[0001] The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods formed by folding
a laminar blank comprising an additional element having a discernible thickness affixed
to a surface of the container. The expression "element having a discernible thickness"
is used herein to refer to any three-dimensional element having a thickness from about
50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres. An example of one such element is a radio
frequency identification (RFID) element. The container of the present invention finds
particular application as a container for elongate consumer good items, such as smoking
articles.
[0002] Smoking articles are typically packaged in rigid hinge-lid containers comprising
a box and a lid hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across a back wall
of the container. The bundle of smoking articles housed in the box is commonly wrapped
in an inner liner, or package, of metallised paper, metal foil or other flexible sheet
material. Both hinge-lid container and inner package are formed from blanks. During
transportation, as well as when they are supplied to packing machines, blanks are
preferably stacked on top of each other and in a flat state.
[0003] Such containers often comprise a reinforcing member, which may be provided as an
inner frame arranged outside the inner package or as a stiffener arranged inside the
inner package. This is to improve the resistance to compression of the package with
a view to better protecting the smoking articles within the container during transportation.
In addition, one such hinge lid container may comprise an inner frame extending at
least partly beyond an upper edge of the front wall of the box to provide a flat surface
which the lid front wall may lie against, when in the closed position. This is generally
desirable because, when the lid is in the closed position, a container provided with
one such arrangement will present to the consumer a substantially flat front surface.
The reinforcing member typically comprises at least a reinforcing front wall lying
against a front wall of the inner package. Most commonly, one such reinforcing member
is provided as a collar further comprising side walls depending from the reinforcing
front wall and folded about respective fold lines to lie against the side walls of
the inner package. Thus, in use, one such reinforcing member embraces the bundle of
smoking articles on three sides.
[0004] Radio frequency elements are known for allowing large amounts of information to be
accessed without the need for the information to be printed. Accordingly, it would
be desirable to provide a container for consumer articles comprising a radio frequency
element, especially such that the radio frequency element is not visible on the external
surface of the container, since this space may be better spent on branding or other
printed information. However, the provision of an element with a discernible thickness
on a blank for forming a container of the type described above may impact the pliability
of the blank. In turn, this may undesirably increase the complexity of the manufacturing
process.
[0005] Further, because the presence of an element with a discernible thickness will locally
increase the thickness of the laminar blank from which the container is formed, stacking
blanks on top of one another may become less easy if blanks comprise one such element.
This may cause problems during the storage and transportation of the blanks, as well
as when blanks are fed at high speed to a packing machine for forming the container.
[0006] Thus, it would be desirable to provide a novel and improved container for consumer
goods comprising an element having a discernible thickness. In particular, it would
be desirable for such container to ensure that the consumer articles held within the
container are effectively protected from potentially damaging compressive loads. Further,
it would be desirable to provide a blank for forming one such container, such that
a plurality of said blanks can easily be stacked, palletised, transported and fed
to a packing machine to form the container. In addition, it would be desirable to
provide one such container for consumer goods that can easily be manufactured without
requiring major modifications to existing equipment.
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for
consumer goods, the container being formed from a laminar blank having a blank thickness.
The container further comprises a three dimensional element having a thickness from
about 50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres. An inner surface of a first wall of
the container comprises an affixing area for at least partly receiving the element,
the affixing area comprising a debossed or ablated area having a residual thickness
less than the blank thickness. The element is affixed to the container by means of
adhesive provided on the debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for
forming a container for consumer goods, the blank comprising: a laminar substrate
having a substrate thickness; and a three dimensional element having a thickness from
about 50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres. A surface of the laminar substrate
comprises an affixing area for at least partly receiving the element, the affixing
area comprising a debossed or ablated area having a residual thickness less than the
substrate thickness. The element is affixed to the laminar substrate by means of adhesive
provided on the debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area.
[0009] It will be appreciated that any features described with reference to one aspect of
the present invention are equally applicable to any other aspect of the invention.
