Non-tobacco nicotine pouch container and use thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container (1) comprising a first part (10) and a second part (20). The side wall (13) of the first portion comprises a sealing projection (14) and the side wall (23) of the second portion comprises a sealing groove (24) complementary to the sealing projection and configured to engage each other when the container is in the closed position. The first portion further comprises a first locking protrusion (15) and the side wall of the second portion comprises a plurality of second locking protrusions (25) configured to engage with the first locking protrusion when the container is in the closed position. The first locking projection has an opening (16) complementary to one of the second locking projections such that the first portion and the second portion are allowed to bend apart only when the opening is aligned with one of the second locking projections.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container. Background Technology

[0002] With current trends, nicotine pouches are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to tobacco products. Nicotine pouches are small, discreet pouches containing nicotine but not tobacco. This product allows consumers to consume nicotine without smoking or using traditional tobacco products. Nicotine pouches are typically purchased in various types of containers designed to be discrete, portable, and convenient. Importantly, the containers are easy to carry and also protect the product inside. The quality of nicotine pouches can be affected if they are exposed to external factors such as moisture, light, and air.

[0003] Therefore, non-tobacco nicotine pouches are typically sized to fit comfortably in a pocket, easy to open, and durable enough to prevent spillage. This is usually achieved by having a cylindrical container with a base and a lid. The base and lid snap together so that when the container is closed, the lid seals the base, thereby protecting the container from external factors.

[0004] However, a problem with this type of product is that the container is easy to open, allowing children and other unauthorized individuals to open it. The use of nicotine bags is limited to individuals below a certain age due to the health risks associated with the product. Therefore, it is important to provide a product that is safer to store and harder to open than existing containers. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container that makes the storage of nicotine pouches safer and more reliable, and safer for children. Furthermore, the object of this disclosure is to provide a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container designed to protect the product inside, which is portable and easy to close.

[0006] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container is provided. The non-tobacco nicotine pouch container includes a first portion and a second portion, each having a base wall with a peripheral edge and a sidewall extending from the peripheral edge. When the first and second portions are attached to each other, thereby defining a closed position of the container, the second portion is capable of attaching to the first portion, thereby defining a storage volume. The sidewall of the first portion includes a sealing protrusion extending from the sidewall, and the sidewall of the second portion includes a sealing groove complementary to the sealing protrusion of the first portion, wherein the sealing protrusion and the sealing groove are configured to engage with each other when the container is in the closed position. The first portion further includes a first locking protrusion extending from the sidewall, and the sidewall of the second portion includes a plurality of second locking protrusions configured to engage with the first locking protrusion when the container is in the closed position, thereby preventing the container from being opened, and the first locking protrusion has an opening complementary to one of the plurality of second locking protrusions of the sidewall of the second portion, such that the first and second portions are allowed to bend apart only when the opening of the first locking protrusion is aligned with one of the plurality of second locking protrusions.

[0007] The combined requirements for nicotine pouch containers—whereby the nicotine pouch should be protected from external environmental factors and kept out of reach of children—led to the recognition that nicotine pouch containers need to be restricted in how they can be opened, while also providing a certain seal relative to the external environment when the nicotine pouch container is in the closed position. This recognition, along with the need for the nicotine pouch to be accessible to the consumer through a combination of sealing protrusions and a first locking protrusion, resulted in a sealing protrusion of the first part and a groove of the second part extending circumferentially along the sidewalls of their respective parts. In other words, the groove and the sealing protrusion extend along the entire circumference of their respective parts. When the nicotine pouch container is in the closed position, the sealing protrusion and the groove will engage with each other, sealing the volume of the nicotine pouch container relative to external environmental factors. Thus, when the nicotine pouch container is closed, external environmental factors such as air, moisture, and light cannot affect the quality of the nicotine pouch. The quality of the nicotine pouch is an important feature for consumers; continuous air or moisture circulation and continuous exposure to light can affect the taste and appearance of the nicotine pouch.

[0008] The first locking protrusion and a plurality of second locking protrusions together provide a child safety locking mechanism. The opening in the first locking protrusion allows the nicotine pouch container to open from the closed position only when one of the plurality of second locking protrusions aligns with the opening of the first locking protrusion. Consequently, the second portion needs to move to the correct position to allow the second portion to bend apart from the first portion. This separates the first and second portions. When one of the plurality of second locking protrusions aligns with the opening, the user can bend the second portion so that the second locking protrusion aligned with the opening passes through the opening and disengages from the first locking protrusion. This allows the second portion to deviate from its position so that another of the plurality of second locking protrusions also disengages from the first locking protrusion, and the second portion of the nicotine pouch container can be separated from the first portion. In other words, the container provides a child safety locking mechanism. As those skilled in the art will understand, the flexibility of each portion of the nicotine pouch container can be designed to adapt to the design of the first locking protrusion and the plurality of second locking protrusions to allow the first and second portions to bend apart.

