Resealable inner package for a container

Abstract

A container includes a housing that has a box and a lid, where the box includes a front wall and a back wall. A hinged connector is connected to the lid at a first hinge line and connected to the back wall of the box at a second hinge line. The container also includes an inner package disposed within the housing. The inner package includes a first layer that defines a flap and a second layer at least partially attached to an inner surface of the first layer, where the second layer defines an access opening through which the consumer goods can be removed. The lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The inner package is covered by the lid and the box when the lid is in the closed position and at least partially uncovered when the lid is in the open positon.

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, comprising: a housing comprising a box and a lid, wherein the box and the lid each comprise a front wall and a back wall; a hinged connector that connects the lid to the back wall of the box, wherein the hinged connector is connected to the lid at a first hinge line and connected to the back wall of the box at a second hinge line; an inner package disposed within the housing and at least partially defining an interior volume for housing consumer goods, wherein the inner package comprises a front wall, a back wall, and a top wall, wherein the inner package further comprises: a first layer that defines a flap; and a second layer at least partially attached to an inner surface of the first layer that defines an access opening through which the consumer goods can be removed, wherein the access opening is disposed in a portion of the back and top walls of the inner package; wherein the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the inner package is covered by the lid and the box when the lid is in the closed position and at least partially uncovered when the lid is in the open position; wherein the flap is attached to an inner surface of the front wall of the lid such that the flap is separated from the inner package to at least partially uncover the access opening when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position, and further wherein the flap covers the access opening when the lid is in the closed position.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the hinged connector is integral with the lid and the back wall of the box.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the hinged connector is defined by first and second longitudinal edges disposed in the back wall of the box.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second longitudinal edges of the hinged connector are disposed along longitudinal edges of the back wall of the box.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the first layer of the inner package comprises a first line of weakness that defines the flap, wherein the second layer comprises a second line of weakness that defines the access opening, and further wherein the flap and a portion of the second layer attached to the flap are separated from the inner package along the first and second lines of weakness respectively to at least partially uncover the access opening when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the first layer is an adhesive label attached to the second layer.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the hinged connector comprises an average transverse width that is between about 40% and about 90% of an average transverse width of the back wall of the box.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein an average longitudinal length of the hinged connector between the first hinge line and the second hinge line is between about 3 mm and about 30 mm.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the first layer of the inner package is permanently affixed to a corresponding portion of an inner surface of the front wall of the box.

10. The container of claim 1, further comprising an inner frame disposed within the box, wherein the inner frame comprises a front wall and a pair of opposed side walls.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the inner frame is disposed between the front wall of the box and the inner package.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein the access opening is further disposed in a portion of the front wall of the inner package.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a seal region disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of the access opening, wherein the flap is adapted to overlap the access opening into the seal region such that the flap attaches to the second layer within the seal region when the lid is in the closed position.

14. The container of claim 13, further comprising an adhesive disposed between the flap and the seal region.

15. A carton comprising the container of claim 1.

16. A container for consumer goods, comprising: a housing comprising a box and a lid, wherein the box and the lid each comprise a front wall and a back wall; a hinged connector that connects the lid to the back wall of the box, wherein the hinged connector is connected to the lid at a first hinge line and connected to the back wall of the box at a second hinge line, and further wherein the hinged connector is integral with the lid and the back wall of the box; an inner package disposed within the housing and at least partially defining an interior volume for housing consumer goods, wherein the inner package comprises a front wall, a back wall, and a top wall, wherein the inner package further comprises: a first layer that defines a flap; and a second layer at least partially attached to an inner surface of the first layer that defines an access opening through which the consumer goods can be removed, wherein the access opening is disposed in a portion of the back, top, and front walls of the inner package; wherein the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the inner package is covered by the lid and the box when the lid is in the closed position and at least partially uncovered when the lid is in the open position; wherein the flap is attached to an inner surface of the front wall of the lid such that the flap is separated from the inner package to at least partially uncover the access opening when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position, and further wherein the flap covers the access opening when the lid is in the closed position.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein the hinged connector is defined by first and second longitudinal edges disposed in the back wall of the box.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second longitudinal edges of the hinged connector are disposed along longitudinal edges of the back wall of the box.