[0010] As used herein, the terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom" and
"side", refer to the relative positions of portions of containers according to the
invention and components thereof when the container is in an upright position an access
opening of the container at the top of the container. When describing containers according
to the present invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of
the container being described. The back wall of the outer hinge-lid housing is the
wall comprising the hinge line.
[0011] When describing a container in accordance with the present invention, the term "longitudinal"
refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa, whereas the term "transverse"
refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
[0012] The term "width" is used to describe the dimension of an element, such as a radio
frequency element or a panel of a blank or a wall of a container as measured in the
transverse direction. The term "panel" is used throughout this specification to refer
to a portion of the blank that is used to form a wall in the assembled container.
A panel may depend along one or more fold lines from one or more other panels. The
term "fold line" refers to a fold between two adjacent panels. When forming the container,
adjacent panels are folded along their common fold line, which may come to define
an edge of the container or of a portion thereof. In the assembled container a "wall"
may be formed of one or of several overlying panels that are attached to each other,
for example by means of an adhesive. Further, a wall may be formed from two or more
abutting or overlapping panels. The term "height" is used to describe the dimension
of one such element as measured in a direction perpendicular to the width of the element.
When describing an element of the container, reference is generally made to the element
in a flat state.
[0013] The term "thickness" is used to describe the dimension of an element, such as a radio
frequency element in a direction perpendicular to both the height and width of the
element. With reference to a laminar blank from which a package or hinge-lid container
may be formed, the term thickness identifies the distance between opposite inner and
outer surfaces of the blank.
[0014] The expression "element having a discernible thickness" is used herein to refer to
any three-dimensional element having a thickness from about 50 micrometres to about
500 micrometres. An example of one such element is a radio frequency identification
(RFID) element.
[0015] It has been observed that affixing an element having a thickness less than about
50 micrometres to a blank for forming a container for consumer articles does not effectively
cause issues relating to a reduced pliability of the blank, nor does it significantly
impact the ease of stacking blanks or cause a compressive load to be applied on the
consumer articles within the assembled container.
[0016] In some embodiments, the discernible thickness of the element is preferably at least
about 50 micrometres, more preferably at least about 100 micrometres, even more preferably
at least about 150 micrometres. In addition, or as an alternative, the discernible
thickness is preferably less than about 500 micrometre, more preferably less than
about 400 micrometres, even more preferably less than about 300 micrometres.
[0017] The term "inner surface" is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface
of a component of the assembled container that is facing towards the interior of the
container, for example towards the consumer goods, when the container is in the closed
position. The term "outer surface" is used throughout the specification to refer to
the surface of a component of the container that is facing towards the exterior of
the container. For example, the front wall of the container has an inner surface that
is facing the inside of the container and the consumer goods, and an outer surface
facing away from the consumer goods. It should be noted that the inside or outside
surface is not necessarily equivalent to a certain side of a blank used in assembly
of the container. Depending on how the blank is folded around the consumer goods,
areas that are on the same side of the blank can either face towards the inside or
the towards the outside of the container.
[0018] In a blank for forming a container in accordance with the present invention, the
term "longitudinal axis" is used to identify an axis of the blank extending across
the blank in a flat state in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal
direction in the assembled container. Thus, for example, the longitudinal axis of
the blank extends across the blank front panel in a direction parallel to the longitudinal
direction taken with reference to the corresponding container front wall. The term
"transverse axis", on the other hand, is used to identify an axis of the blank extending
across the blank in a flat state in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis.
[0019] One such blank has a "longitudinal dimension" corresponding to the maximum distance
between opposite ends of the blank as measured along the longitudinal axis. Further,
one such panel has a "transverse dimension" corresponding to the maximum distance
between opposite ends of the blank as measured along a direction perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis.
[0020] In a rectangle, the longitudinal dimension and the transverse direction will generally
correspond to height and width of the rectangle. However, a blank for forming a substantially
parallelepiped container for consumer articles will typically have a roughly quadrilateral
shape, but may generally not display quite the exact symmetry of a regular rectangle.
