The present disclosure relates to a container for consumer articles comprising an inner liner having a removable portion facilitating access to the consumer articles. Containers in accordance with the present disclosure find particular application as containers for consumer articles, such as aerosol-generating articles.

Aerosol-generating articles are typically packaged in rigid hinge-lid containers comprising a box and a lid hinged to the box along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container. The bundle of aerosol-generating articles housed in the box is commonly wrapped in an inner liner, or package, of metallised paper, metal foil or other flexible sheet material.

Hinge-lid containers comprising a sealed inner package are known. Typically, a sealed inner package is formed with a transverse fin seal running across the width of a front, bottom or back wall of the package. With regard to the sides, typically two side seals are formed along the side walls of the package. These may be envelope seals or fin seals, with fin seals being preferred in view of their generally better sealing performance. The two fin side seals can be folded towards the package front wall or towards the package back wall. Further, the two fin side seals can be folded onto the package side walls, and in some instances alternatively or additionally onto the package front wall or alternatively onto the package back wall. By way of example, this may be the case where a side fin seal is formed substantially at the edge between the package front wall and a package side wall.

While the use of fin seals along edges of the inner package can provide desirable sealing of the package, they may also reduce accessibility to consumer articles within the package. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a novel and improved container for consumer articles comprising an inner package having improved accessibility while maintaining adequate protection of consumer articles housed within. In particular, it would be desirable to provide such a container for consumer articles that can easily be manufactured without requiring major modifications to existing equipment.

The present disclosure provides aspects which address one or more of the deficiencies associated with known consumer article containers. Unless otherwise stated, features described with reference to one aspect of the present disclosure are equally applicable to any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, features presented as essential for one aspect of the present disclosure may be considered as optional or preferable for any other aspect of the present disclosure. Similarly, features presented as optional or preferable in the following disclosure should be considered as being optional or preferable for all aspects of the present disclosure described below, unless otherwise stated.

In a first aspect, the disclosure provides a container of consumer articles. The container may comprise a body portion. The body portion may have a plurality of walls which define a cavity. The body portion may have an access opening through which consumer articles can be removed from the cavity. The container may comprise a lid portion for covering the access opening of the body portion. The lid portion may be movable relative to the body portion between a closed position, in which the access opening is covered by the lid portion, and an open position, in which the access opening is uncovered. The container may comprise a bundle including consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The bundle may be housed within the cavity of the body portion. The liner may be wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body. A first fin seal may extend in a first direction along a face of the bundle body. The liner may comprise a line of weakness extending across the bundle body. At least a portion of the first fin seal may be exposed via the access opening when the lid portion is in the open position. An exposed portion of the first fin seal may be positioned relative to the line of weakness such that the liner is configured to tear at the line of weakness in response to pulling the exposed portion of the fin seal in a direction away from the line of weakness.

In a second aspect, the disclosure provides a container of consumer articles. The container comprises a body portion has a plurality of walls which define a cavity. The body portion comprises an access opening through which consumer articles can be removed from the cavity. The container comprises a lid portion for covering the access opening of the body portion. The lid portion being movable relative to the body portion between a closed position, in which the access opening is covered by the lid portion, and an open position, in which the access opening is uncovered. The container comprises a bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The bundle being housed within the cavity of the body portion, and the liner being wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal extending in a first direction along a face of the bundle body. The liner comprises a line of weakness extending across the bundle body. At least a portion of the first fin seal is exposed via the access opening when the lid portion is in the open position. An exposed portion of the first fin seal is positioned relative to the line of weakness such that the liner is configured to tear at the line of weakness in response to pulling the exposed portion of the fin seal in a direction away from the line of weakness.

In containers in accordance with the first and second aspect of the present disclosure, the relative positioning between the line of weakness and the first fin seal of the bundle facilitates easier, targeted tearing of the liner of the bundle at the line of weakness. The positional relationship between the line of weakness and the first fin seal of the bundle relative to the container ensures that the tearing of the liner at the line of weakness provides an access opening in the liner to consumer articles that is accessible when the lid portion of the container is in the open position. Furthermore, containers according to the disclosure may be easily manufactured without any extensive modification of existing packaging machinery.

As used throughout the description, the terms “front”, “back”, “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom” and “side”, refer to the relative positions of portions of containers according to the disclosure and components thereof when the container is in an upright position with an access opening of the container at the top of the container. When describing containers according to the present disclosure, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described.

When describing a container or bundle in accordance with the present disclosure, the term “longitudinal” refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa, whereas the term “horizontal” refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. For example, a “longitudinal axis of the container” is an axis extending from bottom to top or vice versa.

The term “width” is used to describe the dimension of a bundle or a container as measured in the horizontal direction. The term “panel” is used throughout this specification to refer to a portion of the liner that is used to form a wall in the assembled container. A panel may depend along one or more fold lines from one or more other panels. The term “fold line” refers to a fold between two adjacent panels. When forming the container, adjacent panels are folded along their common fold line, which may come to define an edge of the container or of a portion of the container. In the assembled container a “wall” may be formed of one or of several overlying panels. Where there are several overlying panels, these may be attached to each other, for example by means of an adhesive. Further, a wall may be formed from two or more abutting or overlapping panels.

The term “height” is used to describe the dimension of the container or bundle as measured in a direction perpendicular to the width of the element.

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

The term “hinge line” refers to a line about which the lid portion may be pivoted in order to move the lid portion between the open position and the closed position. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming the back wall of the container.

The term “depending” is used herein to describe a physical connection between two components of a container (or bundle) in accordance with the disclosure. 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 liner. 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 components of a container in accordance with the disclosure, for example to a reinforcing member provided in the form of an inner frame.

The term “lines of weakness” is used herein to describe a portion of a surface of the bundle (or the liner from which the bundle is formed) wherein the structural strength of the material, from which the bundle (or liner) is formed has been weakened by any suitable technique, for example with respect to bending, folding or tearing along the line of weakness. For example, a line of weakness may be formed as a scoring line, a creasing line, an ablation line, or a perforation line. Lines of weakness can be created by removal of material, by displacement of material, by compression of material, by locally reducing the forces that hold the material together, such as by breaking fibres in a fibrous material, as well as by combinations of all the above. A line of weakness may be straight, curved, segmented or continuous or a combination thereof. In many instances, a line of weakness is used to assist in positioning a fold line in a liner. A line of weakness can also be used to strengthen the material in a direction perpendicular to the line of weakness, for example by compression. Further, a line of weakness can be used for decorative purpose.

