GB2222576A

GB2222576A - Containers for smoking articles

Info

Publication number: GB2222576A
Application number: GB8919779A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Roy Stewart-Cox
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 1988-09-09
Filing date: 1989-09-01
Publication date: 1990-03-14
Also published as: GB8821255D0; GB8919779D0

Abstract

A container e.g. for cigarettes comprises a container portion 2 and a lid portion 3 which are hingedly interattached. The container portion 2, and usually the lid portion 3, comprises an open frame which is completely covered at the rear side of the frame by sheet material, which sheet material also extends over the side regions and front regions of the frame. The frame and the sheet material at the rear of the frame opening serve to define a containment recess for smoking articles. A clasp 5 may hold the lid portion 3 in a closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SMOKING ARTICLE CONTAINERS the invention the subjected of this application relates to containers for cigarettes and similar smoking articles.

It is an object of the subject invention to provide new and improved smoking article containers.

The present invention provides a smoking article container conprising a container portion and a lid portion hingedly attached to said container portion, said container portion comprising frame means and sheet material applied to said frame means and extendimg across an opening in said frame means, said sheet material and inner walls of said frar:- means bounding a smoking article containment recess, which rce is overlain by said lid portion when said 116 portion is in the closed position thereof.

Preferably, the sheet material closes completely the opening in the frame means. The sheet material may extend across and be co-terminous with a rear face of the frame means, in which case the sheet material may also extend from the rear face of the frame means to side faces of the frame means and na'; extend from tha side faces to a front face of the frame means.

The sheet material may extend to and ba attached to the lid portion of the container, ai.c such extension may be utilised to provide hinge means between the lid portion and the container portion Advantageously, the lid portion comprises a recess which, when the lid is in the closed position, defines with the containment recess of the container portion a smoking article containment space. Such recess in the lid portion may be provided in the same manner as is provided the containment recess of the container portion.

That is to say, the lid portion may comprise frame means and sheet material extending across an opening in the frame means, with the sheet material and inner walls of the frame means bounding the lid portion recess. Suitably, such sheet material is continuous with the sheet material which extends across the frame opening of the container portion.

The frame means of the container portion and, if present, of the lid portion may be constructed of a plastics material, corrugated cardboard, papier-mache, cardboard - backed foam or any other suitable rigid material(s). The frame means in one or both portions of the container may be'provided by an extruded shaped material. The frame means may take the form of a loop of wire-like material.

The sheet material aforementioned which is applied to the frame means may be, for example, cartonboard, a plastics material or a fabric material. The sheet material may consist of a laminated combination of materials, including, as an outer layer, a m ta:i foil.

If the sheet material comprises plast:ics material, the plastics sheet may be vacuum moulded about the frame means of the lid portion or container portion.

In order that the present invention may be clearly understood and readily carried intc effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the drawings hereof, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cigarette container in a closed condition; Figure 2 shows the container o= Figure 1 iii an open condition; Figure 3 shows a france of a container portion D::- the container shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the frame of Figure 3 taken at plane IV-IV; Figure 5 shows, to a scale less than that of Figure 3, a blank of sheet material for attachment to the frame of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 with parts of the blank o Figure 5 in contact with the frame; Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing, in cross-section, parts of a lid portion of the container of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 8 shows a france of a form somewhat different from that of Figure 3 Figure 9 shows a cross-section of the fraM of Figure 8 taken at plane IX-IX;; Figure 10 shows, to a scale less than that of Figure 8, a blank of sheet material for attachment to the frame of Figure 8; and Figure 11 shows margins of container ard lid portions of a cigarette container with the lid portion in a closure position thereof; and Figure 12 shows a perspectiveview of the container portion of a further embodiment according to the :invention.

The cigarette container shown in Figures 1 and 2, and generally designated by reference numeral l, comprises a container portion 2 and a lid portion 3 hingedly attached, by means of a flexible hinge strip 4, to the container portion 3. The container 1 further comprises a clasp 5 which is mounted on the container portion 2 and is movable to and from a position as depicted in Figure 1, in which position the clasp 5 serves to maintain the container in the closed condition.

The container portion 2 comprises a rectangular frame 6 formed of a plastics material. The frame 6 consists of side members 7, 8 and end members 9, 10 integral with the side members 7, 8, which members 7-10 define together an opening 11 extending through the frame 6. The cross-sectional shape of the side member 8 is shown at Figure 4, this being also the crcss-- sectional shape of the members 7, 9 and 1C.

