RESEALABLE CONTAINER INCLUDING RELEASE ELEMENTS
A container for consumer goods that comprises a housing (12) comprising a box (14) and a lid (20) hingedly attached to the box. The box comprises a box front wall (16) and an interior box volume. The lid comprises a lid front wall (24). The container also comprises a sealed inner package (30) disposed at least partially within the interior box volume and defining an interior sealed volume for housing consumer goods. The container also comprises a resealable flap (44) configured to open and close the sealed inner package when the lid of the housing is opened and closed. The resealable flap (44) being positioned to cover an access opening (54) in the sealed inner package that extends at least partially across the top wall of the inner package. The container also comprises at least one release element (72) positioned within the interior sealed volume of the sealed inner package even after the sealed inner package has been opened and closed.
The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods with a resealable inner package that contains one or more release elements to provide sensory-enhancing components such as flavourants, humidification or both to the consumer goods. The container finds particular application as a container for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes.
Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars are commonly sealed during manufacturing by shrink wrapping an outer wrapper around the cardboard package. Resealable packages have offered some measure of control however there remains a desire to be able to further control the humidification, flavour or both of the articles.
International patent applications WO 2009/092823 and WO 2005/070241 both relate to packs for tobacco industry products that include a capsule containing a substance such as a flavouring substance. Upon opening the pack, the flavouring substance is manually released from the capsule and absorbed by the products disposed in their pack to refresh their flavour. However, since by the time the packs are opened the shrink wrapped outer wrapper has been at least partially been removed, the flavour or moisture added with the capsule is quickly lost.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a container for consumer goods that provides a consumer with the possibility to activate additional flavour or moisture but allows the retention of the additionally released material over an extended amount of time.
The current invention is directed to a container for consumer goods, comprising a housing comprising a box and a lid hingedly attached to the box, wherein the box comprises a box front wall and an interior box volume and wherein the lid comprises a lid front wall and a sealed inner package disposed at least partially within the interior box volume and defining an interior sealed volume for housing consumer goods. A resealable flap is configured to open and close the sealed inner package when the lid of the housing is opened and closed. The resealable flap is positioned to cover an access opening in the sealed inner package, where the access opening extends at least partially across the top wall of the inner package. At least one release element is positioned within the interior sealed volume of the sealed inner package even after the sealed inner package has been opened and closed.
In one aspect of the present invention, the release element or release elements can be enclosed within the resealable inner package and therefore do not interfere with the opening or closing of the inner package. In yet other aspects of the present invention, where there is more than one release element, the release or release elements can be independently modulated to release the flavourant or flavourants, water or both contained in each element.
In further aspects of the present invention, the inner liner can include indicia that inform the location, identities, or both of the release element or release elements.
In additional aspects of the invention, the release element or release elements can be disposed between an inner stiffener and the inner liner of the resealable inner package to ensure that the articles within the resealable inner package are not damaged by the application of pressure to break the release element or release elements.
Various aspects of the present invention may provide one or more advantages relative to currently-available or previously-described containers. For example, the one or more release element or release elements may afford the ability to include flavouring, humidification, or both to consumer articles in a resealable package. The flavouring, humidification, or both can be maintained even after the container is opened for the first (and subsequent) times. Furthermore, the ability to include more than one release element or release elements that can be independently actuated may afford the ability to tailor the flavourings provided to the consumer goods. Additionally, indicia on the inner liner can indicate location, identities, or both of the one or more release element or release elements.
The present invention is applicable to any suitable container for consumer goods such as for example elongate smoking articles. It is known to package consumer goods such as, for example, elongate smoking articles in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. For example, elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are commonly sold in hinge lid packs having a box for housing the smoking articles and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container.
