Packaging Container

The present invention relates to a packaging container and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to security packaging for containing articles such as cigarettes.

It is common practice in many shops and stores for cigarettes not to be generally accessible to customers as self service items. Instead tobacco products are often stored behind a separate counter with the cigarettes only accessible by a member of staff. As a result this counter must be permanently manned which potentially increases staffing costs.

Cigarettes differ from other products sold in for example a supermarket since it is not uncommon for a customer to enter such a supermarket already carrying one or more unopened packets of cigarettes in their pocket or in a handbag. In comparison, it is unusual for a customer to arrive at a supermarket carrying other relatively high value consumable items, such as bottles of alcoholic spirits. As a result, it is much easier for a security guard to put together a convincing case that a person leaving a supermarket with a bottle of whiskey in their pocket had not entered the store with the bottle than it is when the article in question is a packet of cigarettes .

Existing security packaging are unsuitable for articles such as cigarettes since packaging which is removed at the point of sale, that is at a till, are very bulky and cannot easily be stored in the limited space available at a till. The alternative of having entirely disposable packaging has the disadvantage that in order to prevent the articles being

removed from the packaging whilst still in the store the packaging must be difficult to get into and as a result requires a tool such as a pair of scissors. This has the disadvantage that a customer who has legitimately purchased a packet of cigarettes cannot then get access to their purchase without having a pair of scissors. This is likely to prove a significant disincentive to purchasing cigarettes in this type of packaging. An example of such packaging is the so called blister pack where a generally ^' flat backing sheet of transparent thermoplastic is welded to a shaped from sheet of thermoplastic. The type of packaging is often difficult to open and the use if scissors can result in damage to the product inside. The process of packing goods in blister packs is also slow and therefore costly. This is particularly unsatisfactory for goods such as cigarette which are high cost to the customer, due to high taxation, and are therefore at significant risk of being stolen whilst being relatively low in profit for the retailer.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome advantages of the prior art, including, but not limited to, those set out above.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging container comprising :-

holding means for holding at least one article; and

locking means for preventing the or each article from being removed from said holding means, said locking means being adapted to be unlocked using a tool thereby allowing the or each article to be removed from said holding means, said locking means further comprising security means for increasing the difficulty of unauthorised removal of the or each article from a predetermined security area it or they are in.

By providing a container which is locked by a removable locking means that contains a security device, such as an alarm triggering radio frequency transducer, the advantage is provided that the article, typically a packet of cigarettes, can be displayed for customer self service in a retail establishment. Once the locking means has been unlocked, the articles inside can be easily accessed by the customer. Alternatively, the holding means can be removed at the point of sale and reused. As a result, the device defined above has the combined advantages of being sufficiently secure to be displayed in a self service retail situation without making it difficult for a customer who has bought the article to gain access to their purchase after leaving the store. Furthermore, because the locking means is typically formed from a rigid material the security device is protected from interference inside further assisting the unauthorised deactivation of the security device.

In a preferred embodiment the holding means allows visual inspection of at least one said article.

The holding means may be at least partially transparent or may have at least one cutaway portion.

In a preferred embodiment the holding means is moulded from at least one thermoplastic material .

In a preferred embodiment the security means comprises at least one alarm triggering device.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of packaging one or more articles in a container, comprising the steps of:-

introducing at least one article into holding means for holding the or each article; and

locking said holding means with locking means thereby preventing the or each article from being removed from said holding means, wherein said locking means is adapted to be unlocked using a tool thereby allowing the or each article to be removed from said holding means, said locking means having security means for increasing the difficulty of unauthorised removal of the or each article from a predetermined security area it or they are in.

In a preferred embodiment when said locking means has been unlocked it is detached from said holding means.

According to a further aspect of the provided a packaging container comprising holding means for holding at least one article, said holding means having first and second bonding portions, at least part of said first and second bonding portions being adapted to be bonded to each other and thereby retain the or each said article within said holding means, wherein said first and second bonding portions are adapted to be separated from the remainder of said holding means allowing access to the or each article retained therein.

