FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container lid with improved storage functionality and improved stackability, particularly a container lid for a container for a tobacco related product. The present invention further relates to a container with such a container lid.

BACKGROUND

Various packages for tobacco, smoking articles, like cigarettes, cigarillos or cigars, and tobacco based products, like snus or snuff, are well known in the art.

Elongated smoking articles such as cigarettes may be packed in hinge-lid packs comprising a box with a hinged lid. Therein the elongated smoking articles are contained in the interior of the box. Usually an inner liner is provided within the box in order to protect the elongated smoking articles against loss of moisture, freshness and aroma. The lid comprises a hinged connection to the box and is transferable from an open position to a closed position, wherein a user can access the smoking articles merely in the open position. In order to prevent unwanted openings, the lid may be attached to the box or the inner liner via an adhesive.

Elongated smoking articles may also be packed in a soft cup package, wherein a soft cup packages typically comprise a soft cup formed of a cup-shaped outer paper container that is open at the top to receive an inner liner comprising the tobacco products. In order to access the smoking articles at least one wall of the inner liner needs to be opened. The package may comprise an adhesive label for resealing the opened wall in order to provide a closed configuration that safely keeps the smoking articles within the package.

Tobacco may be packed in pouches that are formed from an elastic sheet folded to form a pocket between two adjacent walls of the elastic sheet. One of the walls may continuously extend to form a flap for closing the pocket by overlapping the flap with an outer surface of one of the adjacent walls. While the adjacent walls may be partially hot embossed for enclosing the pocket, the flap may comprise an adhesive label for resealing the pouch.

Alternatively, tobacco, each of the aforementioned tobacco related products as well as further tobacco related products, such as snus or snuff, may be packed in a container, such as e.g. a rigid paperboard container. Such containers are usually provided with a lid that is attached to the container and allows for opening and closing the container. Therein, the container as well as the lid may comprise features for improving the stackability thereof, i.e. for improving the transport or the display of the container or the lid or both.

However, tobacco as well as other tobacco related products may require supplementary means for consuming the tobacco or the tobacco related product or for preparing the consumption thereof. Exemplarily, papers and cigarette filters are required for rolling cigarettes from rolling tobacco, a cutter is required for preparing a cigar for smoking and finally a lighter or matches are required for igniting cigarettes, cigarillos or cigars. Further, waste may be produced during the preparation or use of the tobacco-related products.

It is thus an object of the present invention to overcome or reduce at least some of the disadvantageous of the prior art and to provide a solution to the aforementioned problems and to provide a container lid for a container for a tobacco related product that has an improved functionality with respect to the storage of supplementary goods or waste.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One or more of the drawbacks of the prior art could be avoided or at least reduced by means of the present invention that solves the abovementioned objective. A first aspect of the present invention relates to a container lid for a container for a tobacco related product. Therein, the container lid comprises a rim portion that is configured to be connected to an opening of the container. Typically, a container comprises a container body and a container opening through which a product can be filled or removed from the container. The container opening is surrounded by a container opening edge and the rim portion is configured to be attached to the container opening edge or to a reinforcing rim attached to the container opening edge. The container lid further comprises a lid portion that is hingedly connected to the rim portion via a connecting portion and that is configured for opening or closing the container opening by pivoting the lid portion around the connecting portion.

According to the present invention, the lid portion comprises a recess, i.e. a deepening or depression, which is forming a lid compartment within the lid portion. Above that the lid portion comprises a support section that is disposed adjacent to the recess. A top lid is connected to the support section and is configured to provide a closure for the lid compartment, i.e. to allow a user to open and close the lid compartment. The top lid is further configured for covering the recess as well as the support section, at least while it closes the lid compartment. Hence the areal size of the top lid exceeds the areal size of the recess but equals the sum of the areal sizes of the recess and the support section. The rim portion of the container lid of the invention is at least partially surrounding a lid opening. In other words, the rim portion is enclosing or defining the lid opening by forming a closed or broken ring. Therein, ring does not inevitably refer to an O-ring but may also cover a rectangular shape or a rectangular shape with rounded edges. Basically, a cross section and/or a circumference of the lid opening, i.e. the rim portion, are adapted to the cross section and or the circumference of the container opening, i.e. the container opening edge. In other words, the shape of the rim portion is fitted to the shape of the container opening edge. According to this definition, the lid portion is configured for closing the lid opening by covering an area that is enclosed and/or defined by the rim portion. Thus, the areal size of the lid portion is essentially equal to an areal size of the lid opening and/or the container opening.

