Container and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A container (100) for pouches comprises a cylindrical body (10), a lid (20), a locking system (40) for longitudinally locking the lid (20) in a fully engaged position on the body (10), sealing means (50) forming a continuous seal around the opening (14) in the fully engaged position of the lid, and a guiding system (60) for guiding a relative movement of the body (10) and the lid (20) between a partially engaged position towards a fully engaged position of the lid or vice versa, with the guiding system (60) comprising a plurality of primary guiding ribs (62) arranged obliquely and at least one guiding protrusion (64) configured to slide along said primary guiding ribs (62).

Description

[0001] CONTAINER AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

[0002] Technical field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to containers and to methods of use of such containers. In particular, the present invention relates to containers for storing tobacco-based products such as nicotine pouches or snus pouches.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Smokeless tobacco products such as nicotine or snus pouches have been used for hundreds of years and are packaged in a nearly standardized way since several decades. A standard container comprises a cylindrical body of circular section delimiting a cavity for receiving the pouches therein, and a lid for closing said body. The standard container is closed by simply pushing the lid longitudinally on the body. On the other hand, the container is opened either by applying pressure on opposite sides thereof until it is deformed and the locking mechanism released, or by using fingers / nails to catch the lid and pull it open. The disadvantage of this first opening method is that it requires skill and hand strength, and that of the second opening method, that it can damage user’s nails.

[0006] When tested on new customers, these two opening methods also fell in not being intuitive enough. In markets where smokeless tobacco products are not well known, a common first approach of the new consumers was to try and twist the lid open, instead of pulling or squeezing it. The standard container therefore failed to convince in this market segment.

[0007] A replacement of the standard container by a conventional screw-type container required to change the manufacturing process of the containers and also did not match the habits of regular users.

[0008] Summary of the invention

[0009] An object of the present invention is therefore to propose a container that is easy-to-handle, with intuitive opening and closing functions, and which, at the same time, efficiently preserves the quality of the stored product. According to the present invention, this object is achieved through the features of the claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] According to the present invention, a container for pouches, such as nicotine or snus pouches, comprises: a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, the body delimiting a storage compartment for receiving therein a plurality of pouches and having an opening at an upper end thereof for accessing said storage compartment, a lid configured to engage with said body to cover the opening, a locking system comprising at least a first locking part on the body and a second locking part on the lid, said first and second locking parts being configured to cooperate for longitudinally locking the lid in a fully engaged position on the body, sealing means comprising at least a first sealing surface on the body and a second sealing surface on the lid, said sealing surfaces being configured to fit together and form a continuous seal around the opening in the fully engaged position of the lid, and the container is characterized in that it comprises a guiding system including: a plurality of primary guiding ribs arranged on one of the body and the lid, obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis, and at least one guiding protrusion, preferably a plurality of guiding protrusions, on the other one of the body and the lid, configured to slidingly cooperate with one of said primary guiding ribs to guide the lid from its fully engaged position towards a partially engaged position and / or vice versa.

[0011] The container according to the invention achieves multiple functionalities, with opening and closure being achievable by different methods.

[0012] The container according to the invention is configured to be opened either by twisting the lid open, or hooking the lid open, or squeezing the container to deform it until the locking system is released. It thereby satisfies the needs and habits of both regular and recent users of nicotine or snus pouches. The container can also adapt to the currently used manufacturing equipment, which is set to attach the lids from the top, with pressure, until they lock into place on their respective body. Hence changes on the assembly lines are not required.

[0013] Closing of the container, on the other hand, may be achieved by simply pushing the lid in the longitudinal direction or pushing and twisting the lid or by tilting and pushing the lid, i.e. placing one portion thereof on an upper edge part of the body and then, while maintaining this first portion in place, progressively pushing down the opposite portion towards a transversal position, for example in a wedge (in the manufacturing process) or by hand.

[0014] Finally, the lid is maintained in its fully engaged position by the locking system and the opening is sealed by the sealing means, thereby avoiding unwished opening of the container and assuring long-term quality of the stored pouches.

[0015] In the present disclosure, the terms longitudinal, longitudinally refer to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body (and hence container). A length is measured in this longitudinal direction. A longitudinal section is a section in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0016] A transversal direction is a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction. A transversal plane is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

[0017] The terms lower and upper refer to the longitudinal direction, and, unless otherwise stated, to the fully engaged position of the lid on the body. The lid is always engaged on an upper side of the body.

[0018] The terms above and under, in the same way, refer to the longitudinal direction, with the lid being arranged above the body, when engaged thereon.

[0019] The body has typically a bottom wall at its lower end and a lateral wall extending from this bottom wall towards an upper end of the body. The bottom and lateral walls delimit the storage compartment for the pouches.