The term “scoring line” is used to describe a line formed by partially cutting into the material of the liner. A scoring line may be formed by removing material from the liner (in which case the scoring line forms a groove or trough in the liner). As an alternative, a scoring line may be formed without removing any material from the liner, typically involving a partial sideways displacement and compression of material, caused by a knife with a non-zero thickness penetrating the material. The depth of the scoring line will be less than the thickness of the liner.

The term “creasing line” is used to describe a line formed by displacing a portion of the material vertical to the plane of the liner, forming a groove or trough in the liner. The displacement may involve compression and typically involves the use of a compression tool, such as a roller. Alternatively, or in addition, the material in the creasing line may be displaced so as to at least partially protrude from the opposite side of the liner. Generally, no material is removed when a creasing line is formed. The term “ablation line” is used to describe a line formed by removing material from a surface of the liner to a predetermined depth by way of ablation (for example, by way of a laser beam or a blade).

The term “perforated line” is used to describe a line or sequence of discrete holes or slots in the liner. The holes may be formed by pushing an object through the liner. This may result in material being removed from the liner, for example by punching. Alternatively, the holes could be created without removing material, and instead simply using the object to push the material outwardly from the centre of the hole. As another alternative, the holes may be formed by way of a laser beam.

The term “partial perforation” is used to describe a line or sequence of indentations partially penetrating the liner. This may result in material being removed from the liner. Alternatively, the indentations could be created without removing material, and instead simply using an object to push the material outwardly from the centre of the indentiation, thereby weakening the liner along the sequence of indentations.

The term “fold line” is used to describe any line of a liner about which the liner is folded. 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 liner material and other material characteristics.

The term “interface” is used to describe the point from which a fin seal depends from the bundle body.

The term “extending across” is used to describe the orientation of a fin seal or line of weakness across a surface of the liner. The term “extending across” will be understood to encompasses both a partial extension across a dimmension of the liner and an extension across the entitrety of a dimmension of the liner fall. The direction of extension across a surface defines a longitudinal axis of the fin seal or line of weakness.

In some embedments, the bundle is formed by folding a liner around a group of consumer articles and sealing overlapping portions of the folded liner to create one or more fin seals. The bundle is preferably a rectangular parallelepipe comprising two wider walls spaced apart by two narrower walls. In more detail, the liner is typically folded around the group of consumer articles, such as to define a first, short flap resting entirely against a first wall (for example, the front wall) of the group, and a second, long flap projecting from a second wall (for example, the back wall) of the group opposite the first wall. The second flap is then folded over the first wall of the group to substantially form a tubular wrapping about the group. Side ends of such tubular wrapping are superimposed and sealed to form side seals.

The line of weakness is a region extending across the liner having lower durability than other portions of the liner, such that when stress is applied to the area of the liner comprising the line of weakness, the liner is configured to first tear at the line of weakness rather than at other portions of the liner. In a preferred embodiment, the line of weakness comprises at least one of perforations, partial perforations, a scoring line, a creasing line or an ablation line. Advantageously, a line of weakness which does not entirely pierce the liner (such as partial perforations or scoring lines) may provide effective weakening of the liner whilst also maintaining a barrier between the consumer articles and the exterior of the bundle.

It will be appreciated that the line of weakness may take various forms while still providing the described function.

In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the line of weakness extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Where the first fin seal extends in a first direction across the bundle that is perpendicular to the second direction that the line of weakness extends across the bundle, forces acting on the first fin seal in a direction away from the line of weakness may advantageously impose greater stress on the liner at the line of weakness. This may advantageously improve targeted tearing of the liner along the line of weakness.

In a preferred embodiment, the line of weakness extends across at least a majority of a dimension of a face of the bundle body. For example, the line of weakness may extend across more than 50 percent of the width of a face of the bundle body. This may advantageously help to ensure that forces acting on the first fin seal in direction away from the line of weakness impose stresses on the line of weakness. Additionally, an extended line of weakness across the bundle body may provide greater targeted tearing of the liner, since the liner tear will typically follow the line of weakness around the bundle body. More preferably, the line of weakness extends around at least a majority of a perimeter of the bundle body. For instance, where the line of weakness extends horizontally around a portion of the bundle body, preferably the line of weakness extends over 50 percent of the way round the bundle body. Preferably, the line of weakness extends entirely around a perimeter of the bundle, thereby delimiting a portion of the liner with the line of weakness from the remainder of the liner. In addition to improving targeted tearing of the liner as described above, this feature may advantageously facilitate removal of an entire portion of the liner from the bundle body. For example, a top portion of the liner may be removed allowing access to the consumer products within the bundle. For embodiments comprising a bundle having a top fin seal and a line of weakness extending entirely around the front, side and back faces of the bundle, the top fin seal used to initiate the tear of the bundle liner may be removed with the top portion of the liner. This advantageously avoids the top fin seal hindering the opening and closing of the lid portion of the container once the bundle has been torn.

In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the line of weakness is substantially aligned with, and situated adjacent to a perimeter of the access opening of the body portion. The perimeter of the access opening of the body portion may advantageously support the liner on one side of the line of weakness to assist tearing of the liner along the line of weakness. The liner may comprise a reinforced portion adjacent to at least one side of the line of weakness. The reinforced portion may include at least one of a reinforcing coating or a reinforcing lamination on the liner. This may advantageously increase the durability of the liner on at least one side of the line of weakness. This may advantageously increase the relative weakness of the liner at the line of weakness compared with adjacent portions of the liner.

It will be appreciated that the first fin seal may also take various forms while still providing the described function.

