A box, in particular a box of snus

Abstract

A box (1), in particular a box of snus, containing: a container (3) defining a housing chamber (4) and having an at least partially openable upper wall (5) and a non-openable lower wall (6) opposite one another, and four flat side walls (7) which join the upper wall (5) to the lower wall (6); and a group of products (2) located in the housing chamber (4). The upper wall (5) of the container (3) has a fixed portion (8), which is firmly integral with the rest of the container (3), and a movable portion (9), which is complementary to the fixed portion (8) and is movable between a closed position, in which it is coplanar with the fixed portion (8) to prevent access to the housing chamber (4), and an open position, in which it is separate from the fixed portion (8) to allow access to the housing chamber (4).

Description

[0001] “A BOX, IN PARTICULAR A BOX OF SNUS”

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102024000010084 filed on May 6, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present invention relates to a box, in particular a box of snus.

[0006] Prior Art

[0007] Currently, snus pouches are grouped together to form groups of 4-30 snus pouches that are placed in plastic (or more rarely, metal) boxes. As, for example, described in patent applications WO2014124939A1, WO2016202594A1 and W02024018309A1, a box of snus is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a container that is closed by a removable lid and defines, together with the lid, a main chamber intended to accommodate the group of snus pouches. In some cases, an auxiliary chamber is obtained in the central area of the main lid, said auxiliary chamber being closed by an auxiliary lid and intended to accommodate used snus pouches.

[0008] Well-known boxes of snus have good but not excellent ergonomics as they are not always so easy to use, especially when the auxiliary chamber designed to accommodate used snus pouches is present; in fact, opening the auxiliary lid inside the main lid can be difficult.

[0009] Currently, well-known boxes of snus are formed by providing the container without the lid, inserting a group of snus pouches from above into the container without the lid, and then applying the lid to the container once the group of snus pouches is inserted. However, this production method requires the presence of a very large lid which has an extension substantially equal to the extension of the container and therefore limits the possibilities of creating different opening shapes that are more convenient for the user.

[0010] Patent US1480923A discloses a pocket-sized container made of metal and intended to contain tobacco powder.

[0011] Patent US5137150A discloses a container for a recording medium, such as a magnetic tape cassette, consisting of a vessel receiving the recording medium and a lid rotatably connected to it.

[0012] Description of the Invention

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a box, in particular a box of snus, which has high ergonomics for all uses and, at the same time, is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0014] In accordance with the present invention, a box, in particular a box of snus is provided as claimed in the appended claims.

[0015] The claims also form an integral part of the present specification.

[0016] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

[0018] Figures 1 and 2 are two perspective views of a box of snus made in accordance with the present invention, with a movable portion of an upper wall closed and open, respectively; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are three perspective views of a variant of the box of snus in Figure 1, with a movable portion of an upper wall which is closed in Figure 3 and open in Figures 4 and 5;

[0019] Figures 6-9 are four perspective views of an additional variant of the box of snus in Figure 1, with a movable portion of an upper wall which is closed in Figure 6 and open in Figures 7-9;

[0020] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the box of snus shown in Figures 6-9;

[0021] Figures 11 and 12 are two cross-sectional views of respective variants of the box of snus shown in Figures 6-9; and

[0022] Figures 13-17 schematically illustrate the construction of the box of snus shown in Figures 1-2.

[0023] Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

[0024] In Figures 1 and 2, reference number 1 indicates, as a whole, a box (or package) of snus containing a group of 4-30 snus pouches 2 (shown schematically in Figure 12); i.e., the box of snus 1 comprises a group of snus pouches 2 housed inside the box of snus 1. Preferably, the box of snus 1 is made of plastic material. Even more preferably, the box of snus 1 is made of moulded plastic material.

[0025] The box of snus 1 shown in the attached figures has a square-based parallelepiped shape; alternatively, the box of snus 1 may have a rectangular-based parallelepiped shape, while according to a further alternative, not shown, the box of snus 1 may have a cylindrical shape (with a circular or oval base).

