SHOULDER PACK WITH LID LIFT

Abstract

A container for consumer goods comprises an inner portion received within an outer box portion and a lifting mechanism that facilitates easy access to consumer goods received on or within the inner portion. The lifting mechanism connects the back wall of the inner portion to the lid portion top wall or lid portion front wall. The consumer goods, such as smoking articles, are longitudinally orthogonal to the hinge line.

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, comprising: an outer box portion having an outer box back wall extending between an outer box left side wall and an outer box right side wall and an outer box bottom wall orthogonal to the outer box back wall and extending between the outer box left side wall and the outer box right side wall; a lid portion depending from a first hinge line along a top edge of the outer box portion, the lid portion having a lid front wall extending between a lid right side wall and a lid left side wall and a lid bottom wall being orthogonal to the lid front wall and extending between the lid left side wall and the lid right side wall, the lid portion movable about the first hinge line between a closed position and an open position; an inner portion for receiving consumer goods along an open top side is received within the outer box portion, the inner portion comprising an inner portion back wall between an inner portion right side wall and an inner portion left side wall and an inner portion bottom wall orthogonal to the inner portion back wall and extending between the inner portion left side wall and the inner portion right side wall, the inner portion back wall adjacent to the inner portion back wall when the lid portion is in the closed position, the inner portion bottom wall is adjacent to the outer box bottom wall and the first hinge line is adjacent to the inner portion open top side and the inner portion is hingedly attached to the outer box bottom wall; and a lifting element depending from a first lifting element hinge line along the back wall of the inner portion and fixed to the lid portion, the lifting element adapted to move the inner portion back wall away from the outer portion back wall when the lid portion travels from the closed position to the open position.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the lifting element articulates the inner portion relative to the outer box portion along a second hinge line connecting the inner portion bottom wall and the outer box bottom wall, and the second hinge line is parallel with the first hinge line.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the consumer goods received within the inner portion are elongated elements having a longitudinal axis that is orthogonal to the first hinge line.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the lifting element comprises a second lifting element hinge line separating a first flap and a second flap and a third lifting element hinge line separating the second flap from a third flap.

5. The container according to claim 4, further comprising a tab cut-out extending along and replacing a portion of the third lifting element hinge line, the tab cut-out creates an audible sound when the second flap and third flap rotate to a non-coplanar configuration.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the lid portion further comprises a lid top wall extending between the lid right side wall and the lid left side wall and the top wall depends from the first hinge line along a top edge of the outer box bottom wall, and wherein the lifting element is fixed to the lid top wall.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the third flap is fixed to the lid top wall and wherein the first hinge line and the third lifting element hinge line are parallel and coextensive.

8. The container according to claim 6, wherein the first flap and second flap are folded onto each other and the third flap is substantially orthogonal to the first flap and second flap when the container is in the closed position and wherein the third flap is coplanar with the lid top wall.

9. The container according to claim 6, wherein the second flap and the third flap are coplanar when the lid is opened to an angle of about at least 90 degrees.

10. The container according to claim 6, wherein the first lifting element hinge line and the second hinge line are parallel with the first hinge line.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein a top side portion of the outer box left side wall and the outer box right side wall have a curved corner.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer box portion comprises an outer box top wall extending between the outer box right side wall and the outer box left side wall and the lid front wall depends from the first hinge line along the outer box top wall, and the lifting element comprises a second lifting element hinge line separating a first flap and a second flap and a third lifting element hinge line separating the second flap from a third flap and a fourth lifting element hinge line separating the third flap from a fourth flap and a fifth lifting element hinge line separating the fourth flap from a fifth flap and the fourth flap is fixed and coplanar with the lid front wall and the fifth flap is folded back onto the fourth flap.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the fifth flap contacts and defects the third flap when the lid portion is closed to an angle of less than about 180 degrees.

14. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer box portion and lid portion are formed of a single laminar blank.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion and lifting mechanism are formed of a single laminar blank.

16. The container according to claim 2, wherein the consumer goods received within the inner portion are elongated elements having a longitudinal axis that is orthogonal to the first hinge line.

17. The container according to claim 2, wherein the lifting element comprises a second lifting element hinge line separating a first flap and a second flap and a third lifting element hinge line separating the second flap from a third flap.

18. The container according to claim 7, wherein the first lifting element hinge line and the second hinge line are parallel with the first hinge line.

19. The container according to claim 7, wherein the first flap and second flap are folded onto each other and the third flap is substantially orthogonal to the first flap and second flap when the container is in the closed position and wherein the third flap is coplanar with the lid top wall.

20. The container according to claim 2, wherein the outer box portion comprises an outer box top wall extending between the outer box right side wall and the outer box left side wall and the lid front wall depends from the first hinge line along the outer box top wall, and the lifting element comprises a second lifting element hinge line separating a first flap and a second flap and a third lifting element hinge line separating the second flap from a third flap and a fourth lifting element hinge line separating the third flap from a fourth flap and a fifth lifting element hinge line.

