Opening pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858720-B2
Application number	US-202218056792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2022
Priority date	Oct 19, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

In an example embodiment, a pack for tobacco articles comprises an inner sleeve, and an outer box comprising front and back covers that allow access to the inner sleeve when the outer box is opened. The inner sleeve can include a front connecting panel pivotally connecting a front wall of the inner sleeve to an inner surface of the front cover and a back connecting panel pivotally connecting a back wall of the inner sleeve to an inner surface of the back cover. A slot in the outer box is configured to allow opening of the outer box by applying pressure against a bottom wall of the inner sleeve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pack for smoking articles, the pack comprising:
an outer box including,
a front cover,
a back cover, and
a bottom wall pivotally coupled between bottom ends of the front cover and the back cover; and

an inner sleeve including,
a bottom wall,
a front wall,
a back wall,
a front connecting panel pivotally connected between ends of the front wall and a first end panel, the first end panel configured to be coupled to an inner surface of the front cover, and
a back connecting panel pivotally connected between ends of the back wall and a second end panel, the second end panel configured to be coupled to an inner surface of the back cover.

2. The pack of claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall of the outer box has one end rigidly connected to a back wall of the back cover and an opposite end pivotally connected to a front wall of the front cover.

3. The pack of claim 1 , wherein
the first end panel is pivotally connected to the front connecting panel along a first transverse fold line, the first end panel pivotally connecting the front connecting panel to the inner surface of the front cover, and
the second end panel is pivotally connected to the back connecting panel along a second transverse fold line, the second end panel pivotally connecting the back connecting panel to the inner surface of the back cover.

4. The pack of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve further comprises:
a first sidewall connected to one side of the front wall along a first longitudinal fold line,
a second sidewall connected to an opposite side of the front wall along a second longitudinal fold line,
a third sidewall connected to one side of the back wall along a third longitudinal fold line, and
a fourth sidewall connected to an opposite side of the back wall along a fourth longitudinal fold line.

5. The pack of claim 4 , wherein the inner sleeve further comprises:
a first end flap connected to one side of the bottom wall along a fifth longitudinal fold line, and
a second end flap connected to an opposite side of the bottom wall along a sixth longitudinal fold line.

6. The pack of claim 5 , wherein the inner sleeve further comprises:
a first reinforcing strap connected to one side of the front connecting panel along a seventh longitudinal fold line,
a second reinforcing strap connected to an opposite side of the front connecting panel along an eighth longitudinal fold line,
a third reinforcing strap connected to one side of the back connecting panel along a ninth longitudinal fold line, and
a fourth reinforcing strap connected to an opposite side of the back connecting panel along a tenth longitudinal fold line.

7. The pack of claim 4 , wherein
the first and third sidewalls overlap, and
the second and fourth sidewalls overlap.

8. The pack of claim 5 , wherein
the first and third sidewalls overlap,
a first part of the first end flap overlaps the first sidewall, the third sidewall, or both the first sidewall and the third sidewall,
a second part of the first end flap overlaps the back wall, and
a third part of the first end flap overlaps the front wall.

9. The pack of claim 5 , wherein
the second and fourth sidewalls overlap,
a first part of the second end flap overlaps the second sidewall, the fourth sidewall, or both the second sidewall and the fourth sidewall,
a second part of the second end flap overlaps the back wall, and
a third part of the second end flap overlaps the front wall.

10. The pack of claim 6 , wherein
the first reinforcing strap and the second reinforcing strap overlap, and
the third reinforcing strap and the fourth reinforcing strap overlap.

11. The pack of claim 1 , further comprising:
a slot in the outer box configured to allow pressing against the bottom wall of the inner sleeve to move the inner sleeve from a first position to a second position,
wherein moving the inner sleeve from the first position to the second position causes top ends of the front cover and the back cover to move from a closed position to an open position.

12. The pack of claim 11 , wherein the slot includes an opening in the bottom wall that extends into an opening in a back wall of the back cover.

13. The pack of claim 11 , wherein the slot includes an opening in part of the bottom wall and part of a back wall of the back cover.

14. The pack of claim 1 , wherein the front cover and the back cover are movable from an open position to a closed position.

15. The pack of claim 14 , further comprising:
a click lock configured to assist in holding the front cover and the back cover in the closed position.

16. The pack of claim 14 , further comprising:
a click lock configured to provide a clicking sound when the front cover and the back cover are moved from the open position to the closed position.

17. The pack of claim 14 , wherein the front cover includes a tab configured to engage a transverse slot in the back cover when the front cover and the back cover are moved from the open position to the closed position.

18. The pack of claim 1 , wherein the outer box and the inner sleeve are made of paperboard.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Bellamah Stephen
• Richter Daniel

Classifications

• B65D85/1036 Primary

  Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank · CPC title

• B65D85/1018

  Container formed by a flexible material, i.e. soft-packages · CPC title

• B31B50/26

  Folding sheets, blanks or webs · CPC title

• B31B2110/35

  rectangular, e.g. square · CPC title

• B31B2120/302

  collapsible into a flat condition · CPC title