19. The container of claim 16, wherein an average longitudinal length of the hinged connector between the first hinge line and the second hinge line is between about 3 mm and about 30 mm.

20. The container of claim 16, wherein the second layer comprises a seal region disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of the access opening, wherein the flap is adapted to overlap the access opening into the seal region such that the flap attaches to the second layer within the seal region when the lid is in the closed position.

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 with a lid of the container in an open position, where the container includes a housing and an inner package disposed within the housing.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic top perspective view of the container of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic side cross-section view of the container of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 with the lid in a closed position.

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section view of a portion of the inner package of FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic rear view of the back wall of the container of FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic rear view of a back wall of another embodiment of a container.

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic rear perspective view of another embodiment of a container.

(10) 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. The box 14 includes a front wall 16 and a back wall 18. 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. In one or more embodiments, 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.

(11) The inner package 30 includes a front wall 32 and a back wall 34 (FIG. 2). The inner package 30 also includes a first layer 40 and a second layer 50 attached to an inner surface 46 (FIG. 5) of the first layer 40. The first layer 40 includes a first line of weakness 42 (FIG. 5) that defines a flap 44. Further, the second layer 50 includes a second line of weakness 52 (FIG. 5) that defines an access opening 54 through which the consumer goods 13 (FIG. 2) can be removed. The consumer goods 13 have not been shown in FIG. 1 for clarity. The access opening 54 is covered by the flap 44 when the flap and the lid 20 are in the closed position (FIG. 4). Further, the access opening 54 is at least partially uncovered when the flap 44 and the lid 20 are in the open position (FIG. 1). The flap 44 is attached to the first layer 40 along a hinge line 49 (FIG. 3). The hinge line 49 is disposed in the back wall 34 of the inner package 30. The flap 44 is also attached to an inner surface 22 (FIG. 3) of the lid 20 such that upon opening the lid the flap and a portion 55 (FIG. 5) of the second layer 50 attached to the flap are separated from the inner package 30 along the first and second lines of weakness 42, 52 respectively to reveal the access opening 54.

(12) The container 10 also includes an inner frame 70 disposed within the inner package 30. The inner frame 70 can include a reinforcing element 72 disposed between the inner frame and an inner surface 17 (FIG. 3) of the front wall 16 of the box 14.

(13) Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic top perspective view of the container 10 of FIG. 1 is depicted with the lid 20 and the flap 44 in the open position. A hinged connector 80 connects the lid 20 to the back wall 18 of the box 14. The hinged connector 80 is connected to the lid 20 at a first hinge line 82 and connected to the back wall of the box 14 at a second hinge line 84. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the hinged connector 80 is integral with the lid 20 and the back wall 18 of the box 14. In one or more embodiments, the hinged connector 80 can be a separate element that is attached to the lid 20 and the box 14 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques.

(14) The inner package 30 is disposed within the housing 12 and at least partially defines an interior volume for housing consumer goods 13. The inner package 30 includes the first layer 40 that defines the flap 44, and the second layer 50 that is at least partially attached to an inner surface of the first layer. The second layer 50 defines the access opening 54 through which the consumer goods 13 can be removed. The access opening 54 is disposed in a portion of the front wall 32, top wall 36, and back wall 34 of the inner package 30.

(15) The lid 20 is movable between the closed position (FIG. 4) and the open position (FIGS. 1-3). The inner package 30 is covered by the lid 20 and the box 14 when the lid is in the closed position and at least partially uncovered when the lid is in the open position. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the lid 20 has been moved from the closed position to the open position by rotating the lid about the first hinge line 82. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the lid 20 can be moved to the open position by rotating the hinged connector 80 (not shown) about the second hinge line 84 (as shown in FIG. 2), and by rotating the lid about the first hinge line 82 and rotating the hinged connector about the second hinge line 84.

(16) The flap 44 is attached to the inner surface 22 of the lid 20 such that the flap is separated from the inner package 30 to at least partially uncover the access opening 54 when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position. Further, the flap 44 covers the access opening 54 when the lid 20 is in the closed position.

(17) Referring to FIG. 3, 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, and the inner frame 70 is disposed within the inner package. The flap 44 is attached to the inner surface 22 of 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.