According to the present invention, the lid portion comprises a support section for connecting a top lid thereto. Therefore, the support section is preferably level, plane, and/or flat. Further preferred, the support section has a first surface (upper surface) facing in a first direction, wherein the first direction is facing away from a container, while the container lid is installed to a container. The top lid is preferably installed to the first surface. Then, the recess extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction, i.e. towards a container, while the container lid is installed to a container. Particularly, lateral walls of the recess extend in the second direction although these lateral walls may enclose an angle with the second direction.

Further preferred, the support section extends essentially parallel, i.e. is essentially plane- parallel, to a bottom of the recess. In this configuration, a plate-shaped top lid attached to the support section also extends essentially parallel to the support area. Further preferred, at least one of the bottom of the recess and the closed top lid also extends essentially plane- parallel to the lid opening, i.e. the area defined by the rim portion. Further preferred, the support section is plane-parallel to the area defined by the container opening edge, i.e. the container opening. In other words, the support section extends essentially horizontally in an installation position of the container lid, i.e. while being installed to a container, and during a normal standing position of the container with the lid portion being closed.

Further preferred, the top lid comprises a flexure ridge that is separating a first portion and a second portion of the top lid. Therein, the first portion is connected to the support section of the lid portion, preferably fixedly, while the second portion is configured to pivot around the flexure ridge. According to a basic embodiment, the flexure ridge is simply a thinning of an e.g. plate-shaped, top lid. Particularly preferred, the thinning may be provided as a groove with a triangular cross section opened towards the first direction for allowing the second portion to easily pivot around the flexure ridge, wherein the pivoting of the second portion is for opening or closing the lid compartment. Further preferred, the first portion is mechanically connected to the support section, e.g. by a weld, an adhesive, a clip connection, or the like. The connection may be detachable but preferably it is a non-detachable connection.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the connecting portion extends along a lateral edge of the rim portion. Further preferred, the connecting portion comprises at least one hinge. Therein, the hinge may be a flexible connection between the rim portion and the lid portion that has been commonly injection molded and/or is monolithic with these portions. Alternatively, each of the at least one hinge may be formed of multiple components.

Further preferred, the flexure ridge extends at least essentially in parallel to the connecting portion, i.e. the lid portion and the top lid open towards the same direction. Further preferred, the flexure ridge extends at least essentially in parallel to the support section. Above that, the support section preferably is a lateral edge section of the recess, i.e. extends along at least part of an edge of the recess. Further, the flexure ridge may be essentially aligned with one lateral wall of the recess. Preferably, each of the connecting portion, the support section, and the flexure ridge extend in parallel to a lateral edge of the rim portion (and of the container).

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rim portion comprises at least one collar section with a groove that is configured for receiving a container opening edge or an edge of a reinforcing rim inserted into the container opening. While the container lid is installed to a container, the groove is opened towards the container in the second direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the container lid comprises at least one first alignment means that is protruding from the top lid and that is aligned with at least one lateral wall of the recess. Preferably, the first alignment means protrude from the second portion of the top lid and further preferred the first alignment means is an extension of the at least one lateral wall of the recess, particularly preferred along the first direction defined above. In other words, the first alignment means preferably protrudes in the first direction, i.e. upwards, from the top lid.

Particularly, a surface of the first alignment means facing away from a lateral edge of the top lid, lid portion and/or rim portion is preferably aligned with an outer surface of at least one lateral wall facing towards the lateral edge of the top lid, lid portion and/or rim portion. The at least one first alignment means of a first container lid is configured to engage with a lateral wall of the recess of a second container lid that is stacked upon the first container lid. The first alignment means provide better alignment and improve stability of stacked container lids.

Further preferred, the container lid comprises at least one second alignment means that is protruding from the top lid and that is aligned with at least one third alignment means, wherein the third alignment means is protruding from the support section in an opposite direction than the second alignment means. The second alignment means is preferably protruding from the first portion of the top lid and in the first direction as defined above, while the third alignment means is protruding from the support section and in the second direction as defined above. The engagement of the second and third alignment means occurs in an area, where the top lid is laterally extending over the recess due to its connection to the support section and where thus an alignment via a lateral wall of the recess is impossible. Thus, engagement of the second and third alignment means further improves the stackability of multiple container lids by providing alignment across the whole area of the container lid.

