PACKAGING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The present invention provides a packaging assembly for packaging one or more articles, comprising: an inner body part which defines at least one inner compartment to receive an article; an outer body part that at least partially encompasses the inner body part; and a cover member which is movable between a closed position to prevent access to the at least one inner compartment and an open position to permit access to the at least one inner compartment; wherein the outer body part is movable relative to the inner body part between a first position and a second position to move the cover member between the closed position and the open position.

Claims

1. A packaging assembly for packaging one or more articles, comprising: an inner body part defining at least one inner compartment to receive an article; an outer body part at least partially enclosing or encompassing the inner body part; and a cover member that is movable between a closed position preventing access to the at least one inner compartment and an open position permitting access to the at least one inner compartment; wherein the outer body part is movable relative to the inner body part between a first position and a second position to move the cover member between the closed position and the open position, and wherein the inner and outer body parts include complementary latching means configured and arranged to engage and releasably latch or interlock with each other when the outer body part is in the second position relative to the inner body part, to hold the cover member in the open position.

2. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer body part is movable in a translational or sliding displacement relative to the inner body part between the first position and second position.

3. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer body part is movable in a rotary or rotational movement relative to the inner body part between the first and second positions.

4. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is pivotally connected to the outer body part via a hinge connection for pivoting movement between the closed position and the open position when the outer body part moves relative to the inner body part between the first position and second position, respectively.

5. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is pivotally connected to the inner body part via a hinge connection so that the cover member pivots between the open and closed positions relative to the inner body part.

6. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner body part forms an inner casing and the outer body part forms an outer casing that surrounds the inner casing, especially in the form of a sleeve.

7. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, further comprising biasing means , especially at least one spring member, which biases or urges the outer body part towards the first position relative to the inner body part.

8. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the complementary latching means include at least one first latching element on an inner surface of the outer body part and at least one complementary second latching element respectively provided on an outer surface of the inner body part, wherein one or both of the first and second latching elements is deformable or deflectable to facilitate interlocking and/or release of the complementary latching means.

9. A packaging assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first latching element includes a first locking face which cooperates and abuts with a second locking face of the second latching element when the outer body part is in the second position relative to the inner body part, in order to hold the cover member in the open position.

10. A packaging assembly according to claim 8, wherein the complementary latching means are configured to disengage automatically from each other upon pressure or traction force exerted at an end of the inner body part relative to the outer body part.

11. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner body part and the outer body part include stop means which define the first and second positions and limit movement of the outer body part relative to the inner body part between the first and second positions.

12. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner body part is configured to accommodate elongate articles in the at least one inner compartment and is mounted in the outer body part such that a proffering of said articles is achieved through an opening in the outer body part when the outer body part is in the second position.

13. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is configured to form an airtight closure or seal of at least one opening in the outer body part and/or of the at least one inner compartment of the inner body part in the closed position.

14. A packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner body part, the outer body part and the cover member are made from a plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyurethane, preferably by injecting molding.

15. A pack of articles comprising a packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of articles are held within the at least one inner compartment of the inner body part.

Description

[0030] For a more complete understanding of the invention and the advantages thereof, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which are shown:

[0031] FIG. 1(a) a front view of a packaging assembly according to a particular embodiment of the invention with the lid in a closed position;

[0032] FIG. 1(b) a side view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 1(a);

[0033] FIG. 1(c) a side view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 1(a);

[0034] FIG. 1(d) a rear view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 1(a);

[0035] FIG. 1(e) a top view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 1(a);

[0036] FIG. 2(a) a front view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 1 with the lid in an open position;

[0037] FIG. 2(b) a side view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 2(a);

[0038] FIG. 2(c) a side view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 2(a);

[0039] FIG. 2(d) a rear view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 2(a);

[0040] FIG. 2(e) a top view of the packaging assembly in FIG. 2(a);

[0041] FIG. 3(a) a front perspective view of the packaging assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 3(b) a rear perspective view of the packaging assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 4 a front perspective exploded view of the packaging assembly shown in FIG. 2 with e-cigarettes;

[0044] FIG. 5 a rear perspective exploded view of the packaging assembly shown in FIG. 2 with e-cigarettes;

[0045] FIG. 6(a) a front view of a packaging assembly corresponding to FIG. 1(a);

[0046] FIG. 6(b) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows B-B in FIG. 6(a);