The container portion 2 further comprises snc..ct material attached to the frame 6, which sheet material, prior to attachment to the frame 6, takes the form of a flat blank 12, as shown in Figure 5. Reference numerals 13-16 of Figure 5 designate lines of cut in the blank 12.

In applying the blank 12 to the frame 6, the blank is disposed to the rear of the frame 6, that is to say below the frame 6 in the position thereof shown in Figure 3. A centre panel 17 of the blank i2, which ch is dimensioned to be co-extensive with tiie opening 11 of the frame 6, is positioned so as to expend across ani to close completely the opening 11. Panels 18-21 of the blank 12 are then folded into face-to-face contact with rear surfaces of the side memebers 7, 8 and the end members 9, 10 of the frame 6, each of the panels 18-21 being co-extensive with the surface to which it is brought into contact. Panels 22-25 are then folded about the outer edges of the members 7--10 into face-to- face contact with front surfaces of th members 7-10, each of the panels 22-25 being co-extensive with the surface to which it is brought into contact. Finally, panels 26-29 of the blank 12 are folded down to face-to-face contact with the inwardly facing inner walls of the frame 6 so as to line these inner walls.

The panels 26-29, each of which is co-extensive with the frame inner wall to which it is brought into contact, may be anchored at the frame inner walls by use, :or example, of an adhesive. If the blank 12 and/or the frame 6 comprises plastics material the panels 26-29 may be anchored at the frame inner walls by use of an ultra-sonic or other thermo-welding technique. A further alternative is for the panels 26-29 to be fixed in place by means of mechanical interlocking.

The effect of applying the blank 12 to the frame 6 as just described is to provide a containment recess bounded by the panel 17 of the blank 6 and by the lined inner walls of the frame 6 and to cover, on all three sides, each of the side and end members 7-10 of the frame 6. The covering of side meMber 8 of the frame 6 is depicted at Figure 6. The surfaces of the blank; 12 which are viewable after the blank 12 has been applied to the frame 6 are coloured to provide a decorative effect.

In that the lid portion 3 of the cigarette container 1 is of a construction similar to that of the container portion 2, the lid portion 3 will not be described in detail. The lid portion 3 comprises a rectangular frame 30 of a plastics material to which is applied a sheet material blank 31 in a fashion similar to that above described for the application of the blan 12 to the frame 6. The effect of applying the blank 31 to the frame 30 is to provide a recess 32 (see Figure 2) bounded by a central panel 33 of the blank 31 arld Ly the lined inner walls o the frame 30 and to cover on all sides thereof the side and end members of the frame 30 (see Figure 7).As is indicated in Figure 7, the cross-sectional shape of the side and end members of the frame 30 of the lid portion 3 is such that when the lid portion 3 is in the closure position thereof, the margins of the lid portion 3 lie in face-to-face contact with the margins of the container portion 2.

When the lid portion 3 is in the closure position thereof the recess 32 of the lid portion 3 is Co- terminous with the above mentioned containment re(:ss of the container portion 2, the to recesses thus together defining a containment space.

As may be observed from Figure 2, base portions of a packaged cigarette assemblage 34, are received as a close fit in the containment recess of the container portion 2, the assemblage 34 being scud to the portion 2 by an adhesive securement band 35.

In the alternative, the assemblage 34 may be provided with tongues which interact with corresponding tongue-receiving slits in the inner walls of the containment recess of the container 2 which arrangement serves to removably secure the assemblage 34 within the container portion 2. P. further alternative is to adhere the assemblage 34 into the containment recess. The latter solution is less preferable as the assemblage 34 cannot be removed so easily and the cigarette container ray often not be re-used or re-usable.

If, as is suitably the case, the assemblage 34 is received as a close fit in the recess 3?. of the lid portion 3 when the lid portion 3 is in the closure position thereof, the lid portion 3 may b held the closure position without there being a require:ticni for a clasp to be provided for the purpose.

Two respects in which the frame 36 shown by Figure 8 differs from the Figure 3 frame are the cross-sectional shape of the side and end members of the frame 36, this being indicated by Figure 9, and the provision of corner pieces 37-40, which corner pieces stand proud of adjacent upper surfaces of the side and end members b a ditce equivalent to the thickness of the blank 41 (see Figure 10). when the blank 41 has been applied to the frame 36, to provide a container portion of a cigarette container, panels 42-45 of the blank 41 lie against the upper surfaces of the side and end members of the frarne 36 and panels 46-49 serve to line the inwardly facing inner walls of the frame 36.Outer surf aces of the panels 42-45 are flush with the outwardly facing surfaces of the corner pieces 37-40. To the thus provided container portion there is hingedly attached n lid portion, which lid portion is also provided by aaplying a blank, a part of which is shown in Figure 11 and is designated by reference numeral 50, to a frame 51.

