A RE-SEALABLE PACKAGE FOR LOOSE SMOKABLE MATERIAL

Abstract

A re-sealable cuboid-like package for loose smokable material formed from a one-piece multilayer blank. The package includes a receptacle portion (6) for containing loose smokable material (4) with an access opening (28) and a flap (8) moveable between a folded position, in which the flap is folded at least partly around the receptacle and overlies the opening, and an extended position, in which the flap extends outwardly from the receptacle portion. A re-sealable cover layer (30) is attached to an inner surface of the flap (8) to enable movement of the layer between a closed position in which it covers the access opening and an open position in which the access opening is substantially uncovered, the cover layer being sealed in place by a repositionable adhesive.

Claims

1. A re-sealable substantially cuboid package for loose smokable material, the package being formed from a one-piece multilayer blank, and comprising: a receptacle portion for containing loose smokable material and having an access opening; a flap integral with the receptacle portion and moveable between a folded position, in which the flap is folded at least partly around the receptacle and overlies the opening, and an extended position, in which the flap extends outwardly from the receptacle position; and a re-closeable cover layer formed integrally with the walls of the package and moveable between a closed position in which the cover layer at least partially covers the access opening and an open position in which the access opening is substantially uncovered, the cover layer being moveable between the closed and open positions by attachment to an inner surface of the flap.

2. The re-sealable package of claim 1 wherein the receptacle portion comprises a base wall, a front wall, a rear wall and opposing side walls, the flap extending from the rear wall and being foldable to at least partially overlie the front wall in the folded position.

3. The re-sealable package of claim 2, wherein the flap comprises two or more hingedly connected panels, a first hinge extending between the rear wall of the receptacle and a first panel of the flap and a second hinge extending between the first panel and a second panel of the flap, whereby in the folded position, the second hinge overlies a top edge of the front wall of the receptacle.

4. The re-sealable package of claim 1, wherein the cover layer or a perimeter of the access opening is provided with a repositionable adhesive for re-sealing of the cover layer to the receptacle portion.

5. The re-sealable package of claim 1 wherein the cover layer is attached to an adhesive label attached to an inner surface of the flap whereby the adhesive label re-attaches the cover layer to the receptacle portion.

6. The re-sealable package of claim 1 further comprising a top panel extending at least partially across the opening of the receptacle, the top panel having an aperture that is covered by the cover layer in its closed position.

7. The re-sealable package of claim 6 wherein the aperture extends at least partially into the front wall of the receptacle portion.

8. The re-sealable package of claim 6 wherein the cover layer forms part of the top panel and is provided with at least one line of weakness, whereby during first opening of the package, the aperture is formed by at least partially separating the cover layer from the top panel along the at least one line of weakness.

9. The re-sealable package of claim 8 wherein at least the top panel of the package is formed from multiple layers and the cover layer is formed from one of these layers.

10. The re-sealable package of claim 1 wherein the cover layer is dimensioned to overlie the access opening and is provided with re-sealable adhesive around peripheral edges of the layer for securement to the receptacle portion.

11. The re-sealable package of claim 1, wherein the receptacle portion and the flap are configured to cooperate to hold the flap in the folded position.

12. The re-sealable package of claim 1 wherein the receptacle portion comprises a base or bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall and a rear or back wall, the front wall and back wall having a larger surface area than the side and bottom walls and wherein the width of the front and rear walls between the side walls is substantially greater than the height of the front and rear walls.

13. The re-sealable package of claim 1 comprising loose smokable material within the receptacle portion, the loose smokable material being in direct contact with the receptacle portion.

14. The re-sealable package of claim 13 wherein the loose smokable material is rolling tobacco, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco or snuff.

