Resealable container including insert

Abstract

Containers that include a housing that includes a box and a lid that is hingedly attached to the box. The container also includes an inner package disposed at least partially within the housing and at least partially defining an interior volume for housing consumer goods. The inner package includes a first layer and a second layer. The container also includes an insert positioned between the inner surface of the front wall of the box and the outer surface of the front wall of the inner package. The insert is positioned entirely below the sealing region and is positioned so that the lowest point of the upper edge of the box is lower than the highest point of the upper edge of the insert.

Claims

1. A container (10) for consumer goods, comprising: a housing (12) comprising a box (14) and a lid (20) hingedly attached to the box, the box having a front wall (16) and a back wall, the front wall having an inner surface, the lid comprising a front wall (24), wherein the lid has an inner surface (22) and an outer surface (26) and the front wall (16) of the box has an upper edge (21); an inner package (30) disposed within the housing and at least partially defining an interior volume for housing consumer goods, the inner package (30) having a front wall that has an outer surface, the inner package comprising a first layer (40) and a second layer (50), the first layer comprising a flap (44), the flap attached to the inner surface of the lid and the flap configured to be releasably attached to a sealing region (72) of the second layer to open and close the inner package by opening and closing the lid; and an insert (60) positioned between the inner surface of the front wall of the box and the outer surface of the front wall of the inner package, wherein the insert has an upper edge (35), wherein the insert is positioned entirely below the sealing region and positioned so that the lowest point of the upper edge of the box is lower than the highest point of the upper edge of the insert, and wherein the sealing region and upper edge of the insert are rectilinear and horizontal.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises an access region (62) on the upper edge that allows it to be removed from the container.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the access region extends from 2 mm to 10 mm away from the upper edge of the insert.

4. The container of claim 1, the front wall of the lid having a length of from 25 mm to 60 mm.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing has an opening line (64) that forms the lid and the box and wherein the opening line has an angle from 30 degrees to 60 degrees as measured from the back wall (18) of the box.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the sealing region has a height from 10 mm to 20 mm.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the lid extends at least 2 mm beyond the sealing region.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the insert is removable only when the lid is open.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the access region of the insert further comprises a tab (69).

10. The container of claim 9, the tab comprising a coextensive portion of the insert that is folded towards the insert.

11. The container of claim 9, wherein the insert is removable when the lid is open or closed.

12. The container of claim 1 further comprising the consumer goods, wherein the consumer goods are housed in the interior volume defined by the inner package.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the consumer goods are smoking articles.

14. The container of claim 12, wherein the consumer goods are cigarettes.

15. A carton comprising: at least one container (10) for consumer goods, comprising: a housing (12) comprising a box (14) and a lid (20) hingedly attached to the box, the box having a front wall (16) and a back wall, the lid comprising a front wall (24), wherein the lid has an inner surface (22) and an outer surface (26) and the front wall (16) of the box has an upper edge (21); an inner package (30) disposed within the housing and at least partially defining an interior volume for housing consumer goods, the inner package (30) having a front wall that has an outer surface, the inner package comprising a first layer (40) and a second layer (50), the first layer comprising a flap (44), the flap attached to the inner surface of the lid and the flap configured to be releasably attached to a sealing region (72) of the second layer to open and close the inner package by opening and closing the lid; and an insert (60) positioned between the inner surface of the front wall of the box and the outer surface of the front wall of the inner package, wherein the insert has an upper edge (35), wherein the insert is positioned entirely below the sealing region and positioned so that the lowest point of the upper edge of the box is lower than the highest point of the upper edge of the insert, and wherein the sealing region and upper edge of the insert are rectilinear and horizontal.

Description

(1) Referring now to the drawings, in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container in an open position, where the container comprises an access region comprising a line of weakness and an insert.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the side of the container of FIG. 1 in an open position.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the front of the container of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a container in an open position, where the container comprises an access region and an insert.

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a container in an open position, where the container comprises an access region comprising a line of weakness and an insert.

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an insert with a tear away portion attached thereto.

(8) Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a container 10 for consumer goods is depicted. The container includes a housing 12 that includes a box 14 and a lid 20 hingedly attached to the box via a hinge line (not shown). The box has a front wall 16 and a rear wall 18. The front wall of the box has an upper edge 21. The box also has an inner surface 17 and an outer surface 19. The hinge line extends across the back wall 18 of the box 14 of the container 10, and acts to allow the lid 20 to be moved from a closed position (FIG. 3) to an open position as shown in FIG. 1. The lid 20 has a front wall 24 that has an inner surface 22 and an outer surface 26 (FIG. 2).

(9) An inner package 30 is disposed within the housing 12. The inner package 30 at least partially defines an interior volume for housing consumer goods. The inner package 30 is made from a barrier material or materials to hermetically seal the consumer goods before the container is opened for the first time. The barrier material may be a metal foil or a plastic and metal laminate. The inner package 30 includes a front wall 32 and a back wall 34 (seen in FIG. 2). The inner package 30 includes an outer surface 33. The inner package also includes a first layer 40 and a second layer 50 attached to an inner surface of the first layer.

