CONTAINER HAVING AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE PANEL

Abstract

A container (10) for consumer goods comprising a box portion (40) defining at least a first compartment for containing consumer good sand a first lid (30) connected to the box portion (40) by a first lid hinge line (32) extending across a first side wall of the container. The container further comprises a first panel (20) connected to the box portion (40) by a first panel hinge line (22) and configured to pivot relative to the box portion (40) of the container (10).

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods comprising: a first major wall, a second major wall, first and second opposed minor side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall; a box portion defining at least a first compartment for containing consumer goods and a first opening for accessing consumer goods in the first compartment; and a first lid connected to the box portion by a first lid hinge line extending across the first minor side wall of the container, the first lid being movable relative to the box portion between a closed position in which the first lid covers the first opening and an open position in which the first opening is uncovered; wherein the container further comprises a first panel connected to the box portion by a first panel hinge line and configured to pivot between a first position in which the first panel overlies at least a portion of the first major wall of the container, and a second position in which the first panel extends substantially away from the box portion of the container.

2. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a slit in the first major wall of the container for holding the first hinged panel in the first position.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first panel hinge line is disposed between the box portion first major wall and one of the first minor side wall and the second minor side wall.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first panel of the container is provided with an attachment mechanism for assisting with attaching the first panel of the container to an external object.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a microsuction layer on a first surface of the first panel.

6. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for securing the first lid to the box portion when the first lid is in the closed position.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first lid comprises a first lid first major wall, a first lid second major wall, first lid first and second opposed minor side walls, and a first lid top wall, wherein the first lid top wall forms the top wall of the container.

8. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first major wall of the container is provided with an attachment mechanism for attaching the first major wall of the container to another object.

9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the box portion further defines a second compartment for containing consumer goods and a second opening for accessing consumer goods in the second compartment, and wherein the container further comprises: a second lid connected to the box portion by a second lid hinge line extending across the second side wall of the container, the second lid being movable relative to the box portion between a closed position in which the second lid covers the second opening and an open position in which the second opening is uncovered.

10. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a second panel connected to the box portion by a second panel hinge line and configured to pivot between a first position in which the second panel overlies at least a portion of the second major wall of the container, and a second position in which the second panel extends substantially away from the box portion of the container.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the second panel hinge line extends along an edge separating the box portion second major wall from the first minor side wall or the second minor side wall.

12. A container according to claims 10, wherein the second lid comprises a second lid first major wall, a second lid second major wall, second lid first and second opposed minor side walls, and a second lid bottom wall, wherein the second lid bottom wall forms the bottom wall of the container.

13. A container according to claim 10, further comprising a mechanism for securing the second lid to the box portion when the second lid is in the closed position.

14. A container according to claim 1 wherein the consumer goods are aerosol-generating articles.

15. A system comprising a device for use in an electrically heated smoking system and the container of claim 1, wherein device comprises a housing and a slit in the housing for receiving the first panel of the container.

Description

[0062] The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:

[0063] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention, as viewed from the back of the container;

[0064] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment the present invention, as viewed from the front of the container;

[0065] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, shown with the first and second hinged panels in their respective first positions, as viewed from the back of the container;

[0066] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention, disposed alongside a device for use in an electrically operated smoking system;

[0067] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container of FIGS. 1 to 3, when attached to the device of FIG. 3;

[0068] FIG. 5 is an overhead view of a blank for forming a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0069] FIG. 6 is an overhead view of a blank for forming a container according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1A, a container 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a first major wall 11, a second major wall (not visible), a first minor side wall (not visible), a second opposed minor side wall 13, a top wall 15 and a bottom wall (not visible). The container has a box portion 40 that defines first and second compartments for containing consumer goods. A dotted line is included in FIG. 1A to show the divide point between the first and second compartments.

[0071] A first lid 30 is connected to the box portion 40 by a first lid hinge line 32 that extends across the first side wall of the container. The first lid 30 is movable relative to the box portion 40 between a closed position in which the first lid 30 covers the first opening and an open position in which the first opening is uncovered. The first lid is disposed in the closed position in FIG. 1A. The first lid defines the top wall 15 of the container.

[0072] A first panel 20 is connected to the box portion 40 by a first panel hinge line 22 and is configured to pivot between a first position in which the first panel 20 overlies at least a portion of the first major wall 11 of the container 10, and a second position in which the first panel 20 extends substantially away from the box portion 40 of the container 10. The first panel 20 is disposed in the second position in FIG. 1A. A slot 42 is provided in the first major wall 11 of the container. This will be described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2.

