GB2534216A

GB2534216A - A pack

Info

Publication number: GB2534216A
Application number: GB1500812.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reevell Tony
Original assignee: NGIP Research Ltd
Current assignee: NGIP Research Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-19
Filing date: 2015-01-19
Publication date: 2016-07-20
Also published as: GB201500812D0

Abstract

A pack 2 comprises separate compartments 8, 10 for unused and used rod shaped aerosol articles 4, 6, such as e-cigarettes. The compartments have respective openings 28, 30 which may be covered by a single lid 32 or separate lids. The pack may be a rectangular box and the lid/s may be hinged. Independently operable secondary lids may be used to cover the openings and may provide an airtight seal to the corresponding compartment. The pack may be configured such that it is easier to access articles from the unused compartment than the used compartment. The compartments may be separated by a common wall 26 which may be movable to allow the size of the compartments to be reduced or expanded.

Description

A Pack The present specification relates to a pack for unused and used aerosol-generating articles.

Heated tobacco articles are known alternatives to conventional cigarettes and function by releasing a nicotine-containing aerosol through heating rather than burning. By avoiding the combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco, these heat-not-burn products are thought to reduce harm to the user.

Example commercial products that use a device having an electrical heater to heat tobacco rods include those from Philip Morris International such as Accord®, Heatbar® and more recently IQOS® using Heatsticks®.

Heated tobacco articles typically do not burn down like conventional combustible cigarettes and as such a used article is similar in size to an unused article.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a pack for unused and used rod shaped aerosol-generating articles comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the pack comprising an unused-article compartment, an unused-article compartment opening, a used-article compartment and a used-article compartment opening.

The pack may be configured to hold used articles that are substantially the same length as the unused articles. The pack 30 may be configured to hold heated tobacco articles that are not burnt down during use.

The pack may be configured to hold rod shaped articles such that the articles are packed parallel to one another.

The pack may be in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The pack may be in the form of a rectangular box. The pack may comprise a front, back, top, bottom, left side and right side. The pack may comprise card material. The pack may be constructed from a card template that is folded and glued to form the pack.

The used-article compartment opening may be adjacent the unused-article compartment opening.

The openings may be provided on the same pack side. Alternatively, the openings may not be provided on the same pack side. The openings may be provided on opposite pack sides.

The pack may comprise a separation wall that splits the inside of the pack into two compartments. The two compartments may be the unused-article compartment and the used-article compartment. The separation wall may be formed as part of the pack. The separation wall may comprise card material.

The separation wall may split the inside of the pack into two equal compartments. In other words, the used-article compartment may comprise a size substantially equal to the unused-article compartment.

The pack may further comprise a pack lid.

The pack lid may be configured to cover both the unused-article compartment opening and the used-article compartment opening.

The pack lid may be a first pack lid and may be configured to cover the unused-article compartment opening. The pack may further comprise a second pack lid configured to cover the used-article compartment opening.

Each pack lid may be a hinged lid. The hinged lid may comprise a similar construction to conventional cigarette packets. The hinged lid may be formed as part of the pack. The hinged lid may comprise card material.

The pack may further comprise a secondary used-article compartment lid independently operable from the corresponding compartment pack lid and positioned beneath the corresponding compartment pack lid. The pack may further comprise a secondary unused-article compartment lid independently operable from the corresponding compartment pack lid and positioned beneath the corresponding compartment pack lid. The corresponding compartment pack lid refers to the pack lid that covers the compartment.

Each secondary lid may comprise a flexible flap and a flap securing means configured to secure the flap in a closed position. The flexible flap may comprise plastics material. Alternatively the flexible flat may comprise paper. The flap securing mean may comprise a reusable sticker. The flap securing means may comprise a tacky substance.

Each secondary lid may form a substantially airtight seal with the corresponding compartment.

The pack may be configured such that the unused-article compartment provides easier access to articles than the used-article compartment.

The compartments may be configured such that the unused-article compartment exposes more of the article ends than the used-article compartment. In other words, the compartments are configured such that used articles in the used-article compartment are more difficult to remove than unused articles in the unused-article compartment.

The unused-article compartment may be configured to expose the sides of the used articles at the top of the unused-article compartment. The used-article compartment may be configured to substantially not expose the sides of the used articles.