In a further preferred embodiment, a surface of the second alignment means facing away from a lateral edge of the top lid, lid portion and/or rim portion is aligned with an outer surface of the third alignment means facing towards the lateral edge of the top lid, lid portion and/or rim portion. Preferably, the third alignment means extends at least essentially parallel to a lateral wall of the recess and/or the extension of the third alignment means along the second direction corresponds at least essentially to the depth of the recess in the second direction.

Also preferred, the first alignment means and additionally or alternatively the second alignment means and the third alignment means are arranged in corner sections of the top lid. Therein, corner sections refer to the corners of the top lid in a plan view onto the plate- shaped top lid, preferably onto a rectangular top lid. Further preferred, the shape of the second alignment means corresponds roughly to that of a first alignment means which has been overlaid with the flexure ridge. Hence, a simple design option is provided.

Further preferred, the first alignment means extends along a first lateral edge and along a second lateral edge of the top lid. In other words, the first alignment means is essentially L- shaped but preferably with equally long legs. In such configuration, the first alignment means of a first container lid is configured to engage with an edge of two lateral walls of the recess of a second container lid stacked upon the first container lid. Thus, alignment of the container lids is provided in two directions. Preferably, also the second alignment means extends along a first lateral edge and along a second lateral edge of the top lid. In such configuration, the third alignment means preferably is an alignment pole (i.e. not a wall-shaped feature) that is positioned at the support section such that its tip is aligned with a corner of the two legs of a second alignment means.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid portion comprises first closing means for interacting with one of the rim portion or a container opening edge or matching first closure means attached to one of the rim portion or the container opening edge. Particularly preferred, the first closing means, and eventually the matching first closure means, are arranged at a lateral edge of the lid portion, rim portion or container that is opposite to the lateral edge of the connecting portion. Further preferred, the top lid comprises second closing means for interacting with one of the lid portion or matching second closure means attached to the lid portion.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a container for a tobacco-related product. Therein, the container comprises a container body, preferably a rigid paperboard or cardboard container, with a container opening and a container opening edge. Therein, the container opening edge is surrounding the container opening. The container of the invention further comprises a container lid according to the invention as described above, wherein the container lid is attached to the container opening edge. Therein, the lid portion is configured for closing the container opening in order to confine a main storage compartment.

According to an alternative embodiment, the present invention further relates to a container for a tobacco-related product. Therein, the container comprises a container body, preferably a rigid paperboard or cardboard container, with a container opening and a container opening edge, wherein the container opening edge is surrounding the container opening edge. Further, a reinforcing rim is attached to the container opening edge and a container lid according to the present invention as described above is attached to the container opening edge such that the lid portion is configured for closing the container opening.

Further aspects of the invention are apparent from the appended claims and the drawings described in more detail below. The specific embodiments of the invention as described above can be advantageously combined if not explicitly described otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container according to an embodiment;

Figure 2 illustrates a top view of a container lid according to an embodiment;

Figure 3 illustrates a cross section of the container lid of Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a detailed cross section of two stacked container lids; and

Figure 5 illustrates another detailed cross section of two stacked container lids.

DETAILLED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIEMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates a container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The container 1 comprises a container body 4 formed by a tubular container wall. The container wall extends from a container body bottom edge to a container body opening edge 3 at a container body opening 2. Therein the container opening edge 3 circumcises the container opening 2. The container body 4 is made from paperboard material and may be formed by bringing together the side edges of a paperboard sheet, causing the material to assume a tubular shape and adhering the side edges to each other. Adhering of the side edges may be made by any suitable method as known in the art, such as by welding or gluing. A bottom disc (not shown) of the container may be made from paperboard, metal, and/or plastic. The container body 4 may be formed into any desired tubular shape including circular, oval, rectangular and modified rectangular shapes, such as e.g. with rounded corners as shown.

The upper terminal surfaces of the container body 4 defining a perimeter of the container opening 2 form the container opening edge 3. Alternatively, a reinforcing rim (not shown) can be attached to the container opening edge 3 and provide an upper rim of the container 1. Therein such reinforcing rim may be a plastic rim attached to an inner wall of the container 1.

