A TOBACCO INDUSTRY PRODUCT PACK

The present invention relates to a wrapped bundle (27) of smoking articles which comprises wrapping material (28) extending about a bundle of smoking articles comprising a barrier layer having a section defined by a line of closure (65); a cover flap (36) extending over said section and having a peripheral region that extends beyond the line of closure, the peripheral region (38) of the cover flap being adhered to the barrier layer using releasable adhesive (44) to enable the cover flap to be peeled back so that the barrier layer separates along the line of closure to form a smoking article extraction aperture (35) in the barrier layer. The wrapped bundle further comprises a pouch (49) containing an organoleptic substance which is configured so that it ruptures as the cover flap is peeled back to release said organoleptic substance.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tobacco industry product pack and to a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products. The invention also relates to a blank of wrapping material for wrapping about a bundle of tobacco industry products to provide a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products according to the invention.

BACKGROUND

Tobacco industry products are often bundled into groups and wrapped in a flexible wrapping material. The wrapped bundle is then received in a rigid outer carton having a base and a lid hinged to the base for rotation between open and closed positions. To extract a tobacco industry product, a consumer opens the lid and removes or lifts a portion of the wrapping material that defines an access aperture in the flexible material which may be separated from the remainder of the wrapping material by a closure line, such as a line of weakening or perforations. Some resealable packs have a cover flap that extends beyond the edge of an access aperture and which is adhered to the wrapping material using resealable adhesive so that a user peels the cover flap back to reveal a tobacco industry product extraction opening in the bundle. Once a tobacco industry product has been extracted, the cover flap can be replaced to close the extraction opening and the lid pivoted back into its closed position.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a tobacco industry product pack comprising a body portion and an access portion separable from each other to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture, and a rupturable pouch containing an organoleptic substance that is configured to rupture when the body and access portions are separated.

The tobacco industry product pack may comprise a group of tobacco industry products wrapped in a wrapping material extending about said group of tobacco industry products to form a wrapped bundle, the body portion and the access portion being formed by the wrapping material, the access portion being separable from the body portion along a closure line to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture in the body portion.

The tobacco industry product pack may comprise a cover flap having a peripheral region extending beyond the closure line between the access portion and the body portion, wherein the peripheral region is adhered to the body portion using releasable adhesive, and wherein the access portion is adhered to the cover flap, so that the access portion separates from the body portion along the closure line when the flap is peeled back.

The wrapping material may be a laminate comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the access portion being formed from the inner layer and the cover flap being formed from the outer layer.

The rupturable pouch may be attached to the wrapped bundle.

The rupturable pouch may extend across the closure line.

The cover flap may have a peripheral edge and it may be separable from the body portion along the peripheral edge, the rupturable pouch extending across said peripheral edge to overlap the cover flap and the body portion.

The rupturable pouch may be positioned between the peripheral region of the cover flap and the body portion.

The rupturable pouch may comprise a weakening along which the pouch ruptures when the access portion is separated from the body portion. If the pouch extends across the closure line, then the weakening in the pouch may be aligned with said line of closure.

The weakening may be provided by a notch formed in an outer edge of the pouch aligned with the closure line.

The line of closure between the access portion and the body portion may be a line of weakening, such as a line of perforations.

The tobacco industry product pack may further comprise a container having an open end, a lid attached to the container pivotable into an open position and the wrapped bundle of smoking articles according to the invention received in the container and protruding from said open end.

The cover flap may comprise a tab accessible when the lid is open to enable the access portion to be separated from the body portion.

The cover flap may comprise a peripheral region extending beyond the closure line between the access portion and the body portion, wherein the peripheral region is adhered to the body portion using releasable adhesive, and the access portion is adhered to the cover flap so that the access portion separates from the body portion along the closure line when the cover flap is peeled back, and wherein the cover flap is attached to an inside surface of the lid so that the cover flap is peeled back to separate the access portion from the body portion when the lid is pivoted into its open position.

