[0001] The present invention relates to a hinged-lid type pack. In particular, the invention
relates to hinged lid pack for cigarettes or other consumable products and which may
be folded from a blank made of card or another substantially planar semi -flexible
material capable of being folded to form a boxed shaped container.
[0002] Boxed shaped containers having a hinged lid for containing cigarettes are well known
in the art and numerous different examples have been proposed in the past. These are
often folded from cardboard blanks to form a cardboard pack having a hinged lid which
may be opened to allow access to the contents and closed again to protect the contents
during transport, when in the pocket of a user's garment for example.
[0003] Such cardboard packs may suffer some deformation during use and due to this deformation
and/or due to general disturbance of the pack in use, the lid may tend to at least
partially open at times when the user wishes the lid to remain closed. This can result
in damage to the contents of the pack and can result in the contents of the pack escaping
from the pack in an undesirable manner. This phenomenon may be referred to as "smiling",
where the hinged lid of the pack sits slightly open with respect to the body of the
pack. When carried in a garment, in particular where the pack is a cigarette pack,
loose tobacco contained in the pack can find its way into the user's pocket through
the aperture created by this "smiling" effect. Different methods of attempting to
overcome this "smiling" effect have been proposed in the prior art and it is desirable
to improve the resistance of packs to this "smiling" effect. Further, it is desirable
to provide a pack which gives a user a clear indication of when the lid is in a properly
closed configuration and is therefore less likely to "smile" in the above-described
manner.
[0004] Packs including a lid locking mechanism have been proposed in the past. One such
pack has a tongue mounted to a front wall of the pack which is rotatable about a hinge
at the base of the tongue. The tongue is configured to engage with an engaging part
on the inner front wall of the lid of the pack, which has a gap, the gap being formed
between the inner wall of the lid and a tab folded on to the inner wall. As the lid
of the pack is rocked toward an open position, the tongue enters the gap and resists
the opening of the pack. This prior configuration has some drawbacks, in that the
forces required to disengage the tongue from the gap can create stresses in the hinge
at the base of the tongue, as well as between the inner front wall of the lid and
the tab creating the gap. Further, the prior locking mechanisms only engage once the
lid is partially rocked toward the open position and so only hold the lid partially
closed and do not completely resolve the "smiling" problem. Features of a prior art
mechanism will be discussed in more detail later, in relation to Figure 6A.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a clear need for a container having an improved locking mechanism
for maintaining the lid in a closed configuration.
[0006] In order to solve the problems posed by the prior art, the present invention provides
a hinged lid pack comprising:
a body, having a plurality of side walls, a bottom end and a top end;
a lid for closing an opening of the body, comprising a lid front wall on a side of
the lid substantially opposite a lid hinge connecting the lid to a rear side wall
of the body;
a locking tab connected by a tab hinge to a front side wall of the pack, opposite
the rear side wall of the pack;
an engagement portion, located on an inner side of the lid front wall, for engaging
with the locking tab such that the locking tab can be rotated about the tab hinge
when the lid is rocked over the body;
the locking tab having a base adjacent the tab hinge, a tip distal to the tab hinge,
and sides extending between the base and the tip;
wherein the locking tab and the engagement portion are configured such that the sides
of the locking tab are engageable with the engagement portion so as to prevent a section
of the locking tab from being received in the engagement portion.
[0007] The hinged-lid pack of the present invention has a novel locking mechanism, which
engages more quickly upon closure of the lid of the pack as compared to prior locking
mechanisms and which maintains a positive engagement as well as providing a positive
locking sound to confirm to the user that the locking mechanism has properly engaged.
As compared to prior art locking mechanisms, the lid is consequently held more positively
in a completely closed position. This is advantageous over prior art locking mechanisms
which require the lid to be partially opened before they properly engage. Further,
the locking mechanism of the present invention allows a locking tab of a greater length
than was feasible in the prior art. The locking tab is able to engage with the lid
of the pack at a point between its base and its tip. In use, when a user rocks the
lid about the lid hinge, from a closed position to an open position, the tip pivots
relative to the lid about the point of engagement between the sides of the locking
tab and the engagement portion of the lid, which lies at a point between the base
and the tip of the locking tab. The disengagement of the locking mechanism is therefore
less susceptible to cause damage to the locking tab and/or the lid of the pack on
disengagement, since the locking tab pivots about a point between its base and its
tip. Further, less deformation is caused in the locking tab itself, in the walls of
the pack and in the lid during disengagement of the mechanism and therefore the mechanism
may be repeatedly operated, without causing excessive deformation, damage and weakening
to the structure of the overall pack. This further contributes to avoidance of the
phenomenon of "smiling" after repeated opening and closing operations of the pack.
