RS56723B1 - Container with adhesive label with adhesive free area - Google Patents

Description

The subject invention relates to packaging for consumer goods containing a sticker. The packaging of the subject invention has a particular application as packaging for elongated consumer goods, such as smoking products.

Smoking products such as cigarettes and cigars are typically packaged in rigid hinged lid boxes containing a box and a lid connected to the box by a hinge line extending along the rear wall of the box. Such hinged lid packages are usually made from a single piece of laminar cardboard. In use, the lid rotates around the hinge line to open the pack and thus access the bundle of smoking products housed in the box.

A bundle of smoking products housed in a box is typically wrapped in an inner liner, or packet, of metallized paper, metal foil, or other flexible sheet material. To access the stack of smoking products in the inner liner, the user needs to remove the perforated top of the liner after first opening the hinged lid package.

It is also known that consumer goods, for example a bundle of smoking products, can be wrapped in an airtight, resealable wrapper. A wrapper covering consumer goods can be inserted into a package with a hinged lid.

For example, EP-A-0 944 539 describes a hinged lid package for smoking products in which the smoking products are provided in a sealed envelope of a layer of protective material having an access opening defined therein. The access opening is covered with a layer with a permanent adhesive surface, which can be used with a layer of protective material to reseal the package after the first opening. A frame over which the cover layer can be pressed is provided in a sealed envelope between the smoking product and the layer of protective material.

EP-A-2366637 describes a package for consumer goods, a package having

characteristics of the preamble of requirements 1 and 6.

WO-A-2008/142540 describes a hinged lid package for smoking products in which the smoking products are enclosed in an inner package with a pull-out opening that is closed by a flap attached to the inner package using a non-drying adhesive on the bottom surface of the flap. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the lower flap of the cover layer is permanently and irremovably bonded to the inner surface of the front wall of the lid so that opening and closing the lid also simultaneously opens and closes the flap. In this embodiment, the flap forms an S-shaped bend when the lid of the hinged lid package is opened. The term "S-shape" is used to refer to a shape that has the shape of a curve with a single inflection point.

Due to the S-shaped fold, at a specific angle when opening and closing the lid, a part of the cover layer may unintentionally come into contact with another part of the cover layer or with the lower edge of the front wall of the cover. Since both parts of the cover layer have a non-drying, reattached adhesive, the parts can be joined together and affect the closure of the cover.

The aim of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages of packaging of the prior art. According to the first embodiment of the subject invention, packaging is provided in accordance with patent claim 1.

By placing such a label, a package with a resealable inner package can be provided, which allows the package to be closed more easily. The package can be closed more easily because the label does not stick to itself, or to the inner surface of the lid, during opening or closing. In addition, a more securely sealed inner package can be provided because the re-adhesive portion of the given label adheres only to the inner package, and therefore can be effectively resealed multiple times.

The label is attached to the inner package so that it is at least partially resealable with a resealable adhesive provided on the inner surface of the label that extends at least around the lower periphery of the access opening of the inner package.

The second inner surface area of the sticker is substantially adhesive-free, wherein the first outer surface area of the sticker is permanently attached to the inner surface of the front wall of the cover of the outer housing, and wherein the second inner surface area of the sticker and the first area of the outer surface of the sticker at least partially overlap each other.

This reduces the forces between the backside of the first outer surface area and the resealable adhesive provided on the first inner surface area. By providing such a label, a package with a resealable inner package can be prepared so that the package can be closed more easily. The package can be closed more easily because the label does not stick to itself, or to the inner surface of the lid, during opening or closing. In addition, a more securely sealed inner package can be provided because the re-adhesive portion of the given label is only adhered to the inner package, and therefore can be effectively resealed multiple times.

The area of the second region of the label is between 100 percent and about 50 percent of the area of the first region of the outer surface of the label. Conveniently, when the second area is smaller than the first area, the label has less tendency to detach from the lid when the package is opened. The height of the second region of the inner surface may be at least about 1 mm, preferably at least about 2 mm, and more preferably at least about 3 mm. The height of the first region of the outer surface of the flap may be at least about 3 mm, preferably at least about 4 mm, and even more preferably at least about 6 mm.

The sticker, which is provided in the first embodiment of the present invention, for closing the access part over the access opening contains an adhesive for multiple closing and opening, so that the sticker can be removed from the surface of the inner package and reattached multiple times. This allows the inner package to be re-opened and re-closed to access consumer goods individually. The adhesive for repeated closing and opening.on the label will preferably provide sufficient adhesion to the label to be reattached at least as many times as there are consumables in the inner package. This allows the user to open and close the inner pack until it is empty.

