CONTAINER WITH TOP CURVED BEVELLED EDGE
A container (10) for consumer articles comprises a box portion (12) and a lid portion (14) connected to the box portion (12) along a hinge line (16) extending across a container back wall. The lid portion (14) is pivotable about the hinge line (16) between a closed position and an open position, and comprises a lid top wall (30), a lid back wall (28), and a lid back edge portion (34) connecting the lid top wall (30) and the lid back wall (28). The lid back edge portion (34) extends between an upper edge (36) of the lid back wall (28) and a back edge (38) of the lid top wall (30). Further, the upper edge (36) of the lid back wall (28) and the back edge (38) of the lid top wall (30) are curved, the upper edge (36) of the lid back wall (28) being convex towards a top of the container when the container (10) is in the upright position and the back edge (38) of the lid top wall (30) being convex towards a front of the container (10) when the container (10) is in the upright position and viewed from the top of the container (10).
The present invention relates to a hinge lid container for consumer articles, which finds particular application as a container for elongate consumer good items, such as smoking articles (for example, cigarettes).
Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars are typically packaged in rigid hinge-lid containers. These typically have a box part having a box front wall, a box back wall, box side walls and a box base wall. They also usually have a lid part with a lid front wall, a lid back wall, lid side walls and a lid top wall. The lid part is typically hinged to the box part along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container. The hinge line is usually provided as a pre-folded line, a crease line or a score line. The bundle of smoking articles housed in the box part is commonly wrapped in an inner liner, or inner package, of metallised paper, metal foil or other flexible sheet material. To access the bundle of smoking articles within the inner liner, a consumer should remove an upper portion of the inner liner upon first opening of the hinge-lid container.
It is known to round off or chamfer certain corners of the box and lid to give the container a distinctive appearance. This has typically been achieved in the past by providing lines of weakness, such as creasing lines or score lines, in the blank at the areas forming the edges of the container. These lines of weakness allow the blank to be folded in such a way that the corner does not sharply bend but instead progressively bends between two adjacent planar walls.
Further, containers are known, for example from WO-A-2014/206939, wherein the top back edge of the lid portion and the hinge line between the lid portion and the box portion are curved and have substantially the same radius of curvature. Thus, a convex shape (when viewed from the exterior of the container) may be formed at the upper end of the container, this shape creating an elastic restoring force that may help keep the lid in a closed position.
It would be desirable to provide a novel and improved hinge lid container for consumer articles wherein the lid is easily retained in a tightly closed position, such that an accidental opening of the container is less likely to occur. Further, it is desirable to provide one such container for consumer articles that may be manufactured from a single flexible laminar blank.
In addition, it would be desirable to provide a container for consumer articles that has a distinctive visual impact and that can easily be manufactured without requiring any major modification of existing packing apparatus. Further, it would be desirable to provide a blank for manufacturing one such container that can be easily formed into an assembled container.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for consumer articles, the container comprising a box portion and a lid portion connected to the box portion along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container, the lid portion being pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position and an open position. The lid portion comprises a lid top wall, a lid back wall, and a lid back edge portion connecting the lid top wall and the lid back wall. The lid back edge portion extends between an upper edge of the lid back wall and a back edge of the lid top wall. Further, the upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall are curved. The upper edge of the lid back wall is convex towards a top of the container when the container is in the upright position and viewed from the back of the container. The back edge of the lid top wall is convex towards a front of the container when the container is in the upright position and viewed from the top of the container.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for forming a container for consumer articles, the blank comprising a box-defining blank portion for forming a box portion of the container and a lid-defining blank portion for forming a lid portion of the container. The box-defining blank portion comprises a back box wall panel for forming a back wall of the box portion and the lid-defining blank portion depends from the box-defining blank portion along a lid hinge line extending across the back box wall panel. The lid-defining blank portion comprises a top lid wall panel and a back wall panel for forming a lid top wall and a lid back wall, respectively. Further, the lid-defining blank portion comprises a first line of weakness defining an upper edge of the lid back wall panel and a second line of weakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall, an edge-defining blank portion extending between the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness for forming a lid back edge portion that connects the lid top wall and the lid back wall in the assembled container. When the blank is in a flat state, the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are both concave towards the box-defining blank portion.
