A RECEPTACLE FOR AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLES

Abstract

A receptacle for storing one or more used aerosol-generating articles is provided, the receptacle including: a box portion including a closed bottom end and a top end defining a box opening, the bottom end being disposed opposite the top end; a cover portion movable with respect to the box portion between a closed position in which the cover portion covers the box opening and an open position in which the box opening is uncovered; and a clip depending from the top end of the box portion and overlying an outer surface of the box portion, the clip including a top end disposed at the top end of the box portion, the top end of the clip being non-parallel with the bottom end of the box portion. A kit is also provided, including the receptacle; and a container for aerosol-generating articles.

Claims

1.-17. (canceled)

18. A receptacle for storing one or more used aerosol-generating articles, the receptacle comprising: a box portion comprising a closed bottom end and a top end defining a box opening, wherein the bottom end is disposed opposite the top end; a cover portion movable with respect to the box portion between a closed position in which the cover portion covers the box opening and an open position in which the box opening is uncovered; and a clip depending from the top end of the box portion and overlying an outer surface of the box portion, the clip comprising a top end disposed at the top end of the box portion, wherein the top end of the clip is non-parallel with the bottom end of the box portion.

19. The receptacle according to claim 18, wherein the clip further comprises a first portion overlying the outer surface of the box portion and a second portion disposed inside the box portion so that at least a part of the box portion is disposed between the first portion of the clip and the second portion of the clip.

20. The receptacle according to claim 18, wherein the cover portion is a lid portion depending from the top end of the box portion along a hinge line.

21. The receptacle according to claim 20, wherein the lid portion comprises a recess in a bottom edge of the lid portion, and wherein a portion of the clip is received within the recess when the lid portion is in the closed position.

22. A kit, comprising: a receptacle according to claim 18; and a container for aerosol-generating articles, the container comprising: a container box portion comprising: a container box bottom wall, a container box back wall extending from the container box bottom wall, a container box front wall disposed opposite the container box back wall, and first and second container box side walls each extending between the container box back wall and the container box front wall, and a container lid portion depending from the container box back wall along a hinge line, wherein the clip of the receptacle is sized such that the clip is configured to engage the first container box side wall.

23. The kit according to claim 22, wherein a top edge of the first container box side wall is non-parallel with the container box bottom wall, and wherein the top end of the clip is parallel with the top edge of the first container box side wall when the clip is engaged with the first container box side wall.

24. The kit according to claim 22, wherein the container further comprises an inner frame partially disposed within the container box portion, and wherein the container is configured to receive the clip between the inner frame and the first container box side wall.

25. A receptacle for storing one or more used aerosol-generating articles, the receptacle comprising: a box portion comprising a closed first end and a second end defining a box opening, wherein the second end is disposed opposite the first end; a cover portion movable with respect to the box portion between a closed position in which the cover portion covers the box opening and an open position in which the box opening is uncovered; and a clip depending from the box portion and overlying an outer surface of the closed first end of the box portion, the clip comprising a first portion overlying the outer surface of the closed first end of the box portion and a second portion disposed inside the box portion so that at least a part of the box portion is disposed between the first portion of the clip and the second portion of the clip, wherein the second portion of the clip is shorter than the first portion of the clip.

26. A kit, comprising: a receptacle according to claim 25; and a container for aerosol-generating articles, the container comprising a container box portion comprising: a container box bottom wall, a container box back wall extending from the container box bottom wall, a container box front wall disposed opposite the container box back wall, first and second container box side walls each extending between the container box back wall and the container box front wall, and an aperture between a bottom edge of the first container box side wall and the container box bottom wall, the aperture being configured to receive the clip of the receptacle so that the clip engages the container box bottom wall.

27. A receptacle for storing one or more used aerosol-generating articles, the receptacle comprising: a box portion comprising a closed front end and a back end defining a box opening, wherein the back end is disposed opposite the front end; a cover portion movable with respect to the box portion between a closed position in which the cover portion covers the box opening and an open position in which the box opening is uncovered; a base portion extending from the closed front end of the box portion, the base portion comprising a top wall orthogonal to the closed front end of the box portion and a bottom wall disposed opposite the top wall; and a clip depending from the base portion and overlying an outer surface of the top wall.

28. A kit, comprising: a receptacle according to claim 27; and a container for aerosol-generating articles, the container comprising: a container box portion comprising a closed bottom end and a top end defining a container box opening, wherein the top end is disposed opposite the bottom end, and a container lid portion depending from a back wall of the container box portion along a hinge line extending at least partially along a top edge of the back wall of the container box portion, wherein the container box portion comprises an aperture configured to receive the clip of the receptacle so that the clip engages the closed bottom end of the container box portion, and wherein the closed front end of the box portion of the receptacle overlies a portion of the back wall of the container box portion when the clip is engaged with the closed bottom end of the container box portion.

29. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the container box portion has a first height extending between the hinge line and the closed bottom end of the container box portion, wherein the box portion of the receptacle has a second height extending between a top of the box portion of the receptacle and a bottom of the box portion of the receptacle in a direction parallel to the first height when the clip is engaged with the closed bottom end of the container box portion, and wherein the second height is equal to or greater than the first height.

30. The kit according to claim 29, wherein the container lid portion has a third height extending between the hinge line and a closed top end of the container lid portion, and wherein a distance between the top of the box portion of the receptacle and the hinge line is equal to or greater than the third height when the clip is engaged with the closed bottom end of the container box portion.

31. The kit according to claim 30, wherein the base portion of the receptacle comprises a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, wherein the clip overlies the top surface of the base portion of the receptacle, and wherein a height of the base portion of the receptacle between the top surface and the bottom surface is equal to or greater than the third height of the container lid portion.

32. A receptacle for storing one or more used aerosol-generating articles, the receptacle comprising: a box portion comprising a closed bottom end and a top end defining a box opening, wherein the bottom end is disposed opposite the top end; a cover portion movable with respect to the box portion between a closed position in which the cover portion covers the box opening and an open position in which the box opening is uncovered; and a skirt portion extending from the box portion about a periphery of the bottom end of the box portion, the skirt portion defining a cavity configured to receive a portion of a container of aerosol-generating articles.

33. A kit, comprising: a receptacle according to claim 32; and a container for aerosol-generating articles, the container comprising a container box portion and a container lid portion depending from the container box portion along a hinge line, wherein the cavity defined by the skirt portion of the receptacle is configured to receive at least part of the container lid portion by an interference fit.

Description

[0197] The invention is further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0198] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a receptacle according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0199] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0200] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 with the cover portion in an open position;

[0201] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the receptacle of FIG. 3 with a plurality of used aerosol-generating articles received within the receptacle;

[0202] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a kit comprising the receptacle of FIG. 3 and a container for aerosol-generating articles;

[0203] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a receptacle according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0204] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the receptacle of FIG. 6;

[0205] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a kit comprising the receptacle of FIG. 7 and a container for aerosol-generating articles;

[0206] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the kit of FIG. 8 with the receptacle fully attached to the container;

[0207] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the kit of FIG. 9 with the receptacle cover portion in an open position;

[0208] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a receptacle according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0209] FIG. 12 shows a front view of the receptacle of FIG. 11;

[0210] FIG. 13 shows a side view of the receptacle of FIG. 11;

[0211] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a kit comprising the receptacle of FIG. 11 and a container for aerosol-generating articles;

[0212] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the kit of FIG. 14 with the receptacle cover portion in an open position;

[0213] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a kit comprising a receptacle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention and a container for aerosol-generating articles;

[0214] FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the receptacle of FIG. 16 along line 1-1;

[0215] FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the kit of FIG. 16 with the receptacle attached to the container; and

[0216] FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of the kit of FIG. 18 with the receptacle cover portion in an open position.

[0217] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a receptacle 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle 10 comprises a box portion 12 and a cover portion 14 in the form of a lid portion depending from the box portion 12 along a hinge line 16. The cover portion 14 is rotatable about the hinge line 16 between a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) and an open position (shown in FIG. 3). A top end 18 of the box portion 12 defines a box opening 20 which is covered when the cover portion 14 is in the closed position and uncovered when the cover portion 14 is in the open position. The box portion 12 comprises a closed bottom end 22 opposite the top end 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the receptacle 10 is sized to receive a plurality of used aerosol-generating articles 23 within the box portion 12.

[0218] The box portion 12 comprises a box back wall 24, a box front wall 26, a first box side wall 28 and a second box side wall 30. The top edges of these walls together define the box opening 20 at the top end 18 of the box portion 12. A flange 32 extends around part of the box portion 12 at the top end 18 of the box portion 12. When the cover portion 14 is in the closed position the cover portion 14 engages the flange 32 by a snap fit, which forms a closure to retain the cover portion 14 in the closed position.

[0219] The box portion 12 also comprises a box bottom wall (not shown) that forms the closed bottom end 22 of the box portion 12. The closed bottom end 22 of the box portion 12 also forms a bottom end of the receptacle 10. A lid top wall 34 of the cover portion 14 forms a top end of the receptacle 10.