The container may take any suitable form for housing consumer goods. For example, as already mentioned, the container may comprise a housing that can be described as a hinge-lid container of the Flip-Top® type with a hinged lids connected to a box housing the consumer goods. In one or more embodiments, the container may be a slide and shell container having an inner slide for housing the consumer goods mounted within an outer shell. Where the container is a slide and shell container, the outer shell or the inner slide may include one or more hinge lids. The container may be formed from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, other materials, or combinations thereof. The cardboard may have a weight of between about 100 grams per square meter and about 350 grams per square meter.
Containers described herein will generally have the same or a similar shape as the housing. As such, housings according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the housing may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges, or bevelled transverse edges, other types of edges, or combinations thereof. For example, the housing according to the invention may comprise, without limitation, one or more of the following features:
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- one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on at least one of the front wall and the back wall;
- one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on at least one of the front wall and the back wall;
- one longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge on the front wall, or one transverse rounded edge and one transverse bevelled edge on the back wall;
- one longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge on the front wall, and one transverse rounded edge and one transverse bevelled edge on the back wall;
- one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall; and
- two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on a first side wall or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the second side wall.
Where the housing comprises one or more rounded edges, preferably the blanks forming the housing comprise three, four, five, six, or seven scoring lines or creasing lines to form each rounded edge in the assembled container. The scoring lines or creasing lines may be either on the inside of the housing or on the outside of the housing. Preferably, the scoring lines or creasing lines are spaced from each other by between about 0.3 millimetres (mm) and 4 mm.
Preferably, the spacing of the creasing lines or scoring lines is a function of the thickness of the laminar blank. Preferably, the spacing between the creasing lines or scoring lines is between about 0.5 and about 4 times larger than the thickness of the laminar blank.
Where the housing comprises one or more bevelled edges, preferably the bevelled edge has a width of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 2 mm and about 6 mm. In one or more embodiments, the housing may comprise a double bevel formed by three parallel creasing or scoring lines that are spaced such that two distinct bevels are formed on the edge of the container. Where the housing comprises a bevelled edge, the bevel may be formed by two parallel creasing lines or scoring lines in the laminar blank from which the container is formed. The creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged symmetrically to the edge between a first wall and a second wall. Alternatively, the creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged asymmetrically to the edge between the first wall and the second wall, such that the bevel reaches further into the first wall of the container than into the second wall of the housing.
Alternatively, the housing may have a non-rectangular transverse cross section, for example, polygonal such as triangular or hexagonal, or oval, semi-oval, circular or semi-circular.
Containers according to the invention find particular application as packs for elongate smoking articles such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. In other embodiments, the consumer goods may be aerosol-generating articles such as articles that heat but not burn tobacco. It will be appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes. Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers or housings according to the invention may be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers or housings according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.
As well as housing a bundle of smoking articles, the container may further comprise other consumer goods, for example, matches, lighters, extinguishing means, breath-fresheners, or electronics. The other consumer goods may be attached to the outside of the container, contained within the container along with the smoking articles, in a separate compartment of the container, or any combination thereof.
Disclosed containers comprise a housing. The housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The housing also has a rear wall, a front wall and two side walls. The housing comprises a lid and a box.
The lid of the housing is hingedly attached to the box and is adapted to be manipulated between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the consumer can access the consumer goods disposed within the housing. The lid is hingedly attached to the box along a hinge line that extends across the rear wall or the upper edge of the rear wall of the housing. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming the back wall of the housing. The lid and box are further defined by an opening line. The opening line refers to the delineation between the lid and the box which begins at one end of the hinge line traverses the right side of the housing, the front of the housing then the left side of the housing, or vice versa, and ends at the other end of the hinge line.
Preferably, the lid comprises a lid front wall, a lid left side wall, a lid right side wall, a lid back wall, and a lid top wall. The lid has an inner surface and an outer surface. The front wall of the lid also has a lower edge.
Preferably, the box comprises a box front wall, a box left side wall, a box right side wall, a box back wall, and a box bottom wall. The box has an inner surface and an outer surface. The front wall of the box has an upper edge, which when the container is closed at least partially meets the lower edge of the lid. The box defines an interior box volume.
