[0001] The present invention relates to a novel hinge lid container, which finds particular
application as a container for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes.
[0002] It is known to package elongate smoking articles and other consumer goods in containers
formed from folded laminar blanks. Elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and
cigars, are commonly sold in hinge lid packs having a box portion for housing the
smoking articles and a lid portion connected to the box portion about a hinge line
extending across the rear wall of the container. Such packs are typically constructed
from one-piece laminar cardboard blanks. In use, the lid portion is pivoted about
the hinge line to open the pack and so gain access to the smoking articles held in
the box portion.
[0003] Graphics and text are typically applied to the exterior of packaging for consumer
goods in order to communicate information to the consumer. However, standard hinge
lid cigarette packs are relatively small in size and have a limited visible exterior
surface area for displaying such information. It is known for manufacturers to try
to increase the amount of information communicated to the consumer on hinge lid cigarette
packs by providing additional surfaces on which the information may be printed. This
has been achieved, for example, by incorporating additional panels, or coupons into
the container. Such panels and coupons may be integral to the container, or alternatively
may be incorporated separately within the container.
[0004] It has also been proposed to provide hinge lid packs for smoking articles having
an increased internal surface area for the printing of indicia and graphics. For example,
WO-A-03/078274 discloses a hinge lid pack for smoking articles wherein an increased internal surface
area is provided by means of an inner frame and alternatively or in addition, by means
of the inward facing surface of the front wall of the lid.
[0005] It would be desirable to provide a hinge lid container for smoking articles that
has a greater internal surface area for the display of consumer information than typical
hinge lid cigarette packs, without substantially increasing the overall size of the
container, or the amount of material required to manufacture it. In addition, it would
be desirable to provide a hinge lid container for smoking articles having a larger,
uninterrupted space for the display of consumer information on the lid portion of
the container. It would also be desirable to provide such a hinge lid container without
compromising on the strength or rigidity of the container.
[0006] It would further be desirable to provide a novel hinge lid container having a greater
internal surface area, but which can be produced with minimal or no modification to
existing packaging machinery.
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a container having a front wall,
a rear wall and opposed side walls extending therebetween, the container comprising:
a box portion; and a lid portion hinged to the box portion along a hinge line extending
across the rear wall of the container, wherein at each side wall of the container,
the angle φ between the front edge of the side wall of the lid portion and the lower
edge thereof is greater than the acute angle θ defined between the rear edge of the
side wall and a straight line extending between a first point ("point A") where the
hinge line meets the side wall and a second point ("point B") where the upper edge
of a front wall of the box portion meets the side wall. Containers according to the
invention find particular application as packs for smoking articles, such as cigarettes.
[0008] Preferably, the angle φ is at least 10 degrees greater than the angle θ, more preferably
at least 15 degrees. Preferably, the angle φ is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees,
more preferably between 60 degrees and 90 degrees.
[0009] Preferably, the angle θ is less than 60 degrees, more preferably between 35 degrees
and 60 degrees and particularly preferably between 35 degrees and 45 degrees.
[0010] The terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "side" and other terms used to describe
relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer
to the container in an upright position. When the container in the upright position
is open, the smoking articles contained in the box portion may be removed from the
upper end of the container.
[0011] The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which the lid portion may be pivoted
in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a
score line in the panel forming the rear wall of the container. Alternatively, a hinge
line may be a fold line or a score line in a piece of material connecting the rear
wall of the lid portion to the rear wall of the box portion. Such a piece of material
may be, for example, a label that is permanently or removably attached to the rear
wall of the lid portion and the rear wall of the box portion. Preferably, the hinge
line is positioned along the rear or side wall of the container, at a level below
the upper edge thereof.
[0012] Typically, in a standard hinge lid cigarette pack, the straight line extending between
point A and point B, as defined above, coincides with the straight line of abutment
in the side wall of the container along which the lower edges of the side walls of
the lid portion abut the upper edges of the side walls of the box portion. The line
of abutment is therefore also at an angle of θ to the rear edge of the side wall of
the container. In a typical hinge lid cigarette pack, the angle θ is approximately
60 degrees.
