The present invention relates to a novel container. The container according to the invention is particularly suitable for smoking articles like cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars.

It is known to package consumer goods in containers formed from folded laminar blanks.

The laminar blanks may be made from any suitable sheet material, such as cardboard, metal or plastic. Graphics and text are typically applied to the surfaces of the containers, in order to communicate information to the consumer, such as brand, advertising, promotional or product information.

It would be desirable to provide a novel container for smoking articles which is at least partially formed from a sheet material having a novel appearance or texture. It would further be desirable if such a container could be formed using known and available machinery and methods.

According to the present invention there is provided a container, wherein at least part of the container is formed from a sheet material comprising tobacco fibres. Due to their distinctive shape and colour, the tobacco fibres create a unique appearance in the packaging material. For example, the pattern created by the tobacco fibres may be random and non-repetitive. Such a pattern cannot be achieved by a printing process. On the other hand, using a suitable application technique, the tobacco fibres may be arranged in the sheet material in a regular pattern. For example, the tobacco fibres may be arranged in the form of geometrical shapes like circles, triangles and rectangles, letters or logos.

The tobacco fibres may be arranged in or on the sheet material such that when the container is erected from the sheet material, only certain panels of the container comprise tobacco fibres. The tobacco fibres may be arranged in the sheet material such that they are aligned with respect to another. The aligned tobacco fibres may be arranged in geometrical shapes, for example in lines, waves or a herringbone pattern.

Preferably, the tobacco fibres are cut from Virginia, Burley or Oriental tobacco and other tobaccos or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the tobacco fibres comprise a casing, for example an American blend casing. The term "container" is used throughout the present specification to refer generally to the packaging of one or a number of consumer goods, such as for example, a bundle of smoking articles. It is intended to encompass the outer packaging, or housing, as well as any inner packaging which may only become visible when the container is open.

The term "tobacco fibre" refers to fibres of cut tobacco leaf, such as present in the cut filler used to form the rod of cigarettes and cigars. Preferably, the tobacco fibres are between about 0.6 mm and about 1 mm in width, preferably about 0.8 mm in width. Preferably, the tobacco fibres are between about 5 mm and about 50 mm in length, most preferably between about 15 mm and about 30 mm.

Preferably, the sheet material further comprises a non-tobacco cellulosic material. For example, in certain preferred embodiments, the sheet material further comprises wood fibres. The non-tobacco composition of the sheet material of such embodiments may therefore be similar to that of conventional paper or cardboard and may be formed using conventional paper-making techniques and equipment.

Preferably, the sheet material has a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre.

Preferably, the sheet material used to form containers according to the invention comprises between about 0.1 percent and about 20 percent by weight of tobacco fibres. More preferably, the sheet material comprises more than 1 percent by weight of tobacco fibres. Preferably, where the tobacco fibres are located only in a coating of the sheet material, as described below, the tobacco fibres constitute between about 0.2 percent and about 2.0 percent by weight of the sheet material.

The percentage by weight of tobacco fibres in the sheet material may vary depending on the use of the sheet material. For example, a sheet material used to package smoking articles with a rich or full flavour may contain a higher percentage of tobacco fibres than sheet material used to package smoking articles with a mild flavour. Preferably, the sheet material used to form containers according to the invention comprises between about 0.1 percent and about 10 percent by weight of tobacco dust.

The sheet material used to form containers of the present invention may comprise a single layer or may be formed of a plurality of layers. Where the sheet material comprises a plurality of layers, one or more of the layers may comprise tobacco fibres. For example, tobacco fibres may be incorporated into one or both of the outer layers. Additionally, or alternatively, the tobacco fibres may be incorporated into one or more central layers.

The sheet material preferably comprises a layer of non-tobacco material, such as paper, through which the tobacco fibres have been dispersed. Typically, in order to form such a layer, the tobacco fibres are added to the non-tobacco sheet material during its production. For example, tobacco fibres may be dispersed through a slurry of wood fibres used to form a paper or cardboard sheet material in a conventional paper making process.

The tobacco fibres may be substantially evenly dispersed throughout the one or more layers of the sheet material. Alternatively, the tobacco fibres may be unevenly dispersed throughout the sheet material. For example, the tobacco fibres may be deposited on the surface of the sheet material during manufacture such that there is a greater concentration of tobacco fibres at the surface of the sheet material than through the remainder of the material. This way, the tobacco fibres may create a rough surface structure of the packaging material that provides the pack with an unusual haptic sensation.