It will be appreciated that any features described with reference to one aspect of the present invention are equally applicable to any other aspect of the invention.
In contrast to conventional hinge lid containers, in containers according to the present invention, a lid back edge portion connects the lid top wall and the lid back wall. In more detail, the lid edge portion extends between an upper edge of the lid back wall and a back edge of the lid top wall. The upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall are both curved. The upper edge of the lid back wall is convex towards the lid portion of the container, whereas the back edge of the lid top wall is convex towards the front of the container. This may be essentially achieved by forming a pair of curved lines of weakness in the blank from which the container is formed, both lines of weakness being concave towards the box-defining portion of the blank when the blank is in a flat state. Thus, when a container is formed from folding the blank, it is easy to obtain a substantially convex (when viewed from the exterior of the container) lid back edge portion.
In the assembled container, the lid back edge portion provides for a smooth transition between the curved top edge of the lid back wall and the curved back edge of the lid top wall, such that the surface of the lid top back edge portion takes on a shape that is essentially convex towards both the top and the front of the lid. Such convex shape deformation on the lid may advantageously create a physical forward tension force that leads the lid to have an inclination to bend towards the box portion. Consequently, such lid shape configuration tends to keep the container tightly closed when the hinge lid is in the closed position. This makes it possible to manufacture from a single blank a hinge lid container for consumer articles, wherein the lid front wall partly overlies the box front wall. The physical forward tension force described above advantageously tends to keep the lid front wall lying against the box front wall and so ensures a good closure of the container, such that all parts of the consumer goods are retained within the container. For example, when the container is used for smoking articles, it is advantageously ensured that no tobacco shorts will fall out of the container during transport between uses. At the same time, this configuration makes it much easier for the consumer to hold and open the container with a single hand, since the lid can conveniently be opened by the lower edge of the lid front wall.
On the other hand, in those embodiments wherein the container comprises an inner frame including an upper portion extending above an upper edge of the box portion and defining an abutment surface for the lid, the elastic force created by the convex shape of the lid back edge portion may advantageously counter any tendency to the so-called “smiling effect”, that is, the occurrence of a slight misalignment between the lid and the box portions of the container, as the lid front wall rests against the upper portion of the inner frame.
The present invention advantageously provides a container with a distinctive visual impact. In addition, in those embodiments where the convex shape described above is combined with other rounded or chamfered corners, a particularly ergonomic shape can advantageously be provided for the consumer.
It is easy to manufacture a container in accordance with the present invention from a single laminar blank. In some preferred embodiments, the lines of weakness may advantageously be provided as ablated lines, which makes it easy to form them with great precision. In addition, this allows the outer surface of the container to maintain a smooth appearance without any ridges or ripples. Thus, the visual and tactile perception of the container is advantageously not impacted.
As used herein, 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 in the closed position and the hinge line at the back 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 back wall of the outer housing is the wall comprising the hinge line.
The term “hinge line” refers to a line about which the lid may be pivoted in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming the back wall of the container. In blanks according to the present invention, the hinge line is clearly distinct from the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness which, in the assembled container, define the upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall. The hinge line extends across the back wall of the container from one side wall to the other and is preferably a straight line.
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 articles, when the container is in the closed position. Likewise, 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. 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, 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 term “longitudinal” refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa. The term “transverse” refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
The term “curved” used in this specification refers to any line which is not straight. The lines of weakness defining the upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall may be any suitable curve. Preferably, however, the curve has a single maximum or minimum along its length. That is to say, preferably the curve has a wavelength equal to or greater than the total curve length. The curve may or may not have constant curvature along its length. Preferably the curve is symmetrical between the side walls of the container. They may be any suitable curve, including but not limited to a parabolic curve, a hyperbolic curve, an elliptical curve, and a logarithmic curve. Preferably, the lines of defining the upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall comprise a circular arc. A circular arc is a segment of the circumference of a circle.