Accordingly, the terms "longitudinal dimension" and "transverse dimension" are used
herein to identify the dimensions of a blank, particularly a substantially quadrilateral
blank, which would correspond to height and width of the blank, if the blank were
exactly rectangular. The term "midpoint of the longitudinal axis" is used herein to
identify the middle point of the longitudinal axis of a blank for forming a container
in accordance with the invention, that is, a point that is equidistant from both endpoints
of the longitudinal axis. The endpoints of the longitudinal axis of one such blank
are on opposite edges of the blank separated by a distance corresponding to the longitudinal
dimension of the blank. The midpoint of the longitudinal axis bisects the longitudinal
axis, and so the distance between the midpoint and either endpoint of the longitudinal
axis is substantially half the longitudinal dimension of the blank. The term "affixing
area" is used herein to refer to the minimum area of the blank that encloses the ablated
or debossed zones.
[0021] The term "ablated zone" is used herein to refer to an area from which material has
been ablated (e.g. removed by means of a laser beam or a blade) from a surface of
the laminar blank or container. The term "debossed zone" is used here in to refer
to an area wherein the material of the laminar blank or container has been compressed.
Accordingly, the residual thickness of an ablated or debossed zone is less than the
thickness of the laminar blank. For example, an ablated zone may be formed with a
linear ablation tool, such as a laser or a blade.
[0022] The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which the lid may be pivoted in order
to open the hinge-lid housing. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a
score line in the panel forming the back wall of the container.
[0023] A container in accordance with the present invention is formed from a laminar blank
having a blank thickness. Further, the container comprises a three-dimensional element
having a thickness in the range from about 50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres.
This encompasses elements having a thickness substantially of the same order of magnitude
of the thickness of blanks typically used for manufacturing containers for consumer
articles. In contrast to existing containers, according to the present invention an
inner surface of a first wall of the container comprises an affixing area for at least
partly receiving the element. In more detail, the affixing area comprises a debossed
or ablated area with a residual thickness less than the blank thickness, and the element
is affixed to the container by means of adhesive provided on the debossed or ablated
zone of the affixing area.
[0024] Thus, in containers in accordance with the present invention it is advantageously
possible, by locally reducing the thickness of the blank, to at least partly offset
or compensate the increase in thickness which would, otherwise, be caused by the provision
of the element of discernible thickness on a surface of the blank. Accordingly, instead
of having a local overall thickness essentially equal to the sum of the thicknesses
of the element and the thickness of the blank, the local overall thickness will be
given by the sum of the residual thickness of the debossed or ablated area and the
thickness of the element.
[0025] Therefore, the thickness of the blank for forming a container comprising the element
of discernible thickness is made - on the average - more even, compared to existing
blanks. As a consequence, it is easier to stack a plurality of blanks on top of one
another in a stable fashion, such that many blanks can be palletised and transported
at once. In addition, because the stacks of blanks for forming containers in accordance
with the invention are more orderly and stable, it is also easier to feed the blanks
to the packing machine.
[0026] As will be explained in more detail below, in embodiments comprising a reinforcing
member, it is also advantageously possible to ensure that the element of discernible
thickness does not interfere with the reinforcing member and, at the same time, that
reinforcing member and additional element of discernible thickness do not exert a
combined, increased pressure over the consumer goods within the container.
[0027] Further, in containers according to the present invention it is advantageously possible
to include an additional element having a discernible thickness such that the additional
element is not visible from the outside during normal use of the container. Thus,
at the same time, space on the external surface of the container may advantageously
be used for branding or other printed information.
[0028] Finally, containers and blanks in accordance with the present invention are easy
to manufacture and do not require any extensive modification of the existing apparatus.
[0029] The element affixed to the blank may be any three-dimensional element having a discernible
thickness, that is a thickness of an order of magnitude comparable with the thickness
of the blank to which the element is attached. In preferred embodiments, the element
is a radio frequency (identification) element, also commonly referred to as RFID tag.
