The present invention relates to an expandable receptacle for consumer goods. The invention also relates to a container for consumer goods comprising the expandable receptacle. The invention finds particular application with receptacles and containers for aerosol generating articles or components of aerosol generating articles.

It is known to package consumer goods in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. By way of example, elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars and smoking articles intended to be heated but not burned, are often sold in rigid box shaped containers, such as hinged lid containers having a box portion and a three-dimensional cup shaped hinge lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack and so gain access to the consumer articles held in the box.

In many cases, a user will have need to dispose of a consumer good or a part thereof after having used the consumer good. For example, where an aerosol generating article is heated to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user, the user may be left with all or part of the used aerosol generating article after consumption. However, the user may not always have the option to dispose of the consumer good in one or both of a safe and environmentally acceptable way immediately after consumption of the consumer good. For example, the user may not be in a location where the consumer good can be discarded into an appropriate waste receptacle. Alternatively or additionally, the consumer good itself may not be in a condition whereby it can be immediately disposed of in an appropriate public waste receptacle, for example because it is too hot.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a novel and improved receptacle arrangement for one or more consumer goods, particularly for use with one or more consumer goods after they have been consumed. It would also be desirable to provide such an arrangement in a way that is one or more of: convenient, cost effective, environmentally friendly and safe.

The present disclosure concerns a container for consumer goods. The container may comprise a housing. The housing may contain a plurality of consumer goods. The housing may contain an expandable receptacle. The expandable receptacle may be formed from a folded sheet. The expandable receptacle may be provided in the housing in a collapsed state. The expandable receptacle may be removable from the housing. The expandable receptacle may be configured to expand from the collapsed state to an expanded state. In the expanded state, the expandable receptacle may have an internal volume. The internal volume may be suitable for containing one or more of the plurality of consumer goods in the housing.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container for consumer goods. The container comprises a housing. The housing contains a plurality of consumer goods. The housing contains an expandable receptacle. The expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet. The expandable receptacle is provided in the housing in a collapsed state. The expandable receptacle is removable from the housing. The expandable receptacle is configured to expand from the collapsed state to an expanded state. In the expanded state, the expandable receptacle has an internal volume. The internal volume is suitable for containing one or more of the plurality of consumer goods in the housing.

By including an expandable receptacle in the housing, a user of the container is provided with a convenient means for storing consumer goods or parts thereof after they have been removed from the container. For example, the user may use the expandable receptacle to store a consumer good or a part thereof after they have consumed the consumer good. This may allow the user to dispose of the consumer goods in one or both of a safe and environmentally friendly way.

Arranging for the receptacle to be an expandable receptacle can help to reduce the space required in the housing for the receptacle, whilst also ensuring a receptacle of a suitable size is provided to the user.

Arranging for the expandable receptacle to be formed from a folded sheet can provide a number of benefits. For example, firstly, forming the receptacle from a folded sheet may help to significantly reduce the space required in the housing for the receptacle. Secondly, forming the receptacle from a folded sheet may help to ensure reliable expansion of the receptacle, when a user is ready to use the receptacle. A folded sheet may also allow the receptacle to be manufactured in a simple and cost-effective manner. A folded sheet may also allow the receptacle to be conveniently made in a manner which allows the receptacle to reliably transition from the collapsed state to the expanded state.

Handling of the receptacle may also be improved when the receptacle is formed from a folded sheet. For example, by folding the sheet to form the receptacle, the receptacle may be more likely to retain itself in the collapsed state until the user is ready to use the receptacle. This may be due to material memory in the fold lines in the sheet. This may make it easier to insert the receptacle in the housing during assembly of the container. Alternatively or additionally, this may make it easier to form the housing around the receptacle during assembly of the container.

As another example advantage, forming the receptacle from a folded sheet may help the receptacle to have sufficient strength when in the expanded state. For example, the receptacle may be expanded to the expanded state by moving parts of the sheet away from one another about one or more fold lines in the sheet. The fold lines may then form one or more edges or corners of the expanded receptacle, and thus provide a structure having improved stability. The portions of the sheet existing between the one or more fold lines may form walls of the receptacle and help to improve the stability of the receptacle when in the expanded state. The walls may be substantially planar, which may help to improve the stability of the receptacle. In use, a user may receive the container of the invention. The user may remove the expandable receptacle from housing of the container. The user may convert the expandable receptacle from the collapsed state to the expanded state. The user may remove a consumer good from the container. The user may consume the consumer good. For example, where the consumer good is an aerosol-generating article, the user may consume the aerosol-generating article by applying heat to the aerosol-generating article to generate an inhalable aerosol. The user may then place the consumed consumer good or a part thereof in the expanded receptacle. The user may repeat several of the above steps each time they wish to consume and dispose of a further consumer good.