The used-article compartment may be deeper than the length of the used articles. The unused-article compartment may be deeper than the length of the unused articles. The compartments may be deeper that the articles are long. The compartments may be configured such that the articles are stored below the tops of the compartments when stored in the compartments. Alternatively, the compartments may be substantially the same depth as the length of the articles.

The unused-article compartment may comprise a wall having a cutout section at the top of the compartment. The cutout section may be configured to reveal the side of an unused article. The cutout section may provide a means fcr a user to hold the side of the unused articles and remove the articles from the unused-article compartment. The used-article compartment may not comprise a cutout section.

The used-article compartment may comprise all side walls that are all higher than an article length such that article is substantially hidden in the pack. The used-article compartment may comprise side walls that are all substantially the same height as an article length. All used-article compartment side walls may be substantially the same height or higher than a used article length.

The pack may be configured such that used articles are easier to place into the used-article compartment than they are to remove from the used-article compartment. The used-article compartment may comprise a restriction means to hinder the removal of the used-articles.

The restriction means may comprise a reduced used-article compartment opening, smaller than the unused-article compartment opening. The restriction means may comprise an aperture in a side of the used-article compartment, where the aperture is the used-article compartment opening. The restriction means may comprise a used-article compartment that is substantially closed on all sides except for an aperture in one wall, where the aperture may be smaller than the one wall and is the used-article compartment opening. This makes it more difficult to remove used articles from the used-article compartment compared to removal of unused articles from the unused-article compartment.

The used-article compartment may comprise a closed section 15 having an aperture providing the used-article compartment opening. The aperture may be smaller than the used-article compartment closed section.

The aperture may be configured to receive a used article from an article end. The aperture may be slightly bigger than the width of the article. The aperture may comprise a smallest width less than double the largest width of the used article. The aperture may comprise a smallest width less than 50 percent larger than the largest width of the used article. The aperture may comprise a smallest width less than 101 larger than the largest width of the used article.

The aperture may be circular. The aperture may comprise a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the used-article.

Alternatively, the aperture may be a polygon shape such as a square. The aperture size may be such that the used-article can be placed through the aperture easily.

Alternatively, the aperture may be substantially equal the to 35 width of the used-article. Alternatively, the aperture may be slightly smaller than the width of the used-article. In this case, the top section and aperture are configured such that the used-article must be pushed through the aperture under force to expand the aperture slightly and allow the used-article to enter the used-article compartment. The pack may therefore provide a one way entry system for used articles such that used articles can be placed into the used-article compartment but not removed from the used-article compartment.

Alternatively, the aperture may be configured to receive a used article from an article side. In this case, the aperture may comprise an elongated aperture having a length slightly larger than the article length and a width slightly larger than the article width. Alternatively, the aperture may comprise a length substantially equal to the length of the article.

Alternatively, the aperture may comprise a width substantially equal to the width of the article.

The used-article compartment may be expandable in size so that more articles can fit into the used-article compartment. The 20 used-article compartment may be reducible in size so that fewer articles can fit into the used-article compartment.

The used-article compartment may comprise a first movable wall. The first movable wall may be movable to expand the size of the 25 used-article compartment. The first movable wall may be movable to reduce the size of the used-article compartment.

The unused-article compartment may be reducible in size so that fewer articles can fit into the compartment. The unused-article 30 compartment may be expandable in size so that more articles can fit into the compartment.

The unused-article compartment may comprise a second movable wall. The second movable wall may be movable to expand the size 35 of the unused-article compartment. The second movable wall may be movable to reduce the size of the unused-article compartment.

The first movable wall may be the same as the second movable wall. The unused-article compartment and the used-article compartment may share a common wall and the common wall may be movable to expand the size of the used-article compartment and reduce the size of the unused-article compartment.

The unused-article compartment and the used-article compartment may share a common wall and the common wall may be movable to reduce the size of the used-article compartment and expand the size of the unused-article compartment.

The common wall may be configured to be supported by articles on either side.

The common wall may be configured such that the removal of an unused article from the unused-article compartment creates 20 space to allow movement of the common wall to reduce the size of the unused-article compartment.

The common wall may be configured such as a used article is placed in the used-article compartment it imparts pressure on 25 the common wall to move the common wall and expand the size of the used-article compartment.