An RFID tag or other radio frequency element can store information relating to the
product (for example, information relating to the identity and authenticity of the
product). Typically, one such tag comprises an integrated circuit connected to an
antenna or inductive coil. An RFID reader is used to interrogate the tag by transmitting
a radio frequency signal which is received at the antenna or coil. In response to
such signal, the RFID returns to the RFID reader a signal containing the information
stored in the tag.
[0030] In some embodiments, a difference between the blank thickness and the residual thickness
is less than the element thickness, such that the element projects beyond the inner
surface of the container by an incremental thickness less than the element thickness.
Thus, the ablation or debossing only partly offsets the locally increased thickness
caused by the presence of the additional element. This may be advantageous when the
laminar blank from which the container is formed has a low base weight, in that it
ensures a sufficient residual thickness for the blanks and container to have the necessary
mechanical properties to protect the consumer goods.
[0031] Preferably, in such embodiments, the container comprises a thickness compensating
means on a region of the inner surface of the container.
[0032] In some embodiments, the thickness compensating means comprises a coating layer applied
at least on a region of the inner surface of the first wall of the container extending
about the affixing area, that is, around the element of discernible thickness. This
advantageously provides a further compensation of the locally increased thickness.
This further contributes to even out the thickness non-homogeneity of the blank of
the container.
[0033] One such coating layer may comprise a varnish or an ultra-violet (UV) coating composition.
One such composition may comprise one or more of several compounds known to the skilled
reader for coating paper and cardboard, such as, for example, polyethylene, calcium
carbonate and kaolinite. These compounds may be refined and mixed with viscosifiers
to help them adhere to paper and cardboard. UV coatings can impart the paper or cardboard
a gloss or matte finish.
[0034] In some embodiments, the coating layer may extend only to a finite portion of the
inner surface of the first wall of the container extending about the affixing area.
As an alternative, the coating layer may extend substantially to the whole inner surface
of the first wall of the container extending about the affixing area.
[0035] In other embodiments, the coating layer may extend beyond the periphery of the first
wall of the container, and even to the whole surface of the blank defining, in the
assembled container, the inner surface of the container. This advantageously simplifies
the manufacturing process, in that the coating layer may for example be applied substantially
homogeneously over the whole blank surface prior to the debossing or ablating process.
[0036] Preferably, the coating layer has a thickness of at least about 70 percent of the
incremental thickness. Thus, the coating layer compensates only in part the incremental
thickness. However, one such degree of compensation has been found to be sufficient
to make it easy to form a stable stack of blanks. More preferably, the coating layer
has a thickness of at least about 80 percent of the incremental thickness. Even more
preferably, the coating layer has a thickness of at least about 90 percent of the
incremental thickness.
[0037] In some preferred embodiments, the coating layer has a thickness substantially equal
to the incremental thickness. This is advantageous in that it substantially offsets
the locally increased thickness in its entirety.
[0038] Preferably, the coating layer is removable. This is advantageous in that the need
to compensate for the uneven surface of a blank comprising an additional element having
a discernible thickness is felt especially when a plurality of blanks need to be stacked
on one another during storage and transportation. However, when feeding the blank
comprising the additional element to a packing machine it may instead be preferable
to restore the laminar substrate of the blank to its original thickness. This may
be both for reasons to do with manufacturing requirements, for example set by the
packing machine, as well as for ensuring that the assembled container has a certain
visual impact, or to reduce the overall weight of the container. In addition, the
further layer may advantageously protect the surface of the laminar substrate during
storage and transportation of the blanks.
[0039] As an alternative to the coating layer, in those embodiments where a difference between
the blank thickness and the residual thickness is less than the element thickness,
the thickness compensating means may comprise a three-dimensional patch member.