In accordance with another embodiment described herein, there is provided a tobacco industry product pack according to the invention, wherein the body portion comprises a container having an open end to receive a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products and the access portion comprises a lid pivotally mounted to the container and being pivotable into an open position to access the wrapped bundle, wherein the rupturable pouch extends between the container and the lid.

In accordance with another embodiment described herein, there is provided a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products comprising a wrapping material extending about a bundle of tobacco industry products, the wrapping material having a body portion and an access portion, the access portion being separable from the body portion along a closure line to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture in the body portion, and a rupturable pouch containing an organoleptic substance disposed relative to the body portion and the access portion so that said pouch ruptures when the access portion is separated from the body portion to release said organoleptic substance.

In accordance with another embodiment described herein, there is provided a blank of wrapping material for wrapping about a bundle of tobacco industry products to form a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, the blank comprising:

a body portion;

an access portion, the access portion being separable along a closure line from the body portion to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture in the body portion when the blank of wrapping material has been wrapped about a bundle of tobacco industry products; and

a rupturable pouch containing an organoleptic substance attached to both the body portion and the access portion.

The rupturable pouch may be attached to both the body portion and the access portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a pack of tobacco industry products with a lid of the pack in a closed position;

FIG. 2 shows the pack of FIG. 1 with the lid open and containing a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products;

FIG. 3 shows a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of a portion of the outer wrapping material surrounding the bundle of tobacco industry products shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products;

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of a portion of the outer wrapping material surrounding the bundle of tobacco industry products shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a pack of tobacco industry products with the lid in an open position and containing a bundle of tobacco industry products according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows the tobacco industry product pack of FIG. 7 after a cover flap of the bundle of tobacco industry products has been peeled back to reveal an extraction opening;

FIG. 9 is a cross section view through part of the wrapping material of the tobacco industry product bundle according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view through part of the wrapping material of a tobacco industry product bundle according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view through part of the wrapping material of a tobacco industry product bundle according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view through part of a laminate wrapping material of a tobacco industry product bundle;

FIG. 13 is a cross section view through part of a laminate wrapping material according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross section view through part of a laminate wrapping material according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross section view through part of a laminate wrapping material according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view through part of a laminate wrapping material of a tobacco industry product bundle;

FIG. 17 shows a tobacco industry product pack according to any embodiments of the invention in which the cover flap is attached to the inside of the lid in a first orientation;

FIG. 18 shows a tobacco industry product pack according to any embodiments of the invention in which the cover flap is attached to the inside of the lid in a second orientation.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A tobacco industry product pack containing a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products having a resealable cover flap is known from EP0944539B1, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Some embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products from which an organoleptic substance is released when the wrapped bundle is opened. Other embodiments provide a tobacco industry product pack in which the wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products is received and, a further embodiment provides a blank of wrapping material for wrapping a bundle of tobacco industry products.

As used herein, the term “tobacco industry product” used herein is to be understood as including smoking articles comprising combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material), electronic smoking articles such as e-cigarettes, heating devices that release compounds from substrate materials without burning such as tobacco heating products, hybrid systems to generate aerosol from a combination of substrate materials, for example hybrid systems containing a liquid or gel or solid substrate; and aerosol-free nicotine delivery articles such as lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising breathable powders and smokeless tobacco products such as snus and snuff.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a smoking article for combustion selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a non-combustible smoking article.

In one embodiment the tobacco industry product is a heating device which releases compounds by heating, but not burning, a substrate material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment the heating device is a tobacco heating device.

In another embodiment the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials. The substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate. The solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.

As used herein, the term “organoleptic substance” refers to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired aroma in a product for adult consumers. The substance may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamon, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or powder.

FIG. 1 shows an assembled tobacco industry product pack 1 comprising a container 2 and a lid 3 pivotally attached to the container 2. Together the container 2 and the lid 3 form an outer pack 4 of the tobacco industry product pack 1 and are formed from a stiff resilient material, for example cardboard, so that the container 2 and lid 3 retain their shape and protect the contents of the pack 4. As the outer pack 4 is of conventional construction and is commonly referred to in the industry as a “hinged-lid” pack. Therefore, no further description of it will be provided here.

