Container having box and sleeve with anti-tamper mechanism

Abstract

A container for consumer goods is provided, including: an outer sleeve including outer sleeve front and back walls, and first and second opposed outer sleeve side walls; an inner slide mounted within the outer sleeve and including inner slide bottom, front, and back walls; and a sleeve cover including sleeve cover first and second panels, the first panel detachably depending from the outer sleeve along a first line of weakness and extending between the outer sleeve back and front walls, the sleeve cover second panel detachably depending from the sleeve cover first panel along a second line of weakness and permanently affixed to an inner surface of the outer sleeve, such that upon separation of the sleeve cover first panel and the sleeve cover second panel: a first outer sleeve opening is revealed, and the inner slide becomes movable between fully inserted and protruding positions.

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, the container comprising: an outer sleeve comprising an outer sleeve front wall, an outer sleeve back wall, and first and second opposed outer sleeve side walls; an inner slide mounted within the outer sleeve, the inner slide comprising an inner slide bottom wall, an inner slide front wall, and an inner slide back wall; and a sleeve cover comprising a sleeve cover first panel and a sleeve cover second panel, the sleeve cover first panel detachably depending from the outer sleeve along a first line of weakness and extending between the outer sleeve back wall and the outer sleeve front wall, the sleeve cover second panel detachably depending from the sleeve cover first panel along a second line of weakness and permanently affixed to an inner surface of the outer sleeve, such that upon separation of the sleeve cover first panel from the outer sleeve and the sleeve cover second panel along the first and second lines of weakness: a first outer sleeve opening is revealed at a top end of the outer sleeve, and the inner slide becomes movable within the outer sleeve between a fully inserted position, in which the inner slide fully rests within the outer sleeve, and a protruding position, in which the inner slide extends at least partly outside of the outer sleeve through the outer sleeve opening, wherein a top edge of the inner slide front wall is configured to engage with a corresponding bottom edge of the sleeve cover second panel to prevent the inner slide from being removed from the outer sleeve through the first outer sleeve opening.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve further comprises one or more locking panels affixed to an inner surface of at least one of the outer sleeve front wall, the outer sleeve back wall and the outer sleeve side walls, and wherein a top edge of the one or more locking panels is configured to engage with a corresponding edge of the inner slide bottom wall when the inner slide is in the fully inserted position to prevent the inner slide from being removed from the outer sleeve through a second outer sleeve opening at a bottom end of the outer sleeve.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner slide further comprises a slide cover comprising an inner slide cover top panel depending from the inner slide back wall along a top edge of the inner slide back wall, the inner slide cover top panel being pivotable about the top edge of the inner slide back wall between a slide cover closed position and a slide cover open position to reveal an inner slide opening.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the inner slide cover top panel is configured to engage with the sleeve cover second panel when the inner slide is in the fully inserted slide position to secure the slide cover in the slide cover closed position.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the slide cover top panel comprises a lock tab configured to engage with a cut-out formed in the bottom edge of the sleeve cover second panel.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein, when the inner slide is in the fully inserted slide position and the inner slide cover top panel engages with the sleeve cover second panel, a recess is defined within the outer shell above the inner slide cover top panel.

7. The container according to claim 3, wherein the slide cover of the inner slide further comprises a protective panel depending from the inner slide cover top panel along a fold line defining a front edge of the inner slide cover top panel, the protective panel being pivotable about the fold line between a protective panel closed position, in which the protective panel is substantially parallel to the outer sleeve front wall, and a protective panel open position, in which the protective panel is tilted forwards and upwards to reveal an interior of the inner slide.

8. The container according to claim 7, further comprising a group of consumer goods wrapped in an inner package, the inner package being received within and secured to the inner slide such that the inner package moves integral with the inner slide when the inner slide is moved between the fully inserted slide position and the protruding slide position, wherein the inner package is resealable and comprises an access opening configured for extracting the consumer goods from the inner package, and a resealable adhesive label extending over the access opening and movable between a closed position, in which the resealable adhesive label occludes the access opening, and an open position, in which the resealable adhesive label is at least partially lifted off a surface of the inner package to reveal the access opening, and wherein the resealable adhesive label is permanently affixed to an inner surface of the protective panel, such that movement of the protective panel between the protective panel closed position and the protective panel open position causes the resealable adhesive label to move between the respective closed position and open position to reveal the access opening.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first panel of the sleeve cover detachably depends from the outer sleeve back wall along the first line of weakness and the sleeve cover further comprises a line of weakness at least partially extending across the first panel between the outer sleeve back wall and the second panel to define a pull tab at one end of the first panel for facilitating separation of the first panel from the outer sleeve and the second panel along the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner slide further comprises a line of weakness extending across the inner slide back wall and dividing the inner slide back wall into a slide back wall bottom panel extending below the line of weakness and a slide back wall top panel extending above the line of weakness, and wherein when the inner slide is in the protruding position the inner slide back wall top panel is configured to be pivotable along the line of weakness over a top edge of the outer sleeve back wall to facilitate access to a content of the inner sleeve.

11. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a group of consumer goods wrapped in an inner package, the inner package being received within and secured to the inner slide such that the inner package moves integral with the inner slide when the inner slide is moved between the fully inserted slide position and the protruding slide position.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the inner package comprises a tear tape configured to facilitate opening of the inner package and extraction of the consumer goods from the inner package.

13. The container according to claim 11, wherein the inner package is resealable and comprises an access opening configured for extracting the consumer goods from the inner package, and a resealable adhesive label extending over the access opening and movable between a closed position, in which the resealable adhesive label occludes the access opening, and an open position, in which the resealable adhesive label is at least partially lifted off a surface of the inner package to reveal the access opening.

14. The container according to claim 11, wherein the inner package comprises an inner frame arranged within the inner package configured to hold the group of consumer articles in a defined collation pattern.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner slide further comprises first and second opposed inner slide side walls.

Description

(1) In the following, the invention will be further described with reference to the drawings of the accompanying Figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows two laminar blanks for forming a first embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show perspective views of a container in accordance with the present invention at different times during detachment of the first panel of the outer sleeve cover from the remainder of the outer sleeve;

(4) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a container in accordance the first embodiment of FIG. 1 with a front wall of the outer sleeve removed, wherein the inner slide is in the fully inserted position;

(5) FIG. 6 shows another perspective view of the container of FIG. 5 with a front wall of the outer sleeve removed, wherein the inner slide is in the protruding position;

(6) FIG. 7 shows a laminar blank for forming the inner slide of a second embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention;

(7) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a container in accordance with the second embodiment of FIG. 7 with a front wall of the outer sleeve removed, wherein the inner slide is in the fully inserted position; and

(8) FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 shows additional perspective views of the container of FIG. 7 with a front wall of the outer sleeve removed, wherein the inner slide is in the protruding position, at different times during pivoting of the protective panel of the inner sleeve between respective closed and open positions.

(9) FIG. 1 shows two laminar blanks for forming a container 1 according to the present invention, namely a first laminar blank 100 and a second laminar blank 200. The laminar blanks can be used to form a container 1 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6.

(10) The first laminar blank 100 is configured to form an outer sleeve 10 of the container 1.

(11) The first laminar blank 100 comprises an outer sleeve front wall panel 151, an outer sleeve back wall panel 152, first and second outer sleeve side wall panels 153, 154.

(12) Further, the first laminar blank 100 comprises a sleeve cover first panel 155 and a sleeve cover second panel 156. The sleeve cover first panel 155 depends along a line of weakness A from the outer sleeve back wall panel 152. The sleeve cover second panel 156 depends along a line of weakness B from the sleeve cover first panel 155. Thus, the sleeve cover first panel 155 is detachable from both the outer sleeve back wall panel 152 and the sleeve cover second panel 156.

(13) The sleeve cover first panel 155 comprises a line of weakness C extending across the sleeve cover first panel 155 between the outer sleeve back wall panel 152 and the sleeve cover second panel 156 to define a pull tab 155A at one end of the sleeve cover first panel 155. Further, a cut out 156A is formed in the sleeve cover second panel 156 on the side opposite the sleeve cover first panel 155. Thus, two tabs 156B are defined in the sleeve cover second panel 156 on opposite sides of the cut out 156A.

(14) The first laminar blank 100 also includes a panel 157 depending along a fold line from the outer sleeve front wall panel 151 for forming an outer sleeve side flap. When the outer sleeve 10 is formed by folding the first laminar blank 100, the outer sleeve side flap 157 is affixed by permanent adhesive (indicated by the cross hatching in the drawing of FIG. 1) to the first outer sleeve wall panel 153.

(15) Further, the first laminar blank 100 also includes panels 158, 159, 160, 161 for forming outer sleeve locking panels. When the outer sleeve 10 is formed by folding the first laminar blank 100, the panels 158, 159, 160, 161 are folded by 180 degrees and affixed by permanent adhesive indicated by the cross hatching in the drawing of FIG. 1) to panels 151, 152, 153, 154, respectively.

