly stores the consumer goods, while a harder
outer housing forms the container and protects the goods against
environmental conditions and impacts from the outside. In some
cases, the outer housing comprises a hinged lid for closing and
opening of the container. The container additionally is wrapped in
a transparent plastic foil for further protection and as integrity
seal.
[0003] Furthermore, containers for consumer goods additionally
comprise an inner frame arranged within the outer housing for
stiffening the container in the area of the access opening,
particularly if the container comprises a hinged lid. In such case,
the inner frame forms the inner counterpart to the hinged lid and
serves to hold it in the closed position. To this end, the inner
frame partially extends above the upper edge of the front panel of
the outer housing. The inner frame is usually also made of
paperboard and glued to the inside of the outer housing.
[0004] In some containers the inner frame serves for additional
purposes. In document US 2016/0000144 A1 a hinge lid pack for
cigarettes is shown, wherein the inner frame comprises a
perforation line in a front panel, that is configured to allow at
least one of the left or right side panels of the inner frame and a
portion of the front panel of the inner frame to fold inward,
creating an inner cavity between the inner frame and the outer
housing of the hinge lid pack. This foldable portion of the inner
frame allows for limiting the space within the pack if some
cigarettes are already taken out of the pack and for holding a
small object like a cigarette lighter. The foldable inner frame of
the document US 2016/0000144 A1, however, has the disadvantage that
for folding-in the foldable portion a glue bond between the inner
frame and the outer housing has to be broken or a different glue
dot arrangement has to be used which, however, decreases the
stability of the pack, particularly in folded condition.
[0005] Further containers with an inner frame that has an inwardly
folded tabs for limiting the space within the container are known
from the WO 2015/068003 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,644. However, in
these containers the inwardly folded tabs are folded during
manufacturing of the container and fixed in the folded state.
[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to
provide a container for consumer goods and a corresponding inner
frame, that comprises a foldable portion of an inner frame, but has
an improved construction in terms of stability, manufacturing and
ease of use by the customer.
3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The above-mentioned problem is solved by a container for
consumer goods according to claim 1 and a corresponding inner frame
according to claim 14.
[0008] Preferably the above mentioned problems are solved by a
container for consumer goods comprising an outer housing comprising
a box portion having a top opening closable by a lid portion, the
box portion comprising a front wall and a back wall connected to
each other by a bottom wall opposite the top opening and two side
walls, and the lid portion comprising a front panel connected to a
back panel by a top wall and opposite side panels, the lid portion
being hingedly attached to the box portion at a hinge line between
their respective back panel and back wall and an inner frame
arranged within the outer housing and comprising a front panel and
two side panels, wherein the front panel is glued to an inner
surface of the front wall of the box portion of the outer housing
and the two side panels are glued to respective side walls of the
box portion of the outer housing; wherein the inner frame comprises
at least one horizontal cut across part of the front panel and part
of one of the side panels, and at least a first, a second and a
third folding lines extending vertically and parallel to each other
from the at least one horizontal cut to an upper edge of the inner
frame for defining at least one foldable portion, which can be
folded to the inside of the container for selectively limiting the
space within the container and the horizontal cut being positioned,
in un-folded condition of the inner frame at or below an upper edge
of the front wall of the box portion.
[0009] Due to the provision of a horizontal cut across part of the
front panel and part of one of the side panels a foldable portion
of the inner frame is generated, that can be folded to the inside
of the container without breaking any glue bond and which does
simultaneously maintain the mechanical stability of the container
in this area. The horizontal cut allows that only the foldable
portion above the horizontal cut is folded to the inside of the
container, but a portion of the inner frame below the horizontal
cut remains in original position and stiffens the outer housing.
This allows further, that the remaining portion below the
horizontal cut can be glued to the outer housing and maintains this
glue connection after folding. Thus, the overall stability of the
container is maintained even if a foldable portion is provided that
can selectively limit the space within the container, when a number
of consumer goods, like cigarettes, have been already removed from
the container or that can provide an inner cavity between the inner
frame and the outer housing for holding a small object. This cavity
is particularly useful to hold a small object that can be used
together with the consumer goods, like a cigarette lighter. In
another, non-limiting example, the consumer goods are tobacco
articles, or tobacco-substitute articles, and the cavity is used to
hold a device for heating the tobacco articles, or
tobacco-substitute articles, to generate an aerosol from them
through heating. Thus, the container is particularly useful as
packaging for so called "heat-not-burn" tobacco and tobacco
substitute products.
