The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to packaging, in particular for rolled smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars and the like. The invention further encompasses a method for packaging, and packages, particularly packages of rolled smoking articles, produced according to this method.
Conventionally, packaging for rolled smoking articles such as cigarettes comprises a robust paper or cardboard packet. The packet may comprise a box arranged to open at one end thereof; one such packet well known in the art comprises a hinged top. Typically, the packet is cuboidal in shape, having rectangular side, front and rear walls, and is sized to accommodate between ten and twenty cigarettes. The packet is therefore conveniently sized to be placed within the pocket or handbag of a user.
A cigarette box of this type is described in US-A-5938017, which discloses a box adapted to assist smokers in quitting smoking. The cigarette box described in US-A-5938017 is cuboidal in shape, and is adapted to accommodate a plurality of cigarettes and/or plugs in place of cigarettes.
US-A-5513752 meanwhile describes a package for an audio cassette tape or a compact disc and a booklet of lyrics according to the preamble of claim 1. The package described in US-A-5513752 is also cuboidal in shape, and has a hinged or flip-top.
For various reasons, particularly to assist in combatting counterfeiting, it is desirable to enable the tracing of cigarette packets from manufacturer to consumer, such that details of the time and place of sale and use of particular packets or batches of packets can be made known to the manufacturer, distributor, or another interested party. This may be conveniently achieved by associating electronic data with each cigarette packet, which data may subsequently be traced by the interested party. There is a need in the art for a convenient means for enabling the association of electronic data with a conventional cigarette packet.
According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a packaging, which packaging comprises a rectilinear container, said container having a substantially flat wall with inner and outer surfaces; a compact disc carrying electronic data assembled with said container, and holding means for holding said compact disc contiguous with the inner or outer surface of said wall; wherein said compact disc comprises a shape having an outer edge and an annular data-carrying zone that is disposed wholly within said outer edge, and is arranged such that said outer edge is disposed wholly within the area of said inner or outer surface, said packaging having the characterising features of claim 1.
Said compact disc may carry electronic data associated with said packaging, and may be formatted such that use of the disc by a consumer will enable access by an interested third party to said data. Additionally or alternatively, said compact disc may carry electronic data to enable the user for example to download or access software, information, music, or the like on the Internet. Said compact disc may be adapted to carry up to 5MB or more of electronic data.
Said packaging may be handled without the risk of damaging said compact disc, owing to the fact that said compact disc is held flat against said flat wall, and is disposed wholly within the area of the inner or outer surface of said flat wall so that no part of the compact disc protrudes outside the area of the wall.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of packaging a substance, material or articles, according to claim 8.
Typically, said container will be adapted to contain a plurality of rolled smoking articles, and said packaging will comprise a packaging for rolled smoking articles.
In particularly preferred embodiments, said wall is rectangular in shape, and said compact disc also comprises a rectangular shape, the dimensions of which correspond to the dimensions of the rectangular shape of said wall. Thus, when assembled with said container, said compact disc entirely covers said inner or outer surface of the wall.
In one aspect of the present invention, said holding means may be arranged to hold said compact disc contiguous said outer surface of the wall. Said holding means may comprise an outer wrapping, such as a plastic film wrapping, which is arranged to envelope said container and said compact disc, thereby holding said compact disc contiguous said outer surface of the wall. Alternatively or additionally, said holding means may comprise an adhesive, such as a hot-melt adhesive of the kind well known to those skilled in the art, which is adapted to affix said compact disc directly to said outer surface of the wall. The exposed surface of said compact disc may optionally be coloured and/or decorated, for example so as to resemble said outer surface of the wall.
In another aspect of the present invention, said holding means may be arranged to hold said compact disc contiguous said inner surface of the wall. Optionally, said holding means may comprise an inner wrapping which is adapted to enfold said rolled smoking articles; the arrangement being such that said compact disc is interposed between said inner wrapping and said inner surface of the wall.
Typically, said rolled smoking articles will comprise cigarettes or cigars. Said rolled smoking articles may however comprise other substantially cylindrical tobacco products, such as cigarillos.
Advantageously, said container may comprise a paper or cardboard packet, preferably with a hinge- or flip-topped lid. In some embodiments, an inner wrapping is provided for enfolding said rolled smoking products. Preferably, said inner wrapping can be resealed, so as to preserve the freshness of said rolled smoking articles.
Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of embodiments of the present invention.
In the drawings:
A cigarette package 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a container 2 having an integral hinged lid 3 and a substantially flat rectangular rear wall 4; a compact disc 5; and an outer wrapping 6 which envelopes said compact disc 5 and said container 2, thereby serving to hold said compact disc 5 contiguous the outer surface of said rear wall 4, and to seal the contents of the container.
As shown in Figure 1, said compact disc 5 has a rectangular shape which corresponds to the rectangular shape of said rear wall 4, such that said compact disc 5 covers substantially the whole of the outer surface of said rear wall 4 but does not protrude outside the area of said rear wall 4. Said compact disc 5 comprises an annular data-carrying zone 10, which is disposed wholly within the area of said rear wall 4. Zone 10 carries electronic data, optionally for enabling the tracing of said cigarette package 1, and/or for enabling the user of said compact disc 5 to access or download information, music and the like from the Internet. Said compact disc 5 comprises an upper layer 11 which can be decorated with colourings, graphics and the like, and a lower layer (not shown) which comprises a protective transparent plastics material. Said compact disc 5 is oriented such that said lower layer is disposed contiguous the outer surface of said rear wall 4, whilst said upper layer 11 is exposed.
Said container 2 comprises an inner lining 7, and is adapted to accommodate cigarettes 8. Container 2 is formed in a manner known to the skilled man from a light robust material such as cardboard.
Said outer wrapping 6 comprises a transparent plastics material, and is shrink-wrapped around said compact disc 5 and said container 2 in a manner well known in the art. When purchased by a consumer, said outer wrapping 6 can be removed from the container 2 and discarded, thereby allowing the consumer to detach the compact disc 5 from the package 1.
A similar cigarette package in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figure 3. Features of this embodiment which are identical to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, said compact disc 5 is disposed within said container 2, and is held contiguous the inner surface of said rear wall 4, interposed between said lining 7 and the rear wall 4. Upon removal of said outer wrapping 6 by a consumer, said compact disc can be withdrawn from the container 2 for use. Said compact disc can subsequently be replaced in said container 2, for storage therein.