CN108602613B

CN108602613B - Hinge lid container and blank

Info

Publication number: CN108602613B
Application number: CN201780010303.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·甘扎; R·埃米特
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2016-02-29
Filing date: 2017-02-23
Publication date: 2020-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2037-02-23
Also published as: BR112018015561B1; RU2719245C2; RU2018132869A3; EP3423379B1; RU2018132869A; JP6862459B2; WO2017148801A1; KR20180116254A; CN108602613A; EP3423379A1; JP2019507069A; BR112018015561A2

Abstract

A container (27) comprising a box (28) and a lid (29), wherein the lid depends from the box via a transverse main hinge line, the main hinge line (5) extending across a central hinge section (30) and two adjacent hinge sections, wherein the central hinge section is separated from the two adjacent hinge sections by a cut, wherein the central hinge section (30) is further delimited by an upper hinge line (22) connecting the central hinge section (30) with the lid (29) and a lower hinge line (23) connecting the central hinge section (30) with the box (28), wherein the main hinge line extends across the central hinge section (30) between the upper hinge line (22) and the lower hinge line (23), and wherein the container (27) further comprises a lid top wall (8) connected on one side to the inside of a lid top wall (8) at a distance of between 2mm and 15mm from a lid back wall (6) and on the other side to the central hinge line A biasing member (26) of the box (28) below the section (30), the biasing member (26) being under tension when the container (27) is closed to bias the lid (29) closed and extending through the central hinge section (30) when the container (27) is open to bias the lid (29) open.

Description

Hinge lid container and blank

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hinge lid container comprising a container and a lid which is biased open when the container is open and biased closed when the container is closed. The invention also relates to a blank for such a package.

Background

Packages of the type of the present invention, including containers and lids, are used to contain many types of consumer goods, such as food and inhalable articles. The container and lid are typically connected to each other by a hinge, often an integrally formed hinge, which allows the lid to pivot away from the container when the container is opened, so thatThe consumer can access the interior of the article and then pivot back to reclose the package. The material of construction of the hinge is typically biased to facilitate one or the other of the open or closed positions, particularly when integrally formed with the container and lid. This may interfere with the smooth removal of the items from within the container or may prevent the container from fully and effectively closing after opening. When the container is flip-top^TMWith hinged lids of the type that wrap, the internal frame of such containers can become visible when the container is not fully closed, a so-called "smiling" effect. It is known from DE 665575 to include a spring in such containers to hold the lid open. There may be another element that interacts with the spring to keep the lid closed.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container with reduced smiling phenomena.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising a box and a lid, wherein the lid depends from the box via a transverse main hinge line, wherein the main hinge line comprises a central hinge section and two adjacent hinge sections, wherein the central hinge section is separated from the two adjacent hinge sections by a cut and wherein the central hinge section is further bounded by an upper hinge line and a lower hinge line, wherein the upper hinge line connects the central hinge section with the lid, wherein the lower hinge line connects the central hinge section with the box. The biasing member is connected on one side to the lid above the central hinge section and on the other side to the box below the central hinge line. The biasing member is under tension when the container is closed to bias the lid closed and extends through the central hinge section when the container is open to bias the lid open.

In use, the central hinge section will fold outwardly of the container rear wall along the upper and lower hinge lines. This means that when the lid is pivoted in the opposite direction about the hinge line, the biasing member bends through the central hinge section, however, the biasing member bends at a position below the hinge line. This means that the biasing member is first stretched further upon counter-pivoting of the lid, thereby extending the distance between the two holding points of the biasing member on the rear wall of the container. However, when the lid is further bent, there is an inflection point where the extension of the biasing member is largest. After that point, since the biasing member does not extend around the main hinge line but only around the lower and upper hinge lines, the pivoting lid will in fact further release the tension from the biasing member, so that the biasing member now supports further opening and keeps the lid in the open position.

Advantageously, the biasing member is attached to the inside of the lid top wall at a distance of between about 2 and about 15mm, preferably between about 3 and 8mm, from the lid back wall at the lid retention point. Thus, the inflection point is substantially the point at which the biasing member is aligned parallel to the rear wall of the container, i.e. such that the distance of the lid holding point of the biasing member is above the main hinge line when the lid is pivoted back.