The pack outer shape may remain substantially unchanged as the compartments are expanded or reduced in size. The common wall 30 may comprise card material. The common wall may be freely moving element unattached to the pack.

The pack may comprise a bag. The bag may comprise a bag opening. The bag may comprise the used-article compartment. The 35 bag opening may comprise the used-article compartment opening.

In other words, the bag may be a storage compartment for the used articles.

The bag may comprise a bag wall and the unused-article 5 compartment may be provided between the bag wall and the pack walls.

The bag may comprise flexible material. As such, the bag may comprise a movable wall to vary the size of the used-article compartment and unused-article compartment. The bag may be gathered together to reduce the size of the used-article compartment. The bag may be flexed part to increase the size of the used-article compartment. The bag may be configured such that as articles are pushed into it, the walls flex and the used-article compartment increases in size to accommodate the articles.

The bag may comprise a bag lid. The bag lid may comprise a flap configured. The bag lid may comprise a closing means configured to be stuck or unstuck to close and open the bag. The bag lid may extend over the edge of the pack onto a pack outer surface. The bag lid may be configured to stick and unstick a pack outer surface.

The pack may further comprise unused articles. The pack may further comprise used articles.

The unused-article compartment may be substantially full and the used-article compartment is empty.

Alternatively, the pack may comprise one or more unused articles in the unused-article compartment and one or more used articles in the used-article compartment.

Alternatively, the used article compartment may be substantially full and the unused-article compartment may be empty.

According to a second aspect there is provided a method of using a pack, the pack as described above, comprising the steps of: removing an unused article from the unused-article compartment; using the article in an aerosol-generating device; and placing the used article in the used-article compartment.

The method step of using the article in an aerosol-generating device may comprise heating the article but not burning the article. The article may be heated to produce an aerosol. The article may not be burnt down. The used article may be the same size as the unused article.

The method may further comprise the step of expanding the size of the used-article compartment prior to placing the used article in the used-article compartment.

The method may further comprise the step of reducing the size of the unused-article compartment as the used-article compartment is expanded in size.

Before any unused articles are used, the pack may initially comprise only unused articles. After all unused articles are used, the pack may finally comprise only used articles.

Once all the unused articles have been used, the method may further comprise the step of disposing of the pack.

Specific embodiments will now be described. These are examples only and are described in reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pack with left and right compartments; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pack of Figure 1 further comprising unused and used aerosol-generating articles; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pack with front and back compartments; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pack with top and bottom compartments; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pack with a compartment inner lid; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a pack with two compartment inner lids; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a pack with a used-article compartment opening comprising a circular aperture; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a pack with a used-article compartment opening comprising an elongated aperture; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a pack with a movable wall element in a first position; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the pack of Figure 9, with the movable wall element in a second position; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the pack of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a top view of the pack of Figure 9, further comprising unused articles; Figure 13 is a top view of the pack of Figure 10, further comprising unused and used articles; Figure 14 is a perspective view of a pack with a movable wall element in a first position; Figure 15 is a perspective view of the pack of Figure 14, with the movable wall element in a second position; Figure 16 is an exploded perspective view of the pack of Figure 15; Figure 17 is a top view of the pack of Figure 14, further comprising unused articles; Figure 18 is a top view of the pack of Figure 15, further comprising unused and used articles; Figure 19 is a perspective view of a pack comprising a bag; Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of the pack of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a top view of the pack of Figure 19, further comprising unused articles; Figure 22 is a top view of the pack of Figure 19, further comprising unused and used articles; and Figure 23 is a top view of the pack of Figure 19, further comprising used articles.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 show a pack 2 for unused aerosol-generating articles 4 and used aerosol-generating articles 6 comprising an unused-article compartment 8 and a used-article compartment 10. The pack 2 is a rectangular box having a front 12, back 14, top 16, bottom 18, left side 20 and right side 22.

A pack opening 24 is provided at the top 16 of the pack. The inside of the pack is split into the two compartments by a separation wall 26 parallel to the left and right sides and located half way between the left side 20 and right side 22.

The pack opening 24 is therefore split into two compartment openings. The unused-article compartment 8 comprises an unused-article compartment opening 28. The used-article compartment 10 comprises a used-article compartment opening 30.