By providing a packaging container with a holding means, two portions of which are adapted to be bonded together, and which are also adapted to be removed from the holding means to allow access to the articles stored inside, the advantage is provided that a secure container can be provided, thereby assisting in preventing one or more articles stored in the container from being removed. At the same time it is reasonably easy for the articles to be removed using tools such as scissors, once the packaging and articles have been purchased. This has a further advantage that the articles

contained within the packaging are less likely to be damaged by attempts to open the packaging.

In a preferred embodiment the holding means comprises at least one thermoplastic material.

The first and second bonding portions may be bonded by one or more of: a) a heat weld; b) an ultrasonic weld; c) an adhesive; and d) a mechanical fixing.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second bonding portions are adapted to be separated from the remainder of said holding means using scissors.

In another preferred embodiment the holding means further comprises : -

first and second container portions, wherein said first bonding portion is part of said first container portion and second bonding portion is part of said second container portion; and

first connecting means for connecting said first and second packaging portions at a location separate from said bonding means .

The first connecting means may be a bond between said first and second packaging portions or may be a hinge moulded in said thermoplastic as said first and second packaging portions are formed.

By forming the holding means as two parts, typically termed clam-shell halves, which are hinged together, the advantage is provided that the packaging can have a flat base allowing it to be stacked on a shelf.

The container may further comprise at least one hanging means formed as part of said bonding means .

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of packaging one or more articles in a container, comprising the steps of :-

introducing at least one article in holding means thereby holding at least one article,

bonding at least part of a first bonding portion of said holding means to at least part of a second bonding portion of said holding means to thereby retain the or each said article within said holding means, wherein said first and second bonding portions are adapted to be separated from the remainder of said holding means allowing access to the or each article retained therein.

The first and second bonding portions may be bonded by one or more of: a) heat welding; b) ultrasonic welding; c) bonding with adhesive; and d) bonding with a mechanical fixing.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaging container of the present invention;

Figures 2a to 2e are perspective views showing the assembly at use of the packaging container of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another packaging container of the present invention;

Figures 4a to 4f are perspective views of the assembly and use of the packaging container of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further packaging container of the present invention;

Figures 6a to 6e are perspective views of the assembly in use of the packaging container of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a partial front view of the packaging container of Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a packaging container 10 as a holding means or holder 12 for holding one or more articles 14. In the example shown, the article is a carton containing ten packets of twenty cigarettes and could be any other item of sufficient value to require containing within secure packaging and requiring security tagging. However, the article 14 could equally be a single packet of cigarettes or two packets. The holder 12 has front and rear faces 16 and 18 and side panels 20 and 22. There is also a base 24 and a lid 26 which is formed from first and second lid portions 28 and 30. The first lid portion 28 has a tab 32 which is designed to fit through a slot 34 in second lid portion 30. The second lid portion 30 also has a tab 35 which is aligned with tab 32 when tab 32 extends through slot 34. The second lid portion 30 also has a lip 36 which in use partially engages the front face 16. The holder 12 is formed by injection moulding.

The packaging container also includes a locking device 38 that attaches to tabs 32 and 35. The locking device 38 prevents the holder 12 from being opened by preventing tab 32 from passing back through slot 34 thus preventing the first and second lid portion 28 and 30 from being separated and access being given to the articles 14 inside. The security device 38

is locked using a locking means (not shown) which is designed to be removed using a tool. Such a tool is located at the till and the locking means may be any of those well known in the art. The locking device 38 also includes a security device which is designed to help prevent the packaging container 10 and articles 14 from being removed from the retail premises. Typically the security device is a radio frequency transducer which operates with an alarm which is set off when someone attempts to take the locking device through a door suitably equipped to detect such a transducer. The locking device 38 also has a slot 40, in the example shown, this is known as a Euroslot which allows the packaging container and articles therein to be hung on a rail.

In use, the holder 12 has a carton or packet of cigarettes 14 introduced into it and the first lid portion 28 is folded to partially cover an uppermost surface of the article 14. The second lid portion 30 is then positioned over the first lid portion 28 so that tab 32 extends through slot 34 as shown in Figure 2d. The locking device 38 is attached to the aligned tabs 32 and 35 and it can only be removed using a specific tool. A customer purchasing the articles 14 takes the articles and packaging container 10 to a till where the locking device 38 is removed using an appropriate tool. The holder 12 can then either be removed from the articles 14 and reused or left on the article 14 and retained by the customer for disposal. The packaging container shown in Figures 1 and 2 is designed to be retained and disposed by the customer as it uses minimal materials by having large cut out panels in the front and rear faces 16 and 18 and in the base 24.