[0008] The locking tab and the engagement portion may be configured such that the sides
of the locking tab engage with the engagement portion when the lid is in a closed
configuration, which ensures a more immediate engagement and better resistance to
the "smiling" effect than prior art closing mechanisms.
[0009] The locking tab may be located on an upper edge of the front side wall or inner frame
of the pack and connected to it by a fold line, or may be created by a cut provided
in the front side wall or inner frame of the pack.
[0010] The locking tab may be biased away from the front side wall, which assists in providing
immediate engagement of the locking tab with the engagement portion on closing the
lid.
[0011] The engagement portion may be arranged to enable access, for the locking tab, to
a gap located between an engagement portion tab and the inner side of the lid front
wall. Allowing the locking tab access to the gap may provide a more positive locking
effect of the locking mechanism.
[0012] The locking tab may be configured such that at least a part of it may enter the gap
when the lid is rocked from a closed position to a partially open position. This can
increase the locking function of the locking mechanism as the lid is partially opened
to prevent inadvertent opening of the lid.
[0013] The locking tab and engagement portion may be configured such that less than a quarter
of the length of the locking tab may be received in the engagement portion. Allowing
only a quarter of the length of the locking tab to be received in the engagement portion
can reduce the drawbacks described in relation to the prior art.
[0014] The locking tab and engagement portion may be configured such that less than a half
of the length of the locking tab may be received in the engagement portion. Allowing
less than a half of the length of the locking tab to be received in the engagement
portion can further reduce the drawbacks described in relation to the prior art.
[0015] The locking tab and engagement portion may be configured such that less than three
quarters of the length of the locking tab may permitted to be received in the engagement
portion by the configuration of the pack. Allowing less than three quarters of the
length of the locking tab to be received in the engagement portion can further reduce
the drawbacks described in relation to the prior art.
[0016] The locking tab and engagement portion may be configured such that a length of the
locking tab at least equal to two times the thickness of the locking tab is unable
to enter the gap. This configuration, as well as the above configurations, can allow
the benefits of the locking tab being received in the gap to be realised, while reducing
the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0017] The locking tab may have, when the lid is in a closed configuration, at least one
side configured at an angle α relative to a longitudinal axis A of the pack extending
substantially from the bottom end of the pack to the open top end of the pack;
the angle α being greater than an angle of orientation relative to axis A of sides
of the engaging portion which are configured to engage with sides the locking tab.
Providing an angle α greater than an angle of orientation relative to axis A of sides
of the engaging portion which are configured to engage with sides the locking tab
can allow the sides of the locking tab to more effectively and reliably engage with
the engagement portion.
[0018] When the lid is in a closed position, the engagement portion may comprise at least
one side extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the pack, the
axis A extending substantially from the bottom end of the pack to the open top end
of the pack. This configuration can simplify the form of the pack blank, while providing
the advantages of the present invention.
[0019] The engagement portion may have a maximum width at which it may engage with the locking
tab, W
1. The width of the locking tab may vary between the base and the tip, such that the
sides of the locking tab are engageable with the engagement portion at a point where
the width of the locking tab equals W
1. In a preferred embodiment, the locking tab may have a width W
2 at its base and a width W
3 at its tip; the width W
2 may be greater than width W
1; and the width W
3 may be smaller than width W
1.
[0020] The provision of the above dimensions may provide a specific example of a configuration
which provides the benefits of the present invention.
[0021] A blank or set of blanks for forming the pack of the present invention is provided,
as is a method of forming the pack of the present invention by folding the blank or
blanks provided.
[0022] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hinged-lid pack in accordance with the present
invention;
Figure 2 illustrates internal features of the locking mechanism of the pack;
Figure 3 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the inner features of the locking
mechanism of the pack
Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate exemplary alternative arrangements of an engagement
portion of the present invention;
Figure 5 shoes a perspective view of the locking mechanism of the present invention
in a partially opened state;
Figure 6A shows a locking an example of a locking mechanism having certain drawbacks;
Figures 6B shows the locking mechanism of the present invention in a closed configuration;
Figure 6C shows the locking mechanism of the present invention in a partially opened
configuration; and
Figure 7 shows a two-part blank for forming a pack according to the present invention.