Suitable resealable adhesives are known to those of ordinary skill in the art and a wide variety of adhesives can be purchased from numerous suppliers. The choice of a suitable adhesive may depend on the material making up the inner package to which the label is attached or re-attached during use.

The label contains a non-adhesive area, where the non-adhesive area corresponds in size to the access opening of the inner package. When the lid is closed with the label attached to the inner package, this non-glue finish covers the access opening of the inner package. This will prevent dust or small particles, such as tobacco waste or other consumer goods waste in the package, from sticking to the sticker. This can happen, for example, if the label comes into contact with consumer goods in the inner packaging.

As an alternative to realizing an adhesive-free area corresponding in size to the access opening of the inner package, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, the access opening of the inner package is defined by one or more lines of weakening in the inner package. One or more lines of attenuation define the access opening of the inner package. By providing an inner package with a designated access opening, the inner package can be more securely closed before the package is first opened. This can extend the shelf life of packaged consumer goods. More preferably, the label includes an additional area of the inner surface of the label that is permanently attached to the access opening of the inner package and bounded by one or more lines of weakening. The access opening of the inner package is preferably partially separated from the rest of the inner package along one or more lines of weakness when the outer housing lid is first opened so that the access portion of the inner package remains attached to the rest of the inner package during successive opening and closing of the outer housing lid. A resealable adhesive provided on the inner surface of the label may extend around substantially the entire perimeter of the access portion of the inner package.

Preferably, the label is permanently attached to the inner package, at least partially. More preferably, the label is permanently attached to the inner package by a connecting edge of the label that abuts the edge of the access portion. Preferably, the joint edge is placed against the background of the top of the inner package.

Preferably, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, the package further comprises an inner frame in the inner package. More preferably, the inner frame is U-shaped and has a front wall and two walls on opposite sides. Alternatively, an inner frame may be provided between the package and the inner package. Conveniently, the large-area inner frame increases the structural strength of the package. The increased strength of the structure provided by the inner frame allows the sticker to be securely closed. This is particularly convenient for later closing operations when the package is no longer completely full. The term "U-shaped" is used to denote a shape comprising three parts, the first and third parts being parallel to each other and extending in the same direction normal to the second part.

When the inner frame is provided between the package and the inner package, the inner frame may contain a cover layer wherein the surface structure of the cover layer is selected so that the adhesive generally does not transfer from the label to the cover layer when the label is attached to the cover layer of the inner frame. For example, the inner frame may contain a cover layer of laminated polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The covering layer can be transparent or metallized. Preventing transfer of adhesive from the sticker to the inner frame has the advantage that dust or small particles, for example so-called "tobacco shorts", will not adhere to the inner frame.

Preferably, the consumer goods are smoking products. However, the packaging may be suitable for perishable goods such as sweets, dry goods and the like.

As used herein, the terms "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "top", "bottom" and "side" refer to the relative positions of parts of the package in accordance with the invention and its components when the package is in an upright position with the outer housing cover in the closed position and the hinge line on the back of the package. When describing packages in accordance with the present invention, these terms are used regardless of the orientation of the package being described. The back wall of the package is the wall that contains the joint line.

The term "hinge line" refers to the line around which the lid can be rotated to open the package. The joint line can be, for example, a bend line or a marked line in the plate that forms the back wall of the package.

The term "longitudinal" refers to the direction from the bottom to the top or vice versa. The term "transverse" refers to the direction normal to the longitudinal direction.

As used herein, the term "height" refers to the dimension of the corresponding portion of the label measured in the longitudinal direction when the label is attached to the inner package. The term "width" refers to the dimension of the corresponding part of the label measured in the transverse direction when the label is attached to the inner package.

Packages according to the invention find particular application as packages for elongated smoking products such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It is understood that by appropriate selection of their dimensions, packages according to the invention can be designed for different numbers of cigarettes of conventional size, king size, super king size, slim or super slim cigarettes. Alternatively, other consumer goods can be packaged.

By an appropriate choice of dimensions, packages according to the invention can be designed to contain a different total number of smoking products, or different settings of smoking products. For example, by an appropriate choice of dimensions, packages according to the invention can be designed to contain a total of between ten and thirty smoking products.