The pack 2 is similar in construction to a traditional cigarette pack in that it is made from card and comprises a hinged pack lid 32 at the pack top 12. The pack lid 32 is hinged along the top edge of the back 14 and is a single lid for both compartment openings.

The articles are heated tobacco articles similar in shape to conventional combustible cigarettes and having a cylindrical shape wrapped with an outer paper wrapper. The articles are for use with an aerosol-generating device that is configured to heat the tobacco in the articles rather than burn the articles.

As such, the articles are not burnt down during use and therefore a used article 6 is substantially the same size and shape as an unused 4 article.

The unused-article compartment 8 comprises a cutout section 34 at the top of the compartment front wall. The cutout section 34 extends along the front width of the compartment. The cutout section 34 is therefore an extension of the unused-article compartment opening 28 such that the combined opening is provided at the top 12 and in the upper section of the front 12. The used-article compartment 10 does not have a corresponding cutout section. When closed, the lid 32 also covers the opening provided by the cutout section 34.

In use, a fresh pack of unused articles 4 is provided and the pack 2 comprises an unused-article compartment 8 filled with unused articles 4. Initially the used-article compartment 10 is empty. In this embodiment, the compartments can each hold 10 articles aligned lengthways, top to bottom, and packed side-by-side as traditionally packed in conventional cigarette packaging. The pack initially contains 10 unused articles.

The compartments are slightly deeper than the articles are long, so the tops of the articles in the compartments are below 25 the top level of the pack and the article sides are not exposed.

In use, an unused article 4 is removed from the unused-article compartment R. Whilst the top of the articles is below the level of the pack top, the cutout section 34 at the top of the front of the pack is such that the sides of the unused articles 4 at their top end are exposed. This enables the unused articles 4 to be more easily grasped and removed from the unused-article compartment 8.

An unused article 4 is removed from the pack 2 and used with an aerosol-generating device. Using an article involves heating the tobacco to generate an aerosol. After use, the article is a used article 6.

A user then places the used article 6 back into the pack 2, into the used-article compartment 10. This is shown in Figure 2. The used-article compartment 10 does not comprise a cutout section so articles placed in this compartment are not easily grasped and removed.

Thus, the pack provides a convenient means to store used articles 6 prior to disposal to avoid littering. As the unused articles 4 are used and placed into the used-article compartment 10, the unused-article compartment 8 becomes empty and the used-article compartment becomes 10 full. The pack 2 of used articles 6 can then be disposed of.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment similar to that of Figure 1 but different in that the two compartments are arranged front and back rather than left and right. In this embodiment, the separation wall 26 is provided parallel to the front 12 and back 14 and halfway between the front 12 and back 14. The pack lid 32 is hinged along the top edge of the back 14 and is a single lid for both compartment openings. The two compartments therefore span the entire width of the pack but are split into a front and back compartment. The unused-article compartment 8 is provided at the front of the pack and the used-article compartment 10 is provided at the back of the pack.

In this embodiment, the cutout section 34 extends along the top end of the front compartment section, in this case the entire width of the pack 2. As such, unused articles 4 placed in the unused-article compartment 8 are exposed at their sides by the cutout section 34 for easily removal. The separation wall 26 extends to the very top of the pack and creates a used-article compartment 10 where the tops of the used articles 6 lie below the top of the used-article compartment 10 making it more difficult to remove the used articles 6 in use.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment similar to that of Figure 1 but different in that the two compartments are arranged top and bottom rather than left and right. In this embodiment, the separation wall 26 is provided parallel to the top 16 and bottom 18 and halfway between the top 16 and bottom 18. The entire top 16 is the unused-article compartment opening 28. In this embodiment, the pack bottom 18 is also an opening and provides the used-article compartment opening 30. The pack 2 is therefore spilt along the middle into two separate compartments with access to unused articles 4 from the top of the pack and access to used articles 6 from the bottom of the pack. The openings are sealed separately. A pack first lid 32a is hinged along the top edge of the back 14 and is a lid for the unused-article compartment 8. A pack second lid 32b is hinged along the bottom edge of the back 14 and is a lid for the used-article compartment 10.