If a person attempts to take the articles 14 and packaging container 10 out of the retail establishment without the locking device 38 being removed the security device will activate an alarm. The holder 12 is made from a material which

is of sufficient strength that the articles 14 cannot be removed by stretching or ripping the holder 12 without drawing considerable attention to someone attempting to remove the articles whilst still in. a store.

It should be noted that the locking device could also be left attached to the holder if it is deactivated during the purchase. Deactivation ideally occurs as the article is scanned for pricing. The locking device is unlocked allowing the purchaser access to the articles but remains attached to the device for disposal along with the holder.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, in which parts in common with those of Figures 1 and 2 are shown with like reference numerals increased by 100, a packaging container 110 as a holder 112 for retaining articles 114. The side panels 120 and 122 are provided with foldable seems 142, 144 and 146 which allow the holder 112 to be collapsed and folded flat. This allows for easier storage of the holder 112 at a till which typically has limited space and also makes transportation of the holder 112 easier. The first and second lid portions 128 and 130 differ in that the first lid portion 128 covers the majority of an upper surface of the articles 114 and the tag 132 passes through a slot 134 and engages the second lid portion 130 which is not folded over to cover the upper surface of the article 114. The locking device 138 is formed in two parts and also has a locking stud 148 which passes through holes in the two other parts of locking device 138 and holes in the tab 132 and second lid portion 130.

Referring to Figures 5 to 7 , a packaging container 200 has a holding means or holder 202 for holding at least one article 204, in the example shown the article 204 is a carton containing ten ^' packets of twenty cigarettes. The holder 202 has first and second bonding portions 206 and 208. And is part

of the first and second bonding portions 206 and 208 can be bonded to each other so as to retain the article 204 in the holder 202.

In the example shown, the holder 202 is formed having first and second container portions 210 and 212 which are joined by a connecting piece 214 which is attached to first and second connecting portions 210 and 212 by moulded hinges 216 and 218. The first and second container portions 210 and 212 have respective edges 220 and 222 which abut one another when the holder 202 is in use and in a closed position, such as that shown in Figure 6d. The bonding portions 206 and 208 have respective slots 224, 226 of a type known as the Euroslot. When the holder 202 is closed the slots 224 and 226 form a single slot 227 from which the packaging container 200 and articles therein 204 can be hung. The packaging container 200 is provided with a security means, typically a radio frequency transducer 228 which is attached to an internal surface of the holder 202.

In use the packaging container 200 is opened to the position shown in Figures 6a and 6b and the article or articles 204 are placed in one of the first and second container portions 210 and 212. The other container portion is folded at hinges 216 and 218 so that the first and second bonding portions 206 and 208 and the edges 220 and 222 of the first and second container portions 210 and 212 abut one another. As indicated in Figure 6d at least part of the bonding portions 206 and 208 are bonded together. This could be by a heat or ultrasonic welding , by using an adhesive or by a mechanical fixing such as a rigid staple. The packaging container 200 is then ready to be either hung via the slot 227 or placed on a shelf using the connecting piece 214 as a flat base. When a customer purchases the articles 204 the security device is scanned so as to deactivate it and the container 200 and

articles 204 can be removed from the store without activating the alarm.

When the customer has left the store the packaging container can be opened by simply cutting away the first and second bonding portions. This would typically be along the cut lines 230 and 232. Because the bonded parts of the first and second container portions 210 and 212 are contained between the lines 230 and 232 which are connected by slot 227. When a customer cuts along the lines 230 and 232 the bonded portions

206 and 208 are removed and the first and second container portions 210 and 212 can be opened as shown in Figure 6e .

The holder 202 is typically formed from a moulded thermoplastic material and is sufficiently rigid, particularly along the sides which abut at edges 220 and 222 that access cannot be gained to the articles within the packaging container without cutting along lines 230 and 232.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, where packaging is used for a single or for two packets of cigarettes, large cut away portions can be provided so that the majority of the packet can be seen. For additional security these cut away portions could be covered in a transparent film or the whole packaging could be formed from a transparent material.