[0023] Figure 1 shows a hinged lid pack 1 comprising a body 11 and a lid 12. Body 11 comprises
a plurality of side walls 110, 111, 114, a bottom end wall 112 (not visible) and an
open top end 113. Lid 12 is provided to close the open top end 113 of the body 11.
Lid 12 comprises a lid front wall 121 on the side of the lid substantially opposite
a lid hinge 13 connecting the lid to a rear side wall 114 of the body 11. The lid
further comprises lid side walls 122. Lid rear wall 123 is not essential and the lid
hinge 13 may optionally be formed directly between rear side wall 114 of the pack
and top wall 124 of the lid. A number of intermediate side walls 111 may be disposed
between the front wall 110 and the rear wall 113 of the pack, in any number, to form
a pack of a desired shape. For example, as an alternative to the form illustrated
in figure 1, where a single pair of opposing intermediate side walls 111 is provided
to give the pack a regular box-shaped form, a plurality of intermediate side walls
111 may be provided in order to give the pack a substantially oval-shaped form when
viewed from its bottom wall 112 or looking into the open top end 113 of the body 11.
Other numbers of intermediate side walls 111 may be provided to provide other outer
shapes to the box as appropriate. Front side wall 110 is substantially opposite rear
side wall 114, but need not necessarily be precisely opposite and parallel to rear
side wall 114.
[0024] A locking tab 115 is connected by a tab hinge 119 to a front side wall 110 of the
pack. The front side wall 110 is located substantially opposite the rear side wall
114 of the pack. Front wall 110 is located such that locking tab 115 may engage with
an engagement portion 125, located on an inner side of the lid front wall 121, for
engaging with the locking tab 115. The locking tab has a base adjacent the tab hinge
119 and a tip 116 distal to the hinge. The locking tab 114 also has a first side 117
extending between the base and the tip and a second side 118 extending between the
base adjacent the hinge and the tip 116. Engaging portion 125 is shown in dashed lines,
to illustrate that it is formed on the inner side of lid front wall 121 and is therefore
not directly visible from the outside of the lid shown in Figure 1.
[0025] The dimensions of the base and tip of the locking tab and the corresponding dimensions
of the engagement portion 125 are configured to allow at least the tip 116 of the
tab to be received in the engagement portion, but to prevent the base adjacent the
hinge 119 from being received in the engagement portion, such that the engagement
portion 125 may engage with sides 117 and 118 of the locking tab 115. The locking
tab 115 is biased away from the front wall 110 of the pack, such that when the lid
is closed, the locking tab is biased into the engagement portion 125.
[0026] Figure 2 illustrates inner features of the locking mechanism for the present invention.
Figure 2 presents a view of a pack similar to that shown in Figure 1, with the lid
in a closed configuration and viewed from the front side wall 110 of the pack 1. In
the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locking tab 115 is attached to an inner
frame 11a. Inner frame 11a is optional and the locking tab 115 may be directly hingedly
connected to front side wall 110 if desired. In Figure 2, the features of the inner
frame 11a and its locking tab 115 are shown in dashed lines, to differentiate them
from the features of the front side wall 110, a lid front wall 121 and the engagement
portion 125, which are shown in solid lines. Circles 20 indicate attachment or gluing
points, where the inner frame 11a may be attached to front side wall 110 and where
the engagement portion tab 126 comprising the engagement portion 125 may be glued
to the inner side of the lid front wall 121.
[0027] In the example shown in Figure 2, engagement portion 125 has a width W
1. The width W
1 is measured at the widest point of the engagement portion which may engage with locking
tab 115. The engagement portion 125 may have numerous forms, as will be discussed
in relation to later Figures 4A to 4C. In the particular example illustrated in Figure
2, the engagement portion has two parallel sides running substantially parallel to
an axis A of the pack, extending substantially in a direction extending from bottom
end wall 112 to the open top end 113. These parallel longitudinal sections of the
engagement portion are connected by a substantially perpendicular bottom section at
a bottom of the engagement portion, nearest to the bottom end wall of the pack 112.