[0026] The box of snus 1 comprises a container 3 which defines a housing chamber 4 in which the group of snus pouches 2 (not shown) is placed. The container 3 has a parallelepiped shape (with a square base in the preferred embodiment shown in the attached figures) and has an upper wall 5 (square shaped) and a lower wall 6 (square shaped) parallel and opposite to each other, and four flat side walls 7 which join the upper wall 5 to the lower wall 6 and are parallel and opposite to each other in pairs. When the box of snus 1 is cylindrical in shape, there is a single circular side wall 7 which joins the upper wall 5 to the lower wall 6.

[0027] According to one embodiment, not shown, the upper wall 5 and the lower wall 6 may be opposite each other (i.e., opposite and therefore facing each other) but not parallel to each other. In this case, for example, one between the upper wall 5 or the lower wall 6 or both may be concave or convex or otherwise.

[0028] The upper wall 5 of the container 3 comprises a fixed portion 8 (i.e., a gripping portion), which is firmly integral with the rest of the container 3, and a movable portion 9 (i.e., an opening portion 9), which is complementary to the fixed portion 8 (i.e., together they complete the upper wall 5) and is movable between a closed position (shown in Figure 1), in which it is coplanar with the fixed portion 8 to prevent access to the housing chamber 4, and an open position (shown in Figure 2), in which it is separate from the fixed portion 8 to allow access to the housing chamber 4.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 is hinged to the rest of the container 3 (i.e., to a side wall 7) in order to rotate between the closed position (shown in Figure 1) and the open position (shown in Figure 2).

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the container 3 has four longitudinal (vertical) edges, which join the side walls 7 to one another and have a rounded shape. Furthermore, the container 3 has eight transverse (horizontal) edges, which join the side walls 7 to the upper wall 5 and to the lower wall 6, are rounded and have a joining radius that is smaller than a joining radius of the longitudinal edges. By way of example, the joining radius of the longitudinal edges is at least three times the joining radius of the transverse edges. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal (vertical) edges and / or the transverse (horizontal) edges may be straight (i.e., not rounded).

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 has an area that is at least twice, preferably at least three times, an area of the fixed portion 8. In particular, the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 has an area that is equal to 3 / 4 of the overall area of the upper wall 5, while the fixed portion 8 of the upper wall 5 has an area that is equal to 1 / 4 of the overall area of the upper wall 5.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the fixed portion 8 of the upper wall 5 has an upper recess 10, i.e., a recess that causes a depression with respect to the rest of the fixed portion 8. The upper recess 10 is shaped so as to accommodate a user’s thumb as its function is to facilitate the user's grip of the box of snus 1 by offering the thumb an area in which to securely grip the box of snus 1. Preferably, the upper recess 10 is circular in shape.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 is rectangular in shape and borders the fixed portion 8 on a single straight side. In the alternative embodiments shown in Figures 3-9, the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 is “L”-shaped and surrounds the fixed portion 8 on two sides perpendicular to one another (i.e., it borders the fixed portion 8 on two sides perpendicular to one another); this embodiment allows the size of the movable portion 9 to be increased compared to the size of the fixed portion 8 and thus increases the size of the opening that is created by opening the movable portion 9 and through which the snus pouches 2 are taken from the housing chamber 4.

[0034] In the alternative embodiments shown in Figures 3-9, a side wall 7 has a side recess 11, i.e., a recess that causes a depression with respect to the rest of the side wall 7.

[0035] The side recess 11 ends in contact with the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 and is intended to make it easier to push the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 with the fingers to move the movable portion 9 from the closed position to the open position. The side recess 11 is shaped so as to accommodate a user’s thumb (or another finger of the user) as the user must insert a finger (usually, but not necessarily, the thumb) into the side recess 11 to push upward on the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5.

[0036] With reference to the box of snus 1 as shown in Figures 3-5, the side recess 11 is partially circular in shape, i.e., it has a semi-circular shape at the bottom.