[0010] The horizontal cut is arranged at or below the upper edge of
the front panel of the outer housing in open position. Thus, the
horizontal cut is invisible when the foldable portion is still
un-folded. Thus, the appearance of the inner frame can be the same
as if no foldable portion is provided.
[0011] Preferably, the first folding line is a first vertical
crease or perforated line at a first end of the at least one
horizontal cut in the front panel. The first vertical crease or
perforated line defines the first folding line between the foldable
portion and the remaining portion of the front panel of the inner
frame. Thus, the foldable portion can be folded to the inside in an
easy and geometrically defined manner, what provides a pleasant
appearance of the container in the folded condition. Preferably,
the first vertical crease or perforated line is arranged above the
horizontal cut. Preferably, the first vertical crease or perforated
line extends from the first end of the horizontal cut towards an
upper edge of the front panel of the inner frame.
[0012] Preferably, the second folding line is a second vertical
crease or perforated line at a second end of the at least one
horizontal cut. The second vertical crease or perforated line
defines the second folding line between the foldable portion and
the remaining portion of the side panel of the inner frame. This
further improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to
the inside of the container. Preferably, the second vertical crease
or perforated line is arranged above the horizontal cut.
Preferably, the second vertical crease or perforated line extends
from the second end of the horizontal cut towards an upper edge of
a side panel of the inner frame.
[0013] Preferably, the third folding line is a third vertical
crease or perforated line above the at least one horizontal cut
between the front panel and the side panel of the inner frame. This
further improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to
the inside of the container. The third vertical crease or
perforated line is preferably arranged parallel to and in-between
the first and second vertical crease or perforated line.
[0014] By the first, second and third vertical crease or perforated
line and the horizontal cut the foldable portion is well-defined
and can fold along the first, second and third vertical crease or
perforated line to the inside of the container in a predetermined
manner. This ensures that the foldable portion folds always the
same way and stays in the folded position over the time-of use of
the container for protecting the consumer goods from damages.
Additionally, this ensures a pleasant appearance to the
consumer.
[0015] Preferably, the inner frame comprises at the horizontal cut
one or more breakable connections between the foldable portion and
the non-foldable portions of the inner frame. Such breakable
connections separate the horizontal cut into two sections and
facilitates the manufacturing of the container since it limits
movement of the foldable portion with respect to the non-foldable
remaining portion of the inner frame during manufacturing. Further,
the breakable connection improves the stability of the container
before the foldable portion is folded to the inside.
[0016] Preferably, the inner frame comprises a first glue portion
at the front panel below the horizontal cut and/or the inner frame
comprises a second glue portion at the side panel below the
horizontal cut. Such glue portions improve the stability of the
container particularly in the area of the foldable portion.
[0017] Preferably, the container further comprises an inner liner
for storing consumer goods, wherein the inner liner is arranged
within the outer housing and within the inner frame and the inner
liner comprises a removable portion defining an access opening
through which consumer goods can be taken out; and wherein the
inner liner comprises at least one L-shaped perforation for
separating the removable portion from the remainder of the inner
liner. The inner liner, which is preferably a thin foil or sheet of
metallized paper protects the quality of the consumer goods, for
example the cigarettes. When the container is opened, the consumer
removes the removable portion of the inner liner to obtain access
to the goods. Due to the L-shaped perforation of the inner liner
the removable portion is defined such that it is large enough that
the inner liner does not come into contact with the foldable
portion in folded condition. Thus, the inner liner is not visibly
fouled when the foldable portion is folded to the inside. This
guarantees that the lid of the container can be closed without any
problems and ensures a pleasant appearance of the overall
container.
[0018] Preferably, the perforation comprises a horizontal portion
that extends along the front wall, side wall and the back wall of
the container. Thus, the removable portion comprises a part of the
front panel of the folded inner liner and a part of the side panel
of the inner liner. By providing an inner liner with a removable
portion that uncovers the front, a side and a rear corner of the
bundle of cigarettes further eases extraction of the first
cigarettes as it can be picked from the rear corner where the inner
frame is not in the way of consumer's fingers and the cigarettes
are looser than in the front, central portion, where the inner
frame cutout is normally provided.
