Flexible package for tobacco material

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible packaging filled with tobacco material. This invention finds application particularly as a packaging suitable for use when replenishing the contents of a rigid container, and in particular as a packaging for filling snus for a snus can.

[0002] Loose tobacco material is commonly sold in rigid boxes or tin. In particular, smokeless tobacco products such as snuff and snus are often sold in cylindrical tin cans or plastic containers having a box portion and a removable lid portion. After using and emptying such a container, it is usually discarded and a new full container is purchased.

[0003] It is known to provide relatively rigid complementary assemblies for the rigid boxes or tin used for loose tobacco material. For example, WO-A2008 / 135468 discloses a refill assembly for a moist smokeless tobacco product, including a base portion and a lid portion detachably attached to the base portion defining a storage space.

[0004] US 2,302,784 discloses a tobacco pack comprising a can and a paper wrapped packet of canned tobacco. The tab on the other edge of the paper wrapper in which the tobacco is wrapped is adapted to be pulled up above the overlapping edges of the wrapper.

[0005] DE 2309361 A1 discloses a method of packaging pulpy and sticky food products in a wrapper having an elongated tear strip. The method includes: folding a first sheet of welded material to form a tube; folding the end sections of the tube to form a bowl and joining the folded end sections together by welding them; putting the product into the bowl; placing a second sheet of heat sealed material over the product in a bowl; folding the edge parts of the bowl on the other edge and welding them with it.

[0006] It is desirable to develop an improved packaging form for tobacco material that is more environmentally friendly and can be manufactured and disposed of in a manner that has a reduced environmental impact. It is also desirable to develop an improved packaging form for tobacco material that is more efficiently filled and manufactured than existing rigid containers. In particular, it is desirable to develop an improved form of refill packs for tobacco material that can be easily inserted into existing containers. In addition, it is preferable to provide such packages that can be adapted to supplement the contents of tobacco containers of various types and sizes.

[0007] According to the present invention, a package of tobacco material has been developed comprising: a portion of tobacco material; a wrapper surrounding a portion of the tobacco material, the wrapper being made of flexible sheet material; a rigid base part with a curved outer edge and at least one adhesive label allowing multiple closure, sealing the wrapper around a portion of tobacco material.

[0008] The present invention provides a novel packaging that offers a different approach to packaging loose tobacco material compared to existing containers. Loose tobacco material, such as snus, is usually packaged in rigid structural containers of a certain shape. Instead, the present invention uses flexible sheet material to wrap loose tobacco material, which offers a number of benefits, both for the environment and for the manufacturer. According to what

EP 2 519 456 B1 is described in more detail below, the packaging according to the invention is more ecological and their production, filling and transport are more efficient than in the case of existing rigid containers. [0009] The wrapper surrounding the tobacco material is made of sheet material that is flexible and can easily be wrapped or folded around a portion of tobacco material in a simple operating step. The wrapping stage can easily be adapted to different sizes of tobacco material portion. Because the wrapper is flexible, it can include tobacco material without leaving significant air space inside the package. This is advantageous because it allows minimizing the overall package size and the amount of packaging material. In addition, reducing the air space inside the package optimizes tobacco freshness. After opening and consuming part of the tobacco material, the package is flexible enough that the wrapper can still be folded tightly around the remaining tobacco material, without significant air space inside the package. This helps to keep it fresh when it is opened, and also reduces the size of the packaging, making it take up less space, such as in a pocket or purse.

[0010] The packaging is such that the wrapper can be made of a simple sheet of material, without requiring any welds or seals. This greatly simplifies the method of manufacturing the packaging relative to the methods of producing rigid molded containers. Despite the lack of structure in the wrapper, the arrangement of bends and the use of one or more adhesive labels for repeated closing, allow easy and convenient filling of the packaging with loose tobacco material and sealing.