A container lid 10 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is attached to the container opening edge 3 or, where applicable, to a reinforcing rim being attached to the container opening edge 3. The container lid 10 is preferably injection molded from a thermosetting resin and preferably a monolithic part. The container lid 10 comprises a rim portion 20 configured to be attached to the container opening edge 3. The container lid 10 further comprises a lid portion 30 disposed on top of the rim portion 20 with respect to the orientation as shown in Figure 1.

The lid portion 30 and the rim portion 20 are connected to each other via a connecting portion 31 formed by two hinges 31 as shown in Figure 2 at a lateral side of the lid portion 30 and the rim portion 20. As shown in Figure 2, the areal size and the shape of the lid portion 30 almost equals the areal size and the shape of the rim portion 20. The container lid 10 further comprises a top lid 40 disposed on top of the lid portion 30 with respect to the orientation as shown in Figure 1. The areal size of the top lid 40 is smaller than that of the lid portion 30, whereas the shapes of top lid 40 and lid portion 30 are rather identical.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross section of the container lid 10 along the line A-A of Figure 2. As shown therein, the rim portion 20 encloses a lid opening 21 , the size of which corresponds to the size of the container opening 2 in Figure 1. The rim portion 20 comprises a collar portion 23 that comprises a downwardly opened groove 24 with a width that corresponds to the width of the container opening edge 3 as shown in Figure 1. Groove 24 of collar portion 23 is configured to be snuggly fitted onto the container opening edge 3, wherein the connection between container 1 and rim portion 20 of the container lid 10 may be improved by glue or the like. The rim portion 20 further comprises a reinforcing structure between collar portion 23 and the lid opening 21 for providing mechanical strength to the rim portion 20. The hinged connection portion 31 between the rim portion 20 and the lid portion 30 is also illustrated in Figure 3. From the connecting portion 31 , the lid portion 30 extends toward the opposite lateral edge 22 of the rim portion 20 and therein spans across the lid opening 21. Starting from the hinge 31 , the lid portion 30 initially follows the shape of the rim portion 20 before it extends upward in a first direction, i.e. away from the container 1 , until it exceeds the height of the rim portion 20. The lid portion 30 then extends in a lateral direction and thus forms a horizontal support section 33 (with respect to the orientation of Figure 3). After passing the support section 33, the lid portion 30 forms a lateral wall 35 of a recess 32 by extending downward, i.e. in a second direction opposite to the first direction and towards the container 1. The lid portion 30 then extends in the lateral direction as the bottom 34 of the recess 32 before extending upward again as the opposite lateral wall 35 of the recess 32.

The opposite lateral wall 35 merges into a short plateau from which the lid portion 30 extends downward again in the second direction and again follows the shape of the rim portion 20. At a lateral edge of the lid portion 30 opposite to the lateral edge of the hinge 31 , the lid portion 30 forms first closing means 36 with an actuation lever and a latching nose. The first closing means 36 engage with first closure means 25 of the rim portion 20 for locking the closed lid portion 30. The lid portion 30 is thus configured as a cover for the lid opening 21 , hence the container opening 2, and further provides the recess 32 as additional lid compartment 41.

As further illustrated in Figure 3, a top lid 40 is disposed on and connected to the support section 33 of the lid portion 30. Particularly, the top lid 40 is connected to a first surface facing upward, i.e. in the first direction, of the support section 33. The lid portion 40 extends laterally (with respect to Figure 3) and spans across the whole recess 32 of the lid portion 30. Hence, the top lid 40 provides a cover for the lid compartment 41. Therein the lid portion 40 has a lateral extension that equals the lateral extension of the recess 32 and (plus) the lateral extension of the support section 33. The top lid 40 is divided into a first portion 43 and a second portion 44 by a flexure ridge 42 formed as a thinning of the top lid 40.

As shown in Figure 2, the flexure ridge 42 extends across the top lid 40 and in parallel to the lateral edge near the connecting portion 31. It is the first portion 43 of the top lid 40 that is fixedly connected to the support section 33, wherein the second portion 44 of the top lid 40 can pivot around the flexure ridge 42. Thus, the top lid 40 and the lid portion 30 open in the same direction. The width of the first portion 43 roughly equals the width of the support section 33 such that the flexure ridge 42 is aligned with one lateral wall 35 of the recess 32.