The cutout section 34 extends along the top end of the front 12. As such, unused articles 4 placed in the unused-article compartment 8 are exposed at their sides by the cutout section 34 for easily removal. The used-article compartment 10 does not have a cutout section and the tops of the used articles 6 lie below the top of the used-article compartment 10 making it more difficult to remove the used articles 6 in use.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment, similar to that of Figure 1 but further comprising a used-article compartment inner lid 36. The inner lid 36 is a flexible plastic flap configured so that it can be stuck down and unstuck repeatedly. The inner lid 36 is independent to the outer pack lid 32 and the pack lid 32 closes over the pack and covers the inner lid 36. The inner lid 36 therefore seals the used-article compartment 10 and enables the used-article compartment 10 to remain sealed even when the pack lid 32 is open. In this way, whilst the pack lid 32 is a lid for both compartments, the compartments are still able to remain separately sealed.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment, similar to that of Figure 5 but further comprising an unused-article compartment inner lid 38. Both inner lids have the same construction and are able to be stuck down and unstuck repeatedly to seal and unseal the respective compartments.

Figure 7 shows another embodiment, similar to that of Figure 1, but differing in the used-article compartment opening 30. In this embodiment the top section of the compartment is sealed with a sealing element 40. The sealing element is part of the pack 2 and comprises the same card material. The sealing element 40 comprises a circular aperture 42 and the circular aperture 42 is the opening into the used-article compartment 10. The circular aperture 42 has a diameter that is slightly larger than a used article 6 so that in use a used article 6 can be placed through the circular aperture 42 and into the used-article compartment 10. The circular aperture 42 is located towards the right side 22 of the pack 2.

In use, a user places a used article 6 through the circular aperture 42 into the used-article compartment 10. The used articles 6 are then contained within the used-article compartment 10 and it is difficult for the used articles 6 to be removed from this compartment. Tn effect, the sealing element 40 with circular aperture 42 prevents the used-articles 6 from being removed from The used-article compartment once they are placed inside.

Figure 8 shows another embodiment, similar to that of Figure 1, 35 but different in the used-article compartment opening 30. In this embodiment the top section of the used-article compartment is completely sealed and closed off with a sealing element 40. The sealing element is part of the pack 2 and comprises the same card material. The used-article compartment opening 30 is provided on the right side 22 of the pack 2. The right side 22 comprises an elongated aperture 44 along the length of the right side 22 and having a length slightly longer than a used-article length and a width slightly wider than a used article width. In use, a user places a used article 6 through the elongated aperture 44 into the used-article compartment 10. The used articles 6 are then contained within the used-article compartment 10 and it is difficult for the used articles 6 to be removed from this compartment.

The pack 2 further comprises a right side lid 46 configured to close and seal the right side opening. The right side lid 46 is a flexible plastic flap configured so that it can be stuck down and unstuck repeatedly.

Figures 9 to 13 show another embodiment, similar to that of Figure 3, but different in that the separation wall is replaced with a movable wall element 48. The movable wall element 48 spans the width and height of the pack 2 to provide a wall across the pack. The movable wall element is arranged parallel to the front 12 and back 14 and splits the interior of the pack 2 into an unused-article compartment 8 and a used-article compartment 10.

The movable wall element is rectangular in shape having a first edge in contact with the pack left side 20 and a second edge in contact with the pack right side 22. Folded flaps are provided on both the first edge and second edge where the flaps are folded towards the direction of the back 14. The flaps act to press against the pack sides to hold the movable wall element 48 in position.

In use, the movable wall element 48 is able to be moved towards the pack front 12 and towards the pack back 14. As the movable wall element 48 is moved, t-ne compartment sizes are changed. Moving the movable wall element 48 towards the front 12 acts to decrease the size of the unused-article compartment 8 and increase the size of the used-article compartment 10. Moving the movable wall element 48 towards the back 14 acts to decrease the size of used-article compartment 10 and increase the size of the unused-article compartment 8.

Figure 12 shows a pack 2 where the movable wall element 48 is at the back 14 to maximise the unused-article compartment 8 and minimise the used-article compartment 10. The unused-article compartment 8 is filled with unused articles 4 and the used-article compartment 10 is empty. Figure 13 shows a pack 2 with articles during use. In use, an unused-article 4 is removed from the unused-article compartment 8 and, after use, the used-article 6 is placed into the used-article compartment 10. As the number of used articles 6 increases and the number of unused articles decreases, the movable wall element 48 is able to move so as to change the compartment sizes and allow storage of the articles in the pack 2. When all of the articles are used, the movable wall element 48 will be at the front 12 to maximise the used-article compartment 10 and minimise the unused-article compartment 8.