In this specification, an element, such as edge of a container is described as “convex towards” a reference point if a centre of curvature of a circular arc equalling or approximating the shape of such element is in the direction opposite the reference point, such that the element of the container effectively curves towards the reference point. Reference can be made to the Euclidean definition of a “convex curve” as a curve that lies completely on one side of each and every one of its tangent lines. Thus, it will be appreciated that, in this context, the term “convex” is used to describe a curve that has a single maximum or minimum along its length. By way of example, in a container an edge of the back wall may be convex towards the top of the container when the container is in the upright position and viewed from the back of the container. This means that a centre of curvature of a circular arc equalling or approximating the shape of the edge is towards the bottom of the container. Thus, the edge effectively curves towards the top of the container. In a corresponding way, an edge of the top wall of the container may be convex towards the front of the container when the container is in the upright position and viewed from the top of the container. This means that a centre of curvature of a circular arc equalling or approximating the shape of the edge is towards the back of the container. Thus, the edge effectively curves towards the front of the container.
The term “creasing line” is used herein to refer to a line along the laminar blank forming the container that has been mechanically deformed, for example by mechanical pressing or rolling, to form a line of weakness in the blank about which the blank can be folded. In particular, a creasing line is a line of weakness that is formed without removing material.
The term “ablated line” is used herein to refer to a line along which material has been ablated (for example, removed by means of a laser beam or a blade) from a surface of the laminar blank or container. Accordingly, the residual thickness of an ablated line is less than the thickness of the laminar blank. For example, an ablated line may be provided as a groove within the blank. This may be formed with a linear ablation tool, such as a laser or a blade.
The term “residual thickness” is used herein to refer to the minimum distance measured between two opposite surfaces of the laminar blank or of a wall of the container formed from the blank. In practice, the distance at a given location is measured along a direction locally perpendicular to the opposite surfaces. The “residual thickness” of an ablated line may be constant over the ablated line if material is removed homogenously substantially all over the ablated line (flat profile). Alternatively, the residual thickness of the ablated line may vary across a width of the ablated line, if material is removed non-homogeneously over the ablated line (e.g. V-shaped, U-shaped grooves).
A container in accordance with the present invention comprises, in its most general terms, a box portion and a lid portion that is pivotable about a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container between an open position and a closed position. The lid portion comprises a lid top wall, a lid back wall, and a lid back edge portion connecting the lid top wall and the lid back wall. The lid back edge portion extends between an upper edge of the lid back wall and a back edge of the lid top wall. The upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall are both curved. The upper edge of the lid back wall is convex towards the lid portion of the container. That is to say, the centre of curvature of an arc equalling or approximating the curve is in the direction of the box portion (that is, the bottom of the container), such that the upper edge of the lid back wall curves towards the lid portion. Further, the back edge of the lid top wall is convex towards a front of the container. That is to say, the centre of curvature of an arc equalling or approximating the curve is in the direction of the box back wall (that is, the back of the container), such that the back edge of the lid top wall curves towards the lid front wall. Preferably, the container comprises a first line of weakness defining the upper edge of the lid back wall and a second line of weakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall. The lid back edge portion thus essentially extends between the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness and is advantageously easily defined. Because the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are pre-formed in the blank from which the container is assembled, upon folding the blank into the desired shape the lid back edge portion is easily formed with the desired convex shape.
Preferably, the curve defining each one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness has a single maximum or minimum along its length.
Preferably, at least one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness is defined by a circular arc having constant curvature.
More preferably, both the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are defined by respective circular arcs, each circular arc having constant curvature. Thus, each one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness has a single maximum.