(18) At least a portion of an outer surface 48 of the first layer 40 of the inner package 30 is permanently affixed to a corresponding portion of an inner surface 19 of the back wall 18 of the box 14, thereby affixing the inner package to the inner surface of the back wall of the box in a first region 24. Further, at least a portion of the outer surface 48 of the first layer 40 of the inner package 30 is permanently affixed to a corresponding portion of the inner surface 17 of the front wall 16 of the box 14, thereby affixing the inner package to the inner surface of the front wall of the box in a second region 26. By permanently affixing at least a portion of the inner package 30 to one or both of the front wall 16 and the back wall 18 of the box 14, the structural resilience of the inner package may be further improved. The inner package 30 may be permanently affixed using, for example, hot melt adhesive, solvent based adhesive, water based adhesive, solvent-free adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, conductive type sealing, and inductive type sealing. In a preferred embodiment, the inner package 30 is permanently attached to the box 14 using a hot melt adhesive.

(19) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the hinged connector 80 is connected to the lid 20 at the first hinge line 82. Further, the hinged connector 80 is connected to the back wall 18 of the box 14 at the second hinge line 84. The lid 20 can be moved between the closed position and the open position by rotating the lid about the first hinge line 82. In one or more embodiments, the lid 20 can be moved between the closed position and the open position by rotating the hinged connector 80 about the second hinge line 84. Further, in one or more embodiments, the lid 20 can be moved between the closed position and the open position by rotating the lid 20 about the first hinge line 82 and rotating the hinged connector 80 about the second hinge line 84.

(20) Referring to FIG. 4, a schematic perspective view of the container 10 of FIG. 1 is depicted. The lid 20 of the container 10 and the flap 44 of the inner package 30 are in the closed position. The flap 44 is attached to the second layer 50 (FIG. 5) when the flap is in the closed position.

(21) Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic cross-section view of a portion of the inner package 30 of FIG. 1 is depicted. Although the material that forms the inner package 30 is depicted as including first and second layers 40, 50 that are coextensive, in one or more embodiments, the first layer 40 can include an adhesive label that is attached to the second layer 50, where the adhesive label defines the flap 44. The first layer 40 includes the first line of weakness 42 that defines the flap 44. The second layer 50 is attached to the inner surface 44 of the first layer 40 with adhesive 60. The second layer 50 includes the second line of weakness 52 that defines the access opening 54. As shown in FIG. 5, the access opening 54 is covered by the flap 44 when the flap is in the closed position. The flap 44 is adapted to be attached to the second layer 50 when the flap is in the closed position.

(22) A seal region 62 is formed between the first line of weakness 42 and the second line of weakness 52. The flap 44 is adapted to overlap the access opening 54 into the seal region 62 such that the flap attaches to the second layer 50 within the seal region when the flap is in the closed position. In one or more embodiments, the seal region 62 has a constant width along a perimeter of the access opening 54. In one or more embodiments, the seal region 62 has a width that varies along a perimeter of the access opening 54.

(23) The inner package 30 also includes the portion 55 of the second layer 50 that remains attached to the flap 44 when the flap is moved from the closed position to the open position. In other words, upon opening the lid 20 (FIGS. 1-3), the flap 44 and the portion 55 of the second layer 50 attached to the flap are separated from the inner package 30 along the first and second lines of weakness 42, 52 respectively to reveal the access opening 54.

(24) Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic plan view of the back wall 18 of the box 14 of container 12 is depicted. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the hinged connector 80 is integral with the lid 20 and the back wall 18 of the box 14. The hinged connector 80 is defined by first and second longitudinal edges 86, 88 that are disposed in the back wall 18 of the box 14. The longitudinal edges 86, 88 are disposed along longitudinal edges 90, 92 of the back wall 18 of the box 14. The hinged connector 80 is connected to the lid 20 at the first hinge line 82 and connected to the back wall 18 of the box 14 at the second hinge line 84. The hinged connector 80 can have any suitable average longitudinal length 4 between the first hinge line 82 and the second hinge line 84 as measured in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis 2 of the container 10.

(25) The first hinge line 82 of the hinged connector 80 can be disposed any suitable longitudinal distance 6 above or below a top edge 15 of the back wall 18 of the box 14. In one or more embodiments, the first hinge line 82 is disposed at a longitudinal distance of between about 0 mm and about 15 mm from the top edge 15 of the back wall 18 the box 14.

