U.S. patent application number 17/619118 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-22 for insert for a packet of smoking articles.
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 Mark Aspinall-Paul, Branislav Dusanic, Irina Peressadina.
Application Number | 20220297926 17/619118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006433599 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220297926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peressadina; Irina ; et
al. |
September 22, 2022 |
Insert for a Packet of Smoking Articles
Abstract
An insert for a packet of smoking articles includes a
substantially rigid and flat support structure; at least one breath
freshening article disposed on the support structure; and an outer
cover configured to enclose the support structure and the at least
one breath freshening article. A packet of smoking articles is also
provided including the insert.
Inventors: |
Peressadina; Irina; (Geneva,
CH) ; Aspinall-Paul; Mark; (Geneva, CH) ;
Dusanic; Branislav; (Geneva, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JT International S.A. |
Geneva |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
JT International S.A.
Geneva
CH
|
Family ID: |
1000006433599 |
Appl. No.: |
17/619118 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
July 28, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2020/071285 |
371 Date: |
December 14, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/1081 20130101;
B65D 75/5805 20130101; B65D 75/30 20130101; B65D 85/1045
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10; B65D 75/30 20060101 B65D075/30; B65D 75/58 20060101
B65D075/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2019 |
EP |
19189180.3 |
Claims
1. An insert for a packet of smoking articles comprising: a
substantially rigid and flat support structure; at least one breath
freshening article disposed on the support structure; and an outer
cover configured to enclose the support structure and the at least
one breath freshening article.
2. The insert of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a
cardboard stiffener or a plastic stiffener.
3. The insert of claim 1, wherein the at least one breath
freshening article is a plurality of breath freshening strips.
4. The insert of claim 3, wherein the plurality of breath
freshening strips are stacked on top of one another.
5. The insert of claim 3, wherein the plurality of breath
freshening strips are arranged as a sheet or band of strips with
each strip attached to its adjacent strip or strips via a line of
weakness.
6. The insert of claim 1, wherein the outer cover is a wrapper
disposed on opposing surfaces of the support structure and is
configured to form a peripheral seal around the support structure
so as to protect the at least one breath freshening article.
7. The insert of claim 6, wherein the wrapper is made of a heat
sealable paper or a heat sealable foil.
8. The insert of claim 6, wherein the wrapper is configured to
stick to at least one of the surfaces of the support structure
forming a median seal such that the insert is divided into two
pockets on either side of the median seal, each pocket configured
to contain a stack of breath freshening articles of the at least
one breath freshening article.
9. The insert of claim 6, wherein the wrapper comprises at least
one opening mechanism formed in the peripheral seal along a
longitudinal direction.
10. The insert of claim 9, wherein the at least one opening
mechanism comprises an incision formed at an edge of the peripheral
seal such that the wrapper can be opened by tearing the peripheral
seal along the incision.
11. The insert of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the insert is
less than 3 mm.
12. A packet of smoking articles comprising the insert of claim
1.
13. The packet of claim 12, wherein the insert is configured to be
placed between an inner frame and a liner of the packet.
14. The packet of claim 12, wherein a number of the at least one
breath freshening article in the insert is at least equal to a
number of smoking articles in the packet.
15. A method of manufacturing a packet of smoking articles
comprising a step of inserting the insert of claim 1 into a packet
of smoking articles.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a national phase entry under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of International Application No.
PCT/EP2020/071285, filed Jul. 28, 2020, published in English, which
claims priority to European Application No. 19189180.3 filed Jul.
30, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an insert for a
packet of smoking articles. Specifically, the invention relates to
an insert with breath freshening articles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Some consumers of smoking articles such as cigarettes use
some kind of breath freshener, especially immediately after smoking
a cigarette. In particular, some consumers carry a breath
freshening article such as a mint chewing gum, mint tablets, or a
breath freshening spray. However, they may not always remember to
carry such items with them all the time. Moreover, it is an
additional item to worry about when going out. Often they end up
buying new packets of these items when they need, although they may
already have enough of such items at their homes. This leads to
unnecessary expense and inconvenience.
[0004] To address this issue, some cigarette packets may include
breath freshening articles, either attached to the outside of the
cigarette packet or somewhere on the inside in the packet. However,
doing so requires extra manufacturing steps, thereby pushing the
costs up for both manufacturers and the consumers. Moreover, such
packets are often difficult to open and it is not always possible
to safely retain remaining articles in the packet after opening. In
addition, such packets may have unusual shape, size, or weight
making them less convenient for the consumers to carry them in
their pockets.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,459 discloses an insert for inclusion in
a substantially sealed container to control the relative humidity
within the container. The insert is a packet at least part of the
surface of which is a membrane capable of passing water vapor and
which contains a buffering substance.