[0040] One such patch member is arranged on the inner surface of the container at a location
other than the affixing region. Preferably, the patch member is arranged on the inner
surface of a wall of the container other than the first wall. Even more preferably,
the patch member is arranged on the inner surface of the wall of the container opposite
the first wall. For example, where the element is affixed on the back wall, the patch
member is affixed on the front wall.
[0041] By providing one such patch member on the same surface of the blank defining, in
the assembled container, the inner surface of a wall, at least a partial reduction
of the thickness non-homogeneity of the blank or container is achieved. For example,
where the element is affixed on the inner surface of the back wall of the container,
the compensating patch member is affixed on the inner surface of the front wall of
the container. Thus, an arrangement with a certain degree of symmetry is advantageously
achieved, such that a centre of gravity of the unfolded blank is arranged substantially
along a longitudinal axis of the blank, at a location between the element and the
patch member.
[0042] Preferably, a width of the patch member is less than a width of the blank. In addition,
or as an alternative, a height of the patch is preferably less than a height of the
blank panel on which the patch member is arranged. In preferred embodiments, the patch
member has a shape and size comparable to the shape and size of the element of discernible
thickness.
[0043] Preferably, the patch member has a thickness of at least about 70 percent of the
incremental thickness. Thus, the patch member compensates only in part the incremental
thickness. However, one such degree of compensation has been found to be sufficient
to make it easy to form a stable stack of blanks. More preferably, the patch member
has a thickness of at least about 80 percent of the incremental thickness. Even more
preferably, the patch member has a thickness of at least about 90 percent of the incremental
thickness. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the patch member has a thickness
substantially equal to the incremental thickness. This is advantageous in that the
element and the patch member, in combination, define a raised surface upon which another
blank can advantageously lie in a substantially flat state.
[0044] Preferably, where the element is affixed on the first wall of the container, the
patch member is arranged on the inner surface of another wall of the container, more
preferably on a wall opposite the first wall. For example, where the element is affixed
on the inner surface of the back wall of the container, the patch member is affixed
on the inner surface of the front wall of the container. Thus, an arrangement with
a certain degree of symmetry is advantageously achieved, wherein a centre of gravity
of the blank is arranged substantially along a longitudinal axis of the blank, at
a location between the element and the patch member. Thus, several blanks can still
be quite easily stacked on top of each other, which is advantageous for storage, transportation,
and for feeding the blanks to a packing machine.
[0045] Preferably, the patch member is removable. For example, the patch layer may be provided
as a removable sticker. The term "removable" is used herein to describe a sticker
attached to a surface by means of a generally low tack adhesive capable of forming
a connection between two substrates - for example, between the patch member and the
surface of the blank from which the container is formed - such that the two substrates
can be separated from each other without causing any damage to either substrate.
[0046] In other embodiments, a difference between the blank thickness and the residual thickness
is substantially equal to the element thickness. Thus, the debossing process or the
ablation process is used to fully compensate for the thickness of the additional element
of discernible thickness, such that this does not project over the surface of the
laminate substrate of the blank. Accordingly, there is no need for any thickness compensating
means at other locations on the first surface of the blank which defines, in the assembled
container, the inner surface of the container. This may be advantageous when the thickness
and basis weight of the blank are sufficient to ensure that, after the debossing or
ablation of material at the affixing area, the blank still has the desired strength.
[0047] Preferably, the additional element is arranged at a central location on the inner
surface of the back wall of the container. Even more preferably, the additional element
is arranged at a location along a longitudinal axis of the back wall of the container.
This is advantageous because, in blanks for forming a typical container for elongate
consumer goods, such as smoking articles, this corresponds to the element being arranged
at a substantially central location on the blank in its flat state. Accordingly, by
having the element at a location that roughly corresponds to a centre of gravity of
the laminar substrate of the blank, it is possibly to maximise the stability of a
stack of blanks and to facilitate the handling and transportation of the blank itself.