The expandable receptacle may be configured to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state in response to being subjected to a current of air. The expandable receptacle may be configured to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state only when a current of air is applied to a specific portion of the expandable receptacle.

The current of air may be supplied by the user. The current of air may be supplied by the user by way of the user blowing on the expandable receptacle when the expandable receptacle is in the collapsed state. This may allow for the receptacle to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state in a way that is convenient for the user. This may help to avoid unintended expansion of the receptacle.

In the expanded state, the expandable receptacle may comprise a base and a plurality of side walls extending from the base. Where the receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, the folded sheet forming the expandable receptacle may be folded so as to define the base of the receptacle and the plurality of side walls extending from the base. The base and plurality of side walls may together define an internal chamber of the receptacle, when the receptacle is in the expanded state. The chamber may be for storing one or more consumer goods or parts thereof.

In the expanded state, the expandable receptacle may comprise a top wall. Where the receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, the folded sheet forming the expandable receptacle may be folded so as to define the top wall of the receptacle. The top wall may extend from the top of the side walls of the receptacle. The base, plurality of side walls and top wall of the receptacle may together define the internal chamber of the receptacle, when the receptacle is in the expanded state.

The top wall may comprise an opening. The opening may provide access to the internal volume of the expanded receptacle. The opening may therefore enable one or more consumer goods or parts of the consumer goods to be inserted into the receptacle through the top wall. Therefore, in such embodiments, the base, plurality of side walls and top wall may enclose the internal chamber of the receptacle, with a user able to insert one or more consumer goods or parts of the consumer goods into the internal chamber through the opening in the top wall. Such an arrangement may therefore advantageously provide a user with a receptacle having an internal chamber where one or more consumer goods or parts thereof may be reliably stored. For example, providing a receptacle with a top wall and an opening as described above, the consumer goods may be securely stored, whilst still enabling the consumer goods to be easily placed in the receptacle. This may be particularly advantageous when the consumer goods have one or more properties which may benefit from safe storage after use. For example, if the consumer goods or parts thereof have an elevated temperature after use, it may be desirable to store said consumer goods or parts thereof in a manner which means the goods are less likely to unintentionally fall out of the receptacle. This may be applicable for certain forms of aerosol generating articles, such as those which are heated during use.

The expandable receptacle may take the form of a box when in the expanded state. The box may comprise the base and plurality of side walls described above. The box may comprise the top wall described above. Therefore, in some embodiment, the expandable receptacle has the form of a box when in the expanded state, the box comprising a base, a plurality of side walls extending from the base and a top wall extend from the top of the side walls of the receptacle. The base may consist of a bottom wall. The walls may be substantially planar.

The box may be a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box.

As described above, in some embodiments, the expandable receptacle comprises a top wall having an opening, when the receptacle is in the expanded state. Preferably, the opening is sized to permit at least one of the consumer goods housed in the container to be inserted into the receptacle through the opening. Preferably, the opening has a cross sectional area of at least 49 millimetres squared, more preferably at least 144 millimetres squared, even more preferably at least 225 millimetres squared. Preferably, the opening has a cross sectional area of no more than 4000 millimetres squared, more preferably no more than 3750 millimetres squared, even more preferably no more than 3000 millimetres squared. In such embodiments, the opening may be suitably sized to permit a consumer good to be easily inserted into the receptacle. In such embodiments, the opening may be suitably sized to reduce the likelihood of the consumer good inadvertently falling out of the receptacle.

The opening may be the only opening in the receptacle. That is, where the expandable receptacle comprises a chamber when in the expanded state, the opening may be the only opening which permits access to the chamber of the receptacle.

The opening may be substantially circular. The opening may be rectangular.

When the expandable receptacle is in the expanded state, the internal volume of the expandable receptacle may be suitable for containing at least five of the consumer goods that are contained in the housing, more preferably at least ten of the consumer goods that are contained in the housing. When the expandable receptacle is in the expanded state, the internal volume of the expandable receptacle may be suitable for containing all of the consumer goods that are contained in the housing. Where the expandable receptacle comprises an internal chamber, the internal volume of the expandable receptacle may be the volume of the internal chamber. Such sized receptacles may advantageously allow a user to store a suitably high number of consumer goods within the receptacle.

As described above, the expandable receptacle may be formed from a folded sheet. The expandable receptacle may be formed from a plurality of folded sheets. The expandable receptacle may consist only of the folded sheet. The sheet may comprise or consist of paper or paperboard. The sheet may comprise a plurality of fold lines. The fold lines may permit the receptacle to have a substantially planar profile when in the collapsed state.

