Product and package including power producer and output mechanism, and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968129-B2
Application number	US-201514814866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2015
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A product including a package is provided. One or more tobacco-containing articles may be received in the package. A power producer may be configured to produce an electrical current. An output mechanism may be configured to receive the electrical current from the power producer and output a perceptible effect. The perceptible effect may, for example, increase a consumer's interest in the product. A related method is also provided.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A product, comprising:
a package, comprising:
a power producer comprising an inductive coil configured to produce an electrical current; and
an output mechanism configured to receive the electrical current from the power producer and output a perceptible effect; and

one or more tobacco-containing articles received in the package.

2. The product of claim 1 , wherein the package further comprises a first body portion defining an opening and a second body portion moveable with respect to the first body portion between a closed configuration in which the first body portion substantially closes the opening and an open configuration,
wherein the one or more tobacco-containing articles are received in the first body portion and accessible via the opening in the open configuration.

3. The product of claim 2 , wherein the output mechanism is configured to output the perceptible effect in response to movement of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.

4. The product of claim 3 , wherein the power producer comprises a plurality of films, and wherein movement between the films produces the electrical current.

5. The product of claim 1 , wherein the output mechanism comprises a light emitting diode and wherein the light emitting diode is included in a rectifier circuit configured to convert the electric current from an alternating current to a direct current.

6. The product of claim 1 , wherein the package further comprises a communicator electrically coupled to the inductive coil, the communicator being configured to communicate with an auxiliary electronic device.

7. The product of claim 1 , wherein the package further comprises an inner wrapper substantially surrounding the one or more tobacco-containing articles, wherein the inner wrapper comprises a paper material.

8. The product of claim 1 , wherein the output mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a light emitting diode, an electronic ink, a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescent material, a light emitting electrochemical cell, and an electrochromic display.

9. The product of claim 1 , wherein the package comprises a logo, and
wherein the output mechanism is positioned at the logo.

10. The product of claim 1 , wherein the output mechanism comprises an electrochromic display, the electrochromic display being configured to change color or shade in a pattern.

11. A method for assembling a product, comprising:
providing a package, comprising:
a power producer comprising an inductive coil configured to produce an electrical current; and
an output mechanism configured to receive the electrical current from the power producer and output a perceptible effect; and

inserting one or more tobacco-containing articles into the package.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the package comprises providing a first body portion defining an opening and a second body portion moveable with respect to the first body portion between a closed configuration in which the first body portion substantially closes the opening and an open configuration, and
wherein inserting one or more tobacco-containing articles into the package comprises inserting the one or more tobacco-containing articles into the first body portion.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the output mechanism comprises a light emitting diode, and
wherein the light emitting diode is included in a rectifier circuit configured to convert the electric current from an alternating current to a direct current.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the package comprises electrically coupling a communicator to the inductive coil, the communicator being configured to communicate with an auxiliary electronic device.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising wrapping the one or more tobacco-containing articles with an inner wrapper comprising a paper material.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the power producer comprises a plurality of films, and
wherein movement between the films produces the electrical current.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the output mechanism comprises a light emitting diode, an electronic ink, a liquid crystal display, or an electrochromic display.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the package comprises a logo and the output mechanism is positioned at the logo.

Assignees

• Reynolds Tobacco Co R

Inventors

• Sebastian Andries Don
• Phillips Percy D
• Patel Pankaj
• Whittington Stephanie
• Bengtsson Bruce Alan
• Jones Wesley Steven
• Hernandez Garcia Ercilia

Classifications

• B65D85/1045

  having a cap-like lid hinged to an edge · CPC title

• H02N1/04

  Friction generators · CPC title

• B65D85/1081

  Inserts or accessories added or joined to the container, e.g. coins, pens, cards, spacers (B65D85/1009 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B19/12

  Inserting the cigarettes, or wrapped groups thereof, into preformed containers · CPC title

• A24F15/18 Primary

  combined with other objects · CPC title