Container with improved magnetic closure

Abstract

A hinge lid container ( 100 ) for consumer articles comprises a box portion ( 102 ) formed from a blank having a thickness (T) and defining a front wall of the box portion ( 102 ); a lid portion ( 104 ); and an inner frame ( 108 ) received within the box portion ( 102 ). A portion of an inner frame front wall ( 110 ) extends beyond an upper edge of the box portion front wall. A magnetic closure comprising a first magnetic material ( 200 ) is provided on an inner surface of the lid portion ( 104 ). A second magnetic material ( 202 ) is provided on the inner frame front wall ( 110 ). The first and second magnetic materials ( 200, 202 ) overlap when the lid portion ( 104 ) is in the closed position to magnetically retain the lid portion in the closed position. The second magnetic material ( 202 ) is a flexible magnetic laminar material applied on the outer surface of the inner frame front wall ( 110 ) such 102 that the outer surface of the flexible magnetic laminar material is horizontally offset from the outer surface of the box portion front wall by a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness (T) of the blank.

1 . A container for consumer articles, the container comprising:
 a box portion at least partially formed from a blank having a thickness (T), the blank defining a front wall of the box portion;   a lid portion depending along a hinge line from a back wall of the box portion, wherein the lid portion is moveable about the hinge line between an open position, in which consumer goods can be removed from the container, and a closed position, in which consumer goods cannot be removed from the container;   an inner frame received within the box portion, the inner frame comprising an inner frame front wall wherein a portion of the frame front wall extends beyond an upper edge of the front wall of the box portion;   a magnetic closure comprising a first magnetic material provided on an inner surface of the lid portion and a second magnetic material provided on the inner frame front wall, wherein the first and second magnetic materials are arranged to overlap when the lid portion is in the closed position so that the magnetic closure releasably retains the lid portion in the closed position;   wherein the second magnetic material is a flexible magnetic laminar material applied on the outer surface of the inner frame front wall such that the outer surface of the flexible magnetic laminar material is horizontally offset from the outer surface of the front wall of the box portion by a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness (T) of the blank.   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid portion comprises a lid front wall and a lid flap depending from the lid front wall along an edge fold line, the lid flap being folded inward towards the inner surface of the front lid wall, the first magnetic material being applied on the outer surface of the lid flap. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic material comprises a magnetisable material. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic material comprises at least 30 percent by weight of at least one of barium ferrite, strontium ferrite, cobalt ferrite, and a rare earth cobalt. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic material has a thickness of between about 0.1 milimetres and about 0.4 milimetres. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible magnetic laminar material is a flexible magnetic tape or an extruded material. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic material is a magnetic print. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the print has a thickness of less than about 1 to 30 micrometres. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 1 , containing a plurality of smoking articles. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a container for consumer goods, the method comprising:
 providing first and second laminar blanks, the first laminar blank having a thickness (T);   applying a first magnetic material on the first laminar blank;   applying a second magnetic laminar material on the second laminar blank; and   folding the first and second laminar blanks to form first and second folded blanks, the folded blanks co-operating to form a container comprising a compartment for receiving consumer goods;   inserting the second folded blank within the first folded blank,   such that at least a portion of the first folded blank is moveable relative to the second folded blank between a closed position in which consumer goods cannot be removed from the compartment and an open position in which consumer goods can be removed from the compartment;   wherein the first magnetic material is applied on the moveable portion and wherein the first magnetic material and the flexible magnetic laminar material are arranged to overlap when the moveable portion is in the closed position, so that the first magnetic material and the flexible magnetic laminar material form a magnetic closure that releasably retains the moveable portion in the closed position: and   wherein the second magnetic material is a flexible magnetic laminar material applied on the second laminar blank before the second laminar blank is folded and received within the first folded blank, such that, in the assembled container, the outer surface of the flexible magnetic laminar material is offset from the outer surface of the first folded blank by a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness (T) of the blank.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the flexible magnetic laminar material is a flexible magnetic tape. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of applying the first magnetic material on the first laminar blank comprises applying the magnetic material on the laminar blank using gravure printing, offset printing, flexographic printing, lithographic printing, screen printing, slot die coating, roll coating or reverse roll coating, knife-over-roll gravure and reverse direct gravure, wire rod coating, air-knife coating, or slot-orifice coating. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the first magnetic material comprises a magnetisable material, and wherein the magnetisable material is unmagnetised during the applying step. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising a step of, after the folding step, magnetising the first magnetisable material to form a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising a step of printing at least one ink onto the first magnetic material after the applying step.