Package for Smoking and/or Tobacco Related Articles, Blank and Method

Abstract

The invention relates to a package or package carton 1 for smoking articles and/or tobacco related articles, the package comprising a body 2 having at least a bottom wall 3, a top wall 4, a rear wall 5, a front wall 8 and two side walls 6, 7, the package further comprising an extension flap 9 coupled to the package and configured to be swiveled around a first hinge 10 between a first position and a second position with respect to the body of the package wherein the extension flap is further configured to support the package in the second position of the extension flap such that the body of the package stand securely and in an inclined position with respect to a (horizontal) plane on which the package rests.

Claims

1. A package, in particular a package carton for smoking articles and/or tobacco related articles, in particular for packages of smoking and/or tobacco related articles, the package comprising a body having at least a bottom wall, a top wall, a rear wall, a front wall and two side walls, the package further comprising an extension flap coupled to the package and configured to be swiveled around a first hinge between a first position and a second position with respect to the body of the package wherein the extension flap is further configured to support the package in the second position of the extension flap such that the body of the package stands securely in an inclined position with respect to a plane on which the package rests.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the extension flap is coupled by the first hinge to an edge of the body of the package.

3. The package according to claim 2, wherein the edge of the body to which the extension flap is coupled is an upper edge of the rear wall of the body such that the first hinge is located between the rear wall and the top wall of the package and the extension flap.

4. The package according to claim 1, wherein the extension flap at least partially encompass the body in the first position.

5. The package according to claim 1, wherein the extension flap is detachably coupled to the body in the first position.

6. The package according to claim 5, wherein the extension flap and the body are coupled by a coupling mechanism.

7. The package according to claim 6, wherein the coupling mechanism is based on magnetism, magnetic ink, Velcro, Yupo Tako, buttons, tuck-in flaps, glued, hook-and-loop, push-fit, magnetic and/or a snap-fastener connections or cutting lines (perforations).

8. The package according to claim 1, wherein the extension flap comprises a first wall and a second wall.

9. The package according to claim 8, wherein the first wall and the second wall are coupled by a second hinge.

10. The package according to claim 9, wherein the first wall of the extension flap covers a first side or a first wall of the body and the second wall of the extension flap covers a second side or a second wall of the body.

11. The package according to claim 10, wherein the first side of the body is the top side of the body and/or the second side is the front side of the body.

12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the extension flap at least partially serves as the top wall and/or front wall of the body.

13. The package according to claim 10, wherein the first wall is the top wall and the second wall is then the front wall of the package, both being covered by the extension flap in the first position.

14. The package according to claim 10, wherein the first wall of the extension flap has at least approximately the size of the top wall of the body and the second wall has at least approximately the size of the front wall of the body.

15. The package according to claim 1, wherein the front wall of the body is coupled by a third hinge to one of the side walls of the body for swiveling the front wall about the third hinge in order to open and close the body of the package.

16. The package according to claim 1, wherein the package has a substantially parallelepiped shape and beveled edges.

17. The package according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the body and/or any walls of the extension flap and/or any one of the hinges is configured such that the rotating angle around any one of the hinges is limited.

18. The package according to claim 17, wherein the rotating angle of any of the hinges is greater than 160° and/or wherein at least the second hinge has a rotating angle of less than 180°.

19. The package according to claim 1, further comprising an additional outer package.

20. The package according to claim 1, wherein the extension flap and in particular, the second wall of the extension flap, comprises a stopping member in order to prevent the body from slipping from the extension flap.

21. The package according to claim 1 as far as applicable, wherein the extension flap and in particular, the first wall and/or the second wall comprise a folding line or hinge line for hingedly dividing the first wall and/or second wall into further partial walls.

22. One or more blanks for manufacturing the package of claim 1.

23. A method of manufacturing a package of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Further aspects and characteristics of the invention ensue from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

[0023] FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view on the package in the first position of the extension flap according to an embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view on the package in the second position of the extension flap according to an embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 3 is another simplified perspective view on the package in the second position of the extension flap according to an embodiment;

[0026] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a sequence of simplified side views on the package illustrating the movement of the extension flap from the first position to the second position according to an embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a simplified representation of an embodiment of the package;

[0028] FIG. 8 is a simplified representation of another embodiment of the package, and

[0029] FIG. 9 is a simplified representation of still another embodiment of the package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0030] FIG. 1 is simplified perspective view on the package in the first position of the extension flap according to an embodiment. The package 1 comprises a body 2 having a bottom wall 3 (not visible), a top wall 4, a rear wall 5 (not visible), and two side walls 6, 7 (7 not visible). In this embodiment, the body 2 has a front wall 8. The package 1 further comprises an extension flap 9 which is coupled to the package 1. The extension flap 9 is in the first position and encompasses the top wall 4 and front wall 8. In other words, the extension flap 9 is at least partly wound around the body 2 and at least partly envelops or wraps the body 2 in the first position. The extension flap 9 is configured to be swiveled about a first hinge 10 between the first position and the second position (shown in subsequent drawings) with respect to the body 2 of the package 1.