[0013] Throughout the present specification, the term "line of abutment" is used to describe
the line along which the free edges of the walls of the lid portion of a container
according to the present invention abut the free edges of the walls of the box portion
when the container is closed.
[0014] In a typical hinge lid cigarette pack, the angle θ and the angle φ are substantially
the same as each other, both being approximately 60 degrees. In contrast, in containers
according to the invention, the angle φ is greater than the angle θ, preferably by
at least 10 degrees. If the front and rear edges of each side wall of the container
are substantially parallel, the difference in these angles can be achieved through
the provision of a non-linear line of abutment between point A and point B. The line
of abutment may be, for example, curved or wavy or may comprise two or more curved
or straight portions.
[0015] Preferably, the angle θ in containers according to the present invention is less
than 60 degrees and thereby smaller than that of a standard hinge lid pack. By decreasing
the angle θ of containers according to the invention below 60 degrees, it is possible
to obtain containers with a lid portion having a longer front wall than is typically
provided in hinge lid cigarette packs. The "length" of the front wall is considered
to be the vertical height of the wall when the container is upright and in a closed
position.
[0016] The exterior surface area of containers according to the invention may not necessarily
be greater than the exterior surface area of a typical hinge lid cigarette pack. However,
the surface area of the front wall of the lid portion of containers according to the
invention is greater than in a typical hinge lid cigarette pack. Therefore, a greater
internal surface area becomes visible to the consumer when the lid portion is opened.
This internal surface area includes, for example, the surfaces of the inner frame
(if present), the surfaces of any other packaging of the smoking articles within the
container, and the internal surfaces of the lid portion. Additional consumer information
may be provided on this additional internal surface area, which becomes visible when
the lid portion is opened. Furthermore, the surface area of the front face of the
lid portion is greater than that of a standard hinge lid pack. Therefore a greater,
uninterrupted space for consumer information is provided on the lid portion.
[0017] Preferably, in containers according to the present invention, the ratio of the length
of the front wall of the lid portion to the length of the front wall of the box portion
is above 30:60, which is the ratio of these lengths in a typical hinge lid cigarette
pack.
[0018] Although it may be desirable to minimise the angle θ in order to increase the visible
internal surface area of containers according to the invention, it is also preferable
if the angle φ is as high as possible. This is because the larger the angle φ, the
stronger and more durable the lower portion of the side walls of the lid portion become.
Furthermore, the larger the angle φ, the more rigid the lower section of the lid portion
becomes.
[0019] It is particularly preferable if the angle α defined between the line of abutment
extending across the side wall of the container and the rear edge of the side wall
of the box portion of the container is also maximised. By increasing the angle α,
the increased strength and durability described above with reference to the angle
φ are also obtained for the upper portion of the side walls of the box portion. Depending
on the shape of the line of abutment between point A and point B, the angle α may
be the same as, or different to the angle φ.
[0020] The present invention provides containers in which the form of the line of abutment
between point A and point B may be varied such that the angle θ can be kept relatively
low, whilst the angles φ and α can be similar to, or greater than the corresponding
angles in a known hinge lid packs. The strength and rigidity of containers according
to the invention need not, therefore, be compromised in order to obtain the greater
internal surface area.
[0021] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the free edges of the lid portion
abut the free edges of the box portion such that the line of abutment extending between
point A and point B comprises at least two linear portions, extending at different
angles to each other. The term "linear" is used herein to describe a substantially
straight line.
[0022] Particularly preferably, the line of abutment comprises a first linear portion extending
along a vertical edge of the side wall of the container and a second linear portion
extending between that edge and the opposed vertical edge of the side wall.
[0023] In a first preferred embodiment, the first linear portion of the line of abutment
extends substantially vertically from point A along the rear edge of the side wall
of the container.
