WO2018060478A1

WO2018060478A1 - Container for consumer goods with audible indication of closing of an inner package

Info

Publication number: WO2018060478A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/074868
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothee CAILLEAUX; Aleksander LOWINSKI
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2016-09-30
Filing date: 2017-09-29
Publication date: 2018-04-05

Abstract

A container (10) comprises: a package (18) of consumer goods within a hinge lid housing (12); and a redosable cover flap (20). In a closed position, the cover flap (20) occludes an upper opening (22) of the package (18). In an open position, the cover flap (20) is lifted off the top of the package (18) to define or reveal the opening (22). The cover flap (20) is affixed to the lid (16) so that, upon opening the lid, the cover flap is moved from the closed position towards the open position and forms an S-shaped form (26). An opposing portion (28) of the cover flap (20) adjacent to and depending from the end portion (24) folds towards the end portion (24) when the cover flap (20) is moved from the open position to the closed position, so as to define a proximal portion of the S-shaped form (26). An intermediate portion (3) of the cover flap is adjacent to and depends from the opposing portion (28), extends distal from the end portion (24) and folds towards the opposing portion (28), so as to define a distal portion of the S-shaped form (26). The end portion (24) and the opposing portion (28) are arranged relative to the inner surface of the lid front wall such that when, while closing the lid (16), a back wall of the lid forms a predetermined closing angle with a back wall of the box (14), the opposing portion (28) unfolds away from the end portion (24) such that the redosable cover flap (20) substantially flattens and generates a sound.

Description

CONTAINER FOR CONSUMER GOODS WITH AUDIBLE INDICATION OF CLOSING OF AN

INNER PACKAGE The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods comprising a package enclosing a group of consumer goods, wherein the package comprises a reclosable cover flap. In particular, the present invention may find application in one such container where the cover flap comprises a resealable adhesive label. The container of the present invention is particularly suitable as a container for elongate consumer good items, such as smoking articles.

Smoking articles are typically packaged in rigid hinge-lid containers. 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.

Containers are known wherein the smoking articles are enclosed in an inner package with an extraction opening removably closed by a cover flap, as is disclosed, for example, in international patent application WO 2013/120915. In some containers, the coverflap is releasably affixed to the inner package using non-dry adhesive applied to the underside of the cover flap. Such packages may be received in a hinge lid container, wherein the cover flap is glued permanently and non-removably to an inner surface of the front wall of the lid, so that opening and closing of the lid simultaneously opens and closes the coverflap, thus revealing the extraction opening. One such container is at times referred to as 'auto-reclosable'.

It is known to provide conventional hinge lid containers with an arrangement for confirming to the consumer that the container is fully closed, and that, therefore, the consumer goods within the container will remain inside the container. This has been achieved, for example, by providing a cut out portion in the front wall of the container and a flap depending from the lid front wall and folded inwardly towards the inner surface of the lid front wall, such that, when the lid is in the closed position, the lid front wall overlies the cut out portion in the box front wall, as is disclosed, for example, in international patent application WO2012/038085. During pivotal movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, at least a part of the lid flap slides along the box front wall and into the cut out portion in the box front wall, thereby generating a sound. Thus, containers of this type provide the consumer with an audible indication of closing of the container.

However, in resealable containers of the type described above, wherein an end of the reclosable cover flap is glued to the front wall of the lid, implementation of an arrangement based on the cooperation between the lid flap and a cut out portion in the front wall of the container is problematic, since one such arrangement may interfere with the connection between the reclosable flap and the lid.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved hinge lid container for consumer goods adapted to provide the consumer with an audible indication that the access opening of the inner package has been securely reclosed or even resealed. In addition, it would be desirable to provide one such hinge lid container for consumer goods that can easily be manufactured without requiring any major modification to existing equipment.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for consumer goods, the container comprising a box; a lid hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container; a package of consumer goods within the container; and a reclosable cover flap movable between a closed position, wherein the reclosable flap occludes an upper access opening of the package, and an open position, wherein the reclosable cover flap is lifted off a plane defined by a top wall of the package to define or reveal the access opening, such that consumer goods are removable through the access opening. The reclosable cover flap is permanently affixed to the inner surface of a front wall of the lid by means of adhesive provided on the outer surface of an end portion of the reclosable cover flap, such that upon opening the lid the reclosable cover flap is moved from the closed position towards the open position to form an S-shaped form. The reclosable cover flap comprises: an opposing portion adjacent the end portion, the opposing portion folding towards the end portion such that an inner surface of the opposing portion faces an inner surface of the end portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the opposing portion thus defining a first portion of the S-shaped form. In addition, the reclosable cover flap comprises an intermediate portion adjacent to the opposing portion and extending distal from the end portion, the intermediate portion folding towards the opposing portion such that an outer surface of the intermediate portion faces the outer surface of the opposing portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the intermediate portion thus defining a second portion of the S-shaped form. The end portion and the opposing portion of the reclosable cover flap are arranged relative to the inner surface of the lid front wall such that when, during movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, a back wall of the lid forms a predetermined closing angle with a back wall of the box, the opposing portion unfolds away from the end portion to substantially flatten the reclosable cover flap and generate a sound.