The container also comprises an inner package. Preferably, the inner package is initially sealed and may be resealed after opening; as such, the inner package can be referred to as either a sealed inner package or a resealable inner package. The sealed inner package is disposed within the housing of the container. The sealed inner package is more particularly disposed at least partially within the interior box volume. The sealed inner package defines a sealed interior volume within. The sealed inner package can be configured to house or hold consumer goods. Illustrative consumer goods can include smoking articles such as elongate smoking articles. Specific illustrative elongate smoking articles can include for example cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos consumer goods such as aerosol-generating articles that heat but not burn tobacco, or combinations thereof.
Preferably, the sealed inner package is made of any suitable materials, for example, polymeric materials, metal foils, other materials, or combinations thereof. The sealed inner package preferably comprises polymeric materials such as polyethylene films, polyolefin films, poly lactic acid (PLA) films, or some combination thereof. Preferably, the sealed inner package can comprise a first layer and a second layer that are attached, at least at their peripheries to form a package with an interior sealed volume. The interior sealed volume, when housed in the housing is substantially the same before opening and after resealing.
Preferably, the sealed inner package comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a right side wall and a left side wall when housed in the housing. The sealed inner package comprises an access opening that affords access to the consumer goods housed inside when the sealed inner package is opened. A resealable flap associated with the sealed inner package covers the access opening when the container and the resealable flap are in a closed position. The access opening is at least partially uncovered when the container and the resealable flap are in the open position. The access opening can be cut during manufacturing, for example. Preferably, the resealable flap forms an S-shape, a curve with at least two turning points when the resealable flap is open.
The access opening can extend at least partially across the top wall of the sealed inner package. Preferably, the access opening can at least partially extend across the front wall of the inner package, the back wall of the inner package, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the access opening can extend at least into the area of the sealed inner package that is above the box front wall upper edge.
The container also comprises a resealable flap. The resealable flap can be integrally formed from the sealed inner package, for example from a multilayer sealed inner package or can be a separate label configured to work with the sealed inner package to seal and reseal the sealed inner package. In some embodiments, the first layer of a multilayer inner package forms the resealable flap. Such an integrally formed resalable flap can be attached to the inner surface of the lid, via adhesive, or otherwise. In some embodiments, the resalable flap can be a separate label attached to the inner surface of the lid with one or more adhesive portions that is configured to seal and reseal the sealed inner package.
In some embodiments, the sealed inner package, or preferably a portion of the sealed inner package that is part of the access opening comprises or can be coupled to a resealable label. The resealable label can be configured to attach the portion of the sealed inner package to the inner surface of the lid as well as reseal the sealed inner package. In such an embodiment, when opening the lid and the sealed inner package, a portion of the second layer attached to the flap, the sealing region, are separated from each other along first and second cut lines respectively to reveal the access opening. The resealable label can be attached to the lid using any suitable techniques, for example, mechanical attachment, adhesive, thermal, or ultrasonic bonding. Preferably, the resealable label can be attached to the lid using an adhesive, more preferably a permanent adhesive. The resealable label can be configured to be re-attached to the second layer when the flap and the lid of the container are in the closed position.
The resealable label allows for repeated opening and closing of the sealed inner package to access the consumer goods individually. The resealable label preferably provides sufficient adhesion for the access opening to be opened and closed at least as many times as there are consumer goods within the sealed inner package. The resealable label preferably enables a consumer to open and reseal the sealed inner package until the sealed inner package is empty of consumer goods.
The resealable label has an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface of the resealable label can be configured to permanently attach the label and in some embodiments a portion of the sealed inner package to the inner surface of the front wall of the lid.
