WO2017055968A1

WO2017055968A1 - Resealable tobacco pack

Info

Publication number: WO2017055968A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/055633
Authority: WO
Inventors: Agapi PETRAKI; Arjen Hamilcar SLOOFF; Onesio Luis THESING; Timothee CAILLEAUX
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2015-09-29
Filing date: 2016-09-21
Publication date: 2017-04-06

Abstract

A tobacco pack made of flexible packaging material includes a front wall and a back wall connected to one another along a bottom edge and opposing side edges and having an open top edge having a width value. A flap is connected to the back wall and overlays the front wall. A closure system is disposed on the flexible packaging material that allows the tobacco pack to be rolled up and maintained closed as tobacco is removed from the tobacco pack.

Description

RESEALABLE TOBACCO PACK

This disclosure relates to resealable tobacco packs, such as a resealable pack for tobacco for handmade (also known as 'roll your own' or 'make your own') cigarettes. Handmade cigarette are made, usually by the smoker, by wrapping a rectangular sheet of cigarette wrapping paper of the length of the cigarette around loose tobacco. Cigarette papers for hand making, having a moisture activated adhesive strip along one long edge, are usually presented in a small package of card from which one paper protrudes through a slot; the papers are folded longitudinally and interleaved inside the packet so that removal of the protruding paper causes the next paper to protrude through the slot. The wrapping may be done by hand or by use of a cigarette rolling mat or by use of a small hand operated machine. The cigarette may include a filter, or not, according to the smoker's preference.

Tobacco for handmade cigarettes is often supplied in pouches or packs of a polymeric sheet material. Such pouches or packs are typically formed of a single rectangular sheet of material, one end of which is folded back on itself and the overlying edge margins sealed together to form a container portion for holding tobacco; the remainder of the sheet provides a flap that may be folded over the opening of the container portion and adhered to the front wall of the container portion to close the pouch or pack.

It would be useful to provide a tobacco pack that may be resealed multiple times. It is desirable that this resealable tobacco pack be able to be rolled up and maintained closed so that the tobacco pack becomes smaller as the tobacco is removed from the tobacco pack.

A tobacco pack includes a front wall and a back wall connected to one another along a bottom edge and opposing side edges and having an open top edge having a width value. A flap is connected to the back wall and overlays the front wall. A closure system is disposed on the flexible packaging material to allow the tobacco pack to be rolled up and maintained closed so that the tobacco pack becomes smaller as the tobacco is removed from the tobacco pack.

The closure system may include a closure element disposed on the flap inner surface and a receptor element disposed along the front wall and extending to at least the bottom edge and configured to mate with the closure element In many embodiments the receptor element extends onto the back wall. This increases the amount the tobacco pack may be rolled upon itself and maintained in that rolled configuration. Preferably the closure system is selected from the group consisting of microsuction structure, pressure sensitive adhesive, low tack adhesive, magnetic material, and a hook and loop fastener. The tobacco pack has a flap with a free end opposing an end connecting the back panel and opposing side edges extending a length value from the free end to the connected end. The closure system preferably extends the length value. In many embodiments, the resealable closure element comprises a first stripe of resealable closure material adjacent and parallel with a first side edge of the flap and a second stripe of resealable closure material adjacent and parallel with a second side edge of the flap. In many embodiments the receptor element extends along the front wall from the bottom edge to the open top edge. Preferably the closure system comprises a closure element disposed on the flap inner surface and a receptor element disposed along the front wall and extending from the open top edge to at least the bottom edge and configured to mate with the closure element. A method of using the tobacco pack described herein includes removing tobacco or smokable material from the tobacco pack having an initial size or height and overlaying the flap and a top portion of the front wall onto the front wall to contact the closure system onto the front wall and reduce the size or height of the tobacco pack from the initial size or height.

A liner is preferably disposed on the closure system or resealable closure element prior to opening the tobacco pack and is removed by the consumer upon opening the tobacco pack. The liner may protect and maintain the closure system resealable closure element until it is used by the consumer to roll up and maintain the tobacco pack closed.

The terms "front," "back," "upper," "lower," "side," "top," "bottom," and other terms used to describe relative positions of the components of the flexible packaging (pouch or pack) and refer to the flexible packaging where front wall forms a front side and the tobacco or smokable material is contained between the front side and the back side. The terms "left" and "right" may be used with reference to side walls or edges of the flexible packaging when the flexible packaging is viewed from the front side. When describing flexible packaging according to the present invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described. The term "inner surface" refers to the surface of a component of the assembled flexible packaging that is facing towards the interior of the flexible packaging, for example towards the tobacco or smokable material, when the flexible packaging is in the closed position.