When in the collapsed state, the expandable receptacle may have the form of a plurality of overlapping layers of the folded sheet.

The sheet may have a thickness of at least 20 micrometres, more preferably at least 30 micrometres, even more preferably at least 50 micrometres. The sheet may have a thickness of no more than 120 micrometres, more preferably no more than 100 micrometres, even more preferably no more than 80 micrometres.

The sheet may have a basis weight of at least 20 grams per metre squared, more preferably at least 40 grams per metre squared, even more preferably at least 60 grams per metre squared. The sheet may have a basis weight of no more than 80 grams per metre squared, more preferably no more than 70 grams per metre squared, even more preferably no more than 60 grams per metre squared.

The expandable receptacle may comprise a flame retardant material. This may help to make the expandable receptacle particularly suitable for storing consumer goods which have been heated, particularly those which have been ignited, such as certain types of aerosol generating articles. Suitable flame retardant materials may include alum (such as potassium aluminum sulfate) and borax (such as sodium tetraborate). Where the expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, the sheet may be treated with one or both of a solution of Alum with water and a solution of borax with water to provide the sheet with flame retardant properties. Where the expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, suitable commercially available flame retardant sheets include Paeon Corporation’s DECOROL (TM) and FLAMELESS (TM) paper products.

The flame retardant material may be provided in the form of a flame retardant coating. The flame retardant coating may be provided on a component of the expandable receptacle. For example, where the expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, the flame retardant material may be a flame retardant coating on the folded sheet.

Preferably, the flame retardant material resides on a portion of the expandable receptacle forming the inner surface of the receptacle when the receptacle is in the expanded state. For example, where the expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, the flame retardant material may reside on a portion of the expandable receptacle forming the inner surface of the receptacle when the receptacle is in the expanded state. This may be particularly beneficial when the receptacle is used to store consumer goods which have been heated.

The expandable receptacle may comprise a water resistant material. This may be particularly beneficial when the receptacle is used to store consumer goods which contain liquid. Suitable water resistant materials may include polyurethane, wax (such as beeswax), shellac and acrylics. Where the expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, suitable commercially available water resistant sheets include Memory-Map’s TOUGHPRINT (TM) and VIP WeatherWriter’s WEATHERWRITER (TM) paper products.

The water resistant material may be provided in the form of a water resistant coating. The water resistant coating may be provided on a component of the expandable receptacle. For example, where the expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, the water resistant material may be a water resistant coating on the folded sheet.

Preferably, the water resistant material resides on a portion of the expandable receptacle forming the inner surface of the receptacle when the receptacle is in the expanded state. For example, where the expandable receptacle is formed from a folded sheet, the water resistant material may reside on a portion of the expandable receptacle forming the inner surface of the receptacle when the receptacle is in the expanded state. This may be particularly beneficial when the receptacle is used to store consumer goods which contain liquid. For example, this may be particularly useful when storing consumer goods having a liquid reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, this may be particularly useful when storing consumer goods having a relatively high degree of moisture.

When the expandable receptacle is in the collapsed state, the expandable receptacle may be substantially planar. That is, the collapsed receptacle may have some degree of thickness, but its major dimensions are width and length. Arranging for the collapsed receptacle to be substantially planar can advantageously help to reduce space required in the housing for the receptacle. In particular, this may allow the expandable receptacle to conveniently fit into a relatively small space in the box portion, without significantly reducing the space available in the box portion for the plurality of consumer goods. Furthermore, this may also make it easier to control the size and shape of the collapsed receptacle when the receptacle is produced on a mass scale. This may therefore help with manufacturing considerations for the receptacle and the container in which the receptacle is housed.

In some embodiments, when the expandable receptacle is in the collapsed state, the expandable receptacle may have a length, width and depth, with each of the length and width of the expandable receptacle being at least ten times greater than the depth of the expandable receptacle, more preferably at least twenty times greater than the depth of the expandable receptacle, even more preferably at least fifty times greater than the depth of the expandable receptacle. Preferably, the plurality of consumer goods comprise a plurality of aerosol-generating articles. Each aerosol-generating article may comprise a susceptor element. Each aerosol generating article may comprise a metallic element. Each aerosol-generating article may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate.

Where the aerosol-generating article comprises a susceptor element and an aerosol forming substrate, the susceptor element may be arranged within the aerosol-forming substrate. The susceptor element may be arranged around the aerosol-forming substrate. The susceptor element may be configured to be in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate. As such, the aerosol-forming substrate may be heated by the susceptor element during use of the aerosol generating article. The susceptor element may be formed from any material that may be inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate. Preferred susceptor elements comprise a metal or carbon.