[0009] When none of the multiple second locking protrusions are aligned with the opening, all of the multiple second locking protrusions can engage with the first locking protrusion, making the first part and the second part inseparable. The first and second locking protrusions are designed such that the user cannot force the first and second parts apart by hand without aligning the opening with one of the multiple second locking protrusions.

[0010] The complementary nature of the opening to one of the second locking protrusions herein refers to the opening having a similar shape and size to at least one of the plurality of second locking protrusions. Thus, in some embodiments, each of the plurality of second locking protrusions is similar in size and shape to each other. Therefore, regardless of which of the second locking protrusions is aligned with the opening in the first locking protrusion, the first and second portions are allowed to bend apart. However, it should be noted that in other embodiments, the plurality of second locking protrusions may have different sizes and shapes.

[0011] Those skilled in the art will understand that the first locking protrusion projects outward from the sidewall and extends along the entire circumference of the sidewall, except where the first locking protrusion has an opening. A plurality of second locking protrusions are separated by gaps between them, such that each protrusion does not contact another second locking protrusion. In some embodiments, these gaps are evenly distributed relative to each other along the circumference of the sidewall. In some embodiments, the gaps between the second locking protrusions cover most of the circumference of the second portion. As those skilled in the art will understand, for the second portion where the gaps between the second locking protrusions aligned with the opening are small, the nicotine pouch container requires a more flexible material to allow the first and second portions to bend apart and separate.

[0012] The plurality of second locking protrusions may include release protrusions complementary to the opening, and wherein the remaining second locking protrusions are larger than the opening, such that the first portion and the second portion are allowed to bend apart only when the opening of the first locking protrusion is aligned with the release protrusion.

[0013] By designing the release protrusion differently from the remaining second locking protrusions, the nicotine pouch container can be opened only when the opening of the release protrusion aligns with that of the first locking protrusion. This further enhances child safety for the nicotine pouch container, as the risk of accidental alignment of one of the first or second locking protrusions, thus allowing the container to open, is reduced. The shape or size of the remaining second locking protrusions can be varied to prevent movement through the opening. For example, the circumferential extension of each of the remaining second locking protrusions along the sidewall can be longer than the length of the opening.

[0014] In some embodiments, the remaining second locking protrusions may have small gaps between each other and long gaps with the release protrusions, thereby allowing the nicotine bag container to be produced from a less flexible material.

[0015] The first locking protrusion can be positioned closer to the open edge of the sidewall than the sealing protrusion. This allows designers to avoid designing the sealing protrusion in a way that allows multiple second locking protrusions to extend beyond it when the first part is separated from it. Positioning the first locking protrusion closer to the open edge of the sidewall allows for greater design flexibility in the sealing protrusion.

[0016] In this context, an open edge of a sidewall refers to an edge of the sidewall that is not connected to any other wall. Conversely, an open edge is connected to the peripheral edge of the base wall.

[0017] Multiple second locking protrusions can be positioned at least 90° apart from each other. By positioning each second locking protrusion at an angle of at least 90° apart from each other, a favorable combination of material flexibility and robustness can be achieved. Multiple second locking protrusions can also be positioned 120° apart from each other. When a release protrusion is included among multiple second locking protrusions, the angle between a second locking protrusion and a release protrusion can be greater than the angle between any two of the second locking protrusions.

[0018] The first locking protrusion of the first part and the plurality of second locking protrusions of the second part may protrude from the sidewalls of the first and second parts by 0.4 mm to 3 mm. It is advantageous to design the locking protrusions such that they protrude by the same distance, because the engagement surface between the first locking protrusion and the plurality of second locking protrusions is increased, which increases the force required to separate the first part from the second part without aligning the opening with one of the plurality of second locking protrusions.

[0019] The container can be made of elastic materials such as plastic, thermoplastic, or polymer. These materials provide the necessary elasticity to allow the container to be opened and are also approved for food contact.

