Snus container and also joint assembly and kit for forming a snus container
The snus can's sliding joint mechanism simplifies user interaction and manufacturing by allowing easy translational movement for opening and closing compartments, addressing usability and assembly complexity issues.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2025/050069
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-01-08
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing snus cans are not user-friendly, requiring complex manipulation and assembly processes, which complicates their use and manufacturing.
A snus can design featuring a base body and lid connected by a sliding joint that allows translational movement in two opposite directions, enabling easy opening and closing of storage and disposal compartments without tools, and a joint assembly that can be integrated or assembled without tools.
The design provides a snus can that is easy to use and manufacture, ensuring simple handling and reduced assembly efforts, while maintaining structural integrity and functionality.
Smart Images

Figure EP2025050069_17072025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Snus tin and joint assembly and kit for forming a snus tin The invention relates to a snus tin, in particular for loose snus and / or portioned snus. The invention further relates to a joint assembly for such a snus tin and a kit for forming such a snus tin. Snus is understood to be a form of oral tobacco that is particularly widespread in Norway and Sweden and essentially consists of tobacco, water, salt, and flavorings. The snus can be loose in powder form and must be portioned before use, or the snus can be pre-packaged in nicotine pouches. DE 602004006004 T2 discloses a tobacco tin for snuff that, in addition to a chamber for storing unused snus, has a further chamber for receiving used snus, wherein the tobacco tin has a pivoting lid. There is a need to provide a snus can that is particularly easy to use.The object of the invention is achieved by a snus can with a base body and a lid, wherein the base body and the lid are movably connected to one another by means of a joint assembly. The joint assembly has a sliding joint, the sliding joint movably connecting the base body to the lid such that the lid can be moved into a closed position and into two different open positions. A sliding joint is understood to be a joint that only allows a sliding movement. It thus allows only one or more translational movements, but not rotational or pivoting movements.Thus, the lid can be moved from the closed position, in which the lid closes both a chamber for storing unused snus and a receiving space for used snus, into a first of the two open positions, in which the lid exposes the chamber for storing unused snus, and the lid can be moved into a second of the two open positions, in which the lid exposes the receiving space for used snus. This provides a snus can with a particularly simple design that is particularly easy to use. The use of a sliding joint allows the lid to be moved by a person with one hand by sliding it from any of the possible positions, i.e. the closed position and the two open positions, to another of the aforementioned positions.According to one embodiment, the lid can be moved from the closed position to the first open position by a translational movement in a first direction, and from the closed position to the second open position by a further translational movement in a second direction. In other words, starting from the closed position, the lid can be moved into the respective open position by moving it in two different directions. According to a further embodiment, the first direction is opposite to the second direction. In other words, starting from the closed position, the lid can be moved into the first of the two open positions by moving it in the first of the two directions. Furthermore, starting from the closed position, the lid can be moved into the second of the two open positions by moving it in the second of the two directions.The two directions are opposite to each other, i.e. they are at an angle of 180°, or are directed away from each other, for example once to the right and once to the left. In other words, the displacement occurs along a single axis of movement, but in two different, opposite directions. In this way, a snus can that is particularly easy to handle can be provided. According to a further embodiment, the joint assembly is formed integrally with the sliding joint, and the sliding joint is fixedly connected to the base body and movably connected to the lid. For this purpose, the sliding joint can have molded-on connecting means in order to be fixedly connected to the base body and movably connected to the lid. In this way, a snus can that is particularly easy to manufacture can be provided.According to a further embodiment, the joint assembly with the sliding joint has a molded-on receiving space for used snus. This allows the one-piece joint assembly to be expanded with additional functionality, which reduces manufacturing and assembly costs. According to a further embodiment, the joint assembly with the sliding joint is designed to be connectable to the base body and / or the lid without the need for tools. For this purpose, the sliding joint can be fixedly connected to the base body by locking elements or a circumferential edge, while the sliding joint is movably connected to the lid by engaging sliding elements. This makes it possible to provide a snus can that is particularly easy to manufacture.According to a further embodiment, the joint assembly with the sliding joint is formed at least in two pieces with a first sliding joint component and a second sliding joint component, wherein the first sliding joint component is fixedly connected to the base body and the second sliding joint