The inner surface of the resealable label can comprise at least an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive portion. The adhesive portion can be such that movement of the lid between open and closed positions simultaneously moves the access opening of the sealed inner package and the sealed inner package itself between opened and closed positions. In the closed position, a flap and label cover the access opening of the sealed inner package and is resealably attached to the sealed inner package by the resealable adhesive. In the open position, the flap and label are at least partially detached from the sealed inner package and the access opening of the sealed inner package is at least partially uncovered or opened. The adhesive portion of the label can utilize an adhesive for example, preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive. The non-adhesive portion of the inner surface of the label can be positioned at the lower end of the label, which will be towards the lower edge of the lid. The non-adhesive portion can allow for the resealable adhesive portion to be more easily opened.
Disclosed containers also include at least one release element. Any suitable release element may be employed in a container as described herein. Preferably, a release element can comprise water or a humidity release agent, one or more sensory enhancing agents, one or more humectants, one or more lipid compounds, one or more additional compounds, or any combination thereof. Preferably, if the release element includes a core, the core preferably consists essentially of, or consists of, a mixture of one or more of water or a humidity release agent, one or more sensory enhancing agents, or a combination thereof; one or more humectants; one or more lipid compounds; and optionally one or more additional compounds.
Some release elements can include water, a humidity release agent, or both. Such release elements can be useful to allow for ongoing control of the humidity level within the sealed inner package. Preferably, the water or humidity release agent can be contained within a water-insoluble core that upon application of pressure thereto releases the water or humidity release agent into the sealed inner package.
Some release elements can include a sensory-enhancing agent either with or in place of water or a humidity release agent. Any suitable sensory-enhancing agent may be included in a release element. Suitable sensory-enhancing agents include flavourants and sensation agents. Suitable flavourants include aromatic or fragrance molecule as conventionally used in the formulation of flavoring or fragrance compositions.
Those sensory-enhancing agents having limited low or medium solubility in water may benefit from high concentrations of lipid compounds in the mixture of the core, if a core is utilized in the release element, as they may be more soluble in the lipid component. Those sensory-enhancing agents having high solubility in water will likely be present in the hydrophilic portion of the core, if a core is utilized in the release element, such as with hydrophilic humectants.
The concentration of sensory-enhancing agent in a release element can be adjusted or modified to provide a desired amount of the sensory-enhancing agent. Thus, the concentration of sensory-enhancing agent within each release element can be the same or can vary depending on the desired sensory result.
Preferred release elements can include a core and a shell. Some such release elements can include, along with water or a humidity release agent, sensory-enhancing agents or both, humectants, lipids, other components, or a combination thereof.
Preferably, one or more of the humectants in the core are hydrophilic, that is, the humectant is a molecule that is at least partially polarized and capable of hydrogen bonding, enabling it to dissolve more readily in water than in oil. As used herein, “hydrophilic” means having a solubility in water of 25 grams or more per 100 milliliters at 25 degrees Celsius. Accordingly, “hydrophobic” means having a solubility in water of less than 25 grams per 100 milliliters at 25 degrees Celsius. In many cases, humectants have a solubility in water that is about 40 grams or more per 100 milliliters at 25 degrees Celsius, such as about 50 grams or more per 100 milliliters at 25 degrees Celsius.
A humectant can be present in the core or in the mixture in any suitable concentration. For example, the cumulative concentration of the one or more humectants in the mixture can be in a range from about 1 percent to about 20 percent. Preferably, the cumulative concentration of the one or more humectants in the mixture is in a range from about 2 percent to about 15 percent. More preferably, the cumulative concentration of the one or more humectants in the mixture is in a range from about 7 percent to about 10 percent. Preferably, the mixture contains only one humectant.
Preferably, the mixture containing the one or more lipid compounds and the one or more humectants comprises an emulsion. One or more humectants can optionally be dissolved in an appropriate solvent prior to mixture with the one or more lipid compounds to favor formation of an emulsion. Similarly, the one or more lipid compounds can optionally be dissolved in an appropriate solvent prior to mixture with the one or more humectants. The mixture of one or more lipid compounds and one or more humectants can include any suitable lipid compound.
