CONTAINER HAVING OUTER SLEEVE AND INNER TRAY WITH LOCKING MECHANISM

Abstract

A container (1) for consumer goods, the container comprises an outer sleeve (20) and inner tray (10) disposed within the outer sleeve (20), and configured to slide within the outer sleeve (20) between: a first position, in which the interior of the inner tray (10) cannot be accessed by a user; and a second position, in which the interior of the inner tray (10) can be accessed by a user. The container (1) has a locking mechanism for preventing the inner tray (10) from sliding with respect to the outer sleeve from the first position to the second position, when the inner tray (10) is in the first position in the outer sleeve (20).

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, the container comprising: an outer sleeve comprising an outer sleeve top wall, an outer sleeve bottom wall, first and second opposed outer sleeve side walls, and a first open end; an inner tray disposed within the outer sleeve, the inner tray defining a recessed base having an interior for housing consumer goods; and a cover member comprising a first portion overlying the recessed base of the inner tray, and a second portion extending beyond the recessed base and being affixed to the outer sleeve, wherein the inner tray is slidable with respect to the outer sleeve between: a first position, in which the cover member and the recessed base form an enclosure for consumer goods; and a second position, in which the interior of the recessed base can be accessed by a user, wherein sliding of the inner tray from the first position to the second position involves at least part of the inner tray passing through the first open end of the outer sleeve and at least a portion of the cover member being peeled away from the recessed base to expose the interior of the inner tray, wherein, the inner tray further comprises an inner tray engagement flap, wherein, when the inner tray is in the first position in the outer sleeve, an edge of the inner tray engagement flap is configured to engage with a corresponding engaging element on an outer sleeve wall, to form a locking mechanism for preventing the inner tray from sliding from the first position to the second position, wherein the engaging element on the outer sleeve wall is formed by a holding panel connected to the outer sleeve wall by a fold line at the first open end of the outer sleeve top wall, and folded around the fold line such that the holding panel is positioned under the outer sleeve top wall, and wherein the second portion of the cover member is fixed to the holding panel.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner tray comprises an inner tray back wall, and wherein the inner tray engagement flap depends from the inner tray back wall, and is configured to overlie the cover member.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the engaging element of the outer sleeve is provided on the inner surface of the outer sleeve top wall.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner tray further comprises a flange extending along an upper edge of the recessed base, and wherein the first portion of the cover member overlies both the recessed base and the flange, when the inner tray is in the first position in the outer sleeve.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner tray further comprises a pull tab extending through the first open end of the outer sleeve, when the inner tray is in the first position in the outer sleeve.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the outer sleeve having the engaging element is further provided with a release element for enabling the edge of the inner tray engagement flap to disengage from the engaging element.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the release element comprises a release tab formed by at least one cut-line on the wall of the outer sleeve having the engaging element.

8. The container according to claim 6, wherein the release element overlies at least a portion of the inner tray engagement flap, when the inner tray is in the first position in the outer sleeve.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a holding mechanism for preventing the inner tray from sliding entirely out of the first open end of the outer sleeve.

10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a holding element at the inner surface of the outer sleeve wall which comprises the engaging element.

11. The container according to claim 9, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a panel connected to the outer sleeve wall by a fold line.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the cover member comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the first portion of the cover member faces towards the interior of the recessed base when the inner tray is in the first position, and wherein the inner surface of the second portion of the cover member is affixed to the outer sleeve.

13. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the cover member is affixed to a portion of the outer sleeve positioned proximate to the first open end of the outer sleeve.

14. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve top wall is formed from a first panel and a second panel overlying the first panel.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner tray and the outer sleeve are configured such that the recessed base of the inner tray resides completely within the outer sleeve when the inner tray is in the first position.

Description

[0074] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0075] FIG. 1A shows a laminar blank for forming an outer sleeve of a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0076] FIG. 1B shows an elevated view of a cover member for a container according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 10 shows an elevated view of an inner tray for a container according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a partially assembled condition;

[0079] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the container according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0080] FIGS. 4A to 4C show cross-sectional views of the container according to the first embodiment of present invention in different configurations.