[0037] With reference to the box of snus 1 as shown in Figures 6-9, the side recess 11 has a slot shape.

[0038] There is no side recess 11 in the box of snus 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0039] In the alternative embodiments shown in Figures 3-9, the box of snus 1 also comprises an auxiliary chamber 12 (as better shown in Figures 5 and 9), which is obtained in the upper wall 5, is designed to collect exhausted (used) snus pouches 2 and is closed by a lid 13 (preferably a hinged lid) accessible from the outside of the box of snus 1.

[0040] Preferably, the auxiliary chamber 12 is obtained in the upper wall 5 at the movable portion 9.

[0041] There is no auxiliary chamber 12 in the box of snus 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0042] According to a possible embodiment shown in Figure 10, the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 has a side rim 14, which, when the movable portion 9 is in the closed position, faces and is in contact with a respective side rim 15 of the fixed portion 8 of the upper wall 5. Preferably, but not necessarily, the side rim 15 of the fixed portion 8 delimits the upper recess 10.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the side rim 15 of the fixed portion 8 has a rib 16, which projects from the side rim 15, and the side rim 14 of the movable portion 9 has a cavity 17, which is shaped so as to accommodate, on the inside, the rib 16 when the movable portion 9 is in the closed position. Alternatively, the rib 16 may project from the side rim 14 of the movable portion 9, and the cavity 17 may be obtained in the side rim 15 of the fixed portion 8.

[0044] Among other things, one purpose of the coupling between the rib 16 and the cavity 17 is to keep the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 in the closed position with a certain closing force, since it is necessary to apply a certain thrust to generate an elastic deformation pushing the rib 16 out of the cavity 17. Of course, other embodiments of restraint systems are possible to keep the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 in the closed position with a certain closing force.

[0045] In use, by pressing downwards (i.e., towards the inside of the housing chamber 4) the fixed portion 8 of the upper wall 5 at the upper recess 10 (i.e., by pressing inside the upper recess 10), the fixed portion 8 is deformed downwards by elastic deformation, causing by reaction an upward movement of the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5, which opens the movable portion 9 (i.e., it moves the movable portion 9 away from the closed position).

[0046] According to a possible embodiment shown in Figure 10, a connection with a form-fitting interlocking system is provided between the lower wall 6 of the container 3 and the rest of the container 3 (i.e., between the lower wall 6 of the container 3 and the side walls 7); in other words, the lower wall 6 of the container 3 is connected to the side walls 7 by means of an interlocking system. Therefore, the coupling of the lower wall 6 to the rest of the container 3 involves a certain elastic deformation of the lower wall 6 and of the rest of the container 3 in order to trigger the form-fitting interlocking and requires the application of a certain force necessary to obtain the elastic deformation.

[0047] In the embodiments shown in Figures 11 and 12, the interlocking between the lower wall 6 and the side walls 7 provides an axial stop to provide a limit stop position and to prevent the lower wall 6 from entering the housing chamber 4 of the container 3 beyond the formfitting interlocking under the tightening force. That is, the interlocking between the lower wall 6 and the side walls 7 provides that, when the desired position is reached, an outer edge of the lower wall 6 is in contact with the side walls 7, thus preventing the lower wall 6 from further penetrating into the housing chamber 4. In this way, during the assembly of the container 3, the lower wall 6 can be pushed into the container 3 with great force to ensure the form-fitting interlocking without fear that the lower wall 6 may penetrate too much into the housing chamber 4 beyond the form-fitting interlocking.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the form-fitting interlocking and the axial stop described above are made at the side walls 7 to avoid undercuts in the moulding production of the housing chamber 4 of the container 3.

