CONTAINER HAVING BOX AND SLEEVE WITH LOCKING MECHANISM

Abstract

A container (1) for consumer goods, the container comprises an outer sleeve (20) and inner box (10) disposed within the outer sleeve (20), and configured to slide within the outer sleeve (20) between: a first position, in which the interior of the inner box (10) cannot be accessed by a user; and a second position, in which the interior of the inner box (10) can be accessed by a user. The container (1) having a locking mechanism for preventing the inner box (10) from sliding from the first position to the second position, when the inner box (10) is in the first position in the outer sleeve (20).

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, the container comprising: an outer sleeve comprising an outer sleeve front wall, an outer sleeve back wall, first and second opposed outer sleeve side walls, an outer sleeve top wall, and a first open end; and an inner box comprising: a box portion comprising a box portion bottom wall, a box portion front wall, a box portion back wall, and first and second opposed box portion side walls; and a lid portion hingedly attached to the box portion along a hinge line, the lid portion comprising a lid portion top wall, a lid portion front wall, a lid portion back wall, and first and second opposed lid portion side walls, the inner box being disposed within the outer sleeve and configured to be slidable with respect to the outer sleeve between: a first position, in which the interior of the inner box cannot be accessed by a user; and a second position, in which the interior of the inner box can be accessed by a user, wherein sliding of the inner box from the first position to the second position involves at least part of the inner box passing through the outer sleeve opening; wherein the inner box further comprises first and second inner box side flaps, each inner box side flap being configured to overlie a portion of the outer surface of a respective box portion side wall or lid portion side wall; wherein, when the inner box is in the first position in the outer sleeve, an edge of each inner box side flap is configured to engage with a corresponding engaging element on the inner surface of a respective outer sleeve side wall, to form a locking mechanism for preventing the inner box from sliding from the first position to the second position wherein each of the first and second inner box side flaps depends from an edge of the box portion connecting their respective box portion side wall with the box portion bottom wall; or wherein each of the first and second inner box side flaps depends from an edge of the lid portion connecting their respective lid portion side wall with the lid portion top wall.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein each outer sleeve side wall is provided with a release element for enabling the edge of each inner box side flap to disengage from the corresponding engaging element of each outer sleeve side wall.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the release element comprises a release tab formed by at least one cut-line on the outer sleeve side wall.

4. The container according to claim 2, wherein, when the inner box is in the first position in the outer sleeve, the release element of each outer sleeve side wall overlies at least a portion of the corresponding inner box side flap.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein disengagement of the locking mechanism enables the inner box to be slidable with respect to the outer sleeve from the first position to the second position.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a holding mechanism for preventing the inner box from sliding beyond the second position.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the holding mechanism comprises an extendable member connecting a wall of the inner box to a wall of the outer sleeve, the extendable member being configured to change between a retracted state when the inner box is in the first position, and an extended state when the inner box is in the second position.

8. The container according to claim 6, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a flap on the outer sleeve which is configured to engage with a corresponding holding edge on the inner box to prevent the inner box from sliding beyond the second position.

9. The according to claim 8, wherein the holding edge on the inner box is formed by a cut-line in the inner box back wall or the inner box front wall.

10. The container according to claim 8, wherein the inner box comprises a box portion and a lid portion connected to the box portion by a hinge line, and wherein the holding edge on the inner box is formed by an edge of the lid portion of the inner box.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the hinge line and the lower edge of the lid portion front wall is configured to underlie a corresponding one of the outer sleeve front wall and outer sleeve back wall, when the inner box is in the first position.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner box and the outer sleeve are configured such that at least one of the inner box front wall and the inner box back wall completely underlies its corresponding outer sleeve front wall and outer sleeve back wall, when the inner box is in the first position.

Description

[0068] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of laminar blanks for forming a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0070] FIG. 2A shows an outer sleeve and an inner box for forming a container according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0071] FIG. 2B shows a container according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0072] FIGS. 3A to 3C show cross-sectional views of a locking mechanism in different configurations for a container according to the first embodiment of present invention.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a plurality of laminar blanks for forming a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0074] FIG. 5A shows an outer sleeve and an inner box for forming a container according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0075] FIG. 5B shows a container according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 1 shows two laminar blanks for forming a container 1 according to the present invention, namely a first laminar blank 100 and a second laminar blank 200. The laminar blanks can be used to form a container 1 as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0077] The first laminar blank 100 is configured to form an inner box 10 of the container 1. The inner box 10 comprises a lid portion 50 and a box portion 60.