Figures 14 to 18 show another embodiment, similar to that of Figure 1, but different in that the separation wall is replaced with a movable element wall element 48. The movable wall element 48 is arranged parallel to the pack sides and splits the interior of the pack 2 into an unused-article compartment 8 and a used-article compartment 10.

The movable wall element is rectangular in shape having a first 35 edge in contact with the pack front 12 and a second edge in contact with the pack back 14. Folded flaps are provided on both edges where the flaps are folded towards the direction of the right side 22. The flaps act to press against the pack front and back to hold the movable wall element 48 in position.

In use, the movable wall element 48 is able to be moved towards the pack left side 20 and towards the pack right side 22. As the movable wall element 48 is moved, the compartment sizes are changed. Moving the movable wall element 48 towards the left side 20 acts to decrease the size of the unused-article compartment 8 and increase the size of the used-article compartment 10. Moving the movable wall element 48 towards the right side 22 acts to decrease the size of used-article compartment 10 and increase the size of the unused-article compartment 8.

Figure 17 shows a pack 2 where the movable wall element 48 is at the right side 22 to maximise the unused-article compartment 8 and minimise the used-article compartment 10. The unused-article compartment 8 is filled with unused articles 4 and the used-article compartment 10 is empty. Figure 18 shows a pack 2 with both unused and used articles. In use, an unused-article 4 is removed from the unused-article compartment 8 and after use, the used-article 6 is placed into the used-article compartment 10. As the number of used articles 6 increases and the number of unused articles decreases, the movable wall element 48 is able to move so as to change the compartment sizes and allow storage of the articles in the pack 2. When all of the articles are used, the movable wall element 48 will be at the left side 20 to maximise the used-article compartment 10 and minimise the unused-article compartment 8.

Figures 19 to 23 show another embodiment, similar to that of Figure 3, but different in that the card separation wall is replaced with another means to create two separate compartments. In this embodiment, the pack 2 comprises a sealable bag 50. The bag 50 has a size substantially equal to the size of the pack 2 and the bag opening is located at the pack top 16.

The inside of the bag 50 is the used-article compartment 10 and 5 the opening in the bag is the used-article compartment opening 30. The bag 50 is arranged in the pack 2 such that the front of the bag remains against the pack front 2. The bag is flexible and the bag side provides the separation wall between the two compartments. As such, unused articles 4 are placed within the 10 pack 2, but outside of the bag 50, and this space for unused articles 4 is the unused-article compartment 8. As the bag size is changed, the size of the two compartments is able to change.

The bag 50 comprises a bag lid 52, where the bag lid 52 is a 15 resealable flap than extends over the cutout section 34 and seals against the front of the pack.

In use, the bag sides can be gathered together so as to be completely pressed against the front 12. This minimises the 20 used-article compartment 10 and maximises the unused-article compartment 8.

Figure 21 shows a pack 2 comprising a full unused-article compartment 8 and an empty used-article compartment 10. An unused article 4 is then removed and used, creating a used article 6. The used article 6 is pushed into the bag 50 so that the bag sides flex to create a space in the bag 50. In this way, the used-article compartment 10 is increased in size and the unused-article compartment A is decreased in size, as shown in Figure 22. As more used-articles 6 are added to the bag 50, the bag flexes and expands until the bag 50 is substantially the size of the pack 2 inner space. Figure 23 shows this end configuration where the unused-article compartment 8 is minimised and empty, and the used-article compartment 10 is maximised and full.

In the above embodiments, a lid for the outer pack is provided. However, an alternative embodiment could provide a pack without a lid.

In the above embodiments, a cutout is provided as part of the unused-article compartment. However, an alternative embodiment could also provide such a cutout in the used-article compartment. Alternatively, no cuts may be provided in either compartment.

In the above embodiments, the lids is attached to the pack back. However, alternative embodiments could provide a lid attached to the pack front or pack side.

In the above embodiments, the unused-article compartment and the used-article compartment are arranged left-right, top-bottom or front-back. However, in alternative embodiments the compartments could be swapped and arranged right-left, bottom-top or back-front.