Further alternative arrangements of the engagement portion and related examples will
be discussed in relation to Figures 4A, 4B and 4C.
[0028] In Figure 2 it can be seen that the width W
2 of the base of the locking tab 115 is greater than the width W
1 of the engagement portion 125. The tip 116 of the locking tab 115 has a width W
3, which is smaller than width W1 of the engagement portion. Accordingly, as can been
seen in Figure 2, sides 117 and 118 of locking tab 115 can engage with engagement
portion 125 where their edge profiles cross one-another in the figure. The side 117
of locking tab 115 is oriented at an angle α to longitudinal axis A of the pack 1
when the locking tab 115 lies in a plane substantially parallel to axis A. Similarly,
opposite side 118 may be oriented at a same or similar angle to longitudinal axis
A of the pack 1 when the locking tab 115 lies in a plane substantially parallel to
axis A. While the base of the locking tab cannot be received in the engagement portion,
the tip of the locking tab can be received in the engagement portion, such that the
engagement portion may engage with sides 117 and 118 of locking tab 115.
[0029] Figure 3 shows a similar arrangement to that illustrated in Figure 2, with similar
features similarly numbered. In Figure 3, the lid 12 of the pack is in a partially
open configuration and tip 116 of locking tab 115 has partially entered into a gap
created between the lid front wall 121 and the engagement portion tab 126 that forms
the engagement portion 125. In this situation, it can be seen that sides 117 and 118
of the locking tab 115 may engage with the radiused portion 43 of the engagement portion
125. This may only be necessary where the sides 117 and 118 have not sufficiently
engaged with the intersecting points on the parallel side parts of the engagement
portion 41 shown in Figure 2. In the situation shown in Figure 3, the locking tab
is received in the above described gap created between the engagement portion and
the lid front wall 121. As the lid as further opened from this configuration, the
locking tab will rotate around its tab hinge 119 to release the lid into an open position.
[0030] Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate some exemplary alternative arrangements of the engagement
portion 125 suitable for use in the present invention. Figure 4A shows detailed features
of the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3. The engagement portion 125 has two parallel
sides 41, extending substantially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the pack A extending from the bottom end face to the open top end of the pack body
11 when the pack is closed. These engagement portion sides 41 are connected by a substantially
perpendicular bottom edge 42, and radiused corners 43 are provided between sides 41
and the bottom edge 42. As shown in figures 2 and 3, the sides of the locking tab
may engage with either the sides 41 and/or the raduised corners 43 of the engagement
portion.
[0031] Figure 4B shows an alternative arrangement for an engagement portion of the present
invention, where non-parallel sides 44 are provided, which extend outwardly from a
bottom edge 45 connecting the two sides 44. Again, radiused corners 46 are provided
connecting the bottom edge 45 to the sides 44. Width W
1 is measured at the widest point at which the engagement portion of Figure 4B may
engage with the sides 17 and 18 of the locking tab 115. This may generally be the
widest part of the engagement portion which is located along the length of the locking
tab from its base to its tip when the lid is in a closed configuration. W
1 may alternatively or additionally be described as the greatest width of the engagement
portion substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pack body, or
substantially parallel to the axis of the tab hinge 119 of the locking tab 115.
[0032] Figure 4C illustrates a further alternative arrangement for an engagement portion
of the present invention. Here, the engagement portion is an opening 47 in a tab 126
which may be folded to form the engagement portion. In this example, the engagement
portion has sides 48, connected by a bottom edge 49, again connected by radius corners
49a. The sides 48 may be connected at the top edge, opposite the bottom edge 49 to
form an opening in the tab. However, in some arrangements, this top edge can damage
the contents of the pack when the lid is closed and so it may not be desirable to
include this edge.
[0033] In any of the arrangements of Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, the sides 41, 44 and 48 are
arranged at a certain angle relative to the longitudinal axis A of the pack when the
lid is in a closed configuration. Sides 41 in Figure 4A are parallel to this longitudinal
axis A. Sides 44 in Figure 4B are at an angle β from longitudinal axis A. Sides 48
in Figure 4C are at an angle γ from longitudinal axis A. When these angles of orientation
relative to longitudinal axis A (β and γ) are smaller than the angle of orientation
α (shown in Figure 2) of the sides 117 and 118 of the locking tab 115, then the sides
of the engagement portion may cross-over and intersect with the sides of the locking
tab 115. The provision of the radiused corners 43, 46 and 49a may also cause these
radiused portions to engage with sides 117 and 118 of locking tab 115. In any of these
cases, sides of locking tab 115 can engage with the engagement portion 125 in a beneficial
manner as is described herein.