[0081] FIG. 1A show a laminar blank 100 for forming an outer sleeve of a container 1 according to the present invention. The laminar blank can be used to form the outer sleeve a container 1 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 4C. FIG. 1B shows an elevated view of a cover member 20 for a container 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows an elevated view of an inner tray 30 for a container 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] The dashed lines indicate fold lines, and solid lines indicate cut lines in the laminar blank 100. The laminar blank 100 comprises a first outer sleeve top wall panel 101a, a second outer sleeve top wall panel 101b, a first outer sleeve bottom wall panel 102a, a second outer sleeve bottom wall panel 102b, first and second outer sleeve side wall panels 103, 104, a first outer sleeve back wall panel 105a, a second outer sleeve back wall panel 105b, and first and second outer sleeve reinforcing flaps 106, 107. These panels together form the general structure of the outer sleeve 10. The assembled outer sleeve 10 comprises a first open end 8.

[0083] The laminar blank 100 also includes an engaging panel 140 which depends from the first outer sleeve top wall panel 101a by a fold line. The engaging panel 140 forms an engaging element 40 on the inner surface of the outer sleeve top wall, when the container is assembled. The engaging panel 140 comprises an internal cut-out 42, which defines an engaging edge 43 in the engaging panel 140. The first outer sleeve top wall panel 101a also comprises a corresponding cut-out 41. Cut-out 41 aligns with cut-out 42 in the assembled container, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 4C. The engaging panel 140 is configured form part of a locking mechanism in the container 1, as will be described in more detail below with references to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 4C.

[0084] The first outer sleeve top wall panel 101b comprises a portion 170 for defining a release tab 70 on the outer sleeve top wall, and in particular, in the outer surface of the outer sleeve top wall. The portion is partially delimited by an arcuate cut line 171 in the second outer sleeve top wall panel 101b. The release tab 70 is configured to facilitate unlocking of the locking mechanism in the container 1, as will be described in more detail below with references to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 4C.

[0085] The laminar blank also includes a holding panel 180, which depends from the first outer sleeve top wall panel 101a by a fold line 81. The holding panel 180 forms a holding element 80 at the inner surface of the outer sleeve top wall, when the container is assembled. In the assembled container, the holding element 80 is pivotable about the fold line 81, which connects the holding panel 180 to the first outer sleeve top wall panel 10a. As will be described in more detail below with references to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 4C, the holding element 80 is configured to prevent the inner tray 30 from sliding entirely out of the first open end 8 of the outer sleeve 10.

[0086] FIG. 1B shows a cover member 20 for the container 1. The cover member 20 comprises a first portion 21 and a second portion 22. A fold line 23 is provided at the interface between the first portion 21 and second portion 22 of the cover member 20. The fold line 23 may help to facilitate a bend 24 in the cover member 20 in the assembled container 1 (see FIG. 3).

[0087] FIG. 1C shows an elevated view of an inner tray 30 for the container 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The inner tray comprises an inner tray front wall 38, an inner tray back wall 35, first and second opposed inner tray side walls 33, 34, and an inner tray bottom wall 32. These walls of the inner tray 30 together define the recessed base of the inner tray 30. The recessed base defines an interior volume 31 for housing one or more consumer goods 90.

[0088] The inner tray 30 also comprises a flange 39 extending along an upper edge of each of the inner tray front wall 38, inner tray back wall 35, and first and second opposed inner tray side walls 33, 34. The inner tray also comprises a pull tab 36 at the inner tray front wall 38. The pull tab 36 is integrally formed with the part of the flange 39, which extends along the upper edge of the inner tray front wall 38.

[0089] The inner tray also comprises an engagement flap 50. The engagement flap 50 is disposed at the back of the inner tray 30, and in particular, at the inner tray back wall 35. The engagement flap 50 depends from a fold line 51 on the part of the flange 39, which extends along the upper edge of the inner tray back wall 35. In the assembled container the rear part of the cover member 20 is affixed to the flange 39 at the back of the inner tray 30 by a permanent adhesive 62.