The term "outer surface" refers to the surface of a component of the flexible packaging that is facing towards the exterior of the flexible packaging. For example, in one or more embodiments, the flexible packaging includes a front wall that includes an outer surface that is facing the flap of the flexible packaging and an inner surface that is facing the tobacco or smokable material held in the flexible packaging.

The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which two elements may be pivoted relative to each other. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line, a perforation line or score line in a wall or panel of the flexible packaging, or between two panels of the flexible packaging.

The term "panel" refers to a portion of the flexible packaging formed from a single, continuous portion of material. A panel may depend along one or more fold lines form one or more other panels. The term "flap" refers to a panel that depends along only one fold line from only one other panel.

The term "wall" refers to a facet of the container, and a wall may be formed from a single panel or flap, or a wall may be formed from two or more abutting or overlapping panels or flaps.

The terms "height", "width" and "depth" refer to the external dimensions of the flexible packaging or a component of the flexible packaging along three perpendicular axes, when the flap is in the closed position and viewing the flexible packaging from the front side. For example, the "height" of the container refers to the vertical distance between the top and bottom of the flexible packaging, the "width" of the container refers to the distance between opposed right and left sides of the flexible packaging, and the "depth" of the flexible packaging refers to the distance between the front and back of the flexible packaging.

The term "reclosable" refers to both sealing or adhering or any other method for reversibly affixing the closure system or closure element described herein. The term "microsuction structure" is used herein to refer to an article comprising a flexible material having a plurality of micro cavities, microsuction cups or microbubbles on the material's external surface. The walls of the microsuction structure are deformable, such that, when the external surface of the material is pressed against a contact surface, a sealed environment of reduced pressure is formed between the walls of the cavities and the contact surface. This provides a suction force between the walls of the cavities and the contact surface.

The microsuction structure may have a diameter of from about 5 microns to about 300 microns. The material may be formed of an expanded resin having a plurality of internal air bubbles. The material may be provided as a layer of a sheet-like article on the surface of the container. The layer may have a thickness of from about 30 microns to about 500 microns. The sheet-like article may include one or more additional layers, such as a layer for securing the material layer to the surface of the flexible packaging.

This disclosure relates to a tobacco pack or pouch that includes a front wall and a back wall connected to one another along a bottom edge and opposing side edges and having an open top edge having a width value. A flap is connected to the back wall and overlays the front wall. A closure system is disposed on the flexible packaging material. The closure system provides for rolling up and maintaining the tobacco pack closed as tobacco is sequentially removed from the pack. The tobacco pack may be sequentially reduced in size or height and still resealed or closed with the closure system. In some embodiments the tobacco pack is a stand-up package.

The tobacco pack may be formed of a flexible substrate material from a sheet of material. The sheet may be formed of any flexible material or combination of materials or layers that is capable of being heat-sealed. Furthermore, the material should have sufficient moisture barrier properties to prevent loss of moisture from the tobacco or smokable material during storage or use and to prevent the ingress of water or vapour into the pack. In addition, the material forming the pack is preferably impermeable to microorganisms. The flexible packaging or pack may have regions that are transparent or opaque or be metallized or be entirely transparent or opaque or be metallized.

The flexible packaging or pack may be formed from a single layer material, or a laminate material, for example a metal and plastic laminate. Suitable materials include single layer materials like polyolefins such as polyesters, in particular, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultrahigh-density polyethylene (UHDPE), orientated polypropylene (OPP), cast polypropylene (CPP), for example.

Other embodiments include multiple layer laminates, preferably double or triple layer laminates. The multilayer laminates preferably include at least one layer of polyethylene, metalized polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate or metalized polyethylene terephthalate and other suitable laminates, e.g. cellulose-based laminates with limited water-vapour permeability. The water-vapour permeability is measured by the vapour-water transmission rate in accordance with ISO 2528: 1995. In a preferred embodiment, the vapour-water transmission rate is measured at 25 degrees Celsius and 60 percent relative humidity.

In a preferred embodiment, the vapour-water transmission rate is less than about 20 grams per square meter per 24 hours, preferably less than about 15 grams per square meter per 24 hours, further preferred less than about 10 grams per square meter per 24 hours, even more preferably less than about 8 grams per square meter per 24 hours, most preferably less than about 6 grams per square meter per 24 hours. In some preferred embodiments, a heat seal closes a side edge of the tobacco pack. Preferably, the pack is hermetically sealed, preferably using a heat sealing process.