(16) The second laminar blank 200 is configured to form an inner slide 12 of the container 1.

(17) The second laminar blank 200 comprises an inner slide bottom wall panel 251, an inner slide front wall panel 252, an inner slide back wall panel 253, and an inner slide cover panel 254.

(18) The second laminar blank 200 further comprises inner slide side wall panels 255, 256, which depend along respective fold lines from the inner slide back wall panel 253, as well as dust flaps 257, 258, which depend along respective fold lines from the inner slide side wall panels 255, 256.

(19) The inner slide back wall panel 253 comprises a line of weakness D extending across the inner slide back wall panel 253 and dividing the inner slide back wall panel into a slide back wall bottom panel 253B extending below the line of weakness D and a slide back wall top panel 253T extending above the line of weakness D.

(20) The inner slide cover panel 254 comprises a lock tab 254A on the side opposite the inner slide back wall panel 253.

(21) In addition, the second laminar blank 200 comprises side panels 259, 260 depending along respective fold lines from the inner slide front wall panel 252 for forming inner slide side flaps. When the inner slide 12 is formed by folding the second laminar blank 200, the inner slide side flaps 259, 260 are affixed by permanent adhesive (indicated by the cross hatching in the drawing of FIG. 1) to the inner slide side wall panels 255, 256.

(22) In order to assemble a container 1 in accordance with the present invention, a group of consumer goodsfor example, a bundle of aerosol-generating article arranged in accordance with a predetermined collationis partially circumscribed by a reinforcing inner frame and wrapped within a flexible liner to form an inner package. For example, the inner liner may be sealed by means of seals formed as fin seals. A tear tape is applied on the inside of the flexible liner for ease of opening.

(23) The laminar blank 200 for forming the inner slide is wrapped and folded around the thus formed package. The laminar blank 100 for forming the outer sleeve is wrapped and folded around the inner slide containing the package. As the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve cover is affixed to the outer sleeve front wall panel 151, access to the consumer goods at the top of the container 1 is thus not enabled until the first opening of the container, as will be described below.

(24) As mentioned briefly above, a container 1 formed from the laminar blanks 100 and 200 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. In more detail, detachment of the first panel of the outer sleeve cover from the remainder of the outer sleeve upon first opening the container 1 is shown in, and will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Further, relative movement and cooperation of the inner slide 12 within the outer sleeve 10 following detachment of the first panel of the outer sleeve cover from the remainder of the outer sleeve will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

(25) FIG. 2 to 4 depict a container 1 in accordance with the present invention at successive moments in time when it is opened for the first time. To this purpose, the consumer can detach the first panel 155 of the outer sleeve cover from the remainder of the outer sleeve 10. In more detail, the first panel 155 is detached from the outer sleeve back wall 152 along the line of weakness A, and from the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve cover along the line of weakness B. This operation is facilitated by the provision of the end pull tab 155A, by which the consumer can pull the first panel 155 off the remainder of the outer sleeve. Detachment of the first panel 155 of the outer sleeve cover from the remainder of the outer sleeve 10 reveals a first opening 300 at the top end of the outer sleeve 10. As this is an essential step for gaining access to the content of the inner sleeve, the first panel 155 of the outer sleeve cover acts effectively acts as an anti-tamper feature.

(26) FIGS. 5 and 6 show an outer sleeve 10 an inner slide 12 formed from the laminar blanks of FIG. 1. For the sake of convenience, the front wall of the outer sleeve 10 has been removed to show how the inner slide 12 moves within the outer sleeve 10 between a fully inserted position (FIG. 5) and a protruding position (FIG. 6) and how certain components of the inner slide 12 and the outer sleeve 10 cooperate in each position.

(27) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner slide 12 is mounted within the outer sleeve 10. An inner package 400 is received within the inner slide 12.

(28) As a result of the detachment of the first panel of the outer sleeve cover, a first outer sleeve opening 300 has been revealed at a top end of the outer sleeve 10. The inner slide 12 is thus movable within the outer sleeve 10 between a fully inserted position (FIG. 5) wherein the inner slide 12 fully rests within the outer sleeve 10 and a protruding position (FIG. 6) wherein the inner slide 12 extends partly outside of the outer sleeve 10 through the first outer sleeve opening 300.