[0024] In a second preferred embodiment, the first linear portion of the line of abutment
extends substantially vertically along the front edge of the side wall of the container
from point B to the point where the second portion meets the front wall of the container.
[0025] In alternative embodiments, the line of abutment comprises at least two linear portions,
both extending across the side wall of the container between the rear edge of the
side wall of the container and the front edge thereof.
[0026] If desired, the corner at which the first linear portion meets the second linear
portion may be bevelled, or rounded.
[0027] Preferably, each side wall of the container is formed from an inner wall and an overlying
outer wall. The line of abutment extending along the inner wall between point A and
point B may be different to, or the same as the line of abutment extending along the
outer wall. Preferably, the line of abutment extending along the inner wall between
point A and point B is the same shape as the line of abutment extending along the
outer wall, but is vertically offset therefrom. A vertical offset may, advantageously,
be employed to strengthen the rear wall of the box portion and the front wall of the
lid portion.
[0028] The line of abutment between the lower edge of the front wall of the lid portion
and the upper edge of the front wall of the box portion is preferably a straight,
substantially horizontal line. The front wall of the box portion may include a cut
out at the upper edge thereof to expose the inner packaging underneath. Alternatively,
or in addition, the front wall of the lid portion may include a cut out at the lower
edge thereof. Where a cut out is provided, there will typically be no abutment of
the lower edge of the lid portion with the upper edge of the box portion and the line
of abutment will therefore be broken. The provision of a cut out may assist the consumer
in opening the lid portion.
[0029] Preferably, the container further comprises an inner frame mounted within the box
portion, wherein the inner frame extends above the upper edges of at least the front
wall of the box portion of the container. The inner frame is therefore visible to
the consumer when the lid portion is opened. The front wall of the inner frame may
be printed with indicia which may be the same as, or different to the indicia printed
on the front wall of the box portion. Alternatively, or in addition, the front wall
of the inner frame may be cut into a distinctive shape, for example, to reflect the
branding of the consumer goods.
[0030] Preferably, the front wall of the inner frame is provided with a cut out portion
at the upper edge thereof. This enables more convenient access to the consumer goods
within the container, without significantly reducing the surface area of the front
wall of the inner frame.
[0031] Alternatively, or in addition to an inner frame, the smoking articles within the
container may be wrapped with a printed wrapper, which is visible above the upper
edge of the front wall of the box portion and the front wall of the inner frame (if
present) when the container is open.
[0032] Advantageously, it is possible to produce containers according to the invention using
existing machinery which has been only slightly modified to take into account the
different length of the front face of the lid portion. The only fold which is required
to be in a different position to a standard hinge lid pack is that along the lower
edge of the front face of the lid portion.
[0033] Containers according to the invention may be substantially rectangular parallelepipedal
in shape, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively,
the box portion or the lid portion or both the box portion and the lid portion of
containers according to the invention may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal
edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse
edges, or combinations thereof. For example, by scoring in a known manner a laminar
blank from which the box portion and the lid portion of the container are erected,
a "rounded-corner" pack of cigarettes or other smoking articles according to the invention
may be produced.
[0034] The container may be formed from any suitable materials including, but not limited
to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the
container is formed from a single folded laminar blank, more preferably from a folded
laminar cardboard blank. Preferably, the cardboard has a weight of between about 100
grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre.
[0035] Containers according to the invention find particular application as packs for elongate
smoking articles such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be
appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions thereof, containers
according to the invention may be designed for different numbers of conventional size,
king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes.
[0036] Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to
the invention may also be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles,
or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through an appropriate
choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed
to hold a total of ten, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one
or twenty five smoking articles. These may be arranged in different collations, depending
on the total number of smoking articles. For example, the smoking articles may be
arranged in one row of six, seven, eight, nine or ten; two rows of five, six, seven,
eight, nine or ten; two rows of 5-6, 6-7, 7-8; three rows of 5-5-5, 5-6-5, 6-5-6,
5-6-7, 6-7-6, 7-5-7, 7-6-7, 7-7-7, 8-9-8; four rows of four, five or six.
