Package for smoking articles

A package for smoking articles comprising an inner shell (2) and an outer shell (1), the inner shell defining a space for smoking articles and the outer shell defining a cavity to receive the inner shell, the inner and outer shells being hingedly connected such that they pivot relative to each other from a closed position in which the inner shell is received in the outer shell and an open position in which the inner shell extends from the outer shell, wherein the outer shell includes a sidewall that overlaps a sidewall (13) of the inner shell when the inner and outer shells are in their closed position, a recess (56) being formed in the sidewall of one of the inner or outer shells and a tab (60) extending from a corresponding sidewall of the inner or outer shell such that, when the inner and outer shells are in their closed position, the tab locates in said recess.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application is a National Stage Entry entitled to and hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§365 and 371 to corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/EP2009/053152, filed Mar. 17, 2009, which in turn claims priority to British Application Serial No. GB 0806691.2, filed Apr. 14, 2008. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a package and to blanks for making the package. In particular, the invention relates to a clam-shell package for smoking articles, but is not limited thereto.

As used herein, the term “smoking article” includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-not-burn products but is not limited thereto. The smoking article may be provided with a filter for the gaseous flow drawn by the smoker.

Clam-shell packets and the like are known to those skilled in the art and are used in the cigarette industry for holding cigarettes. Such packets are generally formed from a cardboard blank, or multiple cardboard blanks, and generally hold ten to twenty individual cigarettes in a predetermined arrangement.

A clam-shell packet typically comprises an outer shell and an inner shell, which are hingedly connected such that they can rotate relative to each other along a common edge between an ‘open’ position, wherein smoking articles disposed in a smoking article receiving space defined in the inner shell are accessible, and a ‘closed’ position, wherein smoking articles disposed in a smoking article receiving space defined in the inner shell are inaccessible. The outer shell defines a cavity which contains the inner shell when the packet is disposed in the closed position, such that sidewalls of the outer shell are disposed against sidewalls of the inner shell and a top wall and front wall of the outer shell enclose the opening formed in the inner shell to access the smoking article receiving space.

In conventional clam-shell packets, the inner shell is retained in the outer shell by means of the outer surface of the sidewalls of the inner shell frictionally engaging with the inner surface of the sidewalls of the outer shell.

However, in such a clam-shell packet, discussed above, the sidewalls of the inner and outer shells may not sufficiently frictionally engage with each other to retain the inner shell in a closed position within the outer shell. Therefore, in an attempt to overcome this problem, the inner shell may be retained in the outer shell by means of a spring mechanism. One such example of such a clam-shell packet is known from the Applicant's own earlier international patent application published as WO 2006/061563. This document discloses a clam-shell packet with a spring mechanism, the inner and outer shells being connected by a spring member arranged so that the inner shell is urged into the closed position within the outer shell and is also urged into the open position, extending out of the outer shell and, when moved, springs between an open and closed positions under the action of the spring member.

However, a problem with such a clamshell packet is that the spring may fail and may not be strong enough to hold the inner shell in the outer shell. A further disadvantage of conventional clam-shell packets is that the inner shell is not actually ‘locked’ in the outer shell in a fully closed position and a user is not given any tactile or physical indication or feedback that the inner shell is fully received therein. Therefore, the lid is then prone to ‘yawning’ or ‘smiling’ wherein the lid is disposed in a partially open position.

The present invention seeks to provide a package for smoking articles that overcomes or substantially alleviates the problems with conventional packages referred to above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a package for smoking articles comprising an inner shell and an outer shell, the inner shell defining a space for smoking articles and the outer shell defining a cavity to receive the inner shell, the inner and outer shells being hingedly connected such that they pivot relative to each other from a closed position in which the inner shell is received in the outer shell and an open position in which the inner shell extends from the outer shell, wherein the outer shell includes a sidewall that overlaps a sidewall of the inner shell when the inner and outer shells are in their closed position, a recess being formed in the sidewall of one of the inner or outer shells and a tab extending from a corresponding sidewall of the inner or outer shell such that, when the inner and outer shells are in their closed position, the tab locates in said recess.

Advantageously, the recess is formed in the sidewall of the outer shell and the tab extends from the sidewall of the inner shell.

Preferably, the inner and outer shells are hingedly connected to each other at one end, the space defined by the inner shell being accessible at an opposing end of the inner shell.

The recess may be defined by a step formed in the sidewall of the outer shell.

Conveniently, the outer shell has a front wall and the sidewall extends from an edge of a front wall with the recess being formed between said step and the front wall of the outer shell.