FIG. 2 shows the lid 3 in an opened position. A wrapped bundle 27 of tobacco industry products is received in the container 2 and protrudes from its open end. In some embodiments, the tobacco industry products (not shown) are generally rod shaped and are arranged in rows within a flexible wrapping material 28 which serves as a barrier layer and may provide a sealed protective environment to keep the tobacco industry products fresh and to prevent contamination.

The wrapped bundle 27 is shown in FIG. 3. When received in the container 2, the wrapped bundle 27 extends beyond the open end of the container 2.

The wrapping material 28 is provided with a closure line 65 that defines an access portion 31 in a body portion 32 that is separable from the body portion 32 along the closure line 65 to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture 35. A section of the wrapping material 28 taken across the closure line 65 is shown in FIG. 4. The closure line 65 may be a line of weakening, such as a partial cut through the wrapping material 28 so that application of modest force to the access portion 31 detaches the access portion 31 from the body portion 32 of the wrapping material 28 along the closure line 65.

Referring again to FIG. 2 it can be seen that the closure line 65 is positioned across the wrapping material 28 such that, when it is wrapped about a bundle of tobacco industry products and inserted into the receiving space 20 of the container, the access portion 31 defined by the closure line 65 is accessible above the open end of the container 2 and extends over a top face 33 of the bundle 27.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a cover flap 36 is provided that extends over the access portion 31 of the wrapping material 28. The cover flap 36 has a peripheral region 38 that extends beyond the closure line 65 to which releasable adhesive is applied to releasably attach the cover flap 36 to an outer surface of the body portion 32 of the wrapping material 28.

In one embodiment, shown in section in FIG. 6, the cover flap 36 is formed of a separate polymer sheet attached to the outer surface of the wrapping material 28. In such examples the releasable adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive 44 applied to the cover flap 36 in the peripheral region 38 to releasably secure the cover flap 36 to the wrapping material 28. The cover flap 36 extends over to the rear face 30 of the wrapped bundle 27 and is permanently adhered thereto along a far edge 37 of the cover flap 36.

A tab 39, shown in FIG. 5, extends from a lower edge of the cover flap 36 closest to the upper edge 21 of the container 2 and adjacent what shall hereinafter be referred to as the bottom edge 40 of the closure line 65. The tab 39 is an extension of the cover flap 36 that protrudes from the peripheral region 38 and is devoid of any adhesive. Therefore, a user of the pack 4 can grip the tab 39 and lift it away from the wrapping material 28 to peel back the cover flap 36 against the resistance of the pressure sensitive adhesive 44. The same pressure sensitive adhesive 44 may be applied to the cover flap 36 so that it adheres to the access portion 31 of the wrapping material 28. The force required to separate the access portion 31 from the body portion 32 of the wrapping material 28 along the closure line 65 is less than the strength of the adhesive between the cover flap 36 and the access portion 31 so that the access portion 31 remains attached to the cover flap 36 as it is peeled away from the body portion 31 to provide the tobacco industry product extraction aperture 35. In another embodiment, permanent adhesive 43 is applied between the cover flap 36 and the access portion 31 of the wrapping material 28 to more securely retain it thereto and pressure sensitive releasable adhesive 44 is applied only in the peripheral region 38 of the cover flap 36.

When the user has removed a tobacco industry product, they can reseal the wrapping material 28 about the bundle 27 by replacing the cover flap 36 back across the aperture 35, the pressure sensitive adhesive 44 allows for the cover flap 36 to be removed multiple times and still be resealed.