As used herein, the term "container" refers to a substantially rigid package or box, including a box for articles and a lid that can be opened to remove the articles from the box and reclosed to protect the articles from the environment. Such packages are self-supporting in that once formed, their size and shape are not significantly altered after insertion and removal of the article therein. When the consumer goods are smoking articles, typically the container is erected about the smoking article. Advantageously, the container according to the invention and the flip-top^TMThe cassettes have the same shape. Preferably, the container is substantially rectangular parallelepiped. More preferably, the container is rectangular in cross-section and in the form of a carton. It will be appreciated that, by appropriate selection of dimensions, a package according to the invention may be designed to accommodate different numbers of smoking articles, such as cigarettes.

The container according to the first aspect of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material, including but not limited to cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. The weight of the cardboard may be between about 100 grams per square meter and about 350 grams per square meter. Preferably, laminated paper is used. For example, the package may be constructed of laminated paper coated with polyethylene on the intended interior of the package, or a thin aluminum foil sandwich between an outer kraft paper or board and an inner polyethylene coating.

The hinge line according to the first aspect of the invention may comprise any suitable hinge or bending mechanism. Advantageously, each of the hinge and bend lines are stamped, milled, creased or scored separately from one another. Preferably, the hinge and bend lines are creased.

According to one embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the container may comprise additional central hinge sections, each additional central hinge section being associated with its own biasing member, each biasing member being connected to the lid beyond the central hinge section on one side and to the container beyond the central hinge section on the other side, each biasing member being under tension when the container is closed to bias the lid closed and extending through the central hinge section when the container is open to bias the lid open. In this case, each additional central hinge section comprises two cuts intersecting the hinge line.

The biasing means according to the first aspect of the present invention may have any suitable configuration to achieve the desired function of biasing the lid closed when the container is closed and biasing the lid open when the container is open. The biasing member may comprise a strip of material extending substantially from one of the cutouts to the other to extend substantially across the entire central hinge section. Alternatively, the biasing member may extend only a portion of the distance laterally between the two cutouts and within the central hinge section. In another embodiment, there may be two or more biasing members disposed between two cutouts and within the central hinge section. In this case, each biasing member may comprise a thread.

The biasing member according to the invention may be connected to the lid on one side of the hinge line and to the container on the other side of the hinge line by heat bonding, by means of an adhesive, by mechanical means, such as one or more spikes or by a mixture thereof. Advantageously, the biasing member is connected to the lid and the container by thermal bonding, in particular by ultrasonic welding.

The biasing member according to the present invention may comprise an elastomer, in particular a non-woven elastomer. Such materials are known to those skilled in the art. Which is attached under tension to the lid and container, for example by stretching it when applied.

Preferably, the biasing member is already under tension when applied to the blank from which the container is made. Alternatively, the biasing member may be stretched after application to the blank, for example by shrinking the biasing member, for example by heating.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an elongate blank for a container having a box and a lid, the elongate blank comprising: a box defining portion and a lid defining portion; wherein the lid defining portion depends from the box defining portion via a transverse main hinge line, wherein the main hinge line comprises a central hinge section and two adjacent hinge sections, wherein the central hinge section is separated from two adjacent hinge sections by a cut and wherein the central hinge section is further delimited by an upper hinge line and a lower hinge line, wherein the upper hinge line connects the central hinge section with the lid defining portion, wherein the lower hinge line connects the central hinge section with the box defining portion, the elongate blank additionally comprises a biasing member connected on one side to the lid defining portion above the central hinge section and on the other side to the box defining portion beyond the central hinge section, the biasing member is under tension when the forming vessel is closed and is configured to bias the lid closed and to extend through the central hinge section to bias the lid open when the forming vessel is open.