[0020] On the other hand, the lid typically comprises a top wall and a cylindrical skirt extending from the top wall in a lower direction thereof. The lid skirt is advantageously dimensioned to surrounds an upper part of the lateral wall when in an engaged position on the body.

[0021] According to an example, the body and / or lid comprise, preferably are made of, polymer material, typically polypropylene.

[0022] The present disclosure refers to partially engaged and fully engaged positions of the lid.

[0023] A partially engaged position of the lid is typically a position in which the lid skirt is engaged with an upper part of the lateral wall, with its own axis aligned with the longitudinal axis and the lid still movable in the longitudinal direction. The partially engaged position corresponds to a disengaged configuration of the at least one first and second locking parts of the locking system and hence to an unlocked position of the lid on the body.

[0024] The fully engaged position corresponds to an engaged configuration of the at least one first and second locking parts of the locking system and hence to a locked position of the lid on the body. There, for example, the top wall may abut against an upper end of the lateral wall and / or a lower end of the lid may abut against a surface of the body.

[0025] According to the invention, the first and second sealing surfaces may either be separate from the first and second locking parts and in particular spaced apart therefrom, or the first and second locking parts may respectively comprise the first and second sealing surfaces.

[0026] Also, the locking system may either be separate from the guiding system, and in particular spaced apart therefrom, or it may include a part of said guiding system. For example, at least one of the first and second locking parts may be a guiding protrusion of the guiding system.

[0027] According to a particular example, in the fully engaged position, the first and second sealing surfaces may be located above the guiding system.

[0028] According to an example, the guiding system and locking system may be so configured that the lid is movable from its partially engaged position to its fully engaged position or vice versa by applying thereon a longitudinal force having no transversal component.

[0029] According to an example, the first and second locking parts may be configured to cooperate in a (longitudinal) snap-fit, in particular a reversible snap- fit.

[0030] The locking system may preferably be a snap-fit locking system blocking the lid in the longitudinal direction but allowing some relative rotation of the lid and body around the longitudinal axis (with the range of motion depending on the circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs).

[0031] Typically, the guiding system may be so configured that a relative rotation of the lid and body engages at least one guiding protrusion with a primary guiding rib.

[0032] In particular, the guiding system may be so configured that in a fully engaged position of the lid, at least one guiding protrusion may be circumferentially arranged between two adjacent primary guiding ribs. Hence, when the lid - initially in its fully engaged position - is rotated by the user around the longitudinal axis in an opening direction, the guiding protrusion necessarily abuts against an upper surface (ramp) of an adjacent primary guiding rib and slidingly cooperates therewith to urge the lid upwards towards its partially engaged position.

[0033] Typically, the locking system may be so configured that a frictional force of at least one guiding protrusion on a primary guiding rib is shifted to at least one of the first and second locking parts which so gets disengaged.

[0034] For example, in the case of a snap-fit locking system, the shifted force applies on one of the first and second locking parts to make it jump longitudinally over the other, hence reversing the snap-fit.

[0035] As an alternative or in addition, the sliding movement of at least one guiding protrusion on a primary guiding rib may guide one of the first and second locking parts to be disengaged from the other in a bayonet-type motion. The primary guiding ribs are generally separate and circumferentially spaced apart from each other, preferably with a constant pitch between two adjacent ribs.

[0036] They are typically regularly distributed around the longitudinal axis, with their respective lower ends being then contained in one lower transversal plane and their respective upper ends in one upper transversal plane.

[0037] The guiding protrusions may be regularly distributed around the longitudinal axis, in a similar manner.

[0038] According to an example, each primary guiding rib may be rectilinear.

[0039] Typically, a circumferential pitch measured between two adjacent primary guiding ribs in a transversal plane may be between 5% and 25% of the circumference of the body in said transversal plane.

[0040] Typically, an angle of inclination of a primary guiding rib with respect to the longitudinal axis may be comprised between 30° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°, and still more preferably between 40° and 50°.

[0041] Typically, each primary guiding rib may extend over an angular sector of at most 20°, preferably at most 10°, around the longitudinal axis.

[0042] Typically, the length L2 of each primary guiding rib, measured in projection along the longitudinal axis, may be comprised between 10 and 90% the length L1 of the lid skirt.

[0043] According to an example, each primary guiding rib may have a free upper end and a free lower end.

[0044] Also, each guiding protrusion may be a secondary guiding rib having the same inclination as the primary guiding ribs. The container may then be provided with a plurality of such secondary guiding ribs, having a circumferential pitch being a multiple of, in particular being equal to, the circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs. With such arrangement, the length L2 of each primary guiding rib, measured in projection along the longitudinal axis, may preferably be comprised between 50 to 90% of the length L1 of the lid skirt.