[0020] The first part may include a first indicator indicating the location of the opening in the first locking protrusion, and the second part may include a second indicator indicating the location of one of the plurality of second locking protrusions. The first and second indicators improve the user experience of the nicotine pouch container. These indicators may be small markers that are not readily apparent to children for discovery and alignment, but are readily apparent to consumers familiar with indicators. This facilitates the opening process of the nicotine pouch container, making it easier for the consumer to align the opening with one of the second locking protrusions.

[0021] In an embodiment where a release protrusion is provided, a second indicator is located at the release protrusion.

[0022] The first and second indicators can be corresponding recesses. A recess is an example of an indicator that is not obvious to a child but is still easy for a consumer to spot.

[0023] When the first and second portions move from the open position to the closed position, the walls of the plurality of second locking protrusions and the wall of the first locking protrusion facing each other can be angled, such that the first and second portions are allowed to be forced into the closed position of the container without aligning the opening with one of the plurality of second locking protrusions.

[0024] By designing multiple second locking protrusions and the first locking protrusion such that the walls facing each other are angled, the first and second portions can be forced together in any position to the closed position. Without these angled walls, the opening might need to be aligned with one of the multiple second locking protrusions to allow the nicotine pouch container to close. This would require the user to change the relative positions of the first and second portions to misalign the opening with the second locking protrusion, thus providing a child-safe nicotine pouch container, which could be risky if the user might leave it in a position where it could be opened. By allowing the user to force the first and second portions together, the opening and the second locking protrusion will be directly misaligned when the nicotine pouch container is in the closed position.

[0025] The angled walls allow the first and second portions to be forced into the closed position, which in this context means that when the first and second portions are in the open position and are about to be moved to the closed position, the angles of these walls are opposite to each other, allowing the first and second locking protrusions to slide across the wall.

[0026] The first portion may further include a gripping device at the location of the opening in the first locking protrusion, and the second portion may further include a gripping device at the location of one of the plurality of second locking protrusions. By providing a gripping device at each portion, the process of opening the nicotine pouch container can be facilitated. The gripping device enhances the user's grip, making it easier to bend the first and second portions apart. In some embodiments, the gripping device may also replace an indicator, or in other embodiments, be combined with an indicator.

[0027] The container may further include a third portion having a base wall with a peripheral edge and sidewalls extending from the peripheral edge, wherein, when the first and third portions are attached to each other, the third portion is capable of attaching to the first portion, thereby defining a waste storage volume, such that a second storage volume for waste storage is provided on the side of the base wall of the first portion opposite to the storage volume. The sidewall of the first portion may be a first sidewall, and the first portion may further include a second sidewall extending from the peripheral edge in the opposite direction to the first sidewall. The first portion may further include a third locking protrusion extending from the second sidewall. The sidewall of the third portion may include a plurality of fourth locking protrusions configured to engage with the third locking protrusions when the first portion is attached to the third portion, thereby preventing the waste storage volume from being opened. The third locking protrusion may have an opening complementary to one of the plurality of fourth locking protrusions of the sidewall of the third portion, such that the first and third portions are allowed to bend apart only when the opening of the third locking protrusion is aligned with one of the plurality of fourth locking protrusions.

[0028] The third section can be advantageous because it gives the container a waste storage volume. This waste storage volume allows for the storage of used non-tobacco nicotine pouches until the used non-tobacco nicotine pouches or containers can be disposed of in a trash can. For the third section, the first section includes a second sidewall extending in the opposite direction to the first sidewall, allowing the third section to be attached to the side of the first section opposite to the second section. In other words, the first section is a separator between the storage volume and the waste storage volume.

[0029] The first and third parts are provided with the third locking protrusion and multiple fourth locking protrusions, providing a child-safe locking mechanism together. The opening in the third locking protrusion allows the nicotine pouch container to open from the closed position only when one of the multiple fourth locking protrusions aligns with the opening of the third locking protrusion. Therefore, the third part needs to be moved to the correct position to allow it to bend and separate from the first part. This separates the first and third parts. When one of the multiple fourth locking protrusions aligns with the opening, the user can bend the third part so that the fourth locking protrusion aligned with the opening passes through the opening and disengages from the third locking protrusion. This allows the third part to deviate from its position, causing another of the multiple fourth locking protrusions to also disengage from the third locking protrusion, and the third part of the nicotine pouch container can be separated from the first part. This alleviates the problem of waste storage volume being easily accessible to children, a problem inherent in conventional containers.