[0047] FIG. 6(c) a side view corresponding to FIG. 1(c);

[0048] FIG. 6(d) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows I-I in FIG. 6(c);

[0049] FIG. 6(e) a top view corresponding to FIG. 1(e);

[0050] FIG. 6(f) a bottom view of the packaging assembly;

[0051] FIG. 6(g) a rear view corresponding to FIG. 1(d);

[0052] FIG. 6(h) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows G-G in FIG. 6(g);

[0053] FIG. 6(j) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows H-H in FIG. 6(a);

[0054] FIG. 6(k) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows F-F in FIG. 6(a);

[0055] FIG. 7(a) a front view of a packaging assembly corresponding to FIG. 2(a);

[0056] FIG. 7(b) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows B-B in FIG. 7(a);

[0057] FIG. 7(c) a side view corresponding to FIG. 2(c);

[0058] FIG. 7(d) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows I-I in FIG. 7(c);

[0059] FIG. 7(e) a top view corresponding to FIG. 2(e);

[0060] FIG. 7(f) a bottom view of the packaging assembly;

[0061] FIG. 7(g) a rear view corresponding to FIG. 2(d);

[0062] FIG. 7(h) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows G-G in FIG. 7(g);

[0063] FIG. 7(j) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows H-H in FIG. 7(a); and

[0064] FIG. 7(k) a cross-section view in the direction of arrows F-F in FIG. 7(a).

[0065] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate particular embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood with reference to the following detailed description.

[0066] It will be appreciated that common and/or well understood elements that may be useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are not necessarily depicted in order to facilitate a more abstracted view of the embodiments. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale relative to each other. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps in an embodiment of a method may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrences while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used in the present specification have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study, except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

[0067] With reference firstly to FIGS. 1(a) to 1(e) and FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e), a packaging assembly 1 according to a particularly preferred embodiment is illustrated in a series of orthogonal views. FIGS. 1(a) to 1(e) show the packaging assembly 1 in a closed state, whereas FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e) show the packaging assembly 1 in an open state. That same packaging assembly 1 is then shown in perspective views in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) and in exploded views in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

[0068] As is particularly apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, the packaging assembly 1 of this embodiment is specifically designed for elongate cylindrical-shaped articles C, such as e-cigarettes. To this end, the packaging assembly 1 includes an inner body part 2 in the form of an inner casing which includes three aligned tubular receptacles 3, each of which has a respective upper opening and each of which defines an inner compartment 4 for receiving a respective one of the elongate articles C or e-cigarettes. Further, the packaging assembly 1 includes an outer body part 5 in the form of an outer casing which substantially surrounds or encompasses an upper portion of the inner casing 2. In this regard, the outer casing 5 has a geometry that is similar to, but slightly larger than, that of the inner casing 2. Thus, the outer casing 5 is configured to be mounted over an upper region of the inner casing 2 in the manner of a sleeve. That is, the inner casing 2 fits with a small amount of play within a cavity enclosed by the outer casing 5. In this way, the inner casing 2 and outer casing 5 together form a container of the packaging assembly 1 for the articles or e-cigarettes C.

[0069] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, it can be seen that the inner casing 2 includes an end cap or bottom cap 6 designed to fit snugly over a lower end region of the inner casing 2 in a snap-fit via fastening clips 30, each of which respectively comprises a groove 31 (i.e. on front and rear outer sides of the inner casing 2) and a complementary tongue element 32 on opposite inner sides of the end cap 6. In this way, the end cap 6 is fixed to the inner casing 2 and forms a base for the packaging assembly 1 as a whole. At the upper end region, on the other hand, the packaging assembly 1 includes a cover member 7 in the form of an oval-shaped lid which is pivotally connected via a hinge connection 8 to the outer casing 5. This cover member or lid 7 is pivotable via this hinge connection 8 between a closed position as shown in

[0070] FIG. 1 to prevent access to the inner compartments 4 and thus to the articles C contained therein, and an open position as shown in FIG. 2 to permit access to the inner compartments 4 and to the e-cigarettes C they contain via an upper opening of the outer casing 5.