component is fixedly connected to the lid, and wherein the first sliding joint component and the second sliding joint component are movably connected to one another. In other words, the movable attachment of the lid to the base body is achieved by the mobility of the first sliding joint component in relation to the second sliding joint component. In this way, the base body and the lid can each be fixedly connected to the respective sliding joint component. In this way, a snus can that is particularly easy to manufacture can be provided.According to a further embodiment, the first sliding joint component and / or the second sliding joint component has a first stop defining the first open position and a second stop defining the second open position. The respective stop can be formed by a respective end of an opening in a groove into which a sliding block or a similar engagement element engages. This makes it possible to provide a snus can that is particularly easy to manufacture. According to a further embodiment, the first sliding joint component and / or the second sliding joint component has a locking device defining the closed position. For this purpose, the locking device can have at least one locking lug that is assigned either to the first sliding joint component or to the second sliding joint component and that engages in a locking notch that is assigned to the respective other sliding joint component.Thus, in the closed position, the lid is in a latched or locked position and is secured in this position. This makes it possible to provide a snus can that is particularly reliable to handle. According to a further embodiment, the first sliding joint component and / or the second sliding joint component are each formed as a single piece. For this purpose, the first sliding joint component and / or the second sliding joint component can each have molded-on connecting means in order to be fixedly connected to the base body or the lid, respectively. This makes it possible to provide a snus can that is particularly easy to manufacture. According to a further embodiment, the first sliding joint component has a molded-on receiving space for used snus. This makes it possible to expand the integrally formed first sliding joint component to include additional functionality, which reduces the manufacturing and assembly effort.According to a further embodiment, the first sliding joint component and / or the second sliding joint component are designed to be connectable to one another without the need for tools. For this purpose, the first sliding joint component can be connected to the second sliding joint component by sliding elements. This makes it possible to provide a snus can that is particularly easy to manufacture. According to a further embodiment, the first sliding joint component is designed to be connectable to the base body without the need for tools and / or the second sliding joint component is designed to be connectable to the lid without the need for tools. For this purpose, the first sliding joint component and / or the second sliding joint component can be fixedly connected to the base body or to the lid by locking elements or a circumferential edge. This makes it possible to provide a snus can that is particularly easy to manufacture. The invention also includes a joint assembly for such a snus can and a kit for forming such a snus can.The invention will now be explained with reference to a drawing. Therein: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a snus can in a closed position. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the snus can shown in Figure 1 in a first open position. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the snus can shown in Figure 1 in a second open position. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a joint assembly for the snus can shown in Figures 1 to 3. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a joint assembly for the snus can shown in Figures 1 to 3 in the closed position. Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of the joint assembly shown in Figure 5 in the first open position. Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of the joint assembly shown in Figure 5 in the second open position.Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of a first sliding joint component of the joint assembly shown in Figures 4 to 7. Figure 9 shows a schematic representation of a second sliding joint component of the joint assembly shown in Figures 4 to 7. Reference is initially made to Figures 1 to 3. Shown is a snus can 2 for snus. Snus is understood to be a form of oral tobacco that is particularly widespread in Norway and Sweden and essentially consists of tobacco, water, salt, and flavorings. The snus can be in loose powder form and must be portioned before use, or the snus can be pre-packaged in nicotine pouches. The snus can 2 has, as its essential components, a base body 4 and a lid 6 that is movably attached to the base body 4. In the present exemplary embodiment, the base body 4 and the lid 6 are made of tinplate.Deviating from the present embodiment, the base body 4 and the lid 6 can be made of other materials. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, both the base body 4 and the lid 6 each have a flanged edge 38, 40 (see Figures 2 and 3). The lid 6 is movably connected to the base body 4 such that the lid 6 can be moved by a person from a closed position I (see Figure 1) to a first open position IIa (see Figure 2) and a second open position IIb (see Figure 3). While in the closed position I a storage chamber 20 for unused snus and a receiving space 12 for used snus in the base body 4 are closed by the lid 6, in the first open position IIa the lid 6 releases the storage chamber 20 and in the second open position IIb the receiving space 12, such that a person can remove unused snus from the storage chamber 20 orused snus can be deposited in the receiving space 12. For this purpose, the snus can 2 has, as a further essential component, a joint assembly 8 which movably connects the base body 4 and the lid 6 as described above. The joint assembly 8 has a sliding joint 10 which will be explained in detail later. The lid 6 can be displaced from the closed position I into the first open position IIa by a translational movement in a first direction R1. Furthermore, the lid 6 can be displaced from the closed position I into the second open position IIa by a further translational movement in a second direction R2, wherein in the present embodiment the first direction R1 is opposite to the second direction R2. Deviating from the present embodiment, the first direction R1 and the second direction R2 can be in the same direction. This means that, for example, a movementFirst, the storage chamber 20 is opened, and then, by a continued, parallel movement, the receiving space 12 is opened. Furthermore, in deviation from the present exemplary embodiment, the first direction R1 and the second direction R2 can also be different, for example, they can be aligned at right angles to one another. This means that, by a first movement to the right or left, for example, the storage chamber 20 is opened first, and then by a movement upwards or downwards or by a forwards or backwards movement, the receiving space 12 is opened. In the present exemplary embodiment, the base body 4 has a length of approximately 85 mm, a width of approximately 60 mm, and a height of approximately 15 mm. The interior of the base body 4 therefore has a volume of approximately 76000 mm. 3. In the present embodiment, the receiving space 12, however, has a length of approximately 20 mm, a width of approximately 60 mm, and a height of approximately 0.7 mm. Thus, the receiving space 12 has a volume of approximately 900 mm 3 . Since the receiving space 12 is located in the interior of the base body 4, it reduces the volume of the storage chamber 20 accordingly to approximately 75,000 mm 3. Thus, the ratio of the volume of the storage chamber 20 to the volume of the receiving space 12 is approximately 1 to 100. Deviating from the present exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the volume of the storage chamber 20 to the volume of the receiving space 12 can also be in a range from approximately 1 to 10 to 1 to 500. Reference is now also made to Figure 4. A first exemplary embodiment of the joint assembly 8 is shown. In the present exemplary embodiment, the joint assembly 8 is a one-piece injection-molded plastic component with a sliding joint 10 which, in the assembled state, is fixedly connected to the base body 4 and movably connected to the cover 6. In the present exemplary embodiment, the joint assembly 8 is made of the same material, ie it consists of a single material. Deviating from the present exemplary embodiment, the joint assembly 8 can also be made of non-uniform material but in one piece.For stationary connection to the base body 4, the sliding joint 10 in the present embodiment has a peripheral edge 22 as a connecting means, which can be brought into engagement with the flanged edge 38 on the inside of the base body 4. For movable connection to the cover 6, the sliding joint 10 in the present embodiment has a plurality of sliding elements 24, which can be brought into engagement with the flanged edge 40 on the inside of the cover 6, so that the cover 6 can then be displaced between the closed position I and the first open position IIa as well as the second open position IIb. For this purpose, the sliding elements 24 are arranged on two straight, opposite longitudinal sides in the main direction of extension or direction of movement of the sliding joint 10.Thus, tool-free assembly is enabled by the edge 22 and the sliding elements 24, which are each brought into engagement with the base body 4 and the cover 6. In addition to the receiving space 12 formed on the joint assembly 8, the joint assembly 8 in the present embodiment also has a passage 26 to the storage chamber 20. Reference is also made to Figures 5 to 9. A second embodiment of the joint assembly 8 is shown, which differs from the first embodiment in that the joint assembly 8 with the sliding joint 10 is formed in two pieces with a first sliding joint component 14a and a second sliding joint component 14b.The first sliding joint component 14a is fixedly connected to the base body 4 and the second sliding joint component 14b is fixedly connected to the cover 6, wherein the first sliding joint component 14a and the second sliding joint component 14b are movably connected to one another so that, as already described above, the cover 6 can be moved between the closed position I and the first open position IIa as well as the second open position IIb. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first sliding joint component 14a and the second sliding joint component 14b are each integrally formed injection-molded plastic components which together movably connect the base body 4 to the cover 6. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first sliding joint component 14a and the second sliding joint component 14b are formed from the same material, i.e. they each consist of a single material.Deviating from the present embodiment, the first sliding joint component 14a and the second sliding joint component 14b can also each be made of non-uniform material, but formed as a single piece. The first sliding joint component 14a can be displaced relative to the second sliding joint component 14b from the closed position I into the first open position IIa by a translational movement in the first direction R1. Furthermore, the first sliding joint component 14a can be displaced relative to the second sliding joint component 14b from the closed position I into the second open position IIa by the further translational movement in the second direction R2, wherein in the present embodiment, the first direction R1 is again opposite to the second direction R2. Deviating from the present embodiment, the first direction R1 and the second direction R2 can again be in the same direction. This means that, for example, a movementFirst, the storage chamber 20 is opened, and then, by a continued, parallel movement, the receiving space 12 is opened. Furthermore, in contrast to the present exemplary embodiment, the first direction R1 and the second direction R2 can also be different, e.g., they can be aligned at right angles to one another. This means that, by a first movement to the right or left, for example, the storage chamber 20 is first opened, and then, by a movement upwards or downwards, or by a forward or backward movement, the receiving space 12 is opened. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first open position IIa is defined by two stops 16a, 16b, which in the present exemplary embodiment are assigned to the second sliding joint component 14b.In the present embodiment, the two stops 16a, 16b are end sections of openings 30a, 30b or grooves into which sliding blocks 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d or other engagement elements engage, which are assigned to the first sliding joint component 14b and whose displaceability along the respective opening 30a, 30b is limited by the respective stops 16a, 16b in the direction R1. In the present embodiment, the sliding blocks 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d are integrally formed on the first sliding joint component 14a. Analogous to the first open position IIa, in the present embodiment, the second furnace position IIb is defined by two further stops 16c, 16d, which in the present embodiment are also assigned to the second sliding joint component 14b.In the present exemplary embodiment, the two stops 16c, 16d are also end sections of the openings 30a, 30b or grooves into which slot nuts 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d or other engagement elements engage, which are assigned to the first sliding joint component 14a and whose displaceability along the respective opening 30a, 30b is limited by the respective further stops 16c, 16d in the direction R2. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the openings 30a, 30b or grooves and the sliding blocks 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d are each designed to be connected to one another in a snap-in manner, so that the first sliding joint component 14a can be connected to the base body 4 and the second sliding joint component 14b to the cover 6 can be connected to one another without the need for tools during assembly. The closed position I is defined in the present embodiment by a snap-in device 18.For this purpose, in the present embodiment, the locking device 18 has two opposing locking notches 34a, 34b, into which two corresponding locking lugs 36a, 36b engage, thus locking the device in place. In the present embodiment, the locking device 18 is designed to be self-releasing, i.e., by applying a minimum force that can easily be applied manually by a person, the locking lugs 36a, 36b can be disengaged from the respective locking notches 34a, 34b. In the present embodiment, the locking notches 34a, 34b are assigned to the first sliding joint component 14a, while the locking lugs 36a, 36b are assigned to the second sliding joint component 14b. Deviating from the present embodiment, the assignment of the locking notches 34a, 34b and locking lugs 36a, 36b to the first sliding joint component 14a and the second sliding joint component 14a can also be different.Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the locking notches 34a, 34b and the locking lugs 36a, 36b are each designed to be connectable to one another in a snap-in manner, so that the first sliding joint component 14a and the second sliding joint component 14b can be connected to one another without tools during assembly. Reference is now also made to Figure 8. The first sliding joint component 14a is shown. Analogous to the sliding joint 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the first sliding joint component 14a also has a circumferential edge 22 for stationary connection to the base body 4, which can be brought into engagement with a flanged edge 38 on the inside of the base body 4. In addition to the receiving space 12 formed on the first sliding joint component 14a, the joint assembly 8 in the present embodiment also has the passage 26 to the storage chamber 20.Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the locking notches 34a, 34b are formed on the first sliding joint component 14a, i.e., the first sliding joint component 14b is formed integrally with the locking notches 34a, 34b and the other components already described. Reference is now also made to Figure 9. The second sliding joint component 14b is shown. Analogous to the first sliding joint component 14a, the second sliding joint component 14b also has a circumferential edge 28 for stationary connection to the cover 6, which can be brought into engagement with the cover 6. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the locking lugs 36a, 36b are molded onto the second sliding joint component 14b, i.e., the second sliding joint component 14b is formed integrally with the locking lugs 36a, 36b and the other components already described. This provides a snus can 2 with a particularly simple structure that is particularly easy to use.The use of a sliding joint 10 allows the lid 6 to be moved by a person with one hand by sliding it from any of the possible positions, ie the closed position I and the two open positions IIa, IIb, into another of the aforementioned positions I, IIa, IIb.
