DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The subject matter of the present invention, in general, pertains to a pack for smoking articles, and more particularly to a reclosable pack for smoking articles.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Consumer products like cigarettes are sold in unit boxes that contain about 10 to 20 cigarettes. Usually the consumer removes one cigarette from the pack or the box at a time. The remaining cigarettes are in the same box until the last one is exhausted. Consequently, the pack or the box undergoes multiple opening-closing cycles and the cigarettes are exposed to various environmental conditions. Thus, the product quality tends to deteriorate during the usage cycles.

[003] Reclosable packs for smoking articles are currently available. However, these known and available packaging poses significant usability issues, particularly while accessing the product. Currently available reclosable packs have a sealed enclosure of the barrier material with a predefined access opening to remove cigarettes. Usually this access opening is covered by a resealable flap that provides the reclosable feature. The flap is often equipped with a tongue-like holding feature which enables the user to easily opening and closing of the flap. The disadvantage of these tongue-like, holding features is that there is very little space for the finger to lift the tongue-like holding feature as the flap is aligned to horizontal edge of the outer packaging in hinged lid packs. Further such holding tabs get completely flattened with closure of the hinge lid after each usage causing difficulty of accessing the tab for each usage. It has been observed that opening such completely flattened flap often leads to tearing of the flap itself.

[004] Reference is made to WO 2014/136049 A1, wherein a package with an inner package with reclosable extraction opening is disclosed. The packages disclosed therein offer preservation of organoleptic characteristics of the cigarette tobacco that are formed by folding and het sealing a sheet of impermeable material.

[005] Reference is also made to WO 2000/001594 A1, wherein a label for resealing a pack of smoking articles is disclosed. In particular, packaging of smoking articles, more particularly, a lamella or label for a resealable enclosure of a cigarette pack and a cigarette pack having a resealable enclosure comprising a lamella. Such lamella is for hinging of the tab at the correct position and angle, avoidance of tearing at the hinge and controlled spring back of the tab after folding at the hinge.

[006] Reference is also made to WO 1998/022367 A1, wherein a packaging for smoking articles is disclosed. More particularly, packaging for smoking articles such as cigarettes that acts as an effective barrier against ingress and egress of humidity of contaminant during transport and storage of the packed cigarettes, but which also allows maintenance of that effective barrier property even after the package has been first opened by the user. It provides a resealable sealed barrier layer by defining in the barrier layer an access aperture and over the aperture and extending beyond all of its openable edges a cover layer having a permanently tacky surface engageable with the barrier material adjacent to the edges of the aperture.

[007] Reference is also made to WO 2012/073001 A1, wherein a packaging for tobacco industry products such as cigarettes is disclosed. It provides a pack having a body and a hinged lid. Further a barrier layer forms a sealed enclosure inside the body with an access aperture to the closure. A moveable cover is configured to extend over the access aperture along with a graspable tab to easily accessible to the user.

[008] Reference is also made to WO 2013/120913 A1, wherein a container for consumer goods, with a resealable inner package with reinforcing elements is disclosed. More particularly, it relates to a container comprising an inner package of consumer goods within the outer housing having an access through which consumer goods can be removed an inner frame within the inner package and an adhesive label covering the access opening of the inner package, the said label partially releasably affixed to the outer surface of the inner package by a releasable adhesive.

[009] Reference is also made to WO 2012/095135 A1, wherein a packing with withdrawal opening is disclosed. This package with withdrawal opening is covered with bonding agent-free grasp latch by a responsible and/or sticking catch label, in particular a cigarette packing of the type folding box with box part, cover and interior packing and/or collar.

[0010] Reference is also made to US 8783454 B2, wherein a wrapped container with adhesive label is disclosed. More particularly, the wrapped container for consumer goods includes a container at least one bundle of consumer goods housed within the container and wrapped in an inner liner an outer wrapper around the filled container and at least one adhesive label removal mounted on a separate carrier element.

[0011] While provisions in a hinged lid pack tend to provide better or extended shelf life of the product when they happen to be stored or used in unwelcome environmental conditions combined with varied temperature and humidity, such provisions and arrangements are not consumer friendly as the access and removal of cigarettes are neither easy nor convenient. Moreover, there is a possibility of tearing the reclosable flap or label that inevitably leads to lowering the shelf life. Consequently, problems associated with consumer usability of packages of consumable products specially relating to the flapped or labelled reclosable pack remain unattended.

[0012] The subject invention pertains to a reclosable pack for smoking articles. In particular, to a reclosable pack for smoking articles that is convenient to use while also ensuring optimal product quality during usage cycle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a reclosable pack for smoking articles.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a reclosable pack for smoking articles that overcomes the drawbacks of conventional packs.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinged lid pack containing a sealed enclosure with an access opening.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is that the access opening is covered by a reclosable label.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is the presence of at least one angularly placed graspable tab that remains raised appropriately for easy access to the products.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is the graspable tab that may be printed or kept transparent as deemed suitable for the purpose of communication and easy identification.

