The present disclosure relates to a container for consumer goods. Containers according to the present disclosure find particular application as containers for aerosolgenerating articles.

It is known that consumer goods such as aerosol-generating articles are often sold in box-shaped containers, such as hinged lid containers having a box portion and a lid portion. The lid portion is connected to the box portion by a hinge. The lid portion can be pivoted about the hinge so that the lid can be moved between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the lid portion covers an opening in the box portion. In the open position, the opening of the box portion is accessible by a user. The aerosol-generating articles are disposed in the box portion of the container. When a user wishes to use an aerosol-generating article they pivot the lid portion to the open position to access the aerosol-generating article via the opening in the box portion. The user then pulls on the article to remove it from the container.

It would be desirable to provide a container for consumer goods that is configured to reduce the risk of the consumer goods inadvertently falling out of the container, or being accessed before a user wishes to use the consumer goods. It would be desirable to provide a container that may retain at least a portion of a consumer good until a user is ready to access the consumer good.

According to the present disclosure there is provided a container for consumer goods. The container may comprise a consumer good. The consumer good may comprise a first section and a second section attached to the first section. The container may further comprise a detachable retaining means. The detachable retaining means may be engaged with the first section of the consumer good. The detachable retaining means may be configured to retain the consumer good within the container when a removing force up to but not including a first magnitude is applied to the consumer good. The detachable retaining means may be configured to release the consumer good when the retaining means is disengaged from the first section of the consumer good. When a removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good, the consumer good may be configured to break. The consumer good may be configured to break such that the first section of the consumer good may be retained in the container by the retaining means and the second section may be removable from the container.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for consumer goods. The container comprises a consumer good comprising a first section and a second section attached to the first section. The container further comprises a detachable retaining means engaged with the first section of the consumer good. The detachable retaining means is configured to retain the consumer good within the container when a removing force up to but not including a first magnitude is applied to the consumer good, and configured to release the consumer good when the retaining means is disengaged from the first section of the consumer good. When a removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good, the consumer good is configured to break such that the first section of the consumer good is retained in the container by the retaining means and the second section is removable from the container.

By providing a container comprising a retaining means, the consumer good may be retained within the container. The retaining means may reduce the likelihood of the consumer good inadvertently falling out of the container. The retaining means may reduce the likelihood of the consumer good being displaced within the container, or the consumer good partially egressing the container. The retaining means may also increase the period of time required to attempt to remove the consumer good by applying a removing force. The consumer good may not be removed from the container until the user wishes to access the consumer good, and therefore disengages the retaining means. The consumer good being configured to break may advantageously allow a portion of the consumer good, pre-determined by a manufacturer, to be retained in the container.

The consumer good may be elongate. The consumer good may be an elongate rod. The consumer good may comprise a first end. The consumer good may comprise a second end. The first end may oppose the second end. For example, when the consumer good is elongate, the first end may oppose the second end.

The first section may comprise the first end. The second section may comprise the second end. The first section and the second section of the consumer good may be axially aligned.

The consumer good may comprise two or more segments. For example the consumer good may comprise, three, four or five segments.

The first section of the consumer good may comprise at least one segment. The first section of the consumer good may comprise two segments.

The second section of the consumer good may comprise at least one segment. The first section of the consumer good may comprise three or more segments. The second section of the consumer good may comprise four segments.

Each segment of the consumer good may be designed to provide a specific function. The first section may comprise a segment which is different to any segments of the second section. In this way, the consumer good may be arranged such that a specific segment of the consumer good is retained in the container if the consumer good is broken.

When the consumer good is disposed in the container, the second section of the consumer good may be accessible by a user. The second section may be visible to the user when the consumer good is disposed in the container. At least a portion of the second section of the consumer good may protrude from a portion of the container.

The consumer good may comprise a wrapper. At least a portion of the consumer good may be at least partially circumscribed by the wrapper. The wrapper may at least partially circumscribe one or more segments of the consumer good. The wrapper may at least partially circumscribe at least a portion of the first section of the consumer good. The wrapper may at least partially circumscribe at least a portion of the second section of the consumer good. The wrapper may at least partially circumscribe at least a portion of the first section of the consumer good, and at least partially circumscribe at least a portion of the second section of the consumer good. The wrapper may connect the first section of the consumer good to the second section of the consumer good. The wrapper may at least partially circumscribe all sections of the consumer good.

At least a portion of the consumer good may be fully circumscribed by the wrapper. The wrapper may define an outer surface of the consumer good. The wrapper may be a paper wrapper. The wrapper may hold the first and second section together. The wrapper may hold the first section and the second section in axial alignment.

The wrapper may comprise a line of weakness. The line of weakness may extend around the consumer good. The line of weakness may extend fully around the consumer good. The consumer good may be configured to break at the line of weakness. Advantageously the line of weakness may form a line of preferred breakage. The line of weakness may therefore advantageously provide a means for allowing a manufacturer to select where the consumer good is likely to break.

