Patent Publication Number: US-10306921-B2

Title: Container

Description:
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/EP2010/064546, filed Sep. 30, 2010, which in turn claims priority to British Application Serial No. GB 0918990.3, filed Oct. 30, 2009. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are herein expressly incorporated by reference. 
     The present invention relates to a container for storing tobacco products, in particular smokeless tobacco products, such as snus. 
     Current packaging for tobacco products such as snus and snuff comprises a base for holding the product and a lid resealably attached to the base so as to maintain the freshness of the product. Generally, tobacco products, including snus, are discarded after use. However, littering of tobacco products is a common problem as its consumption is not always restricted to a designated area and so a user may not always be in the vicinity of a bin when they need to dispose of the consumed tobacco product. 
     To overcome the above mentioned problem, it is known from WO 2005/016036 A1 to provide a container comprising a primary compartment for holding fresh snus and a secondary disposal compartment for temporarily receiving consumed snus. The secondary compartment is closable by a cover which is hingedly attached to said secondary compartment. However, a disadvantage of this type of container is that it is prone to accidental opening as it relies on a portion of the cover being snapped into a cavity so as to secure the cover in a closed position and retain the used snus in the secondary compartment. 
     A container having a secondary compartment wherein the cover is detachable such that the cover and lid are not connected via a hinge is also known. However, the cover of such a container is clipped onto the lid, and so the clipping function is reduced with the repeated removal and attachment of the cover due to wear. Furthermore, with the above configuration the cover may completely detach from the lid causing the discarded snus to fall out. 
     The present invention seeks to provide a container for snus that overcomes or substantially alleviates the problems mentioned above. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a container for snus comprising a cover slidable between an open and a closed position to allow access to a compartment for storing snus within the container when the cover is in its open position. 
     Preferably, the container further comprises a base and a lid defining a first compartment for storing fresh snus, wherein the compartment for storing snus is a second compartment formed in the lid or the base for storing used snus, such that the cover is slidable between open and closed positions to allow access to said second compartment when the cover is in its open position. 
     Conveniently, the lid or the base has a wall and the cover lies on a plane of the wall and is slidable on said plane between its open and closed positions. 
     Advantageously, the wall is an upper wall with a peripheral wall depending therefrom, and the second compartment extends from said upper wall. 
     The cover may have a protruding portion at one end of the cover which is locatable against an upstanding shoulder which upstands in the second compartment such that, when the cover is urged into its open position, the protruding portion abuts said upstanding shoulder to limit the movement of the cover in its open position 
     Preferably, the cover comprises a top wall which is extendable over the second compartment, and the protruding portion is an end wall extending from the top wall. 
     Advantageously, the second compartment extends to the peripheral wall to form a cut out therein, and the end wall covers the cut-out when the cover is in a closed position. 
     In one embodiment, the protruding portion is a first protruding portion and the cover further comprises a second protruding portion spaced from the first protruding portion which is locatable against the upstanding shoulder. 
     The second protruding portion may be an end wall extending from the top wall. 
     The shoulder may be recessed below the plane of the face. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the shoulder upstands from the centre of the second compartment such that, when the cover is slid in a first direction the first protruding portion abuts said upstanding shoulder to limit the movement of the cover in a first open position, and when the cover is slid in a second direction the second protruding portion abuts said upstanding shoulder to limit the movement of the cover in a second open position. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the shoulder upstands proximal to one end of the second compartment such that, when the cover is slid in a first direction the first protruding portion abuts said upstanding shoulder to limit the movement of the cover in its open position, and when the cover is slid in a second direction the second protruding portion abuts said upstanding shoulder to limit the movement of the cover in its closed position. 
     Conveniently, the second compartment comprises a bottom wall with parallel side walls upstanding therefrom, each upstanding side wall having a step formed therein. 
     The container may further comprise a lip extends along each side wall, spaced from the step to form a track, wherein a portion of the cover is slidably disposed between each lip and step. 
     Conveniently, the second compartment is formed in the lid. 
     Preferably, the lid and the base are formed with a second compartment, each with a cover slidable between open and closed positions. 
     Conveniently, the compartment contains smokeless product. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a lid for a container for snus comprising a compartment for storing used snus and a cover slidable between open and closed positions to allow access to a compartment for storing snus within the container in the open position 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a snus container comprising a cover slidable between an open and a closed position to allow access to a compartment for storing snus within the container when the cover is in its open position. 
    
    
     
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container for snus with a lid and a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the container shown in  FIG. 1  with the cover in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional front view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1  with the cover in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the container shown in  FIG. 1  with the cover in an open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the container shown in  FIG. 1  with the cover in an open position; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a container for snus with a lid and a cover according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the container shown in  FIG. 7  with the cover in a closed position; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional front view of the container shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 7  with the covet in an open position; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of the container shown in  FIG. 7  with the cover in an open position; and 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in  FIG. 7  with the cover in an open position. 
     
    
    
     Referring now to the drawings, a container  1  is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6  comprising a base  2 , a lid  3  and a slidable cover  4 . The base  2  and the lid  3  define a first compartment  5  for storing fresh or unused snus, and a second compartment  6  for holding used snus ‘U’ is defined in the lid  3 . The cover  4  encloses the second compartment  6  when slid into a closed position, as will become apparent hereinafter. 
     The base  2  comprises a circular bottom wall  7  having a side wall  8  which upstands from a periphery thereof. An upper portion  9  of the side wall  8  is recessed and has a smaller outer diameter than a lower portion  10  of the side wall  8 , and is provided with a circumferential bead  11  extending therearound. 
     The lid  3  comprises a circular upper wall  12  from which a peripheral wall  13  depends. The peripheral wall  13  of the lid  3  has an inner diameter which corresponds to the outer diameter of the upper portion of the base side wall  8  so that when the first compartment  5  is enclosed by the base  2  and lid  3  being brought together, the peripheral wall  13  extends over and overlaps the top portion  9  of the base side wall  8 . An annular groove  14  is formed on an inner surface of the peripheral wall  13  of the lid  3  which receives the bead  11  of the base  2  when the container  1  is closed so as to retain the lid  3  and base  2  together and so prevent the container  1  from accidentally opening. 
     The lid  3  has the second compartment  6  which is formed in the upper wall  12  and is closable by the cover  4 . The second compartment  6  includes a generally rectangular recess comprising a bottom wall  15 , with two parallel long side walls  17   a ,  17   b , a first short side wall  18  and a second short side wall  19  extending therefrom. The two parallel long side walls  17   a ,  17   b  and the first short side wall  18  extend from the bottom wall  15  to the upper wall  12 . The first short side wall  18  extends from the bottom wall  15  to a recessed edge  20  which is recessed below the plane of the upper wall  12 , as will be explained below. The first and second short side walls  18 , 19  extend between the two parallel long side walls  17   a ,  17   b . Although the long side walls  17   a , 17   b  and short side walls  18 , 19  are described as such, it will be understood that the length of the respective side walls are not limited as such, and that in an alternative arrangement the long side walls may be shorter in length and extend a shorter distance along the upper wall than the short side walls. The short side walls  18 ,  19  are arcuate, with the second short side wall  19  lying proximate to a section of the peripheral edge  12   a  of the upper wall  12  and extending parallel thereto, and the first side wall  18  extending parallel to the second short side wall  19 . It will be understood that the first and second side walls  18 , 19  may not be arcuate and may have different shapes, such as planar, and may have different shapes to each other. 
     The long side walls  17   a , 17   b  and the second short side wall  19  each have a step  21 , 22 , 23  formed therein which extends therearound and divides said side walls into upper  21   a ,  22   a ,  23   a  and lower portions  21   b ,  22   b ,  23   b  as can be appreciated from  FIGS. 3 to 6 . The lower portions  21   b ,  22   b ,  23   b  extend from said edges of the bottom wall  15  to the step  21 , 22 , 23  and the upper portions continue from the step  21 , 22 , 23  to the upper wall  12  of the lid  3 . Although it is not apparent from the drawings, the step  21 , 22  and the upper portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the long side walls  17   a ,  17   b  further extend beyond the first short side wall  18  to the peripheral wall  13  of the lid  3 . Therefore, the second compartment  6  extends to the peripheral wall  13  of the lid  3 . Formed along the upper portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the long side walls  17   a , 17   b  is a lip  25  which extends from said upper portions  21   a , 21   b  adjacent and facing step  21 , 22  such that a track is formed between the lip  25  and the step  21 , 22  as is shown in  FIG. 3 . Each track runs along the long side walls  21 ,  22  of the second compartment  6 , from the second short side wall  19  to the peripheral wall  13  of the lid  3  beyond the first side wall  18 . 
     The recessed edge  20 , which extends along the upper edge of the first short side wall  18  is recessed below the plane of the upper wall  12 , and a first upper surface  27  extends therefrom to the peripheral wall  13  of the lid, such that a cut-out is formed in the peripheral wall  13  and defined by the upper portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the long side walls and the first upper surface  27 , such that the second compartment extends to the cut-out formed in the peripheral wall. The first upper surface  27  lies on the same plane as the step  21 , 22 , 23 . A platform  29  upstands from the first upper surface  27 , with a second upper surface  28  to define a shoulder against which the cover locates, as will be explained hereinafter, which extends between inner and outer shoulder portions  30 , 31 . The inner shoulder  30  extends from the recessed edge  20  of the first short side wall  18 , and the outer shoulder  31  extends from the first upper surface  27 , proximate to, but stepped in from, the peripheral wall  13  of the lid  3 . The platform  29  is spaced from the upper portions  21   a , 22   a  of the long side walls  17   a , 17   b . The second upper surface  28  is recessed below the plane of the upper wall  12  of the lid  3 , as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and includes an arcuate channel  26  which extends between the inner and outer shoulders  30 , 31  to allow an indentation  40  formed in the cover  4  to slide over the platform  29  without contacting the platform  29 , as will be explained below. 
     The cover  4  is of a generally rectangular shape having a top wall  32  with opposing first and second cover end walls  33 , 34  and two opposing cover side walls  35  depending from the periphery of the top wall  32 . The two opposing cover side walls  35  extend parallel to each other and the cover end walls  33 , 34  extend between the ends of said opposing cover side walls  35 . The depth of each of the cover side walls  35  and cover end walls  33 , 34  conforms to the depth of the upper portions  21   a , 22   a , 23   a  of the long side walls  17   a , 17   b  and second short side wall  19  of the second compartment  6 , such that the top wall  32  of the cover  4  lies level with the upper wall  12  of the lid  3  when the cover  4  is mounted thereto. 
     A rib  36  is formed along an outer surface of each cover side wall  35 , extending between the cover end walls  33 , 34 , proximate to the free edge of each cover side wall  35 . The width of the cover  4  between the ribs  36  on opposing cover side walls  35  conforms to the width of the second compartment  6 , between the upper portions  21   a , 22   a  of the long side walls  17   a , 17   b . When the cover  4  is mounted to the lid  3 , each rib  36  locates in the tracks of the lid  3  such that the cover  4  is retained by the lid, and each rib is slidable in its corresponding track so the cover can be slid in a direction parallel to the tracks between a closed and an open position. 
     The cover end walls  33 , 34  extend arcuately outwards with a curvature corresponding to the arc of the periphery of the upper wall  13  of the lid  3 . The length of the cover  4 , between the cover end walls  33 , 34  corresponds to the distance between the upper portion  23   a  of the second short end wall  23   a  of the second compartment  6  and the periphery of the peripheral wall  13  at the cut-out, such that the first cover end wall  33  continues the arc of the peripheral wall  13  when the cover  4  is mounted to the lid  3  and is in the closed position to form a flush outer finish of the lid  3 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the closed position, the second cover end wall  34  abuts the upper portion  23   a  of the second short side wall  23 . 
     To open the second compartment  6 , a user urges the cover to slide along the direction of the long side walls  17   a , 17   b  of the second compartment  6 . By doing so, the ribs  36  slide in their corresponding track defined between the steps  21 , 22  of the long side walls  17   a , 17   b  and the lips  25 , and the end of the cover  4  proximate the first cover end wall  33  is slidable from the cut out formed in the lid peripheral wall  13  such that the second cover end wall  34  moves away from the second short side wall  23  of the second compartment  6 , and an opening to the second compartment  6  is formed to allow access to said second compartment  6 . As the user further slides the cover  4  into the open position, the second cover end wall  34  contacts the inner shoulder  30  of the platform  29 , because the platform upstands in a recess defined by the walls of the cover. As can be appreciated from  FIG. 6 , the cover  4  is prevented from sliding off the lid due to the presence of the inner shoulder  30 . To close the second compartment  6  of the container  1 , the user slides the cover  4  in the opposite direction until the second cover end wall  34  abuts the second short side wall  23  of the second compartment  6 , and so the second compartment is enclosed, and the cover is in its closed position. 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 12 . In this alternative embodiment, the container comprises a base  50 , a lid  51  and a slidable cover  52 . The base  50  and the lid  51  define a first compartment  53  for storing fresh or unused snus, and a second compartment  54  for holding used snus ‘U’ is defined in the lid  51 . The cover  52  encloses the second compartment  54  when slid into a closed position, as will become apparent hereinafter. The base  50  and its configuration with the lid  51  is generally the same as the embodiment described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , and so a detailed description will therefore be omitted herein. 
     In this alternative embodiment, the cover  52  and the lid  51  are configured such that the cover  52  is slidable in two opposing directions from its closed position, wherein the second compartment  54  is enclosed, to open positions, wherein access is provided to the second compartment  54 . The lid  51  comprises a circular upper wall  55  with the second compartment  54  formed therein. In this embodiment the second compartment  54  has a bottom wall  56  with opposing parallel side walls  57 , 58  upstanding from the bottom wall  56  and opposing second compartment end walls  59 , 60  extending between the opposing parallel side walls  57 , 58  and upstanding from said bottom wall  56 . 
     The parallel side walls  57 , 58  extend across the lid between opposing peripheral edges thereof and have a step  61  dividing each wall into an upper portion  57   a , 58   a , which extends from the bottom wall  56  to the step  61 , and a lower portion  57   b , 58   b , which extends from the step  61  to the upper wall  55  of the lid  51 . Each second compartment end wall  59 , 60  is arcuate and an upper surface  63  extends from an upper edge of each second compartment end wall  59 , 60 , and each upper surface  63  lies on a plane with the step  61  of each parallel side wall  57 , 58 . Each upper surface  63  extends to the outer surface of a lid peripheral wall  62  and an upper portion  57   a , 58   a  of each side wall  57 , 58  extends to said outer surface of the lid peripheral wall  62 , on opposing sides of the lid  51 , such that opposing cut-outs  64  are formed in the peripheral wall  62  from which the cover  52  slides. 
     A central wall  66  upstands from the bottom wall  55  of the second compartment  54  and extends between the two parallel side walls, midway along, to divide the second compartment  54  into two sub-compartments  54   a , 54   b . A top surface  67  of the central wall  66  lies on a plane with the step  61  of each parallel side wall  57 , 58 . Although the central wall  66  is shown dividing the second compartment  54  into two equal sized sub-compartments  54   a , 54   b , it will be understood that the second compartment  54  may be divided to form uneven sized sub-compartments. 
     A platform  68  upstands from the top surface  67  of the central wall  64  to form a shoulder against which the cover  52  abuts when the cover  52  is slid into one of its two open positions, as will become apparent hereinafter. The shoulder extends above the plane of the step  61 , and the upper surface  63  of each arcuate second compartment end wall  59 , 60 , but below the plane of the upper wall  55  of the lid  51 , as can be appreciated from  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     A lip  69  is formed along each of the two opposing parallel side walls  57 , 58  and extends proximate to the outer surface of the lid peripheral wall  62  at each end, such that a track is formed between said lip  66  and the step  61  on either side of the second compartment  54 , as seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     The cover  52  closing the second compartment  54  is of a generally rectangular shape and comprises a top wall  70  with opposing first and second cover end walls  72 , 73  and two opposing cover side walls  74 , 75 , each depending from the periphery of the top wall  70  to form a cover peripheral wall. The two opposing cover side walls  74 , 75  extend parallel to each other and the cover end walls  72 , 73  extend between the ends of said opposing cover side walls  74 , 75 . The depth of each of the cover side walls  74 , 75  and cover end walls  72 , 73  conforms to the depth of the upper portion  57   a , 58   a  of each parallel side wall  57 , 58  of the second compartment  54 , such that the top wall  70  of the cover  52  lies level with the upper wall  55  of the lid  51  when the cover  52  is mounted thereto. 
     A rib  76  is formed along an outer surface of each cover side wall  74 , 75 , extending between the cover end walls  72 , 73 , proximate to the free edge of each cover side wall  72 , 73 . The width of the cover  52  between the ribs  76  on opposing cover side walls  72 , 73  conforms to the width of the second compartment  54 , between the upper portions  57   a , 58   a  of each second compartment side wall  57 , 58 . When the cover  52  is mounted to the lid  51 , each rib  76  locates in a corresponding track of the lid  51  such that the cover  52  is retained by the lid  51 , and each rib  76  is slidable in its corresponding track so the cover  52  can slide in a direction parallel to the tracks between its closed and open positions. 