[0045] In the fully engaged position of the lid, the locking system may allow a relative rotation of the lid and body around the longitudinal axis. This relative rotation then occurs without any relative translation between the lid and body along the longitudinal direction. This ensures that the closure does not open unexpectedly if the container is subjected to an impact or shock.

[0046] According to one example, a range of rotation between the lid and body in the fully engaged position of the lid may substantially correspond to a circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs (i.e. correspond to at least 80% of the, preferably to the entire, circumferential pitch between the primary guiding ribs).

[0047] The circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs, on the other hand, defines the maximum amount of rotation to achieve unlocking of the container.

[0048] According to an example, at least one of the first or the second locking part may comprise a locking rib extending in a transversal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, with said transversal locking rib extending either on the entire circumference or on part of the circumference of the body or the lid.

[0049] In such case, a sliding cooperation between the at least one guiding protrusion and one of the primary guiding ribs forces the other of the first or second locking part to be disengaged from said locking rib.

[0050] To avoid unintentional opening of the container during a relative rotation of the lid and body, at least one of the first or second locking parts may delimit a closed outline in the circumferential direction.

[0051] In particular if the locking parts include a transversal locking rib of the type described hereabove, said locking rib may delimit a closed outline in the circumferential direction. According to an example, the locking parts may be separate from the guiding system.

[0052] In particular if the locking parts include a transversal locking rib of the type described hereabove, said locking rib may be distant from the guiding system.

[0053] According to an example, both first and second locking parts may extend continuously all around the circumference of the container. In such case, advantageously, the first and second locking means may include respectively a first continuous sealing surface and a second continuous sealing surface, arranged to cooperate around the opening to seal said opening in the engaged position.

[0054] According to another example, each primary guiding rib may be continued at its lower end by a transversal locking segment forming a first locking part of the locking system. The transversal locking segment then forms a transversal locking rib of the type described hereabove, that is linked (and hence not separate from) the associated primary guiding rib.

[0055] With such arrangement:

[0056] Adjacent locking segments may be circumferentially spaced apart from each other and separated by a gap.

[0057] Each locking segment may preferably cover at least 80 % of the distance between two adjacent ribs, this resulting in the locking system being safe against unintentional opening.

[0058] The length L2 of each primary guiding rib, measured in projection along the longitudinal axis, may preferably be comprised between 10 and 50 % of the length L1 of the lid skirt.

[0059] According to an example, the guiding system may comprise at least one pair of guiding protrusions including an upper guiding protrusion and a lower guiding protrusion, where the at least one upper guiding protrusion is configured to slidingly cooperate with a primary guiding rib and the lower guiding protrusion forms a locking part of the locking system. Each lower guiding protrusion may cooperate with a transversal locking segment in the fully engaged position to longitudinally lock the lid, while the upper guiding protrusion may stay above said locking segment to be able to cooperate with an upper surface of the primary guiding rib upon relative rotation of the body and lid.

[0060] The upper and lower guiding protrusions may preferably be substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction.

[0061] Both may then slide along respectively the upper and lower surface of the primary guiding rib, to either engage (downward sliding movement) or disengage the lid (upward sliding movement).

[0062] The lower guiding protrusion may be engaged or disengaged from its locking segment in a bayonet-type motion through the gap formed between this locking segment and the adjacent one.

[0063] The gap between two adjacent locking segments may therefore be dimensioned to allow a lower guiding protrusion to pass therethrough.

[0064] According to an example, the container may comprise a plurality of such pairs of guiding protrusions.

[0065] The circumferential pitch measured between two adjacent pairs may typically be equal to a multiple of - in particular be equal to - the circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs.

[0066] Advantageously, the primary guiding ribs and the pairs of guiding protrusions may be so arranged that, in a partially engaged position of the lid, a pair of guiding protrusions slid in a locking direction along and above the transversal locking segment gets caught by the upper free end of an adjacent guiding rib. Once caught by said primary guiding rib, the upper and lower guiding protrusions respectively slide along an upper and a lower surface of said rib and finally along the transversal locking segment, towards the fully engaged position of the lid. According to an example, the container may further comprise at least one supplementary locking protrusion transversally aligned with but spaced from said at least one lower guiding protrusion.

[0067] Each supplementary locking protrusion may typically be arranged circumferentially between two adjacent pairs of guiding protrusions.

[0068] According to an example, a lower guiding protrusion and a supplementary locking protrusion may then cooperate with one single transversal locking segment in the fully engaged position of the lid.

[0069] The circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs actually defines the amount of rotation that shall be imparted to the lid by the user to achieve unlocking.