A preferred susceptor element may comprise or consist of a ferromagnetic material, for example a ferromagnetic alloy, ferritic iron, or a ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel. A suitable susceptor element may be, or comprise, aluminium. Preferred susceptor elements may be formed from 400 series stainless steels, for example grade 410, or grade 420, or grade 430 stainless steel. Different materials will dissipate different amounts of energy when positioned within electromagnetic fields having similar values of frequency and field strength.

The aerosol-generating articles may be filter cigarettes or other smoking articles in which an aerosol-generating substrate comprises a tobacco material that is combusted to form smoke. The aerosol-generating articles may be articles in which a tobacco material is heated to form an aerosol, rather than combusted. The aerosol-generating articles may be articles in which a nicotine-containing aerosol is generated from a tobacco material, tobacco extract, or other nicotine source, without combustion, and in some cases without heating, for example through a chemical reaction.

The aerosol-generating articles may be provided within the housing in the form of a bundle wrapped in an inner package formed of metal foil or metallised paper. The inner package material may be formed as a laminate of a metallised polyethylene film, and a liner material. The liner material may be a super-calendered glassine paper. In addition, the inner package material may be provided with a print-receptive top coating. The inner package has an access opening through which aerosol-generating articles can be removed.

The plurality of consumer goods may comprise a plurality of elongate articles, such as elongate aerosol-generating articles. Each elongate article may be substantially cylindrical.

The housing of the container may comprise a box portion and a lid portion. The expandable receptacle may be provided in the box portion of the housing. The plurality of consumer goods may be provided in the box portion of the housing. The lid portion may be hingedly connected to the box portion by a hinge line. The lid portion may be pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position in which the lid portion covers an opening of the box portion and an open position in which consumer goods can be removed from the box portion. In the open position, the expandable receptacle may be removable from the box portion.

The lid portion may comprise a lid portion front wall, a lid portion back wall, a lid portion top wall, and first and second opposed lid portion side walls.

The box portion may comprise a box portion front wall, a box portion back wall, a box portion bottom wall, and first and second opposed box portion side walls.

Where the housing of the container comprises a box portion and a lid portion, the expandable receptacle may be positioned between the plurality of consumer goods and a wall of the box portion. For example, the expandable receptacle may be positioned between the plurality of consumer goods and a front wall of the box portion. In this way, the expandable receptacle may be one or both of readily visible and readily accessible to a user. This may also make it easier for the expandable receptacle to be kept separate from the consumer goods in the housing.

The expandable receptacle may abut the inner surface of a wall of the box portion, such as the inner surface of the box portion front wall. In this way, the expandable receptacle may be one or both of readily visible and readily accessible to a user.

The present disclosure contemplates arrangements whereby the expandable receptacle is supplied to a user separate from the housing containing the plurality of consumer goods. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, there is provided an expandable receptacle for one or more consumer goods, the expandable receptacle being formed from a folded sheet and being configured to expand from a collapsed state to an expanded state in which the expandable receptacle has an internal volume for containing one or more of the consumer goods, and an opening for the one or more consumer goods to be inserted into the internal volume of the expandable receptacle, and wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state in response to the portion of the expandable receptacle defining the opening of the receptacle being subjected to a current of air. The expandable receptacle may have any feature or combination of features described in the preceding passages.

In the container or containers of the present disclosure described above the expandable receptacle is disposed within the housing of the container in a collapsed state. Therefore, it could be said that such containers are supplied to a user in a fully assembled condition, where the expandable receptacle is disposed within the housing. However, the present disclosure also contemplates arrangements whereby the expandable receptacle is initially supplied separately from the housing and a user inserts the expandable receptacle, in the collapsed state, into the housing to form the fully assembled container.

Accordingly, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a kit of parts comprising a housing for a plurality of consumer goods; a plurality of consumer goods; and an expandable receptacle provided in a collapsed state, wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to be inserted into the housing, in the collapsed state, along with the plurality of consumer goods, and further wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand to an expanded state in which the expandable receptacle has an internal volume for containing one or more of the plurality of consumer goods. The kit of parts may comprise one or more instructions for how to insert the expandable receptacle into the housing. The kit of parts may comprise one or more instructions for how to convert the expandable receptacle from the collapsed state to the expanded state.

The present disclosure also provides a kit of parts comprising: a plurality of consumer goods; and an expandable receptacle provided in a collapsed state, wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand to an expanded state in which the expandable receptacle has an internal volume for containing one or more of the plurality of consumer goods. The kit of parts may comprise one or more instructions for how to convert the expandable receptacle from the collapsed state to the expanded state.