In an embodiment, the first fin seal is formed of a pair of free edge margins of the liner. The pair of free edge margins of the liner may be sealed together to form the first fin seal, for example, by one or both of an adhesive and a weld. For example, a first portions of the inner surface of the liner at a first free edge margin of the liner may be adhered to a scond portion of the inner surface of the liner at a second free edge margin of the liner to form a first fin seal. The first fin seal may depend from an interface where the portions of the inner surface of the liner start to meet. In some cases, the first fin seal may be formed by heat sealing the two portions of the inner surface of the liner together. Alternatively, or additionally, the two portions of the inner surface of the liner may be adhered together with an adhesive to form the first fin seal. Where the bundle comprises a second fin seal and a third fin seal, each of the second and third fin seal may be formed of a respective pair of free edge margins of the liner. These may have features equivalent to any of the features described above in respect of the first fin seal.

An inner surface of the liner may comprise a heat-sealable material to enable a fin seal to be formed without the use of any additional material or adhesive.

In some embodiments, the liner comprises a plurality of layers.

The liner may advantageously form a moisture barrier around the consumer articles within the bundle. The liner may be made from a moisture resistant material. Alternatively or additionally, the liner may be coated with a moisture resistant coating. When the liner comprises a plurality of layers, the liner may comprise a layer of a moisture resistant material. The provision of a moisture barrier is particularly advantageous where the consumer articles within the bundle include one or more heated aerosol-generating articles, the quality of which may be significantly reduced by moisture.

The container is configured to house and provide access to the bundle of consumer articles.

In some embodiments, the body portion of the container comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, a back wall and side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall and the access opening extends across a central portion of a top wall of the body portion.

In some embodiments, the body portion of the container comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall and side walls and the access opening is defined by the front wall, the back wall and the side walls. In some embodiments, the lid portion may be pivotally coupled to the back wall of the body portion along a hinge line. This may facilitate the movement of the lid portion relative to the body portion between the open position and the closed position.

The bundle body may comprise a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face. The faces of the bundle body may be positioned adjacent to the corresponding walls of the body portion of the container housing the bundle.

In some embodiments, a portion of the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the top face of the bundle body. Where the bundle is provided in a container, the portion of the first fin seal may be an exposed portion of the first fin seal when a lid portion of the container is in the open position. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the line of weakness may extend across a first face of the bundle in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first face of the bundle may be in a plane that is intercepted by a longitudinal axis of the first fin seal. For example, the first face of the bundle may be a side face of the bundle. An advantage of providing the first fin seal on the top face of the bundle is that a top fin seal will generally protrude upwards. This can form a convenient gripping point for a user to access the contents of the bundle. In some embodiments, a fin seal on the top face of the bundle may extend further from the bundle than other fin seals on bundle in order to provide a larger gripping point for the user. In some embodiments, the top face fin seal may be folded such that the fin seal extends in a direction parallel with the top face of bundle. Such embodiments limit the impact of the top fin seal on the overall size of the bundle, thereby optimizing the storage capacity of the bundle within a container.

In some embodiments, a portion of the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the front face of the bundle body. Where the bundle is provided in a container, the portion of the first fin seal may be an exposed portion of the first fin seal when a lid portion of the container is in the open position. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the line of weakness may extend across a first face of the bundle in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In such embodiments, the first face of the bundle may be the front face of the bundle or a side face of the bundle.

As described above, where the first fin seal extends across a first face of the bundle in a first direction that is perpendicular to the second direction in a plane that is intercepted by a longitudinal axis of the first fin seal, forces acting on the first fin seal in direction away from the line of weakness may advantageously impose a greater stress on the liner at the line of weakness. This is advantageous as it improves the targeted tearing of the liner at the line of weakness.

In a preferred embodiment, the bundle further comprises a second fin seal and a third fin seal, wherein the second fin seal extends along the bottom face of the bundle and the third fin seal extends along a different face of the bundle to the first fin seal and the second fin seal. The provision of the second fin seal and the third fin seal may advantageously enable the liner to be completely sealed around the consumer articles in the bundle. In addition, either or both of the second fin seal and the third fin seal may advantageously serve as an additional grip besides of the first fin for the user to initiate a tear in the liner. Consequently, the provision of multiple grips on the bundle would further enhance use convenience for users.

It will be appreciated that the first fin seal may be provided on any face of the bundle which is at least partially exposed when the lid portion of the container is in the open position, provided that a consumer can grip the first fin seal to tear the liner of the bundle. In embodiments in which neither the second fin seal, nor the third fin seal are used to initiate a tear in the liner, the second fin seal and the third fin seal may be situated on any face of the bundle.

In some embodiments, an exposed portion of the first fin seal depends from the bundle body at an interface, and at least a portion of the line of weakness is adjacent to and substantially parallel with the interface. In such embodiments, the line of weakness may form a tearable strip across the liner of the bundle. In some embodiments, the line of weakness may extend around an end of the first fin seal and along both sides of the first fin seal. In some cases, the line of weakness forms a perimeter around the first fin seal to delimit the first fin seal from the remainder of the bundle. This may facilitate removal of the first fin seal from the bundle.

In a preferred embodiment, the third fin seal may comprise a fin seal weakness, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness crosses the third fin seal at the fin seal weakness. The fin seal weakness in the third fin seal may include one or more of perforations, partial perforations, a scoring line, a creasing line, an ablation line, or a cut extending from a free edge towards the interface of the third fin seal. In some embodiments, the fin seal weakness comprises a discontinuity or partial discontinuity in the adhesion of the third fin seal, thereby creating an unsealed, or at least partially unsealed portion across the third fin seal. This is advantageous since the fin seal weakness of the third fin seal facilitates tearing of the liner across the third fin seal, which will typically be the most durable portion of the liner. Where the third fin seal comprises a fin seal weakness, the third fin seal preferably extends along the front face of the bundle. In such embodiments, the first fin seal preferably extends along the top face of the bundle.