[0049] In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the lower wall 6 of the container 3 and the rest of the container 3 may be fixed to each other by welding or by gluing. According to a preferred embodiment, the container 3 has a hermetic (airtight) seal; accordingly, the lower wall 6 must be coupled to the side walls 7 so as to ensure an airtight seal (that is, to prevent air leakage), and the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 must also be coupled hermetically to the fixed portion 8 of the upper wall 5 and to the respective side walls 7. In other words, the lower wall 6 must have a fit and geometry such as to ensure air leakage tightness: the tightness can be linked to the continuity and geometry of the fit profile or other dedicated appendages; similarly, the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 must have a continuous profile contacting the rest of the container 3, with a geometry such that, in addition to the connections described, also provides air tightness. According to a possible embodiment, a gasket may be interposed between the lower wall 6 and the side walls 7 to ensure sealing; similarly, a gasket may also be interposed between the movable portion 9 of the upper wall 5 and the rest of the container 3 to ensure sealing.

[0050] Figures 13-17 schematically illustrate how the box of snus 1 is manufactured.

[0051] In particular, and as shown in Figure 13, the container 3 is initially supplied with the upper wall 5 and without the lower wall 6, and the lower wall 6 is supplied separate and independent from the container 3 provided with the upper wall 5.

[0052] In particular, the step of supplying the container 3 equipped with the upper wall 5 may include the step of manufacturing (producing) the container 3 equipped with the upper wall 5. Preferably, said step of manufacturing (producing) the container 3 equipped with the upper wall 5 comprises a plastic moulding step.

[0053] In particular, the step of supplying the lower wall 6 separate and independent from the container 3 may comprise the step of manufacturing (producing) the lower wall 6. Preferably, said step of manufacturing (producing) the lower wall 6 comprises a plastic moulding step.

[0054] Subsequently, and as shown in Figure 14, the group of snus pouches 2 is inserted into the housing chamber 4 through an opening resulting from the absence of the lower wall 6. Subsequently, and as shown in Figure 15, the lower wall 6 is fixed in a non-separable manner to the side walls 7 after inserting the group of snus pouches 2 into the housing chamber 4. The connection between the lower wall 6 and the side walls 7 can be made by welding or gluing alone, by mechanical interlocking alone, or by a combination of welding or gluing and mechanical interlocking.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 13, before inserting the group of snus pouches 2 into the housing chamber 4, the container 3 is placed with the upper wall 5 facing downwards and the opening resulting from the absence of the lower wall 6 facing upwards.

[0056] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 17, after fixing the lower wall 6 to the side wall 7, the container 3 is placed with the upper wall 5 facing upwards and the lower wall 6 facing downwards.

[0057] In addition to 180° rotations around a horizontal rotation axis to flip the container 3, Figures 12 and 13 and Figures 16 and 17 also illustrate 90° rotations around a vertical rotation axis to vary the orientation of the container 3; these 90° rotations around a vertical rotation axis are entirely optional and therefore may not occur or may occur in a different way (i.e., with different final orientations).

[0058] A plant for the production of the box of snus 1 comprises a first feeding device configured to feed the container 3 equipped with the upper wall 5 and without the lower wall 6, a second feeding device configured to feed the lower wall 6 separate and independent from the container 3, an inserter device configured to insert a group of snus pouches 2 into the housing chamber 4 through an opening resulting from the absence of the lower wall 6, and an applicator device configured to fix the lower wall 6 to the side wall 7 in a non- separable manner after inserting the group of products 2 into the housing chamber 4.

[0059] In the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the container 3 has rounded edges, while, and as mentioned above, according to other embodiments, not shown, the container 3 has some edges that are chamfered or straight or all the edges that are chamfered or straight.

[0060] In the embodiment described above, the box 1 contains snus pouches 2, but according to other embodiments, the box 1 may contain any other type of product from the tobacco processing industry or also any other type of product from another industry (e.g., a food product such as candy, infusion powder sachets, or a drug). The embodiments described herein may be combined with each other.

[0061] The box of snus 1 described above has many advantages.