[0011] The attachment of a rigid base part provides a structural element of the package, which makes the package more durable and protects the tobacco material to some extent. The rigid base part can also facilitate filling and folding processes in the manufacture of the package. In particular, the presence of a rigid base portion with a curved outer edge may simplify the process of folding the outer wrapper around the tobacco material, since there is usually greater freedom in the position and shape of the folds of the outer wrapper than if the rigid base portion had straight edges and corners.

[0012] The packaging object of the present invention is much less bulky than conventional rigid containers and requires less packaging material for the same amount of tobacco material. Therefore, the present invention not only provides a more effective and economical method of packaging tobacco material, but also reduces the amount of waste. The wrapper of the packaging can furthermore advantageously be made of recyclable or biodegradable sheet material, so that the invention provides the packaging in a more ecological form.

[0013] The wrapper and rigid base portion can be stored and transported in a flat state until the packaging needs to be filled with tobacco material. Advantageously, this reduces transport costs and also gives the tobacco material manufacturer greater flexibility in the final shape and form of the package.

[0014] The packaging object of the present invention can be used as an alternative to existing rigid containers for tobacco material. In this case, the packaging is a stand-alone container that is adapted to store tobacco material before use, as well as between uses, and to dispense tobacco material.

[0015] The packaging object of the present invention is also particularly suitable for use as a refill pack for filling a used, empty container with new fresh

EP 2 519 456 Bl with a portion of tobacco material. Unlike the prior art complementary assemblies, the use of a flexible material to make the package provides flexibility because the shape of the filled package is flexible enough that the package can be inserted into rigid containers of various shapes and sizes.

[0016] The wrapper of the packaging of the present invention may be made of any suitable flexible sheet material, including but not limited to paper, wax paper, cellophane, metallized paper, metal foil or plastic foil. In the case where the wrapper is a plastic film, it is preferably a film based on one or more polyolefins. For example, the wrapper may be polyethylene or polypropylene film. The wrapper can be made of transparent or opaque sheet material. Preferably, the wrapper is made of recyclable or biodegradable material.

[0017] Preferably, the wrapper is made of a material to which overprints can be added, and also may contain branding, advertising, promotional or product information. In the case of a refill pack, the brand, advertising, promotional or product information on the wrapper may be the same or different from the information printed directly on the outer surface of the rigid container to be refilled.

[0018] For some types of tobacco material, it may be advantageous to use a sheet material that acts as a moisture barrier to prevent moisture loss from the tobacco material inside the package.

[0019] Preferably, the wrapper is pre-folded so that it can be easier and more evenly wrapped or folded around tobacco material. Fold lines can also be used to provide a more specific package shape, if desired, without further stiffening the package.

[0020] The wrapper of the packaging object of the present invention is held in place around the tobacco material by at least one adhesive label allowing multiple closure, so that the packaging is sealed before opening and the tobacco material is protected. This ensures that the tobacco material remains fresh until the package is opened. Preferably, the at least one reclosable adhesive label is the only means for sealing the wrapper, and no adhesive or adhesive is required to secure the wrapper in place around the portion of tobacco material. Advantageously, this simplifies the step of sealing the package during its manufacture.

[0021] Re-closing the packaging material after opening can advantageously help to keep the tobacco material fresh, especially when the packaging is provided as a stand-alone container as an alternative to a traditional, rigid container. After the packaging has been opened for the first time, the reclosable adhesive label can be used to reseal the wrapper between uses. In some embodiments of the present invention, the package includes two opposed adhesive labels on opposite sides of the package.

[0022] The one or more adhesive labels may be made of any suitable material that can be printed with the brand, promotion or product information instead of and in addition to any printing on the wrapper. The shape and size of the adhesive labels can be adapted to the size of the wrapper, and in the case of a refill pack, to the size and shape of a rigid container whose contents are to be supplemented by means of the packaging.