The line of weakness may be at a position aligned with an interface between the first section and second section. As used herein, the term “interface” is used to define the area or plane where a first second and an adjacent second section abut one another, such that an end of the first section comes into contact with an end of the second section. The line of weakness may be positioned no more than 5 millimetres in a longitudinal direction from an interface between the first section and the second section. The line of weakness may be positioned preferably no more than 2 millimetres in a longitudinal direction from an interface between the first section and the second section. The line of weakness may be positioned preferably no more than 1 millimetres in a longitudinal direction from an interface between the first section and the second section. The term “longitudinal direction” is used herein to refer to the direction extending between the first end and second end of the consumer good. Where the consumer good has a substantially cylindrical shape, the axis of the cylinder extends in the longitudinal direction. In certain arrangements, an adjacent first and second section may not be in contact with each other but may be separated by a narrow space or cavity. In this case, the line of weakness may extend around the consumer good at a position corresponding to the space between the first section and the second section.

The line of weakness may comprise a plurality of perforations. The plurality of perforations may be a line of perforations extending around the wrapper. The plurality of perforations may be micro laser perforations. The plurality of perforations may also function as ventilation holes in the consumer good. This may be particularly advantageous when the consumer good is an aerosol-generating article, such as those described in more detail below.

The line of weakness may comprise one or more of a plurality of perforations, a prefolded line, a creased line, and a scored line. Preferably, the line of weakness comprises a plurality of perforations. Advantageously, the line of weakness is simple to manufacture.

The second section of the consumer good may be affixed to at least one other component of the consumer good in addition to the wrapper. The second section of the consumer good may be affixed to at least one other section of the consumer good in addition to the wrapper. The second section of the consumer good may be affixed to at least one other component of the consumer good in addition to the wrapper. The affixment may be achieved by way of an adhesive. That is an adhesive may be provided between the at least one other component, section, part of the consumer good and the second section of the consumer good.

The detachable retaining means may be engaged with the first section of the consumer good at a position between the line of weakness and the first end of the consumer good. The detachable retaining means may retain a portion of the consumer good in the container when the removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good. This retained portion of the consumer good may be a portion extending from the first end of the consumer good to the line of weakness.

The wrapper may comprise a section of the wrapper having a greater tensile strength than another section of the wrapper. The section of wrapper with greater tensile strength may be more resistant to breaking under application of a removing force than another section of the wrapper.

The consumer good may comprise a reinforcing element at least partially circumscribing a portion of the consumer good. The reinforcing element may at least partially circumscribe a portion of the wrapper that circumscribes the consumer good. The reinforcing element may circumscribe at least a portion of the first section of the consumer good. The reinforcing element may circumscribe at least a portion of the wrapper that circumscribes the first section of the consumer good. The reinforcing element may have a greater tensile strength than the tensile strength of the wrapper. The reinforcing element may be more resistant to breaking than the wrapper.

The consumer good may be configured to break at a position between the reinforcing element and the second end of the consumer good. Advantageously, the reinforcing element may circumscribe a portion of the consumer good that would preferably be retained within the container. The reinforcing element may circumscribe a portion of the consumer good that would preferable not accidentally egress from the container.

The detachable retaining means may be engaged with the reinforcing element. The detachable retaining means may be configured to retain a portion of the reinforcing element, when the removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good. The detachable retaining means may be configured to retain the entirety of the reinforcing element, when the removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good. The detachable retaining means may be configured to retain a portion of the consumer good circumscribed by the reinforcing element, when the removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good.

The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means. The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be at least 1 Newton less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means. The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be at least 2 Newtons less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means. The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be at least 3 Newtons less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means. The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 Newtons less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means.

The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be 10 Newtons or less. The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be 9 Newtons or less. The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be 8 Newtons or less. The removing force required to break the first section from the second section may be 7, 6, 5, or 4 Newtons or less. The removing force required to break first section from the retaining means may be 5 Newtons or more. The removing force required to break first section from the retaining means may be 6 Newtons or more. The removing force required to break first section from the retaining means may be 7 Newtons or more. The removing force required to break first section from the retaining means may be 8, 9, or 10 Newtons or more.

The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 1 Newton greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 2 Newtons greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 3 Newtons greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 Newtons greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 10 Newtons. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 11 Newtons. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 12 Newtons. The removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element may be at least 13, 14 or 15 Newtons.

The consumer good may be an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate. The first section of the consumer good may comprise the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be retained in the container when the removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good. As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating substrate” is used to describe a substrate capable of releasing, upon heating, volatile compounds, which can form an aerosol. The aerosol generated from aerosol-generating substrates may be visible or invisible and may include vapours (for example, fine particles of substances, which are in a gaseous state, that are ordinarily liquid or solid at room temperature) as well as gases and liquid droplets of condensed vapours. The retaining means may be engaged with the aerosolgenerating article at a position between the aerosol-forming substrate and the first end. Advantageously, the aerosol-forming substrate is retained in the container when the consumer good is broken by a removing force of the first magnitude or greater being applied to the second section of the consumer good.