Preferably both the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are substantially symmetrical between the side walls of the container. Thus, the maxima of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are substantially in alignment with one another with reference to a direction perpendicular to the box front wall and the box back wall.
In some preferred embodiments, the circular arcs defining the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness have the same radius of curvature. Thus, the first lines of weakness and the second line of weakness in the blank for forming the container are effectively parallel to one another. In alternative embodiments, the radius of curvature of the first line of weakness is greater than the radius of curvature of the second line of weakness.
Preferably, a distance between the maximum of the first line of weakness and the maximum of the second line of weakness is at least about 1 millimetre. More preferably, the distance between the maximum of the first line of weakness and the maximum of the second line of weakness is at least about 5 millimetres.
In addition or as an alternative, the distance between the maximum of the first line of weakness and the maximum of the second line of weakness is less than about 15 millimetres. The distance between the maxima of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness may conveniently be measured in the longitudinal direction on the blank in the flat state.
Preferably, a distance between the maximum of the first line of weakness and the box back wall is at least about 0.5 millimetres. In addition, or as an alternative, a distance between the maximum of the first line of weakness and the lid front wall is preferably at least about 2 millimetres.
Further, a distance between the maximum of the second line of weakness and the box back wall is preferably at least about 1 millimetre. In addition, or as an alternative, a distance between the maximum of the second line of weakness and the lid front wall is preferably at least about 1 millimetre.
The distance between the maximum of a line of weakness and the box back wall is substantially the distance between the highest point of the edge defined by the line of weakness and the plane defined by the box back wall, and is measured along a direction perpendicular to the box front wall and the box back wall. The distance between the maximum of a line of weakness and the lid front wall is substantially the distance between the highest point of the edge defined by the line of weakness and the plane of the lid front wall, and is measured along a direction perpendicular to the lid front wall and the lid back wall.
Each one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness may be formed independently in different suitable ways. Preferably, each one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness is formed as a creasing line or as an ablated line.
Removing material from the inner surface of the blank for forming a container according with the invention by means of an ablation tool (for example, laser, blade) may be convenient. A laser is particularly preferred as the ablation tool as it can allow for a wide variety of ablation profiles and configurations, with minimal adjustment of the laser tool being needed. For example, the laser may be repeatedly passed over a given portion of the blank to iteratively remove different amounts of material, allowing for a very finely controlled ablation profile.
In some preferred embodiments, both the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are formed as creasing lines. As an alternative, in other embodiments both the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are formed as ablated lines.
The first line of weakness and the second line of weakness preferably each comprise a circular arc. Preferably, the radius of curvature of each of the upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall has a length that is between about 0.5 and about 3 times a width of the container.
In some preferred embodiments, the lid portion of the container further comprises a lid front wall connected to the lid top wall by a first modified edge portion forming a bevelled edge portion of the container. As an alternative, the first modified edge portion may form a rounded edge portion of the container. This is advantageous in that the provision of a front top edge of the container that is bevelled or rounded imparts the container a particularly ergonomic shape. One such bevelled lid front edge portion of the container may advantageously be obtained by forming ablation lines on the inner surface of the lid front edge portion.
In some preferred embodiments, the box portion comprises a box front wall and the lid portion comprises a lid front wall such that, when the lid portion is in the closed position, the lid front wall overlies an upper portion of the box front wall. These are typically embodiments wherein the container is formed from a single blank (that is, a container with no inner frame). Containers in accordance with the present invention may, however, also comprise an inner frame. In that case, when in the closed position, the lid rests against a portion of the inner frame extending above the upper edge of the box front wall, such that the lid front wall is substantially in alignment with the box front wall and the container presents to the user a substantially flat surface.
A container in accordance with the present invention preferably comprises at least a retention tab extending laterally and outwardly from the box front wall, the retention tab interacting with the lid portion of the container when the lid portion is moved between the open position and the closed position. This is advantageous in that cooperation between the retention tab and the lid portion may help retain the lid portion in the closed position.