[0078] The dashed lines indicate fold lines, and solid lines indicate cut lines in the laminar blank 100. The first laminar blank 100 comprises a lid portion front wall panel 151, first and second lid portion outer side wall panels 152, 153, a lid portion top wall panel 154, a lid portion back wall panel 155, a lid portion front under panel 156, and first and second lid portion inner side wall panels 157, 158. These panels together form the lid part of the lid portion 50 of the container 1. The lid portion top wall panel 154 includes a slot 180 for receiving a flap 21 of the outer sleeve 20, as will be described in more detail below.

[0079] The lid portion also includes panels 159a, 159b for respectively forming first and second inner box side flaps 59a, 59b. In a conventional laminar blank design, panels 159a and 159b would be connected by a fold line to panels 157 and 158 respectively, so as to form reinforcing flaps for the lid portion 50. However, in the first laminar blank of FIG. 1, panels 159a and 159b are separated from panels 157 and 158 by respective internal cut lines. This means that, during the manufacturing steps for forming the lid portion 50, panels 159a and 159b are not directly subjected to a folding step, when the panels 152 and 153 are folded with respect to the lid portion front wall panel 151. This means that when the lid portion 50 has been formed, the panels 159a and 159b can reside on the outside of the lid portion 50 to form the first and second inner box side flaps 59a, 59b, for example as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0080] The first laminar blank 100 further comprises a box portion front wall panel 161, first and second box portion outer side wall panels 162, 163, a box portion bottom wall panel 164, a box portion back wall panel 165, first and second box portion inner side wall panels 167, 168 and first and second box portion reinforcing flaps 169a, 169b. These panels together form the box portion 60 of the container 1.

[0081] The second laminar blank 200 comprises an outer sleeve front wall panel 215, first and second outer sleeve side wall panels 212, 213, an outer sleeve bottom wall panel 214, an outer sleeve back wall panel 211 an outer sleeve back wall under panel 216, first and second outer sleeve securing panels 217, 218, and first and second outer sleeve reinforcing flap panels 219a, 219b. These panels together form the outer sleeve 20 of the container 1.

[0082] The first and second outer sleeve securing panels 217, 218 are provided for securing the outer sleeve back wall panel 211 to the outer sleeve front wall panel 215 via the outer sleeve side wall panels 212, 213. In particular, when the outer sleeve 20 is assembled, the first and second outer sleeve securing panels 217, 218 are each affixed to the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall panel 211, for example by an adhesive.

[0083] The second laminar blank further comprises an outer sleeve flap panel 221 depending from the outer sleeve front wall panel 215. When the outer sleeve 20 is assembled the outer sleeve flap panel 221 forms a flap 21 on the outer sleeve 20. The flap 21 depends from a fold line forming an edge of the outer sleeve front wall 15, the edge being disposed at the open end 25 of the outer sleeve 20. The flap 21 extends into the interior of the outer sleeve 20 and projects away from the outer sleeve front wall 15. This can be seen from FIG. 2A.

[0084] As will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the flap 21 on the outer sleeve 20 defines a holding mechanism for preventing the inner box 10 from sliding beyond a set position.

[0085] The second laminar blank 200 further comprises first and second outer sleeve engaging panels 231a, 231b. These panels 231a, 231b respectively depend from the first and second outer sleeve side wall panels 212, 213. When the outer sleeve 20 is assembled by folding the second laminar blank 200, the first and second outer sleeve engaging panels 231a, 231b are folded about respective fold lines 232a, 232b in the second laminar blank 200, relative to the first and second outer sleeve side wall panels 212, 213. The first and second outer sleeve engaging panels 231a, 231b are then affixed to the inner surface of the outer sleeve side walls 12, 13 to form an engaging element 31a, 31b on the inner surface of each outer sleeve side wall 12, 13. Each engaging element 31a, 31b respectively defines an engagement edge 33a, 33b for engaging with a respective inner box side flap 59a, 59b.