Drawings

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

FIG. 1 shows an elongate blank for forming a hinged lid packet;

FIG. 2 shows an elongate blank according to the present invention for forming a hinge-lid container comprising a biasing member;

FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of an opened formed container according to the present invention with one side cut away to allow viewing of the interior of the formed package;

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of an open shaped container according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an open shaped container according to the present invention; and

fig. 6 shows a side view of a closed shaped container according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows an elongate blank 1 for forming a hinge-lid container and comprising a central hinge section according to the invention. Figure 1 does not show biasing means which would obscure the details of the central hinge section.

The elongate blank comprises a container-defining portion 2 and a lid-defining portion 3, which portions are separated from each other by a hinge line 5.

In the longitudinal direction of the elongated blank, the container-defining part 2 and the lid-defining part 3 each comprise a plurality of rectangular panels of substantially the same width in the transverse direction of the blank, foldably connected to each other along transverse score lines parallel to the hinge line 5. As shown in fig. 1, the lid defining portion 3 comprises a rectangular lid rear wall panel 6 connected along a hinge line to a rectangular box rear wall panel 7 of the container defining portion 2 of the blank; a rectangular lid top wall panel 8 connected to the lid rear wall panel 6; a rectangular lid front wall panel 9 connected to the lid top wall panel 8. The lid defining portion 3 also comprises a rectangular lid front wall flap 10 connected to the lid front wall panel 9 along a transverse score line 11, which has a reduced width in the transverse direction of the blank compared to the lid front wall panel 9.

The lid defining portion of the elongate blank further comprises a pair of opposed trapezoidal lid inner side wall panels 12 foldably connected to the side edges of the lid rear wall panel 6 along longitudinal score lines perpendicular to the hinge line 5. As shown in fig. 1, each lid inner side wall panel 12 has an upper edge parallel to the hinge line 5, defined by a transverse score line which is a substantially co-linear extension of the transverse score line connecting the lid back wall panel 6 to the lid top wall panel 8. The lower edge of each lid inner side wall panel 12 is defined by an angled cut.

A pair of opposed trapezoidal lid outer side wall panels 14 of substantially the same size and shape as the inner side wall panels 12 are foldably connected to the side edges of the lid front wall panel 9 along respective longitudinal score lines 15, perpendicular to the transverse hinge line 5. Each lid outer side wall panel 14 has a lower edge parallel to the hinge line 5, defined by a transverse cut which is a substantially co-linear extension of the transverse score line connecting the lid top wall panel 8 to the lid front wall panel 9; and has an angled upper edge 16.

A pair of opposed lid side wall flaps 13 of substantially the same width as the lid inner side wall panel 12 in the transverse direction of the blank and of substantially the same length as the lid top wall panel 8 in the longitudinal direction of the blank are pivotally attached to the upper edge of the lid inner side wall panel 12. A right triangular piece of each lid side wall flap 13 is cut out. The first side of the cut sheet extends partially along the width of the sidewall flap 13 along a line between the sidewall flap 13 and the outer side wall panel 14, and the second side extends co-linear with the length of the pivot attachment and partially at right angles to the first side along the length of the pivot attachment.

The container-defining portion 2 of the elongated blank comprises, in the longitudinal direction of the blank, a container bottom wall panel 17 connected to the container rear wall panel 7 and a container front wall panel 18 connected to the container bottom wall panel 17. A pair of opposed trapezoidal container inner side wall panels 19 and a pair of opposed trapezoidal container outer side wall panels 20 of substantially the same size and shape are respectively foldably connected to the side edges of the container rear wall panel 7 and the container front wall panel 18 along longitudinal score lines perpendicular to the hinge line 5. A pair of opposed container side wall flaps 21 are pivotally attached to the longitudinal edges of the container bottom wall panel 17.

The circled portion of the elongated blank labeled a in fig. 1 highlights the central hinge section located to either side of the hinge 5. The central hinge section additionally comprises upper and

lower fold lines

22, 23 and cuts 24, 25.

Fig. 2 shows the same blank as depicted in fig. 1, additionally comprising a biasing member 26 attached to the lid defining portion 3 on one side of the hinge line 5 and to the container defining portion 2 on the other side of the hinge line 5. In this figure, the biasing member 26 conceals the view of the central hinge section.