[0070] On the other hand, the number of lower guiding protrusions and supplementary locking protrusions impacts the intensity of the required twisting force to unlock the lid.

[0071] According to an example, the guiding protrusions may be guiding pins, in particular cylindrical guiding pins.

[0072] Another object of the invention is a method of assembling a container as defined hereabove, comprising:

[0073] - partially engaging the lid on the body and

[0074] - moving the lid from said partially engaged position to its fully engaged position by exerting a relative longitudinal pushing force with no transversal component between the lid and body.

[0075] Another object of the invention is a method of assembling a container as defined hereabove, comprising:

[0076] - placing the lid in a position tilted with respect to a transversal plane,

[0077] - engaging a lowest first edge part of the lid on the body and

[0078] - progressively forcing down an opposite second edge part of the lid while maintaining the first edge part, until the lid reaches a transversal position, and eventually its fully engaged position. The forcing down step may for example be achieved in a wedge or by hand.

[0079] A further object of the invention is a method of disassembling a container as defined hereabove, comprising applying either a twisting or a squeezing or a peeling force on the lid.

[0080] According to a particular example, a relative twisting force around the longitudinal axis may be applied on the lid and body so that at least one guiding protrusion abuts a primary guiding rib and until the sliding motion of said at least one guiding protrusion along the primary guiding rib forces the lid towards its partially engaged position.

[0081] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0082] Figure 1 illustrates a container according to a first embodiment of the invention, with the lid in a fully engaged position on the body.

[0083] Figure 2 illustrates in more detail the guiding system and the locking system of the container of figure 1 .

[0084] Figures 3A to 3C illustrate successive steps of opening the container of figures 1 and 2.

[0085] Figure 4 illustrates a container according to a second embodiment of the invention, with the lid in a fully engaged position on the body.

[0086] Figure 5A to 5C illustrate the guiding system and locking system of the container of figure 4, in different configurations.

[0087] Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of the container of figure 4, along plane VI of figure 4.

[0088] Figure 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, with one or several intermediate lower guiding protrusions arranged circumferentially between adjacent pairs of guiding protrusions. Figure 8 illustrates a closing method of a container where a longitudinal pushing force is applied on the lid with no transversal component.

[0089] Figure 9 illustrates a closing method of a container where the lid is engaged on the body by a first edge part and an opposite second edge part is progressively forced down, until the lid reaches a transversal position, and eventually its fully engaged position.

[0090] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0091] The present invention will be described with respect to embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto. The described drawings are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0092] Figure 1 illustrates a container 100 for pouches 1 , such as nicotine or snus pouches, comprising a body 10 and a lid 20.

[0093] The body 10 has a longitudinal axis Z1 which defines the longitudinal direction Z of the container 100. It comprises a bottom wall 11 at a lower end 10b and a lateral wall 12 extending from said bottom wall 11 up to an upper end 10a of the body 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the lateral wall 12 has at its upper end a cylindrical surface of constant circular section of diameter D1 .

[0094] The lateral and bottom walls 12, 11 delimit together a cavity forming a storage compartment 13 for the nicotine or snus pouches 1.

[0095] At its upper end 10a, the body 10 has an opening 14, which the lid 20 intends to cover in its fully engaged position to prevent the stored products 1 from falling down.

[0096] As better illustrated in figure 2, the lid 20 has an axis Z2 which, when the lid 20 is partially or fully engaged, is aligned with the axis Z1 of the body 10. The lid 20 has a top wall 21 and, at its periphery, a downwardly extending longitudinal skirt 23 of length L1 .

[0097] As shown in figure 2, the top wall 21 may form a cup-shaped receptacle 22 in its center. Although not illustrated, the container 100 may further comprise a supplementary lid configured to cover said cup-shaped receptacle 22 and delimit therewith a waste disposal compartment for used pouches. This, however, shall not be considered limiting for the present invention, and the top wall 21 of the lid 20 may also be flat or otherwise shaped without affecting the claimed features.

[0098] The lid skirt 23 may have an inner diameter D2 slightly larger than the outer diameter D1 of the lateral wall 12 so that in an engaged position, the lid 20 actually surrounds said lateral wall 12. This, however, shall not be considered limiting and the lid 20 may also be engaged inside the body 10, through the opening 14, the outer diameter of the lid skirt 23 being then slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the lateral wall 12 in the closing section.

[0099] According to the invention, the container 100 further comprises a locking system 40, sealing means 50 and a guiding system 60 that ensure a secured and sealed closure of the container while allowing adaptable opening and closing operations.

[0100] The locking system 40, sealing means 50 and / or guiding system 60 may be at least partially formed of the same elements, achieving distinct functions, or they may be formed of separate elements.