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 with the lid of the outer housing in the closed position and the hinge line at the back 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 housing is the wall comprising the hinge line. The access opening of the package is arranged in an upper portion of the package, such that the access opening extends at least partly across a top wall of the inner package. Where the whole of the access opening is formed in the top wall of the inner package, the front edge of the access opening is in a front portion of the top wall of the inner package. Where the access opening extends across the top wall and the front wall of the inner package, the front edge of the access opening is also the lower edge of the access opening and is located in a upper portion of the front wall of the inner package.

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

The term "cut-out" is used to describe a portion of a wall of the package or of a layer of the cover flap wherein, along at least part of the periphery of said cut-out portion, the material from which the wall or layer is formed has been weakened, such as by forming a creased line, a perforated line, a pre-cut line or by ablating some of the material.

The term "width" is used to describe the dimension of an element of a container, such as a label or flap, as measured in the transverse direction. The term "height" is used to describe the dimension of an element of a container as measured in a direction perpendicular to the width of the element. When describing a label or flap or elements of a label or flap, reference is generally made to the label or flap in a flat state.

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, a reclosable cover flap comprises an outer surface that is facing away from the surface of the package and an inner surface that is facing surface of the package. 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 container can either face towards the inside or the towards the outside of the container.

The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which an element of the container may be pivoted. For example, the lid of a hinge lid container may be pivoted in order to open the container. In such case, a hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming the back wall of the hinge lid container.

The expression "bending stiffness" is used herein to refer to the resistance of a component of a container in accordance with the invention, such as the reclosable cover flap or a portion of the reclosable cover flap, against bending deformation. ISO 5628:2012 defines the "bending stiffness" (Sb) as the resistance that a test piece offers to bending, in the region of elastic deformation, and specifies different test methods for determining the bending stiffness of paper and paperboard. The test methods differ in the type of loading mode, thus giving rise to the two- point, three-point and four-point bending test methods. For paper and paperboard in a low thickness range, the two-point bending method and the three-point bending method are suitable. For the reclosable cover flap of containers in accordance with the present invention or for portions of one such reclosable cover flap the two-point bending method is preferred. The measurement conditions are defined in such a way that the test piece is not subjected to any significant permanent deformation during the test, nor is the range of validity of the equations for calculating the bending stiffness exceeded.

In a container in accordance with the present invention a package containing a group of consumer goods is received within a hinge lid housing of the type comprising a box and a lid hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across the back of the container. The container comprises a reclosable flap movable between a closed position and an open position. In the open position, the reclosable flap is lifted off a plane defined by a top wall of the package. Thus, an upper access opening of the package is defined or revealed, such that consumer goods contained in the package can be removed through said access opening. In the closed position, the reclosable flap occludes the access opening.

An end portion of the reclosable cover flap is permanently affixed to the inner surface of a front wall of the lid. Accordingly, upon opening the lid, the reclosable cover flap is moved from the closed position towards the open position and forms an S-shaped form.

In contrast to existing containers, the reclosable cover flap comprises an opposing portion adjacent to the end portion such that, when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the opposing portion folds towards the end portion. Accordingly, an inner surface of the opposing portion faces an inner surface of the end portion, and the opposing portion defines a proximal portion of the S-shaped form. Further, the reclosable cover flap comprises an intermediate portion adjacent to the opposing portion and extending distal from the end portion such that, when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the intermediate portion folds towards the opposing portion. Accordingly, an outer surface of the intermediate portion faces the outer surface of the opposing portion and the intermediate portion defines a distal portion of the S-shaped form. The end portion and the opposing portion of the reclosable cover flap are arranged relative to the inner surface of the lid front wall such that when, during movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, a back wall of the lid forms a predetermined closing angle with a back wall of the box, the opposing portion unfolds away from the end portion such that the reclosable cover flap substantially flattens and, in so doing, generates a sound.