As used herein, the term “susceptor element” refers to a material that can convert electromagnetic energy into heat. When located within a fluctuating electromagnetic field, eddy currents induced in the susceptor element cause heating of the susceptor element.

In the description of the invention the terms “side”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back” and other terms used to describe relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer to the container in an upright position with the access opening at the top. When describing containers according to the present invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described. The “bottom” of the container refers to the side of the container opposite the “top” of the container. The above considerations also apply when describing relative positions of the components of expandable receptacles according to the invention.

The term “height” is used herein to refer to dimensions extending between the top and the bottom. The term “width” is used herein to refer to dimensions extending between two sides. The term “depth” is used herein to refer to dimensions extending between the front and the back. Height, width and depth are orthogonal to each other.

The term “panel” is used herein to refer to a portion of the container or receptacle formed from a single, continuous portion of material. A panel may depend from one or more other panels.

The term “wall” refers more generally to a facet of the container or receptacle, 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 term “depending” is used herein to describe a physical connection between two elements of a container or receptacle in accordance with the invention. In more detail, the term “depending” is used to indicate that there is a material continuity between two elements, such as two walls or panels of a container or blank. This encompasses both cases wherein a wall or panel depends directly from an adjacent wall or panel as well as cases wherein an intermediate wall or panel effectively connects two walls or panels.

By way of example, a side wall or panel may depend directly from an adjacent front wall or panel. In such case, the wall or panel typically depends along a fold line from the adjacent wall. As an alternative, especially in containers having curved or bevelled edges, a side wall or panel may depend indirectly from a front wall or panel. In such case a curved or bevelled edge wall or panel connects the side wall or panel and the front wall or panel. In the case of a bevelled edge, both side wall or panel and front wall or panel may depend from the connecting bevelled edge wall or panel along respective fold lines. This also applies to optional components of containers in accordance with the invention, for example to a reinforcing member provided in the form of an inner frame.

The term “hinge line” is used herein to refer to a line about which a lid may be pivoted in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line. The hinge line about which a lid is connected to the box may coincide with an edge of the container, or the hinge line may extend across a wall of the container at a position that is spaced apart from the edges.

The term “inner surface” is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface of a component of the assembled container or receptacle that is facing towards the interior of the container or receptacle, for example towards the consumer goods, when the container is in the closed position. The term “outer surface” is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface of a component of the container or receptacle that is facing towards the exterior of the container or receptacle. For example, the front wall of a container has an inner surface that is facing the inside of the container and the consumer goods, and an outer surface facing away from the consumer goods. It should be noted that the inside or outside surface is not necessarily equivalent to a certain side of a blank used in assembly of the container or receptacle. Depending on how the blank is folded around the consumer goods, areas that are on the same side of the blank can either face towards the inside or the towards the outside of the container or receptacle.

The term “fold line” is used to describe any line of a blank about which the blank is folded. The blank may be referred to as a sheet. The fold line may be defined by a line of weakness to assist with the folding action. Alternatively, a fold can be formed without the presence of a weakening line, depending for example on the pliability of the blank material and other material characteristics.

The housing is preferably formed from one or more folded laminar blanks. The one or more laminar blanks may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. The different components of the container may be formed from the same material, or from different materials. Each of the one or more laminar blanks may be laminar cardboard blank having a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre. In preferred embodiments, the blank has a thickness of from about 100 micrometres to about 500 micrometres, preferably from about 200 micrometres to about 350 micrometres.

The container is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped comprising two wider walls (front and back) spaced apart by two narrower side walls. Containers according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. The container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof.

Features described in relation to one example or embodiment may also be applicable to other examples and embodiments.

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 feature of another example, or embodiment described herein.

EX1. A container for consumer goods, the container comprising: a housing containing a plurality of consumer goods and an expandable receptacle, the expandable receptacle being: formed from a folded sheet; provided in a collapsed state in the housing; and removable from the housing, wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand from the collapsed state to an expanded state in which the expandable receptacle has an internal volume for containing one or more of the plurality of consumer goods in the housing.

EX2. A container according to EX1, wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state in response to being subjected to a current of air.

EX3. A container according to EX1 or EX2, wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state after having been removed from the housing.

EX4. A container according to any of EX1 to EX3, wherein the expandable receptacle comprises a base and a plurality of side walls extending from the base when the expandable receptacle is in the expanded state.

EX5. A container according to any of EX1 to EX4, wherein the expandable receptacle comprises a top wall when the expandable receptacle is in the expanded state.

EX6. A container according to EX5, further comprising an opening in the top wall of the expandable receptacle.