More preferably, the lid portion comprises lid side walls extending between the lid front wall and the lid back wall; the lid portion further comprising at least a cut out in one of the lid side walls, the cut out interacting with the retention tab when the lid portion is moved between the open position and the closed position. For example, the retention tab may be received into the cut out, which may further help secure the lid in the closed position. Further, the interaction of the retention tab with the cut out may advantageously be associated with an audible indication that the lid has been secured in the closed position.
Containers according to the present invention find application as containers for consumer goods, in particular elongate consumer goods such as smoking articles. However, they can also be used for several other types of consumer goods.
The blank may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the blank is a laminar cardboard blank having a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre. Preferably, the thickness (T) of the blank is at least about 200 micrometres.
The container may optionally comprise an outer wrapper, which is preferably a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof and the outer wrapper is applied in a conventional manner. The outer wrapper may include a tear tape. In addition, the outer wrapper may be printed with images, consumer information or other data.
Further, the consumer articles may be provided within the container in the form of a bundle wrapped in an inner package formed of metal foil or metallised paper. The inner package material may be formed as a laminate of a metallised polyethylene film, and a liner material. The liner material may be a super-calendered glassine paper. In addition, the inner package material may be provided with a print-receptive top coating. The inner package has an access opening through which consumer goods can be removed when a lid of the container is in a respective open position.
The container is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped comprising two wider walls spaced apart by two narrower walls. Hinge lid containers according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges.
Alternatively, the hinge lid container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof. For example, the hinge lid container according to the invention may comprise, without limitation:
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- One or two longitudinal rounded edges on the front wall, and/or one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall.
- One or two transverse rounded edges on the front wall, and/or one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall.
- One longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge on the front wall, and/or 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.
- 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 container comprises one or more bevelled edge, preferably the bevelled edge has a width of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 2 and about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container may comprise a multi-bevelled edge formed by parallel creasing or scoring lines that are spaced such that two or more distinct bevels are formed on at least one edge of the container.
Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular transversal cross section, for example polygonal such as triangular or hexagonal, semi-oval 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. 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. Alternatively, other consumer goods may be housed inside the container.
Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions, containers 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, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.
The smoking articles may be arranged in different collations, depending on the total number of smoking articles.
Containers according to the present invention may hold smoking articles of the same type or brand, or of different types or brands. In addition, both filter-less smoking articles and smoking articles with various filter tips may be contained, as well as smoking articles of differing length (for example, between about 40 mm and about 180 mm), diameter (for example, between about 4 mm and about 9 mm). Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, the outer dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle or bundles of smoking articles housed inside the container.
The length, width and depth of containers according to the invention may be such that the resultant overall dimensions of the container are similar to the dimensions of a typical disposable pack of twenty cigarettes.
Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height of between about 60 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a height of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the height is measured from the bottom wall to the top wall of the container.
Preferably, containers according to the invention have a width of between about 12 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a width of between about 55 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the width is measured from one side wall to the other side wall of the container.
Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a depth of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container.
Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, most preferably between about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1
Preferably, the ratio of the width of the container to the depth of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, most preferably between about 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.
Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid back wall to the height of the box back wall of the outer sleeve is between about 0 to 1 (lid located at the top edge of the container) to about 1 to 1, more preferably, between about 1 to 5 and about 1 to 10, most preferably, between about 1 to 6 to about 1 to 8.
Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid front wall of the outer sleeve to the height of the box front wall of the outer sleeve is between about 1 to 0 (lid covering the entire front wall) to about 1 to 10, more preferably, between about 1 to 1 and about 1 to 5, most preferably, between about 1 to 2 and about 1 to 3.
The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia.