Description

[0049] Referring now to the drawings, in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated

[0050] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container in an open position, where the container includes an outer box portion and an inner portion disposed within the outer box portion.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a single laminar blank forming the outer box portion and the lid portion.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a single laminar blank for forming the inner portion and an exemplary lifting element.

[0053] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective top view of the container of FIG. 1 in the open position showing the lifting mechanism fixed to the top wall of the lid.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the container in an open position, where the lifting element is fixed to the front wall of the lid.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another single laminar blank forming the outer box portion and the lid portion.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another single laminar blank for forming the inner portion and another exemplary lifting element.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 5.

[0058] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional close-up view of the lifting mechanism of FIG. 8.

[0059] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional close-up view of the lifting mechanism of FIG. 8 in the closed position.

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a container 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The container 10 comprises an outer box portion 20, an inner portion 50 and a lid portion 30. A lifting mechanism articulates the inner portion 50 away from the outer box portion 20 once the lid portion 30 is moved toward the open position. The lifting mechanism is omitted from FIG. 1 for clarity, but is shown in and described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0061] The outer box portion 20 includes an outer box back wall 22 extending between an outer box left side wall 27 and an outer box right side wall 28. The outer box bottom wall 24 is orthogonal to the outer box left side wall 27 and outer box right side wall 28 and extends between the outer box left side wall 27 and outer box right side wall 28.

[0062] The lid portion 30 includes a lid front wall 32 extending between a lid bottom wall 34 and lid top wall 36 and between a lid right side wall 38 and lid left side wall 37. The lid right side wall 38 and left side wall 37 are orthogonal to the lid front wall 32 and extend between the lid bottom wall 34 and lid top wall 36.

[0063] The lid portion 30 depends from a first hinge line 40 along a top side of the outer box portion back wall 22. The lid portion 30 is movable about the first hinge line 40 between a closed position and an open position. The first hinge line 40 extends between the outer box left side wall 27 and the outer box right side wall 28.

[0064] The outer box portion 20 and the lid portion 30 are preferably formed from a single laminar blank as illustrated in FIG. 2. A top portion of the outer box left side wall 27 and an outer box right side wall 28 preferably has a curved corner to provide ease of closure and reduce the incidence of the lid portion 30 catching on the outer box left side wall 27 and an outer box right side wall 28 during the closing movement of the lid portion 30.

[0065] The inner portion 50 is arranged and configured to receive consumer goods. The consumer goods can have a longitudinal length that is generally orthogonal with the first hinge line 40. In many embodiments, the consumer goods are elongated articles such as smoking articles or cigarettes, where the longitudinal length or axis is generally orthogonal with the first hinge line 40. The consumer goods can be extracted from the inner portion 50 top side.

[0066] The inner portion 50 is received within the outer box portion 20. The inner portion 50 comprises an inner portion back wall 52 that extends between an inner portion right side wall 58 and an inner portion left side wall 57. Preferably the inner portion 50 comprises an inner portion front wall 51 that extends between an inner portion right side wall 58 and an inner portion left side wall 57 and is parallel with the inner portion back wall 52. A top side portion of the inner portion 50 is open to provide access to the consumer goods held within the inner portion 50.

[0067] The inner portion back wall 52 is adjacent to the outer box back wall 22 when the lid portion 30 is in the closed position. The outer box portion bottom wall 24 is between and adjacent to the inner portion bottom wall 54 and the lid bottom wall 34. For ease of construction, the inner portion 50 and the lifting element 80 are formed from the same laminar blank as illustrated in FIG. 3. The inner portion bottom wall 54 is hingedly attached to the outer box portion bottom wall 24 along a second hinge line. Preferably the second hinge line is parallel with the first hinge line 40.

[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates the lifting element 80 depending from the inner portion back wall 52 along a lifting element first fold line 81. A first lifting element flap 85 connects to the inner portion back wall 52 along the lifting element first fold line 81. A second lifting element flap 86 connects to the first lifting element flap 85 along a lifting element second fold line 82. A third lifting element flap 87 connects to the second lifting element flap 86 along a lifting element third fold line 83.

[0069] The third lifting element flap 87 is fixed to the lid portion 30 to articulate the inner portion 50 relative to the outer box portion 20 when the lid portion 30 is moved to the open position. The lifting element 80 moves the inner portion back wall 52 away from the outer box back wall 22 when the lid portion 30 travels to the open position.

[0070] FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 illustrate one embodiment of the container where the lid portion 30 has a top lid wall 36 extending between the lid right side wall 38 and the lid left side wall 37. The lid top wall 36 depends from the first hinge line 40 along a top edge of the outer box bottom wall 22. The lifting element 80 is fixed to the lid top wall 36. The third lifting element flap 87 is fixed to the lid top wall 36. The first hinge line 40 and the third lifting element hinge line 83 are parallel and preferably coextensive. The first flap 85 and second flap 86 are folded onto each other and the third flap 87 is substantially orthogonal to the first flap 85 and second flap 86 when the container is in the closed position. The third flap 87 is coplanar with the lid top wall 36. In many of these embodiments, a top side portion of the outer box left side wall 27 and the outer box right side wall 28 have a curved corner.