[0002] List of reference symbols 2 Snus can 4 Base body 6 Lid 8 Joint assembly 10 Sliding joint 12 Receiving space 14a Sliding joint component 14b Sliding joint component 16a Stop 16b Stop 16c Stop 16d Stop 18 Locking device 20 Storage chamber 22 Rim 24 Sliding elements 26 Passage 28 Rim 30a Opening 30b Opening 32a Sliding block 32b Sliding block 32c Sliding block 32d Sliding block 34a Locking notch 34a Locking notch 36a Locking lug 36b Locking lug 38 Rim 40 Rim R1 Direction R2 Direction I Closed position IIa Open position IIb Open position
Claims
Patent claims 1. Snus can (2), in particular for loose snus and / or portioned snus, with a base body (4) and with a lid (6), wherein the base body (4) and the lid (6) are movably connected to one another by means of a joint assembly (8), wherein the joint assembly (8) has a sliding joint (10), wherein the sliding joint (10) movably connects the base body (4) to the lid (6) in such a way that the lid (6) can be moved into a closed position (I) and into two open positions (IIa, IIb).
2. Snus can (2) according to claim 1, wherein the lid (6) can be displaced from the closed position (I) into the first open position (IIa) by a translational movement in a first direction (R1), and can be displaced from the closed position (I) into the second open position (IIa) by a further translational movement in a second direction (R2). 3.Snus can (2) according to claim 2, wherein the first direction (R1) is opposite to the second direction (R2).
4. Snus can (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the joint assembly (8) is formed integrally with the sliding joint (10), and the sliding joint (10) is fixedly connected to the base body (4) and movably connected to the lid (6).
5. Snus can (2) according to claim 4, wherein the joint assembly (8) with the sliding joint (10) has a molded-on receiving space (12) for used snus.
6. Snus can (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the joint assembly (8) with the sliding joint (10) is designed to be connectable to the base body (4) and / or to the lid (6) without the use of tools.
7. Snus can (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the joint assembly (8) with the sliding joint (10) is designed at least in two pieces with a first sliding joint component (14a) and a second sliding joint component (14b), wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) is fixedly connected to the base body (4) and the second sliding joint component (14b) is fixedly connected to the lid (6), and wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) and the second sliding joint component (14b) are movably connected to one another.Snus can (2) according to claim 7, wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) and / or the second sliding joint component (14b) has a first stop (16a, 16b) defining the first open position (11a) and a second stop (16c, 16d) defining the second open position (11b).
9. Snus can (2) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) and / or the second sliding joint component (14b) has a locking device (18) defining the closed position (1).
10. Snus can (2) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) and / or the second sliding joint component (14b) are each formed in one piece.
11. Snus can (2) according to claim 10, wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) has a molded-on receiving space (12) for used snus.
12. Snus can (2) according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) and / or the second sliding joint component (14b) are designed to be connected to one another without tools.
13. Snus can (2) according to one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the first sliding joint component (14a) is designed to be connected to the base body (4) without tools and / or the second sliding joint component (14b) is designed to be connected to the lid (6) without tools.
14. Joint assembly (8) for a snus can (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13.
15. Kit for forming a snus can (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13.
Citation Information
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TOBACCO BOX WITH LID
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Container
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Pocket-size hand-held container for consumer items
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Package box
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