In the above embodiments comprising apertures, the apertures are slightly larger than the article. However, in alternative embodiments the apertures may be the same size as the article or even slightly smaller. In this way, a small force is required to push the articles through the aperture.

In the above embodiments comprising compartment that can be varied in size, a common wall is moved to change both compartment at the same time. However, in alternative embodiments the separate compartments could comprise separate moveable walls that can be moved independently to vary the size of each compartment independently.

It will be understood that the terms, front, back, top, bottom, 35 left and right are used to describe the pack 2 components relative to one another.

The embodiments described above are examples only and are not limiting. Other embodiments could also be described and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims 1. A pack for unused and used rod shaped aerosol-generating articles comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the pack comprising an unused-article compartment, an unused-article compartment opening, a used-article compartment, and a used-article compartment opening.
2. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the pack is configured 10 to hold used articles that are substantially the same length as the unused articles.
3. A pack according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pack is configured to hold heated tobacco articles that are not burnt down during use.
4. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the pack is in the form of a rectangular box.
5. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the used-article compartment opening is adjacent the unused-article compartment opening.
6. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the openings are provided on the same pack side.
7. A pack according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the openings are not provided on the same pack side.
8. A pack according to claim wherein the openings are provided on opposite pack sides.
9. A pack according to any preceding claim, further comprising a pack lid.
10. A pack according to claim 9, wherein the pack lid is configured to cover both the unused-article compartment opening and the used-article compartment opening.
11. A pack according to claim 9, wherein the pack lid is a first pack lid and is configured to cover the unused-article compartment opening, further comprising a second pack lid configured to cover the used-article compartment opening.
12. A pack according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein each pack lid is a hinged lid.
13. A pack according to any of claims 9 to 12, further comprising a secondary used-article compartment lid independently operable from the corresponding compartment pack lid and positioned beneath the corresponding compartment pack lid.
14. A pack according to any of claims 9 to 13, further comprising a secondary unused-article compartment lid independently operable from the corresponding compartment pack lid and positioned beneath the corresponding compartment pack lid.
15. A pack according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein each secondary lid comprises a flexible flap and a flap securing means configured to secure the flap in a closed position.
16. A pack according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein each 30 secondary lid forms a substantially airtight seal with the corresponding compartment.
17. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the pack is configured such that the unused-article compartment provides easier access to articles than the used-article compartment.
18. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the compartments are configured such that the unused-article compartment exposes more of the article ends than the used-article compartment.
19. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the unused-article compartment comprises a wall having a cutout section at the top of the compartment configured to reveal the side of an unused article.
20. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein all used-article compartment side walls are substantially the same height or higher than a used article length.
21. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the pack is configured such that used articles are easier to place into the used-article compartment than they are to remove from the used-article compartment.
22. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the used-article compartment comprises a restriction means to hinder the removal of the used-articles, where the restriction means comprises a used-article compartment that is substantially closed on all sides except for an aperture in one wall, where the aperture is smaller than the one wall and is the used-article compartment opening.
23. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the used-article compartment is expandable in size so that more articles can fit into the used-article compartment.
24. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the unused-article compartment is reducible in size so that fewer articles can fit into the unused-article compartment.
25. A pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the unused-article compartment and the used-article compartment share a common wall and the common wall is movable to expand the size of the used-article compartment and reduce the size of the unused-article compartment.
26. A pack according to any preceding claim, further comprising unused articles.
27. A pack according to any preceding claim, further comprising used articles.
28. A pack according to claim 26, wherein the unused-article compartment is substantially full and the used-article 15 compartment is empty.
29. A pack according to claim 27, wherein the used article compartment is substantially full and the unused-article compartment is empty.
30. A method of using a pack, the pack according to any of claims 1 to 29, comprising the steps of: removing an unused-article from the unused-article compartment; using the article in an aerosol-generating device; and placing the used-article in the used-article compartment.
31 A method of using a pack according to claim 30, further comprising the step of: expanding the size of the used-article compartment prior to placing the used article in the used-article compartment.
32. A method of using a pack according to claim 30 or claim 31, further comprising the step of: once all the unused articles have been used, disposing of the pack.
33. A pack, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
34. A method of using a pack, substantially as described herein 5 with reference to the accompanying drawings.