Containers in accordance with the present invention provide to the consumer an audible indication that the access opening of the inner package has been occluded by the reclosable cover flap during movement of the lid from the open position back to the closed position. Thus, even though the consumer cannot visually inspect the access opening, because the upper portion of the inner package is being progressively covered by the lid of the outer housing, the consumer receives a confirmation that the consumer goods are safely retained within the inner package. This is particularly advantageous in those embodiments where the cover flap is provided in the form of a resealable adhesive label, since the sound produced by the cooperation of the end portion of the cover flap and the adjacent connecting portion provides the consumer an audible indication that the access opening has been effectively resealed. Accordingly, the consumer is made aware that the freshness of the consumer goods within the package may be more efficiently preserved.

Further, as will be explained in more detail below, in some embodiments it is possible to optimise the sound amplitude produced upon closing the access opening, particularly when closing the lid at a predetermined speed. Thus, containers in accordance with the invention may advantageously have a distinctive audible signature.

Because the generation of an audible indication of re-closing of the access opening is attained by means of a specific arrangement of elements of the container, it is easy to manufacture containers in accordance with the invention without requiring any extensive modification to existing methods and apparatus. As will also be explained in more detail below, the selection of specific materials for the manufacture of the container or components thereof may also advantageously lead to the generation of a sound that is significantly louder than the sound from closing an auto-reclosable pack of the type known in the art.

In general, in containers in accordance with the present invention, the end portion and the opposing portion of the reclosable cover flap are arranged relative to the inner surface of the lid front wall such that when, during movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, a back wall of the lid forms a predetermined closing angle with a back wall of the box, the opposing portion unfolds away from the end portion such that the reclosable cover flap quickly snaps into its substantially flat state and generates a sound.

In the closed position, the back wall of the lid and the back wall of the box are essentially in alignment, and so the angle they form is of about 180 degrees. As the lid is opened and moved away from the closed position, the angle formed by the back wall of the lid and the back wall of the box decreases, the back wall of the lid pivoting about the hinge line and moving towards the back wall of the box.

Preferably, the predetermined closing angle at which the reclosable cover flap flattens to generate a sound is at least about 1 10 degrees. More preferably, the predetermined angle is at least about 120 degrees. Even more preferably, the predetermined angle is at least about 130 degrees. In addition, or as an alternative, the predetermined closing angle at which the reclosable cover flap flattens to generate a sound is less than about 170 degrees. More preferably, the predetermined angle is less than about 160 degrees. Even more preferably, the predetermined angle is less than about 150 degrees. In preferred embodiments, the predetermined closing angle is from about 1 10 degrees to about 170 degrees, more preferably from about 120 degrees to about 160 degrees. In particularly preferred embodiments, the predetermined closing angle is about 140 degrees.

Preferably, a surface area of the opposing portion is at least about 10 square millimetres. More preferably, a surface area of the opposing portion is at least about 40 square millimetres. In addition, or as an alternative, a surface area of the opposing portion is preferably less than about 150 square millimetres. More preferably, a surface area of the opposing portion is less than about 80 square millimetres.

In preferred embodiments, a surface area of the opposing portion is from about 10 square millimetres to about 150 square millimetres, more preferably from about 40 square millimetres to about 80 square millimetres.

Preferably, a height of the opposing portion is at least about 6 millimetres. More preferably, a height of the opposing portion is at least about 8 millimetres. In addition, or as an alternative, a height of the opposing portion is preferably less than about 14 millimetres. More preferably, a height of the opposition portion is less than about 12 millimetres. In particularly preferred embodiments, a height of the opposing portion is from about 6 millimetres to about 14 millimetres, even more preferably from about 8 millimetres to about 12 millimetres.

Preferably, a bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at least at the opposing portion is at least about 30 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm]. More preferably, a bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at least at the opposing portion is at least about 50 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm]. In addition, or as an alternative, a bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at least at the opposing portion is less than about 200 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm]. More preferably, a bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at least at the opposing portion is less than about 180 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm].

In preferred embodiments, a bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at least at the opposing portion is from about 30 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm] to about 200 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm].

The bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap may be adjusted by varying geometric parameters of the cover flap such as, for example, the thickness. However, the bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap will also depend on the nature of the material or materials used for forming the reclosable cover flap.

The bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap may be substantially constant over the whole of the reclosable cover flap. As an alternative, the bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at the opposing portion may differ from the bending stiffness of the remainder of the reclosable cover flap. In particular, the bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at the opposing portion may be greater than the bending stiffness of the remainder of the reclosable cover flap. This may be achieved in several different ways.