52 519 456Β1 [0023] The rigid base portion of the packages of the invention has a curved outer edge. The rigid base portion may, for example, be substantially circular, oval or elliptical in shape. Typically, the shape of the rigid base portion approximately defines the overall cross-section and shape of the filled package. The exact size and shape of the rigid base may vary depending on the desired size and shape of the filled package. In the case of a refill pack, the size and shape of the rigid base portion is preferably chosen to reflect the shape of the rigid container into which the refill pack is to be inserted. For example, in the case where the packaging is a snus refill pack, the rigid base portion is preferably a rigid wheel or disc, so that the refill pack has an approximately round cylindrical form and can easily be put into a round, cylindrical snus can.

[0024] The rigid base portion may be outside the wrapper, but preferably is inside the wrapper, between the wrapper and tobacco material.

[0025] In addition to the rigid base part, the package may optionally comprise a rigid sidewall which extends at least partially around the package. For example, an annular rigid sidewall may be present to give the package a round, cylindrical form. In the case of a refill pack, this allows the packet to be configured to fit inside a rigid container whose contents are to be refilled.

[0026] The attachment of a rigid sidewall in addition to the rigid base wall provides a more defined and rigid form of the package, which may be desirable, for example, in the case where the package is provided as a stand-alone package to replace existing rigid containers, rather than as a supplementary package. The attachment of a rigid sidewall may furthermore advantageously protect tobacco material within the package against crushing damage during storage and transportation. However, the rigid sidewall can optionally be removed so that you can still benefit from using a flexible wrapper.

[0027] The rigid sidewall may be inside or outside the wrapper. In the event that the rigid sidewall is outside the wrapper, the sidewall may be glued to the wrapper or simply cover the filled wrapper without sticking. The rigid sidewall can optionally be removed from the remainder of the package so that it can be removed by the consumer, for example, before inserting the package in a rigid container. This can be advantageous, for example, in the case of a refill pack in which the rigid side wall does not exactly match the size of the rigid container.

[0028] In the presence of a rigid sidewall, the rigid base part and the rigid sidewall can be separated from each other or joined together in some way, or integrally formed as needed.

[0029] The rigid base part and rigid sidewall, when present, may be made of any suitable rigid sheet material, including but not limited to paper, cardboard, plastic, metal or layered materials. Preferably, the rigid base part and rigid side wall, when present, are made of recyclable fibrous sheet material, such as cardboard. In the case where the rigid base part or rigid sidewall is outside the wrapper, their outer surfaces are preferably

EP 2 519 456 Bl printed with graphics or text such as, for example, brand, promotional or product information.

[0030] The portion of tobacco material within the packaging of the present invention may be a specific amount of loose smoking tobacco, for example tobacco for making cigarettes or for smoking in a pipe. The tobacco material for smoking may include cut tobacco or reconstituted tobacco material or a mixture thereof. Alternatively, the tobacco material may be a smokeless tobacco product, e.g., tobacco material for a heated smoking article, chewing tobacco, snuff or snus. Snuff or snus can be pasteurized or unpasteurised. The thickness, aroma and nicotine and moisture content of the snuff or snus packaging can be individually selected as required. Where tobacco products for oral use are envisaged, the tobacco material may be loose inside the package or optionally may be supplied in individually packaged portions, such as sachets. The tobacco material may include one or more additives, such as flavorings or humectants, and may consist of tobacco of one type or a blend of different types.

[0031J A portion of the tobacco material may be any desired amount or weight, but preferably corresponds approximately to the amount of loose tobacco material in a conventional container. The amount of tobacco material is usually sufficient for many uses, and preferably the size or weight of the portion is indicated on the outer surface of the wrapper.

[0032] Access to the tobacco material inside the package can be obtained by opening the wrapper surrounding the tobacco material by removing or detaching at least one adhesive label allowing multiple closures. This at least one adhesive label that is reclosable is preferably located on top of the package. The wrapper can be closed repeatedly between uses by repeatedly closing the given at least one adhesive label enabling multiple closing.

