CONTAINER INCLUDING BOX AND SLEEVE WITH LOCKING MECHANISM

Abstract

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

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A container for consumer goods, the container comprising: an outer sleeve comprising an outer sleeve front wall, an outer sleeve back wall, first and second opposed outer sleeve side walls, an outer sleeve top wall and a first open end; and an inner box disposed within the outer sleeve and configured to be slidable with respect to the outer sleeve between: a first position, in which the interior of the inner box cannot be accessed by a user; and a second position, in which the interior of the inner box can be accessed by a user, wherein sliding of the inner box from the first position to the second position involves at least part of the inner box passing through the outer sleeve opening; wherein the inner box comprises an inner box top wall, an inner box bottom wall, an inner box front wall, an inner box back wall, first and second opposed inner box side walls, and an inner box engagement flap configured to overlie a portion of the outer surface of the respective inner box back wall; wherein, when the inner box is in the first position in the outer sleeve, an edge of the inner box engagement flap is configured to engage with a corresponding engaging element on the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall, to form a locking mechanism for preventing the inner box from being slidable from the first position to the second position; wherein the container further comprises a holding mechanism for preventing the inner box from sliding beyond the second position; wherein the holding mechanism comprises a flap on the outer sleeve which is configured to engage with a corresponding holding edge on the inner box to prevent the inner box from sliding beyond the second position; and wherein the inner box comprises a box portion and a lid portion connected to the box portion by a hinge line, and wherein the holding edge on the inner box is formed by an edge of the lid portion of the inner box.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the inner box is formed from: a first laminar blank comprising a back wall panel for forming the inner box back wall; and a second laminar blank comprising a first panel for forming the engagement flap and a second panel for securing the first panel to the inner box back wall.

18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the second panel is itself secured to the outer surface of the inner box back wall by an adhesive.

19. A container according to claim 16, wherein the outer sleeve back wall is provided with a release element for enabling the edge of the inner box engagement flap to disengage from the corresponding engaging element of the outer sleeve back wall.

20. A container according to claim 19, wherein the release element comprises a release tab formed by at least one cut-line on the outer sleeve back wall.

21. A container according to claim 19, wherein, when the inner box is in the first position in the outer sleeve, the release element overlies at least a portion of the inner box engagement flap.

22. A container according to claim 16, wherein lid portion comprises a lid portion top wall comprising a slot for engaging with the flap on the outer sleeve when the inner box is in the second position.

23. A container according to claim 16, wherein the inner box engagement flap is configured to pivot about a pivot line on the back wall of the inner box.

24. A container according to claim 16, wherein the inner box is formed from: a first laminar blank comprising a back wall panel for forming the inner box back wall; and a second laminar blank comprising a first panel for forming the engagement flap and a second panel for securing the first panel to the inner box back wall.

25. A container according to claim 16, wherein the inner box comprises: a box portion comprising a box portion bottom wall, a box portion front wall, a box portion back wall, and first and second opposed box portion side walls; and and a lid portion hingedly attached to the box portion by a hinge line, the lid portion comprising a lid portion top wall, a lid portion front wall, a lid portion back wall, and first and second opposed lid portion side walls, and wherein the engagement flap is configured to overlie a portion of the outer surface of the box portion back wall.

26. A container according to claim 25, wherein the container is configured such that: one or both of the hinge line and the lower edge of the lid portion front wall underlies a corresponding one of the outer sleeve front wall and outer sleeve back wall, when the inner box is in the first position.

27. A container according to claim 26, wherein the container is configured such that: one or both of the hinge line and the lower edge of the lid portion front wall is positioned externally of the outer sleeve, when the inner box is in the second position.

28. A container according to claim 16, wherein the corresponding engaging element on the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall is formed by an edge of a panel affixed to the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall.

29. A container according to claim 16, wherein the inner box and the outer sleeve are configured such that at least one of the inner box front wall and the inner box back wall completely underlies its corresponding outer sleeve front wall and outer sleeve back wall, when the inner box is in the first position.