Smoking products can be arranged differently, depending on the total number of smoking products. For example, smoking products can be arranged in a row of six, seven, eight, nine or ten. Alternatively, smoking products can be arranged in two or more rows. Two or more rows may contain the same number of smoking products. For example, smoking products can be arranged in: two rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten, three rows of five or seven, or four rows of four, five or six. Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rows containing different smoking product numbers. For example, smoking products can be arranged in: row of five and row of six (5-6); row of six and row of seven (6-7); row of seven and row of eight (7-8); middle row of five and two outer rows of six (6-5-6); middle row of five and two outer rows of seven (7-5-7); middle row of six and two outer rows of five (5-6-5); middle row of six and two outer rows of seven (7-6-7), middle row of seven and two outer rows of six (6-7-6); middle row of nine and two outer rows of eight (8-9-8); or middle row of six with one outer row of five and one outer row of seven (5-6-7).

Packages according to the present invention may contain smoking products of the same type or brand, or of different types and brands. In addition, smoking products without filters and smoking products with different filters may be included, as well as smoking products of different lengths (for example, between about 40 mm and about 180 mm), diameters (for example, between about 4 mm and about 9 mm). Additionally, smoking products can vary in flavor strength, drag resistance, and overall particle delivery. Preferably, the dimensions of the package are adjusted to the length of the smoking product and the arrangement of the smoking product. Typically, the outer dimensions of the package are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle or bundles of smoking products contained in the package.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Drawing 1 represents a package that does not form part of the invention whose protection is sought;

Drawing 2 shows a side view of the package of drawing 1 with the lid open;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the package of Figure 1 with the lid closed;

Figure 4 shows the inner surface of the sticker used in the package;

Figure 5 shows the outer surface of the sticker shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a side view of a package according to the invention, with the lid in the open position;

Figure 7 shows a side view of the package of Figure 6 with the lid closed; Figure 8 shows the inner surface of the label used in the package of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 shows the outer surface of the sticker shown in Figure 8.

The hinged lid package 100 shown in Figure 1, which does not form part of the claimed invention, is a rectangular parallelepiped and includes a lower box 102 and an upper lid 104 hinged to the box 102 along a hinge line extending substantially horizontally along the rear wall of the package 100. Figure 1 shows the hinged lid package 104 in the open position. A bundle of cigarettes (not shown) is placed in a box 102 of a package 100. The bundle is wrapped in an inner package 106, described in more detail in the text that follows. The overall size and construction of the box 102 and lid 104 of the package 100 is substantially the same as a standard hinged lid cigarette package.

The box 102 has a front wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a back wall, and a bottom of the box. The top of the box 102 is open to provide an upper opening through which the cigarettes can be removed.

When the package in the upright position is opened, the cigarettes contained in the box 102 can be removed from the upper end of the package 100.

The cover 104 has a front wall, a left side exit, a right side wall, a rear wall and a cover top wall. When the package 100 is closed, the edges of the walls of the lid 104 abut the edges of the walls of the box 102 along the line of contact. In the closed position, the walls of the cover 104 thus form an extension of the corresponding walls of the box 102 to define the walls of the package 100.

The inner frame (not shown) is placed inside the inner package 106 of the package 100. The inner frame includes the front wall of the inner frame, the left side wall and the right side wall of the inner frame which are connected to the inner surface of the front wall of the inner package, the left side wall of the inner package, respectively to the right side wall of the inner package. The front wall of the inner package includes a rectangular cutout at the top of the free edge, to facilitate the removal of cigarettes from the box 102. The rectangular cutout corresponds substantially to the front wall portion of the access opening in the inner package. The walls of the inner frame extend above the upper edges of the box 102 .

Before the first opening, the package 100 is wrapped with an outer wrapper (not shown) made of transparent film, in a conventional manner.

The inner package 106 includes a cutout through which the cigarettes can be removed. When the inner package of cigarettes is in place within the box, the cutout is placed in the open, upper portion of the box 102.

A rectangular, self-adhesive label 108 is attached to the outer surface of the inner package such that the label 108 covers a cutout defining the access opening of the inner package 106. The free end 110 of the label 108 is permanently attached to a portion of the inner surface of the lid 104. The label 108 includes a reusable adhesive area 112 on the inner surface of the label 108, which overlaps the inner package generally about rim of the access opening. When the lid is closed the reusable adhesive area 112 forms a seal between the label 108 and the inner package 106.