Preferably pack is formed of PET having a sheet thickness in a range from about 10 microns to about 50 microns. One example of a suitable three-layer laminated sheet material comprises a first layer of about 40 grams per square meter of paper, a second layer of metallized about 12 micron thick PET, and a third layer of about 60 micron thick low density polyethylene.

The pack of the present invention is suitable for a wide variety of tobacco or smokable materials including one or more tobacco types. The tobacco material may be in any suitable form and may include tobacco cut from tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco material, or both. The tobacco material typically has a cut width of between about 0.1 and about 0.9 millimetres, more preferably between about 0.3 and about 0.6 millimetres and may be pasteurized.

Preferably, the moisture content of the tobacco material within the pack is between about 15 percent and about 22 percent by weight, more preferably between about 16 percent and about 20 percent by weight as measured two weeks after the filling of the tobacco pack with the tobacco material. The tobacco material in the pack preferably has a weight of between about 10 grams and about 500 grams, more preferably between about 20 grams and about 60 grams. The pack may be overwrapped, for example with a transparent wrapper. This may provide an additional barrier layer to protect the tobacco material. Packs or pouches according to the invention may be of any convenient size. The width of the pack preferably is from about 70 millimetres to about 220 millimetres, more preferably from about 80 millimetres to about 180 millimetres, most preferably from about 100 millimetres to about 160 millimetres. The depth of the pack preferably is at least about 50 millimetres, preferably at least about 60 millimetres, even more preferably at least about 70 millimetres. The pack may have one or more additional pockets formed from the same or different sheet materials. Such additional pockets may be used for storing accessories, such as cigarette paper.

The tobacco pack includes a front wall and a back wall connected to one another along a bottom edge and opposing side edges and having an open top edge having a width value. A flap is connected to the back wall and overlays the front wall. A reclosable closure system is disposed on the flap inner surface and pack front wall and extends to at least the bottom edge. The tobacco pack may be reduced in size or height by rolling up the tobacco pack and maintaining a closed position with the closure system.

The closure system may have any useful shape. The closure system may include a closure element disposed on the flap inner surface and a receptor element disposed along the front wall and extending to at least the bottom edge and configured to mate with the closure element. In many embodiments the receptor element extends onto the back wall. This increases the amount the tobacco pack may be rolled upon itself and maintained in that rolled configuration. Preferably the closure system is selected from the group consisting of microsuction structure, pressure sensitive adhesive, low tack adhesive, magnetic material, and a hook and loop fastener.

The closure element is resealable or reclosable and may have a dimension that extends the length value of the flap. In some embodiments the closure element has a dimension that extends the width value of the flap. In many embodiments the closure element is a linear or straight stripe of closure material. In other embodiments closure element is a curved, zig-zag shaped or sinusoidal shaped stripe of closure material. In preferred embodiments the closure element is a linear stripe of closure material that extends along the mid-line the length value of the flap or extends along each side edge (left side and right side) of the flap the length value of the flap. Preferably the closure system comprises a closure element disposed on the flap inner surface and a receptor element disposed along the front wall and extending from the open top edge to at least the bottom edge and configured to mate with the closure element

The closure element is preferably a continuous linear stripe of material. The closure element is preferably at least about 25% or at least about 50%, or 100% of the width of the flap or open top edge of the tobacco pack. The closure element has a lateral dimension that is dependent on the type of closure material utilized. In many embodiments the stripe of closure material has a lateral dimension (width) that is in a range from about 1 mm to about 40 mm or from about 5 mm to about 25 mm.

The closure element may be formed of any useful resealable or reclosable closure material. Preferably the closure element may maintain the tobacco pack in a closed configuration at least about 5 times or at least about 10 times, or at least about 20 times or at least about 30 times. The resealable or reclosable closure element may securely fix the flap to the front wall (and preferably also the back wall) of the tobacco pack so that human force is required to peal the flap off of the front wall (or back wall) and reopen the tobacco pack and allow a user to gain access to the tobacco or smokable material within the tobacco pack. The tobacco pack may therefore be resealed or closed between openings (or uses) in order to retain the freshness of the tobacco or smokable material and in particular to maintain the moisture level of the tobacco or smokable material. The closure material may also prevent the tobacco or smokable material from falling out of the package between uses.