EX7. A container according to EX5 or EX6, wherein the top wall of the expandable receptacle at least partly defines and internal chamber of the receptacle when the expandable receptacle is in the expanded state. EX8. A container according to EX6 or EX7, wherein the opening is sized to permit at least one of the consumer goods to be inserted into the expandable receptacle.

EX9. A container according to any of EX6 to EX8, wherein the opening has a cross sectional area of at least 49 millimetres squared, more preferably at least 144 millimetres squared, even more preferably at least 225 millimetres squared.

EX10. A container according to any of EX6 to EX9, wherein the opening has a cross sectional area of no more than 4000 millimetres squared, more preferably no more than 3750 millimetres squared, even more preferably no more than 3000 millimetres squared.

EX11. A container according to any of EX6 to EX10, wherein the opening is the only opening in the expandable receptacle.

EX12. A container according to any of EX1 to EX11 , wherein the internal volume of the expandable receptacle is suitable for containing at least ten of the consumer goods that are contained in the housing when the expandable receptacle is in the expanded state.

EX13. A container according to any of EX1 to EX12, wherein the internal volume of the expandable receptacle is suitable for containing all of the consumer goods that are contained in the housing when the expandable receptacle is in the expanded state.

EX14. A container according to any of EX1 to EX13, wherein the expandable receptacle only consists of the folded sheet.

EX15. A container according to any of EX1 to EX14, wherein the folded sheet comprises paper.

EX16. A container according to any of EX1 to EX15, wherein the expandable receptacle comprises a flame retardant material.

EX17. A container according to EX16, wherein the flame retardant material comprises one or both of alum and borax.

EX18. A container according to EX16 or EX17, wherein the flame retardant material is provided in the form of a flame retardant coating.

EX19. A container according to any of EX16 to EX18, wherein the flame retardant material resides on a portion of the expandable receptacle forming the inner surface of the receptacle when in the expanded state.

EX20. A container according to any of EX1 to EX19, wherein the expandable receptacle comprises a water resistant material.

EX21. A container according to EX20, wherein the water resistant material comprises one or more of polyurethane, wax, shellac and acrylic.

EX22. A container according to EX20 or EX21, wherein the water resistant material is provided in the form of a water resistant coating. EX23. A container according to any of EX20 to EX22, wherein the water resistant material resides on a portion of the expandable receptacle forming the inner surface of the receptacle when in the expanded state.

EX24. A container according to any of EX1 to EX23, wherein, when the expandable receptacle is in the collapsed state, the expandable receptacle is substantially planar.

EX25. A container according to any of EX1 to EX24, wherein, when the expandable receptacle is in the collapsed state, the expandable receptacle is substantially two-dimensional.

EX26. A container according to any of EX1 to EX25, wherein, when the expandable receptacle is in the collapsed state, the expandable receptacle has a length, width and depth, with each of the length and width of the expandable receptacle being at least ten times greater than the depth of the expandable receptacle.

EX27. A container according to any of EX1 to EX26, wherein the plurality of consumer goods comprise a plurality of aerosol-generating articles.

EX28. A container according to EX27, wherein each aerosol-generating article comprises a susceptor element.

EX29. A container according to EX27 or EX28, wherein each aerosol-generating article comprises a metallic element.

EX30. A container according to any of EX1 to EX29, wherein the housing of the container comprises a box portion and a lid portion.

EX31. A container according to EX30, wherein the expandable receptacle is provided in the box portion.

EX32. A container according to EX31, wherein the expandable receptacle is positioned between the plurality of consumer goods and a wall of the box portion.

EX33. A container according to EX32, wherein the expandable receptacle is positioned between the plurality of consumer goods and a front wall of the box portion.

EX34. An expandable receptacle for one or more consumer goods, the expandable receptacle being formed from a folded sheet and being configured to expand from a collapsed state to an expanded state in which the expandable receptacle has an internal volume for containing one or more of the consumer goods, and an opening for the one or more consumer goods to be inserted into the internal volume of the expandable receptacle, and wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state in response to the portion of the expandable receptacle defining the opening of the receptacle being subjected to a current of air.

EX35. A kit of parts comprising: a plurality of consumer goods; and an expandable receptacle provided in a collapsed state, wherein the expandable receptacle is configured to expand to an expanded state in which the expandable receptacle has an internal volume for containing one or more of the plurality of consumer goods. The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a sheet for forming an expandable receptacle according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a first stage of assembly;

Figure 3 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a second stage of assembly;

Figure 4 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a third stage of assembly;

Figure 5 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a fourth stage of assembly;

Figure 6 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a fifth stage of assembly;

Figure 7 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a sixth stage of assembly;

Figure 8 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a seventh stage of assembly;

Figure 9 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during an eight stage of assembly;

Figure 10 shows the sheet of Figure 1 during a ninth stage of assembly;

Figure 11 shows an expandable receptacle in a collapsed state formed by following the stages of assembly indicated by Figure 2 to 10;

Figure 12 shows the expandable receptacle of Figure 11 when in an expanded state;

Figure 13 shows a container containing the expandable receptacle of Figure 11 and a plurality of consumer goods; and

Figure 14 shows a user inserting a consumer good into the expandable receptacle of Figure 12.

