Container with improved closing mechanism

Abstract

A container (100) for consumer goods, the container comprising a housing (20) having an opening for accessing the consumer goods; and a lid (40) connected to the housing and movable relative to the housing (20) between a closed position in which the lid (40) covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is uncovered. A first surface of the lid is disposed adjacent to a first surface of the housing when the lid is in the closed position, and wherein a microsuction structure (244) is provided on the first surface of the lid, the first surface of the housing, or both the first surface of the lid and the first surface of the housing, for retaining the lid (40) in the closed position relative to the housing (20).

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, the container being at least partially formed from one or more fiber-based laminar blanks, the container comprising: a housing having an opening for accessing the consumer goods; and a lid connected to the housing and movable relative to the housing between a closed position in which the lid covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is uncovered, wherein a first surface of the lid is disposed adjacent to a first surface of the housing when the lid is in the closed position, and wherein a microsuction structure is provided on only one of the first surface of the lid or the first surface of the housing, for retaining the lid in the closed position relative to the housing, and wherein the other of the first surface of the lid or the first surface of the housing has a surface smoothness of 1.2 micrometers or less as measured in accordance with ISO 8791-4.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the other of the first surface of the lid or the first surface of the housing comprises a varnish.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the microsuction structure is provided on the first surface of the lid, the first surface of the housing, or both the first surface of the lid and the first surface of the housing, by one or more labels.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein each of the one or more labels has a thickness of less than about 300 micrometers.

5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the force required to separate the lid from the housing when the lid is in the closed position is less than about 15 Newtons.

6. A container according to claim 1, wherein the force required to separate the lid from the housing when the lid is in the closed position is at least about 2 Newtons.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein the microsuction structure covers a surface area of at least 1 centimeters squared on the first surface of the lid or the first surface of the housing.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the lid comprises a flap that is hinged to the box, the flap comprising a top flap portion that overlies the top of the box when the flap is in the closed position and a front flap portion that at least partly overlies the box front wall when the flap is in the closed position, and wherein the first surface of the lid is located on the inner surface of the front flap portion.

9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a box comprising: a box front wall, a box back wall, first and second box side walls, and a box bottom wall, and wherein the first surface of the housing is located on the box front wall.

10. A container according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a lid front wall, a lid back wall, first and second lid side walls, and a lid top wall, and wherein the first surface of the lid is located on the inner surface of the lid front wall.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the box comprises an inner frame, and a top portion of the box front wall is defined by the inner frame, and wherein the first surface of the housing is located on the inner frame.

12. A container according to claim 1, containing a bundle of smoking articles within the housing.

13. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed from one or more folded laminar blanks.

Description

(1) The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view a container for consumer goods, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an isometric view a container for consumer goods, according to second first embodiment of the present invention;

(4) The container 110 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is a pack for cigarettes. It comprises a box 112 having a front wall 114, a rear wall 116 (not visible in FIG. 1) opposed to the front wall and side walls 118, 119 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1) connecting the front wall to the rear wall, a top wall 120 and a bottom wall 122 (not visible in FIG. 1). An opening 124 extends part way across the front portion of the top wall 120 and part way down the front wall 114. Rear 126 and side 128, 128 margins of the top wall remain and define that part of the opening 124 in the top wall. The opening extends down 25% of the height of the front wall 114; this proportion can be changed depending on the size of the package in relation to the goods carried in the package. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the opening extends across about of the width of the package; again, this proportion can be changed depending on the size of the package in relation to the goods carried in the package.

(5) A closure flap 130 extends from the rear wall 16 of the package and is hinged to the rear edge 132 of the top wall 120. The closure flap consists of a top wall closure panel 134 extending from the rear wall 116 of the pack, from which a front wall closure panel 136 extends along a fold 138. A tab 140 extends from the front wall closure panel 136 along fold 142. A microsuction structure 144 is provided on the inner surface of the front wall closure panel 136.

(6) In use of the container 110, a consumer holds the tab 138 of the flap 130 of the closed container and hinges it upwards, unsealing the connection made between the microsuction structure 144 and the outer surface of the box front wall 114. This uncovers the opening 124 and allows a cigarette 146 to be removed from the container. The pack is closed by hinging the top wall panel 134 of the flap onto the top wall 120 and then hinging the front wall panel 136 of the flap onto the front wall 114 of the package to close the opening 124. The application of pressure to the outer surface of the front wall closure panel 136 causes the microsuction structure 144 to engage with the box front wall 114, and thereby retain the flap 130 in the closed position.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a container 100 for consumer goods, according to second first embodiment of the present invention, where the container 100 is in an open condition. The container 100 contains a wrapped bundle of consumer goods 60, such as a bundle of cigarettes. The container is formed from a folded laminar blank and has a lid portion 40 and a box portion 20. The lid portion has a first lid side wall 44a, a second lid side wall 44b, and a lid top wall 46. The lid portion also has a lid front wall 42 and a lid back wall (not shown). The box portion 20 has a box front wall 22, and a first box side wall 24a. The box portion 20 also has a box bottom wall, a box back wall and a second box side wall (not shown). The lid 40 depends along a hinge line (not shown) from a top edge of the box back wall, and is movable about the hinge line between an open position (as shown in FIG. 2) and a closed position (not shown). An inner frame 50 is attached to the inside of the box 20 and includes a first inner frame side wall (54a), a second inner frame side wall (not shown), and an inner frame front wall 52.

(8) A microsuction structure 244 is provided on the outer surface of the inner frame front wall 52, and is configured to engage with the inner surface of the lid front wall 45 to retain the lid portion 40 in a closed position relative to the box portion 20. In particular, to close the container the consumer pivots the lid portion 40 about the hinge relative to the box portion 20, until the inner surface of the lid front wall 42 is adjacent to the outer surface of the inner frame front wall 52. The application of pressure to the outer surface of the lid front wall 42 causes the microsuction structure 244 on the inner frame front wall 52 to engage with the inner surface of the lid front wall 42, and thereby retain the lid portion 40 in the closed position.