In certain embodiments, the sheet material may comprise a coating layer on at least one of the sides thereof. A coating layer may be required, for example, if the container is to be overprinted using certain printing techniques such as offset, gravure or flexographic techniques. Preferably, the coating layer is substantially transparent. In embodiments in which tobacco fibres are incorporated into the layer or layers of the sheet material beneath the coating layer, the use of a substantially transparent coating allows the tobacco fibres to remain visible through the coating layer. Additionally, the coating layer may prevent tobacco fibres from inadvertently dislodging from the sheet material. The coating layer may be formed of any suitable material. An example of a suitable coating material is a mixture of kaolin, calcium carbonate and binders

Containers according to the invention may be rigid or "hard" packs. For example, containers according to the invention may be hinge-lid containers, of the type commonly used to package cigarettes and cigars. Such hinge-lid containers comprise a box portion and a lid portion connected to the box portion along a hinge line extending across the rear wall of the container. The box portion and the lid portion may be formed from the same or different laminar blanks. Where different laminar blanks are used, one or both of the box portion and the lid portion may be formed from a sheet material comprising tobacco fibres. Alternatively, containers according to the invention may be "slide and shell" containers having an inner housing slidably mounted within an outer shell. The inner housing and the outer shell will typically be formed from different laminar blanks. One or both of the laminar blanks for forming the inner housing and the outer shell may be formed from a sheet material comprising tobacco fibres.

Alternatively, containers according to the invention may be cup shaped "soft" packs, or pouches. Typically pouches as those used for loose tobacco are formed from a sheet material made from paper that is enveloped by a transparent plastic sheet.

The container may include an inner frame mounted within the box portion or inner housing. The inner frame may, if desired, be formed from a sheet material comprising tobacco fibres.

Additionally or alternatively, where the container houses a bundle of smoking articles, the bundle may be wrapped in an inner wrapper. The inner wrapper may, if desired, be formed of a sheet material comprising tobacco fibres.

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia. Alternatively, or in addition, the exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be at least partially covered with lacquer, metallisation, holograms, luminescent material, or any other materials that alter the feel, odour or appearance of the container.

Containers according to the invention may be used to house a wide variety of consumer goods, and find particular application as packs for fragrances or elongate smoking articles such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes.

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may also be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles.

Once filled, containers according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene, in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include a tear tape. Containers according to the present invention may have one or more right-angled longitudinal edges, one or more right-angled transverse edges, one or more rounded longitudinal edges, one or more rounded transverse edges, one or more bevelled longitudinal edges, one or more bevelled transverse edges, or any suitable combination thereof. Preferably, the longitudinal edges of the contacting walls of the two packs are right-angled, such that the container has a smooth side where the edges of the two packs abut.

The invention is further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross section of a first sheet material suitable for forming a container according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross section of a second sheet material suitable for forming a container according to the present invention; and

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a third sheet material suitable for forming a container according to the present invention.

The sheet material 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises three layers 12 of cardboard material, an upper coating layer 18 and a lower coating layer 20. The coating layers 18, 20 form the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet material, respectively. The cardboard material forming the layers

12 is formed from wood fibres, in the conventional manner. The coating layers 18, 20 are formed of a substantially transparent coating material through which tobacco fibres 22 have been dispersed.

The sheet material 30 shown in Figure 2 also comprises three layers 32, 34, 36 of cardboard material. Both the upper layer 32 and the lower layer 36 comprise a mixture of wood fibres and tobacco fibres 42. The middle layer 34 does not include tobacco fibres but comprises a layer of cardboard material made from only wood fibres, in a conventional manner. In addition, the sheet material 30 comprises upper 38 and lower 40 coating layers. Both of the coating layers 38, 40 are substantially transparent so that the tobacco fibres in the upper 32 and lower 36 cardboard layers are visible through the coating layers 38, 40.

The sheet material 50 shown in Figure 3 comprises a single cardboard layer 52 comprising a mixture of wood fibres and tobacco fibres 62. In addition, the sheet material 50 comprises upper 58 and lower 60 coating layers. Both of the coating layers 58, 60 are substantially transparent so that the tobacco fibres 62 in the cardboard layer 52 remain visible. In order to form the tobacco-containing cardboard layers of the sheet materials shown in

Figures 1 to 3, the tobacco fibres are incorporated into a slurry of wood fibres, of the composition conventionally used to form cardboard for making container for smoking articles. The resultant slurry is formed into the sheet material using conventional paper and cardboard-making techniques.

In order to form containers according to the invention from the sheet materials shown in Figures 1 to 3, the sheet material may be scored or perforated, folded and glued using known techniques and apparatus for forming packaging such as cigarette packs.