The consumer good may comprise a susceptor element. The first section of the consumer good may comprise the susceptor element. The susceptor element may be provided within or around the aerosol-generating substrate. The susceptor element may be embedded in the aerosol-generating substrate. The susceptor element may be configured to be in thermal contact with the aerosol-generating substrate. The susceptor element may be retained in the container when the removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good. As used herein a “susceptor element” refers to a material that can convert electromagnetic energy into heat. When located within a fluctuating electromagnetic field the susceptor element heats up. This may be the result of eddy currents induced in the susceptor arrangement, hysteresis losses, or both eddy currents and hysteresis losses. The retaining means may be engaged with the aerosol-generating article at a position between the susceptor and the first end. Advantageously, the susceptor element is retained in the container when the consumer good is broken when a removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to the second section of the consumer good.

The consumer good may comprise a cellulose acetate plug. The first section of the consumer good may comprise a cellulose acetate plug. The cellulose acetate plug may be a front end cellulose acetate plug. The retaining means may be engaged with the consumer good at a position corresponding to the front end cellulose acetate plug.

The consumer good may comprise at least one filter segment. The second section of the consumer good may comprise a filter segment. The filter segment may comprise a filtration material. The filtration material may be a plug of fibrous filtration material. The filtration material may be cellulose acetate. The filtration material may be paper. The filter segment may be removed when a removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to the second section of the consumer good.

The retaining means may extend into the consumer good. The retaining means may extend through the consumer good.

The container may comprise a first container wall and a second container wall. The retaining means may be engaged with the first container wall. The retaining means may be engaged with the second container wall. The retaining means may extend through at least one of the first container wall and the second container wall. The retaining means may extend through both the first container wall and the second container wall. The retaining means may comprise a thread engaged with the first section of the consumer good. Advantageously, a thread may provide a retaining means which is one or both of simple to manufacture and of low-cost.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the container may comprise a box portion comprising a box front wall, a box back wall, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall, a second box side wall, and an opening for accessing consumer goods. The container may further comprise a lid portion, the lid portion being movable between: a closed position in which the lid portion covers the opening of the box portion, and an open position in which the opening of the box portion is uncovered. The lid portion and the box portion may define an enclosed space for housing one or more consumer goods in the container. The container may further comprise a consumer good disposed in the box portion. A first wall of the box portion may comprise an interior side adjacent to the consumer good. A first wall of the box portion may comprise an exterior side opposing the interior side. The container may further comprise a thread extending through the exterior side of the first wall to the interior side of the first wall, and further extending into the consumer good.

The structure of the container comprising a box portion and a lid portion contains the consumer good until a user wishes to access the consumer good. Advantageously, the enclosed space defined by the box portion and lid portion which houses the consumer good may reduce the exposure of the consumer good to the environment outside of the container, such as exposure to one or more of the outside air, humidity, light or moisture, prior to a user accessing the consumer good. The consumer good may not be visible on the outside of the container when the consumer good is housed within the container. During the manufacturing process it may be simple for the thread to be engaged with the container and the consumer good to provide an effective retaining means.

A container of the second aspect may have any features described above in respect to the first aspect. Similarly, a container of the first aspect may have any of features described in respect to the second aspect, as well as any of those features described below. For example, a container of the first aspect may comprise a box portion comprising a box front wall, a box back wall, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall, a second box side wall, and an opening for accessing consumer goods.

The first wall may be selected from one of: the box front wall, the box back wall, the box bottom wall, the first box side wall, and the second box side wall.

The thread may extend through the consumer good. The thread may extend fully through the consumer good. The thread extending through the consumer good may improve the retention of the consumer good to the container. The thread may further extend from the consumer good and back through the first wall from the interior side of the first wall to the exterior side of the first wall.

A second wall of the box portion may comprise an interior side adjacent to the consumer good and an exterior side opposing the interior side. The thread may further extend from the consumer good and through the second wall from the interior side of the second wall to the exterior side of the second wall. The second wall may be selected from one of: the box front wall, the box back wall, the box bottom wall, the first box side wall, and the second box side wall. The thread may further extend back through the second wall from the exterior side of the second wall to the interior side of the second wall. Arranging for the thread to pass through multiple walls of the container can advantageously help to improve the effectiveness of the thread as functioning as a retaining means for the consumer good. Arranging for the thread to extend back through one or more walls of the container can advantageously allow for a single thread to be used to retain more than one consumer good in the container.