[0101] The locking system 40 comprises at least a first locking part and a second locking part formed on the body 10 and lid 20 respectively, said locking parts being configured to cooperate to longitudinally lock the lid 20 on the body 10 in its fully engaged position.

[0102] In the illustrated embodiment, a first locking part is a first locking rib 41 arranged all along an outer circumference of the lateral wall 12 and a second locking part is a second locking rib 42 arranged all along an inner circumference of the lid skirt 23. Each locking rib 41 , 42 forms a closed outline extending in a transversal plane. As an alternative, the first and / or second locking parts 41 , 42 may however extend only on part of the circumference of the body 10 and lid 20.

[0103] Each locking part 41 , 42 has preferably a substantially triangular longitudinal section, with slanted upper and lower surfaces.

[0104] In the illustrated example (see figure 2), the first locking rib 41 has a primary lower surface 41 b and a primary upper surface 41a, that are oppositely inclined and similarly the second locking rib 42 has a secondary lower surface 42b and a secondary upper surface 42a, also oppositely inclined.

[0105] The locking ribs 41 , 42 are arranged to cooperate in a reversible snap- fit when the lid 20 is engaged on the body 10: the secondary lower surface 42b abuts against the primary upper surface 41 a and slides therealong due to the relative flexibility of the lid skirt 23 until the secondary upper surface 42a finally reaches the primary lower surface 41 b and the second locking rib 42 is finally slidingly guided in the fully engaged position illustrated in figure 2.

[0106] The first locking rib 41 acts as a blocking shoulder and the second locking rib 42 acts as a hook that engages the blocking shoulder to avoid an upwards returning movement of the lid 20.

[0107] Further movement of the lid 20 towards the body 10 might be prevented by the top wall 21 of the lid 20 abutting on the upper edge of the lateral wall 12, as illustrated. As an alternative or in addition, further locking rib(s) or elements may also be provided on the body 10 and / or lid 20 to refrain the lid 20 from moving further towards the bottom wall 11. For example, the body may comprise a substantially transversal surface against which a lower end of the lid may rest in the fully engaged position.

[0108] In this embodiment, the lid 20 is longitudinally blocked in the fully engaged position unless a sufficient releasing force F is applied upwards thereon. This releasing force F notably depends on the shape and inclination of the locking rib surfaces 41 a, 42b and on the flexibility of the material.

[0109] As indicated hereabove, the container 100 comprises sealing means 50 forming a continuous seal between the lid 20 and body 10 in the fully engaged position of the lid 20. In this first embodiment, the sealing means 50 form part of the locking system 40.

[0110] In particular, at least one locking rib 41 , 42, preferably both locking ribs, is / are made of a flexible material. Hence the secondary upper surface 42b and the primary lower surface 41 b form sealing surfaces which sealingly cooperate to close the container in the fully engaged position of the lid.

[0111] In alternative embodiments, the sealing means 50 may also be separate from the locking system 40. This, in particular, might be advantageous in cases where the locking ribs 41 , 42 do not extend on the entire circumference of the container 100 and therefore cannot achieve a continuous seal around the opening 14.

[0112] The guiding system 60 is intended to guide a relative movement of the body 10 and lid 20 between a partially engaged position towards the fully engaged position or vice versa.

[0113] In this first embodiment, the guiding system 60 comprises a plurality of primary guiding ribs 62, here obliquely arranged on the body 10, and a plurality of guiding protrusions in the form of secondary guiding ribs 64 arranged on the lid 20 and configured to slide along said primary guiding ribs 62.

[0114] In the example, the primary guiding ribs 62 are formed on an outer circumference of the lateral wall 12 and the second guiding ribs 64 are arranged on an inner circumference of the lid 20, here of the lid skirt 23.

[0115] All primary and secondary guiding ribs 62, 64 are rectilinear and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis Z1 by an angle 9 comprised between 30° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°, and still more preferably between 40° and 50°

[0116] All primary guiding ribs 62 are separate and circumferentially spaced apart from each other, each primary guiding rib 62 extending over an angular sector of at most 20°, preferably at most 10°, around the longitudinal axis.

[0117] A circumferential pitch p1 measured between two adjacent primary guiding ribs 62 in a transversal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is typically between 5% and 25% of the circumference of the body in said transversal plane.

[0118] In the illustrated example, all primary guiding ribs 62 are regularly distributed around the longitudinal axis Z, with their lower ends defined in a primary transversal plane Pa and their upper ends defined in a primary transversal plane Pb.

[0119] The length L2 of the primary guiding ribs 62, corresponding to the longitudinal distance between the two planes Pa, Pb, is typically comprised between 50 and 90% the length L1 of the lid skirt.

[0120] The secondary guiding ribs 64 may be transversally aligned in a similar manner, with their length being substantially equal to the length of the primary guiding ribs 62.