[0031] In addition to the coupling by the first hinge, the extension flap 9 is further detachably coupled to the body 2 in the first position by an additional mechanism. This additional coupling mechanism (not visible) between the extension flap and the body holds the flap 9 against the body 2 in the first position. In this embodiment, the coupling is based on magnetism. For this purpose magnetic parts (dashed lines, not visible on the final package) are integrated into the extension flap 9 and the body 2 in respective corresponding locations 11. The first hinge

[0032] In other embodiments, the additional coupling mechanism can be a glued, hook-and-loop, push-fit, magnetic, and/or a snap-fastener connection. The coupling mechanism can also be based on magnetism, magnetic ink, Velcro, Yupo Tako, buttons, tuck-in flaps. In another configuration, the extension flap 9 may be coupled to the walls of the body 2 by cutting lines (perforations) except of the first hinge, of course, by which the extension flap always remains coupled to the body.

[0033] The extension flap comprises a first wall 12 and a second wall 13. The first wall 12 and the second wall 13 are coupled by a second hinge 14. In the shown first position of the extension flap 9, the first wall 12 covers the top wall 4 of the body 2 and the second wall 13 covers the front wall 8 of the body 2.

[0034] The first wall 12 of the extension flap 9 has approximately the size of the top wall 4 of the body 2 except for the beveled edges 15. The second wall 13 has approximately the size of the front wall 8 of the body 2 except for the beveled edges 16.

[0035] The extension flap 9 is coupled by the first hinge 10 to an edge 17 of the body of the package. The extension flap 9 does not form part of a wall of the body 2, for example as a cutout of a wall. The extension flap 9 is an additional element. In particular, the extension flap 9 is not a part of the rear wall 5 of the body 2. The edge 17 of the body 2 to which the extension flap 9 is coupled is an upper edge of the rear wall 5 of the body 2 such that the first hinge is located between the rear wall 5 and the top wall 4 of the package and the extension flap 9. This provides that the flap 9 can be swiveled behind the body 2 of the package 1 and support the package 1 from the rear side (rear wall side).

[0036] The package may have various shapes. In this embodiment, the package 1 has a substantially parallelepiped shape. The longitudinal and transverse edges 15, 16 of the body 2 are beveled edges. The line around the body (no reference number) has no technical function and serves only for aesthetic purposes.

[0037] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are simplified perspective views on the package 1 in the second position of the extension flap of the same embodiment of the package 1, which is also shown in FIG. 1. In the second position, the extension flap 9 points away from the body 2. The extension flap 9 is further configured to support the package 1 (or rather the body 2) in the second position of the extension flap 9 such that the body 2 of the package takes a secure inclined position on the extension flap and stands securely and obliquely on the extension flap in the second position of the extension flap. The body 2 has an inclined or oblique position with respect to a (horizontal) plane 18. This provides an appealing position of the package 1 and the inner space 19 of the package 1 can easily be accessed. The body 2 rests on the second wall 13 of the extension flap 9. The body also rests on a lower edge 21 (edge between rear wall 5 and bottom wall 3) of the rear wall 5 of the body 2. However, the lower edge 21 of the rear wall 5 may also rest on the second wall 13 of the extension flap 9.

[0038] The body 2 of the package assumes as secure stand on the extension flap 9 in the second position of the extension flap 9. In the second position, the package can be placed on a surface 18 with its rear side facing the surface and resting on the extension flap 9. The articles (not shown) can be cigarette packages, cigar (small cigar) packages or elongate articles as, for example, smoking articles or tobacco related articles, such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars or snus or the like.

[0039] The second position is stable to the extent that any resilient force provided by the hinges 10, 14 are not high enough to move or lift the package 1 and thereby change the position of the supporting extension flap 9. The package 1 cannot return by itself to another position.

[0040] The front wall 8 of the body 2 is coupled by a third hinge 20 to one of the side walls (here side wall 7) of the body 2 for swiveling the front wall 8 about the third hinge 20 in order to open and close the inner space 19 of the body 2 of the package 1.