(29) As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the fully inserted position, top edges of the outer sleeve locking panels 158, 159, 160, 161 are configured to engage with corresponding bottom edges of the inner slide 12. Thus, the inner slide 12 is prevented from being removed from the outer sleeve 10 through a second outer sleeve opening at the bottom end of the outer sleeve 10. In more detail, in the embodiment shown, the edges of the bottom wall 251 of the inner slide 12 cooperate with the top edges of the outer sleeve locking panels 158, 159, 160, 161.

(30) Further, in the fully inserted position, the inner slide cover panel 254 is configured to engage with the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve 10. This advantageously secures the inner slide cover panel 254 in the slide cover closed position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the lock tab 254A of the slide cover panel engages with the cut out 156A formed in the bottom edge of the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve 10.

(31) As visible in FIG. 5, when the inner slide 10 is in the fully inserted slide position and the slide cover panel 254 engages with the second panel 156, a recess is defined within the outer shell 12 above the slide cover panel 254.

(32) As shown in FIG. 6, in the protruding position a top edge of the inner slide front wall 252 is configured to engage with a corresponding bottom edge of the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve cover to prevent the inner slide 12 from being removed from the outer sleeve 10 through the first outer sleeve opening 10. In particular, in the embodiment shown, bottom edges of the side tabs 156B cooperate with the top edge of the inner slide front wall 252.

(33) When the inner slide 12 is in the protruding position, the inner slide cover panel 254 may be pivoted to reveal the content of the inner slide. Therefore, the consumer goods within the inner slide are accessible. For increased ease of use, the slide back wall top panel 253T can be further pivoted about the line of weakness D, such that a back of a top portion of the consumer goods within the slide becomes exposed. This facilitates extraction of the consumer goods.

(34) FIG. 7 shows a variant 300 of the second laminar blank for forming the inner slide of a container according to the present invention. The laminar blank 300 can be used with the first laminar blank 100 of FIG. 1 to form a second embodiment of a container 1000 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6.

(35) The second laminar blank 300 is configured to form an inner slide 120 of the container 1000.

(36) The second laminar blank 300 is a modified version of the second laminar blank 200 of FIG. 1 and will be described below only insofar as it differs from the second laminar blank 200 of FIG. 1. In the drawing of FIG. 7, the same reference numerals have been used to identify elements of the second laminar blank 300 that have been used in the drawing of FIG. 1 to identify corresponding elements of the second laminar blank 200.

(37) The second laminar blank 300 of FIG. 7 differs from the second laminar blank 200 of FIG. 1 in that it further comprises an inner slide protective panel 302, which depends along a respective fold line 304 from the inner slide cover panel 254 on the same side of lock tab 254A. In effect, the lock tab 254A is formed by way of a cut line extending through the inner slide protective panel 302. Thus, whenas will be described in more detail belowthe inner slide protective panel 302 is pivoted between respective closed and open positions about the fold line 304, the lock tab 254A does not move along with the inner slide protective panel 302.

(38) As will become apparent from the following description of the drawings of FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, the second laminar blank 300 is especially suited to being used in combination with a resealable inner package 400 that comprises an access opening 402 and a reclosable adhesive label 404 covering the access opening 402 and extending beyond a periphery of the access opening 402, wherein the reclosable adhesive label is at least partly releasably affixed to the inner package 400 by a resealable adhesive provided on a first area of the inner surface of the reclosable adhesive label 404 extending about at least the periphery of the access opening 402 of the inner package 400. The reclosable adhesive label 404 is thus movable between a closed position, wherein the reclosable adhesive label 404 extends over and occludes the access opening 402 and an open position, wherein the reclosable adhesive label 404 is partly lifted off the outer surface of the inner package 400 to reveal the access opening, thus enabling access to the consumer goods within the inner package.

(39) In the embodiment shown in the drawings of FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, the access opening 402 is defined by one or more lines of weaknesssuch as, for example, a cut linein the inner package 400 that define a portion 406 of the inner package 400 that is also movable between respective closed and open positions. In one such embodiment, the reclosable adhesive label 404 is affixed to the portion 406 of the inner package 400 by a permanent adhesive provided on a second area of the inner surface of the reclosable adhesive label 404 extending within the periphery of the portion 406, such that the portion 406 moves integrally with the reclosable adhesive label 404 to reveal or occlude the access opening 402.

(40) When a container 1000 is assembled and an inner package 400 containing a group of consumer goods is received within an inner slide 120, the protective panel 302 comes to rest against a front wall of the inner package 400. This provides increased protection for the consumer goods within the inner package and enhanced structural strength and rigidity of the container, which may facilitate storage and transportation thereof. Further, as will become apparent from the remainder of the description of this second embodiment, the protective panel provides an added layer of protection over the opening/closing mechanism of the inner package 400 and of the container 1000 as a whole.