Optionally the cover flap 36 is adhered to an inner surface of a front panel 12 of the lid 3, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, so that upon opening the lid 3 the cover flap 36 is simultaneously lifted away from the wrapping material 28 to provide the aperture 35. Permanent adhesive is applied to a portion of the cover flap 36 adjacent the lower edge 24 of the front panel 12 of the lid 3. As shown in FIG. 17, adhesive is applied to an outer surface of the cover flap 36 in a strip along a front edge 68 of the cover flap 36 adjacent the lower edge 24 of the front panel 12 of the lid 3 so that it is adhered directly thereto. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, adhesive is applied in a strip adjacent the front edge 68 of the cover flap 36 on an inner surface of the cover flap 36, the cover flap 36 being folded along the strip of adhesive and adhered to the inner surface of the front panel 12 of the lid 3 when the lid 3 is in the closed position, the cover flap 36 being unfolded along the strip as the lid 3 is moved into an open position.

According to embodiments of the invention, the tobacco industry product packet further comprises a rupturable pouch 49 containing an organoleptic substance which is designed to be ruptured upon initial opening of the wrapped bundle 27, that is, when the access portion 31 is separated from the body portion 32 along the closure line 65.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the pouch 49 is disposed across an outer edge 57 of the cover flap 36 such that a first portion 50 of the pouch 49 is adhered to the outer surface of the wrapping material 28 and a second portion 51 to the upper surface of the cover flap 36. Therefore, when the cover flap 36 is first lifted away from the wrapping material 28, the second portion 51 of the pouch 49 adhered to the cover flap 36 is separated from the first portion 5o adhered to the wrapping material 28 to rupture the pouch 49 and release the organoleptic substance 52, as depicted in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section through the pouch 49 where it overlaps the wrapping material 28 and cover flap 36. The pouch 49 is made from a polymer outer 53. In particular, the polymer outer 53 may comprise two layers of polymer material with the edges of the layers aligned and welded together to form a welded region 54 around the perimeter of the pouch 49. The weld binds the layers together and creates a hermetically sealed chamber 55 in which the organoleptic substance 52 is received. In the illustrated embodiment the weld also attaches the pouch 49 to the wrapping material 28 and to the cover flap 36.

The pressure inside the pouch 49 can optionally be greater than atmospheric pressure so that, when the pouch 49 is ruptured, the pressure differential aids the evacuation of the organoleptic substance 52. Another option is to make the pressure inside the pouch 49 less than atmospheric pressure so that, when the pouch 49 is ruptured, atmospheric pressure compressing the pouch 49 aids the evacuation of organoleptic substance 52.

Referring again to FIG. 7 it can be seen that a notch 56 may extend from an outer edge of the pouch 49 into the welded region 54 to create a weakening in the pouch 49. The notch 56 consists of a V-shaped cut in the welded region 54. In this illustration the welded region 54 is indicated by a dashed line. The pouch 49 may further comprise some other form of weakening (not shown) along which the pouch 49 ruptures when the cover flap 36 is peeled back. The weakening may be a line of reduced wall thickness of the polymer outer 53. The line of reduced wall thickness may extends from the tip of a V shaped notch 56. In other embodiments, the entire pouch 49 may be formed from a relatively weak material that tears without undue force upon peeling back the cover flap 36.

The pouch 49 is adhered to the wrapping material 28 in such a position that the outer edge 57 of the cover flap 36 bisects the V shaped notch 56. Therefore, as the cover flap 36 is lifted away from the wrapping material 28, the cover flap 36 and the wrapping material 28 separate along the outer edge 57 and through the V shaped notch 56 to induce a tear in the pouch 49 and cause the pouch 49 to rupture. The tear propagates from the tip of the V of the notch 56 and extends through the body of the pouch 49 to create an opening in the pouch 49 to expose the organoleptic substance 52. Where the weakening is present, propagation of the tear is more easily facilitated and directed along the line defined by the weakening.

It shall be appreciated that the notch 56 causes an increase in stress concentration at the tip of the V so that relatively less force is required to cause a tear to propagate through the welded region 54 of the pouch 49 than if the pouch 49 were not provided with the notch 56.