In addition, in containers where the additional element is arranged at a central location
on the inner surface of the back wall of the container, at least when the consumer
opens the container for the first time the additional element will be effectively
hidden from the consumer's sight.
[0048] In preferred embodiments, the container further comprises a reinforcing member comprising
at least a front wall lying against an inner surface of the front wall of the container.
In such embodiments, the element is preferably arranged in the affixing area on the
container at a distance from a bottom edge of the front wall of the reinforcing member.
[0049] More preferably, a distance from a top edge of the element and the bottom edge of
the reinforcing member is at least about 1 millimetre, even more preferably at least
about 5 millimetres.
[0050] A container in accordance with the present invention may be formed by folding a blank
for forming a container for consumer goods, the blank comprising a laminar substrate
having a substrate thickness and a three dimensional element having a thickness of
substantially the same order of magnitude of the substrate thickness, the element
being affixed to the laminar substrate. A first surface of the laminar substrate comprises
an affixing area for at least partly receiving the element, the affixing area comprising
a debossed or ablated area having a residual thickness less than the substrate thickness.
In addition, the element is affixed to the laminar substrate by means of adhesive
provided on the debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area.
[0051] When the container is assembled from the blank, the first surface of the blank to
which the element is affixed faces the inside of the container. In other words, the
additional element of discernible thickness is affixed on a side of a blank panel
for forming a wall of the container, such that, in the assembled container, the additional
element is affixed on the inner surface of said wall of the container.
[0052] In some embodiments, a difference between the substrate thickness and the residual
thickness is less than the element thickness, such that the element projects beyond
the inner surface of the laminar substrate by an incremental thickness less than the
element thickness. Preferably, the blank comprises a thickness compensating means
on a region of the first surface of the laminar substrate. This may be in the form
of a coating layer extending over at least a region of the first surface about the
affixing area. In some embodiments, the coating layer may extend substantially over
the whole of the first surface about the affixing area. As an alternative, the thickness
compensating means may be in the form of a patch member affixed to the first surface
of the laminar substrate at a location other than the affixing area.
[0053] More preferably, such thickness compensating means is removable. Thus, the thickness
compensating means may be used to at least partly compensate the incremental thickness
when blanks are stacked on top of one another for storage and transportation purposes,
while the thickness compensating means can be removed when the blank is supplied to
a packing machine for forming a container.
[0054] In other embodiments of the blank, a difference between the substrate thickness and
the residual thickness is substantially equal to the element thickness. Thus, no further
thickness compensating means is required.
[0055] Preferably, the element is arranged at a location along a longitudinal axis of the
blank in its flat state, and a distance between the element and a midpoint of the
longitudinal axis of the blank is less than about 20 percent of a longitudinal dimension
of the blank. More preferably, the element is at a location along a longitudinal axis
of the laminar blank, and a distance between the element and a midpoint of the longitudinal
axis of the laminar blank is less than about 15 percent of the longitudinal dimension
of the blank, even more preferably less than about 10 percent of the longitudinal
dimension of the blank.
[0056] For example, in an embodiment the longitudinal dimension of the laminar blank is
about 200 millimetres, the midpoint of the longitudinal axis is at about 100 millimetres
from either end of the laminar blank, and the element of discernible thickness is
located on the longitudinal axis at a distance of about 40 millimetres or less from
the midpoint. More preferably, the element of discernible thickness is located on
the longitudinal axis at a distance of about 30 millimetres or less from the midpoint.
Even more preferably, the element of discernible thickness is located on the longitudinal
axis at a distance of 20 millimetres or less from the midpoint.
[0057] In another embodiment, where the longitudinal dimension of the laminar substrate
is about 250 millimetres, the midpoint of the longitudinal axis is at about 125 millimetres
from either end of the laminar blank, and the element of discernible thickness is
located on the longitudinal axis at a distance of about 50 millimetres or less from
the midpoint. More preferably, the element of discernible thickness is located on
the longitudinal axis at a distance of about 37.5 millimetres or less from the midpoint.