In a preferred embodiment, the first fin seal comprises a folded corner to indicate a gripping point on the first fin seal for initiating a tear in the liner of the bundle. The folded corner may be situated at an end of the first fin seal by folding a free end back on itself. In other embodiments, the first fin seal may comprise a cut or slit across a middle portion of the first fin seal towards the interface on the bundle body. The slit or cut across the first fin seal enables a folded corner to be formed on a middle portion of the first fin seal. Since fin seals may be folded flat on the surface of the bundle body, the provision of a folded corner on the first fin seal may provide a more convenient gripping point for a user to initiate a liner tear. In a preferred embodiment, the bundle body is glued to one or more walls of the body portion of the container. In addition to securing the bundle body within the container, this feature assists in supporting the liner as the liner is torn at the line of weakness using the first fin seal.

In a preferred embodiment, an exposed portion of the first fin seal comprises a folded corner to indicate a gripping point on the first fin seal for initiating a tear in the liner of the bundle. The folded corner may be situated at an end of the first fin seal by folding a free end of the first fin seal back on itself. In other embodiments, the first fin seal may comprise a cut or slit extending across a middle portion of the first fin seal towards the interface on the bundle body. The slit or cut extending across the first fin seal enables a folded corner to be formed on a middle portion of the first fin seal. Since fin seals may be folded flat on the surface of the bundle body, the provision of a folded corner on the first fin seal may provide a more convenient gripping point for a user to initiate a liner tear.

The container is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped comprising two wider walls spaced apart by two narrower walls, and may be formed from a laminar liner of any suitable material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the liner is a laminar cardboard liner having a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre.

The container may optionally comprise an outer wrapper, which is preferably a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof and the outer wrapper is applied in a conventional manner. The outer wrapper may include a tear tape. In addition, the outer wrapper may be printed with images, consumer information or other data.

Containers according to the disclosure find particular application as containers for elongate aerosol-generating articles such as, for example, aerosol-generating articles including cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the disclosure may be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes. Alternatively, other consumer articles may be housed inside the container.

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions, containers according to the disclosure may be designed to hold different total numbers of aerosol-generating articles, or different arrangements of aerosol-generating articles. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions, containers according to the disclosure may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty aerosol-generating articles. The aerosol-generating articles may be arranged in different collations, depending on the total number of aerosol-generating articles.

In some embodiments, the bundle further comprises a reinforcing member around the consumer articles within the liner. One such reinforcing member is also commonly referred to as an inner frame. In more detail, the reinforcing member comprises at least a pair of side walls and a back wall depending from at least one of the side walls. More complex structures are, however, possible for one such reinforcing member. For example, the reinforcing member may additionally comprise a front wall, a bottom wall or both. In embodiments where the reinforcing member comprises front wall or a bottom wall, the side walls may also depend from the front wall or the bottom wall. Advantageously, the provision of the reinforcing member may strengthen the rigidity of the bundle. This can provide protection to the consumer articles. This can increase the tension across the liner when initiating a tear of the liner. Furthermore, the reinforcing member may simplify bundle manufacturing by forming an enclosure around the consumer articles to be housed within the bundle.

In a third aspect, the disclosure provides a bundle for use in a container of consumer goods, such as the container of the first or second aspect described above. The bundle may comprise consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The liner may be wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal extending in a first direction along a face of the bundle body. The liner may comprise a line of weakness extending across the bundle body. The first fin seal may be positioned relative to the line of weakness such that the liner tears at the line of weakness in response to pulling a portion of the first fin seal in a direction away from the line of weakness.

In a fourth aspect, the disclosure provides a bundle for use in a container of consumer goods, such as the container of the first or second aspect described above. The bundle comprises consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The liner is wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal extending in a first direction along a face of the bundle body. The liner comprises a line of weakness extending across the bundle body. The first fin seal is positioned relative to the line of weakness such that the liner tears at the line of weakness in response to pulling a portion of the first fin seal in a direction away from the line of weakness.

In bundles in accordance with the third and fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the relative positioning between the line of weakness and the first fin seal of the bundle facilitates easier, targeted tearing of the liner of the bundle at the line of weakness. Furthermore, bundles according to the disclosure may be easily manufactured without any extensive modification of existing packaging machinery.

In a preferred embodiment of the third or fourth aspect, the bundle is configured such that when housed within a body portion of a container, at least a portion of the line of weakness is substantially aligned with, and situated adjacent to a perimeter of an access opening of the body portion. The perimeter of the access opening of the body portion may advantageously support the liner on one side of the line of weakness to assist tearing of the liner along the line of weakness. The container may be the container of the first or second aspect described above. As described above in relation to the first to fourth aspects, there may be provided a cut or fin seal weakness in a fin seal of the bundle. This may be advantageous in its own right because it can facilitates tearing of the liner across said fin seal.

Consequently, in a fifth aspect, a container is provided in accordance with the disclosure. The container may comprise a body portion comprising a plurality of walls defining a cavity. The body portion may have an access opening through which consumer articles can be removed from the cavity. The container may further comprise a lid portion for covering the access opening of the body portion. The lid portion may be movable relative to the body portion between a closed position, in which the access opening is covered by the lid portion, and an open position, in which the access opening is uncovered. The container may also comprise a bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The bundle may be housed within the cavity of the body portion. The liner may be wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal depending from the bundle body at an interface. The first fin seal may extend in a first direction along a face of the bundle body, and the first fin seal may comprise a fin seal weakness extending from an edge of the first fin seal at least partially across the first fin seal in a second direction towards the interface. At least part of the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal may be exposed via the access opening when the lid portion is in the open position.

In a sixth aspect, a container of consumer articles is provied in accordance with the disclosure. The container comprises a body portion comprising a plurality of walls defining a cavity. The body portion has an access opening through which consumer articles can be removed from the cavity. The container further comprises a lid portion for covering the access opening of the body portion. The lid portion is movable relative to the body portion between a closed position, in which the access opening is covered by the lid portion, and an open position, in which the access opening is uncovered. The container also comprises a bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The bundle is housed within the cavity of the body portion. The liner is wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal depending from the bundle body at an interface. The first fin seal extends in a first direction along a face of the bundle body. The first fin seal comprises a fin seal weakness extending from an edge of the first fin seal at least partially across the first fin seal in a second direction towards the interface, and at least part of the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal is exposed via the access opening when the lid portion is in the open position.