15. (canceled)

Description

[0036] Referring now to the drawings, in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a package containing loose smokable material according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown in a closed position; and

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the package shown in FIG. 1, shown in an open position;

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a re-sealable package or pouch for storing loose smokable material, such as roll-you-own tobacco, pipe tobacco or chewing tobacco, is depicted. A cuboid one-piece package 2 formed from formed from a single multilayer laminar blank comprises a receptacle portion 6 and an elongate closure flap 8 is connected to the receptacle portion by hinge-line 10. Loose tobacco 4 is stored within the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion comprises a front wall 12 and an opposed parallel rear wall (not shown), a bottom wall (not shown), which connects the front wall 12 and the rear wall along their lower edges, a left side wall (not shown) and a right side wall 22, which connects the front wall and the rear wall and bottom wall along their left and right hand edges respectively. The walls define a receptacle portion 6 that is of a greater width than height. Additionally, a top panel 24 having an access opening 28 (see FIG. 2) extends across the top of the receptacle portion between the upper edges of the side walls, rear wall and front wall.

[0040] The elongate closure flap 8 is formed from two hingedly connected panels 8a and 8b, the first hinge line 10 extending between the rear wall of the receptacle and a first panel 8b of the flap, and a second hinge line 26 extending between the first panel 8b and the second panel 8a of the flap, whereby in the folded position, the second hinge line overlies a top edge of the front wall 12 of the receptacle to provide a closed, cuboid-like package, as shown in FIG. 1. The free edge of the second panel 8a is provided with a tab 40 which may be received within a slot (not shown) provided on the front wall.

[0041] The closed package as depicted in FIG. 1 is opened by releasing the tab 40 from its slot and pulling the flap 8 upwardly towards the rear of the box (see FIG. 2). Additionally, the package is provided with a re-sealable cover layer 30. Prior to first use, the cover layer 30 is provided over the access opening 28 and forms part of the top panel 24 and front wall 12 to provide a sealed receptacle portion.

[0042] The cover layer is permanently attached to an inner portion of the closure flap 8 and lines of weakness (not shown) are provided between the cover layer and the top panel and front wall. This enables the cover layer to be pulled away and separated from the top panel and front wall upon opening of the flap 8. The lines of weakness define a cover layer that has three sides that separate the cover layer from the receptacle portion, and a fourth side that forms a hinge line between the cover layer and the receptacle portion. Thus, extension of the flap detaches three sides of the cover layer from the receptacle portion while the fourth side remains attached to the receptacle portion enabling a user to then access the contents of the package through the access opening. Following use, the flap 8 is folded back over the front wall which re-positions the cover layer back over the access opening 28 to close the opening. Re-sealable adhesive is provided in a sealing region 32 to re-seal the closure layer to the top panel and front wall. This sealing region 32 may be provided around the edges of the opening 28 or along the three perimeters of the cover layer 30 that separate it from the receptacle portion. Alternatively or additionally, a repositionable adhesive label may be attached to the cover layer and the flap to re-seal the cover layer to the receptacle portion.

[0043] It is to be appreciated that each box-like package would be formed by folding and sealing an appropriate blank. In this respect, an unfolded blank comprises rolls of sealable packaging material cut into predetermined shapes and having mechanical crease lines therein to allow folding of the blank to form the package. Appropriate sealing of parts of the blank is carried out to create the finished product. The blank for forming the package is a laminated sheet made from any suitable material that enables the package to have a degree of flexibility and possess moisture-barrier properties, such as a laminated paper coated with polyethylene or a sandwiched layer of thin aluminium foil between an outer kraft paper or board and an inner polyethylene coating. The loose tobacco is packed into a package formed from the blank, sealed within the package and optionally, subjected to a heating process to pasteurize the tobacco content.

[0044] The re-sealable package of the invention enables a package to be re-sealed after first use thereby maintaining the moisture content and freshness of the tobacco material within the package and preventing material falling out of the package between uses. The re-sealing mechanism can be incorporated into a flexible pouch formed from a one-piece blank and is made from a material that does not absorb moisture from the product. The attachment of the cover layer to the flap enables easy re-sealing of the package by the user by simply folding the flap back around the front wall in the conventional manner. The package is made from lightweight materials in a compact shape and may be made from renewable raw materials (wood fibres). The packages are also single use, being recyclable, thereby avoiding the need to clean the containers before or after the filing operation.