A container according to the present invention may be formed by folding a blank comprising a box-defining blank portion for forming a box portion of the container and a lid-defining blank portion for forming a lid portion of the container. The box-defining blank portion comprises a back box wall panel for forming a back wall of the box portion and the lid-defining blank portion depends from the box-defining blank portion along a lid hinge line extending across the back box wall panel. The lid-defining blank portion comprises a top lid wall panel and a back wall panel for forming a lid top wall and a lid back wall, respectively; a first line of weakness defining an upper edge of the lid back wall panel and a second line of weakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall, an edge-defining blank portion extending between the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness for forming a lid back edge portion that connects the lid top wall and the lid back wall in the assembled container. The first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are both concave towards the box-defining blank portion of the blank upon the blank in a flat state.
The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings of the accompanying Figures, wherein:
The container 10 shown in
Further, the lid portion 14 comprises a lid back edge portion 34 connecting the lid top wall 30 and the lid back wall 28. As illustrated in
The upper edge 36 of the lid back wall 28 and the back edge 38 of the lid top wall 30 are defined by respective lines of weakness, which are formed by laser ablation on the inner surface of the blank from which the container 10 is formed.
The box portion 12 and lid portion 14 of a variant of a container according to the present invention may be formed together from the single laminar blank 300 shown in
The box blank portion 3001 comprises a front wall panel 308, a rear wall panel 312 and a bottom wall panel 309. Two side wall panels 310 extend from front wall panel 308, two side wall panels 311 extend from rear wall panel 312, and two box dust flaps 313 extend from side wall panels 311. When the box portion of the container is assembled from the box blank portion 3001, the front wall panel 308 forms the container front wall, the rear wall panel 312 forms the container rear wall, the side wall panels 310, 311 overlap to form left and right side container walls, and the box dust flaps 313 overlap the bottom wall panel 309 to form the container bottom wall. The side wall panels 310, 311 are substantially the same size and shape as each other. When the container is formed, the side wall panels 310, 311 directly overlie each other with their free edges substantially aligned, such that the inner side wall panel is barely visible. The box dust flaps 313 are smaller than the bottom wall panel 309. When the container is formed, the box dust flaps 313 lie inside the bottom wall panel 309. They provide additional structural support for the container bottom wall of the container but are not visible from the outside of the container.
The lid blank portion 3002 comprises a front wall panel 314, a rear wall panel 318 and a top wall panel 320. Two side wall panels 316 extend from the front wall panel 314, two side wall panels 317 extend from the rear wall panel 318, and lid dust flaps 319 extend from the side wall panels 317. When the lid portion of the container is assembled from the lid blank portion 3002, the front wall panel 314 forms the container front wall, the rear wall panel 318 forms the container rear wall, the side wall panels 316, 317 overlap to form right and left container side walls, and the lid dust flaps 319 overlap top wall panel 320 to form the lid top wall. The side wall panels 316, 317 are substantially the same size and shape as each other. When the container is formed, the panels 316, 317 directly overlie each other with their free edges substantially aligned, such that the inner side wall panel is barely visible. The lid dust flaps 319 are smaller than the top wall panel 320. When the container is formed, the lid dust flaps 319 lie inside the top wall panel 320. They provide additional structural support for the container (lid) top wall, but are not visible from the outside of the container.
Further, the lid blank portion 3002 comprises a first line of weakness 322 defining an upper edge of the lid back wall panel 318 and a second line of weakness 321 defining a back edge of the lid top wall panel 320. In addition, the lid blank portion 3002 comprises an edge-defining blank portion 324 extending between the first line of weakness 321 and the second line of weakness 322 for forming a lid back edge portion that, in the assembled container, connects the lid top wall and the lid back wall.
In the embodiment illustrated in
A cut line 315 is formed in the box blank portion 3001, such that the cut line 309 intersects a fold line along which one of the side wall panels 310 depends from the front wall panel 308. In the assembled container, the cut line 315 defines and a retention tab which extends outwardly from the box front wall such that, when the lid portion is moved between the open position and the closed position, the retention tab interacts with the lid portion.