Advantageously, the outer shell comprises an end wall having a flap attached to a surface of the sidewall, said step being formed by an edge of the flap and a surface of the sidewall to which it is attached.

In one embodiment, the flap is configured so that said edge does not extend up to the front wall, said recess being formed between said edge and said front wall.

In a further embodiment, the flap is configured so that said edge extends parallel to said front wall.

Preferably, the end wall extends from the front wall along a second edge and is substantially perpendicular to the sidewall and the front wall.

Advantageously, the tab extends from a sidewall of the inner shell in a direction towards the sidewall of the outer shell.

In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall of the inner shell is formed from inner and outer overlapping layers attached to each other.

Advantageously, the tab is integral with, and extends from, the inner layer.

Preferably, a cut out is formed in the outer layer to receive the tab and the tab may extend from the outer layer.

Alternatively, the tab may be positioned such that it contacts the flap and is resiliently deformed when the inner and outer shells pivot into a closed position prior to the tab being received in the recess.

In a preferred embodiment, the package is formed from two blanks attached to each other.

Advantageously, the first blank comprises a pair of opposing edge cuts, wherein the opposing edge cuts tessellate with each other.

The sidewall may be an end wall. Alternately, the recess may be formed in the sidewall of the inner shell and the tab may extend from the sidewall of the outer shell.

The tab may be formed on one edge cut of the first blank and a corresponding cut-out is formed in the other edge, such that they tessellate.

Conveniently, the outer shell and inner shell are connected by a hinge member, such that the inner shell springs between the open position and the closed position.

Preferably, the outer shell comprises a pair of opposing sidewalls that overlap corresponding opposing sidewalls of the inner shell when the inner and outer shells are in their closed, wherein each wall has a recess formed thereon and a tab extends from each face, such that, when the lid is closed, the tabs locate in said recesses.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a package containing smoking articles.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown inFIG. 1a package for smoking articles according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising an outer shell1and an inner shell2.

The outer shell1comprises a front wall3, a pair of outer shell sidewalls5,6, a top wall7and a bottom wall8. The pair of sidewalls5,6oppose each other and extend perpendicularly from the front wall3along parallel edges thereof. Similarly, the top wall7and bottom wall8oppose each other and extend perpendicularly from the front wall3along the remaining two parallel edges thereof and extend between the opposing sidewalls5,6. An aperture4is formed through the front wall3extending between an external face and an internal face of the front wall3for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter.

The inner shell2comprises an inner shell front wall11, a pair of inner shell sidewalls12,13, an inner shell top wall14and an inner shell rear wall15. The pair of inner shell sidewalls12,13oppose each other and the inner shell front and rear walls11,15extend between the pair of inner shell sidewalls12,13along edges thereof. The inner shell top wall14extends along an upper edge16of the inner shell rear wall15between upper edges17,18of the inner shell sidewalls12,13. An aperture is formed through the inner shell2, proximate to an upper end2aof the inner shell2because the inner shell front wall11and the inner shell top wall14do not extend to meet each other to allow access to a smoking article receiving space19defined by the inner shell2.

The inner shell2is hingedly mounted to the outer shell1at a lower end20of the inner shell2such that the lower end of the inner shell rear wall15is connected to an edge of the outer shell bottom wall8along a first hinge line21.

The outer and inner shells1,2are formed from a stiff, resilient material, for example a cardboard or plastic, such that the hinged-lid packet retains its shape and so that the contents (not shown) are protected.

A spring member23communicates between the outer and inner shells1,2and comprises a spring portion24and a mounting flap25. The spring portion24is hingedly connected to the internal face of the front wall3by means of the mounting flap25which is fixedly attached to the inner face of the front wall3by an adhesive. The other end of the spring portion24is hingedly connected to a lower end of the front wall11of the inner shell2at a second hinge line26, such that the spring member23biases the outer shell1and the inner shell2towards and away from each other, as will become apparent hereinafter.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, the outer shell1and inner shell2are together formed from a pair of blanks30,31as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. InFIGS. 2 and 3, the solid lines define cut lines and the broken lines define fold lines. The first blank30is shown inFIG. 2and comprises panels pertaining to both inner and outer shells1,2, namely the outer shell front wall3, with the outer shell top, bottom and side walls7,8,6extending from the outer shell front wall3along fold lines32,33,34respectively, as well as inner shell rear and top walls15,14communicating along a fourth fold line35. Similarly, the second blank31is shown inFIG. 3and comprises panels pertaining to both inner and outer shells1,2, in particular, the front wall11of the inner shell2. The spring member23is also formed from the second blank31, extending from the front wall11of the inner shell2along the second hinge line26.