[0037] The length, width and depth of containers according to the invention may be such
that, in the closed position, the resultant overall dimensions of the container are
similar to the dimensions of a typical disposable hinge-lid pack of twenty cigarettes.
[0038] The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed,
debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans
and other consumer information and indicia.
[0039] Where the box portion of a container according to the present invention contains
a bundle of cigarettes or other elongate smoking articles, the smoking articles are
preferably wrapped in an inner liner of, for example, metal foil or metallised paper.
[0040] Once filled, containers according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise
over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene
in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped,
the over wrapper may include a tear tape. The tear tape is preferably positioned around
the container below the lower edge of the front wall of the lid portion, such that
once the tear tape has been removed, the lid portion is free to be rotated about the
hinge line. Alternatively, the tear tape may be provided lengthways around the container.
[0041] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which:
Figures 1 to 4 show front perspective views of open hinge lid containers according
to first to fourth embodiment of the present invention, respectively; and
Figures 1a, 2a and 4a show schematic partial side views of the containers of Figures
1, 2 and 4, respectively, illustrating the angles θ, φ and α. The line of abutment
between A and B is shown in each of figures 1a, 2a and 4a as a bold line. Figures
1a, 2a and 4a are not drawn to scale.
[0042] The hinge lid container 10 shown in Figure 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped and
comprises a lower box portion 12 and an upper lid portion 14 that is hinged to the
lower box portion 12 along a hinge line extending substantially horizontally along
the rear wall of the container. The level of the hinge line is indicated in Figure
1 at point "A".
[0043] The box portion 12 has a front wall 16, a left side wall 18, a right side wall, a
rear wall, and a bottom wall. The rear wall of the box portion 12 extends above the
side walls thereof so that the upper edge of the rear wall is offset from the upper
free edges of the side walls. The upper edge of the rear wall of the box portion is
defined by the hinge line.
[0044] The lid portion 14 has a front wall 16a, a left side wall 18a, a right side wall,
a rear wall and an upper wall. The side walls 18a of the lid portion extend beyond
the rear wall thereof so that the lower free edge of each side wall is offset from
the lower edge of the rear wall (as defined by the hinge line). This offset corresponds
to the offset between the upper edges of the rear wall and side walls of the box portion
12.
[0045] When the container is closed, the free edges of the walls of the lid portion 14 abut
the free edges of the walls of the box portion 12 along a line of abutment. In the
closed position, the walls of the lid portion 14 therefore form extensions of the
corresponding walls of the box portion 12 to define the walls of the container 10.
[0046] As shown in Figures 1 and 1a, the line of abutment between the point A and the point
B consists of two connected straight line portions. As defined above, point A is where
the hinge line meets the side wall of the container 10 and point B is where the upper
edge of the front wall 16 of the box portion 12 meets the side wall. A first portion
22 extends from point A vertically downwards along the rear edge of the side wall
of the container. A second portion 24 extends from the end of the first portion along
the side wall to point B, at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the rear edge
of the side wall of the box portion. This corresponds to angle α. The angle θ in the
container 10 is approximately 45 degrees, while the angle φ is approximately 60 degrees.
The angle φ is therefore substantially the same as the angle α. The line of abutment
between point A and point B is shown in bold in Figure 1 a.
[0047] The ratio of the length of the front wall 16a of the lid portion 142 to the length
of the front wall 16 of the box portion 14 is approximately 40:60. The front wall
18a of the lid portion 14 is longer relative to the overall length of the container
10 than the front wall of the lid portion of a typical hinge lid cigarette pack.