[0033] Alternatively or in addition, the wrapper may be provided with one or more lines of weakness defining an opening strip extending over at least part of the circumference of the package. To open the package for the first time, the consumer may remove the opening strip from the wrapper, thereby creating an opening in the wrapper through which tobacco material can be accessed. Preferably, if the opening strip is present, a protruding tab portion is provided at one of its ends. The tab of the opening strip protrudes from the surrounding surface of the packaging and is therefore easier for the user to grip. In the presence of an opening strip, it is preferably located so that it is accessible and can be removed once the package has been inserted into a rigid container. If a rigid sidewall is present, it may need to be removed before the opening strip can be removed, or the opening strip may be in a position in the wrapper that it is not covered by the rigid sidewall.

[0034] The opening strip can be adapted to be removed from the rest of the wrapper. Alternatively, the opening strip may extend only over part of the wrapper circumference and may be adapted so that it remains attached to the wrapper after it is opened. In some embodiments, the end of the opening strip may be equipped with a reclosable adhesive, so that the opening strip may be reclosed. In this case, the adhesive on the opening strip may help to reclose the packaging between uses.

[0035] The filled packages according to the invention may traditionally be wrapped in heat-shrinkable film or, alternatively, a transparent polymer film, for example of high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film or combinations thereof. . If the packages according to the invention are additionally wrapped, the wrapper may comprise a tear tape. In addition, the wrapper can be printed with pictures, consumer information or other data.

[0036] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the filled packaging of the present invention, before opening; and Fig. 2 shows the wrapper for forming the package according to Fig. 1.

[0037] In the package 10 shown in Fig. 1, a number of snus sachets are contained, and it comprises a flexible wrap 12, a rigid base (invisible) inside the flexible wrap 12, a rigid side wall 16, a top adhesive label 18 allowing repeated closing and a bottom adhesive label (invisible). The packaging is approximately cylindrical in shape, with a circular rigid base and annular rigid sidewall 16 of constant height and a circular cross section corresponding to the shape of the rigid base. It is suitable for use as a refill pack to supplement the contents of a cylindrical snus can.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows the flexible wrap 12 before folding the package 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the wrap 12 is formed from a rectangular strip of flexible sheet material that has been shaped into a closed web. The flexible wrapper 12 is provided with a fold line arrangement (shown as solid lines in Figure 2) to facilitate folding of the upper and lower ends of the flexible wrapper 12. In order to fold the package 10, the rigid base part is placed inside the closed web of the flexible wrap 12 shown in Fig. 2, and the bottom of the flexible wrap 12 is folded around the circular rigid base part and secured with a bottom adhesive label. The partially folded flexible wrapper 12, with the circular rigid base part contained therein, is then placed inside the annular rigid sidewall 16 and the snus sachets are placed inside the flexible wrap 12. The top of the flexible wrap 12 is then folded over the snus sachets and sealed tightly at the top end top adhesive label 18, allowing multiple closures.

[0039] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the flexible wrap 12 includes an opening strip 20 that extends around the center and in the center of the closed web of the flexible wrap 12. After folding the package 10, the opening strip 20 is located at the upper edge of the package 10. The strip the opening 20 is defined by perforation lines in the flexible wrap 12 and is provided at one end with a protruding tab 22 to facilitate opening. The opening strip 20 extends around the entire periphery of the package 10, so that when the opening strip 20 is removed, the entire upper part of the flexible wrap 12 is separated from its lower part and can be discarded.

[0040] In order to gain access to the snus sachets inside the package 10, the consumer may remove the top adhesive label 18 allowing repeated closing and unfold the top of the flexible wrap 12 to remove the sachets from the top of the package 10 or he may remove the opening strip 20 to detach the upper the flexible part of the wrapper 12. The first of these two stages of opening may be beneficial,

EP 2 519 456 B1 if it is desired to reseal the wrapper 10 with a top adhesive label 18 enabling repeated closing.

[0041] The package 10 may be placed in an empty snus can, if desired. The package 10 is inserted into the body part of the snus can such that the top adhesive label 18 allowing multiple closure is on the top of the package 10. If desired, before inserting the package 10 into the snus can, the annular rigid side wall 16 can be detached from remaining packaging 10. The size and shape of the refill pack 10 are such that the pack 10 fits inside the snus can, and the snus can lid can still be put in place.