Fig. 3 shows a rear perspective view of a shaped container 27 comprising a container 28 and a lid 29 which is open and pivoted about a hinge line at right angles to the major faces of the container. In this figure, the inner and outer sidewall panels have been removed on one side, allowing the interior of the shaped container 27 to be viewed. The central hinge section 30, delimited by the upper fold line 22 and the lower fold line 23, is depicted as being bent away from the container and forming a right angle with the hinge line 5 at its apex. It can be seen that the biasing member 26 extends through an opening formed by one of the cutouts 24 that also bound the central hinge section 30.

Fig. 4 is another perspective view of the shaped container 27, this time the front, comprising a container 28 and a lid 29, which is open and pivoted about a hinge line at right angles to the main face of the container. A portion of the central hinge section can be seen (and the remainder in broken line form can be seen). The biasing member 26 extends through the central hinge section.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a shaped container 27 comprising a container 28 and a lid 29 which is open and pivoted about a hinge line at right angles to the major face of the container. The encircled portion of the container labeled B in fig. 5 highlights the central hinge section and it can be seen that the biasing member extends through the central hinge section to bias the lid open.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a shaped container 27 comprising a container 28 and a lid 29, which is closed. In this configuration, the central hinge section is not visible, but it can be seen that the biasing member 26 biases the lid closed. In use, the biasing member may be further deflected by the contents of the container, e.g. a smoking article.

Claims

1. A container comprising a box and a lid, wherein the lid depends from the box via a transverse main hinge line, wherein the main hinge line extends across a central hinge section and two adjacent hinge sections of the container, wherein the central hinge section is separated from the two adjacent hinge sections by a cut, wherein the central hinge section is further bounded by an upper hinge line connecting the central hinge section with the lid and a lower hinge line connecting the central hinge section with the box, wherein the main hinge line extends across the central hinge section between the upper hinge line and the lower hinge line, and wherein the container further comprises a biasing member having one side connected to the inside of the lid top wall at a distance of between 2mm and 15mm from the lid rear wall and the other side connected to the box below the central hinge section, the biasing member is under tension when the container is closed to bias the lid closed and extends through the central hinge section when the container is open to bias the lid open.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is attached to the inside of the lid top wall at a distance of between 3mm and 8mm from the lid back wall.

3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing member comprises an elastomer.

4. A container according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of biasing members.

5. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing member is connected to the lid and the container by thermal bonding.

6. A container according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an elongate article.

7. The container of claim 3, wherein the elastomer is a non-woven elastomer.

8. The container of claim 5, wherein the thermal bond is an ultrasonic weld.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein the elongate article is a smoking article, a gasket article, or a mixture thereof.

10. An elongated blank for a container having a box and a lid, the elongated blank comprising:

a box defining portion and a lid defining portion;

wherein the lid defining portion depends from the box defining portion via a transverse main hinge line, wherein the main hinge line extends across a central hinge section and two adjacent hinge sections, wherein the central hinge section is separated from the two adjacent hinge sections by a cut, wherein the central hinge section is further bounded by an upper hinge line connecting the central hinge section with the lid defining portion and a lower hinge line connecting the central hinge section with the box defining portion, wherein the main hinge line extends across the central hinge section between the upper hinge line and the lower hinge line, and wherein the elongate blank further comprises a biasing member having one side connected to the inside of the lid top wall at a distance of between 2mm and 15mm from the lid back wall and the other side connected to the box below the central hinge section, the biasing member is under tension when the formed container is closed and is configured to bias the lid closed and extends through the central hinge section to bias the lid open when the formed container is open.

11. A blank according to claim 10 wherein each of the hinge lines are embossed or scored separately from one another.

12. The blank of claim 10 or 11, wherein the biasing member comprises an elastomer.

13. A blank according to claim 10 or 11, comprising a plurality of biasing members.

14. A blank according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the biasing member is connected to the lid defining portion and the box defining portion by thermal bonding.

15. The blank of claim 12, wherein the elastomer is a non-woven elastomer.

16. The blank of claim 14, wherein the biasing member is connected to the lid defining portion and the box defining portion by ultrasonic welding.