A first end of the thread may be anchored to the container. The first end of the thread may be anchored to the first wall of the container. A second end of the thread may be anchored to the container. The second end of the thread may be anchored to the first wall of the container. The second end of the thread may be anchored to the second wall of the container. The thread may be anchored by an anchoring element. The anchoring element may be an adhesive, which anchors the respective first or second end of the thread to a surface of a wall of the container. The anchoring element may be a knot. For example, a knot may be tied in a portion of the thread residing outside of the container. The anchoring element may be retaining droplets. The retaining droplets may be drops of glue. The retaining droplets may be natural polymers. The retaining droplets may be synthetic polymers. The anchoring element may comprise a knot and a retaining droplet. Advantageously the thread being anchored to the container may increase the resistance of the consumer good to the removing force.

The thread may configured to be removed by a user before the user accesses the consumer good. This may allow the consumer good to be removed without breaking when the consumer wishes to access the consumer good. The thread may be removed by the user breaking the thread. The thread may be removed by the user pulling on a portion of the thread on the exterior of the container. The thread may be removed by the user pulling on a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the first wall. The thread may be removed by the user pulling on a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the second wall. The thread may be removed by the user cutting on a portion of the thread on the exterior of the container. The thread may be removed by the user cutting a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the first wall. The thread may be removed by the user cutting a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the second wall.

The container may further comprise a cover wherein the cover is configured to overlay at least a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the first wall. The container may further comprise a cover wherein the cover is configured to overlay at least a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the second wall. The container may comprise a cover wherein the cover is configured to overlay at least a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the first wall and at least a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the second wall. The cover may overlay any perforations in the container created by the thread. This may advantageously reduce the exposure of the interior of the container and the consumer good in the container to the exterior elements, such as the exterior air, humidity, light or moisture. The cover may reduce the likelihood of the thread being accidentally removed from the container. The cover may therefore at least temporarily anchor the thread to a wall of the container. The cover may further reduce the likelihood of accidental breaking or removal of the thread.

The cover may comprise an adhesive for securing the cover to the first or second wall of the container. The cover may be an adhesive tape. The cover may be removable. The cover may be configured to be removed by a user. The cover may be configured to be removed before the user accesses the consumer good. The cover may be configured to be removed by a user before the thread is removed by a user.

The thread may comprise one or more natural fibers. The thread may comprise one or more synthetic fibers. The thread may comprise one or more of: cotton, wool, silk, linen, rayon, polyester, and nylon. The thread fibers may be low-cost. The thread fibers may be readily available. The thread fibers may have a sufficient tensile strength. The tensile strength of the thread may be greater than the tensile strength of at least a portion of the consumer good.

The lid portion of the container and the box portion of the container may define a fully enclosed space for housing a consumer good in the container. The fully enclosed space may prevent exposure of the consumer good to the exterior environment outside of the container, such as exposure to one or more of the outside air, humidity, light or moisture, prior to a user accessing the consumer good.

The container may comprise one or more further consumer goods. The thread may pass into more than one consumer good. The thread may pass into no more than two consumer goods. The thread may pass into two or more consumer goods. The thread may pass into at least ten consumer goods. The thread may pass into no more than twenty consumer goods. The thread may extend through one or more walls of the box portion multiple times. The thread may pass through every consumer good that is disposed within the container. The thread may pass through half of the number of consumer goods that are disposed within the container.

The container may comprise one or more further threads. Each thread may extend through at least one wall of the box portion. Each thread may extend into at least one consumer good. Each thread may extend into no more than two consumer goods. The threads may be configured so that a user may detach two consumer goods from the thread for use, while the remaining consumer goods remain attached to other threads within the container. After the two consumer goods are removed from the container by a user, the other threads may retain any further consumer goods within the container, when a removing force up to but not including a first magnitude is applied to the consumer good. Each thread may extend into ten consumer goods. The consumer goods may be arranged such that when one thread is removed ten consumer good may be configured to be released from the thread.

As used herein the terms “side”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back” are used to describe relative positions of walls of a container. The “bottom” of the container refers to the side of the container opposite the “top” of the container. The “front” of the container refers to the side of the container opposite the “back” of the container.

The term “wall” refers to a facet of the container.

The term “interior side” is used to refer to the surface of a wall of an assembled container that is facing towards the interior of the container, for example towards the consumer goods, when the container is in the closed position. The term “exterior side” refers to the surface of a wall of the container that is facing towards the exterior of the container.

As used herein, the term “elongate” means that an element has a length dimension that is greater than its width dimension or its diameter dimension, for example twice or more its width dimension or its diameter dimension

As used herein the term “rod” is used to denote a generally cylindrical element of substantially circular, oval or elliptical cross-section.

As used herein “removing force” is defined as the force applied to a consumer good to remove it from the container.