[0073] The container further comprises a second lid 60 that is connected to the box portion 40 by a second lid hinge line 62 that extends across the second side wall 14 of the container 10. The second lid 60 is movable relative to the box portion 40 between a closed position in which the second lid 60 covers a second opening in the box portion 40 and an open position in which the second opening is uncovered. The second lid 60 disposed in the closed position in FIG. 1A. The second lid defines the bottom wall of the container.

[0074] As also shown in FIG. 1A, the container further comprises a second panel 50 that is connected to the box portion 40 by a second panel hinge line 52.

[0075] As can be best appreciated from FIG. 1 B, which shows a perspective view of the back of the container of FIG. 1A, the second panel 50 is configured to pivot between a first position in which the second panel 50 overlies at least a portion of the second major wall 12 of the container 10, and a second position in which the second panel 50 extends substantially away from the box portion 40 of the container 10. The second hinged panel 50 is disposed in the second position in FIG. 1B.

[0076] FIG. 2 shows the container of FIGS. 1A and 1 B, as viewed from the back of the container, with the first panel 20 and second panel 50 now disposed in their respective first positions. As can be seen from FIG. 2, a corner portion of the second hinged panel 50 has been disposed in the slot 44 on the second major wall 12 of the container to hold the second hinge panel 50 flush against the second major wall of the container.

[0077] FIG. 3 shows the container of FIGS. 1B disposed adjacent to an external device, which may be a charger unit for an aerosol generating article. The device 100 has a main body 150 and a lid 130 connected to the body 150 by a device lid hinge line 132. The first major wall 111 of the device 100 is provided with a slot 142 that defines an access opening to an internal cavity in the device that is shaped and sized to accommodate the first hinged panel 50 or the second hinged panel 20 of the container 10.

[0078] As illustrated by FIG. 4, in use, a consumer can choose to insert the first hinged panel 20 of the container 10 through the slot 142 of the device to thereby attach the container 10 to the device 100. In this way, the container 10 and the device 100 can be carried as a single ensemble. Although not visible from the drawings, to further fix the container is place relative to the device 100, a microsuction layer may be provided on the outer surface of the first panel 20 or the second panel 50.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows an overhead view of a blank 200 for forming a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The container of the second embodiment of the invention is similar to that of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4. However, the container of the second embodiment only has one lid connected to its box portion and only has one hinged panel for attaching the container to an external object.

[0080] The blank 200 of FIG. 5 is shown in an unfolded condition. The blank comprises a first portion 210 which comprises a plurality of panels connected by a plurality of fold lines. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the panels of the first portion 210 of the blank 200 are arranged to be folded about the fold lines of the first portion 210 of the blank to form a box portion and a first lid of the container.

[0081] The blank 200 further comprises a second portion, which comprises a first panel 220, connected to the edge of a first side wall panel 214 of the first portion of the blank 200 by a first hinge line 222. When the blank 20 is folded to form the container of the second embodiment the invention, the first panel 220 is configured to pivot about the first hinge line 222 between a first position in which the first panel 220 overlies at least a portion of the first major wall 211 of the container, and a second position in which the first panel 220 extends substantially away from the box portion of the container.

[0082] FIG. 6 shows an overhead view of a blank 300 for forming a container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The blank 300 comprises a first portion 310, which is the same as the first portion 210 of the blank 200 of the second embodiment, shown in FIG. 5.

[0083] The blank 300 further comprises a second portion 315 which is configured to form a first 320 and second 350 hinged panels on the assembled container. In particular, the second portion 315 comprises a first panel 320 connected to the edge of a first side wall panel 314 of the first portion of the blank 300 by a first hinge line 322. A cut line 325 divides the first panel 320 from a connecting major panel 327 that is configured to be held flush against a portion of the panel 311 forming the front wall of the container. The connecting major panel 327 is connected to a connecting minor side panel 353, which is in turn connected to a second panel 350.

[0084] When the blank 300 is folded to form the container of the third embodiment the invention, the connecting minor side panel 353 lies flush against the panel 313 forming the second minor side wall of the container. The second panel 350 is free to pivot about a second hinge line 352 between a first position in which the second panel 350 overlies at least a portion of the first major wall of the container, and a second position in which the first panel 220 extends substantially away from the box portion of the container.