[0030] The different designs of the second part described above also apply to the third part, such that the first part is mirror-image on both sides, and the second and third parts are substantially equal and allowed to be attached to each side of the first part. Therefore, the advantages of the second part discussed above also apply to the third part. Further scope of the invention will become clear from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that while the detailed description and specific examples indicate preferred embodiments of the invention, they are given in an illustrative manner only, as various variations and modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on this detailed description. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 The illustration shows a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container in the closed position.

[0033] Figure 2 The illustration shows a cross-section of a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container.

[0034] Figure 3 The illustration shows a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container in the open position.

[0035] Figure 4 The illustration shows a three-dimensional view of a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container.

[0036] Figure 5 The illustration shows the second part of the non-tobacco nicotine pouch container.

[0037] Figures 6a to 6b The illustration shows a second embodiment of the second part of a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container.

[0038] Figure 7The illustration shows a non-tobacco nicotine bag container with waste storage capacity.

[0039] Figure 8 The illustration shows a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container according to a second embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to achieve thoroughness and completeness and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0041] exist Figure 1 A first embodiment of a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container 1 is provided. The nicotine pouch container 1 has a cylindrical shape and includes a first portion 10 and a second portion 20. In this exemplary embodiment, the first portion 10 is the base of the nicotine pouch container 1, and the second portion 20 is a lid. The first portion 10 has a base wall 11 having a circumferential edge 12, from which a side wall 13 extends. The second portion has a base wall 21 having a circumferential edge 22, from which a side wall 23 extends. The first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are designed to assemble such that when the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are attached to each other in a closed position, the side wall 23 of the second portion 20 encloses the side wall 13 of the first portion 10. In the closed position, the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are defined within... Figure 2 The optimal storage volume is 40. The first part 10 includes gripping devices 19 located in a position similar to the first indicator 18. The second part 20 also includes gripping devices 29 located in a position similar to the second indicator 28. (The last sentence appears to be incomplete and possibly refers to a combination of two parts.) Figures 2 to 4 The positions of the first indicator 18, the second indicator 28, and the gripping devices 19 and 29 are further discussed. The gripping devices 19 and 29 are positioned to facilitate the opening of the nicotine pouch container 1. The first indicator 18 and the second indicator 28 are shaped as recesses in the first portion 10 and the second portion 20. Figure 1 In this design, the first indicator 18 and the second indicator 28 are not aligned with each other. The recess is an example of an indicator that is not readily apparent to children but is still easily spotted by consumers. The nicotine pouch container 1 is made of an elastic material such as plastic, thermoplastic, or polymer. This material needs to provide elasticity to the nicotine pouch container 1 to facilitate the opening process and is also approved for contact with food.

[0042] Go to Figures 2 to 5 The illustration shows different views of the nicotine pouch design. Figure 2The image shows a cross-sectional view of the nicotine bag container 1 in the closed position. Figure 3 The diagram shows a top perspective view of the nicotine pouch container 1 in the open position to better disclose the first part 10. Figure 4 The image shows a bottom-view perspective view of the nicotine pouch container 1 in the open position to better reveal part 20. Figure 5 The diagram shows the second part 20, allowing us to observe the interior of the second part 20.

[0043] The first part 10 and the second part 20 are attached to each other, and the volume 40 defined by the sidewalls 13, 23 and base walls 11, 21 of the first part 10 and the second part 20 is clearly illustrated in the figure. Figure 2 The volume 40 is used to store a nicotine pouch. The cross-sectional view reveals that the sidewall 13 of the first portion 10 includes a sealing protrusion 14 extending from the sidewall 13, and the sidewall 23 of the second portion 20 includes a sealing groove 24 complementary to the sealing protrusion 14 of the first portion 10. The sealing protrusion 14 and the sealing groove 24 are configured to engage with each other when the nicotine pouch container 1 is in the closed position. The sealing protrusion 14 extends into and engages with the sealing groove 24 to achieve a seal that isolates the volume 40 from external environments such as air, moisture, and light. The sealing protrusion 14 of the first portion 10 and the sealing groove 24 of the second portion 20 extend along the length of their respective sidewalls 13, 23. In other words, the sealing groove 24 and the sealing protrusion 14 extend along the entire circumference of their respective portions 10, 20. Thus, when the nicotine pouch container 1 is in the closed position, the sealing protrusion 14 and the sealing groove 24 are able to generally isolate the volume 40 from the external environment.

