WO1999038776A1

WO1999038776A1 - Package for containing and dispensing articles

Info

Publication number: WO1999038776A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000331
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Anthony Wilkins; Anthony Tadeusz Hoffman
Original assignee: John Anthony Wilkins; Anthony Tadeusz Hoffman
Priority date: 1998-01-31
Filing date: 1999-02-01
Publication date: 1999-08-05
Also published as: AU2432699A; GB9802045D0

Abstract

A package for containing and dispensing articles comprises an outer casing (2) having an open side (3), an inner casing (1) slidable into and out of the outer casing through the open side, the inner casing having an aperture (4) in one end (5) thereof arranged so as to be opened as the inner casing is slid out of the outer casing, thereby permitting the articles contained in the inner casing (1) to be dispensed through the aperture (4).

Description

- 1 -

PACKAGE FOR CONTAINING AND DISPENSING ARTICLES Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a package for containing and dispensing articles, for example cigarettes, and confectionery articles. Background to the Invention

Conventionally, cigarette packs are of three types: a rectilinear cardboard sleeve having a sliding member therein formed from a flat piece of card with the ends folded over to form closure flaps which tuck into the sleeve; the more recent flip-top pack; and the style favoured in the USA having a soft sleeve with an openable portion at one end. Each type depends on secondary packaging, such as foil-backed paper internally, and cellophane wrapping externally, to prevent degradation of the cigarettes during storage. Further, each different brand of cigarette requires an individually-printed pack. Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a package for containing and dis- pensing articles, comprising an outer casing having an open side, an inner casing slidable into and out of the outer casing through the open side, the inner casing having an aperture in one end thereof arranged so as to be opened as the inner casing is slid out of the outer casing, thereby permitting articles contained in the inner casing to be dispensed through the aperture. The inner casing may be formed of card, but is preferably formed of a plastics material. The outer casing may also be formed of card, but is preferably formed of a plastics material, more preferably of a transparent material, the inner casing then carrying identifying indicia visible through the outer casing. The inner casing may then also be formed of a transparent material and be provided with a lining material, for example of paper, card or plastics foil or film, bearing the identifying indicia. In this way, the package may be standardised for a range of different brands of article, the identifying indicia - branding, colouring and the like - being printed only on the relatively cheap, and readily changed, lining material.

Where the casings are formed of plastics material, the material may be moulded, for example by injection moulding or injection blow moulding, but is preferably in the form of a semi-rigid plastics foil, for example comparable in stiffness with the - 2 -

card used to form conventional packs, folded and welded into the desired configuration. Alternatively, plastics sheet material may be formed into the desired shape by vacuum forming techniques.

The aperture in the end of the inner casing may extend for the whole of the end face of the casing or alternatively may comprise just one part of the end face, for example sufficient to allow a small number, for example one or two, of the articles contained within the inner casing to slide out of the aperture when the aperture is opened and the package tipped over.

The inner casing is preferably arranged to be a close sliding fit within the outer casing so as to keep the contents of the package securely contained when not required to be dispensed. Alternatively, means may be provided to hold the inner casing in its closed position within the outer casing until a predetermined opening force is exceeded. Such means may comprise a simple latching arrangement with an indentation pressed into the surface of one of the casings and a corresponding formation upstanding on the other to co-operate with the indentation.

The package of the present invention is convenient in use, affords improved presentation of the articles, and permits changes in package marking to be achieved quickly and economically. While the package is particularly described herein with reference to cigarettes, it is useful also for other products, such as confectionery items, tampons, crayons and pencils, and the package of the invention is therefore not limited to use as a cigarette package. Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the inner casing removed from the outer casing, both casings being formed of opaque material;

Figure 2 is a perspective view corresponding to that of Figure 1 , but with the casings formed of transparent material, and containing cigarettes; and

Figure 3 illustrates a paper insert for use with the inner casing of the embodiment of Figure 2 to display identifying indicia. - 3 -

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments

Referring first to Figure 1 , the package comprises an inner casing 1 which can be slid into and out of an outer casing 2. Each casing is in the form of a rectangular box, the outer casing 2 having one side 3 of the box open, while the inner casing has a square aperture 4 in the upper end 5 thereof and to one side of that end. Either or both of the inner and outer casings may be printed with identifying indicia, information, warning notices and the like.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 is essentially the same as in Figure 1 , except that the casings are formed of a transparent material, for example a transparent plastics semi-rigid foil, providing protection against moisture and crushing. Cigarettes 6 are inserted into the inner casing 1 through the aperture 4 before the inner casing 1 is inserted into the outer casing 2. Two cigarettes 6 are illustrated by way of example. The aperture is shown as square in the drawings, but it will be appreciated that other shapes may be used, for example circular or oval. While for novelty value the package may simply have identifying indicia etc printed on to the transparent outer or inner casing, for a more conventional appearance a printed paper or card insert 7 (Figure 3) may be introduced into the inner casing 1 during assembly thereof.

While the insert is shown in Figure 3 as being only three-sided, it will be appre- dated that it can be arranged to cover more than three sides of the inner casing to give the appearance of an opaque finish with appropriate indicia visible. Alternatively, the insert of Figure 3 may be inserted into the outer casing 2, the inner casing sliding within the insert. A plurality of separate inserts may be employed to co-operate to cover the sides of the inner or outer casing. The use of the insert provides a convenient way of changing the appearance of the package quickly - for example to advertise special offers, or to offer a range of different brands in the same basic packaging.

The package is illustrated as a rectilinear package, but other shapes and configurations are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, the inner and outer casings may each have at least one matching rounded profile.

Claims

- 4 -CLAIMS

1. A package for containing and dispensing articles, comprising an outer casing having an open side, an inner casing slidable into and out of the outer casing through the open side, the inner casing having an aperture in one end thereof arranged so as to be opened as the inner casing is slid out of the outer casing, thereby permitting articles contained in the inner casing to be dispensed through the aperture.

2. A package according to Claim 1 , wherein the inner casing is formed of card or a plastics material.

3. A package according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer casing is formed of a plastics material.

4. A package according to Claim 3, wherein the outer casing is formed of a transparent material.

5. A package according to Claim 4, wherein the inner casing carries identifying indicia visible through the outer casing.

6. A package according to Claim 5, wherein the inner casing is also formed of a transparent material and is provided with an opaque lining material bearing the identifying indicia.

7. A package according to Claim 6, wherein the opaque lining material is paper, card or plastics foil or film.

8. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the casings is formed by injection moulding or injection blow moulding of plastics material.

9. A package according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the casings is in the form of a semi-rigid plastics foil folded and welded into the desired configuration.

10. A package according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the casings is formed from plastics sheet material by vacuum forming.

1 1. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperture in the end of the inner casing extends for the whole of the end face of the casing.

12. A package according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the aperture in the end of the inner casing comprises just one part of the end face. - 5 -

13. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner casing is arranged to be a close sliding fit within the outer casing so as to keep the contents of the package securely contained when not required to be dispensed.

14. A package according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein means are provided to hold the inner casing in its closed position within the outer casing until a predetermined opening force is exceeded.

15. A package according to Claim 14, wherein said means comprise an indentation pressed into the surface of one of the casings and a corresponding formation upstanding on the other to co-operate with the indentation.