The present invention relates to a reclosable container for consumer items The container according to the invention is particularly suitable for elongate smoking articles, for example cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars It is known to package consumer items m containers formed from folded laminar blanks In order to preserve freshness of the consumer items known containers may have reclosdble features thdt allow the consumer to reclose the container between the removal of consumer items

For example, such a container is disclosed in the EP-A-O 944 539 The container comprises a bundle of smoking articles which is sealed into an inner liner The inner liner comprises a reclosable aperture in the top section and an inner frame withm the inner lmer

The aperture in the inner liner requires a sophisticated inner lmer blank and an additional inner frame

EP-A-I 017 822 discloses a container where the scaled bundle is housed withm a cardboard container with a hinged lid

There is a need for a container for consumer items that provides imρro\cd freshness preservation and which is simple in structure and cost effective in production

According to the invention there is provided a reclosable container for consumer items comprising a box and a lid, whcrcm the lid is hingcdly connected to the box, the container further comprising an inner lmer wrapped about the consumer items, the inner liner comprising a section defining an opening for allowing access to the consumer items, and means to open and reclose the opening, the container further comprising an inner frame attached to the box, w herein the inner frame comprises a free inner frame portion protruding from the box towards the opening in the inner liner, wherein the free inner frame portion comprises a cut out and wherein the inner frame is attached to the inner lmer proximate to the cut out

Ad\ antageously, attaching the inner frame to the inner lmer increases the structural strength of the inner liner near the inner frame This allows reliably the rcclosing of the container even when a number of the consumer items been removed from the container as the inner liner is attached to the rigid outer container via the inner frame

Preferably, the inner lmer is glued to the inner frame along the cut out with a number of glue spots or glue lines or combinations thereof Preferably, the glue is applied to the inner lmer during the assembly of the container

Preferably, the inner lmer is made from a material with a bending stiffness of between about 4 5 N/m and about 12 N'm

The bending stiffness is measured according to the Schlenker method as described in DIN 53S64

The relatively high bending stiffness of the inner lmer advantageously provides the container with sufficient structural strength to allow reliably the rcclosmg of the container even after a number of the consumer items have been removed from the container Advantageously, an additional inner frame mside the inner lmer is not required

This reduces the production cost of such a container while maintaining the desired reclosability until the last consumer item is removed In addition, the production of the reclosable container with such an inner lmer may be performed on existing packaging machinery with little or no modification This allows a high speed production process

More preferably, the inner liner has a bending stiffness of between about 4 5 N/m and about 8 N'm Most preferably, the inner lmer has a bending stiffness of between about 5 N'm and about 7 N/m Preferably, the inner liner has a bending stiffness in machine direction that is higher than the bending stiffness in trans\crsc direction, that is, perpendicular to the machine direction The machine direction is the direction in which the inner liner is transported through the packaging machme For example, the inner lmer has a bending stiffness in machine direction that is about 1 N/m higher than the bending stiffness in transverse direction, preferably between about 5 5 N'm and 8 N'm

Preferably, the inner liner comprises a layer of paper having a weight of between about 80 grams per square meter and about 150 grams per square meter and a layer of aluminum having a thickness between about 8 μm and about 20 μm

Alternatively, the inner liner comprises a three component laminate of polypropylene - aluminium - polypropylene, the polypropylene layer having a w eight of between about 20 grams per square meter and about 50 grams per square meter and the aluminum layer having a thickness between about 8 μm and about 20 μm In the context of the invention, the term ' polypropylene" is intended to include also suitable copolymers of polypropylene Preferably, the means to open and rcclosc the opening of the inner lmer comprise a label attached to the inner lmer The label extends at least over the section of the inner lmer defining the openmg and has a tacky portion which is releasably attached to the inner lmer Detaching the tacky portion of the label from the inner lmer allows access to the consumer items through the openmg of the inner lmer, which can be reclosed by attaching again the tacky portion of the label to the inner liner. Such a label is a convenient means for opening and reclosing the container. In addition, using a label as means to open and rcclosc the opening of the inner liner is simple and cost effective as the inner liner remains substantially unchanged compared to standard inner liner used in packaging of smoking articles. Application of a label during the manufacture of packaging is a well known process that may be performed at high speed with high precision.

The label may have any shape which is suitable to fully cover that section of the inner liner defining the opening so as to be able to reclose the opening as the label is reattached to the inner liner. For example, the label may at least partially be rectangular, triangular, semi-cirucular, semi-oval or trapezoid, or may have any other suitable shape.

Preferably, the tacky portion of the label and the inner liner are connected by a low tack connection. The term "low tack connection" is used in this context to describe the tackiness of the connection between the tacky portion of the label and the inner liner. The "low tack connection" allows the label to remain attached to the inner liner when no detachment force is applied to the label. On the other hand, once a consumer applies a detachment force to the label, the tacky portion of the label is detached from the inner liner so as to allow the consumer to access the consumer items through the opening of the inner liner. Thereafter, the label can be reattached to the inner liner to reclose the opening.