In addition, the label 108 is attached to the inner package at the top, rear edge of the inner package using a permanent adhesive tape. This provides a hinge line around which the label can be rotated to open and close the inner package.

In order to access the cigarettes in the inner package, the hinge line is moved from the closed to the open position shown in drawing 1. When the lid is moved from the closed position, the sticker 108 is peeled from the inner package 106 because the free edge 110 of the sticker 108 is permanently attached to the lid, thus opening a access hole in the inner package through which one or more cigarettes can be removed.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the package 100 with the lid 104 open. As previously described, the label 108 is permanently attached using an adhesive 200 to the interior surface of the lid 104 substantially near the bottom edge of the lid. The portion 202 placed adjacent to the adhesive portion 200 is substantially adhesive-free. A non-adhesive portion is provided to prevent the sticker from adhering to the inner surface of the lid in the area of the lower edge of the lid. By preventing the sticker from sticking to the lid, the package can be opened and closed more easily.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the package 100 with the lid 104 closed. As can be seen, the portion of the label 200 which is permanently adhered to the inner surface of the lid is bent substantially 180 degrees from the inner package. Label 108 is shown attached to inner package 106 .

Figure 4 shows a sticker 108. Part 200 is provided with a permanent adhesive so that the bottom edge of the sticker can be permanently attached to the inner surface of the lid 104 as described earlier. The portion 202 is substantially adhesive-free, and is adjacent to the permanently adhered portion 200. Alternatively, the portion 200 may be made non-adhesive to ensure that it does not adhere to the inner surface of the lid. The reusable adhesive portion 112, previously described, is shown surrounding the periphery of the portion 400. The reusable adhesive portion 112 is configured to repeatedly adhere to the inner package around the access opening to ensure closure of the inner package. Part 400 is provided with a permanent adhesive adapted to permanently attach the label to the access opening of the inner package. The access opening is, before the first opening of the package, connected to the inner package by lines of weakening, such as perforations, fold lines or scored lines. In particular, linear attenuations are provided on the left side, right side and bottom side of the access opening when the package is viewed from the front with the lid on top. The label is permanently attached to the access opening so that when the package is first opened, the access part is separated from the inner package along the lines of weakening, but remains attached to the inner package along the hinge line formed at the upper end of the back of the inner package.

Figure 5 shows the outer surface of the label 108. As can be seen the surface 500 is non-adhesive.

In this sticker, the height of the non-adhesive part is less than the height of the permanent adhesive part 610. The height of the non-adhesive part is about 3 mm, and the height of the permanent adhesive part is about 4 mm. The relative dimensions of the non-adhesive part and the permanent adhesive part of the sticker are such that the repeatedly adhesive part does not touch the inner surface of the lid when the lid is open. In addition, the relative dimensions are such that the multiple adhesive portion encloses the surface surrounding the access portion of the inner package.

The package 600, in accordance with the invention, shown in Figure 6 has a similar construction to the package 100 shown in Figures 1 through 3 as described earlier. The package 600 has a box 602 and a lid 604 hinged to the box 602 by a hinge line extending substantially horizontally along the rear wall of the package 600. However, the inner package 606 is provided with an alternative label 608. In this alternative, a portion 610 of the outer surface of the label 608 is permanently adhered to the inner surface of the lid 604. Part 612 of this inner surface of the label 608 is substantially free of adhesive. Similar to the non-adhesive portion 202 found on the label 108 as described earlier, the non-adhesive portion 612 is such that the label does not stick to itself when the lid is opened. The package can therefore be opened and closed more easily.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the package 600 with the lid 604 closed. As can be seen in this embodiment, the label portion 610 which is permanently attached to the inner surface of the lid is not bent relative to the inner package. Label 108 is shown as multi-fold adhesive to inner package 606.

Similar to the package 100 described earlier, the inner frame (not shown) is placed inside the inner package 606 of the package 600. The inner frame includes the front wall of the inner frame, the left side wall and the right side wall of the inner frame which are connected to the inner surface of the front wall of the inner package, the left side wall of the inner package, and the right side wall of the inner package. The front wall of the inner frame includes a rectangular cutout at the top of the free edge, to facilitate the removal of cigarettes from the boxes e602. The rectangular cutout essentially corresponds to the front wall portion of the access opening in the interior package. The walls of the inner frame extend above the top edges of the box 602 .