[0086] The second laminar blank 200 further comprises a portion 270a, 270b on each of the first and second outer sleeve side wall panels 212, 213 for defining a release tab 70a, 70b in each outer sleeve side wall 12, 13. Each of these portions is partially delimited by a respective arcuate cut line 271a, 271b in each of the first and second outer sleeve side wall panels 212, 213. Each release tab 70a, 70b is configured to facilitate unlocking of a locking mechanism in the container, as will be described in more detail below with references to FIGS. 3A to 3C.

[0087] FIG. 2A shows an outer sleeve 20 and an inner box 10 formed from the laminar blanks of FIG. 1. The outer sleeve comprises an outer sleeve front wall 15, an outer sleeve back wall 11, an outer sleeve bottom wall, a first outer sleeve side wall, a second outer sleeve side wall 13, and an open end 25 at the opposite end of the outer sleeve 20 to the outer sleeve bottom wall. The first outer sleeve side wall is provided with a first release tab, and the second outer sleeve side wall 13 is provided with a second release tab 70b. An outer sleeve flap 21 depends from the edge of the outer sleeve front wall 15 and is disposed at the open end 25 of the outer sleeve 20. The outer sleeve flap 21 extends into the interior of the outer sleeve 20 and away from the outer sleeve front wall 15.

[0088] The inner box comprises a lid portion 50 and a box portion 60 connected together by a hinge line 90. The lid portion 50 comprises a lid portion top wall, a lid portion front wall, a lid portion back wall 55, a first lid portion side wall, and an opposed second lid portion side wall 53. The box portion 60 comprises a box portion bottom wall 64, a box portion front wall, a box portion back wall 65, a first box portion side wall, and an opposed second box portion side wall 63.

[0089] The inner box further comprises a first inner box side flap 59a and a second inner box side flap 59b each being configured to overlie a portion of a respective lid portion side wall.

[0090] The inner box 10 and outer sleeve 20 are shown in FIG. 2A in an unassembled condition. That is, the inner box 10 is separate from the outer sleeve 20. To assemble the inner box 10 and outer sleeve 20 into the container 1 of FIG. 2B, the inner box 10 is passed through the open end 25 of the outer sleeve 20 and inserted into the interior of the outer sleeve 20. Such insertion causes the outer sleeve flap 21 to be deflected towards the outer sleeve front wall 15, such that the outer sleeve flap 21 lies flush with the inner surface of the outer sleeve front wall 15.

[0091] Once the inner box 10 has been fully inserted into the outer sleeve 20 it resides in the position shown in FIG. 2B, a first position. In this position, the leading edge of each inner box side flap 59a, 59b engages with the leading edge 33a, 33b of the respective first and second outer sleeve engaging panels 231a, 231b. The first and second outer sleeve engaging panels 231a, 231b are respectively secured to the inner surface of the first and second outer sleeve side walls 12, 13. Such engagement acts to prevent the inner box 10 from being slidable with respect to the outer sleeve 20. The inner box 10 is therefore held in place within the outer sleeve 20 by virtue of such engagement. There is therefore a locking mechanism formed by the inner box 10 and outer sleeve 20. The locking mechanism acts to lock the inner box 10 in the outer sleeve 20 when in the position shown in FIG. 2B. This may be the configuration in which the container 1 is sold to a user.

[0092] To unlock the container 1, and thus gain access to the consumer goods, a user must first press the release tabs 70a, 70b on the outer sleeve side walls 12, 13. This will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C.

[0093] FIGS. 3A to 3C show a partial cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism for a container according to the present invention. The Figures depict the locking mechanism in various configurations.

[0094] The locking mechanism comprises a first inner box side flap 59a and a first engaging element 31a. The first engaging element 31a is formed by a first outer sleeve engaging panel 231a secured to the inner surface of the first outer sleeve side wall 12. The first outer sleeve side wall 12 includes an internal cut line 71a, which defines a release tab 70a in the first outer sleeve side wall 12. The release tab 70a is positioned to overlie the first inner box side flap 59a, when the inner box is in the first position, as shown in FIG. 3A. The first inner box side flap 59a depends from a lid portion 50 of the inner box 10 and overlies a portion of the first lid portion side wall 52 of the inner box 10.