The inner shell sidewalls13are formed from first inner shell side flaps36extending from the inner shell rear wall15along fold lines37and second inner shell side flaps38extending from the inner shell front wall11along fold lines39. When the package is assembled, the first inner shell side flaps36extending from the inner shell rear wall15overlap the second inner shell side flaps38extending from the inner shell front wall11and are fixedly mounted thereto by means of an adhesive to form the inner shell sidewalls13.

Inner shell mounting flaps40extend from the first inner shell side flaps36along a fold line41extending transversely to the fold line37between the first inner shell side flaps36and the inner shell rear face15, proximate to the inner shell top face14. When the package is assembled, the inner shell top wall14overlaps the inner shell top wall mounting flaps40and is fixedly mounted to each flap40by means of an adhesive.

Similarly, upper outer shell mounting flaps42extend from the top wall7of the outer shell1along a fold line43extending transversely to the fold line32between the top wall7and front wall3of the outer shell1. When the package is assembled, the outer shell sidewalls6overlap the respective upper outer shell mounting flap42and are fixedly mounted thereto by means of an adhesive such that a joining edge46is formed and the outer shell sidewalls6extend transversely from the top wall7. Lower outer shell mounting flaps44also extend from the bottom wall8of the outer shell along a fold line45extending transversely to the fold line33between the bottom wall8and front wall3of the outer shell1. When the package is assembled, the outer shell sidewalls6overlap a respective lower outer shell mounting flap44and are fixedly mounted thereto by means of an adhesive.

Although in the above described embodiment, the bottom wall8is fixedly mounted by means of the lower outer shell mounting flaps44being fixedly mounted to the outer shell sidewalls to form a bottom wall8of the outer shell1, such that the outer and inner shells1,2hinge about the hinge line21, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto and that the bottom wall8may be fixedly mounted to the inner shell sidewalls13by means of the lower outer shell mounting flaps44being fixedly mounted to the inner shell sidewalls13to form a bottom wall of the inner shell2. In this embodiment, the inner and outer shells2,1hinge about the fold line33.

Retaining flaps48are formed extending from a lower fold line49of the second inner shell side flaps38. When the package is assembled, a lower edge51of the second inner shell side flap38is aligned with a lower edge52of the first inner shell side flap36such that the retaining flaps48extend from the inner shell sidewalls13. The retaining flaps48extend inwardly from the inner shell sidewalls13toward each other to support smoking articles in the smoking article receiving space19, as will be explained hereinafter.

A cut-out54is formed in each upper outer shell mounting flap42along one side thereof. Although, in the Figures, a cut-out54is shown in each upper outer shell mounting flap42, it will be apparent that a cut-out54may be formed in only one of the upper outer shell mounting flaps42to communicate with a tab, as will be explained hereinafter. When the package is assembled, each cut-out54forms a recess56on the inner surface of each outer shell sidewall6. Herein, each cut-out54defines a step between an edge of each cut-out54and the inner surface of each outer shell sidewall6and each recess56is defined between the step and the inner face of the front wall3. A portion of the inner surface of each outer shell sidewall7defines the base of each recess56.

The step defined by each cut-out54is formed parallel to the inner face of the front wall3, for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 3, the package comprises a tab60extending sideways from one of the inner shell sidewalls13. The tab60extends perpendicular to the inner shell sidewall13, parallel to the inner shell front wall11and along the same plane thereof. Each tab60is formed extending from an inner side edge61of one second inner shell side flap38, along a fold line62. The tab60is formed from the same resilient material as the inner shell, for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter. Cut lines63,64define tab outer side edges and extend to the fold line such that the tab60is resiliently hinged thereabout. The tab60also has rounded corners (not shown).

It is noted fromFIG. 3that the first outer edge65of the second blank31correlates to the second outer edge66of the second blank, such that the outer edges65,66tessellate with each other and therefore, when a first outer edge65of a second blank31is cut, the second edge66of an adjacent second blank31is formed. In particular, the second outer edge66is formed with a recess67formed therein which corresponds to the tab60extending on the first outer edge65, and the first outer edge65has a pair of recesses68that correspond to the retaining flaps48formed on the second outer edge66.