The "low tack connection" can be formed, for instance, using a suitable adhesive, for example a synthetic semi-pressure sensitive hotmelt adhesive such as PRIMAGRIP 38- 638, or a water based polyethylene adhesive such as TOBACOLL ZD 4404-01 , both available from Henkel & Cie AG. Also, a removable acrylic based adhesive can be used. Alternatively, means other than an adhesive, for example a double-sided tacky tape or a Velcro(R>-fastener, can be used. Preferably, the section of the inner liner defining the opening is bounded by at least one line of weakness and the label has a permanent attachment portion. The permanent attachment portion of the label and the section of the inner liner defining the opening arc connected through a high tack connection. The term "high tack connection" is used in this context to describe the tackiness of the connection between the permanent attachment portion of the label and the portion of the inner liner defining the opening. The

"high tack connection" keeps the label attached to the inner liner even when a detachment force is applied to the label. For the purpose of this application, the "high tack connection" between the label and the section defining the opening can be regarded as a permanent connection which is not released during normal use of the container. Upon detaching the releasably attached tacky portion of the label from the inner liner for the first time, the inner lmer ruptures along the at least one line of weakness, for example a perforation line Thus, the section of the inner lmer defining the opening gets separated from the rest of the inner lmer since this section of the inner lmer remains attached to the permanent attachment portion of the label Thus, the opening is generated m the inner lmer which allows the consumer to access the consumer items

For instance, the high tdck connection can be formed using d suitable adhesive Suitable adhesives are known in the art, for example a standard hotmelt adhesive

The at least one line of weakness is preferably a perforated line but may also be a creasing line or a scoring line It can be created on-line on the packing machine or, alternatively, the inner lmer can be provided with the perforated line m an off-line process

Preferably, the portion of the inner liner defining the opening is located m the top panel of the inner lmer The location of the opening in the top panel of the inner lmer is particularly ad\ antagcous for cigarette containers, especially hinge hd containers, in which the smoking articles are provided in the inner liner that is arranged within a rigid outer container

More preferably, the section of the inner liner defining the opening is located in the top panel and extends into the front panel of the container This embodiment is e\en more convenient for a consumer when trying to access the cigarettes through the opening m the inner lmer Alternatively, the section of the inner lmer defining the opening extends the back panel, top panel and into the front panel of the container

Alternatively or in addition, the label extends essentially over the entire width of the top panel of the container This allows a comparatively large opening to be provided in the inner liner so as to allow convenient access to the consumer items, and at the same time provides for a secure attachment/reattachment of the tacky portion of the label to the inner liner since the attachment surface is sufficiently large, too

Containers according to the in\ ention find particular application as containers for elongate smoking articles such as for example cigarettes, cigars or cigaπllos Tt will be appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes Alternatively other consumer items may be housed mside the container

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may also be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of ten, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty, twcnty-onc or twenty smoking articles These may be arranged m different collations, depending on the total number of smoking articles Preferably, the overall dimensions of the container arc between about 1 mm and about 4 mm larger than the collation of smoking articles in length, width or depth or combinations thereof

The length, width and depth of containers according to the invention may be such that, in the closed position, the resultant overall dimensions of the container are similar to the dimensions of a typical hmge-lid container for smoking articles

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia

Once filled, containers according to the imcntion may be shπnk-wrappcd or otherw ise overwrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene, in a com cntional manner Where containers according to the m\ cntion arc overwrapped, the overw rapper may include a tear tape The tear tape is preferably positioned around the container below the lower edge of the front panel of the lid portion, such that once the tear tape has been removed, the lid portion is free to be pivoted about the hmge line Alternatively, the tear tape may be provided lengthways around the container

In addition, the wrapper may be printed with images, consumer information or other data

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 shows a perspectrv e view of an inner lmer according to the invention, Fig 2 shows the inner lmer blank of the embodiment of the inner lmer of

Fig 1 , Fig 3 show s the separate label which is to be attached to the inner lmer blank,

Fig 4 shows a schematic cross section through the various layers of the material of the inner lmer and the label, and Fig 5 shows a front view of the upper part of a reclosable container with an inner frame according to the invention In the perspective view of Fig. 1 an embodiment of the reclosable container 1 according to the invention is shown. The smoking articles contained in the reclosable container arc not visible in Fig. 1. The reclosable container 1 comprises an inner liner 2 having a front panel 20, an oppositely arranged back panel 21 (not visible), two side panels 22 and 23, a top panel 24 and a bottom panel 25. Attached to the inner liner 2 is a label 3 which allows to open and reclose the reclosable container 1 in order to get access to the smoking articles contained therein.