Even more preferably, the element of discernible thickness is located on the longitudinal
axis at a distance of 25 millimetres or less from the midpoint.
[0058] This is advantageous, in that the location of the centre of gravity of the blank
will thus substantially correspond to the location of the centre of gravity of the
laminar substrate. A stack of these blanks may, accordingly, be particularly stable
and easy to store and transport.
[0059] A container for consumer goods in accordance with the present invention may be manufactured
by a method comprising the steps of: providing a laminar substrate having a substrate
thickness; forming a debossed or ablated area on a first surface of the laminar substrate
to define an affixing area, the debossed or ablated area having a residual thickness
less than the substrate thickness; affixing three dimensional element having a thickness
of substantially the same order of magnitude of the substrate thickness on the first
surface of the laminar substrate by means of adhesive provided on the debossed or
ablated zone, so as to provide a blank for forming a container; and forming a container
from the blank, such that the first surface of the laminar substrate defines an inner
surface of the container.
[0060] Preferably, the bundle of consumer goods is wrapped in a package of metal foil or
metallised paper. The package material may be formed as a laminate of a metallised
polyethylene film, and a liner material. The package material may also be a supercalendered
glassine paper. In addition, the package material may be provided with a print-receptive
top coating.
[0061] One such package may be received within a hinge lid container comprising a box and
a lid hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the hinge
lid container. The hinge lid container may be formed from a blank of any suitable
material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard,
plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the blank is a laminar cardboard
blank having a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams
per square metre. The hinge-lid container may optionally comprise an outer wrapper,
which is preferably a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density
polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose
film, or combinations thereof and the outer wrapper is applied in a conventional manner.
The outer wrapper may include a tear tape. In addition, the outer wrapper may be printed
with images, consumer information or other data.
[0062] The package, as well as the outer hinge lid container, is preferably a rectangular
parallelepiped comprising two wider walls spaced apart by two narrower walls.
[0063] Containers according to the invention find particular application as containers 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. Alternatively, other
consumer goods may be housed inside the container.
[0064] Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions, containers according to the invention
may 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, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total
of between ten and thirty smoking articles. The smoking articles may be arranged in
different collations, depending on the total number of smoking articles.
[0065] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a blank for forming a container in accordance
with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic side sectional view of a detail of the blank of Figure 1;
and
Figure 3 is a schematic top view of a variant of a blank for forming a container in
accordance with the present invention.
[0066] A container according to the present invention may be formed from the laminar blank
100 shown in Figure 1. The laminar blank 100 may be assembled and filled using standard
apparatus.
[0067] Figure 2 shows a detail of the blank 100 of Figure 1. The blank 100 comprises a laminar
substrate 102 having a thickness T1 of about 320 micrometres and a parallelepiped
element 104 having a thickness T2 of about 200 micrometres. The element 104 is affixed
to the laminar substrate 102. A first surface 106 of the laminar substrate comprises
an affixing area 108 for at least partly receiving the element 104. When a container
is formed from the laminar blank 100, the first surface 106 faces the inside of the
container.
[0068] The affixing area 108 comprises a debossed area having a residual thickness T3 of
about 250 micrometres. The depth of the debossing is of about 70 micrometres. The
element 104 is affixed to the laminar substrate 102 by means of a layer of adhesive
110 provided on the debossed area and projects above the first surface 106 by an incremental
thickness T4 of about 130 micrometres.
[0069] In more detail, the element 104 is at a location along the longitudinal axis 200
of the laminar substrate 102, and a distance between the element 104 and a midpoint
206 of the longitudinal axis 200 of the laminar substrate is less than about 10 percent
of the longitudinal end-to-end dimension 202 of the laminar substrate 102. In more
detail, the element 104 comprises a radio frequency element and is shaped symmetrical
with respect to the longitudinal axis 200.
[0070] The longitudinal dimension 202 of the laminar substrate is about 250 millimetres.