[0019] Preferably, the perforation comprises a vertical portion
that extends along the back wall of the container. Thus, the
removable portion additionally comprises a part of the back panel
of the folded inner liner.
[0020] Preferably, the inner liner is wrapped in a loop around
vertically arranged consumer goods, wherein the wrapping axis is
vertically arranged and the inner liner is closed at the top and
the bottom of the inner liner. Thus, wrapping of the inner liner
around the set of consumer goods is facilitated. This wrapping
arrangement does further facilitate removal of the removable
portion of the inner liner since, by the L-shaped perforation the
front, one side, part of the rear and the corresponding top wall
portions can be removed in one step and in one-piece.
[0021] Preferably, the inner frame further comprises a second
horizontal cut extending across part of the front panel and part of
the other one of the side panels, for defining a second foldable
portion which can be folded to the inside of the container for
selectively limiting the space within the container. The second
horizontal cut defines an additional second foldable portion, that
can be preferably arranged at the other end of the container. This
second foldable portion allows the consumer to further limit the
space within the container if further goods have been removed. This
protects the remaining goods from damage in the container when it
is moved. Further, the second foldable portion can be used by the
consumer as an alternative to the first foldable portion. Thus, the
second foldable portion provides for a flexible use of the
container. Due to the second horizontal cut extending across part
of the front panel and part of the other one of the side panels
again stability of the container is maintained.
[0022] Preferably, the inner frame at the front panel comprises a
fourth vertical crease or perforated line at a first end of the
second horizontal cut. The fourth vertical crease or perforated
line defines a folding line between the second foldable portion and
the remaining portion of the font panel of the inner frame. This
improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to the inside
of the container and serves for a pleasant appearance of the folded
portion in folded condition.
[0023] Preferably, the inner frame at the side panel comprises a
fifth vertical crease or perforated line at a second end of the
second horizontal cut. The fifth vertical crease or perforated line
defines a folding line between the foldable portion and the
remaining portion of the side panel of the inner frame. This
further improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to
the inside of the container and further serves for a pleasant
appearance of the folded portion in folded condition.
[0024] Preferably, the inner frame between the front panel and the
side panel comprises a sixth vertical crease or perforated line
above the at least one horizontal cut. This further improves the
possibility to fold the foldable portion to the inside of the
container and further serves for a pleasant appearance of the
folded portion in folded condition.
[0025] Preferably, the inner frame comprises a third glue portion
at the front panel below the second horizontal cut; and/or the
inner frame comprises a fourth glue portion at the side panel below
the second horizontal cut. By the third and fourth glue portions
the inner frame is glued to the inside of the outer housing. This
improves stability of the container in the area of the second
foldable portion.
[0026] Preferably, the outer housing comprises a box portion and a
hinged lid portion for closing the container, wherein the lid
portion is pivotable between an open and a closed position. By a
hinged lid portion the container can be opened and securely closed
by the consumer for a plurality of times. This protects the
consumer goods, particularly cigarettes, within the container.
[0027] The above-mentioned problems are also solved by an inner
frame for a container for consumer goods, wherein the inner frame
comprises at least one horizontal cut across part of the front
panel and part of one of the side panels and at least a first, a
second and a third folding lines extending vertically and parallel
to each other from the at least one horizontal cut to an upper edge
of the inner frame, for defining at least one foldable portion
which can be folded to the inside of the container for selectively
limiting the space within the container. For such an inner frame
the same advantageous effects are given as for the container
according to the invention as described above. Particularly, the
inner frame ensures stability of the container even if the
possibility is given to fold a foldable portion of the inner frame
to the inside of the container.
[0028] Preferably, the first folding line is a first vertical
crease or perforated line at a first end of the at least one
horizontal cut in the front panel, the second folding line is a
second vertical crease or perforated line at a second end of the at
least one horizontal cut at the side panel of the inner frame, and
the third vertical folding line is a third crease or perforated
line above the at least one horizontal cut and between the front
panel and the side panel the of the inner frame.
4. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are
disclosed by reference to the accompanying figures, in which
shows:
[0030] FIG. 1: a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of an open
container, when the foldable portion of the inner frame is still in
un-folded condition;
[0031] FIG. 2: a three-dimensional view of the embodiment of FIG.
1, when the foldable portion of the inner frame is in folded
condition;
[0032] FIG. 3: a two-dimensional view of a blank of the outer
housing of the container of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 4: a two-dimensional view of a blank of the inner frame
of the container of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 5: a two-dimensional view of a blank of an inner liner
of the container of FIG. 1 and indications of positions of consumer
goods with respect to the inner liner;
[0035] FIG. 6A-C: three-dimensional views of a wrapping process of
consumer goods into an inner liner of FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 6D: a three-dimensional view of consumer goods wrapped
into an inner liner of FIG. 5, indicating the removable portion of
the inner liner; and
[0037] FIG. 7: a two-dimensional view of a further embodiment of an
inner frame with two foldable portions.
5. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are
described with respect to the figures.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a container 1 for consumer
goods 5, for example cigarettes 5. Other consumer goods 5 may for
example be tobacco products or tobacco substitute products, which
can be heated for providing vapor but no smoke, e.g. so called
"heat-not-burn" consumer goods. The size of the container 1
comprises a height of about 70 to 120 mm and a width of about 40 to
72 mm and a thickness of about 16 to 25.5 mm. The container 1 has a
generally cuboid shape. The container 1 comprises an outer housing
10 with a box portion 17 and a hinged lid portion 13 for opening
and closing the container 1, an inner frame 30 with a foldable
portion 40 and an inner liner 20 wrapped around the consumer goods
5. Usually the container 1 is additionally wrapped in a plastic
foil (not shown) as integrity seal and for further protection.
[0040] The foldable portion 40 of the inner frame 30 can be folded
by the consumer to the inside of the container 1 for selectively
reducing the space within the container 1 when already a number of
consumer goods 5 have been removed. This reduction of space helps
protecting the consumer goods 5 as they are constrained in their
movement within the container. Further, the foldable portion 40,
when folded to the inside, provides an inner cavity 6 between the
inner frame 30 and the outer housing 10, which can be used for
holding a small object, like a cigarette lighter, a tobacco product
heating device or a tobacco substitute product heating device,
within the container 1. Since the exemplary cigarette lighter is
separated from the cigarettes 5 by the foldable portion 40 of the
inner frame, the risk of damaging the cigarettes 5 by movements of
the cigarette lighter is reduced.
[0041] The foldable portion 40 is defined at its lower end by at
least one horizontal cut 38. Therefore, the foldable portion 40
when folded has a pleasant appearance to the consumer. Further, a
remaining, un-folded portion of the inner frame below the foldable
portion 40 provides an increased stability of the container 1 at
the area of the foldable portion 4o, even when it is folded to the
inside.
[0042] It is preferred that the horizontal cut 38 is positioned
below the upper edge of the front wall 12 of the outer housing 1,
so that the consumer cannot see the horizontal cut 38 in un-folded
condition. However, the horizontal cut 38 is positioned closely
adjacent to the upper edge of the front wall 12 of the outer
housing 1 such that there is as much as possible surface of the
inner frame 30 below the horizontal cut 38 that remains glued to
the outer housing 1, for improving stability of this corner of the
container 1.
[0043] The outer housing 10 is preferably made of a stronger paper
sheet, paperboard or cardboard, in order to provide a stable
structure to the container 1 and to mechanically protect the
consumer goods 5 inside. The lid portion 13 is hingedly attached to
the box portion 17 at the back side of the container 1 and can be
brought manually from a closed position into an open position, as
shown in FIG. 1. Thereby, the hinge of the lid portion 13 is made
of a fold of the paper or paperboard of the outer housing 10 and
can be easily manufactured. In the closed position the consumer
goods 5 are fully protected inside the container 1, wherein in the
open position access to the consumer goods 5 is given and for
example a cigarette can be taken out from the container 1.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows the two-dimensional blank of the outer housing
10 after cutting and creasing prior to folding and gluing. The
lines 19 within the contour line represent crease lines that
facilitate folding of the blank into a three-dimensional outer
housing 10. The blank of the outer housing comprises areas for the
front wall 12, the bottom wall 15, the back wall 16 and side walls
14, 18 that define the box portion 17 of the outer housing 10. The
top wall 11 and the front panel 13' form together with the areas
13'', 13''' and 13'''' the lid portion 13 of the outer housing.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of a two-dimensional blank
of the inner frame 30 after cutting, creasing and perforating and
prior to folding and gluing. The lines 19 within the contour line
represent crease lines that facilitate folding of the blank into a
three-dimensional inner frame 30. The cut-out tabs 45 extend from
the inner frame 30 for holding the lid area 13 in closed position.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show only one centrally arranged tab 45. The at least
one horizontal cut 38 defines the foldable portion 40 of the inner
frame 30. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the inner frame 30 only
comprises one foldable portion 40. However, in other embodiments,
as shown in FIG. 7, the inner frame 30 can comprise two foldable
portions 40, 50.