[0090] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the container 1 when the inner tray 30 is in a first position in the outer sleeve 10. FIGS. 4A to 4C show cross-sectional views of the container 1 in different configurations, as the inner tray 30 transitions from the first position (as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4A) to a second position (as illustrated in FIG. 4C).

[0091] In the assembled container 1, the first portion 21 of the cover member 20 is configured to overlie the inner tray 30. In the assembled container 1, the second portion 22 of the cover member 20 is affixed to the inner surface of the outer sleeve top wall. In particular, the inner surface of the second portion 22 of the cover member 20 is affixed to the holding panel 180 on the inner surface of the first outer sleeve top wall panel 101a. The second portion 22 of the cover member 20 is affixed to the holding panel 180 by a permanent adhesive 64. As shown in FIG. 3, this arrangement creates a bend 24 in the cover member 20. When the inner tray 30 is in the first position in the outer sleeve 10, the first portion 21 of the cover member 20 completely overlies the recessed base and flange 39 of the inner tray. This creates a sealed enclosure for the consumer goods 90 in the interior volume of the recessed base.

[0092] In this first position, the engagement flap 50 of the inner tray 30 overlies the cover member 20 and engages with the engaging edge 43 of the engaging panel 40. This engagement prevents the inner tray from moving towards and through the first open end 8 of the outer sleeve 10. Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 4A, the inner tray 30 is locked within the outer sleeve 10.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 4B, in order to unlock the inner tray 30 from this position, a user must apply pressure to the release tab 70 formed in the outer sleeve top wall. This causes the release tab 70 to be deflected towards the engagement flap 50 of the inner tray 30. The release tab 70 passes through the cut outs 41, 42 formed in the first outer sleeve top wall panel 101a and engaging panel 40 respectively. Further deflection of the release tab 70 towards the engagement flap 50 of the inner tray 30 causes the engagement flap 50 to move away and disengage from the engaging edge 43 of the engaging panel 40. When the engagement flap 50 is in the position shown in FIG. 4B, the inner tray is free to move towards and through the first open end 8 of the outer sleeve 10.

[0094] Therefore, in this configuration, a user may pull on the pull tab 36 of the inner tray and slide the inner tray 30 towards and through the first open end 8 of the outer sleeve 10, until the inner tray reaches the second position, as shown in FIG. 4C. As the inner tray 30 slides from the first position to the second position, the first portion 21 of the cover member 20 is pulled away from the recessed base of the inner tray 30 to expose the consumer goods 90 in the interior 31 of the recessed base. This is achieved through permanently affixing the inner surface of the second portion 22 of the cover member 20 to the outer sleeve 10.

[0095] When the inner tray 30 reaches the second position, the engagement flap 50 engages with the holding element 80 to prevent the inner tray 30 from sliding entirely out of the outer sleeve 10. In particular, the inner tray 30 moves towards the second position, the second portion 22 of the cover member 20 pulls the holding element 80 away from the outer sleeve top wall. This causes the holding element 80 to pivot about fold line 81, and create a space between the holding element 80 and the inner surface of the outer sleeve top wall. Movement of the inner tray 30 towards the second position also causes the engagement flap 50 to move into this space between the holding element 80 and the inner surface of the outer sleeve top wall. The engagement flap 50 and the holding element 80 thereby engage with one another to prevent the inner tray 30 from sliding entirely out of the outer sleeve 10.

[0096] When a user has finished accessing the consumer goods 90 in the interior 31 of the recessed base, the user can push the inner tray 30 back into the interior of the outer sleeve 10. That is, the user can slide the inner tray 30 from the second position of FIG. 4C back to the first position of FIG. 4A. Such movement causes the first portion 21 of the cover member 20 to move back over the recessed base of the inner tray 30. When the inner tray 30 reaches the first position, the engagement flap 50 can once again engage the engaging panel 40 of the outer sleeve 10, and place the container in a locked state. A resealable adhesive provided on the flange 39 of the inner tray 30 will reseal the cover member 20 to the inner tray to form a sealed enclosure for consumer goods.