Release elements can include a core and a shell. Any suitable shell that is breakable via the application of a reasonable force can be utilized. For example, the shell of a release element can include one or more hydrocolloids, which can be, for example, gelatin or a vegetable ingredient. For example, the shell can include gelatin; a modified starch; a polysaccharide based material, such as pectin or alginate; gelatin; a paraffin wax; agar; algin; glycerol; arabic guar; carrageenan; a vegetable gum such as ghatti gum, pullulan gum, mannan gum; or any other suitable material or combinations thereof. Preferably, the shell contains an alginate.
The shell may further include one or more fillers. As used herein a “filler” is any suitable material that can increase or decrease the percentage of dry material in the shell, or change the viscoelastic properties of the shell (such as a plasticizer). Increasing the dry material amount in a shell can result in solidifying the shell, and in making the shell physically more resistant to deformation. Preferably, the filler is selected from the group comprising starch derivatives such as dextrin, maltodextrin, cyclodextrin (alpha, beta or gamma). Dextrin is a preferred filler. The amount of filler in the shell is generally 98.5 percent or less, preferably from about 25 percent to about 95 percent, more preferably from about 40 percent to about 80 percent, and even more preferably from about 50 percent to about 60 percent by weight of the total dry weight of the shell.
In some preferred embodiments, the shell includes one or more humectants. The one or more humectant can account for any suitable weight percentage of the shell. In particularly preferred embodiments, the shell includes an alginate and a humectant.
The shell of a release element may be of any suitable thickness. In some embodiments, the shell thickness of the capsule is from about 10 microns to about 500 microns, preferably from about 20 microns to about 150 microns, more preferably from about 30 microns to about 80 microns.
A release element in accordance with the teachings presented herein may have any suitable ratio of the weight of the shell to the weight of the release element. For example, the ratio of the weight of the shell to the total weight of the release element can be from about 5 percent to about 15 percent, preferably from about 6 percent to about 10 percent, more preferably from about 8 percent by weight/total weight of the release element.
The core may represent any suitable weight percent of the release element. For example, the core of a release element represents by weight from about 85 percent to about 95 percent of the total weight of the release element, preferably from about 90 percent to about 94 percent by weight, more preferably from about 92 percent by weight of the total weight of the release element.
A release element may have any suitable total weight. The total weight of the release element can be from about 5 mg to about 60 mg, preferably from about 10 mg to about 50 mg, more preferably from about 15 mg to about 40 mg. For example, a release element with a diameter of 3.5 mm may weigh 22 mg and a release element of diameter of 3.0 mm may weigh 17 mg.
A release element in accordance with the teachings presented herein may have any suitable outer diametric dimensions. In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the release element is in the range of about 2 mm to about 7 mm, preferably from about 3 mm to about 6 mm, more preferably from about 4 mm to about 5 mm.
It can be appreciated that a multitude of processes exist for manufacturing release elements. Accordingly, the release element can be of varying size and shape, differing resistance to kinetic or thermal forces to break or rupture the release element, and can include alternative compositions and constituents.
In some embodiments, a release element can be a seamless capsule obtained through a co-extrusion process. The co-extrusion process can be a synchronous extrusion of two liquids: an external and hydrophilic liquid phase, and an internal and lipophilic liquid phase. Preferably, the co-extrusion process includes three main stages: compound drop formation, shell solidification and capsule collection. The compound drop is a sphere of the liquid fill phase inside the shell phase. The liquid fill phase constitutes the core. The shell phase constitutes the shell. The release element of the invention may be produced by any suitable co-extrusion process, such as described in EP1906775 or EP513603.
In some embodiments, the release element can be formed by any methods known in the art that comprise dripping of a core emulsion and a shell solution into gelation bath, such as but not limited to, simple dripping, drip casting, electrostatic dripping, coaxial air flow technique, liquid-jet breakup technique, vibrating jet (nozzle) breakup technique, jet cutting technique, and rotating (or spinning) disk atomization.