[0006] WO 2014114297 discloses a blister package consisting of a
lower web in which a row of cavities is provided, and an upper web
which is welded to the provided lower web. Perforation lines are
provided between adjoining cavities.
[0007] Therefore, there exists a need for a more convenient way of
including breath freshening articles in a packet of smoking
articles. Specifically, it is desired to include the breath
freshening articles in the packet in a way that is both easy to
manufacture and use by the consumers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an insert for a packet of smoking articles comprising a
substantially rigid and flat support structure; at least one breath
freshening article disposed on the support structure; and an outer
cover configured to enclose the support structure and the breath
freshening article.
[0009] Advantageously, by providing a breath freshening article
supported on such an insert, the breath freshening article can be
easily included in a cigarette packet. Also, it is convenient for a
consumer to pull out the insert from the packet and access a breath
freshening article for consumption post-cigarette. The consumer is
not required to carry the breath freshening article separately and
the cigarette packet need not be modified to accommodate the breath
freshening article.
[0010] Preferably, the support structure is a cardboard stiffener
or a plastic stiffener.
[0011] Advantageously, the support structure is thin and light but
rigid enough so as to not deform when it is inserted into the
packet.
[0012] Preferably, the insert comprises a plurality of breath
freshening strips.
[0013] Advantageously, the breath freshening article is provided in
the form of breath freshening strips which are thin, light, and
easy to be included inside the packet.
[0014] Preferably, the plurality of breath freshening strips are
stacked on top of one another.
[0015] Advantageously, a large number of breath freshening strips
can be provided in a stack arrangement for a neat and convenient
packaging.
[0016] Preferably, the plurality of breath freshening strips are
arranged as a sheet or band of strips with each strip attached to
its adjacent strip or strips via a line of weakness.
[0017] Advantageously, breath freshening strips provided as sheet
with perforations between adjacent strips is another way of
packaging the strips in a neat and convenient format.
[0018] Preferably, the outer cover is a wrapper disposed on both
surfaces of the support structure and is configured to form a
peripheral seal around the support structure so as to protect the
breath freshening article.
[0019] Advantageously, the outer cover wraps the support structure
along with the breath freshening article from all sides forming an
air-tight seal which protects the breath freshening article from
the flavor of the cigarettes in the packet.
[0020] Preferably, the wrapper is made of a heat sealable paper or
a heat sealable foil.
[0021] Advantageously, the wrapper made of paper or foil is light
and safe, preferably of food-grade qualified material, for the
breath freshening article stored inside it. Also, being heat
sealable allows the wrapper to be sealed around the support
structure in a hygienic way by avoiding chemical-based
adhesive.
[0022] Preferably, the wrapper is configured to be heat sealable to
the surface of the support structure to form a median seal such
that the insert is divided into two pockets on either side of the
median seal, each pocket configured to contain a stack of breath
freshening article.
[0023] Advantageously, by forming a median seal it is possible to
store the stacks of breath freshening articles in two separate
pockets which can be opened independently. This allows maintaining
the freshness of the breath freshening articles stored in a second
pocket while a first pocket is already in use.
[0024] Preferably, the wrapper comprises at least one opening
mechanism formed in the peripheral seal along the longitudinal
direction.
[0025] Advantageously, the opening mechanism allows easy and neat
opening of the pockets of the insert.
[0026] Preferably, the opening mechanism comprises an incision
formed at an edge of the peripheral seal such that the wrapper can
be opened by tearing the seal along the incision.
[0027] Advantageously, a simple opening mechanism is provided by a
cut or an incision at the edges of the pockets to tear open the
pockets to access the breath freshening article.
[0028] Preferably, the thickness of the insert is less than 3
mm.
[0029] Advantageously, such a thin insert can be easily slid inside
the packet.
[0030] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a packet of smoking articles comprising the insert as
described above.
[0031] Preferably, the insert is configured to be placed between an
inner frame and a liner of the packet.
[0032] Advantageously, the insert can be placed inside the packet
in a convenient location without modifying the packaging.
[0033] Preferably, the number of breath freshening article in the
insert is at least equal to the number of smoking articles in the
packet.
[0034] Advantageously, there is at least one breath freshening
article available in the packet for the consumer after smoking a
cigarette.
[0035] According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of manufacturing a packet of smoking articles
comprising a step of inserting the insert as described above into
the packet.