[0044] The first portion 10 further includes a first locking protrusion 15 extending from the sidewall 13 and positioned closer to the open edge 17 of the sidewall 13 than the sealing protrusion 14. The open edge 17 of the sidewall 13 refers herein to the edge of the sidewall 13 not connected to any other wall. The edge opposite the open edge 17 is connected to the peripheral edge 12 of the base wall 11. The sidewall 23 of the second portion 20 further includes a plurality of second locking protrusions 25 configured to engage with the first locking protrusions 15 when the nicotine bag container 1 is in the closed position, thereby preventing the container 1 from being opened. The first locking protrusion 15 of the first portion 10 and the plurality of second locking protrusions 25 of the second portion 20 protrude from the sidewalls 13, 23 of the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 by 0.4 mm to 3 mm. It is advantageous to design the first locking protrusion 15 and the second locking protrusion 25 such that they protrude by the same distance, because the engagement surface between the first locking protrusion 15 and the plurality of second locking protrusions 25 is increased, which increases the force required to separate the first part 10 from the second part 20.

[0045] The first locking protrusion 15 includes an opening 16. In Figure 3 and Figure 4 The opening 16 in the first locking protrusion 15 is best seen in the image. A plurality of second locking protrusions 25 include a release protrusion 26 complementary to the opening 16 of the first locking protrusion 15. The remaining second locking protrusions 25 are larger than the opening 16, such that the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are allowed to bend apart only when the opening 16 of the first locking protrusion 15 is aligned with the release protrusion 26. If the opening 16 is aligned with one of the remaining of the plurality of second locking protrusions 25, it will be impossible to separate the first portion 10 from the second portion 20 because the circumferential extension of the second locking protrusion 25 does not allow the remaining second locking protrusions to pass through. In this embodiment, the circumferential extension of the plurality of locking protrusions 25, except for the release protrusion 26, is longer than the circumferential extension of the opening 16. As those skilled in the art will understand, this means that the circumferential extension of the release protrusion 26 is shorter than the circumferential extension of the remaining second locking protrusions 25, and the release protrusions are matched to cooperate through the opening 16. Figure 5 The difference between the release protrusion 26 and the second locking protrusion 25 is best seen in the illustration, which shows one release protrusion 26 and two second locking protrusions 25. However, in other embodiments, other features, such as the shape of the release protrusion 26 and the opening 16, can be adapted to provide a similar effect. By designing the release protrusion 26 to be different from the remaining second locking protrusions 25, the nicotine pouch container 1 can only be opened when the release protrusion 26 is aligned with the opening 16 of the first locking protrusion 15. This further enhances the child safety of the nicotine pouch container 1, as the risk of accidental alignment of the opening 16 and the release protrusion 26, thereby allowing the nicotine pouch container 1 to be opened, is reduced. The first locking protrusion 15 projects outward from the sidewall 13 and extends along the entire circumference of the sidewall 13, except where the first locking protrusion 15 has the opening 16. The plurality of second locking protrusions 25 are separated by gaps between them, such that each protrusion does not contact each other. In some embodiments, the remaining second locking protrusions 25 may have small gaps between each other and long gaps with the release protrusion 26, thereby allowing the nicotine pouch container 1 to be manufactured from a less flexible material. The circumferential extension of the second locking protrusions 25 can vary depending on the required opening difficulty of the nicotine pouch container 1. If the second locking protrusions 25 cover a larger circumference, the engagement between the second locking protrusions 25 and the first locking protrusion 15 will be larger, thus requiring a larger force to separate the first portion 10 from the second portion 20. However, this can be mitigated by changing the flexibility of the material.

[0046] The first locking protrusion 15 and a plurality of second locking protrusions 25 together provide a child safety locking mechanism. When the release protrusion 25 is not aligned with the opening 16, all of the plurality of second locking protrusions 24 engage with the first locking protrusion 15, making the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 inseparable. The first locking protrusion 15 and the second locking protrusion 25 are designed such that the user cannot manually force the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 apart without first aligning the opening 16 with the release protrusion 26. Figure 2 The engagement between one of the first locking protrusion 15 and the second locking protrusion 25 is best seen in the magnified view.

[0047] The opening 16 in the first locking protrusion 15 allows the nicotine pouch container 1 to open from the closed position only when the release protrusion 26 aligns with the opening 16 of the first locking protrusion 15. Consequently, the second portion 20 needs to be rotated to the correct position to allow it to bend apart from the first portion 10. As those skilled in the art will understand, this opening process is a combination of the opening 16 allowing the release protrusion 26 to slide through, the flexibility of the material, and the gap between the release protrusion 26 and the nearest second locking protrusion among the plurality of second locking protrusions 25. If the gap is small, a more flexible material is required to allow the second portion 20 to bend. As the release protrusion 26 slides through the opening 16, the second portion deviates from its position, causing the remaining second locking protrusions among the plurality of second locking protrusions 25 to also disengage from the first locking protrusion 15, and the second portion 20 of the nicotine pouch container 1 can be separated from the first portion 10.