[0046] The inner frame 30 is arranged within the outer housing 10
generally for stiffening the container 1 in the area of the lid
portion 13 and for holding the lid portion 13 in closed position.
The inner frame comprises a front panel 32 and two side panels 34,
36 and is preferably made of stronger paper sheet or paperboard and
glued to the inside of the outer housing 10. The inner frame 30 and
the outer housing 10 may be made of the same material.
[0047] The inner frame 30 further comprises at the front panel 32 a
first vertical crease or perforated line 31 at a first end of the
horizontal cut 38. In the preferred embodiment the first vertical
crease or perforated line 31 is provided as a perforated line 31
that begins at the left end of the horizontal cut 38 and extends
vertically to the upper edge of the inner frame 30 at the left end
44 of the foldable portion 40.
[0048] The inner frame 30 further comprises at the side panel 34 a
second vertical crease or perforated line 33 at a second end of the
horizontal cut 38. In the preferred embodiment the second vertical
crease or perforated line 33 is provided as a crease line 33 that
begins at the lower end of the inner frame 30, extends vertically
to the right end of the horizontal cut 38 and further extends
vertically to the upper edge of the inner frame 30 at the right end
47 of the foldable portion 40.
[0049] The inner frame 30 further comprises between the front panel
32 and the side panel 34 a third vertical crease or perforated line
35 at a second end of the horizontal cut 38. In the preferred
embodiment the third vertical crease or perforated line 35 is
provided as a perforated line 35 that extends vertically from the
horizontal cut 38 to the upper edge of the foldable portion 40. The
third vertical crease or perforated line 35 is arranged in-between
the first and second vertical crease or perforated lines 31, 33.
Preferably it is additionally arranged in parallel to the first and
second vertical crease or perforated lines 31, 33. The crease or
perforated lines 31, 33 and 35 facilitate folding the foldable
portion 40 and ensure a defined shape of the foldable portion 40
after folding.
[0050] When folded to the inside of the container 1 preferably a
side portion 46 of the foldable portion 40 is adjacent and parallel
to the back wall 16 of the container 1 and the front portion 48 of
the foldable portion 40 is arranged in parallel and distanced to
the side wall 14 of the container 1.
[0051] The inner frame 30 is glued to the inside of the outer
housing 10 at glue areas 41, 42, 43. The glue area 43 is located
below the side portion 46 of the foldable portion 40 and thus below
the horizontal cut 38. The glue area 42 extends below the front
portion 48 to the foldable portion 40 and thus below the horizontal
cut 38. Thereby, the glue areas 43 and 42 of the inner frame 30
provide rigidity of the upper edge of the outer housing 10 even
when the foldable portion 40 is folded to the inside. Preferably,
the inner frame 30 in the area of the glue area 42 comprises a
downward extension 37 that maximizes the glue area 42 and ensures
that the inner frame 30 can be stamped without loss from an endless
sheet material band.