The midpoint 206 of the longitudinal axis is at about 125 millimetres from either
end of the laminar substrate. The distance between the element 104 and the midpoint
206 is about 12 millimetres (10 percent of the longitudinal dimension of the laminar
substrate amounting to about 25 millimetres).
[0071] The blank 100 comprises (see Figure 2) a further layer comprising a varnish 112 on
a region of the first surface 106 of the laminar substrate 102 extending about the
affixing area 108. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, a thickness of the further
layer 112 is substantially as great as the incremental thickness T4. Thus, the further
layer advantageously compensates for the entirety of the incremental thickness. The
further layer 112 is removed from the laminar substrate 102 immediately prior to feeding
the blank 100 to a packing machine for forming a container.
[0072] Figure 3 shows a variant of a blank 300 for forming a container for consumer articles
in accordance with the present invention. The blank 300 comprises a laminar substrate
302 and a parallelepiped element of discernible thickness 304, the element 304 being
affixed to and received into an affixing area of a first surface of the blank 300.
[0073] The blank 300 differs from the blank 100 of Figures 1 and 2 in that, instead of a
further layer extending about the affixing area, it comprises a thickness compensating
member in the form of a three-dimensional patch member 312 arranged on the inner surface
of the laminar substrate at a location other than the affixing region.
1. A container for consumer goods, the container being formed from a laminar blank having
a blank thickness; and
a three dimensional element having a thickness from about 50 micrometres to about
500 micrometres;
wherein an inner surface of a first wall of the container comprises an affixing area
for at least partly receiving the element, the affixing area comprising a debossed
or ablated area having a residual thickness less than the blank thickness; and
wherein the element is affixed to the container by means of adhesive provided on the
debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein a difference between the blank thickness
and the residual thickness is less than the element thickness, such that the element
projects beyond the inner surface of the container by an incremental thickness less
than the element thickness.
3. A container according to claim 2, the container comprising a thickness compensating
means on a region of the inner surface of the container.
4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the thickness compensating means comprises
a coating layer applied at least on a region of the inner surface of the first wall
of the container extending about the affixing area.
5. A container according to claim 3, wherein the thickness compensating means comprises
a three-dimensional patch member arranged on the inner surface of the container at
a location other than the affixing region.
6. A container according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the thickness compensating
means has a thickness of at least about 70 percent of the incremental thickness.
7. A container according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the thickness compensating
means has a thickness substantially equal to the incremental thickness.
8. A container according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the three-dimensional patch
member is arranged on the inner surface of a wall of the container opposite the first
wall.
9. A container according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the thickness compensating
means is removable.
10. A container according to claim 1, wherein a difference between the blank thickness
and the residual thickness is substantially equal to the element thickness.
11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a reinforcing
member comprising at least a front wall lying against an inner surface of the front
wall of the container, wherein the element is arranged in the affixing area on the
container at a distance from a bottom edge of the front wall of the reinforcing member.
12. A blank for forming a container for consumer goods, the blank comprising a laminar
substrate having a substrate thickness and a three dimensional element having a thickness
thickness from about 50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres, the element being affixed
to the laminar substrate;
wherein a first surface of the laminar substrate comprises an affixing area for at
least partly receiving the element, the affixing area comprising a debossed or ablated
area having a residual thickness less than the substrate thickness; and
wherein the element is affixed to the laminar substrate by means of adhesive provided
on the debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area.
13. A blank according to claim 12, wherein a difference between the substrate thickness
and the residual thickness is less than the element thickness, such that the element
projects beyond the inner surface of the laminar substrate by an incremental thickness
less than the element thickness.
14. A blank according to claim 13, the blank further comprising a thickness compensating
means on a region of the first surface of the laminar substrate.
15. A blank according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the element is arranged at
a location along a longitudinal axis of the blank in its flat state, and a distance
between the element and a midpoint of the longitudinal axis of the blank is less than
about 20 percent of a longitudinal dimension of the blank.