Because of the respective cross-sectional shapes o the side and end members of the frames 3E anS 51, margins of the lid and container portions arc, when the lid portion is in the closure position thereof, in face-to face contact in inclined planes, as is indicated in Figure ii. This arrangement provides for a secure location of the lid portion relative to the location of the container portion.

Other cross-sectional shapes for the size art:i end members of the frames of lid and container portions of containers according to the subject invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 12, wherein te container portion 52 comprises a cardboard-backed foan frame 53 shown in part bir chain dot lines. In the manufacture of the container portion 52 the frame 53 is completely covered at its front and rear surfaces by sheet material 54 At a latc'-r stage a slit in the upper surface of the sheet material 54 serves to provide a pocket 55 into which a packages cigarette assemblage or loose cigarettes can be inserted. A portion of the end member 9' of the frame 53 beneath the sheet material 54 at that location can be remove in order to allow means for securing an end of the packaged cigarette assemblage or the ends of loose cigarettes, The frame of the container portion 2 need not be a closed frame, portions or whole wall members of the frame being absent, such as is described in the Figure 12 embodiment above.

Where loose cigarettes are to b held in the containment recess the cigarettes may be placed within a locating sleeve, which sleeve may be moulded to provide seats for the lowermost of the loo cigarettes.

Claims

1. A smoking articled container comprising a container portion and a lid pdrtion hingedly attached to aid container portion, said container portion comprising frame means and sheet material applied to said frame means and extending across an opening in said frame means, said sheet material and inner walls of said frame means bounding a smoking article containment recess, which recess :s cverlain by said lid portion when said lid portion is -n the closed position thereof.

2. A container according to Clam 1, therein said sheet material closes completely the opening in said frame means.

3. A container according to Claim or Or 2 > wherein said sheet material extend to and is attached to said lie portion of said container.

4. A container according to Claim 3, wherein the extension of said sheet material :?rovides hinge means between said lid portion and said container portion.

5. A container according to any on of the preceding claims, wherein said lid portion comprises a recess which, when said lid is in the closed position facing said container portion, defines with s3id containment recess of said container portion a smoking article containment space.

6. A container according to Claim r; wherein said recess in said lid portion is bounded by inner walls cf lid portion frame means and lid portion sheet material extending across an opening in said iid portion fraine means.

7. A container according to Claim 6, wherein said sheet material of said lid portion is continuous with the sheet material extending across said opening of said container portion.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said frame means is comprised of one o more of plastics material, corrugated cardboard, papiernache and cardboard-backed foam material.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sheet material comprises one or more of cartonboard, plastics material, fabric. material and metal foil.

10. A container according to Claim 9, wherein said sheet material is a laminated material.

11. P container according to any one cf the preceding claims, wherein said container comprises clasp means operable to maintain said container in a cloyed position.

12. A smoking article container substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, Figures 8 to 11 and Figure 12.

13. A method of constructing a smoking article container or portions thereof substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, Figures 8 to 11 and Figure 12.

13. A method of constructing a smoking article container or portions thereof substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, Figures P t:o 11 and Figure 12.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS 1. A smoking article container comprising a ccntainer portion and a lid portion hingedly attached to said container portion, said container portion comprising frame means and sheet material, said frame means having walls defining an opening therethrough, a front face, a rear face and side faces, and said sheet material being applied to said frame means and extending across said opening in said frame means, said sheet material extending across and being Co- terminous with said rear face and said side faces of said frame means, said sheet material and inner walls of said frame means bounding a smoking article containment recess, which recess is overlain by said lid portion when said lid portion is in the closed position thereof.

2. A container according to Claim 1 r wherein said sheet material closes completely the opening in said frame means.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said sheet material extends to and is attached to said lid portion of said container.

4. A container according to Claim 3, wherein the extension of said sheet material provides hinge means between said lid portion and said container portion.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lid portion comprises a recess which, when said lid is in the closed position facing said container portion, defines with said containment recess of said container portion a smoking article containment space.

6. A container according to Claim 5, wherein said recess in said lid portion is bounded by inner walls of lid portion frame means and lid portion sheet material extending across an opening in said lid portion frame means.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said frame means is comprised of one or more of plastics material, corrugated cardboard, papiermache and cardboard-backed foam material.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sheet material comprises one or more of cartonboard, plastics material, fabric material and metal foil.

10. A container according to Claim 9 r wherein said sheet material is a laminated material.

11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said container comprises clasp means operable to maintain said container in a closed position.