[0048] The box portion 12 and the lid portion 14 are formed together from a single cardboard
blank. Each of the opposed side walls of the box portion 12 and the lid portion 14
are formed from an inner panel and an outer panel, affixed to the inner panel. The
inner panel of each side wall is substantially the same size and shape as the respective
outer panel. As can be seen from Figure 1, the panels directly overlie each other
with their free edges substantially aligned, such that the inner wall is barely visible.
[0049] An inner cardboard frame 20 is mounted in the box portion 12 against the inner walls
thereof. The inner frame is formed from a separate cardboard blank to the box portion
12 and the lid portion 14 and has a front wall, a left side wall and a right side
wall. The front wall includes a cut out at the upper edge thereof, so that the articles
within the container can be more easily removed. The walls of the inner frame 20 extend
above the upper edges of the front 16 and side 18 walls of the box portion into space
covered by the lid portion 14 when the container 10 is closed. The frictional engagement
between the inner frame 20 and the inner walls of the lid portion 14 ensures that
the lid portion 14 remains in a closed position until a positive force is applied
in order to open the container by pivoting the lid portion 14 about the hinge line.
The frictional engagement may be reinforced by the provision of retention means on
the inner frame 20, which engage with the inner walls of the lid portion 14.
[0050] The hinge lid container 30 shown in Figure 2 is a rectangular parallelepiped and
comprises a lower box portion 32 and an upper lid portion 34 that is hinged to the
lower box portion 32 along a hinge line extending substantially horizontally along
the rear wall of the container. The level of the hinge line is indicated in Figure
2 at point "A".
[0051] The box portion 32 has a front wall 36, a left side wall 38, a right side wall, a
rear wall, and a bottom wall. The side walls of the box portion extend above the front
wall thereof so that the upper free edges of the side walls are offset from the upper
free edge of the front wall.
[0052] The lid portion 34 has a front wall 36a, a left side wall 38a, a right side wall,
a rear wall and an upper wall. The front wall 36a of the lid portion 34 extends beyond
the side walls 38a thereof so that the lower edge of the front wall 36a is offset
from the lower edges of the side walls 38a. The offset corresponds to the offset between
the upper free edges of the front wall 36 and side walls 38 of the box portion 32.
[0053] When the container 30 is closed, the free edges of the walls of the lid portion 34
abut the free edges of the corresponding walls of the box portion 32 along a line
of abutment. In the closed position the walls of the lid portion 34 therefore form
extensions of the corresponding walls of the box portion 32 to define the walls of
the container 30.
[0054] As shown in Figures 2 and 2a, the line of abutment between the point A and the point
B consists of two connected straight line portions. As defined above, point A is where
the hinge line meets the side wall of the container and point B is where the upper
edge of the front wall 36 of the box portion 32 meets the side wall. A first portion
42 extends from point A along the side wall of the container to the front edge thereof,
at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the rear edge of the side wall. This angle
corresponds to angle α. A second portion 44 extends from the end of the first portion
42 downwardly along the front edge of the side wall of the container to point B. The
angle θ in the container 10 is approximately 45 degrees, while the angle φ is approximately
60 degrees. The angle φ is therefore substantially the same as the angle α. The line
of abutment between point A and point B is shown in bold in Figure 2a.
[0055] The ratio of the length of the front wall 36a of the lid portion 34 to the length
of the front wall 36 of the box portion 32 is approximately 40:60. The front wall
38a of the lid portion 34 is longer relative to the overall length of the container
30 than the front wall of the lid portion of a typical hinge lid cigarette pack.
[0056] The box portion 32 and the lid portion 34 are formed together from a single cardboard
blank, as described above in relation to the container 10 shown in Figure 1.
[0057] An inner frame 20 is mounted in the box portion 32 and is of substantially the same
construction as the inner frame 20 described above in relation to the container 10
shown in Figure 1.
[0058] The hinge lid container 50 shown in Figure 3 is of a similar construction to that
shown in Figure 1 and described above. However, unlike in the container 10 shown in
Figure 1, the inner and outer panels of the side walls of both the lid portion 54
and the box portion 52 are of a different length to each other.