[0048] To facilitate the opening process, the first part 10 and the second part 20 may include an indicator and / or a gripping device. (As combined) Figure 1 As mentioned, the first part 10 further includes a first indicator 18 at the location of the opening 16 in the first locking protrusion 15. The second part 20 further includes a second indicator 28 at the location of the release protrusion 26. These indicators may be small visual markers that are not obvious to children for discovery and alignment, but are obvious to consumers familiar with indicators. This facilitates the opening process of the nicotine pouch container 1, making it easier for the consumer to align the opening 16 with the release protrusion 26. Since the nicotine pouch container 1 typically does not allow the user to see through its interior, the indicators improve the user experience.

[0049] The first portion 10 further includes a gripping device 19 at the location of the opening 16 in the first locking protrusion 15. The second portion 20 further includes a gripping device 29 at the location of the release protrusion 26. The gripping devices 19 and 29 enhance the user's grip, making it easier to bend the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 apart. The gripping devices 19 and 29, as described, are also positioned such that when the opening 16 and the release protrusion 26 are aligned, these gripping devices align to enhance the grip when the first portion 10 and the second portion 20 are bent apart. In some embodiments, the gripping devices 19 and 29 may also replace the indicators 18 and 28.

[0050] When the first part 10 and the second part 20 are to be moved from the open position to the closed position, the walls 25a of the plurality of second locking protrusions 25 and the walls 15a of the first locking protrusion 15 facing each other are angled, allowing the first part 10 and the second part 20 to be forced into the closed position of the container 1 without aligning the opening 16 and the release protrusion 26. By designing the plurality of second locking protrusions 25 and the first locking protrusion 15 such that the walls facing each other when the first part 10 and the second part 20 are to be moved from the open position to the closed position, the first part 10 and the second part 20 can be forced together to the closed position from any position. This can be considered a snap-fit ​​solution. Without these angled walls, the opening 16 may need to be aligned with the release protrusion 26 to allow the nicotine pouch container 1 to be closed. This would require the user to change the relative positions of the first part 10 and the second part 20 to misalign the opening 16 with the release protrusion 26, thereby locking the nicotine pouch container 1, which could be risky if the user might leave it in the open position. By allowing the user to force the first part 10 and the second part 20 together, the opening 16 and the release protrusion 26 will be directly misaligned when the nicotine bag container 1 is forced to the closed position. Figure 2 These walls are best seen in a magnified view.

[0051] exist Figure 6a and Figure 6bThe diagram illustrates two views of a second embodiment of the second portion 20. As previously described, the sidewall 23 of the second portion 20 further includes a plurality of second locking protrusions 25 configured to engage with a first locking protrusion 15 when the nicotine pouch container 1 is in the closed position, thereby preventing the container 1 from being opened. However, in the second embodiment, the second portion 20 is provided with a waste storage volume 50. The waste storage volume 50 is located in a protrusion 54 in the base wall 21 of the second portion 20 and is disposed on the side of the base wall 21 of the second portion 20 opposite to the storage volume 40. The second portion 20 has an opening for accessing the waste storage volume 50. The container 1 further includes a third portion 30, which can be used to cover the opening of the second portion 20. The third portion 30 and the second portion 20 can be attached by, for example, a snap-fit ​​mechanism 52.

[0052] exist Figure 7 The diagram illustrates a second embodiment of container 1. A third embodiment includes a first portion 10 and a second portion 20, which are provided as combined... Figures 1 to 5 The locking mechanism and storage volume 40 are described. For convenience, these parts and mechanisms will not be repeated. The third embodiment further includes a third part 30B. The third part 30B is configured to be releasably attached to one side of the base wall of the second part 20, wherein, when the container 1 is in the closed position, the side faces the first part 10, thereby providing a waste storage volume 50 between the first part 10 and the third part 30B.