It will be appreciated that the containers of the fifth and sixth aspect of the present disclosure may have any of the features described above in respect of the first to fourth aspects.

In containers in accordance with the fifth and sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the provision of the fin seal weakness in the first fin seal of the bundle may facilitate easier, targeted tearing of the liner of the bundle at the first fin seal. The positional relationship between the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal of the bundle relative to the container ensures that the tearing of the liner at the fin seal weakness provides an access opening in the liner to consumer articles that is accessible when the lid portion of the container is in the open position. Furthermore, containers according to the disclosure may be easily manufactured without any extensive modification of existing packaging machinery.

The fin seal weakness in the first fin seal may include one or more of perforations, partial perforations, a scoring line, a creasing line, an ablation line, or a cut extending from a free edge towards the interface of the first fin seal. In some embodiments, the fin seal weakness comprises a discontinuity or partial discontinuity in the adhesion of the first fin seal, thereby creating an unsealed, or at least partially unsealed portion across the first fin seal. This is advantageous since the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal facilitates tearing of the liner across the first fin seal, which would ordinarily form the most durable portion of the liner.

Preferably, an angle between the first direction that the first fin seal extends along and the second direction that the fin seal weakness extending along is between 45 and 135 degrees. This may advantageously encourage a complete tear across the first fin seal extending into the bundle body. More preferebly, the second direction may be substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

In a prefered embodiment of the fifth and sixth aspects of the present disclosure, the liner may comprises a line of weakness adjacent to the first fin seal. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the line of weakness may be aligned with the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal and extending in the second direction. The line of weakness may be the line of weakness, which has been described above in respect of the first to fourth aspects of the present disclosure.

In a preferred embodiment of the fifth and sixth aspects, the bundle body is glued to one or more walls of the body portion of the container. In addition to securing the bundle body within the container, this feature assists in supporting the liner as the liner is torn at the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal.

In a seventh aspect, a bundle is provided in accordance with the disclosure. The bundle may comprise consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The liner may be wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal depending from the bundle body at an interface. The first fin seal may extend in a first direction along a face of the bundle body. The first fin seal may comprise a fin seal weakness extending from an edge of the first fin seal at least partially across the first fin seal in a second direction towards the interface.

In an eighth aspect, a bundle is provided in accordance with the disclosure for use in the above described container. The bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner. The liner is wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal depending from the bundle body at an interface. The first fin seal extends in a first direction along a face of the bundle body, and the first fin seal comprises a fin seal weakness extending from an edge of the first fin seal at least partially across the first fin seal in a second direction towards the interface. It will be appreciated that the bundles of the seventh and eight aspects of the present disclosure may have any of the features described above in respect of the first to sixth aspects.

In bundles in accordance with the seventh and eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the provision of the fin seal weakness in the first fin seal of the bundle may facilitate easier, targeted tearing of the liner of the bundle at the first fin seal. Furthermore, bundles according to the disclosure may be easily manufactured without any extensive modification of existing packaging machinery.

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

E1 . A container of consumer articles comprising: a body portion comprising a plurality of walls defining a cavity, the body portion having an access opening through which consumer articles can be removed from the cavity; a lid portion for covering the access opening of the body portion, the lid portion being movable relative to the body portion between a closed position, in which the access opening is covered by the lid portion, and an open position, in which the access opening is uncovered; and a bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner, wherein the bundle is housed within the cavity of the body portion, the liner being wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal depending from the bundle body at an interface, the first fin seal extending in a first direction along a face of the bundle body, wherein the first fin seal comprises a fin seal weakness extending from an edge of the first fin seal at least partially across the first fin seal in a second direction towards the interface, wherein at least part of the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal is exposed via the access opening when the lid portion is in the open position.

E2. The container according to E1 , wherein the fin seal weakness comprises a cut extending across at least a portion of the first fin seal.

E3. The container according to any of E1 to E2, wherein the fin seal weakness comprises at least a partial discontinuity in liner adhesion across the first fin seal.

E4. The container according to any of E1 to E3, wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is between 45 and 135 degrees.

E5. The container according to E4, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. E6. The container according to any of E1 to E5, wherein the liner comprises a line of weakness adjacent to the first fin seal, at least a portion of the line of weakness being aligned with the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal and extending in the second direction.

E7. The container according to E6, wherein the line of weakness extends from the first fin seal to an opposing face of the bundle body.

E8. The container according to any one of E6 or E7, wherein the line of weakness comprises at least one of perforations, partial perforations a scoring line, a creasing line or an ablation line.

E9. The container according to any one of E6 to E8, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness is substantially aligned with, and is situated adjacent to the perimeter of the access opening of the body portion when the bundle is housed within the cavity of the body portion.

E10. The container according to any one of E6 to E9, wherein the liner comprises a reinforced portion on at least one side of the line of weakness.

E11. The container according to E10, wherein the reinforced portion comprises at least one of a coating or lamination applied to the liner.

E12. The container according to any of E1 to E11 , wherein the first fin seal is formed of a pair of free edge margins of the liner.

E13. The container according to E12, wherein the first fin seal comprises an adhesion region between the pair of free edge margins.

E14. The container according to any of E1 to E13, wherein the liner forms a moisture barrier around the consumer articles.

E15. The container according to E14, wherein the liner is made from a moisture resistant material.

E16. The container according to E14, wherein the liner is coated with a moisture resistant coating.

E17. The container according to E14, wherein the liner comprises a layer of moisture resistant material. E18. The container according to any of E1 to E17, wherein the consumer articles are aerosolgenerating articles.

E19. The container according to any of E1 to E18, wherein the body comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, a back wall and side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall, wherein the access opening extends across a central portion of a top wall of the body portion.

E20. The container according to any one of E1 to E18, wherein the body portion comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall and side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall, wherein the access opening is defined by the front wall, the back wall and the side walls.

E21 . The container according to any of E1 to E20, wherein the lid portion is pivotally coupled to the back wall of the body portion.

E22. The container according to any one of E1 to E19, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein an exposed portion of the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the top face of the bundle body.

E23. The container according to any one of E1 to E19, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein an exposed portion of the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the front face of the bundle body.