(41) FIGS. 8 and 9 show an outer sleeve 10 and an inner slide 120 formed from the first laminar blank of FIG. 1 and the second laminar blank of FIG. 7. For the sake of convenience, the front wall of the outer sleeve 10 has been removed to show how the inner slide 120 moves within the outer sleeve 10 between a fully inserted position (FIG. 8) and a protruding position (FIG. 9) and how certain components of the inner slide 120 and the outer sleeve 10 cooperate in each position.

(42) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the inner slide 120 is mounted within the outer sleeve 10. An inner package 400 is received within the inner slide 120. As a result of the detachment of the first panel of the outer sleeve cover, a first outer sleeve opening 300 has been revealed at a top end of the outer sleeve 10. The inner slide 120 is thus movable within the outer sleeve 10 between a fully inserted position (FIG. 8) wherein the inner slide 120 fully rests within the outer sleeve 10 and a protruding position (FIG. 9) wherein the inner slide 120 extends partly outside of the outer sleeve 10 through the first outer sleeve opening 300.

(43) As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the fully inserted position, top edges of the outer sleeve locking panels 158, 159, 160, 161 are configured to engage with corresponding bottom edges of the inner slide 120. Thus, the inner slide 120 is prevented from being removed from the outer sleeve 10 through a second outer sleeve opening at the bottom end of the outer sleeve 10. In more detail, in the embodiment shown, the edges of the bottom wall 251 of the inner slide 120 cooperate with the top edges of the outer sleeve locking panels 158, 159, 160, 161.

(44) Further, in the fully inserted position shown in FIG. 8, the inner slide cover panel 254 is configured to engage with the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve 10. This advantageously secures the inner slide cover panel 254 in the slide cover closed position. As shown in FIG. 8, the lock tab 254A of the slide cover panel engages with the cut out 156A formed in the bottom edge of the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve 10.

(45) As shown in FIG. 9, in the protruding position a top edge of the inner slide front wall 252 is configured to engage with a corresponding bottom edge of the second panel 156 of the outer sleeve cover to prevent the inner slide 120 from being removed from the outer sleeve 10 through the first outer sleeve opening. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, bottom edges of the side tabs 156B cooperate with the top edge of the inner slide front wall 252.

(46) When the inner slide 120 is in the protruding position, the protective panel 302 may be pivoted about fold line 304 and lifted off the front of the inner package 400. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, as the protective panel 302 depends from the inner slide cover panel 254, when lifting the protective panel 302 off the front of the inner package 400, the inner slide cover panel 254 will also, in turn, be pivoted to reveal the content of the inner slide. Like in the first embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, for increased ease of use, the slide back wall top panel 253T can be further pivoted about the line of weakness D to further facilitate extraction of the consumer goods.

(47) As shown in the drawings of FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, in this particular embodiment the reclosable adhesive label 404 is permanently affixed to an inner surface of the protective panel 302 by a permanent adhesive provided on a first area of an outer surface of the reclosable adhesive label 404. Thus, as illustrated in the drawings of FIGS. 10 and 11, when the protective panel 302 is pivoted about fold line 304, movement of the protective panel 302indicated schematically by the curved arrowalso automatically lifts the reclosable adhesive label 404 and the portion 406 of the inner package 400 to reveal the access opening 402 and enable extraction of the consumer goods from the inner package 400.

(48) Thus, a container 1000 in accordance with the second embodiment illustrated by reference to the drawings of FIGS. 7 to 11 provides the user with a particularly smooth opening and closing mechanism, whereby access to the consumer goods in the inner package 400 can be gained by combining the linear movement of the inner slide 120 within the outer sleeve 10 with the gradual peeling of the reclosable adhesive label 404 off the inner package 400 obtained indirectly by lifting of the protective panel 302. This is advantageous in that the user can conveniently manipulate a larger and typically thicker element of the containerthe protective panel 302instead of directly pulling on the reclosable adhesive label. This may help prevent wear and tear of the reclosable adhesive label.

(49) At the same time, the provision of one such reclosable adhesive label, renders the inner package 400 substantially resealable. This is especially beneficial when the inner package 400 is manufactured by forming fin seals along the side of the inner package as this enables a particularly accurate seal of the inner package 400, such that the properties of the consumer goods are especially well preserved during storage and transportation.

(50) For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A10% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.