To determine the removing force, the container is gripped in place by a first gripping feature. The second section of the consumer good is gripped by a second gripping feature. A tensile load is applied to the consumer good via the second gripping feature. A tensile force is applied to the consumer good, pulling the consumer good in a direction to release the consumer good from the container. The magnitude of the tensile force applied to the consumer good can be measured by a force gauge. The applied force is incrementally increased until the consumer good is removed from the container, or the consumer good breaks, whichever occurs first. The maximum force measured by the force gauge before the consumer good is removed from the container, or the consumer good breaks, whichever occurs first, is the removing force. The removing force is measure in Newtons.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non- exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

EX1 . A container for consumer goods, the container comprising: a consumer good comprising a first section and a second section attached to the first section; and a detachable retaining means engaged with the first section of the consumer good and configured to retain the consumer good within the container when a removing force up to but not including a first magnitude is applied to the consumer good, and configured to release the consumer good when the retaining means is disengaged from the first section of the consumer good; and wherein, when a removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to second section of the consumer good, the consumer good is configured to break such that the first section of the consumer good is retained in the container by the retaining means and the second section is removable from the container.

EX2. A container according to EX1 , wherein the consumer good is elongate and comprises a first end and a second end.

EX3. A container according to EX2, wherein the first section and the second section are axially aligned, and wherein the first section comprises the first end and the second section comprises the second end.

EX4. A container according to any of EX1 to EX3, wherein the consumer good is at least partially circumscribed by a wrapper.

EX5. A container according to EX4, wherein the wrapper comprises a line of weakness extending around the consumer good.

EX6. A container according to EX5, wherein the line of weakness is positioned no more than 5 millimetres in a longitudinal direction from an interface between the first section and the second section.

EX7. A container according to EX5 or EX6, wherein the line of weakness comprises a plurality of perforations. EX8. A container according to EX5 or EX6, wherein the line of weakness comprises one or more of a plurality of perforations, a pre-folded line, a creased line, and a scored line.

EX9. A container according to any of EX5 to EX8, wherein the detachable retaining means is engaged with the first section of the consumer good at a position between the line of weakness and the first end of the consumer good.

EX10. A container according to any of EX4 to EX9, wherein the wrapper comprises a section of greater tensile strength than another section of the wrapper.

EX11. A container according to any of EX4 to EX10, wherein the consumer good comprises a reinforcing element at least partially circumscribing a portion of the consumer good, and wherein the reinforcing element has a greater tensile strength than the tensile strength of the wrapper.

EX12. A container according to EX11, wherein the reinforcing element circumscribes at least a portion of the first section of the consumer good.

EX13. A container according to EX11 or EX12, wherein the consumer good is configured to break at a position between the reinforcing element and the second end of the consumer good.

EX14. A container according to any of EX11 to EX13, wherein the detachable retaining means is engaged with the reinforcing element.

EX15. A container according to any of EX1 to EX14, wherein the removing force required to break the first section from the second section is less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means.

EX16. A container according to EX15, wherein the removing force required to break the first section from the second section is at least 1 Newton less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means.

EX17. A container according to EX15, wherein the removing force required to break the first section from the second section is at least 2 Newtons less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means.

EX18. A container according to EX15, wherein the removing force required to break the first section from the second section is at least 3 Newtons less than the removing force required to break the first section from the detachable retaining means.

EX19. A container according to any of EX1 to EX18, wherein the removing force required to break the first section from the second section is 5 Newtons or less.

EX20. A container according to any of EX1 to EX19, wherein the removing force required to break first section from the retaining means is 7 Newtons or more. EX21. A container according to any of EX1 to EX20, wherein the removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element is greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section.

EX22. A container according to EX21 , wherein the removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element is at least 1 Newton greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section.

EX23. A container according to EX21 , wherein the removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element is at least 2 Newtons greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section.

EX24. A container according to EX21 , wherein the removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element is at least 3 Newtons greater than the removing force required to break the first section from the second section.

EX25. A container according to any of EX11 to EX24, wherein the removing force required to break the consumer good at the reinforcing element is at least 10 Newtons.

EX26. A container according to any of EX1 to EX25, wherein the retaining means extends into the consumer good.

EX27. A container according to EX26, wherein the retaining means perforates the consumer good.

EX28. A container according to any of EX1 to EX27, wherein the consumer good is an aerosol-generating article.

EX29. A container means according to EX28, wherein the first section comprises an aerosol-forming substrate.

EX30. A container according to any EX28 or EX29, wherein the first section comprises a susceptor element.

EX31 . A container according to any of EX28 to EX30, wherein the second section comprises a filter segment.

EX32. A container according to any of EX29 to EX31 , wherein the retaining means is engaged with the aerosol-generating article at a position between the aerosol-forming substrate and the first end.

EX33. A container according to any of EX30 to EX32, wherein the retaining means is engaged with the aerosol-generating article at a position between the susceptor and the first end.

EX34. A container according to any of EX1 to EX33, wherein the container comprises a first wall and a second wall. EX35. A container according to EX34, wherein the retaining means is engaged with the first wall of the container.

EX36. A container according to EX34 or EX35, wherein the retaining means is engaged with the second wall of the container.