Before the first opening, the package 600 is wrapped with an outer wrapper (not shown) made of transparent film, in a conventional manner.

The inner package 606 includes a cutout through which the cigarettes can be removed. When the inner pack of cigarettes is in place within the box, the cutout is placed in the open, upper portion of the box 602.

Figure 8 shows a label 608. The portion 612 is substantially non-adhesive, and is located near the bottom edge of the label 608. Alternatively, the portion 612 can be made non-adhesive to ensure that it does not stick to itself when the lid is opened. The reusable adhesive portion 800 is shown as the portion surrounding the periphery of the portion 802. The reusable adhesive portion 800 is configured to repeatedly adhere the inner package label 606 around the access opening to provide closure of the inner package. Part 802 is provided with a permanent adhesive adapted to permanently attach the label to the access portion of the inner package. The access portion is, before the first opening of the package, connected to the inner package by lines of weakening, such as perforations. Specifically, lines of weakness are provided on the left side, right side and bottom side of the access opening when the package is viewed from the front with the lid on top. The label is permanently attached to the access opening so that when the package is first opened, the access part is separated along the lines of weakening, but remains attached to the inner package along the hinge line formed on the upper edge of the back of the inner package.

Figure 9 shows the outer surface of the label 608. As can be seen, a permanently adhered portion 610 is provided on the outer surface of the label. The rest of the outer surface of the 900 sticker is without glue.

The height of the part without glue is less than the height of the permanently glued part 610. The height of the part without glue is about 3 mm, and the height of the permanently glued part is about 6 mm. The relative dimensions of the non-adhesive part and the permanent adhesive part of the sticker are such that the elastic properties of the sticker material prevent the adhesive part from repeatedly touching itself when the lid is open.

Packages 100 and 600 may be filled and assembled using conventional apparatus and methods, modified to include the step of applying a label 108 , 608 over an access opening of the inner package 106 , 606 .

Claims (9)

PATENT REQUIREMENTS: 1. Packaging (600) for consumer goods containing: outer housing containing: box (602); and a lid (604) hinged to the box (602) along a hinge line extending across the back wall of the package, the lid rotatable about the hinge line between a closed position and an open position; an inner package (606) of consumer goods within an outer casing containing an access opening through which the consumer goods can be removed; and sticker (608) covering the access opening of the inner package (606) and extending beyond the rim of the access opening of the inner package (606), wherein the label (608) is at least partially attached to the inner package (606) so that it can be repeatedly sealed with a multi-use adhesive provided on a first region (800) of the inner surface of the label (608) that extends at least around the lower periphery of the access opening of the inner package (606); the second region (612) of the inner surface of the sticker (608) is substantially free of adhesive, wherein the first region (610) of the outer surface of the sticker is permanently attached to the inner surface of the front wall of the cover (604) of the outer housing, wherein the first region (610) of the outer surface of the sticker (608) is located on the lower edge of the outer surface of the sticker (608); the second region (612) of the inner surface of the label (608) and the first region (610) of the outer surface of the label (608) at least partially overlap; characterized in that the area of the second area (612) of the sticker (608) is between 100 percent and about 50 percent of the area of the first area (610) of the outer surface of the sticker (608); and the height of the second non-adhesive region (612) of the inner surface of the label (108; 608) is less than the height of the first region (610) of the outer surface of the label which is permanently attached to the cover (604) of the outer housing. 2. A package (600) according to any preceding claim, wherein the access opening of the inner package (606) is defined by one or more lines of weakness in the inner package (606). 3. The package (600) according to claim 2, wherein the label (608) comprises an additional area of the inner surface of the label (608) permanently attached to a portion of the inner package (606) bounded by one or more lines of weakness. 4. A package (600) according to any preceding claim, wherein the first region (610) of the inner surface of the label (608) extends substantially around the entire circumference of the access opening of the inner package (608). 5. A package (600) according to any preceding claim, wherein the label (608) is partially permanently attached to the inner package (606). 6. The package (600) according to claim 5, wherein the label (608) is permanently attached to the inner package (606) by a connecting edge of the label (608) near the edge of the access portion, the connecting edge being positioned toward the rear of the top of the inner package. 7. A package (600) according to any preceding claim, further comprising an inner frame in an inner package (606). 8. A package (600) according to claim 7, wherein the inner frame is a U-shaped inner frame comprising a front wall and a pair of opposite side walls. 9. Packaging (600) according to any preceding claim, wherein the consumer goods are cigarettes.