A corresponding receptor element is located on or in the front wall of the tobacco pack and preferably extends to at least the bottom edge of the front wall. In many embodiments the receptor element is also located along at least a portion of the back wall. The receptor element mates with the closure element to reseal or reclose the tobacco pack. Preferably the receptor element defines at least about 25% or at least about 50% or at least about 75% or at least about 90% of the front wall surface area. In some preferred embodiments, the receptor element extends along both side edges of the front wall and spans at least 50% or at least 75% or at least 90% or the entire height of the front wall. Preferably the receptor element extends from the open top edge to at least the bottom edge of the front wall. In many embodiments the receptor element extends along the back wall and spans at least 25% or at least 50% or at least 90% or the entire height of the back wall. In some embodiments the receptor element extends along both the front wall and the back wall and spans at least 25% or at least 50% or at least 90% or the entire height of the front wall and the receptor element extends along the back wall and spans at least 25% or at least 50% or at least 90% or the entire height of the back wall.

In many embodiments the closure element is a microsuction structure. In other embodiments, the closure element is a pressure sensitive adhesive. In other embodiments, the closure element is a low tack adhesive. In further embodiments, the closure element is a magnetic material and the receptor element is an opposing magnetic material. In many of these embodiments, the closure element is magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a polymeric material and the receptor element is an opposing magnetic material. In other embodiments, the closure element is a hook or loop portion of a hook and loop fastener and the receptor element is the opposing loop or hook portion of the hook and loop fastener. The microsuction structure may be any microstructure that utilizes suction to form a seal.

When the closure material is a microsuction structure a removable liner may be disposed on the microsuction structure to protect the microsuction structure until the removable liner is removed by the consumer. The liner may be any useful liner such as a polymer or film material. The corresponding receptor element on the front wall is provided to form a seal with the microsuction structure, such as a smooth lacquer surface. Microsuction structures are commercially available under the trade designation Yupo Tako from Yupo Europe GmbH.

In other embodiments, the closure element is a pressure sensitive adhesive. A pressure sensitive adhesive is an adhesive forms a bond when pressure is applied to marry the adhesive with the adherend. Solvent, water, or heat is not needed to activate the adhesive. Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are known to possess properties such as: (1) aggressive tack at room temperature, (2) adherence to a substrate with no more than finger pressure, (3) sufficient ability to hold onto an adherend, and/or (4) sufficient cohesive strength to be removed cleanly from the adherend. Furthermore, the pressure sensitive adhesive may be a single adhesive or a combination of two or more pressure sensitive adhesives. Pressure sensitive adhesives are usually based on an elastomer that may be compounded with a tackifier. Useful elastomers include acrylics, rubbers, styrene block copolymers or vinyl ethers, for example. Pressure sensitive adhesives are commercially available from 3M Company, St. Paul, MN.

In some embodiments, the closure element is a low tack adhesive comprising a fast- curing acrylic oligomer (epoxidized soy bean oil aery late), a slower-curing, reactive tack-control agent (urethane acrylate) and an optional elastomeric component (methacrylated polybutylene), commercially available from ondelez International, for example.

In other embodiments, the closure element is nanofibers, e.g. a silicone-based bio- inspired adhesive commercially available from Binder.

In further embodiments, the closure element is a magnetic material and the receptor element is an opposing magnetic material. The magnetic material may be one or more magnets forming the closure element. In preferred magnetic embodiments, the closure element is magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a polymeric material and the receptor element is an opposing magnetic material. The polymeric material preferably is a light or heat curable polymeric adhesive. The magnetic nanoparticles preferably are magnetic metal or magnetic metal oxide nanoparticles. The magnetic metal includes iron, cobalt, nickel and alloys of iron, cobalt or nickel. The size of the nanoparticles is about 1 nanometer to about 100 nanometres.

In other embodiments, the closure element is a hook or loop portion of a hook and loop fastener and the receptor element is the opposing loop or hook portion of the hook and loop fastener. Hook and loop fasteners are commercially available from under the trade designation Velcro from Velcro GmbH.

The tobacco pack may also comprise a sealing element fixed to the open top edge and closing the back panel to the front panel along the open top edge. The sealing element may comprise any of the materials described to form the closure element on the flap. Preferably the sealing element fixed to the open top edge and closing the back panel to the front panel along the open top edge is a zip element (such as a Zip-Lock element).