Figure 1 shows a sheet 100 for forming an expandable receptacle 11 according to the invention. The sheet 100 is square-shaped and is made of paperboard. The sheet 100 may be a laminar blank. The sheet 100 is provided with three fold lines 101 , 102 and 103 extending across its surface (as indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 1). To form the expandable receptacle 11 the sheet 100 may be folded by following folding steps as indicated by Figures 2-11, and as described in more detail below.

Firstly, the sheet 100 is folded about the pre-formed fold lines 101 , 102 and 103 as indicated by Figure 2, until the sheet is in the folded state indicated by Figure 3. In this state, the folded sheet 100 is generally triangular-shaped.

The sheet 100 then undergoes further folding as indicated by the curved arrows in Figure 4. In particular, two corners 401 and 402 of the triangular-shaped sheet 100 are folded about respective fold lines 411 and 412 towards the third corner 403 of the triangular-shaped sheet 100.

This results in the folded sheet 100 having the profile shown in Figure 5. The sheet 100 then undergoes further folding as indicated by the curved arrows in Figure 5. In particular, two further portions 501 and 502 of the sheet 100 are folded about respective fold lines 511 and 512 towards a central portion of the overall triangular-shaped sheet 100.

This results in the folded sheet 100 having the profile shown in Figure 6. The sheet 100 then undergoes further folding as indicated by the curved arrows in Figure 6. In particular, two further portions 601 and 602 of the sheet 100 are folded about respective fold lines 611 and 612 towards a central portion of the overall triangular-shaped sheet 100.

This results in the folded sheet 100 having the profile shown in Figure 7. The sheet 100 then undergoes further folding as indicated by the double-ended curved arrows in Figure 7. In particular, two smaller triangular portions 701 and 702 of the sheet 100 are folded about respective fold lines 711 and 712 such that they each overlie another larger triangular portion 721 and 722 of the sheet 100. The smaller triangular portions 701 and 702 are then folded back to their original position, such that they no longer overlie the larger triangular portions 721 and 722 of the sheet. Put another way, the sixth stage of assembly of Figure 7 involves two folding steps about the same fold line, hence the use of a double-ended curved arrow in Figure 7.

This results in the folded sheet having the profile shown in Figure 8. It should be noted that the profile of the folded sheet in Figure 8 is identical to the profile of the folded sheet in Figure 7, with the exception that at the stage of assembly in Figure 8, an additional fold line exists for each of the two smaller triangular portions701 and 702. These additional fold lines are not visible in the view shown in Figure 8. The sheet then undergoes further folding as indicated by the curved arrows in Figure 8. In particular, the smaller triangular portions 701 and 702 are each tucked into a slot (not shown in the figures) formed by a gap between overlapping layers of their respective larger triangular portions 721 and 722 of the sheet.

This results in the folded sheet having the profile shown in Figure 9. The sheet is then flipped over by 180 degrees such that it has the appearance of a large single triangle identical to that shown in Figure 3. The folding process described above in respect of Figures 4-9 is then repeated to this large single triangular-shaped side of the sheet, which is visible.

This results in the folded sheet having the profile shown in Figure 10. The sheet then undergoes further folding as indicated by the curved arrow in Figure 10. In particular, a triangular portion 1001 of the sheet is folded about a fold line 1011 towards a central portion of the overall folded sheet 100. This can help to reduce the overall dimensions of the folded sheet 100. This may be advantageous when placing the folded sheet in a container. The folded sheet of Figure 10 is further modified by cutting off the tip of a triangular portion 1002 of the sheet, as indicated by the dashed line 1012 in Figure 10.

This results in the folded sheet having the profile shown in Figure 11. The folded arrangement of the sheet in Figure 11 is such that the folded sheet is capable of functioning as an expandable receptacle for consumer goods. In particular, the severed triangular portion 1101 of the folded sheet has an enlarged opening 30 at one end of the folded sheet 100.

A user may blow into the enlarged opening to cause the expandable receptacle to expand from the collapsed state shown in Figure 11 to an expanded state as shown in Figure 12. In particular, as a user blows into the enlarged opening, air enters the folded sheet 100between layers of the folded sheet. Due to the folding arrangement, there is substantially no other openings in the folded sheet 100and therefore the influx of air between said layers causes the layers to move apart from one another. This causes the folded sheet 100to expand until the expandable article 11 eventually reaches the shape shown in Figure 12. At this point, the article may be regarded as an expanded receptacle.