[0062] First of all, the box of snus 1 described above is very ergonomic as it can be easily manipulated and easily gripped, and once gripped, it is very simple and intuitive to open. This result is achieved due to the fact that the upper wall 5 of the container 3 has a fixed portion 8 (i.e., a gripping portion) that allows the user to easily and securely grip the box of snus 1 by holding it (typically between forefinger and thumb) at one comer.

[0063] In addition, the box of snus 1 described above is simple and inexpensive to manufacture as all its components can be easily manufactured by moulding plastic material.

[0064] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE FIGURES

[0065] 1 box of snus

[0066] 2 snus pouches

[0067] 3 container

[0068] 4 housing chamber

[0069] 5 upper wall

[0070] 6 lower wall

[0071] 7 side walls

[0072] 8 fixed portion

[0073] 9 movable portion

[0074] 10 upper recess

[0075] 11 side recess

[0076] 12 auxiliary chamber

[0077] 13 lid

[0078] 14 side rim

[0079] 15 side rim

[0080] 16 rib

[0081] 17 cavity

Claims

C L A I M S1) A box (1), in particular a box of snus, comprising: a container (3), which defines a housing chamber (4), has a preferably parallelepiped-like shape and has an at least partially openable upper wall (5) and a non-openable lower wall (6) opposite one another and at least three, preferably four, flat side walls (7), which join the upper wall (5) to the lower wall (6); and a group of products (2) located in the housing chamber (4); the box (1) is characterized in that the upper wall (5) of the container (3) comprises a fixed portion (8), which is firmly integral with the rest of the container (3), and a movable portion (9), which is complementary to the fixed portion (8) and is movable between a closed position, in which it is coplanar with the fixed portion (8) to prevent access to the housing chamber (4), and an open position, in which it is separate from the fixed portion(8) to allow access to the housing chamber (4).2) The box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion (9) of the upper wall (5) is hinged to the rest of the container (3) so as to rotate between the closed position and the open position.3) The box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable portion (9) of the upper wall (5) is “L”-shaped and surrounds the fixed portion (8) on two sides perpendicular to one another.4) The box (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fixed portion (8) of the upper wall (5) has an upper recess (10).5) The box (1) according to claim 4, wherein the upper recess (10) has a circular shape.6) The box (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the upper recess (10) is shaped so as to accommodate a user’s thumb.7) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 6, wherein the movable portion(9) of the upper wall (5) has an area that is at least twice, preferably at least three times, an area of the fixed portion (8).8) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 7 and comprising an auxiliary chamber (12), which is obtained in the upper wall (5), is designed to collect exhausted products (2) and is closed by a lid (13), preferably a hinged lid, accessible from the outsideof the box (1).9) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 8, wherein the container (3) has four longitudinal edges, which join the side walls (7) to one another and have a rounded shape.10) The box (1) according to claim 9, wherein the container (3) has eight transverse edges, which join the side walls (7) to the upper wall (5) and to the lower wall (6), are rounded and have a joining radius that is smaller than a joining radius of the longitudinal edges.ID The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 10, wherein a side wall (7) has a side recess (11), which ends in contact with the movable portion (9) of the upper wall (5).12) The box (1) according to claim 11, wherein the side recess (11) has a partially circular shape.13) The box (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the side recess (11) is shaped so as to accommodate a user’s thumb.14) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 13, wherein: the movable portion (9) of the upper wall (5) has a first side rim (14), which, when the movable portion (9) is in the closed position, faces and is in contact with a respective second side rim (15) of the fixed portion (8) of the upper wall (5); and one side rim (15) has a rib (16), which projects from the side rim (15), and the other side rim (14) has a cavity (17), which is shaped so as to accommodate, on the inside, the rib (16), when the movable portion (9) is in the closed position.15) The box (1) according to claim 14, wherein the fixed portion (8) of the upper wall (5) has an upper recess (10), which is delimited by the second side rim (15) of the movable portion (9).16) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 15, wherein the lower wall (6) is connected to at least one side wall (7) by means of an interlocking system or by means of welding.

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