[0052] The foldable portion 40 can comprise at the horizontal cut
38 one or more breakable connections 39 between the foldable
portion 40 and the non-foldable portions of the inner frame 30. The
breakable connection 39 breaks easily when the consumer folds the
foldable portion 40 to the inside. It is preferably provided, by
separating the horizontal cut 38 into two portions, leaving
breakable connection 39 simply uncut. The breakable connection 39
preferably has a length below 2 mm, preferably below 1 mm to be
easily breakable but to provide enough stability for the inner
frame 30 during manufacturing. As shown in FIG. 4, the breakable
connection 39 is arranged where third vertical crease or perforated
line 35 intersects with horizontal cut 38.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of inner frame 30 which
comprises two foldable portions 40, 50. The second foldable portion
50 basically corresponds to the first foldable portion 40 and
comprises a horizontal cut 58 and first 51, second 53 and third 55
vertical crease or perforated lines. The horizontal cut 58 is
separated by a breakable portion 59 into two sections. For
improving the stability of container 1 in the area of the second
foldable portion 50 a glue area 41' is arranged below the second
horizontal cut 58. In addition, a glue area 42' extends below the
below the second horizontal cut 58 as well as below the first
horizontal cut 38.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows a two-dimensional view of a blank of an inner
liner 20 having an L-shaped perforation 24 that defines a removable
portion 22. The L-shaped perforation 24 comprises a horizontal
portion 26 that starts at the left side edge of the inner liner 20
and extends horizontally into an area that will extend along the
front wall 12, side wall 14 and back wall 16 of the finally
produced container 1. The horizontal portion 26 merges by a curved
shape into a vertical portion 28 that extends along the back wall
16 of the finally produced container 1. The vertical portion 28
ends at the upper edge of the inner liner 20. FIG. 5 shows the
position and size of the L-shaped perforation in respect to the
position of the consumer goods 5 wrapped within the inner liner
20.
[0055] The FIGS. 6A-C show a preferred wrapping process of the
inner liner 20 around the consumer goods 5. In a first step as
shown in FIG. 6A the inner liner 20 is wrapped in a loop around a
wrapping axis W that is parallel to a vertical axis V of the inner
liner 20. The consumer goods 5 are also arranged in parallel to the
wrapping axis W.
[0056] After the inner liner 20 is fully wrapped around the
consumer goods 5 it forms a closed loop, having an overlap 23 on
one side wall 27 as shown in FIG. 6B.
[0057] In a further packing step, as shown in FIG. 6C the inner
liner loop 20 is finally closed by folds 25 at the top 28 and at
the bottom 29 thereof. This package of inner liner 20 and consumer
goods is then wrapped within an assembly of inner frame 30 and
outer housing 10.
[0058] FIG. 6D shows the opening of the inner liner 20 when the
consumer pulls the removable portion 22 away from the remainder of
the inner liner 20. Outer housing 10 and an inner frame 20 are not
shown in FIG. 6D for better visibility of the inner liner 20.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0059] 1 container [0060] 5 consumer goods, cigarettes [0061] 6
cavity [0062] 10 outer housing [0063] 11 top wall [0064] 12 front
wall [0065] 13 lid portion [0066] 13'-13'''' areas of lid portion
[0067] 14 side wall [0068] 16 back wall [0069] 17 box portion
[0070] 18 side wall [0071] 19 crease lines [0072] 20 inner liner
[0073] 21 top of inner liner loop [0074] 22 removable portion of
inner liner [0075] 23 overlap [0076] 24 L-shaped perforation [0077]
25 folds [0078] 26 horizontal portion of L-shaped perforation
[0079] 27 side wall of inner liner [0080] 28 vertical portion of
L-shaped perforation [0081] 29 bottom of inner liner loop [0082] 30
inner frame [0083] 31 first vertical crease or perforated line
[0084] 32 front panel of inner frame [0085] 33 second vertical
crease or perforated line [0086] 34 right side panel of inner frame
[0087] 35 third vertical crease or perforated line [0088] 36 left
side panel of inner frame [0089] 37 downward extension [0090] 38
horizontal cut [0091] 39 breakable connection [0092] 40 first
foldable portion [0093] 41, 41' third glue area [0094] 42; 42'
first glue area [0095] 43 second glue area [0096] 44 left end of
foldable portion [0097] 45 tabs [0098] 46 side portion [0099] 47
right end of foldable portion [0100] 48 front portion of foldable
portion [0101] 50 second foldable portion [0102] 51 first vertical
crease or perforated line [0103] 53 second vertical crease or
perforated line [0104] 55 third vertical crease or perforated line
[0105] 58 horizontal cut [0106] 59 breakable connection [0107] V
vertical axis [0108] W wrapping axis of inner liner
* * * * *