Although in the illustrated example the pouch 49 is disposed on the front face 29 of the bundle 27, it shall be appreciated that the pouch 49 can be positioned anywhere along the outer edge 57 of the cover flap 36. For example, the pouch 49 could be positioned over the outer edge 57 where it extends across the top face 33 of the bundle 27.

In the embodiments shown in section in FIGS. 10 and 11, the pouch 49 is disposed between the cover flap 36 and the wrapping material 28. The advantage of such embodiments is that the pouch 49 is not visible prior to an initial opening of the bundle 27. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the pouch 49 is disposed entirely in the peripheral region 38 between the cover flap 36 and the wrapping material 28. An upper layer 69 of the polymer outer 53 of the pouch 49 is adhered to an inner surface of the peripheral region 38 of the cover flap 36, and a bottom layer 70 of the polymer outer 53 is adhered to the wrapping material 28. Therefore, when the user peels back the cover flap 36 the two layers 69, 70 of the polymer outer 53 of the pouch 49 separate to rupture the pouch 49 and release the organoleptic substance 52. The adhesive used can optionally be a pressure sensitive releasable adhesive, in which case it must be ensured that the force required to separate the upper layer 69 and the bottom layer 70 of the pouch 49 is less than the strength of the releasable adhesive. This allows for the same adhesive to be applied across the inner surface of the cover flap 36 for ease of manufacturing. Alternatively, to better secure the pouch 49 to the respective surfaces of the cover flap 36 and the wrapping material 28, a permanent adhesive can be applied specifically to the pouch 49.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the pouch 49 is disposed across the closure line 65 and is adhered to both the access portion 31 and the body portion 32 of the wrapping material 28, as well as to the cover flap 36. Therefore, when the cover flap 36 is peeled back and the access portion 31 is removed from the body portion 32, a portion of the pouch 49 remains attached to the body portion 32 and a portion remains attached to the access portion 31 to rupture the pouch 49 and release the organoleptic substance 52. As in above embodiments, the pouch 49 may comprise a weakening such as a notch aligned with the closure line 65 to reduce the force required to peel back the cover flap 36 and the adhesive used can be a permanent or releasable adhesive as required.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 12 the wrapping material 28 is a laminate material comprising an inner barrier layer 41 and an outer layer 42. In this embodiment the access portion 31 is formed in the inner barrier layer 41 and the cover flap 36 is formed in the outer layer 42. Therefore the cover flap 36 is integrally formed with the wrapping material 28. For example the wrapping material 28 may be made from a plastics/metal foil laminate. The inner layer 41 and the outer layer 42 are bonded together with adhesive 43 that is distributed over the interface between the layers 41, 42. A first cut 45 is made through the outer layer 42 to form the outer edge 57 of the cover flap 36. A second cut 47 is made through the inner layer 41 to form the closure line 65 and define the access portion 31. The cuts 45, 47 run parallel along an extended U shaped path. No cut is made across the top of the U to allow the cover flap 36 to hinge along this line, herein referred to as a hinge line (not shown). As is apparent from the offset between the cuts 45, 47, the part of the outer layer 42 forming the cover flap 36 extends beyond the inner layer 41 to form the peripheral region 38. Pressure sensitive adhesive 44 is applied between the outer layer 42 and the inner layer 41 of the peripheral region 38. The level of adhesion of the pressure sensitive adhesive 44 allows the user to peel back the cover flap 36 up to the hinge line. In this example as above, the tab 39 protrudes from the peripheral region 38 along the lower edge of the cover flap 36 and is devoid of adhesive to allow a user to easily lift the tab 39 and provide a surface with which the cover flap 36 can be peeled back.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 in which the wrapping material 28 is a laminate material, the pouch 49 is disposed on an external surface of the wrapping material 28 overlapping the outer edge 57 of the cover flap 36. The first portion 50 of the pouch 49 is adhered to the outer surface of the outer layer 42 of the body portion 32 of the wrapping material 28 and the second portion 51 to the upper surface of the cover flap 36. Therefore, when the cover flap 36 is first peeled back to separate the access portion 31 from the body portion 32 and provide the extraction aperture 35, the first portion 50 of the pouch 49 is separated from the second portion 51 along the outer edge 57 of the cover flap 36 to rupture the pouch 49 and release the organoleptic substance 52.

Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 16, the first cut 45 is only made partially through the outer layer 42 to form a line of weakening. This has the advantage of forming a complete seal to prevent the ingress of any contaminants before the first opening of the cover flap 36. On first opening the user can peel back the cover flap 36 causing the line of weakening to rupture.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in section in FIGS. 14 and 15, the wrapper 28 material is a laminate material as described above. In these embodiments the pouch 49 is pocketed into the laminate between the inner barrier layer 41 and the outer layer 42. In other words, the organoleptic substance 52 is received in a pouch 49 directly between the inner and outer layers 41, 42 of the laminate. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the pouch 49 is disposed in the peripheral region 38 between the cover flap 36 and the inner layer 41 of the wrapping material 28. The upper layer 69 of the polymer outer 53 of the pouch 49 is adhered to an inner surface of the peripheral region 38 of the cover flap 36, and the bottom layer 70 of the polymer outer 53 is adhered to the inner layer 41 of the body portion 32 of the wrapping material 28. Therefore, when the user peels back the cover flap 36 the two layers 69, 70 of the polymer outer 53 of the pouch 49 separate to rupture the pouch 49 and release the organoleptic substance 52. The adhesive used can optionally be a pressure sensitive releasable adhesive, in which case it must be ensured that the force required to separate the upper layer 69 and the bottom layer 70 of the pouch 49 is less than the strength of the releasable adhesive. This allows for the same adhesive to be applied between the inner and outer layers 41, 42 of the laminate across the whole of the laminate for ease of manufacturing. Alternatively, to better secure the pouch 49 to the respective surfaces of the cover flap 36 and the inner layer 41 of the laminate, a permanent adhesive can be applied specifically to the pouch 49. Optionally, a permanent adhesive can be applied between layers 41, 42 of the laminate other than in the peripheral region 38 to create a more robust laminate.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the pouch 49 is disposed across the closure line 65 and is adhered to both the access portion 31 and the body portion 32 of the inner layer 41 of the wrapping material 28, as well as to the cover flap 36. Therefore, when the cover flap 36 is peeled back, a portion of the pouch 49 remains attached to the body portion 32 and a portion remains attached to the access portion 31 to rupture the pouch 49 and release the organoleptic substance 52. As in above embodiments, the pouch 49 may comprise a weakening such as a notch aligned with the closure line 65 to reduce the force required to peel back the cover flap 36 and the adhesive used can be a permanent or releasable adhesive as required.

In another unillustrated embodiment, the cover flap 36 is attached to the inner surface of the front panel 12 of the lid 3 in the manner described above and as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. Therefore, upon opening the lid 3 the cover flap 36 is simultaneously lifted away from the wrapping material 28 to provide the aperture 35. The pouch 49 is adhered to both the outer surface of the cover flap 36 and to the inner surface of the front panel 12 of the lid 3. When the lid 3 is initially opened it is separated from the container 2 along its lower edge 24 causing the pouch 49 to rupture by the relative movement of the lid 3 and the cover flap 36. More particularly, the lid 3 is rotated about a hinge line 19 where it is attached to the container 2 (see FIG. 1). This causes the front panel 12 of the lid 3 to move in an arc away from the cover flap 36 and impart both a pulling and shearing force on the pouch 49 attached therebetween causing the pouch 49 to rupture.