(10) The inner package 30 includes an access opening 54 through which the consumer goods (not shown) can be removed. The access opening 54 is covered by the flap 44 when the flap is in the closed position (FIG. 3). Further, the access opening 54 is at least partially uncovered when the flap 44 is in the open position. The flap can include or be coupled with a label the label includes a sealing area and a non-sealing area. The flap and the label are not distinguishable in the figures and element 44 can be considered as referring to both of them. The flap 44 can be attached to the first layer 40 along a hinge line 49 (FIG. 2). The flap 44 is also attached to an inner surface 22 (FIG. 2) of the front wall 24 of the lid 20 such that upon opening the lid the flap and a portion 55 of the second layer 50 attached to the flap are separated from the inner package 30 along first and second lines of weakness (not shown herein) to reveal the access opening 54. The flap 44 is adapted to overlap the access opening 54 into a sealing region 72 such that the flap attaches to the second layer 50 within the sealing region 72 when the flap is in the closed position.

(11) Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic cross-section view of the container 10 of FIG. 1 is depicted with the lid 20 and the flap 44 in the open position. The inner package 30 is shown disposed within the box 14 of housing 12. The flap 44 is attached to the lid 20. In the open position, the flap 44 forms an S-shape. The geometry of the container 10 is such that the flap 44 is automatically resealed to the inner package 30 when the flap (and the lid 20) is returned to the closed position.

(12) All of the figures also show an insert 60. The insert 60 is positioned between the inner surface 17 of the front wall 18 of the box and the outer surface 32 of the front wall 31 of the inner package 30. The insert has an upper edge 35 that is accessible via an access region 62. The insert can be made of any useful material, can have any useful dimensions, and can optionally be folded either transversally or longitudinally or both transversally and longitudinally. The insert is positioned entirely below the sealing region 72 of the second layer 50. If the insert were positioned above the sealing region 72, the sealing area of the label that functions to close the inner package would be adhered to the insert and the inner package would no longer be resealable. Furthermore, the lowest point of the upper edge 21 of the box 14 (even if it is not linear) is lower than the highest point of the upper edge 35 of the insert 60 so that the insert 60 can be accessed.

(13) Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a container that includes a lid 20 with a front wall 24 that is longer than a typical or previously utilized lid is illustrated. The specific way in which this lid is formed in FIG. 3 is to modify the angle of the opening line 64. As seen in FIG. 3, the angle of the opening line 66, given as a in FIG.3 is measured from the back wall 18 of the box 14 is less than about 60 degrees, less than about 55 degrees, or less than about 50 degrees, for example. In such embodiments, the angle can be greater than 30 degrees, greater than 35 degrees, or greater than 40 degrees for example. Decreasing the angle between the back wall 18 of the box and the opening line 64 serves to increase the length of the front wall 24 of the lid 20. This allows more room below the sealing region 72 for the access region 62 of the insert 60 to exist when the lid is closed. The insert 60 in such an embodiment would not be accessible unless the lid is opened.

(14) Referring to FIG. 4, a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a container that includes a lid 20 with a front wall 24 that is longer than for example a standard king size box for 20 smoking articles. This lid is made longer by maintaining a typical angle between the back wall and the opening line but extending the front wall of the lid downwards toward the bottom of the box 14. The height of the front wall 24 of the lid 20 is shown in FIG. 4 as reference numeral 68. The height 68 of the front wall 24 in such embodiment is less than 60 mm, or preferably less than 45 mm. In some embodiments, the front wall of the lid can have a height 68 that is greater than 25 mm, or preferably greater than 28 mm. The height of the front wall of the lid can also be described with respect to the front wall of the box. In some embodiments, the ratio of the height of the front wall of the lid to the height of the front wall of the box is not less than 35:65. This allows more room below the sealing region 72 for the access region 62 of the insert to exist. The insert 60 in such an embodiment would not be accessible unless the lid is opened.

(15) Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a container that includes a sealing region that is shorter than for example a standard king size box for 20 smoking articles. The sealing region 72, which can also be described as the point on the inner package where the sealing area of the resealable label makes contact can be described by the height 71 as seen in FIG. 5. The height 71 of the sealing region 72 can be not greater than about 20 mm, or not greater than about 18 mm. In some embodiments, the height of the sealing region 72 can be not less than about 10 mm, or not less than about 12 mm. In such embodiments, the lower edge 73 of the sealing region 72 of the resealable label can be shifted upward to make the sealing area shorter. This affords more room under the lid 24 for the insert when the lid is closed. In such embodiments, the bottom edge of the lid can extend at least 2 mm beyond the sealing region 72. The insert 60 in such an embodiment would not be accessible unless the lid is opened.

(16) Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a container that includes an insert with a tab is illustrated. The insert 60 includes a tab 69 that functions as the access region of the insert. The tab 69 is coextensive with the remaining portion of the insert. The tab 69 can be configured to be folded towards the box 14, have about a 90 degrees angle with the box, or otherwise. Preferably, the tab is folded down towards the insert not the lid. The tab 69 can be made of the same material or a different material than the rest of the insert. The tab can have any usable dimensions. In such embodiments, the upper edge of the insert is predominantly above the upper edge of the front wall of the box and the tab extends even farther above the upper edge. The insert 60 in such an embodiment would be accessible whether the lid is open or closed.