[0020] Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, a reclosable pack for smoking articles wherein a hinged lid pack containing a sealed enclosure with an access opening where the access opening is covered by a reclosable label is disclosed.

[0021] Briefly, a reclosable pack for smoking articles is disclosed. A hinged lid pack containing a sealed enclosure with an access opening where the access opening is covered by a reclosable label is characterized by the presence of an angularly placed graspable tab which remains raised appropriately for easy access to the products.

[0022] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0023] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] Figure 1 illustrates the reclosable pack with its hinged lid closed according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 illustrates the reclosable pack with its hinged lid opened according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 illustrates the reclosable pack with opened label exposing access opening for cigarettes according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 illustrates the flat drawing of the hinged lid pack according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 illustrates the flat drawing of the bundling material according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 illustrates the drawing of a typical label according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 7 illustrates the flat drawing of the inner stiffener according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 8 illustrates a typical collation of a bunch of cigarettes according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 9 illustrates the cigarette collation with the folded inner stiffener placed over it according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 10 illustrates the label adhered onto the bundling material according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 11 illustrates a sealed enclosure with the label, containing the cigarette collation and folded inner stiffener inside according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 12 illustrates labels with examples of patterns on the label tab according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 13 illustrates inner stiffener with various bump profiles according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 14 illustrates a superimposition of various pack components according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 15 illustrates a flowchart indicating the manner in which the reclosable pack is manufactured according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0039] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0040] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0041] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0042] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0043] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0044] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0045] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0046] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or component but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0047] The subject invention lies in providing a reclosable pack for smoking articles.

[0048] In the present invention, a reclosable pack for smoking articles is disclosed wherein a hinged lid pack containing a sealed enclosure of a barrier material with an access opening where the access opening is covered by a reclosable label is characterized by presence of an angularly placed graspable tab that remains raised appropriately for easy access to the products is disclosed.

[0049] In one implementation, a reclosable pack for smoking articles is provided for.

[0050] In one implementation, a hinged lid pack containing a sealed enclosure with an access opening is provided for.

[0051] In one implementation, the sealed enclosure of barrier material referred to as ‘bundling’ is provided for.

[0052] In one implementation, within the sealed enclosure, a hard layer referred to as ‘inner stiffener’ covering the cigarettes is provided for.

[0053] In one implementation, the access opening is covered by an adhesive reclosable label is provided for.

[0054] In one implementation, presence of an angularly placed graspable tab that remains raised appropriately for easy access and removal of the products is provided for.

[0055] In one implementation, the graspable tab that is placed on the lower corner of the label is provided for.

[0056] The reclosable pack for smoking articles with a hinged lid pack contains a sealed enclosure and an access opening where the access opening is covered by a reclosable label. The presence of an angularly placed graspable tab, raised appropriately allows easy access to the products.

[0057] Figure 1 illustrates the hinged lid pack ‘outer pack’ containing a sealed enclosure, illustrated in Figure 11 of a barrier material referred to as ‘bundling’ (8) for a bunch of cigarettes (9). Within the sealed enclosure there is a hard layer referred to as ‘inner stiffener’ (12) covering the bunch of cigarettes as illustrated in Figure 9. The sealed enclosure has an access opening (11) covered by an adhesive sheet referred to as ‘label’ (5) for accessing and removing cigarettes.

[0058] According to an implementation of the present invention, a bunch of cigarettes (9) is first covered with an inner stiffener (12). The inner stiffener has a cut out (13) on its front panel for accessing the cigarettes.

[0059] The bundling material (8) has a profile cut which defines the access opening (11) for cigarettes, starting from back panel and running across top and front panel of the formed and sealed enclosure.

[0060] A reclosable label (5) is adhered onto the bundling (8) covering the access opening (11) as illustrated in Figure 10. Further, the bundling (8) along with the label (5) is wrapped around the bunch of cigarettes (9) and inner stiffener (12) and sealed to create the product enclosure as illustrated in Figure 11.

[0061] The sealed enclosure with the reclosable label (5) covering the access opening (11) is further packed using the hinged lid blank, as illustrated in Figure 4, to form the hinged lid pack, as illustrated in Figure 1. The pack formation is such that, the portion of the sealed enclosure with access opening (11) covered by the reclosable label (5) is exposed when the lid (2) is swivelled open along the hinge line (10). The reclosable label (5) of the present invention facilitates the cigarette access by providing at least one easily graspable tab (6), disposed angularly and positioned around at least one lower corner of the label, thus advantageously allowing the user to grasp it either from the sides or from the bottom.