For example, additional material may be provided at the opposing portion to locally increase the bending stiffness compared with a base bending stiffness of the remainder of the reclosable cover flap, such that the bending stiffness at the opposing portion falls within the ranges identified above.

As an alternative, the reclosable cover flap may be formed from a material having a bending stiffness falling within the ranges disclosed above, and the flexibility of the remainder of the cover flap may be increased by the provision of a plurality of crease lines extending transversely across the reclosable cover flap over at least an area of the remainder of the cover flap. The transverse crease lines in the remainder of the reclosable cover flap increase the pliability of the material from which the cover flap is formed. This is advantageous in that the remainder of the cover flap can thus more easily bend during opening and closing. In addition, by varying certain parameters of the transverse crease lines, such as depth, width or mutual distance, it is possible to impart different levels of pliability to the remainder of the cover flap or even to different sections of the remainder of the cover flap.

As a further alternative, the reclosable cover flap may be formed from a material having a bending stiffness lower than the lower end values of the ranges disclosed above, and the flexibility of the opposing portion may be decreased by the provision of a plurality of crease lines extending longitudinally across at least an area of the opposing portion. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is understood that longitudinal crease lines in the opposing portion effectively increase a resistance of the opposing portion to bend into the S-shaped form of the reclosable cover flap. Accordingly, a cover flap wherein the opposing portion comprises a plurality of longitudinal crease lines has been found to snap into its substantially flattened state particularly quickly when the lid of the container is closed, and this generates a sound with a sound amplitude such that is very easy to hear for the consumer.

Accordingly, it is advantageously possible to tune the pliability of the cover flap so as to further facilitate the unfolding associated with the generation of a sound indicating that the cover flap has been reclosed. Alternatives wherein the cover flap is provided with crease lines are generally preferred over the variant wherein additional material is provided at the opposing portion, since they result in a less complex manufacturing process and allow for a finer tuning of the bending stiffness of the opposing portion and of the remainder of the cover flap.

In some embodiments, the cover flap is partly separable from the remainder of the package along weakened lines formed in the upper wall of the inner package, or in the upper wall and the front wall of the inner package. The weakened lines define at least a front edge and side edges of the access opening when the cover flap is separated from the remainder of the inner package. The expression "weakened line" is used herein to describe a portion of a surface of the package (or the blank from which the package is formed) wherein the material from which the package (or blank) is formed has been weakened, such as by forming a creased line, a perforated line, a pre-cut line, or by ablating some of the material. For example, lines of weakness such as cut lines may be formed along three sides of the cover flap, such that the cover flap that is only partly separable from the remainder of the package and is substantially hinged to the remainder of the package along a line connecting the free end points of the cut lines.

A front end portion of the cover flap is permanently affixed to the inner surface of the lid. This may be achieved, for example, by providing a glue strip on the outer surface of the cover flap and particularly at a front end portion of the cover flap. The cover flap may be affixed to an inner surface of a front wall of the lid. Alternatively, where the lid comprises a further reinforcement panel depending from the lid front wall and folded inwards to lie against the inner surface of the lid front wall, then the cover flap may be affixed to the reinforcement panel.

One such cover flap becomes partly separated from the remainder of the package when the lid is opened for the first time. As the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position for the first time, the lid pulls the end portion of the cover flap - to which it is attached - away from the plane of the respective wall of the package, and the remainder of the cover flap follows as the lid continues its opening movement. Thus, the inside of the package becomes exposed to, and accessible for, the consumer.

In these embodiments, the package and particularly, by virtue of the structure described above, the cover flap, may for example be formed from a multi-layer laminate. One such laminate comprises at least an outer layer and an inner layer. In order for the cover flap to be separable from the remainder of the package upon opening the lid for the first time, weakened lines are formed in all the layers of the laminate structure. The weakened lines in the outer layer delimit an outer panel of the cover flap and the weakened lines in the inner layer delimit an inner panel of the cover flap, the outer panel of the cover flap directly overlying and being affixed to the inner panel of the cover flap. The weakened lines in the outer layer and the inner layer are arranged such that the outer panel of the cover flap extends beyond a periphery of the inner panel of the cover flap. Accordingly, an access opening defined in the inner layer when the cover flap is moved into the open position has a smaller surface area than an access opening defined in the outer layer when the cover flap is moved into the open position. In addition, a peripheral portion of the outer panel of the cover flap extends around the access opening defined in the inner layer when the cover flap is moved into the open position. This is advantageous in that it helps provide a better closure of the package, such that it is easier to prevent the ingress of dust or other material into the package, as well as to prevent the loss of any content from the package.