(26) Referring to FIG. 7, a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a container 100 is depicted. All of the design considerations and possibilities regarding the container 10 of FIGS. 1-6 apply equally to the container 100 of FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the container 100 includes a housing 112 that includes a box 114 and a lid 120. A hinged connector 180 connects the lid 120 to a back wall 118 of the box 114. The hinged connector 180 is connected to the lid 120 at a first hinge line 182 and connected to the back wall of the box 114 at a second hinge line 184. The hinged connector 180 is defined by first and second longitudinal edges 186, 188 that are disposed in the back wall 118 of the box 114. The longitudinal edges 186, 188 extend along a direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 102 of the container 110. The hinged connector 180 is integral with the lid 120 and the back wall 118 of the box 114.

(27) In one or more embodiments, the container 100 can include a first line of weakness 187 and a second line of weakness 189 disposed in any suitable location on the back wall 118 of the box 114. The lines of weakness 187, 189 can take any suitable shape and have any suitable dimensions. The first line of weakness 187 can be disposed in the back wall 118 in a transverse direction between a first longitudinal edge 190 of the back wall and the first longitudinal edge 186 of the hinged connector 180. The first line of weakness 187 extends along a first hinge line axis 183 that is collinear with the first hinge line 182. Further, the first line of weakness 187 intersects the first longitudinal edge 186 of the hinged connector 180. The second line of weakness 189 can be disposed in the back wall 118 in a transverse direction between a second longitudinal edge 192 of the back wall and the second longitudinal edge 188 of the hinged connector 180. The second line of weakness 189 extends along the first hinge line axis 183. Further, the second line of weakness 189 intersects the second longitudinal edge 188 of the hinged connector 180. In one or more embodiments, the first and second lines of weakness 187, 189 disposed in the back wall 118 can facilitate separating the lid 120 and the hinged connector 180 from the back wall of the box 114 such that the hinged connector can rotate about the second hinge line 184.

(28) The first and second longitudinal edges 186, 188 of the hinged connector 180 can be disposed any suitable distance from longitudinal edges 190, 192 of the back wall 118 of the box 114. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first longitudinal edge 186 of the hinged connector 180 is disposed at a first distance 104 from the first longitudinal edge 190 of the back wall 118. Further, the second longitudinal edge 188 of the hinged connector 180 is disposed at a second distance 106 from a second longitudinal edge 192 of the back wall 118. The first distance 104 and the second distance 106 can be equal. In one or more embodiments, the first distance 104 can be less than or greater than the second distance 106.

(29) The longitudinal edges 186, 188 can be disposed in the back wall 114 such that they are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 102 of the container 110. The hinged connector 180 can have a transverse width 108 as measured in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis 102. The transverse width 108 can be any suitable percentage of a total transverse width 109 of the back wall 118 of the box 114.

(30) Referring to FIG. 8, a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a container 200 is depicted. All of the design considerations and possibilities regarding the container 10 of FIGS. 1-6 and the container 100 of FIG. 7 apply equally to the container 200 of FIG. 8. The container 200 includes a housing 212 that includes a box 214 and a lid 220. A hinged connector 280 connects the lid 220 to a back wall 218 of the box 214. The hinged connector 280 is connected to the lid 220 at a first hinge line 282 and connected to the back wall 218 of the box 214 at a second hinge line 284. The container 200 also includes an inner package 230 disposed within the housing 212. The inner package 230 includes a first layer 240 that defines a flap 244, and a second layer 250 at least partially attached to an inner surface of the first layer 240 that defines an axis opening 254 through which consumer goods 213 can be removed.

(31) The flap 244 is attached to an inner surface 222 of the lid 220 such that the flap is separated from the inner package 230 to at least partially uncover the access opening 254 when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position. Further, the flap 244 covers the access opening 254 when the lid 220 is in the closed position.

(32) One difference between the container 200 of FIG. 8 and container 10 of FIGS. 1-6 is that the access opening 254 is disposed in a portion of a back wall 234 of the inner package 230 and a portion of a top wall 236 of the inner package. In one or more embodiments, the access opening 254 can also be disposed in a portion of the front wall (not shown) of the inner package 230. The access opening 254 provides access to consumer goods 213 from back and top sides of the container 200.