As best seen from Figure 12, when the expandable receptacle 11 is in the expanded state, the expandable receptacle 11 has the general shape of a box or cube. The expandable receptacle 11 has a base 12, and four general side walls 13, 14, 15 and 16 extending upwards from the base 12. The expandable receptacle 11 also generally has a top wall 17 extending from the top of the side walls of the receptacle. A generally circular opening 30 is positioned approximately in the middle of the top wall 17. This circular opening 30 is the opening into which a user has blown to cause the expandable receptacle 11 to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state. The circular opening 30 provides access to the interior of the expandable article 11 , and in particular, an internal empty chamber 40 within the receptacle, which has been produced by the expansion of the expandable article 11. Although the internal chamber is not visible in Figure 12, the surface of the folded sheet 100 defining the internal chamber is provided with water resistant and flame retardant coatings. As will be appreciated from Figure 12, the side walls 13, 14, 15 and 16 and the top wall 17 are not perfectly planar.

Figure 13 shows a container 20 containing the expandable receptacle 11 of Figure 11 and a plurality of consumer goods. The container 10 is a hinge-lid container having a housing comprising a box portion 22 and a lid portion 24. The lid portion 24 is hingedly connected to the box portion 22 by a hinge line (not shown) extending across the back of the housing. The lid portion 24 is pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position in which the lid portion covers an opening 28 of the box portion 22 and an open position in which consumer goods can be removed from the box portion 22. In the open position, the expandable receptacle 11 is removable from the box portion 22.

The consumer goods are a plurality of elongate aerosol-generating articles 50. Each aerosol-generating article 50 is generally cylindrical and comprises a first segment comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and one or more further segments adjacent to the first segment. The first segment may also comprise a susceptor element. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco material. The aerosol-generating article is configured to produce an aerosol when the aerosol-forming substrate is heated. For example, the aerosol-generating article 50 may be heated in response to inserting the aerosol-generating article 50 into an aerosol generating device.

The elongate aerosol-generating articles 50 are generally aligned vertically within the housing. The elongate aerosol-generating articles 50 are held together in a bundle within the housing. The expandable receptacle 11 is positioned within the box portion 22. The expandable receptacle 11 is positioned between the aerosol-generating articles 50 and a box portion front wall 27. The expandable receptacle 11 abuts the inner surface of the box front wall 27. In this way, when the housing is opened by pivoting the lid portion 24 to the open position, the expandable receptacle 11 may be both readily visible and readily accessible to a user.

As can be appreciated from Figures 11 and 13, when the expandable receptacle 11 is in the collapsed state, the expandable receptacle 11 is substantially planar. That is, the collapsed receptacle is very thin, with its major dimensions being its width and its length. In particular, in the collapsed state, each of the length and width of the expandable receptacle 11 are at least fifty times greater than the depth of the expandable receptacle 11. The expandable receptacle 11 can therefore conveniently fit into a relatively small space in the front of the box portion 22, without significantly reducing the space available in the box portion for the plurality of consumer goods.

When a user first obtains the container 20 of Figure 13, the user can open the housing by pivoting the lid portion 24 relative to the box portion 22. The user can then remove the expandable receptacle 11 from the box portion 22 and blow into the opening 30 of the expandable receptacle 11 to cause the expandable receptacle 11to expand from the collapsed state to the expanded state. The user can then remove an aerosol-generating article 50 from the container and consume the aerosol-generating article 50, for example by inserting the aerosol-generating article 50 into an aerosol-generating device and inhaling aerosol produced by the aerosol-generating article 50. When the user has finished consuming the aerosol-generating article 50 the user can use the expandable receptacle 11 to store the consumed aerosol-generating article 50. In particular, the user can insert the consumed aerosol-generating article through the circular opening 30 in the top wall 17 of the expandable receptacle 11 and into the internal chamber 40 of the expandable receptacle 11 , as illustrated in Figure 14. The water resistant coating lining one or more walls of the internal chamber can help to prevent any moisture or liquid on the consumed aerosol-generating article escaping the receptacle. The flame retardant coating lining one or more walls of the internal chamber can help to prevent the receptacle from being ignited by any hot or burning portion of the consumed aerosol-generating article.

The user may repeat this process for any further aerosol-generating articles 50, which they choose to consume from the housing, with the internal chamber being sized to accommodate all of the aerosol-generating articles 50 contained in the housing. The user can then discard the receptacle with the consumed articles at an appropriate refuse or recycling point.