[0071] Referring back to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the drawings briefly, it will be noted that differences between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 do not just concern the position of the oval-shaped lid 7. Rather, it will be seen that the outer casing 5 is displaced vertically downwards relative to the inner casing 2 towards the end cap 6 over a displacement distance d such that arrow-head symbols provided on both the inner and outer casings 2, 5 are moved towards one another. The position of the outer casing 5 shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(e) corresponds to a first, non-activated position A of the packaging assembly 1, whereas the position of the outer casing 5 shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e) corresponds to a second, activated position B.

[0072] The specific structure of the packaging assembly 1 and the manner in which its various component parts interconnect and interrelate will now be explained with particular reference to the two exploded views in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, as well as to the FIGS. 6(a) to 6(k) and FIGS. 7(a) to 7(k), which not only show a number of cross-sectional views of the packaging assembly 1, but also illustrate details of specific features of the packaging assembly 1 in different states of operation.

[0073] As is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the hinge connection 8 of the packaging assembly 1 includes a hinge element 9 on the cover member or lid 7 which is received between and cooperates with complementary hinge elements 10 on a rear side of the outer casing 5. A corresponding pin 11 is inserted through the respective hinge elements 9, 10 to define an outer pivot axis 0 for this hinge connection 8. In addition, the inner casing 2 can be seen to have upstanding rod-like connecting elements 12, each of which includes at an upper end thereof a transverse slot 13 for receiving one respective end of a corresponding stud pin 14. An opposite end of each stud pin 14 is inserted in a corresponding bore of additional hinge elements 15 provided on an inner side of the cover member or lid 7. In this way, therefore, the lid 7 is pivotally connected not only to the outer casing 5 via the hinge connection 8 about the outer pivot axis 0, but also to the inner casing 2 at an upper end the connecting elements 12 via a second hinge connection 16 about an inner pivot axis X. This double hinge connection is perhaps most clearly apparent from the cross-sectional views shown in FIGS. 7(b) and 7(h).

[0074] By virtue of the hinge connections 8, 16 to both the outer casing 5 and the inner casing 2, the downward movement of the outer casing 5 relative to the inner casing 2 from the first position A (as shown in FIG. 1) to the second position B (as shown in FIG. 2) forces the lid 7 out of its closed position where it seals against a rim 17 at an upper end of the outer casing 5. This opening of the cover member 7 occurs because the outer casing 5 moves down with respect to the upstanding rod-like connecting elements 12 of the inner casing 2, which in turn act upwardly upon the cover member 7. As this occurs, the stud pins 14 permit pivoting about the inner pivot axis X and are also able to displace laterally within the horizontal slot-like recesses 13 in the connecting elements 12 thereby to permit the lid 7 to rotate to the open position about the outer pivot axis 0 in its hinge connection 8 with the outer casing 5. Although the hinge connection 8 in this embodiment is formed projecting from a rear side of the outer casing 5, it will be noted that it could alternatively be set into the outer casing 5 in order to provide the packaging assembly 1 with a smooth or flush rear surface.

[0075] Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the packaging assembly 1 includes a coil spring 18 which is mounted between the inner casing 2 and the outer casing 5 around a central one of the tubular receptacles 3 that define the inner compartments 4. This coil spring 18 is configured to bias the outer casing 5 into the first position A, as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, when the outer casing 5 is grasped and moved downwardly by a user in the vertical direction relative to the inner casing 2 towards the second position B, that movement occurs against the urging force of the coil spring 18, which is gradually compressed by that movement (cf. FIG. 6(d) and FIG. 7(d)).

[0076] The packaging assembly 1 also includes stop elements 19, 20 in the form of projections or abutments which inter-engage to define limits to the movement of the outer casing 5 relative to the inner casing 2, and thus effectively define the first and second positions A, B. With reference to FIG. 6(b), for example, and especially to the upper detail in that drawing, it will be seen that the outer casing 5 includes an inwardly directed projection or shoulder 19 which extends into a slot or recess 21 in a rear side of the inner casing 2 and engages a shoulder or complementary abutment member 20 at an upper end of that recess 21 to limit upward movement of the outer casing 5 relative to the inner casing 2 against the bias of the coil spring 18. With reference also to FIG. 7(b) and the corresponding upper of the two details in that drawing, the inwardly projecting abutment element 19 on an inner side of the outer casing likewise cooperates with a shoulder or lower end 20 of the recess 21 formed in the rear side of the inner casing 2 to form a lower stop or limit to the downward displacement of the outer casing 5 in the second position B.