[0095] The first engaging element 31a has an engaging edge 33a, which engages with the leading edge of the first inner box side flap 59a, when the container is in the first position, as shown in FIG. 3A, to prevent the inner box 10 from sliding towards and out of the open end of the outer sleeve 20.

[0096] In FIG. 3A the locking mechanism is in a locked state. To unlock the locking mechanism, a user presses on the release tab 70a to cause it to deflect inwards relative to the outer sleeve 20. The release tab 70a then comes into contact with the first inner box side flap 59a of the inner box 10 and pushes the first inner box side flap 59a away from the first engaging element 31a of the outer sleeve 20. This causes the leading edge of the first inner box side flap 59a to disengage from the barrier created by the first engaging element 31a, as shown in FIG. 3B.

[0097] FIG. 3B therefore shows the locking mechanism in an unlocked state, with the inner box 10 still being in the first position relative to the outer sleeve 20. However, because the locking mechanism is now unlocked, the inner box 10 can now move linearly relative to the outer sleeve 20 and towards a second position in which any consumer goods held in the inner box 10 can be accessed by a user. Consequently, after pressing on the release tab 70a and unlocking the locking mechanism, a user can slide the inner box 10 with respect to the outer sleeve 20 to gain access to the consumer goods. Such sliding movement is depicted by the change in position of the inner box 10 components relative to the outer sleeve 20 components between FIGS. 3B and 3C. In particular, the first lid portion side wall 52, first box portion side wall 67 and first inner box side flap 59a have all been moved upwards in FIG. 3C, relative to their position in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3C therefore shows the locking mechanism in an unlocked state, with the inner box 10 being in the second position.

[0098] When the user has finished accessing the consumer goods, the user can slide the inner box 10 back into the interior of the outer sleeve 20. This reverts the first inner box side flap 59a to a position corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3B. However, as the user is now no longer pressing on the release tab 70a, the first inner box side flap 59a of inner box 10 can move back to the position shown in FIG. 3A to engage with the first engaging element 31a. This results in the locking mechanism reverting to the locked state of FIG. 3A. The first inner box side flap 59a can automatically revert to the position shown in FIG. 3A in such circumstances, because of the biasing force created by the fold line between the first inner box side flap 59a and the panel 154 forming the lid portion top wall.

[0099] Although the locking mechanism has been described above with reference to the first inner box side flap 59a and first engaging element 31a shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, it will be appreciated that the locking mechanism of the container 1 also comprises a corresponding arrangement on the opposed side of the container 1. In particular, the locking mechanism also involves a corresponding arrangement at the second inner box side wall and second outer sleeve side wall. Thus, in order to unlock a container as described above, a user is required to simultaneously press two release tabs 70a, 70b (i.e. one on each side wall of the outer sleeve 10).

[0100] As noted above, the outer sleeve 20 comprises a flap 21 which helps to form a holding mechanism for preventing the inner box 10 from sliding beyond a set position. In particular, the flap 21 is configured to engage with the lid portion 50 of the inner box 10, when the inner box 10 is in the second position to prevent the inner box 10 from sliding beyond the second position. In the arrangement of FIGS. 2A and 2B, this is achieved by virtue of the flap 21 sliding into the lid portion 50 as the inner box 10 is moved from the first position to the second position. In particular, as the inner box 10 is moved from the first position to the second position, the flap 21 catches on the lower edge of the lid portion front wall 51 and slides inside the lid portion 50. The flap 21 may remain generally flush with the inner surface of the lid portion front wall 51. When the inner box 10 reaches the second position, the curved part of the leading edge of the flap 21 protrudes through the slot 180 in the lid portion top wall 54. However, the flap 21 and slot 180 are shaped and sized so that part of the leading edge of the flap 21 protrudes through the slot 180 to engage with the lid portion top wall 54. This engagement prevents the inner box 10 from sliding any further beyond the second position.