E24. The container according to any one of E1 to E23, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein the bundle further comprises a second fin seal and a third fin seal, wherein the second fin seal extends along the bottom face of the bundle and the third fin seal extends along a different face of the bundle to the first fin seal and the second fin seal.

E25. The container according to any one of E1 to E24, wherein the fin seal weakness comprises a cut in the first fin seal, wherein the first fin seal comprises a folded corner at the cut in the first fin seal.

E26. The container according to any of E1 to E25, wherein the bundle body is glued to a wall of body portion. E27. A bundle for use in the container according to E1 , the bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner, the liner being wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal depending from the bundle body at an interface, the first fin seal extending in a first direction along a face of the bundle body, wherein the first fin seal comprises a fin seal weakness extending from an edge of the first fin seal at least partially across the first fin seal in a second direction towards the interface.

E28. The bundle according to E27, wherein the fin seal weakness comprises a cut extending across at least a portion of the first fin seal.

E29. The bundle according to any one of E27 or E28, wherein the fin seal weakness comprises at least a partial discontinuity in liner adhesion across the first fin seal.

E30. The bundle according to any of E27 to E29, wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is between 45 and 135 degrees.

E31 . The bundle according to E28, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

E32. The bundle according to any of E27 to E31 , wherein the liner comprises a line of weakness adjacent to the first fin seal, the line of weakness being aligned with the fin seal weakness of the first fin seal and extending in the second direction.

E33. The bundle according to E32, wherein the line of weakness extends from the first fin seal to an opposing face of the bundle body.

E34. The bundle according to any of E32 to E33, wherein the line of weakness comprises at least one of, perforations, partial perforations, a scoring line, a creasing line or an ablation line.

E35. The bundle according to any of E32 to E34, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness is substantially aligned with, and is situated adjacent to a perimeter of the access opening of the body portion when the bundle is housed within the cavity of the body portion.

E36. The bundle according to any of E32 to E35, wherein the liner comprises a reinforced portion on at least one side of the line of weakness. E37. The bundle according to E36, wherein the reinforced portion comprises a coating on the liner.

E38. The bundle according to any of E27 to E37, wherein the first fin seal is formed of a pair of free edge margins of the liner.

E39. The bundle according to E38, wherein the first fin seal has an adhesion region between the pair of free edge margins.

E40. The bundle according to any of E27 to E39, wherein the liner forms a moisture barrier around the consumer articles.

E41 . The bundle according to E40, wherein the liner is made from a moisture resistant material.

E42. The bundle according to E40, wherein the liner is coated with a moisture resistant coating.

E43. The bundle according to E40, wherein the liner comprises a layer of a moisture resistant material.

E44. The bundle according to any of E27 to E43, wherein the consumer articles are aerosolgenerating articles.

E45. The bundle according to any one of E27 to E44, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the top face of the bundle body.

E46. The bundle according to any one of E27 to E44, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the front face of the bundle body.

E47. The bundle according to any one of E27 to E46, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein the bundle further comprises a second fin seal and a third fin seal, wherein the second fin seal extends along the bottom face of the bundle and the third fin seal extends along a different face of the bundle to the first fin seal and the second fin seal. E48. The bundle according to any one of E27 to E47, wherein the fin seal weakness comprises a cut in the first fin seal, wherein the first fin seal comprises a folded corner at the cut in the first fin seal.

E49. A container of consumer articles comprising: a body portion comprising a plurality of walls defining a cavity, the body portion having an access opening through which consumer articles can be removed from the cavity; a lid portion for covering the access opening of the body portion, the lid portion being movable relative to the body portion between a closed position, in which the access opening is covered by the lid portion, and an open position, in which the access opening is uncovered; and a bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner, the bundle being housed within the cavity of the body portion, and the liner being wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal extending in a first direction along a face of the bundle body, wherein the liner comprises a line of weakness extending across the bundle body, wherein at least a portion of the first fin seal is exposed via the access opening when the lid portion is in the open position, wherein an exposed portion of the first fin seal is positioned relative to the line of weakness such that the liner is configured to tear at the line of weakness in response to pulling the exposed portion of the first fin seal in a direction away from the line of weakness.

E50. The container according E49, wherein the line of weakness comprises at least one of perforations, partial perforations, a scoring line, a creasing line or an ablation line.

E51. The container according to E50, wherein the line of weakness comprises perforations, further comprising a moisture resistance coating across the line of weakness.

E52. The container according to any one of E49 to E51 , wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness extends across a first face of the bundle body in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first face of the bundle is in a plane that is intercepted by a longitudinal axis of the first fin seal.

E53. The container according to any one of E49 to E52, wherein the line of weakness extends across at least a majority of a dimension of a face of the bundle body.

E54. The container according to any one of E49 to E53, wherein the line of weakness extends around at least a majority of a perimeter of the bundle body. E55. The container according to any one of E49 to E54, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness is substantially aligned with, and situated adjacent to a perimeter of the access opening of the body portion.

E56. The container according to any one of E49 to E55, wherein the liner comprises a reinforced portion adjacent to at least one side of the line of weakness.

E57. The container according to E56, wherein the reinforced portion comprises at least one of a reinforcing coating or a reinforcing lamination on the liner.

E58. The container according to any one of E49 to E57, wherein the bundle further comprises a reinforcing member around the consumer articles within the liner.

E59. The container according to any one of E49 to E58, wherein the first fin seal (218) is formed of a pair of free edge margins of the liner.

E60. The container according to E59, wherein the first fin seal comprises an adhesion region between the pair of free edge margins.

E61. The container according to any one of E49 to E560, wherein the liner forms a moisture barrier around the consumer articles.

E62. The container according to E61 , wherein the liner is made from a moisture resistant material.

E63. The container according to E61 , wherein the liner is coated with a moisture resistant coating.

E64. The container according to E61 , wherein the liner comprises a layer of a moisture resistant material.

E65. The container according to any one of E49 to E64, wherein the consumer articles are aerosol-generating articles.

E66. The container according to any one of E49 to E65, wherein the body portion comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, a back wall and side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall, wherein the access opening extends across a central portion of a top wall of the body portion.