[0220] The receptacle 10 further comprises a clip 36 depending from the top end 18 of the box portion 12 and overlying an outer surface of the first box side wall 28. The clip 36 comprises a first portion 38 extending between a top end 40 of the clip 36 at the top end 18 of the box portion 12 and a free end 42 distal from the top end 40. A second portion (not shown) of the clip 36 is positioned inside the box portion 12 and secured to an inner surface of the first box side wall 28 by an adhesive. The clip 36 is formed from a resilient metal so that the clip 36 is biased towards the first box side wall 28. A bottom edge 44 of the cover portion 14 comprises a recess 46 in which the top end 40 of the clip 36 is received when the cover portion 14 is in the closed position.

[0221] FIG. 5 shows a kit 50 comprising the receptacle 10 of FIGS. 1 to 4 and a container 52 for aerosol-generating articles. The container 52 is a hinged-lid container comprising a container box portion 54 and a container lid portion 56 depending from the container box portion 54 along a hinge line 58 extending between a container lid back wall 60 and a container box back wall 62. As shown in FIG. 5, the clip 36 can be used to attach the receptacle 10 to a first container box side wall 64 of the container 52. Advantageously, the angular profile of the top end 40 of the clip 36 matches the angular profile of the top edge of the first container box side wall 64 so that the container lid portion 56 can still be fully closed when the receptacle 10 is attached to the container 52. Advantageously, configuring the clip 36 for attachment of the receptacle 10 to a side wall of the container 52 results in the box openings of the receptacle 10 and the container 52 having the same orientation, which may facilitate use of the kit 50 by a user. The depth and height of the receptacle 10 matches the depth and height of the container 52 which may further facilitate use of the kit 50 by a user, for example by making the kit 50 easy to hold.

[0222] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a receptacle 110 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 8 to 10 show a kit 150 comprising the receptacle 110 and a container 152 for aerosol-generating articles.

[0223] The receptacle 110 comprises a box portion 112 and a cover portion 114 in the form of a lid portion depending from the box portion 112 along a hinge line 116. The cover portion 114 is rotatable about the hinge line 116 between a closed position (shown in FIG. 6) and an open position (shown in FIG. 10). A bottom end 118 of the box portion 112 defines a box opening 120 which is covered when the cover portion 114 is in the closed position and uncovered when the cover portion 114 is in the open position. The box portion 112 comprises a closed top end 122 opposite the bottom end 118.

[0224] The box portion 112 comprises a box back wall 124, a box front wall 126, a first box side wall 128 and a second box side wall 130. The bottom edges of these walls together define the box opening 120 at the bottom end 118 of the box portion 112. A tab 132 extends from an edge of the cover portion 114 and is configured to engage a corresponding recess 133 in the bottom edge of the box front wall 126 by a snap fit, when the cover portion 114 is in the closed position. The snap fit forms a closure to retain the cover portion 114 in the closed position.

[0225] The box portion 112 also comprises a box top wall 135 that forms the closed top end 122 of the box portion 112. The closed top end 122 of the box portion 112 also forms a top end of the receptacle 110. A lid bottom wall 134 of the cover portion 114 forms a bottom end of the receptacle 110.

[0226] The receptacle 110 further comprises a clip 136 depending from the box portion 112 and overlying an outer surface of the box top wall 135. The clip 136 comprises a first portion 138 extending between a first end 140 and a free end 142 distal from the first end 140. A second portion (not shown) of the clip 136 is positioned inside the box portion 112 and secured to an inner surface of the box portion 112 by an adhesive. The clip 136 is formed from a resilient metal so that the clip 136 is biased towards the box top wall 135.

[0227] The container 152 is a hinged-lid container comprising a container box portion 154 and a container lid portion 156 depending from the container box portion 154 along a hinge line. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the clip 136 can be used to attach the receptacle 110 to a container box bottom wall 164 of the container 152 by inserting the clip through an aperture between a bottom edge of a first container box side wall 166 and the container box bottom wall 164. The depth and width of the receptacle 110 matches the depth and width of the container 152 which may facilitate use of the kit 150 by a user, for example by making the kit 150 easy to hold.

[0228] FIGS. 11 to 13 show a receptacle 210 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 14 and 15 show a kit 250 comprising the receptacle 210 and a container 252 for aerosol-generating articles.