[0101] FIG. 4 shows a third laminar blank 300 and a fourth laminar blank 400 for forming a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The third laminar blank 300 is for forming an inner box 30 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, and is similar to the first laminar blank 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention. The fourth laminar blank 400 is for forming an outer sleeve 40 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, and is similar to the second laminar blank 200 of the first embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the container 2 and laminar blanks 300, 400 of the second embodiment are structurally and functionally the same as the container 1 and laminar blanks 100, 200 of the first embodiment, with the exception of the following points discussed below.

[0102] The third laminar blank 300 differs from the first laminar blank 100 in the following ways. Firstly, the third laminar blank 300 does not include a slot in its lid portion top wall 154. Instead, the third laminar blank 300 has an arcuate internal cut line 380 in its box portion back wall panel 365. Secondly, the internal cut lines are arranged differently in the third laminar blank 300 such that the third laminar blank 300 comprises first and second lid portion reinforcing flaps 359a, 359b, and first and second inner box side flaps 369a, 369b. This arrangement means that the first and second inner box side flaps 369a, 369b of the inner box 30 now depend from the box portion bottom wall 64 of the inner box 30, instead of the lid portion top wall 54 of the inner box 30. This can be best seen from FIG. 5A, where the inner box 30 is shown in a transparent form to enhance clarity.

[0103] The fourth laminar blank 400 differs from the second laminar blank 200 in the following ways. Firstly, the outer sleeve back wall under panel 416 of the fourth laminar blank 400 has a different shape compared to the outer sleeve back wall under panel 216 of the second laminar blank 200. Secondly, the outer sleeve flap panel 421 is shorter and no longer has a curved central portion on its leading edge.

[0104] FIG. 5A the outer sleeve 40 and inner box 30 of the second embodiment of the present invention, in an unassembled condition. The arrangement of FIG. 5A differs from that of FIG. 2A, at least in that the inner box 30 now has a different orientation relative to the outer sleeve 40. In particular, in FIG. 5A, the inner box 30 is now arranged so that the lid portion front wall 51 and box portion front wall 61 of the inner box 30, will underlie the outer sleeve back wall 11 when the inner box 30 is inserted into the outer sleeve 40. Similarly, the inner box 30 is now arranged so that the lid portion back wall 55 and box portion back wall 65 of the inner box 30, will underlie the outer sleeve front wall 15 when the inner box 30 is inserted into the outer sleeve 40.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 5B, when the inner box 30 is disposed in the first position in the outer sleeve 40, the bottom wall 64 of the inner box 30 underlies the bottom wall of the outer sleeve 40. Furthermore, part of the lid portion 50 of the inner box 30 extends through and resides externally of the open end 25 of the outer sleeve 40. The remaining part of the lid portion 50 of the inner box 30 resides within the outer sleeve 40. In this position, the hinge line 90 of the inner box 30 underlies the outer sleeve front wall 15, and the lower edge of the lid portion front wall 51 underlies the outer sleeve back wall 11. This arrangement prevents the lid portion 50 of the inner box 30 from pivoting relative to the box portion 60 of the inner box 30, when the inner box 30 is in the first position of FIG. 5B.

[0106] In the second embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B when the inner box 30 is moved to its second position the entire lid portion 50 of the inner box has been moved through the open end 25 and positioned externally of the outer sleeve 40. This allows the lid portion 50 to pivot about its hinge line 90 and permit access to the interior of the inner box 30. In particular, in the second position, the hinge line 90 of the inner box 30 is positioned beyond the upper edge of the outer sleeve front wall 15. Furthermore, the lower edge of the lid portion front wall 51 is positioned beyond the upper edge of the outer sleeve back wall 11. This allows the lid portion 30 to pivot about the hinge line 90 without being impeded by the outer sleeve 40.

[0107] The container 2 of the second embodiment includes a holding mechanism provided by the arcuate cut line 380 in the box portion back wall 65 of the inner box 30 and the outer sleeve flap 42. In particular, when the inner box 30 is moved to the second position, the outer sleeve flap 42 engages with an edge in the box portion back wall 65 created by the arcuate cut line 380 to prevent the inner box 30 from sliding beyond the second position. This prevents the inner box from being separated from the outer sleeve 40. This functions in a similar manner to the slot 180 and outer sleeve flap 21 arrangement of the first embodiment.