[0062] The holding tab (6) has at least one angular weakening line (7) along which the tab can be folded back. In particular, the holding tab (6) has at least one angular weakening line (7) along which the tab is folded back by 180 degrees so that the reverse side of the holding tab (6r) faces the internal panel of the lid (4) while the lid is closed during pack formation. Thus, the folded holding tab (6) remains readily graspable for an easy access to cigarettes when the pack is opened for the first time by the consumer. The angular weakening line (7) runs between the horizontal and vertical edges of the label (5) on the front panel. The perpendicular distance of the tip of the holding tab (6) from the weakening line (7) is at least 4mm to ensure effective holding of the tab.

[0063] The reverse side of the label (5r) is rendered tacky, preferably using a resealable adhesive except for the area underside of the holding tab (6r); thus, allowing the label (5) to be peeled and resealed onto the bundling (8) to access cigarettes (9).

[0064] The label tab (6) is preferably rendered with patterns (14, 15, 16, 17) as exemplified in Figure 12, created by mechanical weakening like embossing/debossing or through depositions through printing, in order to provide improved grip and to keep the holding tab lifted from the rest of the label for easy access. Label tab (6) may be printed or kept transparent as deemed suitable for the purpose of communication and easy identification.

[0065] The inner stiffener (12) of hinged lid pack, has at least one specially shaped ‘bump’ feature (18, 19, 20, 21), as illustrated in Figure 13, located at a position such that the holding tab (6) of the label is superposed on the bump, as illustrated in Figure 14. The ‘bump’ shaped feature keeps the label holding tab always elevated thus preventing it from being completely flattened (6a) onto the bundling surface (8). The term ‘bump” may also referred to any “protrusion” or “bulging” or “projection” or “elevation” or “hump” or “knob” and the like that functions to keep the tab always raised.

[0066] The reclosable pack preferably has the bundling (8) material to be a laminate of poly-aluminium-poly or poly+poly or paper+poly, while the hinged lid pack and the inner stiffener (12) to be made of paper board having a thickness weight of not less than 200gsm. Preferably the label (5) material is to be such that the holding tab remains lifted for easy access after the tab is folded along the angular line of weakness. Further, the label (5) is to be lined with adhesive on one side, thereby making it resealable. Such material is to be a laminate of metalized poly+poly or metalized paper+poly or paper+poly. I.e., the label (5) and bundling material (8) are either a single layer or multilayer laminate of paper-poly, poly-poly, poly-aluminium-poly having a minimum thickness of 20micron.

[0067] The reclosable packs can be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles depending on the choice of the dimensions. The exterior surfaces of packs, bundling and label may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trademarks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia.

[0068] Although an improved, simple, easily accessible and superior reclosable pack for smoking articles has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices/apparatus described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the reclosable pack for smoking articles.
,CLAIMS:1. A reclosable pack for consumable articles and the like, said pack comprising:
a hinged lid pack, said lid adapted to securely house a plurality of consumable articles;
a sealed enclosure partially or wholly wrapping said articles;
a label lined with adhesive removably mounted on the sealed enclosure;
wherein the sealed enclosure is disposed inside the hinged lid pack; and
characterized by at least one angularly placed raised tab for easy access to the consumer goods.

2. The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure is a barrier material with an access opening.

3. The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access opening is covered by the adhesive label.

4. The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angularly placed tab is graspable.

5. The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure comprises a hard layer for covering the consumer goods.

6. The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the consumer goods is smoking articles/device, preferably, cigarettes or cigars, heat-not-burn formats, electronic cigarettes and the like.

7. The pack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the graspable tab is situated on lower corner of the adhesive label.

8. The pack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tab is graspable from side or from bottom of the label.

9. The pack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tab comprises at least one angular weakening line.

10. The pack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tab is preferably rendered with patterns, created by mechanical weakening like embossing/debossing or through depositions through printing.

11. The pack as claimed in claims 9 or 10, wherein the tab is foldable along the angular weakening line.

12. The pack as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rendered patterns, enables improved grip and keeps the holding tab lifted from the rest of the label for easy access.

13. The pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hard layer comprises at least one bump like feature.

14. The pack as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bump is located at a position such that the holding tab of the label is superposed on the bump.

15. The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinged lid pack is a paper board.

16. The pack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hard layer is a paper board.

17. The pack as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein weight of the paper board is not less than 200gsm.

18. The pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure is a multilayer laminates of poly-poly, poly-aluminium-poly, paper-poly, single layer of poly and combinations thereof.

19. The pack as claimed in claims 1, wherein minimum thickness of the sealed enclosure (bundling material) is at least 20 micron.

20. The pack as claimed in claims 1, wherein the label is a laminate of Poly-Poly, Poly-aluminium-Poly, Paper-Poly or Single layer of Poly.

21. The pack as claimed in claims 1, wherein minimum thickness of the label is at least 20 micron.