By way of example, both outer layer and inner layer may comprise a polymeric material. In some embodiments, the laminate may comprise a further, intermediate layer sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer. The intermediate layer may, for example, be formed from foil, such as an aluminium foil. One such aluminium laminate may have a thickness of about 12 micrometres. One such aluminium laminate is preferably coated with a layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a thickness of about 20 micrometres. This combination of materials has been found to impart the cover flap with particularly suitable values of bending stiffness.

In alternative embodiments, the cover flap comprises a reclosable adhesive label occluding an access opening of the package and extending beyond the periphery of the access opening of the package. The reclosable adhesive label is at least partly releasably affixed to the package by a resealable adhesive provided on a first area of the inner surface of reclosable adhesive label extending about at least a front edge of the access opening.

Preferably, the reclosable adhesive label is permanently affixed to an attachment portion of the inner package by means of a permanent adhesive provided on a second area of the inner surface of the reclosable adhesive label. In some embodiments, the attachment portion is adjacent the access opening and located at the back of a top wall of the package. In alternative embodiments, the attachment portion may extend distal from the access opening and be located at the top of a back wall of the package.

It will be understood that the access opening may extend in its entirety in the top wall of the package. As an alternative, the access opening may extend over part of the top wall and part of the front wall, or part of the top wall and part of the back wall, or even across the top wall and parts of both the top wall and the back wall. Depending on where the access opening is arranged relative to the walls of the package, the location of the attachment portion of the inner package will generally be distal from the access opening and preferably be located at the back of a back edge of the access opening.

In these embodiments, the reclosable adhesive label may for example be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and have a thickness of about 45 micrometres. One such reclosable adhesive label has been found to have particularly suitable values of bending stiffness at the opposing portion.

In other embodiments, the reclosable adhesive label comprises at least a bottom layer and a top layer. The bottom layer comprises a cut-out portion at least partly aligned with the access opening of the package and is permanently affixed to the package. The top layer is permanently affixed to the bottom layer by means of a permanent adhesive provided on a back hinge area of the inner surface of the top layer. In addition, the top layer is at least partly releasably affixed to the bottom layer by means of a second adhesive provided on a peeling area of the inner surface of the top layer extending distal from the hinge area. Thus, the top layer is movable from a closed position, wherein the top layer overlies at least the access opening, and an open position, wherein the top layer is lifted off the bottom layer to reveal the cut-out portion. The end portion of the cover flap affixed to the lid is defined by an end portion of the top layer such that, upon opening the lid the top layer is moved from the closed position towards the open position.

Suitable materials for the layers of once such reclosable adhesive label will be known to the skilled person. Examples include thermoplastic materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom layer comprises polypropylene and the top layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate. In some embodiments, the top layer is thicker than the bottom layer.

Preferably, the top layer has a thickness of at least about 30 micrometres. More preferably, the top layer has a thickness of at least about 35 micrometres. In addition, or as an alternative, the top layer preferably has a thickness of less than about 70 micrometres. More preferably, the top layer has a thickness of less than about 60 micrometres. In preferred embodiments, the top layer has a thickness of about 50 micrometres. The bottom layer preferably has a thickness of at least about 20 micrometres. More preferably, the bottom layer has a thickness of at least about 25 micrometres. In addition, or as an alternative, the bottom layer has a thickness of less than about 40 micrometres. More preferably, the bottom layer has a thickness of less than about 35 micrometres. In preferred embodiments, the bottom layer has a thickness of about 30 micrometres. In some preferred embodiments of containers in according with the present invention, the top layer has a thickness of about 50 micrometres and the bottom layer has a thickness of about 30 micrometres.

Preferably, the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion to generate a sound when the lid is moved from the open position towards the closed position at a closing speed of at least about 90 degrees per second. More preferably, the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion to generate a sound when the lid is moved from the open position towards the closed position at a closing speed of at least about 120 degrees per second.

In preferred embodiments, the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion and generate a sound of at least about 70 decibels. More preferably, the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion and generate a sound of at least about 75 decibels. Even more preferably, the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion and generate a sound of at least about 80 decibels. In particularly preferred embodiments, the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion and generate a sound of at least about 85 decibels.

Sound waves are introduced into a medium by the displacement of an object. Without wishing to be bound to theory, it is understood that the unfolding of the opposing portion away from the end portion, which results in a flattening of the reclosable cover flap, generates sound waves. This pattern of compressions and rarefactions is a pressure disturbance that travels through the medium and transports energy as it moves. The amount of energy transported past a given area of the medium per unit of time is known as the intensity of the sound wave.