An indentation69is formed in one of the first inner shell side flaps36along a side edge70, which correlates with the position of the tab60extending from the corresponding second inner shell side flap38, such that it aligns therewith and allows the tab60to pivot without contacting the respective first inner shell side flap38.

Operation of the package according to the present invention will now be described with reference toFIG. 1.

The package is assembled and smoking articles, such as cigarettes (not shown), are disposed in the smoking article receiving space19. When the package is in the open position, wherein the inner shell2is rotated with respect to the outer shell1and the smoking article receiving space19is accessible, the spring member23biases the inner shell2away from the outer shell1. To move the package into a closed position, the inner shell is rotated about the hinge line21and urged into a cavity in the outer shell1defined by the front, top, bottom and side walls3,5,6,7,8.

The sidewalls13of the inner shell2move relative to the sidewalls5,6of the outer shell1such that the tab60, extending from one sidewall13of the inner shell2contacts the respective sidewall6of the outer shell1. The tab60is resiliently deformed and acts against the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall6. As the inner shell2is further pivoted with respect to the outer shell1, the tab60acts against the step defined by the upper outer shell mounting flap42and springs into the recess56due to the resilience of the tab60.

An advantage of the tab60locating in the recess56is that the inner shell2is securely held in the outer shell1by means thereof. Additionally, as the tab60springs into the recess56an audible sound is produced, and the tab60clicks into the recess56.

When a user wants to obtain a smoking article (not shown) disposed in the package, the user holds the outer shell1of the package and pushes the front face11of the inner shell2through the aperture4to pivot the inner shell2relative thereto. A protrusion11aof the inner shell front face11may be formed such that the aperture4overlaps the protrusion11aand a user may push thereagainst. The tab60acts against the step and so the inner shell2is restricted from pivoting relative to the outer shell1. As the force applied to the inner shell is increased, one or more of the tab60, respective sidewall6of the outer shell2or sidewall13of the inner shell2is resiliently deformed and the tab60is released from the recess54.

Additionally, as the sidewall13of the inner shell2rotates relative to the sidewall6of the outer shell1, the tab is disposed therebetween such that there is frictional resistance produced between the outer shell1and the inner shell2.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The package according to this embodiment of the invention is generally the same as the package described above and so detailed description will be omitted herein. However, in this embodiment a tab71extends from the side edge70of one of the first inner shell side flaps36, such that the tab60disposed on a second blank72is omitted and the tab71is formed on a first blank73.

Further, although tabs60,71are shown in the above exemplary embodiments to extend sideways from the edge of the front wall11of the inner shell2, the invention is not limited thereto and the tab60,71may project perpendicularly from the face of the sidewalls13of the inner shell2distal from front wall11. Additionally, in the above exemplary embodiments the package is formed from a first and second blank30, in an alternative embodiment the package may be formed from a single blank or more than two blanks.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown inFIG. 6. The package according to this embodiment of the invention is generally the same as the package described above and so detailed description will be omitted herein. However, in this embodiment a tab74is formed in one of the first inner shell side flaps36. The tab74is formed by a pair of parallel cuts75extending perpendicularly from the side edge70of the first inner shell side flap36. A tab fold line76extends between the ends of the parallel cuts75such that the tab74protrudes from the first inner shell side flap36. The tab74locates in a corresponding enlarged recess77formed in a corresponding inner shell side wall13.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the upper edge78of the tab74is parallel to the side edge70of the first inner shell side flap36when the blank79is formed which reduces waste.

Additionally, in a further embodiment, the tab60,71,74may not be formed to extend from one sidewall13of the inner shell2and may alternatively be formed to extend from the top wall14of the inner shell2to locate in a corresponding recess (not shown) formed in the top wall7of the outer shell1. Furthermore, the tab60,71,74may alternatively extend from an outer shell side wall6to locate in a corresponding recess (not shown) formed in a corresponding inner shell side wall13.

Although in the exemplary embodiments described above an tab60,71,74is shown extending from one sidewall13of the inner shell2, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto and that a tab60,71,74may be disposed to extend from each sidewall13of the inner shell2to communicate with corresponding recesses54formed on an inner surface of each opposing sidewall6of the outer shell1, such that each tab60,71,74locates in each recess54and is held therein. Alternatively, a tab (not shown) may be disposed to extend from an inner surface of a sidewall6of the outer shell1to communicate with a corresponding recess (not shown) formed on a sidewall13of the inner shell2, such that the tab (not shown) locates in the recess (not shown) and is held therein.

Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made to the above exemplary embodiment that lie within the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims