Patent Description:
Containers comprising two compartments in a back-to-back orientation are known.

The first compartment may contain a consumer product, such as a plurality of pouches, to be used by a consumer. The pouches may contain tobacco or a substance related to the tobacco industry. Alternatively, the pouches may be tobacco-free but contain a substance related to nicotine replacement therapy. The second compartment may be used to store the consumer product once it has been used by a consumer before disposal, and/or for storing a product information leaflet on which information relating to the product is provided. Each of the compartments is closed by a separate lid, at least the lid closing a primary storage compartment in which the consumer product is contained prior to consumption may form part of a child-resistant closure that requires manipulation by an adult to allow removal.

<CIT> discloses a box that can contain two contents of different nature, the box consisting of two halves or compartments separated from each other by a common lid.

<CIT> discloses a container according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for a tobacco product, wherein the container comprises a base comprising a first portion defining a primary storage compartment and a second portion comprising a flange protruding outwardly from the first portion, the flange comprising a top surface and a peripheral rim depending from an edge of the top surface of the flange in a direction away from the first portion. The container comprises a lid having a peripheral wall comprising an end face, wherein the peripheral wall locates over the first portion of the base such that, when the lid is located on the base to close the primary storage compartment, the end face of the lid contacts the top surface of the flange of the second portion between the first portion of the base and the peripheral rim of the flange of the second portion, and a cover that locates over the second portion to define a secondary storage compartment, the cover having a peripheral lip that overlies the peripheral rim of the flange such that the peripheral wall of the lid and the peripheral lip of the cover extend towards each other. The peripheral lip of the cover is outwardly spaced from the peripheral wall of the lid in a direction extending along the top surface of the flange.

The peripheral lip of the cover may be offset from the peripheral wall of the lid in a direction extending away from the base.

Preferably, the base may comprise a dividing wall between the first and second portions of the base that separates the base into primary and secondary storage compartments.

The flange may be a lateral extension of the dividing wall.

The peripheral rim may define a shallow recessed region in the base together with the dividing wall and the flange, said shallow recessed region may form the secondary storage compartment together with the cover.

The cover may have a major face from which the peripheral lip upstands, a recess being formed in said major face.

The peripheral rim of the flange may include a plurality of protuberances equidistantly spaced around said edge.

The peripheral lip of the cover may comprise a plurality of recesses positioned and shaped to correspond with the position of said protuberances, such that each protuberance on the peripheral rim may be received in a corresponding recess in the peripheral lip when the cover is located on the flange.

The container may comprise four protuberances on the peripheral rim of the flange and four corresponding recesses on the peripheral lip of the cover.

The cover may comprise a locking tab that extends inwardly from the peripheral lip of the cover and locates on the surface of the flange when the cover is in a closed position on the base.

The end face of the peripheral wall of the lid may contact a surface of the locking tab and the surface of the flange when the lid is located on the base.

The flange may comprise a pocket formed in the surface of the flange to receive the locking tab on the cover. A surface of the locking tab and a surface of the flange may be flush with each other when the locking tab is received in the pocket. If the locking tab is compressible, then it may be flush with the surface of the flange when the lid is received on the base and the lid compresses the locking tab.

The cover may be pivotally attached to the base by a hinge. In this case, the locking tab may comprise a radially inwardly directed tongue spaced from the hinge.

The locking tab may comprise at least two inwardly directed tongues spaced from each other around the peripheral lip of the cover.

The tongue or tongues may be resiliently flexible and deform to enable the cover to be released from the base once the lid has been partially released.

<FIG> illustrates a base <NUM> and a lid <NUM> of a container <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention. The base <NUM> comprises a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> is a substantially cylindrical portion which defines a primary storage compartment. The second portion <NUM> is a flange that protrudes outwardly from the first portion <NUM>. The lid <NUM> comprises a lid major face <NUM>, that is substantially cylindrical, and a peripheral wall <NUM> depending from an edge <NUM> of said lid major face <NUM>.

In preferred embodiments, the lid <NUM> is removably attached to the base <NUM>, however it is to be appreciated that the lid <NUM> may be hinged to the base <NUM> or attached in an alternative manner. As seen in <FIG>, the lid <NUM> is removably attached to the base. When the lid <NUM> is received on the base <NUM>, the peripheral wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM> locates over the first portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> to close the primary storage space and the second portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> (the flange <NUM>) extends laterally beyond the peripheral wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>. An end face <NUM> of the peripheral wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM> is in direct face-sharing contact with a top surface <NUM> of the flange <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is in a closed position on the base <NUM> to form a fully enclosed primary storage space to contain a consumer product. The lid <NUM> and base <NUM> may be attached by any suitable locking mechanism. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> the lid <NUM> is attached to the first portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> by a screw mechanism and a child-proof closure. The child-proof closure must be released before the user is able to release the lid <NUM> from the first portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

The base <NUM> further comprises a dividing wall <NUM> located at the bottom of the first portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The flange <NUM> is an extension of said dividing wall <NUM> and comprises a peripheral rim <NUM> that depends from an edge <NUM> of the flange <NUM> in a direction away from the first portion <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The peripheral rim <NUM> defines a shallow recessed region <NUM> in the underside of the base <NUM>. A secondary storage compartment is located underneath the base <NUM> and is defined by the dividing wall <NUM>, the flange <NUM> and the shallow recessed region <NUM>. The dividing wall <NUM> separates the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment.

The container <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention further comprises a cover <NUM>. The cover <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, comprises a substantially cylindrical cover major face <NUM> and a peripheral lip <NUM> which depends from an edge <NUM> of the cover major face <NUM>, forming a recess <NUM> in said cover major face <NUM>. In preferred embodiments, the cover <NUM> is removably attached to the base <NUM>, however it is to be appreciated that the cover <NUM> may be hinged to the base <NUM> or attached in an alternative manner. The cover <NUM> is attached to the second portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> (the flange <NUM>) in such a way that the peripheral lip <NUM> of the cover <NUM> locates over the second portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> and overlies the peripheral rim <NUM> of the flange <NUM> via an interference fit and thus closes the secondary storage compartment. When both the lid <NUM> and the cover <NUM> are in a closed position on the base <NUM>, the peripheral wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM> and the peripheral lip <NUM> of the cover <NUM> extend towards each other from the respective major faces <NUM>, <NUM> (i.e. they are opposite to each other). Additionally, the peripheral lip <NUM> of the cover <NUM> is offset from the peripheral wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM> in a direction extending away from the base <NUM>, this allows a user to grip the peripheral wall <NUM> to easily remove the cover <NUM>. The secondary storage compartment may provide a space to receive and store a printed information leaflet and/or be used to contain used product. The cover <NUM> may be recessed or dished to increase the amount of space formed by the secondary storage compartment.

In preferred embodiments, as illustrated in <FIG>, the second portion <NUM> of the base <NUM> (the flange <NUM>) comprises a number of protuberances <NUM> equidistantly spaced around the peripheral rim <NUM> of the flange <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the peripheral rim <NUM> of the flange <NUM> comprises four equidistantly spaced protuberances <NUM>, however, the peripheral rim <NUM> of the flange <NUM> may comprises any suitable number of protuberances <NUM>. The protuberances <NUM> are substantially semi-circular or arcuate in shape, however, the protuberances <NUM> may take the form of any shape or size. As seen in <FIG>, the peripheral lip <NUM> of the cover <NUM> comprises a number of equidistantly spaced recesses <NUM>, positioned and shaped to correspond with the protuberances <NUM> of the peripheral rim <NUM> of the flange <NUM>. These recesses <NUM> are of identical shape and size to the protuberances <NUM> such that when the cover <NUM> is in a closed position on the base <NUM>, each of the protuberances <NUM> on the peripheral rim <NUM> of the flange <NUM> is received within a corresponding recess <NUM> on the peripheral lip <NUM> of the cover <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the cover <NUM> may further comprise a locking tab <NUM> which extends inwardly from the peripheral lip <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. As seen in the <FIG>, the locking tab <NUM> may comprises two tongues <NUM> directly opposite from one another that are substantially rectangular in shape. It is to be appreciated that the locking tab <NUM> may comprise any number of tongues <NUM> formed in any suitable shape or size. The locking tab <NUM> is configured to contact the top surface <NUM> of the flange <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is in a closed position on the base <NUM>. The flange <NUM> comprises a pocket <NUM> in the top surface <NUM> of the flange <NUM> configured to receive the locking tab <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is in a closed position on the base <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> is designed to be the same shape and size as the locking tab <NUM>. When the locking tab <NUM> is received within the pocket <NUM>, a top surface <NUM> of the locking tab <NUM> and the top surface <NUM> of the flange <NUM> are flush with each other. Therefore, when the lid <NUM> is in a closed position on the base <NUM>, the end face <NUM> of the peripheral wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM> contacts the top surface <NUM> of the flange <NUM> and the top surface <NUM> of the locking tab <NUM>. The tongues <NUM> are made from a resiliently flexible material and are configured to deform to enable the cover <NUM> to be released from the base <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is partially released from the base <NUM>.

It will be appreciated that, in the embodiment in which the cover <NUM> has locking tabs <NUM>, it is not possible to remove the cover <NUM> from the base <NUM> until the lid <NUM> has been removed or opened, or until at least the lid <NUM> has been partially released from the base. Only once the lid has at least been partially released is it possible for the locking tabs on the cover <NUM> to be released from their corresponding pockets <NUM> to allow removal of the cover <NUM>. Partial release of the cover <NUM> may include release of the child-resistant closure.

In embodiments in which the cover <NUM> is permanently attached to the base <NUM>, i.e. by a hinge, it will be understood that the locking tab <NUM> may comprise only a single tongue that engages in a single pocket <NUM> in the flange <NUM>. The tongue may be located diametrically opposite to the hinge.

The container <NUM> is preferably made from plastic such as HDPE or the like. The cover <NUM> may be integrally formed with the container <NUM> and therefore may be also made from HDPE or the like. Alternatively, the cover <NUM> may be separately manufactured from the container <NUM> and formed from other plastics such as LDPE etc. The lid <NUM> may be formed of a different material to the base <NUM>, such as polypropylene.

Claim 1:
A container (<NUM>) for a tobacco product, wherein the container comprises:
a base (<NUM>) comprising a first portion (<NUM>) defining a primary storage compartment and a second portion (<NUM>) comprising a flange protruding outwardly from the first portion (<NUM>), the flange comprising a top surface (<NUM>) and a peripheral rim (<NUM>) depending from an edge of the top surface (<NUM>) of the flange in a direction away from the first portion (<NUM>);
a lid (<NUM>) having a peripheral wall (<NUM>) comprising an end face (<NUM>), wherein the peripheral wall (<NUM>) locates over the first portion (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>) such that, when the lid (<NUM>) is located on the base (<NUM>) to close the primary storage compartment, the end face (<NUM>) of the lid (<NUM>) contacts the top surface (<NUM>) of the flange of the second portion (<NUM>) between the first portion (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>) and the peripheral rim (<NUM>) of the flange of the second portion (<NUM>), and
a cover (<NUM>) that defines a secondary storage compartment, characterized in that the cover (<NUM>) locates over the second portion (<NUM>) to define said secondary storage compartment, the cover (<NUM>) having a peripheral lip (<NUM>) that overlies the peripheral rim (<NUM>) of the flange such that the peripheral wall (<NUM>) of the lid (<NUM>) and the peripheral lip (<NUM>) of the cover (<NUM>) extend towards each other;
wherein the peripheral lip (<NUM>) of the cover (<NUM>) is outwardly spaced from the peripheral wall (<NUM>) of the lid (<NUM>) in a direction extending along the top surface (<NUM>) of the flange.