Embodiments of the invention provide a wrapped bundle 27 of tobacco industry products comprising a rupturable pouch 49 as described above in connection with any of FIGS. 7 to 11 and 13 to 15. Embodiments of the invention may also provide a tobacco industry product pack 1 comprising the wrapped bundle 27 as described above in connection with any of FIGS. 7 to 11 and 13 to 15. In another unillustrated embodiment, the rupturable pouch 49 is provided on an exterior surface of a tobacco industry product pack 1 bridging the lid 3 and the container 2 so that, when the lid 3 is moved into the opened position, as shown in FIG. 2, the rupturable pouch 49 is caused to rupture and the organoleptic substance 52 is released.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for a superior wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, tobacco industry product pack and a blank of wrapping material. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. A tobacco industry product pack comprising a body portion and an access portion separable from each other to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture, and a rupturable pouch containing an organoleptic substance that is configured to rupture when the body and access portions are separated.

2. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 1, comprising a group of tobacco industry products wrapped in a wrapping material extending about said group of tobacco industry products to form a wrapped bundle, the body portion and the access portion being formed by the wrapping material, the access portion being separable from the body portion along a closure line to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture in the body portion.

3. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 2, comprising a cover flap having a peripheral region extending beyond the closure line, wherein the peripheral region is adhered to the body portion using releasable adhesive and the cover flap is adhered to the access portion, so that the access portion separates from the body portion along the closure line when the cover flap is peeled back.

4. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 3, wherein the wrapping material is a laminate comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the access portion being formed from the inner layer and the cover flap being formed from the outer layer.

5. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 2, wherein the rupturable pouch is attached to the wrapped bundle.

6. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 5 wherein the rupturable pouch extends across the closure line.

7. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 5, wherein the cover flap has a peripheral edge and the cover flap is separable from the body portion along the peripheral edge of the cover flap, the rupturable pouch extending across said peripheral edge to overlap the cover flap and the body portion.

8. A tobacco industry product pack according to claims 5, wherein the pouch is positioned between the peripheral region of the cover flap and the body portion.

9. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 1 wherein the pouch comprises a weakening along which the pouch ruptures when the access portion is separated from the body portion.

10. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 9 wherein the weakening is a notch formed in an outer edge of the pouch.

11. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 2, wherein the line of closure between the access portion and the body portion is a line of weakening.

12. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 2, comprising a container having an open end, a lid attached to the container pivotable into an open position, said wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products being received in the container and protruding from said open end.

13. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a container having an open end to receive a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products and the access portion comprises a lid pivotally mounted to the container and being pivotable into an open position to access the wrapped bundle, wherein the rupturable pouch extends between the container and the lid.

14. A tobacco industry product pack according to claim 12, wherein the wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products comprises a cover flap having a peripheral region extending beyond the closure line between the access portion and the body portion, the peripheral region is adhered to the body portion using releasable adhesive, and the access portion is adhered to the cover flap so that the access portion separates from the body portion along the closure line when the cover flap is peeled back, and wherein the cover flap is attached to an inside surface of the lid so that the cover flap is peeled back to separate the access portion from the body portion when the lid is pivoted into its open position.

15. A wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products comprising a wrapping material extending about a bundle of tobacco industry products, the wrapping material having a body portion and an access portion, the access portion being separable from the body portion along a closure line to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture in the body portion, and a rupturable pouch containing an organoleptic substance disposed relative to the body portion and the access portion so that said pouch ruptures when the access portion is separated from the body portion to release said organoleptic substance.

16. A blank of wrapping material for wrapping about a bundle of tobacco industry products to form a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, the blank comprising:

a body portion;
an access portion, the access portion being separable along a closure line from the body portion to provide a tobacco industry product extraction aperture in the body portion when the blank of wrapping material has been wrapped about a bundle of tobacco industry products; and
a rupturable pouch containing an organoleptic substance configured to rupture when the body and access portions are separated.

17. A blank of wrapping material according to claim 16, wherein the rupturable pouch is attached to both the body portion and the access portion.

18.-20. (canceled)

Patent History
Publication number: 20190084754
Type: Application
Filed: May 9, 2017
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2019
Inventor: Gary FALLON (London)
Application Number: 16/099,573
Classifications
International Classification: B65D 85/10 (20060101);