[0053] The second part includes an attachment protrusion 27 extending from the base wall 21 into the storage volume 40 of the container 1, as seen in the closed position. The third part 30B includes a base wall 31B and a side wall 33B extending from the base wall 31B, and the side wall 33B of the third part 30B includes an attachment groove 37B complementary to the attachment protrusion 27. The attachment protrusion 27 and the attachment groove 37B are configured to engage with each other to close the waste storage volume 50. This allows the waste storage volume 50 to be located within the storage volume 40, thereby allowing the container to use the locking mechanisms of the first part 10 and the second part 20 for both the storage volume 40 and the waste storage volume 50.

[0054] exist Figure 8 The diagram illustrates a third embodiment of container 1. Container 1 includes a first portion 10C and a second portion 20, the first portion and the second portion having a combined shape. Figures 1 to 5The described locking mechanism provides a storage volume 40 when the first part 10C and the second part 20 are in the closed position. The container 1 further includes a third part 30C having a base wall 31C with a peripheral edge and a side wall 33C extending from the peripheral edge. When the first and third parts are attached to each other, the third part 30C can be attached to the first part 10C, thereby defining a waste storage volume 50, such that a second storage volume for waste storage is provided on the side of the base wall 11C of the first part 10C opposite to the storage volume. The first part 10C includes a first side wall, i.e., a... Figures 1 to 5 The described sidewall 13. The first portion 10C further includes a second sidewall 13C extending from a peripheral edge in the opposite direction to the first sidewall 13. The first portion 10C further includes a third locking protrusion 15C extending from the second sidewall 13C. The sidewall 33C of the third portion 30C includes a plurality of fourth locking protrusions 35C configured to engage with the third locking protrusions 15C when the first portion 10C is attached to the third portion 30C, thereby preventing the waste storage volume from being opened.

[0055] The third locking protrusion 15C has an opening 16C that is complementary to one of the plurality of fourth locking protrusions 35C of the sidewall 33C of the third portion 30C, such that the first portion 10C and the third portion 30C are allowed to bend apart only when the opening 16C of the third locking protrusion 15C is aligned with one of the plurality of fourth locking protrusions 35C. The second portion 20 and the third portion 30C are substantially equal to each other, such that the first portion 10C provides two different storage volumes 40, 50 through the first sidewall 13 and the second sidewall 13C.

[0056] The container described above can be configured for storing non-tobacco nicotine pouches. Furthermore, the container described above can be used for storing non-tobacco nicotine pouches.

[0057] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a non-tobacco nicotine pouch container is provided. The container includes a first portion and a second portion, each having a base wall with a peripheral edge and a side wall extending from the peripheral edge. When the first and second portions are attached to each other, thereby defining a closed position of the container, the second portion is attachable to the first portion, thereby defining a storage volume. The pouch container further includes a third portion configured to be releasably attached to one side of the base wall of the second portion, wherein, when the container is in the closed position, the side faces the first portion, thereby providing a waste storage volume between the first and third portions.

[0058] The second aspect of the container provides waste storage space within the storage volume. This allows non-tobacco nicotine pouches to be stored in the storage volume before use, and when used up, the non-tobacco nicotine pouches can be stored in the waste storage volume until the used non-tobacco nicotine pouch or container is disposed of in the trash can.

[0059] The second part may include an attachment protrusion extending from the base wall into the storage volume of the container, as seen in the closed position. The third part may include a base wall and a sidewall extending from the base wall, and the sidewall of the third part may include an attachment groove complementary to the attachment protrusion. The attachment protrusion and the attachment groove may be configured to engage with each other.

[0060] Attachment protrusions and attachment grooves provide a simple way to attach a third part to a second part to provide waste storage volume. Attachment protrusions can be forced in and out of attachment grooves.

[0061] The first and second parts can provide a child safety locking mechanism that keeps the first and second parts in the closed position.

[0062] When both the first and second sections are equipped with child safety locking mechanisms, both the storage volume between the first and second sections and the waste storage volume between the second and third sections are protected by the child safety locking mechanisms. Access to the waste storage volume requires opening the storage volume. This allows the container to have only one child safety locking mechanism for opening the storage volume, while the waste storage volume can have a simpler opening mechanism.

[0063] The child safety locking mechanism can be based on the first aspect of the child safety locking mechanism.

[0064] The following is a sample project.

[0065] 1. A non-tobacco nicotine pouch container, comprising a first part and a second part, the first part and the second part each having a base wall (11, 21) with a peripheral edge (12, 22) and a side wall (13, 23) extending from the peripheral edge.

[0066] When the first part and the second part are attached to each other to define the closed position of the container, the second part can be attached to the first part to define the storage volume (40).