The human ear is capable of detecting sound waves over a particularly wide range of sound levels, and the threshold of hearing is conventionally assigned to a sound level of 0 decibels, which corresponds to an intensity of the sound wave of 10^"12 Watts per square metre. A sound that has an amplitude that is 10 times higher is assigned a sound level of 20 decibels (logarithmic scale). Normal conversation at 1 .5 metres is commonly associated with a sound level of about 60 decibels. Thus, such containers advantageously provide the consumer with an audible indication of closing with an amplitude that is at least 5 times larger than normal conversation and can therefore be easily heard over the sound of human voice in a normal conversation. More preferably, containers in accordance with the present invention provide the consumer with an audible indication of closing with an amplitude that is at least 10 times larger than normal conversation.

The sound generated by a container in accordance with the present invention may be measured with a sound pressure level meter with the sensor arranged about 10 centimetres away from the container.

Containers according to the present invention preferably find application as containers for consumer goods, in particular elongate consumer goods such as smoking articles, like for example cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. 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. 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 types of consumer goods may be housed inside a container in accordance with the present invention.

The package, as well as the hinge lid container wherein the package is received, is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped comprising two wider walls spaced apart by two narrower walls. Alternatively, the hinge lid container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof.

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.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for consumer goods, the container comprising a box; a lid hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container; a package of consumer goods within the container; and a reclosable cover flap movable between a closed position, wherein the reclosable flap occludes an upper access opening of the package, and an open position, wherein the reclosable cover flap is lifted off a plane defined by a top wall of the package to define or reveal the access opening, such that consumer goods are removable through the access opening. The reclosable cover flap has a bending stiffness from about 30 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm] to about 200 milliNewtons millimetre [N-mm]. In the closed position the reclosable flap extends at least partly over both the top wall of the package and a front wall of the package. A first end portion of the reclosable cover flap is permanently affixed to the inner surface of a front wall of the lid by means of adhesive provided on the outer surface of the first end portion of the reclosable cover flap. This is such that, upon opening the lid, the reclosable cover flap is moved from the closed position towards the open position to form an S-shaped form.

The reclosable cover flap comprises an opposing portion adjacent to and depending from the first end portion. The opposing portion folds towards the first end portion such that an inner surface of the opposing portion faces an inner surface of the end portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position towards the closed position. Thus, the opposing portion defines a proximal portion of the S-shaped form.

Further, the reclosable cover flap comprises an intermediate portion adjacent to and depending from the opposing portion, and extending distal from the end portion. The intermediate portion folds towards the opposing portion such that an outer surface of the intermediate portion faces the outer surface of the opposing portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position towards the closed position. Thus, the intermediate portion defines a distal portion of the S-shaped form.

The first end portion and the opposing portion of the reclosable cover flap are arranged relative to the inner surface of the lid front wall such that when, during movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, a back wall of the lid forms a predetermined release angle with a back wall of the box, the opposing portion unfolds away from the end portion such that the reclosable cover flap substantially flattens and generates a sound.

An opposite end portion of the reclosable cover flap is either permanently affixed to the inner package or depends from the remainder of the inner package. In more detail, depending on the shape and size of the access opening of the package, the opposite end of the reclosable cover flap may be at the top of the package or at the back of the package. It should be understood that the opposing portion and the intermediate portion extend between the first end portion and the opposite end portion of the reclosable cover flap. In the following, reference may also be made to the "first end portion" as a "front end portion" of the reclosable cover flap and to the "opposite end portion" as a "back end portion" of the reclosable flap. This does not mean necessarily that the "back end portion" of the reclosable flap is at the back of the package, but merely that occupies a position further towards back of the container than the first end portion (front end portion) of the reclosable cover flap.

Thus, in containers in accordance with the present invention, the reclosable cover flap comprises - from front to back - a front end portion, an opposing portion, an intermediate portion, and an opposite end portion.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is understood that as the lid is moved away from the open position back towards the closed position, different angular positions of the lid can be associated with different states of the reclosable cover flap. In more detail, the lid is moved from an initial bi-stable position, at which the flexible material from which the reclosable cover material is formed begins to convert elastic energy into a spring potential, through a range of intermediate angular positions over which the reclosable cover flap maintains the S-shaped configuration and the spring potential is progressively increased, all the way to the predetermined release angle, at which the spring potential is released and the reclosable cover flap snaps into a "flattened" configuration, that is, one where the opposing portion and the adjacent intermediate portion of the reclosable cover flap lie substantially in the same plane.