     The cover end walls  72 , 73  extend arcuately outwards with a curvature corresponding to the arc of the lid peripheral wall  62 . The length of the cover  52 , between the cover end walls  72 , 73  corresponds to the distance between diametrically opposite sections of the peripheral wall  62  of the lid  51  defined by the opposing cut-outs  64 , such that the cover end walls  72 , 73  continue the arc of the peripheral wall  62  when the cover  4  is in its closed position to form a flush outer finish of the lid  61 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     To access the sub compartments  53   a , 53   b  of the second compartment  53 , a user urges the covet  52  to slide along the axis of the lid parallel side walls  57 , 58  in one of its two opposing directions, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cover  52 . By doing so, each rib  76  slides in its corresponding track defined between the step  61  and each lip  69 , and one end of the cover  52  is slidable from one of the cut outs  64  formed in the lid peripheral wall  62  such that the other end of the cover  52  slides away from the peripheral wall  62 , towards the centre of the lid  51 , and an opening to the second compartment  53  is formed to allow access to said second compartment  53 . 
     As the user further slides the covet  52  into one of the open positions, one of the cover end walls  72 , 73  contacts the upstanding shoulder formed by the platform  68 , because the shoulder upstands above the plane of the step  61  and extends above the free edge of the respective end wall  72 , 73 . As can be appreciated from  FIG. 12 , the covet  52  is prevented from sliding off the lid  51  due to the presence of said shoulder. To close the second compartment  53 , the user slides the cover  52  in the opposite direction. If the user continues to slide the cover in said opposite direction relative to the lid  51 , the other end of the cover  52  slides from the opposing cut out  64  formed in the lid peripheral wall  62 , such that the other sub-compartment is exposed. The other cover end wall  72 , 73  will then contact the upstanding shoulder formed by the platform  68  to restrict movement of the cover  52  relative to the lid  51  and so this configuration also prevents the cover from accidentally detaching from the lid. 
     It shall be appreciated that the central wall, together with the platform forming the shoulder, may not extend between the two opposing parallel side walls  57 , 58  to divide the second compartment  53  into two sub compartments  53   a , 53   b . It is envisaged that any other configuration which forms a shoulder falls within the scope of the present invention. For example, the central wall may be replaced by a protrusion or rod which extends from the bottom wall of the second compartment  53 , but does not divide the second compartment into two sub-compartments. 
     The above described configuration of the slidable cover and the second compartment is not restricted to the lid. A second compartment according to any of the above described embodiments may alternatively be formed in the base, or in both the base and the lid. For example, a shoulder and a second compartment may be formed in a main wall of a base, the base being further configured to receive a slidable cover in accordance with any of the described embodiments. It shall also be appreciated that the above embodiments are not restricted to one or two second compartments. For example, a slidable cover according to the present invention may close a plurality of second compartments. Furthermore, a plurality of second compartments formed on the main wall of the lid and/or the base may be closable by individual slidable covers. 
     It shall also be understood that the cover  4 ,  52  described above may be formed with an indentation so as to improve the grip of the user when they slide the cover between and open and closed positions. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the top wall  32  of the cover  4  is formed with an indentation  40  into which the user can place their thumb or finger as they slide the cover  4  between open and closed positions. As described above, an arcuate channel  26  is formed extending between the inner and outer shoulders  30 , 31  of the platform  29  to allow the indentation to slide therein without contacting said shoulders. A similar indentation may be formed on the cover  52  described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 12 . However, it should be realised that the indention is not essential to the invention but may improve the ease of opening and closing the disposal compartments  6 ,  53 . 
     The configuration of the cover  4 ,  52  and the lid  3 ,  51  of the above described embodiments enables a user to access the disposal compartment  6 ,  53  single handedly as the cover  4 ,  52  can easily slide between an open and closed position without the possibility of the cover  4 ,  52  becoming completely detached from the lid  3 ,  51 . 
     The sliding mechanism of the present invention also provides an improvement over containers having a disposal compartment closable by a cover relying on a clipping function which after repeated use suffers from wear and tear and so is prone to accidental opening as discussed in the introduction. 
     It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to cylindrical containers, and that the base, lid and cover may be formed in many different shapes, for example a cuboid shape, and/or with square edges. 
     Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art that the foregoing description should be regarded as a description of preferred embodiments only and that other embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims are considered to form part of this disclosure.