Preferably, the release elements are crushable. As used herein, a crushable release element is a release element having a crush strength from about 0.01 kp to about 5 kp, preferably from about 0.5 kp to about 2.5 kp. The crush strength of the release element can be measured by continuously applying a load vertically onto one release element until rupture. The crush strength of the release elements can be measured by using a LLOYD-CHATILLON Digital Force Gauge, Model DFIS 50, having a capacity of 25 kg, a resolution of 0.02 kg, and an accuracy of plus/minus 0.15 percent. The force gauge can be attached to a stand; the release element can be positioned in the middle of a plate that is moved up with a manual thread screw device. Pressure can then be applied manually. The gauge records the maximum force applied at the very moment of the rupture of the release element (measured in, for example, kg or in lb). Rupture of the release element results in the release of contents of the core.
Additional methods for characterizing release element include crush force which is the maximum compressive force measured in, for example, Newtons that a release element can withstand before breakage also referred to as the maximum resistance to breakage; and distance at breakage which is the change in dimension of the release element due to compression, that is, deformation, at breakage. It can also be expressed for example by the ratio between a dimension of the release element (for example, the release element diameter) and the dimension of the release element, measured in the direction of the compression force, when it is compressed to the point of breakage. The compression is generally applied toward the floor by the compression plates of an automatic or manual compression testing machine. Such machines are well known in the art and commercially available.
The release element should have characteristics that allow the water or humidity release agent, sensory enhancing agent or both to be released into the sealed inner package without damaging the container, the consumer goods within the container, or both.
In preferred embodiments, the release element has a crush strength prior to introduction into the container of from about 0.6 kp to about 2 kp, preferably from about 0.8 kp to about 1.2 kp. Preferably, the release element has a maximum resistance to breaking of about 17 N, preferably about 14 N. The above maximum resistance to breaking is typically obtained when a universal tensile/compression testing machine equipped with 100 N tension load cell like, Instron or equivalent, is operating at about 30 mm/min and at 22 degrees Celsius under 60 percent relative humidity. An example of a manual test machine is the Alluris Type FMI-220C2-Digital Force Gauge 0-200N-Supplier: Alluris GmbH & Co.
The one or more release elements may be located at various locations within the container. The release elements are always located so that they are within the sealed inner package even after the inner package has been resealed. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements can be located so that the sealing and resealing of the inner package is not affected by their presence. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements are located above the portion of the box where the resealable portion of the lid contacts the box. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements are located between the inner liner and an optional pressure resistant element. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements can be located within the portion of the sealed inner package that is within the lid.
In some embodiments, the one or more release elements can be located within the portion of the sealed inner package adjacent a side wall of the lid or the box, or both. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements can be located within the portion of the sealed inner package adjacent a back wall of the lid, the box, or both. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements can be located within the portion of the sealed inner package adjacent a front wall of the lid, the box, or both. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements can be located within voids of smoking articles contained within the inner package.
Such embodiments, may be advantageous because the overall thickness of the package would not be affected, and the container would not have to be modified to compensate for the thickness of the release elements. In some embodiments, the one or more release elements are located at any combination of locations. The one or more release elements can have the same or different shapes. A desired shape of a release element may depend in part on the location of the release element within the container.
The container can also comprise a pressure resistant element. The pressure resistant element may provide resistance against the force necessary to release materials from the release element. In some embodiments, a pressure resistant element can be an optional inner frame disposed within the sealed inner package. The inner may be disposed for example adjacent the front wall, the back wall, the right side wall, the left side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall of the sealed inner package. In some embodiments, the inner frame can be disposed adjacent the same portion of the sealed inner package as the release element. For example, if the release element is adjacent a front wall of the sealed inner package, the inner frame can also be adjacent the front wall of the sealed inner package. Advantageously, an inner frame with a large surface area provided adjacent the front wall of the sealed inner package increases the structural strength of the overall container. An optional inner frame may also provide resistance against force necessary to release material from the release element. This may be particularly advantageous for subsequent use when the container is no longer full.
A container can also optionally include an inner stiffener as a pressure resistant element. An inner stiffener can be a piece of cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or other material that can function to protect the consumer goods contained in the sealed inner package particularly during the manufacturing of the container, even more particularly during sealing operations. Such an inner stiffener can be disposed adjacent the front wall, the back wall, the right side wall, the left side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, or any combination thereof of the sealed inner package. In some embodiments, the inner stiffener can be disposed adjacent the same portion of the sealed inner package as the release element. For example, if the release element is adjacent a front wall of the sealed inner package, the inner stiffener can also be adjacent the front wall of the sealed inner package. Advantageously, an inner stiffener with a large surface area provided adjacent the front wall of the sealed inner package increases the structural strength of the overall container. An optional inner stiffener may also provide resistance against force necessary to release material from the release element. This may be particularly advantageous for subsequent use when the container is no longer full.
In some embodiments, a container can include visible indicia indicating location, identity, or both of the one or more release elements. For example, indicia could be located on the outer surface of the sealed inner package to indicate position, identity (for example, type of flavourant, humidity release agent or water), or both. For example, indicia could be located on the outer surface of the box, the outer surface of the lid, or both to indicate position, identity (for example, type of flavourant, humidity release agent or water), or both. Optionally, the portion of the housing (lid, box, or both) overlying the release elements may be debossed or thinned to compensate for the pressure of the release element or elements.
A carton that includes a lid and at least one sidewall can contain multiple containers as described herein. A carton comprises houses or holds at least one container. A carton can contain only disclosed containers or can contain disclosed containers as well as other items. In some preferred embodiments, a carton comprises houses or holds from five to ten disclosed containers.
Also disclosed herein are methods of forming disclosed containers. Methods can include steps of forming a sealable inner package or a precursor to a sealable inner package; disposing at least one release element in or on the sealable inner package;
disposing at least one consumer good in the sealable inner package; and sealing the sealable inner package so that the at least one consumer good and the at least one release element are contained therein to form the container. The step of forming a sealable inner package or a precursor to a sealable inner package can be accomplished by providing material (for example plastic, paper, foil, or other materials as described above) that once manipulated (for example folded, crimped, cut, adhered to itself or some other material, or other actions) forms a sealable or sealed inner package. Characteristics of sealed inner packages, release elements, consumer goods and other features of containers described above can all be utilized in disclosed methods.
The term “inner surface” is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface of a component of the assembled container that is facing towards the interior of the container, for example towards the consumer goods, when the container is in the closed position. For example, the outer film comprises an inner surface that is facing the housing of the container.
The term “outer surface” is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface of a component of the container that is facing towards the exterior of the container. For example, the outer film comprises an outer surface that is facing away from the housing of the container. It should be noted that the inside or outside surface is not necessarily equivalent to a certain side of a blank used in assembly of the container. Depending on how the blank is folded around the consumer goods, areas that are on the same side of the container can either face towards the inside or the towards the outside of the container.
The terms “front,” “back,” “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” and “side” refer to the relative positions of portions of containers according to the invention and components thereof when the container is in an upright position with the lid of the housing in the closed position and the hinge line at the rear of the container. When describing containers according to the present invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described. The rear or back wall of the container includes the hinge line.
All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.
Referring now to the drawings, in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated.
Referring to
An inner package 30 is disposed within the housing 12. The inner package 30 at least partially defines an interior volume or sealed volume for housing consumer goods. The inner package 30 can be made from a barrier material or materials to hermetically seal the consumer goods before the container is opened for the first time. The barrier material may be a metal foil or a plastic and metal laminate. The inner package 30 includes a front wall 32, a back wall 34, a bottom wall 35, a top wall 36, a right side wall 37 and a left side wall (not shown). The inner package 30 includes an outer surface 33.
The inner package 30 includes an access opening 54 through which the consumer goods (not shown) can be removed. The access opening 54 is covered by the flap 44 when the flap is in the closed position (
Referring to
Referring to
All of the figures also show release elements 72. The release elements 72 are positioned so that they are within the sealed interior volume when the sealed inner package 30 is closed. In the particular embodiments depicted in
Claims
1. A container for consumer goods, comprising:
- a housing comprising a box and a lid hingedly attached to the box, wherein the box comprises a box front wall and an interior box volume and wherein the lid comprises a lid front wall;
- a sealed inner package disposed at least partially within the interior box volume and defining an interior sealed volume for housing consumer goods;
- a resealable flap configured to open and close the sealed inner package when the lid of the housing is opened and closed, wherein the resealable flap is positioned to cover an access opening in the sealed inner package, where the access opening extends at least partially across the top wall of the inner package;
- at least one release element positioned within the interior sealed volume of the sealed inner package even after the sealed inner package has been opened and closed; and
- a pressure resistant element positioned inside the sealed inner package,
- wherein the pressure resistant element and the at least one release element are positioned such that a force applied from the outside of the container can cause the at least one release element to release at least some material therefrom.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the front wall of the box comprises a box front wall upper edge and the front wall of the lid comprises a lid front wall lower edge and the at least one release element is positioned above the box front wall upper edge and above the lid front wall lower edge.
3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the sealed inner package further comprises a front wall, a back wall, a right side wall, a left side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall and the at least one release element is positioned adjacent at least one of the front wall, the back wall, the right side wall, the left side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, or a combination thereof.
4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the pressure resistant element and the at least one release element are positioned adjacent the same wall or walls of the sealed inner package and the at least one release element is located between the sealed inner package and the pressure resistant element.
5. The container according to any of claims 1, wherein the pressure resistant element is an inner frame, an inner stiffener or both.
6. The container according to claims 1, wherein the access opening also extends at least partially across the front wall, the back wall, or both of the sealed inner package.
7. The container according to any of claims 1, wherein the resealable flap comprises a label adhered to the sealed inner package.
8. The container according to any of claims 1, wherein the resealable flap is integrally formed from the sealed inner package.
9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the release element comprises water or a humidity release agent, a sensory-enhancing agent, or a combination thereof.
10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the release element has a maximum resistance to breaking of 17 N.
11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises at least two release elements.
12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the sealed inner package comprises an inner surface and an outer surface and the outer surface comprise indicia that locates the at least one release element, identifies the at least one release element, or both.
13. A method of forming a container, the method comprising:
- forming a sealable inner package, the sealed inner package comprising an access opening that extends at least partially across a top wall of the sealed inner package;
- disposing at least one release element in or on the sealable inner package;
- disposing at least one consumer good in the sealable inner package;
- disposing a pressure resistant element inside the sealed inner package, wherein the pressure resistant element and the at least one release element are positioned such that a force applied from the outside of the container can cause the at least one release element to release at least some material therefrom;
- positioning a resealable flap to cover the access opening of the sealed inner package, the resealable flap configured to open and close the sealed inner package when the lid of the housing is opened and closed;
- sealing the sealable inner package so that the at least one consumer good and the at least one release element are contained therein;
- forming a housing, the housing comprising a box and a lid hingedly attached to the box, wherein the box has an interior box volume, wherein the sealed inner package is disposed at least partially within the interior box volume to form the container.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one release element is disposed the sealable inner package.
15. The container according to claim 9, wherein the release element has a maximum resistance to breaking of 17 N.
16. The container according to claim 9, wherein the container comprises at least two release elements.
17. The container according to claim 11, wherein the sealed inner package comprises an inner surface and an outer surface and the outer surface comprise indicia that locates the at least two release elements, identifies the at least two release elements, or both.
18. The container according to claim 11, wherein the sealed inner package comprises an inner surface and an outer surface and the outer surface comprise indicia that both locates the at least two release elements and identifies the at least two release elements.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 27, 2017
Publication Date: Sep 5, 2019
Inventor: Timothee Cailleaux (Divonne-les-Bains)
Application Number: 16/345,292