30. A container according to claim 17, wherein the outer sleeve back wall is provided with a release element for enabling the edge of the inner box engagement flap to disengage from the corresponding engaging element of the outer sleeve back wall.

31. A container according to claim 18, wherein the outer sleeve back wall is provided with a release element for enabling the edge of the inner box engagement flap to disengage from the corresponding engaging element of the outer sleeve back wall.

32. A container according to claim 20, wherein, when the inner box is in the first position in the outer sleeve, the release element overlies at least a portion of the inner box engagement flap.

Description

[0068] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of laminar blanks for forming a container according to the present invention;

[0070] FIG. 2A shows an outer sleeve and an inner box for forming a container according to the present invention;

[0071] FIG. 2B shows a container according to the present invention; and

[0072] FIGS. 3A to 3C show cross-sectional views of a locking mechanism in different configurations for a container according to the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 1 shows three laminar blanks for forming a container 1 according to the present invention, namely a first laminar blank 100, a second laminar blank 200 and a third laminar blank 300. The laminar blanks can be used to form a container 1 as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0074] The first laminar blank 100 and the third laminar blank 300 are configured to form an inner box 10 of the container 1. The inner box 10 comprises a lid portion 50 and a box portion 60.

[0075] The dashed lines indicate fold lines, and solid lines indicate cut lines in the laminar blanks. The first laminar blank 100 comprises a lid portion front wall panel 151, first and second lid portion outer side wall panels 152, 153, a lid portion top wall panel 154, a lid portion back wall panel 155, a lid portion front under panel 156, first and second lid portion inner side wall panels 157, 158, and first and second lid portion reinforcement flap panels 159a, 159b. These panels together form the lid part of the lid portion 50 of the container 1. The lid portion top wall panel 154 includes a slot 180 for receiving a flap 21 of the outer sleeve 20, as will be described in more detail below.

[0076] The first laminar blank 100 further comprises a box portion front wall panel 161, first and second box portion outer side wall panels 162, 163, a box portion bottom wall panel 164, a box portion back wall panel 165, first and second box portion inner side wall panels 167, 168 and first and second box portion dust flaps 169a, 169b. These panels together form the box portion 60 of the container 1.

[0077] The second laminar blank 200 comprises an outer sleeve back wall panel 211, first and second outer sleeve outer side wall panels 212, 213, an outer sleeve bottom wall panel 214, an outer sleeve front wall panel 215, first and second outer sleeve inner side wall panels 217, 218, and first and second outer sleeve dust flap panels 219a, 219b. These panels together form the outer sleeve 20 of the container 1.

[0078] The second laminar blank further comprises an outer sleeve flap panel 221 depending from the outer sleeve front wall panel 215. When the outer sleeve 20 is assembled the outer sleeve flap panel 221 forms a flap 21 on the outer sleeve 20. The flap 21 depends from a fold line forming an edge of the outer sleeve front wall 15, the edge being disposed at the outer sleeve opening 25 and the flap 21 extending into the interior of the outer sleeve 20 and away from the outer sleeve back wall 15. This can be best seen from FIG. 2A.

[0079] As will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the flap 21 on the outer sleeve 20 defines a holding mechanism for preventing the inner box 10 from sliding beyond a set position.

[0080] The second laminar blank 200 further comprises an outer sleeve engaging element panel 231. This panel 231 depends from the outer sleeve back wall panel 211. When the outer sleeve 20 is assembled by folding the second laminar blank 200, the outer sleeve engaging element panel 231 is folded about a fold line 232 in the second laminar blank 200, relative to the outer sleeve back wall panel 211. The outer sleeve engaging element panel 231 is then affixed to the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall 11 to form an engaging element 31 on the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall 11. The engaging element 31 defines an engagement edge 33 for engaging with a respective inner box engagement flap 39.