The top lid 40 further comprises two vertical portions extending downward therefrom, each being adjacent to one of the lateral walls 35. A first vertical portion functions as limit stop in combination with the recesses 32 lateral wall 35 being aligned with the flexure ridge 42. A second vertical portion comprises a bulge as second closing means 50 that engage with first closure means 37, i.e. a corresponding groove in the lateral wall 35 of the lid portion 30.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, first alignment means 45 and second alignment means 46 are disposed on the upper surface of the top lid 40. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, third alignment means 47 extend downward from a lower surface of the support section 33. The configuration of these alignment means 45, 46, 47 and their function during the stacking of multiple container lids 10 above each other are described under reference to Figures 2, 4, 5.

As illustrated in Figure 2, first alignment means 45 and second alignment means 46 are disposed in corner sections 48 of the top lid 40. Therein, a basic shape of each of the first and second alignment means 45, 46 follows the rounded corners of the top lid 40. Hence, the first and second alignment means 45, 46 are each basically L-shaped and extend along a first lateral edge 49 and along a second lateral edge 49 of the top lid 40. The second alignment means 46 are formed by dividing one pair of first alignment means 45 with the flexure ridge 42 thus forming two new pairs of first and second alignment means 45, 46. Four first alignment means 45 and two second alignment means 46 are disposed on the top lid 40.

As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, a first pair of first alignment means 45 is disposed along the lateral edge 49 of the top lid 40 comprising the first closing means 50. As illustrated in Figure 4, an inner surface of the first alignment means 45 of a first container lid 10, i.e. a surface facing away from the adjacent lateral edge 49 of the top lid 40, is aligned with an outer surface of the lateral wall 35 of the recess 32 of a second container lid 10 stacked upon the first container lid 10. Hence, the inner surface of the first alignment means 45 functions as a limit stop to the lateral wall 35 of the second container lid 10. As each of the first pair of first alignment means 45 is basically L-shaped, each of the legs of the first alignment means 45 functions as limit stop for further a lateral wall 35 of the recess 32 thus aligning the container lids 10 stacked in the z-direction in two dimensions, i.e. the x- direction and the y-direction.

As illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 5 two pairs of each a first alignment means 45 and a second alignment means 46 are disposed along the lateral edge 49 of the top lid 40 adjacent to the hinges 31. In each of the pairs, the first alignment means 45 and the second alignment means 46 are separated by the flexure ridge 42. Further, the first alignment means 45 in these pairs are configured as limit stop for lateral walls 35 of the recess 32 that extend from the lateral edge 49 near the hinges 31 towards the lateral edge 49 near the first closing means 50. These lateral walls 35 are not illustrated in the cross section of Figures 3 and 5.

However, as illustrated in the cross sections of Figures 3 and 5, the second alignment means 46 are disposed on the support section 33 next to the recess 32. Hence, the second alignment means 46 cannot function as a limit stop to a lateral wall 35 of the recess 32. In order to still provide an alignment of stacked container lids 10 along the lateral edge 49 near the hinges 31 , a third alignment means 47 extends downward from a lower surface of the support section 33. The third support means 47 can be configured as an alignment wall section adapted to the shape of the second alignment means 46 or even as a tip-shaped alignment pole pointed toward a (rounded) corner of the two legs of the second alignment means 46, as illustrated in Figure 5.

As further illustrated in Figure 5, an inner surface of the second alignment means 46 of a first container lid 10, i.e. a surface facing away from the adjacent lateral edge 49 of the top lid 40, is aligned with an outer surface of the third alignment means 47 of a second container lid 10 stacked upon the first container lid 10, i.e. a surface facing towards the adjacent lateral edge 49 of the top lid 40. Hence, at least one leg but preferably both legs of the second alignment means 47 of the first container lid 10 functions as a limit stop with respect to the third alignment means 47 of the second container lid 10 stacked upon the first container lid 10 and thus improved stability of stacked container lids 10 is provided by the engaged second and third alignment means 46, 47.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 container

2 container opening

3 container opening edge

4 container body

10 container lid

20 rim portion

21 lid opening

22 lateral edge

23 collar section

24 groove

25 first closure means

30 lid portion

31 connecting portion

32 recess

33 supporting section

34 bottom of recess

35 lateral wall of recess

36 first closing mean

37 second closure means

40 top lid

41 lid compartment

42 flexure ridge

43 first portion

44 second portion

45 first alignment means

46 second alignment means

47 third alignment means

48 corner section

49 lateral edge

50 second closing means