[0036] Advantageously, a packet of smoking articles with an insert
comprising breath freshening articles can be manufactured using
existing processes with little or no modification. This saves
manufacturing costs while providing a breath freshening article in
the existing cigarette packet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] For a more complete understanding of the invention and the
advantages thereof, exemplary embodiments of the invention are
explained in more detail in the following description with
reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like
reference characters designate like parts and in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cigarette packet with
an insert being placed inside the packet according to an aspect of
the invention;
[0039] FIG. 2 shows an internal view of the insert of FIG. 1;
and
[0040] FIG. 3 shows an external view of the insert of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
particular embodiments of the invention and together with the
description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other
embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages
of the invention will be readily appreciated as they become better
understood with reference to the following detailed
description.
[0042] It will be appreciated that common and/or well understood
elements that may be useful or necessary in a commercially feasible
embodiment are not necessarily depicted in order to facilitate a
more abstracted view of the embodiments. The elements of the
drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale relative to each
other. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or
steps in an embodiment of a method may be described or depicted in
a particular order of occurrences while those skilled in the art
will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is
not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms
and expressions used in the present specification have the ordinary
meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect
to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study,
except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth
herein.
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a packet 100 of smoking articles such as
cigarettes. The packet 100 is a conventional cigarette packet known
in the art. In the present embodiment, the packet 100 is a
rectangular shaped enclosure with a main body 101 that is
configured to hold cigarettes (not shown) and a lid 102 hinged to
the main body 101 at an upper side of the main body 101. The lid
102 is configured to cover the upper opening in the main body 101
to protect the cigarettes contained inside the packet 100. The main
body 101 comprises an outer frame 103 and an inner frame 104. The
cigarettes are contained inside the inner frame 104 which is
further covered with a liner 105. The liner 105 is usually made of
aluminum, paper or synthetic foil or similar material. The outer
frame protects the inner frame and provides rigidity to the packet
100. The packet 100 is formed of paper, cardboard or other
conventional material known in the art.
[0044] An insert 106 is shown being inserted into the packet 100.
The insert 106 is a thin but substantially rigid structure which
contain one or more breath freshening articles. The insert 106 is
shaped and sized such that it can be contained between the inner
frame 104 and the liner 105, as schematically represented by an
arrow in FIG. 1. The insert 106 is configured to be easily inserted
into the packet 100 during manufacturing and also to be easily
pulled out by the consumer.
[0045] It is to be understood that the packet 100 may have
additional features than those described above. The invention is
applicable to all packets that are capable of containing the insert
106 anywhere inside the packet, without making any substantial
modification to the packet 100.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows an internal view of the insert 106. The insert
106 comprises a tray-like support structure 201, one or more breath
freshening articles 202a, 202b, and an outer wrapper 203. In the
present embodiment, the support structure 201 is a flat and
substantially rigid piece made of cardboard or plastic. Preferably,
the support structure 201 is a cardboard stiffener or a plastic
stiffener. The support structure 201 is light in weight, preferably
weighing no more than 170 g/m.sup.2. The cardboard or the plastic
used for the support structure 201 is preferably food-grade for
hygiene and food safety reasons.
[0047] The breath freshening articles 202a, 202b are disposed on
the support structure 201. In the present embodiment, the breath
freshening articles 202a, 202b are supported by the support
structure 201 without being attached to the surface of the support
structure 201. This is to avoid any contamination.
[0048] In the present embodiment, the breath freshening articles
202a, 202b are breath freshening strips. Breath freshening strips
are flavored, e.g. mint-flavored, thin edible paper-like strips
used for freshening breath and are well known in the art. A number
of breath freshening strips can be stacked onto top of each other
and may, but not necessarily, be connected to each other at one
end. As shown in FIG. 2, two stacks of breath freshening strips
202a, 202b are supported on the support structure 201, with each
stack containing ten strips.
[0049] In an alternate arrangement, the breath freshening strips
202a, 202b are provided in the form of sheet or band with each
strip connected to its adjacent strip via a line of weakness. The
line of weakness is formed via a series of perforations provided
between two adjacent strips. The strips 202a, 202b can be folded
along the line of weakness to form a stack. Also, a strip can be
separated from the sheet easily along the line of weakness for
consumption.
[0050] Preferably, the number of breath freshening strips 202a,
202b in the insert 106 is at least equal to the number of smoking
articles in the packet 100. Preferably, a couple of spare articles
are included in the insert. In this way, the consumer has at least
one breath freshening strip after smoking a cigarette.