[0034] Figure 5 illustrates a cut-away, perspective view, of the pack of the present invention
in a partially opened state, where a user has partially rocked the lid 12 of the pack
toward an open position and so bottom edge 126a of lid 12 is separated from the top
edge 110a of the pack body 11. In the cut-away view, a portion of lid front wall 121
is removed to show how the engagement portion 125 and the locking tab 115 engage one
another. It can be seen that the locking tab 115 has engaged with the engagement portion
125 at engagement points 51 and 52 along sides 117 and 118 of locking tab 115. The
locking tab has a length L
1, and the engagement points 51 and 52, where the sides of the locking tab engage with
the engagement portion 125, occur at a distance L
2 from the tab hinge 119 of the locking tab. It can be seen that a first portion of
the locking tab 115 between its tip 116 and the engagement points 51 and 52 is received
within the engagement portion 125. A second portion of the locking tab 115, between
its base adjacent the tab hinge 119 and engagement points 51 and 52, is not received
in the engagement portion 125 and is prevented from being so received by at least
a part of its width being greater than that of the engagement portion 125. The geometrical
characteristics of the 2 portions of the locking tab are not essential to the invention.
The engagement of sides 117 and 118 of the locking tab with the engagement portion
125 at engagement points 51 and 52 results in the first portion being received within
the engagement portion 125, and the second portion of the locking tab 115 being prevented
from being received in the engagement portion 125. In this partially opened configuration,
the locking tab is angled away from the front side wall 110 and the further the lid
is opened, the more the locking tab rotates about its tab hinge 119. The locking tab
acts to bias the lid back to a closed configuration when its angle is between around
1 degree to around 90 degrees from the front side wall 110.
[0035] Some benefits of the arrangement of the present invention will now be described with
reference to Figures 6A, 6B and 6C. Figure 6A illustrates a prior art-type arrangement
wherein a locking tab 115 is capable of being entirely received, from its tip down
to is base adjacent its hinge, in a gap 62 formed between an engagement portion tab
126 and a lid front wall 121. It can be seen that the locking tab engages with the
edge 61 of the engagement portion at a point at or very near to tab hinge 119 and
the base of the locking tab. For the lid of the pack to completely open, it is necessary
for the locking tab to be completely disengaged from the engagement portion and the
gap 62 formed between an engagement portion tab 126 and a lid front wall 121. As a
user rocks the lid of the example shown in Figure 6A towards an open position, the
engagement portion 61 will tend to exert significant stresses on tab hinge 119, since
it is difficult for locking tab 115 to rotate out of the gap 62 created between engagement
portion tab 126 and lid front wall 121. The tip 116 of the locking tab has a tendency
to follow the arc described by arrow 63, but the reaction force created by the lid
front wall 121 obstructs this motion and this therefore exerts significant stresses
on tab hinge 119. Accordingly, in the disengaging of the locking tab of Figure 6A
from the engagement portion of Figure 6A, damage may be caused to tab hinge 119, to
lid front wall 121, or to engagement portion 61 and engagement portion tab 126.
[0036] The drawbacks of the arrangement in Figure 6A may appear to be resolved by simply
providing a shorter locking tab 115. However, this would result in a less effective
locking mechanism, since inherent tolerances and play between the lid 12 and the pack
body 11, created by the manufacturing tolerances and/or deformation of the pack during
use by a user, may mean that the locking tab does not have sufficient length to properly
hold the lid in a closed position.
[0037] The advantage of a longer tab 115 is described as follows. Where a locking tab has
a length L, the lid of the pack must be opened approximately by a distance L before
the locking tab is at a point substantially perpendicular to the pack front wall 110
or the inner frame 11 a to which it is attached. It is at this substantially perpendicular
position that the locking tab no longer biases the lid to a closed position. Accordingly,
the greater then length L of a locking tab, the further a pack lid 12 must be opened
before the locking tab ceases to bias the lid to a closed position. However, as described
above, in the arrangement shown in Figure 6A, a long locking tab brings with it the
disadvantage that it is increasingly difficult to disengage the locking tab 115 from
the gap 62 without causing damage to the tab hinge 119 or the lid front wall 121 or
the engagement portion tab 126.