Further, a cut out 325 is formed in the lid blank portion 3002, at a location such that, in the assembled container, the retention tab defined by the cut line 315 interacts with the cut out 325 when the lid portion is moved between the open position and the closed position. In particular, in the assembled container, the cut out defines a recess into which the retention tab may be partially received. Cooperation between the retention tab and the cut out helps retain the lid in the closed position and may be associated with the production of an audible indication of closing.
As illustrated in
Claims
1. A container for consumer articles, the container comprising:
- a box portion; and
- a lid portion connected to the box portion along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container, the lid portion being pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position and an open position, and comprising a lid top wall, a lid back wall, and a lid back edge portion connecting the lid top wall and the lid back wall;
- wherein the lid back edge portion extends between an upper edge of the lid back wall and a back edge of the lid top wall; and
- wherein the upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall are curved, the upper edge of the lid back wall being convex towards a top of the container when the container is in the upright position and viewed from the back of the container, and the back edge of the lid top wall being convex towards a front of the container when the container is in the upright position and viewed from the top of the container.
2. The container according to claim 1 comprising a first line of weakness defining the upper edge of the lid back wall and a second line of weakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall, wherein at least one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness comprises an ablated line or a creasing line.
3. The container according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness is defined by a circular arc having constant curvature.
4. The container according to claim 3, wherein both the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are defined by respective circular arcs, each circular arc having constant curvature.
5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness have the same radius of curvature or wherein the radius of curvature of the first line of weakness is greater than the radius of curvature of the second line of weakness.
6. The container according to claim 2, wherein a distance between a maximum of the first line of weakness and a maximum of the second line of weakness is at least about 1 millimetre.
7. The container according to claim 2, wherein a distance between a maximum of the first line of weakness and a maximum of the second line of weakness is less than about 15 millimetres.
8. The container according to claim 2, wherein a distance between a maximum of the first line of weakness and the box back wall is at least about 0.5 millimetres and a distance between the maximum of the first line of weakness and the lid front wall is at least about 2 millimetres.
9. The container according to claim 2, wherein a distance between a maximum of the second line of weakness and the box back wall is at least about 1 millimetre and a distance between the maximum of the second line of weakness and the lid front wall is at least about 1 millimetre.
10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lid portion further comprises a lid front wall connected to the lid top wall by a first modified edge portion forming a bevelled or rounded edge portion of the container.
11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the box portion comprises a box front wall and the lid portion comprises a lid front wall such that, when the lid portion is in the closed position, the lid front wall overlies an upper portion of the box front wall.
12. The container according to claim 8 comprising at least a retention tab extending laterally and outwardly from the box front wall, the retention tab interacting with the lid portion of the container when the lid portion is moved between the open position and the closed position.
13. The container according to claim 9, wherein the lid portion comprises lid side walls extending between the lid front wall and the lid back wall; the lid portion further comprising at least a cut out in one of the lid side walls, the cut out interacting with the retention tab when the lid portion is moved between the open position and the closed position.
14. The container according to claim 1, the container comprising smoking articles.
15. A blank for forming a container for consumer articles, the blank comprising:
- a box-defining blank portion for forming a box portion of the container;
- a lid-defining blank portion for forming a lid portion of the container;
- wherein the box-defining blank portion comprises a back box wall panel for forming a back wall of the box portion and the lid-defining blank portion depends from the box-defining blank portion along a lid hinge line extending across the back box wall panel;
- wherein the lid-defining blank portion comprises: a top lid wall panel and a top back wall panel for forming a lid top wall and a lid back wall, respectively; a first line of weakness defining an upper edge of the lid back wall panel and a second line of weakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall panel, an edge-defining blank portion extending between the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness for forming a lid back edge portion that connects the lid top wall and the lid back wall in the assembled container;
- wherein the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness are both concave towards the box-defining blank portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 15, 2017
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2019
Inventor: David Rudolf (Kutna Hora)
Application Number: 15/998,907