[0067] The bag container further includes a third portion configured to be releasably attached to one side of the base wall of the second portion, wherein when the container is in the closed position, the side faces the first portion, thereby providing waste storage volume between the first portion and the third portion.

[0068] 2. The container according to Item 1, wherein the first part and the second part provide a child safety locking mechanism for holding the first part and the second part in the closed position.

[0069] 3. The container according to item 1 or 2, wherein the second portion includes an attachment protrusion extending from the base wall into the storage volume of the container, as seen in the closed position.

[0070] The third portion includes a base wall and sidewalls extending from the base wall, wherein the sidewalls of the third portion include attachment grooves complementary to the attachment protrusions.

[0071] The attachment protrusion and the attachment groove are configured to engage with each other.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is by no means limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0073] Furthermore, when practicing the claimed invention based on the study of the accompanying drawings, disclosures, and appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

1. A non-tobacco nicotine pouch container (1) comprising: a first part (10) and a second part (20), each having a base wall (11, 21) with a peripheral edge (12, 22) and a side wall (13, 23) extending from the peripheral edge, wherein the second part is attachable to the first part when the first and second parts are attached to each other thereby defining a closed position of the container, wherein the side wall of the first part comprises a sealing protrusion (14) extending from the side wall, and the side wall of the second part comprises a sealing groove (24) complementary to the sealing protrusion of the first part, wherein the sealing protrusion and the sealing groove are configured to engage with each other when the container is in the closed position, wherein the first part further comprises a first locking protrusion (15) extending from the side wall, and the side wall of the second part comprises a plurality of second locking protrusions (25) configured to engage with the first locking protrusion when the container is in the closed position, thereby preventing the container from being opened, and wherein the first locking protrusion has an opening (16) complementary to one of the plurality of second locking protrusions of the side wall of the second part, such that the first and second parts are allowed to flex apart only when the opening of the first locking protrusion is aligned with one of the plurality of second locking protrusions.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein, the plurality of second locking protrusions comprises a release protrusion (26) complementary to the opening, and wherein the remaining second locking protrusions are larger than the opening, such that the first and second parts are allowed to flex apart only when the opening of the first locking protrusion is aligned with the release protrusion.

3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein, the first locking protrusion is positioned closer to an open edge (17) of the side wall than the sealing protrusion.

4. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the first locking protrusion of the first part and the plurality of second locking protrusions of the second part protrude 0.4 mm to 3 mm from the side walls of the first and second parts.

5. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the container is made of an elastic material such as plastic, thermoplastic or polymeric material.

6. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the first part comprises a first indicator (18) indicating where the opening in the first locking protrusion is located, and wherein the second part comprises a second indicator (28) indicating where one of the plurality of second locking protrusions is located.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein, the first and second indicators are respective recesses.

8. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, walls (15a) of the plurality of second locking protrusions and walls (25a) of the first locking protrusion facing each other when the first and second parts are moved from an open position to the closed position are angled such that the first and second parts are allowed to be forced to the closed position of the container without aligning the opening with one of the plurality of second locking protrusions.

9. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the first part further comprises a gripping means (19) at where the opening in the first locking protrusion is located, and wherein the second part further comprises a gripping means (29) at where one of the plurality of second locking protrusions is located.

10. The container of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a third portion having a base wall (31) with a peripheral edge (32) and a side wall (33) extending from the peripheral edge, wherein the third portion is attachable to the first portion when the first portion and the third portion are attached to each other, thereby defining a waste storage volume (40) such that a second storage volume for waste storage is provided at an opposite side of the base wall of the first portion compared to the storage volume, and wherein the side wall of the first portion is a first side wall and the first portion further comprises a second side wall extending from the peripheral edge in an opposite direction of the first side wall, wherein the first portion further comprises a third locking protrusion extending from the second side wall, wherein the side wall of the third portion comprises a plurality of fourth locking protrusions configured to engage with the third locking protrusion when the first portion is attached to the third portion, thereby preventing the waste storage volume from being opened, and wherein the third locking protrusion has an opening complementary to one of the plurality of fourth locking protrusions of the side wall of the third portion, such that the first portion and the third portion are allowed to be flexibly separated only when the opening of the third locking protrusion is aligned with one of the plurality of fourth locking protrusions.

11. Use of a container according to any one of claims 1 to 10 for storing non-tobacco nicotine pouches.

12. Use of a container according to any one of claims 1 to 10 for storing non-tobacco nicotine pouches.

Images