[0081] The second laminar blank 200 further comprises a portion 270 on the outer sleeve back wall panel 211 for defining a release tab 70 in the outer sleeve back wall 11. This portion 270 is partially delimited by a U-shaped cut line 271 in the outer sleeve back wall panel 211. The release tab 70 is configured to facilitate unlocking of a locking mechanism in the container, as will be described in more detail below with references to FIGS. 3A to 3C.

[0082] The third laminar blank 300 is configured to form an inner box engagement flap 39 for the assembled inner box 10. The third laminar blank comprises a first panel 390 for forming the inner box engagement flap 39 and a second panel 380, or securing panel 380, for affixing the inner box engagement flap 39 to the box portion back wall 65 of the inner box 10, for example by way of an adhesive. The first panel 390 is connected to the second panel 380 by way of a fold line 370 in the third laminar blank 300. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the assembled inner box 10, the first panel 390 is folded about this fold line 370 such that it extends away from the box portion back wall 65 of the inner box 10 to form the inner box engagement flap 390.

[0083] FIG. 2A shows an outer sleeve 20 and an inner box 10 formed from the laminar blanks of FIG. 1. The outer sleeve comprises an outer sleeve back wall 11, an outer sleeve front wall 15, an outer sleeve bottom wall, a first outer sleeve side wall, a second outer sleeve side wall 13, and an access opening 25 at the opposite end of the outer sleeve 20 to the outer sleeve bottom wall. The outer sleeve back wall 11 is provided with a release tab 70. An outer sleeve flap 21 depends from the edge of the outer sleeve front wall 15 disposed at the first open end 25 of the outer sleeve 20. The outer sleeve flap 21 extends into the interior of the outer sleeve 20 and away from the outer sleeve front wall 15.

[0084] The inner box comprises a lid portion 50 and a box portion 60 connected together by a hinge line 90. The lid portion 50 comprises a lid portion top wall, a lid portion front wall, a lid portion back wall 55, a first lid portion side wall, and an opposed second lid portion side wall 53. The box portion 60 comprises a box portion bottom wall 64, a box portion front wall, a box portion back wall 65, a first box portion side wall, and an opposed second box portion side wall 63.

[0085] The inner box further comprises an inner box engagement flap 39 configured to overlie a portion of the box portion back wall 65.

[0086] The inner box 10 and outer sleeve 20 are shown in FIG. 2A in an unassembled condition. That is, the inner box 10 is external to and separate from the outer sleeve 20. To assemble the inner box 10 and outer sleeve 20 into the container 1 of FIG. 2B, the inner box 10 is passed through the access opening 25 of the outer sleeve 20 and inserted into the interior of the outer sleeve 20. Such insertion causes the outer sleeve flap 21 to be deflected towards the outer sleeve front wall 15, such that the outer sleeve flap 21 lies flush with the outer sleeve front wall 15. Such insertion also causes the inner box engagement flap 39 to be deflected towards the inner box back wall 65, such that the inner box engagement flap 39 lies flush with the second panel 380, or securing panel 380, which is affixed to the outer surface of the inner box back wall 65.

[0087] Once the inner box 10 has been fully inserted into the outer sleeve 20 it resides in the position shown in FIG. 2B, namely a first position. In this position, the leading edge of the inner box engagement flap 39 engages with the leading edge of the outer sleeve engaging element panel 231, which is itself secured to the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall 11. Such engagement acts to prevent the inner box 10 from being slid away from the outer sleeve 20 and thus back out of the access opening 25. The inner box 10 is therefore held in place within the outer sleeve 20 by virtue of such engagement. There is therefore a locking mechanism formed by the inner box 10 and outer sleeve 20, which acts to lock the inner box 10 in the outer sleeve 20 when in the position shown in FIG. 2B. This may be the configuration in which the container 1 is sold to a user.

[0088] To unlock the container 1, and thus gain access to the consumer goods, a user must first press the release tab 70 on the outer sleeve back wall 11. This will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C.

[0089] FIGS. 3A to 3C show a partial cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism for a container according to the present invention. The Figures depict the locking mechanism in various configurations.