[0038] Figure 6B illustrates the arrangement of the present invention in a closed configuration.
An advantage of the present invention is that in this closed configuration, the tip
116 of locking tab may enter into the engagement portion, as created by any of the
forms shown in Figures 4A to 4C, as soon as the tip of the locking tab has passed
the bottom edge of the engagement portion. The configuration of the present invention
allows the locking tab to immediately engage with the engagement portion such that
the sides of the locking tab can engage with the engagement portion even before the
lid has been rocked toward an open configuration. It can therefore be seen that even
before a user begins to open the lid, the locking tab of the present invention provides
a locking function, holding the lid in a closed configuration. This is beneficial
when compared to the arrangement shown in Figure 6A, where the lid must be rocked
open to a sufficient degree to allow locking tab 115 to enter the gap 62 before the
locking tab properly engages with the engagement portion.
[0039] Figure 6C illustrates the situation when a user begins to rock the lid 12 of the
pack of the present invention towards an open position. As front wall 121 moves upward
in the Figure and away from the front side wall 110 and/or the inner frame 11a of
the pack body 11, the locking tab 115 rotates about tab hinge 119 at its base, and
also rotates relative to the engagement portion about a point 64, at a length L
2 along its length, where the sides of the locking tab engage with the engagement portion.
It will be apparent that the difference between this configuration and that of Figure
6A is that the relative point of rotation 64 of the locking tab is located at a point
away from tab hinge 119. This results in a smaller amount of the tip 116 of the locking
tab 115 being in the engagement portion during opening of the lid and therefore the
additional stresses created in engagement portion 125, locking tab 115, tab hinge
119 and lid front wall 121 are reduced as compared to the configuration shown in Figure
6A. This can result in a locking mechanism which may be closed and re-opened a greater
number of times without damage to these elements of the pack or its general structure.
[0040] Accordingly, the locking tab of the present invention, being configured to engage
the engagement portion on its side, provides a locking tab with the advantages of
a locking tab of greater length, while avoiding the disadvantages of a locking tab
which is able to penetrate too far into a gap 62 created between the engagement portion
tab 126 and the lid front wall 121 of the example shown in Figure 6A. A small amount
of the locking tab may enter the engagement portion of the present invention without
inducing the drawbacks described in relation to Figure 6A to too great a degree. For
example allowing a length of the locking tab substantially equal to the thickness
of the material from which it is produced to enter the engagement portion and/or the
gap may be beneficial. Up to around a quarter of the length may be received in the
engagement portion. Further up to around a half or up to three quarters of the length
may be received in the engagement portion. Where more than a half of the length of
the locking tab is received in the engagement portion, the drawbacks described in
relation to Figure 6A may increase, since the force created by the lid front wall
121 on the tip 116 of the locking tab acts on a longer lever than the force acting
on the tab hinge 119. Therefore, in this case, the force on the hinge is greater than
the force on the lid front wall 121 and the hinge is more prone to damage. In spite
of this, providing any additional distance between the tab hinge 119 and the point
of relative rotation 64 of the locking tab 115 relative to the engagement portion
125, reduces the drawbacks described in relation to Figure 6A. A distance L
2 as small as one or two times the thickness of the material from which the pack, and
in particular the material from which the locking tab, is produced, can bring an associated
benefit.
[0041] The arrangement of the present invention therefore allows the benefits of a longer
locking tab 115 to be realised, whilst avoiding the drawbacks of the arrangement shown
in Figure 6A. It can therefore be seen that it is beneficial to provide a locking
tab having a base portion which cannot be received in the engagement portion and a
tip which can be received in the engagement portion, such that at least one side of
the locking tab engages with the engagement portion.