E67. The container according to any one of E49 to E65, wherein the body portion comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall and side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall, wherein the access opening is defined by the front wall, the back wall and the side walls.

E68. The container according to E67, wherein the lid portion is pivotally coupled to the back wall of the body portion.

E69. The container according to E52, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein an exposed portion of the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the top face or the front face of the bundle body.

E70. The container according to any one of E49 to E69, wherein an exposed portion of the first fin seal depends away from the bundle body at an interface, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness is adjacent to and substantially parallel with the interface.

E71. The container according to any one of E49 to E70, wherein the bundle body is glued to a wall of body portion.

E72. The container according to any one of E49 to E71 , wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein the bundle further comprises a second fin seal and a third fin seal, wherein the second fin seal extends along the bottom face of the bundle and the third fin seal extends along a different face of the bundle to the first fin seal and the second fin seal, and optionally wherein the third fin seal comprises a fin seal weakness, wherein a portion of the line of weakness crosses the third fin seal at the fin seal weakness.

E73. The container according to any one of E49 to E72, wherein an exposed portion of the first fin seal comprises a folded corner.

E74. A bundle for use in a container, the bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in a liner, and the liner being wrapped around the consumer articles to form a bundle body and a first fin seal extending in a first direction along a face of the bundle body, wherein the liner comprises a line of weakness extending across the bundle body, wherein the first fin seal is positioned relative to the line of weakness such that the liner tears at the line of weakness in response to pulling a portion of the first fin seal in a direction away from the line of weakness.

E75. The bundle according to E74, wherein the line of weakness comprises at least one of perforations, partial perforations, a scoring line, a creasing line or an ablation line.

E76. The bundle according to E75, wherein the line of weakness comprises perforations, further comprising a moisture resistance coating across the line of weakness.

E77. The container according to any one of E74 to E76, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness extends across a first face of the bundle body in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first face of the bundle is in a plane that is intercepted by a longitudinal axis of the first fin seal.

E78. The container according to any one of E74 to E77, wherein the line of weakness extends across at least a majority of a dimension of a face of the bundle body.

E79. The container according to any one of E74 to E78, wherein the line of weakness extends around at least a majority of a perimeter of the bundle body.

E80. The container according to any one of E74 to E79, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness is substantially aligned with, and situated adjacent to a perimeter of the access opening of the body portion when the bundle is housed within the cavity of the body portion.

E81. The container according to any one of E74 to E80, wherein the liner comprises a reinforced portion on at least one side of the line of weakness.

E82. The bundle according to E81 , wherein the reinforced portion comprises at least one of a reinforcing coating or a reinforcing lamination on the liner.

E83. The container according to any one of E74 to E82, wherein the bundle further comprises a reinforcing member around the consumer articles within the liner.

E84. The container according to any one of E74 to E83, wherein the first fin seal is formed of a pair of free edge margins of the liner. E85. The bundle according to E84, wherein the first fin seal comprises an adhesion region between the pair of free edge margins.

E86. The container according to any one of E74 to E85, wherein the liner forms a moisture barrier around the consumer articles.

E87. The bundle according to E86, wherein the liner is made from a moisture resistant material.

E88. The bundle according to E86, wherein the liner is coated with a moisture resistant coating.

E89. The bundle according to E86, wherein the liner comprises a layer of a moisture resistant material.

E90. The container according to any one of E74 to E89, wherein the consumer articles are aerosol-generating articles.

E91. The container according to any one of E74 to E90, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face, a top face, a front face, a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein the first fin seal extends in a first direction along the top face or the front face of the bundle body

E92. The container according to any one of E74 to E91 , wherein an exposed portion of the first fin seal depends away from the bundle body at an interface, wherein at least a portion of the line of weakness is adjacent to and substantially parallel with the interface.

E93. The container according to any one of E74 to E92, wherein the bundle body comprises a bottom face a top face a front face a back face and side faces extending between the front face and the back face, wherein the bundle further comprises a second fin seal and a third fin seal wherein the second fin seal extends along the bottom face of the bundle and the third fin seal extends along a different face of the bundle to the first fin seal and the second fin seal.

E94. The container according to E93, wherein the third fin seal comprises a fin seal weakness, wherein a portion of the line of weakness crosses the third fin seal at the fin seal weakness.

E95. The container according to any one of E74 to E94, wherein the first fin seal comprises a folded corner. Further advantageous aspects of the disclosure become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the disclosure with the aid of the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a liner for bundling together consumer articles to be housed within a container in accordance with the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in the liner of Figure 1 in accordance with the present disclosure;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a bundle comprising consumer articles wrapped in an alternative liner in accordance with the present disclosure; and

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a container housing the bundle of consumer articles of figure 2 in accordance with the present disclosure.

A bundle of consumer articles according to the present disclosure may be formed using the liner 100 shown in Figure 1. In particular, liner 100 of Figure 1 is configured to enclose a group of consumer articles, such as a group of heated aerosol-generating articles, to form a parallelepiped bundle.

Liner 100 comprises a back panel 102 and side panels 104 and 106 depending from the back panel 102 along respective longitudinal fold lines 107a, 107b. The liner 100 further comprises a pair of front panels 108a and 108b depending from side panels 104 and 106 respectively along respective longitudinal fold lines 109a, 109b. A top panel 112 and a bottom panel 114 depends from the back panel 102 along respective horizontal fold lines 110a and 110b.