[0229] The receptacle 210 comprises a box portion 212, a base portion 213 and a cover portion 214 depending from the base portion 213 by a hinge 216. The cover portion 214 is rotatable about the hinge 216 between a closed position (shown in FIGS. 11 to 14) and an open position (shown in FIG. 15). A back end 218 of the box portion 212 defines a box opening 220 which is covered when the cover portion 214 is in the closed position and uncovered when the cover portion 214 is in the open position. The box portion 212 comprises a closed front end 222 opposite the back end 218. As shown in FIG. 15, the receptacle 210 is sized to receive a plurality of used aerosol-generating articles 223 within the box portion 212. An inner surface of the cover portion 214 is scalloped to maintain the used aerosol-generating articles 223 in an upright position when the cover portion 214 is in the closed position.

[0230] The box portion 212 comprises a box top wall 226, a first box side wall 228 and a second box side wall 230. The back edges of these walls together define the box opening 220 at the back end 218 of the box portion 212. The box portion 212 also comprises a box front wall 224 that forms the closed front end 222 of the box portion 212.

[0231] The base portion 213 extends from the closed front end 222 of the box portion 212. The base portion 213 comprises a base top wall 215 orthogonal to the closed front end 222 of the box portion 212 and a base bottom wall 217 opposite the base top wall 215.

[0232] The receptacle 210 further comprises a clip 236 depending from the base portion 213 and overlying an outer surface of the base top wall 215. The clip 236 comprises a first portion 238 extending between a first end 240 and a free end 242 distal from the first end 240. A second portion (not shown) of the clip 236 is positioned inside the base portion 213 and secured to an inner surface of the base portion 213 by an adhesive. The clip 236 is formed from a resilient metal so that the clip 236 is biased towards the base top wall 215.

[0233] The container 252 is a hinged-lid container comprising a container box portion 254 and a container lid portion 256 depending from the container box portion 254 along a hinge line. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the clip 236 can be used to attach the receptacle 210 to a container box bottom wall 264 of the container 252 by inserting the clip through an aperture between a bottom edge of a first container box side wall 266 and the container box bottom wall 264. When the receptacle 210 is attached to the container 252 the closed front end 222 of the receptacle box portion 212 overlies a portion of a container back wall 268 of the container box portion 254.

[0234] FIGS. 16 to 19 show a receptacle 310 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention and a kit 350 comprising the receptacle 310 and a container 352 for aerosol-generating articles.

[0235] The receptacle 310 comprises a box portion 312 and a cover portion 314 in the form of a lid portion depending from the box portion 312 along a hinge line 316. The cover portion 314 is rotatable about the hinge line 316 between a closed position (shown in FIGS. 16 to 18) and an open position (shown in FIG. 19). A top end 318 of the box portion 312 defines a box opening 320 which is covered when the cover portion 314 is in the closed position and uncovered when the cover portion 314 is in the open position. The box portion 312 comprises a closed bottom end 322 opposite the top end 318. As shown in FIG. 19, the receptacle 310 is sized to receive a plurality of used aerosol-generating articles 323 within the box portion 312.

[0236] The box portion 312 comprises a box back wall 324, a box front wall 326, a first box side wall 328 and a second box side wall 330. The top edges of these walls together define the box opening 320 at the top end 318 of the box portion 312. A tab 332 extends from an edge of the cover portion 314 and is configured to engage a corresponding recess 333 in the top edge of the box front wall 326 by a snap fit, when the cover portion 314 is in the closed position. The snap fit forms a closure to retain the cover portion 314 in the closed position.

[0237] The box portion 312 also comprises a box bottom wall 335 that forms the closed bottom end 322 of the box portion 312.

[0238] The receptacle 310 further comprises a skirt portion 336 extending from the box portion 312 about a periphery of the closed bottom end 322 of the box portion 312. The skirt portion 336 is formed integrally with the box portion 312. The skirt portion 336 defines a cavity 338 for receiving a portion of the container 352.

[0239] The container 352 is a hinged-lid container comprising a container box portion 354 and a container lid portion 356 depending from the container box portion 354 along a hinge line. As shown in FIGS. 16, 18 and 19, the receptacle 310 may be attached to the container 352 by inserting the container lid portion 356 into the cavity 338 defined by the skirt portion 336. The container lid portion 356 is retained within the cavity 338 by an interference fit. Advantageously, the shape of the skirt portion 336 corresponds to the shape of the container lid portion 356 so that only the container lid portion 356 is received within the cavity 338 when the receptacle 310 is attached to the contain 352. Advantageously, this permits opening and closing of the container lid portion 356 when the receptacle 310 is attached to the container 352. That is, the receptacle 310 moves with the container lid portion 356 when the container lid portion 356 is moved between open and closed positions.