EX37. A container according to any of EX34 to EX36, wherein the retaining means extends through at least one of the first wall and the second wall.

EX38. A container according to any of EX1 to EX37, comprising one or more consumer goods.

EX39. A container according to any of EX1 to EX38, comprising one or more retaining means.

EX40. A container according to any of EX1 to E39, wherein the detachable engaging means comprises a thread engaged with the first section of the consumer good.

EX41 . A container according to EX40, the container comprising: a box portion comprising a box front wall, a box back wall, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall, a second box side wall, and an opening for accessing consumer goods; a lid portion, the lid portion being movable between: a closed position in which the lid portion covers the opening of the box portion, and an open position in which the opening of the box portion is uncovered, the lid portion and the box portion defining an enclosed space for housing one or more consumer goods in the container; and a consumer good disposed in the box portion, wherein a first wall of the box portion comprises an interior side adjacent to the consumer good and an exterior side opposing the interior side; and wherein the thread extends through the exterior side of the first wall to the interior side of the first wall, and further extends into the consumer good.

EX42. A container according to EX41 , wherein the first wall is selected from one of: the box front wall, the box back wall, the box bottom wall, the first box side wall, and the second box side wall.

EX43. A container according to EX41 or EX42, wherein the thread extends through the consumer good.

EX44. A container according to EX43, wherein the thread further extends from the consumer good and back through the first wall from the interior side of the first wall to the exterior side of the first wall.

EX45. A container according to EX43, wherein a second wall of the box portion comprises an interior side adjacent to the consumer good and an exterior side opposing the interior side, and wherein the thread further extends from the consumer good and through the second wall from the interior side of the second wall to the exterior of the second wall.

EX46. A container according to EX45, wherein the second wall is selected from one of: the box front wall, the box back wall, the box bottom wall, the first box side wall, and the second box side wall.

EX47. A container according to EX45 or EX46, wherein the thread further extends back through the second wall from the exterior side of the second wall to the interior side of the second wall.

EX48. A container according to any of EX41 to EX47, wherein a first end of the thread is anchored to the container.

EX49. A container according to EX48, wherein the first end of the thread is anchored to the first wall of the container.

EX50. A container according to any of EX41 to EX49, wherein a second end of the thread is anchored to the container.

EX51. A container according to EX50, wherein the second end of the thread is anchored to the second wall of the container.

EX52. A container according to any of EX41 to EX51 , wherein the thread is configured to be removed by a user before the user accesses the consumer good.

EX53. A container according to any of EX41 to EX52, further comprising a cover wherein the cover is configured to overlay at least a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the first wall.

EX54. A container according to any of EX41 to EX53, further comprising a cover wherein the cover is configured to overlay at least a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the second wall.

EX55. A container according to EX53 or EX54, wherein the cover comprises an adhesive for securing the cover to the first or second wall of the container.

EX56. A container according to any of EX53 to EX55, wherein the cover is configured to be removed before the user accesses the consumer good.

EX57. A container according to any of EX53 to EX56, wherein the cover is configured to be removed by a user before the thread is removed by a user.

EX58. A container according to any of EX41 to EX57, wherein the thread comprises one or more natural fibers.

EX59. A container according to any of EX41 to EX57, wherein the thread comprises one or more synthetic fibers. EX60. A container according to EX58 or EX59, wherein the thread comprises one or more of: cotton, wool, silk, linen, rayon, polyester, and nylon.

EX61 . A container according to any of EX41 to EX60, wherein the lid portion and the box portion define a fully enclosed space for housing a consumer good in the container.

EX62. A container according to any of EX41 to EX61 , wherein the container contains one or more further consumer goods.

EX63. A container according to EX62, wherein the thread passes into more than one consumer good.

EX64. A container according to EX63, wherein the thread passes into no more than two consumer goods.

EX65. A container according to any of EX41 to EX64, wherein the thread extends through one or more walls of the box portion multiple times.

EX66. A container according to any of EX41 to EX65, wherein the container comprises one or more further threads, each thread extending through at least one wall of the box portion and into at least one consumer good.

EX67. A container according to any of EX1 to EX67, wherein the second section of the consumer good is affixed to at least one other component of the consumer good in addition to the wrapper.

Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional top view of the container according to the first embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a front view of the container according to the first embodiment; and

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a consumer good according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a consumer good according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional top view of the container according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 7 shows a front view of the container of according to the third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container 30 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The container 30 comprises a consumer good, which in this example is an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article comprises a first section and a second section. The aerosol-generating article and the first and second sections are not shown in Figure 1. The container comprises a box portion 50. The box portion 50 comprises a box front wall 51 , a box back wall, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall 53, a second box side wall, and an opening for accessing the aerosol-generating article.