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term "and/or" means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

As used herein, "have", "having", "include", "including", "comprise", "comprising" or the like are used in their open ended sense, and generally mean "including, but not limited to". It will be understood that "consisting essentially of, "consisting of, and the like are subsumed in "comprising," and the like. The words "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. Referring now to the drawings, in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of illustrative tobacco pack in the open position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another illustrative tobacco pack in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative stand-up tobacco pack in the open position.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of illustrative tobacco pack 10 in the open position and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another illustrative tobacco pack 50 in the open position. The tobacco pack 10 includes a front wall 12 and a back wall 14 connected to one another along a bottom edge 15 and opposing side edges 16, 18 and having an open top edge 13. A flap 11 is depends from the back wall 14 and overlays the front wall 12 and has a free end 23. The flap 11 has an inner surface that contacts the front wall 12 outer surface and a width value that is substantially equal to the width value of the front wall 12. In FIG. 1 a closure system closure element 20 is disposed on the flap 11 inner surface. A closure system receptor element 30 is disposed along the front wall 12 and is configured to mate with the closure element 20. The receptor element 30 extends to at least the bottom edge 5. The closure element 20 may be fixed to the receptor element 30 anywhere along the length of the receptor element 30. In FIG. 2, the closure element 20 is disposed along the opposing side edges 22, 24 of the flap 11. A receptor element 30 is disposed along the front wall 12 side edges 16, 18 and is configured to mate with the closure element 20. In many embodiments the receptor element 30 extends onto the back wall 14.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative stand-up tobacco pack 60 in the open position. The tobacco pack 60 includes a front wall 12 and a back wall (not shown) connected to one another along a bottom edge 15 and opposing side edges 16, 18 and having an open top edge 13 (illustrated as an perforation before being opened by a user). A flap 11 is depends from the back wall and has a free end 23 that extends vertically prior to resealing or rolling and closing after the initial opening. The closure element 20 is disposed on the flap 1. A receptor element 30 is disposed along the front wall 12 and is configured to mate with the closure element 20. In FIG. 3, the closure element 20 is disposed along the opposing side edges 22, 24 of the flap 11. A receptor element 30 is disposed along the front wall 12 side edges 16, 18 and is configured to mate with the closure element 20. In many embodiments the receptor element 30 extends onto the back wall. The tobacco pack may be rolled-up and thus reduced in size or height and maintained in the closed position with the closure system. In some embodiments the tobacco pack is a stand- up package.

The exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting. Other embodiments consistent with the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tobacco pack made of flexible packaging material, comprising: a front wall and a back wall connected to one another along a bottom edge and

opposing side edges and having an open top edge having a first width value, the front wall having an outer surface; a flap connected to the back wall and overlaying the front wall, the flap having an inner surface that contacts the front wall outer surface and a second width value that is substantially equal to the first width value; a closure system integrated into or disposed on the flexible packaging material that allows for the tobacco pack to be rolled up and maintained closed as tobacco is removed from the tobacco pack, wherein the closure system comprises a closure element disposed on the flap inner surface and a receptor element disposed along the front wall and extending from the open top edge to at least the bottom edge and configured to mate with the closure element.

2. The tobacco pack of claim 1 wherein the receptor element extends onto the back wall.

3. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure system is selected from the group consisting of microsuction structure, pressure sensitive adhesive, low tack adhesive, magnetic material, and a hoop or loop portion of a hook and loop fastener.

4. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the flap has a free end opposing an end connecting the back panel and opposing side edges extending a length value from the free end to the connected end, the closure system extends the length value.

5. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure system comprises a first stripe of resealable closure material adjacent and parallel with a first side edge of the flap and a second stripe of resealable closure material adjacent and parallel with a second side edge of the flap.

6. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure system comprises magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a polymeric material.

7. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure system comprises a hook and loop fastener.

8. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the tobacco pack is a stand-up package.

9. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein a removable liner is disposed on the resealable closure element.

10. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the front wall has a front wall length value from the open top edge to the bottom edge and opposing front wall side edges and the closure system is disposed along the front wall side edges a front wall length value.

11. The tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure system defines at least about 50% or at least about 75% or at least about 90% of the front wall surface area.

12. A method of using the tobacco pack of any one of the preceding claims comprising: removing tobacco or smokable material from the tobacco pack having an initial height; overlaying the flap and a top portion of the front wall onto the front wall to contact the closure system disposed along the front wall and reduce the height of the tobacco pack from the initial height.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising removing a liner from the closure system after the removing tobacco step.