[0090] The locking mechanism comprises the inner box engagement flap 39 and the engaging element 31 of the outer sleeve. The engaging element 31 is formed by the outer sleeve engaging element panel 231, which is secured to the inner surface of the outer sleeve back wall 11. The outer sleeve back wall 11 includes an internal cut line 71, which defines a release tab 70 in the outer sleeve back wall 11. The release tab 70 is positioned to overlie the inner box engagement flap 39, when the inner box 10 is in the first position, as shown in FIG. 3A. The inner box engagement flap 39 depends from a the second panel 380 of the inner box 10, which is secured to the outer surface of the box portion back wall 65 of the inner box 10.

[0091] The engaging element 31 has an engaging edge 33, which engages with the leading edge of the inner box engagement flap 39, when the container is in the first position, as shown in FIG. 3A, to prevent the inner box 10 from sliding towards and out of the access opening of the outer sleeve 20.

[0092] In FIG. 3A the locking mechanism is in a locked state. To unlock the locking mechanism, a user presses on the release tab 70 to cause it to deflect inwards relative to the outer sleeve 20. The release tab 70 then comes into contact with the inner box engagement flap 39 of the inner box 10 and pushes the inner box engagement flap 39 away from the engaging element 31 of the outer sleeve 20. This causes the leading edge of the inner box engagement flap 39 to disengage from the barrier created by the engaging element 31, as shown in FIG. 3B.

[0093] FIG. 3B therefore shows the locking mechanism in an unlocked state, with the inner box 10 still being in the first position relative to the outer sleeve 20. However, because the locking mechanism is now unlocked, the inner box 10 can now move linearly relative to the outer sleeve 20 and towards a second position in which any consumer goods held in the inner box 10 can be accessed by a user. Consequently, after pressing on the release tab 70 and unlocking the locking mechanism, a user can slide the inner box 10 within the outer sleeve 20 to gain access to the consumer goods. Such sliding movement is depicted by the change in position of the inner box 10 components relative to the outer sleeve 20 components between FIGS. 3B and 3C. In particular, the box portion side wall 65, second panel 380, and inner box engagement flap 39 have all been moved upwards in FIG. 3C, relative to their position in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3C therefore shows the locking mechanism in an unlocked state, with the inner box 10 being in the second position.

[0094] When the user has finished accessing the consumer goods, the user can slide the inner box 10 back into the interior of the outer sleeve 20. This reverts the inner box engagement flap 39 to a position corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3B. However, as the user is now no longer pressing on the release tab 70, the inner box engagement flap 39 can move back to the position shown in FIG. 3A to engage with the engaging element 31. This results in the locking mechanism reverting to the locked state of FIG. 3A. The inner box engagement flap 39 can automatically revert to the position shown in FIG. 3A in such circumstances, because of the biasing force created by the fold line 370 between the inner box engagement flap 39 and the second panel 380.

[0095] As noted above, the outer sleeve 20 comprises a flap 21 which helps to form a holding mechanism for preventing the inner box 10 from sliding beyond a set position. In particular, the flap 21 is configured to engage with the lid portion 50 of the inner box 10, when the inner box 10 is in the second position to prevent the inner box 10 from sliding beyond the second position. In the arrangement of FIGS. 2A and 2B, this is achieved by virtue of the flap 21 sliding into the lid portion 50 as the inner box 10 is moved from the first position to the second position. In particular, as the inner box 10 is moved from the first position to the second position, the flap 21 catches on the lower edge of the lid portion front wall 51 and slides inside the lid portion 50. The flap 21 may remain generally flush with the inner surface of the lid portion front wall 51. When the inner box 10 reaches the second position, the curved part of the leading edge of the flap 21 protrudes through the slot 180 in the lid portion top wall 54. However, the flap 21 and slot 180 are shaped and sized so that some of the leading edge of the flap 21 cannot protrude through the slot 180, but instead engages with the lid portion top wall 54. This engagement prevents the inner box 10 from sliding any further beyond the second position.