CONTAINER HAVING AN INNER FRAME WITH A SPACED BACK WALL, CORRESPONDING INNER FRAME AND REEL

Abstract

A container (400) for consumer goods is provided, the container (400) comprising a box portion (402) and a lid portion (408) depending along a hinge line from a top edge of the box portion (402). An inner frame (300) is slidably received within the box portion (402), the inner frame (300) comprising an inner frame front panel (12), and first and second inner frame side panels (18) each depending along an inner frame side panel fold line (20) from first and second inner frame front panel side edges respectively. Each of the first and second inner frame side panels (18) comprises a back edge spaced apart from the respective inner frame side panel fold line (20). The inner frame (300) further comprises first and second inner frame back panels (26) each depending along a respective inner frame back panel fold line (28) from the first and second inner frame side panels (18) respectively, wherein the first and second inner frame back panels (26) form at least part of an inner frame back wall (302). A distance between each of the inner frame back panel fold lines (28) and the respective inner frame side panel fold line (20) is less than a maximum width of the respective inner frame side panel (18) between the inner frame side panel fold line (20) and the inner frame side panel back edge so that the minimum spacing between the inner frame front panel (12) and the inner frame back wall (302) is less than the maximum width of each inner frame side panel (18). A portion (308) of the inner frame back wall (302) is connected to the lid portion (408) so that, when the lid portion (408) is moved about the hinge line, the inner frame (300) slides within the box portion (402).

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, the container comprising: a box portion comprising a box portion front wall, a box portion back wall, first and second box portion side walls, and a box portion bottom wall; a lid portion depending along a hinge line from a top edge of the box portion, wherein the lid portion is moveable about the hinge line between an open position and a closed position; and an inner frame slidably received within the box portion, the inner frame comprising: an inner frame front panel comprising first and second side edges; first and second inner frame side panels each depending along an inner frame side panel fold line from the first and second inner frame front panel side edges respectively, each of the first and second inner frame side panels comprising a back edge spaced apart from the respective inner frame side panel fold line; and first and second inner frame back panels each depending along a respective inner frame back panel fold line from the first and second inner frame side panels respectively, wherein the first and second inner frame back panels form at least part of an inner frame back wall, and wherein a distance between each of the inner frame back panel fold lines and the respective inner frame side panel fold line is less than a maximum width of the respective inner frame side panel between the inner frame side panel fold line and the inner frame side panel back edge so that the minimum spacing between the inner frame front panel and the inner frame back wall (302) is less than the maximum width of each inner frame side panel; wherein a portion of the inner frame back wall is connected to the lid portion so that, when the lid portion is moved about the hinge line, the inner frame slides within the box portion between a raised position when the lid portion is in the open position and a lowered position when the lid portion is in the closed position; and wherein the first and second inner frame back panels form a lower portion of the inner frame back wall, the inner frame further comprising: first and second inner frame intermediate panels each extending along an inner frame intermediate panel fold line from a top edge of the first and second inner frame back panels respectively, wherein the first and second inner frame intermediate panels form an intermediate portion of the inner frame back wall; and first and second inner frame end panels each extending along an inner frame end panel fold line from a top edge of the first and second inner frame intermediate panels respectively, wherein the first and second inner frame end panels form an upper portion of the inner frame back wall, and wherein the upper portion of the inner frame back wall is the portion of the inner frame back wall connected to the lid portion.

2-5. (canceled)

6. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inner frame back panels at least partially overlap each other.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inner frame intermediate panels at least partially overlap each other, and wherein the first and second inner frame end panels at least partially overlap each other.

8. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inner frame side panels each comprise a pair of spaced apart cut lines extending perpendicular to the inner frame side panel back edge, wherein each cut line extends between a proximal end at the inner frame side panel back edge and a distal end positioned between the inner frame side panel back edge and the inner frame side panel fold line, and wherein each inner frame back panel fold line extends between the distal ends of the respective pair of spaced apart cut lines.

9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the lid portion comprises a lid portion back wall depending along the hinge line from a top edge of the box portion back wall, and wherein the portion of the inner frame back wall connected to the lid portion is connected to the lid portion back wall.

10. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame front panel comprises a cut-out portion at a top edge of the inner frame front panel and a tab portion at a bottom end of the inner frame front panel, wherein the cut-out portion and the tab portion have substantially the same size and shape.

11. A container according to claim 6, wherein the tab portion extends parallel to the box portion front wall and forms part of the inner frame front panel.

12. A container according to claim 6, wherein the tab portion forms an inner frame bottom panel depending along an inner frame bottom panel fold line from a bottom edge of the inner frame front panel.

13. A container according to claim 8, wherein the tab portion further forms a third inner frame back panel depending along a third inner frame back panel fold line from a back edge of the inner frame bottom panel, the third inner frame back panel connected to at least one of the first and second inner frame back panels to form part of the inner frame back wall.

14. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame further comprises at least one indicia on the inner frame front panel, wherein the at least one indicia is concealed by the box portion front wall when the inner frame is in the lowered position, and wherein the at least one indicia is revealed when the inner frame slides into the raised position.

15. A container according to claim 1, wherein the width of each inner frame side panel between the respective inner frame side panel fold line and the inner frame side panel back edge is substantially the same as a width of the box portion side walls between an inner surface of the box portion front wall and an inner surface of the box portion back wall.

16. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame is formed from a first folded laminar blank and wherein the box portion and the lid portion are both formed from a second folded laminar blank.

17. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a bundle of aerosol-generating articles received within the inner frame between the inner frame front panel and the inner frame back wall.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

Description

[0077] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with respect to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0078] FIG. 1 shows a laminar blank for forming an inner frame in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a laminar blank for forming an inner frame in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0080] FIG. 3 shows part of a reel of laminar blanks for forming inner frames in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0081] FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of an inner frame formed from the laminar blank of FIG. 2;

[0082] FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the inner frame of FIG. 4;

[0083] FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of a container comprising the inner frame of FIGS. 5 and 6, with the lid portion in a partially open configuration; and

[0084] FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of the container of FIG. 6 with the lid in a fully open configuration.

[0085] FIG. 1 shows a laminar blank 10 for forming an inner frame in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Solid lines represent cut lines and broken lines represent fold lines or scoring lines.

[0086] The laminar blank 10 comprises an inner frame front panel 12, a cut-out portion 14 at a top edge of the inner frame front panel 12 and a tab portion 16 forming a bottom end of the inner frame front panel 12.

[0087] First and second inner frame side panels 18 depend along inner frame side panel fold lines 20 from side edges of the inner frame front panel 12. Cut lines 22 at the top of the inner frame side panel fold lines 20 form ears 24 at the top of the inner frame front panel side edges. When the laminar blank 10 is folded to form an inner frame that is used to form a container for consumer goods, the ears 24 may interact with a lid portion of the container to maintain a desired shape of the lid portion when the lid portion is in a closed position.

[0088] First and second inner frame back panels 26 depend along inner frame back panel fold lines 28 from the first and second inner frame side panels 18. Spaced apart cut lines 30 extending from a back edge of each inner frame side panel 18 position the respective inner frame back panel fold line 28 toward the respective inner frame side panel fold line 20 so that a spacing between each inner frame back panel fold line 28 and the respective inner frame side panel fold line 20 is less than the maximum width of the respective inner frame side panel 18 between the back edge of the inner frame side panel 18 and the inner frame side panel fold line 20.

[0089] First and second inner frame intermediate panels 32 depend along inner frame intermediate panel fold lines 34 from the top edge of the first and second inner frame back panels 26 respectively. First and second inner frame end panels 36 depend along inner frame end panel fold lines 38 from the top edge of the first and second inner frame intermediate panels 32 respectively.

[0090] FIG. 2 shows a laminar blank 100 for forming an inner frame in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The laminar blank 100 is substantially the same as the laminar blank 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 and like reference numerals are used to designate like parts.

[0091] The laminar blank 100 shown in FIG. 2 differs from the laminar blank 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 in the tab portion 116 at the bottom end of the inner frame front panel 12. In particular, the tab portion 116 defines an inner frame bottom panel 117 depending along an inner frame bottom panel fold line 119 from a bottom edge of the inner frame front panel 12, and a third inner frame back panel 121 depending along a third inner frame back panel fold line 123 from a back edge of the inner frame bottom panel 117.

[0092] FIG. 3 shows a portion of a reel 200 of laminar blanks 100 as shown in FIG. 2, the reel of laminar blanks comprising a sheet of cardboard from which multiple laminar blanks 100 are cut. As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the laminar blanks 100 are such that the cut line forming the downstream edge of each laminar blank forms the upstream edge of the adjacent laminar blank. Therefore, multiple laminar blanks 100 can be cut from the sheet material without generating waste material.

[0093] FIGS. 4 and 5 show an inner frame 300 formed from a laminar blank 100 as shown in FIG. 2. Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts.

[0094] The inner frame comprises the inner frame front panel 12, the first and second inner frame side panels 18, the inner frame bottom panel 117, and an inner frame back wall 302. The inner frame back wall 302 comprises a lower portion 304 formed from the first, second and third overlapping inner frame back panels 26, 121. Depending along a fold line from a top edge of the lower portion 304 of the inner frame back wall 302 is an intermediate portion 306 of the inner frame back wall 302, the intermediate portion 306 formed from the first and second overlapping inner frame intermediate panels 32. Depending along a fold line from a top edge of the intermediate portion 306 of the inner frame back wall 302 is an upper portion 308 of the inner frame back wall 302, the upper portion 308 formed from the first and second overlapping inner frame end panels 36.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 5, the position of the first and second inner frame back panel fold lines 28 provides a minimum spacing between the inner frame front panel 12 and the inner frame back wall 302 that is less than the maximum width of each inner frame side panel 18 between the inner frame side panel fold line 20 and the back edge of the inner frame side panel 18.

[0096] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a container 400 comprising the inner frame 300 described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The container 400 comprises a box portion 402 having a box portion front wall 404, first and second box portion side walls 406, a box portion back wall and a box portion bottom wall. The container 400 further comprise a lid portion 408 depending along a hinge line from a top edge of the box portion back wall, the lid portion 408 being movable between an open position and a closed position.

[0097] The inner frame 300 is slidably received within the box portion 402 and the upper portion 308 of the inner frame back wall 302 is adhered to an inner surface of a back wall of the lid portion 408.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 6, which shows the lid portion 408 in a partially open configuration, the inner frame 300 is retained in a lowered positioned within the box portion 402 when the lid is substantially closed. Moving the lid portion 408 into a fully open configuration pulls the inner frame back wall upward and therefore raises the entire inner frame 300 into a raised position, as shown in FIG. 7. Raising the inner frame 300 into the raised position advantageously improves access to a bundle of consumer goods 410 received within the inner frame 300. Raising the inner frame 300 into the raised position may also reveal an indicia 412 provided on the inner frame front panel 12, wherein the indicia 412 is concealed by the box portion front wall 404 when the inner frame 300 is in the lowered position.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 7, the volume occupied by the bundle of consumer goods 410 is less than the entire volume of the container 400. However, the reduced spacing between the inner frame front panel 12 and the inner frame back wall 302 advantageously restricts movement of the bundle of consumer goods 410 within the container 400.