[0059] As can be seen in Figure 3, the inner panels 60 of the side walls 58 of the box portion
52 extend above the outer panels 62 thereof so that the upper free edges of the inner
panel 60 and the outer panel 62 are offset from each other. The upper free edge of
the inner panel 60 is parallel to the upper free edge of the outer panel 62 and meets
the hinge line at the rear edge of the side wall of the container. The portion of
the inner panel 60 extending above the outer panel 62 strengthens the portion of the
rear wall of the box portion between the upper free edge of the outer panel 62 and
the hinge line.
[0060] Conversely, the outer panels of the side walls 58a of the lid portion 54 extend below
the inner panels thereof so that the lower free edges of the inner panel and the outer
panel are offset from each other. The lower free edges of the inner panel are indicated
by a dashed line in Figure 3. The offset in the lid portion 54 corresponds to the
offset in the box portion 52, so that when the container 50 is closed the lower edges
of the panels of each side wall 58a of the lid portion abut the upper edges of the
corresponding panels 60,62 of the side walls 58 of the box portion 52.
[0061] The container 70 shown in Figure 4 is a rectangular parallelepiped and comprises
a lower box portion 72 and an upper lid portion 74 that is hinged to the lower box
portion along a hinge line extending substantially horizontally along the rear wall
of the container. The level of the hinge line is indicated in Figure 4 at point "A".
[0062] The box portion 72 has a front wall 76, a left side wall 78, a right side wall, a
rear wall and a bottom wall. The front wall 76 includes a rectangular cut out portion
90 in the upper edge thereof. As in the container 50 described above and shown in
Figure 3, the upper edge of the inner panel of each side wall 78 of the box portion
72 is offset from the upper edge of the outer panel thereof.
[0063] The lid portion 74 has a front wall 76a, a left side wall 78a, a right side wall,
a rear wall and an upper wall. As in the container 50 described above and shown in
Figure 3, the lower edge of the inner panel of each side wall 78a of the lid portion
74 is offset from the lower edge of the outer panel thereof.
[0064] When the container 70 is closed, the free edges of the walls of the lid portion 74
abut the free edges of the walls of the box portion 72 along a line of abutment. In
the closed position the walls of the lid portion 74 therefore form extensions of the
corresponding walls of the box portion 72 to define the walls of the container 70.
[0065] As shown in Figures 4 and 4a, the line of abutment between the point A and the point
B consists of two connected straight line portions. As defined above, point A is where
the hinge line meets the side wall of the container and point B is where the upper
edge of the front wall 76 of the box portion 72 meets the side wall. A first portion
82 extends from point A along the side wall of the container to a point a short distance
away from the front edge thereof, at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the rear
edge of the side wall. This angle corresponds to angle α. A second portion 84 extends
from the end of the first portion substantially horizontally along the side wall of
the container to point B. As can be seen in Figure 4a, the angle φ is therefore approximately
90 degrees, while the angle θ is approximately 45 degrees. The corner at which the
first 82 and second 84 portions of the line of abutment meets is curved. The line
of abutment between point A and point B is shown in bold in Figure 4a.
[0066] The ratio of the length of the front wall 76 of the box portion 72 to the length
of the front wall 76a of the lid portion 74 is approximately 45:55. The front wall
38a of the lid portion 34 is longer relative to the overall length of the container
30 than the front wall of the lid portion of a typical hinge lid cigarette pack.
[0067] The box portion 72 and the lid portion 74 are formed together from a single cardboard
blank, as described above in relation to the container 10 shown in Figure 1.
[0068] An inner frame 92 is mounted in the box portion 72 and is of substantially the same
construction as the inner frame 20 described above in relation to the container 10
shown in Figure 1. However, as can be seen in Figure 4, the cut out portion of the
inner frame 92 is smaller than that of the inner frame 20 of the container 10 shown
in Figure 1, so that the visible portion of the front wall of the inner frame 92 has
a larger surface area than that of inner frame 20.