[0042] Figure 7 illustrates a two part blank which may be used to form the pack of the present
invention. The blank comprises a first portion 71 for forming the body of the pack,
a second portion 72 for forming the lid of the pack, and in this example comprises
a further blank 73 for forming a inner frame for the pack. As described earlier, the
inner frame is optional and if an inner frame is not desired, the features relating
to the locking tab 115 may be reproduced directly on the front side wall 110 of the
pack 1 by their reproduction on the upper edge 710a of front wall panel 710. The pack
blank comprises a front side wall panel 710, having intermediate side wall panels
711 on each side, connected by fold lines to the front side wall panel. At its bottom
edge, the front side wall panel 710 is connected by a fold line to a bottom wall panel
712. Bottom wall panel 712 is in turn connected to a rear wall panel 714 by a fold
line. Rear wall panel 714 is connected on each side by fold lines to side wall tabs
713, which are connected to bottom wall tabs 712a by fold lines. To form the main
body of the pack, the front side wall panel 710 and rear side wall panel 714 are folded
about their respective fold lines connecting them with the bottom panel 712. Bottom
wall tabs 712a are folded at their connecting fold lines through 90°. S ide wall tabs
713 are folded through 90° about their connecting fold lines with rear side wall panel
714 such that bottom wall tabs 712a rest on bottom wall panel 712 on the inside of
the pack. Front wall panel 710 is then folded to form the front side wall of the pack
and its connected side wall panels 711 are folded about their connecting fold lines
through 90° on to the outside of side wall tabs 713. Side wall panel 711 can then
be fixed to side wall tabs 713 to maintain the form of the pack body.
[0043] A second portion 72 of the blank forms the lid 12 of the pack 1. The lid section
comprises a lid front wall panel 721, a pair of adjoining lid side wall panels 722,
a lid rear wall panel 723 and a lid top wall panel 724. Lid rear wall panel 723 is
connected by fold lines to lid side wall tabs 722a, which are in turn connected to
lid top wall tabs 724a. To form the lid the lid top wall tabs are folded through 90°
about their connecting fold line with lid side wall tabs 722a. In turn, lid side wall
tabs 722a are folded through 90° about their connecting fold lines with lid rear wall
panel 723. Lid top wall panel 724 can then be folded about its connecting fold line
with lid rear wall panel 723 to form the top wall 124 of the pack 1 . The lid front
wall panel 721 can then be folded about its connecting fold line with lid top wall
panel 724 to form the front wall of the lid. Lid side wall panels 722 are then folded
through 90° and may be fixed to lid side wall tabs 722a to form the lid structure.
A tab 726 is provided, connected via a fold line to lid front wall panel 721 and is
provided with a recess or cut out 725 in a form appropriate for creating the engagement
means of the present invention, which may be in any of the forms illustrated in Figures
4A to C, or in any similar form suitable for providing the necessary engagement with
the sides of the locking tab. Engagement portion tab 726, having recess or cut-out
725 can be folded through substantially 180° about its connecting fold line with the
lid front wall panel 721 in order to create the necessary engagement portion on the
inside of the lid front wall 121 of the pack 1.
[0044] Secondary blank 73 may be provided where an inner frame is required. The blank comprises
an inner frame front wall panel 731 connected by fold lines to inner frame side wall
panels 732. The inner frame side wall panel 732 may comprise fold lines 733. These
fold lines allow a portion of the inner frame to be angled slightly towards the interior
of the pack, which can help to grip the products within the pack. In particular, if
the products are cigarettes, this can help to fold the cigarettes in a tight bundle
within the pack. The locking tab 734 is provided on the inner frame, where the inner
frame is required. As described above, if the inner frame is not necessary, locking
tab 734 may be formed on the top edge 710a of front side wall panel 710.
[0045] The locking tab 734 may optionally be left un-folded when the pack is first made,
such that it remains in the orientation illustrated in Figure 7. On a first opening
of the pack by the user, the user may then fold the locking tab through substantially
180° on to the outside of either the front side wall 110 or inner frame 11a, depending
upon which if these features has the tab attached to it, such that on a first re-closing
of the pack, the locking tab engages with the engagement portion 125. Alternatively,
the locking tab may be folded during the production process, such that the locking
tab is engaged prior to its first opening by a user and operates the first time that
the user opens the pack. The tab may also be provided by the provision of a substantially
u-shaped cut in the front wall of the pack, as illustrated by dashed line 736, in
an opposite longitudinal orientation to locking tab 734 shown in Figure 7. In this
way, the locking tab is already oriented toward the bottom face of the pack before
folding about its hinge at the fold-line created at its base. Folding the tab out
from the interior of the pack along the connecting fold line at its base can then
provide the same function as is described in relation to the above embodiments. Biasing
the tab away from the inner frame or the front wall of the pack can improve the engagement
of the locking tab with the engagement portion once the lid is closed. The greater
the bias, the more immediately and effectively the locking tab will engage with the
engagement portion.