[0071] The container 10 further includes a locking element 72 on the outer box bottom wall 24 configured to engage a lid portion lock-mating element 74 on the lid portion bottom wall 34 and secure the lid 30 in the closed position.

[0072] FIG. 5 to FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the container where the outer box portion 20 has an outer box top wall 26 extending between the outer box right side wall 28 and the outer box left side wall 27. The lid front wall 32 depends from the first hinge line 40 along the outer box top wall 26. The lifting element 80 is fixed to the lid front wall 32. In many of these embodiments, a bottom side portion of the lid left side wall 37 and the lid right side wall 38 have a curved corner.

[0073] The outer box portion 20 includes an outer box back wall 22 extending between an outer box left side wall 27 and an outer box right side wall 28. The outer box bottom wall 24 is orthogonal to the outer box left side wall 27 and outer box right side wall 28 and extends between the outer box left side wall 27 and outer box right side wall 28. An outer box top wall 26 is orthogonal to the outer box left side wall 27 and outer box right side wall 28 and extends between the outer box left side wall 27 and outer box right side wall 28.

[0074] The lid portion 30 includes a lid front wall 32 extending between a lid right side wall 38 and lid left side wall 37. The lid right side wall 38 and left side wall 37 are orthogonal to the lid front wall 32 and a lid bottom wall 34 extends between a lid right side wall 38 and lid left side wall 37.

[0075] The lid portion 30 depends from a first hinge line 40 along a top wall 26 of the outer box portion back wall 22. The lid portion 30 is movable about the first hinge line 40 between a closed position and an open position. The first hinge line 40 extends between the outer box left side wall 27 and the outer box right side wall 28.

[0076] The outer box portion 20 and the lid portion 30 are preferably formed from a single laminar blank as illustrated in FIG. 6. A bottom portion of the lid left side wall 37 and the lid right side wall 38 preferably has a curved corner to provide ease of closure and reduce the incidence of the lid portion 30 catching on the outer box left side wall 27 and an outer box right side wall 28 during the closing movement of the lid portion 30.

[0077] The inner portion 50 is arranged and configured to receive consumer goods as described above.

[0078] The inner portion 50 is received within the outer box portion 20. The inner portion 50 comprises an inner portion back wall 52 that extends between an inner portion right side wall 58 and an inner portion left side wall 57. Preferably the inner portion 50 comprises an inner portion front wall 51 that extends between an inner portion right side wall 58 and an inner portion left side wall 57 and is parallel with the inner portion back wall 52. A top side portion of the inner portion 50 is open to provide access to the consumer goods held within the inner portion 50.

[0079] The inner portion back wall 52 is adjacent to the outer box back wall 22 when the lid portion 30 is in the closed position. The outer box portion bottom wall 24 is between and adjacent to the inner portion bottom wall 54 and the lid bottom wall 34. For ease of construction, the inner portion 50 and the lifting element 80 are formed from the same laminar blank as illustrated in FIG. 7. The inner portion bottom wall 54 is hingedly attached to the outer box portion bottom wall 24 along a second hinge line. Preferably the second hinge line is parallel with the first hinge line 40.

[0080] FIG. 7 illustrates the lifting element 80 depending from the inner portion back wall 52 along a lifting element first fold line 81. A first lifting element flap 85 connects to the inner portion back wall 52 along the lifting element first fold line 81. A second lifting element flap 86 connects to the first lifting element flap 85 along a lifting element second fold line 82. A third lifting element flap 87 connects to the second lifting element flap 86 along a lifting element third fold line 83. A fourth lifting element flap 91 connects to the third lifting element flap 87 along a lifting element fourth fold line 84. A fifth lifting element flap 89 connects to the fourth lifting element flap 91 along a lifting element fifth fold line 90.

[0081] The fourth lifting element flap 91 is fixed to the lid portion 30 front wall 32 to articulate the inner portion 50 relative to the outer box portion 20 when the lid portion 30 is moved to the open position. The lifting element 80 moves the inner portion back wall 52 away from the outer box back wall 22 when the lid portion 30 travels to the open position.

[0082] FIG. 5 to FIG. 10 illustrate one embodiment of the container where the lifting element 80 is fixed to the lid front wall 32. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 illustrate this five-fold lifting element construction in the open position and FIG. 10 illustrate this five-fold lifting element construction in the closed position. The fourth flap 91 is fixed to and planar with the lid front wall 32. The fifth flap 89 is folded back onto the fourth flap 91 and provides a lever action force back onto the third flap 87 during the closing movement to allow the lifting mechanism 80 to close smoothly. The second flap 86 folds onto the first flap 85 in the closed position.

[0083] This configuration provides a first and second bi-stable position for the inner portion 50 when opening the container. Once the lid 30 is opened more than about 90 degrees, for example, the inner portion “pops” or springs away from the outer box portion 20. Closing the lid portion 30 to an angle less than about 180 degrees causes the lever flap or fifth flap 89 to contact and deflect the third flap 87 and allow the lifting mechanism to close or fold upon itself smoothly. Thus the lever or fifth flap 89 is longer than fourth flap 91.

[0084] The exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting. Other embodiments consistent with the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.