[0051] The insert 106 further includes the outer wrapper 203
provided on either side of the support structure 201 to form a
closed and sealed wrapper or envelop around the strips 202a, 202b
and the support structure 201. The outer wrapper 203 is made
slightly bigger than the support structure 201 to that it can
completely cover the support structure 201 from all sides. The
outer wrapper 203 is preferably made of a food-grade material such
as foil or paper and is heat-sealable.
[0052] FIG. 3 shows an external view of the insert 106 when sealed.
After the breath freshening strips 202a, 202b are placed on the
support structure 201, the outer wrapper 203 on either side of the
support structure 201 is heat-sealed by forming a peripheral seal
301 around the periphery of the insert 106. The peripheral seal 301
ensures that flavors from the cigarettes in the packet 100 are not
transferred to the breath freshening strips 202a, 202b and the
freshness of the breath freshening strips is maintained. It is to
be understood that the outer wrapper 203 may instead enclose the
support structure 201 and the breath freshening strips 202a, 202b
using an adhesive, wax, clips, or any other suitable means.
[0053] Once sealed, the overall length of the insert 106 is
approximately 80 mm and the width is approximately 45 mm. The
thickness of the insert 106 is less than 3 mm, preferably in the
range of 0.5 to 1 mm.
[0054] The outer wrapper 203 is also attached to the surface of the
support structure 201 in the middle, creating a median seal 302
dividing the insert 106 into two pockets 303a, 303b. In the present
embodiment, the two pockets 303a, 303b are equal sized enclosures
formed on either side of the median seal 302. The pocket 303a
contains the breath freshening strips 202a and the pocket 303b
contains the breath freshening strips 202b. The median seal 302 may
be formed by heat-sealing process or by attaching the outer wrapper
203 to the surface of the support structure 201 with an adhesive.
By forming the median seal 302, it is possible to maintain the
freshness of one stack of strips while the other is in use. For
example, the consumer can first open the pocket 303a to consume the
strips 202a and only after all the strips 202a are consumed, the
pocket 303b is opened to access the strips 202b contained inside
it.
[0055] An opening mechanism is provided on the insert 106 for the
consumer to easily tear open the insert to access the breath
freshening articles 202a, 202b. In the present embodiment, two
small cuts or incisions 304a, 304b act as the opening mechanism and
are formed on the edges of the peripheral seal 301 to enable the
consumer easily tear open the pockets 303a, 303b. The incisions
304a, 304b are made in the longitudinal direction of the peripheral
seal 301 such that only an intended pocket is opened at a time.
Also, the incisions 304a, 304b allow tearing along the peripheral
seal 301 without damaging the outer wrapper 203 covering the strips
202a, 202b. Therefore, the remaining strips can be safely contained
inside the pocket even after it is opened.
[0056] In another embodiment, the openings of the pockets 304a,
304b are re-sealable. This could be achieved by providing
re-sealable flaps along the longitudinal direction, which can be
pulled up for opening the pockets and folded back again to reseal
the pockets. A re-sticking adhesive or any other known means can be
used on the flaps.
[0057] In the manufacturing process of making cigarette packets, a
large volume of packets are produced using automated machines on a
high speed assembly line. For example, the machines can process
about 600 to 1000 packets per minute. At such high speed, it is
important that any article processed with the packets have
sufficient rigidity so that it does bend, twist, or deform in any
way. Any misalignment of such article in the process may cause
serious damage to the machine and force it to stop. This is
obviously undesirable. The insert 106 of the present invention has
sufficient rigidity provided by the support structure 201 and
therefore it is suitable for being processed on the same assembly
line along with the cigarette packets. In this way, it is easy to
insert the breath freshening articles into the packet during the
manufacturing process without making any significant modification
to the machine or the process. Therefore, cigarette packets
including breath freshening articles can be manufactured in a cost
effective manner and provided to the consumers in a convenient
format.
[0058] The above description relates to exemplary embodiments of
the invention; however it will be appreciated that other
implementations are possible. In particular, the skilled person may
modify or alter the particular geometry and arrangements of the
particular features of the packaging. Particularly, the shape and
size of the insert 106 can easily be modified by the skilled person
without affecting the functional behaviour of the insert and the
packaging of the invention. Other variations and modifications will
also be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and
modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are
already known and which may be used instead of, or in addition to,
features described herein. Features that are described in the
context of separate embodiments may be provided in combination in a
single embodiment. Conversely, features which are described in the
context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or
in any suitable sub-combination.
* * * * *