The container further comprises a lid portion 60. The lid portion 60 comprises a lid front wall 61 , a lid back wall, a lid top wall 63, a first lid side wall 62, and a second lid side wall. The lid portion 60 is moveable between a closed position in which the lid portion 60 covers the opening of the box portion 50, and an open position in which the opening of the box portion 50 is uncovered. The lid portion 60 and the box portion 50 define an enclosed space for housing multiple aerosol-generating articles within the container 30. A first wall of the box portion comprises an interior side adjacent to the aerosol-generating article and an exterior side opposing the interior side.

A detachable retaining means 40 is engaged with the first section of the aerosolgenerating article. In this example, the detachable retaining means is a thread. The thread 40 extends through the exterior side of the first wall to the interior side of the first wall, and further extends into the aerosol-generating article. In the embodiment of Figure 1 , this first wall is the box front wall 51.

When a removing force up to but not including a first magnitude is applied to the aerosol-generating article, such as a user pulling on a second section of the aerosolgenerating article, the thread 40 is configured to retain the aerosol-generating article within the container 30. When a removing force of the first magnitude or greater is applied to the second section of the aerosol-generating article, such as a user pulling on the second section of the aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating article is configured to break such that the first section of the aerosol-generating article is retained in the container 30 by the thread 40 and the second section is removable from the container 30.

When a user wishes to access an aerosol-generating article, a user can disengage the thread 40 from the first section of the aerosol-generating article by breaking the thread 40. The user can then detach the thread 40 from the container 30 and first section of the aerosolgenerating article to release the aerosol-generating article from the thread 40. This causes minimal damage to the aerosol-generating article. The user can then remove the aerosolgenerating article from the container 30.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional top view of the container 30. The container 30 comprises a box portion 50 comprising a box front wall 51 , a box back wall 52, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall 53, a second box side wall 54, and an opening for accessing consumer goods. The container 30 comprises twenty consumer goods 5, arranged in two rows, disposed in the box portion 50.

A first wall of the box portion 50, in this example the box front wall 51 , comprises an interior side adjacent to the consumer good 5 and an exterior side opposing the interior side. The thread 40 extends through the exterior side of the first wall 51 to the interior side of the first wall 51 , and further extends into the consumer good 5. The thread 40 extends through the consumer good 5 and further extends from the consumer good 5 and through the second wall from the interior side of the second wall to the exterior of the second wall. In this example, the second wall is the box back wall 52.

A first end of the thread 40 is anchored to the front wall 31 of the container 30 by an anchoring element 45. A second end of the thread 40 is anchored to the second wall 52 of the container 30 by a second anchoring element 46. The first 45 and second 46 anchoring elements are knots that secure the thread 40 to the container 30, so that it cannot be accidentally displaced or removed. The container 30 comprises multiple consumer goods 5, in this example, the container 30 comprises twenty consumer goods 5. The thread passes into two consumer goods 5. The container 30 comprises further threads, each thread extending through at least one wall of the box portion 50 and into at least one consumer good 5. The container 30 comprises multiple threads 40 to detachably retain multiple consumer goods 5. In this example, the container 30 comprises ten threads 40 to detachably retain all twenty consumer goods 5.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the container of Figure 2. The thread 5 is configured to be removed by a user before the user accesses the consumer good 5. The thread 40 being removed by the user will release two consumer goods 5.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a consumer good 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the consumer good is an aerosolgenerating article. The aerosol-generating article 5 is elongate and comprises a first end 11 and a second end 21. A first section 10 of the aerosol-generating article and a second section 20 of the aerosol-generating article are axially aligned. The first section 10 comprises the first end 11 and the second section 20 comprises the second end 21.

The aerosol-generating article 5 comprises at least two segments. In the example shown in Figure 4 the aerosol-generating article comprises five segments. The first section of the aerosol-generating article comprises the first segment and the second segment. The first section of the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate in the first section 10. The aerosol-generating article 5 further comprises a susceptor element in the first section 10. The first segment comprises a front end cellulose acetate plug. The second segment comprises the susceptor element embedded in the aerosol-forming substrate. The second section of the aerosol-generating article comprises the third, fourth, and fifth segments.

The aerosol-generating article 5 is at least partially circumscribed by a wrapper 70. The wrapper 70 comprises a line of weakness 80. The line of weakness 80 extends around the circumference of the aerosol-generating article 5. The line of weakness 80 is positioned no more than 5 millimetres in a longitudinal direction from an interface between the first section 10 and the second section 20. The line of weakness 80 comprises a plurality of perforations.

The retaining element is a thread is in this embodiment. The thread 40 is engaged with the first section 10 of the aerosol-generating article 5 between the line of weakness 80 and the first end 11 of the aerosol-generating article 5. The thread is made of natural fibers such as cotton. In other examples the thread may comprise synthetic fibers.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a consumer good according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The consumer good is an aerosol-generating article 105.

The aerosol-generating article 105 is elongate and comprises a first end 111 and a second end 121. A first section 110 of the aerosol-generating article and a second section 120 of the aerosol-generating article are axially aligned. The first section 110 comprises the first end 111 and the second section 120 comprises the second end 121 .