[0121] The secondary guiding ribs 64 have the same inclination as the primary guiding ribs 62. The circumferential pitch p2 measured between two adjacent secondary guiding ribs 64 is equal to a multiple of the circumferential pitch p1 between two adjacent primary guiding ribs 62.

[0122] Opening and closing operations of the above-described container 100 are illustrated in figures 8, 9 and 3A to 3C.

[0123] As illustrated in figure 8, the container 100 may be closed by simply pushing the lid 20 longitudinally on the body 10. The force exerted by the manufacturing equipment or by the user may be strictly longitudinal, that is, with no transversal component: When the secondary guiding ribs 64 impinge on the primary guiding ribs 62, they slide therealong and naturally bring the lid 20 and body 10 to rotate relatively to each other until the secondary locking rib 42 abuts against and finally jumps over the primary locking rib 41 , eventually reaching the fully engaged position. The force actually exerted on the lid 20 is a longitudinal pushing force and the resulting rotation is a passive movement.

[0124] Another closing method consists in placing the lid 20 in a position tilted with respect to a transversal plane, engaging a lowest first edge part 20A of the lid 20 on the body 10 and progressively forcing down an opposite second edge part 20B of the lid 20 while maintaining the first edge part 20A, until the lid 20 reaches a transversal position, and eventually its fully engaged position. Catching an upper part of the body 10 with the first edge part 20A of the obliquely oriented lid 20, and then lowering the opposite side 20B towards the body 10 may be achieved either with the hand or in a wedge, as illustrated in figure 9.

[0125] Opening of the container 100 may be achieved either by hooking the lid 20 open, or squeezing the container 100 to deform it until the locking system 40 is released, or twisting the lid 20 open as illustrated in figures 3A to 3C.

[0126] The circumferential pitch p between adjacent primary guiding ribs 62 allows limited relative rotational movement between the lid 20 and body 10 until the secondary guiding ribs 64 finally impinge on the primary guiding ribs 62 (see the movement of the secondary guiding ribs 64 from figure 3A to figure 3B).

[0127] In this abutting position of the ribs 62, 64, and if the user continues to apply a rotational force on the lid 20, the secondary guiding ribs 64 are guided along upper surfaces (ramps) of the primary guiding ribs 62 and a resulting longitudinal force issues that opposes to the locking cooperation of the locking ribs 41 , 42. If the force is sufficient, the locking ribs 41 , 42 get disengaged and the lid 20 is released from longitudinal locking (figure 3C).

[0128] A limited pitch between two adjacent guiding ribs, which defines the maximum amount of rotation necessary to achieve unlocking, as well as a sufficient inclination of the ribs, ensure that the release of the lid is obtained easily, with a little movement imparted by the user.

[0129] At the same time, and thanks to the transversal locking ribs 41 , 42, safe locking is ensured even in case of a small relative rotation of the lid and body for example if the container is subjected to an impact or shock.

[0130] Figures 4, 5A to 5C and 6 illustrate a container 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The body 10 and lid 20 of this container 200 are very similar to those described with reference to the preceding figures. Similar parts are therefore referenced with the same numerals and not described again in detail.

[0131] The container 200 here comprises a guiding system 160 which, similarly to that of the first embodiment, comprises primary guiding ribs 162 regularly distributed all around the body 10, on the outer surface of its lateral wall 12.

[0132] Like in the first embodiment, an angle 9’ of inclination of each primary guiding rib 162 with respect to the longitudinal axis direction Z is advantageously comprised between 30° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°, and still more preferably between 40° and 50°.

[0133] A circumferential pitch pT measured between two adjacent primary guiding ribs 162 in a transversal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is preferably between 5% and 25% of the circumference of the body 10 in said transversal plane.

[0134] Also, and as in the first embodiment, each primary guiding rib 162 may preferably extend over an angular sector of at most 20°, preferably at most 10°, around the longitudinal axis Z1 .

[0135] These primary guiding ribs 162, however, are preferably shorter than those 62 of the first embodiment.

[0136] As in the first embodiment, all primary guiding ribs 162 have their lower ends defined in a primary lower transversal plane Pa’ and their upper ends contained in a primary upper transversal plane Pb’.

[0137] The length L2’ of the primary guiding ribs, corresponding to the longitudinal distance between the two planes Pa’, Pb’, is typically between and 50 % of the length L1 of the lid skirt.

[0138] In this particular second embodiment, each primary guiding rib 162 is further continued at its lower end by a transversal locking segment 141 forming a first locking part, the primary guiding rib 162 and corresponding locking segment 141 forming together a guiding and locking assembly 170.

[0139] As illustrated, the locking segments 141 together form a discontinuous circumferential rib, with gaps g between adjacent locking segments.