The label 3 comprises a permanent attachment portion 30 which is attached to an inner liner section 240 which is located in the top panel 24 and which extends into the front panel 20. The permanent attachment portion 30 forms a high tack connection with the inner liner section 240 of the inner liner 2. This inner liner section 240 is bounded by a line of weakness 241 (shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1) and defines an opening to be generated in the inner liner 2. The high tack connection between the permanent attachment portion 30 and the inner liner section 240 can be achieved, for example, by means of a suitable hotmelt adhesive which is known in the art.

The label 3 further comprises a tacky portion 31 which is rclcasably attached partly to the top panel 24 and partly to the front panel 20 of the inner liner 2 to form a low tack connection. As already mentioned above, the low tack connection can be achieved through a suitable low tack adhesive, such as PRTMAGRIP 38-638, or a water based polyethylene adhesive such as TOBACOLL ZD 4404-01, both available from Henkel & Cic AG. The label 3 extends essentially over the entire width of the top panel 24 of the inner liner 2, as can be seen in Fig. 1, so that it fully covers the inner liner section 240 defining the opening. The tacky portion 31 is releasably attached to the inner liner 2 in an area located outside the inner liner section 240. The label 3 further comprises a tab 32 which is not attached to the inner liner 2 at all. At the tab 32, the label 3 can be grabbed in order to open and reclose the container 1.

To open the reclosable container 1 for the first time, the consumer grabs the tab 32 of the label 3 and pulls the label 3 towards the top panel 24 of the container 1 , thus generating a detachment force on the label 3. This causes the tacky portion 31 of label 3 to be detached from the respective portions of the inner liner 2. Since the inner liner section

240 remains permanently attached to the attachment portion 30 of label 3, the inner liner section 240 is moved together with the label 3 thus causing the inner liner 2 to rupture along the perforated line 241. To reclose the reclosable pack 1 again, the consumer moves the label 3 to its original position and attaches the tacky portion 31 to the inner liner 2 again This operation can be carried out repeatedly - with the exception of the rupturing of the inner lmer section 240

Fig 2 shows an embodiment of an inner lmer blank prior to being wrapped around a collation of smoking articles The various portions of the inner lmer blank which later form front panel 20, back panel 21 , side panel 22 and 21, and the top panel 24 and bottom panel 25 of the inner liner 2, as well as the various folding lines are shown in Fig 2 Also indicated schematically m Fig 2 is the separate label 3 which is shown in more detail in Fig 3

The folding of the inner lmer blank 2 along the \anous folding lines and the attachment, for example by glueing or sealing, of overlapping portions of the folded blank to one another is done in a conventional manner using existing machinery

Fig 4 shows a cross section through the various layers of the material of one example of an inner lmer 2 and a label 3 attached to inner lmer 2 Starting with the innermost layer of inner hncr 2 (which is the lowermost layer in Fig 4), the innermost layer 200 is made from a paper having a 90 grams per square meter weight and having a thickness of about 85 μm The innermost layer 200 is connected by a starch adhcsrvc layer 201 to an aluminum layer 202 having a 27 grams per square meter weight and having a thickness of about 10 μm A layer 203 of a mtro cellulose based lacquer covers the aluminum layer 202 Label 3 comprises an innermost layer 300 of a low tack, non- permanent, adhesive, which is followed by a layer 301 of paper having a 60 grams per square meter weight and having a thickness of about 55 μm To paper layer 301 an aluminum layer 303 having a thickness of about 9 um and having a weight of about 25 grams per square meter is laminated with the aid of a layer 302 of a suitable hot melt adhesive for lamination The aluminum layer 303 is covered by a top layer 304 of PVC sol\ ent based lacquer having a thickness of about 1 μm to about 2 μm

Fig 5 shows the upper part of a container according to the invention A hinge lid container comprises an outer box and an outer lid (not shown) the outer box comprises an outer bottom wall (not shown), an outer front wall 50, an outer back wall (not shown) and outer sidewalls (not shown) The container further comprises an inner frame 60 arranged between the inner hncr 2 and the outer front wall 50 The inner frame 60 is attached to the inside of the outer front wall 50 of the container by a glue area 55 and the outer sidewalls of the container The inner frame comprises a U-shaped cut out 62 that substantially follows the outer edge of the label 3 The inner frame 60 is attached to the inner lmer 2 by a number of hot melt glue spots 65 proximate to the U-shaped cut 62 The attachment of the inner liner 2 to the inner frame 60 near the tacky portion 31 stabilizes the inner liner 2 to allow the reliable reclosure of the inner liner 2.

While, according to the invention, the inner liner with the relatively high bending stiffness of between about 4.5 N/m and about 8 N/m houses the smoking articles within the outer pack of the container, it is also possible to attain improved rcclosability of the container without an outer pack due to the stiffness of the inner liner itself. For example, the consumer items are housed in such an inner liner alone, or alternatively, are packed in such an inner liner as a soft pack.