The aerosol-generating article 105 comprises at least two segments. In the example shown in Figure 5 the aerosol-generating article comprises five segments. The first section of the aerosol-generating article comprises the first segment and the second segment. The first section of the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate in the first section 110. The aerosol-generating article 105 further comprises a susceptor element in the first section 110. The first segment comprises a front end cellulose acetate plug. The second segment comprises the susceptor element embedded in the aerosol-forming substrate. The second section of the aerosol-generating article comprises the third, fourth, and fifth segments.

The aerosol-generating article 105 is circumscribed by a wrapper 170. The aerosolgenerating article comprises a reinforcing element 190 at least partially circumscribing a portion of the aerosol-generating article 105, and wherein the reinforcing element 190 has a greater tensile strength than the tensile strength of the wrapper 170. The reinforcing element 190 circumscribes at least a portion of the first section of the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article 105 is configured to break at a position between the reinforcing element 190 and the second end 121 of the aerosol-generating article 105.

The detachable retaining means is a thread 140. The thread 140 is engaged with the reinforcing element 190. The thread 140 extends into and perforates the aerosol-generating article 105. The thread 140 extends through the aerosol-generating article 105. The removing force required to break a first section 110 of the consumer good 105 from the second section 120 of the aerosol-generating article 105 is less than the removing force required to break the first section 110 from the thread 140. The removing force required to break the first section 110 from the second section 120 is at least 2 Newtons less than the removing force required to break the first section 110 from the thread. The removing force required to break the first section 110 from the second section 120 is 5 Newtons or less. The removing force required to break the aerosol-generating article at the reinforcing element 190 is greater than the removing force required to break the first section 110 from the second section 120. The removing force required to break the aerosol-generating article 105 at the reinforcing element 190 is at least 2 Newtons greater than the removing force required to break the first section 110 from the second section 120. The removing force required to break the consumer good 105 at the reinforcing element 190 is at least 7 Newtons.

Figures 6 and 7 show a container according to a third embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional top view of the container 230. The container 230 comprises a box portion 250 comprising a box front wall 251 , a box back wall 252, a box bottom wall, a first box side wall 253, a second box side wall 254, and an opening for accessing consumer goods. The container 230 comprises twenty consumer goods 205, arranged in two rows, disposed in the box portion 250.

A first wall of the box portion 250, in this example the box front wall 251 , comprises an interior side adjacent to the consumer good 205 and an exterior side opposing the interior side. The thread 240 extends through the exterior side of the first wall 251 to the interior side of the first wall 251 , and further extends into the consumer good 205. The thread 240 extends through the consumer good 205 and further extends from the consumer good 205 and through the second wall from the interior side of the second wall to the exterior of the second wall. In this example, the second wall is the box back wall 252.

A first end of the thread 240 is anchored to the front wall 251 of the container 230 by an anchoring element 245. A second end of the thread 240 is anchored to the second wall 252 of the container 230 by a second anchoring element 246. The first 245 and second 246 anchoring elements are knots that secure the thread 240 to the container 230, so that it cannot be accidentally displaced or removed.

The thread 240 extends through one or more walls of the box portion 250 multiple times. The container 230 comprises multiple consumer goods 205. In this example, the container 230 comprises twenty consumer goods 205. The thread 240 passes into one or more further consumer goods 205. In this example, the thread 240 passes into ten consumer goods 205. The container comprises one further thread 240, each thread extending through at least one wall of the box portion 250 and into at least one consumer good 205. In this example, the container comprises two threads, and each thread 240 extends through ten consumer goods 205.

Each thread 240 extends through the exterior side of the box front wall 251 to the interior side of the box front wall 251 , and further extends into the consumer good 205. Each thread 240 extends through the consumer good 205, and further extends through a second consumer good, before further extending through the box back wall 252 from the interior side of the box back wall 252 to the exterior side of the box back wall 252. The thread 240 further extends back through the box back wall 252 from the exterior side of the box back wall 252 to the interior side of the box back wall 252. The thread 240 further extends through two further consumer goods before extending through the interior side of the box front wall 251 to the exterior side of the box front wall 251.

Figure 7 shows a front view of the container of Figure 6. The thread 240 is configured to be removed by a user before the user accesses the consumer good 205. The thread 240 being removed by the user may release ten consumer goods 205. The container further comprises a cover 247 configured to overlay at least a portion of the thread on the exterior side of the box front wall 251. The container 230 may further comprise a cover configured to overlay at least a portion of the thread 240 on the exterior side of the box back wall 252. The cover 247 comprises an adhesive for securing the cover 247 to the walls of the container. The cover 247 is configured to be removed before the user accesses the consumer good 205. The cover 247 is configured to be removed by a user before the thread is removed by a user.

For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 10 percent of A.