[0041] The walls of the body 2 and/or the walls of the extension flap 9 are configured such that the rotating angles α, β and/or γ around any one of the first, second and/or third hinges 10, 14, 20 is limited. This supports a secure stand and prevents that, for example the extension flap 9 is swiveled too far towards the rear wall 5 of the body 2 and may then fail to properly support the package 1 in the second position of the extension flap 9. The rotating angle α, β and/or γ of any of the hinges can be limited by the thickness of the first and second walls 12, 13, and body walls 5, 7, 8 and/or the specific configuration of the hinges 10, 14, 20 such that the edges of respective two walls on either side of a hinge abut and thereby stop the rotation about the hinge 10, 14, 20.

[0042] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a sequence of simplified side views on the package illustrating the movement of the extension flap from the first position to the second position according to an embodiment. In a first step (FIG. 4), the second wall 13 of the extension flap 9 is swiveled about the second hinge 14 and thereby away from the front wall 8 of the body 2 of the package 1. In a second step (FIG. 5), the second wall 13 of the extension flap 9 is swiveled further about the second hinge 14 and also moved towards the rear wall 5 side of the body 2, such that also the first wall 12 of the extension flap 9 starts swiveling around the first hinge 10. This movement continues (FIG. 6) until the rear wall 5 of the body 2 and the first wall 12 of the extension wall assume an angle α which is greater than 180° and smaller than 360° and the first and second walls 12, 13 of the extension flap 9 also assume an angle β which is also greater than 180° and smaller than 360° (about 340° maximum). The package can now be placed on the second wall 13 of the extension flap as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The front all 8 can then be opened and remain open.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a simplified representation of a slightly different embodiment of the package 1. The embodiment is substantially the same as the one shown in the previous drawings. However, the extension flap 9 now further comprises an additional folding line or hinge 22 or 42 within the first wall (12) and/or the second wall 13, thereby creating additional walls, i.e. walls 12B and/or 13B as a third and/or a fourth wall. This allows that the outer part 12A and/or 13A can be folded further backwards towards the rear wall 5 of the package. The two parts 12A and 12B of the first wall 12 and/or the two parts 13A and 13B of the second wall 13 on opposite sides of the respective optional folding or hinge lines 22 or 40 now assume an angle δ which is smaller than 180°. The outer edge 23 of the second wall 13 can now get in contact with the rear wall 5 of the body and even with the first hinge 10. This provides a very stable mainly triangular supporting foot for the package 1. The angle α can now even be smaller than 180°.

[0044] According to this embodiment, the extension flap 9 and in particular, the first wall 12 and/or the second wall 13 comprise one or more folding lines or hinge lines for hingedly dividing the first wall 12 and/or second wall 13 into further partial walls 12A, 12B, and 13A, 13B.

[0045] FIG. 8 is a simplified representation of still another embodiment of the package 1. The package of this embodiment now also comprises an outer package 24. The outer package 24 covers the inner package 1 and must be removed in a first step. The inner package 1 is substantially similar to the previously described embodiments except that substantial parts of the upper wall 4 of the body 2 and the front wall 8 of the body are provided by the walls 12, 13 of the extension flap 9. This means that the extension flap 9 at least partially serves as the top wall 4 and the front wall 8 of the body 2. The walls 12, 13 of the extension flap are coupled to the walls of the body by cutting lines 25 (perforations) except of the first hinge by which the extension flap 9 remains always coupled to the body 2.

[0046] Especially, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and 8, the extension flap 9 and in particular, the second wall 13 can have a stopping member in order to prevent the body from slipping from the extension flap. The stopping member can be a groove or notch. The stopping member can also be one or more protrusions on the extension flap. The groove, notch, protrusion or protrusion can especially be arranged on the inner side of the second wall 13 of the extension flap 9. The body 2, in particular the lower edge 21 of the body 2 can then rest in the groove or on the protrusion or protrusions.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a simplified representation of still another embodiment of the package 1. In this embodiment, the second wall 13 is actually swiveled in the opposite direction than in the other embodiments. The initial angle between the first wall 12 and the second wall 13 in the first position (closed position) is 90°. This is also the case in the other embodiments. The first wall 12 can be swiveled around the first hinge 10 similar to the other embodiments. The second wall 13 is, however, not swiveled in the same direction about the second hinge 14 as in the other embodiments. If from a side perspective, the first wall 12 is swiveled or rotatable in a clockwise direction, the second wall 13 is rather swiveled or rotatable in a counter-clockwise direction about the second hinge 14. The package stands securely on the extension flap 9. However, the outer edge of the second wall 13 now points away from the rear bottom edge 21 of the bottom wall 3 of the body 2. In this embodiment, the second hinge 14 can preferably have a limitation mechanism for the angle of rotation. This mechanism can be provided by the thickness of walls 12, 13 and/or the configuration of the second hinge 14.

[0048] Although the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to specific embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments and no doubt further alternatives will occur to the skilled person that lie within the scope of the invention as claimed.