[0140] Each locking segment may preferably cover at least 80 % of the distance between two adjacent ribs. The guiding system 160 comprises guiding protrusions 164 on the inner circumference of the lid 20, here of the lid skirt 23.

[0141] Such guiding protrusions 164 are for example in the form of cylindrical guiding pins regularly distributed around the longitudinal axis Z1.

[0142] More specifically, the guiding system 160 comprises several pairs 165 of guiding protrusions 164, each pair 165 comprising an upper guiding protrusion 164a and a lower guiding protrusion 164b here aligned in the longitudinal direction.

[0143] The upper guiding protrusions 164a are configured to slide on an upper side (ramp) of a primary guiding rib 162 and its corresponding transversal locking segment 141 . Their cooperation with the primary guiding ribs 162 results in the lid being forced upwards and the locking parts being disengaged.

[0144] The lower guiding protrusions 164b, on the other hand, are configured to slide along the lower side of a primary guiding rib 162 and its corresponding transversal locking segment 141. The lower guiding protrusions 164b form second locking parts of the locking system 140, adapted to cooperate with the transversal locking segment 141 to longitudinally lock the lid 20 in its fully engaged position.

[0145] The circumferential pitch p2’ measured between two adjacent pairs 165 in a transversal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is equal to a multiple of the circumferential pitch pT between two adjacent primary guiding ribs 162.

[0146] The primary guiding ribs 162 and transversal locking segments 141 may have slanted upper surfaces 141 b, as shown in figure 6, thereby allowing the guiding protrusions 164 to cooperate therewith in a snap-fit, upon engaging the lid 120.

[0147] Once the pairs 165 of guiding pins 164a, 164b are engaged with the transversal locking segments 141 (figure 5A) and if a relative rotation is imparted to the body 10 and lid 20, the upper guiding protrusions 164a come to abut against the primary guiding ribs 162, and are guided therealong, thereby forcing the lid 20 upwards and disengaging the lower guiding protrusions 164b from the transversal locking segment 141 (figure 5B).

[0148] The transversal dimension of each locking segment 141 should preferably be less than the pitch pT between two adjacent primary guiding ribs 162 minus the transversal dimension of a guiding protrusion 164b, to allow the lower guiding protrusion 164b to be disengaged through the gap g in a bayonettype motion.

[0149] When the upper guiding protrusion 164a reaches the upper end of the primary guiding rib, the lid 20 is in a completely released position (figure 5C) in which it can be removed easily from the body 10 by a longitudinal pulling movement.

[0150] A limited pitch between two adjacent guiding ribs as well as a sufficient inclination of the ribs, ensure that the release of the lid is obtained easily, with a little movement imparted by the user.

[0151] At the same time, and thanks to the transversal locking ribs 141 , safe locking is ensured even in case of a small relative rotation of the lid and body for example if the container is subjected to an impact or shock.

[0152] In this embodiment, because the locking system 140 does not extend continuously around the circumference of the container 200, sealing means 150 are provided separately from the guiding system 160 and locking system 140.

[0153] In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing means 150 are located on above the guiding system 160, in the fully engaged position.

[0154] These sealing means 150 may typically include a first sealing rib 151 formed on the body 110 and a second sealing rib 152 formed on the lid 120, forming respective first and second sealing surfaces 151 b, 152a configured to cooperate in a continuous seal in the fully engaged position of the lid 120.

[0155] Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, similar to the second embodiment, where the guiding system 160 comprises, in addition to pairs 165 of upper and lower guiding protrusions 164a, 164b, supplementary locking protrusions 164c formed on the inner circumference of the lid 20, arranged circumferentially between two lower guiding protrusions 164b and transversally aligned with said lower guiding protrusions.