[0077] With reference now to FIGS. 6(h) and 7(h), and particularly to the corresponding detail in each of those drawings, it is seen that the inner and outer casings 2, 5 have complementary latching elements 22, 23 which are configured and arranged to engage and releasably interlock with one another when the outer casing 5 is displaced downwardly relative to the inner casing 2 to the second position B. That is, by interlocking, the complementary latching elements 22, 23 are designed to hold the outer casing 5 in the second position B relative to the inner casing 2 and thereby hold the lid 7 in the open position, despite the compressed spring 18 acting to bias or urge the outer casing 5 back towards the first position A. In this regard, the complementary latching elements 22, 23 in this embodiment comprise a pair of prong elements 22 at a front side of the inner casing 2, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 4, and complementary sawtooth-like projections 23 adjacent the prong elements 22 on an inner side of the outer casing 5. As seen in FIGS. 6(h) and 7(h), each of the prong elements 22 presents a tapered or an inclined face 24 and a locking face 25, and each of the sawtooth-like projections 23 similarly presents a tapered or an inclined face 26 and a locking face 27. The locking faces 25, 27 engage and inter-lock with each other when the outer casing 5 is in the second position B. By applying a predetermined force to the end of the inner casing 2 (e.g. at end cap 6) relative to the outer casing 5, however, the complementary latching elements 22, 23 are designed to automatically disengage or release from each other. To this end, the prong elements 22 may flex or deflect to facilitate both the interlocking and the release.

[0078] When the outer body part or outer casing 5 of the packaging assembly 1 has been moved to the second position B and the cover member or lid 7 is in the open position shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the mechanism comprising the interconnections of the inner and outer casings 2, 5 with the cover member or lid and the spring element 18 is configured to automatically move the lid 7 back to the closed position upon (re-)insertion or (re-)introduction of one of the e-cigarettes or articles C into a respective one of the inner compartments 4. That is, when inserted into the inner compartment 4, an end of the e-cigarette C contacts and presses against an inner side of the cap 6 forming a base of the inner casing 2. In this way, the user may impart a small force or impulse to the inner casing 2 via the e-cigarette C relative to the outer casing 5, which then acts to disengage or release the complementary latching elements 22, 23, such that the inner and outer casings 2, 5 move relative to one another under the action or bias of the coil spring 18 to the first position A and the cover member or lid 7 moves from the open position back to the closed position. Even the weight of the e-cigarettes C acting on the inner casing 2 relative to the outer casing 5 held by the user may be sufficient to release or disengage the latching elements 22, 23.

[0079] Finally, it will be noted that the outer casing 5 includes grip elements 28 having a raised profile on opposite sides of the packaging assembly 1 to enhance a user's grip on the outer casing 5 to promote a comfortable and secure handling of the outer casing 5 by a user. Thus, the grip elements 28 enable easier manual movement of the outer casing 5 relative to the inner casing 2 between the first and second positions A, B. The grip elements 28 may be injection molded with the outer casing 5 or may be made strips of a resilient synthetic rubber inserted or extending from recesses formed in the sides of the outer casing 5.

[0080] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0081] Also, it will be appreciated that in this document, the terms comprise, comprising, include, including, contain, containing, have, having, and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms a and an used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms first, second, third, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.

List of Reference Signs

[0082] 1 packaging assembly [0083] 2 inner body part or inner casing [0084] 3 tubular receptacle [0085] 4 inner compartment [0086] 5 outer body part or outer casing [0087] 6 end cap [0088] 7 cover member or lid [0089] 8 hinge connection [0090] 9 hinge element [0091] 10 hinge element [0092] 11 pin [0093] 12 connecting element [0094] 13 transverse slot or recess [0095] 14 stud pin [0096] 15 hinge element [0097] 16 hinge connection [0098] 17 upper rim of outer casing [0099] 18 spring element [0100] 19 stop element or projection [0101] 20 stop element or shoulder [0102] 21 slot or recess [0103] 22 latching element or prong element [0104] 23 latching element or sawtooth-like projection [0105] 24 tapered or inclined face [0106] 25 locking face [0107] 26 tapered or inclined face [0108] 27 locking face [0109] 28 grip element [0110] 30 fastening clip [0111] 31 tongue element [0112] 32 groove [0113] C article or e-cigarette [0114] A first position [0115] B second position [0116] d displacement distance [0117] O outer pivot axis [0118] X inner pivot axis