[0046] Dashed line 735 indicates the line on the inner frame which should correspond to
the top edge 710a of the blank 71 once the pack is assembled. A degree of inaccuracy
generally exists in packaging manufacturing processes, concerning exactly where the
inner frame may be attached to main body blank 71. Accordingly, having a locking tab
which can engage with an engagement portion regardless of the precise location of
the inner frame on the outer pack blank is therefore advantageous. Since the locking
tab of the present invention engages on its side with the engagement portion as soon
as the pack is closed, the locking mechanism of the present invention is better suited
to coping with the inherent inaccuracies present in standard packaging manufacturing
processes. The tolerances of the relative placement of the inner frame to the outer
pack can be in the region of + or - 0.5mm.
[0047] The greater length L
1 of the tab provides yet further advantages when its length can be extended as provided
by the present invention. For example, if a tab is too short, card folded through
180° may begin to de-laminate once folded and thus the efficiency of the functioning
of the locking tab may be reduced. Accordingly, the pack of the present invention
provides numerous advantages and benefits to the user.
1. A hinge-lid pack comprising:
a body, having a plurality of side walls, a bottom end and a top end;
a lid for closing an opening of the body, comprising a lid front wall on a side of
the lid substantially opposite a lid hinge connecting the lid to a rear side wall
of the body;
a locking tab connected by a tab hinge to a front side wall of the pack, opposite
the rear side wall of the pack;
an engagement portion, located on an inner side of the lid front wall, for engaging
with the locking tab such that the locking tab can be rotated about the tab hinge
when the lid is rocked over the body;
the locking tab having a base adjacent the tab hinge, a tip distal to the tab hinge,
and sides extending between the base and the tip;
wherein the locking tab and the engagement portion are configured such that the sides
of the locking tab are engageable with the engagement portion so as to prevent a section
of the locking tab from being received in the engagement portion.
2. A hinge-lid pack according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion has a maximum
width W1 at which it may engage with the locking tab and the width of the locking tab varies
between the base and the tip, such that the sides of the locking tab are engageable
with the engagement portion at a point where the width of the locking tab equals W1.
3. A hinge-lid pack according to claim 2, wherein:
the locking tab has a width W2 at its base and a width W3 at its tip;
width W2 is greater than width W1; and
width W3 is smaller than width W1.
4. A hinge-lid pack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking
tab and the engagement portion are configured such that the sides of the locking tab
engage with the engagement portion when the lid is in a closed configuration.
5. A hinge-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking tab is located
on an upper edge of the front side wall or inner frame of the pack and connected to
it by a fold line, or is created by a cut provided in the front side wall or inner
frame of the pack.
6. A hinge-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking tab is biased
away from the front side wall.
7. A hinge-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein the engagement portion
is arranged to enable access to a gap located between an engagement portion tab and
the inner side of the lid front wall.
8. A hinge-lid pack according to claim 7, wherein the locking tab is configured such
that at least a part of it may enter the gap when the lid is rocked from a closed
position to a partially open position.
9. A hinged-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein less than a quarter of
the length of the locking tab may be received in the engagement portion.
10. A hinged-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein less than a half of the
length of the locking tab may be received in the engagement portion.
11. A hinged-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein less than three quarters
of the length of the locking tab may be received in the engagement portion.
12. A hinged-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein:
the locking tab has, when the lid is in a closed configuration, at least one side
configured at an angle α relative to a longitudinal axis A of the pack extending substantially
from the bottom end of the pack to the open top end of the pack;
the angle α being greater than an angle of orientation relative to axis A of sides
of the engaging portion which are configured to engage with sides the locking tab.
13. A hinged-lid pack according to any preceding claim, wherein when the lid is in a closed
position, the engagement portion comprises at least one side extending substantially
parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the pack, the axis A extending substantially
from the bottom end of the pack to the open top end of the pack.
14. A blank or set of blanks for forming the pack of any one of claims 1 to 13.
15. A method of forming the pack of any one of claims 1 to 13 by folding the blank or
blanks of claim 14.