Figure 2 illustrates a group of consumer articles wrapped in liner 100 to form a bundle 200. In order to form bundle 200, consumer articles may be placed on back panel 102 of liner 100 and the front panels 108a and 108b folded over the consumer articles and the inner surface of the free edge margins thereof joined together. Fold lines 116a and 116b are thereby coupled together to form a longitudinal interface between front panels 108a and 108b. A front fin seal 210 formed between the two front panels 108a, 108b depends from the interface and extends longitudinally along a front face 212 of bundle 200. Edges of bottom panel 114 are coupled together forming a horizontally interface extending along fold line 118. A bottom fin seal 214 depends from the interface and extends horizontally across a bottom face 216 of bundle 200. Edges of top panel 112 are coupled together forming a horizontal interface extending along fold line 120. A top fin seal 218 depends from the interface and extends horizontally across a top face 220 of bundle 200. Top fin seal 218 comprises a folded corner 218a to indicate a gripping portion of fin seal 218. Front fin seal 210 comprises folded corner 210a adjacent fin seal weakness 140 to indicate a gripping portion of fin seal 210. Fin seals 210, 214 and 218 may be formed using suitable known techniques including, but not limited to, heat sealing or application of an adhesive to portions of the inner surfaces of the liner. As illustrated in Figure 2, fin seals 210, 214 and 218 cooperate to seal liner 100 around the consumer articles. In some embodiments, top fin seal 218 may extend further from the bundle 200 than other fin seals on bundle 200 in order to provide a larger gripping point for the user. In some embodiments, top fin seal 218 may be folded such that the fin seal extends in a direction parallel with the top face 220 of bundle 200. Such embodiments limit the impact of the top fin seal 218 on the overall size of the bundle 200, thereby optimizing the storage capacity of the bundle 200 within a container.

Refering back to Figure 1 , extending across liner 100 is a line of weakness 130. As illustrated in Figure 1 , line of weakness 130 extends horizontally across liner 100, so as to weaken the connection between a top portion of liner 100 and the remainder of the liner 100. Line of weakness 130 may comprise at least one of perforations, partial perforations a scoring line, a creasing line or an ablation line. In some cases, line of weakness 130 may additionally or alternatively be formed by reinforcing liner 100 on either side of the line, thereby reducing the relative durability of the liner 100 along the line of weakness 130. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, liner 100 comprises a reinforced portion 134 on either side of line of weakness 130 to assist in tearing liner 100 along line of weakness 130. Reinforced portion 134 may comprise a reinforcing layer or coating on the liner. In some cases, line of weakness 130 only extends across a portion of liner 100. Liner 100 further comprises fin seal weakness 140 extending horizontally from an outer edge of front panel 108b partially across front panel 108b towards fold line 116b. Fin seal weakness 140 may comprise at least one of perforations, partial perforations, a scoring line, a creasing line, an ablation line or a cut extending from the outer edge of front panel 108b towards fold line 116b. As shown in Figure 1 , fin seal weakness 140 aligns with line of weakness 130, so as to form a continuation of line of weakness 130. Providing fin seal weakness 140 in liner 100 beyond fold line 116b creates a fin seal weakness 140 in the resultant front fin seal 210 when bundle 200 is formed. This allows a tear in liner 100 along line of weakness 130 to extend across fin seal 210 to sever a top portion of liner 100 from the remainder of the liner. Alternatively, weakened poriton 140 of fin seal 210 may be used to initiate a tear in liner 100 along line of weakness 130. In some cases, fin seal weakness 140 may be created by providing a discontinuity in the adhesion of liner 100 when forming fin seal 210. In some cases, fin seal weakness 140 only extends partially across fin seal 210 in order to preserve a seal between the consumer articles within bundle 200 and the outside environment.

Figure 3 illustrates a bundle 300 comprising front fin seal 310, a bottom fin seal 314 and a top fin seal 318 in an arragement corresponding with that of the bundle 200 shown in Figure 2. Unlike bundle 200, bundle 300 comprises a line of weakness 330 which extends across the top face of the bundle 300 in a direction which substantially parallel with top fin seal 318. As shown in Figure 3, line of weakness 330 extends around an end of top fin seal 318 and back across the top face of bundle 300 on the opposite side of top fin seal 318. Line of weakness 330 creates a weakness between top fin seal 318 and the remainder of bundle 300 such that a sufficient force acting on fin seal 318 in a direction away from bundle 300 causes the liner to tear across line of weakness 330 as top fin seal 318 is torn away from bundle 300 to provide an access opening to consumer articles housed within bundle 300. In some configurations, line of weakness 330 may extend around a perimeter of top face 320, thereby creating a removable top face 320 which is delimited by line of weakenss 330.

Figure 4 illustrates bundle 200 housed within a container 400 comprising a body portion 410 and a lid portion 420. Lid portion 420 is hingedly coupled to a back wall of body portion 410 and movable between a closed position in which the housed bundle 200 is covered and an open position in which a housed bundle 200 is uncovered, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3. Lid portion 420 therefore, provides an access opening to bundle 200 when in the open position.

When lid portion 420 is in the open position, a consumer may grip and pull top fin seal 218 in a direction away from line of weakness 130 to initiate a tear of liner 100 at a portion of the line of weakness 130. The tearing of liner 100 by the consumer may continue along the line of weakness 130 and across fin seal 210 to sever a top portion of liner 100 from bundle 200, thereby providing an access opening to consumer articles housed within the bundle. Alternatively, a consumer may grip and pull a portion of front fin seal 210 above weakend portion 140 away from fin seal weakness 140 to initiate a tear in fin seal weakness 140 across fin seal 210. The tearing of liner 100 across fin seal 210 by the consumer may continue across the body of the bundle 200 along line of weakness 130 to sever the top portion of liner 100 from bundle 200, thereby providing an access opening to consumer articles housed within the bundle. Therefore the present disclosure teaches that access to consumer articles within a fin sealed liner may be acheived due to either the relative position between a fin seal and a line of weakness in the liner, or by the provision of a fin seal weakness across a fin seal. As shown in Figure 4, line of weakness 130 is substantially alligned with the openning perimeter of body portion 410. This advantageously supports the tearing of liner 100 along line of weakness 130.

Tearing of liner 100 at line of weakness 130 by pulling fin seal 218 in a direction away from line of weakness 130 can be improved where at least a portion of line of weakness 130 extends across a first face of bundle 200 in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which fin seal 218 extends across top face 220, wherein the first face of the bundle is in a plane that is intercepted by a longitudinal axis of the first fin seal. For instance , as seen in Figure 2, the side faces of the bundle are intercepted by the longitudinal axis of fin seal 218. The portion of line of weakness 130 that extends across the side faces of bundle 200 will tend to experience the greatest stress as fin seal 218 is pulled from line of weakness 130.