[0156] The intermediate locking protrusions 164c form additional second locking parts of the locking system 140. With such arrangement, when the lid 20 and body 10 are twisted with respect to each other and the upper guiding protrusions 164a come to slide along primary guiding ribs 162: the lower guiding protrusions 164b are guided through gaps g after having left their transversal locking segment 141 , while at the same time the intermediate locking protrusions 164c are forced to longitudinally jump over the transversal locking segment 141 (reversed snap-fit). The longitudinal force exerted on the intermediate locking protrusions 164c results from the frictional force of the upper guiding protrusions 164a sliding against respective primary guiding ribs 162.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A container (100, 200) for pouches, such as nicotine or snus pouches, comprising:- a cylindrical body (10) having a longitudinal axis (Z1), the body (10) delimiting a storage compartment (13) for receiving therein a plurality of pouches and having an opening (14) at a upper end thereof for accessing said storage compartment (13),- a lid (20) configured to engage with said body (10) to cover the opening (14),- a locking system (40, 140) comprising at least a first locking part (41 , 141 ) on the body (10) and a second locking part (42, 164b, 164c) on the lid (20), said first and second locking parts (41 , 42; 141 , 164b, 164c) being configured to cooperate for longitudinally locking the lid (20) in a fully engaged position on the body (10),- sealing means (50, 150) comprising at least a first sealing surface (41 b, 151 b) on the body (10) and a second sealing surface (42a, 152a) on the lid (20), said sealing surfaces being configured to fit together and form a continuous seal around the opening (14) in the fully engaged position of the lid, the container being characterized in that it comprises a guiding system (60, 160) including:- a plurality of primary guiding ribs (62, 162) arranged on one of the body(10) and the lid (20), obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis (Z1 ), and- at least one guiding protrusion (64, 164), preferably a plurality of guiding protrusions, on the other one of the body (10) and the lid (20), configured to slidingly cooperate with one of said primary guiding ribs (62, 162) to guide the lid from its fully engaged position towards a partially engaged position and / or vice versa.

2. The container (100, 200) according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding system (60, 160) and locking system (40, 140) are so configured that the lid (20) is movable from its partially engaged position to its fully engaged position or vice versa by applying thereon a longitudinal force having no transversal component.

3. The container (100, 200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the primary guiding ribs (62, 162) are separate and circumferentially spaced apart from each other.

4. The container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an angle of inclination (9, 9’) of each primary guiding rib (62, 162) with respect to the longitudinal axis (Z1 ) is comprised between 30° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°, and still more preferably between 40° and 50°.

5. The container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each primary guiding rib (62, 162) extends over an angular sector of at most 20°, preferably at most 10°, around the longitudinal axis (Z1 ).

6. The container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second locking parts (41 , 42; 141 , 164b, 164c) are configured to cooperate in a snap-fit.

7. The container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least the first or the second locking part (41 , 42; 141 , 164b, 164c) comprises a locking rib (41 , 42, 141 ) extending in a transversal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

8. The container (100, 200) according to claim 7, wherein a sliding cooperation between the at least one guiding protrusion (64, 164) and one of the primary guiding ribs (62, 162) forces the other of the first or second locking part (41 , 42; 164b, 164c) to be disengaged from said transversal locking rib (41 , 42, 141 ).

9. The container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the locking system (40, 140) allows a relative rotation of the lid (20) and body (10) around the longitudinal axis, in particular with no translation along said axis, in the fully engaged position of the lid (20).

10. The container (100, 200) according to claim 9, wherein the relative rotation substantially corresponds to a circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs (62, 162).

11. The container (100, 200) according to claim 10, wherein the circumferential pitch measured between two adjacent primary guiding ribs (62, 162) in a transversal plane may be between 5% and 25% of the circumference of the body (10) in said transversal plane.

12. The container (100, 200) according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the circumferential pitch between two adjacent primary guiding ribs (62, 162) defines the maximum amount of rotation to achieve unlocking of the container.

13. The container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, in the fully engaged position, first and second sealing surfaces (41 b, 42; 151 b, 152a) are located above the guiding system (60; 160).

14. The container (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each primary guiding rib (162) is continued at its lower end by a transversal locking segment (141 ) forming a first locking part of the locking system (140).

15. The container (200) according to claim 14, wherein the guiding system (160) comprises at least one pair of guiding protrusions including an upper guiding protrusion (164a) and a lower guiding protrusion (164b), preferably substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the at least one upper guiding protrusion (164a) is configured to slidingly cooperate with a primary guiding rib (162) and the lower guiding protrusion (164b) forms a locking part of the locking system (140).

16. The container (200) to according to claim 15, further comprising supplementary locking protrusions (164c) transversally aligned with but spaced apart from the lower guiding protrusion (164b).

17. The container (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the guiding protrusions are guiding pins, in particular cylindrical guiding pins.

18. The container (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each guiding protrusion is a secondary guiding rib (64) having the same inclination as the primary guiding ribs (62).

19. First method of assembling a container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising:- partially engaging the lid (20) on the body (10) and- moving the lid (20) from the partially engaged position to the fully engaged position by exerting a relative longitudinal pushing force with no transversal component between the lid (20) and body (10).

20. Second method of assembling a container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising:- placing the lid (20) in a position tilted with respect to a transversal plane, - engaging a lowest first edge part (20A) of the lid on the body (10) and- progressively forcing down an opposite second edge part (20B) of the lid (20) while maintaining the first edge part (20A), until the lid (20) reaches a transversal position, and eventually its fully engaged position.

21. Method of disassembling a container (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising applying either a twisting or a squeezing or a peeling force on the lid (10).

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