Preferably, the predetermined release angle at which the reclosable cover flap snaps into the flattened configuration to generate a sound is at least about 1 10 degrees. More preferably, the predetermined release angle is at least about 120 degrees. Even more preferably, the predetermined release angle is at least about 130 degrees. In addition, or as an alternative, the predetermined release angle at which the reclosable cover flap snaps into the flattened configuration to generate a sound is less than about 170 degrees. More preferably, the predetermined release angle is less than about 160 degrees. Even more preferably, the predetermined release angle is less than about 150 degrees. 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 perspective view of a container in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side sectional view of a detail of the container of Figure 1 .

Figure 1 shows a container 10 in accordance with the present invention. The container 10 comprises an outer housing 12 which is a rectangular parallelepiped and includes a box 14 and a lid 16. The lid 16 is hinged about a hinge line extending across a back wall of the housing 12 and is pivotable between an open position (shown in Figure 1 ) and a closed position. Further, the container 10 comprises a package 18 of smoking articles housed in the box 14.

The package 18 comprises a reclosable cover flap 20 movable between a closed position, wherein the reclosable flap occludes an upper access 22 opening of the package 18, and an open position, wherein the reclosable cover flap is lifted off a plane defined by a top wall of the package 18 to reveal the access opening 22. Thus, consumer goods are removable through the access opening 22.

In more detail, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , the reclosable cover flap 20 comprises a reclosable adhesive label occluding the access opening 22 and extending beyond the periphery of the access opening 22, the reclosable adhesive label being at least partly releasably affixed to the package 18 by a resealable adhesive provided on a first area of the inner surface of reclosable adhesive label extending about at least a front edge of the access opening 22.

The reclosable cover flap 20 is permanently affixed to the inner surface of a front wall of the lid 16 by means of adhesive provided on the outer surface of an end portion 24 (see Figure 2) of the reclosable cover flap 20. Accordingly, upon opening the lid 16, the reclosable cover flap 20 is moved from the closed position towards the open position to form an S-shaped form 26, as illustrated in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 2, the reclosable cover flap 20 comprises an opposing portion 28 adjacent to the end portion 24. When the lid 16 is moved back towards the closed position, that is, when the reclosable cover flap 20 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the opposing portion 28 folds towards the end portion 24, such that an inner surface of the opposing portion 28 faces an inner surface of the end portion 24. Thus, the opposing portion defines a proximal portion of the S-shaped form 26.

In addition, the reclosable cover flap 20 comprises an intermediate portion 30 adjacent to the opposing portion 28 and extending distal from the end portion 24. As the lid 16 is moved back towards the closed position, the intermediate portion 30 folds towards the opposing portion 28, so that an outer surface of the intermediate portion 30 faces the outer surface of the opposing portion 28. Thus, the intermediate portion 30 defines a distal portion of the S-shaped form 26.

The end portion 24 and the opposing portion 28 of the reclosable cover flap 20 are arranged relative to the inner surface of front wall of the lid 16 such that when, during movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, a back wall 32 of the lid 16 forms a predetermined closing angle a with a back wall 34 of the box 14, the opposing portion 28 unfolds away from the end portion 24 such that the reclosable cover flap 20 substantially flattens and generates a sound of about 70 decibels when the lid is moved from the open position towards the closed position at a closing speed of about 100 degrees per second.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the predetermined closing angle a is about 140 degrees. The opposing portion 28 has a surface area of about 70 square millimetres. A bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap 20 at the opposing portion 28 is about 80 milliNewtons millimetre [N -mm].

Claims

1 . A container for consumer goods, comprising:

a box;

a lid hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container; a package of consumer goods within the container; and

a reclosable cover flap movable between a closed position, wherein the reclosable flap occludes an upper access opening of the package, and an open position, wherein the reclosable cover flap is lifted off a plane defined by a top wall of the package to define or reveal the access opening, such that consumer goods are removable through the access opening;

wherein the reclosable cover flap is permanently affixed to the inner surface of a front wall of the lid by means of adhesive provided on the outer surface of an end portion of the reclosable cover flap, such that upon opening the lid the reclosable cover flap is moved from the closed position towards the open position to form an S-shaped form;

wherein the reclosable cover flap comprises:

an opposing portion adjacent to the end portion, the opposing portion folding towards the end portion such that an inner surface of the opposing portion faces an inner surface of the end portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the opposing portion thus defining a proximal portion of the S-shaped form; and

an intermediate portion adjacent to the opposing portion and extending distal from the end portion, the intermediate portion folding towards the opposing portion such that an outer surface of the intermediate portion faces the outer surface of the opposing portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the intermediate portion thus defining a distal portion of the S-shaped form; and

wherein the end portion and the opposing portion of the reclosable coverflap are arranged relative to the inner surface of the lid front wall such that when, during movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, a back wall of the lid forms a predetermined closing angle with a back wall of the box, the opposing portion unfolds away from the end portion such that the reclosable cover flap substantially flattens and generates a sound.

2. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined closing angle is from about 1 10 degrees to about 170 degrees.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined closing angle is from about 120 degrees to about 160 degrees.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface area of the opposing portion is at least about 10 square millimetres.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface area of the opposing portion is less than about 150 square millimetres.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at the opposing portion is at least about 30 milliNewtons millimetre.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bending stiffness of the reclosable cover flap at the opposing portion is less than about 200 milliNewtons millimetre.

8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the coverflap is partly separable from the remainder of the package along weakened lines formed in the upper wall of the inner package, the weakened lines defining at least a front edge and side edges of the access opening when the cover flap is separated from the remainder of the inner package.

9. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cover flap comprises a reclosable adhesive label occluding the access opening of the package and extending beyond the periphery of the access opening of the package, the reclosable adhesive label being at least partly releasably affixed to the package by a resealable adhesive provided on a first area of the inner surface of reclosable adhesive label extending about at least a front edge of the access opening.

10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the reclosable adhesive label is permanently affixed to an attachment portion of the inner package by means of a permanent adhesive provided on a second area of the inner surface of the reclosable adhesive label, wherein the attachment portion is adjacent the access opening of the package and located at the back of a top wall of the package.

1 1 . A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cover flap comprises a reclosable adhesive label occluding the access opening of the package and extending beyond the periphery of the access opening of the package, the reclosable adhesive label comprising at least a bottom layer and a top layer; wherein the bottom layer comprises a cut-out portion at least partly aligned with the access opening of the package and is permanently affixed to the package, and wherein the top layer is permanently affixed to the bottom layer by means of a permanent adhesive provided on a back hinge area of the inner surface of the top layer, and at least partly releasably affixed to the bottom layer by means of a second adhesive provided on a peeling area of the inner surface of the top layer extending distal from the hinge area, such that the top layer is movable from a closed position, wherein the top layer overlies at least the access opening, and an open position, wherein the top layer is lifted off the bottom layer to reveal the cut-out portion; the end portion of the cover flap affixed to the lid being defined by an end portion of the top layer such that, upon opening the lid the top layer is moved from the closed position towards the open position.

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion to generate a sound when the lid is moved from the open position towards the closed position at a closing speed of at least about 90 degrees per second.

13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion to generate a sound when the lid is moved from the open position towards the closed position at a closing speed of at least about 120 degrees per second.

14. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the opposing portion is adapted to unfold away from the end portion and generate a sound of at least about 70 decibels.

15. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the consumer goods are smoking articles.

16. A container for consumer goods, comprising:

a box;

a reclosable cover flap having a bending stiffness from about 30 milliNewtons millimetre to about 200 milliNewtons millimetre and movable between a closed position, wherein the reclosable flap occludes an upper access opening of the package, and an open position, wherein the reclosable cover flap is lifted off a plane defined by a top wall of the package to define or reveal the access opening, such that consumer goods are removable through the access opening;

wherein in the closed position the reclosable flap extends at least partly over both the top wall of the package and a front wall of the package; a first end portion of the reclosable cover flap being permanently affixed to the inner surface of a front wall of the lid by means of adhesive provided on the outer surface of the first end portion of the reclosable cover flap, such that upon opening the lid the reclosable cover flap is moved from the closed position towards the open position to form an S-shaped form;

wherein the reclosable cover flap comprises:

an opposing portion adjacent to and depending from the first end portion, the opposing portion folding towards the first end portion such that an inner surface of the opposing portion faces an inner surface of the first end portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the opposing portion thus defining a proximal portion of the S- shaped form; and

an intermediate portion adjacent to and depending from the opposing portion, and extending distal from the first end portion; wherein the intermediate portion folds towards the opposing portion such that an outer surface of the intermediate portion faces the outer surface of the opposing portion when the reclosable cover flap is moved from the open position to the closed position, the intermediate portion thus defining a distal portion of the S-shaped form; and

wherein the first end portion and the opposing portion of the reclosable cover flap are arranged relative to the inner surface of the lid front wall such that when, during movement of the lid from the open position to the closed position, a back wall of the lid forms a predetermined release angle with a back wall of the box, the opposing portion unfolds away from the first end portion such that the reclosable cover flap substantially flattens and generates a sound.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined release angle is from about 1 10 degrees to about 170 degrees.